Through The Smoke

Chapter 4

The Overlooked Prologue: Uzumaki Naruto, a werewolf, and an amnesiac. He's been searching for the mystery of his past, and on his journey he is inevitably 'adopted' by Deucalion. But when he meets Scott McCall and his group, will his plans change? Disclaimer: All this is Jeff Davis and Masashi Kishimoto's, for God's sake I'm only in high school! Author's Note: 'kay, so I got a couple reviews that made me think. Yes, Naruto is really unsure about himself in this story, but he has amnesia so he can't automatically be who he used to be as he grows up under Deucalion with his cruelty. But yeah, as he remembers and his character develops he will become more like the Naruto we all know. One thing: I love OOC Naruto. I read stories of it. I write stories of it. And I know it reflects and some of you may not like it, but I do, so I'm sorry if this story isn't how you want it to be. I'm enjoying writing this story even though it's hard to write a crossover and stick to canon while adding in a lot of detail. I'm a lot better at detail if I'm not trying to stick to a certain path. Another thing, I don't want Naruto overpowered enough that even if I say he's strong he just goes out and defeats all the enemies without letting any of the other characters in the show/story develop. He will grow into his destiny but I don't want to rush things too much even though I kind of feel like I did in this chapter. I also went back and edited the chapters a bit. Anyways, enjoy!

Part of growing up is realizing you learn to love so many people. It's about forming those relationships and finding what will last forever.

Dylan O'brien

"So, are you okay?" Scott asked Naruto, partially holding him up.

Naruto waved him off, panting and eyes still a bit hazy. "Long time… wolfsbane… exposure. Just… give me a minute."

"We have to find my dad! We don't have a minute!" Stiles shouted, worried.

Scott shook his head, turning to Lydia. "They're both hurt. We should wait-"

"No, I'm fine." Naruto interrupted, looking a little better as he stood by himself. "Lydia should go home though."

Allison and Isaac showed up in the room. "I'll get her taken to a hospital, you guys go." She said.

Naruto looked at Isaac. "Watch them, okay? Be careful because the storm is getting worse." Wind raged against the brick walls, lightning lighting up the sky and thunder crashing loud enough to hurt their ears. The dark night was oppressive and left a dark, foreboding feeling in the pits of their stomachs.

Isaac nodded. "Don't worry, go." The three left with a single, worried glance back at their friends.

Jennifer ran into Derek's loft, calling his name with anxiety written on her face. "Derek! Derek, where are you?"

He stepped into view, eyes catching hers as he observed her, sensing her emotions. "Right here."

She turned to him and moved over to embrace him. "Oh, thank God." She said in relief, and pulled back. Her breath came in pants. "Something happened at the recital. At the school. Okay, I need to tell you before you hear it- before you hear any of it from them."

"From who?" Derek questioned.

Jennifer shook her head. "Scott, Stiles, Naruto. They're gonna tell you things. Things you can't believe- you have to trust me okay? You trust me."

He looked into her eyes, arms holding securely onto her hips. "What is it?"

"Promise you'll listen to me?!" She begged, eyes teary.

Derek nodded. "I promise." She leaned in and kissed him, eyes widening when she pulled back.

"They're already here, aren't they." Jennifer wasn't asking, and Derek looked over her shoulder as the three came out. They argued, Jennifer asking if they pinned all the killings on her and emphasizing that they were only sacrifices for a cause, but no one believed her.

"Where's my dad?" Stiles finally asked, voice cracking and eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Jennifer shook her head, hair swaying. "How should I know?!" She looked at Derek, pleading. "Derek, tell me you don't believe this."

Derek caught the three teen's eyes, their serious expressions. "Tell me where Stiles' father is."

She shook her head, looking panicked. "No…."

"Ask her why she almost killed Lydia and Naruto." Scott suggested.

"Lydia Martin?! I don't know anything about that! Naruto, what are you guys talking about?!" Jennifer shouted, stricken.

