NYP Ch. 90 (OLD)

This is the old version.

There are some important changes. You can visit the NYP poll to see the general changes. Read this chapter only if you are curious.

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The celebration at Minato and Kushina's apartment was in full swing when Honoka first really noticed him.

She'd seen Ikkaku around before, of course. He was Kenji's neighbor, the one who'd helped out when Kenji was recovering from his injuries years ago. They'd exchanged polite greetings in the hallway. But she'd never really paid attention.

Tonight was different.

She'd been helping Kushina bring out more food from the kitchen, arms loaded with plates of grilled meat, when she nearly collided with someone coming through the doorway.

"Oh! Sorry, I—"

"No, that was my fault. Here, let me help."

Strong hands steadied the wobbling plates before anything could fall. Honoka looked up and found herself meeting familiar blue eyes set in a kind face. Ikkaku wore standard Konoha uniform with the Yamanaka clan symbol on his sleeve.

"Thanks," she said, regaining her balance. "That would've been a disaster."

"Can't have good food going to waste," he said with an easy smile, taking half the plates from her. "You're Honoka, right? Kenji's... friend?"

There was a slight hesitation before the word "friend," and Honoka caught the subtle question beneath it. She'd encountered that particular uncertainty before. People saw her living in Kenji's house, and jumped to conclusions.

"That's right," she confirmed, following him back into the main room. "He's like a brother to me. He took me in after the war when I had nowhere else to go."

Something in Ikkaku's expression relaxed slightly. "That sounds like him. Kenji's always been the type to help people, even if he pretends he's just being practical about it. I remember when I helped him out after his injury, he acted like I was doing it for my own benefit somehow."

They set the plates down on the already-crowded table. Kushina immediately grabbed a skewer and bit into it with enthusiasm.

"Ikkaku!" she said around a mouthful of dango. "You made it! I was worried you'd skip out!"

"And miss your cooking? Never," Ikkaku replied. He glanced at Honoka. "Kushina's been trying to set me up with every single woman in the village for the past months. I think this is attempt number twelve."

Honoka couldn't help but laugh at Kushina's completely unrepentant grin.

"Someone has to make sure you're not dying alone in that apartment!" Kushina declared. "You're Kenji's neighbor and you're both terrible about the whole 'having a life outside of ninja work' thing!"

"I'm not that bad," Ikkaku protested mildly.

"You are," Kenji's voice cut in from across the room. He was leaning against the wall with a cup of sake, looking amused. "You forgot to eat for two days last month because you were helping me test puppet modifications."

"The modifications were important!"

"More important than food?"

"They were very complex modifications."

Honoka found herself smiling as she watched the easy banter. She knew Ikkaku had been Kenji's classmate at the Academy, that he'd become Kenji's neighbor specifically to help out during the recovery period. But she'd always thought of him as just "Kenji's friend," not as an individual person.

Now, watching him joke with Kenji and interact with the others, she realized how little attention she'd actually paid.

The party continued around them. Minato gave a speech about the future, Kushina made everyone toast to peace at least five times, and Jiraiya got progressively drunker and louder. Through it all, Honoka kept finding herself in conversations with Ikkaku.

He was a chunin, he explained, working in the Yamanaka clan's intelligence division. Not the mind-walking specialist type like some clan members, but the analyst who processed information and coordinated between different units.

"It's not glamorous work," he admitted when she asked about it. "Most people don't even know what I do. But someone has to make sure information gets to the right people at the right time. If I do my job right, missions succeed. If I mess up, people die."

"That sounds incredibly stressful," Honoka said.

"It is sometimes. But it's also satisfying, knowing the village is safer because of work I did. What about you? Kenji mentioned you were studying medical ninjutsu."

"Trying to," Honoka corrected with a slight grimace. "I'm not very good at it yet. The chakra control required is really precise, and I keep messing up the basics. Kenji's been patient about it, but I can tell I'm not progressing as fast as I should."

"He's not the type to judge people for learning at their own pace. Trust me, I've known him since we were kids." Ikkaku considered for a moment. "Actually, I might be able to help. I've been working with him on some of his puppet projects, and precise chakra control is essential for that too. If you want some practice exercises that might help with the fundamentals, I could show you."

Honoka blinked in surprise. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Sure. I'm already next door to Kenji anyway, and you're there a lot helping him out. It wouldn't be inconvenient." He smiled. "Besides, anyone willing to learn medical ninjutsu deserves support. We can never have too many medical-nin."

