AN: In honor of the ending of Naruto. There were some things I liked, some I didn't, but overall, it was a good ending.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus.

Sun's Heir, Death's Guardian III: The Argonauts

Prelude: Phoebe's Gift

The sun shone brightly down into the window of a bedroom. A young man with wild blond hair groaned and rolled onto his stomach. He grabbed a pillow and pulled it onto his head. The pillow warmed too quickly and the boy yelped. He tossed his pillow at the window and scowled at the current bane of his existence.

"Alright, alright, geez, I'm up," he said. The sunlight died down and he sighed. He rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom across the hall. His hand grabbed onto the doorknob and jostled it. Nothing.

"It's occupied, dork!" A girl's voice called from within.

He groaned and pounded on the door. "Hurry up, will ya? I've gotta pee!"

The loud whirr of a fan caused the girl to shout. "Go use another bathroom then, this one is occupied!"

He pounded on the door again. "How long have you been in there?"

"None of your business! Now beat it before I call Mom!"

Resigned to his defeat, he walked down the hall to the stairs. The floorboards creaked and protested against his steps, but he ignored them and continued on. The smell of cooking meat filled the air and the sound of something sizzling hit his ears.

The bathroom could wait. Food was needed. Now.

"Morning," he said as he came into the kitchen and plopped into a chair.

The cook smiled lightly. "Morning, Bolt."

"Bacon and eggs, again?" Bolt sounded a bit disappointed.

The cook turned and narrowed two purple eyes at him. "Do you have something against bacon?"

"No, but this is like the third time in a row," Bolt said. "How many pigs did you kill to get all the bacon?"

The cook huffed. "Personally, I didn't kill any. I did pay a farmer for the meat though, so take your beef up with him."

"That was bad," Bolt said. He failed to hide his snicker.

The cook tittered as she made a plate. "Still made you laugh, didn't it? Where's your sister?"

"Hogging the bathroom," Bolt said. A plate was set in front of him and he smiled. "Thanks, Baachan!"

Kushina smiled back at him. "Anytime, Nikkō."

Bolt pouted. "Baachan, I'm eight years old, don't call me that anymore."

"But you'll always be my little sunlight, Nikkō," Kushina gave him a tight hug. She kissed him on the head, and he whined at the over affection he got from his grandmother. "You've got a test today, so eat your breakfast and then go get ready."

"Hai, Baachan," Bolt said. He ate an egg and then went back upstairs to prepare for the day.

Muffled rock music came from the other side of the door with various signs that either said "No Dorks Allowed" or "Keep Out" and in the center was a poster for an old rock band called AC/DC. Bolt had heard a few of their songs before thanks to a few archaic things called CDs he got from his grandfather. They weren't bad, but it was really weird to play one.

Bolt went into the bathroom with his chosen attire and showered. When he stepped out, he took a moment to look over himself in the mirror. Unruly blond hair that made him look like he was struck by lightning, blue eyes that were on the edge of being either electric or the same shade as the sky, and two whisker marks that covered either cheek. He then made a few faces before brushing his teeth. It was the little things in life he did to make himself smile.

Bolt left the bathroom fresh and clean, with a white T-shirt that had a small spiraling flame on it and black shorts that had pockets to hide all his troublemaking gear. He had a big plan for Aburame-sensei and Sarutobi-sensei today. He grabbed the supplies he needed from his room and ran down the stairs, nearly bowling over his sister in the process.

"Watch it, dork! You're going to get someone killed," Joan said. Joan was a teenager, having been born five years before him. She was a near carbon copy of their mother; only she had their father's unique eyes and faint whiskers hidden underneath her freckles. Even her personality was the same as their mom's.

"Maybe if you moved your big butt I wouldn't run into it," Bolt said in return.

"You little-Come here!" Two tanned hands reached out to grab him, but Bolt slipped away and ran for the kitchen, his sister right behind him. Bolt skid to a stop before he could run into the woman giving him the 'Glare of Doom' (patent pending) from the kitchen entryway. She was dressed in formfitting black jeans, a solid black shirt and a white jacket with gold trimming. Her untamed raven locks reached her tense shoulders and two intense eyes glared down at him for daring to run within her home.

