Naruto SI: Kaito Red Lightnin Chapter 229
"Fine," she snapped. "Just make sure you don't get caught, and keep her from using that power in the village. The last thing I need is a new headache while I'm dealing with the current ones."
"Thanks, Aunt Tsunade. You're the best, ya know," Kaito chirped. his expression turning curious. "Anyway, why did you call me in? Is it another mission?"
Tsunade looked at him, and for the first time, she looked genuinely exhausted. She shook her head slowly. "No. It's something else."
Kaito blinked, his confusion growing. "Alright... what is it?"
Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "I need you to take over as Acting Hokage full-time in a few months. Just for a while."
Kaito's jaw practically hit the floor. "What?! But you told me I had time! At least another year and a half before we even talked about this! Why so soon?"
"Not permanently, you idiot," Tsunade barked, though there was no real heat in it. "Just temporarily. For a few months."
"Why?" Kaito asked, his brain scrambling to find a reason.
Tsunade let out a breath she seemed to have been holding for a long time. She looked him straight in the eye. "Because I'm pregnant, Kaito."
The silence that followed was absolute. Kaito just stared at her, his mind completely blank as the words processed. "...Wait, what?"
…
White snow drifted slowly from the sky, settling over Konoha and coating the rooftops in a clean layer of white. The streets were busy as usual, vendors calling out while people moved about their day.
The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the wide windows of the Hokage office, casting long, pale lines across the empty room.
The door opened, and Kaito stepped in first, already looking annoyed. His brows were slightly furrowed, his hand coming up to rub the side of his face like he was trying to wipe the frustration away.
Shikaku followed behind him at a much more relaxed pace, closing the door softly.
Kaito didn't even make it halfway across the room before he started talking.
"…Three hours," he muttered, dragging a hand down his face. "Three freaking hours of them talking in circles, ya know."
He paced at the foot of the desk, not even bothering to sit yet.
"They say one thing, then walk it back five minutes later, then bring up something else that has nothing to do with the topic… and then somehow we end up right back where we started."
He let out a quiet breath through his nose, irritation still clear in his tone.
"They weren't even trying to get anything done. Half of that meeting felt like they were just testing how I'd respond to things, ya know."
Shikaku moved over to the couch and sat down, giving a small nod as he leaned his head back, eyes drifting toward the ceiling.
"They were," he said calmly. "They wanted to see if you'd fold under pressure… or push back."
Kaito clicked his tongue. "Of course they were."
He finally moved toward the desk, leaning forward slightly with one hand resting against it.
"Are all meetings with them like this?"
Shikaku didn't answer immediately.
"…Most of them are," he said after a moment.
Kaito stared at him. "…You're joking."
"I'm not," Shikaku replied simply. "That's just how politics works."
Kaito let out a dry breath, shaking his head. "If that's what passes for politics," he muttered, "I want no part of it."
He finally dropped into the chair behind the desk, leaning back slightly.
"That's unfortunate," Shikaku said evenly. "Because it comes with the job."
Kaito shot him a look. "It's not like I want the job. You're the ones pushing me into it."
He leaned forward slightly, frowning.
"Honestly, I'm convinced Aunt Tsunade named me her successor just to get back at me for convincing her to become the Fifth, ya know."
That earned the faintest twitch of amusement from Shikaku. "Well… part of it," he admitted, shrugging lightly. His sharp eyes slid toward Kaito. "But you're actually the only viable candidate from the next generation."
Kaito scoffed. "That's not true. What about Kakashi? Shisui? Itachi?"
Shikaku gave him a look. "You already know Shisui and Itachi aren't eligible under the current village structure." He paused slightly. "A structure you helped design, I might add."
Kaito clicked his tongue and looked away.
"As for Kakashi…" Shikaku continued, his tone quieter now. "If you think he's ready, you're welcome to try convincing him."
"…Yeah," Kaito muttered under his breath. "That'll go well."
Kakashi was doing better now—having Kahyō in his life helped—but it didn't change everything. He was still working through it. He still visited the memorial, just not as often as before. The guilt over Obito and Rin hadn't disappeared… it had just settled. At least working under Minato again was helping him move forward.
Kaito leaned back in the chair and muttered, just loud enough for Shikaku to hear, "I can't wait for Dad to take over."
He really was starting to regret sending Minato undercover. It made sense strategically… But it had been causing him constant headaches, especially now that his mother was pregnant.
Shikaku glanced at him. "I think you handled the meeting well."
Kaito scoffed. "I was this close to going on a murder spree, ya know. If it weren't for you and Fugaku-sama being there, I might have."
