Eight months two weeks and six days. Iruka was torn between pride and disgust. Pride in himself for being able to pull this off under the Hokage's nose for so long. Pride in the progress his charge had made.

And absolute disgust at the fact that the Sandime Hokage, the Kami no Shinobi, had only just noticed that the boy who basically held the fate of the village and, though only Iruka and maybe a few toads knew it, the world in his tiny hands, was not where he was supposed to be.

A fact that only came to his attention when said boy did not show up for his yearly birthday visit.

No one had been able to find him. It had gotten to the point that the Hokage himself had joined the search along with the Hunter nin.

Anga was among those "searching".

He shook his head as he listened to the Hokage reiterate the importance of finding the little blond.

'Maybe if you would pay more attention to him, things like this wont happen old man'

He couldn't wait until the Hokage finished then he could go and get Naruto and spend a good half hour with him before having to bring him in to the Hokage.

The dismissal was given and Anga was off. He was so intent on reaching his little companion that he did not notice he was being followed.

As he followed the young Hunter the Hokage pushed the sinking feeling in his stomach out of his thoughts.

The young man's behavior had been slightly strange. He had put off looking into it hoping with all his heart that it was simply a phase or a reaction to stress. But it had lasted too long and now…..

The old man had seen the boy's initial reaction at learning that Naruto was missing when he had informed the Chunin and Jounin of the village of the blonds' status as 'missing'.

Surprise, fleeting anger, then nothing.

What was strange was that moment of Anger did not seem to be directed at the boy whom Iruka had blamed for so much in his life but at the Hokage himself.

Then during the Hunter briefing "Anga" had been impatient, now he seemed to be determined to get somewhere. As if meeting someone.

Who and Why?

An enemy? Did it have to do with Naruto?

The Hokage was going to find out.

Anga landed in the small field out side Sanctuary and looked around confused.

'Where is he?'

Anga looked around again then he heard it.

A laugh coming from the trees on the under side of the clearing.

'OH! Well just a quick game'

Anga stalked toward the boy's hiding place then when he was no more then a foot away he started to make of show of searching for the little blond imp.

Circling trees, peeking in bushes and lifting rocks to small for the child to hide under, then scratching his head in mock confusion.

After about three minutes of this the Hunter sat on the ground with an air of confusion.

30 seconds later he was attacked.

"OMPH!"

"Found you!"

The boy giggled.

Anga looked up into shining blue eyes.

"Naruto"
"Found you"

Smiling behind his mask Anga lifted the little tyke off him then stood and dusted the dirt and leaves off them both, noticing the mud that smeared the boys face and hands

"Mud pies again? I hope you didn't eat any this time."

"Mud! Yuck!"

"Then why do you play in it?"

The boy seemed to consider this for a moment. "Mud fun!"

"Oh, well that's a good reason"

"Play?"

"No little one, we have to get you clean. Hokage wants to see you."

"Kage?"

Anga shook his head. Who would guess that, years from now this struggling seven year old was one of the most feared men in the elemental nations.

"Come on. Bath time"

It was only after he said it that Anga realized his mistake

"NO bath!"

And he was running.

Anga sighed as he watched Naruto hide behind another tree.

"Nartuo"

"NO"
"Come on. It's just water"
"No"

"Not even for me?"

"…"

"…."

"No"

"…..oh boy…."

"Would you like some help Anga-san"?

Anga turned like a top to face the voice and came face to face with the Sandime.

"S-s-Sir!"

The old man was glaring at him.

"Ah- some help would be…good…sir…he…does not like to bathe"

"Hmm"

'The jig is up!'

"Naruto-kun" the Hokage called.

Naruto looked around the tree he had hidden behind.

"Jiji!"

The smiling the muddy boy ran to his 'Jiji'

"Hi"

"Hello Naruto-kun how have you been?"

"Good"

"And what have you been doing?"

The boy seemed to think about that for a moment. "Down"

"Huh?"

"Down Jiji""

"Please" admonished Anga.

"Down Please JIji" the boy tried again.

Looking from boy to shinobi, giving a piercing look to the latter, he did as ask.

Smiling the little blond took the much old man's hand and tugged.

"Com on Jiji"

"Wait" called Anga.

They stopped at Sanctuary's entrance.

Anga took Naruto's free hand and cut a finger with the end of a senbon. He then reached for his leader's hand. "Sir?"

Wearily the old man complied with the request.

After making sure that the entrance seal would accept the Hokage the Hunter nodded.

"Ok"

"Come on Ji-chan" and again the Hokage was dragged, this time right through the entrance.

"You can come in as needed now sir" Anga whispered to his leader hoping that this would get him out of some trouble.

"Hmm"

"Um , sir about the search"

"I already called it off."

"Oh"

Naruto was moving about with amazing speed for a seven year old. Pulling out everything he wanted to show his jiji.

The Sandime took each thing the little boy handed him and looked closely at everything he was shown commenting when appropriate.

But it had been a busy day and the little boy was tired after seeing him yawn on to many times Anga stepped in.

"Alright little one, I think it really is time for that bath, and bed"

"No bath"

"Come now, if you hurry maybe Hokage-sama can read you a story "

"Kage? Who?"

"He means me Naruto-kun"

"Jiji-Kage?"

"Yes"

"What kage?"

"You no," Anga admonished "no getting out of sleep with questions tonight young man , bath now or no story for you."

"Aww"

"Go on"

The boy's shoulders slumped but he went to his bath.

A chuckle escaped the young Hunter as he watched the little boy drag his feet.

"He trust you"

Anga turned to meet the hard eyes of the Kami no Shinobi *Gulp* "I can explain? After he's asleep?"

"This had better be good"

'Shit'