A/N - Time for show and tell, poor Sasuke forgot to bring anything - thats ok there are ways of finding out what you want to know
Warning: Don't worry, you are safe
Disclaimer: To own or not to own, that is the question. I don't own, that is the answer
Sasuke was a little surprised to see the silver-haired man standing at his door, "Kakashi-sensei?"
"I thought you could use a little company on the way," the man said with a hidden smile.
Sasuke nodded and began to make his way out of the compound. The two shinobi walked in companionable silence until Kakashi finally spoke, "So, how is Naruto doing?" he asked with a knowing glint in his eye.
The raven-haired boy gave a sideways glare before responding coolly, "Fine I guess."
Kakashi nodded, "Good. He was very worried."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, not sure what his former teacher was getting at, but certain he didn't want to talk about it, "Naruto and I have been through a lot. It is only natural that we should grow so attached."
"That is true." Kakashi seemed to sense the underlying question in Sasuke's statement, "it is a very special relationship that the two of you share."
They exchanged a few more words before stopping in front of the Hokage's tower. Sasuke looked at the silver-haired man with an intensity that made Kakashi a little uncomfortable.
"Before we go in there," he said, unzipping his vest and shoving it at the accompanying guard, "there is something I need you to do for me."
The cool expression and low tone of Sasuke's voice made Kakashi furrow his brow. The pale boy lifted his black shirt, revealing a pale torso covered only by a sleeveless mesh top. He grabbed the strap of his shirt and pulled it aside, "I need you to re-seal this."
Kakashi blinked rapidly as Sasuke's intentions finally sank in. Sasuke turned his head, exposing the cursed seal. Kakashi nodded and placing a hand on the pale boy's shoulder, guided him up to the tower.
"Please tell the Hokage we have arrived, we will be up shortly," Kakashi instructed the ANBU escort before taking Sasuke's discarded clothes.
He found an unoccupied room on the first floor and ushered Sasuke in, locking the door behind him. Moving aside a small table and a couple chairs, Kakashi prepared to create the seal. Sasuke stood, chin up and back straight. He remembered the pain of the sealing technique just as vividly as the pain caused by it's release. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing. Within seconds he felt the blinding sensation, and while he was sure it was over almost instantly it still felt like an eternity. He collapsed onto his knees, chest heaving as he struggled to regain control.
After a few minutes the dark-haired boy finally stood and retrieved his shirt and vest. Once again looking presentable, Sasuke ran his hands through his hair and nodded, "thank you."
Kakashi's exposed eye seemed to twinkle with a smile. He had no doubts that Sasuke was authentic, that this Sasuke was the same as the one that had left 5 months ago – though it had undoubtedly changed him. Together they left the room and made their way up to Tsunade's office.
Tsunade and Danzo sat on one side of the room, an empty chair waiting for Kakashi. Inoichi stood across from them, giving Sasuke a scrutinizing stare as he entered the room. The silver-haired man made his way to the empty seat between the Hokage and the elder. Sasuke was left to stand in the middle of the room. Tsunade gestured for Inoichi to get started. The blond man moved toward Sasuke, who eyed him warily.
"I trust you know what I am doing here?" Inoichi asked, Sasuke simply nodded maintaining his placid expression, "Good. Than I expect you will cooperate fully. Have a seat."
Sasuke looked around the room, searching for a chair – his gaze settled on the couch on the far side of the room and he sat on one end. Inoichi moved to him and stood, his face stern, "I am going to search through the memories of your time with Orochimaru. Please do not fight, just relax."
With that the man placed his hand on Sasuke's head, his fingers settling amongst silky black hair. He began to probe the pale boy's mind, flicking through memories as if they were pages of a book. The three inquisitors watched as the blond man's expression turned solemn and even painful. The minutes seemed to drag out and after some time Tsunade's focus turned from Inoichi to the raven-haired boy sitting on the couch.
