Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto nor Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I am just a lowly writer with too much time in my hands.

Warning: This is a sequel story. Read the following first before you read this story.

Child of the Moon: The Lightning Thief

Child of the Moon: The Sea of Monsters

Child of the Moon: The Titan's Curse

Child of the Moon: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Chapter 5

PERCY

"Ahhh!" Ms. Castellan screamed through the night. Her voice turned raspy. "My child! Must protect him! Hermes, help! Not my child! Not his fate! Nooooo!"

She grabbed Nico's shoulders and shook him. "Not his fate!"

He screamed, but his voice was strangled in his throat. "Percy! We need to get—"

Suddenly, she doubled over. She was about to hit her head on the edge of the table. Fortunately, Percy caught her.

"Mom?" Percy asked, still putting up the act. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head and muttered something incomprehensible, though Percy could make out the word 'cookies' somewhere in those muttering.

She blinked, and her eyes were suddenly back to normal as if nothing happened.

"Are you okay?" Percy asked.

Ms. Castellan smiled and responded in a sweet old lady's voice with no trace of the raspy voice from before. "Well of course, dear, why do you ask?"

Percy glanced at Nico who mouthed the word LEAVE, but the Son of Poseidon was persistent. If he learned anything from Naruto, it's that information was important.

"Mom, you were telling us something about me?" He prodded further.

"Was I?" She said dreamily. "Yes! Your eyes, your beautiful blue eyes. Such a handsome boy."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Castellan, we have to go!" Nico insisted.

"But you can't go!" The old woman hastily got to her foot. "Hermes will be here soon. He'll want to see his boy."

"I-I—" Percy looked at the burned cookies all around him, and gave her a sad smile. It was clear he wasn't getting anything out of her. "Maybe next time. Thank you for your hospitality."

Percy and Nico were out the door, but Ms. Castellan was surprisingly quick. At the porch outside, she grabbed Percy by the wrist. "At least be safe, Luke. Promise me you will be safe."

"I will, mom…"

She released her grip and went back into her house.

Both boys ran.

Back at the cliff, they stopped catching their breaths. A child-like voice caught them by surprise. "It's nice to meet you, Percy Jackson."

Percy turned to the sound of the voice. There was a cozy campfire, crackling in a ring of stones. An eight-year-old girl was sitting next to Mrs. O'leary scratching her ears.

"Hestia?" Percy asked.

Nico bowed. "Hello again, Lady."

Percy followed his example.

"Sit, Percy Jackson," she said. "Would you like some dinner?"

A better part of Percy was relieved. He was hungry, and staring at moldy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches did not help with his hunger.

Hestia waved a hand and platters of home cooked meals appeared in front of her, including (surprisingly) a steaming bowl of ramen. There was also a five-foot long dog biscuit.

"Ramen?" Percy raised an eyebrow.

Hestia picked up the piping hot bowl and dug in. "Yes, my champion's obsession with this food has rubbed off on me so to say. I must say, I was hoping to meet him here with you, given that the two of you are pretty much involved in every quest of the godly world."

"Yeah," Percy hid his worry with a smile. "I guess you could say he's off to face his inner demon."

"The lengths he would go to just to protect his friends," Hestia said with pride in her voice. "I made the right decision. Now, now, dig in, children, we can talk while you eat."

Nico eagerly sat down. Despite the brave and serious face he was putting out, he had a hungry look in his eyes.

Percy sat next to him and picked up some foot to satiate his growing hunger. But before he could devour his food, he scraped some of his food into the crackling campfire. "For the gods." He said.

Hestia smiled. "Thank you. As tender of the flames, I get a portion of each and every sacrifice, you know."

"You were the girl I saw in the hearth at camp, weren't you?" Percy asked.

"I'm glad you remember me," Hestia said with a sad smile. "I'm surprised you saw me at that time. Most people never do. Everyone is out rushing about. No time for family."

"No offense, my lady," Nico began. "But why aren't you out with the other Olympians fighting Typhon?"

"I'm not one for fighting," The goddess' eyes flickered with a comforting crackle of fire. "Besides, someone must stay in Olympus and keep the fires burning."

