Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and company or InuYasha and company, I'm just playing with the characters.
AN: The hanyous/youkais from InuYasha are not youkais/bijuus in this cross; they have kekkai genkais that mimic their youkai powers.
Summary: Sasuke finds out Itachi is alive and seeks vengeance. Unfortunately he is caught and sentenced.
AN: Follows 'Right Circumstances'.
~ooO Connections: Judgement (Popularity) Ooo~
Sasuke glared at the white-haired gold-eyed daimyo seated upon the ornately carved throne set on the dais before him. He was cold and restrained dressed in pure white accented with red geometric sakura at the cuffs and collar. He reminded Sasuke of his own father Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuuga Hiashi. This one would not let emotion deflect him once he decided on a course of action.
Seated beside the White Lord was a more compassionate looking black-haired blue-eyed woman dressed in the palest blue kimono that turned to darker tints of blue and navy at the edges. A cream obi heavily embroidered with crescent moons and navy blue obijime added to the impression of restrained grace and elegance. Sasuke felt a slight pang. She reminded him of his own mother, Uchiha Mikoto, with her warm maternal expression blended with high-class restraint and emotional control. Black eyes fell upon the younger woman standing near the dais and Sasuke nearly lost control.
If it wasn't for the damn chakra inhibiting manacles Sasuke would slaughter the black-haired bitch for her interference! He snarled and made a futile move to attack her and was knocked to his knees by one of the many guards wielding five-foot pole-arms topped by a two-foot leaf-shaped blade. He tensed and went very still feeling the lethal edge of the steel blade resting against his neck.
"Show respect nukenin! You are being judged by the Daimyo of Yama no Kuni! Not by one of your shinobi Kages or petty lordlings!"
"Enough." The White Lord, the Daimyo spoke in quiet but carrying tones.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" The guard promptly moved away to stand at-ready.
Sasuke became very still as the Daimyo scrutinized him with cold calculating gold eyes. It was worse than anything Sasuke had ever experienced before. This Daimyo did not see any worth or benefit in him; in his power-skills, status, clan name, or kekkai genkai. Sasuke suddenly became very aware if the Daimyo felt like it he could easily order Sasuke's execution and no one would care. The dobe might care but he could not do anything. Not in the Court of a foreign nation.
The Uchiha nuke-nin suddenly felt very tired. He had betrayed his village, endured hardship and training and agony pursuing power and honing his own skills in order to avenge his clan. And when he thought he had finally succeeded in killing his brother his hatred found a new target: Konoha, the ones who ordered his clans massacre. He joined Akatsuki because he could not fight against an entire village all by himself.
And then he found out it was all a lie. Itachi was still alive. He was living in Yama no Kuni. Sasuke had immediately gone to Madara to confirm the information. The old bastard had clammed up tight and refused to send anyone to confirm the rumours. Deciding to take matters into his own hand Sasuke left Akatsuki headquarters and travelled to Yama and found out it was all true.
Itachi was alive.
He was whole and healthy.
He was seen around a pretty young woman.
The locals gossiped about the handsome silent suitor always around Hikari-sama.
Hikari-sama. Nishimato Hikari, eldest daughter of the Daimyo, third General of the Yama samurais.
The bitch who had fought off his attempts to kidnap her, one strong enough for Sasuke to resort to no-holds barred attacks. Even then he had failed. Battling her required more focus and chakra than he had anticipated. He had been unable to successfully break away and escape before the Samurai Guards arrived in response to the intruder alarm. And somehow one single squad of samurais managed to do what the hunter-nins of the Great Hidden Villages had failed to do: take out and detain Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke had spent the hours that followed cursing his lack of restraint. Now he understood why his ancestor Madara had refused to send agents to Yama. The samurais here were better trained and more than capable of taking out S-class shinobis. The self-proclaimed avenger had spent quite a while trying to figure out Itachi's connection to Yama. Why hadn't anyone identified Itachi as a nuke-nin? With a group of similarly skilled fighters they could have easily killed his traitorous murderous brother. Didn't they know who he really was? His crimes?
