Chapter Two: Trophies

Sasuke winced as Kakashi reinforced the Chakra seal on the cuffs. He had been so sure that this was what he wanted a moment ago. Sasuke didn't dare make eye contact with Kakashi. He didn't want to be noticed in his current state, he didn't want to be looked at as weak. All Sasuke's mind could ponder was where his best friend was and what was more important than his return. Kakashi stepped aside as if motioning the Hokage's guard to check the cuffs, none obliged and only stood where they had stopped them. Kakashi grabbed Sasuke by the chains that linked to the Chakra binds on his hands and feet and pulled him along after him. Sasuke remembered this feeling all too well, when he was just a power hungry boy looking to kill his only blood left and had run away with Orochimaru. He remembered the feeling of chains not literal ones, Orochimaru wasn't stupid, but he remembered the taste of feeling trapped, of being overwhelmed, and of hate. Sasuke had forgotten how dramatic Konoha could be. They had to know if Sasuke didn't want to be taken, he wouldn't be. He would die before submitting forcefully to any one village or man. He had murdered the strongest shinobi he had ever known, his own brother at that, so these precautions while he understood the need for them he deemed them unnecessary. The sound of arguing pulled Sasuke from his thoughts. They were approaching the Hokage's office.

"We cannot afford to put the village at risk any further Lady Tsunade." He heard someone yell.

"While I'm still Hokage, how about you try NOT telling me what to do!" Sasuke heard the room go quiet and looked at Kakashi who was just facing the door looking down at the chains in his hand. Before Kakashi could knock the door swung open, and there in all his non-wondrous glory was the brown haired black eyed Osaki. Sasuke was the least bit pleased.

For a second their eyes met, both expressionless and the same. Osaki shook his head, he really couldn't stand the Uchiha. He didn't feel sorry for the things he had said to Tsunade. With everything going on the Uchiha had chosen the worst possible time to return.

"And just where do you think you're going brat?" Tsunade called out picking up a book and chucking it at the brown haired man. Sasuke didn't bother looking back he could hear the book connect and a thump follow.

"Now onto more pressing matters….Uchiha-san we have much to talk about. Come. Sit!" Tsunade said motioning with her hand to come forward. She poured him a glass of sake and handed the cup to Kakashi who held it to his lips and allowed him to drink. Her office was messy, books and scrolls everywhere. The wooden table full of empty bottles of Sake. Kakashi had been in the Hokage's office more often than not and no matter how much poor Shizune had tried to keep it clean, Lady Tsunade was more of a pig than her pig.

"Once Osaki closes the door we can begin," she said glaring at him. He closed the door quickly.

"Uchiha-san, you're an S-Rank ninja I'm sure you remember what that means. If we had Z you'd be Z but S is top tier. I'm not going to jerk you around, I'm the only thing standing between the council and your execution and even they don't like me that much. Apparently I was too sweet on the kid. But I don't have that same sweetness for you, I Let Naruto chase you for years but that time has passed. Do you realize what this means for yourself?" Sasuke gave a stern look and nodded to the princess. He wasn't Shikamaru but he was good at calculated moves, he knew the sacrifice.

"Good I'm glad you understand. The only thing of value that you can give the village is an heir. Are you prepared to do this?"

Sasuke could feel the eyes of Osaki and Kakashi burning into his skull. "Yes, it is my intention to produce an heir, with the most prominent bloodline in the village."

"The Hyuuga's?" Tsunade asked. Sasuke smirked at this and shook his head.

"No," he said. "The Namikaze."

Tsunade poured herself a cup of sake, normally Shizune would do such chores but she was home sick. 'He couldn't possibly know' she thought to herself. The idea that Sasuke was somehow able to obtain the information that Naruto was a descendant of the fourth, wasn't something she was astounded by, more like worried. If this became public knowledge she's not sure how the council would react let alone the other countries. Sand she imagined wouldn't really care, Gaara was a friend but the other 3 they could barely agree on what snow tasted like at the last summit. The other villages had already threatened with talks of war if they kept a Jinchuriki that's why naru….

