Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Reading: Sun's Heir, Death's Guardian II: A Hero's Peril
XXVIII
"So tell us again, Rachel. How exactly did you manage to get us a limousine ride?" Kakashi asked, eyeballing Rachel suspiciously.
"She super rich." Percy answered, getting Annabeth to roll her eyes.
Naruto had been wondering the same thing, but his mind was more focused on the events of nearly a half-hour ago, where he and Percy ran into Luke's possessed body. That was jarring as hell and frankly Naruto was still on a mild autopilot setting. He closed his eyes to focus, filtering through the memories.
"Yeah, that'd panic anyone after seeing that." Jason nodded, it was twisted to see it really.
After they left the Labyrinth, they found themselves in the basement of a Colorado Springs visitor center. Kakashi immediately disappeared into the shadows, Naruto catching a few glimpses of him being a vague memory. They split up to look around; Annabeth made an IM call to camp, which was thankfully not under attack yet; Thalia and himself along with Nico, who was guided by Naruto's stern hand clamped onto the boy's shoulder,
"Busted." Percy snickered as the boy scowled at him.
got some food for the group; and Rachel and Percy returned with promise of a ride. Frankly, Naruto was surprised that Annabeth volunteered to go alone, but he doubted she was truly alone since he hardly saw Kakashi or sensed a Henge in use.
"Aw, that's nice of him." Annabeth smiled at Naruto's teacher.
The redheaded girl squirmed under the human cyclops' lone eye peering at her from behind the sanctuary of his book.
"Athena has a look like that with a book," Hermes said.
"Yes, how times have I used it on you, Hermes?"
"Er…"
Feeling a bit sympathetic, since he had been under the gaze several times himself, Naruto put his hand on Kakashi's book – a testament to how much the man trusted him – and pushed it down, giving him a small look as he did. Sighing, Kakashi did as he was silently requested to do and closed the book, putting it in his back pouch securely before pressing his fingers together in thought as he gave Rachel an accusatory look.
"Look, Rachel, we won't judge you and we won't force you to talk." Naruto said calmly. "It's just...Shinobi and demigods always get the short end of the stick when it comes to favors given without reason."
"Amen." The demigods said.
"One time it almost cost me a finger." Kakashi said, looking at his pinky on his left hand. "Literally. For payment."
"…Who'd want a finger?" Frank questioned, getting a snort from the Greek aspect of his father.
"Question is, who wouldn't?"
"You terrify me more and more every day." Athena told him blunt.
"Yes." Ares cheered.
"Gross." Naruto said, and Kakashi shrugged. He still had his pinky, so that meant there was an alternative method of currency. Or he just incapacitated the guy. Who could tell?
"I'd go for the latter." Nico said plainly.
"We nearly got stretched to death in a waterbed shop." Percy said, Annabeth shuddering at the memory.
"I just met most of you today, so forgive me if I want to keep some things secret." Rachel said. Naruto nodded in understanding, leaning back and letting his arm rest on Thalia's shoulders while she got a small nap in.
"Aw, isn't she cute on her boyfriend's shoulder like that?"
"Shut it, McLean."
Car rides were usually boring for a while before something fun happened.
"W-What the Hell is-!?" Their driver shouted before the sound of glass breaking caught their ears. Naruto braced himself and sent a pulse of chakra through the floor of the limo, keeping everyone safely in their seats without banging around like ragdolls. The car landed on its wheels, the riders all awake if they weren't before and clinging to whatever they could.
Once he was sure they came to a stop, Kakashi made a Rasengan of his own, thrusting it into the roof and blowing a large hole in it.
"…I'm sure the doors still work." Athena said as Hermes snorted.
"Please, that's what they'd expect you to do!"
Naruto was going to tell him that the doors probably worked, but hey, rooftops were more fun anyway.
"That, too."
"Hermes, your childishness knows no bounds."
"Please, like you're one to talk, Little Miss Lego Builder."
"….I have nothing to say to you."
"Thought so."
He and Naruto climbed out first, them being the only two without seat belts – Kakashi was a ninja and Naruto was not going to be restrained in it if he didn't have to be – and scoured the immediate area. Kakashi investigated the driver while Naruto helped the group out of the limo. As he helped Nico out the door, Kakashi made a displeased noise.
"Well...whoever killed poor...Roger, right?" He asked Rachel, who shook her head with a pale face.
"I liked him." Annabeth frowned, poor Roger.
"Robert."
Er, Robert. Yes, poor Robert.
"Oh. Well, whoever killed Robert didn't mind leaving a calling card. I think it's for you."
"Goody, more fan mail." Naruto said dryly as he caught the strange kunai Kakashi tossed to him. The handle was normal as was the ring at the base, but it was the blade that was strange. It was curved like a river until the third inch, where it became pointed like a regular kunai, making Naruto furrow his brow. "I've...actually never seen a kunai like this before."
"I have." Kakashi said with a scowl. "Iwagakure no Sato."
"Evil ninjas!" Leo exclaimed.
"The Tsuchikage might be a little dumbass but I doubt he's stupid enough to send assassins after me after I agreed to be a high ranking official in the alliance." Naruto said, looking at the bloody knife with a frown. He looked around, they were near a forest. Naruto felt a tug at his chakra and sent a small pulse.
There was another urgent tug and Naruto's eyes went wide.
"It's time..." He said. He dashed into the woods, leaving the group behind as he ran.
"Time for what?" Hazel asked as Percy, Annabeth, and Nico's eyes widened.
"Oh man." Percy said to himself, taking a pitying glance at Hermes.
"Naruto, wait!" Percy cried out. He looked to Kakashi. "Where's he going?"
"I don't know." Kakashi said, frowning. "He's moving too fast for you all to follow. I could, but I'm not leaving you to fend for yourselves."
"We're not babies." Percy, Thalia, and Nico said as one, then glanced at one another.
