Chapter Eighteen
Minato stared at the elder shinobi sitting opposite the desk, "Director Shimura, to what do I owe the honor?"
"It is my duty as ANBU director to report to you, certainly you haven't forgotten?" Danzo was condescending as ever. Sanctimonious prick.
"Of course, how silly of me!" Minato hoped his carefree tone annoyed the ANBU director to his core. That's right, keep smiling. There's nothing to see here. I'm back, and you're hopes for sitting in this chair are nil! Minato grinned as he thought at how the envious bastard eyed the chair covetously.
"Lord Hokage, I noted a bizarre notation on your schedule… as being on-call?" Danzo spoke with mild confusion; the thought of being at someone's service was probably a foreign concept.
"Yes," Minato started at his desk calendar, December 27, "I've been paid the rare honor to be invited to witness the birth of the Hyūga Clan's heir as a baby doesn't punch a clock, I am noting that I am on call until she is born."
"It seems strange," Danzo spoke critically, "that the Hokage would attend the birth of a child."
He's baiting me. "Not at all," Minato smiled his best bullshit smile, "The Hokage is supposed to maintain cordial relations with the various clans. I am also honored to be named the child's godfather." Minato felt warmed by the statement. Deep down, Kushina had wanted a little girl someday. Being godparents now was the closest they'd ever be to being parents after their boy grew up.
"And you've been surprisingly warm with the Uchiha Clan, as well, considering your circumstances," Danzo was clearing trying to reach a point, but Minato was uncertain what.
"Am I missing something?"
"You said that Obito Uchiha was responsible for the attack that nearly killed you, your wife, and your baby," Danzo shrugged, "I'd hardly be cuddling up with them after an event like that. Most of them resent the fact that Fugaku is not Hokage."
"Fugaku disavowed Obito, and all surveillance of the clan has turned up nothing."
"We should not be letting them freely traverse the village," Danzo almost growled. "And we should be monitoring them more closely."
Surprising he'd take such a worry about my safety considering he would be my likely successor if I die. "Danzo, what are you getting at?" Minato asked.
"Merely, that they are a danger to this village," he nodded.
Since resuming office, Minato had Kakashi privately investigate to see if he could find any connection to Danzo and Obito. While he found nothing, Kakashi also expressed the concern that Danzo might exploit such an incident to incite a coup. "Do you really think they'd put their home village at risk of a civil war in the aftermath of the war we just finished?"
"They were some of the most vocal critics of the peace agreement," Danzo reminded him.
"As were you," Minato snickered, knowing he'd trapped Danzo in a corner.
"Yes, well, things change," he squirmed, not used to being caught in an awkward position.
"Yes, and I'm telling you what is changing now," Minato spoke firmly, "unless you come up with solid proof of any wrongdoing, you will stop harassing the Uchiha Clan. They served with as much distinction as any great clan during the war, and they buried their fair share of them family members as a result."
"Very well, as you wish," the man bowed and left.
This is not the end of it. Minato sat back in his chair and tented his hands. As he did, he turned the chair so half of him was facing Konoha and the other half facing the door. In the time he'd known Danzo personally, Minato had developed an almost paranoid skepticism of the man. Rumors were swirling of children disappearing from orphanages, and Danzo had been spending an inordinate amount of time away from ANBU functions according to Reo Sarutobi – Lord Third's son. Thankfully, Lord Third had pulled through, and even more thankfully, he and his sons did not blame him for what happened to Biwako. Nevertheless, Minato did feel a heavy heart when thinking of the late midwife. His last thoughts of her had been extremely uncharitable, and the monument he was commissioning for her felt like a hollow attempt to take back the terrible thoughts.
RINGRING! The phone on the desk split his troubled thoughts. Minato snatched the receiver, "Hello?"
"Lord Fourth," Hiashi's familiar voice came through, "the baby is coming!"
"I'll be right there!" he stood and set the receiver down. He quickly pressed the intercom's talk button, "I'm out of the office! Anything administrative can go to Lord Nara; anything urgent, call the Hyūga Compound!"
