Chapter 9

The Truck ride was horrible as the cages were never cleaned, so several bugs swarmed around their heads. The only one that didn't seem to mind was Naruto, it was either the web of strings he had around him, or it was his aura, but the bugs that did get close to him seem to freeze and die on the spot. This was an abnormality that plagued Naruto's life ever since he could remember, it did save him money on bug repellent.

He first noticed it when in the sweatshop that he worked at as the various beetles and even the rats always went around him or died on the spot. Annabeth also noticed this when she first meets him and would always stay close to him when they went through the various marshes and coastal areas. She never really questioned it, but now that she has time to really observe her estranged brother, his abilities and personality didn't add up. He has a pet spider when he should be afraid of them, he has no interest in architecture, and he possesses unusual abilities. She researched countless books on the subject, and there was only one other reference to Naruto's abilities, but it was to one of their worst enemies, Arachne. Just like her Naruto could produce and manipulate strings, this only widened the gap as one of Annabeth's brothers was reading over her shoulder and managed to connect the dots. This gave them a reason to make a petition to remove him from the camp, only Athena's children signed it. Annabeth put on her hat, Percy and Grover hid under some turnips sacks, while Naruto suspended himself on the roof.

The truck jerked to a stop alerting the group that the crew would check on the animals for 'wellbeing.'

"Man it stinks in here," said smuggler#1, "It's times like this I wish I hauled appliances."

"Well their animals of course they stink," said Smuggler #2, "These animals will fetch us a pretty penny."

When Grover saw how these humans were treating the animals infuriating him. Ever since Pan disappeared, humans have trashed and pillaged his kingdom. Grover wanted to attack these humans, but Percy was holding him back as not to blow their cover. He would have continued his struggle, but the sound of knocking distracted both Grover and the smugglers.

"Did you hear that knocking Eddie?" asked Smuggler #1

"Yeah, you out and check it out," said Eddie

"No way Eddie, it could be a cop," said smuggler #1

"Relax Maurice, just distract them, and I'll get the papers," said Eddie

Eddie began to exit the trailer but was surprised when he was snagged and was dragged into the air.

"Eddie!" shout Maurice, but was too dragged in the air by his feet.

"Looked at what I catch," said Naruto as he began to descend from the roof, "a couple of flies."

"Let us down you brat" shouted Maurice

"O.K.," said Naruto as he flexed his finger and dropped them on their heads, rendering them unconscious.

When Grover saw the bodies, he told Percy that it was safe, but Percy was shocked when he saw the bodies.

"What did you do," said a frantic Percy, "Are they dead?"

"No, they're just unconscious," said Naruto, "and I just did what they asked for."

"But why?" said a still shocked Percy.

"Percy do you really think they would have just let us go?" said Naruto as he was freeing the animals, "don't answer that, they wouldn't have as we now knew what they were doing and they would have threatened us to keep us quiet."

Percy didn't really have an answer to that or even know what to say next.

"Now stop standing around and help us free these animals," said Naruto

After freeing all the animals and having Grover place a blessing on them, the group of four continued on their journey. They managed to avoid police detection and find a place to discuss what to do next. They discovered that they were near a casino. It didn't stand out as Las Vegas is a weird place in general, but for some odd reason, it just seems to draw them in. They wanted to go the other way, but the intoxicating scent that was coming from the front door just seems to overwhelm their other senses.

"A little look wouldn't hurt, right," said Percy

"I agree with Percy on this," said Grover, "it could be a sign from the gods."

'Or it could be another trap' thought Naruto as he followed the others into the Lotus Casino.

They saw that the interior had various video games and extreme sports equipment.

"Welcome to the Lotus Casino," said the bellhop, "We were expecting you and have your room ready to go."

"Our what? "asked Percy.

"Your room, 4001, and if you need anything just contact the front desk, here are your Lotus Cash cards and have a nice stay."

"Well that was weird," said Grover

"Should we go to the room or should we run?" said Annabeth

"Let's just go up to the room and freshen up," said Percy

"I'll catch up later, I need to take care of something," said Naruto as he walked towards the bar.

