Naruto : Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

"Tsu-chan!"

"Hm? What's the ruckus?" Tsuyu was lounging at the couch, with warm gourmet coffee in hand. She saw Naruto rushing in through the door like he had something to say.

"I talked to Hinata… she said… you guys were ordered to destroy stuff. But there's innocent people in there!"

Tsuyu's eyes narrowed. While it's not strictly confidential, and the bombardment was technically a public event anyone that investigated would know, she disliked it when people like Naruto who clearly knew nothing dare to give opinion in military decisions.

"And?" Tsuyu placed the warm coffee on the table, her eyes looking up to face Naruto's with coldness.

"And…? You… You should stop them then…" Naruto said with a slight hesitation, seeing his little sister's expression.

"No." She said it calmly.

"What…?" Naruto's expression turned to that of disbelief. Tsuyu seemed so nonchalant. As if she already decided to go through with it even if it would affect thousands of innocent people.

"Nii-san, our target is an important objective that could set back Kumogakure's army formation for weeks. Ruin their plans, and halt their advancement. Kumo made a surprise declaration and advanced without notice, catching us unprepared for their front. We would gain advantage and turn the tables once we destroy their forward base." Tsuyu kindly explained the military reasoning, hoping her brother would grow a brain because she really didn't want to waste her effort talking to him about the matter.

"What are you talking about!?" Naruto couldn't hear any of Tsuyu's nonsense.

"Civilians are there! Thousands! They take them hostage! You can't…! You can't just…-"

"Do you even hear yourself?!" Naruto almost screamed, his breathing heavy, his fists shaky from sheer frustration.

Tsuyu sighed in annoyance, not speaking yet to let Naruto say his nonsense. But Naruto thought maybe Tsuyu had come to her senses.

"You can stop it. Just, just tell your commander. This Danzo guy would listen to your words right? There must be another way." Naruto knew Danzo from Tsuyu's words before, that he's the one behind her units.

"... First of all, a genin like you had no say in the matter. Besides, the whole arrangement was my own plan. I am not a naive person like you. Correct any wrong assumptions about me now, nii-san."

"What…? You… your plan…?" Naruto felt his throat squeezing. His voice was almost shaky.

His heart felt like it was being squeezed by invincible hands. 

"… I won't pretend, nor would I lie to you. I was never a 'nice' person from your standard, nii-san." 

"There are things you would consider dirty that I already did. But just to be clear, we would only destroy militarized infrastructures. We had sensors that could locate the exact buildings they use as a base. We don't bombard everything, it's not some senseless massacre. Besides, the town is big, and we have to be efficient with our weapons. At most hundreds of civilians would be collateral, but not to a point of thousands."

Tsuyu said it with a sigh, trying to explain it was not as bad as it seemed. But, in Naruto's ears, it was nothing.

"Hundreds? But….those are still civilians… you say it as if it makes it any better! How could you… why don't you care at all…! Why… why are you… like this…" 

… Why are you crying, brother? Tsuyu frowned, a little confused seeing a tear rolling down his cheek.

"... I already gave them 3 days' notice to evacuate. If someone stays, or is forced to, it is not in my hands."

"... Tsu-chan…" Naruto took a shaky breath in.

"You don't mean that…! You're talking about innocent lives! There's children… old people… families… there must be… other ways…" Naruto's voice cracked, something breaking inside him. He was looking at her, trying to find any sign of hesitation, any sign she cared.

Tsuyu took up the already slightly cold coffee, finishing it up, not answering Naruto's words.

"... I am leaving. Later then, nii-san." Her voice was almost as cold as her coffee.

She stood up and picked up her vest at the side, fasting the bindings.

Naruto was unable to speak anymore. His lips parting, his eyes looking at Tsuyu trying to find his little sister he thought he knew. 

She just calmly prepared herself, tying up her hair with her headband, wearing her buckle, buttoning up her sleeves.

"Please… don't do this… Tsu-chan…" His voice was almost like a whisper.

His eyes pleading, even begging in his heart. He reached out his hand, not wanting his little sister to step into that darkness.

Tsu-chan… don't…

As she turned her body away, darkness seemed to descend and separated the siblings, with Naruto remaining under the light. Tsuyu turned to face the dark, taking another step into the shadow surrounding all of her.

"If we are to survive this war, we cannot be kind, nii-san." 

