Kushina Gives Birth

Konoha Year 51, October 10th, 5:00 PM.

"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."

The barrier was set.

This barrier served as the second line of defense.

The outer layer was a perception-blocking barrier, and inside the barrier were a large number of ANBU masters.

"It's all good, Minato-sensei. For safety, I've reinforced the barrier's effects. Its defensive and concealment capabilities are fully restored."

This barrier had actually been in place for almost half a month.

Today was Kushina's due date, so Minato specifically invited Shintaro to bolster the defenses.

Minato nodded with satisfaction and patted Shintaro on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your hard work. You can go back and rest now. There are enough people here, so I don't need to trouble you further."

Shintaro did not object. After all, these were not mere polite words.

With two layers of barriers and ANBU plus the Fourth Hokage personally overseeing it, it seemed unlikely that anyone in the ninja world could breach this defense and threaten Kushina.

Shintaro had tested it and found that the barrier's defense was sufficient to withstand a chakra attack on the level of a Bijudama.

The reason it's called a chakra attack is that the barrier is a product of Jujutsu, and using Cursed Energy to attack it would be twice as effective with half the effort.

Switching to chakra would require more effort.

This might be because Cursed Energy is pure spiritual energy, whereas chakra is a combination of physical and spiritual energy. Therefore, the effect of the attack on the barrier would be weakened, unless a miracle occurred with great power.

If an attack capable of penetrating the barrier was used, almost half of Konoha would hear it.

This would be more than enough to call for reinforcements.

So after setting up the barrier, Shintaro went to Yuhi's house for dinner with a calm mind.

Tonight's dinner was prepared by Shinku. After a simple meal, Shintaro returned home and began training.

A year after the war, he had not slackened his training.

Not only in Jujutsu, but also in the Five Element Ninjutsu, which was quite effective.

Now, even without using Cursed Techniques, Shintaro could reach the Kage level with just his Six Eyes and Five Element Ninjutsu. After practicing ninjutsu for a while, he sat cross-legged in the courtyard and began meditating.

The moon gradually rose, shining on him as he trained alone in the courtyard.

However, there was another observer, a shiny black crow named Hikaru.

At the same time, in the middle of the Uchiha Clan settlement, at the clan leader's house, only Mikoto and her two sons were home.

Mikoto was busy with tonight's dinner in front of a large stew pot in the kitchen.

Itachi sat on the tatami, playing with baby Sasuke.

Sasuke grabbed his brother's finger with both of his small hands and smiled happily, looking very innocent.

"Mom, will a baby be born in the Fourth Hokage's family?"

Itachi looked at Sasuke and asked.

Mikoto, still focused on cooking dinner and with her back to Itachi, said, "Yes, I wonder what kind of child he'll be."

After a pause, she said again, "Mom will be going out tonight, so you'll have to eat by yourselves."

"Yeah." Itachi replied while still looking at Sasuke.

"Dad has work to do, so take good care of Sasuke." Mikoto asked again.

Itachi simply replied softly, "Yes."

Mikoto turned to look at her two children and suddenly felt how lucky she was to have such obedient sons.

Itachi was only 4 years old now. If he were an ordinary child, he would still be naughty and playful at that age.

However, he was able to take good care of his mother and younger brother.

This made Mikoto, a young mother, less worried.

❀❀❀

Hidden within the barrier on the edge of Konoha was the place where Kushina was giving birth.

In the delivery room, the person responsible for delivering Kushina was Sarutobi Biwako and her disciple Taji, both experts in medical ninjutsu.

"How is the delivery going?"

A man's voice was heard, his tone anxious and slightly panicked.

Naturally, the only man who could enter Kushina's delivery room was Minato.

As Kushina's husband and Konoha's Hokage, Minato had to ensure Kushina's safety.

But when it came to childbirth, he was not a professional.

"Minato, my stomach hurts..."

Kushina was lying on the bed. Although she had not yet started giving birth, she was already experiencing related symptoms.

"Don't be nervous, a little pain is normal."

Biwako reassured her.

Taji explained the current situation to Kushina.

"Pain is inevitable. It's caused by uterine contractions and the descent of the baby's head. These causes can result in periodic cramping pain and back pain."

"It means the baby will be born soon."

Kushina lay there, no longer interested in listening to any explanations.

She just wanted to deliver the baby as soon as possible.

"AH!!!"

A heart-wrenching cry escaped from Kushina's mouth.

Biwako immediately realized the signs.

"The water has broken, and the baby is about to be born."

Minato immediately approached Kushina and said with a tense expression, "You hear that, Kushina? Our child Naruto will be born soon."

"Mm!"

Kushina gritted her teeth and nodded.

Biwako calmly interrupted their conversation and reminded, "When the child is born, the Kyuubi's seal might also break. Minato, your mission is to maintain and strengthen the seal."

"Understood." Minato replied, placing his hand on the seal on Kushina's belly.

As Konoha's sealing technique expert, second only to Kushina, this task naturally fell to him.

As the delivery drew nearer, Kushina's pain intensified.

"This is the first time I've heard Kushina scream in pain so loudly."

"Is she alright?"

Minato couldn't help but ask.

Taji, also a woman and young, couldn't help but frown in sympathy for Kushina.

But the experienced Biwako was used to such scenes.

"She's fine, your first priority is to watch the Kyuubi's seal."

Minato heard this and reinforced the seal again, and the expansion of the dark mark on Kushina's belly was restrained and compressed.

In Kushina's spiritual world, the Kyuubi was pinned to a large stone ball with five-flower binding ropes, struggling to break through its seal.

Cold sweat appeared on Minato's face, and he gritted his teeth and said, "It's very strong, the Kyuubi is trying to resist."

He looked at Kushina's pained face and shouted.

"Hang in there, Kushina!"

Then he looked at the child in Kushina's belly.

"Come, Naruto!"