Nue's POV

I sat next to Jiraiya as the two of us sat on the floor. Was this another dimension or am I in my own head again? Everything around us was completely white, so it had to be another dimension. My knees were pulled to my chest as I stared at the white floor in front of me.

"Nue," Jiraiya tried getting my attention, but I didn't respond, nor did I look at him as I stared at the white floor. "Nue," He repeated. I didn't say anything. "Nue, you haven't said anything in a while now." Jiraiya mentioned.

"I know." I said, quietly. "Is there anything you want to talk about? I've never seen you like this before." He stated.  "Because I'm thinking... and grieving." I answered. "Grieving?" Jiraiya repeated. "I lost some friends today, Jiraiya-san,"

I looked at the white ceiling and blinked my eyes. "All I wanted... was to be accepted as one of you. But now... all I want is to die." I said.

"Why?" Jiraiya asked. "Because family will stay with you forever in death." I answered, glancing at him. "Family is still with you in life, Nue." He said with a smile. I looked at him before looking at the white floor. "Jiraiya-san... Why did you try to kill me?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?" He asked. "Pein told me you came to the Akatsuki hideout with a weapon called the Blade of Kiranagi. He said, it was the only weapon that bring permanent damage to my kind." I explained.

"Nue, I've never heard of a blade like that until now. I've never even seen what it looks like." Jiraiya said. "Why are you lying to me?" I demanded with a frown. "I would never lie to you, Nue. I never tried to kill you." He answered, calmly. 

"Yes, you did!" I snapped as I stood to my feet. "Why did you try to kill me, Jiraiya? Do you despise me that much? Do I not deserve a chance to live like the rest of you? I didn't ask to be born like this! It's just who I am! It's not my fault I was born this way, so stop blaming every goddamn thing on me!" I shouted, angrily.

 Jiraiya stood up as he quickly embraced me, causing me to freeze in place. "Nue, I swear I would never try to hurt you. You're special to me. Both you and Naruto are special to me." He said, softly. My eyes widened as tears ran down my cheeks.

"You really are telling the truth... aren't you?" I whispered. "Like I said, I would never lie to you." Jiraiya said. My arms slowly wrapped around Jiraiya's back as I began to cry into his shoulder. "Jiraiya-san... I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot." I said as I figured it out.

Pein lied to me so I wouldn't leave Akatsuki, and I fell for his trick. "I forgive you, Nue." Jiraiya said, still hugging me. "No," I shook my head. "I don't deserve forgiveness. Not after what I've done to my friends." I said.

I hugged him tighter as I closed my eyes tightly, more tears escaping my eyes. "It's going to be okay now, Nue." Jiraiya said as he held the back of my head. I opened my eyes and spotted someone from afar.

"Jiraiya-san, who's that?" I asked, staring at the person. He hummed in confusion as I broke the hug, pointing at the person I was staring at.

"Oh, yeah. She's been here for awhile now." Jiraiya said. "She? Wait, how do you know that's a girl?" I asked. "She told me." He answered. I walked over to the cloaked figure as she stared at me through the mask she was wearing.

The way she was dressed, I nearly mistaken her for a ghost. I stood in front of her as I already didn't trust her. "Who are you?" I demanded. She didn't answer as she stared at me for a while before walking past me.

I turned around as she stared at the white wall in front of her. "She's pretty quiet." I mentioned, bluntly. "Yeah, she's not much of a talker." Jiraiya chuckled while scratching the back of his head. "Jiraiya-san, I need to get out of here. I have to see if Naruto is okay." I said in a desperate tone.

"Sorry, but I was brought here to see how you were doing. I don't know a way out." He said. Argh, I have to get out of here now! For all I know, Nagato could be killing Naruto! "Wait, what do you mean you were brought here? Who sent you?" I asked.

I looked at Jiraiya as he had a hand resting on his chin while staring off into space. "Sorry, were you saying something, Nue?" He asked, looking at me. I sweat dropped. "Never mind." I said. I looked around the place until I saw a window above me, the glass facing down at me.

"Look! Up there!" I informed Jiraiya while pointing at the window. "A way out. Maybe if I get up there, I could see what's on the other side." I said. I tried flying to the window, but for some reason, I couldn't fly. My powers weren't working.

"Are you kidding me? I'm literally grounded here?" I asked. "What's the matter?" Jiraiya asked. "My powers aren't working." I answered. That's means I'm stuck here. Great. Just great. Note the sarcasm. We heard a huge thud, making us turn around.

"A door?" Jiraiya said in confusion. "Come on." I said, walking towards the door. Jiraiya followed me. 'Where does this door lead to?' I wondered. I slowly reached for the handle of the door until the Masked Lady quickly grabbed my Akatsuki sleeve.

"What the hell? What are you doing?" I asked with a frown. She didn't respond as she just tugged my sleeve away from the door handle. "Let go!" I said, trying to take my wrist out of her hold. But damn, this lady was a lot stronger than I expected.

I struggled to get my wrist out of her hold as she refused to let go. Jiraiya got in the middle of it and gently took the Masked Lady's wrist. "It's okay." He said to her with a smile. The Masked Lady lowered her head a bit before hesitantly releasing my wrist.  

I placed my hand on the door, then glanced back at the Masked Lady as she stood there, as if waiting for me to open it. I looked back towards the door and pushed it open. "Whoa..." I stared at the place in awe as large screens of images slowly floated past each other.

Was this the reason why she didn't want me to go in here? I looked back at her as she continued to stand there, not doing anything. "Aren't you coming in with us?" I asked her. I expected her to come in or at least nod her head, but she didn't do anything.

"Suit yourself." I mumbled before walking further inside the image-filled room with Jiraiya following me. "What are these?" I asked. "They're your memories." Jiraiya answered. "Memories?" I repeated. I looked at him as he smiled before looking back at the images.

I saw an image where Naruto and I were by the lake, promising each other that we'd always be best friends. Another memory showed Sasuke and I, getting mad at each other. "Heh. I remember that. Whenever Sakura would hit Naruto, I'd blame Sasuke for Sakura having a crush on him." I said to myself.

Jiraiya and I looked at more and more memories like we were watching a movie. "My memories... All here in one place. But why?" I mumbled. I walked forward, examining through the memories.

"That was amazing, Nue-chan!" I turned my head as a memory showed my days at the academy. Sasuke was on the ground, frowning, while my friends surrounded me with a smile. That must've been the day I challenged Sasuke and he lost.  

I saw another memory when Squad 7 was trying to find a way to see Kakashi's face. "Tried, but still failed." I said with a small chuckle. But my laugh ended as I remembered Kakashi was dead. "I killed Kakashi..." I murmured.

"No, Nue. You didn't." Jiraiya said. I didn't reply as I stared at the memory of Kakashi and I fighting during the bell test, then began to sing:

I didn't know what I got into

Somehow, I can't go back even if I really wanted to

So what more can I do?

Here in the end, it's just me and you

I never wanted to play by all the rules

A knife in hand, I'm playing at the part of the fools

Here we go, you can judge me thoroughly

It's too late for apologies

Go ahead and just hit me since you're able

We know my determination is unstable

I'm not even mad because I keep on dying

But I don't even know why I'm trying

This isn't what I want, yet it's what I asked for

Curiosity over all my morals

I took away your perfect, happy ending

Resetting the world, despite the warnings

Right now, I'm made O-O-O-O-OF LO-O-O-O-OVE~

Aah~

O-O-O-O-OF LO-O-O-O-OVE~

Aah~

I know who you are, you remember who I am?

We knew that once in a timeline, we had grown to be good friends

And yet I killed your brother without giving him a chance

Every time you throw me down, I hope you kill me once again

So, go ahead and hit me since you're able

All the sin that I can feel is unbearable

If I could only hit you once, it would be over

But the consequences last forever

The flowers are in bloom as the birds will tell

It's a beautiful day to be burning in hell

You gave me advice, I chose genocide

But I know how to make it right

I am made O-O-O-O-OF LO-O-O-O-OVE~

Aah~

But I'll give up for you

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

But I'll give up for you

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

But I'll give up for you

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

LO-O-O-O-OVE~

When I was done singing, I turned around while Jiraiya clapped and the Masked Lady stood beside him. I gave a slight smile until a gasped escaped my throat as the floor began to shake. It's not an earthquake. This is a... summoning?! 

A weird platform appeared out of nowhere in front of us as the ground stopped shaking. "What's a platform doing here?" I asked. Jiraiya looked at the platform, then at the window above us. "What are you thinking, Jiraiya-san?" I asked. 

"I think... this is your way out." He said, referring to the platform that floated four feet off the ground. "My way out?" I repeated. "Looks like this is goodbye, Nue." Jiraiya said. "No!" I ran over to him, grabbing his arms.