Sasuke sat, rigid with closed eyes, on the couch; he had a white-knuckle grip on the cushion. His face was displaying an emotion that Tsunade had never seen on the Uchiha. If she didn't know better she would have described the expression as sadness, perhaps even guilt. She strained to explore the visage in more detail, leaning forward - amazed to see the smallest glittering at the corner of his eyes. Though no tears actually fell to confirm her suspicions, she was certain that is what she saw.
After some time Inoichi finally removed his hand. He looked down at the boy with a look of mixed worry and consternation. He nodded to Tsunade, who moved to the door allowing Shizune in. The mousy brunette walked over to Sasuke who was still sitting with his eyes closed. She settled her hand on his shoulder, the contact seemed to jar the boy awake and he looked up at her with wide eyes. She gave a small smile and gestured for him to follow. The two walked out of the room and down the hall to Shizune's office.
"How are you feeling?" Shizune asked, genuinely concerned. Sasuke was not acting like himself, and while she had never been a fan of the arrogant, bastard Sasuke, she disliked this defeated Sasuke even more.
Sasuke didn't answer, he just sat in her office, eyes wandering over the piles of scrolls and papers that littered her shelves and desk. He closed his eyes again, wishing he could just escape. He knew what Inoichi was telling them, he could see the shame on their faces. Then he remembered Naruto's face, the expression that wasn't pity or disgust, but rather understanding and empathy. Perhaps there was a chance his inquisitors would commiserate.
"Sasuke?" Shizune repeated.
Finally he looked at her, his face displaying a more characteristic emotion – annoyance, "I am fine. I already knew everything they are now hearing."
"Oh?" Shizune, relieved that Sasuke was once again acting like a prick. She began to shuffle through her paperwork, "and what might that be?"
She wasn't really expecting an answer, rather an irritated eye roll or a snort, so she was surprised when he responded, "that I will go to any length to complete a mission. That my commitment to this mission meant sacrificing everything I thought mattered."
No more words were exchanged, Sasuke waited patiently for his guard to retrieve him. He was really getting tired of the masked man – but he was content to know that the ANBU member was probably equally pissed he had been put on babysitting duty. The thought of the man having to stand guard at his door, while Sasuke was voraciously making out with Naruto brought a smirk to Sasuke's otherwise vacant face.
A knock on the door brought him back to reality. He stood immediately as the masked man entered the cramped office. Sasuke gave him a curt nod and looked back at Shizune who barely looked up from her paperwork, she offered a small smile and he turned to walk out.
The few paces between Shizune's office and the Hokage's felt like a death march. Sasuke managed to keep his breathing steady but his heart was pounding fiercely in his chest. He stood in front of the door and took a step back when it opened from the inside. Inoichi stood, holding the handle and blinked at Sasuke. The raven-haired boy took another step back, offering the man adequate space to exit. Sasuke tried to read the blond man's expression, but could not come to a firm conclusion before the man turned and walked down the hall.
Sasuke entered to find a single chair in the center of the room facing the panel of interrogators. He walked across the threshold and the door was shut firmly behind him. Sasuke could not help but swallow hard as he walked to the empty chair. He sat and let his gaze travel across the faces of the inquisition.
"The actions taken during this mission were deplorable to say the least and not fitting of a Hidden Leaf shinobi," Sasuke's heart sank as he heard Danzo speak, "What he did and allowed to be done to him..."
"Don't talk about me as if I am not here," Sasuke cut him off, glaring at the man.
Danzo turned his eyes squarely to meet Sasuke's, "you acted in a depraved manor, one that a better ninja would not have..."
"Better ninja?" Sasuke interrupted again, nearly yelling through clenched jaws.
Tsunade stood, glaring, "stop this right now! The point of this committee is not to discuss the means by which Sasuke completed his mission, but to determine whether or not he was compromised by Orochimaru. I think the information provided demonstrates quite clearly that Sasuke's loyalty never faltered."
"Thank you," Sasuke said curtly, continuing to glower at Danzo.
"But what he did..." Danzo continued to argue.
"What he did," Tsunade turned to him, "was exactly what he was order to do. Infiltrate Orochimaru's hide-out and kill him by any means necessary. The fact that Orochimaru acted in a depraved manor cannot be controlled. It is not like Sasuke enjoyed it."
