You Can Reclaim Your Crown

Summary: No one paid her much attention, Naruto's landlady, this woman who paid visits to the Uchiha compound with baskets of bread and fruit for the little Uchiha survivor. The woman who sat down to dinner with the Nine Tails Jinchuriki...who had befriended the silent Itachi, the impassive Kakashi...and had enraptured the hearts of Kushina and Minato...no one paid her any attention, until she's forced to act as a Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village once again.

Pairing: Kagome/?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Naruto

Genre: Romance/Spiritual/Adventure

Rated: M

-x-x-x-

Minato found me...he had found me when I was at my most vulnerable. I was broken, and hollowed from war. My clothes were tattered with wear and bloodshed...the Shikon was even drenched in blood from the battle I'd only recently fought in. I hadn't lost many people...and I was thankful for that, but...I had lost Inuyasha...and that had hurt me deeply. Naraku truly knew where to cut to cause the most pain. I blanked after that, and when I came to, I was informed by Miroku and Sango that I had somehow purified Naraku out of rage and heartbreak. Too bad I couldn't have done that before I'd lost Inuyasha.

I had said my farewells to my remaining friends in the feudal era, there were tears and hugs, and while I wanted to stay...really I did...I couldn't. I could feel a pull at my soul, something strange, and foreign. Something unknown to me...the jewel had glowed vibrantly and shrouded me in its light. Then...I was gone from the Feudal Era. I was so tired...I couldn't bear to think any longer, and sleep sounded too wonderful to me. I let it take me.

"Hey?!"

I first heard his voice break through my dreams of broken bodies and carnage, choosing to ignore it in favor of the terror filled dream that warmed my body and healed my energy reserves.

"This is no place to be sleeping! Wake up!"

Where was I sleeping? I only wondered vaguely of my location, finally opening my eyes, I found myself lying in a grassy clearing in what appeared to be a forest. Above me? A man stood dressed in what looked like a ninja cosplay costume, and a mask that was worn by ANBU ranked Nin back in the eighteen hundreds. Where was I? No...When was I? I was surely still in Japan, even when I fell back in time, I stayed in Japan, so surely I was just in a different time, right? Wrong...I wasn't in Japan, and the time didn't matter since I wasn't in a world where history could be changed by choices I made or didn't make. Thinking back to how I met him...he really did save me...

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

"Can you hear me, or are you maybe deaf?"

"...I'm deaf..." Kagome sat up and glanced around, not paying too much attention to the man behind her, turning her eyes onto her clothes, she cringed at the blood crusted over the fabric of her skirt and shirt. The smell was heavy and caused her to shudder a bit. "Perhaps this is too forward, but...is there somewhere I can clean myself?"

A chuckle from behind got her to finally turn around and pay attention to the man who had found her. All she could make out was blonde hair, the rest of his face was hidden by the mask he wore.

The mask...her eyes were drawn to the shape and paint on it. "...a fox..."

"Haha, yeah...for now, you can call me Ki, please follow me, and I will take you to the Hokage."

"The what? Does a Hokage have a shower?"

More laughs came from behind the mask, though, they sounded almost like he was trying to stifle them. "You aren't from around here, are you?"

"I don't think so...what did I say that was so funny?" Kagome stood and started walking after the man in the mask.

"Well, the Hokage is the leader of the Hidden Village in the Leaves."

"Do you guys live in trees? Like, a tree-house or something, a village of tree-houses!"

"No, not quite what I meant." He paused, "where are you from, exactly?"

"...Japan..."

"Hm...never heard of it."

"...never? Not even, in a book or something?"

"Nope, and I read a lot."

Kagome sighed, 'So, I'm not in Japan...' Closing her eyes, she rubbed the place between her eyes, "Mind if I ask you something that might sound a bit...odd?"

"Go ahead."

"...where am I?" She watched the man in the mask 'Ki' tilt his head a bit at the question.

"You are in the Land of Fire...near Konohagakura, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Konoha. Is any of this sounding familiar to you?"

"Does Tokyo sound familiar to you? Kyoto, perhaps? Maybe the Higurashi Shrine?" Kagome laughed out loud at the lack of luck she seemed to have.

"...no, I'm afraid I haven't."

"I didn't think so..."

"Look, you can worry more once we get back to the village. It's getting dark, and I'd like to make it back home soon." Ki glanced up at the darkening sky, "it also looks as if it's going to rain soon...so we should move quickly."

"I understand..."

