Amnesia

Chapter 22: Plans of Action

There was no reason for Sakura to continue hiding from her friends. She asked Naruto to tell anybody he saw that she'd be happy, and even appreciative, of people coming up to say hi. He must have put in the effort to find people and spread the news because she noticed the change immediately.

It was as if more people were around her constantly. Her friends popped up all over the place. Before, they were nowhere to be seen, but now, she was bumping into people she knew everywhere she went. And she really was happy to see them – her teammates especially.

Captain Yamato soon found her and she was the first to spot Sai who awkwardly acknowledged her, leaving her to chase after him so she could speak to him. What he said though, caught her off guard.

"You're dating Naruto now?"

Of course Naruto spread that news.

"Yes," she said slowly, watching Sai's face and waiting for some kind of strange or (unintentionally) rude comment.

Sai held his chin in thought. "I was expecting this."

Sakura hummed, still uncomfortable. What he said could have been worse though, right?

"I have read lots of books on the signs of love."

Making an effort to bond with her friend, she forced a smile. "I love reading too. I have a book, Love: The Biological Basis and Scientific Explanations, I could lend you that if you want."

Sai, still thoughtful, shook his head. "I prefer books on social etiquette, for all the things I don't understand about people. You and Naruto are my basis for human interaction."

No wonder the boy always came off as confused.

"But, Sai... Naruto and I aren't your typical relationship, we're really complicated don't you think?"

Sai smiled at her, and for once it came off as a genuine gesture. "I've never thought you were that complicated, Sakura. I've always thought you and Naruto loved each other. As your friend, I'm just glad you're happy."

"That's really sweet, Sai."

"And it also means I can find out more about romantic relationships from you."

Sakura's smile turned awkward. "Maybe we'll work up to that."

Sai continued to smile.

Sai wasn't the only one to share optimistic congratulations on Sakura's new relationship with Naruto. Plenty of people commented on it wherever she went. Sakura was sure even strangers were smiling at her and wishing her luck. It was like the whole village was invested in her romantic life. It was nice, for once, to be a cheerful gossip topic, so Sakura tried to take it all in her stride and joke back with anybody who struck up a conversation with her.

It didn't take long for Ino to corner her in the street and Ino also knew of the romantic development that had transpired in Sakura's life. Sakura didn't deny it, and to her surprise there was no teasing from her best friend, no jibs, just a very overdramatic "Finally."

"News travels so fast," Sakura commented. "It's like the whole of Konoha knows."

Ino winked at her. "Of course they do. I've been telling everyone."

Of course she has. Sakura should have realised it was her best friend spreading the news. Naruto could barely get through an admittance of their relationship status without getting a far-off look in his eyes and going through some internal flashback which was hard to snap him out of. Sakura even found herself drifting off into memory lane with a smile on her face she couldn't help but express.

Ino raised two eyebrows. "No outburst of anger? I was expecting you to be annoyed."

Sakura smiled at her friend. "Ino, I think this is the first good news I've managed to bring to the village since I woke up from my coma. I'm glad everyone is so supportive and happy for us. Although some of them are little too invested..."

"Oooh, I know. Some people have no shame."

Sakura shot her friend a look – if there was anybody too into her relationship with Naruto it was Ino Yamanaka.

Ino grinned. "I am your best friend so I am excused. You owe me money by the way. We made a drunken bet in a bar together. I bet you would start dating Naruto within the next year and you have."

"Ino, I don't think it's fair that you keep holding me to things I said before I got amnesia. You could be making it up. As my best friend, you should let me off."

"No way, Forehead! As your best friend I should hold you to every word and mistake you ever make."

Sakura frowned at her.

"Fine. I'll let you off this one. Plenty of other villagers got in on the bet anyway so I did quite well."

"You have no shame."

Ino flicked her hair over her shoulder and looked way too pleased with herself. "I know."

