Tanna hummed as she went about her day, correcting papers, teaching students, returning home, sometimes to an empty apartment and sometimes to Anko making them dinner at the stove. It had almost been three weeks since Naruto left and Tanna was pretty sure it was the Gaara arc where the Kaze of Suna was kidnapped and she was feeling very mixed about it. Naruto was almost seventeen and in the manga the kidnapping happened when they were younger. Honestly, she should have thought of something more to warn others like... Well, she did not know what could have changed the events if she were being honest. She read enough fiction and gone through enough events to understand many events could not be avoided. Just because she changed the situation for one group, it did not mean the rest of the world would change easily.
Tanna felt a tap on her shoulder, 'Oh! I was lost in thought again.'
Anko, "Tanna - chan, are you alright?"
Tanna, "You are back, Anko - tan. Do not worry about me. Just a few thoughts in my head."
Anko, "A new story? Or just worry?"
Tanna, "Both, I will tell you later."
Anko, "You know you can tell me anything."
Tanna smiled at her beautiful fiance, "I know, thank you. It is a pity I cannot help you back similarly in return. You are attending your sessions, yeah?"
Anko chuckled, "Of course, it would be hypocritical if I lectured the brats about mental health and did not attend my own sessions."
Tanna, "I... I received another invite to the Daimyo palace. It is from Lady Shijimi this time and she requested it as a favour. She is also allowing me to choos the date."
Anko flinched, "Oh shit! One of those... Are you going to choose?"
Tanna, "I have decided on the date but I really do not want to be caught in political conflict between factions. I can already see my gravestone."
Anko chuckled, "Let's not be dramatic. Why don't you tell me the date? I will clear me schedule and inform the Hokage about it. As one of the top kunoichi, I can request to join some missions as a Jounin."
Tanna, "I plan on heading there after Naruto's birthday. Kami knows we have not celebrated properly ever since he left for training."
Anko nodded, "Got it! Consider it done... They are back."
Tanna, "Naruto?"
Anko nodded, "The shadow clone I left at the village border dispersed."
Tanna sighed, "I truly envy you shinobi. Such useful methods you have. Let's head home, I bet Naruto will be hungry. I want to prepare his favourites."
Anko, "Sure! I will guide you home but I have a feeling I will be called in. They were gone for almost the whole month."
Tanna winced, "Yeah!"
Tanna walked home nodding though there was a feeling of unease in her heart about the mission. She swears up and down, the mission did not take a whole month to complete in the anime. Tanna then had to remind herself that what ahe saw was anime and wht she was dealing with now was real life. She took a deep breath and released it and felt Anko give her a side hug. The kunoichi murmured their kid would be okay and she would check on him herself before sending him home. Anko kissed her forehead once they reached their residence and then left saying she was going to check on Naruto who has most likely reached the Hokage tower by then. Tanna nodded and went to wash up and start preparing an early hearty dinner that would make Naruto feel home and safe. The door opened two hours after she started the dinner prep and just in time for the roast to be ready.
Naruto walked in quietly and hugged her from behind, "I am back, nee - chan."
Tanna turned in the embrace and hugged him back, "Welcome back! You survived your first A - rank. Good job!"
Naruto hugged her tighter "Yes, I did, didn't I?"
Tanna spoke softly, "The water should be ready, go take a bath. I will prepare the dessert in the mean time."
Naruto, "The slow roast smells good."
Tanna, "It need to cool down a bit anyway."
Naruto eyed her, "Okay... Hey, nee - chan, can we talk after dinner?"
Tanna, "Of course, Ruru. You know I will never turn you away."
Naruto blinked then nodded, "Yeah, I know."
Tanna watched him go, 'What happened out there? That hug felt very desperate.'
Tanna turned back to the counter thinking about what could have happened during the mission. Of course, she knew whatever it was, she would not be able to guess correctly at all. Meanwhile, Anko was fuming over what she learned from the report that landed on her desk. If it were before, she would have cursed and sworn she would deatroy her ex - mentor but now, she was calmer and going through the report filing away everything. The report started with Team Koun helping Shikamaru's team, then joining them to escort Temari - hime to Suna. Team Shikamaru returned safely after they successfully escorted Temari to Konoha and then Shikamaru applied to request to join Team Koun. The shadow user had left right after he got the green light and then disappeared in a poof. Then came the part of the rescue, the start was fine but then Orochimaru's name came up and Anko felt her anger start to rise.
