A New Leaf

Author's note: This is my first Naruto x Inuyasha Crossover. This story takes place after Naraku's death and it will eventually diverge radically from canon for the pairings to work. Sasuke ends up going to Feudal Japan and Kagura isn't dead. Oh and since Sango's and Miroku's children were never named, I have given them the names. They will be known as Akemi, Akira, and Aoi. There is also some rather liberal use of interdimensional and time travel magic in the very beginning. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, I hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.

Dedication: This is an early birthday present for SharrakorShroudDragon who requested a Naruto x Inuyasha crossover.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit off any of my stories.

Chapter 1

He had absolutely no idea what the old man was going on about, Sasuke thinks to himself as he looks around the beautiful shrine hidden in the mountain. Everything seemed so peaceful and yet, the old monk had been absolutely terrified for some reason.

"Meow." The temple cats didn't seem to share his fear though, the last Uchiha smirks at the thought. "Meow." There must have been at least fifty of them prowling about the place. A colony.

Sasuke leans down and smiles as he opens his kunai pouch and hands it a bit of jerky. "I thought you said that there was a demon around here." Sasuke raises an eyebrow at the monk as the cat darts off with its treat.

"There is!" The monk flails his arms wildly. "I swear to you that there is."

The young ninja shakes his head. "I'm beginning to think that you've had too much sake or the high altitude might be playing tricks on you." Sasuke certainly didn't see any demons around the place.

The ruby red temple with it's respectable stormy gray tiles was situated in a rather charming fashion on the mountain. Sasuke wasn't really sure why so many shrines and temples were built on mountains. It seemed counterproductive to him to have your holy places be so far away from most people, but maybe that was why they were considered holy in the first place.

If everyone could to them with ease, they would be rather mundane. "Meow." Though obviously, no one had informed the architect or the monks about cats.

Cats came and went as they pleased. A fact that Sasuke sometimes envied. No one batted an eyelash at the sight of a stray feline prowling about. The same could not be said when they realized they had just stumbled upon the last Uchiha.

"It is not!" He gives Sasuke a dirty look. "I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in at least a decade, save for ceremonial purposes!"

Right. Ceremonial. Why didn't Sasuke believe that for a minute?

Nevermind. It didn't matter. "Alright. What did the demon look like?" He had a job to do.

He had been traveling for well over a year. Seeking redemption on the road. So far it had been a rather enlightening experience.

Sasuke must have seen all five nations and several of the smaller countries that were sandwiched between their borders. It was amusing to see how at their heart people never changed, deep down. Though cultures varied widely.

"It was big." Of course, it was. "It had wings." A demon with wings. Well that was interesting. "It had huge eyes and teeth, but there was a man sitting on it." A man riding a demonic looking bird?

That sounded all too familiar to him. "Did he have blonde hair?" Deidara? It couldn't be though. Sasuke had killed the Akatsuki Member himself. Though it did sound like him.

Deidara often made large birds out of his clay. So the story matched up so far. There was just one problem. Deidara was dead. Had someone revived it? The Reanimation Jutsu could be a very dangerous thing, especially in the wrong hands. Suddenly, this was no longer funny.

"No." Kenji, the monk, shakes his head. "That's one of the strangest things about it. The man had blue skin." He pauses and adds. "Well blueish green."

That almost sounded like Kisame, but Kisame didn't have a green tint to his skin and he didn't ride on demonic birds. There was also the fact that he was dead as well.

"Well that's specific." Sasuke Summons Garuda. "Was it bigger or smaller than Garuda?"

Kenji stares wide eyed at the hawk. "S-Smaller, but it's teeth are so sharp and there is the rider that you have to worry about." Right.

"I think we can handle it." Sasuke smiles as he gets on Garuda's back.

The last Uchiha estimated there was probably only a fifty percent chance he was going to run into something, but the man had sounded so certain and his description was disturbingly specific. Maybe, there really was a demon somewhere around here.

After all, his best friend was a Jinchuuriki. Demons did exist. Though Sasuke hadn't really encountered any that weren't Tailed Beasts yet, that didn't mean they weren't out there. (The fact that he could summon a giant talking snake and a massive hawk also made him inclined to believe such things did exist as well).

"Alright!" Kenji looks up at Sasuke with worried eyes. "Just be careful!" The raven haired ninja nods as he lightly taps his feet against Garuda's sides and they take to the sky.

"You went to visit her again." A feminine voice pierces through his thoughts.

Sesshomaru wasn't entirely sure what Kagome had actually wished for, but whatever she had wished for had somehow ended up saving the wind demoness as well. Despite the fact that she was an incarnation of Naraku, she had been freed and saved from the same fate as her abomination of a creator.