So distracted by this obstacle in his way, Bolt failed to elude his sister, who grabbed him under the head with one arm and proceeded to give him the worst noogie of his life to date with her other hand.

"Ow! Joan! Stop!" Bolt struggled to get free from his older sister's wrath.

"You need to learn some manners!" Joan said as she ground her knuckles into his head. There was a sharp whack and Bolt dropped to the ground, his hands on his head. Joan held her own and scowled at her attacker. "Mom! He started it!"

"And I'm finishing it. Get in the kitchen, both of you."

"But I already ate," Bolt said.

"Kitchen." The electric blue eyes narrowed. "Now."

"Yes, Mom." The two siblings quickly took seats at the table across from each other. Bolt tried not to meet Joan's eyes, but he failed in his endeavor and swallowed heavily when she mouthed 'I will get you later.' He made note to stay out of Joan's sight for most of the day until she cooled down.

"Here you are Ran'un." Kushina set a plate down in front of the girl.

Joan frowned at the name. "Baachan..."

"Don't you start too," Kushina said with a pout. "If I can still call your brother Nikkō, you'll still be my little storm cloud."

"What's the word for pain in the butt?" Thalia asked with a smirk.

"I thought they called that 'work'?" Kushina smiled and handed a plate over to Thalia, who took it with her left hand, a golden and silver band on the ring finger.

"That's only if you hate your job, Kaachan." A tall man walked into the kitchen, he wore a white flak jacket over a white shirt with a golden Omega on the front. A pair of dark jeans covered his legs and taped around his left thigh was a kunai pouch. The man had short hair and three whisker marks on either cheek, unlike the two that were on Bolt and Joan's.

Thalia turned and smiled lightly. "Morning, Whiskers."

"Morning, Lia-chan." Naruto bent over and gave Thalia a kiss on the lips. Bolt gagged and Joan rolled her eyes. Their parents were so gross sometimes. He grinned when his father put a hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "Morning kids. Ready for the test today, Bolt?"

Bolt grinned. "You bet! I've got it in the bag! Shikadai already gave me the answers!"

Naruto grinned back at his son as he pulled out his seat. "Atta boy."

"You really shouldn't encourage their cheating, Naruto," Kushina said, waving her ladle at him.

"If you're not cheating, you're not trying." Joan loosened her headband around her neck and shifted her shoulders to adjust her flak jacket.

Naruto beamed at her from where he stood. "That's right, hime."

Bolt snickered. "Yeah, she's a princess, all right."

"Shut up, dork," Joan said. Her sun-like pupils glared at her brother for his mockery.

"Stop fighting at the table," Thalia said around a bite of her bacon.

"Yes Mom." The two siblings settled for glaring at each other.

"Thanks, Kaachan." Naruto took his offered breakfast and set it on the table. "How many more days do you have off?"

"Lady Persephone was kind enough to give me these past three. I have to leave today, sochi," Kushina said. Naruto smiled sadly gave her a hug. They held it for a few seconds before Kushina walked around and hugged her grandchildren, kissing both on the side of their heads against their wishes before she gave Thalia a hug goodbye.

"Same time for Christmas this year?" Thalia asked as they pulled apart.

"Hopefully," Kushina said. She sighed. "That idiot just loves to laze around in the winter."

"I think it's cool!" Bolt said. "Dark most of the day and bright for a bit, it's like a giant firework!"

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Joan said with a roll of her eyes.

Now seated at the table, Naruto whacked her hand with his fork. "Be nice."

"Yes, Daddy," Joan said. She glared at Bolt when he made a victorious face at her.

"Bye!" Kushina exploded in a plume of smoke.

Bolt looked at his father. "When do I get to learn the Shunshin (Body Flicker)?"

"After you graduate," Naruto said. He put his egg between two pieces of toast and went to Thalia's side. He kissed her softly on the lips. "I should get going, too. Big day, today. Meeting and all."

"Yeah, yeah. Just get going already," Thalia said with a small smile.

"So eager for me to leave! It's almost scandalous," Naruto said. He chuckled at the frown she gave him for his insinuation and stole another kiss. "Tell your mystery boyfriend I said hello!"

