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[punches]

[ Life's full of unexpected bumps along the way, but one Sakura never could plan for was a return to this place. Well, the return was a few hours ago. Upon recognizing "MOM" and being shoved out for her "brand new Pokemon journey", she wasted no time in New Bark Town. The PokeGear had no record of her previous messages, but she did recall the last time she spoke to someone was during October which meant the current month of "February" was distressing enough on it's own. Her partner was significantly weaker and didn't recognize her either so it was likely the Happiny was an entirely different Pokemon. With this evidence before her, it was deductive reasoning that drew her to the conclusion that she had left, but hadn't left. There were no new memories of home, so it wasn't as if she slept into one of those memory comas, but people rarely disappear for months without explanation.

She's already flipped through the contact list, but it was late at night when she arrived, so she opted out of making any messages for now. So many of the names she knew should have been on that list were absent and the ones that were there wouldn't have abandoned her if she fell into a coma which only further validated the conclusion she left. Maybe this was like that time with Kushina, when she left and came back right away without memories? Sakura's witnessed it, but she remembers her time in Johto well.

(Or as well as someone who has been asleep for several months could be)

When the sun begins to light up the path of Route 29, the young woman takes a break to watch it from high up in a tree with Happiny in her lap. Before she had trouble bonding with Pokemon, but today she felt the attachment stronger than before. If she's come back with her memories, there must be cause for it, and she's not willing to let it be a waste this time. When she's done and about ready to start back up, she finally sends a text message to everyone who she recognizes on the contact list:

I'm back. Remember everything from before. Going to make a public message soon.

Once that's done, she flips the PokeGear on for a video message. That's about much warning she'll give her comrades before she addresses everyone else. ]

Hey guys. [ Casually spoken as she leans back against the trunk of the tree, Happiny perking up with her own noises as a greeting. ] Guess I get to start all over now that I'm here again, but that's all right. A minor setback like this never really hurt anyone and besides, I've already started by giving this one here a name.

[ Which is far better than she did last time. ] Hatsumi. [ To which the Pokemon's eyes light up at recognition with the spoken name. ] Settle down please, this branch can only support so much weight.

[ Probably an unwise idea to take a Pokemon that heavy up into a tree along with her own weight, but it was to show her the sunrise better as well as to collect her own thoughts. ]

I don't think there's many good Pokemon down this route, so I'll probably pick up a job where I can so I can buy a couple of additional ones. That's what trainers do, isn't it? Despite remembering everything, I'll admit I didn't give it my full attention. There were some Pokemon I was interested in picking up so if someone in good faith is selling eggs or wants to trade for something I can capture here, let me know.

So that's how it is. Anyone want to fill me in while I start my journey back up? I've got a lot of ground to cover so try to not mind it.

Comments

[punches]

--but Sasuke isn't. [ She's quick to say that. ]

As well as a few others. [ Frowning, she doesn't have the heart to mention Kushina to her son. Not yet, at least. ] A lot must have happened while I was gone...

[ As much as she wants to prove herself capable of making it to Naruto on her own, she knows with her current team make-up that it'd take her weeks to make it there on her own. Would he feel better if she was there in person? It's a strange thing to think about, making Naruto comfortable, but in the end she can't help it. ]

Yeah, you'll tell me all about it in person?

[believeit]

..Yeah. He left a few months ago..

[There isn't much else he can say to that, nothing important anyway. People have been coming and going constantly ever since she left.]

'Course I will. Where are you exactly? I'm gonna leave in just a minute.

[punches]

[ Thinking. It must have been long enough since he's not making a big deal out of it, but she'll still be concerned over the matter. ]

I'm on Route 29. [ Obviously. ] Decided to take a break to make a call to settle in, but I'll be back on my way soon. Did we want to meet up at the city or would it be better if I just hung around here?

[believeit]

It's gonna take a while, just go back to the city later, yeah? I'll call you when I'm close.

[punches]

Okay, I'll see if I can find any neat Pokemon on the way then.

[ Resting her head against the tree's trunk. ] Hey Naruto, have you fallen into any more of those deep sleeps?

[believeit]

Yeah! There's been these weird sluggy things around, nobody knows what they are but they're really cool!

[Her question gets him to properly focus, though.]

Not since that time I was in Blackthorn. [Oh, wait.] Did you come back from the future? What happened?

[punches]

[ Sluggy things? He can't say that and not show her. She's waiting expectantly as if Naruto could read her mind. ]

No. [ Frown. ] It's as if I've been asleep for a long time. I remember everything that happened here as if it were the day before, but nothing new from our world.

