"We will adjourn for half an hour," Shikane announces, and the five judges retreat to another room for a discussion. The ghosts follow them, knowing that this is where the metaphorical action will take place.
As the door shuts behind them in the small meeting room, Shikane slumps into one of the meeting chairs and sighs. "This whole thing would have been much more orderly if we had jointly tried both of them at the same time."
"Well, no-one is about to bring charges against Kakashi except Danzou himself. You can see how much the other clan heads support him," Ox replies, crossing his arms as he leans against the table.
"That is quite remarkable. In fact, I won't be surprised if there are petitions for the Sandaime to step down..." The Nara shares a brief glance with Ox and the latter nods minutely. "No offence, Kazuma."
The Sarutobi's mouth twists wryly. "None taken."
"We're getting off topic," Shibi reminds them, and Shikane smiles apologetically. "Since things have progressed to such an extent, I believe we have no choice but to try and sentence Kakashi-san. As grateful as we are that Kakashi has brought ROOT's activities to light, the things that he has done in ROOT have to be accounted for. We've read his testimony. It would be remiss of us if we did not seek justice for the deaths of those who were assassinated."
"We would have never known of the true nature of those deaths if not for Kakashi-san," Hizashi argues. "I know many of you agree with Shikane-dono that the harm is done, but infiltrating ROOT is no easy thing. And the fact is that there is no other way to bring ROOT's activities to light except by maintaining such a cover. Danzou is not a careless man; he would have suspected Kakashi's loyalty otherwise. If he'd brought this before the Sandaime or the Council, would he have been taken seriously? We all know how the Sandaime favours Danzou. We have to take that into account somehow."
Sakumo leans forward, anxious for this tension to be resolved if only to know what would become of Kakashi in the end. In this dispassionate discussion of his son's fate, it feels like they are trekking slowly forward, oblivious to the hot coals beneath their audience's feet. Sakumo understands the need for accountability and penance, but please, have mercy too.
"A lighter sentence, perhaps," Ox muses. "Is that an acceptable compromise? We will still find him guilty for killing Konoha-nin, but because of his actions in bringing ROOT to light, we'll give him a second chance."
There are slow nods all around. Sakumo bites the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste copper.
"Usually, the sentence for an unsanctioned assassination of a Konoha-nin would be lifetime imprisonment. It would be ideal if we could put away Danzou for the rest of his life. But because Kakashi has done the same... Ah, how much can we reduce the lifetime sentence before it becomes clearly biased towards Kakashi-san?"
"It doesn't have to be a reduction. Snake served in ANBU in lieu of her sentence because the Sandaime needed her expertise. She'd pointed that out in her letter."
"Substituting ANBU service for part of his sentence isn't ideal," Ox argues. "ANBU casualty rates increase exponentially with the number of years served. We do not want to hand him a de facto death sentence by forcing him to serve longer than he can."
Shikane thumbs his chin. "What about the Hatake seat?" He raises his gaze to the others. "Or more specifically, his removal from the Council? The seat will continue to exist for his successors, so no harm is done to the Hatake clan, but the other clans will understand that punishment has been meted out."
He turns to Shibi, then Hizashi, and they both nod. "It will be understood," Shibi concedes, and Sakumo is relieved. The Hatake seat doesn't matter. It's a loss, but ultimately, Sakumo cares little for it if it means that Kakashi will spend less time in imprisonment.
"This is not too bad," Rin says, her eyes shining hopefully as she looks up at Sakumo. He nods, smiling faintly. "He'll be out in no time."
"Good. Now about Danzou..."
The judges file back to their seats and all nervous chattering ceases. The Ino-Shika-Chou leave Kakashi's side, Inoichi giving Kakashi's shoulder a small squeeze as he does, and Fugaku reluctantly stops trying to interrogate Danzou about Hawk. Behind the accused's stand, Danzou sits with his back ramrod straight and his hand on his knee, a picture of stoicism.
'Kakashi,' Sakumo sighs silently. 'Is this what you've looked forward to all this time?' When Kakashi had told Gai that he intended to quit ANBU, he must have already resigned himself to losing everything.
"In light of Danzou-san's accusations earlier, Hatake Kakashi will be jointly tried upon the charges relating to the assassination of Konoha citizens." Shikane looks up over the audience and nods. "We will announce our judgment now. Shimura Danzou, please take the stand."
Danzou is done for and he knows it. The bitter, snarling thing that he'd been earlier is gone, and instead, there is a calm about him. It's the look of someone who is convinced that they've martyred themselves.
"We have found evidence that you have instigated the assassination of the following persons: Aburame Shikuro, Yamanaka Kurai, Akimichi Akare..."
The names go on and on, until the audience is shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
"...ANBU Snake, also known as Koshima Hatsue..."
Kakashi's eye closes briefly.
"...and that you have used your position of power in this organisation ROOT to instigate the killing of minors within ROOT. Do you plead guilty?"
Danzou leans forward slightly. "I admit it. But I am not guilty."
Fury flickers briefly across Kazuma's face and he slams his fist down on the judges' bench, making everyone jump. Shikane places a quelling hand over Kazuma's and sighs.
"Shimura Danzou, by strategically assassinating the above persons, you have systematically removed dissent against yourself and interfered with Konoha politics for personal gain. Do you plead guilty?"
"I have never gained any advantages from this," Danzou says, his voice clipped. "This is all for Konoha."
"Your objection will be recorded," Shikane replies, giving Danzou no chance to argue further as he quickly moves on. "Shimura Danzou, we have found evidence that you have kidnapped children from Konoha and subjected them to abuse and torture as enumerated in Hatake Kakashi's testimony. This includes eleven days of false imprisonment and torture of one Hatake Kakashi, do you plead guilty?"
Danzou's eye is narrowed. "I admit it."
Sakumo closes his eyes and lets out a long breath. It eases something inside him to hear Kakashi's pain acknowledged, even if it is only a short sentence and a reluctant admission from Danzou. 'They know now,' Sakumo tells himself, but at the same time, it all seems too simple. The weight of all that happened can't be encompassed in one short utterance like that.
"Shimura Danzou," Shikane intones with an air of finality, and Sakumo knows this will be the end. Rin's grip on his arm grows tighter and tighter and Sakumo forgets to breathe—"For all the crimes above, I hence pass judgment. You shall be stripped of all rank, losing all the privileges accompanying such, and serve a life sentence in the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility."
The declaration hangs in the air, as if it hasn't quite passed into reality yet, until Kakashi bows his head with a faint smile and Rin starts crying silently. "This is it," Sakumo breathes.
Kakashi's mission is finally complete.
"Your Honours," Kakashi calls out as Danzou sits back down. The judges look over to him in surprise. "Before we move onto my case, may I say something on the ROOT agents' behalf?"
They share a brief glance and Ox nods. "Speak."
Kakashi straightens in his chair. "It is a bold request but please treat all of them like you would any other shinobi of Konoha and focus on rehabilitation and reintegration. I'm not a professional, so I will leave the specifics to Inoichi-san and his colleagues, but I believe all of them can be rehabilitated. Especially those who have willingly surrendered and the children. None of them knew any other way of life other than what they were taught in ROOT, so please don't blame them."
Ox nods. "We will take their circumstances into account, Kakashi-san."
"Thank you," Kakashi murmurs in relief. He bends in a bow of thanks.
Just like he'd done for Danzou, Shikane reads out the charges and Kakashi admits to them, one by one. It is a much shorter list.
"One thing, Kakashi-san," Kazuma says, interrupting Shikane with an apologetic incline of his head. "You have not mentioned anything regarding the incident which put my fa—the Sandaime in the hospital. Is it not related to ROOT?"
Kakashi is quiet for a moment. "I have no evidence," Kakashi admits. "But it is possible."
Not quite satisfied but unable to pursue this line of questioning, Kazuma sits back with a frown at Danzou. The old man ignores him, his sharp gaze still fixed on Kakashi's back.
Kakashi could have taken down Danzou in one fell swoop, Sakumo muses, if he'd only asked Kinoe to provide testimony that Danzou had ordered Hiruzen's assassination. There is no way that Danzou would have been able to wriggle out of that one—it's treason plain and simple. Kinoe would have been willing to testify too, for his senpai's sake. But Kakashi hadn't asked that of him. He had protected Kinoe. Once word gets out - and that is inevitable in a ninja village such as this - everyone involved will be judged harshly. Kinoe's chance at reintegrating into Konoha would have been dashed from the beginning.
When Shikane pronounces the sentence, his voice is firm but not as harsh as earlier. "Hatake Kakashi, for the crimes above, you shall be permanently barred from the Council of Clans and serve a month's sentence in the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility. Subsequently you shall be suspended from missions for a year, during which you will aid in the rehabilitation of ROOT agents."
Kakashi straightens in shock, his eye widening. On the opposite side of the room, Danzou scoffs in derision.
'You were prepared for worse,' Sakumo thinks sadly. From way Kakashi's brow creases, that guilty look coming upon his face again, he probably still thinks he deserves worse. "It's alright, Kakashi," Sakumo whispers, rubbing at his aching eyes. "You've suffered enough." At his side, Rin nods fiercely.
"We adjourn these proceedings for an hour," Shikane announces, "and return to examine the charges against Orochimaru of the Sannin."
Kakashi pushes to his feet the moment they're dismissed and Yugao comes up to his side, another glass of water in her hand and a relieved smile on her face. "Senpai?"
When he turns to her, his hands shaking are with agitation. "Ah, Yugao," he says breathlessly. His face is too pale. "I need to talk to them—"
"But senpai…"
"Just—" Before Kakashi can finish his sentence, the exhausted shinobi's knees buckle beneath him and he collapses backwards.
Sakumo gasps, grabbing for his arm, but Kakashi's hand slips through his. 'Kakashi!'
"Senpai?!" Yugao darts forward, barely catching him before he hits the ground. Water spills. Suddenly everyone is surging forward, their alarmed voices echoing in the courtroom. Yugao shoves them back when they crowd too closely, her wide eyes fixed on Kakashi as he gasps for air.
"Someone... Someone get a medic!"
A/N: Oh boy. Kakashi, don't scare your father like that. This is also the end of the ROOT arc, woohoo! Next chapter we will start with the final arc for this fic... :')
Btw, if anyone wants to read a more detailed explanation of what was going on in Ch101, I've (accidentally) written a small essay in the comments section of Ch101 on AO3 in response to a reader's wonderful question :)
In other news, the semester starts tomorrow. I will try my best to keep weekly updates, but as I'm taking more credits this semester, we'll see!