A/N: Alright, I'm taking a vote. Hiashi will stand trial for his crimes. It's up to you, the readers, to decide his fate.
Should he:
get the death penalty. (read this chapter to understand why)
be imprisoned
Send your vote in a review or a PM. You have until the 23rd to vote. On with the chapter.
Chapter Five: Hiashi's Trial
------------------------------October 15th, Konoha, Hokage Tower, Noon------------------------
Word had spread like wildfire in Konoha. Hinata had run away with Naruto, and Hiashi had gone after them with the intent of killing Naruto. Neji was in the hospital, but was expected to make a full recovery. Hiashi had escaped to an unknown location. Tsunade looked over the report that Neji had left. Tsunade slammed her fist into the desk, making such a loud ruckus that two ANBU rushed into the room, thinking she was under attack.
"Hokage-sama! Are you alright?"
Tsunade nodded and rubbed her temples. The two ANBU started to leave, but she motioned for them to sit.
"I want Hyuga Hiashi found and brought back to this village immediately. Bring Inuzuka Kiba, Hatake Kakashi and Aburame Shino to me. And Genma as well." (A/N: If you can tell me Genma's last name, it would be appreciated. They only show him like twice in the manga, and they never mention a last name.)
The two left, knowing exactly what she had in mind. The village's three best tracking Shinobi. The situation was desperate if she had to call in them. One parted to the left, heading for the Inuzuka residence, the other to Kakashi's.
-----------------------------------Inuzuka Residence, 1:00 PM--------------------------------------
Kiba sat at the table, eating his lunch. The family's prized hounds walked around, pacing here and there. Akamaru was curled up in his upgraded dog house. Sitting across from him, wrapped in a jacket from head to toe, was Aburame Shino. There was a knock at the door, and Inuzuka Tsume answered. The ANBU frantically related Tsunade's message.
"Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Genma and Hatake Kakashi are to leave immediately in pursuit of Hyuga Hiashi. He has committed a crime and must be brought to justice. Meet Genma and Kakashi at the gate in five minutes."
Shino looked over at Kiba and stood, walking out of the door. Kiba roused Akamaru from his sleep and walked out the door as well.
------------------------------------Forests of Konoha, 1:30 PM---------------------------------
The four-man cell quickly departed the village, with Kakashi's summoned Nin-dog Pakkun leading. Kakashi was right Pakkun. Kiba was right behind him, with Akamaru under him. Following was Shino, a small swarm of Kikaichu around each arm, searching for the scent given to them. Genma was there as backup. All other Jounin were busy with other missions. Suddenly, Pakkun called for the team to halt. He had found Hiashi.
---------------------------------------Konoha Hospital, 2:00 PM------------------------------------
Hyuga Neji lay in the bed, listening to Tsunade's orders. She had released him from medical care, and was sending him on a secret mission.
"Neji, your mission is simple. Track down Naruto and Hinata and bring them back to the village. Tenten will be accompanying you. They were last seen east of here, staying in a small unnamed village. Go there first. You leave immediately."
Tsunade left and Tenten walked in, and she sat on the edge of his bed, as he sat up to hug her.
"Sorry I got you into this Tenten. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
Tenten nodded, and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
"I know you will Neji. But let's go. We'll talk later, on the way."
And so the ninja lovers departed, hand in hand from the village.
---------------------------------------Team Kakashi, 2:17 PM---------------------------------------
Kakashi stepped forward, and Pakkun disappeared into a puff of smoke, in the event of an impending battle. Kakashi began to read from a scroll, a warrant for the arrest of Hyuga Hiashi, sealed and stamped by the Fifth Hokage and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"By order of the Fifth Hokage, we hereby place Hyuga Hiashi under arrest. You are charged with the abandonment of an underage Shinobi, assault with the intent of murder, and for fleeing from authority. You are required to stand trial for your crimes, and are to be incapacitated until we return to Konoha. Do you understand the terms of your arrest?"
They stood waiting for an answer, and before they could react, Genma fell to his knees, a kunai stabbed into his spine, held by Hyuga Hiashi. Genma fell to the floor, dead. Kakashi motioned Kiba and Shino to prepare for battle, raising the headband off his left eye, revealing the Sharingan. Shino wrapped his arms in the beetles, and Akamaru barked, Kiba right next to him. Hiashi spoke.
"You think you can defeat me? You will not be taking me back to the village until I kill that demon scum."
Kakashi reached into a pouch, and withdrew four kunai.