[believeit]

[Sorry but he's going to leave her hanging for now-- he'll show her later but right now he's focused on finding her.]

Huh. That's really weird.

[punches]

[ This is why he doesn't have a romance route unlocked!!! ]

Is it?

Not the strangest thing that's happened to people here... right? [ Don't make her out to be a weirdo, Naruto. ]

[believeit]

[; ;]

Well.. I dunno. I guess it's just strange you left for so long, but don't remember anything else back home. It's like you were sorta trapped between the two worlds or something??

[I'm sure that makes her feel tons better. Oh!! But!!] Tell you what was even weirder though! Kakashi-sensei was here and he was a little kid! He was short and grouchy, haha it was hilarious.

[punches]

[ It doesn't in the slightest, but she knows Naruto's not trying to make her feel bad. Otherwise she might have yelled at him for it. ]

As a little kid? Kakashi-sensei? [ Really. ]

Did he, you know? [ Covering up her mouth with a hand. ]

[believeit]

Yeah, he still wore that stupid mask. And he was a super jerk! He was worse than Sasuke!

[You know except for those times Sasuke left the village and tried to kill them and all that minor stuff.]

[punches]

[ We don't talk about those times. ] Really? Kakashi-sensei was?

Are you sure he was really worse than Sasuke? Maybe he just didn't get along with you...

[believeit]

I mean it! You can ask my Dad, or Tenten.

[punches]

Naruto, is that all who remain here?

[ It's a question she knows the answer to herself, but she can't help it. She needs confirmation from someone. ]

[believeit]

Yeah, I guess it is now. Itachi left a few days ago.

[A beat.]

And my Mom.

[punches]

[ ... ] You're going to hurry here, right? I won't be happy if you keep me waiting for long.

[ Mostly because he needs someone like her. ]

Then we can meet back up with your dad?

[believeit]

...Oh crap, I was meant to be leaving and I'm just stood here talking!!

[Its the little push he needs, gotta focus and fly on out to 29!]

Yeah, we can come back to Ecruteak! I'm gonna leave now okay, so see you later!

[punches]

Okay Naruto, I'll see you later.

[ There's a bit of a confident smile to end the call on. At least she can busy herself with talk about the crazy ~slug slimes~ that totally are nothing like the slugs she's used to. ]

[believeit]

Yeah, see you later Sakura-chan!

[And off he goessssss. ACTION??]

[punches]

[ SURE. WHY NOT ACTION.

Isn't like I've got anything else to post in the next week ]

[believeit]

[It's several hours by the time he gets back down to Route 29, be he left a message once he got close telling Sakura to wait by the edge of New Bark, where the route starts.

A bird comes swooping in, landing on the ground as the ninja hops off and brings out its pokeball before he begins to look around for any sign of her.]

Aha! Sakura-chan!

[punches]

[ Enthusiastic waving. Despite being 'asleep' for several months and going on a rigorous hike, she's still got the energy to greet her teammate warmly. ]

You were quicker than I thought you'd be. [ His Pokemon must have grown stronger since she's been away. ] Now fill me in on everything.

[ Always a bad idea to tell Naruto to start rambling, but she can always deck him if he continues on for too long. ]

[believeit]

Everything?

[Well, better start from when she left, right?]

You were just gone one day, a few months ago. Then a month or two after Kakashi-sensei was here like I said, except he was a bratty kid? And then Itachi showed up, and he was a teenager too!

And then.. then that Obito guy left. Then Sasuke, he left too. And then Kakashi-sensei left- just last month- oh and Yumi came back ages ago, but she doesn't remember being here before?

Anyway so those guys all went, and for a while it was just me and my Mum and Dad? But then Tenten came to stay with us for Christmas -you missed Christmas! Then after that I went back to Goldenrod to see Itachi, and then he asked if he could travel with me? So I said okay, so I was travelling with just him for a while?

And then we went to Olivine 'cause my parents were waiting there, and that's where we were but then him and my Mom left, so it's just been me and my Dad, and it's been really depressing 'cause we miss Mom, but then we decided to go to Ecruteak, and we just got there yesterday, and then you showed up, so I came to meet you, and now I'm here!

[What did you just say about rambling?]

[punches]

[ That was a lot to wade through. What she understands is that people have come and gone from Konoha, one of their previous allies may be around here and doesn't recall who they are, and that Naruto misses his mother.

Reaching out with her hand for his shoulder to comfort him, she won't be too surprised if he falls back expecting a punch instead. ]

Christmas huh? I've missed a lot more than just that, but I'll make it up to you. [ Somehow. ] You traveled with Itachi and everything...