45: The Consequence of Betrayal

Yamato explains Danzou may want to destroy Tsunade and the Third's teachings by driving Konoha into calamity like Oro's attempt to crush Konoha. After the village is destroyed, he can rebuild it in his own image with himself as Hokage, adds Sakura. He'll join forces with Oro and offer inside help. Yamato says they might have to kill Sai.

Meanwhile Kabuto and Oro know they're being followed. Oro says they need a corpse. Kabuto tunrs around to face Sai with a kunai.

Yamato says they need to go after them. Naruto is excited about going but then collapses. Yamato suggests leaving him behind and Naruto can return to the village by himself. Sakura angrily says Kakashi would never say something like that. Yamato says he was on Kakashi's ANBU squad so he knows what kind of person he is. They're two different people and he won't smile and say "I won't let you get hurt." He says, "You two aren't newbies that need to be protected. You're shinobi that have to surpass Kakashi and protect the village. There's a difference between compassion and lenity. It ends here and they'll never catch Orochimaru." Naruto forces himself to get up. The team runs after Oro. Yamato says if Naruto slows them down they'll leave him behind.

Yamato's clone finds Sai's body hanging from a tree.

Naruto's vision gets blurry and he almost crashes from the trees. Sakura loses her grip while swinging from a branch and falls. Naruto tries to catch her but his vision blurs again. Luckily Yamato catches her in his arms before she hits the ground. They take a break. Yamato thinks how the Kyuubi's chakra seeped into her wound like poison. Sakura tells Naruto Oro wounded her.

Yamato decides that since Sakura is the only medical ninja in the group, the success of the mission lies with her so they're taking a break. Sakura protests but Yamato says haste makes waste and there's a difference between hurrying and being reckless. Yamato asks Naruto to meet with him to discuss strategy since Sai left. Sakura tries to heal her wound.

Yamato's clone cuts down Sai's body, but he's prepared for a trap. Shuriken and explosive tags fly around him. He fends them off with his kunai. The corpse is a fake, one of Kabuto's techniques. He reports to real Yamato. Then he sees the explosive tags on the fake Sai body. The body explodes, but the clone Yamato is unharmed.

Yamato tells Naruto he was the one who hurt Sakura.

End: Konoha Trivia Super Quiz - Yamato hosts, challengers are Naruto, Sakura, Sai and Kakashi (reading book) Who is the devil of the Hidden Mist...Sakura rings in Zabuza (wrong)...had a feminine appearance...Naruto rings in Haku (wrong)...hired by Gato...who were his bodyguards? Naruto and Sakura have no idea, Sai writes down Taka and Toshi, Kakashi is sleeping. Answer: Waraji (big guy with tattoos) and Zouri (smaller guy with hat).

Review: The difference between Kakashi and Yamato is nicely explored.

Notes: Kabuto's technique: Can hardly see a seam in the head. Yamato comments that if it weren't for that little trick, it would have completely fooled him, and thinks back to the three little seeds he took out at the bath house.

Thoughts:
What were those seeds for?
Where did Kabuto get that body?