A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.
Kirara purred softly, nuzzling her mistress and curling into her stomach. The night air was cool and the Hokage's fire rat haori was so very warm. She meowed and pawed at her arm, looking sideways at the blond male who appeared beside them.
"Sshh, it's alright." She scratched her little demon behind her ears, smiling. "Hello Naruto-kun." Sapphire orbs flickered to sky blue eyes curious at his very resigned look. "I take it you have found me honest?"
Looking truly distraught, he met her gaze. "There's no other way? No other option?" His normally jovial features seemed pinched, as if he had tasted something sour.
"I'm afraid I do not know one." The miko sighed and set the fire cat to the side, turning to face him fully. "You still have time if you need more to decide."
Looking out, away from her searching gaze, the jinchuriki let out a slow breath. "No." He turned and met her eyes again. "I don't need more time. Baa-chan trusted you. Shizune-nee trusts you... I'm going to have to too. So, where do I go to be safe?"
A sad yet sweet smile took possession of her lips. "I'll show you tomorrow. Tonight, let's just let things be."
x~x~x
"Hokage-sama, there is some concern. Uzumaki Naruto has not been seen-" the ANBU began, concern coming from beneath his mask.
"He is safe. I had a top secret mission for him. I had Shizune inform his emergency contacts and he is not on the roster. Why is it that this is a concern of yours?" the miko-nin inquired, voice soft, though there was a note of steel beneath it.
"Well, with Uzumaki's condition-" he started, not sensing that this was exactly the wrong thing to say.
"Naruto-kun is a valued asset to this village. He is permitted to conduct himself as he sees fit in down time and if I give him a mission, then it is not your place to question me, no matter his 'condition'. Thank you for your diligence, but I will be handling any further inquiries into Naruto-kun's daily life personally." She smiled a very sweet smile. "And you make sure Danzo hears that."
Bowing, the ANBU disappeared.
Letting out a long suffering sigh, the miko-nin threw a kunai out the window.
Coming through the window, a silver haired jonin held the kunai with a glint of amusement in his one visible eye. "You're rather protective of my student."
"Someone needs to be," she replied. "Though I do hope you will refrain from spying on me further." She looked deeply irritated with him. "You'd think I was an unwanted visitor rather than your Hokage."
"Ninja," he replied simply, lips turning upwards into a smile beneath the cloth mask.
"Even so." She turned back to the mounds of paperwork.
Taking that as his dismissal, the copy-nin vanished.
x~x~x
Shizune twitched as the Nara defeated her yet again. "You're cheating somehow." The claim was petty, and she knew it. Sighing, she put two coin's in the male's outstretched hand.
Accepting the money, the lazy-genius rolled his neck. "I don't need to cheat." He put the money in his front shirt pocket. "Same time next week?" He wa already on his feet, ready to go. He knew it was an odd sort of therapy for her; Losing bets for her late mentor.
Nodding, she put the shogi board and pieces away. "Thank you, Nara-san."
"Yeah, no problem." He gave her a measuring look. "Our new Hokage-How's she handling things?" It was an uncomfortable question. There had been stirrings in clan politics revolving around her lately though, and he wanted to make sure she was ready.
"She is doing all of her duties without fail," the medic-nin replied with a tinge of steel in her tone. More than once, she had to defend her mentor's successor from the more established nin of the village. It was not expected from Shikamaru however.
"Look, I have no problems with Hokage-sama. There have been whispers though. The Nara are standing firmly with her, however, the Hyuuga are not very pleased that she was accepted so readily. There's also talk of her relationship with Naruto." He looked awkward, clearly not liking the position he was in.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she sighed. "Thank you." She knew he was trying to be helpful. "How about the Yamanaka and Akamichi? Nevermind, I'll have her call a meeting with all the clan heads."
"For the best," the prodigy intoned simply. "I'm sure Kakashi-san is already informing her though." The sneaky jonin had just left according to his senses.
Twitching, the medic-nin simply disappeared.
x~x~x
The world was... Pink. Literally, he was surrounded by pink. Pink sky, pink fog obscuring the ground, nothing but pink. His orange clothes must have been practically glowing in the otherwise pink realm. "Kagome-sama?"'
"The miko is not here," a booming voice called. Red eyes opened, revealing the Kyuubi no Kitsune, rising from the mists. "No cage between us this time." Large teeth appeared as the giant creature pulled back his lips to smile.
And that was all the warning the young man received before the attacks began.
x~x~x
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with a cool washcloth, Kagome smiled lightly at the boy. "It will be okay, Naruto-kun." She let her aura wash over him, infusing him with warmth. She knew there was a battle waging in his soul, but she knew he would be able to tame the inner beast.
"The clan heads are waiting," Shizune murmured from the doorway. She bit her lip, looking at the boy that was wrapped in a pink cocoon, sleeping in a place cut off from the world. "How is he?"
"Fighting for himself. But then, that's hardly anything new in this village." Sighing, the ageless woman looked at the boy who had been given such a burden. In him, she felt a kindred spirit. Not for the first time, she wished that the fourth Hokage had allowed her to take care of the threat Kyuubi posed, but then, that was in the past. All she could do was help his son with the future.
A little antsy, the onyx eyed beauty frowned. "They're-"
"Yes, yes, they're waiting." Sighing, the Hokage nodded to her little youkai companion. "Guard him for me, Kirara."
She meowed softly in agreement and leapt up onto the chair where her mistress had sat.
As soon as the miko-nin found her way into the meeting room, she held a hand to cease conversation. "I am told there are concerns about how I am conducting myself in the office of Hokage."
Narrowing his eyes at the woman who so easily brushed them off, Hiashi stepped forward. "You were accepted without proper vetting, and now you are showing clear favoritism towards the Uzumaki boy." He was irked, seeing her attaining the office as a slap in the face to the loyal shinobi of Konoha who had consistently been present.
"It's hardly favoritism to send him on a private mission," the Nara head drawled lazily, unconcerned. He was here because he had to be.
"Hyuuga are always stirring up trouble," Tsume growled, her canine companion offering a bark of agreement. "She is our Hokage-If Tsunade-sama thought her worthy, she is worthy." There was a ring of loyalty in her tone. "Even if she does like cats." The last part was added flippantly when she scented a feline on her.
Ever silent, Shibi watched the interaction with vague curiosity. Like many present, he simply did not know how the new Hokage handled pressure. If necessary, he always had his greatest weapons lurking beneath his skin. Though his bugs may have trouble with her strange chakra.
"So, you think that the Elders should have, what, asked your approval, Hyuuga-san?" the miko-nin asked softly.
Chuckling, Inoichi knew what the look in her eyes meant. He had seen it often in many women. She was about to give the Hyuuga a piece of her mind.
Sensing this as well, the Akamichi retreated to stand with his old team.
"I believe that our Hokage should actually be a part of our village," the Hyuuga countered, not backing down despite the steady retreat of the other heads.
"Yet I was approved." Tone a little cool, the Hokage did not explode despite the strong urge to wipe that superior look off of his face. "I may not be your ideal leader, but I am what you got. I am strong, I am smart and I am capable. If you feel differently, I'm sorry that you're experiencing unpleasant feelings. It doesn't change reality though. Back off, because I will make you if you force my hand."
Silence echoed in the room for a long moment.
Coughing, Aburame took pity on the proud man who clearly did not have it in him to break the silence nor leave as it was. "I am satisfied." With that said, he bowed to his Kage and disappeared.
Slowly, the other clan leaders copied the action.
Sighing in relief, Kagome returned to observe the blond boy who was still struggling so.
Silent, Shizune merely gaped after her. When did she learn to put people in place that way? The Kagome she remembered often exploded or just ran away. This Kagome was... Well, she was acting the part of Hokage.
"Impressive," Kakashi mused, lip twitching when the medic-nin jumped.
"Quit doing that!" Shizune yelled, chest heaving as she narrowed her eyes at him. Sensing his amusement, she forced herself to calm so as not to give him any more satisfaction. "But I agree. She handled them well."
"It helps that Hyuuga was the only one who showed any real animosity." Which was much as he expected. Nara was too lazy, Akamichi would follow Nara, Yamanaka had vetted her sufficiently already as was his specialty, Inuzuka was too loyal and Aburame just didn't have any motive to question her without cause. All in all, it was lucky there were no Uchiha representatives or they may very well have found reason to agree with Hyuuga for once.
"I worried Inuzuka might side with him-Their heirs are extremely close." Shizune shook her head and straightened the room a bit, needing something to keep her busy.
"No, too much loyalty there. Kagome-sama would have to truly mess up." Amused, he caught her wrist. "Why not leave this for the day? She certainly has." His one visible eye crinkled with mirth.
Surprised, she turned to look at him and was momentarily silenced by his almost carefree expression. Blushing, she jerked her arm back and huffed. "Some of us have responsibilities."
"Yes, and she could appoint someone else as assistant anytime. You don't have to serve her forever." His tone was light though they both knew it was not Kagome he spoke of.
Ready to tear into him, the medic-nin could only glare at the wall as he disappeared.
x~x~x
Blue eyes searched the pink mist, breath unsteady as he ran. Why did I think I could do this? There's no way! The Kyuubi was incredible, unbound and ready to fight for dominance. He felt trapped and alone.
"Naruto-kun," a voice called, a glimmer of red streaming through the mist. "You can do it. I know you can. I'm proud of you. We both are, because we know you can handle this where I couldn't."
"Who are you? Show yourself!" the blond male yelled.
"You know, he inherited your spirit, Kushina."
As the mist seemed to clear, the whisker cheeked Uzumaki gaped. Before him stood the fourth Hokage and a red haired woman. "How-Why?"
"But your looks, Minato," the redhead countered with a smile before going to touch the shocked boy's shoulder. "We sealed pieces of ourselves with you, Naruto. We knew you would have to tame the beast eventually. And we love you so much."
Snarls sounded through the pink realm. "I'll kill you all this time!"
"Be ready, Son." Touching the boy who resembled him so thoroughly on the opposite side of his lover, the former Hokage had true pride in his eyes. "I knew you could do this."
In shock, tears rolled down the Uzumaki male's cheeks. "Kaa-chan, Tou-san..." He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of their embrace for the first and only time in his life. When his eyes snapped open, there was determination. I'll make them proud.
