A Fateful Summoning – Episode 4: The Lone Protector

Naruto blinked against the harsh sunlight that filtered through the thick trees of the forest. His body was stiff, his muscles sore from the position he'd been sleeping in. Lifting his head, he became acutely aware of the soft weight of Octavia beneath him. He had fallen asleep resting on her shoulder. Straightening himself, he realized that he had put his jacket over her at some point during the night. He blinked in confusion, trying to remember the events of the day before.

Around the camp, people were stirring, going about their morning routines, but their eyes often flickered in Naruto's direction. They clearly still felt uneasy about him, the mysterious and powerful figure who had appeared out of nowhere. His silent demeanor didn't help. Naruto shrugged it off. He was used to people looking at him like that—like he didn't belong.

Next to him, Octavia stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Naruto?" she murmured groggily, sitting up straighter and blinking at him. "You okay?"

Naruto frowned slightly. "What happened yesterday?" he asked, his voice quiet but direct. He could remember fragments—the snake, the battle—but everything after that was a blur.

Octavia stretched, wincing slightly as she remembered her injured leg. "You don't remember?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

Naruto shook his head. "No, not really. After the fight with the snake, things get... hazy."

Octavia gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You went into some kind of trance. Your eyes turned red, and you started moving differently, like... like you weren't yourself. But you didn't hurt anyone. You actually saved me. You carried me back here, made sure I had food. It was like you were protecting me."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly at her words. His hands clenched unconsciously, as memories of the Nine-Tails stirred in his mind. The red eyes she had seen—those were the mark of the fox's influence. He had always lost control when it happened before, always hurt people. But this time... it was different. He hadn't hurt her or anyone else. He looked down at his hand, still marked with Octavia's name, though the glow had faded.

"I... don't remember any of that," he admitted, his voice quiet, almost shaken. "Usually, when my eyes go red, I hurt people. But this time..." He trailed off, uncertain of what to make of it.

Octavia watched him carefully, sensing the weight of his confusion. She placed a comforting hand on his arm. "You didn't hurt anyone. You helped me."

Naruto met her eyes, searching for any sign of fear, but found only trust. It was strange to him—this girl barely knew him, yet she seemed to believe in him more than most people ever had.

"I'm going to find us some breakfast," Naruto said abruptly, standing up and looking around the camp. The air felt tense, and he wanted to clear his mind. Without waiting for a response, he walked toward the forest, disappearing into the thick underbrush to search for food.

As Naruto moved further away, Octavia sighed and leaned back against the tree, stretching her legs carefully to avoid aggravating her injury. Moments later, her brother, Bellamy, appeared with a small group following close behind. He had Murphy, Clarke, Monty, Finn, Wells, and Raven with him, all looking serious and prepared for action.

"We're heading out to scout more of the area," Bellamy told her, his tone protective as always. "We need to see what else is out there and make sure it's safe."

Octavia immediately bristled. "I'm coming with you," she declared, trying to rise to her feet, but her injured leg betrayed her. She winced, grabbing onto a nearby branch for support.

Bellamy shot her a disapproving look. "No, you're not. You're staying here." He waved over two of his men, who approached swiftly. "You're injured, O. You need to rest. These guys will keep an eye on you."

Octavia glared at him, hating how overprotective he could be. "I'm not a child, Bellamy. I can take care of myself."

Bellamy crossed his arms, his expression stern. "Not today, you can't. Stay here and heal. That's an order."

Before she could argue further, Bellamy led his group out of the camp, disappearing into the forest to continue their scouting mission. Octavia huffed in frustration, feeling like she was being babysat. She wasn't used to being sidelined.

The two men Bellamy had assigned to watch her stood a few feet away, keeping an eye on her movements. Octavia ignored them as best she could, though their presence only added to her irritation. She glanced around, searching for any sign of Naruto's return. She didn't like feeling so helpless.

After what felt like an eternity, her leg throbbed painfully, and she cursed under her breath. She stood up too quickly, only to stumble forward, the pain in her foot shooting up her leg. She collapsed with a gasp, clutching her ankle in pain.

Within seconds, Naruto was back at her side, two freshly cooked fish in hand. His expression was calm, but his eyes flickered with concern as he knelt beside her. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

Octavia winced, trying to catch her breath. "I... tried to walk. But my foot—it hurts too much."

Naruto set the fish down carefully and examined her leg. He gently removed her boot, inspecting the swelling and bruising around her ankle. His hands began to glow softly as he channeled chakra into the wound, easing her pain. Octavia immediately felt relief, her muscles relaxing as the throbbing dulled.

"Better?" Naruto asked, glancing up at her.

Octavia nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. "Yeah, much better. Thank you."

Naruto nodded, handing her one of the fish. "Eat. You need to keep your strength up."

Octavia took the fish gratefully, her stomach growling as she dug in. "Where did you learn to cook like this?" she asked between bites.

Naruto leaned back against the tree, his expression distant. "I used to cook for myself in the woods all the time. It's something I got used to... being alone."

Octavia paused, looking at him with newfound sympathy. "What about your parents? Didn't they...?"

"They're dead," Naruto said quietly, his voice emotionless. "A long time ago."

Octavia's heart sank at his words, but before she could say anything else, one of Bellamy's men, Atom, approached with a cocky grin. He had clearly been watching them for a while, waiting for an opportunity to intervene. "You know, you don't have to rely on him for everything," Atom said, casting a smug glance at Naruto. "I could help you out too, if you want."

Naruto's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, standing up without a word. "I'm going to make you a weapon," he said quietly to Octavia before turning and walking off into the woods, leaving her alone with Atom.

Octavia watched him go, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. But before she could think too much about it, Atom sat down beside her, his grin widening. "So, Octavia," he began, his tone dripping with charm, "what's a girl like you doing out here with a guy like him? You could do better, you know."

Octavia rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh at his attempts to flirt. Atom's confidence was infectious, and soon enough, the two were bantering back and forth. Their conversation became playful, and before long, they were leaning in close, the tension between them leading to a brief, stolen kiss.

As the sun began to set, Bellamy's group returned to the camp, their expressions grim and tired. Bellamy immediately gathered everyone around the campfire, his face tight with worry.

"We've got a problem," he announced, his voice heavy with tension. "Jasper's missing."

Clarke's eyes widened in shock. "What? How?"

"He got hit by a spear," Bellamy explained, his tone dark. "We couldn't get to him in time. He fled toward the other side of the mountain. We don't know if he's alive."

A wave of fear and concern rippled through the camp as everyone exchanged worried glances. Bellamy raised a hand to quiet them. "We'll search for him at first light. Right now, we can only hope that he's survived."

Octavia's heart clenched in worry for Jasper, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Naruto—her silent, mysterious protector who had saved her more than once. There was something about him, something that made her feel safe, yet she knew there was much more to him than met the eye.

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End of Episode 4