Chapter eight.

I was staring at the ceiling of my cabin. Tomorrow we would go on the search for this mortal girl, Rachel, who can see through the mist. If Percy's right, this mortal can see through the mist better than any demigod and can lead us through the Labyrinth. And what's worse, Annabeth said Eurytion had contacted her, saying that Nico had escaped triple G-ranch.

"I'm going to go, right?" Asked Zoe at my side.

I looked at her and smiled. "I'm gonna convince Annabeth. But it will be difficult. If it wasn't for the fact I'm the strongest demigod here at camp I think she wouldn't let me. But don't worry," I gave her a kiss. "I'll make sure you go.

She smiled. "Thanks." She gave me one last kiss on the lips and in no time she was deep in her sleep.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

Just to inform you, my dream was awkward.

::::: My dream.

I was standing in a grass plain. The sky was clear and had no clouds. Judging by the position of the sun, it was midday.

There was a lone Sakura tree a hundred yards away from me. A figure sat under its shadow. As I got closer I could see it was a woman. She was wearing a blue kimono with multi-colored flowers. She had black hair, which was loose.

When I was behind her, she turned around so fast I was surprised her column didn't break. She stood up. Her eyes were blood-red and had three black comas. Sharingan.

She got a serious expression on her face. "Vicent Johnson. You know who I am?"

Her voice was acute and produced echo, so her voice seemed to come from everywhere at different times. I shook my head. "No."

"I'm Amaterasu." She said.

I stared at her. "You mean the I-created-the-Uchiha-clan Amaterasu?"

She nodded. "As you may know, I regretted ever creating it, as Uchihas fell into the pit of hate."

I nodded. "That part I know-Naruto told me."

"Naruto… as you may know, I blessed his blade. The blade you have with you. It will be the blade that will eliminate the Uchiha." She said.

I got confused. "But then what do you want? For me to suicide? Ever since I know I'm also an-"

"No," She said. "You have no parenting with any Uchihas. I gave you the Sharingan as a gift, because I trust you. It'll disappear as soon as you destroy Sasuke."

I stared at the horizon. "So… let me sort things out. You want me to destroy Sasuke, and you gave me the Sharingan in order to do that, right?" I looked at her. Now that I looked closer, she had a purple glow around her.

She nodded. "Naruto wasn't able to kill Sasuke. It's like you killing Zach." I flinched at the idea. "See? Not even you would be able to do something like that. But you have no bonds with Sasuke, that's why I trust you." She then got closer to me. I was a head taller than her. She handed me a ninja headband. It was blue and it had the Konoha symbol with a scratch. Sasuke's old headband. I grabbed it with my right hand. She put a hand over the headband and squeezed my hand.

"I now give you the mission Naruto couldn't complete. The responsibility is upon your shoulders. Complete it, I beg you. And remember: have no mercy." She said.

I shook my head. "No. If I hadn't mercy, then I would be just another Uchiha."

She smiled and nodded. "Right answer. Now go, hero. You have to wake up."

::::: End of my dream.

When I woke up, Zoe was crouched at the side of the bed, already dressed. I felt the headband in my hand. Zoe should be studying it.

She looked at me and noticed I was awake. "Oh, thee are already up," She said. That's Zoe for you. Much time she spoke naturally, but when she got nervous she started to speak like Shakespeare or something. "I was just looking at this headband in thy hand. It wasn't here when we… you know."

I nodded. "Amaterasu gave it to me."

She got a questioning look on her face. "You mean like the Japanese goddess?"

I nodded. "We had a talk in my dream."

She nodded and didn't ask any questions. Once I was dressed, I shunshined with her towards her cabin and then I went back to mine, again to simulate nothing had happened. As I got out of my cabin I went to the encounter with Zoe and wrapped my arm around her waist. We walked towards Half-blood hill, where we were supposed to meet.

When we got there Annabeth glared at us. "Why did you bring her here? Don't tell me you want to bring her with us?"

I nodded. "She's strong, Annabeth."

"I know, but-"

"Annabeth, this is a quest," Percy said. "We need as strong people as possible, it doesn't matter who you're mad at."

Annabeth sighed, defeated. "Okay, you can come, Nightshade. But don't expect me to get concerned in case you get injured."

I got frustrated and grabbed Annabeth by both shoulders. "Look, Annabeth. Our relationship was good and all, but it's over! I love Zoe, and the fact of you getting mad won't help in anything! If you want to hate me, then hate me as much as you want, but don't talk like that to Zoe! It's my fault I abandoned you, not hers!"

