Summary: Kagome accepts responsibility for a new human charge.
...ooO Clean Up 2 Ooo...
Sarutobi Umeshi felt every one of his years as he and the few Council Members cleared and reasonably stable and in-control listened to report after report of traitors from all walks of life in Konoha.
At first he had believed Minato to be deranged, or seduced and under the genjutsu thrall of an enemy kunoichi. And then the reports and evidence began pouring in. Evidence that convicted old friends and allies of a wide variety of crimes and moral sins committed in their quest to raise Konoha to Greater Heights of Power.
When the Conspirators realized everything was unraveling fighting broke out in the streets. It had been a nightmare distinguishing friend from foe until the miko began marking those cleared with a seal that reacted in the presence of sibling seals. There was no way for genjutsu specialists to fake the seal without knowing how it reacted. On most loyal shinobis it was a peacock blue glowing teardrop high on one cheekbone.
The Yondaime had been forced to participate in the fighting himself and had also suffered personal loss; his wife Uzumaki Kushina had died fighting off traitors out to protect her newborn child, the Yondaimes son and heir. Something had broken and hardened in Minato when he found out.
…ooO Begin Flashback …
Sarutobi watched helpless as his successor confronted loss on a very personal level.
Namikaze Minato stared at the body covered by a bloodstained sheet. He could hear a newborn wailing. Frozen brown eyes caught the gaze of Shiyomi Emi, the Head Medic.
"What happened?"
"Wakano Yumi was assigned to look after your wife Yondaime-sama. She was a Chuunin level medic-nin and cleared by the ANBU. We didn't expect anyone to penetrate this far past the guards. Unfortunately her brother was part of the traitors and a common face since he often picked up his sister for lunch. No one thought it was odd when he asked for her.
"When he attacked Yumi hesitated and he killed her before going after Uzumaki-sama. The noise brought the guards but not soon enough to save your wife. We believe he was trying to kidnap your son to use as leverage."
For several minutes no one spoke. The only noise was the cry of an unhappy hungry baby.
Emi forced herself to speak. "Yondaime-sama, it is clear a thorough purge must be conducted to weed out all traitors. I cannot allow your son to remain in this hospital. There are too many people moving in and out."
To her surprise the Yondaime responded. "You are right Shiyomi-san."
Emboldened. "I can assign a medic who has been cleared as a nursemaid. The pharmacy and any convenience store will have the necessary supplies for a newborn."
The Yondaime shook his head. "The supplies would be appreciated, the medic is not necessary." Then he raised his voice. "Kagome-chan?"
"Hai, Minato-kun?" A quiet confident female spoke from the back of the room.
Emi turned to see the miko so talked about step through the much taller shinobi and kunochis. Her green hakamas were dusty, the white top streaked with grime and blood. Her hair was loose in the manner of civilians partially restrained by braids at the hairline and temples.
"Will you look after my son? The way you looked after Tamako?"
The miko hesitated. "Are you sure Minato-kun?"
The Yondaime turned, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "Kushina is dead. If you don't Naruto will never know a mothers touch. Not until months after this mess is settled. There is no one else I trust."
The ANBU stiffened. Did the Yondaime not trust them?
Sensing their ire the Yondaime chuckled. "Trust me, you do not want this mission. It would be impossible for any male to complete. What I am asking is too intimate to be requested from just any kunoichi."
Kagome hummed and stepped towards the wicker basket set in one corner of the room. She picked up the child dressed in a bib-like garment and diapers, gently supporting the neck and bottom in cupped hands crooning softly. Wet sky blue eyes blinked moistly. The toothless mouth trembled as Namikaze Naruto prepared to break into another fit of wailing.
With practiced ease she tucked him into the crook of one arm and strode around the destroyed recovery room. With one hand she examined the contents of the cabinets pulling out certain items. She glanced over her shoulder at the Yondaime who responded to the silent demand. He moved next to her and followed her directions.
"Sterilize the metal cup with the cold fire technique Shippo taught you. Pour half a bag of saline water into the cup and mix fifty grams of glucose with a suiton jutsu." While she spoke the miko found a wax sealed container of sterilized towelettes. She folded one into a triangle and pinched the fabric so one corner formed a dense wad of material. This she dipped into the prepared liquid in the metal cup. Once the material absorbed enough fluid she pressed it into the babys mouth. Naruto gummed on the material warily then more enthusiastically to get at more of the sweet liquid. When the towelette was wrung dry it was re-dipped in the cup.
Satisfied the baby was occupied Kagome caught the eye of the bemused Head medic-nin. "Shiyomi-san, a nursing bottle would be appreciated."
"Of course." An apprentice was sent to locate such an item and infant formula. Kagome ignored the powdered formula but tilted her chin at the cup. "Minato-kun, please sterilize the bottle the same way and fill it with the glucose water."
The Yondaime obeyed the miko and held the bottle out. To his surprise his free arm was re-positioned then filled with his son. Small hands guided him into the correct posture, the most comfortable way of bottle feeding.
"Hold onto Naruto-chan. I have to check on the pharmacy and refill my supplies. Take Naruto-chan to the Tower. I will join you once I have what I need to look after him."
Then she caught the wrist of Shiyomi Emi, pulling the older woman along, to the pharmacy.
To everyones surprise the Yondaime obeyed the miko and left after giving one last order.
"Have Kushinas body cremated and the ashes brought to me. The ceremonies will have to wait until later."
...ooOoo...
"Yondaime-sama, you cannot be serious! You're entrusting your son and heir to a civilian! She cannot protect herself, let alone a baby, against an assassin." Homura shrieked. "You should assign an ANBU guard-."
"Quiet."
