The doors of the court opened. Kakashi came in walking fast. Behind him was the doctor. Sasuke simply answered with a smirk. Sakura was relieved and so was Katsumi.
"The people would like to call one more witness" Katsumi said with a smile.
"Your honor, this is ludicrous. The people have rested their case" the opposing counsel said quickly.
"Your honor, we had listed this witness, and the witness is here. Please let the jury hear what she has to say" Katsumi begged.
"Your honor, this witness's testimony will create prejudice in the jury. There are many controversial methods used by the force that were necessary for the village's wellbeing and they might predispose the jury".
"Your honor, the defense knew this witness was on the list and never presented any opposition."
"Alright, I'll allow it as long as the witness limits herself to only speak about things that concerns legality, understood?" the judge announced.
"Thank you, your honor" Katsumi responded "the people call Doctor Hana to the stand" she announced.
The doctor looked afraid but determined. She made her way to the stand and took a deep breath.
"Doctor, in what regard do you know Uchiha Sasuke?" Katsumi began.
"I was the doctor assigned to his case during his imprisonment" Dr. Hana responded.
"What was your function as his doctor?" Katsumi asked.
"I was supposed to ensure that he wouldn't die while they tortured him for information" the doctor announced.
"Was there anything particular about his case?" Katsumi asked.
Dr. Hana looked up and saw her former colleagues, then she looked at Sasuke and simply sighed "Yes, our prisoners were only meant to be tortured if they weren't cooperating, but there was something different about Sasuke. He was cooperating all along, yet he was still tortured".
"Can you define what you mean by cooperation?" Katsumi asked.
Dr. Hana sighed "prisoners are held because they are believed to have information to the village. Enhanced interrogation facilitates the retrieval of that information. The issue here is that Sasuke was giving the information he was asked, and he was still being tortured."
"Can you elaborate on these enhanced interrogation techniques?" Katsumi asked.
"Objection, relevance?" the opposing counsel quickly said.
"You honor, I am getting somewhere" Katsumi responded.
"I'll allow it as long as only illegal things are mentioned, tread lightly because the moment anything prejudicial is mentioned I will move the trial to mistrial" the judge warned.
"Thank you" Katsumi said "please answer the question."
"When Sasuke was first brought in for interrogation, he met with Morino Ibiki and he signed the de-escalation of his case as he showed willingness to cooperate. I thought my job would be done but I was called after that meeting. Sasuke was moved to a different room and no questions had been asked when someone came a hit Sasuke's knee with a metal rod. His knee shattered in two different places. This procedure is only used when a prisoner has made at least two attempts to escape" Dr. Hana said.
"Had Uchiha Sasuke made any attempts to escape?" Katsumi asked.
"Not at all" Dr. Hana answered.
"Exibit B and C show Uchiha Sasuke's shattered knee" Katsumi said showing pictures of Sasuke's X-Ray and another of his bruised knee "What happened after and was Sasuke ever questioned?" Katsumi continued her questioning.
"He was body's weight was suspended on his arm with a chain holding his arm up in a stress position for about two days until his shoulder dislodged from its original place. During those he was not given any food or water. After that, they beat him up several times and finally placed him on a small hole on the floor with extremely restricted mobility. After about 5 days, they finally began questioning him. Regardless of his answers, he was burned with cigarettes and hot metal. His fingers were broken, his nails were pulled, and his feet were sanded." Dr. Hana said with remorse.
"Is this a typical procedure?" Katsumi asked.
"Not at all, these techniques are only used for uncooperating prisoners." Dr. Hana said.
"Did the torture decreased over the days?" Katsumi asked.
"No, it only got worse. We started pumping him with truth serum which only led to his mental state to decline. They also injected fever inducing drugs and all kinds of toxins. I'd be lying if I didn't think he was going to drop dead at any point" Dr. Hana explained.
"Did he ever stop cooperating?" Katsumi asked.
"No, never. I remember a few times when they took him for electroshock therapy. He knew what was coming yet he never stopped cooperating" Dr. Hana said.
"And what exactly was coming?" Katsumi asked.
Dr. Hana looked at Sasuke and whispered "I am so sorry" then continued to explain "He was strapped to a chair, and we connected electrodes to his body. Then a very potent current was activated" she finished.
"What happened to Sasuke when that was done?" Katsumi continued.
Dr. Hana looked at Sasuke once more and continued "his muscles began to aggressively contract and spasm. His flesh began to burn. His heart began to suffer. He lost control of his bladder and bowels. He started foaming through his mouth. I had to stop the procedure several times. I was convinced they were going to kill him. I can still vividly hear him screaming and calling out for his mother" Dr. Hana regretfully confessed "he was left there was several days, and they would return only to restart the machine" she finished.
Katsumi involuntarily grabbed Sasuke's hand under the table trying to comfort him which surprised Sasuke who was very calm and simply listening.
"Was he being fed properly?" Katsumi asked.
"Even eating was torturous. He was fed regularly at first until one day they hit him in the stomach which resulted in him vomiting and tried to force him to eat his vomit. After that, they documented that as insubordination and unwillingness to eat. Anyone unwilling to eat is painfully force fed through their nose." Dr. Hana said.
"Was there any moment that particularly stood out for you as a cruelty rather than duty?" Katsumi asked.
"There was a time two guards strapped him to a table and played board games on his body. They took pieces of his skins and used them as pieces. All while his mouth was covered, therefore not being used to talk. At the end they poured salt and vinegar on his body and left him there for days" Dr. Hana said as her eyes were building up tears.
"Is there anything else you would like to add" Katsumi asked.
"It would have been better if he had died the first day" she said as she broke into tears "I am so sorry Sasuke" she said while looking at Sasuke.
"Objection, relevance?" The opposing counsel said while the judge just gave him a killer look.
"We are done with this witness" Katsumi said.
"We don't have any questions for this witness" the opposing counsel declared.
"Alright, let's take a two-hour break. I think we all need it" The judge said dismissing everybody.
Naruto and Sakura walked over to Sasuke. Sasuke was surprisingly just calm. Sakura hugged Sasuke and began to weep. Naruto hugged him from his side. Naruto was trying hard not to cry. He wanted to be strong for Sasuke but he was losing his battle.
"We got them, we got them" Naruto kept on repeating as he buried his face on Sasuke's neck.
Sakura pressed harder onto his body as she kept on crying.
"Hey, things are looking good. This shouldn't take much longer. Let's go eat something" Katsumi said in a low voice.
Sasuke got up and followed Katsumi. Sakura just held his arm and kept her face buried on his side. Naruto walked next to him.
They made it to the cafeteria outside the courthouse and sat to have something to eat before going back to the trial.
"What is going to happen to Dr. Hana?" Sasuke asked.
"I made a deal with her; she won't be charged thanks to her testimony, and she will be put in a protective program" Katsumi responded.
"Alright" Sasuke responded quietly.
Everyone was eating very quietly. They were still shaken from the doctor's testimony. Putting together scars with stories was hard. Regardless of their imagination, they were not capable of grasping the horrors Sasuke had to endure.
"How much longer?" Sakura asked.
"Not long, maybe a day or two" Katsumi said.
"I need this nightmare to be over" Sakura said.
The time got to go back got near and they began walking back to the courthouse.
"Sasuke could I speak to you in private for a second?" Katsumi asked.
"Why can't we be there?" Naruto immediately asked.
"It's okay Naruto, it won't be more than a second" Sasuke said stepping aside with Katsumi.
Naruto and Sakura couldn't make what they were saying but Katsumi looked regretful but then Sasuke softly smiled and shook her hand, and they were back on their way to the courthouse.
Back in the courtroom:
"Do the people have any other witnesses?" The judge asked.
"No, your honor. We rest our case" Katsumi declared.
"Alright then, you may begin calling your witnesses" The judge told the opposing counsel.
"We call Morino Ibiki to the stand" the opposing counsel said.
Morino Ibiki took his oath and sat to testify.
"Mr. Ibiki, do you believe enhanced interrogation techniques are necessary?" The opposing counsel asked.
"I do" Ibiki responded.
"You yourself have fallen victim to said techniques, do you still believe them necessary?" The opposing counsel asked.
