Week 21

Naru gagged and coughed as she sat hunched over the toilet, sweat dripped along her face, Tsunade rubbed her back as she pulled up and groaned.

"I hate this, the smell of ramen is making me puke and it's not fair!" Naru whined and dug the heel of her hands into her eyes.

"It comes with a baby,"

"Not like I asked for it," Naru sneered and stood shakily, her stomach noticeably swollen.

"I know, but something good can come from this Naru, I know it's not fair but I believe you'll come to love that child." Naru hummed and walked out of the bathroom.

"Where are we going anyways? We've been mindlessly traveling Fire and Grass for weeks now."

Tsunade smiled as she knew the girl was going through a flux of pain and hormones and it was progressively making her more and more irritable.

"Right now, we're moving around but Jiraiya should be looking for a place you can safely give birth so there are no hiccups during or after." Naru nodded and slid back into her seat.

"Right now this is the time when we need to be careful as miscarriages happen easily."

"If I'm honest - never mind." Naru began then stopped looking away.

"I know you still don't want the baby Naru, but - sigh It may not seem that way from your perspective right now, but in time I think you'll love it." Naru shrugged her shoulders.

Jiraiya groaned as he scanned the map to find a good enough location for their stay until Naru was ready to give birth.

"What are you even looking for?" Naru asked as she pushed the bowl away trying not to breathe in the smell.

"We need a secure and solitary location for your birth, a place Tsunade can coach you and a place I can ward and hold your seal."

"Do you think it'll be a repeat of my parents?"

"That's just it, I don't want it to. The seal slipped that night due to her struggling during birth. Her seals were perfect but the strain of labor weakened them and Kyuubi took the opportunity to break free and no doubt if it happens again he'll try to escape."

"And I'll die." Naru finished, Jiraiya nodded and went back to looking at the maps and information, he clenched his fists at those three words, the last thing he could handle was losing another student.

"Once we leave this outpost tomorrow we'll be heading to a larger city, I'll call in a favor to use their hospital facilities and we'll give you a proper checkup," Tsunade said, Naru nodded her head and looked down at her stomach, and gnawed her lip.

"You three rest up and I'll be back by morning," Jiraiya stood gathering his papers.

"Where-"

"I need to see what other information I can find, rest up." Naru frowned at the sannin who left quickly.

"I think it's hard for him, to think about something happening to you," Shizune said. "Especially under these circumstances."

"I guess…"

-o0o-

Jiraiya swirled the small glass of amber liquid as he continued to read, the sun set long ago and he hadn't left the small bar filled with loud chatter and laughter. He rubbed his eyes with a groan and pushed them back looking out of the window at the full moon.

"Are you sure you don't need me? I can -"

"I promise sensei, I got the seal, nothing will happen."

"I'm just a toad summon away Minato, I mean it."

The young man grunted with a nod and grinned at his sensei before he looked over at his wife who was reading a book out loud and rubbing her extended stomach. "Next time you see me I'll have your goddaughter in hand." Jiraiya chuckled and rubbed his head.

"Good luck."

His hand slipped and knocked over the glass spilling the liquid, he mumbled a curse trying to mop up the drink as it stained his maps and paper.

"Want a refill?" The young waitress asked as she used a hand towel to mop the rest.

"No…no I'm good, thanks."

"Planning a trip?"

"Of sorts,"

"A beautiful place is Snow, it's so quiet and uncrowded and in the spring it warms a little but uh it's beautiful!" She smiled remembering a fond memory.

"Hmmm, it may be what we're looking for, thanks for the idea." Jiraiya gathered his things and left a tip.

He slipped into the dark room listening to their snoring, he looked at the bed and gasped finding it empty, he swirled around and heaved a sigh finding her leaning against the window.

"Why are you up?"

"Can't sleep," she whispered, he sighed and slid down sitting next to her. "What if something happens? I always accepted being a ninja we could die at any time, but with this I - I don't think I'm okay with it."

"Naru, before you even come close to death I'll be there. I'll die before you do." Naru gave him a shaky smile and then looked out to the moon.

"I wonder if they're ashamed that I'm … that I -" she ended with a sigh and rubbed her face.

"The last thing they'd feel is ashamed of you. I bet they're proud you're being strong through this."

