As I said before, this chapter has a little more action in it. So I hope you enjoy it! :)
Thank you very much to my beta, ReiraKurenai. How she finds the time and patience to help me with my story - well - she is just amazing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden or any of their characters. But Katie is working with Kishimoto-sensei now. Sai will be ours! lol
Danzo
"You have greatly disappointed me," Danzo said, with his usual authoritative manner.
Sai looked over at Katie struggling in Takeshi's arms. The 62-year-old hadn't changed a bit since Sai last saw him. His wiry gray hair was sticking up like Naruto's, and the purple tattoo marks on his cheeks were drooping due to his increased wrinkly appearance. But he was strong. At 6-foot-tall, he stood straight and towered over the much shorter female. Even though Katie tried with all her might, she couldn't escape his iron claw grip.
Then his focus returned to Danzo.
Sai was still lying in the bed, but now, he was wide awake. So he scrambled off the side and knelt down in front of the Root leader. He bowed his head, like he used to do when he addressed Danzo, and he made sure not to look him directly in the eye.
"My apologies, Danzo-sama. My actions have been regrettable since your death."
"To say the least." Danzo gestured toward Katie. "Is this what you do when you're not under supervision?"
Sai gazed over at Katie again. She looked miserable. But arguing with Danzo would only make matters worse.
And she was still wearing her skimpy lingerie. Sai felt bad for her. She wasn't prepared to share her "goodies" with two creepy old guys from Root.
Or maybe she was? She's a weird one.
"Danzo-sama, I just met her yesterday. We haven't done this before."
"Well, you're nothing, if not efficient. You don't waste time, do you?"
Sai was taken aback. It was slightly embarrassing to try and explain his sex life to Danzo. Or … the lack thereof…
He still didn't look up at Danzo. "It isn't as it appears, Danzo-sama."
Danzo grunted. "It isn't? Then enlighten me. What is going on between you and this girl?"
"I care about her, Danzo-sama. I like spending time with her." Sai looked over at Katie, who stopped struggling momentarily to flash him a quick smile.
"Well, that's good. Because I have a proposition for you."
"Proposition?" That was out of the ordinary. It made Sai tilt his head up so that he could look at Danzo's creepy, zombified eye. Then he looked over at Takeshi for confirmation. Danzo's right hand man nodded at Sai.
"You've never made it up to me for failing your last mission under my command."
Sai looked at his former master. The zombie before him, who was once the most feared ruler in Konoha, was still concerned about his one failed mission?
"Danzo-sama, are you referring to my mission to eliminate Sasuke?"
"Yes, I am."
Sai glanced over at Katie, and wondered why she was being punished for this too. "I don't understand. How can I make it up to you?"
Danzo glared at Sai. "By completing the mission."
Katie gasped. "Sai!" But then Takeshi let go of her arms long enough to grab her by the neck and put her in a chokehold. She flailed around for a few seconds before losing consciousness. Then, without a shred of mercy, he let her limp body crash to the floor.
Sai desperately wanted to save her. He wanted to call out to her. But he knew that it would end up endangering her life. Takeshi could have killed her as easily as rendering her unconscious. He was using restraint, and Sai didn't comprehend exactly why.
Sai turned his sad eyes back to Danzo. "Why? Why me? You knew he was my brother all this time." Sai exhaled sharply. "Is this another test, Danzo-sama? Must I always destroy the ones I care about?"
Danzo smirked down at him. "Rise, Sai. You do like that name, don't you?"
Sai stood up. "I do. It's my real name after all."
"You have grown up. And having grown up, you should realize the responsibility that you have to Konoha."
Side by side, Danzo didn't seem as intimidating as he once did. Danzo was 5'7. Sai was 5'8. He had outgrown his master in height by a small margin. Sai stood firm and looked him directly in the eye.
"And the Uchiha must be eliminated."
"I'm an Uchiha," Sai declared.
"You are a member of Root. You have no name."
"But I do." Sai stepped toward Danzo, but then Takeshi was instantly by Danzo's side as well. "And I'm done with Root. I've moved on."
Danzo raised his eyebrows for a second, but then his face relaxed into its normal frown. "I was afraid you would say that. Takeshi."
The gray haired man went back and picked Katie up like a ragdoll. He held her by the waist, and let her limp legs and arms hang toward the floor.
"As I said at the beginning, this is a proposition. You have a choice. Either the Uchiha dies…" At that moment Takeshi flickered out with Katie still in his arms. "Or the girl that you care about."
Sai was speechless and frozen. He could hardly process what Danzo was saying.
Danzo turned away from Sai. "If I were you, I would pick the girl. The Uchiha won't keep you warm at night."
"Danzo-sama," Sai struggled out. He wanted to plead with him. But he also knew that it would be of little use.
