Summary: Years pasted after Anko ran away from Orochimaru. She has bits of where she had been for three years and her only clues to what happened in three years were six names. Their names hold the key on where she was. She leaves Kohona to find the six people despite what the Hokage says. She knows that deep in her heart these people can help her remember what she had hid from herself over the past years. Not only that but her past is coming back to haunt her. The search is on!

I do not own Naruto or any characters!

Chapter One: Decision

Anko woke up with the burning sensation of her cursed mark. Automatically she placed her hand over her shoulder and counted slowly in her heard to take her mind off the pain that she felt. When the pain was over her body fell back to the bed exhausted. Come on Anko you're stronger than this! She cursed herself. The twenty year old Anko turned towards the window where the moon was full and bright. The beautiful moon brought back memories and some memories that were itching at her mind to remember. All she could remember were names. Kiba, Cheza, Tobeo, Tsume, Blue, and Hige who are they? She asked herself. She picked up her cell phone and saw that she had a few messages and missed calls. She threw her phone next to her. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Dream

I have to keep running! I can't stop or he will get me! The girl thought rapidly as she ran deeper in the woods. She heard several branches breaking all around her. She ran zigzags and hoped that would confuse her followers. It didn't work. The young girl kept running. She heard the men's voices calling out to her ordering her to stop. In response she screamed and ran. "Leave me alone!" She yelled. Her purple hair became undone from the branches that pulled at her hair and clothes. Her dark brown eyes were hidden by her eye lids that were shut tight.

Finally the girl ran out of energy of running. She stopped and turned around to face the men. No one was there. The forest began to chant her name everywhere she turned her name got louder and louder. She held the kunai close to her as if it one could protect her. Anko held her kunai tightly that her fingers went white. Her heart painfully punched through her chest. Her breaths were loud and shallow. A burning sensation from her shoulder caused her to wince. The voices stopped. Anko looked around with anxiety in her eyes and body stance. She was weak to fight but would die trying.

A bush rattled as a man stepped out. His pale skin glowed in the darkness. He had a grin that made her skin crawl each time she saw it. He stepped closer and closer but she stood her ground. Many scenarios bounced in her head. Was he going to kill her? Was he going to torture her? What was he going to do with her? Anko held her only weapon tight ready to use it. The man's eyes were beautiful but behind his eyes were evil. His reptile eyes always fascinated her and before she was running away from him she always wanted eyes like his. Things changed and she didn't want anything to do with him. She hated him deep down inside.

"My dear Anko, you should know that running away will do you no good." He said, "There is no one around and if they are they wouldn't help you because you are my student."

"No! I'm not your student anymore! I don't care if I'm alone in the world I rather be alone than to do your dirty work." She shouted. "I will kill you Orochimaru." Anko made a move towards her former teacher but was caught by the Akatsuki. She struggled from their grip but they were stronger than Anko and bigger. Orochimaru laughed at her weak attempted.

"I taught you better my Anko." He stepped close to her. "Itachi, Deidara, take Anko back. She needs to be reminded on respect." Orochimaru demanded. Both men dragged Anko away with her screams filling the forest. No one would hear her and no one would come to her rescue. Anko dug her feet to the ground but each time Itachi and Deidara would pull her causing her arms and wrist to complain and threatened to pop out of place. The young girl's began to annoy Deidara in which he turned around and punched her on stomach. Anko's small eyes went wide when the air was forced out of her body. She doubled over with her free hand holding her stomach. In her mind she told herself that the pain won't end with a single punch. The more she fought the more pain she would receive. She called out for Itachi since they were from the same village she hoped that she can at least get some pity from him.

The Uchiha member showed no remorse for what Anko went through. The anger that Anko felt got stronger. Deidara smirked through the whole time. Anko stood up and Deidara got ready for a fight that he was surly going to win. Anko's hand bled from her nails cutting through her flesh. She turned to Deidara and attacked. The blonde hair man jumped back but Anko followed him. The anger that she felt gave her the power to keep up with Deidara. Orochimaru and Itachi watched the small fight. Both were observing Anko's ability and Orochimaru was not impressed.