"Yes, I do. Unfortunately, these techniques are necessary to obtain information vital to the village safety" Ibiki responded.
"Have you ever witnessed lives being saved based on this information" the opposing counsel asked.
"Yes, I have seen children being rescued based on the information we have received. We have located terrorists and avoided conflict many times" Ibiki said.
The opposing counsel asked many more questions all surrounding the same subject until the jury had tired already.
"Your witness" the opposing counsel said.
"Did you interview Uchiha Sasuke?" Katsumi rapidly asked.
"Yes, on his first day of imprisonment" Ibiki said.
"Did he cooperate with your questioning" Katsumi asked.
"It seemed like so" Ibiki said.
"Can you provide a concrete answer?" Katsumi asked.
"Yes, he was cooperating" Ibiki declared.
"Did you supervise his case?" Katsumi asked.
"I did not, I delegated the case as it did not seem to be a difficult case" Ibiki said.
"What made it not difficult?" Katsuki said.
"He cooperated with me" Ibiki added.
"In your expert opinion, based on the information provided by other witnesses and your own experience, do you think the force acted criminally during Uchiha Sasuke's imprisonment?" Katsumi asked.
"Objection, leading" the opposing counsel said.
"It is a simple question" Katsumi rebutted.
"Please answer the question" the judge said.
"I would have certainly acted differently" Ibiki responded.
"That is not what I asked, was their criminal action in your opinion" Katsumi pressed.
"If things were as declared by Dr. Hana, I believe so" Ibiki said.
"No more questions, thank you" Katsumi said turning to Sasuke with a smile on her face.
"Your honor, redirect?" the opposing counsel said.
"Go ahead" the judge said.
"Mr. Morino, do you believe Uchiha Sasuke is a criminal?" the opposing counsel asked.
"I do" Ibiki responded.
"Thank you" the opposing counsel said.
"Alright, you may call your next witness" the judge said.
"We call Uchiha Sasuke to the stand" the opposing counsel announced.
Sasuke looked confused. Naruto and Sakura looked at Katsumi even more confused.
"Your honor this is ludicrous" Katsumi said.
"Your honor, he is in the witness list" the opposing counsel said approaching the judge and showing her the list.
"He is right, Uchiha Sasuke please take the stand" the judge said.
Sasuke made his way to the stand and took his oath.
"Do you consider yourself a criminal?" the opposing counsel asked.
"Objection, prejudicial" Katsumi said.
"Sustained, watch it" the judge said.
"Let me rephrase, were you held at the Force because of your criminal activity" the opposing counsel asked.
"I have never had a trial" Sasuke responded.
"That is not the question" the opposing counsel said.
"I thought the Force was supposed to hold people for information" Sasuke said "I gave the information I was asked" he finished.
"But do you believe you would have been held there if you were innocent?" the opposing counsel asked.
"I can't answer that, I have never been legally tried therefore my innocence hasn't been a subject of question yet" Sasuke responded much more differently than the first time he was interviewed.
"Do you believe that after a trial you would be sent to the force?" the opposing counsel asked.
"Objection, your honor this is beyond my client's area of expertise" Katsumi objected.
"I am getting somewhere, I swear" the opposing counsel quickly cut her.
"I'll allow it" the judge said.
"It is hard to answer that. I thought the Force's objective was not to punish but to collect information. That information is blurry nowadays" Sasuke answered.
"Did you have information vital to the Village's safety?" the opposing counsel asked.
"I did but I…" Sasuke began to answer.
"Thank you, no more questions" The opposing counsel quickly cut him.
"Your honor, redirect?" Katsumi asked.
"Go ahead" the judge said.
"Did you willingly provide that information?" Katsumi asked.
"Yes" Sasuke declared.
"Thank you" Katsumi said sitting down.
"Alright, closing statements will be delivered tomorrow in the morning. The court is adjourned" the judge said.
"Guys I have to leave; I have to prepare for tomorrow" Katsumi said before rushing out.
"What now?" Sakura asked.
"I was wondering if we could go have ramen before tomorrow" Naruto asked.
"I don't know Naruto; don't you think it would be dangerous?" Sakura said.
"I'd like that" Sasuke said.
