Victims of Ourselves
PART II

Naruto's heart was beating so hard in his chest that he was sure it was audible in the now very quiet cell block that held the person responsible for his accelerated heart rate. He would have said that he didn't like how Sasuke was looking at him if the bastard actually was. Naruto had caught his eye the second he'd entered, and he'd seen something in them, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Whatever it was that he saw in his vengeful ex-comrade's gaze had dissipated almost immediately once they'd locked eyes. It saddened Naruto that Sasuke wouldn't look at him and that he wouldn't acknowledge his presence. It was only a reminder of how far Naruto hadn't come in figuring him out.

In the courtroom, Naruto's eyes had been stuck on Sasuke, and much to his surprise, Sasuke had reciprocated. Naruto had been absolutely stunned by just how dark his eyes were, how cold and empty they had looked. Naruto didn't feel like Sasuke had been just looking at him, but through him.

He would never admit it, but the look had not only caught him off guard. It had exhilarated him. It had given him the most satisfying thrill to get such intense attention from the one person he had always wanted to recognize him, from the one person who actually mattered.

Naruto cared for a lot of people, but there was something about Sasuke that was different. He felt things for Sasuke that didn't awaken in him when he was with other people. With Sasuke, things were just so complex, so frustrating, yet somehow, some way, he'd grown fond of the Uchiha.

Naruto eyed Sasuke for a few moments before turning to the prison guard, who stood with his arms crossed, looking at nothing in particular.

Naruto cleared his throat and then spoke, "Could you leave us alone for a couple of minutes?"

The guard raised an eyebrow, a look of disapproval on his face before he looked over at the two Anbu, who were now by the main door, their masked faces impassive as they looked straight ahead. The guard threw a look in Sasuke's direction before sighing.

"Ten minutes," the guard's rough voice broke the stillness of the room with the authority in his tone. "Visiting hours doesn't usually start this early."

The guard began walking away before Naruto stopped him, grabbing his arm.

"Aren't you gonna let him out?" Naruto asked, cocking his head towards the occupied cell. The guard looked down at where Naruto held him and the blond took that as his cue to release him.

"Is it impossible to talk to him through the bars?" the guard asked, and Naruto narrowed his eyes. It's impossible to talk to him in general, he thought bitterly. "I didn't think so," the guard finished dryly.

"You're wasting time, Naruto-kun," Tiger Face spoke, his mask still. Naruto's eyes lingered over to him, still narrowed.

The guard pulled his arm out of Naruto's grasp and held up nine fingers, a clear indication that his time was running out. Damn it. He couldn't discuss with Sasuke what he really wanted to if those damn Anbu were there. He threw the idea of them leaving the room out of his mind. There was no way they'd go against Tsunade-baachan's orders, the loyal bastards. Naruto supposed he could discuss his plan to Sasuke some another time – he'd concluded that there would be another time – where they'd be alone.

The Anbu swiftly moved aside as the guard opened the door and left the room. Naruto rubbed his now damp palms on the sides of his pants as he warily stepped up to Sasuke's cell.

Instead of sitting on what looked like the extremely uncomfortable cot pressed against the far wall inside the cell, Sasuke sat in front of it, one knee to his chest, his arm lazily draped over it. He wore a cheap cotton white long sleeved shirt (which looked slightly large on him) that almost resembled pajamas, with the number 012606 printed in bold black font on the front.

He wore drab black pants and was his feet were bare. Naruto almost cracked a smile; Sasuke would never be caught dead in such clothes, had he not been in his current situation. He seemed to be keeping his physical appearance up, though, since his pale skin was flawless as ever, and his dark hair – which was just as dark as his eyes – practically screamed 'arrogant bastard'.

It was only when Naruto's eyes travelled back up his body that he was aware that his imprisoned friend was watching him with fierce eyes, his fists clenching and unclenching. The look in Sasuke's eyes was feral, like he wanted to slip through the cracks of the bars and completely throttle him. Naruto felt a dark feeling stir deep in his belly and he cleared the bile that had risen from the back of his throat.

He forced himself to smile, because with Sasuke looking as if he wanted to shred him in two, he had to at least show the other teen that he wasn't here for that. For now, Naruto had to show him that he had support, that he still had him on his side, that he wasn't… alone in this. It didn't take Byakuugan to notice that Sasuke was the only prisoner in this part of the jail.

