December 15th 2009:

The fresh smell of food wafted across the cold atmosphere of a somewhat well-maintained room in a run-down motel. Johnson blinked his black eyes open and groaned at the bandages on his sternum.

A multitude of blisters and bruises were painted onto his pale features. Johnson dragged himself out from the bed he was on, scratched at the plasters on his cheeks, and checked out the spacious room.

Johnson glanced at the wooden-chair across from his bed—where the Satyr called Jeff was unconscious, french-fries nestled into his mouth. Amused at his so-called friend, Johnson heard a low and bored grunt.

Another teenager who looked to be around his age was settled onto one of the three beds in the room. Blond hair decorated his head. Crimson eyes leered at Johnson: who gulped in fear. "Who are you?"

"No clue." Naruto twisted his lips into a humourless grin, fanged teeth twinkling from the light of the lanterns. "But how are you feeling, huh?"

"Fine." Johnson's voice was hesitant and unsure. "Do you know what happened?"

Naruto exhibited casual disinterest. "Your good old friend Jeff should be able to answer all of your stupid questions if you'd wake him up."

(-)

Naruto stepped out of the disparaged motel located in the middle of nowhere, calloused hands slipped into his pockets. Jeff had answered all of his rapid questions and had provided him invaluable information.

Camp Half-Blood was the name of the place where he could find the individual called Percy Jackson—someone somehow linked to his past. The veil of time and creation itself had told him that much.

Khonsu had given him a mobile phone a few weeks ago and had inserted his number into the contacts list of the device. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Naruto waited for Khonsu to pick up his call.

Sharp beeps echoed out from the speakers of the high-quality device. Naruto heard the sound of his call being accepted before a nonchalant chuckle drifted into his ears. "My good fellow! How can I help you?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose in exhaustion, Naruto responded. "Camp Half-Blood is the place where I can find this 'Percy Jackson'."

"At last!" Khonsu's voice took on an over-exaggerated edge. "I was wondering when you'd be able to learn the name of that camp!"

"You're telling me you knew all along?" Naruto scowled, annoyed. "Who am I fucking kidding? Of course your dumb ass would now."

"Such dreadful insults and nicknames!" Khonsu crooned into his phone. "I thought I was your best friend, my foul-mouthed comrade!"

Rolling his crimson eyes, Naruto said. "Enough of your stupid jokes. Tell me the fastest method I can take to get to this Camp Half-Blood."

Static buzzed from the speakers of Naruto's phone for the briefest of moments. "Check the backpack I entrusted upon you for some clues."

(-)

Bullets of rain pelted down against the window of the room in the humble motel Johnson had found himself being kept in. Jeff nibbled on his french-fries, alleviating the hunger burning inside of his gut.

Thunder rumbled into Johnson's ear and illuminated the room he was in for a short three minutes. Settled beneath the blanket on his comfortable mattress, Johnson whispered. "Who is that dude, Jeff?"

"You mean Naruto?" Jeff dipped one of his french-fries in a small cup-holder for ketchup. "He rescued us from that stupid Dracaena."

Johnson was baffled, suspicion sizzling in his distrustful voice. "Why the hell are you letting some random stranger follow us?! It's idiotic!"

Pointing a french-fry at Johnson, Jeff answered. "Without this 'random stranger,' the two of us would have been killed by that Dracaena."

Having closed his black eyes in frustration, Johnson scowled. "Just because someone behaves kind doesn't mean they really are kind."

"I see what you mean, man." Jeff bit into his french-fry. "Naruto is kind of suspicious—I mean he asked me about Percy Jackson! The hero!"

"The one who defeated the titan of time?" Johnson hummed, impressed. "Damn, I can't wait to meet someone that powerful."

"Are you sure it was a good idea to divulge information about this camp to him?" Johnson pondered aloud. "I still think he's suspicious."

Jeff reached into a paper bag for more french-fries. "I had him make an oath on the Styx to not harm anyone connected to Camp Half-Blood."

"So he won't be able to use any information I give him for malicious reasons." Jeff said, eating his french-fries. "I really am a genius, huh?"

"The dumbest of the dumb, you mean." Johnson retorted. "Hey, did Naruto even tell you why he wanted information about the camp?"

Cupping his chin, Jeff spoke through the handful of fries in his mouth. "I'm not sure why he wanted information about Camp Half-Blood."

Johnson snorted in unadulterated sarcasm. "See? He's too suspicious to trust. Who knows, maybe this dude is waiting to kill us in our sleep."

"I doubt that, Johnson." Jeff huffed, unamused. "From what I've seen, Naruto could kill the two of us in the blink of an eye. He's that fast."

"And his presence." Jeff resisted the urge to shudder in fear. "His presence is demonic in nature. He's like a demon in disguise…"

"That makes me more suspicious of the dude." Johnson mumbled. "Where is he, though? He left the room and hasn't returned yet."

The two of them lurched forward a little at the ominous creak of the entrance to their room being unlocked and opened. Naruto stepped into the area, blond hair soaked in rain and shoulders slouched.

Sinking into the leather-padded chair in the corner of the room, Naruto leaned into its wooden-frame and luxuriated in the silence. One of his crimson eyes opened. "I've gotten a method to take us to your camp."

An awkward tension remained in the atmosphere between the three individuals. Coughing into his fist, Jeff curved his lips into an unrelaxed smile of appreciation. "Thanks for all of your help, Naruto."

Naruto directed a nonchalant shrug at Jeff, poised and tired. "You two should get some sleep. I'll keep a watch out for any monsters, okay?"

"Sure!" Jeff nodded, finished off his french-fries, and tucked himself into bed. "Make sure to wake us up if anything bad happens, Naruto."

(-)

Three hours had passed since Jeff and Johnson had fallen asleep. Naruto had stayed awake himself, seated on a wooden-chair. Johnson twisted and turned in his sleep, throwing his blankets off of his bed.

Moonlight crawled in through the curtainless windows, illuminating the spacious sector in a platinum hue of bright light. Naruto sighed, head lowered and crimson eyes closed in a bout of palpable boredom.

Naruto raised a nonchalant eye-brow at the door to the motel room. Some type of scratching sound had originated from outside. Annoyed, Naruto rose from his spot on the chair and unlocked the entrance.

Stepping out into the outside world, Naruto gazed at the parking-lot the motel was constructed around until his senses flared at him. His fore-arm lashed itself out to deflect the clawed paw of a monster.

Jeff had told him about the scents demi-gods had that attracted monsters to them. Naruto widened his crimson eyes by a small margin, glaring at the large Hell-Hound and punching its snout.

Raising his calloused hand to block off a head-butt from the vicious creature, Naruto drilled a front-kick into its head. A Kunai hurtled itself into the Hell-Hound, destroying it in a hurricane of golden particles.

Naruto stood alone in the middle of the empty parking-lot, gazing down at his clenched fist and flexing his clawed fingers. Why had he become so bored in life? Everything in general just felt so mundane.

Had this boredom stemmed from his lack of development in regaining his memories and reclaiming his true identity? Naruto shook his head to clear these absurd thoughts out of his fatigued mind.

Slipping his calloused hands into his pockets, Naruto felt cold flecks of vicious wind touch his whiskered face. Sighing for a second time, Naruto returned to the motel room and sat down on his wooden seat.

Johnson had settled down for the moment, no longer convulsing in his sleep from what Naruto assumed were nightmares. Jeff's face was buried into his pillow, loud snores coming out from his sensitive nose.

Those two were his ticket to being given entrance to Camp Half-Blood. Grabbing his backpack off of the table, Naruto unzipped it open to double-check the items Khonsu had left him for this tedious journey.

An ornate cube fell out from his backpack and into his palm. Khonsu had told him this cuboid object would be his transportation method to Camp Half-Blood. Hieroglyphics were carved into its azure material.

(-)

December 16th 2009:

Khonsu had told Naruto to channel his chakra into the hieroglyphics to open an entryway into Camp Half-Blood. Johnson and Jeff had found this plan unbelievable—but decided to trust him for the time being.

Standing around Naruto, Jeff and Johnson watched him direct his chakra into the hieroglyphics of the blue cube in his coarse hand. Johnson pressed his lips in a thin line. "Is this really going to work?"

Jeff had opened his mouth to respond to Johnson's scepticism before an eruption of chakra burst forth from the cuboid object. Johnson recoiled while Jeff flinched in unconcealed awe. Naruto smirked.

