~24~

The fourth member of the assassination squad, the Anbu with the fox mask knelt before Danzo at that moment.

"So you've returned," Danzo said. "I'm glad. Tell me what happened."

The Anbu proceeded to relate the initial details of the mission but Danzo interrupted. "I already know Hisamegoro is dead. I don't need to hear anything more about it right now. Tell me what became of your team members."

"Our leader is dead. Our senpai (senior) was hit during retreat and is surely dead as well."

Danzo frowned. The Anbu didn't know anything. "And what of the younger?"

"He got us out of Hisamegoro's mansion on top of a giant bird but we were shot down. We had to make our way on foot and got separated after senpai went down. I saw that he was wounded. I'm not sure how seriously."

"Why did it take you this long to return?"

"There were two Hail shinobi after us. I created three clones to confuse the trail. One shinobi chased after my clone as far as the Northeast Ocean within Earth Country territory. But the other one caught up with me just before I was able to cross Waterfall Country."

"So the shinobi after you was defeated, I presume."

"Yes sir, he used up a lot of chakra with his offensive attack. I was able to recover mine after a while."

"That's fine," Danzo said. "Submit a full report later. You may take your leave."

The Anbu bowed and disappeared.

"So there's a chance he's still alive," Danzo thought. He felt slightly relieved about this. His investment may still be safe. But Sai's recent actions still disturbed him. He will have to call Ikioku back to explain himself.

oOoOoOoOo

Tsunade went to the hospital to see the wounded Anbu two days after he regained consciousness. She forbade Naruto and the rest to go there as she knew it would invite attention and more conflict with Danzo.

"I was told you healed my leg. Thank you, Hokage-sama," the Anbu said, realizing that it was the first time he sincerely said the word 'thank you' to anybody. Tsunade nodded.

"Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Do you know who brought you here?"

There it was. Danzo-sama had warned him he was going to be interrogated like this. His master reminded him of his oath and the consequences if he broke it.

"It was a fellow Anbu," was his careful reply.

"Don't worry," Tsunade assured. I will not ask you about your mission. I just wanted to ask a little about the Anbu who saved you. You see, I believe he was the one assigned to Hatake Kakashi's team until recently. We called him Sai. His teammates and all his other friends are concerned about him." Tsunade wondered what impact the word "friend" had on a Root shinobi. Surely even they have a slight concept of the word. The anbu was quiet, staring blankly across the room. Then he spoke. "I'm sorry. I don't know what became of him."

Tsunade nodded. "I understand." Then she left.

The Hokage turned out to be less intimidating than he expected. He had painted a horrible image of her based on Danzo-sama's description. She induced no fear in him at all. And what of the young Anbu? 'Sai' they called him. His friends were concerned about him, she said. Did this account for his own life being saved?

He honestly did not know what became of Sai who, he knew, was wounded himself. But even if he did, he was sure he would not divulge anything because of the cursed seal. No, it was not cowardice. He just decided he was not about to give away his life so simply and waste Sai's sacrifice. He owed him that much. He would not die until he found out what the truth was. He suddenly had the urge not just to obey but to actually believe in something.

~25~

Atop a large branch by the edge of the forest, Sai stood looking at the rear gate of Konohagakuren from outside. Four days had passed since he met Tsugumi at the balcony of an inn. And then, Konoha was within his line of sight. He wondered what became of the cat-masked Anbu he sent back. It would be too bad if the man died. He knew he would be punished for disobeying orders; he at least wanted something good to come out of it. But then he thought back to the inn way back in Earth Country and decided that perhaps, something did.

Tsugumi talked about things that fascinated him, stories about her family and her friends. The sadness she felt when her brother died. He thought about his own feelings when his own brother passed away. He couldn't remember, but it was probably the same. People are the same. Different, yet the same, whatever nation they hail from. They may talk differently, eat differently or do other things differently, but essentially, they are the same. Things like family and friends, love and kindness, everyone longs for them. That's what Tsugumi said and maybe she was right.

The girl tended to his wound everyday, coming to see him between her breaks to make sure he was comfortable. She laid out an extra futon for him when he refused to take hers for the second time. She talked about many things. He probably heard more words from her in four days than he did from everyone else combined in his entire life. When she was away, he spent his time reading her books. They were storybooks about relationships that he couldn't relate to at all. At night, she would speak to him some more. He mostly just nodded to show his understanding. He was able to learn to tell the difference between sadness and happiness from her expressions. He could also somehow recognize if she was frustrated or embarrassed.

Tsugumi was the daughter of farmers from the far country. His brother died when his arm was hit with a poisoned dart during an encounter with local rebels. His body was recovered outside a chicken farm just across the next town. "Nobody even tried to help him," she lamented. But then she smiled as she said "He taught me to always be kind to others. He always wore a smile and it made people smile back so I thought I'd do the same. Maybe one day, I'll see you smile, yes?"

On the third day of his stay at the inn, Sai knew he was strong enough to leave but was reluctant to so he stayed another day. On the fourth day, his sense of obligation won him over. And so right then, on top of a tree branch by the edge of the forest, Sai slipped his Anbu mask over his face. He jumped off and headed for the gate, ready to face any consequence his action entailed.

He hadn't even gone out of the forest when ten Anbu surrounded him. "Come with us," one of them said. Sai had no intention to resist but there was something odd about his welcoming party; they're not from Root. They were Anbu answering to the Hokage. Sai was teeming with renewed chakra after a few days' rest but he was out of special ink. He could fight with his sword if it became necessary. But why would he fight? He knew he was going to be punished upon his return. Maybe the Hokage would deal out his sentence. Did something happen to Danzo-sama, he wondered.

Continue to Part 26