Spiral
Callista Miralni
Disclaimer: Sada is mine. XP
We're on a roll!
Okay, so technically, the last chapter didn't count. But whatever! New stuff, new stuff!
*dances*
HUZZAH!
BY THE WAY: I am fully aware that all of you are freaking out right now. But the site wouldn't let me send out a new notice about the NEW Chapter One, so I double posted to let you all know. ^^ BREATHE DEEPLY.
Chapter Two: Blending In
"Do you have a reading?" The wolf-masked ANBU asked.
"We found him. Where is the retrieval team?"
"A klick behind us. Spread the the perimeter and make sure he doesn't escape."
"Hatake-sempai," The wolf said. "Clearing ahead. Good luck."
Running through the treetops, Hatake Kakashi narrowed his visible eye but he easily responded, "Ah... hai, hai. Thank you for the well-wishes."
Behind him, a teen with a shock of bright blonde hair pumped more chakra to his legs as he increased his speed.
"Sasuke."
Sadako groaned and opened her eyes. Blinking away the heavy sleep pulling at her mind, she stared at the familiar white ceiling of the hospital. She felt like she was in a nightmare and had the pounding headache to prove it.
Kami-sama, it felt so real... The girl covered her eyes with a hand. What was that?
The images of a much younger version of her mother and Naruto-jii-sama, along with the only image she knew of her father arguing over tomatoes at dinner...
Her father training her in the Uchiha Katon jutsus in the old Training Field Three...
Her parents sharing a breathtaking kiss at an aristocratic ball...
Orochimaru bombarding the city with Oto nin...
"How are you feeling?"
The girl's head darted in the direction of the voice, the images dissipating from her mind. She sighed in relief at the sight of the familiar face. Although... she looked younger than Sadako remembered. Was memory failing the girl?
"Like I've been hit with a thousand bricks. How long have I been out?" She answered wryly, sitting up.
"I'm the one asking the questions here." Senjuu Tsunade snapped. "But you've been out for three days, Little Girl."
Sadako frowned. Didn't Tsunade-obaa-sama know her like her own grandchild? Why did she act like she had no idea who Sadako was?
The pounding in her head intensified.
"Tsunade-baa-sama, this isn't funny. You know who I am; you delivered me in the hospital."
"I have no idea who you are, Little Girl, but I suggest you start telling me the truth or the ANBU will be in here quicker than you can say 'no'."
Tsunade's threat was one Sadako knew firsthand was plausible. Once, when she was eight, a missing-nin who was recovering from the hospital refused to answer the Godaime's questions and cooperate. The ANBU really were in there before Tsunade could say "no." Her mother had to restrain the ANBU from slicing off her patient's head, never mind the fact that the said patient was a missing-nin.
Frustrated, Sadako started flexing and stretching her fingers, a soothing habit her mother often tried to break her of.
The Godaime Hokage's eyes softened. "Let's start over. Your name?"
"Uchiha Sadako."
Her eyebrow raised at the surname but Tsunade continued. "How old are you?"
"I'll be thirteen in July."
"Where do you come from?"
"Konohagakure no Sato."
Frowning, the Hokage asked, "Who is the current Hokage?"
"Kakashi-ojii-sama is the Rokudaime."
Does this girl think I'm stupid or what? Tsunade wondered. Time for a new tactic.
"Do you know of a man named Orochimaru?"
At this, Sadako laughed harshly. "What a question Tsunade-baa-sama. Alright, I'll play along with this ridiculous charade of yours. Do I know of Orochimaru? Better than most Genin. He tried to kidnap me when I was five, although nobody but Kakashi-jii-sama knows, and he tried to curse me during the second part of the Chuunin exams, which is how I ended up in the hospital in the first place. He broke my mother's heart and tore my family to pieces. He is the reason people whisper and call us the traitor's whore and bastard in the streets. He destroyed my life before I had the chance to live it. Orochimaru is the parasite holding my father hostage and I swore to kill him the day I graduated from the Academy. Do I know him? Yes."
Exasperated, Tsunade rubbed her forehead. Things still didn't add up. Thirteen years ago, Orochimaru was still in possession of his original body. As of right now, there are only two Uchihas left in the world. Only one question left to ask then.
"Who are your parents?"
Sadako rolled her onyx eyes in exasperation but held back the caustic remark.
"Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura."
The Godaime's breath caught in her throat.
