Naruto universe.
Konoha.
The next day.
The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the streets of Konoha. Merchants already up had opened their shops while others spread their wares on mats across the floor.
A woman in her late twenties walked through the paved streets of Konoha with a gentle smile.
She wore a white and green gown with bright red hair that reached her waist and blue eyes that glowed slightly under the sun. The thing most noticeable was the unable-to-be-hidden big belly.
After walking for a while, the woman finally stopped in front of a fruit stall.
"Madam Hana, two watermelons please," the woman said with a gentle smile.
"Ah! It's Kushina! Welcome, welcome!" Madam Hana, the vendor of the stall, immediately smiled brightly as she noticed Kushina.
While packing the watermelons, she glanced at the big belly and asked, "So how is the baby?"
"Well, he's fine. Just kicks too often," Kushina said as she unconsciously stroked her belly with a warm smile.
"Ah! Kushina, you should smile warmly more often. Your past boisterous self really wasn't ladylike," the woman said with a sigh as she gave the already packaged watermelon to Kushina.
Kushina's eyes twitched slightly, but she still offered a gentle smile, "I'll listen to Madam Hana's advice."
After getting what she wanted, Kushina said her byes and left, heading towards her home. But unknown to her, she was being watched.
...
The group of five from the chat group stood on the roof of a building, curiously watching Kushina.
"She really became complacent after getting pregnant. Not even knowing we are watching her," Mio, who had now changed into a ninja outfit, said with a sigh as she turned and looked at Tsunade in admiration. "And Tsunade-san too! If not for dismissing the Anbu around her, monitoring her would be very hard."
"But I don't get it. Shouldn't we try to be closer to her, like introducing ourselves and sticking close?" Rias said. Though she wasn't as listless as before, her eyes still held a little gloom.
"Getting close would naturally expose us to the being and might make them not attack again," Mio said.
Just as the group seriously watched Kushina, Gintoki suddenly clicked his tongue.
"That Minato guy is really dumb! Going to work and leaving such a beautiful woman alone. But he shouldn't worry. I, Gintoki, shall take care of her!"
Tsunade, who had also been watching, instantly darkened. Her vein-filled fist came crashing on Gintoki's head.
Boom!
...
Ignoring the half-conscious Gintoki, Tsunade turned to the others.
"I know of an Izakaya close to her place. Let's go there," Tsunade said.
The three group members looked at each other and after a while nodded.
...
While the group watched Kushina, in the Hokage building, a young man seemingly in his late twenties read a document.
He wore the white haori representing the Hokage status with the kanji for 'Fourth' on the back. His yellow hair fell on his shoulders, and his blue eyes were like beautiful gems.
"Tsunade-sama came back along with four people and even dismissed the Anbu surrounding Kushina?" the man muttered under his breath as he stared at the document.
He had known about Tsunade's return after she registered at the Konoha gate and led four unknown people into Konoha. His subordinates had informed him, but he didn't expect that they would dismiss the Anbu surrounding Kushina.
'Or is she being threatened?' The man thought, but he immediately shook his head in denial. Though Tsunade hardly fought because of her phobia, it still didn't mean that she was weak. He wasn't even certain of victory if he and Tsunade fought.
Just as the man was lost in thought, a knock on the door followed by a cold voice interrupted his thoughts:
"Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage is here as requested."
The man's eyes flickered as he placed the file on the desk. "Let him in."
With his confirmation, the door opened and a man with a white beard entered the room.
"Third Hokage," the man greeted the old man with a smile.
"What Hokage? Minato, I've retired. I'm no longer Hokage. I'm just Hiruzen Sarutobi," the old man, Hiruzen, replied with a smile.
The man, Minato, shook his head as he said seriously, "Lord Hokage is the Third Hokage till death."
Taking his seat, Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. I can't convince you. So why did you call me?"
Minato's expression became serious as he handed the document on the table to Hiruzen.
After reading it, Hiruzen, one with decades of vast intelligence, naturally saw Minato's worries. "You fear that those four are bad and Tsunade is being threatened?"
Minato nodded seriously.
Hiruzen smiled as he shook his head. "You don't have to worry. For one to threaten Tsunade, they can only do two things: one, fight her. But with no news of any cataclysmic destruction, we can rule that one out. And the second one is threatening her with something precious."
"And the only precious thing to Tsunade right now is Shizune. But according to intelligence, Shizune is doing fine in an inn, so we can also cancel this one out. And then we draw our conclusion—Tsunade isn't being threatened."
Minato, who had been tense, finally relaxed. Though he had the same thought as Hiruzen, only when hearing it from someone else's mouth did he feel reassured.
Seeing that his time was due, Hiruzen stood up from his chair.
"I know that you're anxious because of Kushina's soon-to-be-born child, right?" Hiruzen asked. After getting a nod of confirmation from Minato, he continued, "Don't worry. With this old man there, Kushina and your child will be fine."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I still need to enjoy my retirement," Hiruzen said.
"Hmm, thank you for clearing my doubt, Third Hokage," Minato said with a smile, receiving a hum from Hiruzen, who then left.
Minato, now left alone in his office, stood up and walked towards the window, staring at Konoha from above, his thoughts unknown.
...
The once-bright sun slowly dimmed; evening would soon arrive.
The group who had come to an Izakaya had first ordered some food, but after that, they only watched the Namikaze house in silence—that is, except Tsunade. Ever since they arrived, she had been ordering one drink after another, clearly anxious.
After waiting for a while, the group immediately tensed as they noticed an Anbu who had arrived in front of the Namikaze house.
"Relax. He is among those we met earlier today," Satoru, with his Six Eyes, naturally saw through the mask covering the Anbu.
The tense group relaxed.
"So you really can see behind that blindfold?!" Gintoki said as he slowly stretched his hand, intending to remove Satoru's blindfold. But Tsunade's clenched fist was faster.
Boom!
Another punch came crashing on his head.
"Let's focus on the mission! Stop playing!" Tsunade said as she continued drinking her wine.
Just then, Kushina and the Anbu came out from the house and, with the Body Flicker Technique, disappeared instantly.
"Wow! Even about to give birth but still able to perform the Body Flicker! As expected of Kushina, having both the Uzumaki bloodline and being the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox!" Mio said enviously.
Bang!
"Let's go!" Tsunade smashed her cup on the table and, without waiting for anyone, left directly.
The story of Naruto—about the death of Kushina and Minato that Mio told her—was something Tsunade couldn't forget.
'Kushina, Minato... I won't let you die this time!'
...
A/N: Special offer, for every 50 powerstones I'll release a bonus chapter exclusive to this week only!
Izakya: A place where one can eat and drink---a bar