'Damned Being X…'
Tanya von Degurechaff, a soldier of the Empire, had received a fatal blow from an enemy. My consciousness faded as I fell from the sky.
Ah. This is it, then. To cease to exist... Logically speaking, it was better than hell. I was sure Being X was capable of sending me to "hell," or a torture chamber, if that entity truly was as sadistic as I suspected. But that being said, I believed this would be my last reincarnation and what awaited me was complete annihilation.
While I could not say I was "grateful," I was aware of the concept of hell and it was definitely something I feared. I knew Being X—who could send my soul to another world, stop time, or at least control my senses and consciousness—was capable of sending me to a place of endless torment. Therefore, non-existence was a good outcome compared to the worst that Being X or other so-called deities could have done to me.
I found solace in the fact that Being X failed to gain my recognition as a "God." I didn't lose that battle even at the end, even in my death and utter annihilation.
…
My consciousness finally faded as I let out my last breath.
…
???
I realized I was conscious again, as if I had just awakened from a long, deep slumber. It was entirely dark.
Did I somehow survive? I was sure half of my body had been destroyed. Or did they somehow save my upper half and turn me into a cyborg? Oh, right. Why would I think Being X would let me off easily?
Perhaps once again he had intervened and I was alive somehow. Once again, it proved how hard he had to try to gain my faith. The fact that he needed or wanted it proved he couldn't be a true "God" - an omniscient and omnipresent entity shouldn't need anyone's validation.
After a long time in the dark, I finally regained some sense of bodily movement. Just a little. It felt as if I had a body, but it refused to move much. I was quite confused as to my exact predicament.
Eventually, after some contemplation, I realized what was happening. It was more proof that Being X was not the "God" he claimed to be. What God had to resort to deception? I was now aware that I had, once again, reincarnated. I remembered this feeling from my second life and could tell I was inside the womb of my new mother.
Where was the claimed destruction of my soul? If Being X really wanted my faith, he was doing a poor job of it. Cursed Being X.
The day arrived when I was finally able to see the world. Cries of a baby filled the room - not mine, of course; I recognized the sound from the other side.
"Both of them are born healthy!" the medic-nin exclaimed in joy.
Kushina shed tears of relief and happiness as the twin was delivered. However, the medic-nin's expression turned to a frown.
"Oh no… why isn't she crying?" The ninja looked at baby Tsuyu, whose eyes were already open and seemingly locking eyes with her.
I supposed I had to act accordingly. I swallowed my pride as an adult to produce a fake baby cry.
Uwaaa. Uwaaaaaa~
The medic-nin let out a sigh of relief. She had just planned to slap my butt, I was sure, but I was spared from the spanking.
Minato looked at both of his children. A son AND a daughter? He felt surprised and happy at the same time.
"I am a father of two..." he muttered, wiping away the tears that were threatening to fall.
Minato approached to see his daughter, but the lady went past him to give the newborn Tsuyu to the red-haired woman, Kushina. Kushina turned her gaze from baby Naruto at her side to Tsuyu, placed on the other.
"Tsuyu… I get to see you too, finally…" Kushina looked at the baby, who was nearly identical to Naruto: blue eyes, blonde hair like Minato, and barely visible whiskers on her cheeks. Her eyes were a little lighter than Naruto's.
'Tsuyu, my new name.' Tanya tried the name in her mind. Not bad, she guessed.
In my mind, I was assessing the situation. The good thing was that I had parents this time. As for the language, it was a familiar Japanese that brought a sense of nostalgia. Though she couldn't help but calculate what were the chances that she was reborn as a japanese again out of all races and universes in the world. Clearly this was all pre-planned by Being X.
Though it was peculiar; whatever my place of birth was, it didn't seem like a typical hospital. Is this a backward world I've reincarnated into?
I couldn't move my head much, especially wrapped in clothes. I heard the cry of the baby who had been annoying me for a long time - my twin sibling, who's name I identified as Naruto. That was something new. However, having a sibling was not relevant - or so she believed.
The two medic-nin went to take Naruto and me away while Minato prepared to close the weakened seal. Just as I was mentally preparing for the monotonous life of an infant, my soul felt a strike of incoming danger.
Screams erupted, followed by the sound of flesh being cut and blood spurting. A terrifying presence caught my body just as the person carrying me fell dead. Even Tsuyu couldn't help but let out a scream of shock.