He vanished in a flash of light.

"That idiot," Thalia said under her breath, her cheeks the lightest tinge of pink. She gave a stern look to her son. "You're not allowed to be like your father when you grow up."

"What? Why?" His dad was awesome!

"Because he always makes Mom hot and bothered before he leaves." Joan smiled innocently as Thalia glared daggers at her.

Bolt just looked between them in confusion. "What's that mean?"

"You'll find out when you're older, dork," Joan said. She set her plate on the counter and ran for the door. "I'm going out to train with my team! Later Mom, bye Bolt!"

The door was open for a second before she took off to the sky. Bolt pouted jealously. He wished he could fly like that. Last time he tried to copy Uncle Jason, he broke his wrist.

"Help me do the dishes, Bolt," Thalia said with a sigh at her daughter's behavior. The girl left the door open again. "Then you can go to school. And you better stay there."

"Yes, Mom."

"Settle down, settle down." The tall and stoic man that was Aburame Shino, known as Aburame-sensei by the class, looked at his students. His gaze was locked on one student in particular behind his strange glasses. He turned and nodded to his companion, who shrugged with a carefree smile on his face.

Bolt smiled innocently as he assumed his sensei stared at him. The last thing he needed was to be called out before the fun could really begin. The test was passed out by Sarutobi-sensei and Bolt stared at it for a moment before he looked up at his teachers. Both were sitting down.

Perfect.

His hands came together in the ram seal and Bolt channeled his chakra to the seals he had slapped under the chairs after school the day before.

Sarutobi-sensei's reaction was the most distracting, but Aburame-sensei was certainly the most entertaining. While Sarutobi-sensei jumped up and hollered while he held his rear end, Aburame-sensei went stiff as a board and slumped forward.

Bolt grinned at his co-conspirator, who rolled his eyes and pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it across the isle. He copied the answers word for word and then handed the answer key back.

Thank you, Hermes, Bolt thought.

"Bolt!"

"It wasn't me, Sarutobi-sensei!"

"Sir, you have to call his parents! They need to be the ones to discipline him. Nothing we do works," Konohamaru Sarutobi said to the head of the academy.

"I don't have to do anything of the sort." The man had his hands intertwined in front of him, and frowned at Bolt. "You do know what I will do instead, yes?"

It took a few moments, but suddenly Bolt's eyes were wide. "Just call my Mom, please, Umino-jiji! Anything but that! If my dad finds out I'm responsible for that..."

"Yes, Hokage-sama would be displeased at his favorite restaurant's sudden decision to blacklist him," Iruka said. He rubbed his chin. "I suppose the only other option we have...is detention..."

"Yes! Yes, anything but that!" Bolt nodded frantically. The last time his father was kept from Ramen...well...He heard that the village of Iron was a nice looking place.

Iruka smiled at the amused Konohamaru. "See? No fuss necessary. Just send a note for three weeks detention home. For now, let him enjoy his weekend. If he has one."

Konohamaru chuckled. "You're a sadist, Umino-san."

"I'm insulted that you would say that, Sarutobi-kun," Iruka said. He waved the two off and went back to his book that depicted a boy standing in the ocean with a sparking tube in his hand. "Now go, both of you. I have reading to catch up on."

Konohamaru shook his head and led Bolt out of the office. "How does your dad do it, kid? A series of books and running the village? Shadow clones?"

"They're unreliable," Bolt said with a frown. It just sunk in that he sacrificed the next three weeks of his freedom to survive his father's wrath. Hopefully, it was a smart decision.

"Well, I hope he plans to hand the hat down soon. People aren't going to care who runs the village if his books keep selling like they are. What number is he on? Three? Four?"

"His next book is a special one," Bolt said with a smile. "Neechan wrote a story for it. And I got to help Grandpa write one!"

"Really?" Konohamaru asked, amused. He opened the doors to the academy and smirked. "I'll have to check it out when it's released. Maybe if it's good, you can use that to increase your grades. Get going, Bolt. And don't cause any trouble today."

