It was sudden, her return to consciousness. Where was she? Sakura opened her eyes, though it didn't provide any answers. Everything was blurry, and the green tint of her immediate surroundings distorted what little she could see. She moved a hand and was surprised at the resistance. Moving it again tiny bubbles formed around her fingers.

Was she in liquid?

Sakura could hear her heart pounding in her ears. Up, down, forwards, or backwards. In any direction she tried to swim she was blocked, trapped in what looked to be a glass prison. Was she going to die as soon as she transferred? She couldn't hold her breath much longer.

'Relax Sakura. The body you are in can breath in that environment. Just breath.'

Sakura was hesitant, what if the voice was wrong? Drowning was not the way she wanted to go out at all. Her lungs felt like they were on fire from the lack of air, and her vision was beginning to darken. Sakura knew she was almost out of time, she would just have to try.

Slowly she took a deep breath in, before letting it out. It was mildly uncomfortable. The feeling of the liquid was heavy in her lungs, but somehow she could breath in it. As if a weight was off her shoulders, Sakura was able to relax and calm her mind. It seemed the voice could be trusted, at least a little bit.

'A warning before I was brought over would have been nice.'

'There is a button at the bottom of the tank along one of the edges, press it.'

Though miffed at being ignored, Sakura listened and swam to the bottom. With narrowed eyes and a little bit of searching, Sakura was able to spot a small black button along one of the sides. Without hesitation, she pressed it. Immediately a hissing noise could be heard, and Sakura felt her body being pulled towards the center of the tank. Upon closer inspection she spotted a small metal drain in the center with a tiny whirlpool forming above it. Pressing the button must of opened a covering, since she could see the water beginning to drain.

'Swim to the opposite side of the button, the door will open there.'

Sakura complied.

The moment the door opened Sakura tumbled out, falling to the ground with a groan. Shakily she raised herself, taking a few steps before collapsing.

She didn't think controlling another body would make her totter around like a newborn fawn, but she should of learned not have any expectations by now. Sakura moved the purple hair out of her face, but froze when she saw the foreign hand.

It was purple.

Sakura quickly observed the rest of her body. She was purple, naked, and somehow not wet, but Sakura couldn't get over the fact that her whole body was the color of Ami's hair. How was it possible? What kind of genes did the El'os have?

'Your first Inner was in the healing chamber for years. Give the body a chance to adjust.'

'You're calling her my first Inner again, but I told you, I don't remember anyone else besides my Inner.'

'That's because your first Inner destroyed her mind setting up your corrupted chip. We're lucky she never got caught, otherwise the military would have let her die years ago.'

Sakura was silent at that. So this body, no, this person was the reason she was able to meet her Inner and remember Ren. She was thankful, and it made the unease of her situation fade a little. Sakura would protect this body well, it was the least she could do.

'What's next?'

'There are cubes on the side wall, place your hand on the scanner to unlock it. Inside should be her military uniform. Put it on.'

Sakura looked around the room that was now visible, scanning past beeping equipment and other tanks, and was confused. While she could stare at the new medical technology all day long, Sakura couldn't see anything that resembled a cube. The walls, ceilings, and floors were all a pristine white with a smooth surface, nothing jutting out to the sides, and the only door she could see was an exit into a hallway.

'I don't see it.'

'I forgot how primitive your world is, do you see something glowing blue?'

She looked again. Next to one of the tanks was a small table with a blue strip of light shining on it.

'Yes.'

'That's the scanner, place your hand on it and a cube will expand out of the wall. Do it quickly.'

Sakura rose from the ground unsteadily, putting all of her will into moving her new body. After a few more shaky steps, she could walk upright. There were a few times she thought she would fall flat on her face, but in the end she made it to the table. Once she was at the blue light, Sakura placed her hand on the scanner. The light brightened for a moment before dimming, and a cube popped out just as explained. Sakura tugged on the blue-and-black uniform that was folded inside.

She wasn't sure how many years her first Inner was in the tank for, but the material itself was perfectly preserved. She put on the uniform and was surprised at how comfortable it was, though the boots that went along with it ended up being her favorite part. They felt light and looked durable, the metal pieces overlaid around each boot look like they could take a serious beating. It made part of her want to trade in her shinobi sandals for a pair.

Ok, a lot of her. They were that nice.

'Take the gun on your hip and bring it up to your chip to activate it.'

'A gun? You mean this weird piece of metal?'

'Yes. just don't point the end with the hole at your body, or pull the crescent moon shaped piece.'

Sakura grabbed the gun, the weight substantial in her hands. Bringing it up to the back of her neck she did as she was told and aligned it with her chip.

'You don't need to keep it there, just a tap would suffice.'

'Well you could of said that.'

