A/N: Lots of cameos, as well as a tribute to Monty Oum in this chapter. Hopefully, this does not affect the overall quality. Do read and review, would you kindly?
…
[Konohagakure no Sato, Farmer's Market]
Team Yamato, the Uchiha Twins, Team Yasha, and Toph all walked down the streets to the Guild Hall. Toph had been explaining to the others how, after the Baihe clan had unlocked her ability to use Nen, she taught herself to channel the energy through her feet and into the ground to 'see' in all directions around her. "…and that's pretty much how it's done," Toph finished proudly.
"Well what happens if the target is airborne?" asked Mayumi.
"That's where having really good ears is helpful," Toph replied, "I listen to the air and figure out where they're going to land."
"Either way you put it, it's useful," Takumi said thoughtfully, "Gives an advantage in the event that you lose your sight."
"Yeah, it is. In fact…" Toph broke off as she heard a loud 'thump.' She also picked up the whistling of something speeding towards them at a downward angle. "Everyone down!"
Toph's shout was warning enough, they all jumped. There was a bright flash, and a very loud 'bang'. For what appeared to be a few seconds, everyone's vision was flooded with a white light, and they could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in their ears. The sensation of hearing was the first (albeit with echoes), and color gradually faded back into clarity.
"Is everyone alright?" asked Naruto, looking around. Everybody stood up, confirming that they were all fine.
"Ack! My ears are ringing!" Toph screamed, catching everyone's attention. She had her hands over her ears, thrashing around and screaming in pain. Meilan immediately went to hold the writhing girl in her arms to stop her from hurting herself even worse.
"Fuck, that was a flashbang grenade!" Takumi snarled over the agonized profanities uttered from Toph's mouth. He kept his eyes open for any adversaries in the vicinity.
"Who the hell would have one in Konoha?" asked Mayumi, blinking furiously.
"Probably a ninja with connections," Meilan noted, "As far as I know, Shinobi prefer more traditional methods."
"Whoever it is, they're up on the rooftops." said Naruto, drawing one of his wakizashi.
…
[Konoha Rooftops]
(Kikyo)
Kikyo smiled to herself as she raised her smoking weapon to a resting position. It was large, with varnished wood furnishings, supporting a hinged metal tube with a 40mm bore and had a flat, rectangular metal ring that could be flipped up and down for aiming; it was undoubtedly a Saika firearm that fired large projectiles. It was a weapon she'd stolen from a rogue Saika bandit. A grenade launcher, which fired large explosives that she'd special-ordered from the Saika clan. She'd customized the launcher by shortening the barrel, and then cutting off and sanding down the shoulder-rest at the grip to accommodate her smaller stature.
At the same time, she tinkered with its ammunition a bit on her own time between missions. By experimenting with elemental seals, carefully inscribed on each grenade, Kikyo created various rounds to suit a multitude of tasks. The problem was that the design of the launcher was such that she could only fire one shot at a time before reloading. Another problem was that she could only carry six grenades at a time, and a seventh loaded in the launcher. Luckily, she kept more hand grenades on her belt for that purpose, and there was a gauntlet of traps waiting to spring on her target.
She watched as Uzumaki and his group scaled the buildings, while she broke open the grenade launcher to pull out the spent casing. Kikyo didn't have much time, and so she made a run for it, smiling in excitement as she loaded another grenade into the launcher. "Let the games begin," she muttered, snapping the weapon shut with a jerk.
There were traps along the way in the path she'd be running. If Uzumaki Naruto was as good as she'd heard, then he'd pass her test with flying colors, because Kikyo would be judging him on how many traps he'd be caught in. If he avoids more traps than springing them, he'll pass and I'll go with him; if only to give him a trial run, she thought, vaulting over the edge of a building, If he fails, then at least I have a lethal round with large pellets for his groin, two dueling pistols with special rounds for his shoulders, and an incendiary grenade for his mouth. And if that still won't kill him, I have my kōdachi.
