Critical Moments-Volume 1

I

Chapter One

Lord Hokage Minato Namikaze sat in his office sipping tea as he stared out the window at Konoha. The fall air had turned cold and gloomy in the blink of an eye. Compared to the brilliant week prior, this week had the feeling of grim harbinger of a long, cold winter to come.

Misty rain clung to the window pain as he noticed a familiar figure dressed in black approaching. Kakashi, one of his elite ANBU, approached like a shadow flitting between raindrops. Minato felt alternating pangs of relief and apprehension as the young ninja approached. Kakashi, one of his students before being ANBU, had been through a horrific roller coaster of losing his father to suicide and losing fellow student and love interest, Rin, over the past few years.

Minato had considered re-assigning Kakashi out of the ANBU when the retired Third Hokage requested Minato let him serve as bodyguard to Kushina, Minato's pregnant wife. For the past nine months, he had served with great distinction, protecting Kushina and the baby without so much as disturbing their shadow. The few scuffles that had happened were handled discretely and without any disruption to the otherwise normal pregnancy.

He took another sip of tea. By the end of tonight, the arrangement would hopefully come to an end. No more body guards, no more secure locations, no more separations for security reasons; we can finally be family without the pain in the ass precautions. Minato's relief was short-lived. Tonight would be damn dangerous. Kushina was a living prison to Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. Kushina was the most recent in a family line that had kept the Fox Demon imprisoned safely for years. Even with such ability, the act of giving birth would severely strain the seal holding Nine-Tails in place.

Minato pushed his worries aside. The pregnancy was going fine. There had been no reports of strange or suspect activity anywhere in the village for weeks now. They had move Kushina to a secure location outside the village with a full staff of midwives and a dedicated protection detail of ANBU. Nothing is going to happen! You're just nervous about being a daddy! Everyone gets like this the first time; even Lord Hiashi looks like he's about to have kittens.

The thought of the normally stone-faced head of the Hyūga clan pacing like a nervous wreck caused Minato to crack his first real smile all day. His old friend's young wife, Akemi, was due only a few months from now. Minato fondly remembered catching Hiashi as he fainted at the surprise reveal he and Kushina helped Akemi plan. Despite his best effort, he could feel his lips curl into a complete grin.

Kakashi's arrival in the office brought him back to reality. "Lord Hokage!" he bowed, waiting for Minato to return the bow. Minato replied in kind, noticing that Kakashi only began to rise once he had fully completed the bow.

"Kakashi, for the millionth time," he started, "this is an informal assignment, no need for ANBU formality." Minato raised his hands as if calming a tailed-beast. "You're practically going to be an uncle in a day or two!"

"More like a few hours, sir," Kakashi spoke breathlessly.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. My son is going to be born tonight! "In that case, I think it's about time for me close up shop and head over! How is Kushina?"

"First contractions started about the time I left – too intense to be another false labor."

"If you ever give up being ANBU," Minato laughed, "You could make a heck of a midwife!" Even Kakashi cracked a smile at the joke. Both men had undergone birth training in the event Kushina went into labor suddenly.

"Well, shall we get going then?" Kakashi asked.

"Kakashi, you've been watching Kushina every day for practically all nine months! Nothing is going to happen!" Minato exclaimed, feeling every bit reassured by his words, "Why don't you take the night off?"

Shock stretched out on Kakashi's face, "Lord Hokage, are you sure that is..." Kakashi hesitated, clearly not trying to sound irreverent, "wise?"

"Kakashi, is there any reason the other ANBU on duty tonight can't provide adequate security on top of the protective seals already in place?"

"No," he replied

"And has there been any suspect activity lately in the village?" Minato asked, confident the answer would be negative.

"No, not exactly..." Kakashi's voice trailed off, suggesting not all was said.

"Not exactly?" Minato furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"It's just," Kakashi hesitated, "that's just the thing. When she had that false labor last week, suddenly everything went dark. Even petty crime suddenly dried up for about a day or two."

Minato let Kakashi's suspicions crawl around in his skull. It made sense for things to be quiet; they were no longer at war. Could the absence of activity be something trying to throw us off, lull us into complacency? Deep in his gut, Minato tried listening to his instincts, and they all said he and Kakashi were being distinctly paranoid.

But a tiny flicker of concern burned within him, refusing to be extinguished. Minato wasn't sure why, but he felt the flash of something he'd never understand. In a blink, he saw himself and Kushina lying dead. Their son would grow up, never knowing them, and the specter of Nine-Tails hung over the image of his yet to be born son.

"Lord Minato, are you all right?" Kakashi's soft voice snapped him back to reality. However, the feeling in his chest remained – tightness. Minato's breathing became laborious, and there was a sharp pain like he'd been impaled through his stomach. "Lord Hokage!!!" Kakashi yelled, his eyes growing wide.

As soon as it started, it ended. His breathing eased and the pain stopped. The cold terror haunting him from the vision remained. My god, am I going to die tonight? Is Kushina! Naruto! Minato looked back at Kakashi. Minato didn't believe in fate or pre-destiny. He also did not go back on his word, and he had promised to keep Kushina and their son safe in all circumstances.

If I'm being alarmist, then I'll let Kakashi have the next week off. "You know something, you're right," he regained his composure. "Maybe an extra set of eyes on overwatch is a good idea."

"If you're not comfortable," Kakashi raised his hands in surrender.

"No, if there is even a remote chance you are right, then their best chance at attacking any of us will be in a few hours, when she can't fight back, and I may be unable to as well."

"Attacking the enemy when he is weakest," Kakashi nodded, "It's what I'd do."

That's comforting! "Look, if we're wrong, I'll give you an extended leave," Minato said.

"And if I'm right?" Kakashi asked gravely.

"Then we do our best!" Minato nodded, "It's all we can do. A ninja never gives up!" Minato walked to the coat rack near the door. "Come on, we have a baby to deliver!