I liked the feedback I got for my prologue, so I wrote up Ch. 1 for this still on-going project story. Since I can easily delete it if no one seems interested.

Good for me though, people do seem to enjoy it!

Ch. 1 will focus more on the beginning plot of this story, and around Sakura.

No actual NaruSaku-ness will start till either Ch.2 or Ch.3 depending on how much I type for each one.

Now, Naruto will be in two forms here: 7 years old, as he is in my current story, and 15 when Sakura has flashbacks.

Yes, for anyone wondering, this is a time-traveling story. How she got eight years into the past will be explained in another chapter.

-shrugs- Suppose I got nothing more to add, enjoy Ch.1 and I'll type Ch.2 as fast I can.

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine. (Doesn't feel like taking out her witty comment box today.)

'We're all lonely for something we don't know we're lonely for.' -Unknown

Beep...Beep...Beep.'

That noise was getting annoying. And seemed all too familiar as well.

'Beep...Beep...Beep.'

Why was she hearing this noise anyway? Shouldn't she be in the middle of a forest.

'Beep...Beep...Beep.'

Where's Naruto? Kakashi-sensei, Yamato-san, and Sai? What was she doing? Why can't she remember certain things?

'Beep...Beep...Beep.'

And why can't she seem to move her body at all?

These thoughts tugged and pulled inside Sakura's mind as she began to drift closer and closer into reality.

The annoying noise that constantly buzzed in her head was the first to be cleared.

She was a medic-nin after all, hospital equipment was nothing new to her. The noise was from a heart monitor and IV machine.

At least that's what her somewhat fogged up mind concluded.

She could hear her breathing now. It was slow and steady. Unlike moments ago, when is was shallow and quick. Or she thought it was moments ago.

Her body was still stiff and she had difficulty moving it while still gaining consciousness. Perhaps it was more like days.

The heart monitor provided her with more information. Her heart was beating normally.

Sakura was still confused though. Usually, she would already be hearing Naruto's annoying voice talking to Kakashi. Who would normally ignore him and continue reading his book. Her Master, Tsunade coming in to check on her, and possibly release more angered words and Naruto and Kakashi for letting her get hurt.

She received none of that.

Where ever she was in the hospital, it was too eerily quiet.

It took another ten minutes, but Sakura was finally able to open her aching eyelids.

Her vision was blurry, as was to be expected. She waited for a few seconds while her green eyes got adjusted once again to the light.

The first thing she sees, is white. Lots and lots of white.

So she was in the hospital after all.

She winces as she turns her head to the right to see the IV machine and heart monitor beeping away. She follows the cord of the IV that leads to her wrist.

Green eyes study the bandages surrounding her lower arm. Splotches of dried blood appeared in random spots.

Her dried lips formed a tight line as she surveyed the rest of her injuries.

She could feel the bandages on her upper and lower abdomen. Her left wrist seemed bandaged up as well. Lifting up her left hand she rubbed her head gently. She had two band-aids on each of her cheeks.

She put her left hand back down, it was painful to keep it in that position for too long.

Sakura leans her head back against the pillow, and releases an overdue sigh. Her eyes half close in thought, as she wonders what had happened back in the forest.

It was apparent she got badly injured, but what about the others? Were they hurt as well?

Speaking of the others, where were they? Had they gone home to rest, or were they just as injured as her?

Sakura grunts as she pushes herself up to sit on the bed. Her neck seemed fine, but her head was throbbing.

As the young woman settles herself in her new position on the bed, she hears footsteps walking outside in the hallway.

She smiles.

Perhaps it was Naruto, or Kakashi coming to check on her.

She sees two shadows through the crack of the hospital doors and begins to hear low whispers.

Her green eyes widened. Those voices sounded nothing like Naruto, or Kakashi.. Not even Sai or Yamato.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura lays back down onto the bed and closes her eyes to feign unconsciousness.

The whispers outside seem to get louder, and new voices joined in.

Pink eyebrows knot in concentration and agitation as she tries to listen to what or more importantly who was speaking.

The voices were definitely unfamiliar to her. Which the young woman found disturbing. She knew almost every working nurse in the hospital. Tsunade made sure she met all new recruits. Perhaps she hired new ones while she was bedridden. Still, Tsunade would be with them at this time, especially since she was Tsunade's apprentice.

She continued to listen to the small murmurs, hoping by some chance to recognize one of the voices as her friends.

So far, nothing.

Then, something catches her ears.

Her closed eyes opened wide in total shock.

Sakura involuntarily let out a huge gasp. She closes her lips tight and hopes none of them heard anything.

A moment passes. No, they were still in conversation.

She gulps deep and closes her eyes again.

What the hell was going on?!

Did she hit her head harder during that incident in the forest?

Why was she hearing the Third Hokage's voice?!

It was his voice, even after three years of his untimely death, Sakura still remembered his deep baritone voice that carried dignity and respect.

But he was dead. How could she be hearing his voice?

Her confusing thoughts were interrupted when she heard the click of her hospital door being unlocked.

Her eyebrows relaxed, and her eyelids became completely closed. Her breathing returned to it's slow rhythm. But her body was now on full alert for anything.

Sakura needed to figure out what was going on.

