AN URGENT:

I apologize for the extreme lateness of the updates but I was delayed by various things but most of all, all of my document files were deleted and I could not retrieve them. Every new chapter, idea, and snippet I had written had been deleted and for all of my efforts I could not recover them. Once again, apologies.

That, and I had been severely discouraged, especially since seeing all of my hard work gone to waste.

Warnings: Usual Warnings apply.

PS: Possible Pairings: Sesshomaru/Kiba, Inuyasha/Miroku/Kouga, Sango/OC, Nakamura/Haruka/Makoto, Sango/Miroku

Also, I did name one of the characters after Fire Emblem because why not and because the game is AMAZING!

PSS: I ALMOST GAVE KIBA A HAREM!

-XxX-

There was something about nature that fascinated the Inuzuka. It was amazing how tall the trees in Konoha could grow. The cool wind and the sweet smell in the breeze only added to the effect, but still, despite all of this, there was a deep dread that the young Inuzuka could not shake.

'Something,' he thought slowly and worriedly, 'is going to happen soon. I have a feeling that whatever it is, it's not going to be good at all.' He sighed lowly, long and suffering.

"As if I needed more problems." The young Inuzuka muttered and beside him, a small Akamaru whined and looked inquiringly towards his master. "I haven't even figured out what's wrong with me." A hand rose absentmindedly and rubbed at his chest, trying to soothe the perpetual ache that thrummed deeply and painfully. Seeing the look on his partner's face, he managed a reassuring smile. "It's nothing buddy. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather." He supplied, not totally a lie but not the complete truth either.

Akamaru barked, satisfied with the answer and he turned back to romp through the wild grass that felt oh so good on his fur. Kiba smiled slightly at the sight.

As he swung slowly on the swing with his hands loosely wrapped around the rope that held it and head leaned back as he stared contemplatingly into the sky. He swung back and forth slowly, and without even noticing it, his eyes closed. The Inuzuka's tilted his head back slightly, heaving another soft sigh. 'I wish… I wish I knew what was wrong with me. I wish I knew why I'm so different from everyone else.'

"Kiba?" A deep but feminine voice called out.

The Inuzuka Clan heir opened his eyes only to be greeted by the sight of his mother. She looked as fierce as ever, looked like an untamable woman with the strength and intimidation to make the greatest of men and women wary and falter at the mere sight of her.

"It's time to go to the Academy, pup." Tsume said, raising an eyebrow. "You don't want to be late."

Kiba blinked confusedly, eyebrow furrowing in thought before he nodded. "Oh." He said, sneaking a glance towards the sky and wondering how long he had sat just staring at it. "Right." He muttered. He really didn't want to go the Academy. He hated going to his classes. With great reluctance, he picked up his bag that sat near the base of a tree and slipped it onto his shoulder. He whistled, short and loudly, and soon Akamaru came bounding towards him all the while barking loudly and happily. "Let's go boy. Bye ma'!" The Inuzuka said with a wave over his shoulder before he disappeared with Akamaru at his heals.

Tsume nodded but there was a frown tugging at her lips as she stared at her son's back all the while. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why she had felt a feeling of great sadness when she stared at her own son, couldn't figure out why it was that she felt that there was something wrong. She shrugged the thought away, figuring that she was just overthinking things. Still though, her thoughts remained on her son.

"Kiba…" Tsume said but his name was lost to the wind.

-xXx-

The training grounds were, to say the least, a disaster. There were guards and soldiers running around, all trying to regain a semblance of order and trying to repair the damage that had been wrought.

Sesshomaru had caught the Inuzuka in his own arms. He could have laid him over his shoulders but with the injuries that the other had sustained it would no doubt cause more discomfort and the was the last thing that he wanted to do, especially when it was clear that he owed the Inuzuka much. Still though, a faint thought slipped through his mind and whispered that the Inuzuka was surprisingly light.

Sesshomaru had given his orders and they were enacted immedietly. The training grounds needed to be repaired, security was increased around the palace grounds as well as the surrounding villages because the demon lord had no doubt that the blast had been seen at a distance as well. He had his most trusted soldiers supervising, that is: Nobuyuki, Haruka and Makoto. The rest of the palace residents had been unsettled by the occurring events but they had no doubt that Sesshomaru was in control and to doubt such a thing was a folly.

Kiba had been placed in one of the nearby chambers near Sesshomaru's own private rooms in the wing of the palace that he occupied solely on his own, except that is, for those had he 'trusted' the most. Rin herself occupied one of the nearby rooms as well.

As soon as the Inuzuka had been laid to rest on the bed, the demon lord had left the room in a purposeful stride, leaving the rest of the Inuyasha group to hang in worried silence.

Lying still against the luxurious sheets of the equally comfortable bed, the Inuzuka almost looked like he was in peace, that is, if it weren't for the blood and dirt clinging stubbornly onto his skin and constantly reminding everyone of the events that just took place, of events that had baffled just about everyone. There were many questions running through their minds, many of them relating to the prone Inuzuka on the bed. Although they were all incredibly curious, there were more pressing matters at hand, such as making sure that the Inuzuka was healed and received the medical attention that he needed.

"This is all the Inuzuka's fault." Kagome muttered darkly to herself, hands crossed tightly across her chest and eyes glaring at the unconscious form on the bed. Her clothes were still pristine and neat, except for the occasional wrinkle, a sharp contrast to the Inuzuka's dirtied skin and clothes, but most of all, a glaring testament to the Inuzuka's sharp prowess. If it hadn't been for his barrier, there was no doubt that the priestess would have been in a totally different condition.

The difference in skill and power between Kagome and Kiba was more glaringly obvious than ever and never has the priestess hated someone so much. A small part of her was uncomfortable with the amount of hate that she was feeling but it was overwhelmed by her increasing feeling of inadequacy. Of course, this only caused her to feel even more angered because she had worked hard to improve herself, had worked hard to make the others see her usefulness and now all of that was coming undone! It was unfair and she hated it, hated and hated unlike she's ever had before. What the others saw in the Inuzuka was beyond her.

"Kagome!" Sango snapped, eyes narrowed and her tone incredulous and chastising. She couldn't believe that even after all that happened, even after Kiba had defended her, Kagome was still keeping her grudge for the other alive and burning like a wild, all-consuming flame. It was worrisome, particularly because it felt like Kagome was transforming into someone else right before their eyes. Are we seeing parts of her that were hidden away? Sango wondered.

The others ─ that being Inuyasha, Miroku and Kouga ─ were standing near the Inuzuka. They heard the others interaction and it was an attention grabber for sure.

Miroku gave a glance towards the priestess, thoughts racing and calculating, but he chose instead to devote his attention to the Inuzuka. The Inuzuka was more important than trying to somehow rationalize Kagome's new outlook and sudden anger, though the monk was sure that if he had tried, his efforts would have been for naught.

Kouga and Inuyasha scowled, one more so than the other.

"Kagome," Inuyasha sighed, hands tucked into his elegant, blood red sleeves, "can you not─"

"Not what?!" She snapped, eyebrows narrowed and hands tightening their grip. "Not do what Inuyasha? Did you see what happened?" She said, hands moving to point frustratingly and vaguely towards the area of the now ruined training grounds. "He almost killed me! Do you not care at all?"

"What the hell are you talking about woman?!" Inuyasha snapped. "Inuzuka never tried to kill you! If anything, he saved you!" God, he was glad that the beads were gone. He would have crashed to the ground ten times over by now.

At the side, Sango rubbed a tired hand on her temples and not for the first time, she was happy that she had sent the children away. This wasn't an argument that she would have wanted them to see.

"Saved me?" Kagome gave scoff, a look of bafflement and anger on her face. She could feel her face flushing and it only increased as they stared at her as if she was crazy. This is all his fault, her mind hissed. "If it hadn't been for him we wouldn't even be in this situation! If it wasn't for him that crazy maniac wouldn't have come here!"

"He. Saved. You." Inuyasha repeated. "And he had already been here! His goddamn scent is all over the place! And besides, chances are the maniac would have attacked one way or another even if Inuzuka wasn't here!"

"Inuyasha's right Kagome." Sango added, moving from her position against a wall next to Inuyasha's side instead. "Besides, if it hadn't been for Inuzuka-san, we wouldn't have been able to put up much of a fight."

"That's not true! I could have─" Kagome tried to deny adamantly, her head shaking to emphasize her claim.

"Could have what?" Sango interrupted. "Did you see those barriers? They're unlike anything we've ever seen! And the way that Nakamura fought? His sheer speed and strength would have killed us off in mere moments." Sango admitted because damn if that wasn't the truth. "The only ones who would have even had a chance would have been Inuyasha, Kouga and Sesshomaru-sama and even then, who knows how they would have done!"

Kagome nearly searched for a reply, her face growing even more increasingly flushed. "Still though, Inuzuka's the same as that maniac! He has the same freak abilities! For all we know they could have even been working together!" She yelled.

"Kagome, don't say that." Kouga intervened, eyes trying to search for any semblance of the sweet and caring girl that he had once known. "Do you hear what your saying? Please Kagome─" Kouga tried to implore.

"Shut up, you dirty dog! No one is talking to you!" Kagome snapped. "Why are you even here? Aren't you supposed to be looking after the remains of your damn clan anyway? Running through the damn woods or something?"

"Kagome!" Miroku snapped, turning towards the fuming miko.

"How could you say that─" Sango said, incredulous and at a loss at the sheer insensitivity of the comment.

Kouga turned away. He didn't know what to say. The words hurt deeper than Inuyasha's Wind Scar, they hurt more than anything he could imagine next to the merciless slaughter of his clan, most of all because they came from a person he thought a friend, and in that moment, Kouga didn't think he could still be Kagome's friend. A friend was someone you could count on, someone that had your trust and could confide in. Kagome had taken him apart and left him in pieces, and in that moment, he's never felt like such a fool.

Still, Kouga was a demon, a prince at that, and there was no way that he was allowing Kagome to get away with such comments. He had respected her, loved her and he was now seeing that she wasn't deserving of such things. Not anymore. It hurt. It really did but he wasn't going to be stupid enough to continue a toxic relationship with the woman. Thinking back to previous encounters, the wolf demon was beginning to think that perhaps he had been used. Kagome had never wanted his affection. No. She had made that clear but at the same time he had been given confusing responses. All she had wanted was someone to fawn over her, not someone to love. She had been using him, had been trying to garner Inuyasha's attention by trying to make the other jealous, never realizing that Inuyasha didn't see her that way.

"You know what?" Kouga breathed out, dragging his hand down his face that screamed much of frustration and tiredness. "I don't need this from you. I really don't." He said, turning towards the priestess with pained blue eyes before anger took over and left a cold stare instead. God, he thought, I don't know what I ever saw in her. I was stupid to even think… He shook the thoughts from his head.

He may have not been the most influential demon like Sesshomaru, or even the most powerful, but he was still strong in his own right and a prince as well, and he deserved some respect and damn if he was going to let someone talk that way to him.

Kouga was about to reply but someone beat him to it.

"Quiet that vile tongue of yours, onna." Sesshomaru walked in looking intimidating as ever. "This Sesshomaru tires of you." He walked straight to the Inuzuka's bed, Miroku moving away to stand next to Inuyasha and Kouga instead.

Not a few steps behind, was a quiet demoness. Like most demons, she was striking in her own way. She had pale skin and her hair was an odd pale shade of blue. Her eyes were a sharp green but they were kind. In her hands she carried a basket filled to the brim of odds and ends of medical supplies.

Sesshomaru's eyes surveyed the room once, eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly in displeasure. He could easily sense the tension in the room and the hostility from the priestess was the most pronounced in the room. Sesshomaru should have sent her away already but he had more pressing matters at the momeny. He needed to check on his ward and the progress of his commanders and the like. He ordered his staff to not to bother him for anything unless it was an emergency. Anything less would have displeased him and the staff knew to follow his orders to the last word lest they end up being on the sharp end of the daiyoukai's claws. The only ones allowed to come to him otherwise were Nobuyuki, Haruka, Makoto and Akane, one of the few maids he trusted to not be incompetent.

"Etsuko."

The demoness stepped forward, eyes already trained on the Inuzuka and assessing. She knew what Sesshomaru wanted her to do. I'll need to be careful with this one, she idly thought. Anything less might end up with my head severed, Etsuko thought somewhat amused but mostly serious. With great care, the demoness laid a glowing hand atop of the human's chest, briefly awed at the markings etched into the skin. She had the power to heal and she was the best in the Western Palace, and not only that, trained for numerous years under the best healers in medicinal practices.

Etsuko lay her hand atop one of the numerous wounds, one of the most serious ones, his shoulder. The skin had been burnt closed and was an angry shade of pink and red. It surprisingly not as damaged as she had expected. It was peculiar but what was even more unusual and alarming was the fact the wound wasn't responding to her energy. At all. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and concentrated her efforts, well aware of the eyes boring into her back. She moved her hand to an open wound ─ one of many ─ which was superficial laceration stretching from the Inuzuka's shoulder to his chest. Her confusion only increased as her efforts to heal the wound were thwarted and the feeling only increased as she felt her energy being swiftly repelled by the Inuzuka's own.

"What?..." Etsuko muttered, in disbelief. Never before has such a thing happened. Her energy was being pushed out, but it felt more akin to an attack.

"It's not working isn't it?" Miroku said softly, voice grave and eyes trained on the healer's futile efforts.

Etsuko looked towards the monk, eyebrows furrowed and confusion on her face. She then turned to her lord, regret now on her face. "I'm sorry Sesshomaru-sama, the Inuzuka-sama is repelling my efforts to heal him. The only thing that can be done is heal him with traditional medicine, with poultices and herbs." She stated. Surely it was the last thing that Sesshomaru-sama wanted to hear but she wouldn't dare lie to him. At least she could sense the Inuzuka's wounds and identify them. "He will take longer to heal and there is more danger… but it our only option." She repeated.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "Is he in critical danger?"

Inuyasha crossed his arms, a habit of his when he was displeased or uncomfortable. His eyes and ears were trained to the two, as were the others.

Etsuko turned back to the Inuzuka. She trailed a hovering and glowing hand down his form, cataloguing and noting every wound and oddity she could find. "He has numerous lacerations, many of them superficial. Some of the wounds are concerning," Etsuko pointed to a few that were bleeding slowly but were unceasing, "but with some aid, they could be treated, although I can see that a majority of them will leave… scarring." She said, carefully keeping her tone neutral as she could see that her words deeply affected the others, but they weren't her concern. Her lord and the Inuzuka were.

"Can the scarring be minimized?" Sango asked, hands clasped together and eyes sharp.

Etsuko nodded. "Of course, but the treatment could be a little painful but I will try to do it as quickly as possible. Inuzuka-sama surprisingly doesn't have any broken bones just some bruising in his ribs." Her eyes traced the impressive display of bruises that painted the Inuzuka's skin a myriad of purple and yellow. "The rest is bruising, which can be treated easily but I have no doubt that Inuzuka-sama will be uncomfortable for a few days. What I am concerned with is his odd energy." Etsuko said, turning her head slightly to the side in contemplation. "I have never encountered it before and is therefore unknown to me. I can sense it, but I do not know what the normal state for it is. It is unlike demon energy or even spiritual energy. It is also what is repelling my efforts to heal Inuzuka-sama I believe." All the while she was talking, Etsuko was already beginning to treat the Inuzuka. She wiped away the blood and dirt from the human's skin, only looking up once as she sensed the human female step up beside her and begin to help.

Sesshomaru said nothing for a moment, merely observed the two women who were carefully and diligently treating the Inuzuka. His eyes trailed to the Inuzuka's face, noting the drawn eyebrows, the faint sheen of sweat and the unusually pale skin so unlike his usual dark hues. "Do what can be done, Etsuko."

Etsuko nodded with a murmur of, "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama."

Etsuko couldn't help but try once again to try to heal one of the numerous wounds on the Inuzuka's torso. Never before has her healing failed in such a way and in a way, it galled her and made her feel like she was failing. She didn't like it but she knew that not every patient could be helped or healed. There was only so much one could do.

So deep in her concentration, she didn't notice a shaky hand lifting and so she was startled when she felt a hand clasp her own. She looked up and was very surprised to see tired golden eyes staring back at her, so similar like those of the Inutaisho yet so different. "Inuzuka-san…" She breathed out. It was a surprise indeed. She had initially estimated that the human would have been unconscious for at least two days before even stirring. Humans took long to heal after all and their capabilities were very limited.

"C-Could you not do that please?" Kiba said, his voice hoarse and very much in need of a cup of water. "That feels very uncomfortable..."

"Inuzuka-san!" Sango said, startled.

"You're awake?" Inuyasha asked, surprised and somewhat impressed. "I didn't think you'd wake up until at least a few days!"

Kiba waved a hand in the other's direction. His chest felt heavy, his skin felt extremely uncomfortable with the extensive bruising and wounds, and his chakra was going crazy to say the least. Kiba had been surprised to wake up as well but he was sure that it was ingrained training that was partly to blame. It wouldn't do to be unconscious in the field. He'd be dead for sure. A shinobi from a clan may have even have had their DNA stolen and result in Kekkei Genkai Theft, but a majority of clans had fail safes, particularly those with Doujutsu.

"Yeah well…" Kiba said hoarsely, "I'm just as surprised as you are I-Inuyasha." He had been surprised to see the others surrounding him and was even more surprised when he saw Kagome in the same room. Kami knew that he wasn't about to forget the disastrous attempt to make peace with the woman.

"Are you okay Inuzuka-san?" Sango asked concernedly, taking in the emerging shivers and the way the other's golden eyes had briefly glazed over.

Kiba blinked for a moment, trying to get his bearings and push back an intense feeling of nausea and vertigo. "Uh." He clenched and unclenched his hands, mentally taking note of his chakra as well as the way it was surging impatiently under his skin, and he briefly moved his legs, completely disregarding the spike of pain. "I'm not dead so… yeah, I'll be okay Sango."

Sango didn't say anything for a moment, trying to understand all the connotations in that one statement.

Miroku stepped forward, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That doesn't sound very comforting Inuzuka-sama but we are relieved to see you awake."

Kiba nodded slightly, a ghost of a smile forming on his lips and he closed his eyes briefly once again. "Thank you." Kiba said to the two women who were binding his wounds.

Etsuko briefly wondered if the male was even really human because no human has ever displayed the capabilities that this one had. It was so different from those that were spiritually gifted, who were usually monks and priestesses, and he felt no where near like a demon or even a half breed. "Inuzuka-sama, can you tell me why my efforts to heal you were repelled? I've never encountered such a thing…" Etsuko said, a puzzled look on her face.