Akemi sat in a rocking chair in the nursery, the same room she'd nursed Neji, alongside Kushina who was nursing her son. While Naruto was perfectly content as he latched onto Kushina, Hinata was anything but content as she kicked and bounced. Almost time, honey, almost time! After years of being on the receiving end of birth, Akemi thought she'd be calm and steady. When Tsunade confirmed that the baby had dropped and was in proper position this morning. Coupled with the series of micro-contractions for the past twenty-four hours, she knew in her heart the baby would be here any moment.
"I don't miss that part," Kushina said as Naruto let go, "not that I'll miss this." She closed her nursing top.
"I miss not pissing myself at random," Akemi said. "I love her to death, but she was strong before being sealed with Nine-Tails; she's been anxious to get out ever since! My bladder can't take much more of this!"
"I hate to tell you, but I still have my moments," Kushina sighed as she transferred her son back to her arm. "I can't tell you how good it feels to be at least, mostly back in control!"
Akemi rocked back in the chair, trying to relax against Hinata practicing ninjutsu on her innards. "Tell me," she huffed as Hinata kicked upward, "if you had to, would you do it all again?"
"In a heartbeat," Kushina said, rocking her son. "I admit it has been one of the most painful experiences of my life from conception to now, but I wouldn't trade it to be here, holding this little boy – my little boy!" She smiled and looked at Akemi's stomach, "How about you?"
Akemi rubbed her tummy as Hinata slowed her kicking. "I've watched other moms run the full gauntlet of fear, anxiety regret, exhaustion, and bliss in the span of a few contractions. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd find myself on this end of things, much less in this manner."
Kushina tilted her head, "You snagged a prince and you're about to give birth to a princess," she winked, "Top that!"
"Yeah, hard to top," she rubbed her hand nervously over Hinata again. "Kushina, if something should happen…"
"It will be fine, don't let Nine-Tails' negativity scare you," Kushina cut her off.
"… please promise me you'll look after my little girl!" Akemi fought back tears. "Please, if anything goes wrong… Hiashi won't be able to…"
"I promise," Kushina raised a hand as she rocked Naruto in the other, "just like I made you promise to look after my baby boy when I thought I wasn't going to make it." She looked down at Naruto, "You're going to meet a princess today!"
"Aren't we confident," Akemi smirked wryly, "she's been all bark and no bite lately."
"Call it a mother's intuition, ya know!" Kushina winked with a laugh, "Of course, she might be carrying a bit of my personality with her!" They both laughed at the thought. "All the same, I may have to borrow her now that I'm pretty well excluded from having more children."
Akemi sensed the mildest of sadness in Kushina's voice, and she squeezed her friend's arm as the thought twisted in her stomach. "I'm sure she'll soon know her Auntie Kushina like a second mom!" Kushina smiled as she wiped tears from her violent eyes.
The twisting in Akemi's stomach refused to stop, and intensified. Alternating chills and heat washed back and forth across her body for several moments before stopping. "Ku-Kushina…"
"Akemi," Kushina said mildly alarmed.
The tightening began again. This time, Akemi felt moisture in her underwear. While it was common for women to suffer urinary incontinence throughout later pregnancy, the flow continued unabated and refused to stop. "Kushina! You'll want to let my husband know to get everyone here," her heart fluttered as she felt her innards squeeze. "My water just broke!"
"AAHHHHH!" Akemi's scream threatened to split Kushina's eardrums as her friend vice-gripped her hand. Akemi had ditched her usual robes for a simple birthing gown that gave Tsunade and Shizune easy access to the birth canal and the baby while Minato and Hiashi rested their hands on Akemi's stomach to enforce the seal on Nine-Tails. "GAHHH!" she screeched again as she pushed against a hard contraction.
Akemi had chosen to give birth kneeling on a thick futon pad. Because of everyone in front, Kushina knelt behind to coach, rubbing her friend's shoulders and offering moral support as the painful process of bringing life into the world. "You're okay, Akemi, just a few more pushes," Kushina assured her friend. Contractions had begun accelerating rapidly from one every twenty minutes to less than five minutes apart.
"OH GOD!" she wailed, "I've done this so many times and it never hurt so much!"
"You're doing fine, Akemi" Tsunade assured, "and so is Hinata! She'll be with us soon!"
As she rubbed Akemi's shoulders, Naruto began wailing at the peak of his range. "Kakashi!" Kushina yelled.
