Quick disclaimer here: I do not own Naruto (I wish, oh I wish), though my OCs are mine.

(Also SPOILERS, don't read if you don't want to spoil Naruto, Shippuden included!)

One last thing, this story can and might change in places to optimise what I am trying to convey, among other small tweaks to fit plot points (think of it as a constant rewrite). I'd like to apologise to anyone reading this fanfiction during it's writing phase. I don't exactly adore loose ends, so do tell me when there is some issues with the story's time line. Thank you!

Prologue – A Deceitful Dream

My first thought was that it looked pretty. Like a kaleidoscope.

Prismatic flashes of light flickered on the edges of my consciousness as I stirred.

Short choppy segments of sound made it through the fluffy cotton mess that was my brain, all too loud as I tried to fall asleep again.

My irritation spiked. Don't you hate it when someone wakes you up?

Muttering in dissatisfaction at the cruel world, I opened my eyes and squinted at the harsh light that occupied my vision.

It was already a forgone conclusion; whoever is waking me up will suffer my wrath.

Including the sun, somehow.

More muffled voices that sounded suspiciously like people rang around me. A sense of calm panic set in.

That didn't make sense; I lived alone in my apartment. Has someone broken in?

My eyes adjusted slowly, focusing and unfocusing, looking left and right to see who were in the room. I began to see that the walls were all white, which my apartment's walls was very much not.

Ah. I must be in a hospital.

My brain seemed to finally catch up at that moment, because the smell hit me like a five-ton truck labelled 'Good Morning, here's your daily dose of screw you!'. I recoiled from the nauseatingly sweet smell of chemicals which you'd only find in hospitals.

Dammit, why.

Fixing my slightly blurry eyes at the moving objects, it seemed like several white-clad figures moved around (probably doctors), occupied with whatever medical people do (yup, definitely doctors). I looked around, trying to see where the heck I was, for I couldn't remember the foggiest thing about how I got-

...what?

Oh.

Oh no.

I blinked once. I blinked again (and a few dozen more times just to be sure). I stared long and hard at my hands, or should I say, much smaller hands. A moment later I realised that the two relatively sizeable mounds that were supposed to be on my chest were gone. Emphasis on the 'supposed' part.

Things really didn't seem to add up here, as one does not suddenly wake up with a body that belong to a preteen. Furthermore, I was pretty damn sure that I hadn't undergone any sort of breast reduction surgery or I would've definitely noticed. Limbs don't shrink, right?

I then decided to look at the medical equipment that was being used on me, to get some idea of what funky injury I had sustained this time. I froze and surveyed my surroundings in horror. This was because, the last time I checked, there was no place that had this kind of equipment which looked right out of the 60's, nor the weirdly dressed people who I had guessed (correctly I might add) were doctors.

Wait.

My stomach started to sink as I scrutinised the so-called doctors from where I sat.

Doctors don't wear that in conventional hospitals, much less what were on their sleeves. My dread was not unfounded as I recognised that symbol, etched into my mind long ago, from when I was thirteen and reading a certain ninja's manga. A swirl on a leaf, the universal symbol for Konoha.

What were doctors doing with those emblems on their sleeves? Is it some kind of cosplay? Maybe they are just really big fans of the series?

That alone made me redouble my efforts in remembering what in the absolute hell I was doing beforehand. The fog had to then decide to clear a bit, as I recalled running through a dark, claustrophobic-inducing alley. Terror pooled in my stomach as I figured out what had happened.

No.

A dark assailant darting towards me, eyes glinting manically.

No.

The glint of metal as a silver arc of death flew towards me. There was a sharp, agonising pain as I collapsed from my leg being slashed. The pure, crimson red surrounded me as the pain throbbed from my leg.

Nononono-

The loss of the sense of feeling from my body as the spots on my vision grew and enveloped me in darkness.

This isn't happening. It can't, it-

(Oh, but it is, my dear friend. Hehe~)

But I was going to-

No, I haven't said goodby-

Why me? Why-

I died.

My world crashed down around my shoulders spectacularly from those two words alone.

The crushing pain shortly followed as I realised that everyone was gone, dead, only for me to mourn over them, alone.

(Isn't that nice?)

If the nurse didn't notice then, she sure as hell did now as I started hyperventilating. She looked around and panicked, hastily administering me a dose of sedatives as tears poured out my eyes. As the darkness crept over my vision, I vaguely saw two figures approaching me while saying something garbled, warped.

They embraced me and calmed me with soothing words and warmth. The bliss of darkness claimed me soon afterwards, my eyelids drooping closed.

No one would see the painful, raw red as her eyes shut.

Well! Chapter 1 of IASN!

This is my first fanfiction so I'd appreciate any advice on how to write better, for you guys.

You'll see me again soon (I think, maybe. Damn finals)!

- Maki-sensei

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY