When I posted the first chapter, I did not think that so many of you would like it. Maybe a few follows/favorites, a review or two. To not only get 100 follows/favs, but to exceed them in one week, is just amazing. To all of you, thank you very much. I'm really glad you seem to like what I have so far, and I hope that you'll enjoy what I have in store for this story.

To those worried about Naruto and Sasuke being nerfed, I should tell you. Some of my favorite stories are "Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody" "Moon-led Journey in Another World" and "That Time I was Reincarnated as a Slime". Each one with an OP main character. There will be no nerfed characters.

Also, I've seen some concerns when it came to lore, abilities, and Naruto as a faunus. I'm sorry to inform you that I'm bad at keeping up with details. I'm what most would call a "Filthy Casual". I enjoy the shows, if I didn't I wouldn't be writing this, but keeping up with it all isn't some I can do. Also, it's fanfiction, and as I've seen with many other fictions that I personally enjoy, I'll probably do what I want. I wasn't quite sure how to word that without coming across as an ass, so to anyone that may be offended, I apologize. Explaining myself is not a skill I have, unfortunately.

Naruto will be a faunus in this story, and as far as pairings go... You'll just have to wait and see. There's some individual reviewers I want to mention, but I'll save that for the end of this chapter. Until then, I hope you enjoy.

The first thing Naruto noticed as he awoke was the annoying beeping sound next to his ear. The second, was the uncomfortable feeling of laying on something he shouldn't. With a groan, he opened his eyes to a bright white room that made him instantly throw his arm up to block out the unneeded light. So, that's what was going on. He was in the worst place possible.

In a hospital.

"About time you woke up, idiot."

A very familiar voice spoke from his right. He turned his head to see Sasuke lying in a bed just a few feet away, the Uchiha's eyes staring at the ceiling, and the stump where his left arm once was, wrapped in bandages.

"Sasuke."

Any other time, Naruto would be quick with a come back. Threaten to kick his ass, or curse him for calling him an idiot. But right now, at this moment, he just hoped that maybe that the casual insult meant that they were returning to a time that had passed.

"How long was I out."

"No idea." Sasuke replied. "I woke up not to long ago. I don't even know where we are."

The blonde teen took a look around the room they were in, as much as he could as his body was still heavy. Unlike the hospital rooms he was accustomed to, this was a windowless, white room. The room was practically empty, with only things in it were the odd machines he'd never seen before that the two were hooked up to, and the flat black rectangle-shaped item hanging on the wall in front of the teens, somewhat resembling the televisions Naruto had seen before.

Though Naruto didn't know where they were, he at least knew that his last gambit of undoing the Infinite Tsukuyomi came through. That was the only thing that could make sense of how they were in this room, and not bleeding out where his and Sasuke's fight ended.

"Naruto."

"Yea?"

"Why?"

Naruto turned his neck once more, but this time his gaze was met by an onyx eye. Sasuke continued.

"I acquired this power to sever the bonds I had created. To stand alone in the darkness. Everyone... Every single person was quick to cut me off. All except for you."

And it was true. He had ran away from his village in search of power. He had turned on his friend to gain more strength. The dark-haired teen attempted to kill the blonde on more than one occasion. But the whiskered teen always stood up and never once did he stop clinging tightly to the bond the Uchiha wanted so much to cut away. Why?

"It's because we're friends."

Friends? It was that simple of an answer? No, it couldn't be. Sasuke, though loathe to admit it, had made a few bonds, several friends. Though none as close to him as the blonde beside him, he knew the meaning of friend. And those friends had all turned their backs on him. All but one. With these thoughts, he had to know.. To try to understand the one person that continued to call him friend.

"What is a friend to you?"

Naruto turned his gaze to the ceiling, "It's... It's not something easy to explain with words."

Sasuke just let his eyes linger on the one person who never gave up on him. He wanted to yell. Demand he explained. Instead, he just laid there, waiting.

"I don't know, but whenever I see you, struggling by yourself. Trying to carry everything alone. It just... Hurts.. It hurts so much that I just can't leave you alone.

Was he explaining this well enough? Was it getting through? Naruto wasn't sure as the room once again descended in to silence. He knew though, how similar they were. The blonde had always felt out of place in the village, and he could tell, Sasuke was the same. But when he was a kid, Naruto couldn't help but compare himself to the Uchiha. Where he was unwanted, his friend was accepted with open arms. Where he tried his best to get attention from those around him, it was all but thrown at the other boy. Maybe, if he hadn't been so jealous, neither would have been as lonely.

"I lost."

That caught the blonde off guard, "You what?"

"I lost," Sasuke repeated.

"It was never about winning or losing," Naruto replied. "I just wanted to bring my friend home."

"They won't accept me back in the village."

"Sure they will."

"How can you be so sure? I'm a traitor. What's to say I won't rise against them in the future? Do the same things I've done before?" He too looked up at the ceiling, "Who's to say I won't try to kill you?"

"You won't do that anymore."

"How can you say that with certainty!"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

We're friends!

You're my friend, Sasuke!

Why? Don't you get it by now?

Sasuke turned his head to the opposite side. As Naruto's consciousness began to fade again, the fatigue from their fight still tightly gripping his body, there was one thing that crossed his mind.
What am I laying on?

"Coming!"

As Ozpin stood outside the door of a residential area home in Vale, he couldn't help but nervously tug at his tie. The past two days had felt like the longest he had ever lived, as he went from home to home, giving bad news to several families. And now, he had to tell a widow that her only daughter had passed as well.

"It's the duty of a leader to pay respects to his fallen soldiers."

He grit his teeth. Part of this was because the man, Ozma, jumped the gun when he thought he saw the two Brothers return. While Ozpin isn't sure casualties would have been non-existent, many could have been avoided.

The door opened to a tall woman with cherry red hair, some grey mixed in here and there. Her emerald green eyes widened in surprise at the man standing outsider her home.

"Professor Ozpin? It's been so long!"

"That it has, Mrs. Rena," Ozpin said, "May I come in?"

The woman, Mrs. Rena, stepped back. "Of course. Please, make yourself at home."

Giving his gratitude, the headmaster stepped in. As he walked through the hallway, he couldn't help himself to looking at a few pictures hanging on the wall. A happy family of three looked back at him. The man, short and muscular. His black hair barely grown out, and green eyes that shined. The small girl on his shoulders, a wide smile with teeth showing, and her eyes closed. Cherry red hair to match her mother's tied up in pig tails. And Mrs. Rena standing beside the two, so much younger than she appeared today.

The next picture over was of the woman and her husband. Though the height difference was slightly amusing, the sweet moment captured would warm even the coldest heart.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Mrs. Rena asked from the kitchen, as he took it upon himself to sit in a nearby chair.

"No, thank you."

Beside him, in a small frame, was a woman, just barely an adult. Her smile wide, and her eyes, as green as the rest of her family, sparkled with excitement and triumph. In her hands, a pilots helmet.

"I remember that like it was yesterday," Mrs Rena said, noticing the headmaster looking at the picture. "Garett was so proud."

Ozpin couldn't help a small smile, "I remember. His students had been subject to a doting father. Most of the staff as well, now that I think about it."

The two shared a small laugh.

"So, tell me professor. Why the sudden visit? I don't think I've seen you since the farewell party for my husband."

Ah, the farewell party. Garett Rena decided to quit teaching Grimm Studies to return to active duty. Said he couldn't stand sitting still. And as any time a staff member left, it was only natural to have a small get together to say goodbye.

Scheduling it on a school night, however, was not the best of ideas.

"About that, Mrs. Rena.."

"Ozpin, it's Lucia."

The headmaster put his hands together, "Lucia. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Lucia felt her stomach drop. This couldn't be that. Not again..

"Jade Rena has fallen in the line of duty."

No. No this couldn't be happening. Her Garett was a Huntsman. They both knew he could die at any moment on a mission. But her daughter was just a pilot. Sure, she had do drop off teams in Grimm infested areas, but she wasn't suppose to be in the middle of it.

It took her a moment to find her voice, "How?"

"There were some complications on her last transport. We had reports of older, dangerous Grimm gathering outside the walls. She, along with two other pilots and twelve hunter teams were sent out. The information given said there were only ground-types. They were ambushed by aerial Grimm we had no knowledge of. Though the creatures were... taken care of... we lost thirty five people. Including your daughter."

Ozpin wanted to spit. The taste of the lies on his tongue stung like venom. But what else could he do? Tell the woman that so many people were slaughtered by the crossfire of two teens with demi god powers? And that said boys were at Beacon Academy right now, getting medical attention?

No. He may not like it, but this is what had to be done.

As her sobbing reached his ears, Ozpin gripped his hands tighter. No matter who he blamed. The boys, or Ozma himself, in the end, these were his people. He was responsible for them. And he had failed them.

"Did," Lucia choked out, "Did she make a difference?"

"Yes." He was getting use to lying through teeth. "Jade died a hero's death, that came much to soon."

Little comfort that was. Her daughter was gone. No matter how heroic her actions, her Jade was never coming back. And Ozpin could feel his heart shatter once again that day. His thoughts lingering on the pilot, the girl, that kept saying she didn't want to die. That just wanted to make it home to see her family another day. He only hoped, that maybe, someday, this would get easier.

"It never gets easier."

Naruto woke up in a sewer, with giant crimson eyes staring down at him.

"Holy hell!" He jumped back, his heart beating rapidly. "What the hell Kurama?!"

