Title: Sinners' Devotion
Summary: Sasuke saves Itachi instead of killing him-on whim supposedly. Now back in Konoha with Akatsuki after them along with Naruto, they have to jump through hoops to protect everything they… love? future ItaSasuNaru yaoi - rating may go up
Words: 6,714
Total: 16,519
Date: 3-17-10
Disclaimer: I tried to get the copyrights to Naruto, but obviously - I failed. D:
The trial is long but it is needed for the story. It takes up most of the chapter but explains quite a lot.
AND I'm still not happy with the summary. Any suggestions?
End of Chapter 3
Looking around, Kakashi saw everyone was ready. Sakura was standing beside Suigetsu, guarded him just in case; Hinata was with Juugo; Sai with Karin. Itachi was on Yamato's back, Sasuke on his, and Naruto on Kiba's. Shino was extra manpower if anyone needed it. Kakashi eye-smiled. "Everyone ready?" A collection of nods and glares replied. "Good! Let's move out!"
Chapter 4: Fox Tendencies and Trials
The sun was setting and the shinobi were about a half mile away from Konoha. The long trip back home mostly went off without a hitch. Sasuke only woke up once, only to be knocked right back out with the backend of a kunai thanks to Kiba-he thoroughly enjoyed that, even if Karin yelled at him and Sakura hit him on the head for it. Naruto and Itachi had yet to even stir; it was freaking them all out how still Naruto was being.
Kakashi sighed in relief when they were forced to jump down from the trees due to the lack of them. They all landed on the dirt road that lead straight to Konoha. Immediately turning to the left and continuing their run on foot, they saw Konoha's gates in the distance. As they got closer, they all picked up speed wanting to get some R&R.
They ran through the open gates, which were just about to close for the night. Usually the gates never close but with the tension between Konoha and the Akatsuki, they were taking extra precaution. The shinobi group stopped at the registration desk, as every person going in and out of Konoha was required to do. Kotetsu and Izumo gaped at the two unconscious missing-nins on Kakashi's and Yamato's back.
Kakashi eye smiled. "You could catch flies doing that. And I can tell you from experience, flies don't taste good; not at all." Izumo and Kotetsu snapped out from their shock just to look at Kakashi with an "I-Don't-Want-To-Know" look, the same look Kakashi was getting from the rest of his team. Kakashi chuckled to himself and pulled out his mission scroll. "Mission: successful with an added bonus!"
Izumo recorded the time/date and the people coming home from a mission, while Kotetsu took the mission scroll. He scanned it before handing it back to Kakashi. "I'm sure that Hokage-sama will want to see you straight away. Okaerinasai Kakashi-senpai. (Welcome home, Kakashi-senior--basically his superior/elder-kinda)" He nodded to the rest of the group, receiving a few in return, sending them on their way.
When they were out of hearing range, Izumo looked at Kotetsu with incredulity. "Was that the Uchiha Sasuke and the Uchiha Itachi?! Not to mention Uchiha Sasuke's Team Falcon?! What the hell happened on that mission?!" Kotetsu shook his head. He himself was still in shock over it.
Not bothering with taking the stairs, or even going inside the Hokage Tower, Kakashi jumped along the roof tops before jumping through the Hokage's office window. The others followed in after him, risking the wrath of the Hokage-she hates it when people don't use the door. Surprisingly, Tsunade was actually doing some paperwork without a single bottle of Sake on her desk.
Tsunade ignored the group in her office, choosing to finish her signature on the paper she was currently on. She placed the brush back in the inkwell and blew on the wet ink that was her signature. "I'm gonna guess that the mission was a failure as usual?" She didn't look up and was fully expecting Naruto to give one of his usually snappy responses. But instead she got a:
"On the contrary Hokage-sama, the mission was a complete and utter success, with added bonuses, too!"
She looked up in surprise at Kakashi's voice. He eyes widened when she saw his former student on his back. They widened further when she saw Itachi and Team Falcon. "What the hell?" Finally her eyes landed on Naruto. She stood up so fast that her chair, despite being a rolly one, almost toppled over.
