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Chapter Title : Used To

Mayuko took a sit in the chair across from Tsunade. Who seemed to have a displeased smirk across her face. She was finally done for the day, and furthermore out of sake, and now she did not want to be stuck for hours. But she knew Mayuko was a visiting ambassador from the Village of the Mist, and being rude was out of the question. She folded her arms casually and leaned back in her comfy chair.

"As you know the girl…", Mayuko began

"Sakura", Tsunade cut in, not meaning to be rude but the apparent annoyance of Mayuko's reference to "that girl".

"Yes… Sakura, she was being held captive on an abandoned training ground. It was built some time ago and was not even located on our maps. We do not know how you got a hold of this classified information, but after your team went in and rescued her, we did a thorough search of the compound."

All the tiredness that was present in Tsunade's eyes vanished as Mayuko continued to speak.

"It looks like the people that were holding her captive, were also holding others."

Tsunade closed her eyes unsure of what all of this meant, "How bad was it…?"

Mayuko stood from her seat and turned her back to Tsunade; she strolled over to the window and looked out to the dark sky. Her eyes wondered until she set it firmly upon the moon.

"Sakura was lucky. Some of the others did not make it out alive, others well others had a far worse condition. Sakura had not been tested on.

"Tested on?…", Tsunade managed to say.

"These rouge ninja were using the captives for experiments, some of them went horrible wrong, others were successful to some extent. Sakura was able to get away; she could have run home, she was not injured at the time she had escaped. However I suppose her heart could not let her leave all those people behind. She was able to help others escape but was injured terribly in doing so. This is probably what triggered her memory loss."

Now it was Tsunade's turn to rise from her seat, "How do you know that, how do you know any of this information?", she questioned.

Mayuko turned to face Tsunade again, "Unlike Sakura, my sister was tested on…and the experiment was successful."

Tsunade only stood speechless. She was unaware that these rouge ninja were testing on their own people. It sent a chill down her spine reminding her of a certain teammate who had done the same.

"What types of experiments were conducted on the captives?" Tsunade asked.

"Most of the experiments were mutations and trying to harness a vast majority of chakra, most of the time they back fired and caused the patient to die painfully."

Tsunade sat back down in disbelief, such horrific things being done to innocent people. Mayuko's voice brought her back from her thoughts.

"My sister's experiment when terribly wrong, they wanted to enhance her vision, speed, and strength like that of a feline, unaware that it would change her into a cat itself. They threw her away finding no use for a simple cat. Only after your men had saved Sakura did we get information of the location.

"How did you find out about all of this if your sister…"

"We were able to reverse some of the damage, she was the one that told me it was your people that saved Sakura, and she was able to recognize the sign on one of your men's forehead protectors. She mentioned a man, a man with blonde hair and blue eyes who almost killed her, but in return showed her compassion."

Tsunade let a small smile creep to her lips; she knew it was none other than Naruto. By the looks on Tsunade's face Mayuko could tell she knew exactly who she was talking about.

"I would like to meet him."

The bright sun awoke Naruto; he walked over and closed the blinds to shade away the beaming sun. He casually hopped back into bed. He had gotten little sleep last night and was in no mood to be disturbed even by the joyful sun. A hard knock came upon the door, but Naruto was in no mood to see anyone, especially Sakura. The knock came a few more times before it stopped allowing Naruto to close his eyes in peace.

Sasuke was making his way over to Sakura's apartment, he had fought with the idea of telling her the truth about Naruto, but deep down knew he couldn't speak his best friend's feelings to the girl he loved. Sasuke had always loved Sakura, but not the same way Naruto had loved her. It was amazing what kind power Naruto had when he thought of Sakura, he knew Naruto was going through a lot, but he would do anything to see Sakura happy.

"Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke looked straight ahead of him to see Sakura standing before him. He was so caught up in his thoughts he would have bumped into her if she did not call out his name. He became a bit alarmed as he moved back.

"Oh Sakura-chan I didn't see you there", he managed to get out.

He looked at her, but the expression on her face was strained, as if fighting with herself to speak.

"Is everything alright Sakura you look a little…"

"Will you walk with me Sasuke?", she cut in.