"Then what do you know?" Derek countered, angry and betrayed.

"You kids are lying, making up an absurd story. A story you can't even prove!" She said fiercely, before being doused in mistletoe. She screamed, her form flickering between the Darach and Jennifer as she tried to wave the powder away before finally staying as Jennifer, a grimace on her falsely pretty face.

Before she could run Derek grabbed her by the throat, claws coming out. Jennifer pleaded for him to stop, saying that they needed him to save Cora and to call Peter. They listened to the call and got into two separate vehicles, Derek with Jennifer. The teens were debating about the situation, Stiles saying it felt wrong and Naruto…. listening to music. And texting.

Hey, Ino, how'd you know about what was going to happen?

Remember my abilities, idiot? I still have them.

I know, so… you went through my mind? It's already screwed up enough.

I could tell. Maybe you should talk to my dad? He's a psychologist and he knows you from back then.

Maybe. I have to save Derek's sister, and I have a bad feeling that some of my old pack will be there.

So you allied with the Darach, huh? Are you going to kill her?

The others need her. Derek wants to though.

Okay, I have to go do some things. Ttyl.

Bye.

He looked up when he realized that they were at the hospital and hopped out of the back, moving up beside the others as they practically formed a box around Jennifer. Stiles brandished his bat and Scott asked him what it was for, Stiles saying that they had claws and he had a bat. Jennifer pulled Naruto aside slightly, whispering into his ear. "Why do you hide your potential? All that I've heard and seen from you is a coward's work. Is it denial? The loss of who you once were? You'll have to realize it sooner or later. You'll have an awakening."

Naruto brushed her off, but the words hit him hard. He thought about it, how he really was a coward. He wasn't trying hard enough, and for some reason, he thought that his past self would be disappointed about who he was now. That he had the potential to end most of this before it happened. They walked through the busy hospital hallways, before Scott's mother stopped him and asked him what he was doing there. Once in the elevator, Jennifer looked around and saw all of the boys glaring at her. When they exited, Peter slid along the floor and landed in front of their feet.

"We've got a problem." He said, glancing up at the hulking form of two combined alphas. "A big problem."

The merged twins roared, and Naruto stepped forward, determination flashing in his eyes as he transformed. "You guys go ahead." His eyes turned red. "I'll make sure that they don't interfere." They nodded and took off, Jennifer's words ringing in his head.

I'm holding myself back. He realized, fangs glinting. If I continue doing what I'm doing, I'll get myself and the others killed. I'm supposed to be the Chosen One, and it's time to start acting like it! "I told you guys that if you tried to hurt them, I'd be there to stop you!" He roared. "And this time, I'm not holding back." He lunged at them, holding himself upside down on their shoulders before propelling himself into the air once again to land on his feet, turning and slashing at their exposed back, the fact that they had two minds slowing them down. He ducked under a blow and rolled to the side, his body remembering his training both from before and what Deucalion taught him.

His arm reached out, impaling their side, and he grabbed their shoulders, pulling them towards him and throwing them over his shoulder with a grunt of exertion. They hit the ground and climbed to their feet, running at him, but Naruto twisted aside and grabbed an arm, bringing his knee up and breaking it as they howled with pain. He grabbed the other wrist, jerking it and hearing a snap. Bloodlust filled his gaze but he shook himself out of it, determination cooling the heat.

"What are you doing?!" They roared as one.

Naruto gave a fanged smile. "There's nothing to hold me back any more. I can't let anyone else like the sheriff get hurt because I was too weak." And then he was over them, holding them down by their arms, eyes glowing and a grin on his face.

"Naruto." The teen turned around, eyes widening as he saw Deucalion standing there with Melissa in a tight grip. "You'll release them if you don't want Scott's mother to die."

Naruto growled, but got to his feet, the twins turning back into humans and laying on the ground in pain, nursing their wounds and eyes wide at the adrenaline coursing through their veins. "Deucalion." He said through gritted teeth. "Let. Her. Go. I won't let you use her to get to Scott."

