Kawakaze brought Nayuki to the hospital, where the staff greeted him warmly as a well-known benefactor. Along the way, many people called out to him, and he nodded and smiled in return, maintaining his usual composure.
They eventually arrived outside the room where Tsunade was giving a lecture. Through the window, Tsunade could be seen writing medical knowledge on the blackboard with precision and focus.
Inside the classroom, a group of Uchiha students sat attentively, their expressions serious. After all, treating illnesses was no trivial matter—any mistake could have life-or-death consequences. Tsunade, ever the strict teacher, scolded her students without hesitation whenever they faltered.
Kawakaze, ever the rascal, couldn't help but let his mind wander to inappropriate thoughts inspired by her stern demeanor.
After a short wait, Sakumo arrived to join them.
"Why didn't you take her for a check-up already?" Sakumo asked, irritation evident in his tone.
"Tsunade's medical skills are the best, so we're waiting for her," Kawakaze replied, sounding far too righteous for Sakumo's liking.
Sakumo clenched his fists, barely resisting the urge to throttle his younger brother. "You needed to wait for Tsunade for something as simple as a pregnancy test? Do you think I don't know what's going on?"
"Forget it. Tsunade will be out soon," Nayuki interjected quickly, fearing the two might cause a scene in the hospital.
Not long after, the classroom door opened, and Tsunade stepped out. Spotting the group, she smiled warmly.
"Why are you all here, Sakumo and Nayuki?"
Kawakaze greeted her with a grin. "My sister-in-law might be pregnant, so we wanted you to check her out. She only trusts your medical skills."
Tsunade chuckled at the flattery, though she remained modest. "It's not as grand as you make it sound—it's just a check-up."
Nayuki smiled and followed Tsunade into the examination room, leaving Kawakaze and Sakumo alone.
The brothers stared at each other in awkward silence, tension thick in the air.
"Relax. Stress isn't good for the baby," Kawakaze said with a sly grin, patting Sakumo's shoulder as if offering advice.
Sakumo blinked, stunned. I'm not pregnant, you idiot! he snapped, and the next moment, the two broke into a scuffle right there in the hospital.
By the time Tsunade and Nayuki returned from the examination room, the brothers had only just picked themselves up and dusted off their clothes, pretending nothing had happened.
"Is she pregnant?" Sakumo asked, his voice full of expectation.
"Congratulations, you're going to be a father," Tsunade announced with a smile.
Sakumo's face lit up, and he couldn't contain his joy. He hugged Nayuki tightly and spun her around a few times, the culmination of his hard work finally rewarded.
"If you keep doing that, I'm afraid our child won't grow up properly," Nayuki teased, though her bright smile betrayed her happiness.
"Fine, as long as he doesn't make me call him Big Brother in the future, I promise I won't hit him," Sakumo quipped, chuckling.
"You know who's going to hit who," Kawakaze muttered, but before he could finish, Tsunade grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
"These two brothers… there's definitely something wrong with them," she muttered under her breath.
Sakumo finally put Nayuki down, and with both women intervening, yet another clash between the brothers was narrowly avoided.
Tsunade dragged Kawakaze to her office, which reflected her well-off family's support with its elegant and luxurious decor. The two sat on the sofa, and Kawakaze wasted no time bringing up another question that had been on his mind.
"Can someone die from a difficult birth?" he asked suddenly.
"Huh? Yes," Tsunade replied, momentarily startled. "There are many causes for complications during childbirth. Heavy bleeding, for instance, can easily lead to death."
Tsunade frowned slightly, unsure why Kawakaze was asking such a grim question, but she patiently explained.
"Oh, I see," Kawakaze said, feigning nonchalance. "The Hatake Clan has a small population, so I'm just preparing for any eventuality."
In truth, he was thinking about the original storyline. Kakashi's mother had died young, and he suspected it was likely due to complications during childbirth or war.
"Don't worry," Tsunade reassured him. "I'll personally handle it. If I'm unavailable, I'll make sure the best Medical-nin are on hand. Even if it requires a C-section, I'll ensure both your sister-in-law and the baby are safe."
