A/N thanks for your support everyone! Thus prompt was given by my friend Calvera_Draconis.
Prompt: I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen but as the years wasted on nothing ever did unless I caused it.
Hayate's POV
Moving through the village with determination he tried to find the kid. This wasnt the first time Naruto had disappeared. In fact he disappeared a lot according to the others in the village.
It was as if he had no faith in anyone around him. The Hokage had noted this in one of the many briefings before Hayate would go watch him. Hayate was one of a handful of Anbu ninjas that watched over the kid. Threats had been made several times on the boy's life. More often than not someone would at least try. Not always with the intent to kill. Sometimes they wanted to simply maim or force him to leave.
Hayate didnt understand their hatred of an innocent child. Naruto Uzumaki was the jailer to the Nine Tailed Fox. However he was not the fox itself. He lost his entire family in the attack. He was the last of the Gekko clan. Just as Yugao was now the last of her own clan.
They had only recently started dating but they had been close for years. Being orphans drew them close. All it too was the two getting over their stubbornness.
One thing they had to work around was that Yugao in the beginning hated Naruto. She like so many others blamed him for the death of her clan. Hayate refused to allow her to stew in that anger and hatred. It took many several years before she acknowledged that he was right. Children don't deserve the anger of others because they were different.
That was why they were the one's out looking for him. No one else cared that the boy was missing. They thought he deserved to die due to something that wasnt his fault.
Hayate only spent a few minutes checking the few local spots that Naruto frequented. To his horror even Ichiraku hadn't seen the boy in well over a week. The man was the one who reported Naruto missing as the boy regularly frequented the ramen stand.
His next stop was one of several different abandoned training grounds. There were fresh marks on the old equipment but no child.
Yugao checked in, "Southern training grounds dont have any signs of recent use. Any luck on your end?"
Hayate said pressing the comms, "I think I have something. Stay back for the moment. He doesnt know you."
Naruto knew Hayate. He was working on earning the boy's trust. It was slow going and he had to convince the Hokage to allow him to stay in the village.
Over the last few months he had paid for the boy's dinner. His kindness had been met with suspicion. Blue eyes would watch him from the corner of his eye. Questions would be met with short but sharp answers. For someone who was only ten he was very smart for his age. A sharp contrast to his grades at the Academy.
After a few weeks he had started training with Naruto. Most of his advice had been in chakra control. Occassionally he would help with the boy's aim.
Recently he had gained more of the boy's trust. There was less suspicion in his eyes when Hayate joined him both in training and dinner. He hoped to gain custody over Naruto. The intentions of doing so were put on the back burner because of an emergency mission.
The mission required him to be gone for over a week. Which was why he didn't notice Naruto missing until the Hokage asked him to look for the kid. At least when he returned the old man had the paperwork done. All it required was his and Naruto's signature. Something he of course brought with him.
Tracking Naruto through the forest was no easy task. Shadows grew longer and night began to fall. It was well after nightfall when he came across a campfire. Twice he had checked in with Yugao.
A familiar blond haired boy was laid out on a sleeping bag. Sleepy blue eyes blinked up at him a kunai in his hand. Even when recognition flashed in his eyes he didnt relax.
The boy questioned, "Neko? What are you doing here?"
That was right. He never told Naruto his name instead he was called by his Anbu mask.
Hayate pulled back his mask carefully as he replied, "My name is Hayate actually. You worried us, Naruto. What are you doing out here all by yourself?"
Naruto snarked ignoring the olive branch, "Just hanging out, Neko. What do you want?"
Hayate motioned to the ground in question. Naruto seemed to assess him for a long moment. Then he nodded allowing Hayate to sit on the grass in front of the fire.
After a long moment of watching the red orange flames said, "I was hoping to find out why you are avoiding the village. Old man Ichiraku is worried about not seeing you. So am I for that matter."
Naruto sat completely up now. His blue eyes stared at the flames a cold look in his eyes. It was not a look Hayate was used to seeing.
He said low in growly tone, "I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen but as the years wasted on nothing ever did unless I caused it. So I decided to stay out here in the forest. What's the point of being in the village when no one cares?"
Hayate's heart broke for the kid. No one deserved to have that kind of pain. Especially not a child.
He asked carefully, "Why do you think no one cares about you? I care, the Hokage cares, as does Yugao."
Naruto snorted decisively. It was clear that he didnt believe the man. Then he moved to lay back on his sleeping bag. This wouldnt do. He needed the kid to believe him.
Hayate leaned forward his eyes catching the eyes of the child if only briefly. He said sincerity radiating off of him, "I was working on something before I left for a mission. All it needs now is your signature. I know you dont fully trust me and I dont blame you for it. But I hope you would at least consider this. You wouldn't have to be alone anymore. Should you agree of course. I wont force you into it."
"What are you talking about?"
Hayate pulled out the guardianship papers from his jacket and held them out to Naruto. There was the briefest hesitation before the child took them. Nervously the ninja watched coughing a few times as his illness acted up. It always seemed to react to his emotions. In cold weather it was always worse.
Naruto questioned sounding very small, "Is this real? You want to be my guardian?"
Hayate rubbed at his cheek nervously as he replied, "I do. Only if you want me to be though. I thought it would be better for you to have someone to rely on. That you could go to if you needed help. Not just someone who occasionally helps you train or buys you dinner."
He would have kept going on the reasons but a small body tackled him. The wind was knocked from his lungs forcing him to cough harshly. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around the boy to keep him from moving away.
Within a few seconds however he felt his jacket become damp with tears. The whispered thanks yous into his chest tore at him. He swore that night he would never let anyone harm this child again.