NA: Da na na na na na na na na NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I have absolutely no idea what I did there… but it felt awesome, just like Overwatch! Now let's continue the awesomeness of awesome!
~oOo~
Though he had put his past behind him, the past would always attempt to crawl its way back out of the dark and haunt him. It is a cycle that he has yet to break and simply composed himself, using his anger to empower him and the demonic chakra that resides within him. It was why he was no longer the same person he was long ago. Though he dreamt good dreams, he would occasionally get those nightmares. He would wake up not with a cold sweat, but with cold lifeless eyes that he would gaze upon when he walks up to the mirror. He would then keep telling himself that Uzumaki 'Dead-Last' Naruto is dead, and that Shimada-Uzumaki Naruto has taken his place.
"DEMON!"
The memory in his head would replay over and over again. His dream was once again about the villagers silently spouting curses at him.
"Why can't that thing just go and die?"
Once again he would hear those hurtful words. But none of that hurt more than that one night when angry drunkards broke into his house, armed with bats and planks of wood.
Flashback
Thirteen Years ago
Naruto tried to hide under his bed but the men grabbed his foot and forcefully pulled him out, flinging him towards the wall. He gasped in shock at the sudden sharp pain on his back before falling towards the floor, surrounded by the men with the smell of alcohol in their breaths. Some of them were chunin shinobi while others were just mere civilians who had lost so much when the Kyuubi nearly razed their village.
"Tonight the demon will get what he deserves!" One of the drunkards roared as he raised his bat and aimed it at the blond.
"You will pay for killing my daughter!"
All Naruto could do was curl up in a ball and tear up as the men brought their wrath down upon him. The sound of wooden bats slamming onto flesh and the angry cries of drunkards was all that was heard. One chunin shoved the men beside him away as he drew a ninjato and started slashing him with dozens of cuts, some deeper than others. How was the boy alive after this ordeal? Nobody knew…
Once it was all over and the assailants arrested, Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to cradle the child but all he did was angrily push him away.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" The blood-stained child angrily exclaimed with hate and malice in his eyes. "WHY CAN'T YOU PEOPLE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE!?"
Why? That was a very good question.
No one even bothered taking the boy to the hospital as he just hid himself beneath the now bloody covers of his tattered bed, crying and cursing himself as to why deserved to live such a pathetic life.
End Flashback
He would stand in the middle of the bathroom, gazing at the reflection in the mirror. All he saw was a shirtless young man with a tattooed left arm and scars that roamed all over his upper body. He gazed at it with lifeless violet eyes. A jinchuruki would normally heal up every wound in his body… but not when the men that hurt him poured salt over EVERY wound on his body. And thus he got all the scars, some of them dark due to the infections and the poor care that some doctors would give him. It hurts… every single scar on his body hurts… it didn't matter how small or how large it was, every single one hurts. Looking back at the mirror once more, he closed his eyes and sighed.
Yes… Uzumaki Naruto is dead. He has been a dead for a very long time…
Overwatch: Heart of the Shinobi
Chapter 8: To Be Whole
Roman didn't know what hit him as his mech was now severely damaged. He glared at the three figures before him while his Paladin struggled to stay upright despite the severe damages it has received. But he could not help but glare hatefully at the one source of all his problems. Shimada-Uzumaki Naruto had somehow awakened his semblance as there were now a myriad of red transparent light-based swords circling around him like a shield. Naruto had decided to call it the Sword Dancer as the swords were literally dancing around him. But that was not even the end of it as each sword was controlled by his mind… and right now his mind wants the swords pointed right at Torchwick.
"Woah…" Ruby whispered at the sight of the red swords around Naruto. "That is a really cool Semblance."
"Sword Dancer." Weiss and Blake whispered in unison. Naruto truly is a monster in the battlefield, a one-man army. And by the look on Naruto's face they could tell that deep down he enjoyed his battles.
Sasuke on the other hand was able to manipulate the Amaterasu thanks to the awakening of his Semblance. He was now able to use the black fire without the risk of further harming his eyes and going blind. That was the risk of using the true power of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, there was always a downside to using such power. His fire on the other hand brought fear into the hearts of team RWBY, it was fire and it was hot, but it also felt dark and sinister… like the creatures of grimm. The black fire of Amaterasu was now flowing around the Kusanagi, using it as a conductor to create his very own flaming sword. It was there that he used the flames to destroy any bullet from the Paladin's guns that came right at him.
Genji on the other hand, watched with pride as these two young men, the future of Japan's shinobi, battled. His aid was not needed as Naruto and Sasuke were more than enough to defeat a weak opponent who only relied on borrowed strength.
"ARGH!" Roman roared as he pulled the triggers and fired a volley of missiles from the mech's back mounted launchers. But none of them even reached their target as they were shot down by Naruto's summoned swords. "Why won't you die!?"
"That Lieutenant back in the warehouse asked me the same question." Naruto said in a relaxed tone. "He talked too much though… so I shut him up."
Blake shivered at his words. It certainly didn't make her feel better when she immediately heard news of more than a hundred dead bodies of White Fang were found in a wrecked warehouse with only one survivor being found by the police. But when they got to her she was already a hysteric mess. All this bloodshed and the only ones suffering was the organization she used to be a part of since she could remember. These two were extremely powerful and were not afraid to do what is necessary. These two were frightening, but what scared her the most was that they were still, but slowly, growing in power.
"Aww, I didn't get to do much today."
The girls and Genji turned to see Tracer flashing in with a pout.
"So how are the new guys doing, luv?"
Genji smiled behind his mask and turned to his nephew and Sasuke. "See for yourself."
Tracer whistled. "Those two are makin' short work of 'em."
"Indeed."
Naruto went ahead and sliced off the Paladin's left arm, causing it to jump back and get some distance from him. But that didn't work as Roman had forgotten about the other. Sasuke dashed forward and arched his sword from the right, bringing it down to slice the Paladin's other arm while continuously melting its alloy off with the black flames of Amaterasu. All Roman could see inside the cockpit was red lights as his unit's armor was compromised beyond repair. Not only the flames were destroying it but so were Naruto's summoned swords.
"Sasuke…"
The Uchiha nodded as he jumped back a few meters, completely aware as to what he was going to do.
"He's going to do it."
The girls turned to Genji. "Do what?"
"He is going to use a sacred technique that only a Shimada can use. It is a sacred technique that has kept our clan strong for nearly a millennium."
Naruto sheathed his sword and positioned the scabbard right in front of his head in a samurai stance. This technique was based on how a Shimada scion can summon the dragon spirit to fight for him, it was a sacred technique that has kept the Shimada clan strong for hundreds of years. Even when they were on the brink of extermination due to their own corruption, it kept them alive. This technique will be the very strongpoint once Naruto starts a family of his own as it would mean he would be passing this down. It was no dragon that he would be summoning… no…
"Shimada clan tattoos are not just for show." Genji told the girls.
"KITSUNE NO KEN NO KURAU!" Naruto roared as he drew the blade with a massive red nine-tailed fox spirit coming out of his left arm. The fox in question went straight towards the Atlesean Paladin.
Roman could only scream as the giant orange nine-tailed fox devoured the mech. All he felt next was am intense burning sensation in his legs and feet as the skin and toenails were immediately melted off, leaving only the muscle tissue. As Naruto sheathed his blade with it clicking back into the scabbard the Paladin shattered and exploded. Roman was thrown off of the cockpit and right onto the ground, hysterically screaming in pain.
"Oh dear Oum…" Yang whispered in horror as Ruby averted her eyes at the disgusting sight.
Weiss had to stifle a gag at the sight of burnt muscle tissue on Roman's legs. It was just something that she could have never seen. That attack had gone right through the man's aura like it was never even there. "How in the…"
"The demon fox's energy is corrosive." Sasuke explained as he walked up to them like it didn't even bother him. "It'll burn through anything… and I mean anything. Naruto was actually being generous tonight by not incinerating that bastard's legs."
"To call upon the demon spirit is no easy feat." Genji explained in an instructing tone. "One must have a good relationship with the demon in order to draw upon its power."
The fox within Naruto's mind cackled in glee. 'You are by far my most favorite container! You really are sadistic to just simply burn off this pathetic ningen's skin. Even if he does have legs he won't ever be able to walk. I would tell you to kill him now but hearing his cries of pain is music to my ears…'
Naruto mentally smirked. 'Well I am glad to have pleased you so much, oh great and mighty Kurama.'
The fox simply responded to the young man's words with his own friendly laugh that people would normally take for an evil one. Then again Kurama is one who enjoys seeing unfortunate people suffer.
