January 5th 2009:

The sweet fragrance of fresh tea polluted the atmosphere inside of the small sector of Sasuke Uchiha's humble office. Sasuke took a short sip from the cold rim of his mug and gazed at one of his documents.

Naruto Uzumaki leaned himself back against the wooden-frame of the chair and scrolled through a countless number of news-articles on his phone. He crossed his arms. "Man, there's nothing to do right now."

Sasuke ignored the insouciant inflection within Naruto's somewhat mischievous baritone. Sipping more of his delicious tea, the Uchiha gave Naruto an unimpressed glance. "Why are you in my office?"

Naruto shrugged and unfolded his arms. "I'm pretty bored, you tea-sipping bastard. I haven't really encountered any hostile Yo-Kai."

"That is true." Sasuke inclined his head in response. "I suppose we should call this a boon. Though, I wonder if this is linked to Izanami."

"Who cares about her?" Naruto stuck his tongue out before he chuckled. "I bet you're scared she's going to beat the crap out of you!"

"I have no reason to fear Izanami." Sasuke had an unbothered expression strewn across his pale features. "I am prudent of her."

"Whatever!" Naruto rolled his blue eyes and stood up from the wooden-chair in Sasuke's office. "I'm gonna get some sleep…"

Sasuke nodded and intertwined his smooth fingers. "Enjoy your little break from work. I'll have your paycheck given to you later."

"I still think I'm under-paid!" Naruto yelled, disappearing through the entrance to the minimalistic office. "Damn, I'm exhausted!"

"Exhausted from what? You've been lazing around for hours."

(-)

Naruto walked out into the cold streets of Tokyo and let out a gentle breath of fatigue. A visible mass of oxygen escaped his lips. Slipping his calloused hands into his pockets, he sauntered forward.

Stepping into an alleyway and knocking his knuckles against the wood-constructed entrance of a run-down tavern, Naruto waited for thirty seconds until the door to the ancient tavern was opened.

Omoikane peeked through the small crevasse of the door to discern the identity of whoever had knocked on the entrance to his tavern. Relief filled his gaze at the sight of Naruto. He mumbled. "Come in."

Entering the dilapidated establishment, Naruto seated himself down on an unfamiliar leather-chair. Omoikane handed him a glass of warm water. "Why have you come to me? Are you still suspicious of me?"

"Not really." Naruto drank some of the water within the cup. Nonchalance infected his voice. "I think you're pretty trust-worthy."

"To hear that from the strongest Shinobi of all time is gratifying." Omoikane sank into another leather-seat. "Why have you visited me?"

Naruto sipped the last flecks of water inside of his cup before he planted it down on a cracked table. "I want some information."

"Information?" Omoikane touched his well-maintained mustache in contemplation. "It depends on what type of intel you seek from me."

"Sasuke filled me in about how Susanoo ordered you to join Izanami's army." Naruto pointed a finger at Omoikane: who blinked. "Why?"

"That is classified information." Omoikane released a rather depressed breath from the cavern of his mouth. "What else can I provide for you?"

Naruto lowered his finger and grunted, annoyed. "I was hoping you could tell me more about Izanami's plans and what she wants."

"What Izanami wants?" The god of intelligence let loose a bitter laugh. "I have zero clue what she desires or what her true plans are…"

"You were a member of her army for a while." Naruto argued back and scowled. "There's gotta be some information about all of her plans."

"All I can tell you is this—she desires total destruction." Omoikane huffed. "She is an entity who cares about nothing but herself."

Naruto had a somewhat disappointed countenance on his whiskered visage. "That's all the information you have about her plans? Really?"

"Indeed." Omoikane nodded—there was an odd inflection within his otherwise smooth baritone. "I must ask that you leave my tavern."

"Kurama." Naruto disregarded Omoikane's expectant gaze and transmitted a message into his head. "What do you think about this?"

"I cannot detect any falsehood in his claims." Kurama grunted at his partner, burying himself into the fur on his arm. "He is truthful."

"Whatever…Let's head on home, then."

(-)

Naruto body-flickered onto his balcony, stepped into his living-room, settled himself down on the sofa, and turned on his television. However, none of the programmes on the television were interesting.

Slouching his shoulders and suppressing the urge to sigh in unconcealed annoyance, Naruto entered his bed-room before he dived onto his soft mattress. "Screw this! I'm getting some sleep."

Snores escaped from the depths of Naruto's lips. Naruto turned in his sleep and buried his face into his pillow. From the shadows within his room, a despair-filled presence tickled at his powerful senses.

Kurama detected this malevolent presence and took control of his most trusted partner's body. Blue irises twisted themselves into vermillion voids of unadulterated malice. "I can feel your presence."

Izanami emerged from the shadows of the room and crossed her arms in unashamed amusement. Humour coloured her voice as she rasped. "Ah, Kurama! It has been ages since the two of us have last talked."

Tensing the muscles of his latest vessel's body, Kurama pumped chakra into his biceps and glared at Izanami. An incredible amount of power leaked out from every pore of his body. "Silence, you hag."

The goddess of death dissolved into a hurricane of obsidian-tinted particles—but appeared behind Kurama: who let out an unimpressed scoff. "Your insults do not bother me at all. I find them rather funny."

"What the hell are you planning?" Kurama grunted, gritting his teeth in unhidden annoyance. "Was possessing Kaguya not enough for you?"

Izanami cackled. Pure glee was evident within the vicious depths of her ebony-tinged gaze. "My plans shall be revealed soon enough."