"We can handle ourselves." Thalia said, annoyed.
Kakashi chuckled and gave her a smile as he wiped the blood off the strange kunai onto his leg. "Just like my genin, back when they were all cute and innocent."
"Cute and innocent…we are talking about Naruto, the psycho and the pink haired lady, right?" Percy questioned.
"Oh, I'm sure Naruto was just like you when he was younger." Apollo waved off, "It's been said as such often."
Percy grumbled a bit.
Before Thalia could retort, Kakashi lifted the strange kunai up to his thumb and sliced it open. His hands blurred through seals, so fast that Percy was sure that a finger snapped in and out of place. He finished with his hands clapped together.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Kakashi said, slamming his hand onto the cement ground. There was an explosion of smoke that had the teens covering their faces. When they dropped their arms, Kakashi was patting the head of a rather large pug wearing a headband like Kakashi and a blue vest with a strange smiley face on it.
"He's adorable!" Annabeth cooed, Percy laughing at her weakness towards dogs.
The ninja was holding the knife in front of the pug's nose. "Mind sniffing him out for us, Pakkun? And when you run, run at a civilian pace."
"Yeah, I got the scent. Changed a lot though. Smells like fire and ramen, there's also a hint of crisping air." A deep grown man's voice said. Looking closer they saw it was the pug that spoke, turning to look at them with dark brown eyes. "What the hell are you brats all looking at?"
"And now we have talking dogs." Leo said, "Okay, we've seen everything now."
"...That's...a talking pug." Percy said. A satyr understanding what a dog said was one thing, but a dog speaking English, rather fluently mind you, was a whole new ball game.
"I know." Percy nodded to his other.
"Yes he is!" Kakashi said with his strange eye smile. His hand patted the pug on the head. "Pakkun, meet Naruto's friends. Naruto's friends, meet Pakkun. My summon ninken."
"...S-Summon?" Annabeth asked. "A...A pact right? Between the animals and shinobi?"
"Of course you would know that."
"Well, Percy, he is my 'brother'. So I would want to learn his culture."
"Yep. Chakra/blood pact." Kakashi said, scratching Pakkun behind the ear.
"Oh yeah, right there, that's the spot..." Pakkun said. He quickly got to business once Kakashi stopped. He lifted his paw up and coughed into it. "Yes, well. I've got Naruto's scent. Wherever he's going, he's going there fast."
"Wonder why he didn't just teleport...?" Percy asked Annabeth quietly.
"Maybe he's not thinking straight." Annabeth said in return.
"No that first time," Artemis teased her brother, who glared at her. Okay, so he wasn't always focused, sue him why don't you!
Thalia snorted, overhearing their conversation. "Of course he's not. He just ran off without another word. 'It's ti...'" Her eyes widened and she looked at the dog. "What are you doing standing around for!? We need to move, now!"
"Thalia what's the urgency?" Annabeth asked.
"Do you remember, Annie? When his eyes would turn yellow and he'd gain some makeup?" Thalia asked. She looked to Percy. "What is under attack all the time and not even the gods can stop it if they tried?"
"Oh, oh, I know!" Apollo raised his hand.
"No you don't."
"Yeah-huh!"
Percy frowned, "Fate?"
"Grover, Percy, think of Grover!" Thalia said, sounding frustrated.
Hermes eyes widened along with the rest of the gods.
"So, Apollo, what were you going to say?"
"Shut up, Athena."
"Pan!" Annabeth and Percy exclaimed as one, their eyes wide. Kakashi frowned and looked to Pakkun.
"Find him." The shinobi said. "Now."
The dog nodded and led them into the forested area off the road. They ran, Rachel keeping a good pace with them. Pakkun led them through woodland, ducking left and right, the strange serpentine pattern Naruto took had them running around trees and bushes, many of them looking like they had run in circles until finally they came across a cave.
"Wow, spin out?" Leo questioned, getting Piper to roll her eyes.
They entered the cave, slowly, quietly. Percy found a rasta cap, just like the one Grover always wore, and held onto it as they walked.
"Well, the goat's dead." Ares shrugged, "So sad." He said with no concern, getting Percy and Hermes to glare at him.
Faintly they heard voices, as they got closer it got louder. Finally they came across the chamber where a nervous large Cyclops watched the normally pacifistic satyr push Naruto against the wall.
"Dat goat be juicin'!" Apollo cried out.
"You should've told us!" Grover said. His back was to them, but they could tell he was barely holding on from crying. He tightened his grip on Naruto's shirt. "Why!? Why didn't you say anything!?"
"Yeah," Percy glared.
"The satyrs had to find him, Grover." Naruto said softly, gently as he slowly disentangled the satyr's hands from his shirt. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to, Grover. I wanted to tell you ever since last winter...when we were standing right above him."
"Ouch," Thalia winced at that.
"You...Gods damn you, Naruto!" Grover shouted again, pushing the taller blond into the wall before crumpling to his knees. "Damn you..."
"They already have." Naruto said under his breath, looking up and meeting eyes with his large group.
"Well, not that bad." Apollo said, just working for Hades and being a Seer wasn't all terrible.
"Found me? Hey Pakkun."
"Hey Kid." Pakkun said, waving his paw at the boy. He looked at Kakashi. "Summon me later, I get the feeling I'd be unwanted here."
The pug vanished in an explosion of smoke.
"G-Man..." Percy said, walking forward and putting his hand on the satyr's shoulder.
"Percy...I found him...I found Pan." Grover said, looking happy despite the light sheen of tears in his eyes.
"Yay," Hermes said with a hollowed tone and slumped shoulders. Apollo just rubbed his shoulder in support.
Percy gave him a smile. "I told you that you would."
"Are you ready to meet him?" Naruto asked, getting the two boys to look at him. His smile looked hollow. "Because he's been waiting to be found for years."
"I bet." Dionysus commented lightly, a sad look on his face.
Grover swallowed before nodding, getting to his hooved feet and patting the concerned Tyson on the arm. He led the way through the crystal-like doorway, the large group followed him, Kakashi holding up the end with Rachel. Then they came to the large chamber filled with animals long thought dead.
"That's...That's a woolly mammoth." Percy said under his breath.
"Sad we don't have them anymore." Artemis frowned, she hadn't hunted one in forever.
Annabeth nudged him and his gaze went to the ancient satyr sitting on a slab of mossy stone around which the animals were gathered. His eyes were the same blue as Luke's, minus all the crazy, and his hair and beard were a curly white, almost like snow. His goat-like legs had greying fur on them and his body, while in peak condition due to his godly status, looked frail. His horns were far too large to be hidden by a rasta cap like Grover's.
"Look at him," Hermes smiled softly, still hanging in there. The god let a small tear fall, at least he got to see his boy again.
It was then it hit Percy.
He was looking at Pan.
"Lord Pan..." Grover breathed, falling to his knees again.
The god smiled. "Grover, my brave satyr...I've been waiting for you."
"Sorry..." Grover apologized out of habit. "I got lost."
"It happens, G-Man." Percy smiled.
He laughed and the newcomers felt the same feeling when a springtime breeze washed over them.
"Persephone was so saddened by the news." Demeter commented with a sigh.
It was followed by the feeling of hope, filling the cavern to the brim as the god's laugh echoed in the cavern. Kakashi knelt, his head bowed, not deeming himself worthy of looking at the god while the kids joined him, their eyes locked on the god in awe.
"I needed that." Pan said, wiping a tear from his eye. He patted the dodo on its head. "The last good laugh I got was from Dede, here." The dodo looked affronted at that.
"Hey, I remember those little guys," Ares smiled, "I'd punt them all the time!"
"Ares!" Artemis seethed at that, hurting that fine flightless bird!
Ares just laughed her off cruelly.
Pan sighed and his eyes met Grover. "I know what you are going to ask, Grover Underwood, and it is with a heavy heart that I tell you I cannot go."
"But-But we need you!" Grover said, looking confused and depressed all at once. "To save the wild! To stop humanity from destroying it!"
"Sadly, not possible." Artemis commented, taking a glance at her smith brother and wise sister, both looking ever so slightly abashed.
"Dear boy..." Pan said, still smiling sadly. He beckoned Grover closer and he came, putting his hand on the satyr's head, rubbing the curly locks. "You are so pure hearted, Grover. So full of life and love for my realm and all that fall under it. I chose well."
Hermes took in a sharp breath, it was heart retching to him.
"C-Chose?" Grover asked. "My lord, I don't understand."
Pan continued to smile sadly. "The wild above is dying and gone, Grover. Nothing can change that except humanity. There are a few groups dedicated to it, I hear, but they need the guidance only a satyr can give."
"Go green," Apollo said with a wink.
"Or we will find." Leo added with a grin.
"B-But this place-!"
"Is one of the last true sanctuaries that remain of my realm." Pan said. "The last of a few pockets...and it will not last forever."
"They never do." Demeter frowned in agreement.
Before anyone could ask what that meant, Pan's image flickered, turning to smoke and vanishing for a moment before reappearing. He looked haggard and exhausted, his surrounding animals all giving looks of concern to the god.
"Oh man, why?" Hermes questioned to himself.
"Poor Pan," Apollo sighed out, they couldn't even have another contest now. And he'd been practicing too!
Pan coughed into his hand, ichor caking it. He paid it no mind, giving another weary smile to Grover.
"As you can see, Grover...Nothing lasts. This old rusted thing," Pan gestured to his chest where a human heart would be if he were mortal, "is running on fumes."
"Fumes of sheer will." Hermes corrected sternly.
"He's...He's dying." Nico said finally, quietly and under his breath. He closed his eyes, swallowing hard before giving the harsh truth. "He sh-should've...should've been dead by now."
"The will of life makes any man strong." Naruto said softly.
"Exactly!"
Pan nodded. "Well said, cousin of mine. Thank you for keeping the secret..."
"You...You swore him to secrecy?" Grover asked. Naruto had told him he knew, but this...This was too much.
"Why swear him to secrecy." Hermes complained, he shouldn't have!
"I did. After all, what was the point of putting my faith in you if you got a map?" Pan asked wryly. "I had sent word to my father, keeping him from finding me of course,
"Ouch." The messenger frowned.
to give word to Hades. Hades sent Naruto in his stead, acting as an ambassador and giving me a promise of prolonging so long as Hades was kept up to date on my lifespan. Hence the handsome figure there." Pan gestured to the skeleton glued to the one part of the room that had nothing but dead flowers around it. "When I met him...I met someone who knew death, life and found balance in nature."
"So, whose skeleton is that?" Leo asked.
"Meh," Hades shrugged, "Just a random someone I'd guess."
"A teaching I learned in my first life was given to me again as a gift of thanks." Naruto said, his jaw clenching from where he knelt next to Thalia.
"A mortal sage...alive and well...possibly the last of his kind..." Pan said with a few coughs. "He is my champion of mortals...
"The super eco mortal man!"
"Apollo, shut up."
"Sorry, Herm."
but I need a true heir.
Percy, Annabeth, and Nico let out smiles at this.
Pan, my name means all, so I couldn't have just one heir. I needed everyone to know, everyone to take a bit of their life and protect the wild. I tried millennia ago with Lysas, to spread the word."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "That legend is true...the sailor heard a voice off the coast of Ephesos cry out to him. 'Tell them the great god Pan is dead.'"
"No! But...But gods can't die!" Grover said.
"They Fade." Naruto said solemnly. "Becoming one with the Primordials they originally came from.
"Such a tragic thing." Athena frowned, remembering those lost by Fading away.
Chaos..."