"So you guard Mount Olympus?" Percy asked.

"No, no, guard is such a strong word," Hestia shook her head. "But if ever you need a warm place to sit and have a home-cooked meal, then you are welcome. Now eat."

The two boys were hungry. They were too scared to have whatever May Castellan was offering them, so they haven't eaten till now.

And when it comes to food, Hestia's are the best. It makes you miss the days where you sit around the table and share food with your loved ones. Something that is hard to come by nowadays.

"So, how was your visit?" Hestia asked as she took a sip of a bowl of ramen.

Percy swallowed. The scary thought of the unhinged old lady with bright eyes and a maniacal smile returned. It unnerved him.

"Was she always like that?" He managed to ask.

Hestia shook her head. "Once upon a time, she was born clear-sighted, a one in a million gift. She could see through the veil that separates our world from the mortal world. She had many talents. So many in fact that he attracted Hermes, himself."

"What happened?"

"She went too far…"

Percy and Nico perked up at the piece of information.

"What do you mean?" Nico asked.

The goddess's face darkened. "That is a story I do not like to tell. But May Castellan saw too much. If you are to understand your enemy Luke, you must understand his family."

Percy thought about his old friend turned enemy. Nine years old, he ran away. He couldn't blame him. Being left by your dad because of some stupid ancient laws, with your mom who has lost her mind at nine years old.

Even if just a little, he understood why Luke had deep seated hatred for the gods.

Hestia scratched Mrs. O'leary's ears. The hellhound wagged her tail and accidentally knocked over a tree.

"So, what will you do?" Hestia warned. "Will you follow Luke's path?"

Nico set down his plate, "We have no choice, my lady. It's the only way Percy would stand a chance.

"Hmmm…" Hestia hummed. She opened her palm and the flames shot to almost ten meters high. "Not all powers are spectacular. Sometimes the hardest power to master is the power of yielding. Do you believe me?"

"Yes," Percy said, but he didn't sound convinced.

The goddess smiled, recognizing the doubt in the boy's voice. "Do you know why I gave up my throne, Percy?"

"Because you didn't want to fight with them?" Percy guessed.

Hestia nodded. "Yes, when Dionysus was made a god, I gave up my throne for him. It was the only way to avoid a civil war among the gods."

"But didn't that unbalance the council? Suddenly there are seven guys and five girls."

Hestia shrugged. "It was the best solution, not a perfect one. Now, I fade slowly into the background. Nobody will write epic poems about the deeds of Hestia. Most demigods never even stop to talk to me, but then that boy came along. Just one look at him…even though he was alone all his life, I have never seen the Will of Fire burn so brightly in someone before, not since Hashirama."

She looked at Percy. "Now, my ramblings aside, can you do this? Yield when necessary?"

"I-I don't know what you mean."

"You are a good warrior, Percy, and it is hard for a warrior to yield, especially when in battle. You will understand my words soon. For now, will you continue your quest?"

"Are you trying to stop me from going?"

"No, I am here because when all else fails, when all the other mighty gods have gone off to war, I am all that's left. Home. Hearth. I am the last Olympian. You must remember me when you face your final decision."

Percy looked to his friend then to the god. "I have to continue, Lady Hestia. I…we have to stop Kronos."

"Very well. You'd best be careful then.. I cannot be of much assistance, beyond what I have already told you. But since you sacrificed to me, I can return you to your own hearth. I will see you again, Percy, on Olympus."

Hestia waved her hand, and everything faded.

(LINE BREAK)

It was good to be home.

Percy and Nico found themselves sitting on the Jackson residence couch, and Mrs. O'leary was sleeping in the middle of the living room, flattening whatever decorations were there.

"Why is there a mountain of fur in the living room?!" Paul freaked out from the mezzanine floor of their apartment.

"Percy? Naruto? Are you home?"

"I'm here!" Percy shouted back.

"Woof!" The massive black mastiff yapped happily, hearing Sally Jackson's voice. Unfortunately the living room got trashed.

After a few minutes of getting things in order, the family was sitting around the kitchen table with Percy getting everyone, more specifically the mortals, up to speed.

"So it's true," Paul said as he stared at Percy and the hellhound. Sally fed a family-sized tub of ground beef.

