A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.
The sounds of kunai hitting-and missing-the targets thrummed through the air and Kagome watched from behind a group of trees, smiling at the sense of accomplishment the young ones felt. Her eyes skimmed over every face in curiosity, wondering which one might show promise to succeed Naruto after her. When she felt eyes on her, she caught the instructor's gaze and held it a minute before smiling.
Iruka flushed faintly and cleared his throat. "Alright, I think we've had enough training for today. Go collect your things and train well through the weekend!"
"Bye Iruka-sensei!" many cheered, the children running off to do as told after tossing the blades into the supply box.
"The third used to come to classes sometimes," Iruka commented, walking around the trees to stand face to face with her. "Is there something I can do for you, Hokage-sama?"
"I just found myself here. Their faces showed such hope and accomplishment," Kagome replied with another tilt of the lips. "You are well suited to teaching. You've never attempted to increase your rank."
Scratching the scar on his nose, Iruka was unsure if he should feel as if she were complimenting him or insulting him. "I enjoy teaching. And not everyone is meant to be a jonin. Nin of every rank can serve the village."
"I agree. It is refreshing to see someone comfortable in their talents and abilities. Though I do think you could advance if you wished." Nodding to him, she turned to go. "Have a pleasant afternoon."
Watching her go, Iruka felt a touch of confusion but also satisfaction.
Jiraiya was waiting when Kagome appeared. "Well?"
"He's too nice. He'll get attached and hurt when I go. Also, it would be awkward as he is Naruto's father figure," Kagome answered easily.
"Picky picky…" Jiraiya sighed deeply and rolled his shoulders. "If you eliminate anyone close to Naruto, you pretty much wind up with the sort you wouldn't be able to conduct even a farce of a relationship with."
"Well, he is a charming boy," Kagome mumbled, though her tone was not overly flattering.
"Ha, you really know the art of the backhanded compliment." Jiraiya huffed and looked past her. "The day is young. Let's find you a man."
"Coming from you, that statement is somehow worse," Kagome declared, eyebrow arched.
"So ungrateful for my assistance!" the white haired man chastised.
"Why are you so intent on helping me?" Kagome asked, tone curious.
Eyes flickering to the carvings in the mountain, Jiraiya's expression faltered. "You know why."
x~x~x
"Gai-sensei!" Lee shouted, overjoyed even as he managed to send his mentor flying back. "I have done it!"
The older man came charging back at him, hitting him in the jaw with an uppercut. "No, Lee! You must not celebrate victory too soon! It allowed me to catch you unaware! You must not let the flames of youth blind you, but guide!"
Rolling to his feet, Lee nodded. "I will remember Gai-sensei!"
"Yes, you shall-Hokage-sama!" Gai suddenly greeted with surprise in his eyes.
"Apologies, I did not mean to interrupt your spar. I could not help but overhear though," Kagome explained, smiling warmly at the two green clad shinobi. "You both have excellent skills in taijutsu."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Lee boomed, his face reddening with pride.
"One day, with the right training, Lee shall surpass even me!" Gai determined with a broad grin, posing with a thumbs up.
"I believe it." Kagome smiled, looking over the two. "Might I point out something to you though, Lee-san?"
Nodding vigorously, the lanky young man beamed. "I will always open my ears to the advice of my respected elders!"
Gai shuddered. "L-lee, we don't call youthful ladies-"
Waving the older male off, Kagome chuckled. "That is a good attitude to have, Lee-san. And Gai-san, he demonstrates a trait you have slowly been teaching him; knowing his audience. He knows I will not take offense, just as you know he celebrates too soon with you. However, you also know he will wait for your explanation, so you do not think to guard yourself as much in those times. A more useful skill would be to celebrate with awareness. Present your enemy with the thought you are no longer vigilant, and then catch them in the act of attacking."
Lee was scribbling in his little notebook. "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Sapphire eyes sparkling, she nodded to the two. "I will let you two get back to it." With that, she disappeared.
x~x~x
"Hokage-sama?" Hinata called out softly from the window, seeing her on the roof of the tower. "You have a lot of work to do. Please come inside?"
Looking down at her assistant, Kagome sighed. "I will be in shortly." She let her eyes wander back to the horizon and waited for Hinata to pull her head back in before she followed.
Waiting patiently, the Hyuuga heiress smiled sweetly when her Hokage came in. "Thank you. I have tea waiting for you at your desk."
"You're very thoughtful, Hinata-san," the miko told her with a smile of her own, though she still seemed to be in her own thoughts as she started for her work.
"If it is not out of turn, may I ask what you are thinking of, Hokage-sama?" Hinata asked after a moment, curiosity in her eyes.
"Well, it's nothing too serious. I'm just a touch lonely," Kagome answered, shrugging. It was both a good way to prime her assistant for the thought that her Hokage was indeed human and the truth. "I have been wondering if I might have time for social engagements."
"As Hokage, whenever we have a festival, you-" the younger woman began.
