I really really reeeally hate FF's document editor. It sucks major weenies. I had to rewrite this chapter three times. This is sort of an intermediary chapter. But don't worry because next chapter will be the EPITOME of action... Ok. maybe not that much... okay maybe it is that much. I'll try to update every week super fast... or around that. Enjoy and please review ;)

----

"speech/speech/jutsu"

'thoughts/thoughts'

Chapter Two - Verdict

----

"NEVER!! Naruto can not and will not be executed. The attack on the Uchiha was self-defense. You should all be grateful that he brought the brat back." roared Tsunade. She had every right to be angry. What did these pompous dustbags know about Naruto? He had accomplished more than any of the genin in his generation had, and this is how he was going to be repaid.

"On the contrary Hokage-sama, a unanimous decision can override most of the Hokage's laws." explained one elder.

"If that's the case, then what's the point of having a supreme leader if they can be opposed?"

"That is because a unanimous decision usually means the council feels absolutely certain about something. Because we have so many members, around sixty-plus to be exact, it is always near impossible for every last person to vote in one direction. The last time the council voted unanimously was during the reign of Nidaime-sama. May I question the boy?" Tsunade heaved out a sigh before falling back into her chair. "Fine."

The old man stood up and walked down to the lowest floor where Naruto was seated and began pacing. Naruto turned to watch the man circle him. Beads of perspiration tickled his cheek on their way down. The entire council was against him, and no amount of begging and Tsunade pulling rank would be able to stop them. "Naruto... did you, or did you not attack Uchiha Sasuke prior to the incident at the Valley of the End?" He paused to face Naruto.

"No." The older man wasn't satisfied with his answer. "No? What do you mean no? Have you already forgotten the incident that occured on the hospital rooftop?" Naruto's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten. What had meant to be a friendly visit to the healing center, ended as a 'no rules' rooftop brawl that would have permanently ended one of their careers as a shinobi had it not been stopped. He held his head in his hands.

"Oh crap, I completely forgot about that." He continued his circular pacing, reminding Tsunade of a vulture waiting for its intended prey to hit the dust.

"What exactly provoked the fight? Hm?"

"Well, I just meant to visit him after I came back with Ero-sennin from bringing Baa-chan," the council member looked disgusted at his nicknames for possibly two of the most skilled ninjas in the world but did not interrupt him, "and then he just looked at me weird. Next thing I know, he pushed Sakura-chan away and challenged me to fight."

"That's all both of you said? 'Whats wrong' and 'let's fight'?"

"Well, yea. I guess..." The man nearly stumbled over his own foot and reversed his pace as to not dizzy himself.

"Why didn't you refuse? Why didn't you just say 'no' or at least postpone it until a higher ranking ninja could watch over you two? Did you even think of the consequences of an unauthorized and unsupervised conflict between two ninja? Or maybe... you were trying to fight him so you could get rid of him right then and there."

"NO! I wasn't trying to kill him! Jeez... It's just...," a sigh escaped his lips, "It's just that I just wanted him to acknowledge me. So I thought if I beat him, he wouldn't be so arrogant with me."

"Aaahhh." said the council member, as if he understood the situation. "So did the possibilities of what could've gone wrong even cross your mind?"

Discomforted at his lack of... well, common sense, he shifted his gaze to the floor and shook his head.

"Well, if you didn't know, the price for attacking a fellow leaf, ninja or not, is incarceration. Had you have killed him, you would have been executed without trial. These are the rules. But seeing as no one was injured, neither of you were punished. You have Kakashi-san to thank for that as well. Moving on, would you care to explain what happened at the Valley of the End?"

"Yea sure. Uh... well, I caught up to him at the valley--"

"Are you're saying you were alone?" It sounded more like a statement than a question.

"Yea." Naruto squirmed under the old windbag's gaze. "What happened to the rest of the rescue squad? According to what I heard, a team of four genin led by one chuunin, including yourself, were deployed to retrieve the Uchiha."

"There were these four people with him. When we were on our way to get him, they split us apart."

"Would you care to explain the four people who were escorting him?"

"Okay. One of them had six arms and dark skin. He shot these web thingies out of his mouth... sorta like a spider. Then there was this two headed guy who wore lipstick. And there was a red-haired girl with a flute. The other guy was huge," he extended his arms to emphasize his point, "and he had red hair too. Oh and they all wore the same shirts and pants with Orochimaru's ass pretzel. Then last guy was skinny and he had white hair."

Some of the council listened attentively while other were furiously scribbling down his childishy articulated characterizations .Whispered discussion met Naruto's ears as they mulled over what they just heard.

"Minimal descriptions at best... but if you're right, then that means that was Orochimaru's Elite Guard. Our spies have mentioned them... So that left you to engage Sasuke. Please tell the council what happened there."

His heart ached when he remembered what had gone down that day. He unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists as he painfully reminded himself of the spite and hatred aimed at him that day.

"After we split, it was only me and Sasuke. Eventually I stopped him at the valley." Naruto honestly didn't think he could inform them of the words that were exchanged so he kept it to bare details. "We started fighting and..."

Tsunade had to restrain herself to keep from interrupting the questioning. They had him cornered. So far, none of what Naruto had done could have been enough to instigate execution. Her ears perked up when she heard the word 'fox's'. It was then that she noticed the ghostly silence that had befallen the room. The stillness was broken when someone yelled, "Demon!" Pandemonium ensued in the form of death threats and insults.

"Kyuubi incarnate!" One cried out.

"The demon will be the death of us all!" Another elder called out.

"Demon child!" The questioner gave his final statement, barely audible over the crowd's uproar.

"This is why, Hokage-sama, fellow council members, that Uzumaki is a threat to the entire village. He was possessed by the demon and nearly killed the boy. Our initial verdict were that he would be banished. But after much afterthought, we decided that it would be unsafe to have him exiled because we would inadvertently be at fault for the destruction of another village. The boy is unstable and the seal could break at anytime. This was proven during the previous altercation with the Uchiha. And it is because of this that he is to be executed. The decision has already been made. This trial is over Hokage-sama." The aged male proceeded to casually amble into the frenzied mass of flesh that was the council, grinning cheekily at his achievement.

Through the cheering mob, Tsunade managed to get a glimpse of Naruto. Blonde locks of hair drooped over his eyes, she saw his body shaking. Knocking over the chair, he made his escape from the anti-demon children conglomeration with Tsunade not far behind.

----

"Naruto, wait!" Tsunade yelled, in between pants. She had been trailing him in a desperate attempt to calm him down for the last half hour. He had been avoiding her since the verdict of the council had been given. Taking notice of her surroundings, she found herself atop the head of the Yondaime, Naruto standing dangerously close to the edge. Quickly closing the distance between them, she planted her hands on his shoulders and yanked him away from the edge. Naruto who was more than ready to protest the action, shut his mouth when he felt the embrace. They stayed like that for nearly a minute until she broke the silence.

"Don't ever think of killing yourself Naruto."

"Why? No one cares about me anyways. Everyone's made that pretty obvious." came his muffled reply.

Tsunade pulled away from the embrace to look him in his eyes. His normally brilliant eyes were bloodshot with tear stains marring his features. I care about you Naruto. And I'm sure there's some if not a handful of people who do too."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm dead in three weeks and nothing will change that. You wan'na know something baa-chan. I used to think of it as a big fight, you know?" A sad chuckle escaped him. "Me against the village. Everytime they put me down... I would ignore it and tell myself that I still haven't lost and that I was gonna win. I guess... guess I lost this fight eh?" he finished, fresh tears cascading down his face. Tsunade burst out sobbing and tightly embraced him. Naruto returned the embrace and cried softly into her robed shoulder.

----

Once again, I'm terribly sorry about leaving out the execution. Don't worry, it will be next chapter and I will update within a week. Like I said earlier. EPITOME!!!. jk. if you have any questions, i'll gladly answer them. Please ;)