Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

It was evening, the sun was setting. Naruto looked down on the ground, his heart feeling empty. It's as if his dream was gone…

He knew that there was no more chance to become Hokage.

I never go back on my words! That's my ninja way!

But for once Naruto had to give up a dream he had since his childhood. He closed his face with his hands, feeling twisted inside.

Just then, Naruto felt footsteps approaching, and the person just sat next to him on the bench.

"What are you sulking about?" Tsuyu asked calmly.

"Tsu-chan…" Naruto was surprised that Tsuyu was willing to talk to him at this time. He thought she wouldn't care.

"You know why, Tsu-chan…"

"... I thought you were better than this. Haven't you grown up enough?"

"It's my dream…"

"Give it up then."

"I…"

"I won't bother to talk to you, if not for your behaviour affecting Hinata and your own kids. Even if you want to cry like a baby, at least pretend to be a responsible father and husband to your wife." Tsuyu said coldly.

"... I know… I am… sorry…"

"Don't be sorry. Be better."

"..."

The sound birds accompanied the atmosphere.

"Did you think stopping me was right, back then."

Naruto recalled the past. Everything really that Tsuyu had been.

"Yea… maybe I was stupid to leave Konoha… but, I never regretted trying to stop you. I never wanted you to…" Naruto didn't finish the last words, about her becoming some monster or something.

Tsuyu looked up at the sky.

"You become Hokage when people acknowledge you, not the opposite."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly hearing it, but then his eyes drooped down.

"I know."

"I admit I was the same as Pain back then. Unintentionally really."

Naruto turned to look at Tsuyu.

"But ultimately I represented Konoha. The one ruling was Konoha. The one who's strong, safe and in control was Konoha. Not any other forces. Not Akatsuki. Not other hidden villages. That was why, I was acknowledged, despite how you might think, nii-san."

Naruto bit his lips. He understood the bitter truth.

His heart felt like it was wavering.

"You went against me, meaning you went against the village and chose a foreign force to take me down. I brought nothing but benefit and power for Konoha. But you wanted to free the world from me. It was commendable, really. But it means you choose the world over our village. That was your mistake."

"..."

"Do you regret it?"

"No… I… don't want the world to live like that… Tsu-chan." Naruto's voice was shaken.

"A Hokage had to place Konoha above everything else. Even if you cared for me, that you cannot see me turning into a monster - that feeling should be lower than having Konoha prosper. A Hokage represents Konoha, not the whole world."

"That's… selfish." Naruto felt his heart being questioned. The truth and reality about what Hokage really means made his hurt hurt.

"It is. That's how the world is. People had always acted selfish, an inherent human nature, even if it was the root of problems, flaws and less than ideal situations."

"You are willing to sacrifice yourself for Konoha. But you aren't willing to sacrifice the world for Konoha. Like I had done… I represented the Will of Fire, to burn for the Leaf to bloom. Though I burn the others… no matter what kind of monster you think I have become."

Naruto felt his body trembling being reminded of it again.

He looked at Tsuyu, as if trying to find any sign of Tsuyu regretting or wanting to choose other ways. But he couldn't.

"That was not Will of Fire… that's… it's…" Naruto felt his eyes teary, as if the illusions he had were breaking apart.

"It had always been about protecting Konoha. What part of it includes the world, me or other hidden villages, nii-san?"

Naruto felt his heart breaking. Because he couldn't refute.

"..." Seeing Naruto was silent, Tsuyu stood.

"Reconsider it."

Tsuyu just left, leaving Naruto to his own thoughts after being thrown into the cruel reality of the system.

"If that's… what Hokage is… I don't want it…" Naruto muttered, his heart breaking as he said such things to himself.

He stood up weakly, walking into Konoha's Temple, and headed into Kurama's place of living.

"Hm?" Kurama opened his eyes. He was really lonely inside. Seeing Naruto like this made him feel a little weirded out. But then he remembered it must have been about the new Hokage.

"Why, feeling so down you had to come to me?" Kurama teased.

"... I don't know… Kurama." Naruto sat down on the floor in defeat.

"You know… back then… I had always wanted people to see me… people avoided me because I carried you…"

"... But really… over time, I don't care much about that anymore. I guess. I just… want things to go my own way…no one thinks I did anything right. Maybe only Ero-sennin did…. Of course I would never become Hokage…"

"... This doesn't sound like you at all. Why are you giving up." Kurama felt Naruto was really out of it this time.

"No… I just… realised being Hokage wasn't all that good. What Tsu-chan did was what Hokage would do… for Konoha… and everyone here, most of them supported her. Because Konoha benefitted… haha... I just… it's fucked up… all of it. Hahaha…"

"..." Kurama felt a little scared seeing Naruto like this, sitting on the floor laughing in despair.

Naruto suddenly shed tears. It's as if he couldn't handle such a break to his core belief. A disillusionment.

"Hmph…" Kurama huffed and turned into a wave of chakra and went right back into Naruto.

"Kurama…?"

"Hmph. I am bored so I am staying with you."

"Okay… thanks…?" 

Naruto stood up, wiping his eyes with his sleeves.

He wanted to find a new direction. What he wanted, for what reason, the how.

For his ideals, for what a Hokage had stood for in his view and heart.

That even if the reality of Hokage was ugly, he wanted to chase the 'Hokage' in spirit, of what he wanted it to be.

As he sulked for a few days, he regained clarity in his eyes, now containing vicissitudes.

Hinata felt happy that everything returned to normal recently, that Naruto had been attentive to all of them again.

But during dinner, suddenly Naruto said something that made everyone stunned in silence.

"I am going to travel for a bit… I just need some time… to sort things out."

Naruto held Hinata's hand, patted Boruto's and Himawari's head.

"I would come back often… I promise… I really… I just need to go out for a little…"

"... Naruto…. I understand." Hinata nodded. She felt a little sad, but Naruto needed his time.

Boruto clenched his fist, feeling frustrated. But ultimately didn't say anything. He thought it wouldn't be too long. 

"Dad… don't go away…" Himawari wanted to cry.

"Hey… it's alright. It's just like when I was doing missions outside. It won't be too long… I will send letters. Promise."

"Mm. Okay." Himawari reluctantly agreed.

Naruto set out to travel, trying to find a new direction in his life. His dream was shattered, leaving a hole in his heart.

Tsuyu watched from the shadows. He had wanted to stop him really. He didn't even need to have any ambition.

You already have your family here. What is your stupid head thinking…

Tsuyu sighed in frustration. Why did she even care? Perhaps she was just frustrated seeing a moron doing a moronic thing, even if it was a stranger even she would feel despised. It seemed he really followed his late teacher's steps. Don't tell me he would pick up orphans to teach later.

Weeks passed, Hinata only received letters. Hoping Hinata and the kids were doing fine.

Hinata replied kindly, hoping it reached Naruto before he left wherever he stayed at the moment.

But even if Hinata had her patience, she felt hurt inside.

Don't you care about me… Boruto, and Himawari…

It hurts that Naruto left home. That his presence was gone.

Naruto had a preassumption that Hinata had their children, and the children had Hinata. That Hinata was able to love them more than he could at the moment he was trying to figure out his own life.

Naruto hasn't had any parents since he was a kid. Tsuyu was there, but she lacked warmth. Hinata was a loving person. He's sure Boruto and Himawari would be fine because that's more than even Naruto could ask for.

But he didn't know Boruto only resented him more.

Hinata can only kindly remind him to return home.

After 3 months, Naruto finally returned home. His eyes contained traces of vicissitudes. He had seen the places once torn from war 11 years ago, from the 5th Shinobi War. Saw the places still trying to recover. The orphans scattered, losing their parents early on…

He visited Kumogakure too, where the Hidden Shinobi village was rebuilt. Killer B was kind enough to let him in to look around. It seemed Gyuki too stayed inside of B much like Kurama now. He had a talk with B, and he figured Kumo too was trying to move forward. The people there were just like Konoha, all moving on with peace, trying to forget the pain of wars, the new generations, much like Boruto and Kouga didn't know the history. But the sign of black earth and crater from Tsuyu's Spiralling Abyss were still visible at the edge of the village. A reminder the village was once wiped out.

"Naruto… welcome home." Hinata smiled, glad that he's finally back. She had tears in her eyes, from missing him too much.

"Hey. It's nice to be home again." Naruto smiled, holding Hinata's hand.

"Where's Boruto?"

"He's in his room… let me call him."

"Boruto! Dad is here!"

The door opened. Contrary to Naruto's expectation, Boruto had an ugly expression on his face. But he didn't say a word. Not just yet.

Himawari on the other hand was excited.

"Dad! I miss you so much…" 

"Haha… I miss you guys too… look what I got!" Naruto gave a little wooden toy, clearly hand made.

"Got it from a small village… a kind old man made them."

"Oh. It's a pretty rabbit!" Himawari took it happily.

The family had dinner together. But Boruto seemed to be in a bad mood.

"What did you do out there, dad?"

"... Well… travelled around. See new places. Meet new people I guess." 

He also met the Akatsuki group he had led once after Nagato's defection from Obito. Only 3 were left, the others scattered. Peace time has already arrived. And perhaps it would be long lasting as long as Naruto, Sasuke and most of all Tsuyu still exist. Though small conflicts still happen.

Naruto understood this. That perhaps there would be no more war and conflict, and that it's because of fear. And perhaps Tsuyu and her ROOT had been destroying any small little conflict that happened behind their backs.

The months made him have to accept the bitter truth. 

But he still didn't know how to move forward. What does he do with his life? Hokage… it became a distant idea.

Boruto's expression turned from hurt to sad. "We all are waiting for you…"

"Sorry, Boruto, Himawari, Hinata…"

"Nn. It's fine…" Hinata held Naruto's hand. Despite everything, she wanted to be there with Naruto.

***

At Ichiraku, Naruto sat next to Iruka sensei. His old academy teacher.

"You are still teaching Iruka-sensei?"

"Haha. Yup. I am."

"Haha. You are a good teacher-ttebayo! I wonder if there's anyone as troublesome as me in your class now?"

"Nah. You are the most troublesome…"

"Hm…?" Iruka noticed Naruto's emptied expression. He could figure it out really. He patted Naruto's back, trying to comfort him.

"Hey…"

"Sorry… sensei… I failed. I… can't become Hokage. It was all nonsense. I can't be one. And I was never suited for it…" Naruto said with heartbreak, slurping his ramen.

"H-hey. It's not nonsense." Iruka felt shocked that the words came from Naruto's own mouth.

"I don't know what to do anymore… Iruka-sensei…. It's like I am just lost."

"Naruto…" Iruka felt sad seeing Naruto like this. Like a lost lamb.

"How about… try to be a teacher? Or become a squad leader."

"Huh?"

"Maybe your dream dies off. But to pass on your will, keep it going before it is completely extinguished, that too, was a part of Will of Fire."

"Pass my will… like… like Ero-sennin… to me…" 

"Hm. Yes you can say that."

Naruto's eyes brightened a little. "That sounds awesome-ttebayo. I will give it a try."

"Haha. Good. I will ask Sasuke to give you a place. I am the principal now, ya know."

"Woah. You had a promotion. Haha…"

"Don't lose hope. Even if an old dream dies, a new dream can live."

"I understand, thank you, Iruka sensei."

Seeing Iruka's back, Naruto felt he had found a new goal. That he wanted to keep going, with what the belief of a Hokage, the world, should have been. Sure reality sucks, but he wanted to keep hoping.

In a few days, Naruto found himself in a class full of new students.

"Yo! I am Uzumaki Naruto! I will be your new class teacher from onward! Looking forward to teaching you guys-ttebayo!" Naruto gave a sunny smile. Some girls and a boy swooned over him.

"So, well, for starters. Tell me why you wanted to become a shinobi! From my left, come on, let me hear them." 

A young boy of 9 years old stood. Look spirited when he's asked about the reason.

"My dad and mom were both shinobi. When I heard of their stories, I wanted to protect Konoha like them too!"

Naruto nodded, asking for the next.

After all had answered, with different and similar reasons, one of them actually raised their hand. The girl with the ponytail asked Naruto coquettishly.

"Naruto sensei! Then why did you become a shinobi?"

"Huh? Me?" Naruto had a soft look in his eyes, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Honestly… it was because… I thought being a Shinobi was cool-ttebayo. I guess many here might feel the same secretly. Do jutsu and all."

Some nodded, understanding. Most of them really felt that way.

"But being a Shinobi wasn't just about being able to do cool jutsu, or fighting. It was to… keep going, even if it is hard. My dream was for everyone to come together, to understand each other."

"Not just in Konoha really. But even people from other hidden villages too."

The class went silent, looking at each other. Not sure what to say.

"No…it's not possible." One of them suddenly muttered. The older boy looking boy seemed bitter.

"My parents died in the 4th Shinobi War… why would I be nice to them."

"... I am not saying you should. But, it's to believe we could… even if it's not now… in the future, we don't have to keep the pain, the grudges anymore. If it's not us, our children would be able to."

The boy just went silent, refusing to look at Naruto.

"Um. Okay class, let's get to our first topic! So…" Naruto read the textbook, he himself was confused…

***

Tsuyu in her office in the dark read the report ROOT operative.

A new wave of brainwashing. Great…

Tsuyu just sighed. She wondered what Sasuke was thinking. It's like giving him a platform to delude himself. But she guessed it would be good therapy for him to move on from his silly Hokage dream.

She sat up straight and placed the Queen piece to checkmate the King.

Peace had come. With time whatever Naruto wanted would naturally fall into places. He didn't need to blabber his self righteous delusions. People inherently hate conflict and prefer benefit. Sasuke and Tsuyu had been doing what they could to create permanent peace from temporary one. While at the time fear kept everything on a leash, with annual exchanges, student exchange programmes, frequent visits, cultural exchanges even in media, and most important of all - time for previous blood to be washed away they are trying to move forward.

Shikamaru as Sasuke's assistant was already there to give advice, and Shikamaru adopted Tsuyu's policy back when she was in reign and he's smart enough to make it up on his own.

Tsuyu placed down the report and picked another. It was a report from Orochimaru on the other Karma vessels Tsuyu created over the months.

She wanted to turn her half-otsutsuki son into a true Otsutsuki. There were clones of Kouga cultivated here and there, and Tsuyu's Karma was planted on them with Orochimaru helping the research. 

Most of them died. And that's a problem.

But there was a curious question she pondered. If she planted her son with her own genes, wouldn't she, Kaguya and Kouga be somewhat like clones…

She shook her head, throwing the question away. It was too weird to think about. 

She discovered Kaguya could activate her Karma to access Tsuyu's own battle experience as well. It was a happy little accident. Kaguya basically could fight like Tsuyu once she used her Karma to access them. Kaguya could be considered a second Tsuyu in ability.

Knowing this, Tsuyu definitely had the priority of giving Karma to Kouga. She wanted Kouga to find his own path, but experience was experience, he could integrate them with his own understanding and preference.

But even then, in Kaguya's opinion they were still far from thousands of years of battle experience the real Otsutsuki warriors had.

Tsuyu understood this too and would never look down on Otsutsuki's.

We need more strength…

***