The Fujiwara Minoru trial mission wraps up this chapter

Chapter 57:It's our legacy (you'll be running for the rest of your life)

They reached the capital early the next morning, carriage pulling up behind the ministry building where they were allowed into a gated entrance upon showing the guards a scroll with the Hokage's stamp.

Being that Hinata was on escort and guard duty, she busied herself with retrieving Fujiwara from the carriage and delivering him to a holding cell within the building.

Meanwhile Sasuke, Naruto and Ino went inside to greet the Fire Daimyo. After entirely too much time spent on formalities, they were finally escorted to the room where Fujiwara Minoru's tribunal would be held.

It was a midsized room, decorated in a style expensive enough to signal a successfully run country but not so lavish as to give the suggestion of a misuse of taxes. At the head of the room the Fire Daimyo's advisors sat seiza on a raised platform, dressed in work-appropriate finery. A seat in the very center was empty for where the Daimyo himself would sit — he would enter last.

Directly across from the advisors at floor level, there were three seats arranged for Fujiwara's defense and further to the side a seat for Fujiwara himself.

Finally, around the outer edge there was additional seating. The trial was closed to the public, but certain nobles had been given exclusive permission to sit in.

As Sasuke filed in behind Naruto and Ino, every eye in the room turned to them. They were all too well-trained to react, though Ino did make it a point to put an extra swing in her hips. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

They took their seats, Sasuke and Ino on either side of Naruto. Naruto and Ino would do most of the talking. More than the victim and the perpetrator, a formal tribunal was about the community. Sasuke supposed he was the part of the so-called community that was representing Fujiwara. In any case, Sasuke didn't intend to speak. He'd said all he had to say in his letter and his presence should speak for itself.

If they tired to force his hand, he would simply recite his letter.

The door swung open and a uniformed guard entered. When he made a beeline towards them, Sasuke cocked a brow. Hovering over them after a polite bow, the guard said in a hushed tone, "Your comrade is requesting your aid."

All three of them shifted, but Sasuke was the fastest to stand. "Where?"

The guard took one look at Sasuke's face and gulped. "This way," he said, quickly retracing his steps out of the room with Sasuke practically breathing down his neck from how closely he was following.

Upon seeing Hinata's figure at the end of the hall, Sasuke pushed past the guard to reach her first.

"Hinata?"

"Sasuke-kun." Hinata moved from where she was standing with Fujiwara Minoru and another guard to meet him halfway. "Sorry about this," she said in an undertone once they were a few meters away and afforded some small measure of privacy.

Sasuke frowned, ducking close. "What's wrong?" Though she was trying to hide it, Sasuke could see that she was upset. Her fingers were tangled in a tight knot in front of her.

Hinata's eyes struggled to meet his. "Um. Minoru-san would, um, prefer if someone else were to escort him into the courtroom," she explained.

Sasuke's frown deepened. "He requested you."

"He changed his mind," Hinata said. "We should respect that," She gave him a faint smile that did little to reassure him. "Would you mind escorting Minoru-san in?"

When Sasuke ignored the question, eyes remaining fixed on her, Hinata's façade seemed not so much to break as to willingly recede. It was the subtle pleading in her gaze that stopped Sasuke from pressing the issue. Accurately reading his concession, Hinata breathed out, fingers unknotting themselves.

Finally tearing his eyes from Hinata, Sasuke strode towards Fujiwara, not bothering hiding his displeasure. The younger boy backed up a little, chains jangling. But then he held firm, chin jutting forward.

Sasuke studied Fujiwara's expression. Then, his eyes narrowed.

Fujiwara didn't want Hinata to hear what would be said in the trial, that much was evident to Sasuke. Either he was foolish enough to think Hinata was unaware, or he thought hearing it in this setting might change her opinion of him.

Even after seeing Hinata all but melt a man firsthand with nothing but her chakra, the kid thought she was too fragile for the ugliness of the world.

As if Hinata weren't a kunoichi.

"Tch." Sasuke turned and began walking to the entrance.

Maybe Sasuke would have thought the same, years ago. Maybe he had.

Seven years old, seeing the one uncorrupted remnant of his childhood and choosing to keep his distance.

Perhaps he had been wrong to underestimate her back then. He would never know for sure.

But he knew better now.

Sasuke heard the jingling steps of Fujiwara following behind him.

When they reached the door, Sasuke stopped, his one hand on the handle. The metal was cold under his skin, not far removed from his memory of the feeling of the bars of a cell. Sasuke's grip tightened. "Sometimes it takes a monster to fight a monster. Whatever you did to face yours…to the people in there, you became the monster in their stories. You have to decide now if that's who you are. Then walk in there and show them."

