Quietus

by Seraphina Scribes

When first he laid eyes upon her, he thought her the very personification of spring. He watches, from the depths of shadow; waiting to steal her away from the land of the living. Waiting to make her Queen of the Dead. Hades/Persephone retold. SasuSaku/AU.

71. Chapter 70

Long awaited trial at last! Hope you enjoy it!

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Chapter LXX

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A trial to account for every sin,
Before a jury they will be called,
Sentences will be handed in,
Pride discarded - tongues stalled.
The burdens He carries in the name of Love,
Are like bleeding wounds He cannot salve.

---

"Sakura-chan," Naruto's vivid blue eyes met hers, as he stopped at the doorway of her bedroom. Sakura turned to him as she slipped a dusky-pink suede jacket on, throwing it over her white tank-top and figure-flattering skinny jeans.

The day of the trial had finally arrived, and they were about to head out. Nerves jangled within her. She would finally be seeing Sasuke again – for more than the brief few minutes that she'd glimpsed him when he had unexpectedly saved her back at the research compound. For more than the brief few minutes in which she had dreamt of him – a dream that had felt so decidedly real. She had been unable to discern whether it had truly been him who had visited her in it – or just a fanciful figment of her subconscious, yearning to thank him for saving both her and Ino's lives.

She ran a hand through her long, pale rose tresses, feeling anxious. Standing in a courtroom, giving testimony against the God of Death himself, the very one who had kidnapped and wronged her, was a daunting task, given how their history was so messy. So complicated. When there were a myriad of unspoken emotions, unresolved and stifling, tangled in the heavy divide between them.

Surely Sasuke would be furious to be there. She dreaded to think about it. A proud king, brought before a judge and jury, forced to face and account for his transgressions. She knew there was no doubt that he deserved to answer for his crimes. But that didn't mean she was looking forward to the entire affair.

"You ready?" Her sunshine blond-haired friend questioned.

Sakura took a deep breath. Was she ready? She'd spent the last week carefully preparing her answers with guidance from her mother, Kakashi and Jiraiya. She wasn't so sure if the rehearsed words would come out entirely true to practice, once Sasuke was standing before her, though. She would have to just focus on the judges, and ensure her eyes did not linger on him.

A difficult thing to do, she knew, given the way he charismatically drew all attention to his person like an overpowering magnet, whenever he stepped into any room.

"Yeah," she nodded, feeling anything but set.

"This is the hard part," Naruto reassured her, reading the open trepidation marring her lovely features. "After it's over, we'll be on our mission. Sasuke will be with us." She saw the gleam of hope in Naruto's eyes and swallowed. He had been elated to hear that the Underworld's ruler would be compelled to join them on their quest. Was certain that it would lead to them setting aside all their differences and starting anew. Sakura, however, wasn't quite so confident about that. Sasuke was anything but predictable in nature. Just because he had to travel with them – didn't mean he had to listen to them. He was proud and infuriatingly stubborn. And he certainly wouldn't be enjoying their company given the circumstances, she knew.

But she could see how much this meant to Naruto. He was finally getting time back with the person he still perceived to be his closest friend. His optimism was heart-breaking. Sakura thought it was foolish entirely.

"I feel… Sakura-chan… that this time, we can get through to him," Naruto went on. "I feel like, with the three of us, we can make him understand. He won't be able to leave. So we can make him listen. He'll know the truth. That the war was entirely that bastard Madara's fault. And that I only ever wanted to help him stop it and save his clan."

As Sakura followed him out of her room and down the stairs, she thought to herself that they could only hope that the binding contract that was going to be enforced on Sasuke, to ensure his full cooperation, included a clause specifically indicating that he couldn't physically harm her friend or Kakashi in anger.

That, she thought, was perhaps her greatest fear.

---

Suigetsu cast a bitter look at Sasuke as they made their way toward where Chiyo stood waiting for them at the entrance to the Underworld.

"You know," he remarked accusingly. "This shit really is all your fault. If you'd just, I don't know, done the normal thing and shown up at Pinky's door asking for her number instead of being a fucking creep and kidnapping her, all this drama could've been avoided."

When Sasuke didn't so much as blink his way, or break stride, the ocean deity continued, "What is it with you Uchiha and being dramatic? Geeze…"

As they neared Chiyo, they saw that she was not alone. Beside her stood Sai, looking solemn and pale.

"What's this?" Suigetsu quipped. "The welcome committee? What's this weirdo doing here?"

Sai stared expressionlessly at Suigetsu. Suigetsu sneered back.

"You're even worse than Sasuke," the ocean deity's eyes narrowed. "You never even look pissed off. Your face is fucking blanker than an empty piece of paper."

"Lord Suigetsu," Sai provided emotionlessly and with automatic politeness.

"See what I mean?" Suigetsu lifted an eyebrow wryly. "Freak."

The old crone's dark eyes slipped expectantly onto Sasuke, who regarded Sai with an air of aloof, disdainful detachment.

"Before we depart, there are some matters we must attend to," Chiyo stated. "You know why Sai is here."

The death deity's eyes narrowed marginally. Without a word, he lifted his right hand, and with a nonchalant flick of his wrist, commanded the seal on Sai's tongue to dissipate. Inky tendrils of smoke escaped through the Messenger's parted lips, signalling that the binding had been lifted. Sai exhaled in quiet relief, glad to be free from it at last.

Suigetsu looked on, bemused by the exchange.

"Suigetsu," Chiyo then addressed him. "Walk ahead with Sai. I would speak to Sasuke a moment alone."

"Pfft," the ocean god scoffed, but moved obligingly regardless.

Sasuke watched as they walked away together for a moment - before turning his attention back to Chiyo.

"There is the matter of Orochimaru's curse mark, which we must address," the ancient goddess stated sternly. "As you know, Kakashi's counter-seal merely slows down its progression. It does not shield you from the serpent's eyes on the surface – nor from him pin-pointing your precise location. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to prevent this. He will come to learn of your quest, but even so, he will not be able to enter the relic sites. Minato's chakra barriers will hold. Only those within the destined party, may enter. Be on guard, however, as you travel between locations." She pursed her lips, as she leant against her staff. "There is one tool, I may offer you, which you may find of use."

She held out a closed fist. Sasuke regarded her cagily – before extending his own. Her wrinkled fingers unclenched, depositing something into his left palm.

"…" Sasuke glanced down. His eyes widened as he stared at the unexpected item. "This is…?" he began in disbelief.

"Yes. Itachi entrusted this token to me," she answered simply. "A single black feather from one of his crows. You remember, I think, the abilities his crows had?"

Sasuke did. He knew that Itachi had used crows as a means to teleport in the past, often leaving chakra-infused feathers - just like the one in his hand - behind in his wake. They had afforded him the ability to disperse his body physically at will. Invaluable in battle – and in defence.

Sasuke swallowed, holding the feather gingerly in his hand, as if it were spun from the most delicate of glass that would shatter to pieces if he closed his fingers around it. His chest felt heavy. Questions spun in his mind – so many questions – his conflicting emotions unleashed once more. Desperately, he tried to rein them in. It wasn't time. Not when he was about to stand trial.

"Why give this to me, now…?" he demanded, angry and upset at Chiyo for once again providing a valiant image of his brother that was so markedly at war with his final memories of him.

"And why not? I have no use for it, and your quest will be perilous. It is a means to get you out of a desperate bind. Use it wisely, not lightly – for you can only use magic of this power once. To release the chakra within, simply crush it within your palm. Your body will disperse, and reform at your will."

Sasuke hesitated, prickled with unease. Did he really wish to use something left behind by the one who had murdered their parents? He slipped the invaluable item into the supplies pouch at his waist, regardless.

"Now," Chiyo nodded to him. "It is time for us to depart."

---

Sakura took a seat in the public spectator gallery. The trial was to take place in another imposing, mosaic-floored chamber within the High Council's grounds, which was set up in likeness of what she supposed a real courtroom looked like. The spectators' wooden benches that flanked the left and right sides of the spacious room were elevated like theatre seats. They looked down upon the circular proceedings area that included three defendant stands and three witness boxes which allowed clear view of the suspects. The judges' long, lustrous mahogany table was set on a high podium at the northern-most point of the courtroom, overlooking all the stands below. Four seats were behind it, three of which were already occupied by Danzo at the farthest right, Homura beside him, and Koharu. The final chair to the left was empty. Chiyo had yet to arrive.

Beneath the judges' podium was another wooden desk, at which sat three apprentices robed in white, ready to scribe the court hearing. On the wall opposite where Sakura sat, were further raised spectator benches. She could see that masked ANBU sat there. Danzo's reinforcements, who had no doubt been summoned to ensure that no disorder occurred.

There were no seats for lawyers. In the deity court of law, each god answered for themselves, was entirely accountable for their own actions with nobody called to offer defence on their behalf. A witness could provide it if it were part of their own experience of events. But otherwise, defendants answered alone. They would be compelled to tell the truth through use of binding contracts – if they chose to speak it, but Sakura had also been informed that defendants had the option of remaining silent if they wished. Doing so, however, and offering no explanation, would surely exacerbate the fact that they were guilty before the court.

Sakura sat sandwiched between her mother and Ino. Beside Ino were Shikamaru, Hinata and Shizune. In front of them sat Jiraiya, Inoichi, Kakashi and Naruto. Behind them were Asuma, Kurenai, Iruka, Lee and Guy.

Sakura knew that a great deal of her inner anxiety was attributed to the fact that she would need to be open about everything that had happened to her, with so many people bearing witness. Even if she chose not to disclose things fully – who knew what that damned ocean god Suigetsu would or wouldn't say? Her stomach knotted in dread. It couldn't be helped. She thought that the sooner they got this over with, the sooner they could all move forward.

The large arched double doors leading into the courtroom parted. Sakura's hands gripped the back ledge of the seats one row down below her, as she watched Chiyo stroll unhurriedly in first, her staff clinking against the rich brown, gold and white-tiled mosaic floor. Her right arm was looped in Sai's left as he walked beside her.

"Good day," the old crone greeted merrily. "I hope that we have not kept you all waiting long."

She withdrew her arm away from Sai, who then moved over to the spectator gallery, slipping onto the bench beside Naruto.

Sakura's heart leapt to her throat when, a moment later, two other painfully familiar figures entered the room after Chiyo, flanked on both sides by a troupe of armed ANBU soldiers.

She watched, heart drumming in her chest, as Sasuke Uchiha walked briskly forward, head held high, appearing to be in utter disdain of his surroundings as he was guided to the defendant stand. He was wrapped in a formal, long, trailing black cloak, elegantly stitched at the collar and fitted shoulders with fine silver, reflecting his high status. His wrists were bound with chakra-negating strings before him. Sakura swallowed. It was his own fault that he was there at all, but it made it no easier to witness such a proud King shackled before her.

The ANBU accompanying him kept a careful radius away, even as they directed him toward where he needed to stand. It was clear, from their body language, that even restrained as Sasuke was, they still considered him to be a dangerous threat.

She heard sharp intakes of breath around her as her friends and family looked down upon the death deity. She knew most of them had not seen him since the days of the war, if at all – and so had likely forgotten what he even looked like. Sasuke made no eye contact with anyone in the room, merely looked frostily ahead.

Suigetsu, also retrained, but dressed much more informally in a deep teal tunic and grey baggy trousers, grinned up at the surface deities, his expressive demeanor a stark contrast to Sasuke's absolute rigidity as he took his place in the stand beside Sasuke's.

"Hey. Look who it is! The rebel! Come to enjoy the show?" he sneered at them.

