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Mito’s eyes were focused on the silver utensils next to her bed. The doctors were gone, they all ran away when the incandescent chakra started to radiate from her stomach; Kyuubi’s chakra, the demon’s dark, evil presence, was forever tied to her since that fateful night. She was alone and the seal on her stomach was burning like a red-hot piece of metal. It was breaking off, killing her and her yet unborn child.
It took so much time before she got pregnant this time. But both she and Hashirama wanted another baby and they thanked all gods when the pregnancy was finally confirmed, after months of pure dread.
Hashirama was walking down the hall of the Hokage building. Papers were flawlessly placed in his hands, he was about to get ready for a meeting with ministers. He was calm and confident; but his peace was shattered like a vase of clay when two ninjas with urgent looks on their faces arrived on the floor.
“Hokage-dono,” one of them said hastily. “Your wife is giving birth!” he added. It was a common policy to inform Hokage about important matters fast, without unnecessary formalities.
“But the doctors think the Kyuubi’s seal is breaking and it’s not going to last long!” the ninja shouted frantically. If the Kyuubi were to break out in the middle of the village, it would completely destroy it. The whole Konoha was standing extremely close to an abysmal apocalypse. A mere movement of the demon's tail could wipe out the Hyuuga compound and everything around.
Hashirama’s look turned from warm and relaxed to serious. Kyuubi was not a force to be reckoned with, he knew that from his last fight. And there was still a strong sense of guilt for putting Mito through such an ordeal with the Nine-tailed fox.
“Where is she?” the Hokage asked. Not a drop of a doubt or worry could be traced in the tone of his voice, he sounded confident and reassuring as ever, like he was controlling the unfortunate situation.
“She’s in a hospital-“ the ninja answered and watched as Hashirama swiftly left the building for the hospital.
Hashirama forced his way to the cold and uninviting hall of the hospital. He walked towards the place doctors and nurses ran from. He wasn’t a sensor, but even he could feel the overwhelming chakra of the beast that made a home inside of his wife’s stomach.
The doors of Mito’s room were flung open; medical tools and forms were flying around like confetti. Mito was laying on the hospital bed, about to give birth to their fourth child, but unable to do so. She was struggling to stay still, fighting Kyuubi’s monstrous strength.
There were a few cracks in the walls, from ground to the ceiling. Kyuubi’s chakra was aggressive and dangerous to everything around, including the building and its stability.
“Mito!” Hashirama sighed, finding his wife alone, scared, but still fighting.
“I can’t hold him much longer!” Mito yelled when she saw her husband. She looked like she was about to be torn apart in the midst of all the fiery chakra that was breaking out. She was sweating profoundly, clutching the white sheets.
Hashirama tried to come closer.
“Don’t come here, Hashirama! The fox is going to kill you, Hashirama!” Mito yelled in pain.
Hashirama couldn’t come closer, not now, not when Kyuubi was discharging a burning tornado.
“Evacuate the village, quick! Run away! You can seal the Kyuubi again, but you need to evacuate the village, because he’s going to destroy it,” Mito pleaded, looking in front of her, practical as ever.
“What are you trying to say? I will never leave your side,” Hashirama opposed that idea in a heartbeat, his hair flying in the air.
“Hashirama please— Listen to me. You have to let me go.”
“I will never do that. You are everything I have,” Hashirama replied without further thinking, moving against the current of the air, against the insurmountable chakra that was getting hotter and hotter.
“Tell the children I love them,” Mito said and screamed in pain right after.
“I won’t have to!” the Senju said, trying to get closer to his wife.
“No, Hashirama— tell my parents I love them. And please, live without me. Don’t die here too,” Mito sobbed, tears big as pearls coming from her eyes. The strand of her hair was sticking to her sweaty forehead. The baby wanted out, and so did Kyuubi.
“I love you,” Hashirama protested, looking at her, his eyes reflecting her panic and horror.
“I love you too. Please, leave, I don’t want you to die because of me. Please, my love, do it for me,” Mito begged her husband. She was determined and brave as always.
“Mito, please,” Hashirama whispered with a sad look. “Please, try. Please, for me,” Hashirama begged, reaching his arm towards her through the blazing chakra.
“Leave!” Mito looked at Hashirama, now utterly desperate.
“I can help you. I just need to get closer to you and for that I need you to not panic. And I need you to calm down. I need you to trust me, do you trust me?” Hashirama said, taking his control back.
“Yeah—” Mito breathed out, trembling with fear.
“Please, breathe, Mito. I’m here. And I love you. I’m your husband. Do you remember how we were walking down the river on our second date and I found that abandoned nest with a swan egg?” he asked her, trying to smile. Trying to be … Reassuring. He was her safe place, her solid ground, he could save her.
Mito screamed.
“Look into my eyes, Mito. Do you remember how you once brought me soup to the office?” he said, trying to catch her eye, trying to comfort her.
Hashirama carefully laid his palms on Mito’s stomach to prevent Kyuubi from breaking out. He let his chakra flood from his hands through the pores of his wife’s skin, letting it enter her stomach to strengthen the seal.
“It’s going to be alright,” he told her with a smile.
Kyuubi was still trying to break through, flaring his chakra, this was his chance to escape, and he was a wounded animal lashing out. Mito yelled as Kyuubi used another one of his tails to break the seal and the skin. Hashirama struck back with more chakra. He wasn’t about to let the Kyuubi run free and destroy everything.
Hashirama was standing in front of a giant gate filled with golden bars that were confining the monstrous Nine-Tailed Fox. He was standing face to face with his enemy, Kyuubi. The seal in the middle of the gate was breaking as Kyuubi made his way against the bars with his full force. He was too powerful for his own good.
“You—” Kyuubi said, looking at the Senju. “What are you doing here?”
“You need to stay inside,” Hashirama told Kyuubi and put his palm on the bars that were running hot, focusing his chakra into them to strengthen the seal.
“Let me out!” Kyuubi howled. “I will destroy you for imprisoning me. Remember that, you damn Senju!”
Hashirama closed his eyes, concentrating on his chakra.
At that moment, Kyuubi resisted Hashirama for the last time.
Hashirama opened his eyes, standing in a hospital room above his wife now.
“Stay inside and sleep,” the Hokage hushed the fox that now became a puppy under the strength of his chakra.
The burning pain disappeared from Mito’s stomach. She was tired and not very attentive when Hashirama called the doctors in to help the baby arrive in the world.
“It’s a girl,” Hashirama claimed once he held the newborn child in his arms, his face glowing with pride.
“Thank you, Hashirama. The seal almost broke… I thought we both would die--” Mito sobbed. She was happy everyone was healthy and the village was safe.
“Everything is alright, my dear. Please, rest. We have a beautiful baby girl, we need to celebrate. I’m so proud of you, you fought him so well. Thank you.”
And with these words, Mito fell asleep.