Chapter Three

"You must be the 'Gaara-kun' Kagome-chan has been talking about so much?"

Said boy smiled nervously and his long digits fiddled with the hem of his black juban, much to the busty blonde's amusement. Gaara swallowed the lump in his throat and resisted the urge to rub his head, mussing up the hour's work his uncle had put it to comb it straight back. He slowly met warm honey brown eyes and said in a small, but confident voice, "Yes. I'm Gaara no Sabaku and I'm asking your permission to take Kagome-chan out to the festival tonight."

Tsunade grinned. He was so cute! She could see why Kagome liked him so much. Tsunade ushered Gaara into their hotel suite and made him sit on the couch while she checked on Kagome. Gaara leaned back into the couch and smirked as he heard Tsunade fussing over Kagome and Kagome's whining that she looked fine. His friend was so funny.

Yes, they were "best friends forever" as Kagome called them, and at first he didn't know how to behave. He'd never had a friend before and when he, much to his embarrassment, conveyed that to her, Kagome yet again shocked him when she said she had never had a best friend before either.

"But you're so…..why wouldn't anyone want to be your friend?" He had asked incredulously. Kagome had merely shrugged and said she hadn't been allowed to go outside or meet anyone outside her little misfit family. "But that doesn't matter anymore because now I have you!" Kagome had cried, glomping him.

Gaara was drawn out his thoughts by a soft cough and he turned his head towards the bedroom door. His eyes widened, his palms felt sweaty and his heartbeats started increasing. In contrast to his black juban and hakamas, Kagome was dressed in a white summer yukata, her dainty feet covered with white sandals and her ruby necklace around her neck. Her blue tinted black hair was pinned into a bun with a white comb and a dark blue obi was tied around her waist. With the white highlighting her dark hair and eyes and a cute rosy blush on her cheeks, Kagome looked like a tiny porcelain doll.

Gaara held his arm out like a gentleman, and Kagome took it after her Aunt kissed her on the forehead and told her not to stay out too late because they had to leave in the morning. Gaara's good mood evaporated after hearing that part, he had forgotten Kagome was only supposed to be in Suna for a month while Tsunade helped out at the hospital. Maybe if he kidnapped Kagome, she wouldn't leave him?

"Gaara-kun come on!" Kagome giggled, drawing the boy out his increasingly dark thoughts. They raced down the main street, and merged with the animated crowd. Many people shied away from them and gave Gaara hateful looks, but the two children didn't care. This was their last night together and they were going to have fun.

Gaara laughed for the first time in his life when Kagome almost fell in the pool of water trying to catch a goldfish with a net. Kagome almost choked on her food laughing so hard when Gaara looked at her with a noodle hanging from his nose. Kagome introduced him (more like forced him) to dango and pocky while Gaara tried, unsuccessfully, to make Kagome eat salted lizard tongue. Her slightly green face made him stop trying. They tried a new treat called ice cream and they were amazed at the cold item. She got strawberry and Gaara got chocolate, but Gaara shared his when Kagome, the clumsiest klutz ever, tripped and dropped hers. It was the best night of Gaara's life.

"Oh Gaara-kun, look! It's the cat I saw before!" Kagome exclaimed. Gaara looked where she was pointing and realized that of course, Kagome would pick the weirdest looking cat he had ever seen. It must have been mutated on or something because it had two tails! Kagome seemed naturally drawn to weird things.

Despite Kagome's protests, Gaara pulled out several ryo and pointed out the weird cat with red eyes. "I'd like to purchase that animal." He said quietly and the shaking owner took the money slowly before handing Kagome the cage. The raven haired girl opened it and the cat jumped out its confinement, stretching its legs and rubbing itself against its new owner.

"What are you going to name him?" Gaara asked curiously as they walked towards the Kazekage Tower. The cat was perched on Kagome's shoulder and lazily opened one eye to look at Kagome. She giggled and said, "Her name is Kilala."

Gaara just shook his head amused, and grabbed Kagome's hand before sand surrounded them and they disappeared. They were safely deposited on the roof of the Tower just in time as the first firework went off. The two children started to move, but they both froze. Someone was on the roof with them.

Gaara heard rustling and his sand moved in time to protect him and Kagome from several shuriken. Gaara growled; someone tried to hurt Kagome! His sand dashed into the darkness and when the next firework went off, the light showed the sand chasing a masked assassin. The assassin noticed Kagome and threw a kunai straight towards her.

