IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: My user name is now Silver's Gilded Style, so if you see a name change, don't freak out! It's still me, Blue Flame 33!
New chapter! Let's jump right in! Please review, it means a lot to me!
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Disclaimer: I don't own "Naruto" or "Percy Jackson & The Olympians," they belong to their respective owners.
Never Enough
Naruto ran for what he thought was an hour, but it could have been longer or shorter. Being lost at sea really took away the sense of time from you.
Thankfully, as he took each step across the water, he chatted with the Kyuubi.
"Hey, Kyuubi," Naruto continued, "Can you tell me why you were sealed in me again?"
"Brat…" mumbled back the Kyuubi from his mindscape, "I've already explained it to you many times…"
Naruto smiled cheekily, "I know, just like messing with you."
The two were on talking terms after Naruto had removed the mental barrier placed when he was born. They could speak freely through their mental link now, which Naruto abused at times.
He wanted to be friends with the fox. In his mind, if they were going to stick with each other for life, they might as well get to know each other.
The ruby necklace dangled from his neck as he ran, shining the path ahead.
The Kyuubi had told Naruto how he was sealed in him, describing how his birth parents sacrificed their lives to save him. He had expected Naruto to respond with malice or hate for him. Instead, he was shocked when the boy expressed forgiveness.
The forgiveness came from two main factors in the Kyuubi's story. One of them was the fact that he was temporarily under mind control from a Uchiha at the time. The second was that he could empathize with the being. If he had just been freed from a lifetime of confinement, he wouldn't be eager to go back to it either.
Furthermore, Naruto learned that the Kyuubi had a Yin and Yang chakra makeup. Each one had different properties and abilities, so it was incredible just how vast the Kyuubi's power was.
"Hey, Kyuubi," Naruto said in his mind while he ran across the waves, "Is it true that you could destroy mountains with a flick of your tail?"
He didn't hear a response right away, as the Kyuubi stayed silent. Eventually, it let out a deep rumble reminiscing of laughter, "True? That description alone downplays what I could accomplish."
"So then how strong are you?"
The Kyuubi gained a wicked smile, "Let's just say, I was the strongest out of all my siblings for a reason…"
Naruto's imagination whirled, thinking of the endless destructive capabilities he had. He shuddered to think what kind of monster the Kyuubi could be if he wanted to be.
"So Kyuubi, don't you ever get lonely?" Naruto asked mentally while he sprinted, "I mean, hundreds of years spent isolated would make me feel lonely…"
At that moment, the chakra entity had a few flashbacks enter his mind.
He remembered being a young kit, exploring the world with his siblings.
He remembered spending quality time with his father, watching the man grow old.
Finally, he remembered the last time all of his siblings were in one spot before they were separated.
"…No…no, I never get lonely…"
For some reason, Naruto felt the words had an undertone of sadness behind them.
"Hey Kyuubi, I was wondering if-" Skidding to a stop on the water, Naruto looked around. He had stopped mid-sentence because he sensed something that made him smile.
Emotions, he could sense emotions nearby. They weren't negative, hateful, or happy, just neutral.
"They're over here," Naruto thought, changing his direction slightly to the right. He hoped he could finally run into some form of civilization after running on the water for so long.
This brought a rush of adrenaline to the blonde as he ran with rejuvenated effort. He had never missed solid land before as much as now.
"It seems his radius extends for a few miles…" The fox held back a smirk while thinking, "…Good. That means he's been working on extending that as well in his training."
He rationed that the only reason he cared was because he didn't want to be in a weak container. That was the only reason, otherwise, he would have to admit that he had started to care for the boy.
And that was never going to happen.
"Looks like we'll find something soon!" Naruto said in excitement while picking up his pace, "Aren't you excited Kyuubi!? We'll be done with these miles and miles of water!"
The beast didn't respond, instead choosing to yawn loudly.
"Jackass…" Naruto muttered in his mind with scrunched eyebrows, "…Now I'm going to only practice my Mokuton techniques for a whole TWO years! That'll show the Kyuubi to ignore me!"
He nearly dropped from the headache that hit him, causing him to feel dizzy. Shaking his head, he continued on his pace, refraining from making any more jokes.
The Kyuubi smiled.
Nobody ever got the last laugh over him.
Seeing an island in the distance, Naruto smiled. It felt like an eternity when he left that cruise ship and he was just happy to be back on solid ground.
Hopping onto the shoreline, Naruto looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, as it was just another regular island. There were trees, massive amounts of plant life, rocks, boulders, and sand.
Deciding to head where he felt the emotions come from, Naruto walked deeper into the island. However, he kept his guard up just in case he was in enemy territory.
Soon enough, he realized his gut feeling was right.
Pushing past some bushes, Naruto came across a massive clearing in the center of the island. The sun wasn't out anymore, so it was late at night by this point.
To his shock, Naruto saw many humans carrying boxes of supplies, and weapons, and transporting medical equipment. He saw that each one was doing their task, choosing to complete whatever was entrusted to them.
It reminded him of a military base that he saw on TV one time with his grandmother. These people were disciplined, trained in combat, and barked orders to each other.
Ducking behind a palm tree, Naruto peaked over to see multiple watch towers surrounding the perimeter of the base. It was clear that whoever these people were, they were preparing for war.
There were many wooden cabins built with a campfire situated in the center. These people had either just built up shop here, or had been here for a while at this point. He didn't know which outcome made him more worried.
"What's going on?" Naruto pondered from behind the palm tree. He expected to run into some civilian life and be pointed the right way home, not stumble across another base of operation.
"Stay on alert…" The Kyuubi's voice rumbled out in his mind, "…I don't like the feeling of this. We could be in enemy territory."
That's what Naruto was afraid of.
Hearing a shout, Naruto directed the chakra to his ears so he could slightly extend the range of his hearing. It wasn't by much, but it was plenty for this scenario.
"-wants us to finish this up by tonight. They were ambushed earlier today and fear we've been compromised. We need to change locations by sunrise, we can't afford to be caught here."
"Yes ma'am!" shouted back another man.
"Compromised? Ambushed?" Naruto squinted his eyes in thought. His stomach was sinking, connecting the dots of what they could be speaking about.
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?" Asked the same man.
"Permission granted," the woman spoke out.
"Is the ship lost as well? I know it was one of our most incognito appearances."
"It is."
"Damn…" Naruto clenched his fist, "Just my luck…"
He had indeed stumbled upon another base of operations. It seemed he was not in favor with Lady Luck at the moment.
Peaking over so he could get a better look at the people speaking, he saw the man and woman.
To his surprise, they weren't adults at all. They sounded like grown adults, but they were closer in age to him.
The 'man' had short, dark hair with brown eyes. He had no facial hair, looked to be about fifteen, and had a dark skin color.
The 'woman' who stood across from him, had fiery red hair, looked to be about seventeen, had freckles across her face, and was pale.
They were both dressed in outfits fit for combat as if they were on alert each second of the day.
"ATTENTION!" shouted another teenager, coming into the center of their base with a megaphone, "WE ARE LEAVING AFTER TONIGHT! PLEASE PACK YOUR BELONGINGS, SUPPLIES, AND ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT UNDER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!"
Naruto stayed out of sight, choosing to remain behind the tree.
"OUR COUNCIL MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES! PLEASE BE INSIDE AND READY BY THEN!"
At that moment, Naruto realized that while the base was massive, the numbers didn't quite add up. Based upon the cabins built, he assumed there were anywhere from one thousand to two thousand soldiers here. However, he only saw about two hundred people walk into a main building towards the end of the island.
That either meant they were giving the illusion of more numbers, or a majority of the occupants had already evacuated earlier in the day.
Seeing that everybody had walked into the building meant for their meeting, Naruto made his move. Using the cover of darkness provided in the night, he dashed and hid. Repeating this process, he slowly made his way closer to the cabins.
His first instinct was to get away from here, but if he could at least bring back more information for his friends, then that would be better. After all, no piece of information was useless in a war.
Seeing one of the watchtower guards turn around, Naruto made his longest dash. Going from behind a boulder to the back of a wooden cabin, he calmed his beating heart. This was the first time he had ever used his stealth skills in a live situation.
"Focus," Naruto repeated in his head, "I don't know how long they'll be in that meeting, so I need to make this quick…"
He had seen where the girl had come out of, so he assumed that had to be a building of importance given she was barking orders. Just before he made his move, he flashed through a quick hand sign.
"Mokuton: Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Wood Clone Technique)
Another replica of the blonde emerged from the ground, looking confident as it was created. The reason Naruto preferred it this time, was because his wood clone could merge with any surrounding nature such as trees or shrubs and disappear. Once gone, it could reappear whenever needed.
Furthermore, unlike shadow clones who had to pop before retaining their memories, he could communicate with his wood clone as it walked.
"Go ahead and spy on their meeting," Naruto mentally commanded his wood clone, "Let's see what we can figure out from this."
Nodding, the clone merged into the cabin behind him before disappearing.
Naruto then made his move, running into the building nearby. He made sure that neither of the watchtowers spotted him as he ran.
Gently opening and closing the window behind him, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. He managed to stay undetected and sneak in.
He was happy the lights were still on inside, as he could easily see anything needed. However, this was also risky as he could be spotted more easily as well. There were many windows lining up the sides after all.
He couldn't turn them off either, as this would create suspicion in the minds of the watchtower guards. They knew everyone should be in a meeting, so the lights turning off suddenly would make it obvious they had an intruder.
The lights would have to stay on.
Going room to room, Naruto realized this building seemed to be a command center. There was a cafeteria, training grounds, rest area, bathrooms, and kitchen. However, he did find a room that stored many documents.
At first, he assumed it was some type of library. However, he was proven wrong when he realized some documents said "CLASSIFIED" stamped in red letters over a few of the folders.
"Bingo!" Naruto cheered in his mind, "More intel!"
Walking over to the desk in the center of the room, Naruto looked through the multitude of messy papers all over.
He lifted a page only to frown, it contained information about increasing the budget for their volleyball events.
He lifted another page, only to see it pertained to repairs needed in the bathroom.
Bringing another document to his face, he scowled seeing it was nothing but a receipt of purchased wood for their cabins.
"What part of classified is any of this!" Naruto said with his hands up, "It's all junk!"
"Careful," the Kyuubi smiled, "I thought you said no information was useless in a war?"
Naruto didn't have a retort, instead choosing to sigh. The beast had got him that time.
Shuffling through a few more papers, Naruto tried to see if any more documents had any useful information. Eventually, he struck gold by retrieving another paper.
"Supply lines? Front-line strategies?" Naruto said with wide eyes, scanning over the page, "YES! Finally, something I can work with!"
Sealing it into his arm, he continued to rummage through the papers. He scattered many of them on the table, with others slowly falling onto the ground below.
"I'm in," a voice suddenly broke his concentration, "And it's not good news."
Regaining his mental composure, Naruto asked, "Give it to me, what's going on?"
"We've stumbled across a base full of demigods preparing for the Second Titan War…"
"Okay?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, "I kind of put that together, what's so bad about that?"
"It's not only demigods, it's also demititans."
Now THIS made the blonde do a double take. He blinked a few times before asking,"Wait, demititans? As in the mix of a Titan and a mortal? Are those even a thing?"
"Apparently so, and they're eager for combat against Olympus."
"But I thought Titans only saw humans as playthings? Toys?" Naruto mumbled mentally. That was always the impression he got from the stories presented by Hestia. "Why would they waste their time in procreating with a mortal?"
"Not sure," the wood clone responded, "But I'm assuming some of these kids also came from Nymphs, spirits, and other immortal beings. It doesn't necessarily mean all of their parents came from a Titan and human."
"This… this is something I didn't expect…" Naruto bit his lip in worry. It seemed each second he spent away from his friends, he was finding out something deeper. However, he also knew this information was only good if he could relay it back. He needed to stay alive in the meantime.
"Demititans…" Naruto said with a frown as he looked through more files, "…such a foreign concept."
It was funny how normal demigods seemed in his mind, but demititans were never something he considered.
Finding another file with a stamp on it, he opened it and was pleasantly surprised. Inside were the top-ranking officials within the demi-titans group. There were many demititans in Kronos's army it seemed, but a few of them commanded the rest.
Reading through the paper, he realized it contained the name of the individual, age, and godly parent. He assumed this was meant for submission into higher ranks of their army, possibly as a way to finalize commanding a battalion or group.
There were only five names on the document.
