Author's note: Hey everybody! I can't believe that this story received more good reviews, favorites and story alerts! It's unbelievable how amazing you all are. I'm so lucky to have a group as readers as cool as you! I am so excited to present the latest chapter. Anyway, all reviews and constructive criticism would be highly appreciated. OK, let's get down to business, shall we?
Disclaimer: I own Naruto only in my dreams, but not while I'm awake.
Chapter 2: Important Discussions
Tsunade sat at her desk, annoyed. She glared at the massive stack of paperwork that still needed to be completed. To her, it seemed to look smug. Gathering her resolve, she picked up a pen and started to work... until she heard a knock on the door, less than a minute later.
She sighed loudly and said," Come in."
Shizune stepped into the office, carrying another stack of paperwork. The younger woman placed the forms on the desk and frowned when she saw the amount of work that still needed to be completed. "Tsunade-sama, you can't just let your work pile up like this. If you keep this up, it'll never be completed."
Tsunade groaned, "Yeah. Don't remind me. Is that all?" Shizune nodded and walked toward the door, but stopped at the threshold. She seemed to be listening for something. She remained still for a while, then smiled. "Naruto is here to see you." Sure enough, Naruto could be heard calling for Tsunade.
Tsunade smiled a bit. "Alright. Thanks, Shizune."
Shizune nodded and said, "You're welcome." Then she walked out, saying hello to Naruto who had just entered the room.
Naruto plopped himself down on one of the chairs in front of the desk and said, "Baa-chan, I need to talk to you." The blonde woman noticed the seriousness in the boy's tone and asked him what was wrong although she could already guess who this conversation would be about. "It's about Sasuke," he said.
Tsunade wasn't surprised, "What about Sasuke?" she asked.
"I just saw him in prison. He's locked in this cold, tiny cell all by himself. Isn't there anything you can do to get him out of there?"
Tsunade sighed. "No. I'm sorry."
Naruto was shocked by how quickly she answered. It seemed to him that she wouldn't even consider the idea. "But you're the Hokage!" he exclaimed, his feelings evident in his voice. "You should be able to do something! Can't you just order the guards to let him go?"
"It isn't that simple, Naruto." Her voice was soft as she spoke. She didn't want to upset Naruto any further, but he still needed to understand, "Sasuke is in prison, which is where he should be."
"You're wrong! You make it sound like he's a horrible person and deserves to be there. Well, I have news for you. He isn't. He's had a hard life and has made some stupid decisions, but he still deserves a chance!" Naruto said, eyes flashing with anger and a hint of sorrow.
Tsunade was beginning to get frustrated. This conversation had turned into an argument and she didn't have the patience to deal with an emotional Naruto, "Naruto, why can't you get it through your thick skull that Sasuke is a criminal? It doesn't matter how much you believe that he isn't. The fact still remains that he ran away from the village, which makes him a traitor. He is guilty of treason." Tsunade's voice had risen while she spoke, her frustration at Naruto's stubborn behavior evident.
Naruto was quiet but still visibly angry. His fists were clenched tightly, knuckles turning white. He looked straight into the woman's brown eyes and said, "I already know all that stuff. It doesn't matter to me." Much to Tsunade's surprise, Naruto smiled. His anger seemed to melt away like frost in the morning sun. He continued to speak, "Sasuke is still important to me. Despite all the bad things people may say about him, he'll always be important. To me, he'll never be a criminal or traitor. He's just Sasuke, my best friend."
Tsunade was speechless. She wasn't angry anymore, just in awe of this boy and his devotion to another. "Very well, Naruto. I will need to speak to the village elders, but perhaps I can convince them to be merciful. After all, Sasuke is still young and he can be a great asset to the village."
"Thank you Baa-chan. I knew you could help," Naruto grinned.
She smiled back and said,"Go home, brat. You just got out of the hospital and shouldn't be getting all worked up. I'll take care of things now."
"Yeah. Good idea." he said, stifling a yawn. "See you later." He called over his shoulder as he left the office. Tsunade watched him go, realizing that trying to convince the elders not to execute or imprison Sasuke for life was easier said than done.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Excuse me? Would you mind repeating that?" An elderly man wearing glasses asked, voice full of distasteful disbelief.
The Fifth Hokage felt like rolling her eyes, but refrained and repeated her suggestion. "I believe we should show mercy to Sasuke Uchiha."
"Why? All traitors are the same and should be dealt with in the same manner. For their treachery, they should be executed." An old woman, sitting near the man, replied with a tinge of venom in her tone.
Tsunade had guessed that she would say something like that.
