Hey everyone! A NEW CHAPTER AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS!

it's a little bit slow, but I think this is an important chapter. Hint, next chapter will be Hinata based and heavily based on how I write her on my rp blog!

I don't exactly plan when I write, which is why it takes me so long to get things out, so that being said, I don't know when Hinata and Sasuke will interact at long last, but it won't be in the next chapter! Everyone has to love a good slowburn fic though, right :'))))))))))

SO ANYWAY! Please enjoy this chapter! Tell me what you think!

I wrote this pretty quickly, in a week, which is a record for me honestly! I haven't been able to write this quickly in years, and considering the length of this chapter, I did well! It's shorter than chapter 2 and considerably shorter than chapter 1, but I didn't want to drag this out longer than I already did.

Regardless, enjoy, leave comments, etc!

It was stuffy, this jail cell.

The only view that Sasuke had was beyond the corroding, rust-coated iron bars—an empty cell. The entire facility was dimly by lit orange lights that were poorly spaced, offering little lighting. Some had completely burned out, and were unlikely to be replaced. It was, after all, only a jail. No one was held within its walls for long, making maintenance and upkeep a simple afterthought better left unpursued for things of actual importance.

There was no window in his cell, either; he wasn't paying attention as he had been led throughout the building to see if there were any that had them. Nevertheless, a window was a luxury that Sasuke would have never been offered, and whether it was because he didn't deserve it or because of the curious eyes within the village mattered not.

He regretted being awake. His dark brows were furrowed in his irritation as he silently cursed his inability to sleep. Sasuke had always been a light sleeper, something that walked on a thin, frail rope between being a gift and a curse. Visits from the guards were few and far between, only twice a day between long stretches of time to deliver the scarcest of meals so as to not starve him to death, although there were plenty that believed that was a fate well deserved. He didn't mind, though. Bombardment from social interaction was never anything that he found pleasant. It wasn't the silence that bothered him, or even the small, cramped space of the old cell. What bothered him was why he was still being held here.

To many, despite the heroism and sacrifice he displayed to end the Fourth Shinobi World War to crown him as a war hero, he was still a war criminal, and to a certain degree, Sasuke was in consensus with the popular opinion of not only the people of Konoha, but everyone who may have felt that way.

He had much time to deliberate over his short life and the choices that he had made, and despite the fact that his crimes had occurred prior to the actual beginning of the war, he had committed heinous crimes worthy of strict punishment. It was because of the severity of his crimes that he felt frustrated he was locked up in a dingy jail cell. Only a few days had passed, and yet he still remained rooted inside.

The facility was far from being empty, but he could sense the shift in presence from day to day, with new people being thrown in briefly, others being released, and others making a temporary, but more than short-term, visit.

Considering all that he had done, Sasuke had been expecting the decisions of any authoritative body to have been quickly made. No matter the decision or how long it took to get there, he knew that there was absolutely no avoiding being made a prisoner to a long-term detainment facility. In fact, he was expecting it. It was not his plan to become a martyr for his cause (he had no cause or campaign). He knew what he had done. Darkness still shrouded him like a veil, but it did not cloud his judgment. He had long since accepted his fate, and that he was beyond deserving of punishment.

Perhaps keeping him here was a strange form of punishment in its own respect. He was growing antsy in his frustration. He reflected upon the former bounty that had been placed on his head. To bring him in dead, there had been a pretty reward offered to those who sought the money, to those who sought the challenge of bringing him down. With each crime he committed, the more his bounty increased. Sasuke was different from the likes of Orochimaru and Kabuto, but a criminal was a criminal.

He was helpless within the cell, having only one hand and blocked chakra, so there was no fear of him escaping—as if he would have. His expectancy to have been immediately imprisoned in the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility was not a result of a crusade for pity, but because he knew that that should be his fate to atone for all the crimes that he had committed. Too much time had passed for him to not be there already. There was no reason for a decision on how to handle him to have been taking so long.

Sasuke was sitting with his back against the wall, legs bent with his bare feet pressed flat against the cot. With his arms folded against his chest, he peered lazily out of the cell. He felt no one's presence, but it wasn't as if he was expecting anyone to come by. He had memorized the guards' routines, and it would be a few hours before anyone came around again.

He had no clue if it was night or day, or how long he had truly been inside. No one bothered to speak to him, and that was fine with him. He wasn't asking any questions—he knew that no one would grant him any answers.

