A/N: Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter, and so soon too! I honestly don't have a lot to say this time. So just enjoy the chapter!

Sai and the demon stood on opposite sides of Sai's mind, both panting as the images of their fight flashed through their minds, but they weren't done, yet.

Sai and the demon both pulled out their blades from seemingly nowhere and struggled against each other. The demon took this as his opportunity to fight the battle in two fronts: physical and mental.

"Give up now, I know you want to."

Sai grunted as he struggled against his not-so-better half.

"Please, you don't know anything about me."

Sai practically spat in the demon's face.

"That's where you're wrong. You might not know anything about me, but I've lingered in your mind for years. I know everything about you."

Years? No way. He's been here since that day?!

"If you've been in my head for years, then tell me: why make your move now and not years ago?"

The demon put on a devious smile.

"If you really want to know... it's simple. Danzo was sure he would succeed, but on the off chance the Leaf got to him first it was my job to make sure they got what was coming to them. Needless to say I was a contingency plan. And you are what you've always been... nothing. A disgrace barely worth the life you were given. A replacement for that boy, Sasuke, was it? Nothing more than a stand in, even to your own wife."

Sai could feel himself shaking as a wave of emotions, thoughts and worries raged against his mind. As if that wasn't bad enough, he could also feel his grip slipping and weakening on his blade. He tried planting his feet, but they began slipping too.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did hurt your feelings? How you ever served Danzo I will never know!"

The demon made a big push and slash, leaving Sai sprawled on the ground. A gash on his shoulder and his blood painting the floor. Sai struggled to push himself up with one arm.

"You didn't even... answer my question... Properly."

The demon walked over and yank Sai's head up by his hair.

"That's too bad, but it won't matter soon anyway."

The demon sneered in his face before adding:

"By the way, nice wife you got there. I might just keep her."

Sai felt something explode inside him.

"Don't touch her!"

Sai lunged at his enemy and they both went rolling as Sai pounded the demon's face in.

"Haha, yes! That's the Sai I wanted to see!"

"And it's the last thing you ever will!"

Sai pulled out a scroll and began to paint on it.

"What are you doing?"

"What I should've done a long time ago!"

Sai raised two fingers to his mouth, Danzo's demon stopped him.

"As if you could use that technique all on your lonesome, without anyone to protect you!"

Sai cracked a signature smile.

"What are you talking about? I'm never alone. This is my mind, remember?"

Two figures appeared from behind the demon and held him back with and iron grip.

"What?! No!"

Sai's hands and paintbrush danced and flashed across the page as he finished his drawing at last.

"Sealing Technique: Tiger Vision Staring Bullet!"

The tiger popped out of the drawing and began to draw on his prey.

"No, this wasn't supposed to happen! No! No! Noooooooo!"

Just before the demon was pulled in for good Sai leveled their faces close.

"Take a good look, you won't want to forget the last face you'll ever see."

Finally the demon was brought into the painting, trapped forever.

A bright light enveloped Sai as he was transported out of his own mind.

Sai felt the cold, rocky ground of Mount Hokage beneath him, but he was so tired he could barely open his eyes, much less move. Out of the corner of his eye he stopped a multitude of messes of yellow hair.

"Geez, you look terrible... but we're happy to have you back."

Sai could barely make out the words through the ringing in his ears, but one thing didn't make sense.

Back?

Where had he been and why was he so tired? Sai found it hurt too much to think, so he closed his eyes and let himself drift instead.

Naruto made his way back to the top of Mount Hokage. He had already taken Ino and her son to the hospital, and he apologized to Sakura for waking her up. (Though she didn't mind the extra shift as much when she saw who she was taking care of)

Now he was waiting to see when Sai would wake up and it was safe to move him. Inojin had explain his jutsu and told Naruto that it was better to wait until Sai released it on his own. So wait he did.

"Come on, Sai! I'm tired and hungry and I still gotta go to work later!"

He was sitting cross legged next to Sai's unmoving form.

"If you don't do something soon I'm just gonna leave you here."

As soon as Naruto finished speaking a blinding white light flashed in his eyes, extending from Sai.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

Naruto shielded his eyes and after a minute the light faded away. Naruto took in his surroundings.

Huh, nothing really changed... Sai!

Naruto saw that Sai's eyes were opened just a bit, but it was enough to tell him that the jutsu was released. He made a couple shadow clones to help him carry Sai back to the hospital.

"Okay, Naruto, mind explaining to me what exactly happened?"

"It's sorta hard to explain, Sakura."

Naruto was standing in Ino's hospital room, having taken Sai to his, and Sakura wasn't too happy.

"I get that, Naruto. But can you really expect me to be okay with it? My best friend and her husband were both found beat up, on the brink of death and you're acting like it's nothing. I'm worried."

Naruto could see Sakura's eyes were shining with tears. He pulled her into a comforting hug.

"It's gonna be alright. I wish I could say more, but it's not my place to say. When Ino and Sai are recovered you can ask them... it's sorta personal."

Sakura sighed.

"Okay, but I'm trusting you on this Naruto. If you say everything's fine... then it's fine."

"That's a pretty big compliment coming from you Sakura."

They both smiled at each other and got back to business.

"I took care of Ino and now I've got the best watching Sai. He didn't seem to have any external injuries, but there was blood covering his shoulder and he hasn't shown any sign of waking up since you found him. It's hard to know what's wrong without knowing what happened, but I'd assume it's just physical or mental exhaustion from a battle of some sort."

Mental exhaustion, that's certainly one way to put it.

"Thanks Sakura. I brought Inojin home to rest, told him he'd be able to visit Ino tomorrow... if she woke up."

"He's strong like his mom, he'll be alright."

Naruto lifted his downcast look and he and Sakura hugged again.

"I can only hope you're right."

"When am I not?"

Not even going to go there.