Okay all, here's the next chapter of The Prince and The Slave. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and added me to their faves and alerts lists. I really appreciate it.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Thirty-Seven.
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(General P.O.V.)
Sasuke stared at the papers in front of him. He was sat with Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Pein, Deidara, Sasori, Shikaku, Minato and Ibiki. Ino, Hinata and Tsunade were also there. "I've had a report from Sakura. She's already started working on getting all those destroyed villages back into shape. There's been very little trouble, but she insists on overseeing the work to make sure. Many villages were completely wiped out. As it is, we're not sure if every village will be rebuilt. For some villages there are little or no survivors. The thought was that they can all choose to settle in one place, and spread out if and when the need arises, or they can rebuild their villages and hope that more people will come to settle." Tsunade stated. Sasuke looked at Jiraiya.
"How many former slaves have nowhere to go Jiraiya-San?" Sasuke asked the man.
"Many. More then I even thought possible. So much devastation was caused by Orochimaru alone, let alone by other slave traders. We're looking at details as to where they used to live. As Tsunade said, many villages were wiped out, some people have chosen to band together and build a single village out of their survivors. A few families headed off with Sakura and a few went after her. They want to feel safe and the idea that Pein and Konan, the former leaders of Akatsuki, will be making their home in Pein's old home village, has spurred some of them into going there. News travels fast. Hopefully with the influx of people it will make the job to rebuild that village faster, but there will be many without homes when winter hits. These are the people we need to worry about most." Jiraiya replied.
"Has anyone thought of any solutions for this?" Sasuke asked, not really knowing how they were going to house so many people.
"I thought we could convert some of the nearby Amphitheatres into makeshift homes for people, at least for the winter. They're within the city, so the people won't starve and we won't be using them, since you abolished slavery, there's no need for blood sports." Ino suggested. Sasuke smirked at the memory of telling the old councillors that he was abolishing blood sports. Itachi entered the room then.
"You're late, brother." Sasuke stated. Itachi smirked.
"Looking after your personal guard isn't easy Sasuke. Of course that's not the reason I was late. This morning Lord Dotou tried to leave Fire Country with his slaves. He had their papers and even though he insisted that these people were following of their own free will, when I had my men check closely they were all chained." Itachi said. Sasuke nodded, not happy with this development. He knew it would happen, but he had hoped people would be smart enough to realise that Sasuke was serious. Now he had to prove he was.
"Have his former slaves said anything?" Sasuke asked.
"Once they saw we were letting them go, they were eager to talk. Lord Dotou was the type to breed his own slaves amongst the slaves. The women were terrified of him and they were willing to speak just for the opportunity to be free. Apparently he has had them hidden in an underground bunker on his property, all this time since you abolished slavery. He's... he was still using them in the same ways as before. Especially the women." Itachi told Sasuke sadly. Sasuke felt a burning anger consume him.
"Lock this Lord in a secure dungeon. I don't want him trying to bribe anyone to let him out. Don't tell me it doesn't happen Itachi." Sasuke stated as he saw a look cross his brother's face. Itachi let out a sarcastic laugh.
"It doesn't happen anymore. If I catch a man taking a bribe he doesn't work very long." Itachi stated firmly.
"We have our monthly convening of the court in just under two weeks. There, Lord Dotou will be tried and sentenced. I would appreciate it, Ino, if you would take statements from his former slaves. Those that feel able to, may speak against him at court but I will not force them too. Lady Tsunade?" Sasuke asked. Tsunade nodded her head to show she was listening. "I would appreciate it if you used your skills as a medic to determine what injuries these people have sustained since slavery was abolished. I wish to build a strong case against him. If he is to be the first to disobey the law and commit treason, then he'll be the one to set the precedent." Sasuke stated. Ino and Tsunade both nodded. Sasuke looked at Itachi. "Brother? I would ask you to go with them. At least until these people have built some trust with Lady Tsunade and Ino. You know who Dotou's former slaves were and where they are at the moment." Sasuke said. Itachi nodded his understanding. This meeting had already been going on for over two hours and Sasuke took a deep breath as he ended the meeting for today, deciding to go and send Sakura a message. Sakura had promised to be back for court, but he wanted to warn her of what she might be facing when she returned.
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It was a week later, whilst Ino was speaking to Hinata in her chambers, when they both saw Ten Ten and Lee ride into the courtyard. Hinata and Ino both felt their hearts stop, when they realised that there was no woman with them. A child rode in front of Lee. "Who is the kid?" Ino asked softly.
