A/N: Anyone who wants to do a story where the characters read 'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes' series is allowed to do so as long as they tell me before hand.

I don't own Percy Jackson series or Naruto series, or any of the characters of either series. Nor am I the writer of the Son of the Huntress series

Warning: Read these stories if you haven't before reading this story:

'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Lightning Thief'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Sea of Monsters'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Titan's Curse'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Battle of the Labyrinth'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Last Olympian'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Staff of Hermes'

I'm going to make this clear to those who don't approve the idea of legacies in Camp Half-Blood.

One: If you actually looked into Greek Mythology you know there been plenty of Greek Legacies. Heck Frank's ancestors were Greek legacies before they joined the Romans.

Two: Time and time again in the Percy Jackson series they mention many famous names Rick Riordan used as demigods Greek Demigods reaching adulthood-George Washington, Amelia Earhart, F.D.R., General Sherman and many more-many of which had children of their own which would make their kids legacies.

Three: About Naruto not being wise enough to be a Legacy of Athena, keep in mind in future reference for any sequel fanfictions of Percy Jackson that when Percy and Annabeth have kids, if they have any of Percy's personality they might not have much interest in school and thus not show much of any of Athena's wisdom. So I should have a pass on the matter with Naruto because of that fact.

Four: Since I made Naruto a legacy of Athena through Minato, he can't have any connections with the Romans as for any god/goddess, Olympian or Minor to have a legacy they must have children who later grow up to have children of their own. Minerva doesn't have kids, and it been clear before the return of Athena's Parthenos the idea of the matter was saw as a disgrace to the Romans as it meant Minerva broke her vow in their eyes. Not to mention the fact that the feud between Greek and Romans was kept alive for so long because of Athena.

Also for anyone who thinks it be okay having a child/Legacy of Artemis or Hestia to meet the romans, although Diana or Vesta wasn't treated any worse from their Greek counterparts as the comparison of Athena and Minerva, keep in mind they also made a vow to not have any kids, and since Romans take their vows so seriously they have their own god whose domain is over vows I think they would frown upon the idea of Diana and Vesta breaking their vows. Although I did enjoy The Son of the Huntress series, even though Naruto saved Reyna and Hylla the fact any more Romans would accept the idea there being a child and grandchild of two virgin goddesses feels a bit far fetch.

Leo Talks to Hephaestus

Leo kept looking back. Even though he seen Naruto destroy the sun dragons himself, he half expected to see them coming at them with a screaming magical saleswoman throwing potions, but nothing followed them.

He steered the dragon toward the southwest. Eventually, the smoke from the burning department store faded in the distance, but Leo didn't relax until the suburbs of Chicago gave way to snowy fields, and the sun began to set.

"Good job, Festus." He patted the dragon's metal hide. "You did awesome."

The dragon shuddered. Gears popped and clicked in his neck.

Leo frowned. He didn't like those noises. He just hoped its something he can fix.

"I'll give you a tune up next time we land," Leo promised. You've earned some motor oil and Tabasco sauce."

Festus whirled his teeth, but even that sounded weak. He flew at a steady pace, his great wings angling to catch the wind, but he was carrying a heavy load wth the cage in his claws plus four people on his back—the more Leo thought about it, the more worried he got. Even metal dragons had limits.

"Leo." Piper patted his shoulder. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah… not bad for a brainwashed zombie." He hoped he didn't look as embarrassed as he felt. "Thanks for saving us back there, beauty queen, Naruto. If you two hadn't gotten me out of that spell—"

"That was Piper's doing, I just gave her the encouragement," Naruto said.

That's what worried Leo. He felt terrible about how easily Medea had set him against a guy that been nothing but good to him. And those feelings hadn't come from nowhere—he been jealous of Naruto since they met. Naruto was like Jason, always got the spotlight and yet Naruto was a jokester like him. It just seem unfair.