Kurama clenched his fists, gritted his teeth in frustration once more, and glared at the goddess of death. "And my plan is to fight you."

"I'm in no mood for petty battles." Izanami adjusted her expensive kimono and crumbled into molecules of charcoal-tinted energy. "See you soon!"

"What was the point of all that?" Kurama pondered to himself, settling his host's body onto the sofa in the living-room. "Not my problem."

Kurama relinquished control of the body back to its original owner. Naruto woke up and stretched his arms. Realization twinkled inside of the luminous blue of his eyes. "Did I sleep-walk onto my sofa…?"

(-)

January 10th 2009:

Naruto meandered throughout the isolated alleyways within Tokyo in pure silence. Countless thoughts inundated his mind. Pausing at the front of a graffiti-covered door, he opened it and stepped into a room.

This room was devoid of typical house-hold items—all that was inside of it was a wooden-chair, a simplistic table, and a mini-fridge. Naruto planted himself down on the chair. He propped a fist beneath his chin.

Both of his calloused hands were buried into his lap. Naruto released a sigh of contemplation, raised his head to gander at a graffiti-covered wall, and lowered his gaze to the wooden-surface of the room.

His life had been afflicted by multiple problems—Prometheus wanted to seal Kurama into himself to become a Jinchuuriki and Izanami was planning on killing him while plunging the Shinto pantheon into chaos.

He climbed to his feet before he left the isolated room. For the briefest of seconds, the iridescent sapphire of his irises had rippled into a deep crimson void of malice. Naruto had a small smile on his features.

(-)

January 12th 2009:

Prometheus was on the concrete inside of one of the many rooms of Hecate's enormous palace, cross-legged. Flecks of brown-coloured mana hovered around his body and in the atmosphere of the area.

Taking the molecules of magical-power into his body, Prometheus felt his mana-reserves increase at an exponential level. Soft breaths of exhaustion escaped from Prometheus' mouth as he hummed in glee.

"My mana-reserves have grown." Prometheus murmured to himself. Delight was evident on his coarse features. "This is incredible…"

Flexing all ten of his fingers and materializing his magical-energy out into the open air of the room, Prometheus summoned fifty mana-constructed weapons without any strain or difficulty whatsoever.

Prometheus dispelled all of the weapons crafted from his mana and wiped off the metaphorical sweat from his fore-head. Walking out of his training-room, he stepped across a corridor within the palace.

Alabaster C. Torrington emerged from the entrance of the plan-room. Prometheus noticed him. A somewhat polite smile graced Prometheus' scar-infected visage. "Ah, Alabaster! How are you?"

"I have returned from one of my assignments given to me by Luke." Alabaster's response was a curt one. "Excuse me. I must be leaving."

"Of course." Prometheus' smile shrank into an unbothered smirk. "I must ask you one more question. How has Luke been faring lately?"

"Without access to his mana?" Alabaster tapped his chin in contemplation. "His physical abilities have become more powerful."

"Interesting." The titan of forethought mumbled and sighed. "I must also be leaving for some other business. Farewell, Alabaster."

Prometheus nodded at Alabaster before he disappeared in a vicious hurricane of unadulterated mana. He intertwined his fingers, gazed out of a window, and chuckled. "I shall seal the Kyuubi into myself soon."

"This world shall soon be reconstructed." Prometheus clenched a determined fist. "I will eliminate all obstacles that hinder my journey."

"Naruto Uzumaki." His resolved eyes glinted an ominous brown. "Soon enough, I shall extract the Kyuubi from his seal. I will not fail again…"

A rather powerful presence tickled at Prometheus' senses. The entrance to the secluded area was opened by a ruthless hand as Atlas stepped into the room. Insouciance was evident on his pale features.

Atlas clasped his rough hands behind his back, sauntering towards Prometheus: whose expression was one of absolute disbelief. Prometheus shook his head, surprised. "I didn't expect to see you."

"Lord Kronos found a method to free me of my duty." Atlas shrugged, stretched his fingers out, and grunted. "My damn body is still sore."

"That is a shame." Prometheus' voice possessed an uninterested inflection. "Brother. Do you have any plans about Naruto Uzumaki?"

Atlas blinked in mild annoyance. "You mean the brat who fought me on Mount Othrys?" He grinned. "I want to fight that Shinobi again."

"Perhaps the two of you can battle on the night of the prophecy." Prometheus suggested to his brother. "He will help his friends."

"Friendship and companionship revolt me." Atlas stuck his tongue out, disgusted. "Strength comes from one's desires, greed, and avarice."

"I detect that your power has grown." Atlas widened his obsidian-tinted eyes. "But do not presume you can handle me in battle, Prometheus."

"I would never." Prometheus snorted in blatant amusement. He smiled. "I have much more important duties to focus on, brother."

Nonchalance illuminated Atlas' handsome visage. "That is good, I suppose. If you would excuse me, I have a mission from our lord."

"Farewell for the time being." The titan of forethought wagged his hand in Atlas' direction before he chuckled. "I must train my mana more…"

(-)

January 13th 2009:

Percy Jackson lounged on the top of his bed within his cabin at Camp Half-Blood. A half-read comic laid next to him on his mattress. Letting loose a guttural yawn, he rolled off of his bed and landed on the ground.

Suppressing the urge to groan, the fatigued demi-god walked out of his cabin and felt the lukewarm air of the camp graze his skin. Percy stepped towards the arena until the concrete beneath him shook.

