That one day…

By Lunauc

            "Now, I'm just going to leave you here with the other children until the meeting is over. I'll be back to pick you up in a few hours, okay?"

            "But… Daddy, I don't wanna stay. I don't know anybody."

            "Well, introduce yourself. You can make some new friends. And your cousin should be along soon as well."

            The young dark-haired girl fidgeted a bit nervously and tried once more, "Daddy, can't I come with you?"

            Her father gave a bothered sigh before sternly correcting her, "No. I already told you I have to go into a meeting with the Hokage. You can't come along. Now be a good girl and wait out here with the other children." The girl wanted to plead with her Father once more, but the firm expression of his face already told her she had no hope of swaying him. Timidly she nodded her head. Seeing her down heartened demeanor her Father kneeled down a bit to place a hand on her shoulder and offered kindly, "Thank you, Sweetheart. Now you be good for the sitter and maybe we'll stop for ice cream on the way home, alright?"

            Her head perked up a bit to offer a small smile and she meekly agreed, "Okay." Then taking her Daddy's hand, they headed to the brick walled gates of the nearby playground. Within there were already a few children; a couple girls in the sandbox and a group of boys hanging around on the jungle gym. From a bench near the gate a tall, lanky young ninja with a pair of dark glasses stood to greet the new arrivals.

            Poking a finger at the bridge of his glasses to make sure they were in places the ninja spoke dutifully to the Father, "Ah, Master Hyuga, it's an honor to see you again, Sir." He gave a respectable though unnecessary bow.

            "Um… yes. Ibasi, wasn't it?" The Lord of the Hyuga clan tried to recall the chuuin's name

            Hardly put off by the mistake, the glasses wearing young man corrected, "Ebisu, Sir."

            "Oh, sorry."

            Shaking his head, the chuuin assured, "No problem at all, Master Hyuga." Then casting a glance down at the girl at the honored man's side, Ebisu added, "And this must be your lovely daughter, Hinata, correct?"

            Nodding, he led the girl forward a few steps citing, "Yes she is, and she'll be staying with you for the duration of the meeting." Looking down to his daughter, he instructed softly, "Say hello, Hinata."

            She gave a blink before looking up to her temporary keeper to offer with practiced etiquette, "I am please to meet you, Ebisu-sensei."

            The addressed Chuuin offered the girl a politely acknowledging grin before looking back up to her respected Father to say, "She is such a well mannered girl. You must be very proud, Sir."

            "Yes, very much so, and I'm sure she'll be on her best behavior while under your care." Looking down into the matching white eyes of his daughter, the Hyuga Clan Master firmly prodded, "Right?" Hinata simply returned a nod.

            "I am sure she will, Master, and I will be sure to keep a careful eye on her. So do not you worry one bit, Sir."

            "Thank you for that assurance. I believe you will do your best." After Ebisu returned a proud grin, Lord Hyuga leaned down to address his daughter, "Have fun with the other children. I will be back to pick you up in a little while." With that, he gave her a short pat on the head and began away.

            As he rounded the gate, Hinata called timidly after him, "Bye, Daddy." She offered a wave that he idly returned before disappearing around the corner. Though he was out of sight, his daughter still stared after him as if he'd right away return.

           Ebisu's voice quickly called her out of that line of thought though as he lays a hand on the girl's shoulder and told her, "Come now, let us introduce you to the other children." Looking up to the man in shades, Hinata tentatively nodded to him and let him take her small hand. Leading her toward the other playing children, Ebisu called out to them, "Children…" As they all looked his way, they noticed the young girl beside him. With short dark hair and blank white eyes, this child in a simple white sundress and sandals seemed a bit odd. Her peers didn't say anything though, as their sitter continued, "This is the young daughter of the Lord of the Hyuga Clan, Hinata. Say Hello."

            With conditioned lethargy they all replied, "Hello, Hinata."

            Rather nervously, Hinata softly spoke back, "H-hi."

            Smirking with self-satisfaction at this meager exchange, Ebisu gave the girl at his side a pat on the head, encouraging, "Well you have fun with your new friends. I'll be right over here, reading." Barely waiting long enough for the girl to blink back at him the teenager strolled away confidently and resumed his seat on the bench and picked up the jutsu manual he had been studying a moment ago.

Meanwhile Hinata still stood where Ebisu left her, casting shy glances toward the other children who paid her no mind. After a short while of coy fidgeting one thing was sure in her mind, 'I wanna go home.'

*

Unknown to any of the children on the playground, or even the unconcerned sitter, a shadow roved the nearby woods. With an animal's natural stealth he crept among the foliage, his predatory eyes keeping a steady gaze on his young targets. The only sound he made was his own breathing as it echoed in his ears along with the steady beat of his own heart. From his perch in the branches of a dense tree he carefully climbed back toward the trunk, not disturbing so much as a leaf. It was time to move in and strike.

