Yanbai searched for the Old Woman's and Sasori's presence. Traces of them were everywhere.
Yanbai stood in the entryway of the Princess Mausoleum. Air colder than the air outside brushed his neck, and he stood there blankly for a moment.
The agony the nightmare had brought Yanbai felt all the more real when he could not find the people he wanted to see.
Staying here would only fill him with sorrow, but... Yanbai did not know where else he could go if he left.
He stood before the door, watching the sky outside gradually darken.
In the end, Yanbai forced himself to walk out.
Passing the Memorial Stone, Yanbai made his way on foot toward the bustling streets.
Perhaps he might see someone else he wanted to see if he did.
But along the way, Yanbai found nothing he had hoped for.
Yanbai stood on high ground, looking down over the streets.
The brilliant streets and buildings were dazzling. Along Konoha's streets, families out together laughed merrily, their faces glowing with happiness.
In the past, scenes like these would have comforted him.
But now, Yanbai felt those sounds stab at his ears.
Standing above this prosperity, surrounded by countless lives, Yanbai felt true loneliness.
His heart was bleak, his pain unbearable, yet he had no one to tell.
Looking at those happy people below, Yanbai felt a strange illusion arise.
Why wasn't I one of them?
Why did I have to bear those heavy responsibilities?
Why weren't they in my place?
Why could they enjoy peace without a care?
These were questions without answers...
Yanbai shook his head, driving those unanswerable questions from his mind. If he kept thinking like this, he would only continue suffering, clinging to despair.
Suddenly, urgent cries rang out beside his ears. "Squeak, squeak, squeak-"