Sai groaned softly as his eyes slid open. He was confused when all he could see was darkness, similar to that of his training cell before he was placed on Team 7. Then images rushed through his mind. A sob escaped him as the image of a decapitated Ino surfaced to the forefront of his mind. He had hoped to die when that blade had pierced his heart. He sat up, and noticed the lack of chin length hair. He also felt slightly off balance, and stumbled when he took a step. He seemed to be shorter, by at least half a foot, and walked around in the darkness, getting used to his shorter status.

He paused when the door opened, and he donned the emotionless mask he once lived by before he met his friends. He didn't know where he was, and apathy was likely the best answer right now. He followed with the smooth grace only a well trained shinobi could, and pondered where he had seen that mask before.

It was similar to an Anbu mask, and it reminded him of his Nezumi mask from when he was in ROOT. The raven sucked in an unnoticeable breath as he saw the one man he hoped never to see again.

Danzo.

Ino woke with a jolt, and she leapt up, sweat adorning her fair skin. She slid her hands along her neck, and felt a scar that hadn't been there before. It was jagged, and wrapped around her neck like a noose. Did someone reattach her head? 

She looked around and saw her bedroom from before the attack on Konoha. What was this? She glanced at a calendar. It was the day before Hokage-sama had returned to the village with Jiraiya-sama.

She must have somehow ended up in the past, and she fell back on her bed, realizing that she was alive. Sixteen again, but alive. She thought of what to do, and felt her heart drop as she realised Sai.... she had left him behind. Her heart ached as she realized he probably got her farewell. She tied her hitai-ate firmly around her neck, hiding the gruesome scar. She would make an excuse later so no one would suspect.

She heard her mother call, she needed to help in the shop today. So she made her way down, and sat boredly behind the counter, ignoring the constant throb in her chest.

Sai kept his facial expression carefully controlled, hiding the turmoil he was experiencing inside. He received his orders, to spy on team 7, and to give a missive to Orochimaru when the chance arises. He would do neither, loyal to his Hokage. He couldn't feel the old burn of his Curse seal so deduced he didn't have it. 

He shunshined out of the base, going to explore the village. He was obviously in the past, so his Beautiful was still alive, but did not yet know him. This made the pain in his chest fade slightly. At least she was alive. He wandered aimlessly, avoiding even a hint of Yamanaka chakra.

The next day Sai went out to 'test' Naruto. He attacked. And successfully avoided all the clones, and the occasional rasengan. He landed next to the blond. He plastered an obviously fake smile onto his face.

"Hello Uzumaki-san. I am Sai. I will be your new teammate."

The blond glared at him angrily. He started yelling about how they didn't need a replacement for Sasuke, because he was bringing him back! Sakura promptly punched him, effectively shutting him up. Sai just sighed. It seems Yamato-taicho wasn't going to be placed yet. He did find himself wondering why he was placed earlier than usual though, and it confused him.

He walked beside Sakura, as Naruto ran ahead, likely going to complain to the Godaime. Sai kept his face schooled into his old self. Emotionally stunted, and blunt. He smiled slightly as he called Sakura ugly.

"Sai, was it?" Sakura asked. He looked at her blankly. She cleared her throat nervously.

"Are you going to be a permanent member of Team 7?" she asked. Sai tilted his head ever so slightly in thought.

"It depends. If Uchiha Sasuke returns alive, then I may be removed from the team. Until then, I will remain on Team 7. Why, do you not want me here?" he honestly wanted to know. He knew at the beginning Sakura and Naruto didn't like him, but he didn't truly know what they had felt about him being on the team, him being Sasuke's replacement.

Sakura shook her head. "No, it's not that I don't want you here, it's just..."

"Different?" he supplied. She nodded. He just gave her a small true smile.

Ino yawned, and stiffened as she felt a familiar presence in her mind. Her heart ached. Sai. he wouldn't know her. But the connection was still there, linked by chakra. Nothing came through, and she sighed sadly. Why her though? Why was she back in the past? Why not Hokage-sama? Oh, maybe because he wasn't out on a secret suicide mission gone wrong, and was at home with his newborn son. She tried to suppress the bitterness that filled her, and decided to water the plants in the shop.

That night the two fell asleep unknowingly thinking of the other.

Ino woke with a yawn, and got ready for another slow day, only to jump as her father burst in with a missive scroll in hand.

"Ino you've been summoned. The Kazekage was taken by Akatsuki. Here."

She took the scroll and opened it. This hadn't happened last time. She read through the scrolls contents with sharp eyes. Immediately, she dropped it and turned to change. She slipped on a long sleeved black shirt, and then her Chunin vest. She grabbed some Anbu style pants and taped the ends. Then she slid on her sandals and strapped on her weapon pouches.

She turned and saw her dad facing the door. She had forgotten he was there. The blond turned around when he heard the rustle of clothing stop. He took in her outfit with surprise in his eyes. He sighed as he realized his daughter was growing up. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Just... be careful. This is high A-ranked. Possible S. Promise me you will come back alive."

She nodded, eyes determined. She walked past her father and out the door, missive clutched firmly in her hand.

Sai strapped on his Anbu armor and body flickered to the tower for debriefing. His breath caught as he saw a streak of platinum blond enter the tower just before him. He walked up the stairs cautiously, wondering if it was her. He continued on to the Hokages office and nearly froze when he saw her. She was standing at attention, back facing him. Sakura was there too, conversing with Shizune. He stood behind Ino silently, ignoring the pain that repeatedly stabbed at his heart.

Naruto burst in and stopped when he saw Ino. "Baa-chan! What is Ino-chan doing here?! We gotta go save Gaara!"

Tsunade sighed. "She is here because she will be going with you. The reasons are confidential. Now, Kakashi has been briefed already and is waiting at the gates. Ino you already know why you are going. Sakura. Kankuro has been poisoned. Sai, you are backup and surveillance. Now go!"

Sai wondered at the gasp that came from the blond Yamanaka. He disappeared, reappearing in front of Kakashi.

Ino gasped when she realized Sai was right behind her. She thought he hadn't been placed on Team Seven until after the Kazekage was retrieved! She hurried to the meeting place, trying not to think about it. She watched Sai carefully, and she could only see blank apathy as she took in his face.

'Beautiful.'

She stiffened and examined Sai more thoroughly. Nothing changed, except...his eyes. They were full of warmth, and pain. She reached out through the link. 'Sai?'

Sai froze. Was it- it couldn't- 'Beautiful? You're here?'

Ino almost sobbed in relief. She schooled her expression into one of professional grace. She walked up to Sai and held out her hand.

"I'm Yamanaka Ino, it's nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends."

Sai took her hand, and gave her a small, near indiscernible, smile. "I am Sai. It is nice to meet you, Beautiful."

She smiled and they turned to the rest of the team. Sakura was berating Naruto for something and Kakashi had his nose buried in his book.

Sai smiled as he took Ino's hand. He was happy she came back too, and the pain in his chest was gone. They prepared to leave, and Sai stayed as close to Ino as he could without arousing suspicion.

Ino meanwhile, was having an internal war. She felt terrible, having not told Sai that the 'A' rank mission was actually an S-rank suicide mission that she had volunteered for, thinking that it wasn't really a suicide mission, as it was peace time. She didn't know what to do.

'Beautiful? Are you okay?' she sighed at his concern, and at how easily he had read her.

'I'm fine ...it's just.....I'm sorry.'

'Sorry? For what?' his confusion was potent in her mind and her guilt suddenly overwhelmed her.

'The mission I was on before we were sent back ...it wasn't A-ranked. It was a S-ranked suicide mission. I didn't think it was actually a suicide mission because it was peacetime and no mission was S-ranked anymore, but..... The enemy was too strong. I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry.'

Sai was quiet for a moment. Ino waited anxiously. Was he mad?

'It's okay. You are alive and that's all I need. I was...scared, when I heard you, and terrified when your chakra disappeared. Please, don't do it again Beautiful.'

Ino shot him a shaky smile as she held back tears. A good couple hours had passed and they made camp, Kakashi stopping Naruto from running off. Sai volunteered to take watch, and Ino claimed the second. Sakura got third and Kakashi the last.

They waited until everyone was asleep before jumping up into a tree and sitting next to each other. Ino let her head land on Sai's shoulder as she cried silently. Sai just wrapped an arm around her, supporting her. He didn't cry, but he too was happy. They sat like that for a while, scanning the surrounding area for any threats. They hadn't been on this mission, Sai still being in ROOT and Ino just hadn't been selected for the mission.

When it was time for Sakura's watch, Ino kissed Sai, and they went to their separate tents.