*

Back at the gate two more children entered, holding either hand of another tall, raven-haired man. Ebisu once more hopped up to greet them, yet for some reason he didn't have as much enthusiasm when he noticed the man. With a polite bow of his head, Ebisu offered simply, "Good day, Master Hyuga." This was the brother to the clan Lord, not as influential, and thusly not as brown-nosed.

Nodding in reply, the regardless superior ninja spoke, "Good morning, Ebisu, I'll be dropping off my son and his little friend with you this morning." Saying this he gave a playful pat to the heads of the small boy and girl at either of his sides.

"I'll be sure to keep an eye on them, Sir." Ebisu reflexively answered.

"Good then. Neji, Tenten. You two have fun. Either me or Tenten's Mom will be by to pick you up in a little while." Getting back simple confirmations from two smiling kids, the younger Hyuga Master was a off with a wave.

Ebisu ushered the children toward the playground, offhandedly instructing, "Go ahead and play to your hearts content. Just be careful. I don't need one of you getting hurt on my watch." Returning to his bench and scroll, he left the newly arrived duo to scamper toward the others.

Giggling, little Tenten, dressed in a purple cotton jumper ran ahead of her best friend, calling back at Neji, "I wanna go on the swing, come on."

The white-eyed boy, wearing a short sleeved white button up and a pair of gray shorts followed after her, announcing, "Okay, I'll push you first." On the way toward the swing set, a small figure caught the boy's vision. Turning his head at the sight of his younger cousin, Hinata, who he only saw once in a rare while, Neji wasn't sure quite what to do. The girl was standing alone, rather out of place. He really wanted to go over to her, but Tenten was calling to him. Noticing his distress, his friend looked over to the other girl with eyes like Neji's. As Hinata gave another coy look around, she saw her cousin standing nearby the one who her father said was supposed to protect her. Still she didn't really know him that well, and felt a bit uncertain about calling his attention. After a short moment, she raised her demure hand to give a stifled wave his way. Smirking back, Neji returned the wave. Tenten wasn't too happy with being left out of the little moment, and walked back over to grab Neji's arm.

Tugging at him, she reminded, "Come on, you said you'd push me." Looking back and forth between the girls young Neji was hard pressed to make a decision, but with a shrug, he followed Tenten away, casting one last glance back at his lonely cousin.

*

Through a chink in the old stone wall surrounding the playground, the stalker viewed the children. With hungry eyes, he took them in. Smiling and laughing and playing happily without a care in the world, all except for one. The predator watched her carefully, as she shifted and fidgeted in one place, as if she was afraid if she moved in any direction she would step on someone's toes. However, that would be a difficult task since nobody was within ten yards of her. Shifting his gaze from the girl, he caught just a bit of movement through the makeshift eyehole off to the left. It was an arm, the only adult arm in this playground. He was the obstacle to surpass if the stalker was to have his way. And this shadowy form was not about to back down now. Carefully he climbed the exposed stone, peeking over the top to find his target sitting with his back to danger, obviously paying no attention as he read a scroll in his lazy hands. Reaching into his pocket, the stalker readied for his assault.

*

'I can't believe I'm stuck here watching these brats.' Ebisu bickered to himself while studying. 'I should be out on some dangerous mission, fighting with all of my might. Instead, here I am, The Grand and Glorious Babysitter.' Letting out a long sigh, he shook his weary head. 'Just because my Father was a teacher and his Father was teacher and his Father's Father was a teacher, I'm getting pigeon-holed to watching the snot-nosed kids of my superiors. Damn this sucks. I'm suited for so much more.' Out of nowhere a small white egg dropped from above, landing to crack on the bench beside Ebisu. He blinked curiously as it unleashed a thick puff of pink smoke that swirled around him. It stung at his nostrils and made him choke in protest to its intrusion. He tried to stand, but his legs were suddenly weak and his body felt heavy. The children were instantly alerted by his choking and watched as his body fell back against the bench and went limp.

The kids were obviously upset as they watched their keeper fall. A pink haired girl from the sandbox cried out, "Is he okay?"

A boy under the jungle gym with a ponytail screwed up his face, inquiring, "What's with the smoke?"

"THAT IS MY DOING!" The booming voice called out from thin air. Quickly the children looked around for the speaker.

"Who said that?" A thick-browed boy asked.

A second later, they got their answer, as a new white puff of smoke appeared atop the wall, and the voice called from it once more, "BOW DOWN WEAKLINGS. FORE YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS!" They smoke faded away to reveal a blonde child of no more than five years in a loose black shirt bearing the symbol of the Konoha village and a pair of baggy brown short pants, held up by a single suspender. Before his dirty face he held a red painted tin bullhorn and his other hand stretched forth to proudly display the Sign of Victory. "I AM, UZUMAKI NARUTO!"