Content warning: This chapter will make some reference to the medical condition known as postpartum depression as well as issues some women face after giving birth. Being a man and (as of this publication) without children, I did what research I could including asking several writer's forums about life after giving birth. This is by no means an exhaustive look, and my intention was to do justice to what new mothers can face after giving birth. Even still, I apologize if my portrayal of this situation seems over-simplified or unrealistic.

Chapter Seventeen

Sheer euphoria greeted Himawari as she appeared in a well-hidden corner of Senju Park. No sign of mass-destruction, no evidence that Nine-Tails had been loosed on the village. Dear god, did it work?! Himawari ran toward the commercial district, finding a bustling marketplace instead of smoldering ruins. She reached the newsstand and saw the morning edition of the Konoha Messenger: Fourth Hokage and wife upgraded to stable condition following failed assassination attempt. The headline nearly took her breath away as her eyes blinked to be sure she wasn't dreaming. Grandma, Grandpa!

Tears dripped from her eyes as she clutched the paper. "Miss, are you all right?" the salesman asked.

"Yes," she wiped tears, pully out a 500 yen coin, "just… overwhelmed to hear they're all right!"

"You're telling me," the vendor said as he made change, "The two of them had quite a night, much less their kid and their bodyguard!" The man shrugged, oblivious to the effect his words were having, "And to think the Legendary Slug Queen came back out of nowhere!"

"Tsunade came back?" she asked.

"Didn't you read yesterday's paper?" he asked, incredulous. "Of course, things got kind of sketchy here and there, but the key news is they're alive and that Kakashi kid came through for his boss!"

"Yes," she said, clutching her the paper as she read, "he certainly did." Himawari had to see for herself. Setting off across town, it didn't take long to reach the Hospital. Konoha Hospital had at several junctures in history proven to have lackluster security to say the least. One of the key failings was the system for accounting for its volunteers. Himawari had a fully-authentic volunteer pass that gave her near free-reign of the hospital. In thirty-nine years since her grandmother walked the hallways, the passes had never been updated. Security verified her identity and provided her instructions to the nursery without so much as a second glance.

Thankfully, her pass at least allowed her into the nursery as several heavily-armed ANBU secured the nursery. As she entered the nursery, sun spilled through the windows to the varied bundles of joy, some of whom she'd one day look up to. She found him wrapped in a soft blanket, asleep and calm as if the future that had once belonged to him was a distant bad dream. "Daddy…" Himawari whispered. Papa was cherubic, his tiny whiskers already evident.

Himawari gently caressed his cheek, "Daddy, I hope I did the right thing," she fought back tears, "I hope this is a gift and not a curse I've given you!"

"May I help you, Ma'am?" a serious sounding voice sounded from behind her. Himawari turned slowly to see Uncle Kakashi staring at her.

"U—Kakashi!" she bowed, "It's really you!"

"Do I know you?" he asked with a hint of awkward embarrassment.

"S-sorry," she stammered, "I'm a volunteer here; I heard what you did! You saved the Hokage and his wife!"

"I… was just doing my duty," he began to blush.

"That's him, isn't it?" she nodded toward her infant father, "He is their baby!"

"Don't let it get around!" he said with a slight laugh, "I want the kid to grow up semi-normal, not an exhibit in a zoo! Kushina sent me to bring him up to Lord Fourth for a visit; the two barely have met yet!"

"Of course!" She gently cradled her father, taking one last loving look at him, "Here!" she gentle transferred the baby to Kakashi's waiting arms. Even inexperienced, Kakashi looked the way she remembered him when she was nothing more than a toddler, and he was babysitting her and her brother for her parents.

"Hey, little guy!" Kakashi spoke with a life she'd barely seen in his eyes, "Time to go pay Daddy a visit!" The baby cooed gently as he roused from slumber.

"Take care of him," she said, staring longingly at her father. "Take care of all of them!"

"Just doing my duty," Kakashi nodded as he walked out with her father. I suppose I need to do mine as well. Himawari had several other accounts to settle, and she already felt her grip on this time becoming unstable. She had a long chat planned for Lord Sarutobi about thirteen years in the future, and she had to get going. She found a deserted section of hallway and displaced to just before her father's Chunin Exam.

