It took SO long to figure out what to do next! I've kind of got it now, though… I hope. Well let's begin I guess.

I watched the clock as it slowly ticked away. In four minutes, it would be three hours I've been waiting. The nurses have told me she was fine, but I wasn't leaving until she woke up. I'd been there, and I'd seen what she'd done. I had to know if she was really all right. I closed my eyes and replayed the scene again in my head. It must have been the tenth time. Her standing in front of me and deflecting his attack with such ease… could that have really been her? She'd never been that strong. She was always behind Naruto and me. She could never keep up before. But now… I don't know. I was more concerned about her than usual. I would normally have waited until the nurses said she was fine and then leave. Why did I care so much all of a sudden? I don't even know… maybe…

"Sasuke?" I opened my eyes to see Sakura sitting up looking at me. I smiled.

"You're finally awake."

"What happened? How come I'm in the hospital?" I frowned.

"Tsunade said you might not remember. Michira had captured you."

"I remember her."

"Good." I nodded. "A team was sent out to rescue you, and the leader, Hayato, had pinned me down." A look of surprise flashed across her face. She didn't remember… "You jumped in front of me and stopped him from killing me. You blocked it with your hand." She looked at her hand.

"Oh. I guess that I fainted and you brought me back, huh?" I frowned more. She didn't remember at all, did she?

"No. You fought him and pinned him down and they retreated." She laughed.

"Sasuke, you're so funny! And so modest. I couldn't pin someone down that had almost killed you! You were probably just caught off guard. You didn't even need me to save you. I know you could've gotten out of it yourself. I-"

"Sakura!" I interrupted her, a little frustrated. "I'm not lying. We got back to the village and you had fainted from blood loss. I had bandaged you hand, but obviously I hadn't done a very good job…" Shock was displayed on her face when I looked into her eyes. The door opened slowly.

"Oh, hey Sasuke. I was just coming to see if Sakura… oh! She's awake! Sakura, do you feel all right?" Her response burned my ears.

"Naruto, get out of here! Can't you see I'm talking to Sasuke! You are so annoying!" Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but decided against it. He merely turned back towards the door with a defeated look on his face. A look I didn't see very often. That was the last straw. I stood.

"Sasuke, where are you going?"

"I'm leaving. I just realized I lost someone I was just beginning to know." I turned my head and stared at her. "You should know her. Her name was Haruno Sakura." A sad, confused, and hurt look came across her face. The face she had had before she was captured. The Sakura that I just couldn't stand. Naruto had turned around and I brushed past him. He followed me. I didn't care. I just couldn't stand being around Sakura anymore. He caught up with me.

"Sasuke, what's with her?"

"She doesn't remember anything. Whatever had changed her… she can't remember. So it's like she was never captured." We stopped. Naruto put his hand on my shoulder.

"That sucks. I'm sorry." I looked at him.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Well, you seemed to really like the new Sakura. Now all of that is gone. I just…" His hand fell to his side. "I want you to know that I care." I looked down at the ground.

"It doesn't matter. She's gone."

"No she's not." I looked up, surprised. I hadn't even sensed anyone else. Someone leaned towards me and whispered, "I saw that look. Naruto might not get it, but I do. You can help her remember." She backed off. I turned to see a blond girl with bright blue eyes. I recognized her. She was one of the rescued prisoners. Had she followed us?

"Aria? Where did you come from?" Naruto asked.

"I was right behind you. I'm very sneaky." She smiled kindly at Naruto. She looked away and bit her lip. Something's up.

"Oh, yeah. You must be! I didn't even know you were there." Naruto said cheerily. Aria looked back at Naruto. Then I saw it. They had the same eyes… and hair, except Aria's was long. Before I could ponder this she spoke.

"Naruto, I want to tell you something." Naruto's head tipped to the side like a puppy's. "I wasn't… I wasn't always from the Cloud village."

"Umm… okay?"

"Listen," she gulped. "I… I ran away from my village when I was one year old. I was scared. I can't really remember why. I… I ran into…"

"Get her out of here!"

"Master, what do I do with her? We can't just leave her to die. She's only seven."

"What would I care? Fine. If it makes you happy, you can find a place for her to live. Just keep her out of the Leaf village. We don't want them getting stronger than they are now. Even if she's weak."

"Yes, sir."

"I ran into… Kabuto."

"What? What do you mean, and why are you telling me this?"

"Well," I continued, "I was brought back to... to Orichimaru and stayed there until I was seven. Then Kabuto told me that Orichimaru didn't need me anymore and brought me to the Cloud village. I… I do remember that before I left… my baby brother was born."

Sasuke's eyes' widened. Looks like he figured it out. Naruto didn't get it, though.

"So… I still don't understand."

"Naruto, I think she's saying that she was from the Leaf village, and that she's your sister." Naruto stepped back to look at both of us.

"What!?!? But that would mean... and she… and… and…" Suddenly I rushed forward and hugged Naruto. This succeeded in confusing him more. "Huh????" Tears began falling from my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away. I should be happy that I found my brother, but instead I was filled with the knowledge that I would have to return to the Cloud village. The tears returned and this time I couldn't help but cry.

"Naruto, I don't want to leave you!" I shouted through my tears. "I want to stay here in the Leaf village! I want to be your sister!" Naruto, through his confusion, hugged me back and let me cry on his shoulder. I had always been so happy, but now I was so miserable. It was weird. I was thinking so negatively now. Why…

A little girl was lost in the woods. The little girl was me, Aria. I was crying when someone approached.

"Now, what's someone as young as you doing out here?" I looked up. I ran over to him and held onto his leg, still bawling my eyes out. He gave a slightly surprised look, and then scooped me up into his arms. "Well, I won't just leave you here. What is your name?" I didn't know many words, but I knew my name. My first name, at least.

"A-Aria…"

"Well then, Aria," he said in a comforting voice, "I'll take you back to Orochimaru. You'll be safe there." His soft voice soothed and calmed the little girl. "My name is Kabuto, by the way." The small child looked up.

"I love you, Kabuto."

"You'll have to try harder than that, Aria." Kabuto persisted. "Orochimaru won't be very pleased with your progress. I got back up and tried again. I charged towards Kabuto and tried to kick him, but he easily dodged and then smacked me right into the ground.

"I'm horrible… I'll never be good enough ever!" I sniffled, about ready to give up and cry. Kabuto walked over and hugged me.

"You'll get better, I promise." He said in his sweet voice. I snuggled into him and hugged him back. I was only five years old. "Now wipe those tears away, Aria. You know how he is." I sighed and wiped my eyes on my sleeve.

"Orochimaru is so tough."

"Maybe, but he has to be. Don't worry, I'll always take care of you." I smiled up at Kabuto.

"Thank you."

We had flashback fun in this episode! It's just like in the actual show! And just as annoying… heehee… I loved doing the flashbacks!!! Kabuto was so nice! I gave him a soft spot for kids… AWWW!! IT'S JUST TOO CUTE! –Until next episode-

-Me