After some fuss, Kana Maiko stopped writing and smiled at Nara Yoshino on the bed.
"Everything is normal, Yoshino. Rest one more day, and you can be discharged."
Unlike ordinary people, as Ninja, their bodies recover quickly after giving birth.
"Thank you, Maiko Director."
Yoshino leaned on the pillow. Compared to her weakness last night, her complexion was much rosier now.
"Little one."
Seeing the baby blinking in the crib next to her, Kana Maiko couldn't help but reach out and touch its tender cheek, then turned to Yoshino and asked,
"How is it? Have you chosen a name for the child?"
"It's been decided."
Looking at her newborn child, Yoshino's eyes were filled with maternal love. She reached out and placed her hand by the crib, softly saying,
"Nara Shikamaru."
Kana Maiko leaned down to play with Shikamaru, chuckling.
"Shikamaru, what a good name..."
While the two women chatted in the room, the three men outside also gathered to converse.
"Brother Shikaku, what's it like to be a father for the first time?"
Ren leaned against the wall, jokingly asking with a laugh.
"Stop it, Ren."
Shikaku raised a hand to his forehead, saying with a sense of relief,
"But no matter what, it's finally over."
During this time, Shikaku, busy taking care of his wife, had been on pins and needles every day, fearing an accident. Only after the child was born did he feel much more relaxed.
"Then I'll have to trouble you a lot more, Shikaku."
Minato bowed slightly and smiled.
Without Shikaku's help during this period, he had been incredibly busy. Now that the other party was done, he could come back and help him share the burden.
"Of course."
Shikaku nodded in agreement, then asked,
"Kushina should be due soon, right?"
Minato nodded slightly and said softly,
"Yes, Lady Tsunade said about half a month left."
"Is that so...?"
Shikaku pondered for a moment before looking up again, his expression becoming serious as he asked,
"The seal, is it okay?"
"The seal on a Jinchuriki weakens significantly during childbirth. If the Tailed Beast inside takes the opportunity to cause trouble, that wouldn't be good."
"No problem. I reinforced it a while ago, and Lady Tsunade checked it again the day before yesterday when she came."
Minato shook his head. After all, it concerned the safety of his wife, child, and the Village. How could he not treat it with caution? He checked it every few days, fearing any oversight.
"I say, Minato-ni."
Ren played with the Kunai in his hand, speaking with a resentful expression.
"Aren't you going to consider promoting me? You passed my last application, didn't you?
Putting me in the Vice Captain position is too much of a waste of my talent."
After all, Ren's strength was evident, and with all four Ninja Swords in the Anbu's hands, his prestige was certainly enough to be a Captain. There was no reason not to let him advance further.
"Well..."
Before Minato could speak, Shikaku touched his nose and then said with some embarrassment,
"I'll tell you. One morning a while ago, I was carrying documents to the office. When I saw your promotion document, I casually put it on top to make it easy for Minato to approve.
Minato hadn't arrived yet, but unexpectedly, the two Advisors suddenly came. They were looking for Minato about a small street planning issue. While waiting in the office, Advisor Koharu casually picked up your promotion report and read it, then tucked it into her pocket and left.
I was about to stop her, but Homura Mitokado blocked me, saying you were still young and the promotion could be discussed later."
"That's how it was."
Minato took over the conversation, sighing.
"By the time I got there, the two Advisors had already left, and they only took your report.
I originally wanted to tell you, but I got busy with work and forgot."
"Huh?!"
Ren's eyes widened, and he said with some surprise,
"Those two old geezers are tired of living, aren't they? What business is it of theirs to promote an Anbu Captain?
Was I too gentle last time? Have those two old geezers not realized their place yet???"
Uh...
Seeing Ren constantly calling them "old geezers," Shikaku and Minato's eyes twitched twice.
Even Tsunade and others, though they didn't like these so-called Hokage Advisors, still politely referred to them as Elder or Advisor on the surface.
In Konoha, Ren was the only one who dared to call Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado that.
"Don't be angry, Ren."
Shikaku patted Ren's shoulder, comforting him.
"Just write another report and submit it, and let Minato approve it for you. It's not worth getting upset over this."
"This isn't about getting upset."
Ren put away his Kunai and gritted his teeth.
"Those two old fogeys are just bored and looking for trouble. They must be holding a grudge from last time and trying to get revenge now."
Uh...
Hearing Ren directly state the reason, Shikaku also felt a bit awkward.
After all, clan leaders like them knew a lot about Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado and understood that they were the kind of rigid and vindictive people. So, usually, they would yield whenever possible. There was no other way; at that time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still the Hokage.
Now, the tables had turned. After Minato took office, the two still couldn't see the situation clearly, thinking they were still the powerful, high-and-mighty Elder Advisors.
Little did they know, with Danzo's death and Hiruzen Sarutobi's retirement, their influence among Konoha's major clans had long dwindled to almost nothing.
"Calm down, Ren."
Minato's expression became serious. He placed his hand on Ren's shoulder and said in a deep voice,
"They are indeed in the wrong about this. I will handle it. Please, don't act impulsively."
Others might not understand Ren, but Minato knew him too well. No matter who you were, if you provoked Ren, you would definitely pay the price; it was only a matter of time.
Like last time, when Hidden Mist Village dispatched the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to attack Konoha, Ren, after teaming up with Might Duy to repel them, then dragged along Uchiha Ryufeng, who had come as reinforcement. The two of them fought their way to the Hidden Mist Village's main base in the Land of Water, stole their Scroll of Summoning Ninja Blades, and then openly left as the Three-Tails.
Now that Ren knew that Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado had messed with him, he definitely wouldn't let it go.
Although he wouldn't go as far as to take action within the Village, Minato felt that Ren was perfectly capable of doing something underhanded in the dead of night.
"How could I, Minato?"
Ren suddenly calmed down, a bright smile on his face.
"I'm a reasonable person. I'll write another report today and give it to you to approve for me."
After speaking, Ren turned and walked towards the staircase, his voice echoing from afar.
"Well, I'm off to work then. See you!"
"This..."
Watching Ren leave so simply, Shikaku and Minato stood in the hallway, looking at each other, then their hearts collectively sank, and they instinctively turned to look in the direction Ren had left.
This feeling... it's not good...