November 15th 2009:

Sunlight streamed down from the heavens and brightened the overall mood of an isolated town in the vast countrysides of America. A lone individual stepped out from the entrance of a forest, foot-steps light.

Ethan Nakamura raised a pale hand over his eye to shield it from the sunlight being targeted at the town he had been living in for the past few months since the war between Olympus and Kronos' army.

A low sigh of trepidation escaped Ethan's lips. Ethan entered his wooden home, withdrew an axe from the top of a table, left his little cabin, and returned to the forest to gather some wood to create a fire.

Ethan's new lifestyle had been a somewhat humble one. After Percy Jackson had defeated Kronos and killed Luke Castellan, Ethan had vacated New-York-City in hopes of not being punished for his reproachful actions.

Slithering through the countless oak-trees amidst the numerous bushes within the forest, Ethan found himself at an empty clearing. Ethan curled his fingers around the handle of his axe, grunting.

He cleaved his axe into the trunk of an enormous tree, toppling it down to the grass-covered surface and producing a loud thud of sound. Shouldering his axe, Ethan broke some wood off the tree.

Ethan turned around to head back home but then his natural senses from being a demi-god flared at him in alarm.

Gulping down the abundance of prudence that lurked in the pit of his stomach, Ethan discarded his axe before slipping a knife out from his sleeve. Ethan's ears were bombarded by the rustle of soft laughter.

The idea of whoever had laughed at him being an agent dispatched by Olympus to capture and arrest him gnawed at the back of Ethan's mind. Black eye squinted in suspicion, he called out. "Who are you?!"

Ethan heard the echo of soft laughter intensify in volume, growing louder and louder by the second. Clenching his hand onto the handle of his knife, Ethan growled in aggression. "Reveal yourself at once!"

He became surprised at the sight of a hurricane comprised of leaves and bushes approaching him at an unnatural speed. Muscles tensed in concealed terror, Ethan took seven vigilant steps backwards.

Soil joined the hurricane of leaves and bushes three seconds later. Ethan grew less fearful, skulking towards the tornado of nature. He recoiled at the sound of a wondrous voice in his head. "How sad…"

"Who the hell are you?!" Ferocity graced the conceited depths of Ethan's mind. "Are you a hunter from Olympus meant to kill me?!"

A powerful burst of what Ethan assumed to be divine energy came out from the hurricane of nature and hurtled him into the fallen tree behind him. This tree exploded into shards of rotten wood.

Taking on a much more humanoid appearance, the hurricane of nature morphed itself into the form of a woman. Green eyes glowed an eerie light. Locks of emerald hair shimmered a brilliant brown.

She reached a tender hand out—a hand accentuated by its green-tinted fingernails. Collapsing to his knees in trepidation, Ethan held his knife out at a fearful angle. "This presence! What is she?!"

"I find it so sad you must suffer in isolation." The beautiful voice spoke once more, gentle and sympathetic. "But I also found it pathetic…"

"My child failed in his quest of conquering Olympus, did he not?" She laughed, teeth glinting beneath the sunlight. "You were in his army."

"Hang on a second." Recognition flared in the black pits of Ethan's gaze. "She called Kronos her child! It can't be! She's mother earth…"

Ethan raised his knife in the woman's direction, tone marred by an inflection of aggression. "Why the hell is mother earth talking to me?!"

"Ah!" A pleasant smile replaced the detached expression of amusement on Gaea's hidden features. "You do know my identity!"

"How would I not realize who you are!" Ethan gritted his teeth, staying on his knees and suppressing the urge to shiver. "You're a primordial!"

The primordial of the earth was overjoyed by the mention of her title, tilting her head and widening her smile into an ominous grin. Ethan was unnerved, hand trembling as he dropped his knife to the ground.

"I cannot hold this form up for long." Gaea spoke to Ethan, unbothered by the palpable amount of fear in his eyes. "I want to make an offer."

"An offer?" Lifting a suspicious eye-brow at the personification of the planet, Ethan said. "Why would you want to make an offer to me?"

Gaea shrugged, shoulders relaxed and untensed. "Simple." She answered. "You were a follower of Kronos and shared his ideals."

"I wouldn't say I shared Kronos' ideals." Ethan murmured. "I joined him because he was the only one capable of changing the status quo."

