A.N. I know you've all been waiting for it, and it's here-The sequel to "The Next Hokage". I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.

"Just because Tsunade had confidence in you, does not mean we'll just bow to her wishes. No one in this village has evaluated you or your skills. In fact, you've never been official on the roster. All we have is the word of the late Tsunade and of course Shizune." The old woman fixed the ageless girl with a hard stare.

"Utatane, the word of Tsunade and Shizune carries a lot of weight," the old man stated simply, pushing up his glasses. "Though I agree she must provide some sort of documentation."

Shizune stepped up with two files then. "For you, Koharu-sama, the original." She handed it to the old woman. "And for Homura-sama, the copy. It will disappear at the end of this meeting." She sat next to the miko-nin. "I assure you, her record is spotless."

"Mitokado, read carefully," the female elder told him sternly.

Kagome arched an eyebrow at the girl who she had apprenticed alongside so long ago. How did she produce such documentation? She was almost certain she was not in the paperwork. "What the hell is in there?" Her tone was low, only for Shizune.

"Your naturalization as a Konoha citizen, your certifications as genin, chunin and jonin, and the reports from the three missions you've helped Konoha nin complete." Shizune blushed at her look. "What?"

"Either Tsunade-sensei was a better record keeper than I thought or you're a terrific forger." She smiled a little then, blue eyes swimming with jest.

Clearing her throat, Koharu called their attention back to the elders. "You are a strange candidate for Hokage. An impeccable record, yet one so short it would almost have to be." She handed the folder back as Homura's disappeared. "There is nothing we can actually object to. However, the lack of information makes me even more suspicious."

Frowning, the old man folded his arms over his chest. "Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree. Higurashi, you have no obvious spots on your record because you hardly have one. While I place the utmost confidence in the Kages whom have endorsed you, I cannot approve of you."

Bowing her head, Kagome swallowed. "I don't want to be Hokage." She looked up at them. "I never intended to be charged with any sort of power like this. Tsunade-sensei took me in when I was in need. I owe her a great debt. She asked for me to become Hokage and as much as I disdain the idea of being put in charge of this village, it was her dying request. So I ask you to reconsider."

Hiding her smile, Shizune looked away. Kagome was not one to seek power, but that in itself made her most capable of handling it. "I believe you owe it to Tsunade to consider her more carefully."

Glaring, the old woman finally nodded. "You have the job, Girl."

Without smile, the miko-nin bowed gracefully. "I pledge ten years of my life. No more, no less." With that, she walked out, Shizune shouting after her.

x~x~x

"They accepted you rather quickly," the silver haired nin commented cheerfully as he sat beside the newcomer atop Hokage tower.

Peering at the male, she smiled. "And I suppose you're here to watch me?"

"No. I just take it upon myself to watch over my Hokage." His eye crinkled, a sign he was smiling beneath his mask. "You don't remember me at all, do you?"

"I'm not Hokage yet. I take the official oath tomorrow." She considered his profile a moment before shaking her head. "I've no idea who you are."

"I suppose you wouldn't. I was only a genin then." He pulled down his mask, looking at her carefully. "You called me a scrawny pervert." He smiled.

Laughter broke through her lips as she recalled the experience.

x~x~x

"Y-you! I can't believe you!" Shizune covered herself quickly as she flushed bright red, the steam from the hot spring doing nothing to disguise her embarrassment at being peeped at.

"I assure you, it was an accident." The boy was wiping a slight nose bleed away.

"Hey!" an older female called, a robe tied tightly around her. "What are you doing peeping at girls in the hot spring?"

Momentarily shocked by the stranger's beauty, he opened his mouth to reply.

"Just get out of here, you scrawny pervert!" The powerful kunoichi grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and flung him over to the men's side.

x~x~x

"Well, you're not so scrawny anymore, but still a pervert from the book you're reading," she chuckled, taking a look at the copy of Icha Icha Paradise he carried.

Placing his mask back on, the nin simply shook his head. "It is a remarkable work of literature. Though I must ask." He turned to meet her gaze, curiosity in his one visible eye. "I knew you instantly. You have not aged a day since that first time I saw you. Do you use the same jutsu as Tsunade did? Or is there another cause of your ageless state?"