Orochimaru was part of the group that had kidnapped the Kazekage of Suna and had even dared to threathen her fiance. Anko took a deep breath reminding herself that her fiance, her Tanna was safe at home with shinobi watching over her. Also, Naruto the strongest jinchuriki in the elemental nations was with her and nothing could get past the blond to touch his nee - chan. Last she saw him, the blond looked impatient and ready to go home. It was not the type of desperate impatient but rather the type who needed to check on his important people were alive and well. The blond had actually shun shined all the way to their residence once the debrief was over, not even stopping to give his dear giance a kiss. Then again, Sasuke looked like he was in a hurry to leave as well with how he glanced after Naruto but he had to stay behind to give a report which had records of what he saw through his sharingan. Sakura as well looked worried with how she kept biting her lip but stopped half way realizing she was no longer a mere Chunin now.
Naruto finished the dinner his nee - chan finished, "Delicious as always, nee - chan. Just leave the cleaning to my clones. They will take care of it."
Tanna raised an eyebrow but nodded, "I will get the Hwangnamppang. Go sit in the balcony, it is peaceful this time of the year."
Naruto got up then nodded, "Alright!"
Tanna thanked the clone for cleaning up as she grabbed the sweet red bean pastry from the counter, 'Okay, there is definitely something bothering him now. Let's make him comfortable first then it is up to him if he wants to tell me.'
Naruto looked up as she placed the sweets down, "Nee - chan... "
Tanna poured some juice, "Let's get comfortable and relax first. You had a long journey after all. then, you can tell me what is on your mind. If you do not want to, we can bring out thw futon and cuddle like we used to when we had nightmares, yeah?"
Naruto nodded finally giving a smile, "Yeah, good idea, nee - chan."
Tsunade watched the two from the crystal, "Well, he looks better."
Sasuke pursed his lips, "The Akatsuki were absolutely ruthless and unnecessarily cruel, Lady Hokage."
Sakura nodded in agreement, "I must confess, I also have half the mind to rush out and check on my family."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, "Stop me, if I am wrong but did they threaten your families?"
Sasuke growled, "Yes, they did, Lady Hokage. It was not just our families but the relations we currently have with other countries too."
Sakura grimaced at that, "They or rather should we say Orochimaru threatened our direct family members even the unborn. I know we are not exactly hiding the information but it was a low blow."
Sasuke, "He might have also hinted at capturing or creating younger versions of Naruto in his labs. I can only imagine what he did."
Tsunade cloed her eyes, 'How far have you fallen, Orochimaru. Why would you do this?'
Sakura, "Lady Hokage, that is not all, I am afraid. Shikamaru, do you want to say it?"
Tsunade turned to them, "What else is there?"
Shikamaru's eyes looked murderous though his face was blank, "Sasori of the sand was using the dead bodies of Nara - Shika - Cho, the fourth team 10 that went missing in the second war."
Tsunade's breath hitched slightly, "I see, thank you for informing me. Will this effect your current relation with Suna?"
Shikamaru shook his head, "No Lady Hokage, I consider this matter completely separate from the other. As far as I am concerned Sasori was wanted by both Suna and Konoha as a traitor."
Tsunade, "Was?"
Shikamaru, "Sakura and I worked well as a team to bring Sasori down while Naruto and Neji secured Gaara from the Akatsuki, as Temari and Tenten fought Sasori's partner who is still alive."
Tsunade nodded, "I see."
Sasuke, "Lee and I ensured Lady Chiyo's safety... Unfortunately, the technique she used to heal the Kazekage took her life force in return."
Tsunade closed her eyes in respect, "I see. Chiyo is dead then."
Tenten, "Yes Lady Hokage, she died as an honourable Seal Master."
Lee, "Her flames of youth burned till the end."
Neji, "I am afraid, we could not gain much insight on the rest of the members. All we know is Orochimaru is part of the group with Hoshigaki Kisame who is still alive and Deidara the bomber."
