Chapter 14

Sealing

Sakura POV

"LET ME IN!"

Shizune was staring deeply worried and scared at me. I wanted her to move from her spot and enter in his room where I knew he was. I was trembling in fury and madness, panting with my eyes still full of tears and suffering. The grudge and hate inside of me were like a monster eating my peace and reason. I was shocked and quivering in exhaustion and tension, with my face still wet from my undying crying and my throat hurt by my intense screaming and shouting. I hadn't eaten. I hadn't slept. I hadn't live these two long days feeling a desperation and frustration that almost killed me with every damn minute passing without Miyu at my side. My mind had thought in all the possibilities and had showed me horrible thoughts about losing my little girl forever. And all because of him. It was always him. My heart ached with a soaring and growing pain that clutched my chest and I lost my mind trapped in the wave of anxiety and desperation that the kidnapping of Miyu had created in all my being. All I was was an open injury, all that long hours without news about her, missing her, worrying to death for her, fearing for her, had bruised me deeply scaring and terrifying me at a level that almost put me in bed if it wasn't for myself who forced my mind to stay awake and cold and don't rest till I had my daughter again in my arms.

"Calm down Sakura, please…"

"LET ME SEE HIM, NOW."

My cold and controlled voice scared her even more and she flinched nervously trying to cover the door behind me. I was barely breathing and my pulse was high and uncontrolled. The coldness and the determination in my emerald eyes were so strong that I could feel Shizune's will quivering at them.

"Let her see him, Shizune."

Naruto had spoken with a voice so deathly serious and without a single emotion, so frozen, that I knew he was the angriest I had ever seen him in all this years I had been with him. He was paralyzed by fury and had curled his fingers in tight fists looking madly at Shizune and the door behind her. Hinata and the others were there in Naruto's apartment after hearing that Miyu was right and back and had returned to support me after the madly hours they had passed looking for her and him around and out of Konoha. They were exhausted like me and I was so grateful to them for helping me out with total devotion and loyalty. Looking at them I knew they were deeply and honestly angry at him for what he had done to me. What he had done to Miyu. He had taken her away from me, away from us. How dare him?!

"Move Shizune. Don't make me move you."

She flinched serious and concerned and she removed herself from the door opening it slowly. I entered at the room with heavy and strong pace followed by Naruto and Shizune stayed behind at the half open door staring preoccupied and I knew she felt the same way as my friends. But she had tried to calm me and freeze my head.

Tsunade-Sensei and Kakashi-Sensei were there with Gai-Sensei. She was sitting in a chair by the right side of the bed writing something in some papers. The two sensei were standing in the corners in front of her. And he was sitting in the bed with his still and unchanging posture staring blankly in front of him. I watched him feeling my body trembling with intense trepidation and hurt. I walked decisive and shaking to him and I felt the looks of Naruto and the sensei upon me. The tears I had controlled since I knew I was going to see him rolled through my face without my permission or will. I started to sob painfully and I furrowed my brow glaring at him while I cried and cried with anger, sadness and stress. I was so mad at him. I had been so scared.

But then he gazed turning slowly to me with that deathly calm eyes of his and I was caught up by the look in them. I was trapped in the emotions so intense and true, destructive and immense that gaze brought out from me. I found myself helpless and enchanted by him and his tired and distant face. He just looked at me with recognition and coldness. He suddenly got up from the bed weakly and bouncing and I, without expecting it in any way, had him in front of me, staring directly at his melancholic and indifferent façade. I saw he had been injured by my own father and presumably Naruto. He had still the signs of it in his face. In some places his skin was slightly bruised and black and blue and healing thanks to Tsunade-Sensei.

And I, feeling still so hurt by everything that had happened in the last two days, ignored the love I felt blowing from every pore of my skin and slapped him straight in the face twice, first his right cheek and then the left with force and shaking hands. The sound of the slapping was like a sword in that blank silence among all of us. He just was standing there still and didn't stop me or try to avoid me. After I slapped him sobbing and looking now hurt and defeated at him, knowing what I was feeling deeply and truly inside that part of my heart I was trying to ignore, that part murmuring me that maybe he had had his reasons to do what he had done, he just locked his dark gaze in me again with his red cheeks and somehow I saw a soft spark of remorse in them.

"Why? Why do you hurt me like this? Please stop… I don't want anymore this… please… Miyu is everything to me and you know it… You know it dammit!" I shouted trembling in despair. "Do you have any idea how I would feel if you take her away without me knowing? Do you have any idea of how much I had suffered? What if something bad happened to you and you couldn't take care of her? You don't have idea of how much I had suffered these damn hours without knowing where you were! You don't have any right to take her away from me! Just because now you want to play like a father doesn't give you any right! I won't let you near her again ever! I won't let you…"

I stopped crying freely and trembling without anymore voice to use. He just was there staring silently and still at me, with his face distant and unmoved.

"I give you a chance… your last chance… but I know you don't care about anything or anyone else besides you I suppose… I would have liked to be otherwise… Why Sasuke-Kun? Why you keep hurting me? Do you find me so damn annoying or do you despise me so much?" I locked my hurt and watery look in his black and blank one and I just realized that he didn't care any bit of my words. I was talking to a wall. That got me angrier. "Get away from us!"

I punched him with my two fists against his chest with fragile and quivering force. I kept hitting him saying the same over and over until tired and drained emotionally without planning it I rested my throbbing head against his chest sobbing sincerely pained. My hands were curled in shaking balls feeling his heart beating so far away thanks to clothes and skin and flesh. Naruto deeply worried took me by my shoulders and forced me to separate from him. Sasuke-Kun was standing looking at me without being even bothered. I calmed myself little by little just staring back at him with anger and despair.