"Ah." Kiba lifted himself to a sitting position, unwilling to lie on his back in the presence of company despite the look of protest on Sango's and Miroku's faces. Inuyasha, Kouga and Miroku were on one side of the bed. Kagome was standing at a corner and was looking very, very displeased and the anger radiating from her was very near palpable, something that the Inuzuka has now come to expect. Sango was sitting near him on the edge of the bed and Etsuko on the other side. Sesshomaru, surprisingly was in the room as well. Kiba had expected the other to leave him to his fate or even to be anywhere but here, and instead be out and containing the damage, assessing and reorganizing his defenses. To see the other there was… surprisingly comforting, as were the others.

"My chakra." Kiba answered, running a hand through his hair absently. He rolled his shoulders slightly, trying to rid the tension from them but he couldn't do so with his wounds and the perpetual ache and pain that came with it. "My chakra was repelling your energy. We're trained to do so."

Etsuko frowned but she nodded nonetheless and she took the chance to dismiss herself from the room with Sesshomaru's permission.

"Trained to do so?" Kouga repeated, eyes still cold and defensive but he was at least glad to see the other awake. "They were trying to heal you…"

Kiba could see the tension in the room, the displeasure on the wolf's face and from the look of anger and defensive posture of the priestess, he could infer what happened. But now wasn't the time. His mind was still whirling with what happened not even a few hours ago. The Inuzuka leaned back slightly against his pillows. "I realized that but her energy is different from chakra. Had it been chakra, it would have worked, well actually it depends on the type of chakra, but it felt so different that my chakra acted automatically."

"But why are you trained to…" Miroku started, unsure of how to put his question into words.

Kiba smiled slightly at the monk, already seeing what he was trying to say. "We're trained reject foreign energy for a number of reasons, primarily because it's just not natural to have foreign energy," Well that depends too. Like jinchuriki. He wasn't about to start on that though, "But also because there are a number of techniques that do so, that an enemy could use against us, or in this case, me. An example would be Genjutsu, illusionary techniques that could affect a person's senses. Used correctly they could drive a person insane, incapacitate them mentally, or even stall them long enough to go for the kill shot." Kiba explained.

The other's stared at him for a moment, not knowing how to respond but their faintly horrified looks said much.

"Such a thing can be done?" Sango asked.

The Inuzuka nodded, not sure how to take their reactions. "I know it sounds really bad but I can guarantee that you won't see much of that here or any other type of chakra techniques. I'm pretty sure that I'm the last chakra user here." Kiba answered and it reminded him of Nakamura's parting words.

"I'll tell you this Inuzuka," Nakamura said, an inhuman grin stretching across his face and sadistic pleasure clear in his eyes, "you can go home." The nuke nin slowly went through the hand seals, showing him the exact sequence needed, seemingly unaware of the destruction around them.

Kiba had been stunned but there was a deep sense of dread and despair that he couldn't shake at the other's words. "W-What? But you said…"

Nakamura merely laughed, high pitched and deranged. "You won't be going anywhere, puppy, that's for sure, not with that seal chaining you here! I get the last laugh!" And he did laugh, long and insane, even as his body bloated to unholy proportions and his bones broke in his body, even as his chakra depleted and the world burned around him.

The Inuzuka could only stare, eyes wide and hands clenched desperately around his sword. He couldn't believe what was happening. Briefly, he wondered if this is what it was to be broken.

"What was he after?" Sesshomaru's deep voice broke the Inuzuka from his thoughts, and Kiba couldn't help but be grateful for the distraction. "Nakamura, what was that wretch after?"

Kiba turned his head slightly to face the other. "Nakamura…" God, the Inuzuka wasn't sure where to start.

Luckily, he was saved by a series of sharp knocks on the doors. "Sesshomaru-sama!" In came in Sesshomaru's commanders came in, each looking serious, but that might have been due to the fact that the three demon lords of the North, South, and East were trailing behind them looking equally determined and serious.

"Sesshomaru-sama." Nobuyuki greeted, bowing in respect to his lord, his actions echoed by his comrades. He didn't show the surprise that he felt nor the immense relief that he felt when he saw the Inuzuka awake.

"Nobuyuki." Sesshomaru greeted.

"We found items belonging to the human Nakamura in the soldier barracks. Many of them were miscellaneous items such as clothing and the like but we found a scroll… a large scroll, but we believe their contents may be important." Nobuyuki tilted his head slightly to the scroll that was held in Haruka's strong grip.

The scroll was big, incredibly so. It reminded the Inuzuka of the scroll that Naruto had been tricked to steal, the one that contained many of the Konoha's secrets.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the sight of it.

Itsuki stepped forward, a serious look on his face. "Sesshomaru, we just received word from our lands." He held a message in his hands with his own seal on it and he handed it towards the Western Demon Lord. "There were many that could see the destruction and the attack. Rogue demons are taking it as a successful attack against the Western Lands and my scouts are stating that many low-level demons and humans are heading towards your lands with ill intentions."

Ryoma nodded with Itsuki's words, a fierce scowl on his face. "My scouts have reported the same. There has also been unrest. Many are believing that there's going to be a power struggle." His tone said much on his feeling on that. "I've increased security at the borders of my own lands to try to save you the trouble Sesshomaru, as have Itsuki and Akihiko."

Sesshomaru swiftly read the message, rage in his eyes and a growl building in his throat. "They dare?..."

Akihiko shook his head. "Sesshomaru, with your permission I would have a squadron of soldiers to aid yours. There's no doubt that Naraku would have received word of what has happened here and be preparing something nefarious. Not to mention, there could be an insurrection on your hands, on behalf of other enemies and those that don't… agree with you."

Ryoma and Itsuki nodded along his words.

"Seriously?" Inuyasha muttered, somewhat surprised. He knew that his brother ruled over the Western Lands… but he had always associated the other more towards a warrior. To see it all first hand was sort of surreal and astounding.

Sesshomaru was well aware that he had his enemies. There were humans that hated him for what he was and demons that hated him because they sought his power, because they disagreed with his policies and actions, and there were even those that hated him simply because of his lineage. The legacy of Inutaisho had been great but not great for those seeking power. Still, it brought forth anger and it tested his control. Sesshomaru nodded his permission. His soldiers were capable but it wouldn't hurt to have extra aid. His resources would be stretched across the land after all and after this event there was no doubts that attacks against the Western Palace and Lands would increase.

"This Sesshomaru agrees. You will be properly compensated." Sesshomaru said.

Akihiko shook his head, his dark hair swinging gently with him. "That won't be necessary Sesshomaru. We aren't looking for compensation, after all, we are expecting the same in our lands as well but I don't think it's going to be to the same degree as is happening here."

Ryoma nodded along with Akihiko's words. "That's probably because the biggest threat in these lands against Naraku are you, your brother and his comrades." Ryoma said. "Not to mention, they hold the majority of the Shikon no Tama and that by itself brings trouble. Naraku will no doubt be manipulating other's into doing his bidding or sending along his foul creations."

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to bare his fangs but intense cold feeling in the demon lord's energy said much. "This Sesshomaru will be prepared."

Inuyasha and the others shared a look. No doubt that the demon lord promised much bloodshed and death against those who opposed him. There was a brief feeling of pity for those that would dare go against the demon lord.

"Nobuyuki, what are the contents of the scroll?" Sesshomaru demanded.

The red-haired commander hesitated briefly and he gathered what bravery he had. "I'm afraid that we haven't been able to discern its contents as of yet. We haven't been able to open it at all despite our efforts."

It was then that Kiba spotted the elaborate seal pasted on the scroll. He had been listening intently to the exchange and briefly, he had a faint feeling of regret. His stunt with Nakamura had brought on more trouble for Sesshomaru and the others and that had been the last thing that he had wanted. It had been inevitable though as much as he wished the otherwise.

"Bring it here." Kiba said, wincing slightly as he shifted to get a better look at the scroll. "It's a seal that's stopping you."

Haruka looked towards Sesshomaru and the other nodded his permission. He stepped closer to the Inuzuka, briefly surprised at the amount of damage that the human had sustained and at the fact that the other was even conscious. It was one surprise after another with the Inuzuka and he was sure that there would be more ahead in the future.

Kiba examined the large seal in front of him and as he suspected, it was a seal. He lightly traced the dark ink. "Fuinjutsu." Kiba confirmed.

"Can you open it?" Itsuki asked curiously as he observed the seal for himself. He didn't understand it all, couldn't even recognize the symbols used nor the delicate markings that accented it.

Kiba blinked for a moment before nodding, a small smile on his face. "Of course." He answered but a moment later he scowled. "The seal is half good at best, done by an amateur." He observed. "The lines are shoddy and half these characters are unnecessary… but I guess that that's all that Nakamura would have needed since no one here could have understood it. Even back home seal masters are extremely rare." Kiba muttered to himself.

"That's half assed?" Inuyasha said incredulously. It looked like a damn piece of art, like the kind that uppity nobles liked to hang that were just calligraphy.

"Do you require any tools Inuzuka-sama?" Nobuyuki asked, eyes trained on the other. He would have preferred it if the Inuzuka was resting but he could see that the other was stubborn, that the other would rest when he was completely exhausted or was forced to. He didn't have that privilege yet.

Kiba shook his head. "No. I have what I need with me." Kiba bit into scarred thumb, brining blood to the surface and he activated one of his seals. Not all of them required blood but sometimes it was easier than using chakra although blood was typically used for seals that were more elaborate.

There was a puff of smoke and then the Inuzuka had a Fuinjutsu kit in his hands, stocked with all the necessary items for the art. It had been one of the many things he had sealed away in his stash of weapons that had Tenten seen it, she surely would have been proud.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that." Kouga admitted as he eyed the smoke.