Kiba paled in fear when Tsunade headed towards him with an angry look on her face. He clenched his eyes shut, expecting to feel Tsunade's famous wrath descend upon him. He blinked his eyes back open when he felt Naruto being lifted off his back. He sighed in relief. Not only was he not pummeled into the ground for no reason that he could see, but he also got that weight off his back. Naruto was by no means heavy-How the hell did that happen? He eats ramen non-stop!-in fact he was quite light, but after carrying him for the better part of two hours, it was starting to wear him down. He could only imagine what Yamato and Kakashi were feeling.
Tsunade carried Naruto bridal style over to the couch that was in her office and laid him down before checking him over with chakra. She frowned when she found nothing wrong. "What happened? Why is Naruto unconscious? Report." She sat herself on the little space on the couch beside Naruto, and began running her fingers through his hair.
Tsunade flared her chakra almost imperceptibly and five ANBU appeared in front of her. "Relieve them of their burdens and make sure they don't go anywhere. Give them whatever medical treatment they require. Put them in different cells with ANBU guards and make sure they are given only enough chakra to survive. We don't want them trying to escape now do we?" The ANBU nodded and they each put a hand on each missing-nin before Shunshin'ing away with said missing-nins.
Yamato and Kakashi rolled their shoulders back, finally free of their burden and the others relaxed now that Team Falcon wasn't in the room anymore. They all stood at attention in front of the sofa Tsunade occupied while Kakashi gave the report.
"We encountered an Akatsuki member named Tobi. We suspect him to be Uchiha, and if not, then he either stole or transplanted an Uchiha eye into himself. The member got away and as we were about to leave, Uchiha Sasuke," Sakura winced at how emotionless Kakashi's voice sounded when he said her former teammate's name, "walked out of the forest with and unconscious Uchiha Itachi on his back.
"He asked us to save him, for what reason, we do not know. Hinata healed Sasuke, as he passed out, while Sakura tended to Itachi. Itachi's body rejected her chakra though and he would've died if not for Naruto. Apparently Itachi met with Naruto in the forest not long before we encountered Tobi and gave him some of his chakra, probably in the form of some jutsu or power, we are also not sure of that since Naruto had not told us until that moment.
"He gave the chakra back," he left out exactly how Naruto gave it back, but Kiba snickered anyways, "but it caused him to pass out. Soon after we encountered Kisame, but we were able to get away. The full detail will be in the written report."
Tsunade nodded. "There will be no repercussion with Naruto's chakra?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not that we know of. Itachi said that he will just need rest and nothing else."
Tsunade nodded again and sighed. "Alright. I will have a talk with the council about this sometime tomorrow afternoon, so have the report done and in my hands before them. Any question? Comments?" She scanned the group.
"U-Umm… Hokage-sama?" Everyone turned to Hinata and she blushed at the attention, poking her fingers together in nervousness. She gulped. "Wha-what will happen t-to Uchiha-sans and Team Fal-Falcon?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Sasuke will be put on trial for treason, though I'm sure nothing of large consequence will come of it if he has anything to say about it." They assumed she was talking about Naruto. "And Team Falcon… We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Shino frowned, though no one could see it behind his collar. "What about Uchiha Itachi, Hokage-sama?"
They all looked at her in question. "Like I said, we will cross that bridge when we get there. Now, I'm sure you're all tired so go home and get some rest. I will keep you all updated on the missing-nins status'." She dismissed them, ending any further conversation.
"Hai!" They all saluted and left her alone with Naruto.
All was quiet for a moment, Tsunade's fingers still absentmindedly running through Naruto's hair. She felt Naruto take in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. She gave a small smile to Naruto, who finally opened his eyes.
"Sasuke won't be given the death sentence will he? You won't do that will you Obaa-san?" Naruto's eyes looked up at her pleadingly. He had awoken when Tsunade started to run her finger's through his hair but he was just too tired and the feeling of her fingers going through his hair was just to relaxing for him to open his eyes.