"You can clean yourself up while I talk to the Hokage, so you don't look too suspicious...I'm not sure what happened to you, but you are drenched in blood...it's kind of mistrustful..."

Kagome nodded as she eyed her clothes. "War does leave stains behind...thankfully, most of them can be washed off, but the ones that matter most...take longer to clear away."

"So it was war...you aren't injured though?"

"No," she shook her head, relaxing almost entirely with the man as they walked through the forest at a semi-quickened pace. "I was protected, and the one time I almost got hurt...the person I cared most for, gave his life to keep me alive. Because of that, my hidden strength was activated, and I destroyed the enemy, but by then it was too late. My first crush and best friend...was already dead."

Silence fell over the two as the man listened closely to her. Kagome was sure he was simply gathering information, but what did it matter to her. Her tale was already hard enough to believe, if she said the truth or not, he probably would think it made up for the most part, if that happened, she'd be thought crazy, maybe put in a place where she'd be left alone...being alone didn't sound so bad right now. She was tired of thinking. Everything always went back to 'them'.

Arriving in a village a good thirty minutes later, and he guided her to what looked like an apartment. "Kakashi!"

To her surprise, a boy came out. He looked to be no older than eleven or twelve.

"Sensei..."

"Think you could run and find Kushina for me, and then, if possible, could this girl possibly borrow your shower?"

Kagome couldn't believe her ears, this grown man was asking a little boy to lend his shower to her?! Seriously!? "W-Wait! That isn't necessary!"

"It's fine...this way."

Looking over her shoulder, she turned quickly back to argue with the masked man, but he was already gone. "...what?"

"Hurry up,"

Jumping at the annoyance thick in the little boys' voice, she ran after him and followed him to the shower.

"I'll get you some clothes and leave them outside the door." He said it with simple conviction before disappearing from her sight.

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

I met so many interesting people that day...Kakashi and Minato were only two, I also met Kushina...she was strong, and beautiful...and wonderful.

She and Minato...together, they were what any couple only wished to have, and preserve. I wanted it as much as the next person. That love...it was pure and innocent, and the both of them were aware of it from the moment it reached out to them.

"Were you ever in love?"

I can't help but think about Inuyasha, it wasn't the same type of love though. I did love him, so very much...but not in the same way she loved Minato. No...it was more in the way she loved her. She had been like a sister to Kagome...like a mother to Kakashi...and a devoted wife to Minato. She would have been a beloved mother to Naruto.

-x-x-x

(Flashback)

"She looks horrible!"

'Famous first words' Kagome laughed under her breath as the woman in front of her circled her like a vulture. Her eyes roving over the injuries that were covering her. Kagome also looked over her arms, which, really, that was all she could see. The rest of her body was covered with the pants that were far too long for her, and had to be rolled up four times to come above her feet and not dragged on the ground or beneath her feet. The shirt was also entirely too large, but it was a plain black t-shirt, so it didn't really bother her. So, besides her arms, her face was scratched up a bit, she could feel as much, but nothing that would scar up. And her stomach and legs had a couple scratches, many bruises and maybe one gash from a claw or two. She no longer could remember.

Turning to look at the woman in front of her, she had long vibrant red hair and gorgeous grayish blue eyes. Her complexion was pale, but nothing sickly...she was beautiful...and from the looks of it, she wasn't that much older than herself. That, or she just looked really young.

"Absolutely horrible...these clothes are swallowing her up!"

'Wait...she was talking about the clothes?!' Her eyes must have shown her surprise, because the woman gave a gentle smile and took her hand in hers.

"Don't be too nervous, I'll get you take care of. Your injuries are all minor...your clothes on the other hand...they're basically falling off of you."

"...yeah, I guess so..." Kagome lifted the pants a bit, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Um...who are you?"

"Oh! I'm sorry, my name is Kushina! Kushina Uzumaki! Minato sent me over to check on you after meeting up with the Third."

"The third...what?"

Kakashi who had been quiet since Kushina's arrival at his house, turned his eyes onto Kagome and raised a brow. "Are you kidding?"

"I fail to see how...she said he was meeting up with the third...the third what...and who is Minato?"

Kushina looked completely confused, but shook it off and answered the questions, "the Third Hokage, and Minato is the ANBU who found you out in the forest. Now, mind you...under normal circumstances, he wouldn't let you know his real name or what he looked like beneath his mask, but since he will be in charge of you during your stay in Konoha, it's moot point to keep quiet about it. You look confused still..."

Kagome smiled and shook her head, "I'll be fine, really. I'm...a quick study."

"That's good...we can start studying up on fashion and get you something a bit more...fitted." Kushina laughed, pulling Kagome out of the house. Leaving Kakashi to chase after them as they made to find Kagome something else to where.

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

When did I fall in love with them? I wonder...their personalities were infections. Kushina was so spirited, determined...energetic...she was a strong-minded woman, in all of her beauty...that was the most attractive thing about her. Minato wasn't quite as energetic as she was, he was more laid back and relaxed, but just as determined to succeed. He was a leader, to his team...he was looked up to, and sought after for his advice and knowledge on Jutsu. He had taken time to teach me when he wasn't with his team...and Kakashi had even taken to joining them. Kushina made all of them lunches and the four of them would eat outside together, basking in each other's company before settling back into their training. Everything was wonderful...it was peaceful and great.

When Kushina and Minato were married, everyone celebrated well into the night, and a few stayed until the first hours of the next morning. It was a blessed day...followed three months later by another wonderful blessing.

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

Kagome glanced up from where she was sitting on the front step of the building she was placed in charge of as the property-owner, even if she didn't own the property, she was responsible for the building and overseeing the residents. Kushina ran towards her with a large smile on her face, her eyes lit up with a joyous sparkle. "Kushina, what are you so excited for?"

Grinning madly, Kushina brought both her hands to her abdomen and Kagome's eyes followed those hands. Her eyes widening in understanding. She smiled and stood up, taking Kushina's hands in hers, she laughed happily as she brought the older woman in for a hug. "I'm so happy for you! Have you told Minato yet?"

Kushina blushed, "I just found out myself, and I would have told him first...only..."

"Only?"

"Minato is in a meeting with the council elders." Kushina muttered sullenly.

"Oh...well, that's no good. Why don't we go get Minato a present then...and he can find out that way."

Kushina thought about the idea and smiled, nodding her head vigorously. "I like that idea! Like, baby socks and things like that? Socks seem a bit boring though..."

"I have a different idea...let's go to the pottery maker down the way."

-x-x-x-

Kagome and Kushina walked around the shop a bit, finding what they were looking for, Kushina started to get excited when Kagome explained her thought to her. Even going as far as to add final touches to the idea. "Thank you so much!" Kushina hugged Kagome as they left the building, the gift for Minato held gently in her hands.

"Let's go see if he's done with that meeting."

Kushina nodded, "Oh! Wait, can we get Kakashi too?"

Kagome blinked once, twice, and then smiled and pointed. "Kakashi is over there watching us. He started following us about ten minutes ago, I guess he's still suspicious of me?"

Kushina smiled, "Not suspicious, no. More like...curious. You came from out of nowhere, with no knowledge of ninja, or the fire country and its surrounding countries. You are an enigma to him."

"I see..." Kagome smiled, turning to the tree where Kakashi couldn't be seen. He was well hidden, the only reason she knew he was there, was because of her ability to sense auras...or, as she learned a while back, 'chakras'. She was still figuring everything out, but she was moving faster and was growing stronger. She was learning things at an alarming pace for someone who knew nothing. Minato had helped her figure out her chakra and learn to harness it, learning that her chakra was associated with the Wind Element...just like his. She was surprised by the things she could do, she'd never known how to make copies of herself, clones and such were a strange conception to her. However, she still managed to follow along with the teachings of Minato...she was a good student, he had said so and she believed him. She had grown very fond of Minato and Kushina, she looked up to them, they were all that she wished to be...and she only hoped to be able to make them proud.

Having only been with them for two years now, she knew she'd not had much time with them, but she'd only been with her friends in the past for a little less than a year and had loved them all dearly. Kagome sighed, shaking her head and pulling her thoughts out of the clouds, she called out to Kakashi. "We're going to see Minato, Kakashi, come with us!"

The boy was none too pleased to have been found out by Kagome, and she could see it clearly in his eyes as he landed on the ground before her.

"Why are you always stalking me, Kakashi? Don't you have a team to terrorize?" She said jokingly, watching his eyes, the only visible feature on his face, he rolled his eyes and turned away, crossing his arms as he did. "Where is that girl, Rin...what about Obito? Why not play with them? Surely that would be more fun than following me every day, right?"

"You are implying that I would waste my time goofing off, rather than honing my skills. Unlike you, I train as a shinobi of the hidden leaf village. I don't have time to play games with children."