"You know… I thought after seeing you with Miyu that I could be willing to forgive you and try to forget and move on… I was willing to try it really… for her… but with this that you did… that stupid dream and hopeless opportunity has blown away… I just wonder if it cares a little to you…"

I couldn't say anything more. When I saw him glazing at me somehow ashamed and thoughtful and I just laid my green eyes on all his being I felt the cursed and invincible love filling my heart and going to every damn part of my soul and body. I decided then to tear my look away and stop looking at him.

"Come on Sakura-Chan, you need to go home and rest. Go with your daughter."

I just nodded at Naruto and left him guide me outside Sasuke-Kun's room followed by the three silent sensei. I had controlled my crying and struggling and after the five of us left him alone in his room Shizune closed the door carefully and looking at me concerned.

"Sorry for being rude, Shizune."

I apologized to her while I was drying my tears with a handkerchief Hinata had lent me.

"It's fine Sakura. I understand."

She half smiled preoccupied. Tsunade turned at me serious.

"Naruto it's right. Go home Sakura. Here there's nothing else for you. Go and see Miyu."

I just nodded still with my look lowered and fixed in my hands holding the piece of soft cloth. The blond Hokage then turned her attention to the rest of my friends.

"Good job all of you. Go home too, you all need rest."

They all nodded and started to walk to the principal door. They waved goodbye to Naruto and supported me by putting a hand on my shoulder or arm in a reassuring way. I just nodded grateful and half smiling at them. Shizune then held me by my shoulders kindly.

"I'll accompany you to your home. Come on, let's go."

I nodded again without saying anything and just looked one last time at the Hokage and the two sensei with gratefulness and care. Naruto held me tightly with a face very serious and lost in thoughts. I wondered what he was thinking or feeling. When he was holding me I heard his voice in my ear softly and full of determination.

"I won't let him hurt you anymore Sakura-Chan. And I won't forget this easily as before."

I nodded looking worried at him. His light blue eyes usually cheerful and optimistic were now foggy in anger and disappointment. Shizune gestured me to follow her and I let her take me without glancing back at the room where I knew he was probably lost in his inner and solitary world. And I thought that he had always been in there. Without letting anyone to enter or reach him really and deeply. I had always wanted to be that one that could touch his heart in a meaningful way, even if it wasn't as a girlfriend, as a wife or a as lover. And I felt inevitably sad. Because even angered, desperate and infuriated I still felt the sadness.

And all I could do was to let it wash over me completely in the hurt I roomed in my heart.

Naruto POV

"The Council and I will discuss his situation. But for now I guess he has to stay here."

Tsunade said seriously honest.

"I know."

I just said controlling myself in front of them. When Kakashi-Sensei and Gai-Sensei had brought him hours ago I had been so caught up in my turmoil of feelings that I had punched him twice without noticing or caring that he was already injured by Sakura's father. Kakashi-Sensei had stopped me telling me that it was useless to turn violent. All of us were so damn rightly angry at him for taking Miyu away like that. All of us searched for him over and over damn worried and fearing for him and for his daughter. We were so infuriated with him. The confusion his acts created in all of us were immense and it made grow the anger and dread we all had felt in those long hours.

"Gai and I will come to take him to Tsunade's office. You won't have to do it so you can go on with the missions."

I just nodded at Kakashi-Sensei still gripped in thoughtfulness and the painful disappointment and sadness I felt. I had thought like everyone that after the scene in the hospital between Sasuke and Miyu everything was going to work just fine since there. The reality had bruised me deeply. My friend had done something horrible. And I couldn't let it go so easily now. Perhaps all that had happened concerning him it was taking its toll right now inside of me.

"Well, then we should go. You need to rest too. If something happens feel free to call any of us."

"Thank you, Hokage-Sama."

She just looked at me somehow amused and surprised but in question of seconds she was serious and concerned as before. I had thanked her in a very ceremonially way. That meant how affected I was with all this. The three put a hand on my shoulder like my friends had done to Sakura-Chan before trying to be supportive and I just nodded calmly and distant. When they were gone I was left alone in the hall in front of his room thinking in a deathly silence and tension. I pondered about for long minutes till I opened his door and entered trying to make my presence loud and clear.

Sasuke was sitting in his bed staring blankly at the emptiness in front of him. I hadn't seen real regret or shame in his icy eyes. That hurt me more and my anger rose quickly. But I was calmer and my mind was more relaxed and cold. I walked to the closet and opened the door doing a lot of noise and then I bent down and picked up the metal box with the toys he had been collecting all this months. All the toys he had bought for Miyu.

My action finally trapped his lost attention and he looked faintly strangely and seriously at me. I fixed my eyes full of disappointment on his pale and frozen face. I was mad at him. Really mad.

"You know, this doesn't mean anything Sasuke." And I lifted the metal box and saw his dark eyes looking at it apprehensively. "All these toys you bought... don't mean anything at all. When Miyu came to visit you you never dare to show them to her or give any of them to your daughter even when we know you had bought them for her. Before I thought it was weird. Why you didn't give her all these things? I thought you felt still guilty or ashamed. But now... I think you didn't do it because in fact you never were in all this. You only cared by the fact of having a daughter to continue with your heritage and bloodline. Is that true Sasuke? Can you answer me? Can you prove me wrong? With anything."

I waited for a signal of his answer. I hoped against everything and tried to ignore my fury pouring my soul just expecting something from him. I was calmer and controlled than hours ago when I had entered the room ready to hit him infuriated and mad. But that didn't mean that I wasn't feeling exactly the same.

Sasuke just stared coldly and menacing at me. He furrowed his brow slightly in a manner that almost painted a soft hurt in his expression. But he didn't react in any other way. And when he decided to unlock his intense glance from me and his eyes went indifferent and empty, I knew like I had always knew that he wasn't going to give a answer he didn't have anyway. With that posture and looking he was telling me frankly and directly that he didn't give a shit about it. And my anger rose high and fogged my mind and I sighed staring coldly at him.

