Kapitel 15: Preparation
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A dark cave deep in the forests of the Land of Fire.
A man dressed in a loose black cloak, wearing a brown, one-eyed mask, sat on a large rock, the shadows of the cave nearly swallowing him whole. Beside him, a figure emerged from the wall, shrouded in a massive pitcher plant. The being was split down the middle, one half black, the other white—a bizarre sight, even in these ominous surroundings.
The masked man's lone visible eye narrowed in suspicion. "Jiraiya left Konoha not long ago, and Tsunade has been wandering for years. Why have they both suddenly returned?"
His voice, while calm, carried a faint edge of surprise. "Could the Fourth Hokage have uncovered my plan?"
He quickly dismissed the thought, muttering under his breath. "Impossible... no one should even know of my existence, let alone my intentions."
Zetsu, the strange figure in the wall, tilted his head, his voice dual-toned as he spoke. "Could there have been a mistake during your visit to Konoha two days ago?"
The masked man's mind raced. No one in the village should have sensed him. Yet...
"Wait..." he suddenly recalled the strange reaction of a young Uchiha boy he had seen at the cemetery.
"No," he quickly brushed the thought aside. "A child no older than five or six couldn't possibly have detected me."
Turning his attention back to Zetsu, the masked man spoke with certainty. "Konoha doesn't know anything yet. Aside from Jiraiya and Tsunade's return, you reported that everything else in the village seems normal."
Zetsu nodded, though there was a flicker of doubt in his expression. "So, will you continue with the plan?"
"Of course. If we miss this opportunity, it'll be difficult to set things in motion again."
In the dim light of the cave, the masked man stared at his right hand, clenching it slowly. The tension in his voice mirrored the resolve in his grip.
"But even if we release the Nine-Tails and occupy the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade won't fight. And if Jiraiya allies with the Third Hokage, our plan's impact could be diminished," Zetsu pointed out. "Perhaps you could make use of that other one's strength?"
The masked man shook his head. "No. He's still too affected by that loss. With less than a month until the birth, convincing him to act against Konoha—against Jiraiya, his teacher—would be too risky. His strength hasn't fully matured yet."
He let out a slow breath, his gaze distant as he considered his next steps. "It's too early to reveal all our cards. If we do, it'll only make things more difficult later on."
"Besides," he added, "Konoha remains unaware of our plan. Even with Jiraiya's return, we still hold the upper hand."
Zetsu chuckled softly, the unsettling sound echoing in the cave. "So, you intend to repeat what you did before..."
Before Zetsu could finish, the masked man's eye flashed dangerously, silencing him.
"Heh. You seem quite serious about this," Zetsu remarked, then slowly merged back into the wall, disappearing into the darkness.
---
Days passed quickly, and soon, it was October.
Only three days remained until Kushina's due date.
Once again, Itachi Uchiha had requested a meeting with Shisui and the Fourth Hokage.
Swish!
In a blur, Minato Namikaze transported Itachi to a secluded cabin, the same place they had used for their previous discussions.
Seeing the urgency in Itachi's eyes, Minato's expression grew serious. "Itachi, for you to seek me out like this, I trust the matter is important. Whatever it is, speak freely."
Itachi nodded, his voice calm but lined with concern. "Lord Hokage, on the night of your wife's labor, you need to be wary of Root's movements."
Minato's eyes narrowed, his normally kind demeanor giving way to stern focus. "Are you implying that Root's leader will remain inactive during the Nine-Tails attack in the timeline you've foreseen?"
Itachi hesitated briefly but stood firm. "I don't have all the details, but if Madara's plan succeeds and the Nine-Tails is unleashed, Konoha will need every available ninja to defend the village. I'm worried that Root might refuse to act."
Minato clenched his fists, his expression darkening. "Danzo..."
Though Minato had maintained a professional distance from Danzo Shimura, he had never fully trusted him. Root's secretive operations and lack of accountability had long been a source of concern.
The thought of Danzo standing idly by while Konoha burned stoked Minato's anger.
"I understand," Minato said through gritted teeth. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Itachi. I'll ensure we're prepared for anything that happens."
Itachi nodded, his face unreadable, though he felt a sense of relief. He knew Minato would act swiftly to protect the village.
---
The setting sun painted the earth in crimson hues, as if the sky itself bled.
In the heart of Konoha, a peaceful courtyard stood—the home of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki.
Inside their home, four people sat around the living room table.
An elderly man with graying hair and a weathered face held a pipe in his hand. Beside him sat a woman of similar age, both appearing healthy and sharp despite their years.
The elderly man was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha.
And the woman beside him was none other than his wife, Biwako Sarutobi.
Across from them sat Minato Namikaze, his blue eyes filled with warmth as he looked at the woman beside him—his wife, Kushina Uzumaki. Her long, vibrant red hair cascaded over her shoulders, her face radiant even without makeup. But what stood out most was her prominent belly—Kushina was nearing the end of her pregnancy.
