~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter! Your votes keep this climbing. Thanks!
On the streets of Konoha.
Miyuki Uzumaki, with her large, prominent belly, ran into Mikoto Uchiha, who was holding her infant son, Sasuke Uchiha. Since Minato Namikaze and the Uchiha clan were currently on good terms, Miyuki and Mikoto were well acquainted.
Miyuki looked at the baby with curiosity. "Mikoto, is it a girl?"
Mikoto smiled. "It's a boy."
"So cute. He has delicate features like a girl. He'll be a handsome one for sure. What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
Biwa Sarutobi walked up beside Miyuki, also smiling warmly at the baby. "Named after Hiruzen's father."
Miyuki's pregnancy, as the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, put the entire village of Konoha on high alert. After all, the day she gave birth would be when the seal on the Nine-Tails was at its weakest. There was a real risk of a breakout. And Minato, as Hokage, was swamped with duties. He couldn't always be by her side. So, Biwa Sarutobi was the one providing Miyuki with constant, close care.
Mikoto smiled at Biwa's comment, looking down at Sasuke in her arms. "Yes. I hope he grows into a strong, exceptional shinobi."
Mikoto then glanced at Miyuki's stomach. "You're getting close too, Miyuki. Have you picked a name?"
Miyuki reached out and gently stroked Sasuke's head. "Mm. It's decided. Naruto. He'll be Sasuke's classmate. I hope they get along."
"Miyuki!"
Kushina Uzumaki spotted them and called out.
Miyuki, Mikoto, and Biwa all turned towards the voice. Miyuki and Biwa's faces remained warm and smiling as they saw Kushina approaching.
Mikoto's expression, however, shifted completely. The only reason she'd dared to venture out was because Qianyu had been away from Konoha for months. Now that he was back… a Leaf Village Defense Force ninja could materialize from any shadow and haul her and Sasuke away.
"I… I need to get home. Miyuki, Lady Biwa, excuse me." Without waiting for a reply, Mikoto hurried off, clutching her son.
Miyuki and Biwa understood perfectly, but there was nothing to be done. Within the Uchiha clan, Qianyu's name was enough to make children stop crying.
Qianyu, supporting Kushina, walked up to the two women. "Miyuki. Lady Biwa."
Miyuki gave him a gentle, knowing smile. "You're finally back, Qianyu. Any longer and Kushina here would have turned into a 'gazing-at-husband rock'."
Qianyu looked at Kushina. "If I'd known she was pregnant, I wouldn't have left."
Kushina, not wanting him to dwell on guilt, quickly changed the subject. "Are you two out for a stroll as well?"
Biwa answered. "That's right. Miyuki's due in about three months. A bit of walking is good. You must be close too, Kushina."
Three months… A sharp glint flickered in Qianyu's eyes, gone as quickly as it came.
Kushina nodded. "Yes, I'm about a month behind Miyuki. Six months along now, so roughly four more to go."
Biwa let out a nostalgic sigh. "To think, it feels like just yesterday you and Qianyu were in the Academy. Now you're both having children. Time truly flies. Makes one feel old. Lady Mito would have been overjoyed to see this."
At the mention of Mito Uzumaki, a pang of sadness touched both Miyuki and Kushina's expressions.
Biwa asked, "Now that Qianyu's back, have you two settled on a name?"
Kushina's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Yes! Uzumaki Cang M. Qianyu chose it, hoping our child's path towards his dreams will be smooth and unobstructed."
Miyuki praised, "That's a wonderful name."
Biwa, however, shot a surprised glance at Qianyu. No family name… so the child will take Kushina's surname…
Kushina inquired, "What about yours, Miyuki?"
Miyuki nodded. "Yes, it's decided. Naruto Namikaze."
"Naruto… 'to make one's mark', right?" Kushina guessed.
"Partially," Miyuki explained. "It does carry that meaning. But the main reason is that Minato was deeply moved by the perseverance of the protagonist in Lord Jiraiya's book, The Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi. The hero never gave up, right to the very end. His name was Naruto. So, Minato chose it."
Kushina's mouth twitched. Naming your child after a book character… feels a bit… haphazard. Compared to that, Qianyu's choice felt much more thoughtful.
The two expectant mothers fell into conversation, topics naturally revolving around pregnancy.
Qianyu waited patiently to the side.
Biwa took the opportunity to approach him. "Qianyu, when did you return?"
"Last night."
"Your timing is fortuitous. We may need your assistance when Miyuki gives birth."
Qianyu understood her meaning perfectly. She was talking about the Nine-Tails, not actual midwifery. "Miyuki is Kushina's kin. I will, of course, do everything in my power to help her."
After chatting a while longer, the two couples said their goodbyes. Qianyu carefully supported Kushina as they headed home.
…
Meanwhile.
In Kirigakure.
Zetsu stared at Obito Uchiha, surprise evident in his tone. "You're truly going through with this?"
Obito's voice was utterly flat, devoid of emotion. "Correct. The jinchūriki, Miyuki Uzumaki, is nearing her delivery date. The seal on the Nine-Tails will be at its absolute weakest then. It's our opportunity."
Zetsu was puzzled. "But… why not just capture the Nine-Tails? Why go through the trouble of setting it loose on Konoha?"
Obito explained, cold and methodical. "To enact the Eye of the Moon Plan, I will inevitably become the enemy of the entire shinobi world. Destroying Konoha now would be ideal. The Third Great War just ended. Konoha is still weak. Two of the Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, are absent. Hiruzen Sarutobi is old, his power diminished. Their only top-tier combatants now are Minato Namikaze and Qianyu.
"Qianyu and Minato are troublesome, I'll grant you that. But I will personally handle them both. The Nine-Tails will be the instrument of Konoha's destruction."
Zetsu looked at Obito, his expression inscrutable. Is Obito overestimating himself… or underestimating Qianyu and Minato Namikaze?
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!