Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 19: Betrayal

'' = quoted thought

The village of Konohagakure was alive with its usual bustle, the streets filled with villagers going about their daily routines. The towering Hokage Monument watched over the village, a silent guardian against the backdrop of the Hidden Leaf. The Hokage Office, nestled at the heart of the village, was a place of authority and responsibility.

Inside the office, Minato Namikaze sat solemnly at his desk, the weight of his role evident in his serious expression. Papers and scrolls were neatly arranged before him, but his attention was focused elsewhere. Standing before him were Kushina Uzumaki and Menma, both silent and attentive, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the moment.

At the back of the office, Mito stood with her back against the door. Her presence seemed to command the room, despite her position. Her eyes held a quiet unease as she watched the scene unfold before her. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable.

Minato's gaze shifted from Kushina and Menma to Mito, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and resolve. The room was silent, the air heavy with anticipation. Each person seemed lost in their thoughts, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them.

"Mito," Minato called softly, forcing a welcoming smile. "Welcome back. We were worried about you."

Kushina's hand slammed down on Minato's desk, the force rattling the wooden surface. "Why were you with Madara?" she demanded, her voice sharp and accusing.

Mito's gaze fell to the floor. "I... it... it was an accident," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't lie to me, Mito!" Kushina's eyes narrowed, her fury palpable. "Tell me why you were with Madara!"

Mito swallowed hard, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Okay, okay... I originally planned to wait until he was tired and... kill him... myself..."

Minato took a deep breath, struggling to keep his own anger in check. "Mito, you were present when Tsunade said Madara could revive himself from the dead, yes?" Mito nodded. "And you were also present when I told Menma, the better close-quarters fighter of you two, that even he stood no chance?"

Mito nodded again, her movements slow and hesitant. "I was! But if he can do that, he obviously can't do it without chakra! I was going to wait until he was completely exhausted, when he couldn't fight back!"

"Mito!" Kushina shouted, her voice cracking with a mix of anger and desperation. "When you and Madara fought, he hadn't used chakra at all, and you're still nowhere near matching his physical capabilities from back then!"

Mito's gaze dropped further, her shoulders slumping under the weight of her mother's words. She had no response, the reality of her situation crashing down on her.

"You said that was your original plan," Minato began, his voice softer but still firm. "What changed?"

Mito's voice wavered, barely audible. "I realized I couldn't beat him... I couldn't even get close. He... he saw right through me, but that's not it," she paused, letting her parents process her words. "Madara... he's not a good person, nor is he nice, respectful, or anything of that sort, but he's not evil either."

Minato's eyes narrowed, his skepticism evident. "After all he's done, you don't expect us to just believe that. Explain."

Mito ran her fingers through her hair, her nervousness palpable. "He does evil things, but not necessarily for evil purposes. For example, the destruction of Iwagakure, the death of the Tsuchikage, and all of Iwa's citizens. He plans to revive them later, but he needed Iwa out of the way. They were... necessary sacrifices."