AN: I fell asleep after I uploaded this chapter to the site. Forgot to actually post it, though. Sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or Heroes of Olympus.

Co-Written by Engineer4Ever

Fils de l'Amour: Mark of Athena

8: Blood for Silver and Gold

Darkness welcomed Naruto as he slumbered. He walked through shades of people he'd never met, but knew who they were. Shinobi who'd fought in the Fourth War, both in the Alliance and revived to fight against it. They were gathered around something and Naruto made his way to the front to see what it was, passing through the shades with ease.

Once Naruto emerged from the crowd, he looked down in confusion at the pit that stared back at him.

"Shinobi."

The voice sounded like what one would expect to come from a massive pit of darkness. It was ancient, guttural and gravelly. The voice made the gathered shinobi – Naruto included – back away from the hole.

A chuckle, one that sent shivers up the spines of all those present, came after their reaction. "You mortals, you are truly the most amusing beings in this world. I do not understand your living language, but here, the dead all speak the same language as I."

"Make sense of your words and show yourself!" The voice had Naruto looking for the source. He found it and glared at the massive man. The Third Raikage, A, glared at the hole defiantly. Strange how they hadn't noticed him yet.

"Straight to the point? How delightful." The Pit's chuckle came again and Naruto watched A attempt (and fail) to not shiver. "I have offers for you. There is a boy I want brought before me."

"Why?" A demanded.

"He's taken my slumbering consort's attention from me." The Pit snarled in anger. "This boy is descended from her first husband and reminds her of him before he wronged her. He's stolen her attention from me. I want him brought before me so that I can sate my desire to crush him in my own hands."

A crossed his massive arms and scowled. "Why should we do anything for you?"

"I figured you'd want an incentive." The Pit chuckled once more. Naruto really didn't like where this was going. "Do this, and I will return you to life. Permanently."

Murmurs of excitement and elation at the prospect of life washed through the crowd. Naruto turned when he heard someone comment on seeing Konoha and his fiancé again. The examiner that died during his chunin exams. Another mentioned having a smoke and checking on his students. Naruto turned to the other direction to look at Asuma, who had a hesitant but open look on his face.

Asuma stepped forward, his hand at his side. "Who's the target?"

The Pit was silent for a moment before a snarl echoed from it. "He is here! Damn the skies' unpredictability! You will be erased at my hand, boy! I will ensure it!"

Naruto felt the ground rumble beneath his feet and he got the urge to run.

"You cannot run from me, boy! I am the darkness that surrounds you!"

Naruto turned and ran from the pit, passing through shades as he did. The ground cracked at his heels. The crack widened the Pit, as though the hole itself was trying to chase him. If Naruto stopped running, he would fall in. Frankly, Naruto had the feeling there was something more than spikes at the bottom that he had to be worried about.

"Not even Gaea can save you from my wrath!"

The ground cracked ahead of Naruto and he tripped. The Pit widened as he scrambled to get back to his feet. Naruto clawed at the ground, his fingers tore into the strange dirt, as he desperately tried to escape the fate of falling in. The Pit stopped widening and Naruto dangled over the edge with one hand holding him up. A foot pressed down on his hand and caused Naruto to loose his grip, but kept him pinned. His gaze went up to a pair of eyes he hated more than anything in the world. They were red and black, the tomoes connected with small circles and attached to the edge of the iris in three thick pegs. They brought more hatred from Naruto, who wanted so badly to pull them from their sockets.

"I accept your offer." The owner of the eyes' smirked and kicked Naruto's hand in. Naruto continued to glare at the accepting shinobi with hate and fell into the pit's cold darkness. With the last of his energy, he opened his mouth to shout at the one who earned so much of his hatred.

"Madara!" Naruto shot up from his roll out mat, now wide-awake. His body was covered in a cold sweat and his heart pounded in his chest.

"Where!? I'll kill...Oh, don't tell me you had a nightmare! Aren't you too old for those?" Kurama's anger settled into mild irritation at being awoken in such a way.

"I thought so, too. It felt so real, though." Naruto held a hand to his head and sighed. "Man...I really hope that was just a nightmare."

"What happened?"

Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but he stopped and instead looked to his door when it burst open.

"Naruto, we can't find Annabeth or Percy." Piper's voice was calm, but heavily concerned. She was also already dressed and ready for the day.

How long was I asleep? Naruto wondered before he crossed his fingers. A platoon's worth of clones appeared in his room and raced out past Piper, who flattened herself against the wall to stay out of their way.

When the last clone disappeared around a corner, Piper looked back at Naruto with a dry expression. "Stampede much?"

"You'd be surprised at how effective it can be." Naruto got to his feet and stretched his arms above his head until his back popped. He scratched his side and stifled a yawn before he made his way over to his storage scrolls. "So do you plan to watch me get dressed or...?"

"Don't be gross. Hurry up, the others are afraid Annabeth and Percy got kidnapped," Piper said before she shut his door.

Naruto snorted as he unsealed his clothes and grabbed his replacement hoodie. "Kidnapped? How? We're on a flying ship."

Naruto was in the shower when the clone that found Annabeth and Percy dispelled itself. He laughed and wiped a tear away, amused along with the rest of his clones that also dispelled. He was so glad that the clone didn't wake the couple, both asleep in each other's arms.

The others' reaction to their discovery was bound to be funny.

Naruto was wrong, it wasn't funny.

It was hilarious.

Piper, like himself, was amused at the whole situation. Jason and Frank – the one that found them "first" – were stunned, though the Canadian shape shifter looked more uncomfortable than stunned. Leo approved of it all, if his nods and repeated mutters of "classic" were anything to go by. Hazel refused to look either of the two in the face, her cheeks red from embarrassment of the scandal.

Percy didn't seem to see what the big deal was, as he practically crowed to the room that he and Annabeth had been kissing before they fell asleep. Annabeth glared at him for that one, which allowed Naruto and Leo to quickly shoot the son of Poseidon two thumbs up. Annabeth was about as apologetic as her boyfriend, but she did look embarrassed at being discovered in such a 'position' with him. The morning effect most teenagers had probably didn't help either.

"IN THE STABLES!?"

It was Coach Hedge who had the best reaction of them all. Naruto watched the satyr pace back and forth in front of the two, hollering at the indecency. Annabeth tried to get across that "nothing had happened", though her words weren't believed when Percy would add in "except for a few kisses". As Hedge paced again and started to reprimand Annabeth – "You're supposed to be the good one!" - Naruto wondered if he should mention that he found them first, but chose to let them remain undiscovered.

Nah.

That tidbit of information could be saved for a rainy day.

"Okay, I think it's time for breakfast," Jason said, saving Percy and Annabeth from further chewing. The two gave him a grateful look while Naruto pouted.

"Such a downer, Flyboy." Naruto grinned when the microwave dinged and he pulled out a cup of instant ramen. He sighed as he took the first bite while he sat on the counter of the small kitchen. "Ahh...Beef flavored."

Jason and Piper glowered at him, for separate reasons. "Really?"

"What?" Naruto blinked innocently while the others prepared their breakfast. "It's a good way to start the day, get some protein in, make some energy..."

"Beef, otherwise known as cow meat, is practically forbidden to me. Cows are sacred to Hera, of whom I am her champion." Jason deadpanned as he prepared a bagel with some jelly.

"...Wow, sucks for you, Flyboy." Naruto shook his head. "You'll never know the wonders of Beef Ramen, the good mornings it gives us...what a shame."

"It's not even real beef. Processed with all sorts of unnecessary fats and oils," Piper grumbled in distaste as she made her own breakfast.

"You two were meant for each other," Leo said dryly. He perked up at a mechanical sound. "Festus is on autopilot, he says we're almost at Atlanta."

"Good, then maybe we can learn something about where we should go next," Percy said as he sprinkled some blueberries on his pancakes. Naruto found his body moving on autopilot while the groups' conversation turned to Nico di Angelo and his loyalties. His eyes glazed over as more ramen was lifted to his mouth.

Naruto suddenly found himself in his mindscape, face to face with Kurama. The giant fox rested peacefully, his hand-like paws set over one another, and his eyes closed.

"I'm not asleep," Kurama said before Naruto could ask why he was pulled into the mindscape if the fox was just dozing. "I'm contemplating your dream."

"What about it?" Naruto asked.

Kurama's eyes snapped open, irritated and perturbed. "It is inaccessible to me."

"What?" Naruto frowned. "Do you need permission or something?"

"No." Kurama huffed, his breath blew over Naruto's face harshly. Naruto grimaced at the poor scent. It got worse when Kurama was mad. "I cannot see it. The memory of it, the existence, the proof. There is no evidence that you dreamed last night."

"That-That's impossible!" Naruto protested. "I had a dream, it had to be a dream!"

"You didn't dream, Naruto." Kurama insisted. "Whatever you thought was a dream actually happened. Whatever you saw, you saw alone."

"What does that mean?" Naruto asked.

"I do not know. I do not like it." Kurama growled.

Naruto frowned. "Then what should I do?"

Kurama glared at him. "I called you in here to inform you of my discovery. Do with it what you will."

The mindscape vanished and Naruto came back to reality, a new cup of instant ramen in his hand. Huh, he really did go on autopilot. Cool. Naruto looked around and realized that Hazel had stormed off for some reason. Naruto debated whether or not he should ask Piper what happened. Meh, he'll get details later, there's ramen to be eaten.

"Maybe we should decide who should go with you," Jason said suddenly. He glanced over at Naruto. "Naruto?"

Naruto paused mid bite of his new cup of ramen. The noodles that dangled from his mouth were slurped up, which earned him looks of disgust from Piper and Annabeth. He hummed in thought.

"I'm gonna pass this go around," Naruto said with a grimace as his dream came to light. "Maybe I can find a distant location to train a bit."

"No." "No!" Kurama, Piper and Annabeth denied. Naruto pouted at his sister and aunt, and mentally glowered at Kurama.

"Until we know the reason behind why I cannot see that dream, I don't want to chance anything else going wrong." Kurama elaborated.

Naruto smirked around his ramen. Aw, you do care.

"Bite me, brat."

"Then Frank goes," Percy said.

Frank, who was chewing part of his sandwich sadly, swallowed and set his food down. "Me? But my bow string is broken, no thanks to Naruto."

"I said I was sorry!" Naruto pouted childishly and ate another bite of ramen. "It was a jerk knee reaction."

"Knee jerk reaction," Annabeth corrected him.

"That's what I said."

Frank continued, unaffected by Naruto's interruption. "And I'm not going to be the dragon express for everyone."

"No, man, I want you to go because you're a legacy of Poseidon. Who else should have my back at this water place?" Percy said. Frank seemed to brighten up at that. Percy then turned to Annabeth. "And that leaves a spot for one more-."

"No!" Hedge cut in with a glare to the two. He pointed at Annabeth. "She's grounded!"

The room went silent before Naruto burst into laughter and fell from the counter where he sat. Piper and Leo looked amused as Annabeth faltered for words. Percy looked stupefied at the proclamation.

"G-Grounded?" Annabeth asked. It was like she never heard the word before in her life. Naruto had to grab his sides so he wouldn't split apart as his laughter grew.

"Yes. Obviously you two can't handle being alone together," Hedge said with a stern nod. He glared at Naruto as the blond got back to his feet. "Hey, Whiskers McGee, stop laughing!"

"Sure thing, hehe, Fuzzybritches." The grin on Naruto's face was wide and mirthful. He loved today so much.

"Then who will go instead?" Jason asked. He shifted in his seat slightly. "I'm the son of Jupiter, so I should probably stay away from the sea. And I'm still recovering from yesterday..."

Leo snorted and Jason glared at Naruto, whose grin didn't even dare to drop. Instead, Naruto looked at Percy.

"Are you still recovering?"

Percy glared at him. "No. I took a saltwater bath before I...Er, met up with Annabeth."

Naruto grinned as Annabeth and Percy's faces flushed. "Hey chika bump bump."

"Blondie, if you're going to say it, say it right." Leo scolded the blond shinobi.

Piper lightly smacked Naruto on the arm, a small pout-like frown on her face. "Don't tease them."

"Why?"

"Because one, it's not nice." Annabeth and Percy sent Piper a grateful look. It was retracted and replaced with a glare as the daughter of Aphrodite continued. "And two, I was going to say that!"

"Ah, sorry, Imouto." Naruto chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "So, if I'm not going, Leo?"

Leo and Frank met eyes before Leo looked back at Naruto. "Nah, I'm going to skip out on this one...Maybe get a nap in."

"I'll go," Hedge said. He grabbed the handle of his bat, which rested at the wall, and grinned. "I'm in the need for a good fight."

Naruto rolled his eyes while the others shook their head or ignored the bloodthirsty satyr.