The only entertainment he had was to ruminate in his own thoughts. There was quite a bit to think about, especially if he began to reflect upon his memories from the very start of the reel to look upon everything like a cinematic piece.

His normal life, albeit one spent living in the shadows of a brother six years his senior, the massacre of his clan, his spiral into the pit of vengeance, falling prey to Orochimaru and his schemes, his defection from Konoha and every subsequent event that eventually fell into place, his involvement with the Akatsuki, and finally... The Fourth Shinobi World War. He was only seventeen, and yet the life he had lived so far outmatched the greatest of waves in the height and depth of its crests and troughs. Far more had happened to him than it should have, unfairly so, but he had long since learned that life was far from fair, especially in this world.

Fair was a word foreign to shinobi, a word that danced fleetingly upon their tongues, a word and concept whisked away as quickly as it had appeared. Fairness did not exist, but if it could be gifted to this world for the first time, it would be in the act of his imprisonment. Too many people had suffered by his own hands, or by his actions in a rippling effect.

It should have been a simple decision, one made in no time at all. He would say this to himself over and over again—he did deserve a prison sentence. For how long he would have to serve, he was unsure. It wasn't up to him what constituted as being good enough to atone for every crime and sin; it was up to anyone but him.

Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed. He pressed his head against the wall as he tilted it back. A thin eyebrow began to raise and the muscles in his face were beginning to twitch as he remembered what Naruto had said to him only a few days ago. Without a doubt, Naruto was fighting every authoritative figure that he could to prevent Sasuke from being imprisoned, and if he couldn't do that, then to reduce whatever sentence Sasuke would inevitably receive.

"Tch." A quiet sound of contempt. Naruto had no true power within Konoha, but over the years, he had become well-respected, and that was most certainly true now that he was the second-time village hero, and now hero of the world. Were it not for him, the war could have taken an incredibly different turn. It was because of his status as a "hero" and the respect he had earned that people might have been willing to momentarily offer an ear to listen to anything he said. Sasuke knew that people would be reluctant to let him off without repercussion, even if he was harmless. Trust needed to be earned, and that was not a feat easily achieved. If he could ever become a shinobi again and immerse himself as a productive member of society, it would take time—a lot of time.

Another sigh escaped him, and after a moment he began tapping his bare foot against the cot. This was nerve wracking and infuriating. He never had the best temper, nor was he one to have a penchant for patience. Being forced to atone for his crimes in the correctional facility seemed better than being left to rot in a cramped cell. At least then, he wouldn't be sedentary and his mind could roam to things of mild interest.

Slowly, Sasuke shifted his position to lie down. His arms folded under his head and he stared up at the stone ceiling for several seconds. He had been awake for an hour, possibly longer, but it felt like he had been awake for far longer. Time passed by so painstakingly slow. Nothing ever happened, and he would have been a fool to think otherwise. Sleeping now would have been a nice way to deliberately waste time, but falling asleep so soon was impossible. With the exhaustion that his boredom brought as he was left to rot alone in his cell, it seemed theoretically plausible that he would have been tired enough to sleep, but to his dismay, he couldn't—his mind was perpetually racing, keeping him wide awake.

As he closed his eyes, he allowed his thoughts to meander through the rivers that were carved into his mind. Even if it was just to offer himself a distraction, there was quite a bit to think about.

Now that the war was over and peace was settling into the world, reality was settling in deeper for Sasuke. Itachi was dead, and for what? Sasuke was truly the last of his clan, and with every reprehensible crime he had committed, there was no shortage of people who wanted to claim his head and put an end to his bloodline once and for all.

He felt the anger beginning to boil within him as he reflected upon the truth of Uchiha Itachi, the truth of Konoha and its council, and the subsequent fate of his clan. The clenching of his fist by his side was a subconscious act. Once he felt the pressing building within his fingers, Sasuke relaxed his hand and flexed the digits out before curling them inward, cracking the joints. The treatment the Uchiha clan received had been unjust, and their fate equally as unjust. Nothing could turn back time, to reverse the damage that had been done. There was no point to wasting his anger now—those responsible were already dead.

Sasuke had vowed now to protect Konohagakure and its people, and to restore his clan. His own reputation was not one of nobility, nor was he a figure that others could trust. It would take time to restore his good name and gain the trust of his fellow villagers and shinobi before he could restore the reputation of his clan and tell their story.

Restoring his reputation and earning trust was the only way he would ever be considered as a candidate for Hokage.

His declaration during the war saying he would become the Hokage had earned odd stares, laughter, and expressions of complete astonishment and disbelief, but he had been as serious as anyone could have been in declaring their desire to become the Hokage. There had been nothing worthy of laughter in his words, and his words had not been offered to listening ears as a joke. He had the strength and skill to be the leader of Konoha, but he did not have its trust.

He wondered which would come first: restoring the reputation of his clan or the chance to become Hokage.

Both were equally daunting and difficult personal missions, but he was resilient. He was never one to care for what others thought of him, and he would persevere in spite of the opinion of the populace. He would prove that he simply wanted to protect the village and its people, and that he would be fit to be its leader and protector.

There was one thing he did have to admit, however: he had worthy competition.

Naruto was everything that Sasuke was not. He was personable and was practically the walking personification of the sun. There was not a single person in the world whose hearts Naruto could not reach out to. He had fought past every challenge thrown at him, rising above all odds, even in the face of defeat, and became the hero of Konoha several times over. Naruto's life had not been one of ease, either. From a young age, he had been subjected to the harsh treatment and terror of adults and children alike. He had experienced such severe discrimination and acts of hatred and irrational fear that no child should have, and yet he could always smile and want to be among his village and its people. He was a talented shinobi, albeit stubborn and hot-headed, and was now a beloved figure to everyone. Naruto truly had the merits to become Hokage.

No matter, Sasuke was not discouraged. Naruto had always been his rival, and sharing the goal of becoming Hokage with him made it all the more interesting and worth it.

Several things stood between Sasuke and his ultimate goal, the first being imprisonment and the sentence he would have to serve. Restoring his reputation and earning trust would face a severe setback—being in prison would make that impossible. He wasn't about to befriend the other inmates, either; he knew the kind of people that ended up in the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility. After he was released, there would be the matter of reintegrating into society, too. At least then, he could begin forging bonds and trust between people.

With a soft huff, Sasuke raised his head just enough to rotate it around, stopping only when the sounds of cracks ceased. He lowered his head back down onto the flat pillow, shifting his body around until he felt as comfortable as he could get in his temporary quarters. He had roamed among his thoughts for some time, but he still didn't know how much time had passed. He still felt wide awake and mentally acute, which may as well have been a part of his punishment, too. He had considered his past, present, and future, and even laid out his elaborate plans in detail for everything that he wanted to accomplish and acquire. It may have been unnecessary, but he had time to waste.

His mind finally started to quiet down once more as he released his hold on his thoughts to try and fully relax. There was an eerie silence to the jail's atmosphere, even with the distant disgruntled comments of other detainees. It was nothing out of the ordinary, and so it all went ignored.

It was just another day, and nothing was changing. At least, that was until he sensed several chakra signatures approaching and traveling in his direction. Soon enough, the sound of footsteps followed to match. Although he was clueless as to what time it was, Sasuke's circadian rhythm had adjusted accordingly to his time in detainment, and he knew that it was far too early for anyone to making their usual rounds to deliver him any meals. Delivering him food was a task that required only a single person, not a stampede.

Something was wrong.

The sound of footsteps grew louder with each second that passed, and by now Sasuke was sitting up straight in the cot, eyes alert and vigilant. He did his best to not appear hostile—he was simply wary, perhaps even slightly curious as to what events were transpiring.

Just as expected, a single guard, a group of ANBU, and Tsunade herself came to a halt before his cell. Sasuke rose to his feet, looking only at the Hokage in his expectancy. Before he had a chance to ask what this was about, Tsunade ordered the guard to unlock the cell, and she gestured for him to follow. He was hesitant as he stepped out from the cramped space. He hadn't had time to stretch his limbs, but decided to hold back. Who knew how the ANBU would perceive such an innocent motion? Sasuke wasn't in the business to allow himself to be further incriminated.

The ANBU didn't miss a single beat, immediately surrounding him once Sasuke was completely out of the cell. Without a doubt, well-trained, hawk-like eyes would be focused on him for the entire time, wherever they were going. Someone had yet to say anything to him, but Sasuke had an idea as to where he was being taken. He dared not speak to confirm his suspicions, however, and simply kept silent watch over the squad of ANBU around him. Konoha's most elite shinobi would not be his escorts just because he was still perceived to be a threat to society.

There was only one place he was going to end up in—Konoha Strict Correctional Facility.

