CH6: Battle Against A Minotaur

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Percy Jackson & the Olympians or any related Movies.

"Naruto" Speech.

'Naruto" Thought.

"Katon" Jutsu/Technique/Demon talking.

Once they arrived, Naruto couldn't help but smile. He loved places like this - away from the cities, with fresh air and a spectacular view. It was a complete change of scenery. They were currently sitting around a small fire, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.

"Mom... What was my father like?" Percy asked, as he literally knew nothing about his biological father.

"He was kind, Percy," Percy's mother told him. "He was tall, powerful, and handsome, but also gentle. You have his black hair and his green eyes." She pulled a blue jelly bean out of her candy bag. "I wish he could see you, Percy. He would be so proud."

Percy took on a sad expression while Naruto got lost in his own memories. Since arriving in this world, Naruto's mother hadn't stopped showering him with love, along with his father. He couldn't help but smile slightly at that thought. Now he had a really big family to take care of and being taken care for. It was the best feeling for someone like him, having a family which dotes on you all day long.

"How old was I?" Percy asked. "I mean... when he left me."

She watched the flames. "He was only with me for one summer, Percy. Right here, at this beach... in this cabin."

"But... he knew me as a baby."

"No, honey. He knew I was expecting a baby, but he never saw you. He had to leave before you were born," she explained. Then she turned to Naruto.

"Naruto, what were your parents like?"

Naruto just smiled sadly, and his red flame eyes dimmed a bit. "I never knew my parents. Right after I was born, my hometown was breached by an unknown man. After my birth, the man held me hostage, threatening to kill me if they didn't give him my mother. My father managed to save me, but they took my mother. Later, the man's intentions became clear - he wanted a weapon from our family. He managed to obtain our weapon and destroy half of my hometown. Then he tried to kill me, but my parents sacrificed themselves to protect me. Since then, I have no family," he told them sadly, though he sugar-coated the version of events.

Sally's eyes welled up with tears while Percy looked at his friend in shock. She wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry for bringing up those bad memories, Naruto," she said, her voice filled with regret.'

"Don't be. I moved on from that a long time ago. My godfather and grandfather took care of me before they passed away," he told them, but he hid the fact that both his godfather and grandfather were killed in action.

Percy, after recovering from his shock, had a sad expression again. He didn't know if he could handle loneliness like Naruto could.

"Are you going to send me away again?" Percy asked. "To another boarding school?"

She pulled a marshmallow out of the fire. "I don't know, honey," her voice was heavy. "I think... I think we have to do something."

"Because you don't want me around?" Percy asked, but he regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth.

Her eyes welled up with tears. She took his hands and squeezed them tightly. "Oh, Percy, no. I... I have to, honey. It's for your own good. I have to send you away."

"Because I'm not normal?" Percy asked.

"You say that as if it's a bad thing, Percy, but you don't realise how important you are. I thought Yancy Academy would be far enough away. I thought you would finally be safe."

"Safe from what?" Percy asked.

"I guess that will be enough for today, Ms. Jackson. For now, let's rest before heading out tomorrow," Naruto said suddenly, not wanting the Percy to know more. Sally nodded and led her son to his room, while Percy felt frustrated that he couldn't get the answer but decided to let it go.

Naruto watched them go before heading to his own room to get some sleep.

Morpheus's Realm

Buildings were on fire and few were collapsing. Bodies, blood and marks of battles in the area could be seen. Naruto looked around, not sure what's happening. He then found himself standing outside of a purple barrier and along with a couple of people. Looking them over he found a familiar ash grey hair clad in what he remembered as Jōnin uniform, then his eyes widened in realisation. "Kakashi!"

He now realised he couldn't move his body. All he can do was watch just as a wave of water appeared inside of one end of the barrier and rush to the other. Looking at the rushing water, he found out why.

There was the Third Hokage, who was wearing his black suited armor. He held his summoning partner, Monkey King Enma in his bo staff form. Naruto looked at the other side and saw something that made his blood boil. Orochimaru, the once Third's student who turned traitor for experimenting on people and attempting on making a jutsu that cost someone else's life, smirking evilly at the old Hokage as two people fought the latter.

Both had armor but different in color. He identified the first one with long black hair was Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage and the other as Tobirama Senju, the second Hokage. Summoned by Orochimaru to fight against his former teacher and possibly kill him. He heard a roar and saw a giant sand Tanuki making its way to Konoha on the forest, but before it could so much take another step, another giant being appeared. This one was different.

It was a giant eight-tailed Octopus Bull who now started fighting the one tails.

Suddenly an ominous feeling as the scent of death started to appear. Naruto, while he wasn't exactly real in this, felt a chill down his spine and saw the Shinigami's semi-tranparent form behind the Hokage and its arms going through the latter's gut and holding Orochimaru's and the two undead Hokage's soul.

"If I can not stop you here now then I will take what's most precious to you Orochimaru!" Hiruzen declared. The shinigami forcibly ripped the undead Hokages' souls, leaving two dead bodies of sound ninjas in its place. Orochimaru fought back but only lost his arms, forever destroying his chance to learn anymore Ninjutsu.

The scene changed in a funeral, dedicated for the Third's sacrifice for the village. Everyone was wearing black clothing as two elders, the third's advisors gave parting words.

Naruto stared at the now dead Hokage's face. Hiruzen was smiling, happy to die for protecting the people of the village he loves. Tears made its way to his eyes as he silently mourned at the death of grandfather figure. Then everything went black.

Naruto woke up in a cold sweat, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. He still remembered that day as if it were yesterday. Hiruzen's death had affected him greatly, sacrificing himself for the safety of his village. He looked at his nightstand and saw Hiruzen's headband, which he kept as a memento. He picked it up and walked out of the cabin, heading towards the beach. Sitting cross-legged, he took a deep breath and looked up in the sky gazing the star-filled beauty, he closed the his eyes listening to the calming sound of the sea waves. While Naruto tried to calm his body, he didn't notice a man emerging from the water in front of him. Unbothered, the man simply stood there and he too listened to the sound of calming waves.

When finally Naruto opened his eyes he was startled to see him: a huge merman, much larger than the rest, with the upper body of a tall and muscular man, a long green beard and hair, and horns resembling those of a bull.

"How can I help you?" Naruto asked politely, his body tensed and ready to fight if this man proved to be a threat.

The man smiled. "Calm yourself, Naruto Uzumaki. My name is Oceanus, the Titan of the Ocean, the Eldest Titan and Father of the Waters. My sister, Rhea, has told me a lot about you, so I wanted to meet you."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Grandma spoke about me," but he inwardly groaned. Ever since he met his grandmother, Rhea wouldn't let him go, wanting to keep him close so she could rub his whisker mark like some plush toy. He was not a plush toy or a pet, thank you very much.

Oceanus chuckled, having heard that his sister wouldn't stop talking about her cute grandson. His wife, Tethys, had been wanting to meet the boy, but fortunately for Naruto, she had to visit Amphitrite as usual.

"Well, Naruto, I won't be taking much of your time as I'm only here to give you my blessing," Oceanus spoke as he placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, causing him to glow brightly for a second.

"What exactly are you giving me?" Naruto asked curiously.

Oceanus smirked. "Naruto, I have given you hydrokinesis and atmokinesis, which will allow you to control water and storms easily. I have also strengthened your Titan blood and energy. With six more blessings, you will become immortal," explained Oceanus.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck nervously, shyly staring at the Titan. "Wow, I don't know what to say, but thanks," he politely thanked the man as he nodded.

"Until next time, Naruto," Oceanus said, dispersing into a glob of water. Naruto chuckled at that and walked back to the cabin.

Inside the cabin, there was a pounding on the door. Ms. Jackson sprung out of her bed, rushing toward the door in her nightgown, and unlocked it. Grover stood at the doorway against the pouring rain.

"I've been searching all night," he gasped. "What were you thinking?"

Ms. Jackson looked at them in terror, not at them but at why he had come. Percy looked shocked for a moment, dumbfoundedly staring at Grover's legs. Instead of normal legs, Grover had goat legs.

"Percy!" his mother shouted at him. "What happened at school? What didn't you tell me?"

"O zeu kai alloi theoi!" Grover yelled. "It's right behind me. Didn't you tell her?"

"Are you talking about Ms. Dodds, Grover?" Percy asked Grover under the rain, making his mother widened her eyes.

Sally grabbed her purse and threw Percy and Naruto rain jackets. "Go to the car, all of you, go!"