When he turned, he saw a look of resolve on Fujiwara's face. With serious eyes trained on Sasuke, Fujiwara nodded.

Sasuke opened the door.

The trial was long.

It started with the councilman to the right of the Fire Daimyo reading out a thorough summary of the events that had occurred and then meticulously listing out Fujiwara Minoru's crimes. To close, he proposed that for the good of the community Fujiwara Minoru should be imprisoned for life.

From the corner of his eyes, Sasuke could see Naruto relax.

Imprisonment was better than execution.

From there they were invited to lay out their case. Like the Daimyo's side, they started with a detailed account. Naruto went through what they knew of Fujiwara's background and upbringing. Ino went through his physical health records and addressed the state of his mental health. They argued that locking up Fujiwara Minoru would prevent him from contributing to the good of the community. That paying penance in service would allow him to heal both the outside world and himself. That in Konoha, surrounded by ninja, it would be a safe environment for this to be accomplished.

Throughout all of this, Fujiwara was silent. Even when their audience reacted to the information disclosed with murmurs or whispers, he didn't say a word, lips pursed tightly together in a thin line. But he didn't have the control of a shinobi; Sasuke could see his brows furrowing and jumping with his restrained emotions, could see his hands clenching and unclenching by his side.

Finally, once Naruto and Ino were done, the Daimyo's advisor thanked them and said, "Unless there is anything else to be presented, we will move to —"

"Obugyō-sama." It was one of the noblemen making up their small audience who spoke. "I have something to say, if you will indulge me."

"Tokugawa-sama, the proceedings should be undisturbed by outside influence, as you well know," came the sharp reply.

"My family nearly joined the list of victims. I believe we are beyond outside influence."

Before the councilman could respond, the Fire Daimyo held up his hand. Taking notice of this, the councilman calmed. "Very well. Say your piece, Tokugawa-sama."

"The amount of people Fujiwara Minoru killed numbered in the double digits. If he had not been stopped, all of the men sitting next to me and, in fact, all of the men sitting in front of me, including Daimyo-sama himself would have been within those numbers. Do you truly expect us to believe that Hi no Kuni will be a better place with him roaming the streets? And going as far as to target Daimyo-sama, what justification was used to rule out execution as a potential outcome?" Tokugawa asked.

"We've already stated for the record that the white zetsu that had attached itself to Fujiwara had a parasitic and corruptive effect on him. The excision surgery showed that its roots had buried itself into his muscles, spinal cord and brainstem," Ino retorted. "His impulse control and judgment were severely impaired at that time and cannot be used as a predictor of future behaviour. Moreover, after removal there have been no harmful behaviours observed." Her word choice was professional, but Sasuke could hear the edge in her voice, a vestige of the short temper he remembered from the academy.

Tokugawa was quiet as he digested this before speaking again. "And what of the need to satisfy and reassure the community? The people who were harmed and the people who lost loved ones." Then he aimed his stoic mein at Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke-san is well-versed in such things, isn't that right? In your view, would such a punishment suffice? To avenge the fallen?"

Sasuke angled his eyes to survey the man disdainfully, not bothering to turn his body fully. "The person I went after was one of the strongest ninja in this world, a member of the Akatsuki and had promised to come after me to finish decimating our clan and testing his strength," he said in a low monotone. He cocked his head towards Fujiwara's scrawny figure. "If you really think he's a danger to anyone right now, that keeping him locked up or executing him is for the safety of the community, you're kidding yourself."

The council member cleared his throat hastily. "Thank you, Uchiha-san, Tokugawa-sama. I think that is enough questions."

"I have one more, if time will permit," Tokugawa interrupted once more, earning a disgruntled look from the councilman.

The councilman contemptuously adjusted his hat. "Very well."

"We have yet to hear anything from Fujiwara Minoru in his own words. How can we be reassured of his intentions if he cannot tell us himself?"

Fujiwara's head shot up at this. When his eyes darted to Sasuke, Sasuke stared back steadily.

"I…" Fujiwara's voice shook. Sasuke wondered if he'd ever been around this many people before. If he'd ever spoken in front of this many people. Taking a deep breath, Fujiwara tried again. "I know I'm in no position to ask for forgiveness. But despite the things I've done…for the first time people have shown me kindness. It may not be possible, but I would like to be deserving of that kindness." He paused, mouth opening and closing silently. Then, shaking his head, he said in a thin and reedy whisper, "That's all."

He sounded young and honest and Sasuke could see the subtle change in the way everyone regarded him, including Tokugawa.

