Now that we're out of the war, I can continue the story. Again, I tried to be as accurate as possible with the outcome of the war.

Consciousness engulfed me like a wave engulfs unsuspecting ships. I felt my heart speed up in my chest, panic flooding my system. I sat up abruptly, hand on my heart, surveying my surroundings. I was in a cave of some sort, and, by the feel of the animals, far underground. My eyes adjusted to the darkness easily, having been shut for so long. When I finally managed to calm down, I stood up to explore. Rays of sunlight filtered in through cracks miles ahead. Judging by the brightness and distance factor, I'd say it was midday on the surface. Inside, it appeared to be midnight.

Next, I registered the sound of trickling water. As I moved towards it, I was overcome by a wave of dizziness and fell to the ground. Something's wrong here, I thought, sitting on the cold floor, staring at the tiny holes where light wormed its way in. I feel strange… Almost as if… Suddenly, my train of thought crashed and I stared in the direction of the sound of water. My thirst overwhelmed me, forcing my thoughts to submit to primary instincts. Unable to walk, I crawled to the tiny stream flowing from more cracks in the rocks and drank my fill.

Afterwards, feeling slightly more like myself, I began to think. I had so many questions. Where was I? Why was I here? What day is it? None of these I could answer while lying on a cave floor. Determined, I tried again and managed to stumble towards the exit. Luckily for me, the cave was just a cave, not a series of tunnels and so the mouth was easy to find.

I small yelp of pain escaped me as my eyes made contact with bright light. I covered them with my hand, waiting several minutes for them to adjust. Next, I walked straight ahead, into a dense woods. The forest was eerily peaceful. Birds were singing, chasing each other around, a group of young boars ran past me, even squirrels didn't mind my presence. Then I remembered why. My scent, having been away from humanity for who knows how long, would be that of any other creature that dwells in a cave. To them, I would appear as a large, non-predatory creature.

In the midst of all the serenity, I couldn't help but to feel uneasy. For some reason, images of a ferocious battle played in my head. People long dead had sprung forth, taking down the living as easily as one might pluck a blade of grass. Had that really happened? Was it even possible? Yes, I answered myself. Orochimaru knew a reanimation jutsu. One of his followers could have known it as well. I paused to ponder this idea. Kabuto. Kabuto would have known, I finally concluded. So there was a war. Now, what happened? Is it over? Where was it or is it? More importantly, where am I?

Nothing in all the scenery gave me any hints. I could just as easily be in the Land of Fire or the Land of Earth. It was hard to say. Where was I last? This did nothing for me but give me a headache. I wasn't ready to remember all of that yet. Instead, I wandered about aimlessly, hoping I might stumble across some hint of my whereabouts. All I got was a fox.

Hunger clawed at my insides, dispatching any other thought that might have been in my mind. This took me aback. Foxes where a part of my ancestry, my species. To want to eat another… Still, I didn't see the red fur as being that of a companion, only easy, unsuspecting prey. It was rather plump too. It must be fall for it to be eating so well, or early winter. Before I knew it, I had shifted, predatory instincts taking control. I came at it, acting like a curious fox, looking for a mate. When it inched towards me, coming into biting distance, I pounced, ripping out its throat in one swift movement. The taste of meat and blood consumed me. Whoever I was, wherever I was, didn't matter. All I knew was to feed.

►§◄

It took me three days to recover who and where I was. In that time, I remembered everything, from Itachi to helping plan the war. Not only that, but I was a nervous wreck because I had a ring sitting on my finger and no idea whether or not my fiancé was dead or alive. The worst part was that I couldn't get my chakra straight. Any jutsu I tried to perform, even the Mayona Clan kekkei genkai, was absolutely useless and only resulted in a fractured finger and two burnt hands. I couldn't even channel my chakra to one part of my body! It was almost as if I was still under some sort of genjutsu.

Despite my bitter mood and rotten luck, I pushed on, making it out of the forest on the fourth day. That's when I finally found civilization.

