A/N: Sorry for how long this has took—I've been really busy, and all of my stories were on hiatus. It's a somewhat crappy chapter, but heck, exposition is necessary, and I did my best to make it interesting. Now that I'm back(ish), I think I need to make clear a major change I have made to the plotline of Naruto for the sake of this story:

Although it is set several years in the future, Sasuke did not leave for Orochimaru's place right after the Chuunin exams. He stuck around for a little bit longer, only to be plagued with intense jealousy at his friend's growing power. When Naruto stepped into the position of Hokage, fulfilling his lifelong dream, Sasuke recognized that his goal of killing his brother was going to remain unrealized unless he did something drastic about it.

Other things have been changed as well, but they will come up in the story.

Ja ne.

---

"Victim: Haruno Sakura. Aged 18, as of March 28. Resides alone in Apartment 312B, West-Central Konoha. Her only relatives are parents: Haruno Masaru, deceased, and Haruno Azami, aged 51. Found unconscious by Hyuuga Hanabi, age 13, on the morning of Friday, October 22. Victim received several blows to the head and neck from one Uchiha Sasuke, also age 18, resulting in intense bruising and possible internal bleeding. Victim also suffers psychological damage, such as lack of responsiveness, amnesia and a severe state of confusion. From a brief session of questioning, ANBU also believes that rape may have taken place-- "

"That's enough, thank you," Uzumaki Naruto broke in, almost choking on the command.

The ANBU agent nodded silently, the expressionless mask mocking the passionate emotions that raged through Naruto. Briefly, the Hokage wondered if ANBU ever got personally involved in the many cases they handled.

"Bring her in," he said, shoving the report aside, not wanting to believe it, not allowing the cruel words to sink in. This couldn't be real: Not Sakura-chan. Not Sasuke. Not the dearest people to him in the world.

For the first time, he understood Granny Tsunade's reluctance in becoming Hokage. In all his dreams of earning power and glory along with the role, he never figured on having to send out a team of elite shinobi after his best friend with intent to capture or kill, or interrogate the girl he had loved since childhood on whether said best friend had— No, he couldn't think it. He couldn't! It wasn't true, none of it was. In a moment, Sakura would stomp through the doors with her head held high, her green eyes flashing. She would come right up to his cluttered desk, grab him by the collar and then punch the snot out of him, screaming, "BAKA! Sasuke-kun would never, never…"

"Rokudaime-sama." The cold voice of the masked policeman broke the stillness. Somehow, he had reentered the office without making a sound, which was believable for an ANBU agent but not—

"Sakura-chan?" Was that his voice crackling like a thirteen year-old's? The girl that stood, head bowed and hands clasped limply in front, dejected, disheveled-- Sakura? She had shoulder-length cherry-colored hair, yes, but it was tangled and matted, in a state that Sakura would never allow with her prized tresses. The familiar creamy skin was blotted with dark contusions, the jade eyes lacked fire, lacked strength and intelligence; lacked life.

Naruto felt something cold rise in his throat. His Sakura, his precious blossom, had wilted.

And then, his eye caught a few words of the ANBU police report. No. She had not wilted.

She had been trampled upon. Crushed, broken, destroyed by the man he called 'brother.' All the childish rivalry and resentment he had ever held for Sasuke was nothing in comparison to what he felt stirring now.

The Hokage rose to his full height, now an impressive 6' 2", his entire body shaking with fury. He would spare no Jounin in Konoha in the formation of the squad, with orders to bring Sas…him back alive and healthy—Naruto desperately wanted to do the dirty work himself.

But first, there was a more pressing matter to attend to.

"What was her mother's address again?"

---

"Haruno-san, please!"

"No! I refuse to spend the rest of my life playing nursemaid for a fool!" Azami's wrinkles settled into a look of indignation that Naruto knew well. Although, he thought with a wave of nostalgia, in his experience it had been worn by her daughter, who now stood silently behind him, unruffled by the older woman's outburst.

In fact, the 'fool' in question had been deathly quiet since the moment she had entered the Hokage's office earlier that morning—no, not deathly! He quickly changed the adjective to peaceful, for Sakura had seemed very tranquil in comparison to her volatile former self. But he'd give anything to be insulted again, or slugged, or belittled, only if Sakura would be Sakura just once more.

Azami began sliding her front door closed, but Naruto caught it and tried pushing it in the opposite direction. If begging doesn't work, pull out the trump card. "As your Hokage, I order you…"

"Oh, Hokage nothing!" she snapped, applying her considerable weight to the task. "I won't take orders from brats like you, you son of a--" Her sentence was cut off as the door suddenly gave and slammed shut noisily on her fingers.

"Haruno-senpai!" Naruto shouted over the tumult of swearing that filtered through the barrier, wondering if he should cover Sakura's ears. She's probably used to it. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," he said, trying to decide on the best explanation of her mother's cold dismissal.

"So-rry?" Her question was slow, halting, and she was concentrating hard on forming each syllable.

His chest and throat simultaneously twisted up into a huge, throbbing knot at the vacant, remote expression in her eyes.

"Never mind."

---

"This, then, is the situation." Somehow, the story seemed less valid after explaining it to others. He felt utterly detached from reality, devoid of all feeling. Empty.

The large office, full of familiar and unknown faces, seemed foreign to Naruto, as if in a dream. He swiveled slowly, looking from person to person, trying to read their expressions. Something he had never been very good at, a fact that was accentuated by the impassive features habitual of the Hyuuga clan. A few seemed confused and frightened—Hinata and her younger sister, (Hana--oh, what was her name again?), shared the same appearance of horror and misery. Several of the older countenances seemed weary or uninterested, wondering what they had to do with all this rigmarole. And finally, there were the stoic faces of the Hyuuga elders and, worst of all, Neji, who seemed as even-keel as if they were merely discussing the latest in Turkish bathrobes.