"And how did that end up?" Gaea smirked, entertained. "Percy Jackson was able to defeat him and his successor—Luke Castellan."

"Yeah." Ethan's body trembled at the endless possibilities that Gaea's smirk entailed and sighed. "Percy Jackson killed Luke…"

The primordial of the earth stifled a chuckle behind her pristine hand. "Doesn't it make you feel bitter? All your efforts were trampled on."

"What the hell can you offer me?" Anger prickled beneath the surface of Ethan's face. "I just want to survive, no matter what it takes."

"I doubt you will survive for long." Gaea's emerald-hued gaze became much more intense. "The wheel of fate has spun in a new direction…"

"You say you wanted to change the status quo, correct?" She asked Ethan: who nodded at her in affirmation. "It has already changed."

"The fates have begun to weave a new tale for this pantheon." Gaea explained, green eyes glowing brighter. "One weaved in despair, hopelessness, and blood..."

"Do you want to hide from this change, Ethan Nakamura?" Gaea mocked him, voice condescending and casual. "Or will you join it?"

Ethan huffed in amusement, vicious wind ruffling his black hair. "What the heck was that cliche speech? Fine, I'll accept that damn offer."

"Excellent." Reaching an arm out for a hand-shake, Gaea covered the air between Ethan and her in green particles. "Let me explain it."

"You are to work under one of my newest associates as his second-in-command. In return, I will empower your divine essence."

Shock infected Ethan's posture before he accepted the hand-shake. "Didn't Kronos also do this to Luke? Or at least something similar?"

"Not really." Gaea shook her head. "My son imbued a small portion of his divine essence into Luke Castellan to increase the divine blood in his body."

"Your divine essence will be empowered by me." Gaea let loose a low chuckle. "That, in turn, will weaken your mortality more and more."

"You won't become a deity." Shooting down the idea that had formed in Ethan's head, Gaea clarified. "But your potential will be unmatched."

"I accept the conditions and rewards of your offer!" Ethan grunted, an influx of divine energy coursing throughout his body. "What was that?"

Gaea waved her hand around and answered. "That divine energy you felt was the Divine-Contract the two of us made cementing itself."

"I will have someone pick you up at a later date." Gaea's body crumbled in a hurricane of soil and leaves. "Enjoy your upgrades."

Ethan stumbled backwards, falling against the tree he had cut down and contemplating on everything that had just transpired. Burying his face into his pale palms, he mumbled. "What the fuck was I thinking?!"

Since had been away from the world of the divine for a long while, Ethan had no clue about what Gaea was planning. It was the idea of changing the status quo that had Ethan accepting her sweet offer.

The Divine-Contract between them had already been created—so Ethan would not be able to back out of this deal to return to the life of normality he had constructed for himself in the countryside of America.

Sighing to himself in irritation at his brash decisions, Ethan gathered the wood he had collected earlier alongside his axe and returned to his cottage. He walked forward, slouching down into a wooden-chair.

He could feel the divinity within his system increase while he could also feel the mortality within his body become less and less. Gaea had granted him a powerful boon, one that increased his overall potential.

"Kronos and Luke both failed in changing the status quo of this world." Ethan scowled. "I don't care what Gaea says, I will create a new era."

Having resigned himself to his new circumstances, Ethan was confused by the sound of light scratches originating from the entrance to his cabin. Peeking out the window, he scoffed. "Monsters, huh?"

The town Ethan had moved to after the war between Olympus and Kronos' army had ended was an area deprived of monsters. Of course, this still meant the occasional monster would smell his presence.

Grabbing his axe off of the table and pushing open the door to ensure that it smacked the snout of the Hell-Hound loitering around his house, Ethan flexed his biceps in concentration. "Let's test out my upgrades."

Rolling backwards and crashing into the bushes, the Hell-Hound flipped onto its feet and rushed towards Ethan. Axe raised in focus, Ethan cleaved his weapon into the Hell-Hound's skull and ended it.

A weakened shock-wave was produced from the motion of Ethan slamming his axe down on the monstrous hound. Shocked, Ethan clenched a fist. "Gaea was right, this is an upgrade to my old strength."

Under normal circumstances, Ethan would have been unable to destroy a monster without some difficulty. This time was different—this time he had obliterated the Hell-Hound in one single strike of the axe.

"Incredible." Ethan flexed his fingers and biceps for a second time. "I think this newfound strength of mine will help me bring a new era!"

Glaring at the golden dust from the creature he had destroyed moments prior to gaining his new resolve, Ethan spat out a granule of saliva in derision and mockery. He turned around, entering his home.

Ethan was not sure about what the personification of the earth was scheming—but that was no longer his problem. Having found his determination, Ethan seated himself on a chair close to the fire-place.

(-)

Khonsu and Naruto Uzumaki were nestled in the somewhat small room they had rented out for the week in a humble inn. A fresh cup of tea and a plate of chocolate cake had been placed on a wooden table.

Enjoying the relaxed silence in the atmosphere of the room, Khonsu sipped his delectable tea and glanced at an unconscious Naruto: who had completed his training in wind-styled Ninjutsu two hours earlier.

Summoning an argent knife into his pristine hand and cutting his chocolate cake into two pieces, Khonsu indulged himself by devouring one. Wiping a napkin against his chocolate-smeared lips, he hummed.

"I must say." Khonsu spoke aloud to no-one in particular, increasing the pitch of his melodic hum. "This inn has some fine tea and cake."

Sipping more of the fresh tea in his cup, Khonsu found himself a little bothered when he detected the presence of a powerful entity three-hundred miles from the town where the inn was located.

Shock and fascination swirled in the silver depths of Khonsu's endless gaze of mysteries as he conjured a white fedora onto his head. Grabbing his cane off the table, Khonsu exited the inn and smiled.

"My. My. My." Khonsu whispered to himself, slicing his cane in a vertical motion and humming once more. "What a strong presence!"

Khonsu had sensed and discerned the presence of the Greek personification of the planet and grinned, delight evident in his straightened posture and eyes. "I should pay her a little visit, eh?"

An average-sized blue portal was constructed in front of Khonsu. Walking into it and reaching an empty clearing, Khonsu released three pulses of divine power to attract Gaea's attention and interest. "Hm…"

Soil dug itself out from the grass-covered surface around Khonsu, coalescing itself into a pair of verdant eyes that radiated unadulterated malice, warmth, power, and intelligence. Khonsu raised a polite hand.

"An Egyptian deity has called for my attention." Khonsu's head was inundated by the gentle inflection of the voice. "How interesting…"

"My apologies for calling you out so late." Khonsu twisted his lips into the most insane grin imaginable. "I wanted to meet you—Gaea."

The Egyptian god of the moon and time distorted his voice. "Or would you like me to call you by your other titles such as mother earth?"

"I was not aware that a member of the Egyptian pantheon would be interested in Greek affairs."

"Oh please!" Khonsu widened his silver eyes, tilting his head at an inhuman degree. "The Greek pantheon is always so entertaining!"

"Why have you come to speak to me?" The verdant eyes in front of Khonsu blinked, curious. "Do hurry, I will soon fall back asleep."

"Why wouldn't I want to speak to you!" Khonsu laughed, eyes widened even more in fascination. "This new prophecy is all about you!"

"Indeed it is." Gaea's statement of concurrence held a controlled amount of amusement. "Did you just want to have a normal chat?"

Peering into the veil of time and creation to take a deeper look into Gaea's presence, Khonsu shrugged. "I wanted to confirm something."

Khonsu rolled one of his shoulders. Gaea had returned to her century-long slumber as the soil that formed her green eyes faded into nothing.

"My theory was correct." Khonsu opened himself a portal. "According to the veil of time, Gaea is somehow linked to Naruto's lost identity…"

(-)

November 20th 2009:

Naruto walked across the asphalted road of the enormous town in the hinterlands of America, calloused hands slipped into his pockets. Vermillion eyes glowed beneath the influence of the sunlight.

Khonsu had disappeared without a trace for the umpteenth time after they had completed his training in the arts of chakra for the day. Sliding into an alleyway, Naruto performed an unfamiliar hand-sign.

Materializing into existence next to its summoner, the Shadow-Clone folded its arm and leaned itself against the wall of the alleyway. Naruto poked its left cheek, checking out its facial features. "It really is identical to me."

The Shadow-Clone-Jutsu was the perfect tool to use in battle because of the number of clones he could create at once. Naruto dispelled the clone, feeling its memories of having its cheek poked deluge his mind.

Shaking his head at the memory and stepping out of the alleyway, Naruto saw a book-shop in the distance. Crimson eyes squinted in intrigue, Naruto disappeared in an indiscernible flash of speed.

Appearing at the end of the street where the book-shop was located, Naruto pushed the entrance to the establishment open. A few other people were in the store, checking out the books available to them.

Naruto walked deeper into the store until he had retrieved a book about Shinto mythology. For some inexplicable reason, Naruto was drawn towards this pantheon in particular. He bought this book.

Leaving the book-shop behind him, Naruto approached the inn and slipped into the room that he had rented out for the week. Khonsu was still out somewhere—so Naruto decided to read his latest purchase.

The book was rather well-written. Each section had a different tale about the Shinto pantheon and its different types of deities. On the twentieth page of the book, Naruto heard the door to the room open.

Khonsu had reappeared, a plastic cup of coffee in his pale hand and a magazine about the newest fashion trends in the other. A preternatural grin had graced his face. "Interested in the Shinto pantheon, eh?"

"I guess." Naruto shrugged at the Egyptian deity, red eyes analyzing the illustrations on the pages of his book. "This book is interesting."

"I would much prefer to read about the myths mortals speak about me." Khonsu drank his coffee. "Do you think I'm a popular individual?"

Snorting, Naruto answered. "I bet if you went to school as a student, you'd be the most bullied one there. You would not be popular at all."

"That sharp tongue of yours wounds me, my aggressive fellow!" Khonsu reclined on a leather-padded chair. "You have a foul mouth."

"Whatever." Naruto rolled his vermillion eyes, smirking for the briefest of seconds. "Are you sure you can't restore my memories for me?"

"Oh?" Somewhat surprised by the change in the topic of their conversation, Khonsu replied. "No, my friend, I'm afraid I cannot."

"You are an unregistered existence." An immaculate finger was pointed in Naruto's direction. "Someone erased from reality."

Lowering his pristine finger and sipping more of his coffee, Khonsu said. "An unregistered existence is also erased from history and fate."

"You can tell I'm an unregistered existence because you can see into the veil of time and creation, right? Can I look into the veil by chance?"

"Naruto, my good fellow!" Humour burst forth from Khonsu's lips in the form of a deep chuckle. "It is impossible for you to look into the veil!"

"What a real pain in the ass." Naruto murmured, traces of anger lingering in his low voice. "Can you at least let me try to see the veil?"

"I suppose I could let you see into the veil. But, be warned, the veil of time and creation is only to be seen by deities of those two domains."

"But answer this question." Khonsu leaned forward on his chair, silver irises glowing a bright azure. "Why do you want to look into the veil?"

Naruto was unbothered by the palpable intensity in Khonsu's tone. "I was hoping there was a chance that the veil could help me somehow."

"A good enough answer, my friend!" Khonsu gestured another finger towards Naruto's head. "I, a deity of time, give you access to the veil."

Particles of a sinister blue rolled off of the tip of Khonsu's finger, flooding Naruto's vision. Incomprehensible flashes of white light filled Naruto's mind before he slouched downwards into his bed, silent.

Khonsu lowered his finger, reclined deeper into his chair, rocked back and forth, and noticed how Naruto's crimson eyes had become blue. Amazement coated Khonsu's tongue. "He can see into the veil…"

(-)

An astral-projection of Naruto had been transported into a pitch-black dimension while the original Naruto remained on the bed in the inn. Naruto flexed his transparent fingers, a grin present on his face.

Naruto shook his head to remind himself of his ongoing task and ventured deeper into the realm of absolute nothingness. Darkness stretched on for miles in this dimension. He then stopped in his tracks.

Amongst the pure darkness of the realm, Naruto spotted a lone mirror in the distance and approached it in blatant curiosity. Naruto pressed a calloused hand into the mirror.

He was surprised to see his lack of reflection in the mirror before it exploded into a million shards of shattered glass. These shards of glass floated upwards into the sky of the realm and turned into stars.

From the nothingness of the realm, two bright eyes of cosmic depth gazed at him without a shred of emotion. Naruto touched his head at the words that formed in his mind. "You must find Percy Jackson…"

The astral-projection of Naruto stumbled backwards, crashing into the surface of the realm before the two eyes of cosmic understanding glinted an ominous black and white. Naruto's astral-projection faded.

Blinking his crimson eyes open in a bout of unadulterated confusion and shock, Naruto rolled off of his bed and let out an annoyed groan. Khonsu rose from his rocking-chair, summoning his silver cane.

"What the hell happened?" A hoarse rasp wrenched itself out from Naruto's mouth. "I saw a mirror, these two eyes, and heard a voice…"

"Oh?" Khonsu raised a fascinated eye-brow, tapped a finger onto the top of his cane, and murmured. "And what did this voice tell you?"

"I have to find someone." Naruto rubbed the back of his head in deep thought. "The damn voice told me that I must find 'Percy Jackson'."

Recognition flickered within the silver pits of Khonsu's indescribable gaze. "You must find someone called Percy Jackson? How strange."

"I thought you told me it was impossible for me to look into the veil?" Naruto scowled, cracking his stiff neck. "How was I able to see into it?"

Khonsu picked up his plastic cup of coffee. "I'm not sure, my red-eyed fellow. You must be the first mortal who has glimpsed the veil of time."

Rolling his stiffened shoulders and climbing onto his bed, Naruto grunted. "Whatever, enough about that. But who is Percy Jackson?"

"A rather popular individual in the Greek pantheon as of late." Khonsu answered, drinking more of his coffee. "He defeated the titan of time."

"Kronos, right?" Naruto scratched his chin, laying down on the soft mattress of his bed. "Huh, he must be a pretty powerful person then."

"Indeed." Khonsu nodded in agreement, shaking the coffee in his plastic cup. "He also killed Luke Castellan—Kronos' successor."

"Why does the veil of time and creation want me to find him?" Naruto asked, hands crossed behind his head. "Did I somehow know him?"

"Maybe." Khonsu saw the small flashes of recognition that flitted across Naruto's red gaze before they were snuffed out. "I can't say..."

Returning to his earlier position on his chair and taking another sip of his coffee, Khonsu said. "Let us discuss what you shall do next."

"I want to practise more Ninjutsu and Taijutsu." Naruto clenched a fist, eyes closed in boredom. "I also want to learn how to use Senjutsu."

"You're interested in Senjutsu?" Khonsu feigned shame. "I did tell you about Senjutsu, yes, but I'm afraid I'm unable to teach it to you."

"Really?" Naruto was unimpressed, sighing in unconcealed annoyance. "Oh, well. I guess I'll practise my other skills then."

"Excellent." Smiling, Khonsu finished off the last vestiges of coffee in his plastic cup. "Come along, my good fellow, it's time for you to train."

(-)

November 25th 2009:

Naruto pulled out a Kunai from his sleeve, imbued enormous amounts of wind-natured chakra into its tip, and slashed through the multiple orbs of silver light being directed straight towards his upper-torso.

From a safe distance, Khonsu watched Naruto destroy his magical-constructs into nothing without a visible ounce of difficulty. Lifting his cane, Khonsu shot bullets of mana in Naruto's direction.

He lowered his Kunai, channelled chakra throughout his arm, punched the bullets of mana into blue-tinted particles, and vanished in a vicious burst of unmatched speed. Khonsu constructed an argent barricade.

The heel of Naruto's foot was buried into the silver barricade of mana. Khonsu dispelled his barrier, using the end of his cane to fend off the nastiest of right-hooks imaginable from his crimson-eyed companion.

Flipping backwards to establish an enormous amount of distance between himself and Khonsu, Naruto sprinted forward in an untraceable blur of movement. Khonsu was roundhouse kicked.

Despite holding back most of his true power and skill in this spar against Naruto, Khonsu found himself impressed by Naruto's raw strength and speed. His cane blocked off a chakra-enhanced punch.

Naruto retracted his arm, appearing behind Khonsu and drilling his chakra-empowered knuckles into the back of Khonsu's head. Rolling downwards, Khonsu chuckled as a clawed hand grabbed his neck.

Throwing Khonsu towards the bushes within the clearing they had unearthed for their spear, Naruto approached him at inhuman speeds. Crimson bubbles of chakra coalesced around Naruto's muscled arm.

Khonsu landed on the heels of his feet, twirled his cane in a circular motion, created a barricade, and warded off Naruto's powerful blow. Naruto grunted, more and more crimson chakra surrounding his arm.

He grinned in intrigue at the sight of the vermillion layer of chakra coated over Naruto's arm until he felt the barricade he had created being destroyed. Arm lashed out, Naruto struck Khonsu in the nose.

Flying across the cold air of the clearing and crashing into a multitude of ancient trees, Khonsu healed his shattered nose. Delirious amounts of pleasure surfaced on his face. "Such incredible power and ferocity!"

Rising to his feet and conjuring another cane into his pale hand, Khonsu repaired the damage Naruto had caused to the area. Approaching Khonsu, Naruto slanted his head. "You good, Khonsu?"

"I'm more than good, my crimson-eyed fellow!" Khonsu's voice became distorted for a brief minute. "You truly are a monstrous boy!"

Naruto picked at the entrance of his ear in purposeful disinterest. "The only monstrous thing about me is how bored I'm feeling right now."

An amused smile tugged at the corners of Khonsu's lips. "How could you be bored after such a brilliant battle, my friend! I'm feeling great!"

"I still have no clue where the hell that red chakra comes from." Naruto grouched. "It feels natural and unnatural to me for some reason…"

"That's because that red chakra of yours comes from another source." In his mind, Khonsu released a low chuckle. "Ignore that feeling for now."

"Your Taijutsu in this spar was impeccable in my opinion." Khonsu said. "I'm glad you also used your wind-natured chakra in this spar."

"Though, I will look into teaching you more Ninjutsu." Turning around, Khonsu disappeared into the bushes of the area. "Come along now!"

Rolling his crimson eyes in amusement, Naruto followed Khonsu from behind and slid his coarse hands into his pockets. Stepping onto the trail within the forest, Khonsu spoke up. "Have you looked into him?"

"Hm?" Jolting himself out from his bored stupor, Naruto lifted a confused eye-brow. "Looked into Percy Jackson? Can't say I have."

Khonsu tapped his cane against the soil of the path. "I recommend that you look into his whereabouts. The veil did tell you to find him."

"I'll focus on my training for the moment." Naruto crossed his arms in contemplation. "Then I'll look into people connected to my past…"

"Very well." Footfalls silent and unbothered, Khonsu smiled. "The wheel of destiny is spinning in a new direction once again, isn't it?"

Taking a glance at the crimson-eyed individual behind him, Khonsu pondered. "Naruto Uzumaki—how shall you fare on this journey?"

(-)

November 30th 2009:

Ethan was nestled into the blankets of his bed, reading one of the comic-books he had purchased from the town he had moved to. This peaceful session of reading was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Dragging himself out from his comfortable bed and putting on his eye-patch, Ethan opened the entrance to his little cottage. A familiar man stood in front of him, body decorated by an expensive suit.

"Epimetheus." Ethan snarled at the titan of afterthought, black eye shrunken in hidden fear. "I thought you were still in Tartarus."

"Gaea had Tartarus reform me." Epimetheus answered. "Though, I must say, I didn't expect to run into one of Kronos' old lackeys."

Pale fingers curled around the handle of the door in rage. Ethan sneered. "I heard two Roman demi-gods beat you in the Labyrinth."

"Indeed, they did." Epimetheus smiled without a hint of shame or care. "But I have grown much more formidable and stronger since then."

"Damn it." Teeth gritted, Ethan trembled. "I didn't expect Gaea to have recruited one of Kronos' titans to her campaign. What should I do?"

Epimetheus touched Ethan on the shoulder. "Do not forget you have tied yourself to Gaea through a Divine-Contract. There is no escape."

Divine-Contracts were contracts created by a divine entity and mortal. They were unbreakable because Chaos itself served as a witness to these types of contracts. Ethan grunted. "Yeah, yeah. I know."

"Gaea told me that she wanted you as my second-in-command." Epimetheus remarked. "I can see how she upgraded your power."

Snapping his fingers and conjuring a portal behind Ethan, the titan of afterthought chuckled. "I can tell you'll be a useful asset for Gaea."

(-)

November 30th 2009:

Khonsu and Naruto were seated at the back of a somewhat crowded bus. An illusion had been set over the mortals by Khonsu to keep them quiet. Relishing the silence in the air, Khonsu felt content.

Silver irises of perpetual mystery and depth glanced towards Naruto: who had his knuckles propped beneath his chin. Naruto had his red eyes squinted, looking at the different sights that the bus crossed.

In this moment of endless peace and silence, Khonsu pondered about the fact that the veil of time and creation had told Naruto to locate Percy Jackson—a famous member of the Greek pantheon.

Snapping his head over to Naruto and accessing the veil of time and creation, Khonsu peered into Naruto's being itself. Once again, words flashed in his head:

'D̷͇̥̤̼̗̂ͅơ̴͔̯͇̐́͑̽͑́́̈̌͂̓͜ ̸̧͕̗̠̰̥̝̓͋̄̿̃͝͝n̶̡̼͚̗̜̣̬̟͙͎̗̓͌̔̐̇͛͋̓̾̀̿ͅö̸̞́̓̀̅t̵͕̣̼͈̮̪̯͙͗̃͂̇͝ͅ ̶̢̢̢̰̮̳̟̉̏̾̇́p̷̖̗̖̬̌̈̓̽̀̈́ͅȩ̶̧͓̭̼̯̫͍͌͒̋͑̍͌͐̇̌̇ͅͅe̵͕͚̖͚̝̬͒̄͝r̸̨͇͈̖̻̘͎͚͉̯͇̭͋̉̂͝ ̸̛̮͚̦̥͔̃́̀͑̒̇̿͠i̷̩̫̻̥̠̬͈͓͆̀͒̒̃ǹ̴̨̨̥͙̠̻̤̻͉̬̎́͂̎̃t̵̞̦̝̖̫̤̟́͆͒̃̃̆̕͝o̴̬̭̜͖͋̃̉̀ ̸̳͈̣̓̍͋͒̒̈̾̋̕t̸̨̙̟̮̥͈́̈́̄͝ͅh̵̨̛̘̯̭̣͑̉͑͛̈͑͝͝e̶͉̞̣̫͋̋̿̚ ̴̛̜̻̝̪̀͌̀ē̷̲̝̺͇̜͖͈͌͆̎̍͑̆̕r̵͕̠̠̳̹̗͓͍͔̻̤͂͋̒͋̾͐̀̊̓͒͝͝ͅä̴̖͇̲́̈́̌̒̀ş̵̼͓͚̫̹̯͉̤̃̚è̸̡̛͉͍͍͒͂͛̾̒̎͊̏͜͠͝ḑ̷̪̺̙̜͛̏̄ ̵̤̅͒̾͒͋̈͝o̷̘̓͐̃̚͝ṋ̵̨̛͙͉̻͔̺̰͇̃͑̐̊̄̔̀́͝ͅë̷͕̝̭̥͇̠͚͍̝͍́̃̂̑̈̾ͅ'̷͍̙̼͓̾̈́̑̋͝ş̷̢̙̲̝̗͔̦̝͕͎̾̿̎̌̌͋͘̕ͅ ̶̯͉̲̠͖͈̟̼̩̩̙̅̍͛͋͘ͅs̴̨̥̈̅̋͆̊̚͘͠͝o̴̡̤͓̺͓͚̹̥̯̯̺͗͌͑͠ͅų̷͔̠̬̳̰͚̹͌͛͜ͅḽ̸̨̯͔̰̭̓̽̒̂͘͜'

A familiar migraine buried itself into Khonsu's head. Using his chronokinesis to heal his headache, Khonsu touched his chin. Naruto leaned back in his seat on the bus, eyes glued to what was outside.

"The more I look into his soul, the more resistance I receive in return." Khonsu murmured in his mind. "I also cannot decipher those words."

"Whoever sealed this boy into that artificial realm and stole his memories must be a powerful creature." Khonsu tapped his ring. "It wasn't Gaea…"

He had accessed the veil of time and creation to look into Gaea's presence and had seen a connection between herself and the realm Naruto had been sealed into. Khonsu rotated the ring on his finger.

The veil of time and creation had also told him that Gaea was not the one who had created the realm, though. Gaea had been the one who had placed all those monsters in the dimension Naruto was trapped in.

Someone else had constructed the realm and sealed Naruto into it while Gaea had provided the monsters designed to track down Naruto and end his life. Khonsu hummed. "Who made that artificial realm?"

Naruto was unaware of the deep contemplations Khonsu was experiencing at the moment and was maintaining his gaze on the outside world. The bus drove across the roads of the country.

Naruto sighed. "I'm exhausted…"

A/N: Thanks for reading.