Chapter 35: Isolation with Friends

Iri's POV

Nothing was ever the same that day for Nue. But Hokage-sama was nice enough to hold a funeral for Okaa-san, Julia, and Sharon. Nue and I waked forward and placed our flowers on their caskets.

"Rest in peace Mom... Julia... Sharon..." I said. "Thank you for everything you've done for me, Okaa-san. I.... I just wish I could've been there for you... just like how you were there for me." Nue said as she let a few tears fall.

I saw Nue's hand clench into a fist. "I promise I will get strong... for you. No matter." Nue said. "And I promise to watch over your children, Luna-sama." Maria said. "Thank you, Maria." I thanked as I hugged her.

After the funeral, Hokage-sama asked us if we could stay and talk to him. "I'm dearly sorry for your loss." Hokage-sama asked. Nue didn't say anything as she stared sadly at the ground. I could tell she was trying not to cry.

"Nue, you don't have to take the final exams if you don't want to." Hokage-sama said. "No, I'll continue to take the exams." She said, quietly. "Nue, are you sure?" I asked her. "Yes, I want to get stronger. I promised them." Nue said.

"Your mother would be very proud of you, Nue-sama." Maria said. Nue didn't say anything. "Thank you for your condolences, Hokage-sama." I said, bowing my head to him. He smiled and we left. Anko came by our house and told Nue they could postpone their training for another time since she heard about what happened to Mother.

It turns out Anko knew my mother from a long time ago and they were good friends. For the rest of the day, Nue isolated herself in her room. She wouldn't come out to eat nor would she come to talk to us. She avoided her snake and Misaki.

A while later, Squad 7 came by to see how she was doing. "Nue, your team is here to see you." I said as I knocked on her door. "Make them leave." I heard her say. "But, Nue... They came all this way just to see how you were doing." I told her.

"Just make them leave. I don't want to see them. All I want is to be alone right now." Nue said. I looked down at the ground. "Oh, Nue." I whispered before going back to Nue's team. "It doesn't look like Nue's coming out anytime soon. Try again tomorrow." I said to them.

"Tell her we're sorry and tell her we wanna talk to her when she gets the chance." Naruto said. I nodded and they left. I know how Nue feels right now. But I think she should at least talk to someone instead of isolating herself in her room.

Will I ever see her smile again?

Nue's POV

I refuse to leave this room. I can't come out knowing I'll be cold to everyone. They shouldn't have to feel my pain as well. I buried my face in my pillow, then stared emotionlessly at the wall. I closed my eyes until I heard a small tapping sound by my window.

"Who's here to bother me now?" I asked into my pillow. Knowing the tapping sound wouldn't stop, I got off my bed and went over to my window. I opened my window and looked down to see Squad 10 along with Squad 7.

"Can we talk for a second?" Shikamaru called up. I stared emotionlessly at them before putting on my cloak, jumping out the window, and landing in front of them. "What do you want?" I asked, emotionlessly.

"We just wanted to see how you were doing." Choji said. "What do you think?" I snapped. "Hey! Be nice! You should be glad they came to see you at all!" The voice in my head snapped. "Shut up! I don't want to hear it from you!" I snapped at her, telepathically.

Although, she did have a point. I sighed and looked at them. "So, you heard what happened?" I asked. "All of us did. We're sorry, Nue-chan." Naruto said. I bit my lip hard so I wouldn't cry in front of them. "Thanks for stopping by to check on me." I said with a fake smile.

I wanted to go back to my room and stay there for the rest of the day. I didn't even want to look at Ino. I'm still mad at her for tearing up my family picture. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Naruto asked.

"No, that's okay," I shook my head. "I don't want to become a burden to you guys. I'll be fine, really." I said. "Nue, can I talk to you for a second? In private?" Ino asked. I glanced over at her. What does she want to talk about? There's nothing to talk about.

Last time I checked, we weren't friends. "Fine. Follow me." I said, leading us to a secluded spot. Ino followed. "What do you want?" I asked, coldly. "I wanted to see how you were doing." Ino said. "Why would you care? We're not friends." I stated.

"I know. But I-"

"You what? Want to tear up another family picture? Or maybe insult my dead mother? Or maybe you just want to make fun of me and say how happy you are that something bad finally happened to me! Well, I'm glad you're happy Ino because I'll never see my mother again!" I shouted at her. I punched the tree that was next to me.

I hit it so hard, the whole thing fell on its side. I gritted my teeth as I glared at her. Tears ran down my cheeks as I gritted my teeth harder. Finally, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I began to cry as I fell to my knees.

"Nue, I didn't come here to do any of those things. I'm really sorry about your mother. Hinestly, I am." Ino said. I wiped my eyes, but it didn't help because more tears started to stream down my face as thoughts of my mother filled my head.

"But why would you care? Especially after all you've done..." I said as I glared up at her. "Nue, I really am sorry. I swear. Here, I want to give this to you." Ino said. She reached into her pocket and took out a picture. I stood up and as she handed me the picture.

My eyes widened when I realized it was the picture that she and Sakura tore. She had taped the two pieces back together. "The picture... you fixed it?" I looked at her with concern. "Like I said, I'm really sorry for what happened to your mother. So, I wanted to give this back to you." Ino said.

I stared at the picture as my eyes began to water. I closed my eyes as tears began to drip from them. "Okaa-san..." I whispered.

"I really am sorry, Nue. I honestly can't imagine what you're going through right now. If I lost my mother, I'd be in the same situation you're in. So, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for tearing up your picture and I hope we can start over." Ino aplogized.

I wiped my eyes before looking at her. "I forgive you, Ino." I said, quietly. "I want us to start over. Hi, my name is Ino Yamanaka." Ino said as she held out her hand to me. I looked at her before looking at her held out hand.

"I..." I slowly extended my hand towards her. "I am... Nue. Nue Houjuu Satori, and it's nice to meet you, Ino Yamanaka." I said, shaking her hand. "So... does that mean we're friends?" Ino asked. I gave her a nod. "Aww~." I looked behind me. 

Oh, don't tell me... I walked over to a tree and looked behind it, spotting Squads 7 and 10. "Were you guys listening the whole time?" I asked before opening the window. "Uh... no?" Naruto said. I smiled at him. "You're a bad liar, Naruto." I mentioned.

He laughed sheepishly until I flicked his forehead. "Don't eavesdrop on other people's conversations." I said to him. "Gomen, Nue-chan." He apologized. "It's okay. Just know better next time." I replied.

"Hmm..." I hummed to myself. "Excuse me, I have to go somewhere." I said. I bowed my head to them before walking. I got bored and began to sing:

Of all the money that e'er I had

I've spent it in good company

And all the harm that e'er I've done

Alas it was to none but me

And all I've done for want of wit

To memory now I can't recall

So fill to me, the parting glass

Goodnight and joy be with you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had

They are sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e'er I had

They would wish me one more day to stay

But since it falls onto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I'll gently rise and I'll softly call

Goodnight and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk

A man may fight and not be slain

A man may court a pretty girl

And perhaps be welcomed back again

But since it has so ought to be

By a time to rise and a time to fall

Come fill to me, the parting glass

Goodnight and joy be with you all

Come fill to me, the parting glass

Goodnight and joy be with you all

"I see you enjoy singing," I looked up to see Yin Yang in a tree. "Hey." I greeted and he hopped down from the tree he was on. "It's nice to see you're not angry anymore." Yin Yang said. "No, but I'm still sad." I replied.

"I can tell. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you for your condolences."

"So, tell me," He climbed onto my shoulder. "Do you remember what you wished for?" He asked. I shook my head. "Don't feel bad. You'll remember it soon enough." Yin Yang said. We stayed quiet as I continued to walk. 

"Question for you: If you know what I wished for, then why don't you just grant it already?" I asked. "Well, that's easy. Because you can't remember your wish, I can't grant it." He answered. "Are you saying in order for the wish to be fulfilled, I have to remember what I wished for?" I asked.

"That's right. It's like that for everyone's wishes." He said. I stopped in front of a house; Anko's House. I knocked on her door and waited for her to answer. Anko answered the door. "Nue? Hey, how's it going? Are you feeling okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine, Anko." I said. "What the heck is that?" She asked, pointing at Yin Yang. I looked at him, then at her. "He's a friend. Listen, I want to continue the training session." I told her.

"Are you sure you're up for it?"  

"Yes, I'm sure."

I lowered my head a little. "Hey, what's the matter?" Anko asked.

"Anko, I... I haven't been completely honest with you. I... I know Orochimaru. He visited me on my birthday and when I went to the Land of Waves. He was friend, and I trusted him. But now anymore. He betrayed me and he hurt my sister during the Forest of Death. And he also tried to convince me that my own family tried to kill me. So, I have to know. Do you also know Orochimaru-san?" I asked.

Anko frowned before sighing. "Yes, I do know him. The guy was my teacher and he trained me. But I was fool to trust him. I know about the curse mark on your neck." She explained. My blood ran cold for a moment.

"It's okay, Nue. I have one, too," Anko shifted her jacket so her neck was exposed and showed me her curse mark. "That guy manipulated us and we still let him get the advantage. But not this time. Nue, I'm going to teach you everything I learned from him and everything I know." She said.

"Do you really mean it?" 

"Definitely."

"But we only have a few more weeks. I don't think I'll be able to master all the techniques."

"Then, we better get started."

I looked at her, shocked. "Okay."

"But let me ask you something, Nue. What suddenly changed your mind?" Anko asked. I smiled a small smile as my hand gently enclosed the bat charm on my necklace that was around my neck; The same necklace Okaa-san gave me on my birthday.

"Because I made a promise." I answered. "Sounds good enough to me. We start training tomorrow." She informed. "No, we start training now." I said in a serious tone. "Looks like we became a little persistent after hearing my little backstory." Anko noticed with a smirk.

I smirked back. "Fine. Let's get started." Anko and I walked to the training grounds as it began to rain a little harder. But we didn't care. Training was the only thing that was on our minds right now. I held the bat charm as we walked.

"Okaa-san... I promise. I will get strong." I mumbled.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nue's training isn't over yet. Will Nue be able to master all of Anko's techniques by the finals? All will be revealed soon. BTW the song is called Parting Glass. Voiced by Cara Dillon. I know Walking Dead isn't suppose to be there, but I just love the series! Vote and comment. Until next time. Sayonara!!

Kureiji out~