Let's get the show on the road! As always, please review! I enjoy reading them and hearing your opinion!
Disclaimer: I don't own "Naruto" or "Percy Jackson The Olympians," they belong to their respective owners.
Learning Loss
Five Months Later
Naruto walked the cold halls of the Underworld with Nico. After consoling the young boy, it was revealed that he was the son of Hades.
In those six months since Bianca's and Zoe's deaths, a lot had happened. He spent much of it at camp, getting to know those around him. However, he mainly stuck around Nico, helping him overcome his grief.
The young boy had turned eleven and as a birthday gift, he was claimed publicly by his father. Of course, this received many lightning strikes in the air from an angered Zeus, but he was unharmed.
Nico also accidentally summoned skeletons to fight off some campers who were bad-mouthing his sister to tease him, further strengthening his relationship with his father. Needless to say, everyone was shocked that day.
Grover claimed he had a dream that Pan reached out to him and spoke about his return. Pan stated that he would be found soon and awaited an arrival.
Thalia was off with the Hunt as its new lieutenant while Grover and Annabeth were off with Percy. The trio had received some information that Luke was using the labyrinth designed by Daedalus to move his army around. Their numbers were growing each day as more demigods and monsters were forming.
Their goal was to either remove any means of navigating it, or destroying the labyrinth so Luke couldn't use it anymore. An opening was found near Camp Half-Blood after all, which was concerning for the group.
Instead of joining his friend, Naruto decided to stay with Nico for the time being. He believed that Nico needed someone with him for the time being until he could deal with his sister's death properly. It was clear that Bianca's demise had taken a toll on his mental state.
Besides, he could use this opportunity to see Melinoe once more.
Hades had communicated with his son mentally and offered to meet him in person. The child agreed and asked if he could bring Naruto along. Hades complied.
Once ready, Nico and Naruto said goodbye to Chiron and fellow campers before walking into a dark portal opened up by Hades.
Before leaving camp with the young boy, Naruto ensured that he spoke with Silena Beauregard privately. After revealing he could feel her emotions, Silena didn't say much afterward. Naruto left with a warning that she should come forward if she felt wrong about something.
He didn't forget that Luke explained there was a spy in their ranks…and he had a sneaking suspicion it was Silena. He left behind a henged shadow clone to say around the girl. It would transform into flies, squirrels, and other animals until it ran out of chakra. He needed to make sure that Silena didn't make the wrong choice in betraying their group.
The clone had enough chakra to stay alert for an entire six months if it wasn't in combat. He had to pour quite a quantity of his chakra reserves to get it done.
The footsteps along the marble hallway snapped Naruto out of his thoughts. The inside of Hades's palace was grand in luxury and reminded Naruto of when he first came.
Looking down at his arm, Naruto sighed at the storage seal drawn across his limb. Nico had decided to burn his playing cards and his figurine before leaving camp. He claimed it was because he no longer needed the 'stupid game' as he put it.
Reaching into the fire, Naruto was able to put it out and not risk being burned due to his fire blessing. He sealed the figurine and cards into his arm until Nico decided he wanted them again.
He knew the boy was just lashing out after his sister's death. He wouldn't hold it against him if he was bratty, he was only eleven after all.
After opening the double doors into the main room, the duo reached Hades sitting down on his throne. He was speaking with an attendant but waved them off after seeing Nico enter the room.
"Welcome, boys," Hades spoke while standing up. "We have much to speak about, son."
"Don't-" Nico shouted before feeling Naruto place a hand on his shoulder. The blonde felt Nico's emotions spike and knew this meeting was going to be personal.
Nico sighed before calming his tone, "I will speak with you for now…father."
Hades nodded with a sad smile, knowing he had a lot of work to do. He hid Bianca and Nico away to keep them safe, only for his daughter to perish nonetheless. He would not risk his son facing the same fate.
"As for you, child of Hestia," Hades spoke while eyeing Naruto. "I believe my daughter was looking for you in our courtyard. She overheard you were arriving with Nico. She is waiting outside."
Naruto nodded before looking at Nico one last time. He squeezed the boy's shoulder in support before whispering, "I'll see you later and we can have some fun, okay?"
Nice sported a ghost of a smile. "Okay."
He was nervous to be alone with his father, but he knew that this conversation needed to happen.
Giving Nico a small pat on the back, he walked through another set of doors that Hades pointed to earlier.
While the teenager walked away, Hades looked on in curiosity. It seemed the blonde was trying his best to support Nico through this difficult time. It seemed that kindness ran through Hestia's bloodline.
Naruto saw Melinoe picking away at some flowers near the courtyard once walking through the last set of golden doors. She was lost in her world of dandelions and roses.
"Hey, Mel!" Naruto waved while shouting his friend's name.
The goddess turned her head and sported a wide smile of her own. "You came after all!"
Walking down the steps, Naruto felt a spring in each of his steps. "Of course I did!"
Just when he was in arms reach, the blonde felt himself pulled into a tight hug. It conveyed the passion Melinoe felt for the young hero.
After separating, Melinoe decided to take the blonde on a tour of the Underworld. They would finally be able to spend some time together after speaking through Iris's messages for so long.
"C'mon! I'll take you on a tour!" Melinoe stated while pulling Naruto's hand in hers. Smiling at the excited girl, the blonde put up no resistance to her actions.
She showed him step by step how a soul is processed in the Underworld. As they walked together, they caught up on lost time.
They first arrived at the Judgment Pavilion, which resembled a courthouse in the mortal world. However, this building was much larger and had three judges instead of one.
"When someone first dies, they come to the Judgment Pavilion. Three spiritual souls of righteous heart will cast judgment on the recently deceased." Melinoe explained as they stood outside the pavilion.
With his arms crossed, Naruto raised a golden brow. "Is it the same three judges each time?"
The goddess shook her head. "No, it switches periodically."
"I see…" Naruto hummed to himself.
"What is bothering you, brat?" The fox asked from within. He could sense that Naruto was feeling confused.
