Blessings of Others

by Silver's Gilded Style

After being offered as a peace offering while an infant, Naruto grows up in the Olympian world. Through the countless friends he makes along the way, he will learn so much more. However, while life has treated him well, there is always something around the corner. With his friends beside him, Naruto hopes he can conquer whatever obstacle is in his way, especially a looming war.

10. Chapter 10 - Lessons Learned

We are now officially in the war arc! Let's get to it!

Responded to a few reviews down below!

Hope you enjoy it!

---

Lessons Learned

Percy's birthday was not a joyous event. He wasn't even able to celebrate it with his mother, or her new boyfriend before he was needed once more. He had finally turned fifteen. Naruto was in the same boat, as he had recently turned sixteen. Kronos had attacked in August and it was now December.

It had been about four months since Kronos's army had declared a direct attack on Camp Half-Blood. At that time, Mount Olympus had gone on overdrive. Each Olympian was trying their best to contribute to the war effort.

Our blonde warrior even managed to use his wood release and help rebuild a few cabins that were damaged in the fight. With Dionysus's permission, he also applied many Fuinjutsu seals to help form a barrier around the camp.

Throughout this time, Naruto was visited by both Rhea and Hestia through his ruby necklace. He had been walking around camp when they made contact. The duo explained that Zeus was requiring many of the remaining gods, goddesses, and friendly titans to stay on Mount Olympus. He wanted them close by in case of a sudden attack on their land. They had heard rumors of an impending foe.

He also went through a wardrobe change around this time, using a different outfit altogether. Now, he wore a long-sleeved black undershirt made of a flexible fabric. It was skin tight so it hugged his form and displayed the muscles underneath.

Over that, he wore a black coat with brown outlines, similar in design to a bomber jacket. He wore black pants that stretched, allowing him more flexibility. Finally, his shoes consisted of dark sneakers with gray shoelaces and white outlines.

He wrote seals on each particle of clothing, adding extra defense against punctures, slashes, and other attacks. This made it more durable so he didn't risk his clothing suddenly ripping on the battlefield. It would only come apart if something hit him strong enough to overpower his seals. They would also wear out over time, so he would need to reapply them when necessary.

He didn't want to wear the traditional armor as it restricted much of his movements, so he would go without it for now.

For this effort to be successful, Poseidon's and Hephaestus's forges were working overtime to supply quality weapons for the army. Demeter was growing wheat at a rapid rate to provide food while Apollo leaked enemy locations. As long as Kronos's army was under the sun, he could provide important intel.

To make up for the many minor gods and goddesses who turned their backs, Olympus employed the help of other beings. Nymphs, naiads, satyrs, centaurs, and other beings were being outfitted with weapons. Demigods were no longer the only source of fighters for the army.

Naruto worried that he couldn't get into contact with the Underworld. Whatever was happening down there, was being kept under lock and key. He hadn't even seen Nico since the attacks started, worrying the blonde.

However, the elephant in the room was quite concerning. In terms of capable demigods, they were lacking severely. Camp Half-Blood only housed around 50 demigods left. This meant they had to make up for their lack of numbers.

To help this, many gods of Olympus activated old projects, weapons, or constructs to help. Hephaestus crafted many structures modeled after Talos to help defend their land.

Everyone was doing their part. Dionysus was in charge of assigning missions, which he had already done for the Stoll brothers earlier in the day. They were currently on a scouting mission. Others, such as the kids from the Apollo cabin, focused on improving their medical equipment. Everybody was helping in their own way.

Innocents were led away into rural areas, bunkers, or nearby shelters to avoid their bloodshed. This was mainly manned by Naruto who used his shadow clones to get this done. The city of New York would soon be a battleground.

The blonde only had time to learn one new Justus, which was the exploding clone Jutsu. It was rather easy to master given he had done it before with his wooden clones. He still had massive amounts of clones working on the Hiraishin seal. They were working overtime to try and understand the implementation of the technique.

The war was so extreme, that Athena explained they were receiving help from outside sources. One of these sources proved to be the Amazon Warriors, a legendary female group. Artemis's hunters were also working overtime with the group, slaying any monster that threatened Olympus. They were deployed to attack any threats to Olympus. Both groups didn't mingle often, but they respected each other enough to push any differences aside.

After some time, a portion of Athena's consciousness had come down from Olympus herself and visited Camp Half-Blood. She spoke privately with Mr. D and relayed information through the camp. It seemed that Mount Olympus was ready to form its own brigades, battalions, platoons, and other formations in response to Kronos.

All campers stood in the middle of the camp, awaiting Dionysus to return from his quarters. It only took a few more minutes before he would appear. Once Athena had left, Mr. D was put in charge of splitting up the groups. He didn't seem pleased in the slightest.

He walked out and sighed, appearing next to the campers. Looking into their faces, he felt his heart slightly tug. Despite his many years at camp and nonchalant attitude, he didn't want to see any of them dead on the battlefield. War was meant for adults, not children.

Even Chiron stayed silent.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Dionysus spoke with authority in his voice.

"We have some good news, and some bad news."

"What's the good news?" Percy asked right away.

"Those that have joined Kronos's army are coming straight for Mount Olympus, or nearby areas. They're eager for our blood. That means we won't have to worry about fighting in far-off states."

"And the bad news?" Clarisse asked with crossed arms. She was in a foul mood, despite her father's domain being in war.

"We already have reports of an attack. This is the first main attack led by Kronos's army." Dionysus spoke with a firm tone.

Before this point, the Olympians had only dealt in small skirmishes with Kronos's army. It seemed that they were being sized up and examined, as Kronos's army always retreated.

However, this time, it was a direct attack.

"What's going on?" Katie Gardner asked while biting her lip. The head counselor of the Demeter cabin was getting worried from all the vagueness. Normally, she would only attend camp during the summer. However, the daughter of Demeter decided to stay to help her friends.

"An attack has been led against our allies in D.C. a few hours ago."

"Allies? What allies do we have there?" Grover asked in confusion. He didn't know anything about that.

"That is where a majority of our strategists, including many of my siblings, are located. They run simulations of current battles and feed that information back to my mother. They are the brains behind our strategies and counterattacks. It's how we've been able to hold back Kronos from destroying anything significant so far." Annabeth answered calmly. Thankfully nobody saw the shaking hands by her sides.

Many campers raised their eyebrows in surprise, not expecting this. It seemed that Athena had personally come down to camp to issue a rescue mission if possible.

Annabeth continued with a frown. "It was done in secret because rumors of a spy circulated Olympus. Their location was supposed to be hidden but given how they are under attack, it only confirms we have a spy in our ranks."

"Kill the head, and the body falls," Grover nodded to himself, seeing the logic behind Kronos's attack.

Naruto noticed that Silena's emotions shifted, which further confirmed his suspicions of her. He would have to speak with Mr. D about it later on.

"So how are we going to save them?" Percy asked while placing Riptide along his shoulder.

"You-" Dionysus pointed at the son of Poseidon, "Won't be doing anything, you have different orders."

"W-what?" Percy said in shock.

"Instead of helping them, you will be going to intercept Kronos's ship, the Princess Andromeda." Dionysus said with no room for argument, "The goal is to kill him there, but if you cannot accomplish that, then delay him. We have reports it is currently in use and your element revolves around water, being a good match for him in the sea. I will assign team members with you momentarily."

Normally, the wine god wouldn't have an issue going himself. However, his father had declared he remained in camp as the commander. After his ordeal with the nymph years ago, he wasn't eager to disobey his father again.

"So who helps those under attack in D.C.?" Naruto asked in irritation with crossed arms. "The more we speak here, the more time passes for them!"

"That's the issue," Dionysus sighed, "The attack is not being led by any low-level monster. It's being commanded by Heracles, the famed warrior. My half-brother."

Everyone in camp widened their eyes in shock at the revelation. They couldn't believe the legendary warrior they praised was working for Kronos.

"I cannot lead anyone to their deaths in good faith," Dionysus spoke out, "So this will be a volunteer group only. If you choose to help, realize you will not have a good chance of returning alive."

Everybody lowered their eyes and nervously mumbled to themselves. Even Clarisse looked at the ground, feeling she couldn't be the warrior of legend. Percy would have jumped at the opportunity, but he was already assigned elsewhere.

"I'll go!" Naruto spoke out with conviction in his voice. "I'll get in, rescue our allies, and get out."

Many of the older campers looked away in shame, not believing that a younger teen was braver than themselves. It felt humiliating and shameful.

"Heracles is leading an army given to him by Kronos," Dionysus explained, "Apollo confirmed this when he oversaw the attack. His numbers are no less than three thousand, can you handle this? You'll be facing different monsters as well as their commander."

"I can handle this." Naruto nodded without fear in his eyes. He was sure of it.

Dionysus hummed in thought.

"I'll go too!" Annabeth shouted out.

"I can't-" Naruto began only to get cut off.

