Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story belong to me. They all belong to Naruto's creator. I OWN NOTHING!!

The Outsider

Sai has always been an outsider. In ROOT, everyone was. But he felt like he was even more an outsider there. Then, Team Seven happened. They made him feel like he had a purpose in the world, like he wasn't just a tool, like he was a human being. Sai was happy with them, even if he didn't show it.

Then, Sasuke came back, and he was left in the dust. They welcomed Sasuke back with open arms, and Sai left the team, knowing that they wouldn't care. He was just a tool anyway. So when he left, he didn't tell them. He just asked the Hokage to take him off the team, and went back to ROOT in the dead of night. But he wasn't expecting to meet Naruto as he was walking out his door.

There was Naruto, a letter crumbled up in his hands. "Hokage gave this to me." He said, holding the letter up. "She said that you asked to be returned to that Danzo guy." "Lord Danzo." Sai corrected, his emotionless face slipping a crack before it was fixed. But Naruto saw it. He pushed Sai back in the room, and showed him that someone did care, and that Sai did belong.

Sai never returned to ROOT, and he and Team Seven were happy. Sai belonged somewhere, and that was all he wanted.