Welp, we are now done the original black and white series! Finally, we're getting to the color series, which I found to be significantly better in pretty much every respect. So, onward and up! Also, if you've favorite'ed this story or are following it, now would be a great time to review. To all that have reviewed, thank you very much, especially those that have reviewed multiple times. If you have never reviewed than shame on you :P Reviews are what help pump up a writer to write more. It also helps us write quicker. So, review, please, make an author happy.

Naruto looked out of the corner of his eye, the sight of a very tense and focused Gina meeting his gaze.

'Kit, I think this is the time for you to stay quiet. You know, better part of valor and all?'

"Can't do that, the boyfriend needs to help cheer up the girl when she's down.'

'Heh, your funeral.'

Sighing loudly, Naruto looking to his left as he studied the serious expression on Gina's face. "So, you found something important this time? What was the name of this place... Muthia, right?"

"Uh huh."

"Too bad the sub only seats three, both Jaliera and Sheila were really disappointed when we told them they couldn't come with us."

"Uh huh."

"Hime, you don't seem excited about this trip. What's wrong?"

"..."

"GINA! Seriously," Gina growled as her sister, Britanny, interrupted her conversation with her boyfriend. "How much longer till we get there, I gotta go!" Gina sighed as she looked aver at Naruto, the shinobi trying desperately to not laugh aloud.

"You were saying, Naru-kun? Oh wait, I need you to confirm something for me. Didn't I say that this would be a long trip to the bottom of the Pacific?" Naruto's nodded sagely as he looked back at a fidgeting Britanny.

"You sure did, Hime."

"And didn't I say that we should all go before we left? After all, there aren't any places to stop when you need to go when your 10,000 feet below sea level. Isn't that right, Naru-kun?" Naruto shook his head at the grimacing Britanny, a move that caused the were-cheetah to glare at him.

"I do remember you saying that, I took your advice and went to the bathroom beforehand." Gina looked over at Naruto once more, a smirk forming as she trailed her fingertips along his forearm, diverting the blonde's attention back towards her.

"You know, I never did tell Naru-kun about your mishap at Port Sudan, Britanny. I'm sure he'd love to hear that story..."

"Gina, if you tell him that then I will give you the mother of all wedgies." Gina blinked slowly, the young genius looking over her shoulder and staring into the angry gaze of her younger sister. After several seconds, Gina shrugged her shoulders, turned around and sighed loudly.

"Alright, I'll find a place we can stop for you to go to the bathroom. The things I do for you sis, this is an important discovery! So, you ready to put those lessons I gave you to good use, Naru-kun?"

"Gina, I don't think Cheet's wants to watch me... oh, you mean on how to use the sonar! Right, gotcha!" Gina looked at Naruto in shock, her cheeks stained bright red in embarrassment while Britanny tried to stop her laughter from escaping.

"Naruto, you suck! Laughing makes me wanna pee even harder!" Naruto grinned as he activated the low frequency sonar system, the tone causing Gina's head to cock to the side.

"Why are you using the low frequency emitter Naru-kun? And I'm so getting you back for that."

Naruto grinned as he looked at the vast ocean spread before them, a smirk forming as he looked at Gina once more. "Simple, we don't want to give away our exact location to the two rats tailing us... oh, and a wannabe, can't forget the wannabe, can I?"

"What?!"

Four hundred meters above the Ginasub

Daishi growled softly as he opened his eyes, his gaze flicking towards his employer. "We've been detected, Lord Talon. The blonde ninja knows we are here."

Erwin cocked an eyebrow as he looked towards his most valued soldier in surprise. "How can you be so sure, Daishi?"

"My enhanced hearing allows me to filter out the distortion caused by the seawater surrounding us. I am able to hear their conversation and he just said, 'Two rats tailing us... oh, and a wannabe, can't forget the wannabe, can I?'. During our fights, that insufferable man has the audacity to call me..."

"Yes, yes, I get it, a wannabe. Do you have a fix on them?"

"Yes Lord Talon, patching their coordinates in now."

"Well, you'll just have to show that blonde moron the latest advances we have made to your genetic structure, won't we? Accelerate to attack speed!"

Chapter 22

Naruto grinned as a loud alarm filled the Ginasub cockpit, the shinobi's hands dancing over his control panel as he brought the main weapons online. Two torpedo's flashed past the main viewport, exploding against the side of the trench in front the Ginasub.

"Told ya, here they come! Gotta love those counter measures, they sent them right off course...wait, is that the phone?"

Growling loudly, Gina slapped a glowing button on the panel beside her just before she sent the sub into a steep dive into the trench. "This had better be real important, we're kinda busy right now!"

"Oh it is, Gina. I just thought I'd give you the chance to surrender."

"PEE WEE! What are you doing down here?"

"That's Lord Talon to you, harlot! Once again..." Erwin's voice trailed off as the phone he was using emitted a burst of static, the boy genius looking at the device in surprise.

On the Ginasub

"Naruto! Why did you do that?" Gina had watched helplessly as Naruto growled loudly, leaned over and ripped out the communications panel. Gina and Britanny watched in fascination as the shinobi crushed the device, throwing it's remains over his shoulder.

"No one... talks to my girlfriend like that." Gina's expression morphed from shock to a grateful smile, the blonde genius leaning over and kissing Naruto's cheek gently.

"That's sweet... violent, but sweet."

"Hate to break up the tender moment, but they're still firing on us! And I still gotta go!" Gina sighed at the spoiled moment, glaring halfheartedly at her sister as she slammed a dainty fist on a large red button to her left.

"Fine, time for escape plan alpha!" Naruto grinned as the sub released a massive ink screen, the sight of the pursuing sub obscured by the dense cloud of dark fluid. Naruto's sensors finally located the entrance that the trio had been searching for, a wide grin stretching across Gina's lips as she manoeuvred the sub into the cavern.

With Pee-Wee and Co

"YOU FOOLS, THEIR GETTING... are they gone, Daishi?"

"Yes Lord Talon, outstanding acting job."

"Acting? What the hell, I thought you were being serious! How come you guys never told me this was going to happen?" Zelda glared at the condescending expression Erwin was throwing her way, the genetically engineered woman wishing she could wipe that look off of his face.

"Simple Zelda, your acting is as good as a wet paper bag!"

"BITE ME!"

"SILENCE! I would have preferred to have reached Muthia before Gina did, but she had a head start on us, this outcome was inevitable. But, it can work to our advantage in the end. While Gina is being kept busy with the puzzles and traps of Muthia, we will be free to make our way to the true prize. Lets find another entrance."

Gina slowly maneuvered the sub with instructions from Naruto, the shinobi keeping an eye out for obstructions that were detected by his sonar systems. Gina's eyes widened as she flicked a switch, a bank of powerful lights illuminating the submerged building that the trio had found. "It is Muthia! We've found it!"

"Nice, and I've found a pocket of air directly above us, I'd say that's our doorway into this place. How you holding up back there, Cheets?"

"Oh... ummm, great, Naruto... aheh." Naruto paused as he heard the nervous hitch in Britanny's voice, the shinobi looking towards the were-cheetah as his eyes narrowed. Britanny looked back with wide, innocent eyes... eyes that didn't fool Naruto for a second, after all he had tried to use the same trick on many angry adults throughout his childhood, to no avail. Looking at the rear seat, Naruto cocked an eyebrow when he spied Gina's thermos, the container clenched in between Britanny's thighs. Sighing softly, Naruto grabbed the thermos, a wide eyed Britanny reaching for the container before Naruto stopped her with a glare.

"Something wrong back there, Naru-kun?" Naruto shook his head at Britanny as he produced a scroll, rapidly creating a seal to store the full container for future disposal.

"Nope, just cleaning up something that spilled is all." Britanny looked at Naruto with a wide eyed expression, the shinobi mouthing three words to the silent were-cheetah before he turned around.

'You owe me.'

Naruto pocketed the scroll and winked at Gina, drawing a giggle form the now bubbly young woman. The Ginasub finished it's ascension, the hatch popping open as Naruto stepped out first, his senses stretching out across the ancient room as he searched for any obvious dangers.

"All clear, come on up." Naruto reached down, grabbing Gina's hands and pulling her out of the sub, repeating the process for Britanny before he leaped across the pool and onto dry land. Britanny glared as she pointed at Naruto in anger.

"Hey, no fair! You should have carried us over like that!" Naruto grinned as shrugged, the sound of the two girls jumping into the water causing him to grin as he looked at the room surrounding the trio.

"Huh, pretty advanced for... how long ago did this place disappear, Hime?"

Gina pulled herself from the cold Pacific waters, the scientist shaking her head gently as she rid herself of the excess water she had picked up. Walking towards Naruto, Gina placed an arm around his waist as she looked at the room they were in. "Four thousand years ago. The legends stated that there was a floating, mystic city that disappeared around that time, but this... this is something other than what I expected to find."

Naruto grinned as he placed an arm over Gina's shoulder, squeezing his girlfriend gently before kissing the top of her head. "Well good, this is the first thing you've discovered since I've met all of you. It's pretty cool, seeing something that's been missing for thousands of years."

