Reckoning

****************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane

Naruto was yanked out of his cell and plotted into his smaller metal cage in the Visitors Hall. Sakura was sitting uncomfortably in a chair across from him with the blondes lawyer slowly walking around her, listening intently and judging her words. 

“Do we really have to do this? Like this?” Sakura asked, shifting in her seat. 

“I’ve told you. I don’t want the first time your doing this to be in the courtroom.” The lawyer stated firmly. “Now, Sakura, weren’t you and the accused romantically involved?” The pink haired Beta shifted avoid the blondes for a moment. ‘We weren’t, but she wanted to be.’ Naruto thought feeling every bit as uncomfortable as she was, and he didn’t even have to do anything but sit there and stare at her. 

“How is this relevant to the case?” Sakura finally asked still trying to avoid the question.

“It’s relevant to your testimony.”The attorney fired back. “In the courtroom everything is on trial, what you what you feel— everything pro Naruto will be up for questioning.” He waved his hand at her as he continued walking around. “You get all non-blinking it will undermine you, and me but mostly? It will undermine him.” The alpha attorney finished pointing to Naruto. 

“My testimony is based on my professional op—“ Sakura tried to argue but the alpha just barreled over it.

“You are admitting with accused, and it’s adorable,” he said sarcastically “but not our brand of defense.” He crosses his arms and faced her. “And Mrs.Velia? The prosecutor? She will smell it on you as if you stepped in young adult and tracked it into the courtroom.” He leaned close towering over her and trigger instincts of submission. Sakura tilted her head, leaving her throated exposed. “Were you, and Naruto romantically involved?” 

“I have no romantic feeling for Naruto, I have a professional curiosity.” Sakura answered finally relaxing as he back up and got out of her space. Naruto frowned and tilted his head at her. She was calm, and collected. ‘She’s telling the truth. When did that happen? Didn't this whole lawyer thing start because she had a thing for me?’ Naruto wondered. 

“Professional Curiosity…” The lawyer said with a nod. “I like that. It seems so… indifferent.” They continued going over the information she was going to say and the blonde tried not to wince as another cramp stumbled it’s way along. It was the curse of sigmas to be trapped as both Omega and Alpha. ‘Damn its going to be any day.’ The blonde thought, terrified. ‘What if it’s a heat?’ He thought, breath catching as he ducked his head slightly to hide his face from view. ‘Please be a rut, please be a rut.’ Naruto mentally chanted, as he was taken back to his cell when they were finished. The only way to know if someone’s a Sigma is if they have a heat, since Sigmas never lose their alpha scent. And alphas can’t have heats. Naruto hadn’t had a cycle in…. Ages. Always using his suppressant, preferring omega to alpha to help encourage alpha hormones to grow as normal. ‘My body is playing a game of volley bag. I just keep flipping back and forth between two opposite things. Naruto shoves his face into his pillow and groan. His skin felt like it had been pulled tight and he didn't think he could function with a clear head much longer. ‘Please be rut.’ Naruto begged internally again, horror washing over him as he imagined would happen if he was revealed to one of the world's rare Sigmas. Of all of the secondary genders Sigmas where the wild cards, the true gems that turned decent men into madmen. It didn’t help that it was technically possible for Sigma to have two mates at a time. Unlike every other secondary gender. Naruto slowly drifted off into a bone-deep sleep as his body was adjusting the conflicting messages it was making.

**************

Suburbs, East Side of Konoha City, 

Gaara pulled into the rundown neighborhood and followed the flashing blue and red lights. Kakashi had called him about an hour ago asking him to come take a look at the crime scene. The white haired alpha stood where large cracks of uneven sidewalk jutted up from the ground as he pulled. 

“Hello Doctor.” Kakashi said with a nod. “Thank you for coming.”

“Kakashi.” The redhead replied as he got out and locked his car. “How do you find the killer?”

“We haven’t. Yet.” Kakashi said with a sigh and running his hands through his fingers. “Went we examined the ear we were able to place the weapon. It was a  knife of Naruto’s that was used to cut off the ear.” The tired alpha paused as he looked around to see the few of the last agents being patched up by the paramedics and of the front lawn was a burnt black. “The knife It was being kept for evidence to use in the trial but one of the bailiffs, an alpha named Yahiko, checked out. The knife hasn’t been seen since.” Kakashi explained.

