Andromeda & Aburame

Chapter 29: Rising Tension

Sayuri's POV:

As soon as the words left my mouth I knew there would be trouble but I didn't regret saying them. I heard everyone around me collectively gasp except for Sasuke. Instead I felt his chakra go cold.

Sasuke: What...did...you...say?

Sayuri: Itachi would be ashamed of you Sasuke.

Sasuke: What the hell do you know!? Huh!? You're just an outsider! What do you know about Itachi!?

Sayuri: Apparently more than you!.... You stand there condemning a girl who you haven't even met on the basis that we shouldn't trust her for the fact that her clan name is Ōtsutsuki!

Sasuke: Exactly! We've seen what they are capable of, how powerful they are. Maybe you don't get it because you didn't fight Kaguya but that clan is nothing but a bunch of monsters!

Sayuri:.....That's your justification for murdering her?

Sasuke: Yes!

Sayuri: Then what you said justifies the murder of your entire clan. That's why Itachi would be ashamed of you.

In a flash Sasuke drew his sword and swung at me, but I refused to move. I wasn't backing down. Instead Naruto and Brother were there in an instant holding back his arms. Lee got between the blade and I. Lord Kazekage gripped the blade with his sand.

Sasuke: You don't know anything! You have no right to speak about my clan!

Naruto: Sasuke... she's right.  You know that deep down. It's the same thing.

Kakashi: Calm down Sasuke. Sayuri is a village favorite and you're already in a bad position with the village.

Lord Kazekage: You're only mad Sasuke Uchiha because you know what she said is true. You're not mad at her, you're mad at yourself and conflicted.

With that Sasuke relented and the others cautiously let him go only after he handed over his blade for the time being.

Shino's POV:

Sasuke's actions were unplanned, based on rage. It was apparent how much her name carried and the feelings it evoked.

As Sasuke cooled down, Hinata and Kiba gave their testimonies. Although they did little good. Hinata stuttered through hers which I showed the kage she was afraid. I doubt they even acknowledged a word she said after her first stutter. As for kiba he made the idiotic mistake of mentioning that he could smell her power level and how high it was. This got the kage riled up again to the point that I couldn't hear why he mentioned it at all, possibly to point out that she could be a powerful ally.

Lord Mizukage: "I've heard enough, I'm ready to vote."

Lord Tsuchikage: "As am I"

Shino: "Wait! You haven't heard Sayuri's official testimony!"

Lord Raikage: "Haven't we? This entire time she has supported the other's arguments and refuted ours."

Lord Mizukage: "He is right. She can't possibly tell us anything we haven't already heard."

Lord Hokage: "This isn't what we agreed to. You have to give each of them a chance to present their case."

Lord Kazekage: Lord Hokage is right. We have to give her a chance.

Lord Tsuchikage: "Not when it comes to something of this importance. Now we could take a vote as to whether or not she should present her testimony, however it will be 3 against 2 in favor of us voting without the testimony."

Sayuri and Rock Lee: "No you can't do that!"

Shino: "Please! You have to listen to her testimony!"

Lord Raikage: "No. We don't."

Lord Mizukage: "Come kage, let us go to a private chamber away from whining brats to discuss this."

Naruto: "Kakashi sensei you have to do something!"

Hinata: "T-this isn't r-r-right!"

Lord Hokage: "I will try to sway their vote, but my hands are tied."

With that the kage left the room and it felt like everything was crashing down around me. Why did we go to that stupid forest? If we hadn't gone then she wouldn't have attacked us and that would be one last nail in her....No I couldn't think of that terrible word. There had to be something, anything we could do. That I could do. She was our friend, if the village could forgive a murderer like Sasuke then why couldn't they forgive someone with no blood on her hands?