As Britanny pulled herself out of the water, her gaze focused on the happy looking couple that was studying the room before them, a brief pang of jealously hitting the young woman. 'Dammit, this sucks.' Sighing irritably, Britanny dropped her snorkel and goggles on the ground, before running a hand through her soaked hair. "Well, it's about time, it's been what... almost a year since we found Naruto, the competition has been walking all over you lately, sis."

Gina glared at her younger sister, an expression that only lasted as long as it took for Naruto to kiss the distracted girl's lips. Moments later he pulled back, grinning at the dreamy expression that Gina now sported. "Ok, enough you two, lets get the show on the road!"

Britanny sighed as she began stretching her arms over her head, but just as she was about to complete this action she sent a look of surprise towards Naruto and Gina. "Hey... do either of you smell... tuna?"

Gina sighed as she pulled out a series of maps, shaking her head at Britanny's question. "Cheets, not everyone is as obsessed with tuna as you are. Sure it's good, but you need to broaden your horizons, eat something else for a change." While Gina studied the maps laid out before her, she missed the horrified look on Britanny's face, her gaze locking on a laughing Naruto as she thrust her finger into the shinobi's chest.

"I blame you! I had Gina convinced of the epicness of tuna, and now you've spoiled her with your... 'variety'."

Naruto grinned as he folded his arms over his chest, the shinobi nodding sagely at the accusation. "Yes Cheets, join me and together we will sample all the foods in the galaxy!"

"Never! I'll never join you, tuna will always win with me!"

"If you two are done with your food related rendition of Star Wars, we've got a lot of work to do. We've been focusing on finding treasure for way to long..."

"Well tell me this Gina, how do we pay the bills for all of these digs if we don't get any treasure?" Britanny smirked as heard a low growl from her sister, the were-cheetah relishing in the fact that she could still beat her sister from time to time.

"As I was saying, we've focused on finding treasure, it's not bad to find it but the expedition should be for the wonder of the discovery, to sate my curiosity! And so I've decided, all digs fro now are being done my way, treasure is the least important aspect of any dig we go on!"

Britanny's jaw dropped, the were-cheetah turning towards Naruto with a pleading look on her features. "Whoa, don't look at me, Cheets. After all, she bribes me with sex, and lots of it. I've already agreed that treasure is the least important thing when we head out." Naruto grinned as he glanced at a now still Gina, the lights from the Gina sub managing to catch the brilliant blush on the girls face. 'Heh, still got it.'

'You do know you're gonna pay for that later, right?'

'Eh... totally worth it.'

Gina cleared her throat, her hands pulling a sheaf of maps from the satchel that she had brought, as well as a compass. "Anyways, it's time to take a look at these Riddle maps that Naruto found, they should help us find a way..."

"Thou meanest my riddle maps? They wert snatched from my grasp by that knave, Ryan Tabbot!"

Gina and Britanny looked up, their gazes swivelling towards the pool of water they had used to enter Muthia. Moments later a blurred form leaped in to the air, the top half of the creature appeared to be human, while the rest of him...

"I knew I smelled tuna!" Just as the half-man/tuna was about to land on the ground, his tail vanished, a pair of legs appearing in it's place... a pair of naked legs. "Oh dude, put some pants on!"

"Verily, I suggest that thou wouldst return my maps, or else I will get medieval on thine ass! Catchest thou my drift?" Gina looked at the naked man standing before them, then back at Naruto. Naruto was looking away, his expression the picture of complete innocence.

"Naruto..." Naruto looked over, a glare from Gina focused on the blonde causing him to sigh.

"Ok, fine, I convinced Ryan to give them up to me, he was bringing them over to you so you could figure out what they were for." Gina cocked an eyebrow as she continued to stare at Naruto.

"How did you convince him to let go of these maps?"

"Well..."

Flashback

Ryan was gasping for air, his muscles burning like never before form the intense workout that Naruto had forced him to participate in.

"Come on Ryan, you can't be done, we still need to do five hundred laps around the neighbourhood, on our hands... backwards! Oh yeah, and you'll need to wear this!" Ryan adopted an incredulous look on his face before looking at the blonde shinobi, but the moment that the hurting martial artist did he wished that his body would allow him to run away in fear.

Naruto was gesturing at Ryan with a thumbs up, his smile sparkling in the noonday sun. But the not horrifying thing about this scene was the... monstrosity that Naruto was holding in his free hand.

A green spandex bodysuit.

"NO! NEVER! Dammit, I just came by so that Gina could look at some maps I found! Just take them and leave me alone!"

End flashback

"Nothing really, he just gave them to me after some light training." Gina's eyes narrowed as she stared at her boyfriend, the shinobi never wavering as he met his girlfriend's gaze head on.

"Fine, whatever... anyways, whoever you are, could you please put some pants on? And who the heck are you anyways?"

"My name is Taur, and I knowest all of thine histories so introductions are not needed! Gina and Britanny Diggers, sisters and a pair of thieves! Thou wouldst take that which dost not belong to..." Taur's voice trailed off once he felt cold steel pressed against his throat, the green haired man swallowing loudly as his looked over his shoulder. Naruto stared back at the naked man, his glare cowing the naked man as he waited for Naruto to speak.

"Look, buddy, I've had a crappy day, I'm stuck at the bottom of the ocean, a guy called my girl a prostitute and now your calling her a thief. Not exactly the smartest idea."

"That's right, I'd listen to him, Taur." Taur's eyes widened as his head slowly swivelled around, his eyes seeing an exact duplicate of Naruto still standing beside Gina.

"But... how canst this be... wait, thy headband... where didst thou acquire that?!" Naruto grinned as he grabbed the loose ends of his headband, tightening the knot as he grinned at the motionless Taur.

"I earned it. Do you know what it represents?" Taur nodded slowly, his eyes shifting over to a grinning Gina.

"Now that you and my boyfriend have come to an agreement, seriously, pants, now."

Britanny grinned as she looked at the green haired man, her head cocking to the side asshe studied the sight before her.

"Huh, looks about the same size as Stryp." Britanny looked over at Gina, the were-cheetah surprised as the massive grin her sister was sporting.

"Hah, Naruto beats him, hands down."

Erwin's sub rose out of the water, his equipment having found an alternate entrance to the structure that Gina had located. After the sub was put into standby mode, Erwin looked over at Daishi and Zelda. "Ok, both of you need to get in there, maximum stealth. I'll wait here."

Daishi rose form his seat, ascending the ladder quickly as he looked into the dark cavern stretched out before him. Moments later Zelda joined the ninja and pair ran into the complex.

After Naruto had produced a towel for Taur to cover up, Gina had explained that she and her group were here to learn from the ancient structure that they had discovered, a sentiment that Taur could understand completely.

"Verily, thou art here for the same thing that I am! Forgive me, I have misjudged thee! I wouldst help thee in thy quest!" Gina grinned as she held out her hand to their new acquaintance.

"Sure thing, bud! Welcome aboard!"

"Excellent! Now, allow me to share with thee and thine companions the wonders of Muthia that I have uncovered in my investigations. Ah, pray wait a moment, mine friends, the seal for this chamber requires amazing agility to unlock." Taur's form grew in size, his torso remaining unchanged, while his lower half shifted into the shape of a spider, the now eight legged being scaling the sheer walls quickly.

Gina sighed as she held the maps that had helped her locate this complex to her breasts, her melancholy expression causing Naruto to place a hand on her shoulder.

"Hime?" Gina looked over at Naruto, her arms wrapping around him as she sighed once more.

"He found Muthia first... I didn't discover it. I failed, again." Naruto placed his arms around Gina, kissing the top of her head once more as he held the young woman close to him.

A loud clank caused everyone to look up, the walls before the trio splitting open and revealing the interior of the structure. A glowing slab of crystal hung in the air, the material giving off a brilliant glow as Gina dried her eyes.

"Never mind, it's not important... we'll wait for Taur, then we'll go explore this place."

Meanwhile...

Daishi tsk'ed loudly as the doors to Muthia swung open, the bio engineered ninja clenching his fist in annoyance.

"Damn, they have reached this chamber too soon!" Daishi watched from the darkened tunnel as The Diggers and the blonde ninja that always did his best to embarrass him stood around as if waiting for something or someone.

"It's fine, I'll go keep them busy, you go and get the prize! After all, I have a score to settle with Cheetah!" Before Daishi could argue, Zelda leaped from the tunnel and fell towards the waiting trio below. Sighing softly, Daishi turned around and started moving further into the complex, his eyes searching for the artifact that had brought Lord Talon to this location.

Gina leaned against Naruto while she dried her eyes, her feelings of failure fading as she enjoyed the secure feeling of being in the shinobi's arms. But the peace was soon shattered as a smirking Zelda landed heavily on the ground, cratering the floor as she greeted at the trio standing before her.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Zelda dashed forward, her fist lashing out and sending a surprised Britanny careening into a wall, the force of the hit cratering the ancient material.

