Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 2

Yet another sigh slipped past my lips as I impatiently waited for my trial. The two guards that were watching me showed no signs of hearing that sigh or one of the other dozen I'd let out.

For the first time in my life, I was behind the famous wall. I'd honestly hoped it'd be under better conditions. Maybe I'd work hard for a most of my years and finally be able to retire behind the walls in a high class society. I hadn't ever imagined it'd be with shackles weighing my wrists and ankles down for an accidental death threat toward the royal family. Mom always said my mouth would be what did me in.

Ideas on how to talk my way out of this were flying through my head, but I figured the right one would appear when the time came. I've always been good at getting myself out of punishment as long as it isn't my mom giving it out. When I was in school, I cut Ino's hair while she wasn't paying attention and convinced the teacher that she'd done it herself even though many others had seen me do it.

A bittersweet smile graced my lips at the memory. Ino and I have always fought like cats and dogs, but we've always been closer than two peas in a pod. That's what happens when you're twins with nearly no other friends. I didn't make many female friends growing up because I was too much of a tomboy for them and Ino didn't make many because all the boys always loved her and the other girls didn't like that. Naruto had been one of those boys and still is, honestly. I wonder if he'll finally give up since he now knows that Ino isn't the only beautiful girl the world has to offer.

We'd been standing outside a large golden door that apparently leads to the trial room for so long, I'd lost count. The castle we were in was a mere stone compared to the diamond that was the Uchiha castle, but that didn't mean that it didn't have the most elegant interior I've ever seen. The floor and walls were made of what looked like pearl, with the trim and doors being at least coated in gold. Even with all of the brightness, the halls and rooms seemed dark. There was an air of unease throughout the building, as if all it's inhabitants had a dark cloud hanging over them.

With a loud rumble, the double doors finally slid open and I was shoved forward by the two guards. I stumbled forward, the shackles on my ankles making it hard to walk. There were hushed voices erupting all around me. I looked up to see the room was actually quite crowded.

One either side of the small aisle I was stumbling down, dozens of onlookers were seated with unhindered looks of disgust on their faces as they studied my dirty dress and messy hair. I kept my gaze as steady as possible facing the three thrones at the head of the room. Each of the seats were empty, but decorated with useless expensive jewels. A handful of "honored" guests sat to the left of the thrones, their clothing, hair, and makeup all unnecessarily fancy for a simple hearing. The only other door in the room was to the right of the thrones and it opened up as soon as the guards and I reached the front of the room.

Three people walked haughtily out of the room and ceremoniously strode over to their respective thrones before pausing to gauge the room and finally sitting. These weren't the Uchihas. These were the Uchihas' carefully selected judges. They each came from a different noble family, but I couldn't remember their names.

"State your name and your crime." The stoic man in the middle, larger, throne spoke in a cold voice.

My previous ease on the subject of talking my way out of this flew out the window. This man made me uncomfortable. He didn't seem much older than me, but he seemed aged beyond his years with sheer seriousness alone.

One of the guards nudged my shoulder to try and get me to answer, but the force of it threw me to the ground. I hadn't eaten in two days and was really starting to feel it. "S-Sakura Haruno and I committed no crime!" The guard that'd pushed me gave me a kick to the side, sending me into a hunched ball to try and soften the hot pain that erupted in my torso as a result.