The inu didn't bother trying to deny that. "Yes." Kagura could tell by his scent alone and he'd never made any secret of the fact he visited Rin.

The girl who had tried to help him after he was injured all those years ago was now a young woman. By demonic standards, she was nothing more than a newborn and yet, that wasn't the case with humans. She old enough to start thinking about having 'pups' of her own. Young, but of age.

Most humans Rin's age were thinking of marriages, already engaged, or in some cases married. The thought disturbed him, but there was little he could do about it. In the end, she was a human. She didn't really belong in the Western Castle and he knew that, but she was also the closest thing that he had to a daughter.

"Is she happy?" Kagura places a hand on his shoulder.

She was outrageously bold. No one else would dare to take such liberties with him who wasn't his mother, Kagome, or Rin. Kagura was Kagura though. She was as free as the wind that she controlled. There was no teaching her decorum.

He nods at her. "For now." Sesshomaru wasn't foolish though. "She is adapting to life in a human village about as well as one could expect." Given that she had spent years traveling with him and Jaken.

Sesshomaru might have done her more harm than good by having her follow him for some long. It was just that he had grown use to her presence. Perhaps, it had been to both of their detriments.

His enemies had used her again him more than once and now, would Rin ever be able to find a human Mate who wouldn't mind marrying someone like her. Someone who had traveled with demons and was still visited by a Demon Lord?

"Good." Kagura smiles at him slyly. "And you shouldn't worry so much. Frown lines would look rather out of place on a face like yours. She's doing well and someone will claim her." She smiles mischievously. "Rin is kind, loyal, and she has a pretty face. Though if you're really that concerned, I could always give her a new kimono to attract a lover."

Sesshomaru feels himself twitch at that. "No!" Absolutely not!

There were women who dressed even less modestly than Kagura at court, but still. The woman had absolutely no qualms about displaying herself in a highly improper way! Rin was a modest human both because that was her natural disposition and because he never would have allowed her to prance about displaying her legs or her parts of her cleavage in the fashion that Kagura did!

"You're so overprotective." Kagura laughs softly and smile at him in that sly way she had. "It's cute."

He raises an eyebrow. "I am Lord of the West. I am merely protecting my ward." Sesshomaru was not cute.

She nods at him. "Mhm. Whatever you say, Lord Fluffy." And before he could say anything else, the woman was already sauntering off with a seductive sway of her hips.

He feels himself growl at that. Whether it was from irritation at the absurd title she had given him or appreciation for her alluring walk, Lord Sesshomaru wasn't entirely sure and that thought irritated him. A great deal.

"Rin, have you seen Aoi?" Sango smiles at the young woman back in Kaede's Village.

Rin smiles back at her. "I think that he went fishing with Miroku." She was fortunate really.

Sango's family had always been kind to her as had Kaede's. That was perhaps the largest reason why Lord Sesshomaru had brought her here. She already knew some of the villagers and the transition would be easier.

"I can't believe he didn't tell me they were going fishing." Sango shakes her head. "Alright. I'll go find them." Rin couldn't help, but imagine the feisty demon slayer 'sitting' her husband as Kagome used to sit Inuyasha as she notes the other woman's exasperation.

It was only play fighting though. Miroku and Sango were now happily married with three children. Akemi, Akira, and Aoi. Akemi was their eldest daughter and her identical twin was Akira. Then there was Aoi. Their youngest child and only son.

"Okay." Rin nods as she goes back to tending Kaede's garden as Sango walks off.

Kaede was quite elderly and it was hard for her to tend to her garden anymore. So Rin often helped her with it. The woman's garden was very important to this village because she was a skilled healer and grew many medicinal herbs.

Rin couldn't help, but laugh though when she notices a fluffy neko streaking through the gardens, chasing a butterfly. "Silly Kiara." It was hard to believe that the adorable kitten could transform into a fearsome demon during battle who was about the size of a horse with fangs bigger than any tiger's. (Not to mention the fact she could fly and was a fire neko as far as Rin could tell).

Kiara decides to let her 'prey' get away in favor of prowling over to Rin and covering her face in affectionate licks. "Good girl." The human woman smiles as she strokes her soft fur for a moment.

If only life could always be so simple. Rin was content in the village, but she still missed traveling with Sesshomaru. He had left only a few hours before and as always, it hurt to see him go.

"Why did I have to get bigger?" She shakes her head at the thought.

Oh she understood his reasoning. Lord Sesshomaru thought it would be better for her to be with her own kind. So that she wouldn't be subjected to the harsh opinions of Sesshomaru's Court and those who served it.

As a human, she would at best be tolerated because of her connection to Sesshomaru. In reality though, most of them would hate her merely for the fact that she hadn't been born the 'right' species. Lord Sesshomaru was probably right to place her in a human village and at least she still saw him often, but that didn't make it any easier.