"Lady Biwako! Taji!" Minato called out in shock.
A man in an ominous mask held both babies in one hand. Inside, I was screaming and cursing Being X, though it only sounded like a baby crying. I looked at the sharp blade pointed at my neck, feeling death closing in again.
I HAD JUST BEEN REBORN! AND I AM JUST A BABY! THAT CURSED B—
I had never entered such a ridiculous situation before, even in my past two lives! Being X really took things to a new ridiculous level!
Minato inspected the opponent, readying a kunai. Despite his seemingly calm appearance, his heart rate and the trembling hand showed how terrified he was when his own children lives were at stake. The masked man placed the blade closer to us, threatening Minato.
"Fourth Hokage. Get away from the Jinchuriki now," he said in a deep voice. "Otherwise, their lives end."
"Wait! Calm down!" Minato tried to control the situation.
"Hmph. I am as calm as I can be." The man tossed both of us into the air.
I cursed Being X like a mantra as I felt I was falling to my death. Minato threw a kunai to the ceiling and instantly teleported to catch us both. I was shocked - instantaneous movement! Teleportation! Even in my previous world with mana, this was not possible. I felt a fleeting sense of security having a father who could use such powerful magic. My mind constantly calculating the chances that his father would win.
"Now, what will you do about that?" the masked man smirked, making a hand seal.
Zzzttt…
Explosive tags stuck to Naruto and me began to burn. Minato was unphased - with light-speed reaction, Minato teleported to grab them, instantly escape the space, and tossed the explosive cloth aside, protecting us with his own body from the coming explosion. He cushioned the impact, injuring his leg with a splinter just to keep us safe.
All this happened under 1 second, and only now I realized the masked man had placed bombs on literal babies!
'This was a war crime! It was worse than a war crime!'
Minato teleported us to our home, placing Naruto and me on the bed. "You will be safe here… Wait for me and mother, okay?"
Naruto's crying subsided at his words. Minato looked at me, noting how I was locking eyes with him as if I were analyzing him.
"It seems my daughter is a smart one. And not scared," Minato smiled. "I feel like you can understand me..."
His face turned serious, and he disappeared in a flash to save Kushina.
After some time, Minato reappeared with Kushina in his arms. I was getting used to the sudden teleportation, but I saw how weak my mother appeared. I had a foreboding feeling.
Kushina was laid next to us, her hand stretching out to hold us both. Looking into her eyes, I could sense it: her life was coming to an end. It would be a lie to say I didn't feel bitter, though it was mostly due to the inconveniences that would follow.
Minato donned his Hokage cloak. "I will be coming back..." He disappeared again.
Just then, the ground trembled. A roar that sounded like a literal monster reached my ears, causing my scalp to tingle. My twin brother let out a cry of dread. I couldn't even bother about Naruto gripping my arm because the sound was terrifying.
The destruction outside drew closer. Kushina held onto us, wanting to feel us one last time before her life gave out. I felt a sense of pity, but there was nothing I could do. I tried to muster my mana like I used to, but I couldn't. It was as if I had none at all.
Just then, Minato teleported in and snatched us away right before a massive claw destroyed our home. When I adjusted to my surroundings, I finally saw the monster: an orange, nine-tailed fox the size of Godzilla, rampaging through everything.
My mind shook. I cursed Being X like a mantra out of habit.
Through the chaos, Minato eventually used a seal to take the Yin half of the monster's power. Instead of taking it into himself, he decided to entrust it to me. His gut told him he could trust his daughter with it; the intelligence in my eyes suggested I would be able to control the evil energy.
Using an Eight Trigrams Seal, he sealed the Yin Kurama into me. The fox, enraged at being split, thrust a claw toward me on the altar. Like a skewer, my parents were pierced through to protect me.
I was baffled at the absurdity of it all. My father had just sealed a Godzilla-sized demon into my infant body. I had thought he was reliable, but now I only wanted to curse him. How could you do this to your own child?! I DON'T WANT IT!
But my cries fell on deaf ears. The other half of the monster, the Yang half, was entrusted to Naruto.
'Being X… I have to say, you've outdone yourself, I thought in resignation. I just wanted a peaceful, leisurely life… is it really so hard?'