The Willow Maiden [Naruto]

{22} One Plant To Another, Joining The Akatsuki

Zetsu carefully picks up the flower, that resembles Ruka, and phases back into the ground. He made sure that the flower was still in one piece and unharmed. "Let's hurry up and revive her already. This should be fun." Zetsu tells himself before doing a hang sign and placed his hand on the flower. "Regeneration Ability!" 

Slowly, the flower forms itself into a human being, AKA Ruka. Her body grew like a flower growing into it fullest. Once the jutsu was complete, Ruka opened her eyes and gave Zetsu a cold stare as she asked, "Where. . .am I?" 

"You're in the Akatsuki hideout. We just saved your life." Zetsu explains to the Willow Maiden. 

"What? . . . Saved me? . . " It looked like Ruka was in a gloomy state, but since she has just been reborn, her mind is slowly processing. "I do not understand. . . Where is Naruto and Sasuke, and Kakashi, and Sakura?. . ." 

"She knows the 9 tailed Jinchuriki. And Itachi's little brother along with the Copycat Ninja." Zetsu whispers amongst himself.

'Jinchuriki?' Ruka thought, having no idea what it is. 

"Listen, kid. You withered and the Leaf Shinobi threw a funeral for you. We took a shine to you and thought it would be best to revive you. You're a bit young for death, don't you think?" 

'That is right. . . I defeated Doto and then. . . I felt became weakened by the cold. I was dead. . .' Ruka thinks to herself before looking up at Zetsu. "If I may ask. . . Why did you bring me here? what is The Akatsuki?. . ." 

"Well, we thought it would be better to bring you here because it was safer. We may not know you all that well, but we would like to get to know you. But we can't tell you about the organization. We need to discuss that with the Leader. For now, we can wait until everyone shows up. I'll send word to the Leader that you are here. Let's show you around, kid." 

"Okay." Ruka nods her head and steps forward to Zetsu, stepping out of her flowerbed. Zetsu showed Ruka around the hideout and told her about himself, that he too is a plant. 

"By the way, my name is Zetsu. What's yours?" 

"It is Ruka. . . Ruka of the Willow Forest." 

"Willow Forest? Yeah, we heard rumors about you. Some weren't kidding when they said you are an attractive girl. We also heard you are a powerful maiden that once resided in the Willow Forest and contains Wood Style Jutsu's." 

'Rumors about me are still spreading? . . .' Ruka stares off into space while she thinks this, also thinking back to the time she was kidnapped and Naruto and Sasuke saved her. 'I do not think I am safe no matter where I go.'

"Are you okay, Ruka? You look tense." Zetsu notices her facial expression had grown dark.

"It is nothing." 

"That reminds me. I want to show you something. We think it will make you feel more at ease and more at home. Follow us." Zetsu takes Ruka to the back of the hideout and goes outside where there is a garden of Cherry Blossoms. 

Seeing this made Ruka's eyes soften. It is her first time seeing something so beautiful in ages. Ruka has never seen anything like this. "What is this called, Zetsu?" 

"They are called Cherry Blossoms. What do you think?" 

"It is very beautiful. . . I feel more at ease. Thank you for showing me this, Zetsu." Ruka looks at the fellow plant and smiles at him. 

"They're here. We should head back inside. Right. Come on, Ruka. The others have returned." Zetsu and Ruka head back inside when the other Akatsuki members have returned from the missions, including Pein and Konan. 

"What have you summoned us here for, Zetsu?" Pein questions the Akatsuki Spy. 

"We would like to introduce you to someone special. The Willow Maiden, Ruka of the Willow Forest." Zetsu looks at Ruka who stands beside him. 

The hideout becomes silent when they hear the name. They know a lot about Ruka because of the rumors. They know how powerful she is because of the incidents in the Hidden Grass Village. 

"This is the Willow Maiden?" Pein questions Ruka's appearance. 

"We found her in the Leaf Village when everyone assumed she was dead. Hearing her stories, it sounds like the poor girl was in a lot of trouble recently." 

"Are you considering on letting this girl into the Akatsuki? Hn." Deidara questions. "Why would you even bring her here?" 

"She's young and she's been through a lot. I felt sorry for her." Zetsu answers. 

"With the rumors going around, she is someone not to mess with." Itachi adds. 

"She is strong and is constantly underestimated because of her appearance. The girl just died. It would be wrong to abandon her. Just look at her. . .she looks lost." Konan defends for Ruka, already taking a shine to her. "Pein, she could be useful to us." 

Pein takes a moment and thinks while he eyes the Willow Maiden from head to toe. Now that she has been revived, she wears her old clothes once more; a white gown and barefooted. However, she is no longer wearing her thorn crown and her hair is a bit darker, almost black. 

'This is the girl that everyone wants for personal reasons, yet she seems fragile. There is no telling what she could do if she were to snap. Story tells that  Willow Maiden uses Wood Style for emergencies whenever they are feeling panicked or at a rage state. She is unstable. . .' Pein thought as Ruka stares off into space, not caring about what is going on right now. 

"I miss home. . ." Ruka spoke out loud, when really she thought she said this in her head. 

"Home?" Sasori repeated. 

"You can't go home, Ruka. People are still after you." Pein makes his way over to her. "If you were to leave, there is no telling what could happen. The rumors about you are true and are spreading throughout the nation. Your best option is to be protected by the Akatsuki. But, you will have to work alongside us." 

"Okay." Ruka is quick to answer without giving it a second thought. She thought to herself, if the rumors keep spreading, she won't consider herself in a safe environment. But, she never was. in her thoughts. "I will join the Akatsuki. . ." 

"Very well. Welcome to the Akatsuki, Ruka of the Willow Forest." 

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