Kiara purrs and cuddles to her chest as if sensing the direction of her thoughts. She probably did. After all, she was a very smart neko and able to follow orders in the heat of battle.

Things would have been much easier, if she hadn't grown up. "I could have stayed with him then." Of course, Rin knew that was wrong. Sooner or alter, everyone got older.

It was just that humans got older a lot sooner than demons. It wasn't fair, but Sesshomaru had told her that she needed to start thinking of her future. So that's exactly what she was going to do.

She quickly reaches down and stuffs a few herbs into a basket. "First though, I have to get these herbs to Kaede." That was something.

' The bigger questions could be solved later. For now, she could help Kaede while she pondered Sesshomaru's advice. His words still echoing in her head.

"Rin, you are a human." His golden eyes looked at her with concern. "You're not a child anymore. That's why I brought you here." His gaze softened slightly. "Because you can have a future here. One day, you would have come to resent me, if I let you continue on as you had been."

She couldn't imagine coming to resent him. Lord Sesshomaru had protected her for years and while he wasn't the warmest demon, Rin knew that he cared about her. He didn't need to say it, but he cared for her as much as any father cared for their daughter.

Hadn't his actions proven that? Time and time again, he had saved her and despite that, here they were. Here she was in Kaede's Village instead of at her proper place, traveling by his side.

"I could never resent you." Rin smiled at him.

He shook his head. "Perhaps now, but in time you would. I won't steal your life away form you." Sesshomaru caressed her cheek. "Find your place here. Whether that is as someone's wife, a healer, a farmer, or even becoming a demon slayer, that is up to you."

She frowned at all those choices. Rin had never really thought of becoming any of those things. Yes, she had helped Kaede when Sango went into labor with her son, but that was a far cry from being an actual healer. She loved flowers, but that wasn't the same as being a farmer. Fishing was fun, but did she want to do that for a living? And she honestly couldn't see herself as a Demon Slayer. So what was she supposed to do?

"I'll try my best." Rin didn't want to be left behind again, but Sesshomaru had been visiting her and leaving her for years. "I won't let you down, Lord Sesshomaru!" He wasn't going to change his mind and have her join him. She had come to accept that.

Now, it was up to her to keep her promise…

She smiles and briefly pets Kirara before darting back into Kaede's home. "Lady Kaede, I got those medicinal herbs you wanted." To which Kaede smiles at her and nods as she gestures for the young woman to put them down next to her.

"Thank ye, child." Rin hadn't found her place yet, but at least she could help her friends!

Sasuke had only been flying on Garuda's back for a few moments, when he saw something blue out of the corner of his eye. "You're gonna die!" Well more like someone blue who had decided to threaten him. "This land is mine now!"

Before Sasuke could fully turn Garuda around to face his opponent, something rushed at him. Something large and with wings and teeth!

"AHHH!" That damn bird actually BIT him!

"Chidori Current!" He could feel the creature's teeth sinking into the flesh of his arm and blood sliding down it, but that wouldn't last for long.

Radiating the Chidori along his body should teach this demon a lesson! "DAMN YOU!" It screeches in pain, sounding far more like an animal than a man.

The Chidori did the trick though. The bird had released his arm and now, Sasuke stares at his opponent. Kenji had been wrong. It wasn't a man flying the bird. The man was part of the bird!

"What is that thing?" Sasuke blinks.

He'd seen a lot of strange things, but this was a new one. For some reason, it struck Sasuke as even more bizarre than when Orochimaru had assumed his true form. That of a giant snake with a humanoid head and its body was made up of many more snakes.

Garuda shirks as he flies straight towards the other bird. It seemed that his Summon was not at all thrilled by the sneak attack and Sasuke supposed that Garuda's animal instincts were taking over.

This was apparently a rival male, challenging the hawk in his 'territory.' Certain offenses would not be forgiven in Garuda's world, it seemed.

"YOU'RE GOING TO DIE! HOW DARE YOU ATTACK ME?!" The creature was going to meet them head on it seemed.

Sasuke smirks at that as he unsheathes his sword. Perfect. He could kill the abomination in one fell swoop.

The bird portion of the body snarls and snaps its fangs at him as it hurtles ever closer to them while the humanoid section was clearly out for blood. Whatever this unfortunate creature was, it was clearly in the throes of madness and must be stopped!

Sasuke's smirk grows wider. "I believe you were the one who made the mistake of attacking me first." Garuda locks his talons with the creature as Sasuke slams his sword into one of its wings.

He slices through it, ignoring the screeching of pain as he uses a Chidori Current to block the attempted punches the human side of the strange beast tried to throw at him. "DIE! DIE! YOU CUT OFF MY WING!" That was right and Sasuke was going to do a lot more than that to the creature before he was done.