Sakura and Naruto were very into their Sasuke discussion as of late. They had been spinning off all sorts of ideas (some admittedly ridiculous) to capture their long lost teammate. This evening, however, they were a lot mellower.

They were curled up on the sofa together; Naruto's head in her lap, and Sakura had just finished reading a book on seals. She had taken to reading them out loud. Naruto didn't seem to take in a lot of the words, but he was perfectly content to listen to her drone on.

Tomorrow morning they would see the Hokage for an update on the seal in the Uchiha District. There wasn't much they could do until they heard what Tsunade had to say and so neither of them felt like theorising too much.

Sakura closed her book and put it on the arm of the chair. She laced a hand through Naruto's hair and decided to settle on a much lighter topic.

"Do I owe Ino any money?"

Naruto stared up at her. "No?"

"How do you know? Did you used to keep an eye on my finances?"

"No, you usually help me manage mine," he admitted.

Her heart leapt at the knowledge. "I can still do that!"

She could learn about their economy and pay rates. She could be of use to Naruto. It excited her that she could make his life easier in some way. She didn't need chakra control to help out with this.

He rubbed the back of his head, smiling as his hand brushed hers still nestled in his hair. "Good because I've not paid my taxes since you last helped me."

She looked at him seriously. No wonder she always used to help him out. It sounded like she forced him to do these things more than anything.

"You're kidding? You need to get that sorted, Naruto!"

He pouted. "But I've been doing important things."

"How have you gotten away with it?"

"The people who chase you up came round to my apartment when you were there once. They threatened me. You talked to them and they haven't bothered me since."

She raised an eyebrow, trying to imagine what she might have said to someone who threatened Naruto in front of her. "I scared them?"

He grinned. "So much I think they wet themselves."

He seemed to find great amusement in such a serious matter. She frowned in thought. She didn't care if she no longer had her ninja abilities, if someone threatened Naruto of course she would protect him. She didn't care if he was at fault, he didn't deserve to be punished, even for his mistakes – by others anyway, she was partial to the idea of being the sole person to tell him what was right and wrong about frivolous matters.

"You'd leant Ino money before," he told her. "I don't think she's paid you back yet."

She rolled her eyes, not at all surprised. "Are all our friends so unreliable?"

"Uhh... yes. You can always rely on me though, Sakura-chan."

"I do get that sense. You're never far away are you?"

"Never."

Even if between them they were missing years of memories and life experience, and they were apparently terrible with handling money, she was feeling pretty happy right now. They were going through chaos and had so many things to think about and worry over, but when it was just the two of them she couldn't feel any safer.

The next morning, Sakura felt somewhat important among the people in the Hokage's office. Kakashi and Naruto stood either side of her. They were their own little Sasuke retrieval squad.

Others had gotten involved too. The rest of the Rookie Nine were apparently all aware. Yamato and Sai also knew of the recent development in Sasuke's modus operandi. There was a genuine buzz about the topic and Sakura and Naruto were especially hopeful.

That was until Tsunade addressed the three of them.

"We're not going to be able to get passed the seal."

Sakura's heart sank. "Can we not smash through or something?"

Tsunade smiled at the thought. "It is specifically designed to only open when mixed with an Uchiha's blood. Similar to a summons, a strip of fresh blood should do the trick.

"Even with the blood it would be dangerous for a non-Uchiha to travel through. If it closed it could trap whoever is inside and who knows the exact requirements of the Uchiha's DNA to get out again alive."

Naruto wasn't impressed. "Surely we can do something."

"Patrols will continue to look out for the other entrance. We have an estimated radius for its location but it won't be easy. Our next priority would be to disable the tunnel altogether."

"But if Sasuke knows he can't get in and out so easily, he's even more likely to stay away! We can't block it!"

"Think about the damage Sasuke caused the last time he got in. I won't let such a blaring safety issue be left alone."

Naruto and Sakura looked at each other. The last time Sasuke got in they were both hurt – Kiba too. They didn't want to put their friends' lives in danger. They would get Sasuke back, but not at the cost of another life.

