Little Storm
"Why, you are correct, little sprout. No one will ever lay a harmful hand on you again, we will make sure of that." Hashirama said, easy smile on his face to the child. But killing intent simmering in the flora around them.
"L-Liars! No growns up wif no masks is ever nice to me! And-And even they are mean too but only some shadow masks doos it."
Shadow… masks? Can't be ANBU… right? What kind of hellhole is this if ANBU are abusing a toddler?!
Tobirama made a show of sitting down slowly, legs spread wide in front of him, how he's seen many un-trained children do. "Would you tell us about these shadow masks, little sprout?" He said folding his hands together as a show of ease.
"Mister, not sure who lied to you or somefin but dats not my name."
"Ah, little sprout is a nickname for children of my clan. It is nothing bad, but if you'd like us to use your real name we will."
"You have a clan?! Is like a biiiiig fam'ly right?"
Must not know the history yet to not recognize any of us.
"In a way. So, what is your name then?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumak! Dattebayo!" The child stood as tall and proud as he could for being about 3 feet in height.
If they as a group weren't pissed before, now they definitely were.
"Uzumaki? As in the great fuuinjutsu clan of Uzushio?"
"Clan? I'm from a clan?! I have family?!" The child's eyes were full of a brittle hope, dried tear tracks through layers of dirt and grime punctuating the fragility of it.
"Of course, but that means you are not a little sprout, but a little storm."
"You know my clan?" There was another ounce of hope in those big blue eyes.
"My wife is an Uzumaki, the eldest princess of the island." Hashirama said, crouching down onto one knee.
"A princess?!"
"And the most terrifying kunoichi I have ever met." Hashirama chuckled.
"My clan is so cool! Please call me little storm!" The kid bounced excitedly,
Every one of them had been older brothers at one point, even if only two of them still actively retained that title. They all knew the gravity of what could have happened to this child wandering all alone.
"Hey little storm. Would you show us around the village a bit? Seems we got locked in that place for a while and need some help figuring out where all the best places are."
"You want my help?"
"Mhm. And afterwards, how about we get something to eat?" He looks like he hasn't eaten properly…. Ever. How old was he actually? Stunted growth could be possible due to lack of nutrition.
"Dis not no trick right? Some the masks buy me food too but I end in the orph'nage after."
"You have my word, Naruto, that you will never have to step foot in there again unless you want to."
"Promise?"
Izuna crouched down and extended a finger to their new young friend.
"Pinky. We all give you our word on that." He didn't have to look around to tell Madara and Hashirama were nodding in agreement. The child's face told all as he wrapped his own too tiny pinky around Izuna's and bounded over to Tobirama in a hug.
After a few moments he pulled him back, letting the kid break the hug first.
"Okay! So first we gots to go to the park! Well both parks, both has dif'rent things I like to do." He pointing with his stick in one direction, which Tobirama then swiftly picked the boy up under his arms and onto his shoulders. He may have been in casual clothes but his fur was always in place.
"Wha-?! Ah!" The kid screamed for a moment and then laughed.
"I'm so tall now!"
"I thought you might like this. Now then, use your mighty stick little storm, and lead the way." And they were off, bounding from tree to tree with the child's carefree laugh in their ears and Izuna doing a few fancy flips in front of them getting the boy to laugh even more.
He desperately wanted to give this child a bath, but refused to until he felt like he had earned his fragile trust more thoroughly. For now though, they'd just have to settle with the crown of scented herbs and flowers that Hashirama placed on the boy's head when they stepped out of the treeline into what he thinks is a recently renovated training ground 3.
With the child held firmly in place with chakra and a new direction to follow, the walked calmly out of the training grounds and into the village proper.
Let's see how long it takes them to find the truth of us. Ready for a game Hiruzen-chan?