“I see. This is Yahiko’s home?” 

“Yeah. And boy did our killer want to give us a warm welcome.” Kakashi said as he lead the redhead up towards charred down. Firefighters were busy winding their hose’s back up so the could head back to their respective stations. “Though he wanted to make sure we found a body.” Kakashi said grimly as they walked inside the house and rounded the corner to see a burnt body mounted on a stage head. 

“An arresting piece of theater.” Gaara murmured his eyes wide as he took in the corpse. It’s mouth had been cut open just like how Touka had supposedly done to her victim so long ago. Before Naruto supposedly set her on fire and killed her.

“Our victim was mounted on a stage head, mouth cut open, ear cut off and set on fire.” Kiba said crossing his arms. “Naruto Uzumaki's greatest hits.” 

“Could we have been that wrong about Naruto?” Kakashi asked quietly. 

“About Naruto, no.” Lee said confidently. 

“He may as well have been taking selfies with his victims.” Kiba commented. 

“The evidence we found was immediate and almost presentational.” Ino chimed in, frowning. “It may as well have been gift wrapped.” 

“That’s What Naruto said about about that first victim when we found her in the field.” Kakashi muttered thoughtfully. Gaara glanced between them, judging their expressions with a closed expression.  His mind however was buzzing with thoughts. 

“There was no evidence before Naruto was apprehended, and there hasn’t been any since.” Ino insisted. 

“He ate a girls ear!” Kiba exclaimed looked between the two of them like they had gone insane. “It was in his stomach!” Kiba grimaced. “God knows what else was in there.” 

“We should have taken a stool sample.” Lee stated thoughtfully, and he hung around the outskirts of the group. Kakashi sent him a dark look. The redhead blink at he saw the interaction between Kakashi and Lee, before looking away. Prejudice again Alphas who were into other alphas was fairly common though he didn’t expect that from Kakashi for some reason. 

“Yes! We should have!” Kiba agreed gesturing to Lee and Kakashi narrowed his eyes. 

“Knock it off.” Kakashi said sharply. 

“Kakashi.” Gaara murmured softly catching his attention and taking a few steps away from them to speak with hims privately. “What impact would this have on Naruto trial?” 

“I’m not sure.”

*****************

Fire County Courthouse, Downtown Konoha City

“This murder raises serious questions regarding the case against Naruto.” Kakashi said simply, as he stood in the back with the judge and Niko Airi. 

“Your team were the ones who provided the evidence.” The Judge stated.

“The overwhelming evidence.” Niko added. 

“You understand the importance me questioning it then.” Kakashi replied. 

“Agent Hatake, we all heard your testimony.” Niko responded. “Are you sure your not just trying alleviate your own guilt?”

“Yes. I’m sure.” Kakashi said bluntly. 

“I’m not.” 

“Yahiko, that victim, was killed and mutilated in the exact same ways that Naruto supposedly mutilated his victims.” Kakashi explained. “Ways that haven't even been made public yet.” 

“And yet Naruto isn’t saying he didn’t kill those people.” She countered crossing his arms. “He’s claiming unconsciousness, essentially he is admitting to do it but not taking responsibility.” 

“Yet Naruto has claimed that he is innocent. All of this time, he claimed he’s innocent in spiteof memory gaps.” Kakashi said quickly. “So whatever line of strategy Narutos lawyer is using this should add a new line of defense!” 

“That is for his lawyer to decide.” The judge interrupted casting a sharp warning look in Kakashi's direction. The alpha bowed his head at the Betas sharp tone, common sense telling him to submit but instinct telling him to growl and and challenge. The joys of the secondary genders and the hormones that come with them. 

*****************

Fire County Courthouse, Downtown Konoha City (later)

Naruto still wasn’t sure what to make of the ear that had dropped in the courtroom, and trail continued as it had before— plodding its way to the blondes death. Naruto hadn’t heard anything more about the ear. ‘Some copycat killer or their just trying to get attention.’ Naruto thought before promptly dismissing the entire thing, though it kinda hurt to do so. For a moment there had been a smidge of hope, but that was dashed so quickly he might as well have had whiplash. 