"Yes!" he rushed from the door to the hallway with all the urgency of Obito attacking.
"Bring my son to me, please!"
"Shall I see if he needs to be changed?" he asked.
"If it's not too much trouble, ya know!" she smirked. Assassin, bodyguard, nanny!
Kakashi checked Naruto, "No sign of being wet or otherwise!" He cradled the boy and brought him closer. "I think he just wants his mommy!"
"Good, now that you're here, do you mind sticking around? I'm down to one hand if I have to hold him, too!"
Kakashi exchanged a worried glance with Hiashi, but the older man gritted his teeth and nodded. "Go on! I think we're all past the point of modesty at the moment!" He knelt on Akemi's other side, offering his hand nervously.
"Be careful, she'll crush your hand on the next one," Kushina giggled.
"NOT FUNNY!" Akemi squeezed hard enough to go to the bone. By the look of Kakashi, he might have a broken bone in his hand.
"I can see her!" Tsuande said triumphantly. "Almost there!"
"Ku-Kushina…" Akemi began crying.
"Just a little more; you can do it!"
"Th-thank you!" Akemi squeezed again and screamed. This time, there was the unmistakable crying of a newborn baby.
"You're the one doing all the hard work, ya know!" Kushina laughed as she rubbed her friend's upper back, "one more ought to do it!"
"AHH!" Akemi screamed on last time as her baby girl slipped into Tsunade's waiting hands. "Ah….. ahhhh…" Akemi gasped in relief, her body and robe soaked in a sheen of sweat.
"Congratulations, momma," Tsunade handed the child, her thin tuff of black hair dark as Akemi's.
Minato placed a hand on Hinata's belly as Hiashi did the same to Akemi's. "Ready?" Minato asked Tsunade.
"Yes, Shizune," she turned to her assistant, "If you'd be so kind." Shizune cut the umbilical cord.
A tense moment passed, but Minato nodded, "The seal is solid!"
"I detect no abnormal signature on Akemi," Hiashi sighed. He stared lovingly at his wife. "May I?"
"Hiashi, our little girl!" Akemi handed the little bundle to her husband.
"Support her head, Hiashi," Shizune said, "and hold her still while I do a quick check." She did a quick exam and smiled, "Baby is perfectly healthy, congratulations!" Shizune picked up a small blanket from nearby and wrapped the child.
Hiashi stared at his daughter then his wife, "Akemi!" he gasped amazement, "She's beautiful, just like you!"
Kushina stared into the baby's eyes, nothing they were already with Byakugan. "And she has your eyes, Hiashi," Kushina smiled.
"Lord Hokage, Kushina, would you like to hold her?" Hiashi asked.
"I'd be honored," Kushina said.
"As would I!" Minato beamed.
Hiashi handed her the precious bundle, and Kushina adjusted to carrying her son. Naruto had tuckered himself out a bit, but Kushina couldn't help but notice a smile as the blue-eyed boy stared at the serene bundle in her other arm. "You two are going to have a lot of adventures together, ya know!" Kushina rocked the two gently for a moment before letting Minato hold his goddaughter.
As Minato held Hinata, Tsunade wasted no time extracting a birth certificate and began filling in the details. "Kushina, if you'll bear witness," Tsunade handed her a pen.
"It would be my honor," she handed Naruto to Kakashi and signed. She then traded Minato for the Hinata for one last time before handing Hinata back to her mother. Minato signed, and Kushina took her son back from Kakashi. They had made it.
The still of the cold December night howled outside as Minato and Kakashi sat with Hiashi his private study. Kushina, Tsunade, and Shizune remained upstairs with an exhausted Akemi and the babies. "So," Hiashi poured each man a glass of celebratory sake, "to fatherhood," he raised his glass in toast.
"Don't look at me," Kakashi raised his glass, "won't ever happen."
"You watch," Minato laughed, "one day some girl will fall from the heavens and hit you so hard you won't remember which way is up when you're near her!"
"Amen to that!" Hiashi laughed. In the span of barely two years, he'd gone from a single clan heir to a married clan leader with a baby girl. He sipped his wine, savoring the burn of its bitterness down his throat. "I assume there is more?"