Hiashi Hyūga walked the hallways of the hospital, still feeling bone-weary after what had happened in the past forty-eight hours. Between nearly dying at Nine-Tails' hand and now knowing that his unborn daughter was carrying a quarter of Nine-Tails. He was already tired. Then came the stress of countless tests on Akemi that followed: fetal heart monitoring, several ultrasounds, and Tsunade and Shizune doing several checks of the baby and mother's chakra networks. All told, all the tests came back clean. And yet, you're still worried that the heir of your clan is carrying a monster inside her and what that might mean for your wife when it comes time to give birth.

As he approached Minato's hospital room, ANBU operatives verified his ID and inspected the roses he'd brought for Kushina and Minato. He'd been delighted to hear that Kushina was at least awake and moving to a degree. As he approached the door to the room, he could hear conversation from several familiar voices

"Bad news?" Kakashi asked, "What now?"

Tsunade sighed, "Not that I think you'd try it again soon, but I would advise against having more children. I don't think we can repeat a miracle like last night in another thousand years." Oh no! Poor Kushina! On an early mission, Kushina and he had talked about the future of their clans; Kushina had dreamed of restarting her clan with several children.

"I guess, one is enough," Minato said. Hiashi could tell the father was disappointed, as well.

"There is more… Kushina… I don't know how to tell you this… I…" Tsunade stumbled on her words.

"I know, so much for being Hokage, or a ninja in general ever again," Hiashi hung back from the door, hearing Kushina pat her side, clearly referencing where she'd been impaled.

"When Naruto is older, I think I can repair the damage without risking the piece of Nine-Tails getting loose," Tsunade said with hope in her voice.

"It can wait, Tsunade, just as long as my boys are okay."

"Ahem, I hate to interrupt the happy thoughts, but I have a do have a few things to say. That is, if my input is welcome." Kakashi spoke, sounding the most alive Hiashi had ever heard the young shinobi sound.

"Go ahead," Minato said.

"First and foremost, I think someone should let Jiraiya know his godson has been born."

"Agreed," Tsunade replied in unison to Minato and Kushina.

"Second, we should consider what security arrangements should be made for your family."

"What did you have in mind, Kakashi," Kushina asked as the sound of a baby cooing filled the background

"I think his last name should publicly be Uzumaki and not Namikaze. It's not much, but anyone from outside the village looking to harm him might have a harder time of it."

"I think that works," Minato said. "What else?"

"I also think we should consider having your family under more permanent protection. At least, until we sort out this business with Obito. I, of course, can make a few recommendations if you'd like," Kakashi laughed nervously.

"Of course, Kakashi," Minato said, "I think extending your assignment would be a wise decision for all of us. What about the Hyūga clan? Their daughter is now part Jinchuriki, too!"

"I think we can keep our daughter safe as is," took the moment to join the growing crowd in the room. He handed the roses to Kushina.

"Lord Hiashi, how are Akemi and the baby?" Minato asked with fear clear in his eyes.

"We'll know for sure in another month or two, but all the medical-nin agree they can't find anything abnormal with mother or child. None of them seemed to notice the abnormal chakra signature." Hiashi shrugged.

"Out of curiosity," Kushina asked, "Can you see it on either Naruto or me?"

Hiashi activated his Byakugan "Only vaguely," he replied, "which I was hoping for." Minato stared down at his baby son for a long, tender moment. Hiashi knew there was an exchange between father and son – a father's promise. I wish my father had promised me the same thing. "Minato, Kushina, I have an incredible sensitive request to make."

"You and your wife gave us the most tremendous joy in the world, how we can we refuse?" Kushina asked.

Dammit, I wish she hadn't said it like that. "Minato, Kushina, I want no record made of Hinata's status."

The room became somber again, "Is there something we need to know about, Lord Hiashi?" Kakashi asked pointedly.

"Kakashi, you know that Minato and I have made powerful enemies in my father and Danzo Shimura."

"You're worried what might happen if Danzo discovers Hinata's little secret," Minato said.

