A/N:

I'm so sorry about the ridiculously long and unannounced hiatus-like absence. Unfortunately, I didn't even get much writing during that time. But, good news, I am officially a colorguard captain! Well, not good for you guys, I guess, 'cause I'll be off teaching my guardlettes how to twirl and toss...

Wow...

That sounded really whimsical... Ish...

I don't own Naruto.

~One Month Later~

Tori awoke from her dreamless sleep, feeling the usual warmth snuggled close to her. She opened her eyes, knowing it was useless to try to untangle herself from the trap that was Namikaze Naruto. After the mere three weeks of self defense he had received from Tori, Kakashi, Tenzo, Ame, and various other ANBU, Naruto's instincts were triggered to protect him while he slept. Which, in layman's terms, meant he wasn't going to let Tori, his most trusted caretaker, anywhere until he was awake.

Not that it really mattered, though. With a number of medical ninjas being slowly integrated into the ANBU forces, Tori didn't have much work outside of training. As promised, protecting and raising Naruto became her team's priority mission, so, unless they went to war, they were stuck in Konoha for the next few years.

As Naruto's favorite, it fell upon her to teach him everything that the Academy would teach him. Self defense, taijutsu, weapons throwing, the three basic skills jutsu (Kawarimi, Bunshin, and Henge), history, math, and everything else she can cram into his head before he's old enough to join the Academy which, according to the new laws, wasn't until he was eight. Plenty of time.

So, with that in mind, she let the boy sleep in peace. He was doing exceptionally well. Judging from the examination she forced on him on his second week in the ANBU HQ, he was already fast for his age. He was a little smaller than the other boys his age, but Tori attributed that to Kyuubi. She had been in constant contact with Kushina during her pregnancy. She knew for a fact, from a medical standpoint, that maintaining the seal keeping the demon locked away required a lot of energy. To compensate, the energy put to growing was diverted directly to the seal.

Pushing all thoughts aside, Tori allowed her mind to shut down, knowing that her reflexes and, more likely, Naruto would wake her up within the hour.

"Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Nee-chan!" A rather excited five year shouted, jumping up and down on the bed dangerously close to Tori's face. She woke up moments before he finally lost his balance, landing awkwardly and winding him as his diaphragm met her hip. She laughed at his expense as he clambered down to the floor.

"And that is why you don't try to attack a sleeping ninja," she counseled. Naruto grimaced playfully before his ever-present grin broke through.

"Come on! You promised we could go to the park!" he said, jumping up and down again, stabilized by the solid wood flooring. Tori rolled her eyes but stood up, sending Naruto out of the room to get dressed as she dressed herself.

Naruto was amazingly self-sufficient. Aside from emotional support, he didn't seem to need much more assistance. He could get himself dressed easier than many of the older children Tori saw throughout the village. He knew how to prepare a meal but mainly stuck to ramen as a primary source of nutrition.

Kushina would be proud, Tori thought, reflecting on the first time she took Naruto to Ichiraku's, the day after his birthday. After waiting patiently for the first bowl to cool, which was mainly to appease Tori, Naruto successfully inhaled three large bowls of ramen.

After that first trip out, Kakashi had briefed Tori about the Hokage's wishes regarding Naruto and the village, and she tried to keep to them. However, she couldn't deny Kushina's only son anything for long.

That was how she was roped into this whole park fiasco. She dressed in her usual civilian attire: dark blue shinobi pants, a white tank top, and black fingerless gloves, her Hitai-ate tied loosely around her neck. As she braided her long hair into its usual plait, a single thought ran through her mind.

This won't end well...

All in all, it could have been much worse.

When Tori and Naruto arrived at the park, they were both mask off. Well, Tori was mask off. Naruto, not yet having an ANBU mask, was in disguise. His hair had been dyed a dark brown color that washed off with shampoo and his whisker marks disguised with a thin layer of foundation, a custom created to help protect his identity. He didn't like the disguise but until he masters the Henge it is a necessary precaution, especially since most of the village believes that he died in that final attack on his life.

The official story was that Nokoribi Daisuke had succeeded in killing Naruto. Murder of a child was the charge that was laid on him, the sentence of death immediately carried out by a nameless ANBU passing through on patrols. Spotting the mob below, the ANBU called for backup and it arrived, dispersing the crowd, killing some and capturing some for question. Those captured are freed and treated as heroes for a few days until they suffered some... accidents. All that was left to do was to bury the bodies and an empty coffin under the name Uzumaki Naruto.

When the two arrived at the park, Tori was both stunned and angered to find her niece already there, unaccompanied. Well, unaccompanied wasn't entirely accurate. There were three boys, each about seven or eight, that had her backed against a tree. Her eyes were on the ground and she was tensed in fear.

