Kabuto Yakushi finally made his way through the crowd and found Anya holding hands with Himawari and Klee as they chatted.
"Anya." His voice was calm, though a barely perceptible tension eased as he called her name.
"Father!" Anya let go of her friends' hands and flew into his arms like a bird returning to its nest, rubbing her cheek against his clothes.
"We chased the bad guys away! Himawari, Klee, and I all helped!" she whispered, unable to resist showing off.
Kabuto Yakushi's eyes shifted slightly. He stroked his daughter's head. "Yes, Anya was very brave."
He did not ask for details. He merely nodded to Mirai Sarutobi, then took Anya's hand. "We should go back."
Mirai Sarutobi took Himawari's hand as well. "We need to find your mom and Konohamaru, too."
A young female ninja wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector hurried over and found Klee in her red beret. "Klee! I knew you'd be here! I was worried sick! Come back with me!"
"Okay, okay!" Klee stuck out her tongue and waved hard at Anya and Himawari.
Before the adults led them away in different directions, the three little girls exchanged a quick look. Then they huddled together and lowered their voices, as though performing the most solemn of ceremonies:
"Pinky promise!" Klee held out her little finger.
"What's that...?" Anya copied her and hooked their fingers together.
"Our secret forever!" Himawari hooked her finger with theirs too, sealing the firmest pact children knew.
"Promise! Nobody can tell anyone! Especially about the bomb!" Klee's eyes curved into crescents.
"Mm! Secret!" Anya nodded emphatically.
"Secret!" Himawari promised solemnly.
The three small figures were led away in different directions, but their strange adventure of facing death together and joining forces to "defuse the bomb and drive off the enemy" would