Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Wheels of Fate
Konoha.
Minato stepped out of the Hokage's office and glanced at the clock outside.
"Ah, it's already this late… Kushina must be asleep by now," he muttered to himself.
With a quick Flying Thunder God Technique, he quietly teleported into the living room of his home.
To his surprise, the lights were still on. Kushina sat alone at the table, lost in thought.
A little puzzled, Minato asked gently, "Kushina, why are you still up? It's so late."
Then, with a touched expression, he added, "Don't tell me… you were waiting for me?"
Kushina shook her head. "No."
"Oh…"
She turned toward him, her expression complicated. "Minato, there's something I need to tell you. I…"
"You…?"
Her hesitation made Minato nervous, his mind racing with possibilities.
"I might… be a mom soon," she said, her voice soft but steady.
"…What?"
Minato froze, his iconic ahoge standing upright in shock. He stood there, dumbfounded, for what felt like an eternity.
Then he stammered, almost unable to believe it.
"I-I'm going to be a dad? We're… having a baby?"
Kushina bit her lip and nodded shyly. "Yeah…"
"This…"
Minato quickly understood why Kushina seemed so unsettled. Given their age, neither had seriously considered having children yet. This unexpected news left her feeling a little lost.
Standing beside her, Minato gently pulled her into his arms.
"Even though it's sudden, isn't this baby a wonderful surprise?"
Resting her head against his chest, Kushina nodded firmly.
"You're right. This means our family will soon have three people!"
"But…" She paused, her face flushing red. "We're not even married yet!"
Minato chuckled heartily. "Then let's get married! Will you marry me?"
Kushina's face turned even redder as she punched him lightly on the chest.
"Don't think you can get away with this so easily! You need to propose properly!"
With a loud BOOM, Minato was sent flying, smashing into the wall and leaving a massive "大" shape behind.
Kushina panicked and ran outside, shouting, "Minato, are you okay?!"
From outside came his trembling voice, "I… I'm fine…"
Ever since becoming a Jinchūriki, Kushina hadn't been able to fully control her strength. Minato quietly decided it might be safer to keep some distance for now. Letting her "lightly" punch him again might really be the end of him.
Back inside, Minato dusted himself off and spoke seriously.
"Kushina, let's keep your pregnancy a secret for now. Tomorrow, I'll report it to Lord Third and figure out the best way to handle this."
Kushina nodded. "I understand, Minato."
She then pouted. "Hmph, now that I think about it, it's all your student's fault!"
"If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have a baby so soon!"
Minato scratched his head with an awkward smile. Kushina wasn't wrong—Obito's "special" gift of extra-fortified sake had certainly sped things up.
...
Hokage's Office
After Minato left, the Third Hokage retrieved a crystal ball from his drawer. With a flick of his smoking pipe, the orb activated, showing a scene within it.
"Oh, young Obito is at it again… not bad, not bad," he mused, sipping tea with a contented smile.
But something seemed off.
"Wait… why is that girl's face getting redder?"
The Third leaned closer to the orb, scrutinizing the young woman within. Her cheeks were flushed so deeply they almost seemed to glow.
Then—
BOOM!
The girl exploded.
"WHAT THE—?!"
Startled, the Third Hokage dropped his pipe.
Imagine admiring something beautiful, only for it to suddenly blow up in your face.
Two ANBU guards rushed into the room. "Lord Third, are you alright?!"
With practiced calm, the Third quickly stashed the crystal ball and waved them off.
"I'm fine. Just dropped my pipe. You're dismissed."
"Yes."
Once the guards left, the Third slammed his hand on the desk, frustrated.
"Obito, what is wrong with that kid?! Who even does this?!"
He rubbed his temples. "Summoning a pretty girl, letting her dance, and then… making her explode?!"
"And wasn't that just his shadow clone?!"
"Doesn't even make sense to blow yourself up!"
...
In a Forest
After detonating his shadow clone, Obito performed another series of seals, creating a new one.
"Bro, are you okay? How do you feel?"
The newly formed clone smacked its lips thoughtfully. "Hmm… I actually feel great! Is this what they call art? It's so… liberating!"
Obito: "???"
Worried, he placed a hand on the clone's shoulder. "Bro, you didn't blow yourself stupid, did you?"
The clone smacked his hand away, indignant. "Watch it, idiot! Don't touch me with your dirty hands!"
"…Are you trying to act like Deidara now?!"
With an exasperated slap, Obito dispelled the clone entirely.
...
Mount Myōboku
Inside the sacred shrine, Fukasaku hopped energetically toward the Great Toad Sage, who was dozing on his throne.
"Jiraiya has arrived."
The Great Toad Sage struggled to open his eyes, his gaze unfocused, half-asleep.
Fukasaku called again, exasperated. "Grand Elder, wake up!"
The giant toad jolted awake, blinking groggily.
Behind Fukasaku and Shima stood a tall human man with "Oil" emblazoned on his forehead protector. Clad in a brown robe and red cloak, wooden clogs on his feet, and long white hair trailing behind him, the man's red eye marks resembled streaks of blood.
The Great Toad Sage studied him for a moment before mumbling, "Who's this guy?"
"Grand Elder, it's Jiraiya!" Fukasaku reminded him.
"Ah, yes, Jiraiya! You've grown so much!"
Shima sighed. "You're the one who summoned him here. Have you forgotten already?"
"Don't be rude to the Grand Elder!" Fukasaku snapped.
The Great Toad Sage waved a hand lazily. "Don't fight, don't fight. A couple should live in harmony."
He turned his attention to Jiraiya, his gaze growing deeper.
"The wheels of destiny have begun to turn. Where they'll lead is up to you, Jiraiya.
"You'll either be crushed beneath the tides or ride the waves to victory.
"Which path will you choose?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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