"OW! Dammit, I'm gonna kick your ass for that, Zelda!" Zelda grinned as she cracked her fists, arcs of electricity arcing over her exposed skin. Britanny pulled herself out of the wall, the young woman glaring as she stalked towards her opponent.

"You can try, Britanny, but I want a one on one fight with you, we've got a score to settle! That means no help from the ninja behind you!" Naruto looked at Zelda, shrugged his shoulder and yawned.

"Not my problem. Cheets, kick her ass." Both Britanny and Zelda began to size each other up, each fighter lowering themselves into their fighting stances.

"Hey Britanny, remember the old me? Weak...slow...clumsy... a real pushover. Sorry to say, that was to old me and by the end of this fight... you're sure gonna miss her."

Britanny sighed as she nodded slowly. "Yes, yes, keep talking. You're forgetting one thing though." Britanny's form vanished in a burst of speed, the once confident Zelda's eyes widening as she spun around, her eyes searching for her foe.

"I live with a freaking shinobi, a shinobi that's been training me to fight like him!" Zelda's eyes widened as she threw her arms up to block, but it was too late as Britanny appeared beside her, her speeding fist connecting with Zelda's gut and sending the genetically enhanced woman skidding across the room. Zelda groaned loudly as she stood up, a pained grimace crossing her features.

'Dammit, I think I should have listened to Daishi.'

Meanwhile, with Daishi

The darkened complex contained many wondrous pieces of the ancient world, but Daishi knew exactly what he had been ordered to locate. The artifact in question would give Lord Talon untold power, power needed to attain all his goals and desires. As the enhanced ninja scaled the central pillar of the complex, a skittering sound from below gave the ninja pause, his gaze turning downwards.

'Damn, it's Taur!" Daishi watched in annoyance as Taur made use of his arachnid body, it's natural abilities helping the shape shifting man to scale the pillar. "But there should be nothing of value for either Gina or Taur at the top of this pillar... unless, they already know..." Daishi doubled his efforts, his enhanced strength aiding him in his climb until finally he reached the top.

"Excellent, now... wait, what is this?" Daishi stared in shock at the stone statue before him, but his enhanced senses felt as if something was off about it. "The Stone of the Djinn should be here, the fossilized remains of the Djinn race that had been fused into a single piece. But this... this is something else, something that is... alive?" Daishi's eyes narrowed as he studied the statue before him, but moments later the sound of Taur reaching the top forced the ninja to move, the enhanced man grasping the edge of the pillar as he lowered himself out of sight.

Taur let out a deep breath, the shape shifter pulling himself over the top of the pillar and facing the same statue that he had found earlier. "Great Statue! Hea... whew, hearith mine words! When first I came to unto thee, thou didst say that I alone could not solve thine riddles! But, this is no longer true, I have found some friends to aid me! And so, bring it on!" Taur grinned victoriously as the once still statue moved, it's eyes glowing a crimson red before it grinned widely.

"Heh."

Back with Naruto and Co.

Gina sighed as she shook her head in exasperation. "Naruto, am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?"

Naruto coughed lightly, the ancient shinobi reigning in his laughter as he watched a very please Britanny lick her finger before touching her ass, a sizzling sound escaping her lips. "Yes, you are seeing Britanny performing the classic 'Lick-n-sizzle' victory pose. Kinda juvenile, but effective."

"Hey!" Naruto grinned cheekily before sticking out his tongue at the annoyed were-cheetah. Gina shook her head in exasperation at the pairs antics, glad to see things returning to normal once more.

"Alright, we better get going, we're not here to kick booty or to look for booty! We are here to uncover the strange and wondrous secrets of this new archeological site! We are here to shake the proverbial pillars of science!" Naruto's eyes widened as he raced forward, grabbing both Gina and Britanny in his arms before leaping towards the far wall.

"Naruto! PUT US DOWN, RIGHT N... NO, I CHANGED MY MIND! DON'T PUT US DOWN!" Britanny and Gina's faces both paled as the floor they had been standing on collapsed, a dark and apparently bottomless void appearing before their terrified eyes. Both girls looked up at the unconcerned shinobi that held them, his feet glowing brightly as he used his chakra to cling to the wall.

"Are you sure Cheets? I can put you down if you really want..."

"NO! DON'T YOU DARE LET GO, YOU BASTARD! GINA, I KNOW THIS IS YOUR FAULT SOMEHOW!"

"How?! I've been here with the both of you the whole time!"

"Well... NO! Don't you dare try and use logic on me! I'm blaming you and that's final!"

"That has to be the most... wait.. where's Zelda?! Oh shit, she fell into the hole!" Gina began frantically searching for their missing foe, when a dark shape landed on convenient pillar that had risen out of the void below them.

"Worry not Gina, we take care of our own."

"Daishi! Something tells me that you know what's happening here." Daishi placed the sleeping Zelda on the ground, his gaze looking towards the empty air above him.

"Ask him."

Gina blinked in surprise, looking down at the ninja in confusion. "Him? Uh, Daishi? There's no one..." Gina's voice trailed off after a burst of light revealed a floating statue, the stone figure moving as if alive as it stretched it's arms into the air. And riding on it's shoulder was a familiar face... "Taur! What's going on here?"

Gina, Naruto and Britanny watched as another pillar rose from the depths, it's flat top occupied by a... podium? Naruto blinked his eyes slowly as he gestured at the stone structure with his chin, his hands currently occupied with two hot women. "Is that... a buzzer?"

"CORRECT! Now, live from below the briny, blue pacific... the contest SIX MILLION YEARS in the running... it's the Contest of Riddles! With your host: ME!" Naruto closed his eyes as a flash of light flared briefly, the shinobi feeling himself land on solid ground as he was transported to the recently arrived podium. Looking over his shoulder, Naruto saw an equally disoriented Taur, the shape shifter having changed to a form that covered his lower half. Setting both girls on the ground, Naruto's gaze focused on the floating statue above their heads, his gaze narrowed as he studied their... host.

"Gina... WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?" Gina walked towards the podium, studying the structure as she reviewed what the statue had just said.

"Well sis, think about it... through out time, has there ever been a better way to host a contest of riddles than a game show? Our... host... is probably adapting to the most effective method of conducting his contest to date."

"Gina, this be the guardian of Muthia!" An excited Taur stepped forward, a childlike grin crossing his features as he looked up at their host. "When we met earlier, he said that I wouldst see the ancient mysteries of Muthia, but that the way was barred until..."

"Correct Taur! Until you could find another to play with you! This game is for two or more players, ages 18 and up. Sorry kids, I run an adults game here, tune in next week for the kiddie edition! Now, onto the rules! It's simple, be the first to answer five questions correctly and you win!"

Naruto stroked his chin thoughtfully, a challenging smirk on his features giving his companions the willies. "Five? Really? Seems kinda simple really."

Their host blinked slowly, his hand raising a set of cue cards towards his eyes. Moments later a self satisifed sound roke the silence as the stone statue looked at the players. "Oh, I'm sorry, there was a small typo here, I meant five hundred." Naruto continued grinning as Gina and Britanny began screaming at him for opening his mouth, but their host paid the distraction no mind as he continued with his introduction. "And our categories are: Ancient Egyptian Bowling Champions! Universal Oddities! Assassins of 350BC to 10AD! Tuna Biology! And a special bonus category! Chakra: A Thousand and One Uses!" Both Gina and Britanny blinked their eyes slowly at the last category, devilish smirks crossing their features as they looked over their shoulders, observing the blond shinobi standing beside them.

Naruto was standing stiffly, his arms spread out before him as a low chuckle escaped his lips, a chuckle that soon changed into an impressive round of evil laughter that would have made a super villain nod their heads in respect and admiration. Their host paused for a moment, a small sweat drop appearing in his stone forehead as a coughed lightly into a clenched fist.

"Umm... is everything alright?" Naruto's evil laughter abruptly cut off, it's absence seemingly causing the people that were staring at him to become more cautious instead of relaxed.

"Oh no, everything is fine...totally fine. So, who's going first?" Naruto sported a shit eating grin, the doubtful expression on the floating statue's face not even fazing the young man as he waited for an answer.

"The first riddle will be for Daishi's team... please choose a category."

"I'll take Assa..." Daishi paused as a loud cough from his side interrupted him, his gaze focusing on the grinning shinobi on the opposite pillar.

"Sorry, had a frog in my throat. But you know, a real ninja would choose the Chakra category, anything less would be a cop out. Something I'd expect from a wannabe..."

Daishi's eyes narrowed as he studied the grinning blonde, his body not betraying the simmering anger he felt at having to be near the man that continued to humiliate him. Before Daishi could say another word, Zelda nudged him with her elbow, the bald woman leaning towards her partner.

"What the heck is chakra?" Daishi sighed loudly as he folded his arms over his chest, the eyes of everyone watching him as they waited for the ninja to choose a category.

"It is an ancient source of power used by shinobi, it is a lost art in this day and age. Most ninja's know about it, but so much has been lost that it would be foolish to choose it."

"Shinobi? That's the second time I've heard that today, you mean ninja, right?" Daishi shook his head as he looked at the grinning blonde once more, a nagging suspicion forcing the ninja to reassess the man that he had battled so many times recently.

"No, shinobi and ninja are... different. Shinobi use chakra, it gives them immense powers and supernatural abilities including elemental control. Ninja have similar physical abilities, but none of the supernatural abilities a shinobi has. Ninja are... inferior, to a properly trained shinobi." Daishi's gaze finally shifted from Naruto towards their host once again, his low growl of annoyance causing Naruto to smirk. "I'll take Assassins from 350 BC to 10 AD."

"Wussy." Daishi studiously ignored the blonde as he turned towards the host, his hand poised over his buzzer.

Naruto yawned as he pulled Gina towards him, the young genius squealing at the sudden contact. "Naruto! There's no time for cuddling, we need a plan! Daishi's gonna know everything about his own profession!" Gina would have continued to berate her boyfriend, but her words trailed off as Naruto gently kissed her neck. Gina resisted the urge to moan as Naruto lips found their way towards her ear, her lover's teeth nipping on her earlobe before he softly began to whisper.

"Wait for the perfect time to strike. Every fight has an opening, you just need to be patient." Naruto looked over at Britanny and Taur, winking at the pair confidently. Taur blinked slowly, not understanding what was happening in the slightest, but Britanny just shook her head in exasperation before turning towards their host once more.

Sometime later...

Naruto yawned as he watched their host continue with his riddles. At several points during the game, Naruto had managed to figure out several important factors. 'So, looks like there's more to this place then a shit tonne of gold. Something potentially more valuable resides here, and out host does not want Daishi to get it.'

'Yep, he sure doesn't... wait, are you seeing what I'm seeing?' Naruto chuckled internally as his hand flashed towards his buzzer, hitting the device moments before Daishi could.

'You bet your fuzzy ass you do.'

"Who is Kagemaru!" Everyone on Naruto's pillar stared at the ancient shinobi, their expressions ranging from elated to shocked that he knew the answer to the latest question.

"Naruto! How did you... when did you..." Naruto chuckled as he leaned towards Gina's ear once more, the blonde blushing cutely as she remembered what happened the last time he had been this close to her ear.

"Simple, look at his cue cards." Gina's gaze narrowed as she read the far away message, her body tensing slightly in surprise.

"He cheated for us...now I know whatever Daishi is after is valuable. I doubt this would happen a second time, if he's caught the contest could forfeit to Daishi! Luckily though, we have an ace up our sleeve. Naruto, if you please?" Naruto kissed Gina's cheek swiftly, stepping around the giggling young woman as he walked towards to podium. As he arrived, the shinobi was surprised to see a gleeful Britanny appear beside him.

"Brit?"

"Naruto, lemme take the one on Tuna biology, please! I swear, it's in the bag!" Naruto ran a critical eye over the bouncing were-cheetah, a grin appearing as he stepped back.

"No way, I never get to use all that crap I learned from Iruka-sensei! I'm taking Chakra: A Thousand and one uses!" Gina and Taur watched the pair before them growl at each other, both of them trying to force the other to back down.

"Alright, fine, I'll fight ya for it then!" Naruto raised as fist up, the motion copied by a still smiling Britanny as they both thrust their hands forward.

"SCISSORS/ROCK!" Naruto groaned as he was defeated, an ecstatic Britanny celebrating her victory over the ancient shinobi as her Rock decimated Naruto's poor Scissors in an instant.

"Dammit, I call shenanigans! Redo, redo! Or best of three!"

"Nu uh! No redo's, no best of! I won fair and square, so I pick the category! Tuna Biology for 100!" Naruto turned back to a gobsmacked Gina, the depressed shinobi grabbing onto her and resting against his girlfriends impressive breasts as he continued muttering about how Britanny had breaken his lucky streak. Gina giggled softly as she patted her boyfriend's head, her other arm wrapping around him and holding him close.

"You can clean out seven Las Vegas casino's in one night, without cheating or stealing the money, but you lost at Rock, Paper, Scissors?" Gina giggled once more as she heard and felt Naruto continued to mumble, the young genius forcing herself to ignore the pleasant sensation as she turned her attention back towards her happy sister. Britanny was bouncing around as if she'd won the lottery, the young woman taking a moment to bask in the victory over the wily shinobi before turning back towards their host.

