NOVEL NEXT Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Birth Is Near
Chapter 112: The Birth Is Near
"My Lord Zoro, such generosity!"
A cold voice sounded behind him, and Zoro didn't quite register it at first.
He slapped his paw on the table, laughing awkwardly.
"Oh, nothing much! Come, have a bowl on me!"
"Oh? On you or on me?"
Zoro started to feel something was wrong. Slowly, he turned his head stiffly.
"Lord… Lord Kagami!"
Uchiha Kagami looked at him with an impassive expression, his calm gaze making Zoro tremble like a leaf.
"No wonder you've gained weight so quickly."
"Eating twenty bowls in one sitting—oh, wait."
"You just said another twenty bowls, didn't you?"
Leaning in closer, Kagami's oppressive aura made Zoro shiver even more.
"So tell me, our dear Lord Zoro, how much have you racked up on my tab?"
Thud!
Zoro fell from his seat, sprawled on the ground like a fat, wriggling caterpillar.
"Lord Kagami! I have a naturally big appetite, you see! I've been so afraid of going hungry!"
"Besides… the more I eat, the faster I run, meow! It's my unique talent, meow!"
"I eat so much so I can be a better, faster mount for you, Lord Kagami!"
Kagami just stared at him. Watching Zoro on the verge of fainting from fear, Kagami let out a resigned sigh.
He lightly nudged Zoro with his foot.
"Alright, stop squirming around like that. You're scaring the others."
It was only because Zoro was who he was. Anyone else—even Shisui—wouldn't have escaped a beating.
Kagami wasn't entirely sure how to handle Zoro. The cat's weight fluctuated so much, and since his only real skill was speed, Kagami feared that a single punch might accidentally kill him.
Teuchi squinted and smiled, nodding at Kagami.
"Welcome, Lord Kagami. What would you like today?"
"Bring me one of everything," Kagami replied, taking a seat.
It was a busy mealtime, and a few villagers were also eating at the counter.
One of them struck up a conversation:
"Hey, are you Zoro's summoner partner? A Uchiha elite ninja, right?"
"Raising a ninja cat that big, and having such a hearty appetite yourself—you must be impressive!"
In recent years, the common folk's perception of the Uchiha had changed, partly thanks to the ninja cats.
Many ninja cats from the Land of Cats had settled in the Leaf Village.
After all, who wouldn't like a talking cat?
Over time, the villagers grew closer to the Uchiha through their feline companions.
In response to the villager's comment, Kagami merely offered a neutral "Mm," and waited for his food.
Compared to the past, when he deliberately distanced himself from the villagers, Kagami's attitude now was already much more approachable.
If he'd been this easygoing earlier, perhaps Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have constantly worried over what to do about him.
Ichiraku Ramen…
It was tasty, but it didn't quite live up to Kagami's expectations.
Still, it was worth the price, though not exceptional.
Maybe to Naruto, at that time, it really had a special meaning—because there, he didn't feel judged.
That child was about to be born soon. Kagami hoped the boy would grow up normally, not burdened with saving the world.
Zoro hurriedly finished his twenty bowls of ramen, then gave Kagami a pitiful look.
...
"How much do you eat in a day?"
"Um… around 130 or 140 bowls…"
You just smashed Hinata's future record of 46 bowls, didn't you?
No wait, she did that in thirty minutes.
"Do you have tabs at any other places?"
"No, no!" Zoro shook his head frantically. "And I don't come every day, either."
"At most… I come here three times a month, meow…"
Kagami did some quick math. So, it's just a few tens of thousands of ryō a month.
He reached out and pinched Zoro's chubby cheeks.
"You silly cat. You're even running up a tab now. Who taught you to do that?"
Zoro was terrified, but he clenched his teeth and refused to say a word.
Kagami let go, patting Zoro's round face.
"Fine. I know it's Shisui. I'll go break his legs."
"Meow! No, not Little Shisui!"
"Well, it's…" Zoro's mind raced, but he couldn't think of anyone else.
Wait!
"It was the Hokage! The Hokage taught me!"
No matter what, he wouldn't betray Little Shisui!
...
Swish!
Minato Namikaze's figure appeared in a flash.
Zoro turned pale as a sheet.
Wait, why is the Hokage like a ghost? Why does he show up the instant you mention his name?
"Kagami, do you have a moment to talk?"
Minato's expression was serious, as if there were pressing matters to discuss.
"Sure. Wait for me in the office."
...
At the Hokage's office, besides Minato and Sakumo, there was also an older woman with brown hair, who looked to be in her fifties.
"Kagami, long time no see," she said, nodding in greeting.
Kagami nodded back.
"Since you're here, I assume this is about Kushina?"
This was Biwako Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife.
Kagami had met her a few times during his training with Jiraiya. She was stern and no-nonsense.
She now served as the head of the Leaf Village Hospital, overseeing Kushina's safe delivery.
In the original timeline, she had died on the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage.
"Yes," Minato said nervously.
"Biwako says Kushina should give birth by the end of this month."
"Kagami, if you hadn't come back, I was about to go looking for you!"
Kagami thought for a moment.
"It's only the beginning of the month. Why are you so anxious?"
"Kagami, you don't have a wife, so you wouldn't understand how Minato feels," Sakumo chuckled.
"Since last month, he hasn't let me leave the village. Even Jiraiya is staying here.
After all, the scenario you described is too terrifying. We can't let that disaster happen."
"I understand the situation," Biwako interjected.
"Obito possesses a space-time jutsu. Minato has developed a localized space-blocking barrier. Do you think it will stop him?"
Kagami raised an eyebrow.
Despite the demanding job of being Hokage, Minato had still found time to develop such a high-level technique.
Kushina really is your biggest motivation, Minato.
"Try it and see."
Minato nodded, forming hand seals. The room filled with intricate sealing patterns, creating a strange, rippling sensation.
Kagami activated his Sharingan, observing closely.
"It should be somewhat effective, but Obito's strength is greater than I initially anticipated. I can't be certain it will stop him."
Kagami rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Honestly, if he has any sense, he won't try anything for the time being.
Minato, I didn't mention it before because I doubt there will be another Nine-Tails incident. There's no need to be so tense."
Minato shook his head lightly.
"I hope all my preparations turn out to be unnecessary. I just want Kushina and the baby to be safe.
During Kushina's delivery, I won't leave her side. Kagami, I'll rely on you to stand guard outside."
That sounds a bit off...
"Sure."
"By the way, Zoro claims you're the one who taught him to charge his meals to my tab.
You can dock his debt from your salary."
"Huh?"
Minato looked puzzled, but eventually nodded.
"Alright, no problem. It's just Ichiraku Ramen. Even if he eats there three times a day, it won't cost much."
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