So maybe challenging Annabeth, wasn't his brightest idea since attending camp.
Not only was she a year round camper, she was also the daughter of Athena. Therefore she never went into battle underestimating her opponent.
It wasn't until three minutes into their fight. Did Naruto realize he was playing to her advantage with close quarters combat. Instead he should have kept her at a distance with his bow and arrows.
This all ran through the son of Apollo's head. As he sidestepped a swipe from Annabeth's knife.
Once again the two circled each other. Naruto could still hear fighting off in the distance. Signaling that his team hadn't managed to capture the enemies flag either.
'Focus Naruto.' He couldn't afford to be distracted right now.
Both demigods stopped moving. No words were spoken between them, they said what they needed beforehand.
No longer was this a fight to protect the flag. It was much more than that now. It was a fight to earn the others respect.
The daughter of wisdom raised an eyebrow. Her facial expression giving way to her question. "Ready to go again."
Naruto answered by charging at her again. The two of themlocking blades for a minute before separating. Naruto went for an overhead strike that Annabeth ducked under. Reacting quickly he brought his knee up hitting her in the chin.
Annabeth falls back losing her balance. Naruto seeing this presses the advantage, only for her to roll out of the way quickly recovering.
Yea he made a mistake in fighting her. One look into her eyes, and Naruto could tell that she was learning from this experience. The longer she fought him, the more she learned his fighting style. The very few times he managed to hit her, were moveshe
couldn't use a second time.
Annabeth moved this time. Getting under his guard. Naruto doubled back so quick he tripped over his feet. Falling on his back.
"Your footing needs work sunspot." Annabeth said standing at his feet.
"Shut up owl-breath." He retorts thinking of a way to win, or at least bring it to a draw.
"You should consider asking Luke for one on one lessons." She advised.
Luke Castellan, son of Hermes. The supposedly best looking boy in camp. Naruto didn't know why but something about Luke rubbed him the wrong why. He was all smiles and jokes on the outside, but something dark lingered on the inside.
It also didn't escape his notice how Annabeth would always blush whenever Luke was mentioned or was around. Naruto used this as his opening.
"No offense there Hedwig, but I don't want to spend time with your boyfriend." He baited seeing her face turn completely red.
"He..Luke. Isn't ... he's not my boyfriend!" She sputtered.
"Luke?" Naruto smiled. "I was talking about Mark."
Annabeth had a look of shock bewilderment at falling for such a stupid trick.
Either way it was enough time for Naruto, to cast a flash of bright light from his hands temporarily blinding her. Naruto jumps to his feet and pins Annabeth to the rocks behind her.
With a triumphant smile Naruto spoke. "I win hedwig."
Annabeth matches his grin with one of her own. "Guess again sunspot."
Naruto peers down suddenly feeling a slight pressure on his crotch area.
"That's unfair." He grunts.
"Not forwomen." She smiled smugly. Her vision returning.
The two of them stood there both with their blades pointed at Very vital parts.
Once again Naruto found himself asking if it was normal to be attracted to a girl in armor. Looking into her grey eyes, he noticed that they had a twinkle of mirth to them as she smiled. Her hair was plastered to her forehead from sweat, watched as she
breath in through the nose and exhaled from her mouth.
"So..." Naruto swallows hoping he didn't get caught staring. He was not developing a crush on her.
"So." She repeated.
"How long are we supposed to stand here."
As if waiting for the very words to be spoken. The crunch horn blew. "The red team wins!" Chiron announced.
Annabeth cursed in Greek. "Skatá(shit) I've lost allies for the next game."
Naruto looked at her confused. "What do you mean?"
"Athena cabin used to be allied with Ares, but I got tired of Clarisse and her siblings bullying everybody. Their team is undefeated. I made a lot of promise with my current allies."
"Don't worry so much hedwig." Naruto assures her smiling.
"Why not?"
"Because next time you'll have cabin full talented archers on your side."
"Howcan you be sure Lee will agree to that."
"Before the game started. I overheard Lee arguing with Clarisse, about her going back on her word. Just have to make it worth his while, and he'll join you."
"I'll take your word for it sunspot." Annabeth considers. "Now. If you don't mind." Gesturing between them.
Naruto turning red in embarrassment of forgetting their present predicament. Quickly stepped away.
"One more thing sunspot." Annabeth dusts herself off. "Don't call me hedwig."
Naruto smirks at this. "Why not? I think the names suits you. Daughter of Athena, her sacred animal being an owl. Besides you should take it as a compliment."
"How?" Annabeth looks pointedly at him.
"Because she's probably the smartest animal ever created in literature. That and she's a snow owl. Who doesn't love snow owls."
Annabeth gained a thoughtful look thinking back on his words. While watching her, he may, or may not have thought it was cute how she slightly bites part of her lower lip. Think what you will. But he most definitely wasn't developing a crush on her.
"Alright fine." She said after awhile. "You can call me hedwig I guess."
"Can I also call you pretty bird?" He smiled knowing he was pushing it.
"Only if you become a rich billionaire." She smirked walking away.
Naruto stood there like a stump.
"Did. Did she just flirt with me?"Naruto Thought stunned.
"Hey sunspot!" He heard her call for him. Looking up he saw her standing near the tree line. "You coming or what?!"
Finally deciding that it was just his mind overthinking things. Naruto rushed after her. The two of them walking side by side back to camp.
All the while he couldn't help but notice how she smelled like a bunch of freshly opened literature books.
Ok. So maybe he was starting to have a slight crush on the wisdom daughter.
Damn teenage hormones.