"Hiashi, you have just committed a high crime, that of murder. You are under arrest, but I should kill you here and now. But I will only disable your legs and arms. Are you ready Shino?"
"Ready."
The Aburame swung one of his arms, and a mass of beetles swarmed from his fingertips, and ensnared the Hyuga in a writhing mass of insects. Hiashi tried to create the Kaiten, but the beetles were devouring his Chakra. Kakashi leapt forward, and plunged one kunai into each of Hiashi's limbs, rendering them useless. They then proceeded to take him back to the village for trial.
----------------------------------Konoha Public Courtroom, 3:30 PM------------------------------
They stood in a massive courtroom in the Hokage residence. Hiashi Hyuga had received medical attention for his wounds, and was now being tried as a criminal. Kotetsu was presiding as bailiff, with Tsunade as the judge. The jury was the other clan leaders, as well as the Konoha elders.
"All rise. Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade presiding. All parties have been sworn in, and are ready to begin the case. Madam Hokage if you would."
"We are here to determine the fate of Hiashi Hyuha. The accused has been charged with murder, desertion of a teenager, attempted murder, and fleeing from the village to escape his crimes. How do you plead?"
Tsunade gave Hiashi a cold death glare as she read over the events of Genma's death. Hiashi thought to himself. I will get off with a slap on the wrist. I am a powerful clan leader. They can do nothing.
"Not guilty."
The trial went remarkably in favor of Hiashi as various upstanding citizens testified that Hiashi was a good and honest man. And then the subject of Hinata came up. Kurenai was the first on the stand.
"Kurenai, tell us in your own words how Hiashi treated Hinata when you were around. Was he a loving father? Or was he a cruel and merciless brute?"
Kurenai had nothing to fear.
"He would never show her any respect or love. At the Chuunin exams, he had been too focused on watching Neji and Naruto's match to notice his daughter was suffering from her heart, which was weakened by her match with Neji. When she became a Genin, he told me she was a liability to the Hyuga Clan."
The jury had already made a decision it seemed. However, there was still more charges, but the only one that needed to be discussed was that of the murder of Genma. Murder was a serious crime. Kakashi was on the stand as the team representative.
"Kakashi, tell us exactly what happened."
"We found him in a grove of trees, near the stream leading into the Waterfall Village. We read him the warrant, and he dropped from the treeline, and before our very eyes, plunged the kunai in Genma's spine. We captured him immediately, and brought him back."
Tsunade called for the jury to deliberate and come before them with a verdict in an hour.
---------------------------------------Naruto and Hinata, 4:47 PM----------------------------------
Naruto and Hinata were swimming in the lake nearby. As they swam, embracing each other, Naruto's head snapped up to look Neji square in the eyes. Hinata jumped out of the water, and ran to Neji, hugging him tightly. Neji was not used to hugging anyone except for Tenten, but he hugged her back nonetheless. Naruto walked to Neji, offering his friend his hand, which Neji took in his own, shaking it firmly.
"Neji, if you're here it means its safe to go back. Shall we?"
Neji shook his head.
"First listen to all that's happened while you were away. Hiashi attacked me just as you fled. He aimed for my heart, and left me for dead at the lake. Luckily Tenten was there as well. She brought me to the hospital, and Sakura took care of me. Second, we have this. Hiashi has been arrested and is now standing trial for attempted murder, among other things. We need to get back to the village as fast as we can."
Hinata took it all in and nodded. She had grown tired of her father's constant poor treatment of her. He treated Hanabi far better. She thought that death would be suitable, but the council would not go that far for attempted murder. Naruto stood, and pulled out a strange shaped kunai, and threw it at the wall. They were instantly back at the Uzumaki residence. His friends and Hinata were all looking at him with bewildered amazement.
"I'll explain later. We have to get to the trial."
They set off and quickly reached the courthouse, flinging open the doors.
--------------------------------------Konoha Courthouse, 5:00 PM----------------------------------
Everyone in the courtroom turned to see who had entered the room, as Naruto, Hinata, Neji and Tenten walked into the rows to see the end of the trial.
"All rise for the verdict of Hiashi Hyuga. Chairman of the jury, if you would."
It was Nara Shikaku who had spoken.
"We the jury find the defendant Hyuga Hiashi guilty of all charges, which combined call for execution or limetime imprisonment."
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Another exciting chapter if I say so myself. Remember, you only have a few days to vote. And for those of you who have read my other stories, the next chapter will feature a graphic lemon between Neji and Tenten. It will be my very first true lemon, so go easy on me. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading. Read and review, and vote! Does Hiashi live… or die? And who should execute him?