October 10.
Makoto was sleeping at home.
Working the night shift was like this—working at night and resting during the day.
But he was not truly asleep; he was paying attention to the movements in the village.
With him, Makoto, existing in this world, this was not the original timeline. Who knew whether Kushina would still give birth today.
Fortunately, everything seemed not to have changed much.
In the morning, the Third brought his wife, Biwako, to visit Minato's home. On the surface, it seemed just like before—normal visits between the two families—but in reality, it was to explain certain matters to the young couple.
In the afternoon, Biwako came again and went out shopping with Kushina, but in fact they were transferring toward the barrier outside the village.
It seemed the childbirth would indeed be today.
The Higashino family's residence was relatively remote. Like the Uzuki and Hayate households, it was not located in the village center.
If one had to make a comparison, it would probably be around Konoha's third ring.
Night fell, and Higashino Jirō and his wife returned home from work.
At present, Higashino Megumi was still working at the hospital, though her position had been raised one level higher than before. As a jōnin, after the war Higashino Jirō's main duty was to command the defensive patrol forces in the western district of Konoha. He was subordinate to the jōnin corps and the Hokage, and could be considered to have gained real authority within Konoha.
Makoto had rendered great merit during the war, but since he was still young, aside from ninjutsu and monetary rewards, the other benefits all fell to his parents.
He was not Kakashi; there was no need to compensate him by promoting him directly to jōnin. After the war, Konoha also did not need to break Kakashi's record for the youngest jōnin in order to boost morale.
After dinner, Makoto asked, "Mom, do you still need to go to the hospital tonight?"
Megumi was somewhat surprised. "No. What is it, Makoto? Do you need something?"
"Of course. Something very important. If anything big happens in the village tonight, remember not to go check it out. Organize the nearby residents and head to the shelters immediately."
Jirō asked directly, "Makoto, will something unexpected happen tonight? What do you know?"
"Father, today is the day Kushina-senpai gives birth. She is Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki. During childbirth, the seal will loosen, and there is a risk that the tailed beast may escape."
After hearing this, the two of them felt somewhat worried. Their status in the village was not low, and they were also familiar with Minato's family, so they naturally knew Kushina's identity.
They had only not expected that she would give birth today; very few people knew such information.
Megumi asked with concern, "Makoto, do you still have to go to work?"
"Yes, Mom. There are no other orders from above, so everything must proceed as usual. Don't worry—I will be fine."
Jirō also comforted her. "Megumi, Makoto is very strong. There is no need to worry. Just do as he said. If something unexpected happens, be sure to stay away from the center of the battle. You have never seen a tailed beast—you do not know how terrifying they are."
Megumi nodded blankly. "I understand!"
Jirō did not mention himself, and there was no need to. If something really did happen, as one of Konoha's jōnin, he would have to fight on the front line.
When it came to tailed beasts, there was simply no meaning in chūnin rushing forward. They were not even qualified to scratch the itch.
...
Inside the ANBU base, in the activity room of the Shadow Guard unit, the three of them had already put on their equipment.
He said to Hayate and Yūgao, "If fighting breaks out tonight, remember to go back immediately and protect your families by keeping them away from the danger zone."
Hayate reacted at once. "Kushina-senpai's due date is today?"
"Yes."
"Alright, we understand!"
The two of them did not ask further. As usual, the squad headed toward Minato's home. They still thought she would give birth at home and did not know that the place was already empty.
After arriving at the guard point, Makoto did not hide himself, but stood on the rooftop, looking at peaceful and tranquil Konohagakure.
Not long after night fell, quite a few people, having finished dinner, chose to go out for a walk to digest their food. The various izakayas were also full of voices, unusually lively.
The whole of Konoha was brightly lit, and the streets were crowded with streams of people.
At this moment, within the barrier far back in Konoha's rear mountain area, Kushina let out painful screams as she struggled to give birth.
How painful was childbirth for a woman? Makoto, who had been a man in both lives, did not know. But Biwako was right—this was a pain that even men might not be able to endure.
That place was already beyond Makoto's range of perception. With the childbirth site chosen so far away, one could imagine just how deep Konoha's F4's fear of the Nine-Tails ran.