When Sasuke had confirmed the truth of the rumours he had been unable to control himself. Here was Itachi, alive whole and safe from hunter-nins since most of the Hidden Villages believed he was dead. Here was Itachi, with a beautiful trained girlfriend on the verge of marrying into a powerful noble clan.
Why did Fortune always smile on Itachi? Itachi, the eldest son and perfect heir. The genius and prodigy, the ANBU Captain. Itachi with the skills and power and reputation. Itachi with influence and powerful allies. And now he gets the girl! Why did Sasuke get weak clingy fangirls pursuing him? When would it be Sasuke's turn to be smiled upon by Fickle Fortune?
The Daimyo turned slightly. Sasuke stiffened. He hadn't even sensed the newcomer. His muscles clenched and hatred burned when he realized the identity of the man stepping of the shadows and moving to stand beside the bitch.
Uchiha Itachi. His traitorous, murderous, bastard of a brother. Itachi dressed in the uniform of one of the Household Guards: light brown leather pants with a scarlet top and cream jacket marked with red sakuras and blue crescent moons.
The younger Uchiha snarled and lunged before being restrained by the chakra suppressing manacles chains around his ankles.
"Do you know what he is? What he's done! He is a traitor! A murderer!"
Two identical pairs of gold eyes stared at Sasuke unblinkingly. The penetrating weight of those eyes made Sasuke fidget before he remembered he was Right.
"Foolish brat."
Sasuke flinched at the words voiced in level mild tones from the maternal kindly looking woman.
She stepped forward, the heavy silk material of her kimono rustling faintly as she adjusted her sleeves to hold a hand out, palm facing up.
"Blind foolish brat."
"That is rather harsh Kaa-san." The bitch murmured smirking as she reached out and wrapped her hand around Itachi's forearm.
The lady huffed. "I have no patience for spoiled intolerant brats."
The Daimyo raised an arch brow.
"What happened to my kind, compassionate, too-forgiving mate?"
The woman snorted softly. "She had to stitch up nearly lethal wounds on a boy she considers a son."
Itachi shifted and voiced a protest with no real feeling. "I am not a boy."
"Hush Tachi." The reprimand was mild and absently made as she took one step in Itachi's direction.
Sasuke watched shocked as she ran her hand over Itachi's head from her higher vantage point. And Itachi allowed it! In fact he shifted slightly, angling his head into her caress like a cat!
The Daimyo simply watched with a faint smile before speaking.
"Enough Kagome. You can fuss over the boy later."
Itachi mumbled softly but stepped away the older woman's touch. Nishimato Hikari smirked and raised her free hand to stroke the loose strands of hair framing his face occasionally skimming over his cheek.
Sasuke watched as his once-adored elder brother lean into her touch, turning slightly to brush a kiss against her hand.
Nishimato Sesshoumaru sighed. "Enough Hikari. You have self-control. Exercise it." Amusement faded as gold eyes focused on Sasuke. "We have issues that need to be handled and a prisoner to be dealt with."
Hikari shrugged. "Kill him."
The Daimyo nodded slightly and turned to his wife. "Kagome?"
Doe brown eyes were frozen, hard, unforgiving. "I agree with Hikari."
Sesshoumaru's cool gold eyes focused on the nin who he had every expectation of calling son-in-law in the near future. "Itachi?"
Uchiha Itachi inhaled deeply and struggled to maintain a dispassionate mask.
"Do as you will. I burned favours and my own humanity to protect him. And he spits upon everything I've done, all I've sacrificed. I'm done."
Sasuke recoiled almost imperceptibly.
Nishimato Kagome caught it and smiled, a fierce savage expression.
"What? Did you honestly think Itachi would care after all you've done? Especially after you were informed of the truth and should have known better?" Dark brown eyes were scornful and condemning. "You know Itachi was following orders. You know it was Madara who tortured you with the Mangekyou. And still you choose to follow Madara and be a part of Akatsuki." Kagome glared at the chained kneeling Akatsuki nuke-nin. "Hypocrite!"
Then she turned to her husband and spoke.
"This brat has infringed upon the sovereignty of Yama no Kuni and violated several major treaties and the International Laws accepted by all the Elemental Countries! He chooses to break them of his own free will by his past and current actions and choices. He shows no remorse or desire to change. He is a threat and all threats should be neutralized!"
For the first time since he was captured Sasuke felt a real threat to his life. Most countries and Hidden Villages would be interested in integrating the Sharingan kekkai genkai into their own lands or extraditing him if they were allied to Konoha. But that was clearly not the case here.
They wanted him dead.
Itachi would not interfere.
Sasuke wondered how it had come to this. Once upon a time the Uchiha clan had been the most powerful in Konoha, feared throughout the Elemental Continent. Then they had been slaughtered by their own heir. Sasuke had become one of the most acclaimed and feared shinobi, before and after he had left Konoha, but even so he'd had leverage because Konoha did not want to loose the Sharingan kekkai genkai. But not here, not in Yama. In Yama, even as a nukenin Itachi was more desired and sought after than Sasuke. Why?
Sasuke was not aware he had he had spoke the last two sentences out loud. Sesshoumaru stared at the much younger male filled with useless self-pity. The daimyo was torn between disgust and amusement at the blatant hypocrisy and self-delusions Uchiha Sasuke still clung to.
Finally he spoke. "Uchiha… this is not a popularity contest. Your current status and condition are the direct result of choices You made for good or ill. You were given every benefit from your birth lands and you chose to throw it away for hollow vengeance. Your brother Earned his place among us. He did not get it because he is attractive or highly skilled. He paid for it with blood sweat and tears."
Nishimato Hikari stirred from her position beside Itachi and spoke.
"Itachi is far more genuine and caring than most high-class shinobis I've met. You were protected and shielded and given opportunities on his say so. Now you've screwed up and you are Not going to be extradited. You are going to pay for your crimes. For Your choices and actions."
Sesshoumaru rose from his seat and took two steps to stand on the front edge of the dais a little ahead of his wife.
"Uchiha Sasuke. It has been decided. For your crimes against various lands including Yama, including a direct assault upon one of the ruling clan of Yama no Kuni the highest penalties shall be applied."
Sasuke stiffened and began making plans to escape and get his revenge. The Nishimatos and Yama were going to join Itachi and Konoha on his list.
Then he saw the Daimyo's cold dispassionate visage and wondered just what sort of sentence would be imposed upon him.
"You will be Sealed. Your bloodline, memories, and chakra vessels will be either blocked or destroyed before you serve the rest of your life-time punishment in Raizen penal village near Midori Pass."
Sasuke went very still. "No! You can't do this to me!"
Red bled into gold. "Do not make demands of this Sesshoumaru! Be grateful you are permitted to retain your pitiful life!"
Sasuke began struggling but the chakra-draining chains held fast. His twisted and tried to avoid the gold dust Nishimato Kagome blew towards him. He held his breath, to avoid inhaling the drug, but it didn't work. Gold motes settled on his exposed skin and quickly sank beneath the barrier.
The last thing Sasuke saw was the pitying expression of his elder brother standing beside the Daimyo's daughter.
Itachi stared at his brother uncertain of what he was feeling. He had sacrificed so much to protect him… Itachi was tired, but Sasuke was still his little brother.
Sensing his conundrum Kagome spoke up. "Don't Itachi." He looked at her. Her eyes were steady and unflinching. "Leadership is not a popularity contest to be won. It is a responsibility to be borne by those wise enough to know there are prices to be paid, hard choices to be made. He will find the peace with a clean slate, without the burdens of the past." Kagome concluded.
In the end Itachi had to agree Kagome had a point. Sasuke clung to the past so tightly he couldn't see what he had and what he could have. Perhaps without his memories he could make a future for himself, one free from tainted beliefs.
~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~
The End.
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