Early December, Konoha Year 60 – Land of Grass
"Edo Tensei, hm…" Kabuto crossed his arms, gently stroking his chin in thought for a moment. "You mentioned Edo Tensei as one of your conditions before. I will find a way to obtain that jutsu."
"Meaning you don't have the information for it now."
"Correct," Kabuto nodded. "I cannot obtain it at this time. But rest assured, I will get my hands on that technique, one way or another."
"And the Cursed Seal data and samples?" Sakura pressed.
"That's not a problem," Kabuto replied easily, adjusting his glasses. "Are you perhaps seeking the Cursed Seal to enhance your own strength?"
"That's none of your concern," Sakura retorted, waving a dismissive hand. "Bring me the items, and then I'll give you the information you want. That's the deal. You can go now."
"Hehe, quite heartless," Kabuto chuckled, turning his back to her. "I'll be in touch. One last piece of intelligence for you: the Konoha ninja searching for you are currently at Yanluo Bridge. Jiraiya-sama has gone into Amegakure alone."
"Wait," Sakura called out as he began to leave, "was it you who took Hanzo's body—"
But Kabuto moved quickly. Before Sakura could finish her sentence, his figure vanished, leaving only the two large snakes still binding Yuichi.
Frustrated, Sakura walked over to Junko, who was still unconscious. Laying her flat on the ground, Sakura applied the Mystical Palm Technique to her head. Moments later, Junko's eyes fluttered open.
"Sakura… senpai? Where is this?" Junko blinked, looking around dazedly.
"We're still here." Sakura gestured with her chin towards the bound Yuichi. "He's yours."
Junko sat up. Her gaze fell upon Yuichi, pale-faced and restrained by the giant snakes. The dazed confusion in her eyes slowly transformed into ice-cold clarity. She stood up and began walking slowly towards him.
Sakura wasn't Naruto. Compassion had its place, but naive saintliness did not. Setting aside Junko's own need for closure, Yuichi couldn't be allowed to live, not after overhearing her conversation with Kabuto. Silencing him was necessary.
Yuichi watched Junko approach, finally realizing this was truly the end. Strangely, the terror wasn't as sharp as before. After hearing the conversation between Kabuto and the girl—learning she had killed Hanzo—Yuichi knew there was no escape. Kabuto knocking the girl out might have offered her a chance, but he himself had been forced to listen.
Perhaps recalling the feeling of facing death from his younger days, Yuichi, though still pale, glared fiercely at Junko and roared, "Come on then… kill me! This is the fate of a ninja! Since you've stepped onto this path… sooner or later, you won't escape it either!"
Junko looked at the seemingly crazed Yuichi, her expression utterly blank. She walked up to him, methodically removed the kunai and shuriken from his confiscated ninja pouch, then stepped back about ten meters.
Thwip.
A shuriken embedded itself in Yuichi's arm. Then another, followed by kunai, the sickening thwip, thud sounds echoing as weapons struck flesh, one after another.
"Hahaha… That's not how you throw shuriken! You think you can kill me like this? Dream on! Haha…" Yuichi laughed maniacally.
Junko ignored him. Once her hands were empty, she returned to Yuichi's side, methodically plucked out each embedded kunai and shuriken, then stepped back and repeated the process.
At first, Yuichi continued to taunt her defiantly. But after the second round of this treatment, his voice grew hoarse, cracking with tears. "Please… I beg you… k-kill… kill me…"
Junko's expression revealed nothing – no anger, no sorrow, only cold detachment. She approached Yuichi again, repeating the same actions, clearly treating him as nothing more than a target dummy for her throwing practice.
Sakura didn't stop her. She knew now how Junko had gotten the wound on her own arm. Junko was repaying Yuichi's cruelty in kind. Ai… Sakura's heart ached. Hatred has turned a cheerful, innocent eleven-year-old girl into this.
An unknown amount of time passed. Yuichi had long since fallen silent, his body looking as though it had been soaked in a pool of blood. His skin was riddled with countless puncture wounds, several large gashes ripped open his abdomen, intestines spilling out gruesomely. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest indicated he was still alive.
"Junko, kill him now. We need to head to Yanluo Bridge soon," Sakura finally said. She had allowed Junko this time partly because their journey wasn't urgent anymore, and partly because Junko needed to vent the fury festering inside her.
Kabuto had told her Konoha had dispatched six Jonin and ANBU. Only Tsunade-sensei could authorize such a force. Plus, Jiraiya-sama had gone into Amegakure. She needed to reach them quickly and let them know she was safe.
Sakura didn't doubt Kabuto's information; lying served him no purpose. Yuichi had also confirmed Konoha sent people. She could return with them. Six Jonin, plus ANBU… A warmth spread through Sakura at the thought.
As the kunai finally sliced across his throat, a flicker of relief appeared in Yuichi's eyes. After such prolonged torture, his spirit had shattered long ago. He didn't understand why Junko hated him so intensely. Was it about the money? But it wasn't just him doing it... Doesn't matter now... finally... release...
In the minds of villains, the true extent of the harm their actions inflict rarely registers. Yuichi died never knowing that his single slap had robbed Junko of the only family she had left.
With Yuichi's death, the two giant snakes burrowed into the nearby woods and vanished. If Sakura hadn't killed him, Kabuto surely would have.
Junko, splattered with Yuichi's blood, picked up the first shuriken he had thrown at her that night. She walked back to Sakura, and though she had seemed unnervingly calm moments before, her body now began to tremble uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Sakura stepped forward and embraced the small girl. "It's alright now," she comforted her. "I'm here." She gently patted Junko's back as if soothing a frightened kitten. Junko wasn't truly emotionless; the intense hatred had merely suppressed the shock of her first kill. Only now did the reaction set in.
After comforting her for a while until the trembling subsided, Sakura said, "Let's go to Yanluo Bridge first. The Konoha ninja looking for me are there. We'll go back with them."
"Mn!" Junko nodded obediently.
They returned briefly to the house. Junko washed and changed into clean clothes. Afterward, she paid respects at Granny Rika's grave, telling her grandmother that she had killed one of the Kusa-nin responsible. Then, the two girls set out for Yanluo Bridge.
By the time they arrived, it was evening, the sun dipping below the horizon. The bridge was less crowded now. As they approached, Sakura noticed two figures dressed as civilians slowly drawing nearer, subtly positioning themselves to flank her and Junko. A prickle of unease went through her. These weren't ordinary civilians; their posture, their gait – it felt like ninja.
Sakura initially wondered if they were from Konoha. But when they saw her, a flash of pleased recognition crossed their faces, yet they made no attempt to call out. Sakura knew instantly: their purpose was the same as Yuichi's.
She didn't know why Kusagakure was so intent on capturing her, but she absolutely couldn't fall into their hands. Kusagakure, you bastards are just asking for death, she fumed internally. Just wait. Once I get back to Konoha, I'll deal with you slowly.
Faster than thought, Sakura whirled around, grabbing Junko protectively, and dashed towards the bridge itself. The Konoha Jonin had to be somewhere nearby, watching the bridge.
Based on Kabuto's intel, the search had lasted seven days without finding her. Jiraiya-sama had gone into Amegakure alone, while the others remained at Yanluo Bridge. Sakura deduced the reasoning: entering Rain Country with a large Jonin force was too risky, so they stayed at the border both to potentially rendezvous with Jiraiya-sama and to continue gathering information about her whereabouts.
The slope leading up to the bridge was just ahead; they were almost there! Suddenly, several black shadows flickered into existence, surrounding Sakura.
Seeing the animal-masked ninja, Sakura cursed inwardly. Damn it! What does Kusagakure want with me so badly that they'd deploy so many ANBU? Putting Junko down gently, Sakura turned to face the two "civilians" who were now walking calmly towards her.
"Hehe, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Shin. This is my partner, Sho," Shin said, grinning, clearly pleased as he looked at the pink-haired girl, who was practically bristling with fury.
"What the hell does Kusagakure want! Are you trying to start a war?!" Sakura spat, completely incensed. First Yuichi, now these two. Damn you, Kusagakure! You're finished!