I looked through scroll after scroll, mastering each and every one of them. "Hey, Nue. Take a look at this." Suigetsu said. "What is it? What did you find?" I asked. "There's a jutsu that allows you to transform into anything or anyone." He said, showing me the contents of the scroll.

"So, basically, it's like shapeshifting."

"I guess so. Wanna give it a try?"

"Sure. Why not?"

Suigetsu held up the scroll in front of me and I began to copy the hand signs. "The scrolls says, I have to think about what I want to shapeshift into as I'm doing the hand signs." I informed Suigetsu. "Okay, then just think about what you want to transform into." He replied.

I gave a nod and started to think I wanted to transform into. When I got the image, I did the hand signs and focused. "Whoa!" Suigetsu lost his balance and fell on the floor as I transformed into Nekomata. "What the heck?! Why'd you transform into a cat?!" He yelled.

"Because I wanted to. The scroll did say I'm allowed to transform into anything. Plus, it's been a while since I last saw him." I stated. "Hahahaha! You should've seen your face, Suigetsu!" Megumi laughed. "Yeah, haha. Laugh it up." Suigetsu said as he got off the ground.

I went back to my original appearance and flipped my long hair back. "This jutsu could actually come in handy. I could trick the enemy into thinking I'm one of their comrades." I said as I rolled up the scroll. "Now, that's using your head." Suigetsu grinned.

"Let's keep working."

I trained my ass off with everyone as I worked on ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Practicing taijutsu was especially hard because fighting Jugo was not easy to take down. And he wasn't even in his curse mark form! Genjutsu was semi-hard because it took up a lot of my chakra.

I didn't think trapping people in a genjutsu would take up so much chakra. "Hey, Nue. Other than Kyo, how many summonings do you have?" Suigetsu asked.

"Hmm... Not sure. Quite a few, I guess. It's been a while. Are you saying I should summon one of my summonings other than Kyo?" I asked. "Not exactly. I was just wondering." He admitted. "Or you were trying to flirt with her." Karin mumbled.

After going through at least twenty more scrolls, I helped everyone how to shoot from a gun while my mother watched. As Karin, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Megumi shot at the targets I set up, I walked behind them, observing their progress.

I noticed Suigetsu was holding his gun sideways, trying to act cool. But he was missing the target. "Don't try to act cool, Suigetsu. Just hold the gun properly." I said as I stood behind him. "Yeah, got it." He said, and held the gun properly.

I looked over at Jugo as he was shooting right on target. "Nice job, Jugo. You're a natural." I said, smiling calmly. Jugo smiled at me and continued to shoot at the target. I went over to Karin to examine her progress and noticed she was improving greatly.

"Keep it up, Karin. You're doing well." I said. "Thanks." She replied. I went over to Megumi as she was concentrating on her target. "Take your time, Megumi. Remember to steady your breathing." I reminded her.

Megumi gave a nod and looked at a snake that was sitting on a branch. She smirked before aiming her gun at the snake. "Don't even think about it!" I said, pushing her gun out of range. "Aww! Come on, Nue-kun! I had that!" She whined.

"You're not harming that snake!" I snapped. "Keep in mind that Nue is deeply in love with snakes." Mom reminded her. "I know that, but it's just a snake." Megumi said. 

"If you harm her favorite animal, Nue will show no mercy on you. That just proves how much she loves snakes." Mom said. "Doesn't Nue have any snake summonings?" Karin asked. "No, why?" I asked her. "I bet if she could, she could summon Manda." Megumi said.

"Manda? Wasn't he Orochimaru's favorite pet or something?" I asked. "Yeah, but he's dead because Sasuke used him to protect himself from that attack from an Akatsuki member." He said, referring to Deidara.

"That proves how big of a heartless bastard Sasuke really is." Megumi said. "I wouldn't be able to summon Manda anyway because he's not in my power, and he's not even my summoning." I mentioned. "That's true." Jugo agreed.

I looked up towards the sky and gave a sigh. "Are you okay, Nue?" Karin asked. "Yeah. I'm just... a little tired." I said. "I'm not surprised. You've been training all morning. Maybe you should take a break." Jugo suggested. "No," I shook my head. "I have to keep training." I said.

"Nue, remember what we talked about? You need slow down and take a break." Mom reminded me. "Yeah, okay." I said. "While Nue rests up, how about I fix you up all some lunch?" Mom suggested with a closed-eye smile. "Sure." Everyone chorused.

They all went back inside the cabin while I sat on deck. The gentle breeze blew in my face, making my close my eyes. "Nue," I turned my head as Mom stood there. "Are you okay?" She asked. "I don't know." I answered, quietly.

"You don't know?" She repeated. She walked over to me and sat down beside me. "Mom... How long has it been?" I asked. "What do you mean?" She questioned. "How long have we been in this cabin?"

"Hmm... A couple months now."

"That long, huh?"

"Are you concerned about when Madara will start the war?"

"Yes, and I'm not even ready!"

"Nue, calm yourself."

"Right, sorry."

I sighed and laid my head down on her lap. Mom giggled slightly before gently stroking my hair. "It's best if you rest your head right now, Nue. You need the rest right now." She said. Her gentle strokes was making it harder for me to stay awake.

"Mom... Could you do me a favor?" I asked as I felt myself falling asleep. "Of course, Nue. Anything." She said as she continued to gently stroke my hair. "Make sure... Megumi doesn't hurt Karin... She promised me she wouldn't, but... I don't trust her." I whispered before closing my eyes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Eun? Are you around?" I called as I looked around in the pitch-black darkness. I floated in the air as I turned my body to search for her. "Hello? Eun?" I called again. This is strange. She's usually around here to bug me.

"Where the hell is she?" I mumbled. What gives? Does she choose not to show herself? Did I piss her off somehow? Is that why she refuses to show herself? "What, are you avoiding me?" I called. "So, you're the Nue Houjuu Orochimaru kept talking about."

I turned around and gasped in shock. "Manda?!"

"SSSSurprise, ssssurprise."

I gasped as he quickly wrapped his body around me, slightly crushing me. "What the hell are you doing here?" I grunted. "You're dreaming, sssstupid. You brought me here." He said. "The name-calling is uncalled for, damn snake. And if I'm dreaming, you shouldn't even be here. You're dead." I stated.

"Sometimes, dreams can become real." Manda mentioned. "Yeah, but this is my dream. So, you shouldn't be able to do this." I replied. This conversation kind of reminds me of when I used to argue with Kiyoshi.

"Hey... Sorry for what happened to you. About when Sasuke... you know." I apologized. "Do not sssspeak that Uchiha'ssss name! I cursssse him for making me risssk my tail for him!" He roared in my face. "I know, and I'm sorry!" I yelled back with my eyes closed tightly so he could hear me.

I was able to get my arms out and rested my hands on Manda's skin. "I'm sorry Sasuke used you like that. It wasn't fair, and I'm sorry. If you were my summoning, I would never do something like that to you. I wouldn't let anything happen to you." I mumbled to myself.

"What wasss that?"

I looked at Manda as his eye was in front of me. "What did you jussst sssay jussst now?" He demanded. "Nothing, really. I was just talking to myself." I said. "Tell me what you sssaid!" He roared as his breath blew in my face.

"With that attitude, I'm not telling you shit!" I yelled again. I sighed to myself before repeating what I said.

"I was just saying that if you were my summoning, I wouldn't treat you with disrespect or something like that. I love snakes and I love all my summonings. I wouldn't let anything happen to them. I'd keep them safe" I explained.

"Do you ssswear that?" Manda asked. "Of course. I care deeply for what belongs to me," I gently stroked his skin while gazing at it. "Not that you could be my summoning. After all, you're dead... Manda, come closer for a second. I wanna tell you something." I said.

Manda leaned closer and I kissed his nose, giving him a closed-eye smile. "I hope you don't mind me kissing you. I just really love snakes." I said. Manda didn't say anything as he stared at me. "Hey, are you blushing?" I teased.

"Of courssse not, worthless child!" He snapped, making me giggle. As Manda's nose was still in front of me, I leaned myself against him.

"I wish you would've been my summoning, Manda. I don't have any snake summonings. I hate to admit this, but I was jealous of Orochimaru because he had snake summonings." I murmured before closing my eyes.

Karin's POV

When I was done eating, I checked on Nue as she was still asleep on the deck. I smiled a bit until it quickly faded when I noticed a glowing pattern beneath Nue's sleeping form. "Nue?" I gasped as the pattern glowed brighter and grew bigger.

"Nue!" I ran over to her and dropped to my knees as I began to shake her awake. "Nue! Nue, wake up! Nue!" I said, beginning to panic. "Nue! Help! Hotaru, come here! There's something wrong with Nue!" I called.

Hotaru and the others quickly ran outside to see what was going on. "I don't know what's happening! Please, help me!" I pleaded. "Karin, get back!" Hotaru said, pulling me away from Nue. "What?! Why? What's happening to Nue?" I asked as I was still in a panic.

"Look!" Suigetsu said, pointing ahead. We followed his pointed finger and saw the same glowing pattern in the yard. "What's happening?" Megumi asked. "Nue's summoning something! Something big!" Hotaru explained.

"What is she summoning?" Jugo asked. The ground suddenly began to shake, making us fall on our hands and knees. "Holy crap! Look at that!" Suigetsu called. We looked at the pattern again and gasped at what Nue had summoned.

Nue's POV (Still dreaming)

"Oh, Manda. I'm sorry for the abuse you had to go through." I apologized as I gently petted his skin. Maybe I can try and summon my own snake. But how do I do that? I can only summon Kyo for now. "Nue, wake up! Nue!"

"Huh? What's going on?" I asked. Manda began to disappear as his grip on me loosened. "Looks like you're waking up." Manda said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Nue! Nue! Wake up!"

I slowly opened my eyes as I felt my body being shook. "I'm up, I'm up." I said before tiredly sitting up as Mom was by my side. "Mom? What's going on? Why did you wake me up? Did something happen?" I asked her. 

"Oh, something happened alright." Suigetsu said. "Huh? What are you guys doing here?" I asked. "Nue, turn around." Karin said. I turned around and gasped at what I saw. "Manda?!" I yelled. "How is that possible? He's dead!" Suigetsu said.

"You're not supposed to be here! You were in my dream! You were just an image!" I said. "Wait a second! You dreamed about this thing?!" Megumi asked. "Well, not exactly! I mean, I wanted to talk to Eun! But he suddenly appeared!" I said.

"Maybe... because you dreamed about him, you were able to reanimate him." Mom said. "Reanimate him?!" Isn't that a forbidden jutsu? I don't know how to do that! And I wanted to summon my own snake summoning! Not Manda!" I said.

"Wait, do you still have Orochimaru's curse mark?" Jugo asked.

"Yeah, why?

"Maybe due to the curse mark, that's why you were able to reanimate and summon him. Because his remains live inside you." Jugo guessed. "That's gross! I don't want his remains inside me! Get him!" I started to yell.

"Calm down, Nue. Nothing to get worked up about." Mom said. "Easy for you to say! You don't have the curse mark on you!" I said. "Nue, what did you do while you were dreaming?" Karin asked.

"I was only thinking about how I could summon my own snake, and I was having a conversation with Manda. Please don't tell me something happened here while I was asleep." I said.

"Well... some sort of glowing pattern appeared beneath you, then the same pattern appeared where Manda's standing." She explained. "So, are you saying I accidenatly reanimated and suymmon Manda without even realizing it?!" I practically yelled.

"Looks like it." Karin confirmed. I face palmed so hard, I'm pretty sure there's a red mark on my forehead. "I'm amazed you didn't have to do the hand signs for the Reanimation Jutsu." Megumi said before giggling.

"Nue... We need to talk." Mom said in a serious tone.

I'd like to thank @_Rwdy_ for tagging me :)