On the streets of Konoha.
Pregnant Miyuki Uzumaki, her belly round with child, met Mikoto Uchiha, who was holding baby Sasuke Uchiha in her arms.
Since Minato Namikaze and the Uchiha Clan were currently on good terms, Miyuki and Mikoto had naturally become close as well.
Miyuki looked at Sasuke curiously and asked, "Mikoto, is it a girl?"
Mikoto smiled and replied, "It's a boy."
"Oh how adorable! He looks so delicate, just like a little girl. He'll definitely grow up to be a real heartthrob. What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
Biwako Sarutobi approached Miyuki's side and also looked at Sasuke with a warm smile. "He shares the same name as Hiruzen's father."
With Miyuki being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the entire village of Konoha was practically on red alert throughout her pregnancy.
After all, the day she gave birth would also be when the Nine-Tails' seal weakened the most—making it highly likely that the beast could break free.
And since Minato, as Hokage, had overwhelming responsibilities, he couldn't constantly stay by Miyuki's side.
Therefore, Biwako Sarutobi had been personally taking care of Miyuki during this time.
Hearing Biwako mention that Sasuke shared the same name as Hiruzen's father, Mikoto gazed down at the infant in her arms and smiled softly. "Yes. I hope he becomes an outstanding and powerful ninja."
Mikoto glanced toward Miyuki's belly and asked, "Miyuki, you're almost due too, right? Have you chosen a name yet?"
Miyuki grinned and ruffled Sasuke's hair before replying, "Yep, we've already decided. His name will be Naruto. He'll be classmates with Sasuke, so you two better get along well."
"Miyuki!"
Kushina Uzumaki also spotted Miyuki and called out to her.
Miyuki Uzumaki, Mikoto Uchiha, and Biwako Sarutobi all turned their gazes toward Kushina Uzumaki simultaneously.
"Oh, it's Kushina. Is Chinya back in Konoha too?"
Miyuki and Biwako continued smiling warmly at Kushina standing in the distance.
But something flickered across Mikoto's face—concern, maybe even fear.
The reason Mikoto could come out today was precisely because Chinya hadn't been in Konoha for months.
Now that Chinya was back, who knew when some Konoha Defense Unit ninjas might pop out from somewhere and try to snatch her and Sasuke away.
"I… I should go home now. Miyuki, Lady Biwako, I'll take my leave first."
Without waiting for Miyuki or Biwako's response, Mikoto quickly departed.
Miyuki and Biwako naturally understood why Mikoto had suddenly acted this way, but they couldn't do anything about it either.
Within the Uchiha Clan, Chinya's mere name was enough to hush even crying infants.
Chinya supported Kushina Uzumaki as they walked toward Miyuki and Biwako.
Chinya greeted them, "Miyuki, Lady Biwako."
Miyuki Uzumaki gave a gentle smile and said, "Chinya, you finally came back. If you hadn't returned soon, Kushina here would've turned into a 'stone waiting for her husband'—you know, like the legend of the longing wife."
Looking at Kushina Uzumaki, Chinya said, "If I'd known Kushina was pregnant, I definitely wouldn't have left."
Kushina Uzumaki was worried that Chinya might feel guilty again about this matter, so she quickly changed the subject. "Are Miyuki and Lady Biwako also out shopping?"
Biwako Sarutobi replied, "Yes. Miyuki's due date is about three months away, so walking around does her good. You should be close to your due date too, Kushina."
At the mention of 'three months,' Chinya's eyes briefly sparkled with realization.
Kushina nodded. "Right, I'm just a month behind her. I've already been pregnant for six months—so another four to go."
Biwako sighed, "Back then, you and Chinya were still in the Jonin academy. Now here you both are, about to have kids. Time really flies… We must be getting old. If Lady Mito could see us now, she'd surely be delighted."
When Kushina Uzumaki and Uzumaki Miyuki heard Biwako Sarutobi mention Mito Uzumaki, both grew quiet, their eyes clouded with sorrow.
Biwako asked curiously, "Since Chinya has returned, have you decided on the child's name already?"
Kushina Uzumaki smiled brightly. "Yes! We've already chosen one—Uzumaki Sōnagi. Chinya hopes our child can enjoy smooth sailing on the road toward pursuing their dreams."
Uzumaki Miyuki praised, "That truly is a wonderful name."
Biwako Sarutobi shot a curious look at Chinya.
Chinya didn't have a family name, so the child took the Uzumaki name from Kushina Uzumaki?
Kushina Uzumaki asked, "Miyuki, have you decided on your child's name yet?"
Uzumaki Miyuki nodded in response. "Yes, we've chosen one—Namikaze Naruto."
Kushina Uzumaki guessed upon hearing the name, "Naruto... It must mean 'to startle the world with one cry,' right?"
Uzumaki Miyuki explained, "Indeed it carries that meaning, though there was another important reason. Minato read Master Jiraiya's book *The Tale of the Ninja's Guts* (a story celebrating relentless perseverance), and he was deeply moved by the protagonist's refusal to give up until the very end. That protagonist's name was Naruto, so Minato chose this name."
Kushina Uzumaki couldn't help twitching her lips.
He chose this name because he read a book… It felt oddly spontaneous, somehow.
Compared to that, the name Chinya had chosen was much better.
The two women fell into conversation.
Their conversation naturally turned to pregnancy and all things related.
Meanwhile, Chinya waited on the sidelines.
Just then, Biwako Sarutobi walked over to Chinya and asked, "Chinya, when did you return exactly?"
Chinya answered, "Last night."
Biwako sighed, "You returned just in time. You might need to assist Miyuki when she gives birth."
Chinya understood what Biwako meant immediately—it must have related to Nine-Tails. Surely they wouldn't actually expect him to assist Miyuki during childbirth.
Chinya nodded, "Miyuki is from Kushina's clan. Naturally, I'll do my utmost to assist her."
After chatting for a while, Kushina and Miyuki bid farewell to each other. Chinya helped support Kushina as they headed home together.
...
At the same time,
Inside the Kiri Village,
Zetsu stared at Obito Uchiha in astonishment, "Are you really going to do this?"
Obito Uchiha replied coldly, "That's right. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Miyuki, is about to go into labor. At that time, the Nine-Tails' seal will weaken to its extreme point. This will be our opportunity."
Zetsu asked, "But why don't we just capture the Nine-Tails directly? Why do you plan to have it attack Konoha?"
Obito explained, "I want to execute the Moon's Eye Plan. I'm destined to make enemies of the entire Shinobi World anyway. Destroying Konoha now would be even better.
The Third Great Ninja World War has just ended not long ago. Konoha is still in a vulnerable state. Two of the Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, are currently away from Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi is already old and his strength has greatly diminished. Right now, the strongest fighters in Konoha are Minato Namikaze and Chinya.
Chinya and Minato Namikaze are indeed troublesome, but I'll personally hold them both back while letting the Nine-Tails destroy Konoha."
Zetsu looked at Obito with an odd expression.
Was Obito overestimating himself—or underestimating Chinya and Minato Namikaze too much?
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