Kushina Uzumaki’s due date weighed heavily on Konoha’s leadership.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally oversaw every deployment, ensuring that not even the smallest detail was overlooked.
Everything had to be flawless.
Minato Namikaze scarcely left his wife’s side.
The concern and tension in his eyes were impossible to hide.
The delivery site itself had been kept strictly confidential.
Located on the outskirts of the village, it was protected by layer upon layer of powerful barrier techniques.
No ordinary shinobi could even approach it.
Elite ANBU guarded every entrance.
Three steps between sentries.
Five steps between patrols.
Every rustling leaf was watched.
The air itself seemed heavy with the promise of an approaching storm.
Meanwhile…
Shinzuki Yu moved silently through the dense forest surrounding the outer perimeter.
To him…
Konoha’s barriers might as well not have existed.
He already knew every detail of the Masked Man’s plan.
Obito Uchiha.
He would strike while Kushina was giving birth—when the Nine-Tails’ seal was at its weakest.
It suited him perfectly.
Cowardly.
Precise.
Cruel.
Yu raised a finger.
One by one, intricate sealing formulae quietly melted into the darkness.
Unlike Konoha’s official defenses…
These hidden composite barriers covered an even wider area.
Not only could they defend and isolate…
They could also trace anyone attempting to infiltrate them.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“I’m looking forward to this, Obito.”
Without drawing attention, he placed Flying Thunder God formulae at every critical point.
Like pieces on a chessboard.
Waiting for the player to make his move.
His preparations didn’t end there.
The Sage Body’s extraordinary sensory abilities expanded without restraint.
Combined with Asura’s innate affinity for natural energy…
His perception spread across the land like an invisible web.
Before long…
Far from the delivery site…
Within a secluded mountain valley…
Space twisted.
A familiar spiral distortion appeared.
A figure wearing an orange, single-eyed mask stepped out.
“…Found you.”
The corners of Yu’s lips curved upward.
Obito believed his movements were flawless.
He had no idea…
That every action…
Every fluctuation of his unique Space-Time Ninjutsu…
Had already been completely tracked.
At that moment, Obito was still cautiously observing Konoha’s defenses.
No doubt congratulating himself on the brilliance of his plan.
Pathetic.
Almost amusing.
Yu could even sense another presence beside him.
A strange mass of black-and-white chakra.
Zetsu.
“So you’re both here.”
“Good.”
That saved him the trouble of hunting them separately.
As for Obito’s prized Kamui…
Yu had already prepared accordingly.
Specialized Space Suppression Scrolls.
Enough to temporarily disrupt Space-Time Ninjutsu.
He had also prepared a special antidote designed to counter high-level Sharingan genjutsu.
He probably wouldn’t need it himself.
But leaving one for Minato wasn’t a bad idea.
Little gifts.
Prepared especially for tonight’s “welcome party.”
He informed no one.
Not even Minato.
There were two reasons.
First…
He wanted to give Obito a surprise he would never forget.
Second…
This moment was one of the story’s greatest turning points.
The system’s check-in reward was almost guaranteed to be extraordinary.
He had no intention of altering events prematurely and risking a lesser reward.
“Ah…!”
Kushina’s cries of pain drifted intermittently from within the barrier.
Each one tightened the hearts of those protecting her.
The chakra inside the barrier grew increasingly unstable.
The sinister aura of the Nine-Tails stirred restlessly.
The seal…
Was weakening.
Yu could even sense fluctuations in Minato’s chakra.
His emotions were affecting his control.
Don’t worry, Minato.
I’ve got this.
He needed the perfect moment.
The instant Obito believed victory was already his.
The instant his confidence reached its peak.
Then…
He would drag him crashing back down to earth.
The look on his face would be priceless.
The night wind grew colder.
Leaves rustled gently overhead, masking countless subtle sounds.
Yu adjusted his stance, blending even more completely into the darkness.
He waited.
Waited for the foolish avenger…
To walk willingly into the trap prepared especially for him.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Kushina’s cries became more frequent.
And weaker.
The tension within the barrier became suffocating.
Finally…
The chakra signature hidden in the distant valley moved.
It carried eagerness.
Cruel anticipation.
And absolute confidence.
Obito…
Had made his move.
A cold smile slowly spread across Yu’s face.
“This time…”
“I’m the one writing the script.”