I looked around. 'Now, where's Ino?' I thought as I glanced from left to right. Hidan began to chuckle with excitement before yelling, "Look, Lord Jashin! Behold your servant! I'd give myself, body, and soul to the cottage to come! In your name, I will rip their guts out!"

One of the Kakuzu's black creatures began to sway before fallign to the ground, melting into what looked like a black ink. "What happened, Kakuzu?" I asked as he stitched his back with his threads.

"Kakuzu! What the hell was that?! You put on this big show and, then one of them drops dead before we even get started! Come on, that's really low if you ask me!" Hidan whined. "Will you shut up, Hidan?" I said with a frown. "Hidan, Nue. Just stay back. I've got this." Kakuzu said.

"No way! I want in on this action! And I'm sick of watching us get pushed around by these losers! So, let's go with the usual!" Hidan replied. "The usual?" I repeated. "Just sit back and watch, Nue." He said.

"This isn't going to be like the time when you got your ass kicked by that monk at the Fire Temple, is it?" I asked. "Trust me. This time, we won't let our guard down. Just stay out of it!" Hidan answered. "You're the boss. I just listen." I said, yawning.

Kakuzu hummed as he did a hand sign while Hidan licked his lips and charged at Kakashi with his scythe. Kakashi took out a kunai and began to fight Hidan, one on one. They jumped in the air, continuing their battle.

At least, that's how it was until Kakuzu  blocked his attack. I emotionlessly stared off into space as I listened to their weapons clashing. "Wind Style: Pressure Damage!" I heard Kakuzu yell. The next thing I heard was a blast.

"Move!" I ordered my summoning. It leaped away from the blast so we wouldn't get hit. We landed near a safe spot, away from the blast. But it wasn't over yet. "Lightning Style: False Darkness!" Kakuzu said.

"Choji! Shikamaru! Run!" Ino called as she ran towards them. "So, that's where she was hiding." I said. The lightning attack struck forward, aiming to hit the three ninjas. "Get in front of them!" I ordered my summoning.

He jumped forward, landing in front of them. "All right, just like we practiced." I said. He gave a roar while opening its mouth as I held out my arms. The two of us created a Tailed Beast Ball and shot it towards Kakuzu's lightning attack.

Kakashi's POV

"That's the...!" My eyes widened as I recognized the Tailed Beast Ball. But I thought only Jinchuriki had those abilities. There's no way Nue can perform a technique like that unless...

Is Nue a Jinchuriki?

Nue's POV

I panted lightly as I held my arms out. "Way to go, buddy." I said to my summoning. "Nue, you... saved us?" Choji asked. "I didn't do it for you. I did it because I want to be the one who kills you, not Kakuzu." I said, coldly.

I made my summoning walk forward, going over to Kakuzu. "Why did you try to stop my attack?" Kakuzu demanded with a glare. "Because I'm the one who's going to kill them." I said. I looked over at Hidan as he was walking over to us.

"That was very impressive. You're the first one who's survived that little one-two combination of ours, Kakashi Hatake." Hidan complimented. "You saw through the jutsu with your Sharingan. But what about this next one?" Kakuzu said, doing a few hand signs.

A masked creature began to sway like the last one until it opened its mouth. "Fire Style: Searing Migraine!" Kakuzu said. Fire shot out of the mouth of the mask, toward Kakashi and Squad 10.

However, they were able to dodge that attack. I spotted Kakashi in the air as Hidan tried to kill him with his scythe. Hidan went to swing his scythe down on him, but Kakashi blocked it. This kind of continued while Hidan tried to get one strike in.

I watched as their battle led up to a tree and back down on the ground. When Kakashi retreated, I heard the four of them talking amongst themselves. I heard one of them figure out that all the hearts belonged to Kakuzu.

"Oh, by the way. You Leaf ninja, you bury your dead or what?" Hidan asked. "What do you mean?" I asked. "I mean, it'll be a real hassle if they do. Knowing Kakuzu, he'll totally want us to go digging for that cash cow of his." He explained to me.

I moved my wings and tails with a yawn. "It was already a downer, though. Seriously, that guy with the beard went down like it was nothing, you know. Where the hell was the fun in that, huh?" Hidan continued with a whine. 

"Big talk coming from the man who got his head chopped off." Kakuzu said. "Kakuzu! Shut the hell up!" Hidan yelled, making me laugh. "So, anyway, I know you're looking for revenge. But I think you're out of your league here. You three are just pups. You must've been his students then, huh? And Nue, he must've been your friend too right?" Hidan asked.

I nodded my head. "Please don't bring him up right now, Hidan." I requested. But of course, he decided to keep running his mouth. "Well, with a loser like that guy teaching you, you're pretty much screwed." Hidan said.

"Don't insult Asuma-sensei!" Choji yelled at him. "Aw, the loving bond of between teacher and student. Heh, what a load." Hidan continued. "You piece of-"

"Choji!" Shikamaru interrupted him. "You're not all bent out of shape over that chump? Hmm, fatso?" Hidan said. I face palmed. "Idiot." I muttered. "What? What did I do?" Hidan asked. "Now, you've done it." I said. Choji's face went red with anger and charged at Hidan.

Hidan readied his scythe as Choji expanded his fist. Just when he was about to punch him, Hidan swung his scythe, but it didn't cut Choji. I didn't take me long to realize that Shikamaru stopped Choji with his Shadow Possession Jutsu.

I narrowed my eyes at them before hopping off my summoning. I gently petted his side as I glanced at my comrade. Hidan jumped in the air and prepared to swing his scythe down on Choji's head. But Kakashi stopped his attack with a kunai.

Hidan laughed and kicked Kakashi's stomach, in which he got back up and fought Hidan while blocking his attacks. Shikamaru released his jutsu on Choji and he fell back. Choji sighed in relief.

"You moron! Don't let him egg you on like that anymore. Okay?" Shikamaru called to him. "Sor-ry." Choji replied. I smiled slightly at them with a small giggle. I covered my mouth as my giggles turned into laughter of joy while holding my stomach. "Is she... laughing at us?" Choji asked.

I laughed again before wiping my right eye. "I remember how you guys used to argue a lot. It was so cute." I commented, giggling a little. 

"But..." I looked at them with an emotionless gaze. "Too bad we can't go back to those days. Right... Shika?" I said.

"No, Nue! It's not too late! It's never too late! You can still make this right! Just come home!" Shikamaru called to me. "Save it," My hair covered my eyes as my hands balled into tight fists. "We can't go back to those days. After all... It's too late for apologies." I said.

I dashed towards Choji and he got ready to punch me. I smirked and used my wings and tails to block his attack. I punched his face, then kicked him in the stomach. He rolled backwards as I followed after him, kicking and punching him.

Choji rolled back again until his back hit a tree. He groaned and hung his head in exhaustion. I stood in front of him with an emotionless gaze. "No..." He whimpered. I ignored his plea and punched him harder, his whole body going inside the tree.

"Choji!" Shikamaru yelled out in worry. I grabbed the top of Choji's head and pulled him out of the tree, letting his body hit the ground. I smirked down at him before summoning my trident. I raised the weapon over my head, getting ready to stab him.

"Bye, Choji." I said before going to stab him. "No, Nue! Stop!" Ino screamed. I stopped my attack just in time as I heard the sound of her voice while my trident was only inches away from Choji's face.

I panted lightly as I stared at his feared expression until I noticed something sticking out of his pocket. I bent down and picked it up. My eyes widened as it was a picture of Asuma, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji... and me.

All of us were smiling, having fun and enjoying the good times. "Asuma..." I whispered. Tears unwillingly slipped down my cheeks as they dripped onto the photo. "What... What have I done?" I crimpled the photo in my hand before raising my fists to my eyes, crying lightly.

'No, stop crying! It was a lie! They all hated you! They lied to you! Stop crying, you idiot!' I thought, angrily.

My brain pounded against my skill, making me grab my head in pain. "No! Stop! Leave me alone!" I yelled, staggering back a bit. "Stop it! Stop looking at me!" Their smiling faces pictured themselves in my head.