"Alright, well then Hedge is coming," Percy said with a sad sigh. Naruto didn't blame him, the satyr was not someone Naruto wanted to be stuck alone with.

While the three disembarked from the Argo II and went off to search for answers, Naruto sought answers of his own. He stood outside Annabeth's room with Miu perched on his shoulder and knocked on the door.

"Anna-baba? Can I come in? I need to ask you something," Naruto said. The door was pulled open and two steeled eyes glared up at him. Naruto felt a bead of sweat go down the side of his face after a moment of uncomfortable staring. "Uh, sorry you got grounded?"

"...What do you want, Naruto?" Annabeth asked with a sigh as she let up on the glare.

Naruto let his hand drop to his side and he frowned. "Have you ever had a strange dream...that didn't feel like a dream?"

Annabeth blinked before she opened her door fully. "That sounds like a demigod dream."

"Is there something different about a demigod dream?" Naruto asked as he walked into his aunt's room.

"I'm not as experienced in them as Percy is, but sometimes demigods get dreams of importance," Annabeth said. She rubbed her arm and glanced at the silver drachma set on her desk, atop of notes and texts that were sprawled across it. "Sometimes they're warnings, and sometimes they're not entirely clear. Incomplete clues."

"...What do you know about a dark pit?" Naruto asked.

Annabeth's eyes shot to him. "A pit? What did the voice sound like?"

Naruto blinked and Miu fluttered over to perch next to a small stuffed owl. "How'd you know there was a voice?"

"This is important, Naruto. What did the voice sound like?" Annabeth insisted. Naruto hadn't seen her this serious in a long time. Not since before they left for Camp Jupiter.

"Old, gravelly and very deep," Naruto said. His words seemed to put Annabeth on edge.

Annabeth began to pace. "No, no, no. Too soon, he can't have reformed so quickly, even with the Doors open."

"Who?" Naruto asked.

"Kronos." Annabeth's fists clenched and she groaned. "But how? Luke's sacrifice..."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Kronos the Titan of Time?" Kurama asked.

"No, it wasn't Kronos." Naruto interrupted Annabeth's audible pondering. "The Pit itself. The darkness in it...It wanted me." Naruto shuddered at the memory. "Dead."

"You don't know that," Annabeth said.

Naruto gave her a dry look. "The Pit was surrounded by Shinobi. A few I fought in the war and a few that I knew as a kid."

The image of the smiling bearded smoker that was Asuma Sarutobi flashed through his head. Quickly followed by the coughing chronically sick Hayate Gekko, the swordsman he didn't know as well, but Naruto had fought alongside Hayate's ex-fiancé. Yugao Uzuki was a deadly swordswoman and was definitely his first choice for ANBU commander if she remained in the black ops.

"...Okay, yeah, not Kronos," Annabeth mumbled. "What did it want from them?"

"It put a price on my head."

"What?" "WHAT?" Kurama's roar drowned out Annabeth's concern. There was a snarl before Naruto found himself going on autopilot once again.

Naruto stood in the water of his mindscape while Kurama glared down at him, infuriated.

"And when were you going to tell me you got a bounty on your head?" The demon fox's breath was exceptionally terrible. Kurama must've been pissed.

"It's not big deal. I can handle myself easily!" Naruto crossed his arms with a frown. "Besides, since when do you care so much?"

"NO! No deflecting Naruto! You and I know that you can't handle yourself without me. We will be informing the rest of the Biju. That stupid octopus can have his container inform the Kage," Kurama said with finality. "We will receive back-up."

"I don't need-!"

"Stop. Arguing." Kurama cut Naruto off with a growl. "I have failed you once before, I will not risk it a second time while my halves are in recovery. If need be, the rest of the Biju will leave the Nations to help. The consequences of those Immortal beings be damned."

Naruto blinked in mild surprise. That was a lot of concern to come from the Nine-Tails. It was certainly the first time Kurama ever got mad at him for that reason. Naruto let a wide grin spread across his face.

"I knew you cared."

Kurama glared at him. "Don't push me. I'm still mad at you."

"I love you too, Kurama."

"Uh...Did I interrupt something?" Annabeth asked, an amused smile on her face.

Naruto blinked and looked around. "Oh...Dick move, Kurama. Dick move. How'd you even kick me out in the first place?"

He didn't get an answer.

"Kick you out?" Annabeth asked.

