(Authors note: (THIS IS AN EDITED CHAPTER THAT HAS BEEN RESUBMITTED) Thank you for reading and reviewing my fiction! I'm sorry that it has been so long since I updated but as I have said on many occasions; my computer has been out of order for a while and I have only just got my new shiny laptop! This means that I will not have any excuse for late updates! Promise I will try to keep it a 2 week max waiting time!)

Chapter 5: The Execution

Sasuke lay again in his cold cell, the small blanket still didn't provide the warmth that Sasuke's body craved nor did the food satisfy his hunger the way that he felt it should. Sasuke was at an all time low, digging out ones grave can do that. He had spent hours and hours digging the hole that would be his final resting place, the whole time he could only think about his impending death and the fact that those he thought would care, didn't. Sakura's words still haunted him, they cut deep, of all the people, he had thought at least Sakura would stand by him. But I guess she had Neji to stand by now!

Lying the in the cold dark only made matters worse for Sasuke, over and over again he seemed to be haunted by all the wrong decisions that he had made, all the people that he had lost, and now all the people that would be glad to see him gone, or worse, disappointed that they wouldn't be the one to strike the killing blow.

What scared Sasuke the most was that his least painful thoughts revolved around his pondering about how they would kill him, wondering when, and wondering how, what it would feel like? Not that these thoughts where painless, they just hurt a lot less than everything else. He supposed that it was probably for the best that he be killed, after all, how could he live like this.

As the day drew to a close, the small amount of light in Sasuke's cell died, and soon after this he heard guards outside, the loud clunking of someone fumbling with the lock, that sound brought a surge of joy to Sasuke's heart, perhaps they were going to let him out, let him escape, perhaps Sakura hadn't meant what she had said and she knew he was here, perhaps she had come to get him. But then he saw, they had come to get him, ANBU, their full get-up too, it was time.

One of the many guards wrapped a black silken cloth round Sasuke's eyes, this was obviously the real deal, and they were making sure that there was no possible way for Sasuke to get out of this alive! And they were doing a good job! Slowly he was walked from the cell into the corridor, Sasuke couldn't see a thing. As Sasuke walked along what seemed to be a slight incline the air got warmer though his legs still ached from the cold that he had been living in for who knows how long.

Before long Sasuke is steered into a new direction and they stop abruptly, Sasuke is stripped of his prison issue attire and they dress him in silken Uchiha clan ceremonial robes, the robes hang of Sasuke's now skeletal form.

**

Sakura was lay in her room, events of the past few weeks drifting through her head, she and Neji had become so close, he had even started helping her train with Kakashi. Sakura couldn't believe it he was actually tougher on her than Kakashi. She was also proud of her first student, Neji had come along so much in his medical Jutsu, of course he was nothing in comparison to sakura, and she knew that it really annoyed Neji to not be the best at something. But she thought it would be good for him, to have to work as hard as lee to get something! She would always admire Lee for his determination.

Sakura's head was obviously filled with the romance of the situation, nothing was happening, just unclear subtle flirts at both ends, and no one did or said anything that made the other confident enough to make a move. But this didn't stop Sakura imagining, there are so many firsts that Sakura was looking forward to. Their first date, their first kiss, their first set of his and her kunai!

It was 5 in the morning and she had a meeting with Tsunade at 6, so it was time she got her skates on. The meeting was curious, so many of the 'Rookie Nine' were going to be there... and Sai, Kakashi and Gai. What could be this important, the last time mission teams where this big was when they were dealing with the Akatsuki.

Thinking about it just made her blood boil, the things that that organisation had done to the world, half the population of Konoha was killed, and many of them innocent children, not Shinobi, but citizens. It was at this point she washed her hands of Sasuke, when he tried to capture Naruto for that evil organisation. I suppose it opened her eyes to how evil he really had become

She finally sat up from her bed and walked into the living area only to see a very groggy Kakashi up on time for the meeting...! (?) Though, he was clearly not in the state required for a meeting. He looked at the coffee machine and pressed buttons, nothing happened, he started tapping the top and flicking more switches, and still nothing happened. He looked like he was having a meltdown.

"Kaka- you want coffee?" Sakura asked sweetly, she looked at the man in front of the coffee machine; he looked confused, disorientated and rather upset!

"Please" was the reply she received and it was filled with anguish and self pity.

Smiling softly she motioned him to the chair and walked over to the coffee machine, she checked that there were beans in the machine, there was, she put the jug under and pressed the power button that Kakashi seemed to be trying to wear out! Nothing happened, then out of the corner of her eye she saw the problem... it wasn't plugged in. 5 minutes later Kakashi was in a far better state for a meeting! All thanks to a few sips of coffee.

**

After Sasuke's robe had been secured he was again lead in yet another direction, the smooth stone under his feet became gradually rougher, like it was covered in dust and sand. Then after a period of time Sasuke was led outside, he felt for the first time in a long time the breeze on face and cool fresh air. The ground was covered in stones and dust, the rough pathway was hard on Sasuke's feet, but this was the least of his worries.

He was led a long way, so far that Sasuke couldn't even picture where he might be in Konoha. Then he was stopped and he felt strong hands fumbling with what sounded like chains, they were wrapped around his arms and legs making it impossible for Sasuke to escape. He heard the distant fumbling of many other chains, fear grew inside Sasuke, and the unknown was now terrifying him. What where they going to do to him.

His mask was ripped off revealing the very beginning of the rising sun, the light revealed to Sasuke a horrifying sight. There was about 20 other criminal's, lined up in front of them were a hole's which they had presumably dug themselves and their own personalized grave-stones. And there in front of Sasuke was the hole that he had dug and the stone that he had carved himself. The chains that he had felt earlier had him chained and locked so there was no possible way out!

In front of each of the 'supposed' criminal was a masked man, he held a strange stick, it was metal and they seemed to point it at the 'criminals'. Then there stood Ibiki, he walked down the line of criminals, then he began to speak.

"You are all murderers, you have brought death upon yourself!" he began. "When you take the life of another, your life is forfeit! This is why you are here" gradually criminals started to sob, the situation couldn't escape your mind, there was no way to switch off and the emotion just got to the core of their beings leaving these strong men, men that had willingly taken lives, in emotional pieces. Sasuke was no exception; in fact he was the first to break.

"Many of you may not recognise the weapons in front of you, and I have to say that I don't particularly like them, they are a coward's weapon. Perfect that we should use them on cowards such as you, men that carelessly kill and rape women and children, men that torture others until they beg for death, men that can't fight a fair fight, this weapon fits you, it's all this weapon is fit for, exterminating vermin. This weapon we call the hunting rifle!" and with that he walked away from the men that he had sentenced.

Then Sasuke heard a loud bang, turning his head in the direction of the sound he saw on the wall behind one prisoner a large splash of blood, the prisoner fell face forward into the grave. ANBU guards where there instantly to bury the body! As the men went along killing the prisoners Sasuke's fear increased until he was the last one left, the smell of death was in the air, and all he could do was stare at the man about to kill him, silent tears rolling down his face, he knew now, he had no time left.

**

Sakura and Kakashi walked down to Hokage tower, just as the sun was beginning to rise, it looked beautiful. Soon they met Neji and the rest of team Gai. As they were just getting to Hokage tower Sakura jumped as they heard a series of loud bangs! There were about 20 in total.

"It's just Ibiki" Kakashi laughed "he has to get rid of death row at least once a month!" Sakura replied with a gentle, for her, punch in the arm.

"I didn't expect it, that all!"She said aggressively, as they began to climb the steps up to Tsunade's office.

Neji walked behind Sakura, he watched her silently wondering how she would take the news that Sasuke was back, Neji had guessed that's what the meeting was about, I mean they had to find out he was back at some point, even if he was put to death. But would Sakura be able to handle it emotionally, if she was to come face to face with Sasuke. He now knew that she had hated him for some time for what he had done, especially in the Akatsuki's attempt to capture Naruto. Would she be able to restrain herself, or would she need a 'heads up'?

The words of his Hokage quickly came to mind: "And…This is top secret, if I find any of you spills the beans on Uchiha's return you all get kindergarten duty for a week and the only missions you will ever receive if you're lucky will be D rank for the rest of your miserable lives." Neji had always been loyal to his Hokage, one to obey the rules, but then again he had never been in this situation before, he cared so much for Sakura, should he blow it? He had to make the decision now, they were about to enter her office...

**

Sasuke felt like he was frozen in a moment of time he stared at the 'hunting rifle' in front of him, eyes wide with fear, not knowing what to do, all he could do was wait for that agonizing moment.

There was another loud bang, Ibiki watched as Sasuke's chains gave way and he fell into the hole before him, Ibiki slowly made his way over to the grave.

**

"Sakura!" she turned around, as did lee and Tenten, they looked at him knowingly, he returned a stern glance, "we need to talk, Sakura" he pulled her towards him, still giving Tenten and lee 'the look' they both bowed their heads slightly and walked into the office. The corridor was finally empty apart from Sakura and Neji. He led her to a seat and motioned her to sit.

"Sakura, first I want to apologise-" he was cut off by Sakura.

"Why... Neji, you've done nothing wrong!" Sakura giggled.

"No, please listen, I want to apologise for not telling you sooner, you see a few months ago, I brought in an S rank criminal, and I was sworn to secrecy by Tsunade, but I should have told you!" he paused.

"Neji, if you were sworn, you shouldn't tell me, and you don't have to!" she smiled warmly and placed her hand on his knee, she pushed herself up still looking into his silver eyes, then she slowly turned and made for the office.

"It's Sasuke!" Neji Spoke and Sakura span round looking straight at him, "I'm sorry!"

Sakura's eyes were wide with shock, hurt, anger, her body was limp and leaned against the wall, as the words seemed to dawn on her she slid down the wall, tears rolling down her face until she finally broke down into hysterical tears! Neji at this point felt unbelievably uncomfortable, he could deal with many things, but tears where not one of them, he had no idea what to do! He sat down next to her and put an awkward hand round her and pulled her into a hug, Sakura melted into his embrace, it would have looked really romantic if Neji's face didn't look so scared.

(Authors note: So how did you like that one, I really wanted to have both things going on... sorry if that was a little too emotional with everything that went on with Sakura, Neji and Sasuke! I promise to update within 2 weeks, but please show appreciation and review I love to hear how I can better myself so please do!)