"I'll finish this." Kakuzu said as he walked up next to me. He stood in front of Choji as he hardened his hand. "Time to die." I heard Kakuzu say. "Oi! Snap out of it!" Eun said. I took my hands off my head and frowned.

"Right. I have to focus on the task at hand." I reminded myself. I glanced to my side and used my wings and tails to block the shuriken that was thrown at us. "You're really getting on my nerves now, Ino." I said with a frown.

I noticed a shadow stretching toward us. "Kakuzu, look out!" I called. He began to dodge the shadows while I charged at Shikamaru. He saw me coming and began to run from me. "Get back here, you brat!" I yelled as I threw fireballs at him.

"Come on, Nue! I know you don't really mean to hurt us!" Shikamaru called as he ran from me. "Stop trying to get inside my head!" I yelled, throwing another fireball at him. "Nue, behind you!" Hidan called from a tree.

I looked behind me as Kakashi cut my back with a kunai knife. "Ahh!" I fell to my hands and knees before lifting my head with a glare. "You son of a..." I trailed off with a growl. When did he get away from Hidan?

I saw Shikamaru opening a scroll and he set it on the ground. He made a few hand signs before lacing his foot on the scroll. Water emerged from the scroll and it ran under Kakuzu's feet. "Uh-oh." I mumbled, knowing where this was going.

I whistled for my summoning as he ran towards me. As he ran past me, I grabbed onto his skin and flung myself onto his back. I made him run forward as I spotted one of Kakuzu's mask. It went to strike Shikamaru, but he dodged out of the way and his attack struck the water, electrocuting Kakuzu.

Shikamaru threw a kunai knife with a paper bomb at Kakuzu. "Kakuzu!" I called to him. He saw the knife coming at him and let go of Choji and Ino, creating a water wall to separate him from the knife. The paper bomb went off and smoke quickly filled the air.

"I can't see anything." I said as I narrowed my eyes at the smoke, trying to see through it. I ordered my summoning to stop and he did. When the smoke cleared, I saw Kakuzu still standing near the water.

Hidan jumped down from the tree, landing next to Kakuzu. "That was pitiful. What happened there, buddy?" Hidan asked as my summoning walking over to them. "You should talk. I wasn't the one who fell for a Shadow Clone." Kakuzu stated.

"Oh, yeah. Right. You saw that?" Hidan said, embarrassed. "We all saw that, Hidan." I said. "What about you? You went down to a scratch to the back." He said. "He took me by surprise." I defended before looking at the enemy.

It looked like they were planning something. After a few minutes, Shikamaru began to walk towards us. My summoning growled as he got in a pouncing position. "Easy." I said to him as I petted his back. Shikamaru took a few more steps and stopped walking.

He quickly did the hand signs of his Shadow Possession Jutsu and the shadow stretched towards us. "Heh. Not that again." Hidan said as we all jumped out of the way. "Are you scared of my scythe and abilities?! Huh?!" He called while landing in a tree.

My summoning and I was by his side while looking at Kakuzu as Kakashi began to fight him head on. I glanced to the side, spotting the shadow coming near us. "Incoming!" I warned Hidan. We quickly dodged the shadow.

"A covert attack from a distance?! How pathetic!" Hidan called. "Shut up and dodge the shadows, Hidan!" My summoning ran up a tree and I glanced at Ino and Choji. "Go help Hidan! I'll be fine!" I said to my summoning.

I did a backflip off my summoning's and landed on the ground in a kneeling position. I ran at Ino and Choji and began to fight them. "Nue, we're on your side!" Ino said as she fought me in taijutsu. "If you're on my side, then why did you lie to me?" I demanded before kicking her in the stomach.

"Lie to you? We never lied to you!" Choji said. "Yeah, right!" I snapped, punching him. "Hey!" Ino grabbed my from behind, restraining me. "Let go of me, you bitch!" I snapped, trying to get out of her hold.

"Nue, you have to believe us! We're not your enemy! Come back with us!" Ino tried to reason. "No way! I'm never going back to that place! You can't make me! I can't! I won't! Not ever!!" I screamed before stabbing her leg with my tail. 