"Hm? Oh, no, Kurama and I were talking in my mindscape. How long was I out?" Naruto asked.

Annabeth pursed her lips. "A couple of minutes."

"Huh...What were we talking about again?" Naruto asked as Miu returned to perch on his shoulder. He tapped her beak lightly and smiled at her soft croon.

"You had a bounty put on your head. I want details now." Annabeth crossed her arms and gave Naruto another stern stare. Naruto grimaced and quickly began to retell his dream, but left out details on who spoke when or where. As he came to the end, Kurama growled. The kitsune needed no more details than what Naruto gave Annabeth to discern who the one that kicked Naruto into the Pit was and his dislike of the infamous Uchiha was made clear.

When Naruto finished, Annabeth was rubbing her head. "Why didn't you bring this up at breakfast?"

Naruto groaned. "I can-"

"Naruto." Kurama growled.

"...I didn't want you guys to worry. You've got enough on your plates than to deal with my problems," Naruto said. He winced when Miu pecked him on the head and then flew over to land on Annabeth's desk. Naruto rubbed his head and glared lightly at the eagle. "What was that for?"

"That was for being stupid. Thank you, Miu," Annabeth said with a nod to the eagle. Miu chirped back and started to clean her wings, as if to say "just doing my job." Annabeth turned back to her nephew with a frown. "Naruto, this is something we all have to deal with. Not just you."

Naruto folded his arms in front of his chest. "Anna-baba, trust me. You know what I did to Percy and Jason. That was me holding back. A lot."

"You poked Jason in the butt and kicked Percy between the legs multiple times!" Annabeth retorted. "That's not holding back, that's aiming for weak spots.

"That's me being non-lethal, or in civilian terms holding back." Naruto stepped forward and tapped Annabeth on the head. "Think. I'm a soldier, a ninja, do you really think that we're taught how to disable? We're not taught how to peacefully defeat someone. Every time I get into a fight, I have to take a few hits to determine how much I have to hold back. Percy and Jason are strong, but they're not shinobi. And if they're the best of both camps? I'm the one that has to protect you."

Naruto turned and went to the door, where he stopped and looked back. "You saw what I did to Camp Jupiter. You really think there's not other shinobi who can do stuff like that? Who can do worse?"

Naruto left Annabeth to consider his words.

Naruto walked around atop the deck of the Argo II, contemplating the dream he had. Naruto wanted to know who would come first. He glowered at the prospect of facing Madara. That would be like fighting five duplicates of Athena's giant at once.

"At least this way he won't try to bring about the Moon's Eye again," Kurama said, trying to find the bright side.

Naruto snorted. No duh. It's probably the challenge. Most Uchiha are cursed with superiority complexes. I'm fairly certain that Itachi was the only one born without it. Sasuke needed to lose his arm to get it pounded out of his head.

"He deserved more if you asked me. Punk-ass Uchiha brat..."

Naruto rolled his eyes at Kurama's grumbles and leaned against the railing of the ship. He closed his eyes and let Natural Energy blend with his chakra. The telltale signs of a Toad Sage appeared on his face, his eyes gained orange pigmentation around them. He needed to relax, his aunt answered some questions but their conversation raised more.

Who would come after him? Mostly everyone that knew who he was – the title of strongest shinobi is both a boon and a curse. Could he handle them? Probably, he was strong enough to face off against the so-called bane of Athena even without Kurama. Could he protect the seven and keep himself alive? That was the real question.

Naruto's eyes snapped open, now golden with toad pupils within them. "That's not good."

"What? What is – Crap. Naruto-!"

"I know, Kurama." Naruto pushed away from the railing and tensed. "That's so not good."

"There're two of them. They're heading this way – fast. Very fast." Kurama growled. "Those two...Kill them, Naruto! Make them suffer!"

"Make who – oh shit!" Naruto jumped over a giant silver sword that sliced into the hull. He fell down towards the earth and dodged a golden chain that had a gold kunai at the end. Naruto pulled out his staff and deflected the chain as it was thrown at him once again.

"Look, brother! He falls with the grace befitting a Biju container!"

"Indeed! Perhaps, he'll shatter along the ground like a jar dropped from a shelf!"

