Chapter 52: Reunited

3rd Person's POV

Naruto was brought back to the Leaf Village after the clash with Sasuke. The mission to bring back Sasuke Uchiha was a failure. "Where's Nue?" Kakashi asked. "Nue-chan... She's dead." Naruto said, sadly.

When Iri and Maria got the news about Nue, they didn't want to believe it. They refused to believe it. But it was the truth. As for Kyo, he went back to the summoning world, where Nue's summonings resided, so he could heal his wounds.

ANBU Black Ops went to retrieve Nue's body. However, her body wasn't there. They came to believe she either walked off on her own or she was taken. Lady Tsunade assumed it was Orochimaru who took her. Nevertheless, she held a funeral fro Nue. 

Iri cried as Marai hung her head in shame as she failed to protect her Mistress. Nue's pets, Kiyoshi and Misaki felt like they were to blame for Nue's passing. They believed if they had been by Nue's side like they were supposed to, Nue would still be with them.

When the funeral ended, some of the villagers had smirks on their faces. They were glad that she was gone because it was one less monster to deal with. "What's wrong with you people?! Why are you smiling?!" Iri snapped at them.

"She risked her life to save you all! She didn't do anything wrong! All she wanted was to be accepted! All she wanted was..." Iri trailed off as Maria pulled her into a hug, letting the child sob into her chest. 

Like Nue had repeated in the past, she kept her promise. She had protected the people she care about and she paid the price with her life as her exact words were, "I'll protect everyone I care about, or die trying."

Yes, Nue's friends were safe, but she wasn't able to save herself. But there's still that one question that still stands; Where was Nue Houjuu?

Nue's POV

"She's dead! Let me sacrifice her fucking body to Jashin!"

"No, look. Her wounds are healing."

"Did you find others?

"Negative. We scouted the area, but we couldn't find anything. It appears she's the only one left, un."

"Nue, if you can hear me, wake up."

What's going on? Where the hell am I? I know for a fact that I'm not in the Final Valley. So, where am I? I slowly opened my eyes and saw people around me as they were wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them. "Nani...?" I whispered.

"She's awake." I heard a deep voice say. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. "Glad to see you're awake, Nue Houjuu." A man with piercings said. I looked at their cloaks and my eyes turned purple. Akatsuki! 

"Your murderers!" I quickly got up from whatever I was laying on and ran at the man with piercings. I went to throw a punch, but my fist stopped right when I was about to hit his face. I tried pushing my fist forward, but it wouldn't budge.

The man grabbed my wrist and threw me over to a wall. I did a backflip and landed on the wall with my hands and feet as I glared at him.  "Calm down. We're not gonna hurt you, so there's no reason for you to fight." He explained.

I kicked off the wall and dashed towards him until a woman with blue hair got in front him. She grabbed my wrist, stopping my attack. I went to hit her with my free hand, but she caught my wrist, keeping me in the air.

"You must listen to us, Nue. We're not going to fight you." She tried to reason. "Sasori, according to your intel, you said she has amnesia, correct?" The man with piercings said. "I had amnesia. But I have my memories back." I said, coldly.

"Then you know who we are." He said. "I know exactly who you are! You're the people who murdered my clan!" I snapped.

"We didn't kill the Houjuu Clan."

"Then why were you there that night?! If you didn't kill my people, then why were you there?!"

"Because we were trying to save your people."

I looked at him with a frown, but I was confused to what he said. "You... were trying to save them?" I asked, feeling my anger slowly slip away as my eyes changed from purple to red. "Do you remember our names?" The blue haired woman asked.

I made my eyes change purple fro a quick second, then made them change back to red. "Now I do. You're the Akatsuki. Your names are Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Deidara, Sasori of the Red Sand, Hidan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Konan, and Pein, the leader of the Akatsuki." I informed.

"She knew our names just by looking at us?" Kakuzu asked. "In a way. She used her kekkei genkai to know our names." Pein said. "What else can she do?" Sasori asked, emotionlessly. "I can inherit someone's abilities when I taste their blood. But only for a short about of time, depending on how much blood I've taken." I explained.

"Is that so?" Hidan said as he came close to my face, causing me to lean back a bit. "Oi, pervert. Unless you want to loose a tooth, get out of my face." I ordered.

"Feisty. I fucking like you." Hidan said. I took a step back. "Keep this guy away from me." I said, then turned my attention to Pein. "You said you were trying to save my people. How can I truly believe that?" I demanded with a frown. "I'll show you." Itachi said as he stepped forward.

I looked into his eyes as his Sharingan was activated.

(Flashback)

I was four years old. I was in my room, taking a long nap until I hear my mother call my name. I sleepily opened my eyes, then got out of bed as I walking down the stairs. I saw a man with orange hair and piercings as a blue-haired woman was with him.

"Mother, who are these people?" I asked, walking over to her. "Nue, this is Pein and Konan. They wanted to speak with the elder and they came to us for directions. Do you happen to know where he might be?" My mother asked.

"Are they humans?" I asked, coldly as I hid behind my mother, frowning at the two people. "Yes, we are." Pein confirmed. He walked over to me and kneeled down so he was at eye level with me.

"Do you despise me?" Pein asked, staring into my eyes. "Yeah. I hate all of your kind. Humans are the worst." I said, glaring at him. "Nue! That's not nice!" My mother scolded me. "But, Mother! Humans aren't supposed to know about this place! How did they find it?" I asked.

"We just wish to help you." Pein said. "I don't trust you!" I yelled at him before running out of the house. "Nue!" My father called after me. I ran to my hiding spot, where I go train. I rested myself near a tree as my knees were pulled to my chest.

My face hid in my knees. "Nue," Startled, I gasped slightly as I looked to my side, spotting Konan. "What do you want?" I asked, bitterly as I rested my chin on my knees. "Why do hate humans?" She asked.

"I don't wanna say." I said, looking ahead. "You must have a reason." Konan said, taking a seat next to me. "I hate humans because they're cruel." I said.

"What made you come to that conclusion?"

"Because they attacked my mother. She was barely breathing when Father wound her. So, I hate humans. I will always hate humans." 

"Not all humans are that bad."

"Yes, they are. I don't know how you guys keep finding this place."   

"What do you mean?"

"About two months ago, three people came to the clan and claimed they were lost. I think their names were Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru."

"Orochimaru?"

"Yeah. For some reason, he took a weird interest in me after I told him I was going to change."

"Change?"

"It's a long story."

Konan looked at me in confusion. "Why don't you tell me about it?" She suggested.

"At a certain age, us beings as Nues are to change our personality. But I don't want to change. I want to stay my true self. It's much more fun. But the elder says it's our destiny when we change who we are. If that's our destiny, then what's the point in living?" I asked with a bit of sadness.

"I'm sorry." Konan said. "What for?" I asked, still staring straight ahead. "I know that must be hard for you." She mentioned. I stayed quiet for a while. "But it doesn't matter. Humans will stay humans. They'll always find a way to hurt us, whether it's for reason or not." I said 

(Time skips)

A few weeks later, all hell broke loose. Flames destroyed homes as ninjas from the Sound Village killed my kind left and right. As for me, I was fighting for my life and for my family. I made my tails pierce through a ninja's chest and made my wings cut off his head.

Yes, I may be young, but that doesn't mean I should just stand there and do nothing. I dodged a ninja's attack only to get back to back with someone. I glanced back to see who it was. "You!" I said, staring at Pein.

"I'm here to help." He explained. "Why are you helping me?" I demanded. "No time to explain. Just fight." Pein punched a ninja in the face. I did as he said and continued to fight, nonstop.

One by one, my people went down. Pretty soon, I was the last of my kind, still standing while the people in black cloaks and red clouds were standing by me. "Give up, Nue. It's over." Orochimaru said, smirking. I panted as I stood my ground.

"I... I'll never give up!" I said. A sound ninja came at me with a sword and went to slice my head until a man with blue skin blocks his attack with his own sword. "Don't worry, kid. I got your back." He grinned. "Who are all you people? Why do you help me?" I demanded.

I wasn't used to having humans help me. In fact, now that they're here, it feels strange. "Where is Mother and Father?" I demanded. For some reason, that made Orochimaru chuckle. "Are you talking about this person you call a father?" Orochimaru said.

I gasped as he had hold of my father, holding him by the collar of his shirt. "Father!" I called out in worry. He weakly lifted his head as blood ran down his face. "Hurry, Nue... Hurry up and run!" He called. I gasped Orochimaru cut off his head.

I screamed at the top of my lungs as my father's head rolled near my feet. I glared at Orochimaru with hatred as tears ran down my face. "You bastard... I'll kill you!" I shouted. "Nue, no! You need to run! Now!" Pein said.

"But-!"

"Just go! Hurry!"

I glared at Orochimaru again. "Damn it." I muttered before running off. I glance back as Pein says something I couldn't catch. Why did they fight alongside me? Who were they?

(End of Flashback)

I blinked my eyes as the flashback was over. "I don't believe it..." I whispered. Without realizing it, tears freely flowed down my cheeks. I quickly wiped my eyes, then looked at Pein. "What did you say when I ran off? Tell me." I commanded.

"I said, don't forget us. Because I knew something bad would happen to you." He said. "And it did. After I ran from Orochimaru, I slipped down a hill and the back of my head hit a rock. I woke up a couple minutes later and walked off. That's how I got my amnesia." I explained.

"You hit your head on a rock? Something like that should've killed you." Sasori mentioned. "No, not really. I can heal rather quickly when it comes to injuries like those." I said. "That must be pretty handy, yeah." Deidara said.

I shrugged my shoulders in response. "But why am I here?" I asked. "We want you to join Akatsuki." Konan said. "Join Akatsuki? No, thanks." I said. "Why do you refuse?" Pein asked. "Because I have my own goals to worry about. I still have to find Orochimaru and kill him for murdering my people." I said.

"We can help you." White Zetsu offered. "I don't want your help." I said, frowning. "But in the state you're in now, you won't last five minutes against Orochimaru if you were to fight him right now." Kisame mentioned.

"I'm fine!" I snapped. I took a step forward and nearly fell to the ground until Deidara caught me. "You can barely stand. How are you supposed to fight him when you're this weak, yeah?" Deidara asked as he helped me stand to my feet.

'I'm only weak because I'm still healing from the attack I endured from Naruto and Sasuke's attacks' I thought. "Okay, okay. I see your point." I said. "Nue, if you join Akatsuki, I guarantee you that you will get strong and you will have the power you need in order to destroy Orochimaru." Pein offered.

"Oi, these people did try to help you save our clan. The least you can do is join their organization. Think about it. It's an eye for an eye." My twin said in my head. "Since when did you give a crap?" I mumbled.

"Since you got your memories back, baka." She replied. I sighed and decided to bite the bullet on this one. "Fine. I'll join your damn organization. But I'm only joining so I can get stronger." I said.

"Very well. But you will follow our orders and if you don't, there will be consequences." Pein said in a serious tone. "Whatever." I said, coldly. "Watch yourself with him, Nue. The Leader isn't one to be taken so lightly, un." Deidara mentioned.

I only narrowed my eyes at him in response. "Sasori, show Nue to her room. A cloak will be ready for her soon." Pein said. "Yes, sir. Follow me, Nue." Sasori said, leading the way. I followed behind him.

Sasori's POV

She's quiet. Why doesn't she speak? "Nue Houjuu Satori, huh? That was the name you had after you got amnesia?" I asked. She looked at me and gave me a small nod. "I find Houjuu a unparticular name for you. Along with Satori." I mentioned.

"That is not my last name." Nue said, coldly. She has a bit of a bite to her attitude. Not that I'm complaining though. "We're here." I said, once we've reached her room. I opened the door for her and she walked inside. "If you need anything, I'm down the hall." I offered.

"This is fine. Thank you." Nue said. Her wings and tails stretched out a bit. "It's nothing much, but I think you should get used to the place." I said. "I said, this is fine." She said. She closed the door in my face. So this is the Nue's true personality. Half polite, half cold. Quite interesting.

Nue's POV

I examined my room a bit, then lied down on my bed. Why did I run away from Orochimaru when I should've stayed and fight? I hate myself for being so weak back then. I heard a knock at my door, so I got up to answer it.

"Who is it? What do you want?" I demanded in a cold tone. "It's Deidara, yeah."

I sighed and opened the door. "What is it?" I demanded. "Can we talk, un?" Deidara asked. "Make it quick." I said, impatiently as I let him in. Deidara walked in and took a seat on the bed. "Hey, he's cute." My twin mentioned from inside my head.

I blushed with a frown while looking at the ground. "Eh, you're blushing. You think he's cute, too, don't you?" She said with a laugh. "Shut up." I murmured. "What?" Deidara asked. "Nothing. What did you want to talk about?" I said, quickly as I leaned against the door.

"I just wanted to know how you're doing, un." he said. "Is that all?" I asked out of boredom. "Hey, I'm trying to be nice here, yeah." Deidara said. "Good for you. Why don't I give you a gold star for your concern?" I said, sarcastically.

"Cold, much?"

"Very."

"Why are you so cold, un?"

"Because that's just how I am."

"Do you have to be cold?"

"Just shut up, will you?"

Deidara's POV

"Look, I can't imagine what you're going through. But trust me, it's going to get better, yeah." I said. "What would you know?!" She snapped at me. "Well..." I thought for a second. "How could you possibly know anything about me?" Nue said as she walked over to me, making me stand up.

"You're just another person who looks at me and wonders why aren't I dead yet!" She said, making me back up. "You don't know me! You don't know what I've been through! So, don't go talking to me as if you know me!" Nue snapped as my back was pressed up against her door.

She sighed and walked over to her bed, flopping down on it. "You remind me of him." She mentioned. "Who?" I asked. "Naruto Uzumaki. His idiotic face always comes up in my head whenever I think about killing people. Killing humans seems to be the only thing I know how to do. So, why did I let him live? Why did I save him?" Nue said, taking out a kunai knife.

"It irritates me when I can't figure something out. I should've killed him. I should've just let him die. But I didn't. Why? Why did I do it? Why?" Nue asked in anger as she stabbed the bed with her knife, repeatedly. I gulped as she let the knife stay stuck to the bed.

"Humans... I think it's because I like killing them." She murmured. "Have you killed a human before?" I asked her. "Yes, when I was four years old. And I killed someone a few months ago. He was a real pain in the ass." Nue mentioned before sitting up.

"I'm telling you all this for no reason. Aren't you scared?" She asked, looking at the ground. "Of course not! I find your company enlightening! You're actually a cool person!" I said. Nue looked at me, then burst out laughing while holding her stomach.

"Do you know how ridiculous you sound?! Hahahaha! You sound like a damn poet!" She said, laughing. "But..." She stopped laughing and looked at me with a deadly look in her eye. "I still hate your kind. If you cross me, or try to fuck with my head, I'll kill you. I don't care what Pein has to say about my actions. I won't give a shit. I'll be happy." She said.

'This girl has a new meaning of deadly, un' I thought. "I'm serious. I don't think you're a bad person at all. You're just misunderstood, un." I said, placing my hands on her shoulders. "You have no idea how many times I've heard that phrase before." Nue replied.

"What do I have to do to make you believe  me? Just say the word and I'll do it." I said as I shook her slightly. Nue looked at her shoulder, where my hand was placed. "Then..." She quickly grabbed my grabbed my arm, flipped me onto her bed and pinned me down with a kunai knife near my throat. "Can you die for me?" Nue asked, her face dangerously close to mine.

"If that's what it will take for you to believe me, then yes. I will die for you, un." I said, seriously. "You... would give your life for someone you just met? For someone you hardly know?" Nue asked. "Sure, it sounds weird. But I just want you to know that I'm serious, yeah." I said.

Nue frowned at me before getting off me and sitting on the edge of the bed. "You're a weird human." She mentioned as I sat up.  "How so?" I asked. "You just are." Nue said. I hesitantly sat next to her as she gazed at the floor.

"Hey... Did you know you shouldn't underestimate cats? They can be... unpredictable." Nue said before closing her eyes. She leaned her head on my arm, making me flinch a little. "Nue?" I said, shaking her slightly.

She fell asleep. It's still pretty early. Why is she so tired? It can't be from her healing ability, can it? What if I moved away from her? I looked down at her and noticed she still had the kunai knife in her hand. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't move. Especially when she has a weapon in her hand.

Who knows what she could do with it in her sleep? I sighed and stayed where I was as I let Nue sleep on me.