"…Just wondering where we would go if we die. Since we're not from this world originally, I wonder if our soul would still come here."
The fox closed his eyes and snorted. "I don't care where we end up at death, as long as I get away from you."
"You don't mean that, right Kyuubi?" Naruto asked with a friendly smile.
He didn't get a response.
Unknowing of his mental conversation, Melinoe dragged Naruto onward. Walking from the pavilion, the duo ended up on a cliff overlooking a massive field. Naked people were running through cactus, shards of glass, and fire.
Lava was bubbling and striking those unaware above. Others were being stripped of their flesh, effectively being flayed alive before restarting.
This was the Fields of Punishment. Here, Naruto had to turn off his Negative Emotion Sensing ability as the pain and hate were too strong for him to handle. He felt nothing but angered souls and malice in each direction.
"Any person who has committed atrocities or conducted vicious wrongs is placed here for eternity," Melinoe explained while she overlooked the area. "These are the Fields of Punishment."
"Damn." Naruto whispered to himself, "I can see the pain in each person's eyes from here."
It was true, as Naruto could tell the damned souls were experiencing high levels of pain. He tried to not feel bad for them, as they were placed here for a reason.
"It's not a pretty sight," Melinoe said in a solemn tone. "I can agree to that, but they have earned their place here nonetheless."
Deciding that it was enough for now, Melinoe directed Naruto over to the next stop.
They eventually arrived upon a clearing that held miles and miles of wheat fields. The crop was around six feet tall and he could see the occasional ruffle in the field. They were not allowed to enter given there was a barrier around the area.
"These are the Fields of Asphodel." Melinoe pointed out with outstretched hands. "People who have not done many good or bad deeds end up here for eternity. They wander aimlessly through the field and often forget their mortal life."
"Is that why they don't have faces?" Naruto asked. He could see the figures in the field, and none of them had any facial features. It was like a blank canvas for each person in the field.
Melinoe nodded, confirming his suspicions.
Deciding to break the silence, Melinoe smiled before dragging Naruto's arm with her. "The next stop is much more enjoyable."
Optimistic, Naruto followed with a sharp gaze. They walked with Melinoe being their guide throughout the Underworld. Walking up steps, past gates, and through guards, the duo came to a beautiful sight.
"Wow…" Naruto said in amazement. "What's this?"
"This is Elysium. The paradise for the virtuous."
There were rows of houses beautifully made, with fresh flowers blooming alongside them. The colored gates were incredibly high and surrounded the paradise. A glittering lake was centered in the middle of the area.
Despite their distance from the paradise, Naruto could hear laughter ring out from within. He could also smell food cooking and people playing.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Melinoe asked.
"It is. It's earned its name as a paradise." Naruto said with a smile. It was comforting to see such a nice sight after death, filling those alive with hope of a grand afterlife.
"Not many come here," Melinoe explained. "But those that do, earn the privilege of staying here for eternity. Those heroic also earn a spot here, which is the case for many demigods. They can also choose rebirth if desired."
"Rebirth?" Naruto asked with a raised brow.
Melinoe nodded. "Yes, rebirth. A soul can choose reincarnation as an alternate path after death, resulting in them being reborn within the moral world. They lose any memories of their past life and are reborn to a new family."
"Interesting…so this world has a version of reincarnation…" The fox mumbled in his thoughts. He found that quite interesting indeed.
"What about Tarturus?" Naruto asked in a serious tone. "I saw it briefly once before."
"I… I don't know if it would be a good idea to check it out." Melinoe admitted with hesitation. "It houses some of the strongest beings and can give off an aura of death."
"Could we stay far away from it? I just want to check it out quickly," the blonde asked. The main reason he wanted to see it once more, is because he believed this is where Kronos was forming. If he could just sense the being's energy or even Luke's, then he could bring back valuable information to camp.
"Fine, but stay close to me," Melinoe said in a strict tone. Following her lead, Naruto watched as the paradise of Elysium disappeared far behind them.
It took them almost an hour of walking, but they arrived at their destination.
Reaching one arm out to hold Naruto back, Melinoe spoke out. "This is the closest I think we should go."
Naruto nodded and didn't move a step further. Up ahead, he could see a large chasm of empty space. It was a deep crater that held nothing but pure darkness.
"It's a long fall down below." Melinoe admitted, "Monsters go there to form again and many other beings are chained there as well. For example, th-"
Melinoe's words suddenly cut out for the blonde as he widened his eyes in surprise. Feeling a splitting migraine, he was transported into a world of pure darkness.
"Huh? Wha?" Naruto blinked multiple times as he was surrounded by a world of darkness. One moment he was speaking with Melinoe, the next, he was dragged into a world of black.
Looking around, he could see nothing for miles. He couldn't even access the fox's chakra, which was starting to alarm him.
It started when he reached out with his Negative Emotion Sensing ability, and now he was here.
It didn't take long for a voice to ring out.
"Hello, young one."
The voice was female. However, it echoed from each direction and he couldn't make out where it was coming from exactly.
"I see you wonder who is speaking to you. I have many names, but you can call me Mother Earth."
"Oh shit." Naruto's thoughts rang out in his head. He knew who that was.
"I cannot stay for long as even now, my presence is waning. However, I merely came with an offer."
"Let's cut the act, Gaea." The world around them shook at the mention of the name.
"…very well." In the next moment, Naruto saw a beautiful woman form in front of his eyes. Specks of wood, grass, water, and other elements came to form an elegant figure.
The woman had a white complexion and stood in a green dress hiding her body. It fluttered behind her with elegance. Her eyes were a deep green that shined brightly and her hair was auburn with flowing locks. Her hair reached to her shoulders and glossed with a nice glow.
"Greetings child, I am indeed Gaea. I sensed you reached out into the pit of Taturus, and I reached back out. I believe we could have a chat, no?" Gaea smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.
Naruto didn't respond but did tense up his body. He could at least access his chakra for the time being.
Gaea walked over to the blonde but stood a few feet away with a motherly smile on her face. "I am merely asking if you would like to join in an alliance, nothing more."
Naruto bit back a scoff, "And why would I join you? We both know you're in support of Kronos."
It was true after all. Naruto had been told by Rhea and Hestia how Gaea had wanted the end of Olympus for eons at this point.
"Allow me to explain," Gaea spoke softly with a smile on her face. "You know the story of Zeus slaying Kronos I assume?"
Naruto nodded.
"Excellent," she smiled, "When Zeus decided to kill his father, my son, I intervened. I asked him to spare his father and rule with a good heart. He didn't have to forgive his father, but instead, reconciled for the good of Olympus. Instead, Zeus decided to ignore my words and strike down his father in Tartarus nonetheless."
Naruto wasn't the biggest fan of Zeus, but even he could admit that it would be difficult to forgive a father who swallowed your siblings.
"After slaying his father, Zeus continued to rule with an iron fist. He became a tyrant over time and the King of Olympus became the Tyrant of Olympus," Gaia said with a firm frown. "With my son's revival and growing army, we have a chance to reset Olympus. We can lead a new era, an era of golden reign."
"There was a reason their rule is no longer established," Naruto countered, "If their leader could swallow children without any repercussions, I could only imagine how the subordinates would act. A leader is a representation of the group as a whole. The fact that some Titans also went against Kronos shows that his rule was not loved by all, even by his fellow gods."
"Ahh yes, some Titans did help the new gods…such as Rhea, hmm?" Gaea teased with a smile. "Nonetheless, my son has admitted his faults as ruler. In this new era, we will correct previous sins and lead with justice."
"Why do you need me here, Gaea?" Naruto asked, "All you've done is give me a history lesson so far."
"My offer of alliance is this, join us in this war. I seek a champion to help and I believe you would be a perfect fit." Gaea smiled behind her palm. "You already command the elements based around my body. The wood you control is an extension of my flesh. You make the perfect champion to embody my ambition."
Naruto narrowed his eyes in response, "I appreciate the opportunity, but I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your offer. I'm already the champion of another goddess."
"You mean the Shinto goddess, correct?"
Naruto widened his eyes at Gaea's reveal. He didn't expect her to know everything so casually.
"Why are you surprised, child? I am Mother Earth, all actions eventually make their way back to me. Despite my constant slumber, I am not ignorant of that around me." Gaea smiled. "If you are concerned about being the champion for two goddesses, then don't worry any longer. You can work for both of us if needed."
"That's where you're wrong, Gaea," Naruto said in a stern tone, "You claim I could work for both of you. Amaterasu-sama would have said I could work with both of you. Besides, I have no interest in being your champion."
The blonde could tell the intentions of both deities were very different. While Amaterasu cared for him, Gaea would use him as a tool and discard him when necessary.
For the first time in the conversation, Gaea lost her smile. She frowned lightly before it turned into a smile once more.
"Very well, I will not force you to idolize my ideals." Gaea clarified. "However, should you ever change your mind, allow me to depart a final gift." Extending her arm, Gaea shot forward a burst of her power.
Naruto nearly flew backward at the sudden force applied to himself. Before he could say anything or spring into action, he felt his chakra reserves change in nature. He couldn't explain it, but it felt as if he unlocked something different he didn't have before.
A green seal in the shape of a tree appeared on the back of his hand momentarily before it disappeared. He tried re-summoning the symbol again, but it wouldn't reappear. Either it would never show again, or it would only come when needed.
"Now you have my blessing." Gaea smiled, "Should you ever need to use my energy or access it, it will be available to you. Consider this my generous gift and my extension of goodwill."
The darkness around Naruto began to wave while Gaea smiled. Naruto went to step forward only to realize he was frozen.
"I…I can't move!" Naruto thought in panic, not sure what was happening. It was clear the influence of Gaea's power was waning but he didn't know why his movement was restricted.
"I hope you access my power, young one." Gaea smiled before walking forward and hugging Naruto. She wrapped her arms tightly around the warrior and whispered in his ear.
"When you need the power of nature, it will be there for you to use."
The world around him collapsed and Naruto saw Gaea no more.
"-e Gigantes, Cyclops, and other monsters are chained down below." Melinoe finished explaining.
"I…huh?" Naruto blinked while looking around. He stood next to Melinoe once more as they overlooked the dark abyss of Tartarus.
"Hmm?" Melinoe hummed in confusion.
"I…" Realizing that nearly no time had passed during his conversation with Gaea, Naruto decided to call the tour to an end. "Let's head back Mel, I'm feeling pretty tired."
The goddess eyed him a few times before shrugging, "Okay if you say so."
The walk back was rather silent for the duo as Melinoe spoke about their surroundings while Naruto spoke with the fox.
"Oi, Kyuubi," Naruto spoke in his mind, "Did you catch any parts of my conversation with Gaea?"
"…Gaea? This world's earth goddess?" The fox responded with a confused tone. "…No, I only felt your chakra change momentarily before settling once more."
Naruto's stomach sank at the implication. It meant that Gaea was strong enough to sever their connection with the fox being none the wiser. That truly showed the power of a Primordial, even if she was weakened after eons of slumber.
Deciding to catch him up, Naruto spoke with the fox as he walked alongside Melinoe. Thankfully, the goddess didn't notice as she was speaking aloud to the duo.
Once he was done explaining what happened, the fox hummed lowly. "I see…"
It took a few more seconds before the fox spoke once more. "I was able to locate this blessing you speak of. Unlike the other two, this one had subconscious mental commands attached to it."
"I knew it!" Naruto shouted with a frown. "I knew she wouldn't give me such a 'gift' without getting something in return!"
Naruto bit his lip in anger while thinking about the Primordial's intentions. He theorized that the me he used her 'power,' the more she could mentally control him. She was willing to play the long game with him.
"Can you remove it, Kyuubi?" Naruto asked.
"I cannot remove the blessing altogether as it has already attached itself to your chakra pool…"
"Great…I'm going to be someone's puppet," Naruto said while biting his lip.
"I didn't say I couldn't help," the fox clarified, "I cannot remove the blessing altogether, but I can erase the mental commands attached to it. It will take me a while, but it should be gone by the end of the day."
Naruto's eyes widened in relief before smiling. "THANK YOU! You are a lifesaver, literally Kyuubi!"
"Don't thank me yet, brat," The fox fired back while hiding a smile behind his paw. "Just remember your promise to save my siblings as we shall call it even."
"Of course!" Naruto cheered. It seemed he didn't have to worry about Gaea's influence after all.
Naruto cut the mental link as he allowed the fox to work on the seal. He enjoyed the rest of the day speaking with his friend.
He even got a peck on the cheek before they departed, which he rubbed with stars in his eyes. The first official kiss he had received from a female, not counting the ones he received growing up. Those were along the lines of motherly love instead of romantic love.
He just didn't like how Melinoe's emotions often spiked when he was around her. One moment she was fine, and the next filled her with guilt.
She hid her emotions well, but not well enough from him.
Three Weeks Later – With Naruto
It had been a few weeks since Naruto had taken a tour with Melinoe. During that time, he spent more time with the goddess despite the fact she often whisked herself away for a long period. She also often avoided her father, which he found odd.
Nico had also gotten worse regarding Bianca's death. He tried his best to console and help the young boy, but he had a habit of pushing people away. It was only due to his persistence that he could break through to the young boy.
He found out that Nico received private lessons from teachers appointed by Hades. In these lessons, Nico learned how to control his summon of skeletons as well as learning how to summon ghosts. He was still learning, but it was coming along nicely.
He also learned how to shadow-travel, which Naruto was immensely jealous of. He thought it was one of the coolest forms of transportation.
He spent some of his time with Nico, some with Melinoe, and the other was spent with his grandmother. Whenever he could find some free time, he trained himself into the ground. Bianca's and Zoe's deaths still weighed heavy on his conscious.
He wanted to learn healing abilities, so he asked Amaterasu-sama for any healing Jutsu he could learn. Unfortunately, he had to improve his chakra control tenfold before he could learn many of them.
He had spent most of his life learning attacks that he never thought about healing. He always assumed that the Kyuubi could heal his injuries. But he realized that his allies didn't have the same advantage. He didn't want any more of his friends to die, so he would learn how to heal.
He thought his chakra control was great, but healing Jutsu put him to the test. You had to be exact in quantity or else the patient could get hurt.
Until he improved his chakra control to properly learn advanced techniques, he stuck to learning the basics.
He also received a present from Hades that he found to be amazing.
The ruler of the Underworld brought him into his throne room one afternoon while he was playing with Nico. Complying, he privately spoke with the being.
He remembered how surprised he was that day.
(Flashback: Days Before)
"You wanted to see me, Lord Hades?" Naruto asked politely while walking into the King's throne room.
He had been teaching Nico some hand-to-hand combat skills before a servant asked for his presence. After leaving a clone behind, he went to speak with Nico's father.
"Ahh, yes." Hades spoke in a rich voice while standing up. "I wished to speak with you privately."
Snapping his fingers, a sword suddenly appeared within the open palms of the diety.
It was shaped in the form of a sword, similar to Riptide's design. Its blade was sharp, straight, and had a pointed end. It was three feet in terms of length, including the hilt.
The handle was blood-red in color. It was glossed over and shined brightly despite its dark color. The blade was deep obsidian in color and contained a shine.
"Wow, that's beautiful," Naruto said aloud in wonder. The blade truly looked like it was made by a masterful smith.
"I'm glad you think so because it's yours." Hades smiled before extending the blade outward.
Naruto's brain short-circuited and he looked on in shock. "A-are you sure, Lord Hades? I don't think I've done anything to earn this gift."
"Nonsense. You've been a wonderful company to my daughter and son," Hades's smile then turned into a slight frown. "The truth is, we haven't been on the best terms for the last few hundred years. However, your time with her has started to form a warm personality in her life. She smiles much more now."
"But the first time I saw her, you both seemed to be on good terms?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"Yes, it did seem that way." Hades sighed, "However, she came into my throne room at the time to ask things of me. I tried to do my best in parenting her, but with her mother gone for six months at a time, it is difficult."
Not wanting to push his relationship with Melinoe any longer, Naruto nodded.
"I plan to make Nico one soon as well, which is another reason I pass this gift in good faith. You have impacted my family in a positive manner, especially my son, and I am one to repay my debts." Hades chuckled.
Naruto stared on in shock before asking, "Is this made of Stygian Iron?" He had heard about the metal from his lessons with Aunt Hestia.
Hades raised a dark brow in amusement. "Yes, it is. It seems you know much more than I was led to believe."
Naruto cracked a smile. Now that he knew what the metal was, he also had to ask. "Can I even wield it?"
This was a valid question as only children of Hades or Underworld deities could wield blades made of Stygian Iron. He was cautious before taking the blade into his hands.
"Normally, you wouldn't be able to," Hades confirmed, "However, I placed a special enchantment that will allow you to wield it without issue. Please, take it and find out."
Seeing the blade calling out to him, Naruto nodded. With a final look, he reached out his left hand and wrapped it around the hilt. Hades slowly dropped his hands to the side while looking with a grin on his face.
Raising it into the air, Naruto swung it around a few times before smiling. It felt perfect in his hand and the weight wasn't an issue either. The steel felt powerful and he could tell the handle fit perfectly around his palm.
That was until he felt a sudden surge of energy rush up his arm. He didn't know what it was, but it certainly was trying to kill him.
With a grunt, Naruto stood in shock as he commanded his chakra to fight back. After a brief struggle, the energy receded and he could take a sigh of relief. Almost as if the blade recognized him as its master, it no longer fought.
