Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Tanya arrived at the Hokage office and waited outside. The ANBU on guard tells Hiruzen of her arrival earlier and immediately he asks her to come in.

Tanya comes in without any hint of nervousness, fear nor childish innocence. Instead, she comes in with steady steps and immediately kneels on one knee.

Her voice are clear and loud,

"Sandaime-sama, I heard you wish to see me".

Tsuyu looks up to Hiruzen from the lower view, her eyes filled with respect for his authority and position as the Hokage. While she had always targeted a high position, in this shinobi world, she rather has 'second highest' position or being a part of Konoha council instead.

After all, the responsibility and work, and the requirement to be a Hokage and its additional benefits does not seem worth it for her. 

Hiruzen coughed his smoke slightly. It's as if he's seeing another ANBU person come in to greet him and she did the exact same thing with such a natural posture it's almost too bizarre even for him.

Even her voice is steady, and her gaze does not contain any hint of nervousness; only pure respect.

"Cough… you can stand up. Tsuyu-kun, no need to be so formal with me. Hahaha… I am considered to be your grandpa now. I see all children of Konoha as my own, including you and Naruto", Hiruzen said lightly, letting a light laugh as he placed his Hokage hat on the table. 

Tsuyu stood, not sure how to treat Hiruzen now. After all she never had her superior act so… casual, with her and she respects authority very much.

"Sandaime-sama, I prefer to address with respect to your position as the highest authority of the Leaf. However, I will try my best to… to see you as my … grandpa", Tsuyu said steadily, but her words break a bit at the end trying to say it. It's going against her very instinct and values so it's quite difficult.

'Good good. How was Naruto doing? I hope he doesn't cause much trouble for you again', Hiruzen wanted to create a light conversation and said lightly.

"My brother is doing well. His state of mental condition has returned to normal; I have kept him under my watch and made sure he's taken care of", Tanya assumes Hiruzen asks out of worry that Naruto would get taken control by the 9 tails again and she reassures Hiruzen on it.

Sandaime had directly told her to care for him before after all, so it's her duty and she delivered.

But from Hiruzen's perspective he starts to have a worrying thought that he might have mistaken Tsuyu's personality. 

Hiruzen had some sweat forming at the side of his forehead. Tsuyu's words are a little… how could he put it? As if it's part of her mission and not for familial bond and love like he assumed before. A part of him had this fear that Tsuyu might have a darkness in her heart - a darkness he's familiar with in Root members and Danzo.

He shook his head, thinking it's just his assumption.

Tsuyu's personality is because she lacks love as a child herself; Hiruzen convinced himself. She's still 7 years old, she could be nurtured, she shouldn't have already darkened…

'Ah… that's, good to hear, Tsuyu-kun…'.

'Kuhum… I also approved your advancement to the next year. Your performance has exceeded your peers and I see no problem with it. It's a special exception for you…'. 

Tanya bowed slightly, giving Hiruzen a slight bow of respect.

"Thank you for your trust, Sandaime-sama".

Hiruzen felt a little uncomfortable at how professional the 7 year old girl is…

'Now coming to the main topic, I want to speak to you about the 9 tails. You should have met Kyuubi when you used its power. Can you tell me about your encounter?', Hiruzen 's face turned a little serious as he listened intently.

Tanya nods. She explains in detail about her encounter with Kyuubi. There's nothing to hide about this and that she wanted to understand Kyuubi better herself. From the feeling of tugging in her abdomen that day, being pulled into a space of what she thinks subconscious space, to meeting Kyuubi that's sealed behind a huge red gate.

'How did you manage to control his power?', Hiruzen asked the main question.

Tanya took a deep breath, her mind prepared to give an answer on this. It involves her advantage of having extraordinary spiritual power and mental resistance after all. She had a theory on why that's so - her reincarnation and Being X somewhat training her mind in the past life from his shameless tactic of forcing her to believe.

But she also knows in theory what else can constitute a strong mental power and resistance.

"When I receive Kyuubi's chakra, I feel hatred, anger, and grief infiltrate my mind and body. And I can feel him trying to take over my body. However…",

Tsuyu clenched her fist, with vigor and almost like that of a true shinobi with Will of Fire, she beat her chest where her heart was, gesturing her unbreakable will as she stood upright.

"For my brother, and for the sake of the village, I remain strong and do not let the thoughts control me. I only want to save my home and my brother", Tsuyu said with patriotism. Her gaze is filled with fighting spirit. Patriotism, family, and even faith in so-called 'gods' can cause someone to have an illogically strong and resilient mental strength that could go to a point of insanity. She had seen it herself after all.