Roman tried to crawl away but the feeling of his burnt legs being dragged on the hard ground was far too pain for him. He looked at the redhead with fear in his eyes and saw him take a step forward. "STAY BACK!" He grabbed his cane and fired a shot but that was easily deflected as Naruto sent the explosive shot into the air before detonating. "I SAID STAY-!" His cane was sliced in half, preventing him from firing off another shot. For the first time in so long, he had never felt so much fear in his life. Not even his employer could give him this much fear. This guy… Naruto… there was no way he could possibly be human or faunus… "W-What are you?"
"One who works in the shadows to serve the light." Naruto stated in a blunt tone as he pointed his sword at the man's throat. "We are shinobi, and YOU, Roman Torchwick… you will no longer jeopardize the lives of innocents. Tell me who you are working for and I will make your death quick and painless."
"G-Go to hell!" Roman spat as he tried to crawl away. "I'll never talk!"
Naruto turned to his uncle who simply nodded to him, conveying what he wants to tell him by a simple action. Turning back to the orange-haired criminal, he let out a sigh as he raised his sword. "Then may your soul embrace whatever hell your people believe in."
As the blade was about to make contact with Roman's neck and behead him, a voice was heard from a distance.
"STOP!" Glynda Goodwitch's voice boomed in as she disembarked a Bullhead and stopped Naruto from beheading the criminal while two officers went and took Torchwick into the aircraft. "Put away that sword, now!"
Genji turned to his nephew and nodded to him. "Do as she says, nephew."
Naruto complied and sheathed his sword before walking back to his uncle's side.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Glynda said as she walked up to Genji while obviously ignoring team RWBY. "Who gave you permission to do this?"
"We have simply followed our commander's orders." Genji calmly replied. "We are Overwatch, and your world's governments have recognized us as an independent peacekeeping force. If you wish to discuss more, I am the wrong person for you to be talking to."
"Yup!" Tracer chirped. "The one you should be talking to is Winston. We were just following his orders."
Glynda let out a frustrated sigh as she knew they were right. "Very well. Please follow me so that we can ALL return to the academy."
Glynda though could not keep her eye from twitching as the four Overwatch agents were completely calm about this whole situation. She could not give Sasuke and Naruto punishments as they were simply following orders, and team RWBY will no doubt be getting off easy by Ozpin as they have most likely discovered something important. Technically they didn't endanger themselves as the agents were there to protect them. But what frustrated her was Naruto's chanting as he relaxed into his seat.
"A blade is a swordsman's soul, it is frail, it moves with his every breath. Feel the fiber of your sword and its steel. The steel of a blade is a swordsman's soul, its strength rests with his every breath. To use a blade means to cut through, thus a swordsman must understand…" He opened his eyes. "…death."
Ruby gulped as her body was shivering at the sight of Naruto's cold and lifeless eyes. "W-What was that…?"
"It is the teachings my father has passed on to me. It means that my sword is not merely just a weapon… it is an extension of my arm… it is a part of me. There is an old saying that my father told me. 'One sword keeps another in the sheath. Sometimes the threat of violence alone is a deterrent. Sometimes by taking a life, others can be preserved.' It's a code many swordsmen live by; a code that my uncle and I live by."
"It's kind of dark and poetic at the same time." Blake stated. "But I can't fault its logic. It's a really noble warrior's code. But was killing all those White Fang necessary?"
"We gave them a chance to lay down their arms and walk away." Genji told her. "Some did leave but others stayed, you saw this."
The cat faunus nodded and remembered. "I just wish there was another way."
"We all do." Naruto muttered. "But some things are just out of our control."
"You know this is just going to paint bigger targets on our backs, right?" Sasuke said. "This Adam guy will be gunning for us one of these days. And from hearing that Lieutenant's rant he already wants Naruto's head."
"People want me dead." Naruto said in a bland tone. "What else is new? People want me dead and yet they send in fodder to do the job… cowards, every single one of them."
"There was one girl with Torchwick earlier." Sasuke said in remembrance at the memory of the pink and brown-haired girl back in the warehouse. "Where did she go?"
"We haven't seen the last of her."
Down on the ground as the Bullhead lifted off, a figure with pink and brown hair looked at the aircraft with narrowed eyes. This was not over, not by a longshot.
~oOo~
Beacon Academy
In the academy's medical ward, Roman Torchwick was letting out painful whimpers as the memory of his ordeal was still fresh in his mind. He would be forever changed after this, and while he will be sent to a maximum security prison he will be under constant medical watch. What was done to him was something no huntsman would wish upon anyone, not even their enemies. But what was done was done and that was the end of it.