"Danzo is sniffing around," Minato said.
"Dammit," Hiashi groaned.
"I don't think he has anything set yet, but I think you were right to be paranoid," Minato said.
"Any way we can throw him off the scent?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm not sure," Minato rubbed his chin, "I think we have one thing going for us, and that is he seems more interested in the Uchiha Clan right now."
"The Uchiha Clan?" Hiashi asked. Curiouser and curiouser.
"Danzo has some design of them. I just don't know what it is." Minato sipped his wine.
"They have powerful Dōjutsu in large quantities," Kakashi suggested
"And they have the ambition and rocky reputation that no one would miss them if something bad were to happen to the clan," Hiashi spoke deep with concern.
"What are you getting at?" Kakashi asked.
"Having lived my life being told how important it is to keep the Byakugan safe," Hiashi sipped pensively, "it's not hard to imagine being jealous of power and willing to use any means necessary to seize it."
"That was my concern; whether or not he's working with them or planning to exploit them I'm not sure." Minato replied.
"Gentlemen, if I may," Kakashi spoke, "perhaps it is time we make use of the evidence we have against Danzo."
"That might be more difficult than it would seem," Hiashi sipped again, rocking back in his chair.
"How so? We have him dead bang on tape admitting embezzlement and for conspiracy to violate the Succession Acts."
"And without Jiraiya here to testify, Yui Hyūga and the baby vanished without trace, and other things; we have little in way of definitive evidence to work with," Minato said.
Hiashi and Kakashi both stared at one another then Minato, "What other things?" Hiashi asked.
"I checked the financial records for the ANBU, even had Shikaku Nara review them independently," Minato answered.
"And?" Kakashi asked.
"And whatever evidence he left behind of potential wrongdoing, he was careful to eliminate."
"So," Hiashi said, "we have literally a recording and nothing else?"
"We have the advantage that he thinks I'm too naïve to grasp what he's up to," Minato said. "Perhaps another charade is in order."
"He's going to be a lot less trusting of outsiders," Hiashi set his wine down.
"Outsiders," Kakashi said, "but what about a fellow ANBU?"
Minato smirked, "It's going to take a long time, and we're going to need airtight evidence."
"Dare I ask, what kind of evidence?" Hiashi asked.
"It's best that you not be directly involved," Minato said, then eyed Kakashi. "I need something proving treason, sedition, or at least murder."
"It's going to take a while," Kakashi said.
Minato sat back in his chair, tenting his hands. Hiashi had seen the pensive stare many times in the past few weeks. "After everything we've survived," Minato spoke with a hard determined stare, "I'll be damned if a traitor undermines the safety of our village," he stared into the glass of wine, "or the safety of our children."
"Agreed," Hiashi said, draining the glass.
"I've grown quite fond of the two since helping through the birthing process," Kakashi eyed the remaining liquid in his glass, "it would be a shame for them to have to deal with our unfinished business."
"You're going to be busy looking after us and trying to infiltrate Danzo's circle," Minato said.
"I consider it an extension of protecting you," Kakashi polished off the remaining wine, "besides, a little infiltration will keep me sharp! If anything, I can pretend that being on protection detail has made me resentful of you in some way. Danzo won't be able to resist having an information source that close to you."
"Agreed," Hiashi said, setting his glass down. "As usual, if there is anything I can do to help, name it."
"I'm sure we'll think of something before long," Minato smiled. "For now, I'd be obliged if you continue on my staff after you're done with paternity leave."
"Paternity leave?" Hiashi said.
"Yes," Minato let a hint of mischief into his voice, "You have so many wonderous things to learn about being a daddy." He snickered, "Waking up at the ungodly hours of the morning, feeding, changing…"
"And the incessant crying for mommy when you get there!" Kakashi grinned behind his mask.
"Protecting them both from my father… oh god," Hiashi sank back in his chair, "what have I gotten myself into?" He laughed nervously as he contemplated his newest adventure. Ready or not, it's here. His mind wandered to his baby girl and his wife asleep upstairs. And I wouldn't trade them for anything!
