A. N. I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.

The Uchiha main house was restored, silent and peaceful. It was unnerving to any that knew what dark things had befallen those who had once lived there. As the youngest living Uchiha appeared, the world did not shatter. All stayed the epitome of tranquility, as if to mock the darkness in his heart.

He was silent as he walked into his childhood home, his footsteps light from years of training and plotting this very night. When he came to his brother's room, he saw his sleeping form and took out a kunai. He crept forward, his motives clear and-

Itachi wrapped his arms around his brother from behind and jammed a finger into a pressure point, causing him to slump. It was anticlimactic after years of anticipating the fight between them, but the elder brother was relieved.

Sitting up, the Itachi in bed poofed and Shikamaru looked cautiously bored. "To think, I was worried." He got up and walked forward, eying the traitor he had once been sent after. "Let's get him to Hokage-sama."

Expression impassive, Itachi disappeared with his little brother in tow,

x~x~x

Anger flashed through Sasuke as he woke, feelings of inadequacy filtering across his consciousness. He shot out of bed and formed handsigns, wincing in pain and falling to his knees.

Clearing her throat, Kagome approached the cell with a look of curiosity. "Hello, Sasuke." Her eyes skimmed over his pained form, any sympathy she might have felt not present in her eyes. "Drawing on your chakra will only cause you agony."

"You… You're the new Hokage… Ha, Orochimaru will crush you." Sasuke slumped back, not trying to draw on his chakra any longer.

"No, I will destroy him. The only question is, will you make me destroy you too?" Kagome asked, resting a hand on a bar of the cell. "You have a chance here. I want the Uchiha clan to thrive again and you can be a part of that… Or, you can hold onto your bitterness and I can rip the curse seal out of you and leave you a shell of a human being. Itachi would not like it, but he would accept it."

"You think you can scare me? You are weak. No Hokage for this village has ever been willing to do-" Sasuke started, breaking off as pink light began to envelope his prison, a burning sensation tingling along his nerves.

"I am willing to do much for this village, Sasuke." Kagome opened the door of the cell and slid through, locking it behind her. "Your brother is too. A man named Danzo ordered him to slaughter your clan, and said if he did not, they would all be killed anyway. The only difference was that if Itachi did it, you would get to live. I killed Danzo and brought back your brother. I am willing to make the tough decisions. Are you?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her and launched himself forward.

Kagome caught his fist and twisted his arm around his back, slamming him to the floor. "You've hurt this village you were sworn to, hurt people you were supposed to protect and care for. That I've given you this chance is more than you deserve." She leaned in and wrapped a hand around his throat. "Think carefully before giving me your answer."

x~x~x

"Can I see him?" Naruto asked hopefully, his expression one of eagerness as he stood before his Hokage, bouncing up on the balls of his feet.

Kagome sighed, internally cursing his heightened sense which made keeping things from him nearly impossible. "When the time is right, you will be allowed to see him." She stamped a report and looked up at him, studying. "You seem… More even. Meditation?"

Naruto shrugged and shifted, clearly not wanting to discuss it. "I should be able to see Sasuke! He needs to know that he still has people that care about him, cause how is he supposed to recover otherwise?"

"By facing what he did, and understanding that he had a choice. He made the wrong one, Naruto. He needs to accept that. Admitting one's own wrongdoings is the most difficult thing for people like Sasuke. When he does that, he can begin to recover and become a part of this village again." Kagome's tone was full of patience, but her eyes were not.

Scowling, the kitsune stepped back. "You don't get what it's like." He turned and disappeared, his anger still palpable in the air.

Sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose,Kagome shook her head. "Ah, to be young and misunderstood." Internally, she laughed, knowing that once upon a time she had loved a similar sort. Her eyes softened momentarily, mind filled with golden eyes and white hair.

x~x~x

Hinata activated her byakugan, peering through the trees in search of her opponent. At the last minute, she leapt away, forming handsigns and disappearing with a poof as kunai dug into a log in her wake. When she reappeared, she took on her signature stance and pushed back every single weapon that fell her way, going on the offensive when the blond appeared, moving at him with intent.

Grin broad, Naruto coughed up a little blood when she caught him in the chest, but wrapped his hands around her wrists and flung her back.

Eyes widening in surprise, Hinata flipped backwards and reclaimed her feet, skidding back slightly and panting. When he moved at her again, she brought up a kunai, but it clattered to the forest floor as he pinned her against the tree, his lips on hers, the taste of blood still on his lips.

Pulling back a little, Naruto's eyes were swirling with red, his fingers tipped with claws as he gently cupped her jaw. "Is this really what you want?"

Nodding, Hinata broke his hold to wrap her arms around his neck. "More than anything…. I love you, Naruto-kun."

Paint splattered suddenly onto the binoculars which Jiraiya was peering through and he turned disgruntled eyes on the Hokage, a little blood leaking from his nose. "Hey! I was only verifying the safety and-"

"Stuff it, Jiraiya," Kagome replied easily, her eyes pointed in the same direction the binoculars had been. "You could have used your senses without the visual. They are not being very subtle." She vaguely wondered if she would catch backlash for nudging this along.

"Not worried about Hiashi throwing a tirade about his daughter being dishonored?" Jiraiya asked curiously, his eyes still focused on the clearing in the distance.

"Hiashi has made intimations of passing up Hinata for her younger sister Hanabi, but regardless, Naruto will act honorably. He will treasure her affections now that he sees them." Kagome smiled a little and turned. "Come. Let's leave them. No researching your students."

"So cruel to deprive a writer of inspiration," Jiraiya whined softly, though he disappeared alongside her, leaving the young couple to their own devices.

x~x~x

Sasuke eyed the Hokage with utter loathing as she entered his cell. "Do you expect me to bow to your will, to cower?" His lips pulled into a sneer, not even the tiniest hint of respect in his tone.

"I expect you to start thinking logically… If you want to be technical, Itachi's love for you killed your clan. Now, I do not usually endorse such blame laying, but given your continued want for revenge, perhaps it is best to lay that at your feet." Kagome sat on his cot, looking as if she were not even vaguely concerned about him as a threat.

"Oh, yes, blame a child for the-" Sasuke shot back, cut off when she suddenly grabbed him by the throat, his eyes wide.

"Is that not what you have been doing for years? Your brother was a boy, a boy who had seen much, yes… But a boy. He made a rash, emotional decision that he regrets. I thought, perhaps you could relate given that you gave yourself to the snake as you sought power." Kagome released him and stepped back. "Think on these things, Sasuke. There are those in this village that would welcome you back. But I will do what is necessary regardless of their feelings." With that, she walked to the door and left him to his thoughts.

x~x~x

Weeks passed without change, the village mostly unaware of Sasuke. However, Kagome was waiting all along, knowing what was coming. And then one night, it came. She did not even react as the Sannin slipped into her bedroom undetected by her guard. "Now, this does not possess nearly the drama as your last attack on the village."

"Yes, well I believe I will not need drama for this." Orochimaru licked his lips as he watched her brush her hair, covered only in a pink bathrobe. "I will install myself as your replacement and crumble the village from within."

"Ah, become me in a village that still does not know my heart. Not a terrible plan. Except you need to defeat me to do so. And they are starting to know me, or at least have an impression." Kagome turned to look upon his face and felt no thread of pity for the dark creature before her. "You disrespect me greatly to consider me such a non-threat to come here alone."

"You do not deserve my respect," Orochimaru countered with disdain. "You have captured my people, yes, but only given me pawns to have at hand. I looked into you, the wandering priestess that refuses to kill despite nin training. You are weak."

"Thank you," Kagome whispered, a smile filled with relief crossing her face.

"For what? Relieving you of your duty? Ending your charade of power?" Orochimaru sneered, stepping forward.

"For letting me crush you without costing more lives than I wished to," Kagome replied, sealing the room and releasing purification in torrents.

Orochimaru's screams brought her guards, but by the time she had unsealed the room, all that remained were ashes. In his cell, Sasuke was in remarkable pain, as were all that bore Orochimaru's seal.

x~x~x

"You did not leave evidence so that the snake could be identified," Utatane pointed out, her lips pulled down in a frown. "What proof can you offer that Orochimaru is dead?"

"Shizune can test the ashes if you so desire, and Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Sasuke can attest to great pain in the night. Orochimaru is dead and that is all there is to it." Kagome sipped her tea, an air of nonchalance about her.

Mitokado arched an eyebrow. "A council member that is no longer with us would have demanded more. But you have taken care of him as well." The air held a certain static, his gaze weighted.

"Yes," Kagome answered without blinking. "I am Hokage and while I value your opinions, I will act in the best interest of the village as the need arises." Looking at the two, Kagome smiled politely. "I mean no disrespect, of course."

"Of course," Mitokado echoed, eying her without expression. "Do you have any more plans you would like to discuss before they arise?"

"Akatsuki will be at our door soon enough. I would put together a team to go against them, and I plan on leading the way. In my absence, I will require someone to sit my seat. I have two thoughts on the matter-Either you two can share a voice or Hatake Kakashi can temporarily lead in my stead," Kagome offered, stirring a little more honey into her tea.

Utatane stiffened at that, looking at the Hokage as if she were daft. "You killed Danzo and you would have his replacement lead the village while you are in the crosshairs?"

"Kakashi is not Danzo," Kagome countered with ease, not showing even a touch of doubt for her decision. "However, I will let you two think on this. It is not immediate, of course, so you have time to consider the options. Thank you for your time." Bowing her head, the miko finished her tea and disappeared.

x~x~x

"That is a pretty ballsy decision," Genma remarked lightly as he sat across from his Hokage, having been standing guard when she had her conference with the elders. "I do think that Utatane-sama had a point."

"Of course she did and they can oversee the village if they prefer, but I trust Kakashi." Kagome eyed her nin, tilting her head as she regarded him. "Do you think I am letting personal feelings cloud my judgement?" A smile tugged at her lips.

"I think you'd let people think that…" Genma shrugged, plopping down on the opposite side of the desk. He rested his elbow on the wood and leaned his chin on his hand. "You have plans though. I'm still trying to figure it all out." He shifted his senbon to the other side of his mouth.

"You are a very observant guard." Kagome smiled a little and then turned to look at Kakashi sitting in her window. "Hello."

"We have a dinner date," Kakashi declared simply, standing up. "Genma." He inclined his head without any particular warmth.

"Kakashi," Genma responded, more amused than anything else. "Very uncharacteristic, you being on time."

"First time for everything," Kagome observed, rising to her feet and walking to her gray haired lover's side. "I will see you tomorrow, Genma. We will be dining in."

Kakashi's hand rested on her back and they disappeared.

x~x~x

Fingers running over Kagome's back, Kakashi kissed her shoulder. "It will be dangerous for you to go after Akatsuki. Leaving the village… What will happen if you do not return?"

"Then you will keep my plans going." Turning to look him over, Kagome ran her thumb along his jawline. "This village needs healing."

"And you think that I would be one capable of that?" Kakashi murmured, leaning into the touch. "You believe that I can heal?" His expression was guarded, though a darkness lingered in his tone.

"Orochimaru doubted me, because he saw only my reputation on the outside. I've not lived in a vacuum. I've traveled, helped people, healed others… I have not killed unless pushed, and when I did, I did not leave evidence. I am a healer, but I am a killer. We are not just one thing, Kakashi. You know this." Kagome leaned in and kissed him tenderly.

Sinking his hand into her hair, Kakashi kissed her back and pulled away after a long moment. "Tell me your plans."