"And even more worried at what damage my father could do to her, Akemi, and myself," Hiashi shook his head. "If word leaked that she was a jinchuriki,"

"It will be our secret, Hiashi," Kushina said, "but I have to ask you: does that change how much you'll love your baby girl when she's born?"

Initially, Hiashi took offense and almost opened his mouth until he thought about the fact that he'd come here worried about her being a jinchuriki, "Kushina, I didn't, I didn't mean to imply…"

"It's fine, Hiashi, I didn't mean to imply you wouldn't love her," she replied.

"It's just a lot to take in, something I didn't expect," he protested.

"Join the club," Tsunade said.

"He is right to worry, though," Minato said, gently tussling his son's hair. "We're in a uniquely weak situation here, on several levels."

"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.

"For one, we now have Nine-Tails broken into three, and any one of the three falling into wrong hands could have lethal consequences."

"For two?" Hiashi asked.

"For two, none of the jinchuriki are in any condition to use the tailed-beast fragment if we get in trouble," Minato scanned the room, "We must remain vigilant for Obito, and it behooves us to restart the peace process as soon as possible. Hopefully, Kumo can be brought to a peaceful arrangement sooner rather than later."

"I'm more worried about the internal threat," Kakashi spoke up. "Much like Lord Hiashi."

"It won't take a genius to figure out what happened," Kushina said, clutching the baby closer to her, "Especially someone like Danzo." She stared at Hiashi, "I agree, we should keep Hinata's status a secret."

"And if possible," Kakashi chimed in, "begin trying to build a case against the man."

Tsunade crossed her arms, "Never liked him, but do you think there is something criminal enough to prosecute?"

Hiashi exchanged looks with Kakashi and Minato, "We know there is stuff criminal," Hiashi said, "but I'm assuming you want enough to put him to the sword rather than cause a resignation-worthy scandal?"

"I'd prefer to put him in a deep, dark hole from which he'd never escape," Minato replied, "but I think that's going to have to wait until after we get released from the hospital."

"If there is anything I can do to help," Hiashi nodded, "you know where to find me," he bowed and left, contemplating the hard road his wife and daughter had ahead.

As he returned to the compound, Hiashi's heart jumped several beats – medics were standing outside the main gate. Oh my god! Akemi! Hiashi sprinted the remaining distance to the gait, to see the stretcher carrying out his father, grasping his chest as medics tended to him. Another stretch followed, it's occupant covered by a white sheet. Panic turned to confusion as Hiashi noted the form's stomach was too small to be Akemi.

"Hizashi, please!" Hiashi heard Akemi trying to offer comfort to his brother, but Hizashi stormed away in an angry mass of tears. Oh no… Hiashi reluctantly walked up to the stretcher and pulled back the sheet to see the lifeless face of his sister-in-law.

"Yukio!" his heart jumped. He turned to the medics, "What the hell happened?!"

"According to what we gather," the medic said, "this is a terrible case of medication being mixed. Your father suffered a drug-induced bout of hypoglycemia and a mild cardiac event…"

"And Yukio?!" he demanded.

"She suffered an acute episode of digoxin poisoning. She suffered an acute drop in her heart rate and began vomiting. In her already weakened, she was already gone by the time we reach her." The medic said somberly.

Tears came, but so did anger. Hiashi's hands balled into fists. Yukio would never have made that mistake! Every instinct in his body called for him to run up to his father, push aside the medics, and choke the filthy bastard to death. Hiashi began moving toward his father, but he relented. That's exactly what he wants. Even if he died, it would still mean he wins by getting you thrown in jail and your wife and daughter out in the cold. "Father!" he approached.

"Yes, son?" the old man asked weakly.

"I know what you did," he stared at his father to cut him in two, "you switched her medication for yours, knowing it could kill her!"

"I have no fucking clue what you're talking about, son," the man said winded, but Hiashi detected a slight grin at the corner of his father's mouth. You know what he's say: "Look all you want, but you'll never prove it, just like how you couldn't prove I killed your mother!"

The medics stared incredulous to the accusation. Hiashi stomped away, tears and snot running down his nose as his wife met him at the gate. "My love…"

"The bastard murdered her," he shivered.

