A/N: Welcome back, dear readers and lurkers. I see a few of you have caught up recently! There is no rush. Please take your time and enjoy.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Sai, Ino, and Takahino in Sunda Umi

Since Sai's teleportation to Ino's side, Inoichi had not made an appearance. The absence of the man filled Sai with a strange sense of abandonment, but with Ino nearby, he could ignore it in favor of the magnetic pull he felt toward her.

The magnetic pull, the electric magnetism, had been (and continued to be) irresistible. That night, he'd been on patrol while the rest of the tracking team set up the campsite. He'd experienced a drag- -an unseen hand yanked at him from the other end of an invisible rope- -and to relieve the tension the pull caused, he'd followed it into the secret cave. Ino was crumpled to the ground in the throes of torment; to an extent, he tasted the echoes of her agony inside himself. Useless so far from her, he lifted her into his arms, unable to offer any real succor. Inoichi had been with him, beside him, and had said those fateful words: The link between you is strong and will support a teleportation jutsu. Water will be an excellent medium to shape the link you share with her. You both will need contact with water.

They had separated, and he dashed to the nearby riverside where the quiet stream hid behind a splay of rushes. At the water's edge, Inoichi coached Sai to disperse chakra into the water, not to mold it but to tap into its power. To reach within his heart to join forces with Ino to help direct her mindlink, to connect the openings. When she'd taken too long to respond, he thought he'd missed his opportunity, but under his hands, the water sloshed and glowed. As the sloshing smoothed into a clockwise swirl, underneath the surface of the center became a tunnel. He dipped his hand in; the swirl of water was a thin layer and underneath felt dry, void of the water. Cautiously, he put his head and shoulders through. It was the same as looking into a well, and at the bottom of the well, he saw Ino beyond a blue glowy portal.

He was ready. With an Anbu flicker technique, he landed behind Ino's side of the portal. Ino screamed a scream he'd never forget, the pain and panic of it resonated in the watery funnel he was inside. Her hand bobbed with the flow of water in front of him, so he took it in his and drew his body through the liquid portal to her collapsed body.

Somehow, without exact hand seals, he'd teleported miles and miles to Merodichi. Had he and Ino created a new technique out of desperation? Teleportation was an uncommon jutsu. Sasuke's almost extinct Rinnegan could create a gateway into dimensions. The Flying Thunder God was a specialized teleportation jutsu which required multiple users to enact; the Fourth Hokage could use it with kunai and tags with special formulas on them. After years of rigorous practice, the Fourth used his teleportation to defeat enemies on the battlefield. Sai had never heard of an occasion when a shinobi (or a pair of shinobi) used a new teleportation technique on the fly.

How did they do it? And could they replicate it on purpose? Once they were alone and not in a panic about her clan, he'd introduce the subject, but Ino's mind jutsu had taxed her to her limit. While she rested, he'd consider possible stratagems for infiltrating Sorutotaun without tipping their hands to Miyazato or Lady Inohime.

They camped in the temple overnight. The next morning, Ino was pale and limp, in the grip of a tenacious migraine. In a small verbal exchange, he and Takahino agreed to remain stationary. Takahino fed her a couple more painkillers and sips of water, but she showed little improvement as the morning warmed. Sai had given Takahino wide berth, not because he feared him as Ino's protector but because he felt their family privacy should be respected. Takahino gave off waves of disapproval each time Sai approached, so he felt it was better to avoid a fight. He occupied himself with chores: wood collection, fresh water, perimeter patrol, and food security.

Sai had skewered a snake and roasted it over a crackling fire for breakfast. Rice had been left behind in one of the baskets, as well as a portable pot, so he prepared rice. As he sat, watching the snake meat cook, Takahino knelt near him. It was evident to Sai the other wished to have a conversation.

"I'm uncertain when Ino'll recover her senses," Takahino said. "I can't heal her except to give her painkillers. Maybe she'll wake later today, maybe tonight…maybe tomorrow. Whenever she stirs, we can't move her while she is in tremendous pain."