Sasuke merely nodded his head.

"I finished reading my diary yesterday; I never knew things were so hard when we were children. It seemed so easy in the beginning but life never just stays simple.

A moment of silence passed as Sakura and Sasuke turned the corner, it was than Sasuke realized where Sakura had brought him. It was the same place she had tried to stop him all those years ago, when he sought out Orochimaru.

"Would things have been different if I had stopped you?", she asked him

He looked up toward the swaying tree branches, "What I did than was foolish Sakura, and even if you had stopped me I don't think it would have been enough."

"I need you to help me remember who I was Sasuke, I feel lost, but when I look at you I know I can find the truth. I don't know what it is, but I know you have it.

Sasuke simply stood, listening to Sakura. He was still thinking about a way to fix this for Naruto and Sakura, they belonged together and he knew it. But Sakura losing her memory had bugged Sasuke for months, and Naruto knew this, and he used it against Sasuke.

"After reading my diary, after realizing why I feel the way I do, it all makes sense to me."

He smiled at her the guilt in his heart dying about what happened to her, but growing about what Naruto did.

"Naruto has helped me realize I need to fight to get my memory back, and that is just what I will do…with you", she stated.

Sasuke's smile faded again thinking of his best friend.

Naruto was sitting on the stool at the Ramen shop waiting for his order to be taken.

"Hey Naruto, you look kind of down today…is something wrong?" asked Ichiraku the ramen shop owner.

Naruto simply responded, "No just a little under the weather, nothing to worry about old man."

"Well I know what is going to help cure that up.", he generously placed a big bowl of hot Ramen under Naruto's face.

"This one is on the house", he responded cheerful.

Naruto gave him a warm smile and thanked him kindly. The ramen was the best he had ever tasted, but it still did not help soothe the emptiness he felt inside. He thanked the old man and was on his way. He was stopped hastily by and ANBU member who informed him Tsunade wanted to see him in her office immediately.

He nodded his head and headed off toward baa-chan's office unsure of what he had down this time.

Naruto wasn't one for knocking so it was no surprise when he barged into Tsunade's office, "Look granny I didn't do anything this time, and if you found out about…", he cut himself short when he noticed a tall thin-built woman in the middle of the office.

"Oh, I thought you wanted to see me, I didn't mean to…"

"I did.", Mayuko answered

Now Naruto gave her a bewildered look, "Do we know each other?"

Mayuko slipped a powerful smile across her face, "We will."

Naruto took in her features she had dark purple long hair and her eyes were a deep onyx black, almost like Sasuke's, but the aura she gave out was nothing less than amazing. She was a powerful ninja, Naruto could simply feel it.

"My name is Mayuko, Naruto."

Naruto merely shook his head and turned for an explanation to Tsunade, who motioned him to sit.

As Mayuko finished explaining Naruto simply sat shaking his head, he was feeling a great deal of emotions, fear for Sakura, compassion for the others, and anger toward the rouge ninja.

"If I had known… there were others there…I would have done more.", he stated quietly

Mayuko turned her head to his figure she could see the disappointment in Naruto's eyes for those who had died or left behind.

"Mayuko?", Tsunade stated

"Huh..yes.", Mayuko managed as she turned to face the fifth Hokage.

"Naruto can escort you around the village, while you are visiting our village, I am sure he wouldn't mind", replied Tsunade.

Naruto gave Tsunade a sour face as he did not want to get stuck on a history tour, but she returned his look with one of her own scary facial expressions.

Naruto turned to Mayuko, "Apparently I am at your disposal", he announced.

Mayuko had no idea why but she instantly grew fond of the blonde, true she was not that interested in catching the attention of men because her work came first, but there was something so plainly interesting about him. Mayuko bowed her head in respect to his invitation, which caused Naruto to lighten his facial expression.

The two made their way out of the office and out into the beautiful village.

"I never dreamed that the Hidden Village of the Leaf was so beautiful", replied Mayuko

"Yeah we do pride ourselves in our people they are what make this village so wonderful. Every village can have wonderful sites, but the people are what makes the difference here", Naruto beamed as he replied.