Was it because he was going to be executed? Or was it because Sasuke was just a special case? Whatever, the reason was, Naruto wanted answers. Sasuke hadn't returned the blond's cautious smile, and Naruto hadn't expected him to.

"H-How are they treating you?" Naruto hated the way he stuttered. What the fuck was wrong with him? He'd spoken to Sasuke plenty of times in the course of his life. Of course, he'd been apart from him for three and a half years, and in those years, hormones were raging, and his body had grown in ways he still was unsure about.

He wondered how Sasuke had dealt with his growth spurt over the years and an unwelcome thought of Orochimaru discussing the birds and the bees or whatever they called it with side commentary by that slick fucker Kabuto. He quickly pushed the image out of his mind.

"Lovely," Sasuke actually answered him, his voice menacing. "Just look at this 5-star breakfast they sent me," he added, lifting the tray with toppled over food derived of color and deliciousness. He threw it back down with a loud clank and rolled his eyes. "How do you think they're treating me?"

"You tell me," Naruto said, looking at everything but the 'food' that was now scattered over the ground.

Sasuke scoffed, "I don't have to tell you anything."

Naruto let out a sigh. So that was how it was going to be? "I see you still haven't changed your bastard ways. You're still as frustrating as ever, aren't you?"

"Do you have nothing better to do with yourself? Or does your life consist of messing with mine?" Sasuke countered.

"We need to talk, Sasuke–"

"Not interested."

Naruto suddenly felt himself lunge at the bars as he grabbed hold of two, his knuckles banging against the steel. "Dammit, Sasuke! This is about your fucking life!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. His eyes burned into Sasuke's, the other boy's expression remained impassive. "Do you even care?"

"No," Sasuke said, his voice and expression serious. "Konoha wins again."

"What?" Naruto heard himself ask.

"You heard me," Sasuke said. "Your precious village got what they wanted. They've caught me, they've locked me up, and now they're getting rid of me – indefinitely."

How, Sasuke? How can you say that so easily? Do you... do you even know what you just said?

Naruto took a quick look at his escorts by the exit. He hated those masks. He hated not being able to read emotions, having to guess and try to gauge reactions to tell what someone was feeling. And half of the time, that didn't even work.

Naruto loosened his grip on the bars and lowered his voice, "You're not going to die, Sasuke. I'm gonna convince Granny Tsunade to–"

"To what – change her mind?" Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're still a complete idiot."

"It's not totally impossible."

"You don't know anything about the higher-ups, do you?" Sasuke asked suddenly.

Naruto's brow furrowed. "Higher-ups?"

"Forget it." Sasuke shook his head, dark bangs swishing over his forehead. "I don't feel like explaining anything to you."

"If it's that important, I'll find out eventually."

"It isn't, and you won't."

"Is July twenty-third of next year the official date?" Tsunade asked, crossing her legs as she addressed the Elders sitting across from her. They'd been over an hour late, and she'd almost laughed at the audacity of the power that they held over her when they had no actual respect for being on time.

"Why?" Utatane quipped, the corners of her eyes crinkling further. "Did you have another date in mind?"

When Tsunade doesn't say anything, Homura leans next to Utatane and says loud enough for Tsunade to hear his next words.

"It seems as though our Hokage isn't fully on board with getting rid of Uchiha Sasuke."

Utatane raises a thin eyebrow. "Is that so?" she asked, looking directly at Tsunade.

"Uchiha Sasuke has made choices – bad choices, but you must know that killing him would be pointless. No matter what, he is a member of this village and I will not have–"

"He was a member of this village. Have you forgotten already that he went rogue?" The tone of Utatane's voice grated at Tsunade's nerves.

"Of course I haven't," Tsunade answered, keeping her voice as level as she could. "But we have him where we want him. He's in prison. Wouldn't it satisfy you more that he stays in prison, regretting everything he's done, going against Konoha, than to be free of all of his troubles by a quick and painless death?"

"Who said it was going to be quick and painless?" Homura scoffed.

"You know, I would love to hear what your alternative would be, Tsunade," Utatane said, folding her hands in her lap.

"I've already taken this up with the rest of the Council," Tsunade affirmed. "And they didn't look like they were so opposed to my suggestion."

