Nue's POV

Later that day, Kisame had treated my wounds from the electric shocks. My legs were wrapped in bandages because they were broken as they were also bruised. In fact, my whole body was covered in bruises since Tobi wasn't finished punishing me.

I was in a wheelchair while I was near the entrance of the hideout, watching the nature in front of me. Tobi set me here, probably to torment me since he took my ability to fly. Due to the Kiragani substance from the electric shocks, I was grounded. Literally.

I also couldn't throw fireballs, create guns, or do anything because that substance took away my powers. I couldn't even heal myself. I was restricted and there was nothing I could do. Everyone tried to talk to me, but I refused to say anything to anyone.

I know their just trying to make me feel better, but I didn't want their pity. Depressed, I stared out at the woods in front of me, watching a bird fly into the sky. I envied the little bird's flight. I envied how it was able to fly freely.

"Nue... Are you feeling okay?" Karin asked from behind me. I didn't answered as I continued to look at the view in front of me. "Please talk to me. I'm worried about you." She said. I ignored her, not saying a word.

I heard her sigh before gently hugging my head like she did before. "I'm sorry." She whispered. I closed my eyes as she hugged me, holding back tears. "I'll leave you alone for a while." Karin said. Before she could unwrap her hands from my head, I gently placed my hand over her arm.

"Thank you." I whispered. Karin looked at me with guilt and pity before leaving. I stayed where I was, gazing at the beautiful scene in front of me. Too bad I couldn't go out there. I'm stuck here in this wheelchair like some sort of sick patient. 

"Hungry, Nue?" Tobi asked from behind me. I glanced back at him, then looked back to the view in front of me. "You should really eat something. It's not healthy for you to starve." Tobi said as he walked over to my side.

"Such a beautiful sight, isn't it? It's just so peaceful." He commented as he stared at the view with me. I knew he was just toying with me. He was just trying to torment with me because he knows I can't escape. "Here," Tobi set something on my lap before gently petting my hair.

"Eat. You need your strength." He said before leaving. What strength? He took that away from me. As he walked away, I glanced down at what he set on my lap. Strawberry yogurt. Beside it, was a plastic spoon. I wanted to cry, and I also wanted to scream.

But I couldn't do any of that. I didn't want to express my weakness. I slowly ate my yogurt as my hands shook. When I was finished, I set the empty cup and spoon on my lap and fazed at the trees as the wind blew. I could feel most of my strength coming back, but it wasn't enough.

A butterfly with a beautiful pattern on its wings flew over to me and landed on the back of my hand. I went to touch its wing until it flew around my head, then back to where it came from. I reach out to it, leaning forward.

But I leaned too far and I fell forward. Pain shot up and down my body as I laid there. I began to crawl forward in attempt to escape. My last chance of freedom. "You clumsy little girl. What do you think you're doing?"

My eyes widened in fear as my blood ran cold. A small bead of sweat ran down the side of my head as Tobi stood beside me. I glanced up at him as he looked down at me, then towards the woods. "I admire your effort, but it won't get you anywhere." Tobi said.

My eyes widened as a surprised gasp of pain escaped my throat when Tobi kicked my broken and bruised leg. I shoved my face in the dirt and gritted my teeth to prevent myself from screaming in pain while my fingers clenched the dirt.

"Come," Tobi picked me up and set me back down in the wheelchair. "Let's get you cleaned up." He said. He pushed the wheelchair forward, taking me to my room.

Once we were there, he picked me up from the wheelchair and set me down on the bed. "Megumi," He summoned. I looked towards the door as she poked her head inside. "Get Nue cleaned up. Once you're done with that, change her bandages." Tobi ordered.

"Hai." Megumi responded. Tobi left as Megumi walked inside the room. She took off my clothes, then removed the bandages from my legs. "Wow... Looks like he really did a number on you, huh?" Megumi commented.

I didn't reply as she picked me up and carried me into the bathroom. She set me down on the edge of the tub and grabbed the showerhead. Warm water splashed on top of my head as Megumi began to wash my body.

After my shower, she dressed me, then changed my legs in bandages. "Come on, Nue-kun. At least say one word. I know that guy didn't take away your ability to speak. Say something. Anything." Megumi said as she set me back in my wheelchair.

I, once again, didn't reply to her question. She sighed. "You're no fun when you're all quiet like this." Megumi complained before sighing again. "Oh, well." She said, walking away. As she walked towards the door, I stopped her.

"Megumi," I said as she stood near the door. "What did... Tobi promise you?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Why are you here? What did Tobi tell you that made you join him?" I asked, quietly. "Well, that's an easy question. He promised me you." She answered. "Me?" I repeated. "Yeah. He said, I would be able to see you again and be with you if I joined him." Megumi explained.

"I thought you wanted to kill me and keep my head as a souvenir?" I asked as I stared at the wall. "Well, I can't do it now when you're vulnerable like this. I want to be able to earn your head once you're better. I like to fight for what I want." She admitted.

"Megumi."

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever felt restricted?"

"Actually... yeah. I have."

"Really?" I turned my wheelchair around so I was facing her. Her back was turned to me as she stood in front of the doorway. "When?" I asked. "I'd rather not talk about it. You wouldn't be interested in my story, Nue-kun." She said. "Try me." I challenged.

Megumi turned her head so she was looking at me before fully facing me. "Okay, I'll tell you my story." She said. I stared at her as she closed the door, leaning against it.

"When I was a little girl, my parents were strict. They wanted me to be the perfect daughter," Megumi began. "They always told me to act like a lady, being a ninja is a waste of time. I was so sick of that shit, I ran away. I lived on my own for a few weeks until he found me."

"He, as in Orochimaru." I stated. "Uh-huh. After he found, he promised me freedom. I had that for a while until Kabuto came along and the experimenting started happening. Kabuto was always keeping an eye on the experiments. I wanted a little more freedom, but Orochimaru wasn't having it. Whenever I went a bit too far from the base, Orochimaru would force me to come back. I'm not gonna get into detail in what he did." She explained.

"Were you one of his experiments?" I asked. "Heh. You know it. He gave me the kekkei genkai to sharpen my teeth. It's not a bad gift, actually. Sure, the experiment to get that kekkei genkai was painful, but it was worth it." Megumi said.

"If you wanted more freedom, then why didn't you just run away and leave him behind? You would've had your freedom if you did that." I said. "Trust me, Nue-kun. I wanted to, but when Orochimaru told me about you... Man, you have no idea how excited I was." She mentioned.

"I can imagine." I mumbled. "I was so fascinated with you and your clan, I wanted to be like you. I wanted to have wings and tails just like you. But it was impossible. To be honest, I'm actually quite jealous of you, Nue-kun." Megumi admitted.

"Why would you be jealous of me? You're human. You have everything I ever wanted. Nobody looks at you funny or calls you names based on your appearance." I stated. "Heh. Being human isn't that great, Nue-kun,"

Megumi walked over to me, got down on her knees, and rested herself on my lap. "Nobody has the abilities like you do. You're able to fly and create anything you want just by using your powers. You're an abnormal being. That's the reason why I fell in love with you. Because you were just perfect." She said.

I looked down at her as she had her eyes closed with a relaxed smile. "When I'm with you, I'm not afraid of showing my true feelings. Your appearance helps me awaken the true me, and I want to stay that way for as long as I live." Megumi said.

I gently rested my hands on her head, gently stroking her hair. "I bet if we could, we would be able to switch places for a day. You'd be the one with wings and tails and I'd be the one who's human." I said. Megumi chuckled at my commented.

"Now, that's an idea. Where'd you get an idea like that?" She asked. I shrugged. "Just thought of it, actually." I mentioned while looking at the door. "What about you? Were you ever restricted during your childhood?" Megumi asked. "Not really. I was happy... at least until you and Orochimaru killed and burned down my clan." I said.

"Yeah... Sorry about that."

"I should kill you for doing that, you know."

"So, why don't you?"

"Because you're immortal. Plus, I don't have my powers."

"Well... that fact is partly true."

"What do you mean?"

"How do I put this? Hmm... There's an orb inside that keeps me from dying."

"Care to explain?"

"Gladly," Megumi sat up so she was looking at me as she sat on her knees. In my clan, each member had a tiny orb inside them. It's like our life source. It also helps us heals major injuries, like being struck in a vital spot or having a body part cut off." She explained.

"That explains how you have your arm back when I cut it off." I mumbled. "Hehe. Anyway, this orb is also our weak point." She continued. "Weak point? How so?" I asked, curiously.

"Well... Let me put it this way: If you destroy the orb..."

"Then, you also destroy the host as well." I said, finishing her sentence. "Exactly. Wow, you catch on quick." Megumi commented. "Uh-huh. So, where is this orb of yours located?" I asked. "In the heart." She answered.

"I see. So, if I were to struck you in the heart, you would die?" I asked. "Not exactly. I'd be in a temporary death state, but my wounds would heal in a matter of time. If you were to strike my heart and take the orb while I'm down, however, and crush it, then I'd die." Megumi explained.

"Sounds like a shitty way to die. But on the bright side, your opponent won't know your little secret." I said. "Yeah, I guess." She shrugged. That's when I got an idea. "Megumi, can I trust you?" I asked. "Of course you can trust me." Megumi said.

"Good, because I'm going to need your help." I said. "My help? With what?" She asked. "Getting back into shape." I answered. "Eh?" Megumi looked at from head to toe, then back up. "But you're not fat." She stated.

I deadpanned before hitting her on top of the head. "That's not what I'm talking about, you idiot!" I said. "Ow... My mistake." She apologized while rubbing her head. I sighed. "Anyway, I'm talking about getting me out of these bandages, helping me regain my strength." I said.

"But how? Tobi has his eyes on you 24/7." She said. "Not unless I have someone else watching me." I replied. "I'm not following." Megumi informed, bluntly. I sighed.

"Let me explain. If you tell Tobi you'll look after me as my caretaker, he'll let you be with me 24/7 instead of him. We'll go out into the woods and that's we'll we be doing our training." I explained.

"Okay, I see where you're going with this. But assuming the plan does work, what will I get out it? What's in it for me?" Megumi asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You'll get to be able to wherever you want in the woods. Who knows? You might even find something extraordinary. And bonus: you'll be with me the whole time. What do you say?" I offered. "Hmm... I dunno, Nue-kun. It sounds kind of risky." Megumi admitted.

"Please, Megumi. I need you. You're my only hope. Please." I begged. "Hmm... Well..." Megumi trailed off as she looked off to the side, thinking about it. If Megumi doesn't help me, I'm on my own. Maybe if I seduce her...

I shivered in disgust just thinking about it. "Megumi, look at me." I instructed. She looked at me as I gently took her chin in my hand. "Do you trust me?" I asked her. "I... I..." She trailed off as she blushed. "Do you trust me?" I repeated.

"Of course I do!" She said. "Shh! Not so loud!" I whispered. "Sorry." She apologized. "Megumi, I need you to say that you'll help me on this. Please. I can't do this without you." I said, seductively. 'Jashin, kill me where I stand' I thought.

Steam came out of Megumi's ears as her face went completely red. "I'll do it! I'll help you and follow you! Now and forever!" Megumi said while hugging my waist. I smiled softly and gently placed my hands on her head. Did I really have to seduce her?

Would she still have helped me if I didn't? I have no clue.