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| “ | I've drawn hundreds, maybe thousands of pictures so far... other pictures have the situation at the time, and the artist's feelings... like portraits have the person's name... but don't pictures usually have titles...? To be more precise, even if I try to give them titles, I just can't do it. I don't feel anything… they don't put me in mind of anything. | „ |
| ~ Sai to Sakura. |
| “ | If people change… then so can I. But some things never change. Bonds. I'd like to learn more about them. | „ |
| ~ Sai to Kabuto. |
Sai Yamanaka, formerly known only as Sai, is a major character in the Naruto anime/manga series and a supporting character in the Boruto series.
He serves as Sasuke's replacement in Team 7, following his defection to Orochimaru and Naruto, Rock Lee, the retrieval team and the three Sand siblings' failure to stop him due to the interference of Kimimaro. He is an ANBU-level shinobi of Konohagakure and is from the disbanded faction: Root. His well-known jutsus are Ink Clone Technique and Ink Mist Technique.
After Naruto's and Hinata's wedding, Sai married Ino Yamanaka and together they have a son named Inojin Yamanaka.
In Boruto: Naruto Next Generation, Sai trained to Inojin for the Ink Technique, however, Inojin used color ink instead of black ink as Sai. During the Chunin Exams, Sai became the Protocol for the true or false exams.
He is voiced by Satoshi Hino in the Japanese version of the anime, and by Benjamin Diskin in the English version of the anime. In the Naruto Spin-Off, he is voiced by Lucien Dodge.
History[]
Tsunade was pressured into making Sai Sasuke's replacement in Team 7, but Naruto and Sakura were also met by a new group leader, Yamato. They set out to meet Sasori's spy and get information from him, possibly even capturing him for further questioning. On their trip the group came to know each other better, but Naruto had already previously met Sai, who attacked him in Konoha. Although Sai exclaimed that he merely wanted to test his teammate a little bit. Sai had the habit of insulting others (unintentionally) and saying what's on his mind, not considering others' feelings... or rather, not understanding them, which caused a lot of animosity between him, Naruto, and Sakura. But Sakura was intrigued by Sai and sought to learn a little more about him; she found out that he's a painter and he told her that he was trained as a small child not to have any emotions and it's hard for him to understand emotions or even the bond that Sakura and Naruto have with Sasuke, admitting that he didn't even cry when his brother died. He also informed her that he has been trying to simulate emotions after learning what he reads in books, but nobody believes them. She came across a picture book that Sai was working on and asked if she could see it, but Sai told her that he didn't want anyone seeing it.
Sasuke & Sai Arc[]
Back on their mission, the spy turned out to be Kabuto who was secretly a double agent, actually working for Orochimaru. He and Orochimaru planned on killing Sasori right then and there and that's when Team 7's plan fell apart, but Kabuto and Orochimaru too realized that they were tricked. The Kyuubi's chakra began to flood out of Naruto as he sprouted four tails and attacked Orochimaru, scaring Sakura. Sakura and Yamato had a brief scuffle with Kabuto, but Sai was mysteriously absent in all of this. Kabuto informed Team 7 that he and Orochimaru don't want to fight them, saying that Akatsuki has been a thorn in their side and they're hoping that Team 7 can take out more of their members for them. With no more threat, Yamato took the opportunity to suppress the Kyuubi's chakra within Naruto. While that took place, Sai confronted Orochimaru and offered an alliance, giving Orochimaru an envelope that he was ordered by Danzo to give to Orochimaru. The three took off, but Yamato's Wood Clone followed. Team 7 soon gave chase after Sakura found Sai's picture book laying on the ground. The team started to go through it, trying to figure out its meaning and find out why he'd betray them. On their way, they came across Sai, having been hung by Orochimaru and Kabuto. This however was a trick meant to halt their pursuit, they followed still.
At Orochimaru's hidden base, it's revealed that the envelope contained detailed information on many powerful figures within Konoha and Danzo was hoping that they could help each other overthrow Tsunade since Danzo hates her and wants to be the Hokage. Orochimaru is intrigued and has Kabuto put Sai in a locked room. Team 7 are going through Sai's book and they notice that it stars two characters, both of their "stories" start on opposite sides of the book and seem to meet in the center, however the center pages are missing. They notice that one of the characters is Sai who is shown fighting different people on each page, and every next page shows him with something his previous opponent owned. This trend was the same with the other white-haired character, but they had no idea who it was. Team 7 would find Orochimaru's base and find Sai. There, they talked with him, and he revealed what he told Orochimaru and what the true plan is... Orochimaru is a threat to Konoha and Sai was supposed to relate any new information about him back to Danzo so that Root can kill him. They talked a little more about Sai's picture book and he reveals that it's his brother in that book... or rather, they called each other "brother." Root is made up of orphans that Danzo trained to be perfect soldiers. Sai revealed that he can send messages to Danzo because of his ability to turn his writings into small animals and send these messages to Danzo safely. Sakura asks if he's the one that killed his "brother," but Sai informs her that she's incorrect and that he died of illness. He said that he came from the two where Zabuza came from She tries to convince him that Sai did have a bond once and that he should understand what her and Naruto are going through. Sai feels like he may understand a little and agrees to help them find Sasuke, and they split up. They have tied Sai and interrogated him about further information about his mission. Kabuto then appeared believing that Sai was tortured and needs to be rescued. The joined forces of the Team 7 were good but quite not enough. Though, as kabuto unties Sai, he attacked Kabuto and declared his betrayal to Orochimaru saying that he wants to know how Naruto feels for his friend Sasuke. Sai then helped the Team 7 look for Sasuke after some interrogations to Kabuto. Due to the hideout's large area, the Team 7 have to be divided. Naruto was with Sai while Sakura is with Yamato. Sai and Naruto then decided to have a rest as they tell stories about each other. Sai compares Naruto to his brother because of many comparable things between the two of them. As Sai reminisces his memories with his brother, Sai finally was able to remember what he is about to draw before his brother passed away. He got his picture book and drew his brother holding his hand and they were both smiling. Despite the happiness that he feels, Orochimaru then appeared and fought them asking Sai who is really his companion. Naruto decided to continue fighting the aforementioned villain and Sai was assigned by Naruto to look for Sasuke. Sai drew a bunch of rats to seek for Sasuke as they seek every corner of their hideout. At last, he has found where Sasuke is sleeping. Meanwhile, Yamato and Sakura have helped Naruto against Orochimaru but he only teleported away to look for Sai. Yamato then looked inside Sai's backpack which he left in the area. He has found out about his Bingo Book. That book is a book where assassins list their targets. The team was surprised as they turn the page and found out that Uchiha Sasuke was one of their targets.
They open every door in Orochimaru's lair trying to find Sasuke, but Sai is the first to find him. Sasuke asks why Sai would disturb his sleep, and Sai informs Sasuke that he's supposed to kill him. Naruto and Sakura hear a large ruckus and go to see if Sai's ok. They find out that Sai wasn't only supposed to kill Orochimaru, he was supposed to kill Sasuke too... since he's a threat to Konoha as well. Naruto attacks Sai, but Sai informs them that he was supposed to kill Sasuke, but he decided not to, wanting to learn more about "bonds." They find Sasuke watching them from up high and after a brief talk, Sasuke attacks Naruto but Sai stops him from killing Naruto. After a brief scuffle, Kabuto and Orochimaru appear and stop Sasuke, telling him that they have a temporary truce with Team 7 and leave.
Team 7 later returns to Konoha. They have reported to Tsunade about the events that happened during their mission. Yamato then have revealed Sai's relationship with Danzo which angers her. Sai then went to Danzo and asked him if he can still stay with the Team 7. Danzo agreed. He then became very serious in studying about making more friends. He has found out that the best way to have friends is to drop the honorifics and make nicknames instead. After conversing with Sakura and Naruto, based on the book, he has called Sakura ugly and led to her being mad. Naruto have tried to stopped Sakura's anger but as only hurt. She punched both of them leading Sai and Naruto's cheeks to be hurt. The team then proceeded to Kakashi's room wherein they had a conversation about their mission. It was the first time for Sai to meet Kakashi. Sai meets Choji and Ino. Sai having former encounters with the team have found it uncomfortable to talk with them. However, because of the book that he often reads, he decided to try to become nice to them. Sai thinks to himself that a book said that a good way to make friends was to give people nicknames, so he was about to call Choji an insult about his weight, but Naruto stopped him. Seeing Choji get defensive and realizing what Sakura did earlier when he called her "butt ugly," he realized that people don't like to hear the truth, so he calls Ino "beautiful," which makes her blush, but angers Sakura.
Techniques[]
Sai is a great artist and spends his most of his time drawing. Sai's most popular jutsu is a type which enable his paintings to become three dimensional; it is called "Super Beast Imitation Drawing." Sai commonly uses animals or monsters from Japanese folklore of various sizes for his fights and makes birds for himself or others to fly on. He can also use his drawings to aid him scout the area or to send messages to others, as well as carry explosive seals to attack the opponent. He has a jutsu called "Tiger Vision Staring Bullet" in which one of his drawings will emerge and drag an opponent with it back onto the scroll, sealing him/her into the paper. He can also create clones of himself made out of ink and make a blinding ink haze to hide his escape. He is also skilled using a small sword called a tanto that he carries with him.
Trivia[]
- His Japanese voice actor, Satoshi Hino, also voiced Kyojuro Rengoku in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kris in Fire Emblem, Yuji Sakai in Shakugan no Shana, Shiage Hamazura in A Certain Magical Index, Abel Nightroad (Young) in Trinity Blood, Halley Brankett in Shadow Hearts, Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal, Kouichi Aizawa in Nabari no Ou, Saito Hiraga in Zero no Tsukaima, Riken Yoshinokazaru in Otome Yōkai Zakuro, Ryo Sayama in Code Geass: Akito the Exiled, and Leonhart in Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts.
- His English voice actor, Benjamin Diskin, also voiced Eugene Horowitz in the Seasons 2 and 5 of Hey Arnold!, Nigel Uno and Hoagie Gilligan in Codename: Kids Next Door, Humphrey in Alpha and Omega sequels, Shoutmon and Cutemon in Digimon Fusion, Stitch in Stitch!, Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Carapace, Nooroo, Sass & Pegasus in Miraculous Ladybug: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and Agumon & his Digivolution forms in Digimon Adventure: (2020 series).
- Sai took Ino's surname when they married because he lacked one himself.
