[Naruto] Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Tsuyu is led into the ANBU headquarters through a secret entrance hidden under a tree. There's a secret passage beneath. Tsuyu walked through the barely lit staircase underground.

What greets her is a large hall with a concrete floor and steel walls. There are multiple entrances to different rooms and areas from here out.

The black haired woman led Tsuyu to the medical treatment room while the other 5 ANBUs followed from behind.

The medical room is well lit and fitted with various equipment and machinery. The in-house doctor with ugly, wrinkly scars on half right side of his face appears. He's a balding middle-aged man with short brown hair, wearing a doctor's coat.

'I am Dr. Kizuhiro. I treat most of you ANBU here. First day and already with internal tenketsu injuries. I hope you don't give me too much work in the future', His voice and expression are bland, although he's just trying to make a joke to the recruit.

"I will be leaving my health to you, Kizuhiro sensei", Tsuyu bowed slightly.

'Hm. Good girl. No one has given me any face in this gloomy place for a while'. The bland tone almost sounds like he's complaining, but that's just how his tone is.

Monkey pushed Badger to the front, with a slight grin behind his mask.

'Sensei. He needs treatment too'.

'Uh. Yes…'. Badger felt embarrassed. Honestly, he wanted to get treated after Tsuyu left and doesn't feel comfortable around her. He felt a slight fear and avoided looking at Tsuyu.

'Good guy. Always troubling me…', Kizuhiro complained.

Badger took off his mask, putting it on the side as Dr. Kizuhiro checked on his body. Tsuyu looked at the fairly handsome man in his 20s with the toned build, spiky brown hair, and deep green eyes. A straight scar from his jaw up to half of his left cheek gives him a little manly charm. His looks reminded her of Naruto a little. She eyed the bruised, purplish abdomen among the packs - the place she had hit earlier.

'One of your ribs fractured. What were you doing giving me so much trouble?'. 

Badger scratched the back of his neck. His eyes darted to Tsuyu for a second, as if saying 'it's her not me'.

Tsuyu felt a little apprehensive. Did she overdo it? No. Perhaps senpai went easy on her, but he is caught off guard that she's serious. Tanya thought to herself.

"Senpai, I apologise for the injury", Tsuyu respectfully bowed.

'O-oh. No no. It's a test, you are just doing your best. It's fine it's fine hahaha…', he said while holding a wincing pain.

While being treated, the ANBU members in the room take off their masks and introduce themselves to Tsuyu. They would be comrades, after all, and it's not uncommon to have members swap here and there for special missions or targets.

Tsuyu takes mental notes on all of them and their specialties or the squad they belong to. One of them, codenamed Monkey came forward. He's a thin, tall guy - does not seem to have much muscle on the surface, but he probably does. His face is chiseled sharp, along with his messy, long, ashy hair reaching down his neck and dull amber eyes.

'I am Monkey, or outside of ANBU they call me Kaito. I will be your squad leader. Badger and Hebi over there are in my squad as well. Hope we can work well together', Kaito smiled at Tsuyu. 

Tsuyu stood upright, offering a salute.

"Pleased to be working with you, Kaito taichou".

'Don't be so uptight. We are like family over here. My squad specialise in assasination and direct assault. I saw your fight with Badger, and you will fit just right here as you learn. Oi Daichi. Introduce yourself already. Normally he's energetic, trust me'.

Badger, who was lying on the bed receiving treatment, sat up slightly feeling embarassed at being called out.

'Uh. You can call me Daichi outside of work. My codename is Badger, as you know… uh. N-Nice- to meet you, Tsuyu-kun'.

"Pleased to meet you too, Daichi-san", Tsuyu's words were respectful as usual.

Daichi felt the fear left behind by their battle subside a little while letting a sigh of relief seeing how polite and frankly cute-looking Tsuyu is under normal circumstances.

Hebi, the black-haired woman who led Tsuyu to the treatment room earlier, comes forward while removing her mask. She wore pitch black goggles and a half-mask covered half of her face leaving a lot for the imagination. Her figure is what you would call almost a standard beauty with tall height, curvy features, and a toned body - though missing any curves on her chest. Her voice a little emotionless.

'I am Aburame Ayame, codename Hebi. Pleased to work with you'. Her voice almost robotic.

Tsuyu nodded and replied the same. Though, does all Aburame have the same fashion? Or perhaps under their clothes, bugs were swarming under their skins and eyeballs? She is not sure, and while she is curious, it's inappropriate to ask.

Daichi takes out a storage scroll from his bag and throws it to Tsuyu. Tsuyu caught it quickly.

'Here's your ANBU attire and your mask inside. Keep the scroll, it's quite expensive for a new recruit after all', he said with a slight intentional smile.

"Thank you, taichou", Tanya said in appreciation. She hasn't realised or even been aware that Kaito and Ayame are both planted Root members while Daichi isn't. Not that Tanya knew Root existed, yet.

'No problem. Come on, let's get you to the branding room. Once you get your tattoo, you will officially become an ANBU member. As for your codename, you will be known as Yosei (meaning: fairy)'.

Ayame helped with the tattooing. Her hand was like that of an artist, steady and confident. It stings a little but nothing unbearable. The red fire-like symbol on her left upper arm signified her membership in the ANBU.

'Alright. Now, let's give Tsuyu a tour around the headquarters and our SOP and operations. A handbook is included inside the storage scroll, you can look it up in your free time. But for now, here's what's important…'.

Tanya was led around the headquarters while Kaito explained the mechanism of their operation. 

Tanya is led to the training hall. A few of the ANBU members are training, sparring with each other, or just practicing their moves on their own.