Deucalion chuckled good naturedly, his grip tightening as the dark haired woman caught Naruto's crimson eyes, begging. "It seems that you finally conquered the fear. You're going to let go of all that now, is that it? You believe that just because you're not afraid to hurt and be hurt that you can protect everyone? That's a lie."

Naruto felt the heat return, burning fiercely inside of him, causing his skin to itch. He was growing more animalistic, his words coming out in more of a growl than actual pronouncement. "I said to let her go, Deucalion. Now."

Deucalion's foggy eyes narrowed. He really seems to be a different person. Are his memories returning along with his old persona? His claws bit into Scott's mother's throat, causing her to gasp out. "I have the upper hand here. Kali!"

Kali stepped out of the shadows, bare feet padding softly against the cold white tiles. "Yes, Deuci?"

"You and the twins are to keep him occupied while I get Scott to join me." Deucalion ordered, turning to leave. Naruto growled, low and deep, and made to go after him, but the three alphas stepped in front of him, eyes glowing and mouths drawn back in snarls.

"You guys can't do this!" Naruto growled. "He's killed innocents, and he just wants to use you. I realized that, why can't you?!"

Kali shook her head fiercely, hair swaying and teeth bared. "I listen to Deucalion. You're a traitor to the pack, so you deserve death in return!"

Ethan looked unsure, but Aiden was snarling. "He told us how much of a coward you were, this should be easy! You're running, just like how you left the pack because Deucalion tried to kill you!"

Naruto hissed through gritted teeth, resignation drawing his features taut. "Haven't you heard yet, Aiden? I'm the Chosen One."

And they leaped at each other, blood painting the walls.

"Something is going on down there. Your friend is fighting more than that monster." Peter spoke, wheeling Cora's bed down the empty hall with Scott directing it, Derek sticking close enough to Jennifer so that if she tried to run, he would grab her.

Scott listened, sensitive ears picking up the sounds on the floor below them. "I hear it too. Maybe Kali showed up."

"Can he take them? He didn't look too impressive." Peter said mockingly.

"He can hold them back." Scott responded resolutely as they turned a corner, headed to the elevator.

Stiles nodded, running alongside with his baseball bat in hand. "He had that look in his eyes, y'know? The one you guys get when it's the full moon and you're ready to kill everyone and-"

"Okay, we get it, Stiles." Derek interrupted, unamused, tugging Jennifer's arm as she glared at him.

Jennifer tore her arm away from Derek, stopping and causing everyone else to do the same and look at her in confusion and mistrust. "Okay, there are a pack of alphas here that want me killed. I can save her, but not until I'm far away from here and safe. Got it?"

Peter frowned, mouth already forming a sarcastic comeback. "I volunteer a different method of persuasion. Anyone up for torture?"

"Count me in." Derek growled, advancing until Scott held him back.

Scott shook his head, looking frustrated. "We have a deal you guys, let's just get her and Cora out of here."

And that was when he heard his mom's voice along with Deucalion's over the speaker.

Naruto had gone after Deucalion, giving the other alphas enough injuries to keep them occupied for a while, but not managing to escape some gashes of his own. Stiles had gotten Cora to the ambulance, he could hear them breathing, and Kali had gone after Derek and Jennifer. Scott and Peter had taken on the twins then got away, making it to the ambulance with Cora and Stiles.

So now he was running through the empty, flickering hallways of the hospital, following his nose. He turned a corner and stopped, back laying flat against the wall, calming his breathing as he heard footsteps approach. He bared his fangs, preparing to fight, and leaped out, slashing at the air. He tackled someone, freezing when he stared face to face with Isaac, and backed off, looking sheepish. "Oops, thought you were someone else."

Chris took in the werewolf and his glowing crimson eyes, cocking the trigger back as he aimed the gun at Naruto's head, and the teen's eyes widened as he put his arms up in surrender. "Who is this."