"How do you know?" she asked incredulous as she took him in her arms.

"I know," he wept, "Yukio would never have mixed the two medications up on accident!"

"Then we'll go to the police," she said.

"And tell them what?" he asked sharply, "We have no evidence, and I'm sure her fingerprints will be all over the medication as well. Without a confession, he just committed the perfect crime: no weapon, no witness."

"What about motive?" she asked.

"Revenge," he shook his head in disgust, "I think he blamed her for bringing you here."

"Then why not poison me?!" she protested with tears.

"You're too closely guarded," he shook his head, "as the spouse of the clan leader and the mother of his child."

"Then why not expel him?" Akemi asked.

"And incur the wrath of the elders, and the scandal that would come with throwing out an old man with a bad heart!" he growled.

"I…" Akemi turned and rushed away.

Hiashi stood alone inside the gatehouse, trying to make sense of the past few days until now. Yukio was dead, his daughter was now cursed to carry a tailed-beast, Kushina was at the start of what sounded like a long struggle ahead, and he was here – alone.

"WAAAHHHH!" the sound of Naruto crying forced Kushina awake from a restless sleep. She glanced at the clock – 0620. Minato had already gone downstairs to his office. Kushina grit her teeth as she pushed herself into a sitting position. As she rose, the sharp pain in her abdomen struck as it had for the past six weeks. She squealed in agony, but she knew she had to tough her way through it, just as she did when she transferred to her feet. Just imagine if Biwako had done a c-section!

The thought did little to ease the pain or the recriminations as she struggled down the hall to the nursery. The combined damage to her chakra network and the seal used to hold it and Nine-Tails together meant that things she'd taken for granted – being able to heal rapidly, extreme vitality, and the ability to mold chakra in general – were gone. Kushina had endured physical torture and combat injuries, and none of it compared to the pain she endured as her body refused to mend itself like it used to. At one time, she could have healed this injury in a day or two; now she wasn't healing from things that most mothers would have recovered from by now.

Still bleeding randomly, still having to bite down on something when getting on and off the toilet, and still barely able to get out of bed! Kushina felt the same tears that traced her eyes as the Kumo Shinobi carried her away into the night – Won't someone come and find me? Is anyone missing me? Do they even know I'm gone! Kushina hugged the wall as she rounded the corner into the nursery. Minato had been there for her then, and he was still here for her more often than not. For the past six weeks, he'd faced stiff criticism from the council for not returning to the office immediately. Instead, he had copies of all important legal documents, secure video link equipment, and the Hokage's seal moved to the home office. While grateful to have him around, Minato being here so much served as a reminder at how much she couldn't do this by herself.

Naruto's crying became more incessant. A quick check revealed why – he was in desperate need of changing. You wanted to be a mom, and you got it. So quit your bitching or you'll have a serious case of diaper rash to deal with. Kushina disposed of the soiled diaper, cleaned her son, and wrapped him up fresh. Dealing with piss, shit, and vomit no longer phased her. Stress incontinence still persisted now and again, leading to awkward moments when she went out – she didn't go out often as a result. To think, you were cleared to have sex again, protected, of course. Now if you could only do it without pissing all over yourself and your husband; if he'll ever touch you again at this rate!

Kushina began sobbing as she cradled her son. Her complaining was incredibly selfish. Her son was alive, her husband was alive, and she was alive. Considering all they went through a month and a half ago, any normal person would call it a miracle. So why do I find myself wishing I'd died?!

Her sobs were joined by her son's. My baby, I cursed you with something I had no business putting on you! If I'd just died instantly, you'd be here with Minato, safe. He could have brought in a nanny like he'd talked about, and Akemi wouldn't be worrying about her baby carrying the same curse you have!

"Kushina!" a young, concerned voice came from the door.

"K-Kakashi!" she cried, pain in her stomach causing her knees to buckle. Kakashi expertly took Naruto as she dropped to her knees a sobbing ball of tears.

Kakashi knelt down as he bounced Naruto, "It's okay," he said in a tone too fatherly and nurturing for an assassin. "It's all right, it's going to be all right."

