Naruto stretched, then looked at me. "Let's go home, Nue-chan." He said. "In a second." I replied. I took off my cloak, holding it in my hand. "Goodbye... Akatsuki." I mumbled before burning the cloak in my hand.

Underneath my cloak, I was wearing a black jacket with a black tank top under it and black shorts with a snake keychain attached to the waist. Once my cloak had turned into ash, I took off the ring I had from Akatsuki, dropping it to the ground.

It was actually Orochimaru's ring. Yeah, this wasn't the only thing I stole from that snake's hideout when I was on that mission with Kisame. I looked back at Naruto with a smile. "Let's go home." I said with a smile.

Naruto smiled back before nodding in agreement. The two of us began to jog back to the Leaf Village. After a while of jogging, Naruto was beginning to look a little tired. "Are you okay?" I asked, looking back at him while walking ahead of him.

Naruto panted softly before speaking. "Yeah, I'm just a bit..." He trailed off as he was about to collapse. "Naruto!" I quickly caught him before he could hit the ground. "You're not all right at all. You're exhausted." I noticed.

I picked him up, carrying him bridal style. "Nue-chan... Why are you carrying me like this?" He asked. I gave a small giggle. "Would you rather have my wings and tails cut you? Besides, it's easier this way." I said.

"Yeah, but... it's a little embarrassing." Naruto mentioned, but he was too tired to say anything else. I gave a smile as I carried him to the village. "Hey, Naruto..." I said, in which he hummed in response. "Thanks for not giving up on me." I thanked him.

"Like... I would ever give up on my best friend." He replied. I smiled at him again. When we got back to the village, I decided to inform Naruto. "Naruto, we're here." I set him on his feet as the villagers ran toward him, welcoming him back.

I smiled while taking a few steps back. People started cheering for him while kids tugged on him. "Yes... Well done, Naruto." I said to him. Naruto looked back at me with a smile until it faded. "Nue-chan, where are you going?" He asked as I started to walk backwards.

I smiled and waved to him, continuing to walk backwards until I turned around, walking away from the village. I smirked to myself. "I really am naïve." I said to myself. There's no way I'd be accepted back into the village. Not after what I've done to everyone.

As I was walking through the woods, someone stopped me.

"You're not getting away that easy."

I turned around, spotting Kakashi behind me with his arms crossed over his chest. "Kakashi..." I murmured. He smiled behind his mask before walking over to me, hugging me.

I hesitantly hugged him back, my arms wrapping around him. "Why...?" I whispered. "Hmm?" Kakashi asked.

"Why... aren't you hurting me? I've caused you and the village so much pain. I've ended countless, innocent lives... I've even killed your comrades. Why... are you being so nice to me?" I asked. Tears escaped my eyes as I hugged Kakashi tighter.

"I would never harm my own student out of vengeance." Kakashi said. "But..." I started. "I was never mad at you, Nue. I was only afraid that you've never come home." He explained. Kakashi broke the hug and looked at me before wiping a tear away with his thumb.

"Let's go home." He said. I smiled and gave a nod in agreement. When we got to the village, I saw Naruto being thrown into the air as the villagers cheered. I smiled at him because he was finally getting the respect he deserves. "It's her! It's that monster!" A villager yelled, noticing my appearance.

"Those things on her back! No doubt about it! She's the one who did this to our village!"

"Get her!"

"Hurry up and kill her!"

Needless to say, I saw this coming. Some of the villagers started walking towards with us with angry looks on their faces. I stood my ground and stared at them with an emotionless gaze until Kakashi got in front of me. "Get out of our way! We need to kill that thing before she kills us!" A villager said.

"It's not her fault! She was only following orders!" Kakashi defended. "No, Kakashi." I said, placing my hand on his arm. He looked at me and I shook my head, telling him not to defend me. "I deserve this. I've caused these people pain. It's only fair I feel the exact same pain I gave them." I said.

After I said that, something sharp was thrown at me, leaving a cut on my cheek. "Ow..." I mumbled as I placed my fingers under the cut. "No! Please, stop!"

I look towards the crowd as a little girl pushed past them. I noticed it was the same girl I saved from the centipede summoning. She got in front of Kakashi and I and put her arms out in a protective way.

"She's not a bad person! She saved me! She's good!" The girl said to the crowd. I looked at her. "It's true," The old woman stepped out of the crowd with a smile on her. "I recognize that girl even without her mask. The young lady did a kind thing. She saved us from those things." The woman explained.

"How can you forgive me? I..." I trailed off, and the old woman spoke. "You saved us when you could have killed us. So, why didn't you?" She asked me, still smiling. I looked at the little girl, then at her.

"To be honest, I wasn't really thinking. I thought I was doing the right thing by stopping the summoning from hurting you both. This little girl is still a child... a child who hasn't experienced life. She doesn't deserve to die at a young age." I explained.

I kneeled down to the little girl's height and petted her head, in which she giggled, making me smile a small smile. "It's a trick! She's only trying to get our guard down so she can kill us!" A villager suddenly yelled out. 

"I'm not going to kill any of you. If you feel that I'm am lying to you, then lock me up." I said calmly. "No, you can't!" The little girl said, hugging my waist. I smiled at her and gently untangled her arms from my waist.

"It'll be okay. Don't worry." I said, wiping some dirt off her cheek. "Nue Houjuu," I looked up at two ANBU Black Ops with chakra-restraining cuffs. I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them and walking over to the ANBU Black Ops.

I held my wrists out to them and they cuffed me. After they cuffed me, they guided me over to Ibiki. "I'll be happy to answer your questions now, Ibiki." I said, calmly. Ibiki looked surprised that I was giving myself to him so willingly, then said, "Fine."

He lead me to the Interrogation Room, then chained me to the table to make sure I wouldn't do anything. "You liked games, right?" Ibiki asked. "Of course. I love them." I confirmed, calmly. "Then, let's play my game." He said.

"What kind of game are we going to play?" I asked. "Something like 20 questions, and you're going to answer every question truthfully. Don't worry. I'll be sure to tell if you're lying to me." Ibiki smirked. "Sounds good to me. But I'm afraid I won't be able to answer them right now like I said I would." I explained.

"And why not?" Ibiki asked, frowning. "Because you see... I'm feeling quite tired." I said before falling asleep in the chair.

Ibiki's POV

"Eh?" I looked at Nue as she had fallen asleep. "Hey! Wake up! We're not done talking here!" I said. But she continued to sleep. "Oi!" I slammed my fist down on the table in attempt to wake her up, but that didn't work.

"You've gotta be kidding me." I said with a sweat drop. I called in the guards and told them to take her to a cell until she's ready to answer my questions. "How can she be asleep in this time of the day?" I mumbled.

"Sir, we went through her files and learned that she's nocturnal." A guard said. "Oh... Well, that explains why she fell asleep." I said, deadpanning.

Nue's POV

"Uh-oh. Looks like I fell asleep." I said as I woke up to find myself in a cell. I laid my back against the cell wall and gave a sigh. "It's good to be home." I whispered with a calm smile, my eyes closed. "Nue-sama,"

I opened my eyes and turned my head. "Maria. You came to visit me." I said, calmly with a smile. "You've gotten yourself into a lot of trouble, My Lady. I'm disappointed in you." Maria said with a dead gaze. "Nice to see you, too." I said.

"You killed many innocent people." She mentioned. "Pein revived them." I stated. Maria narrowed her eyes at me with a frown. "Maria, are you mad at me?" I asked. "No, My Lady. I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed in you, like I mentioned. I can't be mad at my Lady and Mistress." She answered.

"Yes, you can. You just choose not to be mad at me." I stated. Maria gave a small sigh. "Nue-sama, we... really need to talk." She answered. "You're stupid." I said, calmly. "Huh?" She gave me a confused look. "I said, you're stupid," I looked at her with a smile.

"It's been ages since we last spoken. You wanna talk to me this late at night?"

"Nue-sama, it's always been like this, don't you remember? Every night when you couldn't sleep, you'd ask me to talk to you until you felt drowsy. I didn't think we had that kind of connection."

"Yes, we do... you know? Because deep down... there's a part of me inside you. And, well... there always has been."

"Nue-sama..."

"Maria, there's something that's been on my mind lately." I mentioned. "Really? What's that?" She asked. "Ever since I left the village, you've stayed and looked after Iri. And after she died, you still continued stayed in the village when you could've just left and started a new life for yourself. So, why did you stay?" I asked.

Maria looked at me, surprised, before closing her eyes with a smile. "Because my duty was not over yet." She said. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"The day I was assigned as your maid, my duty was to serve and protect you. Even though I had assumed you were dead, my duty was not yet over as I still had to serve and protect Iri-sama. After she died, and after I learned the truth you were still alive, I knew I had to continue my duty, even though you were not in the village. So, I decided to stay here and await your return,"

Maria reached through the bars of the cell and held my hand in her hands. "You are my lady and Mistress. I am here to serve and protect you until I am no longer needed. I will follow you to the ends of the earth and do anything you say. I shall never leave your side until my duty is complete." She explained.

"Maria..." I said in disbelief. Tears ran down my cheeks as I hugged her through the bars of the cell. "You were always so noble and serious. I really disliked that about you. I hated how you'd always put myself in front of you, fearing I may never see you again. Please... Please don't say such things. The last thing I want is for you to get killed because of me. All I want right now... is for you to stay by my side. So, please... stay with me." I begged, hugging her tightly.

"Is that an order, Nue-sama?" Maria asked, gently hugging me back. "Yes... That's an order." I confirmed. "Very well... My Lady." She responded.