Sai's Identity

Sai, whom Yamato had mentioned, was now standing behind Orochimaru with no intention of fighting at all. If Naruto saw this, he might fly into a rage on the spot.

Deep within the underground base, water seeped from the damp rock walls, dripping onto the stone steps with hollow echoes. Sai walked three paces behind Orochimaru, his footsteps steady. He did not look around or make any unnecessary movements. He merely followed in silence, like a puppet programmed in advance.

Orochimaru brought him to a secret room on the second level of the base. A map hung on the wall, marked with defensive positions around Leaf Village, ANBU patrol routes, and the locations of sealing barriers. It was not a complete defense map, but it was already precise enough.

"Danzō's man? Why should I trust you?" Orochimaru sat in a stone chair, his newly regrown left hand resting on the armrest. His fingers moved slowly, as if testing his joints.

Sai took a letter from his robes. It had no wax seal and no signature. He handed it to Kabuto, who inspected it, confirmed there were no traps, and only then passed it to Orochimaru. Orochimaru unfolded the paper and glanced over it. His golden snake eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled.

"Danzō is as cautious as ever."

He placed the letter on the table beside him and lightly tapped it twice with his fingers. "We can discuss cooperation. But you need to prove that you are from Root—not just with a letter, but in person. You need to prove your worth and identity."

Sai placed a second item on the table.

A list. ANBU members' code names, movement records, and patrol rotation schedules. The latest version, updated just two days ago. Only someone within Root could obtain something like this. After reading the list, Orochimaru slowly exhaled.

"You pass."

Orochimaru had Kabuto take Sai to a lounge on the third underground level. Sai did not resist or speak; he simply followed quietly. He did not know whether he would truly remain here until Danzō and Orochimaru's cooperation was finalized. His mission was not to negotiate—it was only to deliver the message.

Not long after Sai left, Orochimaru suddenly raised his head.

"Konoha's people really did follow us. Since they came all this way, we shouldn't let them return empty-handed. Let's give Sai to them. What do you think, Kabuto?"

"I think Lord Orochimaru has handled this very well."

"Good. Then I'll make the arrangements. I hope Konoha's people don't disappoint me."

The tunnel entrance was hidden behind vines. Yamato pushed them aside, revealing a crack barely wide enough for one person to pass through. A faint breeze blew out from within, showing that it was not a dead end.

"He's inside." Yamato took a step back. "Sai."

When Naruto and the others reached the end of the tunnel, Sai was standing in the corridor with his back to them, as if waiting for someone. Naruto did not speak. He walked straight past Sai from behind and circled around to face him.

The smile had not yet faded from Sai's face. That gentle, practiced smile he could maintain in any situation.

"Sai." Naruto's voice was not loud, but it was hard. "What are you smiling about?"

Sai's smile did not change. "I was smiling because you arrived faster than I expected."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Sakura could not hold back her questions anymore. "You said you left us signals, but we didn't see a single one! If Captain Yamato hadn't planted those Wood Release seeds, we wouldn't even have been able to find you!"

"Oh, so that's how you got in." Sai's expression did not change in the slightest.

"Your smile has no emotion in it, Sai. What I want is your real feelings." Yamato spoke as well. He was deeply dissatisfied with Sai's behavior.

"You're right. I have no feelings." His voice was flat. "The first thing Root taught me was that I could not have emotions. Emotions create weaknesses, and weaknesses get you killed. So I do not need emotions."

"Root?" Naruto clearly had no idea what Root was.

"Then what is your mission?" Yamato spoke, his voice quiet but every word clear. "I mean the mission Root gave you."

Sai knew he could not avoid it. He did not answer Naruto's question, only revealed part of his mission. "Lord Danzō's orders: approach Orochimaru as a temporary member of Team 7, facilitate cooperation between Root and Orochimaru, obtain Orochimaru's ninja techniques and intelligence on his bases, and use them for Konoha's future transfer of power."

"In other words, join forces to destroy Konoha's current leadership, right?" Sakura was still sharp when it came to the plain meaning behind words.

The corridor fell silent. Wind poured in from deep within the tunnel, stirring the edges of everyone's clothes. Naruto clenched his fists.

"So everything about you was fake from beginning to end? You never once thought of being our teammate?"

Sai did not answer.

Naruto stared at Sai for a long time. Then he took a deep breath and loosened his fists.

"I don't care who you used to work for, and I don't care what Root told you to do. But let me tell you one thing." Naruto lowered his voice, but it did not become soft. Every word struck the stone walls of the corridor and echoed back. "Sasuke is my friend. We have no blood relation, no family, no parents—we have nothing. That's why we matter more to each other than anyone."

Sai looked into Naruto's eyes. There was no anger or accusation in them, only something heavy, like a rope that refused to let go no matter how far the other end was pulled.

"I'll bring him back even if it kills me," Naruto said. "That's my reason. It's fine if you have no emotions. You don't need to agree with me. You only need to remember those words."

Sai stood where he was, his eyes lowered. He did not speak, but his fingers twitched slightly at his side. It was not a hand sign. It was more as if something inside him had loosened, just a little.

Footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

Kabuto emerged. He carried no weapon, his hands spread open as if expressing goodwill.

"Sai, Lord Orochimaru sent me to bring you back." Kabuto glanced at Naruto and the others. "Your mission is complete. There's no need to keep acting with them."

The corridor went silent for a moment.

Sai suddenly moved. He turned sideways, seized Kabuto's wrist, and pressed his other hand against Kabuto's waist, restraining him with precise force. Kabuto did not resist—he could have, but he did not. He looked at Sai, pushed up his glasses, and the smile at his lips deepened.

"Interesting."

Sai let go and took a step back.

"I'm not going back," he said. "I'm staying here."

Kabuto watched him for two seconds without saying another word, then turned and walked toward the depths of the corridor. His footsteps grew farther and farther away before vanishing completely. "Sai, you've made another wrong decision." By the time his words fell, Kabuto was already gone.

"Forget about him. We'll find Sasuke first." Yamato set their priority. Everyone's eyes turned toward Sai, who stood in the middle of them, their gazes filled with distrust.

"I'll help you find Sasuke," Sai said. "What Naruto said reminded me of my only brother in Root, Shin, who died. I want to help you once."

Perhaps because he sounded so sincere, the three of them trusted Sai for some reason. They voluntarily broke their encirclement, and the four split up to search for Sasuke's location and any information about him.

Sai quickly disappeared from the others' sight.

Then...

"Naruto, come quickly!" Sakura cried out in alarm only a few minutes later.