As the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina's childbirth was not just a personal matter; it was a critical concern for the safety of Konoha.
"I'll get everything ready," Minato said softly, his hand resting gently on Kushina's shoulder. His golden brows furrowed slightly, thinking about the potential threats.
He hadn't told Kushina about the dangers that could arise during the birth. There were many who would seek to take advantage of the Nine-Tails' vulnerable state. But he didn't want her to worry.
Sensing his unease, Kushina smiled at him, her warmth and strength radiating despite her own concerns. She didn't need words to convey her trust in him.
Minato's heart swelled. "Kushina, I won't let anything happen to you or Naruto."
---
Outside the house.
Minato and Hiruzen stepped out into the courtyard. With a quick hand sign, Minato activated the Flying Raijin Jutsu, instantly transporting both of them to the Hokage's office.
"Sandaime-sama," Minato began, his expression serious, "while I'm away from the village, I'll entrust Konoha's affairs to you."
Hiruzen nodded, his face somber. "I understand. Be cautious, Minato. Konoha's safety depends on it."
"Yes." Minato's gaze sharpened. Once Kushina was moved outside the village for the birth, Konoha would be on high alert.
"I'll ensure everything is in order," Hiruzen said, his voice heavy with the weight of his decades of leadership. He had protected Konoha through many crises before, and he would do so again.
With a nod, Minato vanished from the office, reappearing near the village gates.
---
The streets of Konoha.
Kushina, accompanied by Biwako Sarutobi, made her way through the village toward a secluded location outside Konoha, where the birth would take place.
Though it appeared that Biwako was the only one with her, hidden in the shadows were more than a dozen elite ANBU, including Shisui Uchiha, silently watching over her every step.
Jiraiya, ever the cautious mentor, also followed at a distance, ready to intervene if needed.
As they walked, a familiar figure approached—Mikoto Uchiha, carrying a small bundle in her arms.
"Kushina, long time no see!" Mikoto greeted, her smile warm.
Kushina waved excitedly, her usual energy undiminished by her condition. "Mikoto! It's been ages!"
Mikoto's gaze softened as she looked at Kushina's round belly. "You're due soon, aren't you?"
"Yeah! And I see you've already had your baby!" Kushina said, peeking at the sleeping infant in Mikoto's arms. "Is it a girl?"
Mikoto chuckled. "No, he's a boy. His name is Sasuke."
"Sasuke, huh?" Biwako remarked. "Same as Lord Third's father."
"Yes," Mikoto smiled, looking down at Sasuke. "I hope he grows up to be as great a shinobi as Lord Sasuke Sarutobi."
Kushina grinned. "Our little one is going to be named Naruto! I bet they'll be great friends one day."
Mikoto smiled warmly, but before she could reply, Kushina leaned in, whispering, "So, childbirth... is it as painful as they say?"
Mikoto blinked in surprise, then laughed softly. "I never thought I'd see Kushina Uzumaki scared of anything."
"Alright, Kushina, we should go." Biwako gently tugged at her arm, reminding her of the urgency.
Kushina turned and waved to Mikoto. "See you later, Mikoto!"
"Take care," Mikoto called back, unaware of the hidden danger that surrounded Kushina's upcoming childbirth.
---
Elsewhere in Konoha.
Itachi Uchiha and Izumi had just returned to the Uchiha compound, parting ways at the gate. Izumi had sensed something was off with Itachi, but he hadn't said anything.
"Itachi, let's meet tomorrow," she said before turning to leave.
"Be careful tonight," Itachi murmured quietly, watching her walk away.
By the time she turned back, Itachi had already disappeared, heading toward his home.
Inside, he found the house empty. A few minutes later, Mikoto entered, holding Sasuke in her arms.
"Itachi, you're home," she greeted him with a soft smile, though she looked tired.
Suddenly, Fugaku Uchiha appeared—dressed in full battle gear.
"The village is on high alert. We need to be ready," Fugaku said firmly, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
Mikoto, a kunoichi of considerable skill, immediately understood the gravity of the situation. "What's happening?"
"We'll discuss it later. For now, stay on guard," Fugaku ordered, glancing at Itachi.
"Itachi, take care of your brother," Mikoto said, passing the still-sleeping Sasuke to him.
Itachi accepted Sasuke into his arms, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. He watched as his parents swiftly prepared and left, vanishing into the night.
---
As night descended over Konoha, the village seemed to hold its breath.
The sun had set, and the moon had yet to rise. In the eerie stillness, Itachi stood alone in the courtyard, cradling his baby brother.
Memories of the Nine-Tails' attack years ago resurfaced, unsettling him.
"It feels just like that night..." he thought, his Sharingan activating instinctively, the tomoe spinning slowly in his blood-red eyes.
"I hope... history doesn't repeat itself," Itachi whispered, closing his eyes for a moment.
In that instant, his Sharingan pulsed briefly, but Itachi didn't notice, his thoughts focused on the present.
His only hope was that this night wouldn't end in tragedy.
---
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