That was how it started.

---

Two weeks later, Honoka found herself in Ikkaku's apartment for the first time.

It was similar to Kenji's in layout, all the apartments in that section were identical, but the atmosphere was completely different. Where Kenji's place was minimalist, Ikkaku's had personal touches everywhere. Books stacked on shelves, mission reports organized in neat folders, photographs pinned to a board on the wall showing him with various people including several of Kenji.

"Sorry about the mess," Ikkaku said, clearing space at his low table. "I wasn't expecting company."

"It's not messy," Honoka said, looking around. "It's lived in."

They sat on the floor facing each other, and Ikkaku pulled out some basic chakra control exercises he'd written down.

"These are the fundamentals I use when helping Kenji calibrate his puppets. It's all about maintaining steady, consistent chakra flow. Medical ninjutsu requires the same skill, just applied differently."

For the next hour, Honoka practiced while Ikkaku gave corrections and encouragement. His teaching style was patient and clear, breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps.

"You're overthinking it," he said at one point. "You know what to do, but you tense up right before you think you're going to fail. That disrupts your chakra flow, which causes you to fail. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Honoka set down the practice tool and rubbed her eyes. "How do I stop doing that?"

"Practice. And patience with yourself." Ikkaku stood and moved to his small kitchen. "Take a break. I'll make tea."

She watched him move around the kitchen, pulling out cups and heating water. There was something comfortable about being here.

"You have family in the village?" she asked, nodding toward one of the photographs on the wall.

"Parents and a younger sister," Ikkaku confirmed, bringing over two cups of tea. "They live in the clan compound. I moved out a few years ago because I wanted my own space, and honestly, living near Kenji made it easier to help him out when he needed it. What about you?"

Honoka's hands wrapped around the warm cup. "No family. I'm the last of the Uzumaki refugees who came to Konoha. Everyone else is..." She trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I've had time to accept it." She took a sip of tea. "That's why Kenji letting me stay with him meant so much. I didn't have anywhere else to go, and he just took me in without asking for anything in return. He's been like the brother I never had."

Ikkaku nodded slowly. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Sure."

"When I first saw you at the party, I thought you and Kenji might be..." He gestured vaguely. "You know. Together. But you said he's like a brother. Is that really how you see him?"

Honoka didn't even need to think about it. "Kenji's important to me, but not like that. We're family, but not in a romantic way. Why do you ask?"

Ikkaku looked slightly embarrassed. "Just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on anyone's toes by inviting you over for practice."

"Oh." Honoka felt warmth creep into her cheeks. "No. You're definitely not stepping on anyone's toes."

They held eye contact for a moment longer than necessary before both looking away.

"Good," Ikkaku said finally. "That's... good to know."

---

One month passed.

Honoka's medical ninjutsu improved as her chakra control became more refined through Ikkaku's training exercises. His apartment became as familiar to her as Kenji's. They fell into an easy routine, meeting several times a week for practice sessions that gradually became more about enjoying each other's company than actual training.

Kenji noticed, of course. He'd have to be blind not to.

"You're spending a lot of time at Ikkaku's place," he commented one evening while they were eating dinner together at his apartment.

Honoka paused with her chopsticks halfway to her mouth. "Is that a problem?"

"No. I'm just making an observation. He's a good person. Reliable, skilled, and I've known him long enough to vouch for his character. You could do a lot worse."

"I... we're not... I mean, we're just friends," Honoka stammered, feeling her face heat up.

"Uh-huh."

"We are!"

"I didn't say anything."

"You're giving me that look!"

"I don't have a look."

"You have a look. It's the same look you give Haruto and Kaede when they try to lie about who broke the training dummy."

Kenji's mouth twitched. "If you say so." He went back to his food, then added, "For what it's worth, I think you should go for it."

"Go for what?"

"Whatever you want to go for. You're an adult. You can make your own decisions. I'm just saying that if you're interested in someone, you shouldn't hold back because you're worried about what other people think. And Ikkaku's a good guy. I trust him."

Honoka stared at him. "Are you actually trying to give me relationship advice?"

"I'm providing tactical analysis of a potential situation."

"That's the same thing!"

"No, it's completely different. Tactical analysis is objective and based on observable data."

"You're impossible."