…
(Naruto)
Whoever the shooter was, they were fast. They bolted as soon as he, Meilan, and the Uchiha twins made it to the rooftops. Mayumi and Takumi agreed to join the chase, while Kazuko and their ANBU escort stayed to watch over Toph while she recovered. "He's got a lot of nerve," huffed Meilan, sprinting to catch up with the mysterious shooter, "Shooting at us, and thinking he can get away with it!"
"Not to mention what he did to Toph," agreed Naruto, "When we get to him, I'm going to beat a fucking apology out of him."
In the distance, the shooter momentarily turned towards them and fired once more while jumping back. Not taking any chances, they split off just in time for another flashbang to go off before they gathered back together.
"Flasbangs only work with a certain range and if you look directly at the blast. We need to be careful in case he decides to use Frags." Takumi said.
"Frags?" Naruto called out as they hopped over another roof.
"Explosives that kill by shooting out sharp pieces of their shells!" Mayumi shouted back.
The chase took a twist when the shooter dove off the edge of a building, disappearing into a pile of hay at the farmer's market. He climbed out of the pile to run into an alley. "I have a bad feeling about that alley, so we'll split up to catch him," said Naruto, pausing momentarily to think, "Two people to head him off, two more to stay on the rooftops and keep an eye on him, and another two to chase him down down the alley."
"Mayumi and I will do overwatch," Takumi agreed, "She's got the best eye out of all six of us, but someone needs to help keep her eye on the target."
"Nee-chan and I can handle cutting them off," Setsuna added. Setsuka nodded in agreement as they each activated their Sharingan, "Just keep us in communication, and we'll be able to catch him."
"That leaves me and Meilan to flush him out," finished Naruto, pulling out his scroll to summon six throat mikes, handing them all out, "We need to hurry before he gets away. But be careful everyone; there's a reason the target's running into an alleyway, and it's not just because he likes dark and suspicious places."
"And how do you know that?" asked Mayumi.
"Because that's what I would do if I were being chased after a prank," said Naruto, "I doubt he'll have thought that far ahead, but doubts aren't that helpful here are they? Remember, we're going to catch the target alive if possible…he can't talk if he's dead."
{Play: "Tank!" by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, from "Cowboy Bebop"}
With their roles set, everyone ran off to take their positions. Takumi and Mayumi sprang from their rooftop the next in order to provide their overwatch. Naruto, Meilan, Setsuka, and Setsuna jumped off the roof onto the ground, before they too split up into pairs for their jobs.
Setsuka and Setsuna split up to better navigate the mazelike array of structures.
Naruto and Meilan found their quarry standing at the end of a T-junction, close enough to identify them. She was a girl with brackish hair, just a little older than they were. She had smooth, tanned skin pulled taut over a very nimble frame with a sprinter's legs; all of which was covered in a form-fitting body glove with large plates of hard leather covering vital areas. She carried a large firearm in her arms, barrel and foregrip bent open at the hinge. She also appeared to be armed to the teeth with all manner of explosives. Strangely enough, she had a grin that seemed to say 'come and get me.' "I think it's time we blow this thing, get everybody, the stuff together," she finally said, with an ominous tone in her voice.
"You gonna come quietly, or what?" challenged Naruto, hoping the girl would be reasonable enough to surrender.
The answer he received was the girl snapping the firearm shut with a resounding 'click.' Strangely enough, she didn't look down the sights, but instead lowered it. She then pulled out a small black cylinder hidden under one of leather plates with her thumb over a red button. "3…2…1, let's jam!" she yelled.
The Farmer's market exploded colorfully as the fruit and vegetable stands exploded all around them. Meilan and Naruto had to duck as fruit juices and pieces of vegetables splattered all over the place, decorating the floor with vibrant reds, oranges, and tans from berries, carrots, and apples. When they both recovered, they discovered the girl was gone, before barely spotting her running into the panicked crowd.
"Damn it!" hissed Naruto, pressing a button on his radio as he broke into a run with Meilan, "She's hiding in the crowd. Keep your eyes peeled!"
"I see her," said Mayumi through the communicator, "She's headed east."
"I'm in the area," added Setsuka, "I'll try to head her off."
"I'm on the opposite side," responded Setsuna, "I'm on my way to support you."
"I'll try to run interference, slow her down as best I can," added Mayumi, "Shinobi or not, she can't hide from me."
"We'll keep the pressure on her," said Meilan, pushing through the panicked crowd, "If we're lucky, we'll catch her before anyone else gets hurt."
It took around fifteen minutes to chase down the shooter, during which the crowd vanished into their homes, giving more ease to the chase. Naruto could tell that whoever their quarry was, she was a free-runner, looking the fluidity of her motions. That, and every trap she'd set was done in a way that Naruto would have, with her own twist: placing tripwires so that they'd be hidden behind garbage cans, setting them to trigger explosives in the garbage cans. She also hid remote detonation packs near the mouth of an entrance, while waiting for her prey to come to her as they were bottlenecked in a narrow passageway. In addition, there were mines hidden in manhole covers that spring into the air upon being triggered, and fired paintballs specially made to deliver 700,000 volts of electricity into a target. Naruto and Meilan were delayed both from disarming unavoidable traps and dodging grenades being fired at them.
Meanwhile, on the rooftops, Mayumi and Takumi tried their best to call out where the girl was, but she kept ducking out of sight. When it was clear that Mayumi would be safe from close-range threats, Takumi joined the chase to help put pressure on the shooter. At the same time, Mayumi took potshots at the target, using trick arrows to try and catch her target alive, including several net arrows.
Setsuna and Setsuka's attempts to stop the shooter had their teamwork tested to its limits. Every time they tried to catch the her, the shooter managed to pull out one trick or another, including smokescreen grenades that blocked their Sharingan. However, they wound up being the ones to catch her: Setsuna made the first move by distracting the shooter with a jump-kick, while Setsuka darted behind her and tackled her to the ground, knocking the firearm out of her hands. Then she sat on the girl's back, roughly yanking her head back and up and causing her spine to arch; a move referred to as the 'camel clutch.'
"Good work, Setsuka!" Naruto called out, approaching the bound girl.
"So, you wanna tell us your name? We won't hurt ya," drawled Takumi.
"I'm glad," hissed the girl through gritted teeth, "You passed my test, if only with a lot of teamwork."
"What do you mean test?" asked Naruto.
Setsuka loosened her grip slightly to allow her to speak. "I could tell you, but that would be ruining the surprise now will it?" the girl replied, catching her breath, "Although in all honesty, I didn't think Ninjas and Hunters would work together so well."
"Oi. I'm not gonna ask you again; tell us your name," Takumi repeated impatiently.
The girl smirked, "I don't see why not. I'm Shimura Kikyo, remember it. In the meantime, I have one more thing to say…" With one quick movement, she elbowed Setsuka in the abs, and reached into a hidden compartment in her armor to pick out a cylindrical grenade. She yanked out the pin and tossed it in the air. "Bang!"
There was no explosion to accompany the detonation of the grenade as it hit the ground. Instead, what followed was a loud hiss and cloud of dark smoke that thickened out, choking everyone caught in it. They fled the smoke and found that Kikyo had disappeared.
"Where the hell is she!?" Naruto barked.
"Damn it!" growled Takumi. He looked around, trying to spot her. He pressed the PTT button on his radio, searching the area as he did. "Mayumi, do you still have a bead on her?"
"No, the smoke was too thick. I couldn't see her movements," replied Mayumi regretfully.
"Who the hell was that?" asked Setsuka, recovering from the surprise attack.
"Whoever that was, she could have killed us at anytime," said Meilan. "If she wanted, she could have killed us. She was almosted definitely scouting you out, Naruto-kun."
"No, I think it's more like she knows me inside and out," countered Naruto, "Those were all things I would've done when I wanted to prank someone, only she made them better." He sighed tiredly. "Ah, whatever, let's head back. We need to see if Toph's okay."
…
(Kikyo)
Kikyo walked through the streets with a quick jutsu cast on herself, pulling off her hitai-ate to hide it in her pocket. A set of seals hidden away in her sneaking suit were activated, replacing the form-fitting body glove with bare skin. In place of the hard leather plates were a pair of baggy pants and a T-shirt. She smiled to herself; things could not have gone more smoothly. Aside from getting caught, that is.
