Ch 132 : Minato wants to get married

Ayari's belly was growing larger, and as a result, her appetite had also increased significantly.

She had become rounder and found it difficult to walk, rarely going out now.

However, Kushina and Mikoto would still visit her frequently.

Makoto had set aside half of his daily schedule to accompany her.

Ayari would only go out when she was with him, as Makoto could use chakra to support her from underneath, making walking easier.

Fortunately, Ayari's mood remained stable, and she was cheerful most days, which surprised many people.

Makoto often heard that pregnant women tend to become irritable during this period.

Every day, Makoto would bring her small gifts, usually from shops in the village.

If the local selections weren't fresh enough, he would even fly to other towns and cities to find better ones.

Ayari reminded him not to always buy things just for her but to prepare some toys for their child as well.

They had also hired professional caregivers who ensured that Ayari's meals were nutritious and suited for a pregnant woman.

Ayari teased Makoto, saying, "You only remembered you're going to be a dad after seeing my belly get this big."

Indeed, as the due date drew nearer, Makoto had begun to realize this fact deeply—he was about to become a father.

In the earlier months, Ayari's belly hadn't shown much, and pregnancy had seemed like just a concept.

Now, Makoto's feelings were complicated, though he couldn't quite put into words how he felt about the unborn child.

Would this child be Neji, or someone else entirely...?

No, that wasn't the right way to think about it.

It definitely wouldn't be the same Neji as before.

But if it were a boy, the name would still be Neji.

In the world of Naruto, the concept of reincarnation did exist, and based on the timeline, it was entirely possible that this child might indeed be the Neji from the original story.

In the afternoon, after finishing his work, Makoto returned to the Hyuga clan compound.

Kushina had come by today and was sitting with Ayari under the pavilion, chatting happily.

Makoto felt that Kushina was even more enthusiastic about the baby than he was.

She always had to touch Ayari's belly for a long time, as if the child inside were her own, which left Makoto feeling both amused and helpless.

"You're doing all the doting—what's left for me to do?" Makoto thought to himself.

He remarked, "If you love kids so much, why not just have one yourself?"

Kushina glared at him. "I'm not even married yet! How can you say such things to a proper lady?"

Their relationship had become much more comfortable, and their conversations were now casual and lighthearted.

Makoto was momentarily taken aback.

Considering the timeline, Kushina and Minato should be getting married soon…

But things were different now.

Minato wasn't Hokage, and Kushina was still a Jinchuriki.

If Minato wanted to marry Kushina, he would likely need Orochimaru's approval.

Would Orochimaru agree?

Makoto wasn't sure.

Orochimaru and Minato had once been rivals.

Although Orochimaru now held a high position and might have a broader perspective, he wouldn't be unjustified in rejecting the marriage request.

Such a refusal, however, would only deepen the tension between Orochimaru and Minato.

"What are you thinking about?" Kushina asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Makoto smiled faintly. "I was just wondering when Minato-senpai will finally marry you."

Kushina snorted, "That's none of your business!"

But inwardly, she couldn't help but feel frustrated.

When would Minato propose to her?

Did she really need to take the initiative herself?

Kushina sighed quietly, glancing at Ayari's swollen belly.

She, too, wanted to have a cute little baby with Minato.

Of course, Kushina wasn't the only one troubled by this—Minato was equally conflicted.

Although Minato wasn't particularly romantic, he wasn't a complete "straight-laced" man either.

He understood very well what Kushina was hoping for.

However, what Kushina didn't realize was that marrying her wasn't going to be an easy matter because of her identity.

Originally, in Minato's plan, once he became Hokage, there would be no obstacles to marrying Kushina.

Even if it took some time, the Third Hokage wouldn't hinder their relationship and would even help them get together.

But now that the Third Hokage had stepped down, he didn't just retire—he completely withdrew from village affairs.

Minato had visited the Third Hokage, only to find him transformed into an ordinary old man with no influence left.

Now, Konoha had completely moved out of the Third Hokage's control.

Minato knew that he couldn't just wait until he became Hokage to marry Kushina.

Orochimaru was still in the prime of his life, and waiting for him to step down might take an unknown amount of time.

So, Minato had to approach Orochimaru directly to express his desire to marry Kushina, hoping the Hokage would approve.

However, Orochimaru's response was that a Jinchuriki's body wasn't suitable for childbirth.

That was already a rejection, and Minato's heart sank immediately.

He now clearly felt that after losing the Hokage position, he had lost so much.

Every time he saw Kushina, Minato felt an immense sense of guilt, unsure how to respond to her expectations.

Should he just tell her, "Because you're a Jinchuriki, the Hokage doesn't allow us to get married"?

Feeling helpless, Minato turned to Shikaku for help, hoping he could offer some advice.

But even Shikaku couldn't be of much assistance.

Recently, the clan territories had been restructured, and the Ino-Shika-Cho families had been moved to the outskirts of the village, while the Uchiha clan received much better treatment than they ever had before.

This was expected, Who in the village didn't know that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had been staunch supporters of Namikaze Minato?

It was only natural for Orochimaru to push them out of the power center.

There was nothing they could do about it now, and they'd have to wait for the future to find a solution.

Shikaku suggested they try to convince Orochimaru, offering terms that would make him agree.

But what leverage did they have?

Konoha was entirely under Orochimaru's control, and Minato wasn't from any powerful clan.

If they had any backing, it was from the Ino-Shika-Cho families.

Shikaku thought for a moment, then came up with an idea.

"Minato, why not try going to Hyuga Makoto?"

Minato was taken aback.

Hyuga Makoto...

As the assistant Hokage, and with enough strength and reputation, Hyuga Makoto was now second in status only to Orochimaru in the village.

Furthermore, Orochimaru was largely uninterested in village affairs.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that Konoha was essentially under Hyuga Makoto's control now.

At least for most matters, Hyuga Makoto didn't need Orochimaru's opinion.

"Perhaps you can get his approval through him," Shikaku suggested.

Minato and Makoto had a relatively good relationship.

They had fought side by side in the past, and when Minato was severely injured, it was Makoto who found him and brought him back to camp.

However, that bond had mainly been formed on the battlefield, where there were no political factions—everyone was a comrade.

After the war, their relationship had faded significantly.

They rarely had any personal interaction and only exchanged occasional greetings when they happened to meet.

On the other hand, Kushina often visited the Hyuga family because she had become good friends with Makoto's wife.

Minato thought about it.

Right now, this seemed to be the only option.

He would have to ask Makoto for help.

--------------

Exclusive access : All novel on paetron

Genshin impact 270+ch, Naruto birdcage 400+ch, Overlord Complete novel

From the apocalypse 100+ch, Fairy tail Destiny 200+ch

Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz