Hey guys! IDK, kind of in a write-y mood? Hehe well the new ep of Naruto (284 I believe) was sooo good. Can I just say I love Sai. And character development.:P Anyway, here's a quick one-shot!

Also, some shameless advertising-FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORIES, ESP. "SHIPS AND CANONS". IT'S VERY VERY LONELY.

Sai had never been good at releasing his emotions. Like with the seal, if he simply tried to release his emotions, the sadness, the anger, the pain and rage consumed him. There were no happy feelings. His insecurities consumed him and he fell into a darkness he couldn't describe. His insecurities ate at him every single day since his arrival in Konoha—since he had been replacement for Sasuke. He knew he wasn't supposed to feel—and he understood why many did not want to. It hurt.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fit in. The way the others spoke so laxly, teasing and cursing each other out. When he tried doing the same, he'd end up being punched by Ugly or threatened by someone else. They kidded around each other, and poked and prodded and no one minded. But when he tried to play along, tried to fit in, they still saw him as an outsider.

So instead he read and read and studied and wrote notes and tried so desperately to become part of their group. He tried to replace Sasuke, to save his teammates in combat, to support them and give them the strength they needed. He followed everything the books said about making friends, yet he couldn't make any. Ugly and Dickless still desperately tried to bring Sasuke back to no amends. Was he not good enough for them? He supposed he wasn't.

Leaning against tree bark after a spar with Dickless, he closed his eyes and thought of his Nissan, of Shin. Shin would have no problems making friends. He would be funny, and graceful, and kind, and everyone would flock to him and everything would be fine and perfect.

But Sai was alone. He felt so, so alone.

Hugging his knees to his chest he wondered what it would've been like if he was simply a member of Konoha—if Konoha Twelve had been Konoha Thirteen.

But before his thoughts completely consume him and he spirals into a never-ending darkness of insecurities and self-hate, Beautiful runs up to him and hugs him from behind, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck; Lee (whom he has still yet to give a nickname) pats him on the back and gives him his signature thumbs-up; Ugly smiles gently at him; Kakashi senpai chuckles at him; and Dickless grins widely from ear-to-ear.

That's when he realizes he doesn't have to be Sasuke. He is not an emotionless tool for Danzo anymore. He is not a replacement. He is his own person.

So he leaps out of the darkness and joins his friends as they walk down the streets returning from missions or from when they merely hang out with each other. Books can teach him how to make friends, but they don't give him friends. He doesn't have to try to fit in anymore. Because Ugly, and Dickless, and Lee, and Beautiful, and all the rest of Konoha have made him feel at home.

He smiles.

Yay! I hope you guys enjoyed! This took like literally five minutes to write so I hope it's not too bad:P Please review!