Chapter Fourteen

Minato stood in the kitchen of the house, eyeing the calendar as the electric kettle sputtered. His eyes looked the various dates of the year ahead. Today, the fifteenth of March was circled in red, and a reminder written next to it that simply said: Wedding Day. July tenth was circled for Kushina's twenty-fourth birthday. Assorted other occasions were marked here and there, but he stopped on October tenth, marked with a heart and in big letters: BABY DUE!

The kettle popped, and he grinned as he poured the water into a teapot. The excitement factor hadn't worn off, even weeks later. Every morning, he had to pry Kushina off the ceiling when she woke, realizing the hard journey to being pregnant was over. Minato's grin widened at the happy side-effect of their dream-being realized – Kushina was still every bit as hungry for him as she had been the wild night on the dining room table.

As he moved the tea service to the table, Minato chuckled to himself that he'd be serving Lord Hiruzen and Biwako tea on the same table they'd probably made the baby. He supposed it would be a secret he would take with him – maybe someday he'd tell his child, maybe not.

The doorbell rang, and he heard Kushina answer the door, "Lord and Lady Sarutobi, welcome!" she bowed.

"The pleasure is ours, even in these unusual circumstances," The former Hokage spoke.

"How are the three of you?" Biwako asked, her relative seriousness didn't fade. While Minato respected Biwako, she frequently made it known she thought Minato was too inexperienced for the job of being Hokage, not that there were any other suitable replacements. However, she couldn't ignore her husband's turbulent health, either. Between the stress of two Shinobi Wars, many smaller conflicts, and his pipe a day smoking habit since age sixteen, Lord Third was not the image of health that he portrayed outwardly. In fact, the situation had been much worse than Minato had first feared. Lord Third's heart attack required triple bypass surgery afterwards – a fact the former Hokage had kept hidden even more tightly than the story of the heart attack. Biwako, for all her disapproval, knew all too well the job was killing her husband, and she at least seemed grateful that he was retired now.

"Minato, are you all right?" Lord Third asked, breaking his concentration.

"Yes, sorry, I was just deep in thought about today," he lied, "Please have a seat, the tea is ready!"

They sat around the dining table, and Minato poured tea. "Minato, I need to talk to you and Kushina about a few things," Lord Third said.

"I suspected as much," Minato said, taking a sip of his tea, "I'm all ears."

"Your approach to the Hyūga situation is most… unconventional."

"Really?" Minato feigned surprise, "How so?"

"You are essentially intervening in a clan affair," Biwako crossed her arms.

"Something a Hokage normally would not do," Lord Third interjected.

"Huh," Minato chewed his lip for a moment, "Funny, I seem to remember a retired Hokage suggesting I look up the succession laws as a means to an end."

A smirk formed on the former Hokage's face, "That, I did."

"And I'm not intervening directly, I'm merely enforcing the law, and…" he paused, "… I am making sure the Hyūga Clan heir's rights are protected under those laws."

"So, you've learned how to maneuver off the battlefield as well," Lord Third said amused.

"I've learned how to act in the village's best interests."

"You're starting to sound like Danzo," Biwako said.

The statement irked Minato, but he decided not to let it show, "Certainly, you can't object to the wedding, Lady Sarutobi?"

"I seem to remember there was some consternation," Kushina smiled like the sly fox that she was, "about a certain young Hokage's wife having a baby seven months after marrying him." Kushina grinned, "or that he broke off an arranged engagement to do so," she rubbed her chin as Biwako turned red.

"All right, guilty as charged," the older woman threw her hands up.

"I was always a sucker for a fairytale with a happy ending," Lord Third smiled. "I'm truly happy for the couple, but their bliss may complicate your situation, Kushina."

"What do you mean?" a modicum of concern leaked into her voice.

"I know you were planning on having Akemi midwife for you, and I have every faith in her skills, but…"

"But what?" Minato asked.

"If your little plan for today goes off," Biwako said, "she'll be somewhere in the middle of her third trimester at the same time Kushina is getting ready to give birth."

Minato swallowed a lump forming in the back of his throat at the thought that the midwife most familiar with Kushina's unique needs would soon be out of commission. "I take it there is more?"

