In the crib, Luka opened his eyes.
He could hear his parents' voices from the other room in the living room.
They were truly a happy and loving couple.
Through the gap of the half-open door, two golden dragonflies entered.
When they reached the range of his chubby baby hands, Luka used 'Predation' on the two dragonflies that offered no resistance.
[+581 EXP]
[+58 Points]
'So this is how it works...'
It wasn't a bad result, but...
What happened was that his shadow clones were not capable of using [Predation].
Because of that, their increase was purely thanks to the abilities: Absorption and Dissolve.
Without using [Predation], the result won't be that good, but it still wasn't a bad result.
'Maybe if I could improve the shadow clone jutsu, something like splitting my body – making it possible to use [Predation] with my clones – that would be the best result.'
That said, just the fact that he could use his clones to gain points and EXP was already a good result.
'The breast milk I drank is still stored in my stomach, I want to test and see what the result is if I use [Predation] on it.'
Seconds later...
[Absorption (Bronze) evolved into Absorption (Silver) Lv.1!]
[Dissolve (Bronze) evolved into Dissolve (Silver) Lv.1!]
[Natural Energy (Bronze) Rose to Lv.2!]
[Restoration (Bronze) Rose to Lv.5!]
[+451 EXP]
[+45 Points]
'This is practically an entire day of effort from my two clones!'
It's true that his clones didn't leave the village and kept feeding on insects, even so...
The best result was the qualitative improvement in [Absorption] and [Dissolve]. Also the level increase of [Natural Energy] and [Restoration].
[Level: 2] – [1.917/2.000]
'I'm very close to leveling up...'
"Lalala~~"
The sound of Kushina humming a song made him involuntarily sway his head, closing his eyes.
There was no denying it, he loved her voice. It was a maternal voice that made him want to listen to it while sleeping.
Shaking his head, he thought: 'I don't want to lose them... But, I have very little time, there's only one month left at most until mother goes into labor...'
His existence changed some things, like for example, Jiraiya was still in the village.
Another thing, it seemed that Kushina got pregnant earlier.
How did he know that?
Well... It's only been two weeks since Sasuke Uchiha was born.
Kushina took him along when she went to visit her friend after giving birth to Sasuke.
And, from what he remembered, the age difference between Naruto and Sasuke was at least two months.
In other words, it was still the beginning of the month of August and Kushina was almost going into labor. Thus, the age difference would be at most 1 month.
What does that change?
He really didn't know.
Maybe Obito would never appear, but you can't tempt fate.
'But, what can I do?'
He thought about the shop, or more specifically, about the Resurrection Cross that was sold in the shop.
'System, can this item be used by someone besides me?'
[No, it cannot.]
The response came like a bucket of cold water.
"Minato!!"
Suddenly, Kushina's voice echoed through the house.
Luka had a bad feeling about that.
He stood up, forming hand seals, and soon three clones were created, taking on the appearance of golden dragonflies.
...
Minato jumped out of the bathtub, running with a towel around his waist.
"I think my water broke..." She said, pale.
From her legs, slowly leaking, transparent amniotic fluid flowed down.
Without hesitating, Minato disappeared.
While Minato had gone out, something entered the pocket of Kushina's clothes unnoticed.
Seconds later, Minato returned, now properly dressed, and formed hand seals. Then, three shadow clones appeared; two of them went out through the door, while he himself picked Kushina up in a princess carry.
Being carried like that, despite the pain, she smiled and said: "Hehe, doesn't this remind you of some things?"
"Yes, of the day I saved you and... of the day of our honeymoon." He smiled fully.
When a white 'flash' came toward them, Minato, with Kushina in his arms, left, leaving the clone behind.
The 'flash' took the form of Jiraiya who entered the house.
"Kushina, she..."
"Her water broke." Clone Minato interrupted, saying, before disappearing: "Jiraiya-sensei, please take care of Luka."
Scratching his head, Jiraiya's eyes became serious as he looked at the dark sky.
"I don't know why, but my heart won't stop beating fast..." He murmured: "I just hope nothing bad happens..."
[–0–]
In an isolated location protected by barriers and seals, with the presence of Minato and a few trusted ninjas, Kushina began to go into labor.
It took hours, until finally the cry of a baby echoed.
"Waah, Waah!"
"She was born!" Minato was in shock.
Kushina was sweating heavily, panting a lot, but upon hearing the baby's cry, tears began to stream down her eyes.
Biwako Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife, was holding a beautiful baby with short crimson hair, similar to her mother's.
Minato finally reacted, crying and laughing, wiping away the tears that began to stream down his face.
"She's a healthy baby!" Biwako said, walking around the stone bed Kushina was lying on.
"Maki!" Minato approached.
Biwako reprimanded him: "Don't touch her! The mother sees her first."
