Chapter Seventeen-
It was dark when she woke up. And very cold. Sasumi tried to open her eyes, but darkness was the only thing that greeted her. She tried to move her hands and feet, but they were restrained by something metal. Chains and handcuffs. There was a piece of cloth tied around her head, covering her eyes and Sasumi could tell she wasn't wearing she bandages around her arms or any of her usual clothes either. She reached down and felt what she was wearing. A worn yukata maybe. It was probably white. Sasumi started to shake.
"No," she whispered, "No…"
With a sudden movement, like her body was out of her control, she tried to yank her hands free. The manacles burned her wrists and she let out a tiny cry. She gave her legs a jerk to the same result. The metal of her manacles clanked together as she shook, but Sasumi wasn't paying attention to that.
"Don't," she said hoarsely, "Don't! Let me out!"
She struggled again and this time couldn't hold back the scream as she was burned again. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, but Sasumi didn't care. All she knew was that she had to get out.
She fell to the ground, shaking, her limbs throbbing. She cured herself into the fetal position and closed her eyes tight.
"Please…Please let me out!" she whispered, "Please!"
It had all been a dream; Konoha, Naruto, Sasuke, Hanada-san, Kakashi, Shikamaru, Ino…She had just been deluding herself, trying to escape in anyway she could. None of it had ever been real, she had just been dreaming or maybe she had finally cracked and had gone mad. She was still there. Nothing had changed in the last three years. She had always been here and didn't know it. The Rain had still got her. She was still locked up. She was still trapped. They would be coming soon too, Sasumi knew. Coming with their pills and hot pokers and needles. With fire and fists. And they would break her bones and burn her flesh forever or until she told them a secret she didn't know.
She curled her manacled hands into her hair and lay on the hard stone floor, for a long time. Sasumi was barely aware that she whispering under her breath or that she was shaking so badly that an eerie clanking noise echoed around the room.
Sasumi wasn't sure how long she lay curled up in a ball on the floor. But then, all of the sudden, she heard a noise. Her hands tightened on her hair and she began to shake even harder. They were here.
She heard three clinks of locks and there was a creak of a large door being opened. Fear coursed threw her and she gripped the stone floor tightly, unaware that her fingernails had broken and were bleeding.
"Hey, do we just stick the food here then?"
"You idiot, don't get so close!"
"C'mon she can't be older than fourteen and she's chained up, gimme a break."
"Jus-Just put the food down and let's go. I don't like being this far down."
"Oh, don't be a wimp."
"Shut up!"
"Hey, be careful you moron! You're going to spill it! …Holy crap, is she dead?"
"No, you idiot, she's moving, can't you see. Let's get out of here now."
"Fine, fine."
There was a clanking noise in front of her face and them she heard footsteps and then the door shut. It was only when she heard the three locks click shut when she was able to breathe again. They were gone. For now.
Sasumi didn't touch the food nor go anywhere near it. It was probably loaded with drugs and she wasn't stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Hmmm," she said, interested all of the sudden.
The most remarkable situation had been brought to her attention. The Hokage's office was crowded with people most of them about the age of the Kyuubi brat. There were all very serious and determined looking which made Tsunade wonder what exactly this holder of the Kyuubi was like.
"Is what they told us true?" said a girl with shoulder length blonde hair, angrily, "That they're going to execute Naruto?!"
"Ino!" a boy with a brown ponytail said, looking annoyed.
She ignored him and continued, "What the hell has he done, anyway?"
"It's not my decision," Tsunade told them sternly, testing them, "The Council decided that he was too dangerous to be left alive."
Those words caused the entire group and a man that she vaguely remember as a teacher in the academy looked horrified.
"Wait, you mean you can't do anything!?" said a boy with a dog sitting on his head, loudly, "Aren't you the Hokage or some shit like that?"
"Ki-Kiba-kun!" a shy girl who Tsunade was pretty sure was a Hyuuga said softly.
