Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto

I shot up, ignoring the searing pain from the white light, and saw the same hospital room that I was in earlier. Earlier… It all felt like a dream. Ben, the lake, the strange men with masks, the green hands. It was all too much.

I rubbed my temples with my hands, and noticed that I was no longer restrained. I swung my legs over the side of the bed as the door opened again. This time, however, the person who entered was not dressed in all white.

A woman entered who seemed about thirty. She had blonde hair pulled partially back, a green cardigan and a grey shirt that did little to hide her gigantic…well, you get the point.

""(Y/N). They told me you were up. How are you feeling?" I stared at her blankly. "I see. You've had quite a week, haven't you?" A week? How long was I out for? "I've been informed that you are not from this area, therefore you must have many questions. I'll try to answer a few for you."

She smiled at me, and I didn't know how to feel. I wanted to run, but if she could help me understand what happened, and what was happening, I wasn't going to pass that up.

"My name is Lady Tsunade, but to most I'm the Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. That means that I am the leader of this village, and mandate not only what goes on inside the walls, but all inter-village communications with the Mist, Sound, Sand, and others as well." I was trying to process the new terms as she sat down on the edge of the bed and continued.

"Many of the village's inhabitants are normal, every-day, hardworking people, but a great few are known as shinobi." My eyes must have seem glassed over, because she rephrased herself. "'Ninja' is a word you might know them by."

I swallowed, and thought about the masked men who abducted me earlier. The memory of the kidnapping removed any sense of comfort that I had felt with Lady Tsunade, and I tensed up. The Hokage seemed to notice, and smiled.

"They won't hurt you. At least, not unless I order them to." My eyes widened. "Which, of course, I won't. As long as you comply."

Comply?

"Shinobi are people who possess great taijutsu, speed, intelligence, and—most importantly—the ability to control chakra. Chakra is the spiritual energy in the body, and we shinobi are able to control it and form it to what we need. There are even times when a person's chakra is so powerful and concentrated that it can become tangible and used as a weapon. However, when it is depleted, the shinobi will most likely die."

She continued, but the thought of chakra was interesting to me. Something that makes you so powerful can cause your death. It's sad that these shinobi are dependent on something that seems so useless outside of battle. I wonder how often shinobi come close to depleting their chakra. Maybe I do have a one-up on these people. Maybe I can still get back home….somehow.

While I was pondering my great escape, I realized that Lady Tsunade had stopped talking and was watching me expectantly. "Sorry, what?"

She sighed. " (Y/N), If you're going to have your head in the clouds like this often, I'll have you live with Nara Shikamaru."

Wait…live?

"I was asking how you felt about living with either someone very energetic or someone very reserved." Okay, hold up.

"Live? You want me to live here? I don't even know where 'here' is! I don't even understand how I got here. I want to go home!" By the end of my monologue, I was shouting. The door flew open and two more masked men were immediately at the Hokage's side. I tensed up, but she waved them off.

"It's okay, she's just emotional. Thank you." The men retreated. "Yes, (Y/N), live here."

My face paled. "I—wh—why can't I go home?" Tsunade's face darkened with seriousness. She stood up.

"I didn't want to tell you this yet, but you seem like the persistent type. So I'll break it to you gently." I looked down at my hands and she walked over to the window. "There is an ancient prophecy that is passed down from Hokage to Hokage. I am the Fifth."

I looked up. Only the fifth? How new is this village?

"The Fourth Hokage died fighting off a demon fox, saving the village from the destruction. The Third Hokage, though old, retook his position. He died a very honorable death, fighting off a man who planned to destroy the Leaf Village. However, it was a death that he foresaw. He inscribed the prophecy, along with other things, and when I was chosen to be Hokage by the Elders, I was given the information."

I swallowed. I had a feeling this was much more important than I wanted it to be.

"There is an ancient prophecy that stems from before even the First Hokage. It says, 'Someone from a world not our own will enter the Village through water, burn it with fire and seal it with earth. They will make peace with the wind and protect the Village with the water from which they came.'"

She turned to look at me, and I pulled back. I was terrified. "You aren't from here. That much we gathered on your medical tests. You have chakra, but it is an extremely small amount that has been suppressed by your own body and mind for your entire life. In our world, that is an impossibility. But where you're from, people don't know about chakra, do they?"

"S-some religions t-t-talk ab-b-out it," I stuttered. I was shaking. How the hell was I supposed be the person from this prophecy? I just got here! I don't even know these people! I want to go home!

"Exactly. And you came through a body of water, did you not? There was excess water in your lungs according to our medics." I slowly nodded my head. I felt as if I was selling my soul.

"Then that settles it. For now, with the information we have, you may be the key to this prophecy. And we are keeping you here in the Village until we can be sure."

She turned to the door and barked out a name that I couldn't understand. A masked man entered, and my body tensed up involuntarily…again. "Bring me Haruno Sakura."

"Hai!" The man sped off. I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't even see him move and he was gone…was that the power of chakra?

