Chapter 3

"…who're you" Sakura asked. The words just kept ringing in Naruto's mind for minutes to come. Had she really lost that much of her memory? Just how much does she remember!

"Sakura, it's me! Naruto! Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Naruto Uzumaki..?" Sakura started, "Oh yeah! Naruto! We're on the same team now right? As if I care. Where's Sasuke!"

There was absolute silence in the room. It was clear that Sakura only had her memory up to the start of Team 7. Anything beyond that, was forgotten. Forever maybe.

"Uhh, Sakura?" Shizune came in.

"Oh uhh…you I don't know…who are you?" Sakura asked.

"This is Shizune…she's the assistant to the Fifth Hokage." Kakashi replied.

"Oh hey Kakashi-sensei! But, wait…what do you mean "fifth" Hokage?" Sakura responded.

"The truth is, you were in an accident Sakura. You only remember up to a certain point in your life, but it's actually been several years." Shizune explained.

"Wh-what! How much have I missed! Where am I? and…" Suddenly Sakura passed out. Shizune checked her pulse and confirmed that she had just fainted. Most likely due to shock at such big news…

"So, how long do you think it'll take to get her memory back?" Naruto asked.

"I really hate to say this but…most likely, never." Shizune answered.

The next day

Naruto was working with Kiba, Lee, and Shikamaru on the Hospital for the destroyed Hidden Leaf village. Even with thousands of Shadow clones to help out, the job wasn't getting done fast enough. Not to mention the huge stress it was putting on Naruto. But he was determined to get this finished, so that the sick and injured could rest the way they were meant too.

"Naruto don't you think you should take a break? You've been working nonstop for five hours now…" Shikamaru called out.

"I don't have time to rest…there are others that need my help…and I gotta give it to em!" Naruto responded. Then he continued to build the structure of the Hospital.

"I tell ya, that guy has an unlimited amount of energy…even more than you Lee!" Kiba laughed.

"What! That is not true! I can build twice as fast, and twice as long as Naruto could!" Lee bragged.

"Oh really? Well then why don't you?" Kiba challenged.

"Fine! I shall!" Lee accepted. He immediately started to build pieces to the hospital. And although he tried…he couldn't do as he said he could. Though it looked as if he came close before tiring out and falling asleep on the floor.

"Ugh…I've reached my limit…" Naruto breathed. He wanted to keep going, but there was no way he could. Not with all the work he and his shadow clones had accomplished.

"It's alright. Go and see Sakura, we'll take it from here till the night shift takes over" Shikamaru offered.

"You sure?" asked Naruto.

"Yeah…get outta here" he replied. Naruto ran off towards Sakura's tent, and when he arrived, Sakura was awake, talking with Kakashi.

"Oh, hey Naruto. Here to see Sakura?" Kakashi wondered.

"Yeah, you doin all right?" Naruto responded.

"I'm fine no thanks to you!" Sakura demanded. Naruto's gut sunk. Either she knew he failed at saving her, or she was the old Sakura and blamed everything on him. Most likely the latter.

"What did I do to you?" Naruto asked trying to bring out an answer.

"Well obviously Sasuke saved me. If he hadn't, I'd be dead right now." Sakura exclaimed. And just as Naruto thought, she was blaming random crap on him again.

"Sakura, I told you earlier…Sasuke isn't a part of this village anymore. He betrayed us for Orochimaru a few years back." Kakashi explained.

"I don't believe that! Sasuke would never betray us…" Sakura defended.

"But Sakura he's telling the truth!" Naruto cut in, "Remember the promise I made to bring him back!"

But Sakura remained unchanged. Nothing either of them said could change her mind. The only reason she believed them about time passing was because of how much everyone had grown…so until she saw Sasuke, there would be no changing her.

"Well, I need to be going! Naruto, Sakura, have fun!" Kakashi said as he left.

"…Naruto?" Sakura began.

"Hm? What do ya need?" Naruto replied.

"There's, something different about you. You don't seem like the twelve year old knucklehead I know…what happened?"

"Hehe, that one's easy. I grew up is all." Naruto commented. Sakura gave him a blank look, so he continued, "Well, I met the Pervy Sage a while back, and he taught me some cool new jutsus on a two year journey! But when I came back to the village, I was forced to instantly grow up because of the Akatsuki. They're after the Jinchuuriki, the host of a tailed beast. I'm the host to the nine tailed fox-"

"Are you making this up!" Sakura demanded.

"No, what reason would I have to lie to you?" Naruto said. Sakura must have agreed cause she sat quietly and listened to the rest of Naruto's story about how they got to where they are now.

"Wait! The hidden leaf was destroyed!" Sakura exclaimed upon hearing about the Almighty Push of Pain.

"Yeah, we're rebuilding it now. I'm working a lot too…but I can only do so much a day." Naruto muttered.

"And you expect me to believe you acquired all that power, and took down the leader of the Akatsuki? You!" Sakura laughed.

"Well, it's all true. Don't believe me?" Naruto started, "Well then.." Naruto charged up some of his Nature Energy and transformed into his Sage mode. Sakura was stunned…she had honestly believed Naruto was exaggerating the truth, but this time she could tell it was all true.

"That's…that's" Sakura tried.

"Not all. Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!" Naruto commanded. The little ball of chakra appeared in Naruto's hand and began rapidly spinning. "So how's that!"

"Wow Naruto...you've grown so much since the Naruto I remember…if only you were like this then…" Sakura blurted out.

Suddenly someone came bursting through the door.

"Naruto! We need you! Someone else is attempting to attack our village! Our sensory ninja have picked up a small team approaching from the South…you've got to put a stop to them!" A ninja said.

"Right! I'll get on it right away. Get Kakashi, Sai, and Yamato as well!" Naruto demaded.

"Yes! Right away!" the Ninja replied. He was suddenly gone.

"Wait, Naruto I wanna help." Sakura begged.

"Not now Sakura…it's better if you just stay in here for now." Naruto suggested.

"But-"

"But nothing. Stay here wile I finish off those intruders!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'll be back in no time!"