It was like slow motion. Her eyes widened and Kilala hissed. Her body wasn't responding, what was going on? She had to move! Move, move, MOVE! Gaara shoved Kagome to the ground and the kunai zipped past, too quickly for Gaara's sand to prevent him getting a small nick on the side of his neck.

Kagome shook her head, berating herself for standing still when every hair on her neck stood up. A wave of something washed over her and every one of Kagome's instincts screamed at her to either run or destroy wherever the source of that power was coming from. A deep, animalistic growl reverberated across the roof and Kagome shivered when she saw it came from Gaara.

His eyes were black and gold now and a bloodthirsty grin seemed to etch itself on his face. Kagome couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling in the back of her mind. He looked like a, like a. Demon. And she had no idea where that word came from or what it meant. But she knew she had to get Gaara back to normal, and fast.

Gaara held up his open hand, his eyes narrowed on the assailant. He tried to hurt his friend. He tried to hurt Kagome. He had to die. His sand split and seemed to consume the masked shinobi. Kagome could only watch helplessly as Gaara's hand closed and a loud, sickening crunch echoed. The sand dropped the body and Gaara stalked over, intent on seeing who his father had sent to kill him this time.

Imagine his surprise when he saw it was his beloved Uncle Yashamaru, his mouth open like he tried to get out an agonized scream before he died. Gaara backed away slowly, shaking his head wildly and mumbling, "No, no, no."

Kilala mewed in concern and Kagome scrambled to her feet when Gaara's mumblings started getting louder, his voice a mix between human and animal. Sand started whipping around and Kagome had to duck several times in order to avoid getting hit. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she had to do something!

She wrapped her arms around Gaara but he shoved her to the ground and loomed over her. Sand was covering part of his face and he had a crazed, maniac gleam in his eyes. "I will have your blood, miko." He raised his hand, claws elongating in preparation for the kill. But, his words struck a chord deep in Kagome and it felt like she wasn't in control of her body anymore. Unbeknownst to the two children, Kagome's necklace had started glowing, as did her hand.

Gaara's hand came down; he was aiming for her throat but Kagome moved to the side and thrust her glowing hand into Gaara's stomach. He screamed in agony, and Kagome pushed her hand even farther in his stomach. She didn't know if what she was doing was possible since she hadn't even broken Gaara's skin but this was on a physical plane. This was something else.

Kagome's eyes widened in disbelief as she felt something, and began to pull her hand out. Sweat beaded on her forehead and Gaara was still screaming, but luckily the fireworks drowned out the noise. Finally Kagome pulled her glowing hand out of Gaara and her friend fell to a heap, his features turning normal.

She looked at the glowing orb in her hand and Kagome finally noticed her necklace was glowing as well. She brought the two together and what felt like a wind storm passed through her body and she fell back in exhaustion. Even after Kilala led someone to the two children and they took them back to Tsunade, no one noticed that Kagome's necklace now held two stones. One ruby and the other topaz.

Minato was signing papers and groaning every time he heard his perverted sensei giggle like a schoolgirl whenever he had a new idea for the next book in his Icha Icha Paradise series. What in Kami's name did he do to deserve a teacher like him?

Suddenly a poof was heard and both men tensed until the smoke cleared to see a coughing Kagome and Kilala. "Kagome! Why aren't you at home? Who told you that you could leave?" Minato yelled. Kagome instantly rubbed her eyes and sniffled pathetically. Minato instantly apologized and Jiraiya hid a smirk while Kilala rolled her eyes. The girl was definitely spending too much time with Tsunade.

"I'm sorry Tou-san! I was practicing my teleportation jutsu!" Kagome cried and Minato cradled her, rubbing her back in small soothing circles. "It's okay Gome-chan, I'm not mad. I just didn't want anybody to hurt you." Minato said softly and Kagome looked at her father with serious sapphire eyes.

"That's why I want to go to the Academy like Nii-chan!" She declared. Minato was about to tell her no when Kagome looked at him with soft, watery, puppy dog eyes. And then she added a pout to go with it. "Fine Kagome. You can go to the Academy with Naruto." Minato conceded. Kagome pinned him down with a stern look.

"When?" Jiraiya chortled, she was good. "Well tomorrow night, I have to formally introduce your brother to Konoha. I'll include you as well, and then, the day after that, you may go to the Academy. It's the start of the summer semester and although you'll be behind, I'm sure you'll catch up in no time."

Kagome squealed, kissed him on the cheek and ran to her Uncle, pulling him to the door and putting Kilala on her shoulder. "Come on Uncle Jiraiya! We got stuff to buy!" Jiraiya paled, remembering countless hours of being forced to carry Tsunade's things when she went on a shopping spree. Minato smirked at his teacher viciously, waggling his fingers good bye.

"I hope you do realize," Jiraiya drawled, "That the first day of every semester is the day when all the Clan Heads sit in on their child's class?" Jiraiya smirked victoriously as he heard Minato's pencil snap in two. Jiraiya-one, Minato-zero.

Jiraiya and Tsunade were shocked and slightly speechless. The two loud, mischief, terrifyingly-strong-for-their-age gaki they had helped raise had been transformed into two, well dressed and well-mannered children of one of the greatest Hokages in Konoha's history. They had trouble deciding which they preferred.

Both children were dressed in the Namikaze colors. Naruto wore a white shirt and black ninja pants with dark blue ninja sandals. Over that, he wore a white trench coat with orange flames licking the cloth up to his knees and had his mother's clan symbol-a swirling circle- on his back. He looked like a miniature replica of his father.

Likewise, Kagome wore an orange kimono with white flames licking the bottom and the ends of her sleeves. Underneath she had on a pair of black shorts for movement, as well as a weapon's pouch strapped to her thigh. Just in case anything happened. Both children looked at the Dog masked ANBU that was guarding them and they wrapped themselves around each of his legs.

"Kashi-kun!" They exclaimed and he ruffled their hair before moving them into place. Tsunade and Jiraiya nodded at Kakashi before joining Minato out on stage, along with Council members Danzou, Homura and Koharu, as well as retired Third Hokage Sarutobi.

All of Konoha was waiting for their Fourth Hokage to speak, and he didn't disappoint.

"My beloved Konoha! As you know, I've been your Hokage for several years now, and it has given me much pleasure that you allowed me to share your accomplishments." Minato smiled and waited for the crowd's cheers to finish, "Konoha has given me its pride and its joy, and it's an honor for me to now share with my people my own pride and joy." The crowd waited with bated breath as Minato paused to gather the suspense.

"I introduce to some, and present to others, my pride, my son, Naruto Namikaze!" Said boy stepped out onto the stage, a confident smile on his face as Konoha cheered for the son who would most likely be their Godaime Hokage if he was anything like his father. In fact, they cheered harder when Naruto stood by Minato, they could have been twins.

Minato held his hand up and the crowd stopped. Was there more he wanted to say? "This may come as a surprise to most of you, but there's someone else I want you to meet." Whispers spread. Did their Hokage find a new wife? Was she as outgoing as Lady Kushina? Was she beautiful? Even the Council had broken out in twitters, Danzou fixing Minato with a withering glare and even Sarutobi was frowning.

"I now introduce you to my joy, my daughter, Kagome Namikaze!" Everyone's eyes widened as a small, dainty girl walked onto the stage form behind the curtain. She held her head up, confidently and elegantly, but everyone could see the Will of Fire she had inherited form both her parents glowing around her. Kagome reached her father and smiled at the crowd. The crowd who was now her people.

The cheers were deafening.

Well here's Chapter Three and alittle more insight on Kagome's powers. Mind you, no one has told Kagome about what she is, or even that she's adopted which is why she's wearing Kushina's "her mother" clan symbol. I have my reasoning for this. I understand someone might be confused but please PM me if you have any questions and I'll try to explain as best I can without giving away too much of the story.

Also, next chapter will be Kagome's first day of school and while I love Kagome, she's not going to be perfect or a Mary-Sue. She's still a little girl who have little experience with the world and a real fight, which is why she froze when the kunai was comingg, much like Naruto in the Wave Arc. We shall also meet the Clan Heads, the fight for Kagome and Naruto will begin, and Itachi will finally make an appearance. But dont worry, this isnt the last we've seen of Gaara. I might use him during the Chunin Exams as competition for Itachi.

And for those who asked, I tried to make this chapter longer, especially since I was delayed due to studying for my midterms. I dont even wanna talk about how I did on my IB Biology HLI midterm. But anyways please review!

Your reviews channel my imagination,

-Verdant