This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Nor do I own any rights to Flame of Recca, published by Viz media and created by Nobuyuki Anzai nor Hercules: The Legendary Journeys which was produced by Sam Raimi and created by Christian Williams. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties.
((A/N: Okay folks, the filters used to sort the stories here are not just for identifying the PAIRINGS. They are also used to identify the central chars. In this case because this is a double story which will later meld into a single. So don't bash me because of my full use of the filters beyond identifying the members of a conjugal relationship.
Two: I chose this form of a crossover, because I wanted to do it after reading a similar story by a different author. It inspired me simply because no one else had done a story specifically like that one.
Three: I write for my own sense of pleasure. It's icing on the cake if the folks who read my story enjoy it. I, in general, love reading the reviews I get. Good or Bad. I can take getting a bad review over punctuation/ grammar/ etc... but what I cannot stand is someone who comes in and bashes my story because it makes more sense, to them, to do a Naruto/Bleach or Naruto/Assassin's Creed crossover.
If you don't like it because it doesn't conform to the more popular crossovers, then don't read it!
Enough said. Now let's get on with the story!))
Ancient Greece
Sparta Territory
circa 526BC
-Day one of Search-
They had been traveling a few hours since their arrival. Jiraiya repeatedly grousing about the prank Kushina had played on him back in Konoha. Which had resulted in him landing right into a river and crawling out soaked to the bone. She, on the other hand, had landed nimbly on her feet atop the flowing water after kicking off a thin tree. Laughing whole-heartedly as he spit out a stream of water and used a katon jutsu to dry himself and his clothes within seconds. Before they set off on their search however, the pair had unsealed and donned a pair thick woolen cloaks to disguise their clothing and features.
Night had fallen and they set up camp far off what they felt was the roadside. Jiraiya setting up a small fire that could easily be put out if the need arose and the pair stared at the flames in silence for a bit while they chewed on the dry ration bars each had brought with them. Not wanting the smell of a cook fire to attract bandits or worse. Swallowing a bite and sipping water to wash it down Jiraiya spoke for the first time in hours.
"I didn't want to believe you, Kushina. It just seemed so far fetched." he admitted as he looked around. "Yet you were right."
She nodded as she too swallowed some water. "You should have known better. After all, who was it that predicted Suna's involvement with Orochimaru's attack? Who fixed that Gaara kid's seal? Who was it that found Tsunade and convinced her to become Godaime? Me, that's who." she reared a fisted arm back and stared at the white haired pervert with narrow green eyes.
Jiraiya quickly made a placating gesture, "Easy now...yes I should have known better. But even you have to admit, it's a bit much to swallow."
"Anyway, do you think we'll run into patrols or farms first?" she asked genuinely curious.
"Given that we haven't seen either could mean we are either headed in the wrong direction or these 'Spartans' you mentioned keep their farms deep inside their territory and have already crossed within their patrol routes."
Interrupting their discussion, a child's voice spoke up from the shadows. "Impressive deductions but not quite."
The pair leapt to their feet and Jiraiya was speeding through hand-signs as Kushina reached back and partially drew the sword that ran along her hips at the back.
Out stepped a child with raven black hair and piercing brown eyes. Dressed in a simple white linen gown and sandals. A gesture was made and the child spoke again, "None of that. You may use your god powers solely at the whim of myself and my Father. But I don't recommend using them openly."
The pair frozen in place, unable to move at all, nodded and then Kushina spoke up, "You opened the portal for us." it wasn't a question. "You look different than before when we met."
"I cannot be here," a wave of the hand to indicate the forest, "in my true form, so we tend to use surrogates as temporary bodies. Now that you are here, on to business." the child said with an indifferent wave of her hand. "That way is the capital city of Sparta. By sometime tomorrow you will begin to encounter farms and patrols. While I am unable to place your arrival exactly where I wish, I could guide it a bit so you were well within Spartan territory." those wiser-than-any-child-should-have eyes regarded them evenly. "They respect strength above all else. So I hope you have an impressive wardrobe prepared."
Released from their previous state, Jiraiya let the chakra he had been building re-enter his system while Kushina sheathed her blade. Both wore a neutral expression. "I see...but how is it that you know our language?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
Her answer was a child's tinkling laugh. "I am the Goddess of Wisdom, Jiraiya of the Toads. Knowing all languages is well within my pervue. Speaking of which..." her gaze narrowed as she indolently waved her hand yet again in a grand gesture. "I have granted you the knowledge of the Greek language. Use it wisely." she cautioned as she began to step back into the shadows.
"Wait," Jiraiya said, halting the figure. "Can you at least show me what you really look like?" Notebook already appearing like magic in his hand.
Another laugh, "You truly are an indomitable pervert. No, I will not allow that. My true form would burn your body to ashes, mortal." a smirk showed itself. "Just be glad it is not my sister,Aphrodite, here...she...well, suffice to say she would leave you bereft of feminine comfort for life when she was done with you." The child then disappeared into the shadows with a parting bit of advice, "Remember you have six more nights to complete your mission."
Shaking his head, Jiraiya turned to regard Kushina, "I will never, ever doubt you again." he said with all due seriousness. Which meant he no longer doubted. "We leave in two hours." he added as he went to curl up inside his cloak.
Kushina nodded and took watch. Moving to an outcropping and watching over the tiny campsite. She looked up at the stars and whispered, "Naruto...we're coming baby. Hang on. Momma is coming."
Two hours pass and the pair head off at a fast clip. Running at as close to full speed as they dared without sacrificing their awareness. Kushina suddenly came to a stop and tilted her head, hand held up to stall questions. Head turning slowly, she began leap frogging to the top of a large stone outcropping. Laying tight against the rock, she peered over its edge while Jiraiya caught up and followed suit. "Spartans, I think." she whispered very softly, putting a finger to the man's lips to prevent him from speaking. Silently they watched the events unfold below.
They watched, silent, as what appeared to be a patrol unit, fifteen or so men in bronze armor, shields and helmets made quick work of some poorly armed people. "Bandits." Jiraiya whispered very very softly with wide eyes as the main body advanced in a solid formation. Three abreast and four deep. Shields overlapping the man to their left and spears used with a brutal efficiency. Behind them by about twenty feet, five men similarly clad walked slowly amongst the dead. Systematically using their spears to ensure those on the ground were indeed dead or very close to it.
An eyebrow rising, Kushina was both awestruck by their efficient manner and shocked by their brutality. "Leaving no threat from behind." she guessed as what little remained of the threat broke and ran for whatever camp or hole they came from.
Remaining hidden, they listened intently as the leader, the one bearing a crimson crest on his helm, running front to back, gave orders. Two member cried out "Ahh-OOoo!" simultaneously and fell back while the rest regrouped and moved out as one in a tight orderly fashion.
Jiraiya watched with an intensely curious stare as one of the two quickly divested himself of bronze breastplate and helmet while the other didn't. Then nodded in understanding as the two worked together and by gripping the now- corpses by ankles and wrists, tossed the bodies into a nearby ditch so as to not block the road, yet visible enough to be a definitive warning. His musings broken as the two began to talk, his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline, If their voices are any giveaway, those two can't be more than sixteen. Eighteen tops...
"Atromitos, I don't understand why we get the dirty tasks." the one without his helmet said. "We fought just as hard as the others yet we always get picked for this..."
The other man, named Atromitos, replied in a calm voice as he helped toss another body. "It's simple, brother. You and I are the newest members of this particular syssitia. It is only just that we attend the less appealing tasks. In time, those same will become the duty to others as they join us to replace those that transfer to the main army or those who die in battle." his tone was almost chiding, "I would have thought your mentor explained this?"
The first one snorted, "Not all of us have had the honour of being mentored by a Commander of the King's Guard. And no, not all would bother to explain such a detail."
A shrug was given. "Odd. Xaxos left very little uncovered in his teachings. He left me with very little to the imagination when it came to the life led in the army." He then turned to go and reach for another corpse.
