Heyo! How y'all doing? Terrible, I know. I'm miserable too. BUUUUUT I've came up with a new idea for this fan-freaking-tastic fiction! A couple of months ago, a reader requested me to write a Sasuhina fanfiction, and I've read a fair decent amount of them over the expanse of my years (that's right, kuh). The story idea's mine but the pairing was requested (but even then, I kinda do ship them very much lol! Respect all ships!).

I know I have a story to finish, but I will get back to that when the Holy Vision of Greatness dawns upon me. Right now, that Vision of Greatness appeared in my dreams in the form of Sasuhina!

Fair warnings: This work has been shortly re-edited so each chapter contained at least 5k words. Sorry for those who are confused and thought that the loads of changing were updates. The update will be coming in one more day.

Enjoy and twerk!

Disclaimer: I claim no rights to any of these characters.

Chapter 1: Set in Motion

The stress spread through his mind like ink on paper. Kakashi took in deep, ragged breath before placing his hands, enclosed together, behind him as he marched to the entrance leading to the silent spirals of staircases with only his footsteps as an exception. He was walking like someone who'd been in some armed service, there was a marching quality to it. No matter what he couldn't bring himself to think of an alternative possibility of his wayward of a student and instead was content of pondering the bright side. But even he knew the weights of consequences that entailed the high crimes committed by that problem child. At this point, he wouldn't be bothering thinking what the council might say. It was a taboo to him himself to think of the consequences following Sasuke Uchiha's crimes. Again.

He reached the final floor and flung the door open with much ease and grace, regarding the guards with a nod. "Ibiki, have you prepared yourself yet?"

The interrogator barely showed a scratch of emotion and instead nodded at the Sixth Hokage of the Leaf Village. "Lord Hokage, I hope you know by now that I have received and interrogated over thousands of criminals; each differently delusional. Not even the Uchiha brat can scare me. I am ready."

"Good." Because I'm not, thought Kakashi in his mind. Momentarily he pinched his nose. "I have at least expected some mild results on your journey of atonement, maybe some good results, but I'm very disappointed that you have chosen the path that will cause you nothing but pain again," he mumbled sternly, arms tightly folded across his chest as he faced the bars, jammed with over dozens of locks and seals, fearing of the newly-put inmate inside. "Sasuke."

Nothing. Not a single sound or a breathing that evidently made it seemed as if someone was in there, but both the Hokage and the interrogator knew better. Everything appeared to be so cold to the point that even Ibiki was uncomfortable in the silence. Usually, during this time, the victim should've been pleading or kissing the ground, even more so as he recalled that the young Uchiha was restrained heavily with metal locks and powerful and very painful seals that should've fried his mind already.

Kakashi moved forward, not a hint of fear, only disappointment evident on his masked face. "Listen to me," his voice was different than the strict leader he should've showed. It was deeply and faintly laced with personal authority and faded anger. Anger that his former student would reject any help coming from the people who loved him dearly. "Sakura and Naruto are forced to be on lockdown since they heard of your actions. They are your friends, the ones who loved you so dearly they would've died for you. I promised them I'd tried to keep your head on your shoulders, but, godamn it, you're not making it easier for me, Sasuke."

Yet again, another silence. He blinked, ebbing away his feelings and focusing his viewpoint as the responsible leader. He pulled away. "Let's start, Ibiki. Bring him out."

The clicking difficulty of opening the hundreds of locks made it sound clearly how fearful they were of the young Uchiha. Albeit the man had done nothing to prove that he was planning on escaping this prison, let alone move so much as an inch from his spot according to the charkra readings. It took them and the guards a full five minutes to get the iron bars to open and pull the tall and muscular boy out of his corner and sat him on an electrical seat where he would be questioned brutally or, if he decided to cooperate, peacefully.