There was a short pause.
Shikaku turned his head slightly, looking at him. "It used to be much worse."
Kaito frowned and looked back at him. "Huh? Worse?"
Shikaku nodded once. "Before Tsunade-sama took over." He leaned back slightly. "The previous advisors didn't just talk in circles. They pushed their own agendas openly. Every meeting turned into a power struggle."
Kaito grimaced. "…Yeah. I can imagine that."
"You're lucky," Shikaku continued. "Tsunade-sama got rid of them. What you're dealing with now is… the toned-down version."
Kaito exhaled slowly, tilting his head back for a moment as he stared at the ceiling. "…I'd rather do paperwork for the rest of my life than deal with them, ya know."
Shikaku snorted lightly. "I'd be careful what you wish for."
A knock sounded at the door.
Kaito glanced over. "Come in."
The door opened, and Kotetsu and Izumo stepped in, each carrying stacks of files.
Kaito looked at the stacks.
Then at them.
Then back at the stacks.
There was a short pause. "…You've got to be kidding me, ya know."
Kotetsu grinned slightly as he walked over. "Afraid not."
Izumo set his stack down on the desk with a soft thud. "This is just what came in during the meeting."
Kotetsu set his stack down on the desk beside Izumo's. "There's more on the way."
Kaito stared at the growing pile.
Then, without a word—
He leaned forward and dropped his head onto the desk. "…Just kill me already."
Kotetsu snorted. "Yeah, no. We're not dealing with the paperwork that comes after that."
Izumo nodded in agreement. "Seriously. That sounds like way more work."
Kotetsu tapped the top file with a finger. "Important stuff's on top."
Izumo gave a small, easy wave as he turned. "We'll leave you to it."
They headed for the door together.
"Try not to drown in paperwork, Hokage-sama," Kotetsu added casually. The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence settled back into the room.
Just then, another knock sounded.
Before Kaito could answer, the door opened and Shizune stepped inside, a file in hand. "Ah, Kaito—you're back. Good."
Kaito lifted his head just enough to glance at her, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "...Yeah."
She walked up to the desk and held out the file. "I need your signature on these before I head out for the day."
Kaito sighed quietly, reaching out to take it. "…Right. Sure."
Shikaku exhaled softly and pushed himself up from the couch. "I'll leave you to your work, then."
"Yeah, see you later, sensei," Kaito said, giving a lazy wave as he opened the file.
His eyes moved across the first few lines.
Then he stopped.
His hand froze slightly against the page. His gaze unfocused for just a brief second.
Then Kaito stood up quickly. "…We need to go."
Shizune blinked, caught off guard. "…Huh?"
Kaito explained. "It's Mom. " A soft puff of smoke appeared beside him as a shadow clone formed. "It's happening."
Shizune's expression shifted immediately. "…Right now?"
Kaito nodded once, already stepping around the desk. "Yeah. We have to hurry."
Shizune straightened. "Right."
Kaito placed a hand on her shoulder.
And they vanished.
The clone glanced at the desk, then at the mountain of paperwork. "…Why am I stuck with all the work?" It sighed but dropped into the chair, pulling the files closer.
…
A snowflake drifted down from the gray winter sky and landed softly on Kaito's head.
Kaito's shadow clone sat cross-legged on the roof of the Uzumaki home, eyes closed, completely still in a meditative posture. The distinct markings of Slug Sage Mode rested around his eyes. Snow had begun to gather along his shoulders and hair, a thin layer of white settling over him, unmoving.
He remained perfectly still, as if part of the environment itself.
His Mind's Eye of Kagura stretched outward, enhanced by Sage Mode—his senses spreading far beyond the house, reaching across the entire village, monitoring every chakra signature within Konoha.
The entire compound was under lockdown.
Team Ro, including Kakashi, was stationed around the house, hidden within the trees. Every one of them was on high alert.
Kakashi's lone Sharingan spun as he kept watch, his posture relaxed—but his focus sharp.
…
A snowflake drifted down from the gray winter sky and landed softly on Kaito's head.
Kaito's shadow clone sat cross-legged on the roof of the Uzumaki home, eyes closed, completely still in a meditative posture. The distinct markings of Slug Sage Mode rested around his eyes. Snow had begun to gather along his shoulders and hair, a thin layer of white settling over him, unmoving.
He remained perfectly still, as if part of the environment itself.
His Mind's Eye of Kagura stretched outward, enhanced by Sage Mode—his senses spreading far beyond the house, reaching across the entire village, monitoring every chakra signature within Konoha.
The entire compound was under lockdown.
