Danzo brought Naruto and the Third Hokage into Root's underground base and led them to his office. Once the three had sat down, Danzo poured his guests a cup of tea each, then gave an Anbu operative a few instructions. Naruto and the Third Hokage paid no attention, quietly drinking their tea as they waited for Danzo to continue.
Danzo was in no hurry either. Before long, Sai arrived. He was somewhat surprised to see Naruto and the Third Hokage when he entered, but quickly recovered and stepped inside. "Elder Danzo, what did you need me for?"
"You're here," Danzo said. "I summoned you to release you from Root. From today onward, you are no longer one of us. You are free. From now on, you are simply a Konoha ninja, Sai of Team 7, no longer Sai of Root."
Danzo's words stunned Sai, leaving him frozen and unsure what to say. Although seeing the Third Hokage and Naruto together at Root's base had told him that today's business probably concerned him, he had never expected Naruto to have come to free him from Root, much less that Danzo would agree. For a moment, he could not process it.
Danzo paid no mind to Sai's loss of composure. Anyone would have reacted that way, and he would not reprimand Sai over something so trivial. He walked over to Sai, formed several hand seals, then extended a finger. "Stick out your tongue."
Sai snapped out of his daze and stuck out his tongue, obeying through years of ingrained habit. Danzo looked at the sealing formula on Sai's tongue, pointed his finger, and said, "Release."
Sai felt his body grow lighter, as though some restraint had been lifted. He knew the seal Danzo had placed on him was gone. "Thank you, Elder