"With all due respect, I am going on this mission," Annabeth said in a fierce tone, "Some of these people are my siblings, I will go. Besides, I know the intricate pathway they are located behind. It will take someone who knows how to navigate it for you to find them right away."

Naruto looked at Annabeth's face and saw a determination that rivaled his. With a resigned sigh, he nodded. He couldn't argue with her logic.

"Very well," Dionysus said in finality, "You are allowed to leave within the hour. Don't make me regret this, or your guardians will kill me before Kronos can. Everyone else, stay behind for now so I can finish my assessment. We are expecting another shipment of weapons from Poseidon and Hephaestus soon."

Releasing a chuckle at Dionysus's joke, Naruto watched as many of the campers disbursed for now. Percy came over and spoke with him briefly.

Placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, Percy looked directly into the blonde's eyes. "Please, please, protect Annabeth. I know you'll try your best, it's just that…"

Placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, Naruto smiled. "I understand, don't worry about it. They'll have to kill me before I let anything happen to her."

Percy looked into his friend's eyes before letting out a genuine smile. "I don't want to see you die out there, you better kick some ass. The last thing I want is for me to outclass you, that'll be embarrassing ninja boy."

Scoffing at the terrible nickname, Naruto fired back, "Just worry about yourself fish face."

"Fish face? Really?" Percy laughed, "That's the best you could come up with?"

"Hey, I'll think of a better one in time!" Naruto raised his arms into the air in protest.

Eventually, the duo separated to do their respective duties. They wished each other some encouraging words before departing.

Just as Naruto and Annabeth were about to leave camp, Naruto spotted Dionysus ordering where the weapons would be transported. He also saw Chiron in the distance, supplying armor to all campers.

Walking up to the wine god, Naruto said only a few words before passing by.

"Don't trust Silena Beauregard from the Aphrodite cabin, she is deceitful. I have good faith that she's our spy."

Without saying another word, Naruto summoned a clone to hold Annabeth bridal style. He planned to get there as fast as possible.

He didn't need to turn around to know that Dionysus heard his words. The wine god had narrowed his eyes and thought over the blonde's revelation.

For now, he had people to save. With a mad dash, Naruto and Annabeth shot off into the forest. Releasing his gravity seals, they would arrive at D.C. within the hour.

---

One Hour Later – With Naruto & Annabeth

Naruto had traveled at high speeds to get to their destination from Rhode Island. Releasing his gravity seals and pumping chakra into his legs had allowed for his travel speed to increase.

Following Annabeth's instructions, Naruto jumped over various buildings before he arrived at a disheartening sight. Far ahead, in a grass field, he could see numerous allies slayed. Beings ranging from demigods to deceased nymphs.

Standing atop a tree, Naruto assessed the damage. His clone released Annabeth, allowing the daughter of Athena to stand upon the branch.

He could see a ceramic in a golden barrier being under siege with many Harpies attacking. They were the main killing force at the moment. Stymphalian Birds and skeletal warriors were patiently waiting around. They were hoping the Harpies could finally pierce the barrier.

Further back, he spotted a dark figure standing on a grassy hill. They were overlooking everything with a smile on their face. It was clear this person was their leader.

"No!" Annabeth said in a gasp. It seemed many of her siblings had already been killed.

"Don't lose all hope yet," Naruto whispered back as they stayed out of sight for the moment. "Look around Annabeth, what do you see?"

"The death of my family!" Annabeth whispered back harshly. She fought back the tears forming in her eyes.

"That's not what I meant," Naruto clarified while narrowing his eyes. "Look closer, the Harpies are attacking the courthouse our strategists were locked in. It looks like they were caught off guard at first given the dead warriors outside, but the front entrance is locked. I can only guess they were able to assess the situation quick enough to save whoever was left."

Annabeth didn't say anything but nodded, believing his theory held credibility for now. She was still angered at the slaughter around them.

She counted eleven dead bodies, some her siblings, and others being allies. While this may seem like an insignificant number, it meant a lot more to her when she knew them personally.

"I'll take on the numbers," Naruto said in a dead serious tone, "I'll have a personal squad of clones lead you inside so we can evacuate whoever is left. Do you have a way to get inside?"

"Yes," Annabeth nodded, "Children of Athena can enter without issue from a back entrance. I know the layout inside as I helped design it with my mother. However, I don't know how much longer our barrier will hold before it's broken."

"Leave the army to me, you just evacuate anyone inside," Naruto said in a serious tone. Looking over at the blonde girl, he looked into her eyes, "As soon as we rescue any survivors, you are to follow along with my clones. They'll take you and anybody else back to camp. Don't argue, don't bicker, just leave with them."

Annabeth bit back what she had to say before sighing. She nodded before the clone scooped her up once again in a bridal-style carry.

"I'll give you all the time you need," Naruto clarified, "If you hear any explosions that shake the ground, don't worry. I'll cover your exit and ensure we get anybody out of here alive."

"T-thank you, Naruto…" Annabeth said in a genuine tone, "This means a lot to me, especially since you didn't have to volunteer for this…"

"Don't worry about it," Naruto waved it off, "Now let's go, we don't have much more time before those Harpies break through."

True to his word, the golden barrier around the courthouse cracked slightly. This brought smiles to the monster, eager at their progress.

The clone holding Annabeth disappeared in a blur as it ran behind the courthouse. This was his signal to get into action.

Dashing off the tree, Naruto reappeared in front of the courthouse's entrance. He landed on his knees and looked up at his fellow opponents. His appearance surprised the Harpies, but it quickly turned into snarls.

"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)

Summoning forty clones behind the courthouse to follow Annabeth, Naruto watched as his enemies laughed at him.

"Was that supposed to do something, boy?!" One of the Harpies screeched out with laughter. They found Naruto's form amusing given they had seen nothing change. All eyes of the current army eyes Naruto in amusement, especially the figure in the back.

Little did they know he summoned the clones out of sight, to help his friend.

Seeing as that was over with, Naruto got to work.

"Doton: Doryuheki!" (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall)

Slamming his palms into the ground, a rock wall rose quickly from the ground. It was about ten feet in terms of thickness and rose to a height of fifty feet. Overall, it seemed like a massive structure.

The wall managed to curve around the courthouse with perfect precision, adding an extra layer of protection. His connection with nature only further strengthened the wall.

Overall, nobody was getting past this wall unless they earned it.

"Now that we have that taken care of," Naruto stood up and popped his neck. "Let's go!"

The Harpies snarled and rushed after him, eager to let their claws run through his flesh. Hearing a loud screech, Naruto also saw a majority of the Stymphalian birds rush toward him. Their flock was so dense, it momentarily blocked out the sun.

He knew how to defeat the birds thanks to Heracles's myth, but he would have to deal with the Harpies separately.

Sprinting forward, Naruto met the Harpies head-on in the air. He counted a total of ten surrounding him. They seemed human-like and had female appearances. The only difference was the wide, feathered wings across the back of their arms. Each Harpy had a hair color that resembled their feathers, with the most common being brown.

Focusing on one threat at a time, Naruto flipped through a few hand signs.

"Futon: Reppusho!" (Wind Release: Gale Palm)

This ninjutsu would allow the user to release a high velocity of wind from their clasped hands. In this instance, Naruto poured enough chakra into the technique that it went from being a C-rank, to an A-rank.

Feeling the winds rush to them, each Harpy was thrown off-course. The sudden rush of wind slashed at their wings and sent them barreling into the earth. They were scattered all around just like their victims.

The figure in the back lost their smile.

Using this opening, the Stymphalian birds rushed in and squawked with hate. Their beaks were pointed and ready to taste Naruto's blood.

Noticing that gravity was about to pull him down once more, Naruto used the same premise. Instead of activating another wind release technique, he coated his palms with chakra. This would ensure his hands wouldn't hurt for his next attack.

Rearing back, he slammed his palms together with such force that it sounded like a gunshot going off. This was loud enough to stun the birds and send many of them away in fright.

Seeing that he had the advantage, Naruto landed on fresh soil and flipped through hand signs once more.

"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique)

Spitting multiple balls of black flames into the air, Naruto poured enough chakra to make this C-rank technique become an S-rank. He targeted his balls of fire to follow the flock of birds, ensuring they couldn't evade.

Once they connected, an explosion of black flames occurred in the air. None of the birds survived long enough to hit the ground once he was done.

"Looks like it worked," Naruto smiled to himself, "These birds are the same that Heracles faced in his labors. They were always known to be jumpy around loud noises."

"Congratulations brat, you remembered history," The Kyuubi snorted before his eyes turned serious. "Heads up, we have a guest."

Looking down, Naruto could see the lone figure rush from his hill and head directly toward his location. It seemed he had enough of spectating.

Many of the skeletal warriors were also rushing at him with their weapons. He could see the Harpies regaining their bearings and began to charge him once more.

Summoning 1000 shadow clones at once, Naruto ordered them to clear the area. If Dionysus's numbers were accurate, each clone would have to take out three opponents just to break even on the battlefield.

