It's been a few days since I've been imprisoned. I made sure I behaved and didn't cause any trouble. Ever since Naruto gave me the necklace Iri gave me, I've never taken it off since. Ibiki kept taking me out of my cell, asking me if I knew any more things about Akatsuki.

We spent about fifteen minutes asking and answering questions. "Are you sure there's nothing else you wanna tell me?" Ibiki asked.

"Someone else is pulling the strings behind Akatsuki. It was the person I mentioned before. Once again, I fail to remember his real name. Also, Sasuke has made a group of his own who were subordinates of Orochimaru. Now, they have joined Akatsuki. But I'm not sure if they're still part of Akatsuki since the organization is no more." I explained.

"Is that all?" Ibiki asked.

"Yeah." I answered. After asking a few more questions, I was taken back to my cell. I stayed in a cell, trying to be good. Okay, that's not entirely true. Sometimes when I've gotten bored, I snuck out of cell to take a small walk.

But I've always returned to my cell before a guard came to check on me. So, in a way, I've still been good. I mean, I haven't left the prison... yet.

"Nue Houjuu," I had my knees pulled to my chest as I laid against the wall with my face hiding in my knees. I lifted my head a little when I heard my name being called. "You have a visitor." The guard said. I looked over at him as Maria stood by his side.

"Hi, Maria." I greeted. "It's good to see you again, Nue-sama." She greeted. I sat in front of the cell as Maria sat on her knees. "How have you been, Nue-sama?" She asked. "Oh, you know. Hanging in there. But it's super boring here." I mentioned.

"It's a prison, Nue-sama. I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to be for your entertainment." She stated. "I know. But the least they can do is put up a dartboard or something." I complained before sinking down to lie down on my stomach.

"Nue-sama! Are you all right?" Maria asked, worried. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just dying of boredom right now." I replied in a lazy voice. My wings moved when I felt something off. "Something doesn't feel right." I murmured to myself.

"Naruto's in trouble! You have to help him!" Eun said from inside my head. "How do you know that?" I mumbled to her. "No time! Just go! Hurry!" She said, desperately. This sounds pretty urgent for me to escape the prison. 

I sighed and sat up, looking at Maria. "Is something the matter, Nue-sama?" She asked. "Yes, something is wrong. Man, Ibiki's gonna kill me for this. Maria, tell that Ibiki I'm sorry." I said to her.

"For what, My Lady?"

"For this."

I dashed through the bars of the cell, doing a cartwheel, then ran off. "My Lady! Where are you going?" Maria called. I didn't respond as I ran faster. "Nue Houjuu! Get back in your cell!" A guard ordered me as he stood in my path.

"Sorry, can't do that!" As I ran towards him, he went to throw a punch at me until I grabbed his fist. "Nothing personal." I said, quickly, before punching him in the face. He landed on his back with a grunt and I ran past him.

Once I exited the prison, I ran towards the village. I sensed Naruto's chakra close by, so I ran faster. When I found him, I saw a girl on top of him, punching the hell out of him. My anger instantly boiled as my hands clenched into tight fists.

"Stop..." I growled as I watched them. "Stop it..." My fists clenched tighter as my nails dug into my skin, blood dripping from my palms to the ground. "I... said... STOP!!!" I yelled. I ran forward in full speed, faster before the naked eye could see me even move.

I tackled the girl off of Naruto, both of wrestling on the ground. "Nue-chan/Karui!"

We rolled on top of each other, trying to pin on of us to the ground. I won as I sat on her stomach, punching her in the face while my other hand had hold of her neck. "Let's see how you like it, huh!" I yelled, punching her harder.

"How does it feel, bitch?! How does feel to be punched multiple times?! Tell me! How does it feel, bitch?! Come on, answer me!" With each punch I drew, more blood splat on the ground. "I hate you!" I said, punching her even harder, more splattering on the grass.

With each punch I delivered, I pictured my deceased comrades of Akatsuki.

"I hate you!" An image of a dead Sasori appeared in my head. "I hate you!" I pictured Kakuzu's corpse as he told me to run awy. "I hate you!" I pictured Deidara's death. "Die!" I pictured Itachi's corpse. "Just die already!" I screamed, punching her even harder.

"Nue-chan, stop!" I raised both of my fists behind my head, preparing to bring them down on the Karui girl until Naruto and Sai pulled me away from her while her comrade aided her. "Stop it! Let me go! I'm not finished yet!" I yelled.

"Nue-chan, you have to calm down!" Naruto said. "How can I calm down when that bitch was punching you?!" I ripped myself from their grasp while glaring at Karui. "Karui! Karui, can you hear me?" Her comrade said.

"If you think I was finished with her, then you're dead wrong." I said, coldly, as I walked towards her. "No, Nue!" Sai got in front of me while grabbing my shoulders. "You have to stop! She's not hurting Naruto anymore! You can stop this now!" He said.

"Get out of my way!" I roughly shoved him aside and he fell to the ground with a soft thud. "Nue-chan, stop!" Naruto called. I ignored him as I continued to walk towards them. "Karui! Hey, she's not waking up! She's not waking up!" Her comrade said.

"Good. Hopefully, that bitch fell into a coma. Maybe I can make sure she never wakes up and send her to the afterlife." I said while taking out a kunai knife. "Please, Nue-chan. Stop," I stopped in my tracks and turned my head as Naruto has his hand on my shoulder.

"You don't have to do this. Just stop. Please." He begged. I frowned at him as I yanked my shoulder out of his hold before grabbing my face with one hand.

"Dammit..." I gritted my teeth. "I couldn't protect them. Not Sasori... or Hidan... or Kakuzu... not even Itachi or Deidara... I failed to protect them all... even when I said I would." I mumbled. I face Naruto with the frown still on my face.

"How could you be so calm and let her punch you like that? Why didn't you just hit her back? Stand up for yourself... For once in your life, do something that's right!" I snapped at him. "So what if she's a girl?! Stop being nice and do something for once! Throw a punch back! Kick them! Something! Anything!"

I grabbed his shoulders, slightly shaking him. "Why are you always like this, Naruto?! Why..." I lowered my head as my hair covered my eyes. "The last thing I want to see... is my friends getting hurt," I sank to my knees as my hands slipped down his jumpsuit.

"My friends died because I couldn't protect them. I wasn't strong enough. So, please... Don't make me lose you, too, Naruto. I can't lose you." I said as I began to cry.

Naruto's POV

I stared down at Nue as she was on her knees, bending over while crying. "Nue-chan..." I said, gazing down at her, sadly. "I've already lost so many people here in the Leaf. First my mother... then, Iri... Misaki and Kiyoshi... I can never get them back." Nue said, her head still lowered.

"I lost them all because I made a stupid mistake. I don't wanna make that mistake again. So, please... let me protect you... before I let something bad happen." She begged. I felt guilty, watching Nue like this. All she wants is to protect me.

"Nue-chan," I kneeled down while resting a hand on her back. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you. I understand what it's like to lose someone." I said to her. Nue lifted her head, looking at me, as her face was stained with tears.

"It's going to be okay now. I promise." I said, hugging her. "You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." Nue said, frowning. "Have I ever broken a promise to you?" I asked her. Nue stayed quiet before shaking her head.

"Then, what makes you think I'll break this promise?" I said. I felt Nue's hands wrap around my back, hugging me. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." She apologized. I smiled and continued to hug her.

Nue's POV

Naruto and I stood to our feet and I wiped my eyes. "Man, I must look fantastic, huh? My face stained with tears like this. Talk about a vulnerable state." I said, sarcastically. "I don't mind." Naruto grinned. I smiled back a calm smile.

"Look at you," I stared at his semi-bruised face. "I should've just killed her for letting her do this to you." I said. I placed my hands on the side of his face and began to heal him. "If you were to kill her, that'd make you a murderer." Naruto stated as I healed him.

"I'm already a murderer. How's that title going to change for me?" I said before looking into his eyes. Once I was done healing him, I took my hands off his face. "Is this the Nue Houjuu I heard so many stories about? Pfft. I was never told she was a crybaby,"

I turned around as a woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes stood there with a hand on her hip. "I'm not amused." She said. "You shouldn't be. In fact, here's a way to lighten the mood." I said, summoning my katana.

"From a crybaby to a cold person. I doubt you're what the stories say." She said, standing there casually. "Try me, bitch." I challenged. She narrowed her eyes at me as she stood there. "We gonna fight, or are we going to stare at each other all day?" I asked, sarcastically.

"There's no need for a us to fight." She said. "After what that red-haired bitch did to my friend, I think there's a reason." I replied, aiming the tip of my blade at her. "Don't do this, Nue-chan. Be the bigger man." Naruto advised. 

"Tch." I gritted my teeth as I gripped the handle of my katana. "Damn it." I muttered before lowered my blade. I looked over at the Karui girl as she started waking up. "Ow... Damn, that hurt." She said, rubbing her face.

"You're alive! Thank goodness!" Her partner said in relief. "Trust me. It could've been a lot worse for you," I turned away from them. "Now... Get the fuck out of here before I regret sparing you fools." I said, glancing back at them with a glare.

"Karui, Omoi. Let's go." The blonde haired girl said to her comrades. She leaped into the tress with her comrades following her. "They're not that far ahead. Maybe I should just burn them," I created a fireball in my hand, making Naruto's eyes widen as they were completely white with shock.

"How much do you bet I can hit Karui in the back with just one fireball? Or should I use a gun instead?" I asked, calmly. "Nue-chan... Be the better man, remember?" Naruto reminded me. I sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I hear you," I walked over to Sai and help him to his feet.

"Sheesh. Ruin my fun." I mumbled, childishly. "Sorry for pushing you there, Sai." I apologized while dusting the dirt off his clothes.

"NUE!!!"

"Uh-oh." I murmured as I heard Ibiki's angry voice. I turned around as he stood behind me with an angry look on his face. "Hi, Ibiki." I greeted with a smile, in which he growled in anger.

"Oh, come on now, Ibiki. Turn that frown upside down. There's no reason to be angry. Let me guess: I did something wrong, didn't I?" I asked, trying to act innocent. "Why did you leave your cell?! Are you trying to piss me off or something?!" He yelled, angrily.

"Wow, did it really take you this long to figure out I was gone? That's got to be your new record." I said, toying with him. "Grr... Just get back to your cell before you make me angrier!" He yelled, angrily.

"How angrier can you get? Your face is as red as a tomato." I mentioned, pointing at his face. "Just go!" He yelled, his face getting redder.

"You know frowning makes you get more wrinkles?"

"GO!!!"

"Hahaha! Okay, okay. I'm going, I'm going."

I waved to Naruto and Sai before heading back to the prison.