What the hell is going on?
Humming to herself, Haruno Sakura basked in the warm heat of her ramen bowl.
"Ne, ne Sakura-" Yamanaka Ino sank into the chair next to hers and ordered a bowl of beef ramen. "Where is the rest of your illustrious team?"
Pouting, Sakura irritably answered, "They're out on a S-class mission with the ANBU... without me. Tsunade-shishou wouldn't let me go."
"What?" Ino looked scandalized. "That's like... blasphemy! That's like breathing without your lungs! What was Tsunade-sama thinking?"
The coral-haired medic didn't seem to hear her friend. "But noooo..." She broke her chopsticks in half and picked up a noodle. "I have to stay at home like a good girl and heal sniveling men trying to make a pass at my ass!"
Sweatdropping at the rage Sakura had worked herself into, Ino sipped her broth quietly.
"You could always threaten castration." Ino suggested.
Viridian green darkened. "Don't think that hasn't crossed my mind."
"Come out Naruto."
The blonde Jinchuuriki stiffened before stepping out form behind the treeline.
"Sasuke."
The Uchiha prodigy glared at his so-called best friend. "I thought I told you to leave me alone."
"I'm not going to give up on you!"
Sneering, Sasuke drew his katana. "Then I should kill you now before you interfere with my life anymore than you already have. You'd think you would have taken the hint six months ago but..." His eyes glittered humorously... dangerously. "I forgot how stupid you are usurakontachi."
"Now, now Sasuke... let's not be hasty." Kakashi stepped out from his hiding place with Sai following right behind him.
"Kakashi. And my replacement." The teen coldly acknowledged.
"Why the hell do you stay with that freak?" Naruto yelled. "What do you have to gain from him?"
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand Sasuke!"
Sighing, Sasuke ran his thumb along the edge of his katana. "Power and strength." He answered absentmindedly. "But I'm stronger than him and I'll kill him when he's at his weakest." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "We've been through this before usurakontachi; how many times do I have to say it before it penetrates through your thick skull."
"That's what she said." Sai suddenly remarked.
All heads turned to look at the artist-nin. "What?" The teen smiled cluelessly.
"You... never mind Sai." Kakashi shook his head. "I'll explain later."
Obsidian swept through the members of the Hokage's appointed retrieval squad. "Is this everybody? Where is Sakura?"
"None of your business Emo Prince." Sai smiled again.
Sasuke growled at the nickname. "What. Did. You. Call. Me?"
Sweatdropping, Kakashi stepped in between the two raven-haired males. "Ahahahaha... don't mind me. He doesn't get the whole bubble thing."
"I'm going to kill him."
"You can't!" Naruto jumped in between Kakashi and Sasuke. "Baa-chan has a sweet deal for you!"
"The Hokage can't offer me anything!" Sasuke snarled.
Kakashi leered. "Oh but I think she can."
"Uchiha? Uchiha Sasuke?"
Irritated, Sadako held her temper in check. "Yes, that's what I said. You know that already."
"Look Little Girl-" Tsunade was obviously rattled. "I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play but Uchiha Sasuke is only fifteen and in no position to be procreating."
What? What do you mean he's only fifteen? Sadako thought. My father is twenty-nine!
"Hokage-sama..." She frowned. "What is the today's date and time?"
Tsunade sighed impatiently before answering, "It's Tuesday, March 18th, in the third year of the Godaime. The current time is 6:30 pm. Satisfied Little Girl?"
The Uchiha's breath caught in her throat. When she and the rest of Team Seven had been caught by Orochimaru, it had been around 6:30 pm, March 15th, in the third year of the Rokudaime.
"Oh God..." Sadako groaned and rubbed her temples.
The memories before she woke up in the hospital came rushing back to her. Sadako remembered seeing Orochimaru for the second time in her life, remembered seeing her father, remembered falling, Akihiro and Takashi screaming, remembered that soft voice whispering...
Fourteen years ago.
"Oh God..." She repeated.
"Hurry it up Little Girl, I don't have all day."
Breathing deep, Sadako tried to sort through everything again and reach a logical conclusion. The last thing she remembered was Orochimaru trying to curse her and the blinding pain, the bright white light that emanated from her necklace and that voice, that soft, girlish voice whispering, whispering, whispering fourteen years ago...
"I'm in the past." She realized. "He sent me back in the past..."