This was also the first time he felt his massive reserves dip, causing him to shake his head to clear the dizziness. Thankfully, his chakra control was high enough to only spend the necessary amount of chakra into each clone. It wouldn't do well to overspend chakra.

Regaining his thoughts, he rushed to meet the lone figure charging him.

In the meantime, all of the shadow clones took off in different directions. Eagerness shined in their eyes to fight off the enemies.

As for the main Naruto, he blurred as his feet took him away. Bringing his forearm up, he clashed against his main foe.

"So you're Hestia's brat," the man scoffed while pushing back against the blonde. "Allow me to show you the might of Heracles!"

"I thought so," Naruto nodded to himself. This was the legendary warrior of legend, pushing back against him. He could feel the man's strength as they pushed against one another.

The warrior stood at an impressive 6'1 which towered over Naruto's 5'10 growing form. He had tanned bronze skin and blue eyes. His hair color was a dark brown and curly, with some bangs laying against his forehead. He had no facial hair and a set of white teeth.

"Couldn't imagine you turning against Olympus after everything," Naruto grits out through his teeth, "Didn't know Zeus's star son would have it in him to turn traitor."

Hearing these words only enraged Heracles, who poured more of his strength against the blonde. Fearing a losing battle, Naruto disengaged and created distance.

"You know NOTHING about me!" Heracles shouted out while summoning a golden mace into his hand. The weapon was just as big as the wielder. "Being named after Hera, only for her to drive me insane and kill my family! Then I was forced to undergo labors to cleanse my sins, and I was still forced to accomplish two more!"

"That's right," Naruto thought to himself. Heracles originally had to complete ten labors, but after two of them didn't count, he was forced to undergo two more. It was quite unfair in his opinion. "It's quite ironic that he brought the Stymphalian Birds with him, considering they were one of his labors…"

"Then after death, I ascended to godhood. Despite this, Hera spat at me and Father did nothing about it," Heracles breathed out in hate, "I was ordered to become doorkeeper of the ancient lands. My ascension to godhood meant nothing! I was just another pawn to be used and discarded!"

Naruto didn't say anything but he took in his opponent's words. "I…I feel his pain…it's genuine…" His emotion-sensing ability was proof of that.

"I was praised as the Golden Child, a figure similar to Thor from the Norse pantheon!" Heracles spat out, "Only for Olympus to treat me as if I was garbage! I was sold into slavery simply because an Oracle demanded it! Hermes was my handler until I was purchased!"

Naruto winced at the words, feeling the hate roll off the warrior. "It's no wonder he wants Olympus dead…he's been on the receiving end of bad endings…"

Swinging his mace in front of him, Heracles looked on in anger, "Do you see know how Olympus deserves to fall?" It was a rhetorical question that he didn't expect an answer to.

To his surprise, he did.

"I agree," Naruto responded while standing up straight. He could see the valid points made by his opponent.

"You…agree?" Heracles said in a stupor, not sure what to make of the answer. He certainly didn't expect these words to come out of his opponent's mouth.

"I agree, you didn't deserve the shortcomings in life handed to you by Hera or Zeus," Naruto said in sincerity, "I'm not too blinded by my loyalty to see that."

Heracles then frowned while settling his mace upon his shoulder. "Then why fight me? Why defend Olympus?"

"Because just as you hate them, I owe them everything," Naruto answered with a small smile. "I was brought here as a baby and raised by two amazing women. Granted, I had no say in the matter. However, if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't have the life I do now."

It was true as Amaterasu often spoke to him about how Jinchuriki were not treated the best in their home villages. It was another reason he wanted to save the Kyuubi's siblings, to free the Jinchuriki from this burden.

"Despite the wrongs against you, you are not free of sin either Heracles," Naruto said in a serious tone. "You're right that Olympus has slighted you, but you've also brought pain to others."

"Hmm?" Heracles raised a single brow, "Such as?" He stood with a firm look in his eyes.

"Zoe Nightshade, a friend that I knew personally." Naruto said in a confident tone of voice. "She deserved better than what you did to her."

"It's also taking every ounce in my body to be civil with you…" Naruto thought to himself, keeping his feelings aside for now. He knew just how much betrayal Heracles had caused Zoe all those years ago. However, if he could avoid a fight and possibly reach his opponent through words, then it would be worth it. If he could keep his vendetta aside, he could achieve a peaceful outcome.

Naruto then looked into his opponent's eyes with hope, "Drop your weapon Heracles, and we can change Olympus for the better. You've helped me realize just how much the leaders can be unjust, so let's change it together. We don't need to fight each other." He reached a hand out in hopes that Heracles would reciprocate the action.

Instead, he received laughter.

"You expect me to work with you, and lay down my arms? Those dogs upon Olympus will never hear your words or mine!" Heracles chuckled. He looked as if he had just heard the best joke of the century. His face was red with laughter and full of mirth. "I agree that Olympus needs a change…and that change is burning it to the ground!" He lowered his stance before losing any semblance of joy.

With a blur, Heracles appeared in front of Naruto with his mace raised high. Bringing it down at high speeds, Naruto barely managed to summon his sword and block the blow.

The ground underneath his feet cracked and dust shot up, showing just how much strength the warrior placed into the attack.

"Damn…." Naruto thought while wincing, "He's the minor god of strength…I'm not winning a brute force fight…"

He had just barely been able to react in time and block. Thankfully, his sword withstood the impact with ease and didn't crack in the slightest. It truly showed just how masterful the craftsmen in the Underworld were.

Deciding to cut his losses, Naruto disappeared from sight and reappeared far behind the minor god. Throwing his sword into the air for now, he jumped back and flipped through a few hand signs.

"Dragon → Tiger → Ha-" Naruto wasn't able to finish his hand seals as Heracles appeared directly beside him. Caught off guard, Naruto was rewarded with a hit to his face that he managed to block with his elbow. Unfortunately, he felt his muscles wane and ligaments begin to strain. The only reason his bones didn't snap, was because he managed to channel chakra to his elbow before the blow connected. If he hadn't, his arm would be a mangled mess.

"Didn't think I'd let you finish your finger signs, did you?!" Heracles laughed out, "I know all about it! How you use them for your attacks!" He enjoyed the rush of battle.

"D-Damn!" Naruto thought in distress before delivering a kick of his own to Heracles's stomach. Pouring chakra for extra strength, the blow managed to launch the warrior away.

Gasping for air, Heracles was sent flying and stumbled upon the grassy plain. He groaned before shaking his head and grabbing his mace once more.

Grabbing his sword from the sky with an outstretched hand, Naruto looked down to see his left arm. It didn't look disfigured, but he could tell there was serious damage. He sealed his sword for now while he assessed the damage.

Thankfully, the Kyuubi was already working on it.

"Be careful brat…" The fox spoke in a serious tone while healing the injury. "This is the first opponent you've faced that can actually put up a challenge…don't underestimate him…"

"Yeah…" Naruto breathed out while watching Heracles slowly get up. He felt his hand return to normal soon after and squeezed his palm a few times. The fox's chakra managed to heal him quicker after he received Gaea's blessing for whatever reason. "I won't win in strength and his speed isn't too far behind mine despite his size…I'll have to outsmart him…"

He wasn't expecting Heracles to appear so quickly beside him. However, he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Naruto realized that if he was going to win this fight, his hand speed would have to be much higher than before. He could manage that.

"Ready for round two?" Heracles said before charging at the blonde once more. His blood was beginning to flare up for a good fight.

Readying himself, Naruto allowed Heracles to get close.

"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)

Summoning five shadow clones, they all sped after the charging minor god. As for Heracles, he smiled.

Swinging his mace at the first shadow clone, it didn't have time before it poofed into smoke. The other four attacked from different angles.

To Naruto's surprise, Heracles managed to move his body out of the way and swing his mace effortlessly. It was clear his years of battle experience were helping him evade.

Jumping into the air, Naruto threw one of his trench blades at Heracles's head. He wanted to test if his reflexes were just as sharp while fighting off four shadow clones.

Confirming his suspicions, Heracles blocked the flying projectile with his mace before slamming it into the ground, making all four clones disappear in a cloud of smoke. The earth shattered and dust flew up from his slam.

"Great…so his instincts are sharp too…" Naruto mumbled to himself. He was having a hard time finding an opening.

It was then decided if he could get one, just one opening, he would go for the killing blow. Besides, as a minor god, Heracles would eventually reform.

"Come down and fight me, like a man!" Heracles shouted before charging at Naruto. He ran towards the falling blonde with a snarl on his face. He was getting tired of the ranged attacks and constant evasion.

Naruto waited until his feet landed on the soft soil before implementing his plan. He needed the element of surprise to win.

To Heracles's surprise, he felt multiple roots reach up and entrap his feet. This caused him to stumble forward as he was glued in place. His golden mace flew out of his hand due to the sudden stoppage

Pouring chakra into his feet as well as engaging each of his leg's muscles, Naruto shot forward like a bullet from a gun. Charging up chakra into his left hand, he delivered a vicious left hook to the stunned Heracles.

He got his opening, so he would take it.

It all occurred in a second.

SNAP!

The blow was strong enough to jolt Heracles's entire body to the side. Naruto watched in amazement as Heracles was stunned, hurt, and bleeding, but alive.

"N-no way!" Naruto thought with wide eyes, "I put enough power in that to snap his neck!" He was hoping the hit would kill the minor god. He had poured double the amount of chakra he used when he first hit Ares in the mouth during their first encounter. He assumed the blow would kill the minor god easily.

It didn't.

Reacting in kind, Heracles shouted in anger and ripped his feet out from the roots. Just before he could reach Naruto, the blonde dashed to the side and barely evaded capture. As he flew, he picked up one of the trench blades he threw earlier.

Ignoring him for the moment, Heracles grabbed his golden mace and charged once more. This time, he was angered and bleeding profusely from his nose.

Back-flipping over a swing, Naruto's feet touched the soft grass only to move once more. It was a dance to avoid any serious blows from the angered warrior.

"Great, so even his durability is high!" Naruto thought in anger, "I need to really pour my power into the next blow. If I want to kill him, I'll have to earn it."

He hated having to kill, but he saw no other alternative at the moment. He tried reasoning with the fighter, but Heracles was set in his ways. Furthermore, he took into account the words spoken by the Kyuubi regarding the fact he couldn't save everybody.

This was war and the longer he spent here, the more time Kronos could be attacking other parts of their military. He needed to act fast. If he was lucky, he could stall Heracles long enough for Annabeth to leave.

Despite knowing this, he felt as if killing Heracles was the wrong thing to do. He felt that in another lifetime…they could've become friends.

Naruto dodged a massive boulder that Heracles ripped straight from the ground. The minor god had thrown it with high velocity but he had dashed to the left. He needed to stay light on his toes for now.

This would soon falter.

Heracles got close and began swinging his mace again. This time, he swung with much more speed and strength.

Missing a beat, Naruto took a hit directly to the stomach from the golden mace. Feeling the blow, he shot through the air and impacted a tree. He groaned before standing up and wiping his mouth, seeing a small trickle of blood.

The fox's chakra was already at work, healing the internal injuries.

Heracles walked forward and smiled, taunting his opponent. "And to think I considered entering my godly form to beat you! You almost had me there, but now, you're out of tricks!"

His mangled nose remained, with blood beginning to smear around his face. He even managed to lose a few teeth from Naruto's hit, showing just how much power the blonde put into the blow.

"I wouldn't say that just yet," Naruto spat a wad of blood to the side. "It's not over till it's over."

Heracles ignored the response and snarled a menacing grin. "I can tell that you're not used to being hit or getting tossed around a battlefield based on your reactions. Your durability isn't as high as I thought. You're probably used to winning fights on speed or flashy powers."

Bringing his golden mace up once more, Heracles grinned which showed a few missing teeth. "I've molded my body through combat, allow me to show the differences between us."

Charging forward once more, Heracles intended to put an end to this fight.

In response, Naruto slammed his palms onto the ground.

"Doton: Doryuheki!" (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall)

An earth barrier erupted from the ground and hid Naruto from view. It wrapped around him completely in a perfect circle. It rose twenty feet into the sky and had the same thickness as the barrier he erected around the courthouse.

"THIS AGAIN!" Heracles shouted in laughter while swinging his mace against the wall. In response, the barrier cracked down the middle but didn't budge. "You can't hide forever, coward!" He truly felt the fight was nearing its end. He was almost sure of it.

Seeing that the progress was too slow for his liking, Heracles channeled his godly strength into his arms. With a shout, he smashed through the wall like it was made of glass.

The rubble cleared to show a wide-eyed Naruto, surprised his opponent made short work of his technique so quickly.

With another growl, Heracles swung his mace which Naruto was barely able to avoid. Jumping back, he was chased by an angered Olympian warrior.

Whenever he could, Naruto would slice with his trench knives only to realize that Heracles didn't feel much. When he landed slashes or cuts, Heracles would charge on with a smile. His durability was truly something to marvel at.

However, Naruto noticed that Heracles often protected his head and neck, using his mace to block any blow directed at the area. It was subtle, but he managed to pick up on it as the fight went on.

Blocking another blow with his trench knives, Naruto was sent flying from a jab delivered by the minor god. He tumbled and skidded along the ground before he managed to stand up once more. He gained his bearings quickly and searched for his opponent.

Unfortunately, he was a little too late.

SLAM!

Naruto opened his mouth in surprise as a golden mac slammed directly into his stomach. Heracles had once again managed to speed to his position. He wasn't allowing the blonde to recover at all.

This time, Naruto was sent flying until he hit a nearby stone boulder. His back impacted the rock hard enough to cause an indent, showing just how powerful Heracles was hitting.

The blonde slowly slumped down the stone until his upper back remained upright. The bottom half of his body was sprawled out on the ground while he kept his gaze low.

"What, no more tricks?" Heracles said with a chuckle. He walked over to his opponent's downed form and looked on with mirth in his eyes. "I can't believe I thought you were a threat. You're just too young to take me on, kid. I have too much battle experience for you."

The blonde didn't respond, instead choosing to stay silent.

"Guess that last hit took a lot out of you, huh?" Heracles said while raising his golden mace. The blood around his face shined brightly under the sun's glare.

"Say hello to Cerberus for me once you reach the Underworld," Heracles spat out, "We're something like old friends."

Bringing his mace down with all of his godly strength, the fight ended.

SLASH!

SQUELCH!

"I…what?" Heracles thought in shock while wondering why he was seeing double vision. It looked as if he could see left and right much clearer than before. He also felt as if he had a sore throat with something sticking through it.

His mace fell from his palm, leaving outstretched fingers. He still couldn't figure out what was wrong with his body. He felt lightheaded and dizzy at the same time.

He couldn't move his legs, arms, or limbs for that matter. It's as if his body wasn't responding to any commands. This was incredibly bizarre as his enemy was still slumped against the boulder. He hadn't moved an inch.

In that second, he heard the pouring of liquid. It only took a moment before he realized it was the pouring of Ichor from his body. It sounded like a rushing waterfall down his body.

Behind him, stood an angry Naruto. He had coated his trench knives with wind chakra and slashed them through his flesh. One knife was embedded through his thick neck while the other split his head down the middle.

It was a miracle that the warrior still had conscious thought for the time being.

"How…how did you…" Heracles tried to say before gurgling on his own blood. He couldn't quite make out his words.

Naruto breathed out heavily, feeling his body clutch his knives with a harsh grip. "When I placed that earth wall, I replaced myself with a wood clone. After that, I just needed him to test out where your vital points were and deliver the killing blow myself."

The blonde had used Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu (Earth Release: Hidden Mole Jutsu) to hide himself underground. He just needed to hide himself momentarily so a wood clone could take his place. The earth wall had provided just that.

It was bait, and Heracles had fallen for the trap.

Thanks to his wooden clone and Negative Emotion Sensing ability, Naruto was able to pinpoint Heracles's location above ground while he moved. All he needed was for the warrior to think he had won and lower his guard.

He waited for the exact moment Heracles wouldn't expect an attack, as he couldn't risk the warrior blocking the blow. The moment Heracles sported a smile and raised his golden mace for the kill was the moment he deemed to be perfect.

He popped out of the ground with his trench knives in hand, coated in chakra, and aiming for his vital points. It happened in less than a second.

Digging the blades even deeper, Naruto bit back the bile rising in his throat. This was his first-ever close-up kill and he was feeling slightly nauseous.

"Naruto, stay focused," The Kyuubi spoke from within, "You did what you had to do to win. Besides, he will reform later on…"

"I know…I know…" Naruto reassured himself, "I just wish…we didn't have to fight…"

It wasn't right how Olympus treated Heracles, he could see that. They just happened to be fighting for different sides, and this was the outcome.

"I…I'll make things better once this war is over…" Naruto promised himself before retrieving his blades. He watched as Heracles fell to his knees before falling onto the ground. "I will make things better."

Heracles then began to glow brightly to the point that Naruto had to briefly cover his eyes. It slowly faded away to reveal a corpse no longer there. Heracles was on his journey to recover in the afterlife.

He pondered to himself about the fight. "He was the better warrior, I got lucky he underestimated me and had a bad temper…I need more combat experience to keep up…"

"That'll come with time…" The fox rumbled, "Let us continue with the mission…"

"Right," Naruto nodded before shaking his head to wash away the thoughts of Heracles's dead body. He could still feel the bile in his throat. "That took a lot out of me…thanks for your help Kyuubi. I don't know if I would have won if it wasn't for your healing."

"Hmph," The fox responded with a huff. Despite the short response, Naruto could feel that the fox felt happy for the gratitude.

