I had searched this god forsaking forest for what felt like hours, it was never ending!

Tree after tree, I was growing more and more frustrated, "I hate this forest" I grumbled.

I wondered how Sasuke was faring, or if he actually found Naruto yet. Suddenly I sensed movement coming from the bushes, "Sasuke?" I called.

Nothing.

"Naruto?"

Still nothing…

"Naruto if this is a prank, you are dead!" I barked.

Figuring that it wasn't Sasuke nor Naruto, I prepared for the worst and got ready to attack. The brushes' rustling got even louder till…

"Oh excuse me…" spoke a soft voice.

I blinked a couple of times, to see a young girl, probably about my age, with long black hair, black eyes. She was wearing a pink kimono and carrying a basket of herbs, somehow I doubted she was gonna attack me with leaves.

"No its alright" I told her "you just startled me as all."

The girl smiled "I'm sorry, that was not my intention."

I had another good look at her, this girl was insanely pretty, I almost felt a little jealous.

"Are you a ninja as well?" she suddenly asked.

"Huh?" I breathed out "oh sorry, um… yes. How did you know that?"

"I met a young boy who has the same headband as you" she replied. I looked down at my waist to wear my head band was, then back at her "was he wearing orange by any chance?"

She nodded "yes, we talked for a bit, he was quite shocked when I told him I was a boy."

"Goddess I've been looking for him all morning- wait a minute! WHAT?!" I exclaimed finally catching on to what 'he' said.

Once again he began laughing "looks like I've shocked you to."

"Oh gosh" I breathed. "I'm really sorry, it's just… you're really pretty!" I told him.

He smiled "not as pretty as you."

Okay… that was smooth. I could feel the heat rush up to my cheeks, "I… well…. thank you!"

The boy bowed his head "pardon me but I must get going, it was nice meeting you."

"Oh… um… okay… nice meeting you too." Really Tomoko? that's the best you've got?

The boy bowed his head one last time and left.

"Wait! I didn't catch your name!" I called. But I don't think he heard me…

"Tomoko-Chan!"

I turned around to see Naruto running up to me, with Sasuke walking not far behind. When Naruto finally got closer, I couldn't help but cringe "when's the last time you washed?"

"Washed? well… um… lets see?"

"Never mind" I cut in, "I don't think I want to know."

"What's got you all flustered?" Sasuke asked as he finally caught up.

"Huh? I'm not flustered!"

"You do look a little red in face Tomoko-chan" Naruto pointed out.

"I… you... But... Well..." I continued to spluttered out words. "oh Shut up!" I yelled as I turned my back from them in embarrassment.

Sasuke chuckled arrogantly "You must have seen a cute boy or something" he teased, Naruto was now looking really confused.

"I said shut up!" and with that I stormed off.

Naruto then freaked out "Tomoko-chan? wait up!"

I finally made it back to the house, now a little more calmer than before. Naruto kept apologising to me the whole way back, even though he didn't really understand the reason, and Sasuke… well… I just wanted to punch him in the face.

"Tomoko?" Sakura called. I notice that her and Kakashi were waiting for us, "did you find Naruto?"

I finally stopped as soon as I got closer to them. But before I could answer her, a kunai knife suddenly got thrown into the ground in front of us. The three of us looked up to see the orange dressed ninja, lazing about in the tallest tree, on the highest branch.

"No way!" Sakura gasped "Naruto's able to climb all the way up there now? Amazing".

Even I have to admit, it was rather impressive.

"How do you like that!" he boasted "I can climb this high now!" He then jumped up, but in a spilt second, lost his footing and began to fall.

"IDIOT!" Sakura screeched along with Kakashi crying "THIS ISN'T GOOD!"

I, however, knew exactly what was coming and crossed my arms.

'3… 2… 1...'

Just as quick, Naruto ceased tumbling and now hung upside down on the branch like a bat.

"Not!" he mused, obviously proud of his little prank "you fell for it!"

"You scared me!" Sakura whined.