Anko threw her kunai which aimed for Deidara's leg. She missed by an inch. She ran picking up her only weapon and continued on the attack. Her last try she got lucky. The kunai pierced through his leg, Deidara stopped then took out the weapon from his leg. "Do you really think this would stop me?" He growled. "Try harder than that!" It was finally his turn. Anko retreated a few steps back. Deidara's arm reached out to her and grabbed her hair. He pulled her hair bring her small face to his. Both her hands went to her hair scratching and clawing at his hand. Anko's body went flying and slammed against a tree.

A pair of eyes peaked through the bushes. Someone was watching. "Deidara stop. Listen." Orochimaru ordered. The man stopped and lifted up Anko by her throat. Blood ran down the girl's face. Deidara used only half of his power and yet Anko suffered a broken ribs and her body beaten with burses that to others might have thought she was jumped by five men. She spit in his face while he was distracted. In returned she received a punch to her face. Then Deidara wiped his face with one swipe.

Bushes rattled around them then growls followed. Then everything went back as the memory began to disappear. In the darkness Anko heard howls and growls with Deidara's voice cry out in anger as he was out numbered. Then nothing was heard it went quiet.

End of Dream

Anko woke up sitting up fast her eyes blinded by the sunlight. Her hands went in the air to block the sun's rays. She ran her hands through her hair. She stood up and walked to her bathroom. Her reflection stared at her with the same expression. Why couldn't she remember anything on what happened that night and the years following that? Three years of her life went into darkness as she couldn't remember. Someone or something blocked her memories from her but why?

She took a quick shower then got dressed for the day.

The day was like any normal day. She patrolled the Forest of Death making sure that no one entered. Anko thought of her past trying to find some way to remember.

"Hello Anko." Kakashi's voice startled her from her thinking. "Lovely weather we are having here?" He asked. Anko's medium tone eyes started at Kakashi. She nodded without saying a word. The silver hair man sat next to her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's nothing Kakashi. I'm just thinking of Orochimaru." She said in a matter of fact tone. Her answer made Kakashi sigh. "I know that thinking of him brings back memories but there is something else." She paused. She thought her words carefully. "Kakashi may I ask you something?"

"Sure." He answered. His eyes were plastered on his book Make out Paradise. Anko turned around to face him directly.

"How did the Anbu find me?" Anko locked eyes with Kakashi. Kakashi thought a while and gave her the answer that everyone had told her since she woke up from her coma.

"They found you unconscious near the river Anko you know that." He said. That answer never made since to her. "You know what happened. You ran away from Orochimaru since you were twelve. Ever since you were on the run till you got attacked by the Akatsuki. The Anbu were at the right place at the right time. They fought off the Akatsuki and brought you home." The answer to what happened was a puzzle but the puzzle that everyone gave her on how she was found did not fit in her puzzle. It was too big to fit and yet no real information on how she escaped. "Why do you ask?"

Anko shrugged, "Nothing really I just like hearing you telling me." She joked. Kakashi smiled through his mask. He always enjoyed her sarcasms and the time they had with each other. Anko took off her ear piece and checked the time. "Well my shift is done. Want to go eat?" She offered him lunch all the time and each day the answer was yes. Kakashi followed her to their usual hang out.

The restaurant was half full like any other day. Anko mouth watered at the sight of her dango being brought to her and Kakashi's attention was on his book. The ramen's delicious smell didn't budge Kakashi's attention. Anko ate of her dango when she pulled the book away from Kakashi with a small smirk. "Listen Kakashi I bring you here to eat." She laughed, and then turned a couple of pages of the book in her hand. "Why do you read this anyways?"

Kakashi left his ramen get cold like always. "It is a very well written book." He answered. He extended his hand for her to hand him the book. Anko shrugged. She closed the book and read over the book. Paradise, Anko said the word in her mind. The word meant something to her. Then a sudden jolt forced her out of her seat. Kakashi ran to her side as Anko began to twitch violently her eyes went from her beautiful healthy brown hair to white. He yelled out to call the paramedics and held Anko in place.

Anko's twitching didn't stop as so did the pain. A memory slipped from the blockade that was in her mind. It was a boy with long wavy hair. He wore a black jacket under that was a dark gray shirt. His eyes were brown. Next to him was a young girl. She was a few inches shorter than him. She wore all white her hair was a light pink so were her eyes. Then it went to three more boys, all were different. One of them was tall with short gray hair, with a punker look. The second boy was younger, he was shorter than the others, and the last boy was more normal looking. He had short light brown hair with a smile. The last person she saw was a girl. Her hair was blue, short, and wild. They were all young like around her age when she was a kid. The names in her head went to each face but no other new memories came.