Glowing an ethereal light of potent luminosity, the hieroglyphics of the cube glinted once more and opened a portal beneath their feet. Both Johnson and Jeff yelped in complete surprise, falling into the portal.

"I guess Khonsu can be reliable sometimes." Naruto snorted, diving into the portal and disappearing from the room. "Man, this is sick!"

(-)

Naruto landed on his feet. Johnson crashed into the bushes. Jeff collided into the dirt. Repositioning themselves onto their own feet, the two of them checked their surroundings in suspicion and prudence.

Jeff groaned in relief, noticing the familiar outskirts of the hill Camp Half-Blood was located on in Long-Island. Johnson saw Jeff nod at him—a reassurance Naruto hadn't teleported them somewhere else.

Calloused hand outstretched, Naruto caught the blue cube and pushed it deep into his pockets. Jeff turned to Naruto, vigilance evident in his brown eyes. "Remember the oath you made?"

"Of course." Naruto remained unbothered, shrugging. "I won't harm anyone who is connected to Camp Half-Blood—don't worry about it."

For the oddest of reasons, Jeff felt somewhat unassured about the oath he had made Naruto take on the Styx. Shaking his head, the Satyr said. "Follow me, you two. You're going to be bedazzled!"

"Bedazzled?" Johnson mumbled about the choice of wording. "Eh, I'm still excited to see this camp. So, lead us there!"

Hiking through the path on the hill where Camp Half-Blood was located, Naruto halted in his tracks at the strange sensation in the air. Johnson and Jason hadn't noticed his lack of movement and walked.

Crimson eyes squinted in concentration, Naruto became shocked as a green-tinted miasma of energy rushed into Johnson's mouth. Choking on nothing, Johnson stumbled forward and collapsed to his knees.

Jeff whirled around on the spot in shock, lowering himself to his knees and checking on his friend's condition. The demi-god twisted his hands, black eyes hollowing out into golden ones.

"Johnson!" Jeff yelled, concern plastered onto his features. "Are you alright?! You must not be healed enough! I think your injuries are—!"

A backhand to the right cheek from Johnson propelled Jeff into the trunk of a tree. Coughing out globs of saliva, Jeff widened his brown eyes and closed them once he had fallen unconscious. Jeff was knocked out.

"What the fuck?" Naruto lifted his forearm to block off a powerful punch from his companion. "Something flew into Johnson's mouth…"

(-)

Annabeth Chase was seated on a wooden-stool in the forges of Camp Half-Blood, fingers intertwined in unconcealed concern and fear. Leo Valdez held a hammer in his rough hand, leaning against a wall.

"Two days, Leo!" Annabeth shouted into her hands, frustrated. "It's been two days since Percy just disappeared and went missing!"

Shouldering his hammer, Leo twisted his lips into a cheeky grin. "Who knows? Maybe Swim-Man went on a vacation and forgot to tell us!"

An unimpressed glare was Annabeth's response. "I've called Sally—nothing! She doesn't know where Percy could have gone!"

"I'm sure he's fine." Leo waved his other hand around. "I get that you two are all lovey-dovey nowadays—but I doubt he left for good."

Annabeth groaned. "Why did I think going to you to rant would be a good idea? Sometimes I question your delicate sanity, Leo Valdez."

Pressing a hand onto his chest in mock hurt, Leo said. "I'll have you know my insanity is my greatest trait! Aren't we all a little insane?"

"You and Percy are the insane ones." Annabeth rolled her grey eyes. "And I still have zero clue about what could have happened to Percy!"

"He's Percy Jackson—he'll be a-okay!" Leo raised his thumb. "I'm sure he just went out to get some take-away from somewhere!"

"For the last few days?" Annabeth glanced at him, unamused. "I know Percy can take care of himself—but this is all driving me insane!"

Index finger pointed at his face, Leo responded. "Hey! You said I'm the insane one! You can't just take my hard-earned title away from me!"

Annabeth was about to chuckle—but then she and Leo stopped at the influx of foreign energy being spread throughout the atmosphere. Gaze steeled in prudence, Annabeth climbed off of the wooden-stool.

"Huh." Leo blinked at the strange energy he had detected seconds ago. "Looks like something interesting is about to happen, huh?"

