The light glared down judgementally at Sakura's exhausted body like an executioner to a condemned prisoner. The light was so powerful that it blinded Sakura to keep her eyes open but it hurt more to close them. Sakura tried to wiggle out of the restraints around her legs and arms but it was useless as the rest of her struggling. Sakura had been locked away in an isolation cell for almost three weeks in which time they hadn't fed her, Sakura recognized it as a traditional form of torture to get people to talk. Sakura tilted her head to the side to see the guard just sitting on the ground in front of the door, the mask-less Anbu man shuffled his deck of cards until he was positive that they would be unpredictable enough to provide a challenge.

Sakura felt nauseous as she recounted the events which led her to this prison cell, before she was able to finalize these thoughts the door opened to reveal the next guard. Sakura again tilted her head to the side to see Neji in civilian clothes holding three folders which we're filled to the brink with papers. The Anbu guard picked up his deck of cards as well as his clipboard with an attached pen then left the room leaving Neji and Sakura to wallow in the silence. Neji pressed against a chakra seal on the wall which was coded to specific DNA patterns which of course lifted the restraints on Sakura so she was able to move freely.

Neji smirked at Sakura's weak form then laid back against the wall "Quite a unique position you have gotten yourself into, maybe if you weren't so paranoid we could have helped you then you wouldn't be in this mess" Neji cocked his right eyebrow upwards as a sign to the mischievous attitude he had at the moment.

Sakura sat up on the solid metal slab then cocked her head back and laughed hysterically "Examining my position huh? And here I thought you were here to comment on my hair cut"

Neji just closed his eyes then took a deep breath while he thought over what he was going to say or do next. Sakura was shocked to see Neji like this; it got her thinking about what bad news he was here to deliver. Sakura looked up at the sky light in the ceiling and saw a flock of birds flying in formation "I'm a big girl Neji what ever bad things you have to say I can take it"

Neji just ran a hand through his long silky hair while smiling blankly "Actually I'm here to inform you about my new status as your lawyer"

Without realizing it Sakura's body started to jerk around "Wait they are actually giving me a trial"

"Well they mainly want to hear your side of the story mostly to make the public happy but also so they can prevent something like this from happening again"

Sakura lifted up her knee's then rested her head on them "Nobody could have prevented what I did not even me"

Neji shrugged off what she said as an ending to the conversation "Either way I should be getting your version of events"

…

After two more days in her isolation cell two Anbu escorted Sakura to Lady Tsunade's office where she was given a medical exam by the fifth Hokage herself, the examination included taking about a litre of blood from Sakura. Sakura was later escorted back to her cell; although this time they didn't enable the restraints so Sakura just started pacing around her cell. Sakura thought about bringing up Naruto's journal in the trial but immediately dismissed the idea because they would most likely be thought of as fakes. It was a tough and extremely intricate position she was in but she knew what she was getting into when she set out her journey. Sakura put her hands through her two inch long bubble gum locks then banged her head against the padded wall. The guard watched on in amusement as she repeatedly banged her head.

…

Sasuke held his breath as he hid behind a collapsed brick wall, while tracking Sakura he had the misfortune of attracting several bounty hunters. In the weakened state he was in Sasuke couldn't use any of his Jutsu so he had to wait it out and attack them one on one.

How Sasuke envied these lifeless puppet soldiers, the only higher power they had was money. They are false beings because of the fact that they we're void of emotion. It was exactly like staring right into the eyes of a doll, except these dolls we're savage.

Thinking this over Sasuke knew he wouldn't trade his last year in Konoha for anything even that last moment when Sakura cried begging him to take her with him so she wouldn't be alone. Sasuke also wouldn't give away the night he had with Sakura in the tent.

Maybe it was the scent of blood in the air but Sasuke didn't want to die like a rat on the street, he wanted to go out fighting and with his famous Katana in hand he just might. The sun glinted off the left over pieces of metal from the wreckage which effectively gave away the positions of all seven of the bounty hunters.

Sasuke crouched down behind the closest hunter then executing perfect speed and precision Sasuke sliced her right down the middle, the Katana went through her like a scythe through ripe wheat. The female bounty hunters blood slowly started sliding down the flat of the Katana, in a moment of weakness Sasuke looked at his Katana and all he saw was Sakura crying when he tried to leave all those years ago.

This wave of emotion had surprised him making him halt all motion for a few seconds but that was all it took for someone to knock him out from behind then tie him up and escape from the other money hungry bounty hunters.

