Professor Ozpin, was sitting in his office, the gears making wrenching sounds that would usually relax the gray haired man. Tapping his cane in the thought the man took a sip from his beloved mug. But even the heavenly goodness that was coffee refused to calm his frazzled nerves.
Roman's… what should he call it? Visit? Yes Roman's visit had been quite… enlightening? Yes that fit, if only barely. Despite what the public might have though the headmaster was well acquainted with the orange haired thief, once you have even called them friends. But that time had long passed, so imagine his surprise when the master thief showed up on his doorstep. If tf the thief was to be trusted things in remnant would be getting bleak, if he couldn't find a way to fix the problem.
But that was only if the man could be trusted, something the silver haired headmaster couldn't honestly say. Even if their was a small part of him that wanted to for old times sake. But Roman Torchwick had long forfeited any comradery between them. But that still raised the question of why the man had come to him. Why not James or even Glynda, chances were-no matter how unbelievable-they would have been much more willing to listen. Waving those thoughts off he activated the holoscreen installed on his desk.
Directed his attention, towards his future meeting with these Grimm hunters. He had moved the date for their meeting another two weeks in time. A week and a half had already passed since then, and he had yet to lose any of his excitement. He was meeting what seemed to be the peak of the next generation. They were from what he could tell, Highly skilled and well funded. If he could get them to reveal even a shred of information, on any of their skill or technology he would be a very happy man.
Lost in thought the great huntsman was jolted from the confines of his mind by a loud beeping noise coming from one his holo screens. Turning head the silver haired man brought the alert on screen, the entire panel flashing a bright red. The age old man's eyes widened comically as he forced himself to his feet his hands blurring over the screen as he smashed through the needed programs and brought the mic up to his lips.
'Looks like thing will be picking up much faster than predicted'
Naruto was sitting in his living room, sitting on the floor in front of his couch so he was level with the coffee table. His couch being a large L shaped leather couch that was shoved up to the walls. A rather nice coffee table nestled right in the center of the L making for easy reach. The blond was currently leaning over his gauntlet a screwdriver in hand as he tinkered with it. His tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth, a maroon shirt draped over his chest along with a pair of tan cargo pants, and white socks. Sitting in a criss-cross as he leaned over closer, glancing toward a scroll that was propped up on the table and connected to his gauntlet.
Words racing over it fast enough that most people would be completely unable to understand them. Heck the only person other he'd found that was able to keep up with the speed was the young deer lover and he was much to lazy to actually use it.
Another scroll was was propped up in such a way that it would be within the corner of his eye. The screen was entirely black with the exception of underscore flashing a radioactive green. Propped up behind the blond was a lazy Ino, flipping through a magazine of some sort, her feet propped up on the coffee table. The room was filled with only the sound of metal meeting metal, and Naruto's Idle humming. The Koala faunus licked her finger, and turned the page of her magazine, only to look up when the doorbell rang.
Seeing that her fellow blond wasn't going to answer the door, she stood up and put her magazine down. Her feet padding softly against the carpet as she opened the magnetically sealed door. Only to smile when she saw a box lying just outside the door. She only grew more ecstatic when she saw the sender. Running back inside the girl cheered "it's finally here! It's finally here!" over and over as she approached the place she was reading her magazine.
The sunny blond however had to hold in a face palm when he saw the box was from the "Unusual Candy Emporium" in southern Vacou. He was practically struggling to keep a blank face when she ripped the box open and pulled out several bags labeled "Eucalyptus flavored Loli Pops"
Naruto sighed and returned back to his gauntlet. It was poor choice of Irony that the Koala faunus even liked eucalyptus. It was truly chance that the girl like the stuff since most Koala faunus actually tended to dislike eucalyptus all together. His attention was once more taken away from his pet project when the scroll with the blinking underscore beeped.
Scanning the scroll he found himself smiling when he saw what it was.
Scarlet: That does it the program is completely installed, all though I do recommend calibrating it before using it.
Rolling his eyes the prankster king from hell simply brought up his wrist, causing it to project a keyboard. Typing his message through the keyboard.
Swirly-Swirl: One time! I forgot to calibrate it one time! Are you never going to let me forget it?
Disconnecting the cable from the gauntlet he slipped it back onto his left arm. Tapping a few buttons on his wrist scroll, the blond initiated the calibration sequence. The Gauntlet Promptly Expanded to its uniform oval shape, the cylinder that went around his forearm cycling through each slot that would typically hold dust crystals. The oval shaped shield expanded once more, as for section of the oval slid away with only the center remaining unmoved. Giving it an awkward shuriken like shape. The newly revealed section flashed green before it returned to it's gauntlet state with its now signature hissing sound. Checking the scroll he found scarlet's newest message.
Scarlet: Nope, never!
Scarlet: Chao!
Giving an exasperated sigh the prankster leaned against his couch. Prying his legs out from underneath him the blond sighed in relief as the blood once more rushed into his legs. Ignoring Ino as she tore into her eucalyptus flavored candy like a ravenous wolf. Closing his eyes the blond sank into the foot of the couch, mental exhaustion catching up with him.
Ino Pulled open the bag of lollipops, sticking one in her mouth as she hummed contentedly mimicking her fellow blond as she to allowed herself to be enveloped in the comfortable couch. The two of them sat their for who knows how long, a welcoming silence invading their senses. It was only when the sound of a door sliding open and the standard Nara Cures echoed out did either look up again.
The nara padded into the room wearing a simple black shirt and jeans. However in his hand was the standard orange gripped sword wrapped in black athletic tape, and black sheath of Naruto's favored weapon. The nara passed the coffee table, throwing the weapon in a nara like manner over the table and into the blondes hands. The prankster didn't even notice as the Young deer sat on his left, the yamanaka having already taken his right.
The swirl was rubbing his precious up against his cheek, his mouth moving as if whispering sweet nothings to the blade. Rubbing his cheek against the cold leather of the sheath, the blond was brought out of his romance when the nara set a large box on the table. It was a simple black box about the size of a small cooler.
The uzumaki put flux down on the table, and opened the velcro that was holding the box closed. Inside were several smaller black rectangles, each of them around an inch thick with ten silver studs inserted in each rectangle. "And these are what shika?" the cloud watcher sighed, taking out one the studs it was revealed to be a small cylinder the was about an inch long, and wasn't even as wide as the tip of his pinky finger. Twister the top of the cylinder caused it to glow blue before it was lengthened into the shape of standard arrow.
"The world first hardlight arrows." shrugged the Nara. "Now that I've gotten that out of the way, Ino why are you in your pajamas?" Inquired the lazy pineapple. Naruto blinked, in surprise before turning to see that the Yamanaka was still in her pajamas. Which consisted of rabbit themed cotton bottoms and a purple tank top. "I'm gonna have to side with Shika on this one Ino." The platinum blond pouted, glaring at the two boys. "What I'm having a lazy day is that so strange." The males of the room nodded in unison, only for the lazier of the duo to get a pillow in the face.
Naruto laughed, as he looked at the Nara only for his amusement to be cut short when he was hit with one as well. When they looked back to their female companion they blanched when they found her curled up in a ball, a cloud over head mumbling incoherently. They did however manage to catch a mumbled . "You weren't suppose to say yes."
It was few minutes of silence later that the trio burst out into laughter. Even Shikamaru managed to gather the energy to laugh. "Do…" The Yamanaka started only to hesitate, taking a deep breath she let out a sigh. "Do you think they're proud of us?" The lively atmosphere faltered but managed to bare the wave of negative emotions they had given out. "Well knowing Choji, I'd assume he was disappointed that we haven't taken up his love of Barbecue chips." The Remnants of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio couldn't withhold their amusement. Ino failed to restrain a girlish giggle, while Shika gave an amused scoff.
Tears streamed from the fem fatale's face, "Yeah" her voice all choked up, "That sounds like him." The shogi player sighed, "Knowing my troublesome family, my mom's probably beating dad over the head fro being lazy again." Tears peaked at the corner of his eyes, as he let out a mournful chuckle. "What about you Naruto?" Asked the Yamanaka. Naruto frowned… "I don't know… My dad I weren't exactly close, Mom went missing day after I was born… and Kakashi… well I'm waiting for him to get off his lazy ass and tell me." The Happy atmosphere returned at that thought.
"Yep." chuckled the nara, "The troublesome guy needs to get an alarm clock or something, cause he's really late this time." Sighed Shikamaru, comfortable silence reigning over the room. He didn't know how long they sat there, lost in thought and simply happy to be in the presence of friends. But the blond was happy they did.
Before their thoughts were disturbed by the large tv turning on all on it's own. Their scrolls emitting a loud beeping sound as a picture of a middle aged man, appeared on screen. His hair was silver, a pair of spectacles on his nose, and a green cowl with some sort of symbol around his neck. His unzipped suit, covering a buttoned vest and a green shirt. A cane in his hands as he held it in front of him.
