this was supposed to come out on my birthday (Sunday, 31st) but uhh i had just finished the Ares fight then and that was like two thousand words so i was like oh, i gotta write more. so then on tuesday i looked down and i was like im still at to thousand words. Procrastination, my friends.

Thankfully the last bit of this chapter wasnt as hard as the first (writing two v ones is hard) and was mostly just conversation.

I also intended to explain a controversial thing someone does through in story, but you know what? I want the extra mystery, so bring the angry comments.

I love em'CW: Graphic descriptions of violence.

Naruto figures they need to stall first— to talk about what the hell is going on — so he crosses his fingers and makes a whole new crowd for the beach to enjoy.

"What a technique," Ares says. He launches himself into a pile of them, laughing maniacally.

Naruto steps next to Percy. It's almost instinctual to do so.

Percy's eyes flicker onto him. He's about to say something but Naruto sees the moment when his gaze runs on Naruto's calloused hands, his shabby yet effective form— and to the clones in front of him.

Instead of 'Step aside, mortal,' he says: "Honestly, I don't think we can just, you know, kick his ass."

His voice is hushed, just low enough that the god across from them can't hear. Naruto doesn't think it's necessary; Ares is infatuated with tearing the clones apart. They're dwindling in number pretty quickly actually.

"Why?"

"Not to be that guy, but you think you can beat a god?"

Naruto pauses. "He's a god?"

It's a bit louder than he expected and Ares hears. He stops his butchering of the last dozen– he'd made thirty… Heh— to frown at him, and nearly gets decked in the face because of it.

Hades just had an aura. He induced a tight feeling in your throat, making it hard to breathe, to function, just with the guy standing there.

Ares, well, has none of that aura. Instead of fear, Naruto feels anger festering every time he looks over.

Or, maybe it just could be the height.

He'll probably shut up later, regret these words as the god pummels him into the dirt.

"Brute force won't work on him," Percy says. Naruto looks back at him. "Ares has strength but that's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."

"Speak your wisdom then."

Percy smirks with the edges of his lips. "I have a plan. It's a one-time thing, so we have to use it smartly."

Smart? That's not exactly his area of expertise, but Naruto nods.

He looks back at Ares, wiping three clones at a time, with one singular refined movement.

"It's pretty simple. Ares knows I can use water powers in life and death situations, he saw it on that stupid Hephaestus TV thing– long story– but the question is if I can use it reliably, he doesn't know that I can." Percy looks doubtful that he actually can, even as he says it.

Four clones left.

Percy shakes his head. "I' going to pretend that I can't use them reliably—"

Three.

"Then when he doesn't expect, You spring it on him. Smart."

Two.

"Thanks."

One

"But don't underestimate your help in this. I'd need my water powers from the start just to survive and—"

Percy's face gets smashed in by a punch. He gets sent flying back, bouncing and skidding on the sandy floor like a pebble thrown across a pond.

Ares laughs. He has a sword in his hands— when did he get a sword? — and that same sword comes whirring for his face.

It's quick. But not as quick as Luke.

Naruto takes a step back. His fist cocks by his side, waiting for when the sword passes harmlessly by him and Ares can't react.

But then it's not a sword anymore.

It's a spear, the tip similarly encrusted with bronze as the sword from before was. There is an odd hum to it , the only indicator of it settling into new form.

Suddenly, his little step back isn't enough, and the spear gouges the skin under his eyes and only barely misses cutting the bridge of his nose in half because he tilts his head back a little.

He's off balanced. They both know it.

Ares punches him in the chest.

It's not the strength that really impresses, hurts, him. It's in abundance, sure, but there is more of impeccable technique to Ares' swings than just pure muscles,

Naruto jumps back, trying to get a breath through.

Ares follows him.

He dodges the swing of the sword then sidesteps the jab of the spear.

Naruto tries for a punch, but Ares catches it then brings him closer to slam his leg on his face.

His brain jiggles about in his skull.

Naruto notices something as he runs away from swings, uses beach chairs to block punches, and tries to make a move that Ares can't predict.

The stings around him, covering him like he'd attacked a beehive, just don't fade. They continue to prick on his skin as if the stingers are still in.

He searches. He finds nothing.

He yanks for the healing chakra, from his gut, and the Kyuubi yanks back.

"What the hell," he actually whispers. Ares smiles victoriously, like Naruto is acknowledging his power or something.

With that same smile, Ares twirls on his feet and brings his spear around, the shaft of it blocking Percy's sweep slice. The slice is made from a shimmering, three-foot sword— when did he get a sword too?

Feeling the structure to Ares' hits firsthand, Naruto doesn't blame Percy for only joining back in now, his face bleeding and purple taking the sides of one of his cheeks.

Percy jumps away from Ares, and steps farther away from the water.

Ares looks back confused, then he realizes and he smiles. "Can't use your powers well, Jackson? A disappointment to your father."

"That's rich coming from you. I heard you lost to a mortal in the Trojan War and you're somehow a child of Zeus?"

Naruto gets up. "And it's gonna happen again."

Percy nods. Ares' face goes red.

The air goes hot and fuzzy, There is a dry stickiness to his throat, like he's not had water for days.

"Shut up!" Ares says, "You're talking shit but you haven't even fucking touched me!"

"Touched you? Ew," Percy says.

Ares growls, then he charges Percy, literally vanishing.

Percy and he exchange sword swings back and forth, and for the brief seconds they do so without Naruto interrupting— Percy is pushed back.

Naruto throws a kunai for Ares' back.

He must hear the slight whistle because turns to swat it away, and in the same small movement dodges a stab from Percy.

Naruto gets in close, kicking out, but Ares blocks it effortlessly

They go like that for a bit. Ares bounces between him and Percy, blocking, dodging or parrying every strike. His body at some point goes numb to the pain, every pore of him feeling bloody by method of punching, slicing or being hit with the pommel.

Percy looks as bad as he feels, too.

Ares punches Percy as he kicks him, and they both land on the sandy dunes.

He spits out coarse sand that somehow makes it into his mouth. He's never tasted sand so he kind of blanches at how it feels like salt on his tongue but tastes less flavorful than water.

From the ground, across the short distance, Percy meets his eye.

The message is simple, cutting straight through to the core of his brain in seconds;

It's time.

Naruto crosses his fingers and once again; clones.

Percy raises his hands. He can see from the corner of his vision as the water shifts a bit as it changes master, from a god to his son. It's near instantaneous. The water seems to want to be controlled by Percy so Naruto wonders why the doubt ever existed.

Ares leans back onto his sword, instead of charging to the clones.

Something is up, Naruto thinks, his brow creasing. Did– did he notice?

His stomach does somersaults.

Ares waits till they've come close— water has trickled to Percy's side— then waves his hand dismissively.

Fwoosh!

A wall of fire forms around Ares from all sides and burns outwards.

Naruto jumps back quickly and the flames still lick the skin on his cheek, making that part of his face feel raw and covered. Blood would gush if it wasn't that the wound had already been burnt cauterized and then some.

He turns to Percy, who forms a shield of water in front of him. Naruto can hear the curse slipping through his lips from this far, He curses too, as Ares tilts his head at Percy, eyes catching the water shield before it dissipates into vapor.

"Heh," Ares says, and that's all Ares says before he launches forward. Percy dodges the swipe of the blade, but misses when Ares' other hand swings back into a vicious backhand.

Percy gets sent to the distance, like he's been shot out of a cannon, and Naruto, if he squints, can kind of make out a dot in the horizon, flying above the water, that kind of looks like him.

Ares turns a viscous half-smirk and half-sneer look onto him.

He yanks again for the Kyuubi's chakra, more panicked than the first time.

Nothing.

When this is over; god– gods? – help him, he's gonna punch that stupid fox.

Ares takes a weird amount of pleasure punching him around. At some point Naruto turns from an opponent to a training dummy. Every time Naruto thinks he's run out of new moves, Ares pulls out another.