I smashed the back of my head into her face and did a backflip over her. I kicked her back and looked at Hidan as he rode on top of my summoning. "Ride like the wind!" Hidan shouted with excitement. "He's not a horse, you idiot!" I called to him.

While Hidan was distracted, a chakra blade was thrown at them by Shikamaru's shadow. "Watch out!" I called. The blade hit my summoning's side and it let out a cry of pain. Hidan jumped off my summoning as he fell backwards, hitting the ground with a thud.

I ran over to him, sliding on my knees. "Shh... You're going to be okay." I said as I gently took the blade out of his side. He growled slightly as I ran a hand through his fur. "You fought well. Rest." I said. It poofed away, returning to the summoning world.

I stood to my feet and noticed Hidan caught in Shikamaru's shadow. "Shadow Possession Jutsu complete." Shikamaru said. "You stupid little..." Hidan frowned. "Shikamaru, get going!" Kakashi called as he continued to fight Kakuzu.

"Leave the rest to us." Choji informed. "We're counting on you." Ino said. "Right." Shikamaru responded with a serious look on his face. face. He raised his arm up as Hidan did the same. Hidan grunted as Shikamaru made him drop his scythe.

"Come on, pal. We're going for a little stroll." Shikamaru said. He took off with Hidan behind him. Should I follow them? Maybe not. What if Kakuzu needs my help? The three remaining of Kakuzu's masks surrounded Kakashi.

"Was it wise for the kid to go alone? He's underestimated Hidan. He did show a lot of promise though. He'd have commanded quite of bounty down the line. But today, that boy dies. However, you were correct about one thing. I am strong." Kakuzu said as his threads poked out of his arms.

"Scary. It's like they have a mind of its own." I mentioned. "The gap between our respective battle experience is vast. Those headbands you all are wearing remind me of the very first Leaf shinobi I ever faced off against. The First Hokage." he finished. I looked at him with concern.

"You never told me you fought the First Hokage. Just how old are you, Kakuzu?" I asked. "So, you are immortal?" Kakashi demanded. "No. There's no such thing in this world. I've just managed to prolong my life by stealing and stocking up on others hearts before mine can stop from old age." Kakuzu explained.

"Creepy, yet fascinating." I said. I looked over at the Wind Style and Fire Style masks and saw them merged into one body.

"If you're counting the original, my body holds up to five hearts. Thanks to you though, I'm now in need of a replacement. That's why I'll be taking yours. Although," Kakuzu looked at me. "I could have use for your heart, Nue." He mentioned.

"Trust me. You wouldn't want my heart. I don't know what would happen if you contained the species of a Nue's heart. In some cases, it could lead you to your death, or worse." I advised.

I wasn't telling him this because I didn't want my heart taken away. I was telling him this because I'm not sure if he would be able to handle my heart. I glanced down at my leg as a green snake slithered itself around it. 

I didn't really mind though since I'm fond of snakes. "Very well," He looked back at Kakashi. "I will take your heart, Kakashi, to replace the one that you took from me." Kakuzu said. I hope we get done with the battle soon. I really need to get some sleep. At this rate, I could fall asleep at any second.

Ino's POV

"Ino, how long do you think you'll be able to hold Nue in the Mind Transfer Jutsu?" Kakashi asked me. "I'm not sure. Last time, she was able to break free from the jutsu. But... I don't think it was here who did it. It's like she had help somehow." I informed.

I thought back to when I first had control of Nue. Something inside her made me break the connection. I looked at Nue as she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open while the snake slithered up her body and wrapped itself around her neck. 

Nue must be exhausted from the battle. If that's the case, then maybe...

"Assuming she doesn't have enough energy, I might be able to hold her for a while." I said. "Good." Kakashi replied. I did the hand signs of my Mind Transfer Jutsu. Nue noticed and frowned slightly. "Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

Nue gasped as I had hold of her. "Yes!" I cheered. I was right. Due to her fatigue, Nue didn't really put up much of a fight. "I've got her. But I'm not sure how long I'll be able to hold her." I said to Kakashi and Choji from inside Nue's body.

With any luck, we just might have a chance of defeating this guy.