"It's not all right," she sobbed, "Look at me, I'm a bad mom, Kakashi!"

"Kushina, you survived things that would have killed shinobi of legend!" he protested.

"And look at me now, a cripple who can barely keep it together raising a baby!"

"Dammit, stop talking like that!" he scolded. "You and Lord Fourth are the only reason I wasn't found with a sword protruding from my guts after the war, and I am not letting you do the same after pulling me back from the edge!"

She stared at the young, grey-haired shinobi. "Kakashi!" she wrapped him and her son in a hug soaked with tears.

"It's okay, let it out," he said. "Take all the time you need."

Kushina took her time, feeling somewhat back to normal. After a time, she pushed off to her feet again, careful to brace herself. "Thank you!"

"Just doing my job," he said.

"Kakashi, you're like a son to me, my oldest son," she wiped away tears, "I hope my boy grows up to be like you."

"Whoa," he chuckled, "let's not go that far. I have plenty of issues of my own!" They both laughed, an antidote to the poison she'd been trying to overcome. "With that said, how would you and the baby feel about talking a walk in Senju Park?"

"Isn't it kind of cold out?" Kushina asked, eying December snow on the windowsill.

"We'll bundle him up and see if Lord Fourth cares to join us during his lunch; I think he could use some air."

As much as she wanted to protest, something about taking a walk with her husband, her baby, and Kakashi sounded right. "All right," she said, "let me change and I'll meet you downstairs with the baby." She took Naruto back as Kakashi headed down the stairs.

The sound of first the baby crying, then his wife crying upset Minato's already unsettled nerves as he strained his eyes to read the millionth useless bit of legalese crap to cross his desk since he got back on the job a few days after resuming office from Lord Third. At first, the council had been supportive and understanding of him working from home. After one week, they wanted him closer at hand, and had been bombarding him with excess crap that any number of his aides could have handled had they gone to them first.

Minato pushed back from the desk when Kakashi called out, "I got it, chief!" running up the stairs. Minato put his elbows on his desk, buried his face in his hands, and rubbed his exhausted eyes. He knew fatherhood was going to be difficult, even before Kushina's injury. He'd worried about balancing his family and his duty to the village when the worst of his problems was a new baby to look after. Now, he had an injured wife to look after, and he was increasingly dependent on Kakashi to look after both wife and child. What kind of a man are you, shuffling your wife and baby on someone else? A man provides for his family, and all you can do is run away and hide in your office like any of this crap means anything!

Tears streamed from his eyes for a moment, and he realized he couldn't take it anymore. Minato rifled through his desk and found the accursed bit of stationary and began to write:

I, Minato Namikaze, Lord Fourth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the leaves…

Minato paused, staring at his life's work, everything that had meant something to him growing up. He resumed:

… hereby resign the office of Hokage effective…

"What the hell are you doing!" Kakashi slapped pen and paper from his hands as he charged into the room. He proceeded to pin Minato to the wall with a forearm across the chest

"What the fuck, Kakashi!" Minato shouted.

"You've taken a bad hit, I get it, but throwing in the towel? Seriously, sensei?! That's not the Yellow Flash I remember!"

"I can't do it, anymore, Kakashi!" Minato half-yelled, half-cried as he struggled against his student, his bodyguard "My wife is up there and I'm down here playing Hokage while she's barely able to move! I can't do it anymore!"

"And what do you plan on doing!?" Kakashi growled, "Go back to doing missions and being gone all the time? Become an instructor and lose access to the better level of healthcare that Kushina needs and the tighter level of security your son needs! "

"Goddammit! I'm trying to do what is best for her and the village!" Minato protested, "Lord Third…"

"Had another heart attack last night, Minato!" Kakashi cut him off, along with his whole train of conversation. "Minato, there is no one else!"

"There has to be someone else!" he said, almost on the brink of panic.

"Do you really trust Danzo, or Orochimaru?!" Kakashi challenged. "The second you're gone; I'm gone due to orders. Not five minutes later men in black masks will kick in the door and your wife and son will disappear to some godforsaken lab that doesn't exist!"

Minato could see the hellish image: his wife and baby being experimented on as Hokage Shimura worked to harness Nine-Tails as an ultimate weapon. As for Minato, maybe he'd be quietly incarcerated, or he'd be found facedown in an alley, victim of a mugging gone wrong. "SHIT!" he shrieked, tears again dripping from his eyes.

"Boss, I don't know what the hell happened the night you had that panic attack at the office, but I think that was a gift! Can you even fathom the implications of Naruto growing up an orphan?"

"I don't want to," Minato said with a sigh as he closed his eyes on the hellish thought of his son, a jinchuriki, growing up alone in the village. "I really don't want to," the heat of the terrible thought drained away.

"Boys," Kushina knocked at the office door as she carried her son, trying to put a heavier outer layer over him, "is everything okay?"

"Fine," Minato lied. "We're just having a debate over policy."

"Kakashi was recommending we take a walk over your lunch break, all of us. Were you able to join us?" She asked like a child asking for a toy after a period of exceptionally good behavior.

Minato thought back to the last time he'd actually been on a walk for leisure – sometime very early in Kushina's pregnancy last spring. "I…" all logical sense reminded him of all the crap on his desk, "I'd love to!"

Kakashi backed off the pressure with his forearm, "See, that wasn't such a hard policy decision to make," he said with a mild touch of sarcasm.

Minato glared, hoping Kakashi one day had a child just as snarky as he was. "Let me get my jacket."

DINGDONG!

"You've got to be shitting me," Minato sighed. "I'll get it and we'll leave after I send whomever it is on their way." Minato went to the door and opened it.

"Lord Fourth," an exhausted-looking Hiashi Hyūga stood at the door, "May I come in, please?"

"Hiashi?" Minato was just as surprised as everyone else. After their last meeting at the hospital, Hiashi had gone quiet; although, Minato had heard the rumblings that Hiashi thought old man Hattori had poisoned Yukio. As usual, nothing could be proven beyond accidental poisoning.

"Please," he pleaded, "it's about Akemi and Hinata."

Minato turned to stare at his wife and baby, and he nodded, as did Kushina. "Come in, please," he gestured to the office. In a moment, they were all sat around the desk. "So, what brings you here? You weren't exactly thrilled the last time we saw each other."

"Minato, I was a confused, scared, and exhausted father-to-be," Hiashi shook his head, "I guess much hasn't changed in six weeks."

"Is there some kind of pregnancy complication?" Kushina asked.

"Yes," he nodded, "I didn't know who else to turn to, especially with Lord Third's… recent decline in health." He shook his head, "I didn't want to involve you, not after everything you're going through."

Minato cocked an eyebrow to Kakashi, "Am I the last to know about Lord Third?"

"With all you've been dealing with, especially knowing there was nothing meaningful we could add to the situation," Kakashi bowed his head, "I saw no need to burden you with another crisis. I issued a generic press release of sympathy and well-wishes from the Office of the Hokage."

Minato crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "Keep this up, and you're going to be wearing the Hokage's Jacket and have a full head of grey hair." Minato grinned, "Oh look," he pointed to Kakashi's grey mop.

"Anyways," Hiashi interrupted, "a few days ago, Akemi began complaining of abdominal cramping and bleeding." The entire room froze, "The medical-nin could find no explanation for it, and Akemi has been plagued ever since with the sensation that the seal on the baby is failing."

Minato exchanged a horrified look with Kushina. "Lord Rasa's wife…" he muttered before stopping.

"What?" Hiashi asked, deathly curious.

Minato exchanged a look with Kushina and Kakashi, and both seemed to agree keeping it a secret was not a wise decision. "Full disclosure," Minato started, "you didn't hear this from us as the source is highly classified: recent reports indicate Lord Rasa's wife is having an incredibly difficult pregnancy."

"And this relates to Hinata how?" Hiashi asked, eyes, wide with concern.

"We're about ninety-percent sure they bonded the One-Tailed Beast to the unborn baby in a general repeat of the nightmare we just endured."

"My god! AKEMI!" Hiashi shouted in panic.

"Hiashi, before you lose your cool, just remember that Akemi is due in what, two weeks, if that, and she only just showed signs of distress, "Minato explained, "Karura is barely in her third trimester and showing severe distress at times."

"And that is supposed to comfort me?!"

"Hiashi," Kushina spoke, gently bouncing Naruto as she did, "with only a week or two to go, Hinata is fully developed; Rasa and Karura's baby is three months premature with few options as a result."

"If I may," Kakashi interjected. "This conversation might be one that we should include Tsunade and her assistant, as well as Akemi for that matter."

"Right," Hiashi said, "but I insist on secrecy. I'm not comfortable with our unusual circumstances getting around."

"Nor am I," Minato replied, "perhaps, we should put on a charade."

"Charade?" everyone else asked in unison.

"You want to keep this little affair a secret, and we want the village to think everything is hunky-dory," Minato said. "How about we all have dinner here tonight," he suggested. "I'll extend a special invitation to Tsunade and Shizune, and we'll hold our meeting in secret – just a few family friends."

"Minato," Kushina interjected, "you know we're not in any condition to cook for that large of a group on short notice."

"I was going to call Teuchi, and see if he can throw together a last-minute catering order," he winked.

"I'll release some level of press statement, give them something to bite on," Kakashi said.

Minato stared at the crumpled resignation letter on the floor, picked it up, and ran it through the shredder. "Announce that I'll be resuming in-office business on Monday of next week," he said as his resignation turned to confetti, "and announce that the head of the Hyūga Clan has invited us to act as witnesses to the new clan heir's birth."

Akemi had mixed feelings as she waddled to the house, Tsunade on one arm and Shizune on the other. "Mind the step," the younger woman said as she assisted Akemi onto the curb. Even the short step of a few inches was awkward with the now massive baby-bump throwing off her normally impeccable balance.

As they reached the front door, it swung open to reveal a haggard but still beautiful looking Kushina wearing her son in front of her on a sling. "Akemi, it's so good to see you again!"

"Kushina," she took her friend's hands, "There were so many times I wanted to call, but I just didn't know if I'd be helping or hurting."

"Ladies," Tsunade said impatiently, "perhaps we can continue the chick-flick moment inside, out of the December cold!"

"Of course," Kushina said, "where are my manners, come in please," she gestured for the trio to enter. While nowhere near as massive as the Hyūga compound, the house was cozy and inviting. From the kitchen, Akemi could smell the heavenly scent of warm ramen – the perfect thing to warm a chilled soul on this frigid day.

"So," Akemi said, as Minato and Hiashi pulled out chairs for their wives, "I have the feeling this meeting is not a social one." She nervously rubbed her baby bump.

"Honey," Hiashi spoke, "our best hopes for you and the baby are in this room right now."

As everyone else took their places, a sour flavor filled Akemi's mouth. "Is it true?" she asked. "Did I doom myself and possibly my baby?"

"Akemi," Kushina spoke first, "we're here to discuss options, but we will be truthful – there is a significant risk to giving birth to a jinchuriki."

The swirl of anger, fear sadness, and regret circled Akemi. Would you have acted any different had you known? "What… what are our options?" she asked.

Tsunade spoke, "We could induce labor in the next twenty-four hours and get the baby out now. We may run a risk of complications if the seal is as weak as you suspect. It's not without its risks."

"Another option," Minato said, "I can try to assess the seal here and now. If it is truly weakened to where we're at serious risk of collapse, we can induce as Tsunade suggests, if not…"

"If not, what?" Akemi asked impatiently.

"It might be advisable to allow the birth to occur naturally. Hiashi and I could try maintaining the seal through normal labor."

"Lord Fourth," Shizune chimed in, "labor could last well in excess of twenty-four hours, and we have no idea of what complications might result."

"True," he replied, "but inducing labor does carry some additional risk to the mom's survival and well-being as well, if I'm understanding what Tsunade is saying, correct?"

"Yes," Shizune stared down at the floor.

"In any case," Akemi spoke up, "whatever carries the least risk of complications would be advisable." Hinata began kicking in concert with the butterflies in Akemi's own stomach.

"Minato, if we do this," Hiashi spoke up, "we have to go all-in on the charade."