He elbows him, drop kicks him, and at some point just headbutts him, when it's just absolutely not necessary.

Naruto goes for ranged, then Ares switches his weapon to one that is much sleeker, much more compact with a hole in the front and a trigger to push out small arrow-like projectiles that pierces straight through his shoulder.

He falls to the ground.

Ares comes up, grabbing his hair, and brings him closer. "You're pathetic," he says, "And I'd heard so much about the mortals of your time. Juggernauts of men that could rival the strength of us gods. Oh, how you disappoint,"

Naruto spits in his face.

Ares' glasses burn off, melting then evaporating on his face. He raises his spear, fire and electricity crackling on the ends.

Then:

Fwoosh!

This time the polar opposite, water rushes out of the ocean and pushes Ares to the side.

He splutters. Naruto gets on his feet, his vision swimming. He charges for Ares.

Naruto kicks at his chest.

It connects.

Thump!

Ares staggers back. Right into a punch from Percy into his spine.

Naruto headbutts him, and it's just absolutely not necessary.

Percy kicks Ares towards him, and his leg just raises on its own, into Ares' balls.

Water comes to Percy's side again and goes around his fist. Ares' face gets smashed in.

It might go on for seconds or minutes, Naruto doesn't know because his mind fades to the back of his consciousness and his body just moves.

Ares bounces between them like ping-pong.

Kick. Knee snaps.

Elbow. Jaw cracks.

Slam! Fwoosh!

Ares roars, falling over. Percy kicks his head up before he can touch the ground.

Naruto uppercuts his jaw and Ares goes up. Percy jumps.

He throws him right down.

Naruto launches out his knee.

Ares lands there exactly with the bob of his Adam apple.

A horrible choking sound.

Staggering amounts of water rise from the ocean. Percy grunts and the ocean's might pushes Ares' onto the ground.

He makes no move to get up, gasping for breath.

Percy charges for Ares and in his run pulls out a pen from his pocket, and uncaps it. It grows into the blade from before that Ares had sent flying with the same slap he'd given Percy.

Game over, he sees on Ares' face.

Then, Ares' skin goes warm, redder in front of him. Naruto wonders for a second if he'd choked on sending fire out and was burning from the inside.

But no. It's never that simple.

Percy's blade passes over with the whistle and the Shing! But Ares is no longer there when he blinks.

With the smell of fire, threats, and cowardice, Ares flashes off with his tail between his legs.

Percy picks up something he can't see. He turns and in his hands is a severed hand, all calloused and punk-ly.

"Holy— We just did that," Percy says, dropping the limb, and scooting away from the golden blood that flows out.

Breathless, with everything hurting, he nods. "Yeah, we did."

They take it in for the few seconds Annabeth isn't there to rain on their parade.

Naruto looks at her. She's not relaxed despite the victory, and her eyes are trying to signal to Percy that they needed to be gone by yesterday.

"Where are we going?" Naruto asks her.

"A hospital," Percy answers, pointing to the hole in his shoulder.

"I'll be fine. Where are we heading?"

The wound flares. He hisses

"Right." Naruto glares. Percy rolls his eyes. "New York. The Empire State Building."

Naruto squints. "New York? What?"

"You have a lot to be caught up on, old man."

Naruto shoves him. He squawks.

"Where is that?"

Annabeth answers. "Farther than Vegas and the Casino. By a lot. We need to be there by night today or the world ends and bus trips, trains even are at best two of those."

Naruto blinks. "Questions," he says coherently

Percy looks at the slight crowd that's formed before looking back, mischief in his smile. "I have an idea," Percy says, "Let me go and do an interview and we'll be all good."

Foreboding and concern flash over Annabeth's face. "What kind of risky plan is cooking up your head?"

"The fun kind."

Annabeth narrows her eyes at him, scanning for something then she slumps. "Don't get us killed."

"I'll try."

"Questions," Naruto repeats.

