My eyes opened slowly to a blur of white. Sunlight was blinding me, adding to my pounding headache. My body felt terrible, bruised, sticky and sore. I slowly turned my aching neck, forcing my eyes completely open. And found Kakashi sitting near my bed, reading some perverted orange book.

At that moment, he saw I was awake. "Yo!" he greeted, smiling under his mask. "How are you feeling?" "Like absolute shit," I croaked, closing my eyes again in agony. "Can I have some water?"

"Oh, sure!" Kakashi said, jumping up to get me a glass, which I downed in three seconds. I looked around, realizing this was a hospital room. "How long have I been here?" I asked.

Kakashi scratched his hair. "About three days. You were pretty roughed up."

I felt troubled. Why the hell couldn't I remember anything? Why was I so hurt?

Kakashi cleared his throat. "There's something you should know… You might not be aware, but there is a seal on your back that causes amnesia. Someone didn't want you to remember anything."

I looked up at him sharply, forcing myself upright despite my aching muscles. "What the hell do you mean? " I demanded.

"Exactly that," Kakashi replied with his seemingly usual bored expression. "Someone placed a seal on you. It also seems that you have something inside you, some kind of strong power that is trying to reject the seal. However, your power hasn't been enough to break it. You were examined while you were unconscious."

I glared at him. "Okay. Since you all apparently know so much already, then how the fuck do I break this seal so I can know what the hell is going on?"

Kakashi just smiled again, further irritating me. "You must break it on your own. The problem is you're not strong enough to do so yet. It seems that power inside you has been curtailed so it won't run rampant. So now you must break that barrier as well so you can regain your memories."

I closed my eyes, rubbing my forehead in exasperation. Kakashi was quiet for a moment, and then said, "Come to think of it, you remind me a bit of a Jinchuriki."

"What is that?" I asked. Why was that word so familiar? The more I tried to think, the more my head hurt. I felt the same reaction when I tried to remember anything at all, even something trivial like my name.

"A Jinchuriki is a human with a Tailed Beast inside them. The tailed beast is a powerful living form of chakra. There are nine of them, and they all look like different animals."

I just shrugged.

"That tattoo on your back is very beautiful," Kakashi added. "Perhaps there is a dragon inside you as some other kind of chakra monster."

I shrugged again. "I suppose I'll have to find out." Kakashi nodded. "So... Where will you go now?"

Damn. That was a good question. I sighed, looking out the window into the bright ass, blinding sunlight.

"I don't know yet. I guess I can stay in a hotel or something until I can get it together." Kakashi nodded. "Are you a shinobi? Or a samurai of some sort? I see you have a beautiful sword, and the ANBU men said you were very quick. If there hadn't been someone else behind you, you could have inflicted damage."

I shrugged again. "I suppose I know how to fight. I have no memory of it, but I can feel it." I smacked a palm against my forehead angrily. "This is frustrating as hell."

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in a smile. "I like you. You're quite a mystery. Now, are you sure you don't even remember your name? I feel strange calling you 'girl'".

I shook my head. "I don't remember a thing…"

Kakashi shrugged. "Well, no matter. Would you like to shower and eat? I can have a nurse come help."

I slowly slid my legs from under the blanket and tried to stand. My feet were bandaged and they hurt like hell, and my legs felt like I'd ran a marathon, but I could stand. I slowly made my way to my things and picked them up. Then I remembered I was naked except for a hospital shirt that was loosely tied in the back and barely reached mid-thigh. I whirled around so I was facing Kakashi, a blush slowly spreading on my cheeks.

"I can manage with the shower. But could you tell them to bring something to eat?"

Kakashi just smiled, seemingly aware of my embarrassment but trying not to make a big deal out of it.

"Sure. Be careful." As he turned to leave, I suddenly remembered how I'd woken up to him by my side.

"Kakashi, how long have you been here?" I asked, and he turned.

"The whole time you've been unconscious," he replied casually. My eyes widened in surprise, and a little of something else. It was a strange feeling, a mix of disgust and fear and anger. Why I felt that was beyond me, because Kakashi had done nothing but help me so far. So I simply nodded. Kakashi was studying me, his one visible eye meeting intently with mine.

"I don't know if you understand, but you could be in danger," Kakashi said. "No one would go to the trouble of placing a seal on you if there weren't certain things you're not supposed to remember. And we found you battered and bruised, and covered in blood. You look like you barely escaped with your life. Who or what you escaped, we don't know, because you can't remember. But it is important that you break that seal quickly, because someone could try to make sure you don't get the chance to."

I stared at Kakashi, my mouth dry. I was trying not to let his words sink in too much, but somehow, with every fiber of my being, I knew he was right. I wasn't completely safe. But I plastered a smile on my face anyway, and nodded again.

"Well, thank you for keeping me company, I guess. I'll see you soon." Kakashi nodded, and walked out. I walked into the bathroom, dropped my stuff on the floor, and looked in the mirror.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Quick description of Akane: Bright, vibrant red hair, milk and honey skin with a light glow, bright, light yellowish amber eyes, a slim but curvy and firm body, , 38B breasts, long nails, 5'2", 16 years old. Yeah .. enjoy the story! : )

I looked as bad as I felt. My hair looked matted and gross, and as if it had been cut with a spoon. The side of my face was a lovely yellowish purple, courtesy of the asshole ANBU who'd kicked me in the head. I slipped off my hospital gown and scrutinized my body. I was covered in bruises and various healing cuts. My feet were raw and bloody. As I twisted and turned, I also noticed scars. I had a lot of them. I sighed, turning on the water and stepping into the shower. I let the steaming water run over my head and body, washing away the blood, dirt and sweat as I tried to sort out my thoughts. What the fuck was going on?

[3rd person p.o.v]

Kakashi walked to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop to pick up some ramen for the girl. He thought about her embarrassment when she realized she was walking around him in only a shirt. "She's beautiful, but quite a mystery," he thought. And something about her reminded him so much of Naruto. There was fire in her eyes, a strange intensity that pulls you in, that separates her from everyone. And she didn't even seem to be aware of the sexuality she exuded for someone so young.

Speaking of the devil, out of nowhere Naruto yelled out, "Hey, Kakashi Sensei!" and burst into his thoughts. Along with the boisterous blonde were Sakura and Sasuke. "Yo!" Kakashi called out, throwing up a peace sign. "What's up, Kakashi Sensei?!" Naruto exclaimed in his loud, obnoxious voice. "Are you gonna treat us to some ramen?"

Kakashi chuckled. "Sorry, Naruto, you really hurt my wallet last time. Besides, I'm getting food for someone else.

" Hearing this, Sakura perked up. "Who is it?" she asked excitedly. "Do you have a new lady friend we should know about?"

Kakashi got an anime sweat drop. "No, no, nothing like that. It is for a girl, though. She is in the hospital. Maybe you guys can come along and meet her."

"That sounds awesome!" Naruto exclaimed with a big grin. "Hn. Whatever," Sasuke said in his usual bored tone, although he was curious. Who was this girl?

As Kakashi paid for the food and they walked towards the hospital, Sakura inquired, "Kakashi Sensei, who is this girl? And why are you bringing her food?"

"It was my mission to watch her," Kakashi replied. "And because, Sakura, as an aspiring Medical Ninja, you should know that hospital food isn't the best."

Sakura giggled. "Well, that's true. So, what's her name?"

Kakashi paused for a moment. "Ah, well. We found her in the forest, and she doesn't remember anything right now. So it's probably best not to ask her any questions."

"Whoa, that's weird!" Naruto said, his brow crinkled in confusion. They arrived at the hospital and headed to the mystery girl's room.

