Someone Screaming
Alternate Story – Dim Light
Ayane Selznick
All was silent after Haruno Sakura gave her report directly to the Hokage. She even gave two scrolls to her and didn't dare move while the Hokage was reading the first scroll. The scroll that the Godaime was reading was Sakura's report for the mission where her teammates died during the assault. The second one was her medical records and the Tsuchikage's word for her sudden appearance.
Godaime Hokage shifted in her seat and stared blankly at her apprentice.
"You succeeded in this mission but failed to save your teammates. I understand the situation. This captain of yours was quite stubborn." The Hokage gave Sakura a warm smile, "Report to the Konoha Hospital tomorrow morning."
Sakura nodded and replied, "Hai, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU Medic Nin bowed politely and walked out of the way as Naruto and Neji held the captive. The Hokage eyed her. She already got the message through the Godaime's eyes. She lowered her head to avoid the person in front of them.
The Hyuuga captain and the blonde Jounin walked in front dragging the silent Uchiha. The three of them stood still while waiting for the Hokage to say something.
"What?" Tsunade uttered at the same time pissed off by their silence as if they were all in front of the Third's grave.
Neji cleared his throat and resumed his stoic persona while he looked directly to the Godaime's eyes.
"ANBU Captain, Hyuuga Neji, reporting for the success of the mission." He stared to Sakura for a while then shifted to Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke was found with Haruno Sakura within the Earth Country fields."
The Hokage nodded in understanding and laid her eyes on the black haired young man.
Uchiha Sasuke is back, rather, he was dragged back.
With a smirk, the Hokage uttered, "Welcome back, Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke lifted his head and glared the Godaime.
"How was your eight-year vacation in Hidden Sound?" They didn't know what has gotten inside the Godaime's mind but it looks like she's picking on him.
However, the Uchiha remained silent yet intended to kill the Godaime. He was glaring furiously at her because of her mocking inquiry. Tsunade placed her elbows on her desk and placed her chin above her clasped hands.
"Uchiha Itachi is still alive. We thought you already eliminated him."
Yet there was no response from the Uchiha. Naruto was itching so badly. He didn't know what's going on between the Godaime and their captive his ex-teammate, Uchiha Sasuke. With flared up temper, he decided to butt in.
"Tsunade-baa-chan, are you going to execute him?" He asked what his team members wanted in the first place.
Tsunade looked lazily at him and retorted, "Naruto if you dare call me by that name again, I will make you the first person in the line for the execution."
"!" Everyone gasped as they understood the meaning of her sentences.
The Godaime sighed, "Iie (no), I'm not going to execute Uchiha Sasuke... yet. He will be interrogated by the ANBU Interrogation Unit. I'll assign someone who will extract anything inside that head of yours."
Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger.
"A punishment will be announced after the interrogation. So basically, Sasuke-kun, your life depends on your answers." She stated clearly yet venomously.
Sasuke didn't utter anything instead he accepted whatever they say to him. The Godaime looked at everyone as if leaving them hanging for her decision. But in truth, she was also thinking of what will happen to the captive. She dragged her eyes back to the target. His head was facing the floor again.
Are you worthy of redemption, Uchiha Sasuke? Or is there something in your head?
Studying him a little longer, she decided what to do next.
"I assume someone in your team had closed his Chakra channels. I request to re-open it." She ordered and saw Hyuuga Neji performing the task.
Sasuke felt the stinging pressure that Neji put to him. He tried not to grit his teeth and waited for the Hyuuga to finish his job. After doing so, he looked at his hands and felt his body coming back to its normal energy. However because of two days travel, he knew that he's drained.
"I will put him in prison until the Interrogation Unit's meeting is done. Kiba-kun," She called and the young man politely bowed to her. "Call Nara Shikamaru and the Interrogation Unit commander."
"Hai." The dog-masked young man gladly took her orders and disappeared with a puff of smoke.