That everything she did, or would do, is for survival of herself, her brother… her comrades, and Konoha. She never liked killing innocent people, but she had to do what's the most efficient way to make sure they can survive. This had always been her… ninja way.

She turned one last glance, seeing Naruto's dull eyes and expression. The tears staining his cheeks were still visible in her eyes.

…I don't get it. Why are you crying? For those people, or… 

She turned her face away, her eyes looking down for a second, before turning coldblooded, like how she always was for her survival. She calmly took a step out, leaving the house to meet up with her squad leaving Naruto with his feelings.

…

Tick. Tick.

Only the sound of the clock on the wall ticking rang in Naruto's ears as Tsuyu left.

Naruto sat down on the couch… his eyes looking at the floor emptily. 

Why… are you… like this…

He still couldn't believe that Tsuyu wouldn't even flinch, and wouldn't even feel anything that she's going to kill innocent people. It's as if she was never someone he knew.

He brought his hands over his face, he felt his eyes stinging, his palms wet against his face. His heart broke in anger, frustration, disappointment, and even grief. As if, his heart was hurt from knowing a side of her he wished he never knew.

***

Tsunade received the report from Danzo.

She didn't deny his order, and let him be. The 3 days notice was already caring for their moral bottom lines. Considering the people there were Land of Frost's people and not from Land of Fire, and it was Kumo that took them as hostages deliberately, it wasn't entirely Konoha's problem.

Jiraiya would think I am turning just like them… I cannot remain kind, like you hoped I would be. Konoha needs to survive…

Tsunade placed the report back on her table, taking other reports. Mostly it came from Aerial Shinobi Units or known as SORA operatives (Soku Raishin Tokushu Butai). Even as a war veteran going through two wars, she never had seen such an effective unit, 24 people halting advancement of thousands in a day after declaration was done. Kumogakure would lose their initial advantage.

The higher ups of the Military Council at the moment also read the report. Among them, Jiraiya was reading it.

His hands were shaking seeing what would happen in 2 more days. Tsunade should have seen this too. 

Tsunade… What would you do?

***

"72 hours passed our notice. Report latest intel." Kaito, the Commander of the SORA had gathered every operatives to initiate their primary mission.

"... We have marked military infractures. Here are the latest visuals." One of the SORA operatives passed the captains of each squad the simple map indicating different buildings.

"Each squad will destroy assigned areas." Kaito drew lines to divide the town into 6 equal parts.

"Sergeant, any words?" Kaito turned to Tsuyu. 

"No, Commander. We can proceed."

Hinata, Ino and Tenten held their guns. Embracing and accepting what they were about to do.

"Get in position." Kaito commanded. The 24 members of SORA dispersed into their starting points.

With Kaito's squad initiating their flight, the other members take off from the ground. 

I am sorry… Hinata muttered as she used her Byakugan, looking down at the target infrastructures, containing tens of innocent people held hostage. Her hands and lips trembled. She aimed the nozzle of her gun toward one of the schools.

I am sorry…

"Open fire!" Tsuyu commanded.

Her finger pulled the trigger… destruction and death rained from above, covering the town of Yukihana.

Children crying for their parents. A mother crying for her daughter. Screams, tears, and fears of the townsmen were ignored. The explosions from above, the fires, the blood and tears of their people turned the town into hell on earth.

Tsuyu looked at the hospital turned into a military camp, pointing Ashura towards them. The rifle brimmed with chakra, no murderous intent, no feelings. Only a target to be destroyed. Chakra beam sent down, obliterating its structure, collapsing all of the building in a matter of seconds.

***

Only ruins of collapsed buildings and corpses were left. Hundreds turned dead, many more left injured and affected under the bombardment. Hinata didn't dare to take another glance at what they had done.

"Objective completed. Return to camp and wait for the next mission." Kaito gave his order.

"Yes Commander…" Most of them had a weaker voice, and seemed to have lost their spirit from what they had done. SORA turned their flight path back toward Land of Fire, leaving the devastation behind.

***

Danzo read the latest report, nodding in satisfaction. As long as SORA remained, Kumogakure could never step into the Land of Fire easily.

Tsunade read the report on the successful destruction of their forward military base. She sighed, resting her head on her chair. It's done… this burden… is what I would bear.

Jiraiya had a dull look in his eyes, the report in his hand fell to the floor. 

He didn't know what to say at the moment… Konoha… had committed sins…

***