"For now," Tsunade continued, "it is being monitored. However, I don't want manpower wasted on this. The likelihood of Sasuke returning is slim. He would be foolish to think he could get away with it again."

Sakura knew Tsunade understood Team 7's need to get Sasuke back, but the fierceness in her tone and eyes was not missed by those in the office. Tsunade's priority was Konoha's safety, their safety, and she clearly didn't think too highly of Sasuke at all.

"What if we find a way to tell him I'm alive," Naruto suggested, "lure him back then grab him."

"I will take no such risk," Tsunade said with an air of finality.

"We can't set some kind of trap?" Sakura offered. She wasn't keen on the idea of using Naruto as bait either.

"We will, inconspicuously if possible. We'll want to debilitate him in some way."

A light bulb went off in Sakura's mind. "So a strip of fresh blood from a cut, like a summons, will open it."

"I doubt Sasuke would carry round a vial of blood; it would likely be fresh at the entrance, yes, it might even have to be to work."

"So he'd have an open wound which he would smear against the seal."

While Tsunade raised an eyebrow and Kakashi had her full attention, Naruto wasn't following along.

Excited, Sakura continued, "If we can't open the seals ourselves, can't we cover it with a substance, something that will go straight into his bloodstream? A poison or something to knock him out – dermal toxicology. Then, he'd either come in weakened, or if he figured we had tampered with the seal he might not enter Konoha at all. That either helps us capture him or prevents him attacking us."

Naruto grabbed her by the arms and shook her, mirroring her enthusiasm. "You're a genius, Sakura-chan!"

They turned collectively to the Hokage. Tsunade regarded them in silence for a moment. "It might work. We could probably work on a poison and an antidote, something to disable Sasuke and draw attention to his presence. The seal is old, and while we can't open or destroy it we may find a way to layer our own trap above it."

"Can I help?!" Sakura asked.

Her mentor smiled at her. "From what I hear from Shizune, you still have a knack for poisons. We would appreciate the help, Sakura."

Sakura high-fived Naruto and they both grinned at each other. It was so good to feel useful, especially for something so closed to her heart.

"It's not going to be too exciting," Tsunade warned her. "And who knows, it might not work, and Sasuke may never use the entrance again. All you might get out of it is spending time with me."

"Tough luck," Naruto muttered.

It was instinctive – she didn't want anybody insulting her mentor in any way – she slapped Naruto around the back of the head. "Naruto!"

Naruto was still too happy to care – he even seemed happy to be hit, like he'd missed it. He rubbed the back of his head, but didn't stop grinning all the same.

They all felt like they were getting somewhere and that infused them with a feeling that was beyond relief. Sakura felt like everything was going right – if she worked extra hard with her amnesia, maybe positive progress could finally be made there, too.

There was something about working with Tsunade and Shizune, two of the greatest medical minds in history Sakura was sure, that made you feel enlightened, important and highly engaged. The knowledge that leaked from them was palpable and more than anything Sakura wanted to impress them.

It was like a switch had flicked; any prior reservation or wariness that Tsunade had treated Sakura with was gone. After Sakura's recent contributions and ideas, it was like they were equals. Sakura wanted to bring it up, to say thank you, but she didn't dare take away from the seriousness of the atmosphere surrounding them in the lab.

The increasingly hefty book with all their knowledge on poisons and potions was out and on the table, various herbs lay about around them, and Sakura busied herself poring over the book, hoping to gain inspiration where the other two medics had memories and experiences. Also, continuingly seeing her hand writing made her feel slightly more worthy to be part of this team.

They had discussed a lot of things; this was no ordinary seal they were trying to outplay. They still needed to find the other end of the tunnel and the sister seal. There was also the question of how to handle Sasuke. Sakura had tentatively pointed out that she didn't think it was the best idea to poison Sasuke in a way that could kill him – he didn't seem the type to give up his pride and come looking for help. Tsunade and Shizune agreed, although they didn't seem as bothered as Sakura did as to whether they accidently hurt Sasuke a lot in the process.