The town I happened across was a quaint village, small and beautiful. Traditionally houses lined the little-used road. A garden filled every corner and ponds were visible behind the houses. The first person to see me greeted me as if I were an old friend. She waved, said hello, and asked how I was doing. She offered me to (which I politely refused) and forced me to accept the kimono she had just finished washing. I changed into this inside of her house, her taking my old attire and discarding it into a pile of other reusable fabrics. Then I moved on, thanking her heavily and wishing she would let me repay her somehow. She had even given me new sandals. In the end, the only thing that she had let me keep was my scroll and kunai pouch, my cuffs, ring included of course, and the plate for my nine tails headband. The other one had disappeared while I was sleeping. I didn't have any money.

After her, it seemed like every villager was out. Their smiles combatted the idea that a war was raging but I didn't want to ask. If it had stopped, then I would obviously look behind the times. Instead, I left the good-natured village in search of a larger, more modern city. There I would be able to find a pub or bar to tell me all I needed to know.

By the time I had finally found what I was looking, I was already ninety-nine percent sure that the war was over. It was creepy. There didn't seem to be a bad thing going on in the world. Even during the era of peace in between the third and fourth wars, there had always been crime. There had always been bandits to avoid. I hadn't met a single one yet. Not a single one. Maybe it was because I was now in the Land of Fire, but still… I was near the border, not the hidden village. Someone needed to explain things to me. Had we lost? Was that why I couldn't perform jutsu? Was this really one giant genjutsu?

I stared down at the tourist city. People were roaming in and out, as happy as can be. I fit into the crowd easily, my kimono looking casual enough. There were some that would stare at me, as if they thought they should recognize me, but I couldn't figure out why. Even though they were obviously thinking about me, their thoughts were unintelligible nonsense. Of course, that was better than when I started. Four days ago, in the first village, I couldn't hear anything at all. Whatever was ailing my chakra control was weakening.

Needless to say, I entered the first pub I came across. Being without friends or anyone to talk to, I sat at the bar and waited. The shop owner gave me a sympathy drink, seeing that I truly was without any money and so other young males were attracted to me, thinking that the sympathy drink had been the owner's way of flirting. Suddenly, I was an interest.

"Now, what is such a charming, young lady doing in a place like this," a man in his early twenties asked, taking the seat next to mine.

"Where else would I spend my free time," I flirted back. While I had never done anything of the sorts myself, I had seen plenty of other women use similar tricks. I could do this. The man took the bait.

"Come with me, dear. I'll show you where girls like you should be spending your time." He offered me his arm and I happily took it, following him out of the bar and down the road. In the back of my head, I noted that it was getting late, but I let it be. Somehow, I was going to get this guy to tell me how Gaara was.

"Where are you from?" I asked, starting conversation as we strolled down the road.

"A curious one," he mused, soft brown eyes sweeping over me. "I'm actually from a small town just outside of Konoha."

"Oh? What is it like there?" I played stupid in hopes that this could lead us into a discussion about the war.

"My village? Peaceful. Konoha was also enjoyable to walk around. They're ninja everywhere there. You wouldn't believe it. People think the patrols are bad here… They have no idea."

"What do you mean?" Why are there patrols? I don't remember that being a thing when I served Konoha.

"Oh, you know. The ninja that wander around the city. I guess they're not really patrol, just those who are resting after the war. I hear that the reconstruction of Konoha is going well so they can afford to let some ninja enjoy the peace. It's a new world with the Great Nations allied." Jackpot.

"I'm so glad we won the war. There weren't any important casualties, were there?" He shrugged.

"The only person I can think of is Neji Hyuuga. I guess he was a prodigy among the Hyuuga clan or something. I wouldn't know if you'd call that important though." I let myself breathe easier. He would've mentioned if the Kazekage had died. That meant Gaara was alive and well. I didn't have to worry anymore.

"Well, sir, I've enjoyed talking to you but it's getting late. I really should go home now." I attempted to pull my air out of his.

"No, not so fast, sweetie. We're almost there." My eyes narrowed but I let it go. He seemed like a nice man. I could trust him. After all, he did put up with all my questions about the war. At last, we came to a building positioned on the opposite side of town. I didn't like the area but I put my faith in this man. I didn't know what else to do.

As soon as I stepped through the doorway, I was grabbed around the waist and pulled into pitch darkness. Too bad for them I was a trained ninja. It took me half a second to break their hold, crushing their hand with my own. In the next half a second, I produced two kunai and took a fighting pose. The man who had led me here turned on a light. I was surrounded by four men, excluding the bait, the guy from the pub. One man was bent over, nursing the hand I just broke. The other three were also ready to fight, but they lacked weapons. This is what I get for trusting people. They probably had plans to rape me. Just my luck. I puffed at my ragged bangs. I'd need to cut them when I got back to Suna.

"Now, now, sweetheart. Put those knives down. Someone's going to get hurt." I spat at the feet of the bait.

"You have no idea who you're talking to," I hissed. "Tell your men to back off or we're going to have a problem." He just glared.

"Get her," he ordered.

"Wrong response," I said, launching myself at the first man to get close to me. I kicked him in the stomach, launching him into a cabinet full of fine china. The bait gritted his teeth. The second man did not hesitate as he went for my kimono. I easily jumped out of his reach and planted a kunai into his shoulder. He roared in agony, stumbling back. The third didn't get the chance to come after me, the door suddenly crashing open and three Leaf Ninja pouring in. Immediately, the thugs gave up, backing down.

"Imbeciles," I muttered, watching as they all cowered into a group, afraid of what the ninja were going to do.

"You're a ninja!" the bait accused me. "You tricked us."

"No, you idiot. I just wanted to have a nice conversation with a seemingly nice guy. You just chose the young girl to attack. A predator should always know the difference between foe and prey."

"Well, thank you for helping us catch these five, even if it wasn't your intentions. They've been picking girls off the streets and raping them left and right."

"Of course," I responding, waving it off nonchalantly. "Whatever I can do to help." The apparent leader of the squad nodded and order the other two to round the perpetrators up. I went to leave but he stopped me.

"Wait, have I seen you around before?"

"No," I answered almost too swiftly. I didn't want people to know I was back until I found Gaara. He should be the first to know. The ninja's eyes narrowed but he let it go. I left that night.

►§◄

My breathing came in short pants. I felt light-headed and dizzy. Exhausted, I collapsed against a tree, sinking to the ground. It had taken me all night and half a day to run to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain. I shouldn't be this tired, I thought helplessly. I still couldn't control my chakra right, though it was improving greatly. Now, if anyone thought about me, their inner voices were crystal clear. Other thoughts were muffled but there.

"Are you alright?" an elderly lady asked. I had heard her coming but I was too tired to try to combat a fly. If she wished me harm, I was done for.

"Just a little tired is all." This area, too, was peaceful. It reminded me of the woods I had first awoken too. Nature's sounds were evident everywhere.

"Well, don't sit on the ground. Come. I'll take you to my home." Helpless as I was, I didn't bother to argue. Painfully, I pushed myself to my feet and shuffled behind her. Perhaps she, too, could inform me about the war. I'd enjoy having someone fill me in entirely but what would a citizen know about all the minor casualties, about the sacrifices? I'd be better off waiting until I arrived in Suna. Still, I could at least figure out how long I had been asleep.

The old woman's home was actually a cabin set alongside a small path far from any main roads I knew of. Her garden was extravagant, filled with vegetables and medicinal herbs alike. She even had a cute little cat that took pleasure in rubbing itself against my leg.

"Thank you for letting me rest here," I stated as she served me tea. I didn't bother to mention that I didn't care for the substance. I'd drink just about anything at this point. "May I have your name?"

"Surima Mitsoyu, but you can just call me Suri. Yourself?"

"Narimi Ninetails, but I go by Nari."

