Naruto: Born Gifted in Konoha

Konoha Village had recently tightened its security so much that even legitimate outsiders found it difficult to enter.

Of course, this wasn't because Konoha no longer accepted visitors—it was because the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had entered her final stage of pregnancy.

The whole village felt unusually tense, though civilians still went about their daily routines—eating, drinking, and carrying on with life as usual.

But they could sense the change in atmosphere and stayed indoors unless necessary.

As the strongest ninja village around, Konoha naturally commanded respect.

Numerous figures darted across rooftops while emergency response units remained on constant standby. The village's protective barrier maintained its maximum level, as if everything within the village revolved around serving one person.

...

"Minato, what's wrong?" Shikaku Nara stood beside Minato, noticing the troubled expression on his face.

"Kushina refuses to go to the mountains for childbirth. She insists on staying at the hospital."

Though somewhat helpless, Minato looked even more worried about Kushina's safety.

"Not even you can persuade her?" Shikaku asked in surprise, knowing that despite Kushina's rather "fiery" personality, she usually acted sweetly around Minato.

"Sigh, these past few days nothing anyone says works. I don't know if it's the Nine-Tails affecting her, but her temper has been particularly volatile lately," Minato said with a shrug, a helpless smile on his face.

"Alright then, I'll make arrangements to evacuate some of the people around the hospital to minimize any risks."

Shikaku nodded. He understood just how complicated pregnant women could become near their due date.

Push her hard enough, and she might actually tell you she won't give birth at all.

But once you're *that* close to giving birth, can you really walk away?

"Great!"

...

Root Headquarters.

"Sir, here is your medicine!" A ninja handed a syringe to Danzo.

Hidden in the shadows, Danzo's facial expression remained obscured.

"We must proceed with the plan quickly—my body can't afford to wait any longer!"

Danzo took the needle and immediately injected it into his right arm. As the liquid entered his system, his tone seemed slightly relaxed.

"Yes, sir!"

The ninja lowered his head, eyes gleaming mysteriously.

"Without enough Sharingan eyes to maintain balance, my arm is getting harder and harder to control!"

Like an injured lone wolf, Danzo crouched in darkness, silently nursing his wounds.

...

"Paba! Paba!" The Third stumbled out from the back room, looking somewhat drowsy.

"Oh, I forgot she went to care for Kushina. Well, guess I'll just eat something simple and then go check in too!"

Rubbing his hollow belly, the Third's eyes sparkled with renewed energy.

Even though he had retired from being Hokage, during such unusual times, he still needed to act as a leader, setting an example for many others.

...

The air brimmed with increasingly intense Nine-Tails chakra, noticeable even to ordinary citizens.

Anbu patrols jumped from rooftop to rooftop—an alert level matching wartime conditions.

Kakashi crouched outside the hospital window, silently guarding his master's wife inside.

This was a mission he had just received not long ago, personally assigned by his teacher, The Fourth Hokage.

Although countless other ninja were secretly protecting Kushina's safety, Kakashi didn't slack off. As time passed, his expression grew even more vigilant.

Whoosh! A yellow flash zipped past, and Minato Namikaze suddenly appeared beside Kakashi.

"Teacher!" Kakashi gave a slight nod. Only one person could possibly appear like that — his teacher, the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

"Mm, thanks for your hard work, Kakashi!" Minato nodded, placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

"No unusual situations, right?" Minato didn't enter the delivery room. Sarutobi Biwako had already warned him not to have contact with Kushina to prevent emotional fluctuations in the pregnant woman.

"Well… nothing major, but—"

Kakashi's face looked somewhat strange, hesitating as if wanting to speak yet holding back.

"What is it?" Minato stared at Kakashi. This wasn't usual behavior from Kakashi—who usually spoke directly.

"It's just that Kushina said you have no conscience. You won't even visit her at a time like this. Once she's out, she'll divorce you!"

Kakashi took a deep breath and finally repeated everything Kushina had been shouting earlier.

Looking up at Minato, Kakashi saw exactly what he expected—countless lines of helplessness spreading across his teacher's face.

"You keep staying here. I'll go check elsewhere."

Minato seemed unable to withstand his student's gaze and prepared to vanish.

"Okay!"

...

"Rin, didn't you go to the hospital today to help?"

Obito loitered next to Rin Nohara, acting cluelessly.

"My teacher told me to rest today, so I didn't go."

Rin cast a worried glance toward the hospital, her hands clenched tightly.

Clearly, her heart wasn't calm.

"Oh, I heard Kakashi was sent by our teacher to protect Kushina. How unfair! My strength isn't low either."

Obito grumbled to himself, still competing with Kakashi even at this moment.

"Obito, we're only chunin. Even though you've activated the Sharingan and I know Medical Ninjutsu, Kakashi really is way stronger than us. Isn't this arrangement perfectly normal?"

Rin turned her head, staring at Obito until he uncomfortably twisted his head away before continuing forward.

"Rin, where are you going?" Obito hurried to catch up, like a desperate puppy.

"It's getting late—I'm heading home," Rin slowed her pace while answering.

"Oh, let me treat you to barbecue first, then I'll send you home afterward."

Obito thought briefly before suggesting.

"Hmm... okay," Rin saw the sincere look on Obito's face and couldn't bring herself to refuse.

"Great! I just completed a mission two days ago and just got paid my mission reward!"

Obito looked genuinely happy!

...

"Do you have any plans?" Zetsu showed no facial expressions, yet White Zetsu's voice always made Saitama feel awkward.

After all, White Zetsu resembled a lifeless dummy in daily life, sometimes asking extremely stupid questions.

"Let's just take a stroll. Maybe we'll score something useful!"

Saitama remained expressionless, his demeanor cold and indifferent.

"Today's Konoha isn't the same as usual. It won't be easy for you to slip inside."

White Zetsu continued with a mocking tone. He had just tried to enter Konoha Village using [Kagero no Jutsu] but discovered that underground Konoha still contained high-sensitivity detection barriers, so he gave up on sneaking in.

"Try it anyway. Just wait a bit longer!" Saitama could tell Konoha was on high alert. Still, he had a few ideas brewing.

"Why don't we go join the fun too?"

White Zetsu said to Black Zetsu, his voice brimming with eager anticipation.

"Go ahead." Black Zetsu sounded quite confident, seemingly unafraid of being discovered.

Saitama cast a glance at Black Zetsu and noticed the other watching him through his single eye.

"My target is [Scroll of Seals]. If you two want to go in too, you can help me cover my tracks!"

Saitama proposed, feeling certain the Zetsus wouldn't refuse.

"No problem. Is there something interesting on it for you?"

White Zetsu asked curiously. He felt the techniques previously imparted by the legendary Madara Uchiha were more than enough for Saitama to master for a lifetime.

"Konoha is, after all, the strongest village in the Shinobi World. There are still plenty of Ninjutsu there worth studying!"

Saitama replied calmly, showing no special eagerness toward the Scroll of Seals.

"Alright then, I'll help cover for you. It's kind of boring here anyway."

White Zetsu tilted his head slightly. His green algae-colored hair stood out starkly against the Zetsu foliage.

The two figures stood quietly on this mountain peak, gazing at the distant Konoha Village that appeared peacefully prosperous—at least on the surface.

The black cloak marked with red clouds fluttered in the evening breeze, flowing steadily in one direction.

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