"Maybe we should go and find out." Hinata said gently. The pair made their way to the courtyard where a stable boy was taking the horses. Ten Ten and Lee, both looked tired. Ten Ten looked at Ino and Hinata and hugged them both in turn.
"I'm so glad to see you both." Ten Ten said gently. The little girl beside her looked at them.
"Hello there. What's your name?" Ino asked the little girl.
"I'm Aki. Are you my cousin Ten Ten's friends?" Aki asked.
"Yes we are." Hinata answered. Aki smiled brightly, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Come on Aki, let me show you everything. Then I'll show you where we'll all be living, at least for now." Lee told Aki. Aki nodded and took Lee's hand. Ten Ten watched them walk away before walking with Ino and Hinata to her own chambers.
"Lee will bring Aki here soon enough. I... my aunt is dead." Ten Ten said sadly. Ino and Hinata both felt Ten Ten's pain.
"I'm so sorry Ten Ten." Hinata consoled.
"Me too. Really. I know you've been wanting to find her for so long." Ino added. Ten Ten nodded.
"She was very ill when we got there. She... she was waiting for us. She said she knew we'd come to see her one last time..." Ten Ten trailed off, then she started to sob. Hinata sat on one side of Ten Ten and Ino the other, and both girls hugged their friend as she cried, letting her feel her grief. When Ten Ten finally stopped crying, Hinata poured water from a jug into a bowl and Ten Ten washed her face and neck, before using a towel to dry herself. She took a deep breath. "Aki is Lee's little sister, my cousin. My aunt was pregnant when we were captured and I never knew. None of us did, not even her, until after she had been sold. The people who bought her... they treated her kindly. When she began to get sick, they even called their own physician for her. My aunt told me the physician was surprised she was still alive then. She survived in pain just to see Lee and I again. She... she made me promise to look after Lee and Aki, not that I wouldn't anyway, but she... when I promised she seemed so peaceful, she died in my arms." Ten Ten said sadly. Hinata and Ino allowed Ten Ten to carry on telling them the story of what had happened while they were away until a knock came at the door. "Come in!" Ten Ten called. The door opened to reveal Lee and Aki. Aki ran over to Ten Ten and sat on her lap.
"Lee said I will be in the room next door to you and Lee is on the other side so I know where both of you are all the time." Aki said happily.
"I will always let you know where I am Aki. I promise." Ten Ten told the small child. Hinata and Ino saw, in that moment, that Ten Ten had now taken on the role of a Mother, and it strangely suited her.
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Later that night, Neji found out that Ten Ten was back. He headed to her chambers only to find them empty, but he heard singing coming from the room next door. He opened the door gently to see Ten Ten singing to a little girl who was curled up in bed, her eyes were still half open and sleepy. The child saw him and sat bolt upright in bed. Ten Ten stopped singing and turned to look at Neji. She smiled and Neji felt a wave of relief come over him. She was alright, at least physically.
"Aki, this is Neji. I told you about him remember?" Ten Ten told the small girl. Aki nodded her head. She looked at Neji.
"I'm Aki. Ten Ten is my big cousin and Lee is my big brother. Ten Ten told me lots about you. Can you tell me a story?" Aki asked. Neji blinked, not really knowing how to answer. He looked at Ten Ten, who stroked Aki's dark hair back from her face.
"I've never told anyone a story before, but I can try. Is that alright?" Neji asked, surprising even himself in that moment. Aki nodded vigorously. Neji sat on the other side of the child's bed and started to tell a story that he remembered his own Father telling him as a child. Before Neji even reached the end, Aki was fast asleep. Both Neji and Ten Ten crept out of the room and closed the door, before walking into Ten Ten's room. As soon as Ten Ten's door was closed, Ten Ten hugged Neji tightly. Neji hugged her back.
"Thank you for being so kind to her." Ten Ten said. Neji smiled.
"How could I not be? Hinata... Hinata told me what happened when I got back. I was helping Itachi with a plan to convert the old amphitheatres into housing for former slaves, for this coming winter. I'm sorry about your aunt Ten Ten. I know you've been waiting a long time to see her and I know it didn't go to plan. But she... I'm sure she's glad that you're looking after Aki so well." Neji said. Ten Ten smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm hoping so too. It was the last thing she asked of me, before she died. So I intend to look after my cousins as well as I can." Ten Ten replied. With that the pair sat down and Ten Ten explained everything that had been happening since she had left, and Neji in turn explained what had been going on in the capital. Neither one of them needed to say that they were content as they sat and talked. For some things, there was no need for words.