"Probably. But I'm also right." He met her eyes. "You've been happier these past few weeks than I've seen you in a long time. If Ikkaku's responsible for that, then you should pursue it. That's all I'm saying."

---

The conversation with Kenji gave Honoka courage she hadn't realized she needed.

The next time she visited Ikkaku's apartment for practice, she brought homemade onigiri as a thank-you gift for all the time he'd spent teaching her.

"You didn't have to do this," Ikkaku said, but he was already reaching for one of the rice balls.

"I wanted to. You've been helping me and never asked for anything in return. The least I can do is feed you occasionally."

They sat at his low table, eating onigiri and reviewing chakra control exercises. It was comfortable and familiar, and Honoka found herself thinking about Kenji's words.

"Can I ask you something?" she said during a lull in conversation.

"Of course."

"Why did you offer to help me in the first place? At the party, when we'd just met. You didn't know me that well. So why?"

Ikkaku was quiet for a moment.

"Honestly? Because I'd seen you around when I was helping Kenji, and I thought you seemed kind. And then at the party, when we talked, I realized you were also smart and determined to improve yourself. I wanted an excuse to spend more time around you and get to know you better."

Honoka's heart was suddenly beating much faster. "Oh."

"I know Kenji's protective of you," Ikkaku continued, meeting her eyes. "And I know you see him as family. I didn't want to make things awkward or put you in an uncomfortable position, especially since we're all neighbors. So I figured teaching you chakra control was a way to get to know you better without any pressure. If you were only interested in friendship, that would be fine. But if you wanted something more..." He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"Something more," Honoka repeated quietly.

"Yeah."

She thought about the past weeks. About how much she'd looked forward to their practice sessions. About how Ikkaku made her laugh, made her feel capable and valued, made her want to be better.

"I'd like something more."

Ikkaku's face split into a wide smile. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He reached across the table and took her hand. His palm was warm, callused from years of ninja work and helping Kenji with puppet construction.

"That's really good."

---

Two months later, Honoka moved out of Kenji's apartment and into Ikkaku's.

Kenji helped carry boxes, offering dry commentary about her book collection and making sure Ikkaku understood that if he ever hurt her, he'd have to answer for it. Ikkaku took the threat with good humor, reminding Kenji that they'd been friends for years and he had no intention of ruining that.

"You know this means I'm losing my housekeeper," Kenji said as they finished moving the last box.

"I was never your housekeeper!" Honoka protested.

"You cooked and cleaned."

"Because you're terrible at both and I didn't want to live in squalor!"

"Exactly. Housekeeper."

Ikkaku laughed. "Don't worry, she'll still come over to make sure you don't starve. I'll make sure of it."

"I appreciate that," Kenji said seriously. Then he turned to Honoka, his expression softening slightly. "You'll be happy here. Next door makes it easy to keep an eye on you both."

It wasn't a question.

"I know," Honoka said, and surprised herself by tearing up. "Thank you, Kenji. For taking me in, for being my family when I didn't have one, and for not making this weird."

"Why would I make it weird? You're an adult making good decisions. And Ikkaku's..." He glanced at his old friend. "Well, I've known him since we were kids. If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have let him be my neighbor in the first place."

When he pulled her into a brief hug, the gesture was awkward but genuine. "Besides, you're still my annoying little sister. Moving next door doesn't change that."

"I'll still come over and cook for you sometimes," Honoka promised.

"I'm counting on it."

---

Some months later...

Kenji didn't know yet that Kakashi would still end up joining ANBU just like in the original timeline. He was too preoccupied with Sage Mode training for months.

Ikkaku had stopped by his apartment that morning, knocking on the door with unusual urgency.

"Honoka's pregnant," he announced the moment Kenji opened the door.

Kenji blinked, processing the information. Then a smile crossed his face. "Congratulations. That's great news."

"We confirmed it with medical ninjutsu at home, but we're heading to the hospital now for the official examination." Ikkaku's usual calm demeanor had completely evaporated in the face of impending fatherhood. He looked like he might either laugh or panic at any moment.

"When will you know for sure?"

"This afternoon. The hospital appointment is in a few hours." Ikkaku ran a hand through his hair. "I just... needed to tell someone. You're the first person I thought of."

"I appreciate that. Go. Get it officially confirmed. Come back later and let me know how it goes."

"Right. Yeah. I should go." Ikkaku turned to leave, then paused. "Thanks, Kenji."

After Ikkaku left, Kenji sat in his apartment for a few minutes. His old Academy classmate was going to be a father. Honoka was going to be a mother.

The weight of what that might mean for him settled in his chest. But he'd deal with that when the time came.

---

Later that evening, there was another knock on his door. When Kenji opened it, both Ikkaku and Honoka stood there. Honoka was glowing, her face lit up with joy that made her look younger.

"The hospital confirmed it!" she announced before he could even greet them. "I'm really pregnant! The due date is September 20th!"

"That's excellent," Kenji said, stepping aside. "Come in. You shouldn't be standing around in doorways."

"I'm pregnant, not fragile," Honoka laughed, but she came inside anyway. Ikkaku followed, looking slightly dazed.

"Reality setting in?" Kenji asked his friend.

"Something like that," Ikkaku admitted. "I keep thinking about all the things we need to prepare, and all the ways this could go wrong..."

"You'll be fine. You're one of the most organized people I know. If anyone can handle parenthood, it's you."

They sat around Kenji's low table while he made tea. Since Honoka couldn't have alcohol anymore, tea seemed appropriate for all of them. Ikkaku had apparently already started reading pregnancy books, no surprise there, he'd always been thorough about research. Honoka admitted she was both terrified and excited, and they had about a thousand questions that Kenji couldn't possibly answer.

"You know I've never been a parent, right?" he pointed out. "I'm probably the worst person to ask about this."

"Actually," Ikkaku said, exchanging a glance with Honoka, "there's something we wanted to ask you."

Honoka nodded encouragingly, and Ikkaku continued. "We want you to be the godfather. If that's okay with you."

Kenji paused mid-sip of his tea. "You sure about that? I'm not exactly the nurturing type."

"You're exactly the type," Ikkaku said seriously. "You took in Honoka when she had nowhere to go, you've been looking after your students for years, and you're the most reliable person I know. If something happened to us, there's nobody I'd trust more to take care of our child."

Kenji was quiet for a long moment, looking between them both.

"Alright," he said finally. "I'd be honored."

---

Over the next few days, Kenji watched with amusement as his neighbors went into full preparation mode. Ikkaku's apartment filled with baby supplies at an alarming rate. Every time he walked past their door, he could hear them discussing cribs, baby clothes, or nutrition plans.

He helped carry some of the heavier furniture and offered opinions when directly asked, though he suspected his input was less valuable than they seemed to think. But being included felt right. Ikkaku had been there for him when he'd needed help. Now it was his turn to be there for them.

Honoka's pregnancy progressed smoothly. Her Uzumaki constitution meant she barely slowed down despite carrying a child. The main change was that she'd occasionally appear at Kenji's door with strange food cravings, asking if he had pickled plums or spicy noodles or some other random combination. He started keeping a more varied pantry just to accommodate her.

Then Kushina found out.

She showed up at Ikkaku and Honoka's apartment one afternoon, Kenji heard her loud voice through the wall, and immediately dragged Honoka into the bedroom. The door slammed shut, leaving Ikkaku standing awkwardly in his own main room.

Kenji, who'd been working on puppet modifications, heard the knock on his door a few minutes later. He opened it to find Ikkaku looking slightly bemused.

"Kushina kidnapped my wife," Ikkaku said dryly. "Want some company while we wait for her to finish interrogating Honoka?"

"Come in."

They sat in Kenji's apartment, Ikkaku helping with some of the more delicate puppet calibrations while muffled conversation and occasional squeals came through the wall from next door.

"Should we be worried?" Ikkaku asked at one point.

"Probably not. Kushina's harmless. Loud, but harmless."

"I can hear them through the wall. This is going to be my life now, isn't it? Honoka and Kushina plotting things I'm not allowed to know about."

"Welcome to having a social wife."

When Kushina finally emerged an hour later, she looked satisfied and Honoka looked slightly overwhelmed. After Kushina left, Kenji returned to Ikkaku's apartment with them.

"What was that about?" Ikkaku asked his Honoka.

"Girl stuff," she said, which clearly meant she wouldn't elaborate.

Kenji studied her expression and came to a conclusion. "She was asking how pregnancy happens, wasn't she?"

"How did you... yes!" Honoka threw up her hands. "She was so earnest about it too. I tried to tell her to ask Minato, but she said she wanted a woman's perspective first."