"...hm...could have fooled me." Kagome scoffed, "how old are you, Kakashi?"

"...thirteen."

"I see, yes...you are right...no time to be playing around with 'children', after all, you're a fully grown adult." Kagome rolled her eyes and started to walk off towards the Hokage's tower, Kushina was next to her on her right and Kakashi followed closely to her left. "You'll grow up quickly, Kakashi...once it's gone...you'll miss it, and you'll regret all the chances you turned away to spend time with your friends."

"They aren't my friends...they are my teammates, there is a difference."

Kagome stopped walking and looked back at Kakashi, "...no, there really isn't."

Kushina broke the conversation up and stepped between the two of them. "Come on you two, let's go see if Minato is done with his meeting."

-x-x-x-

Kushina peeked inside the office and smiled at the sight of the sleepy looking Minato. "Where is the Third Hokage?"

Minato looked up and smiled, noting Kagome and Kakashi behind Kushina, he motioned for the three of them to come in. "He stayed behind to talk with the Elders. He asked if I could finish up the paperwork and then I could go home once I was done. Thankfully, he doesn't stockpile his paperwork, so there really isn't much left to do."

Kushina smiled and nodded her head in understanding, "we brought you some tea...do you have time for a little break."

"For my lovely wife and favorite students? Always..."

Kagome laughed, "Don't let Obito and Rin hear you saying that."

"...mm...They won't be too happy with me in a couple of days,"

"Why is that?"

Minato gave a pointed look to Kakashi as he took the cup from Kushina and took a small sip from the ceramic cup. "Kakashi is being promoted to Jounin...he's taking over team Minato..."

Kagome frowned, "that's no good, now he really will get a big head."

Minato chuckled, taking another drink of the tea, his eyes noted something in his cup and he stared down in the cup. Not able to make out what was at the bottom, he threw his head back and finished the cup in one big gulp before wincing at the hard swallow. "Ah...! That hurt..." he opened his eyes and peered back down in the cup, his eyes following the words before they widened and he stood up so suddenly he bumped the desk and caused the small stack of paperwork to fall forward. He didn't seem to care though, moving quickly to Kushina's side, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Really!?"

Kushina laughed, "really."

Kakashi picked up the forgotten cup curiously, lifting it, he peered inside and his own eyes widened. The words at the bottom of the cup read as such:

You're Going

To Be

A

Daddy!

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

I can think of so many wonderful memories, so many wonderful moments...but they weren't all happy...they weren't all joyous.

When Kakashi lost Obito during his first mission as team leader...it tore him up. He became withdrawn...his eye was covered from then on to hide the eye that had been gifted to him by his friend, and to hide the shame that the eye, to him, represented. He had failed his friend, he had lost him because he chose to follow the mission, and not his friend...a lesson he'd learned, and a mistake wouldn't foolishly make again. However...when he lost Rin...when he killed her...he broke down far longer than he'd done with Obito. He was alone now...or so he thought. He still had me, and he still had Kushina and Minato, but it's so hard to see what you have, when you've lost so much.

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

Kakashi glanced behind him at the sound of footsteps growing close to him. His eye widened at the sight of Kagome walking over to him. He had requested time away from missions, and figured he'd be left alone for some time...clearly not. "What do you want?"

"...nothing...thought I'd come and check on the stars."

He raised a brow at the comment. "Check on the stars?"

Kagome shrugged, "the stars...they are always there, but sometimes, we forget all about them. I like to check up on them, and make sure their still shining strong. I always wonder if it's okay to put hopes and dreams on such small things, stars...are small...and so far away...but I bet despite their size and despite their distance, they are still more than capable of brightening up a person's life, even if only for a little while. Sometimes, we only need them for a few moments, but the best part about stars...they will always be there when you need them."

"Except during the day..." Kakashi muttered.

Kagome laughed, "Kakashi...really now...the brightest and biggest star shines during the day. It's always there, even at night...it helps to light up the sky."

"What are you talking about?"

"The sun is also a star...and at night, the sun's light reflects on the surface of the moon, and lights up the night's sky. You aren't alone, Kakashi...you will never be alone...let your heart heal. It's not your fault, the things that happened...they were out of your control."

"You're wrong. You say that because you don't understand."

"...I do..." Kagome stared up at the moon, it was a new moon, a very familiar moon. "I know very well...what pain you feel. I've felt it myself. I was the cause of death of someone who was like a brother to me. He protected me, and so easily did I kill the monster that took him from me...but my abilities shined brightest only after I lost someone precious to me. I wondered why I couldn't be stronger. If I had been stronger, or better trained, maybe I could have killed him before he took Inuyasha from me...maybe he'd still be alive, then I wouldn't be here...I wouldn't be so lonely!"

Kakashi looked shaken at her tears and painful words, getting onto his knees, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "you aren't alone!"

Kagome smiled, nodding her head, she laughed through her pain and tears, "yeah...I know that. I have Minato...and Kushina...and I still have you, Kakashi. That's a double edged blade though, that means you still have me...and you have Minato and Kushina as well."

Kakashi's hand fell away from her should and he looked uncertainly at his hands.

Kagome brought her own hands to lay atop his. "Think of when they have their child, you'll have that baby to watch over too, and I'll be there to help out! We are all family, and I promise you this...I won't let you go through this painful life on your own. You will lose more people, I'm sure...but you can turn that hurt into love, and cherish their memories as such. Grow stronger, learn from your memories, and teach their lessons to your students! I know it doesn't sound like much right now...but, this is a promise made beneath the stars, those will always be there to watch over you Kakashi...I'm making this promise so that you know I too will always be there for you."

Kakashi let his head fall to her shoulder and finally...after holding back all of his feelings, he cried. He cried until there were no more tears left to be shed...until his eyes were red and sore. Until he'd passed out from exhaustion, his head laying in Kagome's lap, her fingers running through his hair.

"I promise, Kakashi...I won't ever leave your side..."

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

Where is the justice...that he was meant to lose so many people...so many lives would be lost...

A few months later, Kushina...and Minato...followed in the attack of the Nine Tails. I was once again...forced to watch...my friends die.

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

Kagome smiled down at the happy family, Minato and Kushina were looking down at the sleeping infant in Kushina's arms. Kakashi was staring wondrously down at the baby, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"He's beautiful, looks just like Minato...I bet he'll turn out like Kushina though." Kagome laughed.

"Amazing..." Minato shook his head, his eyes not leaving his sons face. "Naruto...Naruto Uzumaki..."

"Hmn?" Kushina looked curiously up at her husband, "Why not Namikaze?"

"I don't want him to be in danger...I'm the Fourth Hokage...I don't want my son to grow up always looking over his shoulder, always in danger of assassination...no. Should he choose to take my name later on, that's fine, but until then...he will be, Naruto Uzumaki."

Smiling, Kushina nodded and turned her face into Minato's chest.

Kagome placed her hand on Kakashi's shoulder and pulled him a bit, "let's leave them be for now."

Kakashi nodded and followed Kagome out of the hospital room. They didn't make it too far. The next thing they knew, there was a massive explosion of rubble and cobblestone. The building around them gave way and they were both forced to move quickly to the nearest window or exit.

"Kushina! Minato!" Kagome yelled out, looking back at the hospital in horror.

"Look!" Kakashi pointed to a flash of yellow. "Let's go!"

"No, look!" Kagome pointed towards the park where children were gathered. "We need to get the women and children out of the village...Kakashi...what is that? Is that..." Kagome shook her head, Kakashi's eye moved to where she was looking and widened in shock. "...that's a demon fox!" Kagome pulled on her purification chakra, not quite the same thing as what she'd had in the Feudal Era, but still purifying all the same. She formed an arrow with her chakra and a bow formed in her other hand. Notching it, she readied herself for her attack, her eyes noting all of the tails and a painful realization that her purification would cause it injury, but not kill it or repress it. "Damn..." she shook her head and fired the arrow at the demon fox, but it only managed to singe the demon and piss it off more. "Kakashi, get the kids and women, then help with the elderly! GO!"

Kakashi was quick to listen, and Kagome ran towards the demon fox, quickly joined by Minato who lifter her into his arms and moved quicker towards the angered beast.

"What was that attack?"

"...a purification arrow...I used to use them to purify demons back...back where I was from before."

"I see, can you make it stronger?"

"...I...I can try, but I need time."

Minato nodded, "I can give you that!"

Kagome pointed, "Take me to the Hokage's Monument, I'll take my shot from there, where I will be able to see the demon no matter where it goes."

"Understood!"

-x-x-x-

'No...' she could see from the distance, the chakra that Minato was running short on, his battle with the Nine Tails was pushing him to his limits.

"MINATO!"

The cry was Kushina's, Kagome was shocked at the speed that Minato was still able to run with. The demon made to pursue him, but Kagome fired her arrow, hitting it directly in the chest and causing an ear-piercing cry of pain to echo throughout the village. "Not so fast, Demon!"

"Miko~!" It growled out menacingly, "I will feast on your dead carcass for your insolence!"

"Yeah, you can try that, but I'm not an easy kill! SO COME AND GET ME!" Kagome jumped off the mountain and started running with chakra infused in her feet, her hair whipping wildly around her as she pushed herself to her own limits. "If I can do something to protect this village and these people, than I won't stop until I've done EVERYTHING IN MY POWER!" Another arrow shot out towards the demon which jumped out of the way, though a tail still managing to get struck by the energy surrounding the purification arrow. The beast bared its fangs in its rage, no longer throwing threats, simply growling its rage out at the woman before him.

Kagome let her eyes wander to Minato and Kushina, bringing her hands together to create a clone. A poof sounded and her clone was running next to her. "Go to Kushina and Minato!"

"Right!"

-x-x-x-

Arriving in time to see Minato land with Kushina in a clearing surrounded by trees.

"Kushina! Minato, Kushina! Are you both okay!?"

Minato glanced over his shoulders and nodded towards Kagome, "Huf...huf...I'm fine...Kushina was attacked by a masked man..." he turned his eyes back to Kushina. "Are you okay...?"

"Minato..."

"Somehow I managed to get this far...But...I don't have much chakra left..."

Kagome's clone looked back over her shoulder, the eyes of the demon fox running over the lands until they rested and narrowed on the three of them. Kagome was doing all that she could to distract the fox demon, but he was determined to wipe-out the fourth Hokage. "Minato..."

"Yes...I know, Kagome."

Kagome looked sadly towards Kushina who held her son with worry.

"...I'll stop him...one way or another...There are things I must protect...precious...things...And as long as I have that...I swear...I'll Never Give Up!"

"Wait! I can still...do it!" Kushina turned around and gold chains appeared from her back. The chains wrapped around the Nine Tails and chained the beast down.

"UHG~! You little!"

"KUSHINA!"

Kushina huffed tiredly, "I'll take...the Nine Tails with me...to my death...so that...the intervals until he...emerges again...is delayed."

Minato kneeled down before Kushina, his eyes worried as he took her appearance in, her frail and shaking form. This woman he'd grown so close to, and had fell in love with, formed a family with...had a son with... The son who lay sleeping in her arms, unaware of the danger around him.

"It's all I can manage right now...with my remaining chakra...to help...you two..." she groaned in pain, "...thank you...for everything...up till now..."

"...!" Minato looked helplessly at Kushina, bringing his hands up to her shoulders, he grabbed her firmly. "Kushina...you're the one...who made me the Fourth Hokage...who made me a man." He pulled her in for a hug, "And made me this child's father...! And yet I'm useless."

Kagome felt tears forming in her eyes, watching with pain as she played witness to the most heartbreaking moment she'd ever been faced with.

"Minato...don't look so sad. I...I'm happy...I'm...loved by you. Plus...Today is the child's birthday, so..." Kushina looked lovingly down at Naruto. "Most of all...if I were to imagine me alive...and our future together as a family of three...then...I can't see us...being anything but happy..." Kushina looked up into Minato's eyes and watched tears spill from his blue eyes. "But...if I were allowed...just one regret...I wish I could have seen Naruto...grow up..."

Minato brought a hand to his eyes and slowly stood.

"Kushina...there's no need for you to die to kill the Nine Tails. Preserve what little of your chakra remains for your reunion with Naruto."

"Huh...?"

"I'm going to seal the rest of your chakra inside Naruto. It'll be part of an Eight Signed Sealing." Minato walked forward towards Kagome, although his eyes never left the chained beast. "And then I'll take the Nine Tails with me...with the sealing Jutsu I can do, not being a Jinchuriki...Reaper Death Seal!"

Kagome shook her head, she didn't know what the Jutsu Minato spoke of was, but she'd heard many attack names, and by the sounds of it, she knew it was probably going to be bad. Looking to the shocked eyes of Kushina, she watched her heave tiredly.

"But...that Jutsu...results in the caster's death...!"

Minato interrupted her, though not facing her still, as he spoke. "One more thing. I'm only going to seal away half of the Nine Tails. Partly because it's physically impossible to seal away so much power...but also because it's not strategically wise. If the Nine Tails is lost along with you...there will be no Jinchuriki until he reemerges, upsetting the balance."

Kagome stepped forward and faced the demon fox as if pulled the chains around its body, trying to get closer to Minato and Kushina. Its eyes enraged, crazed and deadly.

"With the Reaper Death Seal, we can at least seal away half of the Nine Tails forever."

Kushina looked at Minato, eyes watering as she listened to his words.

"And the other half..."

Kagome glanced over her shoulder and gazed at Minato who had gone silent, as if remembering something, his eyes were closed. She watched him open his eyes and turn to look back at Kushina and his son, then, a quick breath, he spoke.

"...I'm going to seal inside Naruto. Using the Eight Signed Sealing!"

"...ah!?"

"I know what you're going to say...but remember what Master Jiraiya said about world upheaval and the calamities that will accompany that...There are two things that I've become convinced of today." Minato kneeled down and looked Kushina in the eyes. "That masked man who attacked you...he will bring catastrophe to this world! And this child...will stop him. He will open up the future as a Jinchuriki. I don't know how, but I'm sure of it!"

"But...Minato..."

Kagome felt tears on her cheeks, bringing her fingers up to trace the line to her eyes, she closed her eyes and quickly diverted them back to the Nine Tails.

Minato stood and walked away from Kushina and Kagome, stopping a few feet away before bringing his hands together, "Let's believe in him!" he moved his hands through a series of hand signs. "After all...he is our son!"

~POOF~

-x-x-x-

Kagome had tried to move out of the way of a clawed hand, but couldn't get far enough away from the claws and ended up get knocked backwards into a large tree, her body meeting and crashing through the trunk of the tree behind her and slammed into a boulder just past it. "...a-ah..." Kagome could barely breathe, her chest hurt too much. Holding on for as long as she could to her clone, she had watched the chains wrap around the Demon Fox, and while she wasn't sure who had done it, she knew it must have been Minato or Kushina. As time passed, her chakra grew faint and her eyes grew heavy. She felt that her clone had just vanished in the moment she'd been attacked by the Demon Fox. Words rushed through her body, Minato's voice was in her head. Kagome felt tears forming in her eyes as she smiled weakly.

'I...I can't stay awake...any longer. Minato, Kushina...please, be okay. Your son needs you...Kakashi needs you...I need you...'

"Kagome!"

Kagome felt the ground shake, her body was numb.

"KAGOME!"

Turning slowly to see who was calling out her name, she saw the figure of Kakashi running towards her. "...h-hey..."

"Kagome! You're going to be okay, but I need to get you to the hospital!"

"N-no...Ka-Kakashi...take me...to Kushina and M-Minato. They...I have to see them...one last time..."

"What are you talking about!? You aren't dying!" Kakashi yelled out angrily.

"N-not me...them...f-for their...son..." tears spilled once more from her eyes, mingling with blood splattered across her cheek and falling onto her hands. "...for...N-Naru-to..."

Kakashi looked dazed, overcome with anguish at what she'd just said. Lifting her body in his arms, he carefully held her against his chest before making his way towards the Nine Tails. Their arrival...was too late...

-x-x-x-

Tears fell from Kagome's eyes as she felt Kakashi's grip tighten slightly on her. Looking at the sight, she could guess what happened. The Nine Tails had tried desperately to kill Naruto, and Minato and Kushina had moved simultaneously in front of the outstretched claw in order to stop it from reaching their son. Both impaled by the extended razor sharp claw, Kagome felt her heart break.

"I said I was his father...dying for him is my right!"

"...I'm his mother...it's my right too...fine...this is the first time...I've lost an argument against you...it proves how serious you are..."

"...thanks Kushina..."

Kagome struggled to move out of Kakashi's arms, but he wouldn't let her go. He couldn't...he knew the situation...the seriousness of it all. The Hokage...was sacrificing himself...and Kushina was clearly doing the same.

"Kagome, there is nothing for us to do. We can only watch...as they protect their precious people..."

"But...!"

"Kagome!" Kushina yelled out for Kagome, grunting out in pain.

Kagome was carried over to the pair by Kakashi who sat her down. Although Kagome was truly injured, she still pushed herself nearer to the couple. "Kushina, Minato..."

"I'm sorry to ask this of you...but please, watch over...Naruto for us...please?" Kushina cried in pain and heartache.