"He will not talk." Naruto told them as he stood with his uncle and Winston. The rest like Sasuke had gone to the dorms, no doubt spending some 'nice' time with a certain cat. "Criminal scum like him won't be convinced by just using words. He needs to be persuaded."
"And yet you were about to kill him." Glynda retorted in an accusatory tone.
"But I do commend you for what you did." General Ironwood spoke up. "As to how they got their hands on prototype Atlesean weaponry, we are still in the process of investigating. And I would also like to apologize on behalf of two soldiers of mine for that little scuffle earlier."
"It is of no consequence." Naruto replied and bowed to the general. "Your men were simply doing their job."
"And you were doing yours, and for that I must apologize. Penny can be… a little curious."
"She is simply finding her path in life, General. Master Zenyatta is merely helping her find that."
James nodded before turning to Ozpin. "And that's that, a few less White Fang to worry about."
"But I fear we have only provoked them even more." The headmaster stated.
"On that I do not disagree." Winston said. "But we couldn't exactly let them get more recruits and jeopardize more innocent lives. While being tactful is good, we can't exactly just ignore what is happening right in front of us. The White Fang are planning something and from what Naruto and Sasuke found, they are doing something in the south-east. Overwatch is a peacekeeping force, and your world's governments have recognized our status as such. We want to ensure the safety of every innocent lives, be it they be human, faunus, or omnic. But we are also willing to cooperate with the local military."
James smiled at the gorilla. "And I thank you for that."
"We have painted a large target on our backs." Genji said. "And I have no doubt in my mind that the White Fang will try to eliminate us should they get a chance."
"I have several summon foxes around the city on routine scouting." Naruto informed. "I get on the clock reports from them. The Vytal Festival is close, and this means that security need to be on higher alert."
The Atlesean General nodded in agreement. "This is why I brought a fleet."
"That kind of obvious military presence can have both positive and negative effects." Winston said as he adjusted his glasses. "While people will feel safe, the same cannot be said with the faunus living in the city. Atlas after all isn't so welcoming to their kind."
"I have no arguments there." The General stated with brows furrowed. "My people haven't exactly been the kindest to them due to so much suspicion and paranoia. Atlas is the country affected by the White Fang the most, and I can't just placate the people's anger so easily."
"We need to find a way to unite the people."
"Let's hope that this year's Vytal Festival can do just that." Turning to the door, a Japanese man came in. "Ah, you must be the ambassador from Japan, welcome to Remnant."
The man bowed. "Thank you for having me."
~oOo~
"Do you realize how worried I was!?" Hana roared as she grabbed Naruto's collar. "When I heard about the warehouse… I…" She could not finish as she had broken down and cried on his chest. "Idiot…"
"I'm sorry."
"You're damn right you should be!"
All Naruto could do at this point was hug her. They were best friends but having been acting more like a couple with all of the more affectionate actions that couples do. They cared about each other and dreaded the thought of something bad happening to either one. Tracer has been biting her fist since then and just wanted to see them officially get together and make out. Yes Tracer was that much of a closet pervert. Blake and Yang weren't fairing any better either as they were on the brink of banging her heads onto a wall… the massive fluff in this romance was killing them. Naruto just smiled and rubbed her back while resting his chin on her beautiful silky brown hair.
"Next time you're taking me with you."
The redhead chuckled and hugged her a little tighter. "Deal."
"Hnnnnnng." Tracer continued to bite her fist as she spied on them with a pair of binoculars from a distance. "So cute…"
"Tracer!" Mercy scolded the former test pilot. "Leave them alone!"
"I can't help it!" Tracer exclaimed. "Those two are so cute, like you and Genji but only fluffier. Seriously, when's the wedding?"
"Argh!" Mercy threw her hand in the air before walking away with a flustered face. She just can't seem to ever win this one. Now that it was out that she and Genji were officially together, the constant teasing of them getting married just would not stop. It didn't help that McCree joined in on the teasing, telling them that it was 'about time'.
Just then, a kunai embedded itself on the wall right next to Tracer. Attached to it was a note.
Tracer, stop spying on us.
"How did he know?"
And then another kunai with a letter came in. I just do… now stop.
Putting the letter down, her eyes now bore an expression of confusion and… "That's really creepy."
Another kunai went in. No… you're the one who's being creepy.
"Well then…"
~oOo~
Unknown Location
"A warehouse that served as a White Fang meeting place was crashed when they were suddenly attacked by unknown assailants. People at first speculated that they were attacked by the infamous Storm Shadow, but evidence is inconclusive as investigators have found that there was more than one attacker. Unfortunately there was no security footage but it does seem that Storm Shadow is not responsible for this. Then again the White Fang has attracted numerous enemies from all over Remnant. So the question is… will there be open war with the White Fang? In other news, the criminal Roman Torchwick was subdued and arrested by three Overwatch agents and is currently in an undisclosed location. Citizens of Vale can now rest easy knowing that the Dust thief and arms dealer is now behind bars. This is Lisa Lavender of Vale News."
Adam Taurus threw a chair at a wall. Twice his men were killed. "STORM SHADOW!" He roared in utter anger that a human had butchered more than a hundred men, one of them being his right-hand man the Lieutenant. "I WILL GET YOU FOR THIS, STORM SHADOW! I WILL RIP OUT YOUR HEAD AND SERVE IT TO THE GRIMM!"
Letting his anger subside, he took a deep breath and straightened his hair. He needed to remain calm if he is to handle this properly. He needed a way to get rid of him so that he won't be a problem. It seems that he has to speak with his business 'acquaintance' again.
~oOo~
1 Week Later
Team RWBY had been assigned as planners for the upcoming school dance, but that also meant everyone was trying to find a date. And that meant Pyrrha trying to find a way to get Jaune to go with her. But not only that, team RWBY was having the dilemma of Blake getting restless and doing everything she can to try and stop the White Fang with what they are planning. She was being more Blake-y than usual. Let's not forget the other problem Pyrrha has been trying to solve.
"Onii-sama…" Pyrrha stood in front of her older brother. "You haven't spoken to mom in more than three months. What's going on?"
"I just got a lot on my mind, okay? I have a lot of work now that I'm in Overwatch."
"We're worried, big brother, and it's hurting mom."
Naruto sighed as he leaned over the rail and looked out to see the beautiful city. "I call her mom… but…"
"You just can't see her as a mother." Pyrrha now understood as he nodded. "You call her mom not because you wanted to see if it would make you feel better. But after all these years of being motherless you…"
"I just see her as any other person." Naruto whispered. "I've wanted a mother for so long but when I got that wish it's not what I expected. I want to see her as my mother… but I just can't. So calling her mom is just a consolation, nothing more. For so long I told myself that I needed a mother, but in the end I realized that I no longer needed one. I got this far without one after all."
"Big brother…"
"You're still my little sister, nothing will change that. I just… I just need more time about mom, okay?"
The younger redhead nodded in understanding as she could see the turmoil in his heart. He was right though, it's hard to see their mother as a mother as he had survived this long without one. He never had the chance to be babied or even smothered by motherly love. He wanted that more than ever but had forgotten all about it as the years went on by. He was so used to believing that his mother was dead that all he wanted to do now was honor her.
Naruto was young, but circumstances forced him to mature beyond his years. He didn't know how to act like a child or have occasional tantrums. He had taught himself to steel his nerves and hide behind a mask of stupidity, using that mask to become an attention-seeker. Though he had put his past behind him, the pain inflicted upon him still lingered. And in a way he had yet to find that one missing piece of the puzzle. The piece that will finally make him whole.
"Pyrrha…?"
"Yes?"
"Be direct."
"What?"
"With Jaune I mean." Naruto said in a gruff tone. "Be direct with the idiot. No subtle hints Be selfish for once. Don't lose this chance, baby sis, you probably won't get another like this."
"I…" She bit her lip and lowered her head for a moment before looking back up again, giving her older brother a smile and nod. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, baby girl." He then turned around and went back inside, but not before saying one more thing before disappearing. "Go and take that happiness."
Pyrrha stood there with a small smile on her face. She was definitely going to do this. She was finally going to tell him. She is going to take what is hers.
"Hey."
The redhead turned around to see a certain young woman of nineteen with long beautiful brown hair. "Oh, hey Hana."
"What are you going out here?"
"Just thinking…"
"About what?"
"Finally telling Jaune."
Hana let out a low squeal. "Oh yes, finally!"
Pyrrha laughed and looked at her friend. "And what about you? I mean everyone knows you have the hots for my brother."
The MEKA pilot immediately blushed at the shield-maiden's words. "I… was I that obvious?"
"You both were."
"Ehehehe…" Hana then twirled a lock of her hair and looked distant. "I really do like him. I've never felt like this before? I mean… video games and piloting mechs are my life until he came into the picture." Walking up to the rail, she placed a hand on it while watching the sky. "I think he's the one."
Pyrrha smiled as she placed a hand on Hana's. "Take care of him, Hana. I don't want to see him hurting, he's already been through far too much."
"And yet he's willing to through more." Hana whispered. "In the months that I've known him, I already found out a lot about him. He's an ordinary person living an extraordinary life."
Pyrrha nodded. "He wears his scars like badges of honor. But you and I both know that he won't be able to hold it in alone. He may not look like it but he prefers doing things on his own."
The MEKA pilot nodded in agreement. "We can't let him shoulder it all by himself. I want to help him… heal him… I want him. So yes, I promise will take care of him. He means so much to me now."
It was clear that this dance will be the turning point of the lives of these two young women. They are now determined to be with the men they had fallen for. It was at this moment that they knew that they loved them. Smiling at each other, they turned around and went back inside.
~oOo~
Team RWBY was planning the party as Yang placed a few speakers down onto the floor. Her sister though lay her head on the table, her face downcast and sporting a worried look. "So…" Placed her hands on her hips and turned to her younger sister. "Have you picked out a dress yet?"
"What's the point?" Ruby replied in a dull tone. "Who cares about the dance if Blake isn't going?"
"I believe she will be going." A voice came in and the three turned to see Sasuke entering the room. "I like what you've done with the place."
"Yeah this party is going to be rad." Sun said as he walked in with Neptune.
"Weiss!" Yang glared at the Schnee heiress. "I thought we agreed? No doilies!"
"If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines!" Turning around, she gave Sun's blue-haired friend a bright smile. "Neptune!"
"Your dance is going to have fog machines?"
"We were thinking about it."
"You ladies excited for dress up?" Sun playfully asked with a grin.
Ruby snorted and rolled her eyes. "Yeah right."
"Laugh all you want." Yang grinned and folded her arms while sporting a grin of her own. "I'll be turning heads tonight."
"What are you two wearing?" Weiss asked them.
"Ugh…" Sun gave Weiss a certain look while pointing to his current outfit that exposed his impressive abdomen. "This?"
"Ignore him." Neptune stepped forward. "He knows not what he says."
"Hey!" Sun butted in. "I may have moved to mistral, but I grew up in Vacuo. And Vacuo is not exactly a shirt and tie kind of place."
Sasuke gave the blond a deadpanned look that was shared by the girls. "Yeah, we've noticed."
"Is Blake still being herself?" Sasuke asked.
Ruby nodded. "I still can't find a way to change her mind."
The last Uchiha cupped his chin before nodding and heading back the way he came from. "Don't worry, I got this. She'll come to the dance, so don't stop the preparations."
~oOo~
Blake was outside by the cliffs near the Emerald Forest. She sat on a rock and faced the area where the devastation of a quarter of the forest lost was still there. It was now a barren wasteland. There was absolutely no life, not even the grimm would dare come near it. It was a barren and sad wasteland. Hearing footsteps behind her, she let out a sigh. "Yang if you're going to tell me to stop- Sasuke?"
"Hey."
"What are you-?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"Did my team put you up to this?"
He shook his head. "No… I came here on my own and left your team to prepare for the dance."
"Sasuke-"
"Sit."
Blake could not even defy his order as she sat down and stared at him. The raven-haired Uchiha let out a sigh as he sat down beside her and looked at the destroyed quarter of the forest.
"Believe me, I know exactly what you're going through. I went through the same thing."
"Are you talking about your family?"
"More than that." The last Uchiha held the Kusanagi and ran a thumb over his family crest. "I come from a clan that has been around for a very long time. We were around during the warring era right up to the founding of Konoha and so forth. We were a powerful family with a powerful bloodline ability known as the Sharingan, or the Mirror Wheel Eye. It granted us the ability of insight, seeing the energies of one person and even able to mimic their movements, from writing to fighting, we did it all. But the eye also gave us the ability to not only hypnotize people but to torture them on a mental level. But it also could evolve, right to where you saw my eyes shape into a red flower with prongs in the center. That was when it granted me the power of casting black flames that cannot be extinguished unless I willed it."
Blake nodded as she remembered what Sasuke did with those black flames on Roman's Paladin. It was a frightening power and something that could very well overpower anyone. "But what does this have to do with me wanting to stop the White Fang? Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want you to know the pain I went through." Sasuke whispered in a tone that gave her shivers. "When I was seven I watched my entire clan, hundreds of my relatives, my mother and father, die before my eyes."
"I already know this." Blake reminded him. "We heard your conversation through the broadcasts when you and Naruto fought."
"But you didn't know who killed my clan." Sasuke gave the feline faunus a despairing look. "Killed by the one man that I had looked up to for so long. Killed by own older brother, Uchiha Itachi."
Blake's eyes widened in horror when she heard his words. "W-What? But… but w-why? Why would you own brother…?"
"When I asked him, he told me that he wanted to test his own power." He replied as he held his sword. "He told me that if I wanted to avenge my clan then I must gain power no matter the cost. Because of that night I became obsessed with revenge. I didn't care about the people who tried to be friends with me. I studied and studied and studied, every jutsu I got my hands on I got it, every skill I could learn I learned. To me nothing else mattered. I let my hate for my own brother consume me. That was when I began to detest everything. I let it consume me so much that…" Sasuke then gritted his teeth. "I killed my best friend."
"But Naruto-"
"Is no longer the Naruto I know." Sasuke cut her off. "He is not that same obnoxious, loud-mouthed, impulsive, and idiotic boy I once knew. On the day I stabbed him in the heart I killed him. It's like what Naruto said, he was reborn into a new person. He may be Naruto but he is not the Naruto I know. The Naruto I knew would never kill without hesitation. No… I killed Uzumaki Naruto on that day."
Blake scooted a little closer. Although her eyes were baggy, she stared at him as she wanted to hear everything
"But that wasn't the end of it." The shinobi said. "A few years later I finally found Itachi… and I fought him."
"No!" Blake stood up and violently shook her head as she didn't want to believe it. "You didn't! WHY!?"
"Like I said." Sasuke whispered. "I became so obsessed with vengeance that I lost sight of everything else that truly mattered to me. But what I didn't know was that Itachi-nii had contracted a terminal illness. He kept himself alive all that time with medicine and sheer willpower… so that he could die by my hands." He looked at the faunus as tears started running down his face. "He had wanted to die for so long, and he forced that burden on me. So yes… I killed my best friend and older brother because I let my obsession control me. And you know what's worse? In order for the Sharingan to become more powerful and evolve into Mangekyou Sharingan, it is awakened by the trauma suffered from witnessing the death of someone close to the user, and that 'someone close' was Uzumaki Naruto."
"Sasuke…"
"Now you know what I went through." Sasuke then stood up and faced the cat faunus. "Don't be controlled by this obsession, Blake. I know it is important to stop them but you can't do it alone. If you let it control you the only one who will be hurt is you." He stepped forward and cupped her cheek. "Please don't push me away… you have no idea how much I need you."
The dam finally broke as Blake went forward and threw herself onto him, crying on his chest and letting him hug her. "Oh Sasuke, I'm so sorry…!"
It was at that moment that Sasuke realized that he finally allowed himself to love again.
~oOo~
Out in the port of Vale and stepping out of a ship that had just arrived was a man with pale blue skin and features of a shark. He wore a sleeveless battle dress and pants along with standard shinobi sandals. On his forehead was the Mist forehead protector but with a slash across the emblem, telling him that he is a missing-nin. But what was truly noticeable about him was the massive sentient sword wrapped in what appeared to be bandages slung on his back.
"So this is what's outside the hidden lands." The man said with a little grin, revealing shark teeth. "Say Samehada, now that we're out of that piss ass organization we're going to have lots of fun."
The sentient sword slung on his back simply wriggled in agreement and excitement.
~oOo~
Sitting on the edge of the dormitory's balcony, Naruto felt Hana's presence as she walked up to him and leaned forward, resting her elbow on the railing. "Hey."
"Hey."
"So tomorrow is the dance."
He nodded. "Yep."
"Do you have someone to go to the dance with?"
"As a matter of fact I do."
D-Va turned to the redhead with wide eyes. "Eh?"
"I do."
The MEKA pilot started quivering at the thought of Naruto going to the dance with someone else. She didn't want that. "W-Who is it?"
