Hey readers! Sorry for the long wait. I originally meant to have this posted by last Thursday and even swore off reading other fanfiction so I could finish it but then my life went down the drain and I just now got around to finishing it up. You see my roommate came down with the flu and I had to move out for a while so I would risk getting it and I was working off a friends computer for several days and then my meanie teachers decided to give me multiple papers to write and my director decided to waste my whole weekend taping. Gah! I was frustrated! I have soo many story alerts in my email inbox right now that it's sad. Now maybe I'll finally get to read some of them! YAY!

I hope you enjoy! I made it extra long to make up for the wait!

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Gaara would be my play pretty so I obviously don't own Naruto because there's no Gaara in my house.


Chapter 9

It All Begins


There was complete silence in the Hokage's office as Sasuke narrated what had happened to him and Kichi over the last year or so. Kichi, whom had slept soundly throughout Sasuke's entire story, had managed to wiggle her way around until her head rested in Sasuke's lap. Sasuke didn't seem to mind though and even stroked her hair from time to time, a gesture that made Sakura's "kawaii- radar" go through the roof.

They listened attentively as Sasuke described their life after Orochimaru's fall and the hardships they had gone through as they lived as a band of nomadic ninja. But when it came to his fight with his elder brother, Sasuke gave few details and his facial expression clearly said he would not be inclined to give any more.

When he was finished, there was a moment of silence in which everyone allowed all that he had told them to sink in. Tsunade sat in the all too familiar pose with her elbows on the desk and hands clasped before her face. One could almost see a thousand different thoughts flying through her head as she tried to find the best way to approach the current situation.

The air was filled with tension as they all waited anxiously for Tsunade to make her decision. Sasuke and Kichi seemed to be the only two unaffected by the long silence and heavy gaze of the Hokage, which was odd seeing as they were the two who would affected the most by her decision. But then again very little could affect Kichi in her current deep slumber. Finally, Tsunade leaned back in her chair with a sigh, signally that she had come to a decision at last.

"No matter how we approach this situation, you're going to have to go to trail, Uchiha-san," Tsunade said. "Of course it won't be any ordinary trail. It'll be a trail before the Council and not a group of your peers. This will have its advantages and disadvantages. The Council will look at things more logically and hopefully be less likely to get into an emotional frenzy. Though to be honest, there are a few members of the Council that worry me. They came in early this morning when they heard of your arrival demanding an immediate execution. I managed to calm them down but they will probably cause some big problems in the future."

"The Council is also is more likely to recognize the significance of you being the last of the Uchihas, though they will be less inclined to sympathize with your tragic past." Tsunade continued. "There is a possibility they may decide to let you ensure the continuation of your clan before executing you."

"Hold your tongue Naruto!" Tsunade demanded when the blonde made a move to protest the idea of his long time rival and friend being executed. "I'm simply stating a possibility."

Naruto grudgingly sunk back down into his chair and glared at Tsunade but didn't try to interrupt again.

"As I was saying," Tsunade continued. "The Council isn't going to take this lightly but I do think the fact that you helped to completely destroy one of Konoha's enemies and seriously wounded another and gave yourself up willing will be three very good factors in your favor. Then of course there is Kichi. Everything you've done to help her will be a testament of your very nature. If you play your cards right then you should have a good chance. But you have to watch your temper. Just one second of anger in response to anything could cripple your case."

"I will try to remember that." Sasuke said with a respectful nod.

"You're going to have to do better than try if you want to get out of this in one piece." Tsunade said. "This isn't the same as the battlefield you're used to fighting in. Your strength and skills mean nothing in the courtroom except in the context of what you did with them."

"Then it's a good thing you're going to be helping him! Right Baa-chan?" Naruto exclaimed as he leapt to his feet with gusto. "I bet you know all about this boring stuff."

"Naruto." Tsunade growled darkly at the nickname Naruto still persisted in using for her. "I'm not going to be helping him, at least not directly."

"WHAT?" Both Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in shock.

"But Tsunade-sama-" Sakura started to protest but was cut off.

"In this type of trial the Hokage always acts as a mediator over the proceedings." Tsunade explained. "I have to remain impartial no matter which side I may sympathize with."

"But if you don't represent Sasuke-kun, then who will?" Sakura asked. "None of us understand these sorts of proceedings and all of our friends are shinobi."

"Not to worry, I know a man who is excellent at things such as this." Tsunade said. "His name is Orshiro Kisho and he's a prominent lawyer from the capital city. In fact, I've already sent for him and he should be here within the next few days."

"Is he any good?" Naruto asked only to get bonked on the head by Sakura.

"Baka!" She exclaimed. "What part of the phrase 'PROMINENT lawyer from the CAPITAL' do you not understand?"

"Dope." Sasuke added for good measure.

"OI!" Naruto protested at being ganged up on by his two team mates.

Tsunade started to interrupt them but on second thought, she decided to let them argue for a little while longer. They looked so happy and alive in that moment that she didn't have the heart to interrupt just yet. They wouldn't get moments like this in the weeks to come. And there was always a possibility that they may never get a chance like this again. So after several minutes of watching them argue heatedly back and forth, Tsunade finally interrupted.

"If you three are through, then I think we have more important things to worry about." Tsunade called over their bickering. They settled down almost immediately with ashamed looks on their faces. Well, Sakura and Naruto looked ashamed but Sasuke just stared forward blankly in the classic Uchiha fashion.

"Finally," Tsunade sighed once they had settled down. "Now with Orshiro-san not being a native of Konoha he will need someone to act as his assistant during the duration of the trial. Ideally it would be someone with extensive knowledge of Konoha's laws both written and cultural and someone sympathetic to Sasuke's cause, which of course limits our choices."

"What about Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura suggested.

"He would be ideal but there's a chance he may be called as a character witness so he can't do it." Tsunade explained. "Therefore both you and Naruto are automatically eliminated, though I'd let Orshiro-san go it alone before I would assign Naruto to help him."

"Oi!" Naruto protested again only to be silenced by a glare from Tsunade.

"Now we have to find someone else to assist Orshiro-san." Tsunade continued as if there had been no interruption. "I would suggest Jiyaira but he's off on one of his "research" missions with no way to get word to him. There's Iruka but then again there's a slim chance that he could be called as a witness. Out of your comrades, Hyuuga Neji and Hyuuga Hinata probably have a fairly decent grasp on the laws and such but I doubt Hiashi-san will allow either of them to get involved into something so politically volatile no matter what his opinions may be on the matter. Then of course there's Shikamaru, though I don't know how receptive he'll be to the idea but you can ask him. The decision is up to him though; I won't force him to do it."

Sakura couldn't help but groan inwardly. She remembered how Shikamaru had been after the Sasuke retrieval mission and she knew it would take some serious convincing to get his help if they could convince him at all. She had a couple of good puppy-dog faces in her arsenal and she could always promise to help him get a date with Ino. If that didn't work then she knew that the promise that both she and Naruto would annoy him until the end of time would make him seriously think it over. Everyone who was anyone knew that she and Naruto- especially Naruto- could be annoying as hell when they put their mind to it.

"Don't worry Baa-chan! We'll get him to do it!" Naruto's enthusiastic proclamation interrupted her thoughts. She couldn't help but smile at his energy and passion. If Naruto said he would do something, he would. That was just a fact of life sort of like the sky being blue, the grass being green and Sasuke being drop dead gorgeous.

Tsunade smiled and shook her head at the blonde ninja's enthusiasm before becoming serious once more.

"I'm afraid that's all we can do for now." Tsunade said with a sigh. "Aside from deciding what to do with Kichi while Uchiha-san is in prison."

"It would best if she staid with Sakura." Sasuke said without hesitation. "She'll be quicker to trust Sakura." At this comment everyone in the room turned to look at her with expectant eyes. Well everyone but Sasuke that is, because he already knew what her answer would be. That girl just couldn't say no to him. But then again he was Uchiha Sasuke and no girl could say no to him.

"Of course I'll take care of her." Sakura answered quietly. "I wouldn't let her stay with anyone else."

"Good." Tsunade agreed. "Sakura, why don't you escort Uchiha-san back to his cell so that you two can have a chance to talk about the arrangements?"

"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Sakura replied promptly.

"Kichi can stay here until you're done." Tsunade said. "You're excused now. Naruto, you stay."

With that both Sakura and Sasuke stood to their feet after carefully laying Kichi across the chairs and bowed to the Hokage before leaving the room escorted by a group of Anbu guards. There was a moment of silence after the door had closed behind them before Naruto leapt to his feet.

"Why do I have to stay behind?" Naruto whined.

"Because they deserve some alone time." Tsunade said as she stretched her cramped muscles. "And I need you to look after the kid while I fill out these papers."

"Ah, man!"

"Naruto!" Tsunade growled. "She's asleep. How hard can be to look after a sleeping child?"

"But I don't know what to do with kids!" He continued to whine.

"Just deal with it." Tsunade mumbled tiredly.

Meanwhile, Sakura and Sasuke were taking their time getting him back to his cell. They walked silently for a while, enjoying the pleasant silence and each others' presence while choosing to ignore the guards that kept a safe but respectful distance behind them.