A boy with long hair who appeared to be related to the girl spoke up, "As the Hokage, do you not have control over the Council?"
"Usually," Tsunade replied, getting tired of explaining this to people, "but in this case, the entire Council has demanded his execution, and united they overpower me."
"How can this be?" demanded a boy wearing a green jumpsuit that hurt Tsunade's eyes to look at, "Why would the Council wish Naruto-kun dead?"
Tsunade sighed. She really didn't know how to go about with this. It would be very hard to explain to them what being the holder of the Kyuubi meant to the people who remembered the attack. She had not been there at the time it was sealed into the boy, however, she had confronted the Kyuubi once in here life before and it wasn't a pleasant experience. It would be best, she decided, to tell them bluntly.
"They're basically confusing the kid with the Kyuubi. They're afraid of him, you see."
This statement was met with silence. The younger generation look confused, however their teachers would understand. As she surveyed the throng of people in front of them, she was surprised to see that Hatake Kakashi was not there. Surely they would have told him that they were coming to see her. Or perhaps Kakashi had given up hope.
"Is there no way," said a tall boy wearing sunglasses, "that this can be prevented?"
Suddenly, quite out of the blue, Tsunade smelt opportunity.
"Well," she said slowly, dumbfounded by her brainchild, "There is still a trial. And if, let us say, several of you were to speak and convince the even one member of the Council that this Uzumaki Naruto is not the Kyuubi. Then I could overpower them and reject their proposal of execution."
There was silence as they processed this information.
"What's in this for you?" the brown haired boy with a pony tail asked her suspiciously.
"One word," she told them, ushering them out of here office, "Payback."
"What do you mean? Sasuke said.
"Just what I said," Kakashi said, pulling up a chair.
"That both my teammates have been deceiving me? What are you talking about? Where are they?" he said gritting his teeth.
"Just listen," Kakashi said pushing back his gray hair with one hand, "Naruto…well, Naruto's always been different."
Sasuke stared at him, "What does that have to do with it?" he asked, but in the back of his mind he remembered Naruto and Naruto turning into that thing. And that maybe Naruto being different had something to do with it.
"Do you know the story of the Yondaime and the Kyuubi?" Kakashi asked suddenly, ignoring Sasuke's question.
"Yes," Sasuke said, uncertain of where this was going.
Kakashi looked at him expectantly.
"'The Kyuubi attacked Konoha about thirteen years ago,'" Sasuke recited, wondering if Kakashi was aware that all kids his age had practically grown up on the story, "'And the Yondaime sacrificed his own life by killing the Kyuubi to protect Konoha.' Now what does this have to do with Naruto?" he snapped, worry and exhaustion getting to him.
"You see," Kakashi said quietly and Sasuke noticed he looked almost sad, "That story is a lie."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. This was not what he was expecting.
"Yes, the Yondaime did fight the Kyuubi and he did die for the village, but he did not kill the Kyuubi. He couldn't. Instead, he was forced to seal it inside a newborn baby."
Sasuke stared, "What?" he heard himself say, but he really wasn't focusing on that.
In his head he was remembering a year and a half ago when he had seen Naruto's birthday and then remembered the remembrance day on October 8th for the people whom the Kyuubi had killed. October 8th. Thirteen years ago, October 8th. Naruto's birth date.
Oh no. That was impossible. Naruto couldn't be the holder of the Kyuubi. Naruto wasn't a monster. But then he remember the word painted on Naruto's apartment walls and door. The whispers of the villagers when ever they saw Naruto. The thing Naruto had become. Monster, monster, monster.
"You're saying," Sasuke finally said hoarsely, barely aware that Kakashi was scrutinizing him closely, "That Naruto is the holder of the…of the…" but he couldn't say it.
