A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto. Also, just to let you know, I have not seen or read all of Naruto, but because I am a good researcher I have incorporated some later information into my alternate timeline.

Kirara jumped on Naruto's head, mewling to wake him on the third day of his survival training, leaping away away when the kitsune swatted at her and sniffing.

Sleepy blue eyes peered up at the feline with irritability. "Lemme sleeeep..." Only then did he catch the scent of the giant centipede that stalked him.

Jumping to a nearby branch, Kirara looked highly amused as she watched the kitsune scream and scramble to his feet.

x~x~x

"Thank you for meeting with me, Danzo-san," Kagome murmured softly, her manner and smile polite and cheerful. "I have many questions for you."

The older man smiled pleasantly at her and sat without invitation. "I have been expecting as much. It must be hard to run a village you are so very unfamiliar with. And with a young heart, things can be most distracting."

Noting his subtle manner of allowing her to know he was watching her, Kagome smiled. "It is not your advice that I seek, Danzo-san. You see, I have a prisoner of Sound right now, a Yakushi Kabuto." She met his one visible eye, not even a little shaken. "I find it hard to believe you would have missed such a traitor in your midst… Which leads me to believe he was your traitor."

"Is that so?" Danzo asked, quirking his lip upwards in a mocking fashion. "You have not even been in this village a year and you think to hurl such spurious accusations? I have been serving this village longer than you have been alive."

"No, Danzo, you do not serve this village!" Kagome snapped suddenly, her eyes blazing. "You convinced Uchiha Itachi to slaughter his clan, which lead to the later treason of Uchiha Sasuke. You have aided Orochimaru in horrendous experiments and you gave him his right hand. You have made this village enemies, and you have no remorse."

"And what do you plan on doing to me? Do you think to detain me?" Danzo asked, his expression icy. "You are nothing, a weak willed-" Suddenly, his expression went slack and he slumped forward.

With a poof, the sapphire eyed beauty behind the Hokage's desk disappeared, leaving Kakashi to peer into Kagome's eyes. "I was wondering how long you were going to let him talk."

"I thought I'd let him incriminate himself a bit more. Genma," Kagome called out, letting her personal guard come into the office.

"You had me worried, Hokage-sama." Genma looked at the Root leader and Kakashi. "What will we do with him?" He could still see the old man's body moving with his breath.

"Advanced interrogation. I need to know where all the bodies are buried." Kagome looked at Genma with a fierce intensity in her eyes. "No one is to know he lives. To the village, he will continue not to exist. I expect you to leak subtly that I killed him for treason amongst those who need to find out. Once we have flushed the traitors out completely, we will eliminate Danzo. The only two you may keep in the loop are Ibiki and Inoichi. You are acting as my hand in this."

Bowing, Genma took Danzo and disappeared.

Eyes staring out the window without focus, Kagome could feel Kakashi still staring me. "You played me very well."

The Copy Nin walked towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I got a taste of your temper. And it is easy to echo feelings I have shared."

"Why did Tsunade-sensei allow him to continue to operate?" Kagome murmured softly, leaning into him.

"While I don't disagree with your actions, I imagine she feared the power vacuum that stands to destabilize the village. They were technically disbanded before her time, yet they continued on." Kakashi was nonchalant, already knowing she had plans.

"That is why you will become the shadowy figure of Konoha," Kagome whispered softly. She turned in his arms and met his eyes. "Danzo was a traitor, guilty of things far worse than I will ever know. However, there will be a vacuum, and I need someone I can trust to pull strings until Konoha has fully eradicated or assimilated the threats within."

"It's a shame you will only give us ten years." Kakashi appraised her, seeing the way her mind worked. "You had teachers beyond Tsunade."

Smiling, Kagome jabbed his ribs. "Are you saying my sensei did not have a head for strategy? I think that's just plain slander."

"Hm." Kakashi caught her fingers. "There is still a lot of risk. What if I start to value my place as king of the shadowy underground of the village?"

"No. You will not." Kagome met his gaze evenly. "I made it this far in life, not simply by accepting that I must at times be ruthless, but because I can see people for what they are. I was a naive girl once, hot tempered and wearing my heart on my sleeve. But it did teach me to discern the good in people. A lecher might have a heart of gold, a cold blooded killer an honor code, a priestess a heart filled with malice and hatred…. We are often not what we seem. But you, Kakashi… Well, you do what is needed, no matter how it hurts you."

x~x~x

Emerging from the Forest of Death after his week in tattered clothes, Naruto beamed when he saw his Hokage waiting for him. "Morning!" he greeted chipperly.

