Songs For The Heartbroken: That's What You Get

Chapter 33

It took less time than expected for me to sort myself out. Within three weeks of my interrogation I'd managed to put my memories in order and somewhat stabilize my psyche. Key word being somewhat. Before I knew it, I was being called into the Hokage's office. I had to take the underground passages, of course, and keep my mask and cloak on at all times. I didn't feel as uneasy going in as the last time I'd been there, granted I was neither going to confess to treason nor was I going to be interrogated –that I knew of-, still I felt more at ease than I probably should have.

I was just glad to be given something to do; to be given an excuse to leave Kakashi's apartment, to go somewhere other than training ground 44- it seemed so small now that I'd run it's length and width over and over again during those three weeks. I couldn't bring myself to feel intimidated by Lady Tsunade's summoning, the Hat had already put me through the worst interrogation technique in their arsenal, and ANBU had made sure I wasn't a stranger to physical-stress based interrogation. There was only one thing that kept me obedient, and Senju Tsunade knew exactly what it was. I knew for a fact that Inoichi forcing Sasuke's whereabouts out of my head had been no accident; having control over the remaining members of such an ancient and powerful clan as the Uchiha was not an advantage Konohagakure would be willing to give up. I knew this, and yet, I did not care.

Being a tool of the state was a shinobi's job description, we were no strangers to that particular piece of truth, even more so those of us who came from ninja clans. There came a time in our lives where we realized what our life was and just accepted it, there was no use in doing otherwise. We were mercenaries, we knew that, and we were damn good at it, even if we were at the mercy of the current Hokage's decisions. I was willing to accept this as long as my family was safe, Tsunade knew that, Inoichi had made sure she did. Still there was the fact that unlike her predecessors, and for all her rough edges, Tsunade would not resort to threatening my family's safety unless she deemed it necessary.

The door to the Hokage's office was opened for me, the masked operative escorting me to Tsunade came in after me and closed the door once we were both safely inside. It was dusk, the rose hew of the sky gave the room a look than in any other situation would have felt romantic. Colors distorted and breeze blew through the open window, and once again, I was calm.

I trusted that woman.

"Did you get enough rest, Uchiha-san?" she asked, never looking up from the report she was reading.

"More than enough, Lady Tsunade."

She looked up annoyed, like I'd said something she considered offensive. Sanju Tsunade put the scroll down and intertwined her fingers; she took a deep breath in.

"I owe you a sincere apology in the name of Konohagakure no Sato. I can guarantee all information on the whereabouts of both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke will remain as confidential as we can make it."

I said nothing and just nodded in acknowledgement. She sighed and closed her eyes, if it was resignation or relief in her mind, I could never tell.

"I'm aware you adopted certain rascal as a part of your extended family. Since we are in need someone who can give him what he's been denied his entire life, we would like you to take on a more active role coming into his teenage years..."

I smiled a little.

"You want him to have a reason to remain loyal. You want us to have something in the village we would be willing to fight for."

Tsunade clicked her tongue and looked away. Then she smiled and let out a breathy laugh.

"well, I can't let a jinchuriki and one of the only people who can influence him fall into another village's grasp, now can I?"