Naruto glared at the speakers, who were a distance above him but gained speed quickly. There were two, like Kurama said, and they were definitely not trying to hide. They both had long hair that fanned out like a headdress that Piper had shown him when she was talking about her heritage, horns that stuck from their head, and attire that labeled them as natives of Kumogakure. They were heavily muscled like Kirabi and Ē, which worried Naruto just slightly. What really put him off were the whisker marks that resembled his own on both of their faces.

The two had differences, though; both had a tattoo on the opposite shoulder of the other, one was the kanji for 'gold' and the other for 'silver'. Their hair and eyes matched the kanji on their shoulders.

Kurama roared loudly in Naruto's head and, without permission from the blond, formed a cloak around him. The chakra cloak shot out a dark red claw, which swiped at the two brothers, only to miss by a few centimeters. The silver haired one with the massive sword laughed.

"The Kyubi remembers us, Kinkaku!" The silver haired man grinned, his whiskers spread along with his cheeks. Far too much like Naruto's own.

"Dead! I want them DEAD!" Kurama demanded.

I'm working on it! Back off! Naruto shot back as he willed Kurama's chakra away. Naruto spiraled out of the way of another chain throw from Kinkaku. He flipped back and landed on a blacktop street. He leapt back once again as the golden chain imbedded where he once stood. Naruto glared at the two and parted his staves.

"Damn! I missed again! For an Uzumaki, he sure dances lightly in the air, doesn't he, Ginkaku?" Kinkaku asked his brother as he pulled his chain back and it wrapped around his arm.

"Yes he does, Kinkaku." Ginkaku smirked and rested his large, silver blade over his shoulder. "Shame we couldn't get a replica of Benihisago or Bahōsen from the employer."

"Ah, but we got Kōkinjō and Shichiseiken back," Kinkaku said as he rubbed the chain wrapped around his arm. "In spirit at least. These are nicer."

Naruto frowned at the two. "So, you guys took up the bounty, huh?"

Ginkaku grinned. "Of course! To test our might against the Kyubi Jinchuriki? Then get a chance at payback against that traitor that put me inside Benihisago?"

"It really was a no brainer," Kinkaku said with a chuckle. He let the chain unwind from his arm and prepared it in his other hand. "I am Kinkaku, and this is my brother Ginkaku. We are the Kingin Kyōdai: the Gold and Silver brothers of Kumo!"

"...Okay, that's a pretty cool name..." Naruto mumbled.

Kurama snarled. "Naruto, stop playing around! Kill them!"

"Wow, what did you guys do to Ku-The Kyubi?" Naruto asked. "He hates you."

"Does it?" Ginkaku perked up and nudged his brother with his arm. "Hear that, Kinkaku? The Kyubi hates us."

"Well, I would hope so! He ate us, so we ate him!" Kinkaku bellowed with laughter. They noticed Naruto stared at them in confusion and the brothers shared a grin before Kinkaku spoke again. "I don't think he knows our story, Ginkaku."

"A crime, Kinkaku. Especially since we nearly killed the Nidaime Hokage," Ginkaku said with a smirk. His grin widened when Naruto's eyes grew in shock. "Yes, Jinchuriki, we fought Tobirama, and nearly emerged victorious. His special squadron and student Hiruzen got in our way."

"Stupid monkey boy. We should find him after this," Kinkaku said, and got a nod of agreement from his brother.

Naruto grinned at that tidbit of information. "Sarutobi-jiji with the win."

"Jiji? So the monkey lived a long life? Damn," Ginkaku said with a growl. He and his brother scowled. "He must be in the afterlife."

"Probably a judge, the do-gooder that he was. Remember that speech he gave us? The 'will of fire' will burn brightly under peace and unity?" Kinkaku snorted. "What a load of trash."

Naruto's grin fell into a scowl and his eyes narrowed. "I'm going to start hitting you now. I don't know if I'll stop."

The Gold and Silver brothers grinned and prepared their weapons. Naruto crouched and built up nature chakra around his body. Time stood still for the three shinobi on the pavement, not even the wind dared to move as they stared off at their respective foe.

Finally, Kurama growled. "Tear them apart!"

The three shinobi acted.

Naruto ducked under Kinkaku's chain and caught the overhanded swing from Ginkaku with his left stave. Naruto turned the stave in his right hand around and threw it at the incoming Kinkaku. Kinkaku blocked the thrown stave with the chain wrapped around his left arm. With his right hand, he made a ball of lightning build up in his hand which he then crushed in his fist and encased his hand.