"Be silent before The Court," Koharu instructed, as Chiyo took her seat at the judges' panel.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, old hag," Suigetsu muttered.

Sakura turned her head, looking to her mother. She could tell from the clenching of Tsunade's jaw, and the tightness of her closed fists, that she was battling to keep her anger in check as she gazed down at Sasuke. All around her, Sakura could hear her friends whispering harshly to one another – until Homura's voice rang out authoritatively. The room then fell into a hushed silence, as he formally began the proceedings.

"We are assembled this April morn to pass trial and judgement upon Uchiha Sasuke, King of the Underworld and Lord of the Dead, and Hōzuki Suigetsu, King and Lord Custodian of the Oceans and Seas, following a list of transgressions that they have committed, each of which have broken the ancient laws of code and conduct, of truce and treaty, as set down by our esteemed ancestors to protect the balance of life and death itself upon this earth. Each charge will be read individually, and overlapping charges addressed. Witnesses will be called forth to give testimony, before each defendant will be summoned to account for their crimes. The audience will remain respectful and silent in the Court as proceedings take place."

"We will begin with the enforcement of truth-binding contracts. All who stand before the Sacred High Court will pledge an oath to uphold its laws. Bring forth the contracts." Koharu instructed. ANBU guards stepped forward, unfolding scrolls that they lifted to Suigetsu and Sasuke. "A single drop of blood will be taken to activate this," Koharu continued, as both deities had a fingertip pricked to draw blood.

"As you set your finger upon the seal, repeat these words: I solemnly do vow that my tongue will speak no lie before the Court."

Suigetsu huffed in irritation and placed his finger against the seal mark etched onto the contract.

"I solemnly do vow that my tongue will speak no lie before the Court," he mimicked, rolling his eyes. "Can we just hurry up with the formalities? I have shit to do."

"The more you speak so brazenly, so insolently, the longer this will doubtlessly take," Danzo addressed him warningly. Suigetsu scowled, but fell silent at that.

Sakura watched as the contract was gingerly held out to Sasuke. Watched as he stared aloofly down at it a moment, before slowly lifting his left index finger, to press a droplet of blood against the binding seal. He was being surprisingly compliant, she thought to herself. Was it possible that Chiyo had perhaps spoken to him beforehand? There seemed to be no other way that he would be so cooperative, surely?

There was a long, heavy pause, as everyone waited with baited breath for him to speak. Finally, his voice rang out, echoing around the room. Smooth and clear, like liquid silk. Sakura felt her entire body tense like a tightly coiled spring as she was reminded of the devastating, commanding power of those darkly seductive, confident tones.

"I solemnly do vow that my tongue will speak no lie before the Court."

The High Councillors nodded, satisfied, as the ANBU withdrew and handed the sealed contracts to the robed apprentices. Then the soldiers returned to their positions, standing guard around the room once more.

"Court has commenced," Danzo stated gruffly, peering down at a sheet of paper in his hands as the scribes lifted their pens. His visible eye then locked onto Sasuke, and he began, "We will begin with charges listed against Uchiha Sasuke. The first offense; the unlawful abduction of a mortal to the Underworld, wherein she was held captive underground, against her consent, for the duration of six surface months. For this charge, we call upon the witness Haruno Sakura, to give testimony. Come forth, Sakura."

Sakura's heart pounded. The moment had finally come to press charges against her kidnapper. Against the deity who had both damned her to his world – and indisputably saved her life. Ino squeezed her right hand supportively, while her mother squeezed her left. Sakura took a deep breath, and rose from her seat, moving to the steps leading down to the court floor. She took her place in the witness stand, which allowed her a clear view of both Sasuke and Suigetsu's side-profiles. She stiffened when Suigetsu leaned forward slightly to grin at her, angling a cheeky wink her way as he mouthed 'Hey Pinky'.

Sasuke remained unmoved, staring straight ahead. He did not look at her, much to Sakura's immense relief.

Dragging her eyes away from them, she focused instead on the judges, as she allowed an ANBU guard to prick her finger to press against another truth-enforcing contract.

"Repeat the words, child: I solemnly do vow that my tongue will speak no lie before the Court," Chiyo instructed her gently.

Sakura's throat felt dry, suddenly overly aware of everyone's attention on her. She bolstered herself, doing her best to calm her buzzing nerves. This was justice, she told herself firmly. She would tell the truth. That was all she needed to focus on.

"I solemnly do vow…" she started formally, "that my tongue will speak no lie before the Court."

The ANBU drew back, and Danzo nodded, "Begin."

Sakura took another deep breath and began reciting what she had prepared in answer for this charge. "I was with Ino and Hinata in a forest, after Ino's car broke down. I saw two small children watching us between the trees while Ino was trying to get help. When I drew close to them, they grabbed my bag. I followed them deeper into the forest to get my bag back. They kept running away, like they were doing it on purpose. When I eventually found the bag, my phone was missing, so I couldn't call for any help. I was lost, so I kept walking through the forest. Until I came across a field of flowers…" her voice trailed off. The urge to look at Sasuke as she spoke, to remind him exactly of what he had done, was overpowering. But she kept her gaze locked onto the judges, as her mother and elders had instructed her to do.

"I thought that maybe it was close to some houses or people who could help me find my friends, so I cut through the field. Then…" she swallowed. "Then the ground began to shake under my feet. It opened up beneath me and I blacked out. And when I woke up… I was in a place I'd never seen before."

"Go on," Danzo urged, as the scribes furiously scribbled down the account.

"I woke up afraid. I didn't know where I was," Sakura continued. The memories were vivid in her mind – even though it felt to her to have occurred a lifetime ago. Speaking of it again brought back to the surface all the underlying emotions she had experienced when she had first opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar place. The horror. The panic. The helplessness. The fear. "I walked around, trying to find a way out. Eventually I found-" she faltered. "Sasuke," she got out, her eyes darting to him despite herself.

Sasuke was listening in silence. His chin was lifted haughtily. Still, he did not look her way.

"And did Sasuke offer any reason as to why you had been kidnapped?" Koharu questioned with interest.

"No," Sakura turned her eyes back to them. "He just said that he'd taken me on a whim, and no matter how much I cried, I would remain there." Hushed murmurs filled the air at this. Sakura ignored them, as she went on, "I was confused and afraid. I didn't understand why I'd been kidnapped. I'd seen him once before, on the surface. At the Spring Festival. He appeared to me in front of a Carousel ride. I thought he was just a festival worker at the time. I didn't know what he really was. Later I found out that the children I'd seen in the forest were his subjects. He had them lead me to that field on purpose."

"You say he appeared to you before the abduction took place." Homura peered down at her. "What happened then?"

Sakura shook her head. "He didn't speak to me at the festival. I guess … he'd probably been planning to kidnap me for a while, and maybe he wanted to do it on that day, first."

"Uchiha Sasuke," Danzo addressed the death deity, his eye narrowed. "Confirm if this was your intention."

There was a pause. Then, a curt response: "Yes."

"How long had you been planning this abduction for, Uchiha?" Danzo pressed, heavy disgust apparent in his voice.

Sasuke was silent. But Sakura answered, "I think he'd been watching me for a few years before."

Louder, disapproving murmurs filled the room. In the spectator gallery, Tsunade was furious.

"Continue," Koharu invited.

"When I woke up in the Underworld, I had shackles around my ankles. They were locked in place. I couldn't get them off."

"What were the purpose of these shackles?" Homura queried.

"I found out later they were to stop me escaping," Sakura informed them. "I tried to run after I first met Sasuke, to find a way out. But I got lost. I saw ghost-like people, boats, things I didn't understand."

"These are sights forbidden to mortal eyes," Danzo censured gravely. "He has broken not only our laws, but the laws of his own Kingdom!"

"Continue, Sakura," Chiyo prompted her.

"I was terrified, and couldn't find an exit, so I had no choice but to return to the palace. Sasuke still wouldn't tell me why he had taken me. He assigned two maids who were to look after me, and I tried to find out what I could from them. But they were loyal to him. Eventually I managed to shake them off and left the palace again. That's when I came across Suigetsu."

"Your lucky day," Suigetsu grinned.

She ignored him. "He was locked in a cell. He told me that I was in the Underworld and that Sasuke was the God of Death. He said that he would help me get out, but that we'd need Sasuke's sword Kusanagi to escape. He said that I should…" she felt heat creep into her cheeks, as she spoke the words that she had dreaded to be made known public, but were necessary for the sake of providing an accurate account, "that I should try to, uh... seduce Sasuke into lowering his guard, so that I could steal the sword away."

Suigetsu chuckled in recollection. "Ah, man. Good times…"

"You will not speak unless called upon," Danzo scolded him, prompting the ocean deity to smirk up at the High Councillor, thoroughly undeterred. "Say on, Sakura."

Sakura licked her lips. "I didn't agree with this plan, so I decided to try and just get to know Sasuke better on my own, hoping I could come to understand him and the reasons for his actions. We spent more and more time together, and I hoped that he'd come to release me on his own. But when it became clear that he wouldn't, and when I found out he'd given me the seeds without telling me what it meant to eat them, I had no choice but to betray him. I was desperate to see my mother and friends again. It was Suigetsu's plan to poison Sasuke for long enough to make our escape."

"You confirm that you remained with Sasuke unwillingly during this time?" Koharu asked.

"Yes," Sakura affirmed.

"You have made apparent your great emotional distress during your ordeal," Chiyo continued. "What was the nature of your captivity? What did you do during your time in the Underworld?"

Sakura clasped her hands together. "At first, I was too afraid to talk to Sasuke. But time passed, and I slowly started to learn more about his Kingdom. I saw him judge souls. He took me to see many places in his realm. He taught me about chakra, and how to use it. He taught me how to fight... and told me about the war. He also told me the truth about my mother and friends' identities, and that I carried the Essence of Spring within me."

"Is this correct, Sasuke?" Homura's eyes turned to the death deity.

"…Yes." Came the short, clipped response.

"And why would you choose to disclose such matters to the girl?"

"Because," Sasuke said coldly, his words sharp-edged with clear accusation. "No-one else did."

Sakura's eyes widened and flew back to him. She knew his blunt answer would anger the others.

"Why you-!" Tsunade gasped out, infuriated, as the rest of the surface deities broke out into murmurs once more. Sasuke remained coolly unaffected, keeping his eyes directed ahead.

"Order!" Chiyo called, striking the table with a gavel. "Be silent!"

The room grew quiet once more. Sakura continued to stare at him, broken out of doing so only when Chiyo's voice pulled her attention back to the judges' desk.

"Tell the Court where you were held? Were you otherwise physically accosted or harmed?"

"He didn't physically hurt me," Sakura replied honestly, knowing that Chiyo was already more than aware of that fact. "I wasn't locked up. I had my own room and attendants, and was free to go where I wanted. He ensured I had food and clothes and warmth and shelter."

"Hmm." Homura rubbed his chin. "Is there anything else you wish to disclose, regarding this charge?"

"Only…" Sakura hesitated, before pushing on. "Only that I committed treason in his world, because he left me no other choice. I found out after our escape attempt, that he intended to take me back of his own will, after all. But… I didn't know it at the time of poisoning him. I was too upset about the seeds."

Her eyes flicked back to Sasuke. He gave no indication of reacting to anything that she had said.

"Hmph. Let us call upon the second witness. Hōzuki Suigetsu." Danzo summoned. "You are both a witness to the first charge, and a victim of the fourth. Let us hear both accounts from you, now."

"Ugh! Finally!" Suigetsu exclaimed. "I don't know why the fuck I'm even here, when everything that's happened has been this," he jerked his head to the left toward Sasuke, "asshole's fault."

"Mind your tongue before the Court," Homura rebuked.

"Yeah, yeah," Suigetsu dismissed. "I went down to his gloomy haunt because Tsunade asked me to help her find her kid. We made an agreement; I find the girl, she gets me Samehada. I sent out my sirens to the Underworld first – last I heard from them, they'd communicated to me that they'd found the missing girl and were about to bring her back through the waters to me. But guess who killed them and made sure they couldn't? Yeah. This asshole over here."

"This relates to another charge," Koharu looked down at her list. "The killing of subjects belonging to other deities sent out to search for Sakura."

"Yeah. He killed them. So I went down there to get some answers. Big mistake," Suigetsu cast a glare at Sasuke. "This asshole imprisoned me in a dingy cell and told me not to interfere. And because I thought I had a legit deal with Tsunade - another shitty mistake - I decided to stick it out and get Pinky out. Six months. He kept me in that lame-ass cell for six months! I couldn't carry out any of my duties. I was just stuck there… waiting for Pinky to get her shit together enough to execute our plan. We communicated the entire time she was down there, to check on the progress she was making. When she started getting cold feet, well. I took some action to speed her along. Otherwise we'd never have gotten out that shithole, with her stupidly hoping that Sasuke would come around on his own."

Sasuke listened intently to this revelation in silence.

"She was scared shitless when we first met," Suigetsu added. "It was obvious she didn't want to be there, had no idea what was going on, and that Sasuke was keeping her in his realm against her will."

"Clarify this plan," Danzo's eye narrowed.

"Just like she said, I told her she needed to soften him up to get him to let his guard down so she could steal away the blade."

He angled a toothy grin at Sakura, who felt her cheeks burn. She had no idea of what else he was going to disclose, and felt entirely vulnerable and exposed. Her heart thundered within her chest. Just how much would he tell? It was his account that she had been dreading the most.

"She didn't like the idea, at first," Suigetsu continued casually, his bright lavender eyes fixed on Sakura gleefully. "But the more time she spent around Sasuke, the more she seemed to warm up to it. In fact… you could say, they became friendly… and she kind of allowed it… maybe she even liked it…"

A hum of shocked mutters filled the room.

Sakura sucked in a sharp breath. Her face, which had already felt hot, was now blistering. She could feel eyes burning holes in the back of her head, knew everyone's attention was focused on her. Even the judges were staring at her. Sasuke, too, finally showed a hint of a reaction. She thought she saw him tense marginally, clearly no more comfortable with Suigetsu's words than she was – though his expression remained carefully blank.

She tried to find an argument to reject the notion. She couldn't say she hadn't allowed it. Because she had. She had let Sasuke kiss her on multiple occasions – when she'd had opportunities to stop it from happening. She had started to relax more in his presence. Liked it…? Had she hated it? His touches had confused and frightened her. And that was the truth. The shameful truth that she couldn't deny. To her horror, no words would escape her lips. She wondered if that had something to do with the truth contract she had sworn by.

Tsunade rose to her feet. "Preposterous! I will not sit here and listen to you defame my daughter!"

"Preposterous, huh?" Suigetsu retorted snarkily. "That's not how it looked on my end. And believe me, I had a hell of a lot of time on my hands while cooped up in that shithole, to watch them getting all comfortable together."

Sakura was internally fuming. Suigetsu was making it sound so much worse than it had been! She looked desperately to Sasuke, her eyes silently pleading for him to intercept, to shut Suigetsu up. Her mortification only intensified when she couldn't catch his gaze, no matter how hard she stared at him.

"Reality check, Tsunade," Suigetsu smirked at the incensed goddess, who Shizune was desperately trying to sit back down. "Your daughter was taken because Sasuke wanted her to stay with him in the Underworld. Isn't that so fucking cute? Ask him. He won't even deny it. We're all airing our dirty laundry out here, right? I can't lie, so you better suck it up and accept it for what it is."

"Enough," Sasuke finally spoke, his voice harsh and low.

Suigetsu blinked. "What? I'm just stating what everyone here's too pussy-shit scared to acknowledge-"

Sasuke's head snapped to the right. Sakura couldn't see the expression he gave Suigetsu - but she saw the ocean god's smug look considerably wane.

"Order!" Chiyo interrupted disapprovingly. "Suigetsu! You will stick only to your account of the crimes committed against you. Accounting for Sakura's behaviours - and Sasuke's - is not of your concern."

"What else do you want me to say?" Suigetsu demanded. "He imprisoned me for six months and fucked up my ability to do my own duties. Yeah, I arranged for him to be poisoned. You helped us with that, remember?"

The High Council looked to Chiyo in surprise. Sasuke's head snapped up. A chill ran through Sakura's spine, as she saw incredulous disbelief – followed swiftly by anger – flash across his dark eyes.

"That is correct," Chiyo nodded. "I did provide poison to the nymph who came requesting it."

"You cannot interfere in matters," Danzo leaned forward to cast a disapproving look at her. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It was no interference. I am well aware of the limits of my function, and do not need you to remind me," she responded. "The nymph made a trade that I accepted," the ancient goddess stated calmly. "I had no hand in how the poison was chosen to be used."

"But you knew how it would be," Suigetsu quipped. "Since you see everything, right? Heh. Sucks to be you, Sasuke," he added, to the death deity who stood beside him. Sasuke's eyes were still locked onto Chiyo. His face was frosty – but Sakura knew him well enough to recognise the intense glare in his eyes. "And c'mon. You don't interfere? What about when I got Pinky back onto the surface? When I finally beat Sasuke's ass, and was about to knock him out and take her back with me? You sure you didn't interfere then, huh?"

"She must have done that to stop you from kidnapping me to your Kingdom," Sakura snapped back, her spiking anger causing her to briefly forget that she was only meant to speak when addressed. "Or are you missing that part out, out of convenience?"

"Oooh. Let's not talk about things we're omitting out of convenience, Pinky," Suigetsu grinned toothily at her. "You really wanna go there with me? Because there's a lot more I could add about you and Sas-"

Sasuke uttered something in a low voice – something Sakura didn't quite catch. But it made Suigetsu sneer – and then seemingly drop the rest of what he had been intending to say.

"Heh," the ocean god scoffed. "Whatever. You've heard what this dick did to me and my subjects."

"Confirm," Homura requested, "that no physical harm was brought to the girl?"

Suigetsu cast a glance at Sasuke – then Sakura. Then he shrugged. "I guess so. She didn't starve or any shit like that. I never saw him physically hurting her. He sure fucked her up emotionally though… stealing a girl away isn't gonna impress her, but that's fucked up Uchiha logic for you."

"Sakura. Were you at any point," Danzo questioned next, "put under the influence of Sharingan to engage in any activity against your will? At any point, were you manipulated by it?"

The bluntness of the question caught Sakura off guard. She floundered for an answer. "Uh…" Sasuke had activated his Sharingan and used it – but she was certain he hadn't manipulated her with it. Her thoughts – and emotions – had always been her own. Hadn't they?

"Think carefully," Danzo insisted. "The Sharingan possesses the ability to rob thoughts without your knowledge."

"No…" Sakura shook her head. "No, not like that-"

"Did he use it at any point?"

"He-" Sakura opened her mouth to respond – but Sasuke got there first.

"Yes."

Alarmed gasps filled the room. Sakura looked at him in confusion. "Just... to make me eat when I refused, and to put me to sleep."

"And that is all?" Danzo seemed unconvinced. "For no other purpose, to your knowledge, was it turned on you? No use of genjutsu was ever enforced upon your mind?"

Sakura said no – at the same time Sasuke said yes.

There was an awkward silence, in which Sakura regarded Sasuke uncertainly.

"She wished to know of the war," Sasuke clarified curtly.

"Can you confirm then, the use of genjutsu to inform you of the past?" Homura questioned.

Sakura nodded. How had she almost forgotten that?

"Sakura," said Koharu. "Can you next confirm that Suigetsu did indeed remove you from the Underworld?"

"He got us out," Sakura agreed. "But as soon as we were on the surface, he told me that he was going to take me to his Kingdom, and hold me there until he got what was promised to him. He let me believe that he was going to take me straight back home up until then."

"Details," Suigetsu scoffed. "I wasn't really going to kidnap you. I was just going to hold you there… temporarily! To make sure your mother fulfilled her end of the deal."

"That's the same thing as kidnapping," Sakura frowned.

"Whatever. It didn't happen anyway, and I ended up wasting my time for nothing," the ocean deity sulked. "Can't charge me over something I never even did."

There was a pause, in which the scribes were permitted to catch up their writing.

"Next witnesses, please come forward. Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto, Jiraiya Sage," Chiyo called.

Sakura stepped out of the witness area and returned to her seat as the three took their places and spoke the Oath of Truth.

"Inform us of the terms of release you agreed to secure Sakura's return to the surface," the ancient goddess instructed.

"Sasuke was already aware of Sakura's true identity-" Jiraiya's deep voice echoed around the room.

"And how did he come to know that?" Danzo interrupted suspiciously.

Naruto directed a nervous look at Jiraiya, whose eyebrows drew together. "I believe," the older deity replied, "that Sasuke witnessed her attacks in the Underworld. He already had his suspicions when we confronted him, and for the sake of the girl's safe return, we had to confirm them."

Naruto breathed a silent sigh of relief. Jiraiya had phrased it in such a way that removed direct blame from him - without actually lying.

"Sasuke. Is this true?" Koharu asked.

"Yes."

"Continue, Jiraiya-boy," Chiyo gestured.

"We reached an agreement that she would be released back onto the surface - in exchange for forgoing a trial. As we can all see, we did not uphold our end."

"And why would you agree to such a thing?!" Danzo was clearly displeased. "That is not within your authority to decide, or offer. One can argue that is an intrusion on the Court itself, for which you ought to answer!"

"Because Sasuke extended his assistance to us," Kakashi responded. "And we agreed the matter was settled between us. He agreed to give Sakura a year on the surface, instead of six months. To give her back in time what he had taken from her during her stay with him."

"And he agreed to watch out for Sakura-chan," Naruto chipped in eagerly. "To prevent any attacks from killing her! He didn't have to do that, 'ttebayo!"

"No amount of time given replaces what was stolen," Danzo dismissed. "As for safeguarding the girl, it is the least he could offer given the severity of his crimes."

"He didn't have to," Naruto repeated fiercely. "But he did, and he already has saved Sakura-chan several times!"

"We also agreed to no interference from our side when it is time for Sakura to return to the Underworld," Jiraiya finished. "These are the terms Sasuke accepted."

"Hmm. Very well," Homura said, as the three returned to their seats. "Sasuke," he then addressed the death deity. "What defence have you to offer for these charges? Let us start with the first. Why was the girl taken?"

Sakura's heart raced. She didn't dare look at him, but waited to hear the reason he would provide for his actions.

When only silence met her ears, her gaze did lift to him in bewilderment. He was offering no defence? No explanation for his actions?

Somehow that angered her.

"Oh, give me a break! Pinky already told you he was watching her for ages, I thought I'd already made it obvious enou-" Suigetsu started impatiently.

"Silence!" Chiyo thundered, in such authoritative tones that the ocean deity blinked in surprise – and actually complied. "It is Sasuke's turn to speak, to share his side of events, if he wishes to. Perhaps there may be other reasons, to those that you state to be so glaringly obvious."

"Clearly the boy has no explanation," Danzo uttered coldly, when Sasuke said nothing. "Or perhaps he does not care to admit that his actions were at least in part fuelled by the open hostility and bad history between the Uchiha and Senju clans."