"Hokage-san." Tsunade heard the Anbu captain call out. "Please forgive the intrusion but…"

"Kakashi." She cut him off. "How tight are Sasuke's bonds?" Kakashi shook the chains in his hand for the Hokage to see. "Tighten them please." Kakashi tightened the chains to death defying grip that all seemed to not bother the raven in the least. His smirk had stopped though his eyes had grown quite droopy. Tsunade knew the sleeping medicine she slipped in his sake earlier had begun to work and the Uchiha would be out any second.

"Continue Osaki." Tsunade said but before he could open his mouth the raven was out cold.

"Ah….Baa-chan how much did you give him?" Osaki called out poking the raven's side with a nearby scroll. "I think he's dead."

"What'd ya call me brat?" she said chucking another book off her desk. Hitting the target dead on. Kakashi chuckled at the scene. 'Just like old times' he thought to himself watching Osaki nurture the second large bump on his head.

"Please don't address me so formally brat or the whole village will know."

"Yeah. Yeah" Osaki replied. "What do you want to do with the Uchiha?"

"What we usually do with S-rank ninja," Kakashi intervened, "take them to the wanderer's whole."

Tsunade shook her head agreeing with Kakashi's suggestion. "There's one more thing we need to discuss."

"Whats that?" Oskai asked.

"Naruto." Tsunade answered. Kakashi looked at them both.

"As far as I'm concerned. He's dead and that's the way he's going to have to stay for now. Trial or Not." Osaki added.

"Sasuke's here for him." Tsunade said slamming her hands down on the table, pulling herself out of her chair. Kakashi watched as Osaki picked the Uchiha up and slung him over his shoulder before saying. "Uchiha's nothing more than a traitor, he can't be trusted. He has no future in this village."

"And if the council decides what you say is true?" Kakashi questioned the brown haired man as he opened the door with the sleeping raven.

"I'll kill him myself."

Sasuke could feel, a throbbing in his neck. 'That damn Tsunade' he thought to himself, he knew that sake tasted funny but he figure she just drank the strong stuff. Sasuke groggily opened his eyes, it was night time now and he was somewhere in the middle of the Forrest on the back of a stranger being transported to God knows where. Sasuke could see the moon illuminating the Forrest with its light. He could almost forget that he was bound and appreciate the sight. Almost. Then he smelt it, the ramen on the man's breath and for a second he had hoped it was Naruto but when he lifted himself to look at the blonde, he was told to 'keep still' and he knew it had to be Osaki besides who else would they entrust with transporting him than with an Anbu Captain.

Sasuke used his center to lift himself up from being slung over the man's shoulder. Osaki stopped for a second allowing the raven to reposition himself. Sasuke put his chained arms around the man's neck, positioning himself as if getting a piggy back ride. As soon as Sasuke settled in Osaki continued on their journey jumping from tree to tree. Sasuke didn't very much like the idea of riding on another man's back but he had little to no choice, he could try and break free from the chains, but what would that mean if it ended in him being right where he started , outside of the leaf village without Naruto, speaking of which…

"Hiseki….." Sasuke called to the brown haired man. Wanting to annoy him. "Kiseki?"

"Hosaki? No wait I got it," the raven said, "Guy Saki." Osaki almost stumbled out of the tree, he was more than annoyed at the wrong names the raven was calling him.

"That's not my name."

"I have to take a piss."

"You can wait."

"Well if you feel something warm and wet going down your back, I warned you Guy Saki"

"You wouldn't dare," Osaki threatened,

"I would."

Osaki stopped in a pit of frustration, he almost jumped down so he could allow the raven to take the much needed piss he'd been annoying him over, but they were almost there and Kakashi wasn't far behind. 30 more minutes and they'd be at wanderer's pass. Sasuke could wait.

"We're almost there Uchiha, you can hold it."

"You're going to regret that decision."

"Oh really now? Why…" but Osaki wasn't able to finish, Sasuke had tied the chains on his hands around his throat, and used his body weight to pull back and they both went flying out from the tree down to the ground with a thud. Osaki groaned in pain on the damp Forrest floor, 'fucking Uchiha' he thought to himself. He picked himself up and dusted off his clothes. He could hear the jingle of the chains behind him and turned to face the raven who was up against a tree relieving himself.