"One thing at a time," Minato came around to the table and stood next to her, "Akemi, may I?" he asked as he gestured to her bump.

She nodded. Minato's hands glowed a gentle aquamarine as he felt along her abdomen, feeling for the baby. "The seal is holding firm," he said as he scrutinized the chakra signature, "but that doesn't make me any less concerned."

"How so?" Akemi asked, Hinata again kicking.

"Hinata is still linked to your chakra, and that means Nine-Tails could make this complicated, even though he's sealed in her."

"You mean he could get free?" she asked in a panic.

"More like, he could interfere with safe delivery," Minato stood and crossed his arms. "Ideally, we'd do what we did with Kushina and try suppressing him through the birth process."

"What are you leaving out?" Hiashi asked.

"That was suppressing it in the mother, not the child," he crossed his arms tighter, "No one has ever done this on a child about to be born."

"Akemi," Kushina spoke, "I know you're scared; I am, too. I never wanted this for your baby girl." Kushina approached, her son shifting gently in the sling. As she brought Naruto closer, Hinata stopped kicking. "I thought so," she said.

"You thought what?" Akemi asked.

"Yin and Yang in close proximity harmonize," Kushina said.

"And that's why the two seem so much calmer when together," Akemi felt the realization hit her.

"It might be the key to getting through this birth," Kushina said, looking down at her boy. "Akemi… I…"

"You've nothing to apologize for, Kushina," Akemi said firmly. "I did my first duty as a midwife: to protect the life of a mother and child, and I would do it again without reservation."

Kushina took her hand, "You've done your duty; let me repay it in kind."

"I insist on being present if anything goes wrong," Tsunade spoke up.

"This is going to be one heck of a charade," Minato said as he turned to Hiashi.

"Perhaps not," he started at Akemi, still concerned. "The honor of witnessing the birth of a clan member is rarely done by an outsider, but there have been members of the clan who have chosen outside friends to witness in company with a clan member."

"Certainly," Akemi turned to Minato, "it is a high honor to count the Hokage as a friend, and have him bear witness."

"As well as the legendary Slug Queen and her apprentice," Hiashi nodded then turned to Kakashi, "Perhaps we can help one another."

"How so?" Kakashi asked.

"I'm assuming you'll be acting as security for Kushina and the baby?" Hiashi asked.

"Yes," Kakashi replied.

"For the time being, you'll have to reside in the Hyūga Compound until the birth happens," Hiashi's stare turned grim, "I have every intention of keeping Father as far as possible from the birth, but I wouldn't put it past him to try one last pass at something underhanded." A chill traversed Akemi's spine at the comment.

"Lord Fourth," Kakashi started, "what about you?"

"It was Kushina Obito was after," he said. "As far as he knows, she's still the only Jinchuriki, unless he had inside help." Akemi caught an exchange between Kakashi, Minato, and Hiashi. "Kakashi, my wife and the babies are more important that me right now. Obito was much more powerful than anything I've ever seen. Someday," he paused, regarding his baby son, "we're going to need Nine-Tails to defeat him, or whatever he's become."

"Minato," Akemi spoke, still having trouble accepting the reality of what her baby was carrying, "there is something we've been meaning to ask…"

"Akemi?" Kushina knelt down, meeting her eyes with concern.

"Kushina, Minato, given the peculiar situation we find ourselves in, we cannot ask Hizashi to act as godparent to Hinata," she said.

"Are you asking us to be her godparents?" Minato asked.

"Yes," Hiashi said. "I doubt there is anyone else even remotely qualified to look after her should something happen to either of us."

Akemi eyed Kushina and Minato. "Only if you agree to do the same for our son," Kushina said.

Akemi stared at Hiashi, "I'd be honored," she said.

"As would I," he nodded in agreement.

"Well," Kushina gently bounced her son, "on that happy note, who's hungry?"

Akemi felt a smile return, "We are!" she rubbed her stomach.

Author's notes: Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. Then next chapter should be the final chapter in this particular work. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking this journey with me into the background of the Critical Moments series. It's been a pleasure writing, and I look forward to reaching the finale for this adventure for the young couples. Take care and see you next chapter!