"Wait a minute!" Naruto protested, jumping back up to his feet. "You can't just make assumptions like that when you're the judge-!"

He was swiftly yanked back down to the bench by Kakashi.

"Sasuke," Homura addressed him again. "We will ask you once more. Why did you take the girl? She stated that it was on a whim. Is this correct?"

"..."

"Why did you keep her for six months, a captive in your realm? Only to agree to restore her to the surface at the end, by her account? What changed your mind?"

Sasuke blinked. Still he offered nothing.

"I can answer that," Chiyo spoke up. "Since I saw it with my own eyes. He came to realise what Sakura truly is, and that her life was in danger if she was not returned to the surface."

Sakura exhaled quietly.

"You imply he has a care for the girl's well-being," Homura remarked. "But if he truly did, why would he have subjected her to such an ordeal to begin with? Kept her from those she loves for so many months? The girl has clearly been scarred by it!"

"He cares enough to make sure she doesn't die!" Naruto argued back.

"Naruto!" Tsunade interjected harshly. "Be quiet!"

"Why show her your world, and impart forbidden knowledge of the afterlife to a living mortal? To what end were all these actions?" Koharu went on.

"Were your motives out of spite toward the surface folk?" Danzo demanded. "After all, you can see souls. Perhaps you suspected her to be different from the start, and that is why you chose to take her. Perhaps that is why Madara's eyes are now fixed onto her?"

"You speak for the boy," Chiyo's voice edged on irritation. "That is not how a fair trial is conducted, Danzo. We do not plant ideas into our own minds."

"He does not answer," Danzo gestured pointedly at the God of the Dead.

Sasuke's continued silence was indeed deafening.

"You see," Danzo folded his arms in satisfaction. "He has no defence. His silence renders him guilty."

"…" For the first time, Sasuke's dark eyes lifted and met Danzo's gaze. But still, he offered no reply.

Sakura was stunned. Why wasn't he saying anything? Did he not care that they were painting their own conclusions of him - Danzo in particular? Did he just not care at all? Or was it that he simply believed he could not justify any of his actions, because they were unjustifiable?

She swallowed, not knowing what to think. Suddenly standing there, looking at him, made her feel sick with uncertainty. A part of her was desperate for him to say something. Anything. It frustrated her that he was choosing not to say anything at all.

"And of the second charge? Your decision to hold Suigetsu captive? Which led to the disturbance of the oceans on the surface? And your decision to slaughter his subjects…?" Homura questioned, when it became apparent that Sasuke was not going to say a single word about the first.

Once again, a heavy silence filled the air.

"Heh. That's right," Suigetsu muttered. "Can't defend yourself for shit, asshole. You know you screwed it all up." Then, to the judges, he added, "He threw me in a cell because he didn't want me ratting on his ass. He didn't care about how my absence would affect the oceans. He did whatever he wanted to keep Sakura hidden for as long as possible, and didn't give a shit about any of the consequences."

"That is apparent," Chiyo responded shortly. "However, Sasuke is still invited to give his account, if he chooses to do so."

Sasuke didn't. Koharu sighed.

"Very well. Then we will move on to the third offence. The placing of a seal upon the Messenger deity Sai's tongue. Come forward, Sai."

Naruto suddenly turned to glance up at Sakura, lifting a thumb as if to reassure her that everything would be alright. But Sakura felt like nothing was right at that moment. She was glad justice was being served – but was thoroughly not enjoying the way the proceedings were going.

Sai took the truth vow, before giving his recount of events. "I can confirm that I did see Sasuke at the Spring Festival last year, and that I believe he was intending to take Sakura on that day. He appeared to me after we had successfully located Sakura in the park. He threatened that if I were to interfere again, he would terminate my existence. I was attacked and injured."

"So an attempt was also made on your life?" Danzo demanded.

"At a later point," Sai confirmed. "After Sakura was kidnapped, Sasuke manipulated me into spying on the surface gods and their progress in finding Sakura. He placed a seal upon my tongue, which prevented me from sharing what I knew of her whereabouts."

Angry exchanges drifted through the air as the surface deities processed this crime. Sasuke blinked, his head still held high, seemingly unaffected by anything he had done.

Sakura stared at him, appalled. Realising all the horrible, cruel depths he had gone to in order to keep her hidden away in the Underworld was unsettling. It made her feel nauseous. Her mind was at war, trying to negotiate the heartless Sasuke he had been at the outset, to the one who had saved her life.

"I did try to infiltrate the Underworld in an attempt to retrieve Sakura," Sai went on. "However, Sasuke discovered my presence before I could do so, and accused me of trespassing. I believe he would have killed me had Sakura not intervened."

"Is this true, Sakura?" Koharu looked at her.

Sakura hesitated. "Yes. I stopped him."

"So he has also tried to kill one of our own," Danzo stated. "Another charge, to add to the list. What have you to say to these offences, Uchiha Sasuke?"

Sasuke's dark eyes met his. He obstinately said nothing.

"Such arrogance!" Danzo admonished. "To consider it so decidedly beneath him to offer any explanations at all! He makes a mockery of this trial, as expected of an Uchiha. He has scarcely spoken a single word!"

"Or, perhaps, he takes full responsibility for his actions, and has no defence to offer?" Kakashi's voice spoke up suddenly.

"…" For the first time, Sasuke's head angled to the left, in the direction of the spectator gallery. His gaze settled briefly onto Kakashi, as if he had not expected this intercession – before slipping quickly away.

Sakura's heart pounded. Was that really why Sasuke was saying nothing at all? Was he truly simply accepting that he had committed all those crimes and shouldering full responsibility for them, knowing no excuses could pardon him? She released a quiet, incredulous breath. For someone as proud and fierce as Sasuke was to do so, was nothing short of astonishing.

"Kakashi!" Tsunade hissed at him. "What are you doing?"

"Danzo is supposed to remain neutral," Kakashi murmured back. "This is supposed to be a fair trial."

"Quite so," Chiyo agreed. "I will also add, that Sasuke did indeed spare Sai's life at Sakura's intervention, and that he willingly removed the seal from Sai's tongue at my request. These are facts that should also be known."

Danzo glowered across the table at her. She looked calmly back.

"Very well," Homura nodded. "We call forth Jiraiya and Kakashi, to attest to the next charge. That Sasuke purposefully lied and withheld information about the girl's whereabouts when questioned and also the killing of Jiraiya's summon subjects, sent to the Underworld to locate Sakura."

Kakashi and Jiraiya rose to take their places in the witness stand. Kakashi started, "It's true. Sasuke did confirm, when I asked him, that Sakura hadn't passed through the Underworld's gates, leading us to assume he didn't have her."

"I lost contact with some tracker toads in the Underworld. It is clear Sasuke disposed of them, for the purposes of keeping Sakura concealed."

"Thank you, Kakashi, Jiraiya," Koharu nodded, as the men moved back to their seats. "Sasuke, have you anything to say to these charges?"

"She did not pass through the gates," Sasuke clipped. "I answered the question he asked me."

Tsunade's mouth dropped. Was Sasuke giving sass back to the Court? She glared at him in disbelief.

"You know damn well what he would have meant!" she yelled down at Sasuke, unable to restrain her anger any longer. "Don't try to twist his words."

Sasuke blinked – then addressed her without looking her way. "The way you twisted yours to make her believe she was sick? Instead of telling her the truth?" he deadpanned.

"You insolent brat-!" Tsunade sucked in a sharp breath, leaping to her feet. Shizune and Ino gasped in dismay. Sakura's jaw fell open. To go from complete silence – to such a cutting, scathing response? How did he do that? She reached for her mother fearfully, sensing the rage that was practically rolling off her shoulders.

Jiraiya turned to angle a glance back at her. "Tsunade," he entreated. "You will have the opportunity to confront him later. Be seated."

"Tsunade," Chiyo called.

Slowly, a seething Tsunade lowered herself stiffly back down onto the bench. Her fists were tightly clenched. Sakura gulped. She knew that look on her mother's face. It meant she was ready to murder.

"The next charge," Chiyo continued swiftly. "Kidnapping the seraph Inoichi and his detainment. Come forth to give testimony, Inoichi."

Sakura lifted a hand to her mouth. This time the murmurs around the room were louder, angrier.

Ino gasped again. "That was him?" she whispered in shock. She glanced at her guardian, who appeared equally as disturbed.

As Inoichi took his place at the witness stand, swore his oath and gave his account, Sakura caught her mother's eye. She could see open discontent and disapproval laced all over Tsunade's stony features.

"Not a monster like Cronus, you said?" she whispered to her daughter. "Look how many crimes he has committed, Sakura!"

She looked away, swallowing thickly, as Inoichi returned to his seat.

"Sasuke. What say you to this charge?" Chiyo asked.

Sasuke was nonchalant. "Hn. He was returned unharmed."

Ino was furious. "That doesn't change what you did!" she called out, appalled.

"Really?" Suigetsu chuckled in amusement. "You're speaking against him? After what we did for you?"

Ino gritted her teeth and fell silent again.

The judges were already moving onto the next offence.

"The sixth charge is the administration of the Forbidden Fruit of the Dead. Six seeds were ingested by Sakura, without her knowledge of their effects. Come forth, Sakura, to give testimony," Homura summoned.

Sakura rose to her feet and made her way back to the witness box. This was the crime that she knew had hurt her the most.

"Sakura," said Chiyo. "Inform the Court of how you happened upon the seeds."

"Sasuke called me to his quarters," Sakura began. "And we were just talking. He picked up a pomegranate and started eating it. I…" she shook her head, recalling the damning moment of madness – or enchantment – that had propelled her inexplicable desire to taste the fruit. "It looked delicious, and I wanted to try it. Sasuke saw me watching him as he ate it – and he offered the fruit in his hand to me. So I… took a bite and..." her voice trailed off. She didn't need to disclose what had happened next.

"And he in no way made clear what it would mean to ingest the fruit beforehand?" Koharu questioned.

"No," Sakura replied. "He never told me. I almost ate from it a second time – but he stopped me doing so, then. He never told me about it, though. I found out from Suigetsu."

"Yeah, make sure you write that down!" Suigetsu exclaimed. "All the times I helped her!"

"And," Chiyo said gently, "How did this make you feel?"

Sakura was silent for a moment. Then she said earnestly, "I was upset. Like he'd made a permanent decision for me, without consulting me first, choosing to tie me to his world without my knowledge. I felt… betrayed. Like he'd planned it all from the start, like my life was nothing but something he felt he had the right to toy with. If he'd only told me beforehand, that it was the only way for me to return to his world…"

Her eyes slipped to the death deity. There was a barely perceptible tightness to his jaw that had not been there before. Sakura blinked – and it was gone. She wondered if she had imagined the reaction at all.

"Would you have accepted it, then…?" Chiyo pressed.

Sakura's pulse sprinted. She swallowed. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "But at least, I would have understood… at least I wouldn't have felt deceived… it was when I found out about that, that I finally decided to go ahead with poisoning him. I felt… that he clearly didn't care about how his actions affected and hurt me… so why would I care about hurting him? I felt what I did was justified."

A weighty silence filled the air.

"Sasuke," Chiyo turned her wise eyes to the Underworld's King. "What defence have you for this transgression?"

"…" Sasuke's eyes lowered. Just as Sakura despaired that he would say nothing at all, his lips parted, and he spoke a single word that caused her pulse to hurtle faster still. "None."

"None?" Chiyo repeated, raising her eyebrows. "You admit then, that this was a fault of responsibility on your part?"