"I trust you know where we are headed," Tsunade finally said, her voice light and even, yet just as firm as always. Her words could have been read as a question, but her tone left no room for any further interpretation—her words had been a statement.

A pause fell between them, and Sasuke became unsure whether or not she actually wanted a response, or if she was waiting for dramatic emphasis before continuing on. After some time, Sasuke relented, deciding that yes, Tsunade was waiting for him to speak.

"Yeah."

It came out more akin to a grunt than anything else. He wasn't trying to fight her or show any resistance—he just didn't feel like talking. He did owe it to her to be cooperative in conversation, though. He knew that Naruto must have gotten through to her and anyone else, and Tsunade must have had a hand in ensuring that he did not immediately receive an order for execution.

"Good," came Tsunade's curt response. "You will not have a trial to decide your sentence. We have discussed it amongst ourselves and have come to a decision." She allowed a deliberate silence to fall before continuing. Sasuke could not see the subtle curling of her lips, but he could hear the slight amusement in her voice as she started to speak again. "With interference from Naruto, of course. Because of his persistence, and because of him vouching for you and telling your story on your behalf, you will be released from the Konoha Strict Facility in two years time. Be grateful. He managed to convince everyone that keeping you there longer would be detrimental to the village and a waste of your potential. For your sake, he better be right."

Sasuke's expression remained indifferent, but he did feel slight gratitude beginning to bubble within him. Only a two year sentence? That was extremely lenient, far more leniency than he deserved. But Naruto had been right, too. Sasuke was gifted and strong. There was much he could do for the village and the world with his talent and skills outside of prison bars.

Peace reigned over the world in a comforting veil for now, but there would always be outliers who wanted to tear a hole in the veil.

Konoha and its people, civilians and shinobi alike, may not believe him, but Sasuke meant it when he said he lived now to protect the village. Corruption with the seats of power ran high within Konoha, and it was in such a state that it drove his brother to join the Akatsuki as a double agent.

This village was not perfect. Its officials and figures of authority were not perfect. Perfection was yet another gilded lie. Soon, the older generation, the generation where corruption was most deeply rooted, would perish, leaving Konoha in better hands, with people who truly cared for their village's future and success.

No matter who became the Hokage several terms from now, Sasuke knew that it would be someone who shared better ideals to reshape Konoha into the best that it could be.

"He will be," Sasuke replied, after quite some time. Tsunade appeared almost surprised at the sudden sound of his voice, turning her head and raising an eyebrow.

He said nothing more, trailing in Tsunade's footsteps in silence for the remainder of the journey. He paid no mind to the ANBU cell around him, keeping his eyes trained in front of him. His gaze wandered every so often with the new changes in scenery.

The Konoha Strict Correctional Facility's location was more or less a piece of classified information. Everyone knew of it, but knew not where it was. There were always criminals on the outside looking to aid criminals on the inside, and if the location of such a facility was public knowledge to the average criminal, there would be hell loose on earth. Some of the most dangerous criminals made their home in the prison, the place where Sasuke would make his residence for two years.

It was a little bit surprising that there wasn't a sack over his head to conceal where they were traveling, or that he was being allowed to walk on his own. He was still unable to access his chakra reserves, and having only one hand would have been useless for a multitude of things, so even if he had wanted to, there was virtually nothing he could have done in resistance. Nevertheless, he had been half expecting to be thrown into a crate of sorts, or to have something pulled over his head. With his chakra blocked, he wouldn't have been able to utilize his Sharingan to see either.

He wondered if it was a display of a modicum of trust in him, and if it was, it was a good sign.

There were only a handful of people who were aware of the truth of his clan's massacre, and even fewer who knew the deepest and darkest details regarding it. They still lacked the means to launch a full, yet discreet, investigation into what happened, and until they could, no one would speak of it.

There were few who were aware that Sasuke had been under Orochimaru's manipulation as a result of the cursed seal, which aided in furthering his misguided quest for vengeance. This was a truth that could be readily shared, unlike the truth about his clan. Any ounce of honor that remained for the Uchiha clan needed to be preserved until the means to reveal the truth came to light.

The truth was always a difficult thing to share, and the circumstances surrounding certain events were not always desirable. The inability to share the truth would increase the weight of the burden resting upon Sasuke's shoulders, and it would be some time before he could share his story. When the time came, he knew that believing the truth was yet another daunting feat for people.