"Neji-kun, I want your team to bring Uchiha Sasuke in the cell. I'll follow later." She ended the short meeting.
Naruto withdraw his hands from Sasuke's shoulder and watched him leaving with Neji's team. Hinata bowed politely and left with the team. All that was left was the Hokage, Sakura and him. The Godaime placed Sakura's scrolls in her desk and stared at it for a moment, not knowing what to do next except for visiting Sasuke in one of the cells.
The blonde Jounin decided to talk, "Can you add more ANBU people to guard him? In case he thought of escaping again."
"I don't have to. I'll seal him there." The Godaime faced him with a grin in her face. "His life depends on his answers. It's up to him to save himself."
Naruto's eyes saddened for a moment and glanced shortly at Sakura. She was leaning against the wall with her hands behind her, head lowered as well as her hair covered her face. Tsunade followed Naruto's eyes and felt the same thing.
Sakura was very hopeful to see Uchiha Sasuke again but now that he was held as captive and hanging fifty-fifty for execution they were sure that her heart is in great pain… again.
"It's hard for a friend to believe someone who once betrayed you." Sakura knew that the Hokage was talking about her and Sasuke so she lifted her face only to see the Hokage's eyes longing and distant. "It's difficult to gain back the trust he destroyed." This time it was Naruto who looked at Tsunade. She sighed, "You two are already full of saving his ass every time. Let him save himself for once. I'm not saying that you have to doubt him… just trust him."
Naruto lowered his head after the Hokage uttered her opinion. "By the way, where is Kakashi-san?"
"Mission. He will arrive in three days." She sighed once again and looked at them, "Both of you are dismissed. Report to your duties tomorrow morning and wait for further notice."
"Hai." They both answered and walked out of the Hokage's room.
It wasn't really dark inside nor the hallway but he felt like darkness might consume him again once he step his feet to one of the cells. There's no way to escape because if he did, there will be no mercy upon his second betrayal. But at first hand, he never really intended to return in Konohagakure.
One of Neji's members opened the cell while Neji and the other one pushed him inside. His back facing them while he looked at the emptiness in front of him. Neji locked the steel bars and put the paper marked with seal. Before he left, he gazed at the last Uchiha and started walking away with his team.
Uchiha Sasuke listened to their retreating footsteps while he stood there unmoving. Later he started walking slowly when he could not hear them anymore. He looked at the laid futon and decided to take a rest since he can't do anything while he's inside the prison, other than waiting for the Godaime that is.
He laid himself on it and placed his arms under his head. His right leg over his left leg. When he felt he's a little comfortable, he started processing what has happened.
First, he heard from the gossipers that Sakura was ambushed during her journey back in Konoha. Second, he went all-out rage to fight against the Akatsuki and took the chance of asking them. He killed one but never got the answer, the other one fled and he fainted in the end. Third, he was surrounded by Konoha ninjas the next day and he started accusing the Medic Nin the things she didn't plan nor attempted to do. Fourth, he was escorted here in Konoha and lastly put in the jail for further interrogation.
He sighed.
What else will come next? He stared at the window and wondered, If I didn't face the Akatsuki, what could have happened?
The appointed head strategist sped up towards the Hokage tower bringing only reserved questions. His instincts and the ability to think beyond the normal thinking proved that he isn't any normal ninja. Although he was lazy he sees to it that his job was done perfectly and organized.
Now, the news was spread like wildfire when Uchiha Sasuke arrived at the Hokage tower. He was immediately summoned by the Hokage and he knew that he's up to some conversing with his former batch mate and classmate. The questions were already inside his head, juggling at all patterns as to how he would catch the Uchiha guy during the trial.
Hokage-sama had sent an ANBU team at Orochimaru's palace. If it's proven that he has some connection to it then I have to know why and how he did that. He scowled. Even if he's still a Missing Nin, he was nurtured back home. What if he planned out to be a captive and attack from the inside while the rest of his battalion is hiding somewhere? His eyes narrowed. Nah, Sasuke only seeks for power not to destroy Konoha… Then he doubted. But then again, what if it's one of Orochimaru's plans to bribe the Uchiha?
