Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

"Good job, Kouga." Tsuyu smiled slightly, seeing his improvements. 

"Hehe. It's nothing." Kouga smiled, seeing his mom smile. It's a rare thing for her to do for him. 

"Oh Mika did well too!" Kouga mentioned. He noticed at times her mom didn't seem to praise her too much compared to him. Well, she's a 1000 year old lady in disguise and Tsuyu didn't want to embarrass or make it weird given the context.

"Yes, Mika, you did well too." 

Mika nodded. Not replying as usual. 

"Come on, let's get to your dad."

Both of them nodded, following her into the portal to their dad lounging on the chair being lazy with Akamaru.

"You guys. Finally back." Kiba just grinned as usual.

"Hm. Let's eat outside today. I know a place."

Kouga's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Let's eat outside!"

"Take a bath first, you two." Mika and Kouga nodded, leaving for their room.

Seeing the kids going to their own rooms, Kiba got a little handsy and pulled Tsuyu to his arms. 

"What about you… mm? Not taking a bath…?" Kiba leaned closer, his nose sticking close to her ear.

"I am…"

"Hehe… then me too…" Kiba leaned closer, their body pressed like a sandwich. Akamaru barked, covering his eyes with one of his paws.

"...Fine."

Tsuyu was exasperated. Hasn't it been years. He never gets bored of it. She told herself she definitely didn't enjoy it that much and it was just so so. She was only agreeing because it kept his mood happy and thus the familial structure remained strong and to fulfill her own role. Even if she did enjoy it, it was just a normal physiological response of her body, yes, that was it. Tsuyu rationalised herself again as she was dragged into their private bedroom.

***

Tsuyu opened a portal to a beach. The cold breeze hitting their skin, the sound of the ocean waves hitting the shore, the sound of birds, the smell of the sea, Kouga wow-ed in excitement, immediately ran to see the sea closer with Akamaru also running with him. He brought out Nue as well so they could play around together.

Mika was calmer as usual. She took off her sandals politely, walking along the beach barefoot appreciating nature. Kouga saw it and did the same, kicking his sandals away to jump around the water.

"Hahaha. They are really excited. Well, Mika looked as usual though. Sigh. She hasn't opened up to us… I mean, I tried ya know…" Kiba sounded worried for their adopted daughter.

"She is happy with us, actually." Tsuyu said, wearing her sunglasses.

"Huh?"

"That was just how she is. While she didn't talk much, you can see from her eyes that she's quite happy. Look, she's collecting seashells with Kouga."

"Hm… are you sure?" Kiba was unconvinced. In his perception Mika was just distant all these years and he was really worried.

"Guaranteed."

"Wow, so big! Look what I found Mika!" Kouga showed her a big purple shell.

"Mm. It is." Mika spoke short words. It's more accurate to say she really had no idea what to reply most of the time since it was kids talking to her. And she had always been a quiet person, even with her sons Hagoromo and Hamura she barely said anything.

"Besides… It's time for you to know. Her true identity. You are worried for nothing." Tsuyu noticed Kiba was going a bit too doting on her trying to make her feel welcomed. Her room was filled with plushie toys that Mika probably never liked that much. 

"Huh?" Kiba was stunned, his eyes locking onto her.

"She is the Progenitor of Chakra, Otsutsuki Kaguya."

Kiba felt like fainting hearing the news.

"Tsuyu! That's not funny!" Kiba shook her arms.

"I am serious. She was resurrected… rather than a daughter, you can treat her like a friend."

"Oh… Oh… the world is going crazy… my daughter… turned out to be a God…"

Kiba had his knees wobbling. Tsuyu chuckled slightly and catched him before he fell.

"Hey I was a God too once. She's a few thousand years old. But you knew her these few years. She is a nice person isn't she?"

"Ha… I know she is…" Kiba closed his face. It was really too much of a discovery.

"After I killed her, her soul lived on inside of me. She was freed from the 10-tails influence that made her some chakra hungry monster. You don't have to worry, she had a kind heart originally. She wasn't reincarnated or anything, she had all her memories. Treat her like an adult next time."

"This makes me feel awkward suddenly…"

"You will get used to it. But she had always lived inside of me, watching the world through my eyes ever since I got out of the seal. In a way she knows you more than you think. She may not show it but she did care for our family. For you, and Kouga."

