Chapter 11: Welcome Baby!

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

I fixed the chapter numeration in patreeeon. So, now the number of the chapter here matches with the one in patreeeon.

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 10 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-3 chapters a day in patreeeeon.

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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By now, six hours had passed since we arrived at the hospital, and around four hours ago, Fugaku had been taken to Mikoto's room to be there for her and the baby, leaving Itachi and me alone in the waiting room.

I could feel Lady Mikoto's chakra fluctuating every three to four minutes. At first, the fluctuations had been ten to twenty minutes apart, but the more time passed, the closer these fluctuations got.

Itachi sat next to me, his hands clasped tightly together, his eyes fixed on the floor. He hadn't spoken much since his father left, and I could sense the worry gnawing at him. So, as the good friend I was, I reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of reassurance.

"Itachi, she's going to be fine," I said, a faint smile on my face. "Lady Mikoto is strong, and she's in good hands."

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "I know, Takeshi. It's just... this waiting, I hate waiting without knowing. It's unbearable."

I nodded, understanding his frustration. The waiting was indeed the hardest part, even if you knew that everything would be okay in the end. To not know something you want to know is basically torture.

"Why don't we try to distract ourselves?" I suggested. "Maybe talk about something else. Like our next training session. Your father mentioned we might start learning some new techniques."

Itachi managed a small smile at that. "Yes, Father has been talking about that. He's been emphasizing the importance of mastering our chakra control."

"Exactly," I said, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation towards something outside the current situation. "And we've been making great progress. Remember how difficult it was when we first started? Now, we can maintain our chakra flow with ease."

Itachi stared at me with an expression that all but shouted: Are you kidding me? "Difficult? You have mastered every chakra control exercise we have done almost immediately."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I am not jealous," Itachi retorted, a flush creeping up his neck. "I am frustrated; there's a difference."

"I honestly have no idea why you would be frustrated," I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. "I mean, sure, I master the exercises faster than you, but not fast enough to leave you behind. What takes you hours takes me minutes, so by the end of each training session we remain on equal terms."

Itachi let out a long, suffering sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You are insufferable, Takeshi. That's not even remotely fair."

I laughed at his exasperation, nudging him playfully with my elbow. "Come on, Itachi. You and I both know that once you awaken the cheat that runs in your family, things will change."

His eyes flicked to me, a mix of amusement and exasperation crinkling in them. "Cheat?" He huffed, his lips quirking up as he finally allowed himself to be drawn into our silly banter. "Is that what you're calling the Sharingan now?"

"Oh, excuse me, and how would you call the thing that allows you to copy or memorize almost anything you see with a simple look?" I asked, leaning in closer with a teasing grin. "Because if that's not a cheat, then I'm not sure what is."

Itachi couldn't suppress his chuckle. "Very well, I'll concede your point. When you say it like that, it does sound like it's a cheat. However, while your point holds some truth, seeing as the Sharingan can indeed copy and memorize things, I won't agree with you calling it a cheat. The Sharingan is a tool, a gift passed down throughout the Uchiha clan by blood."

"Tool, cheat, gift. It's all semantics, really." I let out a laugh, shaking my head in amusement. "The only reason you are not agreeing with me is because you know that by fully conceding to my point, you would be calling your entire clan a group of cheaters."

"I won't acknowledge that statement without my lawyer present," Itachi said with a smile that barely reached his eyes.

"Alright, alright," I chuckled, crossing my arms. "I will be the first one to admit that even though your clan can copy things by just looking at them, they still need to train; otherwise, your eyes are basically useless."

"What I heard is: I was wrong, Itachi, please forgive my insolence," Itachi interjected smugly, raising an eyebrow.

Shit, shots fired. Who would've known that the once quiet and overly polite kid would grow to have some bite?

Taking a moment to fully appreciate Itachi's comeback, I let out a laugh, my hand clutching my stomach as I bent over with the force of it. Itachi merely stared, his lips twitching up into a rare, full-fledged smile. Then, the door to the waiting room opened, and a nurse stepped in, getting our full attention.

The nurse in question had a calm and reassuring expression as she walked towards us. "Itachi-kun, Takeshi-kun," she said, smiling warmly. "Lady Mikoto has given birth to a healthy baby and has asked me to invite you two to meet the newest member of the Uchiha clan."