Team Ro, including Kakashi, was stationed around the house, hidden within the trees. Every one of them was on high alert.
Kakashi's lone Sharingan spun slowly as he kept watch, his posture relaxed—but his focus sharp.
…
On the road leading to the Uzumaki residence, two figures approached.
Tsunade, dressed in a loose-fitting green kimono, walked at a steady pace. Her pregnancy was obvious now—there was no hiding it at this stage.
Beside her walked a red-haired boy around twelve.
Naoki had both hands behind his head, moving casually like he didn't have a care in the world. As they got closer, he squinted slightly, glancing up at the roof.
"…What's he doing up there?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the figure sitting in the snow.
Tsunade followed his gaze. "That's one of his shadow clones," she said. "He's using Sage Mode to monitor the village."
Naoki blinked, his brows lifting in surprise. "…Wait. Sage Mode? Like—Grand—" He cut himself off abruptly, the word catching in his throat. "…I mean," he corrected quickly, scratching the back of his head, "like the First Hokage?"
Tsunade shot him a brief, annoyed look at the slip. "…Yeah," she said anyway. "Like the First. Right now, Kaito's the only one in Konoha who can use it properly."
She didn't mention Minato out loud.
Naoki let out a low whistle. "That's… kinda insane."
Tsunade's eyes flicked briefly toward the trees, subtle but deliberate. She gave a small nod.
Hidden among the branches, Kakashi shifted slightly in his position, acknowledging the signal without a word.
As they reached the door—
Before either of them could knock—the door opened.
Kaito stood there, one brow raised, looking between them. "…What are you doing here?"
He stepped aside anyway, letting them in.
Tsunade walked past him without hesitation. "I stopped by the office earlier," she said. "Your clone told me Kushina went into labor, so I came to check on things."
She glanced around as she stepped into the living room. "Is the baby born yet?"
"No," Kaito replied, shaking his head as he closed the door behind them.
Inside the living room, Naruto, Karin, Kimimaro, Haku, and Fū were all gathered.
Fū had been visiting for the weekend—and just happened to be there when Kushina went into labor. She had insisted on staying.
Naruto was lying flat on the floor.
He suddenly sat up. "This is taking forever," he complained, crossing his arms. "Why is it taking so long, ya know?"
"Can you be quiet?" Karin groaned from where she was sitting.
Guren practically growled. "How many times are you going to ask the same question again and again?"
Haku spoke calmly, patient as ever. "It's only been about an hour and a half since Lady Kushina went into labor. I've read that it can take up to twelve hours."
Kimimaro sat cross-legged against the wall, arms folded, silent as he listened.
Kaito let out a quiet sigh as he walked further into the room behind Tsunade.
Naruto looked up slightly. "…That long?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes as she moved further in. "Relax, brat. This is her third pregnancy, not her first. Third ones are usually faster." She crossed her arms. "Give it another hour or two."
Naruto groaned and flopped back onto the floor. "That's still too long, ya know…"
Haku, Kimimaro, Karin, and Guren greeted Tsunade as she took a seat on the couch.
She gave them a small nod, then glanced down at Naruto again. "Be patient, brat. Your mother's the one doing the work in there. It takes time."
Naruto let out a frustrated groan. "I hate waiting, ya know…"
"It's not that long, Naruto," Fū said, leaning over and patting his shoulder, practically glowing with excitement. "Only one or two more hours? That's not long at all!"
Naruto turned his head to look at her like she was crazy.
Naoki chuckled as he walked over and sat down near Haku, Guren, Kimimaro, and Karin. "How long's he been like this?"
"Since it started," Karin replied flatly.
Kaito ignored them and sat down on the floor beside the coffee table. He turned his head toward Tsunade.
"…Are you sure you're supposed to be here?" he asked. "In your condition, ya know." His eyes flicked briefly toward her stomach.
Tsunade waved him off immediately. "I'm fine, kid. I'm pregnant, not incapacitated."
Kaito gave her a look. "You know it can get dangerous."
"Relax, kid," Tsunade said, leaning back slightly. "He's not going to show up." Her gaze shifted toward him. "You already cleaned out all those Akatsuki spies. That was before Kushina got pregnant."
Kaito didn't look convinced.
Even though Kaito had captured all the White Zetsu lurking around the village. White Zetsu had attempted to infiltrate several more times, but Kaito captured each clone without fail. Eventually, the attempts stopped—at least for a while.
But Kaito already knew why.
The Zetsu had begun using their unique transformation technique, allowing them to perfectly mimic a person's chakra signature. Even with Sage Mode, Kaito had a hard time distinguish them from ordinary villagers.
That problem, however, had been solved when they deployed Kushina's upgraded barrier, specifically designed to detect Zetsu. With it in place, they managed to locate and eliminate every transformed clone hidden within the village. After that, the infiltrations ceased entirely.
Even so, Kaito couldn't ignore the possibility—no matter how small—that Obito might still uncover the truth. That was exactly why he had tightened security so heavily around Kushina's pregnancy. He wasn't going to risk history repeating itself.
Kaito was also working with Kushina on a new sensory barrier—one designed to detect space-time ninjutsu.
After everything that had happened during Naruto's birth, he wasn't willing to take any chances.
Even though he knew Obito well enough to understand that he wasn't stupid enough to attack again—especially now that Kushina no longer had the Nine-Tails—he couldn't ignore the risk. If Obito ever discovered that Minato was alive and Kushina was giving birth again, he might attack… if only to make his former sensei suffer.
Though Kaito knew that, realistically, Obito would be more likely to target Naruto this time if he ever found out.
Kaito's eyes flicked toward Naruto as he crossed his arms. "…Still," he said. "I'm not taking chances, ya know."
Tsunade watched him for a second, then snorted lightly. "Paranoid brat."
Kaito didn't react. "…Call it what you want," he muttered.
…
Inside the room, the air was thick with tension.
Kushina lay on the bed, strands of red hair sticking to her forehead, breathing heavily as her grip tightened around Minato's hand.
Minato stood beside her, eyes closed.
He was in sensory mode—his focus stretched far beyond the room, making sure nothing happened this time.
Shizune stood at the foot of the bed, calm but focused. "Alright, Kushina-nee, just breathe. You're doing well. Just keep pushing."
"I am pushing, ya know!" Kushina snapped between breaths.
Hotaru stood beside her, steady and prepared. She moved when needed—passing tools, adjusting things—keeping everything running smoothly.
Kushina gritted her teeth, sweat running down her face. "Minato…" she muttered.
Minato's grip tightened slightly, though his eyes stayed closed. "I'm here, Kushina," he said quietly.
…
Minato suddenly found himself standing within his mindscape.
Kurama's massive form loomed behind the seal, his presence filling the space as his voice echoed. "Minato."
Minato looked up, alert. "What is it, Kurama-san? Did you sense something?"
Kurama let out a low huff, tails shifting lazily behind him. "Relax. There's nothing." His gaze lingered on Minato for a moment. "You should be paying more attention to Kushina."
Minato's expression tightened, and he shook his head. "I can't. I won't make the same mistake twice."
Kurama gave a quiet, knowing huff. "…Heh. Fine."
There was a brief pause before he spoke again, voice steadier. "I'll keep watch. If anything happens, you'll know."
Minato hesitated. "But—"
"You won't," Kurama cut in with a low growl. "Not with me here. And that brat of yours is already watching too." His tails flicked once behind him.
"No one's getting past both of us." Silence settled for a brief moment before Kurama spoke again, quieter but firm. "Leave it to us. You focus on Kushina… she needs you."
Minato stood there, tension slowly easing from his shoulders. Then he nodded. "...Thank you, Kurama-san."
…
His awareness snapped back to the room.
To Kushina.
Kushina let out a sharp breath. "Minato!"
Minato opened his eyes immediately. He gently squeezed her hand and brushed her forehead. "I'm here, Kushina."
Time stretched as the effort continued. Minutes passed. Then an hour.
Shizune's voice cut through the strain. "I can see the head, Kushina-nee! Keep pushing!"
Hotaru leaned in, her voice steady. "You can do it, Mom."
Kushina clenched her teeth and pushed.
The room went still for a brief second—
Then—
A cry filled the room.
Clear. Loud.
Shizune moved quickly, already handling the newborn. "She's out," she said, checking carefully. "Oh—she's got strong lungs."
Hotaru let out a small breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she took the blanket, steadying it while Shizune placed the baby into it.
Shizune carefully wrapped the baby and placed her into Hotaru's hands before turning back to Kushina, focusing on cleaning her up.
Hotaru moved gently around the bed, cradling the newborn as she approached. "Here you go… she's really cute."
Kushina spoke up almost immediately, her voice soft with exhaustion but steady. "…Wait."
Hotaru paused.
"Give her… to Minato first."
Hotaru blinked, then gave a small nod. "Right." She carefully passed the baby over.
Minato froze slightly as the small weight settled into his arms.
For a moment—
He just stared.
The baby's cries softened, tiny hands shifting weakly as she settled.