Grover trotted towards the Camaro, shaking his shaggy hindquarters in the process. That would explain why he ran so fast and limped when he walked.

Naruto narrowed his eyes as he activated his Rinnegan. He could sense monsters from miles away. He needed to be careful in his surroundings.

The group drove through the night along a dark country road. The wind slammed against the Camaro, and rain lashed against the windshield. Percy looked at Grover oddly when the lightning flashed, and he saw his best friend's donkey legs. Meanwhile, Naruto sighed, wondering what had made his father so mad as to create such a wild weather.

"So... You and my mom knew each other?" Percy asked, trying to break the tension.

Grover's eyes flitted to the rearview mirror, even though there were no cars behind them.

"Not exactly," he said. "We didn't meet in person, but she knew I was watching you."

"Watching me?"

"Keeping tabs on you, making sure you were okay," he explained. "But I wasn't faking being your friend. I am your friend."

"Um... What exactly are you?" Percy asked.

"That doesn't matter right now."

"Doesn't matter? From the waist down, my best friend is a donkey!" Percy pointed his finger at Grover. "Donkey legs!"

Grover let out a sharp, throaty "Blaa-ha-ha." Naruto could sense that Grover was annoyed by Percy calling him a donkey.

"Goat!" he cried out.

"What?"

Naruto decided to help him out. "Percy, Grover is a satyr. Half-human and half-goat."

"What? But... you mean, all that Mr. Brunner stuff was true?" Percy asked.

Naruto gave his friend a deadpan look. "No, Percy, I was talking about how Ms. Cammy kissed me." His sarcastic remark made Percy blush in embarrassment.

"Wait, so Mr. Brunner taught us all that stuff to actually prepare us for this?"

"Pretty much," Grover said. "Not only that, but those three old ladies were the Fates, and not just myths. And neither was Ms. Dodds."

"So you admit there indeed a teacher, Ms. Dodds?" Percy exclaimed.

"Of course."

"So what was the point of hiding the fact that she was real?" Percy asked.

"The less you know, the fewer monsters you attract," Grover explained. "We put the mist over mortal eyes, hoping you would think the kindly ones were a hallucination. But you're starting to realize who you are."

"Who I... wait a minute, what are you talking about?"

Before Grover could even answer, a weird bellowing noise rose up behind them. It was getting closer.

"Percy," his mother said, "there's too much to explain and not enough time. We have to get you to safety."

"Safety from what?" Percy asked, alarmed. "Who's after us?"

"Oh, nobody much," Grover said, still a bit miffed about the donkey comment. "Just the Lord of the Dead and his bloodthirsty monster."

"Grover!"

"Sorry, Ms. Jackson. Could you drive faster, please?" Grover said, while Percy tried to wrap his head around this fact. His mother made a hard left, swerving through narrower roads, racing past farmhouses and wooded hills, and a 'pick your own strawberries' sign on a picket fence.

"Where are we going?" Percy asked.

"The summer camp I told you about," his mother's voice was tight. She was trying, for Percy's sake, not to be scared. "The place your father wanted to send you."

"The place you didn't want me to go."

"Please, dear," his mother begged, "this is hard enough. Please try to understand. You're in danger."

"Because some old ladies cut some yarn?" Percy asked.

"Percy, when the Fates cut the thread, it means someone is going to die," Naruto bluntly explained.

"Exactly," Grover said. "The fact that they appeared in front of you... they only do that when you're about to... when someone is about to die."

"Whoa, you said 'you'," Percy freaked out.

"No, I didn't. I said 'you' like someone, not 'you' you," Grover clarified.

"Boys," Sally said as she pulled the wheel hard right, and they caught a glimpse of a figure as she swerved to avoid it. The dark, flittering shape was now lost in the dark storm behind them.

Naruto unsealed the Kusanagi sword in his hand. He had taken the sword from the snake-faced pedophile after killing him, he truly hoped that sword does not smell like saliva.

"We're almost there," Sally said, her voice filled with desperation. "Please, please, please, please." she chanted.

There was a lightning flash, a jaw-rattling boom, and the car exploded. Percy pried his forehead off the driver's seat in front of him as his mother called out to him. "Ugh... I'm okay." They noticed the car was somehow still intact.

Percy shook Grover off. "Grover..."