"And Order." Pan said with a nod. "I am ready. I need my message to be passed, my call to be heard. Will you answer my call, Grover Underwood?"
All the gods were silent at this, frowns on their faces.
"I...I can't..." Grover said, his cheeks caked in tears while he tried to stay strong.
"So stubborn." Pan said with a lighthearted chuckle. "Every satyr I've ever met, always so stubborn and loyal. The wild is too small and shattered for one god to heal, Grover, try to understand. It is in the hands of mortals now, but again, they need guidance. Answer my call, Grover, if but to perform a last request from this old god."
"Go Grover." Percy said under his breath.
Grover couldn't speak, he just nodded. Tears trailed from his eyes that if left unchecked would flood the cave. The others were no better. Thalia was holding strong, if barely, and Nico was crying just as hard as Grover was. Percy's own eyes felt misty, and it was when the jubilant blue orbs of the god met his green that he felt the first tear run down his cheek.
"It was terrible, just knowing what was going to happen." Percy admitted with a frowned, Annabeth and Nico nodded in agreement.
"Percy Jackson...A boy with so much weight on his shoulders. All that responsibility and you hold strong." Pan said. "That is your power, your will of endurance outlasts even Atlas'. I give you this news: Though the darkest moment be upon you, you will not feel fear."
Percy nodded, unable to say anything as Pan looked to the blonde girl next to him.
Poseidon had a look of pride on his face as Percy himself smiled softly.
"Annabeth Chase, as wise as your mother in some cases, and then wiser in others. Your role has not been filled yet, and it will not be an easy role to take. But you have a role, nonetheless, even if it isn't the role you want." Pan said to her.
Annabeth nodded, a tear streaking down her cheek as she did.
Annabeth smiled sadly at this as Athena nodded in agreement.
Pan's blue eyes locked on the single-eyed son of Poseidon. "Tyson...Heroes come in all sizes, and many are forgotten, but your name will be legendary among Cyclopes for generations to come."
He looked to Nico while Tyson cried, the cyclops being consoled by the white haired shinobi through a hand rubbing his arm.
"Peanut Butter!" Poseidon declared with pride, getting some laughs.
"Young master of shadows...So much potential, so much anger." Pan said, making Nico blink as he looked at him. "Do not fall victim to your father's flaw, and you, Nico di Angelo, shall be the next great hero of Camp Half-Blood."
Nico pondered his words while Pan looked to Thalia.
"I think I did pretty good." Nico smirked as Percy nodded to him.
"That you did, Nico."
"Strong is the word that describes you, daughter of Zeus. You will need this strength, the wall of iron that separates you from your friends. A dark time will come once more and your lightning will be the only way to illuminate your path. You will hold strong." Pan said, making Thalia nod as she finally let a tear roll out of her eye.
"Wow," Thalia said, but was pleased at hearing that. Zeus was as well proud of the Faded god's words about his daughter.
His eyes drifted again, overlooking Naruto and landing on Rachel.
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare." He said, making the crying girl stiffen. "Your father's name does not rule you, for your role shall be the most important after all is said and done. You will change lives for years to come. Stay true to yourself."
Rachel nodded.
"Oh yeah, it will be alright." Apollo nodded, finally happy to lose the bag of bones.
Pan's eyes then finally locked with the Heir of Helios'.
"My friend. My cousin. My champion." Pan said, Naruto straightening up as Pan said the word with pride. "Teach them. Guide them as you have. Be warned, Naruto. A day will come where you must choose, and while one choice will lead you to a happier life, that life will be shorter in the outcome."
"Um, I don't like that." Apollo frowned, Thalia inwardly agreeing with him.
"How do you see all this?" Naruto asked, his voice breaking.
"I am closer to Order and Chaos than the Fates ever were...I see exactly where you go. Your choices will have you hated, your friendships will be strained, but you will press on just as you always have.
"Oooh, drama!"
"Aphrodite, silence, please."
"Boo."
Whereas Percy Jackson has the endurance of Atlas, you have the willpower that could topple any immortal. Zeus, Kronos...or Ouranos."
"Whoo!" Apollo cheered as Zeus frowned, "Oh, come on dad. No need to be a stick in the mud about it."
"I'm not." Zeus said tersely.
"He so is." Poseidon said to Hades, who nodded.
Pan's words had Naruto kneeling before him in pride. The god smiled gently, looking over to Grover.
"It is time." He said. "I need you to do one other thing for me, Grover."
"W-What?" Grover asked weakly.
"Release me." Pan said. "Let go, but never forget."
"Never." All said softly.
"I can't..."
"You can." Pan said, so sure of his statement that the whole room felt the same way about Grover. "You are the one satyr who believed in me more than any other. You alone have the best chance to change the way mortals, demigod or not, view the wild. You, Grover Underwood, are my legacy."
"The great Lord of the Wilds." Artemis said with respect for Grover.
The satyr looked into the smiling Pan's eyes, seeing nothing but faith in them. Grover smiled back and got to his hooves. He approached the seated god.
"Never." Grover promised, standing tall and strong. "I will never let you be forgotten. I will let you rest." He put his hand on top of Pan's head. "I release you, Lord Pan."
Pan smiled as his image faded away. "Thank you."
"Bye, Pan." Hermes choked out, a sob escaping his lips while Apollo gave him a half-hug, a frown on his face like all the gods. Some bowed their heads, other shook them at the loss of a great god, and the rest had calm looks but with hurt lingering in their eyes, even if they would deny it later.
The demigods who hadn't seen it were just silent at seeing the Fading of a once great god, while the ones who were there bowed their heads in memory.
A burst of warm energy exploded from where he once sat, encasing all eight of the guests. Naruto inhaled the remaining lingering scent of wildflowers and saved the memory of his interactions, brief though they were, with his favorite cousin.
"That's kind of him," Hestia smiled.
The room was quiet as the remaining animals that lingered behind with Pan quietly turned to dust, Dede the dodo trilling a hum as she did, or shriveled up and died. The skeleton imbedded in the wall gave a cruel cackle before it crumpled to the ground, being reabsorbed into the Underworld.
Hades nodded to that.
"...We should go." Naruto said after a minute, getting to his feet. He didn't dry his eyes. Pan's death deserved tears, for the world lost a great person. Even if they didn't know it.
"Yeah." Grover quietly agreed. He turned and met Naruto's eyes, both pairs red from crying. "We need to tell everyone the news: The great god Pan...is dead."
Hermes just bowed his head and muttered a prayer for his godly son.
Behind Pan's mossy stone was a door back into the labyrinth that immediately shut and crumpled apart after they all walked through. Rachel led them, her eyes still wet. Kakashi pulled Naruto to the back of the group, leaving Thalia to talk to Grover about their own quest and the adventures Grover and Tyson had.
"Never did get that story." Percy admitted with a rub of his chin.
"What now?" Kakashi asked. "The god of the wild is dead."
"Pan lives on." Naruto said, his eyes glued on the back of Grover's head. "Grover was the closest to him when he was released, but he didn't get all of Pan's godly abilities. Perhaps some of the more satyr based powers, but not all of them."
"Still, it is something." The messenger god nodded.
"How can you be sure?"
Naruto looked at Kakashi, his eyes glowing with amusement. "Helios was the God of Sight, Kakashi-sensei."
"I see."
"No...Not like I do." Naruto said, looking back at Grover with a faint smile. "He'll do what Lysas couldn't. He'll tell the world that Pan is dead...and he'll save the Wild."
"Because Grover can do anything." Percy said, getting nods from Annabeth, Thalia, and Nico.
They exited the Labyrinth in Times Square. Percy managed to secure four Pegasi in an alley while Naruto and Thalia decided to take Soul back, Nico getting dragged back over to it despite his desire to ride a Pegasus, since it was parked nearby.
"Still grounded mister."
"Shut up Percy!"
Naruto gave Rachel a tri-pronged kunai – "You've got a good throwing arm, keep it close. Also, don't use it like a brush. Not as effective."
"Might scalp yourself." Ares nodded.
– before bidding them farewell. Naruto drove Soul back at the highest speed before stopping right outside where the barrier began.
"Why'd you stop?" Thalia asked, giving her boyfriend a curious look.
"Well, Kakashi, moment of truth." He said, ignoring her. Next to Nico on the left, the space shimmered before Kakashi appeared in a poof a smoke, crossing his arms.
"Ninja!" Nico exclaimed, "…Wait, how did I not even notice him?"
"Fail?"
"Watch it, Matchstick."
"I have to hoof it?"
"March human!"
"I want to see if my concern is valid." Naruto said. Kakashi nodded and got out of the car, Nico blinking in shock.
"That...was awesome." He said. "I can learn how to do that, too, right!?"
"In the shadows." Naruto said. He watched Kakashi walk up to where the barrier was and push his hand against it. There was obvious strain, but Kakashi was able to force himself through, which had Naruto gritting his teeth in annoyance. "I knew it."
"So, the barrier isn't ninja proof? That sucks for us." Piper frowned.
"What?" Thalia asked. "And why was he camouflaged?"
"He doesn't like seatbelts. I don't like tickets." Naruto answered before slowly driving in as Chiron was seen galloping to the top of the hill. "And I was right. Chakra disrupts boundaries."
"Very bad." Athena frowned, remembering the attack from earlier in the chapter. If they got into the camp…
"What do you mean?"
"Think of the boot camp." Naruto said. He ignored Nico's confused blink and elaborated. "They followed us there, why would they not be able to get here where there's another boundary god?"
"Camp has a barrier, not a boundary god." Annabeth noted.
"What do you think Charon does?" Hades asked.
"That's what he's the god of?" Percy questioned.
"Really, Percy Jackson, really?"
The boy just shrugged at his uncle's words. Not like Charon did much, at least in his honest opinion.
Naruto got out of the car and walked through with ease, walking up alongside Kakashi as Chiron trotted down to them with his bow in hand.
"Mr. Uzumaki! Just what on earth is going on?" Chiron asked, giving Kakashi a mild look of concern.
"He's cool, Chiron, he's with me." Naruto said, patting the shinobi's shoulder. "Just testing the defenses against...abnormal mortals."
"Clear sighted?" Chiron asked.
"Ghastly." Dionysus said.
"Shinobi."
"Even worse."
Chiron blinked before looking at Kakashi, who was looking back at the centaur with his Sharingan eye. "A strange disease you have there."
"Pink eye," Apollo nodded, "It happens."
"One could say the same about you." Kakashi said in a relaxed tone. "I believe they call it, mythological-creature-syndrome."
"He's a Hybrid!"
"Subaru?"
Apollo grinned, "Nice, Herm."
"I try."
"...You must be Kakashi Hatake." Chiron said, nodding. "Naruto's enjoyed comparing the two of us. Usually it's the fact that both of us promote unity amongst our groups."
"Those who break the rules are trash, but those who leave their comrades and precious people behind are worse than trash." Kakashi said. He offered the centaur his hand. "I've heard good things about you, Chiron. And we both share the same teacher."
"And yet the earlier one is much more sophisticated." Artemis commented, "Must be because you were far less lusting."
"Meh." Apollo shrugged, he wasn't going to deny it.
Chiron arched a brow before nodding in understanding. "Yes. A bit eccentric, but we've all got our quirks."
Naruto snorted at the understatement but the two students of Apollo ignored him. Kakashi's eyes closed and he took his hand back. "I understand you're looking for a close quarters teacher?"
"I'm going to be a ninja!" Piper told her.
"Dear, if you start wearing those black pajama's…" the goddess warned sternly.
Chiron blinked. "Normally we wouldn't seek outside assistance and promote from within...but I believe a soldier of war such as yourself would be a welcome asset.
"They usually are." Ares grinned, good for his kids. They needed to shape up after all.
Come with me, I would like to speak more about this matter in the big house. Naruto, get your car back to Cabin Nine's garage and get some armor on. We're on full alert."
Naruto snapped to attention. "Yes, sir."
"Hooah." Ares nodded.
"Suck up."
"Bite me, Kakashi-sensei."
"You have Thalia for that dear." Aphrodite corrected Naruto, making the hunter glower at her.
Naruto tightened the guard over his shin and then grabbed his chest piece, pulling it out from underneath Ranger's paw. The giant cat gave a disgruntled look at that, he was comfortable leaning on the golden plate, thank you very much.
"Lazy thing," Ares sneered, armor was for wearing, not sleeping on…unless you're dead. Then sleep all you want.
Naruto just gave him a grin and scratched him on the side of his head.
"Sorry, Range. I need this more than you do." He said. He finished putting his armor on, pulling his jonin flak jacket on for added padding and grabbed Eclipse off the in its disguised form. Naruto slipped it into his pocket and grabbed his bow from where it rested leaning against the wall. He collapsed it, clipping it to his belt and then slung his quiver over him.
"Now that is battle ready." Apollo whistled, "Stylin' like a boss on the battlefield."
Naruto turned and beckoned for Ranger to follow him. "C'mon Range, let's go see if Leo finished your armor."
"Cat armor, really?" Ares questioned mockingly.
"We love the cats," Annabeth shrugged.
The big cat got up and stretched before hopping down from the bed with a creak. Ranger rubbed himself against Naruto, almost making the blond stumble back. Instead he chuckled and scratched the sabertooth behind the ear. He led Ranger out of Cabin Thirteen and over to Cabin Nine, nodding at Kakashi while the shinobi answered Malcolm's questions about Konoha and other villages.
"We're about to have a battle and he's busy asking questions." Ares rolled his eyes, he wanted to see the fight dammit!
"Nothing wrong with asking questions." Athena told him sternly.
He smiled at Annabeth as she pet and cooed at Pakkun,
"I would." The blonde nodded.
who was growling at the glaring Washington, the giant cat decked out in armor that would make Battle-Cat jealous.
"He-Man!" Apollo said in a deep voice.
"Sparkles and rainbows." Ares snorted, getting a glare from Apollo for mocking an icon!
"Ah, Gringo! Bout time you got here." Leo said, grinning as he lifted his welding mask up. He walked away from his workbench over to another one covered by a tarp. "Ready to see Ranger's gear?" He yanked it off before Naruto could answer, far too giddy to hold back the surprise any longer. "Ta-da!"
"Wow, Leo." Naruto said. He picked the bronzed armor up and looked it over. "It looks like my chariot..."
"Sun-Cat!" Apollo smiled brightly at the thought.
"Yeah, Piper helped me out with that." Leo said with a prideful grin as he picked the helmet for the cat up. "Check it, based it off of Battle Cat from Toonami. Bronze and two spikes for all the masculine testosterone running through our bodies!"
"Pimp my kitty." Hermes snickered.
"Great job, Leo." Naruto said, holding the sun marked shoulder guard for Ranger. He put it on the giant cat, getting a deep indignant meow for his efforts.
"Now, be a good pussy and let's get this fit-"
"Ares." Hestia told him in a calm forced tone.
"Shutting up." The war god wilted at the glare he got.
"You're guarding the wounded and Bianca, Range, you need as much protection as you can get."
Ranger gave a reluctant meow and stood tall while Leo and Naruto fully prepped him. When they were done, Ranger looked like a gift from Rhea to her grandson or nephew.
"He actually is." Hera nodded in agreement.
The ancient cat gave a mighty roar and Naruto scratched him under the chin.
"Just like Battle-Cat after he got his armor on." Leo snickered.
"There's a good boy. See? Didn't take that long, now did it?" Naruto asked, getting loud purrs from Ranger. He grinned at Leo. "Not bad. Making me a sword of Greyskull, too?"
"I'd so do that." Leo nodded.
"Funny, Gringo. Real funny." Leo said, waving him off. "Now get out of here so I can make more oil bomb traps."
"Nice thinking, Leo." Annabeth nodded, with his Pyrokinesis, Leo could light things up greatly for the camp.
"I try."
"Yeah alright. I gotta go drop this lug off." Naruto said, patting the sabertooth on the head. "Make sure you're at the catapults in ten. We need to be ready."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Leo waved him off. He would be there, Naruto was sure of it. This was the one place where Leo truly felt at home. He'd be on the front lines fighting with his life on the line to protect it.
"Damn right!"
"And don't use that axe you think I don't know that you're making, Gimli." Naruto said over his shoulder.
"Heh, dwarf." Frank snickered.
"Shut up." Leo glared at him.
"I can use whatever weapon I feel like, Legolas!" Leo shouted back.
"Well, he's got the looks, the style, the hair," Aphrodite listed off as Apollo nodded in agreement.
A few short minutes later, Naruto left Ranger to defend the wounded and recovering, where Bianca was stationed since she was limited to a wheelchair, but she still had Geokinesis at her disposal.
"Wheelchair combat, huh?" Ares rubbed his chin. Interesting.
He was walking towards a group huddle involving the head of the Cloven Elders, Grover, Percy and Chiron. He saw the elder's face turn red and hear shouting of sacrilege and blasphemy.
Hermes pursed his lips at that.
Guess he didn't like hearing the truth, and frankly, Naruto didn't blame him. Kronos' possession of Luke combined with the death of Pan made for a grim day, and Naruto was still trying to come to terms with both. Resurrecting Kronos was one thing, but to willingly take him in and be his host? Luke was worse off than Naruto originally believed.
"Hell yeah!"
"Ares, shut up."
