I don't own Naruto, it belongs to Masashi Kinomoto.

Beta: RomanticPrincess

Thank you, dear!

After looking over everything that's happened so far, I'm not sure this CAN be a Gaara/Kagome, I have a Gaara/Kagome story planned out, and partially written so I apologize to everyone who wanted that couple but it doesn't seem realistic enough to me. As such you guys can send in you pairing wants but I'll be deciding how this turns out.

On another note, I'm seriously running dry with this story and if I can't get the juices flowing this story is going to die before it even really gets started, so please throw me some ideas! PLEASE! (Give me a theme, word association something please!) I also realize that there has been a lot of speaking so I'll try to be a better writer and give you guys some more action.

Chapter 2

Kagome grumbled, for the last six months she and her brother had been going to the Academy they'd been grounded. Kiba had been grounded as well but not nearly as long as the two of them had. Apparently pranking the meeting heads of the shinobi clans wasn't such a good idea but still she and Naruto to a degree both agreed that it was worth it.

Naruto and she had been hiding just outside the jounin hall building for the last hour, it was getting to be late and their grandmother had just made her way inside. Both Namikaze's began to snicker, when their finely tuned hearing began to pick up the general shouts and chaos that began to whirl inside.

Grinning the two of them took off like bats out of hell, they knew they had only scant minutes to get away before they would be caught. If they got caught well… it wouldn't be terribly pretty… they wouldn't get smacked around or anything but their grandmother would look at them with that depressed, disappointed expression that always made them feel small and horrible.

Kagome swore as she felt someone coming up upon them they had large chakra reserves, "Ne! Naruto, someone is coming."

Naruto nodded, before taking off in a different direction. It was something the two of them had decided on when they were younger, more often than not the two of them were safer separated than together, and it sometimes got them out of trouble, too. Rushing toward the compound, Kagome gave a cry when she was suddenly lifted off her feet.

Looking up she sighed, "Hiya, Kashi-nii."

The silver haired ANBU member huffed slightly more than frustrated, not only had he not been able to sleep in the last twenty four hours but his hair was now covered in confetti and had small splashes of paint because he'd been standing near Homura when they'd triggered the prank. Four people had known who the accomplices were besides the three ANBU stationed in that room, then he and Neko had been sent to bring them back, "Kagome... why did you say my name, you know you're not suppose to when I'm in gear."

Kagome just huffed and squirmed until she was sitting comfortably on the ANBU members hip, "Because that's who you are, you're the only jonin in the village with gravity defying gray hair." The girl grinned as she cuddled the ANBU, Kakashi ni-san, neither she nor Naruto got to see the older male all that often but he was just as much of a big brother as Miroku was.

Kakashi forced himself not to grin at her cuddling, "Do you know how much trouble the two of you caused?"

"Maybe, we just wanted to get back at the mummy guy and Koharu and Homura."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed behind his mask, "That's not the way to do it… go corrupt their grandchildren or something," the jonin muttered, before heading back toward Jonin Hall.

"Awww, Udon and Moegi are only two there isn't much to corrupt."

Kakashi sweatdropped, damn smart ass.

"And Oba-san and Jiji, they're going to be really mad at me…" Kagome pouted.

Kakashi shook his head, if anything the chunin that were in charge of the building were going to get an earful for letting three academy students get by their watch. But that was just with the shinobu council, he wasn't entirely sure how Kaede-san was going to take it, the old lady was far scarier than Minato-sensei had ever been.

"Gah! Pumme down!" Kakashi's ears could pick up the shouts of Naruto's protests and apparently so could Kagome because she simply snickered in amusement before trying to snuggle down even more against her capturer.

"Ah, Neko, I'll take the gaki. Go ahead and make another round the building." Kakashi nodded before gathering a pouting Naruto onto his other hip.

"Hai, Taicho!" The female ANBU member disappeared.

Sighing, Inu walked forward and once again managed to refrain from laughing at the number of clan heads that had walked into the pranks. They were simple and well juvenile, but many of the members had simply ignored the wires, it wasn't uncommon for wires to be used by the janitors in cleaning.