When silence was all that answered her lip curled. Sakura was starting to get annoyed, its not like she had ever gotten transported to another civilization before, and the voice's attitude was starting to get on her nerves. Swallowing her complaints Sakura lowered the gun. Carefully she placed it back into it's original position. No matter how much it bothered her she couldn't let it affect the mission. Inner had to live, she could temporarily handle the disrespect. After the mission though… that was a whole other thing entirely.

'Good, time to go. An alert was triggered as soon as your tank was opened. Doctors should be on their way as we speak. Exit the room and head down the right corridor. We have to make this quick.'

'What am I looking for?'

'A giant hanger door, you can't miss it.'

Sakura wasn't quite sure what 'hanger' meant in this context, but she was ready to find out.

'Alright, let's go.'

She had an Inner to save.

.

"I think you broke him." Choji said.

Ino nodded her head in agreement while looking at Shikamaru from her hospital bed. He was bent over staring at the floor, holding the piece that sealed his defeat in his hands. Occasionally he would lift his head up to stare at the shogi board before lowering it back down.

"How?"

He had been like that for five minutes, disbelief evident in his voice, muttering the same word over and over. Ino could admit that it was longer than she should of let it go on for, but she couldn't help it. This was a once in a lifetime occurrence that she had to savor.

Sighing she reluctantly spoke.

"Because you showed me how to beat you."

"I think I would have remembered teaching you how to do that." He gestured to the board.

"But you don't. Do you believe me now when I say strange and dangerous things are going on in Konoha? There is no way I would have beaten you otherwise."

Shikamaru raised his eyebrows and shared a look with Choji who just shook his head.

"Did the great Yamanaka Ino just admit I was better at her at something?"

"This isn't a joke! I'm serious. Did you forget where we are right now?" Ino certainly couldn't. Not giving him a moment to respond she continued. "I got stabbed, almost kidnapped, and nearly blown up because of the incidents happening in Konoha, and the only people besides Sakura I thought I could trust was you two! I beat Shikamaru in shogi and yet you both don't believe me, do you?"

She sniffled turning her back on her teammates, curling into herself. Ino couldn't look at them. Could they still be considered a team after this? She thought the game would have done it along with her injury. That it would have been enough for them to take her seriously, but in the end Ino would never be enough for them. Always too emotional, overbearing, and controlling, but never enough.

"Troublesome girl, what stabbing–"

"Shikamaru." Choji's voice reverberated around the room with that one word, making Ino flinch in surprise. Footsteps grew louder as they approached before they stopped in front of her. After a moment Choji crouched down and stared into her eyes.

"I am a little confused, but I do believe you Ino." Ino nearly cried.

"You do?"

He smiled a little sheepishly.

"I don't know what you are talking about when you said you were stabbed and almost kidnapped, considering you are here because I hit you too hard in sparing, but I know you wouldn't lie about it."

…What?

Hit too hard in sparing? Were their memories already altered?

She… stabbed herself again for nothing?

Ino let out a laugh filled with pain.

Forget it, she didn't care about trying to convince them anymore. She was just going to tell them the truth, whether they believed her or not. She would find someone else to help her. Ino reached into her hospital gown and pulled the chain that was resting inside her chest bandages, turning herself over to face them. It spun a few times due to her movement, but right there in view was her chip for all to see.

"This is a chip that was implanted in the back of my neck. It erases, alters, and adds memories to whoever has it inside of them. The reason you don't remember the truth of why I was injured, or how Shikamaru taught me how to beat him, was because you both have this inside of you too. Now, turn around so I can remove it, or you can get out of my sight. Those are your two options."

The two stared hard at the piece of metal in her hands. Choji walked closer and poked it once, the chip swinging in response.

"This little thing can do all that? What hidden village has that kind of technology?" Choji questioned. Ino's heart warmed at the acceptance of her words.

"Not a village, something much worse. I won't tell you more unless you let me remove the chips. What better place to do it than a hospital right?"

"What could be worse than a village?"

Ino didn't answer Choji's soft mutterings but turned to look at her last teammate.

Shikamaru looked between the chip, herself, and the shogi board a few times before sighing and collapsing face first across her legs on the bed. He laid there for a sold minute not moving, and Ino just looked at him befuddled. Lazily he raised his head and glanced at her.

"So? You gonna take it out or what?"

"Don't forget to take mine out after too." Choji chimed in.

A bright smile formed on her face. Ino grabbed one of her kunai and leaned forward.

"Don't move, I will make it quick."

"You're going to accidentally kill me, aren't you?"

"Oh shut up."

Stupid boy.

Sakura is 100% outside her comfort zone, and Ino was able to get through to her boys.

The Sci-fi portion is in full swing! Inspiration was taken from a variety of sci-fi shows I've seen and books I have read over the years. In the end I hope I can do them justice.

Next chapter will be out on a Sunday at some point in the future.