"She enjoys long baths." Sasuke stated breaking the silence.

"Wha?" Sakura blinked in confusion.

"Kichi enjoys long baths." Sasuke repeated in his usual emotionless voice. "They help relax her."

"Oh, I see." Sakura said. "I'll try to remember that. Is there anything else I should know?"

"She likes stories about all the people here." Sasuke continued. "You might tell her a few stories about things that happened while I was away to help her feel more comfortable. And I think she'd enjoy seeing the village once she settles in."

"Of course." Sakura beamed. "I'd be happy to show her around and tell her about all the times I kicked Naruto's butt!"

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at the mental image of Naruto sent flying through the air by a very angry Sakura.

"I'd like to hear those stories too some day." Sasuke said causing Sakura to blush prettily. She may be five years older and much more mature but she never failed to blush at anything that resembled a compliment coming from the youngest Uchiha.

"I'll even bring her by to see you some time." Sakura tactfully changed the subject to hide her own embarrassment.

"No." Sasuke countered harshly causing Sakura to jump in shock. Her greens eyes widened and stared at Sasuke with a look that clearly said his abrupt attitude had hurt her feelings. Sasuke sighed and willed his face to relax and look less hostile.

"Sakura. Think about it." Sasuke stated calmly this time. "She spent most of her life caged up in cell so one can only imagine how she would react if she saw me in one."

"Oh…" Sakura gaped as realization dawned upon her. "I understand. I'll talk to Tsunade-sama and see if some sort different arrangement can be made."

Sasuke probably would have thanked her if there hadn't been a host of men standing around them so instead he simply nodded his thanks and continued walking. He had an image to keep up and he was already hurting it with all the talking, che.

When they got to his cell they stopped and stood just outside the door as an awkward silence settled in.

"Goodbye Sakura," Sasuke said quietly in his calm voice.

"Goodbye Sasuke-kun." Sakura answered sadly as Sasuke turned to enter his prison cell.

"And don't worry." She called out to him before he could get completely inside. "You'll be out of here in no time and telling Kichi stories yourself."

"Sakura." Sasuke paused in mid motion with his back still toward her. "You know there's a very good chance that may never happen."

"What?" Sakura stared at his back dumbfounded.

"If things don't go well, then I would like you to look after-"

In a flash, Sakura had whipped Sasuke around with one hand and clamped her other over his mouth effectively shutting him up.

"Don't even thing about it." Sakura hissed her eyes dancing with a fire that caught Sasuke completely by surprise. "You ARE going to get out of this. You ARE going to come home to me and Kichi. And you ARE going to remain positive throughout this entire thing even if it kills you! You got it Uchiha?!?"

Unfortunately Sasuke could only stare dumbfounded at the woman in front of him in disbelief. Where was the little girl who used to swoon at the very sight of him and cry if he so much as sneered in her direction? Not that he minded the change; this new assertive Sakura was kind of turning him on.

"Well I think you get the point." Sakura stated stepping back as she realized what she had just done. "I better be getting back to the Hokage's office."

This time it was Sasuke's turn to catch Sakura's arm and whip her around as she tried to leave, pressing his lips to hers in a searing kiss. Sakura nearly collapsed at the shear enormity of the passion contained in just this one kiss but Sasuke's steady arm around her waist kept her on her feet.

Sasuke slowly pulled back, allowing his warm breath to tickle Sakura's face as her consciousness tried desperately to surface in the pool of bliss that it was drowning in. When she did manage to compose herself somewhat, she found herself staring up into warm dark eyes that gazed down at her with a look was simply indescribable in any language.

"Wow." Was all Sakura's muddled brain could come up with. This alone was enough to make Sasuke smirk proudly.

"Just call it my way of saying I'm glad you're on my side." He bent down and whispered into her ear, the sensation sending shivers up and down her spine. Sakura started to respond but was interrupted when one of the guards approached her from behind.

"Haruno-san, Hokage-sama wishes you to return to her office immediately." The tall ninja looked apologetic and slightly embarrassed at interrupting their private moment and quickly backed away once his message was delivered.

Sakura sighed sadly and turned to give Sasuke one last smile. He didn't say anything when she removed herself from his arms and moved out of the way so the guards could secure his cell. He didn't say a word as she slowly backed out of the room, her eyes never leaving his. He didn't say anything when the door closed on her bright green eyes and the room became quiet and cold. He didn't say anything because he didn't need to; his eyes said it all.


Ne? Was it worth the wait? I sure hope so!

Let me know what you think!

And for those who were wondering; Kisho means one who knows his own mind while I have no idea waht Orshiro means, it's just a semi-popular Japanese family name that I liked.

FrillingFreak