Madara's POV

I glanced over as Nue appeared beside me in a kneeling position, bowing to me. "You're late." I said. Forgive my tardiness, Master. I ran into trouble on the way here." Nue apologized. I smirked at her loyalty. "You are forgiven. Stand up." I ordered.

"Yes, sir." Nue said and obeyed. I noticed her right eye was purple, but I didn't bother questioning her about it. "But how? Maria-"

"Maria only made me release Nue from my control. But she didn't know about the mark I've placed on Nue long before Nue arrived here." I interrupted Hashirama. "Mark? What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Back when Obito showed me to Nue, she was asleep inside a water tank with Kiragani substance running through her veins. When I placed my hand on the glass, I've also placed a marking seal on the back of her neck just in case I lost my pet too quickly. I anticipated Nue would be taken from me, so I thought ahead," I said, smirking.

"And besides, who wouldn't want a pet as loyal as Nue. She's everything an owner could ask for."

Hashirama frowned and looked at Nue. "Nue, he just referred to you as his pet. Doesn't this tell you something? He's using you!" Hashirama said. "I don't care that Master refers to me as his pet. My only purpose is to serve and protect him... the same way he protected me." Nue said. 

"Protected you?" Hashirama repeated in confusion. "Master... protected me from the cruel world that we live in. He made sure I never got hurt, and he made sure I was always safe. And now, I must return the favor he did for me by serving and protecting him." Nue said. 

Nue's POV

"That's a good girl." Madara praised me before looking at Hashirama. He activated his Susanoo and I did the same. "I take it you had some of Sasuke's blood?" Madara guessed. "Yes, sir. I took a fair amount of blood from him earlier, so I was able to inherit his abilities." I confirmed. 

'However, Sasuke's Susanoo isn't powerful enough for this sort of fight. But I can make it stronger with my own chakra' I thought to myself. I increased my chakra a bit and changed the form of the Susanoo a bit by making it have red wings and blue tails on its back, just like mine.

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon!" Hashirama said, making a dragon out of wood. "Nue, have my back at all times." Madara ordered. "Yes, Master. I shall protect you without fail." I replied. 

Madara attacked first by swinging his Susanoo blade, but Hashirama's Wood Dragon grabbed the blade with its mouth. The Wood Dragon used its tail to trip Madara's Susanoo, causing it to fall on its back. "Master!" I called out.

"Get out of my way, Madara!" Hashirama demanded. "I don't have much time, but there's something I've got to do now!" Madara said, making his Susanoo stand back up. "Wood Style: Wood Golem Jutsu!" Hashirama said, making a wood golem appear with the Wood Dragon wrapped around its neck. 

"I'm taking another chunk of you!" Madara said. His Susanoo used the blade again, aiming to hit the golem, but it ducked, making Madara's attack miss. The golem went to grab Madara's Susanoo until my Susanoo got in between them. 

"Nice try." I said before making my Susanoo drive its elbow into the Wooden Golem's back. After it hit the ground, I had my Susanoo kick the Golem. "Die!" I yelled, swinging the Susanoo's wings and tails down on the golem. 

My attack didn't go through as planned since the golem used both of its arms to block my attack. "Nue! You need to listen to me! The memories you have of Madara isn't real! He's altered your memories!" Hashirama said. 

I frowned in confusion to what he was saying. "Altered...?" I repeated. I loosened my attack on Hashirama's Wooden Golem as I saw my memories. The day Madara found me was there as he took me in. 

'I remember that. Master trained me and took care of me, treated me as if I was his own daughter' I thought. I smiled in relief at the memory until it changed to my younger self running away from a burning clan. 

'What is this? I don't remember this... This is all... wrong' I thought. Another memory showed in my head as some woman with silver hair and pink and blue eyes stood in front of a castle with a umbrella over her head. A little girl who looked just like her played with me and called me her sister. 

'Who... are these people? Luna... and Iri Satori? Wait, how do I know their names? I don't know them... They're dead... Orochimaru killed them... How do I know that? I see another woman... Hotaru Houjuu... My mom!'

"What's... going on?" I mumbled. My Susanoo vanished as I stumbled back, holding my head. "This... doesn't make any sense. Why am I...?" I trailed off as I felt dizzy and my head was spinning. "Nue," 

I stumbled back into Madara's chest as he held me by my shoulders. "Is something the matter?" He asked. "Something's not right... Why are my memories...?" The dizziness increased as I felt like closing my eyes to rest, but I knew I couldn't do that, knowing Master needed me.

"Your memories are fine. Don't listen to anything Hashirama says. He's just trying to deceive you. Look at him," Madara said. His hand went to my chin as he made me look at Hashirama.

"Those are the eyes of a liar, and last time I checked, you don't trust liars for a second, isn't that right?"

"Yes, but..."

"Keep fighting, Nue."

"I don't think I can."

"Are you disobeying your Master? Are you choosing to be a disrespectful pet?"

My dizziness went away as memories of me and Madara returned. "No, Master. I would never disobey you. I'm your weapon and guardian. I live to protect you." I said. "Then, prove it." Madara ordered. "Of course, Master." I replied, and reactivated my Susanoo.

Its blue tails went to stab the Wooden Golem until I heard a voice call from inside me. "Nue!"

I stopped my attack when I heard that voice. "Nue!"

"Who...?" I whispered. "Snap out of it, Nue!"

"That voice..."

"Snap out of it, Nue!" The voice repeated. "Nue!"

"Why... am I hearing this voice?" I mumbled. Due to the voice's distraction, a wooden tail emerged from the ground, inside my Susanoo. "What the-?!"

I was pulled out of my Susanoo and near Hashirama, being restrained by wood. "Bastard, let me go! Fuck off!" I snapped as I tried to free myself until all my strength was gone. "What? Why do I feel weak all of a sudden? What's going on?"

"I'm sorry to take away your strength, Nue! But you've got to listen to me! Hashirama isn't lying! Madara really altered your memories! This was a mistake! If I had known Madara put that mark on you, I wouldn't have fused with you!" The voice said. 

"Stop it! Get out of my head! Who are you?!" I yelled. "It's me, Eun!" 

"Eun?" I repeated. "I'm not letting you take her from me a second time!" Madara said. His Susanoo's hand reached out and grabbed me, forcibly taking me out of the wood hold I was trapped in. "Master!" I said as he saved me. "She's not yours!" Hashirama said. 

I closed my eyes until I felt everything grow quiet. I slowly opened my eyes to find myself no longer on the battlefield. Instead, I was standing in some place that looked cloudy as if I was in the sky. "Master?" I called as my voice echoed. 

I didn't hear a reply as I walked forward. What is this place? Where am I? "Nue Houjuu..."

I looked in front of me as I was faced with a three-headed dragon. "Who are you?" I asked. "We are Ryu, your summoning." The dragon said. "My... summoning?" I repeated. "We've waited a long time for to finally meet you, Nue." They said. 

"I don't know you." I stated. "Of course you don't. You've never met us before, so how could you?" They asked. "Nue Houjuu, you must remember who you are." 

"I know who I am, and I don't need a dragon tell me that." I said with a frown. "That's not what we meant. You must remember who you are. Remember your parents, your family. Remember that pain you had to go through, that loneliness you felt those times you wandered the streets with amnesia when you were just a little girl." Ryu said.

"Amnesia?" I repeated. I lowered my head as images of my younger self with humans and walking alone aimlessly appeared in my mind, having to deal with abuse and pain everywhere I went.

"No!" I yelled. "I don't want to return to that pain! I don't want to be alone again! I don't WANT these memories!"

"Then, let us help you. Don't let that man, Madara Uchiha, manipulate you like this. You are much stronger than that." Ryu said. "Don't you dare talk about my Master." I said, frowning. "Master? Heh. Is that what he has you calling him? How low can that man get?" Ryu said. 

"I don't have time to waste with you. I need to return to my Master." I said. "He's not your Master, Nue. Madara altered your memories. Your real memories... lie right here," Ryu held out his claw as a glowing blue ball levitated above his hand. "These are your true memories." 

I stared at the ball as I was unsure whether or not to believe this dragon. "Touch the orb, Nue. And you'll see that we're telling the truth." Ryu said. 

I hesitantly reached my hand out towards the orb and touched it. I gasped as I felt my eyes glow a gold color as I started seeing pictures of people who looked familiar.

"My name's Naruto Uzumaki! My dream for the future is become the greatest Hokage! That way everyone will start treating me like I'm somebody!" A blonde haired boy said.

"Naruto... Uzumaki..." I repeated. Another image showed as a man named Deidara was hugging me. Whoever he was, my past self really seemed to like him. In fact, she was in love with him. "How do I know these memories aren't fake? How do I know you're not just setting me up?" I asked with a frown.

"We would have no reason to lie to you. We couldn't even if we wanted to. We've watched over you ever since you were born. Your mother was so beautiful, she had a wonderful husband, and a wonderful daughter to match. You, Nue Houjuu, are the last of the Houjuu Clan. This is your chance to change the way humans see your people. Prove to them that you are not the monster they fear. Prove to them that you are the hero and not the villain." Ryu said. 

"Huh?" I lifted my hand to my left eye, noticing I was crying. "Tears? ...Why?" I whispered. "Because you miss them. Naruto, your family, Deidara... everyone you wish to see again." Ryu said, extending his claw to wipe my eye.

But it didn't matter because I started to sob. "It hurts... I just... want the pain to end. Please... end my suffering. Just kill me." I begged. "No," I turned around as Eun stood behind me. "You can't do this to yourself, Nue. Not twice." She said. 

"But-"

"I know you're tired of being hurt, abused, manipulated... but you can't stop fighting just because things start getting rough. Sure, times can become hard, but you shouldn't give up just because of that." Eun said. I stared at her as more and more of my memories started to return.  

"Nue Houjuu, do you wish to save your friends? They're people you care about. You're someone they care about."

"The humans? But... I don't know what you mean by save them. But I do feel some sort of connection to them. I want to smile with them again... I want to laugh with them again... I want to see my friends again! Right now!" I said. 

"...I see." Ryu tapped my head with my claws and a small glow began to form. "We're going to remove the mark Madara had placed on you." They said as I felt the seal disappear. "Let's finish this once and for all." Eun said.

"Good luck, you two," Ryu said, taking his claw away from my head. "You're going to need this." A trident landed in my hands, making me look at Ryu. "Farewell, Nue Houjuu. Until we meet again." 

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

I opened my eyes and looked around until I spotted Madara. His Susanoo was activated as it held me in its fist. The whole time he's been fighting, he's had me in his Susanoo's fist. "Time to play my little game now, Madara," I said, performing some hand signs.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" 

I spit a huge amount of fire towards Madara and he saw it coming as he let me go. I landed on the ground, on my feet, then glanced back at Hashirama. "Hashirama, stay back. This guy's mine." I said. 

"Yeah, let's get him, Nue!" Eun cheered from inside me. "No, Nue! You can't-!"

"Stop telling me what I can and can't do!" I snapped. I quickly flew forward, breaking through Madara's Susanoo, and clashed with him as he used his weapon as a shield.

"You toyed with my memories, killed Maria, and now you're keeping like some kind of pet. I'm gonna shove my fist up your-"

"Go ahead and try, mere pet." Madara interrupted me. "Fuck you!" I swung my leg in attempt to kick him, but he used his weapon again to shield my attack.

Madara kicked me in the stomach rather roughly, but I was able to endure the pain as I did backflip and skidded my feet on the ground while clawing at it to keep me from skidding back any further. 

"Nue, you've reached your limit with Sasuke's blood. You no longer have his powers." Eun informed. "Don't worry. We're still fused, so our power should be enough to take him down." I said. I summoned my trident from Ryu and stood to my feet.

"I would've given you anything, Nue. I would've given you the freedom you deserve," I narrowed my eyes at him as Madara spoke. "I can still give that to you. All you have to do is join me and we can win this war together." He proposed.

"After everything you've done, you really think I'd join you? Fat chance." I said. Madara frowned at my answer. "So be it." 

I gasped at his incredible speed as he was quickly in front of me, our noses nearly touching. He punched me under my chin, sending me into the air. "Nue!" Eun called out in worry. "I'm fine!" I said, doing a backflip. 

He's a lot faster than he was before. Was he holding back or something to throw me off guard?

The moment I landed on my feet, Madara grabbed my face. Before he could make his move, I used my tails and made them wrap around his arm. "Lightning Style: Death Shock!" 

Electricity channeled from my hand to my tails and electrocuted Madara. "Damn you!"

Madara tossed me over him and I tumbled to the ground. "Nue, get up!" Eun said. I rolled out of the way just as Madara was about to stomp his feet into my back. I quickly got to my feet and went to attack until Eun stopped me. 

"Nue, wait! That's not the real Madara! It's a clone!" She warned. "Then, where's the real one?" I asked, quickly looking around. "Behind you!" Eun informed. But I was too slow to react as I felt a sword stabbed me just below the heart; I could see the blade sticking out of my body. 

The blade was harshly yanked out of me, causing me to fall on the ground. "Nue! Nue! Are you okay?!" Eun asked. "I can't heal myself..." I informed. Eun gasped. "The sword you were stabbed with... It's-!"

"Kiragani." I said, finishing her sentence for her. "Looks like Obito's info came in handy after all." Madara said as he examined the blade. He slashed it to the side as I heard my blood splat on the ground. 

My arms shook as I tried to push myself off the ground, but Madara roughly grabbed the back of my head and shoved it into the ground. He turned my head slightly so my ear was exposed.

"It's not too late to change your mind, Nue. It doesn't have to be like this. I can still give you everything you ever wanted." Madara said. I smirked at his proposal. "You know how much... of an asshole you sound like right now?" I mentioned.

Madara sighed at my answer, knowing I wasn't going to accept his offer. "You sure are stubborn til the end. Fine, have it your way." He said before letting go of my head. I shakily tried to get myself off the ground while I heard Madara toss the Kiragani Sword to the side.

Then, he stepped on my back, forcing me down on my stomach as he grabbed all three of my wings at the same time. I screamed out as loud as I could when Madara ripped my wings off my back. "You brought this on yourself, Nue." Madara said, grabbing all three of my tails.

He did the same thing to them as he ripped them off my back. Blood slowly surrounded my body as I felt nothing but intense pain on my back.

"Farewell, loyal pet. It was fun while it lasted." Madara said before running towards Madara. I breathed heavily as I struggled to heal myself. "It's not working. That Kiragani blade must've done serious damage to your heart, let alone the wounds on your back." Eun said. 

"Naru... to..." I whispered. I slowly and weakly floated off the ground, watching blood drip to the ground. "I have... see him. I have to..." I trailed off as I slowly floated over to where he was. 

When I found him, I smiled in relief. "He's okay." I whispered. "You're more worried about your friend than you are of dying?"

I gasped and turned around, spotting Madara. How did he get here? Did he follow me? "Let's see if you're truly willing to die for him." Madara said, taking out a kunai knife with a paper bomb attached to it. He threw it towards Naruto at a tremendous second. 

"No!" There's no way I could create a shield around Naruto at this distance. Actually, I could create one anyway because of the Kiragani Sword. Ignoring the pain near my heart and in my back, I quickly flew forward and shot myself in front of Naruto the same time the kunai knife hit my back.

The paper bomb went off and my whole back was burnt, which I'm pretty sure there was bone showing. "Nue-chan!" Naruto yelled when he saw me in front of him. I smiled as blood trickled down my chin.

"Bet you didn't see that one coming... huh, Naruto?" I asked before exhaustingly falling to the ground with a soft thud. "Nue-chan! Dad, we've got to get her back to Sakura!" Naruto said to his Dad. I closed my eyes as I felt my body being picked up.

When I opened them, I saw that I was in Naruto's arms as Sakura was trying to heal the wound near my heart. "Why? Why did you do it, Nue-chan?" Naruto asked. "Why not?" I asked, returning the question.

"Her wings and tails...! They're gone!" Sakura said, noticing. "Madara... tore them off my back... when I fighting him..." I explained. "The mark on her neck is gone. But how?" Sasuke asked. "It's... a long story..." I whispered. "I'm... scared..."

"Of what?" Sakura asked. "Of death?" Sasuke asked.