Kakashi took in the appearance of his former student. He had changed since he last saw him during his depart on his journey to repent for everything he'd done two years ago. He must be nineteen now. Still a child, not being able to think in his rightly matured mind. His dark locks had grown longer, framing his angular and beautifully carved face, as many ladies had commented, though his eyes were obscured by a sealed cloth to prevent his Sharingan and Rinnegan from activating. Clothes and prison blanket were covered all over his toned body, securing his arms from making any signs. But even under the set of those straitjackets Kakashi knew of the disgraced black mark seals littering the entirety of his body; when he so as step a hair out of line, the marks would be activated and burn himself alive. It was placed on him recently both as a punishment for the rest of his life--or in his case, for the rest of his last month--and acted as a brand, curtesy of the village's councilmen. He had also grown much taller than Kakashi himself if he wasn't sitting right now.

"Sasuke Uchiha, I'm giving you a second chance to escape this torture, if you cooperate." Authority spoke his years of wisdom, though even he had his own demons, like right now, watching Sasuke slowly get tortured if he was to keep his mouth shut. "I and the council granted you leniency two years ago before you depart, is this how you repay us? Why have you attacked the Raikage and murdered ten of Kumo's ninjas?"

Another silence. Ibiki Morino scoffed arrogantly at the brat and his balls. "If he doesn't talk, Lord Hokage, I will have to commence the interrogation myself."

A sigh drew out of Kakashi, not having any desire to go this way, but what other choices he had in order to clear Sasuke's name? "Proceed."

Many minutes were the remaining time that he stayed there watching the debriefing go without a sound within his hearing range, not even a grunt or a twitch ebbed across Sasuke's face as Ibiki carved with jagged saw in his abdomen, etching a bloody scar across his scarred juxtaposed muscles, but not a sound.

"Sasuke, tell us why you have chosen to abandon us yet again, right after we were willing to give you a second chance. We were quite lenient and merciful upon deciding your fate."

Silence. Another harsh scar and a patch of blood loss to the taut arm.

"Why have you attacked the Kumo ninjas?"

Another stretched silence. One of his finger missed a whole nail.

"Shortly, why have you then attacked the Raikage, seemingly the less desirable person to be made an enemy of, which you already have done beforehand?"

Not a word. This was the last straw. The Copy Ninja just could never stand standing motionless while this little rebellious, troubled son of a bitch was trying to put up a brave face, not responding so much as a inch of muscle from the buildup tension all over his taut body; all of the torture. The linen redness and blood made him tore his gaze away from this—this—this boy. Who does he think he is anyway? Some prince?!

A tensed muscle on Kakashi's jaw went amiss. He waved away Ibiki for a second and leaned closer to the younger man. "What is it you aren't telling me, Sasuke? Do you really want me to call on an execution ceremony for you, hm? Is that what you want? Or are just trying to piss everyone else, including your teacher? You realize you're causing a minor war between the nations because of your childish tantrum?"

He was even more furious and concerned all together when there was no respond, much like before. But he knew from the minor soft sound of rise and falling of his breathing; steady and firm, that he was still alive and well. Well, he wasn't gonna stay alive for so long—Kakashi himself would see to it—if he didn't open his goddamned mouth. He wasn't one—almost never—to get agitated by someone with a loose screw in their head to the point he felt like tearing off a handful of his hair. Quite the opposite actually. Under normal circumstances, Kakashi was the one running the 'pissing people off is my hobby' around town, not this… this emo.

He smacked his mouth, a vein already popping. "Mah~ Sasuke. Do you really hate this village so much? Hate it to the point you wouldn't open your mouth? The village your late brother Itachi did everything in his will power to protect?"

Bad idea. Even Ibiki flinched from his stoicism to observe the Hokage with outmost curiosity and caution. But the Hokage? He did so much as bat an eye and pulled his eyes in a tight smile, a jovial mask belying his desperation to get even the slightest of sound from this little runt.

"Heh," Everyone in the room, except for Kakashi, held their breaths in after hearing that awaited slightest of sound from the last Uchiha who had purposely kept quiet this whole time to observe and study for the right moment to be able to elaborate of how mistaken they all were and that he was wronged—not that he didn't deserve it after his high numbers of committed crimes. "So like you to bring my passed brother into this, Kakashi. However, there's a slight flaw to your assumptions; I don't think too much about how much this village meant to Itachi, even if it means continuing his legacy if I were to ever feel love to it. The only reason I'm not destroying this place was because I respect his grand sacrifice. Though I won't feel any remorse if I ever find myself leveling this grounds to oblivion, regardless of Itachi's dismay. I'm going to hell anyway."

"Filthy traitor!" called out a member of Ibiki's subordinates in indignation. "You bastard!"

"Hotaro, enough!" Kakashi held up a stern hand to dismiss his further verbal assault and peered down at Sasuke with an unreadable emotion, one least easiest to predict for Sasuke's sneaky eyes even though they're covered. "Now, I want you to tell me the truth, Sasuke, because damn me if I'm lying when I tell you this: the council are considering an actual execution for you. You'll not only be putting yourself straight to a dead end but you'll devastate Naruto and Sakura. Tell me at least why you did it."

For many thoughts and speculations, Sasuke came to a realization that there really wasn't any benefit if he continued on to ignore the existences of these peasants around him, Kakashi less of one. "I… didn't attack him." His voice was low and quiet, like a deep growl of an animal ready to pounce. And just from the look of it, Sasuke made himself known that he fought battles with himself to voice those words out, afraid of looking vulnerable. But he had to do it in order to keep his head intact to his body.

A soundless wave of disbeliefs and confusions spread across the room, relief mostly emitted from Kakashi than Ibiki who still had many suspicion. "How so? Everyone said so. Why else were the Kumos hunting you down? Not to mention your whereabouts, from where you were spotted, tipped more to the Railkage's claims about you."

"I admit, I was near Kumogakure to restock rations and supplies, but I never went near the Kage's tower. Never even want anywhere near the wannabe wrestler and his temper problem. Have you considered a Transformation Jutsu, Kakashi? Whoever attacked the Kage was clearly set out to get to me."

"Perhaps," agreed the silver-haired, a crease visible between his eyebrows. But even if there was someone out there framing Sasuke, until there's a solid evidence, his words were nothing but oxygen against the council and the other nations. "Have you got any proof that support this, Sasuke?"

"No."

There was some shuffle on Ibiki's side, and Kakashi was aware what that meant. If the last Uchiha didn't have any evidence, his head was as good as gone, and he knew some of the Leaf villagers were glad to be rid of Sasuke, the menace, the criminal, the destroyer. There was clearly no other way to preserve Sasuke's live, unless Kakashi was foolish and crazy enough to initiate his legendary D-plan. In short, his D-plan consisted of high-rate act of defiance against the council and great risk of the village he was assigned to protect with his life. Right after the war ended and Sasuke agreed to return back to the Leaf because of Naruto, the A-plan was to firstly keep him locked up in this cellar until further notice. Then proceeded the B-plan which was sending Sasuke away on his journey where he'd protect the village from outside. That should avoid him getting the councilmen breathing down his neck and should give the villagers some space. The C-plan was the biggest disappointment and unorganized. He had demanded a computer meeting with the nations a while ago regarding Sasuke and practically pleaded all the Kages to allow Sasuke to remain in Konoha's main prison and to spare his life. He was given only two positive votes from the Mizukage and the Kazekage. The other two refused with not a second to think it through. So the Uchiha's lifeline was pretty much at its end. So, D-plan.

"Ibiki and the rest of you take a break. I need a little talk with him." He ordered with such high authority he felt the room empty within seconds, no questions, not even from Ibiki. "Do you know how much the Kage would pay billions of fortune just to watch you drop dead?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" A dark chuckle escaped him. "I did nothing wrong. Why would I even waste my time with the likes of him? Secondly, if they did decided to end my life, I could care less."

"Don't you value your life, Sasuke? Because there are people who do, like Sakura, Naruto and me."

"Yeah, about the only people." He didn't attempt to sound harsh. Sasuke was really grateful for his former teammates and teacher, even after all this time. He knew how many times Sakura shed tears for him in the past and maybe even now. He knew how many times Kakashi put his village at risks to defend Sasuke. He knew more than anything that Naruto injured himself to the point of near-deaths he experienced, for him, a selfish being thats value a level lower than a speck of dust under one's shoe.

"Look, I will send all Jonins, ANBU's, as many high-ranked ninjas as it takes, to investigate this matter and track down the imposter until your… scheduled execution."

His gaze and voice were passive. "When is it?"

"Exactly thirty days from now on." He mumbled afterwards, "but that's where the plan comes, Sasuke. In that thirty-day timeline, I will sent every qualified ninjas to investigate. The Kages expect me to confine you in this prison without any food or water unless really necessary. But if you're willing to help me clear your name, I have a task for you that will only be spoken between us."

"You're saying that you don't want me in here even when you're ordered to restrict me until my timed death?"

"Negative thoughts are unhealthy, Sasuke. And this is a risk I'm taking for you. I plan for you to investigate the case yourself as an ANBU," D-plan, D-plan. I don't get paid enough, thought Kakashi inwardly. "And while you're at it, I'll have you run some errands as well, so that no one mistakes you as a particular ANBU member."

There was deafening silence. Somehow even more painful than from when Sasuke refused to speak. Not a sound within his hearing range except for the breathings, the sound of water droplets and the burning scorch of his student's covered glare directed right into his own eyeballs.

"Please do not tell me this is one of your stupid jokes again." There was an edge in his voice, as if he was dreading this and, dare he say, fear. Nothing irked him more than to escort some pompous people to another village as a part of his 'other errands'.

The older man slit his eyes close in a cheerful smile obscured behind his silk mask. "Mah~ Isn't that what you're good at? Hiding away identity and being angsty? This post fit rightly for you. I will not assign anyone to partner with you. You will be inspecting this matter alone, and whenever I call for you for your civilized task, you will do them with no question. Any question?"

"Yes, do you have a death wish?" To Kakashi, it was a simple gesture to help people and maybe clear his name naturally. If Sasuke wasn't low enough to bash the requestor head in. To Sasuke, around the inspection matter, he had no problem—but the helping would have to be a problem. Given he didn't bash anyone's head in the moment he saw them, he would likely grow bored and someone would soon find out his identity. No, there was no one way in hell he'd do that even if hell freezes over and pigs sprout wings to sing 'I believe I can fly!'

"No, but it seemed that you have no problem around the death part."

"I can't run errands in the village while I track down that son of a—"

"Making amends, Sasuke. Making amends for the lost causes that you yourself had done in the the past. People of Konoha are still reluctant to call you one of their own citizens, and they're even more now if not at all. Not that I don't believe you, Sasuke. The only best thing I can do for you now is this. Do you agree?"

An exasperated sigh drew out his lips. His sealed eyes rolling around in their sockets, trying to get a clear elaboration as to how he got himself dragged in the mud. His life had been fine in the past two years, attracting no enemy's attention except for local women who eyeballed him with such passion, oblivious to his true status and his crimes. The moment he set a toe in Kumogakure he knew something was afoot but didn't stay long enough to investigate. It was the same feeling he had everytime he stepped into other unknown villages and foreign lands. And now he was expected to do some village's business, like helping escorting some high-status lord or lady to another village or delivering a very important scroll to another faraway village, all while he still had to focus on catching the imposter who for some reason hated his guts with passion that he was willing to start a war between the nations.

"Fine. Will you get me off this manacles and seals? They hurt like a bitch." He squirmed ferociously. "Between us you say? So no one will know who I am once I become your temporary ANBU or where I am? Not even Naruto or Sakura?"

A genuine smile tugged at Kakashi's lips. "Just because they don't see you or know where you are, doesn't mean they don't have faith. Well, in me for that matter. I assure you, they're the biggest believers. They were willing to wait out for years for you to finally come to you senses. No, they'll just assume you're still in prison awaiting your fated day. Naruto would no doubt participate in the investigation to clear your name. He would produce plans with Kazekage Gaara who will undoubtedly be a big help."

Sasuke gathered his last thoughts before giving a defeated nod. "Let's begin."

*

"Kaka-sensei, you have to do something about this! They can't give death sentence to Sasuke! I won't allow it!" With not much but a bursting brightness, Naruto barged in like he owned the place and started to sputter things about Sasuke and whatnot, Sakura close behind, sporting puffy, red eyes.