As she let down her brackish hair, Kikyo ran her fingers through it to straighten it out. Disguise complete, she wondered exactly about what Naruto's reaction would be to the traps she had set. After all, I just took some inspiration from his own pranks and upped the firepower on them. But apart from that, I'd say it was a success. I wonder how he'll react, next time he sees me.
Walking down the streets of Konoha, Kikyo remained unnoticed by the rest of the villagers. Now then...what am I gonna have for dinner?
…
{Play: "Hooked on a Feeling" by "Blue Swede", from "Guardians of the Galaxy"}
[Streets of Konoha, thirty minutes later]
It took some time for Toph to recover from the surprise attack, but she was ready and able to follow the others to the Hunter's Guild. Other than that, the walk was fairly silent; given the attack that had happened not too long ago.
"We're here," said the ANBU shortly, Shunshining out of the area.
The building was constructed out of large logs, giving the impression of a hunting lodge or a small fortress. There were monster skulls mounted on the outer walls, which seemed to reinforce the image that it was a place for hunters to relax and trade stories of their hunts.
Someone once said, "The arrogance of man is thinking that nature is under their control, and not the other way around." Indeed, even after the shinobi world had discovered and supposedly 'mastered' nature through chakra, humanity still seemed to forget this lesson. As the conflict went on between nations, Mother Nature constantly kept her eyes out for any opportunity to put humanity in its place. The deadly plants and animals of the natural world were her instruments of vengeance.
As such, there were gruesome reports of 'monster' attacks that soon became more frequent and unfortunate as time went by: missing merchant wagons found with numerous claw marks consistent with large Jaggi and Velocidrome packs and the merchants likely having been eaten. There were survivor stories of iron miners getting slaughtered for digging too deep and accidentally awakening a Brachydios. Sometimes, there were tales of the odd shinobi patrol being ambushed by a Rathian or her Rathalos mate before being fed to their chicks.
In order to make the wilderness safer for people, and to help facilitate trading relations, the Hunter's Guild had formed the Monster Hunter Corps. The missions they undertook normally involved being part of the security detail of civilian merchants, as well as beast extermination. In exchange for having a guild hall set up in various villages to accommodate them, all hunters were to follow the laws of the villages they happened to be in, along with those of the Guild. They would also be considered as freelance shinobi, but would also have to pay a small tax on all kills they registered (payment for all kills is rated by how dangerous the monster is, and the condition of the carcass, which factor into the amount of tax due).
As the group walked towards the gate, they saw one guard posted. "Well guys, let's walk on up and show our licenses." said Mayumi.
The guard looked pointedly towards the group. "Can I see some ID?" Takumi, Mayumi, and Kazuko all fished around for their wallets before handing their licenses to the guard. A quick look was all it took before he responded. "Kawa no Kuni hunters, eh? You here to be full-timers?"
"Not yet. We've got some kills to register and some stories to tell before we enter the Chunin Exams." Takumi said.
"Alright then. Here're your IDs back," said the guard. Then he noticed the rest of the group and started to sweat a little. "Ninjas? Listen, we don't want any trouble..."
"Relax, they're with us. They're just here to check out this branch while we register our kills."
The guard relaxed. "Oh, okay. Just don't be afraid to start a fight."
Kazuko giggled at the guests' expressions. "Fights are normal in the guild halls." As though to prove her point, a bad crashed through the window and soared a good distance.
Takumi sighed and facepalmed. "Great. Of course Team Natsu's here." He said sarcastically.
Naruto cast a cautious look at him. "Are they bad?"
"They're probably one of the best second-year teams in the Guild," Mayumi replied. "Unfortunately…" Just then, a chair smashed another window, prompting everyone to duck as it sailed over their heads and fell apart upon impact with the ground. "They can't walk into a guild hall without a fight breaking out," she finished. She turned to the guy who was down to his boxers, and let out an exasperated sigh. "Gray, for God's sake, put your clothes back on!"