"So he's not only a traitor but he's batshit insane." Helios said. "Wonderful. We're fighting a madman."
"See? Hel agrees with me." Ares pointed out, getting his younger brother to glare darkly at him.
You get used to it. Naruto thought with a nonchalant shrug. The elder stormed off, calling Grover a disgrace as he left to prepare the satyrs for the fight, and Naruto walked up, putting a hand on Grover's shoulder. "Don't listen to him, Grover. You remember what Pan said: satyrs are stubborn."
"Yeah...I don't know how I'll be able to do this alone." Grover said, his shoulders slumping. Percy gave him a light punch in the arm.
"You're not alone, G-Man." Percy said, giving his best friend a grin. "We'll just have to find a way to convince him."
"Ah, the Percy optimism." Annabeth smiled softly as the boy smirked at her, "Never change."
"Promise."
"Thanks Percy." Grover said, giving his friend a grin in return.
"I give my deepest apologies Grover, but I must check the rest of the defenses." Chiron said, getting a nod from the three before he galloped off.
Nico ran up to them just after Chiron galloped off, ducking behind Naruto. "Hide me, hide me, hide me!"
"Bianca going to rip you a new one?"
"She's in her chair though." Nico said.
"Then who're you running from?" Percy questioned.
"From what?" Naruto asked, trying to get Nico to let go of him. "Nico, dammit, let go, I need to be able to-"
"NICO DI ANGELO! YOU ARE SO GROUNDED, YOUNG MAN!"
"What's this I hear?" Artemis smiled as Apollo blinked.
Percy watched as Naruto turned pale. In a quick movement, Naruto spun around, picked Nico off the ground and held him in the air, shaking him. "What did you do!?"
"Foolish fool!"
"Hey!" Nico shouted at Leo as he snickered at the pale boy.
"I-I figured we could use some help and I don't know, she was the first one that came to mind! Put me down and hide me before she finds me and makes me run around the Styx!" Nico said, whimpering.
Nico paled further, it was-!
"Kushina!" Hermes shouted, pointing out like a natural disaster was coming.
"Hide you!? I should hand you over to get the brunt of the punishment!" Naruto hissed.
"Ow." Nico said, looking hurt at that.
"Then I can hightail it to the other side of the camp. I haven't talked to her in-!"
"Six. Months." The voice of a calm woman said 'pleasantly'. Percy and Grover looked to the speaker as Naruto froze in place.
"There goes a brave man." Ares bowed his head, all the other guys joining him.
Hair the deepest shade of red they had ever seen cascaded down from her head, well over her back. She was fair skinned and had a headband that was similar to Kakashi's, though instead of a leaf she had only a spiral. Two amethyst colored eyes bored into the back of Naruto's head, occasionally meeting Nico's terrified onyx ones. She wore a light, tank top-like iron plated armor over a black shirt that clung to her like a second skin, the same plated armor on her forearms and shins, similar to Naruto's own armor, but with a red spiral instead of a Greek sun. On her back was a sword similar to Kakashi's, but again, it had a red spiral on the handle.
"And my badass ninja wife has come." Apollo grinned, a dreamy smile on his face.
"Finally." Artemis grinned as Hera looked interested as well.
"Naruto-kun...why don't you turn around now?" The woman asked.
"Hai!" Naruto said, spinning around and setting Nico in front of him, fully prepared to use the boy as a meat shield.
"Smart boy." Hades complimented as his son shot him a look of betrayal.
Percy looked between the two and noted that Naruto's face looked more like hers than what Apollo looked like. Green eyes widened as he put it together.
"You're Naruto's mom." He said bluntly, getting both Uzumaki and Nico to look at him.
"Well duh, Peter." Mr. D rolled his eyes.
The woman beamed. "Yes I am! Kushina Uzumaki at your service, dattebane!"
"Uh, Kaachan, your tic..."
"What's that, Naruto-kun? You saying something?" Kushina asked, arching a thin brow at her son's voice.
"No, Kaachan!" Naruto said, his mouth clicking shut audibly.
"I like her already." Hera smiled.
Kushina nodded.
"That's what I thought." She said, her gaze going down to Nico. "And you, mister. What did your father say about talking to the spirits of the dead?"
"Indeed, Nico."
"You didn't tell me anything before that."
"…Still the fact remands." Hades added quickly as Hestia gave him a look.
"Not to." Nico said quietly.
"And what did you do?"
"Talked to spirits."
"This is hilarious." Percy admitted, getting his cousin to grumble at him.
"What do you think we should do about that?"
"Let me go with a stern warning."
Hermes snorted, "You wish, kiddo."
Whack. "OW!"
"Thank you, Naruto-kun. You're still in trouble, though."
"Isn't he supposed to protect me?" Nico questioned with a blink.
"Self-preservation, Nico." Hades told him. Every man for himself at the wrath of a mother.
"Hai, Kaachan." Naruto said, his head hanging. Percy watched in amazement as the woman ripped Nico a new one.
Nico was even paler than normal, and that was something.
"Isn't it illegal to threaten your kids with feeding them to a dog?" Percy asked Grover quietly.
Ares chuckled at that while Hades look mildly intrigued.
"It's not specifically a law...so...Technically..." Grover said in return.
"That's...so messed up." Percy said, feeling horrible for Nico.
"Don't just stand there!" Nico shouted, help a cousin out!
"Am I understood!?" Kushina asked, her eyes narrowed at Nico, who looked smaller than a fly after the chewing out he got.
"Wow, and I thought Arte could lay it out."
"Apollo!"
"Yes, Kushina." Nico said. Kushina nodded.
"Good." She said. Her eyes then went to her son, who swallowed, and she glared at him. "Six months? Really?"
"Uh...I've been busy?" Naruto said sheepishly.
Faster than Percy had ever seen, Kushina's sword had been drawn and the blunt side of it hit the top of Naruto's head. Hard. Naruto crumpled to the ground. He was groaning as he held his bruised crown while getting back to his feet.
"Head shot." Ares cheered, snickering.
"But I was!" he said.
"That's still no excuse." Kushina said stubbornly. Her eyes narrowed at the flak jacket. "And this?"
"...Promotion?"
Kushina scrutinized him with a hard glare before she beamed and pulled the taller teen into a bone crushing hug. "My sochi's a chunin! Finally! Took you a decade, but you did it, dattebane!"
"I graduated, mom! Just a decade was all that was needed!" Hermes mock wept.
"Commander actually..." Naruto groaned out. That only seemed to increase the pressure and Percy winced at the sound of cracking. "Kaachan...camp...attack...stop..."
"Need the ace players' whole, not snapped in half." Poseidon nodded.
"Oops. Sorry, sochi." Kushina said as she let him go. She gave him a smile and cupped his cheeks. "I'm so proud of you."
Naruto flushed a bit at that. "Kaachan..."
"Aww, he's all embarrassed." Aphrodite cooed, how cute!
"Oh hush. I'm your mother, I'm so allowed to embarrass you. Ten months I carried you around, I can do whatever I want as far as I'm concerned." Kushina said, smirking at him. Percy wondered what she meant by ten months before shrugging it off. Naruto must've just been a stubborn baby.
"Didn't want to leave mommy? Does that remind you of anyone, Jackson?"
"Go gargle acid, Ares."
"Heh, I do that already, punk."
"…Ew." The boy said as Aphrodite frowned at that, glaring at her boyfriend.
Kushina looked at the green eyed boy and the satyr. "So, sochi, who're your friends?"
"Oh, right." Naruto said, looking at them. "Kaachan, this is Grover Underwood, satyr extraordinaire and the Lord of the Wild."
"But I'm not-!"
"Ah, so you're the one that found him." Kushina said, her head nodding in understanding. "Lady Persephone sends her regards."
Demeter glared at her brother, but was once again ignored.
"Uh...thank you." Grover said nervously.
Kushina let her eyes land on Percy's face before she snapped her fingers. "You're Sally's boy! Percy right?"
"How does she know mom?" Percy questioned.
"Oh, that must have been who she was talking to in the last chapter!" Apollo cheerfully pointed out.
"...Y...You know my mom?" Percy asked.
"Oh yes! I met her a few weeks ago at lunch. We both made a habit of meeting up and talking about our work. Of course she thinks I'm a cashier at a flower shop,
"I do wonder why." Hades said dryly.
but I think she suspects something." Kushina said, shrugging. "Anyway, she's told me all about you, Percy.
"…Oh no." the Hero of Olympus paled.
"Oh yes." Ares grinned wickedly.
Personally, I think my favorite story is that time you refused to take a bath for a week."
Everyone let out peels and roars of laughter, even Annabeth, as Percy hid his face in his hands.
Percy looked horrified while Grover and Nico snickered. Naruto refused to say anything, lest his mom tell Percy about any of his embarrassing history.
"Say something!" the water boy pleaded. He needed ammo!
Kushina opened her mouth to begin recounting it when the horns sounded.
"Lock shields!" Clarisse shouted a distance away.
"And it has begun." Ares grinned.
"What's going on?" Kushina asked.
"War." Naruto said. He, Percy, Grover and Nico drawing their weapons and running off to fight. Kushina ran after them to join into the fight.
"Yes, wife fighting the big battle." Apollo grinned.
Artemis looked curious about her sister-in-law's combat skills as well.
It was worse than ever imagined. Cabin Nine's catapults were bombarding giants and Cabin Five was holding off the smaller forces as best they could.
"The best they-? Kill those fuckers!"
"Ares," Hestia glared at the war god. Ares scowled and crossed his arms. He wanted some blood dammit!
Naruto rushed to the frontlines, slicing and shooting monsters alternatively. He was blindsided by something large colliding into his side, pulling him away from the enemy forces and closer to the south side of Zeus' Fist.
"Oh, big fight!" Ares looked giddy at this prospect.
Naruto groaned as he shook off the daze he got from the attack.
"Finally." A deep raspy voice chuckled before something landed atop Zeus' Fist. "Vengeance will be mine."
"Not the snake voice." Apollo groaned.
"Wh...Sasuke?" Naruto asked, looking at the shadowed figure as he rubbed his head.
"Great." Thalia frowned.
"Oh that's very close..." A scaled foot stepped down into the moonlight and cracked reptilian lips parted with a raspy chuckle. Covered in brown, black and dark yellow scales was the Uchiha...His hair was gone, but Naruto knew it was him from the eyes.
"So stole that from Rowling!"
"Not now Apollo."
"But it is! Evil snake guy is bald, and has a raspy voice. If it weren't for the snake-skin, this would clearly be a shout out to the HP fans." The sun god said.
The sclera of the creature's eyes were a murky yellow, and the red Sharingan orbs glared at him with nothing but hate. The now snake-like Uchiha stood at a intimidating six feet, his arched feet adding a few inches to his height, and a five foot long tail swished around behind him. Sasuke's pants were shredded above the knees and his normally man-cleavage revealing shirt was absent, possibly due to the large wings sprouting from his back.
"A waste, he was so handsome." The love goddess sighed, but she guessed that was what he looked like on the inside from how immature he acted.
"I've waited an eternity for this, son of Apollo." The raspy deep voice said. His scaled hands came to life with static electricity and the crocodile smile spread across his face. "Eons ago your father killed me days after his birth, now I take vengeance on him by killing his favored son."
"Oh snap!"
Naruto's eyes widened. "Python."
"School him like daddy did, Naruto!" Apollo cheered but paused, "Wait, is that it?"
"Yes." Hestia nodded.
"The author is such a dick stopping right here, what the hell!?" Apollo complained, slouching with a pout. Right when his kid was going to be a badass too!
He hated cliffhangers!