[Akane's p.o.v]

I stood naked in the bathroom, using a sharp knife I'd found in my bag to try to trim the jagged ends of my hair. Once I was satisfied, I dug through what clothes I had. I put on a pair of lacy black underwear; black short shorts that would allow me to display my lovely bruised and cut up legs, and a black cotton shirt. I put some ointment on my mangled feet and bandaged them before slipping them into some black ninja sandals. I wondered why I hadn't put those on before I'd ended up here with my feet looking like pieces of raw meat. I quickly brushed through my hair and gathered up my things. There were a couple of notebooks and some scroll that I decided not to look at until later. There was also a fat pouch, which I did look into. Inside it was a considerable amount of money, at least ¥800,000 (about $10,000 U.S. currency). I blinked in surprise, then just stuffed everything in my bag and grabbed my sword. I really had to regain my memory. This whole situation was getting strange.

Seconds after I walked out of the bathroom, Kakashi arrived with three kids and a covered bowl of something that smelled delicious. The three kids stared at me in awe. I noticed in particular the dark haired boy with the blue shirt. He was very attractive, although he looked quite young. He also seemed to be trying to disguise his interest in me. The pink haired girl just flat out stared. And the brash blonde haired boy walked up to me and said, "So you're Kakashi sensei's lady friend! I'm Uzumaki, Naruto! Wow, you're really pretty! I like your hair!"

I chuckled, warming up to the boy instantly. He was quite a character. "Thank you," I replied. "It's nice to meet you." Then I looked at the other two kids.

The pink haired girl squirmed under my gaze. "Um, hi, I'm Haruno, Sakura. I really like your hair too. Welcome to Konoha." I smiled in thanks, and looked to the dark haired boy.

"I'm Uchiha, Sasuke," he said in his low, cool voice. However, his disinterested tone was clashing with his intense dark gaze, which he couldn't seem to keep off me.

Kakashi walked up to me with the bowl. "Well," he said, "now that you've met my brats, here, eat up. This is the famous Ichiraku ramen, the best in the Land of Fire." I quirked an eyebrow in amusement as I took the bowl.

"So," I said to Kakashi, sitting on the edge of my hospital bed and preparing to dig in, "are you a dad?"

"Hey, I don't look anything like that jerk!" Naruto exclaimed in a disgruntled tone, pointing a finger at Sasuke. Sasuke closed his eyes and turned his face a way in contempt.

"You're right, loser. You're too ugly to be related to me."

Before Naruto could lunge at Sasuke, Sakura had him by the scruff of the neck, waving a fist in his face and threatening death if he hurt 'her precious Sasuke'.

"Excuse them," Kakashi said, smiling apologetically. "I'm their teacher. I train them. They argue a lot, but they're good kids, and I thought it wouldn't hurt to introduce you."

I smiled after slurping some noodles. Really, this ramen was too good. "I don't mind. They're fine with me. Maybe they can show me around."

Hearing this, Naruto squirmed out of Sakura's grip and bounded over to sit by me on the bed, nearly knocking me over. "Awesome!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Konoha is the best! You'll love it here! So, you really can't remember anything?"

I looked up sharply at Kakashi. "What did you tell them?" I inquired, my eyebrow starting to twitch in annoyance. Kakashi just smiled nervously and waved at me with both hands.

"Just that. Nothing else."

I sighed, putting down my now-empty bowl.

"What else is there to tell?" Sasuke asked smoothly, his dark eyes scanning me with curiosity.

Kakashi just turned to the door and waved at the kids dismissively. "It's part of my mission, which you guys don't need to know anything about. Anyway, go show … er… her around."

I chuckled. "Don't worry, Kakashi, I'll come up with a fake name soon to ease your troubles." Kakashi laughed softly.

"Please do." And with that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"So," Sakura said shyly to me, "what would you like to see?"

I shrugged. "You can take me everywhere."

"Alright!" Naruto nearly shouted. "Let's go show you around Konoha!"

Sakura groaned before following Naruto out the door. "Loser," Sasuke muttered, before walking out as well. I smirked in amusement. I wondered how things would go here.