A Ghostly Companion (PG13 - Kagome/Itachi - 11/?)
Title: A Ghostly Companion - Chapter 9
Author: Sarhea
Rated: PG 13
Categories: InuYasha Naruto xover crossover
Pairing: Itachi U, Kagome H
Summary: AR. The Feudal Era is safe, the Shikon is restored and purified, and Kagome is dead … but that doesn’t mean she is free. A promise to a certain dead Hokage changes everything in Narutoverse.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha and co, or Naruto and co
Summary: Some months later the Higurashi kids find out about the Shikon no Tama and make their own plans.
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...ooO The Shikon Ooo...
“Itachi, please...”
“No.”
“Just think about it.”
“NO!” Itachi snarled as he stalked away. “I’ve made up my mind!”
Kagome broke once she heard the door slam shut. She sobbed noisily wishing for the luxury of tears.
The four pre-teens edged into the room staying a respectful distance from the spirit, uncertain if she would be willing to talk to them.
Sasuke was scowling fiercely. Kagome was too kind and gentle. It must be something Itachi had done.
Naruto was torn between chasing Itachi and beating him up and comforting his foster mother, the only one he had ever known.
Gaa’ra waited. When Kagome was ready to talk she would.
Haku moved closer to kneel beside Kagome murmuring soft nonsense.
After sometime Kagome stopped and looked up through heartbroken eyes.
“What happened?” Sasuke wanted to know in his usual blunt fashion.
Kagome sighed. “I want Itachi to… do something. He refused.”
Haku was beginning to sense something. “What did you want him to do?”
Kagome fidgeted. Under their unrelenting pressure she broke. “I want him to find a girlfriend, someone he can marry and have kids with.” She spoke in a rush. “He would make such a good father. I don’t want him to be alone…” She trailed off.
Everyone stilled. By now everyone in the Higurashi household knew Kagome and Itachi had a deeper, more intimate relationship than just friendship. How exactly they managed it no one knew and all four of them knew better than to ask.
“But why?” Naruto wanted to know. “Aren’t the two of you happy?”
Kagome sighed. “Oh Naruto, if you find someone that makes you as happy as he makes me I hope you propose to him or her immediately. But I am a ghost, there can be nothing more between us. He will grow old alone, without any children of his own. All of you will marry and eventually move out, but Itachi will be alone but for me. All I can offer him is dreams and my emotional support. And there is no guarantee I can stay on this plane. I’ve been neglecting my duty all these years and now I get this nagging feeling I must resume my search.”
Naruto brightened. “Are you going to look for the Jewel thingy?”
Kagome laughed. “Yes, the Shikon no Tama.”
Haku frowned. “Is it the same as the fairy tale? A relic that can grant any wish?” She brightened. “Can you wish for a body?”
Kagome shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that. The Shikon taints wishes, twists them so it hurts people. The Shikon must be found and guarded.”
Sasuke frowned. “But why now? If it has been hidden all these years why can’t it stay hidden for a few more decades?”
Kagome shrugged. “I don’t know. But I feel a sense of urgency. It concerns me so I want all my loved ones settled. Just in case something happens like it usually does.” She smiled tiredly.
Then Naruto brightened. “Why don’t we help you look for it? Once it’s safe you won’t have to worry about it and that feeling will go away!”
Sasuke smirked. “That is a good idea. We might be able to have a look at the Hokage historical archives if we promise not to look at the jutsu scrolls.”
Kagome wanted to protest but held her tongue. They would simply agree, nod politely, then go out and do their own thing.
“Oh all right! You can look for the Shikon if you really want to.”
...ooOoo...
Konohas genin Team Five stared at the massive cave that was the entrance to the Western Shrine housed within one of the many mountains in Iwa. It was also the site of the Second Stage of the Iwa Chuunin exams.
“Is this the correct place Sasuke?” Naruto spoke very softly so their competitors could not hear them.
“Everything indicates it. A Western Mountain Stronghold. Gobi is said to be a huge white dog that lives in these mountains though very few have ever seen him in recent decades. There is no intel indicating Iwa has a jinchuriki.”
“That kind of matches with Sesshoumaru. Kaa-san said he preferred heights because he could fly in both forms. But how come no one has found it?”
“Baka! You heard the instructors! We are only supposed to navigate the other layers to the second exit. The deeper we go into the Shrine the more dangerous the traps are! That is where we have to go.”
