Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. Now, some time ago, a thought crossed my mind. I forgot about a character from the Naruto series that was a part of Naruto's life. When I remember who that person was, I couldn't help but facepalm at forgetting. Do you want to know who that person was?

Iruka Umino.

I feel a bit embarrassed about forgetting him. But considering no one in the reviews has mentioned him, I don't think I'm the only one who did. So, I'm gonna try to rectify that mistake right here. So, with that out of the way, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Percy Jackson.

Chapter 20: Reassurance

"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Hephaestus asked his mother.

Hera shifted in her seat, wondering how to start this. "Hephaestus….how do you feel about me?"

Hephaestus stiffen a little. "Mother, what are you-"

"And please, don't give me a half-true or vague answers." Hera told him. "I want the truth, the whole truth. If you have to scream, shout, and curse at me to let it out, then so be it. But please, I just want to see what you really feel."

Hephaestus look at her suspiciously, wondering why she wants him to do that. Nevertheless, he decided to so. "All my feelings about you? Well, it's hard to explain, harder than explaining my feelings towards my wife."

"When I found out my real mother threw me out of the sky, I was angry." He continued, looking down on his lap. "Hated her. Wanted to ruin her life. Show her how wrong she was to do so. But when I became an Olympian, I started to get her to know, see her good sides and her bad. More of the latter than the former. And I started to yearn for my real mother. When I rescued her from the punishment that Zeus gave her, I thought that would happen."

He look up then, and his eyes, which were a cerulean blue, are now a fiery red. "But that turned out to be false hope. She treated like a plague, something that shouldn't have exist. Whenever she needed something, she expected to make it for her without thanks. Whenever she looks at me, her eyes is filled with disappointment. And the worst part? My heart feel likes it's getting pulled out whenever she treats me like that. All because I was the ugly baby that nobody wanted."

"So my feelings for you?" Hephaestus began to conclude. "I'm angry at you, heartbroken at the fact my mother doesn't care, and I so wanted to hate you. But I can't. Instead, I desired to have some form of a good relationship with my mother. A relationship I know is not going to happen. If you're disappointed and angry that I don't unconditionally, then that's too bad. These are my real feelings." Hephaestus then stayed silent, the heat and anger inside him gone now. And through all this, Hera was silent.

"...I really was a horribly mother to you, from the day you were born, wasn't I?" Hephaestus perked up when he heard his mother spoke. "I always judged the abusive parents, the divorced parents, the ones that are cheating on their spouses, and any other bad family. But in all reality, mine is nowhere near perfect."

Tears swelled up in Hera's eyes. "My husband forced me into marriage, and yet he cheated on me countless times. My first son is a violent warmonger, craving any violence he could find. And my second son? I threw him away without a second thought, and he grew to be better than many of the Olympians, even before he went to the Elemental Nation."

Hephaestus' eyes widen at this. "All this time, I looked at you with disgust and disappointment, sometimes even more than my step-children. I ignore all of your good points and focus on your facial features. I even disliked that you were crippled, which was my fault in the first place." The tears slowly leaked out of her, and when she spoke again, her voice started to choke up. "I judged every single bad mother or father, when really, I'm as bad as they were. I know this won't make up for everything I've done to you, but I'm sorry. I'm really, truly, sorry my son." She covered her mouth, choking bad a sob.

In all his immortal life, Hephaestus never expected something like this. Like half of the other Olympians, his mother is prideful, and rarely admits to anything. To hear say those things about Zeus, Ares, and themselves….is shocking.

"Again, I know I can't make up for what I've done." He heard speak once more, after she barely gain control of her emotions. "But I would like to develop a good relationship with you. Something that will last forever."

Hephaestus is still shocked at this, merely staring at his mother. She look to see if she's acting in any shape or form, but there's no indication that she's doing that. Finally, he answered. "I don't know if we could really form a mother and son relationship with other, after millenias of bad blood….but I want to try. I really do."

Hera gave a watery smile and hugged him. "That all I ask for." She whispered. Then she move back. "I'll leave you to your work. Let's speak to each other at another time." With that, she transported back to Olympus.

Hephaestus went back to his work. But even though he's still displaying his usual skills, his mind went back to the conversation between him and his mother.

(Camp Jupiter)

Hana's words can't seem to get out of Naruto's head. It kept being repeated in his head, over and over again.

While not everything she said is true, there are some things in her words that he can't refute. While he doesn't care for the majority of the people in the leaf, he does still care about his friends and precious people. And he knows that most, if not all of them, still care about him.

But despite the fact that he cares for them, he's willing to let them live in poverty rather than helping them. Sure, Hana was being a bit hypocritical, considering that the village has a history for turning their backs on their comrade, but that doesn't make him any better.

Hinata, Anko, Tsunade, Iruka….he just left them to deal with the messes in the village. And that made him feel like he's spitting on their beliefs.

"Naruto?" The blonde got out of his thoughts when he heard his surrogate mother calling his name. Her face is showing slight concern for him. "Are you alright?"

Naruto put on a smile, so he wouldn't let Anko worry. "Yeah, I'm find Anko-kaa-san. Don't worry about me." Anko frowned. With most people, even some ninja, that lie would've been convincing, but Anko can see through that fake smile not just because she's close to him, but because it the same smile she wore around people in the past.

"Naruto, don't attempt to lie to me. We both know that I can see through your act." Anko chided him. Naruto dropped the smile and looked away. She sighed. "Is it what Hana said?"

Naruto didn't look her way, but gave the faintest nodded. Anko sighed before she stopped and stopped him, turning his head towards her. "Naruto, don't listen to her. We both know that you're here to protect the gakis in this camp and the other camp." Anko told him, using a soft voice that people rarely here. "And the village wasn't kind nor loyal to you, so why would you show any loyalty?"

Naruto was silent for a moment, taking in those words, before he spoke. "I know kaa-san, and thank you, but I can't help but feel that there is some truth in Hana's words." He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I just, need some time to think on it."

Anko frowned, but nodded. "Just know that I'm here for you, whenever need anything." Anko said, hugging her surrogate son. Naruto didn't hesitate to hug back.

"Naruto." The two former shinobi turned around when they heard Reyna called. The female praetor, with Leo and Piper behind her, walked over to the two. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it looked like you were about hyperventilate." Leo stated. Piper nodded in agreement, giving a concern look to her step brother.

Naruto nodded to the three. "Yeah, I'm alright for right now. Thanks for asking." Naruto said, giving them a small. "Reyna, can you get Jason? I want to explain my mission to the both of you."

Reyna nodded. "I'll go find Jason and we'll talk during-"

"You!"

"Oh, for the love of…." Naruto mumbled to himself, hearing the last voice he wanted to hear in this camp. He turned around to see none other than Octavion, the so called Augur of the camp, with his henchmen by his side.

Naruto look at the blonde scarecrow with an annoyed expression on his face. "What do you want Octavion? I got more important things to do here than deal with you right now."

"What are you doing here? You weren't suppose to be back until the end of this month." Octavion hissed at him. Naruto raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was there a schedule for my visits that I didn't know about?" Naruto asked sarcastically. He glared at him. "Sorry to disappoint, but I don't just come back here during the last month. I visit time to time, with no schedule. And right now, this visit is important."

"Important enough to send graecus like you in our home, letting them know our location?" Naruto's eye twitched, quickly getting tired of this pathetic augur. Then he shouted an order to his henchmen "Apprehend the graecus, now!"

"Lower your weapons!" Reyna ordered the two men. They hesitated before lowering them, while Reyna glared at him. "And Octavian, did you forget that Naruto is the trainer of this camp? He's an ally and has more authority than any of us here! You're lucky he let us handle a majority of things here, otherwise, you would've been kicked out of this camp!"

Octavian turned red at this. "Fine!" Octavion spat out. "But just you wait! This graecus will ruin this camp, just wait and see!" With that, he turned around and walked back to wherever he was at, with his henchmen by his side.

"Alright, who the hell was that?" Anko spoke up, drawing the group's attention.

Naruto sighed and put his hands in his pocket. "That, mom, was unfortunately the augur of this camp. He supposedly read the future, by tearing up stuff teddy bears. Sounds like a haruspex than anything else. Again, why did you choose him as an augur?"

"He was the only one to be trained under our previous one." Reyna answered, making Naruto sigh in dismay. He miss Alexa. She's better than weakling of a Roman. "Try not to let him get to you Naruto. He'll use anything to turn to this camp against you."

"Don't worry, I won't lose my temper around the scarecrow." Naruto sighed. But he smirked. "But I'm not just let him get his way. Like you said, I do have more authority than anyone here. Which was the only reason Octavian didn't rose up in power." Reyna has the decency to blush. Politics is not her strong point, nor is it Jason's.

"What's this about Octavian?" The group turned to see the children of Zeus/Jupiter walking towards him. "Did the blonde scarecrow threatened Naruto again?"

"Unfortunately, yes Jason." Reyna confirmed, making Jason frown. "But we can deal with him later. Right now, let's gather the cohorts for dinner. Also, Naruto wants to tell us his mission during the feast." Jason nodded to this. Reyna then grabbed Naruto's hand in her's and gave him a smile. "Come, Naruto. Let's go to the barracks."

Thalia narrowed her eyes at the black haired praetor before grabbing Naruto's other hand. "Yeah, let's go." Reyna narrowed her eyes at Thalia, who glared back. Sparks are clearly between the two girls.

Naruto, who notice the slight tension, but not knowing why, quickly spoke up. "Alright then. I hope you took my suggestions on additions for the menu." With that, he went to the barracks, stopping the glaring showdown between the two girls so they could stay at his side.

Anko narrowed her eyes at the girls. "Do I have to worry about those girls wanting to be with my sochi?" Anko asked Leo and Piper.

Laughed Leo. "You'll have to worry about a lot of girls wanting to get Naruto. He became very popular back at camp."

"Guessed as much, considering my last visit in this country." Anko huffed. But then grinned darkly. "I'll just have to make sure to eliminate the weak willed girls and separate from the strong ones. Then I'll see if any of those girls are worthy for my sochi."

Leo and Piper felt a chill in their spine and looked at each other. So Naruto have an overprotective mother. Well, they feel sorry all the girls that want's to be with Naruto.

(Night)

After dinner, and after he told Reyna and Jason his plans, Naruto decided to sit on the roof of the fifth cohorts. He's absentmindedly flipping the a red gem, the gem Hestia gave him before his quest to save Artemis. Now that he's alone, he thought about Hana's words fully.

He knows that he's here to protect his family, both greek and roman demigods. He knows that fighting against Kronos and his army is more important right. But….does it make the decision he made any right?

He didn't leave the elemental by choice, at first, but he decided to stay here when he found out about the world of demigods. Because of that, the leaf is in poverty, and his friends are suffering from that. Sure, they could leave the village, but he knows that his friends and their clans are loyal to the village. They wouldn't just abandon it just because it's difficult there.

He's also the cause of the split between the younger and older generation. While he's touch that those his age and younger sounds his treatment as injustice, the last thing he wanted was the village to split because of him. He doesn't care for it any longer, but he didn't want to be cause of conflict. Yet it still happened, just because of his choice.

And finally….because of his choice to stay here, he ended up killing one of his friends. The very last thing he wanted to do.

A part of him knows that if he went back to the elemental nation, many of the demigods he saved would've died. Suffer through things he didn't want to imagine. He knows that. But he also know that his decision made other people suffer at his former home, including those precious to him back home.

Well, almost everyone precious. He found out from Anko during dinner that Teuchi and Ayame moved out of the village, and reopened Ichiraku at the Wave Country. He also found out that Iruka decided to retire and join those two in the Wave. That brought a small smile on his face, but it didn't last for long. "Man, I've been confident on my decision for so long, yet now I'm questioning if I made the right choice."

"Then maybe I could help you."

Naruto twirled, tense and ready to pull out kasai when he saw that it was Hestia. "Oh, Hestia." Naruto realized, relaxing his stance. "Or is it Vesta?"

The goddess smile at him. "It's Hestia. I manage to get control of my other personality for right now." She patted the side next to her, silently asking him to take a seat. Naruto did so with no hesitation. "So, I take it you are troubled with your actions towards your former village?"

Naruto nodded, looking down. "I know that because I stayed here and helped the demigods, there are many that have lived and gain a somewhat happy. But I know that the decision affected the village badly. Many of the villagers, mainly the older generation, I could care less for, but some of my other friends and family are there. It makes me question…."

"It makes you question if you're doing the right thing." Hestia concluded. Naruto nodded. Without any warnings, Hestia gave Naruto a soft hug, something that slightly surprise Naruto. "You are a really kind soul Naruto. You want to help all that those that you care about, no matter the cost. Even if it means sacrificing your own life, you would do it protect your friends and family. And you are so selfless, never thinking about yourself, but others."

Hestia move back a bit to face Naruto, but didn't relinquish the hug. "What the villagers did to you was cruel and inhuman, Naruto. Because of their choice to abuse one little child, they lost so much and dealing with so much. You were rescued from them, and it was Hephaestus's who told the nation what you did. Your decision wasn't what caused their poverty. It was their decision to turn their back on you."

"And because you stayed here, many demigods were saved." Hestia continued. "The jinchuurikis are no longer weapons for the villages. And you brought several demigods back to Camp Half-Blood, when they joined Kronos. Without you here, many here would have died. And so many things would've happened."

Naruto was staring in awe at Hesta. "So ignore what Hana said to you. You haven't abandon your precious people there, many of them abandon you by trying to capture you. You, on the other hand, are protecting the ones you have here. Always remember that."

Naruto was silent for a moment, merely staring at Hestia. Then, a smile gradually rose on his lips, and with no hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Hestia and recuperated the hug, causing her to yelp and blush a little in surprise. The warmth she's feeling from him made her blush even more.

"Thank you Hestia." Naruto said through her hair, making her shiver a little at the vibration. "I think I needed to hear that." Though still blushing, Hestia smile once again, and enjoyed the arms wrapped around him.

A small, mischievous, part of her wonder how Artemis and Athena would react to hearing about this. The thought nearly giggled. But for right now, she'll enjoy this for as long as she can.

And that's the end. I hope I did these emotional conversations well. So, what should I do next? Should I have Naruto test out the Roman demigods' skills? Show the start of the plan that Naruto have? Maybe see how Annabeth and her team is doing? Or how the camp and Luke's team is doing? Well, we'll see in the next chapter. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.