Her smile turned a little sad. "Don't worry Gaki. I promise that nothing too bad will happen to Sasuke. Though I can assure you that he won't be happy."
Naruto chuckled. "Teme's never happy." Tsunade gave a small laugh before the room descended into silence again. Naruto sighed again, completely content with his hair being played with. In fact it was making him sleepy. The back of his throat rumbled. Tsunade's hands immediately stilled. Naruto gave a small whine in disappointment and he rubbed his head into her hand, trying to make her start again.
"Did-… Did you just purr Gaki?" Tsunade's voice was laced with shock.
Naruto stilled as he noticed what he was doing. He blushed and curled himself around Tsunade, laying his head on her lap and pressing his face into her stomach in embarrassment. "Kyuubi's fox attributes have practically become apart of me since I've used his chakra so much." His voice was slightly muffled.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow before moving her fingers through his hair once again. "Foxes like to be petted on the head?" She asked, genuinely curious.
Naruto hummed in agreement. "They're kinda like cats and dogs. Once they get used to human contact that is. They especially like it on their ears and tail," he paused, rethinking his words, "or tails. But they'll only let you do it if they trust you, which takes quite a lot of work to get them to trust you." His voice sounded kinda distant as if he wasn't consciously answering her question.
"Hmm." Tsunade wondered, What if I…
Naruto erupted into purrs and his body shivered as Tsunade rubbed right where his ears would be if he were a fox. He curled more tightly around Tsunade before his body went lax, completely submitting to Tsunade's wondrous hands. She chuckled and Naruto gave a half-hearted mutter in return before falling back asleep.
"The trial for Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke, Hoozuki Suigetsu, Akane Karin, ( 1 ) and Shinobu Juugo ( 2 ) will commence." The whispers throughout the courtroom immediately stopped at the elder Koharu's words.
Each of the aforementioned convicts stood in their own chakra enforced cages. These cages were designed so that no chakra could be used on them from neither the inside nor the outside. All of the damned's ( 3 ) wrists also had chakra restraints place on them, just in case. There was an ANBU stationed right outside each of these cages.
Homura walked up the center platform, allowing Koharu to sit down with the rest of the Council. "Uchiha Itachi," he started with the oldest, "you have been found guilty on counts of the murder of the Uchiha Clan, defection from Konoha, numerous counts of needless homicide, and release of confidential information. How do you plead?" ( 4 )
Itachi just looked at him with a blank look on his face. No one said anything for a few minutes. Homura began to become unnerved and he started to sweat when Itachi didn't say anything but look at him. He opened his mouth to repeat the question, but Itachi beat him to it.
"I am human." ( 5 )
Eyebrows shot up at his statement and murmurs erupted in the courtroom. Sasuke scowled at his answer, glaring at him. Just because he saved Itachi, doesn't mean that he has forgotten and forgiven him.
"Silence!" Tsunade's voice echoed and the murmurs died out.
Homura nodded his thanks. "Uchiha Sasuke. You have been found guilty on accounts of defection from Konoha, needless homicide, and divulging top secret information with the notorious traitor Orochimaru. How do you plead?"
Sasuke 'tsk'ed.' "I killed Orochimaru before he could make use of any information I gave him."
"It does not matter. The fact is that you still gave away confidential information to Konoha's greatest foe, Orochimaru. Now, how do you plead?"
"Hn." That was all the answer they were getting out of him. Homura and the rest of the Council huffed in indignation.
"Boy! You will answer your Council's questions!" Koharu demanded.
"I have no obligation to Konoha or it's Council."
The Council glared at him and Koharu opened her mouth to retaliate.
"Just proceed." Tsunade cut off her retort. Shizune had taken away all her alcohol for the trial so she was quite impatient at the moment.
Homura pursed his lips but he continued anyways. "Hoozuki Suigetsu. You are being tried for needless homicide and for consorting with the notorious criminal, Orochimaru. How do you plead?"
Suigetsu grinned. "'Needless homicide'? I haven't killed anyone…yet. And Orochimaru? Not my choice."
Homura turned to the others. "Akane Karin and Shinobu Juugo. You are being tried for the same reasons as Hoozuki Suigetsu. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty you mother fuckers! I'll kill you if you harm one single strand of hair on Sasuke-kun's body!" Karin was quick to answer. Needless to say, no one believed her to be 'not guilty.'
Juugo was at a loss. He only went to Orochimaru because he had said that he could help Juugo with his curse. He hadn't known at that point that Orochimaru was a notorious criminal and when he did find out, it was already too late. Juugo also knew that he himself has performed many acts of needless homicide, but never had he done it while he was in 'control.'
"Juugo is innocent." Sasuke's voice cut through the silence. Juugo and everyone else in the courtroom looked at him in astonishment. Sasuke never stood up for anyone but himself. Sasuke ignored the stares.
"But Sasuke-"
"Shut up Juugo." Sasuke's glare immediately made him clamp his mouth shut.
Homura cleared his throat and continued. "Does anyone have anything to say in their defense?"
"I do!" Naruto immediately stood up from the crowd. No one was surprised. Homura nodded his head, allowing him to have the floor. Naruto walked up to the platform while Homura made his was back to his seat by Koharu. "I have reason to believe that the Curse Seal, which was given to Uchiha Sasuke by Orochimaru at age 13, had certain effects on his mind."
Sasuke growled and glared at Naruto. "My mind was in no way-"
Naruto didn't even look at him. "I have been studying Fuuinjustu for these past three years under Jiraiya of the Sannin and with the help of my Kage Bunshin, I have reached at least a Seal Master Level 4. ( 6 ) He can vouch how far I have come in Fuuinjutsu." Shocked murmurs immediately exploded in the courtroom.
"That's impossible." An old Council member stood up in his seat. "It takes years and years of training just to advance on level on the Seal Master scale. People who are twice you age have barely even gotten to Seal Master Level 3, some haven't even gotten there, and they have been studying seals since they could read!"
"You forget," Jiraiya spoke up in Naruto's defense, "Naruto practices with Kage Bunshin. Hypothetically with 100 bunshins, he can learn in one day what a normal person would in a hundred. So with 360 bunshins, he can learn in one day what you could in a year. I have tested and taught the boy myself. Do you doubt my judgment?" Jiraiya's voice grew cold at the end, daring them to say they did.
The old Council member sat back down as the rest of the courtroom burst back into whispers of amazement.
"Silence!" The no sake thing was really setting Tsunade on edge.
Naruto nodded his thanks. "Thanks to Kakashi-sensei who took a detailed drawing of Sasuke's curse seal, and my own memory of Sasuke's advanced curse seal-"
"How do we know we can trust your memory?"
Naruto glared at the Council member, the same one who spoke out against him before. Now Naruto knows that he is one of the Kyuubi haters and will do anything to make him wrong. "Yamanaka Inoichi looked at my memories when I asked him to. Do you also doubt his judgment?" But Naruto made sure that he was backed up by people in high places. The Council member sat back down begrudgingly.
Naruto cleared his throat and looked back over to the crowd and the Hokage. "I have studied the seals many components and found a mind seal. It allows the giver to contact the given, meaning it allows Orochimaru to contact Sasuke through his mind." Sasuke was surprised by this bit of information, but gave no notice of it. "I believe that since Orochimaru was able to get into Sasuke's head with that seal, that he was implanting a deeper hatred than Sasuke had before. He was also probably simultaneously implanting the idea that he had the most power that anyone could offer, making Sasuke want to defect from Konoha."
Naruto took in a deep breath, tired from all that explaining. "That is all." He walked back over to his seat between Kakashi and Sakura. He ignored his friends' questioning looks and sat down.
Homura cleared his throat when he stood up, gaining the attention of the courtroom once more. "Thank you Uzumaki-san, we will take that into consideration." Naruto nodded his thanks once more. "Does anyone else have anything to say?"
Everyone was quiet for a moment; there was simply no following up Naruto's speech, but Sasuke called out. "I do."
Homura shook his head. "You cannot say anything in your favor at the moment-"
"It is not for me." Homura frowned in response but, after a moment's consideration, dipped in head in consent and sat down.
Sasuke didn't move to take the center platform, not that he'd be allowed to, and began to speak. "Shinobu Juugo was promised a way to control his 'curse' by Orochimaru and like anyone, he jumped at the chance." People frowned, confused at what the 'curse' that Juugo had was. "He had no idea that Orochimaru was a wanted criminal as he lived alone. Orochimaru took advantage of this saying that he would help him control it, while in reality he was planning on using him. After many months of experimentation which Juugo believed to be helping him, Orochimaru came up with the Curse Seal. Yes, Juugo is its origin."
Ah, that explained it.
"When Juugo found out that he had been used, he tried to destroy any information on the curse seal and run. But he was caught and kept in confinement. He was only allowed out when Orochimaru felt a need to experiment on him to come up with ways to improve the Curse Seal. Juugo, though still unable to control that curse which makes him want to kill everything in sight, is innocent. I have seen Juugo lose control many times, and not once did he not feel guilty afterwards. Juugo has a…" Sasuke frowned and spat out the next word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth, "pure heart."
Eyebrows were raised throughout this courtroom. Never had Sasuke – Uchiha freakin' Sasuke – every stand up for anyone, especially to that extent.
Sasuke continued. "Akane Karin, although having worked under Orochimaru, means no harm. She was assigned to his southern base but never once has she experimented on humans or used any Kinjustsu. Hoozuki Suigetsu is originally from Kirigakure studying to be one of the Seven Swordsmen, ( 7 ) but was taken away to Oto by Orochimaru for experimentation. Now he is able to turn into water at will, as seen by the team who brought us here. Suigetsu did nothing that Kirigakure did not order him to do and he was never a willing consort of Orochimaru. That is all."
Everyone was in shock. Never in the history of Konoha has an Uchiha spoken that much. Homura cleared his throat and shook his head, trying to get the shock out of his system, and stood back up. "Anyone else?"
Shizune walked up to Tsunade and whispered in her ear while handing her a folder with the words 'CONFIDENTIAL' on the front. Shizune had only just arrived since she had been running an errand for Tsunade. Tsunade nodded and let her go back to her seat while she flipped through the folder.
"No one? Alright-"
Tsunade cut him off, holding up her hand in the universal 'wait' signal, but she did not look up from the folder. The minutes crept by, everyone waiting for Tsunade to finish whatever it is she was doing. Everyone tensed when KI suddenly filled the room. Tsunade's hands were clutching the folder, crumpling it, and her teeth were clenched in what seemed like anger, her eyes were fixed on one paper.
Finally she looked up, hatred and anger burning in her eyes. "ANBU!" Four masked figures came to her side. "Arrest Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu! Two of you go detain and arrest Shimura Danzo by any means possible! Kill him if you have to!" There were cries of shock as the ANBU immediately did as they were told.
"What is this?! On what account?!" Koharu was outraged!
"You are guilty for treason and murder! No trail will be held. I have enough information." Tsunade sneered at them in disgust.
"We did no such thing!" Koharu screamed at her. She struggled to get out of the ANBU's grip, but they weren't ANBU for nothing. "What proof do you have?!"
Tsunade held up a piece of paper from the folder. It looked like a contract. There were four signatures at the bottom along with four fingerprints in dried blood. Homura and Koharu immediately recoiled in shock, stopping their – what they now knew to be futile – attempts to get free.
Tsunade smirked with hateful pleasure. "Yeah. You know what this is don't you? This contract has sealed your fates, along with Uchiha Itachi's." She got a fake thoughtful look on her face – pretending she was actually think about something. "Shall I read it out for the court?" Tsunade mock smiled. "I think I will."
Koharu and Homura paled even further.
Tsunade cleared her throat and read out loud so that everyone in the courtroom could hear.
" 'Uchiha Itachi, age 13, heir to the Uchiha Clan, and ANBU Captain of Special Squad One, is ordered by Council Member Utatane Koharu, Council Member Mitokado Homura, and 'NE' Founder Shimura Danzo to assassinate the Uchiha Clan and all its members save for one Uchiha Sasuke. The Uchiha Clan has been accused of planning a Coup D'état against the Hokage.' " Everyone in the courtroom was in shock. Sasuke looked at Itachi questioningly, but Itachi merely ignored him in favor of the Hokage.
" 'The terms are as follows:
" '-No one is to know of this contract save for anyone the original contractors deem trustworthy'
"Heh-looks like that one has been violated." Tsunade had to have her own commentary.
" '-Uchiha Sasuke is never to know of this contract or of Uchiha Itachi's reasons.'
"Oh! There goes another one!
" '-If Uchiha Sasuke is told without Uchiha Itachi's consent, Uchiha Itachi has the right to give out any and all confidential information he has on Konoha.' " Here Tsunade stopped. Shocked gasps were heard all around. Everyone looked to Itachi.
"You know this doesn't count right?" Tsunade asked. All she got was the tilt of the head. "Good." She answered even though she didn't get a confirmation.
" '-Uchiha Itachi is to kill one Uchiha Shisui to gain the Mangekyou Sharingan to aid him in his fight.
" '-If Uchiha Itachi does not complete this mission within three days time, February 06, XXXX, the Council and 'NE' have full authority over the full annihilation of the Uchiha Clan.
" '-This contract is blood bound and it will not be broken without fear of death.'
" 'Signed:
Uchiha Itachi
Utatane Koharu
Mitokado Homura
Shimura Danzo '
(The '' signs are the bloody thumb prints binding them to the contract)
"Wow Itachi. This sure was not in your favor at all. Why would you agree to something as… as…" Tsunade tried to think of a word for it and when she did she spat it out, "horrid as this?"
Itachi shook his head. "I had no choice."
"Fuck that!" Sasuke exploded. "What the hell do you mean 'you had no choice'?! Everyone has a fuckin' choice! Why the hell did you agree to that?! You could have talked to the clan! Made them see reason!" At this point Sasuke was hitting against the bars and trying to gather chakra to Chidori his way out. "Did you want to kill our parents?! Did you want me to suffer?! Did you enjoy seeing me all alone with no one?! Did it give you some sick satisfaction when you replayed the massacre in my mind over and over?! Huh?!" Angry tears were making their way out of Sasuke's eyes. He slumped to his knees in defeat, looking completely lost and feeling more alone than he had ever felt.
"ANSWER ME GODDAMNIT!" His scream echoed in the silence.
"I had no choice." Itachi merely repeated what he had said earlier. Sasuke looked ready to scream in outrage again, but Itachi quickly went on to explain. "I tried everything to get the Uchiha Council to see reason, but Otou-san and the others would have none of it. If I did not agree to the contract, they would have killed the clan along with me and you. I would rather my own family die by my own hand and have you alive and well, than for them to die by another's along with you." He finally looked Sasuke in the eyes. Sasuke blinked in shock, noticing just how much sadness, anger, and… Love?... was in his eyes.
"I love Konoha, Otouto. I loved Konoha more than I loved my own family. But there is nothing I love more than you." Sasuke's eyes widened. "I forsake my family for Konoha, but I was willing and still am willing to forsake Konoha for you."
Not a sound was made. Everyone was in complete shock. No one had ever even dreamed of this.
Tsunade shook her head. "Exactly." Everyone turned towards her save Sasuke who was still staring at Itachi in shock. "They knew just how much you loved Konoha. So they used it against you. Contracts like this," she waved the one she had been reading in the air, "are extremely illegal. Only Kage's are able to make a blood bound contract, or anyone they give consent to. As Sarutobi Hiruzen's signature is not on here, this was done illegally.
"If Sarutobi-sensei knew of this, he would never have allowed it. There are other ways of dealing with Coup D'état's than assassination." She looked at the two Council members. "You all knew of this, that is why you did it in secret. Why did you want the destruction of Uchiha Clan? Power? Money? What?"
