First off, I am so happy and ecstatic with the response that you guys have given to this story! I have so much planned for this story and I just can't wait for you guys to follow along and enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it.

There was a question that was brought to my attention and it was about the pairing of this story. Now, believe me, I am one person who despises having a story where it doesn't have a straight pairing but honestly, this one has no clear pairing. Maybe I could do a poll? Or, maybe keep it a mystery and see where it leads? I'm kind of fond with the idea of Kagome/Naruto or Kagome/Shikamru for this story...

Oh well, anyways... There is going to be an important message/ question at the bottom of this story. Please let me know what you think!

Kagome, Kagome…

Stormy, grey-blue eyes flickered here and there as the haunting melody played throughout the clearing.

The bird in the cage…

The voice laughed as the sound circled around the young kunoichi before the wind created a pseudo cage, locking her in.

Glaring at the visible wind chakra keeping her in, Kagome tried to concentrate her chakra into her hands and feet in hopes of inducing chakra-infused attacks onto the barrier.

When, oh when, will it come out?

Gritting her teeth together at the mocking question within the song, Kagome tried not to allow her anger to get the best of her. 'This isn't what we were taught back at the academy,' Kagome thought to herself in an attempt to calm down. 'To be a perfect shinobi, one must be devoid of all emotion. To be the perfect warrior, one must see through every possibility.'

Kagome closed her eyes and allowed her chakra to flow freely through her body as she calmed her mind in slight meditation.

In the night of dawn…

Using her chakra, Kagome felt her opponents own chakra flowing throughout the whole clearing; however… 'There!' Kagome's eyes snapped open as she allowed one small smirk to form on her lips.

The crane and turtle slipped…

'I've got you now,' Kagome thought before pushing her chakra out of her body on all sides to over power the chakra cage she was in. As she heard it shatter and the wind died down, Kagome knew she had him.

Who is it in front…

"...Or behind?" Kagome finished before turning around and placing a kunai right at her opponents carotid artery as well as a green chakra infused palm at the heart. "Kabuto," Kagome said with a slight smile.

Kabuto looked at her through his glasses, shock evident in his eyes at the fact that she managed to not only catch him before he managed to attack her but also place him in a checkmate.

"You've certainly grown, Kagome," He finally said as he stepped back from the girl in question. Five years was quite a short time to learn all that he could teach the young kunoichi in front of him. 'Then again, she was part of Root.''

"Kagome, Kabuto."

The two turned at the silky sound of their master. Kagome's eyes automatically brightened at the sight of Lord Orochimaru while Kabuto's dimmed a slight bit.

"Lord Orochimaru," Kagome breathed out before appearing in front of him in a flash.

Said Sannin looked down at his precious jewel with a smirk. "You are improving greatly, Kagome. You have far surpassed the expectations that I originally had."

"Then that means," Kabuto cut in as he walked at a leisure pace towards the two.

Orochimaru nodded at his train of thought. "It means that you are ready, my dear."

Kagome was shocked. She never thought that they would really go through with what Danzo had first wanted. Then again, they have their own reasons altogether.

"What of Hakudoshi and Bankotsu?" Kagome could not help but ask of her teammates. While they were older, they still had the same amount of training unless…

"They still have a long way to go, Kagome," Orochimaru continued her thought out loud. "They will both be sent to a different village in hopes of gaining more skills. But do not worry, you will see each other again."

"Tch," Kagome muttered as she turned her head away, "As if I care about when I see them or not. As long as they manage to get stronger and not drag me down, then fine by me."

Kabuto smirked. 'Oh Kagome, is that really what you believe?'

"Hakudoshi."

Turning around, said boy was brought face to face with Kagome herself. Narrowing his eyes in confusion, he watched as she pushed herself off the wall behind her and walked closer.

"I heard you're going to Kumogakure to train," Kagome stated as she allowed her eyes to harden.

Hakudoshi nodded in confirmation. "Yes," He said finally, the word leaving his mouth quietly. He turned to look away from her. "And I heard that you will be starting the infiltration of Konohagakure. Your training must be finished."

"Not even close. I'm being sent to the academy… again."

Hakudoshi allowed a chuckle to leave his mouth. "It seems to me that you'll actually like it. After all, unlike Bankotsu and I, you seem to strive off of being around others."