As he entered he could feel the amusement and outrage rise at the two six year olds settled on his hip, "Ah, Hokage-sama I have managed to capture the… deviants."

"Naruto, Kagome, what gave you two the idea to sneak in here? Did someone put you up to this?" Hiruzen asked, he was more than a bit amused and one of four members of a sixteen member council that wasn't covered in something.

"Nope…"Kagome grinned, amused Tsume, Kaede, and Shikamaru's dad were then only ones not covered in glue, feathers, honey, glitter and the other random items that she and the boys had found for this a particular prank.

"It was the only building we haven't hit yet." Naruto finally finished and amused grin on his cheeks, he took a deep delight in see the mummy man and Koharu and Homura covered in itching powder, glitter and paint, he knew it was bothering the three of them by the way their cheeks were turning red with irritation. Danzo got it the best though, they had added a second dumping to his it was glue and honey mixed together followed by feathers, the older man was just covered in it, but then again he'd have to of jumped about 5 feet in any direction to get out from beneath the spray.

Kaede sighed rubbing her face, when had they time to get into the building to do it? "Kagome... were there any guards when you decided on this prank?"

Naruto frowned, "Nope, no one was here… it was really easy not even the alarm system was on."

"Yeah... it was too easy it beat the whole point."Kagome pouted.

"And what was the point brat?" Tsume asked the amusement was well hidden but it was there.

"To get better at being stealthy." Naruto grumbled.

Kaede snorted, "Well it doesn't really matter either way you're both grounded."

Hiruzen chuckled, "Take them home Inu, and put them to bed."

"Hai!" And with a whirl of leaves (which amusingly stuck to Danzo and several others that were covered in honey or glue) he was gone. Leaving several amused clan heads and some severely annoyed civilians.

But this was one of those days that she hated, she utterly despised the days the girls left the class to learn about being a Kunoichi. For her it was like extra lessons with her Grandmother, from flower arrangements to the tea ceremony they were forced to learn.

The only things that Kagome enjoyed were the physical days, which included Taijutsu specialization, dance, and the obstacle course. She had taken a sick liking to shoving Ino into the dirt each and every session, she'd also found herself becoming friends with Hinata Hyuuga. Kagome felt guilty that she'd teased the shy girl, but Hinata had been coming out of her shell recently (even if Kagome couldn't help teasing the girl about her crush on Naruto.)

"Kiiibaaa." Kagome pouted, before tackling the older boy. "Don't let them take me to the flowers of doom!" She was clinging to the boy like a monkey, but she didn't really care at this point. Today was one of those damn flower days and she hated it.

"Ah, Kagome… I'm afraid you have to go." Iruka smiled softly at the dark haired girl. He knew she despised the more feminine aspects of her teachings, but he couldn't allow her to stay either.

Kagome just clung to the Inuzuka boy all that tighter until the two of them over balanced and landed on the floor, "But Iruka sensei, I have to do this crap at home! Why can't I just stay with the guys? At least on flower days?"

"Kagome go!" Iruka pointed to the door, while helping the two of them up. Iruka was a big softy at heart and he'd quickly learned that looking at the little Namikaze wasn't the brightest idea, those big blue eyes of hers were deadly weapons, he had no doubt that she would be drafted for seduction and infiltration missions when she became old enough. Just the thought of it made him want to cringe, it was also one of the reason that girls were required to take the lessons in etiquette, flower arranging and the tea ceremony.

Huffing in depression the young girl finally walked out of the regular class door, Kiba had sighed in relief when Kagome let him go Akamaru might not have minded but she was way too strong to be a normal girl.

"Akamaruuuu, come with me please?" Kagome asked, her big blue eyes pleading.

The little white dog looked up at his partner, who sighed before nodding he knew for a fact this was going to somehow be his fault… but at least it wouldn't be his entire fault.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, before Sasuke finally spoke up "Why did you let Akamaru go?"

"She might have hugged me again and I don't know why but that girl is freakishly strong…" Kiba shuddered she was like a mini-Hana.

Naruto scowled, "She was going to do something and we're going to get blamed for it."

Sasuke tilted his head to the side, "How do you figure that?"

"She's Kagome… I bet she brought evidence with her." Shippo replied, sweatdropping when Naruto began to cry extremely large tears.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Aww, grow up. She ain't that bad…. now Sesshoumaru that's a terror." The white headed Taisho shuddered at the thought of his brother, they guy wasn't named the Aristocratic Assassin just cuz he looked pretty.

"You just say that because Sesshoumaru hangs you on the post leaving your compound by your underwear." Naruto replied, he honestly thought that Inuyasha's older brother was awesome! He was seventeen and had been a jonin for nearly five years.

Inuyasha scowled, "You said you wouldn't say anything!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Guys shut up, Iruka is talking about the fight between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju he's even using the holograph."

All the boys suddenly became quiet and still, the holograph was a new creation by the ANBU research and development team, it literally projected and maintained a three dimensional recording, it could be from memories or even what people imagined. They'd recently gotten one and it had fast become something all the boys loved, it showed fight after fight and it was more than a little attractive for their fighting spirits.

O

Kagome sighed, as she hugged Akamaru he'd settled in the hoody she'd worn for the day walking into the class room. Kagome could only blink what was going on? Everything was extremely quiet and several of her classmates were glaring at her as if she'd just ruined their day.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"Why were you late Kagome?" Sakura finally asked.

Kagome scowled at the pink haired girl, "I asked Kiba to let me bring Akamaru."

Ino rolled her eyes. "As if."

A sudden barking came from her coat before the small dog poked his head up, "Woof!"

"You were saying?" Kagome asked, a dry look of cruel amusement on her sweet face, she honestly couldn't stand Ino or Sakura… thought Sakura seemed to be winning in the like category at this moment. Rolling her eyes, the brunette girl walked past the blonde to sit down next to Hinata.

"Kagome?"

"Hai, Hinata-chan?" Kagome asked looking into the girl's lavender eyes.

Hinata smiled weakly, "Why do you antagonize Ino?"

"She makes me mad, she always acts like a little brat." Kagome pouted, that wasn't entirely true. To be honest she was a little jealous of the blonde, she didn't have to leave her home with a guard and escort, she could go hang out and play at anytime. Kagome almost had to make an act of the civilian council to get something near that level of freedom happen, and it usually only occurred when she could talk Kakashi into it.

Hinata sighed, "That's not it."

"Hinata-chan! You used your Byakugan to see if I was lying!" Kagome pouted.

Hinata giggled softly, "That because you hide things."

"But but but!"

"No buts."

"Gah, okay I'm jealous!" Kagome pouted.

Hinata grinned, she'd become a lot more confident since she'd started hanging out Kagome, but she still tended to turn into a pink idiot every single time they hung out together, "Why?"

"Because, she's got a lot more freedom than I do. She can walk all around this place and no one would bother her about being a Yamanaka. Me? Half this stupid place bows and calls me, "Honorable Daughter," or stuff like that, the other half acts like they want to kill me." Kagome frowned, before staring out the window nearby, she was just going to completely ignore this lesson. Unknown to her several of the girls surrounding them heard the whispered conversation and they became more curious about the Namikaze girl.

"Namikaze-san?"

Kagome blinked, that was a new voice looking around she found herself looking up to see a very pretty girl with long black wildly waving hair and deep red eyes, she would be a dead ringer for an Uchiha if not for her eyes, they were two toned with extremely small black pupils the outside ring was a lighter brighter red, while the inside was a deep darker, bloody crimson color.

"Ano… who are you?" Kagome asked, her head tilting to the side.

Kurenai smiled, she'd heard the girl despised her classes at least the more delicate classes. Iruka had asked her to see if the girl was any good at Ninjutsu or Genjutsu if she was then they might be able to get special permission for her to take medical classes or work with Kurenai. Then again she always came back with a hundred percent or more if there were bonuses to be had, the girl might hate the subject but she did her work.

"I'm Kurenai Yuhi, I'm the only current Genjutsu Mistress in Konoha. I heard you disliked this class, and while I'm not allowed to teach you jutsu yet, but I can teach you the theory." Kurenai was bent down low to talk to the girl, she could see the surprise but then again the girl was old enough to understand what was happening.

Kagome blinked, extremely surprised unlike Naruto she liked Genjutsu she thought it was amazing. But why was she being offered this? "Why?"

"Why?" Kurenai asked surprised.

"Hai, why am I being allowed this opportunity?"

Kurenai chuckled, "Bored students cause problems, and Shigume-san really, really wants you out of her class."

Kagome grinned, now that sounded reasonable, "Let's go!"

O

Kagome practically purred in delight, she was going to be allowed to learn theory in medical jutsu and genjutsu, not only that but it was going to become two of the days of work. Apparently the Hokage decided they needed to weed out more of the "fan girls" if they started young well there would be a lot less of them. The girls schedule was now Monday, Wednesday Physical training, Tuesday, Thursday's jutsu theory and Anatomy, while only Friday was Tea Ceremony and Flower arrangement!

Kagome blink why were all the guys staring at her? "What?"

Kiba sighed, most of them were being paranoid, "They think you did something in the "Kunoichi" class."

"Oh… I threw flowers at Hanagawa-sensei, and then managed to smack Shigume-san with a pair of shears." Kagome blinked, as the boys seemed to hang on her every word.

"And how is it our fault?" Inuyasha finally asked.

Kagome stared at them completely confused, looking at Hinata she could see the same confusion mixed with amusement. "Ah… it isn't?"

"So you didn't frame us for anything?" Shippo asked, it was better to be safe than sorry later.

"Ahhh…" Kagome stared, before her sharp eyes drilled into Sasuke "Explain."

"I don't know I ignored them." Sasuke replied.

"They believe that you took Akamaru with you because you planned on doing something and blaming them for it. Now would you guys stop being Troublesome?" A lazy voice asked, yawning the pineapple ponytail bobbed as the boy buried his face against his arms.

Kagome sighed, before plopping down beside the pineapple boy, "You're Shikaku-san's kid right?"

"Yeah," the boy replied, trying to ignore the girl.

Kagome snickered, "You look a lot like him."

The boy huffed, "Everyone says that, I'm Shikamaru by the way."

"I know." Kagome grinned.

Naruto snickered, Kagome was so acting like Kakashi when in doubt ignore it. Kiba rolled his eyes, both Inuyasha and Shippo looked rather panicked.

"Guys chill, she's just messing with you, ya know? It's what Kakashi-nii does when Gai bothers him." Naruto finally stated.

"Who is Gai?" Sasuke asked, he'd heard that name before.

"You really don't want to know." Naruto replied.

"Neeh, you play Shoji like him ah?" Kagome asked.

"Hai, you play?" Shikamaru suddenly looked a bit more awake.

Kagome nodded, "Hinata-chan and I play often… but neither of us is really good at it."

Shikamaru nodded, "Choji doesn't like to play."

"But why?" Hinata asked, glancing at the large boy munching on chips.

"It's too hard." Choji shrugged, he just didn't like to think that hard.

Hinata frowned, "It gets easier the more you do it."

Shikamaru grinned, "Want to play?"

"Epp!" Hinata went pink cheeked, she sometimes forgot that she wasn't speaking with Kagome, but maybe that was a good thing. Nodding she settled in front of the Nara and the two of them began to play. Both Kagome and Choji settled down watching, and before either of them knew it the two of them began to have an extremely animated conversation about food, from the spiciness to Ramen and how somethings just didn't taste good at all!

Sasuke sighed, the others were still arguing and the only thing that seemed to be the least bit interesting was the game that Hinata and Shikamaru were playing. He had to admit, that he'd not really noticed the shy, quiet Hyuuga girl until Kagome had dragged the girl into their little group of friends. But it was almost a relief to have someone else who was a little on the calm side, Naruto was loud, but he didn't have anything on the rambunctious Inuyasha or Kiba. Those two could turn a cemetery into a howling horror show, the thought that Shikamaru or Choji might be joining them wouldn't be too bad. While the two were on the lazy side at least they were quiet, Sasuke sighed… his heart just wasn't in to being here today. He knew he was acting off, and thinking about things like his friends just couldn't cheer him up.

Naruto frowned, Sasuke was usually a little on the quiet side but today seemed to be pushing it. It was unusual for him to be this… well teme, like, the guy was frowning a lot and seemed to be absent minded and easily frustrated, he'd been this way the last several days but it just seemed to get worse as the days had gone on, even Inuyasha and Kiba had noticed it seemed as if they were all getting quiet. Glancing at his sister, he almost sighed in relief when she gave a faint smile and nod it meant that she would drag Sasuke to ask what was wrong if she had to. They all knew that the Uchiha boy while a great friend was at times an extremely private person, it was something that all the Uchiha did, well... except Kakashi-nii's old teammate Obito.

Kagome sighed, Iruka sensei was back again and calling for them to get into their seats. Several students scrambled away to get into their seats. She didn't really blame them, Iruka-sensei was awful when he used that big head jutsu of his, he sometimes forgot that both she and Naruto as well as Kiba and Inuyasha had extremely sensitive ears, the four of them would hear a horrible ringing for hours afterwards.

She could feel her eyes fluttering down, as the minutes ticked by this was the other bad part about being in Iruka-sensei's class. He wasn't a bad teacher, but he always sounded so warm and safe as if he wouldn't let anything happen to them if he could help it. At least that was what her excuse was and she was sticking to it.

O

Kagome grumbled before swatting at the hands that were shaking her, she didn't know what they wanted but she didn't care. As far as her sleep befuddled mind was concerned, sleep was good and that was all that it needed to know.

"….she…..funny"

"….hope…. didn't…you"

"Shut …., dobe."

"Don't….me…teme!"

"SHUT UP!" Kagome shouted, annoyed. A deep scowl seemed to settle on light features, looking around she blinked everyone had stepped back and was staring at her as if she was going to bite them. When they realized that she was finally awake several student broke down laughing while others simply left they were tired and it was time to go home.

"Kagome are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine… Hinata how do you never fall asleep in class?" Kagome asked, a pout on her lips.

Hinata smirked, it was odd to see on her face "You've never listened to Neji-niisan go on about fate… until you do... then you'll never make it through Iruka-sensei's class."

Naruto and his twin looked completely befuddled, they never expected that sort of answer from the girl. A huff left Kagome's mouth, all the while she watched Hinata walk away with Kiba and Shippo relatively happy without her stutter.

Rolling her eyes, she waved at her brother before snagging hold of Sasuke and dragging him away at a break neck pace to get away from the boys scary and more than slightly creepy fangirls.

Sasuke groaned, what had gotten into his friend this time? "KAGOME!"

"SASUKE!" Kagome continued running, while Sasuke seemed to be flying like a flag behind her.

"STOP!"

"FINE!" Finding a good hiding spot in one of the large parks of Konoha, Kagome slowed down until Sasuke no longer looked like chucking up his lunch.

"What was that about?"

Kagome rolled her eyes, "We're worried about you."

Sasuke blinked in surprise that was the last thing he was expecting. Usually when Kagome did something like that she was trying to piss Ino or Sakura off, she seemed to have an extreme dislike to those two particular girls.

"Oh."

Kagome simply stared, before walking ahead she knew Sasuke would follow they were in one of the older parks it had a lot of shrines and small statues that were in the shapes of Kitsune and Tanuki, Anaguma and even some Itachi. Finding the small shrine area that she liked, she plopped down on the steps and looked up to find Sasuke fidgeting in discomfort and a tinge of guilt.

"So what's really be bothering you Sasuke?" Kagome asked, as she watched her friend pace.

Sasuke frowned, he'd known Kagome since he was a little kid, like from when he was three that was four years of being able to tell when crap bothered him so he really shouldn't be surprised that she could see his frustration, right? At least she didn't leave it to Naruto, as much as he like the blonde like a brother the two of them would have ended up slugging it out and he really didn't feel like it.

Finally the black eyed boy sighed, before plopping down next to his friend "There have been a lot of fights at home."

Kagome simply waited, that wasn't uncommon in the Uchiha household when you had a lot of pissy hot heads that held in their thoughts and emotions all the time, in the same house things like that happened.

"But it's different than normal, a lot of things are being said that… it's not right to talk like that. Chichi-ue and the Elders want to do something that most of the clan is completely against… even Haha-ue and Aniki are completely against this action… but I don't know if I should tell someone."

Kagome studied her friend, he was gnawing on his bottom lip and fidgeting badly playing with his own fingers and twitching. She'd never seen him like this and had to assume that things had gotten very bad if it was bothering him this much, "Do you know what it is?"

Tears seemed to rise up in her best friends eyes, "I think I know what's happening, but I don't… I don't want to admit Chichi-ue would do something like that."

Kagome frowned before hugging her best friend, "It'll be okay, Sasuke."

The black haired boy shook his head, "Chichi-ue did something I've never seen him do before, he hit Itachi."

Kagome blinked in surprise, as amazing as Itachi-kun was he was no match for those like Fugaku or even her Miroku-nii. "Like hit him, like just to hurt him?"

Sasuke nodded, he'd been so shocked horrified "Chichi-ue just kept hitting him and Haha-ue then came in and started screaming at him. Asking him what was wrong, why would he do that to his son? I've never seen her so mad before so angry and hurt. That person wasn't my Chichi-ue, I don't know who it was but it wasn't my Chichi-ue."

Kagome gaped, she and Naruto could take a beating as they'd proved in Taijutsu class both of them had the highest and fastest healing rate over everyone in the class, she'd heard Miroku and Kakashi mutter "in the elemental nations," she thought that was over doing it but whatever. She'd met Fugaku-sama several times, including the meeting were he'd gotten covered in glitter and paint. He'd been annoyed, but he'd also been amused he acted very much like a hard ass and rarely smiled but he had taken a very sick pleasure in seeing the Hyuuga head covered in a rainbow of colors, even Hiashi's skin had started changing colors and he was covered in itching powder, glitter and feathers. When the Fugaku asked why Hiashi had been hit so harshly the twins had answered in symphony they were mad at the way the man treated his daughter, when asked about the Hokage, they had answered they didn't know if that counted as an attack on the Hokage or not.

"Do you want to stay with us? Both you and Itachi could." Kagome asked, she liked Itachi is she pestered him enough he usually lifted her up and spun her around.

"I'll ask him about it, but I don't want to go home. I'm too nervous." Sasuke muttered, he wasn't just nervous he was terrified. He'd been holding it in for the last two weeks.

"Ah, Kagome-chan!"

Both children jumped shocked and surprised, neither had been expecting a voice to suddenly pop up behind them, and it did a bit more damage to Sasuke's already scattered nerves. The boy was shaking violently and his breath was shallow, while his cheeks seemed to heat up into an uncomfortable blush. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Are you okay?" Kagome grasped the boy, it was odd seeing her friend seem so weak or maybe it was vulnerable.

Kakashi blinked surprised, he'd spoken with Naruto earlier when he'd gone looking for their little sister. He'd heard a little bit of what was happening and he had seen that Itachi had been off for the last little why since he'd finally decided to take up the offer of joining ANBU. Frowning, he looked down at the two, Sasuke looked like he was having a panic attack, which was admittedly abnormal even for a child in the ninja world. Moving Kakashi bent down before, forcing the boy to put his head between his knees, "Breathe deeply, okay? Just deep slow breaths."

Kakashi watched with what seemed like a clinical detachment, this wasn't the first time he'd seen someone have a panic attack or simply spaz out from paranoia. When the boy's breathing began to slow he sighed, he couldn't take the boy back to the Uchiha clan tonight. He would tell Itachi, and let Sasuke stay with the Namikaze's tonight. Hefting the boy into his arms he was surprised when thin arms wrapped around his neck and a small face quickly followed.

Kagome followed more than a little worried, what was going on? She didn't know what was going on but she did know it was hurting her friend and all she could do was follow, taking her Nii-chan's other hand Kagome nearly yelped when she was suddenly pulled up into his arms to settle on his hip before he flickered away to drop them off before going to find Itachi… soon things would change… and it would change Konoha forever