Behind The Veil

Chapter 18

 "Where are they", Tsunade growled out as she slammed her clenched fist against the conference table. Sure, she expected Sasuke and Sakura to be late but she had Gaara specifically tell Naruto not to be late.

"Hokage-Sama," Shikamaru spoke up. She glared at him, he and his friends weren't even supposed to be here, "It's Naruto, he is late to everything. I can assure you, he will be here." 

Some releif filled the  hokage's mind but soon they will have to start the meeting, with or without the team it's about. She gave a quick glance to the clock. Five more minutes. She'll spare them for five more minutes then it's out of her hands. 

"Tsunade," an elder stood up, her face tense with annoyance, "We have waited an hour for these children. I beleive it is time we shall move on with this meeting." 

Tsunade cringed. She always hated it anytime the elders spoke, always trying to tell her how to rule her village. Well, she was a very efficieint leader if she says so herself! She scoffed at the old hag and held up her hand to silence her before she went on and on about what she should do. 

She clenched her arms around her waist, just where are those guys? As if some miracle had happened the door slammed opened with Naruto, Hinata, and Gaara. 

"Baa-chan!" Tsunade pursed her lips at the nickname but the boys vibrant smile eased all of her worries. She gave him a smile and looked behind the three. Still two missing. 

"Did you by chance run into your idiotic teamates out there" Shikamaru asked as he wrapped Naruto in a loose hug. He hadn't ever been a real touchy person, not till Asuma's death. Then to top it off loosing his father? The boy has demons, and touch just may scare em off. 

A growl rattled in Naruto's throat as he shook his head. Hinata gave a sympathetic smile and placed her hand over his chest. Tsunade smiled as she sat down at the table, maybe Hinata could chase away Naruto's demons. 

"We can start now, right?" The elder muttered. 

"Yeah, The other two didn't have to come," Tsunade said calmly, "Naruto how are you doing?" 

Naruto eased into a chair, pulling Hinata right beside him, his touch never leaving her, "I'm okay. Is this about my mental health?" 

The nervous laugh set an easy atmosphere, "No Naruto, you've just been gone so long. It must be exhausting coming back here after all this time. I understand you were injured as you were brought back?" 

"It healed. Thats a bonous of the whole demon fox shoved inside of me without my say so." Naruto rolled his sleeve up to reveal a think pink scar. Not bad. 

"And how are things with Sasuke?" the elder spoke softly but quickly. There were only two of them at this meeting but Tsunade was sure they would take notes back to the rest of the hassels. 

"I've been back one day. We havn't spoken. And we won't" Naruto said the words so easily. Did he really not want to talk to Sasuke? 

"And is that on account of what he did to the hyuuga?" 

"Her name is Hinata," the boy spat out harshly, "And partially. It also has to do with the fact that I kept to my promise. I brought him back, alive at that! Yet I was labeled the monster. I was betrayed. I lost my place I fought so hard for. Then I nearly lost someone so special to me now and I just can't do it Tsunade-chan." 

Everyone's face fell when the voice cracked, tears brimmed his eyes. Hinata rubbed his arm in a comforting mannor. Did they really allow their own choices to turn Naruto into this? Into this shell of a boy? He looked up and his blue eyes shimmered in sadness, "Could you guys do it? Could you talk to someone who has taken everything from you?" 

The door creeked open and Sakura walked in, "Naruto.." 

Her hair was a mess, her eyes were red and puffy her face swollen. She pulled at her fingertips as she looked around the room. She could feel everyone's heated gazes on her. Their eyes told her things she'd never wanted to imagine. Did Naruto really go through this all by himself? 

"S-Sakura" His voice cracked. It wasn't like it was easy for him too look at her. Too see the girl he chased after for so long. The girl he made a promise to that he was sure he couldn't keep. He was so sure he would fail her but he didn't. He stuck to his words but who was it who failed who? How did their relationship get so frayed? 

"I'm sorry. I said too much. I just loved the wrong boy huh?" She looked up as a tear fell down her pink cheek, "I don't think i've ever hated myself so much for something I did. I have so many regrets." 

Naruto licked his lips as he processed the words. Should he forgive her? No, can he forgive her? Hinata squeezed his hand. "Who hit you?" He whispered as he glared at the bruising mark along the side of her face and neck. 

She gave a small smile as she rubbed at the mark, "Sasuke didn't want to come, that's all." 

He swallowed loudly and knawed at the inside of his cheek, "He did that to you?" A small nod was his resposne. He looked around the room, everyone stared at Sakura as if she deserved it but she was trying to make things right again. She put herself on the line trying to get Sasuke to come here. 

"I want him punished." Naruto said with his head raised high, voice clear and stern. 

"For hitting Sakura?" An elder asked as Everone only gaped at him. 

"No, for everything. His betrayel to the leaf. His plans to attack the leaf. His attack on my  Hinata. Everything!" Naruto's voice boomed through the room, daring anyone to disagree with his words. He eyed the coucil, the hokage, his friends. The love of his life. She smiled so brightly at him. And he felt his decision was right. 

"We were going to exterminate him for the attempted murder of Hinata Hyuuga. What are your thoughts of this?" The lady said. Clearly she didn't care to hesitate before calling quits on someone's life. 

"You know I used to look up to Sasuke. I wanted to be like him, wanted to be as strong and brave as him," His voice quivered slighty " I'd dream sometimes that he was my family, my real family. I don't want to loose him. I say he should either face prison time or be banished from the hidden leaf." 

Tsunade looked at the teenager in front of her. Proud unfurled in her chest and spread throughout her body. After all Sasuke did to him, he still couldn't wish death upon him. She smiled and nodded her agreement. 

"I hereby declare that Uchiha Sasuke shall be punished on many accounts of betrayal. An attempt of murder. An attempt of planned ambush against the leaf. I say he does four years in a isolated prison before he is banished from the hidden leaf." Tsunade eyed the council, silently willing them not to deny this. 

They nodded, thank the gods! She looked at Naruto, he looked sad yet somewhere in his face releif sat in. She was proud of him, and she'll likely always regret everything she has allowed to happen to this sweet ray of sunshine.