Kagome grunted at the thought and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Bankotsu is actually heading to Suna as we speak," Kagome paused as if in thought. "I'm gonna miss him."

"Hn."

Kagome looked at Hakudoshi without turning her head as she allowed a small smile form. '...you will see each other again.'

Blood rained down on the battlefield that night as Kagome's eyes closed. Yet another kunai embedded itself into her body as her blood splattered the floor.

"Pathetic."

Snapping her eyes open, Kagome stared into yellow, snake-like eyes. "W-why?" She coughed out blood.

"Because, my dear," Orochimaru hissed out, "I need them to accept you fully. And for that, you cannot know."

A gasp left her mouth before her eyes shut one final time.

Bleary, stormy grey eyes opened to a bright light. Clenching them shut immediately, she groaned as pain shot through her every bone. 'What,' Kagome gritted her teeth in pain, 'what happened?'

Opening her eyes again, she found that the light dimmed a bit; however, before she could look around, a pair of black eyes bore down into her own. The face was scarred and seemed set in stone as the man stared intensely.

"What do you remember?" The man's voice spoke with power and intelligence. He spoke as if he knew what the answer already was.

"I - I don't know…" Kagome said in shock as she looked down at her bandaged hands. She refused to look at the man again. Something about him unnerved her to the core and Kagome just couldn't handle the pressure. "All I remember… is my name."

"And that is?" He asked gruffly as if he would rather be doing something more productive.

"Kagome," She finally said. "My name is Kagome Higurashi."

"She's an ex-Root trainee," Ibiki said finally. He was looking down at a file within his hands.

"Root," The word was mumbled. "Then we should bring in Danzo. Question him."

"No, Iruka," An old, wisened voice spoke against the thought. "The girl has either defected on her own or she was defected forcibly. Either way, Danzo is not who we should question."

A strangled sound was heard from Iruka. "But Hokage-sama," He protested, "Surely you don't mean-"

"Yes," The Sandaime said grimly. "Ibiki."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Question her fully. If you find that she has truly nothing threatening then she will be granted amnesty," The Sandaime said with authority.

"Understood." And with that, Ibiki disappeared, more than likely going back to question the young child.

Iruka stared at the spot Ibiki was once occupying, he addressed the Hokage once more. "And if he finds that she is a threat to Konoha?"

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that, Iruka."

Ibiki sat staring at the young girl in front of him. He was, dare he say it, dumbfounded. 'She… she really doesn't know anything. Whoever did this to her, whatever did this to her, has completely wiped her memory clean of even her time within the ROOT Academy.'

"Ibiki-san," Kagome said meekly as she felt herself tremble under his stares.

He grunted slightly to show she has his attention.

"What happens now?"

The question was simple and yet, it held such complexity. What happens to her now? Does she stay within the village walls? Will she be allowed to join the Shinobi Academy? Does she even remember how to use her shinobi skills? So many questions formed from that one simple inquiry.

"That is up to the Hokage now," Ibiki answered simply as there was no other response to give.

Kagome hummed in contemplation before nodding. "Sounds simple enough. Okay," She said cheekily as she grinned up at the hardened shinobi before her seemingly not noticing how approachable he really was, "I guess I'll just have to wait and see what Ojii-sama says." She giggled slightly at the look her interrogator gave her.

It was a cross between horrified and insulted. Yet, there was slight amusement dancing in the depths of his gaze as well and that is all Kagome needed to relax around him.

'Amazing. Even after her memory was wiped clean, she should have the immediate reaction to not show any emotions or allow her guard down. Just what caused her to defect?' Ibiki knew that for as long as Kagome stayed in Konoha, he will forever be unsatisfied as the mystery of the young girl stayed hidden in the depths of a complex mind.

Alright, so regarding Hakudoshi and Bankotsu. They are very important to this story as well as the plot line with Kagome. However, it is clear that they will be away with no idea of what happened. My question is, are you guys open to the idea of "interludes" in this story that look into what the two have been up to and how their training goes? I know I want Bankotsu to have a run in with the three Suna shinobis - Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro. And Haku will have a special run in with something that is crucial to his life as well as his bloodline.

Thing is, it's all up to you! :D