Benji leaned across the counter, smiling at the owner of the shop. She was not in her ANBU uniform at the moment, as Naruto had gone home to sleep after playing at the park with her. She had easily found his favorite ramen shop and was trying to get the owner to compromise with her.
"Okay. Listen. I've…um…asked around, and I've figured out that Uzumiki Naruto likes to eat here, and I have some questions for you."
She figured the man was trembling slightly because of her outfit. When she watched Naruto she wore simple black clothes. Her usual apparel was a black tank top with black fishnet underneath, with white bandages wrapping from her shoulders to her elbow. Her black and purple tie-dye skirt went about halfway down to her knees, maybe a little shorter. The chains she wore were small, but they hung off her skirt, the ends of her shirt, and around her arms. Most of the larger ones were wrapped around her black combat books, which went up to her knees.
"It depends on the questions." He crossed his arms, and she snorted. "Right. Anyways. So, how much ramen does he eat here, on average, everyday?"
He blinked. "Why do you need to know that?"
"Just answer. I'm getting there."
"Depends on how much money he has. Usually he gets four or five, and on special occasions he gets seven. I know he could eat more, and I try to sneak in vegatables in so he stays healthy."
"So about five. Okay. How much would that typically cost?"
He answered, and she asked a few more questions concerning prices and other assorted things. Then she asked the most important question of all.
"Can I pay for him in advance for a month?"
The owner of Naruto's favorite ramen stand blinked. He hadn't been expecting that. "Oh, well, yes, of course! Should he be informed of who paid and how much he has to spend?" He grabbed and pen and his pad of paper.
She shrugged. "Tell him the amount, sure. Then I need to see the paper, I'll sign my name."
He nodded and scribbled down how much he had and then slid the paper towards her. He beamed at her, thanking her for being so kind to such a nice young boy. She nodded and slid it back after signing the little slip, adding the money on top. She had disappeared when he looked back up, questioning her signature. Fox?
--
Their meeting in the park happened every night for a week, until one day Naruto didn't go to the park. He wandered around the weapon shops, trying to find someone who would sell some kunai to him. He had began his dream to become the next Hokage, and he wanted to start with the basics; throwing kunai.
Benji watched him get kicked out of another weapon store, and, his shoulders slumped, walked away. She frowned and marked the store as another one to tell the Hokage about. She followed Naruto to the ramen shop, and every customer in there left as he walked in. He ignored them and ordered a large miso ramen. He didn't take out his wallet yet, which signified that he was going to have more than one.
The masked ninja smiled and watched as he ate through six miso ramen, smiling at the owner but then eating silently, quietly wondering why he wasn't allowed in any of the stores when everyone else was allowed in. She shifted her feet back and forth impatiently, waiting for the man to tell him that it was paid for already. And then she saw him take a piece of paper from the wall and hand it to the young child.
The first look on his face made her smile, but the second look was priceless. The first look he had on his face was one of incredulousness. He probably never thought someone would cover it for him. And the second facial expression was of shock when he saw her signature. She made sure that it was readable. And it was very readable. It said, 'Fox' in the middle of the slip, nice and big and in print. It was a good ending to the day, since he had had such a rough start.
--
The next night at the park he asked her if she really did that. She laughed and shrugged. "I might have. Did it make you happy?" she asked. He nodded and said, "Yeah!"
They played tag the rest of the night, till Naruto felt tired and wanted to get some sleep.
--
Months went by and Benji continued to play tag or push Naruto on the swing. She knew Sarutobi knew what she was doing, but so long as she didn't take off her mask she knew she could continue to do so. But it was that very hope and reassurance that broke the fastest. Because little kids have the biggest questions.
--
"Can you take your mask off?"
"No."
"Just for a minute?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
--
"Why won't you take your mask off?"
"Why don't you wear a mask?"
"Are you scared to show me your face?"
"No"
"Are you not allowed to let anyone see?"
"Correct."
"Even a best friend?"
"….I don't know."
--
"Can I take your mask off?"
"No."
"But it wouldn't count, because I did it, not you."
"You would see my face, therefore it is still not allowed."
--
"You know what I look like; I want to know what you look like."
"That's not a good argument."
"Please?"
"No."
--
Whenever she had to answer those kinds of questions, she made it up to the boy by buying him things. She had left him a new set of kunai, shiruken, weapon pouches, bandage wraps, a pair of goggles, pocky, new clothes, some furniture, and a bunch of other different things. Sometimes she thought that he asked just to see what she would get him next.
Although she did know that even after getting a gift from her, Naruto still seemed down for a few days. Then he bounced right back up, asking instead about her family and where she lived, and did she enjoy watching him all day. She answered truthfully, either saying she couldn't say or answering her answer. She didn't want to tell him about her personal/family life, but she did say she would enjoy it more if he smiled a lot more.
And he started smiling more, even though more and more people started to get scared at how happy the 'monster' was. He began to get beaten again.
But this time he remembered to call for Benji. The first time the people flipped out when he called out, "Fox, help!" They thought he was calling on the Kyuubi for help. That the demon fox was going to start eating them or something.
Benji showed up soon after, just seconds after they stopped punching Naruto. She glared at them, even though they couldn't see it. Her mask had no eye holes. She pivoted on her heel, spinning around to observe the large group. She smirked when they realized how stupid they were when they thought he was calling for the demon. They had started to realize that Naruto was referring to her.
They ignored that she had an ANBU mask and rushed in anyways. Their moves were sloppy and she made sure each one got a punch to the face, along with a kick to the crotch for some unlucky men. Naruto looked on in awe.
Each time after that, the villagers were more careful. They always scattered when Benji showed up. She always growled at them for good measure. One person always tripped and fell when she did that, and it was so funny.