Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or it's characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Naruto or it's characters, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Author's Notes: This story contains certain tropes - IE: Kagome in the role of Big sister/mother to Shippo, damsel in distress, etc, then I don't fucking care. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
Author's Notes 2: Age Notices: Kagome: 16, Shippo: 5, Sango: 21, Miroku: 23, Kakashi 26, Ibiki: 27, Itachi: 18, Rookie 9: 12-13, Team Gai: 14, Gai: 27.
Ibiki watched as Miroku moved about the stateroom they were going to use for the meeting. A meeting that had been put on hold for two weeks. Waiting for Jiraiya and Naruto to return with Tsunade. And Kagome had readily agreed since Tsunade was to be the new Hokage and didn't want to repeat this a second time. Even if the comedic factor would be hilarious, he had found in the two weeks the girl and her Kit, as she called the small kitsune, was slightly sadistic at times.
Though he had been concerned about them being accosted after Kagome had been released, only to find that Kagome had removed the little slip of paper, causing the window to clear and open, Shippo snickering at his reaction as Kagome hissed at him to pick her up and get them out of there. The girl was not what she appeared. The fact she was giddy as he jumped out the window and ran across the tops of buildings before Anbu picked up on the fact that they had left the Hospital.
Arriving at his small two-bedroom apartment, Ibiki had set Kagome down to release all the traps, which had both of the two in shock. Though Shippo asked why he had such weak illusions on the door, it shocked him before Shippo willingly offered that Kitsunes' specialize in Illusions on top of controlling plants. His little chest all puffed out as Ibiki opened the door and slipped in to release even more tripwire and exploding tags.
The conversation that night had been rather enlightening. Kagome didn't hesitate to launch into a full-blown lecture. Saying that she knew he had the Reiki in his body, though it felt different. This had shocked him much. He knew he was good at ninjutsu and Genjutsu. A bit above average with the Taijutsu. Then she had patted him on the arm and continued to explain that his Reiki was mixed and molded with his chakra.
He had asked her if that was why he could see the Lilac halo around her body, as well as felt a kinship with her and the Monk Miroku. She had smiled so warmly, and gently it had almost stunned him. Before she had said yes, then asked for food that was not Ramen and a shower. The change of pace was rather fast; he had just pointed to the bathroom, telling her that his spare bathing supplies were under the sink cabinet. Just to walk into the Kitchenette and start a simple dinner of vegetable stir fry.
"What is he doing again?" Tsunade asked in hushed tones.
A soft laugh came from Kakashi as he replied. "Placing Ofuda throughout the room at the major points and a few other key locations. They will keep people from lying and speaking about what is mentioned in the meeting, Tsunade."
It had taken a few times to explain that they had a real holy man and a legit Miko in their midst. Of course, it took Kagome purifying all the Sake out of Tsunade's system in less than ten seconds to make her start to believe that. Her reaction to Shippo had been rather comical when she realized that the boy had the feet of a fox, one fluffy tail she had picked him up by before he had sat her with a little stone statue that grew to a decent size. Just to have Kagome chastised him for his prank.
Though he saw that Kakashi kept a blank face, giving nothing away as a good shinobi did. Ibiki was well aware of the fact that Kakashi had been watching over Naruto his whole life, dealing with the aftermath of the Jinchuuriki's pranks. It was only fair that Tsunade gets an idea of what was going to happen with Naruto. The thought had Ibiki internally groaning. Two weeks of dealing with a tiny little bundle of energy were hell. The Kit had pranked tons, as well as somehow found everything he had stashed away to keep private. Little thief in the making is what Shippo was.
"I am done placing the main Ofuda around the room. If you would all like to bring in everyone else?" Miroku asked, his violet eyes glinting darkly in an almost sadistic type of glee. "I will activate them all when the door is shut, and the last person is seated."
Looking at Tsunade, Ibiki waited until the new Hokage gave a small nod of her head as she sat at the head of the large table. His eyes flicked around the room. Then with long strides, Ibiki went to the door and opened it, looking out to the gathered Elders, Leaders of Clans, and those on the council representing the Civilians. Then his dark eyes flicked across to the four Anbu, three Jonin Anko, Itachi, and Asuma, and two Chuunin, one who was Shikamaru Nara. The last person the third had promoted. And Ibiki had no problem with the young man. He was brilliant but lazy—the other Genma.
Stepping back, he let them all file in and sit where they belonged before moving to stand next to Kakashi behind Tsunade.
She watched as the last person was seated. Then her brown eyes flicked to the Monk. Who met her gaze as he grinned so wide, his teeth were bared as he brought his hands up, showing everyone the Ofuda. It looked to be nothing more than a strip of blended cloth and paper with ink on it. The moment his hands clapped, and he muttered a Buddhist prayer, the very air in the room changed. Tsunade stiffened as an energy that could only be called Pure washed not just over her, but through her.
Her eyes were staying passive while she wished she had a few bottles of Sake. The way the heads of all the cleans, except the Inuzuka, reacted spoke volumes. Confirming what Kagome and Miroku had told her yesterday after she had been forced to a state of soberness by the young woman. While others shifted uncomfortably, Tsunade let her eyes dart to the two elders and Danzo. She was not particularly fond of Homura or Koharu and loathed Danzo with almost everything in her body. The look on the former two faces was shocking. While Danzo looked to be almost in pain, making Tsunade wonder why?
She was slamming her hand down on the table, causing it to jump off the floor and land with a loud bang. Tsunade smiled widely as she got them to quiet and give her all their attention.
"Now, before everyone acts like a simple-minded child, I think I will let Miroku explain what just happened," she said, feeling her lips curl up into a predatory smile, making those present cringe back visibly. "Monk, explain."
The soft cough from Miroku at how she addressed him to let her know he was both amused and offended. Then he stepped forward and held up the Ofuda strip in his hand, so the words on it were clear.
"I have set up a barrier around the room, so no one outside this room can hear what is being said inside this room. And if it is bugged, they are now disabled. Meaning no one can hear or record this meeting. As well as made it so that when this is over, none of you will be able to speak a word about what is said here. If you do, you will find that you'll choke on air, spit, even your tongues," Miroku explained, his voice rich and full of amusement. "But also and most importantly, no one in this room can lie or omit anything if asked a direct question."
Leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms under her breast as she let her eyes met each person's gaze individually. Tsunade was already enjoying the discomfort in the room. Of course, the quiet brought on by the Monk's words didn't last long. Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan, stood to address all gathered.
"And just why were we not informed that something like this was going to be done? Who gave the right to do this? What purpose will this serve?" He demanded.
Tsunade could answer, but she looked towards Kagome. Who caught her eyes and gave a small nod of her head before stepping forward to stand between her and Miroku.
"Because I wanted it. Why tell you so you could try to sweet-talk someone not to do it? And as the person of interest who has to be the unwilling center of attention in a village that is keeping me a prisoner, I figured it was fair game. Why? You have something you want to hide?" Kagome said in a soft, sweet, polite voice that was just as cold as steel pressed into the neck. "I figure sir that if I have to answer your questions and divulge information that I deserved a fair trade. Especially after so many of your people tried to harm my Kit. Besides, due to what I am, I am unable to lie. again a fair trade, tit for tat as they say!"
The heavyweight that seemed to chain everyone in the room down was impressive. Tsunade wondered just exactly who this girl and her friends were? The brief report she got about how they acquired Kagome was still something else—seeing the Ghost of the Third Hokage. His final orders to them all.
She was slapping her hand on the table(again), causing not just the table to jump but those sitting around it, looking very disgruntled. Tsunade again gave them all a predatory smile. "Then let this meeting begin. Kagome, if you will start, please."
The small hum that came from Kagome in ascent.
He was astounded by what the girl was saying—divulging, even. She was very straightforward and honest. She gave a very brief explanation that was detailed, yet not. It was rather eye-opening and the fact that when questions got a bit personal, Kagome, Miroku, or Sango would turn the tables and ask rather pointed questions that had people clamping their mouths shut—having found that the Ofuda were the real deal.
Kakashi felt sweat rolling down his neck. He'd been brought into the conversation along with Ibiki though information from Missions A and above were exempt, as was village secrets. Those that asked after that were noted and would be personally seen by Ibiki later. Because only an internal leak could have given Orochimaru the heads up to plan as well as he had.
Though Kakashi was looking at Kagome with narrowed eyes as she pursed her lips as she growled deep in her throat. He had long since pulled his mask down and activated the Sharingan. As had Fugaku and Itachi. While Hizashi had his Byakugan enabled. The sight of her strange energy flowing through her body, out and over it in a swirling pattern of lilac with silver laced thought it, was impressive. That and it looked to be severely suppressed.
The sight of the girl as she glared and growled at his father was amazing. His father never had a delicate bone in his body. Itachi was sure his father didn't understand subtlety. It was evident that the girl, Kagome Higurashi, was very protective over her friends. Especially the Kitsune Kit Shippo that she said she had adopted. Asking her why she would want to taint herself with something vile.
The fact that the Kit hadn't reacted other than to stare his father down with a small frown that was far from intimidating was to be given credit. Though as the energy he saw swirling around, the petite girl seemed to swell. Itachi resisted the urge to let one corner of his mouth lift in amusement.
"Oh? You are one to speak as is every Clan leader in this room, except for the Inuzuka. You all carry the taint of a demon in your blood. If I were to flex my Reiki, my holy power, Mister high and mighty, stick up my ass, Uchiha, you'd be on the ground writhing in pain as that taint is ripped from your very DNA!" Kagome snapped as he saw her blue eyes lighten a few shades. "Besides, you all are a bunch of flipping hypocrites, to begin with. Before I passed out, I felt another Kitsune in this village. An old and powerful one. And I am far from stupid. You all sinned in the eyes of Buddha and the other Gods, sealing a demon inside a human container!"
He stiffened and narrowed his eyes at her. That was classified information. And though all the adults in the village knew who it was that held the Kyuubi no Kitsune. This girl was flinging that secret out while threatening his father, staying where he was—not wanting to be seen as a threat by the girl. He watched as the Kit reached up a shaking hand and whined as he touched her face. He was startling the girl and pulling her from her anger as she flushed.
The soft murmur of apology she gave was not for his father or those in the room. No, it was for the small boy she held. And as her face became gentle, he saw a look he hadn't seen since his brother entered the Academy. Pure adoration and love was shining on her face. Proving she cared deeply for the little kitsune. But Itachi had realized something; he was sure the others had as well. That when her emotions became strong, her holy energy swelled with it. Meaning she was not very trained. Making her dangerous, very dangerous. Anybody with power that was not trained was a liability.
It was six hours later when Kagome lifted an eyebrow as she looked at those gathered. Quite a few things had been brought to light. Stuff, a few people, had wanted not to be known. The last was the man called Danzo and why he showed such pain when her Reiki flared with her emotions. The man himself had given her a huge creep vibe like Naraku's level of creepy.
When he kept his mouth shut, Kagome had made her way to him—offering to heal him. Quickly she was denied, just to have Tsunade offer. This had the man to go on the defensive and telling her to mind her own damn business. By this time, Shippo had long left her arms. Tired and probably curious, she had warned him to behave and color.
Now, she was looking in horror at the man, who had both the Uchiha in the room practically radiating bloodlust at what they were seeing. All over his legs and arms were red eyes with three tomoe. And from the fact that both the Uchiha's had those same eyes glaring from their faces. It sickened her as she knelt and picked up Shippo, who was making a gagging noise—clearly distressed by the dark power that the man was giving off now that the bandages which had repression seals on them were off.
"Hokage, may I offer to purify the man and those eyes?" Miroku offered.
Kagome turned to look at Tsunade, letting her eyes tell the blond that she agreed. But the woman was looking at the arrogant head of the Uchiha clan. Who she noted seemed to be debating whether or not to let it happen. Narrowing her eyes as she watched, looking more at his aura because it was honest where the person was not. So, when it shifted to resignation, and the man looked at Miroku with a nod of his head, Kagome felt shocked.
Stepping back, which was like a silent que for everyone else, as Danzo was held in place already by an Ofuda. Not once, other than her emotions had she used her Reiki. Miroku had made it clear that he would be the one flexing the spiritual muscle. If she lit herself up like a beacon, she'd be bringing a whole lot of hell down on the village, which was still repairing after the attack someone who betrayed the village.
Closing her eyes, Kagome tried to shut out the screams of the man. Who she could now tell was evil to the core. Greedy, self-serving. Manipulative and deceitful. Each eye that was purified released more and more of the fetid stench of his soul. It tried to caress her soul before she focused enough on her Reiki to make a small shield around her and Shippo again. It was causing a soft murmur to erupt from those around her. Once the screaming stopped, Kagome opened her eyes and looked at the almost withered husk the man had become.
"This is what arrogance, pride, greed, lust, vanity, and wrath begets," Kagome said blandly as she let the shield drop. "And sorry about the shield if I accidentally zapped any of you. His... soul was so..., and it was trying to reach towards me."
Stepping forward and facing them, still holding Shippo, Kagome bowed briefly at the waist to show she meant what she said. Once she righted herself, she looked at everyone gathered. Her eyes were moving slowly from one person to the next and not looking at them but their auras. She was finding things that told her many things.
"If there is nothing else, I would like to retire back to Ibiki-san's apartment... I feel the need for a scalding shower and scrub about six layers of my skin from my body to feel clean," she stated. "And if no one here, or any of the villagers attack me and mine, I will talk to others freely. Since once again, it has been confirmed that I am not allowed out of this village, which is beneficial to me. The rest of my Taishi should come to find me so we can complete our mission... that I have told you all about."
When there were several slow nods, Kagome turned to look solely at the Hokage, Tsunade Senju. "If you'd allow it, I'd like to meet the child that was forced against his will to be a container for a power that by all means should have ripped him apart," she said. "Of course, only with someone whom you trust. As I know, I have a long way to go to earn, not just everyone here's trust and respect, but the Villages as well, and vice versa."
"I think it would be good for you and your Kit to meet Naruto. From what I have seen, he is just as much a hyperactive ball of energy as your boy, Shippo. Though not as well behaved or polite. Maybe you can bring him to heel?" Tsunade said to her.
Tilting her head to the side as if thinking about what was being asked and what was not, Kagome smiled widely and gave a soft laugh. "I cannot make promises I do not know if I can keep Hokage-sama. All I can tell you is I can try as I said earlier on one of the few small rants I had. Kitsune are demons. Social creatures. Curious little things that like to cause mischief by playing pranks or moving things. Attracted to those that they see as family. And are very territorial of those that they see as their own. I could be someone this Naruto won't like... not just because of my Reiki."
The smile the busty blond gave her was all she needed.
He had been shamed, put in his place. Knocked down and threatened. And he believed that it couldn't be done. The fact that there hadn't been a sense of remorse when the threat had been given left him floored. Not much impressed him at all. But this tiny slip of a girl who claimed a demon child as her own was a miko. Something unheard of for centuries. Having all died out a long time ago.
She was of the appropriate age. Though, as she just told their new Hokage, she had gone on small rants, he didn't want to see what her big ones were. Getting her favor would be hard since she already had a dismal opinion of not just him, but his clan. Of course, his rival clan was in the same graces by bringing up her age and that a girl with her talent and powers shouldn't be single and roaming around. Oh, that had been spectacular, making him think of his wife when they were younger and got so angry she was both beautiful and terrifying.
Glancing over to his son, Fugaku Uchiha began to scheme. He had two sons and a nephew that were all well within the correct age to court her. While Hizashi Hyuga only had his nephew, who if he didn't miss his guess, just made up with. Though, with Kagomes classic beauty, she would be catching the attention of a lot of men and few boys in the village. The problem he could foresee was her ability to see through people. Know almost what they were thinking and cut them off at the roots. And her appointed babysitter and guardian, Ibiki Morino.
That was one man that Fugaku had respect for. The man was head of Interrogation for a reason, with Yamanaka right behind him. He'd fought alongside Ibiki. Had been in the room while he talked to their prisoners. Never would he wish to be on the receiving end of Ibiki's treatment when he was in his zone. There was some hope in the fact that Ibiki would have to do his job, leaving Kagome alone. It would be perfect. In fact, during the attack, his youngest was bitten by Orochimaru and cursed. Mikos was like Monk's in a sense they could remove curses. Maybe that was a start.
Shooting a glance towards the girl as she talked easily with Kakashi and the head of the Aburame Clan. Eyes widen as she watched the tiny little bugs crawl out of the man and onto her hand before laughing in delight. Unfazed by the fact that chakra eating insects were on her body. Fugaku figured it would be wise to ask Itachi to be an intermediary when Kagome's blue eyes met his own and narrowed in suspicion before her attention was drawn to the little fox kit at her feet. His foot lifting and scratching behind a pointed ear as he whined about the bugs getting in his hair.
Yes, getting Itachi to be a go-between with the Hokage's permission would be perfect. Sliding his gaze towards Hizashi, who was talking with the heads of the Inuzuka and Nara clans, and two of the civilian's who had business ties to his clan. Fugaku was not stupid; he knew that the man was probably plotting as well. Then again, if the girl met Neji and learned about the Bird Cage Seal, it might be a good thing. She was too pure, innocent. She hated any harm done to others. It could be beneficial to cause her to meet Neji.
Smiling to himself, Fugaku gave a small bow to excuse himself from the group he was in. Turning to the Hokage, he was silent as their gazes met as he motioned to himself then the door. He was getting a slight tip of her chin for him to leave and got home. He did have a family to take care of after all. And he knew that Itachi would be guiding the Monk back to the main house where his wife was. If he talked to Mikoto, he was sure he could get her on board and have her politely ask a few questions about Kagomes and her preferences.
TBC!