The next morning they continued on with their mission, shooting through the trees. They soon reached the border, and grass began to fade into sand as they trekked across the desert. They touched down in front of the gates of Suna just as the sun began to touch the horizon. They made their way to the IT unit where they found Temari, Baki and Lady Chiyo, as well as a couple of medics who were working over a pale Kankuro.

Sakura rushed over and began healing, and Ino and Sai watched as Chiyo made to attack Kakashi, something about his father. They exchanged glances, laughing silently.

After everything was sorted, they went to a hotel, got three rooms, and slept, tired and knowing they would need all the energy they could get tomorrow. Ino and Sai unconsciously turned to one another, shifting closer and fingers interlocking.

A certain silver haired nin watched this curiously. He knew that Sai had never met Ino until now, and that Sai was ROOT, emotionless and blank, so why was he smiling like that? He tried to put it out of his mind and went to sleep.

The next morning Kakashi observed the two. They had woken before him, and from what he had observed so far, they only showed professional attitudes, barely talking and seemingly lost in thought. He decided to focus on completing the mission, and put the matter aside.

Ino and Sai were conversing in their minds, talking about random things as their mission continued. They had noticed Kakashi staring at them earlier and had decided to maintain as much professionalism as possible until the mission was over. Soon they sensed a chakra ahead, similar to that of Sasuke, and drew out of their thoughts. Naruto had told them of the arrival of a fake Itachi, who had really been Yura, a sand nin who was killed and controlled by the Sharingan user.

They got ready to fight, and when they got past the Fake Itachi, they made it to a giant boulder that was blocking the entrance to a cave. Team Gai arrived as backup and they went to find the other five tags to break the barrier. Then Sakura used her monster strength to shatter the boulder. Ino couldn't help but feel immense anger at the way Gaara's body was being disrespected and growled. Sai placed a hand on her shoulder and she took a deep breath to calm herself, just as Kakashi was struggling to do with Naruto. In what seemed like no time at all, they split, and Naruto chased after Deidara, and Kakashi chased after Naruto. Ino stared into the eyes of the other, who was apparently Akasuna no Sasori, Sasori of the Red Sands, given the name due to the massacres he commited and how the blood of his victims would seep into the sand and turn it red.

Sai stood next to her, shoulder to shoulder, just like old times, and together they grinned. With them, Sakura and Lady Chiyo, they would have no problem beating the S-rank nin. Still, Ino didn't want to take any chances, especially since the last S-rank mission she took. Her and Sai unleashed their Chakra, and together they rushed the enemy.

 Ino made the first move, and used a subtle mind trick, while Sai used his Ink Creatures to distract Sasori. Sakura backed them up, and when she was poisoned, Lady Chiyo controlled her with chakra threads. Ino and Sai didn't get worried until Sasori used his Hundred Puppets technique. Soon they began to be overwhelmed, and Sakura was the only one who was able to take out one after another, her monstrous strength aiding her. Ino couldn't use her mind jutsu seeing as the puppets didn't have minds. Sai did his best, summoning as many Ink creatures as his chakra could take, before pulling out his tanto and channeling chakra through it, cutting any chakra threads he could.

Ino realised she would need to get close to Sasori to do any damage. She made a hand seal, and sunk into the ground, bursting up in front of the red haired nin. His eyes widened fractionally as she stared right into his eyes. She heard Sai shout, before she sunk into the puppet users mind.

Ino looked around Sasori's mind. It was ...blank, as though there was nothing there. All that was there was an endless expanse of sand. Red sand. There was an occasional scroll or weapon, but that was all. That, and a picture. It was a man and a woman, their arms circled around a young red haired boy who was obviously Sasori.

She turned around and saw the red haired man himself. He was staring at her blankly, apathetically. She watched him cautiously.

"Why are you here Yamanaka? You could have killed me just then, but instead you came here. What do you seek?" his voice was just as blank and dead, completely uncaring. The blond Yamanaka felt a stab of pity but quickly buried it. She stared at him, knowing it wouldn't intimidate him but doing it anyway.

"I wanna know why you joined the Akatsuki." it was a statement, a demand for answer. Ino's gaze was unwavering, and her eyes bored into his.

"Because I wanted to," Ino wasn't really surprised.

"And Lady Chiyo? Why Did you leave Suna?"

"Because. I wanted to." Ino knew that wasn't the truth, especially with the way the picture fell over. So it had something to do with his parents.

"No. it isn't because you wanted to. You left with your emotions out of control, and have regretted it ever since. You left because your grandmother kept a secret that admittedly, she shouldn't have kept. So I ask you again, why did you leave Suna?"