Tsunade had played with the idea of a compound which would allow them to track Sasuke if they managed to get it into his bloodstream. It would have to be almost odourless (or Sasuke would notice), something perhaps only Pakkun and the ninja hounds could track. There were plenty of clans in Konoha that had all sorts of abilities, surely they could settle on something else trackable by one of these special skills.

"Or perhaps something simple enough to dull Sasuke's senses, something that breaks down slow enough to go unnoticed until it's too late," Shizune suggested. "Set traps further in the district, hope he triggers them while he's tripping out."

"Sasuke is skilled. We'd have to work out the dosage and the time it'll take to travel from the seal, we wouldn't want him catching on before he's affected by the drug."

Sakura flicked over a page in her book. "Then we just need to make it undetectable and durable enough to last until Sasuke uses the seal, simple."

There was a short silence and Sakura looked up to see both women watching her. "What?"

"You were always big on your reading," Tsunade said with a fond smile.

"I've read so much of my bookshelf in my apartment recently. I finished a book on seals last night. I thought it was very interesting, although Naruto fell asleep partway through." Her smile fell slightly. "I guess me learning it all the first time was a bit of a waste, huh?"

"Knowledge is never a waste, Sakura. Even now, you might not be able to perform a jutsu but your extensive knowledge will come to be an invaluable asset again."

Sakura nodded, but bowed her head again, pretending to read the book once more.

"You could have died. You could have lost the ability for normal cognitive function. I am so glad you came back to us still as bright and brave as you are now."

Sakura raised her head and stared at her mentor, overwhelmed with love for the woman. She couldn't put into words how much she appreciated it.

Tsunade gave her an encouraging smile. "I am sorry for avoiding you at the start, but I look forward to working with you now and in the future. It'll be fun getting to know you for a second time."

"Thank you, shishou. That means a lot to me. I respect you a hell of a lot, I have immeasurably so even before I got to know you again."

Shizune was smiling at both of them and she piped up with a cheeky, "When you really get to know your mentor again, that respect will go downhill fast."

To Sakura's surprise, Tsunade didn't get angry, she laughed and agreed, "I never plan to let Sakura see me in quite as rough states as you have, Shizune, not until I'm retired anyway."

Sakura grinned at them both. Then, with a sheepish change of subject she asked, "Seals can affect memory can't they?"

Tsunade nodded. "There are many seals and jutsus that can damage, suppress or hinder a person's memory. However, we know the fall you had was much more natural. Inoichi Yamanaka thoroughly searched your brain for foul play anyway."

Sakura hummed. "And you still think it's worth Inoichi Yamanaka looking at my brain again?"

"Inoichi is incredibly skilled when it comes to the mind. I would trust him to look at your brain more than our scans with technology. There is only so much a picture will show."

"I'll go and see him again," Sakura decided. She needed to get her priorities straight and anything Tsunade thought was worth doing would definitely go high on that list.

"Do you want to spend some time in these sessions looking at your amnesia?" Shizune asked hopefully.

"To be honest, Shizune-san, I was going to bring the research down with me but it wasn't there when I looked."

Tsunade held up a finger before moving across the room. She opened a laboratory cupboard and then came back with the piles of research they had been working through previously.

It seemed like they all had the same idea. They were certainly a productive team.

Sakura was spending so much time out of the house she may as well move back into her apartment; that's where she was hanging out with Naruto the most, that's where she was glued to her bookcase. She felt a new found freedom from being there, alone or otherwise, it was no longer an alien experience. She was getting used to the clothes in her wardrobe, the location of her plates and cutlery, everything just felt normal.

She was comfortable being there. She didn't need her parents to hold her together anymore. She loved and appreciated them for doing so over the past few weeks, but she was ready to move back out.