Tsunade was surprised to hear her speak. "What?"
Onyx eyes—eyes the Hokage had only seen in Uchiha Sasuke—gazed at her frightfully. "My name is Uchiha Sadako." The girl whispered. "I'm turning thirteen on July 27th. My parents are Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke. My Jonin instructor is Hyuuga Neji and my teammates are Mitarashi Akihiro and Yuuhi Takashi. We're Team Seven. And before I ended up in the past, we were in the Forest of Death for the second part of the Chuunin exams."
"I don't belong here."
Tsunade's breath caught in her throat. Seeing this obviously proud child look so lost before her strengthened her hate against her former teammate. Did that bastard have no qualms about using children as a means to further his sick experiments? Obviously not. Look at Mitarashi Anko. Look at Uchiha Sasuke. Look at this girl.
"So he perfected it after all." Tsunade muttered, thinking about the rumors she heard about a time-travel jutsu Orochimaru was supposedly working on.
Sakura shrugged on her white medical coat and began her evening rounds. So far, everything was in order. The patients were all resting quietly and no one had been complaining of anything.
A boring day at the hospital.
She figured that would all change once Naruto and the ANBU squad he went with returned home. The ANBU couldn't let a mission go buy without someone ending up with injuries. It was a running gag in the Black Ops—if no one was hurt on a mission, then it wasn't an ANBU operation.
Sakura could care less for the joke, except for the fact that it drained her of chakra for a day afterwards and earned her a nice fat bonus from Tsunade-shishou.
Speaking of Shishou, where was she anyways? Sakura looked in her office earlier, wanting to ask for a new medical text to read to pass the boring evening shift, but the Hokage was no where to be found. Shizune-sempai didn't even know where their teacher was.
The next room on her list was heavily guarded by two masked ANBU. She focused her gaze on them, waiting for them to let her pass.
"Am I allowed to pass?" Sakura finally asked when her glare bounced off of them like rain on a poncho.
"Sorry Haruno-sensei." The cat-masked one said. "Tsunade-sama said she has to deal with this patient personally."
A frown creased her brow. "Who is the patient?"
"We don't know. That's classified information. Although, they say the Hokage herself brought the patient in three nights ago. She can't be dangerous; I wouldn't worry too much Haruno-sensei."
"Hmm..." Sakura could hear the voice of her mentor speaking in soft undertones. Straining her ears, she finally picked up on the even softer voice of the patient.
"A girl?" She asked incredulously.
"Like we said," The rabbit-masked ANBU laughed. "We don't know."
How strange.
Onyx eyes wide, Sasuke almost relaxed his guard.
"What can the Hokage offer me that I can't obtain on my own?"
"Good. You're interested." Kakashi grinned widely.
The teen scowled. "I never said that."
Wagging a finger, Kakashi said, "Not true. You're my student Sasuke; I know you. If you weren't interested, then you would have attacked already. But since you asked a question, it means you are interested."
Sasuke's frown deepened and his grip on Kusanagi tightened. The slight movement did not escape Kakashi's notice.
"The Hogake grants you amnesty, full access to our resources and information, as well as assistance if needed to hunt down Uchiha Itachi." The Jonin hurriedly answered Sasuke's question.
It sounded too good to be true.
"What's the catch?"
This time, Naruto spoke up. "Come home and stay home."
"And sit through your trial like a good little boy." Sai piped up.
"You're not helping Sai!"
Tsunade frowned. "You're... from the future."
The arrogant gleam had returned to her eyes. "Yes." Sadako snapped.
"How did you get here?"
"I told you already." She said irritated. Tsunade couldn't help but be reminded of Uchiha Sasuke when this child became angry. "Orochimaru tried to curse me but before the seal could form, some light erupted from this"—She pointed out the necklace around her throat, the one her mother gave her before the Second Exam—"necklace and I ended up here in the hospital fourteen years before."
Tsunade studied the girl for a moment before sighing and drawing up a chair beside the bed. "Don't make me regret this Little Girl, but I'm going to believe you only because I've heard of the forbidden jutsu you spoke of. But I have no idea what to do with you either once you recover from the hospital. You're going to need an alias—people will panic at the sight of anyone bearing the Uchiha fan nowadays. And you can't be a ninja for the time being either—according to our records, you haven't enrolled in the Academy."
