Chapter 75 (Patreon)

“The day Kushina gives birth…”

Minato’s expression tightened with frustration.

Back then, he had trusted Sarutobi Hiruzen without hesitation. He had believed the Third Hokage would protect Konoha’s future.

But now, looking back, it was clear.

Hiruzen had gotten his hands on secrets Minato never should have allowed anyone to touch.

“There’s no point regretting it now,” Yujiro said lightly.

Minato looked toward him.

“Even if you had kept quiet, they would have found out eventually,” Yujiro continued. “Besides, to Konoha’s higher-ups, this was never really a secret.”

Minato’s brows drew together.

“Then what do we do?”

For the first time, unease slipped into his voice.

This was not only about the village. Kushina’s life was on the line. So was the life of their unborn child.

Yujiro smiled.

“We deal with whatever comes.”

His voice was calm, steady, almost careless.

To him, the situation was not worth panicking over.

Kurama was already on his side.

That meant the only real threats left were Obito and Shimura Danzō.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, Yujiro did not even place him in his eyes.

At his current age and condition, Hiruzen was barely Kage-level at best. Whether he could even defeat Danzō was questionable.

There was nothing to fear from him.

Before long, Kushina Uzumaki’s due date drew closer.

Konoha’s ANBU also began moving in secret.

Minato’s nerves grew tighter with each passing day.

This time, the delivery site was chosen in the mountains behind Konoha.

In the original timeline, because of the fear that the Nine-Tails would break free from its seal, Kushina had been moved to a hidden cave outside the village.

But this time, the location had been chosen by Yujiro himself.

It was an ANBU base hidden deep in the rear mountains of Konoha.

ANBU were stationed densely around the area.

For the sake of security, Yujiro even brought Uchiha Fugaku there.

With Shisui and Fugaku, two Mangekyō Sharingan users, present at the same time, Yujiro was not worried about losing control of the situation.

If anything, the only thing he wondered was whether Obito would still dare to come.

A few days later, Kushina Uzumaki’s delivery day finally arrived.

At the same time, dozens of meters beneath Konoha, inside Root’s underground base—

Shimura Danzō stood before the Root shinobi gathered in the square and nodded faintly.

“You are Konoha’s most elite shinobi.”

His voice was low and firm.

“You must have noticed the changes taking place in the village over these past few months.”

“Minato secretly conspired with Yujiro and used Orochimaru’s defection to bring down three factions at once.”

“He rewrote the mission report and buried the truth.”

A cold light passed through Danzō’s eye.

“And according to my information, today is the day the Nine-Tails jinchūriki gives birth.”

“Minato intends to release the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha.”

“And Yujiro…”

Danzō paused for a moment.

“…is a traitor sent by an enemy nation.”

The Root shinobi remained silent.

Not a single one questioned him.

Danzō swept his gaze across them and spoke heavily.

“Your mission is simple.”

“Use everything you have.”

“Eliminate Yujiro and everyone with him.”

“Yes.”

Nearly a thousand Root shinobi answered in low voices.

They no longer had wills of their own.

Under Danzō’s control, they had long since become tools without souls.

“Move out,” Danzō ordered.

In the next instant, the Root shinobi vanished from the square one after another.

Danzō slowly turned around.

“Sarutobi. It is your turn now.”

As his words fell, a figure stepped out from the darkness behind him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing the Hokage’s robe, walked forward slowly.

At that moment, the kindness he usually wore on his face was gone.

Only a cold, vicious expression remained.

“Danzō,” Hiruzen said quietly, “if I can take control of the situation again this time, then the new Fourth Hokage will be you.”

Danzō looked at his old friend.

“Very well,” he said with a faint smile. “This time, I will lend you my full support.”

Hiruzen nodded.

Then he turned and left with confidence in his steps.

Danzō watched his back disappear into the darkness.

A thin smile appeared on his face.

“Sarutobi… Sarutobi…”

His voice was soft, almost mocking.

“Even after reaching this point, you are still naive.”

Danzō slowly raised his left hand.

“I will be the new Fourth Hokage.”

His smile deepened.

“As for you…”

His eye narrowed.

“Do you truly think you are worthy?”

“He is not worthy.”

The moment those words fell, space twisted behind him.

A spiral-shaped distortion opened in the darkness.

A man wearing an orange spiral mask stepped out from within it.

Uchiha Obito.

Danzō did not look surprised.

“That is right,” he said. “Sarutobi is not worthy.”

Obito walked forward slowly.

Danzō took a scroll from inside his robe and held it out.

“This is the location where the Nine-Tails jinchūriki will give birth.”

Obito glanced at him, then accepted the scroll.

After opening it briefly, he looked back at Danzō.

“I am curious,” Obito said coldly. “What do you gain by working with me?”

Danzō’s gaze lowered slightly.

“The position of Hokage.”

Obito stared at him for a moment.

“That is all?”

“That is all.”