"Got you now! Raiken (Lightning Fist)!" Kinkaku threw his right hand forward at Naruto's head.

Naruto's toad-like eyes glanced towards the blindsided attack and he turned before it could connect. Naruto watched the fist fly an inch over his face and a spark cracked out towards his nose. Naruto built chakra up in his nose before he exhaled sharply, the wind chakra that escaped it cut through the lightning and left a scratch on the side of Kinkaku's hand.

"A paper cut." Kinkaku scowled at the light sting in his hand and brought his chain covered arm up over his head as his right hand pulled back. He dropped the arm elbow first into Naruto's face. Kinkaku let out a strangled cry and jumped away to hold his arm.

Ginkaku, concerned, pulled back and landed beside his brother. "What happened?"

"Broken...That container broke my arm!" Kinkaku and his brother glared at Naruto, who tossed his other stave to the side and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Sennin Mōdo," Naruto said softly. He grinned at the two Kumo natives. "Hardens the body." Naruto pounded a fist into his chest. "Not even lightning pierces me anymore."

Ginkaku glared at him and charged, his sword at his side. "Then maybe this silver will!"

The sword was thrust forward at Naruto with a war cry by its wielder. Naruto brought his fist up towards the weapon. The sword's tip met Naruto's flesh and cracked. Ginkaku watched with wide eyes as he drove his refashioned sword to the hilt, the silver blade broken into pieces by Naruto's fist.

"That's not possible." Ginkaku's silver eyes met Naruto's toad-like ones. He snarled and moved to stand opposite of Kinkaku, behind Naruto. "We need to double team him, brother. Like from before!"

"Yes." Kinkaku grimaced as he held his arm, now coated in a red cloak of chakra much like Naruto's own first Jinchuriki cloak. The chakra faded and Kinkaku investigated the arm. "It's not done, but it's good enough for now."

"I'll go for the silver medal!" Ginkaku declared as he ran forward.

"And I'll shoot for the gold!" Kinkaku snarled as he charged at Naruto.

Naruto closed his eyes and followed the brothers' chakra. Kinkaku jumped up with his chain-covered arm out, much like Ē and Kirabi's Rariatto, and Ginkaku dove low for the back of Naruto's legs. They moved in perfect sync and had the same chakra output directed in their arms. If the attack struck, Naruto's torso would be torn from his legs.

Not that it would.

At the last second, Naruto leaned back and jumped, going parallel with the two brothers. He turned and held his hands out like claws as he took a page from his friend Kiba's book.

"Senjutsu: Tsūga (Sage Technique: Passing Fang)!" A small, enclosed tunnel of high-speed wind chakra covered Naruto's body. The technique tore up a large portion of the road and the two brothers, who were flung to opposite sides of the road as an outcome to the attack, landed with deep gashes in their skin. Naruto landed firmly on his feet, a spider web shot out in the dirt at the impact.

"Kin...Kaku..." Ginkaku gasped blood out of his mouth and wrapped his arms around the deep wound in his stomach. Red chakra leaked out around both brothers and a cloak covered them.

"Bastards want to use my chakra!?" Kurama snarled. "I'll give them some chakra to use! Eating my stomach, I'll show them!"

Naruto pushed back the chakra Kurama was forcing forward. He was not going to lose, not to these two whiskered clowns. Naruto made some distance between himself and the brothers as they started to become enveloped by version two cloaks.

"Heh, that's right fools, shorten your lifespan with my chakra!" Kurama cackled. "Let me play with them, Naruto. They need to be punished for stealing my power!"

"Playtime is over!" Ginkaku – or at least what was Ginkaku – snarled. Five tails of chakra waved behind him as he got to his feet.

"We end this now!" Kinkaku agreed, his six chakra tails slammed into the ground and made it shake with the impact.

Naruto closed his eyes and gathered more natural energy. He took a deep breath and his eyes snapped open, slits bisected the toad-like pupils. Red bled into the golden irises of his eyes.

"This isn't the end," Naruto said. He narrowed his eyes into a glare and held his hands out to his sides. Two large blue chakra orbs started to grow in his palms, and then white lines of wind chakra formed around them. Naruto held his two Futon: Rasengan up. "I'm just getting warmed up."

AN: I done went and got myself Elder Scrolls Online! ...Lurv it when it works...

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