Second Chances

Chapter 9

'Something is very wrong,' Iruka thought as they followed Dan through the barrier.

Once they crossed through the barrier, Iruka, Naruto, Kurama and Shino transformed back into their human forms but they were still on the defensive.

"Grandpa Dan, are you alright?" Ai asked as she was worried about her grandpa.

"Let's talk inside," Dan replied.

Once inside the house, the four omega changed into a fresh set of clothes then joined Dan and the quads in the living room.

"Dan?" Iruka asked as he watched his childhood friend wipe the blood off his sword.

"I think it's best to talk about this matter without the pups here," Dan said still staring at his sword.

"Go put away our supplies then go straight to bed when you're done," Iruka said.

The quads wanted to protest but when they saw the look on their grandpa's face they left without protest. With the quads out of the room the tense atmosphere intensified. Nobody said a word as their eyes were all on Dan, who was known for his calm and welcoming demeanour, but this time you could feel the murderous intent radiating of him.

"They were waiting for you," Dan said breaking the tense silence. "They were going to ambush you using the feral wolves."

Nobody responded because it seemed as if he was talking to himself rather than the four of them.

"When I became the Village Leader, I took an oath to protect everyone who lived in this village be they outcast or beast. As long as the feral wolves didn't harm anyone in the village I wouldn't harm them but they sent them after you," Dan said supressing an angry growl.

"Who's they?" Naruto asked bringing Dan out of his trance.

Dan stopped cleaning his sword and looked at Naruto.

'There goes that look again,' Kurama thought with a frown.

His every instinct was telling him that something was going to happen to his baby brother but he didn't know what and he wasn't sure he could protect him.

"Do you know what happens to an alpha when they lose their mate?" Dan asked looking at Naruto.

"They go mad with grief. They lose their sanity and turn into blood thirsty beasts who destroy everything in sight," Naruto replied.

"Hmm, do you know what happens to an alpha when they can't find a mate?" Dan asked.

"Well, more or less the same thing but this time the alpha goes mad with lust and longing. They try to find any omega to mate with to fill the void," Naruto replied.

"You're absolutely right Naruto. They lose themselves to their instincts. They become nothing more than empty shells fuelled by rage or lust," Dan said.

"What does that have to do with what's happening right now?" Kurama asked.

"Imagine having an army of feral wolves at your command," Dan said as he stared at his reflection on his sword.

"What?! That's not possible," Iruka said frightened by the idea.

"I thought so too until I went up against them today," Dan said still a bit shocked, "Their strikes were so precise, their movements were quick and efficient. They relied on nothing but instinct. It almost seemed as if they were-"

"Trained," Kurama said fighting the suffocating feeling threatening to consume him.

"Exactly," Dan said trying to supress the foreboding feeling in his heart. He placed his sword on the empty seat beside him on the couch and sighed as he looked at all the worried faces staring at him. "It seems we need to put our plan into motion sooner than we intended."

"We can't. We barely have enough money as it is and we haven't made any arrangements yet!" Kurama argued.

"I know, but we don't have the luxury of time anymore," Dan said calmly.

"But-"

"Enough!" Iruka yelled silencing Kurama's protests.

"If the elders send an army of feral wolves against us we won't stand a chance. Our objective is still the same as before, we make enough money to leave this place. We move to the Leaf and we start afresh. I can't believe I'm saying this but in order to make sure that actually happens, we have to play by the elders' rules," Iruka said after a moment of silence.

"You can't be serious!" Kurama argued surprised by the turn of events.

"This is not about you or your beliefs. This is about the quads. We have to comply with their rules. That means the pups are going to participate in the chunin exams," Dan said sternly.

"If they participate, they are more likely to reveal themselves. The whole point of hiding them here was to avoid that!" Kurama yelled.

"I know but I can't protect them or you anymore. I've tried my best but the elders aren't budging this time. You just have to take more precautions and I'll do my part," Dan said tiredly.

"Kurama, I know this is hard but we have no other choice. We'll proceed with the plans we've already set in place but this time we have to make sure they coincide with the chunin exams," Iruka said with finality.

"Fine!" Kurama conceded as he clenched his fists.

"Dan, is there something else we should know?" Shino asked after a moment of silence.

"What?" Dan asked confused.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who saw how you looked at Naruto, so I ask you again, is there something else we should know?" Shino asked.

With this questions all eyes were on Dan.

"You know as well as I do that Naruto is our weakness," to this no one objected because it was the truth. "Well, the elders figured it out. I don't know what they are planning but I'm sure they are going to use Naruto and knowing the elders whatever they have planned --"

"We'll begin preparations tomorrow. For now, everyone upstairs and straight to bed," Iruka said hurriedly, ignoring the chill that went down his spine when Dan said those words.

"Mother-"

"Nope. We all had a long day so let's go to bed...please," Iruka said with pleading eyes.

"Right. Goodnight Dan, we'll get back to you with our progress," Shino said as he dragged Naruto and Kurama up the stairs.

"Iruka, everything will be alright. I'll do my best to keep the elders busy," Dan said trying to reassure the omega.

"I know, thank you," Iruka said clinging to the alpha's reassuring words to avoid losing himself in the fear that threatened to consume him.

"Are you sure you'll be able to make it out of the forest on your own?" Iruka asked as he watched Dan walk to the door.

"I'll be fine," Dan replied as he walked out.

With Dan gone, Iruka locked all the doors and activated all the seals on the entrances and exits. Iruka went upstairs to check on everyone. When he checked on the quads, he found them all peacefully asleep then he checked on his pups and found them asleep as well.

'This might be the last time we actually get a good night's rest,' Iruka thought as he went to bed.