Lost Memories, Regained -Chapter 3-

~The Hospital~

"Do you think she will wake up anytime soon?" Shizune whispered to the new Hokage, Tsunade, as they watched the girl laying, sound asleep, in her hospital bed. "I don't know Shizune... I healed her injuries but... I can't cure amnesia. Not without causing the mental trauma, anyway. We will just have to wait until she wakes up to evaluate her condition." Tsunade explained in a hushed voice, still staring at the girl like she was from another planet.

"Poor thing... I can't imagine what that must feel like, you know?" Shizune said quietly after a few minutes. Tsunade looked at her questioningly for a moment before giving a response, "What do you mean?". "Well... You know... Waking up in an unfamiliar place, not being able t o remember anything about yourself...or even where you came from! It must be terrifying!" Shizune answered sadly. "Yes... I'm sure it is..." Tsunade said thoughtfully.

"HEY, GRAMMA TSUNADE! You have to heal Kaka..." Naruto shouted, bursting into the hospital room; Tsunade cut him off with a death glare. "Be quiet, you stupid boy! She needs more rest!" Tsunade whispered menacingly, still glaring at him. "Oh... Sorry! I forgot!" Naruto said, his voice significantly lowered. "But you promised that20you would heal Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke remember?" he asked quickly, but still quietly. "Well, all right... I will see what I can do. Lead the way, Naruto." Tsunade said, getting up from her chair to follow Naruto to Kakashi's and Sasuke's room. "Remember, Shizune! Don't let her out of your sight!" she called as she left.

~An Hour Later~

"Hmm, I wonder when she'll wake up." Shizune pondered out loud, staring intently at the girl. Suddenly, she heard a groan from the bed. The girl's eyes tightened suddenly and then shot open. "W-where am I?" she asked weakly to no one in particular. She hadn't yet realized that Shizune was there. Shizune walked slowly up to the side of the bed and announced her presence to the girl. "Would you like me to help you sit up?" she asked timidly as the girl struggled to raise her torso from the bed.

"Where am I?" the girl repeated after she had shaken her head yes. "You're in the Konohagakure hospital. Does the name sound familiar at all?" Shizune questioned as she helped the girl sit up, then propped her up with pillows. The girl shook her head no and turned to look out the window to her right. "I see... Lady Tsunade will be back to check on you as soon as she can... I am to watch over you until she returns. Is that okay?" Shizune asked also looking out the window. The girl had a wonderful view of the Hokage mountain.

The girl suddenly lifted the blanket off herself and was about to stand up, "Lady Tsunade said that you are still very weak and should lay still until she return s!" Shizune said quickly before the girl could go any further. The girl turned to look at her for a moment and then settled back down on her pillows. Shizune turned and went back to her chair. She sat down with her head in her hands. All this white was starting to give her a headache.

It was silent for a while, but Shizune could tell that the girl was watching her. "U-um, Do I- do I know you at all?" the girl asked rather suddenly. Shizune's head shot up and she stared at the girl amazed. "Um, well... No. We don't know each other. Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade seem to know you, though! You can ask then some questions when they come to see you, okay? I'm sure they won't mind." Shinzune said warmly. "Oh... All right." the girl murmured and silently looked at her bed sheets.

Shizune put her head back into her hands, but, a few seconds later, she felt the girl watching her again. "Is there something else you want to ask me?" she said, already knowing the answer as she took her head out of her hands. "Yes. I- I was just wondering when those people... Jirya and Tuna were going to get here." the girl asked quickly. Shizune looked at her confusedly, trying to figure out what she was talking about. "Do you mean Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade?" she asked. "Yeah, them!" The girl replied quickly.

"Hmm... I'm really not sure. Lady Tsunade should be here in a few hours, but... I have no idea of Master Jiraiya's plans." Shizune answered her uncertainly. "Oh, okay." the girl said sadly, looking down at her sheets again. "Well, if you don't mind... I am going to go back to sleep." the girl said with a big yawn. "Okay. Would you like me to wake you up when Lady Tsunade gets here?" Shizune asked, getting up to help the girl get back under the blanket. "Yes, please." the girl answered with another yawn.

"Um, before I fall asleep... What was your name again?" the girl asked Shizune. "Oh my! I'm sorry! It's Shizune!" she answered, "Now, get some rest! I'll be right here if you need anything." Shizune told her, but the girl had already fallen asleep. "She must be so scared. I know I would be... Not knowing where I was or where I came from... I would be utter ly terrified if I couldn't remember my name!" Shizune thought to herself as she sat back down in her chair to watch the girl sleep.

~The Hogake's Office~

"Well?" Tsunade said impatiently. "Well what?" Jiraiya answered her unconcerned. "Well wh- WELL WHAT!" Tsunade all but shouted at him. "The girl! That's what!" Tsunade shot back angrily. "She doesn't seem to have any memory of living in this world or anywhere else, for that matter..." Tsunade sighed and shook her head tiredly. "I want to know what you think of performing the Nagori No Jutsu on her..." Tsunade said, her voice almost completely inaudible.

While she was having her rant, Jiriaya had been staring out the window thoughtfully, but he turned his head to her as she asked him the last question. "Tsunade! No! I wouldn't suggest that jutsu under any circumstances!" Jiraiya said still shocked. "I know but..." Tsunade started to say when he cut her off again. "Besides causing the person extreme physical pain, it can drive them insane! You know that!" Jiraiaya said with an accusing look.

"That you would even suggest it surprises me greatly. Though you have been doing many things that surprise me lately." he said, again with an accusing tone. "I know Jiraiya; it's crazy, but, after all these years, I thought she was... that her cousin had..." Tsunade didn't seem to be able to find the words to describe what she thought had happened. Jiraiya studied her as she struggled to find the right words. "It's all right, Tsunade... I know what you're trying to say... I felt the same way... Her bloodline- it's so rare... There will be a lot of people after her, once it gets around that she's still alive." Jiraiya said seriously.

Tsunade stared at him. She knew he had a specific person in mind when he had said that. She was about to say "You're thinking about 'him' aren't you." but Jiraiya stopped her and said, "You know the specific person I'm talking about, don't you." Tsunade nodded her head and looked out the window behind Jiraiya. "We will have to keep a close eye on her. If he finds her with no memory of what happened..." Tsunade trailed off.

"He could easily fool her into doing something she'll regret when she does get her memories back. I know." Jiraiya answered. "When she wakes up I suggest putting her under her father's care. How's he doing after that battle, anyway?" Jiraiya said, changing the troubling subject as he turned back to the window and watched a bird fly by. "He's doing fine. He's still not in top condition after that fight, though. I told him to take it easy a while. He won't be doing any hard training with his students for a while." Tsunade answered, as though she didn't believe the man would follow her instructions.

Jiraiya laughed. "You don't sound very convinced that he will take it easy. Do you think he will be fit enough to protect her until help arrives? You know, just in case?" Jiraiya questioned, turning serious again. "Oh, there is no doubt about that. He could protect her long enough if necessary, but that battle certainly did take a lot out of him." Tsunade said.