Tsunade nodded, "Alright! Leave your detailed reports here and get rest. You as well Sakura, I expect you to go straight home and rest. Tomorrow morning you are starting your training with me before my mentoring with Naruto starts."
Sakura straightened, "Understood Lady Hokage!"
Tsunade, "Dismissed!"
Tanna was being hugged by a much taller Naruto, 'He has gotten so big now, my baby brother is not a baby anymore.'
Naruto buried his nose in his nee- chan's hair, 'Nee - chan is here. She is alive. No one will touch her or take her away from me.'
Tanna gently pat his back in comfort, 'Whatever happened shook Naruto more than I though... Was he this shaken in the anime but hid it? I really want to reach in and comfort his anime counterpart too now.'
Naruto, "Hey, nee - chan."
Tanna paused her gentle patting, "Yeah?"
Naruto, "Have you heard of Gelel before?"
Tanna, "Gelel? It sounds familiar... One second, let me try to remember... "
Naruto, 'So, she knows? How? Well, nee - chan will tell me.'
Tanna, "I think my... It was my father who mentioned it once. He said it brings good luck or something and had a statute made out of it for mom... I wonder if that statue still exists or not... "
Naruto finally looked at her, "Your father?"
Tanna nodded resuming her gentle patting, "Yeah, he... He had strange tastes now that I think about it. Most people go for gemstones when it comes to precious stones. But he had a statue made out of one of the most obscure ones for mom. I wonder what happened to it."
Naruto stared at her blankly, "A statue for your mom... You know, I do not think I know much about your family. I mean you told me who was their and their relationships but not their habits."
Tanna gave a small sad smile, "Guess, I just avoided thinking about it. I miss them so much sometimes I wish they were here. Sometimes, I wish Tobirama succeeded on creating his resurrection jutsu. Ah! Forget it! It is a pipe dream."
Naruto stared at her, "How did you know that?"
Tanna looked lost in her memories, "Old folks talk, especially nobles who think you are too dumb and stupid to understand what they were saying. I just listened when they talked about what they wanted and how they were banking on a genius shinobi for their own greed."
Naruto, "Nee - chan, I never asked before but were you treated terribly when you were a kid?"
Tanna blinked, "I mean, sort of yes and no. My family were great though other nobles looked down on me a lot. I never gave it much thought, not really. As far as they were concerned, I was a nobody. A presence lower than a maid."
Naruto, "You are not. They were wrong. So wrong."
Tanna, "Hey, it's okay. Maybe I should not talk about the past too much with you guys."
Naruto, "But nee - chan, I need to know who to protect you from."
Tanna held his face, "Seriously, baby brother I should not. First, Anko and Kakashi were ready to hunt when I told them. Second, Shizune and Yugao looked like they wanted to lock me away from the rest of the world. Now, you look like you are taking on a fox like appearance."
Naruto blinked then took a deep breath to calm down, "Nee - chan.. You are not scared?"
Tanna watched his face return to normal, "What for? You got angry on my behalf. I feel quite flattered honestly."
Naruto buried his face against her neck, "Nee - chan, you... Thank you. I knew he was wrong. I just knew it. That stupid bomber!"
Tanna rubbed the back of his head, "Tell me what he said?"
Naruto grumbled under his breath, "A fat load of lies!!!"
Naruto looked up from where he was buried and proceeded to tell her exactly what had happened during the battle. How he and Temari had originally been preparing to fight Sasori but changed opponents when they noticed Deidara sneak away with Gaara in tow. Then Sakura and Shikamaru had appeared to help them and told them to get Gaara back while they dealt with the puppet Master. He was not sure how the battle between them went as he was focused on getting Gaara back. The red haired Kazekage had become his older brother of sorts and he did not want to loose him. Tanna was surprised by the change but did not say anything as she listened to what Naruto had to say. It was more of a summary but Tanna could imagine how things went. Then the blond mentioned the part where Deidara had called Jinchurikis tools apparently and had told Naruto he was a fool if he thought his nee - chan loved him. It came as a surprise and Tanna narrowed her eyes at what the little shit had said.
Naruto, "I know it is a lie, nee - chan."
