Hearing Izuko's words and seeing her heavy expression, Akio froze for a long moment.
"She's sick… how could it happen so suddenly?"
Izuko shook her head. "Sensei, Sister Nanako's health hasn't been good for more than half a year. She didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry. When she heard that Kushina was pregnant, she immediately wanted to come to Konoha but almost collapsed on the spot."
"She still insists on coming now, but I had our clansmen stop her…"
Akio sighed. "You did the right thing. She shouldn't travel when she's unwell. Kushina can always visit her afterward."
"You wait for me in the shop for a while. I'll go find Kushina." Akio strode out, his appearance gradually changing from Hagoromo back to Akio.
"Looks like I won't be able to witness the births of the rest of the 'little powerhouses'..." he thought with mild regret.
When he arrived at Kushina and Minato's home, a stern-looking older woman appeared before him.
"Elder Akio."
Akio frowned, taking a moment to recall. "You're… Sarutobi Biwako, aren't you?"
She was the wife of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, a Konoha jōnin, though Akio had rarely interacted with her, only seeing her from afar a few times.
"I am, Elder Akio."
"What are you doing here?"
"The Fourth has a lot to handle and can't stay by Kushina's side all the time. Lord Hiruzen sent me to take care of her so the Fourth can rest easy."
"Oh, I see." Akio nodded, glancing around the spotless home.
"So Hiruzen actually sent his own wife to play nursemaid? Kushina's only been pregnant for a month. Isn't this a bit excessive? …Or is he doing it just to show me?" Akio thought, shaking his head inwardly.
As they spoke, Kushina came out from the back room, both hands gently holding her belly though there wasn't even the slightest bump yet. The sight was rather amusing.
"Great-grandfather, you're here." Kushina blushed as she saw Akio, quickly lowering her hands.
Akio didn't tease her this time. "Kushina, pack your things. You're coming with me back to Uzushiogakure. Your grandmother… she's fallen ill."
Kushina's expression instantly changed. "I understand, Great-grandfather."
She turned and went to pack. Akio looked at Biwako, who seemed like she wanted to say something, and said, "Go inform Hiruzen that Kushina's returning with me to the clan."
Akio deliberately used the word inform, he wasn't in the mood to argue about it.
Biwako hesitated for a moment. "Understood, Elder Akio."
Watching her leave, Akio waited until Kushina had packed before the two went to meet Izuko.
"You're not going to say goodbye to Minato?" he asked.
Kushina shook her head and took out a Flying Raijin kunai from her robes.
Akio's brows lifted. "That far, and Minato can still use the Flying Raijin to come and go?"
Kushina pulled out another one. "I'll leave one halfway along the route that should be enough."
Akio was speechless. That's what you call a real space–time jutsu. Compared to this, mine might as well be fake.
After meeting up with Izuko, Akio securely locked the door to his shop. Sara had already gone to Uzushiogakure two months ago to open another branch; this shop would probably be closed for three to five years.
After hesitating for a moment, Akio took out a sheet of paper and wrote:
Obito, Rin,
Sensei's going on a long trip. The next time we meet, it might be three or five years from now.
I hope by then, you'll both have become ninjas who can stand on your own.
He folded the note several times and wedged it into the crack of the door.
"Let's go."
Land of Whirlpools: Daimyō's Palace
Akio arrived at Nanako's bedside.
After carefully examining her condition, he sighed inwardly.
"Natural aging, huh…"
"Great-grandfather, Grandmother's condition…" Kushina began.
"Don't worry about me, Kushina. You need to focus on taking care of yourself," Nanako said softly. She knew her own state well.
"Sensei, I'd like to speak with you alone for a moment."
Akio nodded, dismissing everyone else before sitting beside her bed.
Nanako slowly sat up. Though weak, she still had the strength to move.
After a brief silence, she said, "It's been nearly sixty-one years since you took me as your disciple."
"Sixty-one years, huh? I've lost track," Akio murmured.
"Yes. In just a few days, it'll be exactly sixty-one years."
Akio fell silent again. Nanako continued, "Sensei, as we three grow older year by year, you only seem to grow younger. Anyone who didn't know us would never believe you were my teacher."
Akio chuckled. "At this point, I wouldn't mind calling you my teacher."
Nanako smiled faintly, then after a long pause asked, "Sensei… do you think I'll get to see Kushina's child born?"
Akio hesitated. Nanako sighed softly. "I see… what a shame."
"You will see it." Akio said firmly. "From now on, I'll take care of you personally. Come to think of it, I've never taken care of anyone before."
Nanako was stunned, then smiled. "Then I'll be in your care, Sensei."
Days passed one after another. Nanako's body grew weaker, while Kushina's belly grew rounder.
Every night, Minato used Flying Raijin to teleport to Uzushiogakure to check on Kushina, returning to Konoha at dawn, flying back and forth without rest.
Akio, meanwhile, devoted himself to tending to Nanako.
Ever since mastering space–time ninjutsu, his chakra control had improved greatly. His medical ninjutsu now rivaled Tsunade's.
Even with this level of skill, all he could do was prolong Nanako's life a little longer.
By the end of September, she could no longer move, lying quietly in bed as she waited for Kushina to visit.
"Nanako, only about a month left now," Akio said quietly.
A faint smile appeared on her aged face. "Thank you, Sensei."
Finally, the day of Kushina's delivery arrived, a late evening in October.
In Konoha, aside from Minato, both Jiraiya and Tsunade had come to assist. With the Slug Princess overseeing the birth, there was little to worry about.
As for Akio, he didn't go it wasn't exactly appropriate, and he couldn't leave anyway.
Since yesterday, he had been continuously maintaining healing chakra to sustain Nanako's life. Even his vast, tailed-beast-level reserves were nearly half spent.
"Nanako, listen it's busy out there. Kushina's about to give birth."
To let her feel closer, Kushina's delivery room had been set up right next door.
"Mm…" It took Nanako a long time to make even that faint sound.
Akio closed his eyes slightly. Naruto was about to be born yet he felt no joy at all. He knew that maybe, someday, he could resurrect Nanako… but whether he'd ever gain that power was uncertain. For now, it was just empty comfort.
"Waaah waaah waaaah!"
"She's given birth!"
"It's a boy!"
"Stay alert!"
The baby's cry rang out, mixed with the voices of those around him.
Akio smiled gently and looked at Nanako.
---
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