Pleased that he was not still moody, Kagome smiled back. "Good morning. I see Kirara kept you from being eaten," she teased idly, opening her arms for the little cat to jump in, rewarding her with gentle scratches behind her ears.

Naruto's face heated and he frowned. "Well, only once or twice…" He growled when the cat gave a seemingly amused mewl.

"Come, let's walk and talk," Kagome told him, turning and starting off, trusting him to catch up.

Quickly doing just that, Naruto fell into step beside her. "I'm sorry that I lost my cool. But I really do-"

Knowing very well the pains of adolescent love going unrequited, Kagome simply shook her head. "I understand how you feel right now, Naruto. But we must move forward. You are very strong, and your mind needs to catch up to the strength of your body." She felt a little guilty disregarding his feelings, but knew it was for the best.

"So, that's what you're doing with Kakashi, moving forward?" Naruto demanded hotly.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. We have a relationship that benefits us both. But that is not what I want to talk to you about. I have taken action as a Hokage that has been much overdo. However, I would be foolish if I thought that was the end of it. I fully expect that there will be assassination attempts on me, and because it is known you are my student, there are risks to you as well." Kagome felt Kirara tense and let her take residence on her shoulder, her eyes alert.

"You don't need to worry about me or you! I'll protect you with my life-" Naruto vowed, completely serious.

Kagome smiled at his clear drive to show his strength and shook her head. "No, Naruto, I will not have you standing guard over me. I have people I have selected for that. I need you to learn to prioritize and strategize so that when you take over for me eventually you will not have to go through things like this."

"So, what sort of training are we doing?" the blond responded eagerly, wanting to be done with it so he could indeed protect her despite her words.

"The training is something you will have to do yourself." Kagome kept her eyes ahead. "You are going to be sent out with a partner, and you are going to covertly deliver a scroll for me. This mission will be something that will take time and great effort. Through it, I hope you will learn what you need."

"If this is so covert, why are you telling me here?" Naruto groused, not pleased he was being sent away again.

"Because you are leaving immediately. I had your partner get supplies for you." Kagome held in her phobic reaction when the quiet shinobi landed beside them. "Shino-kun, you can brief Naruto fully when the two of you are outside of Konoha."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Shino looked at Naruto and handed him a bag. "Eat while we go, Naruto-san."

Frowning, the kitsune looked at his Hokage with more than a little irritation. "You're sending me with the creepy bug guy?" he accused.

Kagome smiled patiently. "Shino will be essential to your dual mission."

"Dual mission? I haven't even heard the first!" Naruto complained loudly.

"You have. Learn from him. Now go," Kagome urged, her tone final.

Scowling, Naruto followed the Aburame, leaving his Hokage seemingly alone.

Jiraiya scoffed as he slipped from the trees. "Do you really think that was wise?" He looked at her, his eyes laden with seriousness not typically shown in his expression.

"Which action?" Kagome replied idly, walking to his side, possessing no illusions that he was not in the loop, despite her strictest orders. "Taking Danzo, installing Kakashi as his successor to a new regime or sending Naruto after Uchiha Itachi? The answer is a resounding maybe to all."

Breaking into a smile, the Sannin looked in the direction of his student. "At least you can admit it."

"To you." Kagome stroked Kirara's chin lightly when she nuzzled her face. "This village will have to go to war at some point in my term. I will not be fighting one internally as well."

"If you are uncertain, why risk him?" Jiraiya asked suddenly, his tone not accusing, but still not happy for that matter. "You want him as your successor."

"He would be in danger of losing it all here. Naruto is not yet skilled in hiding his emotions, and I am doubtful he will ever be a master at it. If someone tries to kill me, he will be very likely to lose control. It appears that despite my best intentions in training him, I am also his greatest weakness at the moment. If he shows his hand, shows he is a kitsune rather than housing one, he will not be Hokage. That is his truest dream, despite his hormonal confessions," Kagome determined, her eyes distant and serious.

"Do you think he'll be ready in ten years?" Jiraiya asked, legitimately curious.

"There's a reason I've been sending him on missions that by all standards should be considered S class," Kagome pointed out. "I plan on training him harder than anyone else could and giving him at least the start of strategic thinking."

"And if you never can instill in him the mind you think he needs to lead? Will you nominate someone else?" Jiraiya pressed, wondering about her loyalties to the village versus her student.

