You know how Sakura from Naruto has Inner Sakura? Well, what if Inner Sakura was more than a manifestation of Sakura's unexpressed thoughts and emotions? What if the Haruno's were a lesser known shinobi clan with a kekkei genkai of their own that is a very subtle ability?
Consider this. What if Haruno's naturally have a tendency towards excellent chakra control? But what if in order to master this they also have to have excellent restraint over themselves? Sometimes to the point of repressing many of their emotions or even certain aspects of their personality that they keep hidden from others? Or just aren't as visible on surface level? We all have our "shadow selves" after all.
And let's say that all those repressed urges take on a life of their own, either usually around puberty or in response to a stressful or emotional event? And it's in the form of a sentient tulpa who exists to protect and assist the shinobi in battle? The tulpa is not a separate personality. It is for all intents and purposes "them"...just a side of the shinobi in question we don't get to see very often.
Here's an example. Let's say you have a young genin boy from the Haruno clan. Let's call him Tsutsuji Haruno. Let's give him very strict parents who always push him to strive towards academic perfection. Outwardly he may seem very mature for his age, reserved, quiet, rule abiding, and studious. But on the inside all he wants is to just be allowed to be a kid.
And let's say his tulpa awakens around the age of thirteen and it contains all the repressed aspects of his psyche as well as his unexpressed emotions...exaggerated a hundred fold. His "inner self" or tulpa would be very childish, rebellious, likes to run his mouth, expressive and a bit of a troublemaker.
Now let's take a look at Part 1 Sakura. She's shy (at least outwardly), self conscious, afraid to speak her mind, lacks confidence, and tries to act all cute to get people to like her. Inner Sakura is loud, confident, more assertive, quick to anger, and confrontational.
What if the inner selves acted as a protective mechanism of sorts towards their shinobi and have strength that is at least twice what the shinobi normally possesses? And what if the more repressed that person is, the more freakishly powerful their inner self becomes?
Sometimes the inner selves look slightly different than the actual shinobi to fit their personality. For instance, what if Inner Sakura has messier hair to showcase her fiery disposition?
However, sometimes one head us better than two. Sometimes the tulpa will become too powerful and try to either overtake or outright attack their "host" or perhaps go out of control and end up sabotaging their life in other ways. In this case the shinobi is faced with the option of being overtaken or possibly killed/maimed/sabotaged by their inner self...or merging with it.
Merging can help the shinobi in question grow both in strength and skill but also as a person. They become more well rounded and balanced as a result. For instance...say Sakura merged with Inner Sakura. You would end up with a more assertive, hot-headed girl like you see in the first season of Naruto shippuden.
Alternatively, say that bookish goody-goody OC I made up on the spot earlier merges with his if shit gets real. Tsutsuji ends up as knowing that there is a time for work...but also a time for play. He might become more outgoing, carefree, humorous and actually develop a bit of a backbone. A proper amount of assertiveness without being too mouthy.
And what if these tulpa creatures are why all the Harunos give their kids flower or plant-oriented names? Because the hypothetical merge represents an individual "coming into oneself". Or, if you want to get more metaphorical...blooming.
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
germansingergirl
tangentwithtanner
titsay