"Haruno Sakura is one of our skilled medical-nin, and will help you change into different clothing. She will also escort you to your new home. For the time being, you will live with Uzumaki Naruto. He lives alone and can host you until the Uchiha clan residence has been prepared. Uchiha Sasuke has a much larger complex and will be able to accommodate you better than Naruto, but I am having some surveillance posted to watch Sasuke for a while to make sure he will be a good host and not use you for his personal gain. He has had a bit of a troubled past."

I swallowed. She wanted me to stay with someone who had a troubled past? Who might want to use me? That sounds like a wonderful idea. Put the newbie with the erotic serial killer. Awesome.

There was a knock, and a girl with—get this—bright pink hairstepped through the door. She smiled widely when she saw the Hokage, and ran up to her immediately. "Tsunade-sama! You wanted to see me?"

"Hai, Sakura." She motioned towards me. "This is (Y/N). She will be staying with Naruto for a while, so I need you to help her into her clothing and escort her to the Uzumaki residence."

Sakura frowned. "Naruto? Why is she staying with Naruto?"

"She will have a permanent residence with Uchiha Sasuke, but until we have made absolutely sure that he is stable enough to take care of (Y/N), she will be bunking with Naruto."

Sakura's face fell. "Sasuke? I see…" She perked up suddenly and a smile flashed across her face again. "Hai, Tsunade-sama! I'll take care of her!"

The Hokage smiled back. These two must have a pleasant history. "Arigato, Sakura, and take care, (Y/N). We'll be in touch."

With that, she left, and Sakura pulled clothing out of the closet for me to wear. She walked over to me and laid the clothing on the bed. After taking one look, I shook my head.

"No, absolutely not. I do not wear netting. Where are my normal clothes?"

Sakura smiled at me. "They were wet and potentially contaminated, so we burned them. We saved your backpack though." She motioned to the closet, and sure enough, my backpack was leaned up against the doors. I sighed of relief. At least I have something familiar. She smiled sweetly and her bangs moved in the wind. That's when I remembered.

"You were her! The girl whose hands glow green!"

Sakura laughed. "Yes, that is a special chakra produced only by medical-nin. It was to heal you and to put you to sleep so we could run our tests on a compliant patient. You weren't exactly a walk-in-the-park to heal."

I smiled. No, I definitely wasn't. Sakura helped me into my clothes, which pertained of a sleeveless crop top with a high collar that had a short split down the middle, netting to cover my stomach, and grey, straight-fitting pant that stopped a bit above my ankles—which were covered by these oddly comfortable blue sandals. All in all, I looked very out-of-character.

I was starting to argue with Sakura with the outfit choice when she began squealing with joy. "Ah, you look amazing! Let me fix your hair! Please, please!"

I reluctantly obliged, but secretly enjoyed the comfort I felt from being with Sakura—another girl around my age. She pulled the front of my hair back and held it in place with a headband. "There! Now you look absolutely stunning! All the Konoha boys will be so jealous that you're staying with Sasuke-kun!" When she mentioned his name, a light blush rose to her cheeks, and she saddened a bit.

"Sakura…"I got the impression she liked this Sasuke kid, and I needed to make sure she knew I wasn't stealing her guy.

She smiled at me. "What is it, (Y/N)?"

"I'm being forced to live here. I don't want you to get the impression that I'm enjoying any second of this."

Her face dropped. "Oh…I understand." She stood up. "Here, let's just go, okay?"

She grabbed my hand, and I realized what happened. "Oh, no! Sakura, I'm so grateful that you're here. I've been so scared all the time lately and you're making me feel a lot better. Just…just don't think I'm trying to…steal…anyone from you…" I struggled to find the words to say, and she giggled.

"Oh, (Y/N), it's nothing like that. You're right that I used to be in love with Sasuke, but those days are long gone. We were just on a three-man squad together and we have lots of good memories." I grabbed my backpack and looked back to find her smiling sentimentally. We began walking out the door. I was finally feeling more comfortable, and a question was burning at the back of my throat. I decided Sakura could help me.

"Hey, Sakura?"

"Hai?"

"Lady Tsunade told me that Sasuke had a troubled past. What did she mean?"

Sakura hesitated, and appeared as though she was trying extremely hard to keep the smile on her face. "Sasuke betrayed the village. But now he's back, and is atoning for what he's done. I think that's all I should tell you for now."

Any further inquisitions were met with silence, so I gave up and looked forward. I didn't know how I felt about Sasuke, but at least I knew he wasn't a serial killer…right?

As Sakura lead me out the hospital doors, I pulled uncomfortably at the netting on my stomach.

Why is she making me wear this…

But before I could get another thought in, my eyes widened and I took in my surroundings. The Village was beautiful. There were stores and houses everywhere you looked, but not too many that they were trying to overpower the nature in the area. There were lights strung over the streets, and music played from some buildings. Everyone was conversing with each other and laughing—this village gave off a feeling of such joy and pride. I was suddenly less afraid of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I mean, if all of these people can be so happy here, then I should at least be okay for the time being.

