Minato handed them the corresponding scrolls. Upon reading, the faces of Rasa and Kitsuchi turned stony. Though shinobi were taught not to show emotions as it would be seen as weakness, Minato could read through their eyes: confusion, anger, inevitability, resignation, and a hint of relief. After reading, they both spoke up. First was the Kazekage:
"The demands are fair, albeit absurd in some aspects, but the Hidden Sand agrees to these conditions and is ready to make peace."
Then it was Kitsuchi's turn:
"I am not the leader of my village, but rest assured, my old man hasn't lost his wits in his old age, so you can be sure he'll agree." Minato, breathing a sigh of relief, headed back to his people and approached Kakashi.
"Kakashi, we did it. All that's left is to report to the Hokage."
"Finally, sensei. I was starting to think I wouldn't live to see this day."
"What's with the mood, Kakashi? Be optimistic like me," Minato said cheerfully.
Suddenly, he felt the beacon seal he left on his wife activate, indicating danger or urgency. Without delay, he instructed Kakashi, "Kakashi, tell everyone to return without me. It's urgent—Kushina's calling." Kakashi, understanding the urgency, nodded confidently. Minato stood up, leaving the boy to go ahead, swiftly performed seals, and found himself next to Kushina, having used just over half of his chakra.
"Kushina, what's happened?"
In response, Biwako Sarutobi said, "Minato, your old man's in trouble, hurry, take your wife's hand and support her!"
Upon hearing this, he rushed to his wife, took her hand, and only then surveyed the room. They were in Konoha's underground. There were several nurses in the room; Biwako, as the chief midwife, and Kaname, who held Kushina's hands to contain the seal.
"Ow-ow-ow, it hurts, dattebane!" Kushina screamed, crushing Minato's hand.
"She's in pain!" Minato yelled, concerned for his wife's condition.
"Of course, it hurts! This isn't child's play—there's little pleasure in it!" Biwako sarcastically replied.
And when the whole process was over, they handed the baby to the exhausted Kushina and wheeled her to the hospital. Minato entered his wife's room with their daughter. He approached them, kissed the red-haired woman, and took the daughter in his arms. Listening to her sweet cooing, he said:
"Kushina, our daughter was born on the day the war ended. Do you realize that?"
"Yes, dear, our daughter has brought happiness not only to us but to the whole world."
"By the way, how's the seal?" Minato asked.
"It's all good, darling. Aunt Kaname restored the seal so well that the Nine-Tails lost consciousness. I think it will sleep for a long time." Minato, breathing a sigh of relief, stayed with them in the hospital, not wanting to leave his happiness.
A few days later, Kushina and their daughter were discharged from the hospital and sent home. There, they were greeted by Kaname, the Uchiha couple—Mikoto's best friend with her husband Fugaku and little Itachi. Also, two of the three legendary Sannin: Tsunade and Jiraiya; the legendary trio: Ino-Shika-Cho, and Kakashi.
The celebration in honor of the arrival of the newborn had begun. Women started gossiping, while men enthusiastically drank and reveled. On this day, Jiraiya was beaten by Kaname and Tsunade for making an inappropriate compliment to a girl. Itachi kept an eye on the little girl and occasionally shooed Jiraiya away at Kushina's request. Shikaku fell asleep on Choji's stomach, while Choji himself couldn't lift his body from the couch. Inoichi futilely attempted to lift them both, one at a time. Only Minato noticed Fugaku standing on the balcony with a melancholic gaze fixed on Itachi. Curious, he approached him.
"Fugaku, my friend, why the long face?"
"Have you heard, the war is over, and an official announcement is due tomorrow?"
"Yes, indeed."
Minato, sensing Fugaku's penetrating stare, understood he was trying to see through him. When he turned his head, he spotted Itachi again. He decided to start with some leading questions.
"Is something wrong with Itachi?"
"Hmph, no."
"Fugaku, I've known you since childhood: you're lying!"
"Northwest, two weeks ago after the battle between Stone and Cloud, we went to clear the bodies. There was one survivor, and Itachi..."
"Wait, Fugaku, you took your four-year-old son to the battlefield?"
"Yes."
"Did you achieve what you wanted?"
"Now it doesn't matter. The war is over, there's no point, and my son turned out to be a foolish whim of my caprice."
"Stop, Fugaku. You're the head of the Uchiha clan and the Konoha police. Enough sulking..."
"Right, you're correct. I'll go talk to him and apologize... and maybe, let him go?"
"Yes, go!"
The next day, the entire village gathered in the square outside the Residence to hear the Hokage's speech.
"My dear fellow citizens, today we have gathered to celebrate the end of the Third Great Shinobi War. I understand that this war has claimed many of our dear friends, acquaintances, and relatives. But they gave their lives to secure our future, so that our children could see smiles on their parents' faces, and smile along with them. Let us open this new day without war with that smile!"
A murmur ran through the crowd after this passionate speech, and then the Hokage indicated he wasn't finished speaking.
"And also, in four months, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, will step down from the title of Hokage and choose my successor."
There was a brief pause.
"The Fourth Hokage will be the one who ended this war. The Fourth Hokage will be the one who shed blood with you, both theirs and others'; The Fourth Hokage will be the one who halted entire armies. Introducing! Konoha's Yellow Flash - Minato Namikaze! The official appointment will be in four months, after I've fulfilled my duties," Hiruzen concluded with these words.