Darkness Falls

A/N- Hello and welcome to the first in a long line of X-overs. This one happens to be InuYasha/Naruto.

I don't own either of these but is sure is fun playing with them!

'Thoughts'

I hope you guys like this!

Prologue: It Is Time

Tsunade had deserved this break, because of Shizune she was forced into doing a month's worth of work in a week. She had been so angry that she spent four days straight without sleep and now that she had finished the last of the papers, she was taking a break.

And if anyone said otherwise, they would get a fist to the face.

Smirking at her own thoughts, Tsunade shifted upon her perch. She was currently seated upon the top of her grandpa's place on the Hokage Mountain.

The afternoon sun was warm and a rather gentle breeze was blowing past, leaning back in her sitting position Tsunade let her eyes scan the village, a soft smile slowly made it's way on her face as thoughts of a blonde haired blue eyed brat came to mind.

Tsunade could swear that she must be going soft. Ever since she met the little twerp and given him the hokage necklace, she felt responsible for his safety. Heck, she had even gone so far as to appoint one of her best anbu black ops to shadow Naruto and tell her if someone so much as spit in his direction, let alone hurt him in any way.

'I guess you could call me the idiot's surrogate mother…' her smile dissolved at that thought though, as the memory of her brother and love came to mind.

This was the least she could do to commemorate their sacrifices, 'Naruto might be a moron in some respects, but he loves this village.' Tsunade felt confidant that one day she could pass over the protection of the village to the blonde.

"Hell, that'll be the day!" Unable to contain her laughter, Tsunade took a long drag on the bottle of sake she had managed to pilfer from the local bar, it wasn't really stealing, after all, she is the hokage of the village.

A sudden sound of footsteps from behind her cut Tsunade's thoughts short. Slowly she slid one of her hands into her robes as not to alert whoever it was, gripping the smooth handle of a hidden kunai, Tsunade tensed her muscles and prepared herself for an attack.

But it never came.

The footsteps became steady as they approached at a slow but not stealthy pace. This person wanted Tsunade to know they were there.

Feeling that the chance of a threat had passed, Tsunade pulled her hand out of her robes and pushed against the ground, pulling herself to her feet. Dusting off her pant legs, Tsunade turned to face her 'guest' but what greeted her had her eyes growing wide in surprise.

Before her was a woman. It was clear by the way the cloak wrapped about her form. Coming to a stop just within touching distance, the woman stopped and dropped down onto one knee. As she did this, a long mane of silver hair tumbled out from the hood of the cloak.

Curious, Tsunade crossed her arms as she eyed the woman closely while she spoke, "who are you and what is your business with me?" Tsunade's tone was clipped, clearly stating her irritation.

The woman shifted to where she was on both her knees as she reached up and pulled the hood of her cloak back, revealing a beautiful woman with blue amber eyes, silver hair and a red crescent shaped moon mark on her forehead.

"Hokage-sama, my name is Sai. I come to you with an urgent message from my village. We are in need of your assistance and cooperation, I humbly ask that you hear me out before making any decisions." Her voice was deep and melodic as she spoke in clear cultured tones, Tsunade would have thought that she was there a just a friendly greeting, but the seriousness within her eyes was enough to dissuade such a thought from Tsunade's mind.

Letting out a sigh, Tsunade returned to sitting Indian style as she took a quick swig of her almost forgotten sake, 'just when I thought that I'd finally get a day off…damn it sucks being the hokage sometimes.'

Setting the bottle down, Tsunade rested her chin in her left palm lazily as she locked eyes with the woman, this 'Sai.'

"First, what village are you from and second, what is this message?"

Sai seemed to relax at her words as she let out a deep breath, her shoulders dropped lightly as she turned her head, her eyes focusing on some point in the distance.

"I am one of the leaders of the village of Darkness and was chosen to seek out help from the neighboring villages. You are the only one thus far that has allowed me the right to speak and for this I thank you." Sai gave a soft bow of her head as she turned back to face Tsunade.

"The urgent message that I spoke of is that we wished to request you to send eight of your strongest single ninja men to our village. You see, our village is made up of only female children. Most were abandoned and brought there because there was nowhere else for them, some are our children, such as one of my own."

Tsunade frowned at Sai's words, what she was saying didn't make complete sence, "wait, you mean to tell me that there is not one single guy in your whole village?" At Sai's nod, Tsunade shook her head, "I don't see how that can be possible. You just said that one of the village girls is your own daughter, if this is so, then where is the girl's father? Or that of any of the other's?"

Sai chuckled bitterly as she gave Tsunade a sad look, "my husband is dead. He died a long time ago, but to answer your question, several hundred years ago a curse was placed upon my village. It allows only females to enter and live in the village, but there is a loophole. It will allow strong single men to pass through, but they may only stay for a short while, a year at most. If they attempt to remain any longer, then their lives will be forfeit and they will die."

Finally getting a little bit of the picture, Tsunade made a mental note to research on curses and the village of Darkness later, maybe then she could find out just what was going on. But until then, she needed to hear the rest of Sai's reason for approaching her and this village.

"Alright, I can understand that. But why do you want some of my ninja's to go to your village. Certainly there are other's nearer or more willing to take up this task."

Sai tensed at Tsunade's words as her eyes hardened, "I see. Well, the village's near our own know of this curse and refuse to risk it, they turned us away in fear and hatred. Also, their ninja's are weak and would never survive the trial. I know there are some exceptional young men here that would suit our purposes perfectly."

Pausing for a moment, Sai reached into her cloak and pulled out a rolled up piece of parchment, she handed it over to Tsunade gently as her eyes softened slightly.

"I understand why you are hesitant to accept. But I swear that if you do accept our request, then I will explain everything in great detail. Anything you wish to know will be revealed to you, but if you do not accept, then regretfully I must move onto the next village. The choice is yours, Tsunade, hokage of Konoha."

Humming lightly to herself in contemplation, Tsunade unrolled the parchment and quickly scanned the elegantly scrawled writing.

It was a contract of sorts.

One that stated that their villages were entering in on an agreement and that for one year's time, no more, no less. The chosen candidates were to take up residence within the village of Darkness with its women. After the year had passed, the ninja would be released and the contract dissolved forthwith. Her signature was all that was needed to make the contract take place.

"So basically, the eight I pick will pretty much become ninja's of your village until the year is up then their free to go?" Sai nodded her head as she pulled out a pen and passed it to Tsunade, "our village ninja are experts in their own right and we would find fine uses for your ninja, all in all, it will be like sending them on a mission to our village as a sign of peace. But most importantly, they must take this mission of their own free will. If even one is forced to go, then the contract is void."

Tsunade nodded her head in understanding as she gave the contract one more once over before she lifted the pen and began to sign but she stopped as a thought suddenly hit her, looking up at Sai, Tsunade gave her a questioning look.

"Just wondering, if we don't have enough for eight ninja's to be sent, would the contract permit me to ask a ninja from a neighboring village to go?" Sai just smiled as she gave Tsunade an amused look, "of course. As I said before, as long as they volunteer then they may go."

Pleased with Sai's words, Tsunade resumed her task and with a snap of her wrist, the deal was done. Her signature now on the contract, Tsunade rolled it up and handed it back to Sai, a smirk lighting her lips after the latter put the parchment and pen back into her cloak.

"Now since that's been taken care of, it's time to seal this my way, with a drink." Holding the bottle of sake before Sai, Tsunade's smirk only deepened when Sai gave her a confused look, "what pray tell, is that?"

Shaking her head Tsunade shoved the bottle forcefully into Sai's grip, "who cares, just drink it." Grudgingly, Sai lifted the bottle and took a tentative sniff of its contents, finding nothing wrong with the liquid Sai took a small sip and passed the bottle back to Tsunade.

"There, that wasn't that bad was it…" taking a swig herself, Tsunade gave Sai a curious look, "now…tell me about this village of yours…"

A/N- And there it is! I hope that you guys liked it...if so, please review.

Until next time!

Ja!