Sakura closed the door and headed for the intensive care unit. She hadn't seen Kakashi in weeks, as he'd been in critical condition. She realized how hard it must have been for him to face his childhood friend (rival) in battle. Perhaps he was having trouble going through a psychological breakdown. With this idea in mind, she reached the fifth floor of the hospital, where all intensive care patients were kept. She tried to avoid seeing who was in each room, but it was hard not to. At one moment, she saw Lee's former sensei, Guy. He seemed unconscious, but perhaps he was just sleeping. Sakura hurried down the hallway and reached the last room. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.

Naruto found himself facing a wide lot connected to numerous streets. Towards his right, he saw the school he once attended. It hadn't been used in weeks, so the grass was overgrown and there were cobwebs stretching over the upper windows. The courtroom was on the other side of the town, towards the area of the forest he liked best. He began walking towards it with a solemn pace. True, the war was over, but he felt as though its impression would exist forever.

The courtroom was one of the oldest buildings in the village, having once been used to sentence war criminals from the first world war (the one that had just ended was the third). It wasn't used very often, as most people who broke laws were merely forced to repair their damage on the spot. Since Sasuke's crime had been a considerable one, the courtroom was being reopened. There would be an entire jury, a judge, and witnesses - just another one of the ramshackle operations that Konoha often put together. Hopefully, everything would work out for the best and Sasuke would be allowed to go free. Somehow, Naruto doubted this, as potential criminals were often kept track of, no matter which way the judge ruled. Naruto wondered is Tsunade was on Sasuke's side or not. She had no reason to support his release, as he had caused her an immense amount of stress within the past few years. Naruto continued walking until he reached the squat building sitting placidly near the forest. It was probably the most unpleasant thing in all of Konoha, with its decaying roof, dusty windows, and crumbling pillars. He approached the front door and pushed it open. Sakura had been right; there were several people standing in a line near a desk, waiting to register for the trial. There were also some custodians who were working to make the place look less shabby as well as some elite members of the village who were discussing the case.

"Hey, everyone. Is this where I come to sign up to testify for Sasuke kun's case?"

All of the people were silent, and gave him strange looks.

"Why do you care, jinchuuriki?"

Naruto ignored the comment made about the fact that he contained a monstrous nine-tailed fox, who also happened to be his friend.

"I want everyone to know what I saw out on the battlefield. I have seen very important things that everybody needs to know."

"Okay. And what things would those be?"

"Shouldn't I wait until the trial?"

"Tell us now, or your name doesn't go on the list."

"Sasuke is innocent! He helped us defeat Madara, Obito, and the ten-tails. He deserves to go free."

"You little runt. Sasuke caused all of these problems in the first place!"

"You're wrong! Everything that happened would have happened anyways. Without Sasuke's help, we would have lost. I know it in my heart."

"Sasuke gave power to evil people who came back to attack us."

"Did you forget that Orochimaru helped us out in the end?"

"Yes, but where is he now? He's probably plotting more terrible things for this village."

"He isn't. He's turned into a good guy. Don't you remember when I was young? Nobody thought I could ever fix my habits. But I did! I promised that I would, and I did."

"Stop shouting at him, man. The kid just saved all of us."

"Without his dumb boyfriend, none of this would have happened!"

"Untrue. I was out there on the battlefield, and I saw with my own eyes how much Sasuke helped us. If only you'd been on the front line. If only you'd helped us at all, you would have known!"

"Naruto! Show respect for your elders. Just because you-"

"I can't respect somebody who stayed out of the battle. It's against my ninja way."

"There was a lot more to solving this conflict than you saw."

"I don't know. I felt like Madara and Obito were the problem, but if you say otherwise..."

"Stop it right now. You have no right to insult us this way. Get out. Now. Try to learn your place, Naruto."

"Put his name on the list."

"Kazekage! What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to testify as well. What day is the trial?"

"Oh, hey, Garra! Are you here to help Sasuke get free?"

"Just as soon as he tells me when the trial is. The date, please?"

"It's exactly one week from today. However, I must urge against this, Kazekage sama. You know what the missing nin did."

"Naturally."

"How are the two of you on his side?"

"There's more to it than you think."

"See? I told you."

"There's more that went on than even you know, Naruto. I feel that we will both serve as important witnesses."

"Besides, you guys can't stop us from signing up. That just has to be against the rules. Right, Garra?"

"It is very much against these rules that you are thinking of. Please put our names on the list, and hope that I don't tell the rest of the sand about your lack of integrity."

"You dare."

"I do!"

"Let me cut in here" said another man sitting at the table.

"Yes, your honor?"

"Naruto, you will speak at 10:00 in the morning, one week from today. Kazekage, you will speak at 10:15, right after Naruto. The trial begins at 9:00. Please be seated by then. Please think of every detail you can recall from these recent events. Every fact is important, no matter how small it may seem. Please enjoy the rest of your day. Be careful."

"Thanks, old guy!"

"Let's go, Naruto."

"One second. I just want all of these people to know that I will free Sasuke. Our village depends on it."

"Get out, please."

Garra grabbed hold of Naruto's sleeve and tugged him through the door.

"You still haven't learned to tone down your language, have you."

"What?"

"Ha, I should have expected the idea to be new to you. I wonder when you'll smarten up."

"I am a lot smarter than I was before, doofus."

"Prove it."

"Why are you here?"

"You're asking me that now?"

"Yes. You're obviously here for some other reason. You'd never have come just to sign up for Sasuke's trial. You could have done that with a simple letter."

"Hm, it seems you've caught me. I'm impressed."

"Oh, shut up. Why are you here, then?"

"Oh, just for a boring old meeting."

"A meeting? With who?"

"Who do you think?"

"Oh. Granny?"

"Bingo."

"I can't believe you're already meeting about stuff. Aren't your people in critical condition?"

"Yes. However, I'm no medical ninja. Tsunade is, so she is extremely busy."

"I get it. What are you meeting about, anyways?"

"To discuss what's going to become of this shinobi alliance we formed during the war, and to figure out a way to mend all of our villages as quickly as possible. We felt that collaborating might be helpful."

"Oh, so are all the other kages coming?"

"Not yet" he said, chuckling.

"Why not?"

"This meeting is just between Tsunade and I. We are collaborating to figure out the best way to collaborate."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Oh trust me, it does. We were talking, and we both had this idea. We knew that it would be a bad idea to round up all of the kages and meet before having a battle plan. We are trying to figure out this plan today."

"Okay. Just remember, if you need any help, I'm always around!"

"We probably will need your help. We will find you when we need you. I really need to get going now."

"Do you know that way?"

"Of course. I was here for the chuunin exam, remember?"

"Yes...but I wish you hadn't reminded me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm still a genin."

"Don't make me laugh."

"I'm not trying to...it's true."

"That's slightly outrageous. You should ask them to move you up to chuunin at least. After the village is repaired, of course."

"Okay! And then I'm going to be Hokage!"

"You still haven't given up on that, have you?"

"Never! That is my dream."

"I know. You helped me realize my dream, too. Now, I really must get to Tsunade's."

"She's probably still in the hospital."

"Yes, we are meeting there. I will see you later, Naruto. It was...good seeing you."

"You too, Garra! Bye!"

Garra walked off towards the hospital with his enormous gourd on his back. Naruto stared after him, alone once again.

"I wonder what all of my friends are doing. Sasuke's being kept in a cell. Sakura's working in the hospital. Most of others are being treated in the hospital. Why am I so useless?"

He gazed towards the sky and couldn't help but feel that the current state of things would never change. It was going to be a long day.