Work Text:
Hound isn’t having a good night. He had just arrived from a mission not even 30 minutes ago and he had been tasked with babysitting duty after his mission report. Hound doesn’t mind that the brat is the Kyuubi jinchuriki. No, he’s annoyed at the matter that the brat is roaming the streets of Konoha late at night during the Kyuubi celebration. The streets of Konoha are dangerous at this exact time, drunk civilians roaming as the celebration roars into the late night. So to see the four-year-old vessel of the Kyuubi is enough to send the masked figure into a frenzy.
So hound does his job, and watches over the little jinchuriki. He watches as the boy is shoved by shop tenders, even tossed out of restaurants like a rag-doll. His anbu training is the only thing restraining him back from snapping civilians' necks. He watches as the little blond's lips tremble, and he’s able to quickly note the boys’ hungry. He’s about to intervene when the little boy peaks his head into an all too familiar stand. He sees the kid quickly pop out of the stand before yet again looking in.
Then he disappears and hound can pick up on an all too familiar voice. It’s Teuchi, the shop owner of Ichiraku ramen. He lets out a breath finally, relaxing as he knows the little brat is in good hands. He can’t help but tilt his head at the sky, stars greeting him as he watches. The brats going to be the end of him but he can’t help but promise something.
I’ll watch over him, just you watch.
---
The second time he spots the little boy it’s in the playground. He sees as the child’s shoulders hunch as other children are picked up. Something tugs at his heartstrings, a sore memory. He’d shoved those feelings away ages ago, but seeing the little blonde snaps something.
So he can’t stop himself as he approaches the boy from behind, a little branch snapping in half as he moves forward. The boy spins around and stares wide at the masked figure before him.
The little boy’s eyes light up in recognition. Smiling widely as he stares up at the figure.
“You’re one of jiji’s ninjas!”
He says nothing as he stares at the boy, a while passes before the boy looks sad. Seeming to remember all his friends had left.
This is why hound can’t help himself but gently grab the blonde's hand, wide startled blue eyes staring at him. He doesn’t know what he’s doing but he motions for the boy to comply and follow him. He does, and they quickly walk the bustling streets of Konohagakure. The blonde boy is young but he’s not dumb. He notices the stares, but they aren’t full of hatred for once. The confusion is mostly aimed at the masked figure who leads him through the crowds of people. The blonde feels something in him twirl, a warm feeling. He feels safe around the masked ninja.
Soon he sees the all too familiar ramen stand and he hastily pulls at the masked man's hand. The figure complies and they quickly turn into the small restaurant.
“Old man, I’m back!”
“Oh, is my favorite little customer back”.
The blonde can’t help but grin as the ramen owner turns around, a warm smile greeting the boy.
“Usual order, Naruto?”
“Hai!”
The old man serves Naruto quickly before he stares at the masked figure next to him.
“Who’s your friend Naruto”.
“It’s one of Hokage-jiji’s ninja!”
“Wait, what should I call you?”
Hound tilts his head at the question, he’s never been asked that before.
Naruto quickly takes the silence as if it was his job to name the figure.
“Yatta, he’s dog-san!”
The ramen man chuckles before turning to him, “Well dog-san would you like something to eat?”
Hound quickly grabs a paper from his pouch, scribbling something as he hands the paper over to the ramen stand.
With that, he stands and waves at the small boy before vanishing in a puff. Leaving a trail of leaves flying around.
Naruto can’t help but look in awe, “I wanna do that!”
“Say, old man, what did dog-san write?”
The man beamed at the boy, a gentle smile as he stared.
“It seems dog-san is offering to pay for all your dinners here”.
Naruto’s eyes sparkle with joy, he really loves ramen.
Hound can’t help but shake the feeling of impending doom, maybe putting the blond's eating habits on his tab was a bad idea. Oh well.
—
The third time hound finds naruto is on a field of grass, sweat dripping from the kid's face as he stares at the sky seemingly depressed.
Naruto seems to sense him as he stands up from his laying position, turning to him quickly.
The blonde throws himself at him and he quickly stiffens. He forces himself to relax as bright blue eyes stare at him with wonder and hope.
“Dog-san, can you help me”
He tilts his head at the boy’s question, Naruto taking it as a sign to keep going.
“Iruka-sensei is making us learn about this stupid leaf-training exercise. I keep practicing but the leaf just keeps blasting off!”
It must be the Kyuubi’s charka he muses before quickly grabbing a piece of paper and scribbling down, he hands it to Naruto.
