Ever since his daughter Ritsuki learned to say "Daddy," Kawakaze loved carrying her around while they went out.
Ginji, who had never enjoyed such treatnt as a child, could only grumble internally about his father's blatant favoritism.
It was another day like any other. Kawakaze held Ritsuki in his arms as he walked Tsunade to the entrance of the gambling den.
"You go have fun."
"I'll take our daughter for a stroll."
He had no intention of going inside and was ready to leave as soon as he spoke.
First, a gambling den was no place for a child. Second, he had no interest in watching a ga where the outco was already predetermined.
"Alright, alright."
Tsunade, already eager to start, had no ti to worry about her husband or daughter. With the staff's enthusiastic welco, she strode inside with high spirits.
Today, I'm gonna wipe them out!
"Take this as a lesson, okay?"
Kawakaze pointed at Tsunade's retreating figure, trying to instill the right values in Ritsuki.
But the six-month-old baby clearly didn't understand a word and simply giggled at him.
"Daddy~ Daddy~"
The soft, unclear calls in her baby voice instantly shattered all of Kawakaze's supposed authority.
"My precious girl, Daddy's taking you to buy so pretty clothes."
Grinning like an idiot, he turned and headed toward the mother-and-baby store.
...
Before he could step inside, he ran into Kushina, who was carrying two large shopping bags and heading out.
"Brother-in-law, shopping with Ritsuki?"
Kushina was so used to calling him that, even after marrying Minato, she never changed the habit.
"Yeah. What about you?"
Kawakaze's face brightened, wondering if Naruto might already be on the way.
After all, it made perfect sense for an expectant mother to be buying baby supplies.
"Oh, Mikoto's pregnant, isn't she?"
"I got so stuff to bring her."
Kushina casually lifted the bags, filled with gifts for her best friend.
"She's already on her second child."
"What are you and Minato doing all day?"
Kawakaze's expression darkened instantly. So it turned out Sasuke was already on the way.
"We're trying, alright?"
"Maybe... our luck just hasn't co yet."
Kushina stiffened her neck as she retorted, but her last words carried a hint of disappointnt.
Of course, she wanted a child with Minato.
But after getting checked and finding nothing wrong with either of them, it could only be chalked up to fate not yet aligning.
"Okay, okay."
"Everything will happen in ti. Don't stress over it—go see Mikoto."
Seeing Kushina looking so dejected, Kawakaze didn't have the heart to say anything else about having kids.
But then he thought about how Sasuke would only be a few months older than Naruto. If nothing unexpected happened, little Naruto should be reaching the finish line soon.
"Hm."
"Bye, brother-in-law."
Kushina pulled herself together, gave Ritsuki a big smile, and turned to leave.
After stepping into the store, Kawakaze suddenly felt guilty about his earlier words, and his interest in shopping quickly faded.
Why did I have to run my mouth? What's ant to be will co when it's ti.
...
Kushina, unaware of Kawakaze's thoughts, made her way straight to Fugaku's ho.
As both the Hokage's wife and Mikoto's closest friend, her visit was nothing short of an esteed guest arriving.
The mont she entered, the butler greeted her warmly.
After exchanging pleasantries, he respectfully took the bags from her hands and led her to Mikoto's bedroom.
"Mikoto, I'm here to see you!"
Before the butler could even announce her arrival, Kushina's voice rang out.
"Finally! I'm bored out of my mind here."
Before her words had even faded, Mikoto's voice ca from inside.
After a few hurried steps, the door swung open, revealing Mikoto with her hair loose and free of makeup.
"Congratulations! You're going to be a mom again."
The two best friends embraced, having not seen each other for so ti.
"You didn't have to bring so much."
Mikoto lightly patted Kushina's shoulder in feigned reprimand.
"I didn't buy it for you—I got it for my godson."
Kushina retrieved the bags from the butler, bypassed Mikoto, and carried them inside.
Sensing the mont, the butler swiftly excused himself.
"Alright, then. I'll thank you on his behalf."
Mikoto chuckled, covering her mouth as she pulled Kushina to sit at the table.
"Fugaku's busy, but what about Itachi?"
"He's not keeping you company either?"
Kushina could understand why Fugaku wasn't ho, but where could a four-year-old possibly go?
"Lord Orochimaru said Itachi is ready to begin training."
"As his sensei, he keeps Itachi by his side every day."
Mikoto's tone carried both happiness and pride.
After all, not just anyone could be Orochimaru's student.
"Ohhh... I see."
Kushina nodded, though she quietly worried for Itachi.
A four-year-old under Orochimaru's tutelage? Mikoto is lucky she can still laugh about it.
If I ever have kids, there's no way I'm handing them over to him.
...
"So, how about you?"
"Still nothing?"
As expected, the conversation eventually turned to children.
Mikoto had no bad intentions—she was simply concerned for her best friend.
"Ugh, I'm so sick of it."
"I just ca out of the store and ran into my brother-in-law, and he scolded nonstop."
"Like, what did I do to deserve that?"
"..."
Kushina imdiately exaggerated Kawakaze's behavior, venting her frustration with Mikoto.
"Lord Kawakaze only ant well."
"Minato is his top student—of course, he'd have sothing to say."
Mikoto, instead of joining Kushina's complaints, understood the mindset of an elder.
"Yeah, well, what can I do about it?"
Kushina sighed in defeat, her hand gently rubbing Mikoto's belly in envy.
"Forget it—let's talk about sothing more fun."
"Just the other day, that guy—you know, from my family—"
Mikoto, sensing Kushina's mood, quickly shifted the topic to gossip.
Hearing this, Kushina's eyes lit up, and the two won chatted until dusk before reluctantly parting ways.
That night, fueled by her emotions, Kushina gave Minato an especially hard ti.
The next morning, the ever-punctual Hokage was—shockingly—late for work.
...
Perhaps hard work really does pay off, or maybe luck had finally arrived.
A month later, Kushina was officially pregnant.
Minato was so overjoyed that he couldn't sleep the entire night.
Kawakaze and Tsunade were just as thrilled, arriving at Minato's house with their arms full of gifts.
"Kushina, you're a Jinchūriki."
"When you give birth, the seal will weaken."
"The Nine-Tails isn't as cooperative as the Seven-Tails—make sure to stay vigilant."
Tsunade carefully explained everything Kushina needed to watch out for during pregnancy, even detailing the potential dangers during childbirth.
"Grandma already told —I rember."
"Besides, with all of you protecting , what's there to worry about?"
Kushina wasn't concerned in the slightest. No matter how powerful the Nine-Tails was, what could it possibly do in Konoha?
"You..."
Tsunade sighed, flicking her forehead with a smile.
"Don't worry—your brother-in-law will personally watch over things."
Kawakaze made the promise without hesitation, though in his mind, he was wondering—would Naruto still have those whisker marks?
"Then I'll be in your care, sensei."
Minato still felt a little awkward calling him that—after all, their generational hierarchy was completely out of order.
"It's getting late."
"Take good care of Kushina. We're heading out."
Seeing the sky darken outside, Kawakaze and Tsunade left hand in hand.
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