"Don't take too long with your decision." And then, Danzo was gone.
Katie woke up in a dark, dank cell. It was barely bright enough for her to see her hands in front of her face.
There was a small window, about a square foot, with bars on it, at the right corner of the 10 foot by 12 foot holding area. It looked like it was nighttime, but she couldn't be sure, because she didn't know how long she had been out. She assumed that it wasn't that long.
The floor beneath her was made of uneven cement. The walls were made of gray-colored, hardened clay. And there was a side that was made solely of floor-to-ceiling bars that separated it from the hallway that connected the facing row of cells.
Sai! Where's Sai? I have to find him!
Katie started scanning through the walls to see if he was in any of the cells next to her. One by one, she looked at twenty different cells. They were all empty.
Shit! The last thing I heard was that he was getting sent out to kill Sasuke. I have to find him!
Katie extended her byakugan, just past the hallway of cells, into an antechamber that had several members of Root standing at attention. Suddenly they started parting ways so that the doorway was unblocked.
And then she saw him.
Zombie-sama! I'd better pretend that I can't see him. Katie quickly spun around and pretended to be interested in the opposite blank wall.
She could hear his cane clank slowly, and methodically, closer and closer to her. When he finally appeared on the other side of the bars in front of her, she turned her head to glare at him.
In his hands was a neatly folded set of clothes. She gave him a curious look, and in response he said, "I don't need you defiling any more of my men, like you did to Sai."
Katie looked down, and indeed, she was still wearing the short black-silk nighty with matching panties. Of course, she was lying on an uncomfortable cement floor. Her clothes were the least of her concerns.
She stood up, so that Danzo could hand her the pile of black and gray clothing through the bars. "Why thanks, you old dick."
Danzo didn't move. He just gave her a pointed glance with his one visible eye.
"-tator." Katie finished.
Danzo nodded. "I recommend that you hold your tongue. The only value your life contains is as a bargaining chip. It would behoove you to remember that."
A bargaining chip? So that's why…
She looked him straight in the eye. "I may not be a ninja. But I'm not a fool. You'll kill me anyway, right?"
Danzo smirked. "I have to hand it to my young student. He picked one with brains after all." Then he turned and started making his way back down the hallway.
Katie looked at the clothes that Danzo handed her. It was the typical Root uniform, with the standard midriff shirt.
I don't know why he even bothered. Katie shook her head. That shirt isn't even big enough to cover my boobs.
The annoying clank, clank, clank of his cane against the cement was driving her insane. The squeak of the door at the end of the hallway, opening and closing, was a welcome sound.
She stared down at the closed door and then watched him pass through the row of men again on the other side. She didn't know where he was going. And she really didn't care. But she didn't see Sai anywhere in that direction.
As a matter of fact, she didn't see the tall, gray-haired prick either. Maybe he has Sai somewhere?
I have to get out of here. I can't have Sai complete that mission for my sake.
She turned her attention back to the clothes she was given. The shirt wouldn't work, but the jacket, pants and shoes may come in handy. I could wear these around my nighty. It would look weird, but it might help if I have to fight one of these bastards.
But flashing them some boob might help me win the fight! Yep, that's another option. Except … they are all probably a bunch of virgins! What did Danzo do to these poor men? He's the reason that a hot guy like Sai doesn't know what to do with a girl!
Katie leaned on the prison wall, so that she could balance while pulling up the rather tight pants. These things weren't made to accommodate a female's butt either. She sucked in her gut so that she could fasten it. Only a skinny guy like Sai is built to fit into this shit!
Katie glared at the closed door at the end of the hall. Has he ever seen a female before? She shook her head. If Danzo had gotten laid, just once, then maybe he wouldn't have gone around torturing young boys like he did!
She slipped the sandals on and placed her arms through the jacket. Then she scanned the area, 360 degrees around her. There were men on the other side of the antechamber, but no one outside of the building.
That senile old goat. Did he really think that this cell would contain me? She scanned the outside wall and didn't see any chakra lining. Clearly, this cell was made for civilians, because the normal ninja would easily blow through this shack!
She placed her palm firmly against the wall that led to the outside. It melted into lava at the point of contact. She kept her hand at the same place until a hole large enough for her to fit through was created. She stepped out onto the wood paneled walkway, and shimmered out of sight by activating her invisibility cloak.
It appeared that this place was underground. There was light, but barely. She looked up to what should be the sky, but instead it appeared to be a cement ceiling. Big metal pipes connected the maze of buildings, presumably to carry oxygen instead of water. She quickly made it through the wooden walkways and scanned for Sai throughout each of the buildings as she did.
