"We have been instructed to bring Sasuke Uchiha to the Hokage," two ANBU appear in front of us as soon as we enter the village.

"I'll take him," Naruto responds. That last rest that we had seems to have been just enough for Naruto to regain his strength and he was able to stand, place his ANBU mask back on along with the rest of the team, and walk all the way back to Konoha without any assistance. Although, I did keep close to him just in case he stumbled.

"We were instructed to be the ones to escort Sasuke Uchiha," the ANBU says.

"Then you can escort him and I together," Naruto replies.

The two ANBU look at each other before one of them disappears and the other speaks again. "Very well fox-sama," he says.

It's weird hearing someone treat Naruto with respect. He totally deserves it, but I just remember when it didn't seem like anyone would even treat him like a human being.

The ANBU took the two of us to the hokage's office while the other three members of the team went home. However, we are stopped outside by the other ANBU that met us at the gates.

"I apologize fox-sama," he says respectfully towards Naruto. "We have been ordered not to allow you to accompany Sasuke Uchiha into the office."

"Very well," Naruto nods before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

I'm not sure if I should be happy or upset that Naruto isn't going to be with me during my judgment. I would have liked to have Naruto there at the end, but I also don't want him to be there if I'm given the death penalty. I don't know how he'll react to it since he was the one that was trying so hard to bring me home in the first place.

"God damn it Naruto," I hear Tsunade's voice from inside the room as the two ANBU ushered me inside. "I told you to stop doing that."

"I don't know what you're talking about baa-chan," Naruto shrugs with a wide grin on his face as he leans against the wall beside the Hokage's desk. He is no longer wearing his fox mask, but it is hung around his waist so that the others can see who he is to them. He is the captain of the ANBU and they had best remember that despite the fact that he chose not to wear his mask in the presence of a traitor. There are 4 ANBU, not including Naruto, the hokage, and the council members in the room besides him and me. All of them are waiting to judge me.

"You can't be in here," Tsunade sighs. "We have to judge Sasuke as a traitor without you being here."

"I know you do," Naruto replies, "but you'll have to have me here while you do because I'm not leaving him here."

"Naruto," I mumble. I'm happy that he's here, but I still think it might have been better if he weren't. I don't want to see him upset if he stays. "You don't have to be here."

"I brought you home," Naruto points out. "I'm not leaving you now."

"Very well," Tsunade sighs. She knows very well that there is no way that her ANBU would be able to make Naruto leave when he really wants to stay. He is the captain of the ANBU and he is even stronger than even the sannin and the hokage. She'd rather not make a bigger commotion out of this than is absolutely necessary.

Naruto's grin widens and Sasuke can't help the small smirk that hits his face when he realizes that this is the same as before he left. Even before Naruto was well respected among all of the ninjas of Konoha, he still got his way more often than not because he had a way of exasperating people until they finally gave in just to get him to leave them be.

It took hours of uncomfortable standing around for the council members to finally come to a decision. Naruto said nothing during the whole of the muttered conversation, but I saw him scowl at some of the things that the others said. I couldn't hear anything that they said, which was a little unsettling, but Naruto had really good hearing so he probably heard every word that was uttered whether it was meant for his ears or not. I often saw Tsunade look up at him only to cringe and look away again. She knew about his hearing too and her looks made my sentence seem worse and worse.

It looks like I'm probably going to get the death sentence. They have considered all of the facts and have decided that I should be given the same treatment that any other traitor would get at this point. I don't blame them. I deserve it. I just wish that Naruto wasn't here to hear their decision.

"Sasuke Uchiha," the council says in a tone that speaks of the severity of my crime.

"No," Naruto interrupts before the decision could be dealt.

"Naruto," Tsunade sighs. "This is the decision of the council. You have no say in the matter."

"Put him in my custody," Naruto continues despite her words.

"We can't do that Naruto," Tsunade tries to reason with him. "He's a traitor. He must be dealt the same punishment as all the others have been given."

"He came back on his own," Naruto pointed out. "He chose to come back to Konoha. That should change his sentence at least a little. Put him in my custody. I am the captain of the ANBU I can watch over him."

"That's right Naruto," Tsunade agrees. "You are the captain of the ANBU. You have missions that you have to go on."

"Sasuke can come with me," Naruto responds. "He's strong enough."

"We can't just allow a traitor to come and go out of the village as he chooses," the council says.

"Not as he chooses," Naruto growls. It's clear that he doesn't like the council and I can't really blame him for that. I don't think the council really likes him either. "He'll be with me at all times. If I have to, I will physically restrain him."

"You don't need that type of distraction during your missions," Tsunade sighs.

"You know what will happen if you don't do this. Don't you baa-chan?" Naruto warns them.

Tsunade's eyes widen and I have to wonder what they are talking about. It doesn't seem like the council knows either because they look just as confused as I feel. "Very well," she sighs. "We will put Sasuke in your custody."

"Thank you!" Naruto's face lit up in a large grin.

It seems that my promise to die for Naruto doesn't matter at all in this moment. Of course, I don't think he'd let me die so easily. He's worked so hard just to get me back. I still promise, though, that if the time comes I will die to protect him.