Chapter Ten: Arraigning the Defendants


Asahi was exhausted and tired when the sun rose the next morning. So much had happened in such a short period of time that it was almost unimaginable to comprehend. Nevertheless, a trial was about to take place that involved corrupted politicians who had reigned terror on a small town called Konohagakure.

"All right, listen up!" barked a guard as he and a team of guardsmen walked into the dungeons, waking Danzo Shimura and his captured comrades. "You are all to be arraigned this morning on the charges that are against you. Any attempt to escape will result in immediate death. Is that understood?"

"Why don't you just kill us now?" muttered Police Sergeant Otsutsuki. "This trial is nothing more than a sham to make us look like fools."

The guards ignored the remark and instead motioned for his comrades to bring the defendants out. However, only Danzo, Sasuke and Toneri were taken out of the prison cells.

"You three are to have your trial in Albion," said the lead guard, pointing towards them. "The rest of you will be taken back to Konohagakure and a specially appointed tribunal will deal with all of you."

"Why do you send them back?" asked Danzo. "Aren't they going to stand on trial with us?"

"No," whispered the guard, leaning towards Danzo. "For security purposes, you and these two are going to be tried in front of the monarchs. In fact, you are all celebrities, in the wrong sense of the word. Take them to the courtroom!"

Shackling the three men together, the guard led Danzo, Sasuke and Toneri like a chain gang up to the courtroom. As they were being led out of the dungeons, Manfred von Karma was waiting for his clients up at the top of the stairs. The defender of Danzo had a look on his face that seemed as if he had every reason to believe that he was not going to win this trial for his clients.

"Don't look like that, Herr von Karma," reassured Danzo. "We will win this trial like all the other times."

'If only that were possible,' thought Manfred as he watched his three shackled clients being led into the courtroom. Taking in a deep breath, Manfred walked into the courtroom where people from all over Avalon were gathered.

Some were from Hot Dog Hills, some were from the Grandall Empire, but most were from Konohagakure. The people from Konohagakure were filled with anger and disbelief that these people once terrorized their town for their own benefit.

Meanwhile, Asahi walked down to the courtroom along with Honoka and met up with Phoenix Wright.

"Everybody seems very tense this morning," he said, bowing to the monarchs. "You could almost cut it with a knife."

"There is no reason to believe that tensions are high," added Honoka, as Phoenix got back up to his feet. "Danzo will do just about anything to get off something like this."

"He won't get off easily, Honoka," said Asahi, looking over towards his wife. "None of them will. This is why we will only prosecute Danzo, Sasuke and Toneri. Not because of the fact that we are trying to create discrimination, but because of security purposes and the fact that we are trying not to let them get any ideas on escaping."

Phoenix took in what the couple has said and agreed with their statements. This was a trial that wasn't going to be easy to take on, but it needed to be done. However, despite the trial that was about to begin, there was something else that was plaguing the couple.

"What about Sakura?" asked Honoka. "Should we let her testify? I mean, aren't we testifying against Danzo?"

"I'm not sure, my dear," answered Asahi, lowering his head in deep thought. "Sakura have suffered enough at the hands of Sasuke. Don't you agree, Phoenix?"

"Well," he said after considering the suggestion made by his superiors. "The jury will want to hear her testimony. However, I will try and keep her limited to just one turn on the stand unless she say otherwise."

The royal monarchs nodded and followed Phoenix into the courtroom as the people in the gallery rose in respect to their rulers. As they made their way to their thrones, the monarchs looked at Danzo and his two cronies with a disgusted look on their faces.

"This court is now in session!" cried a bailiff. "God bless Avalon and this honorable tribunal."

Once the monarchs were seated, the gallery of people followed suit. Judge Kiyoji Tanaka looked at the defendants as he looked down at the list of charges against the accused.

"The court will now arraign the defendants," said Judge Tanaka. "The microphone will be placed in front of the defendant, Toneri Otsutsuki."

With the microphone placed in front of Konohagakure's former police sergeant, Toneri rose from his feet and faced the judge with a crossed look in front of his face.

"Toneri Otsutsuki," said Judge Tanaka. "Are you represented by counsel before this court?"

"I am represented," replied Police Sergeant Otsutsuki.

"How do you plead to the charges against you, guilty or not guilty?" asked Judge Tanaka.

"Not guilty on all counts," answered the former police sergeant in a stern sounding voice as he sat down.

Now the microphone was then placed in front of Sasuke Uchiha, whose mind was filled with anger not just because of the fact that he was now on trial, but also because he was still furious that Emperor Asahi had annulled his marriage to Sakura.

"Sasuke Uchiha," said Judge Tanaka quietly. "Are you represented by counsel before this court?"

Sasuke didn't answer right away and instead looked down at the floor. Both Asahi and Honoka were taken aback by this behavior and sign of total disrespect.

"Sasuke Uchiha," snapped Judge Tanaka, his eyes glaring at him. "You will answer the question! Are you represented by counsel before this court?"

But Sasuke didn't answer and instead nodded his head mentioning he was in fact represented by counsel.

"And judging by your silence," remarked Judge Tanaka. "You are to plead not guilty on all counts. Is that correct?"

Sasuke didn't say anything and sat down, his face still filled with anger. Now the attention came to Danzo himself as the microphone was passed onto him. Danzo was even worse than Sasuke in terms of disrespect, for he didn't even stand up. As a result, the guardsmen standing behind the accused had to force Danzo to stand up.

"Danzo Shimura, are you represented by counsel before this court?" asked Judge Tanaka, his voice clearly showing impatience at the disrespect the defendants were displaying.

"He is represented by counsel, Your Honor," said Manfred, not wanting to have the situation escalate any further. "And he wishes to plead not guilty on all counts against him."

Judge Tanaka looked down at the papers in front of him and then motioned over to Phoenix for a response.

"How do the people stand?" he asked.

"The people request remand," answered Phoenix. "It's clear that the three defendants are a flight risk and a danger to society. Futhermore, I request that they be placed in isolation prison cells throughout the trial as a precaution."

"So ordered," said Judge Tanaka. "The defendants are to be remanded and isolated in prison cells to avoid any contact with each other as well as anyone seeking to break them out. Therefore, the tribunal will recess until further notification."

Judge Tanaka banged the gavel and just like that, the arraignment was over. However, Asahi and Honoka were both astounded by the disrespect that was displayed by the defendants and both of them could only wonder what was down the line.

"Well, that was interesting," said Phoenix as they left the courtroom. "Out of the three of them, only Police Sergeant Otsutsuki spoke directly to the judge. But at least the request for remand was granted."

"Yes, but I think you should add another charge," replied Honoka. "The charge of disrespect towards royalty."

"Honoka, please!" cried Asahi. "It's too late for that now!"

"I agree with your husband," said Phoenix. "A charge of showing disrespect will only make us seem like fodder to the people of Avalon. Besides, we have more than enough evidence to put them away for life or even execution."

"No. Executing them would be too easy," muttered Honoka, feeling very heated after being disrespected. "They need to be locked away in The Isle of the Lost with all our enemies. They need to suffer the same way they made their victims suffer!"

Asahi was worried and knew that Honoka needed to calm down before her emotions would get the better of her.

Meanwhile, Princess Barbie and Sakura returned to the Hot Dog Hills General Hospital with the intention of seeing Kazuya Watanabe, the man that was badly injured by the same mob that had tried to kill Sakura.