"Yes sir," Bolt said. He ran off and jumped at the nearest cart. He climbed to the roof of the building next to it with a gleeful smile on his face. With a sudden idea, Bolt turned right and headed for one of his and Joan's favorite baby sitters.

He came to a stop when he got to the tall mountainside. To the left was a pond nearly large enough to be a lake and to the right was a large cave carved in beneath the seventh head on the Hokage Monument. Hesitantly, Bolt went into the cave. It wasn't that he was scared of what was inside, but the darkness always made him uneasy. He swallowed and snapped his fingers. His hand crackled to life with blue static, giving off a dim glow.

"Ojisan?" Bolt's voice bounced off the walls of the cave. There was a deep growl before something slipped around his ankle and Bolt was pulled into the cave with a yell. He soon found himself dangling upside down, and his electric sky blue eyes stared into a giant red one.

"You should keep yourself aware of your surroundings, Bolt." The owner of the eye turned Bolt around and set him on the ground. "Shouldn't you be out pranking someone?"

"I wanted you to teach me a new trick!" Bolt grinned eagerly.

"No." The fox didn't bother to hesitate.

"What? Come on, Ojisan!"

"Go ask your father for another jutsu."

Bolt frowned. "Dad's too busy with work."

"Then ask your mother to help you with your electrokinesis."

"I already learned the basics and she won't help me with anything else until I'm a ninja," Bolt said. If only he hadn't broken his wrist when he was six.

The large form of Bolt's Ojisan shifted until it was fully facing him. "...How goes your chakra control?"

"I can walk up ten feet without falling off the tree," Bolt said proudly. That was higher than anyone else in the class.

"...Come to me when you can walk up and down a thirty foot tall tree." The red eyes closed and a deep steady breathing filled the air.

Bolt frowned. "Can't you teach me anything?"

A red eye cracked open. "You won't leave without something, will you?"

"Nope!"

"Fine." The large kitsune sighed. "We'll work on aerokinesis again."

Bolt groaned. "I'm no good at it, though!"

"That's why we practice. You may never be able to fly like your sister or uncle, but gusts of wind are no laughing joke. The best way to practice this is to learn something your grandfather made."

"You're going to teach me the Hiraishin?!" Bolt's excitement made him glow lightly.

"No."

Bolt deflated and dimmed.

"I will be teaching you the move he created based off of my own attack: The Rasengan."

Bolt's eyes widened excitedly. Even Joan didn't know the Rasengan yet! She'll be so jealous!

"Ow," Bolt said. After a few hours of failed attempts, he left his Ojisan's cave sore and littered with a few scrapes that were slowly healing up. Bolt winced at the nasty gash on his palm. It wasn't as bad as it was before, but he couldn't go home with it. His mom would ask too many questions – not to mention freak out at the gash – and his dad would probably figure out where he had been. That would result in another grounding on top of the already bad news he had to give them.

So, Bolt walked to his second home away from home, the bookstore. He liked to read, ever since his dad first read him The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja Bolt was hooked. He even had copies of his dad's books, and he knew Joan had a few of them, but neither of them said anything. They didn't want their dad to try and appeal to them specifically...or stop with the free previews.

"Hey, Bolt-kun!"

Bolt smiled at the cashier. "Hey, Reiko-neechan!"

"Hiding out again, huh?" Reiko smiled back at him. She was a few years older than Joan and just an inch or so shorter than his mom. Her brown hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and her golden eyes were hiding behind two wire-framed glasses. She was dressed in a tracksuit that Bolt heard his father say was a gift from her grandmother.

"Yeah, just until I finish healing some scrapes," Bolt said.

"Went to see Kurama-sama again?" Reiko asked. She shook her head. "Your mother will have a cow. And then Kyofu-sama will have to protect the cow from her."

"Kurama-Ojisan is so cool though!" Bolt said, missing the joke Reiko made. "He's teaching me something that even Joan doesn't know!"

"Really? Well don't tell me any more or I'll have to tell her. The girl-code is strong, you know," Reiko said. She waved him over. "Want to come sneak a peek at the final book?"

"You got a copy!?" Bolt was shocked. His dad only let his mom or the publisher look at the drafts. He was at her side before he registered the fact that he was in motion. "What's the title?"

"Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian," Reiko said. "It's not finished, but it's a good first chapter."

"Ew...it starts with Uncle Percy on a date," Bolt said with a frown once he got through the first paragraph.

"But it's not with Annabeth," Reiko said. She had a grin on her face.

"So? It's gross. I don't want to read about Uncle Percy kissing a girl," Bolt said. He hopped down and walked away. "I'm going to find The Titan's Curse. That one's my favorite!"

"That's because your mom is in it." Reiko rolled her eyes.

"It's the most interesting one!" Bolt denied with a light flush. "Artemis and Grandpa are in it." He walked through the aisles before he grabbed the book in question and pulled it off the shelf. "And Aunt Bianca let Dad kill her off in the book."

"Always the most interesting choice in the series," Reiko said. She flipped through the pages in front of her before she looked up. "Did your dad ever tell you why he never wrote himself in the books?"

"Because he's cooler than Uncle Percy and would outshine him?" Bolt asked while he flipped through the book to the last chapter he was on at home. He walked back to the front of the store and sat down behind the counter.

Reiko smirked and whapped him on the head. "No, you little idolizer. Kyofu left himself out because he thinks that the camps could've done it without him."

Bolt rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. And then you'll say Uncle Nico wouldn't have become the head of Camp Olympia. He's so angst-y in these books."

"I think it's cute," Reiko said. "Though I wonder how Miss Hazel will come out from the Underworld. Or how Mr. Grace met Mrs. Grace!"

Bolt gagged at the thought of his Aunt and Uncle hooking up. "You sound like Aiko Inuzuka. She's always spouting off things that make me think she's a daughter of Aphrodite."

"Maybe she is." Reiko grinned. "Inuzuka-san is a good-looking guy."

"For a washed up mutt, maybe," Bolt said under his breath. Reiko swatted his head and he chuckled. "That's what dad called him!"

"Humph, your father and Inuzuka-san have been butting heads for as long as I've known them." Reiko hummed and turned another page. "Is your hand healed?"

Bolt looked at his hand and saw that only a faint red mark remained. "Yeah, it is."

"I'll put the book away for you."

"Thanks, neechan," Bolt said as he closed the book and got to his feet. "See you around, neechan. Tell me when the next book comes out, okay?"

"Will do, Bolt," Reiko said with a smile.

Bolt left the bookstore with his hands in his pockets and his head hung. His mother was going to kill him for getting three weeks worth of detention. Not to mention his father's disappointment. He thought for sure that he wasn't going to get blamed for his prank...then again, the shock tags were probably his motif by now. Maybe if he went the toad route...

Bolt grunted as he ran into something and fell to his butt. "Hey, watch where you're going!"

"Idiot, you're the one that needs to watch where you're going." Bolt looked up into the unique eyes of his older sister.

"Oh, hey Joan," he said quietly. He wasn't sure if she was still mad.

"Hey yourself dork," Joan said. Well, she wasn't too mad. She offered him her hand and pulled him to his feet. "Where've you been?"

"Nowhere," Bolt said, looking off to the side.

Joan chuckled. "You suck at lying."

"So do you!" Bolt gave her an accusing look. "I'll bet you were flirting with that Nara guy again!"

Joan narrowed her eyes. "I wasn't flirting with Miroku!"

"I never said it was Miroku," Bolt said. He was pulled into a headlock.

"What are you going to do, tell on me?" Joan asked.

"Maybe," Bolt said, grunting as Joan tightened her grip.

"If you tell Dad, I swear to the gods they won't find your body for seven days." Joan started to take them off of the ground. She grabbed the back of Bolt's shirt and pulled him up so he could wrap his arms around her neck. "You're lucky that it's almost dinner time or I would hang you by Dad's nose."

Bolt shuddered, recalling the last poor bastard that Joan had done such a thing to. It was in retaliation for touching her butt. She got grounded for three months, but neither of their parents really enforced the punishment. In fact, their mother seemed to be extremely proud and he was sure there was a picture of it in his father's study. The day after, there was a silver pamphlet in the mail addressed to Joan and their parents had a small argument. It was over by the next day and no one brought up the pamphlet again.

