Chương 135: Minato Thinks He’s Got This

The lunar cycle neared its zenith, and the night air carried a biting chill. It was the Owl Squad's turn for the graveyard shift. As the date of delivery loomed, the Great Fox within the seal grew restless. It knew that during childbirth, the Jinchuriki's seal would weaken to its most vulnerable state—the ultimate window for an escape. Liberty was a scent on the wind, and the Fox's anticipation grew palpable.

Though no tangible chakra leaked into the physical world, the sheer weight of its malicious will bled through the bars of its cage, churning the local natural energy into a violent, crimson froth. In the quiet hours of his watch, Zhen continued to harvest his dividends. With the Nine-Tails acting as an unconscious forge during his shifts and the Seven-Tails' chakra accelerating his recovery at home, Zhen's progress was staggering. His efficiency in absorbing the White Natural Energy had reached new heights.

Coupled with his body's rapid maturation, his mastery over the Yin and Yang chakra ratios had surged toward the ninety-percent mark. The harvest, it seemed, was bountiful. Suddenly, Zhen's eyes snapped open. He glanced at the silhouette flickering into existence beside him.

"Lord Minato," Zhen said, his voice laced with a playful lilt.

"Creeping out at night to find a handsome youth like me... aren't you worried Lady Kushina might have words?" The Fourth Hokage coughed, a faint flush touching his cheeks.

"I see Kakashi was right. You truly do have a penchant for the eccentric."

"Oh? I take it Lord Minato prefers the straight and narrow, then? So, what brings you out? A late-night stroll to clear the head?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"You've practically carved 'I have a lot on my mind' into your forehead."

"I see," Minato sighed, a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips.

"Perhaps my mental discipline still requires work." He paused, looking out over the sleeping village.

"Zhen, tell me... how do you think I'm faring as Hokage?" Zhen studied the man. It was clear the 'Old Guard' had been digging their heels in again. But such a question was a minefield for a mere Chunin.

"Forgive me, Lord Hokage, but as a subordinate, I'm not in a position to critique the office."

"Forget the titles," Minato insisted.

"Consider this a conversation between friends."

"Very well." Zhen tilted his head.

"Do you want the lie, or the truth?" Minato realized then that Zhen was exactly as the veteran Jonin had described: he didn't think like a normal ninja. Behind that youthful facade was a mind that saw through the noise. It was exactly why Minato had sought him out.

"Give me the lie first."

"The lie? Konoha has returned to its tracks; everything is exactly as it was when I was a child."

"And the truth?"

"The truth? Konoha has returned to its tracks; everything is exactly as it was when I was a child." Minato stared at him, the gears turning. Then, the weight of the irony hit him.

"I see... there is a certain wisdom in that, isn't there?"

"Lord Minato, you are the Hokage. You of all people should know that sometimes, to the elders, no change is the best change. Old men rarely have an appetite for upheaval."

"I suppose so," Minato murmured.

"But if that's the case, what was the point of my appointment?"

"You were the perfect successor. In every metric that matters, you were the ideal choice to maintain the legacy. That is the point." Minato looked at the boy with renewed surprise.

"You see right through it, don't you? Tell me then, do you have any advice for me?"

"I do. One word: Wait."

"Wait?"

"Yes. Regardless of my suggestions, our primary objective is the hurdle currently inside your home. So, wait. Wait until you're holding your child in your arms. We can discuss the future then." Minato knew exactly which "hurdle" Zhen was referring to. He mentally reviewed every interaction he'd had with the boy—from the Chunin Exams to the Northern Front, and now as his personal guard. He had a sharp memory, and the pieces began to click together.

"Zhen," Minato asked suddenly.

"You know Kushina's due date, don't you?"

"I do."

"I thought as much. How did you figure it out?"

"I'd love to tell you it was my medical expertise or my sensory prowess—and to be fair, thanks to you and Kushina-senpai, I'm becoming quite the sealing specialist. I could have calculated it. But the truth is much simpler. A week ago, when Lady Biwako came to visit, a certain boisterous lady mentioned it quite loudly. I just happened to be listening." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Minato winced. His wife was many things, but "discreet" was rarely one of them.

