Calm Before the Storm
After a few days of peace, the warden and the guard thought everything had died down. That is until a fire broke out as one of the cells caught fire. Obviously this was a planned strategy by those from Konoha as they took that opportunity to secure their objective. They drag him to the laundry room where it's usually empty unless it's laundry day. That's where they proceed to give the demon the beating he's rightfully deserved, including the overdue ones.
However, unknown to them they weren't the only ones know about the laundry room. Hence, despite their success in evading the prison guards they had not taken their fellow prisoners into account. In fact, the 3rd party had been there for a while. The Konoha group only realize they weren't alone after a couple of shots at their target.
In every prison there's always a leader or fractions among the prisoners. Fire Prison is no different but one man managed to rein in everyone under his rule. Hence, instead multiple fractions, there's only one ruler where he's the king. If there's a game (gambling) going on he would be the first to know, if there's an escape plan of course he would know.
Since he literally took over as leader he made it his business to know his surroundings. Hence, besides his true name Ryoma, some knew him as the mob-king. So when the Konoha group made their plan, it was obviously known to him. It's not hard to deduce they would come to the laundry room thus how he and his men were already in place.
True to his source, he and his men didn't have to wait long. Those from leaf hadn't bothered to check their surroundings thus missed the extra bodies in the dim lit environment. They were too busy enjoying their well deserved payback to care. After a moment, Ryoma decides he's seen enough thus intervened.
"Now, now. Just what has the blond little squirt done that 15 grown men would gang up on him?"
By his tone the mob-boss is a little ticked and disgusted by the sight.
"Ryo... Ryo... Ryoma-sama?! Why are you here?!"
They didn't know why the man would be here for their business, let alone his men appearing from the shadows and surrounding them.
Seeing the glares they are getting, the group quickly became very unnerved as they tries to explain themselves.
"Eh, Ryoma-sama you may not know this but this thing here is actually a demon."
"He's somehow managed to brainwashed our Hokage and got us sent here in the first place."
"We were just about to do everyone a favor by killing the little demon."
Unknown to the group, most of the gang went through similar treatments in their youth.
'Abomination', 'worthless', 'street-rat', 'good-for-nothing', 'waste-of-space' were few of the colorful and taboo words used.
The name calling weren't important, it's the tone and the way they said them that triggered some unpleasant memories. No-one acted yet was out of respect to their leader as the man is currently speaking to them.
"I see, you boys may not know it." as he points his finger around him.
"My boys and myself had been called many names, trash, worthless, street-rat, good-for-nothing etc."
"Demon, however is new." amuses the man dangerously.
"Ryoma-sama, you don't understand he's really a demon. He may look like a kid but don't let his appearance fool you."
"Really?! I have been watching you beat up the kid for 5 minutes."
"Where is this demon? Not once had he raise his hands to fight back."
"Had he been a true demon why hadn't he killed all of you?"
The group knew things are getting serious as they should had realized not everyone share their belief.
Sweat slowly flow down their foreheads as they found themselves unable to respond.
"Ryoma-same, that thing is just bidding it's time." he knew he's grasping straws but still tries convince the mobster.
"Our beloved Hokage sealed away it's power thus turning it into a kid."
"Are you calling me a fool?! I have seen murderers, I have faced insane assassins the ninja villages sent after me."
He's had enough, thus with a snap of his fingers. The others already knew what to do, in fact they had been itching for while to beat the living crap out of them.
The reason they hadn't started already is because of their boss. Thus they held back their urges. Hence, when they heard the signal, they start beating those from Konoha senseless. Prisoner or not, non of them saw beating up a small child a sign of justice. They may be criminals but at least they have standards.
After a while the group was a little surprised that no-one came to stop them. Usually there would be riot guards flooding into the room, punishing those involved. Unknown to them, the guards choose to ignore their activities.
They had responded to the emergency only to find it's actually a diversion. There's little doubt it was done by the Konoha group as they all had a sinking and sickening feeling of the situation. 'The Calm before the Storm' is fairly accurate as the guards consider how they suddenly stopped all their attempts.
It was a mistake to think they would simply give up. Thinking the worst for the child, the warden ordered a prison wide search.
"Find the kid!"
"Find those Leaf prisoners."
It's no doubt for them finding one will lead them to the other.
These Konoha prisoners were infamous as every guard were given special instruction to keep an eye out on them. Unfortunately, they had spent too much time to contain the emergency thus all of them were feeling equally guilty. They curse themselves for falling for such stupid trick and letting the kid down.
