Hidden within the layers of soil, waiting for the moment to strike.
This perfect opportunity did not keep Tobi waiting for long.
The wailing cry of a newborn suddenly filled the room.
On the bed, Kushina's body gradually calmed down, though she was weak, it was nothing too serious.
Joy immediately appeared on the faces of Minato and Hiruzen, and the two female medical ninjas beside them also breathed a sigh of relief.
The room was filled with the Nine-tailed Chakra, and they felt as if a mountain was pressing down on them during the delivery, making it hard to breathe.
"Congratulations, Fourth Hokage. It's a very healthy boy."
Hiruzen held the newborn, gently calming the crying child.
"Thank you, Lord Hiruzen."
Minato was overwhelmed with joy, greatly relieved.
"By the way, does the child have a name?"
Hiruzen asked.
"Yes, his name is Naruto. It's the name of the protagonist in one of Jiraiya's novels."
Minato answered.
"Jiraiya's… the name of a novel protagonist?"
Hiruzen's mouth twitched, and her expression became subtle.
If she remembered correctly, the novels written by that scoundrel Jiraiya are the kind of forbidden books not meant for anyone under 18 to read.
"Yes."
Minato didn't notice the subtle expression on Hiruzen's face.
"As long as you've decided."
Hiruzen brought the child in front of Kushina, letting her see the baby she had given birth to.
"Naruto… I'm so happy…"
Kushina weakly opened her eyes, a blissful smile appearing on her face as she looked at the baby in Hiruzen's arms, her eyes full of love.
After a while, Hiruzen said, "Alright, the child has been safely born. The subsequent matters need to be handled properly."
"Understood."
Minato nodded seriously.
What comes next is to stabilize the seal of the Nine-tails.
Previously, due to childbirth, the sealing technique on Kushina weakened significantly, and Chakra was vaguely leaking out. It had to be suppressed quickly to stabilize the seal and keep the Nine-tails calm.
Hiruzen smiled slightly as she carried the swaddled baby to the side.
"Kushina, I'll help you stabilize the seal."
Minato took a deep breath, preparing to perform the technique.
"Thank you, Minato."
"No problem, you're the one who had the hardest time."
Suppressing the excitement of having a child, Minato focused on the Nine-tails' seal, just about to perform the sealing technique on Kushina when a spine-chilling scream suddenly startled both Minato and Kushina.
The terrified cries of the two female medical ninjas came, as they looked with horror at Hiruzen, who had fallen in a pool of blood, with a mysterious figure standing beside her, dressed in black with a mask on his face.
The aura was gloomy and cold, one could not tell when he started standing there.
This mysterious figure was none other than Tobi.
He had chosen to act at this critical moment because it was when Minato and others were most relaxed, not expecting anyone to launch an attack then.
"Lord Hiruzen!"
Minato's pupils shrank, seeing Hiruzen lying there with a mix of shock and anger on his face as he glared fiercely at Tobi.
"Who are you?"
"What a boring question, Fourth Hokage. But your child is in my hands, so it's best not to act recklessly."
Tobi chuckled, holding the baby with a threatening demeanor.
"You bastard, let Naruto go!"
As Minato was about to act, Kushina's voice came from the side.
An ominous red Chakra burst out from Kushina's body, causing cracks in the surrounding walls, the thick stone unable to withstand the explosive impact of this red Chakra.
"Not good, the Nine-tails!"
Minato suddenly regained his composure, wanting to perform a sealing technique first to stabilize the Nine-tailed Chakra within Kushina.
Seeing this, Tobi knew he couldn't let Minato successfully perform the sealing technique, or his plan to unleash the Nine-tails and diminish Konoha's fighting power would become extremely difficult.
"Fourth Hokage, let's see if you love your child more, or your wife!"
Without mercy, Tobi tossed the baby towards the distant wall.
"No! Naruto! Minato, quickly—"
Catching sight of Naruto flying towards the wall from the corner of her eye, Kushina shouted anxiously, but to no avail. The combination of the Nine-tailed Chakra disruption and her weakened state post-childbirth made it impossible for her to intervene.
In the instant Kushina shouted, Minato's figure disappeared instantly, his feet tapping against the wall to stabilize himself, holding Naruto securely in his arms.
Just as he was about to heave a sigh of relief, the space around them quickly distorted.
Minato's expression changed dramatically, sensing imminent danger, and he shifted instantly to the side without hesitation.
In the place where the wall had been, a ghastly large hole appeared.
No debris fell; it was as though a chunk had been cleanly gouged out, disappearing from existence.
Is this… Space-Time Ninjutsu? Minato's eyes showed a hint of shock.
Turning his head to look, Tobi had already disappeared from the room, along with Kushina, who originally lay on the bed.
"Damn it!"
Minato's expression darkened, a chilling intent looming.
Tobi's Chakra was difficult to sense through Chakra perception.
But since Tobi had taken Kushina, and Kushina's seal had flaws causing the Nine-tailed Chakra to uncontrollably spread, Minato could easily sense the direction in which Kushina was taken.