Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Looking at the time, there's 15 minutes left before their next activity.

"Stop. Have your rest." Tsuyu said coldly, making the people in front her take their rest.

After the time was up, she explained the next activity.

"Wake up! We will continue!" She unleashes her chakra again, sending fear and chill down their spines. But it's clear they were almost numb to feeling those.

Each squad holds torches, led by the wardens to a deeper yet calmer region of the river.

"I understand all of you are physically exhausted. This time you only need to stand in the river current. That's all!"

As Naruto's squad stepped deeper, the water reached their neck. The cold night, almost freezing water, caused all of them to shiver.

Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto almost instinctually come closer together, using their bodies to get warmth from each other. The training also makes the bond and trust between the squad very close. There's advantages and disadvantages in this matter - especially when time comes when someone NEEDS to be sacrificed. But such a situation has a statistically lower probability of happening. So the overall advantage is higher.

There's no more use of pain inducing bugs. No hard movements. Only standing. In an hour, someone was pulled out of the water from hypothermia. Few others were also taken out in time.

The trio endured for hours, eventually at 11pm sharp last physical activity ended.

Everyone is led back to camp, and asked to sit down and gather around firecamps in a clearing.

Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were huddled together in front of the fire, covered by a blanket Tsuyu kindly prepared for all squads.

Tsuyu looks at everyone that remains in the camp, nodding in satisfaction.

"Everyone, look up above you…" Tsuyu's voice reverberated in the surrounding.

Following her words, everyone takes a look above them. What they saw were stars, unadulterated from the light pollution, away from the artificial lights of Konoha.

"Each of those stars… They represent the shinobi of Konoha of the past. Many of them are almost nameless, that none of you nor me knows. Many sacrificed their life, to preserve, to protect, and to hold the hope for future generations."

"They don't shine because they are undefeatable or strong. They shine because they burn themselves to light up the way."

"Even when facing difficult adversaries, they didn't give up. They continue to burn themselves. 2nd Hokage died while protecting his squad, using himself as a distraction and passed the torch to the lord 3rd."

"Lord 3rd and Lord 4th use their own flesh and soul to light up the way for our village. Both of them are watching above from the Pure Lands, perhaps from among those stars even."

"One can say they weren't strong enough. If they are, they wouldn't need to sacrifice themselves and could have won an easy victory. You are still here now, enduring all the hardships not because you are strong. In fact you guys are all pathetically weak. But… it's your ability to endure and keep fighting, just like them, that makes you a worthy Shinobi"

The words almost make few of them shed tears. Kiba had to use Akamaru to wipe his teary eyes.

Even Naruto, who holds some resentment for Tsuyu, almost forgets his hardships for the day and realises the lessons.

Dad… used his own life… for the village's future… that's what a Shinobi does… What a Hokage does…

Her words even resonate deep with Root operatives that had been brainwashed on the Will of Fire in their own way. Those nameless stars that light the way for Konoha, are exactly what Root is and always has been. One of the wardens cried silently, as if showing emotion for the first time.

"Your predecessors that had fought the battles never refused to let the Fire die out, even in their death. One day, some of you will be gone. Just like them. And if you're lucky, if you're worthy, someone else will look up… and see you."

The words echoed in everyone in the camp. The hidden resentments, dissatisfactions, complaints deeply buried in their hearts dissolved hearing her words. All of their predecessors had endured hardships as well.

"That's all for tonight. Have a good rest. Oh. But a warden will rotate and call out to your squad outside your tent intermittently. This is to teach caution. If no one answers, all of you will be punished. It's up to you how to arrange your sleep schedule." 

Everyone finally gets to rest. Sakura and Sasuke let Naruto stay up first as he would get a continuous hour of rest afterwards. Both of them wanted to give that to him.

Naruto doesn't refuse. He didn't dare to sit in the tent afraid he would accidentally nap. So he sat outside, next to a firecamp while drawing things on the ground.

