Summary
Because, no matter what they want, the Hokage gets the final say...
A/N: So here is the next chapter! That being said, this one takes another person's point of view mostly. I also just want to say that I love Tsunade. I think she really is one of the most underappreciated characters of the Naruto franchise. Say amen if you agree with me!
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Tsunade didn't really know what to expect that morning when she got into her office and plopped down into her cushy Hokage chair. It certainly wasn't for Shizune to burst into the room wailing at the top of her lungs about something most likely inane. The slug princess didn't have the patience to deal with this at the moment. Especially since she was still nursing a hangover.
"What could possibly be so important that you have to make that much noise!" Tsunade snapped, glaring fiercely at the her dark-haired apprentice. Shizune was cowed, but only for a second, before she was snatching the blonde's wrist and dragging her out the door.
"Itachi Uchiha just came in at the front gate! ANBU and ROOT are everywhere! It's absolute chaos, Lady Tsunade!" the younger woman babbled out, not stopping in the least as they barreled down the stairs and headed for the front of the village, "No one can currently get to him, though, because there's a barrier that's been put up that even our barrier squads can't penetrate! You must do something! People are starting to panic! If Sasuke hears about this, he'll destroy the hospital just to try to get there!"
Tsunade officially hated the Uchiha prodigy.
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Outwardly, Itachi looked cool as a cucumber. Inwardly, he was sweating bullets. There were a lot of ANBU prepped to KOS the moment Kagome's barrier faltered. Yes, he had absolute confidence that his priestess would easily be able to hold up against the barrier squads panicking outside their little bubble, but if she did fall, how the hell was he going to fight off all these people in order to protect her?
"How are you feeling?" the Uchiha asked, glancing at his partner. She seemed to be fine, but was concentrating quite a bit.
"I'm okay. A litte strained because they keep trying to break through," Kagome replied, giving him a meek smile, "but I won't let them hurt you."
"It's not me I'm worried about," the Sharingan user murmured. There was a commotion in the back that caught both of the teenagers' attentions. People were starting to move.
"If you people don't get the hell out of my way, I will start throwing punches!" a woman's voice bellowed, scattering the ninja populace to the sides and letting through a thoroughly pissed off busty blonde. Itachi immediately knew who this was. The legendary sannin Tsunade, current Hokage of Konohagakure.
'We might just be in luck after all,' the former heir thought, sizing up the woman and coming up interested. He knew what this woman was capable of. She could crush buildings with a flick of her wrist, smash craters the size of lakes with a touch of her heel, and bring someone virtually back from death's door with a touch of her healing chakra. The infamous slug princess was someone he immediately knew he could respect.
"So, the rumors are true," the blonde muttered, narrowing sharp amber eyes at the Uchiha prodigy standing calmly in the center of the riot, a bright pink dome of energy surrounding him and a pretty raven-haired girl he was shielding from various glares and sneers standing at his side, "You really know how to stir up trouble, boy."
He acknowledged her with a quirk of his mouth and a slight bow in respect, "Yes. I have that affect on people, apparently." He motioned to the guards that had been manning the front desk, both passed out in shock and puddles of drool. Tsunade visibly twitched, knowing she was going to have to rip into Kotetsu and Izumo's hides later.
"So then, why have you decided to just waltz in here like you own the place, Uchiha?" the Hokage asked, arching a brow sarcastically as he glanced at the various military officers surrounding them.
"Firstly, I don't waltz. That's just unbecoming," Itachi started, glancing at Kagome when she slapped a hand to her face and groaned under her breath. Tsunade resisted the urge to smirk. Despite obviously being under pressure, the Sharingan user seemed to still possess a rather dry wit, "Secondly, call off your ninjas and let's talk peacibly. Thirdly, I do techinically still own the Uchiha District, thereby a large portion of Konoha. So, in a way, should I decide to waltz, I have every right to." This time, the priestess gave him a sharp look and smacked his arm for his comments.
"Don't antagonize her, smart ass," she growled, huffing angrily when he merely reached over and mussed up her hair absently.
"You should listen to her, Uchiha. I might not be so inclined to let my hand slip and accidently put a hole through your head if you keep it up," the busty blonde drawled, cracking her knuckles in a somewhat menacing way.
"I do apologize. Apparently my brand of humor is as abnormal as myself." A couple of people had to agree with that. Even more were in shock. After all, Itachi was known for not possessing a sense of humor. At all.
"All right, now why are you here causing such a commotion?" Tsunade grumbled, crossing her arms and shifting her feet.
"It is quite simple really. I'm turning myself in. I have information that I know you and your allies would sorely wish to accomodate, however, I will not simply hand over what you want. This is a negotiation, not a capture. I am willing to make a deal with you," the Uchiha explained, many of the surrounding ninja gasping in shock. The infamous Uchiha clan prodigy was turning himself in? Kakashi was sure he was going to faint.
"I see. And how do I know we can trust this information."
"Two words: Madara Uchiha." The slug princess sucked in a breath in shock, bright eyes unbelieving. There was no way!
"That's impossible! My grandfather killed him!"
"Did the First ever make sure? Did he stay and wait to hear Madara's heart stop? For him to cease breathing altogether? He did not, and that is wherein lay his mistake." He took a breath and continued, "Besides, there is proof. Have you checked with your border patrol yet? I'm positive they have some interesting reports to give you."
"I haven't received those reports yet," Tsunade ground out, glaring again at the smug teen before continuing in a slightly curious tone, "Why the sudden change in tune, Uchiha?"
"My work with the Akatsuki has suffered due to my morales being re-evaluated. Therefore, I intend to do what is right. However, I demand that I am allowed to explain everything I have done since the moment I became an ANBU Captain when I was thirteen. I am sure that my information will prove extremely useful to you, Lady Hokage."
"... Very well. I will listen to what you have to say," the Hokage finally agreed after a long hard look at him that made him want to fidget, for some reason, "What about your friend here?"
"She is a civilian. She is not trained, and if she is harmed in any way, I will rip this village apart and take her with me into hiding. Forever," Itachi answered, glaring bright Sharingan eyes at everyone in the vicinity.
"Right then. She gets diplomatic immunity," the blonde woman sighed, raising her voice so that everyone gathered would hear her, "Did the rest of you hear that? If this girl is hurt, there will be personal consequences from not only myself, but the Uchiha as well! So don't screw up!"
"Yes ma'am!" was chorused all around them, making the Uchiha in question breathe a small sigh of relief. No one would willingly disobey a direct order from their Hokage.
Another commotion caught everyone's attention, and several shnobi parted to allow the newcomers in. Danzou and the elders had arrived on the scene.
"So it's true," the ROOT leader hissed, glaring hatefully at Itachi. Kagome shivered next to him and the teen shuffled a few steps in front of her to block the old man's view of her as he bared his teeth at the older man menacingly. "I knew this day would come! Do you see the traitor standing here in front of you? Why isn't he dead?"
"Because I've given every armed ninja orders not to KOS, at the moment, Danzou," Tsunade countered, a visibly sour look flitting across her face. She'd never liked the old war mogul, and his lack of any definable conscience only cemented her ire for the man. Her two councelers gasped and leveled severe looks at her.
"He should not be treated as a decorated hero, Lady Hokage!" Koharu's voice came out like a whiplash, and it took everything Itachi possessed of his self control to not immediately kill the woman. She was part of the reason for this entire mess.
"He is a dangerous enemy to the Leaf village!" Homura growled, glaring hatefully at the Uchiha.
"A danger to your position of power," the Sharingan user hissed, baring his teeth in fury as his shuriken hand twitched murderously. Kagome's hand on his arm barely stopped him.
"Itachi, please! You said you wanted to do this peacefully!" the priestess pleaded, staring up at him with large blue eyes. He pursed his lips in annoyance and relaxed again. It wouldn't do well to seem hostile; even if the old people deserved it.
"Well, Lady Hokage? Do we have an accord?" the stoic teen finally asked, pinning Tsunade suddenly with his dark eyes. Eyes that were pleading for her to understand; to listen! The blonde woman was torn. She could either hear the boy out, thereby learning what she was sure to be highly sought-after information about the Akatsuki, or she could cut her losses now and have him arrested without a fair trial. Glancing at her old advisors sealed the deal in her mind. They were all literally sweating in terror.
"Deal, Uchiha! I want a full report," she announced, raising her voice suddenly, "And I want news from the northern border patrol RIGHT NOW!" People scrambled to do as she said, Homura and Koharu shouted angrily, and Danzou pinned Itachi with a look filled with so much loathing that Kagome swayed on the spot for having that malicious feeling sent in her general direction. Her barrier flickered alarmingly before she was able to stabilize it again. The Sharingan user put an arm around her shoulders to steady her, uncaring that several high-ranking ninjas were goggling at him for the move.
Another commotion brought attention to someone shoving their way through the crowds, and the former heir almost winced at the abrasive electric feel of his younger brother's violent aura. Sasuke burst through the crowd, laid eyes on him, and launched himself angrily at the pair.
"Itachi! You bast-!" He was cut off suddenly when Kakashi seized him by the back of the collar and tossed the young boy over his shoulder. "Let me go, damn it! I have to-! Itachi! I'll fuckin' kill you!"
"Enough, Sasuke. He's here for specific reasons! Let go of your hatred and just listen to what he has to say!" the silver-haired jounin remonstrated in a stern voice. Sasuke struggled against the much larger male and directed hate-filled Sharingan eyes at his older sibling.
"But... doesn't he know?" Kagome asked quietly, heartbreak filling her eyes at the angry look the young boy that looked so much like Itachi threw them. The smaller Uchiha deflated in shock when his gaze connected with hers suddenly. He knew that girl!
"You... You were in his head..." Sasuke murmured, unable to process the information as he was carted off by his sensei. Why would his heartless brother have her with him? Hadn't he killed her?
Tsunade bit her lip and motioned for an ANBU guard to approach. Murmuring in his ear, the man nodded and followed the young boy and his teacher.
"What did you tell him?" Itachi asked, warily eyeing the disappearing trio as the slug princess sidled up to them.
"I told him to put your brother in confinement until he can calm down. I don't want him ruining things before he gets to hear what really happened that night," she replied, looking over the barrier and giving an impressed whistle. She just had to make sure... "This is quite an accomplishment. A sturdy barrier that holds up to the squads? Where did you learn that, Uchiha?"
"I didn't," the former Clan heir replied, gesturing to a somewhat shy Kagome, "Kagome excells at mystifying people."
"Interesting. It needs to come down if we're going to do this, though," Tsunade murmured, holding up a hand when it looked like he would protest, "In good faith, you must show you are willing to do this, Uchiha."
Itachi bit the inside of his cheek and finally nodded slowly after a few moments of indecision. The more he stalled, the more they would all think it was a hoax. Reaching out, he laid a hand on the top of Kagome's head and took a deep breath. "Let it down, Kagome."
The priestess let out a shaky breath and raised her hand. A few murmued words later, the pink dome shifted and dissolved into a dusty residue that whirled away in the air.
For a moment, no one moved.
The Sharingan master closed his eyes and held out his hands. "Go ahead. Do it." Tsunade nodded and signaled. Two ANBU quickly approached him. One clapped a pair of chakra restraining cuffs on his wrists while the other mumbled under his breath and hit him with a draining technique. He was helpless now; without any kind of power to wield. Finally, Tsunade approached him, touched two fingers to his forehead and placed a powerful seal on his reserves. He wouldn't be able to access them until she lifted it; of that he was positive.
"Itachi Uchiha, your trial begins now. By the powers invested in me, a full investigation will be processed. Do you, the defendant, have anything you would like to say?"
"Yes." Determined gray eyes met fierce amber and he took a breath. "Everything that happened that led up to the Uchiha Massacre was part of a secret mission."
There was instant chaos.
In the bedlam, Itachi was trotted off to the Interrogations Squad, and Kagome was left to watch as he disappeared. A light touch at her arm startled her and she met with the dark eyes of a black-haired woman with a strained smile.
"Come, you must be exhausted. My name is Shizune, and Lady Tsunade has asked me to get a testimonial from you. But after we get you cleaned up." The priestess allowed her to steer her in the opposite direction, blue eyes dark with worry and her heart racing.
'Itachi... I hope you know what you're doing.' A thought suddenly hit her and she turned to face the other woman.
"I don't mean to be demanding, but can you take me somewhere after you get a testimony?"
"Umm... I suppose so, but I'll have to go with you," Shizune replied, surprised at the odd request.
"Good. I'd like to see Itachi's brother."
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Tsunade sat stunned. It was almost unbelievable the amount of useful information that Itachi Uchiha possessed! And the inner workings of Akatsuki! This was even better than all the information Jiraiya had been gathering for years! However...
"So then... I'll be going through the Third's files a little more thoroughly this time around. This... mission..."
"It probably wasn't documented in any way," the Uchiha replied, sighing almost imperceptibly, "It was supposed to make it seem the I went completely insane and I killed them for power. You'll have a hard time finding much of anything on that date that won't incriminate me."
"What if... What if I had a genjutsu user go through those memories-!"
"I doubt anyone in this village would be able to stomach any of my memories. Besides, having someone rooting around in my head would leave... a distinctly nasty taste in my mouth," the Sharingan user grumbled, earning a look from the Hokage.
"As if you haven't done it yourself."
"I am fairly positive that the only person that could do something like that is Sasuke, and his Sharingan isn't strong enough to be on par with mine."
"You've demonstrated that. I had to fix his mind, you know." At that, Itachi almost cringed, but kept up his reserved facade to perceive that he had no weaknesses.
"I'm afraid my little brother won't ever forgive me."
"He won't... unless you tell him the truth," Tsunade replied, sighing quietly and rising to her feet. The former heir followed her movements as she began pacing, wishing that his hands weren't bound and his chakra reserves cut off so harshly. Then again, the entire village still thought he was a crazy criminal, so for their peace of mind, he'd allowed them to drain him of his impressive chakra. He doubted he could even call up enough power to form his infamous Sharingan.
"The truth... will be just as harsh on him as the illusion."
"I imagine it would be. Your friend... that girl? Who is she, exactly? And don't say she's some innocent civilian!" She added quickly when the teen opened his mouth, "I can tell that she's definitely not normal. Start talking!"
"She's... Her name is Kagome Higurashi. She's a priestess, and she's the reason why I'm here right now. I'm doing the right thing for her sake," Itachi murmured, not willing to meet the knowing amber orbs watching him intently. For some reason, he could feel his face heating up. A widening of eyes and the drop of a jaw confirmed his suspicions. She'd seen that.
"You... You love her..."
"I am still human, prone to human emotions, and just as likely to fall in love with a woman as the next straight man," he retorted in annoyance, sending the older woman a petulant glare that he knew probably looked childish to her.
"Well... A lot of people assume you don't have a heart."
"I left my brother alive because I couldn't kill him. I'm too emotionally attached to Sasuke. Even now. I believe that more than constitutes the idea that I possess a heart."
"It's the same with the girl, isn't it?" At his nod, she sighed and turned away to pace again. This... was going to be an extremely difficult case.
"That is why I will continue to say that she had nothing to do with my plans."
"All right." The blonde woman grabbed her chair, scraped it over to him, and flopped onto it. "I did end up getting those reports from the northern border. Several ANBU encountered a crazed Madara Uchiha tied to a tree." She leveled a look at him and watched the smug light shine in his dark eyes. "I take it you had something to do with that?"
"Indeed. He may not talk now, but he's defenseless against jutsu as well." It was a good piece of advice that the slug princess would pass on to the Interrogations Squad.
"Start again from the beginning. If we're going to build a case, it needs to have the right elements."
Itachi almost goggled at her. "You... actually believe me?"
"You don't seem like the type of man to lie about something like this, right?"
"No. I omit the truth, and twist things a little, but I have only ever lied once. That was to Sasuke to make him want to hate me."
"Right. Best not to say anything about that yet. Let's get moving, Uchiha."
"... Very well. I was four when I witnessed my first battlefield..."
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Tsunade bit her lip as the heads of the other clans continued to debate back and forth about the case she'd presented on Itachi's behalf. Despite the fact that she truly did believe the young Uchiha, that didn't necessarily mean the other council members would. After several minutes and still no viable decision was made, the busty blonde finally rose to her feet and slammed her fist 'gently' on the council table. It cracked down the middle, catching eveyone's attention, and she flushed slightly as she cleared her throat. She really hadn't meant to do that.
"As things stand, I think it's best if we take a vote. There seems to be no unanimous decision that will be made," at that statement, she sent a glare at Homura, Koharu, and Danzou, all of whom had been protesting a trial loudly and visciously. Well, she had some major dirt on all three of them now. Especially after reading the Third's journal that she wasn't supposed to have read.
"All that are opposed to Itachi Uchiha's pardon, raise your hand now." Hands went up, and a count was made. "Thank you, now you may lower them." This was going to be close.
"All that are for this motion, raise your hand now." Her hand was included in this series of votes, many of the opposers surprised by her vote. "You may lower them."
Biting her lip, she sighed and finally turned away. "It seems that we've come to our decision. ANBU! Send in Itachi Uchiha to hear the verdict!"
"Yes ma'am!" Several guards blurted out, two of them leaving. A few moments later, they returned with the bound teen, his chakra still unusable and his face drawn tightly in a blank mask. Nodding at the guards, they sat him in the only chair that remained unfilled, and with a snap of several hand signs, the chains hanging from the chair sprang to life and wrapped themselves around him tightly.
'They aren't taking any chances, are they?' Itachi thought, resisting the urge to wince when a few links dug into his side.
"We're ready to present the council's decision."
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A/N: Annnnnd ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER! I'm doing more of these recently, but this one was necessary. Otherwise this chapter and the next one would bleed together and it would be a really long ass chapter. Anyways, we've come to the end of this story. I hope you guys are ready to finish this as much as I am. Next chapter will be up very shortly.
I'm really excited, but also sad. I've had so much fun working on this story!
Now, for those of you that are wondering, all of my other stories/series are on hold until I finish this one. I'm so close, and I want to concentrate completely on these last few chapters so that I can deliver to the best of my ability.
Anyways, reviews are appreciated. Always appreciated.