A Hidden Land

"Hey kid, wake up!" A voice called out to me as I slowly woke up. I slowly blinked my eyes open to see a white haired man with red lines leading down his face and a blonde/red-tipped girl with whisker marks on her face. "See Naruko, I told you he would be fine. Tsunade is known as the greatest Medic for a reason and Shizune is no slouch either."

"They'd have to be to heal the two holes in my torso." I said weakly with a small chuckle as I realised they were speaking Japanese, a language I learnt during and after my pilgrimage took me there. "It seems I owe you two and the two mentioned my life."

"Ha, ha, don't sweat it. Anyone would have done the same." Naruko said sheepishly as she scratched her head with a blush of embarrassment on her face. I got the feeling that she didn't get too many compliments. "I'm more curious as to what the hell you were fighting if they used a spear that big."

"Take gratitude where you can as there are far too many ungrateful bastards out in the world so take it where you can even if only for the sake of those truly grateful. I also doubt you would believe me since I'm sure I'm in Shinto territory." It wasn't bandied about but there were Pantheons that weren't Greek/Roman but they didn't like to mix with us as no god or goddess liked to share their domain with other gods/goddesses. I was actually surprised that my powers were still there even if changed a little.

"Don't tell me you're one of those Greek/Roman Brats." The white haired man said palming his face making me smirk at him.

"Okay but I am a Greek." I said getting up with the help of Naruko. "I'm Kael Rowan and may I get your name and an explanation on how you know about Greeks and Romans."

"I'm a travelling sage who is in touch with prophets. I've also fought a few of you. My name is Jiraiya the Toad Sage." He said making me raise an eyebrow at him before sighing.

"So where exactly am I?"

DS

"Why are you staring at your hair?" Naruko asked in confusion as I looked at my reflection in a pool near her training area. I had watched and was not impressed with Jiraiya's teaching style, having them figure it out them selves was fine and all but it was clear that Naruko had been hindered severely and yet the pervert did nothing.

"As a son of Apollo my hair shows how strongly my heart is connected to him and as such it was always dull." I said pointing at my hair that was now even brighter than Naruko's was. "This tells me that my heart is well connected to the local sun deity that I haven't even met yet. It is quite disconcerting."

"Perhaps you hold the same things in your heart as Lady Amaterasu does. I can't imagine that she doesn't know you are here and drawing on her domain. Do you think there are Shinto Demigods?" I looked away from my reflection and frowned in thought.

"It's possible but there is also the chance they merely bless mortals they favour." I said with a shrug before a blonde walked into the clearing with a black haired woman holding a pig behind her. "I'm going to take a guess and say that you two are Tsunade and Shizune, the two Medics that I owe my life to."

"That we are, I'm surprised you're up and about already. I do hope you aren't ruining our hard work by straining yourself." The blonde one I was sure was Tsunade from my talks with Naruko said making me chuckle while I shook my head.

"Unlike my siblings I'm not great at medicine but that doesn't mean that I can't tell when I shouldn't push myself. I suspect it will be a couple more days before I can ease myself back into physical training. I want to thank you both for saving my life." I said nodding to them both getting a mildly surprised look from them before they returned the nod. I suddenly got an idea. "I know that I'm pushing it to ask but Naruko could do with some help in her training as it is clear it has been sabotaged."

"Wait, she's made so much progress on the Rasengan with a sabotaged education?" Shizune said in shock while Naruko looked away in shame. "Don't be like that Naruko. It is not your fault that others are too blind or stupid to see the girl you are."

"I take it Jiraiya isn't interested in correcting it but perving on women?" Tsunade said with a dark frown while I snorted.

"I trussed him up and allowed the women to use him as a piñata. I could teach her to use her fists, swords or bow but chakra is different from demigod powers." I said with a shrug as the women smirked at me.

"We'll catch her up but chakra wise we'll only cover the basics to make our bet fair." I nodded knowing that that was more than most would do. "Now stay still as I check you over to ensure that you haven't overexerted yourself." I rolled my eyes but did as asked anyway. I knew Medics and Doctors were easier to deal with if you followed instructions without complaint. It also got you away from them faster as well. "You're healing well but I would like to know how you got these injuries."

"I fought Atlas hand to hand before my Aunt Artemis got involved, then he used his Javelin." I said knowing there was no way I could derail the conversation like I did last time. Tsunade stalled for a moment before her fist bounced off of my head faster than I could follow. The oddest part was the fact that it actually hurt.

"It seems I will have to beat some sense into you once you're capable of fighting." Given the smile on her face I knew I was in for a rough time.

DS

"You won't be able to fight them both yourself." I said to Tsunade as she lowered Shizune gently while I shook my head. "From what I've been able to gather they're both sneakier than Sons of Hermes and Orochimaru knows how you fight."

"You're not going to try and stop me?" She asked sending a quick glance at the exhausted but peacefully sleeping Naruko who was close to completing their bet.

"Trying would only weaken you enough that your death was ensured and that would be a poor way to pay you back for saving my life and teaching me to use my strength properly. I will be far enough that I won't get noticed straight away but once the fight starts I will join you." She gave me long searching look before nodding and leaping away. I shook my head and followed on foot. Shinobi couldn't sense me since my power covered my chakra but I was sure they would notice me if I followed her example. When I reached the meeting point the fight had already begun and Tsunade had help, help from people I didn't expect to be here.

"Die already!" A white haired youth shouted in rage as he tried to catch a Hunter, a newbie from what I could see, with an odd glow in his hands. I charged just in time to see one trip and the enemy shinobi aim to capitalise on it. I brushed the attack to the side as I got between them and caught his face with a glancing blow. I righted myself as he skid across the ground and quickly glimpsed Zoe fighting beside Tsunade.

"I don't know how Hunters got here so quickly but you aren't ready to fight on this level yet. Watch the fights from a distance and use your bows to help where you can." I told the Hunters who bristled at being told what to do until the only one I recognised spoke up.

"Of course Lord Kael." She said much to everyone's confusion. "Finish him quickly and help Zoe." I nodded but decided to make a note of the address to ask about later. Right now I had to deal with the white haired brat glaring at me, I ignored the fact that he was likely older than me.

"I don't know who you all are but you made a fatal mistake in opposing Orochimaru-sama." He said darkly making me snort before I charged him at half speed. He dodged a couple of strikes before I sent a tripping hex at him. When he stumbled I went full speed and sent him through several trees. I was about to charge after him when I felt something coming at me from behind. I twisted and caught the sword between my arm and chest before throwing the snake-like man towards Tsunade, keeping the sword with me.

"Nice sword." I said before weaving to the side to avoid the Whitey's attack that would have slit my throat, chakra was capable of somewhat ignoring my durability. I frowned as I traded blows with his kunai as I realised he had somehow healed all the damage my hit did to him. "You are either a good medic or heal quickly, given my luck I'm going to say both."

"I would normally enjoy showing you how outclassed you are but you've really pissed me off." He said just before he over extended and took the sword to his heart. It had the side effect of forcing my to drop the sword to block a kick that sent me back. I recovered in time to see Orochimaru flee with the dying lackey. Knowing my luck he would survive.

DS

"So the Hunt is going to be calling me a Lord because of me almost losing my life to save my Aunt." I said trying to wrap my head around what I had been told. I wasn't surprised by how the Winter Solace went and was glad that Zeus was getting his head out of his arse when it came to Kronos. I was also glad that Artemis spoke up for Percy and that Bianca was doing well. The only true surprise was Thalia joining the Hunt. "Seems like overkill for something I did for selfish reasons."

"Selfish reasons or not you did help." Phoebe said rolling her eyes. She had been the one calling me Lord and filling me in on everything. "Also know that Zoe is leaving the Hunt too." I gaped at her knowing just how much the Hunt meant to Zoe.

"Is everything all right with her? I know the quest would be hard on her but I doubt I could truly know how much." I asked in concern. Zoe was a good friend despite our prickly start and I didn't want her to be suffering.

"Most men would be happy that she was no longer bound by her Oath." I deadpanned at her for what I saw as a stupid if true statement.

"Most people are idiots, especially men that think with their second head. Besides, Zoe is more likely to castrate anyone that flirts with her than join them in bed." That got a few chuckles from the Hunters listening. "So how is recruiting and training going?"

"We have many volunteers here and the permission from Lady Amaterasu to be here. Apparently she is quite fond of Greeks/Romans that can show compassion. The fact you helped out one of her Legacies without getting anything in return endears you to her even more. You seem to have a talent for befriending deities." I shrugged as I acted as myself and it wasn't like every deity liked me. I also realised that she was talking about Naruko. Perhaps I could teach her the few light tricks I knew. "Training is going well and having medics around to heal any injuries. Your sisters tend to learn only the basics before joining so they are learning more than most." I nodded inwardly wishing them luck.

"We will all be here for a month so we have plenty of time to learn." I said with a slight grimace. I was enjoying my lessons in fighting from Tsunade, which were very useful now that I had no weapons to call my own, but I really wanted to get back to Ayane and Daisy. I had been told that IM didn't work here so I couldn't even talk to them.

"They will be fine." Zoe said from behind me making me turn around. She had altered her Hunter outfit so it was black with silver trim as a nod to her past. I raised an eyebrow in question making her roll her eyes. "Your worry for Ayane and Daisy was visible even from behind you." I chuckled a bit before she grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me into a passionate kiss I would have never expected from her. I returned it on instinct before she stopped. "We will be back with them soon enough. They wouldn't want you moping any more than you would want them to."

"Fine." When a woman was right then she was right. I just wish they weren't so smug about it.