He glanced at where the sound had been produced. Shock coloured his green-tinged irises for the briefest of seconds. Leo Valdez stood on the head of an enormous robot in the middle of the camp's arena.

"What the hell…?" Percy mumbled to himself in absolute confusion and rubbed his exhausted eyes. "Am I having a hallucination?"

"Percy?" A familiar voice streamed into the son of the sea's ears. Annabeth Chase arched a puzzled eye-brow. "When did you get—?"

Percy interrupted her and yawned for a second time. "I got to camp last night. For some reason, my school closed down for two weeks."

"Also." Percy trailed off and flicked his head at the gigantic robot within the middle of the arena. "What the hell is that meant to be?"

"It's a robot that Leo developed a while ago." Amusement infected Annabeth's casual voice. "The original was destroyed by Krios."

"Krios." Percy touched his chin before realization twinkled inside of the green pits of his iridescent gaze. "Ain't that the dude Naruto fought?"

"I think so." Annabeth tilted her head in brief contemplation. She gave Percy an unbothered shrug. "He rebuilt the robot three weeks ago."

Percy and Annabeth turned towards the gargantuan robot—this robot produced a loud screech of sound from its speakers as Leo grinned. Excitement illuminated Leo's eyes. "Hey, Percy! How have ya been?!"

"Pretty good." Percy walked over to the robot and patted its metal-constructed legs. "This new invention of yours is sick."

"Thank you for all of your praise." Leo bowed down. Pressing another button from his control pad, the robot lowered its head. "I appreciate it."

Jumping off of the robot's ginormous head and cracking his neck, Leo slipped the control-pad for his latest invention into one of his pockets. He grinned. "We have around five more months til that prophecy!"

"You did not have to remind me about that." Percy groaned to himself in concealed annoyance. "I am not excited about any of that."

"You are the child of prophecy." Annabeth planted her palm down on his shoulder and tapped it three times. "Or the prophesied one."

"Menoetius called me that, didn't he?" Percy murmured. He scratched the back of his neck. "What happened between Naruto and him?"

"Oh!" Leo raised his hand up and swung it around in the air. "He told me that he had defeated Menoetius through the potency of his chakra!"

"What the heck is that even supposed to mean?" Percy grouched. Even more confusion filled his tone. "That dude is so random."

"Indeed." Annabeth nodded. She had an entertained smirk on her face. "I still think you're more random than Naruto will ever be."

"Who's calling me random?!" A loud baritone echoed throughout the atmosphere within the arena. Naruto grunted. "I ain't random at all!"

Naruto flipped forward and landed down in front of the group of three: who all possessed expressions of unadulterated humour. Crossing his arms, the Uzumaki groused. "I'm more unpredictable than random."

Leo laughed at his blue-eyed friend. "Sorry, man. Did you get to camp around now? Your regular visits have kind of stopped."

"Sorry about not visiting that much." Naruto slipped his calloused hands into his pockets. "My pantheon has a major issue right now."

"Can we please stop talking about what problems we have?" Percy chuckled. "I think we'll all give ourselves a head-ache about this."

"That is true." Annabeth rolled her shoulders—they had grown somewhat stiff in the midst of their discussion. "You have a point."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of wheels—these wheels rolled across the ground of the otherwise vacant arena. Chiron touched his well-maintained beard. "Percy, Annabeth, and Leo."

Annabeth and Percy were taken aback by the serious inflection within Chiron's gentle soprano. The daughter of wisdom leaned forward. "Is something wrong, Chiron? You look a little troubled by something."

"I have just received some information from Nico Di Angelo." Chiron responded and sighed. "I'm afraid Luke and Atlas were sighted."

"Atlas?!" Percy yelled out in unconcealed shock. "Naruto defeated him ages ago! Shouldn't he be holding up the sky right about now?!"

"I shared similar thoughts about this situation." Chiron let out another despair-filled sigh. "I still can't believe Luke has joined Kronos' army."

Naruto remained silent and listened in on their conversation. Leo was preoccupied by the control-pad in his hands as he clicked its buttons. Chiron rubbed his temples. "I apologize, but I have a mission for you."

"We promise to take care of Luke and Atlas." Percy nodded at one of his greatest mentors before he grunted. "Should we ask the Oracle?"

"This isn't a quest, more of a task assigned by me." Chiron refuted Percy's concerns and smiled. "Thank you. All three of you, of course."

"We'll need more information." Annabeth folded her arms. "Is that all Nico found out? If so, then we have our work cut out for us."

Chiron produced a folder from out of nowhere and handed it off to Annabeth: who skimmed through its contents. "This is perfect."

"Leo." Annabeth called out to the child of the forges. "Are you alright coming along on this assignment? Or do you want to stay at camp?"

"I'm coming along for sure!" Leo had a cheerful and loud voice. "I don't mind if me and Mr. Castellan have another incredible duel of strength!"

"Thanks." Percy glanced at the silent Uzumaki. He lifted a curious eye-brow at his blonde-haired friend. "Do you have to leave soon?"

"Nah." Naruto hummed in response. Interest flickered across the luminous blue of his irises. "I think I'll be joining you three."

"Excellent!" Chiron clapped his hands, pleased. "I hope that the four of you come back to camp safe and sound! I'm counting on all of you."

Three out of the group of four left for their cabins to pack their bags for this new assignment from the director of camp. Once they were all packed up, they waited for Annabeth to read through Nico's entire report.

"This report doesn't tell us where Nico spotted Luke and Atlas." Annabeth read through the report for a third time. "Damn. This sucks."

Naruto detected a foreign presence touch the atmosphere around them. The shadows behind Leo twisted themselves into the outline of a person. Percy lurched back in surprise at the unexpected individual.

Nico Di Angelo emerged from the shadows and stepped towards the four of them. His pale hands were submerged inside of his pockets as he spoke to the squad of powerful people. "I'll be taking you there."

"Nico." Annabeth smiled at him and slipped the report into her satchel. "Thanks. You can leave once we get there and pick us up later."

"Sure." Nico nodded at Percy in acknowledgement. The shadows around them twirled and danced. "Brace yourselves, I suppose."

The shadows twisted once more and swallowed the five of them. Nico teleported the group into a run-down room—this room was dilapidated. Shredded posters were plastered across its wall.

"Where the hell are we?" Percy stared down at the wooden-surface of the room, pressing his shoe onto a crack. "This place looks abandoned."

"This is a cottage on the outskirts of a small town in California." Nico replied and touched the crevasses of the wall. "One of my hideouts."

"You sleep in this room or something?" Leo asked the child of Hades: who gave him a rather nonchalant nod. "Why are we at your cottage?"

"I found out something interesting a little while ago." Nico raised his ring-adorned finger and smirked. "They have a hideout in this town."

"It's concealed by the Mist, of course." Nico told the four of them. He lowered his finger. "I was able to sneak in—but someone caught me."

"However, I got some valuable information from this escapade." Nico chuckled. "Luke and Atlas are scheduled to come to this town soon."

"What about the mortals of the town?" Annabeth queried. "I doubt anyone in Kronos' army would leave them alone without trouble."

"Those mortals are used to cover this hideout from us." Nico answered. "None of us would suspect a town of mortals, would we?"

"How did you hide your cottage from them?" Annabeth asked him, noticing the amusement in his gaze. "You used your shadows?"

"Yep." Nico snapped his fingers until the shadows inside of the dilapidated room twisted. "My shadows cover up this cottage."

"What are we waiting for?" Percy smacked his knuckles into the wall and grinned. "We have no time to waste! Come on, everyone!"

"At least let me run over the plan, sea-weed brain." Annabeth shook her head. "Nico. How are we going to sneak into their hideout?"

"Simple." Nico walked across the run-down room and pointed at a dust-covered shelf in the corner. "Check out that shelf, would you?"

Leo rushed towards the shelf, pulled out multiple masks, and threw one at Naruto: who caught it without any visible exertion. Slipping the mask onto his face, Naruto felt his body pulse for five brief seconds.

Annabeth, Percy, and Leo slid their masks onto their faces. Nico gauged their confused expressions from the effects of their face-covers. He laughed. "These masks are used by Kronos' army."

"There are special runes implemented into them to conceal your true identity." Nico explained. "They rely on the masks to identify people."

"I stole these masks from members of Kronos' army who I took to my father." Nico grunted. "So you don't have to worry about being caught."

"How were you caught?" Leo grinned. He tapped his chin and spoke. "Did you take off your mask? Or did you try to fight someone?"

"I didn't use a mask." Nico scratched an awkward hand against the back of his head. "I hid in my shadows and got caught by someone."

"His name was Alabaster C. Torrington." Nico warned them. "I should tell you this—he is one of the most powerful demi-gods in their army."

"I'll remember that name." Annabeth replied and glanced at Percy: whose mask was tilted. "Would you please fix up your mask, Percy?"

Percy adjusted the blue-coloured mask on his face and chuckled. "Sorry. Sorry. I've never really worn this type of mask, Annabeth."

"Annabeth." Nico turned his head to her and groused. "The report I had Chiron give you will provide all of the information you could want."

Nico stepped into the shadows of the dilapidated room and disappeared. Leo shuddered a little at the touch of cold air inside of the cottage. Naruto slid his hands into his pockets. "What now?"

"Follow me." Annabeth tapped her argent-tinted mask in fascination. "We'll have to head over to a tavern in the middle of this town."

"Take off your masks for now."

The four of them left Nico's small cottage and stepped onto a worn-down path. Reaching the unprotected entrance to the town, they tip-toed into a tavern—this tavern was inundated by countless people.

They concealed themselves in an unoccupied corner and slipped their masks on. Annabeth seated herself down on a wooden-seat close to the counter—where a teenager was working. "How can I help you?"

There was a hint of pure recognition in his gaze. A smirk played on the teenager's lips as he dropped a glass of orange-juice down on the counter. Annabeth drank it and grunted. "We still await for his rise."

The teenager turned his back on her and pressed his hand into a rune traced onto the wall. Behind the counter—a hole opened itself up to them. He lowered his head. "I hope you have a pleasant stay."

They walked through the hole, hearing it close in on itself. Naruto stretched his senses out, hummed, and detected a multitude of various presences. He grinned. "We have to find Atlas and Luke, right?"

"They are scheduled to come to this hideout in two hours." Annabeth folded her arms in irritation. "We have some waiting to do for now."

"Boring!" Leo gave his friends a thumbs-down and disappeared into one of the corridors within the hideout. "I'll catch up later! See ya!"

"Leo!" Annabeth yelled in the direction where the child of the forges had vanished. She groaned. "Damn him and his excitable nature."

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Percy patted Annabeth on the shoulder and smiled. "How about the two of us do some spying on other people?"

"Intel gathering." Annabeth nodded in unadulterated approval. "That is a good idea. We can only hope that Leo doesn't expose himself."

"He can only expose himself if he takes off that mask." Percy waved his hand around without any worry. "Otherwise he's screwed."