"Of you... of everyone... of death... I was even afraid of everyone leaving me. Just like Mom. She survived the attack... she watched over me... and then... she just left without saying goodbye... She always told me one day that evil will be destroyed... and everyone would be able to live in peace. For a second, I almost believed her." I said, laughing softly.

When I laughed, I ended up coughing while spitting up blood. "Don't talk. You need to save your strength." Sakura said. "No point in healing a dead person, Pinky. Heh... It's funny. Pein once told me that I see the world as a child does. Look like he wasn't kidding." I said

"Don't say that! You're not going to die, Nue-chan! Sakura's going to heal you and you'll be okay!" Naruto said. I weakly smiled up at him. "You're sweet... but we both know... this is the end of me... Permanently." I said.

"No... No, don't say that, Nue-chan. It's going to be okay. I promise." Naruto insisted. I saw tears swell up in Naruto's eyes as they dripped onto my cheeks. "Hey, now... Don't cry... It's going to be okay... From now on... everything is going to be... okay..." 

I slowly reached up and gently wiped a tear away from his eye.

"You know something? It's pretty funny. Of all the times I fought... I kept wondering why I fight? Why was I even brought into this world... if all people saw in me... was a monster? Left and right... I fought for what I believed in. And for what? Just so I could die in the end? It's like... there's no reason to live at all... And then... I met you. Naruto, you... you were my light. You gave me hope, you made me happy, made me smile, and gave me a purpose... Naruto, thank you for believing in me... Thank you for everything you tried to do for me... You're a best friend... that anyone could ask for..." I whispered, smiling up at him. 

Naruto sniffled as I felt myself tear up. I didn't want to leave like this. Not while seeing my friend's face filled with sadness.

"Please don't cry, Naruto... because I believe... that we'll meet again someday... So, until then... Just keep... smiling..." I weakly smiled up at him as I felt my eyelids getting heavier, making me struggle to keep my eyes open.

I'm finally going to see everyone again... the Akatsuki... Mom... Dad... Iri... Luna... and even Jiraiya...

I closed my eyes with a smile. "No! Nue-chan, keep your eyes open! Don't go!" Naruto said. "But I'm... so tired..." I said as I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was dark and hazy as I felt everything grow quiet.

"Hey... why did it get so quiet all of a sudden? Did we... win the war, Naruto?" I whispered. Naruto blinked his eyes, causing tears to roll down his cheeks, then hugged me close to him. "Yeah... We did, Nue-chan. We won the war. We can go home now." He said. 

"That's great... Hey, Naruto..."

"Yeah, Nue-chan?"

"I want to thank you... All of you... for showing me a good time... This world... is filled with so many... wonderful things... so many..." I trailed off as I closed my eyes, feeling myself go unconscious.

"Nue-chan! Nue-chan! Open your eyes! Don't go! Wake up! Nue-chan! Please... don't do this... Don't leave me again..."

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

Naruto's eyes widened, realizing his friend was gone, then closed his eyes tightly as more tears left his eyes. He threw his head back and yelled at the sky.

"Nue-chan!!!"

'There was still so much... I wanted to do... But my time was up... Naruto... I'm glad I was able to become your friend... It was the best thing that's ever happened to me... Until we meet in the next world, my friend...'

Meanwhile, near Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin, Orochimaru grunted slightly when he felt a small sting just below his heart. "What is it now? You're starting to act all weird again." Suigetsu noticed. "It's Nue." Orochimaru informed.

"Ah, great. Now what's wrong with her?" Suigetsu asked, in which he shook his head. "Nue... is dead." Orochimaru said. "What? No, that can't be! You're joking, right?" Karin asked. Orochimaru shook his head to her question and her eyes widened.

"No... No way..." Karin said, slowly shaking her head as she didn't want to believe it. 

She closed her eyes, focusing on Nue's chakra, then gasped when she couldn't feel it. "No way..." Karin fell to her knees as her eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Nue... is really dead." She whispered. Her eyes swelled with tears and began to cry. to her. "Nue!" She cried out as she began to sob. Orochimaru and Suigetsu lowered their heads as Karin continued to cry for the death of her sister.