Slackjawed, it took a moment for the councilman to remember himself. Readjusting his hat again, he said, "Yes. Very good. Now with no further ado, we shall take our leave to deliberate. We will reconvene tomorrow at seven o'clock to announce the verdict of one, Fujiwara Minoru. Thank you everyone."

The Fire Daimyo and his wife had extended theuse of the many guest rooms of their home to the Konoha-nin to for the overnight stay. It was an invitation they gladly accepted in lieu of the bunkbeds in the safehouse.

Shijimi had even come down to collect them herself as her husband was busy with his council discussing Fujiwara Minoru's fate.

Hinata, however, had to decline much to Shijimi's disappointment, dutybound to remain by Minoru's side.

"At least come have tea with me tomorrow before you leave," Shijimi insisted, holding Hinata's hands tightly in her own, only letting go once Hinata agreed.

Hinata waited until Shijimi had retreated into her carriage before massaging the palms of her hands.

"She sure has a tight grip. Don't know how she keeps losing that cat," Ino remarked. "Well, I'm going to make good use of their fancy baths. 'Night Hinata!"

"I'll get going too," Hinata said. "Goodnight everyone."

As she was leaving, Hinata caught Sasuke's eyes and blushed, something in his gaze taking her back to the previous night.

Hinata had been waiting for the right time to tell Sasuke how she felt and the middle of a mission was not exactly what she'd had in mind. But last night when she'd realized that in delaying, she'd made Sasuke feel insecure, she hadn't wanted to wait a second longer.

Raising her fingers to press against her lips, Hinata couldn't help but smile at the memory. Perhaps there was no such thing as the right time. Or rather, with the right person, anytime would be the right time.

Later, when she was at her post outside Minoru's holding cell, Hinata was unsurprised when the scent of a familiar detergent filled her senses. She simply leaned into the figure by her side contentedly.

"Hinata."

"Mm."

"When we get back to Konoha…will you help me with something?"

Blinking, Hinata tilted her head back to see Sasuke's face. In the dark hallway, Sasuke's right eye was lost to the shadows, but his pale rinnegan was shining.

A little mesmerized by the sight, it took Hinata a moment to recall the question. When she did, she nodded.

Bowing her head in thanks, Hinata accepted the tray from the municipal guard.

Sasuke had left some hours ago at Hinata's insistence. She could only hope he'd actually taken advantage of the soft beds and private baths of the Fire Daimyo's house.

"Minoru-san," she called softly, repeating herself when it didn't appear that he'd heard her. Finally gaining his attention, she kneeled and opened the slot to the cell in order to slide the tray through to the other side.

Getting up from the tiny cot in his cell, Fujiwara Minoru approached the barred door to accept the meal provided by the capital.

Hinata saw Minoru's fingers tremble where he grasped the edges of the tray. It didn't look like he'd slept at all.

Neither had Hinata, but she was trained for it.

When Minoru didn't move, Hinata too remained crouched in front of his cell. He looked scared, she realized. He'd come close to dying so many times, but this was the first time Hinata had seen such an expression on his face. She wished she could comfort him, but didn't know how.

Then Minoru spoke. "Yesterday…when you said there was nothing wrong with me…did you mean that?"

Hinata blinked. Minoru wasn't looking at her, gaze fixed on the breakfast tray.

"I did," she replied and only then did he raise his eyes to meet hers.

"Sasuke-san told me that I need to decide who I am." Minoru's brown eyes were red around the corners. "But I don't know who that is. I just know…I don't want to be a monster."

The earnestness in his voice hurt Hinata's heart, but she hid it behind an encouraging smile. "That's a good place to start," she said, "The rest can be figured out. You won't have to do it alone."

Minoru stared at her with wide eyes.

"Please go ahead and eat. You'll need to keep your energy up for the rest of the day," Hinata said, slowly getting to her feet. She dusted off her fishnet-covered knees. "They'll be gathering in an hour to announce the verdict. Would you like me to get one of my comrades to escort you in again?"

"N-No." Fujiwara's voice broke around the vowel, pitching up. He cleared his throat. "No. It's fine. You can stay."

Hinata paused, hands on her knees. When she straightened up, Minoru had his head down as he mechanically ate from his tray.

Hinata glanced around the room from her place near Minoru, catching Ino's blue eyes as she did. They shared a commiserating look. The two of them were the only women present. It would have been intimidating if Hinata weren't so used to it.

The Fire Daimyo was the last to enter, the room falling into silence as he made his way to the seat of honour.

