Edited: August 18, 2014
Chapter 1 - Criminal Proceedings
"It's a big day, Sasuke. Please don't ruin it," Haruka pleaded.
"How can I ruin it?"
I watched her roll her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and continued to lead me to the main headquarters of Konohagakure's correctional facility, a separate building from the correctional facility that housed actual criminals.
We were surrounded by a squad of ANBU and possibly another squad hidden in the trees, I couldn't sense them with the chakra suppressing seal Haruka placed on my wrists.
We trudged at a leisurely pace, not in a hurry, but not slow either.
"Don't smart mouth the board this time, Sasuke, please. They were not happy last time," she warned.
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Upon my return to the village, I was incarcerated and sentenced to ten years imprisonment, but thanks to the work of my wonderful representative, Haruka, who worked as my spokesman to the board and the hokage, my sentence was shortened to three years and I was now on my way to my last hearing, where the board will deliberate how I would spend the rest of my punishment. Saving the world wasn't enough, I suppose.
We reached the main doors. This is when the other ninja tend to disperse and they did. They entered the building before us, leaving me alone with her.
She gripped my shoulder. "Sasuke, I've done all I can to help you and I'll continue to do so, but you need to help me too. This is the day," she squeaked the last part, more happy than usual. "You ready?"
I shrugged.
She sighed and opened the door for me, letting me enter before her.
The door shut loudly behind us and she immediately stiffened. "Oh no," she groaned.
Her posture shifted, her shoulders drooping, and a scowl spread across her face. "Let's go," she grumbled, pulling me down the hallway by the arm.
When we stopped in front of our assigned door, the reason for her drop in attitude became apparent to me.
Standing in front of the door was Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. Naruto and Sakura were gathered together and buzzing with anticipation, as if they were waiting for their que to speak.
Kakashi was leaning on the wall, with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Kakashi," Haruka began to seethe.
He cleared his throat.
Haruka rolled her eyes. "Hokage-sama."
"What a pleasant surprise, Haruka." Kakashi straightened himself away from the wall and walked over to where Haruka and I stood. His tall stature overwhelming both of us.
"It is not a pleasant surprise. You know I'm in charge of Sasuke and you know today was our board meeting. Go away," she groaned. "Come on, Sasuke." She pushed me again but this time through the doors to the meeting room.
"You'll do fine, Sasuke!" I heard Sakura yell behind us.
"We'll see you on the other side!" Naruto shouted.
The board sat at a long table at the head of the room. Four of the five members were present. That looked pretty professional, sheesh.
Haruka led me to a smaller wooden table that was situated in front of the board table, but a few feet away. We bowed at the present members before sitting down.
Haruka began to pick at her fingernails, a nervous tick she happened to pick up over the year.
"Stop," I said more harshly than I intended.
She immediately dropped her hands down to her lap.
I slouched over the table and rested my head in the palm of my hand. "What are you so nervous about anyway?"
"Why wouldn't I be nervous?" She said softly, "your life is on the line."
My eyebrows rose at the words. My life?
The door opened loudly, breaking the previous quiet trance the room was in.
Haruka and I immediately stood up and watched as Ibiki Morino walked around our table and then the board table, stopping at the empty seat in the middle.
Haruka and I bowed.
"Alright, let's get this over with. I've got other work to do." He dropped down into his seat.
All five members of the board were now present; Ibiki Morino, Shizune, Tsume Inuzuka, Shibi Aburame, and Tokuma Hyuuga.
At one point during my many ventures to board meetings I asked Haruka why these people were in charge of my future.
"They hold Konoha's safety to the highest regard," she told me.
That wasn't really the reason I was searching for. Why these specific people?
"They try to keep the board as unbiased as possible, but at the same time reflecting the will of the people. One to two seats must be occupied by a member of one of the noble clans. One to two seats must be occupied by members of specific divisions in the Konoha's ninja force. For you, Sasuke," Haruka had paused for effectiveness, "they chose the leader of the intelligence division and a member of the medical corp. Also, one seat must be occupied by a person who has no noble clan affiliation and any stake in the other divisions, but must be a Jounin level ninja or higher."
Noble clans. Unbias. It was all stupid if you ask me. They would never get over what I did.
"Sasuke has behaved incredibly well," Haruka's voice powered through the room. I had blanked out and missed her opening statements. "Considering his original charge and the effect it had on Konohagakure, I believe his decreased sentence is legitimate." She had a strong presence in the room and her commanding voice always seemed to bring everyone to attention.
It's no wonder people can't get their eyes off her, or it could be her red hair. Although, it reminded me too much of Karin.
"Go on," Ibiki responded.
"In exchange for his release, I believe 500 hours of community service can replace his previous sentence and still retain a form of punishment."
My eyes, which were previously concentrated on my shoes, immediately shot up. Five hundred hours?! Five hundred fucking hours? How the hell am I supposed to accomplish that?
Ibiki looked between the other seated members. They each offered a slow nod.
"It's settled. Sasuke Uchiha is sentenced to 500 hours of community service, which he must complete in one years time, assigned by either his representative, Haruka, or the Hokage. As agreed on from our previous sessions, the extended sentence includes the prohibition of rejoining the ninja ranks as a full time ninja until his community service sentence is over. Uchiha is not allowed outside the walls of the village, and he must submit to Monthly medical exams. Is that clear, Uchiha?"
I stared openly. I still couldn't believe what Haruka was making me do. Five hundred hours?
"Sasuke," she whispered under her breath.
"Is that clear?" Ibiki growled, leaning forward over the table.
"Yes, sir," I grumbled.
He slammed his hand on the table. "It's settled! Thank goodness." He rushed out of his seat, knocking it over backwards. "I'm tired of seeing that brat's face."
He rounded around the table and came barreling toward us.
"Good job, Haruka." He slapped her on the back. "You should ask the hokage for a raise."
He strode past without waiting for an answer.
"A raise is the last thing I'd ask for," she mumbled under her breath.
"Where are we going?" I kicked a rock away with my foot.
Instead of leading me back to the correctional facility, Haruka led me away from the administration building and through the less crowded parts of Konoha. It was mostly residential. It was the middle of the day so most people were either working or minding their own business in the shopping districts.
"We're headed to your new home." She swung her arms widely. She seemed to be in a better mood. "Now that you're out of jail. You need a place to stay. I went to the luxury of finding you a place. It's small but it will do since it's just you."
We walked for a few more blocks, past a few surprised civilians, and then stopped in front of a five story concrete building.
She fished a key ring out of her pocket and used one key to open the outer gate leading to the main outdoor hallway. "Mostly ninja live in this apartment complex so you won't be disturbed too much." She pulled the gate open and beckoned me through.
She led me to a staircase at the far end of the complex and proceeded to walk up the stairs. "Juugo and Suigetsu live in the complex as well. They're on level one."
We passed the first level and then the second. Third. Fourth. We stopped on the fifth level and walked down the walkway to the last door.
"This is it," she announced, fingering a different key and placing it in the keyhole.
I was not taken aback by the sight before me. My new apartment was boring and dark.
Haruka entered behind me and closed the door.
"This is smaller than small."
"Sasuke, you have no right to complain."
Haruka went to the windows and threw open the curtains. "Look what a nice view." Of a construction site. What the hell?
I felt myself sigh. Jail had been so much nicer than this damn place. Jail had a gym.
It took Haruka three steps to walk from one side of the living room into the kitchen. The bathroom was so small, I'm sure I'll be hitting my elbows on the wall and my bedroom only fit a twin-sized bed.
"Please don't complain about how small it is," her voice suddenly sounded small. "It was the best I could do. There were other complexes but they thought it was weird I was requesting such a large space for just one person."
Haruka walked over to me and patted me on the shoulder. Even though she was shorter than me she treated me like a child. I clearly wasn't, considering how many times I've made her blush in the past.
"How the heck am I supposed to complete five hundred hours of community service?"
"Come on, Sasuke. You're smart. You can do math. It shouldn't take you longer than a year to complete." She slapped me on the back. Her eyes landed on my wrists. "Oh."
I looked down as well. Her chakra seals looked like art compared to others.
She placed her hands on my wrists. "I'll be releasing these."
I felt my chest rise. She was really going to take them off?
"The board agreed, but on one condition."
"Shit."
"You already know what it is. It's the medical exams. You can get these off, if we agreed to it, which you did."
"How are medical exams comparable to chakra seals?" I asked. I'm sure I was getting the better side of this bargain.
My wrists began to burn. Haruka was already unsealing them. The dark features already disappearing.
"They just want to keep you in check, Sasuke."
After five seconds, any sign of the seal was gone. I spent three years with those seals on me. It was weird to see my arms so bare.
She dropped my wrists. "Alright, I'm off. I've got some paperwork to do. I'll stop by tomorrow with your first assignment. Have a good night."
She placed my keys on the kitchen table before exiting, not even saying a goodbye.
What was I supposed to do now?
I looked around my small apartment again, my eyes landing on the refrigerator. Was there any food to eat?
A.N. - Thanks for reading!