"I'm sorry I lied, but I had to see for certain if you had the power to wield it," Hades spoke out. It was clear he didn't make an enchantment after all. "It seems the energy in your body allowed you to control the blade's will. You should never have a problem with it again."
"I-I see," Naruto stuttered out, not sure what to say. He eyed the dark blade and channeled his chakra through it, seeing if it would work.
To his surprise, it conducted his chakra quite well. The only surprise was a deep purple glow that emitted from the blade when his chakra circulated through the iron.
"The sword will allow you to kill anything you slash if the wound is fatal," Hades explained with a smirk. "That means demigods, Titans, Giants, mortals, and other beings are fair game. Their essence will be absorbed into the blade once slain."
Naruto nodded, knowing this particular fact already. He made sure to pay attention throughout Hestia's lessons.
"I do not give out gifts easily, especially to those that are not my children," Hades admitted, "However, you have proven worthy enough. Please, take good care of the blade and use it appropriately."
"I will," Naruto promised with a nod of his head. He would make good use of the blade entrusted to him.
The only issue was that he didn't know anything about wielding a sword.
(Flashback End)
Since that day, Naruto practiced each day against his clones. He had to be careful however as he realized slashed from the Stygian Iron would cause his healing factor to slow. If too many lethal slashes occurred on his body, he would be dead.
It was a sobering feeling, realizing just how dangerous his blade truly was.
He wished to practice against Percy as his friend was much more experienced with a sword, but he was currently on a journey with Annabeth.
Since he didn't have a sheath for the blade quite yet, he decided to seal it directly under his left palm. He believed in case he needed to summon it mid-fight, it would fall directly into his hand for use.
After taking the sword home the first time, he inscribed two different seals onto the blade. It took him many hours, but after figuring out the logistics, it was no longer an issue.
One of the seals ensured that only he could wield it through his chakra signature. If somebody with no chakra or a different chakra signature than him tried to pick it up, it would deliver a small electric shock to them. If they persisted, it would erupt in his signature black flames until he picked it up.
After all, he was immune to fire and it would be no issue for him. He also applied this seal to his trench knives.
The second seal he inscribed was on the handle of the blade. If the sword was ever knocked out of his hand or thrown, it could fly back into his open palm with ease. He placed one seal on the handle and another on his palm. This would create a magnetic attraction of sorts, which meant the blade was never truly lost from him.
It also meant he could summon it from wherever it was in the world, as long as the seals remained unbroken.
Once he was done writing and implementing the seals, they disappeared from view. Only he knew they were there.
When he was away from the Underworld, he made many clones work on the Hiraishin seal. It was still incomplete and he had a long way to go, but it was slowly making sense in his mind. It would most likely take another few months of constant work, but he wouldn't give up until it was done.
The intricacy and complexity of the seal were something he had to dissect, learn, and reapply properly. He also had to figure out what was missing to make it viable. It would take time to fully understand everything.
Walking into Nico's personal room, Naruto knocked softly.
He had a personal seal of approval to appear within the Underworld from Hades himself. It was etched onto the dark obsidian and it would only appear once he channeled his chakra through the blade. As long as he remained within the good graces of the King, he would always be welcomed.
He just had to Iris message Charon, display Hades's seal on his sword, and he would be teleported into the palace. It was very convenient, but he was still jealous of Nico's shadow travel.
Hearing no response, Naruto knocked again in a harsher manner. Once again, he received no response.
Sensing that Nico was on the other side, Naruto felt confused once he realized that Nico's emotions were spiking. Fearing that he was in trouble, Naruto burst through Nico's personal bedroom doors.
There, in the middle of the room, was Nico. He had his arms outstretched and communicated with a spirit from the past.
"-Just want to summon Bianca's soul! How do I bring her back!" Nico shouted with tears in his eyes. It was clear he was desperate to see his sister once more. He was so caught up in his situation, that he didn't notice Naruto barge into his room.
"Nico!" Naruto shouted before running over and tackling the boy into a hug. Without Nico's concentration, the spirit vanished to the afterlife once more.
"N-Naruto?!" Nico's eyes went from a crazed demeanor to a look of realization. "Why did you stop me? I was just getting answers on how to bring Bianca back!"
Seeing his friend was in deep despair, Naruto hugged him tighter. "It's okay Nico, Bianca's gone. You-"
"BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY GONE! WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT!" Nico shouted while trying to remove himself. He began to punch and slap while in the blonde's grip.
Ignoring the blows to his chest and arms, Naruto smiled, "It's okay Nico, let it all out. I know you're still suffering, it's okay."
"NO! YOU…you don't understand!" Nico's voice cracked as tears ran down his face. "I…I just miss her…"
The boy gave up his fight and decided to sob once more. He just wanted his sister back once more.
Naruto soothed the boy and imagined the pain he was going through. He also felt that Bianca's death was on his conscious, as he failed to protect her.
Once the boy went silent in his arms, Naruto stood up and allowed Nico the same courtesy.
"Hey, Nico," Naruto smiled, "Follow me. I want to show you something."
Not in the mood for arguing, Nico nodded and kept his eyes glued to the floor. He didn't feel like talking at the moment.
"Thank you for this again, Mel," Naruto whispered as he stood alongside Nico. The trio currently stood on the outside of Elysium. Since she was the goddess of ghosts, she could sense where Bianca's soul had gone in the afterlife.
Narrowing it down to Elysium, Melinoe relayed this information to the blonde who then told Nico. For the first time in a long time, Nico had a look of hope in his eyes.
This was risky as Melinoe wasn't supposed to do something like this for fear of offending Hades, but she didn't see the harm in allowing Nico to see his sister for a short while.
"Step back and give me a moment," Melinoe announced while walking forward. "I will ask her spirit for permission if she wants to be summoned." While normally this was not needed, the goddess wanted to give Bianca the courtesy.
Nico and Naruto stood back and watched the goddess work within her domain. Her eyes were shut until they opened with a faint glow around them. Her arms were raised in the air, power rolling off of them.