Kenji did some mental math. If Kushina was asking about pregnancy now, and Naruto's birthday in the original timeline was October...

The timing tracked perfectly. The Nine-Tails incident was approaching.

---

About six weeks later, Kenji was in his apartment when he heard excited voices through the wall, followed by a knock on his door.

He opened it to find Ikkaku and Honoka standing there with Minato, who looked like he might burst with happiness.

"Kushina's pregnant!" Minato announced.

Congratulations filled the hallway. Honoka hugged Minato enthusiastically while Ikkaku shook his hand. Kenji hung back slightly.

"I can't believe it happened so quickly after we talked about it," Honoka was saying. "Kushina must be thrilled!"

"She is," Minato confirmed. Then his expression shifted, becoming more serious. He looked directly at Kenji. "Actually, I came here for two reasons. Telling you about the pregnancy, obviously. But also… I need to ask you something important."

"Alright."

"As you know, when a female jinchūriki is pregnant, the chakra used to seal the tailed beast transfers partially to the fetus. The seal weakens. On the day of delivery especially, it's at its most vulnerable. I need someone I can trust to help guard Kushina during the birth. Would you be willing to serve as one of her guards?"

"Yes," Kenji said without hesitation. "When's the due date?"

"October 10th. And that date cannot leave this group. The fewer people who know when Kushina's most vulnerable, the safer she is."

"Understood. You have my word."

After Minato left, the three of them stood in the hallway for a moment. Ikkaku was the first to speak.

"The Nine-Tails," he said quietly. "If something goes wrong during the birth..."

"It won't," Kenji said firmly. "We'll make sure of it."

But even as he said it, he knew the danger was real.

---

Time moved forward relentlessly.

Honoka and Kushina became nearly inseparable, spending their days together comparing pregnancy symptoms, shopping for baby supplies, and visiting other mothers in the village.

"How do you even know all these people?" he asked Honoka during one visit to their apartment.

"We met while shopping," Honoka explained. "You talk to people, you become friends. It's not complicated."

"It sounds exhausting," Kenji said.

"That's because you're antisocial," Ikkaku chimed in from where he was organizing baby clothes.

"I'm not antisocial. I'm selectively social."

"That's just another way of saying antisocial," Honoka teased.

---

September arrived faster than anyone expected.

Kenji made sure to keep his schedule clear around the 20th, ready to help if needed. He'd prepared his Magnet Release puppet with specific defensive protocols and had several other contingency plans in place.

The birth happened on a warm September afternoon.

Ikkaku came to Kenji's door around noon, looking pale. "She's in labor. We're at the hospital."

"I'll come with you."

They arrived to find Honoka already in the delivery room. Ikkaku paced the hallway.

"Sit down before you wear a hole in the floor," Kenji said.

"I can't. What if something goes wrong?"

"It won't. Honoka's strong. The baby will be fine. You're going to be a father in a few hours, so try to breathe."

Five hours later, a medical-nin emerged with a tired smile. "Congratulations. It's a boy. Both mother and baby are healthy."

Ikkaku ran into the room. Kenji followed at a more measured pace.

Honoka looked exhausted but radiant, holding a tiny bundle wrapped in blankets. Ikkaku was already at her side, staring down at his son.

"What are you doing over there, Kenji?" Honoka called softly. "Come meet your godson."

He approached the bed and looked down at the sleeping infant. Red hair, just like Honoka's. Uzumaki bloodline showing strong. The baby's face was peaceful, completely unaware of the world he'd been born into.

"Yamanaka Ryota," Ikkaku said quietly, never taking his eyes off his son. "We agreed on the name this morning."

"It's a good name," Kenji said. He reached out carefully and let the baby's tiny hand curl around his finger. The grip was surprisingly strong for something so small.

A strange feeling tightened in his chest. This fragile, helpless thing was now his responsibility. Not in the same way as Ikkaku and Honoka's, they were the parents. But if anything happened to them, this child would be his to raise and protect.

"I'll keep him safe," he said quietly. "Whatever happens. You have my word."

"We know," Honoka said, smiling tiredly. "That's why we asked you to be his godfather."

Ikkaku finally tore his gaze away from his son to look at Kenji. "Thank you for being my friend through everything. I know you'll protect him."

"You have my word," Kenji confirmed.