While her parents weren't surprised by her admittance and her plans to move back into her apartment, after a family day together they did get misty-eyed as she stood at the door to leave.

"I'd just gotten used to having you back home," Mebuki admitted.

"Please don't leave me with your mother," her dad pleaded.

To everyone's surprise, it was Sakura who hit him for that. It was a joking punch on the shoulder, but she thought it was necessary. "You'll both be fine, dad. I'm leaving whatever, so I wouldn't insult mum right before I go."

Kizashi rubbed his shoulder but smiled at her. "You're probably right, dear. Your mother knows I didn't mean it."

A look from his wife showed Mebuki might not completely agree but he cleared his throat and continued, "You can come home any time, Sakura."

Mebuki annoyance instantly sobered up and she moved to hug her daughter. "Not just when you want or need to either. Drop by more, OK?"

Sakura hugged her mum and also slipped an arm around her dad when he hugged them both too. "I will. And you can both come round to my apartment, too. I'm out a lot recently, but we should mark a date on the calendar."

Her parents pulled back and Mebuki asked with a knowing smile, "Will Naruto be there?"

Clearing her throat, Sakura conveniently caught sight of the picture she had first seen when she entered her parents' house on that particularly sad and confused night – the night she had given up Naruto in an attempt to find herself. "He might be. We should all go out for lunch sometime. He'd like that."

Sakura hadn't needed to tell her parents she was dating Naruto – like they hadn't assumed anyway – the gossip reached them as fast as it reached the rest of the villagers. They were happy for her, like everybody else.

Sakura smiled at the family portrait, no longer afraid of it, no longer saddened by it. She looked back at her parents. "Thanks for everything."

"Any time, Sakura, any time," her mum said, still angling for more family visits.

"You could repay us with food or small gifts," her dad suggested.

Sakura laughed. "I'll keep an eye out and if I see anything worthy of a 'thank you' to you both I'll pop round."

She opened the door and headed out into the night, waving over her shoulder as she went.

"Don't work too hard, honey!" Mebuki called after her.

"Unless that's working hard to buy us a good present – ow! – I mean, what your mother said!"

As Sakura walked home that night, along the now familiar streets of her hometown, it was a comfortable thought to know her parents would never change.

Sakura was on a role with good news and productivity, that's why standing in front of Inoichi made her slightly nervous. He knew she was coming to meet him and he could also see how wary she was of the outcome.

They had sat together in the Yamanaka garden for a drink prior to getting started – an obvious attempt to cool her worry. It somewhat worked. The weather was bright and sunny and it made her think of all the good things going on despite her problems.

Inoichi spoke to her calmly, asking how she had been, commenting with fondness on all Ino had been telling him recently about how she was getting on (obviously, about her and Naruto). Sakura joked about how nosy his daughter was before, more seriously and with a deep, calming breath, saying that recently everything was going very well and she was happy.

Then they stood up and walked to the centre of the grass. Inoichi placed his hands either side of Sakura's temples and closed his eyes. She closed her eyes as well, attempting to clear her mind of thought and worry.

The weird feeling was back as images flashed so quickly through her brain she barely recognised them. Recent and old, the focus quickly centred on Sakura's memories right around the time she woke up from her coma. Inoichi spent longer looking compared to his initial search of her brain, and for a period of time all Sakura pictured was a long stretch of black nothingness.

She felt a little dizzy as he removed his hands. She opened her eyes and squinted in the sunlight before focusing her gaze on Inochi's thoughtful face.

"That's interesting," he hummed.

"Interesting?" Sakura repeated. "What's interesting?"

"Your brain damage has completely healed. I still can't find your memories, but not because they're not there."

Bemused, she stared at him. "What?"

He was calm as he regarded her, his face blank. "You're good at resisting mind jutsus, Sakura, you did so to Ino as a young child, it takes a lot of will and inner-strength."

Her jaw dropped. She was shocked at what Ino's father was apparently insinuating. "I don't understand, you're saying I no longer have amnesia?"

