— Third Parallel World —
Konoha Year 48
October 10th
Konohagakure
Hokage Tower
A beautiful young woman with blond hair and blue eyes sat on the sofa in the Hokage's office, her noticeably rounded belly rising gently beneath her clothes. She sipped tea leisurely, her expression calm and relaxed.
"I'm telling you, Kaoru,"
the fifty-seven-year-old Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly as he looked at the pregnant Fourth Hokage,
"you're already like this—shouldn't you be resting at home? I can handle things here for now."
"Third Hokage-sama,"
Kaoru replied with a gentle smile,
"if I suddenly leave without properly handing things over to you, and something comes up, you'd still have to send someone to ask me anyway."
"That would just be more trouble. I might as well stay here—it's simpler that way."
At twenty-four, Kaoru's tone was warm and composed, befitting a Hokage.
Hiruzen shook his head, then muttered as he continued reviewing documents:
"By the way, where did that kid Kyusei run off to? He's nowhere to be seen, not even taking care of you."
"Oh, him?"
Kaoru smiled, a hint of happiness in her eyes as she gently stroked her belly.
"He said he was stewing chicken soup for me."
"Hmph. At least that brat has a conscience,"
Hiruzen snorted, clearly thinking of some irritating individual.
"Hey, old man,"
a voice suddenly chimed in,
"talking behind someone's back isn't a good habit."
As he spoke, a tall, young man strode in briskly, a thermal container swinging in his hand.
"Hmph. Then hurry up and take your wife home,"
Hiruzen said irritably.
"Running around with a big belly is not something a pregnant woman should be doing."
Kyusei completely ignored him.
He sat down carefully beside Kaoru and opened the thermal container with the utmost caution.
If he could've persuaded Kaoru, she'd already be resting at home peacefully—no way would he let her sit here looking at Hiruzen's wrinkled old face.
Still, at least Konoha Hospital was right next to the Hokage Tower.
If anything went wrong, they could get there immediately.
"Here. Careful—it's hot."
Kyusei ladled out a bowl of soup, blew on the spoon gently, and brought it to Kaoru's lips.
Kaoru smiled softly and opened her mouth.
Seeing her drink the soup he had made with his own hands, Kyusei couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
Hiruzen twitched at the corner of his mouth as he inhaled the rich aroma filling the room, watching the couple openly shower each other with affection.
…Biwako, I want chicken soup too.
While Hiruzen was thinking about his wife, who worked at the hospital, Kyusei finished feeding Kaoru the entire bowl.
Just as he was about to pour her another, a slender, fair hand pressed gently against his.
"I can't drink anymore~"
"I've already eaten too much today~"
Faced with his wife's soft, almost coquettish tone, Kyusei felt his heart melt completely.
"Alright. If you can't drink anymore, then don't."
He held her warm hand, his expression tender.
Then he turned to Hiruzen, looking as if he were doing him a favor.
"Old man, you can drink the rest."
"Kaoru can't finish it."
"Consider it nourishment for someone your age."
A vein popped on Hiruzen's forehead.
I'll endure. I'll endure.
These two—one's the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, the other's the Fourth Hokage.
They're the pillars of the village.
Don't get angry. Don't get angry…
"You should show some respect and call him Third Hokage-sama,"
Kaoru said reproachfully, shooting her husband a glance.
"Alright. I'll listen to you,"
Kyusei replied immediately, his tone softening as he turned back to her.
"Then let's go downstairs for a walk."
"Staying here too long, even the stale air this old man breathes might make you uncomfortable."
He spoke with genuine concern, holding her hand.
"Mmm. I'll listen to you,"
Kaoru replied obediently.
Kyusei carefully helped her stand.
"Kyusei, I'm just pregnant. I'm not incapacitated,"
Kaoru said helplessly, though her expression was filled more with happiness than annoyance.
"It's necessary,"
Kyusei replied seriously.
"If you trip or bump into something, the baby is secondary."
"But if you get hurt, what then?"
"Nonsense~"
Kaoru lightly smacked him, then allowed herself to be led away.
Hiruzen stared at their retreating backs with dead fish eyes.
Finally gone.
Just as he was about to open a window to air out the room, his gaze drifted to the thermal container on the table—the one with most of the chicken soup still inside.
…That brat may be annoying, but his cooking really isn't bad.
—
Evening
Kyusei and Kaoru sat on a park bench, hand in hand, watching children play in the distance.
"Kyusei,"
Kaoru said softly, resting her head against his sturdy shoulder,
"do you think our child will be as lively as them?"
"Of course,"
the red-haired man replied gently, an arm around her shoulders.
"After all, it's our child. Definitely the best kid in the village."
"I'm being serious here~"
Kaoru patted him lightly, annoyed.
"And I'm answering seriously,"
he said with a grin, squeezing her hand—only to suddenly notice her expression change.
"What's wrong?"
he asked immediately.
"I… I think I'm about to give birth…"
Kaoru said uncertainly.
Before Kyusei could say another word, a squad of medical-nin in white coats appeared almost instantly.
One female medic placed her hand on Kaoru's abdomen, green chakra glowing as she examined her.
Less than a moment later, her expression turned serious.
"Kyusei-sama,"
"Fourth Hokage-sama is going into labor."
"We must take her to the hospital immediately."
Kyusei's face went pale.
"O-Okay. Hurry. Right now."
The medics swiftly assembled a stretcher. Kyusei carefully helped Kaoru lie down.
"It's okay… it's just childbirth,"
Kaoru said gently, trying to comfort her husband, who looked even more nervous than she did.
"Don't worry."
"I know,"
Kyusei replied, forcing himself to calm down.
"It's just giving birth."
"As long as I'm here, everything will be fine."
—
Under the cover of night, a man in a black cloak stood silently atop the stone face of Hashirama Senju.
His gaze fixed on Konoha Hospital, tightly sealed behind layers of barriers.
A flash of crimson glinted in his eyes.
"It's confirmed,"
a strange white creature emerged from the ground and spoke.
"The Golden Flash is in labor."
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