He looked up at the fire in front of him. This flame too, is akin to a shinobi. He looks up to the stars above. Wondering if dad and mom are watching.

Suddenly, footsteps approached him. He gets alerted, thinking it's the warden and ready to answer.

But it's Tsuyu. She just went to plop down in front of the fire in front of him.

"How was today?" She asks calmly, though there's a tone of casualness in it. That the Tsuyu in front of him is no longer the stern cruel director but his little sister.

"... It's hard…"

"Yes. But you are still here…"

"I am proud of you, nii-san" She had to use a carrot and stick. Naruto wanted to be seen the most, of course she gave praise where it's due.

Naruto's gaze turned to her, almost in disbelief. The words almost make his eyes wet again. Whenever his heart is about to distance himself from her coldness, Tsuyu always shows her she will always be his little sister.

"Tsu-chan…" His voice was almost shaky.

"I am sure our parents would be proud… for today, you have proven yourself as a worthy shinobi. You really deserve this…"

Tsuyu made a gesture almost similar to Itachi, flicking his Konoha headband to point to it.

"Ouch… that hurts ya know…"

"Compared to everything so far it's not worth mentioning." Tsuyu shrugs.

"Want coffee…? This might be your only chance to get anything other than plain water." Tsuyu pointed to her mug.

"...Yeah … I guess I could use some…" Naruto takes the mug from her hand, drinking it up.

"Blehh… I don't get it… why you love this thing…"

"... This coffee is imported from Land of the Wind, usually only nobles get to savor them. You really need to improve your taste nii-san. Try something else other than ramen."

"Tch… nah, I only like ramen…"

Tsuyu chuckled slightly.

"Yeah, I know. It wouldn't be you if you don't."

Silence enveloped the two as they sat by the fire.

"I am going to check on others. I hope you will keep going for the rest of this camp, nii-san" Tsuyu takes the used mug before standing up, wiping the dust off her clothes.

"I will! And I won't go back on my words. That's my ninja way."

"Good." Tsuyu smiled slightly, leaving him alone eventually.

Even in her coldness, Tsuyu always lets him know she's still there.

At 4.00am sharp, suddenly explosions sounded around their camps, waking them up.

"It's the second day! Wake up you people!" Tsuyu shouted.

"In 5 minutes, those who failed to gather and group up will be punished!"

Everyone gathered just in time. And straight away, Tsuyu briefed on their first activity.

"For our warming up, it's a jog! This time, you don't have to carry anything with you. A normal jog…"

Everyone hearing them thought she's definitely lying.

"Oh except our wardens and operatives around would attack you with kunai and shuriken. Enemies will always try to sneak up on you. If you can't even stay alert to your surroundings, you would die without even knowing the cause. This time I will allow use of chakra for sensory techniques. But I hope you can maintain it for hours straight. Hah." She gave mocking remarks at the end.

"Reminder. They weren't blunts. And if one ever landed on your head accidentally, it's your death." Naturally, the operatives wouldn't target their head nor vitals.

The wardens distribute each squad with salves, ointments, plasma pills, and bandages. These can stop bleeding, re-add plasma and nutrient loss from blood and close up minor wounds.

"For minor injuries, don't expect the medic nin around would care for you! Only if you are going to die from blood loss would they come to heal you."

"First group, move!"

The first group of close to 30 people jog together in a line. Each squad had to keep a few meters distance apart.

First round of projectiles are shot. Most of them are able to react as the first few minutes they are still able to alert and focus. Those who receive minor cuts quickly apply the stuff on the go.

As hours pass by, many people receive injuries. To stay alert for hours continuously always takes a toll on the mind. Mistakes will happen.

Sasuke being the most perceptive, even without his Sharingan are able to maintain his alertness and notice the enemy attacking each time. He helped Naruto and Sakura a lot. Even then, all of them had received cuts in different parts of their bodies, though minor.

At 8am sharp, Tsuyu finally gave them rest. As usual she called out some people with excess energy for extra exercises. It's a simple jog after all, even if there's weapons thrown at them. Naruto still had to do it under heavy gravity.