“Naruto would have you believe he is an introvert and that he is somewhere on the spectrum. Possible between aspergers and autism. And yet he also claims to have an empathy disorder.” Orochimaru stated confidently as he sat in the witness stands chair. 

“You are choosing your words very carefully.” The Beta prospector said taking a few steps closer to lean against the witness stand. “Why did you say he claims to have an empathy disorder?” 

“Naruto has never been formally diagnosed. He refuses to be tested— by anyone.” Orochimaru answer and the blonde had to fight to keep from rolling his eyes at the blatant resentment and petty revenge that colored his words. ‘Test test test. That’s only anyone ever wants and it would have never ended and i have no desire to be a freaking lab rat thanks.’ The blonde thought dryly lifting his chin to stare at the ceiling. “Naruto wears a persona, which he presents the world. In fact he wears it so well Not even Kakashi could see past it. Fortunately I could.” Orochimaru adds and the blonde swallowed. ‘So now I wear a person suit? What type of person suit is it?’ The blonde wondered idly trying not to thin of his impending death and figure out a way to live and escape. ‘Maybe it's a onesie.’ The blonde decided. ‘I wear a person onesie that preset to the world, huzzah you figured out my secret.’ 

“You saw through him? How?”

“Naruto and I have no personal relationship. There was nothing for him to manipulate so i was able to objectively observe him and the murders he is being accused off.” Orochimaru turned his head to stare directly at the blonde, “The murder that he is being accused of were controlled. Highly thought out and carefully executed. The confused man that Naruto is claiming to be could not have committed them.”

“So you don’t believe that the encheplities he experienced was a cause?”

“Naruto conspired with his neurologist to create the alibi, and then later murdered him for his trouble,” Orochimaru answered and the prosecutor curled her lips into a cold smile as she turned to face the blonde. Naruto took a breath and half glared at the desk in front of him. 

“Is Naruto Uzumaki an intelligent psychopath?” She asked, and the blonde felt as thought he was being shoved into his casket early. 

“There is not yet a name for what Naruto Uzumaki is.” Orochimaru replied slowly. “He killed methodically, and I believe he would kill again, if given the chance.” 

“Your witness.” The prosecutor murmured with a vicious smile as she sat down. Narutos Lawyer clear his throat and stood up. 

“Naruto worked with the FBI catching killers and other criminals. He saved lives. Doesn’t that contradict your claims about him being a cold-blooded killer?”

“No not at alll.” Orochimaru practically purred (at least that's how it sound to Naruto anyway. ‘He is just loving the attention. He doesn't care who live dies or telling the truth. Orochimaru is a greedy money grubbing alpha who can't even tie his tie right.’ The blonde thought with a barely suppressed groan of agony as another cramp rolled its way through his gut. “Naruto is driven by Vanity and his own whims and has a high opinion of his intelligence.” Orochimaru smirked. “In other words, Naruto caught the other killers, simply to prove he was better than they were.” Naruto frowned hating how everything he tried to do right ended up against him. ‘Lies lies and more lies. Everything is all wrong.’ Naruto thought trying not to grimace. “Saving Lives,” Orochimaru said quietly making sure to make eye contact with several of the jury members, “It just as arousing as ending them. He likes to play god.”

*******************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane

With the trail finished for the day Naruto was shipped off back to his cell, and let to pace as he tried to find some way to get out. Any way to get out. ‘My insides feel like they are twisting themselves into undiscovered complicated knots.’ The blonde thought, grimacing faintly as he carefully lowered himself on his cell cot to try and rest and think. ‘What can i do from here?’ He wondered. ‘Not much.’ He added ‘if i could convince someone on the outside to help me. Maybe then i could do something? By myself is cant do much, however if i have someone else do it for me my options skyrocket.’ A loud buzzing sound interrupted his thoughts and he was half dragged to the privacy room, the only room that Orochimaru could legally record. To Naruto's surprise it was Gaara sitting inside, holding an FBI folder in his hands. 

