A/N: I'm back to full-plot stories, yey. Comfort zone…This may have spilled over from the last two stories I completed. And then there's this painting on DA...Anyway, this will be a 7-part short story in 3-fold release.

WARNING: Gore/Torture for the sake of realism. NOT Yaoi

The Ties That Bind

They found a weak link in order to capture the jinchuuriki. But the link did not turn out to be so weak…

1

'SAAAAAAI!'

Sai woke in a daze. There was a battle, and then an explosion, then everything went black. And now, he didn't have any idea where he was. His arms were bound from the wrists with separate metal chains suspended from opposite ends of the ceiling. His toes barely touched the ground. His arms felt numb, apparently from hanging there but for how long he did not know. From the sticky sensation running through his arms, he could tell dried blood had run down from his wrists, likely from scraping against the chains that currently restrained him. He was also aware he was half-naked with only his pants on. At least he could feel shoes still on his feet, not that it mattered.

"Name?" he heard a male voice ask. He tried to peek from under the blindfold but it left no room for light. Or perhaps the surroundings were dark to begin with. But he sensed more than one other person in the room with him.

Someone grabbed his chin and raised his face upward. "Your name?" the man asked again.

"No name," he replied in a scratchy voice that he almost did not recognize to be his own. As he spoke he realized how dry his throat was. He heard an amused laugh right then but it was coming from farther back, not the one holding his face up. "They call him Sai," the second male voice said.

"Sai," the first one repeated contemplatively. "Why did you say you have no name?"

"It's only a code given for a mission. It's not my name." Sai saw no harm in divulging this fact since said failed mission was over.

"You are assigned to the jinchuuriki's team, are you not?" the man asked, dismissing the name issue outright. Sai did not reply.

"Uzumaki Naruto seems to be quite the loyal type," the second voice said.

Sai smiled at this. He figured out why he was being held a prisoner. "If you mean to use me to lure him in, you are wasting your time."

Pein grew curious at the young ninja's nerve. "A smile in your situation is most inappropriate," he said as he circled the captive. "Pain is a good way to erase a smile."

"Hngggh!" A throated groan escaped Sai's lips through gritted teeth as he felt electricity surge through his body when a hand touched his lower spine. He convulsed until the hand was released. He gasped painfully trying to catch his breath. And then he smiled again to Pein's surprise. "You should have spent a little time finding out who I was first before you picked me as a hostage," Sai said still struggling with his breath.

"And who are you?"

"I am no one."

"I expect everyone in Konoha has the same devotion to protect the jinchuuriki but he himself will not let anyone be sacrificed for his sake, if the information we gathered is correct."

"That's true for anyone else," Sai supplied. "Except for me."

"Why not?"

"He hates me."

The boy gave no hint of emotion at the words. Pain turned to Tobi behind him and then to Konan at the side before focusing on Sai again. "And why is that?"

"I was assigned to replace Uchiha Sasuke."

The name did not require an explanation though how that answered the question was unclear.

"And a replacement merits hatred?"

"I guess not. But I seem to draw out that sentiment from them."

"Them?"

"Ah, Haruno Sakura-san hates me too." Again, the smile.

"Do you hate them back?"

"No. I feel nothing for them. I feel nothing for anything."

"I guess we shall confirm your lack of feelings soon enough," Pein said. "But for now, we will need some information which I hope you will be cooperative enough to supply."

"You will probably have an easier time if you kill me now because you won't be able to extract anything." Smile.

"We shall see."

And then he was alone. He tried to pull his hands out from the chains even though he was aware the effort to be futile. It only increased the feeling that his body was being pulled apart through his arms. He felt a burning sensation on his back as an after-effect of the electric shock he received earlier. He gave off a controlled sigh. Danzo-sama would be disappointed. But, he supposed, he should not fuss if indeed his days or maybe hours were numbered. Eight years of service was probably not bad. He was aware of other tools that served for less. He recalled the picture book that he finally got to finish inside Orochimaru's lair recently. Maybe he'd get to see Shin after all this. It was definitely something to look forward to.

Within what seemed like hours Sai tried to shift his weight a few times to ease his discomfort but his body just hung there helplessly like a heavy sack of grain. Even though he had undergone enough simulations to prepare for capture, he had never actually been caught before. How could he have been so careless? Before his assignment to Team Kakashi, he could easily slip past any danger. That was probably the trouble with bonds, he thought. If he was not trying to protect a teammate at the time, he would not have been caught off his guard.

Ah but to protect Naruto was his duty, he reminded himself. It didn't have anything to do with bonds. The idea of bonds was still something he had yet to fully understand. Still, was it a ruse? Were they trying to target him all along? Naruto was clearly the ultimate objective but not an easy one to get their hands on. Aside from everyone protecting him, Naruto was quite strong himself. But why did they not aim for Sakura instead? Surely she was the better choice as a hostage. Or maybe…he took some time mulling over his next suspicion. Maybe they thought he would be easier to bend than the kunoichi given her long standing friendship with Naruto. The men earlier spoke of loyalty and devotion. That must be it. His loyalty was questionable so he would merely serve to provide inside information, not as hostage. Besides, no one would come for him. The realization became more definite as he recalled the circumstances of his last battle.

The team members were each fighting off numerous unknown shinobi from different points in the field on their way back from a minor mission. The enemy just emerged all at once and caught up to them. He was slightly further off. He spotted Naruto about to get jumped by three ninjas from behind. They were forming seals that looked dangerous.

"Naruto!" he screamed to warn him while sending his ink clone toward them at the same time. Naruto turned and saw the clone. It was that moment when an explosion occurred between them. The clone was hit directly. It was also that moment when something struck his head from behind. He lost consciousness as a voice that seemed to belong to Naruto faded. 'Saaaai!'

He only saw my clone explode. He thinks I'm dead. They all do. That's it then, he decided. To think I had to explain why I'd be a useless hostage. They chose me because I'm dispensable. And they think I'd be easier to extract Intel from. He grinned at this. They really should have spent more time finding out who I was first.

Nevertheless, he psyched himself for the physical torment he knew lay in store for him.

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