Path Of War-Chapter 349: Lady Mikoto

Mikoto Uchiha opened her eyes as the first light seeped into the room. She took a slow breath and felt the warmth of the morning. Today was just another day in the Hidden Light Village, and she felt just as peaceful as yesterday.

And just who was Mikoto? She was written to have been a kind woman from her clan. She was also reportedly a Jōnin and very much loved her family, often giving them advice while doing her best to comfort them.

During the Nine-Tails attack, she was relieved to find her sons safe. And even after Itachi killed her, she showed understanding and didn't resist.

On the bed, she knew her husband wasn't beside her, but that was okay because his responsibilities as the Torikage demanded that he stay busy. And she respected that; she believed that he was doing what needed to be done for the village's safety and growth.

She sat up, stretched slightly, then looked around her tidy room. Everything was in order—linen folded, floor swept.

There honestly wasn't much for her to do. Her routines were pretty monotonous, but she enjoyed this lifestyle.

Her day began with her chores—cleaning, tidying—making sure the space was welcoming for her husband when he returned from his busy day.

When the room was just right, she headed to the kitchen. There, she prepared breakfast—fresh eggs, rice, and herbs from their garden. She knew Fugaku liked straightforward, nourishing meals, so she packed the food into a tray, wrapped the tea carefully, and stepped outside.

The streets of the village weren't too packed since it was the weekend. Citizens greeted her as she made her way through. Many smiled, some nodded, and a few bowed slightly—familiar gestures that she was accustomed to.

She returned their smiles gently and shared their newfound peace. She was proud of how her husband was leading the village, and she was also grateful for the simple moments of connection with her kin.

As she approached the heart of the village, the central plaza, the guards recognized her and made way. She entered Fugaku's office. Inside, her husband looked up from his desk. His expression was calm, focused—yet welcoming.

"Ah, good morning, Mikoto," he greeted.

"Morning, love," she softly replied, approaching him. She then handed him the tray. "Don't stay up too late tonight, okay?"

With a small smile, he said, "My duties demand much, but I'll try. You know how it is."

Smiling back, she leaned in to kiss him lightly. Her gesture was gentle and filled with love and support. When she pulled away, she looked at him with affection.

"I'll leave you to your work, then," she quietly said. "Take care."

He watched her go with a sense of contentment on his face.

Instead of going home immediately, Mikoto decided to visit the market district. The marketplace was always busy no matter what time of day it was due to the fresh produce—fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

She moved through the stalls, selecting melons, carrots, and greens while briefly chatting with other customers. When she reached the cashier, he asked, "Lady Mikoto, it's good to see you."

"Good to see you, too," she responded with a smile. "You know you don't have to call me 'Lady,' right?"

"Right, I keep forgetting. Say, Lay—I mean Mrs. Mikoto, why don't you ever use your Kage discounts?"

"Because I'm just like everyone else," she chuckled. "I want to be treated the same as others."

He couldn't help but respect that decision. She also appreciated that simple act of kindness—no special treatment, just a woman among her clanmates. And it made her feel well grounded.

Walking back home, her mind wandered. She thought about the village's name—Hidden Light. It suited the place well. Everywhere she looked, people seemed happy. There was little to no crime and no real trouble.

The last time she heard of a "crime," it was a little girl stealing from one of the stalls. She was caught by the police, who almost sent a whole squadron after her due to their lack of work.

Peace like this was rare, maybe too perfect. She wondered how they managed it.

Her thoughts drifted further back—her death at the hands of her eldest son, Itachi. That dark memory haunted her. Somehow, she found favour in the sight of Arthur, allowing her and much of her clan to return.

His power and his force gave her a strange sense of hope.

And she didn't mind no longer being in the Leaf Village. Yes, she had some friends there, but most of them were from her clan and had been revived with her.

What she truly longed for was to see her youngest son, Sasuke, again. To know if he was safe, if he had become the man she knew he could be. That thought stayed with her as she walked home.

When she opened her door, she felt a flutter in her chest and froze. Standing inside were two figures. One wore the lord's white cloak, and the other was a boy—her son, Sasuke!

He was older, but unmistakably him, making her heart pound. For a moment, she couldn't believe her eyes. She stared, shocked and overwhelmed. Then, without thinking, she ran forward.

"Sasuke!" she cried out as the tears welled up.

He was surprised as she reached out and embraced him. He was cold, yet she felt his warmth, and everything felt real. They just stood there as she held him. He hesitated at first and was unsure if this was real or not.

But then, slowly, his arms came up, tentative at first, then more firmly. He hugged her back, and for the first time in what felt like a long time, tears dripped from his eyes. They were so foreign to him that he couldn't even tell that he was crying. So he clung to her, as if to hold on to reality itself.

Mikoto's tears spilled freely now as she pressed her face against his shoulder, feeling relief, love, and a flood of emotion she had long suppressed.

"It's really you," she whispered. "My son."

Sasuke looked at her, tears still falling. His voice was hoarse but clear. "Mother... it's really you."

In that moment, everything else faded away—the pain, the past, the memories of loss. What mattered was this reunion, the bond they thought was lost.

She saw in his eyes the echoes of her hopes, her fears, and her love. She had her son back, even if only for now. For him, this was overwhelming. Tears continued to fall, unbidden, as he allowed himself to feel what he had buried for so long: relief, sorrow, happiness—all at once.

Mother and son—reunited. Against all odds, after all that had happened, they found each other again. For now, the pain was eased by this moment of hope. And in their hearts, a fragile new beginning took root.

Sasuke asked her how this was possible. So she stroked his hair and said, "I'm sure you have a lot of questions." The touch felt right on his skin. "But hold them until your father returns."

"Dad's here too?!" he asked, looking surprised.

Mikoto, who wanted nothing more than to explain everything to her son, to paint a picture of the extraordinary events that had brought them together, knew she had to respect the man in the cloak.

A slight bow, a gesture of courtesy and deference, was her first act. "Thank you for bringing my son back."

The figure responded by slowly removing his hood, and the man was revealed to be none other than Shisui. His eyes mirrored their bond as he spoke, "It was lord Arthur who deserves to be thanked. He returned Sasuke like he promised."

She felt grateful for that.

And when Sasuke once again heard Arthur's name, he began to understand more deeply just what he had done. To think that such a powerful figure who had orchestrated the return of his clan existed right underneath his nose.

Now his doubts and his suspicions were beginning to dissipate; now Arthur's involvement in reviving his clan seemed almost believable.

The one question on his mind, the question that had been gnawing at him, finally broke through: "Is Itachi also here?"

Mikoto's heart ached at the question. So she lowered herself to his level, knowing that the answer would not be easy to explain.

"Sasuke," she began in a measured tone, "there are things you need to know. Things that are difficult and things that will take time to understand. But I promise you, I won't leave you again, and we'll get through this together." She paused, searching for the right words. "Your older brother is not here..."

Sasuke's eyes fell to the ground. No one could tell what he was honestly thinking. The heir to the Uchiha just experienced something hardly anyone could relate to.

"But... why?" he whispered. "What is everyone hiding from me?"

The silence that followed pressed down on him. He felt the weight of the past and the pain of the present due to the unresolved grief.

Mikoto reached out and took his hand to say, "We had our reasons, Sasuke. But we'll explain them to you. Right now, what matters is your safety."

He looked at his mother before turning to Shisui. Whatever he was thinking, he trusted them; he knew they had his best interests at heart. Any secrets they had, he needed to mentally and emotionally prepare for them.

Because at this moment, he finally felt as if he was not alone.

"I understand," he concluded.

Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal Fugaku in his Kage outfit. The surprised look on his face was clear as he shouted, "Is it true?! Is my son really here?!"

Much like Mikoto, he ran and hugged him, but with more manliness. He then got on one knee and studied his son's features. The boy was older by at least six years.

To Sasuke, he was shocked by his father's behaviour; he couldn't fathom how his stern dad could be so caring—a natural act of having been dead for so long.

Once their reunion settled, they all sat in the living room. Sasuke was going to be told the whole truth of what happened on that fateful night.

It hadn't taken long for things to be explained.

As the story went, the downfall of the Uchiha Clan was caused by growing mistrust and tension after the Nine-Tailed Fox attack. The village leadership suspected the Uchiha of involvement, which led to their isolation and feelings of betrayal.

Feeling trapped, the clan, led by Fugaku, planned a coup to take over the government. But Itachi, caught in the middle, was secretly ordered by Danzō and others to kill his entire family.

"Why didn't he side with everyone instead?!" Sasuke blurted out.

Shisui was the right guy to explain this. So he said that Itachi believed this was necessary to prevent a civil war and protect Sasuke.

"He loved you that much," Shisui finished.

In one night, Itachi carried out the massacre, leaving only himself, Sasuke, and Obito, while most of the Leaf Village didn't know the full story for many years.

Afterward, Itachi joined Akatsuki, not as an enemy, but to monitor threats from inside. Believing this, Sasuke cringed because that meant his desire to avenge his family by becoming stronger and facing Itachi was all for nothing.

The true reason for the massacre stayed hidden for a long time, with only a select few, like Obito, knowing about it. And how did the Uchiha clan know Obito—not Madara—was involved in this? Because Arthur revealed to them the truth.

Itachi's actions were driven by loyalty and love—he chose to carry the burden to protect his village and brother.

Just hearing the inevitable truth began to reshape Sasuke's spirit.

"We know this is going to take some time to cope with," Fugaku said, keeping his arms crossed, "and it's my fault—not Itachi's—that the two of you have suffered for so long."

Even after hearing the truth, Sasuke didn't believe it was his father's fault. Neither did he believe it was Itachi's. Itachi, to Sasuke, was the best older brother he could have had. Such an Uchiha didn't deserve to carry such a burden.

No, this was not his clan's fault; this was the political corruption that has been plaguing the Leaf Village for far too long. Sasuke wasn't just angry at the Leaf Village; he was enraged at the entire Fire Country.

After a bit of sobbing and an embrace from his mother, he finally asked his questions.

The first was regarding what they would do with Itachi. Shisui said that one of the five lords will instruct them when the time is right.

Sasuke had never directly met them before. But from everything he's witnessed thus far, he believed Arthur and them would make the right call—of which Sasuke himself wanted to be a part of if it involved hunting his brother down.

"What about Obito?" he asked.

Fugaku gave one simple answer: "We have no plans of recruiting him back into our clan. In fact, we're going to find him and eliminate him. Otherwise, it'll never feel like the nightmare back then was over."

Was Sasuke against this? Not even close!