Tanna sat up, "Damn right it is a lie. If I was so scared of you, do you think I would have adopted you? Does he think I am stupid that I cannot tell the difference between a storage and an object stored? The fucking audacity!!!!!!"
Naruto could not help it, "Pffffffft.... Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Tanna blinked, "Ruru?"
Naruto moved to her lap, "Yeah, you make a good point. He certainly had quite the audacity to pretend to know you."
Tanna, "Damn right! You know me better than that. Now, I am going to get the futon and we are going to cuddle as a fuck you to that dumbass."
Naruto, "Yeah, I would love that, nee - chan."
Tanna grabbed the futons and returned to the balcony, "Here we are!"
Naruto removed the table and plates that had desserts earlier, 'She was not scared of me even with Kyuubi's chakra coming out.'
Kyuubi, -No chakra coils indeed. I suppose only a blunt attack will effect her.-
Naruto, 'Kyuubi?'
Kyuubi, -Keep an eye on her. She should not have touched you while you were covered with my chakra even for a minuscle amount. It will not attract any attention but she is not a jinchuriki either.-
Naruto, 'What? Kyuubi!!!'
Kyuubi, -Shouting at me will not change this. Just keep an eye on her. It might surprise you, actually.-
Tanna, "Is something wrong?"
Naruto looked serious, "Nee - chan, you just... You just touched Kyuubi's chakra... How are you feeling?"
Tanna, "Oh? I did not feel anything though. How curious!"
Naruto, "Nothing? Not even a burning?"
Tanna smiled, "You know that is not the first time you leaked his chakra."
Naruto, "I.. What? When?"
Tanna mused, "When you were younger, you used to have nightmares. You would leak his chakra and the only time you stopped was when I held you and comforted you."
Naruto, "ASDFGHJKL"
Naruto gaped at her, "You... Nee - chan, that was dangerous."
Tanna tilted her head, "No, you were not dangerous. It looked odd I will not lie but not dangerous."
Kyuubi, -Fascinating creature.-
Naruto, 'Oi! That is my nee - chan. Not a science experiment.'
Naruto, "I... I have started training with 4 tails. It should be dangerous, I mean Deidara looked like he was burned from 3 tails."
Tanna, "This is a stretch but I think it's because I am your nee - chan your chakra does not burn me. The again it could also just be that chakra does not registers me as a target and treats me like I do not exist. Either way, I am not complaining about it."
Naruto, "Does anyone else know?"
Tanna, "Kakashi does, he saw it happen and was shocked I was okay and he was the one who thought about me not being registered as a threat."
Naruto grumbled under his breath, "He did not tell me."
Tanna shrigged, "Just sleep, it is late. Think tomorrow."
Naruto, "Nee - chan you have a lot to explain tomorrow. Why did you not tell me?"
Tanna, "I will tell you why now. It was because you were a kid. A kid who did not get a say in the matter. It was not your fault. It will never be your fault. You did not ask for this after all."
Naruto, "Nee - chan, I love you. Thank you."
Tanna, "And I love you my dear outoto. Never forget that no matter what the idiotic audacious existences around the world tells you."
Naruto snuggled closer, "I am so glad we met when we did, nee - chan. As sad as it sounds, I happy we met."
Tanna, "Me too, Ruru. Me too. People say I did a good job taking you in and raising you but they do not realize you helped me too. I was all alone, you know? Then you came in like a bullet into my life. I will never regret it, choosing to travel to Konoha instead of Suna."
Naruto, "You wanted to go to Suna?"
Tanna, "Meh! Not exactly, more like threw a coin deciding where to go and stuck to that decision."
Naruto, "Kyuubi says you are ridiculous, nee - chan. But he also says never change. You are very unique... Please do not test your chakra on my nee - chan, Kyuubi."
Kyuubi, -Fine!-
Anko returned to find the two of them cuddling while fast asleep on the balcony and could not help but coo at the sight. The late night work was worth it, to come back to an adorable scene like that. She changed out of her work clothes quickly wearing soft cotton nightwear and joined them. She settled by Naruto's side opposite to Tanna nd huddle the two of them falling fast asleep. They could talk the next day about plans and what happened on the mission.