Percy starts walking to a reporter talking about something Ugliano. He turns. "We have some for you too, Avatar."

"Avatar?"

Percy snorts. "A lot to catch you up on."

They're getting on the metal contraption called a plane, Percy's face is turning greener and greener by the second, when he abruptly says it.

"I have a fox in my gut, by the way." Maybe it's a bit of an overcorrection but Naruto is just so done with keeping stuff that can hurt people, away from them.

Annabeth, Percy, Grover and the twenty people also boarding close enough to hear, snap their heads to him.

"See honey, this is why you don't do drugs," a parent whispers to her child then walks away.

Other people similarly dismiss him, ("Absolute nutters in America" someone whispers into their phone and "You'd think they'd have better security at mental hospitals.")

Grover chews on his lip. "Maybe we shouldn't do thi—"

"A fox?" Annabeth asks.

Percy looks at her weirdly. "That's what stumps you? The animal that's there? Would you have been less shocked if he said it was a blue whale?"

"Shut up, Percy."

Percy turns to him. "But like, how is your stomach then, you know not, yeah,.."

"I'm not pregnant, Percy."

A few looks.

He sits on the chair his ticket says he should sit on. "I don't know how it works but it's not physically in between my intestines. I'd be dead if it was, cause I scale to one of its teeth at best."

Annabeth leans forward. "He's that big? Fascinating."

"The wonder kind of fades after a bit," Naruto says, "It's a huge asshole."

Percy frowns at both of them. "We're kind of bouncing between the two and I don't wanna mess up anybody's pronouns; Is the fox an it or a he?"

"It," Naruto decides.

They talk till their voices have become hoarse and then some, sipping on water. Grover steers them away from any conversation away from anything that mortals find weird, whispering prayers to a 'Mr. D' when they do.

At some point, halfway through the flight, the lack of sleep catches up to him. Mumbling something like, "Wake me up when we land", he drifts off to slumber with Percy and Annabeth bickering as his lullaby.

("Annabeth, how can you justify to yourself that you are arguing about this with me? I'm the child of the sea god."

"Then you're defective. A disgrace. Water isn't wet!"

"Yes it fucking is!"

"Guys–"

"Shut it, Grover.")

He doesn't go and see the Kyuubi in his cage.

That's a choice.

He wakes up by rapid shaking.

His body dolls about until he wrenches control and he straightens up.

He looks up to who's shaking him so hard.

Green eyes. Olive skin.

Percy.

No Annabeth and no Grover

He looks around. He's not in the airplane about to land— he's not even in the airport.

He's in a taxi, parked outside of a tall, tall building, instead. The crickets are chirping. The sky is pitch black and the moon is rising, quarter up in the sky.

When Percy sees his eyes flutter open, he sighs in relief. "You woke up this time," he says.

Percy gives the taxi guy a couple of bucks then helps him get up on dead, buzzing feet.

"This time?" Naruto's brain is still kicking in but it catches that.

"We tried to wake you in the airport, but you slept like a baby." Percy starts moving for the building in front of them and he follows. "I thought you said you were a ninja."

Naruto frowns."I never said I was a good one." He stretches the crick in his neck. "But sorry. I guess I was more tired than expected."

"Don't worry about it. My back will never forgive you though."

"You carried me?"

Percy stops in his steps. "What does that mean?"

Naruto looks at his thin, stick-like limbs. "Oh, nothing."

"Right." Percy opens the door of the tall building— dang, it has like a hundred floors– and waltzes in.

The lobby is pretty crowded, even at this time. A tour guide is enthusiastically ratting off information going through one ear and out the other of the clearly disinterested middle school class.

"Where are we going?" Naruto asks as they head to the guy at the desk.

Percy smiles at him. "Oh you didn't know?"

He flashes the lightning bolt in his bag to the guy. His face goes white and he hands something to Percy.

An elevator button written six hundred.

"We're at the Empire State building. Right underneath Olympus."

AN:

Naruto: Am I supposed to know what that is?