The dark haired young man growled as his clothes were missing again. "I don't have time for that Mayumi…" Gray hazarded a glance upward and paled at who he was addressing. "Oh crap, Mayumi!"
Just then, the guild went silent. There were people in the middle of punching someone, and some were hanging from the ceiling. All activity stopped as they looked at the team that just entered. Takumi pinched the bridge of his nose. "What the hell happened this time?" He asked as if this was an everyday occurrance. Apparently, it was.
"It was Natsu, said something about losing the chance to go after a Nargacuga in the area." A blond haired bombshell said.
"But Luce…someone swiped our kill. Now how am I going to get ahead of Laxus?"
"We'll find some other way Natsu." Lucy said patting the salmon haired man. "Anyway, Gray insulted Natsu, Natsu threw him through a table and well…" She waved her arms at the carnage.
"Wait, was this Nargacuga in the forest about a day's travel south of here?" Takumi asked.
"Uh…yeah. We were about to head out when we found signs that someone killed it first." Natsu said confused.
Takumi laughed nervously. "Well then, I apologize Natsu." He said pulling out the scroll with the Nargacuga carcass and unsealing the head and its penetrated body.
The guild was dead silent. Then the whispers started up. "A rookie team was able to kill a Nargacuga with just three members?"
"Team Yasha's done it again."
Team Yasha turned to the ninja who looked at the hunters with slack-jawed amazement. They turned back to the crowd with a smile and Takumi pointed his thumb at the ninja.
"We had a little help thanks to these ninjas here. Save for the hole, most of the carcass is intact. Anyway, who's in charge here? We need to register our kills."
Setsuka raised her hand. "Uh, why are you guys giving Team Yasha so much respect? Aren't they first-years or something?"
A stern-looking, red-haired woman in metal armor walked up to them. "When hunting teams graduate, they are ranked based on a variety of skills and hunts," she explained, "Team Yasha is one of the more prominent teams in the current crop of rookies due to the bloodlines they carry. They've also earned a reputation by not only surviving a Seregios attack on their first hunt but by also making it their first big kill."
Seregios were an extremely rare species of wyvern. It was known for two things: its bloody rivalry and dogfights with the fire-breathing Rathalos, and the fact that it could fire its sharp scales at its targets. Takumi growled bitterly. "We got lucky and everyone knows it. I have the scars on my back to prove it, Erza."
"Don't sell yourself short," said Erza brusquely, "Lucky or not, it was still respectable."
"Yeah, yeah," Takumi sighed, "Look, let's just go inside, okay? I'm thirsty as hell."
"What, did the walk tire you out?" A snide voice asked. The speaker was a man with blond hair and a scar shaped like a lightning bolt under one eye. He wore a fur-lined vest, and a pair of wine-colored slacks.
Mayumi growled. "For your information, Dreyar, Takumi just beat down a Jōnin."
Takumi groaned. "Great job Mayumi, paint a target on our backs why don't you?"
"You, beat a Jōnin? Don't make me laugh!" sneered .
"Hey pal, I was there and I helped him too. Where were you, huh? Getting your nails done?" Naruto shot back, folding his arms threateningly.
Laxus sparked. "Watch your mouth, Ninja! Your kind ain't welcome here!"
"Says who? You? If you're the only 'authority' on who can come and go around here, I'm surprised so many people show up!" Meilan taunted, drawing a wave of "ooh!" throughout the guild.
"Watch it bitch," Laxus growled. "or I'll-!"
"You'll what, Laxus?" challenged a low, menacing voice. Laxus gulped and turned to see a white-haired girl in a red dress. Her face bore a sinister smile, all the while exuding an aura of malice.
The aura was so powerful that even the shinobi could feel it. Kazuko on the other hand, wasn't. In fact, she seemed rather jovial about the encounter. "Hey there, Mira-chan!"
Like a light, the woman's aura went from demonic to sweet angel in one second. "Ah, Kazuko-chan! How are you?"
The shinobi in the group looked to Takumi for answers as to what was happening. "Don't ask. It's a long story."