"No. I will make sure he has the advisors he needs." Kagome shrugged. "The Yakushi boy will be an asset once we can bring back his core nature. And the Uchiha will be brought to heel."

"Which one?" Jiraiya arched an eyebrow, wondering exactly how far she had planned ahead.

"Both. Perhaps Itachi alone depending on Sasuke's state when we bring him in. I need to eradicate every part of Orochimaru. I have my experience with his kind. Destroy every bit or risk his return." Kagome sighed, feeling very tired. "And then there is Akatsuki of course. And the balance between all of the villages, frankly."

"What will you do at the end of your term if we are not at peace?" The Sannin frowned, wondering just how long she thought all this conflict would last.

"We will be." Kagome smiled sadly, resting a hand over her heart. "I will make sure of it." Her eyes were distant, filled with melancholy.

x~x~x

Kabuto peered through his glasses at the Hokage, his expression guarded and yet searching. "What did you do to me?"

Kagome smiled and sat across from him without even a shadow of worry in her eyes. "Where are your pretty manners, Kabuto-kun?"

"I remember now… Who I am. How did you do that, Hokage-sama?" Kabuto pressed, his tone a little urgent.

"The mind often gets clouded when one tries to be so many different people. I helped to uncloud it." Kagome eyed him, still seeing the claws of his former masters dug deep into him. "You will have to answer for your crimes. What shall your atonement be?"

"You would trust me to atone?" Kabuto asked, his eyes twin pools of confusion. "You don't plan on locking me up for the rest of my life? Or ending my existence?"

Reaching out, Kagome cupped his cheek and peered deep into his eyes. "Why would I bring your life back to you just to take it away?" She withdrew her hand and watched him carefully. "You will have a six month prison sentence. You will share the secrets of all your former masters with my interrogators. After that, you will have a three year probationary period where you will have to live with a trusted nin who will supervise you and your recovery. You will also be working a reduced rate for the hospital, using your skills to preserve Konoha shinobi rather than killing them."

x~x~x

Kakashi's eyes were closed as Kagome's fingers walked along his side, a feeling of warmth blossoming in his chest before he quelled it quickly. "You have an unsettling way of making me too calm for a shinobi's health."

Chuckling, Kagome leaned in and nipped his collarbone. "You never completely relax though." When he grabbed her hand to keep her from her lazy explorations, she arched an eyebrow and met his now open and visible eye. She reached out to pull his headband up, tracing her fingers over the scarring on his eyelid. "Fine, we'll be alert. How is it stepping into the shoes of one such as Danzo?"

"Many doubt me. Some think I am perfect for the job… So close to you I could bury a kunai in your belly to take your place if I wanted." Kakashi let her pull his mask down and kiss him. "So trusting, after I practically threaten you."

"If you were going to kill me, you've had plenty of opportunity to try." The Hokage slid her fingers between his and kissed his pulse point. "And I'm just as close, Kakashi. So close I could slip a senbon between your ribs and into your lung… But I like you." She rested her forehead on his and closed her eyes. "Do you think I was too light on Kabuto?"

"Yes. I would have had him executed. However, that is why you chose me for a position that you would not occupy." Wrapping his arms around her waist, he just held her for a long moment. "Kabuto is a piece of Orochimaru."

"No, Kabuto is a boy who was used as a tool, battered and lost to the wills of others," Kagome countered, her eyes soft. "Not everyone has that will inside them, that ability to see beyond the manipulations and lies of others…" She rested a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. "You know very well what it is to lose someone to such a thing."

Kakashi withdrew from her, frowning. "So what will you do to Sasuke should he come back into the fold? I know you want Itachi here. He will not give up his revenge."

"Remove the curse seals and give him a chance to atone as well, though with stricter guidelines. He was acting on his own will, more so than Kabuto. Kabuto lost himself. Sasuke found his own darkness." Kagome sighed and pulled away from him. "We are getting off track. I came here to enjoy your company."

"Mm." Kakashi threaded their fingers once more. "It appears we have a difficult time separating business from pleasure."

"Perhaps the problem is that our pleasure is a bit of a business arrangement." Kagome shook her head and tilted it back, looking at the ceiling. "Being my lover is not a mission. You can quit anytime and not lose anything. We haven't been seeing each other long. Perhaps I could ask Genma-"

Hand resting lightly on her throat, Kakashi's lips claimed hers in a searing kiss. "I like our arrangement. Just no more business talk until we're finished."

Wrapping a leg around his, Kagome smiled. "Agreed."