All humor faded from her eyes at that question. "Ah, now that is a long story, for another night." She stood then, walking towards the edge and dropping off. Her loyal companion caught her and they vanished into the night,

x~x~x

"I bought you some ramen. Figured you would be too nervous to eat earlier." The blond male handed over the warm cup of ramen and a pair of chopsticks.

Smiling gratefully at the young male, she nodded. "I was. That was very thoughtful. Thank you, Naruto-kun." She opened it up, sipping a little broth carefully before beginning to eat the noodles.

"You knew about the Kyuubi when you met me." His tone was soft, a little questioning.

"Yes. Rest assured, I will tell no one who does not already know." She smiled and continued to slurp, careful not to mess up her ceremonial robes.

"It doesn't bother you? That I'm... That I have a demon inside me?" He stared into her eyes, looking for acceptance. Tsunade had given him that and so had the Third before he died. He needed to know she would as well.

Caressing a whisker mark with her thumb, she smiled warmly. "It doesn't bother me in the least. But there is something I need to discuss with you." She checked her watch and stood. "Later, Naruto-kun. We will talk later." She gulped down the remainder of her ramen and disappeared.

x~x~x

"So, you like her, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked softly as they watched the elders swear in their new Hokage.

Flushing, he shrugged. "She seems pretty nice." Shifting, he looked up, catching sight of Kakashi nearby, watching. He always seemed to be watching someone or something. There was a stirring in his chest then. He looked to their new Hokage and a clawing began inside him. He didn't like his former teacher eying her that way.

Lightest purple eyes peered at the blond male with interest. "Naruto-kun?" She rested a hand on his shoulder.

He stopped, smiling at his friend. "It's nothing."

Cheers erupted from the crowd as their new Hokage stepped forth, officially sworn in. The beauty stepped forth, sapphire eyes glimmering in the sunlight. "I am told my predecessor made no speeches, so I will not start. Know only that I am honored to be your Hokage." She beamed at the masses beneath.

There was just something about the woman that called to them all. Inspired them.

Even lackluster Shikamaru clapped. "She is a strange woman, to be sure." However, he did not say his trademark word.

"What do you mean, Shikamaru-san?" Hinata peered at him inquisitively.

"Well think. She's never been seen here. But there's no way she's ANBU or root because she was Council approved. That brings back the fact that no one here knows her and she got approved anyway. I've also heard her referred to as a 'miko-nin'." The Nara looked thoughtful.

As the crowd broke up to go about celebration and return to normal life, the new Hokage turned to go back inside, Shizune trailing after her. "Well, that went as well as could be expected."

Catching up, Shizune grabbed her arm. "Kagome, you did well." She tugged her along into the office. There were mounds of paperwork. "You can start tonight or tomorrow."

Groaning, she stepped in. "Tonight. Oh, and send Uzumaki Naruto to me."

"Right away... Hokage-sama." With that, the onyx eyed woman disappeared.

Slipping through the window, a familiar silver haired jonin stood against the wall. "No one knows you, yet you've already got them eating out of your hand." He eyed her curiously. "Why do you want to talk to Naruto?" There was a suspicion to his tone. He was more protective of his former student than he let on.

"He has a problem I believe I can help him with." She smiled at him, obviously not giving him anymore than that. "Shizune told me you were his instructor when he was a genin."

"Indeed." He looked at her carefully. "He wants to be Hokage."

"I'll nominate him when the time comes." Her tone was serious. "Now, if you'll excuse me-I have much to do." She gestured to the papers piled high and then took a seat behind the desk, sorting through the nearest mound.

As if he was never there, she was alone. Until a loud blond male came in, looking somewhere between eager and confused. "What did you want to talk about, Hokage-sama?"

Relieved at the break from endless paperwork already, the dark haired beauty smiled and with a flick of her hand, the room was sealed from eavesdroppers. "Sit, Naruto-kun." She stood as he did, coming around to join him on the chair at his side. "You may have heard me be referred to as a miko-nin. Do you know what a miko is?"

"It's a holy person, right?" He looked at her carefully, thinking it was a strange combination-A nin was never holy.

"Yes." She let out a slow sigh, her ageless appearance becoming tired. "In fact, I am more than that. My story is a long one, the journey arduous. But in the end, I was made immortal. I fell through the very fabric of time and space, and Tsunade-sama found and saved me.