"..." Sasuke was quiet. Then, to Sakura's amazement, he replied, "Yes."

Suigetsu glanced at him, surprise etched onto his features. Sasuke's verbal acknowledgement carried even more finality than his silences. He had just openly, finally, admitted to doing something wrong. And it was to the charge that had hurt Sakura the most.

Sakura stared at him, staggered. It wasn't just that he had spoken – but the way his eyes remained lowered to the floor that was a huge indication of him accepting that what he had done was inexcusable.

"An admission of guilt, at last," Danzo said gruffly.

"So you confirm that Sasuke purposefully chose not to tell you about the seeds? At no point did he even attempt to so, before or after you had eaten them?" Homura peered down at her.

Sakura hesitated, despite herself. Had he ever tried to tell her? She recalled one instance, when he had stopped her eating again from the fruit. She recalled the guilt in his eyes when she had finally confronted him about it, tearful and inconsolable. How he had told her that he hadn't intended for things to turn out the way they did. "I think…" she began unsurely. "I think once he maybe did try to-"

"No," Sasuke interjected, cutting her off sharply. The single word was loaded with anger.

Sakura blinked in surprise – and then felt the air flee from her lungs entirely when, for the first time since the trial had begun, smouldering dark eyes finally flicked briefly onto her, as if in silent warning for her to keep quiet – before sliding swiftly away.

"Sakura…?" Chiyo prodded.

Sakura clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. "That's all," she finished. She then left the witness box and re-joined Ino and her mother, feeling oddly relieved. Like a terrible weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Sasuke had openly admitted to his mistake. It didn't change her fate - but at least she'd had the satisfaction of hearing it.

"In offering a mortal the seeds, both surface and Underworld rules have been broken," Danzo commented. "This alone is a grave enough crime to detain him for the longest period necessary! On top of all his other transgressions!"

"Those seeds saved Sakura-chan's life when we were attacked!" Naruto burst out, unable to keep quiet any longer as offence after offence was poured onto Sasuke. "They healed her! We all saw it! Tsunade Baa-chan, you saw it, too!"

Tsunade did not respond.

"Tsunade?" Chiyo called to her.

"Sakura was fatally wounded by the enemy," Tsunade began stiffly. "It seems that - Sasuke - was somehow able to heal her from a distance, using the seeds."

"Is this correct, Sasuke?" Homura asked.

"...Yes."

Homura looked down at his notes. "Hmph. Very well. Noted."

The scribes were given a few minutes to catch up.

"The final two crimes," Homura then went on. "Suigetsu and Sasuke will be called upon to answer for together. You both ascended to Olympus, and attacked the guardian Killer B." He clapped his hands, and a plume of smoke filled the room.

When it cleared, Killer B stood before them.

Sakura stared at the oddly-dressed, unfamiliar man. He was a towering giant of brawn and brute strength.

"Yo!" he greeted. "I came at your call! I'm a busy dude, aint got time for this all!"

"Not this freak again," Suigetsu muttered to Sasuke beneath his breath.

"Killer B. Thank you for coming," Koharu nodded to him. "This will not take long. Please take your place in the witness stand and give testimony about the attack made against you recently."

Killer B moved to the box, and pointed at Sasuke and Suigetsu. "Oh, yeeeah! These are two of the punks! Attacked me at Olympus! Fools must've been drunk!"

"What reason did they give for doing so?" Danzo demanded.

"These baby fools must've been bored! They had no reason, just to steal my sword! Oh yeah!" B rapped. "I'm totally sold! They're the enemy – knocked me out cold!" He then pointed specifically at Sasuke. "The lil dude with the red eyes and genjutsu tricks! Needs his high and mighty ass whipped!"

"…" One corner of Sasuke's mouth twitched in what was not quite a disdainful sneer.

"This guy…" Shikamaru shook his head from the spectator gallery.

"An interesting way of communicating," Kurenai commented in amusement.

"It's not your sword," Suigetsu sneered back. "It belonged to the great Titan Kisame Hoshigaki – and he was an ocean deity. So if anything, it should've been passed down to me, you dumbass!"

"You best give me that sword back!" B clapped, gesturing at him in rhyme. "Or else I'll kick your ass off the map!"

"We kicked your ass," Suigetsu sneered toothily. "So get the fuck over it. You can't rap or sing for shit!"

"Wooohaaaa! Snap! Look at that! You can spit bars too! Idiot! Fool! Who knew?!" B crowed appreciatively.

"And you thought I was loud, -ttebayo," Naruto muttered, scratching his cheek in bemusement.

Ino and Sakura exchanged gaping looks.

"Thank you, B, for testifying," Homura nodded. "You may return to your post."

"Need me again, just gimmie a shout! Rapping Master B, over and out! Oh yeaaah!" B lifted an arm, gave them all a peace sign – and then disappeared in another puff of smoke.

"What a headache," Suigetsu frowned.

"Hn," Sasuke quietly scoffed to himself.

"What have you to say in your defence?" Danzo interrogated. "You ascended Olympus and made contact with Cronus himself. This is strictly forbidden for all deities!"

"Hey, I only went along with it because this asshole asked me to," Suigetsu answered indignantly. "He approached me in my own kingdom and offered me Samehada if I'd team with him – which someone," he shot a pointed glare Tsunade's way, "failed to get me, despite us having a bargain. So I figured what the hell? There was no other way I was ever getting hold of that sword on my own. I needed Sasuke's help, so yeah, I agreed."

"Why did you ascend to the pinnacle?" Homura squinted down at them dubiously. "What possible cause could you have had other than to conspire against the surface deities?"

"The fuck should I know? Sasuke had some business up there. Karin, Jugo and I just went as backup. But it all backfired, because Cronus had his lackeys attack us, Orochimaru and a masked guy. I had to save all their asses," Suigetsu grumbled.

"What business?" Danzo pounced. "An Uchiha, choosing to visit his forefather. Surely it is clear enough that he intends ill toward us!"

Hostility flashed across Sasuke's eyes as they locked onto Danzo. He told himself that of all the prattling Councillors, he liked this one the least.

"You," he spoke icily to Danzo, "would not have known who he holds captive, were it not for me."

"What business did you have there?" Danzo disregarded his statement. "Answer, boy."

Sasuke glared back, defiant in his silence.

"You see?" Danzo turned to the panel. "He cannot account for his actions! But my ANBU have already received word of why he ascended. The truth of it. To obtain further power, to crush us!"

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed, at the same moment Kakashi began, "Now wait a minute-"

"Check his right arm!" Danzo hissed. "He bears the Serpent's mark! The Curse Seal of Heaven itself! If he is not in league with them, then how is it that he has acquired it?"

Everyone began to talk at once. Sakura stared at Sasuke apprehensively.

"…" Sasuke was internally caught off guard, though his face remained a blank slate. How could the Councillor have possibly known about his Curse mark? His eyes shifted accusingly to Kakashi, who met his gaze and shook his head silently. The death deity's intelligent mind raced. If not Kakashi, then whom? He glanced next at Suigetsu, who looked genuinely confused.

"I didn't say shit to anyone," Suigetsu scowled. "Don't look at me like that!"

Sasuke's eyes next locked onto the ANBU soldiers standing around them, as one of them approached and reached out for his right arm. Sasuke automatically began to draw his bound wrists back – but his arms were suddenly yanked forward with force, nearly causing him to stumble from the unexpected application of pressure.

"Hey!" Suigetsu frowned, instinctively trying to reach out to pull Sasuke back. "What the fuck gives-?" But he was yanked back and held in place with equal force by the ANBU, who had connected fresh chakra strings to the ones binding his wrists.

Sasuke gritted his teeth as his arms were roughly compelled to extend. His eyes flew up to Chiyo in silent outrage, unable to fight back or draw on his powers due to his chakra-absorbing restrictions. She had given him her word that he would not be dragged disrespectfully in any manner before the court!

Sakura's heart pounded. She recognised the dangerous look on the death deity's handsome face. Like an untameable, wild animal, forced into a corner. She had no doubt, that had he been free at that moment from his binds – all of the soldiers around him would have been dead. Unconsciously, she had risen to her feet, and pressed a hand over her chest in alarm. Ino's watching eyes darted from her concerned face – back to Sasuke. She pursed her lips, but remained silent.

"Hold!" Chiyo ordered, casting a vexed look across at where Danzo now stood at the judges' panel. "I have made it clear he is not to be mishandled! Instruct your ANBU to release him at once!"

Danzo ignored Chiyo, as he instead ordered his ANBU, "Show us the mark!"

Sasuke snarled, and tried to struggle against the bindings - to no avail. The right sleeve of his black tunic was pushed up, baring the sealed Curse mark clearly to the Court.

Everyone gasped, stunned.

"Release your hold on him at once!" Chiyo boomed, and slammed her staff down upon the ground. Immediately, Sasuke felt the extra strings snap loose, and he was able to straighten again. He retaliated immediately, grabbing the unfortunate ANBU closest to him, who had revealed the Curse mark, by the throat with restricted hands. His movements were surprisingly fast for one bound. He jerked the soldier roughly close, so that his face was inches away from the barrier afforded by the mask, glaring hateful daggers at him.

The soldier froze despite himself, at the sheer malice he saw swirling in Sasuke's charcoal irises.

"Touch me again." the death deity hissed.

"You see how dangerous he is?" Danzo pointed. "Given the chance he would slit all our throats!"

"Yours," Sasuke said coldly to Danzo, patience worn thin by his constant interference, "would be first."

Alarmed gasps filled the air.

"A traitor to Olympus," Danzo announced. "Just like your brother and cousin were."

"Danzo!" Jiraiya frowned in dismay, knowing that those words were a poor choice, certain to trigger Sasuke into reacting.

They did.

Sasuke drew in a sharp breath at the unexpected disclosure. His hold on the ANBU tightened, restricting the guard's windpipe. Unable to activate the Sharingan due to his binds, his eyes throbbed painfully in response to the rage that was now coursing through his blood, incapable of being let loose.

"What did you say?"

Sakura felt a shiver of fear shoot down her spine. She knew the iciness of those tones. Sasuke was mad.

"Sasuke-!" Kakashi warned.

The guard, now struggling to breathe, reached for the weapon at his belt.

"Stand down!" Chiyo rose to her feet. "Guard!"

"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped. "Please, stop!"

"Whoa, hey! Shit! You're not exactly endearing yourself to anyone right now," Suigetsu whispered to him beneath his breath. "Calm the fuck down and let this loser go, Sasuke!"

"He is choking my ANBU!" Danzo exclaimed.

"Sasuke!" Chiyo held up a hand. "Listen to me now. Release the guard."

Sasuke's eyes darted to her. He internally fumed for a moment. Then, terrifyingly, his anger walled off. He let go of the soldier in disgust, and straightened, chin lifting once more.

Tsunade watched with wide eyes. This deity, she realised... was deadly. And not only because of his function. He was lethal in nature. She didn't understand how someone who commanded such awful power, was capable of doing anything merciful. And yet he was King and judge of the dead. Surely he had to possess some degree of mercy and compassion?

She couldn't see any evidence of it, looking at Sasuke then. He was like a storm, utterly uncontrollable.

"Danzo! Call your guards back," Chiyo's voice was full of exasperation. "Enough of these theatrics!"

The ANBU glanced back up at Danzo, who stiffly nodded. They finally retreated back at his command.

Something clicked into place in Sasuke's thoughts as he glared at the masked soldiers. Their uniform had looked familiar – and with a start, he realised why. They were the same soldiers he and his cell had snuck past at the top floors of the facility leading down to where they had located Karin!