"Nari? Nari Ninetails of Suna?" She took a seat across from me.

"Yes. You've heard of me?"

"I can't think of a soul who hasn't. Ninja from all five of the Great Nations have been searching for you. You're the only person in the entire war who was unaccounted for." I blushed a little, feeling awful. If I had just revealed my identity to the Leaf Ninja when they had come to my rescue, I wouldn't be talking to this kind lady looking like a rogue ninja. That was actually what she thought of me, after all. In fact, she was now so frightened by the possibility that she was going to send her only messenger hawk to the nearest ninja from the Great Nations as soon as she could come up with an excuse to get away from me.

"Truth be told, I didn't mean to disappear. I'm heading back to Suna right now. I came from the Land of Hot Water."

"Well, where have you been all this time?"

"Not meaning to be rude, but I'd prefer to tell Lord Kazekage first before anyone else. He deserves that honor. I can't imagine what I've put him through in the last…"

"Two months. It's been two months since the war started." A grimace flashed across my features as I stared guiltily at my ring. Don't worry, my moon. I'm coming home. "Did you not know that?"

"Bad business, wars. Strange things happen," was all I said in response. She saw my secretiveness as an opportunity.

"Excuse me just a moment. I need to use the restroom." I ignored this, letting her go while tracing the kanji for mine. What was he doing right now? What was he thinking?

Suri came back a few moments later. I took the time to appreciate her features. The woman had white gray hair and deep, blue eyes. Her delicate, wrinkled skin made her appear kinder somehow but her mouth held the shape of one who could be quite stern. She wore a black kimono, in sharp contrast to my turquoise one. I liked her quite a bit despite her low opinion of me.

"You know, Suri, I'm not going to hurt you. You could've told me you were sending a messenger hawk. Did you send it to Suna? It'd be nice to have an escort. I've been out of sorts lately. I doubt I could perform a jutsu to save my life." She gulped, nervous now by my response. "Honestly, though. Don't worry about it. I'd have sent one myself if I had a hawk or paper or a brush and ink." Again, my fingers wandered towards me ring. She noticed.

"What is that?" she asked, wanting to turn this conversation in a new direction. Suri still didn't trust me.

"A gift from Lord Kazekage. We're close friends. As I said, I can't imagine what I put him through. The guilt is overwhelming."

"You're friends with the Kazekage?" I nodded.

"I was one of his first friends. And, if you can keep a secret, I'm happy to tell you that I helped him earn his title. He also gave me mine as Head of Defense. Though I imagine they've found someone else by now."

"If you're friends with him, then you know his sister."

"Temari? Yes. A little intimidating and harsh, but a good person on the inside. I like to think we're close friends too, same with his brother, Kankuro." The little, old woman nodded and folded her hands. "What about you? Have you no husband or children?"

"My husband's long dead and my children have all moved on with their lives. I lost half of them during the Third Ninja War. Worse for the civilians than the ninja in my opinion but I digress." I cocked my head to the side at the unfamiliar word.

"Die – gress?" I muttered, baffled.

"You'd think the Head of Defense would have a larger vocabulary. Or perhaps it's just my old age getting the best of me. 'Digress' means that I'm getting off the point."

"Oh." A small laughed escaped my as my hand rubbed the back of my hand. "Actually, I never had a proper education. Temari was the one who taught me mathematics and how to write. Embarrassing, really. I didn't learn until I was, let's say, fourteen, fifteen." She laughed good naturedly and our light conversation continued. Neither of us got very personal, not really trusting the other, but it was nice.

Just before she was about to retire to bed and show me a room I could stay in (she had insisted that I remain with her until a ninja arrived), there was a knock on the door. The tenor of the visitor's thoughts was so familiar, I smiled, already knowing who stood on the other side of the barrier. Suri opened it up to reveal us.

"Nari!" they gasped. I just smirked.

Thank you for reading and please review! Also, I've been trying to edit previous chapters so updates may be few and far between. Sorry.