The delivery room door had just opened.
Kawaki rushed over with anticipation.
Soon, a crowd gathered around him.
"Tsunade is fine. This is your son."
Mito opened the door just a crack—after all, it wasn't proper to open it fully yet.
"That's good."
"So cute."
Though Kawaki couldn't get a clear view through the narrow opening, he still offered a compliment.
After all, it was his own son—how could anyone not find him adorable?
"Tsunade wants you to come in."
"The Anbu can stand down now. The rest of you can wait a little longer."
Mito widened the gap so Kawaki could slip inside.
At this moment, no one foolishly tried to push their way in or peek.
"I told you everything would be fine. I'll go tell the Anbu to withdraw."
Sakumo gave Kawaki a hearty slap on the back and flashed his ōga grin.
Then he turned around and squeezed his way out.
"Congratulations, sensei."
"Congratulations, aniki."
The younger ones began offering their congratulations too, genuinely happy for him.
Starting today, they'd gained another family member.
"Uncle, uncle!"
"Can I go in and see my younger brother?"
Kakashi wiggled impatiently in Natsuki's arms.
"You can see him later. Let's wait outside for your uncle."
Natsuki knew it might not be convenient inside, and although Kakashi was still young, he was already a boy.
"Okay then."
Kakashi obediently agreed, though he couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Just wait until your uncle carries your brother out."
Kawaki pinched Kakashi's nose gently before slipping through the door crack into the room.
SLAM!
The delivery room door was closed again, and the crowd gradually dispersed back to where they were before.
But the mood had shifted entirely.
Everyone wore smiles on their faces, and laughter never stopped outside the delivery room.
Sakumo dismissed the Anbu and returned to sit beside Natsuki.
He definitely wanted to wait until Kawaki came out so they could leave together.
"Let me hold him."
The moment Kawaki stepped in, he reached out to take the baby, regardless of Mito's reaction.
"Didn't know you were so good at holding babies."
Mito watched how Kawaki's eyes practically melted into the child.
"Not bad. I'm used to holding Kakashi."
Kawaki didn't even look up, his full attention fixed solely on his own son.
It was strange too—the baby broke into a smile the second Kawaki held him.
He stretched out his tiny hand trying to touch Kawaki's face.
"No wonder he's your real son."
Mito felt somewhat jealous; she'd held the baby this whole time and hadn't received even one smile.
"Haha~"
Kawaki leaned his face against that little hand, laughing even more joyfully.
"Come here."
Tsunade had already cleaned up and was sitting on the bed pulling on her pants.
"Coming! My beloved wife must be worn out."
Without caring about others being present, Kawaki cheerfully ran over.
"Look how much the baby's eyes look like yours."
Kawaki sat beside Tsunade and raised one finger to point at the baby's eyes.
"Have I? I haven't taken a close look yet."
Tsunade finished dressing and leaned closer to check.
"It really makes you envious."
Seeing the warm family scene before her, Mito couldn't help but recall the days when she gave birth to Hashirama—Tsunade's father.
Back then, Hashirama had done the same, pointing at the baby while talking to her.
Happiness was spreading, and she had no regrets in this life.
"Have you decided on the child's name yet?"
Tsunade looked at Kawaki. They were still debating it last night.
"We have. His name will be Ginji—Hatake Ginji."
Kawaki nodded and announced the final decision.
["Inspired by Ginji Amano from GetBackers. I really loved that character back then. Not sure if any of you readers are familiar with it either."]
"Fine. It's not bad actually."
"Do you like the name your dad gave you?"
"Little Ginji."
Tsunade gently poked her son's nose with one finger. Her tone had softened so much it was almost unrecognizable.
"Sounds great, doesn't it?"
Kawaki looked affectionately between Tsunade and Ginji.
I'm a father now.
After a while of tenderness, Mito began to grow impatient.
Staying in the delivery room too long wasn't healthy—the air quality wasn't great.
"That's enough already. If we aren't staying for hospitalization, let's go home."
"In a few hours, the baby can start nursing."
Mito didn't know whether Tsunade had milk yet, but when she herself had given birth, hers came pretty quickly afterward.
"Yes, Grandma."
"Let's go home."
Tsunade casually rose from the bed as if nothing had happened and prepared to head home.
"Want to stay for a couple more days?"
Kawaki was still somewhat worried. Wasn't leaving the hospital so soon after giving birth too hasty?
"Don't be absurd. My body is perfectly strong."
"Give him to me."
As if to prove her point to Kawaki, Tsunade snatched Ginji up into her arms.
Then, without delay, she strode swiftly toward the delivery room exit.
"Guess there's nothing I can do."
Kawaki smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Thank you so much, Advisor Nemu. And everyone else too."
"You all get a red envelope each—don't refuse them."
Kawaki hadn't forgotten the medical staff inside the delivery room. He took out a stack of red envelopes from his pocket and personally handed one to each person.
He certainly knew how to handle social customs like a pro.
"In that case, we won't decline."
"Congratulations, Lord Kawaki."
Everyone happily accepted the envelopes. Whether it was a lot or little money didn't matter.
It was a joyful occasion—a celebration of both happiness and good fortune.
"Lord Kawaki, I'll head off first then."
Nemu Koharu put the red envelope into her pocket and said goodbye to Kawaki.
"It's been great trouble for you today."
"Oh!!"
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Although Nemu Koharu had mainly been cheering us on from the sidelines, Kawaki sincerely appreciated her efforts.
"What trouble? I didn't even help much."
Hearing this, Nemu felt genuinely pleased—something she'd never felt working with Hiruzen Sarutobi and those old men.
"I'll treat everyone to dinner sometime."
"I'm going ahead then."
Seeing Tsunade nearly opening the gate to the delivery room area, Kawaki didn't intend to say much more.
"Okay, we'll clean up a bit more."
Nemu Koharu led the nurses to begin tidying up the delivery room.
Kawaki caught up with Tsunade, standing behind her with Mito.
She was the real hero now, and Kawaki didn't want to steal her spotlight.
When the door opened, Tsunade stepped out first.
Immediately, she was surrounded by a crowd.
Mito and Kawaki were completely overlooked.
"Sis, let me hold my nephew."
Nawaki rushed forward, already stretching out his arms excitedly.
"Do you even know how to hold a baby? Give me a break!"
Misaki swatted him, worried he might end up making the baby cry.
"Then can I at least take a look?"
If Tsunade scolded him, Nawaki might argue back—he'd just get punched anyway.
But when Misaki scolded him, he had no fight in him at all.
He even looked almost pitifully obedient.
"Little brother, little brother."
Kakashi, nestled in Natsuki's arms, had a perfect view of Ginji's face from where he was nestled.
He looked absolutely thrilled, carefully studying this little miracle.
"He has the same hair color as you, little brother."
Sakumo ruffled Kakashi's hair. The Hatake family's signature silver hair was truly one-of-a-kind.
"Alright, everyone, give them some space."
"It's time we head home."
It was Natsuki who came to Tsunade's rescue. Being surrounded by so many people was a nice problem to have.
"Yeah, let's go home first."
At that moment, Kawaki stepped forward, gently making her way through the crowd.
"Little Ginji, Mama is taking you home."
Tsunade led the way, and the whole entourage started heading toward the Hatake house.
Mito hadn't visited the Hatake house much before, but now she fell into step with the group naturally.
Looks like she'd be making regular trips here from now on.
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