The squad of four sat on the floor while Kaito began the introduction to ANBU and its work - along with training that Tsuyu would undergo, including studying the human body to gain information from both corpses and living people. Training their sensory skill to an extent and hiding and altering chakra signatures. As well as 'mindset' training - involving using already captured prisoners and corpses.

Tanya's injury during the day does not inhibit her learning as she takes notes on everything. Ayame and Daichi followed around with the tour; Daichi reminisced about the time he first joined ANBU as captain Kaito gives lectures to Tsuyu, with them both adding a few bits of points here and there. Although the kind of work is on the darker side, he truly believes it's to protect Konoha and maintain a stable mentality over the few years he's inside.

***

Naruto looked at the clock in their kitchen - it said 6:37 pm. 

Naruto sighed as he boiled some water and waited for it to boil. He already felt a little lonely; the house felt empty. Sasuke was 'there' training with him the evening, but well, he's not exactly the most pleasant person to be with. They were rivals, sure - but he can't say he's a friend.

Naruto is not sure why… but he always felt like something was missing in life. Maybe it's 'family'. As much as he knew Tsuyu would listen to and support him, it felt like she was only doing it as a responsibility. He knew Tsuyu already reiterated that she cared for him, but it just… the words wouldn't stick to him, not truly. It's like, there's a lack of love a family should have, he supposed. Maybe no one will understand what he even was thinking or feeling. Because it's something that's been building up little by little over years - something very subtle but real. 

Maybe it's the lack of parents, someone he can call mom and dad. Or maybe it's because of the difference between Naruto and Tsuyu, and Naruto's jealousy and feeling of inferiority that prevents him from opening up fully as family should. Something that Naruto pretended not to feel each time he saw how amazing Tsuyu was.

Something that even Naruto could not point out what he lacked. But… he still feels grateful and appreciates what he has now. That's why he will treasure everything he has now, because he knows what it's like to have nothing and be afraid of them most.

Naruto slurps his instant ramen in silence. 

He hates being alone, really - especially at night. Whenever he does, the dark thoughts start to creep up on him - and that negativity, from the looks those adults on the streets gave him, the teasing or funny looks from his classmates each time he fails, it's like poison in his system.

…

Clink-clang- sounds of metallic objects clinking made Naruto's ears twitch. He felt a little relieved knowing his sister was back. He already had ideas and questions to ask about her first day and all ANBU things.

The door creaks open. Tsuyu comes in as usual, muttering 'I am home' like any other Tuesday.

'Tsu-chan. Welcome home - GASP - Suge!!!'.

Naruto's mouth and eyes widened, seeing Tanya in her brand new ANBU outfit. The sleek black undershirt was layered with a grey flack jacket. The long black gloves with bracers. And the red tattoo on the visible part of the arm that's so damn cool!

Tanya just smirked slightly.

'You like my outfit?'.

"SO COOL! Maybe I want to join ANBU too!", Naruto is giddy again. Almost forgot what ANBU does for work.

'

Tanya let out a soft chuckle, amused as usual with his antics and how easy it was for him to get excited at nothing.

Tsuyu walked past Naruto towards the fridge, casually looking at the ramen cup on the table.

"I am making fried rice from yesterday's rice. You want?", Tanya dug the fridge for things to make fried rice.

…

?

"I am asking here…". Tanya looked over, seeing that Naruto had an expression that could only be described as fear.

Just as Tsuyu passed by him, Naruto could smell the faint scent of iron… or rather, blood. And along with it, a heavy pressure of indescribable feeling. As if he felt a chill, a cold, something cruel. His body shuddered, and a sense of instinctual fear rose from his stomach. Something, something - he… he's just scared of Tsuyu.

'T-Tsu-chan…'. Naruto looked at Tsuyu with tears in his eyes, he felt his body frozen. But somehow, in his view right now, her appearance seems darker, cold, cruel, indifferent, almost distorted in his imagination. As if behind her there's a shadow looming, telling him she had just killed someone or done something worse in cold blood.

Naruto was affected by the killing aura permeated by Tsuyu, who had just undergone her first training on 'mindset' which she passed with flying colors. As for what she did, it's up to the imagination. But Captain Kaito was satisfied, while Daichi felt disturbed of her more. Tsuyu had seen countless corpses in her past life; for her, it's nothing.

Naruto held onto the dining table shakily, his eyes averted from Tsuyu.

"Naruto…", Tanya cold voice was directed towards Naruto.

Tsuyu walked step by step towards him. Naruto felt his heart beating faster and faster as she came closer. The smell of faint blood carried by her gets closer and closer. His 10-year-old child mind was trembling, wanting to cry.

Naruto saw Tsuyu's hand approach him. He gasped and closed his eyes instinctively…

But instead of anything painful or dangerous, he only felt warmth on his forehead.

…

He opened his eyes slowly, only to see Tsuyu checking his temperature with the back of her hand. She then checked his pulse with her fingers, finding them slightly elevated.

"Are you sick?". Her expression was a tad worried.

Naruto was quiet for a moment; the fear had already subsided. He felt relieved as he relaxed from the tense feelings he had before, feeling Tsuyu's warm hand… 

It's… his sister… he's safe with her…

Naruto shook his head.

'No. It's nothing', Naruto let out a smile while rubbing the back of his head.

'I- I do want fried rice! With egg please!', Naruto pretended to be normal with his sunny tone, burying the fear he had just now.

Tsuyu shook her head, rolling her eyes, and went to cook.

Naruto let out another breath he had held. He didn't want to ask what Tsuyu did today. He's afraid he would hate to know.

***