Percy copied Naruto's gesture when he was flustered. "Yes, sorry for keeping it from you. And I appreciate that you are not freaking out over this."

Paul, the ever understanding man he was, answered, "I'm sure you had your reasons. But all those stories of monsters and demigods…they're all true. I'm freaking out over all of this. I think you're awesome, you and Naruto…"

Percy blushed. "Thank you, but I have to say, Naruto is…a special case…"

This surprised everyone around the table, even Sally.

"This is a story for another time. It's best that Naruto, himself, tells you," Percy said.

"Speaking of Naruto, I hope he's okay wherever he is," Sally said worriedly. "So what did you come home for? Shouldn't you be at camp?"

"Well…"

Percy told them what the demigods were up against and what the boy's had done to prepare for it. For Naruto's case though, he just said that he went to train.

"So…it has come to this?" Sally laced her fingers around her lemonade cup. She was stressed lately with her writing, just like she always dreamed of, so it pained Percy to tell him his plans. "the River Styx, huh? Both you boys will be the death of me with all the worry. This is too dangerous, even for you."

Percy gulped. He couldn't tell his mom now about Naruto going to tame a demon fox taller than the Empire State.

"But I need to do this mom, or we won't survive the invasion," Percy argued.

"An invasion of monsters," Paul said. "I don't understand how an army of monsters can sneak into Manhattan without any of us seeing it."

"The Mist is strong like that," Percy explained. "Just look at Typhon, regular mortals just think he's a storm system."

"Ms. Jackson," Nico cut in, "Percy needs your blessing. The process has to start that way. I wasn't sure until we met Luke's mom, but now I'm positive. This has only been done successfully twice before. Both times, the mother had to give her blessing. She had to be willing to let her son take the risk."

Sally studied her son, "I can't bless this. This is crazy. I can tell, even this scares you."

"Mom," Percy steadied his voice. "It is a gamble, but I have to do this, for the sake of this world."

"I-I can't–"

Paul placed a hand over his wife's son. "Sally, I can't claim to know what you and Percy have been going through all these years. But it sounds to me... it sounds like Percy is doing something noble. I wish I had that much courage."

Sally stared at her lemonade. She looked like she was trying not to cry. Percy remembered what Hestia told them just moments earlier.

"Percy," she said, "I give you my blessing."

To be completely honest, he was scared. He didn't know what to expect when he set out to do this quest. Was he coming out of this alive? Will he even succeed in what he sought to do? Will he–

It was like Sally could read her son's thoughts. She knelt down in front of her son and put her hands on his cheeks and said, "Perseus, hold fast…"

"Brave the storm." Percy followed

The boy remembered the line. Sally used to tell him that when he was scared of the thunder when it was raining hard outside or when he was too nervous to go into yet another new school.

With renewed vigor, Percy's face took on a determined expression.

"Thanks mom," He said.

"Before you go, can you do one last thing for me?"

"Anything mom.."

"When all of this is over, can you send me a sign? Anything to let me know Naruto and you are safe."

Percy nodded. "You got it mom."

NARUTO

"Arghhh!"

Kankuro's screams of pain filled the halls of the treatment room as Sakura began to attend to the puppet master's injuries.

"Hold him still!" Sakura urged the men in the room.

Annabeth watched in awe as the bubbles of water remained intact on Sakura's hand and entered Kankuro's chest whole without bursting.

This was a civilization that has the technological capacity as Feudal Japan, yet they made up with the lack of advancement with what she considered magic.

"Urk!"

With one last muffled scream, the pink-haired medical ninja pulled out the last bubble of water from Kankuro's chest, and with that, the man's expression relaxed.

The otherworlders looked at her with awe. There was no way modern medicine would be able to save someone from poison like this, especially one that was about to kill you.

"We're not out of the woods just yet," the medical ninja dashed the hopes and expectations of everyone in the room. "I took out most of the poison, but I can't take out those that have been absorbed by the body. For that, I will need to make an antidote."

"It's just like watching the Slug Princess work," Chiyo commented.

"You flatter me, Chiyo-sama," Sakura blushed. "But she is my master after all."

