A/N: Hey guys, it's me. I honestly fell terrible about how long it's taken me to update this. I have my reasons or excuses (whatever you want to call them), but I know not everyone will care or be concerned with what they are... so I'll just say this: thank you all so much for sticking by and supporting me and this story while I was away. I will finish this story, that is my promise to you. If you ever feel like you don't think I'm going to, send me a virtual slap in the comments, I know I'll deserve it. I only hope you'll continue to support the story as we go through this journey, and hopefully this previous wait has not detoured you from this it. Again thank you and without further ado chapter nine.
Sai threw his head back and laughed it off. It was so loud, so laced with evil that it is was bone chilling. At least it would've been, if Ino wasn't too busy being smug.
"You might wanna take another look at my precious Konoha."
Sai's laughter abruptly ended.
"What? Why aren't you crying and screaming and generally being annoying?"
"Because you were too busy being cocky to remember that I've got friends in various places. More specifically, I've got one Naruto and his shadow clones in various places."
Sai's eyes narrowed as he processed Ino's words, deciding whether or not they were lies.
"When?"
"One of the other times you underestimated me and my son."
Sai's eyes widened in surprise.
"The kid? No way he-"
"He did, and the moment I was free I made a little bitty phone call."
(Flashback)
"For the sake of time I'll trust you have your reasons."
"I do. Now here's what I need you to do, make some shadow clones and place them all around the village. Be ready to defend against any attacks he might throw this way."
"Ino, I get what you're doing, but... wouldn't it just be easier if I fight him?"
"Maybe if this was a normal mindless villain, but it's not. Sai's still in there, he has to be. This isn't a battle fought physically and it's not either of ours to fight. No one said it would be easy, but..."
Ino trailed off, but Naruto seemed to understand.
"I got you Ino, say no more!"
"Thanks, Naruto."
(End Flashback)
"It would... appear, that I underestimated you."
Ino moved to a fighting stance.
"If you weren't a cocky dastard maybe you would've done some research before attacking my village, hurting my family and underestimating me."
Sai rubbed his neck and gave a slight, humorless chuckle.
"Point taken, but don't worry Blondie, I never make the same mistake twice."
In a flash Sai was behind Ino. He kicked her across the mountain. She bounced a few times, barely missing the edge.
"Come on, Sai. I know you're better than this."
He did it again, only in the opposite direction, and harder. Ino let out a strangled scream.
"That name. I'm sick of hearing that name! Do you know how hard it is to enjoy kicking your butt if you won't shut up?!"
He grabbed her by the hair and growled out a warning.
"Say that name again and I'll kill you."
"No, you won't. Because he's still in there."
"Try me, I dare you."
Ino was breathing hard, but she managed to gather enough air for one last statement.
"I know... you can fight this, Sai."
Sai screamed and threw Ino straight up into the air. Just before she landed on the ground he caught her by the neck, and began tightening his grip.
"What was that again?"
Ino made a series of gasped filled, indiscernable sounds.
"Didn't think so. I think I'll enjoy watching the light leave your eyes more than watching you see your village be destroyed. What do you prefer? Maybe-"
"Dad?"
Sai's head snapped toward the sound, and when he saw who was there his eyes widened, and gain a small amount of their normal appearance.
"Inojin?"
Sai dropped Ino and she crumpled on the floor. Inojin moved to help her, but thought better of it.
"What are you doing up here?"
Inojin raised his eyebrows at Sai's question, which was spoken in his usual voice.
"I could ask you the same question."
Sai looked around and smiled both the look and sound of the demon returning.
"Oh, I'm just taking over the world, killing your mom, that kind of thing."
Inojin's eyes widened, but before he had time to say anything Sai grabbed his head and stumbled back, switching between his two voices, seemingly caught up in an argument with himself.
"You stupid, disgusting, dastard."
"I'm just having some fun, blame Danzo, or better yet yourself."
"Get out of my head!"
Inojin was having trouble keeping up, but Sai's last statement gave him an idea.
"Why don't you get in of your head? Cause I'm sick of listening to you both. Mind Collapse Jutsu!"
Due to his sudden split and weakened state Inojin was able to hit Sai with his jutsu, and his dad crumpled to the floor. Inojin made a show of pushing up his nonexistent glasses.
"The Mind Collapse Jutsu. A jutsu that allows the user to send the target into their own mind. this technique has a variant of uses including - "
He was interrupted when he heard Ino groan on the floor.
"Oh, right!"
He rushed over to her and looked at Sai.
"It's up to you now, dad."
Sai groaned and say up. He was in the middle of a big open space, surrounded by nothing but darkness.
"Hello? Is anyone there?!"
Suddenly he got hit in the side of his face and rolled a good few feet before stopping.
"So glad you could make it, Sai."
Sai whipped his head around to find a figure who looked oddly similar to him. It spoke again and that's when Sai realized who it was.
"You escaped my grasp for quite some time, but now, thanks to your idiot son, I can finally eliminate you at the source."
"You!"
The figure rolled his eyes.
"Yes, me. You idiot. Took you long enough to figure out, but now it's too late."
"No. My son knew what he was doing. No matter how it came about I am a Yamanaka, the mind is my element and I will defeat you. This is the promise I'll make to you, right here, right now. and I've no intention of breaking that promise."
The demon Sai held out his hand and beckoned Sai over.
"Come at me then."
They both lunged toward each other at the same time and clashed when they met.
Bonus A/N: This chapter was supposed to be longer, but I decided to just post what I had to lessen the wait period. Hope that's alright.