Kiba smiled slightly but he immedietly went to work as he took a fine pointed brush and carefully dipped it into a small well of deep black ink. He the scroll placed on the bed and he sat with his legs crossed and the seal facing him. He gave a small hum of contemplation as he observed the seal and already he could see numerous places where he could alter the seal and inevitably render it null.

The others observed the Inuzuka's actions carefully and curiously.

Kiba added new characters carefully, altered a few lines and fixed the meanings of others. It wasn't long until the Inuzuka was done and Kiba carefully observed his work before he nodded, satisfied. "That's done… Now, I just…" Kiba placed a hand on the seal, feeding it a small amount of chakra.

The reaction was instantaneous. The edges of the paper seal curled up before there was the scent of smoke and then, a small bust of flames before the paper dissipated into faintly glowing embers before those too disappeared.

Sango made a sound of amazement.

From the corner of the room, Kagome felt a stab of jealousy and anger. She dug her fingers into her hands to avoid doing anything drastic but the urge was strong. She just hated the Inuzuka beyond words.

Kiba opened the scroll and the others came closer to view its contents but they couldn't make heads of what was written anymore than they could understand the seal. But Kiba could clearly understand its contents and as soon as he read it, there was a feeling of immense disbelief and a faint sense of horror. He unrolled the scroll faster, urgency written on his face. He was hoping that he was wrong but as the evidence was before him.

"Inuzuka?" Inuyasha asked, uncertain and ears twitching slightly. He could smell the change in the other's scent. It changed from what he was familiar with and to something tinged with desperation and shock. It was… wrong.

Kiba didn't hear, so stuck was he on the four identical seals. He knew these seals, knew what they would unleash. He'd seen them only once before when he was younger, when Konoha had been under attack by Suna and Oto. These seals contained aspects of the Edo: Tensei but he could see that some parts were different. There hadn't been much information on the technique, after all it was forbidden, and Konoha had guarded their Kinjutsu fiercely, especially after the incident with Mizuki and Naruto.

"These are…" Kiba traced the seals and the proved to be a mistake, as they all simultaneously started glowing brightly, so brightly that it caused many to look away and back away wearily.

The light died down a few moments and Kiba and the others could only stare at the new additions in the room.

"What the hell?" Inuyasha said, a hand resting on his sword.

Kouga shared the sentiment. He was confused as well.

Sango and Miroku narrowed their eyes and stood close to the others, knowing that there was not much they could do in an enclosed space and with so many others, though even then the room looked spacious. They didn't want to press their luck though.

Sesshomaru and the other demon lords stood side by side with Sesshomaru's commanders in front of them even though they could very well fight on their own.

Five figures stood silent and unmoving in the middle of the room like statues. Three them were dressed in armor that looked somewhat familiar. One was more elderly, dressed in black. The last was dressed oddly, in clothes that reminded many of what the Inuzuka had previously worn.

Kiba made a strangled noise, disbelief surging through him and heart pounding harshly in his chest. He knew very well who stood before him. Four them, he saw their faces daily in his village and another was a statue that overlooked the Valley of End.

Four had been Kage and one may as well have been an unofficial one.

The Inuzuka was immedietly on his feet despite the instant pang of pain that hit him. That was nothing compared to the torture that his heart was feeling because everything suddenly made sense. He understood why Nakamura had told him the seals to get home. The S-Class missing nin was indeed keeping his promise. Inuzuka Kiba would not be returning to Konohagakure no Sato (Village Hidden in the Leaf(ves?))

The four figures moved together, as if synchronized, and they all opened their eyes at the same time.

"What?..."

"This is…"

"Great… This again."

"Brother, didn't I tell you about the dangers of that technique?"

"Of course this was the work of a Senju."

Kiba was kneeling before one silent figure, head bowed and a hand clenched into a fist on the flood. "Sandaime-sama," he choked out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was before him, alive and well again when the last time the Inuzuka had seen him had been at his funeral, just a few days before he'd encounter Sakon and Ukon and swear to better himself. Those days had been the worst and best of his life. It had been the time where he had changed, for the better, but the village had been mourning for the loss of their great leader and not only that, they had lost the last Uchiha not a few days later.

Kiba couldn't really blame the Uchiha though there were times that he hated the other. He wouldn't have wanted to stay in a village that only saw them for their use. It would have been better if the Uchiha hadn't betrayed them though, if he hadn't hurt so many. Hadn't he realized the friends he'd left behind?

There was a pause, and suddenly, there was a hand resting softly on the Inuzuka's neck. His eyes burned fiercely and Kiba closed his eyes tightly, trying to swallow past the ball of emotion because so much has happened and he didn't even know where to begin. He felt like a failure, felt like he had failed his Hokage and village.

"Kiba-kun?" There was a hand that urged him up and Kiba did so despite how much a large part of him wished to hide, wished that he was anywhere but where he was. Kiba was looking into familiar kind eyes, the same eyes that he had seen many times before that had regarded many with comfort and fondness.

"Is that you, Kiba-kun?" Hiruzen said, deeply surprised. Kiba was so different than what he remembered and the last thing he did remember before the world turning black, was sacrificing himself when he had fought against his own student for the sake of the village. It had hurt to do so because Orochimaru had been his and there wasn't a time when he wondered where it all went wrong, and looking into the eyes of Inuzuka Kiba he could see that time hasn't become any easier.

Namikaze Minato could only stare at his own self and surrounding and at his sensei's own mentor, at the person who had named him his successor. And then… Inuzuka Kiba, no doubt Inuzuka Tsume's own son and the same age of the one that he himself had left behind. "Sandaime-sama." Minato muttered, noting that they were not alone. He was surprised to see the other Kage, Senju Hashirama and Tobirama but he was even more astounded when he saw one Uchiha who could be no other than Madara.

The sight of the other brought forth confused thoughts and a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts.

"This is most unusual," Tobirama observed as he glanced towards his brother and at Madara who was regarding the others and his surroundings stoically. The Uchiha had his Sharingan activated and was staring intently at his surroundings with a frown. Tobirama had no doubt that the other was seeing what he felt, the completely absence of chakra. "Brother." There was also the fact that unlike last time, he couldn't feel the strings of control, couldn't feel the suppression of his self. They lacked the characteristics of Edo Tensei, lacked the lines that appeared like fine cracks, the papery feel and look of themselves, the infinite amount of chakra, their lack of eyes, and most of all, the lack of heart beat.

Hashirama turned towards him, younger than he remembered and in his prime. "I know." The Senju turned to the Inuzuka, the only one who seemed to be able to provide any semblance of answers. "Inuzuka-san," he said softly, because it was clear to him that the young Inuzuka was in shock, saw his wounds and the look of despair hidden in his eyes that tugged at his own heart.

Kiba swallowed heavily, heart still pounding heavily and pain all but at the back of his mind. "H-Hai, Shodaime-sama?" He answered, respect lacing his tone and head faintly bowed towards the other.

Hashirama softened more if that was even possible but he had always held a bleeding heart. "You seem to be the only one with answers, I would be most grateful if you could explain what is happening. You must understand, the fact that we are here…"

Kiba nodded, gathering what was left of his composure. "The Edo Tensei. The last time that it was used was during the Chunnin Exams." He answered, resisting the urge to fidget under the surprised look that the Sandaime gave him. Kiba turned to Sesshomaru, who was observing with a critical eye. "Sesshomaru-sama, do you have a bigger room that we could all go to? I'd rather do this just once, and I could also answer your questions at the same time, that and any others that you may have."

Hiruzen glanced towards the others and he stared at the young Inuzuka. "Do you trust them with this information Kiba-kun?" He asked, face stern and eyes searching.

Kiba didn't hesitate to nod. "Of course Sandaime-sama, I'll take full responsibility if they prove me wrong." He said quietly and Hiruzen knew what that meant, as much as he hoped otherwise.

Sesshomaru nodded and he turned sharply, hair fanning in a cloud of silver and Kiba didn't hesitate to follow despite the fact that he knew that he should have been resting.

"Wait a minute Inuzuka─" Inuyasha started.

"Inuzuka-sama, shouldn't you be resting?" Miroku said, concerned.

"Inuzuka-san, I don't think you should be─" Sango started, hand outstretched as if to stop the other.

Kiba shook his head. "I'll be fine." Actually, he was exhausted. Tired despite the time that he had spent asleep. He knew that he couldn't afford to delay. Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and one Namikaze Minato were once again alive, revived to be exact. They were some of the most powerful beings that had been alive. The presence of Madara confused him somewhat but there were also many things that made sense, indiscrepancies that suddenly looked a lot more significant.

Kiba couldn't really afford to keep them waiting because he was sure that he was in a time limit, for himself, for his village, and for those that he held dear.

With a deep breath, Kiba unsealed a few of his supplies as he walked. Chakra pills that would give him a much-needed boost and a yukata. He didn't like taking them at all because though they were effective, they tasted horrible and tended to have undesired side effects. He grimaced as he took the pills but he voiced no complaint, though he missed the looks of concern that Sarutobi and Minato gave him.

They finally came to a large spacious room that looked almost like many of traditional tea rooms that Kiba had seen scattered across Konoha that usually catered to clan nobility and the upper class. It also reminded Kiba of the room that his family would hold clan meetings in, with his mother sitting above the others and everyone else scattered around her. It was almost casual but one couldn't dismiss the grave air that hung heavily.

Kiba took a seat, one where it allowed everyone to see him easily. The other shinobi sat near him on one side, each seating themselves in a way that would easily allow them to spring into action should the need arise but Kiba knew that they wouldn't even have to move to cause major damage. The sight of them still brought forth a feeling of apprehension and disbelief. The others sat on the other side, almost causing a neat, straight divide among the two groups with Kiba in the middle.

