Footsteps came next, each slap of a sandal against a wooden floor like a cannon firing right next to the terrified blonde. That next minute was agonising on Naruto's nerves as the Uchiha continued to walk around the small shop, before sighing to himself and walking towards the door. As his hand touched the doorknob to close it the blonde let out a small breath he didn't even realise he had been holding. Unfortunately it wasn't small enough and before the air had fully left his lungs a hand wrapped around his collar, yanking him to his feet so that his eyes were level with a set of angry Sharingan.
"Well what do we have here? A little young to be a spy don't you think?" He sneered across at his companion but Naruto made use of his distraction as lashed out with the kunai clutched to his chest on instinct. With a cry of pain and anger the man dropped Naruto, clutching his arm that was now spraying blood in a long arc. Naruto wasted no time and sprinted out of the store, slipping between the legs of the man's surprised companion in one smooth motion before vaulting to his feet and taking off at a sprint.
The two Uchiha weren't surprised for long and they quickly took off after the tiny child; using their Shinobi training to enhance the muscles in their legs to take off at incredible speed. By the time Naruto was dropping back down on the other side of the wall the two Shinobi were right behind him. Using speed and energy the blonde didn't even realise he had he took off again, staying just ahead of his pursuers.
He did everything in his power to keep the two Uchiha from getting him, sliding through holes in fences that they were too big to get through, using his knowledge of the alleyways to confuse them and even at one point grabbing a peacefully sleeping cat and throwing it at the men. It turned out Tora, as the name on its collar read, didn't appreciate the early wake up and managed to keep the two would-be capturers busy for a surprising amount of time. Long enough at least for the terrified blonde to reach his destination.
It wasn't all that uncommon for Naruto to be chased due to his recent history as somewhat of a prankster. However in those situations he would have pre-planned his escape, usually with a few hidden surprises for his pursuers giving him ample time to make it to the Hokage tower or his home where he knew he was safe. Right now though he had no plan, no tricks to pull out of thin air and there was only one place nearby he would feel safe.
He burst through the flaps in front of Ichiraku's Ramen, surprising the young teenage girl washing dishes behind the counter. She didn't have time to even cry out in surprise before the whiskered blonde had jumped the small counter, using the seats as a springboard. The brown-haired girl just looked down at his quivering form in shock but only had time to do that before two men appeared in front of her, almost making her drop the bowl she was cleaning in fright. Quickly regaining her composure she placed a well-worn smile on her face.
"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen, I'm Ayame, how can I help you?" One of the men, his Sharingan active and spinning wildly, gave the small shop a once-over before giving a contemptuous snort. He span on his heel and marched out, the scowl on his face only intensifying. The man behind him gave Ayame an apologetic look before hurrying out after his companion. Letting out a small sigh Ayame turned to the still shaking Naruto, a small frown alighting on her usually upbeat and smiling face.
"What did you do now Naruto?" She let out another sigh as the blonde boy gave her a sheepish, if not slightly strained smile as he rubbed the back of his neck, out of habit or nerves she couldn't tell. She finally allowed a soft smile to play across he lips as she offered him a hand which he gratefully took, clinging to her arm like a lifeline. She brought him around to the back of the shop, leading him like a stray dog to the couch in the small living space back there.
"Just stay there Naruto, I'll go make us some tea okay then you can explain whatever silly prank you pulled this time." Naruto gave a small quivering nod earning him a glowing smile as Ayame quickly moved back to the kitchen area.
"T-Thanks Ayame-chan." The girl turned around again at the door, holding onto the frame as she smiled serenely at the little boy she considered a little brother in everything but blood.
"Hey, what are big sisters for ne?" Naruto finally seemed to relax at that, settling more into the couch as Ayame finally moved off to prepare some tea. An older man with greying hair and a fatherly smile seemingly permanently set on his wrinkling features chose that moment to walk down the stairs to see what all the commotion was about.
"Ah Naruto my boy, what brings you to our humble abode?" The small blonde turned at the familiar voice, a small but true smile appearing on his whiskered face at the sight of one of his precious people.
"Teuchi-ojisan!" The man simply chuckled at the exuberant cry as he settled a hand on the young boy's shoulder, his calloused palm easily dwarfing the boy's small frame.
"Now who did you manage to upset this time my boy? I hope it wasn't a Hyuuga, you know how they reacted last time." He let out a throaty chuckle as he fondly remembered Naruto half-crawling into his store, one arm and leg having been at the receiving end of the Hyuuga's fearsome Taijutsu style. It had taken a few hours before the boy could feel anything at all in those limbs. Naruto on the other hand just had an indignant if somewhat sheepish look on his face.
"I didn't do anything! They chased after me!" Teuchi just gave him a knowing smile; honestly he believed the boy's pranks would one day get him in a lot of trouble. Still, he and Ayame would be waiting for him with a warm bowl of ramen and a warm smile at the end of the day; nothing less for their best customer and his surrogate son.
"Of course they did Naruto, and Iwagakure has a solid gold statue of the fourth Hokage." Naruto looked up at him with wide blue eyes, his face looking like a monkey who had been given a truckload of bananas.
"Really?! That's so cool 'ttebayo!" Teuchi just gave a small sigh, he should have known better than to try and use sarcasm on somebody as innocent as Naruto.
"No, you see Naruto-" The blonde boy in question blinked in surprise when Teuchi suddenly cut off before jumping in surprise as he felt some kind of warm liquid spray across his back. He looked around only for his eyes to go wide in shock and terror; Teuchi was on the floor, unmoving, a single kunai sticking out of his blood-soaked throat. Behind him stood the two Uchiha who had been chasing him, a cruel glint in the spinning red eyes of the one in front.