…

Sakura woke up this morning feeling a sudden pang of fear, her whole being had frozen over like a glacier. Sakura's tension was only increased when Neji came to discuss the case again; although Neji noticed something was wrong but didn't ask in fear of making it worse which Sakura was thankful for. The mood Sakura was in changed when Neji asked about what happened with Sasuke; strangely enough it made Sakura happy to see someone actually interested in what happened instead of just making this into a political show case for the people.

Sakura stared down at the sweat patches on the light lavender prison jumpsuit she had to wear "If I told the truth no one would believe me or if they did would not understand so for the sake of keeping this a valid truth I must turn into someone I despise" Sakura got up from her seat on the ground then walked over to the middle of the room to look at the sky light.

Neji looked at the exhausted Sakura then at his folders "You're right if we brought it up at trial it would likely be dissected into something far from its intent"

Sakura started to cough as if to avoid staying on this topic of conversation; Neji got the message then continued his examination of the case at hand. Sakura barely listened as Neji went on about how this was just a glorified show case for the public not an actual trial. Sakura just kept on thinking about Sasuke's stone cold lifeless body. Sakura deeply regretted not being able to give him a proper burial, it upset her even more to think of his body just being left on the cold ground to be eaten by Vultures, picturing that scene made Sakura cringe then not surprisingly she threw up. Neji jumped up from his spot on the ground then caught Sakura just before she fell to the ground, Sakura started feeling incredibly dizzy and her body heated up immediately. Sakura started sweating even more so Neji picked her up then placed her on the bed, Sakura's weak frame laid on the solid metal bed while Neji cleaned up the mess she made.

…

Later that night Sakura woke up from her sickened state remembering what happened earlier that day when Neji came to visit. Sakura realized that she was still sick from all those weeks ago but couldn't speculate what was wrong; it seems her common cold had developed into a mutant strain with all the torture tactics the Anbu employed to make her talk. Sakura just had to live with it until she got better or when they sentenced her to death that is if they end up executing her. Execution was the most likely course for what she did but who knows maybe they would just send her to life in prison or a life in a psychiatric hospital.

Sakura thought about all three possibilities but to Sakura the death sentence seemed like the most pleasing option especially seeing as she had nothing left to live for. Although something was bugging Sakura since the other day. Why did Lady Tsunade order that medical test? It certainly was a mystery Sakura had to unravel it might ensure her a fair trial.

…

Sasuke woke up blind folded in what he assumed was a pool of sweat. Sasuke was in a completely phased state of mind, Sasuke assumed this was the work of some narcotic the bounty hunter used to keep him sedated. Of course this meant it would be harder to figure out his surroundings and even harder to escape.

The ground was hard like wood but it wasn't separate planks like most floors it was just one large piece of polished wood, something was dripping on to an exposed part of his neck. No light peered through the blind fold so Sasuke came to the conclusion that it was dark in the room yet he could feel some sort of heat shooting up his right leg.

Sasuke could feel the floor vibrating and the vibrations were getting closer "I wouldn't move if I we're you, I've doped you up so much that it would be extremely unwise. Also you sustained a wound to your leg in the get away so you might bleed out but dead or alive I can still get a sizeable amount of money" The tone of the voice suggested it was a young male but Sasuke had been fooled before.

…

Sakura was anxious to see Neji after all he said he would be checking up on Naruto's psychiatric reports for the last two years, it was Neji's idea to check them in case they gave evidence supporting Sakura's story. It was a long shot after all if a ninja failed on even one psych test it is reported to the Hokage so she can decide the proper treatment.

Sakura nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the door unlock, the open door revealed a tired Neji and an energetic yet confused TenTen. Sakura was confused herself she definitely didn't expect TenTen to be here. Nonetheless Sakura was happy to have another person on her side.

TenTen gave off her beaming smile then proceeded towards Sakura "Well Sakura you sure have provided a challenge but I'm sure Neji and I can get through it"

Sakura couldn't help but laugh at that statement but then again TenTen had that effect on people "Boredom does things to a person it even gets them into so much trouble that they might be facing death, in any case I'm glad to have provided you with amusement"

Neji placed his hand on his forehead then took in a deep breath "I'm glad you two are getting along because I have to get some more files from home so I have to leave you two alone for a bit"

TenTen looked at Neji with disbelief "I wouldn't have agreed to help unless I believed she was innocent"

Neji placed the folders in his hands on the metal slab which was Sakura's bed then dashed out the door; TenTen shrugged her shoulders then went through the stacks of papers Neji had left behind. Sakura helped TenTen go over the paper work.

…To be continued…