Uzumaki Naruto- always smiling, always laughing

An old elderly woman sighed as she saw the desecrated replica of the Yondaime, the village's well-known savior. She was a former kunoichi, and as a result, had known a lot more of the ninja realm, much more than what the civilians knew or what they claimed to know. She knew of how the Fourth Hokage defeated the Nine-tails. She was one who celebrated its defeat after all. But she wasn't a fool. She knew it wasn't gone forever, but she knew that the child wasn't the demon incarnate as well.

She watched pityingly as villagers screamed out obscenities and cursed the young boy. It wasn't that she disagreed that painting swirls on the hokage's face was wrong, even if it was somehow amusing. While they had good reason to wrong him now, they certainly hadn't in the past. Even before the boy had resorted to pranks, they were all treating him unjustly. Chasing him with pans, throwing knives and daggers, even trying to poison him a few times. Obviously, they were unsuccessful, but she had seen the effect they had on the boy. He had grown lonely for awhile. And for a short while, the Sandaime, bless his soul, had noticed the child and immediately stopped any actions bordering on abuse.

But it wasn't enough.

If they couldn't curse him to the deepest pits of hell, why not just ignore him? Pretend he doesn't exist? He might return to where he came from and leave their village in peace. The old lady reached into a jar of goods. Maybe that's what brought it. The desire for attention. Perhaps that initiated the pranks. Perhaps that was the cause for the shadows in the child's eyes. Grabbing a treat from the jar, she delicately placed it inside a paper bag, carefully preserving it.

She looked up again as villagers, who are always nice to her and even polite in most occasions, shouted and screamed for the demonic child to stop, several yelling on how it would be better for him to just die.

She watched as he laughed and laughed. Her eyes followed him as he leapt to the ground, with grace unexpected even for a ninja-in-training.

Determination strengthened her resolve as she walked past the surrounding civilians, pushing them aside when they got in her way. Whispers reached her sensitive ears.

"What is she doing?"

"Probably going to give that brat a good beating, I'm sure."

Cruel laughter echoed with thoughtless comments.

Her grip on the paper bag tightened. Her jaw clenched. She didn't have the patience for this. Ignorant civilians. Reaching the child, she saw him grin against the abusive remarks, laughing even.

But she was once a ninja. And she was taught to see underneath the underneath.

As she got closer, she observed the shadows haunting dull azure eyes. She saw the strain in his grin. She noticed the falter in his laugh and how his hands trembled.

She frowned. Her own brown eyes darkened. No child deserved this. She mentally shook her head upon reaching the child and carefully placed a hand on his frail shoulder. He seemed so small.

"Here," she said gently, putting the paper bag in his hand.

The boy froze, looking confused. Hesitant. He cautiously raised his eyes to her own. An understanding passed between them. She watched as his eyes grew brighter. Even just a bit. She smiled. She had sparked hope in the boy.

"Come on," she said encouragingly, closing his hand over the bag of treats.

"Why?" he questioned, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

"Everyone deserves a chance, young one," she whispered softly.

"Thank you," he murmured, accepting it.

He closed his eyes and opened them, shining brighter than before. "Thank you."

"No, thank you, Naruto," she replied.

The child looked at her questioningly.

She gave a warm smile. One of the few smiles directed at Naruto for years.

"For saving us all."

As she gave him one last look, she stepped back and ignored the trailing whispers and gossip the villagers were making against her. She had helped a child. She looked up at the statue of the Yondaime. She could have sworn she saw a flash.

"You should see him now," she whispered. "You'd be so proud."

Thank you for saving us all, Naruto.