Yuri went to the hospital to visit Lee. When she arrived at his room, she saw Gai sensei was there along with Tsunade as well. Lee quietly left the room before Yuri could say anything to him.
"Lee, where are you going?" She turned back to Gai and Tsunade. "What happened?"
"I gave Lee a diagnostic on his condition." Tsunade started out.
"Lady Tsunade will be able to heal him but there's-" Gai spoke before he stopped and gritted his teeth.
"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Yuri asked and looked at Tsunade. "If you can heal him then do it!"
"If I do the procedure, Lee might not make it. It's a 50-50 chance that it will be successful. His injuries are too severe. He will die if it fails. I advised him to give up being a ninja." Tsunade explained. Yuri's eyes widened.
"Poor Lee." She murmured.
A few days later, Lee had decided to take the operation. Yuri, Ten Ten, and Neji were outside the operating room, anxiously waiting for the news. Gai couldn't make it because he was on a mission. Yuri stared at the red light as it remained on.
"He will pull through. I know he will. He's a tough guy." Yuri reassured them.
"Yes, he is." Ten Ten nodded, still silently praying to herself. The light suddenly turned off and everyone immediately looked up, seeing Tsunade come out of the operating room.
"How's Lee!? Is he-" Ten Ten asked, concerned. Tsunade lips turned upward as she smiled.
"The operation was a success. Lee will pull through. Although, I do recommend a few weeks of bed rest before any physical activities." She told everyone. Yuri and Ten Ten both sighed in relief. Gai sensei started to cry. Neji smiled.
"Yes!" Yuri cried out happily.
A few weeks had gone by, Tsunade gave Squad 7 an assignment to the land of Tea. Her old gambling friend was in trouble with another gang rival. They ran into a man named Idate Marino, who was also Ibiki's little brother. They helped him win the race, settling the feud between the two gangs. However, Sasuke got injured during the rival gang's ninja bodyguard. Naruto managed to take him out using his rasengan knocking him out in a single hit. As they headed back to the Leaf, Yuri noticed a strange look in Sasuke's eyes the way he looked at Naruto.
At the hospital, Sasuke challenged Naruto to a duel. On the rooftop, Yuri and Sakura watched, uneasily as the two began. Naruto and Sasuke landed blow after blow on each other, getting even more intense.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Stop! This is getting too much! Are you trying to kill each other!?" Yuri shouted, pleading for them to stop. But Naruto and Sasuke, both ignored her and Sakura who were telling them to stop as well.
Naruto and Sasuke both unleashed their special techniques, the Ransengan and Chidori. They lunged at each other as they jumped into the air. Sakura charged at the two, trying to stop them.
"Stop!" Sakura cried out.
"Sakura! No! It's too dangerous!" Yuri quickly chased after her, trying to grab Sakura before she got caught in the middle. Suddenly, Kakashi appeared and quickly grabbed Sasuke and Naruto's wrists diverting them away from each other. Naruto and Sasuke both crashed into two water towers. Naruto made a small dent while Sasuke pulled his arm out. Water spilled out from the tower, falling onto the roof.
"Just what were you two planning to do just now!?" Kakashi demanded. "That was a little too much for a friendly sparring match."
Naruto said nothing, looking at Sasuke, angrily.
"Sasuke, what do you have to say?" Kakashi questioned. Sasuke scoffed and turned away and hopped over the fence and landed on the ledge. His eyes widen in shock looking at the water tower that Naruto had crashed into with his rasengan. The back of the tower was blown apart with a large gaping hole. He gritted his teeth, furiously, and slammed his fist against the wall.
The next morning, Yuri was woken up with loud banging at her front door. She opened it and felt arms immediately wrap around her as Sakura hugged her, crying.
"Yuri! It's Sasuke! He's-He's gone! He left the village!"
"Whoa, slow down, Sakura! Sasuke did what now?!" Yuri sputtered, still half asleep.
"Sasuke left the village!" Sakura cried. "I tried to stop him, but he knocked me out. I know we don't always get along, but I need your help! Please, get him back!" Yuri frowned. He must be going after Orochimaru.
"Let's go get Tsunade and tell her what happened." Yuri told her. Yuri and Sakura quickly headed towards the Hokage's office and told Tsunade what had happened. She dispatched a team to retrieve Sasuke. Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Neji, Yuri, and Naruto, putting Shikamaru in charge of leading the team. At the gate, Sakura begged Naruto to get Sasuke back.
Naruto grinned giving her a thumbs up. "Of course I will. That is a promise!"
The team quickly left, heading in the direction that Sasuke was last seen. Yuri hopped beside Naruto as they jumped from branch to branch through the trees.
"Naruto, what if Sasuke doesn't want to come back?" She asked him.
"Then I'll drag him back if I have to." Naruto spoke.
"But he left on his own accord-" Yuri started before Naruto cut her off.
"Just what are you trying to say?" Naruto questioned.
"He betrayed us." Yuri replied.
"You don't know that for sure." Naruto tried to dismiss. Yuri sighed, knowing that it was hopeless to argue with him.