"She must be that Neji's cousin!" the first called out, his voice full of spite. He was taller and lankier than the others. He had round eyes and a strangely narrow face.

"Yeah, I'll bet she's cocky too," the second added. He was missing one of his front teeth. His dark brown hair was held in place by a backwards facing hat.

"She thinks she's better than us 'cuz of her family and talent," the third boy sneered. He was very short and round for his age. He had a stupid smirk and a bandana covering his round head.

Hinata murmured an apology and tried to run away, but one of the boys grabbed her and pulled her back. Another grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down, demanding for an apology.

Just as Tori was about to stalk towards the boys, Naruto ran ahead of her. The boy was just a dark blur in his black shorts and dark green t-shirt, especially since his hair had been darkened. The only bright color was the vivid orange Uzumaki necklace he kept on him at all times.

He stopped just feet from the boys.

"Cut it out," Naruto ordered calmly.

The three boys terrorizing Hinata all turned to look at the newcomer.

"What's this?"

"I guess we have enough time to beat some respect into this kid, too," Baseball-Hat reasoned before he rushed Naruto, his fist aimed at Naruto's face.

Even with Naruto's highly basic training, he was able to dodge the blow. Before the other boy could react, Naruto ducked under his defenses and shoved his arm upwards. Tori could hear a small pop as the arm tried to escape its joint before it slid back and the boy cried out in pain, staggering back.

"Wanna fight?" Long-Face asked as his friend recovered from the attack. Naruto crossed his arms and Tori could almost visualize his smirk.

"Better not regret it, guys," he almost dared. The two boys, Fat and Long-Face jumped forward to attack. Naruto evaded their punches, slipping under their guard as he had been taught and tripping the two.

By the time all three had been satisfyingly beaten up, Naruto grinned over them.

"My name is Namikaze Naruto, and I'm gonna be Hokage one day. Don't forget it!"

Hearing this, the three boys yelped and ran away. Well, Fat and Long-Face ran. Baseball-Hat had to limp painfully away, having tripped on a tree root and landing badly on his ankle. Tori was disgusted to see how easily the first two abandoned their friend.

"That'll teach them," Naruto announced, satisfied. Hinata, still cowering in the shadows, sniffed and Naruto looked towards her. "Are you okay?"

She jumped hearing his voice but, recovering, nodded vigorously.

"Hey, you have eyes like Tori-neechan!" Naruto noticed excitedly. Hinata shrunk back a little more and Naruto smiled warmly.

"Hinata-chan, where is your guard?" Tori asked, only now stepping into the woods. After seeing Naruto run ahead of her, she wanted to judge his progress in a practical manner. She was pleased but still angry to see her niece undefended.

Hinata almost jumped before wiping her sleeve over her eyes viciously in an attempt to hide her tears.

"Tori-obasama!" Hinata shouted, sounding relieved. (AN: I asked my Japanese friend, and she said that oba means both aunt and grandmother, just like oji can mean uncle and grandfather. The -sama is because Tori is a Main House Hyuuga and older than Hinata.)

"Who is supposed to be watching you, Hinata-chan? I'm sure your father didn't let you out of the Hyuuga Compound without a guard."

Hinata looked down in shame.

"I-"

"Hinata-sama!" a man shouted, running towards the three. Tori recognized him as Hyuuga Kashi. He was rushing towards us. "Are you- Tori-sama!"

"Kashi-san, can you explain to me why Hinata-sama was unaccompanied?" Tori asked in a sweet tone that drained what little color Kashi's face held.

"Well, erm- you see-"

"Obasama, please don't yell at Kashi-san," Hinata interrupted guiltily. "I left Kashi-san. It was my fault."

Tori sighed.

"Kashi-san, you may leave. I'll watch Hinata-sama for the rest of the day. Don't worry, I won't tell Hiashi."

When Kashi began to protest, Tori merely raised an eyebrow. Reminded of his place, and her position in the Main House, Kashi nodded, murmuring an acknowledgement before turning away. Hinata stared at the ground until he was gone.

"Obasama-"

"I think its time for ramen, ne?" Tori smiled at her niece and the small boy she had grown to love. Naruto punched the air, shouting about his love for ramen. Hinata smiled shyly at the boy and nodded at her aunt, whatever she was about to say forgotten.

"Ohayo, Teuchi-san," Tori greeted the small restaurant owner. "Ohayo, Ayame-chan!"

"Good morning, Tori-sama," the fourteen year old girl replied, carrying a pot of water to the stove. She had only recently started helping her father around the restaurant but she had a knack for cooking. Unfortunately, she insisted on honorifics.

"Ayame-chan, please drop the -sama. It makes me feel old," Tori complained lightly. Ayame laughed, shrugging her shoulders.

"What'll you have?" Teuchi asked the three newcomers.

"I'll have-"

"MISO RAMEN!" Naruto shouted excitedly, spinning on his stool. Tori chuckled, amused. Hinata looked a little shocked at his behavior, but in a good way.

"Naruto-kun will have miso ramen," Tori said, smiling wryly. "I'll have beef ramen, and Hinata-chan will have..."

"Beef, please," she said politely. Her attention was still absorbed by the bundle of energy that had saved her from the bullies, not to mention taught them a lesson.

"So, this must be your niece, right Tori-san?" Teuchi asked, smiling at Hinata. Hinata nodded shyly and Tori grinned.

"Sure is. Hinata-chan, I'd like to introduce you to Teuchi-san and his daughter, Ayame-chan."

"Hello," the Hyuuga heiress greeted politely. Teuchi smiled broadly, placing a bowl of ramen in front of her.

"On the house," he announced. Tori began to argue before glancing at Naruto, who was already on his third bowl. As she tried to figure out how he had eaten so quickly, a bowl of ramen was placed before her.

"It's a good thing I'm getting paid to teach Naruto," Tori said as she paid the bill. Without the money from the ongoing if not enjoyable mission to protect, educate, and train Naruto, Tori had no doubt that she'd be out of money in a week with the amount of food Naruto consumed. Not that she minded; Naruto was filling out, even if the seal prevented him from growing much.

Teuchi, who had by now learned not to ask questions regarding Naruto's past or his connection to Tori, merely laughed.

They said their goodbyes and the trio began walking towards the Hyuuga Compound.

Exhausted by the earlier events, the two five year olds were almost dead on their feet. Rolling her eyes, Tori knelt and let Naruto climb onto her back. She stood up and lifted Hinata into her arms, resting the young girl against her hip, before resuming the walk.

She walked through the Hyuuga Compound undisturbed. Hoping to spare Kashi some grief, Tori quietly tucked Hinata into bed under the watchful eye of Hyuuga Hitomi, Hinata's mother. Hitomi, a graceful and ever-smiling woman, was the heart of the Hyuuga Clan. If they were ever viewed as cold or detached, Hitomi could beat that stereotype down with a single smile.

"How was your day?" Hitomi asked in a soft voice.

"Not too bad. Naruto-kun and I saw Hinata-chan at the park and we went to Ichiraku's. I think Hinata-chan is following in my footsteps though."

"What, did she beat someone up?" Hitomi asked with an amused smile. Tori shook her head.

"She snuck away from her guard."

"Did she?" Hitomi asked curiously. Tori nodded, a sad smile on her lips.

"A few boys, Neji-kun's classmates, cornered her in the park. One of them pulled her hair. I was about to scare them away when Naruto-kun ran ahead of me and beat them up."

"Isn't he Hina-chan's age?" Hitomi asked, studying the boy's now sleeping face rested against Tori's shoulder.

"Yep. Three on one," Tori smiled proudly. Hitomi chuckled.

"Don't tell your brother; he'll probably try to arrange a marriage," she joked.

"What, you don't think they'd be cute together?" Tori laughed, playing along. Hitomi smiled broadly at her sister-in-law. "Speaking of Naruto-kun, I better get him home."

"Where does he live?" Hitomi asked, hoping she'd get a straight answer this time.

"Think of it this way, Tomi-chan: if you don't know where he lives, there's no way Hiashi-niisama can get the information out of you. You know, in case he wants to arrange a marriage," Tori grinned, already walking towards the front door.

Hitomi only sighed, knowing that was the only response she was likely to get. After being introduced to Naruto last week, she had unsuccessfully tried to wheedle information about him from both Tori and Hiashi. This was unsuccessful because, while Tori was merely withholding information, Hiashi had no knowledge regarding the boy. All he could offer was the knowledge of the last name, Namikaze, but even that was a dead end. After all, Namikaze was a dead name.

"Come visit soon, Tori-chan. You've been spending so much time with the ANBU," Hitomi said, pouting, and Tori smiled.

"We have an ongoing mission in the Leaf. I'll probably be spending most of my time there until... For the next few years."

Tori left, leaving Hitomi wondering what in Konoha could possibly keep an elite ANBU team at HQ for such an extended amount of time.

A/N:

So, it's a somewhat small-ish chapter, but I don't have much to give out right now... If I did, I'd be updating two or maybe three times tonight... But I don't... So sorry...

I'm soooooooooooooooo tired...

Anyway, please review and I will update as soon as I can!

^.^ Susie -.- zzzzz