“Hello Dr.Gaara.” The blonde murmured, his nose practically itching at the smell of the red headed doctor. 

“Hello Naruto.” The alpha replied, before sliding a picture over to the blonde. 

“My admirer?” Naruto questioned quietly, trying to play it off like he is just half interested. When in fact Naruto is fully interested, but his body’s internal rebellions is wreaking havoc making it harder to talk. Especially with Gaara delicious scent scratching and ticking at his nose. 

“Yes.” Gaara answered before handing him another sheet of paper. “Crime scene forensic report.’ He stated and the blonde grabbed it, trying not to let hope suffocate him as he kept glancing at the picture. ‘It looks almost just like the murders i am being accused of.’ Naruto I thought before shaking his head. ‘So they want to know if its him. If its the same killer,’ Naruto thought glancing back up at the redhead. ‘Gaara is asking. Is that important?’ He wondered before he let out a soft sigh. His own hope and curiosity burned at him to much not to look anyway. 

Naruto took and breath an imagine a candle flickering in the dark. 

Once. Twice. Three times….

I sit in the dark of my chosen victims home, waiting. The stag head is already sitting fully prepared in the living room. When the door clicks open and the light turns on I stand, waiting for my victim to come around the corner. When he turns he lift the gun i brought with me and shot him once- collapsing his lungs and tearing through his heart. As the victim's blood splatters i tilt my head. He will die believing that we were friends. It is his last thought. 

Moving quickly i grab him by his shoulder and twist him so that his back is facing the stags head then- using all of my strength I lift and slam him back down onto the antlers. The death isnt personal, just something i needed to happen. Carefully, I pulled out a knife from the evidence bag I had him steal, and slice open his mouth near the jaw. Afterwards I carefully lean over and cut of his ear and slip it into a specially prepared envelope. Now, after all of this its time to lay my finally trap. The extra layer to my master imitation. My final blots of ink which I have used to write my poem. My tribute. 

“It’s not the same killer.” The blonde muttered blinking swaying the hazy images, before handing the photo back to Gaara. “The killer murdered his victim first, then mutilated him.” Naruto tried not let himself get to hurt over it. However it still hurt, even after it reminding himself not to hope. Naruto narrowed his eyes at the redhead and leaned over. “One of the victims i supposedly killed, had her lung removed while she was still using them. Touka was burned alive and what we found of Abigail was cut off while her heart was still beating.” 

“This is blunt reproduction?” Gaara asked after swallowing. 

“Yes. You knew that already.” Naruto replied sharply. ‘Lying to me again. Always lying.’

“I would have liked to have been wrong.” Gaara murmured. 

“You intentionally ignored facts that did not support your argument, hoping no one would notice?” The blonde questioned.

“You noticed,” Gaara stated and the blonde nodded. Silence fell once again between the two of them. ‘What is Gaara’s deal? Frame me for a murder and then what? Realize you missed me too much to handle that?’ Naruto wondered before smirking quietly to himself. ‘Yeah right. Hormones you need to just calm down for a little longer.’  “I wanted to dispel your doubts.” Gaara said finally. 

“My doubts about what?”

“Me.” Gaara answered simply, swallowing again. “I want you to believe in the best of me— just as I believe in the best of you.” The redhead looked down at the crime scene photo. “This crime had offered us both reasonable doubt.”

“No. It offered us a distraction.” The blonde replied frowning, feeling a bubble of confusion prick at him as he watched Gaara. Watched and felt how….. sincere he seemed to be. It didnt match. ‘Every time i decide something you go and do something to trying and make me do it that.’ The blonde thought with a fluster of frustration burning it's what down his spine. ‘Pick something and stick to it will you? Either be my friend or be a murderer!’

“Perhaps this Copycat is giving you your path to freedom.” Gaara said quietly. “Even Kakashi is ready to believe.” The blonde slowly leaned back and stared at him. 

“It would be a lie.” Naruto says simply, watching Gaara. The redhead laces his fingers together and stares at the table in front of him. ‘Would lying be bad?’ Naruto wondered for a brief moment before shaking his head. ‘Yes lying is bad. Honest is  good and all the crap.’ Naruto thought with frown. ‘All the stuff that i tried to follow— like being honest, is what got me here in the first place. Honesty might actually be bad.’ Gaara leaned back, looking tense with barely repressed anger. 

“I don’t want you be in here.” The alpha said suddenly still not meeting the blondes eyes.

“I dont want to be in here either.” Naruto replied, with a low growl.

“And you have a choice. This killer wrote you a poem. WIll you let his love go to waste?” The redhead asked, and the buzzer letting them know that they time was up (a new rule Orochimaru put in to place. The jerk.) rang loudly as a guard stepped inside and took Naruto back to his cell. Once there Naruto began to alternate between pacing and sitting on his cot tapping his fingers restlessly against his thigh. 

‘Okay what happens if i do it? What happens if I lie?’ The blonde wondered, drumming his finger on his thigh, frowning. ‘If i get away with it I will live, i wont have to worry about my body exposing me as a freaking Sigma to the world. And I’ll get my dog back. Won’t have to be here anymore, so that means a real bed and some real food with real clothes and actually having really privacy and space.’ Naruto huffed. ‘In other words an entire life. And music. If i dont get away with it and someone else manages to catch us trying to lie i will be dead for sure. Probably.’ Naruto thought vaguely. ‘Alright and if just keep going how I am now— I likely die. That’s it. The jury doesn't trust me. I’m not charismatic enough. And because of how the case is laid out its almost an all or nothing.’ 

Naruto stood up and began pacing— again. Even if somehow by some miracle I don't get the death sentence I’ll just get a life sentence. I’ll get trapped in here.’ The blonde sucked in a deep breath as he came to a stand still in his cell and stared at the cement blocks that formed the walls. ‘Damn. I am going to lie in order to earn my freedom from crimes— i didn't even commit.’ The blonde didnt even want to think about it anymore. It made his head pound. Naruto winced. ‘Crap my head is actually pounding right now. Stupid body would you just chill.’ He thought, as he longingly recalled his suppressants that he had been on for years. 

“I’ll need to see Sakura soon. And my lawyer.” 

*******************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane (later)

“Wait. I’m confused.” Sakura said, as she leaned back closing her eyes to process what Naruto had just told her. “You are going to abandon our line of defense, the entirecase that we have built up for you— mid trial?” Sakura asked, her voice raising half and octave as she spoke. 

“Exciting isnt it.” Naruto Lawyer drawled from where he was leaned against a wall behind her. 

“And this seems reasonable to you?!” She questioned, twisting in her seat to look at the lawyer. 

“It’s not just reasonable. It’s fashionable.’ The lawyer said with a shrug. “There’s a killer on the loose, demonstrating all of hallmarks of Naruto's supposed murders. It’s be great.”

“Do you think this killer committed the crimes that your accused of?” Sakura asked quietly. 

“Don’t answer that.” The lawyer interrupted sharply. “Not in front of me.” He added before turning to face Sakura with a roll of his eyes. “It’s inconsequential.”

“But is it true?!” Sakura asked louder. 

“You know you are acting very high and might Dr. Haruno.” The Lawyer said. “Very high horse and ivory towers- very far from the point. And that point is this— getting Naruto off of these charges.”

“And the point your trying to make is what? Reasonable doubt?” 

“That’s a win yes.” The lawyer said with a nod and she sucked in a deep breath. 

“The best you can hope for is a mistrial.” 

“Also a win.”

“You won't be able to plead unconsciousness again.’ Sakura said turning her attention back to Naruto. 

“Your unconsciousness defense was the best play we had at the time. Now we have something much better. Something that could place a real doubt into all of their mind. Something that could get your friend here out free in the world.” The lawyer leaned back. “I wont be calling you to the witness stand.” He informed her and she narrowed her eyes. 

“Who is taking the witness stand in my place?” Sakura asked. Naruto blinked and glanced over at her. ‘If this doesn’t work its fine i was pretty much dead anyway. If it works— I’m home free.’ 

“Hurray to rocky frenemy relationships.” Naruto muttered under his breath.