Summary: Two particular youkai visit Konoha, or to be more specific the Yondaime Hokage.
...ooO Resolutions Ooo...
Konohagakure was unexpectedly quiet. The unplanned early winter frost kept most of the people off the streets. The gate guards never saw two blurs, one white, the other dark green, go over the walls and make their way to a particular clan house.
Within the Namikaze House Kagome woke up with a start. Naruto? No, it was Them!
Quickly she pushed off the futon and jerked a yukata over the slip she used as a nightgown. She hurried from her room, using the sliding doors to make a straight line to Minato-kuns room.
Without preamble she burst in.
"Minato-kun! They are here!"
And then she blushed hotly and turned away.
The owner of the house slept in the nude, or something very close to it.
Namikaze Minato levered himself out of the nest of blankets revealing a very toned, tanned upper body nearly devoid of any body hair except for a faint line bisecting his abs. He also had less body modesty than the miko.
"Who is here?"
"Sesshoumaru and Aoshi! We must be ready to greet them."
"Let me get dressed Kagome."
"NO! Put on a yukata! They won't care for the mode of dress, just that we are awake and aware of their presence. I need to prepare the tea tray. Get Naruto cleaned and changed. We can brush our teeth in the kitchen if we have time. The entire household must greet them. We are so lucky it is just three of us!" Kagome snarled before she dashed out of the room.
Minato blinked but moved to obey. Kagome was the expert in youkai etiquette. It wouldn't do to get either of their visitors pissed.
..oo..
Five minutes later two males approached the Namikaze House and rang the chimes. In less than five seconds the small visitors door opened and a familiar female with gray-blue eyes and wavy black hair dressed in a pale green yukata appeared. She was carrying a spikey headed baby who eyed the newcomers with inquisitive sky-blue eyes.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, Aoshi-san." She bowed her head and stepped back, allowing them entry.
The males murmured their own greetings. One was pale silver and ice from his hair to his clothes. The other was flame and forest with his bright red hair, green haori and brown hakamas.
Namikaze Minato spoke his own greetings and waited and watched. Once everyone was seated, had one dish of tea, exchanged data on less serious events (Kaguras most recent soiree, Narutos first play date) the conversation moved to more serious matters.
Sesshoumaru spoke, his voice cool, eyes warning. "Aoshi has explained to me the basics of the situation. The Original Contract he made with this villages founder was stolen. Someone attempted to use the Contract to Call on him."
Minato nodded. "Hai. There is a faction within this village that wanted to control a jinchuriki; a child used to contain a bijuu, a youkai." Brown eyes were frank. "If I hadn't met Kagome I would have done just that; to stop Aoshi-san from attacking Konoha I would have sealed the Kyuubi no Yoko into whichever child unfortunate enough to be born around October tenth; most likely my own son Naruto.
"Those responsible have been weeded out. Most were killed in the fighting. Those that remain are in the ANBU holding cells awaiting your judgment."
"Which is death!" Aoshi hissed. "If those fools dare to pull the tails of a kitsune they shall feel my flames!"
Minato bowed his head. There was nothing he could say.
Kagome put down her dish of tea and spoke. "While the ANBU used my truth stones they uncovered other conspiracies unrelated to Aoshi-sans contract. Several other factions have been greatly weakened and eliminated. In fact Konohas village Council has been greatly reduced.
"Upon my advice Minato-kun has made reports available to the general public. To alleviate their fears and it has worked for the most part. Most of Konoha is aware that their lives were nearly sacrificed because a select few in power wanted even more power and influence. They were quick to support the concept of a Triumvirate. A shinobi, a merchant factor, and a medic nin chosen by the Hokage to be his representatives on the Council. To be appointed to the Council one must be a member of a guild or work in one of Konohas civil departments. If the Council is to ever overrule the Hokage it must be unanimous, including the Triumvirate. This will counter their influence to ram their unwise short term views through."
Sesshoumaru sniffed. "I do not see the point in having a Council. You are the War Leader of this village."
Kagome sighed. "They are bureaucrats. They handle a lot of the paperwork and record keeping involved in running a large town."
Minato produced a small rosewood chest carved with vines and leaves. "Copies of the reports and the Original Contract. Kagome refused to let me store it in the Hokage Tower. I see why now." Because he had to be ready to return the relics without any advanced notice.
Aoshi accepted the chest and opened it. A quick scan of the contents and the script on a scroll chosen at random was enough to sate his initial bloodlust. Quickly he started skimming the other scrolls. He was impressed by the extent the Yondaime had gone to, to ensure no one escaped the net.
Satisfied the insult to his vassal was almost repaid, Sesshoumaru looked upon the only female of his Pack, but no longer it seemed. She had grown attached to the pup lying on the blanket spread on the wooden floor next to her seat.
Possibilities distracted him while he focused on the delicate aroma of the jasmine flavoured green tea, one of the few redeeming products of ningens.
"Sesshoumaru, I must give up my old charge. I can no longer look after Tamako as she should be." Kagome spoke with quiet regret. Now that ningens knew she was miko and had ties to youkai they would try to force her, blackmail her… Tamako would be the target of their plots. She wished she could return to Makai but she could not. The Realm was heavy with youki, a natural poison to a miko, even one as powerful as Kagome. The longest she could stay was six months before she had to leave. When Sesshoumaru had first brought her back they had alternated, three months in Makai, one in Ningenkai to recover, but now…
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Yes. You have entrenched yourself in Ningenkai life. You have other commitments." He glanced at the wriggling baby.
Kagome patted Naruto. "His mother died hours after she gave birth. She was killed by one of the traitors. He is my charge." She pulled the child up cradling him to her lap and breast rocking gently.
