The moon was nearing fullness, and the night air was slightly cool.
Recently, it was Makoto's squad's turn for night duty.
With the delivery date approaching, the Nine-Tails knew that at that critical moment the seal of the jinchūriki would loosen greatly. That would be its best opportunity to break free.
The day of great joy was right before its eyes; freedom for its fox life was within reach. This made it increasingly excited. Although no chakra leaked out to affect the real world, as the most powerful tailed beast, fluctuations of its will could still pass through the seal slightly, interfering with the omnipresent natural energy around Minato's house. The red natural energy grew even more violent in aura, overwhelmingly forceful.
During breaks from work, Makoto was, as usual, enjoying his benefits.
While on duty, the Nine-Tails helped him train; after work, he used the Seven-Tails' chakra to accelerate. The tailed beasts were truly good people—Makoto almost wanted to put on a suit, tie a tie, shake their claws, and say thank you.
After such a long period of hard grinding, he had now greatly improved the efficiency with which he absorbed the white natural energy.
Along with the accelerated growth of his body, even the Yin–Yang mixing ratio in his chakra control training had each advanced toward the extremes, reaching the 90% threshold.
The progress was really gratifying.
Suddenly, Makoto, who had been immersed in training, opened his eyes and looked at the figure that appeared beside him.
"Minato-senpai, sneaking out at night to look for a handsome young boy like me—if Kushina-senpai finds out, she won't get angry, will she?"
The Fourth Hokage looked somewhat embarrassed by this remark.
"Well… Kakashi was right. You really do enjoy these kinds of mischievous jokes."
"Oh? It seems Minato-senpai is a serious person. So then, what did you come out for? To clear your mind?"
"Ah—was it that obvious?"
"You've already written 'I have something on my mind, I'm unhappy' all over your face."
"Is that so? It seems my mental discipline still isn't enough." Minato mocked himself, then suddenly asked, "Makoto, what do you think of how I'm doing as Hokage?"
Hmm? Had the Little Sun been struck again by those old men?
But something like this—how could a mere chūnin comment on it?
"Sorry, Hokage-sama. As subordinates, we can't casually evaluate the Hokage's work."
"No, there is no Hokage and subordinate here. Just a conversation between friends."
"Alright then." After thinking for a moment, Makoto asked in return, "Do you want to hear the truth, or a lie?"
Minato was certain now. This guy really was exactly as Jōnin Kumomi had said—his mind was a bit different from other people's. Talking with him always led to unexpected discoveries, mischievous humor aside.
That was also the reason he had come outside tonight to find Makoto and relieve his mood.
"Tell me the lie first."
"Konoha has returned to the right track. Everything is exactly the same as when I was little."
"And the truth?"
"Konoha has returned to the right track. Everything is exactly the same as when I was little."
"Is there any difference between the lie and the truth?" After saying this, Minato suddenly reacted. "…What you said actually makes a lot of sense."
"Minato-senpai, you are Konoha's Hokage. You should know that sometimes, no change is the best outcome. The elders generally do not like overly drastic change."
Minato murmured, "Yes, you're right. But if that's the case, then what is the meaning of my being elected Hokage?"
"Among all the candidates, you were the most perfect successor, in every respect. That is the meaning."
Minato looked at Makoto in surprise. "Makoto, you really do see things clearly. Then, do you have any good advice for me?"
"Of course I do. That is… wait."
"Wait?"
"Yes, Minato-senpai—wait. No matter what advice I may have, our top priority next is to solve the problem in your household. So wait. Wait until you are holding your own child in your arms before talking about it."
Minato knew what Makoto meant by the problem in his household. He carefully recalled every bit and piece since getting to know Makoto, starting from being the chief proctor of the third round of the chūnin exams, to the northern front, to Makoto becoming a member of his shadow guard squad.
He was still very young, and his memory was good. The scenes flashed rapidly through his mind.
At last, Minato suddenly asked, "Makoto, you know Kushina's due date, right?"
"I do."
"So it really is just as I thought. How did you know?"
"Well, although I would like to say that I am a medical ninja and also a sensory ninja, and thanks to Kushina-senpai and you, I now have the additional identity of a sealing ninja as well, so there are some things I can roughly calculate—"
"But in fact, it was not that complicated. A week ago, when Biwako-sama came to visit Kushina-senpai, a certain rather thick-nerved person said it herself, and not quietly either."
Minato was somewhat embarrassed. His wife was indeed a bit careless and straightforward.
He quickly changed the subject. "Did all of you hear it?"
"No, only I heard it. With the help of vibrations in the air, so-called 'not quietly' only applies from my perspective. Hayate and Yūgao do not currently possess that kind of ability."
Minato let out a sigh of relief, then thought of one of Makoto's previous missions. "In mid-August, you took the mission in Takigakure. At the time, you had already guessed something, hadn't you?"