---

October arrived.

On the evening of October 9th, Kenji stopped by Ikkaku and Honoka's apartment, one last time before heading to his assignment.

Ryota was sleeping in his crib, tiny chest rising and falling peacefully. Honoka held him, while Ikkaku hovered nearby.

"I'm leaving a puppet here," Kenji said, gesturing to where the puppet stood motionless in the corner. "It will escort you to the civilian shelter when the evacuation order comes through tonight."

"You really think something's going to happen?" Honoka asked quietly, careful not to wake the baby.

"Minato's not taking chances. Neither am I. The evacuation is just a precaution. By tomorrow morning, this will all be over and Kushina will have a healthy baby. Naruto will be born, the village will celebrate, and things will go back to normal."

"You be careful too. That's the Nine-Tails. If something goes wrong..."

"I'll be fine."

"You're also terrible at taking care of yourself," Ikkaku added with a slight smile. "Which is why we worry."

"I have you both for that now. And your son, apparently."

"You're his godfather. That means you're stuck with us."

Kenji smiled. "I can think of worse fates."

He left them there. The puppet would keep them safe.

---

The Hokage Building was quiet when Kenji arrived. Most staff had left for the day, leaving only essential personnel. He found Minato in his office, studying a map of Konoha.

"Have you decided on the barrier location?"

"Yes," Minato confirmed, pointing to a mark near the village's edge. "It's in a secret chamber here. Far enough from residential areas that if something goes wrong, civilian casualties are minimized. Close enough that reinforcements can arrive quickly if needed."

"When does the delivery start?"

"Tonight. Within the next few hours, most likely." Minato rolled up the map. "Lady Biwako and Taji will handle the delivery. Rin and I will be inside the chamber with Kushina. I need you outside the barrier with the ANBU guards, preventing anyone from breaking through."

"Understood."

Kenji hesitated, then voiced the concern that had been nagging at him. "Don't forget what happened to Rin. The organization that tried to use her... they might see this as another opportunity."

Minato's expression darkened. "You think they'll attack during the birth?"

"We can't afford to assume they won't. That's why I'm suggesting we announce a civilian evacuation drill tonight. Get people into the shelters before anything has a chance to happen."

"That'll signal to anyone watching that tonight is significant," Minato said slowly. "If there are spies in the village, and there probably are, they'll know Kushina's due date."

Minato was quiet for a long moment, weighing risks against safety, tactics against protection. Finally, he nodded.

"We can't gamble with civilian lives. Even if other villages figure it out, they won't have time to mobilize. As long as Kushina delivers safely, any threat passes. If something does happen, we'll have forces ready to respond immediately. Better to be overprepared than caught off guard. I'll give the orders now. Evacuation drill starts at dusk, all civilians in shelters by nightfall. Every jonin and chunin on standby, ready for combat deployment."

---

Evening settled over Konoha.

The village was still lit up, lights glowing in windows and streetlights illuminating the main roads. But the streets were empty of civilians. Only ninjas moved through the village now, patrolling in pairs or standing guard at some intersections.

The evacuation had gone smoothly. The Magnet Release puppet would have escorted Ikkaku, Honoka, and Ryota to the shelters by now. They'd be safe behind reinforced walls and barrier seals, protected with all the other civilians.

If Obito was watching and planning an attack, seeing an apparently defenseless Konoha might make him overconfident. Overconfidence created openings, and openings could be exploited.

In the secret chamber at the village's edge, everything was prepared.

Kushina lay on the medical table, Minato holding her hand tightly. Biwako and Taji made final preparations. Rin stood guard in the corner, ANBU mask in place.

Outside the chamber, beyond the barrier, Kenji waited with several ANBU operatives.

Unlike the others, he kept his sensory techniques active constantly, monitoring a wide radius for any unusual chakra signatures. His mind ran through scenarios. If Obito came, it would mirror the original timeline. He'd phase through the barrier, appear inside the chamber at the moment of greatest vulnerability. Minato would be forced to choose between protecting Kushina and fighting the intruder.

They had to be ready.

---

---

Some of you might be against my decision, but I've decided not to include romance for Kenji, because I can't imagine him falling in love as he is right now. For those of you who were shipping Honoka and Kenji, I've tried not to include any romance so far. If I wanted to, I would have hinted at it much earlier and more obviously. If some of you want romance, perhaps it could happen much later.