Chapter 16: Reports

The air smelled of cold, sterile, clean air. No natural light came in considering there were no windows. The only furniture in the room was a hospital bed but it was occupied. The only sounds that could be heard in this room was the girl's light breathing and the heart monitor beeping in time with her heart. An IV drip was connected into her left arm slowly giving her medicine to keep her asleep while she recovers from the surgery. The door to the room was locked with a single masked Anbu leaning against it on the inside. Two more masked guards stand just outside the door.

In a sun lit office a group of people stands before the Hokage. Ready for their turn to give their reports. Along with them is the Hokage's assistant, her pig, her apprentice, and the girl's blonde haired cousin. The Hokage being the one who led the major part of the surgery looks up tiredly.

"Yamanaka, please give us your report."

Explains what happened to her when she disappeared about the time of the Chunin Exams. Explains that Orchimaru's henchman, Kabuto did surgery on her but that she isnt sure what happened.

"After she recovered from the last surgery her hair was no longer red but white. She could not recall who she was or who she was from. As Uzumaki Ame awoke, Uchia Sasuke was standing between her and Kabuto. He gave her the name Yuki and served as her protector, teacher, and-"

He clears his throat lightly and glances at Naruto for a second before looking at the Hokage.

"And as her lover. As Yuki she didn't know of her past or had any idea that it was Kabuto and Orochimaru that use to torture and abuse not just her but her mother and others. I have worked with an artist to help make sketches of everyone that she incountered as a child during the time before she came to Leaf. I have them here in my report."

He hands the large stack of papers to the Hokage assistant. She sets them on the Hokage's desk. The Hokage nods her head to him. Then looks at the doctor standing next to the Yamanaka.

"Lady Hokage, from what we can see the surgeries that were done to her were crude but meant to help with her health. They have replaced her heart with a better and stronger one. They also had managed to put a seal on it so that if activated it would turn her into a walking time bomb of chakra. It could be activated from any great distance. The report does indeed back up what Mr. Yamanaka reported about Uchia Sasuke being her lover. There is also signs of a recent miscarriage. Her arms and legs shows signs of scars from combat. The only other plemish is the scar in the center of her chest which was used in the surgeries. It seems he used the same spot to operate to minimize the scarring. Last thing, her chakra seems to have either manifested or was brought about by the surgeries. The only thing is that the main point seems to be connected to her vocal chords."

The Hokage rubs her temples for a second then nods her head. That report is added to the other. Tkaing a deep breath she sits up taller.

"From all the reports, we know that the girl is desended from Leaf. Meaning she is one of us. Just before she was taken she was made into a kunoichi. Meaning they had taken one of us. They have operated on her and hopefully don't know any of the information that she had gained. Squad 7 went out to try to recover Uchia Sasuke. He managed to slip away. they feel like they failed their mission. The didn't achieve the main objective. They did manage to gain us some information about the layout and some of those working under Orichimaru. Ame Uzumaki has been targeted by Uchia Sasuke. So for now we need to keep her within the village and under guard. Yamanaka said that her memories will return. So until then we wait. Thank you all for your time. Naruto I want you to stay."

Almost everyone files out of the room. The air that was just thick with stress and crisis settles to a lower level and it becomes less humid. The Hokage looks at him seriously.

"Naruto, I want you to gather some of Ame's friends and take them to see her. They are only allowed to enter one at a time. She'll be waking up in about an hour. One more thing before you head out. You need to smile. If Ame sees you upset like this then you'll make her worry. She is home and I promise you safe."

Naruto nods his head but doesnt unclench his fists. He looks at her with determination.

"I think you're wrong to leave her in the village. Allow her to travel with a team. She's prone to be a little more reckless when she gets bored or feels like she is in a cage. Granny, is Yuki really my cousin Ame?"

The Hokage gets up and goes hugs the boy. Naruto slowly hugs her back. He tightens his grip around her as the tears start to fall.

"Why couldn't I protect her? Why should she forgive me? What's the point of being a ninja if I can't even protect my own kin?"

She let's him be for a minute then pulls back. Looking at him she slaps him.

"You swore to become Hokage. You didn't fail to protect her. You did what you could. And the point is to protect your home and make the world a better place. Ame-"

Looks up when an Anbu appears behind Naruto. She steps around him.

"Lady Hokage, Uzumaki Ame is awake. She calls for Naruto Uzumaki and Shino Aburame."

"Thank you. They will be along shortly. Have her doctor give her a quick check up. Naruto, go collect Aburame then go see your cousin."

Naruto nods and jumps out the open window and takes to the roofs to hunt down the bug master. Trying to ignore the dark thoughts that keep trying to eat him from the inside out. Ame touches her hair and sighs relieved to see it is red.

"It was just a dream. It was all just a bad dream. I went in for my heart surgery and had a bad dream."

She looks up and smiles lightly at the doctor. Ame knew she was in Leaf. She was safe and she was home but a little dark voice told her that it wasn't just a nightmare but everything really did happen.