"Minato, when Mito was pregnant, the seal holding Nine-Tails almost failed during labor due to the great toll carrying and birthing a child took on her," the aged Hokage stared at Kushina, "During that time, you'll be incredibly vulnerable to attack or just any normal circumstance breaking the normally strong seal."

"I should be able to reinforce it once the baby is out," Minato said.

"Agreed, but there is also the risk of her being abducted or attacked while pregnant," Lord Third looked gravely at this tea.

In other circumstances, Minato would have scoffed at such an idea, but this was his wife and his baby. Concern was slowly transmuting into paranoia in the back of his head, "You're thinking of Kumo?"

"Or Iwa, or heavens forbid, Suna!" Lord Third exclaimed exasperated. "The fewer people that are aware of the pregnancy, much less the birth, the better."

"You do realize I'm a public figure," Kushina said, "and I can't exactly be a shut-in for nine months. Someone is bound to notice the pregnancy or suspect things if I were to go into hiding."

"I think," Minato broke in, taking his wife's hand, "that he's suggesting I put a protection detail on you discretely."

"And my assistant and I will handle the midwifery issues while the ANBU handle the security issues," Biwako said.

"Minato," Lord Third cleared his throat, "I have a special request."

"Shoot."

"I think you should assign Kakashi to her personal protection detail and pull him off frontline ANBU duty."

"Kakashi?" Kushina seemed mildly surprised.

"The boy," he sighed, "has not been right, not since what happened with Rin."

"He chaffed at being an instructor, and he seemed most alive when he was in the ANBU or related field duties."

"Yes, he is drowning out his sorrows with adrenaline, but he's also getting reckless as a result. I fear it's unhealthy for him, much as it was unhealthy for his students."

"Those that survived training with him performed exceptionally well," Minato said.

"Those that survived," Lord Third remarked, "and I fear eventually he won't." He sighed, "Minato, he needs to feel needed, not feel necessary."

Minato chewed the inside of his cheek. Throughout his time being trained as a Jonin, Minato had been taught to limit his bonds with his students for fear of the effects of any of them dying in the field. Like that actually helped? Had you not had Kushina to keep you grounded they would have found you with a sword protruding in your belly the same way they found Kakashi's father. "You're asking me to be a father figure?"

"Minato, I'll admit my approach to raising apprentices at arms' length might not have been the smartest decision," he shook his head, staring off to something long ago, but not far away. "In any case, you as his sensei are the closest thing he has to family. I fear if something doesn't change, soon, he'll share his father's fate." He stared gravely at Minato, "Another one of my failings."

Minato squeezed Kushina's hand. She had loved Kakashi like a son when he was Minato's apprentice. She'd loved all of them. And why should that end now that you're going to have your own child? You have no family to speak of, neither does Kushina. How are you going to explain aunts and uncles to him when he'll have none. Minato stared at Kushina, "Uncle Kakashi?" he said.

"I'm sure our boy will waste no time once he gets to know him!" Kushina smiled.

"Kushina, you know it's far too soon to know," Biwako said.

"A mother knows," she winked with a smile.

Minato looked at the kitchen clock, "I'll start making arrangements," he got up, not letting go of Kushina's hand. "In fact, I think I'll get that set up right now. If I'm lucky I can catch him for the ceremony!"

"We should get going as well," Kushina said, now eyeing the clock, "meet you at the office."

Kakashi splashed water on his face at the restroom in the Academy. The cool water on his face sharpened him after another nightmare-plagued night of fitful sleep. As he turned off the refreshing water, he stared down at his hands. Despite knowing nothing was there, he couldn't shake the image of Rin's blood soaking his hands and Obito in his head chiding him for failing to protect her. Frantically, he turned the water back on, scrubbing both hands in a vain effort to make the thought go away. As he scrubbed, the skin on his hands began turning a raw, crimson color from repeated washing.

Quick as the episode began, it ended. Fuck, will it ever be over? He pulled his mask back up and his forehead guard down over the Sharringan – a parting gift from his dead friend. The eye burned, momentarily, as it had been doing lately. At first it would do so in battle, but lately it had been activating spontaneously. Even Lord Fugaku and his son, Itachi, had been at a loss to explain the strange behavior of the Sharringan lately, not that there was any precedent for a non-Uchiha to carry one.