"I guess. I'm going back to bed, goodnight." She stood and shuffled back to her bed, Jiraiya sighed watching as she fell asleep, and then he found his way to bed checking on his spy toads once more before falling into a fitful sleep.

"Okay Minato, you will handle Kushina's seal, I have six anbu members, Taji for medical aid, and my wife Biwako who can coach."

"Yes sir," Minato nodded at Hiruzen, who came after Kushina's water broke that morning.

"Do you need more than that?"

"No sir, I can handle the seal, I've studied it extensively."

"Alright, good luck tonight."

"Thank you, sir!" Minato's grin grew as he watched his previous Hokage leave his house.

-o0o-

"AARGH!! IT HURTS 'TTEBANE!!!" Kushina's voice screeched in the night echoing through the halls of the training grounds.

"Push Kushina!" Biwako ordered.

"I'm trying!" She sobbed.

"I… I've never heard Kushina cry out in pain, is she okay?" Minato asked shakily as he held his hand towards Kushina's stomach.

"She's fine! Stay on guard!" Biwako snapped at the young man who flinched.

"But-"

"You're Yondaime! Get a grip!" Biwako snarled, fixing him with a glare. "Most men would have dropped dead from pain like this!"

"Hang in there Kushina," He whispered.

Kushina continued screaming and pushing as they coached her through her contractions, Minato stood ready to spring into action if her seal even twitched but also held his wife's hand.

"I can see the head Kushina, a little more!" Biwako called out, Kushina curled and screamed as she pushed with all her might.

She gasped, throwing back as her seal pulsed and began to glow and unwrap.

"Shit!" Minato cursed and held his hand out to the seal pouring chakra into the seal, which halted the movement.

"Is everything okay?"

"I got the seal, it began to open, Kyuubi is pushing against it." Minato frowned.

"This is almost over, one good push, and your daughter will be here."

"You got this Kushina," Minato whispered, she huffed for air as a contraction started and they ordered her to push, she curled with a push and screamed with all her might.

"She's here!" A baby wail began to echo in the open room, Kushina let out a sob and fell backward huffing for air. Tears slipped down her cheeks as the baby continued to scream and cry.

"She's here," Minato sobbed, wiping at his face.

Biwako walked forward with the baby and jerked it as Minato reached for her. "The mother holds the baby first!" Minato pouted but smiled as Biwako knelt to Kushina who looked at her and cried.

"My little Naru." She whispered.

"Let's get this finished and get mom and baby back to the village." Biwako said.

Kushina gasped, arching up as the seal exploded, red chakra swishing about the room, one slammed into Taji throwing her against the wall then the floor.

"Kushina!" Minato yelled wincing as the chakra burst created a strong current of wind. Kushina screamed as her eyes shifted to red and more chakra bubbled up and around her body.

"SEAL!" Minato yelled slamming his hand down on the seal, his chakra spread around the seal, Kushina gasped for air, her eyes rolled up in her head. The chakra roared loudly in anger and slammed into the young father throwing him back. Biwako screamed as a tail stabbed her stomach inches from the screaming baby.

"Naru…" Kushina whispered and tried to will the shackles around Kyuubi again who roared at her and sprung from binds. Red chakra formed into a large fox head that grinned and continued to grow. Biwako gagged as she lifted in the air with the baby, her strength gave way and Naru slipped free and tumbled to the ground.

"NARU!!" Kushina screamed, Minato sprung into action disappearing from his spot and reappearing with Naru in his arms, chakra making him stick to the wall. Three chakra tails swiped toward the young father, he glared at the chakra before disappearing and letting them slam into the spot he stood.

"Minato Naru!" Kushina screamed, Minato appeared in a dark home, he huffed for air and sighed heavily as he shifted his daughter in his arms, setting her gently down on the bed and covering her up. "I'm sorry, I have to go save your mother, I'll be right back." He whispered and kissed her head before disappearing again.

Kushina let out a cry as the red chakra finally pulled from her body, she collapsed with a whimper as the building crumbled from the giant fox that roared into the night, he turned his head and sneered at his jailer who gasped for air and shot him a murderous glare.

"Tsk, still alive." He snarled before raising his paw and brought it down where the mother lay. Minato appeared on the top of the trees holding his weak wife, Kyuubi growled at the man before he vanished again, the beast turned to the village in the distance and rushed towards it.

"Minato," Kushina rasped, the man appeared back in the quiet home, and he gently laid her on the bed next to her daughter. "He's going to destroy the village, why?"

"Shh, just stay with your daughter." He gently said and covered her up, Kushina whimpered and nuzzled the baby.

"I'll be right back," Minato turned away from the scene, yanked his haori on, and tied his hitai-ate on his head grabbing his kunai and disappeared again.

Kyuubi roared as he smashed buildings and roads, bodies flew in the air as screamed echoed. Fires erupted all around, with a swipe of a tail a tornado erupted and tore through streets.

He snarled as jutsu and weapons hit him with little effect, a chakra presence drew his attention to the Hokage mountain, a lone figure stood atop the head, he bared his teeth and opened his jaws wide a black ball of chakra grew between his teeth before closed his jaws on the ball and shot it towards the young Hokage.

"I won't allow you." Minato said running through hand signs and letting a transportation seal absorb the bomb and make it hit the mountains far away.

Minato glared at the beast and flashed away again to find Hiruzen.Kyuubi opened his jaws again building up the chakra for a bijuu bomb Kyuubi snarled as a giant toad landed on him and pinned him to the ground, Minato stood on the toad's head before he jumped down to Hiruzen and he informed the previous Hokage of his plan to transport the beast from the village and seal him away, Hiruzen turned to protest but Minato disappeared and so did Kyuubi.

"Minato took the beast?" A jounin asked, Hiruzen grit his teeth turning to the distance and took off without a word.

Minato cried out as hit the grass, his body weakened from the chakra usage, the wailing of his daughter pushed him up, Kushina held her daughter as the building they were in had been destroyed in the blast of Kyuubi landing there, Minato had pulled them out mere milliseconds before the beast landed.

"Kushina, are you okay?" Minato pushed up shakily and stumbled. "Gotta put a barrier up…" He huffed, Kushina looked at the father sadly, Kyuubi growled as he pushed up, she glared at the beast before chakra chains shot from her back and wrapped tightly around the beast.

"Kushina-"

"I got this," She huffed, dark bags stood out against her pale skin, he looked at her sadly, their baby began to cry at the disturbance, both parents looked at her. "We woke her up," She chuckled.

"Kushina." Minato whispered.

"I'll take Kyuubi with me into death, so that the time between when he is revived will be delayed, that's all I can manage right now… with my remaining chakra…" She rasped and looked at Minato. "Thank you… for everything up 'til now.." She smiled, Minato looked at her, tears built and slipped down his cheeks.

"Kushina you're the one… who made me Yondaime! You made me your man! And you made me this child's father! And yet I'm useless." He cried, Kushina smiled.

"Minato don't look so sad I- I'm happy…" She said, "Most of all if I were to imagine myself alive and our future together as a family of three then … I can't see us being anything but happy.." Minato let out a sob. "If I were allowed just one regret I wish I could see her grow up.." She looked down at the baby she bounced back to sleep.

"Kushina there is no need for you to die for Kyuubi… preserve what little of your chakra you have left for your reunion with Naru." Minato said drying his eyes.

"Huh?"

"I'm going to seal the rest of your chakra into Naru, with the Eight signed seal," He said. "And I'll take Kyuubi with me by the Reaper death seal."

"But that jutsu results in the caster's death!" She protested.

"It'll be alright … if you take him into death … the Biju balance will be upset and with this I can permanently seal half of his chakra away and the rest I will seal inside Naru," Kushina gasped.

Before Kushina could protest Minato quickly ran through multiple signs, he cried out a tear in his shirt showed a seal on his stomach and Kyuubi dropped to less than half of his size.

"WHY!?! I would rather see you grow up with Naru! You did not need to die!" Kushina yelled at the young father. "For what!? The Biju balance, the country? For the village!? Why do you have to sacrifice yourself for my sake!?" Kushina screamed at him.

"Kushina it's a shinobi's duty to do what it takes for his village and home, and besides even if I stayed alive I'd be lost without you. I know we don't have much time left with her, but I want you to tell her things I can't … that's a mothers roll." Minato said between breaths. "It's my duty as a father to die for her," Minato ran through hand signs much slower, an altar bed appeared and he gently laid the baby on the cushion.

Kyuubi growled, eyeing the scene realizing they intended to seal him into the infant. He growled low and raised his paw bringing it towards the infant to kill her.

Minato glared seeing the beast, he threw his body forward the same time Kushina did, blood flew through the air as they were impaled on the beast's claw.

"I said it was my duty to die as her father!" Minato gasped glaring at his wife, their mixed blood splattered on the infant's stomach but she remained unharmed.

"It's my right as her mother as well!" Kushina snapped back, he scowled at her, she smiled slightly before dropping her shoulders. "Fine, this is the only fight you've ever won between us." She rasped.

"Thank you." Minato chuckled.

"Minato! Kushina!" Hiruzen yelled, arriving outside the barrier and hitting the invisible dome. Minato bit his thumb spilling more blood and summoned a medium size toad that screamed at the scene.

"Whoa! Yondaime!? Kyuubi? What's going on?" He yelled.

"I'm putting the seal to Kyuubi's cage on you, once I'm done you'll take yourself to Jiraiya and tell him what's going on." Minato ordered, the toad nodded and expanded his body revealing he was like a giant scroll, Minato spelled out the intricate seals and nodded to the toad, he nodded and disappeared into a pop of smoke.

"Kushina, I don't have much time left, tell her what you want to say," Kushina nodded looking at her daughter.

"Naru, don't be a picky eater and eat healthy, make sure you don't stay up late and you get plenty of rest. Make friend, you don't need tons just a few good ones you can trust … make sure you study hard, even if something doesn't go right don't get depressed … at school, make sure you respect your teachers and older classmates … be careful with your money, don't drink until you're 21. When it comes to love, make sure you pick a good one, like I did with your father, someone who will always be there for you." Minato smiled gently listening to the woman lecture the sleeping baby. "Also be wary of Jiraiya … he can be difficult and not the best role model but, he'll always be there for you. Try to build yourself up no matter what …" Tears slipped down her face, she gasped for air. "Things will get really hard for you Naru, but don't give up hope… try to build yourelf up no matter what. Take good care of yourself, make sure you have a dream it will help you out a lot and have the confidence to back up that dream. There is so much more that I would want to tell you mother to daughter… I want to be with you longer." She glanced back. "Minato I took all your times, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, all I can say to you Naru, as your father I agree to what your mom said," He winked at her before he finished the signs, the area lit up with a white light and wind whipped around, Hiruzen grunted as the dome disappeared, the night was filled with the baby screams, he rushed forwards to the baby and held her as he promised to care for her to Kushina before she died with a smile on her face.

-o0o-

Naru walked slowly into the large hospital, Tsunade touched her back and led her forwards, the woman made arrangements as they entered the large village to be able to use their facility for the young mom to be.

"Climb up," Tsunde patted the bed, Naru got up and laid back as Tsunade thanked the nurse who brought in the ultrasound machine. "Alright, lift your shirt and we'll get a look at your baby." She smiled, Naru folded her shirt up and gasped as Tsunade spread the cold gel on her stomach before pressing the transducer gently on her stomach and moved it around. "Look," Tsunade turned the screen, Naru looked at the gray static screen, she frowned cocking her head in confusion. "Right here, is your baby." Tsunade pointed to a shape on the screen that moved as she pressed slightly harder.

Naru let out a gaspy expel of air, her lip quivered as she stared at the screen. "And here we go," Tsunade said. A rapid thudding sounded, Naru gasped and began to cry as she touched the screen.

"Jiraiya!" Naru yelled rushing into the room, the man jumped as she rushed in and shoved a paper in his face. "It's a girl!" She nearly squealed, he smiled taking the ultrasound photo of the growing baby. He smiled and gave it back to her, he ruffled her hair and stood.

"Write to Hiruzen, I'll send it via toads." Naru walked to the table and began to write quickly. "She changed her mind?" He whispered.

"As soon as she listened to the heartbeat, she completely crumbled. She's finally realized the beauty in the baby." Jiraiya smiled with a nod. "Have you decided our location?"

"Snow, remote and hopefully the last place he'll look for her. I'll begin prepping the seals now,"

"Once we arrive I'll meet with the hospital to arrange a room after the birth to care for her."

"One thing for sure, I want a DNA test done, maybe we'll figure out what he intended to create and go from there."

"She's happy right now, and that's all that matters."