Now that he wasn't in current combat, Naruto could feel his chakra reserves starting to refill once more. It was slow, but it was better than nothing. While he wasn't close to running out of chakra, he had spent a lot more in this fight than he had before at one time.

He needed to watch his chakra pool before it got spent too early.

His wood clone then dissolved, no longer needed for the fight. Naruto watched it return to the earth once more.

Looking around the battlefield, Naruto saw the death of many more. The skeletal warriors he saw earlier were scattered around. It seemed their biggest perk was coming back up after death as they were not well-trained. They were meant to overwhelm an enemy, not outwit them.

The Harpies were also taken care of from what he could see. Their blood pooled around their bodies while some of them were already turned to dust. It was only a matter of time before the remaining Harpies also joined their comrades in the Underworld.

The remaining 143 clones dispersed, giving Naruto their memories and perspective. It took him a second as the influx of information was overwhelming, but he was able to gain his bearings rather quickly. It wasn't too difficult to manage.

Looking over, he saw a few slain members of their military force on the ground. It was those who had been killed before his arrival. Deciding they deserved a proper burial, he summoned a few shadow clones to carry them onward.

Running over to the courthouse, Naruto prepared to take down the barrier so he could enter. He removed the earth wall surrounding the building and eyed the golden barrier. Just before he could form any seals, he saw Annabeth burst out with his clones. He saw that many of them were holding somebody in their hands.

"Annabeth!" Naruto yelled out, attracting her attention.

The daughter of Athena turned her head as did all clones, "Naruto! We got them out! Let's go!" She noticed that Naruto was holding the dead bodies of those who defended

Seeing the scattered bodies of skeletons, Harpies, and dead birds, many of the rescued hostages widened their eyes in surprise. It seemed the child of Hestia was making a name for himself already.

"Right, let's head out!" Naruto confirmed while scooping Annabeth himself. The girl squeaked out in surprise before they all shot forward, back to camp. The ride was not very eventful as the blonde kept his eyes forward the entire time.

The girl narrowed her eyes in concern as she noticed Naruto wasn't very talkative.

"Where's Heracles?" Annabeth asked while they ran at high speeds. "I thought he was commanding the army?" She hadn't seen the legendary warrior on the battlefield.

"I…" Naruto breathed out a heavy sigh. "I killed him."

They were only three words, but Annabeth understood the impact behind them. Naruto had personally slain the child of Zeus with his hands. She feared for his mental state as many demigods often had bouts of depression after taking their first sentient life.

Sensing her emotions, Naruto looked down and smiled, "Don't worry about me though, I'm fine. Let's just get back to camp and get everyone situated."

Nodding her head, the duo remained silent while running at high speeds.

They would soon arrive at camp.

---

Dashing into camp, Naruto allowed his clones to take the surviving members of their strategist team into Apollo's healing tent. The children of the sun god specialized in medical help. He also sent those who had been slain there as well. It would be a matter of time before they decided how to properly bury them.

Setting Annabeth down, the duo went in search of Dionysus. They wanted to report their mission as successful.

It only took the pair one minute to find the wine god as Naruto used his emotion-sensing ability to track him down quickly. Walking through the camp, they found Mr. D in the armory. He was checking the inventory and marking it off his list. He also took count of how much armor they had to spare.

He had a clipboard in hand and a scowl on his face. It was clear this work was stressing him out, as he was responsible for Camp Half-Blood throughout this war.

"Wow…" Annabeth whispered, "I've never seen Mr. D do his job before…"

Naruto snorted, "I know, it's weird to look at."

It seemed that only war could bring out the serious side of the Olympian. Walking over, they waited until the wine god looked over. Thankfully, it only took them a few seconds.

"I assume the mission was successful?" Dionysus looked over while marking another box on his clipboard. He was feeling a migraine from all the duties his father assigned him. He was essentially the commander of the Camp while the other Olympians were busy with their duties.

The only major power to not be in contact was Hades. None of the Olympians had heard anything from him since the first attack on Camp Half-Blood. Zeus discarded it as his brother being unwilling to help while others believed Hades could be dealing with something bigger.

There was not even outside communication coming from other beings within the Underworld. It seemed as if the entire realm was on lockdown for whatever reason.

"It was," Naruto nodded, "We managed to extract all remaining survivors and even brought back those that were killed. I was able to slaughter Heracles's army as well as their commander. Those wounded and dead are currently being taken to Apollo's healing tent."

If the Olympian was shocked at the revelation, he didn't show it.

"Good, that'll be pleasing for Athena to hear." Dionysus nodded. "I want a detailed report in ten minutes. For now, go ahead and rest while I-"

A sudden gallop overtook their ears. They knew instantly who it belonged to.

Chiron appeared with a nervous expression on his face. He didn't mind Naruto or Annabeth and instead focused on the wine god. "The Stoll brothers have returned in critical condition!"

Putting everything on pause for now, Dionysus rushed out to greet the demigods. Deciding they had nothing better to do, Annabeth and Naruto also followed along.

Chiron trotted alongside the group, chewing on his lip in worry. This war was escalating by the hour.

Eventually, Dionysus pushed aside the healing tent of Apollo and found his targets. Besides the many people being healed from Naruto's rescue mission, he saw the Stoll brothers in the corner of the tent. Walking over with a stride in his step, Dionysus looked on.

"Report." The tone almost sounded cold, which shook Annabeth and Naruto. They didn't think Dionysus would discard the demigod's condition, but they assumed information was critical at the moment.

Connor was the only conscious brother while Travis was being tended to nearby. The elder brother was full of scrapes, bruises, cuts, and slashes. Connor was in a similar state, but he didn't look as severe. Both were covered in dirt and mud.

Connor stared off into space as if remembering recent events.

"Report," Dionysus repeated, this time with heat in his voice. He was not going to repeat himself again. "Your mission was to scout out the nearby military force revealed through Apollo's sight this morning without being caught. Your squad consisted of five, but I only see two. Now, report."

Connor sighed before answering. "Our mission was a success and a failure."

Dionysus raised a single brow, "Elaborate."

"We did find the military force near New Jersey where you pointed us to. We oversaw them through a few bushes and trees. It was a small battalion of about 500 soldiers. Some of them were monsters but we recognized that a majority of them were demigods… then…then…" Connor clenched his fist in anger, "Then they saw us. Our squad mates stayed behind so we could leave…"

Dionysus's eyes softened, realizing he may have been too harsh on the teen. While this was war, they were still growing adults. "And what happened to your bother?" The wine god whispered out.

"We…we…" Connor felt hot tears run down his eyes, "We got spotted while running out by a set of their commanders. It was an identical pair of twin brothers. Me and Travis tried to fight them off, but they were much stronger than us."

"Then how were you able to get away?" Chiron asked in a fatherly tone. He truly felt sorry for the pair.

"That's the thing…" Connor released a hollow chuckle, "They let us get away. They toyed with us and eventually allowed me to carry Travis out of there. The worst thing is…"

"…they didn't even chase us. We saw their formation and overheard their tactics, yet we got away. They knew we would report back, and they didn't stop us."

Dionysus clenched his hands into fists, hating that another set of campers were dead. He was lucky that Travis and Connor got away by the skin of their teeth.

"Did you overhear anything important?" Chiron asked while placing a comforting hand on Connor's shoulder.

"Yes, I did," Connor nodded before taking in a deep breath. Releasing a sigh, he looked on with tired eyes, "Before I carried Travis out of there…they said to bring them the one claimed by Hestia…the one marked by the gods…"

Naruto's eyes widened at this revelation. He didn't understand why they would want him specifically.

"So what now?" Connor said while looking over to his brother. "I don't want our scouting mission to be for nothing…but I don't know what to do…"

"Leave that to us," Dionysus answered. "For now, rest and spend time with your brother. I'll handle what to do."

"Did they mention their names at all?" Chiron asked before they departed.

"They did," Connor nodded, "The duo that attacked us, said their names were Omiros and Mavras."

"No way!" Naruto shot up in surprise. "I remember those names!"

Those were the same names listed on the demi-titans army sheet he had received long ago. It seemed as if the Stoll brothers had encountered them on the battlefield.

It seemed Dionysus had been privy to the sheet he turned into Olympus as his eyes narrowed. Thanking Connor once more, the group walked out.

Pushing aside the flaps of the tent, Dionysus sighed. He felt as if everything was getting more complicated by the second. He had to fight off a migraine that was beginning to form.

Unfortunately, it only worsened by Percy's arrival.

The son of Poseidon flew into camp with Blackjack. Rachel Dare and Charles Beckendorf also hopped off from their seat upon the Pegasus. The three campers had returned from their mission, but it seemed something bad occurred given their facial expressions.

"We need to talk, Mr. D," Percy said in the most serious tone Naruto had ever heard. The demigod looked worse for wear with scratches, cuts, and missing patches of clothing.

Sighing in anger, Dionysus rubbed his temples. Collecting his thoughts, he shouted around camp with a booming voice.

"I am calling a war council. All head counselors meet in the recreation room within the Big House. I expect full attendance unless told otherwise, in ten minutes."

With that said, Dionysus went off to the Big House in preparation. He also went off to address the head counselors of the meeting in case they didn't hear his announcement.

The meeting started four minutes later.

---

The head counselor of each cabin stood around with a serious expression. Looking around, Percy noted that Silena Beauregard was absent from the Aphrodite cabin. He wondered if Dionysus had removed her deliberately or if she was off on a mission.

The Stoll brothers were also absent, likely due to their recent encounter. They were focused on recovering at the moment.

Percy had been the first one to speak during the meeting. He explained how he managed to find The Princess Andromeda and Kronos aboard, however, he expected Percy's arrival due to a spy at camp leaking the information. Naruto had a good idea of who this was.

Kronos had also entered Luke's body to ensure he had a physical form due to his weakened state. He had not reformed long enough to hold a form, so he would use Luke's body in the meantime. They claimed their attack on Olympus would happen soon and bodies would stack.

After escaping the ship along with Rachel Dare and Charles Beckendorf, the trio was contacted by Poseidon. Percy was told that the Titan Oceanus had decided to attack Poseidon's palace to keep the Olympian distracted for the last few hours.

Why did Poseidon need to be distracted? This was quite simple. It was because of an ancient enemy coming back to life.

Typhon, the Storm Giant, had arisen once more. The Father of all Monsters awoke days earlier and began his trek to Mount Olympus. In response, Titans and Olympians were engaged in combat with the monster.

Just mentioning his name made Dionysus shudder.

To make matters worse, two of the Big Three couldn't help at the moment. Poseidon was busy dealing with Oceanus while Hades was still silent. Nobody knew what was happening in the Underworld at the moment.

Naruto bit his lip in worry. He was desperate to know if his Aunt and Grandmother were doing alright against the ancient being, especially since they had been fighting for days at this point. For now, he would have to hope and believe in them.

Now that Typhon was taking up the attention of all major players in this war, Olympus was open for attack. This was angering the wine god.

Dionysus sighed. He, along with Chiron, stood around in a circle. He had removed the ping-pong table and replaced it with a large wooden table. There was a map laid across that showed the coordinates of known enemies.

Chiron was lost in thought, taking in the information.

"I will reveal that I knew of Typhon awakening days ago…" Dionysus said, "But my father directed me to stay here at camp, to ensure we didn't lose this end of the war."

Snapping his fingers, Dionysus's form changed. In his hand, stood a golden thyrsus which radiated power. On his body, stood a set of highly durable armor that radiated a glow of light.

"I can sense my father is in serious turmoil, so I have decided to go against his orders…" Dionysus said with a serious expression, "…I will join the fight against Typhon soon. I have contemplated this decision since Typhon's awakening and I believe I am needed. Chiron, you are the commander of Camp Half-Blood in my absence."

This revelation surprised many of the head counselors, but many more looked on in pride. It was good to know their leader was willing to fight with them.

"So what do we do then?" Annabeth asked with a serious tone. Poseidon was dealing with Oceanus, Hades was silent, Typhon was attacking the Olympians, and they still had to worry about Kronos attacking New York. Now, Dionysus would be leaving camp to help in the fight against Typhon.

"I will contact Aeolus, Master of the Winds, to provide air support," Dionysus said with an authoritative voice. "This will ensure that Kronos cannot launch an air attack and restrict his movements. He will only march his troops through land or sea, Aeolus will make sure of that."

"But who leads the attack? And what about the military force in New Jersey that we still haven't dealt with?" Annabeth asked, her mind going a million miles per hour. She didn't forget about Connors's words, about the battalion wanting Naruto.

Dionysus looked around before taking a deep breath. He opened his eyes before announcing for all.

"Percy will lead the attack against Kronos. Your goal will be to defend Olympus and push back the enemy force. All campers will join him and Chiron will split up the divisions. He will also go over tactics, strategy, and formation. Is that alright with you, old friend?"

In that moment, Chiron truly saw the age in Dionysus's eyes. The wine god rarely called him a friend, and he felt the weight of the moment. Nodding his head in acceptance, Dionysus smiled even wider. It seemed the camp would be left in good hands with Chiron.

To his surprise, nobody took offense to Percy leading them. It seemed other head counselors had come to the same conclusion. He was the same person to defeat the minotaur at twelve and come out alive numerous times against Kronos/Luke. He had a lot of battle experience for his age, much more than many of the campers around.

"Mr. D," Naruto spoke out. All eyes shifted to him as he continued, "Let me fight the battalion in New Jersey…"

Raising a brow, Dionysus asked, "Why?"

"If we leave them alone, it will only make our pushback of Kronos even harder," Naruto explained with steel in his eyes, "I can summon many clones, you know this. I'm a one-man army. If I die, it's just one casualty compared to everyone here."

It was a cynical line of thought, but Naruto didn't see it that way. If he could protect his friends at the cost of his life, he would.

"You know you are walking into a trap, correct?" The wine god responded. "If Connor is right, that is 500 troops you're fighting. Not some mindless skeletons, actual sentient beings. You do understand that?"

"I know…" Naruto nodded, "But if they regroup in New York or proceed with a pincer movement while Percy is in New York, it could be the end of us all. Let me go out there and stop them…or die trying."

He would lay down his life if it meant this war ended with his friends alive.

"I see…" Dionysus didn't speak at first, contemplating the outcomes of such a decision. It took him a few minutes of silent thinking before he opened his eyes.

"You can engage the enemy."

Annabeth's eyes widened while Percy gained a look of rage.

"Who said I'm letting you make this sacrifice!" Percy shouted out in defiance while looking over at his best friend. "You're not dying on me!" He wanted him by his side, fighting together in New York. At least they would be able to keep an eye on one another.

"Who said I'm dying out there?" Naruto chuckled despite the serious situation, "I still have to come back and make sure you don't get yourself killed."

Percy bit his lip, unsure of what to say next.

"This is war, Percy," Chiron said for all to hear. They could hear the sadness in his voice. "Just as you have your orders, Naruto has his."

"Enough!" Dionysus commanded, silencing the room. "We are all making sacrifices Jackson, do not squander the meaning of your friends."

Percy didn't respond but nodded nonetheless.

"Chiron is in charge until I return. Percy will take leadership while battling in New York. Naruto will fight off the force that pushed back the Stoll brothers. We can only hope Hades and Poseidon join us soon enough. Any questions?"

Naruto noticed that for once, Dionysus seemed to get everybody's name right without fail. His usual quirk of misnaming people was absent for once.

Seeing no questions were asked, Dionysus nodded. He prepared to depart before looking on once more.

"Fight hard campers….so we can still have a home to return to."

With a snap of his fingers, the wine god once gone once more. He was going against his father's orders, but they needed him. He could sense they were fighting a losing battle against the monster.

Chiron looked on and prepared to assemble their small army. His eyes showed his age while he barked orders. He needed to ensure their air support was guaranteed while also properly equipping the campers.

For the first time in years, Chiron was prepared to fight on the battlefield once more. He would stand side by side with his fellow students.

Everybody was ready to risk their lives to win. He was no different.

---

Minutes Later – In NJ

"Can you stop humming?" Vissarion asked with a small frown. "It's getting annoying."

"Sorry, I was just having some fun! Besides, we have to wait for our target to get here, why not kill the time?" Aris responded with a grin.

The group of commanders lay around in a small circle. Some were standing while others leaned against a tree or boulder. The leaders consisted of the demititans within Kronos's army. These were Vissarion, Aris, Omiros & Mavras, and Stella.

Vissarion was dressed in dark Greek armor with gray outlines, dark combat boots, brown pants, and a scythe by his feet. He had jet-black hair, brown eyes, and a sharp facial structure. He stood at a height of 5'11 at the age of sixteen. He was often serious and smiled little, possibly due to his relationship with his father Krios. The Titan often acted in the same way.

Aris wore the same Greek armor, but it was fashioned to be light gray. Along with his armor, he wore dark shoes and black pants. He had gray eyes and blonde hair, which was inherited from his mother. He stood at a height of 5'9 at the age of sixteen. He had a sword attached to his hip, with a white handle and bronze blade.

Omiros and Mavras wore the same armor, as they often did the same things together. They wore light blue Greek armor with swirls patterned around them. They had dark combat boots and gray pants. Their eyes were both green but their hair was jet-black. Despite both being fifteen, Mavras was slightly taller at 5'9 while his brother was 5'8. Mavras had a bow and quiver on his back while his brother held a spear close by.

Finally, Stella stood with her eyes focused on the sky. She was the oldest of the group at seventeen years old and stood at a height of 5'10. She had vibrant red hair and aqua-colored eyes. Her armor was a dark maroon with lines along the sides. She had a ponytail that restrained her hair while wearing dark pants and combat boots. Her weapon of choice was unique, as it consisted of dual obsidian blades that were sheathed on either side of her hips. They were longer than a dagger but shorter than a sword.