"As you can see Hokage-sama, the girl hasn't made any progress since her full physical recovery." Sakura could barely hear the voice of what she assumed was the nurse taking care of her.

"I've had nurses come in to check on her every two hours since she's arrived here two weeks ago." The pink haired woman gasps mentally. 'I've been out for more than two weeks?!'

"And each time Hokage-sama, she remained in deep slumber." The nurse's tone of voice was etched in slight worry.

The next voice Sakura heard, shook her to her very bones. "I see. It appears her injuries were much more severe than we had first concluded. I'm sure the young woman will be fine in due time though." There was no mistaking it, that deep and gruff voice belonged to no one but the Third Hokage.

"Do you think so Hokage-sama?"

"Aa, after all, this young lady wore the headband of the Leaf village. And all nin from here are from strong roots. She shall be fine."

As the Hokage finished speaking, Sakura heard the footsteps of at least four people, entering the room.

Suddenly, Sakura felt like some exhibition in a museum. She could feel every person in that room stare at her with mixed emotions.

Sakura flinched on the inside. They were probably questioning themselves on who she was. Though honestly, she was just as bewildered as anyone else in that room.

"Still nothing Saratobi?" She recognized one of the voices as the male elder that always nagged at Tsunade. Or so she had told Sakura.

The young woman assumed the Hokage had shook his head because the elder had released a heavy sigh.

"Saratobi, you know we're in a predicament because of this girl." Another voice spoke to the Hokage. This one Sakura recognized as the female elder.

"The Anbu members that located her are curious about her origins, and if they're curiosity continues to grow the information about this girl, who appears to be a rogue nin from OUR village, might leave the walls of the Anbu headquarters."

Even without continuing, Sakura knew the silent implications the female elder was making to the people of the room.

Sakura hears heavy steps that walk around towards the left side of her bed. The light filtering through her eyelids is abruptly obscured by a large shadow.

The Hokage was looming over her seemingly asleep body.

"I understand your worries you two, but we cannot force the girl to awake if her condition is still unstable. Besides as far as I have heard from the Anbu that found her, all their concern is if she'll become a threat to our village. I've already put this room under tight security with both Anbu and Jounin guarding at all hours." Sakura assumes the Hokage smiles as he paused.

"We will be fine."

The room fills with a tense silence. Sakura was still as confused as ever, but the tension in the room was making her prior thoughts disappear.

The female elder speaks first. "I'll let this go for now Saratobi, but realize something. We MUST figure out her situation once she awakens."

The male elder continued. "She wore the headband of the village Saratobi, which means she either stole it, forged it, or she was originally a fellow nin of this village that had left and has now returned."

"She might have left for her own personal reasons and came back with vital information regarding the other villages. We're still in tense relations with many of them you know that." The male elder's voice boomed with authority.

Sakura felt her body grow colder and colder with each word the elders spoke.

She was from this village! Both of them should know who she was, yet spoke about her like a stranger. Even considering her a traitor of sorts. What the hell was going on?! It was almost as if she were in a different time in Konoha.

"Calm yourselves. I've been Hokage for nearly half my life, I know what I'm doing. We'll let this situation slip by as a simple incident of a fellow nin. No more, no less. We will get nothing from her if we automatically conclude her a traitor." The Hokage's voice spoke calmly and collected.

The young woman could hear the two elders grunt their agreement to the Hokage's words.

"We see your point Saratobi." The male elder spoke

"We'll leave things to you then. Don't disappoint us Saratobi." The female elder nodded.

The elders leave the room shortly after, their fading steps lingering in Sakura's ears. She could still make out the faint sound of breathing from two people. Once again she assumes it's the nurse and Hokage.

"Shall I call for her next check-up Hokage-sama?"

"Ie, She seems healthy, just mentally tired. I believe you won't need one for another day or two."

"Very well, I'll be leaving then. Will you be making your hourly visit to her for the day Hokage-sama?" Sakura could hear the humor in the nurses' voice.

A chuckle is heard. "Hai, I think she needs the company."

A small laugh, and the shutting of the door. The Third Hokage and her were now alone.

Then again, the pink haired woman was starting to think she was having a bizarrely long dream, and there was no way any of this was happening to her for real.

Still, she pretended to sleep, and hope his visit would be short. Or that her mind was lenient enough to wake her up from this too uncomfortable vision.

Her ears catch the sound of rustling robes as they make their way to the left side of her bed again. Then the sound of metal scrapping against floor. It must be a chair, she thinks.

The plop of someone sitting down, and the exhale of a withheld breath.

"Perhaps it's time you explained to me of your REAL situation, now that you're awake, Sakura Haruno."

Her body tenses and her eyes open slowly to turn to look at the old man towards her left.

Green eyes stare back at tired and dull brown eyes.

And for a moment everything freezes. And for that one moment, Sakura finally realizes just what her situation is.

And for that one moment, all she wishes was for someone to wake her up from this nightmare she has found herself in.

'Naruto...'

And done!

I do realize that this chapter might be a bit short, but trust me, they're going to get much MUCH longer. I'm just knocking down the basics here, of how, when, where, and why.

The next chapter will focus more on these points when it comes to Sakura, and how the Third plans to deal with a girl eight years in her past.

-peace- Night-chan out! And please review, your opinion matters! unless I hate them, in which case, they don't! lol