chapter3 Naruto age4

All of this within seconds came from young Naruto.

Gai had to admit the flames of youth in this boy was like a blazing inferno, he had never seen a child with so much potential energy. 'Oh Kakashi you have a find boy! The flames burn brightly in him! I hope to one day I too will find a boy with flames that match him, he would make the perfect student!'

He grinned at the boy and Naruto was surprise by how shinny the tall man's teeth were.

"I'm Maito Gai, little Naruto-kun, but you can call me Gai," He said to him.

"Okay," Naruto grinned at the tall man.

"So Naruto what do you want to do?"

"Play ninja!" Naruto suddenly ran off leaving Gai to search for him. For such a small child he was fast and Gai went into Naruto's room but couldn't see him anywhere. Gai was surprised that he could hide so fast but then again he knew the home better than he did.

Gai went around searching the room, he opened the closet but only saw a mess in there, nothing but what looked like a pile of laundry that hadn't been cleaned yet. Gai sighed at such a sight, he would have thought Kakashi would have taught young Naruto better than that. He shook his head and went searching for the young boy, he looked in a toy chest with no luck, then he knelt down to check under the bed.

That was when his sense of danger hit him, like all experienced ninjas they had learned to trust their gut when someone was watching or about to attack. He heard the feet running and turned just in time to catch the little blonde boy as he jumped at the man. He launched himself into Gai's chest as he caught the giggling boy.

"I got ya!" He shouted out and Gai looked across seeing the disturbed pile of clothing. He smirked knowing now that the boy had used that to hide himself.

Gai had to admit the boy showed some talent at least for surprises. He got up and placed Naruto on the ground as the young boy gave him a huge fox like smile. Gai couldn't help but like the kid, he was full of the fires of youth.

"Well my youthful young man, what happens now that you got me?" Gai asked.

"It's your turn to hide now."

"Then prepare yourself," Gai decided to show off a bit and threw down a smoke bomb.

Naruto looked with wide eyes as the smoke cleared and Gai was gone, then he grinned as he started running around looking for him. He ran out of the room and Gai who was on the ceiling smiled down at him, he was using his chakra to stick himself to the ceiling and when Naruto left simply and silently landed. He turned around going into a thinking pose, as he thought about Naruto.

He had heard how the great Kakashi had taken in the child and he had to admit he had been surprised, he never pictured Kakashi as the family type. But he seemed to be doing a good job although Naruto could be a bit more tidy, but maybe he was expecting a bit much from a four year old. He wondered what Naruto would be like when he started his training?

That was when he felt a small body wrap around his leg, "Got ya again!"

He looked down surprised at the boy had come back so quickly, "How did you..."

"Daddy uses that trick too mister," He smiled up at Gai and the older man just had to laugh.

They continued to play for a bit until Naruto got a little tired, while taking a nap Gai went over the list that Kakashi left. It was kind of simple, usually the dos and don'ts, although what was underlined in red was 'Don't feed him sugar!' in big bold letters. Gai was wondering if Kakashi was being a hen mother or just trying to warm him.

He heard the sounds of small footsteps and saw little Naruto rubbing his eye with a yawn. Then he heard the young boy's stomach growl.

"Hungry?" He asked him and Naruto nodded quickly.

"So what do you want for lunch?"

"Ramen!" He yelled out happily.

"Okay but it's a good day out, we shouldn't waste it inside all the time, how about we go outside? I've heard of a place that is supposed to have the best ramen in the city," Gai smiled seeing how huge Naruto's eyes were now.

The little boy loved ramen but if there was a place that served the best, he couldn't wait to go. He ran over to Gai, hooping up and down asking to go there. Gai smiled seeing how suddenly awake he was and gave a small laugh as he put on his vest. When they left the apartment the two ninjas that had been waiting finally saw their target. As the two walked on, they started to shadow their prey.