Chapter 240: Kurenai Gives Birth, The Grand Curtain Rises! (Seeking Subscriptions)
Upon returning from the moon, Sarutobi Asuma received a communication from Kakuzu.
Kakuzu's bounty had skyrocketed!
This was because he had consecutively eliminated three of the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Even Namikaze Minato's elite pursuit team couldn't succeed, and even Kakashi, known as Konoha's technician, the Copy Ninja, and Konoha's Lightning Flash, failed and returned injured.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was furious and immediately increased Kakuzu's bounty to 100 million ryo.
"As expected of a Daimyo, truly wealthy," Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
There was also another piece of news.
Akatsuki had gained another member.
Hidan, with his immortal body!
"Besides Uchiha Itachi, Akatsuki is finally complete!" Sarutobi Asuma thought to himself. "Are they fully developed now?"
Uchiha Itachi was gone, but they had the even stronger six members of the Tenshin Group.
Akatsuki now was much more powerful than in the original story.
Two days passed.
An envoy from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire arrived at Konoha.
Then, Namikaze Minato found Sarutobi Asuma and said with a smile, "The Daimyo wants you to take care of Kakuzu!"
Just the day before yesterday, another one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja had been killed.
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head. "I'm in seclusion and don't have time."
"Besides, Kurenai is pregnant."
Namikaze Minato nodded. He knew that Kakuzu was Asuma's clone, and he didn't intend for Asuma to dispatch himself anyway.
He actually had another matter to discuss today.
A message had come back from Uchiha Obito.
Akatsuki's power had accumulated sufficiently, and their intelligence gathering was almost complete. They would soon begin capturing the Tailed Beasts.
This also meant that a new war was imminent.
"Shouldn't we also prepare for war?" Namikaze Minato asked.
Sarutobi Asuma thought for a moment. "We can start by stockpiling supplies in the South Sage Continent."
"Even with Akatsuki's strength, it will take considerable time for them to collect all eight Tailed Beasts. After all, they don't dare to directly attack the ninja villages to snatch them; they still need to wait for opportunities."
Namikaze Minato nodded, then asked, "Asuma, do you have confidence?"
Sarutobi Asuma was taken aback.
Namikaze Minato continued, "When this war breaks out, it will happen just as Naruto and the others are growing up."
"I initially thought it would be resolved before they grew up."
Sarutobi Asuma immediately understood. "Are you worried about Naruto?"
"You don't need to worry too much; Naruto is extraordinary."
"Of this generation, my most promising students are Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke."
Namikaze Minato immediately said, "Then it's settled about me asking you to be a team leader!"
Sarutobi Asuma's eyes twitched. "Big brother Minato, you're not thinking of having me lead Naruto and them, are you?"
Namikaze Minato nodded. "You're the most suitable, aren't you?"
"So, have you already assigned them, big brother Minato?" Sarutobi Asuma asked.
"Yes," Namikaze Minato replied. "The Ino-Shika-Cho formation, I plan to give to Shinya."
"Naruto, Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura will be assigned to you."
"When Naruto and them graduate next year, Kurenai will likely have just given birth. As for Hyuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Inuzuka Kiba, I'll have Kakashi or Shimura Dan lead them."
"As for Karin, she will join the medical team."
Sarutobi Asuma felt his scalp tingle. "Everything's a mess!"
Sarutobi Asuma pondered for a moment before saying, "Wouldn't it be a bit of a waste to have Kakashi take Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka?"
"It's most suitable for Kakashi to take Naruto and the others."
"As for me..."
"During the Chunin special training, I'll personally train them!"
Namikaze Minato readily agreed, "Then it's settled!"
With that, he vanished.
Sarutobi Asuma realized what had happened.
He had been set up!
He chuckled and shook his head, then lowered his gaze to continue his training.
Days turned into weeks.
Kurenai's belly grew larger each day.
With Shizune finding a new direction, the development of her Kekkei Genkai also made significant progress.
Time flew by, and it was May 18th of Konoha year 60.
Outside the delivery room, Sarutobi Asuma waited with a hint of nervousness.
It was his second time becoming a father, after all.
Little Nawaki was also there, eagerly awaiting, occasionally asking, "Where's my sister?"
Suddenly.
The cry of a newborn infant echoed out.
Sarutobi Asuma secretly let out a sigh of relief. She was finally born.
With Tsunade and the others present, Kurenai's safety was not a concern.
"My sister is here!"
Sarutobi Asuma picked up Little Nawaki, kissed him, and then put him down before disappearing entirely, leaving Little Nawaki stunned in his spot.
For some reason, he felt a pang of sadness.
Little did he know.
With the birth of his "little padded jacket," his status had dropped by one!
Inside the delivery room.
Tsunade held the newborn Mirai, with Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Miri beside her.
As for Shizune, she was the Jonin sensei for Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka, and was currently on a mission, not at home.
After checking on Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma stepped forward to hold his child.
Sarutobi Mirai—that name was excellent, and Sarutobi Asuma didn't change it.
The little one had just been born, but she truly looked more beautiful than Little Nawaki had at that age.
His days as a dad had begun once more.
The next day.
Namikaze Minato paid them a visit, and Uzumaki Kana came along too, holding Nawaki's hand as they chattered excitedly around Sarutobi Mirai.
Not far away, Sarutobi Asuma and Minato were enjoying tea.
"The Stone Ninja, Cloud Ninja, and Mist Ninja have all refused to participate in these Chunin Exams."
Namikaze Minato put down his teacup and said, "I have invited the Fourth Kazekage, and he has agreed. The lists of participants from each village have been submitted, and the One-Tails Jinchuriki from Sunagakure is on the list."
"Obito's side has been confirmed; the time to capture the One-Tail will be after the Chunin Exams."
"They will undoubtedly make their move after the Chunin Exams."
"Furthermore, Orochimaru will make his move on the Fourth Kazekage first!"
Minato furrowed his brow slightly as he spoke the last sentence.
Sarutobi Asuma understood immediately and said, "Orochimaru's Transformation Technique is very powerful. He likely plans to kill the Kazekage when he arrives and impersonate him to enter Konoha."
"When the Chunin Exams conclude and he returns to Sunagakure, he can easily take the One-Tails Jinchuriki with him."
Namikaze Minato nodded.
This was the Akatsuki Organization's plan.
Currently, only Nagato, Uchiha Obito, and Zetsu knew of this plan.
Or rather, this was the plan they had devised together.
However, it was undoubtedly a very good plan.
If only the Akatsuki Organization didn't have so many spies.
"Let's proceed with the plan," Sarutobi Asuma said.
Sarutobi Asuma said.
As for whether the Fourth Kazekage was alive or dead, he didn't care at all.
Namikaze Minato wasn't a soft-hearted person either, but he had a slight concern due to the current alliance with the Sand Ninja.
Sarutobi Asuma also saw this, and said with a smile, "If we save the One-Tails Jinchuriki, I think he will become the Fifth Kazekage!"
Namikaze Minato nodded, his concerns completely vanishing.
Sarutobi Asuma changed the subject and asked, "How is Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode progressing?"
Namikaze Minato shook his head. "That Nine-Tails fellow is very stubborn and can't be communicated with. Currently, both Naruto and Kushina are forcefully obtaining the Nine-Tails' Chakra to complete the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode."
"This is clearly not safe."
Sarutobi Asuma raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "It seems I need to find a time to have a talk with the Nine-Tails!"
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com