Chapter 2

The Greek Gods can be said to be rather arrogant beings. Gods that have grown content in their power, living life as if no true punishment could befall them.

And why would they think different? Their greatest foes were either dead or imprisoned, in such a way to the Gods that their enemies will never be seen again. They've never received punishment for many of their broken promises. They hadn't faced retaliation for lives they ruined or backlash for meddling in affairs they should keep their nose out of.

So, it was safe to say the Greek Gods thought that because they had power they couldn't be touched. They never outright said it, but expressed it in the way they acted.

Especially in this day and age. Where most of the Mortal World lost their belief in such beings and thus the Gods were largely left alone.

That isn't to say they have never felt the consequences of their actions, mostly just that it was from each other. Mainly from the one they called king vindictive and spiteful to things and people that upset him. Even if it was him that caused such things in the first place.

Heck, they were very nearly brought to ruin by the arrogance of their king Zeus. They only just survived that event. A time – No – a single day in their history that no God or demigod spoke of. For one reason and one reason only, since while they had little to fear. They did fear Zeus' outbursts when he acted out.

More frequently since after their near end, Zeus acted very dangerously because of what was instilled in him when he stared his death in the face.

A healthy fear of foxes.

Camp Half Blood – Big House

"You can sense it. Can't you?" Sitting in his special wheelchair so that he could be closer to the table, Chiron surveyed the cards in his hand. The question he posed was asked to confirm a suspicion he had.

"Only just. I'm surprised you noticed. It is rather well hidden. I can barely sense the darn thing" Mr. D knew what the centaur meant. The old half-horse wasn't able to properly feel it, but with Dionysus being a God he had a much easier time sensing what the immortal trainer was asking about.

"I almost didn't, I was only able to when the boy crossed the Barrier Line. But I could never forget what it feels like to be in its presence. Not to mention what I saw from him last night . . . So, it really is that monstrosity?"

"Bet my life on it. I don't know how, but the boy seems to house the beast within his body. He's aware of it too, since he spoke so casually about some 'power' he has inside himself. You think it's safe for him to be here, in the camp?"

"I do hope so. I'm choosing to believe he means no harm. And he does seem to have prior history with Miss Chase. It is my hope that their rekindled friendship will prevent any unneeded violence"

Mr. D made a face at what Chiron said.

"Prior whatsit, rekindled whonow? Bah! I'll leave it all to you, Chiron. Less trouble for me. Well, that is until Nato decides to let that beast rampage. Then I'm outta here faster than my wine turns to grape juice"

"His name is Naruto Mr. D, it could prove well to remember that. If he is able to harness the beast's power, it could have disastrous consequences if you were to anger the boy" a hand of cards was set on a wooden table, around which the two-conversing sat. "And with that, I believe I win. Again" Chiron seemed rather smug with himself at another win. The smug smile tugging at his lips was partially hidden by the centaur's facial hair.

"Yeah, yeah no need to brag ya old glue bag, but I'm serious. Something needs to be done about the boy, Father won't be pleased with him staying here, knowing the last time the fox had been seen, especially with his favourite sparkler nowhere to be found" Mr. D said, a hint of fear in his voice of this fox the two were talking about as well as his father, Zeus' reaction once he realises that same fox was in the camp he created for Greek demigods. He may see it as coincidence and blame the boy. Then his father will punish him for letting the boy stay.

"I understand, but look. Does that look like a boy that is about to unleash the power of one of the most feared creatures in the world?" Chiron defended, pointing into the distance where the boy they were on about was currently playing against the Apollo cabin in volleyball.

By himself.

While the Apollo cabin half of the play area had six players in it, Naruto's only had him. The God and trainer of heroes watched for a few moments as the blonde was displaying incredible feats of athleticism and acrobatics as he was jumping all over his half to dig the ball up so he could spike the ball over towards the children of Apollo. And while such a thing is against the rules of volleyball to do, since it was just Naruto the campers must have come to an agreement to allow the blonde to do so.

As the duo watched from afar, it was clear that the number advantage from the children of Apollo had them winning, not by much mind you, but winning nonetheless. Understandable since it was six versus one, even if that one is incredibly gifted in the physical department. Proving the age-old adage, that quantity over quality can work. To an extent at least. And in the right circumstances.

"We survived as long as we have by judging things by how they look" the God of Cola paused at Chiron's disapproving look, signing before he stated his point of view "Look, I'm just saying while I won't do anything since I don't care, it doesn't mean my father will leave him alone. And you know that"

"Judging things by how they look is how we got into those messes we had to 'survive' in the first place. Sadly, what you say is true, isn't it? And with tensions high after recent events I can say I may know what Lord Zeus will do" Chiron sighed as well, slumping into his wheelchair. Looking more his true age as he did.

