I want to thank abandonedsole for designing and making this cover for me and giving me the idea for this AU on Amino. This story would never be possible without you.
'Geez, they didn't need to give me this much stuff! Sentimental much?' Sakura thought as she unpacked the last of her things. She had been transfered to this hospital just a few days ago to recover from her surgery. She couldn't remember much of it but it had something to do with an autoimmune disorder. Before it, she thought that they could get it out and everything would be fine! But no, it left her unable to speak. This revelation devastated her, as well as her parents. A few hours after the surgery, they reccomended sending her here so they could help her recover faster. It took a lot of classes to learn how to communicate with others but she learned to talk through simple hand motions. She wished she could talk so she could express her frustration toward this whole thing.
Suddenly, she noticed something rectangular at the bottom of the box, and she pulled it out to reveal a photo, taken just a few days after her fourteenth birthday. It was a selfie picture with her parents smiling in the background and with her talking the picture. They looked so happy, completely unaware of what would happen in the future. Sakura sighed dramatically as she put it on her nightstand. She stood there for a long while before she heard someone at the door and saw one of the nurses at the entrance.
"Are you all set?" She asked, and Sakura made the "Yes" sign with her hand. "Do you need anything else?" She asked again, and Sakura shook her head. "Alright then." She said as she walked away. Sakura took one more look at the photo before deciding to explore. Hospitals had always freaked her out, something about the atmosphere of the whole place, and the fact that sometimes this is the place people spend their last hours of life.
Something about these dimly lit hallways brought her comfort, however, and she felt at peace for once.
She was about to turn the corner when a blur of orange collided with her and nearly sent her into the wall. She looked up angrily to see a boy around her own age or younger looking at her with a worried expression. He had spiky blonde hair and strange whisker markings on his face. His irises were cloudy and featureless, but were a pale blue color. He was also wearing an orange sweatshirt and blue pants. She got up and angrily made little hand signs that clearly said "What the heck?!". "Oh! Sorry 'bout that. I-uh, forgot my walking cane as was heading back to get it! -ttebayo!" Sakura glared at him, not buying the excuse whatsoever. "Anyway, I'll be on my way!" He cheerfully said, only to walk smack into a wall. Sakura walked over to see if he was fine and was relieved he was. The boy started walking again, and Sakura held his arm to guide him and make sure he didn't hurt himself.
Through the cloudy silhouette he could make out the person to be a girl. He could tell she had short hair, and it was light colored despite the fact he couldn't see the actual color.
"Say, you new here? Never seen ya before!" He spoke up, and the girl nodded her head. 'Guess she's not a talker' Naruto thought as they made their way down the hall. "I'm Naruto. What's your name?" He asked, but the girl remained silent. "Don't be shy, I don't bite" He joked. She stopped him and started to move her hands in different motions, which he guessed were either sign language or something else. Naruto was puzzled, and he could tell by her body language that the girl was starting to get frustrated. However, she perked up at something behind him and ran to the window. Naruto looked out the window and saw the grey blur of some kind of tree. He recongnized it as a sakura tree, he knew because a guide had told him about it his whole life. She was pointing at the tree and then back at herself. Naruto looked around in the area she was pointing and then looked back the girl a few times before it clicked in his brain.
"OHH! You're telling me...your name is Sakura?" He asked, and the girl nodded excitedly, a smile on her face. "You could have told me y'know!" Naruto reminded her. The smile faded from her face and she made the "Not Allowed" shape in front of her throat. "Oh, you can't talk. Sorry, I didn't know." He muttered. After more leading (and talking on Naruto's behalf), they made it to Naruto's room, and Sakura helped him feel around for his cane. After doing so, he took a look around before leaving the room. Sakura peered out from the doorway and followed. Naruto turned his head and could see someone following after him. "I really don't need anymore help." He said, and he saw the blurry outline of Sakura slowly backing away. Naruto lowered his head before he thought of something. "Y'know what? I could introduce you to my friends. They're all on the second floor though." He saw her perk up and slowly follow again, and this time he didn't mind. He slowly scanned the hallways with his cane, his new friend guiding him the whole time.