The sun had barely risen, spilling warm rays of light through the curtains of Minato's home. Inside the bedroom, laughter and whispers still lingered in the air. Kushina lay on the bed, her fiery red hair cascading across the pillows, cheeks glowing with warmth and contentment. Beside her, Minato sprawled out, his chest rising and falling with deep, satisfied breaths. Morning exercises, as Kushina liked to call them, had left him equally exhausted and blissful.
For a while, silence reigned in the room. The kind of silence only possible between two people who trusted each other completely—comfortable, peaceful, and brimming with love. Then Minato's soft voice broke it.
"By the way, Jiuer," he said gently, rolling onto his side to look at her. "How about Ten Times Love Uzumaki Egg Fried Rice with milk today?"
Kushina blinked at him, amused by his suggestion, but before she could reply, something unexpected happened.
"Ugh—"
She sat up abruptly, clutching her stomach, her face paling. She began to gag, her body trembling as though her system had suddenly rejected the thought of milk.
Minato shot upright in alarm. "What's wrong?"
"I… I don't know," Kushina groaned, her brows furrowed. "I just suddenly felt nauseous."
Minato froze for a moment, his mind racing. Kushina rarely got sick—her appetite was legendary. He reached out, holding her shoulders, his eyes filled with concern.
"Strange. Your stomach's always strong. Did I… was I too rough just now?" His expression tightened. "That's not right. Even if I used clones, your body should've been fine. Are you sick?"
The thought of something being wrong with her frightened him more than any enemy could. His usual calm demeanor wavered.
Kushina whimpered, leaning against him. "Minato, I feel awful…" Tears threatened to well in her eyes as another wave of nausea rolled through her.
"Don't be afraid. I'll take you to the hospital right away!"
Without hesitation, Minato scooped her into his arms. His movements were gentle, yet swift. In a flash, the two disappeared from the bedroom, reappearing at the Konoha Hospital entrance thanks to his Flying Thunder God technique.
---
Ten minutes later, Minato paced outside a ward like a caged lion, his blond hair disheveled from running his hands through it countless times. Every passing second felt like an eternity.
Finally, the door opened. Lin, now a skilled medic-nin, stepped out in her white coat, her expression unreadable. Before Minato could bombard her with questions, an excited voice called out from behind her.
"Minato! I'm going to be a mom!"
Kushina rushed out, her face glowing with joy.
Minato froze, his mind blank for a moment. "You mean… I'm going to be a father?"
"Yes, you are a father now!" Kushina laughed, her voice trembling with excitement.
It took only a heartbeat for the truth to sink in. Minato's face lit up like the morning sun. "Ahhh! I'm going to be a father!"
Unable to contain himself, he swept Kushina into his arms and spun her around, laughing loudly. Kushina laughed with him, tears of happiness spilling from her eyes. For that moment, nothing else in the world mattered—just the two of them and the tiny miracle growing within her.
"Minato-sensei, please be careful!" Lin yelped, flustered. "Kushina-sister is pregnant, you can't jump around like that!"
Minato froze mid-spin, lowering Kushina immediately. He nodded rapidly, looking as guilty as a child caught misbehaving. "Yes, yes, yes! No more jumping!"
His awkward, sheepish look sent both Kushina and Lin into fits of laughter. But Minato didn't care if he looked silly. His heart was too full. He crouched down slowly, pressing his ear against Kushina's belly, though he knew it was too soon to hear anything. Still, he stayed there, eyes closed, as if trying to sense the tiny heartbeat within.
Kushina's hands trembled slightly as she brushed her fingers through his hair. Looking down at him, her eyes softened. She had always been fiery, loud, and bold, but in this moment, she felt nothing but tenderness for the man who had made her a mother.
The couple stood wrapped in their happiness, their world transformed forever.
---
That afternoon, Minato summoned Kakashi to the Hokage's office. The young jonin appeared promptly, his mask concealing most of his face, though his sharp eyes caught the unusual brightness in his sensei's expression.
"Kakashi," Minato said, barely able to contain his joy, "I have an extremely important mission for you."
Kakashi tilted his head. It was rare to see his sensei grinning so openly. Could it be…?
Minato's next words confirmed his suspicion. "Kushina… she's pregnant."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly behind his mask, then softened. "Congratulations, Minato-sensei." His words carried genuine warmth.
