Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or RWBY.
Reading: Veritas Aequitas
VII: Son Goku Finds A Penny
"Wow...that's certainly a lot to take in," Pyrrha said with an owlish blink once Team RWBY finished telling them about Roman Torchwick's secret plot and the reason behind the Breech.
"Yeah it is. But, the bad guy is in jail, so let's relax!" Ruby cheered. She looked at the screen and frowned slightly when the episode title came up. "Aw, man...I missed the music again! I gotta get my scroll out to check the song on Mazash..."
"Shh! It's starting!" Nora hushed the grumbling girl.
"So, it was nice of you to invite us to come with, but...festivals aren't my scene," Kurama said dryly as he and his teammates followed Team RWBY through the city of Vale. He was content to stay at Beacon for their Friday off, but Naruto had, for some reason, immediately accepted the invitation to come along. He was almost eager to do so, when they were asked. Naruto refused to tell his team why that was, and the grin on his face left nothing but the feeling of dread in his team's stomachs.
"Bad omens come from that smile," Weiss said with a nod.
"More like Yang-ing-Ow!" Yang frowned at her partner and the rolled up magazine she wielded. The blonde rubbed her head. "Stop hitting me."
"Stop trying to make puns when they aren't needed." Blake countered firmly.
"Figures that you would say that, Ōtsutsuki," Weiss said with a scoff. She gained a small smile as she walked through the streets. "This is no ordinary festival, though. This is the Vytal Festival! The Festival where Hunters from all over the Four Kingdoms gather together to celebrate different cultures through dances, parades, and a tournament!"
"Sounds like a good time, what do you think?" Yang asked Naruto, who was far too interested in something on his Scroll. She arched a brow when he didn't respond. "Whisker boy, I asked you a question...Hello?"
"Is-is he ignoring me?" Yang asked in shock. She pouted heavily at the screen. "Hey, studly, don't ignore other me! Other me! Show him some cleavage!"
"Someone get me a shock collar for my sister." Ruby pleaded as she hid her face in her hands. Weiss patted her on the shoulder in comfort.
Naruto snickered and rapidly wrote something back with his thumbs. Yang's eye twitched as her normally responsive friend ignored her. She leaned over to get a look at what he was reading, only for Naruto to collapse his Scroll before she could make any words out.
"Sorry, just checking the weather," he said with a smile. "What was your question, Yang?"
"I asked you how big you were when you were all hot and bothered," Yang said with a smirk on her face.
"That'll teach him to ignore us." Yang smirked and folded her arms over her chest.
The rest of the audience was either red in the face or groaned.
The other members of Team RWBY gawked and stuttered at her comment while the other three boys gained amused smirks. Yang ignored them and watched Naruto intently, she wanted to catch him off guard in retribution for ignoring her.
"Eh, bout three-fourths of a ruler, give or take," Naruto said nonchalantly like he was discussing the weather.
"...Okay, I'll admit," Yang began, her cheeks the lightest hue of pink. "I didn't see that coming."
"Bleach! Brain bleach!" Weiss wailed, her face crimson along with Blake, Ruby and Pyrrha.
"So just about Ren's size?" Nora tilted her head. Everyone looked at her, then Ren questioningly.
"It's not like that. We've known each other forever." Ren waved off their thoughts coolly.
Kurama and Sasuke laughed when all of the members of Team RWBY stopped walking and turned bright red. Haku shook his head and smiled at Yang as she gaped at Naruto's response.
"Turnabout is fair play." Blake smirked. She hissed when Yang slapped her upside the head.
"Bad kitty, don't make me get the spray bottle."
"I'm fairly certain that Naruto doesn't know the meaning of the word modesty." He sighed slightly. There were many a time over the past few months where Haku stepped out of the shower to find his half-awake blond friend using the toilet. It wasn't exactly the type of thing one wanted to see after they stepped out of the shower, but as a male, he could understand it. Still, Team NHKS was awaiting the answer to their request for a better lock on their bathroom door.
"Y-Yeah, but he could just be trying to cover for himself when it comes to that topic,"
"There's some truth in that," Jaune said. He shrugged. "I honestly don't care. It's just a part of anatomy."
"A fun part of anatomy," Yang said. She rolled her eyes when the other girls aside from Nora glared at her. "Oh, come on, like you don't care...at least I'm honest with myself!"
Yang quickly said to save face, her cheeks cooled unlike her teammate's. She glared at Kurama and Sasuke when they smirked at her.
"We've known the idiot since childhood," Sasuke said as he nodded towards Naruto, who had started to look at his Scroll again. "And we've roomed together for nearly half a year. Trust us when we say that Naruto's not kidding. Plus, Haku's right. Naruto does not care about modesty."
"Pig." Weiss grumbled under her breath.
"Yeah, I'll take a bowl of chicken ramen, Sasuke." Naruto waved off his teammate as he read through his scroll and snickered again before his thumbs began to blur across the screen. The group of eight were silent for a moment save for the tapping of Naruto's thumbs and his occasional snickers.
"W-Well, yes, but that aside, there was a reason I wanted to come here today. And it was not to discuss Uzumaki's privates." Weiss huffed with red cheeks as she once more started to lead the group down the street.
"I still say we should continue on that topic." Yang protested.
"Silence!" Weiss and Ruby told the blonde.
Yang had to grab Naruto by his hood and pull him along since he was buried in his Scroll. As they walked, Weiss, Blake and Ruby started to lose the blood that had rushed to their cheeks while Yang had a pensive gleam in her eye.
Blake shook her head and then looked at her partner. "You're terrible."
"Terribly awesome you mean." Yang returned with a grin.
"No, you're a fiend."
"Fiendishly sexy, damn right."
Blake gave up and returned her attention to the screen.
"So, what's so special about the Vytal, anyway?" Sasuke asked, tired of the quiet. That and Naruto's snickering was grating on his nerves. He needed a distraction before he instigated a fight just to end the annoyance.
"This festival takes a long time to put together, all of the planning has to be perfect and all the coordination between the many people is astounding." Weiss explained with a smile on her face. She intertwined her hands together and sighed happily. "To be in charge of such an important event...Can you imagine how much work goes into making it a perfect atmosphere for Vale's guests? It's inspiring!"
"Ugh, you're such a workaholic." Yang sent a raspberry of disapproval to Weiss
The heiress sniffed and folded her arms over her chest. "Well, someone has to be."
"Uh, I don't think that is supposed to be inspiring," Kurama said as he pointed at a taped off Dust shop with two men standing outside it. The window was broken and yellow tape formed an X on the interior.
The two teams approached the crime scene and Ruby interrupted the arguing officers with a clearing of her throat.
"What happened here?" She asked.
"Some brat threw a brick through the window, what do you think, kid?" The officer taking notes answered rudely.
"Officer, there's no need for that. We're just concerned citizens," Haku said in Ruby's defense.
"Eh, the pretty one's got a point," the other officer said with a smile.
"…Then what am I?" Ruby's jaw tensed with an irked look on her face. Haku was more pretty then her? It was a blow to her ego, just a tiny bit…still stung.
"Someone broke in and robbed the place."
"Strange thing, too. This is the fourth store hit this week," The irate officer said with a grunt. "And the lien was still in the register, just like the others."
"Man, who would need all that Dust?" the other asked.
"I don't know, White Fang maybe. You know what I do know?"
"We don't get paid enough for this?"
"Well, that and the Chief will have our heads if we don't break one of these robberies before the festival starts."
"Nice to see law enforcement at work," Blake rolled her yellow eyes.
"Well, it gets dangerous. Plus, if it is Torchwick, like we know it is, you can't go at him with regular uniforms." Ruby stated.
Weiss looked proud at her partner for such an astute conclusion.
The two teams took that as their cue to leave while the two officers started to moan and groan about their job.
Weiss scowled and crossed her arms. "White Fang...figures that group of Faunus would be behind this."
"And foot in mouth." Yang supplied while Weiss cleared her throat.
"Yes, well, not my brightest moment."
"Not your dimmest either."
Weiss gave the grinning Yang a pointed glare.
"Hey, watch it, Schnee." Kurama warned with a growl.
"I'm just saying, only that group full of psychopathic criminals would do something so-so thoughtless and horrible," Weiss said.
"The White Fang are not a bunch of psychopaths," Blake said with a frown. "They're a collection of misguided Faunus."
"Um, they're trying to wipe out all of Humanity." Weiss argued with a raised brow.
Blake shifted in her seat a little when Weiss sent her a look.
"Okay, they're really misguided," Blake said as she crossed her arms. "They're not all that bad though and either way, there's no reason for them to steal a bunch of Dust."
"She's not wrong," Sasuke said. "About the White Fang, I mean. A few old members left because of the violent actions that the organization was starting to take. There was a member back in our hometown, he was a nice guy."
"Really? What happened to him?" Weiss asked.
Sasuke scowled and Kurama snarled as they looked away.
"The Fourth War killed him." Naruto answered quietly as he pocketed his Scroll and slipped his hands in his pockets while he lowered his head. "His name was Hiruzen Sarutobi and he was killed in another Fourth War attack six years ago."
"…Whoa, bummer." Nora frowned.
"A bit of an understatement, Nora," Ren said softly.
"Nice to know that both groups have so much in common." Weiss murmured to herself.
"Oh."
The air turned tense as the members of Team RWBY tried to think of something to say while Haku put a hand on his partner's shoulder. Naruto gave his partner a grateful smile before he looked up and beamed.
"Awesome, we're at the docks!" Naruto cheered.
"Yes it – wait, why is that awesome for you?" Weiss asked. The others joined her in staring curiously at the whiskered blond.
"Wait, we saw Son at the docks…" Blake trailed off.
"You don't think?" Weiss asked as she paled.
"It's possible."
"No, no!" Weiss shook her head furiously. "I refuse to believe they know each other! That'd be too much, I mean...what are the odds?"
"Uhh...I don't know?" Naruto offered weakly as he looked around the docks nervously. "I mean, um..."
His pocket buzzed again and Kurama snagged the scroll before Naruto could stop him. Kurama held the item over his head and smirked as the slightly shorter teen tried to take it back.
"I wonder what could be on this that you're trying to keep secret?" Kurama asked as his thumb lingered over the button.
"Dammit, Kurama, give it back! That's an invasion of my privacy!" Naruto hissed as he tried to grab his Scroll. He was stopped from jumping as Yang looped one of her arms through Naruto's to keep him in place while she smirked at Kurama.
"Read it, Foxy," Yang said. She wanted to know what distracted her friend from her amazing puns and jokes.
"They aren't amazing." Blake, Weiss and Ruby drawled.
Yang looked flabbergasted and outraged. "How could my own team say that?"
"Easily." Blake rolled her eyes.
"I've been meaning to say it for a while now." Weiss added.
"Between you and Dad, I don't know whose are worse, but I've had to suffer for ten years." Ruby mumbled.
Yang hung her head and let out a sniffle.
"Oi! Yang!"
"Hm, apparently there's a new message from...Son Goku?" Kurama arched a brow and looked at his team leader.
"...Son Goku...Isn't that an equivalent for Sun Wukong?" Ren asked thoughtfully. Weiss paled while Blake looked smug.
"Told you so."
"Oh, hush you!"
"...He's my pen pal. Now give it!"
Yang pulled Naruto back as he made a leap for his Scroll. "Oh, no. Now I have to know what it says. Kurama?"
"Way ahead of you, Blondie." Kurama smirked as he opened the message. "'Good news, Menma!'"
"And that is another condiment for ramen noodles...like narutomaki...I sense a theme here..." Ren mused.
"Ha! No wonder he's addicted to Ramen," Nora said with a laugh. "If I could eat myself, I would too!"
Ruby didn't understand why Yang, Ren, Blake and Jaune started to snicker or why Pyrrha flushed and Weiss glared at the girl.
"Real original there, Naruto."
"Screw you, Sasuke!"
"'I think we dropped anchor,'" Kurama said as he continued to read the message despite Sasuke's ribbing. "'I'm going to crawl out of my hiding spot and sneak onto the docks. Hope to meet up with you soon, little dude!' Aw, you got a close friend by the sound of it, Naruto."