"I meant as a woman, Hinata-san," Kagome corrected gently. "I feel lonely in that way. I have no real roots here, you see. This village is precious to me, yet I have yet to establish rapport and relationships with the people I lead, and I wonder if my schedule will ever permit this."
Hesitating, Hinata looked thoughtful. "You have Naruto-kun's friendship."
"Which I am grateful for, but I do wish for another form of companionship," Kagome admitted, highly amused at the color that bloomed across Hinata's cheeks.
"Oh, I see." Nervous and not good at this sort of conversation, Hinata looked away. "I have heard Kurenai-sensei say that Asuma-sensei is a nice enough "
Thinking on the file she had had to review to make sure the two jonin were not conflicted out of working with one another despite their feelings, Kagome immediately dismissed the man. "Nice for Kurenai-san."
Eyes widening, Hinata nodded, silently promising not to give away that she knew until her sensei told her.
x~x~x
Genma nodded to his friend before breaking from him to walk beside his Hokage. "You don't usually wait for your guards. I was wondering if I was going to be out of the job," he joked, wondering what she might want.
"I would not put you out of work, though admittedly, I usually prefer to travel alone, or with a friend," Kagome agreed, scratching Kirara behind the ears.
The two tailed cat mewled softly and nuzzled her mistress's face from her shoulder perch.
"What can I do for you today, Hokage-sama?" he asked, arching an eyebrow and shifting his senbon to the other side of his mouth.
"Well, I just wanted a little company today, and you would follow me if I allowed it anyway, so it seemed a logical conclusion to have you escort me." Kagome smiled at him, meeting his gaze.
"Ah. So, where are we going?" Genma asked simply, keeping step with her easily.
"Just about the village, lunch at Ichiraku and then back to the Tower for more paperwork." Kagome shrugged. "Playing it by ear."
x~x~x
"I'm going to start giving you long distance missions to avoid all of this stalking behavior," Kagome decreed, stamping and signing her never ending piles of paperwork. She had decided to be good today and stay in so that Hinata wouldn't have to send people out to retrieve her.
Kakashi slipped through the window and looked at her almost lazily. "I hardly think that watching over my Hokage qualifies as stalking."
"Hm…" Looking at him thoughtfully, Kagome rested her chin on her hand. "It's more than that. Are you still the peeping Tom hoping to glimpse me in a compromising position?"
"You think much of yourself to suggest that a stolen peek a decade ago could keep me infatuated," Kakashi responded lightly. "You are my Hokage, and I will always watch over you."
Smiling, Kagome stood and walked to him, eyes twinkling. "You mean, you will watch out for me… The outsider who became Hokage. And I am not a vain woman, but I have seen the way you look at me." She appraised him idly, thinking on all of the other men she had considered. "To lead this village, I must be a part of it."
"Ah, so that is why you've been walking the village-chatting with people, visiting the school." Kakashi did not seem surprised.
"Well, yes. I want my time here to be marked by peace and prosperity rather than dissent and fear. Though there is a way in which you would be permitted to look over my shoulder as much as you want and I could be seen as becoming a part of the village I lead." Her eyes were almost amused when he looked at her suspiciously.
"And what would that be?" the gray haired jonin asked.
"An arrangement. I need to look invested-What better way than to be involved with a man of the village. One that could use his closeness with me to keep informed," Kagome told him airily.
Looking legitimately surprised, Kakashi arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Part of my visiting people has been to find a compatible person to have this arrangement with. I did not consider you at first because I thought you had too much of a crush on me-rushing back and the like. But I do think your motives are something of protective towards your village rather than just me. And I need someone who will understand the temporary nature of any relationship with me." Kagome explained simply.
"All nin have to regard the temporary status of their lives-" Kakashi began, eyeing her.
"Yes, but I have a true time limit. Ten years from when I accepted the position of Hokage, I will be moving on. I need someone who will not fall in love with me." Kagome's tone was measured and serious. "I think that your caution towards me and the way you guard your heart will prevent that."
"What about you? How do you know you won't fall for me?" Kakashi inquired a touch pointedly.
"It won't matter if I do. I understand that I cannot stay here." Shrugging off his concerns, Kagome tilted her head, contemplating his one visible eye. "Consider it. For now, I must get back to work."
x~x~x
"I assume this was your idea," Kakashi accused as he sat beside Jiraiya, ordering sake from the bartender.
Amused, Jiraiya grinned a bit. "I suggested she find someone to bond with. She can't lead a village that sees her as foreign. Even just being seen in the village more is helping. She tends to get very mission oriented."
"You know a lot about her," the jonin pointed out, looking at him curiously.
"Tsunade trained her, and Tsunade and I did not keep many secrets from one another during those years," Jiraiya admitted, the corners of his mouth sinking.
"So you help the student out of love for the teacher," Kakashi assessed a touch more bluntly than usual.
"Something like that," Jiraiya replied. "You want her."
