Chapter 3
The office of the Hokage was rather different than the usual. Where once a desk usually sat there was now a much larger and longer table. At the desk sat six people. Three men and three women. The man and women in the middle were elderly. Tsunade sat in the end of the table, her hands crossed on the table and she was looking thoroughly bored.
Facing the enormous table was a few chairs and they were all taken. All but one. Sakura glanced around as she stepped inside the office closing the door behind her. She spotted her empty chair, right next to a silver-haired man. Quietly she sat down and he nodded at her in a greeting sort of way.
Her emerald eyes scanned the rest of the room. At her left and not to far away, she could see Naruto standing next to Sasuke. They were talking but she couldn't hear them from where she was seating. She didn't even hear the elder man asking for silence. Watching Naruto grin at Sasuke made her feel guilty about what she said a few days ago.
Kakashi noticed that Sakura wasn't paying attention.
"Sakura..." his voice snapped her back to the present situation. She blushed slightly and leaned back on her chair. Her attention was immediately caught by Tsunade.
Tsunade had rose from her chair and looked at Sasuke, "Uchiha Sasuke," her voice sounded odd to Sakura ears, "you have been charged with the desertion of your village in a time of need, joined forces with a known enemy and disobeying a direct order from the Hokage, how do you plea?"
Sakura lips parted. So this was the side of Tsunade that Sakura had never seen. The serious side.
"Guilty," Sasuke's voice echoed through the quiet room. No one said anything as he answered. Sakura quickly hid her trembling hands and bit her lip nervously. Was he mad? Was he wishing to be executed?
A ripple of fidgeting ran up the table as the shock of what the Uchiha had just said set in. Sakura looked deeply into the Hokage's eyes and realised something, she was smiling. However the two elders in the middle looked quite angrily.
Sakura then looked up to Kakashi, no emotion or whatsoever crossed his features. "What's happening?" the pink haired girl asked confused.
"I know as much as you do, Sakura," Kakashi answered looking down his old pupil.
"Very well," the elder woman spoke for the first time, "I take it that everything has been explained to you?" Sasuke nodded grimly.
"You will have the right to a fair trial," The Hokage explained, "This never happened before to anyone who has left our village and became a missing-nin. We are giving you this option because... let's say you still have friends that care for you,"
Sasuke nodded and Naruto grinned widely. Sakura found herself smiling slightly but concealed it as fast as she could. It was just like Naruto to persuade Tsunade.
Suddenly, an irritating sound of a chair being dragged behind interrupted the session. A tall man rose from his seat and glared at the Hokage. Sakura looked at him and wondered where had she seen him before but she couldn't quite press her finger on it. Kakashi on the other hand didn't even bother to look behind.
"What?!" the man growled angrily, "You know the rules, Tsunade! You can't change them no matter who it is being sentenced! It's not fair!"
Sakura head turned to Tsunade. She expected to see the Hokage to explode in fury. However, Tsunade just sat down and leaned forward, a small smile adorning her features.
"Danzou... it is fair to concede him a trial... since I changed the rules when I accepted the Hokage's position," her voice was calm but at the same time had a mocking tone to it.
The whole room started to whisper among themselves.
"Very well," Denzou voice echoed through the office, "I will then be in charge of the accusation side,"
Tsunade eyes widened. It was something that she hadn't foreseen. "I..."
"I think it's fair," the elder woman spoke as she stared at Sasuke.
"Then, he's bound to choose who's in charge of his defence?" A nervous Naruto asked quietly. Tsunade nodded slowly.
"Then I'll be in charge of it!" the blond said grinning, "and we'll win! Believe it!"
"No, Naruto," Sasuke spoke. His voice was smooth and empty of any emotion. Then he turned around to the sitting crowd, his dark eyes spotted green, "I chose Sakura,"
"And then he chose me! Me!" Sakura grunted as she sat on the green grass. Hinata sat by her side and stared at her pink haired friend.
"It m-makes sense he c-chose you, Sakura-chan," said Hinata smiling warmly, "Y-you are s-smarter than Naruto-kun,"
Sakura faced Hinata and shrugged, "Who isn't?" then both giggled quietly, "I mean, he hasn't noticed you have a crush on him since... ever,"
Hinata blushed furiously.
"But still! I'm not the appropriate person to do it. I never have done it before. I didn't even know you could do it," Sakura paused and sighed, "Just when I want distance from him..."
"M-maybe you could talk with the Tsunade-sama..." Sakura shook her head.
"Tsunade is on Sasuke side. She totally believes I'm able to pull it off," Sakura smiled sadly, "Besides... someone has to do it... for Naruto's sake," Hinata nodded shortly.
"Naruto has changed a lot these days... y-you can see it in his eyes," Hinata said in a serious tone, "He's happy, Sakura-chan,"
"I know..." Sakura whispered and lowered her head, "I know..."
"B-but I understand your position. You're angry. I-it's only understandable,"
Sakura chuckled lightly, "I just wish I could do something to stay away from him... preparing his defence will force me to spend time with him and... I'm scared t-that I will... you know..."
Hinata smiled tenderly, "Maybe..." she paused suddenly and Sakura waited for her to carry on.
"Maybe?"
Hinata bit her lip, "maybe if... if you didn't have time to prepare his defence..."
Sakura eyes widened and her body froze, "Go on! I'm listening,"
"If you didn't have time to prepare his defence... let's say... if you were to go on an important mission... h-his t-trial would be postponed until your return," Hinata said feeling partially guilty and partially happy at the same time.
She felt happy because she was helping one of her best friends. However, she couldn't stop to feel guilty as she felt as if she was betraying Naruto trust.
Sakura featured lightened up and a mischievous smile adorned her face.
"HINATA!" Sakura exclaimed happily as she jumped on her timid friend to embrace her in a tight hug, "You are the best!"
Tsunade blinked stupidly a few times at the pink haired girl that was standing in front of her with an innocent face stamped on her features.
"A mission?" Tsunade repeated completely dismayed. Sakura nodded, praying that Tsunade would not see her real intentions, "At a time like this?"
"I know..." Sakura forced herself to keep a smile on her face, "I discussed it with Sasuke and he's completely okay with it! He knows that a mission will give me time to think about his defence more..." she paused for a second, "more efficiently..."
Tsunade eyes narrowed and for brief moments the pink haired girl thought that she wouldn't make it through. However, hope returned to her as Tsunade smiled and nodded.
"You really are committed to help him. I'm glad you pushed your anger aside, Sakura," Tsunade voice was tender and it hit her hard.
She gave everything to maintain her posture and kept smiling as her insides were screaming.
"I do have a mission for you," Tsunade carried on. This time searching for a paper, "Ah... a client requests a medic-nin presence for two weeks to take care of his sick daughter. It seems that someone poisoned her and they are trying to find who did it,"
"So, all I have to do is take care of his daughter?" Sakura frowned. She didn't want a babysitting mission.
"Hai... and find who poisoned her," Sakura nodded slowly. That was better than nothing. At least she had bought herself two weeks to think of another plan to avoid Sasuke.
Avoiding Sasuke, mission one. Accomplished.
"Were you followed?" a hooded figured asked impatiently.
"I don't think so. I was very cautious," Denzou answered as he looked behind one last time.
The hooded figured nodded quietly, "Very well... speak then. I don't have much time left,"
"Sasuke Uchicha was granted a fair trial. Sakura Haruno is taking care of his defence." Denzou spat angrily.
"Is she now?" the hooded man asked surprised at the latest events, "How good is she?"
"She's inexperienced..."
"But?"
"But... she's a smart one..." Denzou eyes narrowed, "I tried... but that Tsunade-"
"Enough!" the hooded figure said impatiently, "Tsunade is not the one to blame for your incompetence," Denzou looked as if he had been slapped, "I have to go. You know what to do."
Denzou seemed taken back, "You... you wish me to take care of the girl?"
"If necessary yes," the cloaked figure started to walk away but then stopped abruptly, "Giving it a better thought... just do it. Kill the girl,"
A/N: OKayyyyyyy! I just had this idea on the bus. I dunno how trials work but let's just pretend they work like this. LOL anyway who's the hooded guy?! UHHH I wonder... if you get it right I'll treat you to RAMEN!!