Second Chances

Chapter 23

"Grandpa, there might be hope for you yet," Ai said.

'This kid,' Dan thought.

"The four of you have been unnaturally curious today," Iruka said.

"Yeah, you've been bombarding Dan with questions all day," Kurama said.

"We were just curious," Aiko said.

"Little ones, you are alpha and you are growing up. As you grow, you'll come across things that might break you and as much as we want to protect you from them, we can't. If we did, we'd be denying you a chance at life," Dan said.

"As you are alpha, I understand that you want to know what it means to be an alpha, which is why you ask so many questions. However, I unfortunately, can't answer them all because some things you're supposed to learn by yourselves but I promise you, I will do my best to answer the ones I can."

"Are you sure you want the quads to ask you questions? They are even more curious than Naruto," Kurama said making Naruto pout.

"Yes I am. I want to share as much of my wisdom as I can with them before you leave," Dan said.

"You'll have to share more of that wisdom with them later. Right now they need to do a sweep of the river," Iruka said.

"Oh right, we completely forgot," Ai said as she stood up and made her way upstairs.

"Be careful! After Dan's stunt the feral wolves might be a little rowdy," Iruka said making Dan cough, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"We will," Aiko said as Ai came back with their mission bags.

"We'll be back soon," the quads said in unison as they walked out the door.

"How long do you think they'll be gone?" Naruto asked slightly worried.

"Don't worry they won't be long," Kurama said trying to reassure Naruto.

This made Naruto smile as he tracked their chakra signatures until they walked through the barrier then he turned his attention to Dan.

"Dan, is that how you really see omega?" Naruto asked.

"Yes," Dan replied.

"You think too highly of us," Kurama said in a dismissive tone.

To which Dan replied, "You and Naruto brought those four incredible pups into the world without complaint and raised them into fine little alpha regardless of the hardships that come with being single omega. Iruka, you took in three orphaned omega and raised them all as your own, regardless of the dangers and challenges that come with raising omega. Shino, you see beauty in what most find disgusting and have a benevolence found in only few people."

"The four of you study ways on how, to heal and protect feral wolves, the very creatures that wouldn't hesitate to kill you. You see them as people instead of monsters. When the villagers attack you, you just subdue them. No matter how you speak or the jokes you tell, the idea of hurting them never crosses your mind. My Tsuna would work herself to the born just to heal one patient. I've seen some omega who'd willingly endure abuse in order to protect their pups."

"So, yes I think too highly of omega because you are amazing," Dan said making the four omega blush.

"I'm going to get started on lunch," Naruto said as he rushed to the kitchen, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"I need to get back to the garden," Shino said as he went outside.

"I need to get some rest," Kurama said as he went upstairs.

"Did I say something wrong?" Dan asked looking at the flustered Iruka.

"No, you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that, it's not everyday someone speaks like that about omega," Iruka said as he tried to quell his blush.

"Dan, during your meeting with the elders did they mention something about your mate?" Iruka asked when his embarrassment dissipated.

"How'd you know that?" Dan asked.

"Throughout our friendship the only time I've ever seen you lose your cool was when I woke up in the hospital and today; when you came here and spoke about your mate," Iruka said.

"Yes, they spoke about her," Dan said as turned his gaze towards the kitchen.

"Iruka, I never really thanked you have I?" Dan asked as he shook himself out of his stupor.

"Thanked me, for what?" the bewildered Iruka asked.

"After Tsuna left, I had this feeling that I would never see her again. I was her alpha, I should have gone with her but it was too risky. Even after she left I should have followed her but she asked me to stay here and so I did. I don't know why she asked but she did, knowing full well that I couldn't say no to her especially when she looked at me like that," Dan said with a distant look in his eyes.

"A few years after she left I met you," Dan said as he smiled. "I was on the brink of insanity. I almost went feral but then I met you."

"What?" Iruka asked shocked by Dan's words.

"I was losing my mind but when I met you, I got a new purpose in life. I wanted to help you and all the other omega in the village so I became the village leader and through that I was able to help as many omega as I could, so thank you Iruka."

"I should be the one thanking you," Iruka said.

"It was a pleasure helping you throughout the years," Dan said with a smile.

"You know, you could always come with us," Iruka said.

"If I did, I would leave all the other omega in the village at the elders' mercy and I can't do that. I'm happy for you and the rest of our family. I know that your lives outside the village are going to be better than they are now," Dan said.

"You're going to be very lonely without us," Iruka said.

"I won't deny that, but the sooner you guys are out of here the better. After my meeting with the elders today, you getting out of here is the safest thing I can do for you," Dan said.

"What did they say to you?" Iruka asked worriedly.

"Way too much. The elders have it so deeply ingrained in their minds that omega are a danger to alpha, that they don't even see what they are doing is wrong. They see omega as nothing more than a means to an end. I can no longer risk having all of you here knowing that elders will do everything in their power to turn you into what they think is a perfect omega."

"They tried poisoning the village's only source of water in order to flush you out. They don't mind throwing the entire village into a state of chaos just to force me to give you over to them," Dan said with his fists clenched.

"You believe the elders created these new laws knowing full well what the consequences would be," Iruka said as he tried to calm his nerves so as not to alert the others.

"Iruka, it is much safer for all of you to leave the village. The chunin exams are two weeks from now. You have six days left to prepare then we'll start travelling on Monday. I will escort you to the Leaf myself if I have to."

"I've already spoken with the Hoekage of the Leaf and he has already made arrangements for you. Once the chunin exams are over you must cut all ties you have with village," Dan said.

"But I'll do my best to come see all of you when I get the chance," Dan added when he saw the distressed look on the omega's face.

"Anything you do after the chunin exams will be up to you. You won't have to hide yourselves anymore. You'll finally be able to let people in. You'll finally be free."

"Free," Iruka said with a hopeful smile.

"All right, lunch is ready!" Naruto yelled from the kitchen.