Inverted-

Chapter eleven

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Where she was looked like something straight out of a Shojo manga or historical fiction movie. Everything was so...old fashioned. The clothing that the people wore, the goods being sold in the stores, mode of transportation, even the weapons that she had seen a select few carrying around in the open.

Katana's. Metal fans. Knives of all shapes and sizes.

Each wickedly made to do the maximum amount of damage to the human body. Among other things that made her shudder and wrap her arms around herself as if the action would provide some protection against the unknown dangers she suddenly found herself surrounded by.

She would have to tread carefully here lest she might gain unwanted and (at this point in time) unwelcome attention.

"Hey," An man's deep voice said right next to her shoulder. Like now, She thought wryly as snapped her head to the side, and looked up at a man who had to be in his thirties. His head was completely bald and there were slash scars along with burn scars on his face. He was bent at the waist a bit, his onyx colored eyes staring her down for a moment before he straightened his spine and crossed his arms over his- dear lord, the man had a torso as thick as a tree trunk- chest and asked in a deceptively warm tone, "Are you new to the village?"

She took a small step back, wanting very much to flee as she shook her head and eyed him warily.

The man made a soft humming sound and smiled at her and gave a cheery, "Oh alright then. Sorry to have bothered you." Then walked around her and disappeared into the crowd. Leaving her standing there with a 'What the hell?' expression on her face.

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The hospital was in utter chaos by the time the rookies got there to check on Naruto. There were doctors and nurses running in every direction and each time one of them tried to ask someone about their friend- that person would say, 'Not now.' or 'I can't tell you!' then run off. Infuriating the teens while making others even more concerned for Naruto's general well being.

It wasn't until Kakashi appeared with a panicked look on his face that they realized why the hospital was in such an uproar to begin with. The look on the older man's face said everything.

But just to make things even clearer, it did help that Kakashi managed to choke out- "Naruto is missing."

Which caused all hell to break loose among the rookies.

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Sai was walking out of his favorite art supply store when something orange caught his eye.

Looking up from the paint brushes in his hand that he had just purchased, he scanned the crowd passing along in front of the shop and frowned slightly when he caught sight of a sixteen year old female with blonde hair almost down to her waist- Sort of staggering around as she looked from one side of the street to the other with an expression of open curiosity and awe.

"Naruto?" Sai mumbled under his breath as he quickly packed his new art materials away and hurried after the girl.

To his knowledge, niether Sakura nor lady Tsunade would have released Naruto after the incident that had occured yesterday. It would be considered irresponsible of them to do so while Naruto was still for all intents and purposes- sick.

So natrually seeing the blonde up and moving around- outside of hospital walls- made him wonder if Naruto was delirious. Or possibly sleep walking or something. Although...he had no real clue how someone could manage to sleep walk themselves right out of a hospital without being caught.

But seeing as Naruto was his teammate, and was currently up and walking around in a daze like state- then maybe he should keep an eye on her and make sure that she didn't get into any mischief.

He got half way up the street when he spotted several of Ibiki's Anbu following her and bit back an oath as he started shoving every blue hair and random person getting in his way, out of the way. Not really caring where any of them landed or if they got hurt as long as he reached Naruto before the Anbu did.

After all ibiki didn't know about the changes in Naruto's appearance and might think she was an enemy. Someone new to question and torture. And if Naruto was unable to give him the answers he wanted, well, he just might murder her thinking that he was protecting the village.

He shouldered his way past an elder with a small child and put on a small burst of speed- coming up behind Naruto low to the ground and quickly scooped her up and tossed her over one of his shoulders causing her to let out an alarmed shriek as he forced himself to laugh and say, "Oh! So here you are dear."

Naruto partially twisted around in his grasp and looked down at him wide eyed. Her rose colored lips parting slightly as if she wanted to ask him what the hell he was doing as he continued to babble, "You had me worried when you were late for our date. We were to meet at Ichiraku's. Did you forget?" His eyes scanned one side of him as he shifted his hold on Naruto's slender body and then scanned the other side of him.

The Anbu were still there. He could see every damned one of them.

But at least they had halted in their tracks. For now. He thought darkly as Naruto pushed against his chest and squirmed- apparently trying to free herself from his grasp. Finally after tightening his grip on her a bit, she shocked him by punching him in the shoulder...hard.

Ow! Sai thought as he slowly tilted his head back to look at her. She had such an adorably infuriated look. Like she wanted nothing more than to hand his balls to him on a platter.

Was it strange that he thought that was cute? He wondered to himself as he set her down but then grabbed her hand and leaned in close and whispered, "Stay close to me."

Naruto looked up at him (huh, he was an inch or so taller than her now. weird) and blinked her violet eyes at him then asked in a tentative tone, "Do I know you?"

Sai started to open his mouth to say yes, but instead frowned at her and brought his free hand up to push her bangs back from her forehead. She still had a fever, he could tell that almost automatically from the warmth of her hand in his grasp. But he had wanted to be totally sure of it before he reacted. After all Naruto's memory could have somehow been affected by the mark they had found on her shortly after the change.

But then again, in theory, Naruto's memory could have been wiped blank when she had collapsed. Or could have been affected by the fever she was running. He wasn't a doctor, but those were the only things that seemed logical at the moment.

She reached out with her free hand and jabbed him in the upper arm- right where his arm meets his torso and gave him a dark look before growling out, "Do. I. Know. You."

"Ow. Yes, now stop hitting me." He hissed out as he rubbed the throbbing area. Dear god it felt like she had almost dislocated his shoulder! She glared at him and raised her hand to jab him again when he felt his left eye twitch a bit as she asked,

"If we know eachother then what's your name?"

"First of all if you jab me again, I'm throwing you to the wolves-" He said in a warning tone, his expression serious. "And second of all, my name is Sai."