"Shut up, Kurama!" Naruto hissed with narrowed eyes. He caught his scroll as it was tossed to him and stuck it in his pocket.
"Almost brotherly," Sasuke said with a smirk. "Does Coco have to worry about some mystery guy stealing her cute little brother away?"
"Now there would be some interesting drama." Yang smiled a little.
"I think we've had enough drama for now." Pyrrha sighed out. While normal school drama was interesting, she could go without it.
Naruto looked at him with horror. "You wouldn't dare."
Sasuke flicked his Scroll open and his smirk widened as the team leader paled. "Try me."
"Who's Coco?" Ruby asked Haku under her breath.
"An older student. She's in my History class and part of Velvet's team." Haku explained. "She's taken to Naruto and practically adopted him as her little brother. Her teammates like to treat him as such. She's very similar to Yang sometimes."
Ruby grinned and pointed at Naruto with a smile on her face. "A-ha! Now you know my pain when you and Yang gang up on me!"
"Suffer my pain!" Ruby agreed with her other.
"Is she hot?" Yang's question caught her teammates slightly off guard. She shrugged. "What? You know how hard it is to avoid someone without knowing what they look like?"
"True, but what does her attractiveness have to do with anything?" Pyrrha asked Yang.
"Everything, duh."
"She's got a point," Kurama said with a shrug. He made an iffy gesture with his hand. "Well, I'm not into you apes so the most I can say is-"
He was cut off when shouts came from a nearby docked ship. The eight looked over as a distant figure ran across the deck of the ship and leapt to the docks despite the yell. Naruto's eyes went wide and he broke free from Yang's grip with a wide smile on his face as he ran towards the dock, knocking the two policemen to the ground in the process.
"Sorry!" Haku apologized to the two officers as he, Kurama, Sasuke and Team RWBY chased after the blond. They followed Naruto to the dock, where he stopped and stared at the teen that hung by his tail from a light post.
"You no-good stowaway!" a man on the ship yelled angrily.
"This will be fun," Weiss said dryly.
"Hey, a 'no-good stowaway' would've gotten caught! I'm a great stowaway!" The blond Faunus argued as he flipped up and sat on the light post while he peeled and ate a banana. He paused in his second bite as he caught sight of the group and his eyes widened. The 'stowaway' swallowed his bite before he grinned and jumped from the light post to land in front of the Beacon students.
He had blond hair just as messy as Naruto's own, despite the fact it was a lighter shade. His skin was similarly tanned and they both shared similar blue eyes, though Naruto's were darker. The Faunus was dressed in an open white shirt that revealed his toned physique, red gloves and jeans that were rolled up to his knees while sneakers covered his feet.
The Faunus' tail swung up happily like a monkey's as he looked Naruto over.
"Sun-kissed hair, whiskered cheeks, orange all over, Menma, my bro, is that you?" He asked eagerly.
"Is this a bromance?" Pyrrha asked curiously. She'd never seen one before, so she wasn't sure.
"Oh, I think so." Yang leered at the scene with a grin. The two blond boys together made for a nice view.
"And here comes the best part," Blake said with a small smirk.
"Don't tempt me. I will toss away all your tuna," Weiss hissed.
"Monkey tail, red gloves and a chain on the right side of your pants! Goku!" Naruto greeted happily as he threw his fist forward.
"Menma!" 'Goku' grinned and copied the action.
Their knuckles collided and the two burst into even wider grins.
"Sun Wukong." 'Goku' introduced himself.
"Naruto Uzumaki. I can't believe you actually made it all the way to Vale!" Naruto greeted the Faunus teen happily as they broke off their fist bump.
Sun Wukong slipped his arm over Naruto's shoulders and ran his other hand through his hair. "Hey, man, when you're as slick as me, anything is possible."
"...Oh Oum, there's more than two..." Sasuke mumbled. Kurama actively whimpered and Haku sighed.
Yang, however, looked between the two blond boys with a grin on her face.
"I agree other me, I agree." Yang nodded. Her sister gave her a confused look.
"About what?" Ruby asked innocently.
"Oh, you know...things."
"Sorry, Handsome, but that offer for a threesome with me and Whisker Boy has been redacted." She tapped her chin playfully.
Yang tilted her head. "Oh yeah, forgot about that one."
"How do you forget?" Weiss snapped with pink cheeks.
"Meh, other me has better eye candy with a sense of humor. Pretty boys are nice to look at, but kind of...dull." The blonde grinned. "Whisker boy-"
"Do not start saying that!"
"Is way more interesting." Yang finished despite the interruption.
"Now, how to get them to make me a Yanging sandwich?"
"I think I'm going to hurl." Ruby groaned.
"I'm not far behind." Ruby gagged.
"I was talking about making me food. Man, Rubes, your mind has fallen deep into that gutter, hasn't it?" Yang teased. She grinned widely when Ruby glared at her.
Ruby glared at her sister, who grinned impishly.
"Good on you, Rubes. Thinking like that is fun!"
"Shut up, Yang!"
Weiss and Blake sighed, but both had small smiles on their faces at the sisters' byplay.
"I have got to show you the good stuff! The Ramen shops, the Dust shops, that haven't been robbed anyway, the secret you-know-what stock store," Naruto said as he started to lead the teen past the group.
"All in good time, man, I'm in no rush. I'm just glad to be here, stoked even!" Sun looked over the gathered group and winked at Blake before he returned his attention to Naruto.
"Flirting with you already, how cute." Yang teased her partner.
Blake looked away with pink cheeks and a small smile.
"But maybe some introductions are in order first. Eh?"
Naruto looked from Sun, to his friends, and back. A sheepish grin spread across his face while he scratched the back of his head.
"Right, right, sorry." He apologized. Naruto turned to the two teams and held a hand out to Sun. "Guys, this is my pen-pal and long distant friend since I was ten years old, Son Go-er, Sun Wukong."
Sun waved at the group and patted Naruto's shoulder. "Sorry if this was a surprise for you all, but, uh, I'm technically not supposed to be here yet."
"Hence why Naruto kept it secret," Haku said with a sigh. He gave his partner a bemused smile. "Still, I'm surprised that you haven't mentioned your pen-pal sooner."
"Oh, he's been busy with missions with his team, so we haven't been able to talk since, what, last year?" Naruto asked.
Sun nodded. "That sounds about right."
"Hey you!" The group of teens looked back as the cops started to walk towards them.
"Uh-oh, the fuzz!" Sun looked around nervously.
"Quick, run away like the guilty party!"
Blake glared at Weiss.
"Well, he did stow away illegally." Weiss shrugged.
Naruto pushed Sun in front of him and they fled from the officers. He looked over his shoulder at the others. "Split up and cheese it!"
Team RWBY took his words to heart and split down the other way. Haku stepped into a mirror and vanished. The cops ran past Kurama and Sasuke without acknowledging them. The two partners waited for a moment before they looked at each other.
"...Wanna go hit up the arcade?" Sasuke asked.
Kurama shrugged and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Sure, why not?"
"Isn't that team courtesy? They care, like, so much!" Yang giggled at the scene.
"If you had to deal with Naruto, I guess you'd get used to such things." Pyrrha mused.
"Or at least get him a night in a cell just to humble him." Weiss mumbled. "Or maybe committed to an asylum."
"He's not that crazy." Blake rolled her eyes.
"He acts it, though."
"Wow, they really don't ever look up," Sun said in surprise as he and Naruto relaxed on the ledge of a building. They watched the alleyway they had ducked into as the two officers ran right past the fire escape they climbed.
"Told you so." Naruto grinned and looked up as Haku stepped out of a mirror beside him. "Hey, Haku. Haku, Sun Wukong. Sun, this is my assigned partner Haku Yuki."
Sun tilted his head before he beamed and pointed at the newcomer on the roof. "Ah, yeah! You're the really polite girly boy that can walk through teleporting mirrors."
Ren winced. "That has to hurt his pride."
"Just a bit, yeah." Jaune nodded in agreement.
Haku sighed and nodded with a small smile. "Well, Naruto explained it almost correctly, so I can't fault you. A pleasure to meet you, Sun."
"Man, you really are super polite." Sun blinked with a wry grin on his face. He looked at his fellow blond. "So, how'd you prank him?"
"Eh, let my other teammate who thought he was a girl walk in on him while he was showering."
"Nice!"
Haku sighed into his hand as he palmed his face. What have I walked into?
"Something horrific." Weiss droned, like she was waiting for the world to end.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Stop being over dramatic."
"My drama is on a perfectly normal level, thank you very much!"
Sun hopped to his feet and dusted off his pants.
"Right then, can we go find the cute girls now?" He grinned at Naruto. "I want learn more about the hottie that was ogling us. So, what? You two dating?"
"Nah, Yang and I are just joking around most of the time," Naruto said as he got to his feet and interlaced his hands behind his head.
"Then she's open season?" Sun asked with a grin. Naruto gave Sun a small smile.
Yang rested her hand on her forehead. "Oh to be popular, tis but a curse!"
"One we can only hope leaves you once you get wrinkles." Ruby added. She grinned when Yang glared at her lightly.
"I guess so. But, old friend or not, if you do hook up with her and hurt her down the line..." Naruto reached out and punched a smokestack. A web of cracks spread up the brick before it crumbled into dust. Haku stared at the feat of strength while Sun laughed nervously and his tail ducked between his legs.
"Aww, that's so sweet." Yang sighed dreamily and leaned on the arm of the couch beside her.
Ruby let out a sigh, but remained silent. Yang would do that to a guy if they hurt her anyway. Poor Sun.
"Message received, man. Message received."
"You should've seen what he did to a student that was blackmailing our male friend." Haku smiled lightly at the memory. "The student's weapon was crushed and he was knocked out in a single punch. He's still in the medical ward of Beacon recovering, I think."
"Yikes." Sun blinked and looked back at Naruto. "You are a scary dude, you know that?"
"That's not including the pranks I've done over the years." Naruto added. A Cheshire grin spread across his face. "I've yet to be caught for the real big ones."
"I repeat, you're a scary dude."
"Comeuppance happens to all." Weiss sniffed.
"You really don't like him, do you?"
Weiss glared at her partner. "He wrapped duct tape around my face!"
"I think it was an improvement." Yang grinned when she got a fiercer glare from the heiress.
"No one asked you!"
"Hm, this would be a lot easier if Kurama was with us," Naruto said as he peered down from the rooftop of the building he was on. "This city is almost too big, they could be anywhere by now."
"We could try to contact them with our scrolls," Haku said dryly, only to be ignored. He was seated and using his looking glass to see if he could pinpoint either Team RWBY or Kurama and Sasuke under Naruto's instructions.
Sun rubbed his chin and then snapped his fingers. "Oh, is Kurama the fox-tailed Faunus? The dude in the red?"
"Right." Naruto nodded with a grin.
"He's the one that you pranked with a water gun, a pencil and rubber duckies, right?"
"How could that even be a prank?" Pyrrha asked, confused greatly.
"...The thought alone is terrifying." Jaune mused with wide eyes. "Like Cardin's question...out of context, it's scary..."
"Stop thinking about it!" Weiss barked. She did not want to have another episode where they all had to run for the bathroom.
"Yep! He kicked my ass hard for that one. Heck, I think that's the reason I managed to activate my Semblance for the first time."
"I want to know so badly what you're talking about, but I think for sanity's sake, it's better if I don't ask," Haku said. "They're not on Main Street."
Sun chuckled as he plopped down next to the feminine boy. "You're a lot like my buddy Neptune, you know. The straight man of the group."
Weiss gave a wistful sigh.
"Oh, get over it." Yang rolled her eyes.
"You implying that you're not straight?" Naruto asked out of sheer curiosity.
"Little dude, life is worth living to the fullest," Sun said with a sagely nod. "We only got one shot to do with it what we will, so why not go for what we want? Girls, guys, human or Faunus? I don't care, Sun just wants to bring the fun!"
"Well, that sounds like a party." Yang nudged Blake with her elbow. "Right? Right?"
"Shut up, fiend." Blake shoved her partner and glared at her. It was not as effective due to her red cheeks.
"Wise words, my friend." Naruto nodded. "You only live once. Y-O-L-O."
"Yolo!" Yang cheered and pumped her fists.
"That's Yang to a T alright," Ruby said dryly.
"You know me so well, sis!"
"Yolo?" Sun rubbed his chin again and his lips spread into another smile. "Yolo...I like that. It's got a nice ring to it."
"Yeah, but if it becomes a phrase, people will use it as an excuse to do stupid things," Naruto said as he sat down beside his penpal.
"Isn't that the purpose of it though?" Sun asked him.
Naruto shook his head. "No. I agree that you should live life to the fullest, but you should not risk your life trying to perform stupid acts. Yolo should be, like, a suggestion."
"Ah, you mean like a school's rules?"
"Exactly!"
Haku sighed. "I fear for the future if either of you become teachers or procreate."
"Man, Sasuke and Kurama made you so mean," Naruto said with a pout while Sun laughed at the look on his face.
"Found them." Haku's eyes blinked a few times before he stood up and pointed to the north. "Team RWBY is four blocks that way on Monty Ave."
"They have the best shops." Weiss smiled happily.
"Oh, the little accessory shop is wonderful." Pyrrha added.
"You go to that one?" Weiss asked.
"Of course!"
"We really need to get a shopping day with our teams."
"What a wonderful idea!"
"Then it's settled. After this?"
"Why not?"
Ruby and Jaune looked at each other. What just happened?
"Cool, then let's go! I'm getting sick of sitting around. It's making me all philosophical and stuff," Sun said and shuddered at the thought. He rubbed his chin. "But how to make this interesting? You two up for a race?"
"Sure! Ready-set-go!" Naruto jumped across the street and landed on the other building's roof. He turned and grinned at Sun and Haku while he flashed them the victory sign.
"Hey! You little rat, that's cheating!" Sun scowled before he followed after the shorter blond.
Haku watched the Faunus and his partner start to race across the rooftops and rubbed his forehead with his hand. "How did I not see that coming?"
With a sigh, Haku made a mirror behind himself and stepped into it. He might as well throw both off guard by beating them in the race. They never set any ground rules, so Haku would abuse it and hold the victory over his team leader's head. Forever.
"Wow, Haku can be cruel." Jaune whistled.
"Not cool, man. Not cool." Sun sulked beside Naruto, both of them curled up on the roof of the building and drawing circles with their fingers.
"Haku's so mean...cheating like that." Naruto agreed with a sniffle.
Haku rolled his eyes. "Grow up, Naruto. Neither of you set ground rules, so why wouldn't I abuse my Semblance?"
"Cheater..." the two blonds accused sourly.
"All's fair in a race." Ruby smirked.
"Funny coming from the speed demon." Nora giggled.
"I let the billow of my cape do the talking!"
"I prefer to see it as thinking outside the box," Haku said. He looked down and arched a brow. "It seems that Ruby has made a new friend..."
"New friend?" Naruto asked as he perked up.
"Is she cute?" Sun asked at the same time.
Haku hummed. "Can't really tell from this far up..."
"Then let's go say hello!" Naruto exclaimed before he hopped over the edge of the roof. "Look out below!"
"...He really is the twin brother I never had," Sun said with a chuckle before he did a swan dive. "Banzai!"
"Am I the only sane blond around?" Jaune asked, getting a look from Yang.
"I'm not sane?"
"No." Jaune deadpanned.
"Oh. Well, okay, just making sure."
Haku's eye twitched and pinched the bridge of his nose. "One week he decides to be super smart and tactical, and the next it's like he's a kid on a sugar rush. Fog Academy never prepared you for this kind of teammate. It has to be something in the ramen. It just has to be."
He stepped back into a mirror and walked out to stand next to Weiss, who jumped when she realized he was there.
"Ah! Geez, Haku, you need to say something when you do that!" Weiss glared at the androgynous boy.
"Sorry, Weiss." Haku smiled at the girl. He then looked up as Naruto landed beside him and Sun flipping at the last second to land safely. "What took you two so long?"
"Dude, so not funny." Sun mumbled as he crossed his arms and pouted at the smiling feminine boy.
"It's a little funny." Ren cracked a small smile.
Naruto shook his head before he looked at the other new addition to the small group. She was a girl about Ruby's height, but had a few inches on his fellow team leader. Her hair was curly and chin-length, and – most importantly – an awesome shade of orange. Her eyes were green and freckles were dusted across her nose and cheeks. In her awesome orange hair was a pink bow and around her neck was an oddly futuristic looking black and neon green collar. It was odd because he clashed with the old-fashioned beige clothes that the girl wore. Then again, the collar matched her stockings, so maybe it was fine.
"Hi Penny!" Ruby waved cheerfully.
Naruto wasn't really into fashion, he liked wearing orange, which was noted to be a fashion no-no.
"So, Ruby, who's the new girl?" Naruto asked while he let his hands interlace behind his head.
"Someone Weiss ran into," Ruby said. She ignored the outraged cry that her partner made. "Naruto, this is, uh, Penny."
Naruto grinned at the girl. "Nice to meet ya!"
"Salutations!" Penny greeted back with a smile on her face.
Haku stared at the girl before he leaned over to Sun. "Do you notice anything...off about her?"
"Everyone can see it, why do they ignore it?" Weiss demanded.
"Because we're not rude." Blake returned simply.
"Yeah, I know." Sun nodded in agreement. "That collar looks way out of place. She needs some bling or something, and to show a bit of skin like the Schnee girl or Blondie, there."
Weiss covered her legs while Yang leaned back to show off the gifts of her growth.
Haku clapped his hand to his face while Weiss flushed bright red and glared at the Faunus. Yang grinned at her fellow blond and put a hand on her hip while she flipped her hair.
"Well, you know, if you got it, you gotta flaunt it!" She said.
Sun laughed and gestured to his lack of shirt. "I totally agree! If we're gonna die on a job, might as well do so looking amazing!"
"Or with a smile on your face," Naruto said with a nod.
"...There are three of them..." Ruby mumbled with horror. She swallowed and rubbed her arms. "Dad's not going to believe this..."
"He will cry." Ruby agreed, getting a frown from Yang.
"You are on a mean streak today."
"It's true, though."
"Gotta enjoy what you do." Yang agreed before she frowned at her whiskered friend. "So where did you run off to?"
Sun arched a brow and looked at his laidback companion. "I thought you two weren't dating?"
"We're not," Naruto said as he gave an Faunus boy a confused look. "Didn't I already explain that?"
"Yeah, but she totally just used the 'you're in trouble and you're not getting any until I say so' voice," Sun said. Naruto stared at him for a moment, which made Sun furrow his brow. "You've had a girlfriend before, right?"
Naruto crossed his arms. "Yeah."
"Aw man, I wanted first dibs on that." Yang pouted.
"I don't want to hear this!" Ruby cried out and clapped her hands over her ears.
"Not according to Sasuke and Kurama, you haven't." Haku drawled. Yang snickered and Blake pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You're not allowed to talk, cheater." Naruto glared at his partner, who rolled his eyes in response.
Sun munched on an apple he pulled from...somewhere. "And you have had sex, right?"
"Where did you get that apple?" Weiss asked, but scowled when she was ignored.
"Hammer space." Nora answered with a solid nod.
"The heck is that?" Jaune asked his teammate.
"Just a special little place to keep stuff hidden~"
"Dude," Naruto said, mock offended. "I told you about that time I took that fine woman working at the Kon ramen shop!"
Sun rubbed his chin and took a bite from his apple. He slowly started to nod his head. "Right, right, that girl without the gag reflex."
The more innocent girls (Ruby, Weiss and Pyrrha) tried their best to not listen to the conversation, but failed, miserably.
Yang, however, nodded in understanding. "Well, with something three-fourths of a ruler-"
Blake, her face slightly more red than the others', shoved a pillow into Yang's face.
"Not listening!" Ruby declared as she pulled her hood over her head and covered her ears. Yang arched a brow at Naruto.
"No gag reflex?" She asked. The whiskered blond winked back at her, before he looked back at his Faunus friend.
"Exactly. Thanks for those tips, by the way," Naruto said with a nod.
Sun tossed his finished apple over his shoulder and smirked. "Little dude, it's what I'm here for. To spread my message of fun and free living across the world!"
"No, but seriously, where did you get that apple?" Weiss asked again with a scowl.
"Stole it. So you've had a girlfriend –"
"Debatable."
"Haku, shut up." Naruto glared at his partner.
"You stole it!?" Weiss glared at the blond Faunus.
Sun arched a brow. "Yeah, so what?"
Weiss felt her eye twitch. "You no good rapscallian, I should turn you in to the authorities. Perhaps you have some information about the White Fang!"
"No he doesn't!"
"I get it, Blake." Weiss grumbled out in annoyance. Why was she getting picked on?
"Wow, so quick to jump on that boat, aren't you?" Sun asked, smiling in amusement.
"This is Weiss, she'll jump on anything." Yang joked.
"I would not!" Weiss screamed at the grinning blonde. Her face was nearly as red as her partner's hood.
Speaking of her partner, Ruby glared at her sister. She knew not to rile Weiss up like that! It didn't end well for the team leader!
"And you snuck onto a ship! More evidence of your criminal connections!" Weiss scowled at the Faunus boy. "I'm going to take you into the police to see how far your connections go. I'm certain with enough digging we'll discover something on the evil White Fang-!"
"For the last time, the White Fang aren't evil!" Blake snapped at the Schnee heiress.
"They are crazy, though." Sun crossed his arms and nodded sagely. He arched a brow when Blake glared at him. "What'd I say?"
"Anyway! Yes, I have had a girlfriend." Naruto repeated so that he could get back on topic.
"Because that's the most important thing right now." Jaune rolled his eyes.
"I think so." Yang mumbled.
Sun nodded and looked back at his younger friend. "You've had a girlfriend and you've had sex...but have you had sex with a girlfriend?"
"..."
"Your silence speaks volumes."
"Fuck you, Haku."
"I'd pay to see it!" Yang hooted
"Then go look on your Scroll." Ruby snapped at her sister.
"I already do, though."
Ruby was gaping at the honest confession.
and nudged Blake. "Am I right?"
Blake glared at her. "I am not in the mood."
"Get the catnip." Yang stage whispered to her other. Blake punched Yang's arm.
"Got it."
"I don't understand, why would you pay to see him fuck him?" Penny asked with a confused smile as she pointed from Naruto to Haku. The group, save for Ruby who was still in her own little world thanks to her hands over her ears and her humming, looked at her. "Is it because you are sexually aroused by homosexual intercourse between two attractive males? Why would that arouse you?"
Ruby just broke into giggles at this. Oh Penny…poor, poor innocent Penny.
"...Ri-i-ight..." Sun turned back to Naruto. That was not a question he wanted to touch on, considering the odd way the girl had phrased it. "That tone Blondie there used is usually reserved for a sexually active partner."
Naruto blinked, looked to Yang – who winked at him – and then looked back at Sun. "So...What does that mean?"
Haku dropped his face into his hand and let out a groan. He can construct a sadistic and well-prepared intimidation ambush, psychologically analyze people with a glace, but can't see when he and Yang have chemistry? My partner is so strange...
Yang tossed her arms up in the air. "I know! I've been hinting at it for a while now! Geez!"
"You've been screaming it. Your other has been hinting it," Blake corrected her.
"Same thing."
"...It's not real..."
"Stop crushing my dreams!"
"...Nope, I've interfered far too much already." Sun crossed his arms and began to walk away. He stopped and turned back with a grin on his face. "I'm gonna go check out some of the food around town and see if I can't find a place to stay, meet up tomorrow?"
"Sure!" Naruto nodded with a grin on his face. "I can show you that place for the things-that-shan't-be-named."
Sun grinned and gave Naruto a thumb's up. He then jumped up to the top of a nearby building and ran off, Naruto and Penny waving him off.
"Farewell new acquaintance! I cannot wait until we face one another in the tournament!" Penny smiled as she waved.
Weiss, Blake, Yang, Haku and Naruto turned to face Penny.
It was Weiss who broke the ice. "You're participating in the Vytal Festival Tournament?"
"I think we're doomed." Ruby groaned.
"She's not that powerful." Weiss scoffed in pride. Blake and Ruby heavily disagreed.
Penny turned to her and beamed. "Yes! I'm combat ready!"
"...She's adorable." Naruto beamed as he looked at the girl.
"It's true." Ruby agreed, Penny was very cute…and huggable.
"Indeed. Coco would love her."
Naruto glowered at his partner. "Why must you bring her up?"
"Because she's the only one that can keep you in check aside from this Kakashi fellow I keep hearing about in passing?" Haku returned dryly.
"Psh, Kakashi wishes he could keep me in check!" Naruto scoffed as he crossed his arms.
"...Wait, that degenerate is participating as well? How do you know that?" Weiss asked Penny with narrowed eyes.
Penny smiled at her. "I have read and memorized the list of participants from all schools in the tournament eight thousand, three hundred and twenty seven times. Sun Wukong is a talented fighter from–"
"Mistral." Naruto finished with a grin. He, unlike the others, was not phased by Penny's odd reading habits. "So I can assume you've been watching his videos?"
Penny turned to him and nodded. "I've been analyzing his fighting style, yes."
"Videos?" Yang asked with an arched brow.
"Quick little informational videos on impromptu fighting." Naruto shrugged. "Mostly him beating the tar out of his classmates."
"That sounds like fun…we could totally get paid for beating up our classmates and putting it up on ViewTube!" Yang gasped and then beamed at her brilliance.
"We aren't doing that." Ruby shot the idea down.
"We could use it to start some funding, " Weiss said thoughtfully. Ruby looked betrayed and then thought about it. She did want to get that special polish for Crescent Rose.
"I may have to look at some of these videos..." Yang mused. "Watch those abs move...how did he get those, anyway?"
"He's got a special intense workout he's developed since he was young." Naruto nodded as he lifted his shirt to reveal his defined abdominals, which were similar to Sun's. "I've been using Sun's workout since I was fourteen. It's made me very flexible."
Yang grinned at him. "Really now?"
"Oh, like you wouldn't believe, Yang." Naruto grinned back.
"Flirt later." Weiss cut between the two blonds and she grabbed Penny's shoulders. "Does he have any connections to the White Fang?"
Blake threw her hands in the air. "And you wonder why I snapped?"
"I apologized!" Weiss argued.
"Seeing it again isn't helpful." Blake refuted.
Blake snapped her eyes open and glared at Weiss. "Why are you so insistent on making him out to be a bad guy?"
"Um, because he stole some apples? Snuck onto a ship and who knows what else?" Weiss countered as she turned and looked at the raven-haired girl. "Face the facts, Blake. That Faunus is a criminal!"
"Oi! That's my friend, you're talking about Sneeze," Naruto said with a frown.
"And that makes you an accomplice!" Weiss argued.
"Okay, that was a little overzealous." Pyrrha frowned.
Weiss shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She knew that already.
"So?" Naruto countered with an arched brow. He crossed his arms. "Sun's a good guy. He's my friend. So he steals apples and sneaks on boats, so what? I've done similar stuff."
"That's not a good thing!" Weiss glared at him. She released Penny and turned to fully face Naruto. "You should be ashamed of yourself, abusing your training in such a manner!"
Ruby, hearing her partner's angry voice, dropped her hands from her ears and looked around.
"What'd I miss?" Ruby asked her sister.
"You should really stop censoring yourself, Ruby. You tend to get out of the loop."
Ruby pouted at the teasing of her sister. "It was all your fault anyway!"
Yang, without removing her eyes from the arguing trio, shushed her. "This is getting good, just watch. I'll fill you in later."
"Am I?" Naruto asked with an arched brow. "Huntsmen and Huntresses are occasionally required to do unsavory things to stop criminals, Weiss. Sun may steal, but that doesn't make him just as bad as the members of the White Fang."
"The White Fang aren't bad," Blake said with a scowl as she frowned at Naruto.
"They're not good either." Naruto argued.
"I think he's the most balanced between the two extremes." Pyrrha pointed out to Blake and Weiss.
He frowned at the girl he secretly knew to be a Faunus. "Their actions make them no better than the Fourth War. They want to get equality through fear, but that's not equality, that's just turning the tables. They've become what they hate and they don't even realize it."
Blake frowned at him. "...They're misguided, not evil."
Blake looked uncomfortable at how easily Naruto poked holes in such a heated topic.
"I never said they were evil. I said that Sun was not as bad as the members of the White Fang, who plan attacks that will result in loss of life. Sun's called them crazy, and I don't believe that's right either." Naruto continued. "The members of the White Fang are angry and filled with bloodlust, whether its right or not is up for debate."
"Not all of them are like that. Some just want equality for Faunus, even if they have to act drastically."
"Why are you so adamant about defending them?" Weiss asked with a frown.
"Why are you so intent on making them out to be evil?" Blake shot back.
"Oh just make out already!" Blake and Weiss sent poisonous glares at Yang, who rolled her eyes. "What? It'd get you to stop acting like little kids in the sandbox."
The two girls were so caught up in glaring at Yang that they didn't notice when Pyrrha absentmindedly slapped Jaune upside the head. The blond boy had dazed off into a fantasy after Yang's announcement.
Penny tilted her head. "Are they friends?"
"Yes," Ruby said. She grimaced as the two girls glared at one another. "I think."
"If they are friends, why are they arguing?" Penny asked. "I thought that friends were honest and trusted each other. I would wish for my friends to agree with me, I would not want to argue with them."
"That's called a clique." Yang educated. "They have a hive mind and stick that way well after school."
"Like jocks?" Jaune suggested.
"Yep! Spoiler warning: They ain't getting those glory years back!"
"Friends argue all the time." Haku interjected. He smiled at Penny when she looked at him. "To have a different opinion is to be sentient, and one truth that most, if not all, agree on is that freedom is the right to all sentient beings."
"However, this subject is far more complicated for them." Naruto added. He gestured to Weiss as the two girls resumed their increasingly loud argument. "Weiss' family has not had good relations or interactions with any members of the White Fang, hence her heavy bias. Blake is a strong supporter of Faunus Rights and wants to see a world where humans and Faunus are equal. She also has given the White Fang the benefit of the doubt and hopes they will return to their old ways."
"...How do you know that?" Yang asked.
Naruto shrugged. "We've had some nice conversations when working on projects for Professor Oobleck.
"Now that's got to be a hot debate." Yang grinned. Blake slapped her upside the head while Weiss glared at her.
"Ow! What?!"
"Too soon." The two girls simply answered.
Not going to lie, aside from Prof. O, he's my favorite teach."
"...Isn't he, like, hopped up on coffee twenty-four seven?" Ruby asked.
"Exactly! It's funny!" Naruto beamed.
Penny had an inquisitive frown on her face. "So, they argue over different opinions, but they are still friends?"
"Yes," Haku said. "Weiss and Blake have strong personalities that would keep them apart from each other initially if not for their team placement. However, time and interaction has made them close. This one argument will not separate them-"
"Maybe we were sick of being pushed around!"
"...I think." Haku blinked in surprise at Blake's outburst.
"You know what happens when you assume." Jaune shook his head. "You make an ass out of u and me."
Naruto rolled his eyes and interlaced his hands behind his head. "They'll be fine – Wow, I didn't know Blake had a speed Semblance like you, Ruby."
"She...She's..." Weiss stuttered as she stared in shock at the bow in her hand.
"She was a Faunus?" Yang and Ruby were also surprised by this, apparently, since their words were soft and their eyes were wide.
Penny tilted her head. "You weren't aware?"
"To be fair, humans aren't that smart," Naruto said with a smile. "People see what they want to see. Heck, I wouldn't have known Bell was a Faunus if Kurama hadn't told me when we first met her."
"Thanks?" Blake was unsure how to respond to that one.
"...Did he just call us dumb?!" Weiss asked, outraged.
"Well, it is pretty obvious now that you look back on it," Yang said.
Ruby nodded. "Blake eats a lot of tuna."
"And it all goes to the Bellabooty!"
"Shut up, Yang."
"You knew?!" The three girls on Team RWBY that were still present snapped their gaze to Naruto.
Haku tilted his head. "I figured it out after she had tuna sandwiches three days in a row."
"And Kurama confirmed it when you asked."
"That, too."
"...Why didn't you tell us?!" Weiss demanded as she stormed over to the leader of Team NHKS.
Naruto arched a brow. "Why didn't you tell Ruby that you're the one who ate the last of her chocolate chip cookies and not Yang?"
"That was you!?" "I told you I didn't do it!" The two sisters shouted, one in anger and the other in triumph.
Ruby gasped in horror and sent Weiss a hurt look as she began to tear up.
"I trusted you!"
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Oh come off of it."
"You done goofed." Yang nodded solemnly.
Weiss glared daggers at Naruto. "...You read my d-journal?"
"Yes, I read your diary." Naruto nodded proudly.
"That-that-that hooligan!" Weiss had once more turned the shade of a cherry.
"Silence, Cookie Thief, or it'll be the stockades!"
"We have stockades?" Nora asked her friend softly. Ren shrugged.
He grinned at her. "I'm flattered you think my whisker marks are cute, by the way."
"Aha! No wonder you're so adamant about telling me he's not real! You want him all for yourself!" Yang accused dramatically, a finger being pointed at Weiss.
"Are you kidding me!?" Weiss asked in outrage as she glared back at the girl. "He wrapped duct tape around my face, calls me by a bodily function, and read my diary! Why would I want to be with some-some miscreant like that!?"
"Um, he's a freaking stud? Has a great sense of humor? He has a big accessory for late night fun? Must I go on?"
"No!" Blake and Ruby cut in with frowns on their faces.
Yang huffed and sat down while Weiss looked away, her nose raised.
Ruby and Blake shared a groan. This wasn't going to be fun to deal with.
He shrugged and ignored the frosty glare that Weiss gave him. "But, the reason I and anyone on my team didn't tell you was simply because it wasn't my call. Bell hadn't decided to trust you with that secret yet, and with how you interact with Kurama, could you blame her?"
Weiss pursed her lips but continued to glare at Naruto. She huffed and stormed off, a mildly miffed Ruby behind her.
"Gonna shank you." Ruby whispered menacingly.
"What?" Weiss asked.
"Nothing."
Yang's smile fell slightly and she crossed her arms under her bust. "I can't believe she didn't tell us..."
"We all have our secrets to keep, Yang." Haku mused. Yang nodded sadly and walked off after her other two teammates, giving Naruto and Haku a half-hearted goodbye wave. Haku blinked and looked around curiously as he realized something was off. "Where did Penny go?"
"She ran off after Bell when I started to talk about Sneeze's diary," Naruto said nonchalantly, his hands behind his head as he looked up to the corner of a building and gave a small smirk as a golden tail ducked over the edge. He turned and started to walk towards Main Street. "Come on, Haku, we need to go find Kurama and Sasuke."
"...Did you intentionally let Penny slip away when you made up that story about reading Weiss' diary?" Haku asked as he followed his teammate.
"Story? Please, Haku, I've read all the girls' diaries. Did you know Nora is actually allergic to dogs?"
"Weird...I'm not. I love dogs!" Nora countered with a frown. "Poor other can never get that puppy dog love..."
"I hope Zwei doesn't cause her to have a reaction," Weiss said softly.
"Please, Zwei's a hippopotamus dog." Ruby waved off the concern.
"...A what?" Weiss and Blake asked.
"She means hypoallergenic," Yang said.
"Ohh..."
"...Naruto, why did you read their diaries?"
"Meh, for the hell of it."
"...Kurama wanted dirt, didn't he?" Haku drawled. Their Faunus friend was a huge gossip and loved to broker information. He truly took to the fox heritage of a cruel trickster well.
"Those are your words, not mine. Now, c'mon, let's go find the two jackasses. Knowing them, they're probably at an arcade or something."
"So, that was interesting." Jaune supplied.
Ruby sent a glare at Weiss, surprising the girl.
"Seriously?" Weiss asked. She started to get unnerved when Ruby continued to glare at her. "I'll make you a new batch, I swear!"
"They better be double, no! Triple! Triple chocolate chip!"
"I promise!" Weiss cowered at the fearful Ruby. She really liked her cookies, huh?
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