"We-We did it for the good of Konoha!" Homura yelled out, trying to get out of the death sentence Tsunade put on him.
Tsunade looked absolutely furious. " 'For the good of Konoha?!' That's your reason?! Lies! If you had the best of Konoha at heart, you would have talked to the Uchiha Clan and found a solution! You wanted money! You wanted power! You greedy heartless bastards! Get them out of my sight and make sure there are two ANBU watching each of them!" Tsunade waved her hand in dismissal, ignoring the cries of the two Council members.
"Now," Tsunade was ready to get this over with, "does anyone have an objection to the innocence of Uchiha Itachi?" No one called out. "Uchiha Itachi, you are to be under the surveillance of two Konoha ANBU for a month and stripped of your shinobi status in that time, but afterwards you are to do what you wish. This is merely a precaution."
Itachi nodded in under standing as he was released from the cage and his chakra bonds. He rubbed his now red wrists and glanced at Sasuke before looking back to the Hokage. "And Otouto?"
"Well, considering all the information provided by this contract and Naruto's study of his seal, we can assume he is 'not guilty.' He's not innocent, but he's not guilty either. Any objections to this?" There were mutters throughout the crowd, but no one called out. "Good.
"Uchiha Sasuke, as you are found 'not guilty,' you will be placed under house arrest for the next month with two ANBU guards and chakra restraints; this can be extended if you do anything suspicious. Also one of Konoha's shinobi will be living with you just in case. This means you will eat, sleep, and use the restroom with this shinobi – yes even bathe. You have a bath house. Your shinobi license is suspended until further notice. Any objections?" Sasuke gave no indication of listening at all. He was still staring at Itachi, but instead of shock in his eyes, they were completely blank. Tsunade went on anyways.
"Akane Karin, Hoozuki Suigetsu, Shinobu Juugo. You will be searched by Yamanaka Inoichi for any plans against Konoha. If none are found, you will be placed under the same surveillance as the Uchiha's along with chakra restraints. Since you have no current residents in Konoha, I'm sure the Uchiha wouldn't mind taking you in. After all you are a team. You will have house arrest for a month, but like I said, we can extend the time if need be. If you prove yourselves trust worthy, you may sign up to be Konoha shinobi after six months. Any objections?"
"I object! ( 7 ) These people have been working under Orochimaru and you plan on letting them join Konoha's forces?!" Random Generic Shinobi #1 called out, standing up in anger. ( 8 )
"Yes." Tsunade's blunt answer shocked everyone into silence. "Konoha is a forgiving place. Orochimaru is dead, so they have no where to go, no one to truly give information to. We aren't trusting them right away of course; they will have to start at Genin just like any other shinobi. For the six months that they are under probation, I will have Yamanaka Inoichi check up on their minds randomly to make sure there is no sign of treachery." She gave the shinobi a look. Yes, that look - the made you feel stupid and weak.
"Uchiha Sasuke has also worked under Orochimaru. Why did you not deny him entry into Konoha's military? He has betrayed us once already, what is to say he will not do it again?" The shinobi looked guilty and sat back down.
"Oi!" Karin finally spoke out. "What if I don't want to stay here in this crummy village?" There were a few glares sent her way when she called the village 'crummy.'
Tsunade shrugged. "You may leave right now if you wish. With ANBU escorts out of Hi no Kuni of course. Or you can stay for the six month probation before you make your decision. But know this. If you choose to stay, you will be stay for six months. No less. You cannot decide half way through to leave."
Karin frowned but made no further comment.
"I'll stay." Suigetsu grinned. "Might as well with Kisame after Sasuke. I'd rather not waste my time searching for Kisame when I can train and wait for him to come to me." Tsunade nodded.
"I'll stay as long as Sasuke is here." Juugo spoke up, looking at the still unresponsive Uchiha. Tsunade nodded again.