Allison pushed the gun down, voice urgent. "This is Naruto, he's an alpha but he left Deucalion's pack when he almost got killed."

Chris looked at the two boys and saw them nod, everyone relaxing but remaining on high alert. "Who is still in the hospital?"

Naruto, who they noticed was covered in blood, shrugged. "Derek is in here somewhere, along with Scott and his mom I think." And so they continued down the hallways, Chris armed and ready and Naruto and Isaac with their claws out. They all jumped when Scott and his mother appeared in front of them, relaxing when they recognized who they were.

Everything had been going perfectly, but then it all went to hell. Melissa had gotten the backup generator back on. Allison, Isaac, Chris, Naruto, and Cora were ready to leave in the car, but then Stiles had run off where he found Derek unconscious in the elevator, Jennifer nowhere in sight, Scott showing up just moments after Stiles.

Scott stared at Derek's body, his eyes widening in worry and dread. "Mom…" He whispered before heading to the roof, Stiles following and calling his name, telling him to stop, to wait, to think this through.

Down in the parking lot, Naruto stepped out of the car, staring up at the roof where he could barely make out three silhouettes. "Deucalion…." He growled under his breath, eyes flashing. "Now you're manipulating Scott! This…. I could handle me, but you don't mess with my friends!" He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Allison looking at him in concern.

"Are you alright? You spaced out, and your eyes-" Naruto stepped away, avoiding everyone's gaze as Derek pulled up in a car and explained that Stiles stayed behind to hold off the police as he moved Cora, saying they needed to hurry.

"Where's Scott and Melissa?" Chris questioned.

Derek answered as he put his younger sister into the back seat of his vehicle. "Jennifer took Melissa." Shock showed on everyone's face, except Naruto's, who balled his hands into fists.

"What about Scott?" Allison asked, breaking the silence that had settled around them even as Derek continued to prepare to leave. "Derek, where's Scott?!" She raised her voice when he didn't answer.

"He went with Deucalion." They all turned to Naruto, whose voice was tight with anger and eyes were glowing crimson. "He tricked him into believing he could help him find the Sheriff and Scott's mom."

With no other option, as Stiles was busy with the Argents, Naruto had ended up in Derek's loft with the Hale's and Isaac. Both himself and Peter had remained quiet as Isaac finally lashed out at his alpha, talking about how he wasn't doing anything to help the others, and silently Naruto agreed. So when the blonde stormed out, he followed, shooting Peter and Derek a knowing look as the door closed behind the two.

"Isaac!" He shouted, running to catch up to the other teenager. "You need to calm down and think about this. Derek lost his family, and the younger sister he thought was dead showed up only to get sick and he doesn't know what to do."

Isaac stopped, and Naruto almost ran into him. The beta turned and glared at him, and Naruto stepped back in surprise. He was crying. "How do you deal with it?!" He shouted at him, fists clenched at his sides. "How did you deal with growing up with a 'father' that hurt you?! How did you deal with growing up with Deucalion, who abused you, and act like it's no big deal! That he tried to kill you! I don't understand!"

Naruto immediately fell into silence, his blue eyes growing darker as emotions passed through them. He shook his head, feeling overwhelmed as his breathing grew shaky. "I-I don't know-I can't-I can't deal with it, okay! It's just easier to act like you're okay, so that nobody worries about you! When you finally have people that care whether you live or die, you don't want to bother them with your problems because you're afraid that they're going to leave you! I can't deal with it!" His shout broke at the end, voice falling into a whisper. The two stared at each other, breathing hard, before breaking into hollow laughter.

"We really aren't that different, are we." Isaac muttered, giving Naruto a small smirk.

Naruto held out a fist, a smirk on his own lips. "So how about it, friends?"

Isaac grinned, bumping their fists together. "Friends."

"I thought you guys were retired?!" Stiles said in shock as the father and daughter laid various weapons on the large desk, loading each and every one of them.