Then why were these guards here?

Unable to telepathically address the ocean deity due to the negation barrier on the court-room, he turned his head slightly to the right to address him.

"Suigetsu," he murmured, as the rest of the room continued to talk over each other. "These soldiers."

"They were at the fucking base, I know," Suigetsu supplied in a low voice. "They're ANBU. This Danzo bastard commands them, and that fucking creep's lab was right under their facility. You think that's just a coincidence?"

"…" In his mind, Sasuke's thoughts were sprinting to cover all the different possibilities.

"Are we gonna say something?" Suigetsu hissed.

"Not yet," Sasuke instructed, his gaze not moving from Danzo. There was something he needed to confirm, first. "Stay quiet."

"But Sasuke, this bastard is-"

"Stay. Quiet." Sasuke bit out the emphasised words in such serious tones, Suigetsu swallowed, and though wholly uncertain – nodded his head in reluctant accord.

"Fine," he whispered back. "But there's something off about that guy. Why the fuck is he all bandaged up for one? Something about him stinks. He's the only one out of them not impartial, and I'm pretty sure that isn't even allowed on the panel."

Sasuke silently agreed, his suspicions flagged.

"Order!" Homura struck the gavel. "Order! Be silent!"

The room finally grew quiet again. Sakura sank back into her seat. Her entire body felt rattled, her nerves overwrought and overstrung.

"Actually," Suigetsu spoke up, surprising Sasuke by taking his defence. "We were attacked by the masked man, and his attack is what gave Sasuke the Curse mark. He didn't go up there asking for it. I'd know, because I was fucking there!"

"Perhaps that is what he wanted you to think," Danzo's eye narrowed at him. "The Uchiha are cunning. They hide their true intentions well."

"How is this fair?!" Naruto shouted. "Granny Chiyo, he's been accusing Sasuke the whole time, before the trial's even over-!"

"This will be addressed after the hearing," Chiyo shook her head. "Believe me when I say that."

Danzo, who had returned to his seat, looked unperturbed.

"We were in real trouble," Suigetsu threw back. "I had to get his ass out. What the hell's your problem, dick? We're not working with Madara, stop fucking accusing me of shit I'm not doing!"

"Honourable High Councillors," Kakashi spoke up. "If I may, I can confirm Sasuke requested my aid in sealing this mark, to slow down its progression. I don't think he would have done so, if he himself willingly sought it out."

"Kakashi!" Jiraiya gave him an admonishing look. "How could you keep this from us?"

"It was Sasuke's request," Kakashi replied evenly.

"Why the hell would Sasuke need Orochimaru's powers, when he has all his own?" Naruto argued.

"…" Sasuke's onyx eyes narrowed. He wished Naruto would shut up and stop trying to defend him like they were friends of some kind.

"And your attack on B?" Homura followed up, trying to retain structure to the proceeding. "For what purpose did you initiate this? Why give Suigetsu the sword? What did you require his cooperation with?"

Suigetsu's eyes moved to Sasuke. When Sasuke said nothing, the ocean deity scowled. "Are you seriously not gonna tell them everything we've done?" At Sasuke's continued silence, he snarled, "Fuck it! Then I will!" He turned his gaze to the panel. "You need to get off your high-horses and show us a bit of fucking gratitude. While you've been sitting around with your powers sealed, we've been working to destroy Orochimaru's bases for the last few months."

More stunned murmurs filled the air.

"Yeah, that's right!" Suigetsu went on, his lavender-eyes ablaze with fury. "We've taken out his hideouts and all the shit in them! You've got us to thank for that! Sasuke did it because that creep gave him the Curse seal without his consent. And I went along with it because Orochimaru's been experimenting on my subjects, too. The last facility, where we came across Sakura and had to get her out? We blew up that whole lowest level! And not just that. When those monsters hit the surface? Who the fuck do you think got that Hydra out of there? You remember how it just vanished? Huh? You think your weak sealed-asses got rid of it? Give me a break! I sent it back to the oceans. And Sasuke sent other monsters back to his realm. And who the fuck do you think sent all those humans to sleep so they forgot? That was Sasuke's genjutsu. Who's been cleaning up the mess you can't, huh?"

Sakura gaped. Sasuke had done all that?

"I knew it…" Naruto whispered, eyes wide, fixed on Sasuke. "I knew he helped us..."

"That's not all," Suigetsu continued in his verbal tirade. "Your little love goddess over there? Who do you think saved her fucking life? We found her at the research facility, ready to have her heart cut out her chest. I asked Sasuke what he wanted to do about it. We could have just left her behind. But he chose to save her life instead. And I'm pretty sure," he glanced across at Sakura, "you can figure out why he did it."

Tsunade looked from Sasuke to Sakura, incredulous and speechless.

Sakura stared back at Suigetsu, open-mouthed. She recalled the dream she'd had after Ino had been returned to her. Imagining that she'd thanked Sasuke. She'd asked him why, but he had failed to clearly answer her. It hadn't been real. It hadn't really happened. Had it…?

"I can confirm," Chiyo stated, "that Sasuke brought Ino to me for healing with the intention of saving her life."

Beside Sakura, Ino exhaled. Then she supplied aloud to the Court, "He did save my life."

The surface gods exchanged startled glances, clearly surprised by this uncharacteristic behaviour.

"That's not all," Naruto piped up. "If we're talking about things Sasuke has done for us, then he's the one who told us about my mum and dad's bodies being on Olympus! He told us about Madara's plans to use Edo-Tensei!"

"Madara does not simply indulge his plans without good reason," Danzo sniffed. "Either it is because he considers the boy his ally, or because he intended his plans to be known!"

"Madara," Sasuke clipped tersely, "is no ally."

"So you say, boy," Danzo regarded him adversely, as if he were a filthy insect that needed to be crushed. "But if you had to choose between his side and ours, let us be frank; we all know who you would favour."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at that. To choose between the one who had led his family to their demise, versus the ones who had participated in it? He would see both sides burn in Tartarus, sooner than select any one.

"That's not true," Naruto contended. "Sasuke would never work with that bastard! He told Sakura-chan the truth about everything and gave his word to watch over her! To save her life if she's ever in trouble! And he did it! Sakura-chan! Tell them!"

All eyes turned to her – with the exception of Sasuke's.

"The seeds saved my life," she corroborated. "And… he also saved my life many times when I was in danger and had attacks in the Underworld."

"How do we know," Danzo demanded, "he has not shared your identity with the enemy himself?! After all, from Ino's account of her captivity on Olympus, it seems that his gaze is now fixed upon you!"

"I had to save her in the tunnels," Sasuke finally snapped. "Because of your incompetence. How many times have I had to intervene because they could not deliver on their ends of our agreement?" His eyes moved accusingly to Naruto, Jiraiya and Kakashi. "We agreed there would be no trial in exchange for her release. I agreed to grant her a year on the surface, instead of six months, and to safeguard her life if it is ever in danger because of what she is. You were meant to watch her on the surface. You have broken all of your terms, while I have honoured all of mine."

"Sasuke," Naruto spluttered helplessly – but the death deity had already looked away, his point clearly made before the Court.

"The boy is guilty of many things," Jiraiya mused. "But I believe he is sincere in keeping Sakura's identity hidden from Madara and our enemies."

"Can we just appreciate that I haven't opened my mouth, either?" Suigetsu quipped. "And I know about it, too! Oi." He nodded at the scribes. "Make sure you write that down."

Homura struck the gavel once more, signalling for quiet. Everyone fell silent. "We have heard both sides of prosecution and defence. Does anyone else wish to add anything to any of the charges that have been listed?"

When nobody said anything else, Chiyo notified them, "We will now confer in private to decide upon judgement. The defendants will be held in cells while suitable sentences are agreed. The trial will resume within the hour."

"This is bullshit," Suigetsu glared, as the ANBU guards stepped forward to escort him and Sasuke to their holding places. "You can't hold me in a cell! I have oceans to run!"

Sakura watched as Sasuke was led out of the room. He walked away as proudly as he had entered. When the doors finally closed behind him, she let out a quiet breath, glad for the reprieve.

---

"Nice one, asshole," Suigetsu muttered, as they were marched down the corridor by the masked soldiers. "This is all your fucking fault. Remind me never to get caught up in your drama again."

Six ANBU had been assigned to each deity. When one of the guards tugged on Suigetsu's chakra strings, the ocean deity scowled. "You try dragging me again, I'll throttle your mortal-ass with these strings," he snarled.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he was pulled forward. These humans were lucky that he was restrained by chakra-negating binds. He'd have liked to telepathically choke the life out of the fool who walked directly ahead of him, routinely yanking on the string, first.

"So what's your deal, anyway? You barely said a thing in your defence back there," Suigetsu remarked, as they continued along the gently curving hallway. "Sucker for punishment?" he cast a glance across at an apathetic Sasuke. "Or finally just accepting all the shit you pulled was messed up?"

Sasuke did not deign to reply.

"Pfft," Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I spoke up for the both of us, but don't think I did it for you, asshole."

As they continued to walk, they saw more ANBU approaching them from the opposite side of the corridor. Behind them was one of the Councillors.

Danzo, Sasuke silently noted, his steely gaze flicking briefly onto the stern-looking deity's face – before slipping aloofly away. He recalled what the Councillor had said about Itachi and Shisui - and made a vow that he would discover the truth behind those words.

Danzo and his troupe of guards passed them in silence.

"You may fool the others into believing that your actions were carried out in our favour," Danzo's voice then rang out some distance behind them. "But I know your kind, Uchiha. You cannot be trusted. Your existence has been a plague upon Konoha since your cursed clan's inception. A threat to its safety and to its people."

Sasuke's head turned, to angle a dangerous look back over his right shoulder. Danzo did not stop, as he continued gruffly, "I will ensure this is known. A just punishment will be served. I will see to it."

"…" The death deity's eyes narrowed as he glared at the Councillor's retreating back. He said nothing in response.

---

As the other deities turned to converse with one another, Tsunade slipped off the bench, informing Sakura that she would return shortly. Making her way to the judge's table, she leaned in toward Chiyo, murmuring something into the ancient goddess's right ear. After a pause, Chiyo nodded, and lifted a hand, passing something across to her.

Sakura watched, with worried eyes, as her mother disappeared through the side door in the room seconds later.

---

Tsunade's heart pounded from the turmoil of emotions that gripped her body. In her hand she held the key Chiyo had given to her. The ANBU standing on strict sentry at the end of the corridor had permitted her to pass with little question.

She knew, on the other side of the door, was her daughter's tormentor. The one who had stolen months of her life away that no amount of extra time on the surface could ever replace. Fury boiled in her blood. He had doomed Sakura, in tying her to his realm. What had given him the right to condemn her daughter to such a fate?

Without further hesitation, she unlocked the multiple bolts on the door with the master key – and stepped inside.

The holding cell was a white, stone-washed room. Empty of any furniture save for a lone wooden seat – which she supposed was for interrogation or visitor purposes – and the thick, chakra-charged iron bars of the square-shaped cage set against the back wall of the space.

A brooding Sasuke Uchiha sat imprisoned within, his body language entirely nonchalant for one caught in the clutches of his enemy. One shackled leg was lifted up to his chest, an elbow propped onto his knee. His eyes were closed, as if he were lost deeply in thought.

She closed the heavy door behind her, and the loud echo travelled across the room. Then, with clear purpose, she walked toward the cell, stopping a short distance before it.

