Yo, I'm back with a rather quick update of things. If you didn't catch it I fixed a few things I missed in ch.1, but I doubt you'd catch them right away they are that small. Uh, I don't have much to say, as I don't wan to ruin the chapter, but I can thank you all for reviewing, favoriting, and following. It means a lot to see that people are digging what I'm writing ya know.
kpsananimefan- Thanks man, and here is the more you spoke of
retreaver- Thanks for the kind words man. I hope I don't disappoint you as this story continues.
Black Wolf of Hueco Mundo- My first review for this fic , that makes you special. Thanks for the compliments and kind words. You don't even know how much it means to have some actually looking forward to your next chapter or something. I'll leave the potential pairing a secret for now, but there will be hints at it, but I Naruto won't immediately jump into it. You'll see as the story progresses.
That's it for me up here guys. The chapter is down there, and I hope you enjoy. I'll see you all on the next chapter. Don't forget to r&r, favorite, and follow. Your support means a lot.
"Ugh, come on! I can still fight!"- Speech
"Stupid humans, and their utter stupidity."- Kyuubi
My entire body hurts so much.- Thoughts
I do not own anything from this story at all. All rights got to the series' respective owners and creators
Naruto blearily opened his intense blue eyes, sat up, and stretched. He yawned and looked around the room and was immediately hit the feeling if unfamiliarity.
This was not his room, or the Hokage's office where he last remembered himself falling asleep at.
His analytical mind immediately began to analyze the room he was in. It was rather plain looking with plain white walls, a dresser in the corner, and a wooden nightstand next to his bed. Whoever made this room just put in the bare minimum. He swiveled his legs and hips off of the bed, and took a second for his feet to be acclimated to the cold wooden floor. He looked down to himself and breathed a sigh of relief in the fact that he still had on the same clothes as last night. It would've been really weird if someone decided to change his clothes when he was sleep.
His train of thought was immediately driven off the tracks, as he had to cover both of his eyes due to the sudden bright flash of golden light that appeared on his night stand. After the light show dimmed and went away, Naruto looked over his hand and saw the folded letter on his nightstand. Very warily, as letters did not just appear out of thin air, he opened it up and heard a thump. He looked down to his lap and picked up the small circular device. It was about the size of a bagel and looked very technically advanced. More advanced than anything I've seen anyways.
Back in the village, there most technically advanced device they had was a television, and even that was rather basic to him. He was able to pick one apart, piece by piece, and put it back together as if he didn't even touch it. He did that a lot with other things too. Microwaves, refrigerators, ovens, essentially anything he could get his hands on. You name it and he's tore it apart to its basic components and put it back together.
Anyways, Naruto focused his attention back to the device and began to prod at it, feeling his way around it. He could feel the rough ridges and blocky feel it had, so he assumed that it was something new and basic. Ah, that's what I was looking for. He felt the button he was looking for, but was not ready for the reaction it gave. The device began to shake uncontrollably in his hand. It began to shake so violently that he had to hold it down with both of his hands, less he risk it hopping out of the window or something.
Suddenly it stopped thrashing, but left his arms a vibrating mess.
"Biological Scanner initializing…," A robotic voice said.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the bagel sized device in his hand. Things just don't talk like that, but he was sure he heard it from the thing in his hand.
"Biological scan complete. Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki," It spoke again.
Before Naruto could react, from the middle of the device, a deep blue light shown out and projected itself out onto the floor. The light fizzled in and out here and there before finally stabilizing into a life size figure.
"Hello, is this thing on?" A deep rugged voice asked. The image shook a little, as the burly man adjusted the camera. Naruto narrowed his eyes, and set the projector down onto the bed. He walked forward cautiously, and stood right in front of the image. If my thoughts are correct. He swiped his hand at the image, and just like he suspected, it went completely through it.
He gasped before steeping back and looking at the man who the image was projecting. Naruto noticed that he was still fiddling with the camera. Naruto spoke up to get his attention," Uh, I know from experience that messing with something more than it should be will always end up blasting you back in the face," He said.
Immediately the man stopped messing with the camera and the image stopped shaking," Ah good, so I'm guessing you can see me," after he got a nod he continued," Good and I can see you. What you are looking at is an advanced image projector, or a hologram," He told him," I am talking to you this way and not directly due to the fact that me being there would raise too many questions, that I don't feel comfortable answering at the moment," Naruto raised an eyebrow. Who was this guy?
"Who are you?" He asked.
The man didn't move at the question," That is a loaded question that has multiple titles and answers to depending on who you talk to, but you, Naruto, can call me dad or whatever," He revealed.
Wait what? A tidal wave of confusion hit Naruto and he was left speechless. This was a big deal, no, a huge deal. This would change so much in his life! He had so many questions!
"Calm down you fool! Stop and think!" this caused Naruto to pause," What about the very high chance that this man is lying?"
Ah, and there he was. The almighty Kyuubi, the nine-tailed fox, who, oddly enough, didn't actually have all the features and characteristics to be deemed a fox. Fox's, from what he knew anyways, did not have rabbit ears or a human like body complete with five fingers and a thumb. But he digressed, the Kyuubi did actually make a valid point, which cut through the cloud of euphoria his mind was in and made him actually think about this.
There was a high chance that this man was lying, and he acknowledged that.
"Thanks Kyu. I didn't actually realize that until you said something," He told the Kyuubi mentally.
This was a neat trick that he found out about after going into his mind, which he fixed up by the way, a sewer was totally insulting, and ripping off an edge of the seal that held the Kyuubi locked up. He didn't see the harm in letting him have a bit of freedom, and he was an interesting…being to talk to. When he wasn't sleeping or being a condescending dick.
"Pfft, do not mention it human. Just be thankful that you have me here, or imagine the blunders you would get into," He told him before Naruto heard the heavy snored reverberate through his skull.
And there was the condescending dick I know
Thanks to the Kyuubi, he now looked at the image of his 'father' with more caution and suspicion. He had some questions he wanted to ask to prove this man's worth.
"So you say you are my old man?" He got a nod," Well. I don't believe you. Old Man Hokage told me that my old man died fighting the Kyuubi," He stated and crossed his arms in a firm stance.
He wanted to see how this man reacted. That would be a step in determining if he was telling the truth or not.
Hephaestus nodded his head," Yes, I do remember telling that lie to Sarutobi, and requesting that he tell you it to keep my existence a secret from you until you were old enough, but times are changing Naruto," He said," and I needed to bring you hear as I believe you can change the direction the fates had set for us," He looked down and a little tense. He wasn't used to going into his deeper feelings like this with anyone anymore. He tried with Aphrodite, but that definitely didn't end well, and he was never able to talk with anyone on Olympus about how they felt, as they hardly acknowledged his presence there when he decided to show up. But for his son he would try. He always would try for his kids. He at least owed them that much for not being there," I, uh, I don't know how I can make you believe that I am your father, but I do know for a fact that you have my blood running through those veins of you. I can tell that you have more of your mom then me in you though," He said as he remembered his red haired fire cracker who somehow made him fall for her harder than any other woman before. Even his hard ass of a Roman side liked her.
Naruto stayed as stiff as a mountain at the mention of his mother, but did indulge in smiling a bit at the fact he acted like at least one of his parents. His heart beat hard in his chest, and his throat caught in his throat as he thought of the mother he would probably never meet. How he would never hug her, or have her tell him "good job son. I'm proud of you" like he'd seen other moms do with their kids. He needed to know more," Tell me," His hair shadowed his eyes as he swallowed the lump in his throat," Tell me more about her," He looked up with bleary, wet eyes," please?"
Hephaestus almost could hear his heart crumble as he caught site of the sadness on his son' face. It just looked so wrong there. Like it was a slight against the Creator himself to make such a soul cry," Your mother was a lot like what I heard about you," He began and his eyes took a misty veil over them as he reminisced about some of the greatest years of his long life," Your mother was about as hard headed as anyone could be, and stubborn as a bull too. She didn't stop until she got what she wanted, and there was no one that would, or could, stand in her way either. He was a red hot firework ready to be set off on anybody, and fates help whoever was in her sights at that moment," he smiled a bit," You won't believe how many times that was me suffering her wrath," he chuckled," She was a bit of a prankster like you were, mischievous, but also as cunning as a fox when she needed to be. She was arguably the greatest woman I have ever laid eyes on. She was a lovely, energetic, funny, loud mouthed, red haired, woman who I had no business even being with. Don't get me started on the look of pure happiness, pure euphoria she had when the doctor told her she was pregnant with you," He sighed nostalgically," We both were so elated to know that we were going to have a child, we didn't know what to do. Anyways, I still can't believe that me, the black sheep who was thrown out, was the lone soul to win her heart, and vice-versa," His eyes hardened and he tightened his fists hard enough to where Naruto could see the bulging veins in his forearms," I still have nightmares about the night I couldn't save her life. For all the power I have, for all the intellect I possess. I couldn't save her life."
Naruto could feel the remorse in his voice, as he spoke of his failure. Either this man was a great actor, which he doubted as he wiped the tears from his eyes, or he was telling the truth. The raw emotion in his voice sent waves through Naruto, and he swore he could feel the truth radiating from his words. He didn't know if he could call this man his dad for the moment, but he felt that could get there eventually. It felt good to know your mother and father were excited at the notion of having you. To know that they loved you unconditionally. Naruto felt as if a giant weight was lifted off of his shoulder at that moment, and smiled so wide he could feet he muscles in his face struggle to sustain the stretch," I think I believe you…" He trailed off as he realized he never got his actual name.
Hephaestus caught on and answered," Hephaestus, My name is Hephaestus, and this will come as a shock, but I'm a god. Greek to be specific," He told him.
At this Naruto began to laugh a belly laugh. It was too funny that his old man thought of himself as a god. Everyone knows that there was only Kami and the Shinigami.
Somewhere an orange haired teen sneezed.
His laugh continued on before he noticed Hephaestus, no, dad, wasn't laughing along. He stopped laughing, but continued to smile in amusement and asked," What? You aren't serious are you? You aren't a god."
It was at this moment Naruto felt his perception of the world turn on its head, as he suddenly felt himself go upside down with his feet dangling from absolutely nothing. He still had his doubt, but those were soon assuaged as a fiery pit opened up beneath him. The pit spouted fire periodically and threatened to burn off his hair and eyebrows. He shook his hands frantically before yelling," Okay, okay! I believe you! Just put the pit away and put me down!"
In a flash the hole swallowed itself and Naruto's sudden state of defying gravity stopped completely. As a result he landed on top of his skull with a dull THUNK. "Owww," He complained as he recovered and rubbed his bruised cranium," couldn't you have set me down easier?"
He saw the mischievous smirk across his dad's face," But that wouldn't possibly be funnier."
Naruto just grumbled before standing up," Okay, so I guess you are a god. What does that mean exactly? Am I a half god or something," He asked.
Hephaestus smirked," I'm glad you asked."
A few hours later Naruto, who had sat down as the explanation went a little longer than he expected. All the information made his head spin and he had trouble remembering the finer points," So I'm this thing called a half-blood?" A nod," and as I'm a half-blood all these different types of monsters will come after me, looking to have me for lunch," Another nod," Which is why I'm here, as these monsters can't tell where I am due to the special properties this place has," yet another nod," I'm supposed to train here for a few years before you deem me ready to actually leave and visit this camp of other half-bloods like me , where you will then claim me as your child where I will meet the other children, my brothers and sisters, you had," a sheepish nod," By the way, if I see you, I'm going to punch you in the jaw for having so many kids with different wives. So, is that the gist of it?"
"Yes, that essentially sums it up. I will send you to Camp Jupiter, where you will live from then on, training with the half-bloods there. Ah, word of warning. They might be a little bit of hard asses, as that's just how they are," He warned.
Naruto just nodded, already forming plans for several pranks unknown to his father. He recalled everything in his head one more time before addressing his dad," Okay, I got it dad. I won't disappoint you or mom. I'll be the strongest demi-god in the world! Just you watch me!" He promised.
Hercules flashed through Hephaestus's mind. I wouldn't mind my son taking the title of strongest from that arrogant half-blooded son of Zeus. That would sure show his family that his kids weren't just for creating weapons and armor for people.
His thoughts were interrupted, as his son spoke up again," So when do I start my training?" He asked.
Naruto was excited to start. In his mind he reasoned that faster he got stronger, the earlier he would bet to this awesome camp his dad spoke of. He wanted to get started right away. He didn't want to let his parents down. He would show the world just what a son of Hephaestus, or Vulcan his dad said to call him as when he got to the camp, could do.
Hephaestus smiled and tried not to laugh at his son's eagerness. He looked like a red haired puppy," You can begin right now Naruto. I have set up some automatons, which will each teach you a different subject, downstairs in the training room. All you have to do is turn them on, one at a time, and they will then turn off when they feel your lesson for the day is done," He explained.
Naruto nodded rapidly before zooming out of the room. He had to stop suddenly at the door, his bare feet screeching across the wooden floor. He turned around and regarded his father with a shy but happy look," Uh, thanks…dad. Thanks for, ya know, not being dead and all, and telling me about mom," He smiled brightly," I promise, I will make you guys proud of me, and Naruto Uzumaki never goes back on his promises!" he finished and then zoomed out of the room leaving the holographic Hephaestus behind.
Hephaestus looked at the open door in a reserved manner and spoke aloud," Oh, you don't know how proud me and your mother already are of you, Naruto," His look turned hard," I just hope I can prepare you for the hardships you will encounter in the future. Things are changing, and I don't think anybody is prepared for it."
With that the holographic image dispersed and cut away, leaving a shaking and smoldering pile of hot metal.
Hephaestus turned away from the magical camera, and walked back over to his forge where he had his latest master piece laying on a table, covered with a golden cloth. This was the weapon he had forged for his son the night before. He had stayed up through the night, it wasn't like he needed sleep or anything anyways, and poured all of his skill and finesse into making it. His children deserved the weapons of the highest caliber. Well, the one's that liked fighting anyways.
He took the covering away and regarded the weapon with a proud look. This'll show that big-headed monkey what's what. People thought that Greeks were only able to make swords, spears, shields, and sometimes axes. That was true regarding the amateur smiths, but a master like him, and a few Cyclops, were able to create an assortment of weapons.
And this was no different.
He returned the covering on top of the weapon, and turned away from it. Suddenly he heard a WHOOSH, and he willed his hammer into his hand in a flash of gold, as he shifted into an attack stance. He pivoted onto his left foot and swung his hammer horizontally with the intentions of taking whoever it was head off. All he felt was wind as he hit absolutely nothing. At this he immediately knew who it was, and holstered his giant war hammer over his massive shoulder.
He turned and regarded his brother with a neutral look," Brother."
Hermes stood up straight from his crouched position and spoke," Hello to you too, Heph. I still see you're trying to take my head off with that hammer of yours," His tone turned teasingly," I still think you're trying to compensate for something."
Hephaestus sighed and set his hammer down against the table he had Naruto's weapon on and turned around again to talk to his most tolerable sibling," What are you here for Hermes?" He asked stoically.
Hermes put his hand over his heart in a dramatic manner," Oh, how you wound me Heph. Can't a brother just come down here into this, this," he looked around and waved a hand trying to find the correct words," humble abode and talk to his other brother?" He asked innocently.
Hephaestus wasn't amused," I'd say you're full of shit, but we both know gods don't do that. You, nor anybody else, comes looking for me unless they want something, or I'm needed in a meeting," He ignored the wince Hermes tried to hide at the callous point he made," So which is it Hermes?"
Hermes visibly deflated and he rubbed his eyes. Now that he wasn't moving around and being annoying, Hephaestus could see the exhaustion in his face. Whatever was going on must have Zeus in quite the tizzy if he got Hermes working like this.
Hermes sighed in exhaustion," Zeus has had me zooming across the world, ordering all gods, minor or not, to come to Mt. Olympus. He's been looking increasingly paranoid over this prophecy, and he told me that he had an idea that will deal with it."
Hephaestus nodded his head. He'd let his brother off easily this time, and not cause a ruckus. He was the most tolerable of his family, and the only one who willingly talked to him. So, he'd cut him some slack this time.
"Okay then, let's go Hermes," He told him.
Hermes just nodded his head before the both of them vanished in a flash of gold, not knowing how much this meeting would change things.