"Thank you, Kakashi," Minato said. Then his tone grew serious. "I want you to become Kushina's personal bodyguard until she gives birth. You must protect her at all costs. When a Jinchūriki goes into labor, the seal weakens. The Nine Tails may try to break free."
Kakashi straightened immediately, his expression solemn. "Don't worry. I'll protect her and the child with my life."
In truth, Minato didn't need to ask. Kakashi would have volunteered for this role. He owed so much to his sensei and felt a deep, unspoken bond with Kushina as well.
But behind his composed exterior, Kakashi's mind wandered to troubling thoughts. Ever since the war in the Mist, the fate of Obito and his mysterious brother haunted him. Reports whispered of a masked man appearing alongside the Akatsuki's leader, Payne. Kakashi was almost certain it was one of them—perhaps even both, twisted by fate and power. The possibility of an Eternal Mangekyō, combined with Hashirama's cells, chilled him. If true, it would be a calamity.
He shook off the thought, focusing on the present. Protecting Kushina and her child came first.
"By the way, let's ask Shisui to join," Kakashi suggested. "The more strong allies around Kushina, the better."
"A good idea," Minato agreed immediately. "With Shisui's eyes, if the Nine Tails stirs, he can help suppress it."
Minato's smile returned as he recalled something. "When I took Kushina for her checkup this morning, I ran into Fugaku and Mikoto. You won't believe it—Mikoto's pregnant too!"
Kakashi blinked. "That's… quite a coincidence."
"Fugaku even joked that if one's a boy and the other a girl, we should arrange a marriage," Minato chuckled.
Of course, he hadn't agreed. He believed marriage should come from love, not arrangement. Still, it was amusing how fate tied their families together. Two best friends, Kushina and Mikoto, carrying children at the same time—it was hard not to wonder if destiny had plans for their children too.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly, thoughts swirling. Naruto and Sasuke, born so close together…
If they grew up side by side, perhaps their bond could change the future of the shinobi world itself.
---
Three months passed quickly. Outside Minato's home, Kakashi and Shisui maintained their silent watch. Hidden in the shadows, their senses stretched far, alert to any sign of danger. To keep their edge sharp, their clones sparred constantly in the training grounds, never allowing their vigilance to dull.
Their dedication did not go unnoticed.
One day, a tall, broad-shouldered figure with long white hair approached the house. His gait was casual, but his eyes missed nothing. Even before he reached the door, he glanced knowingly at their hiding spot.
Kakashi stiffened. Discovered so easily?
Of course, he realized who it was. Only one man in Konoha possessed that sharp perception and aura—Minato's master, the legendary Toad Sage, Jiraiya.
Kakashi felt a twinge of excitement. It had been too long since he'd faced someone whose presence alone made him feel pressured. Jiraiya was still at his peak, his power unquestionable. For a moment, Kakashi's competitive spirit flared.
Jiraiya, however, paid no mind to their silent contest. He knocked on the door, and soon Kushina, heavily pregnant but still glowing, opened it.
"Thank you for your hard work, little Kakashi and little Shisui!" she called warmly. "Come in and eat something!"
"No, Sister Kushina," Kakashi replied quickly, shaking his head. "We'll stay out here and keep watch."
Kushina sighed, though fondly. For months, the two had refused her invitations, always insisting on keeping their posts. She disappeared inside for a moment, then returned with a small box of pastries.
"You two are made of iron, but even iron needs fuel," she scolded lightly, pressing the box into Kakashi's hands. Before he could refuse, she closed the door with a firm click.
Kakashi stared at the box, then at Shisui, and the two shared a helpless smile.
Later, when the sun dipped low, Kakashi glanced at his companion. "Whose turn is it today?"
"The day before yesterday it was Obito, yesterday Yamato, so today it should be Guy," Shisui replied without hesitation.
"Alright then. Guy it is."
Kakashi tucked the snack box away, already planning to send it along with his clone. After all, no food prepared by Kushina—no matter how simple—should go to waste.
As he stood watch, Kakashi's thoughts drifted again. Lin and Hong must be preparing a meal together now. Meanwhile, here we are in the shadows, protecting the future of the village.
And though he said it lightly, he knew in his heart: this was the most important mission of his life.
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