Chapter 3 Danzo

Mikoto looked around the hut, her eyes scanning the sparse interior. Memories of her final moments before her death flooded back, each one sharp and painful. The attack by Itachi, the overwhelming sense of finality—how was she still alive?

She turned her gaze back to Hiro, her voice trembling. "I remember dying. Itachi... How am I here? Is this some kind of afterlife?"

Hiro shook his head, a look of earnest determination in his eyes. "This isn't the afterlife. I... I brought you back. You died, but I was able to resurrect you."

Mikoto's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, her breath catching in her throat. "Resurrected? But how?" Her voice wavered, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion. The notion was so foreign, so inconceivable, that it was clearly a struggle for her to grasp.

She stared at Hiro as if he had just spoken an impossible truth. Her gaze flickered between his face and her own hands, as if expecting some sign that this was a dream or an elaborate deception. "I... I was dead. And now... you say you brought me back? That's..."

Hiro nodded, trying to convey the gravity of his words. "Yes. I used a special technique. It's not something that happens every day, and it wasn't easy. But I managed to bring you back to life."

Mikoto's eyes filled with a profound mix of disbelief and astonishment. "This... this can't be real. People don't just come back from the dead. How could you even do something like that?"

Hiro sighed, his expression softening as he saw the turmoil in her eyes. "I know it sounds unbelievable. It's something that few people would ever see, let alone experience. But it's real, Mikoto. You're alive because I made it happen."

Mikoto shook her head slowly, as if trying to clear the fog of incredulity. "I can't... I can't process this. It feels like I'm living in a story or a nightmare. Resurrection? It's... too much to believe."

As Mikoto grappled with the staggering reality of her resurrection, her mind raced, and a sudden wave of panic gripped her.

"Mikoto's eyes filled with panic. "Sasuke… I need to get back to him. He needs me."

Hiro's voice was firm and unyielding. "No."

Mikoto's confusion and frustration were evident as she struggled to process his words. "Who are you to tell me what to do? I am going back to Sasuke." She tried to stand but collapsed back, her strength failing her.

Hiro's expression remained resolute. He knew from what he'd learned that Mikoto shouldn't be able to use her jounin-level powers for several months due to the resurrection. Right now, she was as vulnerable as anyone else.

"Mikoto," Hiro said, his tone serious, "if you return to Konoha in your current state, you'll endanger Sasuke even more.

Mikoto's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching as she processed the magnitude of his words. "W-what? I knew something was wrong, but I didn't realize the village was behind this. It can't be… Konoha? The Hokage?"

Hiro's expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained determined. "It's the truth, Mikoto. You were deceived and manipulated, just like everyone else. Itachi was a part of a much larger scheme, one that you had no control over."

Mikoto's face contorted with disbelief and anger. "No… this can't be right. The village, the Hokage—they were supposed to protect us. I always believed in them. How could they do this?"

Hiro nodded sympathetically. "I understand it's hard to accept. The very people you trusted were behind this. It's a betrayal that goes deeper than you can imagine. But you need to face this reality to survive and protect what's left."

Tears welled in Mikoto's eyes as she shook her head. "How am I supposed to move forward knowing this? I was so sure of everything, and now… everything is shattered."

"You don't have to face it alone," Hiro said gently. "We'll figure this out together. For now, focus on recovering your strength. Konoha's actions are a betrayal, but we have a chance to protect Sasuke and rebuild what was lost. Your strength will be needed, but you have to be ready first."

Mikoto swallowed hard, struggling to process the betrayal while grappling with her own vulnerability. "I... I need time to understand all of this. To come to terms with what's happened."

after some time as she was a little calm

Mikoto took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "What's the plan, then?"

"We'll stay here for a few days before moving. We'll find a secluded place to live for a while and work on becoming stronger. From what I know, Sasuke is absolutely safe."

Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village...

As the morning light bathed the village, news of the Uchiha clan massacre spread like wildfire. Shops remained closed, and hushed whispers and shocked expressions replaced the usual bustle of the village.

The streets were filled with villagers trying to comprehend the horror that had befallen one of the most powerful clans in the village.

In the Hokage's office, a meeting had been called, and the air was thick with tension. The elders and key shinobi gathered, discussing the implications of the massacre.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the center, his face grim. 

"The Uchiha clan has been nearly wiped out. The only survivor is a young boy named Sasuke Uchiha."

Although he knew the truth behind the massacre, Hiruzen had to maintain an appearance of shock and concern.

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. The news was almost too much to process.

One of the elders spoke up, voice quivering. "What could drive someone to slaughter their own clan? And why was Sasuke spared?"

Danzo, who had been observing the meeting silently, turned and walked away as the meeting drew to a close.

He moved swiftly down the corridor, his thoughts a tangled web of suspicion and calculation.

As he reached a secluded area, a Root ninja appeared before him, kneeling with a bowed head. "Master Danzo," the ninja reported in a low, urgent tone, "the body of Mikoto Uchiha is missing."

Danzo's single visible eye narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within it. "Missing?" His voice was a cold, quiet fury. "So Itachi spared her after all..."

Danzo's mind raced. Mikoto's survival could pose a threat to his carefully laid plans. If she were to reveal anything, it could unravel everything. He couldn't allow that.

"Send a team," Danzo ordered, his voice steely. "Hunt her down. I want no loose ends. Do this quietly—no one else must know. And report back to me directly."

The ninja bowed deeply. "Understood, Master Danzo."

As the ninja disappeared into the shadows, Danzo turned his gaze back toward the Hokage's office, his thoughts dark and calculating.

Itachi might have been willing to spare his mother, but Danzo would ensure there were no survivors left to challenge the village's security.

"Itachi's betrayal has shifted the balance. If Mikoto survives, she could reveal details that threaten everything I've worked for."

He reached for a sealed letter, writing quickly but carefully.

The letter contained specific orders for the Root ninjas to track Mikoto with the utmost precision and to eliminate her.

"If Itachi spared her, then he has made a critical error. I will not allow this mistake to jeopardize the stability of the village or my plans."

Danzo sealed the letter with his personal crest and sent it off to the team he had dispatched. The Root ninjas would be relentless in their pursuit.

Their mission was clear: find Mikoto Uchiha and ensure she would not be a threat.

Back in the Hokage's Office

Hiruzen remained in the office, contemplating the ramifications of the massacre. He understood that the village's safety and the future of Sasuke were paramount.

But he was also acutely aware of Danzo's influence and the potential consequences of his actions.

As Hiruzen sat alone, a quiet knock echoed from the door. An ANBU ninja entered.

"Hokage-sama, we've received reports of unusual movements from Root operatives. It seems they're searching for something or someone."

Hiruzen's eyes sharpened with concern. "What are they searching for?"

"We're not sure yet, but it seems to be of high importance."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. He knew that Danzo's ambitions were often shrouded in secrecy and could be dangerous.

"Keep me informed. I need to know if their search is connected to the Uchiha massacre."