Annabeth's expression softened. "I-I think you're right."

I smiled and released her and offered my hand. "Friends?"

Annabeth smiled for the first time in days and shook my hand. "Friends."

We grabbed a cab and headed towards NYC.

:::::

We stopped when we saw a girl all painted in gold holding up a plastic torch for some charity thing. A boy all painted in silver took the girl's place. She noticed us standing there and approached us.

"Hey, Percy." She said.

"Hello, Rachel." He replied.

"So… who are these and why are you here? I only know Annabeth from this lot." She asked. Gee, is it only me or people like calling us lot? "Ah, doesn't matter. I'm gonna clean up first."

Rachel came back after some-coughcoughtwentycoughcough-minutes. Now I could see that she had red hair and had dots all over her face.

"C'mon," She said. "Let's go to some other place."

:::::

We were in a coffee, sitting on a table for five.

"So," Rachel said. "The others with you are Half-Bloods as well?"

"Shhh!" Annabeth hushed. "Just announce it to the world!"

"Okay," Rachel said, then stood up. "Hey, everyone! These four ain't no human! They are part human and part Greek God!"

Nobody paid attention and continued drinking and eating.

"Thay don't seem to care." Rachel said. Annabeth sighed and covered her face with one hand.

"Well," Zoe said. "I'm not a half-blood, actually."

Rachel looked at her. "What are you, then."

"A goddess." Zoe replied.

Rachel's eyes widened. "Cool."

Zoe sighed. "Not so much."

"Well, anyways, Rachel," Percy then explained the whole thing about the Labyrinth.

"Okay, I'll go." She said.

We got a questioning look. "What?"

"Well, you wanted me to help you, right? I'm saying I'll help you. There's nothing better to do in the summer, anyways." She explained.

I looked at Percy. "Search for some entrances to the Labyrinth." I ordered. He didn't complain and activated his Byakugan.

"There's a room with several clothes. Behind them, there's an entrance." He said. Rachel grabbed the napkin and draw a perfect letter Delta.

"You mean something like this?" She asked.

Annabeth nodded. "Did you study ancient greek?"

Rachel shook her head. "No. The room Percy said is where I change clothes for these charity campaigns. I've once tried to open it, but couldn't."

Annabeth nodded. "It needs the touch of a half-blood."

"Now," I said. "Would you lead us to the room?"

She nodded. "Right. Follow me. Oh, by the way. Is anyone together here?"

I nodded and wrapped my arm around Zoe's waist. "Yeah, why?"

"Nothing," She said. "Just so I can mock the ones who aren't together," She looked at Percy and Annabeth. "later."

I smirked at Percy and Annabeth. They're so lost…

:::::

Once we got to Rachel's clothes room in a nearby building. She got some clothes out of the way to reveal a letter Delta. Annabeth touched and it glowed blue, then a passage opened with a staircase.

"Wow." Rachel said.

We went down the staircase and in no time we found a trifurcation. To the left side there were some ancient Greek walls, to the right there were tree roots and in the middle there were plain bricks.

"We have to go to the left." Annabeth said.

Rachel shook her head. "No. We have to keep on in the middle. To the left there is a trap twenty feet away and to the right… it just isn't there. There is a faint glow… I can't explain, I just know it."

"But-"

"Annabeth," Zoe interrupted her. "She's the one who can see it."

Annabeth sighed and obeyed.

Particularly, I would opt for Annabeth's choice, because two minutes afterwards all shit went wrong.

I felt a blade touching my neck.

"Make sure to immobilize him." Said a female voice. I felt strong hands grab my arms, immobilizing them. By the look on the other's faces, they seemed to have the same problem I had. I turned my head towards whoever had spoken. It was an empousa. I smirked.

"Yo, sorry, but your happy reality is over." I said, then activated the Sharingan and cast a genjutsu. "Good dreams about ugliness and women."

The blade started to pierce my neck and I felt a stream of blood get out. "Do you want to die?" Asked a snake-ish voice.

I didn't answer.

"Good."

The Dracaenae dragged us towards a metal door and opened it.

It was an arena. It wasn't bigger than the arena at CHB, but it was surely scarier. It was made all of bones and skulls that seemed to be thousands years old. I didn't doubt they were.

In the middle of the arena there were a giant with a club beating up a centaur. There were other skulls, all white and others that were more recent, grosser.

The giant swung the club and hit the centaur in the middle of the body, sending him flying towards the wall. The centaur dropped to the floor, dead. I looked up and saw, to the left, a flag with a trident and under it there were to seats, like in a roman arena. Luke and a giant dude sat in the chairs.

"Well," Said the big dude. "Entertaining, but nothing I have never seen before."

"Oh, but sir," Said Luke. "We have an extra competitor. It's your brother."

The guy's eyes widened. "A brother! Bring him in!"

The dracaenae pushed Percy forward and confiscated riptide. A dracaena got out of the metal door on the other side of the arena. It was in full battle armor and held a spear and a shield. It charged at full speed at Percy and jabbed, but Percy side-stepped and kicked her in the jaw, sending it flying ten feet into the air. He then activated his Byakugan and made a Juuken. Juuken is an ability of the Hyuuga clan. It's channeling chakra into the palm of the hand and then, when hitting the opponent, inserting the chakra into the opponent's body, which enters in disfunction because of the unknown chakra and instantly dies.

He hit the Dracaena, transforming it into golden dust.

Big dude got furious. "No! I want more entertainment next time! Wait more time and wait for me to decide if it dies or not!"

I sighed. "Can you get a bit less nervous?"

He glared at me. "And you would be?"

Luke whispered something in his ear. His eyes glinted. "A Namikaze! I don't see one in a long time! Last one I had to kill him myself. I hope you're not just as stubborn. Well, what are you waiting for! Fight!"

Cheers came from the audience. The Dracaena released me and pushed me forward. A giant hellhound the size of Mrs. O'Leary got out of the metal doors. I glared at Luke.

"Is that all you've got?" I asked him. He glared at me.

"You want more?" He said and then whistled.

Three giants, four Cyclopes and an ice giant got out.

I looked at Luke. "A bit less?"

He shook his head. I sighed. "Damn."

The ice giant shot an iceball at me. I rolled to the right side and summoned my sword. The giants charged at me and tried to kick me, but I jumped with all I had and stabbed one, which vaporized to dust. I activated the Mangekyou sharingan.

"Amaterasu!" I thought. Black flames erupted from the chest of the giants. My left eye started to ache, so I closed it. I noticed blood dripping out of it. I willed the flames to move towards the other monsters, who, needless to say, vaporized into dust. I put my hand over my left eye.

"Shit." I mumbled.

I looked at Luke (A/N: Kinda weird. It's pronounce would be: Luked at Luke. Yeah, weird.). He stared at me in horror.

The giant shrugged. "Sir Luke, do you have any ideas of what could possibly kill both this Namikaze and my brother?"

Luke sighed, then said, "Possibly only Kronos or the Uchiha-"

"Well," Said the giant. "I'll prove you wrong!"

Big dude jumped out of his seat and landed kneeled in front of us. He quickly got up. "You know who I am?" He asked. "I'm Anataeus, winner of five Pankrations!"

Both mine and Percy's eyes twitched. "Pankration?"

"It's an ancient sport, practiced on the five first Olympic games!" Both Annabeth and Zoe said at the same time, then added, "And he's son of Gaia, so try to defeat him in the air!"

Oh, perfect. I think that, if he gets a flying pig, then maybe we have some chance to defeat him.

He charged at us. Percy uncapped riptide that had appeared on his pocket and I released one tail of the Kyuubi power. I had been training with Zoe those days Percy was missing, and now I could release till the sixth tail without losing myself.

Anataeus charged at us and sent a kick, but we rolled each one to one side. Percy jumped and hit two pressure points at his back and sliced his whole back with Riptide. Anataeus winced in pain and turned around. The earth seemed to raise and touch him. He turned around so that we could see his now healed back. He turned back.

"See why I never lose?" He asked and tried to punch me, but I sustained his hand with my strength and Kyuubi's chakra. I had to release another tail. The red aura around my right arm and hand expanded until Anataeus's fist was one inch from his head. I grinned, revealing my sharp fangs. I turned my head at Percy and mouthed now. Percy nodded and jumped with all he had, then got some extra impulse using Anataeus head and grabbed himself in some of the chains that were hanging from the ceiling. I released two more tails. Earth was trembling by now with my power.

"You think you can defeat me?" I asked, my voice much deeper than normal. I hiraishined at Anataeus's feet and kicked him hard (If you saw me you would know what I mean) in the middle of the legs, sending him flying over to where Percy was, who grabbed Anataeus and in no time the giant was hanging with the chains.

"Let me down!" He kept screaming.

"Percy, Anataeus is our host. Free him!" Luke shouted.

I smirked. "You want us to free him?" I mocked. "Don't worry, I'll free a lot of your pets as well."

I channeled six tails of pure Kyuubi chakra to my sword and swung it in 360°. An enormous cut through Anataeus, but that's not only it. A big part of the arena were sliced-like if a million sharp blades had cut them thousands of times-and a lot of monsters had been killed. Same on the other side. Besides that, there was still an enormous cut in the ceiling and in the floor, which made at least a ten feet step between one side and the other. I fell on my knees with exhaustion and dispatched my sword. I was back to normal, except for my eyes, which stayed Mangekyou Sharingan.

Zoe and Annabeth killed the Dracaenae that were holding them and Rachel and ran towards us. Zoe helped me up.

"Surround them!" Shouted Luke. We hadn't a chance to do anything. In no time the monsters were surrounding us. "Leave the blond girl alive, kill the rest!"

Gee, thanks Luke.

Before the monsters charged at us, Percy pulled something out of his pocket-an ice whistle-and blew it. It made no sound and cracked to the ground.

"What was that supposed to do?" Asked Luke with a smirk.

I smirked as well. "Obviously, nothing good to you."

As soon as I said that, there was a loud WOOF! And monsters were shot into the air. I saw an enormous black figure in the middle of the monsters-Mrs. O'Leary. I felt a hand grab my wrist. I turned my head and saw Zoe was trying to pull me into the exit that fortunately had survived my strike.

"Come on, we don't have all day!" She said. I nodded and followed the guys into the Labyrinth.

:::::

The road Rachel said was the right hadn't anymore difficulties, except that once she said "Duck!", we crouched and a giant axe passed over our heads, then we kept on like if nothing had happened.

In no time we were before an enormous metal door with a Delta engraved in it. I slowly opened it. What I saw surprised me.

There were sets of metal wings all over the walls and worktables with stuff and laptops. There was a giant window that revealed a garden with a lot of grass and beautiful flowers.

"The garden of the gods." Said a voice I recognized from behind us.

"Quintus." I Percy hissed before we turned around.

Sure enough, Quintus was going down the stairs of a platform with only Laptops, sword in hand.

"What thy want?" Asked Zoe.

Annabeth unsheathed her dagger and stood it at neck-height. "And what did you do with Daedalus?"

Quintus smirked. "He's fine, don't worry."

I started to release killing intent and direct it at Quintus. "You'll tell us where he is now." I said as normal as possible when you have your swordplay teacher gripping his own neck.

"If you let go this killing intent I'll tell you." He said.

I sighed and stopped the flow of killing intent.

"Well, as you really want to know, I'll tell you. I'm Daedalus."

:::::

I could've, as Percy, started to think of something to say, as Yeah, and I'm Kronos, but it wasn't for anything I was called genius.

I started to think. Percy had once described Daedalus as an old man around his seventies. If Daedalus was really Quintus, then Daedalus had, somehow, transferred his soul from one body to another, and knowing the stereotype of a kid of Athena, he wouldn't have killed anyone. As he was an inventor, he should've made an automaton as his body. I remembered my quick talk with Quintus when we met.

"Quintus? Strange name. 'Fifth' in Latin, right?" I Asked

Quintus looked up at the sky. "Yes, very strange."

That was Daedalus's fifth body, then.

"You are Daedalus." Both me and Percy said at the same time.

Daedalus looked at me, kind of surprised. "You found out who I was without having a dream about me like Percy had, Vice. How?"

I explained him how I found out. He considered my theory.

"Very well thought. Not for nothing mother says you're a genius." He said.

I sighed. "The fact that Athena says I'm a genius is so famous some outcast that lives in a giant Labyrinth talking to automatons already knows? Holy damn…"

Daedalus shot a death glare at me. I ignored it.

"Sir," Annabeth said. "Will you help us with the quest?"

"Sorry," He replied. "But Ariadne's string is already in possession of Luke and his minions."

I wanted to scream WHAT? How were you able to do it?!

Unfortunately, I did.

"No need to scream," Quintus said. "It's just that… they said that once Kronos had taken over the world, I could bring my son back and set things right with my dear nephew Perdix… I couldn't refuse. The offer was too big."