"Ozpin?" the Uzumaki muttered in confusion.
The silver haired man coughed into his hand clearing his throat. "Today a signal academy field trip went to the City of Obex. Approximately four second ago I received a distress signal from this group, they have sent a warning that their is a Grimm hoard heading straight for the town. The Hoard has been registered as a class five emergency, and has been estimated to be only four hours away from the city." The headmaster paused and swallowed down his own anxiety. "As many of you have realized, Obex is a four and a half hour trip by bullhead and as such any reinforcements would arrive mere minutes after the hoard." All three of the teenagers winced, arriving after a group of Grimm wasn't a good thing, even if it was only a few second.
"Thankfully with the recent advancements, of both Lavender-company, and the Schnee corporation, that time had been cut down to an extremely uncomfortable 2 hours and 45 minutes instead. Every hunter within three hundred miles of Obex is heading their now, to help with the evacuation along with the older years of signal." The man paused. " The town Obex has a population of three thousand, and a limited number of bullheads, should you choose to volunteer… be prepared to weather the storm as the bullhead that are going to be taking you there will be leaving with a full load of civilians." The man let out a sigh. "The job of volunteers will be to minimize the damage the Grimm may cause. It is very unlikely the walls of Obex will fall, however chances are that many of the volunteers will not be returning. If you choose to not volunteer no one will fault you, however for those of you who are already giving up. Those of you who are standing on the fence between cowering and fighting…" The camera zoomed in on the headmaster's face, as he raised an eyebrow. "Are you prepared to go quietly, to fade into history as nothing more than a footnote?"
"Anyone older than fifteen may volunteer, all volunteers should be at the eastern sky-dock with all necessary equipment in approximately 1 hour. That is all." the screen faded from existence, all of vale seemingly frozen in silence before the world started to move.
The trio rushed back into their rooms clothes and equipment flying around them as they shoved on their standard battle clothes, with a few new additions. The main one being the black utility jacket over Naruto's normal maroon shirt, his gauntlet having been slipped over the coat sleeve. The same pair of cargo pants and a set of red sneakers. A belt with several of the rectangular arrow boxes attached crossing over his chest, and both Ivory and Flux on his back. Ino had changed into a form fitting purple T-shirt, a pair of black pants and a purple and white winter coat.
A White back pack with a first aid symbol on the back, along with her weapon in it storage form by her hip. Her small white Grimm bone dagger, sheathed in a thigh holster on her right leg. A Purple fanny pack hanging on her back.
Shikamaru on the other hand was wearing a simple black summer jacket, with a few extra pockets, covering a gray shirt and a set of black slacks. His weapon sheathed in a hidden pocket of his coat. Other than that the only notable thing was the Nara symbol on the back of his jacket.
The blond duo glared at the Nara, "Shika your semblance is bullshit." sighed the holder of the lavender eyes. The Nara just rolled his eyes, as he reached into the shadows of his coat pulling out three plates with the symbol of swirly leaf, etched into them. The hyperactive knucklehead took one and slapped onto his shoulder. Against all reason the plate stuck, his fellow survivors rolling their eyes as they did the same with far less fanfare.
Shaking her head Ino turned to Shikamaru, "You called Ebisu yet?" Nodding in confirmation the Nara spoke "Yeah everything's set up." Reaching down the golden blond pulled up a black duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder. "Well if we're all packed let's head out."
Exiting the house the door hissing behind them, as the magnetic locks were frozen in place. Little did they know it would be at least another 98 hours before they saw it again.
Weiss Schnee didn't really know why, winter insisted on staying in vale for another two weeks. When ever she asked her older sister she would clam up, and simply say if she succeeded the Schnee dust company would most definitely profit.
It went on that way for almost an entire week before she'd suddenly come home a bit more… subdued. Asking again her sister had blown up at her… and Weiss hadn't asked since. But that really didn't matter at the moment. Right now she was walking alongside her sister to offer any help they could to the evacuation effort.
Most people didn't think that this was that big of a deal, after all what was the point in sending a bunch of people to protect an empty town? Others however had been able to read between the lines. Even with the extra help by the time the Grimm arrived there would several hundred people still stuck their. As such it was the volunteers jobs to minimize the damages, or in other words, prevent any casualties. Both of the siblings had signed up as volunteers and they were both doing their best to get as many resources to Obex as possible.
If only things were that simple.