The wing was now completely severed and hurtles towards the ground. Sasuke could see blood on the demon from where the 'amputation' had been performed.

The only thing keeping this demon in the air was Garuda's talons. "Release him." Though that wouldn't last for long.

"AHHH!" The bird demon was half falling and half flying, trying desperately not to slam into the ground.

Sasuke wasn't entirely sure how, but the creature manages to cushion its fall somewhat as it landed into a cave at the bottom of the mountain. "Well I can't leave it wandering around half dead." Sasuke glances at his bitten arm in disgust. "Garuda, fly us to it." He'd kill it and then treat his injuries.

Who knew what that creature had? It could have rabies or be poisonous for all Sasuke knew.

His Summon wasted no time in following his orders. Scarcely a minute later, he was just outside a large cave. A cave that Garuda would have a hard time fitting into, but the demon could without too much of an issue.

If he had to say, the Demon was probably only about a third of Garuda's size. Perhaps half though. Far bigger than Sasuke, but it was no match for his Summon when it came to sheer enormity.

"Alright, where are you." Sasuke enters the cave with his Chidori Current still surrounding him as he keeps his blade at the ready.

This creature was wounded and that made it dangerous. That was always when animal were the most dangerous. When they were wounded. It was just like with the wild boars that occasionally used to reek havoc in their family's fields when he was a child. Always make sure the beast was dead before you went too near it.

A scuffling sound told Sasuke all that he needed to hear. He smirks as he sees the beast trying to scurry towards a pool of water. Did it actually believe that it would drown him?

Maybe. Clearly, it was desperate as it jumps into the water. Sasuke shakes his head though as he pursues it. It would not get away that easily. This demon had been terrorizing the temple for weeks according to Kenji. This would end now.

"You know, I can make it quick." Sasuke smirks.

"I WILL NOT BE KILLED BY A HUMAN!" The bird demon snarls at him as he jumps into the water and Sasuke follows him!

He had every intention ending its miserable existence with one thrust of his blade, but that wasn't what happened. No. Something else entirely happened.

Instead of his feet touching the ground, he was falling. Falling into a series of bright lights and there didn't seem to be any bottom.

"What that?!" He just kept falling!

The only thing that he could see that gave Sasuke some conception of space other than down was the fact the bird demon was also falling. Falling and trying to lash out at him.

His hands and talons were desperately trying to get him, but Sasuke wouldn't allow it. Whatever this place was, he wasn't going to allow himself to die at the hands of a half dead beast!

"DIE! DIE!" And a possibly rabid half dead beast at hat!

Sasuke smirks as he extends his Chidori Sharp Spear. The nice thing about the spear is that it could extend up to five meters and that was more than enough to pierce the dying creature's heart.

Blood spattered around the strange void and the demon's dying screams were heard, but that was all. Soon enough, it went quiet…save for the sound of him falling.

Faster and faster, he fell. Sasuke fell for what might have only been seconds, but could have been days for all he knew. It felt like a long time, but he had no way of knowing.

Eventually, he lands in a pool of water. When everything stopped spinning, Sasuke took stock of his surroundings. Wherever he was, he definitely wasn't inside that cave anymore. He was outside.

It was a beautiful summer's day and he could hear bird's chirping and the rushing of water not far from where he was. Perhaps a river or a waterfall? He was still on a mountain, but there was no cave no. Well at least not that he could see.

"A village?" He blinks to himself as he looks down the mountain side.

He could see the village in the distance. A fair bit away, but it was a gap that he could easily close before the sun set.

Naturally, he tries to jump back in the water beforehand. Sasuke did want to return form whence he came, but it was just normal water now. No magical properties that sucked him into another place.

Maybe, it worked like the Fourth Hokage's Jutsu? Though he saw no seals. Minato had been able to travel vast distances instantly, but he needed Seals in place.

Was it possible that someone had an even more advanced version of the technique though? Maybe. It didn't seem likely, but Sasuke decides to worry about that later.

Right now, he needed to figure out where he was. "And the village seems as good a place to start as any." Sasuke sighs as he begins his descent down the mountain and heads towards the village.

His arm stung, but Sasuke didn't think that the bird demon had been venomous. Still, he was looking forward to getting it properly treated. That and getting home was the only thought on his mind as he continues on his trek towards that village.

How could he have possibly known that his life was about to change forever? And that it would all be because of one person. A beautiful woman named Rin who in a few short hours would be the one to tend to his injured arm and eventually his heart. He couldn't have and that was why Sasuke Uchiha didn't hesitate in the slightest as he slowly, but surely made his way towards the nearby village.