"Nii-san, the next generation…" Ebizo told his sister.

"Indeed," Chiyo nodded. "Now then, come to our greenhouse. I'm sure you would need some plants for your antidote, noh?"

"Can I come?!" Annabeth said excitedly.

"I don't see why not," Chiyo regarded the sudden outburst. "Follow me!"

At the greenhouse, the daughter of Athena was like a little girl with awe of every little thing she was seeing.

"This is amazing!" The girl gushed. "You've grown a lot of medicinal herbs despite the climate!"

"I appreciate the kind words, but this isn't as much as we would've wanted," Chiyo said humbly.

"No, no, this is more than enough," Sakura said, as she finished picking out the plants she needed. "I'll be able to make three anditotes with your current stock."

"That's good to hear," Chiyo smiled.

Once they returned to the treatment room, Annabeth noticed Naruto with a faraway look on his face.

"He's been like this since you left," Silena said.

"He's worried about Gaara," Kakashi explained.

"Don't worry, Naruto," Sakura comforted the boy. "We can leave once I make the antidote."

"We'll succeed like we always do," Annabeth said with confidence.

"Gah, it's just that this is supposed to be a training mission," Naruto complained. "Why did they have to strike now?!"

"Calm down, Naruto," Silena said with worry.

"How can I?! I have to conquer this fuzz ball in my gut, and save Gaara," Naruto said aloud. "And Kronos is preparing to attack Manhattan while we're here!"

Annabeth took Naruto's hand.

"We've been on countless quests together," she said. "You had always been there for us, convincing us that nothing is impossible no matter how stacked the odds are against us. Now let me be the first to tell you that we are going to succeed. We will get back on time to defend Manhattan."

Naruto smiled. "You're right."

"And while you were moping around, I finished the antidote," Sakura cut in. "Once we're sure Kankuro here survives, we're leaving to track down Gaara."

"Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled at her as well. "You've become quite the medic. You're just like baachan."

Sakura huffed. "I won't allow you to move farther from me, chaa!"

Just then, a coughing sound came from the examination table.

Temari rushed over to her brother. "You're okay!"

"Geez sis," the puppet master managed through ragged breaths. "That hurts."

Chiyo walked up to the siblings. "Kankuro, was it really Sasori that you fought?"

"It was definitely him," The younger Sabaku's voice took on a serious tone. "Every puppet I threw at him, he knew how to counter. There's no doubt it's him."

"Sister," Ebizo placed a hand on the old woman's shoulder.

"I didn't want to believe it at first…" Her voice trailed off. "I have no choice. I will go with you. I will bring my grandson to justice myself."

"But nee-san, you're too old for this," Ebizo protested.

"Nonsense!" She waved him off. "I'm still as strong as an ox. Suna is not so weak that it would let Konoha handle everything."

"I see no problem with that," Kakashi said. "Take us to where Kankuro fought Sasori. There is bound to be some scent left for me to track."

"WAIT!" Kankuro called their attention. He flicked his finger and Karasu's severed hand flew towards his bed and revealed a piece of cloth from the Akatsuki Member's mask.

"I took this from him after I was thoroughly beaten," He said. "Use it."

"Then I'll–"

"Wait!"

Naruto knew what his sensei would suggest so he spoke up.

"What is it, Naruto?" The jonin asked curiously.

"I have been practicing this for since the war broke, so I wanted to give it a try,"

He took the piece of cloth, and gripped it in his palm. It was like a map was being drawn in his head. He couldn't explain it but he somehow knew where to look for the terrorists.

"Let's go," was all he said.

Sakura looked at him with awe. It looks like she wasn't the only one with new skills.

"Naruto, how did you–"

"There's no time," the blonde cut her off. "They barely just started."

And so they ran. They ran as fast as they could. They didn't know where they were going, but they followed the blonde's lead.

As an experienced tracker, Kakashi could see how Naruto was behaving. He was looking for every minor detail in the vast desert. Despite the time that had passed, he was able to tell where they had to go. Hell, even he could pick up the scent in the air. That impressed him.

Eventually, the group left the desert and entered the forest once again.

It was then that Chiyo asked the question that had been bothering her. "Why does a shinobi of Konoha care deeply for someone who isn't a part of his own village?"

"Well you see, Naruto and Gaara are the same."

Sakura and Chiyo were surprised.

"The same how?" Sakura clarified.

"They both have a tailed beast inside of them,"

That bombshell shook Sakura. What shook her more was that these foreigners were not at all surprised.

"You already know this?!" she directed the question to Annabeth.

"I'm surprised you didn't know about it till now," the daughter of Athena shrugged nonchalantly.

"It was the Third's doing," Kakashi explained. "In an attempt to give Naruto a chance at a normal life."

"And that worked out so well," Naruto added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Forget about that right now," He turned showing the marks of a sage. "We're close. And they're pretty powerful people."

"But Naruto…" Sakura tried to protest, but Naruto raised a hand to stop her.

"Save it. We've got to save Gaara."

Chiyo studied the boy. 'Perhaps there's hope for the future yet.'

She gave out a hearty laugh. "I like your spunk boy. Reminds me of my old rambunctious self. Fine then, lead the way."

And so Naruto did.

He led them down a cliff and down on a river below. It seemed there were only cliff and water for miles, but there was one portion of the cliff wall that stood out; there was a protrution. On closer inspection, the protrusion was a rock that was blocking a cave entrance. And in the center of the massive rock was a seal tag.

Out of rage, Naruto slammed his fist as hard as he could on the giant rock. The cliff around them shook and the river water swayed from the shock of Naruto's outburst.

"Gahh!" He growled. "Why won't it break!"

While Naruto was complaining. Kakashi was studying the piece of paper on the the rock. "Interesting…" he said. "That seal is creating a barrier that's protecting the rock."

"Then all we have to do is remove the seal, right?" Silena pointed out.

"Yes, but this type of seal usually uses four separate sealing tags," Kakashi explained.

"It would take time to look for them from scratch," Naruto complaint.

"My, my, Kakashi. It looks like I found you in a pickle," Guy's flamboyant voice interrupted.

"Bushier brow sensei!" Naruto greeted as he saw the jonin and his team approached.

"My, Naruto, you've changed a lot from the little kid who used to join my taijutsu lessons," Guy greeted back.

"I still practice everyday, sensei!" Naruto saluted. "And I still have this…" he reached inside his shirt and showed part of the green spandex that he wore under his jumpsuit."

"Yosh, Naruto!" Lee cheered much to Tenten's annoyance. "Let us let our flames of youth burn bright and have a spar sometime."

Kakashi deadpanned, "Please don't turn my student into another you."

Guy laughed out heartily. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Kakashi?"

"Uh, I thought we were under a time limit," Annabeth got the topic back on track.

"Right, right," Guy said, "You said there were four other sealing tags?"

Kakashi nodded.

"You're in luck," the green beast entered his infamous nice guys pose, "Cause Neji is here,"

"Flames of youth?" Annabeth asked.

"It's their famous catch phrase," Naruto explained.

"Now, back to the matter at hand," Kakashi brought the team back to their current problem. "Neji, if you will?"

The Hyuga nodded.

He raised his hand into a half ram seal and chanted, "Byakugan."

The white eyed shinobi's field of vision widened. It zoomed through the jungle around them and along the banks of the river.

And then…

"Got it," He said. He relayed the data to his team.

"Wow, that's useful…" Silena commented.

"Well, you've seen nothing yet" Neji added.

"Now that we know where the other seals are, we sync our communicators to the same frequency," Kakashi said.

"My team will handle the seal dismantling, while you engage the enemy," Gai added. "Well come to aid you as soon as possible."

Neji walked up to Naruto, "Your words long ago have changed the Hyuga clan. The main and branch families are basically non-existent now. For that, I thank you. Once all of this is over, we should have a drink some time."

Naruto gave out a pained expression. "I would love to Neji, but we're in a race against time."

From what Naruto said, the Hyuga nodded. He didn't ask any further. It was something that involved his new family or these curious foreigners. He didn't want to pry.

"Whenever you're free then."

Naruto slammed a fist into his open palm, "Yosh! Let's get our game faces on and save Gaara!"