Danzo turned his focus back to Sasuke, "I am not so sure he didn't."
Sasuke could feel his blood boiling. He bit his tongue to keep from saying anything that might damn him further. He moved his glare from Danzo over to his former instructor who was showing little emotion in his exposed eye. Sasuke's eyes pleaded for some kind of reassurance, but he was disappointed when Kakashi couldn't look at him directly. Sasuke sat back, shoulders slumped and turned to Tsunade who was obviously distressed. Sasuke pursed his lips, he knew his next words would be critical and he chose them carefully.
"I am not proud of anything I did. The people I killed or the way I submitted to Orochimaru. I did what I did in order to maintain my cover. If he suspected me, not only would it mean my death but it would have also compromised Konoha," he moved his gaze from Tsunade to Kakashi and finally settled on Danzo, "if there was a better way to complete this mission, it did not present itself to me."
He felt himself relax when Tsunade placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, and Tsunade was taken aback for a second time when she saw what was undoubtedly fear in his eyes. She looked over to Kakashi who gave her a slow nod and then Danzo who simply crossed his arms and stared at her coldly.
She sighed and looked back down to Sasuke, "it is the decision of this council that you completed this mission to satisfaction. Your commitment to the mission and your loyalty to Konoha were not compromised," she paused as relief washed over him, "Due to the nature by which you achieved your goal you will not be allowed to go on solo missions, you will be accompanied by Uzumaki Naruto and any whom ever else I deem appropriate according to the mission specifications. This will remain the case until I am confident that you are able to act in a manor befitting of a Hidden Leaf shinobi," Sasuke fought the urge to roll his eyes, "Do you understand?"
Sasuke stood up and looked Tsunade directly in the eye, "thank you Hokage."
Tsunade cleared her throat, "Yes, well..." she was not used to the Uchiha showing respect, it made her uncomfortable, "just, behave."
The raven-haired boy bowed and turned to the two men still seated. Kakashi threw his arm around the empty chair to his right and nodded. Sasuke returned the gesture with near indiscernible smile and then looked to Danzo who was still giving him a cold stare. Sasuke straightened and lifted his chin at the man, giving Danzo a smug smile.
Satisfied, he turned back to Tsunade, waiting for her permission to leave, "Go and take a few days to recuperate. I will expect you and Uzumaki in my office first thing Monday."
Naruto was pacing impatiently in front of the Hokage's tower. How long is this supposed to take? He stopped dead in his tracks when the pale boy emerged alone, walking in confident strides.
Sasuke looked around at the scene in front of him. Men and women going about their business, a couple children in a heated debate over their favorite shinobi. The commotion faded away when his gaze settled on the blond standing in the middle of the street. His body seemed to move on it's own and suddenly Sasuke found himself standing impossibly close to Naruto, their bodies not quite touching. Unable to contain himself, the blond threw his arms around the pale boy. He didn't care if Sasuke hugged him back, he was just happy to hold him – nonetheless he was ecstatic when he felt arms wrap around his torso.
Naruto buried his face into the crook of Sasuke's neck and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Sasuke allowed a small smile to appear and closed his eyes, nobody was going to take this moment away.
"Get a room boys," came the teasing voice of Kakashi as he walked away from the tower and out into the street.
Naruto chuckled and pulled back. Sasuke allowed his arms to linger around the blond's waist for another moment before dropping them. Without a word he began to walk, not really sure where he was going, but happy to have the blond walking by his side.
"Oh yeah," Naruto exclaimed suddenly, "I forgot, I have something for you."
He stopped and reached into his pocket, he pulled out it's contents and handed it to the dark-haired boy. Sasuke smirked as he looked down, he examined his forehead protector with his fingers – tracing the engraved metal. Standing up straight, he placed the ornament against his head and wrapped it around tightly, pleased with the familiar weight.
"Thanks," he said adjusting it under his bangs, "how does it look?" Sasuke asked, finally done fiddling.
"Perfect," Naruto replied, making no attempt to actually look at anything other than Sasuke's deep obsidian eyes.