Chapter 2: Kyuubi's Seal

A resounding knock filled the almost empty corridors in the Uzumaki manor. In the training room, Kushina and Minato paused in their practices setting down their sealing tools. Looking at his wife, Minato said, "Looks like we have guests. Why don't we put this aside for now, we have plenty of time to perfect it."

Nodding, Kushina ran through a few hand signs, storing the tools in seal, keeping the room clutter free. "After you, Hokage-sama," Kushina said feigning extreme respect, as she bowed to him in a mocking fashion.

Minato frowned, "I told you to stop that already. Thought you had finally learned." Straightening his attire, Minato put on his kage robes and headed towards the entrance, not wanting to keep his guests waiting. Striding through the corridors, Minato again watched the walls around him change image as the seals activated to the guest's presence. Settling on the image of the Hyuuga Clan, Minato guessed as to why they were here. Smirking at the thought, he composed himself before opening the door.

"Hiashi. Hitomi. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" Minato asked the pair, intentionally using the phrase Hiashi asked of him, when he announced his wife was pregnant.

Glaring at the gesture, before composing himself, Hiashi said, "Well, as you have surmised, Minato-sama," intentionally adding on that honorific, knowing how much the man hated it. "Hitomi, like Kushina, is with child."

Stepping forward lightly, Hitomi said, "And we decided that we'd share with you early on, like you did with us."

Bumping into the back of her husband, Kushina greeted the pair. "Hitomi, Hiashi. What a pleasant surprise. Come in, come in," she said quickly, as she grabbed their hands and pulled them inside. "We've got so much to catch up on."

Dragging them into the living room, she finally let go of them, turning to Hitomi, she let loose her tirade of questions. "When's the baby due? How long you have known? Boy or girl? Names? Wh-"

"If you'll excuse my wife, I believe she was just on her way to making some tea for us." Minato said, covering his wife's mouth with an apologetic expression. Glaring at her husband, she backed out of the room, her eyes promising punishment.

Chuckling half-heartedly, Minato turned away from his wife. "I'm going to be in trouble later. Clan elders giving you any grief about this, Hiashi?"

Hiashi frowned, "Thankfully not. Although hesitant at the start, they were pleased with my choice for a wife. Despite that, they do question as to whether or not our child will be suitable for Hyuuga heir."

Smiling lightly, he said, "Well, then. You'll just have to train your child and prove the elders wrong."

"Enough about the clan." Kushina said, as she entered the room with tea. Setting down two cups in front of the Hyuuga's, she took the last for herself. "None for you, Minato," she said, smirking. "So, Hitomi. When's the baby due?"

"Yes, yes. I'll answer your questions," she said, taking a sip of the tea. "Mm. It's good...Gyokuro tea leaves, if I'm not mistaken," she remarked, astonished at their hospitality. "Kushina, you're too good to us."

Setting down her cup, she said, "She's due in late December, perhaps into January."

"She?" Hiashi questioned her, with a raised eyebrow. "Doctors said nothing about gender."

With a sigh, Hitomi said, "I know that, but I also know that she's going to be a girl."

Bringing his hands together with a single resounding clap, Minato said, "Am I correct in assuming that you had other business here as well, Hiashi?"

"Bright as ever, Minato." Hiashi said, his tone all business. "Beyond the pleasant news of Hitomi's pregnancy, we came here to deliver a message from Sandaime-sama. He'd like to speak with you and Kushina about her pregnancy." Standing up, Hiashi gave a slight bow, "And with that, our business with you is concluded. We have other things demanding our attention, so if you'll excuse us."

Minato and Kushina walked down the roads of Konoha on their way to the Sarutobi estate. Eyeing one of the nearby buildings, Kushina said, "After we get this problem with Sarutobi resolved, why don't we eat at Yakiniku? I've heard great things about it from Chouza."

"Well, if Chouza is there when we do, they might just run out of food with an Akimichi and an Uzumaki in the building." Minato said, teasing his wife's large appetite.

Rolling her eyes, she shoved her husband playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it off. Just wait until our little one is born, and you'll have to feed the both of us. He's an Uzumaki, too." She laughed as Minato's eyes went wide.

Running ahead, Kushina turned around and faced her husband. "Race you there," she said before she took off. Laughing at her antics, Minato chased after her.

Standing next to his seated wife, Minato asked, "So, I assume this is about Kyuubi's seal?"

Nodding gravely, Hiruzen said, "Yes. The seal weakens during child-birth, so we need to prepare for the worst case scenario in case the seal does indeed break. We've located an isolated cave outside of Konoha that would suit these purposes. My wife and another med-nin would help with the birthing, and a squad of Anbu will keep watch over the entrance. Minato, with Kushina's knowledge in seals that she's given you keep the seal from breaking."

"May I ask for the details of the place, Sandaime-sama?" Minato asked, wishing to check out the place ahead of time to verify its security.

Nodding his head, the former Hokage said, "Certainly, I'll have one of my Anbu escort you there later. What time would suit you best?"

Looking at his wife, Minato said, "Hm. Perhaps around five? That sound good, Kushina?"

