Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. Here, Annabeth's group is going to meet Hephaestus and Naruto and his group are going to be dealing with the former prisoners. So, I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Percy Jackson.
Chapter 24: Who to Trust
Thanks to Tyson's hearing and Nico's shadow abilities, they manage to catch up to the spider. Now, they are in front of a old fashion submarine-looking door, with the spider banging it's head on the metal door.
The group looked at one another. "So," Grover spoke up nervously. "Ready to meet Hephaestus?"
"No." Percy admitted.
"Give a minute." Nico said.
"Yes!" Tyson said excitingly, and he eagerly opened the door. As soon as it opened, the spider crawled in the room, with Tyson following right behind it. The rest followed more slowly.
The room looks to be like a mechanic's paradise. Different types of vehicles, greek and modern, animatrics from all types of animals, and several weapons from different cultures. There are even a few things that the group had yet to see in modern time. Tyson is practically drooling at the site.
In the back of the room, they saw someone working a bigger version of the workshop the Hephaestus' children has. The one working there was is wearing a jumpsuit, dark boots, and one of the legs have metal braces around it. His left shoulder is lower than the right, and his jumpsuit is covered with oil, ash, and grim. The spider scuttled towards the man, and once it got right beside it's leg, he stopped working on whatever he was doing.
"Well, well….what do we have here?" A faint and deep voice spoke up, turning towards the spider.
Once he turned around to pick up the spider, the group got a look of the man in front of them. His head is a bit disfigured, bulging and having a nasty scar over it, and his beard being long and untamed, occasional fire starting on it.
Hephaestus, the God of the Forge, is standing in front in his….sem-normal state, playing with the spider in his hand. With delicacy that contrast with his large form, he swiftly reassembled and disassembled with ease. It was so fast that it was a blur in front of the group. It crawled around the massive hands, with the creator looking at it with pride and amusement.
"There." He muttered to himself. "Much better." The mechanical spider did a backflip before shooting a metallic web at the ceiling and climbing up.
Nico stifled an amused snicker while Lacy giggled. That brought the attention of the Forge Olympian.
He gazed intently at them. "You're half bloods, aren't you?"
"Yes sir." Annabeth confirmed. Hephaestus nodded.
"Good. Could've be automen, but most unlikely. Would've been shoddy workmanship as well." He focus his gaze on Percy and Annabeth. "Poseidon's boy and one of Athena's favorite, yes? My son talked a lot about the both of you."
The two thought about who he's talking about, when the obvious answer hit them. "You mean Naruto?" Percy was one to ask.
Once again, Hephaestus nodded. "We talk whenever we could. Every time we do, he talk about the demigods he cares about." He turned to Nico and Lacy. "The son of Hades, along with the daughter of Aphrodite Naruto told me about." Then to grover. "A satyr." And finally, to Tyson. "And a cyclop. I trust you enjoy being with these half-bloods?"
"Uh…." Tyson merely stared in wonder at the god.
Hephaestus chuckled. "I see." He stated. "So, why are you demigods here? I have several weapons need to be made for the upcoming war."
"Sir," Annabeth began, a bit of hesitation in her voice. "We're looking for Daedelus. We were hoping that-"
"Daedalus?" Hephaestus's demeanor immediately darkened, his beard bursting into fire. Percy thought he saw a brief shift from the crippled-looking god to a man similar looking to Naruto, but it could've been mistaken for a trick of the eye. "And what, pray tell, do you want with that scoundrel?"
"Well, we need his help." Annabeth said nervously. "The camp is in trouble."
"Again, you forgot to add." Hephaestus sighed, calming down. "You're wasting your time, trying to find them." He lifted his hand towards his workbench, and within seconds, created a mechanical falcon that started flying around the room. Tyson laughed gleefully as the bird flew around the room, and when the bird landed on his shoulder, he began to pet it.
Hephaestus regarded the scene with a kind and amused gleam. "I'm guessing you have something to tell me, young cyclop. Speak your mind."
Tyson's smile dropped at this. "Y-Yes, lord. We met a Hundred-Hand one."
Hephaestus looked unsurprised by this. "Briares, I'm guessing?"
"Yes. He-he was scared. He would not help us."
"And this is bothering you."
"Yes!" Tyson stated, sounding very upset. "Briares should be strong! He is older and greater than cyclopes. But he ran."