"All right. It seems nothing that had happened gives a shit to you. You didn't react when Sakura-Chan told you she wouldn't let you near Miyu again. I thought, no, I wanted to see you pleading against that!" I sighed exhausted and tense and looked at the metal closed box that I was carrying and then I glared painfully at my silent former teammate. "I'm sorry Sasuke but I can't go on supporting you when you keep hurting Sakura-Chan over an over without caring. I can't support you anymore when you only have her suffering. I was stupid to believe that maybe you could feel somehow ashamed or guilty or feel remorse or regret after everything you have done to her. I was hoping for you to show her you were somehow sorry. I had forgiven and forgotten the past but this... I can't... anymore. I was waiting and hoping but now..."

I walked to the door and felt his gaze following me. I turned around to find him glazing contemplative at me. I half smiled inwardly to myself feeling deeply sad and frustrated.

"And you don't need these anymore." I gestured at the toys inside the metal box. "Because they don't mean anything. This doesn't show anything."

I said finally with serious stance, cold voice and blurry eyes and I got out from his room taking the path my mind knew already. I felt that he had followed me with his slow and bouncing pace but I didn't turn around to face him. I left the apartment and went to the place where I usually put the garbage to be taken out from the building and I left the metal box there on top of several plastic bags full of crap and garbage. When I turned around to return to the apartment I saw him standing at the opened door still and glazing intensely. I waited for a reaction from him, whatever reaction could be, just a damn reaction. We fixed our gazes in the other for long minutes and I could feel the silent fight between the two of us, without words, without physical force. Just bare and true intention in light blue eyes and profound black eyes. I, waiting for him to react and show something, and him, just staring first lively at me and then letting the common coldness and indifference to take over his being. And after seeing that soft and deep change in him I knew I had waited in vain. I lowered my gaze feeling defeated and fool.

"You can stay with me Sasuke. After all you are my friend. You were at least. I hope to be still your best friend. You need to rest."

I told him sincerely looking up again and I just caught him watching me with narrowed and tired eyes. Then he entered the apartment and I was just standing there alone and confused. I saw by the corner of my eye the metal box with sadness and then I put my back against the garbage container sliding softly till I was sitting there with my knees up supporting my elbows and arms. And I sighed exhausted and sadly looking thoughtful at the ceiling above me.

Kakashi POV

It was midnight of that long day. I was sleeping when I heard knocking on my door and I got up confused and sleepy to open it. I turned on the lights and opened the door carefully and slowly with my eye tired and blurry.

Anko was there looking serious and concerned. I tried to wake me up completely at seeing her there.

"Was it is Anko? It's kind of late."

"I know Kakashi, sorry for waking you up especially after the day you had. But it's about..."

And then I saw her half turning to her back and gesturing me to look. I moved myself to watch what she was seeing already and I was surprised and worried immediately. I was still confused and affected by anger and desperation from those two days of searching and waiting but I controlled my feelings and let my thoughts to take over me instead.

Sitting with his back against the wall in front of my door and holding his knees against his chest with his head resting in them and looking straight at the floor with tiredness and emptiness was Sasuke himself.

I narrowed my gaze observing him intensely. He was dressed the same way I had found him with Sakura's father before and had still the last remains of the injuries showing in his face. Anko approached me talking softly in a low voice looking at him concerned and sadly.

"Ibiki and I found him when we were returning from a mission. We heard all that happened with Miyu by the way. When we reached the quarters we saw him trying to enter here and we guessed he wanted to find you. So I bring him and Ibiki went to the Hokage to inform her. You know, now the Council wants to know everything concerning Sasuke Uchiha."

I just nodded at her explanation sighing with sadness. I was still angry at him for what had happened and I was still feeling confused and disappointed. But I couldn't just turn my back on him just like that, I couldn't. And not only because it was my legal responsibility after all. He was once my student and I had shared a lot of time with him when he was still a kid. He was someone dear to me even after all and after everything counting myself and my ambivalent heart and mind.

"Thank you Anko. I would take care of him."

She nodded thoughtful and watching him with contempt like me. I came closer to him and bent down my knees and saw that he had felt my presence and had fixed his frozen look in me with some dare and menace. After seeing me confronting his gaze with calm and opening, the dare and menace were gone and the distance and indifference returned at his onyx eyes.

"Come on Sasuke. You need to rest and sleep."

I helped him preoccupied to get up after seeing him failing due to his weakness. I wondered what he had been doing all those two days with Miyu. He seemed pretty exhausted and weak. Tsunade had checked up Miyu and had found her healthy and in a good shape. Sasuke had taken care of her very good indeed and even he had fed her. But he hadn't taken care of himself as Tsunade has discovered after checking him up in Naruto's apartment and he didn't eat anything in those two days. He probably hadn't eaten anything yet. It seemed he hadn't slept either. The only amazing and surprising thing she had found was that he had taken his medication those two days following the instructions precisely. She had decided to treat him in Naruto's home instead the hospital thinking it wasn't necessary to hospitalized him. Sasuke was just suffering of exhaustion and weakness originated from his own sickness and was starved and dehydrated. He just needed to rest, sleep, eat and drink a lot of water to recover and keep taking his pills.

I just sighed concerned when I lifted him and he was so weak that he didn't reject me and I had to support him entirely with Anko's help. I felt him going almost limp in my arms and together Anko and I took him to my open room and left him lying in my bed carefully. He immediately curled himself in a ball facing the wall and closed his eyes. I covered him with the sheets and observed him in silence a few minutes with Anko's concerned stare on me and him.