Did he not care at all? The taciturn Hiashi and the older Hyuugas, Naruto could understand, but Neji, who had fought beside Sakura, who had known her all these years, didn't even feel remorseful? The two had never been close—distant acquaintances at the best, but she was a Konoha kunoichi, and his duty was to protect, wasn't it?

Naruto could not take the stillness another second—it was unbearable looking into the dead, expressionless eyes of his former opponent. Had he not changed at all since the Chuunins so many years ago?

"Well? Say something for Kyuubi's sake!"

"H-how could anyone--" Hinata broke off, pale features contorting at the thought of such cruelty.

"I say we give that cow pie the whipping he deserves!" This outburst merited Hanabi a swat on the hand from an aged crone to her right. They exchanged scowls until Hanabi broke the gaze and faded into the back of the office, sulking.

"With all respects, Rokudaime-san, you have spent much of our time explaining a state of affairs many of us were already aware of, and none at all ramifying what Hyuuga has to do with any of it."

The Hokage had to blink several times before he was halfway sure what the senior clan member was saying.

Mercifully, Hiashi slipped into command. "Uzumaki-san asked Hyuuga's attendance because of the connection we have with the incident. The victim was discovered on the borders of our property, and it is Hyuuga's duty to guard Konohagakure from attackers that might enter through the Western gate, as well as any that might attempt leaving through it. In fact, there have been questions posed concerning the efficiency of the night watch."

Neji stiffened, his jaw line tightening, cold orbs hardening.

"Also, the offender in question is a member of the Uchiha family, possibly the last, and a distant relation to Hyuuga itself." He frowned slightly, as if reviled by his statement. A very distant relation.

Naruto had partially collected his spinning wits, and was grudgingly indebted to the austere clan leader for the use of his authority. "So, this brings us to the point."

He cleared his throat, knowing he was about to enter difficult territory. "Due to the trauma of her experience, Sakura-san is no longer able to care for herself. She needs a warden who can look after her until she fully regains her faculties. I have spoken with her mother, but Haruno-san is… less than enthusiastic, and claims to be incapable at providing the correct amount of attention. With your connection to the incident, I was wondering--"

"As always, Konoha wants Hyuuga to clean up its messes." Hiashi's stony features gave the Hokage all the answer he needed.

"Tou-san!" Hinata gaped, distressed by his apathy. "W-What?"

"Hinata." His command was not barked, but her father didn't even have to raise his voice to receive utter compliance. Hinata's head bowed and she came to Hiashi's side in submissive silence. "I am afraid that Hyuuga cannot be of assistance to you in this. We are not a clan of guardians, but of warriors. We have no room for the weak." He turned to his family, signaling that they were finished here.

"That is untrue, Hiashi-sama!"

Hiashi wheeled, a look of icy wrath spread across his proud brow, but his nephew did not back down. "Dono, you are wrong."

"You are out of place, Neji-kohai!"

"Dono-senpai, you are wrong," he repeated, shaking his head emphatically. "Hyuuga is a clan of guardians, as much as we are warriors. It is the branch family's duty to protect the head, just as the head watches over the branch."

"Silence!"

"This woman has been victimized by one of our kinsmen-- does dono-senpai refuse to do anything to repair the damage?"

"That is enough!" Faster than eyes could see, the Clan Leader's hands flew in the formation of a seal, and with a gruesome, throttled cry Neji fell to his knees, fingers clasping at his pulsing temples. "It is time you learn your place." The hardness in his features remained, but Hiashi had seamlessly regained his composure.

Naruto watched in revulsion as the prodigy of Hyuuga foamed in wordless agony, writhing, gasping under the grip of the curse seal.

A caged bird indeed.

---

The stone faces of the past Hokages fell into shadow as the glowing sun disappeared behind their mountain. The Sixth watched the light slip away for yet another night, and found himself gazing up at his idols, searching their silent images for guidance, as he had often done.

Sarutobi, what would you do for Sakura? What can I do for her? Baa-chan, she was your beloved apprentice, your greatest student. Can't you give me a hint?

But Tsunade said nothing, mocking him across the years with a smile that was as bittersweet as her memory. Then-- You figure it out, stupid.

I've tried! I have, really! Despair settled in his chest, weighing down on him harder than any burden he had ever borne. I tried.

"Rokudaime-san."

He whirled at the address, jolted out of the stillness of his reverie. "Hiashi!"

A perfectly tapered eyebrow raised, threatening a frown, and Naruto amended quickly. "Hiashi-sama. What are you…"

"After reconsidering your proposal, Hyuuga has elected that one of our branch family members will be Haruno-san's caretaker, at least until she 'fully regains her faculties,' as I believe you put it. At that time period, Hyuuga will no longer claim responsibility for her. I will need you to authorize these papers, saying that you willingly entrust her to us."

All of a sudden, the length and many shocks of the day became too much. Naruto collapsed into his seat, flabbergasted as the Leader strode noiselessly to his desk, sliding a file across it expectantly. "Wait, Sama! Who am I entrusting Sakura to?"

"Don't worry, he is a responsible, if headstrong shinobi, and your teammate will be safe under his protective eye." The Hokage could have sworn he detected a smirk underneath the serene exterior. "After all, my nephew has demonstrated his personal interest in her welfare. Stamp here--" indicating the document, which read in some impressive jargon that Hyuuga Neji was to be Haruno Sakura's official legal guardian, until Hokage-sama himself annulled the papers.

In a daze, Naruto slammed his seal down on the dotted line.

"Arigato, Rokudaime-san." He turned, and without another word, made his way to the door.