Godo stared hard at Cloud as the royal court murmured amongst themselves in shocked hushed tones. "If you know anything about the Shagaro trial, you should know that is for Wutaians, not disgraced and exiled foreigners!" Gold snapped at him.

"I know that passing the Shagaro trial grants me a full pardon for my family. That includes my future wife and our child." Cloud replied, boldly looking the Wutaian leader straight in the eye.

"And if you fail, it means your deaths." Godo frowned. "She is no longer Wutaian either, her promising herself to you does not change anything."

"How did you kn-" Cloud realized that of course Godo would have ninja spies at his disposal. He should have noticed, but he had been too distracted by the day's events, not to mention the night's as well.

Staniv approached Godo and bowed, speaking only after Godo nodded in permission. "You gave them a week to leave Wutai, so one could assume her banishment isn't final until the week is up. And this way, their blood will be on his head for failing, not yours." he quietly told his leader.

Godo's frown was thoughtful this time. "So be it. Bring the woman." he ordered Gorki and Chekhov, who promptly left.

"Leave her out of this!" Cloud demanded futilely.

"If you die, she dies." Godo reminded him coldly. "Prepare for the trial." he told the remaining Wusheng, who also left.

Cloud reluctantly handed over his weapons again, and was given a dark blue and black keikogi to wear.

Yuffie had had so many new experiences in the six years since her path had crossed with Cloud and Tifa's, but it wasn't until she saw Gorki and Chekhov approaching their camp that she finally experienced true fear. Was Cloud...? "The week isn't up yet, you have no business with me." she stated with all the bravado she could muster as she put one hand protectively over her stomach and the other around one of the thick branches she had collected for firewood. "Especially since I've beaten both of you once already and you've gotten older since then."

Gorki and Chekhov both smiled reminiscently at her familiar spunk. "We have no quarrel with you, as long as you come with us peacefully." Gorki told her.

"Why do you think I would go anywhere with you?" Yuffie asked.

"To witness your beloved undergo the Shagaro trial." Chekhov replied.

Yuffie hadn't even realized she had collapsed until Gorki picked her up off the ground and put her on Fenrir, sandwiched between the two warriors as the three of them rode back to the village.

Cloud was being escorted to the pagoda when he saw them drive in and park near it. Everyone stopped outside the pagoda as Yuffie stared numbly at Cloud, her relief at seeing him overshadowed by the reason for it. "How...how could you ask for the trial? Don't you know-"

"He knows he gets a full pardon for his family by succeeding." Godo interrupted her with a warning look as he came out of the pagoda."Take her inside and get ready." he ordered Gorki and Chekhov.

"Where are they taking her?" Cloud wanted to know as he watched them disappear inside the pagoda, feeling like he was missing something by Yuffie and Godo's behavior.

"Don't worry, you'll see her soon enough, one way or another." Godo promised him. "Now drink this and the trial can begin." he handed Cloud a small vial.

"What is it?" Cloud eyed the vial suspiciously.

"Drink it unless you want to forfeit now." Godo commanded him.

Cloud took a deep breath and drank the tangy contents of the vial. Suddenly everything went dark. "What..what did you do to me?!" He put his arms out trying to grab hold of Godo but he fell down instead.

"Shagaro was the mightiest warrior in Wutaian history, defeating the Wusheng in less than an hour while blind and unarmed. If you want your pardon, you must prove yourself just as skilled." Godo said as Cloud was picked up and led inside to the first floor of the pagoda and left there. "The trial begins now."

"Who's there?" Cloud sensed another person nearby despite the disorientation caused by his blind state.

Gorki smiled. "Let's see if you have what it takes to reach the top floor."

Cloud heard the sound of magic being cast and then staggered backwards as he suddenly felt weak. He tried to get as far from Gorki as possible, but he didn't know the layout of the room or where Gorki was. Yuffie had beaten the Wusheng herself to get the Leviathan materia, but she hadn't been blind or unarmed. He had known that the Shagaro trial was dangerous, but he only knew of it from the local blacksmith mentioning it in passing...what had he gotten himself into?