The Willow Maiden [Naruto]

{19} Triggered

As Ruka was captured, Sasuke and Naruto went after the aircraft so that they wouldn't lose her. However, Ruka had already fell unconscious because of the cold. She lied at the feet of Doto, unable to move, nor open her eyes. 

Her and Koyuki both have been captured. "So, this is the Willow Maiden. . . So pure and innocent, but also deadly once it is triggered. Someone can only push this creature so far until it snaps." Doto speaks with himself as he nudges Ruka with his foot.

"I don't get it. What's so special about her anyway. So what? She controls the Green around her, sing to control elements, and is also a flower. I'm still not understanding it." Koyuki scoffs, sitting in a hair with her arms folded while she listens to her uncle rant about the unconscious girl.

"How foolish you've become, Koyuki." Doto smirks. "This girl is the key to my plan. Weak it may sounds like, but when you see her in action, you will understand. This girl carries a jutsu inside her. She doesn't just control elements and the Green. You will see when we get there." 

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Naruto shouts from a distance with Sasuke by his side. Hearing his voice made Ruka open her eyes a bit and glance at Naruto. 

'Nar. . .uto. . . Sas. . .uke. . .' She says within her thoughts. 

"You're not gonna do anything with Ruka as long as I'm here!" 

"Is that a fact?" Doto smirks. Ropes are wrapped around Naruto, making it impossible for him to get out. Sasuke sees this coming and sprints over to Ruka. Nadare jumps in front of maiden and punches Sasuke in the stomach so hard that he coughs up his own saliva. And, because of the chakra armor, it took away half of his chakra. 

"N-No! . . ." Ruka shouts, gaining consciousness, as she tries to move toward the two boys. But, still being cold, she can't find the strength to get herself up. 

"Ah, the maiden has finally awaken." Doto smirks while turning his attention Ruka. "You care awfully a lot about these two. I wonder how upset you be when we use them as a test subject." 

"Y-You cannot. . . ! Leave them out of this! I'm the one you want! . . . Not them! Please, do not hurt them!" Ruka slowly gets herself up, but not on her feet. 

"Oh, my dear maiden. It's already been done." Doto's smirk widens. Nadare places a device on Naruto and Sasuke to cleanse their chakra. The two boys scream in agony as they struggle to get lose. 

"Stop it! Please!" Ruka pleads as tears begin to well up in her eyes. Ruka can never stand to see her comrades hurt. It brings tears in her eyes and sorrow in her heart. Which is why she has the need to protect. She would sing to help them, but she is to weak to do anything. 

As Naruto and Sasuke's screams become louder, and slowly begin to fade because of their chakra being taken away from them, tears begin to scream down Ruka's cheeks. 

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!!!!" Ruka repeats these words over and over again. But at the same time, she thinks back to her past of when she was being chased and hunted down like an animal. 

Kunai being thorn at her. 

Ropes being tied around her body. 

And nets being placed on top of her. It was like she was reliving a never-ending nightmare. When she kept thinking about what is happening in front of her vs. what's going on in her mind, she faints because of the panic attack. 

"Ruka!!!" Sasuke and Naruto shout when they see the maiden faint once more. Later in this time, the two leaf shinobi are in prison cells with the device still connected to their bodies. Koyuki is also thrown into prison because of the crystal, that she gave to Doto, was a fake. 

"I don't see the point. . . What is so special about that girl you two care about so much?" Koyuki questions the two boys out of curiosity. 

"Because she's our comrade." Sasuke answers. 

"And she deserves something better than this. You have no idea what she had to go through all her life." Naruto adds. 

"And we're going to be there for her." 

"That girl can take care of herself. You saw it. She doesn't need protecting." Koyuki frowns. 

"That's where you're wrong. . ." Naruto slightly glares but frowns at the same time. "Ruka is somebody that has been through hell and back, same as I have. But she doesn't know how to keep on moving forward and to never give up. All she can do is learn how to use her powers." 

"She's been chased down by people who wanted her power ever since her mother was taken from her. Since that day, all she has known to do is kill out of self defense. She doesn't know any better than to defend for herself because she is scared." Sasuke adds. 

"And which is why I'm not gonna let her go! I'm going to protect her! Even if it costs me my life! Because I made a promise to her! Let's go, Sasuke!" 

"Right!" The tow shinobi's use all of their power to break the chains, even if the device is giving them an intense shock. 

"I am going. . .to protect Ruka! . . . No matter what!" Naruto grunts through his pain and finally breaks out of the chains, as does Sasuke. 

Meanwhile for Ruka, she is chained up beside Doto while she weeps with fear. She has no idea what Doto is going to do to her, but whatever it is, it wasn't going to be good. "No need to whimper, Willow Maiden. All of this will be over soon." Doto smirks at her. 

"What are you going to do with me? . . . Why do you need me? . . ." Ruka questions through her tears. 

"Because you are the key of Spring. I know you Maidens keep your birthplace the same season every year so that you may live on so you won't have to suffer the other seasons. Fall and Winter will make you cold and weak." 

"But the Summer. . . does nothing to us. . ." Ruka adds on. "I do not understand why you need me. . . I am just a flower who controls the Green and the elements. . . Not to mention, the thorns that are inside me. . . I do not think I can be of any service to your plan. . ." 

"That's where you forgot about one thing, Ruka. You also have Wood Style." Doto smirks. 

"You know about that!? Did Tatsuya-" 

"No. Tatsuya didn't tell me. I've always known about the Wood Style Jutsu that you have stored inside yourself. You started using it after the death of your mother, but you kept it hidden because you knew how dangerous it was. You only use it for important matters only. I wonder what Kakashi and the others will think of you once you release it." 

"Release it?" Ruka is confused by Doto's words. This makes him smirk and pull out a kunai knife. Seeing the blade made Ruka's eyes widen. She remembered the first time she saw her own blood and she almost flipped out if Naruto and Sasuke didn't show up. But because they are not here to save her this time, who knows what could happen. 

"You fear to bleed out." Doto sees the scared look on Ruka's face. "You fear the sight of your own blood, which causes you to snap. I wonder how long will it take you to release that Wood Style in order for my plan to work. Once I place the Hex Crystal around your neck, it will have complete control over you by my command. Now then, let's see how much you can bear~" 

'No. .  . !' Ruka panics within her thoughts as Doto draws the knife closer to the maiden's skin. 'No. . . !' 

"Shite wa ikenai!" (Please, don't!!!) Blood splatters onto the floor. . .

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