"The power that caught her eye, made me unique was the power of purification. You see, I can purify demons out of existence." When he flinched, she paused and touched his arm lightly. "But I never would hurt someone innocent-Human or demon. And you, Naruto-kun, are both. Which is why I need to talk to you."

"You said you didn't care!" he snapped, shooting to his feet with distrust in his eyes.

"Naruto, I don't care what you are. But I owe it to you to explain what is going to happen to you." She took his hand and pulled him back, waiting til he sat before continuing. "The seal you have is weakening. I've observed you a little and I see that you can utilize the Kyuubi's chakra. Walls between you and Kyuubi are thinning. I believe the end result will be that you become one. You will be a demon-You will still be Naruto, but a demon Naruto."

"You're lying! Why would the Fourth have done this if I was gonna become a demon!" he shouted angrily.

"There are a good many things that I do not understand about the Fourth Hokage and his actions. This is happening though. Within ten years, the wall will dissolve naturally, and you will likely go mad for a time. What I will offer you now, is to have me break the seal. I will keep you somewhere safe where you can't harm anyone until you have control. It is your decision to make, but regardless, it will eventually happen. And you will become immortal." Sapphire eyes met his sky blue evenly, not a trace of deceit within.

x~x~x

Shizune eyed the uncharacteristically sullen Kyuubi vessel in surprise as he came from the Hokage's office. "Are you okay?"

"Ne, Shizune? Is... Is Kagome-san honest?" He had argued with her for a good hour before giving up. His only help was that Shizune would tell him she couldn't be trusted. But then she wouldn't have been accepted as Hokage.

"Very. She may not tell you her life story, but she'll never lie about it either, Why? Did she tell you something?" Frowning, the medic-nin reached for him, hoping to comfort him in some way.

"Thanks." He dodged her hand and grinned broadly. "Later." With that, he fled.

x~x~x

Moaning softly as someone blocked her sunlight, the woman squirmed. "Can't I have a little longer?" She cracked her eyes open and stared at the brown haired male. "Shizune send you?" She'd decided after a week to take a long lunch and just not come back for the afternoon. A week of being good and she deserved a little break, right?"

"Yes. She seemed exceptionally worried, though she kept it quiet and only sent me." He sat beside her on the ground.

"Probably thought I disappeared on her. I did it enough when I first met Tsunade-sama..." She shook her head a little and closed her eyes again. "I just wanted a little time away. All that paperwork."

"It looks like my sort of break." He laid beside her, staring up at the clouds. "Though I suggest we go back soon."

Stretching out, she yawned, smiling a little. "I'm not used to being contained anymore." She opened her eyes and turned to look at him. "So, who are you?"

"Nara Shikamaru." He didn't turn from the view.

"Ah, I've seen your name in a few mission reports. You're very skilled." She closed her eyes again. "We'll go back in a few more minutes."

x~x~x

Hinata handed in her mission report. "The scroll was delivered without incident. No injuries to my team."

"Thank you, Hyuuga-san." Kagome smiled at her a little and accepted the written report. "I'm grateful that no one was injured."

Bowing, the heiress straightened and met her eyes. "May I ask you something, Hokage-sama?" She shifted, a little uncomfortable.

"Of course. Would you like to sit?" Her lips tilted into a smile, hoping to make her more comfortable. She still wasn't used to the whole 'being in charge' thing. Shizune helped, but she needed to adjust still.

"Well, since you and Naruto had your talk, he's been quieter. Not so cheerful like he usually is. He won't tell me anything, but I'm very concerned." She bit her lip, a little nervous as she peered at her Hokage.

"Well, Naruto-kun and I had a serious discussion about his future. I just hope he'll let me help. Is that all?" Kagome prompted, looking unphased by the question. Shizune had asked her a similar question after all.

"I suppose so. Thank you for your time, Hokage-sama." She stood and bowed again before leaving.

Sighing, she rested her head on the desk. "I wish I could go back to aimless wandering. Much easier." She smiled and scratched the neko youkai behind the ear as she appeared on her shoulder. "Hey there. You been exploring, hm?"

Kirara meowed softly and nuzzled her mistress.

"What would I do without you, Kirara?" Smiling softly, gave her another pet before going back to her paperwork.