"Yeah, yeah. Enough serious talk. I'm feeling good about this next hand, so let's start the next hand before my sister decides today to have a sense of humour" Mr. D said hurriedly, obviously not in a good mood about what was happening right now and was hoping to use their card game as an escape. However impossible that will be in the end.

Yet unknown to Dionysus it would seem Tyche had decided to already have some fun at his expense. Though it was many years ago that it happened.

It being a deal struck between Chiron and the aforementioned Goddess of Fortune. In exchange for the fortune for winning in pinochle. Chiron would take extra care of any demigod that came into camp that belonged to Tyche. Wouldn't seem like a fair deal considering Tyche hasn't had any children to speak of. But it was an insurance for a what if scenario. Also, it didn't hurt that it meant she got to mess with her daddy's boy brother.

"Very well then" chuckled the old centaur, gathering the cards and straightening them in his hands to start shuffling them. Once done, the centaur divided the deck in half. Placing one half to the side of the table and then dealing the rest of the cards between him and the God of madness.

"Hehe, looking like a good hand Chiron. Better watch out, your winning streak is coming to an end" Mr. D exclaimed excitedly as he sorted through his hand of cards. The earlier part of the conversation put into the back of his mind for less stressful thoughts.

"We'll just have to see, won't we my friend?" Chiron said eloquently. Knowing it was best to let Dionysus think he could win. Otherwise they would stop the game all together and that would mean Chiron won't be able to see the exasperated look on the Gods face each time he lost.

What? He is a multi-millennia old centaur. Training demigods got boring quick and he had to find amusement somewhere, civilised amusement at least. And while Chiron is most definitely not like his party obsessed brethren. Cheating at a no stakes card game did him just fine.

Volleyball Courts

The ball was high in the air, fresh from a last second save by Naruto. Who had needed to dive to get his hand under the ball fast enough again. Seeing as those blasted poetry lovers thought it funny to watch as he leapt all over the playing area.

With a face full dirt and an earful of jibes at his inability to win against them. Naruto heard them cheer as the ball once more was spiked and hit the other side of the court letting the prone blond know that they had won.

He just left his face in the grass. Even as the Apollo Cabin members filed away to do other things, shouting things like 'good game' and 'better luck next time' back at him.

Naruto sighed, climbing to his feet so he didn't look like he was throwing a childish fit. At least they were being good sports. Though he did turn and glare at Michael Yew for some comment he couldn't make out over the talk of the others. But from the tone of voice it must have been a smart-ass remark.

The Apollo boy will get his later.

Annabeth looked on from her spot on the side-lines. Having been stuck there waiting for Naruto to finish. Since he wouldn't answer any of the many question's that were floating through her head while he was playing.

Only reason she had to wait in the first place was because he thought it was a good idea to challenge the demigods to a game once he saw them playing. Even better to play six on one. While he did that, she only absentmindedly followed him while she processed what he told her.

But seeing as he was done, Annabeth grabbed the strap of his bag. To try to give to him or hold as ransom to make him answer her, she hadn't made up her mind yet.

The blonde daughter of Athena began to move towards him as he began making his way towards her.

Only to fall flat on her ass as Naruto's bag didn't move an inch.

"Bahahaha! Everyone does that! They all get the same confused look too. Will always be the best prank I have since I never have to do anything" Naruto found it hilarious. Now he stood over Annabeth, who thought glaring at him was the best course of action instead of getting up.

"Why didn't you tell me the bag was heavy"

Naruto shrugged, a teasing grin tugging at his face. "Well you never asked. And I wouldn't have been able to see that adorable look on your face if I did"

Letting go of the bag, Annabeth made to get up to distract herself from the blush that wanted to stain her cheeks. Now on her feet and brushing herself off, she saw Naruto pick it up with one hand and casually sling it over his shoulder. As if it weighed nothing. Which Annabeth knew for sure it did not. "So?"

The blond male eyed her curiously "So what?"

She sent him another look. One that usually intimidated her half-siblings but had no effect on him. "Why is it so heavy?"

"Oh!" he had a look on his face that made it look like he only just realised what she meant. Annabeth could only scowl at him "Well, it's an enchanted bag. Believe it or not it can hold a limitless number of things, as long as I can get them in the bag that is"

Naruto began to move, making his way away from the volleyball courts. He saw a rock-climbing wall that spewed lava. There was no way he wouldn't give that a go. Annabeth quickly caught up to him.