"Koharu is right. Any criminal is undeserving of any kind of sympathy." The man, Homura Mitokado, agreed.
"Are you forgetting all the hell that kid has gone through at the hands of this village? We should do something to try to rectify the situation." Tsunade said, referencing the fate of the Uchiha clan.
Homura snorted in contempt, "That kid had a choice. Nobody forced him to become a traitor. He should have to suffer the consequences of his actions."
"I completely agree with Homura," Koharu Utatane said. A hint of suspicion crossed the woman's lined face. "What I want to know is why you are suddenly so concerned about the Uchiha boy. You didn't say anything when he was first locked up two days ago." She added, a slight smirk on her lips.
Tsunade returned the smirk, a defiant gleam in her eyes. "Simple. I was considering the possibilities." This statement caught both village elders off guard.
"Explain yourself, Tsunade-hime." Homura ordered.
The smirk on Tsunade's face widened. "Are you two forgetting the power of the Uchiha bloodline? If properly motivated, I'm sure Sasuke Uchiha could be an invaluable asset to the village."
This got both elders thinking, just like Tsunade knew it would. The blonde woman had needed to change tactics while speaking to the elders, appealing to their militant attitudes rather than their sense of compassion. Before she had even arrived to discuss the situation regarding Sasuke she had wisely decided that she wouldn't mention anything about Naruto's conversation with her. Knowing the elders as well as she did, she knew it would've only done more harm than good. Besides, they might have even suggested that Naruto himself was somehow involved in Sasuke's actions and they could have had him imprisoned as well.
After several moments of quiet, Koharu spoke, "You have made a surprisingly interesting point about the boy, Tsunade-hime. The only problem I see is the matter of his loyalty. How can we be sure that he won't try anything against the village?"
Tsunade hadn't planned for that question.
Fortunately for her, Homura answered. "A binding contract."
Tsunade frowned. "What type of contract?"
Homura stroked his beard thoughtfully."It'll have to be something that ties him to Konoha, but subtle enough to avoid any aggression from him."
There was another silence, then Koharu broke it, "How about an arranged marriage to someone loyal to the village? He can sign a marriage contract which will be binding and not include divorce. Plus, we could have someone near him at all times to keep an eye on him."
"Yes. I think that will work." Homura said, then he added, "However, if he breaks the contract in any way, he will be put to death. How does that sound to you, Tsunade-hime?"
Tsunade was fully aware that this might be the only way to give Sasuke a chance. If she said no, she was running the risk of gambling with the boy's life. Since her gambling luck was as bad as it was, she knew she had to agree. "Fine. How do we proceed from here?"
"I will write the contract and Koharu will select Uchiha's betrothed. In addition, I feel that Uchiha should still be punished." Homura said, then added, "Community service and low-ranked missions only, while being covertly supervised by other elite shinobi would be my suggestion."
Tsunade nodded.
"Excellent. Preparations will start immediately. Tsunade-hime, please have your assistant bring the files of all eligible candidates for the betrothal. Include only shinobi." Koharu requested.
Again, the Hokage nodded. "I'll have them brought over soon. When do you think you will have made a final decision?" she asked the elderly woman.
Koharu paused, then said,"I feel three days will be sufficient. After the decision is made, Uchiha will be released from prison. Homura, can you have a contract ready by then?"
The man folded his arms across his chest and answered, "Yes. I don't see why not. This matter appears to be settled now. Tsunade-hime, you may leave. Once this contract is completed you will be notified so it can be approved." The blonde woman merely nodded, then left.
As she walked back to her office, she couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. The negotiations with the elders had been easier than anticipated. That was the cause of her uneasiness. She had expected that they would have put up more of a fight about the whole situation, but they didn't.
They're planning something, Tsunade thought. That much is clear. Knowing them, it's not going to be good, especially for Sasuke.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
As soon as the Hokage had left them, the elders had a conversation. "Homura, this is a good solution to the Uchiha problem." Koharu said.
"Of course. If that kid doesn't fulfill all of the conditions in the contract, we'll finally be rid of those cursed Uchihas once and for all." Homura replied, sounding pleased. He sighed somewhat melodramatically, "It's a shame we'll need to go through this charade, even though the results will be the same in the end."
"Indeed. Tsunade-hime is naive and doesn't understand the need for decisive action like we do. This way, we're humoring her so she can't complain. We would be showing 'mercy' as she had suggested. Just make sure that the contract provides no room for that traitor to escape his fate." The elderly woman said, a malicious tone in her voice.
The man smirked evilly, and said, " Yes, the contract I'm envisioning is as breakable as glass."