Something in Minato's expression changed, his gaze softening as resolve settled deep within him. I won't fail again. I won't let anything happen this time. I'll protect you… I'll protect all of you.
He didn't need to say it out loud.
Kushina watched him, a gentle smile forming despite her exhaustion. "…Minato."
He looked up, then carefully brought the baby closer to her.
Kushina adjusted slightly, taking the baby into her arms, her expression warm and tender. "She has your face, Minato… ya know."
Minato let out a soft chuckle. "And she has your eyes."
Hotaru quietly stepped toward the door, sliding it open just enough to peek outside. "They're ready," she said softly.
—
A few seconds later, the others stepped in.
The atmosphere shifted instantly—lighter, warmer.
Naruto was the first to rush in, moving too fast for his own feet. He nearly tripped, but Hotaru caught him before he could fall. "Careful there, Naruto-kun."
Naruto straightened up quickly once she let go, rubbing the back of his head. "Eh—thanks, Hotaru-nee."
Minato chuckled lightly. "No need to rush, Naruto-kun."
Naruto made his way to Kushina's side, eyes bright with excitement as he looked at the baby.
Kushina smiled softly. "Meet your new sister, ya know."
Fū was right behind him, stepping up to the bedside. The moment she saw the baby, her eyes went wide. "Woah—!"
She leaned in, then lifted slightly off the ground, wings fluttering faintly as she hovered just enough to get a better look.
"She's so small!" Fū whispered, completely awestruck. She drifted a little to the side, circling just slightly to see better without getting too close.
Kushina let out a soft, tired laugh. "Careful, ya know."
Fū nodded quickly, eyes sparkling. "I am! I am!" She stared in wonder. "Babies are amazing…"
The rest followed by a much calmer crowding as everyone moved closer to Kushina, gathering around the bed to see the newest addition to the family.
Karin leaned forward first, eyes sparkling as she clasped her hands together. "Aww—she's so cute, Aunt Kushina!"
Kushina let out a warm, proud laugh, her usual fiery energy softened. "Right? Of course she is, ya know."
Haku smiled gently, his voice soft and sincere. "Congratulations, Lady Kushina… Minato-sama."
Kimimaro gave a small nod beside him. "…Congratulations."
Minato chuckled softly and inclined his head. "Thank you."
Kaito stayed near the back of the group, his expression calm—but his senses still stretched outward, watching everything. He stepped into the room quietly behind Tsunade.
Guren crossed her arms lightly, tilting her head with a curious look. "So… have you picked a name yet?"
Before anyone else could answer, Naruto suddenly perked up, practically bouncing in place. "Can I name her?!"
Minato chuckled, reaching out to pat Naruto's head. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but your mother already picked a name. It's M—"
"Kanna."
Minato blinked. "Huh?"
Kushina looked up at him. "…We're naming her Kanna Uzumaki."
For months, Kushina had shot down every name Minato suggested, teasing him endlessly about his "terrible naming sense." Eventually, he had stopped trying.
Karin tilted her head, smiling. "Kanna, huh? I like it. It sounds nice."
Kimimaro nodded once. "…It suits her."
Minato hesitated, still confused. "But… didn't you say you wanted to name her after Mito-sama?"
Kushina looked down at the baby in her arms for a moment.
Then she smiled softly. "…I changed my mind, ya know."
Minato frowned slightly. "But you said you didn't like the name…"
Kushina huffed lightly. "I was teasing you, silly."
She paused, her gaze softening as she looked at the baby.
"You were really excited when you came up with it, ya know."
Her expression gentled even more. "And… I like it. I think it suits her."
Minato's expression softened into a quiet smile.
From the side, Tsunade—who had been watching the whole exchange with a knowing look—gave a small nod. "Good. Then I won't have to intervene."
Kushina blinked. "…Eh?"
Tsunade crossed her arms, a faint smirk on her lips. "I was thinking of naming my own kid 'Mito.'"
She glanced at Kushina, tone dry but teasing. "So I was starting to worry you'd take it first."
…
Meanwhile, toward the back of the room, Hotaru nudged Kaito lightly, giving him a puzzled look. "…Hey. Aren't you going to go see her?"
Kaito kept his eyes on the group for a moment before answering, his voice calm and low. "Eh… in a bit. Let everyone else go first, ya know."
Before he could stay back any longer "Kai-kun." Kushina's voice cut through the room. "What are you doing back there, ya know? Come meet your sister!"
Kaito scratched the back of his head, letting out a quiet breath as the attention shifted to him "…Eh…" He stepped forward, a little awkward but still composed. "I was just waiting for the others to finish, ya know."
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