It was preposterous. How could Naruto, of all people have a monster inside him? It was absurd. It…all made so much sense. He remembered how terrified Naruto had been when they discovered that Sasumi had read their memories. 'It's fine' Sasumi had told him, but she had refused to tell Sasuke what she meant. He understood now. She was protecting him. But why, he thought, suddenly angry, had they not told him! Didn't he deserve to know? Naruto was his teammate and yet they had both kept it from him! Did they not trust him? But a small voice in the back of his head, said that maybe, maybe Naruto was afraid that Sasuke would hate him, just like almost the entire world did and Sasuke abruptly felt ashamed of being angry with him.
"Oh," he said, looking up at Kakashi, "Right."
Sasuke couldn't believe this was happening. He didn't know what to feel anymore and he was so confused and just wanted to sleep.
"There's more," Kakashi said wearily, "The Council of Konoha has deemed Naruto too dangerous and are putting him on trial. They mean to execute him."
Sasuke felt his blood run cold, "WHAT!"
"It's true."
"The-They can't do that," Sasuke said, horrified, "…Can they?"
"Yes," Kakashi said, "They can."
Sasuke's body acted without consulting his mind. He wrenched aside the bedclothes and pulled himself into a seated position, hissing in pain.
"Sasuke, lie down!" Kakashi said angrily grabbing him by the shoulders, "There's nothing you can do right now!"
But Sasuke was past listening, "Let me go!" he hissed, trying to pull himself out of Kakashi's grip, "There is no way I'm letting that stupid moron, get himself kill-"
But Kakashi was much stronger than he was and didn't have a gaping wound in his chest. He eventually forced Sasuke back into bed.
"You-"
"Listen to me," Kakashi said, looking, for the first time, angry, "There's going to be a trial in a few days. They can't do anything to him now and you're in no shape to be moving."
"But-"
"And you still haven't heard the second part."
Sasuke froze. He had completely forgotten about Sasumi. He looked at Kakashi, suddenly suspicious. Did he know? Had Konoha found out the truth about Sasumi? Fear flooded through him as he realized that both his teammates were gone, one facing death and the other…
"What about Sasumi?" he said, playing dumb.
"Konoha believes that she is a spy from the Rain."
Sasuke's eyes widened and he opened his mouth, but Kakashi cut him off.
"Three years ago the Rain suffered a terrible loss. Half their most elite ANBU were killed off in a most mysterious way. Konoha heard rumors about these deaths and inquired about them not only because the Rain and the Leaf are allies, but also because the Rain are quite close to the western side of the Fire Country. At first they refused to tell us what happened, but eventually it was admitted that a high security prisoner had escaped killing off half the guards with an unbeatable Kekkai Genkai. The Rain told us four things about this prisoner. The prisoner was female, her name was Modoka Sazumi, she had green eyes, and her hair was red. They did not give Konoha an age. Which was why Sasumi was never questioned because she would have been ten at the time and Konoha wouldn't have thought of her as a threat.
A few days ago, Sasumi was found with scars all over her body. The Rain, you see, are the only people who still use physical torture. There is also no record of her until almost three years ago giving her plenty of time to sneak into Konoha."
"If she was a prisoner," Sasuke said carefully, "then why do you think she's a spy?"
"Konoha's Council believes that the Rain was lying about the fact that the prisoner escaped. They believe Sasumi was tortured into doing the Rain's bidding. She would be the perfect spy, because hardly anyone suspects a child."
"Is it so hard to believe," Sasuke asked, "that she didn't really escape and come here?"
Kakashi frowned and looked at him intently, "You don't seem very surprised about all of this."
Sasuke looked down, "I always knew there was something different about her," he says unconvincingly, aware that Kakashi is looking at him suspiciously.
"Right…"
"When is Naruto's trial?" he asked, diverting Kakashi's attention.
"In four days," Kakashi answered. A pause, "The entire village is invited."
Sasuke felt rage at the Council burning inside of him. How dare they make this public! He didn't want to see the look on Naruto's face when the entire village showed up. Sasuke briefly remembered the time in the square when a woman had slapped Naruto in the face. Determination filled him. There was no way the Council would execute Naruto. He would become a traitor if he had to, but Sasuke wasn't just going to let them kill his teammate. Or let them send Sasumi back to the Rain, he added, remembering the disgusting scars and burns on her arms.
"How long will this take to heal?" he asked, gesturing at his chest.
Kakashi looked faintly surprised at his change in demeanor, "By itself? Months at least. The hospital has been trying to get the Godaime to come down and help out, but she's been so busy."
"I need to be healed before four days is up," Sasuke said, his hands curling into fists.
If it were any other circumstance, Kakashi would have reprimanded him or told him to be patient. However, he simply nodded and left the room. Only then Sasuke let his head fall back onto the pillows. He had to sleep now, because when he woke up he would have a lot of planning to do.
Shizune was buying more tea for Tsunade-sama when she heard it. It came from two ninja who were wearing the special uniform that signified they worked in the Main Council Building.
"What do you mean the Kyuubi brat hasn't moved in a few days?"
"Be quiet! Don't announce it to the whole world!"
Shizune moved closer to the pair, pretending to look through the selection of dried fish.
"Listen, you know the guy who's in charge of feeding him? I've heard a rumor that his sister or something was killed by the Kyuubi."
"Oh, great, so he wants revenge or something? Doesn't he know that he'll get in trouble if the kid dies? He should just wait like the rest of us until he gets executed."
"And we'll get in trouble too. Goddammit!"
"So what the hell are we supposed t-"
Shizune didn't need to hear the rest. She thrust the can of tea on a random shelf and ran out of the store. Tsunade-sama needed to hear this. She ran through the busy market place, pushing people aside, ignoring their annoyed yells. Once she got to a less crowded street, she ran up a wall of a nearby building and leapt quickly from roof to roof. Reaching her destination in a matter of minutes, Shizune burst through the Hokage's office's double doors, panting heavily.
"Tsunade-sama!!"
"Did you get my tea?" Tsunade-sama asked irritably, not even looking up from a stack of papers she was looking through.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune cried, "Something's…bad…the Uzumaki child…"
It took several minutes for her to gasp out what she had just heard and by the time she was done Tsunade-sama's face was contorted with anger.
"Those bastards…!" she muttered under her breath.
Tsunade-sama stood up, letting papers fall to the floor. She grabbed the Hokage's robe and hat, which Shizune knew she hated to wear.
"C'mon," she told her, putting the garments on quickly, "Let's go. I'll teach them to defy me…"
Shizune stood up and followed her angry sensei out of room. Tsunade-sama called out orders as they walked down the hallways.
"Genma! Raidou! Alert the hospital that I'll being bringing in the Kyuubi kid in about ten minutes! He'll need fluids!"
"But Hokage-sama-"
"Don't argue with me! Go!"
"Ri-Right!"
"Tsunade-sama," Shizune panted, trying to keep up with her Hokage, "What if he's de-"
"Not now, Shizune," Tsunade-sama said, cutting her off effectively.
They leapt from building to building, ignoring the villager's cries of surprise.
They reached the Main Council Building quickly, terrifying the two guards that stood at the door.
"Ho-Hokage-sama! What are you-"
"Let me in," Tsunade-sama said calmly.
"With all respect, Hokage-sama, this building is under Council jurisdicti-"
"Move aside," Tsunade-sama said, moving forward.
Dazed, the two guards let her pass and a good thing too, because people were beginning to gather, whispering and pointing. Tsunade-sama wrenched open the door and walked confidently down the halls. She walked right up to a young woman sitting at a desk.
"Which cell is Uzumaki Naruto in?"
"Hokage-sama! What are you-"
"Where is he?"
"I-I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but I'm not allowed to give that information out."
"As your Hokage, I'm ordering you to tell me."
The woman looked conflicted and briefly Shizune felt bad for her.