Vissarion Calas, son of Krios. He was fifteen years old.
Omiros and Mavras Zurleas, twin sons of Oceanus. Both were fourteen years old.
Aris Aggelos, son of Prometheus. He was also fifteen years old.
Stella Dellatou, daughter of Hyperion. She was sixteen years old.
Sealing this document as well, Naruto assumed that was the most information he could get for now. It was best if he left before they returned.
"It seems the meeting is over," the wood clone muttered through the mental link, "I will distract them for as long as possible until you escape this island."
Naruto gave his thanks while trying his best to rearrange the papers to how they were before.
BOOM!
Hearing a loud explosion, he peeked through one of the windows and saw that his wood clone had exploded. The explosion was strong enough to tear apart half of the building, with many support beams falling on others.
Hearing their screams of pain and yells for help, Naruto clenched his eyes shut. He tried his best to block out the noise, but it was no use.
"This…this is just a taste of war…" The Kyuubi mumbled from within his prison, "These screams, these cries, remember them each time you take a life. They have a life, just like yourself. They have family, friends, loved ones, and they die nonetheless…."
Naruto grimaced, knowing the fox was right. He had been caught up in getting stronger and helping his friends, he momentarily forgot that there were lives on the line. This was a war, not something to be taken lightly.
Calming his breathing, Naruto made his way out the back window of the building. With a determined gaze, he began to dash out of the base.
Nobody noticed his presence, as they were too busy trying to help their wounded. The blonde didn't realize this, but he technically took his first life on that night.
After running out of the base, Naruto didn't hesitate to land back on the water. However, this time, he fully sprinted as he ran. He wasn't risking being caught, especially after he had such valuable information.
He had found a deserted island while he sprinted across the water. By this point, he had been running for another twenty minutes in a random direction. He just wanted to create as much distance as possible.
Deciding to take a break, Naruto took refuge on the small island. He only needed time to catch his breath and chakra reserves. He had massive amounts of both, so he knew it wouldn't be long.
Sitting by a rock, Naruto sighed. He didn't realize how quickly your hands could get bloody if not careful.
Looking at his hands, Naruto bit his lip, "I have the power to play judge, jury, executioner…but….do I have the right?"
Squeezing his palms shut, Naruto didn't know the answer.
The reason he was scared of killing others, was because he didn't want to become a monster. He had been raised too well to think little of life. Everyone deserved a chance at life…who was he to take it from them?
"Enough of this idiotic thinking…" the Kyuubi rumbled out, startling the blonde.
"Uhh…what?" Naruto said in surprise.
"You heard me…cease the thought…" the fox sounded annoyed, "…you only become a monster once you enjoy taking the life of others. Answer me this brat, do you enjoy killing others?"
"No!" Naruto shouted back instantly with no hesitation. He almost felt offended at the question.
"Then you are not a monster, just a human who fights for those he protects…" the Kyuubi sighed, "…My father was much of the same way, before he passed…" Taking a momentary pause, the fox continued, "…It is right to be concerned about taking life, as it is precious. However, do not consider yourself a beast unless you truly indulge in the slaughter…"
Naruto blinked in surprise, not expecting the words of encouragement from his companion. He was on the brink of a panic attack, and now he felt at ease with himself.
"Take it from someone who has killed those deserving, and those who weren't," The Kyuubi paused, "…it is the moment you stop feeling remorse for your actions that you should be worried. You will indeed have to kill in this world, but don't let it stop you from becoming your own person…"
"Wow…" Naruto said in wonder, floored at the speech given to him, "…thanks fox, I knew we would eventually come around to being friends."
"Tch, don't kid yourself brat," the fox grumbled,"…you have not earned the title, nor privilege, of being my friend."
The beast spat out the last word like it was poison in his mouth.
"I think you're warming up to me," Naruto smiled while standing up. He dusted off his pants, ready for another run on the water, "I mean, you didn't even give me a headache when I used that wood clone back there! That's the first time you didn't react to a Mokuton technique! We're making progress!"
He earned a momentary migraine from that, flailing on the sandy beach. Once the pain went away, he planned to run until he found more stable land.
The fox smiled. He wondered how many times it would take before Naruto realized he always got the last laugh.
"So that's what happened," Naruto sighed while speaking to Melinoe.
He had managed to find land, granted, it was a thick forest but it was a start. After sleeping in a tree for the night, he had woken up and set back off on his journey.
To his surprise, Melinoe had Iris messaged him so the two talked.
He had just finished summarizing what he had done the previous day, as it had taken a lot out of him.
"So you found some good intel then, huh?" Melinoe smiled although it didn't reach her eyes.
"Yep," Naruto nodded with a grin, "I'm just hoping I make it back alright."
"Well I know you'll be fine," she smiled, "You always make it back alright."
"Thanks, Mel," Naruto said with a chuckle, "So how's your day going so far?"
The goddess of insanity responded with a half-smile, "It's going alright for now. Everybody is tense in the Underworld right now as we prepare for war with Kronos. I've just been down here, waiting until combat breaks out."
The blonde nodded, "I understand." Breaking into a wide grin, Naruto smiled, "Maybe if we're lucky, we can fight side by side! It'll be awesome and I get to hang out with a cool girl!"
The goddess giggled in her hand, something she normally never did. However, her time around the blonde had opened her up.
Feeling the sun's heat rest upon his forehead, Naruto looked back at the goddess. With a genuine smile, he said, "I have to leave for now, but hopefully I can see you again soon."
"Me too," Melinoe said with a soft smile.
Taking a brief pause, Naruto grinned, "I'm happy I met you, Mel, thank you for being in my life." He was glad that he could consider her in his close circle of friends.
Besides Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, he didn't have friends to talk to daily. Melinoe had filled that portion of his heart, while he did the same for her.
The goddess blushed, taken aback. "Careful now, before I think you have a crush on me."
Naruto raised a golden brow with a mischievous grin, "And if I did? Would that be a crime?"
Melinoe was not used to flirting. Taking a second to process, she flailed her hair to the side for dramatic effect, "I suppose a goddess as beautiful as me could take a chance on a delinquent."
Let it be known that Melinoe took her humorous side from her mother.
The two then shared a quick laugh, happy to have caught up once more. With a quick goodbye and a blush on her face, the goddess disappeared from view.
"Alright," Naruto spoke mentally while cracking his knuckles, "Let's head out there!"