Hiruzen felt shaken, in awe even. Truly… What a blessing for Konoha to have such a seedling, with such a deep Will of Fire!

"I see. You make it sound so simple. But you are the first Jinchuriki of the Leaf that are able to control the 9 tails power. You really take after-".

Hiruzen slipped up for a second, almost saying 'your father'. But he continued shakily.

"The 4th Hokage. He's a genius of the ages. And I believe you can even surpass him".

'Thank you for your trust in me, Sandaime-sama. I will live to your expectation', Tsuyu bowed slightly.

Hiruzen nods - though it seems Tsuyu ignored his request to be casual. Nevermind. The conversation continues for a while as the details on 9 tails inside Tanya are explored, with Tanya herself asking questions. Of course, she won't make childish mistakes. 

Her first question pertains to why would there be 2 different Kyuubi - inside her and her brother? She already knew her father split 9 tails into two but her questions need to be in steps to avoid them knowing she knew the details of her birth.

From the conversation sessions, she gained an understanding of Kyuubi and its power, the 8 signs seal that's used and how to access its power.

Firstly, the 8 signs seal is made so that miniscule amount of Kyuubi chakra is constantly leaking into her own chakra network; mixing them together and making it into her own causes her chakra capacity and power to also increase over the years.

Secondly, the seal is made so that each time Kyuubi willingly pour out his chakra for Tsuyu, the seal will weaken and corrode. This way, the bijuu will take its own incentive to give power to the user to break the seal. Though, Tsuyu felt like such a cheap tactic won't be effective at all. She doesn't think Bijuu are that dumb. Even if the seal is weakened, the seal can be applied again and strengthened before that happens… Unless it all happens in such a short period of time.

Thirdly, as the seal weakens, Tanya can forcefully extract the excess leaking chakra for her use on her own. But it will be very little, as if trying to drink water from a needle-sized hole from a water tank. The hole would grow over use and corrosion, and also increase risk of the bijuu breaking the seal.

Fourth, she can't force Kyuubi to give her his chakra - the amount that made Tanya go into a transformation that is. Since the seal blocks her from extracting Kyuubi chakra forcefully and it's all up to Kyuubi to give the amount Tanya had used to stop Naruto. Hiruzen mentioned that there is a way but he believes Tanya is not ready yet and she needs to grow up as a shinobi before she can be entrusted with such power.

Fifth, if she or her brother dies; the bijuu also dies alongside them. Hiruzen had a conjecture that the 8 signs seal blocks each other's halves of chakra to return to each other after dispersing - therefore, they would revive separately as long as one of them is alive.

And this also gives incentive for the bijuu to give chakra to Tsuyu willingly since if Kyuubi revives with only half his chakra, not to mention the weakness at revival, and now he only have half of his power - it would be easy to be captured again.

The conversation ends with a lot of input for Tanya. She digested the long information she received while contemplating on what to do with Kyuubi. She had tried to chat with him respectfully after the time she used his power multiple times - but it's to no avail. 

Perhaps Kyuubi even regrets giving the chakra before and seems to be unwilling to talk at all. 

Tanya doesn't plan to include Kyuubi as part of her arsenal, since it is unreliable. Also, Kyuubi has his own free will and for her, she is someone who values that most and will treat others the same. For her to force Kyuubi into submission is against her ethics.

Not to mention it will worsen their relationship, and It is not an efficient way to go about their relationship. For her, everyone should receive benefits and equal exchange.

Therefore she never planned to try to force Kyubi to give her his chakra unless it's an absolute necessity and her life in danger. Even then, she believes, if her life is in danger, the fox would help out of survival. Any creature had self preservation as their highest priority.

As Tsuyu is on the way back, she happens to see at the playground Naruto and Kiba are… playing together?

She had a surprised look on her face. But then a soft smile carved on her lips. Now she really has no need to worry for him once she moves up the class. Or even, once she graduates early and becomes a shinobi earlier.

Kiba's nose twitched, smelling a familiar scent. He looked at Tsuyu in the distance, who had a soft smile towards them. Kiba blushed slightly, whispering to Naruto his sister is there.

Naruto had his sunny annoying excitement as usual, despite the years of Tanya's cold personality Naruto never seems to change his treatment.

"Tsu-chan! We are playing marbles! Join us! Hehe! I am sure I can beat you in this!", Naruto is giddy from being too happy at having a playmate at last.

Tanya chuckled lightly. Marbles? At her mental age? She shook her head inwardly.

But since she's in a good mood she decides to play along, quite amused at these kids currently training to be soldiers playing marbles…

***