"She's attractive," Kakashi conceded. "Though I am curious what jutsu she uses to keep the youth of her face."
"Now that you will have to ask her about." Jiraiya sipped from his cup of sake. "And you like more than her face. The strength Naruto gained from training with her, the kindness she has shown and her sense of duty all intrigue you. It's alright to admit it."
"It sounds like you think I should participate in this false relationship," Kakashi mused, lifting his own cup and drinking it without revealing his face even once to those around him.
"Not at all. I think you should offer your companionship honestly and enjoy it while it lasts. Life is fleeting, and you do not want to have regrets at the end. Besides, you don't let anyone close enough for the true depth of romance, so you might as well take a relationship that will have boundaries and still be satisfying." Jiraiya drank another cup and stood to go.
x~x~x
"Welcome back, Naruto-kun," Kagome greeted simply as the blonde walked into her office with his report from the mission.
Eyes trained on her, he handed in a scroll. "Are you still mad at me?"
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Kagome sighed. "I am not mad at you. I meant what I said though. Now, how have you been handling things?"
"I'm getting the charm thing down a little better. Can turn it on and off by choice sometimes. Found out it works on men too," he added, cheeks tinging a little.
Covering her mouth with her hand to hide her amusement, Kagome nodded. "Yes, the energy can cast a potent and seductive net around those you try or accidentally ensnare. What was the context?"
"We got hit by a genin squad from Mist. They were just kids though-Maybe it's stupid, but I didn't want to kill them, so I just convinced them to go away." Naruto shrugged.
"Hm." Kagome appraised him carefully. "Well, I am glad you are gaining control. Any more progress with foxfire?" Her tone was a touch wistful at that, her eyes taking on the gleam of memory.
"Not as much. While I'm home, can we train together?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"You have another mission first thing tomorrow. Some leads on Orochimaru came up and I know you still hope to bring back your wayward comrade. Also, we are getting paid a pretty hefty sum to get rid of the Sound Nin that have been wreaking havoc in the area you're going to. Nara Shikamaru will brief you in the morning." Kagome could feel his combined disappointment and eagerness.
"When I get back," Naruto determined then, his tone firm.
"We will train then, yes. Now get some rest," Kagome urged.
Nodding, the blonde turned and disappeared, leaving behind a feeling of his stirred up and frustrated emotions.
Relieved, Kagome turned her eyes on Kakashi as he came into the office. "Hello there." She was a touch surprised to see him-He had avoided his normal stalking pattern since her proposal three days prior.
"What do you plan on telling him, should you find someone to have this arrangement with?" Kakashi asked, eyeing her curiously.
"The truth," Kagome replied. "I am going to be honest with him, and should you accept, I will be honest with you about my reasons as well." Her eyes were open in that moment, revealing a host of emotion normally concealed behind layers of her defenses.
"Why not someone else?" Kakashi asked suddenly, still on the fence about the whole idea of a relationship with his Hokage.
"Honestly, I've considered a few people. Gai is too boisterous and commits to people and ideas that he values quickly. Iruka is like Naruto's father and is frankly too warm for this sort of deal that requires detachment as well as companionship. Genma is viable, but a member of my personal guard, so there could be scandal. I contemplated Ebisu even, but honestly, I can't really stand him for more than five minutes at a time… Of course, there are others, but I find that you are my best option." Resting her chin on her hands, she smiled. "So?"
Looking over her thoughtfully, Kakashi walked to the desk and dipped down so he could look into her eyes. "Yes."
Kagome reached out and took hold of his mask a moment, giving him time to pull away. When he didn't, she tugged it down and pressed her lips to his chastely. "Alright then. We can have dinner tonight, if that is agreeable."
"Tonight," Kakashi agreed, disappearing from the tower.
x~x~x
It took a full hour for Shizune to lose to Shikamaru this game, and she paid up with a sigh. "I hear you'll be leading a team out tomorrow. Against Sound."
The Nara looked annoyed. "Yeah."
"How are you handling it?" Shizune asked curiously, clearing the board.
"Aren't you supposed to be recovering after the long mission rather than asking me about my feelings?" Shikamaru asked pointedly.
"Well, it is essentially a revisit of your first mission as a leader. Who are you taking?" Shizune asked, not deterred.
"Naruto, Choji, Ino, Sakura, Kiba and Lee." Shikamaru had handpicked them once he had the details. "And this is different. We are stronger and the bulk of the mission is to take out the enemy harrying the local trade. Information gathering is secondary and this is no rescue."
"Unless Uchiha is there," Shizune pointed out.
"Even then, it is retrieval, not rescue. Uchiha wanted to go with Orochimaru, and has taken action against this village. He would be brought back here to face judgement." Shikamaru looked at her with an intensity in his eyes. "If our Hokage is just."
"Hokage-sama would not let the actions go unpunished," Shizune stated simply. "Either way, be careful and don't let it get inside your head."