Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Tsuyu sat with Hinata, sipping gourmet coffee in her home. Akamaru was napping on a free chair next to them.

"You prefer tea?"

Hinata smiled softly.

"I do. But the coffee you serve is really…it tastes expensive? I am fond of it too." Hinata tried to form her words.

"Indeed. You could say it's what Daimyo drinks." Tsuyu chuckled.

"... Sigh." Tsuyu looked at Hinata, wondering if it's even right to involve Hinata. Or perhaps she knew, after all, Hinata had been with Naruto during the time she was sealed for years.

"Tsuyu, what's the matter?"

"... After I was sealed, you must have seen how Naruto was, correct?" Tsuyu looked at Hinata calmly, her eyes reading her expression sharply.

Hinata looked downward, feeling the topic was too heavy to talk about. But she gather her time and space to talk.

"Yes… Naruto… he had a hard time back then. He always looked up to the moon, just staring at… you, I guess…"

"People saw him change for a while… maybe, a few months… or a whole year… he barely went out…"

Hinata's eyes were filled with pain, remembering how Naruto was at his lowest.

"But many helped him through it. Sasuke and Sakura often visit him, force him out of his house… he told me once… that the house… feel empty without you…after you left."

Tsuyu nodded. Their house was quite big given she was quite well off. 

"I tried to reach out to him too… Everyone tried. And, he did seem better really. And then… well… that person from the Moon came and things happened. But, me and Naruto… end up together. He let me be with him, and started to open up."

"Well, we lived together for a few months… ehem… before we get married later." 

Hinata blushed slightly, wondering if Tsuyu would judge her. She remembered Hiashi was really mad at her for making such a decision. An unmarried woman staying with an unmarried man, alone, in a big house, that really caused sensations. She was of the Princess of Hyuga clan after all so for her to do that seemed unlady-like. 

Tsuyu huffed in amusement.

"You did well. Your presence must have helped him a lot. You love him a lot huh…"

Hinata nodded.

"I was really happy… then we got married 2 years later…" Hinata had a soft smile on her lips.

"Was he really holding up in your view?"

Hinata frowned slightly at the question. 

"I… think so… he still looks up at the moon at times… you are his little sister after all… but he seemed to have let go… Well, until you appear suddenly with Kouga… we are happy you are alive and for me you being with Kiba and having a child was more shocking really." Hinata chuckled softly.

Tsuyu was thinking deeply.

Was it because I was alive all along that he couldn't heal properly?

It was easier to move forward due to death because you had to accept reality; it's truly over and there's nothing to be done. 

Tsuyu shook her thoughts. Recalling Minato's and Kushina's words, and Naruto's words back then, she arrived at the conclusion that it was about his loss and failures.

A failure… 

She failed too… really. Though her 'death' ended them. At that point, she had done her best and was no longer involved… After she 'lived' again, she thought they were all happy all these years. That they all have moved on.

But Naruto was enduring silently, instead of letting go. A Shinobi endured, that was what we all were taught. He's too stubborn…

Now that she thought about it, Naruto never had once said he hated her. She herself never hated Naruto for killing her.

But she let go, accepting their fate as it was. Naruto didn't, not truly like she had done. Otherwise he wouldn't break down like he did before.

Hinata doesn't seem to be aware. Or rather, if she had to assume, Naruto wouldn't want to trouble her and had kept it all inside. Naruto often reached out to others, but never asked for anyone to reach out to him.

"Hinata, had he been cold at times… you might believe his words saying he was tired or something."

Hinata seemed surprised. "There were… at times… what's the matter?" Hinata seemed anxious, as if she caught on to something behind them.

"He wasn't fine, Hinata."

"What… but… he… we were all happy…" Hinata frowned, and her heart beat accelerated slightly.

"I thought that too… it's a timebomb, Hinata." Tsuyu said calmly. 

She wondered if her decision to reconnect with him like they used to be the past 10 years backfired on him. She thought she was no longer blatantly acting like some 'monster' in front of him, no longer some god acting like a tyrant openly. That in Naruto's cognition and her cognition they were back to normal, with nothing to make them fight again.

And her judgement was correct, thus the 10 years of peace they had, their families interacting with one another.

But what if that was a mistake… that, it made it more difficult to truly move on in some ways? But what was the correlation? Was it better for Naruto to just hate her and cut her off completely?

"Do you… want to see… what he hides from you?" Tsuyu said carefully. Maybe it was considered as dumping the problem. But, Hinata was someone who loved Naruto deeply, and had been with him through his lowest times. Hinata was the next person that could help him. She needed to know.

Hinata held Tsuyu's hand. Her eyes were shaking, but firm.

"Please, show me."

The slit on Tsuyu's forehead opened. Tsukuyomi!

The conversation she and Tsunade had. Then, the conversation between Naruto and Tsuyu. Seeing Naruto break down, her heart bled for him.

"Naruto… I… I didn't know…" Hinata sobbed silently seeing his husband in pain. That he had endured silently, keeping up the image he was happy inside.

"I hope you can help him, Hinata…"

"I will… definitely." Hinata looked determined, even if her hands were shaky on Tsuyu's own.

"But remember, don't force it. Just be there for him, like you always did. When he went cold, just let him know you were always there. I don't know if he could truly move on. He lost many things. I don't know the core reasons. I can only list out things theoretically. He had many failures. He was never able to convince me, never able to seek peace with the way he wanted, the war ended in a way he hated with my own cruel methods, and failed to save me… twice. I killed his sensei, and he killed me. He failed himself. Lost his dream. I can only make assumptions, but when I list it out, he went through a lot… perhaps all of them were never resolved."

Hinata shed tears, hearing the pain Naruto went through listed out in order. Each of the happenings seemed separate and distant, but it had always been marinating together. To a singular conclusion that Naruto was a total failure.

"It was a mess, a lot to entangle. I cannot sit down with him and help him. He has to do it himself. It's up to him to move forward." Tsuyu looked down for a second.

"I can only try to be there when I can. But I would never change for him, I already had my peace. I am willing to do what I can for him. But I couldn't sacrifice my peace for him. I couldn't bear all of his burden… only part of it."

Tsuyu's words were solemn.

"Tsuyu… it's alright… I will bear his burden for him. I am his wife, I love him more than anything in this world. His happiness is my happiness… I couldn't feel at peace if he wasn't…"

Hinata shed tears, holding onto Tsuyu's hand for support.

"Thank you Hinata… I am glad you are there for him."

"Mm. Thank you for telling me. Otherwise I would never have known he hid them. In my view, you have done a lot for him Tsuyu…"

Tsuyu nodded.

"The next thing was, my children will stay away from Naruto from now on."

"Why?" Hinata had her eyes widened.

"I couldn't let him affect them. He meant well, showing his concern for them I suppose. But it meant he never trusted me to raise my own children. It would be a lie to say I can just ignore this fact. It's unfortunate, but there's no other way. I hope you understand my decision, Hinata."

"... I… I understand…"

"Do you mind if I explain it to Boruto? I noticed he felt… abandoned by his own father. He deserved to know, he is Naruto's son, he needed to understand him. He is a smart child. We shouldn't underestimate their intelligence."

"I… I am not sure… this is an adult's problem…"

Tsuyu shook her head. "He is affected. At least if he knew, he could come to accept the circumstances."

"Then… I will tell him…" Hinata muttered.

"No. It's better if it's me. I was one of the sources of Naruto's pain. I can show him in real time, not in words… but experience."

"Tsuyu…"

"Leave this part to me, Hinata…" Tsuyu held Hinata's hand. Hinata can only nod.

***

Boruto was training alone at training 3 after class was over. He wanted to surpass Kouga. But a part of him felt it's impossible. And Naruto didn't care to train him seriously either. Sure he did a few times but… he never had his full attention.

Just then, a portal appeared behind Boruto. He wasn't aware of it at all. 

"Boruto." Tsuyu said calmly.

"WA!?" Boruto was so shocked he almost threw his kunai at her. 

"Aunty…?! You scared me-ttebasa!"

"Mm. Sorry for the surprise."

"Why are you here? You watched me train?" There was a hint of excitement in his voice for some reason, as if he immediately went to the idea that Tsuyu may want to take him as her disciple.

"You had high potential. But I just want to talk to you about your father. Let's have a seat."

Tsuyu walked calmly to a nearby tree stump. Boruto looked confused, but still listened and sat down.

"I am sure you had dissatisfaction over your father." Tsuyu looked at Boruto, analysing his expression.

Boruto pouted, his eyebrows furrowed. She hit the correct spot.

"He always gives attention to other people. He never trained me seriously."

"Then aunty… um… I heard you train Kouga hard…" Since Boruto divert the conversation, Tsuyu decided to answer him first.

"Well… I only gave as much as he could handle. If he wanted to stop, I let him…" Tsuyu chuckled suddenly.

"Did you know, when I trained Naruto back when we were young… Naruto had no option to quit or give up. I would force him to move forward, taunting him each time as motivation."

"What…" Boruto was surprised to hear Tsuyu's words.

"I wanted him to survive and live… especially when war was about to come back then. Both of us had no choice in the matter. We were both fated to be on the battlefield, as Konoha's jinchuriki… I don't want him to die… he is… my brother…"

Boruto looked at her aunt's expression, that gaze that told him his aunty wasn't a bad person at all.

"You know Kurama, Konoha's Guardian Beast or whatever they call him now? Back then, he was a hated monster. Everyone feared him. And everyone feared Naruto too… his childhood wasn't easy. And I was not exactly the best little sister. I still left him feeling lonely. You would understand later. I changed a little later, I suppose."

Boruto was digesting it, not saying a reply yet. After tens of seconds of silence, Tsuyu finally got to the main point.

"I wouldn't want Kouga and Mika to interact with Naruto anymore."

"Huh…? Aunty…" Boruto was stunned. Although he didn't like Kouga, he was still his cousin…

"I… I really wasn't mad at Kouga anymore. I promise…"

"No no. You get it wrong. It wasn't that really. It's… Naruto couldn't trust me with my own children. And I am afraid there's a potential problem coming with it. I don't want him to interfere with my family."

"Interfere with your family…?" Boruto frowned. It's too complex for him to understand.

"In short, your father thinks a part of me is a monster, a demon like the enemies had called me." Tsuyu just stated it frankly.

"What… but… but I think aunty wasn't bad at all. Why would dad think so…"

"Can I show you what he had seen and went through? I can simulate a genjutsu world, and you could see it from a third perspective… what we went through. You can understand your father better."

"I want to." Boruto immediately answered. His eyes were determined to know about his dad.

Tsuyu's Rinnesharingan opened.

Tsukuyomi!

***

Boruto opened his eyes. And what he saw was his dad walking along the street of Konoha, just a little kid.

"Woah. That's dad." Boruto exclaimed. Adult Tsuyu was standing next to Boruto, the two were like outsiders watching.

"The villagers once hated him… look."

"Unlucky thing! Get out!"

"I am not selling! Shoosh!" 

Boruto was shaken after seeing the scene.

"Why. Why are they treating dad like this!" Boruto felt angry seeing it.

"Because in his body, there were 9 tails, Kurama."

The scenes shifted into the scene of 9 tails attack. The roar of 9 tails caused Boruto to tremble in fear and almost fell down.

"What… the village…"

Boruto saw the village destroyed, and then there it was, little twin babies. The 9 tails split and sealed into the two.

"So… this is what happened… Dad… and aunt…" 

"Many died, and 9 tails is a dangerous monster in most people's eyes. That is why, Naruto is feared."

The scene shifted back to Naruto's childhood. Now it was a scene of Tsuyu, handling the groceries. Everyone treated her fairly nicely.

"Huh? Why are they treating you nicely aunty…"

"Because they never knew I carried the other half of 9 tails… Your father found out later as well… and, he was pissed off for sure. More on that later."

The scene turned into the part where Tsuyu was just reading her book as usual.

"Tsu-chan, come on, let's play together!"

"...Fine."

There were various scenes like this, Boruto was confused at first. But he realised something. His aunt was always half hearted about it. And his dad slowly distanced himself and stopped bothering her at some point.

"I had a different interest than him, and I wasn't aware he felt that lonely. It was my mistake in this part. He still ended up feeling lonely, even if I was there physically. I was more of a cold person back then. In a way your dad changed me a little. I can't be said to be nice. No, far from it. But I can say, I learned to love, even if it was irrational. But it was a part of normal human emotions, so it is rational in a way to feel. Removing human emotions in decisions was irrationality in itself since emotions were always a core motivation for any decision. Everyone wanted to achieve positive emotions, while preventing and removing negative ones." Tsuyu explained her own thoughts just to explain herself.

"Your dad was… an underachiever in the beginning, unlike you." The scenes showed when Sasuke mocked him, when he sucked badly at everything in the first few months.

Tsuyu's hard training helped him excel in taijutsu and fighting at least over the months and only then people acknowledge he's quite good. Though he still sucked badly at everything else.

"You are more like me, a 'genius' they called us." The scene of Tsuyu beating everyone easily played out. And the part where Naruto had a jealous expression over people surrounding her and her own strength and achievements.

"Tou-chan…" Naruto looked lonely, sitting at a corner while looking at Tsuyu being praised by many.

"He had it hard, didn't he." 

"Mm…" Boruto sounded sad now.

"But all this was trivial really. If you think this is hard, no, it's the easiest part of his life. I guess he already didn't mind at some point and accepted I am better than him in that aspect. And as for the 9 tails and unfair treatment, he accepted that too. And… really… Perhaps he was truly happy at this time… I too, started to see him properly… as his little sister over time."

"But, it was short lived. The worst part of his life began when war came."

The scene shifted on the battlefield. Tsuyu directly moved to the part where Naruto begged Tsuyu to not kill the civilians in Yukihana. Tsuyu did it anyway.

Tsuyu showed the scenes of the civilians being burned and bombed alive as they were held hostage, to make Boruto understand what Naruto stood for.

Boruto had tears in his eyes seeing what happened. That this was his aunt. 

The scene shifted to the scene where Tsuyu used 'chakra cattles', the groans of pain from the prisoner as she sucked them out of their chakra rung in the chamber.

Boruto closed his mouth with his hand, seeing the horror in front of him. Naruto confronted Tsuyu, the 9 tails chakra leaked out from him from his sheer anger. He asked why she was so cruel, and she replied coldly it was for 'peace'.

And then her terror with Flying Raijin - carrying a darker legacy from Minato. She gained the moniker Demon of Konoha. He saw people committing suicide after being touched, comrades killing each other, they screamed in fear and terror from her presence and her name.

"You father… cannot accept my methods… but if I had not done this, Konoha would have perished. The Land of Fire would have been dissolved."

Boruto was silent. His eyes were teary. The scenes shifted to the time when Jiraiya and Itachi used genjutsu on her. The violation of her will, the subsequent events skimmed fast until she decided to kill 100,000 with Spiralling Abyss.

Naruto and Jiraiya, Naruto's teacher, begged her to stop. But she did it anyway.

The scene of Kumogakure, with its people, families, civilians doing their business, children playing, all of them turned to dust from the power of the Abyss.

"It wasn't over yet. Your father had more things to hate me for…"

The scene shifted to the scene where Naruto stood in between Jiraiya and herself. That she was merciless, cold, and never cared. She slapped Naruto away like trash and crushed Jiraiya to bloody mush with her chakra arm in front of Naruto's eyes.

The blood of Jiraiya flowed as Naruto held his mushed corpse, his eyes tearing nonstop, yet his expression empty and broken.