Everyone had their attention driven towards the Inuzuka and Kiba almost wished that he should have disappeared along with the blast of the damn curse seal but remembering the looks of despair on behalf of his new comrades, he regretted the thought immedietly.

Kiba took a deep breath, feeling naked in his bandages and the yukata that he had summoned. It was held loosely and any tighter, his bruises would flare in pain. "I'm not even sure where to begin." The Inuzuka said, a self-deprecating smile on his face.

"Just start at where you're most comfortable with Inuzuka-san." Minato said reassuringly.

At that, Kiba almost believe that he was being comforted by Naruto's own father, and briefly, he felt a pang of regret because if anyone, it should have been Naruto that Minato should have been speaking to or even Kakashi-sensei or Genma. Not him. But still, he could see Naruto clearly in the other. It was in his kind blue eyes, just a shade or two lighter than the Uzumaki's, and it was in the other's soft smile that had the power to turn enemies into allies.

Kiba gave a shaky smile. It was all that he could give because he knew that the conversation ahead of them would be torturous. He was about to reply but there was something else that he needed to do.

With a small sigh, he flashed his hands through seals that lefts his hands aching and protesting, and he touched the floor softly. Seals bloomed under his hands, dark and elaborate, outlined with the white of his chakra. They spread like a ripple in a pond, continuous and never ending, until suddenly the walls were covered in seals. The privacy afforded to them was absolutely necessary and he knew that no one would betray their secrets, except maybe Kagome but to do so would mean that everyone would know what she had done and estranged them from her even more, and besides it was just a paranoid precaution. What he was about to reveal was startling information but it wasn't information that anyone could used unless they were from the Elemental Countries. He doubted that the Kage would use the information maliciously, including Madara.

Madara… He held suspicions on behalf of the other but he knew that the conversation would reveal many answers.

"A privacy seal?" Minato muttered, surprised and awed, and a hand touching the dark lines of ink almost reverently.

"I've never seen the use of seals in such a manner…" Tobirama mused. "The only ones I think would be capable of such elaborate seals are the Uzumaki. I've never thought I'd see an Inuzuka wielding such a talent."

His words may have stung had they been anyone else but Kiba knew his words were true. Many of the Inuzuka didn't stray beyond their clan jutsu and taijutsu. Another thing that would no doubt mark him as an oddity. Still, Kiba smiled slightly.

Kiba gathered his thoughts briefly, hoping he could explain what has happened correctly. "I guess I should start…" Kiba said softly, hands fisted in his lap.

"Please do, Kiba-kun." Hiruzen said kindly but the serious undertone couldn't be missed. He could see how the young Inuzuka had changed and he wondered what exactly had happened to cause such a drastic change. He was nothing like the Inuzuka he had remembered.

"I guess, the place that everything officially started was the Chunnin Exams…" Kiba stated, eyebrows drawn together in thought and remembrance. "When Oto and Suna had attacked the village."

Hiruzen nodded solemnly, disregarding the incredulous looks that Minato and Hashirama threw at him and the slight tensing on behalf Tobirama and Madara. "Yes… I do believe Konoha prevailed, yes?" He added.

Kiba nodded. "Yes. There was a lot of damage that was done to Konoha that day though. Thankfully there weren't many casualties, even though the Ichibi (One Tailed Beast*) nearly came into Konoha and almost caused extensive damage."

"The Ichibi?" Minato said worriedly. "But how…"

Kiba shook his head though he could see that the side that held Inuyasha's group were confused by what he was saying but it wasn't necessary for them to understand everything he said, only the part that Nakamura had played. "The Suna jinchuriki had been in the Chunnin Exams. Suna had used the exams as an excuse to get into Konoha and they were supposed to be our allies but in the end, it appeared that Orochimaru had been the one to manipulate them. Shukaku was eventually subdued, as was Suna and Oto but the damage that was sustained was still significant." He remembered the day clearly, remembered the rubble and the scent of blood in the air. "Sandaime-sama defeated Orochimaru though at the cost of…" He trailed off, and the shinobi nodded.

Kiba gave an apologetic look to the Sandaime, knowing that what he was about to say would hit the other hard. "It wasn't that long after that the effects of the fight and the exams really showed. Uchiha Sausuke defected from Konoha."

Hiruzen couldn't stop the pang of grief, couldn't help from closing his eyes and feel every year he had pile atop of him.

The Inuzuka continued.

"Sasuke defected for a number of reasons I think. It hadn't been that much earlier though that he had received the Curse Seal from Orochimaru and I think that had a part to play in his defection. I think it had been influencing emotionally and mentally but I never had enough information to prove it." It had been one of his bigger regrets. "But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself." He sighed, turning his attention to the Sandaime. "When the Sandaime died, it left the village without a Hokage. Danzo had wanted to become Hokage but that had been denied. The village elders had approached Jiraiya to become the Godaime Hokage."

"I have hard time seeing Jiraiya-sensei as Hokage." Minato murmured.

Hiruzen nodded along his assessment. "I take it Jiraiya declined?"

Kiba nodded. "Jiraiya had declined and had insisted that Tsunade become Hokage."

"Tsuna-chan?" Hashirama perked up. He hadn't heard about his granddaughter in a long time. He regretted leaving her, especially since the Senju clan hadn't been as large as it had been when he was young. War had drastically dwindled their numbers.

"Jiraiya had offered to search for Tsunade, since she wasn't in the village─"

"Not in the village?" Tobirama interrupted. "Where was she then?"

Kiba stayed quiet for a moment as he saw Hiruzen and Minato exchange looks.

"Hiruzen." Hashirama said sharply, eyes narrowed and chakra weighing heavily over everyone for a moment.

It caused many to buckle slightly under the pressure, though Sesshomaru and the demon lords stayed surprisingly fine except for the slight increase of their own youki in response, which wasn't really good idea since it only increased the pressure in the room and others to feel like they were suffocating.

Kiba himself could only wince as his chest ached in protest. He couldn't help the shiver that wracked his body at the feel of the clashing energies, couldn't help from clutching his chest as he felt the increasing ache. Briefly, Kiba thinks that he might have stood a better chance under the sheer pressure if he had been in a better condition.

"Shodaime-sama!" Minato said sharply, undaunted by the shinobi that may have been the strongest there ever was.

Hashirama blinked, as if in a trance before he realized the struggles of the other occupants of the room and he hastily drew in his chakra with a pang of regret. The pressure disappeared instantaneously. "I apologize. I let my control slip." The Shodaime sighed heavily before his eyes caught the heaving form of the young Inuzuka. He was at the others side in an instant, apologies falling from his lips. "I'm so sorry Inuzuka-san."

Kiba waved the other off, giving the Shodaime a small smile. "I think t-that could have been a lot worse." He was pretty sure that if the Shodaime had even lost a fraction of control that the entire castle would have caved in on itself.

To the side, most of the others stared wide eyed at the show of strength and in no small amount of disbelief.

"What. The. Fuck." Inuyasha growled.

"Such power…" Miroku murmured to himself, a hand absently playing with the beads that held his curse at bay.

Sango said nothing, could say nothing except feel astonishment.

Hashirama sighed and gave the Inuzuka a pleading look. "Allow me to tend to your wounds at least, Inuzuka-san." He asked but it was more of a demand as he was already pulling away the loose yukata that Kiba wore.

"Uh," The Inuzuka blinked but he nodded nonetheless. He wasn't in any shape to heal himself and the sooner that he recovered the better. "Thank you." He said. Still, he wished he could avoid the others from seeing his injuries.

Hashirama said nothing about the numerous injuries and instead let his hands be enveloped by a cloud of green chakra. He furrowed his eyebrows in discontent but he was also slightly astonished to see the numerous seals that decorated the Inuzuka's skin and as he laid his hand on the other to heal him, he could sense even more seals, as if they were just below the surface of his skin.

Sarutobi made an intrigued sound, a surprised look on his face. "More seals?"

Kiba gave the Sandaime a small smile, half hearted at best. "I can explain that too… It ties in with the Chunnin Exams and everything else." Kiba couldn't help the sigh that escaped him. The Shodaime's chakra felt like a blanket of warmth, it felt like it was taking away every ache and pain. Kiba was sort of relieved that the shinobi were there with him.

It made him realize just how much he missed the feeling of chakra. Before it was like he had been surrounded by a dark void, empty and cold all around, but their chakra was bright to his senses, like beacons in the dark.

"Is he okay, Shodaime-sama?" Minato asked, eyes staring at the Inuzuka that most likely knew his son. He itched to ask questions but he knew that now was not the time. "His chakra feels erratic." He said.

Kiba looked at the Yondaime, a protest about to fall from his lips but he stopped.

Hashirama pressed the palms of his hands firmly and gently against the Inuzuka's back, a look of concentration and worry on his face. "His chakra pathways are burnt, and I can sense that his tenketsu have also been slightly damaged but it's nothing to be too concerned with as long as he gets rest." Hashirama observed.

"Can you continue Inuzuka?" Tobirama asked.

The words may have seemed cold to most in the room, considering the obvious state that the Inuzuka was in but it reminded the Inuzuka slightly of Neji and Shino, and of other shinobi that held their emotion close for themselves only.

Kiba nodded. "Tsunade-sama wasn't in the village due to personal reasons, reasons that I am not aware of. All I know was that she traveled the lands but she wasn't rogue. As far as I am aware, she was still a shinobi of Konoha and it was Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya of the Sannin that brought her back."