"That still doesn't explain why it's heavy" she told him.

"It doesn't? I thought it was obvious. You know, since a bag gets heavier the more you put in it." such a simple answer. Yet to Annabeth it could also mean so much more.

Like how to get that heavy he had to have either many, many items or a number of very heavy ones in the bag. Since when she tried to move it, to Annabeth it felt like the bag was cemented down or something. Then that meant Naruto possessed great physical strength.

The Chase girl shook her head though. Questions about Naruto's monster strength will go at the bottom of the list she had of things to query him about.

"Okay, enough about the bag. Back to what you told me before. You said that the power you have belongs to some giant fox monster with nine tails" Organise what she knew before she tried to find out more. Probably the best way for her to figure this all out.

How Annabeth wished she had a notepad and pencil right now.

"Yep. Talks to me sometimes. The big fuzzy is asleep most of the time though" Naruto replied. He waved back to a few of those girls that were giggling and had waved at him. They seemed nice.

"Right. And you said this fox, it's strong enough to destroy Olympus if it wanted to, easily might I add. And that the reason Mifune was preparing you, was because there would be people out there that would want you dead because of it. Did I get all of that right?" Being honest Annabeth was rather sceptical. But finding out she herself was a demigod, about Gods and monsters being real. A monstrous fox with the power to eliminate Olympus wasn't too farfetched. She had skimmed the story about Typhon after all.

"That's the gist of it. That's all the old samurai really told me about it. Though he did teach me how to use a sword, not how to use the power of some lazy furball. It was while I travelled that I actually learnt some things the fox let me do. You already know I'm stronger and faster than most" he raised his left hand and waved it around in Annabeth's face "Wanna to hear the story of how I nearly lost my hand?"

He seemed almost happy he nearly lost a hand. And though she was once more doubtful of what he was telling her, since he had shoved said hand in her face, it would be at the least educational to hear him out. So, she rolled her eyes and replied "How'd it happen then" Hopefully it had something to do with what he is able to do.

"You're gonna love this. So I was in Nashville, visiting the Parthenon. Minding my own business-"

It might have been a few years. But Annabeth knew that 'minding his own business' is never something Naruto used to do. And going from how he had been since last night, it's definitely not something he did now. The look she was giving him must have been enough to let Naruto know she wasn't believing that.

"Ok. I was actually just finishing up painting the statue of some goddess named Athena inside the Parthenon pink. I have pictures if you want to see" Annabeth was too stunned to decide between screaming at him for doing that or cry over the fact that her admittedly best friend would do something so idiotic as to deface a statue dedicated to her mother. "I had just finished. Was leaving the building when this massive golden lion jumps me." he waved his arms around, trying to truly express how big the lion was "I managed to get it off of me. I started to try running away, because who would want to mess with a freaking lion, but it chased me around. So I kept dodging and dodging. The lion would pounce and scratch and try to maul me. But it couldn't get me. I was too quick for it."

Annabeth noted they had stopped moving. It seems Naruto was now more interested in his story then the climbing wall. Though it did seem he was talking about the Nemean Lion. Not even back in her life two days and she was already wanting to rip her hair out from his eccentric personality. And this was just from the things he's telling her. The other campers around her either stared or avoided them.

"But on one particular dodge I didn't jump far enough and well. My left arm ended up in its mouth. That thing swallowed it whole. Arm gone from the elbow down. I couldn't just let it get away with that, so when it tried to bit my head off, I put my foot in its mouth and other hand on its snout. Then I pushed, as far as I could. Till I heard it snap. Lion went dead, I pulled my arm from its throat and while I was messing around thinking I was funny putting my arm back where it was it started to reattach itself. Freaky right?"

Annabeth, and a few other campers who caught the tail end of his small story, stared at the blond agape. It was natural considering he just claimed to have killed the Nemean Lion and put his arm back on his body.

"You just . . . . put your arm back" It was unheard of really. Far as she knew only the gods were capable of putting limbs back on the body. And that was usually the least of the injuries the Gods healed in such a situation.

Seeing is believing. And not wanting her friend to lop off an extremity to demonstrate, Annabeth settled for waiting to see if it's true.

"Yeah. Should have seen it, was making this awesome joke about being armed and dangerous when the skin just melded together. Was numb for a day, then it felt like it was burning for a few more after that. Now it's like I never even lost it" he was grinning and flexing his arm. "But hey, enough about me. I wanna know about what you've been up to since you . . . left" the blond's smile became rather strained mentioning that.