They made it back to the small apartment complex that was remodeled into their home. Their mother opened the door and let Joan go in to wash up, while she waited at the door expectantly for Bolt's explanation. He just handed her the piece of paper he had gotten earlier.

Thalia read the note silently, and then shook her head. "Consider yourself grounded for the next two weekends. Go get ready for dinner and then after you can tell your father about your brilliant idea for today's disruption in class."

"Yes Mom," Bolt said.

Dinner was a nice affair. They were treated with their father's special hamburgers made from Apollo's red cattle (with permission), something Bolt greatly enjoyed, but Joan was a bit miffed they didn't have ramen. It was a simple family dinner, the four of them talking about their day. Bolt wisely kept out his training with Kurama and his reading, but did mention he visited Reiko after school. His mother talked about a conversation she had with her cousin about next summer's visit. His father complained about an annoying councilman trying to convince him to export Ichiraku as a worldwide dish. Joan talked about getting a tricky collaboration jutsu down with her team, saying they'd show it off once it was perfected.

When dinner ended, Joan was roped into doing dishes and Bolt went into his father's study to tell him about his day. After he finished telling his dad about his prank, he let out a sigh of relief when his dad started to laugh.

"Tags on the chairs," Naruto said with a chuckle. He wiped a tear away from his eye. "That's brilliant, Bolt. Your fuinjutsu is getting better. Uncle Herm and Dad would be proud."

"You think so?" Bolt asked.

"Yep." Naruto nodded, a faint smile still on his face. It fell into a frown. "I have to agree with your mother, though. The next two weekends are ours. You don't get to play Valdez' video games, curfew bedtime-"

"Aww..."

"And...I suppose you'll have to accompany me tomorrow to Camp Olympia."

Bolt perked up. "For real!?"

Naruto smiled lightly. "Your sister was your age when I first took her, it's only fair. Plus, Annie would love to see her 'cute little nephew' again before the summer reunion."

Bolt groaned. "I hope she doesn't try to teach me Latin again."

"I'll protect you from the evils of learning on a Saturday," Naruto said. He ruffled his son's hair. "Nico will be happy to see you. He misses his little buddy."

"I hope so," Bolt said. He yawned and stretched. "Uncle Nico's cool..."

Naruto arched a brow. "Someone seems tired for not having that eventful of a day."

"Weird," Bolt said. He forced back another yawn, but it still escaped his lips. His eyes drooped slightly. He blanked out for a second and soon found himself being carried by his dad. Bolt yawned again. "Dad?"

"Yeah, Bolt?"

"Can you read me something?" Bolt asked softly.

Naruto cracked a smile. "Sure. What do you want to read?"

" ...The Lightning Thief..."

"If that's what you want."

Bolt was laid in bed and tried his hardest to keep his eyes open while his dad left the room. A beat passed and his dad walked back in, the book in hand. Bolt scooted over and let his dad take a seat next to him. Naruto opened the book and held it down so they both could look at the Ancient Greek alphabet that resided within.

"Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. If you're reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life. Being a half-blood is dangerous. It's scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways. If you're a normal kid, reading this because you think it's fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened. But if you recognize yourself in these pages-if you feel something stirring inside –stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it's only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they'll come for you."

Bolt's eyes started to drift shut again. The last thing he heard before sleep overtook him was his father's voice. "Don't say I didn't warn you. My name is Percy Jackson."

Blue eyes snapped open and were immediately shielded from the sun's proud beam. Three whisker marked cheeks contorted into a pained grimace. The blond owner of the cheeks and eyes grabbed at his hand, which felt like it was on fire. He pushed the remnants of his dream to the back of his mind and focused on the pain in his hand. The dream would be forgotten for a long while, accessible to only one other who found the whole thing extremely amusing.

"Well wasn't that nice of Phoebe?" Helios asked himself as he watched the dream play through fully through his connection to Naruto's subconscious. "Good to know there's a happy ending to all of this. Bolt huh? I wonder what story he will have."

AN: And so marks the end of a wonderful journey, and yet begins another. I hope you all enjoyed the prelude to the third and final installment to Sun's Heir, Death's Guardian!

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