But to Tsuyu's surprise, Sasuke came next to Naruto and willingly stepped onto the black ground and did the calisthenics next to him.

And to more of her surprise, or not exactly since it's this guy, Lee also went with them. A smile carved on her lips subconsciously. 

"If you want more challenge, feel free to do it on this black ground. You will experience twice the weight compared to your regular selves. No one will reward you though!"

Neji also came to do it with them. And even Hinata followed suit. Seeing Naruto and Neji going, she too, wouldn't want to be left behind.

Seeing this, she expanded her abyssal ground area to cater to these brave people.

Tsuyu looks at Hinata's expression that's filled with conviction. To think she changed so much in one day. That's the one I chose to be my teammate, my eyes weren't wrong.

Tsuyu recalled someone and her eyes glared sharp at Kiba and Akamaru. 

A-ah? Me? Kiba felt his scalp tingling. Although he's unwilling, due to Tsuyu staring at him like a hungry wolf he reluctantly went to the black ground. He almost knelt the moment he stepped on the ground. A part of him felt in awe of her mysterious technique. His eyes looking at Tsuyu almost turned to something else.

With Sasuke going… Sakura too gritted her teeth and went to do it with them. Shino seeing Hinata and Kiba going at it he too had to go. Ino, seeing Sakura actually had the courage and strength to go forward, made her go too. She couldn't be left behind by Sakura. Since Ino went, Shikamaru and Choji followed suit. Same with Tenten seeing Neji and Lee. The bonds forged during yesterday create a chain effect of not wanting to be left behind and to suffer and endure together with their team. Even Tsuyu was surprised that so many people chose to do the harder work.

She almost praised herself at how brilliant she was.

"You guys will regret it later." Tsuyu snickered. But no one commented. Screams of pain sounded as the zankichu bit those who stopped moving for too long.

Seeing there's 15 minutes left before 9 am, she gave rest to these people.

"Now get your breakfast or whatever other business you had. We will begin our next activity in 15!"

As usual they are given the crappy food pills and water. But then Tsuyu wonders if she should stop giving them so much food to simulate hunger. Thinking about it…

Konoha had 10,000 shinobi. If spread to 4 fronts equally, that's 2500 each. If she is Danzo she would assume an average of 10,000 on enemy villages. Though realistically Kumogakure had the highest perhaps reaching 15,000. Sunagakure had less than 10,000 for sure. They already had population issues anyhow. 

Now if that cursed Being X wanted to ruin her life this time, Kirigakure would magically wage war against Konoha after years of isolation with the world and make Konoha's forces spread even thinner.

But with the backhands Konoha had, Kumogakure forces would be able to be reduced by a lot without effort. So she would assume 10% would be cut off directly. Sigh. Not enough.

… She almost cringed at this idea. The idea that Konoha could win is almost absurd. Even their supply lines would be overwhelmed by them. There's a high chance those people would find themselves starving and out of supplies. Not because Land of Fire could not afford supplies but because there's not enough forces to send them.

Ah. I really will have to teleport to all fronts won't I…

She took a deep breath.

I will need to complete that jutsu fast… only with it can I escape from endless battles… and only with it the peace Konoha had, that I had, that my brother had, will return…

Her eyes gleaned with murderous light. As if telling the world, she's ready to slaughter thousands with her own hands.

***

Gasp!

In Mount Myoboku, The Great Toad Sage opened his old eyes. His pupil shaky, he prophesied a great event that would shake the entire world. His old worn out body trembled, sweats breaking out of his toad skins…

"Jiraiya-boy… tell Jiraiya-boy… it's… devil… devil… only the child of prophecy could stop it…" 

Gamakichi, who always stays near the Great Toad Sage was alerted quickly.

"Old man! What was it? What devil?! Be more specific old man!"

…

Zzz… Gamamaru already fell asleep and forgot about it.

***