Kushina woke up from the nightmare as she had many nights. The story played the same as it had every night since Naruto's birth: Obito taking her from Minato and extracting Nine-Tails, both of them dying to protect their son and the village, and their son growing up alone in the world. As she breathed deep, cleansing breaths, she reminded herself that it was only a nightmare. It's only what might have happened. Your boy is going to grow up strong like his father, you're going to be with him every step of the way!
She rested her head on the pillow, amazed Naruto had tuckered himself out enough to stay asleep so long into the night. She stared at the clock – 0012. Happy New Year! She smiled manic with joy as she looked out the frost-encrusted window to the bright lights of celebration still burning in the market district. "Our first year as a family," she whispered, feeling slightly empty at Minato being gone as part of his duty as Hokage.
"Hey," a husky whisper almost caused her to scream.
"Mi-Minato!" she spoke in a hushed whisper.
"Easy," he slid into bed beside her, "you'll wake Naruto, and you won't believe what a chore the last half hour of rocking him was like." He winked.
"I thought you were downtown for the ceremony!" she blinked, making sure it was him.
"I slipped out and left Shikaku in charge," he winked, "After all the grief his wife and his son have been giving him, I figured he could use a night out of the house!"
Kushina bit her lip to suppress a laugh. Young Shikamaru was precocious in his teething, and his father looked like he hadn't slept in months when she saw the poor man in public. "So, you came home to celebrate?"
"I came home to be there for my son," his right hand began tracing up from her right knee to her thigh, "and my wife. I feel like I've not been paying you enough attention!" His hand slid up her thigh until his fingers began kneading her butt through the cotton of her panties.
"Minato!" she whispered harshly, "What the hell are you doing!" His touch took her back to a blissful place she'd been before being injured, before diapers, and before being pregnant.
"You used to like this," his pressures varied from caressing to deep massage, "don't tell me I've lost my touch!" he gasped in mock-horror.
"You sex-fiend!" she shivered under his paws. It had been so long since Minato had actually touched her like this, the sensation threatened to overwhelm her. "You're trying to make me horny!" And succeeding!
"What's this trying bull?" he grinned as his hand slid under the nightgown to her stomach, fingers caressing her tummy and the long scar on the right side of her abdomen.
"I just to be beautiful, once," she sighed as he traced the mark that remind her of all she'd lost in the last few months.
"You're still beautiful," his hot breath spilled into her ear. He began nibbling her outer earlobe as his stocking-feet slowly caressed up and down her leg and foot. "Any man who thinks otherwise needs his head examined!" he laughed as his tongue swiped around the rim of her ear.
Warmth and moisture began building in her core, something she thought she'd never experience again after giving birth. As her body burned, she longed to feel good again, the feel the man next to her satisfy her body and soul. "All right, I give!" she giggled. Minato's hand slithered back down at her surrender, and he delicately hiked down her panties until they were to her knees, then her ankles, and eventually discarded completely.
"I haven't don't this in a while," Minato peeled away his shirt, flinging it carelessly across the room. "You might need to refresh my memory of how it goes," he laughed as he traced a finger from her knee up her thigh until he was over her mound.
"You remember," she spread her legs and seized his hand with hers, guiding it over her womanhood, "Make me feel good, and I'll happily return the favor," Kushina felt her old fire return as his fingers spread her folds. He began toying with her, and she clawed at her nightgown, desperate to be free from its confines as her hips bucked up and down. Minato hadn't lost his touch, and she unabashedly rode the wave his hand provided into her first orgasm in months.
Minato smirked as she breathlessly came back down from the heavens. She was sixteen again, having been fooling around with her then boyfriend atop the Hokage monument in the middle of the night. Kushina wordlessly snatched him by the belt, Minato gladly providing assistance as they stripped off his last layers. "Please tell me you brought protection," she gasped. Dammit, never thought I'd have to say that again!
Minato produced a condom from under the pillow next to her. "I can't tell you how odd it was buying these again," he winked as he tore the packaging and made ready, "To have you again makes it all worth it!"
"Enough honeyed words!" Kushina pulled him to her, their hips grinding, "Claim your reward!"
"As you wish," Minato winked and entered her body.
Minato entered deep but his thrusts were slow, savoring. As he thrusted, his lips scanned her neck, her ears, and her lips – committing each contour and imperfection to memory.
