Chapter 29: Trust

*Three days later*

I moved the wood around with a stick as I tried to keep the fire lit. I don't know where Misaki went. She's either still hiding or she made her way out of the forest. The yin yang, wolf-like creature stared at me as I kept the fire lit.

"If you're going to keep staring at me, the least you can do is be useful." I said to it. "You seem very upset." He aid. "What gave me away? My silence or my attitude?" I asked. "Both." He answered. I looked at him before sighing and going back to the fire.

"Thank you, by the way." I said. "I didn't do anything." He said, bluntly. "You did. You didn't leave me. So, thank you for that." I said. "It was no trouble at all." He replied. I stared at the flames for a moment.

"I'm all alone, aren't I?" I asked as I pulled my knees to my chest. I felt like I was on the verge of crying. "Why do you think that?" The creature asked. "Because I can't trust anyone. The humans, everyone... They think I'm a freak. Am I... really a monster?" I asked, sadly.

"No. I don't think so. You still have your friends. You team." He said. "But..." I trailed off as I thought about my team. "Nue, they haven't done anything to hurt you, have they?" He asked. "Well... no." I answered.

"Then, you're not alone. They're still your friends, Nue."

"Do you think so?"

"I'm certain of it."

I looked at him before hugging my knees tighter, hiding my face in them. I stayed like that for a moment until I looked at the fire, staring at the flames. Maybe's he's right. Naruto's still my friend. Kiba's still my friend.

So, I guess I'm not alone. "I'm going to get more firewood." I informed before standing up. "But it's already dark. Are you sure that's a good idea?" The creature asked. "I can't let the fire go out." I told him. I started walking away from the fire.

I stopped and looked back at him. "You're free to come with me if you want." I said. He didn't hesitate as he jumped on my shoulder. "What's your name, anyway?" I asked as I began to walk again. "I don't have one." He answered.

"You don't have a name?"

"No."

"Well, that's not okay. How about we give you a name then?"

He shrugged. "Well, let's see. What name would you like to go by?" I asked. He shrugged again while blinking his eyes. "Okay, how about we go with... Yin Yang? That sounds like it fits, right?" I asked.

He stared at me for a moment before giving me a nod. "Okay. From this point on, your name is Yin Yang." I said. I picked up some firewood while Yin Yang watched. "That should be enough. Let's head back." Yin Yang said.

I gave a nod and we walked back to the campsite. We were halfway there until..... "Watch out! Paper bomb!" Yin Yang warned when I foot lightly tripped a wire. But that wasn't all. There were paper bombs all around me. Why didn't I see them before? Shit!

The explosives went off and the trees around me collapsed on top of me. "Nue! Nue, are you all right?! Answer me!" I squinted my eyes open. I tried to sit up. But a tree was on top of me, sideways. It was literally crushing me.

I coughed while blood ran down my chin. The collapsed trees were all around me. One of them was crushing my ankle and another one was crushing my left arm while I felt blood ran down my head. "H... Help me... Please someone... help me..." I whispered in a hoarse voice.

I reached out toward the stars with my right hand, trying to get up until my hand fell to my side. I was so tired, I just wanted to rest. I could feel my heartbeat slowing down. Am I going to die here? No, I can't... die. 

I still have to... avenge... my people. My friends... I have to... go to them. I closed my eyes as if I was falling asleep. I reopened them and saw some kind of figure. Who... is... that..? I reached out to them, telling them I needed help. I was so weak, I let my hand fall to the side again.

I closed my eyes again. Only this time, I didn't open them.

*Some time later*

"I just got back. I'm surprised you're still not up yet. Either you're in a coma or you really are dead." Someone said as I kept my closed. But I really wanted to open them. Am I dead? If I am, then why do I smell smoke? Is something burning?

I grunted as I struggled to open my eyes. I blinked a couple of times before slowly sitting up. "Interesting. I wonder if you heard me earlier?" I looked up and saw Kabuto sitting by a fire. I stared at him as I narrowed my eyes at him.

Well, of course I didn't trust him. We're all enemies in this forest. "You don't have to be alarmed. I'm not a threat." Kabuto said. I continued to stare at him. "Are you hungry? I figured you'd might after being knocked out for so long." He said as he handed me fish on a stick.

I frowned at him, then looked at the fish in his hand. I was so hungry, but I didn't want to take the fish from him. What if he poisoned it or something? "I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking." Kabuto said.

Is he some kind of mind reader? He took off a piece of the fish, then ate it himself. "See? Perfectly fine." Kabuto said before holding out the fish to me again. I hesitantly took it and began eating it hungrily. "Looks like you must've been very hungry." Kabuto commented.

I frowned at him, then went back to eating my fish. "How long have I been out?" I asked while eating my fish. "For 24 hours." He answered. "24 hours?!" I said in disbelief. I winced in pain. "I wouldn't move around a lot if I were you. If you haven't noticed, you might have a mild concussion." Kabuto explained.

I looked at him, curiously. "You have a serious head injury, a broken arm, a couple of cracked, maybe broken, ribs, and a broken ankle. I was able to heal your arm and your head. But just enough to stop the bleeding." He informed.

I raised my arm and moved it around. Then, I moved my hand to my head as I felt a bandage around it. "You did all that?" I asked him. He gave a simple nod and I looked around. "Looking for something?" Kabuto asked.

"Yeah. Did you happen to see a little black and white wolf pup when you found me?" I asked. "Nope. The only thing I saw was you being crushed under those trees." He said. "Oh..." I wonder where Yin Yang is? Did he run off?

"If I've been out for 24 hours, then that means I have that much time to get a scroll. With any luck, I hope my team got a scroll already." I said and lowered my hand before continuing to eat the cooked fish.

"Where is your team, anyway?" Kabuto asked. "I don't know. We all got separated from some kind of blast." I answered. I looked down as I thought of my team. Are they even worried that I'm gone? Hell, I don't even know. 

"How did you find me?" I asked. "I heard the explosion. When I found you, you were almost dead. Your pulse was extremely low, but you were, somehow, still alive. What surprised me is that you survived an explosion like that." Kabuto said.

I'm kind of surprised myself. "Where's your team?" I asked, changing the subject. "I'm going to meet them at the tower. I've already got the scrolls we need." he said as he pulled out an Earth's scroll and a Heaven's scroll. "Lucky you." I muttered.

I made an attempt to get up, but Kabuto stopped me. "What do you think you're doing? Didn't you hear a word I said? I told you there's a possibility you might have an concussion. It's probably not the best idea to be walking right now." Kabuto said.

"But I have to try. I need to get to my team. They might need me." I said. I went to sit up again, but I fell down hard on my ribs. I screamed out in pain and punched the ground with my fist. "Take it easy, Nue." Kabuto said.

"Don't tell me what to do!" I snapped. I breathed heavily as I tried to sit up. "Here, let me help you." He offered. I didn't start an argument as I let him help me. "Now, let's have a look at those ribs." Kabuto said as he laid me against a tree.

"Fine." I muttered as I crossed my arms. There was no point in arguing with him. He lifted my shirt, just enough so he could see my ribs. I hissed a little when he traced his fingertips over my ribs, causing me to shiver slightly.

"The bruising's gone down a little. However, it appears the bones are still a bit cracked." Kabuto explained. "Are you some kind of doctor?" I asked. "Well, sort of. I've been trained in medical ninjutsu for a long time." Kabuto said.

"That's very useful. I wish I learned medical ninjutsu. If I had, I could've saved a friend." I said, sadly, thinking about Haku and Zabuza. Kabuto looked at me with concern and I looked away from him, pulling my shirt back down.

"Thanks for your help, Kabuto. But I think it's best if I should get going now." I said. I made an attempt to move again, but that was a fail as I landed right on my face. "Even if you could make it on your own, how will you find your team?" Kabuto asked.

"I don't know. But I'll find a way."

"You can't walk."

"Then, I'll crawl. I don't care what I have to do. I have to get to my team."

"You'll die out there on your own."

"I can protect myself."

"How?"

"I'll find a way."

Kabuto chuckled. "What's so funny?" I demanded. "You're a persistent girl. You don't want to give up, no matter how hard, how tough the obstacle is." Kabuto said. "Because I made a promise that I wouldn't stop fighting." I told him.

I gasped when Kabuto picked me up bridal style. "I'm going to help you whether you like it or not, and you're not going to argue about it." He said. "What is that? Some kind of threat?" I asked.

"Nope. You're just not going to argue. You need a transportation, anway." Kabuto said. I opened my mouth to argue, then I quickly shut it, knowing I'd lose the argument. "Let's go find your team." Kabuto said. He began walking with me in his arms.

"How can I trust you?" I asked out of the blue. "What do you mean?" He asked. "You're working for Orochimaru and he told me that I would go to him for power." I explained. Kabuto stopped walking after I said that. 

"Did he bite you, by any chance?" He asked. "Uh... yes. My skin was burning when he did," I placed my hand on my neck before letting it fall on my stomach. "Hey, what are you doing?" I asked out of panic.

Kabuto had moved some of my hair to the side to look at my neck while holding me up with one arm. He lowered his face to my neck as I feebly began to push him away. "Just relax. I'm just getting a look at your mark." He said.

"What mark?" I looked at him, confused. "When Lord Orochimaru bit you, he left a mark on your neck." Kabuto mentioned. He stared directly at a spot on my neck. Assuming he found the mark, I asked, "What does it look like?" He blinked his eyes before answering.

"It's the same mark that's on the back of your cloak." Kabuto informed. 'Great' I thought, sarcastically. "I guess I have to trust you for now. But after this, you are my enemy." I told him with a frown.

"I don't mind at all. After all, we're all enemies in this forest." Kabuto said with a slight smirk. "I'm glad we're on the same page." I said to him, smirking back as he began walking again. I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open.

Well, I guess there's no surprise there. I mean, I was almost killed and there's a bandage around my head. Like a Kabuto said, there's a possibility I have a mild concussion. Kabuto noticed my droopy eyes and said, "You shouldn't go to sleep, Nue. If you do, there's a possibility you won't wake up." I ignored his comment and closed my eyes anyway, slowly falling asleep.

Kabuto's POV

I chuckled as she ignored me and went to sleep anyway. She's like a stubborn child who doesn't listen to her parents. It was like Lord Orochimaru said; Nue did fall for the trap I set. I purposely set it up so Nue would trigger it.

I knew if she triggered it, I would help her and she'd have to temporarily trust me. Now, I just need to stick to the plan.

Nue's POV

I was asleep for a good while until I felt Kabuto come to a complete spot. "We're here." Kabuto said. I blinked my eyes open and looked ahead. I saw Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura by a river and a small fire. I noticed Sakura had cut her hair short, which made me wonder why she had it cut.

"Let's go see what they're up to." I said. Kabuto gave me a nod and began to walk towards my team. Sasuke noticed him walking towards them and got out a kunai knife.

"What do you want?" Sasuke demanded. -_- Really? Does he not see me in Kabuto's arms? "I'm guessing she belongs to you." Kabuto said. Sasuke moved his eyes from him to me. "Nue-chan/Nue!" Naruto and Sakura said at the same time.

"Hand her over." Sasuke commanded. "You can relax, Sasuke. He's not a threat. On that side note, I can't walk." I said to him.

"Can't walk?" Naruto repeated. "I triggered a trap somewhere in the forest and trees collapsed on me. I would've died if Kabuto hadn't shown up when he did. The only injuries I have are a broken ankle, a mild concussion, and a couple of cracked ribs. I'm just glad you're all okay." I said.

"We could say the same thing for you." Sasuke said. "How are we doing, scroll-wise?" I asked. "Our Heaven's scroll was burned by some creep named Orochimaru. All we have is our Earth's scroll." Sakura said.

"Did he hurt any of you?" I asked. "He bit Sasuke and gave him some kind of mark on his neck." She informed. "Damn." I cursed under my breath. "I'm sorry. He got me, too." I said to Sasuke. Sasuke eyes softened slightly.

"I'm sorry." He apologized. "Don't be. It's my fault." I said to him. "How is it your fault?" Sasuke asked. 'It's my fault for trusting him in the first place' I thought. "It just is. Anyway, we have 24 hours until we can find ourselves a Heaven's scroll, right? I suggest we get moving." I said.

"But you can't walk. How will you fight?" Sakura pointed out. "Don't worry. I'll find a way." I said to her. "You keep saying that, but do you even have a plan?" Kabuto asked. "No." I said, bluntly, then sighed.

"I'm probably gonna regret saying this, but do you think you can help me out one last time?" I asked. "I thought we were enemies up to this point?" Kabuto whispered with a smirk. I frowned at him.

"Yes, I know I said that. But I really need your help this time. Please, Kabuto. This is the last favor I'll ask of you, okay?" I said. "Hmm... Seeing you won't change your mind, I'll help you out one more time." Kabuto said. "Thank you. You have a plan, right?" I asked.

"I'll explain it on the way. For now, we have to get moving. That fire is going to draw a whole bunch of ninjas here." He informed. "Then, let's not waste any more time. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura. We're leaving. Naruto, please put some clothes on." I said bluntly, realizing he was half dressed.

After Naruto got dressed, Kabuto put me on his back and we were off. But I was worried about Kiysohi and Misaki. I haven't seen them for a while and I'm worried something might have happened to them.

But where did Yin Yang go?

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Phew! That was a long chapter! So, where do you think Yin Yang went? Are Nue's pets safe and sound? Next chapter coming soon. Vote and Comment. Until next time! Sayonara, my children!

Kureiji out~