Vigilant, Annabeth nodded. "Never a dull day in the life of a demi-god. Come on, Valdez. I have a feeling something interesting will happen."

(-)

Naruto parried the punches Johnson aimed at his sternum. A roundhouse kick to the temple of the head pushed Johnson downwards into the soil. His golden eyes flickered for a small moment.

Chakra erupted out from Naruto's arm before he embedded the nastiest right hook imaginable into Johnson's face. Johnson stood on unstable feet, a maniacal smile on his blood-stained and bruised lips.

Individuals suited in various types of armour had emerged from the bushes—but maintained their distance from Naruto and his opponent. Jeff had been picked up by two other Satyr and was being healed.

Pulling his arm a few centimetres back, Naruto launched his chakra-empowered knuckles into Johnson's solar-plexus. Crimson eyes glowing in boredom, Naruto punched Johnson right in the chest.

Blood bubbled out from his mouth. Johnson's bruised face was twisted in unhinged joy from the pain being inflicted on its owner's body. Lifting an eye-brow, Naruto channelled more chakra into his fists.

He was about to land the final blow on Johnson until his wrist was grabbed by a fire-enhanced hand. Leo grinned at Naruto, head tilted at an innocent angle. "Hey, buddy! We don't condone violence here!"

Annabeth stood next to Leo—who had gripped onto Naruto's wrist—and stared down at Johnson. The runes on the vambraces on her arm flared to life, converting some of her stamina into mana.

In the destructive war between Olympus and Kronos' vicious army, Leo had constructed gauntlets that would turn its user's stamina into mana. This mana could be used for either spells or physical buffs.

Leo had gifted Annabeth these gauntlets during the war—but had made an improved version of them a month ago. Instead of gauntlets, Leo had built vambraces that could morph one's stamina into mana.

Mana flowed into Annabeth's eyes, enhancing her vision beyond its natural parameters. She scanned Johnson's body, spotting and feeling a spectral type of essence imbued into his system. "Everyone, wait."

The campers who had gone up to Leo to help him restrain a bored Naruto stopped. Annabeth turned to Leo, pointing at Johnson and his golden eyes that were wide open at the moment. "It's an Eidolon."

"An Eidolon?" Hand clutching onto Naruto's wrist, Leo blinked. "I have no clue on mother earth about what an Eidolon is! Enlighten me!"

"An Eidolon is a spirit who possesses people." Annabeth explained. "The one on the ground had been possessed by an Eidolon himself."

Leo released his hold on Naruto's wrist and watched as a green miasma of energy flew out from Johnson's mouth. Johnson's golden eyes returned to a shade of black before he became unconscious.

Snapping his fingers at Naruto, Leo grinned. "Sorry about that, pal! I didn't realize you were fighting in self defence. That's my bad, sorry!"

"No harm no foul." Naruto shrugged, hands slipped into his pockets. "I was going to knock him out and try to see if that would stop the ghost."

The area was empty except for the three of them. Johnson and Jeff had been taken to the medical department by the campers. Annabeth crossed her arms. "He was the source of that foreign energy, huh?"

"What's your name, new friend?" Leo cheered, lips stretched out into an amicable grin. "She's Annabeth Chase and I'm Leo Valdez!"

"Naruto Uzumaki." The crimson-eyed boy responded. "You two look to be pretty well-immersed in Camp Half-Blood, right? Or am I wrong?"

"We're really well-immersed." Leo flung his arms up in celebration. "I've been here for a good two years! You can call me your senior!"

Having left Leo to socialise, Annabeth found herself somewhat suspicious of Naruto: who had a nonchalant demeanour. She cut into their conversation, eye-brow raised. "Why would you ask us that?"

"I'm looking for someone who could be linked to my past." Naruto said without even a small hint of humour. "I was told he would be here."

"My goal right now is to regain my lost memories…"

Scratching his chin in mischief, Leo chuckled. "We have an amnesiac on our hands! Please tell me you remember what ice cream is!"

More mana enhanced Annabeth's five senses. "Leo." She interrupted his laughter. "I can tell thanks to my mana that he's being truthful."

Leo had paused mid-chuckle while Naruto remained unperturbed. Annabeth glanced at the Uzumaki, feeling some sympathy for his circumstances. "Can you give me the name of who you want to find?"

"Percy Jackson..."

The atmosphere became grim in the blink of an eye. Annabeth approached Naruto, suspicion and prudence surfacing on her features. "How do you know Percy Jackson? Would you care to say?"

"I have some secrets to keep." Naruto inserted his hands into his pockets, posture lazy and unconcerned. "So, is Percy Jackson here?"

Mistrustful of Naruto, Annabeth said. "Sorry to tell you, Mr. Secret-Keeper, but Percy went missing around two days ago."

Holding onto his head and lowering it in avid annoyance, Naruto scowled. "Damn it. What the hell am I supposed to do now, then?"

"I mean—you could stay at camp?" Leo offered, grin widening by a fraction of an amount. "You are a demi-god, right? Or a descendant?"

"I'm from another pantheon." Naruto saw no reason to hide such useless and baseless information. "At least I was told I am…"

Eye-brow lifted, Annabeth murmured to herself in interest. "He's telling the truth about being from another pantheon. Who really are you?"

"I told you my name." Naruto answered. "But—if I had to be honest—I'm just someone who wants his memories to be returned…"

(-)

Leo had guided Naruto to one of the spare wooden cabins on the outskirts of the woods within the enormous camp. These cabins were ones constructed by the Hephaestus-Cabin for some extra storage.

Pushing open the entrance to the small cabin, Leo kicked the malformed knives scattered across the floor into the corner. Naruto heard him yell. "Welcome to your new residence, my good fellow!"

"Thanks." Dull crimson eyes glanced around the room. "I appreciate you letting me stay here—even if I'm from a different pantheon."

Unbothered and cheerful, Leo smiled. "No problemo! I met these nice folks from the Egyptian pantheon one time—Julius and Amos Kane!"

"Sorry about the hostility from Annabeth." Leo rubbed the top of his head. "But the person you want to meet is her missing boyfriend, heh."

"Can't blame her for being hostile." Naruto dismissed the apology. "I'm just some random person looking for your friend to the two of you."

"Boyfriend for Annabeth!" Leo pointed out, brown eyes wide and mirthful. "Everything else aside—welcome to the team, Naruto!"

Nodding in gratitude, Naruto responded. "Thanks for your hospitality. If you don't mind, I want to get some sleep. I haven't slept in a while."

(-)

Leo closed the door to the small cabin behind him, noticing Annabeth had leaned herself against its wooden wall. Letting loose a casual hum of immaturity, Leo folded his slim arms and looked at his friend.

"You saw how he was fighting that Eidolon-possessed demi-god." Annabeth said out of the blue. "He has combat experience and skill."

Curiosity brimmed inside of Leo's voice. "Have you made a plan involving him? I say we get him to help us look for your lover-boy."

Closing her grey eyes in deep thought, Annabeth sighed. "Naruto hasn't told us any lies. He truly believes Percy is linked to his past."

"Maybe they've met at some point?" Leo scratched his arm, contemplation flooding his mind. "Percy's never mentioned Naruto."

"You're right." Annabeth replied. "Percy could have met Naruto outside of camp and his quests at some point. But I can't say for sure…"

"Think one of the kids from the Hypnos-Cabin could help us?" Leo asked. "They should have the power to look into his mind at least."

Glancing at Leo in approval, Annabeth chuckled. "That's a perfect idea! But let's let him get some sleep—he deserves some rest."

Annabeth was about to leave the area. Leo then said. "Annabeth, does Naruto feel familiar to you too? I feel like I somehow know him."

"Familiar?" Annabeth had tilted her head. "Not at all. I think all the stress of today has gotten to you, Leo. Get some sleep, alright?"

(-)

Three hours had passed and Naruto was jostled awake by aggressive taps on his whiskered cheek. Opening his crimson eyes, Naruto spotted Leo above him on the right side of his bed and groaned.

"What fucking time is it?" Naruto groaned for a second time, rubbing his well-rested eyes and blinking. "Man, my muscles are still sore."

Wagging a finger at his newest friend, Leo chortled. "Language, my good sir! I think I have a method that will help regain your memories!"

