Minare knew she could enter when the tremors in the floor gradually subsided and finally stopped.
She opened the door to the adjoining room and placed the tea cups and teapot—the second batch she had prepared today, since the first had gone cold hours ago—on the table alongside some of her Daimyō's favorite sweets.
Though judging by the tremors, it would still be a couple of hours before she woke up…
The side door opened, and Chad—wearing a calm expression despite the sweat visibly evaporating from his toned skin—gave the maid a nod of thanks as he approached and poured himself some tea. Minare's complexion flushed furiously.
Couldn't he at least put on a towel? she thought, sneaking discreet glances.
Though in her opinion, the Consort had every right to be completely confident…
"I'm sorry I made you heat the tea again, Minare," Chad said as he took a long sip to rehydrate. He had completely forgotten that he'd asked her to bring some earlier—but it wasn't as though what happened afterward had been planned.
Although he preferred something stronger, Koyuki disliked the smell of alcohol. Even at the celebratory party back then, her drinks had been light and fruity.
Of course, that didn't help much when you drank for three people carried away by excitement…
Too bad he hadn't brought some sweet anise with him. It was the only drink whose sugary aroma didn't bother her.
"Don't worry, sir. It's my job," Minare shook her head, trying to sound calm after coughing and making sure to keep her gaze respectfully high. "Has my lady…?"
"Ah, actually, there's something important we need your help with," Chad recalled after finishing half the teapot and looking at her.
Minare swallowed hard.
Is it really happening?
Well, if those were orders…
"I need you to spread the word," Chad told her, not entirely unaware of what thoughts might be running through her mind. "The Land of Snow has an heir on the way."
"R-Really?!" All of Minare's attention snapped to the news, instantly abandoning her flustered fantasies. "I mean, she hasn't seen the physician and—"
"Minare," Chad interrupted gently, then pointed to himself.
The message was clear.
"Ah—oh…" Minare smiled awkwardly, remembering exactly who stood before her. "Then I… I'll go announce the good news?"
"Thank you, Minare."
The maid rushed out like a gust of wind.
As Chad approached the open door Minare had forgotten to close in her excitement, he shut it and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Maybe it was paranoia—but without knowing the full extent of Zetsu's reach and his ability to be everywhere, Chad had never dared take this step before. If things truly came to open conflict—especially since he had become Yugito's sensei—he didn't want any of his children ending up as hostages to that man.
As for whether Koyuki was truly pregnant, with his medical skills he could confirm it easily.
"I'll need to prepare a tailored diet for her… increase security…"
Not to mention how his sister would react upon learning she was going to be an aunt—or the jealousy of his other women. There would likely be a few more weddings on the horizon. The Raikage would certainly be thrilled that Chad and his "Kekkei Genkai" were beginning to multiply.
"Or maybe I should keep quiet—but since we're using the pregnancy to reject the Fire Daimyō, it won't remain a secret for long," he reasoned. "Others might not pay much attention to a 'remote place' like the Land of Snow, but the village won't have trouble connecting the dots."
His greatest concerns were, once again, Obito, Nagato, and people like Counselor Tenro.
"I suppose it's time to carry out a small reform of the Garaka clan. I was going to wait a bit so they wouldn't realize I found out what happened with Urui and Sango Uchiha—but things don't always go as we'd like."
As for thinking he wouldn't find out… heh. All he could say was that the Raikage and his sister were sometimes a bit naïve.
Every child in the orphanage was his eyes and ears—of course they would tell him if something happened to their friends!
"I'll have to be more subtle than last time," he concluded, turning back toward the main bedroom. "But I'm definitely replacing the hospital's deputy director, that's for sure!"
Did that little idiot really think Chad didn't know he'd been stealing money and medical supplies from the hospital?
As for Tenro himself, he had already made Chad's life miserable long enough. It was time to end their confrontation.
When he entered and saw Koyuki sleeping with a happy smile, he couldn't help but notice that she had unconsciously placed her hand over her abdomen.
"There's just one more thing I need to do, or I won't feel at ease."
Chad knelt beside Koyuki and carefully gathered chakra at his fingertips. The energy formed different shapes before he placed his palm over her stomach.
"Fūinjutsu: Goki Eiyō no Jutsu! (Sealing Art: Five Seasons Nourishment Technique!)"
A series of markings spread like ants across Koyuki's abdomen, forming a special sealing array with a triple circle and two connected inverted triangles before fading from sight.
After the circumstances surrounding his own birth, Chad had spent a decade studying sealing techniques to design and create this specific seal—slightly influenced by the Five Elements Seal and others.
Ninety percent of the seal's purpose was to protect and nourish the fetus during gestation, while the remaining ten percent alleviated some of the more unpleasant pregnancy symptoms for Koyuki.
"I need some sleep. Too many things at once…"
Now calm and reassured, he lay down beside Koyuki, gently pulled the blanket over them without waking her, and allowed himself to rest.
The Heavenly Transfer Technique still placed a significant strain on his body, so he had to limit himself to using it only once per day—meaning that traveling somewhere and returning required at least two days.
Then there was the journey he had made through the snowstorm from Yukigakure to the castle in the capital.
Adding the considerable vitality and chakra he had invested and condensed specifically for what he had just accomplished…
"I'll bring her a supply of Sea King meat after Kumo's next hunt," Chad thought as he drifted into a light sleep.