Obito said nothing more.

Kamui activated, and his figure vanished into the twisted space.

After he disappeared, Danzō’s expression turned colder.

“That is all?”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

“No.”

“The Hokage’s position is only the beginning.”

In the mountains behind Konoha, night had already begun to fall.

Inside the hidden ANBU base, Kushina Uzumaki’s delivery had begun.

Outside the base, Minato paced back and forth near the entrance, unable to calm down.

Yujiro leaned against a large tree not far away.

On the other side of the tree, Shisui, Kakashi, and Itachi were also waiting.

Everyone’s nerves were stretched tight.

Yujiro seemed to have his eyes closed, but in truth, every detail of the surrounding area was being simulated inside his mind.

Combined with his chakra sensing, even the slightest movement would be caught by him instantly.

Inside the ANBU base, Kushina had reached the final moment.

Then—

A baby’s cry rang out.

Naruto was born.

At that same instant, ten spiral-shaped distortions suddenly appeared inside the ANBU base.

Outside, Yujiro’s fingers moved slightly.

He came.

Uchiha Obito had come after all.

Will this still trigger the Nine-Tails’ rampage?

With that thought, Yujiro’s consciousness sank into the golden spiritual space.

“Kurama,” Yujiro said with a smile. “You feel it, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Kurama lifted his massive head.

His voice was low and heavy.

“That man has already started moving. But…”

His eyes narrowed.

“He is an Uchiha. I can feel those cursed eyes.”

Kurama’s tone carried irritation.

“If this keeps going, he will be able to control me.”

“It is fine,” Yujiro said calmly. “Before he can do that, I will move first.”

“You said it yourself,” Kurama growled. “Do not go back on your word.”

Yujiro smiled.

“When you come out, just stay quiet.”

Kurama snorted.

“I know.”

At that moment, Uchiha Obito finally made his move.

“Nine-Tails…”

Obito seized the opening and reached for the seal.

“Come out.”

The seal was released.

In the next instant, a terrifying chakra erupted across the entire valley.

Boom!

The ground split apart.

The enormous body of the Nine-Tails appeared before everyone.

The expressions of the ANBU changed at once.

The Nine-Tails had broken free.

Without hesitation, Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique and entered the hidden delivery room.

By the time he arrived, the ceiling of the chamber had already been torn away.

That was where the Nine-Tails had emerged from.

And standing before him was the masked man.

In his arms was the newborn Naruto.

“Fourth Hokage,” Obito said coldly.

Minato’s eyes sharpened.

“On one side is the Nine-Tails, ready to attack the village.”

Obito raised Naruto slightly.

“On the other side is your newborn son.”

His voice turned colder.

“I wonder which one you will protect.”

Minato’s brows tightened.

Below them, Kushina lay weakly on the delivery bed.

“Minato…”

Her voice was faint.

“Save Naruto…”

“Kushina, do not worry.”

Minato gave her a reassuring look.

“I will.”

Obito let out a low laugh.

“I would like to see how.”

For a moment, the two sides fell into a tense standoff.

Minato’s anxiety grew stronger.

The Nine-Tails was outside.

The masked man before him had unknown abilities.

And Naruto was in his hands.

But then Minato suddenly noticed something strange.

There was no major movement outside.

Why?

“It is quite lively in here.”

A calm voice sounded from the entrance.

Yujiro walked in slowly, a black blade resting in his hand.

Several ANBU followed behind him.

“Yujiro…”

Obito gritted out the name the moment he saw him.

“Oh?”

Yujiro looked at him with a faint smile.

“Aren’t you the one who attacked me before?”

Obito narrowed his eye beneath the mask.

He could not tell what Yujiro was planning.

Was he here to capture him?

Unlikely.

After all, the Fourth Hokage’s child was still in his hands.

Yujiro sighed softly.

“Would it kill you to settle things quietly?”

Then, under everyone’s tense gaze, Yujiro walked toward Obito at an unhurried pace.

Everyone’s hearts tightened.

But in the next moment, what happened left them stunned.

The masked man, who had been filled with killing intent only a moment ago, suddenly froze in place.

He did not move... more like he couldn't move.

Yujiro calmly reached out and took Naruto from his arms.

Obito remained where he was, completely motionless.

“Minato-sensei.”

Yujiro turned and handed Naruto to Minato.

Minato accepted the child in a daze, disbelief filling his eyes.

Yujiro then took out an Sage Region Seal Tag he had exchanged from the system and placed it on Kushina Uzumaki’s forehead.

Soft green light spread out from the tag and covered her body.

“I cannot hold him much longer.”

Behind Yujiro, one of the ANBU suddenly spoke.

At that moment, Obito finally broke free.

The ANBU behind Yujiro removed his mask, revealing his face.

It was Nara Shikaku.

The shadow beneath his feet slowly withdrew.

Only then did Minato understand.

Shadow Imitation Technique.

That was what had stopped Obito.