Jiraiya's palm struck with a heavy thud, sending a jolt through Minato's body that left his side numb. Instead of dodging, Minato leaned into the force with a slight bow, a trademark gentle yet weary smile playing on his lips.
"Master Jiraiya, your grip is as formidable as ever." Minato rubbed his shoulder, watching the dust stirred up from his Hokage cloak settle onto the floor.
"Cut the crap!" Jiraiya barked, his face practically screaming his irritation. He jabbed a thumb toward the hospital bed behind him, which was protected by layers of powerful barriers. "When Kushina needed you most, you, the husband, decide to play a vanishing act? I'm the one stuck here acting like a glorified gatekeeper! If word gets out, my reputation is finished!"
Despite the harsh words, Jiraiya's sharp eyes darted across Minato, performing a quick assessment. Aside from some frayed edges on his cloak and a nearly depleted chakra reserve, his breathing was steady. There were no fatal wounds.
Seeing this, the Gallant Jiraiya finally felt the heavy weight lift from his chest. His tense shoulders slumped in relief. He knew exactly what Minato had been doing. Dealing with that masked Uchiha, a madman with bizarre space-time ninjutsu, was the only way to ensure the disaster in Konoha ended tonight. Minato had been putting his life on the line to carve out a future for his wife, his son, and the entire village.
"Fine, stop standing there like a statue." Jiraiya waved him off with a dismissive grunt, stepping aside to clear the path. "Get in there. Someone has been waiting for you with a very long neck."
Minato took a deep breath, smoothing his messy hair before stepping into the depths of the room.
Under the warm yellow glow of the lamps, Kushina Uzumaki leaned against the headboard. Her iconic red hair had lost some of its luster, clinging damply to her cheeks, and her face was so pale it was almost translucent. Yet, her violet eyes were brimming with a tenderness that seemed ready to overflow.
Cradled in her arms was a tiny, wrinkled infant, eyes closed, breathing with soft, rhythmic puffs.
"Kushina..."
Minato's voice was barely a whisper. On the battlefield, he could cut down fifty Jonin without blinking; he could stand alone against the roar of the Nine-Tails. But now, looking at his weakened wife and newborn son, the Fourth Hokage found himself momentarily speechless.
"Stupid Minato."
Kushina's lips curled into a faint smile. Though her voice was frail, it carried that familiar "Red Hot Habanero" spark. "Look at the state of you. If Naruto sees his father looking this pathetic and covered in soot, he's definitely going to look down on you."
Minato walked to the bedside and dropped to one knee, bringing himself level with Kushina. He reached out to touch her cheek but hesitated halfway. Looking at his hands, stained with dust and the scent of gunpowder, he awkwardly tried to pull back. He had been in such a rush that he hadn't even cleaned up.
A cool, slender hand caught his.
Kushina grasped Minato's dirty, calloused hand and pressed it against her face, leaning into the touch.
"Welcome home, Dad."
That single phrase shattered every ounce of Minato's stoic composure. All the exhaustion, the terror, the heartache over Obito, and the crushing anxiety about the future were washed away by that warm contact. Minato lowered his head, resting his forehead against the back of Kushina's hand, remaining silent for a long time.
Kushina didn't speak either, simply stroking Minato's golden hair with a gentle touch. The air in the room grew thick and sweet, as if filled with invisible pink bubbles.
Standing by the door, Jiraiya rubbed the goosebumps on his arms, looking completely disgusted by the display.
"Hey, hey, hey, you two."
A terribly mood-breaking voice punctured the sentiment.
The purple toad—Gamakon—who had been perched on Jiraiya's head, had somehow hopped onto the nightstand. He sat with his legs crossed, one claw propping up his chin. His dead-fish eyes darted between the couple, his tone dripping with mock disdain.
"While I don't mind a bit of marital bliss, could you show some consideration for the single guy and the toad in the room? This sickly sweet PDA is giving me indigestion."
Gamakon curled his wide mouth and pointed a claw at Jiraiya. "Especially that white-haired geezer over there. Look at that look of pure envy in his eyes—he's about to stare a hole through the floorboards. Be decent; don't trigger the lonely old man."
"Who are you calling a lonely old man?! I'm... I'm gathering materials!" Jiraiya instantly blew his top, his face turning bright red as he flailed his arms in protest. "This is the solitude of an artist! What would a bratty toad like you know?!"
Kushina was amused by the bickering between the man and the toad, a faint flush finally returning to her pale cheeks. She looked at Gamakon and spoke softly.
"It's been a long time, Mr. Gamakon."
"Yo, long time no see, Lady Fourth," Gamakon replied, waving a claw with exaggerated gentlemanly flair. "Thanks for giving birth to such a bouncing baby boy. Even if he looks a bit like a monkey right now, at least he didn't take after Jiraiya."
Right then, Naruto, who had been sleeping peacefully in Kushina's arms, suddenly stirred. The little guy seemed to sense something; his eyes remained closed, but he began to squirm restlessly. Two chubby little hands waved wildly in the air, accompanied by tiny babbles.
"Oh? What's wrong, Naruto?" Kushina asked, slightly flustered as she tried to soothe him.
However, Naruto's hands pointed with uncanny precision toward Gamakon. His tiny body strained in that direction, as if the purple toad were some world-class delicacy or a must-have toy.
"Huh?" Gamakon blinked. He felt a powerful surge of affinity radiating from the infant.
'Is this... the chakra of Asura's reincarnation? Or is it just the Uzumaki constitution being sensitive to natural energy?'
Gamakon was currently a toad of Mount Myoboku, his body saturated with pure Sage Chakra. To a newborn with unclouded spiritual senses like Naruto, Gamakon was like a glowing, warm lightbulb—naturally magnetic.
"Wahhh—!" Seeing that he couldn't reach his target, Naruto's little mouth puckered, ready to let out a wail.
"Fine, fine! I give up!"
Seeing that a tantrum was imminent, Gamakon quickly hopped forward a few steps, leaning in close to Naruto.
Naruto's crying stopped instantly. His two tiny hands snatched Gamakon's back leg in a vice grip. With a satisfied huff, he pulled the toad into his chest, even rubbing his drool-smeared face against Gamakon's slick skin.
"Hey! Let go! I am a noble prophet, not your pacifier!"
Gamakon stumbled, nearly face-planting into the swaddling clothes. He could only resign himself to letting the future savior of the world ravage his leg, all while carefully suppressing his natural energy so he wouldn't accidentally harm the fragile infant.
Watching the scene, Minato and Kushina both burst into laughter.
"It looks like Naruto really likes Mr. Gamakon," Minato said with a chuckle, wiping a stray tear of relief from his eye.