The sun would set soon, so he needed to move quickly.
Getting into position, he dashed through the land as he felt rejuvenated from his sleep. He ran through the shoreline and was surprised to come across a city.
The blonde nearly fell to his knees in joy, he found civilization again! Normal people were conducting their daily duties, no more demigods or demititans for now.
"Yes!" Naruto shouted in his mind, "Look, Kyuubi, we made it!"
He didn't hear an answer.
"Stupid fox, stop ignoring me!"
Yet again, there was no answer.
"WE MADE IT! CAN'T YOU HEAR ME?!"
This time, there was an answer.
"YOU STUPID BRAT, I'M TRYING TO SLEEP! THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU!"
Naruto huffed but smiled, glad that his companion at least responded.
Walking into the city, Naruto looked around and kept his eyes focused for any clues. After scouring around for a while, he a civilian on the street. He was determined to get back home.
It would be coming onto two days passed soon, he didn't want any more time to slip him by.
"Excuse me, sir," Naruto tapped the shoulder of a man who was on their phone, "Where are we?"
"Uhh…" The man blinked, not sure how to respond, "Central Florida?"
"Florida!" Naruto thought in surprise. He had traveled from the water near Long Island to Florida. That meant he ran around 1,100 miles on the water! It was probably more given how he took a turn to find the demititans base a while back.
The wonders of using chakra! He had made a 17-hour drive in a few hours, on foot!
"T-thanks!" Naruto spluttered out, shocked to find where he was.
The man nodded, walking off and grumbling under his breath.
Hearing his stomach rumble, Naruto gained a small blush of embarrassment on his face. He didn't even think about how hungry or thirsty he had been in the last 48 hours since he was constantly on the move or doing something.
He was worried about finding his friends, but being hungry wouldn't help him either. He had to attend to his current needs before being back on the hunt.
Deciding to at least grab something to eat, Naruto walked into a nearby diner. Grabbing the golden card from the Lotus Casino, he was about to find out if it still worked. He had summoned it from the seal on his forearm.
Sitting himself at a booth, he waited until a waitress appeared. After four minutes, a lady came up wearing an apron, notebook, and smile.
"What can I get you darling?" the woman asked, having a thick southern accent.
She seemed nice enough.
Ordering a plate of bacon, eggs, and pancakes, Naruto finished his order. He paid ahead, having the waitress take his Lotus card.
When she came back, she handed his card and told him it would be out soon.
To his surprise, it seemed that the transaction cleared. The Lotus Casino card was sealed back on his arm, along with many of his other belongings.
About fifteen minutes later, the lady brought his food out along with his water. Giving a small thanks, Naruto began to dive into the food.
As he was eating the scrambled eggs on his plate, Naruto felt a presence enter the diner. A godly one.
"Hi ma'am, please take a seat and we'll be with you shortly!" another waitress said who had long black hair.
"No need," the voice responded in a silky tone, "I'm here to meet an acquaintance."
The waitress nodded, running off to the kitchen. It seemed she was taking food to another table at the moment.
Naruto put his fork down while narrowing his eyes, not liking the feelings of this goddess. He could tell she was feeling confident and calm like they knew what was going to happen.
The woman turned the corner, finding Naruto at the booth.
"Greetings Naruto, may I sit here?" the woman asked before sliding across the table from him. The soft leather squeezed under the woman.
Getting a good look at her, Naruto narrowed his eyes. She had long, silky black hair with honey-colored eyes. She was pale but held a certain ethereal glow around her. She had on a long, navy blue dress with black heels. It looked like she was dressed for a formal outing, not a local diner.
Naruto tensed, ready for any attack. Slowly, with one hand, he reached by his waist and placed his hand on the handle of his trench blade.
"I assumed you wish to know why I'm here, yes?" the woman said with a small smile, "Then allow me to introduce myself, I am Hecate."
"The goddess of magic…" Naruto said in a low tone, feeling the cold steel on his hand underneath the table.
"Don't forget crossroads, young Naruto," Hecate said in a smooth voice, "And right now, you are at a crossroad."
"Really? How so?" Naruto said while darting his eyes.
"You want to protect your friends by fighting in this war, a noble idea. However, at the same time, you are condemning those on the other side to die by your hand. Are you willing to dirty your hands with blood if it means your loved ones live another day? Are you willing to destroy lives and families, all in the name of war?" Hecate said while leaning back in the booth.
"What do you want, Hecate?" Naruto hissed out. His entire body was on edge and he felt like a startled cat.
"Why the hostility?" Hecate smiled behind her hand, "I am merely asking a question. You know, when you were a baby, I scanned you for any hexes so you could join our realm. In a way, you should be thanking me for not lying to Zeus and having you killed."
This information didn't matter to the blonde, who willingly chose to ignore it.
"We both know you're working with the Titans," Naruto dropped the bombshell in the conversation, tired of their back and forth. "You came to seek me out…so what do you want?"
Hecate didn't drop her smile, instead, it grew even wider, "I am merely here to ask if you are willing to go through fighting your side in this war."
"I am," Naruto said with steel in his eyes, "Now leave me alone, you got your answer."
"I did get my answer," Hecate nodded, "However, that leads me to my next question."
"And that is?" Naruto said with a raised golden brow. He was getting ready for a fight.
"How would you like to join the winning side?"
A few seconds passed while the blonde processed the information. Naruto nearly laughed at the offer, finding it ridiculous. "I was offered the same thing by Luke, I'll have to pass again."
"But why not? Think about it, you were raised by a Titan. She nurtured you, comforted you, and raised you. You could fight for her, fight for her race, as a token of gratitude."
"Don't try to fool me, Hecate," Naruto spat out, "You forget I was also raised by a goddess. Besides, Granny Rhea has nothing to do with this war. I am fighting for her in this war, fighting for my family."
"She doesn't? You truly believe that?" Hecate said with a smirk, "Her husband is the one instigating this war, and you believe she hasn't played a role in this?"
"I do," Naruto nodded, "My faith in Granny Rhea will never fade."
Hecate didn't respond at first, instead choosing to eye the blonde. For once in their conversation, Hecate's smile turned into a frown.
Feeling a shift in her emotions, Naruto focused on what it was. For some reason, Hecate's emotion felt… unsatisfied, as if she failed to complete what she came to do.
