[Chapter 40. This is a milestone this story but sadly the story will come to an end in about 7 more chapters. I think 7 should tell the story...this story. It has been fun to write. Thank you for reading. Enjoy.]

Artwork

Ino sat alone listening to music in the small but comfortable hideout. It was the seventh day since they came to the place and she still didn't know where they were. She was enjoying the music but dying to talk to someone. In answer to her thoughts Sai came in the door.

"We've found her," Sai said removing his Shinobi gear and shutting the door behind him.

"The leader," Ino questioned turning down the radio.

"I like that song," Sai said moving past her to turn the volume up. "Yes we found the leader."

"Yes! I'm so happy, can we go home now," Ino said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"We should stay a few more days just in case," Sai said.

"I'm ready to go home. This place is lonely. I can't believe that Shikamaru went on and had his child before we even had the chance to celebrate. That party took some real planning and no one is celebrating. We should all be celebrating not separated like this especially if we found the leader it should be over right," Ino questioned.

Sai pulled her close and kissed her. He knew he couldn't agree to return home and risk her or their growing unborn child.

"That's not an answer," Ino said.

"I know you want to go home but we can't. Not right now at least. But it is a good thing we found the leader of the group. Her subordinates will likely be stunned and perhaps this will drag them out of their hiding places," Sai said.

"Do you have any news about Sakura, Karin or even Temari," Ino questioned.

"Nothing new-

"That is why you can't count on a guy to find out information. If I were out in the field I would know something. Details and so much more," Ino said shaking Sai's shoulders to emphasize her point.

"I didn't get to fully answer the question," Sai said defensively.

"That's fine I'll just find out about them on my own," Ino shot back.

"You're not leaving here until it is safe to do so," Sai admonished.

"Fine," Ino let go of him and turned her attention to the food cooking in the kitchen.

Sai left in silence and went to wash up before dinner. The rooms were dark now that the sun had gone down. It was just his luck that this hideout was fairly new and modern with electricity. There really wasn't any other way to convince Ino to come otherwise.

Sai flipped the switches on the lights whistling as he headed to the bathroom. Ino turned the heat off on the stove. The dish was simple something she could remember making with her mother for her father after a long mission. It would be just Sai and her at the table but she set it with love anyhow.

Truth was Ino missed all her friends. She missed her routine and the ingredients in her cupboard back home. Now that they captured one of the enemy and the leader at that she had no doubt they would be back home soon.

000

Sai toweled off his hair and looked over the painting he had started. A small vendor in town sold all kinds of paints and Sai had been inspired coming here.

"Dinner's ready," Ino said from the doorway.

"I won't start yet," Sai said looking over his shoulder.

"It almost looks like the flowers are moving in the picture," Ino said staring at the painting. She didn't recognize the place and Sai told her he was painting from memory.

"It was breezy that day…I'm glad I captured that feeling in the painting," Sai said.

"Well I'm hungry," Ino said and turned to leave. Staring at her half naked husband was enough to put her in the mood for something else but she was actually hungry for two and it couldn't wait. They made it a point to eat together whenever possible because Sai read that it created stronger bonds and Ino agreed that they should always eat dinner together. Naturally there were times when the dinner went in the fridge and one of them was away on a mission.

Sai pulled on a shirt and tossed the towel in the hamper. This place was too much like a second home. Had he been single and on a mission he would have enjoyed it as if it were a resort.

Following his wife's footsteps he joined her at the small oval table next to the window. The window with a view of the artificially lit small town down the hill from them was open.

"Are you hot," Sai asked.

"No I was just listening to the sounds of the night," Ino said giving thanks for the food before her.

"It may be safe enough to go into the town for a while," Sai said also giving thanks for the food.

"Don't kid around. Towns like this close up shop at sundown," Ino said pouring the sauce on her rice haphazardly.

"This town might surprise you," Sai said and smiled. He knew she wanted to get out and mingle with people.

Ino continued to eat her food. They had been over this topic of leaving to go into town before and it was clear she was not allowed to go out into the town for safety reasons. Sai agreed that he would bring her whatever she asked for from town however leading to multiple shopping trips for him. Given all that they agreed on she was a bit surprised he hadn't noticed her current mood. Ino clearly had other things in mind.

"I'd like to stay in," Ino said.

"This food is good. Maybe I can get a movie," Sai said.

"Or we can just be together," Ino said.

"That kind of movie. I never thought you'd be such a dirty girl," Sai teased.

Ino's face turned crimson and she said, "Absolutely not anything dirty Sai. I want to-

"Just a little bit," Sai kissed her neck just below her ear and said, "dirty. I know your mind and you can't fool me."

"I-I'm not like that. I don't want to watch anything like that. So stop before you ruin everything. I was really feeling romantic you know and then you had to ruin everything," Ino said defiantly with her arms crossed in a position that could only mean Sai was getting himself into trouble.

"Alright whatever you say dirty mind. I'd like to continue working on that painting anyway. You're right let's stay in tonight," Sai agreed.

Ino was determined to have her way tonight. Maybe she would watch him paint for a while but who knew where it would lead she had enough mental images as clues.

000

Naruto stood in the center of the holding cell making his final request of the woman who was in charge of all the chaos of recent months.

"These things change you. Your wars changed our lands. Our jutsu changed your children. It is only fair don't you think. Payment…Payback for what wrong was done to my people," Tori said her hair falling over and covering her features.

"You don't have to harm people to make things right," Naruto said unsure of why he would even bother at this point it was clear this woman was far too gone to be helped.

"I know that," Tori said.

"Then stop the jutsu," Naruto requested one last time. Regardless of if she were willing to cooperate they were going to find a way to stop it once and for all.

"I will never stop. I want your children to suffer and die. I want to watch your wife cry tears and mourn," Tori said laughing behind the mask of her own hair.

Naruto stood in silence listening to the laughter for a minute and turned away leaving the crazed woman alone. He knew that just capturing the leader wouldn't be quite enough. It was still too early but if non lethal tactics could be used he would have preferred them but to kill was exactly what Tori wanted him to do and he wasn't about to be used that way.

"So did you find out anything," Kakashi asked as Naruto entered the hallway.

"Nothing, she likely gave me the same routine that she gave you," Naruto said.

"I'll have guards on her all day and night," Kakashi said.

"I know. I am going to check on Shikamaru and Temari and then go home to Sakura," Naruto said.

"Good. We are really close this time," Kakashi said.

"I know," Naruto said.

Naruto continued to walk on towards the Nara compound. He knew that Gaara would be there so it would be a trip with two purposes. Things were busy in the past few weeks and he barely had time to grab a bite he hoped that maybe Chouji were around too so that food would be ample. No doubt Shikamaru and Temari were too busy to consider what was for dinner and their friend would likely save the day. With all of that in mind Naruto headed for his friends place.