Chapter 16 - Talking with Mito Uzumaki

"Ok, I give up" Minato surrendered, knowing that with this type of person at the end of their life, the more you lie, the worst the situation is. It's better to say the truth without revealing anything compromising. After all, he once was this type of person.

"And as for your question, hm..." He was a bit stumped, never having thoughts of his emotions. Now that she said it, it's true that he is far too calm, it's been such a long time since he felt his heart beat out of excitement or anger. "Well, you could say I chose to be this way and am trying to reopen my heart slowly"

"Hm" She was interested in his story, but knew that he will refuse to divulge it. Of course, she could force him, but it will be counter-productive. It could worsen his relationship with one of the last of her kin, and it will be a pity to lose such an interesting young man that was pretty sure to become powerful.

"You seem to cope with the demise of your clan pretty well compared to Kushina" exclaimed Minato, testing the waters.

"If I don't show it, that doesn't mean that I don't feel the same as her"

"Even if it's a big part because of your husband?"

"What do you mean?" Mito raised an eyebrow in curiosity, not at all angered by this young man, after all, she has lived for far too long, such emotions were left behind since a long time ago.

"The Bijuu. Hashirama Senju slave them away to other villages for the so-called peace between countries. And the only way to seal them is Fuuinjutsu. So what will those villages think if there was a clan capable of restraining their new ultimate weapon? Even if the Uzumaki were considered neutral, you can't possibly be at ease if your strongest weapon can be taken out by hundreds of people"

"Oh, I never considered it like that, it's not a bad deduction. And what do you mean by slave them away" She was really curious about this part, does he know that the Bijuu have mind, and if he knew it where did he learn that from?

"I'm pretty sure that they are being with conscious like us. Mindless beasts, utter rubbish. If they were truly the monster that we describe them as, humanity would have perished long ago. After all, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara don't pop up from trees."

Minato remark made Mito laugh, calming herself she replied "Nevertheless, it's impossible for us to ignore them. Such monsters could destroy the village easily, so it was safer to do it that way"

"You're right, humanity will always try to get rid of anything too powerful and what they are unable to understand. Even if it's allies..."

"Oh, so you insinuated that Konoha has a part in my homeland destruction?" She was even more interested in the fact that his emotions did not waver, there was not even an ounce of disgust directed towards Konoha

"Like you already know, I can be considered a sensor. And two different groups of people are tailing me all the time and everywhere. After what I displayed at the academy, I can understand that Hokage-sama would want to protect me, but what of the other? It signifies that there is another group of people hidden in the shadows of Konoha that the Hokage can't control. Furthermore, Uzushio is the holy land of Fuuinjutsu, an art that I'm extremely interested in, so I did some research. It's basically an impregnable forteress, if you attack by the exterior that is. And the only ones authorized in it are Konoha people and the natives. I doubt that an Uzumaki will be suicidal enough to doom himself and his whole clan, so it means that Konoha weakened the barrier internally. And from what I saw of the Hokage, he held the teachings of Hashirama-sama highly, so I doubt that it's his work. From what I can deduce, the hidden darkness of Konoha did it, deeming the Uzumaki clan too strong to be left alive"

This time Mito couldn't help the surprise to show in her eyes. What a sharp kid, do the kids these days possess such a deduction ability?

"You're right, it would have been impossible to take down Uzushio without some intern betrayal" admitted Mito

"So, are you not angry at Konoha?" Inquired Minato curiously

"As you said, it was the work of the darkness, not Konoha. Even if it was the case, I can't possibly have any nefarious thoughts against what my husband constructed now can I?"

'Heh, so this the extent one can go through love. It's truly stupid, but...I would even have been fine to die if I knew that I will still be a priority in somebody's heart even after death. Is that why you died smiling, mother?'

Sensing turbulent emotions coming from Minato, Mito was surprised. If it was disgust or disdain for her, she would have understood, but yearning and loss? This kid was truly strange.

Calming himself, Minato regained his composure. "Do you love your family or this village more?" asked Minato, curious to see the extent of love.

"Hm" Mito made a complicated face "I can't choose, I love the 2 of them equally"

"Let me rephrase it. If there is a war and your family is forced to participate in it. Your grandson Nawaki have 95% chance of dying. Will you let Konoha send him even if it would cost them nothing to let him live his life here in safety?"

Furrowing her brows, Mito thought about it. Finally loosening them, she couldn't help the fond smile speaking of her grandson "Even if I wanted to protect him, Nawaki will not listen and rush headfirst in battle to protect his comrades of Konoha. There is no way that he will willingly choose his own safety over his comrades. He is like his grandfather during his youth, a hot-headed fool."

Minato has nothing to retort to that. Hashirama, Nawaki and Naruto, the three of them have more or less the same personality, that of an idiotic moron that thinks that they can save the world, even if the human will in the end never change their nature. If not, why would they wage war in the first place?

"And you, young man, what is your dream?"

Startled that she asked him such a question, he answered with a half-truth "I want and will become Hokage" 'Even if it's just a stepping stone to my true dream'

"Oh, it's a bit unfortunate that I will not see it. I'm sure it would have been interesting"

Minato made sure to repress his emotions this time, not willing to leak the fact that he knows that she is the Kyuubi jinchuriki, and that she will die because she passed it over Kushina.

"For someone of your age, you still look young and healthy, and I doubt that anybody could kill you in your own home. So why do you insinuate that you will die soon"

"Sigh..." Mito found nothing strange in the fact that he repressed his emotions, thinking it was a normal thing to do for him, already content from what she has gleaned from them during their conversation. "An old woman like me has no place in this era. I'm just a relic of the past, it will soon be my time to go. Even if I'm fine externally, things are complicated and I have not much time left. Kid, no, Minato, will you accept a request from an old lady on her deathbed?"

"Sure, if I can do it that is."

"I hope you will take care of Kushina, she is one of the last of my kin in the living, and I don't want to see my clan going extinct, it will aggrieve me very much"

"Oh, it's just that. Don't worry about it, I care for her so I already had in mind to take care of her" It was no big deal for him, even if he has known Kushina only for a week, she was already dear to him, even if he can't fully trust her, it doesn't mean that he will let anyone bring her harm.

"I see, I'm relieved to hear that. You can go now, and if you have any questions about Fuuinjutsu or another thing, you can come to see me. I still have a bit of time, so I won't mind using it to help you. After all, even if you chose to protect Kushina, she is my kin and I can't do enough to repay you" Having said her part, Mito closed her eyes and began to rest.

Taking it as a signal to leave, Minato exited the room, thinking that it's a pity that she was fated to die, she would truly have been a good friend. After all, before occupying Minato's body, he had more or less the same view on the world as her.