"Fine! Fine! I'll stay! There's no way I'm leaving Sasuke-kun alone with you two idiots! Who knows what you will do to my-ah to Sasuke-kun!" Karin blushed at he small slip-up before glaring at the snickering Suigetsu.
"Good. Now, I'll have a blood contract drawn up for each of you. Until then, you will have to stay in Konoha's prison cells. Everyone is dismissed." Everyone began to get up and leave. When only the stragglers (meaning the Rookies) were left behind, Tsunade spoke up. "Naruto, will you please stay for a moment?" Naruto nodded and made his way over to Tsunade and the sentenced shinobi, waving his goodbyes to the others.
"What is it Baa-chan?" He asked when the room was clear of anyone but them, the sentenced (meaning Sasuke, Itachi, Karin, Juugo, and Suigetsu), and ANBU.
"I want you to escort Itachi to his home and stay there until further notice. You will be living with them for the next month or so, so stop by your house on the way."
"What?! I'm the shinobi staying with Sasuke for his probation?!"
Tsunade smirked. "Of course brat. There's no one else I can trust. You'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere while at the same time providing him with entertainment."
Naruto was confused. "'Entertainment?'"
Her smirk widened. "Your stupidity is quite fun."
Said idiot blushed in anger. "WHAT?!"
She chuckled. "I'm just kiddin' with ya gaki." Naruto stopped yelling, but the blush was still on his face. Tsunade's eyes softened and she brought her voice down to a whisper so only Naruto could hear. "Remind him why Konoha is such a wonderful place Naruto." She gave him a sad smile, making Naruto straighten. "Only you can remind someone of Konoha's beauty. You reminded me, so I'm sure as hell that you can remind him. That's why I chose you. Try to remind Itachi too. And make the others see.
"You are a wonderful person Naruto. I'm sure that if its you…." She trailed off before shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I have no doubts that you can do it Naruto." She straightened in her seat and raised her voice back to normal. "Now, this is a SS-rank mission. Don't fail your mission Naruto."
Naruto gave her a salute. "Hai! Wakarimashita!" ( 9 )
( 1 ) Akane Karin
-She had no surname so I got one for her. 'Akane' means 'deep red' so I thought it was fitting enough for her considering her hair color.
( 2 ) Shinobu Juugo
-Once again, no surname. 'Shinobu' means 'endurance.' I thought it was fitting considering his history. (Which I kinda made up. IDK if that's really it.)
( 3 ) All of the damned'swrists also had chakra restraints place on them, just in case.
-The 'damned' being Sasuke, Itachi, Karin, Juugo, and Suigetsu. It totally doesn't fit but my brother-in-law was like "I want 'the damned' to be put in the trial" so I did. -shrugs-
( 4 ) "Uchiha Itachi," he started with the oldest, "you have been found guilty on counts of the murder of the Uchiha Clan, defection from Konoha, numerous counts of needless homicide, and release of confidential information. How do you plead?"
-They don't all/mostly believe in any god, so they have nothing to swear on. (You know in courts how they make you swear on the Bible since here in the USA we are mostly Catholic/Christian or whatever?)
( 5 ) "I am human."
-Said by Itachi. He is saying that he isn't innocent but neither is he guilty because 'he is human' and all humans make mistakes. Get it?
( 6 ) "I have reached at least a Seal Master Level 4."
-Said by Naruto. In my story, there are a total of 10 Seal Master Levels, and as explained, it takes years and years to advance a level. Naruto was only able to get as far as he did due to Kage Bunshin. And NO, I am not going to make him OP'ed nor UBER nor extremely intelligent. He is going to be the same naïve Naruto that we all know and love just with knowledge in Fuuinjutsu.
( 7 ) "I object!"
-I have been waiting the whole entire chapter to put that. XP
( 8 ) Random Generic Shinobi #1 called out, standing up in anger.
-Didn't feel like making up/searching for a name. So he's just RGS#1 :D
( 9 ) "Hai! Wakarimashita!"
-Basically "Yes! Understood!"
OMGG~!!!! TOOK SO LONNNGG~!!!!!