Mayuko turned her head to face Naruto as he walked; he had his eyes closed and a slight smile across his lips about the answer he gave her. Mayuko was used to men begging her to go on dates and making a move on her, but Naruto seemed so different so carefree and happy with his life.

"Mayuko…Mayuko?", Naruto called out to her as he stopped for a moment.

Mayuko snapped out of her daydream like state and turned her face away from Naruto blushing slightly. Naruto let out a sigh of relief; he thought he had said something that offended her.

"Is everything all right, you look a little red are you getting sick?", Naruto asked concerned

This only caused Mayuko to blush a little more.

Naruto took Mayuko all around the village; he took her to the training ground, the Hokage Mountain, he showed her the academy and took her to the ramen shop. Mayuko was having a great time, she couldn't even remember when was the last time she had just let loose and had a little fun. They were heading out of the ramen shop when a little kid came up to Naruto and handed him a flyer. Naruto thanked him and read the flyer out loud.

"Cherry Blossom fair begins in two days, don't forget to attend or you will be sorry."

'Cherry Blossom…', thought Naruto

Naruto walked Mayuko to the steps of her temporary apartment. He noticed that he had not thought about Sakura all day, which in a way was good and bad. He then quickly wondered what she had done all day since they hadn't hanged out. He also wondered about her memory, and if she had regained any of it.

Now it was Mayuko's turn to wave her hand in front of Naruto's face, "Naruto, are you there?"

He shook Sakura from his thoughts; a small smile found its way to his face, "Yes, I am fine, just got lost in my thoughts."

"Naruto…", asked Mayuko a hint of remorse in her voice.

"Are you really the container of the nine tails?", she asked

Naruto looked a little surprised by her direct question, "Yes…yes I am I am the holder of the Kyubi, the most notorious bijju in the ninja world", he said sarcastically

"I'm sorry it was a little rude of me to ask like that…"

"No it's alright, I know it was just curiosity, right?", his facial expression turned to a funny one.

"It must have been hard...", she added

Naruto only shook his head.

"Well thank you for the history lesson, perhaps we can do it again sometime before I leave?", she added

Naruto shook his head not completely catching the full intent in Mayuko's voice, "Oh sure it was fun of course we can do it again."

He turned and left her standing on the steps with a crimson red blush across her cheek.

"Naruto...", she stated before he was out of sight.

Mayuko had never asked a boy out on a date.

"How about the Cherry Blossom festival, I would like to go to that."

He thought a moment and shook his head, "I didn't think I would go, but sure why not, there will be tons of Ramen after all", he said rubbing his neck which caused a few laughs from Mayuko. He disappeared into the night before she could say anything else.

When Naruto got to the steps of his apartment, he was very surprised to see Sakura sitting there. She looked fascinated as she glanced up toward the sky. Naruto sighed slightly as he approached her.

"Sakura? What are you doing here so late?", he questioned

"Oh Naruto where have you been I have been dying to tell you how my day with Sasuke went. We spent the whole day together, I stopped by this morning but you were not home."

"Yeah I had a lot on my mind, I headed out early", he responded he hated lying to her but he did not want her to know how much pain he was in.

"It was a nice day, we talked about the village and the past, and he took me to see the cherry blossoms. You came up a lot."

Naruto shook his head with a small smile, "I did? All bad I am sure."

"No, Sasuke praised you, he told me how you have always been the greatest best friend he ever had, and how you brought him home."

Sakura turned up to look at the sky again, "You know Naruto, we are good together…"

Naruto felt the air in his lungs disappear as a rough cough came out of his throat, "Wh-what?"

Sakura smiled at him, "We are best friends and that makes me feel good, it makes me feel at home, even without my memory.

There was a moment of silence, as Sakura stood to her feet, " I had to come see you, sorry you look a little tired…had a busy day?

He just shook his head as she grabbed the rail and headed off toward her apartment, "I'll see you.", she stated. He waved her off before she was gone.

Just at that moment Jiarya came running by and tossed Naruto a telescope, "A good student always takes the fall for his master." he stated as he rushed by. Just than a group of women came running around the corner.

"That's the creep who is using the telescope to peek into the girl's hot spring."

Naruto mentally cursed himself for thinking things couldn't get worse as he ran behind Jiarya.