"Thank you to everyone who spoke yesterday. Your words were taken into consideration as we dliberated over the case of Fujiwara Minoru." The Fire Daimyo had a drawling way of speaking that made it difficult not to drift off. But with the situation being as it were, everyone in the room was hanging onto his every word. "It is an unusual and serious one that we did not take lightly, given the gravity and breadth of the crimes and the age of the offender. After a long day in this room, we spent an even longer night reviewing every facet. Many things were discussed."

Darting a glance over at Minoru, Hinata saw his spine straighten.

"We have decided on a sentence of ten years, to be spent in service of Hi no Kuni under the custody of Konohagakure."

Minoru's shaky exhale was nearly lost in the ensuing outbreak of whispers from the witnesses, audible to Hinata only because of her proximity to him.

The council member to the Daimyo's right pointedly coughed into his fist, prompting the room to quiet down.

Wearing a peevish expression on his face, the Fire Daimyo waited a minute before continuing to speak. "During these ten years, any re-offense by Fujiwara Minoru will result in immediate execution. At the end of the sentence, the terms of Fujiwara Minoru's punishment will be revisited, with the potential of extension, termination or readjustment of parameters."

While Naruto slumped in relief, Hinata's brows drew together tightly in concern and she exchanged a discrete look with Sasuke.

As always, Ino's mouth moved almost faster than her thoughts. "Daimyo-sama, if you may grant us some clarification...by re-offense you mean…?"

"If he commits another crime," the Daimyo said blandly.

"That's fine," Naruto said, throwing a confused glance at Ino. "That's not going to happen," he assured the Daimyo.

"Of course not," the Fire Daimyo agreed.

Hinata bit her lip.

"Yes. Konoha will take Fujiwara Minoru's custody very seriously," Ino said between clenched teeth. "But, again, when you say crime…what exactly would that include?"

It was the councilman who answered this time. "A crime would include any breaking of the law," he said impatiently. "Any law. If Fujiwara Minoru so much as litters on a public street or boards a train without purchasing a ticket it would be considered a violation of his sentence."

Hinata winced, shutting her eyes.

"Wait a minute — being executed for littering? Isn't that an overreaction?" Naruto asked incredulously.

"From Tokugawa-sama's statements yesterday, it was clear that there are reasonable concerns about public safety should Fujiwara not be confined to a cell. And Konoha expressed confidence in your ability to rehabilitate Fujiwara Minoru. Thus this seemed to be a good compromise to ensure that while he is being granted a very generous amount of freedom, Fujiwara Minoru will be held to the highest standards of behaviour."

"But —"

"This is the only alternative to a lifetime of imprisonment we are willing to entertain." It was said with a sense of finality. "Parameters may be revisited at the end of the ten year term."

Naruto stopped speaking and the resulting silence felt loud.

The councilman adjusted his hat imperiously. "Very good. We will adjourn."

All at once the silence dissipated. The noblemen were all quick to get to their feet, their chatter filling the room as they eagerly left the trial behind to return to their regular lives. It was only the Konoha delegation that remained frozen in the aftermath of the ruling.

Minoru held himself together well while the room emptied, but as she was escorting him back to the holding area, Hinata thought he looked so stiff that he might shatter at any second. When they were alone, standing outside of his cell, a strange, strangled noise had Hinata hesitating in reaching for the key.

"Minoru-san…" The boy had his back to her. Worried, Hinata placed her hand on his shoulder. Feeling him shaking under her palm, Hinata realized he was crying.

Whether it was from relief or despair, she didn't know, but regardless, Hinata held Minoru's shoulder a little more firmly and waited quietly with him as he cried his heart out.

The trip back to Konoha was a somber one. Though Ino did her level best to lighten up the atmosphere, pointing out that they'd achieved the outcome they'd been aiming for, Naruto seemed to be in a pensive mood.

Leaving Ino to her attempts to cheer Naruto up, Hinata served Minoru, still restrained in the carriage, his dinner and found the boy to be taking the results of the trial much better than the rest of them. Though his eyes were still red from the tears he had shed, the fear she'd seen in him earlier that morning had abated. That, at least, reassured Hinata.

Still, when they made it back to Konoha Hinata was happy to be done with the mission.

Having lost Ino to Sai, waiting dutifully at the village gates, and Naruto to the stables, where Yuna and a group of his fangirls had been waiting, Hinata and Sasuke had been left to hand Fujiwara Minoru back to the hospital and report to Kakashi.

It was only after they had delivered their mission report to the older man and started to leave that Kakashi stopped them.

"Before you go. I received an interesting request from Fūma Kiyoko," Kakashi said, arms crossed against his chest as he leaned against his desk.

When she looked at the silver-haired man, Hinata was surprised to find him looking back.

"She wanted to see you," Kakashi said. "Hinata."

Thanks as always to everyone who continues to read and leave comments

MVH