They had never been overly worried about enemy invasion. The focus of their defenses had always been the Nine-Tails, with the idea that even if the Nine-Tails broke through the seal, it had to be dealt with outside the village.
Layer upon layer of barriers had been arranged inside and outside the childbirth site. Even if Makoto could sense that far, he still could not clearly perceive what was happening inside.
Konohagakure was the strongest shinobi village in the world and possessed all of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing inheritance. The barriers it set up were nothing like the cheap knockoff goods put together by Takigakure.
Not only that, several layers of ANBU had been stationed around the outer perimeter of the childbirth site, forbidding anyone from approaching. This included Makoto. Without the Hokage's permission, no matter who entered would be treated as an enemy and killed.
When it concerned a jinchūriki, no one would talk to you about personal feelings. Even the title of Konoha hero would not help.
Honestly, Makoto found these arrangements a bit hard to criticize. With so many people surrounding the place, it was obvious at a glance that something major was happening. As long as Obito knew the approximate date, once he reached Konoha he could find the target with his eyes closed.
Did he know the date?
Of course he did. There was no need for Kakashi to leak it. Kushina herself actually had very little awareness of keeping it secret. She often ran around the village with her big belly and even occasionally went to the hospital for checkups.
In fact, although Kakashi often talked to himself while visiting the graves, he had never actually revealed anything substantive. One could doubt his decadence, but one could not doubt his qualities as a shinobi.
Especially after being tricked once by Makoto, he no longer spoke aloud when visiting graves, and instead said everything in his mind.
Time passed, and the moon became full and round.
Suddenly, Makoto sensed a fluctuation of chakra coming from Minato's room.
He immediately gave a hand signal to Hayate and Yūgao, telling them to withdraw. After receiving the signal, the two of them left quickly.
Makoto himself rushed into Minato's house.
...
Inside the bedroom of Minato's residence, when Makoto rushed in, he saw him placing a baby on the bed. Sensing the familiar chakra approaching, Minato said, "Makoto, something unexpected has happened. Help me take care of Naruto for a moment while I bring Kushina here."
"Alright, go quickly."
The situation was urgent, and Minato did not stand on ceremony. With a flash, he disappeared.
The childbirth site was somewhat far for ordinary shinobi, but for someone who could use Flying Thunder God, it was just a matter of one ninjutsu.
Looking at the little fellow on the bed who was crying with all his strength, Makoto felt very curious.
This was Uzumaki Naruto—if he would still carry the surname Uzumaki in the future.
The Sage of Talk-no-Jutsu of the original timeline, the "savior" of the shinobi world.
At this moment, he was merely a newborn infant who had just arrived in this world. The moment he was born, his senior Obito had already sent him a congratulatory gift—a warm pack burning with beautiful flames.
Unfortunately, his father had refused it.
The little fellow kept crying. Makoto placed a finger by his mouth. Naruto seemed to feel reassured and instinctively began to suck on it.
Makoto infused chakra into his body and immediately sensed a surging vitality. Truly worthy of the Uzumaki constitution, the reincarnation of Asura.
However, Makoto did not sense where the so-called Asura chakra was. Perhaps that thing was simply inseparable from Naruto himself and impossible to distinguish.
So was he Naruto, or the Sage of Six Paths' son Asura?
A familiar fluctuation of chakra appeared again. Minato returned carrying Kushina.
At this moment, the energetic onee-san who was usually full of vitality and drive was so weak she looked as if she might collapse at any moment. Yet she paid no attention to her own body; in her eyes there was only her son.
After her husband placed her on the bed, she immediately reached out and held Naruto. In her understanding, this might be the first—and the last—time the mother and son would meet in this world.
"Naruto! Naruto."
She did not even notice Makoto standing to the side.
Minato said, "Makoto, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Leave it to me."
After hearing the reply, the Fourth Hokage opened the wardrobe, put on the Hokage ceremonial robe, and with a flash of his figure, disappeared again.
Because he knew his wife would not die, he did not say much more to Kushina.
There was still an enemy waiting for him to face.
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