"I told you." The raven said, securing himself away. "You'd regret it."

"You're lucky I just don't kill you now." Osaki replied.

"Giving out empty threats are we?"

"Just Promises."

The raven smirked at his reply. "That's a lot of talk for going against someone all tied up."

"You think you can beat me Uchiha go for it. We both know you can get out of those chains anytime you want."

"I'm glad you noticed." Sasuke said breaking the chains on his hands. He had already broke the chakra ward when they fell down.

"Now," Sasuke said. "What do you know of Naruto?"

Osaki shook his head at the mention of that name. 'He's never going to let that go,' he thought to himself. 'The whole village will burn if he doesn't.' Osaki sighed. He had been feeling extremely exhausted as of late and dealing with what he assumed was a rare form of an Uchiha in love, he did not have the energy to entertain the questions he had been asking. And so he was forced to tell him what everyone else with the clearance to know knew, what he had been told to do.

"Naruto is dead. I killed him." Osaki prepared himself to be attacked, waiting for a response from the raven. But nothing happened a minute or two had to pass before he saw the raven smile and laugh, as out of character as it was for the constantly brooding raven.

"You really expect me to believe that?" Sasuke questioned sarcastically. "You killed the strongest shinobi in the world?"

"You really don't believe me do you?" Osaki said. "Let me tell you a little bit about the Anbu culture. You know we glorify the bingo book? Anytime strong adversaries are killed we take a trophy." He noticed the raven had stopped laughing. "If only as proof that we've done the things we said we've done and also to prove to superiors these great warriors really are dead, "Osaki said turning his back to the raven.

"For example when I killed your right hand Juugo. I took one of his stone spikes right out of his back before he reverted to his natural form. He was a great warrior but nothing for me to handle." Osaki could feel the Raven's intense gaze upon him. He was sure that even if his chakra had been sealed for hours it was returning to him, he could practically see the glow of red. That, after all, was the reason he had turned his back.

"Are you upset Uchiha?" Osaki asked. "Do you see where I'm going with this conversation?"

Sasuke was caught off at this sudden confession. Juugo dead? He must've been discovered, but dead? Sasuke normally wouldn't care, but Juugo despite being a great annoyance had always been loyal, which is why his disappearance had troubled him. But even still what the brown haired man was concluding… he… 'No' Sasuke thought. He could feel a fire in his veins ignite he had only felt such hatred towards his brother but he had to know…

"And what trophy did you take from Naruto?" The raven questioned but Osaki did not answer with words… Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace and hung it in the Forrest light just high enough for Sasuke to see the jewels bluish glimmer….And in an instant Sasuke blacked out in a fit of rage.

Kakashi was leisurely jumping through the trees, he had stayed behind to talk to Lady Tsunade without Osaki, and he needed guidance on what to do. While he loved his entire team, he did not want to keep secrets for one person that would torture the other. He hadn't expected Sasuke to return and the things he said, having an heir, with Naruto he assumed wouldn't play out in his favor, what with their current situation and all. He reflected on the things Tsunade had to say…

'The copycat ninja staying to seek my council, well I thought I'd never see the day'

'This is getting out of hand Hokage.' Kakashi responded.

'While I agree with your assessment I'm not sure what you expect me to do about it for now. Until we can figure out which council members are rallying behind our backs, Osaki stays the way he is.' Tsunade replied.

'I'll kill them all.'

'And when the families withdraw their support, the entire village will collapse. This is a time game. Osaki is this close.' Tsunade motioned with her left hand creating a small gap between her thumb and index finger. 'This close to being pulled into the fold and finding out who called for the death of all Jinchuriki.

'And with the return of Sasuke?' Kakashi asked. Studying the current Kage.

'Time just started running out...'

"Boom." Kakashi heard and the night lit up in front of him in a flash pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up at the sky, there wasn't a single cloud or storm in sight. Kakashi was able to conclude exactly where the lightning came from. 'Shit.' He thought to himself and began speeding towards what he was sure as the attempted murder of Osaki.

Author's Notes:

The Next Chapter will be up soon.

-Swisz phantom