48: Bonds

Sai puts away the book as he hears someone approach. Yamato opens the door and he and Naruto and Sakura enter his room. Naruto grabs Sai's shirt and demands to know why Sai betrayed them. Sakura stops him and returns Sai's book. She asks if Danzou is planning something with Orochimaru. Yamato suggests he's got a new plan to crush the Leaf. Sai is about to deny it when Naruto interrupts. Sai says now that they've discovered him, his mission is a failure and there's no point in hiding the truth - he admits that they plan to destroy Konoha. He's also to work as a spy and report on Oro to Danzou since Oro will definitely betray them once Konoha is destroyed. He's just following orders and Sai is not his real name - he is just one of Danzou's arms.

But Sakura points out how he still treasures that book of him and his brother which proves that he exists. She thinks he can't give up the image he has of himself as a little brother since his bond to his brother is important to him. Yamato demands to know about the book and says to be part of ANBU root they had to undergo the same ritual as the Hidden Mist Village where comrades were paired off and had to kill each other. Yamato points out that in his book he defeats and takes the weapon and armor of opponents so by the center he would have had to face his brother. But Sai says his brother died from disease, before the book was completed as a present for him. They were not related by blood but they got along like real brothers. The two center pages were the ones he wanted to show him most, but since he died, Sai can't remember what he wanted to draw on them.

Yamato has Sai entwined in wood outside the complex. Naruto's ready to search for Sasuke, but Sai tells him to give up since Oro is always with Sasuke so they'll have to fight him again. If they pursue them they'll be ripped apart for their experiments. Sai says Sasuke no longer cares about Naruto so why is Naruto so adamant about getting Sasuke back. Naruto smiles and says how he couldn't stand Sasuke back then. Neither had a family, but Sasuke was an elite while he was last in class but they had a lot of fun together. Sasuke acknowledged him more than anyone else ever did.

End: Where does the seed go? Naruto asks Yamato how long will the seeds continue to work since it's inconvenient to have Yamato know what they're doing all the time. Yamato replies they'll stay 2-3 days in the body. Naruto is relieved as he realizes it ends up in the crapper. Sakura hits him for lack of tact.

Review: A lot of talk and flashbacks, but Naruto gave one of his most inspired speeches at the end.

Notes: Yamato opens Sai's door with a wooden key formed from his finger.

Naruto's ending speech: "Sasuke is my friend, someone I was finally able to form a bond with, I don't care who I have to fight. If he rips off my arms I'll kick him to death, if he rips off my legs I'll bite him to death, if he rips off my head I'll stare him to death, if he gouges out my eyes I'll curse him from the grave. Even if I'm torn to shreds, I'll take Sasuke away from Orochimaru."

Thoughts: Sai seems to be about to deny plotting with Orochimaru when Naruto interrupts.