"Congratulations, Naruto," Hecate leaned on the table, "You have chosen to keep faith in your grandmother and not fight for the Titans. However, as someone on the opposing side, I must admit your decision is disappointing."
Placing her palms on the table, the goddess prepared to leave. Just as she did, she looked over her shoulder with her eyes glowing.
"I hope we do not meet on the battlefield," Hecate said in a smooth voice, "I cannot guarantee our next encounter will be as pleasant."
Hearing the front door jingle, Naruto released the breath in his lungs. That was the second time offered to fight for the Titans, but he rejected the offer once more. He assumed their army really must have wanted him to fight for them.
He looked down at his plate of food, not feeling hungry any longer. His appetite was long gone his conversation with Hecate effectively killing it.
Her mind games wouldn't work on him. He was sure Rhea had nothing to do with this war, given how she was also worried about Kronos reforming. It was clear that his grandmother was not working with her husband.
He would continue to believe that until shown otherwise.
After walking out of the diner, Naruto moved around the city. He truly missed his friends, knowing they had been separated for a while now.
Sensing something that caught his attention, the blonde turned in a certain direction. It was faint, it was low, but he could sense them. He could sense Percy's emotions, as each person felt different to him.
Taking off in a mad dash, Naruto ran with chakra coursing through his feet. He sprinted, ran, and had a hopeful look in his eyes. If this was another dead end, he was back to square one.
"C'mon…c'mon…c'mon…" Naruto chanted in his mind while he ran. Biting his lip in anticipation, Naruto hoped he was coming to his friends.
Breaking into a clearing, Naruto gained a wide smile on his face. It was a weird sight to behold, as he saw many centaurs running and cheering. They were dressed as most humans do when they go to a party.
However, that didn't matter to him as he saw some familiar faces. It was Grover, Tyson, Annabeth, and Chiron. Percy himself was riding on the back of the old mentor, asleep.
Chiron momentarily stopped, causing the others to stop as well.
"Guys!" Naruto cried out, running over, "I'm so glad to see you all again!"
Chiron smiled, "Likewise, Naruto."
Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good to see you again, we got worried after we split off."
Tyson nodded, "Percy took it the worst. He thought you went down with the ship."
Naruto laughed, "Don't worry, I'm alive. It'll take more than that to take me down."
"Hey squirt," one of the centaurs walked over, "Need a lift? We're on our way back to camp."
"Back to camp? How come?" Naruto asked.
"It's a lot to explain," Annabeth huffed out, clearly exhausted.
"She's right," Chiron nodded, "We can explain back at camp. For now, we'll run on foot to camp."
"I can keep up," Naruto shrugged, not thinking much of it.
"Trust me, man, hop on," the centaur pointed to his back, "We run way faster than any demigod can. You're not keeping up."
Let it be known that centaurs held a lot of pride in their speed.
Surprisingly, this announcement woke the Kyuubi up. "Oi, brat, challenge this insufferable buffoon…we'll beat him at his own race…"
"We have to travel a few hundred miles, and we plan to get there within the hour," the centaur scoffed, "Unless you can run with us, you're not making it in time."
"Try me," Naruto nodded with a determined gaze, "I'll keep up, trust me."
The centaurs looked around each other before shrugging. If he said he could keep up, they would find out the hard way.
"I'll stay closer to the back end of the group, in case young Naruto needs any assistance," Chiron offered, not sure if the camper would be able to stay on pace with them.
"Well, no point in talking here anymore," the centaur holding Tyson said, "Let's ride!"
With a dash of speed, he stood there no more.
Following their brother's lead, the other centaurs dashed forward as well.
Pumping chakra into his legs, Naruto dashed along with a strained expression on his face. From the start, these centaurs were forcing him to use high-Jonin speeds just to keep up. He also felt that this wasn't their fastest speed, making him grit his teeth.
"Don't start thinking you bit off more than you can chew…" the Kyuubi grumbled, "We will NOT fail in this race…"
"You're right," Naruto nodded as he followed behind the centaur pack, only a few feet away. "We can do this."
As they passed forests, shorelines, rocks, sand, and more greenery, Naruto began to slightly pant. He was beginning to breathe harder as they ran. Everything was a blur around them as they ran at extremely high speeds.
"Hope you're not falling behind back there, little bro," one of the centaurs said while laughing up ahead, "We're not even going full speed!"
Gritting his teeth in anger even more, Naruto didn't respond. He was tired of being weak, and he would show his training paid off.
Chiron glanced back, ensuring his camper was still in tow.
"Full Release!" Naruto shouted mentally, fully erasing his gravity seals. He could always re-activate them later on.
This helped him slightly as he could keep up without as much difficulty. However, running, jumping, dashing, and sprinting constantly were beginning to wear on his leg muscles. He had never really pushed himself this hard, for this long.
Just another thing he needed to train it seemed. His body still needed experience in the real world, and it showed.
After running for about forty minutes straight at high-Jonin speeds, Naruto began to gasp for air. His chakra reserves were fine as they were barely touched in this sprint. However, his muscles, tendons, and tissue were beginning to strain.
"He's close to giving out!" chuckled the centaur holding Annabeth, "I can feel it!"
Realizing his legs would give out before his chakra reserves would, Naruto made a decision. Normally, this would be stupid since this was just a show of pride for him. He wasn't in any actual danger if he lost this race he would only get wounded pride. Maybe a bruised ego as well.
But that was the thing, Naruto didn't want to go back on his word. He said he could keep up, so he would.
"Hachimon: Kaimon!" (Release: First Gate of Opening!)
Grunting at the release of chakra filling his reserves, Naruto pushed past his limit. He went from strained, to feeling like he could run a million marathons in a second. The technique of the Eight Inner Gates was truly remarkable.
It felt as if his strained muscles had a cool wave of ice hit them.
"This brat… is opening the first gate… because he doesn't want to lose a race?"the fox thought in amusement. This forbidden Jutsu, the one that takes a massive toll on one's body, was being used to compete for speed. It was a funny thought for the fox. He didn't worry too much about the damage it would cause the blonde's body, as he could just heal it back. It was only the First Gate, after all, nothing he couldn't repair.
Of course, the blonde didn't know he provided him with a regenerative ability yet. As he hadn't been in too many life-threatening fights just yet.
