Sneaking through the Akatsuki hideout was no easy task, but I was faring well insofar. However, I had to use my camouflage technique when Hidan passed me in the hallway. (I had learned the technique once when I had a mission in Iwagakure. Had he been paying more attention, he probably would have noticed me, but he was too busy muttering curse words concerning Kakuzu.

When I finally reached the entrance –thankfully with no Akatsuki in the surrounding area – I had to leave my comfort zone. The entrance I had managed to find was a large one that would make a great deal of noise if I opened it. So then I had to weigh my options. If I opened the door, I would most assuredly alert the entire hideout that I was leaving. But on the other hand, if I tried to find a different way out, there was every possibility that I would be captured anyway. In the end, I abandoned caution and every ounce of common sense I usually used and opened the door. (Maybe imitating Naruto every once and a while could pay off.)

The door made even more noise than I anticipated and as I escaped like a bat out of hell, I ran headfirst into Sai. My head felt light as I tried to maintain my bearings. This undoubted had something to do with the blood spurting out of my nose. "Sai!" I yelled with exasperation. "What are you doing here?" My voice had risen about two octaves about my normal range, which was what tended to happen whenever I came within about ten meters of Sai.

"I came to rescue you," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and I had absolutely no reason to question it.

"Well, as you can see, I've managed to make it thus far on my own." I was secretly elated that he had come to rescue me, but I couldn't let him know that.

"You've alerted the entire Akatsuki of your departure. Now we're going to have to fight them."

It was only then that I noticed the other people from Konoha who had come to rescue me: Saya, Kai, Daichi-sensei, Ibiki, Sakura, Tenten, Neji, Lee, Naruto, and even Kakashi had come. "You all came?" Such a large team was impractical; Konoha didn't have the man power to risk so many lives on one person, and yet they had all come. I was stunned. I had never imagined that so many people in Konoha cared enough to risk their lives on a rescue mission, and I almost felt like I could burst into tears – almost.

"Just don't let yourselves be killed, alright?"

The Akatsuki began to slowly file out of the hideout, and were amazed to see so many citizens of Konoha lined up outside their door.

"Get behind me," said Sai. It was strange. Before, I had assumed that Sai thought of me as at least a competent shinobi.

"I'm fine," I huffed in a gruff manner.

He still looked worried but quickly turned towards the onslaught of missing nin coming towards us.

The battle was short, because after about half an hour, the Akatsuki quickly saw that there was no winning the battle. There were too many Konoha shinobi for them to take all at once. It was a win/win because had the battle continued for much longer both sides would have suffered losses.

During most of the battle, I was dodging Zetsu clones. I wasn't the fastest ninja in the world, but I was extremely flexible and durable, meaning I could bend my body in just about any direction I wanted and I had the distinct advantage of being able to fall without breaking any bones. It was my signature technique.

As the Akatsuki were retreating back into their hideout, Itachi looked me in the eye and I was momentarily put under his genjutsu.

We were sitting together in a very traditional-looking home – probably his childhood home. "I'm happy that you haven't suffered any grievous injuries during the battle, Kyoko-san."

"I'm not exactly dainty…"

"Well, I am glad nonetheless. I have a task for you, Kyoko-san, if you're willing to take it."

"What is the job?"

"I need to ensure that Sasuke does not tread too far down the wrong path. He is currently the apprentice of Orochimaru and I fear that he may not be able to come back from that road."

"I don't know Sasuke, how could I possibly bring him back to Konoha when even Naruto couldn't convince him to stay?"

"Your role is smaller than Naruto's. I need you to be a little self-sacrificing if Sasuke is to return."

"I'm not sure if I know what you mean." Now I was beginning to become concerned. I did not want to become a martyr.

"It's simple. You must wait to enter a relationship with that boy – Sai. If you enter a relationship with him, he may stay in Konoha with you, when he should be by Naruto's side. He needs to stay by Naruto's side to protect Naruto. If Naruto is safe, then there is still hope for Sasuke. Please do this for me, Kyoko-san," he begged.

I didn't want to do what he asked, and I was a little concerned that he knew anything about my feeling for Sai, but Itachi had helped me escape the Akatsuki hideout and I owed him something. I guess that something had to be this small ounce of self-sacrifice. "Okay, I'll do it, but only as a thank you for saving my life."

He gave me a small but peaceful smile, and the genjutsu dissipated as the noisy world around me reappeared. "Kyoko, let's go!" someone called, and I followed them all into the forest.

Sai was in the hospital because his Achilles tendon had been severed during the battle. I would be helping him get home on his new crutches. We walked to his house in an awkward silence, hoping that the other would say something. Eventually, once we reached his house, he asked me if I wanted to come in, the first words of the night.

"I'm glad we passed the class," he said, as I made us some tea.

"Yeah," I replied lamely.

"Sakura told me that you had feelings for me." There, he had said it, and now I had to break his heart, just as he had broken mine, although I scarcely had the stomach for it. "Is it true," he asked.

"Yes, but we can't get involved right now, Sai."

His face fell just a little and he looked as close to crushed as I had ever seen him. "Why?"

"A lot of things are changing right now, and it's not just in Konoha, it's the entire world. The Akatsuki are going to try and capture Naruto again and again until they succeed, and he needs you to protect him, Sai. I can't get in the way. I want you to know though, that I've never cared about a person the way I care about you and that as soon as this entire mess is over and done with, I want to be together."

He stared at me for a few minutes, mulling over what I had said. "I've never felt this way before," he announced. "What does it mean when your throat is tight and you feel like you've been stabbed in the heart?"

"It's called being heartbroken, Sai, and I am experiencing the same thing right now."

"I can't imagine not seeing you every day, especially after you've taught me so much."

"I know," I whispered. "But, this had to be done." I stood up abruptly, and headed for the door, pausing at the door frame, yearning for him to say just one three-word phrase to me before I left.

"I'll miss you, Kyoko."

Well, it wasn't the phrase I was looking for, but it was better than nothing. "I'll miss you too, Sai."

"Are we in love?" he asked. "I never quite understood."

"I really do believe that we are."

It would be a long time before I saw Sai again.

A/N: I know that this is a really short chapter, but this seemed like the best way to end it, however do not despair, dear readers, there is an epilogue yet to come to wrap things up. You will probably enjoy it. Anyway, I was looking at the last chapter I posted and I realized that the link to the drawing of Kyoko and Saya didn't copy correctly. A good link is on my profile, for those of you who would like to see the drawing. (It is very good.) To the artist of the drawing: once again, I ask that you remind me who you are so that I can credit you at the end of the epilogue.