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Mastermind of the Akatsuki 150
🕑 Added 2024-09-15 09:06:36 +0000 UTCChapter 150: The Night of the Nine-Tails (Part 1)
Several weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of Kushina’s childbirth had arrived.
Kushina’s status was extremely special. She wasn’t just the wife of the Fourth Hokage, but also Konoha’s Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
To ensure Kushina’s safety during childbirth, Konoha had been preparing for months. Not only had they assigned a significant number of elite Anbu to protect her, but they had also secretly relocated her to a secure Anbu base outside the village. The highest level of protection was put in place to guarantee that childbirth would go smoothly and without any issues.
Listening to the sounds coming from the birthing room, Minato’s face was filled with worry.
In the Hokage office, he was the decisive Hokage, but here, he didn’t even have the privilege of entering the birthing room. All he could do was anxiously pace outside, awaiting the outcome.
After all, while he was skilled in defeating enemies, his abilities in childbirth were far inferior to those of a professional midwife.
Seeing Minato’s growing anxiety, Shikaku Nara, who was waiting quietly nearby, reassured him.
“Captain Minato, don’t worry. Although Biwako-sama isn’t a medical specialist, she has plenty of experience in childbirth. Both Kushina and the baby will be fine.”
Hearing the comforting words of his friend, Minato’s expression eased a little, but deep inside, he remained highly tense.
Kushina was not just his wife, she was also the village’s Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. In the entire shinobi world, there were plenty of people who would want to strike while Kushina was in a weakened state.
After all, if someone attacked Kushina now, not only could they deal a heavy blow to Minato himself, but they could also weaken Konoha’s power.
He still vividly remembered the night more than ten years ago when he rescued Kushina. Back then, she wasn’t even the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, yet she was still coveted by the Hidden Cloud and kidnapped by them.
However, the most dangerous threat wasn’t the potential enemies—it was the Nine-Tails inside Kushina.
The Nine-Tails was the strongest of all the tailed beasts, including the fact that it was Konoha’s strategic weapon for maintaining balance in the shinobi world.
If the Nine-Tails went berserk during Kushina’s weakened state, it would put her life in extreme danger. Even though both he and the village had prepared for such a scenario, Minato couldn’t help but worry.
With these thoughts weighing on him, Minato let out a soft sigh, scanning his surroundings with increased vigilance. He wished this night would pass quickly, but it seemed to crawl by painfully slowly.
Sensing Minato’s anxiety, Kushina, lying in the birthing room, furrowed her brow. She turned her head to the kind-faced elderly kunoichi beside her and said softly:
“Biwako-sama, how much longer will it take?”
The woman Kushina referred to as Biwako-sama was none other than Biwako Sarutobi, the wife of the Third Hokage.
Even though there had been some ideological competition between the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage over Minato’s reform plans, in important matters like the birth of a Jinchuriki, the Third Hokage was highly attentive and had sent his own wife to assist.
Biwako glanced at Kushina, who was drenched in sweat, and smiled. “Oh, we’re not even halfway there. Childbirth lasting several hours is completely normal. I’ve also even seen some cases last an entire day. But my dear, you’ve always been so strong, I’m sure you’ll get through this smoothly.”
Hearing this, Kushina nodded slightly. Although she wished Minato could be by her side, she trusted Biwako-sama’s judgment.
After all, Biwako was a seasoned senior who had already given birth to two children herself.
While Minato and Kushina were both on edge, Obito, lurking near the base, was also silently waiting. His gaze was calm, showing neither joy nor sorrow, as he stared at the birthing room from a distance, deep in thought.
The reason he hadn’t made a move yet wasn’t due to hesitation about whether to attack.
Rather, he was waiting for the perfect opportunity—an ideal moment to create a distraction and draw Minato’s attention away, allowing him to directly strike at the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina.
After all, while Obito’s power was considerable, he still harbored some fear when facing his former sensei.
Especially since Minato-sensei had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, which posed a significant threat to his Kamui Sharingan.
However, there was no need for him to engage in a direct confrontation with Minato-sensei.
He only needed to wait for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to be at her weakest, which was undoubtedly right after childbirth.
Now, all he had to do was wait patiently.
---
In the Streets of Konoha
Kakashi gazed at the bustling streets while occasionally glancing toward the direction of the Anbu base.
Unlike the quietness of the base a few kilometers away, the streets of Konoha were full of life. Villagers and shinobi filled the vibrant streets, making it look no different from daytime.
Over the past few months, since the Fourth Hokage had taken office and implemented a series of policies, the environment of Konoha had greatly improved. Even the typically proud Uchiha had started showing smiles when resolving conflicts.
Just three days ago, Kakashi had completed his mission to protect Kushina, his sensei's wife, and was granted a rare break. However, during this hard-earned break, he found himself at a loss for what to do and ended up wandering aimlessly through the streets.
At that moment, the thick-browed Might Guy approached Kakashi with a challenge.
"Maybe another day. I don’t have time right now," Kakashi politely declined Guy's challenge, though his gaze remained fixed on the direction of the Anbu base. Normally, he would have the energy to spar with Guy, but today was a special day.
His thoughts were entirely preoccupied with Kushina sensei's childbirth, leaving him unable to focus on anything else.
What he didn’t understand was why Minato-sensei and Kushina had ended his mission in the final days, leaving him only to wait here in anxious anticipation, unable to do anything.
Seeing Kakashi turn down his offer, Might Guy’s expression dimmed briefly, but it was soon replaced by a smile. After all, Kakashi had finally agreed to spar with him, even if it was later.
In just a few days, he’d get the chance to test their skills and see how much of a gap remained between them.
Still, Kakashi always seemed to have that melancholic look—when would he finally show a smile?
Guy recalled the time when he was ordered by the Hokage to tail Kakashi. If he hadn’t intervened and driven off the enemy, Kakashi might not be alive right now.
With that in mind, Guy caught up to Kakashi, deciding to show his concern for his friend by staying close.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and both Guy and Kakashi instinctively looked toward the Hokage Rock. A full moon hung above the massive monument, casting an eerie glow.
Tonight’s moon was large and bright.
But despite its beauty, both Guy and Kakashi froze in place, a sense of foreboding filling their hearts. They had the unsettling feeling that something major was about to happen.
In the very next moment, a mountain-sized beast appeared just outside the borders of Konoha.