When Maki was placed beside Kushina, she looked at her adorable baby, saying while struggling to catch her breath: "Maki... I can finally see her."
Meanwhile, something stealthily came out of Kushina's pocket, or rather two things, crawling toward Maki.
Biwako moved Maki away, saying: "Okay. Now, you'll have much more time later."
Behind Biwako, a nurse in white followed closely behind her.
"There, there..." Biwako said in a gentle tone, rocking the baby.
Minato approached Kushina, placing his hand over hers: "Kushina, is your body alright?"
"Fine." She replied softly.
Minato smiled: "Thank you."
With indescribable emotions on her face, she said: "Minato..."
"Right!" He punched his hand, saying: "I know you just went through childbirth, but I have to completely seal the Nine-Tails!"
He became serious, placing the palm of his hand on the seal on her stomach while the other hand supported his wrist.
"Ahhh!"
Before he could begin, there was a scream.
"Ah?!" Minato turned around, surprised: "Biwako-sama! Taji!"
That was when he saw a hooded man all in black wearing a white mask with black markings, with only a single hole for the right eye, his claw-shaped hand pointed toward Maki's head while she cried in his right arm.
"Waah, Waah!"
"Fourth Hokage Minato, step away from the Jinchuuriki." The man's voice was deep and cold as he spoke those words.
Minato stood on guard.
But, upon hearing that, both he and Kushina let out sounds of fear.
"Otherwise." The mysterious man continued: "This child's life will end in an instant."
'How did you get past the barrier?' Minato wondered with trembling eyes: 'This guy... Who is he?'
"Ahhh!" Suddenly, Kushina began to scream as dark markings from the seal started to cover her body, then a dark bubble threatened to come out from her stomach.
"Kushina!" Minato turned toward her, thinking: 'The Nine-Tails' Seal is continuing...'
The mysterious man repeated himself, making a kunai appear in his hand and placing it very close to Maki's face: "Step away from the Jinchuuriki already. Don't you care about what might happen to your child?"
"Wait! Calm down!" Minato pointed his hand toward the man.
"Speak for yourself, Minato." He replied: "I am as calm as possible."
Soon, he threw Maki into the air.
That was when something the size of a head appeared, seeming to be made of a golden liquid – Or rather, two things.
These two 'gelatinous oval balls' covered Maki's body.
"Maki!" Minato shouted, teleporting.
When he reached her, the small cloth covering Maki disappeared. With a simple "Puff", the two golden gelatinous oval balls disappeared before his eyes.
"Clones?" Minato murmured.
"Nani?!"
Finally, the masked man's voice lost its calm.
While he lost his composure, a golden dragonfly flew toward him, soon transforming into a golden Slime.
Clone Luka, as he shot toward Obito, mentally murmured: 'Hydraulic Propulsion!'
When he did that, he became almost like a cannonball firing toward Obito.
Besides being fast, it was unpredictable.
In less than a blink of an eye, Clone Luka was already striking Obito's face.
A "Pracc" sound echoed and that was when Obito became intangible.
However, part of the mask on the right side of Obito's face was compromised, thus making it possible to clearly see that he possessed a Sharingan.
Obito covered that side of his face with his right hand.
Clone Luka was attacked by a kunai and disappeared.
Meanwhile, Minato, with Maki in his arms, threw a kunai, appearing beside Kushina, and with her and Maki, they disappeared.
"Damn it!!!"
Obito, who was left 'alone', shouted loudly in fury.
His right red eye oscillated nonstop.
...
"Minato!"
Minato appeared in the living room of his own house, and Jiraiya, who was taking care of Luka, shouted urgently upon seeing them.
"Jiraiya-sensei, someone attacked right after Kushina gave birth to Maki."
Going to the table, Minato threw everything on it to the floor, laying Kushina on top of it.
He continued explaining: "It was a hooded man all in black with a white mask that completely covered his face, some things happened and I saw that he possessed a Sharingan. Biwako-sama and Taji are still there, I need to go help! Please, take care of them for me!"
There was too much information to process, but Jiraiya still promised: "Leave it to me!"
"Minato, be careful!" Kushina said worriedly.
"Mm!" Minato disappeared right after.
...
Minato returned to the secret location where Kushina had given birth to Maki earlier.
"Biwako-sama, Taji!" He approached the two of them: "They're still breathing!"
Looking around, he noticed that the man had disappeared.
Even though he had many things on his mind, he had other matters at hand.
Disappearing with them, he reappeared at Konoha Hospital: "Someone, someone help!"
"Minato-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
He was quickly recognized, and soon several nurses and doctors appeared.
"I leave them with you, please, save them!"
Without explaining further, he disappeared right after.
...
At home, he reappeared to see Jiraiya containing Kushina's seal.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I'll take over from here." He asked: "About..."