In the blink of an eye, Naruto had vacated his bed and stood outside of the cabin. Leo was somewhat taken aback by Naruto's vicious speed—despite having seen how fast he was in his earlier battle.

Taking Naruto to the Hypnos-Cabin, Leo had one of its members look into Naruto's dreams and his mind to see if they could dig out his lost memories. Clovis—the child of Hypnos—said. "They're distorted…"

Having peered into Naruto's mind, Clovis had been shocked to see the distorted images in his head. Yawning and scratching at his face, Clovis elaborated. "His memories are there—but they're warped."

"Warped?" Leo was confused. "So, can you help get rid of whatever this distortion in Naruto's memories are? You can do it, right?"

Exhausted, Clovis shook his head. "Nope. I can't help dig out his memories if they're still there—they're only buried and warped."

Mouth twisted in befuddlement, Leo turned to Naruto and lifted a thumb. "Don't worry about this! I'm sure we can restore your mind!"

Naruto sighed, stood up from the bed he was sat on, opened the door to the spacious cabin, and disappeared down the path. Leo's shoulders slumped. "I guess positivity isn't always the best medicine."

(-)

Resignation was evident in Naruto's overall posture. Naruto had been hopeful this method Leo had told him about would return his memories to him. In the end, however, he was unable to have them given back.

"I'll just have to find Percy Jackson." Naruto spoke to the open air around him, fist clenched in determination. "He's my last chance."

Leo had caught up to Naruto and patted him on the shoulder to attract his attention. A casual glance from Naruto had Leo pointing at the arena in the area. "Want to fight a little to calm yourself down, buddy?"

Naruto and Leo jumped over to separate sections in the arena. Flames flickered around the child of Hephaestus before he vanished in a crimson burst of heat. Naruto raised his fore-arm, eyes calm.

Parrying a fire-enhanced punch from Leo and grunting, Naruto launched a ruthless front-kick straight into his chest. Leo stumbled backwards, shooting fire-constructed bullets in Naruto's direction.

Chakra erupted forth from Naruto and enhanced his muscles. Leaping over the barrage of flames, he slammed a right hook into Leo's face. Leo spat out some blood, grinning. "Damn, you're good at fighting!"

Twisting himself out of the range of Naruto's chakra-empowered fists, Leo clasped his hands and aimed a straight line of fire at him. Naruto appeared next to Leo, roundhouse kicking Leo in the hip and smirking.

Falling into the concrete of the arena, Leo blinked at the clouds above him in astonishment. Naruto helped him return to his feet. The child of flames shouted. "Good job! But I'll have you know I was holding back!"

"Same." Naruto's eyes flashed crimson for the briefest of seconds. "I ain't in the mood for dinner. I think I'll be heading back to bed."

(-)

December 17th 2009:

Naruto had found himself in a peculiar situation. At the moment, he was seated on the chair of a chariot in the air. Annabeth had been given a vision by Hera about a hero who would solve her problems.

When Annabeth had told Leo about this at camp, Leo had insisted she brought Naruto along to help search for Percy. Though somewhat reluctant, she had decided to let Naruto tag along for the short ride.

Butch Walker—the son of Iris and the one manning the chariot—had his eyes planted forward on the path ahead and spoke to Annabeth, confused. "Why is this new rookie joining us? Isn't it dangerous?"

Muscles tensed and face stressed out, Annabeth answered. "Naruto can handle himself just fine. Leo trusts him well enough, I suppose."

"So this hero who will solve your problem has one shoe?" Naruto grouched. "And you think it could somehow be Percy Jackson?"

"Trust me." Annabeth palmed her face in amusement. "Percy would get into a situation that somehow makes him lose his own shoe."

Pausing for a short second, Naruto rose from his chair on the chariot, ignored Annabeth's question of why he had stood up, channelled chakra into his feet, and jumped off of the chariot in a blur.

A multitude of hostile presences had tickled at Naruto's senses. Annabeth had also told him they would be an extraction squad for a Satyr called Gleeson Hedge. Wind slapped itself across his face.

Wind-natured chakra tore itself out from Naruto's calloused palms, hurtling him through the clouds and crashing him onto a skywalk of sorts. Crimson eyes wrenched themselves open in annoyance.

The situation was dire from what Naruto had seen. A Satyr was semi-conscious on the surface of the skywalk. A demi-goddess was dangling on the edge of the cliff. A storm spirit and demi-god fought.

Thunder rumbled overhead. Clouds swirled within the sky. Naruto clenched both of his fists, widened his red eyes, took three steps forward, and everything around him became blurred and indiscernible.

(-)

Jason Grace slashed his golden blade into the necks of multiple storm spirits: who evaporated in hurricanes of aureate particles. Dylan—a storm spirit—hissed at him and moved his hand forward.

Vicious tendrils of electricity whipped themselves at Jason—but he endured them and pushed his hand in a circular motion. A violent gale was produced from his palm, shoving itself right into Dylan's sternum.

These circumstances Jason had been thrust into baffled him. Around an hour earlier, he had woken up on a bus without any of his memories. He had also gotten a girlfriend who he couldn't remember.

Piper McLean had climbed onto the skywalk within the Grand-Canyon, checking on Gleeson and his condition. Concentrating on Dylan, Jason grunted in pain as slashes of wind dug themselves into his skin.

Gashes were scattered across the fore-arms he had raised to defend himself from the ruthless onslaught of wind-based attacks. Scowling, Dylan lunged at Piper and Gleeson in rage. "I'll kill these two instead!"

A knife clattered out from Gleeson's pocket. Holding onto the blade at a somewhat amateurish angle, Piper let her instincts control her actions. She sliced the blade in a skillful arc, hitting Dylan's nose.

However, Dylan had become intangible before the knife was able to harm him. Cackling in sadistic glee, Dylan lifted his fist and surrounded it in a small vortex of electricity. "I will have fun killing you!"

For the second time in this long-lived fight, Piper felt her instincts control her mouth. Words spilled from her pained tongue. "Stand still."

Dylan blinked in unadulterated shock at how his body had followed Piper's verbal commands. Swooping in on the scene, Jason spun on the heel of his foot to use his blade and decapitate Dylan's head.

Motes of wind exploded out from Dylan, cracking the skywalk underneath even more than last time. Jason was propelled against the guardrail, back slamming against it as he coughed out some blood.

Then, without any sound whatsoever, a blond-haired and vermillion-eyed boy touched his feet down on the guardrail. Jason regarded him for a short moment. Naruto spoke. "I'm here to help."

Having no choice but to trust this anomalous person, Jason nodded, stood up to his feet, flipped his blade into his other hand, flexed his bruised fingers, and said. "My name's Jason. What about you…?"

"Call me Naruto Uzumaki." Chakra filled his fingers. Naruto swatted a condensed orb of air into the distance. "I sensed danger in this area."

Up ahead on the cracked skywalk, Piper had given the same verbal command to the storm spirit to keep it immobile until Jason returned. This time, he returned while a similar blond boy followed from behind.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Dylan pointed a malicious finger at Naruto: who stayed unbothered. "More friends, Jason?!"

"I guess you could say that." The amnesiac demi-god murmured, lightning coalescing in the atmosphere. "Bring it on, Dylan!"

Jason backhanded the storm spirit in the left cheek. Lightning reached out for Dylan—but he became intangible. Observing the situation, Naruto heard Dylan click his teeth. "Screw all of you and all of this!"

Using his impressive speed, Dylan moved away from Jason and kicked Gleeson into the surface of the skywalk. Jason bent his knees to break out into a sprint. Dylan blasted a ball of wind into his chest.

Piper allowed her instinct to twist her words into an entity of control. Dylan covered his ears in a layer of wind to block out her commands. Naruto positioned himself, head lowered and eyes dulled by boredom.

Cracks appeared on the surface of the skywalk as Naruto drilled the meanest of roundhouse kicks into Dylan. Dropping Gleeson onto the skywalk, Dylan thought in pain. "Such speed! Who the heck is he?!"

Naruto tilted his head at the opening that had been created in the clouds. Dylan had a sick grin plastered on his face. Grabbing Gleeson by the collar of his chest, he flew up and vanished through the clouds.

"Thanks for the help." Jason grunted. "But would you mind telling me who you are and why you're here?"

They were interrupted when the chariot Butch and Annabeth were on landed on the skywalk. Annabeth approached Jason and Piper, calm and composed.

Naruto gazed around the area and sighed.