What bothered him more was the news about his mom. Medea had seen the future down in the Underworld. That was how her patron, the woman in the black earthen robes, had come to the machine shop seven years ago to scare him, ruin his life. That's how his mother had died—because of something Leo might do someday. So in a weird way, even if his fire powers weren't to blame, Mom's death was still his fault.

When they had left Medea in that exploding store, Leo had felt a little too good. He hoped she wouldn't make it out, and would go right back to the Fields of Punishment, where she belonged. Those feelings didn't make him proud, either.

And if souls were coming back from the Underworld… was it possible Leo's mom could be brought back?

He tried to put the idea aside. that was Frankenstein thinking. It wasn't natural. It wasn't right. Medea might've been brought back to life, but she hadn't seemed quite human, with the hissing nails and she glowing head and whatnot.

No, Leo's mom had passed on. Thinking any other way would just drive Leo nuts. Still, the thought kept poking at him, like an echo of Medea's voice.

"By the way, Naruto, what the heck was that power back there?" Piper asked. "That red energy—"

"Chakra," Naruto corrected, "It's red chakra."

"Yeah, what was up with that?" Leo asked. "Do you have some cool super powers you forgot to mention."

"Not exactly—and it's not a cool super power—not yet at least," Naruto said.

"Medea mention a fox—nine-tail fox," Jason remembered. "Does that have something to do with it?"

Naruto was silent for a bit. "It has to do with everything to do with it," Naruto said. "Truth is, I got a monster sealed inside me."

There was a moment of silence, even from Hedge which was odd.

"You're joking right," Leo asked.

"No, Leo. I wish I was, but it's the truth." Naruto said. "The night I was born, a fox the size of this world's sky scrapers attack my village and my parents sacrifice themselves sealing the fox in me. That's why I'm an orphan. Only problem is I don't have full control over it's powers and until I do, if I use too much of it's power it could spell danger."

"Does Chiron know?"

"Campers that were around at least since the Battle of Manhattan knows. Your sister, Thalia, she knows too," Naruto said. "I don't know if any new campers we gained after the Second Titan War knows."

"Any camper with sense respects Naruto too much to tell just anyone his secret," Coach Hedge said. "Even Nature spirits respect him too much to share his secret with just anyone, and believe me, most nature spirits loves to share secrets and start rumors."

"But why?" Leo asked.

"Because a Jinchuriki—someone with a monster sealed in them—normally has a life of loneliness and hatred," Naruto said. "When most people find out someone has a monster sealed in them they outcasted them and treat them as the monsters sealed in them."

There was a moment of silence. "Ouch, and here I thought I had it bad with my fire powers," Leo said.

Naruto shrugged. "Believe it, I actually had it easy. The Third Hokage made a law where anyone who knew about the Nine-Tail Fox couldn't tell their children or me, in hopes to give me a somewhat normal childhood in honor of my parent's last wishes. Although most adults tried to keep their kids away from me, I was still able to make friends."

"There are others though, right?" Piper asked. "The cat?"

Naruto nodded. "There are eight other beast like the fox, each in different animal forms, each with different number of tails. That's what I meant about me being fortunate. I knew someone from the sand village who had a tailed—a one tail racoon dog—sealed in him and although he had family, even they either hated him or was scared of him for a time."

"And the cat?" Piper asked.

"A two-tails from the cloud village. I don't know their full story, but I heard there the village has away for Jinchurikis to control their tailed beast power so they might of been fortunate as I was," Naruto said. "The problem is the relationship between Cloud and Leaf never been the greatest. Especially after the last peace negotiations when the Ambassador of the Cloud tried to kidnap a friend of mine. The Ambassador was killed while trying to get away, but the cloud village denied knowing anything about the kidnapping and wanted blood."

"Now we know why," Piper said. "Medea got her patron to manipulate the ambassador too try and prevent you from mastering the Nine-Tails Power."

Naruto shrugged. "Too be honest I don't care about that. Since I didn't find out about the Fox until I was twelve, I got eight more years of being ignorant. What makes me angry is the fact because of dirt lady, the blood the cloud village demanded was the guy who killed the ambassador, my friend's father. Instead of him going, his twin brother took his place to protect his brother. The twin brother who had a son a year older than me who had his world torn apart by his father's sacrifice."

"You said something about a guy name Neji almost killing Hinata." Jason said. "Was that them?"

Naruto nodded. "Neji told me the story when we fought each other during the finals of the Chuunin exam. Believe it, if you meet Neji now, you wouldn't believe he's the same guy, but back then, the way he put it, he was in somekind of darkness until I helped him realize the truth during our fight. And too find out that darkness was because of this dirt lady."

They flew further on.

"We're going to have to put down soon," he warned his friends. "Couple more hours, maybe, to make sure Medea's not following us. I don't think Festus can fly much longer than that."

"Question is—where are we going?" Piper asked.

"The Bay Area," Leo guessed. His memories of the department store were fuzzy, but Naruto bringing up what happened to Neji helped clear things up. "Didn't Medea say something about Oakland?"

Neither Piper or Naruto respond for so long, Leo wondered if he said something wrong.

"Piper's dad," Jason put in. "Something happened to your dad, right? He got lured into some kind of trap."

Piper let out a shaky breath. "Look, Medea said you guys will die in the Bay Area."

"Maybe, maybe not," Naruto said. "Oracle said so itself, I get to heal thrice."

"How!" Piper responded. "You told us you don't know how to heal others and the healing potion was destroyed with Medea."

"I wouldn't say that," Naruto said.

"Uzumaki, what did you do?' Hedge asked.

Naruto grinned a wide grinned and reached into his pocket. Everyone look back as Naruto pulled out the familiar vial of red potion.

"The healing potion?" Piper gasped. "But how—"

"Medea must have Deadly Pride for a fatal flaw, because for a great sorceress, she sure fell for a basic low-level Substitution Jutsu," Naruto said. "All I had to do was make a different vial appear as the same healing potion and sealed the real one in my pocket. I figured if we use it wisely, it can be used three times. Snagging this was easier than when I stole Ariadne's string. Believe it!"

"This is great! Hey Jason, that means we can restore your memory," Leo said.

"Yeah, we could… but should we?" Jason asked.

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

"I'm just thinking back to what Hera said—about how taking my memories was keeping me alive." Jason said. "Boreas also said Hera is playing a dangerous game having the four of us together."

"Yeah so?"

"Guys, when Medea had me attack Naruto, I felt distrust toward him," Jason said. "Like some part of me was trying to tell me that Naruto is a threat."

"Maybe because of the Nine-Tail Fox," Naruto said. "I actually used a bit of his power back in detroit to boost my wind jutsus to scatter the dust. Maybe you subconsciously sense it."

"No, I think it came from somewhere else," Jason said. "Maybe from one of my forgotten memories."

"That's a big maybe," Leo said.

"Are you sure about this Jason?" Piper asked. "This could be your only chance to regain your memories."

"I'm sure, at least for now," Jason said.

Naruto decided to pocketed-seal the potion since they weren't going to use it right now.

"That's great and all, but we still need to know where to go," Hedge said. "So are we going to the Bay Area or not!"

"The Bay Area… Piper, would that happen to be the San Francisco Bay area?" Naruto asked.

Piper thought back. "I think so."

"Somewhere on a mountain?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah, actually." Piper said. "Why?"

"You're thinking it's there, aren't you?" Hedge asked.

"It be a logical choice. The Mist there already is powerful because the Titan's Base and monster activity." Naruto responded.

"Where?" Jason Leo and Piper yelled.

"Mount Tam. It's at San Francisco Bay Area." Naruto said. "And it's the current location of the old Titan's Base. That's also where Zoë Nightshade sacrificed herself."

"You think Piper's dad might be there?" Jason asked.

"If the giant holding Piper's dad is Encaladus, I wouldn't be surprise. He's the bane of my grandmother Athena, and according to the myths he's quite a strategist because of it. Plus Mount Tam is the perfect location." Naruto said. "The Mist up there is powerful. Especially the closer you get to the Garden of Hespirides or the Titan's Base."

"That's great and all, Naruto, but we need to find Aeolus and drop off the storm spirits before we go there," Piper said.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. We might still need the wind gods help later on, but they won't help us as long as Aeolus has an order out to kill us." Naruto responded.

Leo grunted. "So how do we find Aeolus?"

Jason leaned forward. "You mean you don't see it?"

He pointed ahead of them, but Leo didn't see anything except clouds and the lights of a few towns glowing in the dusk.

"What?" Leo asked.

"That... whatever it is," Jason said. "In the air."

Naruto moved his safety goggles down and frowned. "I don't see anything. What is it?"

"A vapor trail," Jason said. "Except it's glowing. Really faint, but it's definitely there. We've been following it since Chicago, so I figured you saw it."

Leo shook his head. "Maybe Festus can sense it. You think Aeolus made it."

"It's possible since we're in his domain. He probably subconsciously sense the presence of storm spirits coming his way," Naruto said. "Mr. D once told me gods can divide their conscious to multiple places at once."

"Divide their conscious?" Piper asked.

"Sort of like my shadow clone jutsu only they are aware of each conscious actions while it's happening." Naruto said.

"I guess that explains how they can have multiple kids around the same age," Leo said, "So you think Aeolus is telling us where to fly?"

"Or it's another trap," Piper said.

Her tone worried Leo. She didn't sound nervous, but more broken with despair, like she still blame herself for their fate.

"Why don't you kiddies get some sleep," Hedge said. "I can keep us going."

"Gleeson, would you stop calling me that. I'm your boss." Naruto said.

"That actually sounds good," Piper said as she leaned back and close her eyes.

Sleep was the last thing Leo wanted to do, but his body had different ideas. His energy level was crashing. The monotonous beat of the dragon's wings made his eyes feel heavy. His head started nod.

"Hand me the reins, Leo. I'm the only one who can see the vapor trail." Jason suggested.

"That's actually better," Naruto said.

"Are you sure?" Leo asked.

"Leo, you're not a machine. You need sleep," Jason said.

Leo's eyes started to close on their own and before long he was slumping forward against the dragon's warm neck.

…

In his dream, he heard a voice full of static, like a bad AM radio: "Hello? Is this thing working?"

Leo's vision came into focus—sort of. Everything was hazy and gray, with bands of interference running across his sights. He never dreamed with a bad connection before.

He seemed to be in a workshop. Out of the corners of his eyes he saw bench saws, metal lathes, and tool cages. A forge glowed cheerfully against one wall.

It wasn't the camp forge—too big. Not Bunker 9—much warmer and more comfortable, obviously not abandoned.

Then Leo realized something was blocking the middle of his view-something large and fuzzy, and so close, Leo had to cross his eyes to see it properly It was a large ugly face.

"Holy mother!" he yelped.

The face backed away and came into focus. Staring down at him was a bearded man in grimy blue coveralls. His face was lumpy and covered with welts, as if he'd been bitten by a million bees, or dragged across gravel. Possibly both.

"Humph," the man said. "Holy father, boy. I should think you'd know the difference."

Leo blinked. "Hephaestus?"

Being in the presence of his father for the first time, Leo probably should've been speechless or awestruck or something. But after what he'd been through the last couple of days, with Cyclopes, a sorceress, a face in the potty sludge, and Naruto using the Nine-Tail Fox's Chakra, all Leo felt was a surge of complete annoyance.

"Now you show up?" he demanded. "After fifteen years? Great parenting, Fur Face. Where do you get off sticking your ugly nose into my dreams?"

The god raised an eyebrow. A little spark cause fire in his beard. Then he threw back his head and laughed so loudly, the tools rattled on the workbenches.

"You sound just like your mother," Hephaestus said. "I miss Esperanza."

"She been dead seven years." Leo's voice trembled. "Not that you'd care."

"But I do care, boy. About both of you."

"Uh-huh. Which is why I never saw you before today."

The god made rumbling sound in his throat, but he looked more uncomfortable than angry. He pulled a miniature motor from his pocket and began fiddling absently with the pistons—just the way Leo did when he was nervous.

"I'm not good with children," the god confessed. "Or people. Well, any organic life forms, really. I thought about speaking to you at your mom's funeral. Then again when you were in fifth grade… that science project you made, steam-powered chicken chucker. Very impressive."

"You saw that?"

Hephaestus pointed to the nearest worktable, where a shiny bronze mirror showed a hazy image of Leo asleep on the dragon's back.

"Is that me?" Leo asked. "Like—me right now, having this dream—looking at me having a dream?"

Hephaestus scratched his beard. "Now you've confused me. But yes—it's you. I'm always keeping an eye on you, Leo. But talking to you is, um different."

"You're scared," Leo said.

"Grommets and gears1' the god yelled. "Of course not!"

"Yeah, you're scared." But Leo's anger seeped away. He'd spent years thinking about what he'd say to his dad if they ever met—how Leo would chew him out for being a deadbeat. Now, looking at that bronze mirror, Leo thought about his dad watching his progress over the years, even his stupid science experiments.

Maybe Hephaestus was still a jerk, but Leo kind of understood where he was coming from. Leo knew about running away from people, not fitting in. Unlike Naruto who seem to reach out for others, he hid in workshop rather than trying to deal with organic life forms.

"So," Leo grumbled, "you keep track of all your kids? Using that sub-dividing conscious thing Naruto told me about?"

Hephaestus might've blushed, but his face was so beat up and red, it was hard to tell. "Yes, we are able to keep track of all of our kids by dividing consciousness, just as we do wherever our sphere of influence is strong. Although our powers are limited in the Elemental Nations."

"Limited?" Leo asked.

"Yes. The elemental nations have their own gods. We are limited to what we can do there. Although that doesn't stop some of the gods to work their powers there," Hephaestus said.

"Like dirt lady controlling cloud ambassador to kidnap a child?" Leo asked.

"You think Naruto was mad finding that out, I don't want to be Aphrodite when he finds out 'dirt lady' got the idea off her." Hephaestus responded. "The fact is, it's rare our entire essence is ever together in one place—our true form. It's dangerous, powerful enough to destroy any mortal who looks upon us. Add to that our different aspects, Greek and Roman—" the god's fingers froze on his engine project. "Er, that is to say, being a god is complicated. And yes, I try to keep an eye on al my children, but you especially."

Leo was pretty sure Hephaestus had almost slipped and said something important, but he wasn't sure what.

"Why contact me now?" Leo asked. "I thought the gods had gone silent."

"We have," Hephaestus grumped. "Zeus' orders—very strange, even for him. He's blocked all visions, dreams, and Iris-message to and from Olympus. Hermes been stuck on Olympus only able to deliver pearls to Camp half-blood for sending demigods to and from the elemental nations." Hephaestus chuckled. "Athena argued against Zeus on closing up contact with the elemental nations since we already had satyrs coming and going there before the Second Titan War started. But other than that, no communications. Fortunately, I kept my old pirate broadcasting equipment."

Hephaestus patted a machine on the table. It looked like a combination satellite dish, V-6 engine, and espresso maker. Each time Hephaestus jostled the machine, Leo's dream flickered and changed color.

"Use this in the Cold War," the god said fondly. "Radio Free Hephaestus. Those were the days. I keep it around for pay-for-view, mostly, or making viral brain videos—"

"Viral brain videos?"

"But now it's come in handy again. If Zeus knew I was contacting you, he have my hide."

"Why is Zeus being such a jerk?"

"Hrumph. He excels at that, boy." Hephaestus called him boy as if Leo were an annoying machine part-an extra washer, maybe, that had no clear purpose, but that Hephaestus didn't want to throw away for fear he might need it someday.

Not exactly heartwarming. Then again, Leo wasn't sure he wanted to be called "son." Leo wasn't about to start calling this big awkward ugly guy "Dad."

Hephaestus got tired of his engine and tossed it over his shoulder. Before it could hit the floor, it sprouted helicopter wings and flew itself into a recycling bin.

"It was the second Titan War, I suppose," Hephaestus said. "That's what got Zeus upset. We gods were… well, embarrassed. Don't think there any other way to say it."

"But you won," Leo said.

The god grunted. "We won because the demigods of"—again he hesitated, as if he'd almost made a slip—"of Camp Half-Blood took the lead. We won because our children fought our battles for us, smarter than we did." Hephaestus wave at the mirror and it changed to Naruto who was in argument with Coach Hedge. "We won because Naruto was able to unite the Big Three when the Titans did everything in their power to keep Zeus Hades and Poseidon separate. If we'd relied on Zeus' plan, We would've all gone down to Tartarus fighting the storm giant Typhon, while Poseidon and Hades soon follow in their own battles because Zeus refused to send help to Poseidon or convince Hades to help us out. Bad enough mortals won our war for us, but then that young upstart, Percy Jackson—"

"Naruto's friend that is missing."

"Hmph. Yes. Him. He had the nerve to turn down our offer of immortality to tell us to pay better attention to our children and legacies. Er, no offense."

"Oh, how could I take offense? Please, go on ignoring me."

"Mighty understanding of you…" Hephaestus frowned, then slightly wearily. "That was sarcasm, wasn't it? Machines don't have sarcasm, usually. But as I was saying, we also felt ashamed, shown up by mortals. At first, of course, we were grateful. But after a few months those feelings turned bitter. We're gods, after all. We need to be admired, looked up to held in awe and admiration."

"Even if you're wrong?"

"Especially then! And to have Jackson refuse our gift, as if being mortal were somehow better than being a god… well, that stuck in Zeus' craw. Naruto didn't help either. He accepted becoming council of Cloven Elder's ambassador for the Elemental Nations, but when we offered to have the Nine-Tail Fox removed from him without killing him, he turned it down in return of Calypso's freedom and offering Cyclops a place in Camp Half-Blood." Hephaestus chuckled. "I'll admit, I liked the idea of having cyclopes trained at the forges at Camp Half-Blood instead of taking a chance of wasting such potential. I always had a soft spot for Cyclopes. But Zeus—I guess he couldn't stand the idea that the Nine-Tail Fox was still a potential threat in our world because Athena and Hermes wanted to help their grandson. Zeus decided it was high time we got back to traditional values. Gods were to be respected. Our children were to be seen and not visited. Pearls would be send to Camp Half-Blood to send satyrs to the elemental nations, but Olympus was closed. At least that was part of his reasoning. And, of course, we started hearing of bad things stirring under the earth."

"The giants, you mean. Monsters re-forming instantly. The dead rising again. Little stuff like that?"

"Aye, boy," Hephaestus turned a knob on his pirate broadcasting machine. Leo's dream sharpened to full color, but the god's face was such a riot of red welts and yellow and black bruises, Leo wished it would go back to black and white.

"Zeus thinks he can reverse the tide," the god said, "lull the earth back to sleep as long as we stay quiet. None of us believes that. And I don't mind saying, we're in no shape to fight another war. We barely survived the Titans. If we're repeating the old pattern, what comes next is even worse."

"The giants," Leo said. "Hera said demigods and gods have to join forces to defeat them. Is that true?"

"Mmm. I hate to agree with my mother about anything, with your current situation yes. Those giants are tough to kill, boy. They're a different breed."

"Breed? You make them sound like racehorses."

"Ha!" the god said. "More like war dogs. Back in the beginning, y'see, everything in creation came from the same parents—Gaea and Ouranos, Earth and Sky. They had their different batches of children—your Titans, your Elder Cyclopes, and so forth. Then Kronos, the head Titan—well, you've probably heard how he chopped up his father Ouranos with a scythe and took over the world. Then we gods came along, children of the Titans, and defeated them. But that wasn't the end of it. The earth bore a new batch of children, except they were sired by Tartarus, the spirit of the eternal abyss—the darkest, most evil place in the Underworld. After that realization Naruto revealed few winters ago, that might of been our bad since we imprisoned the titan Atlas to hold up the sky."

"Why would that be your bad?" Leo asked.

"Let's just say Hercules' eleventh task have become a joke on Olympus because of Naruto." Hephaestus chuckled. "As I was saying, those children, the giants, were bred for one purpose-revenge on us for the fall of the Titans. They rose up to destroy Olympus, and they came awfully close."

Hephaestus' beard began to smolder. He absently swatted out the flames. "What my mother Hera is doing now—she's meddling fool playing a dangerous game, but she's right about one thing: you demigods have to unite. That's the only way to open Zeus' eyes, convince the Olympians they must accept your help. That's the best way to defeat what's coming. You're a big part of that, Leo."

The god's gaze seemed far away. Leo wondered if he could split himself into different parts—where else was he right now? Maybe his Greek side was fixing a car or going on a date, while his Roman side was watching a ball game and ordering pizza. Leo tried to imagine what it would feel like to have multiple personalities. He hoped wasn't hereditary.

"Why me?" he asked, as soon as he said it, more questions flooded out. "Why claim me now? Why not when I was thirteen, like you're supposed to? Or you could've claimed me at seven, before my mom died! Why didn't you find me earlier? Why didn't you warn me about this?"

Leo's hand burst into flames.

Hephaestus regarded him sadly. "Hardest part, boy. Letting my children walk their own paths. Interfering doesn't work. The Fates make sure of that. It still amaze me Athena and Hermes got away with it helping Naruto, even if he was destined to be here. As for claiming, you were a special case, boy. The timing had to be right. I can't explain it much more, but—"

Leo's dream went fuzzy. Just for a moment, it turned into a rerun of Wheel of Fortune. Then Hephaestus came bac into focus.

"Dang it," He said. "I can't talk much longer. Zeus is sensing an illegal dream. He is lord of the air, after all, including airwaves. Just listen, boy: you have a roll to play. Listen to Naruto. Fire is a gift, not a curse. I don't give that blessing to just anyone. Both you and Naruto are the keys to defeating the giant but they can't defeat the mistress they serve without you. She's worse than any god.'

"Who?" Leo demanded.

Hephaestus frowned, his image becoming fuzzier. "I told you. Yes, I'm pretty sure I told you. Listen, I got a message for Naruto from Hestia. After this quest, he needs to go back to the leaf village and search for the ruins of the Uzumaki clan compound. Now that he's a Jonin, as descendant of the Uzumaki Clan he should have granted rights to explore the ruins. There is a series of mask that when worn summons the Shinigami of his world. But Hestia said Naruto should only use one mask and one masks : that Naruto should let his dreams will help him find the mask but that he should only use it once. As for you, just be warned: along the way, you're going to lose some friends and valuable tools. But this isn't your fault, Leo. Nothing lasts forever, not even the best machines. And everything can be reused."

"What do you mean? I don't like the sound of that."

"No, you shouldn't." Hephaestus' image was barely visible now, just a blob in the static. "Just watch out for—"

Leo's dream switched to Wheel of Fortune just as the wheel hit Bankrupt and the audience said, "Awwww!"

Then Leo snapped awake to his friends screaming.