Their army lay nearby, resting until their opponent arrived. Each one of their members was a demigod who turned against Olympus. The ages ranged from those in their teenage years to adults. It was clear that Olympus had slighted many in their years of operation.

In the eyes of the infantry, they wanted blood. If killing Naruto would provide that, then they didn't care. They were far gone to the point of no reasoning. Olympus needed to fall in their eyes. They were hand-picked by Kronos himself, only assigning those that would kill into the unit.

They were the same people who killed the squad-mates of Connors's scouting team. While they weren't mindless savages, they didn't hold any love for those who defended Olympus.

"Man, we only have 500 troops! I still can't believe we got stiffed with such little infantry…and they're crazy too!" spoke out Mavras in frustration. He said it low enough that their army didn't hear.

Vissarion responded coolly, "We all know that Kronos took the majority of the force to Olympus. We are lucky to have even this many with us."

"Yeah, but-"

"Enough arguing," Stella commanded as her voice carried on. Out of the entire group, she resembled the leader while Vissarion was a close second. "We have our orders to take out the child of Hestia, so we shall do so."

"Tch," Omiros kissed his teeth in annoyance. "I don't know why we have to deal with this kid! I mean, it's just one person! We could be doing something better!"

"He is known for manipulating the elements as well as housing a beast of massive power." Vissarion stated as if it were common knowledge, "He should not be trifled with lightly. We should be honored we have the privilege of putting down a major player for Olympus."

"Major player?! Ha!" Omiros laughed out. "What has he done that is major?" He spoke it with such a sarcastic tone that Vissarion rolled his eyes.

"He defeated Heracles in combat, Hecate showed us the aftermath of their fight," Stella said with steel in her voice. "I can't believe you didn't pay attention back at base." She shook her head at Omiros's carelessness. It would cost him if he didn't take his enemies seriously.

"Don't forget he infiltrated and stole documents from our base of operations." Aris piped up while picking his nose. "The guy knows how to handle himself, we should be careful." He was normally nonchalant about many things, but even he knew not to underestimate their enemy.

"He is beginning to make a name for himself," Vissarion added while grabbing his scythe. He ran his thumb over the cool steel. "Even Kronos is beginning to worry about him. We must stop him here…or else we will lose this war. Our teamwork will need to be impeccable in order to slay him."

Their team exercises and drills would finally be put to use. They hoped it would be enough to topple their enemy.

They had information on the blonde, but they knew he was likely holding back other abilities. Thankfully, his skill set was not as secretive after his constant encounters with Kronos's army.

"How do we even know he's coming anyway? We've been waiting since forever!" Mavras asked with a huff. "Sure, we delivered the message to that Hermes kid, but what if he doesn't come? Or what if he brings some backup that we didn't account for?"

"Trust me…he will come," Aris smiled with a shine in his eyes. While he couldn't see the future as well as his father, his version did allow him to see hours into the day at most. He couldn't use this ability as often because it would give him a migraine, so he had to be careful with it. Despite his clumsy nature, he was far from an idiot. His father was of high intellect after all and it managed to rub off on him.

"We all know your foresight only shows possible events, not those set in stone." Mavras barked out with a frown. Aris always brought up his foresight when they sparred and trained together.

"Then if he doesn't show within the hour, we just push up. We could even just help Kronos take over Olympus." Omiros shrugged, not seeing the harm in it. "It's better than waiting around forever."

"Such a stupid war…" Stella mumbled under her breath. None of the demititans cared for their parents, as they didn't raise them at all. However, once they found out a war would break out against the Olympians, they were forced to pick a side. They didn't think Zeus would take kindly to accepting demititans either, so they were forced to join Kronos in the end.

For Stella, this war had become personal. She had lost many close friends already in many skirmishes and battles against Olympus. In her mind, they were too far to turn back now. They would overtake Olympus, or die on the battlefield.

"Man…this heat is killer," Aris groaned while lying on the soft grass. He was beginning to feel hot under his armor and the heat from the sun.

Stella dusted herself off and stretched her neck. With a pop, she looked at the group. "Let us prepare for combat. If he arrives within the hour, we fight. If he doesn't arrive, we push and fight. Either way, we should prepare for battle."

Everyone took her words seriously and they began to stretch. They grabbed their respective weapons while keeping track of the time. Naruto only had an hour to arrive, or they would have to push on regardless.

"And I just laid down too…" Aris huffed out while standing up.

Vissarion placed his scythe along his back while the others did the same for their respective weapons. They all began to walk towards their battalion, preparing to strategize.

They had a job to do after all.

---

Naruto sighed and watched as the campers were mobilizing for their defense of Olympus. In the back of his mind, he wondered how many wouldn't be coming back.

It was a sickening thought for the blonde, but he had to realize that some of the friends he had would most likely die in this assault. He prayed to the goddess Tyche for their safe return.

Chiron was in the process of organizing their assault with Percy leading the charge. The centaur had managed to convince many of his brothers to help in their defense. It would be a good boost of power for their side.

Aeolus was already prepared to provide air support the moment they entered New York.

Chiron had also gotten word that a portion of the Amazonian group would be helping the hunters of Artemis provide support for Camp Half-Blood. A majority of Amazons were fighting another battle in a different location, but many remained to help the Greek demigods.

It was also revealed that Artemis had left to fight against Typhon with her family, leaving Thalia in charge of the Hunters until her return. They were racing back to help Camp Half-Blood from a different state, they just had to hold out until the reinforcements arrived.

Chiron hoped it wouldn't be a slaughter on their side. He didn't know if he could bear to lose his students.

The centaur had received a piece of good news. The spirits of the rivers near Manhattan expressed their desire to help. They promised to drown any of Kronos's forces in the water, forcing a ground assault only. They would normally not concern themselves with the war of Olympus, but they feared a worse reign under Kronos.

As for the blonde, he double-checked the seals around camp. To his knowledge, it seemed everything was still in working order. Nothing was getting in unless they didn't pose a threat to Camp Half-Blood. He was able to modify the barrier to only allow beings with good intentions to enter. It helped that he already had Negative Emotion Sensing, which strengthened the seal.

Naruto also dispelled the many clones studying the Hiraishin technique in his room within the Hestia cabin. The rush of information and memories helped him understand the seal much better. The constant working over the seal along with his experience in Fuinjutsu sped up the process significantly.

Percy had thanked him for keeping Annabeth safe, which Naruto smiled at. He could at least say he kept one promise of keeping someone safe now. Bianca often ran through his head and how he could have saved her. Her and Zoe's deaths were the main reasons why he wanted to learn medical ninjutsu to begin with.

"I better see you alive!" Percy fist-bumped his friend's shoulder with a smile on his face. The son of Poseidon was dressed in Greek armor like many of his friends. He seemed to be in high spirits despite the impending assault he would have to lead.

"Same goes for you," Naruto chuckled.

A comfortable silence enveloped both individuals for a minute.

"Can you believe we met so long ago, and now we're fighting in a war together?" Percy asked with a smile, "I always thought you were a better leader back then."

"Cause I am," Naruto said with a cheeky grin on his face. He would take the opportunity to inflate his ego.

Scoffing at his joke, Percy looked over, "Jackass. I'm never complimenting you again."

Both laughed at this, enjoying the calm before the storm. They felt their friendship had grown leaps and bounds since their first encounter.

Looking out into the sky, Naruto sighed. He didn't know what would happen in the coming hours.

Bringing his gaze back to his friend, Naruto smiled. "Do you remember what you said on our first quest?"

"You're gonna have to be more specific than that," Percy chuckled, "I said a lot of things."

"I'm referring to our teamwork, what you called us."

It took Percy a moment before his eyes lit up in realization. "Oh yeah! I do!"

Naruto smiled. "We're the ultimate duo-"

"-water and fire!" Percy finished, the memory popping into his mind. It seemed like a lifetime ago but it was only a few years back.

"So that means you have to stay alive until I get there," Naruto said, "We're the ultimate duo. Can't have my partner bailing out on me."

"You bet," Percy grinned. He couldn't believe Naruto still remembered his childish words from back then. It filled him with a sense of nostalgia that he couldn't help but enjoy. How far along they had come since that moment.

He was leading an army while Naruto was facing an army alone. Their paths were different, but they would always lead them to one another. He was sure that nobody could beat his friend in lone combat, aside from an Olympian, Titan, or Primordial. He was just too damn tough in his mind.

"One last thing before I go," Naruto said as he sighed, "Talk to Silena from the Aphrodite cabin before you leave."

"What, why?" Percy asked with a frown, "I thought she was the spy for Kronos?" He had once looked up to Silena, but his feelings had changed after word got out she was working for the Titan.

"She is," Naruto nodded. Dionysus had spoken with him briefly before entering the Big House about the matter. She had cracked rather quickly under the wine god's pressure and confessed her espionage. In retaliation, Dionysus had imprisoned her in a lone corner within their stable. She would remain there until he returned.