Everyone froze at the killing intent that filled the Hokage Office. The only one unaffected was the baby sucking at the rubber teat of a nursing bottle. Somehow the Yondaime had buffered his child from the paralysing technique.
Frozen brown eyes stabbed into the Elder.
"Mitokado Homura, you were Advisor to the Sandaime Hokage. You are No Advisor to Me. I do not trust you since your old team mate and partner Utatane Koharu was found guilty of Conspiracy and Treason. You will be quiet or you will Leave."
Homura gawped but did not say anything, could not say anything.
There was silence while the small group waited for reports, for the miko. ANBU came to report on their successes and discoveries, to receive instructions on the next steps. By now Naruto had fallen asleep and was sleeping peacefully in the wicker basket set in a corner behind his fathers desk.
After three hours he began to stir restlessly.
Sarutobi was about to suggest sending out a Chuunin to get a bottle and supplies when the door opened. The miko entered carrying a large shoulder bag decorated with teddy bears and moons and stars. Her top was loose and stained. Behind her was a very young jounin with silver straw-like hair and an older brown haired, gray-eyed kunoichi wearing a chuunin flak-jacket.
Minato perked up. "Kakashi! Rin! How-?"
"We heard about Uzumaki-san Yondaime-sama." Rin spoke respectfully. "We went to the hospital and ran into Shiyomi-san and Hiragushi-san. She was busy so I used my authority as a medic to get the items Hiragushi-san needed for her potion." Her expression was intrigued.
The young father looked at the miko who smiled and nodded. "I'd like a blanket and a chair."
Namikaze Minato darted around his desk and quickly guided Kagome to his own chair. Quickly he dug through a drawer and produced a blanket he used when he power-napped after long hours.
The miko turned the swivel chair away from interested eyes and loosened her haori. The material slid down baring one pale shoulder to interested male eyes. Sensing the leers Minato slipped a bit of killing intent out and spoke.
"She is wearing a camisole."
He lifted the now awake and squirming infant from the wicker basket and handed him to the woman before stepping away. She cradled the child and tossed the blanket over Naruto and herself before reaching under and making some adjustments. Then everyone could hear the slurping sucking noises.
The chair turned slightly so a few could see the expression of slight discomfort then relaxation on the usually composed face.
"I will need a fresh supply of herbs. One of your nins will need to make the trip to Kusa."
The Yondaime nodded agreeably. "What about your diet?"
Kagome shrugged. "More protein, vitamins and calcium. A standard post-natal diet prescribed by a medic."
Rin was fascinated. "You are really lactating."
"It is a hormonal process that can easily be jump started." Kagome was amused.
"But no medic has managed to make the artificial process last more than a few hours." Rin protested.
Kagome raised a faint brow. "No ningen medic." She corrected mildly. "Youkai often have litters. It is very difficult for the biological mother to tend to all the offspring so her sisters often assist in the feeding." She rocked the child tenderly. "It is a draining process since the infant has to be fed ki, mature energy, in order to stabilize and reach full potential later. Much like how breastfed children have less health problems when older since they receive natural antibodies from mothers milk." Her expression grew pained. She reached under to shift Naruto to her other breast before relaxing. Then she looked at the Yondaime. "How does the Hunt go?"
His usually easy going expression was a memory. "Slow but sure. Morino Ibiki shows great potential in interrogation. He is very interested in your Truth Stones. He wants to know if there are variations."
Kagome snorted. "Of course. How much pain does he wish to inflict on those who dare to lie? Does he want a visible tally of lies and truth that influences the punishment/reward? There was this miko who marked lies and truths uttered by a series of dots that formed a circle. Once the circle was complete the victim would feel great pain or great pleasure. It is very easy to customize the size of the circles, very small ones like rings around the fingers for lies and large ones around the arm for truths."
The Yondaime moved around to sit on the edge of his desk before her and cupped his sons head through the thin blanket.
"You are very blood thirsty for a miko." He commented idly.
"Blame Sesshoumaru. He is a firm advocate of using pain, and the threat of pain, to extract the truth. And he doesn't believe in doing a half-assed job." She smiled faintly. "Of course most know better than to lie to his face since he'd rip the liar apart and resurrect him or her to repeat the process."
Minato blinked. "Would Sesshoumaru-sama be willing to visit Konoha? To give his impressions…?"
Kagome frowned and sat up straighter. "I don't know. He doesn't like most humans and hates human settlements. Filthy stench, polluted air, weak structures, shrill whining, yadda yadda yadda." Carefully she shifted Naruto to her other breast hushing the soft whines of a child whose meal was briefly interrupted. "Of course I can no longer look after Tamako; he will not allow her to live in a ningen town and I cannot leave Naru-chan." A smile softened the distant worried expression as she rocked the baby. "He will stop by to formally revoke my fostering Tamako. Oh don't look so distressed Minato-kun, I'll still be able to send messages and visit her, or have her over for a small vacation if her new fosterer approves."
... End Flashback Ooo…
It had taken twenty days and at the end of it ten people were executed outright, fifty after some consideration, ninety shinobis had their chakra vessels sealed and sentenced to varying lengths of time in prison. The Village Council was much smaller, several Clan Elder Councils were completely abolished, the shinobi ranks were reduced by ten percent, several villagers and merchants were expelled from Konoha though their families chose to stay in Konoha for the most part.
The child who once possessed Mokuton kekkai genkai was found and placed in the care of a trusted shinobi couple and tracing his old caretakers unraveled another mess of illegal experimentation that resulted in the Yondaime revoking his old students free travel status, to mark the Snake Sannin as an S-class nuke-nin. But they were still missing the Original Contract.
"Sarutobi-sama." The Professor looked up at the gleeful eyes of his Successor and felt his hopes rise. "We found the Contract. Kagome has verified it as a true youkai relic."
Now everything was going to be just fine.
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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