Just as the pale light of a foggy dawn crept up upon the village, the long operations on both Kakashi and Naruto had been concluded. Both alive. Weak and in need of rest. But alive and stable. There were moved form the operation room to the same room Yamato was still resting in, considering Kakashi's was in need of repair.
It had been a long night, and so Sakura was more than willing to doze off for a few minutes. Unfortunately, she was stuck on that same chair. For a long moment, she stared at an extra cot in the corner, no one was using it. So why not? She stood up and shuffled over before rolling on her back and falling asleep on the firm mattress.
It wasn't more than an hour later when Sai walked in. He looked from one sleeping shinobi to the toher before glancing over at Sakura. She was huddled up, goosebumps on her arms. So he walked over without a sound and pulled the blanket over her and sat down in the chair, thinking about his despute with Yamato last night. If only he could fix that one thing.
He sat there for a while, and soon Tsunade came inside. She looked at Sai for a long moment, then over to Sakura. It didn't surprise her that her student fell asleep. She was probably the one working the hardest. And now her whole team was stuck here. Well, maybe not Naruto for very much longer, but still. Kakashi and Yamato. It was just a bit difficult to believe.
Sai looked up at Tsunade and greeted her with a nod. "Lady Tsunade, may I ask something?"
"What is it?" She asked back.
He said this without any sort of hesitation. "May I go out and find the intruders?"
Tsunade was somewhat surprised by the request. "Alright. I'll set up a team and-."
"If I may, then I wish to go alone," Sai put in.
She seemed really taken off guard by this. "Alone. But what if you were to be poisoned? No one can bring you back here."
"I know the risks," he assured. "But this is something I should do alone, for my teammates."
In the back of her mind, she smiled. It seemed Sai was finally understanding teams and friendships. "Report back as often as possible so I can send help if you need it. Now go."
Sai nodded and got up before leaving. But just before he was out the door he added, "Please do not tell Sakura and Naruto where I've gone."
-0-0-0-
Hours later, Tsunade was beginning to regrete her decision.
"TSUNADE!"
She didn't look up as Danzo came stomping into her office with veins popping at his bandaged forehead and a scowl upon his face. When he slammed his hand on her desk, she looked up boredly. "What is it, Danzo?"
"Why did you send Sai out," he yelled.
"He requested to go on this assignment," she answered plainly, "if you have a problem with it then take it up with him."
"But Sai-!"
"Is able to make his own decisions without your approval," she finished as Danzo's face contorted angrily. "I'm in charge, and I say Sai is completely able to handle himself."
Danzo was about to continue his tyrade when Tsunade narrowed her eyes into a fierce glare.
"If all you're going to do is yell and throw a fit, then get out of my office."
With that, Danzo scuffled out, glaring back at Tsunade all the way while Shizune slipped past him and into the room.