It only took a few seconds for the trio to see Bianca appear once more. She had the same clothing on from her death.
Blinking a few times, Bianca took in her surroundings before her eyes landed on the duo.
"BIANCA!" Nico said in joy before dashing forward. He ran next to Melinoe and stared at his sister with love in his eyes.
"Nico, Naruto," Bianca smiled, "It's good to see you both again."
"Likewise, Bianca," Naruto smiled while holding back tears. "I'm…I'm sorry for not protecting you."
"Don't blame yourself," Bianca spoke out, "It was not your responsibility to do so, nor should I have taken the toy from Hespheastus junkyard. Nonetheless, I am just happy you are here with Nico once more."
"B-Bianca…" Nico softly sobbed, "…Please, how do I bring you back?"
Bianca gained a sad smile on her face and shook her head, "We both know that's not possible Nico. I'm already in Elysium and have chosen the option of rebirth. Soon enough, I will no longer rest within the Underworld."
"You chose…rebirth?" Nico said in shock. "So I'll never see you again?"
"That's not for certain, little brother," Bianca said in a motherly tone, "You could very well meet me in my next life. I am holding out hope we meet in the flesh once more within the mortal world."
"But…but…you won't have any memories of me!" Nico cried out, "You won't know me! I won't know you!"
Melinoe stayed silent while her eyes glowed a bright white. She was concentrated on keeping Bianca's spirit alive.
Bianca shook her head, "Not necessarily Nico. I have a feeling we'll meet once more and if we don't, then I can at least ensure your life was not wasted. You still have a life in the mortal world, don't waste it worrying about me."
Looking over at Naruto, Bianca spoke softly, "Please, I know I am asking a lot, but take care of Nico when you can. He is still young and needs guidance in life. Provide the protection I could not."
Smiling, Naruto planted a hand into Nico's hair that he shook off, "I'll do my best. He's a handful, but I'm sure I can handle it."
Nico huffed, "I'm not a handful…"
Bianca and Naruto shared a quick laugh at his expense.
Seeing that her spirit was fading and time was running out, Bianca gave out her final words.
"Release your grudges, Nico," Bianca said aloud, "We both know you have an issue with holding them. Do not let them control your life or ignore help when needed. I love you, brother."
"I love you too, sister," Nico said with a sad smile. His tears ran down his face.
Turning to Naruto, Bianca finished up, "As for you, Naruto, thank you for helping Nico. I know he'll be in good hands with you."
With that being said, Melinoe grits her teeth before Bianca's spirit vanishes. She could only hold a spirit outside of their resting place for so long before Hades took notice. She had to be careful while doing so.
Nico stared at the same spot his sister once was with a different look in his eyes. This time, hope could be seen in his previously clouded vision.
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Nico turned his head and watched as Naruto outstretched his hands. Within his palms, were his burnt playing cards and Hades figurine.
"I'm hoping you would like this back," Naruto offered with a smile.
Nico took a minute before he allowed a small grin to form on his face. Without saying anything else, he grabbed the toys and allowed the memories of his sister to flourish.
He would never forget her for as long as he lived.
At Rhea's Home – Days Later
Instead of talking to Melinoe or speaking with Nico, Naruto decided to use this day as a training day. He didn't want to get sloppy with his skills.
A portion of twenty clones worked on practicing medical ninjutsu, while another portion worked on his father's Hiraishin seal.
As for the main blonde himself, he was working on his swordsmanship. It was still a new skill for him so he had to practice as much as he could.
His grandmother did help him find some books on stances, but that was as much as he could get. He tried going to Chiron, but the centaur was busy with training many campers. It seemed war loomed closer and closer each day for Mount Olympus.
Percy, Grover, and Annabeth still weren't back either, which was making him worry. However, he had received word from Chiron that they would be back soon. He was starting to regret not going on the quest alongside his friends.
Swinging his sword at another shadow clone, Naruto narrowly missed a slash directly for his neck. Hearing a poof, the blonde looked around to see that all of his clones were vanquished once more.
This was another day of battling multiple clones at once, which he was slowly getting better at. Fighting multiple opponents at once is never easy, but it could be done.
This all changed the moment he felt everything shift around him. It suddenly felt as if he could feel magic all around him.
The next moment would etch in his memory for a lifetime.
"Greetings, all who can hear me," spoke a smooth, rich voice. It was deep in tone and held authority. "I am the Titan called Kronos, son of Ouranos and father of Zeus."
"W-WHAT?!" Naruto thought in shock while his clones also stopped in their tasks. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as there was nothing but a bright sky and calm winds.
Deciding to vanish his clones for the moment, Naruto poofed them out of existence. He received their memories but put them to the side for now. He also sealed his sword within the seal on his wrist.
"If you can hear me, then you are either a demigod, clear-sighted mortal, monster, or other magical being. This message will translate into your native language, all I ask for is your ears."
What Naruto didn't know is that Kronos was communicating through Hecate's magic. Normally, the minor goddess wouldn't have the power to transport her message across the land but she was being fueled by Kronos's power in return. He would get his message out to all across America.
Looking into the sky, Naruto could see the forming of clouds and lighting strikes. It seemed that Zeus was hearing the message as well.
"From the East to the West, the South to the North, hear my message. The Olympian gods have only caused an insufferable rule in their wake and created irreversible damage. Their actions led to many deaths of mortal men, women, and children. Zeus, their leader, is another example of a ruthless tyrant. If you do not follow his rule or orders, you are executed."
"He's…he's trying a last-ditch effort to recruit people!" Naruto thought in shock. He didn't know what to do.
"If you have bad experiences with Mount Olympus, RISE UP! If you wish to see their rule end, RISE UP! If you wish for a better tomorrow, RISE UP!" Kronos's voice shouted each phrase with ferocity. It was clear he was trying to rally those against Olympus.
"This bastard! He's just using them as pawns for his army!" Naruto grits his teeth while the fox inside perks up. This was becoming a dangerous situation very rapidly. "He's playing on their emotions!"
"Even if you do not hate the Olympians, it is only a matter of time before they turn on you. Do not allow yourself to fall for their false charms. We have the army, numbers, and strategies needed to raze Olympus to the ground. All we need is your support."
Naruto looked around and saw that the clouds above were increasing in ferocity. It was clear that Zeus himself was getting angrier by the second.
"Do not fret if you are not rich in resources. Anybody can help fight for the right side. If you can provide shelter to our soldiers, do so. If you can support our members with weapons, do so. Each bit of support is helpful in this upcoming war with Olympus."
Hearing enough of this, Naruto dashed into his house and searched for his grandmother. To his surprise, she was gone. He assumed she was on Olympus at the current moment.
Grabbing his ruby necklace, he channeled chakra into it. To his shock, Aunt Hestia did not appear for the first time. Even she was busy at the moment.
"If you wish to not partake in this war, then you are choosing to support tyranny. Fight for your freedom, and be rewarded with a golden paradise. Thank you."
The message cut out as he could no longer hear the Titan's voice.
"Lies, all of it!" Naruto spat in his head as he rushed to Camp Half-Blood. He had a feeling something bad was going to happen. "Those Titans don't give a damn about any mortals! They just want cannon fodder!"
As he was sprinting to Camp Half-Blood, his heart dropped. The clone he left behind with Silena had been destroyed in a surprise attack against the campers. It had learned nothing so far about Silena's intentions besides the fact that she often whispered Luke's name in her sleep.
With an increased burst in speed, Naruto made a mad dash to help his friends.
Naruto arrived at a horrendous scene. Camp Half-Blood was currently under attack.
Rushing past the entrance, he could see it was an all-around bloodbath. Campers were dying left and right while Chiron was firing arrows off at a monster in the distance.
He could also see many of the satyrs, naiads, and nymphs that he had come to know, were also fighting for their lives.
Many Dracaena, Cyclops, and hellhounds were the camp he had come to love.
The Dracaena were female serpents with human-like appearance. They traveled at high speeds and killed whoever stood in their paths.
Cyclops were one-eyed giants that swung their weapons with ease. They were determined to cause the most amount of damage possible.
He even saw Annabeth, Percy, Tyson, and Grover helping the centaur. However, instead of rushing over, he decided to focus on the immediate threat. He could also see a being fighting with them, a being that had…a hundred hands?
Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he decided to focus on the immediate threat. His friends could wait for the time being. They were too far away at the moment and he had monsters surrounding him as he dashed into camp.
It was time to make his move.
"TAJU KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)
In an instant, one hundred shadow clones appeared at once. Without needing commands, they each went to help any nearby campers.
Seeing a Dracaena about to strike Lee Fletcher from behind, he threw his trench knife with wind chakra surging through the steel. It sliced through the monster with ease and caused it to disappear into dust.
Turning around, Lee smiled in relief, "Thanks for the save!"
Not bothering to answer his praise, Naruto picked up his trench knife and continued. This was a war zone and he didn't have time to talk.
He ran further into camp and killed numerous Cyclops as they tried to swarm him. He assumed that they saw him as a big threat, given they only attacked him in groups.
He had summoned his sword gifted from Hades and sliced them all down. It was his first official kill with the weapon.
After killing five more Cyclops, Naruto saw three Dracaena coming at him from different angles. It seemed they believed teamwork would work against him.
His sword glowed a menacing dark purple.
Flipping over the first serpent, he delivered a deep slash into its back. Not stopping, he followed it up with three more rapid slashes. The monster died at that moment while his sword absorbed its essence.
Trusting his instincts, he ducked and watched as another Dracaena flew over him. He brought his weapon into the air and allowed the serpent to run her guts along its steel. Its essence was soon absorbed into the blade.
Seeing the last Dracaena try to wrap herself around him, Naruto channeled his fire chakra through the blade and watched it light up. He smiled to himself and slashed through his restraints like a hot knife through butter. The Dracaena couldn't even scream before her essence was absorbed as well.
Hearing screams of pain, Naruto watched as the hundred-handed being was injured by the monster's scimitars. It seemed the monster was rearing for another slash, this time fatal.
Grover, Annabeth, Chiron, and Percy were all scattered around. It seemed this monster was much stronger than the rest.
Not allowing this to happen, Naruto sprung into action. Flipping his sword so he held the tip, he threw it like a spear. Just as the handle was about to hit the back of the monster's head, he watched as the being jerked its head to the side. Its instincts had allowed it to dodge effortlessly.
However, that was all according to Naruto's plan.
"Mokuton: Jubaku Eiso!" (Wood Style: Binding Nest)
While sprinting toward his target, Naruto allowed the chakra to flow through his feet. His blessing from Gaea had strengthened his wood style and he had figured this out through some training exercises conducted back home.
He didn't need to slam his palms into the ground anymore to erect wood structures, his feet would do just fine.
At that moment, many roots erupted from the ground and surrounded the monster. He could hear her shrieks of pain and confusion, but he ignored him while sprinting over. He just needed her to be still.
As he got closer, Naruto got a good look at his opponent. She had reptilian skin, dragon wings, gigantic claws, and a human-like head. However, just like Medusa, she had snakes for hair. Her bottom half resembled a centaur's legs while many morphing animal faces erupted from her waist.
Overall, it looked like a monstrosity.
Turning her head slightly against the wood, the being snarled and showed a set of sharp teeth. It was clear it didn't like its fun being interrupted.
Ignoring its look, Naruto jumped high into the air. He was only a few feet away at this point and his wood stood firm in holding her down. She wasn't going anywhere.
With a grin, he extended his hand outward.
SLICK!
While in mid-air, his sword had stopped and came flying back. Since he had flipped the sword around before throwing it, it had come back with its blade facing him. This same blade sliced through the monster's head, leaving a deep gash between its eyes.
Catching the hilt with a grunt, Naruto didn't stop there. He wanted to make sure it stayed dead.
Sealing his sword once more, he flipped through a few hand signs while in mid-air. He had to be quick before gravity caught up with him.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)
A large ball of black fire shot forward from Naruto's mouth. Its intensity could be felt by campers all around, a testament to the intensity of the dark flames.
The ball of flames exploded onto the monster's body, causing it to screech a nasty noise. The head flung lifelessly while the bottom half struggled against the wooden restraints.
Naruto landed on the ground with a soft thud. He didn't take his eyes off of the monster in case it had a last-ditch effort.
It didn't.
Eventually, the flames ate through the being's skin, bones, muscles, and tendons. The only thing remaining was the partial wooden restraints, which now held nothing.
Seeing that she was no longer a threat, Naruto turned around only to see that the fighting behind him had ceased as well. His clones were busy helping campers, assisting others, and trying to heal injured fighters. It was clear this attack had taken a toll on both sides.
Rushing over to his friends, Naruto helped the hundred-handed being up. He was swarmed by others nearby.
"Naruto! Man, am I glad to see you!" Percy said in a cheerful tone, "It's been nothing but pure terror these last few days man!"
"I'm sure," Naruto chuckled. "Let's catch up after we clean things up."
Chiron nodded, "That would be best."
Helping the being up, Naruto walked alongside his friends.
"I see…" Naruto hummed to himself while he stood around with his friends. They had caught him up on recent events. They were standing around a wooden table in the dining pavilion.
Many campers were bandaged up and being healed at the moment. Some had questions about Naruto's abilities, while others were just happy he was on their side. Overall, it was chaos around Camp Half-Blood.
Naruto was told that Percy had traveled throughout the labyrinth and faced off against Luke's forces many times. After much traveling and fighting, Luke's army found a way to Camp Half-Blood. This was the sight that Naruto had returned to.
Just as the fighting began, the labyrinth's entrance near Camp Half-Blood collapsed due to Daedalus releasing his own soul willingly. He had been clinging to life for decades but decided he had caused enough trouble as it was.
He left behind his pet hell-hound, Mrs. O'Leary, to Percy. He also brought along Briares, a Hekatonkheires to aid in the battle. This was the one-hundred-handed being Naruto saw in the fight.
The monster they were fighting was Kampe, a previous jailer of Tartarus. She was a monster hired by Luke to fight on their side and managed to attack Camp Half-Blood before Naruto arrived. She had caused the death of many campers.
The blonde was also worried because he tried entering the Underworld with Hades's seal, but nothing happened. It seemed even the Underworld was in the midst of its own problems. This was starting to become a massive issue.
He also learned that Grover did manage to find Pan, after all, absorbing the essence of the forgotten deity. However, he was still learning how to use the being's power.
"So what do we do now?" Tyson asked while nervously rubbing his arm. The combat around him was becoming too real for his liking. Many people have died around him today.
"I agree with him!" Grover pointed out, "What's the move?"
Annabeth sighed, "It's quite obvious. We-"
"-Are at war."
Hearing a voice behind them, the group turned their heads to see a disgruntled Dionysus arriving. He was clearly in a foul mood.
"Mr. D," Percy spoke out in surprise. He didn't expect to see the head figure of Camp Half-Blood look so serious for once.
The wine god walked up with a frown on his face, "I've just left one of the most important council meetings in my existence. As of now, we are getting reports of demigods, clear-sighted mortals, and other beings turning against us across the nation. People from California to Maine are trying their best to contribute."
"N-no way…" Naruto whispered in shock, "…that bastard's propaganda actually worked!"
"It did," Dionysus said seriously, "However, it also helped our cause as well. Many beings who wish to bring down Kronos came out of the woodwork. Both armies are increasing in numbers, but it's only a matter of time before we meet on the battlefield."
"So are we expecting any help from the Olympians?" Percy asked with crossed arms.
"That is to be decided," Dionysus said while summoning a glass of grape juice. Downing the entire thing in one swig, he wiped his mouth before speaking. "Father is having a difficult time controlling his temper at the moment. Once he calms, we are to discuss strategy."
"Will this…" Annabeth calmed herself with a deep breath, "…will this war tear apart the world? Will innocents suffer?"
Dionysus didn't answer but his eyes held the answers. It was clear even he expected brutal outcomes in this upcoming conflict.
"How are we going to organize?" Naruto piped up, "Who will lead what? Who will fight who?"
"All to be decided," Dionysus responded with a firm tone. "For now, we rest and recover. Tomorrow, we prepare for a brutal fight. War is on the horizon, and I have a feeling it will be worse than the first Titanomachy."
"Great…" Percy huffed out, worried about this fight. He wanted to head home and ensure his mother's safety before he was thrust out onto the field. "Anything else we should know?"
Dionysus turned around and was intending to have a conversation with Chiron. Just as he was about to leave, he spoke up one last time.
"Yes, a majority of minor gods have turned their backs on us. We are officially going to be fighting our own."
Naruto's lips thinned in thought. He realized that it was a matter of life and death moving forward.
War was coming…and he didn't know if they could win.
DONE WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER! And I have to say…
WE'RE FINALLY IN THE WAR ARC! LET'S GO! CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THE ACTION!
Also, I had some people say they didn't like Bianca's death because it was too anticlimactic. In response, I say that death can come for anyone at any time. Of course, this is fiction so if a death happens, most people want it to be glamorous and I understand.
However, in this world, demigods die all the time in sudden ways. I get the point that Bianca was close to the main cast so she should have received a bigger role, but I decided to play it a different way.
To the people asking if Naruto will learn Sage Mode or learn how to master the Kyuubi's chakra, I plan to incorporate it. Just wait and see!
Hope to see you all next time!
Until then!
Cheers!
Skill-set Update:
- New Sword: Gifted by Hades
- Gaea Blessing
- Basic Medical Ninjutsu
- Working on the Hiraishin seal