He stopped at one tree and looked at the sky.
You are really a troublesome guy, Uchiha.
That night, Sakura arrived at her home. She moved out of her parents' house after being appointed as a Jounin and the Head of Medical Ninja. She would be called every now and then so she chose an apartment near the hospital and the Hokage Tower.
Opening her apartment door, she dragged herself inside the room and closed the door behind. She was dead tired from everything that has happened three days ago. Right after Sasuke's rude way of pushing her away, here she was, waiting for the jury to cite the trial for the Uchiha. Thinking of what happened from the days of their journey, she knew that Sasuke thought she deceived him. But she never was and will never try to trick him to something.
Still the way he looked at her, its piercing right through her. It hurt to know that he was thinking negative things about her. She shook her head, letting her pink hair wave from right to left.
I… I don't want him to think of me that way…
She sighed and went towards her bathroom. This will make her relax, even for quite a short time.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The Hokage was sitting at her chair when somebody had knocked on her door.
"Who is it?" She lazily asked while she was reviewing at Neji and Sakura's report.
"You called for me, Hokage-sama?" One lazy reply was heard and the Hokage knew who it was.
"Come in, Nara."
Upon opening the door, Shikamaru walked in lazily with the same lazy look in his eyes. The Hokage rolled the scroll and placed it somewhere at her table. She brought her hands together and stretched out.
"When will they arrive?"
Shikamaru knew what she was asking, "Tomorrow evening. If there will be no hindrances during their travel, maybe they'll come by morning."
"Mm." Tsunade looked at him, "I'd like you to speak with our captive. Try to extract information from him."
So the Hokage thought the same thing.
Shikamaru nodded.
"Don't worry, kid." The Hokage pushed herself from the table and stood. "I'm coming with you. I sealed the cell for him not to escape."
"…oh."
He was wide awake the entire morning. He never found rest or sleep instead he let his mind wander to all the possible things that might happen during his stay. However he never thought of how he will answer the interrogation. Perhaps, he has to stay calm and avoid answering senseless questions.
Moments later, he heard some footsteps coming closer.
"Is he awake?" A woman asked.
Sasuke knew who had come to visit him, Tsunade and the Interrogation Unit.
One of the guards answered, "He hasn't make a move—"
The captive decided not to prolong the talk as he stood up and greeted the Hokage with a half bow just so to show that he still has some respect to the leader of the village.
Tsunade signaled the guard to move aside. She took off the seal paper and cancelled the seal inside the room by executing a set of hand seals. After which, the door opened.
"Let's go Sasuke-kun we will have to interrogate you." She said and started walking away leaving the ANBU team unit behind.
Sasuke didn't argue anymore as he walked out of the cell only to be escorted by the team. When he's out of the prison, he shall face interrogation.
He was forced to sit down on a chair inside the four dark corners of the room. He wouldn't use the Sharingan to know where he is nor find out who the people are. His eyes suddenly caught the strong ray of light just above his head.
"State your name." A male voice started.
"Uchiha Sasuke." The captive answered.
"Age?" Interrogation began.
"Twenty."
"Where were you last 3 days ago before the team found you?"
"…I was staying at some inn in Hidden Stone…"
"What are you doing in Hidden Stone?"
"…I'm looking for a clue."
He heard hushed sounds around him and assumed that there were a number of people inside the room. They might be suspicious of him.
"What clue?"
"…to where I can find my brother."
"Why didn't you just ask your subordinates in Hidden Sound to locate your brother?"
"…"
The interrogator cleared his throat and moved on with his another question, "Where were you when the Hidden Sound was destroyed?"
"…" Sasuke stared at the ground in front of him, his eyes narrowing and returning to its original state.
