A.N.: And here is the second chapter! I hope you all enjoy. Remember to read and review. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own either Inuyasha, Naruto, and the characters and plots associated with them. I also do not own any of the characters from Yu Yu Hakusho that might be used in future chapters. They belong to their respective authors Rumiko Takahashi, Masashi Kishimoto, Yoshihiro Togashi.

Kagome: 8

Naruto: 6

Sasuke: 6

Itachi: 11

Souta: 5

Chapter Two: Meet the Higurashi

Today was going to be a great day.

Why, you ask?

Well, today was the day Naruto would be starting the academy! Today marked the day he would be taking his first step to become a shinobi!

"Kag-chan! Wake up!" Naruto couldn't contain his excitement as he flung off the covers and jumped up from his futon. His hair was in a disarray as he turned around to see the older girl still fast asleep on her bed. He pouted when there was no response.

He looked back over to where his own futon was and saw Kagome's little brother also out like a light, the lower half of his body not even on the sleeping mat.

His eye twitched as he saw his froggy hat in the younger boy's grasp.

Why weren't they up yet?

If they kept on sleeping like this, they would all be late to his entrance ceremony!

"Souta! Come on…wake up!" The boy didn't even twitch as Naruto nudged him with his foot.

Ugh. This was not going to work. They were burning daylight!

Looking out the window to the dark winter sky, he paused.

Okay…maybe not technically.

But still. They were wasting time!

Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. His eyes brightened with mischief as he turned back to face the bed before he positioned himself and jumped onto the unsuspecting girl.

"Wake up, Kag-chan~!" he shouted as he pounced on the older girl, tickling all her weak spots. He laughed out loud as she shouted in surprise and flailed her arms and legs about.

"Gah-! Naru-kun! St-stop!" she shouted as the boy continued to attack her sides with tickles.

Souta had woken up from the racket and groggily sat up rubbing his eyes.

"Naru-nii, Nee-chan…you're too loud," he yawned the last part, still half asleep.

Naruto finally stopped his onslaught once Kagome was out of breath but stayed on her as he spoke.

"Get up, Kag-chan! We're going to be late for the academy!" he exclaimed as he watched Kagome groan from the abrupt wake up call.

"What time is it?" Kagome asked before lifting her head to see the time on the clock that was on her night stand.

Bright red numbers glared back at her.

Six in the morning.

"…Naru-kun?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"What time does the academy start today?" Naruto looked at her in confusion. "…Nine thirty?" he answered slowly.

"And what time is it now?"

Naruto was still confused as he looked at the clock she had just looked at. "…Six."

Souta, seeing the expression on his sister's face, thought it wise to leave the room. Quietly, he crept out of the room unnoticed and went straight for his own room to get some more sleep.

Naruto felt a sudden chill run down his spine as he saw the expression on Kagome's face as she spoke again.

"And what time did we go to sleep last night?" Naruto winced as he finally realized why the older girl had that scary expression.

"…Twelve in the morning…" He felt sweat drip down the back of his neck as he answered her in a timid voice.

"And why is that?" He was in danger. He could feel it. "…Because of," he gulped, "…me." He cowered, backing away from her form and off the bed.

"Na-Ru-To!"

"Ah! I'm sorry Kag-chan! I forgot about tha—Gah!"

"Ohayo, Baa-san. Jii-san. Kaa-san," Kagome cheerfully greeted two hours later as she sat down at the table for breakfast. She petted Buyo as the small kitten rubbed her leg affectionately.

"Ohayo, Kagome-chan. Did you get a good night's sleep?" they greeted back as her mother set the last dishes down on the table.

"Hai," she replied, mentally grumbling at Naruto for his rude wake-up call.

He was so going to get it later.

Her grandfather was reading the morning paper as her grandmother quietly sipped her tea.

"Where are Naruto and your brother?" Kaede, her grandmother, asked.

"Naru-kun said he'll be down in a minute," Kagome replied, smiling innocently as she did so. "Souta is still sleeping," She informed. She couldn't blame him.

If it weren't for her classes, she would have done the same. She was just glad they didn't start until nine thirty today because of the entrance ceremony.

"Oh dear. I better go wake him," her mother exclaimed, wiping her hands on her apron as she left the kitchen. "You all can start eating first," she called out as she went up the stairs.

She almost ran into Naruto as he came zipping down in a rush.

"Oh-! Careful there, Naruto-kun."

"Sorry, Rei-Ba-chan!" he apologized without stopping.

Reaching the table, he landed on his seat with a plop. "Ohayo, Baa-san, Jii-san!" he greeted in excitement.

He yelped in pain as he felt something scratch his foot. He looked under the table and saw the little kitten hissing at him.

"Sorry, Buyo. Didn't see you there." He sweatdropped as the kitty hissed at him one more time before ignoring him altogether.

He swore that kitty hated him.

"Well, aren't you all excited this morning, child," the elder miko stated with amusement as she saw his giddiness. She chuckled as Kagome's grandfather grumbled at the boy's loud greeting.

"You bet! Today's the day I take my first step to become a ninja!" Naruto beamed in happiness.

"Too much excitement for the morning, I'll say," Soichiro griped. He watched as Naruto said his blessings before proceeding to stuff his face. "Table manners, boy," he chastised and noticed the giant knot on his head. "Where did you get that bump?" he asked.

Naruto paused in his eating, setting his bowl and chopsticks down and rubbed his head in a sheepish manner. "T-this is nothing!" He stuttered, glancing at Kagome before coming up with an excuse, "I just…fell in the bathroom getting ready," he said, nervous.

"But you're not even dressed yet." The boy hadn't even changed out of his pajamas.

"I was washing my face!" he exclaimed. He sighed in relief when the elder male just looked at him in suspicion before shaking his head and continued to eat his meal, dropping the subject.

"Jii-san, Baa-san, are you coming to the entrance ceremony?" Kagome asked after swallowing her food, looking at her grandparents expectantly.

"I'll be there and I'm sure your grandfather wouldn't miss it for the world. It is Naruto's first day after all." She smiled knowingly as she glanced at said grandfather.

"I'm just going to make sure the boy doesn't get into any trouble." He coughed, embarrassed. "Can't have him ruining his first day at the academy with one of his pranks," he further explained, refusing to acknowledge Kaede's statement. He ignored her when she quietly laughed and continued to eat his breakfast.

The boy might have grown on him over the years, even with all his pranks and mischief. But that didn't mean he would openly admit it.

A small smile appeared on his face as the boy cheered in delight. Yes, the boy did grow on him.

It seemed like only yesterday when the boy was brought to their home. Having been orphaned from the Kyuubi attack six years ago, they were given permission by the Hokage to take care of the infant jinchuriki.

His eyes took on a solemn look as he remembered the day.

Had they not intervened that day, who knows what could have happened to the boy.

He didn't understand what the late Yondaime was thinking when he burdened the boy with Kyubbi to begin with, but he knew the boy would continue to face hardships and scorn from the villagers because of the Yondaime's actions.

He remembered the people's words.

"He is a demon."

"He can't be allowed to roam freely!"

The hate and fear coating their voices.

"Was your son not also killed in the attack, Higurashi-san? Do you not feel anything?!"

He paused from eating as he remembered that retort and his eyes hardened as the words rang in his mind.

"Hold your tongue!"

He had been angry and grieved by their words, unable to stand it any longer.

Had the Hokage not calmed down the people, his patience would have snapped at that very moment.

He quietly calmed himself down as he remembered Rei's words at the time when she had interrupted the council meeting.

"I beg you, Hokage-sama, please let me take care of Naruto."

His lips lifted slightly as he remembered how she had bowed before the Hokage. He was thankful to have a daughter-in-law like her. It was her boldness and courage that led him to also request the same from the Hokage.

He strongly believed that it was also one of the reasons Sandaime-sama had granted them permission.

"Naruto Uzumaki will be under the care and protection of the Higurashi Clan."

From that day forward, Naruto had been under their care.

Though there were certain conditions that had to be met, the Higurashis were thankful to the Hokage for allowing them to take care of the child. They felt it their responsibility to take care of the Fourth's son.

"Are you okay, Jii-san?" Soichiro was startled out of his own thoughts by his granddaughter's voice.

Kagome had seen the solemn look on her grandfather's face. He had stopped eating his food and just kept on staring at Naruto for a few minutes.

Rei had already come back with Souta all dressed and had started eating their own breakfast when everyone realized the elder Higurashi had stopped eating.

Just how long had he been lost in his own thoughts?

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Just lost in thought." The man waved away their concern, ignoring the knowing look on Kaede's face as he resumed his mostly-finished meal. "Don't you two need to hurry and get ready? You only have thirty minutes left before you need to leave," he asked after seeing the time on the clock.

The two gobbled down the last of their breakfast before saying their thanks and left to get ready.

"Gochisosama deshita!" they said in unison and ran up the stairs to get ready.

"Make sure to dress warm. It's snowing outside," Rei reminded as the two left the table.

"Hai!"

Everyone chuckled as they left and watched as the youngest tried to copy the two by scarfing down his own meal.

"Souta! Slow down or you'll get indigestion," his mother admonished as she wiped away pieces of rice stuck on his cheeks.

The boy pouted at his mother.

"They grow up so fast," Kaede commented with fondness. Her daughter nodded in agreement.

"That they do," Soichiro replied, his eyes suspiciously wet as he quietly finished his meal.

They certainly did. They just didn't realize how fast until now.

"Hah! I'm going to beat Kag-chan to the academy!" Naruto wore a huge grin as he raced across the snow, giddy to get to the academy as fast as he could.

His red scarf was wrapped snug around his neck and his breath could be seen in the cold air as he continued his fast pace, the ends of his unzipped coat whipping about in the wind.

"Your eyes are really creepy!"

Naruto skid to a stop as he heard voices around the corner.

"You're actually a monster, aren't you?"

He clenched his fist as he continued to hear the taunts as he got closer to see what was going on, wondering if they were talking about him.

"You monster!"

"Get away from my son!"

"Don't play with that boy!"

The taunts were making him remember the words of the villagers.

"You Byakugan monster!" voices exclaimed, laughing at the end.

As he turned around the corner, he was shocked as he saw three older civilian boys taunting a girl around his age.

They were bullying her!

Nobody bullies a girl!

Righteous anger consumed Naruto and he bolted towards them, raising his voice in fury.

"Hey, you bakas! Leave her alone!" He stopped in front of them as he raised his fist.

The three bullies just looked at him with a peeved expression.

"And who's this midget? Come to save your little friend?" They started taunting him.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm going to become the future Hokage, dattebayo!" He pointed towards himself as he replied, glaring at them.

The three boys looked at each other before chuckling at his statement.

"The 'future Hokage'? You?" one of them asked, his tone with disbelief.

"Are you a moron?"

"Shut up! Take this! Bunshin no justu!" Naruto did the hand signs, ticked at them mocking him.

There was a puff of smoke before it cleared, revealing two tiny Naruto clones looking up at the bullies as they shouted.

"I'm going to beat you!" "Me too!" they shouted at the dumbfounded boys with their high-pitched voices.

The bullies stared for a moment before bursting out into laughter, pointing at the boy's pitiful attempt.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Hah!"

"That is so stupid! And you call that ninjutsu? Baka!"

Naruto sweatdropped at his own pitiful attempt, not able to believe it himself. He gulped as the other boys' shadows loomed over him before one of them grabbed his scarf and raised a fist to punch him. He closed his eyes at the oncoming attack.

"Pick on someone your own size!" a voice cried out from above.

"Wha-?!" The bully was hit square in the face by a snowball and was knocked down by the force. "Itai! Who did that?!"

"Kag-chan!" Naruto looked up and saw the older girl, glad to see her.

Said girl dropped down from the branch she was on before coming next to Naruto in a protective stance.

"That's why I told you to wait up for me." She pinched his cheek in reprimand. "You always get into trouble," she exclaimed, exasperated.

"Ow,ow,ow! Iw rowrry Kag-tan!" He whined before she let go and rubbed the sore spot. "…Itai..."

Kagome shook her head at him and turned back toward the bullies as the one she hit got back up.

"You hit me!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

She looked at him in a deadpanned expression. "Yeah. I did."

"But you're a girl!" He got angry as he said this.