When he first learned the truth, it had been difficult for him to accept, too. The truth destroyed the foundations of his own personal crusade. The truth revealed to him that much of the life that he had lived, and much of his time and efforts he had dedicated into his life, had been based upon a lie.

The truth was a powerful force to be reckoned with, and there were times when it was better kept a secret for a more opportune time.

Until he could share his truths, it would be more difficult to earn the trust of the people around him. He knew that Tsunade, at least, was not ignorant to the truth, and he knew that Naruto's persuasion contributed in helping Sasuke earn trust.

Two years.

That was it.

Two years would pass in no time. He would serve his sentence. He would repent and atone for his crimes and sins.

He knew that at his core he would not change. His whole life had been misguided, a game of manipulation and lies. Sasuke was a victim and it was not inherently his fault that this was the path his life had taken. He wanted a better life for himself, a chance to do better, a chance to live the life he could have had the Uchiha Clan Massacre not occurred.

There was much to reform, and he had two years inside the confines of the prison to enact his reformation.

Two years was more than enough time.

His two years would soon begin. They had arrived.

Sasuke almost hadn't realized it, having been preoccupied enough by the thoughts he had been so focused on. An uncomfortable heat radiated all over his body, and as he looked around, he saw the moat of molten lava surrounding the man-made island. There must have been an active volcano in the area to supply the molten lava, and the threat of its eruption was incentive enough for people to not become criminals to avoid being imprisoned here. Escape seemed futile; there were trained guards everywhere and a sea of lava that would certainly roast an inmate in an instant.

Moving through the motions as he entered the prison was similar to the ordeal he endured prior to being admitted into the village's jail.

His restraints were removed and he was stripped and checked, then given a prison uniform before being given new restraints. They were more effective than those from the jailhouse—there was no possible way for him to tap into his chakra in any capacity.

He could feel the stares on his back as he passed by other inmates, and as he walked he kept his gaze trained forward, not making any eye contact whatsoever.

Sasuke knew that his time in the prison would not be easy. He was here to atone, but there were also other prisoners who may have wanted his head and the glory that came with taking it, or others just looking to start pointless fights for no other gain than the bragging rights to beating him in a fight. He may not be able to access his chakra, and he may not have his sword as a weapon, but he was still a talented fighter. Chakra or no, Sasuke still remained one of the strongest shinobi of all time, and especially of this generation. He could sense the bloodlust dripping from the inmates. They could try their hand at a fight, but it would be a waste of his time.

Finally, his escorts brought him to his cell. It was larger than the jail cell, but was equally as uncomfortable. Sasuke was a high-profile inmate. Even among other criminals, he was infamous. Famous for the nobility that came attached to his surname and being the sole survivor of his clan's tragic massacre, and infamous for everything that transpired in his life after the fact.

His cell was further away from most of the other inmates, but not quite solitary. This was a prison, so he wasn't expecting much peace and quiet, but he hoped that where he was, he would find less trouble and disruption—not that he was expecting any luxuries.

The guards allowed him to walk into the cell on his own before having it closed and locked. Tsunade gave him one last glance and folded her arms beneath her chest.

"Your two year sentence begins now, Uchiha Sasuke," the Hokage said, peering at Sasuke with indifferent eyes. "It is the third week of October. You will not be allowed any visitors during your time here. Do not expect anyone. Do not expect any gifts or letters. We will come to retrieve you in two years time."

Tsunade said nothing more, offering no words in farewell. Her words had been firm and for business only. Her security detail was swift to follow after her, leaving Sasuke alone. The sounds of their feet scuffing against the stone floor faded with time, and after silence fell upon him, he let out a quiet, exhausted sigh.

Turning, he went to sit upon the stiff bed. At least with the long journey they had traveled to arrive here, he felt tired. He had wanted a reason for exhaustion to be able to sleep to pass the time just earlier that day, and in a sense he had gotten what he wished for. He reclined in the bed and folded his arms beneath his head, closing his eyes once he was settled.

Two years.

Two years was nothing. He had lived through many different forms of hell all throughout his life. This wasn't something that he couldn't handle.

From this day forward, Uchiha Sasuke had a greater reason to live—to get out after dutifully serving out his sentence, and to protect his village.

He would make everyone believe his words, and he would ensure that he was someone that could be trusted.

He would show them through his actions—actions were more meaningful than words, and words were given meaning by actions to support them.

Sasuke would make good on his word.