Kiba was dazed for a while, thinking about the implications. Suddenly he gasped, not sure what he was thinking about.

***

"Wow… it's beautiful." Kouga looked at the setting sun, casting light onto the sea. He stuffed some chicken nuggets into his mouth.

"I know some places with interesting geography. If you would like, we can picnic more often at interesting places. Or anywhere in the world you want to go."

"Really? Kaa-san the best!" Kouga felt really happy.

"Expanding your horizon would benefit the mind."

Kiba poked Tsuyu's side. "Hey, just say you want to go on vacation like this often."

Tsuyu didn't reply. Kiba looked at Mika who was just gazing at the sea. Her expression was soft, appreciating the view.

"So Mika, you like the sea?" Kiba rubbed the back of his neck.

She nodded. Not explaining much more. Kouga showed Mika the bracelet he made from the seashells, and she took it and wore them, twisting her wrist here and there observing her own hand. 

Kiba smiled slightly. He really didn't have to overthink it. Maybe she was some 'God'. But seeing her like this, she was just a normal person like any other.

"Here, Mika. Look what Akamaru found." Kiba handed over a shiny rock Akamaru collected. Mika took it, looking at the shiny rock with a scrutinizing gaze. 

She nods slightly to Kiba as a thanks. 

Tsuyu smiled slightly. Now it feels more normal. Even she felt bad for Mika seeing her discomfort being treated like a child and always considering just telling Kiba about her true identity.

As the sun set fully, the luminescence on the shore as the waves hit the sand became clearer. Nue and Akamaru were jumping around, leaving glowing footprints. Kouga followed them to jump around as well. Only Mika was elegantly walking.

The stars were bright, untainted by modern light. Mika looked up above, staring into the stars. As if she was worried and thinking about something.

Tsuyu stood next to her, also looking at the stars. 

This peace would end the moment they come… Her eyes turned colder. She could understand Mika's feelings. She wondered if she could fight them if they did appear.

Kiba looked questioningly over the two, deciding to stand in between them to watch the stars as well.

"What are you two thinking really…" 

"We were not safe…" Tsuyu muttered.

"Hm?"

"I want all of us to stay like this… always." It was a rare moment of her vulnerability. She was tired from all the war, all the threat. And knowing they would come someday, a part of her feels anxious. What if tomorrow they appeared and took everything she had now? 

Those guys ate tens and hundreds of planets. How could she, with power only a fraction of prime Kaguya with all her chakra, could fight them. It was as if she was destined to lose everything now.

Kiba saw her anxious expression, the same expression she had when Konoha was at war. That she didn't feel easy. As if the peace she had now was fragile, and would be torn apart one day.

"We will be fine. Stop overthinking too much. Mika too… just enjoy today." Kiba went to hold her hand. Seeing Mika was standing over there he patted her shoulder, telling her she too was a part of them.

Tsuyu looked over at her husband. She secretly wished they would come a few hundred years later at least so she could prepare thoroughly. So that she could live a peaceful life until her husband passed away without a worry, until her son became a strong person capable of fighting by her side with his huge potential.

She looked over at Kiba's hand, holding hers. Even if this man wouldn't be able to do anything, somehow his presence made her less anxious. It must have been the psychological conditioning that tied his presence to safety.

"Mm. You are right. We have to live in the present, but prepare for the future."

"Hehe. That's right. That's the Iron Maiden I know!"

Tsuyu rolled her eyes, not amused by the moniker.

"Huh. Hey! Kouga can already walk on the sea!" Kiba pointed out. Tsuyu just mm-ed, not surprised at all. Akamaru was barking as he was left behind sadly.

Though… Tsuyu looked at Kouga, raising his hands in the air and making some poses, the waves rolling around him. He made some hand seals, and a huge water dragon formed and swam around him like it was alive.

"O Lord of the Sea, Watatsumi, Guardian of the 7 Seas… I am Umbra, the Forbidden One. The Order needed your blessing, to fight against the Outsiders…"

Tsyu almost snorted in amusement. Kiba was laughing a little seeing him acting again. But he really was super impressed that he could do such a jutsu.

"You even taught him Water Release? Didn't know you know."

"Not me. He had a better teacher that had more knowledge than I do on jutsu."

"Hm? Who?"

"A secret."

Kiba huffed. But he didn't ask much. He trusted Tsuyu and left the matters to her.