"Minato!" Kushina yelled his name as she clamped around him: her channel, her arms, and her legs. She pulled him close, merging with him like the night they'd made Naruto. Overwhelming pleasure filled her, and she refused to let it go. After nearly losing you, I'm not ever letting go! Eventually, even the most perfect moment of began to slowly fade. They both breathed in hushed, desperate gasps as afterglow surrounded them. "Minato!" she gasped.
"Not bad for being married and having kids," he chuckled.
"Smartass!" she spanked his ass playfully.
"WAAAHHHHH!" Split the air and poured cold water on their passion.
"Dammit," Minato huffed.
"It's your turn because I don't think I can walk right now!" she poked his chest as he withdrew slowly.
"Fair is fair," Minato laughed as he got up, cleaned up, and hurriedly got dressed. Before going to check on their son, Minato rushed back to her and placed a warm kiss on her lips, "I love you!"
"I love you, too," she smiled as he took off in the direction of the nursery. Despite being sore, Kushina soon hobbled to the closet and found a decent bathrobe. She threw on the robe and walked across the hall despite her pleasant soreness. Minato cradled their son in his arms, rocking him gently back and forth. Naruto's crying had slowed, but it hadn't fully stopped. Kushina walked up to the pair and gently caressed her son's fluffy head of hair, "It's all right, Mommy and Daddy are here!" Naruto gently returned to his calmed state. We're here for you, my son, and we're never leaving you, ever!
"Daddy!" Naruto ran toward his father with unnatural energy as Minato stepped away from the barbeque grill. Kakashi promptly took over grill-detail as Minato picked up his son and held him high in the air. The fox onesie Kushina had made for her son fit perfectly. Of course, I did help her make it! Akemi tightened her lip into a smile as she carried her daughter in her arm. Hinata was getting big, and soon, she'd be too big to carry routinely. Turning two this December, I wish you could stay young for just a little bit longer my love!
"Lord Fourth!" Hiashi greeted as they approached the back gate to the yard. "I hope we're not too early for the little guy's birthday party!"
"One can never be too early!" Kushina called from her garden plot, "How about you help Kakashi with the grill while we ladies try and sort this mess. Kushina wore a pair of well-stained overalls and a straw hat.
"Sounds like a plan," Akemi said as she carried her shy little girl toward Kushina. Hinata buried her face in Akemi's shoulder as they approached.
"Awww," Kushina gently patted Hinata's head, "poor Hinata is still shy around her Auntie Kushina?" The ladies were rewarded by the sound of Hinata giggling.
A tugging at her robe made Akemi aware of another presence to her left. The young, blonde-haired boy started up with wide eyes that made his smile irresistible. "Auntie!" he tugged at her robe again.
"Naruto!" she knelt down, pulling him in for a hug, "You're so big, and two years old now!" The boy laughed in delight as she released him. As she did, Hinata slid from her shoulder, standing on the ground. The little girl stared at the boy, trembling slightly. As Akemi stood, Hinata gripped the side of Akemi's robe, desperate to hid.
In spite of the nervous reception, Naruto blurted out, "Hinata!" as he pointed at Akemi's daughter with and outstretched hand.
For a moment, Hinata remained buried in Akemi's leg. Poor Hinata, still to shy! However, her little girl slowly waddled away, loosening her grip on the robe. "Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata held her hand out to Kushina's son. She finally is interacting with a child other than Neji! Akemi fought back tears as her daughter carefully stepped toward Naruto.
As usual, Naruto didn't wait. He ran up to Hinata and snatched her in a hug. "Hinata! Come play!" Naruto dragged her in the direction of some of his outdoor toys.
"I told you they'd take a shine to each other," Kushina winked.
"You said it," Akemi watched their little bundles of joy begin playing shuriken toss with their Uncle Kakashi as he handed the grill back to Minato and Hiashi. "Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyūga," Akemi smiled as she watched the children play.
The Beginning
Author's notes: Hello everyone. Thank you for taking this adventure with me, and I hope you enjoyed my take on the events leading up to Naruto and Hinata's births. Whether his is your first story of mine you've ready or you started with me back at Turbulence, I appreciate you taking time from your day to read along as I wrote this. Stay classy, stay safe, and I'll see you next story!