Hephaestus sighed, sitting down on the chair near the workbench. "Everyone changes young cyclop. There was a time that I admired Briares and his people, but like people, monsters, and even gods, time changed him. You have to be careful on who you trust. My mother, for example. She's the goddess of family, lectures on how important family is? But one look at me, and she cast me away."
"But I thought it was Zeus who did that." Nico said with a frown. Lacy also frowned, wondering the same thing.
Hephaestus snorted. "Mother had always been telling people that version." Hephaestus grumbled. "Makes her more favorable while father gets more heat. But the truth is that she only wanted the perfect family, and one look at me tells how perfect I am, does it?"
He took a kunai off the work bench and started polishing it. "You have to be careful on who you trust, young cyclop. Even if they're your family."
"But you trust Naruto though." Annabeth pointed out. That got Hephaestus's attention on her. "And Naruto trusts you. Also, Hera seemed to have changed. We've talked to her, and she said that Naruto opened her eyes up to several things"
Hephaestus grunted. "I didn't say not trust others period." He countered. "Just to be careful on who you trust. Naruto and I bonded, so we have a natural trust towards one another. As for my mother…."
His thoughts got back to the conversation between him and Hera. "Well, I have to admit, something did change with her." Hephaestus admitted. "That doesn't my full trust though. She have a long way before she earns that."
"Now, we're getting off topic. Anything else you want to say?" Hephaestus asked them.
Percy was the one who spoke up. "We told you, we need to find Daedalus. Our enemies are trying to navigate the labyrinth so they could invade the camp. We need to find Daedalus before they-"
"I already told you, you're wasting your time trying to find him."
"Why not?"
Hephaestus shrugged. "There are those who gets abandoned by their family. And there are those who suffered more painful experiences to learn to be careful about who to trust. Ask me for gold or simple weapons, and I can make those easy. But a way to Daedalus? That's an expansive favor."
"So you know where he is then." Annabeth pressed in.
The smith sighed once again. "I would say it wouldn't be wise looking for him, but knowing your Athena's girl, I'm betting you wouldn't listen." He straightened up a bit. "I'll tell you what you want to know. But there's something I need done. That's the price for his location."
"Name it."
Hephaestus laughed at this. "Look like you got my son's skills on rash promises. The boy doesn't even hesitate when it comes to helping his friends and family." He commented. He then press a button on his workbench, causing it to open up and reveal a flat screen TV, projecting Mount St. Helens."
He told that the mountain has one of his forges, one of his favorite, until Typhon got relocated there. He have been sensing intruders there, and whenever he goes there, even with the use of hiraishin, they disappear. He had sent his automen there as well, but none of them returned.
He had sensed something there, something ancient and evil. His task for them is to discover what the evil is, find out whatever they could, and report back to him. If they did that, he'll tell them about Daedalus.
Percy, Annabeth, and Nico doesn't look frightened. Grover and Tyson look more than a bit nervous though while poor Lacy is frighten at the ancient evil part.
"How do we get there?" Annabeth asked.
Hephaestus clapped his hands. The spider came back down from the ceiling, causing Annabeth to flinch when it landed near her feet.
"Don't try to engage the enemy unless you have to." Hephaestus warned them. "While you humans are more skilled than my automen, you are also more fragile. I don't want any demigods dying because of a request I made, especially those close to Naruto."
The group nodded. But before they could go, Hephaestus stopped them. "Oh, and one more thing." He grabbed something from behind the workbench. "My son requested I help him with one of his custom projects. After talking to Poseidon, I've finished the weapon for Perseus."
That caught Percy's interest, ignoring the fact that Hephaestus used his real name. "A weapon for me?" Percy questioned. "What is it?"
"See for yourself." Hephaestus moved away from the workbench so Percy could take a look. The boy slowly went over to the bench and when he saw what it was, his breath hitched a little. On the workbench is bronze trident, with a golden ring attached to each end.
"Naruto design this trident for fighting capabilities, but to make it easier to find and control any nearby water sources." Hephaestus explained. "Not only that, but it also gives you better access to your earthquake abilities that lays dormant within you, since your father is also the Earthshaker. Because of that, I decided to name it as such."
"Earthshaker, huh?" Percy took it into his hand, examining it. "It's as light as my sword."
"It's suppose to be. After all, it is design for quick combat, despite the size." Hephaestus told him. "You can examine it more later. Give me your pen and the trident."
Percy was hesitant on giving his weapon to an Olympian, but seeing no reason not to trust him, he gave the two things to Hephaestus. Instantly, the trident turned into a golden light in Hephaestus' hand, and the light quickly went into Riptide's pen form before the trident completely.
Percy's eyes widen in surprise. "What just happened?"
"Relax boy. I just merged your weapons so you can have easier access to Earthshake." Hephaestus stated, handing the pen back to Percy. "I wish you all luck. And try to stay alive. Like I said, you humans may be very skilled, but you're also fragile."
(Camp Jupiter)
Naruto, Reyna, and Jason are not feeling up to showing mercy. The two blondes might've, but the fact that there's a traitor in their midst and several of their legionnaires have fallen to the Cloud and Rock nins wipe any merciful feelings that had in them.
They watched as the six nins fight against the romans, cutting down several of them. Reyna clenched her fist in anger. "Romans, blockade formation!" Reyna roared in fury. "Surround them and have an opening for us!"
While it look like they don't seem to be listening, the Romans heard loudly and clearly. The Romans quickly backed away from the rock and cloud nins, with children of Vulcan, Ceres, and Apollo preparing their elemental attacks. Samui's team and Kurotsuchi's were forced to back away from those devastating attacks until they were all back to back with each other.
The Romans used this chance to bring up their spears and shield, and surround them. They moved into a circle form, with the only opening for the six nins are towards Reyna, Naruto and Jason. Behind them are Leo, Piper, Thalia, Anko, and the Leaf nins. The latter of the group at the very top, observing the demigods.
Kurostuchi smirked. "You really want us to capture you, huh? You gave us an opening right to you." With rapids hand signs, she performed her lava style jutsu. "Lava Style: Quicklime Congealing Jutsu." A giant ball of quicklime hit Naruto's and the Praetors' feet. A second after the attack, the girl sent out a water style. "Water Style: Water Trumpet."
Due to the water splashed onto the quicklime, the substance hardened like cement very quickly. She grinned. All they need to do now is grab the former nine-tail jinchuuriki, possibly a few of these brats, and get out of here. She can use her earth style jutsus to her and the others out of here, with their future prisoners.
Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed when Naruto merely raised clenched his fists. When he did that, the cement under them cracked and shattered like glass. Kurotsuchi's and the other's eyes widen. How powerful is he?
"This is so not cool." Samui muttered under her breath.
"I'm going to give to the count of three." Naruto spoke, his voice calm and deathly. "To surrender right here and now."
"Choose not to and this will be your execution spot." Jason continued, his voice the same. "Choose now. One."
Kurotsuchi's eyes flashed in anger. They really think they're going to intimidate them with threats? She's a rock kunoichi, and the Rock Village will never surrender. Not again.
"Let us handle him." Kurotsuchi whispered to Samui's team. "We'll show them not to underestimate the Rock Village."
"Two." Naruto counted this time. He and Jason held out their hands, forming mini rasengans.
Samui's eyes widen when she saw the other blonde using the rasengan. But knowing there isn't time to argue, Samui just nodded. "Just don't underestimate them."
"Don't worry. We'll show them all we got." Kurotsuchi said. He turned to her teammates. "Follow me. Attack when I do."
"Hai, Kurotsuchi-sama." The two rock nins said at once. The three started running towards the two blondes and the blackette, forming hand signs. "Earth Style: Mud Shot!" The three shot multiple shots of mud at Naruto and Jason.
Reyna didn't even falter as she performed her hand signs. "Ninja Art: Shadow Shield Jutsu!" Three large shields form in front of her, Naruto, and Jason, blocking the mud attacks.
They stopped running and Kurotsuchi tsked in annoyance. "I'm really annoyed with that girl." When the two shields disappeared, all of their eyes widen.
Jason's rasengan is looking like a large shuriken, spinning around and making a screeching. Naruto's rasengan, meanwhile, is fiery red and wisp of fire is spinning around it.
"Three." The two blondes whispered simultaneously. "Wind/Fire Style: Mini Rasen Shuriken/Bomb!" And with no hesitation, the two threw their rasengan at them.
The two rock nins immediately got in front of Kurotsuchi and performed rapid hand signs. "Earth Style: Rock Wall!" Two large walls formed in front of the rock nins.
It's too bad it would have little effect on the outcome.
The two rasengans obliterated the wall, causing Kurotsuchi to be flying back towards Team Samui. She rolled towards them until landing on their feet.
She groaned, slowly getting up from the devastating attack. When her eyes landed to where her teammates are at, her eyes widen in horror.
The fire and wind combination is completely destroying her team. They screamed in pure agony as the fire rasengan burned their skin and muscle while the wind rasengan attack their chakra points. The attack went on for one minute.
When it was done, the two ninjas dropped to the ground. Their skin is charred black, holes all over their body. No one would be able to survive that.
"So," Naruto began, looking at them. HIs eyes are now a blackened, stormy gray. "Will you surrender now?"
Kurotsuchi, for the first time since she got here, felt fear. There's no way they could capture the blonde. If they try, she and the others would get killed. She can see that now.
Team Samui felt the same way. Karui and Omoi shook in fright, and even Samui, in her cool exterior, felt fear for their lives. "We need to retreat." Samui whispered, making sure only her team and Kurotsuchi can hear. "We can't beat them with these odds. We need to tell our fellow Kages."
Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth. As much as she hates to admit it, she's right. They can't win with these odds. So, refusing to let herself hesitate with this, she performed rapid hand signs in under a second. "Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu"
Before any of them the demigods could do anything, an explosion and dust clouds form under the nins, causing those nearby to cover their eyes, coughing a little.
When the dust cleared, it revealed a small hole and Kurotsuchi and Team Samui's gone. Naruto sighed. "Didn't think the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage would have the common sense to run." He muttered. He turned to a group of legionnaires. "They shouldn't have gotten far. Find them, and capture at least one of them. Don't risk any lives if you don't have to."
"Yes sir." The soldier saluted before going to do what Naruto says. The blonde then turned his gaze back to the dead demigods, his eyes turning back to his cerulean blue. Sadness overtook those eyes. It isn't the first time seeing his comrades fall, but it's never gets easier. The pain just get numbed in time.
"They're not getting away with this." Reyna stated, standing beside him. "Our fallen comrades will be answered with equal blood." Naruto can see Reyna's anger bubbling inside, at the fact there's a traitor here and the killing of some of her legions.
Knowing that she's speaking out of anger, Naruto grabbed her fist clenched hand. That got her attention. "I agree that we can't just ignore the fact that our comrades died. But we can't go declaring war on the villages."
"Naruto's right." Jason got beside his fellow praetor and his trainer. "If we answer by going to their side and killing their own soldiers, a possible war could happen. And we can't afford that right now, not with the threats hanging over us right now."
Reyna gritted her teeth, her blood calling out for retaliation for the deaths of her romans. But eventually, her anger steamed and she let out a sigh, knowing their right. Igniting a war will not help anyone, and would just cause more meaningless deaths.
She felt a hand land on her shoulder, causing her to look at Naruto. The whiskered blonde smiled at her. "Don't worry. We aren't going to let this go. We'll give them a strong warning not to mess with us, and if they do, we'll be ready."
Reyna stared at Naruto for a moment. Finally, her eyes hardened in determination and she nodded in agreement. "Once we capture those nins, we'll make an example out of them." She then noticed that Naruto's hand is still on her shoulder. Blushing, she quickly moved away, not looking at Naruto in the eye.
"R-Romans, prepare a burial for the fallen!" Reyna commanded. A few of the legionnaires smirked at her, but did as they told. "The rest of you, if you have any ideas on who let the prisoners out of their cells, tell me now!"
As Reyna gave her commands, Naruto's team and Anko walk up to them. The whiskered blonde saw Thalia gave Reyna a minor stink-eye, but ignored it for now. "You okay there sochi?" Anko asked in concern. She know it's hard for Naruto to lose people. Leo, Piper, and Thalia also expressed silent concern.
He smiled. "I will be." He told them. He then turned to where Tsunade and the others are at. Some of the leaf nins look at him in concern. "Right now, we should finish up business with the Leaf."
And he should also make sure Danzo doesn't do anything else. Knowing the Warhawk, he won't give up and would take more drastic measures. Well, he's not letting this happen if he got anything to say about it.
And that's the end. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Sorry I didn't have Naruto dealing with Octavian and Danzo this chapter, but the next one will have that. And I hope I didn't made the nins look weak. But dealing with an army of trained demigods, plus powerhouses leading them doesn't leave good odds. Especially since they were weaken from the last battle. Make sure to review, favorite, and follow and I will see you later.
P.S. If you're wondering this, Naruto trained Jason to use the rasengan and add an element into it. I'm going to address it next chapter, possibly, but this is for those who want an answer now.