His chakra, along with the chakra siphoned off of him for years, naturally healed the blonde.
To everyone's surprise, Naruto pushed past the centaurs without a second thought. He didn't look back, instead choosing to hide his growing smirk.
"Hope you don't fall behind, I'll meet you back at camp!" Naruto said jokingly while running up ahead.
He blurred before disappearing.
"Did you hear that boys?" the centaur holding Tyson said with a smile, "Looks like we have a challenge. Time to up our speed and leave this twerp in the dust."
Feeling in a competitive mood, the other centaurs upped their speed and also shot after the blonde.
Annabeth held on for dear life, Tyson felt his butt hurt after bumping over so many rocks, Grover was trying to hold back from puking, and Percy snored softly while holding onto Chiron.
They would arrive at camp in only three minutes after this.
Breathing hard and hunching over, Naruto placed one hand on a nearby cabin. He was only able to tie with the centaurs in the end, but it was better than being left behind.
As for the centaurs, they were impressed that a normal human could keep up with their speed. Before departing, they told Naruto he could contact them whenever as a favor. They also invited him to a party, which the blonde respectfully declined for the moment.
Once gone, Naruto was finally able to gasp for air, trying to save face with the centaurs. He wouldn't admit it, but going that hard for so long was a draining task. He realized he would need to train extensively in Taijutsu after this, especially in keeping the Gates open longer.
After gathering his breath, he watched Annabeth, Grover, and Percy speak to one another. Walking over, he was surprised when Percy pulled him in while slinging his arm over his shoulder.
"You bastard! You said you would be right behind us! I thought you were dead!" Percy exclaimed while poking the blonde in his chest.
"Ehh, sorry about that!" Naruto sheepishly said while rubbing the back of his head, "I kind of got lost, but I was able to get some information about the Titan army. I need to meet with Mr. D or someone on Olympus to get this information back."
Percy smiled, "Well at least you're alright…"
The group then caught Naruto up on what had happened while he was gone.
After they split from the cruise ship, Percy, and Annabeth had to fight off a hydra. Tyson had been presumed dead after the ship sunk, due to him being separated from the group. It was Clarisse who managed to save them in the end, which they appreciated. They sailed through the sea of monsters, passing Scylla and Charybdis. Once they found where Grover was, Percy and Annabeth were able to save him.
That's also where they met Tyson once more, who had been saved by the hippocampi he named "Rainbow." After retrieving the Golden Fleece, they gave it to Clarisse since this was her quest in the end. She left ahead of time, while the rest of the group made their way to Miami.
That's where they encountered Luke once more with his band of monsters. Thankfully, Chiron and his centaur brothers were able to save them before anyone could get hurt.
That's where they met Naruto as they ran North, running into him in Central Florida.
Then Naruto explained what happened on his end. The faces of Percy, Grover, Tyson, and Annabeth grew serious. The blonde explained how he found intel regarding members of the Titan army as well as finding a demititan base. This shocked the group, but they continued to listen.
After leaving the base of operations, he ran into Hecate in Central Florida. He explained that she was one of the goddesses on the Titan's side, so he didn't trust her. She left with no scuffle, but Naruto assumed this was her last time being courteous.
Hearing roars of cheers and approval, they saw Clarisse bask in the glory of her successful quest. Nobody batted an eye at the group, which honestly, was how they wanted it. They had dealt with enough stress mentally and physically lately.
"Looks like she gets all the glory…" Annabeth huffed out, "But honestly…I'm too tired to care right now…."
"Me too," Grover nodded his head while chewing on an aluminum can, "I'm just happy to be back…can't believe I was almost a bride…" He shuddered at the thought.
Clarisse took a break from the glory and retrieved the Golden Fleece from her backpack. She walked over to Thalia's tree and placed it on the lowest hanging branch.
The camp itself was in rough conditions, as they had been fighting off monsters for days at this point. They were exhausted, tired, and in a bad mood overall. It looked like Kronos's army was eager to start this conflict first.
"It's over," Percy breathed with a sigh of relief.
In the background, Naruto noticed Chiron talking to Tantalus. It seemed the spirit was unhappy at being replaced by the centaur, given his facial reactions.
The group then heard a commotion coming from the center of the camp. Turning their heads, their eyes grew at seeing Thalia's tree glowing. It shined brighter and brighter, with many campers covering their eyes to avoid any damage.
Eventually, the glow died down and everyone brought their arms down. What they saw shocked them to their core.
There, lying on the hill where the tree once stood, was a young girl. She looked to be in her teens and had short, black hair. Her eyes were fluttering open, which Naruto could tell was an electric blue. She had a black jacket with a gray undershirt and dark pants. Instead of the typical shoes worn by demigods, she was wearing black steel-toed boots.
Stunned, the campers began circling the young girl while not knowing what to do. None of them had expected this outcome.
"THALIA!" with a scream that came from the soul, Annabeth pushed past any nearby campers. She had tears in her eyes with an expression of concern. Running over, she knelt and began to examine the girl.
Annabeth rolled the girl over, checking her pulse and vitals. She was lightly sobbing as she did so, not believing what was before her eyes.
The daughter of Athena widened her eyes at hearing a voice she nearly forgot.
"…Ann…Annie?…" croaked out Thalia while her throat felt dry.
Instead of responding, the girl brought Thalia into a tight hug. She felt ecstatic at seeing her best friend alive once more, thinking she would be gone forever.
"I haven't seen you in so long…" Annabeth sobbed, "I'm so happy to see you again…"
"Quick, bring her a glass of water! Hurry!" Chiron shouted over the campers. A kid from the Apollo cabin ran into the dining area to grab the requested item.
Grover also then ran over, clearly excited to see his friend as well. Tyson walked over to help grab a glass of water for the girl.
Before Naruto said anything, Percy spoke up.
"You know….I can't help but feel bad…" the son of Poseidon said.
"Hmm? Why?" Naruto asked confused.
Percy sighed, "Because Annabeth and Grover are having a personal moment…and I'm thinking about the motives of Kronos."
"What do you mean?"
"I think Kronos let us grab that Golden Fleece, it was too easy to get in and out," Percy shook his head, "I think he wanted another chess piece in his game, another player."
It took a few moments before Naruto started connecting the dots, "You mean he wanted another Child of Prophecy in the mix?"
"I do," Percy nodded, "It's clear that a child from the Big Three is destined to save or destroy Olympus… and I feel like he's trying to create the most disruption before we go to war…"
Naruto blinked a few times, not used to hearing his friend think so critically. However, he assumed it was due to the training in their year apart from one another.
"The kid has a point…" the Kyuubi said from within, "It would make sense why he allowed the Fleece to be taken…he knew this outcome was going to happen…"
Naruto grimaced, "I guess we can see why he leads his army…a master manipulator is always tricky to fight against…"
Placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, Naruto smiled, "Hey man, we'll figure this out as we go. Don't stress about it too much." Squeezing his hand lightly, Naruto continued, "Whatever happens in the end, I'll be in your corner."
Percy smiled, happy he could at least speak his suspicions with one of his friends. He knew that Annabeth and Grover wouldn't have taken to his words as well, given their connection to Thalia. He didn't want to come across as being against the girl, but the fact couldn't be denied. Another Child of Prophecy had entered the world, and he was sure Kronos allowed it to happen.
Naruto watched as Tyson and the kid from the Apollo cabin retrieved two glasses of water. Gently, Annabeth allowed the water to smoothly travel down Thalia's throat.
The group had a lot of catching up to do.
Percy walked ahead, wanting to introduce himself to the daughter of Zeus.
Before he could catch up, Naruto saw Chiron trot over with a smile.
"Mr. Uzumaki," the teacher began while placing a hand on his shoulder, "I was curious about your ability to keep up with my brothers, however, Mr. D explained your special situation. I just wanted you to know that this changes nothing in my eyes, you are still one of my beloved students."
Naruto smiled, "Thanks Chiron."
"Of course," the centaur smiled, "However, you may want to work on your speed as many of my brothers wish for another race."
Naruto internally freaked out, those centaurs were party animals.
Five Months Later
It had been a few months since Thalia had been revived by the Golden Fleece.
It was now winter, as they had brought back the Fleece during the summer. In these few months, Percy had turned fourteen in August while Naruto had turned fifteen in October. Thalia was near turning sixteen herself, her birthday being in December.
In those five months, Naruto went back into his training regime. However, he didn't really speak to anybody unless it was Rhea, Amaterasu, Hestia, or his close friends. This was because he felt like despite all of his training, he still wasn't as strong as he wanted to be.
These five months focused on polishing his skills instead of learning new techniques. He had made about one hundred clones a day and had them work on the same things each day.
A portion of his clones focused on chakra control by balancing leaves on their forehead and walking on water.
Another portion of his clones worked on practicing ninjutsu, such as his fire, lighting, water, earth, and wind elemental Jutsu. His Mokuton techniques were also polished, requiring less chakra and being much more durable.
He even tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra, with his guardian's supervision of course. They watched on as a bubble of chakra appeared around his body.
Thanks to the years of siphoning chakra from the Kyuubi's reserves, he didn't feel the effects of the first-tailed cloak form as much. He could even handle up to three tails after much careful practice.
Another interesting fact that was brought up to him, was Amaterasu explaining that his tailed-beast form didn't hurt his body like it should have.
"What do you mean, Amaterasu-sama?" Naruto asked while his three-tailed form bubbled around him. The chakra was maroon red, almost like the color of blood.
"Since you have the Mokuton, instinctively, it should have stopped you from using the Kyuubi's chakra," the sun goddess explained calmly, "However since you've been siphoning it for years, it's grown accustomed to your body using it. It's unique, something that I never thought could happen."
He was lucky that his own body didn't stop him from advancing.
However, despite these improvements, Naruto focused on two main things in these five months.
He worked on his Fuinjutsu and Taijutsu.
Regarding his sealing techniques, after abusing his clones and working himself, he was now a high intermediate level to a low expert. He wasn't quite fluent in the complexity of seals, but he was much more understanding of the art.
As for his Taijutsu, he managed to open up the third and fourth chakra gates. It wasn't enough in his opinion, but it was as much as he could do in the five months.
"Damn… even after all my training…" Naruto slammed his fist into a tree, practicing strengthening his knuckles, "…I'm still weak…"
Despite the constant reminders that he shouldn't be so hard on himself, and that he wasn't weak from his guardians, he felt weak.
"Being forced to open the first Gate…just to keep up with the centaurs…" Naruto huffed while kicking the same tree, "…it's embarrassing…"
He would continue to kick the tree two thousand times, followed by two thousand punches, followed by a fifty-mile sprint, followed by a five-minute break. Once rested, he did the same routine over and over again. He always kept his gravity seals on, sometimes raising them higher if he felt he was getting too accustomed to the weight.
He poured his main efforts into Taijutsu and Fuinjutsu like never before. He studied many seals, practiced every day, and rarely took any breaks. He only stopped practicing when his body gave out, meaning he had to rest.
Seeing that Naruto was losing himself to training, Hestia and Rhea agreed on one thing that he was missing.
His friends.
So, after being forced, Naruto would occasionally meet up with his friends. He would often hang out with Grover, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia at camp.
It took some time for the daughter of Zeus to warm up to the blonde, however, they were slowly becoming friends.
Every few weeks, he was forced to have fun with his friends as a way to take a break from the training. So, during this time, he would play camp games and have fun. Sometimes, he and Percy would run team drills as a way to synchronize their combat abilities.
Of course, this came with the occasional spar. Naruto still smiled when he remembered the time he laid Thalia flat on her ass. She vowed to one day win, but that day hadn't come just yet.
Seeing his progression lit a fire under his friends. Not wanting to be left behind, Percy stayed behind with Chiron for more private lessons. His swordsmanship had grown by leaps and bounds while his mastery over water also improved.
Annabeth dug her head into many more books, however, she also managed to get better at her hand-to-hand combat. Her invisibility cap was often a tool she used frequently.
Thalia's training was improved as well, not wanting to be left behind by her new friends. She had a spear that she clashed frequently with Naruto's trench knives, both being proficient in their weapons. However, due to his strength and speed advantage, Thalia had yet to win a single spar against the blonde.
As for Tyson, he had left to work in Poseidon's forges. However, before he left, he had managed to give Percy a wristwatch that transformed into a shield when needed.
One of the worst moments in their friend group was when Annabeth had to break the news to Thalia that Luke had betrayed them. It was heartbreaking for the girl, but she had to accept reality in the end. Her friend was not the same person she had once known.
No matter how much time passed, life always went on.
So it continued to do so.
"Damn…" Naruto panted while breathing heavily, "I could only hold it for fifteen minutes that time… but it's improvement…"
He released the fourth inner gate, choosing to relax for the moment. After repeatedly opening the first four gates during his five-month training regime, they were a lot easier to handle. The strain wasn't so heavy on his body and he could hold them longer.
Another plus was that the Kyuubi's chakra constantly repaired the micro-tears in his muscles, meaning he was healing while having them open. However, this only worked for so long before the gates pushed past the regenerative abilities of the fox.
After wiping his forehead with a towel and drinking a bottle of water, Naruto prepared for another round of training. He was by Rhea's home with a protective barrier erected around him. It was meant to cut off any godly beings from sensing him and possibly attacking him.
Just as he was about to practice holding the fox's chakra form, Naruto felt his grandmother enter the barrier.
Turning around, he smiled seeing her bring a tray of cookies and lemonade.
"Working hard or hardly working?" his grandmother joked with a smile, setting the tray of goods on a nearby tree stump.
"Hey Granny Rhea," Naruto said with a smile, walking over. Grabbing one of the chocolate chip cookies, he took a bite. After swallowing, he looked up with a grin, "I'm guessing Aunt Hestia made this?"
The Titan smiled and crossed her arms, "They're mine actually, you forgot who taught Hestia how to cook."
Sharing a laugh, the two basked in the other's company. The wind filtered through their hair while the birds chirped in the sky. It was a beautiful day, with the sun being out in its full glory.
"Hey, Granny," Naruto said while sitting on the tree's stump, "I have a question."
"Hmm?" Rhea asked, also sitting beside her grandson.
Taking in a deep breath, Naruto asked the question on his mind, "How do you feel about…your husband?"
Taken aback, Rhea blinked a few times. "My husband? What brought this on?"
"When I was out there, on my last adventure, I ran into Hecate…" Naruto trailed off, "…she told me that she suspected you had a hand in helping Kronos with his army… and I wanted to know what you think of him, you know? Since you married him once upon a time."
Rhea placed her hand atop Naruto's hair and ruffled it around. With a motherly smile, the Titan began to speak, "Yes, at one point, I did love my husband. However, after my children were born, he swallowed them all one by one. It was thanks to my trickery that Zeus didn't share the same fate as his siblings…"
The Titan retracted her hand and placed it beside her, "The day we were married was one of the most treasured days in my life, I cannot lie. Yet, those days are long gone and my husband is not who he once was. My love for him vanished long ago, which is why I support Mount Olympus in this war."
Nodding his head, Naruto smiled, "I thought so Granny."
Pulling him into a hug, the Titan held her grandson for a few moments. "Don't grow up too fast, okay? I still remember when you were only eight years old and stared at the stars all day."
Her sweet young boy had slowly grown up into a fine young man, already age fifteen. It went by all too quickly for the Titan.
Naruto laughed in the embrace, choosing to nod.
The two shared a hug, conveying their love for one another. Neither broke it off for another five minutes, letting the world around them wash away.
"And there! All done!" Naruto said while finishing up another seal. Holding up the paper, he saw that his calligraphy had greatly improved. He had come a long way from being a beginner.
Flipping through his book, Naruto realized he only had a chapter left before he was done with the book. Once done, he would be considered a sealing 'master' and 'expert' but he didn't feel like he earned those titles just yet. He thought that being a seal master comes from creating your seals.
He had just finished speaking with Melinoe about an hour ago and decided to work on some Fuinjutsu.
As he looked over his work, he couldn't help but think about the information he stole from the Titan army.
"I wonder if they've even looked at it…" Naruto pondered while looking at his craft.
After returning to camp, Naruto showed Chiron the documents who agreed that is was crucial information. Chiron then forwarded these documents to Mr. D, but Naruto hadn't heard anything else beyond that point. He hoped the arrogance of the gods didn't force them to overlook the information.
"Do not spend your time dwelling over it…" the fox grumbled, "…you did your part, it is up to those arrogant beings to do theirs…"
Let it be known that the Kyuubi were not a fan of Mount Olympus, finding them to be an insufferable group of idiots.
"You're right…" Naruto nodded, "I guess all we can do is wait and see what happens." It had become clear to all demigods that war could break out at any moment. More and more campers were being trained in warfare tactics while Mount Olympus had been having frequent meetings.
He hoped that his loved ones survived this because his heart wouldn't be able to handle it if any of them died.
Squeezing his hands shut, Naruto breathed in deeply. It felt like no matter how hard he trained, no matter how far he pushed his body, there was always someone out there stronger than him. It felt like it wasn't enough.
It felt like it was never enough.
DONE!
First off, I wanted to say, that I thought this chapter was GONE! I've spent HOURS trying to upload it, and it ended up being corrupted. Thanks to some backups, I thankfully didn't have to rewrite everything again!
We are slowly getting closer and closer to the Titan war coming up soon! Can't wait until we start seeing some exciting battle scenes!
Also, tell me, did you like this chapter? I'm hoping the inclusion of the demi-titans surprised some, I was waiting since chapter 1 to include them. The demi-titans mentioned are not actual characters, I made them for this story.
Will they play a big role? Will they not? We'll see soon!
The relationship with Melinoe is brewing up! We'll see how that goes too!
Thalia's also finally entered the mix in case anybody loves her character.
As for Naruto's pride in getting hurt with his race against the centaurs, it's meant to show the inner workings of his mind. He does not want his loved ones getting hurt because he isn't strong enough. In his mind, if he had to open the first gate against them, then he's nowhere near the level he needs to be. Besides, in the actual lore, centaurs are fast if you look it up.
Things are ramping up, can't wait to show more of the story! Keep an eye out for future chapters!
Until next time!
Cheers!
Skill-set for Naruto:
- Polished Ninjutsu
- Low-Expert Level Fuinjutsu
- Able to Open the First Four Inner Gates
- Base Combat: High-Jonin Taijutsu (Nearing Low-Kage)
- Nine-Tailed Cloak Form: Control up to 3 Tails of Chakra Before Losing Control
Ages:
Naruto – 15
Thalia – 15 (Nearing 16)
Percy – 14
Annabeth – 14