Hello everyone! I'm baaaack with a new story. I was shocked to see this idea get so many votes during the poll but it totally won by a decent gap. The next two winners were the only two one-shots I had up there so they will probably come sometime in the middle of this story.

I hope you guys like this, ive been working hard on it :D

Also fair warning things start out slow for the most part, im not going to have Itachi and Sakura immediately jump in bed together but trust me it will happen eventually :D I'm going to try to keep everyone as in character as I possibly can:

THAT BEING SAID! Sasuke in the beginning of this story does not fall under the characters im gonna keep in character list. I found out a while back that I am completely incapable of writing Sasuke in character...don't know why but maybe it has to do with me not being able to write him as an asshole. lol okay im dragging on, sorry.

NOTE: Ages have been altered in this story and are as followed:

Itachi: 17

Sakura: 17

Sasuke: 7

Shisui: 20

Kishi owns Naruto and its characters not lil 'ol me :(

Chapter 1- Last Goodbyes and Council Meetings.

March 28th; Haruno Sakura's birthday. She should be happy right? Her and her friends should be out celebrating, you don't turn 17 years old every day. The world, unfortunately, had other ideas for the pink haired kunoichi and her friends today though and it wasn't pleasant.

Sakura stayed glued to Naruto and Kakashi's sides as they entered the small prison located on the outskirts of the village. Today instead of celebrating, the three of them had to say goodbye to their best friend, student and teammate for the last time. Sakura and Naruto's heads were drooped as Tsunade approached them in the dark, dimly lit, hallway. There was a sigh before her voice filled the silence.

"I'm sorry." She said her voice softer than usual. She truly felt bad for the three shinobi before her. "I tried." She said honestly. Kakashi laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Lady Hokage. This isn't your fault. Sasuke made his own mistakes and now he needs to take responsibility for them." He said his voice sad

"I know, the brat didn't make it easy for me to stand up for him. I agree he needs punishment but I don't agree with an execution, let alone a public one. Those damn Elders just want to make an example out of him." She grumbled angrily. Sakura looked up at her master with unshed tears in her eyes.

"Can we see him?" She asked, her voice held strong. It didn't betray the horrible feelings that swam around inside her and for that she was thankful.

"Right, yes. I bought you guys 5 min with him. I'm sorry that's all I could manage." She said sadly. The team nodded before making their way past Tsunade and down the hallway. Naruto had yet to utter a word since he found out the news of Sasuke's execution. Sakura eyed him worriedly but he didn't even look up, his eyes stayed trained on the ground.

It didn't take them long to reach Sasuke's cell. The spiky black haired man sat in the corner with his knees pulled to his chest. Sakura felt a silent tear fall down the left side of her face as she looked at him. He stared back at her before moving to Naruto and then Kakashi. His eyes looked sad but his face still held the same stoic unemotional expression it always did.

"What are you all doing here?" He asked suddenly breaking the silence. Sakura felt herself move forward and her hand gripped one of the bars of his cell. The movement caught the Uchiha's eye and he looked at her for a bit before she answered.

"We…we came to say goodbye." She murmured quietly

"Hn. Do you know what they are going to do to me?" He asked seemingly curious. The group stiffened slightly before Kakashi spoke

"It's a public execution…" Sasuke grimaced as Kakashi went on "That's all we know though."

Silence stretched on for a moment before a humorless laugh erupted from Sasuke suddenly

"What's so funny?" Naruto spoke up moving closer to the bars.

"You know, I killed my brother and the next thing I was going to do was return to the village. I was ambushed by leaf village ninja and I went with them willingly. If I had of known I would be executed I would have never went without a fight." He admitted standing up and leaning against the wall.

"What's stopping you from leaving now?" Naruto asked "I mean, I'm sure you could easily blow a hole in that wall behind you and be free." Sasuke rose a brow at the blonde before smirking and shaking his head

"You don't think they slapped a chakra seal on me the moment they captured me?" he asked. Naruto suddenly tugged on the cell door

"We can get you out of here, there has to be a way..." he said yanking a few more time. Suddenly Sasuke was at the door directly in front of Naruto

"Don't be stupid, dobe." Sasuke said angrily "I made my mistakes, I won't pull you down with me." Sakura's eyes widened at the sincerity of his statement. After Naruto let the door go Sasuke continued

"Seeing as this is probably the last time I will talk to you guys I better get everything off my chest."

"Naruto, thank you for being you." The Uchiha grinned "I may have been an bastard on more than one occasion but I could never truly sever the bond you and I share." He said honestly, he stuck his fist out towards the blonde, Naruto didn't hesitate to bump the other man's fist with his own. "Brothers for life right dobe?" Sasuke asked, Naruto wordlessly nodded too sad on the inside to utter more than what he said next

"Always, Sasuke. I never gave up on you." He said his voice tight with held back tears. Sasuke took his hand back and dropped it to his side. A small hint of a smile showed on his face.

"I know Naruto, I owe you a lot." He finished before looking to his right at Kakashi.

"Kakashi…" He started before a grin took over his face "My biggest regret regarding you is not knowing what you look like under that damn mask." He said eliciting a surprised chuckle out of the older man. "If I'm being serious though, thank you for everything you have taught me. Part of me wouldn't be the way I am today without you. You gave me the kick start I needed to become a strong, powerful shinobi." He finished. Kakashi nodded

"You're welcome, Sasuke. I just wish I could have heard all this under different circumstances." The raven nodded before finally turning to Sakura.