"Alright then! Now that your little... 'tiff' is done, we'll continue with the contest! Britanny, you've chosen Tuna Biology! Each of the questions are worth 100 points since you've requested it! But, this request comes with a terrible price if you miss any of the questions! If even one question is answered incorrectly, you forfeit the contest, your eternal soul AND... you don't get the home version of this game! Do you agree to play for 100 points per riddle?"

Britanny smirked as she heard a frustrated, "THAT'S NOT FAIR!", from Zelda. Nodding rapidly, Britanny turned her gaze towards the host and placed her hands no her team's podium.

"Hell yeah I am! BRING IT ON!"

"This family of tuna has 13 species and is related to the swordfish, marlin and spearfish!"

Britanny smirked as she slapped the podium's buzzer, her gaze shifting towards a growling Zelda. "What is the Scombridae family. Oh, and sorry Zelda! If it's about Tuna, no one is my equal! Prepare to lose!"

"Correct! This species is known as the athletes of the ocean!"

"Oh, what are those oh so delicious Southern Blue Fin Tuna, I love those ones!"

"CORRECT! What Biochemical gives tuna the ability to rapidly 'refuel'?"

"What's Glycogen?" Naruto lifted his head to cheer Britanny on, when Gina's dainty hand gently pushed his face back into her breasts, a grin crossing his features before it disappeared from sight.

"Tuna use this system to get oxygen from the water!"

"What is ram ventilation!"

Taur looked at a grinning Britanny, his head nodding slowly in admiration. "She doth be bursting with knowledge!"

Gina snorted as she watched her younger sister with a large grin. "Well, knowledge about tuna."

"Correct! And finally, this species of tuna swims near the surface in loose formations early in life..."

"What is albacore tuna... the other white meat!" Britanny threw up a victory sign, the were-cheetah flashing Zelda and Daishi a shit eating grin as she was nearly tackled by an ecstatic Gina. Naruto and Taur looked at each other, shrugged their shoulder and bumped fists as they watched the two sisters celebrate.

"Congratulations Britanny! Now, for your knowledge you can choose what your grand prize will be! Behind this door, we have the riches of Muthia, 60 MILLION TONNES OF GOLD! Or, you can have this," The host broke off in a snicker, the action causing Gina's and Naruto's eyes to narrow in suspicion. "Or you can have the mystery box!"

Britanny grinned as she tapped her chin gently, an elated smile gracing her features as she turned towards Gina. "Well, 60 million tons of gold, or a crummy old box...tough choice! What do you think, Gina?"

"Umm... I-I think we should take the box!" Gina backed away from the crazed look that Britanny sent her way, the young genius stepping behind a grinning Naruto.

"WHAWHAWHAT?" Gina clasped her hands in front of herself, stepping out form behind Naruto as she tried to plead her case.

"I'm begging you! Just this one time? Could we please put discovery and science before riches and treasure? Please? Please?"

Britanny growled softly as she looked at Naruto, a grin gracing his features as he shrugged his shoulders. Sighing loudly, Britanny spun around and faced their host once more.

"We'll... we'll take the damned box. You better be right about this Gina."

Several hours later

Jaliera stretched her stiff muscles, the Kryn woman having cleaned up Naruto's room while he was gone. 'After all, if I'm going to be here all the time, I'd like to be able to see the floor.' Falling back on the large bed, Jaliera closed her eyes and sighed, her mind going over the last few days and how much her life had changed. Several minutes later the sound of the front door slamming shut woke the young woman from her daydream, the voices of Gina and Britanny causing her to leap to her feet and run downstairs. Once Jaliera reached the bottom of the steps she leaped towards a grinning Naruto, the shinobi wrapping the exuberant woman in a hug as he spun her around a few times before kissing her soundly.

Sheila walked into the house from the backyard, the jag-were's eyes narrowing as she watched the happy couple before her. Sighing loudly, Sheila sat heavily in the recliner, her senses picking up on a tense vibe coming from the two sisters standing before her. "Hey you two, what's eating you?"

Britanny's gaze narrowed as she glared at her sister, gesturing in her direction angrily. "Go ahead Gina, tell her what happened." Sheila blinked as she watched a contrite looking Gina pull a dirty cardboard box from her pack, the scientist swallowing nervously as she placed the container on the coffee table.

"Well, we found an ancient civilization, got roped into a contest of riddles with a living statue... and we won! Britanny had a choice of prizes, and well... I um..." Britanny sighed as she tore the top off of the dirty box, grabbing it's contents and slamming it down on the tabletop. Sheila blinked slowly as she studied the iron pot placed before her, her gaze shifting towards an irate Britanny.

"So... what was the other prize?"

Again, read, review, enjoy!