Anko woke up to see she was the Hospital. The room was empty. No other patients were in the room. She was alone. The sun was still up. How long was she out? The Jounin stood up holding her head. She pulled out the needles and other things that were attached to her body. She staggered through the room. Anko reached the closet where she found her clothes. Upon opening the door a nurse walked in on her daily routine checkup.

"Ms. Mitarashi you're awake." The nurse said with a surprised look. Anko ignored the nurse and grabbed her clothes. "I'm sorry you can't leave Ms. Mitarashi you're not well. Go back to bed." The nurse ordered Anko. Anko turned to her.

"I'm better okay? I can leave whenever the hell I want." She shouted. The nurse, not happy, left the room. Anko limped to the door to lock it but a foot blocked the door. "I said to leave me the hell alone!" She screamed opening the door wide open to yell at the nurse. The Hokage raised his brow at the Jounin. Anko apologized and let the Hokage enter her room. The patient robe felt uncomfortable to Anko. She sat down on her bed while the Hokage stood up.

"Kakashi told me what happened." The Hokage said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine sir." She answered. She wanted to change and leave. She hated hospitals to the point she wanted to burn the room down. "I just had a panic attack." She lied.

"Are you sure?" He paused, "Last time you had such attacks you were a child and it was because of your curse mark. Do you want me to help you with that?" Anko shook her head. She knew it wasn't her curse mark. It remained quiet for a while. "Did you remember anything from your past?" He said suddenly.

"N-no sir," She lied again. "It was just a panic attack." The Hokage narrowed his eyes just a bit wondering if he should believe her. "I am fine sir. Can I change? I want to leave here as soon as possible." The Hokage nodded. He knew that she didn't like hospitals. Anko waited for him to leave and began to change quickly as she could.

Once she was done she left her room. She went past the waiting room where she saw Kakashi, Tsunade and Jiraiya. Both Sannins watched Anko carefully. Jiraiya and Tsunade never trusted Anko due to the fact she worked with Orochimaru when she was young. Both had pleaded with the Hokage to lock her up or banish her from the village. Kakashi gave Anko a warm hug. "They let you out?" Anko gave him a look. "Oh that's right you hate hospitals."

"Well, later on today we need you to come to answer some questions." Tsunade's cold green eyes looked at Anko. "It is not an invitation is an order Jounin." With that both Legendary Sannins left. Anko glared at them both. Kakashi sighed. He knew that Anko was the outcast like Naruto, one of his students. Though Anko might not have been cursed with a demon the people in the village gave her the same attitude that they gave Naruto. Even though Naruto grew on to the people of Konoha, Anko never did. People didn't trust her, they feared her, hated her, and wanted her out of the village.

Anko went through her drawers looking franticly for something. Kakashi stood by her door way watching her mess her apartment. Anko moved quickly dodging his hand. Her body was moving but her mind was somewhere else. The faces… I know I have a picture. She burst to her room and did the same thing. Drawers were pulled from their places; clothes were thrown out the closets. Anko finally gave up. Kakashi went to her side. "What are you looking for?" He asked.

"A box that I had since I was a kid," She explained, "Orochimaru gave it to me." She whispered. Kakashi sighed with anger. He was getting tired of hearing that name coming from her. "Leave me alone." She said. It was obvious that she knew he was mad at her.

"Anko, look I'm sorry-" He began to say when he was interrupted.

"I said leave!" She screamed. Her eyes burned with anger a feeling she felt every day. Every time she had an anger burst it didn't surprise her or anyone. Everyone was use to her outburst even Kakashi. Kakashi backed away giving in to her command.

Anko was alone again. "Maybe Oro-san was right." She sighed. "I will be searching for peace but in the end it will come back me being alone in this world." Orochimaru was the only family she had since her parents died mysteriously. The Akatsuki were her family at one point. She learned from them they were her brothers and sister. Anko crawled herself in a fetal position, closing her eyes, she let some of her memories that she remembered of her time with Orochimaru sink in her brain. A part of her missed those days when she was ignorant on what her 'family' was teaching her. They were the only ones that made her feel like she belonged. When she opened her eyes a small twinkle appeared with the help of the sunlight. It was her box. "It wasn't there I checked that stop several times." She whispered.