"ah come on! Tomoko thought it was funny!"

I shook my head and smiled, "I'm not getting involved in this" knowing that I'd probably get in trouble if I agreed.

Naruto continued laughing, which unfortunately… made him completely lose focus and relinquish his grip on the tree.

"NARUTO!" I yelled in terror.

"You idiot!" Sakura screamed "that's what happens when you get so cocky!"

Straight away I ran to catch him, even though I knew wouldn't make it on time! Thankfully, Sasuke managed to run up the log, hang from the branch (by his feet) and catch his teammate in the nick of time.

"You idiot" I heard him say.

I let out a sigh of relief "thank goddess for that…"

Sakura squealed "way to go, Sasuke-kun! You amaze me!"

Both Naruto started to climb their way down from the tree and now had their feet firmly on the ground.

"Okay" Kakashi spoke "Naruto, Sasuke, you continue training! Sakura, guard the bring builder… Tomoko, I need you to stay with me."

"Huh?" I blinked "why aren't I protecting Tazuna?"

"Because there is something I need you to do for me first, it shouldn't take to long" he explained.

"Okay…" I replied slowly. Everyone else proceeded to get on with their orders, leaving me and my sensei alone.

"Is there something the matter Sensei?"

Kakashi shook his head back and forth, "Tomoko, like the tree climbing exercise, I want you to focus and mold your chakra into one place in the body,"

I was puzzled "you want me to the climb a tree again?"

"No" he answered "I want you to focus your chakra, into you vambrace."

"Eh?"

Okay now I was really confused.

Kakashi sighed "while I kept them in my possession, I did some research and I found something particularly interesting. But I need to be sure that my theory is correct…so I ask again…"

This time, he spoke with a more stern tone "focus your chakra into the vambrace."

I've haven't seen Kakashi this serious since our survival training, so I decided to stop questioning him and did what I was told. I slowly put my hands together in a sign and closed my eyes.

"I want you to start off small" Kakashi instructed, "then gradually increase the amount of energy you put in, but do it slowly."

Listening to his voice, I began to feel a force within the centre of my body. Slowly, the force spread itself out and carefully crawled up to my arms and hands. Gradually, I could feel a warm sensation where my vambrace was.

"Amazing…" I heard Kakashi gasp, carefully I opened my eyes to see the vambrace's glowing a light tint of green. Surprised, jolted from my place, releasing my hands and stared at them.

"S-Sensei?" I stuttered "what just happened?"

"I didn't get a good look since you canceled it" he told me, "could you do it again?"

Still a little shaken, I nodded my head and once again put my hands in a seal, building up the chakra slowly, again I felt the burning sensation.

"Keep going Tomoko, you're doing well" Kakashi encouraged.

Trusting his judgment, I added more chakra.

Faintly, I could hear whispering, I couldn't really make out what they were saying… however… one voice stood out from the rest.

"I'm scared…"

I gasped, it sounded like a child. A little girl I think, and from the sound of it, she was terrified.

"I'm scared, I'm scared…"

"They're here!" another voice cried, this one was from a woman. "They've come for her!" come to think of it, it sounded a lot like my mother.

My eyes fluttered open, where I found myself in a very different forest. It didn't have the tall green trees or the fresh sea air. The forest was now rotten, the trees were dying and no sign of life could be found.

"Hello?" I called, "Sensei?"

"I'm scared… I'm scared… I'm scared…"

"This is all your fault!" A strong masculine voice bellowed, "If you had given her up we wouldn't be in this situation!"

Screams of pain, of death, pierced my ears. But I could not release my hands, looking down at them in terror, the green glow from before was now vibrant and blinding.

''I'm scared… I'm scared… I'm scared…"

Then… out of the blue, a shadow came upon me, forcing me look up. A tall woman stood there, staring at me. She was crying… her tears dripped onto my face. But it was now I noticed, with my eyes widening… she was crying blood… She then slowly went to grab me.

Not knowing what to do, the only thing that came into my mind… was to scream and close my eyes!

"Tomoko!?" I heard Kakashi call "Tomoko stop!"

The whispers were gone, the sound of the sea in the distance sang to me. I reopened my eyes, I was back in the Land of Wave… Kakashi stood in front of me, his determiner calm.

Frantically, I scanned the area, looking for any signs of what I just saw.

"Tomoko?" Kakashi called "are you alright?"

"Did you hear that?"

he through me a puzzled look "hear what?"

"The whispering" I answered, "and the woman? where is the woman?"

"The woman?" Kakashi repeated sounding very confused "Tomoko, there was no woman, its just been you and me."

"But…" I stopped myself "I even screamed! didn't you hear that?"

"No…" replied Kakashi slowly, "you've just been standing there".

'What… the… HELL!?'

"Tomoko are you sure you're alright? Maybe I should have waited a couple of more days to do this" I heard Kakashi mumble the last part.

Quickly recovering I replied saying "no, I'm… I'm fine, really fine. So um… what happened? Did you learn anything?"

kakashi nodded "Tomoko, are you aware of Yamakure shinobi using a special formula in the metal of their weapons?"

"Special formula? No… I don't think so."

"You don't?" Kakashi asked surprised.

I shook my head back and forth.

"It is said, that the special formula is used to help mold chakra from the body… into an object or weapon" he explained.

I scratch my head in thought "we used weapons sure, but nothing like you're describing."

Kakashi "I see, well it seems the answers that I was seeking only led to more questions."

"Kakashi-Sensei?" I spoke "please be honest with me… what do you think they do?"

Kakashi was silent for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out what to say "I think they're what Haruo said, a weapon of some form" he told me.

"A weapon? how?" I demanded.

"I'm not sure, but its something to do with your chakra" he answered. "If I were to try to use them, they would repel me, and quite possibly injure me." He took a breath "but with you, it's like the vambrace is excepting you… like it belongs with you."

"My brother did say that they were made a specially made for me."

"Did he say why?"

"No" I replied "Are… are you going to take away my vambrace again?"

"No" said Kakashi "I think its best you hold onto them for now, just be careful with them… okay?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now… head to the bridge, I'm sure Sakura could use the help" he told me.

It was now the evening, everyone but Naruto and Sasuke were inside the house. Me, I was staring out of my bedroom window, gazing out to the sea. I thought about what I saw earlier today. The whispers, the dead forest… the woman crying blood.

Kakashi didn't see a thing… it all happened in my head. I'm surprised he didn't put me in the looney bin after that episode! Although, I think he blamed it all on the exhaustion.

Maybe that was it, or am I just fooling myself? was it a memory? No… I don't remember experiencing anything like that. But then again… I don't really remember a lot before the attack. Ever since receiving my vambrace, I remember things in flashes, only to have them fade away just as quickly.

Once again, I tried to picture my life before the attack, before the ANBU ops found us. However, my mind kept going blank…

"Tomoko!" Sakura shouted from the other room "dinner is ready!"

I took my time leaving the room and eventually sitting down at the dinner table, Tsunami had just set the food on the table.

"They're late" Sakura stated crossly, "I understand why Naruto's late, but Sasuke-kun?"

I scoffed "Oh please, when it comes to training, Sasuke can be much worst!"

"But Sasuke-kun is amazing!" she defended.

I sighed "clearly you don't have a clue, that boy has that Uchiha stubbornness in his veins."

"Ah yes" spoke Kakashi "I keep forgetting that you two grew up together."

Tazuna looked up in surprise, "really? neither of you ever mentioned that."

I shrugged, "didn't really see a need to mention it, besides… we're not exactly close anymore."

"But you're teammates" Tazuna stated, "and you don't find it just a little bit weird that you're in the same group?"

Once again I shrugged. "I won't deny that I was surprised at first, then again… I didn't expect to be in a four man cell."

The front door opened, making us all turn to face it. Sasuke was carrying Naruto through the door, and they looked like they had been mud fighting.

"What's with you two" Tazuna asked "You look really dirty and tired."

Naruto began chortling "we both climbed to the top."

Kakashi nodded "good. Naruto, Sasuke… You two guard Tazuna-san next time, as well."

Naruto started cheering, clearly forgetting that Sasuke was supporting his weight, causing them to both fall over.

"You Idiot!" Sasuke growled making everyone laugh, hell even I had a giggle. I watched both boys bicker between themselves… well… I was actually watching Sasuke.

'Now that I think about it… Most of my childhood memories, are when I lived with the Uchihas.'

When I was younger, I guess my memory loss never really bothered me that much… or I figured I would regain them through time. However, nine years have past since I moved here… and still… I can't remember everything. I mean sure, I remember seeing Gatoh and the stuff in my dreams, that is if they even were memories at all.

So I guess that my life… truly started, when me and my brother were adopted by the Uchihas. They invited us into their home, fed our stomachs and clothed our backs. We owed everything to them, and they took nothing from us.

"Tomoko? aren't you hungry?" Tsunami asked.

"Wha?" snapping out of it, I noticed everyone was now sat down eating.

'How didn't I notice that?' I asked myself feeling my eye twitch. "I'm sorry" I answered "got caught up in my thoughts" I then proceeded to eat quietly. The rest of the meal was pretty uneventful, we all made small talk… well… everyone except for Inari.

The small boy hadn't whispered a word to any of us since we came here, I often wondered what was going through his head.

"The Bridge is almost complete" stated Tazuna, as he finished his meal "It's thanks to you."

Tsunami began collecting everyone's place, now that we to had finished. "But don't push yourself so much" she scolded.

"I wanted to ask this before" the bridge builder began, "but why are you still here? Even when I lied about the request details?"

Kakashi was quiet for a moment, then leaned on his elbows, with his right hand on top of the left. "Not doing right when you know it is right is a coward's way. There are no weak soldiers under a valiant commander."

Tazuna and Tsunami threw him a 'what-the-hell' look.

"They're the teachings of the previous Hokage" he answered the unasked question.

I heard Inari huff beside me, clearly making a point that he thought it was a load of rubbish. I glanced over at Naruto, to see that he had fallen fast asleep in his own arms. Suddenly, I could sense the young boy next to me shaking… tears running down his cheeks.

"Why…" he choked.

I raised my eyebrow at him, he was staring at Naruto, who at this point woke up and stared right back.

"What?" he muttered lifting his head up higher.

Inari suddenly slammed both hands on the table and stood up. "WHY ARE YOU TRYING SO HARD THAT YOU END UP LIKE THAT?" He cried, "YOU CAN'T BEAT GATOH'S MEN EVEN IF YOU TRAIN!"

We all stared at him in shock at his sudden outburst, he explained that no matter how hard you try to pretty up words, the weak people are going to lose against the strong.

Naruto, surprisingly, seemed more irritated than surprised, as he rested his head back into his arms "Shut up. I'm different from you."

"Naruto!" I scolded.

"SHUT UP!" Inari yelled cutting me off, "IT PISSES ME OFF WHEN I WATCH YOU! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, AND YOU'RE SO NOSY!"

'Okay this is getting a little out of hand' I thought.

"I'M DIFFERENT FROM YOU!" Inari continued, "YOU'RE JUST SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANY REAL PAIN AND JUST LAUGHS ALL THE TIME!"

I noticed Naruto tense up 'oh crap this isn't good!'

"Is that why you're pretending to be the main character of a tragedy and just crying?" he asked, strangely calm "an idiot like you can just keep crying…"

He then lifted his head up and yelled "YOU CRYBABY!"

Inari stared back at him, stunned.

"Naruto!" Sakura snapped "that's too much!"

Naruto however, didn't want to hear it and walked off further into the house. Sasuke said nothing the whole time. What could he say? since he too has gone through emotional pain. Inari continued crying next to me… obviously upset at what Naruto said.

"I'll go and talk to him…" I announced, getting up from the table and walked down the hall. It only took a short walk to his and Sasuke's room.

I knocked on the door "can I come in?" I asked.

There was a pause…

"Sure" he replied.

I entered the room and shut the door quietly behind me. He was lying on his bed, with his arms behind his head lounging. Slowly, I walked over till I reached him "move ya feet."

He looked up at me with his eyebrows raised as if to say 'why?'

I smiled and placed my right hand on my hip, "its rude not to offer a lady a seat… now move your feet". He still was looking at me as if I had two heads, so I decided to just move them myself and sit at the end of the bed. He didn't complain, probably because he figured I wouldn't listen anyway.

Once I had gotten comfortable I stared at him, waiting patiently for him to talk.

"Are you here to lecture me?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"nope" I replied.

"to give me pity?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"So you're going to call me a jerk for yelling at him" he stated more than asked.

"Well whilst that is true" I told him "no, I wasn't going to do that either."

Finally he sat up to look at me "then… why are you here?"

I gave him a long stare "I came to check if you were alright."

Naruto laid back down on his back, "what makes you think I'm not?" he asked in a bratish tone.

I stayed silent for a bit. "Well…" I started hesitantly, "if you don't mind me saying, but it seemed to me, from the way you reacted to Inari's outburst, was something that you… probably told yourself at some stage".

Naruto didn't say anything, he wasn't really the type to open up about his neglect in the village. In fact, it seemed at times he would pretend it didn't even exist.

"Yeah…" he muttered "I guess you could say that…"

Once again the room fell silent, all that could be heard was the ocean currents in the distance. I stared out the window, gazing at the full moon "you know, when I very first came here… the village I mean, I didn't talk to anyone. I missed my mother, from what I could remember of her… and I wasn't use to the bustling village."

At this point Naruto sat back up and was looking at me… listening…

"I guess you could say… it was a shock to the system" I concluded.

"You can't remember your mother?" Naruto asked.

I looked back at him "I remember bits and pieces, but nothing solid. I guess, I was so traumatised by the attack on my village I lost my memory."

"Wait hang on!" Naruto cut in "what attack?"

I blinked, suddenly remembering that he didn't know, I guess there was no avoiding it now.

"The reason me and my brother came to the village, was because mine was attacked" I explained. "Haruo and I traveled fast and hard, but we were weak and hungry. That's when the ANBU squad found us… and brought us back to the village."

"I…" Naruto gasped "I had no idea… who was it that attacked you?"

"Well, the Hokage believed it to be occult worshippers seeking revenge on Yamakure. But no solid evidence was found to prove that."

Naruto was quiet for a moment, "So that's why you the Uchihas took you both in."

I nodded "at first it was only for a little while, whilst the attack was investigated or Yamakure claimed us to come back. But that never happened and we kinda began settling after a little while."

I took a breath "we eventually moved out of the Uchiha compound and have fended for ourselves since."

Naruto stared at me, clearly shocked at my story. "So…" he whispered "you really couldn't remember anything prior to the attack?"

"I still can't" I answered. "Well, it sometimes it comes in flashes, like something I see triggers it. But they seem to go as quickly as they arrive."

Suddenly Naruto sprang from where he was and pulled me into an embrace.

"Naruto?" I gasped, eyes widened.

"I'm so sorry Tomoko" he spoke quietly, his voice shaking "I… I really had no idea you were dealing with all that!"

I smiled and patted his back "hey you couldn't have known… I wasn't exactly yelling to the hills about it."

"But still…" he breathed, "if I'd of known, I… I would've been there for you more, like you've been for me."

Okay… I was not expecting that at all, carefully I pushed back out of his embrace. "Thank you Naruto" I told him truthfully, "but you don't have to do all that, all I ask is for you to be yourself… and maybe not get so worked up over stuff."

Naruto laughed a little and rested his hands behind his head "okay, you got it!"