The two of us? Well, I'll be. I thought this would be a more intimate family matter. I know Lady Mikoto says I'm family, but I always reckoned she meant more like a second cousin twice removed type of thing.

She does says rather constantly than I'm part of the family. But most of the time I just assume it's a nice thing she says to show she's grateful Itachi has a friend in me, and even if that wasn't her intention, I certainly wouldn't had expected to be invited to what most people consider the most intimate moment in a family, after… you know, the whole birthing ordeal.

"We would be honored," Itachi answered before I could say a thing.

I guess it's time to meet the baby.

With a nod, the nurse turned, leading us through the sterile corridors of the Konoha Hospital. As we walked, I noticed that the floors were polished to a shine, reflecting the dim glow from overhead, and the air had that peculiar smell, a mix of antiseptic and stale food that clung to the interiors of such places. I guess even here, hospital food is terrible.

Murmurs of quiet conversation slipped out from the rooms we passed, accompanied by an occasional soft whimper or hearty laughter.

I stole a glance at Itachi as we walked side by side. His face had returned to his usual stoic self, but his onyx eyes held a spark I hadn't seen before—a spark of eager anticipation that gleamed brightly.

The nurse eventually stopped at door 404, her hand hesitating over the handle for a moment before she pushed it open gently. "Lady Mikoto is waiting," she said and then discreetly withdrew, possibly going to do something else around the hospital.

As we stepped through the doorway, I was struck by the… perturbing image of Fugaku smiling, almost as if he were in a daze. The room seemed to be bathed in a golden hue, its soft glow reflecting off the pristine white walls. A large window dominated one side of the room, revealing a nice view of the village framed by dense leafy trees.

This room was far nicer than most of the rooms we had passed. I guess being the head of a powerful clan had its benefits.

Nestled amidst the white bed in the middle of the room was Mikoto, cradling a tiny, swaddled bundle against her chest. Her straight black hair fanned out over the pillows, and her onyx eyes were softened with an unspoken joy that made her appear radiant despite her rather evident exhaustion.

Beside her on a chair was the smiling Fugaku. His gaze was locked onto the bundle cradled in Mikoto's arms with an intensity that was almost palpable.

Wait… he has his Sharingan active… Could it be? Oh god, that's just sweet… he's using the Sharingan to burn the memory of today into his mind. This man is layered like an onion.

Itachi and I shared a silent look before he approached, his steps measured and careful, as if he feared any abrupt movement would damage his mom or the baby.

"Mother," Itachi began, bowing slightly at the waist in respect.

Mikoto looked up, her tired yet radiant face breaking into a tender smile upon seeing her eldest son. "Itachi," she murmured sweetly, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. Yet her eyes sparkled with a joy that seemed to brighten the room even more.

I smiled at the scene, keeping a respectful distance from them, allowing the family to have their moment. Even if Lady Mikoto had invited me to be here, I wasn't going to overstep. I was happy watching everything unfold from where I was.

I would meet baby Sasuke closer later.

"Takeshi, you can come," Mikoto gestured gently, her voice reaching me warm and inviting. Her gaze held something that I could only interpret as approval, maybe even gratefulness. "You are family too."

I hesitated, glancing at Fugaku for any signs of protest. His stern face softened with a slight nod, indirectly granting permission. Still unsure of my place in this intimate family matter, I slowly stepped forward until I was beside Itachi.

Mikoto adjusted the blanket that protected the baby from the cool hospital air, revealing a tiny pink face nestled within. "Itachi, Takeshi, meet the newest member of our family, the princess of the Uchiha. Uchiha Mito."

My heart skipped a beat as the situation registered in my mind. Uchiha Mito… not Sasuke. This revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. Had I changed the timeline so much that… that Sasuke had been erased from it?

The surprise must have shown on my face because Mikoto gave me a gentle, understanding smile. "I know you expected a boy, so I suppose you owe Itachi some food," she repeated softly, smiling at Itachi.

I forced a smile, trying to hide my inner turmoil. This changed everything. The things about the future that I thought I knew seemed now… useless.

Itachi leaned in closer, his eyes softening as he took in his baby sister. "She's beautiful," he whispered, a rare tenderness in his voice. "I will protect her."

"She is," I agreed, wondering what else my presence in this world had changed… I didn't remember most of the anime or anything for that matter, but the scale of the butterfly effect still worried me.