Reading: Sun's Heir, Death's Guardian II: A Hero's Peril

XVI

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

"The Plague of Athens?" asked Piper. Her brows were furrowed together in confusion and she looked at the weary blond demigod, who was grumbling in a language that she couldn't understand. "Di perduint it! Contra fata mihi numen! (Gods damn it! The Fates are against me, I swear!)"

"They do like to screw him over." Ares laughed, getting a glare from Hades.

It was his daughter on the line after all.

"Naruto, really?" said Jason, giving him a mild look of annoyance. "In Latin?"

"Seriously, you're Greek, use that." Jason said in equal annoyance.

"Sorry," said the older blond.

"Forgiven."

He reached up with both hands and rubbed his temples. "Φατες, ωὑ; Ωὑ δο υου ἁτε με; Ωὑ διδ ιτ ἁυε το βε τἑ Πλαγυε οφ Αθενς; ὁω διδ Βιανκα ευεν γετ ιτ; (Fates, why? Why do you hate me? Why did it have to be the Plague of Athens? How did Bianca even get it?)"

"Well, she was in the underworld." Apollo mused.

Hades looked at his nephew sharply, "Are you daring to insinuate-" he started to rage, but Apollo waved him off.

"I'm just saying, who knows what is down there?" the medicine god rationalized. "Maybe some creature, or a remnant was still down there of something. Who can tell?"

The Rich One grumbled, but was in agreement. It was impossible to tell of what was down there, especially in Tartarus itself.

"Do you know something about it?" asked Tsunade. Naruto made it clear he wasn't the same lovable idiot he used to be, but that didn't mean he wasn't still the kind and caring teen he was when he was taken.

"You got that right." Annabeth smirked, he was one shrewd guy. How these people thought he was an idiot was strange.

"The Plague of Athens is – or rather was – a dead disease that struck Athens in the summer of 430 B.C.E.," said Naruto. "The disease then came back in the winter of 423 B.C.E. During the second outbreak, Athens was under siege by Sparta

"Hehehe." The war god laughed to himself. Athena rolled her eyes, seem he forgot the victor of that fight.

and most if not all citizens were confined into the city. The disease spread further and more people succumbed to it. The death rate was lower than in the first outbreak, but animals were also affected by it so it was easier to be exposed in the second. Oh, crap, I hope that Ranger hasn't been infected."

"Washington!" Annabeth cried out.

"Annie, relax." Thalia rolled her eye.

"But the kitty!"

"Athens? Sparta? Where are these places, they don't show on any of the maps that Konoha supplied for us," said the Mizukage.

"Of course not," Percy rolled his eyes.

"And why did you count down when you spoke of the second outbreak?"

"It's like some kind of stone age." Annabeth shivered, gods, how awful.

"They are city-states in that have since been lost to time, ruins scattered in the continent of Europe," said Naruto. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "B.C.E. stands for Before Common Era, it's a way for historians beyond the Elemental Nation's lands to measure time."

"Similar to how we measure, though we measure it after the founding of Konohagakure no Sato since that's when we had enough peace to actually write a date down," said Gaara. "So for us, how long ago did these cities exist?"

"Yes, let's see how young these people are," Athena said in interest.

"Konoha is about two hundred years old," said Naruto.

The gods snorted, they were children no, babes at best. Even the U.S. was built longer then them.

He crossed his arms, closed his eyes and bowed his head, entering what some at Camp Half-Blood the 'thinking pose of doom', since he usually only did that to either think of a prank or think of a new way to torture/train the other demigods.

"I find it to be a wonderful pose."

"Of course you would." Poseidon muttered about his eldest brother's comment.

The blue sun-filled eyes snapped open when he gave a response. "About two thousand years before Konoha was created."

"Losers." Ares snickered.

"Impossible!" Onoki shot up from his seat with disbelief in his eyes. "There is no plausible way to measure time before the Warring ages!"

Hephaestus and Athena shook their heads, they hated people stuck in the past, they were gods of advancement, and these people were still in a stone age. It was kinda sad to be honest.

"No, I don't think there is," said the blond as he nodded in agreement. "However, the world outside ours has found a way to measure their history in correspondence with that of the planet's existence. I merely did the math in my head."

"Better him then me," Percy muttered.

Annabeth put a hand on his arm, "You're getting better." She assured him.

Percy didn't believe her.

"Which explains the smoke coming from your ears," said Thalia under her breath.

"Ouch," Apollo frowned as Thalia and Artemis laughed to themselves.

The five leaders snapped their gazes on her, each of the trained warriors looking at her with veiled distrust in their eyes. Naruto, however, rolled his own eyes at his girlfriend's words. Before he could retort, Onoki beat him to the punch.

"Who are these children, hm?" asked the Tsuchikage, ignoring the Thunder God's children's glares. "Why are we allowing them to stay? They could be spies for the minor villages!"

"Oh that little troll!" Thalia snarled.

"They know nothing about our lands," said Naruto. His hands had clenched his arms tightly and he gave a hard look to Onoki. "You will leave them be."

"You've been with them for seven years," said the Raikage. "You could've told them anything, perhaps if we questioned them properly we could discern whether or not they were dangerous."

"Wow, paranoid much?" Leo asked as Thalia, Jason, and Piper frowned at the screen. How dare they threaten them for just being there!

"I would like to see you try," said Naruto as he locked a look of warning on the man.

"Are you going to stop me, boy?" asked the Raikage as he rose from his seat.

"Kick your ass that's how!" Nico said as he cheered Naruto on.

He stood at nearly six and a half feet, towering over Naruto's six-foot frame by a head. Naruto moved in a flash of golden light, reappearing in front of the Raikage's desk with his arms still crossed, looking up at the man with narrowed eyes.

"I'll say it again," said Naruto. "I'd like to see you try."

"And right there, he could have stabbed him in the throat, ninja boy wouldn't even have seen it coming." Ares grinned, he liked his nephew, wish this Hidden Lands really existed.

"So the rumors are true," said the Mizukage with a small smirk. "Not only as handsome as his father, but just as quick."

"Hey, I'm the speed god here," Hermes frowned.

Apollo winked at him, "Don't be jellin' Herm."

"Oh shut up, you helium head."

"Mei-dono, please stop making such remarks," said Tsunade, putting a hand to her head and wishing she had another drink in hand.

"I feel ya sister," Dionysus nodded in kind.

The brat was just causing her more and more headaches to deal with. That was something she wished had changed with his absence from the continent.

"Poor woman, having to deal with your inherited annoyance." Artemis said in pity of the blonde medic.

"…You're words sting, they really do."

"Good."

"That wasn't the Hiraishin no Jutsu," said the Raikage. He jabbed a finger in Naruto's face. "I saw no Fuinjutsu or kunai thrown."

"It's a god invention for a reason, don't need silly mortal stuff to do it, you wannabe wrestler." Apollo jeered to the screen in glee.

"Dad perfected time/space transportation after he took me from the continent," said Naruto. He teleported back to where he previously stood, looking back at the Kage with a gleam in his eye. "The only way to keep our access to it open was to keep it named Hiraishin in honor of Zeus, King of Olympus, God of Thunder and Lord of the Sky."

Zeus beamed in pride at his grandson's words.

"So many titles, this Zeus character is quite arrogant, isn't he?" said Onoki. "King, Lord, and God."

"I am right along with you son," Zeus rumbled in agreement with Apollo, this little mortal needed to die. How dare he mock him!

Naruto sent the man a look, just a look, and the whole room suddenly went cold. Once again, Naruto tapped into Helios' power and used more than what was necessary to make the Kage unnerved, Kakashi had all but frozen, as his body shone lightly.

"I love that power." Ares grinned.

All the gods did, mortals needed to learn their place at times, like these fools for instance.

Even Gaara, who knew the intent wasn't sent his way and had dealt with demonic hatred, was shaken slightly. The demigods were on edge and already backing towards the door.

Jason nodded to this, out of instinct of fighting one with god powers, he would retreat. It was the smartest move.

"I say this out of my concern for the innocent civilians scattered across these lands: Do not ever mock Zeus. For now, you are safe from his wrath," said the blond gravely, "but a day will come where you are not."

"That we agree upon grandson, indeed we do." Zeus said in a low menacing rumble.

"Is that a threat, Naruto?"

Naruto shifted his gaze to Tsunade. The two blondes held their gaze for a moment before Naruto shrugged.

"Just a word of friendly advice," he said.

"Boo, make it a threat!"

"Oh be silent Ares," Athena groaned, honestly.

"Make me," was the childish retort as the war god crossed his arms.

The impressive power he began to display dispersed immediately, stopping Thalia, Jason and Piper from their retreat. He took a soft breath before looking at Tsunade once again. "Was there anything else you needed?"

Tsunade opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by a large spiraling vortex appearing in between the five Kage and Naruto. Out stepped a familiar masked figure, hiding his face from the shinobi while Naruto remembered it clearly. His orange mask had been swapped out with a full covering mask modeled after a familiar rippling purple eye. Three holes were carved in the mask that put Naruto on edge,

"Oh, the mask bastard from the last book," Apollo said with his lips in a thin line.

while behind him Thalia and Jason both raised their spears, electricity dancing across them.

Thalia and Jason grinned at each other.

"You!" The Raikage boomed as he stood, knocking the desk he was seated behind forward. The other three Kage – Onoki had already jumped onto his desk – stood just as quickly and glared at the intruder.

"Hello foolish Kage!" said the psychopath who called himself Madara. He laughed insanely as he waved at each one before once more looking at Naruto. "You returned! Oh, happy day! Does this mean the Jinchuriki is going to hand over the Kyubi?"

"Why don't we have any influence in that place again?" the sun god asked, his face twisted into a frown.

"Haven't the faintest idea." His father answered, just as displeased.

"I will never hand over Kyubi," said Naruto. His hands moved from his arms to clench at his side. His bracelet's ruby gleamed and a black slit appeared, radiating bloodlust. The demigods heard a low growl while everyone else was too distracted with the intruder.

"Demigod hearing, the best hearing around," Leo joked, getting a few laughs and eye rolls.

"I thought you were no longer a Jinchuriki," said Tsunade.

"You actually believe that report?" asked Mei. "No Jinchuriki can survive the extraction of their Biju."

"He is an Uzumaki," said Tsunade. "My grandmother was one as well, and she was reported to have lived an entire day after her extraction. If she not been over a hundred years old, she might have lasted longer."

"My kid's lineage is amazing." Apollo bragged, he knew how to pick them.

"Amusing how they argue even now, isn't it, Naruto-kun?" said Madara.

"It's weird how he's talking to Naruto like they're friends." Percy frowned, it was kinda creepy to be honest.

The attention went back to him and his masked head looked around. "Well you do. You act as though you have a chance against me. I already have eight of the nine Biju, just give yourself up, Naruto-kun and I guarantee that the Crooked One will not rise ever again."

"Bullshit," Ares rolled his fiery eyes, stupid arrogant mortals.

"The Crooked One?" The Kage all narrowed their eyes at the intruder in suspicion.

"I'm surprised you hadn't told them yet, considering your 'gods' are preparing for a war with him," said Madara. He chuckled.

"Oh great, he is still in the disillusion that we are just some immortals." Athena frowned, it was sad when the mortal mind could not comprehend something.

"Then again, it's not too surprising seeing as our lands have no faith due to the constant war we are in.

"Yeah!"

"Shut up Ares." All the other gods groaned as said war god frowned at them.

"What I say?"

Even the monks at various temples across the continent believe the Kami has abandoned us. Why do you think I am doing what I am doing? I am going to revive the original God to save this world from the Hell we live in!"

"The original god, psh, listen to this guy." Apollo said, thumbing to the image.

"You're a fucking whack job," said Naruto.

"Damn right." The demigods said in union.

"Am I?" said Madara. "Or am I just the only one who can see clearly? See far better than your father can see?"

"Oh he wishes he could see what I could see!"

"Don't push your luck, psycho," said Naruto with a frown.

"You tell him kid!"

As far as he was concerned, only he and others connected to the Greek/Roman Pantheon could insult his father.

"…Oh you little-!"

Artemis was outright laughing, "Oh, I think I really enjoy his wit. It's spot on for you." She told her brother in giggles.

"Seriously, stop hating on me lil' sis, not cool."

He disappeared with a flash of light and reappeared behind the man, a kunai in hand and drove it forward at Madara's back.

"Whoa!" Ares cheered, not that was what he was talking about.

Naruto fell through the man like he was a projection,

"Aw," the war god frowned, stupid ninja magic.

but then felt weight on his back as Madara stepped up onto him.

"Wow, rub salt in that wound, dude." Leo frowned.

He would've teleported but felt a foreign chakra focused on his back. Flaring his chakra did nothing, so that meant it was a seal of some sort.

"Nice try, Kyubi no Jinchuriki. But I am untouchable! My power grants me such protection from a worthless fool like yourself," said the masked madman.

"Untouchable, oh Us, it's like one of those stupid ass kings back in the old days." Ares frowned, untouchable, what a fruit loop.

He turned to look at the Kage, making Naruto grunt as he purposefully dug his heel into the blond's back on his turn. "Seeing as you have been so kind as to bring me a gift, I suppose I should return the favor. Well, I was going to give you a surprise anyway, I mean, it's just so rude to show up at a host's home without a gift."

Madara's hand raised and his fingers snapped. There was a distant explosion and the Kage all swiveled in their seats to look out the window as screams began.

"Blowing up the home fort," Jason winced, "Not good."

"It never is." Frank frowned, this place was one of the main bases right? That was really not good.

In the distance, in the area near the shopping district, there was another sudden plume of smoke.

"And the civilians no less." Frowned Hazel, oh they knew war, but this? It was tragic to target the non-combatants like this guy.

"We're under attack!" said Tsunade, spinning around to glare at the masked madman. Madara's shoulders began to shake and soft chuckles came from him.

"This guy is like, some typical comic book villain." Piper commented, freak.

"Agreed." Annabeth nodded to her.

His masked head looked down at the blond beneath his foot.

"Oh, now the fun really begins," said Madara. He reached down to grab Naruto by his hair, pulling his head back. "A very old friend of yours is dying to see you again, Naruto-kun. Try not to disappoint him." The masked Uchiha then slammed the blond's face into the floor.

"Douchebag!" Apollo gapped.

"I thought it was funny." Ares admitted openly, nodding, nice one.

"Piss off warhead!"

"He waits for you at my final battleground!"

Thalia and Jason pulled their weapons out, both receiving spears upon doing so, and a large amount of sand shot out of the gourd seated behind Gaara. Madara became intangible, avoiding the sand and ignored the electrified spears that were jabbed through his chest.

"I hate magic!" Thalia groaned, palming her face. It was so unfair.

"Agreed." Said the other demigods.

Another spiraling void appeared behind him and he smirked at the three demigods glaring at him, specifically looking at the two children of the Thunder God. Thalia and Jason were trying to keep their spears within him, so that they could shock and/or kill the man that was openly attacking their friend.

"It's not working, but it seems they have your stubbornness to kill someone who has wronged them." Hera commented.

"I think she just complimented you," Artemis whispered to Thalia, who snorted at the thought.

Hera glared at her step daughters, it was more so she was complimenting Jason on his defense of Naruto. That was all.

"Farewell, children of the False King,"

"False?!" Zeus shouted with flared nostrils.

"Oh I like him," Hades snickered

"Oh silence you corpse ridden-!"

"Enough," Hestia told her brothers, and they complied. For now.

said Madara snidely. "My regards to your father."

"Hi dad!"

"No funny Thalia," her father frowned, his mood foul.

"I thought it was funny," Poseidon admitted, getting an electric glare from his younger brother.

No. It was not.

He stepped back into the void, disappearing from view. Once the void sealed up, Naruto pushed himself off the ground, spitting carpet debris in his mouth out. He stood up and brushed his shoulders off. "Not only is he a psychopath, but he's a dick, too."

"I prefer douchebag, but yes, dick works nicely too."

"Apollo." Hestia frowned, her tone chiding.

"Sorry Aunt Hestia," the sun god droned, not really meaning it.

"Are you alright, Uzumaki?" asked Mei.

Thalia just muttered slut, she did not like this woman. Like she was some sexual predator.

"I've had worse," said Naruto nonchalantly.

"Indeed he has," Hades nodded, but like a cockroach, he just gets up…got that from his father no doubt.

He looked out the window at several smaller explosions. "Shouldn't we go deal with that?"

"You will all stay here," said Tsunade. "We will investigate. Kakashi!" The man nodded, and along with his Kage, left in an explosion of smoke, leaving the four demigods with the four Kage. The room looked back at the blond questionably.

"Sure, go to him for answers, yeesh, leave the guy alone already." Piper muttered, she wanted he other out of there and fast. It was a warzone, and just because her mom like the war god, didn't mean her kids liked war!

"Why didn't you just use your . . . Hiraishin to get out from under his foot?" said the Raikage.

"Yeah, kinda dropped the ball there kid," Hermes said, getting a mild glare from his sun brother.

"Simple," said Naruto.

"See, there is a reason."

"Excuses." Hermes said to his brother.

"Funny, you used to be full of them too," was Apollo's snide retort.

"Still are in fact," Athena jibbed with a slight smirk, getting Hermes to cross his arms in a frown.

He reached behind him and pulled a tag off his back. After looking at the tag, Naruto showed it to the Four Kage. "The psychopath had a mass memory seal on the sole of his foot that could've easily had a contingency seal. When the tag was pressed against me it memorized my place in relation to the earth's floor, so if I used Hiraishin, a bomb could've gone off."

"And that explains all." Apollo said

Percy just looked clueless, "What?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Come on Seaweed Brain, it was is."

"…No it wasn't. Not at all."

"Why didn't it go off when you stood?" asked Gaara, his sand flying back into the gourd with ease.

"That's a cool power." Nico noted, he liked this Gaara, seemed chill.

Piper, Jason and Thalia watched that occur with awe, but the redheaded leader paid them no mind, preferring to look at the resident seal expert.

"It's a false tag," said Naruto. "It acts like a normal mass memory seal, but has a secondary false rune that acts like a live explosive tag waiting to go off."

"What is he even talking about?" Percy hiss whispered to Jason, who in turn gave a tiny shrug but was nodding.

Just look like you know about it and nod. Nice and simple or you'd look like an idiot for asking.

Like Percy.

The blond opened his mouth to say more when everyone in the room felt the urge to move away from the window and did so, the Kage and the blond jumping back. Just in time, it would seem, as large dark grey skinned man with bright orange hair crashed through the glass, his left forearm having a hideous axe-like protrusion jutting out of it.

"I like him."

"Of course you would." Athena muttered about her war brother, who was slightly gushing about trying to do that too.

Crazed black sclera eyes with yellow irises darted around the room before looking at Jason, who had pulled Julius out and flipped it into the air. The man's mouth spread widely into a grin.

"Man with two faces attacks from above." Apollo noted intuitively.

"Great," Jason frowned, he had a psycho after him.

"I'll kill you first!" he said, moving faster than the people in the room had expected him to and bringing his left arm up. "DIE!"

Jason caught Julius just in time to block the man's axe-like growth with his sword. Thalia pulled her mace canister out and Piper reached for the dagger at her side, ready to help when Naruto held his hand out slightly, Piper's ADHD allowing her to catch the subtle movement.

"On the field training is good for the senses Piper," Annabeth said

Piper nodded, "True, very true."

Thalia's jaw clenched, noting her irritation at being told to back off.

"Yes, because my little brother being attacked and told not to help would tick me off." Thalia nodded.

"I can take care of myself."

"Not the pointe Jay."

"You!" The Raikage said, his face contorting into one of rage. He jumped forward to attack the man, relieving Jason from his struggles against the stranger.

"Thank you big bulking guy who wanted to interrogate me."

"Jason," Hera frowned, no need for sarcasm towards the ignorant mortal.

Pity, don't taunt.

The man brought his other arm up and it became a monstrous larger fist, heading for the Raikage's face. The Raikage's own massive hand caught the larger one with ease, holding the axe arm off with his brace covered forearm. "Where is Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Naruto's traitor of an ex-friend?" Frank asked as Hazel nodded.

"Sasuke said I could kill!" The man said. "So let me kill!"

"Who keeps a psycho killer on a leash?" Nico asked

"She does," The smith god thumbed to his wife, getting a huff from her and a growl from said psycho killer.

"Where is he?" The Raikage demanded. He glanced down and saw small amounts of sand slithering across the floor and circling the man's legs. The man said nothing, his grin widening.

"Enough, Juugo," said a calm and collected voice, stopping all movement.

"Oh, I think the chicken shit finally comes in." Ares smiled, finally, some major action.

The room shifted their gaze to the man standing in the window, his eyes had locked with Naruto's and tension was rising. He wore a jacket similar to the one Madara wore, black and covered in red clouds, concealing his form from their eyes, though his young and handsome face made him look to be about twenty or so. His black hair, to the demigods' amusement, looked like the rear end of a duck.

"I think you mean duck shit, Ares," Hermes corrected with a chuckled, before most laughed at the image.

What stupid hair!

Aphrodite was horrified, even if he had a handsome face.

His eyes were blacker than the night and were filled with nothing but restrained loathing for the blond that met his gaze.

"The rival has appeared," Leo said in an announcer tone, getting a thumbs up from his sunny uncle.

"Uchiha Sasuke!" said The Raikage in surprise and anger.

"Why are they shouting?" Nico asked

"Why do they always say each other's full names?" Leo asked in return.

These guys were weird.

Gaara took this moment to encase the man called Juugo in his sand allowing the Raikage to shift his attention on the one that helped in the capture of his brother.

"Grudge match!" Ares cheered

Poseidon turned to his elder brother, "Isn't that your favorite kind."

Hades sniffed, "Please, like I would watch something so lowly." He said in distaste.

"Ē," said Sasuke as he avoided the man's attack. A tag was slapped onto the Raikage's massive form, rendering him immobile. "I would be more than happy to take your arm again, but right now, I have a personal issue to deal with."

"Geez, look at this guy, trying to act all nonchalant." Percy rolled his eyes, it was like some Vegeta wannabe.

His words finished leaving his mouth and Naruto had vanished, reappearing with his fist pulled back as he was a foot away from Sasuke. The Last Uchiha narrowed his eyes, and caught the fist with ease. Naruto allowed a grin to spread across his face.

"Uke-chan," he said jovially. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Ha!" Apollo laughed, "Oh man, I think this guy swings the other way ladies."

"That would mean he has it for your son."

"…Oh gods!" Apollo and Aphrodite cried out.

"Thalia, do something!" the love goddess ordered

"Oh Us, silence, both of you!" Artemis cried out, seriously, these two.

"I'm a clone," said Sasuke informatively. "I await you where we had our greatest battle to date."

"To the End, then," said Naruto. He snatched his fist out of the cloned Sasuke's hand, this time driving it hard into the palm to the point it would shatter a wrist.

"That's right, no holding back."

"Wow Ares, you want some lotion with that boner?" Hermes asked him mockingly.

"Fuck off speed stick, this is going to be awesome."

The injury caused the clone to dispel itself and left Naruto to look at the Kage. "If you'll excuse me, I have a dinner date to get to."

"Be careful when bending over kid!" Hermes cried out with a laugh.

He left with a flash of light before anyone could stop him. The Kage and demigods all shifted their gaze to Juugo, whose head thrashed around in in the sand-like cell.

Apollo started humming out Monster by Skillet, before Artemis just gave him a look to stop. The sun god pouted.

"What is that?" Piper asked.

"It really isn't a person." Piper said, "Like some crazed beast."

"I hear ya," Nico nodded, and he had seen some messed up stuff in the underworld.

"Juugo," said Gaara, his monotonous voice surprising the three demigods. He stepped forward and looked at Jason, his arms crossing over his chest. "An interesting weapon you have. Sealed until needed and released with chakra."

The demigods snorted and had a collective thought of 'No.' but it was pretty good for a mortal to figure out something akin to that.

" . . . Sure," said Jason.

"Yes, play godly weapons close to the vest Jay," Leo nodded, his buddy nodded in kind.

He watched the man warily, knowing that if Gaara had not needed eye contact to restrain the powerful man named Juugo, he was stronger than he let on.

"Well, he is a leader of his nation, a young one at that compare to all the older ones." Athena noted, "That's speaks of his ability." She said in a respective tone.

Annabeth nodded, she wondered when he started his rule over his village.

"Your name is Gaara, right?" Thalia's voice drew all eyes – save for the entrapped Juugo – to her. The Kazekage nodded curtly. Her eyes narrowed. "Where is Naruto going?"

"To fight Sasuke." Gaara said simply.

"Give us a bit more than that sandman." Thalia said in a dry tone.

"Well where is that?" Thalia asked.

"That's a very good question," said Ē with a scowl on his face.

"Hey, I was talking big man," Thalia frowned at the screen.

"It would be safer if you didn't try to interfere," said Gaara. "The last time Naruto and Sasuke fought all out, they redecorated the sacred boundary."

"Because my kid rocks." Apollo grinned.

"And the Namikaze lost," said Onoki with a snort.

"Stupid troll." The sun god spat, he really wanted to smite the little fucker.

"Because he held back," said Gaara with a glare at the old man.

"You tell them red!"

Hermes rolled his eyes, but it was funny to watch his brother cheer.

"Naruto has always had an advantage against Sasuke."

?

"The Uchiha can manipulate the Biju," said Ē with a glower. "You recall the Battle for Takigakure no Sato two years ago, don't you Gaara-dono?"

"I was there."

"Then you know how foolish it is for Namikaze to face the Uchiha!"

"The boy is a pseudo god, the mortal has no idea who he faces, in fact, I pity the fool." Athena said with a shake of her head.

Hermes snickered, "One more time Athena, I think the A-Team still has spots open for you."

"…Silence Hermes."

"Naruto is now like me once again." Gaara said sternly. The other three Kage looked at him curiously. Gaara said nothing more, but if he had tried to, he would have been cut off by Thalia's question.

"Where. Did. He. Go?" The daughter of Zeus was at her patience's limit and spoke through gritted teeth, her hand tightened around her spear and sparks emitted from the blade.

"Seriously, someone tell her or they are going to get zapped~" Percy grinned, getting a light giggle from Annabeth.

Thalia pouted about traitor friends.

A light snicker broke their attention to the side, where a young man with short white hair and shark-like teeth leaned against the wall, and a large blade at his side.

"Well, this is shocking, isn't it, Juugo?" said the man with a shake of his head.

"Boo!" Leo cried out with his hands cupping his mouth, "I do the bad puns here buddy, go get a real job!"

"That just flat out sucked." Piper mumbled,

"Piper agrees with me, see." Leo nodded.

"Yes Leo," Piper and Jason humored him with dual nods.

Jason snorting in agreement while Thalia glared at the guy who was making it difficult for her to get straight answers.

"There's that Zeus temper, it comes closer and closer-"

"Oh be silent Hades," the god king grumbled with a nasty glare.

The lord of the dead just shrugged.

The newcomer grinned again and ducked under a glob of lava that was sent his way. "Mizukage-dono, how rude for a woman of your . . . standing to interrupt someone."

"Did she just throw lava at him?" Nico asked, eyes blinking in surprise.

Leo whistled, "That's hot."

"…Terrible." Frank muttered

"I did say I do the bad puns."

The Mizukage merely narrowed her eyes at the man. "Hozuki Suigetsu. I thought that you had learned from your previous attempt on my life."

"Oh, but I'm not attacking you this time, Mizukage-dono," said Suigetsu. A kunai went right through his head and his eyes widened before he became a puddle of water.

"Water clones?" Percy asked, "Why can't I do something like that?" he said with envy.

Poseidon mused about the idea, it sounded thrilling to attempt.

"Arrogant punk," said Onoki. He lowered his arm and glared at the puddle. "A Mizu Bunshin (Water Clone). Figures."

"No, you idiot!" Mei's retort was cut off as the puddle bubbled and quickly shot upwards, reforming as a human made from water.

"He's made of water?" Poseidon asked, leaning forward in his thrown.

"Seems to be. Your doing?" Hades asked snidely.

His middle brother just glared at him.

The white haired man cracked his neck as the watery appearance faded and more natural skin appeared.

"That was annoying," said Suigetsu. "As I was saying, I'm just here for the three brats that Uzumaki kid brought with him."

"Seems Piper is going into her first fight." Hazel said

"Great. And with no training."

"Hey, I did just fine," Percy told her.

"You had, like, two weeks of training already!" Piper argued.

He paused and brought a finger up to tap his chin. "Oh, and to free Juugo, too, I suppose."

"What a wonderful teammate." Percy said in a cheery tone.

"Hey, Percy, think you could make him like your puppet or something? He is all water it seems." Leo said, slight fascination in his tone.

"…Maybe."

"There are four Kage here, what makes you think you could get away with it?" said Ē, his fists clenching and his teeth gritting.

"Well," said Suigetsu. "How about I drown you all?"

"I'd do it." Poseidon shrugged at the looks he got, "What? It's a good move." He argued.

"For a simpleton." Athena said dryly.

"Didn't ask you." Was the childish retort.

He raised his liquefied hand and sent four large globs at the Kage, their heads getting hit by small droplets as they dodged. Suigetsu's grin widened and he turned his hand up and crushed it into the fist. The droplets on the Kage's faces spread, being fueled by the moisture in the air before their heads were encased in globs of water.

"I can't do that." Percy said, a frown on his face.

"Well, it takes practice." His father assured him.

"Let's prey he doesn't decide to go water Jedi on us." Piper muttered with a quirked lip, getting some laughs, even from Percy.

Suigetsu's face turned into a wide grin as the sand fell from Juugo's form, allowing the man to look around before he attacked the Kage. Ē, Onoki and Mei all exploded into smoke, surprising the three demigods, whereas Gaara fell apart into sand. The sand was reforming, albeit slowly due to the water weighing it down, giving the two allies of Sasuke – Juugo the more hesitant until Suigetsu hissed the Uchiha's name– the time to flee out the window.

"For a guy who was supposed to take care of them, he ran away pretty fast." Ares noted, a frown on his scarred face at the still alive demigods. He hated people who just couldn't do their jobs.

"Yes, that is terrible." Athena said in sarcasm.

"It is!" her brother nodded, not even bothering to hear the sarcasm in her tone.

"What do we do?" Jason asked, deferring to his sister.

"Funny, I'd thought you two would be fighting for who's in charge." Percy commented curiously.

"She is older," Jason pointed out.

"But you've been raised as a demigod." Piper added, getting a glare from Thalia.

Of course she would lead, it was only natural.

"Chase after them, duh," said Thalia. She turned to leave the room when Gaara's sand finished reforming, this time being a sandy version of the redheaded leader.

"Sand clones, nice." Hazel commented, that was useful looking.

"Wait," the monotonous and grainy voice of the Kazekage stopped the three demigods in their tracks. "The other four Kage will be on their way to assist Konoha shortly, I have been instructed to help you catch up to Naruto."

"How? How did you even-What are you?" Piper asked.

"Sandman logic Piper, it is all in Spiderman," Apollo waved off, it was still really cool though.

"I am known as a Suna Bunshin (Sand Clone)," said the grainy Kazekage. "The original Gaara has a close connection with the sand." He looked at them. "Has he told you about his…Burden?"

"I know about it," said Thalia with a frown. "I know you're one, too."

"And that folks is why communication is important in a relationship." Hermes winked to the demigods, who blushed a bit.

"Yeah, well, he didn't, did he?" Thalia said in a scathing tone.

Yeah, she was still a bit upset about that one.

"Was," corrected the clone. At her confused look, since Jinchuriki cannot survive extraction, he continued, "I was given a second chance at life thanks to an elder of my village, partially because of Naruto. He's saved my life and helped me more than I can repay.

"So he has a close ally who owes him a great debt," Athena said with a nod, "Good, it should come in handy."

We have to leave now." The gourd of sand dissolved and a large platform was created beneath them before they floated upwards. "I don't have long before I lose my chakra."

"Flying on sand?" Jason asked, he felt a bit primitive about it, but still, pretty cool power.

"You'd think Thalia would be freaking out right now."

Shut it Kelp Head." The hunter growled.

"She is obviously worried about Naruto Percy, very simple." The love goddess answered the boy, getting Thalia to flush lightly.

The three demigods nodded and he took them through the window, racing over the cries of the confused civilians. Ninja were darting across the village dousing fires and the masked shinobi called ANBU were racing even faster, scurrying around in search of the cause of the attack. Piper took notice of the Hokage beneath them and pointed her out.

"Good catch Piper, spotting those melons from so high up." Leo nodded to her.

"…Shut up Leo, now."

"I just can't help it. Sorry?"

"For now Leo."

"Much thanks."

"Keep your attention on the goal," said the clone of Gaara.

"But shouldn't we try to help them?" Jason said to the clone.

"There's that sense of justice." Poseidon smiled a bit, he did like that quality in his brother's children.

Hera was smiling as well, but Jason should keep focus on the task at hand.

"There is nothing you can do for them here," said Gaara. "You must help Naruto. He faces his most difficult battle today, a battle that has caused the end of many great shinobi."

"He fought a Titan, what could be more challenging than that?" said Thalia.

"Very true." Everyone nodded.

Gaara turned and looked at her with piercing eyes, albeit made of sand, but were piercing nonetheless. Gaara's arms crossed over his chest and he faced forward once again.

"He faces a trial of morality and mentality," said the clone. "Once again, he is forced to fight his best friend. Imagine the pain one must endure in order to come to terms with that. It is a challenge I would wish on no one, not even my most hated enemy."

Thalia and Annabeth immediately understood, and grasped each other's hand. It was, heart retching, plain and simple.

"So," said Kyubi, "Are we going to kill the Uchiha brat this time?"

"Please do." Said Ares.

Naruto said nothing, prompting his guardian spirit to sigh. He was forced to remain quiet around the shinobi lest a panic break out and the foolish ningen try to separate them, so talking now was almost a relief, but it would figure that the blond didn't want to discuss the important matters. "Look, Kit, we can't dance around this anymore. You've already displayed your dislike for traitors!"

"Yeah, sending Castellan over the mountain with your fists, good times."

"Fuck off Ares!" Hermes snarled at his older brother.

Ares just shrugged.

"Just shut up, Kyu," said Naruto. His gaze was cold and hardened as he dashed through the familiar path to the Valley of the End. His last journey to the valley had resulted in three of his friends being hospitalized, two of them in critical condition, and a seed of doubt planted in the far back of his mind. Not that Naruto knew about that seed, well . . . not until he died, anyway.

"Death does bring clarity to one's life." Hades said, no mocking in his tone. Just solemn.

Now he was conflicted once again.

"You still see him as a fellow orphan," said Kyubi. Naruto said nothing and the spirit forcibly manifested next to him. "Kit, don't be foolish about this! He is a threat to your mate!"

Thalia turned pink, "Stop saying that!" she cried out, geez it was embarrassing!

"She's not my ma–er, you know what I mean!"

"You stingy humans – Fine, your girlfriend is in danger with him around!"

Aphrodite nodded, "Best kill him now. Saves him from that awful hair of his."

Naruto hesitated with his retort. "I know that . . . I just don't know if I can kill him."

"It's no wonder that you didn't kill the son of Hermes," said Kyubi. "Still the ideal fool that everyone can be redeemed."

Hermes smiled a bit, "Thanks kid." He said softly.

"Are you going to fight with me or not?" Naruto looked at his companion with a hint of annoyance on his face, jumping through the trees as he did so long ago.

"Despite your poor choices, I will still fight with you." Kyubi scoffed and crossed his arms as he hovered alongside Naruto. "Someone has to show you how to be ruthless, and your bloodthirsty uncle lacks the mental capacity to teach it."

Ares frowned, "Not my fault if the brat doesn't pay attention!"

"You actually teach that?" Frank asked him.

"Of course!"

Naruto smirked at the jibe.

"Lousy punk."

His smile fell into a frown as he broke through the foliage and landed on the rocky ground leading up to the massive waterfall. A single step was taken before a kunai shot down to the ground with a blank forehead protector tied to it, landing right in front of him. Naruto looked up to the top of the statue of Madara Uchiha – the real one – and his eyes narrowed.

Looking down at him with his right hand resting on the handle of his sword was none other that Sasuke Uchiha. The dark haired man's equally dark eyes narrowed before he spoke: "Last time we fought here, it was as equals. We were both shinobi. Pick up the headband."

"Mouthy brat, isn't he?" Dionysus said in distain, thank Order the kid wasn't a demigod, he might have to deal with him then.

"I resigned for a reason, Sasuke," said Naruto. Nevertheless he picked the headband up and tied it around his forehead. "But . . . If you want to make this an official duel, I suppose I can humor you."

"And humor is an art in and out of itself." Apollo grinned, before it turned vicious, "Now, kill the little prick." He said in a cold tone.

Sasuke's lip twitched slightly in amusement. He jumped down and landed fifty feet away from Naruto. Mockingly, he raised his left hand while extending his first and middle fingers in the Seal of Confrontation. Naruto narrowed his eyes and did the same. They bowed slightly and held their gaze before they both vanished in pure speed. They reappeared in the middle of where they once stood, Naruto's blade holding back Sasuke's while Sasuke used the tip of his blade to hold back the edge of Naruto's shield.

Everyone leaned in a bit, eager to see who was going to win.

"This is new, Naruto," said Sasuke, his eyes blinking and becoming red irises with three comma like points set in a triangular orbit around the pupil.

"Wow, pink eye much?" Apollo asked

"He should see a doctor about that," Hermes snickered.

"Did I embarrass you that much during our last meeting?"

"Actually the last meeting was a little gay now that I think about it," said Naruto in return. "Something you want to tell me, Sas-uke?"

"I knew it!" Aphrodite cried out, "Oh poor Naruto, to have such a deviant stalker. I hope Thalia does something." She pouted out.

Said hunter palmed her face, stupid love goddess.

"You're dead, Uzumaki."

"Seems a nerve was touch~" Aphrodite sang out, no doubt her being right. How dare he try and breakup Nalia!

"Bring it, Uchiha."

The two pushed away from each other, with the raven-haired man flipping his hands through seals at a fast rate. He inhaled through his nose before a large fireball shot from his mouth.

"…I could do that, with my hands!" Leo argued sternly, lame, stupid pretty boy.

Naruto made his own hand seals before shooting a ball of fire from his mouth that was roughly the same size as his opponent's.

"And him doing that?" Jason asked Leo with a smirk.

"Meh," Leo waved off, "Naruto's cool. Plus, he's the son of the sun god and the reincarnation of the old sun god. He's got the right." He nodded in approval, getting the wind boy to laugh a bit.

The two orbs of destruction collided and exploded, a loud bang echoing through the trees and sending many birds flying from their roosts.

"How did you learn that?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed at his former teammate. "The Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Great Fireball Technique) is a Uchiha Clan technique! Hatake must have shown you!"

"Geez, get over yourself dude." Nico rolled his eyes, this guy was such a brat. H was even more emo then him!

And that was saying something.

"For your information, I reverse engineered it," said Naruto with a scowl of annoyance. What he didn't say was that his mother had told him through her knowledge of the technique how it was formed thanks to her friendship with Sasuke's mother

"Wait, Kushina was friends with that asshole's mom?" Apollo asked with a blink.

"Seems so." Annabeth nodded.

"Weird."

and Naruto just did as he always did – pump it full of chakra and then some.

"And that's the answer to everything in your lineage." Hades rolled his eyes to his youngest brother, "More power." He said in a snide tone.

Zeus just glared at him, but calmed himself for the sake of the story and to see him grandson win.

"Anything else you want to whine about, or can we get started already?"

"Zing!"

"Hermes, enough already," Athena scolded, she wanted to see the boy fight.

"Sorry."

"You've already lost," said Sasuke with a sneer.

"Lame," Percy said, thumbs down.

"Cliché too." Apollo said with a solid nod.

He lifted his sword up and vanished in a burst of speed. Naruto blocked the blade with his shield and stabbed forward with his sword, Sasuke sidestepping the attack with ease. The Uchiha's right fist planted itself in Naruto's face, making the blond stumble backwards.

"Come on, Rocky!" Apollo cheered

Sasuke pressed on his attack, slashing at his opponent's exposed torso. Naruto's shield bearing arm shot up and stopped Sasuke's blade, the blond's sword wielding hand turning the blade around and driving the pommel of his sword into the Uchiha's nose.

"Ah, a good old pummel smash, love those." Ares chuckled.

Sasuke's head snapped back, allowing Naruto to press on by first shoving away Sasuke's sword and then driving the edge of his shield into the raven-haired teen's stomach.

"Boo, dead already?" Ares whined, "Loser." She scoffed.

The wind left Sasuke in a rush, a gasp escaping his lips before he exploded in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a bruised log.

"The deadly log move?!" Leo cried out in mock fear.

"It truly is." Demeter frowned, the log, a soulless being you are.

Naruto felt his eye twitch in annoyance. He loved the Kawarimi sometimes, but by the Fates did he hate when it was used on him.

"Probably hasn't since he's been with the camp for a while." Annabeth mused in though.

The blond's already raised sword dropped down to stop Sasuke's blade from striking at his back, Naruto twisting out of the strange block before ducking under a high roundhouse kick. He retaliated with a thrust kick that was readily avoided, and then caught the blade aimed for his head with his own. The two former friends glared at one another, before pushing away once again, ten feet of distance between them.

"It's like, some samurai movie." Piper gushed a bit, this was awesome!

"Ninjas." Hazel corrected the love child.

"Whatever."

"You're not as bad with a sword as I expected," said Sasuke. "The shield must throw you off balance, though."

"Truly, they do work, but bulk you down at times." Ares said, "Still, good defense." He assured, he loved his shield.

"If it's bothering you that much then let me try this," said Naruto as he smirked and sheathed his blade into the slit at the portion near his forearm, creating the impartial God Arm. His right hand punched into the open left hand while the eyes on his shield shone red, displaying Kyubi's eagerness for the coming fight. "I thought you wanted to fight, Sasuke? Give me something to sweat about!"

"Really, this is the big rival?" Artemis questioned, while he was skilled, he had done little to impress her as her nephew has throughout the last story and this.

As far as she was concerned, her nephew was going to win.

"How is that going to help you?" Sasuke asked with disbelief written on his face.

"Clearly the guy has yet to meet the wicked arm of woodland magic." Hermes smirked.

Naruto's retort was to vanish in a flash of golden light and reappear with his back to Sasuke's, his arms at his side and a smirk on his face. Sasuke blinked at the sudden stinging of cool air on his cheek, reaching his hand up and checking it. When his fingers pulled away, Sasuke's eyes widened a margin when he found blood trickling down his face.

"Should've taken his head then and there." Ares frowned, shaking his head, bad move kid, terrible.

Narrowing his eyes, he turned around and glared at Naruto's back, clenching his fist around his blade and channeling his secondary chakra nature through it.

Naruto stiffened slightly at the sound of crackling and turned to face Sasuke, looking warily at the now lightning covered blade in his opponent's hand.

"So we know where he got his fear for lightning." Thalia muttered, jerkass, he stabbed him with that?

His eyes looked up to meet Sasuke's; the cerulean blue sun-filled eyes of determination looking into hate-filled blood red eyes with three smaller black orbs glaring back at him. Naruto's knuckles cracked as he tightened his fists and Sasuke's blade slowly rose until it was pointing right at the blond.

"Ready, Naruto?"

"Always."

"Ninja standoff, huh?" Hades mused, well, hopefully it would be interesting…also, his employee better not lost to a lightning user.

It was just bad for business.

The two stayed in their position for another moment before they moved. The clanging of Naruto's shield blocking Sasuke's sword could be heard for miles, but they were still too far to be interrupted. Sasuke stabbed forward, his electric blade sparking in almost excitement at the prospect of cutting and shocking the blond its owner faced.

"Wow, creepy." Leo muttered

Naruto sidestepped the stab, throwing his left arm forward to impale Sasuke in the chest, but the Uchiha quickly brought his sword up to block the attack. Naruto recoiled from the shock he received, glaring at the lightning around the raven-haired man's sword.

He wasn't a fan of lightning.

The three lightning users huffed in unions, much to everyone else's amusement.

"What's a matter, Naruto?" said Sasuke. "You afraid of a little lightning?"

"As he should be." Zeus muttered with a nod to himself.

Poseidon stage whispered to Hades, "He's talking to himself, again."

Hades nodded, "Get the net." He stage whispered back.

Zeus just glared at them, asses, both of them!

"Not too fond of what comes after it, either," said Naruto in admittance, knowing that usually was a sign of his grandfather's displeasure.

"Well duh," Dionysus muttered, he heard it all the time when he wanted a drink. Not fun, not fun at all.

He pursed his lips as he thought that line sounded familiar, but shook it off, his ADHD kicking back into gear as Sasuke pointed the sword at him.

"Die, Chidori Eisou (One Thousand Birds Sharp Spear)!" The lightning on Sasuke's chokuto came together and shot forward in a single stream, making Naruto's eyes widen. He brought his shield up to protect him only for the attack to pierce through and get Naruto through the chest.

Silence filled the room at the successful blow.

The blond's eyes were wide and he looked at the shield where it was pierced, a single thought coming to mind.

Pan, are-are you dead?

"More like dying," Percy assured the now worried Hermes, "Not dead."

"Or at least until Grover comes into play." Annabeth added quickly.