"Whew, well where to start." Annabeth suddenly seemed to find everything around them to be more interesting. She was swaying back and forth on her feet, while fiddling with the hem of her orange shirt, as she tried to find the right thing to tell Naruto to avoid talking about what she went through before she made it to camp. That's when her eyes landed on the Arts and Crafts Centre that was nearby, where her siblings currently were.

The girl seemed to have found what she was looking for. As she stopped swaying and gave Naruto a rather confident look. One he was confused about since she looked like she just figured out some impossible riddle.

"As you know, this is a camp for half-bloods. A safe place for children of the Gods. Well, I'm a daughter of Athena. The Goddess that statue you said you painted was in honour of" the grey eyed girl looked smug at that. More so once Naruto started to give off a nervous laugh and began to rub the back of his head. Like he was trying to scratch an itch that wasn't there.

Seeing her look not change Naruto stopped his weird chuckle. Face paling for the first time at one of Annabeth's looks. "You're not gonna hold that against me, are you? It looked like it needed a makeover and I didn't know it was your mother. Wouldn't have done it if I did, I swear!"

Before they could say another word, they were interrupted by some shouting and movement. Coming from the direction of the Cabins. They both looked on as a small group of campers were running toward in their general direction. They both watched as the campers got closer, the shouting clearer.

And as they did, Naruto and Annabeth could make out that there was about four lots of orange camp shirts, five if you counted the one the other four were carrying between them. The blondes could now make sense of the shouting, the one being carried screaming in pain. While the ones carrying the camper that was in pain was calling out to those around them.

"Make way! Camper down!"

"Someone get Argus! We need him in the Infirmary!"

The two shared a look, stepping aside like everyone else did. Letting the demigods pass by and getting a quick look of the downed camper. With Annabeth surprised to see that its Lee Fletcher, the Apollo Cabin Counselor, that is injured.

Though Naruto didn't know who the guy was, he did manage to see the scales wrapped tightly around his torso. And the pair of beady yellow eyes near where the shoulder should be. Naruto cringed a little, like he was the one that was in pain right now. "That looks like it hurts"

The child of Athena rounded on him, since she had only been able to see who it was. "What did you see?"

Naruto didn't answer right away, he grabbed her hand and started running after them. "I'll tell you when we catch up"

Big House – Infirmary

The two blondes burst into the Infirmary shortly after, pausing only long enough for Naruto to take in the sight of a man plastered with eyes.

They moved closer to the cot the Apollo boy was in. Squeezing past the Hephaestus boys who had carried him here since they had been on their way for their turn at the Arts and Crafts Centre when they had come across him on the ground outside the Apollo Cabin muttering hymns to his father. Lee had stopped once he was picked up which is when the screaming started.

Now that she got a good look, Annabeth was able to see the body of scales that Naruto did wrapped around Lee's chest, constricting tightly from the looks of it and the head biting down on the boy's shoulder. She recognised the creature from a book in her cabin detailing monsters.

And going from the size of it . . . .

"Is that the drakon that you pulled out at breakfast?" She couldn't help it. Annabeth knew the dry look she sent Naruto was well earned.

The blond in question shrugged. "Ok, I'll admit. My bad on this one. Forgot I left it on the table."

They turned their attention to the guy with eyes covering his body when he clapped his hands. Who once he had their attention picked up a needle with an off coloured liquid already inside of it and motioned towards Lee, more specifically the reptilian monster still attached to his body.

"Must want the drakon taken off before he gives him some anti-venom" supplied Annabeth.

With a nudge from Annabeth and seeing that the Hephaestus boys had vanished somehow, Naruto took that as it being his job to remove the drakon from Lee.

Moving closer, the blond grabbed the upper and lower jaw of the snake like creature. "Sorry about this dude" with that Naruto pulled the jaws apart, getting the fangs free from Lee's body rather easily. The problem now though was the drakon had uncoiled itself from Lee and was now wrapping itself around his arms in an attempt to free itself.

Not paying the eye-guy any more attention, Naruto moved away from Lee to make room.

"Hey Book Worm, mind finding some rope or something? Ya know, so I can put this thing down without it hurting anyone else" he gave the monster a shake to emphasis his point, giggling a little at how it was trying to close its jaws around his fingers.

"I'll see what I can find" Annabeth left the room, knowing there wasn't anything in the infirmary strong enough to restrain the drakon that it wouldn't break out of.

Giving a quick look around the room since he had nothing better to do while he waited, Naruto noticed the now only other occupant of the room "Isn't that the kind I saved last night?"

Let me know what you liked. What you didn't. Feel free to give ideas. With how long this took pretty sure I'm low on them.