Hiruzen cleared his throat slightly, looking every bit like the dangerous shinobi that he was despite his age. "I believe I can answer that." He looked regretful then, resigned. "Tsunade left the village after the death of her lover and brother, Nawaki, and because the war was weighing heavily on her."

Hashirama frowned and Tobirama's eyes narrowed.

"War?" Hashirama said softly. "I founded the village in hopes of peace not war." He sighed. Of course, it was too good to be true. Of course, his granddaughter suffered. War did nothing but cause grief and spread death and destruction.

"The Second Shinobi War took a toll on the hidden villages." Hiruzen said. "As did the Third."

Kiba nodded along with his words, sitting straighter. "And I think there's about to be a Fourth one… except this time, all the hidden villages will take part in it." He said sternly.

The shinobi looked at him in alarm.

"So many wars…" Sango murmured. "I can only imagine the sheer destruction if they are waged by people with the same powers as Inuzuka-san."

Miroku nodded beside her, enraptured by the words being exchanged despite not understanding the majority of it.

"What do you mean Inuzuka-san?" Minato said urgently, eyes becoming something akin to ice.

Kiba shook his head. "I can explain everything, but I ask to save your questions until I'm done." Kiba said.

Anyone else would have balked at the words his head, especially since they were directed towards some of the most influential Kage that there were. But the shinobi could see the urgency in the Inuzuka's face, could see the fatigue that weighed heavily on him, could see the storm of emotions in his eyes.

The shinobi exchanged subtle looks but they all nodded nonetheless.

Kiba took a small moment to gather his thoughts, rolling his shoulders slightly as he felt the Shodaime start to heal the wounds on his back. "It was just a few days after Tsunade became the Godaime Hokage… Uchiha Sasuke was taken by the Sound Four, shinobi from Otogakure that served as Orochimaru's 'elite bodyguards'. It was that day that he defected from the village. At the time however, nearly all the shinobi were on leave on missions. Tsunade-sama had no choice but to send a team of genin after them."

"Genin?" Sarutobi repeated. "Chunin and Jounin should have been sent at least, especially if they were considered Orochimaru's guards."

Kiba nodded, remembering the intensive fight that changed him and his friends. He remembered thinking that he would die. "Yes… To say the least, the mission failed. We managed to defeat the Sound Four but Sasuke still went rogue. It resulted in the genin becoming hospitalized and almost dying but… I think the mission changed things."

It wasn't lost to them that the Inuzuka used 'we'. They could only assume that the Inuzuka had been one of shinobi that had been assigned to the mission and their thoughts were proven correct by the Inuzuka's next statement.

"That's where I can really start to explain things, I think." Kiba sighed, a feeling of dread welling in him once again. "I was a part of the team assigned on the retrieval mission." He admitted, moving a hand towards his abdomen where a knotted scar lay. He gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I almost died as a result of my wounds and if it hadn't been for Tsunade-sama, I would have died, along with my friends.

Kiba stayed quiet for a moment, closing his eyes as he remembered the start of his journey.

"I didn't like the fact that I almost died." He said quietly, reluctantly. "I thought I was weak and that I needed to get stronger. And I did. I trained and trained but at the same time I started the beginnings of my spy network because there were things that stood out to me… things that I thought were inconsistent and just didn't make sense."

His words baffled a lot in the room.

"Inuzuka weak?" Inuyasha muttered.

The words didn't even belong in the same sentence.

Sesshomaru's eyes never strayed from the newest addition of their guests. The words that the Inuzuka intrigued him and it told him more than what the Inuzuka had revealed in the time that he had traveled with him. The daiyoukai didn't miss the flashes of pain that the Inuzuka displayed and he could smell the discontent and somberness that the Inuzuka felt.

"At first… I wanted to find out why Sasuke left because by him leaving, it hurt a lot of people in the village. It was obvious. Everyone knew that he wanted revenge for his clan but what I wanted to know was why the massacre even happened in the first place." Kiba ran a hand absently though his hair and he turned to the side slightly to let Shodaime get access to his chest and to the wounds that lay there.

Kiba set his sight on the Sandaime who had a look of regret on his face and he had a feeling that the Kage knew what was about to be said. "I didn't believe that Sasuke's brother did it because he could, because he wanted to test his power or because he wanted Sasuke to suffer. If there was one thing that I was sure of, was that Itachi loved his brother and that Itachi was a prime example of a shinobi. I started my investigation on the Uchiha Clan massacre but at the same time I knew it was… risk, considering that I was delving into the village's secrets but I couldn't stop because something told me that the Clan Massacre tied into something larger." He said with the utmost conviction.

"What?" Sarutobi couldn't help his questions. "What do you mean Kiba-kun?"

"I found out who really orchestrated the Clan Massacre, and Nakamura confirmed my thoughts and findings."

At the name, the others sat straighter, intrigue in their faces.

"Shimura Danzo was the one to give Itachi the order to kill the entirety of the Uchiha Clan but Sasuke was the only survivor. It was of course, against his orders but from there I found out about Ne, a shinobi branch that should have been disbanded years ago… but it hadn't." Kiba ran a hand down one of his many seals, sighing as a chest materialized. He opened it, revealing stacks of scrolls tightly bound together smelling highly of ink and paper and practically saturated in chakra. "It all led from one thing to another regarding Danzo and as I traveled the lands, I've only noticed more inconsistencies of major events that shaped the shinobi world into what it is now."

At this, even Madara and Tobirama's eyes widened in shock.

"I guess that doesn't make much sense, but to be blunt, I think that there's someone that's been manipulating these major events, essentially orchestrating them and when you look at it you can see how it all connects to each other…"

Kiba summoned another scroll, this one as large as that held Konoha's secrets. He unrolled it and they could all clearly see the great amount of writing that looked like an organized chaos.

"The Kannabi Bridge!?" Minato whispered, dread and shock rising in him. "The Kyuubi Attack?"

"The Second Shinobi War…" Sarutobi read, "Hanzo? The Fall of Uzushio?"

"The feud between the Senju…" Hashirama read softly, a rage building in him unlike anything else.

" … and the Uchiha Clan." Madara finished, eyes turning into the Mangekyo Sharingan.

"What exactly are you trying to prove?" Tobirama demanded, turning to the Inuzuka with a look of disbelief on his face. "Are you trying to say that someone planned all of this? That's preposterous!"

Many would have wavered under the intense scrutiny of the shinobi before him but Kiba was on a mission because he knew that he was right. They needed to see that or at least keep the possibility in mind.

"I know that you're a sensor Nidaime-sama but you don't quite have the connection to nature that the Inuzuka have." Kiba said softly, genuine to the last damn word. "I've traveled all across the countries, each having a branch of my network and each coming with me with different findings and inconsistencies that don't quite make sense. But most of all, all of these places have one thing in common." Kiba said strongly, firm in his belief and that made the others stare at him shock because they could sense nor see any lie. "Every single location, from the Valley of End, to the Uchiha Clan ancestral lands, to the lands of Uzushio, and even at a cave near the Kannabi Bridge each held the exact same chakra signature. It was so light and well hidden that I almost missed it, and I believe that others have as well. It was old and it felt unlike anything else I have ever felt."

"But what you're saying Inuzuka-san…" Minato said, desperately trying to understand.

Kiba nodded, "Is hard to understand, I know. But I felt the same chakra signature not that long ago, in one of the most elusive members of the Akatsuki, an organization whose soul purpose is to gather all of the Tailed Beasts in order to make a weapon strong enough to destroy entire countries."

Inuyasha made a strangled noise, and the others weren't far behind with their shock.

Kagome could only gape at the notion, at the thought and that only brought images of more destruction. It brought forth images of deadly youkai and weapons of mass destruction that were held in her time, such as those of nuclear bombs.

"They are after the jinchuriki in the Hidden Villages and they will spare no one that stands in their way. The odd signature belonged to one of their members, a being that they call Zetsu. I can say without a doubt that he isn't human." Kiba growled, nodding his thanks as Hashirama absently finished healing him. "The connection between the odd residual chakra and the Akatsuki only drove me to intensify my investigation. They wanted the biju but I knew that by doing so, they would be killing the host. I didn't want my friend to die so I needed to stop them but in order to do that, I needed more information. So that's what I did. I found that by combining the biju together they could form the Juubi, the Ten Tailed Beast but that only lead to ancient legends that spanned to the time of the Rikudo Sennin that are appearing to be more than just legends."

Kiba unsealed took out a scroll that looked incredibly frail but also smelled ancient, and as he unrolled it, he as well as the others could sense the chakra that pulsed softly, almost akin to a heartbeat. "The Juubi was said to have been the first Biju, not only that, but also an Otsutsuki. Kaguya Otsutsuki to be in fact."

"But those are just legends!" Tobirama protested.

"And so was the Rinnegan until it actually appeared." Kiba replied. "The leader of the Akatsuki wields the Rinnegan and I have no doubt that Itachi wields the Mangekyo Sharingan. As I said before, their goal was to create a weapon powerful enough to destroy entire countries, and on their own, the Biju are powerful enough to cause greater damage than natural disasters. But the Juubi? It's on another scale altogether. Otsutsuki Hogoromo was rumored to have been the first to wield chakra, had been the one to share it with humanity but it was Kaguya that had first to obtain it. She had shared it with her sons and when they went against her, she was enraged. She wanted to take back her power but in the end, they sealed her away, both Hamura and Hogoromo fighting against her, the ones that would one day lead to the descendants of the Hyuuga, Uzumaki, Senju, and Uchiha. Their fight lasted for days and completely devastated the land, making it near unrecognizable."

Hashirama took the scroll with near reverence as he listened to the young Inuzuka's words and even then, he couldn't stop the feelings of confusion because everything that the other was saying was said with the utmost truth.

The Inuzuka's chakra though depleted, never wavered in deceit and his disposition remained firm.

"In the end, they sealed her away, creating the moon in the process." Kiba sighed, feeling weary. "At first this all didn't make sense to me and even now, I have some doubts but seeing the two of you here…" Kiba turned his gaze to Hashirama and Madara. "It only brings me more questions because without a doubt, your chakra nearly echoes that of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke."

"Echoes?" Hashirama asked.

Kiba nodded, "In the lands of Uzushio there were ancient scriptures that were near indecipherable but I managed to decipher it in the end with the help of what few Uzushio shinobi remained. Uzushio may have fallen but her people were scattered all across the countries though they were but a handful. It told of the battle between Indra and Asura, one that supposedly lasted centuries after their deaths."

"Ah." Miroku murmured. "Are you trying to say that their reincarnations continued to fight, years after?" It was probable. Kagome was proof enough of reincarnation.

Kiba gave the monk a smile. "Exactly." He turned back to the Hokage. "Danzo had his hand in many events that should have had him imprisoned but he's cunning enough not to get caught." That was probably the last thing that the Sandaime wanted to hear. "But I get the feeling that that same being that was there for many of these influential events, Zetsu, had contact with Danzo. Anyway, after all of that, the part that Nakamura has to play is that he was hired by the Akatsuki."

"Nakamura?" Minato repeated, a confused look on his face. "The name sounds familiar."

Sarutobi sighed, a grim expression on his face. "It should be, considering that he's an S-Ranked Nukenin wanted in nearly all of the Hidden Villages with a bounty of worth millions ryo and an order to either 'flee on sight' or 'kill on sight'." Sarutobi informed, turning to Kiba with worry in his eyes. "He was hired by the Akatsuki? For what purpose?" After all of this, he dearly needed to smoke.

"He was specifically hired to cripple Konoha's forces." Kiba answered, his mind flashing back to when he had first encountered the rogue shinobi with his team. "He didn't succeed thankfully, but I should warn you Sandaime-sama that he also gave me some information… that, well, I'm hesitant to believe." Kiba said, tying his yukata back into place.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and beside him, the other Demon Lords shifted slightly. It seemed that all that Nakamura was after was the young Inuzuka and those that were from 'Konoha'. The fact that he was wanted in different countries baffled the Demon Lord slightly because he wasn't sure how a human could travel such distances but he attuned it more to their bizarre power, chakra.

Sarutobi nodded understandably and motioned for him to continue.

"He informed me that Shimura Danzo, psychologically, wasn't right in mind." Kiba sighed, wishing that it was nothing but a lie, especially considering that he was the Nidaime's student and Hiruzen's old teammate. "He told me that he was responsible for the corruption of the Akatsuki, something that confused me for a moment until I found out that the two of the members of the Akatsuki used to be Jiraiya's students."

Minato closed his eyes, sighing as he remembered the period of time that his sensei had disappeared, right near the time when Tsunade had left the village.

"And… he wanted me to believe that Danzo was responsible for Orochimaru's 'corruption'." The Inuzuka put away the scrolls carefully and closed the chest again but he didn't seal it away. It was a chest full of scrolls, all personally hand written by him. They each recounted different bits of information that he'd gathered in his time traveling across the Elemental Countries as well as his thoughts and inferences that he'd made. It had been time consuming and mindboggling of course, and he'd felt no small amount of surprise and horror but the entire ordeal was worth it, especially if it'd help his friends and village.

Tobirama could only listen to the accusations made against his student and he made no move to protest, despite Hashirama's worried and inquisitive gaze. It hurt to hear because Danzo had been his student but what hurt most was the fact that he believed the Inuzuka's words.

From a young age, Danzo had always walked on a thin line and his views had always been a bit on the radical side, especially considering that it was peace time. His mind had always been cunning and ambitious and Tobirama had no doubt that when he named Sarutobi as Hokage, Danzo began his descent. In Danzo's mind his actions may have been rationalized as for the good of the village but all they were, were extremes that should never had been taken. Tobirama had never been terribly fond of the Uchiha but he didn't hate them.

"This is… a lot to take in." Minato muttered, mind whirling. He wished Kushina was still beside his side to help him with all this. It was hard to imagine all the events that happened while he was gone. Just thinking about the passage of time made him cringe because he wondered how his loved ones were doing, how his friends were doing. How was Naruto fairing? Kakashi? Or even Genma?

"One thing that I can't figure out though," Kiba continued, eyes turning towards the Uchiha who had his hands laid limply against his knees, "is how you are here."

The Uchiha stared back at the Inuzuka with apathetic eyes, slightly surprised that the other wasn't cowering before him. What was even more unusual was the fact that he wasn't being stared at with fear or disdain but with pure curiosity. He couldn't see a single sign of anger towards his person.

"That's something that was bothering me as well." Minato said, turning towards the Uchiha with a look of calculation. "Right before the attack on behalf of the Nine Tails, I was attacked by a masked man." He could still remember the event as if it was yesterday. "He claimed that he was Uchiha Madara but now I can see that he lied…" Minato said, puzzled as to why the mysterious shinobi had claimed to be something that he was not, other than to hide his identity of course, but why choose Uchiha Madara? "Your chakra is nothing like the person who attacked the village but I'm positive that it was an Uchiha."

"And that make's so much more sense." Kiba muttered to himself, running a hand down his face. "Did the masked shinobi happen to have a spiraled mask?" He asked with the utmost seriousness.

Minato and Hiruzen shared a look before turning to the Inuzuka with nods.

"I was afraid you would say that." Kiba sighed. "As far as I'm aware, he's in league with Zetsu and no doubt an unofficial member of the Akatsuki."

Sarutobi frowned. "Itachi should have reported his findings." He added and when Minato and Kiba turned to him with confused looks he knew that he had to explain himself. There was no use hiding it any longer after all, and Kiba had more than proven himself. "After the events of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Itachi was assigned a mission to infiltrate the Akatsuki by becoming a member himself. It was a mission that would make him a pariah to the village, even more so especially after the events that happened that night but if there was one thing that Itachi was, it was that he was absolutely loyal to Konoha. I didn't want to assign Itachi to the mission, especially considering that he was a pacifist at heart, but there was no choice."

Madara wasn't sure what to feel about that fact that his clan had been all but rendered inexistent. He could feel a curl of the ever-present rage but there was also regret and sadness because he had done everything that he could to better and protect his clan. They were his family, but Izuna had been all that had really mattered but now he was gone.

Hashirama was trying to make sense of everything that was being said. "Wait, what you said about Madara before, why did you consider it odd that he was here?" He asked towards the Inuzuka.

Kiba blinked. "Well, it's because according to history and everything that's in the library, Uchiha Madara is also a traitor to the village and the Clan." At that, both Hashirama and Tobirama ─ surprisingly ─ made sounds of befuddlement and protest. Madara raised a single, elegant eyebrow, telling much in a simple motion that Kiba would later ponder. "The Academy taught us, though briefly, that Uchiha Madara abandoned the village and was described as a warmonger and that the statues at the Valley of End were built in memory of the fight between Hashirama and Madara, when the Shodaime was tried to 'bring him back' to the village."

"That's ─" Hashirama didn't even know what to say.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Tobirama said, his tone as dry as the Suna desert. "Madara though an annoyance, has never been anything but loyal to the village."

"Those statues were built in remembrance of the union between the Senju and the Uchiha Clans!" Hashirama protested, eye twitching and very much displeased. "Where in the world did they get the idea that Madara was a traitor? He helped found the village!"

Kiba was surprised, as was Sarutobi and Minato.

"The more you know." Kiba muttered to himself. He rolled his shoulders slightly, trying to lessen the tension that built in them but it was in vain. Though his wounds were healed, the phantom pangs of pain still remained. "Anyway, I'd like you all to have this." He pushed the box of scrolls towards the Hokage. "They're all basically detailed accounts of my findings during investigation. I think you might need it when you return to Konoha."

Minato frowned, concern building in him as he turned his gaze from the impressive amounts of scrolls to the Inuzuka. Us?

"What do you mean Kiba-kun?" Sarutobi frowned. "Aren't you going back to Konoha as well?" However that might be.

Kiba shook his head somberly, a sad smile pulling on his face. "I c-can't." He said, inwardly cursing as his voice wavered slightly. "Nakamura had no intention of letting me return to Konoha and he made that clear. He told me the way back but he also placed a seal on me that essentially… anchored me here." Kiba tugged the yukata out of the way as he willed chakra to the surface so the seal became visible as well.

The Kage and Madara could only stare as the seal came into view, so unlike the beautiful flowing seals that were made Kiba's hand. It looked ominous and clashed harshly against the display of what may as well be art. It glowed darkly with chakra that was clearly foreign and they could see the effect it had on the young Inuzuka as his skin paled and a grimace formed on his face.

"A curse seal." Sarutobi stated, voice grim and eyes sad with understanding.

"I can't alter this type of seal, especially because it ties in so deeply into my chakra and my heart but the least I can do is send all of you back to the village." Kiba stated. It felt… really devastating to be so close to coming home and now being unable to do so but at the same time, he felt sort of honored that he was having the privilege of returning the revered shinobi home. He had no doubt that they would want to return home, after all, this world was confusing and so different from what they were used to.

Sarutobi said nothing for a moment because he realized that what the Inuzuka was essentially doing was sacrificing himself for them. It was only logical because though the young Inuzuka was a very talented shinobi, the five of them would be considered more valuable, more of an asset.

By the looks of on the other's faces, they came to the same conclusion.

"Although, sending you back to Konoha will have to wait until I restore more of my chakra." Kiba tied back his yukata again, idly wondering how much time had passed. "I think that's all…" He wasn't sure what else to say.

"Inuzuka-sama…" Miroku started, hands clasped tightly together in his hands because while all was not clear to him, he did understand that the Inuzuka was giving something up by the expression of the 'shinobi's' faces. "When you say about returning to your village, to Konoha, what do you mean?"

"Uh," Kiba tried to find the words to describe their situation. "When I say that, I mean that I'm not from here in a manner that's almost similar to Kagome's." He answered.

Clarity dawned on Miroku's face, as did Inuyasha and the others but Sesshomaru and the other demons were still confused.

"I knew it!"

Kagome's voice caused more than one to wince.

"I knew it!" Kagome repeated, an accusing hand pointed to wards the Inuzuka. "I knew you weren't from here!" She turned to Inuyasha, a pleading look in her eyes. "Are you still going to have him here Inuyasha? He brought more of them here!" Kagome said.

Inuyasha gave a heavy sigh. "Kagome─" He started but he was cut off once again. God, it was easier to communicate to his bastard of a brother than to Kagome and he didn't usually say more than a handful of words to say, that is if you're even deigned as worthy to be addressed in the first place.

"They could be just as crazy as Nakamura!" She yelled, causing Kiba to close his eyes in pain.

"Kagome, please." Sango interfered, standing and moving towards the enraged miko. "Calm, down." She pleaded. "Now is not the time. We can do this some other time." She hissed, moving a hand towards the miko's arm only to get shoved backwards, well, she tried to anyway.

"No!" Kagome yelled before she turned towards the Inuzuka. She had it with the Inuzuka. She's come to the point where his mere presence caused rage in her. It had come to the point where she had even come to disregard the original reasons she disliked the Inuzuka and had come to dislike him on such a level that she couldn't control herself around her. It was like her mind became clouded with nothing but red-hot anger that made her spirit energy come to surface in an angry current.

Madara and the Kage could only watch in befuddlement and displeasure. They've had their fare share of unpleasant civilians but none had been so blatant and extreme before as the young civilian before them, because it was very apparent that that was all she was. She was vastly different compared to the young woman with hair tired back in a low tail, Sango.

"You come here and you do nothing but bring trouble with you!" Kagome approached the Inuzuka who stood still and silent, golden eyes simply staring blankly back at her. "You bring that ─ that monster with you and you nearly get us killed! You shouldn't be here! And you know what? Maybe Nakamura should have gotten you. No one else would have you anyway, not with the animal that you are! You should go back to where ever the hell you came from and run back to a family that probably can't even stand the sight of you, because god knows I can't!" Kagome all but screamed at him near the end, panting and heaving as if she just finished running.

"Oh my god." Sango whispered, hand coming up to cover her mouth in shock.

Miroku gaped at the miko, never having seen such blatant disrespect in his life. He's never seen someone insult another person the way Kagome has and as he stared at the two, he felt extremely offended on behalf of the Inuzuka.

For Inuyasha, Kagome's comments were particularly harsh. It brought the half demon memories of his own childhood, memories that he thought he'd long ago buried. Staring at Kagome the way she was now, an image of fury and rage, brought memories of humans and demons alike sneering at him, hating him for no other reason than they could.

Kouga just couldn't believe the audacity that Kagome had. He was aware that she was vastly different from the norm and had figured that she had been raised differently, possibly in a different land altogether because the ideas and words that she spouted had confused him a few times. He was sure of it now.

For the life of him, Inuzuka Kiba couldn't figure out what to say. For some reason, Kagome's words hit him hard like one of Tsunade's chakra enhanced punches. It hurt, because for a reason unknown to him, her words made him think of his Clan, a Clan that seemed to distance themselves from him more and more. It reminded him of the ever-present ache in his chest that refused to abate. Her words echoed in his mind like a particularly harsh genjutsu, one that couldn't be shaken long after.

"I-I," God, he just couldn't. He just couldn't. "Right." He murmured, disregarding the fuming miko to instead turn to his Kage, to Sesshomaru and the other Demon Lords because they took precedence. "If that's all my Lords." Kiba said as he bowed respectfully towards them, face carefully neutral. "May I be excused?"

There was silence in the room, a heavy one where the only sound was that of Kagome's panting breath.

Hiruzen inclined his head slightly and that was all the permission that Kiba needed. One moment he was there and the next he was gone, seals seeming to recede with him.

Surprisingly it was Sesshomaru that broke the heavy silence that laid over them. The Demon Lord, gracefully stood, and the other Demon Lords followed suit. The daiyoukai had his eyes closed for a moment before he opened them, turning his gaze to bore heavily into Kagome, who stiffened under the intense gaze.

"Onna," He said, voice colder than Yuki no Kuni (Land of Snow) "This Sesshomaru wants you to be gone by sundown." He stated, leaving no room for argument even as the human gaped at him in disbelief.

"What?!" She shrieked, voice coming to such a high pitch that it tested the control of even the most trained demon and shinobi to not wince. "Are you kidding me? You can't do that! Inuyasha tell him he can't─" Kagome looked towards Inuyasha for protection, willing him to stand up for her.

Inuyasha merely shook his head, gaze heavy and agreeing firmly with his brother. "You should go Kagome."

Kagome's pleading gaze turned into something less kind, into something akin to the rage and anger that the others were unfortunately now used to seeing. She turned to Sango, to Miroku and even Kouga. "Sango?" She growled when the taijiya merely shook her head, her face immensely disappointed. "Miroku?"

The houshi frowned heavily, eyes somber. "You must leave, Kagome." He said, eyes becoming sharper as if gazing through her. "You have no purpose here." He said.

"What?" Kagome hissed, the words causing her back away like a low level demon in the presence of something holy and much grander. "What do you mean I have no purpose here?! I'm Kikyo's reincarnation! I purify the Shikon No Tama!"

Miroku shook his head, disregarding the stares now directed towards him as he approached Kagome. In one swift movement, he liberated Kagome from the Shikon no Tama that had laid around her neck. "Not anymore you don't." He held the jewel in his palm, glittering in a sickly dark pink and nothing like the pale color it was supposed to be. "You've become so entrenched in your anger and hate that you've begun to corrupt the jewel. In the state that you're in, I doubt that you will be able to sense the jewel shards let alone purify them."

Kagome stood frozen, staring at him and the jewel in disbelief. His words broke her from her anger and it left something more desperate in its wake. "I-I," She stuttered, her mind racing as she struggled to comprehend his words, "That's not possible!"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her, turned and began to leave the room. He motioned for the shinobi to follow him and they stood without complaint. Without turning back, he said, "You have until sundown, onna, or this Sesshomaru will remove you himself. Permanently." He had already been much too lenient with the human already, a human that had no honor and hadn't deserved an ounce of his mercy.

He should have killed her already.

Kagome shook her head, denials falling unceasingly from her lips. "That's. Not. Possible!"

Sango sighed and shook her head as she grabbed Kagome by the arm, not an ounce of remorse welling in her. "Come on Kagome. I'll take you back to the village on Kilala."

Inuyasha nodded his thanks to the taijiya and for a moment he contemplated what he should say to the woman that looked so much like his old love interest and just like her, she caused him pain. He briefly wondered if he should accompany the taijiya but he decided to stay and he realized then, that there was a feeling in him that told him that that might be the last time he saw Higurashi Kagome.

He approached Kagome, the other looking at him with hope in her eyes and he sighed heavily. His ears flattened against his skull as he said, "I loved you like a sister. Nothing more and nothing less." He said quietly yet sternly. With that said, he turned towards Kouga who stayed silent and shook his head. With one last glance towards Kagome, who had a shocked looked on her face and tears welling in her eyes, he whispered a goodbye and turned to follow his brother out the door.

He couldn't forgive Kagome for what she had done, couldn't forgive what she had become as much as he tried. Seeing the darkness of the Shikon no Tama that lied on Miroku's palm only reinforced the notion.

"T-That's not possible!" Kagome screamed but Sango's strong grip restrained her from doing anything unpleasant. Like trying to lunge towards Sesshomaru's back with murder in her eyes.

The guards stayed close, keeping a careful eye.

Not even a few minutes later, Kilala was flying in the sky and becoming fainter and fainter to those in the Western Palace whom watched with solemnity.

-xXx-

Back in the Bone Eater's Well, an hour or two later from when they had started their journey, Kagome stared down it's dark depths with dark eyes. Sango stayed behind her, keeping a sharp eye on the girl.

"I wished it could have turned out differently Kagome." Sango said sincerely, "I really do. But you just had to be so stubborn and you let your emotions get ahold of you… You let your anger consume you, so much so that you've begun to taint the jewel." Sango said, voice thick with emotion but with a careful breath and a hand gripped in Kilala's fur, she composed herself. "Just like Naraku."

Kagome said nothing. She gritted her teeth and said, "Damn that Inuzuka." She spat his name like a curse, jumping down the well not a moment later and without a second look back, missing the look of anger and disbelief that Sango shot at her.

It was the last time that they saw Higurashi Kagome as not even a few seconds after she jumped down, the well glowed with finality. The aura of spiritual energy that had surrounded it ceased and the portal that crossed through time was no more.

-Xxx-

This chapter was totally different than what I intended. Some scenes turned out better in my head and were different but I tried my best.

Review please. Apologies for the lateness and I appreciate all of my loyal fans.