Prompt: Kagome being a big sister/mother figure to Naruto
Even when the entire village turned against the boy, she was determined not to leave him all alone in this cruel world. So, keeping her head high, Kagome took the boy in without a second thought. Under her watch and care, the boy named Naruto blossomed into a decent boy—still mischievous but it was easy to note that he was much less hyperactive than before. Less desire to be destructive that only a lonely boy could be.
Although it was clear that she wasn't incapable of being a nin herself, she wasn't from anywhere that'd produce any actual history. She simply showed up one day, wounded, and after a thorough interrogation, investigation, and some patching up, the old Hokage gave her an all clear to settle in his village. But she was still tailed with a cloud of suspicions.
It worsened when she took in Naruto, seemingly without a second thought.
But, really, she was already stunned. Kagome saw no reason to stun any other, especially to a little boy. What saved their skins from being mobbed though were the Hokage, who declared heavy penalties if anyone dared to harm her and the boy. His declarations didn't stop the vicious villagers and nins from being sneaky with their attacks.
It wouldn't be the first time Kagome came home either bruises and/or without foods she intended to get. And it wouldn't be the first time Naruto cried at the sight of his big sister hurt. But, neither would let go of each other. She would always find something to make a meal, not quite decent but one nonetheless, for the boy and refuses it for herself.
"Ne, ne, don't cry. I'll be fine!" Kagome shushed Naruto's sniffing, "Eat, okay? I'll get more food tomorrow."
With a long noisy sniff he wiped away his tears and snot, "But you hadn't eaten in a while…"
She chuckled, rubbing into his wild hair, and pressing a kiss onto his forehead, "I'll be fine~it's not the first time I went without, and I don't think it'll be my last. I'm bigger and older, so I'll be fine~" Booping onto Naruto's nose, Kagome gave a wink, "I'll ask Mr. Ramen guy to see if he can give me some small job or two. If we get lucky, we'll get a nice bowl of noodles too!"
Laughing through his crying at Kagome's positivity, Naruto bobbed his head, "Okay."
Roughing his hair again, she shooed him, "Eat, then you wash up and hit the sack."
Kagome didn't plan on ever leaving the boy alone.
Yes, she was well aware that Naruto was the container of a powerful fox spirit, but she wasn't blind to see what'd happen if the boy was continuously rejected. That was just lighting the fuel to the explosion, should he become so angry the fox would take over. A loved one would stay, the hated one would destroy.
It was rather a simple concept, but apparently the many others weren't capable of realizing that. A hive mind is a dangerous thing. She knew that well enough. Biting back a sigh Kagome grinned at Naruto, who giggled in return, and rolled to her feet to wash the dishes and pots in the sink.
Humming a quiet lullaby Kagome absently heard Naruto's clanging of his empty bowl, "I'm done, Nee-san!"
She looked back, still with suds of soap in her hands, and saw a dirty-faced Naruto at the table. Taking his bow, Kagome laughed, "Go wash up and go to bed! I'll check on you in a minute."
Shouting out a confirmation Naruto bounced away and only then Kagome let out a hiss of wince. Stopping the running water, intending to leave dirtier objects in the soapy flood in the sink, she stepped away and wiped off the wetness on her apron. Peeling it off and tossed it onto a hook she was passing by, Kagome cupped onto her ribs.
"Damn, they're not kind today." She muttered, shaking her head, as she stepped outside onto the balcony. Kagome supposed she was lucky to get a comfy apartment from a surprisingly kind if not grouchy lady. The woman was much too jaded to care about the fact that she had an accursed boy living in her building. To her the boy was just a kid—a runt but a kid nonetheless.
She clenched onto the iron fence, she eyed upward to the black sky, "Itachi-san, do you must insist on following us around?"
Something dropped right next to her, and the tall male in a standard nin set up straightened up. Pulling aside his mask to eye the slim woman Itachi sighed, "It's my duty to report everything to the Hokage, Kagome-sama."
"Tch, so that meant those groups are in deep shit then…" Kagome rolled her shoulders, before immediately regretting it.
Itachi paused, before he shook his head, "Let me see to your wounds. I'll take you to a medic if it's bad." Before Kagome could protest, he hooked a finger under her shirt and pushed it up as far he could get without ruining her modesty.
"If you were anyone else, I'd slap you into the kingdom comes!" She muttered harshly, her face red. Kagome though allowed Itachi to prod her dark-colored blotchy side, with her tightening fists.
He snorted, thumbing across a large bruise, "I highly doubt you're capable of throwing me that far, girl." Before long Itachi dropped her shirt and crossed his arms, thoughtfully, "You're rather a sturdy little thing, aren't you?"
Kagome rubbed her side, grumbling but otherwise not saying much to Itachi's idle comment.
"Since you're not in an immediate need of attention, I'll take you to the medic tomorrow." She dropped a deep sigh of relief, before the nin continued, "Though, they will take images of your bruises. I do not think the Hokage would take lightly to what the offenders did to you once he get the wind of this incident."
Muttering she accepted, "Fine, as long as Naruto is in school then. He got enough to worry about at his age." At a rising brow she frowned, "He deserved some semblance of a childhood."
Itachi didn't answer, not revealing his thoughts. He pulled back on his mask, "You should head to bed now. The boy is bound to look for you." The nin hopped onto the fence and crouched in the preparation of departing, "In the meantime, put some ice on your rib."
Throwing a backward wave, Kagome turned and slipped back inside, "As you say, captain. G'night." She drew the sliding glass door close and shut the curtains, just a breath-second before Itachi vanished.
Bounding across the roofs, Itachi had an itch to scratch.
Having been on this duty for over half a year, he found Kagome to be a fascinating little thing. Initially thinking his duty would be boring, Itachi's mind was changed quick at the girl's fire and quick wit. Had she any proper training and education she'd make for a fine nin.
It was an ongoing topic back and forth between the Hokage and he. The Hokage had been considering assigning a teacher to help Kagome, once Naruto is of age to enroll into the academy. The girl was much too old to be a student there, but there were alternatives. The Hokage was in the process of going through which would be best suited for her still.
Itachi wouldn't admit he was eager to see Kagome's progress, her potentials, to see her true worthiness.
Until then he didn't mind taking care of her nasty opponents.