Along the way the team ran into several Sound Ninjas. Choji, Kiba, Neji, and Shikamaru decided to hold them off while Naruto and Yuri followed after Sasuke. The two stopped at a clearing in a field and saw a pale man with short white hair with two red hair ornaments tied at the end, two scarlet dots on his forehead, wearing a light lavender long sleeved zipped up shirt, his left sleeve hanging loosely on the side, a purple rope like belt tied around his waist, black pants down to his mid calf, bandages around his legs and sandals. On his chest was a curse seal that was a little different from Sasuke's. Sasuke was standing next to him. He took off heading deeper into the forest.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called out to him.
"Naruto, go on ahead. I'll try to handle this guy." Yuri told him. Naruto stared at her, unsure.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Now go!" Yuri quickly told him. Naruto nodded and darted after Sasuke, leaving Yuri alone with the man.
"I assume you work for Orochimaru." Yuri told him.
"My name is Kimmimaru. Lord Orochimaru has chosen Sasuke to be his new vessel. I will fulfill his wishes until the end." He told her.
"Yeah, yeah, Orochimaru this, Orochimaru that. I don't really care. But it's sad that your brainwashed by him." Yuri spoke. In an instant, Kimmimaru was right in front of Yuri. She quickly threw a kick. To her surprise, Yuri saw bones sprouting from the mans chest, blocking her kick. Kimmimaru quickly sprouted a long bone like blade and lashed out at Yuri. Yuri moved back and the blade managed to slice her cheek. Kimmimaru delivered a hard kick, knocking her back. Yuri fell landing on her back. Before she had time to get back up again, Kimmimaru was already charging at her about to land a killing blow. Then Kimmimaru was kicked in the face and was knocked a few feet away.
Yuri's eyes widen in shock when she saw Lee standing in front of her, facing against Kimmimaru.
"What are you doing here, Lee!? You're supposed to be at the hospital!" Yuri shouted.
"I heard about what happened to Sasuke. I came to help. I always keep my promise. Please, let me fight alongside with you." Lee spoke. Yuri's eyes widen a little more and she stood up.
"Okay, but this guy is not normal. Watch yourself." She warned him. Lee grinned and nodded. The two quickly charged at Kimmimaru, trying to land kicks and punches on him. Kimmimaru deflected off each of their blows with his bones. Yuri made a hand sign.
"Fire Style: Fireball jutsu!" She quickly blew a fireball, aiming directly at Kimmimaru. The fireball completely engulfed the ninja. She and Lee jumped back to gain a little distance, silently watching. The smoke cleared and Kimmimaru stepped out, completely unharmed without a scratch on him.
"Damn it! What's this guy made out of!?" Yuri exclaimed. Kimmimaru was about to charge at them again when Lee stopped him.
"Hold it! I need to take my medicine." He told the ninja, holding his hand out. Kimmimaru blinked and so did Yuri as they watched Lee reached into his pack and pulled out a white bottle.
"Is this really the time for this right now?" Yuri asked him. Lee drank the whole bottle, dropping it on the ground. Then Lee suddenly began to act strange and started to stumble around barely able to stand on his feet. Yuri frowned and looked down at the bottle seeing the kanji symbol written on it for sake. Her eyes widen. He's drunk! Lee must have grabbed the wrong one, confusing it with his medicine.
Lee charged at Kimmimaru stumbling around a little throwing some kicks. Kimmimaru tried to slice at Lee with his bone blade, but Lee dodged his attacks, effortlessly. Yuri tried to land a few kicks as well, managing to kick Kimmimaru in the face. Kimmimaru stumbled back a little and regained his balance, wiping his lip. Then Lee suddenly fell to the ground with a thud.
"Lee! Wake up!" Yuri shouted at him and was about to help him up when Kimmimaru kicked her in the chest, knocking her away from Lee. Kimmimaru drove his blade down on top of Lee's head to land a blow. Still asleep, Lee quickly rolled out of the way as Kimmimaru repeatedly tried to stab him. Then Lee caught Kimmimaru's blade with his feet, tossing to the side and kicked Kimmimaru, knocking him back. Lee woke up and hopped back to his feet, stumbling, again. Lee blinked looking around confused.
"Where am I? And who's that?" He murmured, looking at Kimmimaru.
"That's Kimmimaru, remember? The one we're fighting right now!" Yuri shouted. Lee turned to her and grinned.
"Oh, hey, Yuri! When did you get here?" He slurred, happily. Yuri sighed.
"You've got to be kidding me. Lee, focus!" She shouted and charged at Kimmimaru to attack him again. Lee ran at Kimmimaru as well. Eventually, the sake began to wear off and Lee started to regain his balance a little better. Yuri stared at him a little concerned.
"This is either really good or really bad. Lee was doing better when he was drunk. Do we still have a chance to beat this guy!?" Yuri thought to herself, worried.
"Yuri watch out!" Lee shouted, snapping Yuri out of her thoughts. Her eyes widen when she saw Kimmimaru kick Lee away and was now charging at her. Yuri raised her arms to brace herself for his attack. Just as he was about an inch from her, sand suddenly appeared, blocking Kimmimaru's attack and pushed Yuri backwards. Yuri groaned as she sat up and her eyes widen in shock, seeing Gaara standing in front of her and Lee. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at Kimmimaru.
"Who are you?" Kimmimaru demanded, glaring at Gaara.
"Allies of the Leaf Village. We're shinobi of the Sand."