It was in the early morning. The sun hadn't kissed the vast sky just yet when his two obnoxious but very cute students disturbed him in the middle of his Icha Icha. Both of them had the scruffiest and the nastiest burnt marks all over themselves, and just from looking at them, he could tell that they've just returned from their mission with Kiba, in pursuit of Sasuke's imposter. It had been proper three days since the incident happen, and it had already shaken the trusts between the five nations with the Raikage spluttering how the Leaf Kage would allow such behavior from its own ninja. Things hadn't been looking the prettiest since it happen.

Kakashi exhaled, pitching away his porn behind him and picked up a pen. "Aren't you two here to report about your mission? Where's Kiba?"

"Kiba has… uh… allergy reaction to some pollen we discovered near the east forest," answered the sullen pinkette instead, loosing her girlish grace once again. "We are here to report, but Naruto—"

"You have to do something about this case, Kakashi-sensei!" The yellow-haired hero banged both of his fists against his desk, determination and indignation mixed in hazy desperation across his youthful features, blue eyes glinting with high spirits. "Please, Kakashi-sensei."

"Naruto, I'm doing my best, but the only solution I've come up with is to find the fraud, make him confess and use him to prove Sasuke's innocence. We've got time. Twenty-seven days can run slowly if you put your efforts to make it work." He was aware he was lying but alerting his already anxious students would bring nothing but sorrow and impulsive behaviors. "I've heard you've got a slight heading."

Naruto opened his mouth to tell him not to change the subject, but Sakura intervened, casting him a sideway glance. "Barely one. Kiba got a whiff of a victim who recently ran out of Kumogakure in an inhuman speed. We suspect he's the fraud, judging by how fast he was running indicated that he didn't want to be found. Unfortunately, we lost him too far near the east forest when Kiba fell ill with the plants. Anti-dog plants."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he coupled some of the papers and threw them across the table for them to observe. "If you two really don't want to rest, here's the next location of the possible subject. Yamato and his team traced a Transformation Jutsu from a bounty criminal near the North Sea." But even then, something felt empty. Even his former students could feel it. Even the number of Jonins and ANBU's felt so. As if there was a veil of mystery concealing right over them, segregating them from the truth all over. As if finding the imposter couldn't solve their problems. The feeling of emptiness. And so, came the question: was there ever an imposter?

He shook his head gently, ridding the thoughts out of his head. "You can follow in pursuit today with Yamato or rest for a few days. I'd consider the latter."

"I'll never put my back against my bed unless we find the fraud! But even then, it's not right jailing Sasuke in that horrible prison."

Worry washed over Kakashi. If Naruto found out that Sasuke wasn't in his prison, and that Kakashi had put him up for the ANBU tasks to solve his own case as well, the ball of brightness would no doubt be dazzling with pride and relief everyone would wonder why until they start speculating. He just couldn't keep a secret. Not even Sakura should know. So far the only people who knew of Sasuke's absence in prison with his name tagged on it were him and Ibiki. The interrogator might be a harsh person, but he never questioned his leader's decisions. Or spill underground secrets.

"Don't worry about it. I'm making sure he gets all the food and water he needed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some paperworks to sign. You are dismissed."

"But—"

"Dismiss, Naruto." Authority and power pressed in his words, rendering Naruto shut.

When he was about to argue again, Sakura weakly dragged Naruto out with a passive face. He knew how Sakura yearned to let her tears out. Unlike Naruto, whose determination matched the sun itself, Sakura was a medic and thus prone to be more down-to-earth and have realistic thoughts. And just by knowing the facts about Sasuke's current situation, she knew there might be narrow chance for his survival. And so, she grew numb.

The moment the door closed behind them, a huff escaped out of Kakashi's covered lips in exhaustion. Really, he wasn't paid enough for this shit. But he was also unlucky to be anxious at times. He lost two teammates and a teacher so dear to him years ago, he would not tolerate another dead comrade. He picked up his thrown Icha Icha, turned away from his paperwork and prepared to read the best part to ease his tension aligning with his therein muscles, when some god above prevented him his solitude by flinging the door open after a silent knock.