He was indisputably handsome, Tsunade grudgingly acknowledged, as she looked upon him at much closer proximity. He bore all the hallmarks of the noble, aristocratic Uchiha clan – tall, dark haired, with fair skin. His striking features were all chiselled, angled planes, and his eyes, she saw, as they then opened to rest upon her, were framed by heavy, thick black lashes. Yes. She could see how her daughter might have found such piercing, arresting eyes to be so captivating.

It mattered not, what his appearance was. They did not change who – and what – he was on the inside.

Sasuke regarded her levelly. There was no shame on his face. No guilt. Nothing but infuriating blankness, set beneath a clear air of superiority and haughtiness that the Uchiha had always worn so maddeningly well.

This boy, as young as he was in comparison to Tsunade's own existence, was a King, she registered. A King who commanded perilous powers at his fingertips. But she did not care for that. She had come to visit him as a wronged mother. She would not leave until he knew precisely what her thoughts of him and the selfish actions he had taken were. She would not leave until she tore to pieces the insolent words he had dared to speak to her at court.

"Do you know," she began, keeping her voice as calm as she could muster it to be, despite the sheer fury that simmered in her veins. "How many times I have had to watch Sakura die in my arms? Do you know, how many times I told her of her true identity, of what befell her in the past – only to watch her perish, no matter how hard I fought to save her? Over two thousand years, at least."

He remained still, the only indication that he was listening to her at all, were his intense eyes, fixed onto her face, unwavering, defiant.

"Two thousand years," she repeated, as she took another step forward, fire blazing in her honey rises. "Two thousand years of a cycle of rebirth enforced upon her soul, for the very purpose of sustaining life on earth. You dare to accuse me of withholding information from my own child? When every time I have shared it in the past, it only drove her to her death sooner!"

"…" Sasuke was silent.

"You have no concept of the pains I have endured. And even if you did – you would not care for them! As expected of a seed sowed from Cronus's blood. And now, due to your actions, she cannot be reborn again. This is her final life. Was it not enough?" Tsunade demanded, and now her voice did quiver from rage and despair. "Wasn't it enough that you stole away six months of her life, that you chose to take actions, too, that would doom her to certain extinction if she passes this time? Do you have any idea what you have allowed to-?"

"Without me," he cut in abruptly. "She would already be dead."

Tsunade glared at him in disbelief. "You have the nerve to paint yourself to be a hero? After all that you've done?"

"…" Sasuke was silent for a moment. Then, he surprised her, by responding, "No."

"You have forced her to return to your Kingdom. What gave you the right to decide that fate for her?" she demanded. "Irrespective of her feelings – of mine – of everyone who truly cares for her!"

When Sasuke said nothing to that, Tsunade continued in her verbal onslaught. "Tell me this. Did you know what she was when you took her? Did you do it in part to slight us? Because you hold us accountable for a war your ancestor began?!"

Again, the death deity was silent.

"And when you fed her the seeds," Tsunade pressed. "Did you know what she was? What it would mean for her to eat them?"

"…" His eyes narrowed into slits. "No." He answered flatly.

Tsunade exhaled. "What gave you the right…?" she repeated in a lower voice, no less angry in tone. "To steal away the life she had? She's known nothing but trouble and pain since the moment you took her!"

"I told her what you chose not to," Sasuke retorted coldly. "She was weak. Ignorant. You allowed it."

"It wasn't your decision to make!" Tsunade snapped back. "Insolent boy! No more was that a decision you had the right to take on her behalf, than giving her the fruit was!"

Sasuke tilted his head to the right. It was a condescending gesture. Disdain seemed to pulse from him in waves. Tsunade caught her breath, astonished at his arrogance and marked lack of respect.

"Are you forgetting something, Tsunade?" he mocked. "Those seeds saved her life."

"Her life wouldn't have been in any danger to begin with, had your actions not fixed the enemy's eyes on her," the goddess shot back. "I have had no issues keeping each incarnation hidden for these thousands of years!"

"Had you taught her how to protect herself from the start," Sasuke corrected.

They glared at each other. Tsunade tried to reel her fury in. She could see that the youngest of the Uchiha clan was clearly as proud as the rest of his family had been – and also possessed a most impertinent tongue. She did not like him any more than she had before they had met. In fact, she was certain that she liked him even less now than ever.

There was no use, she realised, in arguing over his actions. They couldn't be changed. Judgement was about to passed upon him. The only reason she was giving him a piece of her mind was because it made her feel slightly better to do so, to vent her frustrations against the person responsible for hurting her daughter. But she could already tell, from only a few minutes' worth of interaction, that Sasuke was stubborn, and would give no verbal apology.

"Is this a game to you, Uchiha?" Her voice now was insidiously soft. "Stealing away my daughter to your realm on a whim? Implanting confusion into her mind by revealing truths to her, which you allowed her to believe I kept hidden from her on purpose – when I did it in what I judged as her mother and guardian, were for her own good? Deciding her fate? Tying her to you without giving her a choice or say in the matter? Do you feel even the slightest semblance of shame for anything you have done?"

Sasuke's eyes held hers. Once more, he was silent.

Tsunade shook her head in disgust. "And you seek to confuse her even further, I see. Returning Ino to us, as if you're some noble protector." She gestured in disgust. "Saving her life, as if that makes her indebted to you. But for what you have taken from her, she owes you nothing. Nothing you do will ever undo the damage you have already done. Do you understand, Sasuke? Even if she continues to survive, even if you can use your powers to prevent her from dying - you have still condemned her to a life in the shadows."

His dark gaze finally slipped away. Tsunade couldn't tell if his eyes had simply lowered – or whether he had closed them entirely. Undeterred, she went on, hammering her point home. If he possessed any conscience at all – and of that she was highly doubtful – then she wanted him to feel at least some fraction of even a miniscule amount of guilt.

"Sakura belongs in the light. On the surface. With us. Spring doesn't thrive in darkness. It is darkness," her hands closed into fists, "that poisoned her to begin with. The Uchiha are the ones who tainted her blood. And now, again, another Uchiha has tainted her. I will not stand by and lose her to the darkness again."

She stepped forward, until her nose was mere inches away from the iron bars of his cell.

"Sakura told me what happened between you," she got out tightly. "What are your true intentions concerning my daughter?"

"To keep her alive," he replied bluntly, without looking at her.

"That isn't what I meant," Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Don't play smart with me, Sasuke. When she returns to your Kingdom, what are your intentions?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

"I am a mother…" Tsunade smiled, a small, sardonic smile. "Even despite everything you have done to hurt her, Sakura's gentle heart feels pity for you."

She saw him tense at that. Noted the reaction with intense interest.

"Let her save her pity," he retorted icily. "For those who need it."

Tsunade folded her arms.

"I am a mother," she repeated. "And I know gods only seek one thing when they pursue a woman. Let's be frank. Sakura is beautiful. You kidnapped my daughter because you desire her."

His eyes did open then, to fix onto the floor. Something flickered across his handsome face – an emotion she couldn't quite read in time. But his hands had balled into fists – as if her words had insulted him in some manner.

Finally, Tsunade thought, relishing the small victory. She had gotten through to him - and all but confirmed her greatest fear.

"Whatever selfish, ulterior motives you have had for saving her life, and for otherwise assisting us – let me be clear. On this quest you are about to go on, you will not lay a hand on her, unless it is to protect her from harm. You will not otherwise touch her. Do you understand? Your role is to see her returned safely. That is all."

One corner of his lips drew back to form a disparaging sneer. "Giving orders, Tsunade?" he sneered, meeting her gaze once more, his words dripping with contempt. "I am a King," he reminded her callously. "I obey no-one."

"She is my daughter, and I know that you are no good for her!"

To her shock, Sasuke responded, "No."

She swallowed, caught entirely off-guard by his unpredictability. "You..." she exhaled. "Agree with me on this? Then why did you give her the seeds?!"

"..." Sasuke was silent. Then his eyes narrowed. "You know nothing. You act and speak on her behalf. The very thing you accuse me of."

"My actions are borne out of love, out of the desire to protect my child!" Tsunade was horrified that he would possess the audacity to compare the two. "Yours have been fuelled by nothing but your own selfishness!" His eyes slipped down again at that. "The seeds may have saved her – but if she dies, what effect will they have on her body? Do you even know what the consequences would be? She cannot be reborn. It is unnatural to return a soul to its perished body. What will happen to her then?"

Sasuke said nothing to that. Because he did not know. He could keep her alive – but if the Essence rejected the body it tried to depart, he was not sure what would happen. Her soul was not mortal. He couldn't compel it back to her body, if it refused to return – could only delay it departing by keeping her heart beating.

The goddess continued angrily, "She may be bound to your world – but that does not make her yours. And after what you have done – why would she ever wish to be? What can you possibly offer her that would bring her happiness in any form? When you do not even have her forgiveness? For kidnapping her, for damning her to the shades - you will never have mine."

With those parting words, Tsunade turned to leave.

---

Sakura clasped her hands together nervously. After seeing her mother slip outside the courtroom, she had waited for a few minutes, before deciding to follow. The ANBU had informed her along the way that her mother had gone in the direction of the holding cells, and was now inside the door before her. The door to where Sasuke was imprisoned.

Her heart thudded anxiously against her ribcage. What was her mother talking to him about? She could only guess that she was unleashing her pent-up frustrations and unhappiness at what Sakura suspected would be a wholly unreceptive and unrepentant death deity.

The door suddenly flew open. Sakura blinked in surprise, unprepared, finding her mother's stormy face looking down at her.

"S-Sakura…?" Tsunade frowned. "What are you doing here?" Then, realising that her daughter had likely tailed her, she folded her arms in disapproval. "You followed me."

Sakura's eyes slipped behind her, catching sight of Sasuke, contained within an impenetrable cage against the far wall of the entirely white holding room. He was sitting languidly upon a low bench, leaning back against the wall of the cell, clearly unaffected by his confines, one long leg drawn casually up to his chest, with an elbow resting against his knee.

His eyes locked almost immediately onto hers. Even despite the distance between them, Sakura felt their heat.

"I…" she started, momentarily diverted by the intensity of that gaze and the fact that his full attention had suddenly fixed entirely onto her for the first time in months. "I need to talk to him."

His eyes lowered nonchalantly.

"Sakura," her mother shook her head disapprovingly. "It's almost time for the sentencing-"

"Just give me a minute!" Sakura exclaimed in frustration, and stepped around her unhappy mother in the doorway. Entering, she marched up to the cell, her eyes wide, heart beating faster and harder with every step she took closer.

"Why did you stay so quiet at the trial?" she demanded. Her voice was shaking with anger – and some other emotion she refused to acknowledge at that moment. "You don't see what you did as even being worthy of a reply? Why didn't you tell them the truth? Why did Suigetsu have to say it all?"

"…" He was silent. The silence clawed at her chest. Sakura couldn't stand it.

"Sasuke," she reached out to touch the bars – and his eyes finally swept up, glinting in warning.

"Don't," his voice rang out sharply.

She realised then what she had overlooked initially. The bars were rippling with a strange, barely perceptible energy. Some form of barrier, she supposed - that would be harmful if touched. She lowered her hands back to her sides.

Highly conscious of her mother waiting for her, Sakura dropped her voice lower. "Did you really save Ino because of me? Even after what I did to you?"

Once more, he remained quiet.

"Everything you've done to help us-"

"Help?" he uttered mockingly. "I am not on their side."

Sakura stared at him in dismay. "You can't be on Madara's side," she tried again. "That Curse mark you have – it was an accident like Suigetsu said. Wasn't it? You aren't really working with them. I don't believe you'd lie about that."

There was a long, weighted pause, in which his eyes, distant and detached, held hers. Sakura's heart fluttered. His gaze was like a magnet. She couldn't look away.

"You would know," he finally intoned coldly, his voice low enough to ensure only she heard him. "About telling lies."

Sakura flinched despite herself – before bristling indignantly. The frostiness of his words were akin to a ruthless bucket of ice being poured over her head. Her heart jumped into her throat. He thought her a liar. He doubtlessly believed now that she'd just gone along with Suigetsu's plan, and had faked everything – even her genuine interest in his world. Gritting her teeth, she opened her mouth to answer – when her mother's voice reached her.

"Sakura. Enough. The ANBU are coming."

Sasuke's intense gaze held hers for a few seconds longer – before slipping dismissively back to the floor. As the ANBU reached the door, Sakura swallowed, and shook her head in frustration. Then she turned away.

---

Walking down the corridor with her mother as they made their way back to the Courtroom, she questioned hesitantly, "What did you say to him…?"

Tsunade's lips formed a grim line. At length, she supplied, "I gave him a piece of my mind. I told him that it is his responsibility to keep you safe on your quest - and that his involvement ends there."

---

"Court resumed," Homura struck the gavel, as the defendants and spectators all resumed their places. "Judgement and sentences have been agreed."

"The first sentence will be passed upon Uchiha Sasuke, King of the Underworld and Lord of the Dead." Danzo began severely. "For the charges of the unlawful abduction of Haruno Sakura to the Underworld, allowing her to eat of the Forbidden Fruit, imprisoning the Ocean ruler Suigetsu, exterminating summons belonging to other deities, the kidnapping of the seraph Inoichi, manipulating and placing a silencing seal upon the Messenger Sai, ascending Olympus and making contact with Uchiha Madara, attacking Killer B, the guardian of Olympus and causing the death of countless mortals due to the inability of Spring to manifest upon the surface."

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Suigetsu chuckled under his breath. Sasuke ignored him. He already knew what his sentence was.

"Your sentence will be to accompany the cell of Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura, in the collection of relics from four points in the globe, to assist in this quest in every way deemed necessary to complete it, to allow the unsealing of the surface gods' abilities, for the duration of twenty one days."

"Ouch…!" Suigetsu whistled. "Helping the surface gods unseal their powers? Damn! Sucks for you, bastard!"

Sasuke's jaw clenched, but otherwise gave no visible response to his punishment.

"In addition to this," Chiyo went on, "you will be charged with the safety of Haruno Sakura, to ensure her protection for the duration of your quest, and to take such action as is required to be necessary, to return her unharmed."

Sakura felt heat pool into her cheeks. How embarrassing it was, to listen to the charge spoken aloud before everyone in court. She could barely bring herself to look at Sasuke. Knew that despite his composed exterior, he surely had to be fuming inside.

Suigetsu, who was finding this all too amusing, chuckled wholeheartedly. "Bonding time with your besties. So fucking adorable."

"Following your return from your journey, you will be placed in confinement and under further interrogation, for a duration of five days," Danzo finished. "You will sign a blood contract, promising no further assistance to Madara and the enemy. These are the sentences the High Council have agreed."

Sasuke blinked and remained silent. Suigetsu smirked smugly at him.

"The second sentence will be passed upon Hōzuki Suigetsu, King and Custodian of the seas and oceans, for the following crimes: the attempted kidnapping of a mortal to your Kingdom-" Homura began.

"Aw, come on!" Suigetsu protested, his mirth swiftly forgotten. "That didn't even happen-!"

"For your ascension to Mount Olympus and engaging with Madara, and the attack on Killer B, in which you robbed him of his sword, you are ordered by the Court to return Samehada to its rightful owner-"

"No way-!" Suigetsu was livid. "Everything I did was to get that fucking sword-!" His head whipped to the right, to angle a hateful glare at Sasuke. "You fucking asshole, this is all your fault-!"

Sasuke allowed the side of his face visible to Suigetsu, to register a half smirk. The ocean god gaped at him.

"You fucking-"

"Silence!" Chiyo peered down at Suigetsu in disapproval. A sulking Suigetsu glowered up at her. "In addition to this, you will assist Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura in their quest, by providing them safe and speedy passage across any oceans they should encounter, by lending them your sea horses, which you will give them the means to summon at will."

A strangled noise escaped Suigetsu's throat. His royal sea horses were not beasts he lent out to others lightly. They were his pride and joy. Being ordered to allow others to mount them was a harsh punishment.

"On top of this, you will sign a binding contract, in blood, to ensure you do not lift a hand against Olympus and its guardians again, or partake in any future mischief that would afford the enemy any form of advantage over the surface deities." Chiyo's eyes narrowed at him. "You know, I think, of what I speak."

Suigetsu pouted unhappily, sharp teeth protruding from his lower lip. Of course the damned Old Hag was aware of his trade with Orochimaru. There was very little that she didn't see.

"You will also serve a day guarding Olympus, to make amends with B, as the quest will commence tomorrow, and your services will not be needed until Kakashi's cell reaches the seas to cross over to neighbouring countries."

"Bullshit," Suigetsu grumbled sullenly. "This fucking blows! You sentenced me with more punishments than this bastard, when he committed three times as many crimes!"

"Sasuke's sentence far exceeds yours in both severity and duration," Chiyo answered in dismissive tones. "Twenty one days is no easy feat, given the peril they will be walking into."

"Upon returning from your quest, you will be granted a day to see to your Kingdom's affairs – and then your five day confinement will begin," Danzo informed Sasuke brusquely.

Sasuke was silent.

"Let it be known that the cell of Team Seven has been formally assembled," Chiyo struck the gavel.

"Team Seven?" Naruto repeated, excitement twinkling in his blue eyes.

"We thought it prudent to select a lucky number," Chiyo answered, mirth dancing across her wise features. "It was also your good father's favourite."

"Guards," Homura stood. "Bring the sentenced forth. We will sign the binding contracts in the contract chamber. Court is complete. Dismissed!"

As everyone began to talk and discuss the outcome, Sakura quietly watched Sasuke being led away, heart pounding with the awareness that the very next day, after so many months apart, she would be in his company again, and under his constant watch.

For three whole weeks.

---

"Mother," Sakura said, as they exited the courtroom twenty minutes later. "I want to check out the library real quick before we go."

Tsunade turned to her. "That's fine. There are some matters I need to discuss further with Chiyo before your journey. Meet me at the entrance hall when you're finished. And don't forget to take anymore chakra-orbs you need before we leave."

Sakura nodded, and asked a robed apprentice nearby to lead her to the library. She was immensely relieved that the whole trial ordeal was over, and that they could finally look ahead to working to unseal everyone's powers - even if the thought of travelling with Sasuke made her nervous.

Finally they reached the library. As she stepped inside, Sakura gasped in delight. It was humongous – almost rivalling the one she had gotten lost for hours in, in Sasuke's Kingdom. Shelves upon shelves of books climbed up to a dome ceiling, bearing magnificent sun and moon crests. Polished oak gleamed under generous candlelight. There were desks stationed about the spacious area. The floor was plush, black velvet carpet. Sakura felt as though she had entered a hushed, tranquil sanctuary.

"Is there anything in particular you are searching for?" The brown-haired, bespectacled man who had led her to the library asked kindly.

Glancing behind her to ensure she hadn't been followed, Sakura disclosed, "Do you have books about seals?"

The man's eyebrows rose. "Certainly, Miss," he confirmed. "In fact we have an entire section. This is a much researched area of interest for our scholars. This way, if it pleases you."

She followed him through the aisles of shelves, marvelling at rolled up parchment scrolls and leather-bound spines. The pleasant smell of old, well-preserved paper mixed with burning, fragrant incense sticks reached her nose. They came to a stop by a section containing countless volumes of books towering up to the ceiling. A ladder rested against the shelf to her right.

"Any seals specifically?" the assistant queried helpfully, adjusting his glasses. "This is a somewhat daunting collection, as you can see."

"Um," Sakura pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Curse seals?"

"Hmm," the man nodded. He ran his hands over the spines of several books. Sakura waited as he took out three, before offering them to her. "I believe these may be of interest. They are the more simple versions, written in your tongue. I would recommend you start off with these."

"Thank you," Sakura said sincerely.

"Will there be anything else, Miss?"

"No, thank you. That's all."

"Very well. When you are done, please return them to their shelves. The numbers are marked clearly on the spines."

Sakura nodded, and thanked him again, before he politely took his leave. Taking the books to a nearby desk, she pulled up a wooden chair, and deposited the first in front of her. Opening it up, she turned to the index page, looking up the name of the Curse seal she had in mind.

Cursed Seal of Heaven…

Disappointment filled her when she found no matches. Setting the book aside, she turned to the second one. Flipping through the thick pages, she once again ran her finger down the index page entries.

Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes settled on what she was looking for. Page 87.

She flicked to it, hungry to devour the information on the page. She found herself looking at a mark consisting of three black tomoe.

The Cursed Seal of Heaven, she began to read, is a seal formulated by the God of Fear and Panic, Orochimaru. The strongest of his binding seals, it contains his chakra, which fuses with the cells of its host, providing them with increased chakra levels and physical capabilities when the seal is activated. This boost in strength is only temporary and carries many risks. The first is that Orochimaru is able to tap into the host's consciousness, and to view the world through their eyes, enabling him to track their whereabouts at all times. The second relates to over-use of the seal itself. If the user continuously draws from the seal, without replenishing their own chakra levels, the seal will spread over the body. The more frequently Orochimaru's chakra is drawn from the mark, the faster the host's body is contaminated by Orochimaru's cells, and the faster the curse seal advances in its stages.

Sakura's heart began to pound to a sickening rhythm, her eyes widening, as she continued to read.

The rate of advance can be determined by the progression of permanent ink markings the curse seal leaves on the skin. The more area of the body that has been marked, the further the seal has progressed. Once the entire body has been marked, the host's body is unable to fight off Orochimaru's invading chakra cells, and the host will lose control of their body as a result. This progression can be slowed by a binding seal, or by consciously choosing not to draw from the mark. So long as the host monitors their own chakra levels, and does not over-use the seal, they are in no danger of being possessed.

If a user continuously draws on chakra from the curse seal, or is otherwise weakened, such as in periods of intense physical and emotional strain, that do not allow the host's own chakra reserves to be replenished in time, Orochimaru's cells will begin to corrode the host's mind and body. Once the user's chakra network has been completely overrun by Orochimaru's chakra, their body will enter a state of paralysis, in which Orochimaru is then able to take complete possession of the host. This is irreversible, unless the host is able to receive a shot of powerful, body-compatible chakra that severs the connection. At this point, however, it is usually too late, as once Orochimaru takes over his host's consciousness, only two pathways remain.

Sakura lifted a hand to her mouth in horror. What had Sasuke done? What had he allowed to happen. And why…? Why had he gone up to Olympus?

She finally understood why Naruto and Kakashi had been so distressed. Her eyes then read the final sentence, which chilled her to the bone.

These pathways are either permanent enslavement of mind and body, in which the host completely relinquishes control of themselves into Orochimaru's possession - or death, in the event the host's body is no longer wanted. This is true for both mortal and immortal hosts, as there is then no way to recover chakra needed to sustain one's life-force.

Death, Sakura's eyes locked onto the word, her mind numb with shock.

If the curse mark ever overtook Sasuke, then he would either lose control of himself entirely – or he would die.

She slammed the book shut, unable to look at it any more, her mind more troubled than ever by the multitude of unanswered questions that plagued her thoughts.

---

Author's Note

See you next update! Team 7 and SasuSaku interaction begin!