The one who was asking him questions might have noticed something, "Did you kill them all?"
"…no."
"Why did you kill them?"
"…I… found out that… Orochimaru was using me for his own power."
"Where is Orochimaru?"
"…he's dead."
"You killed him?"
"…yes."
Again, he heard some people whispering from one person to another surprised at his sudden revelation concerning his situation from Hidden Sound up to the Hidden Stone. Still the interrogation didn't end there yet.
"If you really are the one who murdered everyone in Hidden Sound and fled elsewhere in search for your brother, Uchiha Itachi, what are you doing with Haruno Sakura?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes to no one. He merely growled as he answered.
"I just met her in Hidden Stone when some Missing Nins came to me in attempt to get Sharingan." He didn't say that she helped him for the sake of his pride.
"Haruno Sakura stated that you helped her when she was attacked by Akatsuki members. Why did you do that?"
"I don't have any intention to help her. I took action for my own reasons."
"And that is to ask for Itachi's whereabouts?"
"…yes."
After Sasuke's answer, everyone was dead silent. No one dared to question him further. Maybe it was clear enough proof that he won't do any harm in the village. But still, they have doubts about it so Shikamaru decided to question again, he has been the one asking him anyway.
"Do you have any intention regarding Konoha's downfall or something?"
"…no. I don't care about this village anymore."
"You do know by now that we are not accepting Missing Nins. You proved to us that you did a crime outside the village by eliminating Hidden Sound but don't think that you did us a favor. We will be judging you with regards to your answers. You will be deprived of freedom for the meantime you will have to stay inside your cell until further notice. Do you understand?"
"…I have no intention of destroying Konoha or whatever you are thinking of." He looked at the person in front of him; he knew that he's in front anyway. "Let me go and I will find my brother."
The Hokage decided to butt in, noticing that this interrogation will finally be over.
"Sasuke-kun, we are not depriving you in search for your brother. The power of the Cursed Seal is still there so we are assuming that when you're upon the influence of Orochimaru's power, your mind will be corrupted. In other terms, you might end up as one of our enemies completely becoming a criminal listed in our bingo book." She sighed, "We are preventing the last of the Uchihas to follow his brother's dark path. Don't think any positive things, though. You're still under my power and I have the authority to make you stay for as long as I want as well as observing you. If you intended to escape, Sasuke, I'm telling you now. You will see your clan to the other world."
Sasuke just glared at the person in front of him and then lowered his head.
No choice… Damn it…
To be continued…
Author's Note: Ah this chapter is dedicated to the birthday boy... (drum rolls) Uchiha Sasuke! He'll be celebrating his birthday on July 23! Happy birthday brat! XP From the previous chapter, Neji's team were able to drag his ass back to Konoha so in this chapter he had been interrogated. The result of this interrogation will be decided soon. I'm sorry if there haven't been SasuSaku here. If I did that without proper plotting… everything will be ruined, right? So have patience people! Also I uploaded a fanart of Sasuke in my deviantart account. You can go and see it if you want.
The next chapter would be… A little piece of hint of all Konoha Nins! Hope you liked this chapter.
Author's Response:
Shinobi Darkbeak - thanks!
cocoa-latte - thank you! hehehehe
evil-mittens - you'll see hehehe
Shintasuke - galit ka kay sasuke/e5 tsk tsk tsk
E-chan Hidaka - don't worry sweetie, it's okay n-n I'm glad you're still here. I thank you so much
applecherry - I intended to not have so much info. I'll make sure that the next chapters would bring a little bit of information though. Thanks for the time!
Sorakoi The Water Goddess - You don't have to be so sorry dearie! I still thank you for your review mwah!
Prizz - Thank you so much!
Saki-16 - WAHHH you were going to kill me? Oooohh I should hide somewhere safe! xp Thanks for the comments though n-n
Mrs. Uchiha - ack you keep changing names! I can't figure out who you are. xp thanks for the review sweetie!