Chapter One

My eyes flutter open slowly, and the first thing I notice is the dryness in my throat and the stiffness of my limbs. How long had I been out? My eyes take time to adjust to the blinding white lights, and I make a noise that sounds something like a groan and a whimper.

I hear shuffling around me and low murmuring voices. My eyes first focus on a pinkish blob. Then I realise it is a girl with pink hair. Who is she? My eyes flutter towards the slightly bigger figure next to her, and I make out the shape of a blonde women.

"Is he alright, Tsunade? He doesn't seem to recognise us," the girl with the pink hair says.

I don't understand. Had I known these people? Have I lost my memories? I try to focus on any memories I may have of these people, but all I find is a black bottomless void. My stomach twists uneasily as I realise that I don't even know who I am.

The blonde woman sighs deeply, then rubs her temples. She turns to look at me, and I shrink a little under her intense stare. "How do you feel, Naruto? Do you recognise us at all? Just a little bit?"

Naruto? Is that my name? I test the word out in my head and I find that I quite like it. Then I remember that she had asked me a question. How do I feel?

I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a couple of pathetic dry rasps and wheezes. The girl with the pink hair rushes to a little trolley besides her and passes me a glass of water. I thankfully take it and sip it a little, relishing the relieving feeling of moisture in my dry throat.

"Thank you," I say, and I feel surprised for a second by my own boyish voice. I hesitate to answer the blonde woman's question, not knowing the answer myself. "I feel…fine. Just a little tired and sore, but other than that, I'm alright."

I attempt to smile but it feels like my face is cracking into two, so I drop it. "And I don't remember you guys at all. I don't even remember myself. I'm Naruto, right?"

The pink haired girl smiles sweetly and takes my hand in hers. It feels foreign, but warm and comforting at the same time. "Your name is Naruto Uzumaki. You were- I mean, you are, the kindest, purest most honest person I know. You always smiled and your smile is so bright and innocent. It even makes Sasuke smile a little. Sasuke is your best friend. You also have many other friends as well. There's Gaara, Shikamaru, Neji, Hinata and of course me. I'm Sakura by the way. And this is Tsunade. You always called her baa-chan though, and it'll make her really angry, but we all know that she loves your nickname." She stops and laughs a little. It sounds high pitched and cute, and I can't help but smile a little too.

She stops laughing a frown begins to dawn her face. Silence fills the air again as she continues speaking. "One day, though, she discovered that you were sick. Further tests showed that you were suffering with Leukemia. At first, you were so energetic and full of life. You were so confident that you were going to kick cancer in the face. And we all believed you. But after a while, your energy faded away, and we thought we'd lost you."

Her eyes are prickling with tears and I realise that I am crying as well. She struggles to continue, and I struggle to listen. Why was I cursed with such disease? It just isn't fair.

"Tsunade had a risky cure. It wasn't foolproof and there was a fifty fifty chance that you were going to lose all your memories. It seems like you did. We don't actually know if you're cured or not, but we'll find out in a couple of days' time."

I stare wordlessly at her as I process the load of new information. So there was a chance that I wasn't even cured yet? My heart sinks and I frown a little. Sakura sees this frown and squeezes my hand comfortingly. I flash her a quick thankful smile.

So I am Naruto Uzumaki, and I have amnesia and Leukemia.