"Wait a minute…" Percy gazed around the central-area of the hideout where all of the corridors were constructed. "Where's Naruto…?"

(-)

Alabaster walked throughout the hallways of the hideout. Nodding at his fellow demi-gods and at some of the more sane monsters, the magician entered the snack-room. He heard a loud cheer.

The runes implemented into their masks concealed their physical features—excluding one's eye-colour. Alabaster gazed at the blue-eyed individual who sat on one of the chairs. "Is that Ramen?"

Naruto detected an unfamiliar presence—but ignored whoever it was and sipped his noodles from the cup of Ramen in his hands. Wiping his lips from a few wet blemishes, he glanced at the child of magic.

"Who the hell are you?" Naruto tilted his head. A blunt lilt infected his nonchalant voice. "I can see him—but I can't see him at the same time."

"That must be the special effects that the runes on those masks have on the body. His eye-colour is still visible to us, however."

Alabaster let loose a powerful cough from the cavern of his mouth. "I have no reason to speak to you. Return to your duties at once."

"Okay." Naruto shrugged, sipped the last granules of his Ramen, and disappeared in a simple distortion. "This hideout has too many rooms!"

"What incredible speed." Alabaster murmured. "I've never really spoken to the one who wears that mask. Perhaps I should change that."

Naruto rushed through the corridors within one of the major hideouts of Kronos' army. Flipping forward, the Uzumaki crashed into a door. Shouts of confusion streamed into Naruto's ears. "Who are you?!"

Jumping to his feet and shaking his head, Naruto glanced at the source of the annoyed voice. Befuddlement replaced the Uzumaki's curiosity. "Why the heck are you not wearing your mask?"

Ethan Nakamura scowled at him and polished the end of his blade. "We don't have to wear those stupid masks. It's not a rule or anything."

"Hell." Ethan scoffed in derision. "This is one of the only one of our army's hideouts where most of the demi-gods wear those masks."

"According to some of them, the masks give them a feeling of importance." Ethan grunted, annoyed. "It irritates me to no length."

"I think my mask suits me!" Naruto pressed a palm against the crimson-coloured face-cover. "Are you envious of their stylish masks?"

"I don't have time to talk to you." Ethan scowled at Naruto for a second time. "Nor do I have enough time to entertain you and your delusions."

Naruto shook his head in feigned disappointment. "Can't believe you're leaving your best buddy Mr-Blonde behind!"

"You do realize the mask protects you from me seeing your blonde-hair?" Ethan snorted. "You remind me of a dumbass."

"Whatever." Naruto rolled his vibrant and blue eyes. "I still think you're a little envious of everyone's masks! Come on, you can say it!"

"I bet you have an ugly mug!" Ethan shouted in annoyance. He approached Naruto: who blinked. "Why don't I take off that mask?!"

"Hey!" Naruto planted a palm onto Ethan's nose and shoved him backwards. "You can't take off my mask! It keeps me mysterious!"

Ethan stumbled back, let out an enraged growl, and tackled Naruto. Despite being able to block him off, Naruto remained immobile as they crashed through the wall and destroyed it in seconds. Naruto laughed.

"That was fun!" Naruto chuckled and touched his whiskered face—a face that no longer had its mask on. "I think I fucked up just now…"

The demi-god jumped to his feet up from the ground of the lair and rubbed his sore head. Focusing on Naruto, unadulterated recognition flared within Ethan's vicious gaze. "You're Percy Jackson's friend!"

Running through the entrance to the security-room, Ethan slammed his hand down on an Alarm-Rune. The sound of multiple distress signals echoed across the depths of the hideout. Naruto groaned.

Ethan turned towards Naruto—but grunted when a calloused hand slapped him right in the face and flung him through the walls of the army's lair. Naruto followed him, clenched his fist, and blurred forward.

"So much for being sneaky."

Crashing against a table in a room of the hideout, Ethan climbed to his feet and rushed at Naruto without a single sign of fear or hesitation. Naruto blocked his punch and head-butted his nose.

Ethan ignored his broken nose before he roundhouse kicked Naruto's stomach. Unharmed by the somewhat powerful kick, Naruto slammed his elbow into the temple of Ethan's head. He slumped, unconscious.

Naruto scratched his head at the sight of the unconscious Ethan and sighed until he twisted himself around. Parrying the slice of a blade, the Uzumaki concentrated on whoever had engaged him in a battle.

Alabaster glared at Naruto. Wasting no time whatsoever, he summoned multiple mana-constructed weapons into the atmosphere. Naruto flipped backwards to establish some distance between them.

"I've heard about you, Naruto Uzumaki!" Alabaster yelled. Composure brimmed on his face. "Lord Kronos wants the creature sealed in you."

"I suppose you've snuck into one of our hideouts to take us out one by one." Alabaster hummed, amused. "I heard you defeated Luke…"

"I'm all for meeting some fans." Naruto grinned and gazed at the mana-constructed weapons in the air. "Do you want a signature?"

The magician grunted, flourished a calloused hand, and propelled his powerful weapons down at the Uzumaki. Naruto rolled backwards, gathering a large amount of chakra onto the top of his calloused palm.

"Wind-Style: Rasenshuriken!"

Naruto threw the Rasenshuriken forward at the weapons in front of him. Ripping through the mana-forged blades and spears, the incredible shuriken of wind expanded itself in size. "What the hell?"

Alabaster created a magical-dome around himself as the Rasenshuriken destroyed the area around him. Naruto appeared behind him. An elbow buried itself into the back of Alabaster's head.

Healing himself, Alabaster rolled forward and dove through the massive hole in the wall across the room. Mana amassed itself into his hands—but he was stopped when someone trapped him in a head-lock.

A green-eyed outline of incredible agility sprinted into the hole in the wall and reached the room where Naruto stood inside of. Percy pointed a finger at his friend. "How did you cause so much trouble?!"

Annabeth kept Alabaster trapped in a ruthless head-lock and released him once ten seconds had passed. Turning around, Alabaster unleashed a merciless torrent of flames in Annabeth's direction.

Alabaster was shocked. Annabeth had somehow emerged from the stream of heat, unharmed. Upper-cutting Alabaster, the daughter of wisdom watched him roll backwards until he smirked in amusement.

The demi-goddess glared down at the ground beneath her and noticed a number of runes illustrated on the concrete. These runes glinted a malicious crimson. Annabeth jumped backwards.

A hurricane of flames burst forth from these runes. Alabaster grunted before he was trapped in another head-lock. Annabeth stared into the hole in the wall. The voices of her friends filled the atmosphere.

"I didn't mean to cause so much trouble!" Naruto raised his hands up in surrender. "Ethan got pissed at me and tackled me into a new room!"

"You've destroyed the place!" Percy gazed at the destruction within the room. "This proves my point about how random you are!"

"You and Naruto are both random and reckless!"

"Come on, Annabeth! He's worse than me!"

"I ain't reckless!" Naruto pulled out his sun-glasses and planted them down on his face. "I am a composed and calm type of fighter!"

"You really aren't." Percy let loose a wry sigh and shook his head. "We heard all those alarms being set off. I thought it was Leo, not you."

Annabeth pushed Alabaster into the room. Trapped in a head-lock, Alabaster struggled to escape and channelled mana into his legs. Annabeth kicked the back of his shin. However, Alabaster chuckled.

He broke free from Annabeth's ruthless head-lock and rushed out of the area to bring along some more back-up. Taking off her mask, Annabeth breathed in disappointment. "You've exposed us, Naruto."

Percy removed his mask from his face and stretched his neck. Rubbing one of his strained cheeks, he grunted. "We should really get going. I'm pretty sure whoever that was left to bring their friends."

They were too late. Naruto, Annabeth, and Percy felt the entire hideout tremble from the sound of countless foot-steps. Numerous masked demi-gods and monsters stepped into the destroyed room.

The child of the ocean uncapped his pen into the form of his most trusted blade. Naruto bent his knees, cracked his knuckles, and squinted his blue eyes. Annabeth entered a suitable stance of combat.

Naruto blurred forward and smacked his fist into the face of a masked demi-god, cracking his mask and propelling him backwards. An Empousa sprinted at him—spear in hand. She let out a low hiss.

Planting his hand down against the concrete, Naruto unleashed his chakra into the ground and constructed an Earth-Style: Mud-Wall. The barricade of rock obliterated the Empousa into golden particles.

A demi-goddess and demi-god converged on Naruto: who landed a right-hook and a left-hook into their faces. Twirling around, Naruto slammed a roundhouse kick into another monster: who growled.

The Hell-Hound chomped its teeth down onto Naruto's fore-arm—but growled once more as it was disoriented by a powerful kick. A Rasengan drilled itself into its maw. The Hell-Hound crumbled.

Percy twisted his fist against the masked visage of a fellow demi-god and had Riptide parry one of the strikes from his spear. Aiming Riptide forward, Percy cleaved through the spear without an ounce of difficulty.

Jumping backwards, Percy gazed at the spear that had been hurtled at where he had been standing three seconds ago. Adrenaline fuelling his body, Percy sprinted at a Cyclops and destroyed the creature.

Annabeth engaged two demi-gods in a battle of attrition and hand-to-hand combat. Bashing a fist into a demi-god's chest, Annabeth slammed them backwards. She lowered her head.

The other demi-god who she had been battling let out an enraged roar and charged at her. Annabeth smirked, leaned herself back, and smacked her knuckles into his masked face. The demi-god fell down.

Alabaster bounded towards Annabeth in a blur of pure movement. Impressed by his physical speed. Annabeth caught his mana-enhanced fist until her feet sank into the ground from his strength.

Kicking Alabaster in the stomach and leaping back, Annabeth stared at her palm and flexed her fingers. Alabaster channelled his mana out into the open atmosphere and summoned a hurricane of flames.

Annabeth tensed her muscles, pulled out a dagger from her belt, and gritted her teeth. Alabaster flung the tornado of flames forward. Rolling to the left, Annabeth felt the heat from the fire touch her skin a little.

Another demi-god struck his palm down at Annabeth's head. Annabeth upper-cut him in the chin, roundhouse kicked his hip, and smacked him into a table within the obliterated sector.

Naruto, Percy, and Annabeth reconvened around the middle of the destroyed room. Pulling out a Kunai and slashing it through a Hell-Hound, the Uzumaki grunted. "This is kind of fun, isn't it?"

"I guess?" Percy shrugged and cleaved Riptide into an Empousa's neck. "There really is no end to these monsters, is there?"

Annabeth axe-kicked a demi-goddess in the chin and sighed. "They are rather relentless, that much I can and will say. Where's Leo?"

"I bet he's fighting some monsters off in another room." Percy responded. "Naruto kinda screwed us over, though. Didn't he?"

"It wasn't my fault!" Naruto flipped backwards and conjured a Massive-Rasengan onto his calloused palm. "Massive-Rasengan!"

Percy and Annabeth leaped out of the immediate vicinity of the Massive-Rasengan and watched Naruto slam it down on a horde of Hell-Hounds. Golden ashes showered the concrete of the room.

Landing down on the surface of the destroyed area, Naruto gave his friends a thumbs-up of confidence. Sensing two familiar presences, he glanced at the entrance of the area. "Luke and Atlas…"

Naruto snapped his head in Luke and Atlas' direction. His two friends followed his gaze before their eyes widened—one was in outrage while the other was in curiosity. Annabeth hummed. "Atlas…"

"Shouldn't he be holding the sky right now?" She mumbled to herself in fascination, punching a monster's nose. "How did he escape?"

"No clue." Percy brandished Riptide towards Luke: whose features were decorated by endless amusement. "I got dibs on Luke…"

Annabeth back-flipped and planted herself down on a cracked table inside of the room. Smiling at her, Alabaster raised his hand. A sphere of wind manifested itself in front of his palm. "Take this."

"I'm handling whoever that masked one is." Annabeth pulled out three of her rune-imbued daggers. They glowed crimson. "Your name?"

"I suppose I should reveal my real identity." Alabaster took off his mask from his face and chuckled. "My name is Alabaster C. Torrington."

"Nico mentioned his name..."

Annabeth had an unamused expression on her face. "It's a real displeasure to meet you, Alabaster. Though, I do recognize you."

"I was at camp for a little while." Alabaster answered Annabeth and expanded the size of his wind-constructed orb. "Wind-Sphere…"

Annabeth hurtled her three daggers forward—these daggers glinted a vicious vermillion and exploded into flames against Alabaster's enormous sphere of wind. Annabeth lunged at the magician.

Alabaster blocked one of her powerful punches—but Annabeth's knee embedded itself into his abdomen. In a pure match of hand-to-hand combat, he was outmatched. Teeth gritted, he clasped his hands.

Without wasting even a single second, Annabeth upper-cut Alabaster for a second time and roundhouse kicked him backwards. The child of magic rolled into a wall until he jumped up to his feet, impressed.

Naruto sprinted through the crowds of numerous disgruntled demi-gods and violent monsters in an indiscernible distortion. Percy followed him from behind, knocking out whoever was in their path.

Luke Castellan grinned at the sight of the frustrated Percy: whose outstretched hand reached for his neck. He widened his grin, summoned Back-Biter, and shouted. "Time for another rematch!"

"Not this time!" Percy raised Riptide at Luke's neck and grunted. "Don't even think about running this time! I won't let you, Luke!"

"How about you and your friends stop attacking me all at once, huh?!" Luke smiled, deflecting a slash from Percy's blade. "Accept it, Percy!"

"What the hell do you want me to accept?" Percy grunted for a second time before he was upper-cut in the chin. "That you love running from me?"

Luke let loose a joyous laugh of controlled insanity. "That isn't important to our conversation. Let me tell you what I mean, Percy!"

"You and I were cut from the same cloth!" Luke chuckled. His insanity lingered within his composed voice. "Different sides of the same coin!"

"Who gives a crap about any of your delusional ramblings?!" Percy head-butted Luke straight in the nose. "What about your magic, huh?!"

"My mana has been sealed." Luke clicked his teeth without amusement. "However, you still won't be able to defeat me!"

Percy rushed into Luke and slammed him against a wall of the destroyed vicinity. "Says the one who runs from me!"

Luke struck his palm against Percy's cheek and slapped him in the face once more. Backhanding Percy into a table next to them, Luke dematerialized Back-Biter and stretched his arms out. "Come on!"

(-)

Naruto and Atlas sauntered through a silent and sequestered corridor within this particular hideout of Kronos' army. Hands tucked into his pockets, Naruto glanced into the doors that had been opened.

"It has been a while since our last battle." Atlas chuckled, opened the entrance to an office, and waved a rough hand. "Please, come in."

"Why the hell are you being so damn civil to me?" Naruto tilted his head in unconcealed curiosity. "Ain't your goal to steal Kurama?"

Atlas seated himself down on a leather-accentuated office-chair. He hummed. "I suppose that is my lord's goal. My goal is different."

Blue eyes tracked down Atlas' movements of pure agility as his knuckles aimed themselves for Naruto's nose. Slamming his elbow against Atlas' powerful fist, Naruto gritted his teeth in excitement.

Naruto lowered his arm, crouched down into the stance of an unhinged boxer, grinned, gathered nature-energy into his chakra-system, and blurred forward. "Time for a good ol' Rasengan!"

"That technique again?" Atlas chuckled to himself in elation. Divine energy gathered itself into his hands. "Then I shall use this one!"

The divine power on Atlas' knuckles transmuted itself into the form of two average-sized and obsidian-coloured claws. Cleaving through Naruto's powerful Rasengan, Atlas flicked a punch at his neck.

Squinting his eyes in concentration, Naruto twisted himself around on the spot before a chakra-enhanced kick implanted itself onto Atlas' hip. The titan of endurance crashed through a wall.

"This is getting kinda fun, Kurama!" Naruto grinned, leaped into the enormous hole in the wall, and yelled. "Lava-Style: Rasenshuriken!"

The Rasenshuriken propelled itself into Atlas and engulfed his entire body. Regenerating his destroyed flesh and muscles, Atlas sprinted towards Naruto. Battle-lust illuminated his pale features. "Uzumaki!"

Naruto slapped a punch from Atlas downwards, head-butted his stomach, slammed a knee into his chin, and kicked him back. Atlas struck a palm into Naruto's nose, punched him, and elbowed his nose.

A spear stabbed itself Naruto's stomach—but the wound was healed by Kurama in an interval of three seconds. Naruto summoned a Shadow-Clone behind Atlas: who laughed. "I'm not falling for that!"

Turning around and eradicating the Shadow-Clone, Atlas hurled himself forward until his face was grabbed by a clawed hand. Some of Kurama's chakra had transmitted itself into Naruto's chakra-system.

Atlas clapped his hands, summoned three spears, and hurtled them at Naruto. Performing less than twenty hand-signs, Naruto cast the Earth-Style: Mud-Wall Jutsu. The rock wall blocked Atlas' weapons.

"I must ask you, though!" Atlas shouted amidst the unadulterated chaos of their battle. "Why have you come to this hideout!"

"We heard that you and Luke would be at this place!" Naruto grunted before he parried a third punch. "It's about time you were taken down!"

Naruto cartwheeled to the right and felt the wall behind crumble against the touch of Atlas' knuckles. Atlas let loose an amused laugh. "None of your friends would stand a chance against me in battle!"

"You underestimate them a lot, huh?" Naruto smacked a Rasengan into Atlas' jaw. "Whatever! They'll be taking care of Luke right now!"

(-)

Leo was fast asleep on the top of a sofa inside one of the abandoned rooms of the hideout that belonged to Kronos' army. Waking up from the light of a lantern on a shelf, the demi-god tapped his mask.

"I'm glad this mask could hide my identity." Leo yawned to himself, cracked his neck, and groaned. "My arms and legs are killing me."

Rolling off of the sofa and crashing into the carpeted concrete, Leo scratched his neck in blatant confusion. There had been a few demi-gods and monsters also asleep in this room. They had left.

The demi-god shrugged and exited the room through the back-entrance. Stepping out into the empty corridor, multiple sounds of aggression and violence filled Leo's ears. "What's going on…?"

Leo disappeared within a hurricane of fire and sprinted down the corridor until he reached the entrance to a destroyed room. A table was flung in Leo's direction—but he burned it into complete ashes.

Luke grabbed Leo—whose expression was one of surprise—and launched him into Percy. Squatting down, Percy felt Leo sail over his head and crash into the concrete. The child of the forges groaned.

"Sorry Leo!" Percy gripped onto Luke's collar, dragged him towards himself, and bashed his head into Luke's clavicle. "Didn't mean that!"

"That's fine!" Leo yelled in response and gave Percy a thumbs-up. Flames trickled out from his fingers. "I guess I'll be helping you out!"

Percy threw Luke over to Leo's fingers as the child of speed was swallowed inside of a tornado of flames. Scorched, Luke emerged from the mass of heat and summoned Back-Biter into his hands.

Riptide mauled itself into Back-Biter. Luke kicked Leo in the abdomen. The son of Hephaestus stumbled backwards. Upper-cutting Back-Biter out of Luke's hand, Percy was about to land the decisive blow.

However, the entire room itself shuddered and trembled from the power of a Massive-Rasengan. Naruto slammed Atlas down into a crater—but a fist imprinted itself onto Naruto's whiskered face.

The orange pigmentation around Naruto's eyes disappeared.

Alabaster broke out into a sprint and flung a flame-constructed orb towards Annabeth: who slashed her dagger right through it. Burying her fist into his face, Annabeth drilled Alabaster against a wall.

Naruto shunted his head downwards and shrugged off the damage from Atlas' strength-filled punch. Atlas kicked Naruto backwards. The Uzumaki jumped out of the crater. Atlas smiled. "This is the end!"

The entirety of the hideout shuddered for a second time once the malicious presence of the lord of time flooded the atmosphere. Without failure, every single member of Kronos' army bowed down.

Alabaster slumped down into the ground, unconscious. Luke had been teleported by Kronos next to Atlas: who had somehow been separated from Naruto. Percy and Leo stared around the room. "What the heck?"

"That was rather fun to watch I must say." Kronos' smooth voice echoed into everyone's ears. "Alas, this encounter must come to an end."

Luke turned towards Percy. Humour brightened his blue-coloured eyes. "We will meet again on the day of the prophecy, Percy."

"That's when I'll beat you!" Percy shouted in response and gritted his teeth. "Don't think running from me again will earn you any favours!"

Naruto walked towards Percy and Leo while Atlas glanced at him. The titan of endurance clenched a fist in excitement, chuckled, and grunted. "I do hope that wasn't our last battle, Naruto Uzumaki."

Annabeth approached Percy and nodded at the others. Alabaster's body disappeared through a portal from beneath himself. Atlas grabbed onto Luke's shoulder and they vanished into particles.

All of the demi-gods and monsters had been transported to Hecate's decorative and enormous palace by Kronos. Sighing, Annabeth gazed at the empty and obliterated storage-room. "This was unsuccessful."

Naruto slipped his calloused hands into his pockets. Leo rubbed the sore sections of his body. Percy took a single step forward. "The next time we fight them will be on my birthday, huh? What a good gift."

The group of four returned to Nico's dilapidated cottage—where he was waiting for them. Unbothered by the unsuccessful results of the mission, Nico teleported them back to camp and left.

Naruto stepped out of Camp Half-Blood and flew back to Japan. Once he had walked into his apartment, the Uzumaki slumped onto his sofa and sighed.

He was exhausted.

A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter.