"So, Ino-pig, you ready for this test?" Sakura asked as she poured them both a cup of coffee.

"I'm set, Sakura-chan," Ino said, taking the mug Sakura handed her. "But I'm not sure about you."

"What do you mean?" Sakura laughed. "I'm all set!"

"No – I mean emotionally," Ino said seriously. "When you got back, your mascara had run all down your cheeks! Sakura, what happened at the game?"

Sakura instantly turned snappish. "I told you, Ino, don't pry into my business!"

Ino shrugged. "Someone hurt you last night, Sakura. It's OK to talk about it, you know."

"Not yet," Sakura mumbled. She brightened up. "Let's see what's on the news before breakfast, shall we?"

Ino laughed and flipped on the TV in the dorm room the girls shared.

"Well, last night was a rather…interesting night for the Kishimoto Shuriken, wasn't it, Jim?" the announcer was saying. The camera switched to a view of one of the station's reporters, who, bundled and earmuffed, was standing in front of a grassy sward covered with crime tape, flashing lights, and policemen early in the chilly morning.

"It sure was, David," the reporter said. "Last night, rookie sensation Sasuke Uchiha led the Shuriken to a remarkable 87-44 victory over the Suna Sandmen, one of the highest ranked teams in the country! But everything changed for him at the drop of a hat."

"Um, Sakura?" Ino said, sitting gingerly on the bed. "You might want to see this."

"Huh?" Sakura emerged from the closet, in which she had been digging. A red sandal and a scarf lay in her hands. She stared at the blaring screen.

"Last night, Mr. Uchiha was walking alone back to his dormitory when a murder took place at the Kishimoto University dorm. Residents here claim that they heard a loud scream from the quad, then a student, who wishes to be unnamed, opened the door and saw a body lying on the ground."

"Any clues on who or what might have caused this, Jim?"

"Well, David, I was talking with some of the residents this morning, and the person who was killed last night was a young man named Deidara. Apparently he was a member of the fraternity Akat Tsu Ki, whose frat house opens right onto the quad. I talked to one of the brothers today, and he was really upset about it."

The screen flitted to a clip of a man with black spiky hair and a strange orange mask making sobbing noises into a held-out mike.

"Deidara-senpai, he was so good to poor Tobi, yeah Uchiha had no right to kill him, none at all!"

The screen returned to the announcer. "The police are unwilling to say much about what's happened here, David, but between what the students are saying and what we've seen, it appears that Sasuke Uchiha has been taken into custody for questioning about the murder. Whether he was a heartless killer or an innocent bystander remains to be seen. Back to you."

"Thanks, Jim. And now to our sports desk for the highlights of last night's game, in which Mr. Uchiha-"

Ino picked up the remote and turned the TV off, stepping towards her friend.

"Sakura, are you OK?"

The scarf and shoe had slipped from the motionless pink girl's hands. Her lovely face had gone pale white.

"I…I…"

"Sakura, what is it?!" Ino cried as Sakura sat down heavily on the bed, panting slightly.

"I need to go to him, Ino. Sasuke needs me. I need to go to him," she repeated.

"Sakura, you're in no condition to go anywhere," Ino said hastily. "You're pale, you look awful…"

"Sasuke needs me," Sakura pleaded, grabbing Ino's shirt and latching on. "Take me to him, PLEASE!" She broke down into dry sobs. "I…I saw him kissing…another girl last night…oh, Ino, he needs me!"

Ino knelt before her weeping friend. "Sakura, you saw Sasuke CHEATING ON YOU?!?"

Sakura nodded miserably, stubbornly repeating herself. "He needs me now, Ino. I've got to go to him."

Ino snorted. "The idiot cheated on you and you still want to be with him? Sakura, are you masochistic?!"

"Maybe I am," Sakura whispered through her fingers. "But I love him."

"You're staying here for today," Ino said firmly, wrapping a blanket around her friend. "I'll get your make-up work for you. We'll see him tomorrow."

Ino left her frozen friend in the dorm with a worried heart, wondering if what she'd done was the right thing.


Tomorrow came and went, and Sakura still had not seen Sasuke. In fact, as she found out when she went down to the county jail, the Uchiha was not allowed to receive any visitors besides family in the weeks leading up to his trial. Sakura could only hope that he was alright.

The Kishimoto Shuriken team went into a downward spiral from which it seemed they might never recover. They lost three games in a row, and nobody could blame them. To make matters worse, their other point guard, Kimimaro, had developed pneumonia which turned out to be chronic. He had resigned from the team, and the Shuriken were desperately searching for another point guard.

Finally, the day of Sasuke's trial came. A tearful Sakura, supported by Ino at one elbow and Sai at the other, took a seat in the courtroom, waiting for the judge and accused to enter.

Sasuke came in with a policeman on either side, both supporting one of his upper arms. His hands, Sakura noticed with a gasp, had been handcuffed together behind his back. Clearly, they were taking no chances with letting the defendant escape. Immediately as Sasuke came in, the media reporters who were present leapt up and began snapping pictures.

"Mr. Uchiha! Look this way!"

"Sasuke! Sasuke! Any comments on the game against Suna?!"

"How do you feel, Mr. Uchiha, knowing that your team has suffered dreadfully in your absence? Do you take personal responsibility?!"

Just then the judge came in, and everybody rose. Motioning for them all to take their seats again, the judge brought his gavel down hard on the desk. He leaned over the table and glared at Sasuke.

"Not a word from the defendant, is that clear? Your court-appointed lawyer will handle everything for you."

Beside Sakura, Sai shifted restlessly in his seat. Sakura knew that he was a law student, and as such must be excited to finally sit in on a real trial.

Sasuke managed to stay silent and still while the defense was presented to judge and jury. His panel of jurors looked friendly enough: some were even girls who obviously were admiring his looks. But then the prosecutor, wearing glasses and a frightening smile, stepped forward. And the instant he began, the scar on Sasuke's left shoulder seem to burst open. Gritting his teeth, he wormed his shoulder around until the guard there told him sharply to stay still. But the pain wasn't going away…

"…so you see from the evidence, ladies and gentlemen, that Deidara, the victim of this unfortunate mishap, was not looking for trouble. He simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The prosecuting attorney stepped up to the defandant's box and leaned towards Sasuke, looking him straight in the eye. Sasuke grimaced, the burn in his scar growing stronger and stronger. Those eyes transfixed him: beady, weasel-like…

"I suggest, ladies and gentlemen," the prosecutor said quietly, pushing his glasses back up his nose, "that this man is a psychotic, deranged killer."

Sasuke lost it then and there.

"YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!" he howled, leaping up and lunging at the prosecutor. "ITACHI, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER COME BACK!"

The prosecutor's lips twisted upward in a hint of a smirk.

"Sit DOWN, Mr. Uchiha!" the judge roared.

"THAT'S MY BROTHER!" Sasuke yelled. "HE'S THE DERANGED KILLER, NOT ME! I'LL KILL YOU, ITACHI!"

"SILENCE!" thundered the judge, bringing his gavel down hard. But Sasuke continued to struggle.

"YOU TRIED TO KILL ME, DIDN'T YOU?!" he raved. "I'LL KILL YOU FIRST! I'LL MURDER YOU FOR REAL THIS TIME!"

"TAKE HIM AWAY!" the judge yelled over the uproar. The media had leapt up, murmuring in shock. The guards at Sasuke's arms wrestled him down the aisle and out of the courtroom, still yelling death threats at the prosecutor over his shoulder.

Itachi pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I rest my case."

"All in favor of absolution?"

Not a hand went up in the jury.

"All in favor of conviction?"

Every single condemning hand went up. The judge's gavel came crashing down.

"The defendant is charged as guilty for the murder of Deidara Miyazawa!"

"Sakura!?" Sai and Ino cried at the same time. Sai caught her by the shoulders, easing her into his arms.

The pink-haired girl had fainted dead away.


Apologies to all who know what a real trial is like. I've never been in one or talked to someone who has, so...yeah. This is pretty lame compared to the real thing. XD

REVIEW! Your villain has reappeared! REVIEEEEEEW!