Nue's POV

It's funny, you know. One minute, your memories are gone and you make friends with a bunch of humans. Then, the next minute, you're a killer with a bipolar personality. Three years seems like a long time, don't you think?

I was sitting on top of the Akatsuki base, enjoying the cool night breeze. "It's time for your training, Nue." I heard Sasori say from behind me. I moved my eyes to the side, then back at the scenery. "Fine." I said. I stood up and followed him back to the base.

"What were you thinking about?" Sasori said, breaking the silence. "The Leaf Village." I said, emotionlessly. "You should forget about them. It's been nearly three years." He said. "You don't have to remind me," I looked down a bit and frowned.

But he's right. They did lie to me and I let them make me look like a fool. Once we got to the training room, I picked up a black and red scythe off the rack. "Are you ready?" Sasori asked me. I nodded my head. He took out a scroll and summoned his Third Kazekage puppet.

I made my eyes change purple as I got in position. Sasori made the puppet come at me with a blade and I used my tails to stop his attack. He flexed his fingers, making the puppet push forward and try to cut me.

I jumped back, doing a backflip, then ran at him, trying to slice him. Sasori kept dodging my attacks. "It's useless to just use normal attacks. I taught you this a year ago." Sasori said as he blocked most of my attacks with his puppet.

God, he sounds like Kakashi. I got distracted and he sliced down on my chest with the puppet's blade. The puppet sliced upward, cutting my arm. I winced in pain, but stood my ground. "Is that all you got?" I challenged.

I knew I was driving his patience and that was the plan. Sasori frowned at me and sliced my cheek, making a deep cut. I narrowed my eyes at him as I stood my ground.

Sasori's POV

I narrowed my eyes at Nue as she stood her ground. It's as if she couldn't feel the pain at all. I threw a kunai knife at her and she blocked it with her scythe. Nue made a gun appear in her hand and shot at me. I dodged her attack, then drove my blade through her heart.

She poofed into a log. A clone, I should've known. I froze when I felt a kunai knife lightly touch my back. "A ninja must see through deception, Sasori. You've learned that, haven't you?" Nue mocked.

I smirked and looked at her with the corner of my eye. She was getting stronger and faster by the day. Nue teleported in front of me so she could look at me and I noticed she has deactivated her kekkei genkai. I looked into her crimson eyes and saw a bit of rage.

"That's enough training for tonight." I said to her. Nue gave me small a nod and walked away. "You're different, Nue Houjuu. It makes me wonder what sort of life you lived wile you were in the Leaf." I murmured.

Nue's POV

I still had a few more hours until morning arrived. Maybe I could do some exploring. As I walked past the living room, I noticed Kisame sleeping on the couch. I walked down the hall and opened the door to Pein's room. He was sound asleep on his bed.

"Wow, even the leader sleeps." I said, amused. I closed his door and walked to Deidara's room. I've been hanging out with Deidara a lot lately and we've become good friends. I snuck into his room and saw him twitching a little as his breathing was uneven.

What I can guess, I think he's having a nightmare. Aw, so cute. It almost made me feel a little bad that he wasn't sleeping so well. So, what can I do to make him relax? I climbed into his bed, then lied down next to him. Deidara almost instantly relaxed when I lied down next to him.

He had stopped twitching and his breathing went back to normal. I smiled and ran my hand through his soft hair. He's so cute while he's sleeping. I decided to stay with Deidara until morning.

Hours passed and morning was slowly approaching. I played with Deidara's hair to keep myself occupied while the hours passed. I looked at Deidara when he began to stir a bit in a sleep. It looked like he was waking up.

He opened his eyes and saw me lying down beside him. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead." I said. Deidara blushed and he quickly sat up.

"What are you doing in my room, Nue, un?" He asked. "I thought I'd come in and give you some company. You were twitching a lot in your sleep. It looked like you were having a nightmare." I explained to him as I sat up as well.

He yawned a bit before stretching. "What time is it, un?" He asked. "Morning." I answered as I jumped off his bed. I exited his room and went to the living room. I went to the fridge and got some yogurt. Strawberry yogurt was my favorite thing to eat in this base.

I sat down at the table and began to eat. "You're up early." Kakuzu said as he walked into the kitchen. "Well, I don't really sleep during the nighttime, Kakuzu. You should know that since I've been living here for three years." I stated.

Kakuzu stared at me as if he needed a little more information. "Think of it this way: At nighttime, I think of it as morning. In daytime, I think of it as nightfall. So, the yogurt I'm eating is like a midnight snack." I explained. "I get it." He said.

"Anyway, what are you doing up so early? Didn't you sleep at all?" I asked. "I would've gotten some sleep if Hidan hasn't woken me up with his damn ritual." Kakuzu said, irritated. "Hidan was doing a ritual? I didn't hear him." I stated.

"How could you not hear his yelling?"

"I don't know. Maybe I was so distracted with Deidara, I couldn't hear him."

"What were you doing with Deidara?"

"Nothing, really. I was visiting him as he slept."

"....."

"....."

"You're a strange creature, all right."

"I know."

"What happened to your cheek?"

I hummed in confusion, then traced my finger against my cheek, feeling a cut there. "I was training with Sasori. Don't worry, it'll heal soon." I told him. When I finished my yogurt, I threw away the empty cup and spoon, then went to my room to take a nap.

*Four hours later*

"Nue, wake up." I whined a bit before opening my eyes, seeing Sasori standing by my bed. "What is it, Sasori?" I asked with a yawn. "Leader-sama wants to see us." He explained. "Can't it wait a little while longer? I'm still tired." I whined.

"No, he needs to see us now." Sasori said impatiently. "All right, all right." I said frustrated, and got out of bed. I followed Sasori down the hall, towards Pein's office. This better be good. Pein knows I don't like being woken up.

When we got to Pein's office, Sasori knocked on the door and we heard a deep, "Enter." We entered his room and bowed to him. "This better be good, Pein." I said, coldly. "Watch your tone with me, Nue." Pein warned.

"Sorry, but you know I don't enjoy being woken up from a nice nap." I said to him. "I'll make this quick. You, Deidara, and Sasori have a mission to retrieve the One-Tails." He said. "The One-Tails? Oh, right. Gaara." I said as I put my hands behind my head.

"Go and inform Deidara about the mission." Pein said. "Hai, Leader-sama." Sasori said. I bowed, then left. I walked to the living room and found Deidara asleep on the couch. "Oi, Deidara, wake up. We have a mission." I said. He continued to sleep.

"Deidara, up and at 'em. Wake up." I said, shaking his shoulder. But he stayed asleep. I sighed before a smirk made its way on my lips. I jumped in the air, then landed on his stomach. "Ow! What was that for, Nue, un?!" Deidara shouted.

"I wanted you to wake up." I said as I propped my elbow up and rested a cheek on my hand. "Jeez, Nue. Can't you, just once, be a little nicer to me for a change, un?" He asked. I playfully flicked his forehead. "I'll think about it." I said.

Deidara smiled at me and petted my head. I smiled back. "I'll be right back. I just have to go to my room and get a few things. You should get ready, too." I advised before getting off him. I walked to my room to get my weapons.

I took off my cloak so my wings and tails could breathe. When I noticed a kunai knife on my dresser, I poked some holes into the back of the cloak, that way my wings and tails were out. As I was putting my cloak back on, I heard a knock at my door. "It's open." I called.

The door opened to reveal Itachi. "Hey, Itachi. What do you need?" I asked. "Why do you do this to yourself, Nue?" He asked. "Do what?" I questioned as I packed my weapons. "You know what I'm talking about. You put up a fake smile whenever you have to, but it won't work on me. I can see through you." Itachi said.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I denied. I paused for a moment as I stared down at my weapons. I grabbed my trident, then grabbed my headband off my dresser, staring down at it. The scratch I made on the headband gleamed a little under the dim light.

"I have to go." I said. I quickly walk past him and accidentally bumped into Kisame. "Sorry about that." I apologized. He grinned and ruffled my head. I raised a brow at him. "What was that for?" I asked with a slight frown.

"You should cheer up a bit, kid. You'll get your chance to kill Orochimaru someday." He said. I blinked at him in surprise. "How did you know I was thinking about him?" I asked. "You talk in your sleep." Kisame said.

I blushed before smacking my head against my forehead. I'm gonna be honest with you: That is a little embarrassing. "Yeah, sorry about that. But thank you anyway, Kisame." I said. I bowed to him and met up with Deidara and Sasori.

"What did you do to your cloak, un?" Deidara asked. "I just decided to give it a new look." I said. "It took you long enough to get here." Sasori said from inside his puppet. "Put a sock in it, Sasori." I said. "I dare you to say that again." Sasori said as he wriggled his tail.

"You wanna go?" I challenged. "Why don't you guys fight after the mission is complete, un?" Deidara suggested. I rolled my eyes, backing off. "Whatever. Let's just go." I said. I walked past them and they followed. Looks like I get to visit an old friend. What am I saying? He's not my friend. It was all just a trick; A big, fat lie.