"What season is it?"

Naruto glared at his friend through the bars, and worried his lower lip with small teeth as he contemplated what he should answer with. It was ruled by the Hokage that Uchiha Sasuke was not to have any contact with the outside world until the trial, and that included news of the outside.

"Naruto, telling me what the weather is like isn't going to kill you," the blindfolded Uchiha said, his smirk's power lessened by the ropes and metal chains keeping him restrained to the cell wall. "However, that hag might kill you for even being here.."

He bit down on his lower lip until blood leaked out of the gash, and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. "It's autumn. Don't tell Orochimaru."

Sasuke cackled, a laugh that was brittle and rough and close to shattering. His black hair hung limp around his face, and his cheekbones stood out on his face from the lack of proper food like a knife would shine when taken out of it's sheath.

Even dirty and tied up with no hope of moving until execution day, he still looked beautiful.

And Naruto being Naruto, still sat there every day, talking to him when he could, sitting and giving company when he couldn't. Sasuke was right, Tsunade would kill him for being there. But he couldn't find it in him to care.

"Your trial is tomorrow," he murmured, causing the hollow laughter to stop short. "Don't tell that to Orochimaru either."

Sasuke grinned, a genuine grin, and leaned his head against the stone. "Oh, don't worry, I won't."

The blonde cradled his head in his hands, not being able to see his friend anymore without wanting to tear the chains away and take him far away from the stone and cement. "It's my birthday tomorrow, to."

The Uchiha didn't stop his grinning, and he let out a "hmm" before rolling his head from side to side like a madman. "They should kill me today, and then you won't have to worry about it tomorrow, then."

Naruto raised his head, and released a growl. "They shouldn't kill you period. Rehabilitation is preferred in these situations, you know."

"Rehabilitation for genocide?"

He let his head rest against the bars, so he would be closer to Sasuke, and closed his eyes. "Orochimaru was using you for a vessel when that happened. You can't be blamed."

Sasuke snorted, and stopped rolling his head against the wall. "I was still floating around in there, and I know exactly how to go about things if I ever snap, now. Not that I'll get a chance to, of course, but it's good for reference material."

He refused to open his eyes, and look at his ex-team-mate. He knew he wouldn't like the scene.

---

Naruto sped down the hallway, and nearly collided with Shikamaru, the guard for Sasuke's cell today. The genius ANBU squawked in surprise, and grumped at his friend with a glare of contempt. "Thanks a lot, Uzumaki. I needed that."

He shook his head, and pointed at the keys on Nara's belt. "I need those."

"Not going to break out Sasuke, are you?" was the reply, with a risen eyebrow.

Naruto laughed loudly, and shrugged his shoulders. "No, I don't think so. The hag wouldn't let me be the next Hokage if I did that."

The metal bit into his fingers as the keys were slapped into his open palm, and they creaked and rattled as he opened the outer door to the cell where Sasuke was kept. If the sound disturbed the prisoner, he made no sign of it, and soon the inner door was opened and locked again, but this time with Naruto inside.

"Sasuke, they're going to kill you, if the appeal doesn't work."

Sasuke raised his head a little, and looked in the direction that Naruto's voice came from. "Who appealed for me?"

Naruto's mouth was dry, and he swallowed and licked his lips before replying. "Lots of people. Kakashi, Sakura, Lee, and Ino. Even Gaara looked like he wanted to say something, but since he's one of the judges, he couldn't really."

The Uchiha croaked out a chuckle, and let his head fall back with a hard thump against the stone. "Waste of time, I should be put down anyway. It's the way of justice."

He walked closer to his confined friend, and leaned close so that his nose was not even and inch away from Sasuke's. "It might go through, since the votes were only five to four. One more vote, and you'll be free. Sort of."

Sasuke let out a puff of hot breath onto Naruto's lips, and grinned. "You have a reason for being in here?"

Naruto nodded, and leaned down, touching their lips softly.