"Oh you know her quite well." Naruto said with a grin. "She's spunky, obnoxious at times, but she is full of fire and absolutely beautiful."
She turned around and silently wiped the tears away. It was probably Yang, she is quite the head turner after all. "I-Is t-that right?"
The redhead chuckled. "And she always worries about me, even over the smallest of things."
Okay that is definitely not Yang as she is not a worrier. But then who is it?
"And she likes pink… heck she painted her robot pink."
Wait, is he talking about…?
"When we met for the first time on that night, she was having trouble with a few Talon mercs."
Hana then started to cry as her voice became shaky. "S-She was n-not."
Naruto laughed. "Oh yes she was! She even denied it like you are right now."
"A-And?"
"She called me a kill stealing hacker for one."
Her legs then started to lose strength. No way. There is no way he can possibly be talking about…
"And then she started comparing me to every video game character." Naruto continued as he stood up. "She kept on calling hax on me and how much of a nerf I needed because I was just far too powerful."
"B-Because…" She choked for a second and hiccupped. "B-Because you r-really need a nerf!"
"And then last week when I went on a mission without telling her, she got really upset when I got back."
The brunette turned around and glared at him. "Because you have no idea how worried and scared I was! When I heard about those dead people in the warehouse I immediately thought that you were one of them! You…" She looked at him and saw his gentle smile. "You s-stupid overpowered jerkface!"
"But then…" Naruto continued as he raised his hands and cupped her face, wiping away her tears. "When I look at her, I saw the most beautiful thing I could have ever seen. I thought a goddess descended from the heavens and came down to Earth riding in a pink battle mech with energy cannons and jet thrusters."
Hana chuckled through her sobs. "That is kind of cool. I was actually thinking of making my in-game name REX from Metal Gear back in my pro-gaming days but just settled with D-Va."
"She became my best friend." He whispered as he pulled the brunette closer. "She became someone that I came to care a great deal." He reached into his pocket and produced a beautiful necklace with a green gemstone and placed it around her neck. "And it was thanks to her that I finally know what it means to truly love someone with all my heart."
Her eyes widened at his words. "Y-You…"
"I want you to have this necklace." Naruto whispered lovingly as he locked the chain in place, letting the beautiful green gem rest upon her chest. "I want you to have it because it will let you know how much you mean to me."
"Naruto…"
"I love you, Hana 'D-Va' Song." He leaned down and gently planted his lips upon hers. Her eyes widened at first before finally closing and letting her reciprocate the kiss. The kiss was brief and left her slightly dazed as her legs lost their strength, causing Naruto to catch her. "Hana, you okay?"
"S-Sorry." The brunette whispered as her eyes were half-lidded. "I… I can't stand for some reason."
"Oh." He gently guided her to the bench and placed her on his lap, holding her close in a protective manner.
Hana let out a happy sigh as she rested her head on his chest and smiled. "I love you too…"
"So you will go to the dance with me tomorrow night?"
"Heck yeah I will, you overpowered hacker."
They paused for a moment until she pecked him on the lips. "Hey Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"No one's ever called me beautiful before… thank you."
Naruto chuckled and just held her close while they watched sun set. He was finally whole.
[Outro: Lanterns by Birds of Tokyo]
NA: THE FLUFF IS REAL! IT IS REAL! NYAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did! And I bet you all know who just arrived in Vale.
And now for an after credits scene:
Earlier That Day
Jaune was just sitting there with a depressed look after having lost his chance with Weiss. He had just witnessed his crush asking Neptune to the dance, and so he felt defeated. He realized how much of a fool he was. How could he have possibly thought of standing a chance to be with someone like Weiss Schnee? How was it possible?
"JAUNE!"
The blond's body tensed at the voice of his red-haired partner. He saw her enter the room and saw that she was walking up to her with a stern look. "P-Pyrrha, I wasn't slacking at all I was just-"
He didn't even get the chance to finish as Pyrrha grabbed his collar and guided his lips up to hers in a hot and passionate kiss. All the people around them dropped their jaws at the bold act that the great Pyrrha Nikos did. And before he could even have a chance of returning the kiss, Pyrrha pulled away from the kiss with flushed cheeks.
"You are going to be my date and take me to the dance tomorrow night!" Pyrrha declared. "All objections are dismissed, dattebane!"
Well… Naruto did tell her to be direct.
NA: Way to go Pyrrha…
