Kaito Chapter 24: The warning.
On a bright and cheerful day in Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village was pulsing with vitality, its streets abuzz with the rhythm of daily life. This prosperity owed much to the capable leadership of the new Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Amidst the lively crowd, a distinctive pair stood out: a mother and her son, both boasting fiery red hair. They were none other than Kushina Uzumaki and her five year old son, Kaito Uzumaki, a testament to the village's enduring strength and unity under Hokage Minato's guidance.
It had been a few weeks since Jiraiya had paid them a visit, during which Minato and Kushina had officially named him Naruto's godfather. In this span of time, Kaito dedicated himself relentlessly to honing the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu. His efforts yielded impressive results; presently, he could conjure ten clones of the shuriken with a mere flick of his hand, a remarkable feat that significantly reduced the required hand signs.
In addition to his strides with the Shuriken Kagebunshin no Jutsu, Kaito also made headway with his unique adaptation of the Zanzō Bunshin. He had achieved the ability to use it at will, although it demanded his full concentration. This progress marked a significant step forward in his mastery of these techniques.
Accompanying his mother on a shopping trip, Kaito's physical presence belied the fact that his mind was elsewhere. The imminent date of Naruto's birth weighed heavily on him, a constant reminder of the masked man and his unshared knowledge with his parents. In the past few days, Kaito had dedicated himself to devising a way to alert them about this looming threat.
Tonight, he planned to put his idea into action.
As they perused the items, Kushina's voice broke through his reverie, bringing him back to the present. "I think we have everything we need. Let's head back," she suggested, turning to her son.
"Hai, Mom," Kaito replied, their steps now leading them back home.
On their way back, Kushina turned to Kaito, concern etched on her face. "You've been a bit out of it lately, ya know... are you feeling ok, Kaito-kun?" Both she and Minato had noticed his uncharacteristic silence over the past few days, and it troubled them.
Kaito let out a sigh, attempting to mask his inner frustration. It was futile, though, for his mother always seemed to see through his facade. "Nah... Nothing, Mom, just a bit tired is all," he replied.
"Hmm... You've been pushing yourself too hard lately, Kaito, ya know... You should rest for a few days, go play with your friends, ya know," Kushina advised, her concern for her son evident in her words.
After a few minutes, they arrived home, and Kushina promptly set to work preparing dinner. With no immediate tasks at hand, Kaito joined his mother in the kitchen to assist with the cooking.
…
Minato's voice rang out, announcing his return. "I'm home," he called as he entered the house. Kaito greeted him warmly, embracing his father. "Welcome back, Dad," he said, the hug reciprocated by Minato.
"Welcome back, dear... Go wash up, dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Kushina chimed in, directing her attention to Minato.
After a refreshing shower, Minato joined Kaito and Kushina at the dinner table. "Itadakimasu," they all chimed in unison, expressing their gratitude before delving into the delectable meal.
"So, how was your day, honey?" inquired Kushina, her attention turning to Minato.
"You know, the usual... paperwork," he replied, a hint of routine in his voice.
Throughout the meal, Minato shared the details of his day at the office with Kushina, and she reciprocated by recounting her own experiences. Meanwhile, Kaito, though physically present, was lost in his own thoughts, his mind consumed by the plan he was carefully mentally rehearsing.
After finishing his dinner, Kaito excused himself and made his way to his room. "I'm going to bed, Mom, Dad. Good night," he bid them before disappearing into his room.
"Alright, sweetie. Good night," Kushina responded, her worry evident in her gaze as she watched Kaito leave.
Turning to Minato, she expressed her concern, saying, "I'm worried about him. He's been really stressed lately, ya know."
Minato considered this for a moment, then reassured her, "Hmm... Don't worry too much, Kushina. He's probably just tired... He has been training really hard." His words were meant to offer some comfort and perspective, hoping to alleviate her concerns.
…
In the dead of the night, around 2:00 AM, Kaito remained wide awake, feigning slumber after his mother's earlier visit. He steeled himself, his mind resolute. "I hope this works," he thought, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes, mentally replaying the memory of Naruto's birth.
Then, summoning all his courage, Kaito let out a piercing scream, loud enough to jolt his parents awake. Alarmed, Minato and Kushina rushed to Kaito's room, fear etched on their faces.
Minato was the first to enter, and his heart sank at the sight of Kaito sitting on his bed, tears streaming down his face, breath ragged.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kaito rushed into his father's arms, gripping him tightly, tears flowing freely. He repeated his pleas over and over again, a desperate mantra of "please don't leave" and "please don't die."
Soon after, Kushina entered the room, her face a mask of concern. Kaito turned to her, embracing her just as tightly, his pleas continuing in an agonized chorus. The room was filled with the weight of Kaito's distress, his fear and love for his family pouring out in a torrent of raw emotion.
This was the first time Kaito had shed tears since the day he was born. To both Kushina and Minato, it was a sight they had never witnessed before.
"Shh... Mommy is not going anywhere, baby," Kushina cooed, her voice gentle and reassuring as she held Kaito close, attempting to soothe him.
Both parents tried their utmost to calm Kaito, but his distress seemed insurmountable. It took nearly an hour of concerted effort to finally ease his trembling form and bring him back to a state of relative calm. The room seemed to hold its breath, finally releasing it in a collective sigh of relief as Kaito's sobs gradually subsided.
Minato, his voice tender and reassuring, spoke to Kaito after they had managed to calm him down somewhat. "It was just a dream, there's nothing to worry about. Your mom and I aren't going anywhere," he said, his words carrying a deep sincerity. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Kaito shifted uncomfortably before finding the courage to speak. His voice trembled as he recounted the vivid nightmare. "It felt real... A masked man attacked you and mom after she gave birth to Naruto and took Naruto hostage...He .. he distracted Dad long enough to capture Mom and extract the Nine Tails from her. He .. he then attacked the village... You defeated him and teleported the Nine Tails out of the village. And... and... then Mom was dying, and you wanted to use a sealing jutsu to seal half of the Nine Tails in Naruto and the other half in Mom…..Then … Then the Nine Tails attacked Naruto with its claw, and both of you… you jumped in front of Naruto... blocked it... Then... then you guys died sealing it in naruto...i..i..i couldn't do anything, to save you" Kaito confessed, his emotions bordering on hysteria.
As Kaito disclosed the revelation about the Nine Tails being sealed inside Kushina, both Kushina and Minato were visibly taken aback. They hadn't broached the subject with Kaito before, and the disclosure held a weighty significance.
Kushina, holding Kaito close, gently reassured him, her voice a soothing lullaby. "It's just a dream, baby. Mom and Dad won't leave you and Naruto alone, ya know?" Her words were a balm, aimed at easing Kaito's troubled heart, rocking him tenderly in her embrace until sleep found him.
Meanwhile, Minato stood nearby, his thoughts swirling in a maelstrom of bewilderment and concern. 'How does Kaito know about the Nine Tails sealed in Kushina? We've never mentioned it to him before... And the dream he had, a masked man attacking the village, and me and Kushina dying... Did he have a premonition about the future?' His mind raced with possibilities, grappling with the implications of Kaito's revelations.
As Kaito lay in his mother's embrace, he feigned slumber, his mind still racing with the weight of his revelation. His thoughts echoed in the quiet of his mind, 'Hopefully, knowing about the Nine Tails will be enough to make Dad take my warning seriously.' With that hope firmly planted in his heart, Kaito let himself drift into a feigned sleep, his determination to protect his family guiding him into the realm of dreams.
-----------
If you wish to support this story, please join me at patreon.com/Tilct