Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Rinshinsho Hall

The hall was dimly lit with blue fire torches on the walls dimly lighting the whole area. 

Tap. Tap.

"Hnhnhn… Umbra… We have made adjustments for the new version. Now you can wield them, as if they were your own chakra. I left the Fuin Shiki for you to seal your own jutsu anytime." The mysterious masked man in black robe, with black gloves covering his hands, licked his lips. He wore a snake motif white mask, with an opening on the mouth coupled with a black hat. Close to a plague doctor.

A person in black suit covered in a black cloak appeared. A wolf motif mask covering his upper face hiding his identity. Only his blue eyes and his lower face were visible. Umbra took the thick rectangular device on the table, strapping it on his right arm. 

He turned the device, creating a circular fan made up of stacks of Inshi, or Seal Tags. One of them had fuin symbols on it, with a symbol of flame on them. He placed two fingers on it, sliding it out of the device and observed the compact sealing scroll in the form of a small card.

With a light flick, the inshi burnt in blue flames and formed into a giant blue majestic fireball on Umbra's palm. He flicked his hand, launching it to one of the mannequins made of mysterious metal, creating a blast of blue flames and burning it into molten metals.

"Dr. Nethis, impressive as always. Your genius was out of this world."

"Hnhnhn… you fulfilled my curiosity. We both benefited from each other…"

"The Moon is near. The Order has gathered… Moonveil."

A girl in all white, her robe, her skin, her hair, appeared like an untouched deity. She walked gently with her hands hidden in her sleeves, sitting on one of the seats of the big round table. A white veil covered her entire face, masking her appearance.

"Beast."

A big man in a grey cloak and rugged appearance appeared. Only his orange hair and eyes were visible. He pulled the chair roughly, sitting next to Moonveil.

"Brine."

A thin young man in a grey cloak appeared, holding a giant sword behind his back contrary to his smaller stature. His white smiling mask gave chills to those who saw him.

"Bloodheir."

A red haired woman in a tight black suit walked in heavy steps, as if impatient. The black goggle mask was akin to a helmet covering just her face. Her long red hair was fiery, as if it bore the power of blood. She sat down with a soft huff.

"Dreadmane."

A large 4 legged beast wearing a steel helmet in the shape of a lion appeared. He roared as he calmly stayed by Umbra's side.

"We are the Order, we are Her protectors. The blades of the Divine Mother. The Evil Gods, the World Devourer, were coming ever closer."

"Bloody Trinity, you will be responsible for keeping watch of any movement of the Evil God's apostles in the dark. Dr. Nethis will give you the details."

"Me and Moonveil will keep on watching the outside world. Divine Mother had sensed their arrival… the Age of Chaos is coming."

"Yes… Umbra… pfft-" Brine almost wanted to laugh, but Bloodheir stepped on his foot shutting him up.

"The Order, dismissed."

Umbra held an Inshi in his hand, with a flick, it turned into blue fire, engulfing all of him before disappearing in a flash.

Moonveil stood, her hands still in her sleeve. She slowly sunk into the darkness, into the void on the floor and disappeared.

Silence filled the room, until Brine couldn't hold his laugh anymore.

"Hahaha..hahaha! WHAT THE HELL!" Brine couldn't hold it in, holding his stomach. 

"It was amusing…hnhnhn. I shall take my leave too." Dr. Nethis body turned into small white snakes, hissing and scattered into nothingness.

"Gosh you guys are all too funny!" Brine's appearance turned translucent, into water and eventually he fell as a puddle leaving the hall.

Bloodheir and Beast look at each other. Small golden chains appeared from Bloodheir's body, covering herself. While Beast turned into mushed flesh covering his entire body. Both of them disappeared together as they shrunk into nothingness.

***

Tsuyu definitely knew what Kouga was doing in his free time during his academy, hanging out with Orochimaru and the gang. Or rather, he sent his shadow clone to the academy because it was too boring for him… As for Mika, she also did the same, sending a shadow clone to the academy.

Orochimaru became Kouga's and Mika's sensei and taught them a lot of knowledge and jutsu. Tsuyu didn't mind and appreciated it. For her Orochimaru might be suited more for Kouga to explore his own Shinobi ways with his vast repertoire of knowledge. With Kouga's creative brain, Orochimaru's knowledge would improve him a lot. 

Mika seemed to be unable to grasp much though. She was more traditional. 

Kouga could use most Nature Release, and was almost good at everything. He just needed to sharpen his skills and his ways to use them. In fact Mika and Tsuyu could too but it's more about specialisation and preference.

"This son of mine. He's really too creative." 

Tsuyu chuckled softly. She didn't mind that Kouga technically skipped school. His shadow clone was there, and he was excellent in everything, always scoring second or first place, competing with Boruto.

But really…

Tsuyu took a look at his latest examination paper. Her Rinnesharingan opened, she could see clearly Kouga wrote it right and should have gotten a perfect score but he erased it and changed it so he only got half a mark.

Tsuyu almost snorted, uncharacteristic of herself. 

So he wants to play this game of seemingly having to work hard, barely able to achieve the top score to make me proud. Ah. Motherhood was too funny.

She pretended to not know what Kouga was doing. As long he was happy and motivated to keep improving in his own convoluted ways.

***

Naruto handed over the papers to the whole class.

"Kouga, you got the highest mark this time. Here's a sticker for ya!" Naruto took out a star sticker from his pocket, and placed it on Kouga's paper.

"Thank you sensei!" Kouga looked happy at the praise. He would show his mom later.

"Haha… you did well. You really take after your mom." Naruto ruffled Kouga's already short messy hair. Feeling fond of his nephew. Though the bandages around his arm remained even though he suggested he didn't have to wear those.

Kouga was really acting normal most of the time because he decided to keep his real identity as the Forbidden, the Hollow Moon, a secret. That giving away his identity would entangle their fate to his own chaotic one, bringing them harm.

Boruto at the side looked at his dad, now a teacher for 2 years already. He didn't know why, he just felt his dad even if he was at home never felt the same. He rather stayed in school late, going around to give advice for the students staying to train in the training field.

At times he felt like he was more attentive to his students than him, or mom or Himawari. It just felt like his dad was missing somehow. Even if he was there.

"Boruto, you did well too. Just 1 mark behind Kouga! So close-ttebayo!" Naruto gave a smile to his son.

Boruto just smiled slightly, not caring much. The bell rang, signalling the end of the class.

"Oh, Kouga… meet me after this alright. I had something to talk to you about." Naruto had a little serious and worried expression behind his words.

"Uh. Okay sensei!" Kouga wondered if he did anything wrong. But it's unlikely?

"Mi-chan, go back first okay! And sorry Denki! I had to meet my uncle. Later!" 

"Later then!" Denki, the heir of the Kaminarimon company, was one of the people who loved to play Shinobi Fight TCG and became friends with Kouga easily. Mika was dragged by Sumire and other girls to some cafe though. She definitely enjoyed the simple life of a human, even if she remained quiet most of the time.

Boruto stood, following Kouga silently. He didn't know, he just wanted to know what they wanted to talk about. Why did his dad call out to Kouga out of all the people? Was it his occasional antiques of hidden power or something?

Boruto stood outside the teacher's lounge room. Trying to overhear them.

"Hey Kouga… um. Did you hold back during the sparring?"

"Huh. Uncle, what do you mean?" Kouga pretended to be dumb.

"... Did your mom ask you to hide them?"

"Huh. Hide what I really don't." Kouga was sweating a little, afraid his mask was uncovered.

Naruto shook his head, chuckled slightly.

"Really. I am sure Tsuyu knew-ttebayo! Haha! But she doesn't seem to mind, does she?"

"Uncle I have no idea what you are saying…" Kougu moved around restlessly.

"Fine. I guess you just want to fit in with everyone. But holding back also stunt your own growth and improvement. We can try to arrange for you to spar with senior years instead in Taijutsu class. We had schedules overlapping."

"Uh… It's okay uncle! Mom and uncle Oro trained me almost daily. Dad too at times but he brought me hunting and sniffing stuff. I think I am good." Kouga knew he far outclassed his classmates and didn't feel it was necessary.

"I see. That's great. But wait… Uncle who? Oro…?"

"Uncle Orochimaru." Kouga said nonchalantly, as if that name was casual.

Naruto's expression suddenly turned almost distorted.

"... What did he teach you? And did your mom know?"

"Oh! Uncle Oro taught me so much. It's as if he knew everything and knew all the answers! He helped me make cool jutsu effects! He's a nice uncle!"

Naruto almost had his heart dropping. Nice uncle? Orochimaru?

"Look… Kouga… listen… I… I don't know where to start. Didn't your mom tell you he's…he's… dangerous?"

"Uh… I know. Mom said so too. But she said not to worry since she would kill him if he did anything to me. Uncle don't have to worry too."

"... Haha… okay… I see…" 

Naruto recalled the feeling he had for a long time about Kouga. That one day he felt different. As if he had killed someone. He was a seasoned ninja, and he could tell the difference. Even during sparring, Kouga had that tendency to strike for kill, only stopping or slowing down before he hit as he controlled it perfectly. But all this time he just deluded himself thinking it was his imagination.

"... Kouga. Be honest to me alright..."

"Yes uncle."

"Have you killed someone?" Naruto looked worried, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Kouga went quiet. Because his monthly training should be a secret. But it's uncle asking. Maybe it's fine? 

Kouga was wondering.

"It's okay to tell me. Your mom wouldn't mind." Naruto said so. Perhaps he knew he was right. Tsuyu definitely wouldn't care.

"Yes… I did."

"How many now…" Naruto's voice was almost shaky.

Kouga counted with his fingers.

"Um… Was it July… 5… 18?" He muttered. Naruto felt his eyes turning red, already teary.

Tsu-chan. How could you do this… he's just 9… 

"Are you okay…?" Naruto held Kouga's hand closely, as if trying to keep him safe.

"Um? Yea?" Kouga looked at his uncle strangely.

"Was it difficult?" Naruto asked with shaky breath.

"At first it is. But now, it's not anymore. It's what shinobi were made to do. Uncle too had killed many right? Unless Sasuke too, and mom killed a hundred thousand. Mom said if I can't do it, then I should quit being a shinobi. But, I won't let mom fight alone." Kouga said seriously, fire burning in his eyes telling Naruto he was completely genuine and motivated to kill even.

"You… You knew? Your mom…"

Kouga had light in his eyes.

"Yeah! Mom was so cool! I heard she let Konoha win the war! You were there too, right?"

"... Yes… she… let us win the war…" Naruto sat back on the sofa, closing his face. 

Tsu-chan… what kind of things did you teach him…

Naruto felt like Kouga had his moral compass bent so much he's turning like Tsuyu. 

"Kouga…" Naruto muttered weakly, rubbing his head.

"Um…?"

"You are a child… if you are hurt tell me. If you want to stop, tell me okay? I will help you, alright?"

"Uh…" Kouga was really uncomfortable with the way Naruto looked and holding him.

"Uncle… I really am fine!"

Naruto looked at Kouga, trying to find any deceptions. In fact he hoped Kouga was lying. His heart felt hurt seeing Kouga was really looking fine.

With Naruto going silent for seconds, Kouga quickly pulled away from the awkward atmosphere.

"See you tomorrow, uncle." He took his bag and quickly ran off.

"Wait, Kouga!" Naruto went to chase, but instead he saw Boruto was outside all this time.

He heard parts of it, a lot was unclear. But he was certain in the beginning Naruto asked if he wanted to spar with the seniors instead. And now seeing Naruto's worried expression, made Boruto feel even more bitter.

"Why do you care so much about other people's children?" Boruto spat the word stopping Naruto.

"Boruto. He's not anyone. He's your cousin! Just… I will talk to you later…" Naruto just went ahead to go after Kouga, but in a corner he was already gone.

Naruto clenched his fist. Before Boruto could call out to him, Naruto already jumped right out of the window and rushed somewhere.

Tsuyu was relaxing in her home with her husband after a day training, really just reading a book while Kiba was watching TV. Though she was snuggly resting against Kiba, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Don't ask why. Kiba offered once upon a time and she got used to it. Kiba was like her morning coffee now, a comfort person in a sense. She definitely didn't love him and it was just psychological conditioning, she rationalised herself.

Knock*3

"Hm?" 

Kiba stood up, opening the door only to see it was Naruto.

"Oh hey! Naruto!" Kiba smiled as usual.

"Where's Kouga? No. I mean… I need to talk to Tsuyu for a while."

Tsuyu already stood behind Naruto, looking at Naruto's expression. Did Naruto discover Kouga had always been shadow clones all along and now asking for an explanation? Well there was in fact a clause on that specifically in the rule book.

"Nii-san, Kouga isn't here. We can talk outside."

Tsuyu stepped out of the house, leading Naruto to sit outside at the marble table and chairs at the backgarden.

"Have you discovered it?" Tsuyu asked.

"... How could you…" Naruto's voice was painful.

"I understand it's not appropriate. But he was far above his peers. I hope you can be lenient to him. As for advancing his class, I would not allow him to graduate any earlier than 12."

"What… what are you talking about Tsu-chan…" Naruto felt she didn't even know what he wanted to confront her about.

"Hm? What did you really want to say?" Tsuyu frowned.

"You make him… kill someone?"

"Did he tell you? No. It must have been the shadow clone." Tsuyu didn't blame Kouga on the matter. Shadow clones had a bit of peculiarity and simplicity in their thoughts and actions.

"Shadow clone? Kouga… was attending as a shadow clone?"

"He's too smart for the class. He had the best scores among his peers already."

"I don't care about that!" Naruto stood up, standing up as if trying to overshadow Tsuyu.

"He's just 9! 18… He… he said he killed 18… Please, tell me this isn't true."

Her eyes turned cold, her chakra leaking causing Naruto to feel like a mountain pressing on him.

"You better leave. You already tried to change me once. Now you even want to interfere with how I teach my own son. Like I said, if he couldn't do it, I would know, and I would have made him quit being a shinobi myself. I wasn't as unreasonable as you believed I am. I let him because he had proved himself to be capable."

"That's because you… you taught him as if it was all normal!" 

"It is, doesn't it? Killing was a part of being a shinobi."

"You…-" Naruto's body was trembling in disbelief. How can someone tell him teaching their own children to kill someone at 9, no, maybe even younger was normal!?

Both of them remained silent, it's as if once again they are confronted with a fundamental difference in them.

Tsuyu sighed. "Nii-san, I never want to fight you, you know that…" Tsuyu looked more tired than anything.

"Tsu-chan…"

"... What do you want from me, really?"

"He's just 9… why are you… at least wait until he is older… we are at peace now. You said you never wanted him to become a shinobi. You even got mad that they let them graduate younger at 12 if they are good enough. You insisted all of them graduate at 16, you argued with Kakashi once… I thought… you wouldn't let your own child…"

"Originally I intended to discourage him so he quit, really. I never liked him being a shinobi."

"What…?"

"He surpassed my expectations, and he proved himself suited for it. That was it. And while he was already at it, I just let him get used to it." Tsuyu was being genuine.

"...It really wasn't that special, brother. Kakashi graduated at 5 and already had his first blood in the same year."

"It's because it's peace time that… you shouldn't… we fought back then for… for this, our future, the people after us to have peace. So that our children don't have to suffer as much as we did Tsu-chan!"

"... Did you think I made Kouga suffer, then?" Tsuyu's eyes turned colder. It was an attack on her character and her decisions. She wasn't stupid. If Kouga suffered, she would have stopped herself.

"I…"

"You better watch for your own child, nii-san. Cared about mine, yet neglecting yours. You are really ridiculous…" Tsuyu stood and just opened a portal to f*ck off.

The word almost struck to his chest.

Neglecting mine…? I didn't…

Naruto returned to his home, mentally defeated by Tsuyu. 

"I am home..."

"Dear…" Hinata just smiled as usual.

"Sigh…" But Naruto only sighed. He felt like he failed himself, and Kouga. He should have known.

"... Let's have dinner, dear…"

"Mm." Naruto just mm-ed and went to the dining table. Himawari went out of her room fast, happy his dad was already back. 

"Dad! Look, I draw us!" Himawari gave Naruto a drawing of all of them, holding hands together. 

"Haha. Hey, that's me? I am more handsome-ttebayo!" Naruto laughed a little. But his tired expression returned shortly after. 

Boruto came downstairs, looking bitter as usual.

As they ate, Boruto looked at Naruto's tired exasperated expression. It's as if he was never happy at all since that time his dream was gone. That his energy disappeared somewhere and used somewhere else whenever he had them. It was never the same like before…

"Otousan… what is wrong with you."

"Huh? Haha. Just tired I guess. A lot of things…"

"What. Kouga? What's with him?"

"Huh… It's complicated…"

Hinata and Himawari looked curious to hear about him.

"Just why do you care so much about other people!" Boruto suddenly raised his voice, as if he felt so hurt all this time.

"Boruto." Hinata looked at Boruto sternly for raising his voice. Her white eyes almost scared Boruto, but he didn't back down.

"Look. He had it hard, okay? You don't understand…"

"Understand? Understand what! You don't even care to understand me!"

Naruto felt anger rising inside of him. He was trying his best and had the best of thoughts for his own nephew here and Boruto just acted like a brat.

"You had it easier than he does! Did I place any expectations on you? I don't even ask anything from you! You should be grateful I didn't make you-"

Naruto shut his mouth before saying the word 'kill' someone. He didn't want to enter that territory… to further break apart his and his little sister's relationship.

Silence ensued, but everyone was stunned. Boruto for once had tears in his eyes. 

"Boruto-"

He turned around and just ran back to his room.

Naruto couldn't understand. Did he say anything wrong? Why is Boruto crying…

Naruto stood, went to his room upstairs to knock.

"Hey…"

"Boruto… can I come in?"

"..."

Boruto didn't reply, nor would he open the door. 

Naruto can only sigh and finish dinner. He didn't know why, but he felt like everything was never the same.

***