He fought the urge to shout at whoever interrupted his read again and put down the porn gently, turning to the visitor. He was surprised to see the current head of the Hyuga clan, mustering a stoic face and wise eyes, which spoke his years of wisdom. "Ah, Hiashi-san. Long time no see."

"Yes, I have been busy re-ordering my clan. Of course, now we are up and running again."

A nod followed by a small chuckle of lighthearted atmosphere from the Hokage as Kakashi remembered years ago after the war. Hiashi was devastated when Neji's death passed through him. Neji, a noble, fallen comrade, victim to the chaos of the war and also his late brother's son, died a noble death to save the once child of prophecy and his beloved cousin. After that, he started seeing powerful potentials in his eldest daughter and contemplated giving her back her birthright; the highest position as the head of Konoha's biggest clan. Not that she had much choice, so the spot was reserved back for her.

"To what may I owe such honorable visit?"

The current clan leader took a deep breath before exhaling. "As you know by know, Lord Hokage, that I have begun grooming my eldest daughter for her place in my stead; Hinata Hyuga."

"Why, yes, of course. A very talented Kunoichi. I heard she had recently been helping at the hospital."

"Yes, I had her undergo through various of trainings, including medicine, war tactics and strategy, history of Shinobi and aiding everyone in the village to make her being known to the citizenships." He took a step forward. "And I'm here to ask for a request. Hinata will be going on a mission to Kumogakure, making amends with the other village, alone. This will be her first time going on an S-rank mission without her escorts or teammates. She will be the head of Hyuga clan—and" A quirky and warm curve of smile graced his weary features as if he remembered something incredibly wonderful. "Well, she preferred going without any companion to prove her worth, and I'm very proud of her independence, but… I don't want anything to happen to Hyuga's future leader, and so, I ask of you of one of your high-ranked ninja to accompany her on her way. In secrecy, so she doesn't realize she's being followed and watched."

Without appearing so, Hiashi analyzed the change of features across Kakashi's masked face. From confusion, curiosity, thoughtfulness, amusement to mischief, all in one go. The Hyuga leader was aware of such sensitive times such as this. Living in the most gossiped village, his ears reached the rumors of all high-ranked ninjas dispatching to hunt down an Uchiha's fraud, thus the amount of unavailable qualified Shinobis for this task. The Hokage was especially anxious at this time too, but Hiashi was in desperate need of help. Hinata was eighteen turning nineteen at the end of the year. He needed to know she could take care of herself. Even if his methods spoke his hidden protectiveness of his precious daughter.

A furtive nod from Kakashi compelled his relief. "Yes, that is pretty reasonable. Although I have to give a small piece of my thoughts, if I may. Hinata is one of twelve Konoha's elites who attributed largely in the war. I'm very sure she could handle herself. However, I understand your precaution. Some of the Jonins and ANBU's aren't available right now, except for one."

"Anything is good as long as they could hide their chakra well from my daughter's well-developed all-seeing eyes."

"I advise you to carefully proceed with care, Hiashi-san. This is a very dangerous ANBU. He strictly follows orders and won't hesitate to eliminate anyone in his path, regardless if it's a family member or a friend who means any harm to the heiress. He possessed high-quality powers that beat over all ANBU Black Ops members."

For a second, the leader considered backing out of his request for his own daughter's safety's sake, but stood his ground. This was exactly the type of escort he required for his daughter. But it left a big questionable thought in his head as to why such powerful ANBU wasn't in the investigation teams to inspect this Uchiha case he had been hearing lingering around town. No doubt, the Hokage needed powerful ninjas to trace whoever the framer was to free his student from death's grip. In the end, he shrugged it off.

"That is enough for me. As long as he keeps my heiress safe, I won't prevail from my request."

He nodded. "Then I will see to it that he proceeds with the utmost precaution guarding Hinata Hyuga with his life without being discovered," he added quietly. "or discovered his identity. Anyway, when will Hinata be leaving?"

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"I will inform my ANBU of it immediately."

Without any more time to waste, Hiashi bowed down slightly before exiting the room, closing the door behind him with a silent thud. Kakashi abandoned his porn book inside his desk with a silent mental cry and called out with a strict tone, "You really shouldn't spy, Sasuke."

Please review!!!!!