The dry air loomed heavily in the open desert. The sun's rays were especially bright and hot this time of day. Along the sand, walked a small figure, beat up and tired. Long dark red hair shined as the sun reflected off. Dried blood present on her pale skin. Bruises the size of golf or tennis balls colored her skin.
A young girl walks in tattered clothing as it hung loose around her thin body structure. The way she looked seem healthy, but in reality she was starved, abused, and ready to give up on life. Yet something within kept whispering to continue on. Live a better life away from the past. Her navy blue purple eyes showed no emotion.
It has been almost a week since she's been walking, running even from times, away from what was considered a nightmare. A place where hopes were made, but easily given up on. A place where many would consider hell, a trap. Those who were there have never been the same after entering.
She, on the other hand, didn't give up and was finally able to escape. Now the question was where to go. Honestly, the girl believed it wouldn't work, her plan did still have many flaws. It was given up to after the point of escaping.
Collapsing on the burning sand, her body worn out and beyond past her limits now. The feeling of freedom, it was a sensation hard to understand at first. Only moments would pass until the feeling adapted and felt good.
Slowly her body went numb as her mind slipped into darkness. At that moment, everything was forgotten. The pain, the suffering, all disappearing. Things about herself, gone. Nothing was left except for the normal brain functions of staying alive.
Not far from this particular area, three Jounin were returning from Suna and heading back towards Konoha. The tall, muscular Jounin took notice of the girl laying in the sand. He separated from the group and headed towards the body.
"Hey guys! There's a girl here who is really injured." The man said as the other two followed after.
"Think we should take her back to Konoha?"
"Pretty sure we should. If we mentioned this to the Hokage, she would be pretty angry at us and who knows what will happen."
All three of them nodded in unison with a small shiver running down their spines. The seventh Hokage could be pretty scary when he was angry. The punishments he is able to come up with are unmentionable.
The male, who found the girl, carefully picked up the limp body from the ground and placed her on his back. They started walking back to Konoha while keeping an eye on the girl. None of them knew what possible situation the girl was in to have that sort of damage. There was no headband nearby to indicate her village. With that, it was most likely assumption that she must have been a run-away villager.
Hours later, the males have returned back to the village and made their way to the Hokage's office. One of them knocked on the door upon their arrival. Waiting for an answer, a voice behind it allowed them inside. Opening the door, they walked up to the desk in which the current Hokage sat behind. His cerulean blue eyes looked up from the paperwork laying amongst the wooden furniture to notice one of the teams he had sent out had returned. Though his gaze swiftly moved to the red haired girl on the back of one of them.
"Well first off, I'm glad you three have returned safely from your mission. Though I see there is a new addition?" He questioned.
They looked at each other before looking back at the Hokage. "Naruto-sama, on our return back to Konoha, we stumbled upon the path this girl was lying on in the outskirts of Suna's desert. There was no sort of evidence has to how she has arrived there or where she came from. Our instincts told us to take her back and give her medical attention as soon as possible."
Naruto looked puzzled for a brief moment before placing his hands under his chin locked by the figures. "Take her to the hospital and ask for my wife Sakura to heal her. I have a feeling she will want to check her out and examine any sort of health concerns. Also, please tell her that once this girl has woken up to inform me and I will be there as soon as the moment comes."
They all nodded and with that left to take the mysterious girl to the hospital quickly.
Distant voices is all I could sense at first. Slowly, the darkness in which enveloped my mind began to disperse. Behind the closed lids, light shone through. It was irritating already. The voices I came to hear started to clear individual people. Wanting to listen in, I tried to focus on the words. My body, on the other hand, was aching and screaming in pain. Some parts were numb since I believed I didn't have them anymore.
"It's been nearly a month now. She still hasn't woke up Sakura-chan. I'm not sure what we can do at this point." A male voice said.
A sigh which seemed to belong to a female was made. "I know that Naruto, but you have to trust me. Her vitals have improve a lot in just a month. Her brain activity is up-to-par now. I have a feeling today she will be awake."