Inoichi took a step back and casually shrugged. "You had amnesia, your brain is healed, I just can't find your memories because you don't want me to."

But that suggested Sakura was doing this all on purpose. That she had a choice in the matter. That made her very angry. All her previous calm and happiness twisted into rage. Still, desperation won the place for her most prominent emotion. She didn't want people assuming this about her – not her friends or friends' family.

"I can't remember them either," she told him in a slightly raised voice.

"You're unconsciously suppressing them, whether it's on purpose or not, I don't know. Before you hit your head, did you go through any kind of traumatic experience? Something that made you want to suppress your memories?"

Sakura gritted her teeth. "No... Not that I remember."

"If you say so."

Sakura narrowed her eyes and her fists clenched at her sides. "Just what are you saying?"

"I've studied all sorts of minds." Inoichi took another step back, as if to separate himself from someone like her, a faker. "Some patients with mental issues or past mental issues may decide to continue acting out their illness in an attempt for, say, attention."

"Attention?" Sakura raised her voice again, almost shouting now. "You think I'm doing this for attention?!"

Inoichi shook his head. "It was merely a suggestion."

His calm demeanour only added to her fury.

"I am not pretending to have amnesia for attention! I would never put my friends, or myself, through all this pain and trouble on purpose."

Sakura was so angry that she dug her heel into the ground, and to her great surprise, the floor beneath her foot cracked and splintered under her strength. The whole garden seemed to shake until she released the pressure of her bulldozing foot. A nearby statue had split straight in two and fell apart. Everything near to her had started to crumble.

With wide eyes, shocked and disbelieving, Sakura looked back up at Inoichi to see him smiling at her in the annoying way Ino often did when she had managed to wind Sakura up so much that she'd admitted something embarrassing.

With weak knees, Sakura sank down to the ground and her hands fell upon the cracked earth she had just ripped in two. She gripped it, trying to believe it was real. She had no idea what just happened.

Author notes:

Is that a cruel place to leave it? Do I need to update soon now? Don't get too ahead of yourselves. It might not be as simple as it seems.

The Inoichi scene is one of the first scenes I ever wrote for this story; it's been pushed back since over a hundred thousand words ago. Perhaps it doesn't fit as well now as it could have done in the past, but it's pretty important to the plot and how I've decided to move forward with the storyline.

I had started this chapter after I finished the last one but it wasn't until yesterday and today that I wrote most of this. Since I posted the last chapter, I've been away on holiday. I'm also a year older and wiser (or perhaps just the former). Even though, for me, less than two months is a much better gap between posting chapters, I will try and speed up the next update. These chapters are somewhat shorter again. Too short?

When I read back, Naruto seemed very mature in chapter 21. So did Sakura. I felt like I should continue that into the future. They've grown together and gotten past such a big barrier in their lives. They're also happy and this surge of energy has come with that. They're almost at a domestic relationship sort of level. They've been friends long enough and have enough going on that they're really bonding quickly and kind of need each other so they can have some kind of positive progression.

I also realised through the last chapter, and this one, that I've almost turned it into a vignette-style paced story. Suddenly everything is on fast forward. Part of that I think is deliberate. I've been writing this for so long and I really want to finish it. It's like a guilt I've been carrying for over three years.

The other part, sadly, is that I am so out of this fandom now. I feel so disconnected from it. Therefore I am not motivated to write fanfiction and it's a struggle to get back into the universe.

I think writing it at this faster pace may be the only way for me to finish Amnesia. I'm sorry if that doesn't suit you as a reader – I know up until these last two chapters it's been very slow. But feel free to leave your feedback on how it's developed; I'd hate to upset you all when we're so close to the end.

I actually only have 5k words of prewritten notes and scenes left that apply to plot points that might actually happen. Who knows, this time when I say there isn't much left, there actually might not be.

Thanks for reading. Oh, and thanks for 200 reviews and all your kind support! :)