"Okay, see you later," said Percy

Naruto never told anyone this but to increase personal relations with his customers he would try to schedule a lunch with them, Aphrodite's would usually consist of French bistros and cafes, while Hades would take place in old diners and goth restaurants. It may go against several business practices, but after a few months, it proved profitable as he was getting more and more orders. He did notices a trend going on with Hade's orders as most of it were for children's clothes. When they met up later he asked them about, and he revealed has two children, Nico and Bianca di Angelo, and he's been hiding them in Las Vegas. Naruto approved of this decision as Zeus was always paranoid and would smite the two in the name of 'justice.' What surprised Naruto even further when he learned of their unique situation, apparently they were born in the 1940's, and Hades put them in a state of suspended animation.

He made to the bar and saw the oldest sibling, Bianca di Angelo, a black haired girl at the age of eleven wearing a forest green beret, a light brown jacket, and blue denim jeans.

"Hello," said Naruto, "How are you?"

"Fine, how are you?" said Bianca

"Good, I'm Naruto," said Naruto

"Bianca," said Bianca, "If this is an attempt to get a date out of me you should know I have a little brother to look after."

"I know about Nico," said Naruto

"How?" asked a slightly freaked out, Bianca.

"We've seen each other before," said Naruto, "I occasionally deliver your clothes."

"Oh you're the weird spider guy," said Bianca

'Spider guy' thought Naruto, 'I'm usually the weird son of Athena.'

"Yes that's me," said Naruto

"Do you know who makes them?" asked Bianca

"That is also me," said Naruto

"Wow, to think someone my age can run a successful business," said Bianca

'She has no idea how much time has passed since the 1940's' thought Naruto.

"Trust me It's not easy," said Naruto

"I can imagine," said Bianca, "Who's your biggest customer?"

"Can't say?" said Naruto, "I get so many orders daily, and with some of my clients they want their clothes by a specific deadline."

'I am scared by some of the 'daring' designs I had to create' thought Naruto, 'who know that Aphrodite had a thing for snakeskin.'

"Are you looking for an intern to help out.?" asked Bianca.

"Yes, but unfortunately you're too young to legally work," said Naruto

"But what about you, you're younger than me," said Bianca

"I own the business, and in the eyes of the law I'm twenty-six" replied Naruto

"How?" asked Bianca

" Let's just say one of my customer's wife can be very persuasive," said Naruto

"She seems very powerful, or he is seriously whipped," said Bianca

"You have no idea how right you are," said Naruto

The two talked for a few more minutes until a Nico, a black-haired eight-year-old wearing a light brown aviation jacket and light blue jeans.

"Bianca who is this guy?" asked Nico.

"This is the person that makes most of our clothes," said Bianca

"Including that weird package you wouldn't let me see," said Nico

"What is he talking about?" asked Naruto

"Nothing!" yelled a blushing Bianca, but this only peaked Naruto's interest.

"Nico what did this box look like?" asked Naruto

"Well from what I could remember it was pink and-" said Nico only to be silenced by Bianca's hand

"Say anything else, and your precious cards will disappear" threatened, Bianca.

"I'll be good," said Nico

"It seems I have some competition," said Naruto, "Nothing I haven't handled, but those must have been some special 'clothes' if you're embarrassed about them."

Before Bianca could explode for embarrassment Naruto was dragged from the bar and towards the exit.

"We have to get out of here" shouted Annabeth as she dragged her brother.

'They finally figured it out' thought Naruto,' That begs the question of how much time has passed in the real world.'

When they did get outside, they saw that the sky was blanketed by black storm clouds while the sound of thunder banged in the air.

"Guys we have a problem," said Grover as he looked at the newspaper. Five days have passed while they were in the hotel leaving them only one day to complete the quest.

"Great just what we needed, more pressure," said Naruto, "This is the summer prom all over again."

"Taxi!" yelled Annabeth as she spotted a Vegas taxi.

Once the taxi driver spotted Annabeth, he pulled over to the curb and lowered the passenger side window.

"Where to?" asked the driver.

"Los Angele," said Annabeth

"Hold on missy that's over a hundred miles," said the cab driver, "so unless you have the dough to back up the mileage, I'm leaving."

"Do you accept casino cash cards?" asked Percy.

"Some, but the chances of having one with the right amount of cash are one million to one." said the taxi driver

"Just swipe it," said Naruto, "life can surprise you."

When he did swipe the card the meter machine started to flash random numbers until it stopped on the infinity symbol.

"Well looks like the boy was right life is full of surprises," said the taxi driver, "Get in princess and other assorted royalty."

'Finally, a positive note in this quest' thought Naruto, 'Now to ride this cab to our final destination and possible end this quest so I can get back to my business.'