Naruto waited patiently for Yuriko turn, but weeks turned into months and months into years. Throughout all that time, Konoha changed drastically. In fact, it wasn't until three years later that Naruto even saw Yuriko again.

Eek! I am so sorry you guys! I totally forgot some parts... Just stick with it please and I'll be fixing it along the way!

~Candygrl2008

Naruto saw Iruka-sensei escorting a clocked figure through the street. Naruto couldn't tell who it was, but whoever it was, was very weak and could barely stand on their own two feet.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto shouted as he waved in greeting. As Umino turned at the sound of his name, the other person staggered a bit, and Naruto could see a lock of orange hair fall out from beneath the hood. There was only one person whom he knew of that had that hair. However, before Naruto could get a better look, a crowd of people suddenly swarmed the street and by the time they had cleared, Iruka-sensei and the mystery person were gone.

"It must have been someone else," Naruto thought to himself, "Nee-chan would've said something if she were in town."

"Yeah, yeah. That's it." Naruto said aloud before heading off to meet with his team.

"Naruto," Sakura called, "Ready to go?"

Sakura noticed Naruto's confused expression.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Huh? No, why?" Naruto lied.

"You just looked a bit," Sakura replied before changing her mind, "Nevermind. Let's go."

After training, Naruto went to Yuriko's apartment, just to see if it was her who returned. He had never seen Yuriko in such a weak state. And although he was worried, he didn't want to go up there and find out.

"Naruto," Sakura called, "Are you visiting Yuriko?"

"Oh, um, yeah. W-Was just on my way up," Naruto replied nervously.

Sakura cocked an eyebrow at him, "Are you nervous to see Yuriko?"

"What, no! Let's go," Naruto scoffed. The two students made there way up to Yuriko's apartment, but Naruto wouldn't knock.

"Aren't you going to knock?" Sakura asked. Naruto nodded before forcing himself to tap lightly on the door. "I don't understand what's wrong with you today, Naruto. It's only Yu-" Sakura was cut off as the door opened slowly. It was the same orange-haired lady Naruto saw earlier. It was Yuriko.

"Oh, hello. What brings you here?" her voice was light and sounded exhausted. Her face looked worn, and her eyes as well as her hair lost their shine. Something wasn't right.

Naruto stared at her curiously, however Yuriko didn't notice, or she pretended not to. "Oh, we just wanted to say 'welcome home,'" Sakura replied, trying to lighten the mood.

"Thank you, that's very kind," Yuriko replied. The way she said it sounded like she were meeting them for the first time.

There was a pause in the conversation.

"Oi, nee-chan," Naruto began, "why're you actin' so weird today?"

There was a slight pause before Yuriko murmured, "I'm sorry, but do I know you?"

Naruto stood in shock.

Seeing as Naruto wasn't going to answer, Sakura asked, "You don't know us?"

Yuriko shook her head and bowed apologetically, "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine. Please, get some rest," Sakura replied politely.

The door shut with a gentle thud.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked cautiously.

"I-I'm fine. You know nee-chan, always joking around," he replied giving a throaty laugh. He put both hands on top of his head and started to walk off. "What a jokester."

"Naruto," Sakura placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think she was kidding."

"You don't know that," Naruto replied a bit too quickly.

"She's probably just tired from her mission, Naruto. Let her rest a few days, then we'll come back."

His strong front was gone and his voice sounded wounded, "Of course it's only temporary. Bonds between siblings don't break that easily…right?" Naruto sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than Sakura. "I won't give up. I know I can help her."

"Good," Sakura replied. "I'll help too."

"Eh? Where's Naruto?" Kakashi asked as he finally arrived for training.

"He's at Yuriko's house," Sakura replied, "He's trying to make her talk to him."

"Yuriko's house?" he sounded slightly shocked, "Is anyone home?

Sakura was becoming suspicious, "Yes…why wouldn't there be?"

"Oh, no reason." There was an awkward pause between the two.