It was difficult though. Every member of Root dressed alike. And all of them were skinnier than most men, presumably from malnourishment and way too much training. She had to catch their faces, even though she was walking at a rapid rate.
He isn't here. She sighed. Where could he be? He isn't out killing Sasuke, is he?
She didn't waste time. Even though she was invisible, she was at Root headquarters. Who knew what kind of sensory ninja they had there?
She searched for the exit and found it. Five members of Root were standing there… in front of the passageway that led to the village above.
This is why that cell was so freaking flimsy. You can escape the prison, but you will never get out of this underground sewer!
Shit! What do I do now? She stared at the formation of the five men, searching for a small opening. Even if I tried to squeeze between them, they could feel the movement. They could hear me! They could smell me! Shit!
Then she looked back at the building closest to the entrance…
Fire!
She blew a fire ball toward the structure, and it quickly was engulfed in flames. As expected, the five men scrambled away from their posts to help put out the fire. They couldn't just watch and do nothing. Not only would the building be destroyed, but the fire would most likely suck out any oxygen that the underground fortress contained.
She watched them for a few seconds. Five men, similar to Sai, fighting to keep the Root headquarters from being destroyed. It was such a pity. To Katie, it seemed like a total waste of their time and effort to save this hellhole.
Katie nicely strolled up to the unprotected exit and placed her palm against the thick wooden door. In a matter of seconds, it melted away in front of her. She stepped over the smoldering heap and ascended the staircase to Konoha above.
She felt somewhat remorseful about reducing Root headquarters to what looked like a war zone. But it was Root, the same place that threatened to steal Sai's humanity when he was younger. And the same place that was forcing Sai to choose between his friend and his family, which could possibly cost him his sanity as well.
Was that it? Who was the real target in Danzo's demented game? Was it Sasuke for killing him, or was it Sai for leaving him and Root behind? Maybe it was both. Two Uchihas for the price of one. Danzo's plan of eliminating the family would finally be realized.
Katie took a deep breath of fresh air when she finally emerged from the tunnel. But she looked back and thought of the young men inside. She would love to burn that place to the ground and set each and every one of them free.
And … send Danzo back to the afterlife.
How did he find Sai in her apartment anyway? Sai had never been there before.
Unless, Katie and Sai were being followed. Again.
First Katsuyu, now creepy Danzo. When in the hell will Sai and I ever be given any privacy?
Speaking of which… Katie started running as quickly as she could to Sai's apartment. He wouldn't still be at hers. That's for sure. She also quickly scanned to her right and left as she went in hopes of finding a trace of that black and gray uniform of his.
Ninja training would have been good. Jumping from tree to tree definitely has its advantages at times like these.
At least she was still invisible so that she didn't look like an idiot running around town. But she had to dodge other people as she made her way around. It wasn't like they could see her to avoid running into her.
Through each and every building she passed, she searched every room for his ebony colored hair and pale white skin, even the residential buildings. And then … Yikes! My eyes! Some things were not meant to be seen. Ever! Maybe the Byakugan does have its downsides.
People can be pretty scary when they think no one is looking. Katie rubbed her eyes almost raw to try to get some of those images out of her mind.
After that, she decided to just rush to Sai's apartment. If he wasn't there, then at least maybe she could get some clues as to where he could be.
When she finally made it to Sai's apartment, the door was locked. She tugged on it, but of course, it wouldn't budge. What can you expect from a former Root member? It's locked up just as tight as that underground fortress was.
Was…
Hmm… torch the door – upset Sai. She turned her focus toward his front-facing window. Torch the window – yep – would still upset Sai. Decisions… Decisions…
Then a hand grabbed her shoulder. She almost jumped to the ceiling like a scared cat. When she settled down, she turned to look over her shoulder.
The sight didn't comfort her at all.
"Kakashi."
"Why hello, Katie," he said without raising his eye from his favorite Icha Icha book. "Burned down any good Root buildings lately?"
"Wasn't me."
"For some reason, I don't believe you."
Katie huffed. "How can you even see me?" She slowly shimmered into sight.
Kakashi's one visible eye creased, showing a bit of a smile through the mask. "You stink of smoke, you just yanked at Sai's door, causing all kinds of noise, and your invisibility cloak is good, but not quite as good as…" And then he stopped mid-sentence.
"As good as whose?" Katie glared at him.
"As good as you think it is."
"Nice save."
"Nevermind. Tsunade requested your presence right away."
"No time. I have to find Sai." Katie turned to Sai's door and almost had her palm placed on it before she heard the familiar high-pitched squeaking noises.
"Chidori!"
More Katie secrets to come. And we have to find out what Sai is up to. Stay tuned!
Katie is from my novel, Indulgence. Please see main page for link.
Please review! I will love you forever - and - it makes me update quicker! :)