Annabeth looked reprehensive. "Idiot," Ouch. "We are gifts from our mother, Athena. We are supposed to be wise, not just clever."

"I'm sorry, my girl. I couldn't refuse."

"But wait," Said Zoe. "Weren't you a swordsman?"

"Yes, and also an inventor." Daedalus said. "We, inventors need to have several talents."

I couldn't take it anymore. I stepped forward and grabbed his neck, then lifted him and hit him into a wall, making a crater.

Daedalus smirked. "I'm an automaton, boy. You cannot kill me by choking me."

"I know that pretty well. That's why I'll do this." I then channeled chakra into my fist and punched him where the right kidney should be. An enormous dent was formed there. Daedalus seemed to feel no pain, but his expression was horrified.

I brought his head the same height as mine. "You will sacrifice the lifes of lots of people in order to have your son and nephew back. Arrogance is my fatal flaw, but you are even more arrogant than thousands of me, together, are. I despise you." I said, spitting in his face, then threw him into the ground. The dent I had made started to heal.

At that same moment the door burst open and Mrs. O'Leary got out followed by the empousa I had cast a genjutsu in and some Dracaenae, together with minos and… Nico.

Mrs. O'Leary came in running and tackled Daedalus and started licking him.

"He betrayed us," Said Nico, obviously refereeing to Minos. "All of us."

The Dracaenae pushed Nico towards us. He fell to the floor. I noticed he was chained, so I summoned my sword and cut the chains in his hands and legs. He stood up and muttered a quick "Thanks.", then turned towards the monsters and unsheathed his black sword.

"You are lost," Said the empousa in cheerleader outfit. "Even if you defeat us, your camp will already be invaded."

Zoe unsheathed the twin hunt daggers she had brought with her. They were made of celestial bronze and were as long as her arms, so they could be as well short swords.

The empousa narrowed her eyes at Zoe. "Traitor."

"I'm not," Zoe said, confident. "My sisters abandoned me, there's no reason I should join you again. Besides, I'm happy; I have a family where I am."

"Let me guess… now that you ain't a hunter anymore, you have a beloved boyfriend, right? Let me guess… is it whiskers over there?" The empousa sneered.

Zoe was about to charge at them, but I stopped her grabbing her shoulder.

I should've let Zoe attack.

The monsters charged and surrounded Daedalus. When they cut him, instead of blood, oil got out, but the wounds healed quickly.

The empousa changed to its real form and charged at me, flying, but I sidestepped and tried to cut it in the middle.

Keyword: tried.

It burst into flames and reappeared behind me. I ducked just in time. I activated my Sharingan now with three comas in each eye.

She tried to stab me with her paw, but I ducked and kicked her jaw, sending her flying. I jumped and kicked her stomach. She coughed up monster blood-sand-and fell to the floor. I landed at her side, stabbing her. She immediately vaporized into dust.

Nico stabbed his sword into the ground, making huge cracks on the floor. Minos's ghost and some other spirits he had summoned fell into the craters. Unfortunately, the cracks got to some furnaces and Lava blasted all around, hitting the electricity key.

"Vice," Zoe said. "Let's get out of here!" She then grabbed a set of wings and put'em on.

I shook my head. "No. I'm gonna stay here and help the son of a bitch. Maybe now this can put some sense into his head. You go!"

Her time to shake her head. "Not without you."

I sighed. "Look, Zoe, we'll meet again. I will survive this. Now go with the others!"

She sighed and stepped forward, then crashed her lips against mine.

"I love you." She said after we broke apart.

"I love you too. Now go!" I whispered.

She nodded and jumped, flapping the metal wings.

"Zoe…" I whispered, deep in thought, but I was brought back to reality when I had to dodge a spear from a dracaena. I turned around and jabbed through the monster, then another and then another one.

Daedalus eliminated the rest of the Dracaenae and looked at me. "Come on, Namikaze. We have to get out of here before this place blows up!"

I obeyed him without hesitation and got out through the metal door. He and Mrs. O'Leary got out right after me and closed the door. Daedalus signaled for me to mount on Mrs. O'Leary. I did as said and then he mounted her too. The oversized Hellhound started to run like crazy, and we were two hundred yards from the workshop in no time. In no time, it exploded.

End of chap, guys. Did you like it? Did you Hate it? Pls, Review! And even if you don't, vote in my poll in my profile, that's a way to review, in my opinion.