Inside the cave delivery room.
Minato Namikaze could already hear the sounds of battle from outside.
However, he trusted Shindai's team. His current task was to maintain the seal and prevent Nine-Tails from breaking free.
Thanks to the combined efforts of Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze, Biwako Sarutobi, and Toci, Naruto had finally come into the world.
Hearing Naruto's powerful cries, Kushina Uzumaki shed tears of joy.
Minato himself also became tearful with joy. He wiped away the tears threatening to fall and happily said, "From today onward, I'm a father!"
Biwako Sarutobi held Naruto in her arms and smiled, saying, "What a lively little boy."
Seeing Biwako Sarutobi holding Naruto and walking toward him, Minato happily reached out wanting to hold Naruto, but Biwako stopped him sharply, "Don't touch him yet! Shouldn't he meet his mother first?"
Biwako gently placed the swaddled Naruto beside Kushina Uzumaki.
Kushina looked at Naruto and gave a warm maternal smile, "Naruto... finally, I get to see you..."
"Now then, Kushina, you should rest properly."
Biwako took Naruto away.
Minato Namikaze held Kushina's hand, "Kushina, are you alright? Thank you..."
Kushina gazed lovingly at Minato, "Minato..."
Minato said energetically, "Alright! Although you've just gone through a tough labor, I need to make sure Nine-Tails is completely subdued first, then go help Shisui and the others in battle."
"Minato!"
Kushina suddenly cried out in alarm.
Right behind Minato stood a black-cloaked figure wearing a spiral mask. The masked man swung his ninja sword directly at Minato's neck.
The masked man revealed himself to be Setsuna Uchiha.
Minato reacted extremely quickly—he had already thrown a Flying Thunder God Kunai backward and instantly teleported behind Setsuna Uchiha, stabbing toward him with another Flying Thunder God Kunai.
Setsuna Uchiha shifted his gaze toward Biwako Sarutobi, suddenly disappearing and reappearing behind Biwako in an instant.
"Lady Biwa!"
Toci pushed Biwako aside, taking a direct slash to the shoulder from Setsuna Uchiha's blade.
Meanwhile, Naruto, still in Biwako's arms, was snatched away by Setsuna Uchiha.
Setsuna pointed his ninja sword at Naruto and shouted, "Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—right now, stab your own heart with that kunai in your hand! Otherwise, your newborn child will die right before your eyes!"
Minato stared at Setsuna Uchiha, puzzled about how this opponent had silently breached their barrier.
"Ugh!"
Kushina Uzumaki groaned in pain.
Kushina Uzumaki was now extremely weak, and the Seal was currently in a half-unsealed state. Because she was too worried about the newborn Naruto, the Nine-Tails took the opportunity to struggle, causing the seal to become increasingly fragile.
Setsuna Uchiha urged, "Hurry up. Do you really want to see your child die right in front of you?"
Setsuna Uchiha's ninja sword inched closer to Naruto.
Minato Namikaze anxiously said, "Wait! Calm down!"
Suddenly,
several iron-sand needles shot out from the mechanical sphere near Kushina Uzumaki, aiming straight at Setsuna's head.
This mechanical sphere created by Shindai was designed solely as a mechanical trap.
There were only four people inside the delivery room, or five including the newborn Naruto.
If a sixth person entered the delivery room, the mechanical sphere would activate its trap after scanning, locking onto that intruder and firing iron-sand needles at them.
Setsuna Uchiha instinctively raised his blade to block those incoming sand-iron needles.
Meanwhile, Minato immediately used the Shifting Body Technique to grab Naruto from Setsuna Uchiha's grasp.
Minato's Flying Thunder God Kunai clashed with Setsuna Uchiha's ninja sword.
"Not bad, Yellow Flash. Even an ordinary body flicker move is this fast. However, what will you do next?"
In Minato's arms, Naruto let out a ticking sound—
It was the sound of an Explosive Tag. Setsuna had stuck several of them onto Naruto's blanket.
If these explosive tags detonated, the cave would collapse, putting Kushina Uzumaki in danger as well.
While removing Naruto from the swaddling cloth, Minato activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting himself and Naruto into a wooden hut. He threw the cloth to the ground and rushed out holding Naruto tightly.
The explosive tags exploded, destroying the wooden hut.
However, both Minato and Naruto escaped without harm.
Naruto wailed in Minato's arms, clutching his cloak tightly.
Minato wiped sweat off his forehead. "Good, Naruto isn't hurt."
Then Minato's expression became extremely serious. That man in black wanted to kill him; now Kushina Uzumaki was in danger.
Inside the cave,
"Tsk—you ran fast. It won't be easy killing you like this. But I'll have other chances… For now, I'll just take her first."
Setsuna Uchiha turned his gaze toward Kushina Uzumaki.
"Not a chance!"
Biwako Sarutobi and Toci stood in front of Kushina, holding kunais defensively.
However, Setsuna instantly appeared behind the two, ready to slash at Biwako and Toci with his blade.
But once again, the mechanical sphere beside Kushina Uzumaki fired multiple sand-iron needles outward.
"What in the world?! Forget it—I need to focus on my mission."
[Iron Sand Body] Before it could strike Setsuna Uchiha, he reached out and grabbed Kushina Uzumaki, then instantly disappeared.
Biwako Sarutobi and Toci stood frozen in place. Just like that, they were gone?
Biwako's expression turned extremely grim. "This is [Space–Time Ninjutsu] similar to Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique. This is bad!"
...
Outside the cave.
Deva Path said to Konan and Sasori, "Tobi has succeeded. Let's retreat for now."
Deva Path, Konan, and Sasori withdrew using the Body Flicker Technique.
Shisui Uchiha was still preparing to lead a pursuit team when Biwako, having released the barrier, shouted, "Stop chasing them. Kushina has been captured by a masked man. The seal is currently in an extremely weakened state. Right now, Kushina's safety is the most important!"
Everyone's expression changed.
Shindai immediately shot off. Obito and Kakashi hurried after him, anxiously asking, "Where are you going, Shindai?"
Shindai urgently replied, "I don't know, but we must find Sister Kushina now! Let's split up and search!"
"Got it!"
Obito and Kakashi rushed off in separate directions.
Shindai felt extremely anxious inside. Thinking there were only three of them, he hadn't expected Deva Path, Konan, and Sasori to just be decoys.
Plus, Black Zetsu had found another person who mastered [Space–Time Ninjutsu]. Now things were really getting complicated.
At this rate, the Nine-Tails might still end up being released!
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