"So why speak to her?"

"Because I can sense she wants to change. She wants to truly change," Naruto confessed. He could sense her emotions even away from the stables. Her emotions consisted of guilt, shame, and repulsion. It was clear she was disgusted with herself for even entertaining the Titan.

"What if she betrays us again? How can she be trusted?" Percy asked with a raised brow.

"That's why you should speak to her, hear her out. If you don't like her answers, then leave her be….but if she changes your mind, then bring her along. All I'm asking is to give her a chance."

Naruto didn't think much of Silena other than the fact she had betrayed their trust. However, after feeling her emotions stay consistent, he couldn't help but feel bad for her. Perhaps she had a good reason for helping Kronos, but he would leave that up to Percy.

He was sure that Mr. D would understand if she proved to be useful against Kronos. Perhaps she could even provide some inside information that would help them in their battles.

"You trust my judgment that much? You want me to solely be responsible for that?" Percy asked in surprise. He didn't know that Naruto placed so much faith in him.

Clasping a hand on his shoulder, Naruto smiled. "Mr. D trusted you to lead, so I trust you to lead."

They were simple words, but they brought a smile to Percy's face. Nodding his head, Percy decided he would hear Silena out before departing. However, he would also bring Chiron along just in case she decided to try anything.

Shaking his friend's hand off, Percy chuckled. "Your bleeding heart is such a bother, you know that?"

This time, Naruto laughed while Percy shook his head in amusement. They were both about to fight in deadly battles, but they looked like normal teenagers at the moment.

Bidding his farewells, Naruto looked at the exit to Camp Half-Blood. He had received the coordinates from Chiron so he knew where to go exactly.

Connor had even walked up to him and thanked him for healing his brother. Once Travis was admitted into the Apollo tent, Naruto left behind a clone to help his recovery. It worked better than expected as Travis was on his feet again.

Connor also explained what he saw when he was scouting out. The commanders, how they looked, and other information was relayed to the blonde. Storing it away for now, Naruto thanked his fellow camper.

Taking in a deep breath, Naruto looked back at camp once more. He hoped it would remain tall and standing. He once again gave a quick prayer to Tyche for his fellow campers and dashed off to complete his orders.

He ran with determination clear in his eyes.

---

Naruto dashed through the greenery surrounding him as he ran. Everything was a blur as he wasn't being held back by his gravity seals any longer. His jacket fluttered in the wind while he ran, causing it to repeatedly hit his chest.

This didn't bother the blonde as he was used to this feeling by now. He was hoping he could win this fight with a minimal amount of casualties, but he had to be careful not to delude himself.

"Just as the centaur said, you will be taking sentient lives. Unlike that warrior you fought earlier…these people will not reform." The fox spoke from within while he ran. "Steel your emotions…"

Naruto kissed his teeth while sprinting. He appreciated the fox's advice…but he hated having to kill. It was necessary at times, even he could understand that. However, it didn't make it any easier when he had to take a life.

He passed many low-hanging branches, shrubs, potholes, and other landmarks along his trip. It didn't take him long to reach the state and come across where he needed to be.

"I sense them…they're up ahead…" Naruto thought with a frown on his face. His Negative Emotion Sensing ability was telling him that the people ahead were out for blood. He needed to prepare himself for a vicious battle.

As he sped along, Naruto wondered if this was how his father felt. He was told the story by Amaterasu of how his father fought an army himself with his Hiraishin technique before he was born.

"Did he feel nervous? Worried?…Tense?" Naruto wondered while biting his lip. This was different from killing monsters, he would be taking lives just like his. He wondered if his parents would even be proud of him in this situation.

He offered to take this mission, so it was up to him to complete it. He knew the responsibilities attached, but it felt much more real when it was up close. He was only a few miles away at this point.

"Kyuubi…" Naruto began while his feet carried him away. "…If I need to use your chakra at throughout this war, can I rely on you to provide it?"

"….provide it?" The fox sounded confused. No previous container had asked for his permission before, simply taking his chakra by force. "You don't need my permission, Naruto…"

"I know…but…" Naruto smiled while he passed over pebbles and branches. "How are we ever going to be friends if I just take your chakra by force? Friends don't do that! Besides, I promised myself we would be friends a long time ago, and I plan to keep it!"

The fox had a memory flash in his eyes at that exact moment. He remembered the instance that Naruto was referring to. It was just after he left his Grandmother's home for the first time and laid under the stars.

"The more time passes, the more I think this is the person you spoke of Father…" The fox wondered to himself. Perhaps Naruto would be the first container he could call a friend. He would be lying if he said the boy hadn't grown on him over the years.

He chuckled to himself, wondering how such a young boy would call him a friend. He had killed his parents and made him an orphan, and the kid still wanted a friendship with him.

"Very well…I will provide my chakra should you need it…" The fox smiled behind his paws. "Just don't overdo it, as you haven't controlled all of it yet…" He knew the blonde could only handle three tails' worth of chakra before going berserk for now.

"Thanks, Kyuubi! I appreciate it!" Naruto smiled. All he heard was a huff from the fox, but it was enough for him. He knew that deep down, the fox cared even if he didn't show it.

With his mental conversation over, Naruto realized he had nearly arrived where he was needed. Stopping upon a hill, he overlooked the army below.

He noticed that there were indeed about 500 troops ready for battle. They were armed with weapons, and armor, and determined looks in their eyes. Despite them lying around, he could tell they were ready for battle at a moment's notice.

Scanning over, he saw a group of teenagers speaking with one another. Unlike the others who wore the typical Greek armor, they seemed to have special designs.

"This must be the commanders that Connor spoke of…" Naruto thought with narrowed eyes. He could tell they were strong and well-trained, even at the distance he was from.

With a deep breath, he jumped into action.

The battle would leave a lasting memory for everyone involved.

---

Done with another chapter! This one was my longest so far! Finally hit 100k for the story!

Also…WHO'S EXCITED FOR THESE UPCOMING FIGHT SCENES? I know I am!

First off, I decided to change the timeline. In the original books, Percy turns 15 at the end of the Battle of the Labyrinth at turns 16 at the end of the Last Olympian. Instead, he just turned 15 here and is fighting the war before turning 16.

Also, if you didn't notice, Percy's insecurities from the earlier chapter are being tackled here. He was afraid of being a failure and horrible leader, only to be much more confident years later.

Regarding the battle between Heracles and Naruto, I believe I made it pretty balanced. Heracles wins in strength, battle experience, combat experience, close combat, and weapon use. The only thing Naruto had going for him was his element of surprise, power, and speed.

However, I truly feel like this battle would have gone in Naruto's favor regardless. If Heracles entered his godly form, Naruto could access his Jinchuriki cloak. It was a drawn-out fight, but Naruto takes the victory in the end.

In case anybody thinks summoning 1000 shadow clones is crazy, canon kid Naruto was able to do that before even accessing the Kyuubi's chakra. This version of Naruto has much better chakra control and bigger chakra pools due to his years of siphoning chakra from the Kyuubi.

Anyway, onto some reviews.

Otsutsuki no Yami: Not gonna lie, reading your review gave me a good laugh. It was just full of grammar mistakes and typical rant/flame behavior. At the end of the day, this is my story and I get to decide how it goes. I don't mind constructive criticism, but your points were drowned out by your constant cursing. If that's all it takes for you to snap, then I understand why you dropped this story. Best of luck with you moving forward, cheers!

The Faceless Wordsmith: I know her death seemed sudden, so I understand your point of view. Her death did impact our protagonist in the end which is what I was aiming for.

Whatif-inator: …It's almost weird how you manage to figure out some plot points I haven't introduced yet lol. I had plans similar to what you're stating regarding the loophole. Great observation and keep your eyes peeled for future chapters. Always a treat to see you review.

KakeruPB: We are indeed going to see what happens with the EN. Stay tuned!

WolfCoyote: I will be incorporating more of the Shinto pantheon moving forward. I won't go about bringing in the Tailed Beasts in that manner, but they will have more appearances. Keep your eyes out for that!

Mari Wollsch: Well here's another chapter! Let me know what you think!

As always, don't forget the golden rule of fanfic: Don't like it, don't read it!

I don't usually like saying that as it's a cheap way of avoiding criticism, but if you just aim to flame, then don't read it. All you are doing is wasting your time. I may include this 'golden rule' note in future chapters as some people seem to forget this.

I won't be addressing future flamers moving forward. Also, please don't send hate to anybody, it's just not needed.

To those reviewers who actually provide good insight, keep reviewing! I enjoy reading your comments. I will respond to any questions/reviews that aren't nonsensical bashing, those are welcomed!

Even if you don't like the direction of the plot or characters, let me know! We can always express our emotions with words, like mature people. If you don't like something and choose to bash it, I won't take your point seriously since I'll think it's just trolling. If you want your point to be taken seriously, just be mature! That's all it takes!

That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed it!

Until next time!

Cheers!