AN: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! This chapter is dedicated to my mom, because she's always there for me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Percy Jackson and the Olympians. If I did, I wouldn't be on this site sadly.
Born From Fire
"There are four common base elements that are known to the world through many cultures."
A page was turned in a book and the Narrator smiled as the sole member of the audience listened with full attention from where they sat on the Narrator's lap. The page revealed a picture of the planet Earth.
"The first, of course, is that of the earth. Strong, unmoving, the earth is stubborn, but also at peace with itself. It is lorded over by a primordial, the primordial Gaea, who continues to slumber since times long forgotten. Her slumber isn't welcomed, but it isn't disturbed, for when the Earth decides to sleep, it takes something big to make her stir, let alone wake her up. To ensure she slumbers, the eldest son of The Crooked One, Hades, watches over the element of Earth. His sister, Demeter, grudgingly helps him with this."
The Listener giggled and the Narrator's smile widened. Another page was turned and multiple lines danced across the paper. The Listener watched the lines twist and turn this way and that, and the Narrator continued.
"Then comes the element that is most free, the air. Air is invisible, not to be touched, but always to be felt. It dances around humans, brushes their skin, warms their flesh, or chills their bones. When trapped, it escapes easily through the sneakiest of manners, for it finds the smallest of crevices of its container and slips out. Many control air, but it is lorded over by the youngest son of The Crooked One, Zeus. Even then, Zeus focuses his control on the sub-element, Lightning, which may explain why Air gets away with so much, even with Hera trying to keep it in check."
Another giggle escaped the Listener after the Narrator's last whispered comment. The Narrator chuckled and turned the page. An intricate sunset hung on the edge of the restless ocean.
"After the free air and the stubborn earth comes the malleable element of water. Water is truly one of the most effective elements created. Water cannot easily be contained. It becomes heavy when gathered together and refuses to remain still when transported, such as when a child fills a bucket. The bucket becomes too heavy for the child to carry, and, even if they do manage to carry it, chances are that the water will escape over the edge during the transport. There is still some water in the bucket though, which tells us that water is generous. The middle brother of Zeus and Hades, Poseidon, watches over all major bodies of water."
"Unc Side'n!" The Listener chimed happily.
"That's right." the Narrator smiled softly. The page was turned once more and a happy sound escaped the Listener when he saw a crude, but elegant, fire sprout on the page.
"Fire!"
"Yes," the Narrator said as warm, flame filled eyes looked down at the untamed blond hair on the Listener's head.
"Fire, the fourth and final element. Fire is perceived as dangerous and harmful, with good reason. Fire cannot be completely controlled, even by those it is assigned to. Fire is ruthless, unforgiving, and wild. It must be tempered by a careful hand, caged in a hearth or aptly named fireplace, and it is used by humanity against the word of the gods, who knew of its dangerous power. Fire burns strong until doused by earth, water, or air."
"Foosh!"
The Narrator giggled as a small flame escaped the hands of the Listener. The book was untouched, the fire created danced in circles above it before the fire was snuffed from existence.
"But though it is defeated, it leaves its mark; the air becomes unbearable, water is boiled, and the earth is scorched. However, there are two great beings that watch over fire. One is the smith god, Hephaestus, who uses fire as a tool. He has shortcomings, a temper much like the element when certain subjects are brought up."
The Narrator closed the book and set it aside. The Narrator turned the Listener around so that their warm flame-filled eyes could meet, small smiles on either of their faces. The Listener's eyes drooped slightly and a yawn escaped from the young Listener's mouth. The Narrator smiled and rose, carrying the Listener to a small bed set beside a large hearth. The Listener was set in the bed, and the Narrator gently brushed a finger along one of the unique whisker-like marks that was on the Listener's cheek.
"The other watcher of fire is quiet and peaceful, one who knows that to protect her family, she must be distant from them. But she loves them too much to be distant, so she designed the Hearth, a way to contain fire, yet let it reign free."
The Listener's eyes shut and the Narrator's smile widened.
"After all, fire brings life as well as extinguish it. Unites families, even when they are so far apart." The Narrator grabbed a simple light orange-brown blanket and draped it over the Listener. "The Last Olympian watches the Hearth, alone and willingly. Her dedication was rewarded by the Fates." The Narrator turned to the Hearth and grabbed a poker, gently adjusting the coals that burned. "For her Hearth gave birth to a boy, the Boy Born from Fire. Naruto, the God of the Hearth."
When a human thought of a god, they thought of an all powerful being that was otherworldly in appearance, though still they looked 'human' due to humanity's vanity. In reality, humans were akin to hairless apes, and gods were...not. However, the gods learned quickly to hide their true appearance, for most beings could not handle the sight of a god's true form. They donned humanity as their cover – "Why human? Because honestly, who wanted to look like a platypus?" – and most gods settled on certain features that agreed with their domains.
Apollo, as god of the sun and youths, was always an attractive young man. His twin, Artemis, appeared as a beautiful athletic maiden to coincide with her domain of the hunt and maidens. Hermes always looks mischievous and friendly, being the god of thieves and travellers, often one and the same, though lately he's donned the browns and weariness of a postal worker. Aphrodite was the definition of lust, love and beauty in human form, as each human had a different opinion, and her appearance was never actually specified to be more than 'breathtakingly beautiful'. Ares was scarred and built like a warrior, though he now looks like a thug. Hephaestus was the hardened crippled worker. Dionysus the happy drunk, but like Ares and Hermes, his appearance has suffered due to the times, now he's miserably sober.
How does a god choose to appear, though? How do they know what fits their domain?
Well, Naruto wasn't sure about the others, but he was lucky enough to have a face that he liked. When he was 'born again', his once-human-now-godly mind chose that as his godly form. Currently, he was the physical equivalent of an eight year old, but with the mental capacities of a god. Unfortunately, because his godly mind was newborn, Naruto couldn't reprogram the base setting, which meant one thing.
He was short.
Again.
"...So not fair..." Naruto pouted as he looked at the platter of cooling cookies set on the counter, just a foot from his reach. Olympians liked to be ten feet tall, some inset superiority thing, Naruto assumed. His childish form was barely even half that. Granted, it was better than being four foot nothing for almost all of his childhood, it was still kind of irritating to have a significant height disadvantage after an adulthood where he was one of the few naturally tallest around.
"Is something troubling you, Naruto?"
Naruto turned and smiled at his cousin. Athena looked radiant as usual; her golden hair – often changed to a darker color for mortals because of some stigma that had come about in the late 18th Century – braided down her back and wise grey eyes showed that she had processed millions of thoughts before one completed in his head. Though, she'd probably be less intimidating if she didn't wear the cuirass over her robes.
Nevertheless, Naruto greeted Athena warmly. "Hey, Ena!"
The wise eyes steeled. "Naruto, you're no longer a child, please don't address me as that ever again."
"Er, sorry, Athena." Naruto swallowed lightly. He relaxed as the hard steel returned to a cool grey.
"You're entering your third century, Naruto, you should begin to act like it," Athena said. She sniffed the air and approached the counter further. Though she kept her distance, a desire appeared alongside the calculative gaze she had. "...Hestia made cookies."
"For the celebration of the end of the nineteenth century," Naruto said after the astute deduction. He looked up at the counter with want in his own gaze and a silly grin on his face as drool escaped his lips. "They're orange ambrosia cookies..."
Naruto heard Athena take a sharp breath of air. He didn't blame her. Hestia's cookies and other assorted treats were among the most coveted of snacks. She did wonders with ambrosia that no god or goddess has been able to replicate, and the only one who's neared her skill has been Hera. The Queen of the Heavens was not vain enough to declare her baking better than her older sister's; it was an unspoken agreement that one did not dare try to outdo Hestia when baking, lest she decide to keep a fight from taking place and cease baking altogether.
Olympus would face against Chaos itself before the inhabitants of the mountain would suffer a lack of Hestia's cooking.
"For the celebration of the New Year, hm?" Athena hummed. She let a small sigh escape her. "I suppose we should just wait for the hours to pass...they'll still be warm."
"If Artemis doesn't grab them all, first." Naruto grumbled. In his opinion, the goddess of the hunt became the goddess of gluttony when Hestia's cookies were set out. Artemis rarely lied, the event itself being the reason why there was a phrase 'once in a blue moon', but Artemis' most common excuse for taking all of the cookies would be that she was saving them for her hunters.
Naruto grunted when Athena lightly knocked him on the head with the flat of her spear.
"Now, Naruto, you know as well as I that Artemis isn't that bad." Athena scolded.
"Yeah, sure...Did you have to hit me so hard?" Naruto rubbed his crown and frowned at the spear. Along the flat of the blade, several kanji and other assorted lines appeared before the spear changed into a trident. Athena started and dropped the polearm, shocked that she held the symbol of her rival so suddenly. The trident exploded in a cloud of smoke once it struck the ground and reverted back to Athena's spear. Then, it returned to her hand under her will once she noticed the change had ended. Her gaze turned to the younger god.
"Naruto!"
"That was an accident, I promise!" Naruto cringed and held his arms above his head. "Don't hit me again!"
Athena rolled her eyes. She wasn't so quick to act, despite what others may think. "I won't hit you, Naruto. I just want to know how you did that?"
Naruto peaked out through a crack in his arms. "Promise not to whack me on the head?"
"I promise not to whack you on the head." Athena's amusement was displayed by a hardly visible smirk on her face. Her younger cousin was very childish, more so than any of the other gods. His personality was possibly due to his previous life as a mortal during the age of Bronze Men, but Athena wasn't about to jump to that conclusion.
"Okay." Naruto lowered his arms, but kept a wary eye on the goddess of wisdom. "Well, that was a seal, as far as I could tell. A rune from the Bronze Age used in the Eastern Realm. I thought that a lack of chakra would make those things impossible, but I guess now I can just will them to appear."
"...You guess?" Athena was slightly disappointed. She did not exist during the Bronze Age and had only come to be once the age dwindled to a close. Not to mention the Olympians didn't go east often; they followed the heart of the west after all. The only ones who'd truly gone eastern were Apollo and Helios, and that was to guide the sun on its western trip.
Naruto shrugged. "I'm not sure how my mind works, don't think I ever will be." Naruto grinned slightly. "Not really the 'brains' kind of guy, you know?"
"Well now, that just won't do."
Naruto froze at the soft amused tone that he'd heard a few times before. The god of the hearth and home turned and offered his mother a weak smile. "H-Hello mother."
"Naruto." Hestia nodded slightly. She gave another nod to Athena. "Athena, welcome. Am I interrupting anything?"
"No, Hestia," Athena said. "I was coming to have another talk with you when I spotted Naruto gazing at your cookies."
Naruto pouted at the goddess. "Nobody likes a tattle tale, Athena."
"Odysseus would say otherwise to that, Naruto," Hestia said. She had a secretive smile on her face, and her flame-like eyes flickered playfully. "Speaking of Odysseus, he was favored by you, was he not, Athena?"
Athena nodded. "He was one of the few men who had intelligence and lacked incompetence. Especially when it came to warfare."
"And you, Naruto, are fond of his tale, are you not?" Hestia asked. Her smile widened slightly as the boy nodded. "Perhaps you should learn to use your mind like he did. What do you think, Athena?"
Athena's eyes gleamed as she swiftly put together the tapestry Hestia was weaving. One thing was guaranteed when it came to the domain of wisdom, and that was sharing it with another. "I'd be glad to help Naruto with that."
Naruto looked between the two goddesses, a cold feeling travelled up his spine. "Um...did I miss something?"
"You could begin tomorrow after the party," Hestia said.
Athena nodded. "That will do."
"After lunch?"
"A few hours before should suffice. Ensure that he sleeps well," Athena said as she turned and walked away.
"I'll take him to your library after breakfast, then." Hestia smiled.
Naruto frowned as Athena left the simple temple to the Olympus Hearth his mother claimed as her home. He turned back to Hestia with his brows furrowed. "Did I miss something?"
"Yes. Now go wash up, we're going to visit Mother before the party. She hasn't seen you since the Revolutionary War ended."
"This is madness..." Naruto frowned as he looked at the River Somme at the end of Janus' month in the seventeenth year of the twentieth century. He finally had a growth spurt and stood a respectable ten feet alongside other immortals, but with his growth came memories of times long since past. Humans hadn't changed since his first life, despite what his mother insisted. They were still prone to wars, granted they lost the many abilities Naruto now controlled. And with the added demigods...it was a recipe for disaster. Ares' sons were ruthless and Apollo's sons had made deadly biological weaponry.
"Madness, ha! You'd not be saying that if you saw Troy. That was madness. They'd go out to fight in the day, sleep with women in the night and then repeat for years."
Naruto turned and let a small smile cross his face as one of his friends approached him. He was a dark skinned man and built much like the long since deceased and reincarnated Kirabi. Glowing stones acted as eyes and in his left hand was a rolled parchment. The man wore a dark suit that was common to those who resided mostly in the House of Hades.
"Was another false oath given, Horkos?" Naruto asked the son of Eris. His presence wasn't usually welcomed on Olympus, but as of late many of those unwelcomed were present to deal with the strife that befell the planet.
Horkos let off an annoyed sigh. "There are so many promises made that I have been sent by Lord Hades to consult with Lord Apollo over what was a broken oath and what was never meant to be kept. Things would be easier to track if we had another god of oaths, alas, Helios faded back when Rome rose."
"I'm not becoming the God of Promises, Horkos." Naruto told the punisher flatly.
Horkos glowered at him. "Yet you continue to make promises..."
"I do no such thing!" Naruto protested.
Horkos smirked. "Oh really? So that promise to Aphrodite you made was a false oath?"
"That does not count! I was hardly out of my first century! I didn't know what I was saying!" Naruto protested hotly as his blond locks ignited into an embarrassed flame while his face turned a bright gold as ichor rushed to it.
Horkos laughed and clapped a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Be at ease, Naruto. I know you were a young god. For me to punish you would be damnable. If anyone should be punished, it's Aphrodite. She invoked a possibly false promise, but then again, I don't see the future."
"Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence. You're a true friend." Naruto drawled as he cooled off. He flicked a small flame that hung on his brow off and gave Horkos a mild glare.
Horkos smirked again. "I'm a son of Eris. If I don't cause you some sort of pain, she'd throw me to Nyx for more lessons."
"Right..." Naruto sighed. He looked back down at the River Somme and shook his head. "These men...they do not deserve the teachings of Ninshū."
"Ah, so you've been considering teaching your other domain to humanity?" Horkos asked.
Naruto sighed. "After conversing with Mother about Prometheus' fate, I decided against it. Lord Zeus does not like having his place challenged. Besides, Ninshū was created to unite humanity into peace. With Ares' hold over men this generation, I fear that level of peace may be beyond them."
"Are you considering the offer Eirene made?" Horkos asked his young friend seriously. "You do know what could happen if you take her up on it."
"...I have not decided yet," Naruto admitted. "While I think that this decade is lost to Ares' bloodlust, I always hope for the true king of man."
The sky boomed, but Naruto paid it no heed. Horkos waited patiently for his friend to continue. Naruto looked at Horkos with a small smile.
"The true king of man is the next generation," Naruto said. He returned his attention to the riverbed, littered with bodies and wounded, rescue coming in waves. "And it is the duty of the current to ensure that the next generation makes the right choice. War may be inevitable because of Ares' boredom, but Peace is something worth fighting for."
"An interesting choice of words."
The new voice had Horkos and Naruto stiffen, and both turned to see none other than their King behind them. Naruto fell to a knee and Horkos knelt beside him, both greeted him traditionally as their "Father". They looked up and rose when Zeus signaled them to.
"I meant no dishonor, Lord Zeus - " Naruto began, but Zeus' raised hand cut him off. Electric blue eyes were locked onto flame-like orbs that looked back at him in a bit of nervousness. Zeus never officially approved of Hestia's son, but considering that the Fates suddenly delivered him to Hestia, Zeus withheld any action against him. That and Zeus was not exactly keen on the thought of being on Hestia's bad side, not that he ever told anyone of it.
"Your words come from the heart of one who was once man," Zeus said neutrally. "It is only natural that you occasionally think like one. You are like Asclepius, foolhardy and naïve when it comes to immortal matters, but filled with good intentions for mortals. Tell me, Boy of Fire, what are your views on peace?"
Naruto blinked, slightly stunned that the King addressed him so directly. He really needed to learn to reign in his motor mouth. After a moment of silence, Naruto came to his senses thanks to a nudge from Horkos.
"M-my views? Yes, um, ahem." Naruto coughed into a fist uneasily. "Peace is something that can be achieved by man, even if it's due to fear of man's rulers. Such as the Golden Age."
Zeus narrowed his eyes. "You believe that The Crooked One is a better ruler than I?"
"No! No-no-no-no! You are far greater than he," Horkos quickly interjected. "As one who was present for the Crooked One's rule, believe me, Lord Zeus, you are the better ruler."
"Indeed," Naruto said. He owed Horkos for that save. "You are fair and just, whereas the Crooked One ruled with fear. You mingle with man, knowing them and watching them closely, while the Crooked One ignored their value. Still, with so much concern of upsetting the Crooked One, man dared not fight one another as they do now."
"So fear is key to peace?" Zeus asked.
"No. Fear is a temporary peace," Naruto said. "Even though his reign was long, it was temporary. You have dealt with many ages, Lord Zeus. You have seen what causes most years of peace. After this battle" Naruto gestured to the view of the River Somme, where either side ignored the other. "great pain can also bring peace. This is also a flawed form of peace. Pained or wronged, humanity has the need for vengeance, or personal justice. A cycle of hatred that is deeply ingrained in the human mind, one that is very hard to break if not done early on."
"Grudges are Hades' problem." Zeus grimaced.
"Yet they trouble humanity, do they not?" Naruto countered. "What humanity needs to learn is to take the pain in stride, to learn to truly forgive. When kings who cause pain or rule through fear realize that neither is effective, their control falters and revolution comes. Eventually, the kings are lost, as we've seen with the recent American Revolution. The war was lost and the grudges between the United States of America and England have long since gone. They are even united. Allies. They have acquired peace."
"...Forgiveness is the key to peace?" Zeus asked, a bit upset at the somewhat dull words that came from his mouth.
Naruto frowned, a bit upset at the simplification of his belief. "No. Understanding. England has come to understand that the United States of America is independent and the United States of America understands that England no longer wishes to rule. Neither rules the other, they understand what drives the other, and coexist peacefully."
Zeus hummed and considered the younger god's words. "So if man can come to understand one another, forgo the pain one may have caused them if they knew the reason behind it, they could have peace?"
"That sums it up aptly, Lord Zeus," Naruto said. "But, as I told Horkos, I do not believe it possible now. That is why I strive for the future."
"You hope for this to happen?"
"I have faith in humanity to do the right thing when it needs to be done," Naruto said firmly. "Peace is not impossible for man."
Zeus stared at the young god for a moment again before he nodded. "Athena's lessons have done you well, and your own mortal experiences give you wisdom she never could. You have swayed me, Boy of Fire, and from henceforth you shall be known as God of Peace as well as the God of the Hearth and Chakra."
Naruto faltered for words before he ducked his head down. "Thank you, Lord Zeus."
Zeus nodded curtly and left the two in a large show of lightning. After a moment passed, Horkos turned to smirk at Naruto.
"So, God of Peace...thinking of marrying a certain goddess anytime soon?"
Naruto glared at the punisher. "I may be the God of Peace, but that doesn't mean I don't condone violence!"
"You are too easy."
"Go eat a crow."
It was an evening after the latest Olympian meeting, and Naruto was invited to relax at Apollo's temple as well as referee an arm wrestling match. While Naruto wouldn't mind hanging out with one of his favorite cousins, Naruto wanted to check on his student, Mahatma. Apollo convinced him to come by telling him the opponent was not Hermes, but Ares. Seeing the god of war face off against the 'strongest son of Zeus' intrigued Naruto and he went.
"Come on, tough guy." Apollo taunted with a grin as he started to force Ares' hand back. The god of light grinned and his eyes turned a bit cold. "You're embarrassing yourself in front of our Lil' Cousin."
"Screw off, Girly Boy!" Ares snarled. He grit his teeth and the ichor filled veins in his arm became visible as his strength waned against Apollo's own. Their younger cousin, who had just hit the age of fifteen, watched the exchange with interest.
Naruto was mostly unaffected by his cousins' raw power. Unlike them, he was the son of one of the original six Olympians' domain. His mother's fire was unstoppable, and Naruto was much the same way. He'd gone and sought out the Nemean Lion to see what would last longer: his skin or the Lion's. The Lion's impenetrable skin faltered sooner than he'd expected and Naruto had gotten quite the scolding from his mother and the King for his experiment. Still, though, it was fun chasing the giant cat. He might do it again in a century or so.
His flame colored eyes danced in entertainment as the god of war's arm was forced down towards the table, and Ares' faces were downright laughable. Finally, after an hour of relentless struggle on Ares' part, Apollo put a bit more effort into his push and the god's hand smacked against the imperial gold.
"Apollo wins." Naruto chuckled as the Californian appearing god stood with both of his fists in the air, nodding like a ham.
"Again! Apollo wins, again!" Apollo corrected as he sat back down. He gave a bright cheeky grin to the war god. "That's, what? Five hundred, thirty-two to one? In my favor?"
Ares growled at him. The one victory came when Apollo hustled him. "Rematch!"
"Nah, not feeling it. You wanna have a go, Naruto?" Apollo asked, glancing at his fellow blond god.
Naruto scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Eh...While I wouldn't mind a good spar with an Olympian, I don't think Ares and I should challenge each other at anything. Politics, you know."
Ares smirked at the young god. "Chicken."
"No, that's being smart." Apollo agreed with a nod. "Hestia would blame not only you for injuring Naruto, but me, Zeus, Hera...See where I'm going with this?"
"Ah, family fightin' family never hurt nothing!" Ares protested with a grin. "Like that last war we had. Went global! Good times."
Naruto snorted and crossed his arms as he adjusted himself on his mat-like chair. "Remind me to educate you on the Uchiha clan sometime."
"Ares, Zeus would take your head clean off with his Master Bolt if it meant Hestia wouldn't be angry." Apollo drawled slowly. Ares' grin fell into a grimace.
"Oh. Right...That's bad."
"Duh."
Ares glared at the sun god. "Screw you, Sunspot."
Naruto sighed and waved his hand. The table the two gods were sitting at suddenly lowered and their stools turned into cushions like the one Naruto sat on. Another wave and a pitcher of nectar along with several goblets appeared in the center. "Let's relax with the evening and talk, shall we?"
"I'd rather go get laid," Ares said with a scowl.
"Aphrodite is out with some mortal guy," Apollo poured himself some nectar. He drank down some of the nectar and sighed. "That's really good. Kind of rough, like mortal sake, but the burn afterwards."
"It's spiked," Naruto said with a small grin. The two gods turned to him as he changed his goblet to a simple cup. "What? I'm the God of the Home. I want all to love their home and be comfortable within it. That doesn't mean I'm against booze."
"My opinion of you just rose a bit, shrimp." Ares grinned and turned his goblet into a mug. He took a long swig and after he swallowed, belched. "That's some good spike right there. Does have a burn to it."
"I asked Dionysus for some advice." Naruto chuckled at the memory. "He was more than happy to share some of your vices when it came to your drinks."
"Good ol' D. The chunky monkey knows I love the burn." Apollo grinned.
Ares refilled his mug and drank a bit more. "Oh yeah. He's a sneaky bastard, too. Like that time the Crip trapped Hera..."
"And scared you off?" Apollo added with a grin.
Ares pointed a fat finger at the sun god. "Hey, the Crip was bluffing, Sunspot. I didn't know he didn't want to fight. Coward tricked me and now he's too busy to actually go a few rounds."
"Coward, right..." Apollo shook his head. "There's a fight that would end with us being down an Olympian. Hey Naruto, you wanna sit on the council?"
"Pass." Naruto shuddered and gained a haunted look in his eye. "I've been to council meetings before. The paperwork...the endless, endless paperwork..."
"Geez, first you don't want to fight and now you're afraid of some cut up trees?" Ares asked with a snort.
Naruto glared at him. "Until you've been stuck behind a desk filling out forms over and over again, going home each night to not have sex with your wife – may she rest her soul – and then going back to do the same thing you did the next day for three weeks straight, you have no right to judge me."
"Wife?" Apollo asked. He and Ares cringed slightly at the thought of Hera's domain being attributed to them. However, they didn't know much of Naruto's past life, he tended to keep it and his abilities close to his chest.
Not for lack of Zeus or Ares' trying – one wanted to see how dangerous Naruto could be and the other wanted to see who was stronger.
Naruto sat back and smiled fondly. "Yeah. She was a strange girl. Hot, though. I'd bring her back if I could, but...she's reincarnated into something...damnable."
"Ooo, sorry to hear that," Apollo said.
Naruto shook his head. "It's fine. She just wanted to get to the Isle of the Blest to be with me...but on the second try around she lost her path. Bathory was her end."
"...You were married to the woman who became Elizabeth Bathory?" Apollo asked. "She must've been smoking hot the first time around...vanity must've ended her."
"Maybe. Doesn't matter now. Hinata lives on in my memory. And despite what Mother thinks I think, I do want to remarry someday. Just...not so young," Naruto said. "Or without choice. Look at Hephaestus. Got the short end of the stick on that one."
"Short end?" Ares asked dryly. "You've seen Aphrodite, right?"
Naruto looked at the god flatly. "Yes, and I know you have as well. Many times. Behind Hephaestus' back. Sometimes boldly in front of him." Naruto turned to Apollo. "Why hasn't he tried to divorce? I'm sure that if he put some effort into it, Hephaestus could have Athena as a bride."
"You'd think so, right?" Apollo snorted and drank more nectar. "Zeus turned him down, said Aphrodite was too beautiful. Could've split Olympus."
"Yeah...up until Athena or Hera heard about why there was fighting in the streets." Naruto smirked.
"That's what I said!" Apollo sighed. "I even volunteered to marry her. I'm cool with an open marriage. Both of us just need to have a kid once, then Mom's off my back for immortal legit children. Then she could sleep with whoever, I could sleep with whoever, and you know what else? Two of the hottest on Olympus, and no one would care. No brainer, right?"
"Artemis would probably never speak to you again, though," Naruto said after a moment.
Apollo slumped his shoulders and hung his head. "I know. That's what Zeus said."
Naruto chuckled. "I envy the bond you two share. It is a bond I have only felt once before. Granted, my 'brother' tried to kill me multiple times."
"Sounds like my kind of guy," Ares said with a smirk. Naruto and Apollo shook their heads at his comment, which made the god of war frown. "What?"
"You're an idiot, Ares." Apollo snorted and drank more ichor.
Ares scowled at Apollo. "You wanna go again, Apollo?"
"Nah, I don't feel like having an easy win."
"Oh it's on, girly boy!"
Naruto sighed as Ares leapt across the table at the sun god and the two half-brothers began to roll around. The god of the home made the table levitate up as Ares and Apollo rolled past. Naruto drank some more of his sake and chuckled to himself.
There was never a dull day when one was immortal.
"Poseidon has a son?" Naruto blinked as his mother rubbed her forehead. The god of the home adjusted the hold on his monk staff and sat down across from her. Hestia had called him to her temple after she'd gone to investigate why the Lord of the Sea was acting so skittish lately. Aside from Rhea, Hera and Demeter, Naruto was one of the few to earn Hestia's absolute trust with her duties as the First and Last Olympian.
"Yes. Poseidon's always been rebellious, but to break an oath on the Styx?" Hestia sighed. "Zeus' coupling with that Grace woman was, admittedly, always expected, but I thought Poseidon could've held out another century or so. Hades has done so well, despite the di Angelo's deaths."
Naruto hummed in agreement as he made a bowl of ramen appear before him. Hestia frowned at the bowl and it shifted into a broth filled with a soup of ambrosia, Naruto's chopsticks into a spoon. Naruto's shoulders slumped.
"Really?"
"You won't be eating that garbage in my home." Hestia frowned at her son. "Honestly, since you've regained all of your memories, your manners have vanished entirely."
"Not entirely...Weren't we talking about Poseidon?" Naruto asked, attempting to change the subject from his vices. He stirred his broth and rested his cheek in his hand with a disappointed frown on his face. His mother's food was amazing...but it wasn't Ramen. He really needed to build his own temple sometime, then he could eat Ramen whenever he wanted.
Hestia sighed and shook her head. "We were. We all understood Zeus breaking his oath and we knew eventually Poseidon would break...but so soon afterwards?"
"It's only been what? Five years or so?" Naruto asked after he ate some of the broth before him. "So what happened when you told Lord Zeus?"
"Zeus does not know."
Naruto dropped his spoon and stared at his mother. "You're not going to tell him?"
"When Poseidon told me he broke his oath, I left." Hestia frowned, showing great distress to her son. "I asked no questions and did not wish to hear his reasoning. All I know is that there is a demigod out there that does not know of his origin, most likely won't know of his family before he dies. The scent of my brothers' blood is potent, even when demigods are unaware of their origins."
Naruto frowned and sat back. "Telling Lord Zeus so soon after the death of Thalia Grace...Yes, he'd be likely to lash out as Hades did after the oath was made."
"I will not damn a woman or child to death because my brothers are unable to control their lust. This is why I didn't marry or lay with a god," Hestia said with a sigh. "I must inform Mother."
"Is that wise?" Naruto asked. "Rhea may not be allowed on Olympus, but she may not be able to keep this from Lord Zeus. If you go to visit her so soon after visiting Poseidon it may seem suspicious."
Hestia looked at her son. "What would you suggest?"
Naruto interlaced his hands, his eyes turned from fire into calm blues. Hestia watched her son gain a mortal form, that of a young man. Naruto slid from the slightly larger chair, now at a respectable six-foot height. He rubbed his cheeks and hummed thoughtfully.
"Birthmarks aren't as prominent for this Age are they?" he asked. Hestia shook her head and he grimaced. "A beard it is, then." A second later and his birthmarks were obscured by the same shade of yellow that covered his head in a neatly trimmed beard, much like how Poseidon had taken to trim his own. Naruto rubbed his face with a scowl. "I hate facial hair. It's itchy and uncomfortable."
"You look slightly respectable...Slightly longer hair to go with the beard, perhaps?" Hestia suggested.
Naruto frowned and rubbed his hair. "What's wrong with my cut?"
"It's a bit too short to match that beard," Hestia said. With the Greeks' fascination of facial hair, brought on by Zeus' own fascination with it, came the knowledge most had when it came to be done. "Why are you doing this?"
"Me? I'm going to go meet my cousin," Naruto said with a grin as he finished his mortal form. He still wore orange robes and his monk staff was still in hand.
Hestia giggled slightly. "Not dressed like that, my son."
Naruto frowned and pulled at his robe. "Why not? Is it the orange? Please tell me it's not the orange."
"It's not the orange, it's the clothes themselves. We may not care how we appear, but man does not dress so loosely in the United States," Hestia said, an amused smile on her face. She tapped her cheek. "I suppose if you want to look whatever part you're going for, you should ask Apollo when he returns from his duty...or when he next steps onto Olympus, if he's with another woman."
"That could be weeks..." Naruto grimaced. Apollo may be a player, but he wasn't jumping from girl to girl daily. He did take some time to get to know a girl before he lay with them.
"Well, then you could go ask Aphrodite or Eros for assistance," Hestia said. She gained a small frown. "Actually, wait until Apollo returns. Aphrodite has been...bored lately."
"Is that a bad thing?" Naruto asked.
"Not exactly..." Hestia didn't want her son to be enticed by Aphrodite, but she couldn't well lie to him either. "Ares has been philandering around lately..."
"...And your point is?" Naruto blinked, mild confusion on his face.
Hestia sighed. "Just, keep in mind why you went to see her."
"New clothes, apparently," Naruto said with a frown as he looked at his robes. He shrugged and lifted a hand in a farewell wave before he vanished in his choice of instantaneous travel: a swirl of leaves.
Hestia didn't know where he obtained his fascination with leaves, but assumed it to be a part of his past life. The Goddess of the Hearth turned to her domain and frowned slightly. Why was her son so secretive?
Naruto laughed as he lifted a young boy with brilliant sea green eyes and dark hair up above him. "Look at that, you can fly!"
It had been four years since he was informed of his cousin's existence, and three years since Naruto inserted himself firmly in the lives of the Jackson household. The young god cherished the memory of the day he walked into the house, dressed in worn jeans and an orange shirt that Eros had chosen. (Apparently, Aphrodite had found a 'yummy' companion and left Eros to deal with any matters on Olympus for her, and Eros was in a better mood than he usually was.)
Naruto had introduced himself properly to Sally Jackson, who saw that he was not as young as he seemed. She was uneasy around him at first, considering he was a god and all, but when she realized that her son took a liking to his cousin, Sally began to relax.
The young boy in Naruto's grasp laughed and held his arms out. "I'm Superman! Mommy look!"
"Yes Percy, I can see that." Sally smiled as she looked up from where she was preparing a cake for the soon to be seven year old. "Careful Naruto. I don't want to have to put ice on any bruises this year."
"Maa, you worry too much, Sally," Naruto said as he moved Percy to sit on his shoulders. The disguised immortal walked into the kitchen and took a deep breath. "Mm-mm. Smells good in here, like my Mother's cooking."
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm that good," Sally said quickly. She whacked Naruto's hand with a wooden spoon when he tried to sneak a bit of batter on his finger. Percy giggled while Naruto hissed and shook his hand. "You'll do like Percy and wait until it's done to get a taste."
"But that'll take hours," Naruto groaned.
Percy patted Naruto's head. "Root, Smelly Gabe is out today! We can watch TV!"
Well, Gabe learned quickly to leave the house whenever Naruto was to be around. The young god didn't care for the chosen shield and made his dislike of the man known. There may have even been a threat or two, a hole made by Naruto's fist right beside Gabe's head or the snapping of a shotgun barrel over Naruto's knee when Gabe tried to prevent Naruto from entering. It was the last time Gabe tried anything and he quickly made himself scarce, as Naruto implanted a sixth sense to alert the man when he would be coming.
Naruto looked at Sally with a playful grin. "Has anyone ever told you that your son is a genius?"
"Not enough, sadly." Sally returned with a small frown. Naruto's chuckle made her look at him, to see the god look up at Percy with a grin.
"Good! Being smart's overrated, Percy. Find a pretty girl with big brains to do all the thinking for you," Naruto said informatively while Sally gaped at him.
Percy scrunched his nose up and scowled. "Girls are yucky."
"This is also true, but nevertheless! They are needed." Naruto chuckled when Sally waved her wooden spoon at him.
"Who are you to say that girls are yucky?" Sally asked.
"Are you kidding me? With all those things that happen later in their lives? Girls are disgusting." Naruto quickly ducked out of the kitchen with a giggling Percy in tow after Sally took a swat at Naruto's head.
"Don't say things like that around Percy, he's too young for it!"
"Ah, I heard worse when I was his age!"
Sally frowned and decided to go back to cooking while Naruto and Percy sat down on the couch, both quickly engrossed in Pokémon. They watched TV for another hour before Percy became bored. He then (re-)introduced Naruto to his toys, who quickly volunteered to be the villain as they played. Sally called the two into the kitchen a bit later and Percy blew out his candles. Naruto tried to get the wish out of him like he had the year before, but Percy was firm and unmoving.
While Percy enjoyed his blue cake, Naruto chuckled and ate the one corner of orange that Sally created for him. "He reminds me of his-"
"I know." Sally quickly interjected, a smile on her face. She fiddled with her fork for a moment before she quietly asked. "How is he?"
"Still watching over Percy whenever he can," Naruto said softly. The disguised god took a bite of the orange colored cake slice before him. "He saw me with you when you went to the aquarium."
"Aquarum?" Percy looked up, blue cake smeared slightly around his mouth. His sea green eyes glistened excitedly. He put more cake into his mouth and asked. "We goin' again?"
"Perseus Jackson, you finish chewing that food before you talk," Sally said firmly. While Percy worked on his intake, Sally turned to Naruto. "Did you get in trouble?"
Naruto chuckled around another bite. "For what? Keeping an eye on Percy? Nah. He did make me take an Oath though. Had Horkos witness it and everything."
"...Another knows-?" Sally asked worriedly.
"Three in total know of Percy," Naruto said softly. He finished his slice of cake and took care of his plate before he returned to the table. "My mother, my friend and myself. My friend watches over broken Oaths, so he found out once Poseidon had broken his. Horkos is no fool, nor is he merciless unlike his counterpart. He knows to keep quiet."
"Why are you whisperin', Root?" Percy asked in the only way a seven year old could.
Naruto turned to Percy and ruffled the mess of dark hair on his head. "Don't worry about it, Percy. Just talking about grown up stuff. Like, when is the birthday boy going to finish his cake so he can get his present?"
If that didn't distract Percy, then nothing would. Thankfully, like most birthday children, Percy beamed at the thought of presents and tried to hurry up his meal. Naruto winked at Sally, who shook her head.
"The way you act, you'd have children of your own," Sally said. She realized her words and looked at Naruto, who's eyes had changed from youthful blue to the blues of an old tired man.
"Yeah...something like that..." Naruto smiled in memory of his only true children. Boruto and Himawari Uzumaki. Both died before the end of their Age, the Age of Bronze. Naruto's jaw flexed and he shook himself from the memories when Percy declared that he had finished his cake.
"Can I open my presents now?" Percy asked innocently. Sally and Naruto laughed before Sally excused herself to grab something from upstairs. Percy turned to Naruto, who shrugged.
"Don't look at me, Percy. I don't know what it is." Naruto grinned when Percy pouted. The kid was a lot like himself as a child, minus the prankster streak. That could be fixed, though. Poseidon seemed to approve of his, Apollo and Hermes' pranks, so maybe there's a part of Percy that would enjoy it, too.
Sally returned with a large box wrapped in shiny blue paper, a green bow on the top.
"Here you are, Percy. Happy birthday," Sally said with a small kiss on Percy's cheek. Percy's smile widened and he tore into the box, elated when he pulled out two new action figures, both of which were mostly blue.
Naruto had to excuse himself and step outside while he 'obtained' his gift. Naruto walked out onto the porch and clapped his hands together as he closed his eyes. It wasn't hard for a god to create an inanimate object, but this was more familiar to Naruto, and he felt considering what he was going to make, it was necessary. Naruto's eyes opened to reveal crossed pupils and golden irises.
Naruto's hands flipped through several seals before he brought his hands clenched together. "Banbutsu Sōzō (Creation of All Things)!"
Naruto's hands shone bright orange. As he pulled his hands back, a blue cloth with a familiar metal protector bolted to the front appeared from thin air. Naruto exhaled when the creation was done, and his eyes returned to the blues he used to blend with humanity. He smiled down at the carved spiral set before him and traced it lightly with his thumb before he walked back into the house.
Percy looked up from where he played with his toys as Naruto crouched down in front of him, a serious look on his face.
"Percy," he said softly. "When I was your age, I was enrolled in a school that taught me how to protect my precious people. When I graduated, I was given a special headband from my favorite teacher." Naruto smiled lightly as he brought his hand from behind his back. "This is the symbol of the Leaf, where the Will of Fire burns forever brightly. And I want you to have it."
Percy's eyes looked at the offered headband in Naruto's hand. He put a hand on it, and was stopped from taking it by a hand Naruto placed over it.
"This is only one of the two gifts I have for you," Naruto said. "My other gift will be to teach you what I learned."
"...Like kung-fu?" Percy asked innocently.
Naruto smiled. "Better than Kung-Fu. You know the Power Rangers?"
"Yeah?"
Naruto leaned in and whispered. "I could beat all of them."
"Nuh-uh!"
"Oh yeah. And their Megazord."
"No way! You're lying," Percy protested. Nothing beat the Power Rangers or their Megazord.
Naruto looked at Sally, who was watching them from the couch. "Ask your mom. She knows."
Percy looked to Sally, who looked conflicted for a moment before she nodded. "He taught them everything the Power Rangers know, Percy. Even the blue ranger."
Percy looked back at Naruto with awe. "You're the Blue Rangers' teacher?"
"Yep, except I'm not a Power Ranger," Naruto said. "I am a ninja."
"Ninja!" Percy exclaimed. That made Naruto instant cool.
"The strongest ninja," Naruto said, his grin wide. "So tell me, Percy Jackson. You wanna be a ninja?"
"Yeah!"
Naruto smiled and let Percy take the headband. "First, enjoy your birthday, then tomorrow after school, I'll come back and teach you."
Percy nodded and rushed over to his mother, who tied his headband to his head. Percy began to pretend to be a Power Ranger and played with his new toys, while Naruto led Sally to the kitchen and told her why he said what he did.
"Your son is the son of a god," Naruto said. "Best intentions aside, sheltering him will not protect him forever. One day will come where you will wish you hadn't. I will ensure that you never feel guilty for loving your son, and give him a way to protect himself from monsters. It will not be easy, Sally. I will not go easy, either."
Sally grimaced at the god's words. "But he's so young-"
"Trust me, he's not that young. One of my teachers was only five when he began to learn what I will teach Percy." Naruto interrupted her. "I promise that he will return with nothing more than a small cut and some minor bruising."
Sally wanted to protest, but knew that it was for Percy's sake. "You're not going to do anything too bad, are you?"
"Well, I might throw him off the edge of a cliff...Happened to me when I was young..." Naruto hummed thoughtfully. He chuckled nervously when Sally grew horrified. "Kidding, kidding, I'd never do that to anyone. Well, not unless they really deserved it."
"...If you weren't a god, I would kick you out," Sally said with a frown.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, that was a bad joke. Sorry."
"Don't lose focus. Reign in your temper. Beat me this time, Percy." Naruto grinned as he caught the now ten-year-old Percy's attempted roundhouse. The boy wore his headband less often in public than he did when he was younger, but he always wore it when Naruto trained him, something that made Naruto happy. It showed that Percy still wanted to train. As well as a blue gi that Naruto had 'gotten' as a gift. The material was lighter than what Naruto had worked with, but that helped Percy when it came to initially training him.
Percy grunted as he was thrown to the ground, but quickly returned to his feet and charged his teacher once again. He leapt into another roundhouse and pushed off of the blocking arm. Percy spring-boarded from the ground with a punch aimed at Naruto's cheek.
"Good recovery, Percy." Naruto appraised as he blocked Percy's punch. Naruto stopped a follow up knee with his other hand, his grin wide and proud as he pushed the boy back to the ground. "Very good! Flawless adaption and speed. But you're better than that. One hit, Percy, and you move onto the next step in the Gōken."
Naruto decided to teach Percy the style that Gai and Rock Lee mastered because of Percy's parentage. Poseidon was a powerhouse, like, stupidly powerful, even for a god. He could lift mountains over his head and throw them with ease. Poseidon shook the earth itself when the need arose. His affinity for earth was nearly on par with Hades'. It was to be expected that Percy was also over-powered, so Naruto worked with it and honed the boy to take hits and keep going. Again, Naruto was reminded of himself and his children.
The Uzumaki were meant to be tanks, plain and simple.
Percy was meant to be one as well, but unlike the Uzumaki, he needed guidance. Comrades to have his back.
With some uneasy whispers of some unnatural monster activity Naruto had been hearing on Olympus, Naruto had the feeling that Percy would be getting those comrades sooner than later.
So, Naruto had to push the training further.
"Come at me with the intent to kill, Percy." Naruto's smiled widened by another fraction when Percy hesitated. Percy wasn't keen on taking lives. That would make him stronger in the end, as stupid as it sounded. Taking a life was easy, but letting an enemy live? That was hard.
Percy grit his teeth and climbed to his feet. He jumped up and brought his leg up high.
"Leaf Drop, interesting choice." Naruto grinned as he braced himself. The leg landed against Naruto's crossed arms and Naruto felt himself move marginally into the earth. For a brief moment, Naruto let his excitement overcome him and his eyes flashed to their true form. Percy's determined look faltered and his follow up attack fell through as he lost balance.
"Ow," Percy groaned from where he landed on the ground. He rubbed his back and looked back at his teacher, the blond's eyes back to the blue they originally were. Weird, he could've sworn they had become balls of fire for a moment.
"You okay, Percy?" Naruto asked as he held a hand out.
"I'm good, I just thought I saw something. My ADHD distracted me again," Percy said with mild disappointment as he got to his feet with the older man's help. He groaned again when an alarm rang. "Man...I was so sure I got you, too."
Naruto chuckled. "Who said you didn't? Look behind me."
Percy looked behind Naruto and saw the imprint of his feet. The son of Poseidon gaped and looked back at the proudly grinning Naruto.
"That was all you, kid." Naruto placed a hand on Percy's shoulder. "You're getting stronger and faster, but remember to keep control and focus."
"Yes, Sensei," Percy said, with a mocking bow. He got a light smack on the head.
"Don't call me that. Now c'mon, let's go get some grub and tomorrow we'll begin the first steps of being a Lotus user." Naruto nodded towards the car parked a good distance away.
Percy followed Naruto to the car and grinned. "I want a burger and a blue shake."
Naruto shook his head. "For the love of, Percy they don't serve Blue Shakes."
"They should." Percy frowned.
"If there's any shake that should be served, it's not blue, but orange." Naruto nodded firmly.
"Blech. Blue's the way to go, Naruto."
"Orange is the color of the gods!"
"Yeah, sure it is, Naruto."
"It is!"
"This is some serious bullshit." Naruto frowned as he stood outside of the council chambers on Olympus, still in mortal form. He just wanted to congratulate Percy on completing his first quest, but no, Zeus had to be all-uppity after all the crap the poor kid went through. And now they refused to believe what Percy said about The Crooked One? Seriously? Even the God of Peace knew when things were going to go bad, the theft of Zeus' Master Bolt was just the beginning. Naruto felt it in his ichor.
Naruto grunted as Hestia lightly whapped him with a poking iron. "Language."
"Percy's not even out here."
"Children can hear everything that isn't meant for their ears. It's an inherent talent, really," Hestia said with a sigh.
"I heard worse when I was his age. Hell, I was already looking at magazines. Ow! Seriously?"
"Language."
"Since when is Hell a swear? Ow!" Naruto rubbed his head and glowered at his mother. "This is punishment for something other than my language isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hestia said with a small smile.
Naruto frowned at her. "Uh-huh...sure."
The matter was dropped as the council doors opened and Percy walked out, Poseidon at his side. Hestia walked away before Percy or Poseidon could greet her. Naruto had seen the secretive smile on the First and Last Olympian's face. He grinned, his mom was a great prankster.
"Naruto?" Percy's question made Naruto look at him. "What are you doing here? Wait. Don't tell me you're a god, too."
"You know, I just might be," Naruto said playfully before he nodded to Poseidon. "Glad to hear everything is under control in there."
Poseidon frowned. "How did you hear anything?"
"The hearth may not have ears, but it always listens," Naruto said sagely.
Percy groaned. "That doesn't make sense."
"Your little girlfriend would get it," Naruto shot back with a grin. He laughed and Poseidon chuckled as Percy flushed red and hotly protested Naruto's words. Naruto wiped a tear from his eye and reverted his face to his godly one, his blue eyes replaced by flames and his beard shaven to reveal his whiskered cheeks. Naruto ruffled Percy's hair. "Good going, kid. I knew you had it in you. We'll stop training over weekends and shift everything to summertime."
"Training?" Poseidon asked, slightly interested and disturbed. "Training in what?"
Percy frowned. "You didn't know Naruto was training me?"
"He's the Lord of the Seas, Percy, not of the little plot of woods we train at," Naruto said with a grin. He placed a finger to his lips. "Remember, we are secretive." Naruto then nodded to a slightly disturbed Poseidon. "See you around, Uncle Side'n."
Naruto vanished in a swirl of leaves and Poseidon looked at his son. "What training is he talking about? Demigod training?"
"Can't say, Dad. I promised," Percy said with a playful smile that made Poseidon purse his lips before he shrugged.
"As long as you are safe. Come, let us talk before you return to Camp Half-Blood."
AN: And there's Hestia's Naruto. Born from Fire, not breaking Hestia's oath, much like Artemis. Has potential to be continued, too. Bonus!
You know what to do: Review!