Disclaimer: If Naruto or Percy Jackson were owned by me then I wouldn't have published this story, would I?
Yankee on Board
Once again Naruto Uzumaki was in France.
Roughly 400 transport ships filled the harbor of Toulon, accompanied by 13 ships of the line, and 14 frigates with massive guns along the sides. Thousands of troops stood along the rails of every ship in the harbor. There were so many soldiers that Naruto was taken back by the whole spectacle. Tens of thousands of soldiers waited patiently around the wooden railings waiting for someone to come out of the captain's quarters. Naruto ran up to the top of the captain's deck and read the name of the ship he was on, which was the "Franklin". So, Naruto just walked around the ship hearing several soldiers converse in french.
"Monsier Bonaparte taking his time as usual." Spoke a soldier.
"Tsk, nothing new there… better for us to wait than to sail towards who knows what." Spoke another.
"I heard rumors from some of the crew that he's been engaging with alchemists, scientists, weirdos, and sorcerers. The other night below deck I heard weird noises coming from the cargo hold. It sounded like some sort of monster." Said a soldier with spooked eyes.
"You three shouldn't worry about a thing." All eyes beamed onto someone who was smoking a pipe, "Napoleon knows exactly what he's doing, and he will continue to win. France's fate lies with the general."
Before anyone could respond Napoleon walked out of the captain's deck wearing a tricorn hat, a long velvet blue cape, and he was dripped out in a beautiful French uniform with medals from all his great victories from Italy, Venice, Genoa, and Austria. All eyes were glued to the general who eyed his army with a smirk. He walked up a flight of stairs and grabbed onto a rope yelling, "Soldiers! You are one of the wings of the French army. You have made war on the mountains, on the plains, and in cities; it remains for you to fight on the seas. The Roman legions, that you sometimes imitated but no longer equaled, fought Carthage now on this same sea and now on the plains of Zama... Soldiers, sailors, you have been neglected until this day; today, the greatest concern of the Republic is for you... The genius of liberty and freedom, which shaped you since your births to become the arbiters of Europe! First, we shall bring the might of the revolution upon Malta, then we shall follow in Alexander the Great's very footsteps and bring liberty to the Holy Lands! France will lead Europe to be the genius of the seas and the furthest nations! On this day, on this warm May morning, we set sail! For Glory, Fortune, for the Republic, and for every future son and daughter of France!"
The whole bay of Toulon roared with the cheers of tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors, and everyone else waiting to set sail. Grenadiers hoisted their rifles in the air cheering so loud Napoleons enemies probably heard the call to war from far away. Naruto smirked as the general looked him in the eyes with warmth, determination, and the call to battle. The cheers to Malta and Egypt continued for several minutes and they only grew when the ships set sail, then Napoleon yelled once again, "The first dogs that storm Malta shall get a bottle each of the finest wine!"
The cheers grew louder until Naruto heard a loud ZIIIIIiiiiiiiippppp! Everyone turned to the blonde before blackness surrounded him…
Naruto opened his sapphire blue eyes only to be greeted with complete and total darkness.
He quickly sat up only to feel a slender smooth finger against his lips and yearning brown eyes beaming down at him. His eyes quickly adjusted to find the outline of a figure squatting right beside him. The figure quickly transformed into a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl with slightly tanned skin, developing b-cup breasts, from the looks of it, which were pushing her thin white nightgown to the limits. It was none other than Sarah Kelly, a daughter of Hermes, who carefully slid herself into his tight sleeping bag.
Camp Half-Blood's sleeping bags weren't uncomfortable. In fact, they were the most comfortable sleeping bags in the whole world with several enchantments placed on them by the manufacturers on Olympus. The enchantments made them as light as a feather, they would regulate the temperature of whoever slept in it, and the pillow stitched inside was better than memory foam. Despite those advantages, Naruto wasn't sure if they were supposed to be made for more than one camper. So, Sarah spent a good minute shifting around all over his petrified body.
The golden-haired boy didn't dare move. His fellow Hermes girlfr- uh, his fellow Hermes camper was making a loud enough racket as it was.
Sarah forced Naruto to wrap his arms around one of her shoulder while his other just voluntarily rested itself on her big soft butt. This allowed the mischievous girl to wrap her legs around his. After a quick footsy battle within Naruto's sleeping bag both campers quietly chuckled and pecked each other on the lips. As their lips touched and both teens slowly kissed for about a minute, Naruto felt something bad happen.
No something horrible, and he was sure Sarah felt it too.
His hormones were on high alert from all the friction, the stimulation, a beautiful girl in his sleeping bag, and he cursed himself for having those two glasses of water before bed.
"Oh!" Yelped the Hermes girl when she felt her right thigh bump against his remarkably large bulge. She felt it trapped within his briefs. A naughty thought flickered in the back of her mind. Sarah brushed it off, she wasn't ready for that sort of thing, and they had to be extra quiet or else the rest of the Hermes campers would find out. Sarah's cheeks grew hotter the more she rubbed her body against Naruto's and the fact he found her so arousing made her kiss him passionately for a good two minutes. The fire she felt in her loins, her cheeks, and her whole body grew hotter and hotter. Her golden-haired lover slowly and tenderly rubbed her cheek as their kiss deepened.
Their tongues dueled in a desperate battle for dominance. Like the previous evening before, Naruto outmaneuvered her to the point where she just let the boy take complete control. It felt good, it felt right, and most of all they both enjoyed this game. They both moaned for several more minutes until they needed some air. Naruto left her oral cavity and he thanked the gods for sending him such a wonderful late-night present. His left-hand kept venturing around the daughter of Hermes butt feeling her curves.
"We gotta be quieter." Whispered Sarah into Naruto's left ear, before pecking him on the lips once again. She then sultrily whispered, "Last thing we need is for Travis and Connor to start a prank war in the middle of the cabin."
That statement fired alarms within the whisker cheeked boy's head. He may have been the prank king in the Elemental Nations, but at camp the Stoll brothers were contenders for the crown as the best pranksters in America.
The sapphire eyed boy crouched his head up and observed the basement of the Hermes cabin. There were around a dozen campers who were still sleeping inside the basement. Luckily for him, no eyes or ears were eavesdropping on his corner of the basement. The Hermes cabin basement was where the cabin stored their run-down foosball table, the ice hockey table, and even several bunk beds for Kyle LeRoux and the other Hermes campers from the south who formed a sort of pact within the cabin. The rest of the campers who called the basement home were all older than fifteen and they cared little for the many small unclaimed children. So how did Naruto of all people discover such a paradise within such a cramped cabin? Right before Naruto went to bed last night, he discovered by chance many campers slipping down into the basement. The Hermes cabin had an unfair rule over who slept in the bunks vs. who slept on the floor. Anyone who wasn't claimed slept on the floor, so discovering a more quiet, darker, and chiller area to sleep around was always in short supply. Especially for the cabin of misfit campers.
Naruto slouched his head against his pillow, causing the beautiful daughter of Hermes to snuggle closer to his head. The sapphire boy smirked and whispered, "Coast is clear, but what made you ah…"
"Sneak down into the basement for some m-o-r-e… uh," Interrupted Sarah Kelly with a sultry tone of voice.
"Us?" Finished the blond with a foxy grin, only for him to get a nosebleed when she sat up, her butt straddling his manhood. Were they… was he about to… this had to be a dream? It wasn't. His heart was beating faster than a jock on prom night. Sarah then placed his hands on her breasts before kissing him.
To the lone jinchuriki of Camp Half-Blood, nothing else really mattered.
After twenty minutes of making out and fondling one another as quietly as two horny teenagers possibly could in a narrow sleeping bag. Both teens were covered with hickey marks, Indian burns, and a ton of sweat. It took a considerable amount of will power for Naruto to not have his way with her. Every quiet moan and sigh that escaped her lips made him go wild. So wild that he almost was tempted by his hormones to slam Sarah face down on the Hermes ice hockey table and hump her. Not that Sarah would have minded, but the massive and unclaimed 17-year-old Dwayne Harris who was sleeping on top of that very table probably would have kicked his ass. No one in the Hermes cabin ever wanted to get on Dwayne's bad side and the dude had the size and attitude to back it up.
Reason prevailed.
Naruto gently kissed Sarah on her forehead and whispered, "You still didn't tell me what made you come down here. Also, what time it is?"
"Hmm, last I checked it was a quarter to five…" Said Sarah before seeing a confused and bewildered Naruto, "4:45 A-M. But that was maybe half an hour ago. Anyways I just couldn't sleep knowing that you may leave me."
"What are you talking about?" Asked the blonde curiously, "I care about you and would never abandon my new home."
"Well what about that quest Clarisse accepted last night? Last night you were supporting those dishwashers who were calling out Tantalus. Why shouldn't you represent our cabin on the quest?" Sarah pecked the blonde boy on the lips seductively before smirking elfishly.
"I would go it's just… we're surround Sarah. The camp has less than a week to find the Golden Fleece or else we'll be overrun by Kronos's forces. Tantalus thinks that if everyone's head is stuck in the sand, then our problems will disappear. Nothing just disappears. Thalia's tree, Kronos, Melinoe, Iraq, Britney Spears, they aren't going away. The world keeps spinning and if we're not on top of it all we'll be crushed. Do you really think Clarisse would want me to go to the Sea of Monsters with her? I mean I'd probably get us lost and by the time the battle starts I'll be fighting dinosaurs and cyclops in the Bermuda Triangle, while everyone else is getting butchered." Finished Naruto somberly.
He didn't want to believe that the camp would fall, except it would. No one was taking the threats surrounding the camp seriously all while Hank Hughes and Melinoe were conspiring in the shadows.
"Enough with that attitude Naruto, it isn't you." Sapphire blue stared into honey brown; she had his full attention.
"Hahaha, what are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've turned into Mr. Serious and it's not a bad thing. But the boy who saved the Border Patrol wouldn't have doubted himself. What happened to the sweet boy who was always optimistic, charismatic, happy, and passionate?" Said Sarah with a mischievous smirk.
"He's here somewhere, I just have to find him." Joked Naruto with a foxy grin only for Sarah to puff away a strand of hair in frustration.
"I should be getting back to my bunk before people start waking up. Just know that I don't care if you stay or go. But you better come back in one piece or I'll haunt your spirit in the afterlife." And with that Sarah Kelly slid out of his bag and tip toed her way out of the basement.
It was around 7:30 A.M. when Naruto left the Hermes cabin fully dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, his usual worn chukka boots, and a crimson bandana covering his forehead. Attached to his belt was none other than the weapons pouch Eos handed him back in December. Tucked away inside were her three marbles, an Ares dagger, an emergency packet of Miso Ramen, a dozen Jolly Ranchers, and four dozen paper bombs ready to be detonated. It took some quick hillbilly style engineering on Kyle LeRoux's part to modify a cartridge belt intended for .50 caliber bullets, into a working leather sling for his sealing scrolls, which Naruto wore over his left shoulder down and around his right hip.
To say he wasn't ready for war would have been an understatement. All he needed was a shinobi flak jacket and he probably would have been nominated for the coolest, most badass, camper at Camp Hal-
"ANNABETH! You can come out now! Tantalus promised us you won't get in trouble if we find you before breakfast! ANNABETH!" Called out a blonde haired, grey eyed, boy with half a dozen other Athena campers behind him.
Naruto saw several campers walk out from various cabins still in their pajamas. The golden-haired boy rushed to the slow-moving body of Athena campers and tapped the boy calling Annabeth's name, "Ah, uh, son of Athena, what happened?"
"The names Malcolm Pace. You know like Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle." Replied Malcolm Pace slightly offended by Naruto's son of Athena remark. Just because he was from another world didn't mean Naruto couldn't try to remember his name.
"Sorry, uh, Malcolm was it." Spoke Naruto causing all the Athena campers to turn to the fully awake blonde, "What happened to Annabeth? She helped Percy and I on our last day of school. She means a lot to me."
"I told her that stupid Poseidon brat would sink her and this cabin to the ground! Percy, Annabeth, and that cyclops ran away last night while everyone was asleep. We gotta find her fast or else Tantalus threatened us with double the chores for a year. Unless you have any info on her whereabouts then you are excused." Said Malcolm with the other Athena campers behind his back, "ANNABETH!"
Malcolm left Naruto by the cabins completely perplexed.
Percy Jackson, his best friend from Meriwether, was always the go to guy for having fun, parties, talking about life, helping him out with pranks, and the one other demigod at camp plagued by fate. He was gone. Here no more, and probably fighting some monster right now. If it was possible for Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson to take part on the quest to find the Golden Fleece then why shouldn't he. He was meant to be more than some genin taking orders from Tsunade or a weapon to be used for war! Screw the riff raff of that corrupt world. Naruto was an American citizen. Flag and eagle! So, screw being Hokage! Naruto Uzumaki was a hero of Camp Half-Blood. He was much more now! Did that not mean anything? Last night he swore an oath to protect the camp, now he would. This was his destiny. He wasn't going to let his friends hog all the fortune and glory without him.
Naruto made it to the shoreline of the ever so infamous Fireworks Beach where he was told Clarisse was at. Likely getting ready to leave on her quest to the Sea of Monsters. The fourteen-year-old demigod spotted Clarisse all by herself waiting for something. Right as Naruto made it by her side, he was quickly taken back by a loud SPLOOSH!
A massive shower of water sprouted far from the shore. Sadly, close enough to drizzle Naruto head to toe in seaweed and salt water.
Naruto rubbed the salt water from his eyes and was greeted by the most fascinating ship he had ever seen. It rode low in the water like a submarine, its deck plated with iron. In the middle was a trapezoid shaped casemate with slats on each side for cannons. A flag waved from the top-a wild boar and spear on a bloodred field. Lining the deck were zombies. Not the clumsy and rusted armored zombies who followed Melinoe. No, these zombies were outfitted in gray uniforms with shimmering faces that only partially covered their skulls and every single one of them was armed with musket rifles.
Water was still flowing from the deck, but Naruto carefully read the name along the prow in moss covered letters: CSS Birmingham.
"Ever seen an ironclad before, dufus?" Said Clarisse trying to break the ice with the blonde.
"Never. All the ships from my world were made of wood, but ah, just h-how?"
"How did I summon a confederate battle cruiser from the sea? Jackson's daddy isn't the only one with sea power. The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and voila here's my ticket to the Sea of Monsters! So, what are you plotting this early in the morning?" Finished Clarisse with a snarling glare.
Naruto was taken back from the Ares councilors attitude, but he wasn't going to let her grumpy attitude keep him from presenting his case, "Clarisse, is there room for one more on that ship? I want to fight by your side in the Sea of Monsters! Would you let me come along for the ride to complete your quest?"
Clarisse raised a light brown-haired eyebrow and then looked at the ground in deep thought. She wasn't sure if she wanted to let this new kid come with her. He was from another world and was still unclaimed to boot. To make matters worse Naruto Uzumaki somehow brought Keres to camp and that was big omen number one. Her whole cabin bailing on her last night didn't help and… What was the world coming to! An unclaimed brat was her best shot as a companion to the Sea of Monsters.
"You'll fight on my side, ha! The border patrols gone blondie. So why should I have an unclaimed nobody come with me to the most dangerous place on the planet? We aren't going on a trip to Disney World! We're going to the Sea of Monsters! There are sirens, evil sea nymphs cursed with the bodies of birds who'll sing songs so lovely you'll die! I forgot the many Skolopendra that plague those waters and can sink even the largest of boats! Then there's Circe's Island, Lotus Island runners, sea serpents, and the king of the cyclops Polyphemus! Do you think you can handle all that?" Yelled Clarisse who pointed to the ocean where a crew of confederate zombies were rowing their way towards the shore.
Undeterred from the Ares councilor, Naruto simply said, "I'm no ordinary camper Clarisse. You know that. You're right I am unclaimed, but to me it looks like I'm the only person on this beach who's willing to go with you! I was a shinobi back in my world, a trained killer, a soldier who can perform feats you could only dream of! So, the better question to ask is this. Can the Sea of Monster's handle Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Fine." Naruto jumped up and down and even gave Clarisse a quick hug, "But we need to talk to Tantalus and Mr. D first because they're rule still stands. Hopefully, they'll be in a better mood, although I wouldn't count on it. So be on your best behavior!"
The Big House
Naruto and Clarisse made it to the Big House in record time. They both scanned around the deck of the baby-blue building expecting to see Mr. D or Tantalus conversing. Instead they only found wounded campers resting on lawn chairs with hot coca, all of them still recovering from the Stymphalian bird assault from yesterday. The duo went inside the Big House only to be greeted with the sight of three dozen cots in three long rows, every cot was separated with long white linen dividers and at the center of the floor was a lounge area. Apollo campers were zipping from cot to cot, while others were resting by the lounge area.
Naruto and Clarisse went up a floor where the blonde noticed Chiron's empty apartment and various other apartment styled rooms. They journeyed down the hallway before being greeted by Mr. D who was wrapped around a dark purple bath robe within the second-floor kitchen. The god of wine was dropping a sugar cube into his freshly made coffee that was steaming from the top.
"Mr. D I need to-" Began Clarisse who was interrupted by the Mr. D holding a hand up.
"Wait just one damn minute, Clare Rude!" Clarisse's cheeks turned bright red from Mr. D's remark but stayed silent.
Mr. D took a sip of his coffee and sighed contently from the drink. Before Naruto or Clarisse could speak up, they spotted Tantalus who emerged from the bathroom already dressed in his prison uniform and his eyes crazed and angry. A normal and steady Tantalus, which is a start.
"What is the meaning of this dear Clarisse? Shouldn't you be leaving to find that fleece?" Spoke Tantalus venomously, which got Mr. D to raise an eyebrow.
"I'll be leaving in twenty minutes Tantalus. Father accepted my prayer and I have the means to get there. Some zombies from the CSS Birmingham are stocking the ship with food, supplies, and everything I'll need for a safe trip. The only thing I'm missing for my quest are companions." Said Clarisse as diplomatically as possible and Naruto was impressed because Mr. D seemed slightly intrigued but then went back to sipping his coffee.
Tantalus smirked creepily then said, "What about your brothers and sisters, dear Clarisse? Did you not ask them?"
"I did…" Naruto saw Clarisse's eyes turn crestfallen and she meekly continued by saying, "None of them wanted to come with me on this quest. But that doesn't matter because Naruto volunteered to come with me."
"I want to go with her. Clarisse can use me, and she shouldn't have to face all those monsters alone!" Supported Naruto.
Mr. D and Tantalus looked each other in the eyes, but the activity director was the first to speak, "Not when daylight enters Tartarus would I EVER! And I MEAN ever! Let YOU Naruto Uzumaki go on a quest. I should sentence you to dishwasher duty for a week for even bringing it up. You are unclaimed, stupid, annoying, and would bring doom to dear Clarisse. Hmm, with Clarisse absent and the threats surrounding the camp. Maybe we should bring the border patrol back to its glory. With you as the new leader of the border patrol. What do you think Mr. D it might be the only thing this unclaimed punk would be good at? A weapon to protect the campers. The first line of defense against whatever is at our gates."
Naruto growled and shouted back, "I'm not some weapon for TANTALUS or this fucking CAMP! I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a shinobi, a warrior, a hero, and a child of the gods! I'm one of the very children you both seem to ignore! And UNLIKE you I have done nothing to disrespect the god's! Screw the border patrol! Clarisse needs me if we are to get that fleece! And we won't stop there we'll bring back Grover, Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson too!"
Naruto took a deep breath after his speech. Mr. D who was smirking at the beginning, was now glaring daggers directly at the blonde. Several Apollo campers were standing outside the doorway of the second floor. They must have heard the commotion from the infirmary room, and they were staring at him like he was doomed. Even Clarisse was sweating from her brows. Tantalus was leaking the same despicable aura from last night.
"So that's what this is all about Nato!" Declared Mr. D causing everyone to gasp, "It's now 8:00 A.M. you know what that means?"
"Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and that cyclops are forever expelled for all eternity!" Added Tantalus with a smirk.
"Exactly. Remember your quest Clarisse, you're tasked with fetching the Golden Fleece. It'll make this camp sparkle and shine for my latest report to Zeus. BUT if I see any of their stupid faces again, *burp*. I'll turn them into squirrels and run them over with my SUV! Face it Nato, your friends are doomed." Finished Mr. D who went back to sipping his coffee.
"Augh! Never mind them then! Clarisse needs me if we are to get that fleece. You can't just let her go to the Sea of Monsters alone?"
"Persistent aren't we… you aren't going to get that fleece. The only thing you're gonna get is a slow agonizing death. Harpies at the double." Said Tantalus with glee in his eyes.
The cursed king then snapped his fingers and Naruto heard terrifying screeches from far away.
Unknown to Clarisse, Naruto, Dionysus, and even Tantalus were a pair of coral pink eyes, which were focused in on an Aphrodite camper on the first floor. Silena woke up early because this was the day Ashley Zhao would get dismissed from the infirmary. Despite being only ten years old, Ashley was by far Silena's favorite of her half-sisters. She was sweet, adorable, nice, friendly to everyone, and the girl cared little about the cabin's archaic rules. Ashley didn't deserve the hideous scar she would now have to bear for the rest of her life. The Apollo campers did their best work, but the pale thin scar was very visible across the girl's nose and cheek.
Silena left Ashely's bedside when she heard shouting and calls for Tartarus and the border patrol upstairs. She had to find out what was going on. Her cabin had always been the go-to spot for any gossip. If Mr. D was planning on turning someone into a squirrel or a goat. Then she had to be there.
Upstairs Silena quickly pushed the Apollo campers out of her way when she heard loud fluttering wings around the kitchen windows and glee in Tantalus's voice, "Aello, Celaeno, and Ocypete you know what to do!"
Silena drew a long 10-inch dagger from her hip, and with her right hand she pointed one of her javelins at Tantalus. Luckily for her she remembered to keep her Vulcan Javelin cartridge dispenser on hand this morning.
"Enough!" Yelled Mr. D, causing all present to stare at the wine god in surprise.
Naruto on the other hand tried his best to remain calm. Problem was that was easier said than done. Especially with how chaotic everything was going. Silena still armed, sheathed her knife and lowered her javelin. Naruto shot the Aphrodite councilor an incredibly grateful glance, all while his cheeks burned up.
Mr. D on the hand looked furious and the only thing Naruto thought was, "Please don't punish Silena! God's please show her mercy she doesn't deserve to be eaten by a harpy too! That just wouldn't be fair."
"Instead of praying for that bimbo, try and pray for us! Hades will ask me what killed the Great Kyuubi, and you know what I'll have to say? My stupid host yelled at the god Dionysus because he'd rather die in the middle of the ocean!"
"Harpies you are dismissed! And Tantalus don't command the harpies to eat the campers. Especially this early in the morning. I still haven't had breakfast. The last thing I need is for Father Zeus to be grouchy at me at the next solstice meeting!" Spoke Mr. D his face red with frustration, "As for all of you idiots, get the hell out of my kitchen!"
Everyone took that as cue to leave. Naruto slowly began to walk out when he heard Mr. D say, "And you Nato are to be back up here in three minutes, alone!"
Naruto gulped and left the second floor uncertain of his fate.
As soon as everyone left the second floor Mr. D nonchalantly said, "I don't like that boy one bit!"
"Here, here." Muttered Tantalus.
"Good. Now, as much as I want to turn him into a goat or feed him to the harpies. Naruto still has a role to play with whatever's been going on around here. I honestly don't give a flying pigs butthole if these brats live or die. Now they'll have tales to tell for generations of seeing the great god Dionysus in his bathrobe!" Ranted Mr. D to Tantalus who looked at the god confused.
"Ah… Dionysus."
"Oh, I forgot we're talking about Nato. I still haven't, *burp*, woken up, anyways that boy is trouble. The best way to get rid of these troubling brats is to send them off on quests. The likelihood of a demigod returning from the Sea of Monsters is 1 in 5. If they make it back what can you do? Anyways he's going on the quest and whoever Clare Rude wants to bring along she can. She has my great-powerful-godly blessing to die inside the Bermuda Triangle."
"Fine then. I guess its settled."
Naruto was summoned to the kitchen by a worried nymph. When he entered the second floor, he found only Mr. D who was smirking, "So the great Manhattan partier is here once again. Greeting me with his stupid face."
"What are you talking about Mr. D?" Asked Naruto unsure if this was his punishment.
"Did you forget about that party you threw in your apartment almost a year back?" Naruto looked at the wine god completely shocked as Mr. D went on, "Funny thing about that party. It reminded me of a boy who was also your age."
Naruto sat in a chair across from Mr. D who happily continued sipping his coffee before saying, "Once upon a time, in ancient Macedon, there was a boy named Alexander who you're so fond of. I see you wear a Companions amulet. Stupid prissy oath breakers! Anyways, when Alexander was thirteen years old, he was your typical rambunctious, playful, idiotic mortal boy and a lover of the gods. One night during a holiday, he convinced his best friend Cleitus the Black to steal some wine from the temple of Dionysus. Both boys were very superstitious, so they burned a bundle of incense at my altar and made off with a crate of my sacred wine. They ended up partying the whole night and I was there to watch it all, but when the first lights of morning shined, they couldn't remember a thing. It all came back in murky drifts of debauchery and shame, probably from that Persian girl Barsine who was being very naughty. Hmm, I remember Aristotle finding out about that missing crate. He forced the boys to work with the slaves for a week. I know you and Peter are friends and have done many fun things together. You mortals just love your friendships and morals… but take a page from your hero. After years of them campaigning and conquering the known world, things became sour between the two. Cleitus knew about Alexander's true origins as a son of Zeus, a demigod, and he knew most of his dirty secrets. He never forgot that Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon, had already disowned Alexander. Cleitus then had the bright idea to call Alexander illegitimate in front of Alexander's court. How did Alexander respond? Hmm… give me a, *burp*, oh yes, the good part. Alexander responded by throwing a javelin into Cleitus's heart killing his best friend, just four years before his own demise."
"Mr. D exactly what does this have to do with Clarisse's quest?" Asked Naruto who was intrigued by the tale, but he wanted Dionysus to get to the point.
It was slightly unsettling now that Naruto thought about it that the god may have given him a blackout at his party.
"It took you this long to figure that one out."
"How was I supposed to know the Greek gods were real back then?"
"Excuses."
"Oh that… ha-ha-ha, I'm still waking, *burp*, up. I guess I just want to say you interest me Naruto. As did Alexander the Great. Take that as a compliment because I won't ever say it again. You stupid heroes and mortals always care little for those above to begin with. Anyways… Tantalus and I have agreed for you to sail to your doom. Tell Clare that she can bring whoever she wants to their doom as well." Said Mr. D causing Naruto to bang his fists on the table and hold a hand out for Mr. D to high five.
Mr. D just sipped from his cup of coffee and gave Naruto an annoyed look, "I don't do high fives. Earth to Nato. The door's over there."
Setting Sail
Naruto told Clarisse, Silena, the Apollo campers, and the wounded that, "I can go."
Clarisse patted Naruto on the back and everyone began cheering loudly until they heard stomping from upstairs. When the stomping stopped Mr. D yelled out, "Quiet! People are trying to suffer down there!"
Everyone who could, followed the pair outside. Clarisse quickly told Naruto to go to the armory and for him to grab whatever he wanted or needed before they depart. They were on a schedule after all and if they were going to make it to the Sea of Monsters within two days they would have to leave at 8:30. Right before Naruto or Clarisse could begin finishing they're preparations they heard Silena Beauregard say, "I want to go too!"
Clarisse smiled and said, "Welcome aboard Ms. Lovey-Dovey!"
Naruto sweat dropped and pointed at Silena and said, "Wait just a minute! How come you went on a whole tirade with me on how dangerous the Sea of Monsters is, but when Silena raises her hand to go, you just say welcome aboard."
Clarisse smacked Naruto on his noggin with her rugby player sized fist only for the blonde to poof into a white cloud of smoke. Both the daughter of war and the daughter of love watched the cloud disappear into a log?
"Up here!" Naruto called from the roof completely untouched from Clarisse's sudden strike. He then jumped down to the ground while smirking at their shocked faces.
"What happened?" Asked Silena her eyes still wide.
"I just used the Kawarimi no jutsu (Body Replacement Technique). Can't believe I haven't used it more often! The look on both of your faces was priceless." Said Naruto excitedly which caused Silena to laugh and Clarisse to grumble.
"Can you both stop buttering each other up!" Commanded Clarisse getting her two companions' attention, "Blondie go to the armory and grab what you need! I don't want any more complaints from you about Silena joining my quest. She has always been a good friend and our cabins have always supported one another. Silena you have fifteen minutes to grab what you need, or you won't come aboard. I'm leaving at 8:30 with or without you two!"
Naruto went to the armory like his life depended on it. He simply grabbed a celestial bronze gladius that was sitting on a rack collecting dust, a large round celestial bronze shield with the lambda sign ^ on it. He then placed the shield in a sealing scroll and left. There was no need to armor himself up just because they'd be fighting in the sea.
Waves crashed and churned around the CSS Birmingham as Long Island dipped further and further back beyond the horizon. Naruto was holding onto the metal railing of the ironclad just watching New York disappear. New York wasn't the greatest or prettiest place in America. New York City in general was a madhouse! The city inhabited some of the rudest people the blonde ever came across in his travels, the subways were always filthy after a Mets game, there was trash everywhere, the prices were inflated, if you wanted to simply survive on a budget you had to find a dollar pizza stand or a Sabon. Despite all the negativity the blonde felt about the state as well as New York City itself.
He had to be honest. New York felt like home. From the very moment he awoke to this amazing world, the Big Apple was his new home whether he wanted it to be or not. The state, the city, the smell, the craziness, the characters, the excitement, adventures, every shop you could think of, culture from around the world, the best food, his friends, and just everything including all the negatives made him love it.
Several hours passed and Naruto continued to stare North as the ship went further south along the coasts of New England. For some reason it reminded the sapphire eyed genin of his last day at Konoha. When he was young, he hated Konoha. Back then if he had the ability to, he would have razed the city to the ground, yet he grew to love it.
He missed that home too.
"Naruto you've been out here the whole time?" Asked Silena as she placed her arms around the metal railing beside him.
"Yeah… what time is it?"
"Time for you to get a watch." Joked the councilor with an amused grin.
"Ha… ha… ha…" Responded Naruto sarcastically, "I do need one though."
"It's almost one o clock blondie. Come on, you should go inside. I'm surprised you aren't all sunburned, must be good genes." Said Silena looking over her good friend.
How could anyone just stand outside in early-June heat, for almost five hours without any water? Not only that but her friend wasn't even sweating. What could she say? Naruto was full of surprises.
Both demigods entered the cramped and very tight passageway of the ironclad. Right down the hall was a small round table with several rocking chairs. In one of the rocking chairs was Clarisse who looked like she wasn't in a happy mood. Beside her was what Naruto assumed to be the zombie confederate captain who stood stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes scanned Naruto's curiously as he was a possible threat.
"Took you long enough to get inside blondie!" Said Clarisse as she rocked back and forth.
"What's your name and place of origins, welp?" Said the Captain with a gravelly voice.
"Naruto Uzumaki, sir." Replied Naruto to the captain who raised a lifeless eyebrow, "Uh, my origins are from another dimension."
"What in Lincoln's deception kind of an answer is that?" Screeched the captain causing Naruto to smirk a foxy grin.
"It's the truth. I came to Manhattan late last August."
"Manhattan. Ugh, another Yankee on board!" Groaned the captain while shaking his head.
"Thought you might be one of em Orientals with a name like Uzimiki or whatever you people call yourselves." Said the captain which caused both Silena and Clarisse to frown, Naruto on the other hand…
"Hahahaha! Oriental… You should become a comedian or uh, well once you get past being a zombie." Said Naruto while scratching the back of his head.
"I like this Yankee's spirit! Hopefully, my son turned out to be just like you! Lady Clarisse, should we start the tour for this spirited young'un!" Hollered out the captain with a rough smile.
Clarisse sighed before saying, "I was hoping to take them both on tour. I already showed Silena everything hours ago. I'm thinking about getting some rest. How long until we reach Florida?"
"Depends Lady Clarisse, the engines running at full power. Our new God of War Propellers allows our vessel to travel at an amazing 40 knots an hour. Problem is we'll have to slow the vessel down in 8-hour intervals. We should be traveling about 460 miles a day. If we were to go directly to Bermuda like I asked we'd be there in maybe a day and a half Lady Clarisse." Explained the captain.
"Remember that radar those three zombies are assigned to. I want the engines running nonstop at full power until we get close to Chesapeake Bay! Then we can rest them up for however long we need. Would that be a problem captain?" Commanded Clarisse smugly with a tyrannical grin.
"As long as we'll be set free, I don't care what you make us to do." Said the Captain glumly.
"Good. How about you show my stupid friend Naruto the tour and then bring him to the captain's quarters. Will Silena join me?" Finished Clarisse before leaving with Silena down the winding hallway.
"Heard that yank? Time for a tour."
Naruto and the captain ventured through numerous dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. They saw the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. They then went to the pilothouse where Naruto saw the captains wheel twisting around and dead confederates yammering about coordinates. After that they then toured the powder magazine (gunpowder storage) and the gunnery deck, which Naruto thought was the coolest part of the tour. It had two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine-inch rifled gun fore and aft-all specifically refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.
"Wow! This is the coolest ship I've ever been on!" Said Naruto completely entranced by the artillery weapons, it felt as if he was connected to them.
"Hmm, tell me yank, have you been through the south?" Asked the captain.
"No, why do you ask?"
"The ironic thing about Lincoln's War isn't that we lost. I knew we were gonna lose the moment our ship sank below the Chesapeake. I never owned a slave or even killed an injun. I never once dreamed this horrible fate, yet here I am a slave to Ares! Ironic." Started the captain as he took Naruto along the metal deck.
"I guess so… didn't you all fight for slavery though?" Asked the blonde he didn't know much about the Civil War except the North won, Lincoln was a cool dude, and there were a lot of bloody battles.
"Yes, guess I got what was comin'. Still though be careful about messin with Ares. Fight for the wrong side and you'll end up just like me." The captain's green eyes brought fear into Naruto's sapphire orbs.
What the dead zombie said made him think for a minute. If Ares ruled over those who lost in battle or war. Would he become a zombie too if Melinoe won? It didn't seem fair to die in a conflict he had no control over just to end up a zombie.
"Well what's the south like?" Asked the blonde, somewhat curious of the captain's answer.
The south was a mystery to the blonde and the fact they were traveling south meant intel was of the most importance. The only things he really knew about the south were Louisiana, St. Augustine, Florida because of Sabon, and various other cultural things like bud light, soul food, and NASCAR.
"Best place in America if you ask me. Great forests full of evergreens, dark soil that'll grow anthin, good whiskey, fine women, and the most fearless sons of bitches below the mason dixin line." Said the captain almost nostalgic, "Know where I'm from boi? I'm from Alabaster, Alabama. Left my wife and son alone on our farm. Never to see em again, could you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"If you ever come across a Billy Braxton give him this!" The captain then handed the blonde an unopened letter.
"Will do… uh I don't know what to say, but ah… the civil war ended about 150 years ago. I don't know if he's even alive." Said the blonde who quickly placed the letter inside an empty sealing scroll on his leather strap.
"Interesting trick for a Yankee. If you ever find a living Braxton give them the letter. It'll give me some peace knowing one of the living carries it." Finished the captain.
(Immersion: Chase by Giorgio Moroder)
Right as the tour ended and they were about to go inside of the ironclad, until one of the dead zombies whose face seemed different from the others said, "Shilup chitoh osh (Great Spirit)! Captain we spotted three speedboats. Two coming from the port (left side) and one further back by the stern (back side)! Should I signal the alarm?"
"Yes Watie! Get every son a bitch armed and ready! Looks like these guys are packing some heat!" Right as the captain said that one of the speed boats zipped around the ironclad sending a stream of bullets flying from an automatic AK-74.
Naruto covered his ears and dropped onto the deck below the railing as one of the confederate zombies got torn to shreds. The captain and Watie quickly ran up the stair to the pilothouse missing a volley of bullets. The blonde watched half a dozen confederate zombies return fire against the speedboats. Their bullets seemed useless against these new fast-moving foes, as volley upon volley of high caliber bullets rained down upon the moving ironclad. Half of the zombies on the deck were dead. Torn completely to shreds, their green glowing eyes now dark.
"We can't suppress em!" Yelled one of the remaining zombies behind a large metal sheet in the railing.
One of the speedboats stopped close to the CSS Birmingham and one of the people in the speedboat laughed sickeningly and yelled, "Hahahahaha! ¡Ustedes, cabrones, morirán! ¡Es neta!"
(You motherfuckers will die! It's true!)
Naruto understood what the man said, surprising the American jinchuriki. However, there was no time to think as the man fired a continuous barrage of bullets accompanied by his buddies who were firing FN 5.7 pistols.
The other speed boat kept circling the ironclad, its crew raining bullets from all angles and sides.
Confusion.
Naruto's heart thumped so loud he couldn't comprehend what was even happening. His back and arms were behind a thick metal sheet below the railing, where bullet fire ricocheted and pierced through several rusted splotches. Sweat pooled from his crimson bandana and the thumping of his heart kept on speeding up.
What could he do?
Shinobi were trained to find cover, hide, then strike. Warriors and heroes from Camp Half-Blood were trained in quick strategizing before fighting their opponents head on until every foe was vanquished. Nothing in his hours, days, months, and years of training taught him how to deal with Spanish speaking gun-toters on the high seas. Most of the jutsu in his arsenal were close ranged, including one of his new water jutsu. The Chikara Yosha would be futile against such fast-moving targets and the constant barrages of bullets. Even if he could perform his long-ranged wind style ninjutsu, it would only make him an open target for these gun-toters as soon as he got up from his entrenched position. His stack of homemade paper bombs would be useless due to the high-speed wind.
"Damn it! I should have taken that Thompson sub-machine gun in the armory! I can't focus or think!" Thought Naruto hopelessly.
He had to do something. Anything, but if he moved, he'd get torn to pieces.
Naruto saw several more confederate zombies succumb to the constant ever growing gunfire from all sides. Right then and there, he didn't care about thinking or hiding.
Naruto saw an unmoving zombie corpse grasping a Pattern 1853 Enfield musket in its hands behind another metal sheet of cover. He bolted over to the corpse drawing constant fire from one of the speedboats.
He made it without getting hit. Behind cover, Naruto grabbed the long-barreled musket by its sling and placed it around his shoulders.
One of the crew members then yelled, "¡Ríndete ahora o sufre la ira de los titanes!"
(Surrender now or suffer the Titan's wrath!)
Naruto growled, then pulled the hammer of the musket back, it felt loaded and ready for action. Not knowing how to aim or what to do didn't matter. He quickly got up, pointed the barrel at the hollering man, and then pulled the trigger.
Crack-POW!
Smoke escaped from the rifles breech and leaked out in a large plume from the front of the barrel. Blood sprayed and squirted from the hollering man's forehead as he fell over the speedboat railing into the ocean. His crew looked both shocked and completely furious. They quickly returned fire with their pistols. Bullets clanked, ringed, and shlinged around the blonde who quickly took cover.
He did it! First time shooting and he made the shot! That asshole was dead, no more, food for the fishes… Morals be damned!
"Blondie what are you still doing down there? And who the hell are these people?" Yelled Clarisse from behind cover inside the pilothouse.
"Did you forget that I'm from another world or something? All I know is that they're working for the Titans and they're trying to kill us! If they think they can get away with sinking our only ticket to the Sea of Monsters, they're going to have to get through me first!" Naruto screamed back while the goons were reloading.
"Sicario's! These are cartel boats!" Yelled Silena from beside Clarisse, "Must be working for Melinoe or who knows!"
KABOOOM!
Saltwater sprouted fifteen feet high into the air, drizzling the fast-moving ironclad in a spray of light rain. A cartel assassin was throwing grenades from the driver's seat of one of the speedboats. Luckily, the first thrown grenade missed, sparing the demigods and their crew, but the second one clanged onto the deck a foot away from the blonde. Naruto rushed to the still active bomb and grasped it in his right hand. With time quickly running out he tossed the grenade overboard toward the first boat, causing a large ear shattering KABOOM!
Bright orange, yellow, and red plumes of fire enveloped the cartel speedboat on the ironclad's starboard side (right). All the remaining Sicario's onboard had no time to scream as their speedboat sank below the Atlantic. The whisker cheeked fourteen-year-old grinned like a fox, before taking cover behind one of the trapezoid structures housing the Brook 9-inch guns. Crew members on the grenade boat were throwing hooks knotted with long lines of polyester. A dozen more confederate zombies charged from the lower decks of the ship supporting the blonde who was entrenched by cartel men firing Uzi's.
Silena watched her blonde haired, sapphire orbed, best friend jump from his hidden position. As dead confederates counter attacked by firing their Pattern 1853 Enfield muskets and revolvers. Suppressing the boarding Sicario's. Naruto the most interesting, mysterious, and unpredictable demigod since Thalia Grace, disappeared from her view in a near blur. The last thing she saw were cold, calculating, and ambitious sapphire eyes.
Naruto delightfully smiled as wind blasted his hair back. After spending the better part of a year perfecting a new Taijutsu style and bettering his speed. He was probably as fast, if not faster than Sasuke who always seemed to outperform him. If only Iruka-sensei, Jiji, and Ero-sensei could seem him now.
"They'd probably think you're insane."
Naruto ignored the fox, making it to the portside of the gunnery deck within a second. He quickly unsheathed his celestial bronze gladius from his hip, brandishing it in his right hand. Not wasting another second, Naruto slashed two of the attached hooks. Several cartel thugs tumbled into the ocean.
Their arms thrashing far back in the distance. Only to be shot down by a laughing Sicario in the third boat.
As impressive as Naruto's speed was, he wasn't quick enough to stop two cartel thugs from climbing onto the Birmingham. Naruto took cover behind a loaded Brook 9-inch gun along the gunnery deck. Bursts of orange and yellow escaped from the cartel thugs Uzi's. Three confederate zombies dropped dead to the deck floor.
The smell of gunpower, burnt metal, and rotting confederate corpses filled the air.
Naruto felt the wind blowing south so he aimed the Brook gun slightly back. He then pulled out a box of matches from his weapons pouch, courtesy of Travis Stoll, and sparked a match to life. The zombies were returning fire every five seconds from various entrenched vantage points. The gun battle on the deck was growing louder and deadlier.
Watie maneuvered his way behind the cartel thugs. Giving a quick prayer to the Great Spirit, he charged forward, firing four shots from his revolver.
KABOOM!
A magnificent explosion ended the grenade boats career. Smoke drifted from the Brook gun, causing Clarisse to narrow her eyes at the unclaimed boy.
"Amazing!" Praised Silena as she watched the whole scene playout. Not only did Naruto take out two cartel speedboats, including their crews, pretty much all by himself. He also did it effortlessly like it was a cakewalk.
"Tsk, show off!" Replied Clarisse who got up from her hiding spot with two Colt M1851 Navy revolvers, one in each hand.
"Clarisse, calm down!" Begged Silena.
Silena simply shook her head as her friend left the pilothouse.
On the gunnery deck below, Naruto took a second to admire his handy work. The grenade boat was a smoking blotch far behind them. Watie killed one of the narcos and the other was bleeding from their lower back. Naruto held his newly brandished musket pointed to the ground while smirking to the remaining zombies. He felt empowered as if he held the world in his palms. Somehow everything went beyond any strategy or plot that he could have formulated. He just acted on impulse and this was his reward.
VVvvrrreeeee!
There was still one remaining speedboat. Unlike the other two, which spent several minutes shooting, engaging, and throwing grenades at them. The last speedboat's driver seemed much smarter. Far more cautious than its allies. And far more sadistic.
Naruto's rushed to the back of the Birmingham, his sapphire eyes narrowing into his final target. Right as he made it to the chugging-rumbling-clunking propellers, those very calculating orbs grew wide. One of the narcos got up with an RPG and began chuckling.
ROAR! WHOOSH!
The rocket propelled from the speedboat so fast Naruto instinctively shouted, "Chikara Yosha!"
A bright blue blast of chakra and wind propelled from Naruto's mouth clashing against the incoming rocket.
KABOOM!
The explosion spared the ironclad, but the blonde wasn't completely spared. He didn't feel it until he pulled himself back up along the railing. Blood poured from his right hand, his lower chest, and even his neck. Shrapnel. Pretty common back in the Elemental Nations if you tagged a paper bomb with a thrown kunai.
"¡Termina el bastardo!", yelled a cartel member.
(Finish the bastard off!)
There was no time to spare. The man with the RPG was reloading his launcher, so Naruto had no choice. He formed half a dozen hand signs, bullets flying around him. Clarisse came to the rescue, burnt metal and long streams of bullets popped from her two revolvers. Suppressing the manic narcos on the speedboat. A dozen dead zombies reinforced their leader, firing at will with rifles and revolvers.
Right before rocketman could launch another rocket. Naruto finished his ninjutsu on the tori (bird) hand sign. He then yelled out, "Futon: Baku-dan damu (Wind Release: Air bomb barrage)"
A bright blue and white funnel of air blasted from Naruto's bloody hands. Then another. Before long, two bright blue and white funnels, of condensed air, were blasting from his sticky hands every second. Whistling like missiles towards their target. The first funnel missed the speedboat whose driver zigged out of the way. It smashed into a high wave exploding upon impact. A ten-foot water sprout shot from the impact zone.
The second, third, fourth, and fifth funnels missed their targets too. Leaving ten-foot-high water sprouts and shredding sea life in their wake. Several fish flopped onto the deck when one of the air funnels slammed into a wave. Keeping the jutsu up, put a lot of strain on the whiskered marked boy.
Yet he kept blasting funnel after funnel, until the speedboat exploded shredding all onboard in a gory cloud of red.
(Immersion Over)
The zombies cheered and celebrated by throwing their grey kepi hats into the air. Some even fired their guns. They ended the celebration with a loud war cry that sounded like a herd of coyotes. Their crazed war cry continued in such a frenzy, it made Naruto want to run away in fear had they not been on his side.
"Ease up boi!" Called the captain, "Just our rebel yell."
"Whew. Thought there were more enemies here for a second." Said the blonde who felt some of the shrapnel in his chest pop out.
"Thanks fox."
"Ugh. Not like I have a choice. I can only push some of those specks of metal out. You'll have to find a doctor for the others. I can't mend you fully until that happens. Just know you came out lucky this time baka! Most mortals, even demigods, would have been torn to shreds!" Complained the Kyuubi as usual.
"Nothing ever seems to change with you does it?"
"What if I told you how miserable it is to be caged inside of a fourteen-year-old brat! Try and change while locked up in a cage, with no food, no water, no girl to slip into your sleeping bag! I look at bars while you're free to do whatever you want!" With that the Kyuubi disappeared leaving his host speechless.
Naruto was taken out of his thoughts when he heard Clarisse loudly say, "Naruto! Took you long enough to get out of Lalaland. I want to say… I'm sorry."
"What?" Replied the bloodied blonde.
"I am sorry, okay, about being so tough this morning… and for underestimating you. I don't know which god possessed you, but we would have been killed by those criminals had it not been for you." Naruto made a foxy grin and scratched his head.
His golden, gravity defying, scraggly thick hair became crimson streaked and very sticky. With that he fell to his knees to a slightly disgusted Clarisse who then yelled, "Captain!"
"Yes, Lady Clarisse."
"Patch my friend up immediately," Her brown eyed beamed with worry and disgust, "And have the ship's doctor wash him and his clothes. Ew!"
Silena walked into the infirmary room down within the ironclad. She waited almost an hour for the ship's zombie doctor to finish removing half a dozen pieces of shrapnel. She slipped into the infirmary room, which was so cramped that the cot her friend rested on took up almost half the room. To her surprise, Naruto was already sitting up in his cot, and he was practically naked save for an orange pair of briefs.
Her eyes widened. Naruto got hit by 9 pieces of shrapnel, yet he didn't have a single patched wound or scar. It was as if nothing happened.
"Naruto, how did you heal so quickly?" Asked the very wide-eyed daughter of Aphrodite, "And are those hickey marks?"
"Damnit fox! You can instantly heal torn tissue, muscle, and bone, but when it comes to hickeys. Your powers are useless!"
"Didn't seem necessary. Don't you mortals or demigods like trophies." Chuckled the Kyuubi before disappearing from his mind.
"Uhm… about that." Began Naruto who didn't know how to reply to his crush's questions.
"You never told me you had a girlfriend. How long have you two been together? Who is she?" The tone of Silena's voice sounded more accusing than curious.
"I was playing night golf." Spouted the golden-haired boy.
"R-ight. And you just happened to get hit in the neck and collar five time. Come on Naruto, you can tell me. Who is she?"
Seeing no way out of this, the blond had to tell the truth, "She's a girl in my cabin… her names Sarah Kelly but believe me we're not dating."
"Ew, Naruto! Don't you know it's a camp rule not to fall in love with someone in the same cabin! Not dating my ass." Silena scolded causing Naruto to look at her brokenly.
"It's the truth! Like it or hate it… ugh! I didn't want this happen. Sarah literally fell in love with me after she had a dream. Yesterday I was minding my own business when she just pounced me. Cabin 11 is in dire straits and if I piss her off then us unclaimed bastards will be hated even more. So, tell me Silena, what would you do? I've been trying to keep this chaotic camp from falling into oblivion since day one." Spoke the blond as delicately as possible.
"I… I, whew, what can I say, love is love," Began Silena who felt the pain and contemplation of his eyes, "You sure you're not a son of Aphrodite?"
Naruto frowned at the most beautiful girl in his entire life then said, "I don't know what I am, but I'm no son of Aphrodite. So, thanks for telling the whole camp about that rumor, cause my whole cabin thinks I'm some sort love guru or something. I care little for beauty Silena, I'd rather laugh at some shlomo in Queens stepping in dog crap than gawk at a beauty pageant. More than that, I'd rather be known for my great deeds than my awesome pranks. Both have given me notoriety, yet nothing empowers me more than being known. How ambitious are Aphrodite's children? I've struggled my entire life to get where I'm at. I've come short almost every step of the way. It doesn't matter how much sweat or blood I shed I'm still not powerful enough. You mean the world to me and I want to believe you. It's just... Today, I felt a power, a power I haven't felt in a long time. I've felt this before when I went toe to toe with an enemy called Gaara. We fought a long and bloody battle, and I defeated him all by myself. No help, no support... well besides a giant toad, and no second chances. And through it all, we both survived and miraculously he became my friend. Whoever my mother is, she must have her reasons for not answering my prayers. Honestly, I doubt she even cares if I'm alive or dead... but deep down I know she loves me… she saved my life, she brought me here, and without her I wouldn't have met you."
Naruto waited for the councilors reply. Her cheeks were red, her eyes wide, and her voice lost. Maybe he was too harsh on her, but before he could apologize…
"I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't want to confuse you its just you were able to speak French on the spot. And…" Silena blushed and looked away before meeting his eyes, "Maybe you are the son of another goddess. I've never seen a camper heal so fast without ambrosia. You did this before when I first met you. Have you always known about these abilities? I just want to help you Naruto; you mean a lot to me. You've accomplished more than you give yourself credit for. Saving my life below Thalia's Pine, slaying a Colchis Bull alone, saving the entire camp from those Stymphalian birds, protecting this ship, and in your own words our ticket to saving the camp."
"Silena, I'll never forget that out of all the people within the border patrol. You were the only one who protected me when I was down. When you had all the reason in the world to flee. You stayed by my side the entire time, even when I woke up you were still there. No one's ever done that for me. I'll never forget our times riding pegasi together or any moment I had with you because…" He wanted to grab her shoulders, press his lips against hers, tell her she was the most perfect woman in the entire universe. She made him crazy, crazier than Sakura or Eos ever could. Most of all he wanted to admit that he loved her.
He felt stupid just thinking this, but it was the truth. Every time he saw her, she made him feel happier, smarter, well-rounded, and complete. Nothing was crazier than the fact that they had only known each other for a week. The more he thought about this the more he questioned the most important thing.
Does she even love him? Silena Beauregard was the head of the Aphrodite cabin, the most beautiful girl at Camp Half-Blood, so far out of his league it wasn't even funny. Why would she love him in the first place? He was an unclaimed nobody from another dimension, he wasn't that handsome or smart, and worst of all she found out about his relationship with Sarah.
"Naruto, when we get back to camp, I'll help you out with this Sarah problem. My cabin specializes with that kind of stuff, but I think you need rest and even though you may look fine I want you to take a cube of ambrosia." Stated the demigod of love while handing out a cube in her lightly tanned hand.
Even though he put up a protest. She eventually convinced him to take it. Naruto's vision became sluggish, shadows expanded and detracted. Before leaving, Silena gave him a tight hug. Sapphire blue met with coral pink. Silena placed a pillow below his head and a blanket over his body.
Within a minute, Naruto was dead asleep. Silena laughed when she heard the passed out blonde mumble something about miso ramen and monster donuts. Silena kissed the resting blonde's forehead, departing with a smile, she shut the infirmary door happy and hopeful.
"If I end the rite of passage… maybe it will all work out."
The Princess Andromeda
The sun was setting over the horizon, casting shadows around the walls of the Stateroom. Despite the resounding success of latest recruits into Kronos' vast army. Five unclaimed demigod warriors from cabin 11 who were intercepted by Hank Hughes, along with ten harpies from Dover sent by Memnon. The room felt colder than usual and the leader of the Titan army, Luke Castellan was angry. Mostly because Percy, Annabeth Chase, and that stupid cyclops slipped from his fingers. Agrius, Alabaster Torrington, and even his newly formed Striga Guard of about eight strix were all feeling their master's anger. They responded by shifting around the room anxiously from the plush sofas to the snack bar.
Luke Castellan left the room having had enough of his foolish subordinates pestering him if he was alright or needed anything. He was still wearing a buttoned-down shirt, khaki pants, and loafers. Many of the passengers who passed by the angry demigod got of his way. To them he looked like a manic male model, who somehow escaped from Tom Cruise's nasty dungeon.
Luke made his way into his personal office, where two strix stood guard in heavy Greek armor. Inside was an ebony desk, a desk top computer, a cabinet filled with bottles of wine and various liquors. On top of the desk was a satellite phone, outfitted with adamantine circuitry so that he could call anyone in the world without being traced. Good old Hephaestus, unwillingly helping his cause.
Dialing up Hank Hugh's number Luke smirked and said, "Have the plants sprouted any new leaves?"
-"One of em dropped some info just this morning about some girl named Clarisse La Rue. Seems she left the camp on an ironclad with two other heroes. One of em being Kronus' weapon. I contacted some members of the Sinaloa Cartel who were leaving Atlantic City. Don't worry the Coast Guard discovered their boats burnin an hour ago. Lucky for us it'll delay em for a good while."-
"That maybe good Captain, but we need those demigods alive. Especially Naruto, he is far more powerful than Percy Jackson. More importantly Clarisse must continue her quest." Said Luke.
-"Don't worry I won't send anymore Sicario's, guys pack too much heat as is. May I ask why you want Clarisse to continue?"-
"Because Lord Kronos wills it, that's why. Hank, why do all the dirty work? When we can have those brats do it for us." Replied Luke.
-"Bahahaha! Makes sense… But there are more pressin matters than the Cartel or this Clarisse girl. Melinoe wants me to attack the camp in six days."-
"Hugh's if you have any common sense, you'll calm her down immediately!" Yelled Luke into the phone.
-"Oh, you think I haven't been trying. She's the goddess of Ghosts! She's amassed an army of five thousand zombies with archaic artillery, monsters and even one the cursed kings."-
"You don't mean."
-"Yes, one of the very ones straight from the fields of punishment. Hades mustn't be as neutral as we thought. I got 500 marines deployed around Montauk. I just don't know how long things can be contained until this powder keg blows up."-
"Have Melinoe back down for ten days maybe even twelve. That's an order from Kronos. If she starts this war too soon, she'll be on her own." With that Luke hanged up.
"I need a drink!"
Training Day 67
(Immersion: Listen to Giza Port by Jerry Goldsmith & Orchestra)
The cruise ship docked at the nearest port town a day after the storm. After suffering substantial damage from several bolts of lightning, sails that were blown away, and a very tired crew of sailors. Everyone on board cheered and hugged one another as the planks dropped onto the wharf. Passengers scurried off the boat in droves. As soon as Naruto's feet touched land, he started kissing the hard-arid ground.
"Land, I missed you so much! I promise I'll never complain about you again!" Said the blonde, before shooting up and dusting himself off.
Passengers, sailors, turban wearing locals, and even various warriors in the small port were giving the bright-orange-jumpsuit wearing boy peculiar glances. Ero-sensei left the sapphire eyed boy to gaze around wherever they were at. All the buildings within the town were made of smooth tanned limestone with magnificent large arched doorways. There were very few trees in the area, mostly shrubs, palm trees, and cacti. Even the islands offshore were baren and dry. Far off in the eastern distance were orange and black hills leading into what the blonde assumed were deserts.
Naruto saw his sensei talking with several sailors outside the wharf. He rushed to his sensei's side to hear Ero-sensei say, "Great so you're telling me that the closest town that'll accept ryo is two hundred miles away?"
"I'm afraid so." Began a dark-skinned sailor with his buddies nodding along, "Here in Barka we accept gold, rupees from Oni no Kuni (Land of Demons), and bartering. Closest city that accepts ryo is ah, New Roran. Isn't that right, Saburo?"
"Yes, it's two hundred miles east through the Thar Desert. No point traveling to New Roran, it's Kaze no Kuni's most dangerous and expansive desert in the entire nation." Said Saburo who then left both shinobi standing speechless.
"Ero-sensei, when will the ship be fixed?" Asked Naruto now catching onto their dilemma.
"Two maybe three weeks, gaki. Turns out that Typhoon gave our ship a bigger beating than it could take. I need a drink."
Ero-sensei brought his star pupil through the winding tight streets of Barka. They found a cantina by the town center where shifty traders sold spices, silks, water, fish, and goat meat. The cantina was dark, lit only by a series of candles by every booth and table. All the buildings of Barka lacked windows, probably due to the sun and hot climate.
Ero-sensei traded the bartender two of his latest books, which he signed on the spot for six bottles of sake. Naruto watched a band of guitar players and a beautiful veiled woman singing in some local language when he asked his sensei, "I never knew Kaze no Kuni had such a vast and interesting culture."
"Since we're going to be here for a while. Might as well start your training here on the spot." Began Ero-sensei getting his student excited.
"What are you going to teach? A cool genjutsu, oh no maybe, some cool technique that no one can see. Or maybe…" Naruto would have continued, until Ero-sensei slammed a sake saucer on the table quieting him down.
"No something far more deadly, maybe the deadliest technique known to the shinobi world. Intelligence. Not facts or math, but real intelligence. How many people are in this bar? Without looking around." Asked the hermit sage.
Naruto closed his eyes clapped his palms together and tried to remember all the faces, "I don't know."
"Fifteen. Gaki I think you never harnessed some of your natural skills. Once I finish my drinks, we're going to spend the rest of the day training and then we're going to look for some money."
New Roran
Two figures in black cloaks with red clouds were walking through the great oasis city of New Roran, which was built fifteen miles from the rumbles of the crumbled Kingdom of Roran. Great towers of limestone stretched for miles around Lake Ahsa where thousands of date palms lied the roads and large courtyards of people's homes.
"Sasori-sempai, why are we going to some port town in the middle of nowhere?" Asked a man with a blonde ponytail covering one of his eyes. He had two sickening mouths in the middle of his palms that occasionally flicked out tongues, scaring many of the locals.
"It's not in the middle of nowhere, many ships from around the world dock there. With Khaderstan and Omi no Kuni blowing up in various wars and internal conflicts. More ships from across the Elemental Nations will soon flock to that town. Hahaha! That's our excuse if leader-sama asks why were there. See I think a little R&R will do us nicely. We haven't had a vacation in years. Hahaha!" Spoke a hunchbacked man who slid through the many bazars of the city.
"Well it better be relaxing. My standards are pretty high."
(Immersion Over)
Listen to: Hallon- by Christian Bjoerklund: on youtube
(for awesome end of chapter music)
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Futon: Baku-dan damu - Wind Release: Air Bomb Barrage - A rank ninjutsu - The Air Bomb Barrage is often called one of Kaze no Kuni's greatest weapons of war. Created by general Bikram during the Second Great Shinobi war this jutsu revolutionized combat for most of Kaze no Kuni's shinobi forces. During the SGSW Hi no Kuni reigned supreme smashing through the country of winds forces and creating the satellite of Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers). Despite losing land, general Bikram created a long ranged explosive wind release jutsu that was easy to teach to the countries jonin forces. Easy to learn, easy to master, and explosive. Just be careful using it in close quarters or with allies nearby. An incident at a chunin exam many years ago caused it to labeled as a kinjutsu. After a genin contender killed 14 fellow contenders including the user. Another reason why this jutsu is banned maybe because prolonging the missile blasts can put a strain on the users hands and can deplete the users chakra reserves. So caution should be utilized.
So, this concludes chapter 9. I don't know why I feel like each chapter I write is better than the last. I can't wait for chapter 11, because that is when the plot and battles will be getting more epic. Don't have too much more to say other than I'm happy for a lot of the kind reviews I got after chapter 8 and that Author's Flote. I was felt pretty low when I posted that mostly because I received 4 or 5 reviews and half of them were people calling me out and them saying I sucked. Problem is that when you spend time writing a chapter and the responses are toxic at first you kind of think why keep going. I'll try and finish this story if I can. I make sure to read every review, even the flamers, the haters, the people wanting me to go forward, the people who love it, support it and the ones asking questions or waiting for cool things to occur. I try to keep going after every chapter mostly because I know every one of you who leaves a response wants me to do better. Like I said I'm sorry if I've upset anyone in the past, I'm not the best writer on the planet or even the greatest storyteller. If I were, this story would have blown up ages ago. I want this to be a tale people will appreciate, but who knows this is Fanfiction not the Golden Globes.
I made a fun poll I'll take it down in a day to get the results, and then I'll post a more important one after.
Anyways, I'll answer several questions I've gotten.
Q: (from various reviewers) Numerous people think that Naruto is a son of Aphrodite or that it seems like he's a son of Aphrodite. Many more have asked who is Naruto's mother?
AN: Naruto's mother will be revealed very soon. This chapter has maybe the most hints that can help those who've been reading for a while to pinpoint who his mother is. I've written a ton of subtle hints sprinkled throughout the entire story. Many of these hints on paper would seem unimportant, just know nothing is unintentional with this story. When it is revealed, Naruto's mother will likely be the most powerful female god in the entire story and his powers will multiply especially in book 3 if I get that far.
Q: I'm really enjoying the story, its different and gives people a different outlook on intercamp politics and the motives of those in camp half-blood that we just never got to see in the original books. It's quite interesting to see the internal struggle of camp and in really curious as to whether silena will still turn to luke this time.
AN: I think this is maybe the first NarutoxPercy Jackson crossover that will have a major battle within the Sea of Monsters and correct me if I'm wrong but maybe even the first Percy Jackson fanfic as well. As revealed in canon Silena has already turned to Luke. This is revealed in the books particularly book 5 The Last Olympian, because Luke was banished from the camp at the end of book 1 after trying to kill Percy and revealing that he was the one to steal Zeus's Lighting bolt. Now Silena turned to Luke before book 2, which is how he entered the camp in order to poison Thalia's Tree in the first place. Naruto is already a thorn in Luke's side, and I can't wait for their next interaction especially because Silena is also on Clarisse's quest.
Q:(by Gandalf da Black)-Wow this story is awesome. I kinda wish he had gone with deci and showed a different side of the war against Kronos but at the same time im enjoying the current interactions. Also is he having a pseudo assassin's creed bleed over effect from his dreams or what? Because that would be pretty badass.
AN: Love your username by the way! I'm planning on bringing Deci, the companions, the Kronia, and all these plots will come full circle by the end of the Sea of Monsters.
Anyways I want to thank Haruka001 for all the kind words and to all my great fans. If you have questions, I'll answer them. The ones that I'll answer are the ones that are asked respectfully, they're to the point, and I'll answer just about anything, however if you're gonna be rude don't expect a response.