She looked around the empty hallway and leaned forward, "Cell 227 on floor 23. But don't tell them I told you!"
Tsunade-sama turned around and headed for the stairs. And so they climbed. Tsunade-sama had a strange closed look on her face, that puzzled Shizune. By the time they reached the twenty-third floor, Shizune felt lightheaded and her legs were killing her. Tsunade-sama strode down the narrow corridor with more confidence than Shizune thought was normal for this kind of situation.
"Halt," called a voice from behind them.
Shizune's head swirled around to see four guards.
"Y-You're not allowed to be here," called a woman with dirty blond hair.
Apparently they had been informed previously that they were coming.
"Give me the keys to cell 227," Tsunade-sama said firmly.
"Ho-Hokage-sama! I'm must ask you to leave!"
"Give me those keys."
The four ninja drew their kunai and Shizune reacted without thinking. Quickly, she kicked the woman out of the way and slammed her head against the wall. She turned around too see the other three shinobi unconscious behind her, Tsunade-sama standing in-between them.
"Let's go," she said.
Shizune reached down and pulled a bunch of keys from around the woman's waist and found one marked 227. They stepped over the bodies and walked to the end the hallway. Shizune found the door marked 227 seven unlocked the door. With a tug, she pulled the heavy wooden door open. To her surprise the room was bright and she shielded her eyes as they both entered. There was a window which was streaming in sunlight and Shizune surveyed the room carefully. The only thing in the room was a blonde haired boy in a white prisoner's garb lying the stone floor. Beside her Tsunade-sama went rigid.
"Nawaki…?"
Shizune froze, "Tsunade-sama, are you alrigh-"
"Yes, I'm sorry. For a second I thought…" she paused and Shizune looked at her carefully.
She had never seen Tsunade-sama like this before.
"…Never mind," she finished.
But Tsunade-sama approached the boy and gently lifted up his head and checked his pulse. She pulled open his yukata and pressed her head to his bare chest. Nodding to herself, she lifted her head, closed the yukata and picked him up carefully. Shizune could not help but stare. She had never seen Tsunade-sama so gentle with anyone before. The name 'Nawaki' she knew was the name of Tsunade-sama's younger brother. Perhaps Uzumaki Naruto looked like him…?
Tsunade-sama suddenly stiffened, "We've got to leave," she said, "Now."
Shizune followed her quickly out of the room and closed the door shut behind her. She jogged to catch up with Tsunade-sama who had already reached the stairwell. They ran as fast as they could downstairs and into the lobby. Shizune let the door close and almost ran into Tsunade-sama who had frozen. She looked up to see a man wearing glasses and a woman with several hair pins in her hair.
"Tsunade! How dare you barge in here!"
"Homura, Koharu."
Shizune's eyes widened. Weren't they senior Council members?
"Tsunade, what on earth are you doing. That thing is dangerous! He was locked up for a reason! You have no right t-"
"No," Tsunade-sama said calmly, "It was you who had no right. If I had come any later he might have died."
"That would have not been such a tragedy, Tsunade-hime."
Shizune looked to her left to see a tall man with bandages wrapped around his face and arm.
"Danzou…" Tsunade-sama said in a low voice, her face twisted in dislike.
"Put him down now, Tsunade, or we will press charges!" the man with the black glasses said, looking at the boy like he was a poisonous spider.
Then Tsunade-sama did something that Shizune had not seen in a long time. She laughed.
"Press charges?" she repeated, "Press charges! If anyone, it will be me who presses charges!"
And before they could say anything, Tsunade-sama grabbed her hand and in a puff of smoke, they disappeared.
A/N: I'm back! Wow, it seems like forever since I've been home! This chapter did not come out how I though it would. In fact, I made up the whole Shizune and Tsunade take on the Council on the spot. I know I'm making the Council all evil and everything, but it had to be done. Besides, they're more scared of Naruto than anything. So yeah, review, be nice, and I promise the next chapter won't take so long to come out.