Her hand reached for the box and pulled it close to her. She sat against the wall with the box on her lap. She hesitated on opening it. She couldn't remember what was in it. Anko's fingers lifted the lid open. To her surprise it was filled with paper with writing. On a closer look she realized it was her writing from journal entries. For two hours she read the entries several times trying to remember anything but the letters were from the memories that she already seen. The entries were nothing new and did not help her at all.

Disappointed she was about to close the lid when at the bottom was a picture. It was backwards. The blank side faced at her. The names that she dreamed were on the back. To her excitement she turned the picture over. Her heart jumped with joy. The people from her memory were there on the picture. A group picture with Anko in the center sitting with a smile. A smile, true smile, appeared on her lips. She had to find them. They hold the key to the years that were in darkness. "That's it I'm leaving." She cleaned her whole apartment quickly and packed her sack. "I'm sorry Hokage. I know that you forbid me to leave but I must do this." She whispered. She wrote a letter to Kakashi. He was her best friend and knew he would understand.

Kakashi walked up to Anko's door. He felt horrible after the small fight between them. He knocked on the door but no one answered after thirty minutes of knocking. He turned the door knob easily and entered. He looked around calling out to Anko but no one was home. A letter stood out like a sore thumb with his name. He picked it up and read it.

Kakashi

I know by the time you read this I will be gone from Konoha. All my life I knew something was missing. The way I escaped from Orochimaru and the Akatsuki always disturbed me. I know what I've been told on how I escaped was a lie. I know that the Anbu didn't fight the Akatsuki and got me back. I'm getting my memories back from the years I was gone. I know that you will understand but the Hokage would keep me here for the fear that Orochimaru will look for me and take me back but I rather take that chance. I need to find some people. They hold the key on what happened and how I escaped. I'm sorry for leaving you. I would ask you to come but I need to do this by myself. I'm so sorry for the fight earlier. I didn't mean to yell at you. I hope when I come back we can catch up with some dango and ramen my treat.

-With love Anko

Kakashi shook his head then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Kakashi appeared in front of the Hokage. Tsunade and Jiraiya stood on each side of the Hokage. The Hokage lifted his head at the silver haired Jounin. "What brings you here Kakashi?" asked the old man.

Kakashi explained what happened. Both of the Jounin shifted their positions and looks. The Hokage stood up glanced at both at the man and woman at his side. "Get the Anbu ready. Bring Anko back as soon as possible. If she resist then use force to bring her but do not kill her." He ordered both of the Jounin that were at his side. Both of them nodded and disappeared. Kakashi was confused.

"Hokage, why did you send out the Anbu? Anko is not dangerous." Kakashi gave a confused look.

"I know you're fond of her Kakashi but Orochimaru is looking for her. He wants her back the Akatsuki want their sister back." He said with a sigh. "Kakashi I know you weren't around when we found Anko. Yes what we told the village was a lie but only because we wanted to protect her. You see not only Anko was a student of Orochimaru but she was a member of the Akatsuki." Kakashi's eyes widen. "If they village knew that they would have wanted her dead. The Akatsuki have been trying to get to Anko to leave the village so they can capture her and take her way. When we found her at age fifteen we knew that she escaped Orochimaru but we don't know how. We tried to get her memories on how she got away but something blocked her memories."

"So you think that her memories hold the key on how she escaped and where she was for the three years she was missing?" Kakashi asked. The Hokage nodded. "I have to go help her." He got ready to leave.

"Kakashi, Anko won't come back till she finds what she wants. You know how she is. She won't stop searching till knows the truth. The Anbu will find her. They will I promise you. Now go to your students they are ready for their lesson." The Hokage squeezed Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi nodded and left. With what he found out about Anko he didn't know what to think of her. Was she an enemy or a friend? Was her not remembering on what happened to her a lie to spy for the Akatsuki? No she is not a spy she's Anko, his best friend, the girl that he always had fun with. There was no evil within her soul.

Wow I'm finally finished with this chapter! This story had been in folders where I keep my stories and I just found it a few weeks ago. Ha-ha I've been working this story since two years ago I think. Wow that's a long time. Please R&R! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :D