Late November, Konoha Year 60 – Land of Grass
Night descended upon Red Leaf Village, lights flickering on in homes one by one. Villagers passing by Junko's house heard sounds of raucous laughter spilling out. Confused whispers followed – who could possibly be visiting them? While the adults held no particular prejudice against Junko herself, her household now consisted only of Granny Rika, and villagers rarely interacted much with them.
Must be relatives visiting, the passersby concluded silently.
Inside, the scene was far from familial warmth.
"Hahaha… Delicious! Pufferfish from the Land of Rain certainly lives up to its reputation." Yuichi popped a slice of fugu sashimi into his mouth, raising his sake cup. "Ah, sake truly is the perfect pairing for sashimi… Excellent!"
"Heh heh, naturally, Sensei." Sota obsequiously refilled Yuichi's cup. "Rain Country fugu paired with my family's brewed sake – it's a match made in heaven! If you enjoy it, Sensei, I can bring some to you every day once we're back."
"Thoughtful of you. When we return, I'll teach you a powerful ninjutsu," Yuichi slurred slightly, swirling the sake in his cup, his eyes already glazed. He wasn't stupid; he knew exactly what the boy was angling for. But this was the way of Kusagakure. If you weren't willing to offer something, who would bother teaching you ninjutsu? He himself had climbed the ranks the very same way.
Sota's family owned a brewery in Kusagakure. His father had paid a steep price to get Sota assigned to Yuichi's team. Ninja represented power, and Sota's family, relatively new arrivals to Kusa, needed that power to secure their interests. Thus, Sota had been sent to learn under Yuichi.
In truth, Sota despised him. Yuichi always forced the three Genin to do the dirty work on missions, then pocketed the lion's share of the rewards. Worse, he hadn't taught them any significant jutsu yet, always putting them off with excuses like, "The technique is too powerful; you're not ready." Today, finally, the old miser had cracked.
This was the reality of the Land of Grass. From the nation's leadership down to the hidden village, corruption was rampant. Learning ninjutsu required paying a hefty price; otherwise, you were just cannon fodder on the battlefield. Besides fulfilling his father's ambitions, Sota had no desire to be expendable. If the opportunity ever arose, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate Yuichi and avenge years of exploitation.
Seeing Yuichi promise Sota a jutsu sent a pang of anxiety through Goshi. His family wasn't wealthy like Sota's; they were commoners. Getting him assigned to Yuichi's team had taken immense effort and sacrifice. He had nothing material to offer Yuichi. Watching Sota's sickeningly sweet, fawning expression turned Goshi's stomach.
He used to despise people like Sota. But after months under Yuichi, Goshi recognized, with a chilling clarity, that he was becoming one of them. If he didn't want to end up as battlefield fodder, adapting was the only option. Any shred of kindness Goshi once possessed had long since vanished. During his time with Yuichi, bullying and extorting civilians had become routine. As Yuichi often said, simply not robbing them outright was their form of mercy.
Gradually, Goshi had transitioned from the exploited class to the exploiter. Perhaps there had been a flicker of guilt initially when preying on people just like his own family, but the intoxicating rush of power had quickly overshadowed it, becoming addictive.
The team's only kunoichi, Otoha, seemed distracted. Though seated at the table, her gaze kept drifting towards the kitchen. Noticing her lack of focus, Yuichi asked gruffly, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Otoha paused, then admitted, "It's just… her glare is a little scary."
"Scary?" Yuichi scoffed. He glanced towards the kitchen. Junko, seeing his gaze, quickly lowered her head, but her small hands clenched into fists hidden at her sides.
Yuichi turned back, narrowing his eyes at Otoha. "Otoha, as a shinobi, you cannot allow anything to frighten you. And you certainly can't afford to be soft-hearted." As he spoke, a shuriken appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling towards Junko. "This is the last time," he added coldly.
The shuriken whistled through the air. Junko, merely an eleven-year-old girl, not a ninja, stood no chance of dodging, no matter how much fury burned within her.
Thwack.
The shuriken embedded itself in Junko's arm. Blood instantly soaked her sleeve. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she only let out a muffled gasp, refusing to cry out.
"See that, Otoha?" Yuichi downed another cup of sake. "That's a weak civilian. Worthless before a ninja. You could kill her right now, and nothing would happen."
Otoha stared at Junko, who endured the pain without a sound – no resistance, not even a curse. A cold realization dawned on her. This was the difference between ninja and civilians. And she was a ninja. The feeling… it was strangely… exhilarating…
Over the past few months, Otoha had accompanied Yuichi on many such "mandatory commissions." Usually, the villagers greeted them with forced smiles and served them good food. In return for minimal effort, they received hefty payments, though Yuichi always took a large cut. Still, for Otoha, whose family was ordinary, it had been satisfactory.
But she'd never encountered a gaze like Junko's before – filled with such raw hatred. Being female, she lacked the thick skin of the boys; the look had unsettled her. Now, prompted by Yuichi's reminder, Otoha remembered her identity. She was a ninja. Yuichi was right. Killing the girl would be easy. Why had she felt that flicker of fear? Anger began to bubble up inside Otoha, twisting her expression.
She stood up from the table and strode towards the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Sota asked.
Yuichi waved him off. "Watch. She's just remembering who she is."
Otoha entered the kitchen, looming over Junko, who was now sitting numbly on the floor. "Get up!" she commanded.
Junko lowered her head, silent, but pushed herself to her feet. The hatred in her eyes was gone, replaced by emptiness and unshed tears.
Otoha reached out, grabbed Junko's throat, and forced her head up.
Smack!
She slapped Junko hard across the face. Five red marks instantly bloomed on the girl's cheek, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. But Junko's eyes remained devoid of anger, devoid of tears.
Seeing Junko's stunned expression, the blood on her lip, Otoha felt a surge of grim satisfaction. She released Junko's throat and pointed towards the bucket. "Cook the rest of this. Bring it out to us."
As if in a trance, Junko gave a blank nod, then mechanically scooped the remaining pufferfish out of the bucket.
"Well done, Otoha," Yuichi praised as she returned, raising his cup. "Sota, Goshi, do you understand now?"
Sota nodded eagerly, flashing a sycophantic smile. "Yes, Sensei, understood!"
Goshi felt an initial pang of discomfort but quickly shoved it aside. Falling in line, he echoed, "Understood, Sensei Yuichi."
"Good, good… let's eat… We have many more commissions tomorrow…"
Meanwhile, in the inner room, Sakura was desperately trying to treat Granny Rika, oblivious to the events unfolding outside. Even if she had known, in her current state, she could have done nothing. Besides, she was facing her own overwhelming crisis.
She had initially assumed Rika's injury was just from the force of the blow, perhaps a concussion. But the reality was far worse. Perforated eardrum, skull fracture, intracranial bleeding – even with her limited chakra, Sakura's diagnostic scan revealed catastrophic damage.
If they were in Konoha, with proper facilities and Sensei's unparalleled medical expertise, there might have been a chance. But this was Red Leaf Village. No hospital, barely anyone with even rudimentary medical knowledge.
Granny Rika was old, chronically malnourished from years of bare subsistence living. And Yuichi, being a ninja, had struck with considerable force. Sakura knew, with sickening certainty, that she was powerless to save her.
Her body screamed with exhaustion, yet Sakura relentlessly drew upon every last scrap of chakra, forcing it into the Mystic Palm technique. It wasn't healing anything; it was merely delaying the inevitable, sustaining Rika's vital signs, preventing immediate death.
Gazing at Granny Rika's peacefully closed eyes, Sakura fought to suppress her own rising anger. Maintaining even this basic healing jutsu was draining her rapidly; she couldn't afford wasted energy.
The green glow of her chakra flickered weakly around her hands. Sakura knew it was futile, a pointless effort, but she pushed on. If Granny Rika dies, Junko will be heartbroken. She's already lost her parents… she can't lose her grandmother too.
Her vision started to blur. Sweat dripped from her forehead. She was hitting her limit. Damn it… Damn it… Damn it! Why… why now? If this had happened even a week later… I would have had enough chakra to get her back to Konoha!
Perhaps if she'd had enough chakra, none of this would have happened at all.
The noise from outside gradually faded. Some time later, Sakura saw Junko push open the door and enter. The girl looked terrible – her face bruised, dried blood crusted at the corner of her mouth, her arm stained red. Seeing Rika lying there, Junko asked hoarsely, "Sakura-neechan… Granny Rika… is she badly hurt?"
Sakura was shocked by Junko's appearance. "What happened to you?"
"I'm fine. How's Granny Rika?" Junko wiped her mouth with her sleeve, her gaze fixed anxiously on her grandmother.
"Granny Rika… she…" Sakura hesitated. Should she lie? Tell her Rika would be fine? But Sakura knew she couldn't maintain the healing jutsu much longer. Once it failed, Rika wouldn't last.
"She… she's hurt very badly," Sakura said finally, her heart heavy. "I'm afraid… she won't make it through the night…"
Junko swayed, then crumpled to the floor. She didn't cry, didn't scream. After a moment, she crawled over to Rika's side, gazing at her grandmother's still face. Then the tears came, silently at first, then flowing uncontrollably, fat drops splashing onto her hands, her clothes. She began to sob softly, whispering, "Granny Rika…"
As if sensing Junko's presence, Rika's eyelids fluttered. Slowly, they opened, revealing Junko's tear-streaked face and Sakura's exhausted features.
