Sasuke laid limp on Sakura's arms. Sakura was becoming desperate; Sasuke didn't have much longer. If nothing was done, Sasuke's brain would sustain severe damage, and worst, he could die.
"We are filling a tub with ice water" the interrogator told Sakura.
"We need something now" Sakura screamed "where are the showers?" she added.
She was signaled in the direction of the showers and was assisted by the other woman to carry Sasuke's body to the showers.
She turned on the water and threw herself on the floor still holding him. She was not listening to what they were saying around her, all she could do was try to comfort Sasuke.
"The tub is ready" the interrogator said running into the room.
The interrogator helped Sakura to her feet and they both assisted Sasuke out of the room. Sakura did not even feel the towel they placed around her; all she could think of was Sasuke.
They quickly placed Sasuke in the tub. As soon as the iced water hit his body he loudly whimpered. He was not aware enough to talk but enough to feel the freezing water against his body.
"shhh, It's alright, it's for your own good" Sakura tried to comfort him.
They soon started to immerse his head in the water.
"Please…. Stop" Sasuke whispered between shivers.
"It's okay, it will be over soon" Sakura kept on repeating every time he complained.
"He needs water" Sakura demanded "fetch me some water".
"Here, drink up" Sakura said lifting a cup to his mouth while holding the back of his head and repeating this procedure several times.
Sasuke drank some of the water and was soon breathless again. He was once again submerged in the water.
"Stop, I can't take it anymore" Sasuke kept on repeating.
"It's okay, it's over" Sakura said feeling the temperature on his forehead.
At this point, Sasuke was panting and resting his head on Sakura's hand. She signaled the
others to get Sasuke out of the tub without moving her hand. He was placed sitting on the floor
and Sakura put a blanket around him. She helped him lie on the floor as she comforted him.
"It's over" Sakura was whispering as she was comforting Sasuke who was barely conscious.
"Is he out of danger?" the interrogator asked.
"Yes, but he needs to rest" Sakura responded.
"I'll decide that, we'll start again in an hour" the interrogator said.
"You can't do that; he needs time to recover" Sakura protested.
"We need to strike when he is vulnerable" the man responded.
"He won't be of much use if he is dead" Sakura protested.
"Do you think I don't know who you are?" the man told Sakura "Do you think I don't know that you were on the same team as Sasuke? If I were you, I would be quiet now unless you want to be dismissed"
At this point, Sakura became quiet and did as she was asked. They soon escorted Sasuke to his cell where Sakura helped him lay down right before he was forcefully put in a straitjacket.
Soon after, Sakura was dismissed along with the rest of the people in the room as Sasuke needed some time to rest. She offered herself to continue helping at the facility and a different case was assigned to her.
Once she made it out of the facility, she broke down. She was confused, heartbroken, and lost. She did not know what to do or where to go. She could not go to Naruto because it would kill him to know how awful Sasuke was doing and might try something stupid. If she went to Kakashi or Tsunade, they might agree that something must be done to him for his crimes.
Sakura doesn't know how but she somehow made it to Ino's house. Her mind was a blur. Ino being her childhood friend immediately understood something was wrong. Sakura broke down in Ino's arms.
She told her friend everything as it had happened and cried her heart out until she fell asleep. Once she had awakened, Ino advised her to go see Tsunade as she was the only one who could truly help her.
Sakura made her way into the Hokage's tower and greeted her former teacher. Tsunade looked stressed and upset.
"I need your help, it's about Sasuke" Sakura said.
"I expected you to come at some point" Tsunade responded with a sigh.
"I understand that he committed terrible crimes, but he has returned and doesn't deserve what is happening to him. He has cooperated with the investigation all along" Sakura said rapidly.
"I know, I agree" Tsunade said as she made her way to the window and began to observe some children playing outside.
"You do?" Sakura asked confused.
"I do, in fact, I just got back from a meeting with counsel on Sasuke's future" Tsunade told her student.
"And what do they say?" Sakura asked.
"I think that Sasuke has done enough for this village to be forgiven" Tsunade said, "yet they think it is not enough".
"But there must be something you can do" a hopeful Sakura said.
"They said that interrogation was necessary to know what he would be charged with" she said "if it were for me, I would give him a pardon altogether" she finished.
"Why don't you do it?" Sakura asked anxiously.
"They threatened to remove me from office and assign a temporary Hokage who would not be as merciful" Tsunade added "as if they had not wronged the boy enough".
"But there must be something we can do" Sakura asked with tears in her eyes.
"I do have an idea" she responded "Sasuke's assigned medic resigned and asked for protection. That might not mean much but if we manage to get something out of her, we could build a case" Tsunade finished.
"I'll go see her" Sakura said.
"Does he know what is happening?" Tsunade said.
"I haven't told him yet" Sakura responded.
"Sooner or later, Naruto will find out and it should be rather sooner than later"
"I know" finished Sakura before leaving.
That night Sakura met with Naruto.
"We need to talk about Sasuke" Sakura said.
"We agreed to not talk about Sasuke until he was out" Naruto said refusing to talk about the subject.
"Ignoring it is not going to make the pain go away" Sakura said.
"Talking about it is not going to change anything either" Naruto said.
"I saw him" Sakura cut the conversation.
"How is he?" said Naruto as tears were building in his eyes.
"Awful" she answered "they have him in a straitjacket, drugged, and battered"
Naruto punched the wall and knelt on the floor as tears escaped his eyes.
"We need to take him out of there" she said.
"Where is he? I am breaking him out right now" Naruto said as his pain quickly turned into anger.
"So that they put you away too? We cannot afford to lose you too" Sakura said "I have a plan".
Would the peace soon be restored?