Kaguya looked at Tsuyu, feeling her chakra that was hers. 9 tails and 8 tails inside of her…
Mother, be careful. She wasn't normal.
Kaguya's Byakugan could see through her. Those creepy eyes all over the left side of her body, filled with Sharingan.
Though, at most Tsuyu was like any other human if she excluded her chakra. No… there was something else. The gold chakra, different. But, it didn't matter. All chakra were hers.
Tsuyu gulped a mouthful of saliva.
Should I just Flying Raijin away and run from her? Or maybe communicate first?
The amount of Kaguya's chakra was unfathomable. Tsuyu was like a drop in the ocean. No wonder she was called God.
"Kaguya. It's the first meeting between us. What is your intention…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Tsuyu's cheek. She really felt like running away at the moment. Her life felt at threat constantly just being near this Godlike being. Seeing Kaguya just stare at her instead of slapping her like a fly in the first instance was a good sign. In Tsuyu's perception Kaguya could do just that.
"My Chakra… I would like you to return it." She said it calmly, like a God saying it like a matter of fact.
"Ah… I see."
Kurama and Gyuki were screaming inside, Nue and Reibi hugging each other and shivering.
"Unfortunately… I treasured my life…" Tsuyu said carefully, beads of sweat rolled down more. She's ready to dodge any attack coming at her. Her Byakugan, Rinnegan, Sharingan, all activated.
Kaguya squinted her eyes. "I wouldn't kill you then. My chakra…" Zetsu already told her this person could use space-time ninjutsu to run away easily. So she too decided to agree for a moment.
Tsuyu's eyes widened. Really?
"Hand them over…" Kaguya slowly levitated towards Tsuyu.
The sweat already vaporised from her red chakra robe. It seemed Kaguya was able to communicate and she seemed genuine about not killing her and her brain was really spinning to decide to just give those two to her and run away
Kurama and Gyuki seemed to notice her emotions and were screaming at her NO.
"What do you need it for…?" Tsuyu just asked to delay her actions. She was constantly observing Kaguya through all of her Eyes, and no matter how she looked, she was like an abyss, undefeatable.
"For them."
Tsuyu frowned. Them?
Kaguyu stretched out a hand, a gate in space opened as Kaguya inserted her hand. A similar gate appeared behind Tsuyu, Kaguya's hand was reaching her, black Zetsu stretching out to bind her. The sharingan on her back had its tomoe spun, its perception sent to Tsuyu in the split second Kaguya tried to touch her.
Flying Raijin!
She disappeared instantly, appearing at a meter's distance away.
Kaguya looked at Tsuyu in more malice. Her Byakugan popped out. Black Zetsu was right…
Okay I really pissed her off…
Just then, Tsuyu saw Naruto and Sasuke heading in her direction.
Those two have a death wish?!
She didn't turn around as Naruto and Sasuke flickered to stand on Tsuyu's side.
Kaguya's Byakugan locked onto the two.
Hagoromo and Hamura…? No… Indra and Ashura… and those powers in their hands. Hagoromo gave it to them…
A flicker of pain seemed to be reflected in her cold white eyes.
"You two… she is too strong…" Tsuyu said as she gulped her saliva.
"We have a way. We just need to touch her with the seals in my hand and Naruto's. Hagoromo gave us the seals."
"Hagoromo gave you two things huh… quite biased that he gave me nothing…" Tsuyu said to lighten her own heart facing that monster.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't sure what to say. After all this time.
Tsuyu's Rinnegan looked over at Naruto, sensing his Sage chakra, and something as potent as her gold chakra in his right hand.
Naruto's seal is important. I can't let him die and become a deadweight.
She returned to her mindscape.
"Kurama. I am splitting you into two again. Just stay in Naruto for a while. He is needed to seal Kaguya."
Kurama agreed, knowing Kaguya's threat. He wouldn't want to be eaten.
She made hand seals; her Rinnegan activated. Creation of All Things - Yin and Yang Separation.
Yin and Yang were taken apart from Kurama making her lose 30% of chakra. She still had Half a Kurama, Gyuki, Nue and Reibi supplying her. Tsuyu holds her fist out to Naruto.
"Tsu-chan…?"
"You need Kurama's chakra. Otherwise you would be deadweight. I don't need that much to use Flying Raijin. We just need you two to seal, so you need to have the power here." Tsuyu had her consideration.
"Tsu-chan…"
Naruto felt his eyes teary. He had so much to say, so much apology to give. But he had to hold them and connect their fists together.
As their chakra fit like a puzzle, pieces of memories appeared in each other's mind.
***
"Nii-san…" Tsuyu looked over at the kid Naruto, looking lonely as no one wanted to play with him.
The brother who felt she was cold and distant at times. To the brother who admired her.
Jealousy, longing for her achievements, for friends…
The dream to be acknowledged.
To have people around him.
…
Tsu-chan… please forgive Ero-sennin! He just wants to find a better way!
I see… so… I broke his heart here… Tsuyu looked down on Jiraiya's crushed corpse. Her eyes carried a hint of guilt, but at the same time, even if she turned back time, she would still make the same decision.
He violated my will, and… nothing can make me forgive him, nii-san.
Though I wished I didn't have to kill him… Tsuyu ran her fingers through the hair of 12 years old Naruto. His eyes dull, his expression empty even as tears shed down from his cheek while holding the cold corpse.
I know it would hurt. But I thought you would move on. I didn't know, you are never able to… you still think of him at times… and that he died in my hands.
I am a monster to you…
Tsuyu turned his eyes down. She could feel that Naruto had feared her. That he couldn't understand why she was so cruel, so heartless…
I wished we didn't have to come to this, nii-san. She turned her eyes away, pulling herself from the memories. She refused to see any further… it would just hurt herself.
***
Naruto opened his eyes, realising he was in the orphanage. Hm? Tsu-chan! Wow! Tsu-chan's a baby! Me too!
"An! Hihi" Baby Naruto played with the rattle, swinging his limbs around.
Baby Tsuyu frowned, hating the noise. She snatched the rattle from his hand.
"Ann! Ann! (SHUT UP!)"
Naruto could feel Tsuyu as a baby that felt annoyed at him.
Tsu-chan… even when you are a baby you don't like me… Naruto chuckled, feeling it was absurd.
…
But why… you feel 'unsafe'...?
Naruto frowned, not understanding. What's with Tsuyu's feelings? He watched Tsuyu, day by day, week by week. As if, she was always on guard. Always cautious. It's as if she never feels at rest, even once.
Tsu-chan… Naruto's eyes drooped down. Why did Tsu-chan feel like this… it made his heart hurt.
But then, it was when Naruto learned to talk, that changed something.
…
"Tsu... Tsuyu!" Naruto called out, saying his first words. As if, the voice, the blue eyes calling out to her finally reached her ears.
"... Yes… it's Tsuyu… you are Naruto…"
Tsu-chan… feel a little better…
Naruto wasn't sure… what was Tsuyu feeling, or why. But, he's happy that Tsu-chan likes his presence.
"Tsu-chan, let's play!"
"Tsu-chan, I am so bored…"
Naruto was like a parasite, clinging to her or trying to drag her to whatever. Naruto could feel Tsuyu was really annoyed, and yet… When Naruto wasn't looking, when Naruto was playing around with his friends, Tsuyu was glancing at him.
She felt a little at ease, that she felt at rest… like she was finally able to stop worrying, stop feeling cautious from whatever that had tired her. Naruto didn't understand why Tsuyu was feeling like this. As if, she had a hard time… but she was just a child like him. Naruto was confused, but he kept looking.
The years passed by, and at some point, Tsu-chan had let go of that feeling of wariness. That maybe, Naruto let her find peace…
He watched as Tsuyu tried to teach him addition and subtraction. Tsu-chan was really patient with him. She felt annoyed and frustrated, and yet for each time Naruto gets it, she feels a little satisfied. So she kept going…
Naruto chuckled slightly. Sorry Tsu-chan. I guess I was a little slow…
At some point, they entered the academy. When she heard Naruto wanted to become Shinobi, Tsu-chan didn't like it. Now he remembered that Tsu-chan asked him multiple times if he's really sure that there were other careers. That he told him, he will have to kill people.
Naruto dismissed it nonchalantly, as saying he will kill enemies and protect everyone. But Naruto didn't even know what he was saying.
But, even if I know, I will still want to be one, Tsu-chan. I guess back then I really was just like others, since shinobi were cool and all… but now that I am one… I won't change it.
Naruto watched as Tsuyu studied in the academy with him. Even when Naruto was slow, Tsuyu never felt disappointed. For Tsuyu, Naruto was a real child after all, while she herself was an adult so she really didn't expect Naruto to excel like she did, even passing was good enough.
Naruto saw Tsuyu use her free time to draw mind maps and notes for Naruto. His eyes felt teary for some reason.
Tsu-chan always does everything for him. She always tried to teach him to do things. Ask what he would want to eat. Get groceries for them.
Naruto felt guilty. It was as if he was nothing but a burden to her, even if Tsuyu never felt so.
Time passed, and Tsuyu graduated. She started killing a few in her missions as ANBU, even torture. Even if they screamed, Tsuyu didn't have any emotion about them. That it was just a mission.
She really never cared much…
Naruto looked away from the scenes. He knew Tsuyu was different. It wasn't surprising. She was suited to be a shinobi more than Naruto did.
He kept looking as Tsuyu grew stronger. She had always been hardworking, and any improvement made her feel good.
The time passed as many things happened. But, one thing Naruto could feel was that Tsuyu had always cared for Naruto.
Naruto felt warm inside, knowing this…
When war time came… Tsu-chan, started to feel scared again.
You… were scared too…?
Tsuyu did everything to end the war… as if she just wanted to end as soon as possible. To get her peace as quickly as possible. Even though she had to commit slaughter, she really didn't put much care into them except it was the best decision.
Each step they were closer to 'peace', Tsuyu felt a little more at ease. Even if she used chakra cattles, used living weapons, and had civilians as collaterals.
Tsu-chan… you really… didn't care much…
The time came when Jiraiya and Itachi tried to change her mind.
Tsu-chan… felt really angry. That… Jiraiya was unforgivable… Is that why…
The time came when Tsu-chan crushed Jiraiya's body into a corpse.
Tsu-chan felt… relieved…
Naruto had tears in his eyes. The horror for him was a relief for Tsuyu. Even after destroying all of Kumogakure, Tsuyu only felt relieved. As if, it was over.
Naruto turned his eyes away. Even if… they understand each other… Naruto… could never feel it's right…
That was why it was very sad for both of them.
Naruto turned his head back, to see the time after the war.
Tsu-chan… was really worried for me…
Tsuyu constantly went to Tsunade, asking for her help, or ideas… Tsuyu tried to do everything. Asking his friends to come hang out with him, invite him to Ichiraku over and over again. As if she wanted the Naruto he used to be.
And just then, Naruto disappeared.
Tsu-chan… felt so scared for me… Naruto had tears in his eyes. That he made Tsuyu so worried for nothing. That he made her desperate to find him, and even created Eyes all over the world.
And when Tsuyu finally found him after years…
Naruto shed tears uncontrollably, clenching his heart. When Tsuyu was caught in the trap, Naruto could feel her heart breaking.
I am sorry… Tsu-chan… I… I never…
That Tsuyu felt so betrayed, so hurt. That Naruto called her a monster, still insisting on her 'stopping'. That Naruto never understood her. That Naruto killed her for being it and couldn't accept her.
I wish it were different too… Tsu-chan.
He watched as Tsuyu ran away, isolating herself to think about everything. She felt really sad and angry at first… but then…
It was as if she accepted everything that happened. Even if it hurts.
Even after everything… you will always be my brother… I can't hate you…
Tsu-chan knew Naruto cared for her… so she can't hate Naruto.
We never see eye to eye… but, that's okay… it's just how it is… it's best to let go…
Wait, Tsu-chan, don't… don't say that. It's not over yet… we can do something…
Naruto realised what Tsuyu was feeling. There must be… something… anything… Naruto's eyes drooped down.
There wasn't anything… I… won't change… neither will you…
Tsuyu had let him go, because it was best for them.
The dam in Naruto's eyes broke. I am sorry Tsu-chan… I really… wished it could have been different…
***
Both of them returned to the battlefield. Tsuyu didn't have much expression, only vicissitude.
"I am sorry… Tsu-chan…" Naruto said with deep regret, his eyes looking at Tsuyu, as if searching for any hint of forgiveness.
"I am sorry too. It can't be helped…" Tsuyu said calmly, though her eyes remained on Kaguya.
"...". Neither of them continued. Perhaps there wasn't much to say, since they both already knew.