Benjiro watched Naruto from the distance. The moment he entered the playground, he was ignored and everyone refused to even go near him. She snorted and almost blew her cover. She gave the other ANBU with her a smile, even though he couldn't see it. His bear mask was dull compared to hers. Their masks usually got quite bloody when they went out on missions, and most ANBU didn't clean them like she did. She bleached hers every night, to ensure that people saw the fox on hers. She made sure that everyone knew that she protected the Kyuubi's vessel.

She loved Naruto. Not like married love, but like a family, older sister love. She knew his father, and he was so much like him. Even when he was sad. He looked almost exactly like Minato, the only thing different was the whisker marks. Her fingers touched her mask, and she wished she could touch her face instead.

When Naruto turned four and his whisker marks grew darker and more defined, more and more people commented on it, trying to beat him senseless. She had always been on watch after he went to the hospital. Always. She had gotten permission from the Hokage, and she found she was the only ANBU to step in after the child got threatened. So she made another statement. When she was brave enough to (the day after Naruto went to the hospital) she gave herself whiskers.

She didn't care if people thought she was stupid. She was ANBU; she was taught how to ignore the pain. So one night she took a completely new, clean kunai and sterilized it. Then she simply cut marks into her face, to make herself look like Naruto. She made a statement and every single time after that, when citizens made a rude comment on his whiskers she took off her mask and showed them hers. They stopped taunting him about that and moved on to something else. Just plain old, 'monster'.

Benji sighed and flicked a hand towards the bear mask. "You can go. Nothing seems to be happening and I know you want to get home. Dinner with the wife is soooo much more important than this." She drawled. The man made a startled sound but nodded and left. "Fox." He said, saluting as he jumped away into the shadows. Seconds and then minutes passed and she was alone, watching the little child play on the slides, monkey bars, and other playground equipment. The other kids didn't want to go near him, so he didn't have to wait in line or worry about kicking someone from the hanging metal bars.

Finally the girl knew that no one could see her, and all the other kids went home. Naruto, on the other hand, was sitting on a swing, trying to push himself back and forth. He was too short, however, and couldn't reach the ground. He let out a sigh right as Benji pushed him a little, sending the swing forwards. He blinked quickly and held onto the rope holding it up a bit tighter, looked back to see who would even think about helping him.

Benji smiled at him and pushed the swing again; mask still up; knowing the boy was confused. She didn't say a word, and he didn't either. She just pushed him on the swing a few more times, until he caught on that he had to pump back and forth with his legs to keep moving. She smiled when he laughed, hair waving back and forth as the wind blew it around. He continued going higher and higher, and finally he stopped, just enjoying the motion of going back and forth. He felt like he was flying!

And then he stopped by jumping off when it was almost at the peak of the swing's arc. He landed on his hands and knees with a grunt, and he stood up slowly, dusting himself off. Finally concern took over and Benji asked a question. She disguised her voice, making it deeper. "Are you okay?"

Naruto's eyes flicked back to Benji. "Oh! Thanks, um. Who are you?"

Benji shrugged. "I'm ANBU. No one knows my name. Only me and old man Hokage."

Naruto grinned and clapped his hands. "So you call him that too!"

Benji nodded, smiling beneath her mask. "Yeah. I picked it up from a friend. Anyways, did you have fun?"

Naruto nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Thank so much, Foxy! I never have anyone play with me, and it's so fun with other people!"

Benji nodded, amused. "Foxy, is it?"

"Yeah, cuz of you're mask!"

"Oh yeah. Well, how about I make you a promise. Can you promise me something?"

Naruto nodded solemnly. "Only if you promise me something in return."

Benji was thinking of how cute he was when he was serious, and she nodded too. "Okay. I'll promise you something. How about, if you don't tell anyone that you know me, I'll keep coming back and pushing you on that swing whenever you're here?"

Naruto gave it some thought. "Okay! I can do that! It's our secret, right?" He smiled happily when Benji nodded.

Benji turned around and was leaving when Naruto called, "Wait, I have questions still!"

Benji sighed and turned back. She knew it wouldn't be easy. Of course not.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Okay. Easy one. Will you go on the see-saw with me while I talk to you?"

"You mean interrogate me. Fine."

Benji, amused, decided to answer most of these questions. If there was any that were about who she was, then…she shook her head slightly and got ready for his next question.

"Okay. How will you know when I'll be here?"

"I'm always with you. You just can't see me."

"Will you be around when other kids will be here?"

"I'll be here, but I can't play with you until they leave."

"What does ANBU stand for?"

"You wouldn't understand. I'll explain another time."

"What color are your eyes?"

Benji had to take a second to think about the answer. She didn't know if she should answer that. If he knew, then when she saw her without her mask he would always know it was her. And that would not be good. Then she gave it some more thought. She almost never took her mask off, anyways. She was always following him, protecting Minato's only son. She smiled and answered him.

"My eyes are two different colors. One is gold; the other is crimson."

"Cool! Can you take off your mask?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"I have to protect my identity."

"Like a superhero??"

Naruto looked so excited she found she couldn't help but feel proud of protecting him. He really was just an innocent child who happened to be there when a baby was needed. And the Kyuubi was not the child. The child was not Kyuubi. They were two separate beings, why couldn't anyone else see that?

"Yes, Naruto. Like a superhero."

"That's neat!! When you said you are always with me, what did you mean?"

Another question that took a long time to answer. Finally she came up with something acceptable.

"I'm on a mission from the Hokage to protect you and watch over you."

"Oh, so you're just here to watch over me..."

"I asked for this mission, Naruto-kun. I wanted it since you were born. I wanted it before you were born. I asked the fourth Hokage for it and mission leave from all other missions so I could watch over you."

Naruto's eyes were wide open. No one ever cared for him before, and finding someone who cared for him and played with him…

Benji went on, "I am not just here because of a mission, Naruto. I am your friend. I don't want you to get hurt. I am always here for you not just in the physical form. I'm here if you need me, all you need to do is ask. I promise."

Naruto started crying. His seven-year old mind was so overwhelmed with happiness that he had started blubbering. Instantly Benji was by his side, down on one knee. She took one of his hands in hers. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.

"It-it's just that…I've...I've never had a friend before!" he smiled and jumped into her arms, hugging her with gusto. She almost flinched at the sudden contact, but she slowly hugged back. Soon he had settled down and was standing on the ground again.

"Thank you, Fox. I just have one more question. Do you like ramen?"

The seriousness in his question startled her. She could answer this one right away, though.

"It's my favorite food."

And then she was gone. Naruto was left standing in the middle of the playground, darkness settling in and a slight wind blowing. He had a smile on his face, however, and he slowly brought a hand up to his face, wiping his tears away and waving to wherever he thought the ANBU member was. He left soon after that, ignoring the glares he got the entire way home.