"Kakashi-sensei-"

"Nevermind, don't worry about it," Kakashi interrupted. Sakura frowned, "You know, don't you?"

Kakashi ignored the question, "For today, I want you to-"

"If you know, you have to help us, help Naruto!"

"If he was here today, I could help him with his training, but-"

"She doesn't remember him!"

Kakashi remained quiet this time.

Sakura continued with panic evident in her voice, "Yuriko can't remember Naruto…and it's killing him. It's been an entire month since she's come back, and she hasn't remembered a thing about Naruto!"

"Perhaps it's better this way," Kakashi said softly.

"She's the only family Naruto has! If you can help her-"

"There's nothing I can do to help. If she's forgotten, then she's forgotten."

Sakura looked hurt, "What happened on that mission, Kakashi-sensei?"

"…It's complicated."

"Fine," Sakura said grudgingly then turned and left.

"Nee-chan! Oi, nee-chan!" Naruto shouted as he banged on the door. "Open the door, nee-chan!"

"Stop, Naruto," Kakashi said softly while placing himself between Naruto and the door, "Let her rest."

"She's had an entire month to rest!" Naruto snapped, "The Yuriko I know wouldn't take that long to recover unless she was almost dead!"

"That Yuriko…may never return."

Naruto's face fell, "What are you talking about?"

"The mission…it became more complicated than expected."

"What does that mean?" Naruto snapped.

"I don't know myself," Kakashi muttered, "But it must have been bad. Yuriko actually returned about 6 months ago."

"Then why hasn't she been home?"

"I told you, her mission became complicated. That's all they'll tell anyone on the outside. Only one other teammate's been released," Kakashi continued slowly, "They said that her memory's been severely damaged."

"Is it permanent?" Naruto asked.

"It could be," Kakashi replied solemnly, "I'll do what I can, Naruto. But if that mission was traumatic enough to completely wipe out her memory, would we be doing her any good forcing her to remember?"

"She would want to remember," Naruto growled as he walked toward the stairs, "Yuriko would never want to forget anyone she was close to. That's the Yuriko I know."

Kakashi's conscience churned as he stood in front of Yuriko's door. The doctor had told him that Yuriko's body erased the memories because the event was so traumatic that it couldn't handle the stress. What exactly happened, Kakashi did not know. Usually he could pry the information from somebody, but this time, no one said a word. Now, Naruto was losing the person closest to his heart, and Kakashi was letting her slip away.

"Kakashi?" Yuriko asked as she opened the door, "What are you doing here?"

Kakashi turned around slightly surprised, "Oh, just wanted to see how you've been. Have you remembered anything?"

"Are you and that blonde boy trying to play a prank or something?" Yuriko asked suspiciously.

Kakashi gave a small smile, "No, but he's a very important person…to both of us."

Yuriko frowned, "Yes…I feel like he is…but I don't know him. It's strange, I almost feel guilty for not remembering who he is although I've never met him before."

Kakashi made up his mind. "Give me your keys."

"What? Why?" Yuriko asked as she took them off the dresser next to the door and handed them to Kakashi.

"Do you know what this opens?" Kakashi asked as he held one key separate from the rest on the ring.

"No. I've been asking myself that same question, do you know?"

Kakashi nodded, "Follow me." Kakashi led Yuriko to the apartment she had shared with Katsuo and stopped just outside the door.

"Where are we, Kakashi?" Yuriko asked slowly. Kakashi could tell she could vaguely remember the place.

"This…is your home, the one you shared with your fiancé," Kakashi said as he handed the key back to Yuriko, "I'm not going to force you to do anything, but if you want the answer to those questions, everything is inside." Kakashi left without another word.

Hesitantly, Yuriko pushed the key into the lock and turned the knob. The apartment smelled musky and a thick layer of dust covered everything. Kakashi watched from afar as Yuriko took one cautious step after another through the doorway.

Ta-Da! Two chapters in one day! Yay! R&R

~Candygrl2008