"Are you stupid?" Kagome retorted before looking at all three of them. "Now, which one of you called Naruto a moron?" She asked as she took a step toward them.

"He did!" Naruto pointed to the taller one that tried to hit him. "They were also bullying her before I got here! They were calling her a monster and stuff!" he added with anger as he pointed toward the young Byakugan heiress who had tears in her eyes.

"And what are you going to do about it, huh?" they said, unafraid of the shorter girl. "You're just a wimpy girl." There was no chance she could win when it was three against one.

A tick mark formed on her temple as she lowered her head before doing a hand sign.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu," she muttered under her breath before two puffs of smoke appeared.

Unlike Naruto's attempt, when the smoke cleared, two exact clones of Kagome stood next to her as they glared at their opponents.

"Let's get them," she ordered and punched the taller one in the face.

"Yeah!"

"You got it!" the clones cried out as they tackled the other two.

Naruto and the little girl watched on as the older girl beat the three boys to a pulp with the help of her doppelgangers until they cried out for mercy.

"Stop! We're sorry! We're sorry!"

Kagome pulled the boy up by the collar. "You better apologize to them properly," she threatened, her doubles doing the same.

When they agreed with a nod of their heads, their faces beat up, she made them all face Naruto and the little girl.

Once she let them go, they bowed and apologized.

"We're sorry! We won't ever bully you guys again. We're promise!"

With that, they ran away.

Naruto laughed once they left.

"Did you see that? They ran with their tails between their legs!" he said with a pleased grin, folding his arms behind his head. He turned toward the girl from earlier.

"Don't worry about what they said. They're just bakas who don't know anything," he told her as he gave her a grin.

She gave a shy smile in return before they both looked to Kagome as she dispelled her justu.

"That was so awesome, Kag-chan! How did you learn to do that? Teach me!" Naruto ran up to her with a giddy expression, eager to learn the cool jutsu.

"You can't right now, Naru-kun. Maybe when you're older." She ruffled his hair when he whined 'why not'. "You can't tell anyone I used that. Especially Jii-san. He'll have my butt for using it." She looked him in the eye, making sure he understood her.

Though Jii-san did teach her the technique, he had told her never to use the jutsu until she graduated unless they were in a dire situation.

While she didn't know the reason, she always tried to keep that promise, but to her, this seemed like a dire situation.

If he found out she used it without permission…She didn't want to think of the consequences.

He wouldn't have to know. Not if she could help it.

"Promise?" She felt relieved when the boy grumbled his agreement. At least he wouldn't say anything. Turning towards the little girl, she smiled brightly as she bent down to her height.

"Hi there! I hope those boys didn't hurt you or anything," she began and was glad when the girl said she wasn't hurt. "I'm Kagome by the way and this is Naruto." Said boy grinned at her. "What's your name?" Her voice came out softly as she looked at the shy girl.

"…H-Hinata."

Kagome mentally cooed at the girl's stutter. She was so cute. "Well, Hinata-chan," she smiled wider as Hinata blushed at the honorific, "I don't know why those kids would pick on such a cute girl like you. You're too pretty to be a monster," she said as she patted her head while the girl continued to blush at the compliments.

She must be around Naruto age or younger, but why was she out alone?

"So why are you out here alone? Where are your parents?"

"I was waiting for Tou-sama," she quietly replied as she tucked her face into her yellow scarf but lifted it back up when she heard her father's voice.

"Hinata!"

Naruto and Kagome also faced the same direction and saw a man dressed in traditional robes call out to Hinata as he stood ways away from them.

"That must be your tou-san." She watched the girl nod. "Well, you should get going then since he's calling for you." She gave her a little nudge as she smiled down at her.

"Kag-chan, we're going to be late for the academy!" Naruto exclaimed as he remembered where they were supposed to be going. Kagome's eyes widened in realization. The entrance ceremony!

"Sorry we can't greet your tou-san. We're kind of in a hurry," she rushed as she prepared to leave. "Maybe next time. See you around, Hinata-chan!" She gave the girl a hug before waving at her as she and Naruto dashed off through the snow.

Hinata could only stare at their retreating forms, barely able to shout her thanks.

"A-ano…Arigato, Naruto-kun! Kagome-san!"