"I had some suspicions. After all, among all the small hidden villages in the shinobi world, only they possess a tailed beast. Fortunately, luck was on our side. As for the detailed situation, I think Leader Hisen has already told you in the letter."
"That's right, so…" Minato looked at Makoto seriously. "Makoto, you seem to be very interested in tailed beasts."
Look—this was exactly the kind of perfect ninja Jiraiya had described. He could always find the thread from the slightest clues and connect everything together.
"My, Minato-senpai, that investigative attitude of yours—are you suspecting me?"
Minato showed a sunny smile. "No. I have never suspected you. If I truly suspected you, I would not have come to ask you personally. I only want to know why."
Makoto fell silent for several seconds before speaking.
"If the tailed beast is extracted from a jinchūriki, the jinchūriki will die, right?"
"Yes. That is something many high-level ninjas know."
"I think you will be a good Hokage. And I am also grateful that Kushina-senpai selflessly taught me fūinjutsu, so I developed a sealing technique."
"With your talent, that does not surprise me. What does it do?"
"It can ensure that a jinchūriki can still survive after the tailed beast is extracted."
Minato was stunned. For a jinchūriki, a ninjutsu like this was no less than gaining an extra life. For Konoha, its significance was even greater.
Although he was not a jinchūriki, he was the husband of one, so he understood even more clearly how precious this ninjutsu was.
But he quickly calmed down.
"Makoto, do you think something unexpected will happen during Kushina's childbirth?"
Makoto spread his hands. "How would I know that? I simply have the habit of making thorough preparations beforehand. That has always been my way of doing things."
"Is that so? That's great. I can finally feel at ease. Whether something unexpected happens to Kushina or not, at least her safety now has a safeguard."
What a hopeless romantic. Wake up, Minato-senpai—you're the Hokage! If something really goes wrong, wouldn't Konoha be the one that suffers the most?
"So, on the day of the childbirth, what will our mission be?"
Minato's expression did not look very good when he heard that. "There will be no mission. The Third has already arranged everything. At that time, it will all be handled by his direct ANBU, and you—because of your age—will not be allowed to take part."
Makoto asked curiously, "That I can understand. Strictly speaking, we are still all children. For something dangerous like this, adult ninjas should naturally go first. That fits the Will of Fire.
"But Minato-senpai, you should know my strength. Am I also excluded?"
"Yes. Precisely because your strength is powerful, the Third believes that you are the core of Konoha's next generation of ninjas after me. That is all the more reason not to let you take risks. I also agree with this."
"Then what about now?"
"It's the same now. If everything goes smoothly, that would be best. But if something unexpected happens, Makoto, you will be the last hope for Kushina and me. I absolutely cannot let anything happen to you."
"Don't worry. You know it yourself—killing me isn't that easy."
"Mm, I know." Minato stood up, a relieved smile spreading across his face. He patted Makoto on the shoulder. "Then, Makoto, if the situation changes at that time, I'll be counting on you."
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama."
Minato turned and walked back home with light and cheerful steps. Even though he very much wanted to share this good news with Kushina right now, he remained very calm.
For the time being, it was enough that only he and Makoto knew about the new sealing technique. It could not be told to a third person—not even his own wife.
After he left, Makoto also fell into thought.
The real situation had diverged from his expectations. In order to protect promising members of the next generation like them, the village would not allow them to participate in matters involving the jinchūriki.
Makoto was not the kind of hotheaded fool like Naruto who would charge in precisely because he was forbidden to take part. He preferred to guide things according to the situation.
He remembered that in the original timeline, the place where Kushina gave birth was some distance from Konoha's main district, and Obito himself also possessed space–time ninjutsu.
He had taken Kushina and shifted her to an even more distant location, released the Nine-Tails, and then teleported himself to Konoha, directly summoning the Nine-Tails there.
If it were possible to prevent the tailed beast from being extracted, that would be the best outcome.
But if it could not be stopped immediately, then the first thing Makoto had to ensure was… the safety of his own family.
Yes. No matter how grateful he was to Minato and Kushina, he would never place them above his own parents.
That was simply human nature.
As for the matter of the Nine-Tails being released… since the four elders of Konoha had such confidence in their arrangements, then they could take another look at the big fox.
Although Minato had not stated it outright just now, it was clear from his expression that at the highest level of authority, he had once again been "democratically decided for."
He could not even decide where his own wife would give birth. As both husband and Hokage, it would be strange if he were happy about that. The only reason he had not fallen out on the spot was because of his good temper.
Even if this time passed safely, he would still fall back into that same stalemate of power afterward. Continuing like this was not a solution.
With so many decision-makers above them, these ninjas would not even know whose orders they were supposed to follow.
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