Sai remained silent. He sensed Takahino was not finished.

Takahino stared at the fire. Light and shadow played over his features. "Southeast, Isle of Salt, Sorutotaun. How far is it? Where is it?"

"Not too far," Sai replied. He unraveled a corner of his scroll in order to illustrate Water's islands. Showing Takahino, he pointed out the Isle of Salt in relation to their current position. "Isle of Salt is one of Water's principal islands. Flight on an ink hawk will take two or three hours. Sorutotaun is on the southern coast of the isle."

Intrigued, Takahino studied the map while Sai pretended to be absorbed by the meat. He rotated the spit; the snake meat would be cooked enough to eat in another few minutes. Takahino sat on his haunches, and Sai watched as the other's mouth curled and jumped, and he thought he could see words dog-piled on Takahino's tongue, prying their way past his lips.

Takahino burst out, "I don't trust you an inch! I've heard all about you Root freaks. As long as you're with us I have my eye on you, so don't think you can separate Ino from me."

"Separation is the best strategy. You run a diversion to distract from Ino. I report the diversion and my pursuit of you, but instead, I hide Ino in a safehouse. No one will find her where I hide her. I can say I lost your trail while you return to where Ino is."

Takahino scoffed. "I. Don't. Trust. You. In order for your plan to work, I'd have to believe you'd secure Ino in an unknown location. You could just…take her home, and who'd stop you? I'd be cornered at the safehouse and captured or outright killed to get me out of the picture. Sounds like a Root plan to me."

"Root's been disbanded since before the war. I'm no longer affiliated with the organization," Sai answered. With a kunai, he carved the snake meat into edible chunks and scooped a portion of the cooked rice onto a stiff banana leaf he'd rinsed off in a stream. He served Takahino. "Breakfast."

"Thank you." Takahino, in a show of civility, accepted the food. He waited until Sai had a 'plate' of his own, and they ate. "What possible gain do you receive from aiding us?"

Sai answered with the truth. "I care about Ino and as she cares about you and her clan, I find I also care about you and them." When he'd first been placed on Team 7, he'd found he'd felt the same way when his relationships strengthened with Naruto and Sakura. Ino was a special case because they didn't share a lot of experiences, but the experiences they did share were significant and life-changing.

"I don't buy it! You understand, by law, you are considered a traitor for your help in our escape and evasion? Charges of treason result in exile. Execution." Takahino jabbed his chopsticks at Sai with each word. "Imprisonment. Disgrace until the end of your days, like the Uchiha clan. Plenty of motivation to turn us in and wash your hands clean of us."

"I'd face those consequences if I'm caught and convicted." Sai looked across at Takahino and wondered whether he understood the advantage Sai had afforded him. "Evidence at a trial could include a firsthand account of my collusion with defectors."

Takahino lowered his hands. "By the gods. Blackmail. You think I'd blackmail you? No way. An attempt to blackmail you would result in my painful death. I'd rather preserve my life, not risk it willy-nilly thank you very much."

"You'd have to have insurance to prevent me from killing you. I assume you have access to the right kind of jutsu."

They shared a heavy, silent gaze as Takahino absorbed Sai's implication. He said, under his breath, "You must be mad."

"I'm of sound mind and body. All I want is to provide you an opportunity to trust me. Ino's safety and well-being will be secure when we cooperate to protect her. If holding a blade at my throat is the sole way for you to trust me, I'll accept the position." Sai glanced to Ino, motionless and vulnerable. Under attack from forces they did not yet understand. "Anything to ensure her survival."

Takahino fell into contemplative silence as he ate the rest of his food. Sai did not interrupt his ruminations. His own feelings were clear: Ino could not be taken into Konoha without considerable risk to their friends and family, and to innocent bystanders. Wilderness would serve to hide and protect her; no one would know where to find her; no one would know where to begin a search for her. However, out in the wilderness was not without risk, but the risks were fewer than the ones she'd face in Konoha. Shinobi were survivalists, trained to secure food and shelter in the most barren of climes. A safehouse with easy access to the necessities could keep Ino out of reach of her enemies for many days, weeks, or months. Years, even.