I turned to talk to Sakura, and gaped. The mountain behind us had four massive heads carved into it. Sakura giggled. "Those are the heads of the first four Hokage," she explained. "They are planning to start the construction of Lady Tsunade soon."

That blonde woman is going to have her head up there? The level of her importance began to sink in. I did not want to upset anyone like that. But at the same time…she knew my name. She had conversed with me—or at least, tried to. I wasn't exactly inclined to talk with the woman who wanted to keep me in this village.

I suddenly remembered where I was going. The Uzumaki residence…my first prison. I took a deep breath and decided to go along with Sakura for now. If her hands glow green, she must be really powerful. I really don't want to get on her bad side. I'll stay compliant for a while, and during that time I can scope out the extent of these shinobi's power. Then maybe I can find a way back.

"Hey, Sakura?"

"Hn?" She looked over at me.

"Tell me about Naruto." If I'm living there, I want to know a bit about the guy hosting me. I'm not trying to live with two serial killers.

She smiled. "Naruto? Hm, let's see…He's very loud and annoying, and likes to pull pranks of people. He thinks he's the strongest ninja out of all of us, and brags about his abilities a lot."

I nodded. He sounded like a lot to handle so far.

"He also loves ramen. He always eats at Ichiraku's Ramen stand, and would probably eat them out of business if they didn't limit his intake." She giggled to herself. "I'm guessing that since you're living with him, you'll frequent there too."

I smiled. A guy who likes to eat? My type of guy.

"All in all, Naruto is a really great guy who will protect his friends no matter what. Once you become close to him, you're a precious person to him for life." She smiled, and seemed to be thinking through a memory. I decided not to push anymore questions and stared straight ahead.

A few people on the street glanced in my direction, but for the most part I was ignored. Unexpectedly, my clothing and hair blended in perfectly. Sakura, however, was the object of many people's attention.

"Sakura-chan! How've you been?"

"Oi, Sakura-chan! Nice to see you!"

"How's the medical training going, Sakura-chan?"

She seemed extremely popular. I happily fell into her shadow, but was slightly irritated at how long it was taking us to traverse this section of the Village. She seemed to know everyone.

After what felt like an hour, we finally left the street. "Sorry about that," Sakura apologized, "I haven't been home often because of the amount of missions the Leaf has been getting lately, so I wanted to catch up a little."

The Leaf….much easier to say than the Village Hidden in the Leaves. And wait…missions?

"Missions?" I asked, speaking my mind.

"Hai, shinobi are hired out by nobles and people of importance as bodyguards, to eliminate people who are causing trouble, to help with construction, etc. But for the most part, we are the army of the Leaf, and our purpose is to protect the Village and all of its inhabitants." She seemed incredibly proud, and her expression made me smile. These people truly love living here. Maybe it won't be so bad…

I caught myself. No, there was no way I could stay here. I pushed to the forefront of my mind the fact that I was kidnapped and I needed to get home. I had to play the part for now, but once these shinobi let their guard down I was gone.

Knock, knock, knock

Sakura rapped on the door that supposedly belonged to Uzumaki Naruto. I took in my surroundings while we waited, and I was not impressed.

This guy lived in an apartment complex, and judging by the small space between the doors of his neighbors, his home couldn't possibly be large enough to accommodate both of us. I sighed.

My room at home was larger than this…

Sakura knocked on his door again, this time less politely. Still hearing no response, she began pounding on the door repeatedly.

"NARUTO I SWEAR TO GOD OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW OR I WILL PUMMEL YOU!" She began beating the door so intensely that she broke a hole right through the center of the door frame. It swung inward due to the impact.

I gaped. My eyes widened and I took a couple steps back. So this is what happens when Sakura gets angry….intense strength! Duly noted…

She looked at me and gave an embarrassed giggle. "Sorry about that, (Y/N), Naruto gets me pretty irritated!" She pulled her hand behind her head and giggled again. I stared blankly at her, still in shock by the fact that such a tiny girl made such a massive impact on a seemingly sturdy door.

"Eh, I know where he could be!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the broken door, despite my still-open mouth. "Let's check out Ichiraku's Ramen stand!"

"O-okay…" I let Sakura pull me out of the complex and down the street, as we started running faster than I thought was humanly possible. My legs gave out beneath me and my elbow scraped the ground trying to protect my face.

"Oh! Sorry (Y/N)! Let's try this." She pulled me onto her back, and took off at a sprint. We started maneuvering streets so quickly that my surroundings became blurred, and I started to get dizzy. I buried my head into her back, and she laughed. "You'll get used to it, I promise!"

We finally stopped outside a small-looking hut with cloth flaps allowing those inside their privacy. "He's definitely in here! Look!" I turned my head to where Sakura was pointing, and I saw a pair of orange pants sitting on a stool.

Orange…?

"Naruto!" Sakura waved and ran into the restaurant. "(Y/N), come on!"

"Oi! Sakura-chan!" A loud voice emanated from the hut, and I walked in.