Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Naruto slowly opened his eyes…

He felt pain, and sore all over.

What met his sight are the white ceiling, and a unique scent of sanitiser and something close to a hospital room.

Naruto look at his surrounding, surprised seeing his sister.

"Tsu-chan…".

He looks at his sister who's asleep, sleeping against the wall on the chair.

She is bandaged all over her body except her face. She seems exhausted.

Naruto mind is trying to process everything, his mind is still clouded.

He looks at himself and how his entire body is unable to move from the bandages all over. The last memory he had…

The painful memories… his feelings… his anger… loneliness… and even jealousy towards his sister.

He felt really guilty for even feeling such a way. For directing such… negative emotions towards the only family he had.

I am… a bad brother…

Naruto felt pressure building up on his tear ducts remembering what he had thought of his own sister.

Naruro turned to look at Tsuyu who had stayed by his side. 

How long has she's been waiting here?

Naruto closed his eyes, the heavy feeling invaded his chest again.

The most important piece of memory returned to Naruto.

Naruto opened his eyes, his pupil contracted from denial.

No. No no no no…

It can't be true… it can't be…

Naruto held his face. Tears start to flow uncontrollable as the dam broken from the realization.

The 9 tails… the 9 tails is inside me… that's why… that's why everyone…

Naruto felt his heart breaking to pieces knowing this reality.

He remembered it. He remembers seeing the monster inside of him.

And what Naruto wants to deny more is that… is that he let the monster took control of him.

He can't remember… but… but he knows that had happened.

He looks at his own bandaged hands, then at Tsuyu.

Did I… did I hurt her?

That thought crossed his mind. He's scared. He's scared of himself and what he has done.

No… no.

Naruto shook that thought away. He doesn't know. He doesn't remember.

Naruto rested on his bed, looking at the ceiling. At times his gaze returned to Tsuyu.

Does she hate me? Does she felt scared of me?

Naruto felt scared, really scared. He doesn't want Tsuyu to fear him. He's afraid even she would run away from him. Tears already forming in his eyes again as the anxiety of that happening consumes him.

As half an hour passes, Tanya finally wakes up.

Huh… I fell asleep…

Tanya turned his eyes to Naruto. Tanya furrowed her eyebrows seeing the red swollen eyes on Naruto.

"Nii-san. You are awake". 

Tanya bent her body closer to Naruto.

"Any pain anywhere? Tell me if there's something wrong", Tanya ask with concern.

The amount of hit and damage Naruto took during his transformation would have blown normal humans to bloody pulp after all.

Naruto can only bite his lips. His clenched fist trembling. His eyes teary while looking at his sister.

'Tsu-chan… I… *sniffs*... I…'.

Sigh… he's such a crybaby…

"Take a deep breath Naruto. Calm down. Follow me. Take a deep… breath…".

Naruto followed.

"Good…".

'...'.

Tanya wait for Naruto to speak.

'Tsu-chan… did I hurt you…?'.

Technically no(?).

"No. It's not you". Tanya said as a matter of factly.

'...'. Naruto felt like Tanya doesn't want him to worry. He felt even more guilty.

'Tsu-chan… what happened when I was… unconscious?'.

Naruto clenched the sheet beneath him, ready to hear the cold truth.

Tanya wonders how much to tell Naruto.

"How much do you remember?". She needs to assess whether Naruto is semi-conscious throughout the whole ordeal or not.

'I… I don't know. I don't remember but…'.

'I… did I hurt a lot of people, Tsu-chan?'.

"...", Tanya had a difficult time answering. 

But from Naruto's question, it's clear Naruto is aware he did hurt someone when he's transformed.

If she is honest, Naruto did killed few people during his transformation. But saying that to a 7 years old child doesn't sound like a good idea.

"Naruto, a lot of people did get hurt. But it's not you. I know you were taken control. So none of it is your fault, understand?". Tanya said with a stern voice.

'... But…'.

"No buts. Listen here, nii-san. It's not you. And you have no need to feel guilty about what happened when you were unconscious. You have nothing to do with it".

Tanya said calmly, wanting Naruto to understand and accept this point.

'... Okay…'.

Naruto said so, but his heart doesn't accept her sister's words. As if Tsuyu is only saying so to not burden him.

"Good".

 …

*Grumble, Naruto's stomach made some sounds from hunger.

Naruto blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed.

Tanya let out an amused smile, feeling the heavy atmosphere lighten a little seeing his silly twin brother somewhat return with those blush.

"I will get some food. Wait here".

Tanya stood from his chair heading out of the room to find some food for Naruto.

She returned with a steel plate filled with healthy hospital food. Naruto doesn't like the blandness of it but he doesn't complain as he wolf it down.

Naruto finishes his meal and place the plate at the side, letting out a sigh.

The siblings were quiet for a while.

The heaviness starts to consume Naruto again… and he really wants to cry right now.

But it's as if he had been suppressing it again.

Tanya senses Naruto is struggling with something. 

She takes a deep breath. It's not like her to act emotional, and she's not sure if she's doing it right. But it's something Naruto needs and she decides to try.

"Nii-san", Tanya called.

'...yea?'.

Tanya sat at the edge of the bed. Awkwardly, she stretched her hands out towards him.