Kawakaze nodded, relieved. The brothers might clash often, but Tsunade knew their bond was strong.
"That's good. So, when are you going to give me a child?" Kawakaze teased, his serious demeanor quickly giving way to his usual mischievousness.
Before Tsunade could respond, he leaned closer and put an arm around her waist.
"Let go! This is a hospital. It won't look good if someone sees us," Tsunade protested, though her half-hearted struggle and unconvincing excuse did little to stop Kawakaze.
"Later. Let's talk later," she tried to placate him.
"When is later?" Kawakaze leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear as he lightly grazed her earlobe.
Tsunade's face turned crimson, and just as Kawakaze was about to take things further, the office door suddenly swung open.
"I didn't see anything!" came Nayuki's startled voice before the door slammed shut again.
"What's going on?" Sakumo asked from the hallway, still clueless and about to open the door again, only to be smacked by Nayuki.
Inside the office, Tsunade had finally broken free from Kawakaze's arms. "I told you it'd be bad if someone saw us, but you didn't listen," she huffed, lightly slapping Kawakaze's shoulder in what could only be described as a petulant gesture.
"It's fine," Kawakaze replied nonchalantly. "It's not like it was an outsider."
Tsunade shot him a pointed glare, frustrated by his thick skin. She returned to her desk, cheeks still flushed, and tried to compose herself.
"Fine, fine. You get back to work—I'm heading home," Kawakaze said, realizing he wasn't going to get any further with her today.
Tsunade didn't respond, her face still faintly red, but her eyes followed him as he moved toward the door.
"Remember, Later," Kawakaze teased, giving her a cheeky grin before opening the door.
Outside, he found Sakumo and Nayuki waiting.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Nayuki asked, her curiosity shining through her playful smile.
"Nope. Go home," Kawakaze replied, clearly uninterested in giving his sister-in-law any details about his romantic pursuits. With a showy snap of his fingers, he vanished on the spot.
"I told you not to wait for that brat!" Sakumo fumed, stomping his foot in frustration.
Well, that was a wasted trip.
"Haha, if you're so capable, fly back yourself," Nayuki teased, her laughter ringing out as she took Sakumo's hand. The two walked home step by step, the quiet evening wrapping around them.
Nayuki's thoughts drifted to the future. My child can't be as stubborn as Sakumo, nor as irresponsible as Kawakaze. With a father and uncle like that, she could only silently pray for her child's future.
I hope he can have a happy childhood, she thought wistfully.
Meanwhile, Kawakaze had already returned home and was seated at the stone table in the courtyard. His sharp-witted servant had replaced the tea, anticipating his needs.
From the shadows, Onimaru emerged cautiously. Not sensing Nayuki's presence in the house, the dog appeared uneasy.
"How dare you show your face in front of me?" Kawakaze's voice turned sharp, his frustration still simmering from being interrupted earlier with Tsunade. Now, with Onimaru in front of him, a punching bag had practically presented itself.
Onimaru froze, too slow to retreat. Without its owner around, the dog could only lament its fate.
With a flash, Kawakaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to catch the dog, holding it up like a cat by the scruff of its neck.
"Aren't you a big shot? Go on, show me more of your arrogance," Kawakaze taunted, lifting Onimaru to eye level and staring into its nervous, darting eyes.
The dog's gaze avoided his, as if silently pleading for mercy.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you off the hook," Kawakaze declared smugly. Then he grinned. "I'm going to be an uncle soon."
He lifted Onimaru closer, his tone turning serious. "Next year, you better prepare the strongest pup for my nephew. Got it?"
Onimaru's head bobbed furiously in agreement, its expression almost shouting: Just breeding? Fine! I'll do it!
The dog was more than willing to endure that ordeal if it meant avoiding Kawakaze's grip on its neck.
"Now that's the spirit, haha!" Kawakaze laughed, tossing Onimaru aside. His perverse chuckle echoed through the courtyard.