They walked together and went to have ramen. For a second, things seemed to be back to normal. Old team seven was back. There was laughter, there was joy.
As for the rest of the night, Sasuke was the same as he was before, quiet and keeping his distance.
*Court*
"Are you ready for you closing statements?" the judge asked.
Katsumi got close to the jury and began her statement.
"Uchiha Sasuke is criminal. He has engaged in serious terrorist activity. Some of you might have been affected by his actions. I am not here to defend his actions. I'd be the first person to prosecute him if I had the opportunity but there is the key, we have not even had the chance to properly prosecute him. Some of you may argue he is a hero; some others will argue he is a criminal but until the people have the opportunity to make that decision we stand on a limbo. The people should have the opportunity to try Uchiha Sasuke based on the evidence that is presented to them, not based on the arbitrary choice of the force. Today is Sasuke, but what will happen if we allow the force to choose who they punish and how? Who will tell them if they are wrong. Your opinion will no longer matter, and you will not have a say on what happens in the village. But what is a village but its people. This isn't a matter of justice for a man, but keeping power where it belongs, keeping the people in power. Your choice today will not defy how Sasuke's future will unravel but it will determine if you set a precedent of injustice and arbitrariness. This is not about a man but about the future of the village" Katsumi ended her closing argument.
"Enhanced interrogation is difficult. It hurts, it destroys, it traumatizes. No one ever wishes to use these techniques on anyone. I wish we lived in a world where these techniques are not necessary. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people kill, rape, hurt, and leave children orphaned. In a world where there is so much pain and darkness, a few brave people must take on the job that nobody wishes existed and must protect the safety and future of the Village in ways that not everybody will understand. Tighter regulation on the Force will not ensure justice for a man, it will delay justice for thousands of others. It will delay the finding of little girls. It will delay justice for a rape victim. It will delay finding kidnapped victims who might no longer be with us by the time, the force is cleared. I want you all to think about the children who will stay missing if we lose today" the opposing counsel closed his argument.
**Outside of the courtroom**
"What is going on now?" Naruto asked.
"The jury members are voting on a verdict" Katsumi answered.
"How long does it usually take?" Sakura asked.
"It's hard to say, it could be a day maybe a week. Only God knows" Katsumi answered.
"The jury is ready to deliver its verdict" a court official came to tell them.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked.
"That is very strange, that is very soon. It could be a good thing, but it could also mean that they are deadlock which means they cannot make a decision and we have to do it all over again" Katsumi said.
The thought of going through a trial again terrified the trio. Sasuke wouldn't admit but his heart was pounding in his chest.
They sat in the courtroom and nervously waited for the lady from the jury to read the verdict.
"On the count of violation of due process, how do you find the defendants (set of names of people involve in Sasuke's imprisonment)?" the judge said.
"We find the defendants guilty" the lady in the jury said.
"On the count of obstruction of justice, how do you find the defendants?" the judge asked.
"We find the defendants guilty" the lady in the jury said.
"On the count of false imprisonment and kidnapping, how do you find the defendants?" the judge continued to ask.
"We find the defendants not guilty" the lady in the jury confirmed.
"On the count of assault and battery, how do you find the defendants?" the judge asked.
"We find the defendants guilty" the lady in the jury finished.
"The court is dismissed, the village of Konoha thanks you for your service.
Katsumi patted Sasuke in the back and whispered "congratulations" to which he just noded.
Sakura and Naruto hugged each other. They were elated. They couldn't wait to hug Sasuke and celebrate. Just as they were walking up to him they noticed something strange.
Katsumi said something in Sasuke's ear, and he simply nodded. Then she look back and nodded to some people.
"Sasuke I am so happy for…" Sakura said as she was cut off.
"Uchiha Sasuke?" A guard asked to which Sasuke just nodded "you are under arrest for your crimes against the village" he said as he was taking Sasuke in his custody.
"What is going on?" Naruto asked Katsumi confused.
"I am sorry but justice cannot be unilateral" Katsumi said.
"But after all he has gone through?" Sakura asked brokenhearted.
"He will have a proper trial now" Katsumi "I am sorry, I wish I could say more".
Peace came and left so ephemerally that it seemed like an illusion…