Sadako sighed, wanting to throw a fit but her mother's quiet chastisement rang through her head before she made a spectacle of herself. If there is nothing you can do, Haruno Sakura often lectured her hot-tempered daughter, then accept it with grace and dignity.
"I suppose that's alright Hokage-sama." The girl looked down at her hands in her lap. "I guess I can only be grateful that you believe me in the first place. When do I get out of here anyways?"
Tsunade was reminded of her student with that resigned statement. Smiling a little to herself, the Hokage couldn't help but think: This really is Sakura's daughter... she has that same dignified grace. And the Uchiha's kid, trying to escape the hospital as fast as possible. Hopefully, this one will not escape out the window.
"Not for a couple weeks at least." Tsunade finally said. "Things are kinda crazy around here and you're one of our less serious patients. You're going to—for the most part—have to heal on your own. And-"
"Hokage-sama!" A messenger burst into the room, out of breath. "We have an urgent situation here!"
Tsunade stood up and snapped, "What is it Rukia? It better be important."
"It's Team Kakashi, Hokage-sama." The nurse said. "They're back. And they have Uchiha Sasuke with them."
The Hokage swore under her breath. "They were supposed to be gone for another two weeks." She muttered. The woman continued muttering under her breath, but all Sadako caught was, "we are not prepared for this" and "Where is Shizune when I need her? I'm in desperate need for a cup of sake right now."
"I'll be right back Little Girl."
Sakura was curled up on the couch in the doctor's lounge when Rukia, a nurse at the hospital, burst into the room.
"Haruno-sensei!" The woman cried in relief.
Without looking up from her manga, Sakura absentmindedly corrected her. "It's Sakura, Rukia-san."
"Sakura-sensei!" Rukia corrected. "Did you hear the news?"
That caught her attention. "Was I supposed to hear the news?"
"Well, probably not." The nurse answered sheepishly. "But I think you of all people would have known already since it is your team and all."
My team...?
"Are Naruto and the others back already?" Sakura rose from her seat and put the book down on the table. "I thought they were supposed to be gone for a while..."
Nodding vigorously, Rukia answered, "That's what Tsunade-sama said too. She's in her office with Team Kakashi right now but she wants you to look over the ANBU squad that went with them and do a routine checkup. One of them was complaining of stomach pains when they arrived."
"Hn." Sakura hummed to herself, sounding uncannily like her old teammate and the boy she never really got over. "I guess I'll go check them out. Thanks Rukia-san." She strode across the room to the door, pulling on her lab coat as she went.
"No problem Sakura-sensei! I'm sure you're excited to see them, with Uchiha Sasuke back and all."
Her grip on the handle slipped. "Wha-wha-what? Uchiha Sasuke is here?"
Uchiha Sasuke, tied in a neat bundle, sat in a chair across from the one other teen he would have, had it not been for the unfavorable circumstances, called his best friend.
"Sasuke…. Teme…. Have no idea how much you worried me…" Naruto began to say, the first real words Naruto had to say to him outside the Hokage's prearranged bargain.
"Naruto… Dobe…. You have no idea how much you've pissed me off." Sasuke snapped. "I told you I'd go with you; are the ropes really necessary? If I knew you were going to tie me up and treat me like a common criminal, then maybe I should have stayed with Orochimaru instead."
"Maybe it's because we don't know what your word means anymore!" Naruto yelled back.
"What do you mean you don't know what my word is worth anymore? I'm an avenger; the promises I make have to be kept. Revenge is the only promise you know I will keep, the only promise I will do anything in order to achieve. Dobe, is it so hard to understand my revenge? Don't you understand that I have to put all of their souls to rest? Do you?"
"SHUT UP TEME!"
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU DOBE!"
"NOT IF I GET TO YOU FIRST SASUKE!"
"SHUT THE HELL UP NARUTO!"
"WHY DON'T YOU-"
"Ahem."
The two sixteen-year-olds looked up and glared at the source of the interruption, which happened to be the Hokage herself. Tsunade threw an equally dangerous and intimidating glare back and called over her shoulder, "Shizune! When I'm done with these two, make sure to bring me the strongest sake possible! This is too much for today!"
The Godaime sat behind her desk and rested her chin on her folded hands. "Report Hatake Kakashi."
Kakashi stood up straight, his orange novel tucked away out of sight. "Team Kakashi has successfully retrieved and persuaded Uchiha Sasuke, nukenin of Konohagakure no Sato, to return to his home village. He is willing to stand on trial in exchange for amnesty and assistance with the execution and termination of Uchiha Itachi."
The Hokage turned her gaze to the bound occupant in the room. Sasuke stared at her emotionlessly.
"Hmmm… so the Uchiha-gaki finally decided to return home. Anything you've got to say to save your sorry ass, Uchiha?"
Sasuke glared at the Hokage. "I don't like you."
Tsunade grinned. "Your trial's in two weeks. If the Council and I find enough reason and cause to execute you, there goes your revenge Uchiha. It's a pity your clan's going to die out because of your selfish desires. Your brother's as good as dead as soon as he killed the first Uchiha that night several years ago Sasuke. Don't think the Uchiha name will live on forever."
Tsunade stood up and made a move to leave her office. "Start thinking about your answers, Uchiha Sasuke. They alone will decide whether you can carry out your revenge or not."
-A week later-
Sadako focused her Sharingan eyes onto the ceiling and began to draw shapes in the cracks of the cement. A sudden noise startled the girl and her eyes quickly spun back to black as the Hokage entered the room.
"You need a name."
Sadako looked up in surprise. "You're seriously letting me stay?"
Tsunade sat down in the chair beside the bed and nodded. "Why so surprised? I said you could stay when you first came in here. Anyways, if things work out, next week I should have for you a private shinobi instructor and a guardian until you turn sixteen. But it is imperative that we decide on your name and your cover story or else you can't continue being a ninja."
Sadako turned away from the Godaime and stared out the window. Her eyes caught sight of the Uchiha fan glittering around her neck. Fingering the pendant, Sadako's sensitive fingers found the grooves of a spiraling leaf on the back of the fan.
"Chirasen. Chirasen Sadako. I'm an orphan diagnosed with a slight case of amnesia, the only things I remember were my training as a kunoichi and my name. I'm from a small shinobi village in Hi no Kuni that pledges their allegiance to Konoha."
Tsunade clapped her hands together. "Excellent. There's no information that could possibly give you away as a fake. But," Tsunade reached around the girl's neck to unclasp her necklace, "I'll have to take this."
Sadako made a face as she remembered the promise she swore to her mother about the Uchiha necklace. But I suppose it's for a good reason…
Uchiha Sasuke stared broodily at the walls of his prison. The faint clanging of steel bars alerted his mind that he had a visitor, but he paid no heed to the warning.
Grant you amnesty, information and assistance... my ass. All they've done is lock me up. What the hell was I thinking, going with Naruto and Kakashi like that? And... "if the Council finds cause to execute you," what the fuck is up with that? Freakin' hypocrites.
"Sasuke-kun."
That annoying familiar and sweet voice floated across his thoughts and the teen scowled in irritation.
"Sakura."
The kunoichi took that as an invitation to hesitantly step forward into the cell. "It's been a while Sasuke-kun."
The teen snorted. "You saw me six months ago Sakura. Remember? With Naruto and that kid."
Sakura's face scrunched up into a frown. "So? We didn't get to talk. All you did was insult me and brush me aside. Like you usually do Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke sat up and faced the girl. "Are you going to give me the 'friendship and loyalty' lecture or are you going to tell me about how I could've gotten strong here in Konoha? Save it if you are; Naruto already gave it."
Sakura shook her head. "No. I just came by while I was out on errands for my mom."
The two teens sat in silence. Sakura fidgeted in her place before she stuck her hand in a grocery bag and threw a red object across the cell to Sasuke.
"I'm sure this is the only decent thing you've had to eat in a while. See you later Sasuke-kun." She said before she turned on heel and left the ANBU Holding Facility.
Sasuke stared at the object Sakura threw to him before she left. He grinned faintly and took a bite out of the red fruit.
Tomatoes were, after all, his favorite food.
-The Night Before the Trial-
"Naruto."
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki turned around from his precarious perch on his porch and looked at the coral-haired medic who called his name.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Sakura sighed as she moved to stand beside her friend.
"Who? Sasuke? He'll be fine. Have a bit of faith." Naruto dismissed with a wave of his hand.
Sakura bit down on her lip and frowned. "He seems… upset. Being back here in Konoha with us."
Naruto stared at Sakura in disbelief. "But isn't that what you wanted? Isn't that what I wanted? To bring Sasuke back to Konoha to be with us?"
"Yeah, it's what we've always wanted and strived for, but what about him? Did we really make the wrong choice to try, and in your case, succeed, to bring him back?"
Naruto hugged Sakura in a brotherly embrace. "Have a little faith. You never know—Sasuke could surprise us with the answers he gives."
The hours before his trial, both Naruto and Sakura dropped by his cell to offer some words of encouragement. Although he had worn his usual mask of indifference, Sasuke was horribly nervous and was reduced to easing his worries by playing a one-sided game of catch with the brand-new tomato that Sakura had brought with her.
"Uchiha—it's time to go." One ANBU guard said gruffly as he undid the seal on his cell.
Sasuke stood up and stretched his screaming muscles. He would face this as another part of training, another obstacle he must face before Itachi would die.
Suddenly, as if by magic, Uchiha Sasuke wasn't so nervous anymore.
Sadako sat in the back of the trial room, hidden in the shadows. She watched with interest as she saw a younger version of her mother and Naruto-oji-sama take their places in the front row.
Okaa-sama and Naruto-oji-sama look so nervous…
"All arise for the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade-sama." A voice called from the front of the room.
Sadako stood up along with the rest of the audience. She could spot many familiar faces among the crowd gathered.
Is that Kakashi-ojii-sama? Kami-sama, he's on time…
"We will begin the hearing and questioning of Uchiha Sasuke, traitor of Konohagakure no Sato and student of the Snake Sannin, Orochimaru." Tsunade announced.
The doors at the back burst open and two ANBU Black Ops escorted the man whose features mirrored her own.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Sadako could only gape at the man. This was her father? The resemblance was too remarkable to be a lie but still…
Sadako shuddered as she remembered that this was the face that Orochimaru had worn when she last saw him. The sickly golden eyes were absent from the teen's face, but she couldn't help the note of fear that entered her heart when she saw Uchiha Sasuke.
"State your name." Tsunade commanded.
The teen looked up and coldly answered, "Uchiha Sasuke."
The trial had begun.
Sakura could only wring her hands in worry and anticipation as the list of questions became harder and more thought-provoking. The last question, "What sort of missions were you given as Orochimaru's pupil" had certainly gotten her worried and she could feel Naruto tense beside her.
Sasuke coolly looked at the questioner. "None."
The audience whispered in amazement. None? No missions what so ever? Then how on earth could he hone the skills that the Sannin had so diligently taught him if he could not employ them while on missions?
"It was too risky, according to Kabuto and Orochimaru. They were afraid that someone would kidnap me or I wouldn't come back if I left Otogakure. Besides, most people knew that Orochimaru had chosen me as his next host." Sasuke explained, his eyes not leaving Naruto's face.
Naruto grinned as he understood the hidden message. I'm that big of a risk factor in that Snake's plans huh?
Sakura breathed out a sigh of relief. So far so good. The impassive look on Tsunade-shishou's face had shown consideration for the Uchiha's release.
"Sasuke—I know you don't want to die. So let me ask you this-" Tsunade suddenly said.
Naruto became tense once again at the prospect of another deciding factor in Sasuke's sentence.
"Would you have gone to Orochimaru if the factor of revenge was not involved? Even if Uchiha Itachi had massacred the entire Uchiha clan and took everything away from you, even if Orochimaru had given you that heaven seal, even if you were pathetically defeated by Uchiha Itachi, would you have gone?"
Sakura closed her jade-green eyes and struggled not to cry. She knew that this was it. If Sasuke-kun did not answer this one question in favor of the Council's opinion, he would die.
Naruto sensed her distress and quietly embraced her, hiding her from the world. Sakura buried her face in his shoulder, hoping that this was all just a bad dream.
Sasuke glanced at his former teammates and caught Naruto's eye.
You know what to do, Sasuke-baka.
"Well?"
Sasuke looked up at the Godaime Hokage and studied those honey-amber orbs. There was a definite sign of uncertainty in them, hesitancy to kill.
"Hokage-sama, if revenge was not a factor, then I wouldn't be questioned in this very room, now would I? If revenge was not a factor, I could have been doing something worth my time, like learning a new jutsu from Kakashi or sparring with Naruto or Sakura, right now."
Tsunade invisibly smiled and nodded. "Trial adjourned until noon."
Naruto smiled and squeezed Sakura's hand reassuringly.
Things were starting to look up.
Sadako was amazed that no one had noticed a thirteen-year-old girl such as herself attending the trial without her parents present. Well, if you wanted to be technical, they were, but not in the sense that they were acting as parental figures.
"Ichiraku! Here I come!" a joyful voice sang before the owner crashed into her.
Sadako swayed and crashed into the stair railing, her side stinging painfully. "Itai…"
"Naruto! You baka, you crashed into some poor little girl! Here, does it hurt?"
Sadako looked up into the concerned face of Haruno Sakura. "I'm fine." She muttered.
Sakura sighed. "I'm really sorry about my friend. He tends to get a little excited when it comes to ramen."
The girl shook her head. "It's fine. I'm not dead yet so it's okay."
Sakura smiled at her and asked, "What's your name? What are you doing here by the Hokage Tower? Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?"
The Uchiha looked up in surprise, but she quickly concealed it. "Um… I'm the Hokage's charge for now. She told me that she'd assign someone to be my guardian until I'm sixteen this afternoon. I just got released from the hospital yesterday, two weeks earlier than expected, so I'm just hanging around the trial room until the Hokage sends for me."
The older girl sighed. "It's a pity about your parents. But I suppose that since Tsunade-shishou is taking care of you for now, you'll be in good hands in the future."
Sakura smiled and waved to the girl before she started after a whining Naruto. "I've got to go—Naruto here will explode if he doesn't get his ramen soon enough. By the way, I'm Haruno Sakura. Look me up if you're ever bored again, okay?"
Sadako mutely nodded and watched her retreating figure. The girl suddenly smirked to herself.
I never did tell her my name…
Sasuke silently surveyed the crowd coming into the trial room. Sakura and Naruto waved to him as they passed by, but he only mutely nodded in return. A little girl with raven hair like his own caught his eye among the crowd, but she was gone before Sasuke had a chance to study her closely.
"We will resume the hearing of Uchiha Sasuke now."
Sasuke looked up and realized that the Council had a piece of paper in their hands. That paper held the reasons if he was allowed to carry out his revenge or not.
"According to a previous testimony by Mitarashi Anko, the cursed heaven seal takes your greatest desire and distorts your memories concerning that desire, so that there is a little voice in your mind constantly reminding you how weak and worthless you are, unless you sought power from Orochimaru."
"Mitarashi Anko was also a missing-nin for a while, also under the tutelage of Orochimaru, albeit for different reasons. The Council has declared her innocent of all the charges against her."
Sasuke struggled not to roll his eyes. What has this got to do with me? Hurry it up…
"We, the Council, have deemed Uchiha Sasuke's case to be like that of Mitarashi Anko's. We are dropping all of the charges against him."
In the crowd, Naruto cheered and said to Sakura, "He did it, Sakura-chan! He did it! I told you to have a little faith!"
Have a little faith? Did Sakura give up on me already? Sasuke mused.
"But…" Naruto quieted, worry replacing excitement on his face.
"He will serve a two-year probation, until he is eighteen. Uchiha Sasuke is banned from leaving the village without the express permission of the Hokage. He is not allowed to go on missions until further notice."
"Uchiha Sasuke will be under the eye of Team Kakashi, consisting of Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura. The living arrangements will be discussed with you later with the Hokage after the hearing."
"Also, as another test to prove his loyalty, the Hokage has given Uchiha Sasuke the responsibility of a Genin charge. He will instruct her in the shinobi arts and be her guardian until she is sixteen. The two will be supervised by someone from Team Kakashi and by Hyuuga Hinata or Hyuuga Neji. This will also be further discusses at the Hokage's office at a later time today."
Tsunade looked up from the paper and smiled at Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. "Trial adjourned."
"Sasuke-kun! You did it! I was so worried, I wouldn't know what to do if they decided to execute you." Sakura squealed as she gave the Uchiha a tight hug.
Sasuke did not push her away, only gave her a look and said, "Sakura—I can't breathe."
Naruto laughed and punched Sasuke in the arm. "Tsunade-baa-chan had me worried when she said 'but.' I thought that she was gonna execute you anyways!"
"Dobe, why the hell would she drop all the charges against me then execute me? It's illegal in our justice system."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Who do you think your Genin charge is gonna be?"
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Oh I know! It's probably that little girl you ran into on the stairway Naruto. She did say that Tsunade-shishou was going to assign her a guardian this afternoon."
"What's her name and what did she look like?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
Sakura put a finger on her lip. "Hmm... oh! She had pale skin, long dark raven hair, and onyx-black eyes. I asked her for her name, but she didn't tell me. She said that her parents had recently passed and judging by her hitae-ate, she probably came from one of the smaller shinobi villages that pledges their loyalty to Konoha."
The threesome walked into the Hokage's office and were greeted by her assistant, Shizune. Kakashi was already there, leaning against the wall deeply absorbed in his reading.
"Have a seat, Tsunade-hime will be with you shortly. She's just stepped out to get someone and we'll discuss everything then." Shizune said.
Five minutes later, the door burst open and the Hokage herself walked in, dragging a small girl behind her by the wrist.
"Hokage-sama, I can walk on my own." the childish voice scowled.
Sakura's ears perked up. "Hey—you're that little girl that I talked to earlier today!"
The girl turned around and met Sakura's happy gaze with one of indifference. "Haruno-sensei."
Sasuke studied the girl and smirked to himself. True to Sakura's earlier description, she did have pale skin, raven hair and onyx eyes. She looked like someone who was used to harsh trainings and hard work and that alone was guaranteed to have this strange little girl on his list of tolerable people. Sasuke especially liked the cold look in her eyes. He knew that she could kill, without hesitation. If this was his Genin charge, Sasuke knew that he would get along perfectly fine with her.
"What's your name?" Sasuke asked her coolly.
The girl glared at him. "You know, it's more polite to give your name first before you ask for someone else's"
Sasuke smirked. Ah, an attitude. They were getting along great.
Naruto gasped and pointed at the girl. "Hey, hey, hey... where have I heard that before?"
Everyone in the room ignored Naruto as he tried to remember where he had heard that phrase in the past.
"Uchiha Sasuke. I'm waiting for an answer, little girl."
She sighed impatiently and said, "Chirasen Sadako. And I'm not a little girl, yarou."
The room went deathly silent, even Kakashi had stopped his reading and looked up at Sadako in awe.
"You- I mean, how- well that is- YOU JUST INSULTED UCHIHA SASUKE!" Naruto yelled. He bounded over to the Genin and gave her a tight hug.
"Gah! What are you doing?"
"We're going to be the best of friends Sadako-chan!" Naruto squealed.
"Sadako-chan? Who the hell gave you permission to call me that?" Sadako yelled. "Anyways, who the hell are you? I'm just about ready to call you a pedophile for attacking me like that!"
Naruto let go of her and stared at her, fake tears welling up in his eyes. "Wahh! Sakura-chan! Sadako-chan thinks I'm a pedophile!"
Sasuke hit him over the head. "Tch. Get over it dobe."
"Uzumaki Naruto-sama at your service, Sadako-chan! I'm going to be the next Hokage when Tsunade-baa-chan retires!" Naruto suddenly yelled.
Sadako punched him in the head. "You're so noisy. How does Haruno-sensei and Uchiha-sensei live with you everyday?"
"We don't, Chirasen. We're only going to start living together this week. Isn't that right, Tsunade?" Sasuke said emotionlessly.
The Hokage nodded. "We have arrangements for the four of you to live in a house within walking distance of the hospital and the Academy. Don't worry about the expenses; it's been taken care of by the Council."
"Also, Uchiha, you will start training Sadako. Teach her anything you like, but Naruto or Sakura and one of the Hyuuga I mentioned earlier has to be present. Naruto, Sakura—I'm expecting a full and detailed report from you every week about what Uchiha teaches her. We don't want a second Orochimaru developing, now do we?"
Sasuke scowled. "What's that supposed to mean, Tsunade? I am not Orochimaru."
The Godaime shrugged. "Precautions by the Council. By the way, if Hinata or Neji have any reason to suspect that you are training Sadako to be your tool for revenge against Konoha for the... unorthodox methods we used regarding your imprisonment, they will close the tenketsu and bring you to me. Only, I don't think I'll be so lenient the next time."
Tsunade clapped her hands together. "I think that's everything. Shizune will give you directions to the house."
Author's Note:
The tail end of this chapter isn't much different from the original but... *smiles innocently*
I will try my hardest to update with a new one at least once every two weeks but... you know how it is. Or at least, my faithful readers who have followed me through my erratic writings all over the site, you know how I am. *sigh*
Ja ne!
Callista Miralni