The Dragon in the Maelstrom
Chapter 28: Trial and Tribulations.
Written by Jlargent.
Me: Here we go with chapter 28. And to my fans of Breaking Fate's Curse fic I'm sorry for the delay but the story is on hold at the moment since the fight between Relius and Makoto will take some time to pull off. Brown Phantom reviewed about the outcome of this chapter and he's dead on target, it's kinda scary that I'm starting to get that predictable. As always typical disclaimers apply I do not own Avatar the last airbender or Naruto in any shape or form.
Azula's POV
"All rise. The tribunal for Jonin Hatake Kakashi is now underway." Morino Ibki spoke bringing the mass of people that were attending the trial to silence as Kakashi stands there in the standard prison uniform an eye patch covering his left eye his headband removed when he was arrested shortly after the invasion and shackled in charka suppressing manacles. Kakashi apparently sent his summons to track Sasuke and was livid that Gaara killed him and immediately placed the blame on Naruto and lunged at him only to be restrained by Gai and Asuma and placed in confinement.
Cue three weeks later now that the invasion has ended with only a few minor causalities but among them was the man that allowed me to adopt Naruto in the first place Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed while fighting against his former student and Anko's former sensei Orochimaru. Shortly after the funeral the civilians clamored for Naruto's involvement in Sasuke's death but they were quickly silenced by the council.
Kakashi's lawyer Hadeki Kuno is known as a staunch Uchiha supporter and has been known to bribe and threaten witnesses but nothing could be proven stands next to him like a slimy vendor that would fleece you out of your hard earned money and in an expensive suit that seemed two sizes too small for his bloated frame and a hideously pathetic comb over on his sweating bald head that needs to be wiped off every few seconds objected.
"Your honor I demand that you end this farce of a trial at once! It is obvious that this is an attempt to frame my client." he shouted. Only for Ibiki to slam his gavel.
"Overruled. The prosecutor Inochi Yamankana will give his opening statement." Ibiki said as Inochi stands up from his seat and walks over to the jury.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury like you I have a child that is a shinobi and as such many of you are well aware of Kakashi Hatake's record during the previous war under the command of the late Fourth Hokage. But that gives him no excuse for his actions towards the defendant Naruto Uzumaki for attempting to assault or kill him for supposedly killing the deceased Sasuke Uchiha. I will prove to you today that my client is innocent of these charges." with those words Inochi walks back to his seat.
Ibiki looked at Hadeki "Kuno your opening statement please." Hadeki stands up from his chair which gave a creak due to his weight and waddles over to the jury like a giant penguin and addresses the jury.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. We are gathered here because my client has been falsely accused of attempted murder during a time of war against a fellow ninja. Now normally the case is easily solved by executing the perpetrator in question but what makes this case different is that the supposed victim in question is a blight upon this village as a whole that should've been killed years ago but it was due to the softhearted actions of our Third Hokage that he still lives. I intend to prove that Naruto Uzumaki was solely responsible for killing the last Uchiha and my client was justifiable in his actions." he stated earning loud cheers from the civilians present and protests from the shinobi until Ibki called for order.
The trial began in earnest with Kakashi taking the stand and questioned about his accomplishments and it ended with Kakashi claiming that Naruto was lying when Sasuke said that he was ordered by Kakashi to kill him during the exams. When it was Naruto's turn he admitted to accidentally sending Sasuke flying literally into Gaara's sand causing a loud roar of protests.
"ORDER! IF THERE IS ONE MORE COMPLAINT THEY WILL GO A FEW ROUNDS WITH ME!" Ibiki roared quieting the crowd, Inochi cleared his throat bringing the trial back on track.
"Mr. Uzumaki are you certain that the deceased stated that Kakashi Hatake wanted to use the Chidori as practice for when he encounters his older brother Itachi?" Inochi asks him.
"Yes sir he did." Naruto answers him.
"Then you would not mind that I perform a jutsu to confirm this?" Inochi asks Naruto.
"No sir, I do not mind." Naruto responds, Inochi performs some hand seals.
"Yamanaka Art: Memory Projection Jutsu!" Inochi proclaims as a five foot by five foot screen appears and we watch the memory being played.
Flashback Naruto's POV
"Sasuke he's too strong for you to handle. Head back to the village and I'll hold him off." I tried to reason with him only for him to turn his attention towards me.
"Kakashi sensei told me that it was your fault that his sensei and teammate died on the night of the Kyuubi attack. And he taught me this move just so I can avenge them as a practice run before I kill my brother." he said as he charges at me, his hand covered in lightning and just before he could reach me I teleported behind him.
End flashback
Inochi cancels the jutsu and turns to Kakashi who was now as sweaty as Kuno knowing that he'll be next, then turns back to Naruto "No further questions your honor."
Ibiki nodded "Mr. Uzumaki you may step down." Naruto stands up and returns to the defendants table "Mr. Hatake please take the stand." Ibiki ordered and Kakashi stands up slowly and walks as though his feet suddenly turned to lead until he finally makes it to the stand.
"Mr. Hatake we have witnessed Sasuke Uchiha's confession are you willing to confirm this?" Inochi asks.
Kakashi sighs heavily "Yes it's true."
Inochi's eyes hardened "Then I ask the court's permission to view this man's memories." Inochi asks Ibiki who was frowning deeply.
"Permission granted councilor." Ibiki spoke and Inochi repeated the seals and as before the screen appeared.
Flashback
"Now Sasuke before we begin training there's something I should tell you." Kakashi spoke catching Sasuke's attention "As you know the night of the Kyuubi attack the Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to defeat it."
Sasuke snorted "So? What does that have to do with this?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed "The Kyuubi killed the Fourth who was my sensei and my teammate Rin that night just so he could seal it away in his son." Sasuke's eyes widened at the revelation that Kakashi gave "Even now the fox mocks us by taking on the form of the Fourth when he was younger. But the Third prevents us from doing anything to harm him, but if he was killed during the exams…" he trailed off leaving it to the imagination "Besides consider this practice for when you encounter Itachi." with those words Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the mention of his traitorous brother.
"Give me the power I need to kill Naruto so I can finally attain my dream of killing Itachi. My brother is not a hero like the Hokage said, he's a traitor that must die at my hands."
End flashback.
Ibiki slammed his gavel "Kakashi Hatake you are to be executed one month from now for not only breaking the Third's law but attempted murder by association but before that Azula Uzumaki has a punishment for you for teaching him your signature jutsu. Your skin will be burned off and you will be placed in a vat of salt water for a week straight with silencing seals applied to you. Nobody wants to hear your pathetic excuses or whimpers of pain, take him away." Ibiki says and two Chuunins grab Kakashi and lead him out of the courtroom.
Ibiki banged his gavel "The case is closed. Naruto Uzumaki while playing a minor part of the Uchiha's death it was unavoidable since he was already a flight risk due to his obsession of killing his brother, you are free to go." Ibiki said just as the doors of the courtroom burst open to reveal Kakashi his hand covered in lighting.
"DIE DEMON RAIKIRI!" Kakashi screams and barrels towards Naruto only to stop a few feet from him, I look to see Shikamaru and Shikaku utilizing their Shadow Possession and Shadow Strangulation jutsu respectively as I launch a low level lightning at Kakashi knocking him out from the pain inflicted.
"GET HIM OUT OF HERE NOW!" Ibiki roared again as they dragged him out of the room again "Naruto Uzumaki and Shikamaru Nara on behalf of the Chuunin selection committee I hereby award you with the title of Chuunin for courage under fire and your accomplishments." Ibiki said as he handed Naruto and Shikamaru their flak jackets "Naruto Lord Jiraiya wants to speak to you as soon as possible mission." he said as he leaves the courtroom.
Naruto's POV
I head to the hot springs to find the self proclaimed Super Pervert spying on the women's side.
"Yo, Mega-Perv you called me for a mission?" I called out to him almost making him fall from the tree he was hiding in.
"Shh…Be very, very quiet. I'm conducting research." He giggled reminiscent of that cartoon that I watched when I was younger about a hunter and a rabbit. He then turns serious "All joking aside I want you to accompany me in finding my teammate Tsunade. The council wanted me originally to take up the position but I refused, I'm best suited for fieldwork maintaining my spy network rather than sitting behind a desk all day doing paperwork, though using the crystal ball for research is severely tempting." he drooled at that statement.
"So you suggested Tsunade because she's related to the First and Second Hokage's and would be better suited for the desk job?" I questioned him.
He nodded in confirmation "That and she's one of the best damn med-nins alive doesn't hurt." he said "We'll meet at the western gate tomorrow morning at ten o'clock." he said leaping back into his tree. I nodded and headed back to the apartment to pack my supplies. When I arrived I see mom and Anko lounging in the living room reading cheap romance novels mom noticed my presence.
"Hey son what did Jiraiya want?" she asks me placing a bookmark into the novel.
"Not much, he wants me to help him search for his teammate to take over as Hokage." I said earning nods of approval.
Anko spoke up "Hey Azula didn't you want to talk to Naruto about something?" Anko asks mom perked up remembering.
"Thanks for reminding me Anko the invasion and cleanup made me forget." mom said stretching in her seat "You see I was thinking, we've been living here for eight years now and I think that we should move into an actual house and Anko and I decided to talk to you about it to see if you like the idea of us moving into a house and make it into a home." she said looking at me, I take a close look around the apartment that has been my home for my whole life up to this point and while I may have grown up here I think it's time to move out the building itself is barely holding itself together and it is sheer luck that our apartment is one of the only good ones that's decent enough to live in.
"You know what? I think it is time to move out. One part of me is going to be sad that we're moving out but another part of me is looking forward to the move." I said making Mom and Anko smile.
"I agree with you Naruto. While we've been living here I could not help but feel a sentimental attachment to this place but it's time to move out. While you're gone Anko and I will start on the house hunting and hopefully by the time you come back we'll have a new place to live." mom said as I head into my room to pack for tomorrow and that night the three of us shared one last dinner in the apartment before I head out tomorrow.
The next morning mom, Anko and Hinata were standing by the gate as I walk up to it dragging Jiraiya by the ear "Sorry that we're late, the Super-Perv here decided to do some last minute research before heading out." I explained to them as they gave their respective words of good luck. Well in Hinata's case a deep searing kiss that threatened to knock me out but somehow I managed to prevent that, with a wave of my hand the two of us head off to find Tsunade and convince her to take up the mantle of the Fifth Hokage.
To be continued…
Me: Chapter 28 is done and the search for Tsunade is on! Next time: On the way to Tsunade's current location Naruto encounters two mysterious individuals. Who are they and why are they looking for Naruto? The answer may surprise you. I now have a challenge forum so feel free to check them out, I currently have two challenges but I will add more soon.
As always Hoody Hoo!