“But don’t take any unnecessary risks boys.” Kagome fretted though she knew nothing she said at this point would dissuade them. The best thing she could do was stay ahead and guide them to the Heart of the Western Shrine where the Shikon was hidden.
Haku had to restrain a giggle as she remembered just how they had reached this point.
…ooO Begin Flashback >…>…>
Jiraiya spoke in almost zombie like tones. “You want to go to Iwa for the Chuunin Exams.” Then he snapped. “ARE YOU FUCKING NUTS??!!??”
Naruto dug a pinky in his ear to clear it. “Don’t yell at us Ero-Sensei, we know Konoha isn’t really friendly with Iwa but we need to go there.”
“But WHYYYY?” Jiraiya was already seeing doom trying to explain this to Sarutobi, Itachi, Kagome, and Iruka.
“There is something that belongs to Kaa-san in the Western Shrine.”
Jiraiya stiffened. “Kagome knows about this?”
“Hai.” A chorus.
“And she supports this scheme?” Jiraiya probed deeper.
They hesitated. Then Gaa’ra spoke. “She doesn’t support it but she knows it is necessary.”
“What do you mean?” Jiraiya wanted to know. “If there is something dangerous there let Itachi get it. Heck Sarutobi-sensei can send an ANBU team if you give him reason.”
“That is exactly it.” Sasuke spoke harshly. “The Hokage and the Council must not know, not yet at least. This is Higurashi business.”
Jiraiya blinked. Naruto caught on and expanded.
“Kagome is one of us and we believe one of her Clan Relics has been stored in the Western Shrine. The security is too good--.”
“Except during the Second Stage of Iwas Chuunin Exams. They always hold them there.” Jiraiya whispered.
“Hai. It is the perfect opportunity.”
Then Jiraiya shook his shaggy head. “How can you be certain? There is a time limit for the test and the Western Shrine is Big and heavily layered with death traps.”
“Kagome will be with us. She can sense the Relic.” Haku cut down the arguments confidentially. “We’ll just have to secure it and smuggle it out.”
Jiraiya chewed his lip. “You will need an excuse for staying in there for so long. I’m certain Team Fives prowess is common knowledge in the other Hidden Villages.”
The three genins grinned as one. “Leave that to us Ero-Sensei.” They replied in chorus.
<...<...< End Flashback Ooo…
A distant part of Hakus mind listened to the Iwa jounin examiner explaining the rules of the Second Stage.
“You must enter the Shrine and penetrate two layers of the defenses. There are eight special scrolls in cases sealed with the Tsukikages mark. You must secure one as proof to indicate your team reached the second layer to pass. As you all know there are sixteen teams so only half of you will pass. If one of your team dies you must bring the body back or you will be disqualified. You must exit the Shrine within five days to pass this test. Those still alive, and capable of fighting, will proceed to the Third Stage which will be one-on-one duels.”
Haku felt her resolve ice into steel. Nothing would stop them from finding the Shikon and helping Kagome-chan.
“You may… BEGIN!”
All the Chuunin candidates began running towards their designated entrance points.
...ooOoo...
Jiraiya watched, tense, wary of the Iwa nins just waiting for an excuse to break the Chuunin Exam truce. He had expected the brats to navigate the layers and secure a scroll within a couple of days but they were still inside more than four days later!
“Worried for your students?” Jiraiya forced his rage down to stare evenly at Yamashu Dotoshi, one of the stronger Iwa nins, one who survived the Yondaime Hokage due to his kekkai genkai that increased his skin and muscle density to almost rock like state.
“Not particularly Yamashu-san.” Jiraiya spoke airily. “Naruto always prefers taking the scenic route. I would be more concerned with cleaning up the mess he leaves behind. He is very fond of explosive tags and not so cautious in his use of them.”
As if on cue there was a boom and rumble. Then a portion of the mountainside iced over before falling outwards forming a large gap in the weatherworn surface about two stories up.
Jiraiya couldn’t resist the huge grin that split his face as his three students appeared in the hole. With the ease of much practice they jumped out, one after the other, and began running down the almost vertical surface before leaping out to land in crouches.
Their clothes were torn and filthy, some evidence of injury showed in bandages and blood stains but they were all grinning. Haku produced the scroll required to pass the Second Exam. Naruto waved his hand wildly showing off a gauntlet-like weapon made of bone and plate, almost clawlike.
“Hey Ero-Sensei! Look what I found!! Isn’t this sooo cool? It has some really nifty wind and earth attacks!”
The Iwa-nins hissed in dismay and anger.
“He has Tsume no Ookami!”
Naruto blinked innocently. “You mean this?” He waved the hand covered in the legendary weapon. “Are you sure? It didn’t have a label on it or anything and it doesn’t look like a wolf anything.”
By now the Godaime Tsuchikage, Nobunada Osho, had made his way to the front. He was a more patient and reasonable man than his predecessor, the one who instigated the Iwa-Konoha war. Nobunada Osho was more interested in stabilizing the situation before making any moves.
“Jiraiya. Your student managed to breach the Inner Sanctuary. The relics are kept there so unworthy hands cannot use them.”
Jiraiya batted his lashes. “It looks like someone has a different idea of what unworthy is if a Konoha ‘genin’ breached your Sanctuary.”
The Tsuchikage snorted and spoke in soft tones, not to be overheard. “Let’s not play games Jiraiya. You taught Namikaze Minato and now you are teaching his son. The boy will match if not exceed his father. And the team is extraordinary, an Uchiha and a Yukikano, all three raised by former ANBU elite Uchiha Itachi. Oh I heard of the mess. That boy has more balls than anyone I know taking on the Uchiha Clan Council and Elders in the open and cutting all ties like he did. Sarutobi must be getting old to have allowed the situation to deteriorate so badly.” Jiraiya stiffened, what did Iwa know of the Uchiha Fiasco? “But I’m not interested in the Uchihas. Tsume no Ookami is a treasure of Iwa. Your nins may try to steal it, but after the Chuunin Exams when the security is upped to its usual levels.”
Jiraiya nodded stiffly. “Naruto! Return the gauntlet to the Tsuchikage.”
“But ERO-SENSEI…!!!” The blonde genin wailed in acute protest.
“NO BUTS!” The Sannin snarled. “If you really want it beg the Hokage to give it to you as a mission! Or steal it on your personal time!” Then he snorted. “If Sarutobi-sensei is ever fool enough to agree or Itachi lax enough to permit it.”
Naruto sulked but pulled off the gauntlet and handed it to the Tsuchikage. Before he could move away the Kage caught him by the chin and studied him intently before nodding in satisfaction.
“You are truly His son.” Naruto was confused. The Tsuchikage noticed this. “Do you not know who your father is?”
Naruto shrugged. “Sure, he was the Yondaime.”
Osho was intrigued. “And you do not flaunt your lineage?”
“Why should I? Just cause he was good doesn’t mean I will be good.” Blue eyes were bright. “He isn’t alive, he can’t teach me anything. If I’m going to be good it will be because of ero-sensei and my family, because they train and teach me. And I’m going to be Great!”
Nobunada Osho laughed, a deep rumbling sound. “I’m sure you will.” Then he turned to the still watching, waiting audience. “In ten hours the Second Exam will be finished. The next day at nine the Third Exam will begin.”
...ooOoo...
Sarutobi Gohan, Sandaime Hokage stared incredulously as one of his most capable shinobi finished presenting a mission report that sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Usually genins and Academy students would not be present at such an in-depth debriefing but these were special circumstances. They were the ones who researched, planned, and pulled off this heist. Their sensei, his old student was here to defend his role in this unauthorized mission. Itachi was here since he was responsible for all of them, and presumably had knowledge of the situation.
Slowly he refilled his pipe to organize his thoughts before he began speaking, paraphrasing to be certain he got all the high points.
“You four came into some information that Iwas Western Shrine was the secret hiding place for a relic of power so you decided to steal it?!?”
Naruto scowled fiercely. “It isn’t just that Jii-jii. The Shikon belongs to the Higurashi Clan.”
Sarutobi sighed. “Naruto-kun, Itachi started the Higurashi Clan, it doesn’t have any family treasures.” Four young faces looked away. Jiraiya was smirking. Only Itachi was calm. “Itachi, you chose the name at random, didn’t you?”
Itachi shrugged. “It is the name of a trusted… friend. She is not affiliated with any Hidden Village. I chose Higurashi to honor her.” Itachi could see the Hokage was concerned about infiltration and conflicting loyalties so he decided to tip the scales. “I would have broken if it wasn’t for Kagome. I would have become a nukenin.” His tone was as stark as his words. “She has a way of soothing restless souls.” He smirked. “Even bijuus.”
Gaa’ra laughed and explained. “She can zap Shukaku and force him to be quiet.”
The Hokage looked at Naruto who shrugged. “I always feel better when she is around. Kyuubi knows better than to mess when Kagome is close. I get the feeling that he actually respects her.”
The Sandaime could feel the headache building. “Is it possible to meet this female for myself?”
Jiraiya stirred. “That is not necessary Sarutobi-sensei. I will vouch for Kagome if needed. She is not an enemy of Konoha.” He smiled sadly. “Besides, you won’t be able to see her.”
“What do you mean?”
Everyone looked to the side of the room. Sarutobi followed their line of sight but could see nothing.
“She is in the room with us.” Itachi spoke evenly. “She has been from the very beginning.” Seeing the concerned confusion the jounin expanded. “Kagome is a ghost, a spirit that has not moved to the next Realm. You don’t have to call Ibiki Sandaime-sama because I am not crazy.”
The Hokage tensed then almost melted as a warm soothing aura enveloped him, relaxing knotted muscles and melting away the headache. Then he stiffened and looked around. “What was that!?”
Haku grinned. “That was Kagome-chan. It is very hard for her to affect those who cannot See her so don’t ask for a repeat experience.”
The Sandaime blinked and forced his mind to factor in this new information.
“How long has she been in Konoha? Was she born here? I don’t recall hearing of a Higurashi Clan, even among the civilians.”
Naruto answered for the group. “She wasn’t born here. She was somehow drawn here when the Kyuubi attacked.” His eyes became shuttered. “She met the Yondaime and he asked her to keep an eye on me. She never left after she saw what happened.” He looked away and smiled more brightly. “I know Kaa-san, but it still sucks.” He looked the Sandaime in the eye. “She looked after me as far back as I can remember. She taught me how to read and write, to do research so I could teach myself. When I started in the Academy none of the instructors would bother teaching me so she looked for someone else to tutor me.”
Itachi stirred. “I met Kagome sometime after I became a jounin.” He smiled faintly. “She was very… persistent. Once I agreed to teach Naruto we got to know each other better.”
Bits of old reports from Ibiki flashed through his mind.
“The third party.” Sarutobi murmured. “You taught Naruto in the park. Both of you talked to an seen third party. Ibiki was concerned about your mental states.”
Itachi blinked then realized it was foolish to imagine his private tutoring sessions would never have been noticed. “Yes. Kagome was in the park with us most of the time when I trained Naruto-kun.” His expression hardened. “After Shishu the Uchiha Elders watched me. When they gave the order to Hunt Me I nearly broke.” His eyes were level. “If it wasn’t for Kagome I would have slaughtered the entire clan for their audacity. I would have taken Naruto and Sasuke and run. And I would not have regretted it one bit.”
The Sandaimes hand trembled. The intensity in the jounins voice told the Hokage he would have done just that. Silently he vowed to visit all the local shrines and make offerings. If Itachi had snapped and massacred the Uchiha clan five years ago… He did not want to even think of the repercussions.
“She gave you alternatives.” Sarutobi was not called The Professor for nothing. He was a genius at spotting patterns and extrapolation.
Itachi relaxed. “Hai. She helped me locate some interesting information. I attended the clan meeting and threw it all in the open. While they were scrambling I walked out.”
Something else clicked. “You’ve been taking many solo or partner espionage and delivery missions but you have rarely encountered opposition.”
Itachi shrugged. “Kagome scouts for me. She cannot go through papers or steal them but she can easily point out their hiding places. No one can detect her presence or stop her.” He tilted his head. “She asked me to tell you something. ‘Don’t you dare send the children on espionage missions thinking I will scout for them.’” One corner of his narrow mouth quirked. “I would do as she suggest Sandaime-sama. You might be Hokage but they are just Chuunins and genins. Besides, Kagome is the closest thing all of them have to a mother or big sister. She is an expert at laying guilt-trips. Imagine Umino-sans reaction to brand new genins getting an A-ranked mission one month after getting their hitaes.”
The Hokage winced and waved his hand. Everyone knew the Chuunin Academy instructor, Umino Iruka, was the mother-hen of mother-hens.
“Of course not. But now I know this I can use this when selecting some of the more delicate missions for you.” He looked at the others who had yet to speak. “And what about the rest of you?”
Sasuke stirred. “I didn’t know of Nee-san until I heard Naruto and Aniki talking about her. They said something about being ‘blinded by perception’ and it confused me a bit. After sometime I saw their point. One day I went home and found I could see her.” He gave a small smile in the direction of a bonsai tree set upon a window ledge.
“I’ve always seen Kagome-chan. She found me in the streets and asked if I was hungry. I thought she was leading me into a trap but she wasn’t. She took me to Itachis campsite and he gave me food. She insisted he take me to Konoha when his mission was finished.” Haku shrugged.
“She wasn’t scared of me.” There was wonder in Gaa’ras voice. “She knew of Shukaku but she wasn’t scared. She made Him scared and quiet. When she asked me if I wanted to leave Suna I said yes.”
Sarutobi turned to his old student who shrugged. “She snuck up on me while I was doing research.” He leered knowingly. “And she has great legs wearing that short skirt.” The Sannins face hit the floor.
Sarutobis pipe dropped from his open mouth and hit the floor. What the f**k?
Haku explained. “That was Kagome-chan. She can expand her aura and compress it to a certain extent. She always hammers Jiraiya-Sensei when he acts perverted towards her.”
The Sandaime shook his head. “Very well, using a classified intel source you determined the location of a particular relic. Realizing it was vulnerable during the Chuunin Exams you decided to participate and secure it.” The new Chuunins nodded. “Very well, this will classify as an A-ranked mission, to have successfully penetrate the heart of Iwas Western Shrine. What of the relic itself?”
The teens looked at Itachi who produced a small carved puzzle box. Slim agile fingers manipulated the sections until the box opened to reveal a pearlescent orb that glowed soft pink and silver, almost pulsing as it rested on a bed of gray silk. The Sandaime had to visibly struggle to control his hand. He was trembling when Itachi quickly snapped the box shut and randomly began shifting sections around.
“What is that!?!” The Hokage mopped at his sweaty forehead. The effect of that thing was several times greater than a class A genjutsu!
“That is the Shikon, the Jewel of Four Souls. As you so clearly sensed it is exudes Power. It draws those seeking More to it. Only those Pure of Heart and Intent can handle it.” Jiraiya explained softly.
“How did you hide it!?! Surely the Iwa-nins would have sensed it!”
“Jiraiya sensei taught me fuuin jutsus. Kagome showed me what to draw to mask its energy signature. It was sealed before we ever left the Shikon Chamber in the Shrine.” Naruto explained coolly.
“Naruto is one of the least affected followed by Haku.” Jiraiya explained. “They alternated carrying that Thing all the way from Iwa. Its power kept eating through the paper seals so we had to embroider the seals onto a silk pouch until we could have a proper casket made.”
Itachi quickly reopened the box and took out the Shikon, almost playing with it like a marble. “You are not entirely accurate Jiraiya-sama. The Shikon stirs your True Hearts Desire.” He smiled at Naruto and Haku. “Both of them have what is their hearts desire, family and friends, so they are not as badly affected. Sasuke and Gaa’ra still yearn for their hearts desire so they are more likely to slip. So are you and Sandaime-sama.”
“And what of you Itachi? Will you never slip?” The Hokage challenged the younger shinobi.
The young man rolled the orb in slender fingers, studying the play of light and colors. “I know my hearts desire. I might want more but I am definitely happy with what I have. If I slip I will definitely lose what I have.”
The Sandaime glanced at the jounin so casually playing with something that had almost hypnotized him, a shinobi with decades of battle-field and political experience…
“I don’t suppose you are willing to let that thing be locked in the Hokage Vault with the other scrolls and treasures.”
“NO!” Naruto snarled. “We searched for it and got it out of Iwa. It belongs to Kagome! To US!”
“Besides I cannot think of one person in the Council who can resist its draw.” Itachi murmured coolly. “Even you nearly gave into it. It will be safer in our hands. If something goes wrong we will need Kagomes advice on containing it. And all the members of our household can communicate with her.” Black unflinching eyes met the aged ones of the Hokage. “The Shikon will remain in Higurashi hands, under my care.”
The Hokage struggled with the Professor. Both wanted access to the relic but both knew better than to mess with power that could influence his mental faculties and judgment. Sarutobi was old and he knew he wanted to live out the rest of his days in relative peace, not under constant mental assault. He was not a young man anymore.
“Agreed. The Shikon will remain in Higurashi hands as a Clan Relic. All material in regards to it will be classified as Clan Matters -- History, Techniques, and Artifacts under a Double-S-seal.”
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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