As he strode down the hall, Kakashi's mind wandered aimlessly to the day's duties. Nothing was posted for missions, and the director had been giving him a cross look as of late. If I didn't know better, I'd say he knew about my part in exposing his sexual misdeeds. The thought chilled Kakashi's toes – ANBU known to have displeased Danzo had a bad tendency to disappear or have unexplained training accidents.

"Kakashi!" Minato's voice echoed from the edge of the hall.

"Sensei?" he turned to see Minato approaching in his full Hokage regalia, "Lord Hokage!" he bowed. I'm still not used to that!

Minato returned the bow, "Aww, come on, no need to be overly formal, Kakashi!" Minato smiled. "Come up to the office, I need you!"

"Need me?" Minato snatched him by the arm and they disappeared in a flash of bright light. "WHOA!" he exclaimed as they appeared in the Hokage's office.

"Heh, sorry for the quick travel, but I need to talk," Minato's face shined like the sun. What's got him in a good mood? "Sit down!" he gestured to a chair as he, himself sat in the Hokage's chair.

"What's going on, chief?" Kakashi asked.

Minato eyed him, regarding him for a long moment with a crooked smile, "Kakashi, Kushina is going to be having a baby!"

"A… a baby?" Kakashi asked, not sure if he heard right.

"Yes!" Minato laughed with delight, "I'm going to be a father!"

"Sensei!" Kakashi felt bad for his initially muted response, "That… that's great news!"

"Kakashi, I need someone to guard Kushina when I'm not around, I'd be honored if you watched over the two of them," Minato replied.

"Boss, are you sure?" Kakashi said in disbelief.

"Kakashi, there is no one else I trust more to protect her and remain discrete about it," Minato said. "She'll be incredibly limited in her ability to defend herself while carrying the baby, and she'll be outright vulnerable to attack during birth." Minato's face remained cheerful, but Kakashi spied lines of worry, "Please, tell me you'll take the job!"

"Count me in," he said.

"I do have to warn you, both of us will have to undergo emergency birthing training in case she goes into labor at some point where we can't get her to medical care. It could get awkward!" Minato smirked.

"I've spent my life learning how to take a life; I think training how to safely bring one into the world should be its own reward," Kakashi replied.

"Well, that settles it," Minato said. The intercom on Minato's desk buzzed, "Yes?" he said replying to the call.

"The wedding party is here, sir," the secretary said.

"Wedding party?" Kakashi asked.

"I hope you don't mind being roped in as a witness to something underhanded," Minato shrugged.

"Why not?" Kakashi laughed, perhaps for the first time in a long time.

Hiashi's heart fluttered as the eclectic group stood around the Hokage's desk. Lord Third and Biwako sat to Akemi's left with Kakashi, and Yukio sat toe Hiashi's right. Kushina sat beside her husband on the opposite side of the desk. "Let the record show," Minato spoke, "that as of 1223 on March 15, the couple listed as Hiashi Hyūga and Akemi Tanaka are not married. Can anyone in this room provide evidence to the contrary?"

No one answered, thankfully. "Therefore, by the rules of procedure, I have drafted a response dismissing Lord Hattori's Hyuga's petition of April 12, to annul a marriage that does not exist." Minato pressed the Hokage's seal in ink and stamped the letter, "Lady Biwako, if you will be so kind?" he held out a pen.

Lady Sarutobi signed, dated, and noted the time of the response, and exited the room. When she returned a few minutes later, she spoked, "The deed is done, I recommend we proceed."

"Lady Tanaka," Minato said, "I believe you have something for us?"

She handed him the medical lab records. "The official medical record reflects that Akemi Tanaka is not pregnant as confirmed by urine and blood specimens as of 1100 this morning." Minato collected the paperwork into a folder along with the certified response to Hattori's petition. "As Hokage, it gives me great pleasure for this to be my first marriage to officiate – even if under unusual circumstances." He paused, smiling at Hiashi and then Akemi. "Before we begin, if anyone here can in good faith provide any reason why this marriage should not proceed, please speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Hiashi scanned the group, seeing no objections. Minato began his invocation, "Then by the Will of Fire, one of the most important duties a Hokage can do is officiate the love of a couple and declare them one, as two flames joining to form a stronger, larger flame." Minato turned to Hiashi, "Hiashi Hyūga, do you of your own free will and judgement declare that you love Akemi Tanaka and offer yourself, all that you have, and all that you shall ever be freely to her?"

"I do," Hiashi swallowed his heart. That wasn't so bad.

"Do you declare by you love that you would have her as your lawfully wedded wife? Do you declare that you will love her and honor the bonds of marriage in times of sickness and in health, in periods of tranquility and turmoil, in wealth or poverty, and forsaking all others for as long as you shall live?"

The words sat heavy on his chest, but Hiashi forced them through, "I do!"

Minato turned his attention to Akemi. Come on, hon, don't get cold feet now! "Akemi Tanaka, do you of your own free will and judgement declare that you love Hiashi Hyūga and offer yourself freely to him?

"I do," a sparkling tear dripped from her eye.

"Akemi, do you declare by your love that would have Hiashi as your lawfully wedded husband? Do you declare the you love him and honor the bonds of marriage in times of sickness and in health, in periods of tranquility and turmoil, in wealth or poverty, and forsaking all others for as long as you shall live?"

"I do," she choked with a tear and a smile spreading across her rosy cheeks. Warm euphoria spread throughout Hiashi at the simple little words.

"Then as the Fourth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, it is my great pleasure to declare you both legally husband and wife!" Minato grinned ear to ear, "I suggest you both waste no time in consummating the marriage, and keep careful records of any medical tests going forward!" He turned an amused look to Hiashi and then Akemi, "Are you two going to kiss or what?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Hiashi winked, stood up with Akemi, and shared a tasteful kiss in front of their friends. Even the gentle kiss of a husband and wife in a formal setting made Hiashi's heart thunder. As he took Akemi's hands, the hands of his wife, she trembled. She was hungry, and she wanted more. And you aren't? Good things to those who can wait! "Like we planned?" he asked desperately.

"I'll see you later tonight!" she said. The real game was about to begin.

The brilliant full moon bathed the spring in a soft, white-blue light as Akemi sat cross-legged on the stone beside the spring. While Kushina had offered to come with, Akemi didn't want to even remotely put the baby in danger after all they'd gone through to start a sustainable pregnancy. She stared at her hands, observing the band around her engagement finger. I can't believe it, Lady Hyūga! Her lips curled into a joyous smile, a focus point for tonight.

She stood, shedding the robe, and observing her form in the calm of the spring's surface. He loves you for more than this, and soon he'll get all of this, more than he can stand probably. Akemi focused her chakra and pushed aside her sensuous thought. She stepped onto the water's surface, feeling life all around her, gathering to her.

The dance she'd practiced since she was old enough to walk came to her, and the calm surface soon rippled from her chakra gathering around her. Bless this night with love. Bless this body with fertility. Bless this spring for offering its lifegiving chakra! Akemi spun as the water began first to ripple then form fountains around her. She leaped into the air, the cool spring night caressing her naked form, making ever inch of her tingle.

As she spun, the surface of the spring glowed pale aquamarine, and the chakra of nature drew in around her, filling her. Goosebumps erupted throughout her body, and Akemi brought her arms in close over her as a cold chill came over her. She closed her eyes and vainly attempted to cover herself as a ward against the chill. When they reopened, a ghostly white fox was sitting at the end of the spring, staring at her.

For several moments, Akemi and the fox locked eyes. It regarded her as she felt her body growing warmer and warmer from the self-conscious state of her nudity. It nodded, turned tailed, and disappeared into the night. As the fox disappeared, Akemi's body refused to cool off despite the fact that she was standing out naked in the crisp March evening. In fact, she seemed to be heating up more. Her insides ached, and she was hungry. Her body shivered, and she nearly gave into the impulse to touch herself right her. Not now, save it for when you see him, hurry!

Akemi threw on the traditional robes, having not bothered to wear underwear beyond an oversized undershirt. She speed-walked back to the village, unable to run due to the growing sensation of warmth and fullness in her core. Akemi knew the side effect of the ritual all too well – done properly the subject was aroused an unable to become un-aroused without being satisfied. Just keep walking, and don't fuck the gate guards or anyone else you see! As the night guard at the gate scrutinized her ID card, Akemi felt herself becoming wet. He was young, reasonably handsome, and smelt of a decent aftershave. "Are you all right, Miss Tanaka?"

"I just need to relieve myself, badly!" she groaned struggling to keep herself together.