"...food," he groaned. Naruto sweatdropped.

"Percy," his mother said, her voice faltering. When the lightning flashed, they saw a huge figure through the mud-splashed window.

"Boys," she said in a deadly tone, "get out of the car." She tried to get out through the driver's door, but the mud blocked her way. "The passenger side, get out and run to the big tree!" she yelled, pointing at the tree ahead, as the three of them quickly got out.

"What?" Percy said, confused, until the lightning flashed again, revealing a large pine tree.

"That's the property line," she said. "Get over the hill, and you'll see a big farmhouse down in the valley. Run and don't look back. Yell for help. Do not stop until you reach the door."

"Mom, you're coming too."

Her face was pale, and her eyes were as sad as when she looked at the ocean. "No, Percy," she shouted. "You're going with them. Help me carry Grover."

Naruto created a clone, and the clone picked up Grover. "Percy, go with my clone. You too, Sally. I'll hold him off." Percy nodded, looking at his mom.

"Naruto, don't. He's a monster," Sally said, worry and concern shining in her eyes.

Naruto smiled slightly. "Don't worry about me, Ms. Jackson. I have experience fighting monsters." he said as she reluctantly nodded and ran off with Percy and the clone carrying Grover.

Suddenly, the huge figure appeared in front of Naruto. He had fur from his belly-button up and was naked except for a pair of bright white Fruit of the Loom underwear.

Naruto took a fighting stance, gripping the Kusanagi sword tighter as he formed a plan. He knew the bull-man's sight and hearing were terrible, so he must be relying on his sense of smell. He grinned as he unsealed a smoke bomb.

As if on cue, the minotaur bellowed in rage and picked up the car by the torn roof. He raised it above his head and threw it down the road. It slammed into the wet asphalt and skidded in a shower of sparks for about half a mile before coming to a stop. The gas tank exploded.

Naruto shrugged and pulled the pin from the smoke bomb, throwing it at the minotaur's feet. The grenade exploded, releasing a green smoke. The bull-man bellowed in rage, now enveloped in a foul mixture of fart-like odour, leftover food, and animal excrement.

Naruto rushed towards the bull-man, swiftly slicing off his horns. He then delivered a powerful kick to the minotaur's chest, causing the bull-man to skid down the road. Acting quickly, Naruto put his hands into a ram seal, "Mokuton: Sashiki no Jutsu(Wood style cutting springs jutsu)", summoning his wood-style jutsu, Naruto manipulated multiple wood spikes that emerged from the minotaur's back. The bull-man vanished in a shimmer of golden dust. Naruto swiftly retrieved the horns and rushed up the hill, determined to catch up with Percy, Sally, and the clone.

"Come on, Mom," Percy cried out hysterically as he watched his mother standing outside the barrier.

"Percy, I can't get in," his mother said sadly.

"What's going on here?" Naruto asked as he approached them from behind.

"Naruto!" Percy cried out happily as he saw his blonde friend.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I can't get in," Sally said sadly.

Naruto looked at her for a moment before saying, "I, Naruto Uzumaki, give you permission to enter camp."

Thunder shook the hillside. Suddenly, Sally stumbled past the barrier. Sally hugged Percy tightly, as if she thought he would disappear if she let go. She looked at Naruto with wondering eyes silently thanking him.

Looking up, they saw the familiar face of Mr. Brunner, who gave them a serious look. Next to him stood a very cute blonde girl. "One of them has to be... they have to," she muttered.

"Silence! Annabeth," Mr. Brunner said. "They're still conscious. Bring them inside."

"Yes, yes. Now, are you gonna help us or not?" came Naruto's sarcastic reply. He couldn't help it; he was dead tired, and they were talking right in front of him. Going inside, Naruto helped the girl named Annabeth put Percy and Grover in different cots in the room.

"Um... my name is Annabeth Chase, by the way," she introduced herself while looking at his red flaming eyes in fascination.

"Cool, I guess. My name is Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said as he lay down on one of the cots. "If you excuse me, I'm tired, and sleep would be nice." With that, he drifted into the realm of Morpheus and snored loudly.

"It still never ceases to amaze me," Mr. Brunner said, making the girl jump and Sally giggle.

"Which one?" she asked.

"All three. They protected each other in school, though, something seems different about Naruto….something very powerful indeed." he replied.