Above, Kushina gasped as the first reached to his back, lunged, and sank what looked like a copper dagger into the side of Atromitos. Her eyes went wider as she clearly heard the man speak to his fallen 'brother.'
Staring into the clear blue eyes he said with a grimace, "My apologies. If I don't do this and bring proof of your death, my true brother can never return to Sparta. He failed the Agoge and was banished until thirty. With your death, he can return with a measure of wealth." he looked down after dropping Atromitos and unbuckled the sword belt. "This will show the council..." he said as he discarded his own blade and replaced with the stolen item. He then lifted the body and tossed it into the ditch with the other corpses. Quickly getting his armor on, he took off to rejoin the main unit. A tale already half formed in his mind.
Kushina watched in outrage as the assailant left, and without thought leapt down to ground below. Moving quickly yet with a small measure of stealth.
"Kushina! What are you doing?!" Jiraiya said in Japanese(Not sure what else to call it) as he moved as fast as he could to find her rushing to that very ditch.
"He may not be dead..." she replied in the same, halting and trying to not look at the other battle torn bodies. "If we help him, maybe we can get his aid in return."
Gripping her shoulder, he turned Kushina to face him. "You saw the knife go in. If he isn't dead already, we can't save him." His eyes went wide and he shoved Kushina aside forcefully as he drew a kunai.
Kushina gasped as she hit the ground, her head turning and she nearly screamed as a shadowy figure rose up from the ditch and clambered out of it one hand at a time. She got up and her left hand drifted to the sword on her back until she recognized the armor and helmet.
She never even got a glimpse of eye color as the soldier got to his feet, looked at them individually before surging forward and sent Jiraiya flying into a tree with a single blow. He growled like a beast as he went to charge his enemy. Unable to get a warning out, she did the only thing she could. She pulled a senbon from her right arm sleeve and stabbed it into a nerve cluster at the base of the neck, rendering him immediately unconscious. Sliding around his frame without looking at him to see Jiraiya rubbing his jaw.
She quickly wrapped an arm around the waist and slung his arm over her shoulder. Oh my...now this is one solid and heavy boy...I don't think all of it is the armor... she thought to herself as she saw Jiraiya pull a blanket from somewhere and lay it out. Nodding she laid the bleeding boy/man down on his left side and quickly unbuckled then removed the breastplate. The under armor was jerked and tugged until out of the way and hissed as she looked over the wound. "I have to hurry," she said matter of factly as she began focusing her Chakra. Green flames emerged around her hands but immediately went out. Trying again, she got the same result. "I can't use Chakra?!" she exclaimed and looked to Jiraiya, who then shook his head.
"I don't know any medical jutsu but the most basic. Never had to learn before." he said in excuse and back out of her reach.
"Fine..." Kushina muttered and opened the scroll pouch and un-sealed a med kit. "Do it the hard way then." she slipped on a pair of medical gloves and inspected the wound carefully. "No smell of poison. Looks like a clean stab wound. Angle missed the vitals. He's lucky." she commented as she poured a powder directly into the wound and winced as it churned and bubbled. Once that was finished she used needle and threads and stitched him up carefully. Once done, she placed ointment on the wound site and wrapped him up in bandage gauze. Setting back on her heels after carefully removing the senbon, Kushina began cleaning up her kit before re-sealing it into its scroll. Leaving a ball of rice and a flute of water by him, she looked up as Jiraiya approached.
Face inscrutable, Jiraiya yanked her to her feet and took a small distance away and began chewing her out.
((Mindscape))
Standing before the cell of his prisoner, Atromitos sighed heavily. "So here I am yet again."
"Yes you are." came the stoic response from the semi-glowing figure behind the columns. "All I can tell you is that someone stabbed you in the back. I told you not to trust..."
"Enough Kurama." Atromitos said tiredly, "I don't have time for this. Daedumos will pay for his treachery. How long will I be unconscious?"
"Five minutes at most." the being answered promptly and explained quickly at the raised eyebrow. "Another someone has applied salves to your wound and tied up the injury." then he added to the stupefied Spartan, "It would take a night otherwise. That blade was sent in deep. Whoever it is out there," a growled explicative about stubborn blondes and seals, "Whoever did it, more than likely saved your life. At least if you didn't already heal fast without my aid. Not to mention the speed in which you recover since you DO have my assistance."
"I see...Then I must have been that strange woman and her companion then..." he mused aloud and froze as Kurama suddenly shrank down to his human form and gripped the bars, ignoring the pain it caused.
"What? Show them to me...NOW!" he roared in command and observed what few memory fragments the boy had. Releasing the columns and stepping back, he chuckled then laughed loudly. "This is just too damn amusing...They have no idea." Red, vertically slitted eyes swung back to the blond, "You owe them a life debt. You are to do whatever they ask of you. No questions. Just go!" with that said, a massive amount of energy pulsed out from the cell and sent the boy back to his conscious mind. All the while thinking to itself, I cannot believe, of all people, it HAD to be THOSE TWO! It looks like our time here is over. Now things will get very interesting!
((End Mindscape))
Atromitos opened his eyes and slowly turned his head towards raised voices. Inside his helmet, his blond eyebrows rose as he saw the much larger man being held off the ground by the woman's single fist! Blinking a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, he very slowly moved. Which, he saw, halted their apparent argument and drew their attention to him. Another blink and the woman was easing him up to a sitting position, talking to him in that strange flowing language. His hands flashed out to stop her as she had reached out to lift his helmet. "Until I am back in Sparta,I will not remove my helm. Now where is my armor?" he asks and her fluid response nearly made him pass out in shock.
"Easy now...I understand. Your armor is beside you." Kushina said softly, lost in the deep deep blue eyes which seemed, to her, to stare right into her soul. She ignored the way his eyes narrowed at her which resulted in her preservation instincts screaming at her.
Breaking eye contact, Atromitos grunted and winced as he reached over and quickly refastened his breastplate after straightening out his lamellar. "My sword?"
"The other one, the...Spartan who attacked you?...he took it with him." Jiraiya answered as he squatted down close by, yet not so close as to be a threat.
"I see." Atromitos replied with a nod. "You both have my gratitude. You had no cause to aid me yet you did. I owe you a great debt."
Kushina grinned at Jiraiya who sighed in incredulous defeat. I don't know how she does it...but she has the kind of luck Tsunade could only dream of...he thought in wry amusement.
"We'll discuss that in a few minutes." Kushina said seriously as she eased back from this soldier, and her own strange emotional response to his proximity. Something about him...Something is nagging me. He should be out for another hour at least! And why can't I use Chakra? I don't understand..."First, what is your name?"
He moved to stand and pushed the white-haired man off of him. "I can stand on my own." he groused as he swayed upon reaching his feet. He then ignored their looks of shock as he went, albeit half-stumbling/ half-shambling, and grabbed the spear he had set aside and his shield. "I must go to Sparta. I have two days to get there." he declared without preamble.
"Wait, your name?" Kushina pressed hard though inside she was in shock. He shouldn't be able to move with that injury. What kind of training did he go through to be able to ignore that much pain?
Looking up at the moon and stars, he replied absently, "Atromitos of Sparta." His gaze then fell to the strange pair.
"Kushina" she replied pointing to herself then the man, adding, "Jiraiya."
A nod to them, "Your clothes mark you as foreigners. Are you from Macedonia? Thrace? Phrygia? What is your business in Spartan lands?"
Thinking for a moment on how to explain this, Kushina replied as she shook her head in the negative, "A land much further I am guessing as I don't recognize those lands. We have come a long way searching."
His eyes narrowed as he could almost feel Kurama's intensity growing inside his mind, "For what?"
"Whom." she corrected with another shake of her head,"I have come to Spartan lands searching for my son. I was told I would find him in Sparta."
He grunted, "Then I will escort you to the capitol. The Kings will know what to do." he said in a tone that brooked no argument. "We are a full day from the city walls but we must hurry." he said as he then turned and began walking, almost marching, at a brisk pace.