Whoever this female was, she was wrong. I could still feel my injuries underneath this light cover over my body. You cannot erase the kind of pain I'm feeling at the moment. Though, she was also right. I have come to wake up from whatever it was I fell in. Maybe it was time to prove this female, who I assume is this Sakura person, right.
Slowly fidgiting with my figures to bring some bloodflow in those veins. My eye lids began to open, allowing light to fill my irises. Once they adjusted, a clear picture of a female and male talking to each other stood in front of the hospital bed I was currently laying in. Both appeared to have stopped their conversation once they heard me shuffling. Two pairs of eyes turned to look at me, one pair emerald green and another pair cerulean blue.
"Told you so." The female said to the male.
But they continued to stare, it seemed at my eyes. Last I looked at myself in a mirror was at a very young age. I don't exactly know what I look like much anymore. All I know really about my body is my average body frame and long red hair. If anything I look like a mess.
"Wh-where am I-I?" My voice came out shaky and raspy. It felt really dry also, almost like there was a clump just hanging in my throat.
The pink haired female quickly exited the room. Perhaps she had to go fetch something. The blond male looked at the ceiling for a moment, then back a bit as he scratched the back of his head.
"Well, how do I put this? You are in Konoha's hospital right now. Three ninjas I had sent out on a mission found you...in the outskirts of Suna's desert. They brought you back here." He walked over to the side of the bed and sat down on the edge. His eyes were stern as well as filled with concern. "Do you know how you ended up there?"
All I was doing was staring blankly back at him. I searched within my memory for answers. Answers...There was nothing I could find to give this man any reason. Panic started to show as an expression.
"I...can't...remember...anything..." It was all I could manage to say. I kept trying to search for any sort of memory or even something factual about myself. Nothing. It was an empty vast in my mind. The only thing that came in my mind was my name.
"Aina." I managed to choke out softly.
The blond man looked confused. "I only know how to communicate and my name." I explained.
What he did next surprised me. He took my left hand in between his two big hands. "I will help you as much as possible, Aina. Believe it." He flashed a grin to try and comfort me. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I am the Hokage of Konoha currently. The lady with the pink hair who was here earlier is my wife Sakura. She is the head medic of this hospital. She is also going to do her best to help you, along with my friends."
"Thank you." I softly said.
"I'll let you rest a little longer. Sakura will be back and I have a feeling she'll say you can leave the hospital. I have a small apartment set up for you to be like a home." Naruto stood up and walked to the door. I'll be out front waiting." With that he left.
Like what Naruto said, Sakura did different tests just to make sure I was fine now that I was able to move around. Once she gave the okay, I was given a pair of pants that were slightly loose and a t-shirt. Sakura had said it was only temporary until I got my own gear and attire picked out.
Naruto also kept his word on waiting out front for me and showed me to my apartment. He told me that it use to be his when he was younger. After that he had to leave to attend some Kage business. I think he had mentioned sending someone over in a bit. I wasn't too sure what exactly for, but I guess I would have to wait and see.
While waiting for this mysterious person to show up, I went to explore my apartment. It was pretty decent considering the size and layout. From what it looked like, I entered the kitchen/eating area. A small counter space with a sink and stove were in the left corner sitting just across. Above that was a window which looked like it could open. There seemed to be a door next to that, so I walked over to see what it was behind. Sliding it open I peeked in to see it was a storage space for food and utilities. The fridge was in the left corner near the entrance door while a small rectangular table sat in the middle with a chair. Exploring some more, I went through the hall finding myself in the laundry room and bathroom. Lastly, the biggest room of the apartment was the bedroom.
Overall, it was good. All that was needed really was some decorations and furniture. Loud knocking came from the kitchen. I jumped slightly at the surprising noise and went to see who it was.
Opening the door, stood a person smiling. "Hello there! I'm here to take you shopping!"