"Ah, everything is in order, miss!" he handed her back her ID and she waddled down the streets toward the Hyūga Compound. When she got to the compound gate, she knew something was wrong. The normal gate guard was not on duty. "Halt!" he ordered.

"I have business with Hiashi Hyūga," she held out her ID.

"Lady Akemi," the young man spoke in shock. "I was told not to admit you by order Lord Hattori. What are you doing here?"

"Please, I need to see Hiashi," she cried gently. The thought of crawling back to the apartment and waiting, uncontrollably mad with desire, until Hiashi could come over tomorrow morning made her almost sick.

"You delivered my wife's baby," the young man's voice softened, "you delivered little Neji!"

"Yes," I remember.

"Go past," the man stood aside, "if you're doing what I think you are, promise you'll push him to make things fair among the clan."

"I promise!" she moaned, stepping past the guard in embarrassment. By now, the movement of her dress robes over her body were beginning to trigger over-sensitized skin. After what felt like an eternity of running through the compound, she reached the garden, what was left of it. Simple flowers grew around the stone bench where they had declared their love, and she saw him. Hiashi dressed his traditional black and grey robes. They'd look much better on the ground!

She ran to him, no longer self-conscious of her soaked womanhood or her every movement stimulating her. Hiashi grinned, taking her in his arms as she came body to body with him. "Hello, wife!" he exclaimed in an excited whisper.

Wife! Akemi brought her mouth to his – his kiss sweet as honey and warm as the heat burning within her. His tongue scoured her mouth desperately, eager to make up for the past several weeks. Akemi had no need of words, neither did he, as she began tugging at his robes. Hiashi began kissing down her chin, to her neck, and following down the trim of her robes as he began pulling them apart with hands and teeth. His hot breath on hers skin made her tremble as the felt the words, "You're so beautiful!" on her chilled flesh.

Akemi desperately pulled at her own robes, letting the slide off her shoulders until they pooled in the courtyard. Hiashi stripped off her long undershirt and gently laid her back on the cold, smooth stone bench that marked the original cornerstone of the Hyūga Compound – the birthplace of his clan. Not his clan, our clan!

Tears of joy leaked from her eyes as she lay splayed out, the cold of the bench serving as contrast to her hot body. As Hiashi finished disrobing, she licked her lips as his chiseled torso and his incredible erection shown in the moonlight. He leaned himself over her, and she snaked her legs around him. This time unprotected, she felt the length of him slide into her depths. "Yes… oh yeah…" she moaned as her arms flailed and her legs pulled him in, "… do it right… fill me with all you are!"

His hot breath spill over the skin of her sensitized neck like fire from a dragon's mouth, "All that I am," he thrusted, slow, deep, "all that I have," he pulled back and pressed back in with a bit more force, "and all that I ever shall be!" he pulled back and plundered her. Like all times before, Hiashi was sweet, savoring the passion as her equal versus trying to dominate her.

Akemi's body and tight channel jerked violently from his contact, building like a mass of chakra preparing to explode. "Hi—Hiashi! It's happening!" Akemi took a final glance at his hypnotic Byakugan eyes and his parted lips, and every muscle fired at once. Akemi threw back her head, screaming into her arm as she felt his chakra merging with her. Her eyes clamped shut, and a rainbow of pleasure crashed over her as she felt his release – his length twitching inside her as she swallowed up his warm seed.

As the climax ended, Akemi began to shiver as cold goosebumps replaced hot fiery passion. Tiny aftershocks from both of them threatened to overcome her as she glided back from the heavens. "So," he traced a finger from her lips, to her cheek, down her neck, across her breast, and he twirled in gently around her peaked nipple, "that's what it feels like to make a baby?"

"Y…Y…yes!" she gasped breathlessly.

A crocodile grin came across Hiashi's face, "I say we do it again," he smirked, with his eyebrows going up, "You know, to make sure we did the deed right."

"You are such a cock-hound sometimes," she giggled with delight as she felt him slowly withdraw, "but, I suppose it is for the good of our family," she winked.

Hiashi's face turned serious, as he activated his Byakugan, "Father is asleep, though I suspect that gate guard is a bit bothered by why he just saw," he laughed.

"I prefer not to have an audience," she sighed, sprawling out on the bench. "How about breakfast at my place?"

"My favorite meal of the day…" he grinned with a wink.

"I took the rest of the week off," she said.

"Minato gave me the same courtesy, call it a honeymoon of sorts," he pulled away and began gathering clothing.

"The ritual's effect lasts around twenty-four hours or so; I say we make the most of it."

"Agree, I'll see you in the morning," he helped her get dressed.

"Bring coffee," she winked as she pulled on her robes, straightened herself, and began heading for the exit. As she reached the gatehouse, she and the observant guard exchanged quiet glances. "Good evening!" she said as she walked past.

"Good evening, Lady Hyūga," she detected a hint of amusement as she walked on by. Perv!

Hiashi's body ached pleasantly as he climbed the stairs to the Hokage's office Guy Sensei continued to run him ragged, but he was finally catching up. His attitude toward training improved dramatically now that he had time to see his wife and have her rub healing ointment on his body afterwards. Of course, getting between the sheets with her will make any man feel better after training.

He thumbed his day calendar to the day's day, April 12. They'd been married several weeks now, and father had been annoying, but thankfully oblivious, in his attempts to harangue him into meeting any of the future marriage candidates. If he only knew. Hiashi's heart jumped at the thought. Unless good news was coming soon, Hiashi and Akemi would be shit out of luck, soon, and he had a feeling that was the urgent business Lord Minato called him to the office to this early in the morning. He hadn't even had a chance to call Akemi yet this morning.

"Lord Hyūga, you can go right in," the secretary said as he walked into the anteroom. Cold beads of sweat began tracing down his back. All father had to do was file the petition, knowing or unknowingly, and his marriage would be over. The door opened and a wall of sound hit him, "SURPRISE!"

Hiashi froze in the doorway, his eyes taking in the sight of Minato, Kushina, Kakashi and Akemi. The office had blue and pink streamers and balloons adorning the and a banner that said CONGRATULATIONS!

Hiashi didn't remember fainting, but when he woke up on the floor of the Hokage's office, his wife was over him. "Honey, say something!"

"Akemi… is this a dream?"

"No," she smiled ear to ear, "You're going to be a father!"

"I'm going to be a father…" he said aloud as his mind wandered to Father. There was something else that had to be done today; Hiashi was tired of living in the shadows, and it was time to take his rightful place.

Hattori Hyūga reviewed photographs of the different cousins he could potentially marry to Hiashi. The boy was up to no good, and Hiashi wasn't about to wait on him to knock up the midwife and derail the family again.

"Father," Hizashi's voice came from the door with a knock, "I'm afraid we have visitors."

"Send them away!" Hattori barked.

"Sir, it's Hiashi," Hizashi insisted.

"Dammit son, what the hell did I just say?" Hattori growl.

"Lord Fourth is with him, as is Akemi," Hizashi said gravely.

"Lord… Fourth?" Something about the Hokage being with Hiashi made Hattori's blood turn ice cold. "Send them in."

"Yes, sir," Hizashi left, when he returned, the Hokage entered followed by his son and his paramour.

"Lord Fourth, to what do I owe the honor?" he asked, feigning disinterest.

"I am here merely to ensure due process and to adjudicate if necessary," Minato said without emotion.

"Father," Hiashi said, "I wish to marry Akemi, and I am asking your permission to do so," he bowed deferentially.

"Are you mad with a fever, Hiashi?" Hattori became indignant at his son's display. "I made it clear you could fuck her to your heart's content, but you couldn't keep her. NOW GET HER OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"

"Father," he paused, regarding Hattori for several long moments, "she has every right to be in this house, and I am asking you politely."

"By what right!" Hattori slammed an angry hand on his desk.

"By the right of marriage," Hiashi replied defiantly.

"Marriage?" Hattori felt a tiny ember burn within him. "Impossible, I filed a petition to annul your marriage!"

"Your petition was rejected," Minato interjected, with a slight smile, "on the grounds that the couple was not married when you filed it." Minato stared, amused, "You did read the letter, right? It was sent via certified mail."

Hattori found the recent mail on his desk, rifling through, he found the offending letter. Hattori crumbled the letter in his fingers, "You little snot-nosed bastard!"

"Watch your tongue, Lord Hyūga," Minato shot up a finger, "You are addressing the Hokage of the Village, and I am told if I dig deep enough I will find more than a little evidence of wrongdoing regarding what happened with Yui Hyūga."

Hattori had no idea what had happened to the bitch, but if Minato began digging, it was only a matter of time before he'd discover the evidence of his attempt to put Hizashi ahead of Hiashi in succession. Let's not even consider if he looks into Ichika's death. "Lord Fourth," he heaved in searing anger, "I'm invoking my right as clan leader to have this marriage annulled IMMEDIATELY!"

"I'm afraid I cannot honor such a request," Minato replied with amusement. Little rotten bastard is mocking me!

"And why not!" Hattori growled.

"Because, father," Hiashi glowered, "Akemi," he paused to stare at the Trollip, "as my wife is now carrying my child. By law of succession, our child is the next in line to the Hyūga bloodline after me.

Impossible! "This won't stand, Hiashi, I will prove your fraud!" Hattori felt his heart racing as he Byakugan activated, confirming that Akemi was indeed pregnant. "And you!" he leered at her, "You were supposed to do just one job, deliver a baby, not destroy this family!"

"I have provided this family with a way forward, father-in-law," she said.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT!" he growled. He turned his angry stare to Hizashi, "You let this happen!"

"I am my brother's keeper, not his jailer, father," Hizashi said. "The fact that he has chosen this course of action has nothing to do with my actions or inactions."

"Father," Hiashi again spoke, "I'm offering a chance at peace; the family lineage will carry on!"

"Tainted by that outsider's blood!" Hattori scoffed, "I won't have it! And neither of you will be welcome in this house so long as it is my house!"

"Very well," Hiashi spoke with something bordering on regret. "If you will not let this be decided peacefully, then we will decide it via combat."

"You are challenging me?" Hiashi scoffed.

"For the leadership of this clan, yes," Hiashi nodded. "I say we settle this in the garden; you can name the other conditions."

"No weapons, taijutsu and gentle fist only, and winner is determined by submission or death!"

"Fair," Hiashi said; he turned to Minato, "Will you serve as judge?"

"It's what I came for," Minato nodded. "Let's step outside."

The acid in Hiashi's stomach churned as he stepped out into the garden courtyard where he and his wife had conceived their baby less than a month earlier. The irony wasn't lost on him that the place where new life had been started could possibly be where his life ended. He had made all the preparations, including purchasing life insurance with Akemi named as the beneficiary. At the very least, she won't be homeless or hungry if you fuck up here. Just, don't fuck up! Hiashi's mind wandered to his unborn child, little more than a flickering of chakra as he activated his Byakugan. His heart ached at the thought of his son or daughter growing up without him, growing up knowing he'd lost such an important duel. Win today and you won't have to worry about it!

Hiashi stood in the center of the courtyard, and Father stood opposite him. Despite father's efforts to keep all life from this place, flowers had formed around the stone bench, and other plant life defied the sandy soil. "Akemi," he called to his wife who stood beside Minato, "if this goes right, this garden is my wedding gift to you, and I shall make whatever you dream of it a reality."

"Cut the honeyed words, son! They may have gotten you between her legs, but they won't get you out of this challenge!" Father barked.

"Gentlemen, combat is mortal or until one side opts to surrender. No weapons, only straight taijutsu or gentle fist techniques! Bow to me!" Father and he turned to Minato and bowed, "Bow to each other," Hiashi bowed deferentially, father much less so. "FIGHT!"

Father's Byakugan activated, and his chakra charged to both hands. Make no mistake, he's going to try killing you; stop looking at him like he's the man that brought you into this world! Hiashi activated his own Byakugan and readied gentle fist strikes again.

Father's first wave of attacks began predictably, fast and relentless hand strikes each meant to pierce the chakra points in the chest or throat – any one of the attacks could be cripple or fatal. Much to Hiashi's surprise, father didn't move as fast as he had in the past. No, you're just moving faster! Hours of combat drills with Might Guy came back in a flash, and Hiashi's arms blocked strikes that would have shattered boards and cracked stone. As Hiashi ducked a forward roundhouse kick, he saw the opening, and bull-rushed his father, knocking the older man off balance.

Staggered by the violence of the impact, Father took several moments to regain his footing. "You son of bitch!"

"Don't talk about my mom that way," Hiashi surged forward recklessly. As he swung, father, caught his right arm and brought a hammer-fist strike down on the outside of Hiashi's elbow. "AGGHHH!" he screamed as the joint bent painfully in a manner nature never intended. Father reversed off the motion and drove an elbow into his face, and stars exploded in Hiashi's vision. Fuck!

Bell solidly rung, Hiashi felt a solid knee in the solar plexus, and he soon was face-down in the sandy ground. "HIASHI!" he heard Akemi scream from beside Minato.

Before he could move, a solid pressure filled the middle of Hiashi's back as his father pressed down. "I'm not going to kill you, you little shit," Father, leaning down as he added more pressure to Hiashi's spine. "I want to hear your woman cry as your spine crumbles under my foot," he purred, "and I'll enjoy each day she'll have to care for your paralyzed ass – the price of your lack of vision!"

"HIASHI!" Akemi screamed. As she screamed, he heard another voice, "Hiashi!" The voice was kind, though desperate – Mother! It wasn't long before father would start causing real damage, and he had to act quickly. "Hiashi!" Mom had once said the garden was her revenge for the way father treated her; his free hand clawed the now sandy soil into a clump. Avenge her! Hiashi desperately activated his Byakugan, took aim, and flung the sandy clump into father's face.

"Ah, my eyes!" the pressure on Hiashi's back released and he felt the surge of adrenaline. Do it! End it now! Hiashi pressed off the ground, pivoted to face father, and rammed an uppercut under the man's jaw. Father's head jerked backward, biting the tip of his tongue in the process. "AHHHHH!" Father's guard was off, and Hiashi rammed the first Gentle Fist strike into the man's sternum. Father wheezed as all the air exited his lungs at once. Hiashi hit him again, this time in the solar plexus, blocking a central chakra node. Father's legs went limp beneath him, and he was down on his knees. A quick strike to the front of the throat would paralyze the man's heart and lungs, but a quick glance to Akemi changed his mind. I'm no killer; he is. Hiashi brought a spinning roundhouse kick across father's face, jerking his head to the side. Blood and saliva spewed from Father's mouth like a fountain.

For several moments, Hiashi kept his guard up, ready to attack at the first sign of his father renewing the fight. Father's breathing became labored. "Give up, old man," Hiashi huffed, tasting blood in his own mouth, "the fight is over!"

"Aaahhhahaaaaaa…." Father wheezed, grasping his chest.

Something is wrong! A check via Byakugan revealed the old man's heart was beating wildly and out of sync. "Hizashi, call for medics!" Hiashi commanded.

"He's going into cardiac arrest!" Hiashi felt his heart jump, "If we don't get him to a hospital right now, he's dead!"

"Hiashi," his twin stared coldly, "we are forbidden to intervene unless he surrenders. That's the whole point of this match."

"Screw tradition, Hizashi! I hate the man with a passion, but he is still our father!"

"Lord Hattori," Minato spoke up, "do you surrender?" His stare turned acidic, "Or do you wish to die today?"

"I…." he wheezed, blood vessels turning red in his eyes and face, "… sur…render!"

Minato exchanged a quick glance with Hiashi. "It's good enough for me, boss! As leader of the Hyūga Clan, I beg you to take him to the Hospital, Lord Fourth!" Minato knelt next to Hattori and they both vanished in a flash.

"You could have just left him," Hizashi said bitterly.

"That would have made me just like him," Hiashi replied sternly. "Brother, I've seen enough killing." Hiashi shook his head, "Call the clan elders together, unless, you wish to dispute the succession."

"I have no such wish," Hizashi shook his head, "I will convene the clan elders, my lord." Hizashi bowed and walked away.

"Love," Akemi put a hand on his back, "are you okay?"

Hiashi back hurt from where Father had tried crushing it, he could feel bruises on his face and arms, but he was alive. He turned to see his wife. My wife, my baby. "I am better than all right," he smiled, feeling tears, "I'm home, and so are you!" Hiashi embraced his wife, letting out the sigh of relief he never thought he'd have. "I love you, Akemi!" he cried.

"I love you, too, Hiashi!" her own tears ran as they stood in the garden that belonged to the clan leader's wife. Even when the clan elders began to approach, he continued to hold her.

Author's notes: Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you all for your patience with this project. The next few chapters will follow the vein of the early chapters of Critical Moments Volume I, but I will be telling the same events from different perspectives. I will make every effort to avoid continuity errors with the original material. Until then, stay healthy, stay safe, and I'll see you soon!