All this time they fought hard against the out-break, the kid was suffering in his abuser's hands. Having seen how these monsters would abuse him, no-one dared to voice what would happen to the poor kid. When they finally found him, they were relieve it was already taken care of. Clearly the kid has been rescued by his fellow inmates.
Aside from letting justice serve itself, they were curious about the situation. As much as they hate to admit it, they knew they had failed him. They had tried punishing the Konoha group yet they only felt content after succeeding in making the kid suffer. These people were like drug addicts and abusing the boy is like a ritual.
The warden felt the same thus why he had his men on standby. Aside from letting the scene play itself out, he wanted to see how the boy respond to these inmates. Ryoma is maybe a criminal but the man had honor thus why he waited to see how the two feels about each other. Inside the prison, the boy is better off having fellow prisoners to watch over him then his people. As the week had demonstrated, there's only so much they could do.
Normally Ryoma's behavior would send him to the solitary room but today he's actually defending a child hence the warden let the incident slide. For the sake of the kid, he needs all the friends he can even if it's among killers and murderers. In fact the warden had hoped the man would look out for the kid in there. At least to help him open up a little.
True enough, Ryoma's men brought the kid to him.
"Hey kid, what's your name?"
Naruto would normally clampped up but he quietly said his name - "Naruto..., Naruto Uzumaki".
One look on him Ryoma knew the kid's an orphan.
"Listen kid, if anyone in this prison gives you a hard time you tell me ok!"
"I have never had a son before, but from today on you can be my godson and these will be your brothers."
"It may not be much but we prisoners tend to stick together, like a big family!"
By then the blond was brought to tears as he hugs his godfather like he did with his old-man Hokage.
Since he came into the prison, Ryoma's men had watched him for the entire week. The reason none of them did anything is because they didn't know how to approach him.
"Hey, brat! What the f*** ya doin'?" doesn't sound right.
They lived in criminal world so long they forgot how to interact with normal children. Especially their looks, they may be good for intimidating others hence it's not facing innocent children. Their smiles only made them look cruel or menacing. To try and put on an innocent face would probably cramp their face muscles.
They could easily do a thousand yard stare and talk with their fists but trying to talk to a child would probably give the poor child nightmares. Then again Naruto did avoid everyone when he came in so they kept their distance. The group would have acted when he got abused but seeing the guards taking matters into their hands they left things as they were. That's until today as they found out the 'plan'.
In the end as leader of those inmates, Ryoma was taken to see the warden. He patted Naruto in the head letting him know he will be alright.
"It's alright, the warden and I go way back. You stay with your new brothers ok."
The guards let them finish before escorting him out.
Obviously this was watched by the warden as Ryoma was later brought to him.
"You know Ryoma, what you have done would normally get you a few weeks in the solitary room."
"Cut the crap, since your men didn't even step in you weren't much of an innocent. Just tell me what's the story with the kid."
"Who in the right mind send a 6 year old to prison, let alone the 'Fire Prison'."
"Actually, the kid's from Konoha and his sentence was signed by the highest authority including the Hokage."
"File says the kid somehow got himself involved in the Uchiha massacre."
"The Uchiha? Can you beli..."
"I know." interrupts the warden, he too felt the same way as he sigh deeply.
Despite one being the warden, the other prisoner, the two have an understanding with one another. As long as the prisoners follows the rules, the warden would cut them some slack. Luckily for the warden, Ryoma rein in most of his prisoners thus making his job much easier.
"I hear you nominated yourself as the kid's godfather. I didn't know you are the fathering type!"
It was more of a conversation starter bringing the two into a safer topic of discussion.
"Yeah, well the kid seem to need it at the time."
Ryoma may act tough but the warden knew he meant well as he did have the loyalty of his men.
"Don't worry, I have seen what it meant for the kid. Just watch over him."
"As long as you and your men don't go too over your head, you can ask for anything."
"When I first saw the kid and read his medical reports, he got a lot less than scants than prisoners not eatten for days."
Clear disgust was shown on the mobster face.
"Well lucky for you guys, we decide to change the prisoner's menu a little for this reason."
"Just make sure you and your men don't start complaining about not eatting your veggies."
"Also off the record, try ask what the little guy likes to eat and we will arrange it from time to time."
Obviously, they start having Ramen from time to time and most of the prisoners knew whom they should thank for this change.