Summary: Konoha gets some unexpected visitors in the form of a nukenin and a miko.

AN: Disclaimer in chapter 1

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...ooO Unexpected Visitors Ooo...

The dark haired man resisted the urge to sigh as he adjusted his burden. He really wished he could drag it behind him but his companion would disapprove.

She caught his eye and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll get there, make the delivery, and leave."

He snorted. "They won't let us leave. Forget that, they won't let us enter."

She merely laughed. "They won't stop us because they won't see us."

That raised a flicker of interest. "Genjutsu?"

She frowned. "Not exactly. They won't see us because we won't be there." She gestured at the air around them. "We are traveling in a void, slightly out of phase with your birth reality."

"My birth reality? Surely it is yours as well… Or is it you were never born?"

She laughed. "This isn't my reality. I'm not sure if it is my birth world, it definitely isn't my birth time. When I made my bargain I cut all ties to serve a greater purpose. Mostly protecting and teaching key individuals. Once my duty was done I would leave." Her expression turned sad. "I have no family or friends, just memories." Her expression lightened. "But now I have you."

He didn't believe it. How could he make such a difference for her? How could he matter to someone who never knew of him until a few weeks back.

He stared at her with red eyes. She didn't flinch from the cool invasive gaze. After a while he broke first and nodded.

"Hai. You have me."

- - -

Tsunade sighed as she sneaked a sip from her stash of sake. It wasn't a good idea to drink so early in the day but there was no way she could approach the paperwork waiting for her without a little bit of 'relaxation'.

She was on her second cup when it happened. Disaster.

"Obaa-chan!!! He's here!!" A blonde whirlwind slammed the door open evading her hapless Chuunin assistants-doorkeepers.

Tsunade sputtered and mourned the sake spilling down her front.

"What are you doing brat?!! I was working!!!"

Naruto wrinkled his nose. "Sure sure… But this is more important! He's here. Outside the gates."

Tsunade frowned. She could practically smell the fear and tension from her little brother. Few people, mainly enemies, could elicit that response from him.

"Who is here?"

"Uchiha Itachi. And he has Sasuke with him."

Her blood chilled in her veins.

Tsunade took a swig directly from the bottle. She needed more than one measly serving to survive this disaster.

- - -

Kagome frowned. The people here were so rude! She sneaked a peek at her companion. At least he wasn't taking offense with them. Feeling irked she caught the eye of one of the glarers and frowned disapprovingly. To her surprise it worked. He looked away quickly.

A few tense minutes later the group outside the walls was joined by a spiky-haired blonde.

"Godaime-sama is coming." After making his report he edged away from them.

Kagome frowned. The boy was emitting youki. Lots of it.

Curious she studied the other wary Konoha nins. A few of them emitted low-levels of youki. Somewhere in their ancestry was a youkai parent. She pulled out pad of foolscape paper and a graphite pencil to make notes. Later when she had the time she would transcribe it to her journal. This world was a strange blend of the Feudal Era and her birth time. There were huge gaps in their history that made Kagome wonder if she was on her Earth at all.

She felt the tension rise in her companion though he didn't move a muscle. Resisting the urge to sigh she put away her writing implements and rose up from her boulder-seat.

- - -

Tsunade forced herself to move slowly. It wouldn't do to rush and give weight to the opponent. By the time she reached the Walls she had a plan to deal with Itachi.

She took in the situation, the understandable tension, the restrained prodigy-avenger-traitor, the collected prodigy-betrayer, the quiet female companion.

"Why are you here Itachi?"

He glanced at his companion who stepped forward into the bright sun. She was a small slender female wearing a dark blue hakama and a sky blue haori. The rings atop her brass capped staff jingled as she walked. She clearly didn't need the support but carried it with the ease of much practice. Probably a weapon user.

She moved closer to the Godaime ignoring the killing intent and tension until she stood just a few feet away. She cocked her head to one side and smiled brightly. It was an open congenial smile very much like ones from Naruto.

"Tsunade-sama? My name is Higurashi Kagome. Though it won't change the past Itachi wishes to make amends for what he did when under Chikoshun. He has no desire to follow through on old plans. As a gesture of good faith we've brought gifts." She glanced at the Uchiha Betrayer who tossed a canvas sack to the ground.

The material unraveled to reveal a head with gold eyes. A very familiar head. The eyes were wide open, the facial expression frozen into a rictus of terror.

"Orochimaru!!" Tsunade wasn't sure who spoke the cursed name.

Higurashi pretended not to hear and continued. "Second is his brother." She gestured at the unconscious bound and gagged form on the ground behind her. "I removed the Cursed Seal and purified the remnants of the youki from him. His mind is not very stable though, he has been focused on revenge for so long. To show good faith we brought him to Konoha instead of dumping him in the forest. Do what you can to stabilize him. If he comes after Itachi or myself I will kill him. The only reason why he is still alive is because Itachi feels responsible." Those pleasant smiling eyes turned cold. "I do not care for ningen who make deals for power. Now that we are done we shall be leaving."

The hakama clad figure turned away and began walking leisurely. She was joined by the Akatsuki survivor, Konoha missing-nin.

Everyone stared at the head and unconscious Uchiha. A pair that took down Sound nin and the Snake Sannin and the Curse-empowered Prodigy.

They couldn't just leave! But who would dare stand up to them?

"Wait!" Naruto exploded into motion and chased the couple down. "You can't just leave like that! What the hell is Chikoshun! Why is Itachi alive and all the other Akatsuki dead?! How did you kill Orochimaru? How did you remove the Cursed Seal from Sasuke?! Who are you?! Why is Kyuubi so afraid of you?!" The reckless Chuunin jumped high, angling to land in front of them.

Just when he reached out to grab the older woman her companion intervened.

Itachi moved swiftly and redirected the Konoha shinobi so he landed a few meters away.

"Don't do that." It was the first words Tsunade heard from the missing-nin.

"Why?" Naruto wanted to know. He knew the elder Uchiha could have easily re-directed him so he landed badly, to suffer from broken bones or internal injuries.

"If you touch her you'll be destroyed from within, your chakra coils will explode. Even Kyuubis healing will not save you." Itachi warned.

Narutos eyes widened. "Like the Akatsuki."

Itachi inclined his head. "Don't touch Kagome unless you are willing to risk death."

Naruto frowned. "Then how come you're alive?!"

Red Sharingen eyes glanced at Kagome who shrugged. A slight crease marred his smooth brow.

"It is a long story and we need to get going."

"Then why don't you stay and tell me?" Naruto whined. "I'm sure Obaa-chan will spring for two hotel rooms since you did kill the Snake Freak and bring Sasuke back."

Tsunade choked and sweat-dropped.

"NAAARUUUTOOOO!!"

"Well its true! And don't you want to know what happened? It must have been some powerful jutsu - killing Akatsuki and Orochimaru." The blonde genin whined. "You even said you'd buy dinner for the shinobi who helped to kill the Snake Freak."

Tsunade growned but conceded. And she was curious. She looked at the couple straight.

"The gaki is right. I'm willing to grant one week temporary asylum to Uchiha Itachi in return for a complete report. On everything. Condition he doesn't attack Konohans, unless attacked." She smiled. "I'll even throw in housing and meals for a week."

The pair looked at each other then at the Hokage before speaking as one.

"Agreed."

...ooOoo...

TBC…

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AN: Chikoshun a made up word meaning Blood Lust, or Blood Rage.

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