"Because I wanted to. You have no right to pry into business that isn't yours. Leave Yamanaka." Ino gasped as she felt a pressure pressing down on her consciousness, and she was expelled from the puppet users mind.

She stumbled back and immediately dodged a hail of poisoned senbon. She landed near Sai who looked at her in worry, but didn't say anything. Ino was frustrated. She had been close! She marched back up to the Ex-Suna nin, and shouted,

"I know why you left! And so do you! But you never came back, scared to see if she would forgive you or not! She is right there! Say something!"

Sasori just stared, and Ino's anger grew.

"SAY SORRY AND LET HER EXPLAIN!" she dodged the puppet that lunged at her.

"Shut up Yamanaka. I told you not to pry. Now, you will die."

Her eyes widened as the entire brigade of puppets rushed her. She heard Sai scream her name, and saw Kakashi and Naruto at the edge of her vision before blacking out.

Sai felt Rage fill him as Ino was knocked out. Luckily Naruto had been able to divert the attack, not killing Ino. Sai Rushed forward, unleashing the full weight of his chakra, stunning both his comrades and his enemy. He destroyed all of the puppets sent his way and landed blow after blow on Sasori. Soon Sasori lay in pieces, and Sai stood over the Puppet users chest, ready to end him.

"Sai... don't. He regrets...it...he didn't want to. I'm... fine. Fix him...please"

He turned his gaze to Ino, shocked. Her eyes were half lidded and her words were slurred but she was conscious and trying to get up. He turned to see Sasori's equally shocked gaze focused on her. Sai stepped away and watched Sasori's parts connect back together. Sasori stood and made his way to the blond and Sai followed, ready to cut him down again if he tried anything.

"You don't know me, why do you try to save me?" his voice was smooth with only the slightest shake in it.

"B-because, I know that you didn't truly want to be away from home. And I know you didn't want to kill Gaara. But I was too late to s-save your Grandmother... as the elder who sealed Shukaku into Gaara, she feels obligated to give him his life back...and you know that means-"

"She is going to use THAT jutsu." his voice was sad and he went over to Chiyo, and he cursed his inability to cry, for her certainly felt like it and he took the hand that was hovering over the Kazekage, and he could feel her life force fading. He silently offered his chakra, and together they brought back Gaara, who remained unconscious but his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.

Sasori caught Chiyo as she fell over, her breath labored as her life slipped away.

"S-sasori-kun..."

"Shh Baa-chan... I am sorry for running. I understand why you kept Kaa-san and Tou-san's death from me... but I was angry. I had thought that they had abandoned me, and that they would never come home because of me."

Chiyo smiled sadly. "I am truly sorry for my mistakes. Just promise me............find a home."

Sasori nodded and hugged Chiyo, before summoning a big blocky puppet. It had his sleeping stuff in it and he placed her in it, and she smiled.

"Thank you Sasori-kun." her eyes slid shut and Sasori made a strangled noise from the back of his throat, truly regretting transferring his life to a lifeless puppet. He wanted to cry. Needed to.

Sai just sat by Ino, holding her up and staring into her eyes worriedly.

"I'm fine." she said, wincing and placing a hand against her head. The blow had been rough,but she channeled some healing chakra to her hands, having to concentrate a little more, likely due to concussion. She felt the wound close up, and sat up fully. She ran her hands over Sai's body, scanning for injuries and healing them.

Sakura was already scanning Naruto and Kakashi, and healing what there was to heal. Sasori just sat, staring blankly at his grandmother's peaceful features. Gaara was still unconscious, and they got ready to make the journey back to the sand.

Halfway there, they were met with Baki and half of the village. They circled around Gaara, as he began to wake up. He groaned softly, and sat up rubbing his head.

"I feel like a sack of blunted Kunai was dropped on my head." he said.

Ino stifled a giggle, and Sai sighed. They were all tired, mentally if not physically, and all he wanted to do was sleep next to his not-yet wife.

They talked and got their mission pay, before heading back to the leaf, Gai streaked off, Kakashi slung over his back like a ragdoll.

It took a day to get back to the Leaf, and Ino was tired, as was Sai. All they wanted to do was sleep.

That night Ino lay, on the edge of sleep, when she sensed a presence, a familiar one, heading toward her window. He slipped in and slid into the bed, and Ino snuggled up to him. That's how they slept, happy, and at peace.