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Three days later, Sakura arrived back in the capital. Karin had been left in charge while she was gone. After all, the village had been Karin's home too, and she would want to see it restored, just as much as Sakura. Sasuke was the first person that Sakura saw, as they bumped into each other in the stables. Sasuke could see Sakura was not as rail thin as she had been, and her hair had grown slightly longer since she had cut it. Her eyes were bright as she hugged Sasuke tightly, and he hugged her back. "I see you got my message?" Sasuke questioned.
"I promised I would be back in time for Court, and I am. But yes, I did get your message. Is there anything I should know for tomorrow?" Sakura asked. Sasuke nodded.
"Go and say hello to everyone else, then come to my study and we can go over it. You haven't been in the meetings, so you haven't seen the witness statements. But I'm sure you'll understand exactly why this man is going on trial tomorrow, if you can call him a man, after reading the affidavits from his former slaves." Sasuke said. Sakura nodded before placing a kiss on Sasuke's cheek.
"I missed you." Sakura said, before she left. Sasuke placed a hand on his cheek and smiled.
"I missed you too Sakura." He said, though she was no longer there to hear him.
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That night, Sasuke looked out over the courtyard from his study window. He heard a knock at his door and the familiar footsteps of his Mother. He turned to see her and Itachi was behind her. "What should I do tomorrow? I can sentence him to death, but..." Sasuke trailed off.
"Sasuke, I learned from my own Father, that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. You owe it to a man you've condemned to die, no matter how awful that man is, to look him in the eye. If you cannot do that, he doesn't truly deserve to die. It was something I always thought of as wrong, when I came to this Kingdom, that there were executioners to do the job that the King should do. But I will not force you to take up an executioners job Sasuke. It has to be your choice. I know... I know what I told you of my people and how they lived, but that doesn't mean you have to be like them." Mikoto told her son. Itachi nodded his agreement.
"I think it has to be your choice also, Sasuke." Itachi replied. Sasuke nodded and his Mother and brother left the room, allowing him the chance to think more on what he had to do in the morning.
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The next morning, court was convened and Sasuke sat on his throne. Many grievances were bought before him as King and he had to answer them. But first and foremost the trial was to take place. Sasuke saw his royal council sat in the two front rows, as Kakashi and Obito brought Lord Dotou into the royal hall. The older man was made to kneel before Sasuke and Sasuke felt a strange urge to just run the man through. He knew this man was guilty, but he had promised a fair justice system. So this man would be allowed to have a trial, though it was merely a formality with all the evidence against him. First, Sasuke had Itachi speak of what he had found, how he had caught Dotou trying to flee with his slaves still in bondage, over the border to Kiri. Then Sasuke called forth those slaves who felt confident enough to testify against the cruelty that had been inflicted upon them. After which, Ino stepped forward to read the affidavits she had taken from those slaves who had been too afraid to face the court. Tsunade was the final one to speak, listing the various injuries she had found on men, women and children, all in the last month since slavery had been abolished. Sasuke looked at Dotou. "What do you have to say for yourself Lord Dotou?" Sasuke asked. Dotou glared.
"I am to be judged on the words of women and slaves? The scum of the earth? Who says that any of them tell the truth?" Dotou stated.
"You do realise the first to speak against you was my own brother, Prince Itachi Uchiha, the captain of my royal guard?" Sasuke questioned back.
"Yes, the royal bastard, of Fire Country. He is no prince. His word, bears less weight than a woman's." Dotou replied, causing murmurs to echo throughout the great hall. Sasuke felt a furious anger licking at his insides. Yes, Itachi had not been fathered by King Fugaku. But Sasuke had never thought of Itachi as a bastard. Truthfully, the law stated that Itachi was not born to a wedded couple, and was therefore considered a bastard. But Sasuke had never even thought of that word, where his brother was concerned. The fact that Dotou had thrown Itachi's legitimacy out, in front of the entire royal court, just made Sasuke furious.
"What do you have to say for yourself, about the treatment of your former slaves?" Sasuke stated coldly.