"I'm not leaving you here! I can't! Both of us are getting out of here!" I said. "You forget, Nue. I'm already dead. Plus, it's not an option for you." He stated. I gasped when he lifted me by the waist and set me on the platform.

I don't even know how it got behind me. "Jiraiya-san!" I sat on my knees as I faced him. "I can't just leave you here! I don't want to leave you here!" I said. "You need to get home... your real home. To the people who love you." Jiraiya said as he gently placed his hand on my cheek.

Tears threatened to escape my eyes as my hands went over his. "Jiraiya-san..." I whispered, sadly, as I looked at him. He smiled at me as he wiped a tear that escaped my eye with his thumb. I quickly hugged him, my face buried in his shoulder, in which Jiraiya hugged me back.

"Goodbye, Nue." He said, softly, breaking the hug. The platform began to move as it slowly rose to the open window, making Jiraya take a few steps back. "Jiraiya-san!" I said as I reached my hand out to him.

He smiled at me with a wave as the Masked Lady stared up at me. "Who... are you???" I whispered to her. As if hearing me, Masked Lady's hand moved towards her mask, slowly taking it off. When her mask was removed, her face was shown.

"Iri?!" I said in disbelief. She stared at me with an emotionless gaze before softly smiling at me. My tears freely flowed down my cheeks as I stared at the two of them. "I'm sorry!" I called to them as I began to sob.

The whole white dimension began to collapse while Jiraiya and Iri began to disappear. I looked at Jiraiya as he mouthed something to me. "Take care of Naruto."

"I will! I swear, I'll take care of him! I swear to protect him! Jiraiya-san!" I called to him. Jiraiya closed his eyes with a smile as his body started to fade away. I lowered my head, my black bangs covering my eyes, before turning towards the open window.

I jumped towards it, exiting the mysterious white dimension.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I squinted my eyes open, adjusting to the unknown things around me. Once they adjusted, I saw the blue sky and Naruto with Konan, both of them looking down at me. "Naruto...?" I whispered. "Nue-chan! Thank goodness!" He cheered. I sat up and he immediately hugged me.

I hugged him back. "I'm just glad you're okay." I said in relief before looking at Konan. "Konan," I looked beside her, spotting two objects covered in paper, looking like wrapped mummies. "What happened?" I asked. "The people of the Leaf Village have been revived... and Nagato has died." She said, sadly.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. Naruto broke the hug and looked at her. "What are you gonna do now? I'd hate to think you're going back to the Akatsuki." He said her. She faced him.

"No, I'm leaving the Akatsuki. Yahiko and Nagato meant everything to me. Yahiko's dream, and then Nagato's dream. Both of their dreams have been entrusted to you. You now embody those dreams. Nagato chose to put his faith in you. So, now I will do the same, and we of the Hidden Rain Village, we'll continue to pursue our dreams together with you." She explained.

I looked at Naruto as he lowered his head, thinking about something. "A name, Naruto, the guts to never give up, and now more pain. They're the things that I've inherited from my master and from my sibling student." Naruto said.

"Naruto..." I whispered. The wind blew as fallen leaves past us. I looked at Konan as she made a bouquet of flowers from her paper jutsu. She stepped forward and handed them to Naruto. "This time, I wish that you will bless with our hope will never willed away." Konan explained.

I smiled, as did Naruto. "What about you, Nue? Are you going back to Akatsuki?" She asked me. "No," I shook my head. "I'm going to leave Akatsuki. After all, I already have a home... and it's here," I looked at Naruto with a smile.

"In the Leaf Village." I said. Naruto seemed taken back by my statement then smiled. "Welcome home, Nue-chan." Naruto said. I smiled and looked at the sky. 'Jiraiya-san... I will look after Naruto. I will protect him. That is my promise to you' I thought.

"I see. Then, farewell, Nue." Konan said. Before she left, I quickly hugged her. "Thank you, Konan. Thank you for all that you've done for me. I will never forget the kindness and support you've showed me in all my time in Akatsuki. I'll never forget you." I whispered.

Konan gently smiled and hugged me back. gently hugged me back. "I will miss you as well. I hope that someday... we will meet again." She said. "Yeah... Me, too." I agreed. I waved goodbye to her as she walked away, waving back to me with the paper-wrapped bodies.

I turned to Naruto and we walked to a stone with a kunai knife in it. He set the paper flowers by the stone before cupping his hand together, praying.

When he was done, he stood up and looked at me. "Let's go home, Nue-chan." He smiled. I smile back. "Yeah." I agreed.

Dedication to WhiteFire_357

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