The giant fox said nothing, as his eyes lingered on the blonde before him. Studying him. What could have changed his jailer's appearance so rapidly? Not that he disagreed with the additions, but where did they come from? Could it be when..

"Ummm.. Hey, furball." Naruto spoke up, waving his single arm in front of the giant chakra construct. "You in there?"

"Have you not noticed?"

Naruto tilted his head, "Noticed what?"

With his paw, Kurama pointed at his Jinchuriki, signaling for the boy to look behind him. Still confused, Naruto turned his head, to be met with nine blonde fluffy tails sticking out of his back side. He couldn't help but freeze. Was this the beast's idea of a joke? It was probably just an illusion. Thinking that, the teen took one of the appendages in his hand. It was soft, easily the softest thing he'd ever felt. And then he decided to pull. Hard.

"Owwww!"

"What did you expect to happen, dumbass?"

"I don't know!" Naruto shouted, "I didn't expect to have nine fucking tails sticking out of my ass!"

Kurama smirked, "It's a good look."

"I'll punch you."

The blonde released his newest body part, and watched in wonder as the nine tails waved lazily behind him.

"How'd I get these?"

"Don't know."

"The hell you mean you don't know?!" He could feel his eye twitch in irritation.

"Exactly what I said, brat. I don't know. I think it happened during the fight with the Uchiha when a clone sent you nature energy. How, I haven't a clue."

"Nature energy..." Kurama could see the gears in Naruto's head began to turn. "But if that's true, what about my Sage mode?"

Kurama shrugged, "You could be in a permanent powered-up state, or you could never use it again."

Before he could think, Naruto's irritation spoke for him.

"So... Is there anything you do know?"

"Stupid fox!"

That was how Sasuke was awoken, to the shouting and incoherent screams of the noisy blonde. Maybe if he just put the pillow over his head, it could be drown out.

"Kicking me out of my own mindscape! I'll kick his ass!"

Better idea. Sasuke, quick as the lightning he's known for, threw the pillow in his hand, nailing the whiskered teen in the face, who in turn, was knocked backwards.

"Shut up, you idiot."

Naruto scrambled to his feet, "Sasuke, you don't understand. Look!"

Against his better judgment, the Uchiha sat up and looked towards his annoying friend. What he saw, he was not prepared for. Behind the blonde, were nine fox tails. The fur the same sun kissed blonde as the hair on his head. And as he now had a closer look...

"Do you see? I have tails! Nine of them!"

"You also have ears."

Time seemed to stand still.

"I... What?"

Sasuke pointed at the top of Naruto's head, "You have fox ears. They match your tails."

Before anything more was spoken, the human-fox teen had rushed to the shared restroom, not noticing the wires that had ripped out, or the alarm that had gone off. Before Sasuke knew it, several people he had never seen before came rushing into their room. They met Sasuke's eyes before turning to see Naruto's bed empty. The woman in a lab coat spoke to him in a language he couldn't understand. That was unusual. Though there was different dialect, everyone in the Elemental Nations spoke the same language.

Before he could think any more about it, Naruto came rushing out of the bathroom, pushing their visitors aside.

"I have ears!"

The dark-haired teen could only deadpan, "Yea, I noticed."

"What am I suppose to do?! I have tails and ears! Kiba is going to give me so much shit!"

"Naruto." Sasuke said, getting the blondes attention. With that, he pointed behind the whiskered teen.

Naruto turned around to see a woman with peach blonde hair, a head shorter than himself, shouting at him frantically, pointing to him and then the bed.

The blonde just tilted his head, "Sorry, but I don't know what you're saying."

For some reason, the woman's eye twitched as she snapped her fingers. Two men came forward, but only one caught Naruto's attention.

"Is that a needle?"

Ozpin was tired. Going house to house in Vale, giving parents, significant others, and children news of their loved ones, had made him exhausted. That's why, when he walked in to the medical bay of his academy to check on the residence, he was not prepared to see a blonde faunus sticking to the ceiling like glue, glaring hatefully at one of his staff while shouting in that unknown language.

"Well, that's unusual."

"Professor Ozpin!"

The head nurse of Beacon Academy, Patricia Peach, came up to him. Her lavender eyes set in a constant twitch.

"What happened here?"

"I have no idea!" She told him, "We rushed in here to find the faunus out of bed with his wires ripped out. He came out of the bathroom shouting gibberish, and when I told him to get back to bed, he refused. I was going have him sedated, but as you can see..."

She gestured to the ceiling.

Ozpin could only sigh. He didn't want to deal with this, but he probably was the only one that could.

"Tell them to leave."

"Excuse me?"

He wasn't looking at her, "Tell the nurses to leave the room. And you as well."

With a huff, Peach snapped her fingers again, signaling for her lackeys to take their leave.

After the door closed, the blonde faunus dropped to the floor, landing feet first. His glare never leaving the door.

Now was the hard part. How to communicate with two people that couldn't understand the language.

"I may have a solution to that."

"Are you telling me you know the language?"

"It's similar enough to one I do know."

And with that, Ozma took control of their shared body.

In a language he hadn't used in centuries, Ozma introduced himself, "Hello boys. My name is Ozpin."

The blonde looked surprised for a second, before smiling "Hey. Name's Naruto Uzumaki. And the guy over there's Sasuke."

With his left eye covered by his hair, Sasuke's right never left the man before them. .

"Who are you?"

The two standing men looked at the dark-haired teen, but Naruto seemed to be the most confused.

"What are you talking about, Sasuke? He just said his name was Ozpin."

The Uchiha just shook his head, "No. The man that woman talked to was Ozpin. And he couldn't understand a thing you were saying. But suddenly his eyes flash, and he can speak with us?"

Ozma watched the dark-haired teens onyx eye developed a strange crimson pattern. One that brought discomfort to both Ozma, and the observing Ozpin.

"I'll ask again. Who are you?"

The immortal looked towards the blonde, who now also appeared on guard. This wasn't what was suppose to happen. He was suppose to gather information, see if the boys were a threat. Somehow, the tables had turned.

"My name is Ozma." He told them in defeat, "And we have a lot to discuss."

….

"Like what?"

Ozpin turned his eyes to the blonde faunus, who stood with his arms cross and his eyes closed in thought. Did the teen really not think they had anything to talk about. The two of them appeared out of no where, with enough power to level kingdoms, and killed several of Vale's Hunters, and there was nothing to discuss?

Ozma took a deep breath, "Well, for starters. Where are you from?"

"Huh, can't you tell from the hitai-ate?" Naruto asked, pointing to his forehead.

"Naruto, you're not wearing it." Sasuke told him.

The faunus blinked, "I'm not?"

"Are you speaking of that forehead protector?" the man asked?

Naruto nodded his head dumbly.

"I'm afraid that we left it at the sight of the conflict."

Naruto stared at him incredulously, "What do you mean you left it?!"

Ozma shrugged, "There were other matters that concerned us more than an accessory."

"Accessory?! That's a symbol of a shinobi's loyalty to their village!"

Shinobi? That was an odd term. Is that what they were? But ninja were suppose to be stealthy. Assassins and thieves hidden under the cover of darkness. The giants from two nights ago, were anything but.

"What village are we in?" The Uchiha demanded.

He had guessed they were from outside the Kingdoms, but what village would be training ninja? Were they being gathered and trained to over throw those behind the walls. Considering the power of these two, that was a nerve-wracking thought.

"You're not in any of the villages," the immortal told them. "You're in the Kingdom of Vale."

There were two reactions, one he was expecting, the other, not so much. The first surprise. To be fighting outside the walls just to wake inside, that would throw most for a loop. But the next was confusion.

"What's Vale?"

Now that raised even more questions.

"One of the two kingdoms on the continent of Sanus."

That just seemed to confuse the boys more.

"Sanus?" Naruto continued to question, "Aren't we in the Elemental Nations?"

Elemental Nations? In all the many years in this world, Ozma had never once heard of place that went by that name.

His eyes met the blondes, "I'm sorry. I've never heard of the Elemental Nations."

It wasn't just Naruto, Sasuke's eye also widened at that.

It looks like they had more to discuss than any of them thought.

And there's that. Now, to the reviews, going from my first to most recent.

Destructo08: I'm not familiar with FTDS's Sun God, but I did enjoy Deadly Nightshade, so you may be right. I won't go to much in to Sage Mode since it'll be addressed, more than it was in this this chapter, in the next chapter or two. As for Naruto being an amnesiac, that's a definite no. And I'm not sure about how 'dark' it will be. I don't see death as really dark, just more a part of life. Especially with a job in which one's constantly in danger.

Timothy Burr: To think that you see so much potential in this story, with only one chapter, makes me really happy. Thank you so much for your kind words. About rushing near the end, you're right. It was starting to feel more like a recap, and I'm not particularly fond of them. I'm sorry if that was disappointing. I'll keep trying to bring the best I can to this story.

Rikudou Naruto156: You're right. I did downplay it, although, unintentionally. Which is odd when I look back at it. When they first arrived, their power could be felt from Beacon, and I think I lessened it from there. I wouldn't have written it as them blowing the continent to hell, but I definitely learned never to post the first draft. Thank you for your insight. I'll probably still have mistakes, but hopefully I can spot some of the major ones.

Now, if you're review wasn't addressed, it's because it fit in with what I said at the beginning, or it would be spoilers, and I just can't do that. :P

One last thing, I will be posting a new chapter every weekend. Sometime between Friday night – Sunday night.

Until then, bye.