"And you will raise him well, with honour. To be true to himself and his Pack." Sesshoumaru replied mildly.
Kagome blinked back tears and bowed her head. "Arigarou."
Aoshi looked up sharply. He had not realised.
"How many civilian bystanders were killed?" He asked sharply.
"Ten percent of the total casualties. Most were adults, some were children. All the orphans have relatives willing to take them in." Minatos voice became haunted. "They were side-effects. Kushina was one of the few targeted."
Aoshi tilted his head. "Do you regret? Would you have done a half-hearted job if it meant saving your mate?"
The Yondaimes eyes turned steely. "Never! Kushina was shinobi trained and she knew the risks of the job and marrying me. Besides, if I did a haphazard clean up this mess would simply be repeated a few years down the road."
Aoshi smiled faintly. "If you are willing I wish to give your son a Gift."
Minato was torn between the Father and the Hokage. "What sort of Gift?"
Aoshi frowned faintly and stared at the baby. "Energy. He will have a great deal of potential to expand his natural reserves. He is air and fire aligned so he does not have the potential for plant manipulation as Senju Hashirama though his children will if they are earth or water aligned."
Minato glanced at Kagome who nodded enthusiastically. Feeling more comfortable he took the child and held him out to the kitsune who accepted the burden and placed the child on his lap. Securing the child with one hand he traced a claw-tipped finger over Narutos forehead barely drawing blood. When he was done the blood glowed green then the wounds healed without leaving a scar. Then he swiped three curled fingers down each cheek barely touching skin. The lines traced glowed gold before leaving faint marks that looked like whiskers on each cheek.
"He will have more energy than most children his age, he will most likely heal faster and have greater stamina and durability than others." Aoshis expression was stern as he caught the Yondaimes eye. "He will have great potential but he will have to work to develop it. I will not Give anything for free. He alone will decide how far he can go."
"And what must he sacrifice Aoshi-san? What must he do to Pay for this Gift?" Kagome inquired in respectful tones.
Aoshi grinned, a playful teasing expression. "Pranks. I don't want him becoming too serious about killing and training. If his sense of humour fades I will restrict his energy potential. I won't have a ningen with such energy potential become unstable like Miyagamis Gifted. Tell him to be nice to the animals of the Forest also. He may develop the ability to understand animals. If he does he should respond to any requests they have."
Minato nodded agreeably. He did not see any trouble with this and a good sense of humour was sometimes all that kept a shinobi from snapping.
"Do you wish to give name this Gift?"
Aoshi frowned and thought hard. "Tenchi. Heaven and Earth. It fits with your village philosophy regarding a shinobi's growth and progress."
Sesshoumaru stirred. "Then are we done? Is your honour satisfied Aoshi?"
Aoshis expression darkened. "Once I kill a few people, yes."
Minato bowed his head. "Could you please look after Naruto while Kagome and I get dressed?"
Once both youkai nodded the two ningens quickly stood up and hurried off. Within five minutes the Yondaime was back dressed in loose black pants, shinobi sandals and a heavy dark blue turtleneck, over which he wore his usual cream sleeveless coat with the kanji for Yondaime on the back.
Minato looked around then caught a glimpse of Aoshi pointing out various plants and animals in the garden to the child he carried.
"Kitsunes are usually good with young ones. They share the same playful nature." Sesshoumaru commented neutrally.
"That is what the stories say." Minato murmured as he cleaned up the remnants of the short-eats and tea.
"You have marked Kagome." Sesshoumaru spoke suddenly. Satisfied he had caught the ningens attention he continued. "Now your village knows of her and her power; soon others will hear and seek her out. How do you plan on protecting her?"
The Yondaime froze. He had been so focused on saving his village he hadn't given a thought to the external implications. Once the other villages found out Kagome could drive away and hurt bijuus, that she could force them to bargain; once their spies found out kekkai genkai were youkai Gifts they would want her to force a youkai to create new kekkai genkai, just like how Aoshi had Gifted Naruto. But no one could compel a bijuu, they were a force of nature; trying to control one was like restraining the tides!
"I am not completely certain Sesshoumaru-sama but I swear Kagome will always be protected."
"And if your Council decides she should be forced to compel a youkai to Gift their offspring, to create an army?"
Brown eyes turned stony. "I will do to Konoha what I did to Iwa. I will eradicate all my opponents."
Sesshoumaru tilted an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Good answer. Mikos are pure creatures. No sane being wants a kuromiko around. If anyone tries to force Kagome she just might snap and turn dark."
Minato nodded agreeably. Then the inu-taiyoukai pounced.
"You still have not said how you will protect her."
Minato froze then relaxed. "I don't know Sesshoumaru-sama. Give me sometime to think of something."
Sesshoumaru made a disbelieving sound. "She is not of Konoha. None but you or your son have any claim on her affections. The longer she stays, the more her affections deepen; then she will be hurt when she must leave. She is not daughter, sister, mate, or mother to any Konohan. She has no true place in this Village."
Minato stiffened briefly at that pointed rebuke but refused to answer. Already the seeds of an idea took root and began to germinate.
Then he heard the familiar quick steps.
"I'm ready!" A voice that had become very much a part of his life called out.
He looked at Kagome dressed in her green hakamas and white haori. She always wore them to make a point of her status as miko. She only relaxed and wore civilian clothing at home… in her hosts home… in Namikaze House.
Firmly he pushed the thought aside. There was a mass execution to witness. He glanced at the sky. The sun was high enough that there should be several Chuunins at the Hokage Tower.
"Then let's go. We can send messengers to wake the Councillors once we get to the Hokage Tower."
His face turned to stone as he walked out followed by his guests, son, and one woman he was not so sure about.
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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