"Retired, but not defenseless." Chris stated, nonplussed. He turned to Stiles. "Let us know if you hear from Scott."

Stiles looked at his phone, the fact that he had no new messages or missed calls from his best friend mocking him. "Yeah… that's gonna be unlikely."

Chris' demeanor was serious. "Now both of you just remember that Scott's only doing what he thinks is right." All three heard a noise and looked at the door, surprised to see Isaac and Naruto standing there with smirks on their faces.

"I can't shoot a gun, or use a crossbow, but I… well, I'm getting pretty good with these." Isaac said, claws appearing at his fingertips.

Naruto crossed his arms, his smirk turning into a full blown grin. "Me? Well, I wouldn't mind going at the woman who tried to suffocate me with Wolfsbane."

Chris was the first to step into the vault, the three teens following suit. They stopped in the middle of the room as the hunter switched on the tasers he held, one in each hand, blue electricity dancing across their surfaces. Isaac eyed them warily. "I thought that you only used those on werewolves?"

"I do." Quicker than they could react, the tasers were shoved into the two werewolves' stomachs and they dropped to the ground, convulsing. Chris grabbed his daughter's wrist, handcuffing her to the gate.

"What the hell?!" She shouted, angry and confused. "What are you doing?!"

Chris stared into Allison's eyes. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to trust me on this. I knew for a long time she didn't just stop on the currents, she was in sync with them." The teens stared, bewildered as he dropped his gun as Jennifer stepped into the vault, a sexy smile on her lips.

"Now this is a sacrifice."

Naruto glared at her, managing to get to his feet, and tried to shift, and his eyes widened when nothing happened. He glared at Chris. "What did you do to me?"

Chris kept his eye on the Darach standing only feet from him. "The electric current prevents you from shifting for a while. Seems you really do deserve the title of True Alpha if you're already standing."

All of their heart's froze when Jennifer stepped closer, still smiling, and giving both Chris and Naruto longing looks. "Oh, yes, the True Alpha lead astray. I think that you would do fine for making up the sacrifices I couldn't successfully make, and you could thank the hunter for making it easy."

Naruto's eyes widened and he took a step back, trying to shift, but his eyes didn't even flash. "What do you mean, I'm a sacrifice now?"

Jennifer shook her head, and she appeared in front of the wolf faster than anyone could catch, bringing her hand up to touch his cheek. "With you, I could destroy the alpha pack and Deucalion with one move. All I need to do is perform a ritual. Now…" Naruto gasped as a sharp pain erupted in his stomach, and he looked down to see that Jennifer had grabbed the gun Chris dropped and shot him with the Wolfsbane bullet. His anger broke through, his wolf features beginning to show when she stuck a finger in the wound, twisting and pushing the bullet in further. He immediately whined in pain and she pointed the gun at Chris. "You'll be coming with me."

Chris couldn't hide the guilt on his face as he looked at the wide eyed teenagers. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I didn't want them to get involved. He looked at Naruto, pained. And now he's paying for it.

Chris and Naruto opened their eyes, Chris gasping desperately for air and Naruto's breath coming in short gasps. The other two looked at them in concern. "You two okay over there?" John Stilinski asked quietly.

"Chris? It's Chris right? And Naruto?" Melissa asked, receiving nods. Chris immediately began to try and escape, talking about how he'd been there years ago, when John shot down his attempt by saying that she'd taken all of their weapons.

John glanced at Naruto, who had his eyes closed as he leaned his head against the pillar, face set in a grimace of pain and annoyance. "Why's that kid here?"

Chris paled, guilt and concern covering his face. "Naruto, I didn't know that she was going to-I'm sorry, she took the bullets that could help you."

Naruto gave a weak grin, shaking his head at the hunter, his eyes flashing from blue to red, blue to red, and John and Melissa watched. One in concern, the other in realization. "Don't blame yourself. I shouldn't have… gone with, heh."

"What hurt you and where?" Melissa asked sternly, going into nurse mode.

"I got shot in the stomach." Naruto winced as he tried to adjust to a more comfortable position.

"But… why aren't you healing? Scott healed when he was shot." Melissa said nervously.

"And that is my fault." Chris admitted. "The bullet is made of wolfsbane, it makes a werewolf's shifting go out of control and slows down his healing process."

"And it's really, really painful." Naruto said, looking up at the door.

John blinked, trying to organize his thoughts. "So all of this stuff, the werewolves, kanimas, whatever, they're real? Stiles wasn't messing around?" He received three nods in return.

Naruto stiffened. "Someone's coming." Jennifer pulled open the old wood doors, looking down at the sacrifices with a nasty smirk. She cleaned Chris' head wound before approaching Naruto, who glared at her through flashing eyes.

"Still a fighter, even at a disadvantage." She shook her head, as if fond of him. Slowly she pulled out a bullet and a lighter, tying a new cord around Naruto's wrists as he bared his wolf fangs at her, growling.

"What are you going to do with that?" John asked fiercely, not wanting to see the teen get hurt.

"You'll see." She smiled, pulling up Naruto's shirt and emptying the powder into her hand, igniting it before shoving it into the gunshot wound. Naruto immediately cried out, teeth grinding as he managed to accidentally kick Jennifer into the wall.

"Naruto, are you okay?!" Melissa panicked as the Darach stood, brushing off her clothes.

Chris stared knowingly at her. "What next."

She smiled, glancing at the panting alpha. "I need him at full strength." And then she left them alone. Chris continued to struggle, and after a while he took notice that Naruto's breathing had evened out.

"Are you healing?"

Naruto nodded, moving a little and grinning once he felt no pain. "Yeah, now I just need to find a way to get out of this cord. It's made out of something weird that prevents me from shifting." His voice lowered to a mumble but the adults all heard his words. "Damn, what is it with adults always tying me up with these things? Must be some weird kink or something." Chris let out a short laugh and Naruto's head shot up, a slight blush on his cheeks. "You guys heard that?" Melissa and John also began to laugh with Chris at his expression, all three nodding. "Aw, man."

After a while, they just began to talk, not knowing how much time passed. Despite the fact that they were captured, they joked about the situation and assumed what the other teenagers were probably planning. Eventually they fell into a light sleep, not comfortable enough to get the rest they needed. Naruto awoke to the scent of wolfsbane and immediately tried to shrink back, only to realize he was laying shirtless on the stump of the Nemeton. He moved his wrists, only to find them chained, along with his ankles. He heard a soft laugh and growled as Jennifer leaned over him, her hair blocking out the sky as it hung down.

"Do you like it? I made sure it was extra uncomfortable." She continued before he could respond. "Anyways, I had to do a little bit of research, as your case is, how should I put it? Ah, unique. I'm going to need a lot of your blood, and the only way to get that, is to make your perfect skin into something new." She grinned, holding up a scalpel and bringing it to his left wrist, letting it cut into him. He grimaced, watching as it didn't heal. "I laced it with just enough wolfbane to prevent your healing, but not weaken you. I need the Nemeton to absorb your power, so once I get enough blood from you-" She gently touched the gem hanging from his necklace. "I'm going to take this off."

Scott, Allison, and Stiles burst out of the water, gasping. They stepped onto the white floor, puddles forming around their feet, trying to regain their bearings and figure out where they were. All jumped at the sound of a voice and were shocked to see Naruto, sitting on the ground with his back against one of the poles.

"Um, so…. what are you guys doing here?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Us doing here? What about you?!" Stiles said, waving his arms around.

Naruto pushed himself to his feet, and they realized he was shirtless -revealing his toned form, nonetheless, and his tattoo-. He gestured to the entire room. "Why, isn't it all part of the whole sacrifice the True Alpha thing? At least Jennifer was saying that, I wonder if she took my necklace off yet…." He fell into thought.

"Okay, well, we need to focus. If Naruto is here too that means he's close to death, like us. But do you have something to pull you back? What did she do?" Allison asked, wringing out her dress.

Naruto shrugged. "Well, it involves pretty much all of the blood in my body, and giving all my power to the Nemeton, which I'm going to guess is a pretty bad thing, and I don't have anything to pull me back except myself….and, oh, your parents are fine yet since she's focused on me."

Scott nodded, trying to figure out a plan as visible relief showed on their faces. "Do you think you could last much longer once we get out?"

"Maybe, I'll try and fight back if I can, but she stopped my healing. Anyways, what are you guys here to do?" Wordlessly they looked at the Nemeton and all fell into silence. Naruto caught on and followed when they slowly approached it, reaching out their hands and feeling the rough surface, before the white room was gone and he was standing in a woods.

Naruto blinked, trying to reorient himself only to see a younger version getting up from the ground, covered in wounds that healed moments later. He could only be about thirteen, not a day older. His eyes widened and he followed him as he walked through the woods, shaking his head as he watched himself and Deucalion talk from afar. He frowned, stepping back, only to hit something. He turned around and saw….

"Rise and shine, True Alpha." Jennifer smirked, twisting the scalpel in his stomach. Naruto grimaced and spit blood at her face, which she wiped off and flicked back at him. "You still fight, even when you don't have any possible way of winning. No one has managed to kill you even though they have tried. What is it with you and Scott? Just give up." Naruto glared, his eyes slowly turning darker as his claws and fangs grew centimeter by centimeter. He pulled at the chains, hearing them creak in protest at the sudden strength yanking on them. Jennifer stepped back, both awed and slightly in fear. "The power of a True Alpha…."

Naruto growled at her, hair growing on the sides of his face as he continued to transform. "Just let me and the others go, and you can walk away." His wounds began to heal as the pupils in his blood red eyes turned to slits and his voice grew deeper. "Let them go and I won't kill you."

Jennifer instead laughed at him, even as an orange haze began to surround his form. "You're doing just as I planned! I'm running out of time, and you're doing the work for me!" She stepped forward and grabbed the necklace, the haze not harming her. "I guess you won't be needing this anymore." She yanked the necklace off before crushing it in her hand, the powder that was left of it drifting away in the wind as Naruto began to shout in pain as his own skin bubbled and ripped. The Darach gave an innocent smile before turning and walking away, leaving the adults in the cellar to be left with the sounds of Naruto's screams.

Naruto struggled to hold back the power, focusing so hard his head began to hurt. He twisted and pulled at the chains, biting his tongue to keep his voice from shouting out. He heard John, Melissa, and Chris yelling at him, asking him if he was okay, but he couldn't answer and just continued to focus. His vision began to get hazy, and he felt something drifting into his mind, a memory.

"You do know how to keep your powers at bay, ne?" A redheaded werewolf asked the blonde child in front of him. Naruto nodded, taking off his necklace. The cloak covered him and he just smiled like there wasn't a problem.

"Yeah, I remember. The necklace is just for emergencies now. All I have to do to make them go away is find an anchor, something that pulls me back to my sense of being." And just like that, the cloak was gone.

The man shifted. "Oh? And what is your anchor?"

Naruto gave a small smile. "I want to protect the people I care about."

Back in the present, his eyes widened. 'Protect the people I care about! That's it!' He took a deep breath, feeling his power draining away slowly into the Nemeton, but focused on pulling most of it back into himself. He couldn't get all of it, and exhaled. He changed back to normal and slumped against the trunk, before he began laughing in relief, his nerves wrecked. "How many times have I been kidnapped now? Two? Three?" He frowned. "….This shit needs to stop."

He didn't know how much time passed until he saw the two run up, but all he knew was that his ears hurt like hell from that emitter Chris was using. He lifted his head up to see Isaac and Allison and raised his arms as far as they could go with the chains holding them back, shooting them a grin. "Hey, look who decided to show up! Do you have bobby pins by any chance?" Allison gave a small smile, pulling one out of her hair and unlocking them. Naruto stood up, rubbing his wrists and grabbing his black shirt and leather jacket from the ground, putting them on. The two looked at him expectantly and he rolled his eyes. "They're down here."

They entered the cellar, each releasing one of the parents. Naruto looked up as the dirt above them began to crumble and collapse in on them, and Chris shouted out a "Hurry!" They got the last of the ropes untied and ran for the stairs, only for them to fall to pieces. They turned around but the ground shifted and everyone tripped. The support beams began to fall, and Naruto and Isaac immediately got to their feet and placed their hands on them, bracing themselves as their eyes began to glow, the strain showing on their faces. A sheen of sweat covered their bodies as more weight fell on them.

Isaac looked around, gritting his teeth. "Is it me or is this place getting smaller?" John jumped in to help them as Isaac repeated: "I can't do it, I can't do it!"

Naruto's eyes widened as the red glow left, and he glanced up, hoping for a glimpse of the sky, only to get nothing. He grit his teeth and looked at Isaac. "Damn it! It's the lunar eclipse, it started!"

"It's too much, it's too heavy!" Allison screamed and the others groaned as the weight above the group continued getting closer and closer to crushing them. Stiles placed his bat under the beams, allowing the others to let go and breathe a sigh of relief as they noticed his presence.

The sheriff looked at his son. "I always said metal was better then wood." Stiles hugged his father, his relief palpable. They were stunned when all of a sudden the wind blowing outside stopped, and Allison looked at her dad.

"Is it over?" The families hugged, with Naruto, Isaac, and Melissa watching with longing in their eyes.

Naruto stood up, his eyes flashing red a brief second before returning to their original color, and he grinned. "The eclipse is over. We won."

Ino's head was thrown back, her hair fanning around her and mouth open as hysterical laughter bubbled from her lips. Naruto continued his tickle attack, grinning and letting out laughter of his own at the female's contagious smile. "I told you I'd win the tickle war Ino-chan."

After Deucalion had left, Naruto had moved into his own apartment, but spent most of his time with his new friends or hanging out with Ino and her father. Ino had been introduced to the others, and after Naruto told them about her, she was accepted into the friend group. She had become fast friends with Lydia, and related with Allison over archery and combat, having a secret tomboy side.

Naruto had been upset about the fact that Scott and Derek had allowed Deucalion to live, but decided to understand their decision and leave it at that, except warning Scott that if Deucalion once again turned bad, he would help put him down. Scott agreed and the two True Alphas had returned to the weekend party they were having at Lydia's.

"I didn't doubt you, you always win them anyways." Ino giggled, rolling him off of her and taking his place, looking down into his eyes, taking in every detail of his face: the tan skin, his foxy smile, the sharp canine teeth.

"I know I do." He laughed and she cut him off by giving him a peck and pulling back. He pushed himself up onto his arms, looking at her in shock. "Ino-"

She looked at him again, her eyes shiny and a teary smile on her lips as she hugged him. "I missed you so much. Everything changed when you disappeared, and I missed hanging out with you…. I miss my friends, but… I'm happier with you here."

He stared into her sea foam green eyes before a small smile replaced his shock, and he kissed her back. "I missed you too."

Ino suddenly pulled his shirt collar, staring him dead in the eyes. "And you're going to be my boyfriend, got it?"

Surprised by her usual attitude suddenly returning, Naruto laughed before nodding in agreement. "That's fine by me."

And that's the end of season 3, next onto season 3.5. I'm sorry it's been awhile, I'm surprised my muse came back at all but I'm glad it did. Yeah Naruto still seems kinda weak, but I needed to link him to the Nemeton too, and then that happened. Thanks for reading, review if you can, and point out any mistakes!