"The slaves were my property, to do with as I saw fit, when your Father ruled, the nobility had rights, and slaves were slaves. Abolishing slavery has given these people ideas above their stations." Dotou said angrily. Sasuke glared.
"The key word you used, Dotou, was people, not property, people. These slaves were freed under my laws. By keeping them in bondage you have committed treason against the crown. You have forcefully kept people against their will. That is abduction. By forcing yourself on these innocent women and girls, you have committed rape, a multitude of times. You do know what the punishment for rape is do you not Dotou?" Sasuke stated.
"How can it be rape? They're my property!" Dotou yelled.
"That is where you are wrong. You do not seem to understand that they are not your property. They ceased being your property when I became King one month ago. For the crime of rape, you will be castrated. That is the law. But for the crime of high treason, trying to take your fellow human beings into bondage, and leave Fire Country, which I expressly forbade, you will be sentenced to death. The sentences will be carried out forthwith." Sasuke said. He looked at Ibiki. "Ibiki, his castration is your department. When that is done, you will bring him to the town square, where he will be executed with my own sword." Sasuke stated. Dotou looked horrified, so did many of the old councillors.
"Sire, you should not get your hands dirty, we have executioners for this reason." One man said. Sasuke looked at him.
"I was told by my Mother, the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. That is the way it was in her homeland, and it is something I agree with. I will look you in the eyes before you die, Dotou, and I will be the one to carry out your sentence." Sasuke stated. No one said another word as Dotou was taken away. Sasuke stood from his throne and made his way to the town square. Many of Dotou's former slaves as well as many townspeople began to gather as Sasuke waited on the platform in the square. Iruka, Kakashi and Obito hauled a large iron chopping block onto the platform and it was Rin who handed Sasuke a whetstone.
"I know you probably sharpen it every day, but you want to make sure. Taking off a man's head can be difficult. If it takes more than one swing, he'll be screaming, and as brave as you are to do this yourself, at your age, Sire, you'd rather kill him with the first blow, because once he starts screaming it will take everything you have to keep your nerve." Rin told Sasuke seriously.
"Have you ever executed anyone, Rin?" Sasuke asked. Rin bit her bottom lip.
"I saw Minato Sensei do it twice. You know he sentences law breakers in Konoha. I don't know if I could ever do it myself." Rin replied. Sasuke nodded and Rin left the platform. Sasuke waited as he sharpened his sword, and only a short while longer, until Dotou was bought to the platform. The man was weeping and screaming, crying out for mercy, but Sasuke knew this man had no mercy for his victims. The sack cloth robe he wore was covered in blood, Ibiki had done as ordered, and it was Ibiki and Inoichi who had bought Dotou for his execution. Dotou couldn't stand, he was weak from the loss of blood, though he still seemed to have the strength to beg for mercy. Ibiki knelt Dotou next to the block and Sasuke took up his sword. He looked at the people gathered around the platform, and saw Sakura was amongst them, with Ten Ten, Hinata and Ino. He looked at her, and she looked at him. She nodded, a look of understanding on her face. It made Sasuke feel better that Sakura didn't judge him for what he was doing. Not that he ever thought she would, truly, but it was still a relief to him.
"This man, Lord Dotou, committed the crimes of multiple rape, unlawful imprisonment of his former slaves, and high treason, in his attempt to take former slaves over the border, so he could keep them in bondage. As you all know, for the crime of rape, the punishment is castration, which has already been carried out. But for high treason, I have sentenced Dotou to death. I, King Sasuke Uchiha, will carry out this sentence now." Sasuke told the crowd. Dotou whimpered at Sasuke's feet, as Sasuke picked up his sword. He looked into Dotou's eyes. "Do you have any last words Dotou?" Sasuke asked.
"You're a fool! You will end badly, that is certain!" Dotou exclaimed weakly, trying to gain back some of his lost pride. Sasuke didn't flinch.
"No Dotou. I'm no fool, or your plan might have succeeded." Sasuke said sadly. He raised his sword and bought it down on Dotou's neck. The first blow killed Dotou, for that Sasuke was grateful. But it took another two swings, to cut through Dotou's neck and take his head off. When he was done, his hands and arms were bloody, his face speckled with Dotou's blood from the spray back, but he had done it. He had executed Dotou and in that moment, he felt he had proved to himself that he was worthy of the crown he wore.
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Okay so that's the end of this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you got the Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire references there. Please R&R and I hope the next chapter doesn't disappoint.