"Sakura, I could never return your feelings. I know you were one of the only girls to truly love me and I pushed you away more times than I can count. I know I hurt you so many times and I'm sorry."

Sakura nodded her tears falling faster than before "I forgive you Sasuke." She squeezed out lacing her fingers with his through the metal bars "I still love you but I'm no longer in love with you so please don't hold onto your guilt. You have my forgiveness." She whispered the last part as he moved closer to her a hesitant smile on his face

"Thank you, I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that." He said honestly. "Take care of the idiot..." he added retracting his hand from hers.

"I will do everything in my power." She stated honestly.

"We will be there, Sasuke; in the crowd. Look for us and use us as your support if you wish." Kakashi said more sorrow leaking into his voice.

"Thank you guys, I just might take you up on that offer. I'll see you all tomorrow." He said sadly

"Times up!" A guard said suddenly as he rounded the corner.

"Wait Sakura." Sasuke said suddenly making the girl turn around "Happy birthday." He said sincerely, she forced a smile on her face more tears squeezing their way out of her eyes
"Thank you." She murmured.

With a final glance at Sasuke the three shinobi turned around and walked away for the last time.

0000

Mitokada Homura one of Konoha's village advisors stood from his seat at the oval shaped table "We are all here for one reason." He began; addressing the three other people seated around the table. "That reason is to decide how Uchiha Sasuke will be put to death." Those words made Tsunade feel even heavier with anger.

"As I've said countless times before, killing him is not the answer!" Tsunade exclaimed her palm smacking loudly against the polished wood in front of her.

"On the contrary, Tsunade." Danzo spoke up in his deep voice. "Killing him is the only plausible action." He said keeping his expression indifferent. Tsunade clenched her hand into a fist

"How do you figure that?" she growled lowly

"Simple." He said sitting straighter in his chair "He must be made example of. We must assert our authority in this situation. We can't have our shinobi thinking they can commit such crimes and have it go unpunished. Sasuke has deserted and betrayed our village by abandoning it and teaming up with the likes of Orochimaru." Tsunade inwardly groaned in frustration, she had no way of making this better, she had no way of proving Sasuke was worth it. He had broken the rules and there was nothing she could do about this.

"I agree." Homura added moments after retaking his seat.

"As do I." Utatane Koharu, the last council member sitting at the table, finally spoke up. Tsunade hated them all.

"Now back to how he will die." Homura stated again bringing the attention back to the initial task.

"Burn him alive." Koharu suggested

"No, hang him." Homura countered. Tsunade barely resisted an eye roll.

"We will be-head him." Tsunade said with finality "I will not be persuaded otherwise."

"This isn't something you can decide on your own princess." Danzo said leaning back in his chair.

"That's how it's going to happen. Afterwards his body will be cremated; to protect the Uchiha's kekkei genkai" Tsunade stated. There was a collective sigh around the table before Homura spoke up

"I believe this is fair." He said. Koharu looked hesitant before nodding

"Agreed." Tsunade then looked over at Danzo not really caring what his answer was because it didn't matter.

"Fine." He said before taking a breath. "I do have one request though."

"Spit it out, Danzo. I have work to do." Tsunade grumbled letting her annoyance seep through a little.

"I would like to remove his eyes before we kill him and do it in front of everyone." He said with his still indifferent facial expression. Tsunade's eyes widened in shock

"Excuse me!?" she exclaimed "Why the hell would we do that? His eyes will burn with his body when we cremate him. That's the whole point of cremating him."

"Yes, Danzo. Please explain your reasoning behind this." Koharu said; the old woman looking more than a little interested.

"Taking his eyes will shame him." He started. "We will be taking away the thing that gives him the most power. We will be making even more of a statement."

"No! Don't you think executing him publically is shaming him enough!?" Tsunade cried in anger

"Yes." Homura and Koharu said in unison agreeing with Danzo and completely ignoring Tsunade. All eyes turned to Tsunade after that and the younger woman saw red.

"You people make me sick." She said her voice low. She got up from her seat "This meeting is over." She stated before walking out of the room angrily.

0000

"Dammit. We have to do something." Tsunade growled as she sat down in the chair behind her desk. Shizune stood in front of her, clipboard clutched in her hands opting to stay silent. "But there isn't anything we can do. Those bastards on the council made that clear." The blonde woman paused again before looking up at her assistant. "What is your opinion on Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Certainly he deserves punishment." The woman said still clutching her clipboard "But I don't think execution is needed." She sighed before continuing "Wouldn't it be so much better if none of this ever came to be and Sasuke didn't leave the village at all? I just wish the Uchiha clan massacre never happened."

There was a small pause of silence after Shizune uttered those words before Tsunade suddenly stood up with a look of complete awe on her face. "Shizune! You're a genius! I know what to do now. I need your help though." Shizune straightened her back getting serious again.

"Anything, Lady Tsunade."

"For starters. I need everything on the Uchiha Clan Massacre and the one responsible for it…. Uchiha Itachi."

Annnnnd there yea go. Updates will come out every Friday but keep in mind I do have a life and it may be late once or twice but I will do my very best to not let that happen.

Anyways I miss you guys! Please review and let me know what you think! :D As for those reveiwers who don't sign in im gonna try to answer your reviews every update in the author's notes, I saw another writer do that and thought it was a neat idea. So don't be shy let me know what you think :D

Thank you to Li. Chan93 for all her beautiful help with this story and plot and bleh I don't know what I would without this woman in my life xD