The day passed without any further drama. Takahino kept to Ino's side. Usurped, Sai patrolled the temple, the forest, and kept occupied with doodles in his notebook. By evening, he admitted he'd procrastinated to avoid sending a message to Shikamaru. The Office would expect him to communicate his location. They'd think he was injured or dead or captured. Furthermore, any indication of his position would cause Shikamaru to deploy a back-up team or send his team to intercept him. A message which said nothing would be equally suspicious. Better to keep them in the dark.

Dinner was off the fire when Takahino deigned to speak to him again. "About your suggestion," he said as he scooped rice into his mouth, "Ino will kill me for tinkering with your head. You can't tell her I put a hypnotic suggestion on you. Ever."

"Why would it upset her? I thought hypnotic suggestion was a commonplace jutsu for the Yamanaka clan."

"Not because of the jutsu, but because I'd put it inside your head. You're special to her because we had an actual argument about you, can you believe it? Ino and I never argue!" Disbelief was written on his face as firelight danced in the red highlights of his ponytail. "She wouldn't hear me malign you. How've you earned her blind faith in you? She wouldn't tell me anything except how you'd saved her ass."

I'm special to her? Sai smiled into his shoulder, pleased, but controlled it to continue the conversation. "I may have saved her life, but she saved mine first. If you wish to put a hypnotic suggestion on me, we ought to do it when Ino won't notice." He cut his eyes over to Ino, asleep under the black Uchiha cloak. Takahino had sacrificed his white Konoha cloak for her pillow.

"I dislike sneaking behind her back for anything. Heh, we always promise 'no secrets' to each other, and here I'm doing a thing to keep secret from her." Takahino scowled as he set aside his eating implements. "I hate to say it but you're right. I'll put the damn hypnotic suggestion in your head before I lose my nerve. Now lay down."

Takahino was brusque with him, but Sai was used to stiff treatment as his Root upbringing bred suspicion and dark looks from Anbu and other Intelligence officers. There was nothing personal in their feelings toward him; it had been Lord Danzo's secretive influence. Sai removed his flak jacket, folded it into a pillow. He lay out, at perfect ease, as Takahino knelt at his head. The unforgiving stone floor of the temple was cool and gritty. Takahino's bottle-green eyes were composed and grave with concentration.

"Close your eyes." Hands hovered at his temples. "Pull in air from your nose to your abdomen. Exhale nice and slow. Let any tension drain out of your muscles. Empty your mind and keep it blank. Breathe in. Breathe out. Good. Keep the cycle continuous."

Sai did as he was instructed. He imagined a blackness had stretched out above and around him. He was suspended in it, and he felt no pain, no anxiety, no anger. From outside the black, a sun's yellow rays burned hot. The heat and light were beyond the black veil, out of his control, and he felt he'd been immersed in the black, in the emptiness, for a lifetime. He...he wanted out, to fly free in the heat and light. He had to get out and soar into the sun and blue skyfield and fresh wind, but in each direction he peered, endless black space greeted him, trapped him. He was as stuck and as lost as he'd been in Silence, before Silence. Before Ino. Ino, he needed Ino to reach out her hand to him and tug him into the sunlight. Where was she?

Where are you?

A foreign body, nebulous but as strong as a chilly gust of wind, fluttered in the black, wings flapping as nails scratched at the walls. Blinded, overwhelmed, he couldn't see the thing's body. It was close. He squirmed, defenseless, dread tingling his fingertips, and with horror choking him, heard the body flip-flap closer.

Blackness peeled away. Into existence blinked the dead and the dying and the maimed...the sprawled battlefield of the Fourth Shinobi War. Great plumes of dirt exploded from dense black balls of chakra, fire roared unchecked; five nations of shinobi alike were covered in filth and blood. Screams. Limbs separated from bodies. Corpses strewn everywhere. The scent of rancid, cooked skin and ash clogged his nose and throat. Stomach rebelling, he stumbled backwards from the war zone he had worked hard to ignore these past five years. But he was knee-deep in muck and mud and sank deeper. Bodies were piled in the pit, one indistinguishable from the next. An arm twitched. Another arm and another stretched out of the sledge, out of the tangle, groping for him, clawing for him.

Raw panic galvanized him. He...he had to escape the mud pit, had to escape the hands or they would grasp him and drag him to suffocate under the viscous mud. With a violent wrench, Sai bolted awake.

Cold sweat had coated his entire body; he shuddered. Overhead, the temple's ceiling was shadowed, the firelight not strong enough to touch the corners. Takahino was pale, strained, with brows knit together. His hands were lax in his lap. Sai tried to sit, but the headache hurt too much, so he pressed palms to his head. The pain was tight, like a screwed-on cap, a clamp in all areas of his brain. Pressure did not help.

Takahino touched Sai's shoulder. "The headache is normal and will disappear after a little bit. You've rejected the hypnotic suggestion."

"I've…rejected it?"

"Yes. At first, you accepted my presence inside your head, but when I started to layer in the hypnotic suggestion, a force of some kind shoved me. I tried again and the shove became more powerful. A third attempt resulted in my outright ejection from your mind." Takahino's whole attitude had become solicitous. He leaned over and fussed with Sai's hair. "I best not attempt it again. To try to force your mind to accept the suggestion could ruin both of us, and I'd prefer not to psychologically break a top ranked Intelligence officer."

Sai, ever the pragmatist, saw the issue at once. "Can I earn your trust another way?"

"We'll worry about it later." A faint smile appeared on Takahino's mouth. "You rest until the headache wears off."

The anxiety and tension he'd felt from Ino's cousin had evaporated, but why? Takahino had distrusted Sai before the attempt at hypnotic suggestion, but afterward, he'd swung the complete opposite direction. Sai left well enough alone. The headache was an annoyance, and true to Takahino's prognosis, it faded after half an hour. With Takahino choosing to linger at the fireside, Sai used the time to sit with Ino. To his surprise, Takahino did not contest the choice.

To rouse the conversation, Sai spoke first. "Why did you change your mind about me?"

"Isn't it enough to have changed my mind?" Takahino responded. The corners of the expressive mouth quirked. "So like an Intelligence officer to demand the specifics of the decision. Be grateful I haven't taken Ino and left you high and dry. I should like to see you explain the situation to Commander Nara."

Takahino hadn't nettled Sai, though he recognized the change in topic. "You witnessed something in my head to reverse your opinion of me. Tell me, please."

"I could, but I won't."

Sai didn't understand enough of Takahino's motives to quibble with him. He dropped the subject, thinking when Ino was better, she could fish inside his mind for an explanation. "Tell me more about Miyazato. Ino's shared details about him, but any extra intelligence could be useful."

"Whatever she's told you is the most up-to-date information we have. Miyazato's got an endgame in mind for our clan, for Ino in particular. He wants to chase her, to hunt her down. He won't be satisfied until she is in his power. The whole idea revolts me," Takahino said with a grimace of disgust. He carded his fingers through the loose chestnut hair, his freckles standing out on his skin. "Ino and I can't figure out the goal except to use the clan's mind jutsu in a grab for power, but the man already has power...his money, his resources, the jutsu he practices."

"He might need a clan to blame for a crime."

"Similar to Uchiha Itachi taking the fall for his clan's insurrection plans."

"After using the Yamanaka for their mind jutsu, he'd cover up his involvement in his plans and blame the clan for it." Sai glanced at Ino's swaddled form and his worry increased. She and her clan were on the cusp of annihilation. "As shinobi loyal to Konoha, our duty is to discover those plans and prevent them at any cost. Since Ino is evidently the key to those plans, we must keep her out of his grasp."

"Yes, of course. But I can't wrap my head around why it has to be our clan. Why us? We can't be the single clan in the Five Nations, or the world, who uses mind techniques. I feel Miyazato has targeted us, targeted Ino, for his purposes. Why?"

"A revenge plot comes to mind," answered Sai, "or convenience and accessibility. The Yamanaka are renowned for their mind techniques in the Five Nations. He may have heard of the clan's abilities and formed plans based on reports he received. Ino was an integral part of the communication network on the battlefield in the war, and so her name is known across the Five Nations."

"Maybe," Takahino's tone was skeptical, "but attacking her at her home, attacking her place of business, ripping her family from her is vengeance, definitely. I've tried to think of something, anything, Ino could've done on a mission to earn her a hostile retaliation."

"Shikamaru and the Intelligence Division will find any prior connection between Miyazato and Ino. For now, we figure out how to turn the trap for us in Sorutotaun into an opportunity to gather information."

Takahino nodded. "My guess is Hikarino was hypnotized into conveying the message to Ino. She's bait to draw us in. Whoever's involved will attempt to negotiate our peaceful surrender. If we refuse, they'll subdue us by force. My life may be at risk, but Ino won't sustain any lethal attacks. They'll try to separate us because our strength is in our unity as a family. Even though only two of us remain."

"You've given it a lot of thought." And Sai did respect Takahino's levelheaded assessment of the threat. "Our approach will depend on who is present and how many of your family lie in wait. We may have a chance to investigate Miyazato's plans, but we ought to proceed with extreme caution and not take too many risks."

"Sai," Takahino said, tilting his chin, "I think we should convince Ino to avoid Sorutotaun. Fly her to a secret place, make her sit tight, and we two can track down the faction."

"Weren't you the one who said he wouldn't be separated from Ino? I've been ready to accommodate you, but on a whim, you propose to be alone with me on a mission while Ino is elsewhere. As I understood it, you couldn't trust me, and in fact, worried I might kill you to keep you from blackmailing me."

"Well, the situation is fluid, isn't it." Takahino batted his hand as though Sai's points were mere insects. "I've told you I've changed my mind about you. Let's move on."

"No matter our arguments with her, Ino won't be convinced to be hidden away until she investigates the fate of the clan."

Sharp green eyes settled on Sai, a mischievous twinkle in them, and Sai felt Takahino held secret knowledge on him. Did he know about Sai's sexual relationship with Ino? Or had Ino told him about them and Takahino had seen a different secret? Deep secrets from Root, missions assigned and completed which would twist even Naruto against him. Arms claw at him from the mud pit. No, best not to think of the past, best not to examine his conscience too closely. Let it rest.

Takahino said, "You will succeed where I will fail."

"Meaning?"

"Nothing," but Takahino's smug smile told him otherwise. In an abrupt motion, he stood. "I'll go on patrol. You stay with Ino, yeah? Be sure to feed her, give her water and those pain pills. Don't let her boss you into bad decisions."

Sai held onto Takahino's arm. "You can't give cryptic statements and leave without an explanation. Why would Ino listen to me over you? I may be special to her, but you're her cousin, her family. You're special, more special."

"Ask Ino. What is between you and her is outside my interference." Takahino patted the hand on his arm. "Excuse me."

Sai capitulated, tired of the argument. "Take an ink owl with you. Don't wander too far off."

The previous night, Sai had drawn out and created several ink owls to watch over them while they slept and rested. He gestured to the nearest one in the rafters. In a sweep of broad black wings, the owl swooped from the beam out of the hole in the wall, preceding Takahino into the nighttime forest hunched in on the abandoned temple.

"Give me more credit, for heaven's sake," said Takahino with a careless flick of his hair. He exited the stone temple and was gone from sight.

Sai, at the fireside, considered Takahino's attitude. Takahino, like Ino, was stubborn and secretive. He could force Takahino to tell through the usage of torture- -an ink brush to the bottom of his feet would suffice- -but Ino would disapprove of the tactic. He'd said it was between himself and Ino. How had he earned Takahino's trust in such a short time without lifting a single finger? Ino must have the solution to the puzzle, so all he could do was wait.

After a while, Takahino hadn't returned yet. The ink owl had not indicated any need for concern, so Sai stepped to Ino's side, the closest he'd been since last night, and kneeling, examined her slack face and spill of matted white-blonde hair. The angry vein in her forehead had calmed; she seemed less in pain. Dry mud was a cracked second skin along her arms, filth smudged her face and neck- -sweat had run rivulets along her skin. Dirt caked under her nails. She smelled like she'd dragged herself out of the riverbed. All he could think was Ino's hatefulness of dirt on her person. Strong shafts of sunlight burned into shadowed vaults.

So as not to disrupt her rest, Sai was gentle when he picked up her hand and used a folded edge of parchment paper to scoop the grime from her nails. He had an end of bar soap in his hip pouch; would she mind a quick scrub? The squares of bloodied cloth, the corners of Ino and Takahino's cloaks, were still in his flak jacket, and with a partial water jutsu, Sai rinsed the white cloth. It was irrevocably stained, but clean enough. As he worked the soap into a lather, Ino's eyes flickered.

"Soap?" she asked. The blue eyes widened, zeroed in on his hands. "You have soap?"

"Hm-hm. Hold still." Sai braced her; she'd tried to sit and struggled against his firm touch. "Hold still. You'll worsen your condition."

"I will not." But she complied and relaxed under his hand. "This'd be easier at a river or pond."

"I'm sorry. No convenient river or pond is to be had."

Sai ran the soapy rag across her face, along her arms, her neck. She submitted to the cleaning, her sigh of pleasure deep, her breasts strained against the cotton fabric of her shirt. He heard that sigh in his gut. Behind him, the fire roared hot and burned inside him, a living flame he had no control over which licked and scorched under his skin. Lizard Brain hissed a sibilant desire in his ear. A water jutsu to rinse her of the soap, lather washing away gray. Her joy with the soap radiated out of her.

"Let me scrub where the sun doesn't shine," she told him. "I can do it myself. Help me undress, will you?" He hesitated, and she misinterpreted the hesitation. "You've seen my naked body before. Nothing's changed."

"I'm not shy about your nudity, but concerned about Takahino when he returns from patrol and sees you naked in front of me. I'd rather not have to explain. Instead, I'll stand watch at the entrance. Finish up without delay, please."

Ino took the soapy rag he offered her. "On patrol, hunh? How long has he been gone?"

"An hour or two."

"And he hasn't checked in?"

"No," Sai said. He'd not kept a close watch, but the ink owl hadn't notified him of anything amiss. "Should I have a reason for concern?"

Ino had a look on her face which spelled his doom. Before Sai could stop her, her hands formed a rapid series of seals. The jutsu formed, and her brow folded with concentration; the branch of veins in her forehead stood proud under her skin. After a minute, she let the chakra loosen and dissipate. The doom-look had worsened. Am I in trouble?

"I can't sense him within my radius." Her gaze shone a high wattage spotlight on him. "Tell me you didn't drive him from me. Tell me you didn't convince him to go on a suicide mission."

Her voice had increased in both volume and shrillness. "Nothing of the sort happened. Ino, you're not ready to-"

She shut him up with an angry gesture. "Describe your interactions with him since this morning. You better not leave anything out."

"Nothing happened," he repeated. Her eyes were two smoldering sapphires, and the glint of them held him in thrall. He could smooth-talk her like he had to on occasion with Sakura. "We discussed your situation and how to best protect you from Miyazato. He said he couldn't trust me with you, and he didn't trust me to help him protect you. He believed I would turn him over to the Office or kill him for knowing I colluded with you. We argued over it, but in the end, he changed his mind and left me alone to guard you."

Ino stared at him, disbelief evident. "He changed his mind? Why?"

"I don't know," Sai said. He left out the failed hypnotic suggestion Takahino had attempted. He'd do well to avoid any further risk in the conversation. "I asked him the same question. Instead of answering, he said I should convince you to stay away from Sorutotaun. He said you'd listen to me over him."

