Good here is the next chapter. I've been kind of stuck with my stories. I'm a bit burned out of late...sigh. Anyway sorry for the late posting. Here you go!

(I don't own any part of Naruto)

A grip of coiled steel

"Nyu." ..."Nyu?" Naruto looked confusedly at the girl. He thought out loud, "Did she just say what I thought she said?" Kakashi nodded, "You're not going crazy Naruto. She just said "Nyu"...twice." There followed a stretch of silence in which the girl blinked several times. Her large expressive eyes registered only a puppy like look. She smiled, "Nyu!" Before anyone could intervene, she threw her arms around Naruto and hugged him. She had closed her eyes and was humming. Naruto smiled despite himself. He said, "Um...whoever you are...stop hugging me."

The girl did not stop hugging him. Naruto only just then registered the feeling of an attractive female pressing herself against him. A crimson blush spread over his cheeks and his whisker marks darkened slightly. He said again, using his Hokage voice, "Let go now." The girl didn't let go. Hanna remarked, "I don't think she understands you." Naruto tried to disengage the arms by himself. However her arms stayed firmly in place around his neck. Slightly unnerved by this...affectionate...reaction, Naruto tried to stand up. The girls arm's finally released him.

She stayed there sitting against the tree, looking up at them. She asked, "Nyu?" Hanna and Kakashi exchanged looks. The girl stood up, wobbling a bit. Naruto caught her by reflex to help steady her. She latched onto his arm saying, "Nyu...nyu...nyu!" Naruto turned to Kakashi. He asked, "Uh what do we do with her?"

As it was, he ended up carrying her on his back since she was too unsteady to walk on her own. She was still suffering from the effects of a mild concussion. For the time being they were heading back to the village at a normal pace. The girl had objected loudly to a faster pace. And since her arms were wrapped around his neck, Naruto felt obliged to comply. The truly puzzling part, for Naruto at least, was her words. All she would say was "nyu". In many different tones. She seemed perfectly incapable of doing any damage at all. Except perhaps throwing a tantrum when they walked too fast.

After an hour of walking the Village gate came into view. The past hour had been spent...unproductively. That is, asking the girl questions that were either ignored or given the customary answer..."Nyu". Hanna and Kakashi had both tried various tricks to test the girl's understanding. Despite all their efforts to unmask the girl as a fraud, she seemed to be a girl. A very strange girl, but nothing more than that.

Civilians and Shinobi alike, Stared as the Hokage strode by with a girl on his back. She had a great mass of tangled pink hair and wore only a light shift. Her head rested on his shoulder as he carried her through the village. Naruto felt a strange feeling. Something like fondness...or the memory of fondness. He couldn't explain it but he had an overwhelming desire to...like this girl. Like he was drawn to her by something. As he walked he thought of what to call her. She obviously wasn't planning on...well...staying away from him. It was like she had instantly decided to glue herself to him. He needed something that she responded to or things would get uncomfortable. Naruto thought about what Sakura would say if she saw. "She would probably try to put me through a wall. Honestly, ever since Sasuke disappeared again she's been weird." A wet feeling crept down Naruto's neck. He stopped only a block away from the Hokage's tower. He couldn't see what the girl...he was starting to think of her as Nyu. It was the only think she ever said so it seemed like a decent thing to call her. Naruto realized that she was licking and or kissing the back of his neck. Then she nibbled his ear. She said, "Nyu..." His feet picked up where they left off. He didn't think that talking to Tsunade would do anything to change things, but she was strong enough to pry the girl off him.

Once they were in Tsunade's office they came to the conclusion that things weren't that simple...

They explained that Naruto had tracked the scent down, only to crash into the girl on the path. And that after waking up she attached herself to him and refused to let go. After that Tsunade had attempted to remove...Nyu from Naruto's back. She walked up, a frown already deep set into her face. She looked at Nyu. She commanded, "I command you to let go of Naruto!" Nyu didn't move. She didn't respond at all. What she did do was nibble his ear again, sending a shiver down is spine. He said, "Sorry granny, but the Hokage voice doesn't work on her. I already tried that." Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest, "Is that so...Girl... I ORDERED YOU TO MOVE NOW!"

Nyu closed her eyes and released Naruto's neck to put her small hands over her ears. Naruto for his part was used to the shouting. But he said, "Nice going granny...you hurt her ears. She probably won't even be able to tell what you're saying for ten minutes." Tsunade took the opportunity and grabbed the girl by the waist, attempting to pull her off. Nyu threw her arms around his chest, under his arms. Her fingers laced together over his chest. She buried her head in the crook of his neck.