"Why are you crying…?" Rika whispered.
Startled by her voice, Junko looked up. Granny Rika was awake! She scrubbed furiously at her tears, but they wouldn't stop. "Gr-Granny Rika," she choked out, "I… I… I'm scared… Please… don't go… okay…? I'll listen to you from now on… I promise… hic… sob…"
Her words dissolved into heartbroken sobs. But Sakura knew time was short. Panting heavily, her own voice thick with grief, she told Rika, "I wish I could save you… but in my current state… I can't hold on much longer. If you have anything to say to Junko… please say it now."
Rika looked at the sweat-drenched girl. A flicker of understanding crossed her face. "Sakura… you're a ninja, aren't you?"
"Huff… Yes… huff… Please… speak to Junko. And please believe me… huff… even though I'm a ninja… I would never harm you." Sakura's breathing grew even more labored.
Rika gave an almost imperceptible nod, then turned her gaze back to Junko. Her voice was raspy, broken. "Child… don't be sad… Everyone… meets this day… The road ahead… you'll have to… walk it alone now… Be strong… Granny… can't stay with you… anymore… But… seeing you make a friend… Granny is truly… happy for you…"
"Granny Rika… sob… sob… I… I will be strong…" Junko cried, her voice raw, repeating the phrase over and over between sobs.
With immense effort, Rika turned her head slightly towards Sakura again, her voice barely audible. "Later… Junko… please take care of her… Promise me… okay…?" Her eyes pleaded.
"I promise you…" Sakura whispered, tears finally spilling from her own eyes. The glow from her healing jutsu had long since faded, but she kept her hands in position, desperately trying to will forth one last spark of chakra. I promised I'd repay them… but in the end… I couldn't do anything…
Rika's lips moved, but no sound came out. Slowly, her eyes closed, a peaceful expression settling on her features – her final gift to Junko.
"GRANNY RIKA!!!" Junko wailed, clinging to her grandmother's still-warm body.
Sakura's vision went black. Her body slumped against the wall, consciousness finally deserting her. She should have passed out earlier; her chakra depleted, she had been running on sheer spirit and physical reserves. But driven by willpower, she hadn't let herself fall. Now, the reason for her struggle was gone. Darkness claimed her.
Floating in a hazy state, Sakura felt a weight on her. Prying her eyes open a crack, she saw someone lying beside her – Junko, curled up asleep.
Shaking her head slightly to clear it, Sakura sat up. Her movement woke Junko, who rubbed her eyes and sat up as well. Her eyes were red and severely swollen. Newly awake, Junko seemed dazed, sitting there in silence.
Seeing the state of Junko's eyes, Sakura instinctively tried to gather chakra. A faint green glow materialized around her hands. Looks like my body has recovered a bit more, she noted grimly. Last night's exertion didn't completely halt chakra recovery.
Gently, Sakura placed her hands over Junko's swollen eyes. Junko didn't flinch, silently accepting the treatment.
When the swelling subsided, Sakura asked softly, "Um… Granny Rika… where…" She trailed off, realizing she didn't know what had happened after she collapsed, nor where Rika's body was.
"Buried… in the yard," Junko replied, her voice flat, devoid of emotion.
Sakura looked at her in surprise, noticing the dirt packed under Junko's fingernails, staining her clothes. A heavy silence fell. After a moment, Sakura asked, "What are your plans now?"
Junko remained silent for a while, then abruptly stood up. She walked directly in front of Sakura, knelt down formally, and bowed her head low. "Please teach me ninjutsu, Haruno Sakura-sama."
"Hey, hey, don't do that!" Sakura protested, scrambling to pull Junko up, but the girl wouldn't budge. Junko, small as she was, resisted with surprising strength.
Unable to move her, Sakura sat back down helplessly, looking troubled at the kneeling girl. Abandoning her earlier lie, she said, "Junko, I already promised Granny Rika I'd look after you. I'll find a safe place for you to live, where no one will bother you again. Besides, I'm only twelve myself this year; there's not much I can teach you yet."
"I beg you," Junko pleaded, her young voice now laced with an unwavering resolve. "This is my only request. Consider it… repayment for me saving your life."
"Urk…" Sakura was cornered. Junko playing the life-debt card left her with little recourse. She scratched her head. "Why… why do you want to learn ninjutsu?"
"To destroy Kusagakure," Junko stated, her voice chillingly devoid of emotion. "To avenge Granny Rika."