Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 14

The sun hung high above Konoha, casting a warm, golden light over the village. The rooftops glistened, and the leaves of the great trees shimmered in the gentle breeze. Children played in the streets, their laughter mingling with the rustling of the wind. Market stalls bustled with activity, vendors calling out to passersby.

In the training grounds, a group of shinobi practiced their techniques, the sound of clashing kunai ringing out. Nearby, the Hokage Monument stood tall, each face bathed in sunlight, a testament to the village's enduring spirit.

Children raced each other through the trees, their laughter echoing as they leaped from branch to branch, while their parents watched with pride from a distance. The vibrant energy of the village was palpable, a testament to the peace and prosperity that had been hard-won.

As the sun reached its zenith, Konoha thrived beneath its light, a village alive with the promise of a new day.

Minato sat at his desk, the weight of the world etched into his features as he faced the group before him: Kushina, Menma, Mito, Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke, Naori, Kurenai, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Gai, Lee, Neji, and Tenten. The air was thick with tension.

"You've all heard my prediction about Madara's actions?" he asked, skipping formalities, his voice steady but grave.

Kushina glanced around, her eyes narrowing. "We have, Hokage-sama," she replied, her voice firm, speaking for everyone.

Minato's gaze darkened. "Sunagakure is no more."

Gasps rippled through the room, whispers breaking out like a storm. Disbelief hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Kiba growled, fists clenched tight. "Madara..." he muttered under his breath.

Kushina cleared her throat, and the room fell silent again, all eyes on her. "Will we continue with our current plan?"

Minato nodded slowly. "Yes. However, tomorrow, I need Kurenai, Kakashi, Gai, and their students to retrieve Orochimaru. Despite his crimes, we may need all three Sannin."

"What?!" Kushina shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. "Orochimaru?! After everything he's done?!"

Minato's eyes softened, but his resolve didn't waver. "I don't want to, but it's a risk we must take to protect our civilians."

Kakashi stepped forward, his visible eye narrowing. "Hokage-sama, this wasn't part of the original plan. What did you find out?"

"The Kazekage's report mentioned Madara using a strange wooden jutsu." Minato's words hung in the air like a heavy fog.

Everyone's eyes widened, a collective gasp filling the room. "You know what that means, right?" he asked, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

"He has the Shodai's cells..." Naori whispered, her voice tinged with dread.

"Correct," Minato confirmed, his gaze piercing. "Worse yet, the Kazekage reported that Madara was blind during the fight. If he regains his sight, his power will be unimaginable. Retrieving Orochimaru is a necessary precaution."

Kushina rubbed the bridge of her nose, frustration evident in her tense shoulders. "What can we even offer him to convince him to return?"

Minato's expression hardened. "We don't need to offer him anything. He'll be eager to claim Madara's body for his twisted jutsu."

Kushina's eyes flashed with anger. "But wouldn't that just make him more dangerous?"

"We won't actually give it to him," Minato reassured her, his voice calm. "Yamato can create a clone."