War Torn {A Naturo Fanfic}

Page 31

Nao jumped up and ran to me. I picked her up and she started crying. We left through the back and I took her out to the forest away from the clearing. "I want to show you something." I told her as I set her down on the grass by a stream. I held her arm gently and touched the water, gathering some of it on my fingers and touching it to her wounds. Combining water and the healing abilities I had inherited from our mother I made the bruises and cuts disappear.

Instead of saying anything she stood up and hugged me around the neck. I hugged her back. She was so small. "No one will ever hurt you again Nao." I told her, causing Hero to whine and lay down.

"Who are you?" She asked softly as she pulled away to see me.

"I'm Etsuko Inoue. I'm your big sister." She touched my cheek.

"You are?" She asked. I couldn't help smiling.

"Yes, we have the same mother, but different fathers." She smiled at my response and hugged me again. "How old are you?" I asked her purely out of curiosity.

"I'm three." She said and pulled back again to show me her fingers.

"Really? You're getting old." I informed her teasingly.

"Nuh-uh! You're old!" She insisted. I couldn't help laughing. She really was adorable. "I don't wanna go home." She said and suddenly shrunk in my lap, looking worn out.

I couldn't leave her to fend for herself. She was too small and too innocent. I hadn't left Maeko and Chiya. Nao was my sister and I couldn't leave her either. Pein wouldn't be too mad would he? She's the daughter of a powerful criminal and a woman with a strong healing kekkei genkai. She could be of some use if she's raised to believe in the Akatsuki's cause.

"That isn't your home anymore, Nao. You're home is with me." She looked up at me with surprised eyes.

"Really? Do I have more big sisters?" She was smiling again. I told her all about her sisters and we played with Hero, who took a liking to her instantly. She seemed like a really smart kid, which was good. I wouldn't want her to be stupid like our mother.

"We're leaving Etsuko. We'll find somewhere to drop off the brat." Hidan said from behind us. I picked up Nao and turned around.

"She's my sister; we're not dropping her off anywhere." I told him firmly.

"Pein isn't going to take in anymore fucking strays Etsuko. You bring that kid to the base and he'll kill both of you." Nao cowered at Hidan's warning.

"No he won't. She has the healing kekkei genkai and I'm sure she's inherited things from her father as well. I'm taking the risk." I told him.

"If you're prepared, there will be no sorrow." Kakuzu's words didn't sound like a threat this time. "Now let's go. I want my money." He said and shifted something on his shoulder. It was Ginkaku's body.

"Are you insane?" I snapped at him and covered Nao's eyes. "Why do you think I brought her out here?" The last thing I wanted Nao to see was a dead body. She's too little for that. She isn't going to end up insane like Maeko or nervous like Chiya.

"I said lets go." Kakuzu growled and we followed him to the nearest bounty office. Once we got there Hidan took off to the Jashinist temple, leaving Nao and I outside alone. I suppose I should have figured that in a place like a bounty office that wouldn't be a good idea.

"What's a young mother doing out here alone?" A sly looking man asked as he appeared in front of me. I wanted to ask the idiot if he was oblivious to my Akatsuki cloak.