"You don't have to take him in Kakashi. You can take him to the hospital."

"No, I don't think so. That's why you didn't take him there either, right?"

I said smiling knowingly and she just snorted amused. Then she sighed tired too and put a hand on my left arm in a friendly and supportive way.

"Yeah. I knew he would be better here with you anyway. Even with what happened or how you probably felt."

"Naruto, Sakura and I were the closest to him before. And speaking of which, can you tell Naruto that Sasuke is with me? I don't want him to worry anymore and so suddenly."

"Of course. I would go to tell him tomorrow very early. Good luck tomorrow with the reunion with the Council,"

"Thank you for everything Anko. Go to rest and sleep, I'll see you tomorrow."

She nodded smiling cheerfully and I closed and locked my door after seeing her walking to her own room in the empty hall. I went to the occupied bed and sat down carefully trying to not wake up my new roommate. Sasuke was deeply slept and his breathing was calm and regular. I wondered why he had come all his way to me and how many hours had taken him to find the right building and floor. Did Naruto know about his absence? Well after all nothing can wake Naruto easily anyway. When he slept he really put all his might on it.

I got up and prepared a bed made of sheets and mantles and pillows on the floor and put myself to rest and try to sleep again in the other part of the room still thinking in all that had happened that day. I wondered why Sasuke had left Naruto's apartment at this late hour. Naruto was even closer to him than me. Did something bad had happened between the two of them?

I tried to sleep still reminding everything that had happened before that awful day.

Kakashi POV

"What you did was pretty bad Sasuke. You kidnapped her and even when she's your own daughter that's a crime and you know it. You take her away without anyone knowing and Sakura's consent. That's bad enough without putting in consideration your own political situation in Konoha."

Tsunade stared seriously at the dark haired Uchiha but he was indifferent and lost as he was minutes before when Gai and I had brought him from the exit of Konoha and as he was when she had checked him up and healed his injuries. Gai had left to return Miyu to Sakura. Tsunade wrote something in her papers and then sighing annoyed and worried looked glaring at him.

"I know you can understand me Sasuke. You aren't too damaged or sick for it thanks God and all of us and you know it. You maybe can be a little confused and lost in the fictional world that is merging with your reality inside your head but you had taken care of yourself in those two days and I'm surprised and relieved to know that. That means that you wanted to be fine enough when you were with Miyu. That means you really worry about her."

I lowered my gaze thinking in her words. That was true.

"But that doesn't erase that all of us are angry and confused for what you did. And the Council has a say on all this. Now I know that you would not speak and explain why you did it and where you were. So it's pointless to try to make you talk. I can do other things to make you talk or communicate in other way, I can put special jutsus on you to achieve it but I fear and know that they probably will hurt you and get you sicker than you already are. Without knowing exactly what happened to you and what is wrong, I can take other measures. I don't want you to lose your mind completely or worse, kill you. But the Council even knowing of this danger could order or try something against you without caring about your behalf. You are a criminal still because you never put the things in clear about your intentions over Konoha. You know all that. So, tomorrow I don't know how everything will go with them but I'll be there to support you."

Sasuke suddenly and slowly turned his gaze to her with some surprise and recognition in his intense eyes. Tsunade just nodded somehow amazed but with determination in her honey eyes.

Then the door flew open with a loud bang and Naruto entered infuriated and with his fists ready to fight and went straight to Sasuke who was sitting in the bed and had glanced coldly at his presence. I wasn't quickly enough to stop Naruto and he punched Sasuke twice before Tsunade stopped him with a loud "Naruto!" and I restrained him in my arms forcing him to step back still fighting mighty against my grip. Sasuke had fallen on the mattress weakened and then he lifted himself with fragile force facing his blond friend with piercing obsidian eyes.

"Damn you Sasuke! How could you?! Do you know how much she suffered?! Why?!"

"Calm down Naruto. Sasuke had received enough welcoming. The violence isn't the way."

Naruto calmed after he noticed the injured face of his silent friend. Sasuke had gotten beaten up by Sakura's father and had bruises and cuts in his abdomen, chest and face mainly. Tsunade had treated him but the marks were slowly healing and against his pale skin looked black and blue in the swollen areas.

"You should try words instead of fists."

Naruto just looked menacing at me and I could understand him perfectly. He was angry like me. Like all of us but every one of us reacted different about the same circumstance. Inside of any of us were other feelings besides the anger.

Someone knocked at the door and Gai peeped inside looking at each of us ending with a lost Sasuke sitting in bed with blood pouring from his lips and nose. Again.

"I took Miyu to Sakura and her mother. But Sakura wanted to come. She's outside."

Tsunade nodded and then turned at Naruto serious and concerned. He was calmer and was just staring hurt and concerned at Sasuke who wasn't putting any kind of attention to any of us or the pain Naruto's fists had provoked in his face or the blood running free.

"Naruto go there and try to support and help your friend before entering here. Gai, Kakashi and I need some time, alright?"

He just nodded mad and hurt and then went out of the room shooting a last pained look to Sasuke. When the door was closed thanks to Gai who went to the other corner of the room looking at the bed with interest, Tsunade sighed annoyed and tired.

"It seems you're the last favorite's person in their list right now, Uchiha."

She said and started to check his injuries again healing him immediately. Sasuke just let her work on him without locking eyes with any of us.

I crossed looks with Gai and I knew like him that this was going to be bad for Sasuke. The Council said that they were going to take urgent and strong measures against Sasuke for everything he represented and for what he had done this last time. They were still pretty freaked out of him. I hadn't thought in the last the Council had said to the Hokage and me being so worried and desperate to find Sasuke and Miyu the sooner we could. But now with him here again and her safe, I couldn't help to wonder what the Council will order tomorrow at the meeting we would have with them. And I deeply and sincerely worried about Sasuke.