"Oyoh, no need to be reserved with me." Jiraiya interrupted, saying: "Leave it to me, I'll protect them while you do that."
"Thank you." Minato thanked him deeply.
"Minato!!"
Hiruzen's voice echoed from outside.
Jiraiya went out, appearing outside: "You arrived at the right moment, old man."
"Are they alright?" Hiruzen asked worriedly.
"For now, yes." Jiraiya replied: "Minato is inside resealing the Kyubi."
"That's good." Hiruzen sighed in relief.
Seeing the old man's expression change again, Jiraiya spoke as if he had read his thoughts: "Biwako-sama was injured, but for now, she's alright. Minato already took her to the hospital."
"Mm." Hiruzen only nodded, but it was clear from his expression how relieved he was to hear that.
"Everyone, listen to my command!" Hiruzen turned around, shouting: "I want you to properly protect the Fourth Hokage's house! Not even a mosquito must pass through us, understood!?"
"""Yes!!!"""
In a matter of seconds, the entire perimeter around Minato's house was surrounded by the Leaf ninjas.
...
Meanwhile, Minato had already begun sealing the Kyubi back again.
Despite the previous interruption, even destroying all the preparations they had made before to completely seal the Kyubi back again, whether because of how strong Kushina was, or how skilled Minato was, the sealing process was progressing without any problems, it was just taking much longer.
Sweating, Minato found himself thinking: 'What was that?'
At first, he thought that thing also wanted to harm his baby, but later he realized he was very wrong.
Even at a glance, he noticed that the cloth covering Maki had an explosive tag placed on it by that masked man, but that thing made it disappear together with the cloth somehow.
There was also the second one that tried to attack the masked man's face, managing to break part of the mask, but then it passed through the man's face.
Minato narrowed his eyes: 'Was that some kind of jutsu that makes him intangible? Is it related to that eye? The pattern was different from ordinary Sharingans, maybe that was the infamous mangekyou sharingan that I've heard so much about?'
"Ahhh!"
At the sound of Kushina's scream, Minato stopped thinking about it for now, focusing all his attention on sealing the Kyubi back again.
...
On the couch, Luka was facing a newborn baby who until now had been crying a lot, but upon seeing him, strangely stopped, as if evaluating him.
Suddenly, she began to laugh.
Luka raised an eyebrow, and that made the baby laugh even more.
'Red hair and... feminine features...'
Even after receiving the feedback from the clones, it was still a surprise to him. After all, Naruto had blonde hair.
'So, it was as I imagined...' Luka thought: 'Because of me, Naruto was never born.'
[–0–]
Obito finally reached the Leaf Village.
He replaced the broken mask.
When he got close to Minato and Kushina's house, his expression behind the mask became very ugly.
'Damn, damn, damn it?! I was so close... I waited for this, planned for this for so long! What the hell was that, what the hell was that thing!?'
He hadn't felt this much rage since he saw Kakashi kill Rin.
He felt the urge to scratch his own face until it peeled.
His body trembled nonstop, unable to contain his anger.
"I found you!"
Obito turned around.
On top of a rooftop, crouched with his hands forward, he saw Jiraiya.
"You were in the village?" Obito asked without waiting for a response.
It was more as if he was surprised to see him there.
"That question and tone of voice of yours..." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes: "Made me very intrigued... Is someone passing information to you? Who is the traitor?"
Obito closed his eye.
When he opened it, he was calmer: "It seems I lost my great chance. I admit that with you here, one of the three legendary Sannin, any chance I had before is gone. But, don't be so happy yet, this still isn't over. The day I destroy Konoha is not very far away!"
Finishing speaking, he began to flicker, soon disappearing.
"How?" Jiraiya was surprised.
Upon noticing that he wouldn't be able to track him through conventional means, he closed his eyes, concentrating, gathering natural energy, but even after entering Sage Mode, he was not capable of tracking that man.
"It wasn't a clone, so... How did he do that?" Jiraiya murmured, perplexed.
[–0–]
Even after hearing that man say that he had given up this time, Jiraiya did not warn anyone about it, continuing outside, still in Sage Mode, protecting his student's family.
Even after Minato managed to completely seal the Kyubi back again, the vigilance continued until dawn.
"Hiruzen-sama!" A ninja appeared, reporting: "Biwako-sama's surgery ended, she survived!"
"Great!" Seeing that he got too excited, Hiruzen pretended to cough, asking: "And how is Taji?"
"Recovering." The ninja said: "She is also out of danger."
"Mm, that's good!" Hiruzen slapped his own thigh hard, smiling.
...
In a high place, not very far from there – a man with his forehead and right eye bandaged, spat disdainfully with a certain level of arrogance while looking down from above: "Useless! Even with such a good chance, still, he failed."
The man's figure flickered, and soon he disappeared from where he was standing.