Junko's grim and fearful voice echoed in everyone's ears, and an inexplicable tightness gripped their hearts.
"Wh-what does that mean?" Tsunade asked, her mouth dry.
"Exactly what it sounds like..." Fear still laced Junko's voice. "If your strength is only... only this much... then... everyone... will... will..."
"Will what?!" Tsunade's eyes narrowed, and she grabbed Junko's collar, demanding an answer.
But Junko's gaze drifted past Tsunade towards the black light, a flicker of struggle on her face. She gently shook her head.
"Speak!" Tsunade roared anxiously. "What is this 'god' you're talking about? What exactly is happening to her right now?"
The struggle on Junko's face intensified, but she remained silent. Seeing this, the Third Hokage stepped forward and gestured for Tsunade to release Junko.
"Junko, although I don't understand what you're afraid of, don't underestimate the strength of a Hokage. If you tell us, perhaps we can resolve it. Staying silent like this will only make things more complicated," the Third Hokage persuaded.
Junko still said nothing. The Third Hokage thought for a moment, then added, "Or, what would it take for you to speak?"
Hearing the Third Hokage say this, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared on Junko's struggling face. Her lips moved a few times before she spoke, "Just now... when I was healing Sakura, she... she said she has a jutsu that can make even the dead speak... This jutsu, do you know what it is?"
"Hmm?" Hearing Junko's words, the Third Hokage was taken aback, his expression turning grave. He then addressed the surrounding ninja, "Everyone, fall back! Do not approach without my command!"
"Yes, sir!" the ANBU responded, and along with the other ninja, they all retreated. Tsunade, however, did not move back. She too was a Hokage; she had the right to know everything.
After everyone had retreated, the Third Hokage looked at Junko sternly. "Did she really say that?"
Seeing the Third Hokage ask this, a wave of joyful surprise washed over Junko. "Yes, that's what she said. Can you give me this jutsu? Or perhaps help me perform it?"
Tsunade frowned. The jutsu Junko was talking about was, nine times out of ten, the Edo Tensei. But when had Sakura learned such a ninjutsu? The old man would never allow such a technique to spread.
The Third Hokage had initially felt a murderous intent towards Junko when she expressed her desire for the jutsu. If her goal was the Edo Tensei, then her identity was likely that of a spy from an enemy village. However, hearing the latter half of Junko's sentence, the Third Hokage grew puzzled again. From her words, it seemed she didn't want the jutsu itself, but rather to meet someone.
Just then, a deafening clap of thunder exploded in the sky, making the Third Hokage and Tsunade turn pale as they looked towards Sakura.
The cocoon formed by the black light was gradually expanding. The plants and trees around the black light were withering at a visible rate, the decay spreading outwards continuously.
Soon, it reached the Third Hokage's feet. He felt his scalp tingle at the sight of this bizarre scene.
Seeing this, Junko let out a terrified scream and turned to flee backward. But the Third Hokage immediately blocked her path. "Where are you running?"
"Ugh!" Junko, stopped by the Third Hokage, was about to shout angrily, but the words died on her lips. She stared intently at the Third Hokage for a moment, then looked at the withered vegetation on the ground, her eyes wide.
"You... you... you... you're alright?" Junko asked in disbelief.
"I'm perfectly fine. What do you mean by that? Is it related to Sakura?" the Third Hokage asked in a low, serious voice.
Junko fell silent. She looked at the black light steadily approaching from behind, the land in its wake turning barren and lifeless. Birds flying through the sky above the black light flapped their wings a few times before plummeting downwards. As they fell, their feathers withered and decayed, followed by their skin, internal organs, and bones. By the time they hit the ground, only ashes remained.
This spectacle was, of course, also witnessed by the Third Hokage and Tsunade. They stared in shock at the apocalyptic scene: the sky was covered in dark clouds, and the black light seemed like a harbinger of death, reaping life wherever it passed, leaving nothing but desolation in its wake.
Junko looked at the withered vegetation at her feet, then at Tsunade and the Third Hokage beside her, and finally at her own hands.
A look of understanding then dawned on her face. Though fear still lingered, it was no longer as intense as before.
She looked up at the sky, then scanned the people around her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "Third Hokage, Fifth Hokage..."
"What is it?" Tsunade asked, seeing Junko's expression, which seemed as if she had made some firm resolution.
"I wish you good luck!" Junko said calmly. Then, with a flash, she darted towards the black light.
"Where are you going?!" the Third Hokage exclaimed urgently. "ANBU, bring her back!"
With several swooshes, the ANBU in the distance quickly pursued Junko. Tsunade also wanted to go forward but was stopped by the Third Hokage.
"Wait, Tsunade! Let the ANBU check the situation first!" The Third Hokage's gaze was grave as he watched Junko's retreating figure. "You saw what happened to those birds just now."
"Then why did you still send the ANBU forward?!" Tsunade roared, her arm gripped by the Third Hokage.
"This... is the ANBU's mission. You cannot be harmed," the Third Hokage said in a low voice. "I have a premonition that something terrible is about to happen! As a Kage, you cannot take such risks."
There was a considerable distance between the ANBU and Junko. But just as the ANBU, after a brief chase, were about to reach Junko, they arrived before the mass of black light.
Junko plunged headfirst into the black light. The ANBU, however, watched in horror as their outstretched hands began to wither and decay from the fingertips, just like the birds.
Fear spread through the ANBU's hearts. Though they retreated with extreme speed, they still couldn't escape the fate of decay and disintegration. Arms, shoulders, bodies – until finally, they turned into piles of ash. Even in their dying moments, the ANBU couldn't understand why Junko had entered the black light completely unharmed.
When Junko entered the black light, she immediately saw Sakura Haruno within. Sakura's eyes were currently devoid of any expression; she was merely moving forward unconsciously, muttering "Father, Mother" under her breath.
Junko looked at her own unharmed hands and let out a long sigh of relief. So, it's just as I thought... Only her clothes had turned to ash. Junko stood **** before Sakura Haruno.
...There's still time... Junko thought to herself.
Looking at Sakura Haruno, Junko took another deep breath. She walked forward gently, her arms trembling as she raised them. Though she had already made her decision, now that the moment was upon her, Junko was still terrified.
That soul-suffocating feeling – Junko didn't want to experience it again. To think that she had just escaped hell, only to have to embrace it once more.
But this chance, this chance right now... if she missed it, she might never have it again...
"Sakura, I... I'm scared. But I... I want to try... I want to see everyone again... I..." Junko murmured to herself, two streams of clear tears flowing down her cheeks. "Anyway... anyway... I hope you succeed..."
With those words, Junko threw her arms around Sakura Haruno. A look of agony crossed Junko's face, while Sakura's vacant eyes gradually regained their light.
A dazzling brilliance erupted from both of them simultaneously. The black light was dyed white, illuminating the land that should have awakened long ago.
This moment seemed to stretch into eternity.