They kept waving until she couldn't see them anymore. Turning back around, she started to run back to where her father was waiting for her. All the while, smiling as she thought of two she had just met. Maybe she would be able to see them at the academy.

She really hoped so.

"I'm coming, Tou-sama!"

"Come on, Naru-kun! There's someone I want you to meet," Kagome stated as she pulled the boy along through the snow, her family following close behind them. She searched through the crowd as they weaved through parents and children there for the opening ceremony.

Luckily, they were able to arrive on time. Pretty early, actually. Even after her family also arrived, they still had about ten minutes until the ceremony began. Now if only she could find the people she was looking for.

"They've got to be here somewhere," She muttered, her breath visible in the cold weather. Her eyes brightened as she spotted her target. "Ah-ha!"

She ran faster as she called out to them.

"Itachi! Sas-chan! Mikoto-san!"

The three looked to see the young Higurashi waving at them as she dragged along the small blond before coming to a stop before the pair and their mother.

"Why hello there, Kagome-chan," Uchiha Mikoto greeted the little girl. "It's very cold this morning, isn't it?" she commented as she saw their red cheeks. She saw the little boy beside her. "And you must be Naruto-kun," she exclaimed with a smile, knowing him to be the boy under the Higurashi's care.

"…Hello," Naruto said timidly as he grabbed onto Kagome's coat, unused to the kind reaction from adults other than Kagome's family.

"It's good to see you, Mikoto. Where is your husband?" Kagome's mother asked as the family said their greetings.

"Fugaku had an urgent meeting at work so he couldn't make it. So, I promised to take plenty of pictures for him to see later." She smiled as she held up her camera. She leaned towards the Higurashi matriarch as she began to whisper, "He might not show it, but he was very disappointed when he couldn't come to see Sasuke's entrance ceremony." They both giggled at the end, knowing it to be true. Mikoto knew how proud he was toward both his sons. He just had a weird way of showing it. "It seems Sasuke will have plenty of classmates to make friends with," she said, seeing all the children present to start their first year.

"Yep, Naru-kun's starting the academy today too, so I wanted him to meet Sas-chan," Kagome said as she brought the blond towards the raven-haired boy. "Naru-kun, this is Sasuke. And Sas-chan, this is Naruto, the one I told you about. You guys might even be in the same class," she introduced them both, hoping they could become close friends.

The two stared at each other for a moment, trying to gauge the other's reaction.

Suddenly, Naruto stuck out his gloved hand towards Sasuke in greeting. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto! The future Hokage, datte-bayo!" he greeted with a bright smile.

Sasuke stared at the hand for a moment before glancing to where the boy had yet to let go of the older girl's clothes. He glared in annoyance.

He knocked the other boy's hand out of the way, ignoring the boy all together.

"I don't want to be friends with a looser," he stated as he turned away from their shocked faces.

"Sas-chan!"

"Oh dear."

"Sasuke!" Mikoto admonished her son's behavior.

Itachi just shook his head at his younger brother, knowing he was acting out of jealousy.

Naruto was dumbfounded as he stared at the hand the boy had knocked away. Once he realized just what the boy had said, he turned towards him and glared right back.

"What'd you call me?" he asked.

Sasuke had a deadpanned expression on his face. "I called you a looser."

Angry, Naruto grabbed the collar of his coat.

"Teme!" he yelled.

"Dobe." Sasuke did the same as the two insulted each other.

Neither backed down, glaring at each other as they ignored everyone's dumbfounded looks.

"Uchiha Sasuke!"

"Naruto! Where did you learn to talk like that?" Both women admonished, flabbergasted at their behavior.

Kagome went to stand next to Itachi as each woman grabbed one boy's ear and proceeded to give them a talking. She felt embarrassed as people began to stare and whisper at the commotion.

"Itachi?" she asked as she lifted her scarf to hide her face.

"Ah," he answered.

"Why do I feel like I just made a huge mistake?" she asked, not able to understand the boys' reactions.

"…" She sighed, his silence was answer enough.

And all she wanted was for them to become friends.

Was that so hard to ask?

A.N. A special thanks to the first person who commented on my story! (^-^)

To Anonymous: Who's knows~ *wink*

(Edited May 9, 2018)