"Tomorrow at noon. The Council scheduled the meeting to talk to you and the Hokage about Sasuke Uchiha and the responsibility you have over him. But they don't want him there."

Tsunade and I turned our looks confused and pondering about the last to our friend. Sasuke had reacted a little lowering his gaze while narrowing his eyes in realization. The blond sannin finished healing him still fixing her gaze in Gai's face.

"Hmm. I see. Alright, thank you Gai."

He just nodded vehemently and respectful at her. I watched Sasuke's stance that was again lost and distant at us. So I was right. The Council still feels wary about anything related to the Uchiha. And that made my worry to grow bigger and deeper. I had a bad feeling about the resolution of the meeting even with Tsunade at our side.

Because you know, even with Sasuke's story and past and what he had done lately, I knew that he truly wasn't evil. Yes he had let his heart to be darkened, yes he had made bad choices and followed bad paths, yes he was coldhearted and keep himself away from people and not only emotionally. I knew it like I knew my own name. If he had taken his daughter away it wasn't part of some evil plan. And I knew he hadn't planned anything that was happening to him. I just know it and I was grateful to have Tsunade's sharing of it at my side especially tomorrow.

"The Council had already decided Hokage-Sama. There's nothing else to discuss or say in this meeting."

"Wait a minute."

"No, Tsunade-Sama with all respect. We arranged this meeting only to tell you what we had planned about Sasuke Uchiha staying in Konoha. We told you and Kakashi-Sensei that we would take urgent and strong measures over him. It's necessary."

"And your plans consists in send him and isolate him in a special prison or put him under some special surveillance? I'm not saying to not take measures in this. I only want to discuss the possibilities."

Tsunade was staring decisive and serious one by one the members of the Council of Konoha. Kakashi was sitting outside the principal table that formed the complete government of the village. He was only invited to be there due to his responsibility about Sasuke. Just for that but he knew he didn't have any right to talk or intervene. He had to trust in Tsunade but he couldn't help to feel concerned and anxious about it. One by one the members talked exposing their point of view.

"Yes. It's fair. He is still labeled as an S ranked criminal with his name in the bingo."

"But he hadn't done anything else against Konoha since more than a year ago. And our investigations had proven it. His name and status as a missing nin and S ranked criminal in the bingo will be removed since tomorrow. He will be a citizen of this village again."

The Council seemed surprised and caught off of their guard. Tsunade was still and fierce defending her posture and speech.

"We didn't know it."

"I'm sorry. I had had a lot of things to take care of."

"Still Sasuke Uchiha is a danger to himself and to others if it is true that he's sick."

"You doubt it? You have seen the results of the innumerable tests I had run on him. Medical ninja sent by you in person had checked him up and my investigations. You don't have any right to doubt my word. I'm the Hokage and the people of this village and Konoha itself is the priority in my life. I will do what I have to do to protect all. If you're trying to imply that I'm defending Sasuke Uchiha for personal reasons I must say you're wrong. Of course I care about him and his future because he's a part of Konoha. His clan was one of the founders of this great village. I must take responsibility for him. He was an excellent asset before. And after what we know about the planning and murdering of all his family and relatives I must say we don't have any right to simply judge. We all made mistakes and sacrificed things and persons."

They all were shut up by her honest and clear words. Kakashi noticed they paled under her sincere and daring honey gaze. She continued talking after a long pause.

"Sasuke Uchiha helped Konoha at the end. We all know how that happened. He almost dies for it. I was confused and worried because he didn't do anything to stay after that and sort out the things with our government but I thought it was natural after the grudge he grew against it for what happened with his clan. But now I don't see him trying anything in any of you or even me."

"He planned to kill us. He planned to destroy the Council."

"Yes he did. Is he doing it now? No. He had all the human right to want revenge even when I disapproved it completely. It was shameful and horrible what this Council planned and did." She stared at them one by one with narrowing eyes full of disgust. "That was more than a year ago I had already stated. If he hadn't done it till now, why would we have to think that he wants revenge now? Like I said I considered this deeply and seriously because I have to think in your life too and all the people in the village. But I'm certain in saying that he isn't looking for the same as months before and I will find a way to make him to compensate what he did against us and Konoha. So you don't have to worry. You have my word of keeping you safe. If Sasuke Uchiha was still a menace to this village in any way I would take measures to stop him. I would not hesitate. I'm the Hokage."

"Well and what about now with this "sickness" he has? Putting aside all you said and taking it as true, he's mentally unstable. He's a walking danger. Maybe not as before but being crazy he could do a lot of damage. He kidnapped his own daughter!"

"His strange sickness that not even you can reverse or heal put him in a dangerous state. We need to protect our citizens."

"We are afraid of his mental and emotional instability. With that and all this council's support we can imprison him in a special place to keep him away from the normal people. We don't think he would care anyway. By the reports we had received from our sources it seems he's too lost to communicate or live with people."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes feeling angered. Maybe Sasuke had his moments of solitude and rejection of the world but he was still capable of living with other persons like Naruto or him. They were trying to take advantage of his sickness to imprison him now that they couldn't completely do it for his status as a criminal now cleared or his past debts.

"I had given him treatment and he's doing fine and getting better as a "normal person". But I know and accept that I have to do something to guarantee some sort of control over him for his own sake and his daughter's and all of us."

"That's the point of this meeting at the end. You claimed yourself one of his legal representatives and your responsibility along with Kakashi-Sensei when he returned and stayed here. So as you know it by now you don't have a say in this final decision over him. You can't be neutral. You didn't think it clearly when you declared yourself responsible for him."

Tsunade furrowed her brow glaring at them but keeping quiet. Kakashi sighed concerned knowing they were right.