After twenty minutes of vainly trying to get her to let go using every method available besides torture, they gave up. Nyu was not moving. But she did look pained after the ordeal of resisting Tsunade, Shizune, and Hanna. She seemed tired too. Naruto sat on the edge of his chair so he didn't crush her against the back. Nyu's head rested on his shoulder and her eyes were closed, but her arms remained like a steel vise around him. Naruto said to Tsunade, "I think we should just call her Nyu...since it's like the only thing she says." Hanna nodded, "Good as any other name, but she might not respond to it. And as far as we know she's just acting."

Kakashi shrugged from where he leaned on the window. He said, "I don't know anyone who could pull off that act for more than two hours...not mentioning the fact that she hasn't let go of Naruto for half that." Tsunade asked, "Can we confirm that she is the killer we were looking for?" From her place next to Naruto, Hanna said, "There is no one else she could be. She smells the same, was in the same area, and fits the only eyewitness report...vague as it was." Not to mention that she smells faintly of blood and is physically strong enough to hold on to Naruto even while you're trying to get her off. I'm not sure you could pull her off without hurting Naruto in the process."

Naruto could smell the blood too. With his senses enhanced by Kurama's chakra he could smell almost as good as Hanna, but far more pungent than blood, the smell of...disinfectant hung about her. The smell was very old, but it was clear she had been in a hospital of some sort. But besides that she smelled very nice. Naruto felt her arms around him loosen and her legs as well. Her breathing slowed too. He said, "Um guys...she just fell asleep." Shizune spoke up, "I just can't believe that she killed all those people. She looks so innocent and harmless. I mean look at that face." Naruto couldn't see her face, but he saw the glare on Tsunade's soften.

The Fifth Hokage said, "Naruto ease her off and we can take her down to be properly questioned." He nodded slowly and gently pulled her arm from around his neck. He stopped...an itch invaded his nose. It was creeping up on him. Naruto tried to hold his breath but it didn't help. He breathed out and then his whole body twitched. He sneezed explosively.

Nyu's arms tightened but she didn't open her eyes. Naruto felt her nuzzle him from behind. Goosebumps broke out on his skin. He said, "Her arms turned back into steel coils...sorry..." Tsunade sighed, "I guess fate didn't want us to know anything. Naruto take her back to your house and keep a close eye on her. I think that you shouldn't have any problems even if this is an act. Your strong enough to take just about anyone on. If anything happens alert me." Naruto nodded, "I will, don't worry."

Naruto stood up and adjusted his load. He sighed and then disappeared in a flash of yellow light.

They both appeared by the bed in Naruto's home. The house had been specially built for him after he "saved the world". He sighed as well and sat on the bed. He said to himself, "Now what am I going to do now?" He thought about asking Kurama for advice but decided against it. Instead he turned his head and said, "Hey, wake up Nyu." Out of the corner of his eye he saw her eyes open. He said, "Good your awake. I'm going to be calling you Nyu from now on ok. So the first thing I need you to do it let go of me." Nyu looked at him without understanding.

Naruto thought, This is getting me nowhere fast. How do I get her off. I can't do a lot of stuff if she's clinging to me like this. Let's see...what could I do to get her off. I could probably pull her off if I used Kurama's chakra, but I don't want to hurt her. She's refused to let go of me this whole time so maybe she likes me. I guess that's kind of obvious though. She wouldn't have attached herself to me if she didn't. ...Well...here goes nothing.

He pulled her head forward with his hand and turned his head to kiss her.

His lips pressed to her's and her arms fell away. Naruto pulled out of her grasp and turned around to sit in front of her on the bed. Her eyes were wide, her lips still parted slightly. A tear formed in her eye and trailed down her cheek. Naruto saw her eyes change. They seemed to grow sadder and hurt. Her happy disposition changing to misery. Nyu let out a cry and lunged forward.

She buried her face in his shirt. Naruto felt tears soaking into the fabric. It seemed that he had broken much more than her grip with the kiss. He let her cry. It seemed to go on for hours. She would almost stop and then it would start again. Naruto felt like he should say something but he didn't know what. He put a hand on the top of her head. Her sobbing stopped and she looked up at him. She said, "I'm so sorry Naruto..."

Hope you like this chapter...remember to review please...

Damn...I'm dog tired...