The second of two challenges from Gouken 2012, this one caught my interest in particular because it expresses a brilliant solution to what I consider a problem in the Naruto-verse.

Once upon a time in the land on Konohagakure there lived a hero that was seen as something to be tormented as a demon that he held at bay. Little was done to protect the boy as he grew up, and in fact the truth was rather the opposite and the protection went to making sure that the only people that cared for him to completely fail to stop the assaults upon him. However, one should really think that they couldn't stop the greatest ninja in the entire village from knowing what was happening.

What he saw sickened him, in particular the actions of some of his own ninjas lashing out in grief and anger. They should have better control over their emotions than that. While he could understand that they were suspicious of another Orochimaru of unimaginable might growing up in their midst, he could not forgive.

Many of those ninja suddenly saw service cleaning ditches and chasing a notorious cat known only as Tora. Some suspected that Tora had once been a summon that had somehow gotten stuck in their world, but the truth was that the damn thing was far too immortal for that to be true. They'd already confirmed it wasn't a nekomata or bakeneko anyway.

But back to the current problem, he wanted some way of protecting the boy, without showing his hand in such a way that the council could raise too much of a fuss. He may have been overlord of the city, but he was old and didn't want to listen to their bitching all the time. So instead he sighed as he watched his young hero happily slurping bowl after bowl of ramen with abandon. It was his half-birthday treat, and Ichiraku's had always been a haven for the lad.

Admittedly, any other restaurant in Konohagakure had been fined, discreetly, for 'health violations' related to not giving him even one koku of rice. Reaching out he frowned deeply as he found his cup of tea had been emptied in his last drink. Before he even could raise a question of a refill, young Ayame was there with the pot and a smile. "Here you go Hokage," she offered cheerfully before bustling over to take Naruto's empty bowls. "More ramen Naruto?"

"Thanks Ayame! You're an angel!" Naruto shouted between bowls, happily bouncing in his seat. And that sentence struck up a thought in the crafty old mind of one Sarutobi Hiruzen.

An angel huh? What if there was a team of them watching over the boy? A group of girls perhaps? Yes, they tended to have more maternal instincts, and he had seen less females, especially among his age group violate the Fourth's wishes. His gaze drifted over the scenery and smiled as he found an old familiar sight hiding just beyond a bush. The young girl had more than once acted in Naruto's defence, though the boy didn't know it. She would be perfect to start the group, and then-

He cut himself off as he caught sight of the eyes peeking out of the bushes. A predatory gleam entered his eyes as he realized just who the young lady was. It would seem that old Hiashi might have a way to pay off the debt he owed to Minato after all. And the fact she was already looking out for him...

Perfect leader.

The next member, he might go with that orphan girl that had played with Naruto a few times before she was adopted by Kumo-chan, the great mother bear of a woman that ran one of the best blacksmith shops in town. Which had the unfortunate side-effect of drawing out the weapon obsession in the young girl, who no longer found time for play and bugged him nearly daily for missions she could do to earn money for more 'toys'. Kumo-chan was also the one that had forged Minato's own hirashin kunai all those years ago, she would be a wonderful asset for Naruto to get to know and befriend.

For the third member, he figured that bright young girl with vibrant pink hair that was in Naruto's class would make an excellent addition, and hopefully would assist the boy in his schoolwork as well. Her mother being head of the merchant division of the civilian council was barely a side thought, especially since she had to often refuse to dole out punishments to the merchants for they made counterclaims. However, she believed the boy to simply be a product of his environment growing up. She would also share some of her favorite pranks of the week with Sarutobi in a memo.

However, her husband was a bit troubling as he hated Minato with a passion for some unknown reason, and Sarutobi could only pray that he hadn't taught his daughter to hate Naruto. The fact that he was trying to get in good with the minders of Sasuke Uchiha so that his daughter could gain the boy's favor was disquieting as well. She may have to be a flex member, as the other girl he suspected of becoming a genin on the first try was vital to the counterintelligence future of the city, he couldn't commit her. He would prefer her, but perhaps her team would work closely with the angels.

Now he just needed a jounin to lead them.

Whoever he chose would have to effectively be outside of the normal jounin rotation, so he'd not be taking more than just three girls out of the graduation rotation for that year. "GET BACK HERE YOU BRATS!" shouted a voice that he should have expected to hear when it was least opportune. Turning around he found one of his Tokubetsu-jounin chasing after a group of genins her snake arms stretching out before her. The fact that she was soaking wet and those genin were still carrying water balloons told him much about the situation. It was Anko, the other 'demon' of Konoha and pariah because her master Orochimaru had abandoned her when he left the town, bearing his cursed mark.

She would understand the boy's plight the best, and would be a grateful for the mission that wouldn't take too much time from her current assignment with the Intelligence and Interrogation division. Well, all she'd need to do is collect information from the 'angels' and tell them what to do with it. It was worrying how much she enjoyed the second part of the division's name, under the private tutelage of Ibiki Moreno, but perhaps a couple 'blind eyes' to her activities might garner her favor towards the second job.

Yes, Naruto should be happy at all costs. Sipping his tea, he allowed himself a faint smile as he realized just how much hell these 'angels' will likely end up raising.