"Come here".

'Huh…?'.

Naruto didn't realise it… but tears were already building up and fell down his cheeks. 

"... Hey. Come here. Let me hug you".

'Nnhgh…', Naruto's eyes went blurry as his brows squinted from the overwhelming emotions bursting out.

'T-Tsu-chan… nnghhhnn… nnhh… *sobs… *nnhhh… I… I am sorry… I am sorry… I am so sorry… Nhhh… sobs…', Naruto is trembling and sobbing badly as he closes in. His tears and snots wetting Tanya's cloth.

Tanya felt a little discomfort on the wetness from snots and tears but she put that aside and hesitantly rubbed Naruto's back…

'Nnnhh… nnnh… sobs… sniff… I am… sorry…', Naruto kept crying.

"You don't have to feel sorry nii-san. Like I said… you didn't do anything wrong… it was not you… it's the fox…".

A minute passes as Naruto keeps crying until he can't anymore.

He pulled away, wiping his face with the sleeves of his hospital gown.

Tanya frowned slightly as she took the tissue at the side and gave it to Naruto. While taking some and wipe herself…

Naruto look at Tanya's action and felt a little embarrassed suddenly.

'Sorry Tsu-chan…', he said quietly.

"No need. It's nothing".

The two siblings went quiet for a while again.

"Nii-san. You know I care for you right?".

Naruto looks at Tanya. He nods.

"I may seem like I don't care at times. And, I have to admit I am a little different than most. I hope you can understand, Naruto".

'...', Naruto listened with a slight frown, trying to understand. He is still a child after all, and it's too complex for him.

"But I want you to know and understand, I do care for you. In my own way. And if you have any problem, if you feel bad, if you feel sad and in pain, you have to tell me, understand? I want to help you. I am your sister, and you should depend on me".

'Tsu-chan…', Naruto felt tears forming again. He quickly use the tissue already in his hand to wipe them.

A sense of warmth filled his heart, relieving him from a lot of his burden.

'Yes… Tsu-chan'. Naruto finally let out his sunny smile.

Tanya smiled slightly, feeling satisfied that she managed to comfort Naruto and had him return to his usual self finally. That annoying smile is like her morning coffee now.

"Good that you do. We will get ichiraku ramen once you are discharged".

'Ramen!? Really!? Yoshaaa!', Naruto seems giddy as his eyes brighten up along with his smile.

Naruto forgot everything and felt excited for ramen. He really wants them, his comfort and soul food. He can't wait to get out of the hospital.

Tanya let out a low chuckle, almost in disbelief how easy Naruto's mood changes. She decides she will take out her savings a little to treat Naruto the whole week.

And that she expects and prepares for the villagers to treat Naruto even worse than before due to his recent outbreak.

Sigh.

She is worried if Naruto cannot handle it though. Will he be fine once he sees the destruction that had happened? Or when the villagers treat him worse and hostile more openly? Would he lash out and turned into the beast again?

Tanya decides he needs to give Naruto a prep-talk.

"Nii-san, there's another important thing".

'Yeaa?', Naruto looks at her with his bright blue eyes.

"When you go outside… you might see some changes. When you were… taken over back then, a lot of things happened. Buildings destroyed. And some people are hurt, and some died. Once again, it's not your fault".

Naruto felt his heart grow heavy again.

"The villagers will treat you worse, and might become more hostile towards you directly and openly".

'...'. Naruto clenched his fist, frustrated with his situation understanding it will happen.

Tanya place her hand on Naruto's shoulder, and firmed her grasp on him.

"But I am here. Those people know nothing about you. Remember that".

'Tsu-chan…', Naruto felt the heaviness lighten, knowing Tsuyu will still support him.

Naruto nodded. He understands her words and mentally prepares himself for the onslaught of curses and gazes towards him once he gets out of the hospital. As a 7 year old child, Naruto at this time had to grow up to be tougher mentally.

In the evening, since Naruto is well and fine and only needs to recuperate he is discharged.

As Naruto walk around the hospital hallways, he felt the gazes towards him from the people around.

'It's the demon child…'.

'Oh god… he's here…'.

Naruto can almost hear the whispers.

"Naruto, don't listen to them", Tanya said firmly.

Naruto nods. He steeled himself as he kept his head up and walked forward. He has his sister, he doesn't need to feel afraid.

"Lets get ichiraku ramen first. It's your favourite after all".

Naruto smiled, remembering about Tanya's promise.

'Mm!'.

Naruto is able to steel his mind against the gazes coming at him, and seeing Teuchi's welcoming smile towards him, Naruto almost wants to cry again but just holds it and returns the smile.

'Naruto, Tsuyu, I am glad you two are fine. What would you two like'.

"Ossan! Tonkotsu ramen with extra topping! 2 bowls please!", Naruto sat giddily on the stool.

'For me, regular miso ramen', Tanya added.

'Coming right up!'.

The week passes by as the two spend time together. Tanya tried to the sister Naruto needed, especially with the treatment the villagers gave him.

If before the adults only ignore him over time, now they start to actively avoid him like a plague. As if afraid Naruto would turn into a demon again the next second.

But thanks to Tanya's constant support and presence, Naruto can hold his head up high.