"So we won't do anything against him because he's not anymore a missing nin or a S ranked criminal. Or for his past debts. We all have past debts and we accepted it. But we decided something taking his sickness and dangerousness for it in consideration. We won't send him to any other special place. We won't isolate him from people. You claimed you wanted to give him a chance to have a "normal" life and compensate his actions. Well, we would grant that."

"What have you decided to do with him?"

"We'll go for the other option we explained to both of you. We won't imprison him but we're going to put him under a special control. In that way he would have the opportunity you're asking for him, of living normally and compensating his debts against Konoha and its government."

"We had talked with the Hyuga Clan and they had been ordered to help us. They would take the responsibility of creating and putting some special control over Sasuke Uchiha."

Tsunade was silent listening at them and understanding perfectly like me what they were implying in reality. They had ordered Hinata's father to create and perform a special seal to control Sasuke. I narrowed my eyes wondering what kind of specifications they had ordered to the Head of Clan the seal must cover. Gladly Tsunade was thinking the same as me.

"You ordered the Head of the Hyuga Clan to create and put a special seal in Sasuke Uchiha. How ironic. He had been freed from the one Orochimaru put in him years ago. And now... you will put another to control him."

"Yes. So you don't have right to go against it. Calling yourself responsible for him you lost your neutrality in this. You condemn him to be judged without your neutral defense."

"I know that."

She said regretfully and annoyed to be remembered of it. I know she was thinking how fool she had been. When Sasuke had returned to Konoha the Council had wanted to imprison him immediately without caring of his strange illness or his actual intentions. She had felt the pressure of defending him and the best way she could do it at the moment was declaring her legally responsible for him. Her word and charge were stronger than mine. I just supported her because I knew she couldn't take completely care of Sasuke. She was the Hokage. The Council had forced her skillfully to lose her vote and opinion in Sasuke's matter since the beginning. So they still feared and were freaked out of him. And I have the feeling that they wanted to get rid of him.

"I accept your decision. What kind of specifications the special seal will have over him?"

"We're glad you accepted it. The special seal will prevent him to escape from Konoha. If he tries to run away the special seal will stop him not matter what. It will give you and us an easy way to locate Sasuke Uchiha in case we couldn't find him quickly. It will prevent him to hurt badly others with his regular powers. We know that being an Uchiha there is some part of his heritage and bloodline, and therefore, abilities and power that it could not be contained or controlled entirely. He developed an amazing strength and power before. We are aware of that. But at least if there's some form of helping us to control him we'll use it. "

"What if he needs to use his regular power and force in special circumstances?"

"The special seal has a way to work. It will force him in an unconscious way to separate circumstances. If he needs to use his power and strength he would be able to do it. Only if it is necessary. We hope he won't use that part we won't be able to control for his own good. We expect his mind to be able to handle that specification from the special seal."

I knew what they were talking about. Mangekyou Sharingan and other abilities Sasuke had learned besides his own power as a member of the Uchiha Clan. And they didn't care as Tsunade had said about what could happen to him in the process of getting the special seal.

"The special seal will operate till his death. And being performed by the Hyuga Clan it will be impossible for Sasuke Uchiha to do something about it."

I saw Tsunade clutching her fists seriously thinking. Like me she felt there was something behind all this. And I had the bad feeling that we hadn't hear everything this decision could bring in the future.

"So this meeting is over. I hope you don't have any more doubts or things to say, Hokage-Sama. Kakashi-Sensei" I looked at the man who had talked and gestured to me to stand up. "You have to take Sasuke Uchiha to the main house of the principal family of the Hyuga Clan today at sunset."

"We heard that Sasuke Uchiha had left Naruto Uzumaki's house. We suppose you're going to take care of him now, right? O do we have to settle that too?"

I simply nodded still and thoughtful. So they already knew that. I nodded affirmatively. Tsunade got up from her seat shining in her imposing charge and person.

"Then this is over. I'll thing in some way to let Sasuke Uchiha to compensate his past actions against us. That's my decision and I hope you don't have a problem with that." They looked at each other communicating in silence and nodding. "Alright. But I want to say a last thing before going. I hope you have decided for the best interest of everyone including Sasuke Uchiha's. I hope you were really neutral and fair in all you planned. I'm still responsible for him and for that it's my obligation to stand up for him and defend him and stop him if something goes wrong. He has my support."

She closed her eyes showing her firm tone of voice and feeling and then nodded respectfully at them and turned around going to the exit. I did the same reverence and left following her closely. The both of us were silent and thinking in all we had listened. When the blond Hokage crossed her serious look with mine I knew I hadn't misunderstood the reality behind that meeting.

Kakashi POV

When I returned at my room I found Sasuke already awake watching intensely and melancholic the picture I had of him, Naruto and Sakura with me when we were the Team 7. I didn't wake him up before going to the meeting with Tsunade and the Council wanting him to rest and sleep some more. I had been right when I saw him better and less pale and not weakened as last night.

He didn't hear me entering the room because I had been quiet and careful thinking that he was probably still sleeping. I observed him with contempt with the picture in both of his hands staring. He let one of his fingers to run over the crystal protecting it with slowly and nostalgic pace and he let it linger more time in Sakura's face. With all that had happened since he disappeared with Miyu I had been losing my anger and disappointment at him. Now his situation required me to stand up for him and I had to do it even feeling still affected in confusion about his behavior.

I was legally responsible for him. I had accepted to take care of him now that Sasuke had left Naruto's company it seems. I hadn't seen Anko or Naruto so I didn't know exactly what had happened between the two friends but I was certain in thinking that Sasuke had decided to leave Naruto's house for good.

