Nue's POV

"Where...? Where are you? Please, tell me where you are."

"My child... You will know where to find me when the time comes."

"No! Please, don't go! Come back!"

I opened my eyes with a gasp as I began to pant lightly. I sat up, placing a hand over my forehead as I gazed at the ground. "Nightmare?" Eun asked. "Not quite." I answered.

I stood to my feet and looked towards the sky. "It's still light out." I mumbled while rubbing my eyes. I yawned and went into my bag, taking out my yogurt and spoon. I ate my yogurt and looked at the sky when I was finished. 

"I could go back to sleep, but I also want to go into town to buy some more yogurt." I said to myself. I made up my mind and left my stuff where it was as I went into town.

I stopped by a restaurant as it was still open. My stomach growled lightly, making me place both of my hands over it. "You just ate. You mean to tell me that you're still hungry?" Eun asked. "Yogurt wasn't enough. That was just a snack. I need a meal."

"Eat when it's late!" She said. "Sorry, can't hear you. My ears must be clogged." I said, walking inside the restaurant. "Bullshit! I know damn well they're not clogged!" Eun snapped. I went inside the restaurant and took a seat. "Hello. Welcome. How may I help you?" A waitress asked.

"I won't be staying long. I would just like some yogurt, please." I said. She nodded and walked back to the kitchen. I patiently waited as I spaced out. "Miss?" The waitress said, snapping me out of my thoughts.  "Yes?" I asked.

"Your order." She set a small cup of yogurt down in front of me, along with a glass of water. "I didn't order any water." I said. "It's from that young man with the white hair." She said as she pointed at a guy sitting three tables away from me.

I looked at him as he grinned and waved at me. "Enjoy your food." The waitress said before walking off. "Thank you." I replied. I started to eat my yogurt while thinking of Deidara. I felt bad for not telling him about my departure.

He's probably pissed that I didn't tell him. Or maybe heartbroken. I looked over at the guy who bought me the water, noticing he was sitting with someone. I narrowed my eyes at his friend until I recognized it immediately.

I left money for the waitress and left the restaurant.

"What's Sasuke doing here? Why was there a guy with him? What's he planning?" I asked myself. Maybe I should kill him? No, I can't. Itachi has to be the one who kills him. I went back to my spot in the woods and collected my things.

Before I go, maybe I should pay Granny Cat a visit. I headed to Granny Cat's shop, flying there, while leaving my stuff behind, deciding to come back for it later. "I wonder if I'll get to see Nekomata?" I wondered. When I made it to my destination, I walked down the hall, to her shop.

"Sheesh, the least Granny Cat could've done was clean up around here. It smells." I said. "Well, it's not like we have cleaning service here," I turned my head, spotting my two favorite cats. "Long time no see, Nue." Denka greeted. "What brings you here, meow?" Hina asked.

"I'm just looking for Granny Cat. Thought I'd pay her a visit. I don't suppose you could lead me the way." I requested. "What's in it for us, meow?" Hina said. I smirked. "Greedy cat," I held out my hand and made a bottle of catnip appear in my palm.

"I'll give you this. But only if you lead me to Granny Cat. Deal?" I said. I kneeled down, handing the bottle to Hina, and she took it between her teeth. "What a nice offering, meow." She said, grinning a cat grin.

"Well, a deal's a deal. Follow us and we'll take you to Granny Cat." Denka said, leading the way. I followed behind. "Well, isn't this a surprise?" Granny Cat said. "It's nice to see you again, Granny Cat. How have you been?" I asked.

"What do you think? I'm cooped up in a shop all day." She said, making me chuckle. "You haven't changed a bit." I commented before glancing at Tamaki. "But it looks like you've grown a bit, Tamaki. Last time I saw you, you were just a little girl." I said.

"We don't stay little forever." She mentioned. "I hear that." I agreed. "So, what do you want?" Granny Cat asked. "I just wanted to pay you a visit. I also wanted to see how Nekomata's been doing." I said, examining a few weapons while a cat rubbed itself against my leg.

"Well, you know him, being the cat that he is. You can go visit him now. I don't think he's doing anything." Granny Cat said. "Okay. It was nice catching up with you." I said, exiting the shop, but stopped when Granny Cat spoke up.

"Likewise. You know, you two have stricken quite a friendship a long time ago. You and Nekomata of course. For a cat who's feared by many, he seems to have grown a soft spot for you. You are his favorite, no doubt." Granny Cat mentioned.

I smiled at her before heading to Nekomata's place. "Nekomata? Are you here?" I asked, knocking on the door. "Oh, what am I thinking?" I face palmed before kicking down the door. "Surprisingly, I knew you were going to do that." Nekomakata said as I walked towards him. 

"Long time no see, Nekomata. How ya been?" I asked as I stood in front of him. "All is well. I see you're back to your old self. Not at all polite." He chuckled. "I am polite... when I want to be. But hey, at least I kept my promise. I didn't make you wait eight years." I said.

"It's been three years."

"Better than eight, right?"

"Sure. Still scaring humans?" 

"I don't even have to try. They take one look at me and their expression immediately changes to fear."

"Humans can be so judgmental these days."

"You can say that again."

"How come you're not wearing the cat outfit I gave you three years ago?"

"I'm pretty sure I've grown out of it, Nekomata."

"Fair point. Oh, that reminds me. A girl was here, asking about you."

I raised a brow in confusion. "A girl?" I repeated. "Yeah. She was asking if you've been here recently." Nekomata said. It couldn't have been Megumi. I killed her back at that cave. "What did she look like?" I asked.

"Hmm... Actually, now that I think about it, it was a woman. She had light brown hair with a purple gradient on the top of her hair, and hazel eyes. " He said. "A woman, huh? Sorry, doesn't ring a bell. I've gotta go. See you later, Nekomata." I said, leaving.

"Come back any time." He said. I waved to him as I walked away. I flew back to the woods, heading back to my spot. With any luck, Sasuke's long-gone by now. When I got back to my spot, I sat down, leaning against a tree.

I crossed my legs as I locked my fingers together, laying them on my stomach as I started to drift to sleep until I heard, "Hey, that's my blade!" I opened my eyes as Sasuke and the white haired guy from the restaurant stood a few feet away.

"Your blade? I think not." I said, standing to my feet. "Never would've thought you were the one who took the blade." Sasuke said. "I didn't steal it from the grave, if that's what you're implying. But I did steal it from some guy named Tenzen. Thinking back now, I wish I had killed him." I said.

"Look, we don't want any trouble. All we want is the blade." The white haired guy said. "And who the hell are you?" I demanded with a frown. "Me? I'm Suigetsu Hozuki, and that blade belongs to me." He said.

"Like hell it does. This blade belonged to my uncle and now it belongs to me."

"Uncle?"

"You didn't know? Zabuza was my uncle, and I'm his niece."

"I never knew he had a niece."

"Well, now you do. But I'm still not giving you the blade."

"Why not? If I asked nicely, will you give it to me?"

"Nope."

"Is there a reason you don't want anyone to have that blade, Nue?" Sasuke asked. "I'm pretty sure I just explained it. How'd you know where I was, anyway?" I demanded. "We saw you flying above the town, so we followed you." He answered.

"Congratulations on finding me. Now, beat it before I beat you." I said, taking out my katana. Suigetsu smirked. "Looks like we'll be doing this the hard way." He said. Suigetsu's arms turned into liquid and they quickly wrapped around me.

"Hey!" I tried slicing the liquid arms away, but blades don't wok on water. As the liquid arms wrapped around my body, they lifted me into the air. "Damn..." I muttered as I tried breaking free from Suigetsu's hold. 

It felt like a tight rope was squeezing me, and it was only getting tigther. 'How is he even holding me like this? It's just water... unless he's using his chakra' I thought to myself with a grunt. "She's pretty cute when she's struggling. Eh, Sasuke?" Suigetsu said, grinning, as the two of them stared at me. "Shit!"

The grip from the liquid arms tightened around my body, making it hard for me to breathe. I squeezed my eyes tightly as I gritted my teeth. Think of something! Think! I opened my eyes when a smoke bomb was suddenly thrown to the ground.

I gasped as smoke quickly filled the air.

Suigetsu's POV

"Hey! What's the big idea?!" I said when a smoke bomb was thrown onto the ground. As smoke filled the air, Sasuke covered his eyes with his arm and I began to cough while the smoke got in my eyes. When the smoke cleared and the air was breathable again, I opened my eyes.

That Nue girl was no longer in my hold and all her stuff was gone, but not the Executioner's Blade. "Hey, she's gone. Looks like she ran." I said, making my arms turn back to normal. I walked over to the blade and picked it up by the handle.

"No... She didn't run." Sasuke said. "Huh? What do you mean? She obviously ran. Otherwise, she'd still be here." I replied. "Nue didn't run off. She was saved." He said. "Okay. But if that's the case, then who saved her?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter. We've got the blade, now let's go." Sasuke said, turning around and walking away. "Where are we off to next?" I asked, walking beside him. "To the Southern Hideout." He answered. 

"Ugh... We're going to get Karin? But why? She's just so annoying." I complained, stopping in my tracks. Sasuke ignored my whining and kept walking. I sighed and followed him, heading to the Southern Hideout.