"...Maybe this… is where I really hurt him beyond repair…" Tsuyu said solemnly. But she didn't regret it. She would do it again if she returned to this point.

The scene showed when peace arrived, but Naruto wasn't fine at all. He was depressed. He didn't eat unless Tsuyu forced him to. He never got out of his bed unless she made him. She had to call others into their home to get Naruto moving.

Tsuyu received the Sharingan Arm from Danzo. It was grotesque, ugly, and her eyes already changed into a Sharingan and Byakugan.

Even Boruto felt scared seeing her full form, and how Naruto too was secretly terrified of her.

"I looked like a monster wasn't I…"

Until months later Naruto just disappeared in Tsuyu's view.

That's when Tsuyu created the jutsu, 1000 Eyes of God, to search for him all over the world. 

"You dad… already thought of me as a monster. I was a tyrant once. Controlled the world with fear accidentally. I am a story book villain, aren't I? Now my image was even worse in his eyes."

Much time passed, and as time passed, Tsuyu found Naruto.

"Tsu-chan… please stop… Please, it's not too late… I don't want you to be a monster… just be Tsu-chan…" Naruto shed tears as he held his hand out to her.

But Tsuyu refused to change, even if her own tears showed Boruto his aunt had cared and loved for his dad. And she was killed in a trap, with a broken heart from having someone she cared for killing her just like that. Boruto bit his lips, his heart in pain for both of them.

Time moved forward, and Godbito happened, Kaguya appeared, and she was overtaken by a mysterious being and sealed by Naruto's own hand. This too, was a traumatizing memory for Naruto, seeing her being killed with his own again.

Fast forward, Tsuyu returned with baby Kouga and Kiba. In the scene, Naruto was happy with Hinata, and there was baby Boruto.

Tsuyu added the scene where Naruto failed to become Hokage, expectedly, but this also added to his trauma. A flashback scene appeared in Tsukuyomi, his loneliness in the beginning, his subsequent goal for acknowledgement. He told Kakashi, Iruka, Sasuke, Jiraiya, Tsunade, even Tsuyu he would definitely become Hokage, that it was his dream and he would never go back on his words. This dream was his entire reason to move forward in his childhood. Even when he grew up later, his dream remained a core personality of his.

But he failed miserably. And had to accept to give up. Someone like him who had the Ninja Way of never going back on his words, had to give up on his dream. This was a huge blow to him. He lost his purpose and direction and had to travel for months outside to rethink his life.

With the time skip, Boruto realised everything. His dad... How could he move on from all those fucked up things…

"I thought he was happy all these years. Until he showed too much care for my own children. I guess he still thinks I am a monster somewhere and couldn't trust me. Perhaps his inability to trust his own little sister too was a part of his pain. I can only guess. His mask cracked, and he… broke down for a second."

The conversation between Naruto and Tsuyu played in the Tsukuyomi.

And Naruto's mask shattered, revealing his deep wound that shook even Tsuyu.

"Tou-chan…" Boruto had tears in his eyes, realising how much pain his dad carried. He realised how ungrateful and childish he was. 

The Tsukuyomi ended finally.

"I hope you can be there for him… Boruto." Tsuyu said calmly, rubbing his head.

"I will… aunty…"

"I cannot let him interact with my children. But doesn't mean you and Kouga or Mika had to stay away from each other. It's just, I wouldn't want your dad to affect my family."

"I understand, aunty. I got it." Boruto nodded. Wiping his tears with his sleeves.

"Good. You are as smart as I expect." Tsuyu smiled slightly.

"Go on, to your dad. You must feel worried for him." 

Boruto nodded and ran off.

She sighed a breath of relief. She had set the pieces. Now Naruto had the conditions and people he loved to care for him.

I did what I could, nii-san. It would be up to you now.

Tsuyu let go of the reign now that she had set her pieces. She would still care, but this is the best she could do already. And she was at peace doing what she could without consuming herself. If Naruto couldn't move forward, it would be sad for her, certainly. But, there's nothing else to be done. Her life has to go on, for herself, her husband, her children.

***