Show me
The boy complies, quickly laying back down on the ground as he concentrates. He watches for a bit before a leaf is sent flying in the air. The boy looks depressed at this so he gets to working real quick.
He hands the boy yet another paper and watches him as he reads.
Let’s try another method, do you remember when the ramen owner pours the soup into the ramen?
“Ya what about it dog-san”
Another note is written and he hands it to the blonde boy
When the soup is poured into the ramen do you notice the little swirly fishcakes rocking back and forth gently? They don’t move out of place. Picture the leaf as if it's the topping.
The blonde quickly lies back down, grabbing another leaf from his pocket as he pictures the image. Hound thinks it's not going to work until the green leaf gently flows in the wind. The blonde quickly shoots up beaming at him. Hound can’t stop but feel something warm flow in him, and he thinks back to his younger days. Is this pride?
“Thank you hound-san. This is another step for me to become Hokage and take the hat from the old man!”
Hokage huh, seems the goal runs in his genes.
He stands back up, waving one last time before disappearing.
Iruka can’t help but be shocked when the blonde boy comes in the next day and demonstrates his training. He ruffles the boy's hair, complimenting him as the boy beams at him.
A masked man watches from afar, yes. This was definitely that pride-feeling thing.
—
The fourth and final time naruto sees hound-san is at the night. He’s laying in bed when he hears movement in the kitchen. He rushes over and sees the familiar masked person. He’s unsealing a scroll and grocery bags quickly appear.
“Dog-san!”, he throws himself at the figure yet again. But this time Naruto notices the stiff posture. He’s not young and naive anymore. Well not like his younger self!
He lets go as he stares at the masked man before him, confused at the man's tension.
Dog-san kneels before him and gently grabs at his shoulders. Somethings wrong.
“What’s wrong dog-san?”
And for once, Naruto finally hears the figure's voice. It’s a soft deep gentle voice. It makes him feel safe as he stares into the eye holes of the mask.
“I’m going away, Naruto”.
He stands in horror as the sentence plays over and over.
“What, you can’t leave!”
Hound stiffens at the boy's shout, confused as to why he’s so sad about him leaving.
“I’m sorry but Hokage-sama is sending me on a long-term mission”.
Realization dawns on the young boy.
“You don’t know when you’re coming back, do you”, it’s a mere whisper but he understands.
“Hai”.
He’s met by another hug, a tight one as the boy's shoulders tremble.
“Please be safe dog-san”.
“I will, Uzumaki-san”.
He gently pushes the boy from the embrace, staring at the wide teary blue eyes that seem all too familiar to him. He wipes the tears trailing the boy's face.
“Listen, I want to tell you something”.
“What is it dog-san”, his lips are wobbling but he looks at the masked figure with a brave face.
Hound stands up, hand reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair as he turns.
“Study hard Naruto-Kun, I believe you’ll become a great Hokage one day. I’ll be waiting, whether I’m dead or alive, only time will tell”.
Tears quickly fall down the boy's face as he stares wide-eyed at the masked figure, the words ringing in his head.
He ruffles the kid's hair one last time before walking away. He slightly takes off his anbu mask, red eye gleaming in the dark room. Naruto sees the lone teardrop slip down before he vanishes.
“Go get em’ kid”.
—
Hiruzen can only sigh as a blonde boy slams the office door open, tears falling down as he stares at the Hokage.
He’s too old for this shit he thinks. He quickly gets out of his chair before kneeling, opening his arms as the blonde boy slams into his embrace.
He rubs soothing circles on the boy’s back as the boy sobs. It takes a while before Naruto is left hiccuping, sitting on the old man's lap in front of his desk.
“Will I ever see dog-san again, jiji?”
Hiruzen can’t help but chuckle at the boy's nickname. He knows exactly who he’s talking about.
“His name is Inu, Naruto. It’s his codename for the dog mask he wears”.
Silence passes between the two and Naruto loses hope that jiji wouldn’t tell him.
He feels his hair being ruffled before he stares wide-eyed at the man.
“He’ll be back one day. Best graduate before he comes back, I’m sure he’d be glad to see the future Hokage graduate after all”.
And somewhere off in the borders of the land of fire a masked figure stops to look at the sky.
Well, I hope you’re watching your son Minato-sensei, Kushina-nee. He’s an interesting little guy. I’ve done all I could do
The figure quickly dashes deeper into the forest, missing two bright stars as they flash brightly.