"Weird. Why would he think I'd listen to you any more than him?"

"Something about what was between us was outside his interference."

Ino countenance switched to blatant horror. "Did you tell him about us?"

"No." Her vehemence startled Sai. "I've said nothing about us to anyone. I promised I wouldn't, and I haven't."

She became contrite. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overreact. But are you sure you've included everything? Takahino was firm in his opinion about you. I couldn't convince him to trust you, so unless he discovered our relationship or a different secret, I can't see why he'd leave me in your protection without a fight."

"I've told you everything."

Ino didn't respond. Her eyes didn't break the hold they had on his as she probed his mind, the outer perimeter of it, to check for lies. He silenced his thoughts and waited for her decision. She withdrew, albeit reluctantly, having found a steady calmness. Earlier, he'd gripped her astral projection inside his body, so she was cautious enough to stay out of his reach. Rising from the floor, Ino adjusted her clothes and hair.

"Fine, then. He can't have gone far on foot. Let's break camp and make up for lost time on an ink hawk. He must've left for Sorutotaun under your nose. Way to drop the ball, Sai."

"No."

"No…?" She had bent double to pick the dusty, folded Konoha cloak off the ground. "He didn't leave for Sorutotaun?"

"No, I mean we won't follow him."

In the tense silence after his statement, Ino stood. Sai also stood and prepared for a fight. She blinked at him and looked at the dingy square of cloth in her hands. He didn't need her face to tell him her feelings. They churned under the surface of her thoughts, an unseen whirlpool which would sweep her into impulsive decisions. Bad decisions. Sai recognized the air of calculation; he'd witnessed it against others she sparred with, but he didn't expect her to try and manipulate him.

"You...want me to stay put," she said. Contempt tinged her words. "Out of danger. Out of the way, like a helpless little princess."

"Out of danger, yes. But not here. You'd be safer at an undisclosed location. Once I've secured you, I'll reconnect with Takahino in Sorutotaun and assist him with his mission."

"I refuse to be left behind."

Sai admired her determination, but he was as determined as she was to keep her out of trouble. She shifted her weight; he matched her. Soon, she'd try to escape him. "We can't risk you falling into Miyazato's hands."

"I can't let Takahino go after the faction alone."

"The longer you argue with me, the less time I have to intercept him. You're wasting valuable time." He watched her calm face, her tense body, as her mind cycled through options and scenarios. On almost every aspect, he was better than her...better taijutsu, better ninjutsu, better kenjutsu. As far as his strategy was concerned, he'd have to use a paralysis jutsu. Paralysis was fast, efficient, and he could transport her to the safehouse without further fuss. "I wouldn't overrule you unless I thought it was important to do so."

"Last chance. We both go or I go."

They stared at each other, and they each imperceptibly crouched, muscles bunched under clothes. It would be speed. Who'd be the fastest one to fire off a jutsu? He, a paralysis jutsu. She...a mind technique or genjutsu to distract him. Their breathing softened; they hadn't broken eye contact. Her spunk, her indomitable spirit, exuded from her; her hair was aglow from the firelight and he knew the curves hidden beneath the Uchiha cloak she'd donned. Lizard Brain trailed a few unexpected nails along Sai's spine. The temperature had soared in the temple- -a bead of sweat chased itself down the side of his face. More powerful sunbeams poured through him.

He realized they were alone, he had her alone with no one to disturb them, and he wanted to kiss her. And maybe do more than kiss her.

Ino must've caught the drift of his thoughts. Her chin lifted; a faint, amused smile crossed her lips. Sai had been certain they'd engage in a melee fight, but...the amused smile...the bright blue sparkle in her eyes...teeth nipped the pink petal of her bottom lip. No, he wasn't certain anymore.

A/N: I definitely didn't get as far as I wanted in this chapter. I changed my mind a couple times in regards to the plot. We've been on a plateau; I intend to accelerate the conflict and shift the last third of the story in high gear. Prepare yourselves. Leave some love in the comments!

1/24/21 - Light editing & revisions