"Oh? And what suggestion might that be?"

"Put Uchiha Sasuke on a one year probation."

"What's with that look on your face? This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

Naruto could only stare at her with his mouth agape. "Yes… I mean... I… What do you mean by Sasuke's going to be put on probation?"

"It's exactly how it sounds," Tsunade asserted, her eyes roving around his apartment as she directed the two Anbu from earlier to collect measurements of the place. "Sasuke will have a year of probation and if he screws up, he'll be right back in that jail cell."

Naruto's eyes lit up at that. "So… so he's not going to…?"

"Be killed?" Tsunade finished for him. "That will depend on his actions while outside of the prison. I had to pull a lot of strings and I had to put up with a lot from the Elders, so if he happens to ruin his chance of winning back this village's trust, for him there will be hell to pay."

Naruto felt a sudden leap in his heart that he knew couldn't be defined as anything but relief. He didn't know whether to cry, or scream, or give Tsunade the biggest smooch she'd ever had in her life.

This would make things easier, much easier. If Sasuke wasn't going to be in prison, then he'd have plenty of chances to talk to him, to see him. He'd immediately start on trying to make things like they were. They would be a team again, right? Him, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, Sai…

Sai?

Naruto's mouth turned down in a slight frown. What would happen with Sai? Naruto hated to admit it, but he had slightly grown a little fond of that annoyingly blunt shinobi.

"So how will this probation thing work? Where's he going to be staying? The old Uchiha district?"

"No. That place has been closed off. I doubt he'd want to go there anyway, since the tragic event that took place there is what has him in this position in the first place."

An idea suddenly popped into Naruto's mind. "He can stay here."

Tsunade gave him a look. "That won't be necessary. We've already got an apartment set up for him. He'll be living there, on twenty-four hour watch by these two Anbu," she explained, motioning towards said Anbu. Naruto followed her motions and eyed them with confusion.

"Then why are they taking measurements of my place?" he asked.

"It's for back-up purposes. Your apartment isn't the only one that's going to be measured. Just in case there's a problem with the living space of Sasuke's. This is just an alternative."

So there was a possibility that Sasuke could be living with him.

"Ah." Naruto looked back at Tsunade, folding his arms over his chest. "So they're going to make sure he doesn't slip up, huh?"

"If they know what's good for them. Although, I doubt Sasuke will be much of a threat seeing how his chakra's been sealed off and he's been stripped of his weapons."

"For the safety of the village," Naruto said weakly. "You guys really don't trust him."

"How can we?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know… I don't care. Sasuke's not going anywhere, that's all I care about."

Tsunade's expression softened as she regarded Naruto with warm eyes. "You really care about this boy, don't you?"

Naruto needn't answer. He hoped it was obvious by now.

"When will he be out?" Naruto asked, anxious to know.

"The paper work shouldn't take too long," Tsunade asserted. "Another day at the most. He'll be interrogated again, checked out, and sent on his way."

When Naruto didn't say anything, Tsunade and the guards made their way to leave. He stood there, immobile as everything sunk in. He let out a deep breath once the door closed. He placed his forehead on it, banging it a little, but the pain was nil because his brain was numb with thoughts of Sasuke.

"Sasuke," he breathed as he felt a stinging sensation in both of his eyes. "You're coming home…" He felt himself slide down, brought to his knees.

As the salty tears fell down his cheeks, he felt a much more relieved feeling inside. He wasn't crying this time because out of grief, but happiness.

Sasuke may have been distant and cold at the prison when he'd visited him earlier, but Naruto knew that he couldn't be that way forever. He couldn't be empty inside forever. Not with Naruto as his friend. He wouldn't stand for it.

I'll cure you, Sasuke. I'll cure you of your hatred. If it's the last thing I do… I'll cure you.

He didn't think the next day could come fast enough.

TBC

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this part. I would have loved to spend more time on it, but life just got in the way, so this is how it turned out. Yay for Sasuke not being sentenced to die... for now, at least. And seriously, while I appreciate all of the follows and faves of this story, it wouldn't hurt to leave a review every now and then, would it? Honestly, they're what keep me going. So please, if you read this chapter, please review? With a NaruSasu/SasuNaru cherry on top?