I approached him making my steps loud to be noticed by him. I didn't want to startle him or give him the wrong idea of being spying on him. He heard me and turned his cold gaze at me leaving soon the picture in its place again and then lowered his head still and with his always somehow elegant and daring posture. I sat down beside him in the bed sighing.

"Well, I guess you and I will be together for now."

He tried to stand up and I didn't let him stopping him by his arm softly. He didn't look up at me.

"I don't mean that I don't want to. In fact I'm glad you're here. So now I have to talk to you about the meeting the Hokage and I had with the Council and what they decided to do with you. Then you'll take a shower, I'll bring you new clothes and we'll eat something. I guess you hadn't eaten anything yet."

The only thing that betrayed his indifferent demeanor was his stomach growling suddenly. I smiled amused and I felt his humiliation about it and saw it in his slightly red face.

"We'll do what the Council ordered. Tomorrow I would think if it's better to get you the room next to mine or if it's better for us to move to a bigger place. And we'll go to Naruto's house to gather your belongings and clothes."

When I said Naruto's name his dark look fixed in me and I see the feeling of anxiety and rejection.

"You don't want to go back? Naruto is your best friend. He cares deeply and truly about you against everything you could think of. You don't have idea. Are you angry at him?"

He denied me with a short shock of his head and I found myself surprised realizing it was the first time I was somehow communicating with him.

"Then why do you left him and why you don't want to see him now?"

Sasuke turned his gaze avoiding my question and concerned stare. I caught him looking sadly at the picture again with eyes lost in a very away past. Somehow moved I understand what he was thinking and I paused before speaking with calm voice.

"That's something the people do when they think it's the better for them. To not hurt the other."

He didn't react and I guessed that maybe I had misunderstood him. But there was another matter at the hand. I forced him to put all his attention and look at me and seriously I explained to him the meeting and the decision over his life and future that it will be performed at sunset by orders of the Council. He listened at me putting all the attention he could gather between his real world (I talking calmly) and his unreal world (his hallucinations always there that I could sense when he shifted his body suddenly looking something invisible). When I ended my explanation he just lowered and turned his look coldly and distant avoiding me again. His face was softly disgusted.

I assured him that everything would turn right and that I will be there for him always. I saw him glaring at me when I smiled sincerely worried. I knew he didn't like or was used to share deeper things with other person. He perhaps thought that I was pretty preoccupied or seeing him fragile about it. And that was something Sasuke Uchiha didn't tolerate or accept even if it was true and he knew it inwardly.

So when we arrived at the meeting with the Head of the Hyuga Clan I reminded him that I was there simply smiling honestly at him. And I knew that Sasuke remember it when I had taken his hand in the middle of the process with his closed eyes and I had felt him squeezing it with slight force and needing support.

Hinata POV

"How are you doing with Naruto?"

"Fine… it's fine…"

"I'm glad to hear that."

I simply nodded still feeling somehow awkward when I had to talk to Neji. We were cousins, our father were twins and our familiarity was deep enough only for that. But for circumstances we hadn't been together like this when we were younger and I was still somehow shy and nervous when I had to be with him. After my father had talked with him when he was defeated by Naruto-Kun in that Chunnin Exam everything between Neji and our family started to change little by little. He even trained sometimes with him. My little sister did it too.

But I was happy to not feel the same when I was with him. Now he truly showed that he cared about me as the cousins we were and I sincerely cared about him. I guess it was just time what I needed still to feel completely at peace when I had to be sharing space and time with him.

"How's Tenten?"

I dared to ask worried about her. We kept walking in the principal house while he was taking minutes to answer me.

"She's fine. Sasuke didn't hit her badly. That doesn't mean that I'm not angered at him for hurting her."

I smiled nodding kindly. I could see clearly how much he cared deeply about her. I didn't know exactly if he felt something deeper for her. Neji was someone who didn't share or show his inner feelings so easily. But seeing Tenten I was pretty sure that there was something intense going on between the two. He was ready to ask me something when we stopped seeing surprised and confused Kakashi-Sensei and Sasuke entering at my house and following a friend of my father and a Hyuga too. We stared the pair wondering about their presence there.

Sasuke was following his former sensei with his common slow pace and with his look fixed at his feet. Kakashi-Sensei was walking calmly and with a very serious expression in his half covered face. Neji turned to me asking with his mere stare if I knew something and I denied it concerned and pondering about it. The two entered my father's room and the door was closed immediately behind them. Neji gestured me to go with him and see what was happening but the noises of steps stopped us in our spot.

"Where are you going? Hinata, Neji."

My father was there behind us looking deathly serious. We both turned to face him and I noticed the special clothing he was wearing but Neji was the first one to say something about it.

"Why you dated Kakashi-Sensei and Sasuke Uchiha?"

"That's not a matter important to any of you. I won't be able to train with any of you today or have dinner. You can accompany Hanabi of course."

He simply said calmly and thoughtful. Neji furrowed his brow deeply narrowing his eyes still facing him directly. Something I wasn't still able to do with my own father. I was just worried at seeing him dressed like that and knowing of Kakashi-Sensei and Sasuke there. Suddenly I saw that Neji had realized something because he was amazed and then got serious in matter of seconds.

"That dressing. And when I saw you searching through the personal library of all our clan… you're going to perform a ceremony. You're going to put a seal in… Sasuke…"

I took my hands to my mouth covering a noise of surprise and just looked confusedly and worried at my father. He had heard Neji's words and then just sighed and snorted half smiling softly.

"Clever as ever, Neji."

"But…why father?"

It was the first time I talked in the chat but I couldn't help myself. Sasuke Uchiha was a dearest friend of Naruto-Kun, he was his best friend almost his brother. And Naruto-Kun had been so depressed and sad with everything that had happened and mostly by Sasuke's leaving his apartment. Neji was still staring demanding an answer at my father who suddenly seemed tired and concerned.

"Because the Council ordered me. I can't refuse. Don't ask me anymore now. I had to do my duty. I shouldn't have told you anything."

He ordered us firm and decisive and restarted his pace trying to leave us behind. Neji turned around to him thinking.

"You know what it means to put a seal in someone who isn't entirely fine either physically or emotionally. You know about the danger. You could hurt him severely. Or even kill him. And by the way I saw you looking through the books I guess the seal isn't easy or simple."

My father had stopped lost in thoughts. Then he simply watched us seriously and understanding by the corner of his eye. The both of us were surprised and concerned.

"Don't worry. I'll do my best. I won't hurt or kill your friend. It's for the best. Believe me."

Then he just entered the room where we knew Sasuke was with Kakashi-Sensei. Neji and I crossed looks preoccupied and questioning. What Neji had said left me very worried about Sasuke's behalf. I just kept seeing Naruto's sad face in my mind and I felt my heart crushed by it.

"Let's go Hinata. Maybe we could not see everything but still…"

I nodded and when he extended his hand to me gesturing me to follow his lead I didn't hesitate and took it nodding with true and definitive affirmation in my eyes.

Neji POV

We couldn't see a lot happening in the special room where Hiashi-Sama, Kakashi-Sensei and Sasuke were. Still we heard them talking softly and seriously.

"You'll do it by yourself?"

Kakashi-Sensei asked somehow worried.

"Yes. I don't want to blame someone else if something bad happens."

Said Hiashi-Sama sighing sadly and tired. It seemed he didn't agree with this but he had to do it anyway like he had told us.

"But don't worry Kakashi. I won't let him to be hurt or kill. I would not forget myself if something like that happens. I didn't agree with this. I don't like it."

"I know Hiashi-Sama. But I'm grateful you agreed to do it. I have complete confidence in you. If you had refused they probably would have found someone else to do it."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. I even told them about the dangerousness of the thing they wanted to do in someone sick as Uchiha. But they didn't listen. I'm sorry to say this and maybe I'm wrong but I think they don't care honestly if he dies in the process. And they told me without actually saying it that I wouldn't be blamed or punished if I accidentally kill him."

There was a long pause. Hinata held me realizing what we were hearing. She was shocked as me.

"Tsunade-Sama and I suspected that anyway."

"And you know… I even told them that being him the last active Uchiha alive it was unnecessary to put him through this. But they told me straight that he had already a daughter. You know what that means, right?"

I supposed Kakashi-Sensei simply nodded when there was only silence for seconds between the two men.

"Well, let's do it Kakashi."

"Are you going to sleep him or something?"

"No. He needs to be awake. It will be extremely painful only for moments."

"Alright. Let's go. We can't wait forever for something it has to be done anyway."

Then there was silence. Hinata and I stayed thinking and looking at each other communicating the shock and concern we felt in hearing all this. I knew better than her what the high possibilities were for Sasuke to be forever hurt or die if Hiashi-Sama didn't perform the sealing correctly. It was a pretty high risk to put a seal in someone who had his mind divided between reality and fiction. We tried to find a way to look into the room and see the ceremony but we couldn't do it first. We couldn't even hear anything else. Just whispering. We decided to stay anyway in case we were able to catch something and just supported ourselves against the wall in silence preoccupied and meditating.

The sealing ceremony took two whole hours to be completed. Hinata and I just kept there without saying anything, without daring to talk and be discovered by Hiashi-Sama or Kakashi-Sensei. Hinata grew more and more concerned and I could see she was thinking in Naruto when I saw her glassy and clear blue eyes and her clutching hands trapped one with the other.

I was angry at Sasuke for what he had done. But I've never thought in wishing him to have to go through something like this. I remembered when I had gotten my own seal because of the family tradition. A seal will always be a seal not matter what purpose held.

The only time we were able to see what was happening inside the room was when Hinata and I looked through a small hole in the wall. We couldn't use Byukugan in that room. It was Hiashi-Sama's special room and we were forbidden to try to enter or see inside it without permission, so the room had a jutsu against the users of Byukugan. I glimpsed at Sasuke lying in the floor inside a painted circle with strange and foreign signs in red. Kakashi-Sensei was there beside him and he was taking his right hand in his own gazing thoughtfully and worried at the Uchiha who was with his eyes closed and his face showing a slight hint of a deep pain. Hiashi-Sama was on the other empty side with his hands encircling Sasuke's pale face and murmuring something with his stare fixed at the Uchiha's forehead.

So he had put it there like the one I had on my own face. I curled my fists feeling tense and somehow angered by the past. But I got relaxed when I sensed that Hinata was very affected by the scene and I decided to leave the place. We couldn't see very well and hear anything clear. It was pointless to stay there and probably be caught by any of them.

We were sitting outside the main house facing the principal door when we heard footsteps and saw Hiashi-Sama going out of the room exhausted and lost in thought. He walked his way without noticing us until he turned his distant gaze and confronted our looks directed intentionally and questioning at him.

"Don't worry. Sasuke Uchiha will be fine by tomorrow. I told you."

He tried to smile but failed still trapped in his own doubts and thoughts and Hinata and I crossed looks feeling relieved and still wondering about everything. The Council had ordered this. I repeated myself. Then when we got up we saw Kakashi-Sensei going out of the room too dragging a weak and almost limp awake Sasuke. The sensei put the left arm of Sasuke across his shoulders and held him firmly by his waist. We saw that Sasuke could barely walk or move and had his furrowed brow fixed in the empty space in front of him.

Kakashi-Sensei sensed our intense and worried stare and looked at us surprised and then just smiled tiredly and kindly waving a goodbye to us. We didn't react still perplexed at the actions we had witnessed and he soon was gone with Sasuke in silence just as they had come earlier.