"Hm. We'll be having lunch at Yakinuku after this, and that shouldn't boil over past three, even in the worst of cases. So, yeah. Five should be fine." Kushina said, after a brief moment of thought. "Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some lunch to catch," she added, as she literally dragged her husband out of the room.

Minato tried to hide his face from the villagers, to no avail. His robe and hairstyle already gave him away instantly. "Kuuushinaaa," Minato droned out in a whining tone, embarrassed at how far she was dragging him. "Stop this already. It's embarrassing."

Halting for a moment, Kushina allowed her husband to get his hopes up. Tossing a mischievous grin his way, she continued dragging him, much to his dismay. 'Why'd I have to say that?' He thought to himself, cursing his words.

"Hokage-sama. How nice to see you on the streets again." Chouza chuckled at him. "Mind joining us for some beef at Yakinuku's?"

"We were just headed there ourselves," Minato said, from his vantage point on the ground. "Sure, we can join you," he added with a glance at his wife. "If she will stop dragging me."

"Fine, fine." Kushina said, pouting before she let her husband loose. "After you?" she asked, indicating Shikaku and Chouza with a glance.

"This is good beef!" Chouza declared loudly, as he skewered more meat.

"How's Atsuko-chan, Chouza?" Kushina asked, knowing it was right around the time for their son to be born. Stealing the meat from Chouza's skewer, she devoured it right away, with a challenging glance at the Akimichi heir.

"Atsuko-chan, eh?" Chouza said, meeting her challenging gaze with an eager grin. "She's as big as ever. He should pop out any day now." With surprising dexterity for his size, Chouza skewered several slabs of beef before Kushina could retaliate.

Eying his speed, she said, "Looks like we need more beef." Setting down her chopsticks, Kushina sent a challenging smirk at Chouza. "It's on. I'll show you not to underestimate the Uzumaki appetite."

Watching the pair, Shikaku said, "How troublesome."

Giving him an amusing glance, Minato said, "For once I agree with that phrase, Shikaku. I knew it'd turn out like this. Hopefully this place has enough beef on hand."

"How's Yoshino-chan?" he asked, after a moment's pause. "She's what? Three months along?"

"Such a troublesome woman. Thankfully, it's a boy. If she was having a daughter, I don't think I could handle having two troublesome woman at home. Hormones only make it worse." Shikaku said, grimacing at his thoughts. "Four, actually," he added as an afterthought, in answer to Minato's question.

Glancing at the big eaters at the table, Minato grimaced. "We're going to be here for a while. Might even miss our appointment later today." With a knowing glance at his wife, he continued. "Which is at five."

Shikaku chuckled, "Might just happen, knowing Chouza's appetite and Kushina's never-back-down attitude."

Leaning back into his chair, he watched the competition unfold.

Standing hesitantly near the duo, their waiter said, "Akimichi-san, Uzumaki-san. My apologies, but there is no more beef in storage."

Flashing Shikaku a knowing grin, Minato chuckled. "What'd I tell you?"

Nodding his head in acknowledgment, Shikaku said, "The timing was fairly fortuitous, thankfully. I've got to go meet up with my wife now, and I believe you mentioned you had an appointment soon. It's almost five."

Startled, Minato looked at the clock and then stood up immediately. "Kushina. We need to go now, it's almost five." He said, as he threw their portion of the bill on the table. "Chouza, Shikaku. Until next time."

Allowing herself to be dragged out of the restaurant, Kushina shot a glare at Chouza. "This isn't over, Chouza. We'll finish out competition next time."

Nodding his head with a smile, he boasted, "And I'll beat you then, too."

Arriving at the Uzumaki manor, the couple found that they were just in time, as the Anbu operative arrived. "Hokage-same, Uzumaki-san. Sandaime-sama expressed your desire to stake out the location of note. I will escort you there," he said, wearing a non-descript mask.

Nodding his head, Minato said, "Lead the way."

Quickly, the couple followed the Anbu across the rooftops of Konoha, and beyond into the surrounding forests.

"How far away from Konoha is it?" Minato asked, as he leapt from another branch.

"Two kilometers, Hokage-sama," the Anbu operative answered him. "You may recognize the location upon arrival."

Smiling, Minato entered the cave upon arrival. "This brings back memories. The Hyuuga twins and I used to train in here. Was anyone's guess as to who would win our little brawls." Minato said fondly to his wife, reminiscing.

"Oh? How come I was never involved?" Kushina asked, annoyed.

"Well, at the time...you thought I was pathetic. And you were proving again and again why you're Konoha's Red Hot-Blooded Habanero." Minato said with a smirk.

"Ah, yes. Back when we were still Genin. And you were weak back then, not that you can handle me yet," she said in remembrance, teasing her husband. "After I give birth, we should have another brawl in here, involve the whole gang and all. Hizashi, Hiashi, you, me, and even the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, if you think we've got the room."

"Sure," he said, turning his attention to the cave. Methodically, he ran his gaze throughout the cavern, looking for any points of weakness. Nodding in satisfaction, Minato turned to their escort. "Inform Sandaime-sama that this place is indeed satisfactory."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama," the non-descript Anbu said, with a nod before leaving to inform the former Hokage.