He quickly pivoted.

"Did the others hear?"

"No. Only me. I was monitoring the vibrations in the air. For Hayate and Yugao, it was just background noise. To me, it was a broadcast." Minato felt a wave of relief, followed by a memory of a recent mission.

"In mid-August, you took that contract in Takigakure. You suspected something then, didn't you?"

"I had my theories. They're the only minor village with a Tailed Beast. Fortunately, luck was on my side. I believe Leader Shibuki explained the details in his letter."

"He did." Minato looked at Zhen with a sudden, piercing intensity.

"Zhen... you seem remarkably interested in the Bijuu." Zhen noted the shift in tone. This was the Hokage speaking now—the perfect shinobi who could weave a narrative from a handful of threads.

"Are we moving to a formal interrogation, Lord Minato? Do you suspect me of something?" Minato broke into a warm, sunlit smile.

"Never. If I suspected you, I wouldn't be standing here asking. I'm just curious as to your motivation." Zhen was silent for several heartbeats.

"A Jinchuriki dies if their beast is extracted. That is a fact, correct?"

"It is common knowledge among the upper echelon, yes."

"I believe you will be a great Hokage. And I am grateful for the sealing arts Kushina-senpai has shared with me. Because of that, I developed a technique."

"Given your talent, that doesn't surprise me. What does it do?"

"It ensures the Jinchuriki survives the extraction." Minato's breath hitched. For a man whose heart was currently split between the duty of a Hokage and the love of a husband, this was a lifeline. He took a moment to compose himself.

"Zhen, do you believe something will happen during the birth?" Zhen shrugged.

"How should I know? I just prefer to have every base covered. It's my personal creed."

"I see. That... that is more than I could have hoped for. Whether something happens or not, knowing her safety is guaranteed... thank you." Zhen looked at him. Wake up, Minato. You're the Hokage. If something goes wrong, the whole village is in the line of fire, not just your wife.

"So, what are our orders for the day of the delivery?" Minato's expression darkened.

"You have no orders. The Third has finalized the arrangements. The security will be handled exclusively by his personal Anbu division. Your squad, due to your age, has been sidelined."

"I understand the logic," Zhen said.

"We're the 'Future of the Leaf.' It fits the Will of Fire to keep the children away from the blast zone. But surely, knowing my capabilities, I'm an exception?"

"No. Especially not you. The Third views you as the pillar of the next generation—the one who will lead after me. He won't risk you. And I agreed."

"And now?"

"Now, nothing changes. If everything goes smoothly, that's for the best. But if the unthinkable happens... Zhen, you are my final contingency. I cannot afford to have you pinned down by a frontline assignment. If the wall breaks, you are the one I'm trusting to be there for Kushina."

"Understood. You know as well as I do—killing me is no easy feat."

"I know." Minato stood, the tension bleeding from his shoulders. He patted Zhen's shoulder, a look of profound relief on his face.

"If the situation changes, I'm counting on you." Minato turned and headed home, his step light. He wanted to tell Kushina the news, but his discipline held. For now, this secret belonged only to him and Zhen. As the Hokage disappeared, Zhen sank back into thought. The reality of the situation was diverging from his expectations. The village elders, in their infinite "wisdom," were cocooning the very people who could actually help.

Zhen wasn't like Naruto; he wouldn't charge into a forbidden zone just to prove a point. He believed in leverage. He knew that in the original timeline, Obito had intercepted Kushina at a remote location, extracted the Fox, and then jumped into the heart of the village to wreak havoc. His priority was clear: his parents' safety came first. No amount of gratitude toward the Namikazes would change that. As for the Nine-Tails...

if the Council of Four was so confident in their blockade, then perhaps they deserved a front-row seat to the catastrophe they were inviting. Minato had been "democratized" once again—sidelined from his own wife's protection. To be a Hokage with so many masters was a stifling existence. If the Leaf survived this night, the power structure would have to change. One way or another.