In Permanent Ink

The start

        I sat in the booth to our table. Naruto should be here by now! He owes my lunch after I won a bet in our last mission. I knocked out 32 guys and he knocked 30, mostly cause I got there first... but that doesn't matter. I still won.

" Hey, waiting for Naruto?" I looked up to see Shikamaru sitting down with me.

" You bet, Who else would keep me waiting for so long? Probably figuring out how he's going to pay for lunch." I laughed. Shikamaru laughed then gave a big yawn. " Did you sleep well?" I asked. 

" Heh, I sleep for at least 14 hours, I only got 12 cause Ino and Choji wanted to train for the first time in their lives."

" Always the good team leader." I snickered. He gave a short smile than looked at the clock. I looked as well." Damn, twenty minutes late."

" Ey!! Sorry I'm so late, I ran into a bit of... trouble..." Naruto yelled from the other side of the restaurant. He ran to our table when I realized he was dragging someone along with him. He was fairly tall with brownish...?blackish...? hair. He was so pale.. He looked like he was about to drop dead. 

" Don't worry about it" I said, as him and the other guy sat down. " Who'd you bring along with you?" I asked, looking at the pale guy.

" Who him? Just ignore him.." Naruto narrowed his eyes. He didn't seem happy that this guy was hanging out with us.

" I don't get you, if you want me to ignore him why'd you bring him?" I laughed under my breath. 

Naruto and I met at the chunin exams. He was just a loud mouthed runt back then, but he has grown a lot. And if Naruto doesn't like someone he will avoid them at all costs... so why would he..? 

  Naruto sighed and held up his hand. The pale boys hand lifted with him. It was a wooden handcuff with the label "Our get along cuff.- Yamato" I busted out in laughter. I couldn't help it; I knew Yamato Sensei and he has a good sense of team work. 

" I think that's my queue to leave." said Shikamaru as he stood and stretched. "Later." I waved to him and got back to the topic at hand.

" So, you're the Sai I've herd so much about." I reached out my right hand so he could shake it with his free hand. 

" Oh? People have talked about me?" He asked tilting his head. 

" Oh yeah, you're real famous, ya' know? Sakura told me about your talent with nicknames. Give me one!" I said excitedly. 

 I am mid height, about 5'4 or 5'3 maybe. I'm not skinny, but I have a medium build with a larger chest.  My body is nothing special, but my hair is a light grey with a deep blue streak. Although, undoubtedly, my most noticeable trade mark is the large scar that goes from my neck to my cheek. 

" Oh? Let me see.."said Sai. I saw Naruto fill with panic, but when he looked at me, he calmed down. He knows I'm not sensitive in anyway. I just want a good laugh. " How about.. Scary Scar-face." He said with a smile. I ran my fingers against my scar and acted like I was going to cry.

" AH! Sai didn't mean it! It was just a joke!!" Naruto said in panic. After he freaked out I busted out in laughter. Naruto looked at me and sighed, then laughed along with me. 

" That's odd..."

" What's odd?" I asked, whipping  the tears of laughter from my face.

" You are the first girl who hasn't yelled at me or hit me when I give them an honest nick name." He said putting his hand to his chin trying to figure out my mannerisms. 

" What can I say? I'm not ashamed of my scar anymore. In fact,  now, it just reminds me of what a bad ass I am!" I said with a grin. His face turned with supersize. I swear that was the first true emotion I saw him express. 

" If you don't mind me asking, how did that happen?"

"Sai! You cant just ASK people about scars!" Naruto howled. 

" Don't worry, Naruto. I don't mind." I prepared myself. " When I was an academy student, my family fled to some far off land without me. They left in the middle of the night; and just left me sleeping in the house. When I woke up that night, they where already long gone. The only thing they left for me was a note. " Sorry Dear Y/N. But we had to do what was best for your little brother, and out of everyone in the family, you are the weakest. We hope you can escape.- Love Mom and Dad." That was the last I ever heard of them-" Sai cut me off. He seemed to be very invested in my story.

" A note? Is that all?"

" Far from it." I replayed." After I  finished reading the note and searching the house thinking it was an elaborate prank, I realized it was true. At about four in the morning I heard a knock on every door in the house. I, being and absolute idiot, opend the front door to find three tall men looking down at little nine year old me. They asked my name, and after I confirmed my name one of them took out their sword and slashed me from my neck up to my cheek. In a moment of panic and rage, I awoke My kekegenki." Sai looked at me, though he didn't show much emotion I could tell he was listening intently. I'm guessing he found my story entertaining or maybe something else... " My kekegenki is called snatch. If my opponent does a jutsu, and I catch them at the right time I can take the jutsu from them and use it instead. I dont get to keep the jutsu so my weakness if Taijutsu. That's why I train with Lee every week."

"Lee? Who is lee?" Sai asked.

" You'll meet him later.." I laughed." but I was able to scare off the men and got the weakest one to tell me what was going on. Turns out my clan was into some illegal mafia trading. And when they couldn't pay off their debt, they gave them their "first born" child. But they gave them me instead." I looked over at Sai and Naruto to see their reactions. Sai sat here processing what I had just said, but Naruto was in tears. His nose was dripping and his eyes where welling with tears. 

" Y/n...... You never told me any of this....." He said shakily. He reached over the table to hug me, taking Sai with him. 

" Hey! Careful." Sai yelped, before inevitably getting pulled by Naruto. I gave Naruto a pat on the back and he sat back down. We ordered food and enjoyed a meal.

 By the end of it, I swear I saw Naruto's soul live his body. 

"Cant pay?" I asked with a snicker.

"No..." Naruto said ashamed.

" That's alright. I'll pay since Sai was here too." I placed the money on the table. " Maybe next time you can treat me to a cup of instant ramen." I laughed. Naruto thanked me and we went out separate ways. I don't know what it is, but something about that Sai guy is enchanting. Maybe its his icy stair or the way he is just trying his best to understand the people around him. Or it could be his eyes. I've seen eyes like his before, he probably has some pain of his own. 

Word count: 1272