Kagome shook her head, "no, let me heal you! I can heal you and you can care for him yourself!"

"This...isn't something you can heal...Kagome. The sealing will take our lives, if the blood loss doesn't." Minato smiled, reaching out a hand, he gently placed it on Kakashi's shoulder who was standing close to his sensei. "Take care of them both, Kakashi..." he brought a hand to Kushina's back and his hand glowed blue with chakra, his and Kushina's. "Okay...that should...do it...Kushina...I'm launching...the Eight Signed Sealing now...we won't see him for a while...So let's tell Naruto...what we want to say to him..."

Kagome looked towards the blonde haired infant that lay sleeping in the small makeshift bed on the sealing circle.

"...huf...huf..." Kushina tried to control her breathing, sweat on her brow fell down her face from the strain of her condition. "Naruto...Don't be a picky eater...eat a lot...and grow big and strong. Make sure to bathe every day... and stay warm... Don't stay up late... Get plenty of sleep. Plus... make friends. You don't need tons...okay...? Just a few... that you can really trust... And... Your mom was bad at this...but study hard...and learn your Ninjutsu...! Just... Everyone... is good at some things...and not so good at others. So even if...things don't go well...don't get depressed, okay...? At the Academy, respect...your teachers and those senior to you... Oh... and regarding the Three Prohibitions... be extra careful about loaning and borrowing money... Make sure you save money... from your mission pay... And... don't start drinking until you're twenty-one... Too much drinking is bad for your body... so... drink in moderation... And... the most problematic... Girls... I'm a girl so I don't really know much about this... But... at some point... you'll notice girls... And that's normal... Just be careful... Don't fall for the first girl that comes your way... Find someone...like me. Plus...speaking of the Three Prohibitions... Be wary of... Master Jiraiya, ya know...huf...huf..."

Kagome and Kakashi watched sadly as Kushina struggled to continue, Kagome was doing everything she could not to start crying again, realizing that she couldn't do so...not when these two were giving the ultimate sacrifices for their village and their son. They didn't need to see her cry...no, she'd wait a little longer...for them, she could do that much.

"Naruto...there'll be plenty of hard...and painful...time ahead...but you won't be alone...Kagome...and Kakashi...I'm sure that they will be there for you...along the way. Be good...to them...and treat them with respect...because...they are also...your family..." tears spilled out from Kushina's eyes as she closed them tightly, "Naruto... Take care of yourself... Make sure to have dreams... And the confidence...to make those dreams...come true...!"

Minato brought his hand forward towards Kushina's and laced his fingers with hers, blood dripping from their hands to the grass below.

"So much...! There's so...so...much...! There really... There really is... so much more I want...I want to tell you...I want to be with you longer...! I love you."

"..." Minato's eyes were closed, his own tears stopped at the corner of his eyes as he forced himself to keep them at bay.

"I'm sorry...Minato...I talked too much..."

"No...It's all right..." he finally opened his eyes, blue eyes worn out and tired from the ongoing chakra drain.

Kagome could see it now, his paling skin, the bags beneath his eyes, the swat running down the side of his face...he was fading...'Minato...Kushina...'

"...Naruto...My words to you as your father... Is ditto to what your loquacious mother said..." Minato closed his eyes, and whispered, "Eight Signed Sealing..."

Kagome watched as the Nine Tails dispersed into chakra and was fed into the small abdomen of the infant boy in front of them. The red chakra doing away with the boys' blanket, burning it in its ferocity until it was all gone. A spiral forming with a seal around his belly button, and an ear piercing cry echoed all around the forest.

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

So desperately, I wanted life to go back to normal, with Minato and Kushina taking me to one place or another, to yell at Kakashi for always following me around like he thought I would steal something...but to no avail...nothing returned to normal...not for a long time. Though, things did become...complacent...for a while, there was peace.

We begin this story...Five years after the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself for the sake of the village and his son. Five years after the loss of Kushina Uzumaki...mother of Naruto Uzumaki...wife of Minato Namikaze, the Forth Hokage. Five years after the Nine Tails was sealed inside Naruto...and the village turned against him in fear and distrust.

...Five Years...

-x-x-x-

Me: So, this chapter will be the ONLY chapter this long. I couldn't break it up since it was literally a super long flashback filled chapter, and while I never write chapters quite this long...I did this time, mainly because my fingers couldn't seem to...stop...-.-...anyways, tell me what you think and I'll go write the next chapter for The Change. LOVE YOU ALL!