The Missing
.
.
Something's missing, He decided.
He didn't know what it was, didn't even understand how he could tell, but he just knew something- something important, something vital- wasn't here.
The missing was an ache, a hollow feeling in his gut that was almost but not quiet hunger, and it grew each day since he first acknowledged it- he lasted almost a month before he left home in search of it.
.
"Get back here!"
The angry shout drew his attention but it wasn't until he heard a boy (black-haired, dark-eyed and his according to the ache) call back a "No way!" that he understood what was going on.
The kid was stealing from a food vendor.
He was standing and making his way over by the time the boy found himself caught, a pair of passersby (one with a rather large dog) having helped the vendor corner the slippery boy. "Caught you now!"
"Leggo!" the kid growled, stilling when the dog growled in response.
The vendor, vicious and gleeful in triumph, reclaimed the wrapped morsel, speaking as he reached the group. "Do you know the punishment for thieves, boy?"
"Now," He said, hands in his pockets. "There's no need to take such dramatic measures."
The vendor growled, "This boy's trying to take my livelihood!"
"You got it back, no harm done." He replied easily, arm wrapping around the (now pale) kid's shoulders causally- incidentally pulling the black-hair away from the group and closer to him. "Look at him, he's just a kid."
The vendor was unimpressed, "A thief's a thief no matter the age."
"True enough," he said, hands coming up as placation for a moment before he was flicking a smoke bomb towards them. "Come on." He ordered the boy, starting off at a run.
"What's you're name!?" the kid yelled at him.
He laughed in disbelief when he saw the boy managed to nab the food back from the vendor, "Minato! Namikaze Minato!"