…
[Kiri Rebel Base]
As she sat at a table nearby to oversee construction of the ships, Saika Magoichi settled down as she took her coffee break. Things were progressing at a quickening rate. So far, there were good news and bad news. The good news being that the rebels had managed to get the money needed for the last few ships. The bad news was that the attack was going to happen within the week, which meant that those last few ships would likely be rush jobs. Not that it'll make much of a difference, she thought, taking a bite out of her muffin, Considering that these would be the last few frigates to be constructed; those things were meant to be easy to mass-produce anyway.
Magoichi took a sip of the coffee she'd brought from home. While she liked coffee as much as Sayaka, she had more of a sweet tooth. She liked sweets so much that she often threw a milk chocolate bar into her cup and letting it melt in the hot liquid, stirring it for a bit before adding the milk and cream. To top it off, she had a cake (or muffin) on hand to enjoy her coffee with.
In the three years since she'd met the rebels, Magoichi had provided them with a small fleet of twenty metal ships, one of which being the dreadnought "Yatagarasu." And to ensure that the shinobi forces were able to save their time and energy for the land battle, every ship was equipped with landing craft to ferry them to the beaches.
I still have a trump card though, she thought, Speaking of which, what's taking that dumbass so long? I sent word for it to be delivered to the rebel camp a week ago, and…before she could continue her train of thought, Magoichi heard the rapid 'whup-whup-whup' of an aerial vehicle she knew very well. The person in question had a competitive rivalry with the courier ninja, whose services were relatively cheaper; however, he had the advantage in that he was able to transport larger packages and ferry passengers. "Hell, it's about time."
She stood up, clapped her hands clean of crumbs, and started walking towards the source of the noise. It belonged to a large flying machine with two large propellers, one in front of the other. It carried a large, boxy item secured tightly to its bottom. Naturally, this brought everyone's attention to the commotion going on outside. "What the hell is that?" asked Zabuza. He had emerged from the training ground to investigate the source of the commotion.
Magoichi grinned. "My ride."
The aircraft slowed down as it neared Magoichi. It lowered the heavy, boxy vehicle down on a winch with four people rappelling down from ropes at the sides of the aircraft. The speed at which they worked to remove the ropes drew quite a crowd, as rebels came to investigate the delivery. Once the ropes were loosened, one of the people made a sign up at the aircraft, telling whomever was piloting it that the package was freed. The winch was then lifted back up into the aircraft before it landed nearby.
The vehicle that was set down in the camp was large, and mounted on a pair of large metal tracks. Its boxy frame and its sloped design made it look more formidable without sacrificing much on speed. At the top, there was a large block of metal stacked on top of the tracks with a long-barreled cannon. It was also armed with a pair of advanced-looking weapons at the front and at the top, and was painted in a marbled pattern of greens, browns, and blacks.
Mei was among the people to have a look at the vehicle that had just landed. "What is that thing? And who are these people?" She asked in fear and curiosity.
One of the people that landed was a teenaged girl with a welding mask on her head, looking like a kid in a candy store. "This bad boy is a tank. It's Magoichi-sama's personal project; she was in the middle of making the finishing touches when Yagura stole those plans for the 406 mm gun. By the way, we're the crew for this thing."
"Why are you bringing this thing in?" asked Mei tiredly, rubbing at her temples.
"Well, I figured if we're going to bring out the big guns, why not help you fuck up the enemy with you guys? Hell, we can even punch holes in their shitty walls so your guys can storm their bases," Magoichi quipped. She took a seat at the front of the tank to address the rebel leader. "Besides, that thieving bastard Yagura made it personal when he stole my shit. So, I've decided to join your boys in the spearhead, Mei."
Seeing that she was satisfied with her answer, Magoichi turned to the crew. "How are we looking with the ammo, Urd?" she called out.
"Looks good, we have enough for a sustained assault," replied a slightly larger and meatier crew member. He poked his head out from the turret to regard his matriarch, "Not including the small-arms, we've got 67 high-explosive rounds and ten of the experimental rounds for the 76 mm, at least 5000 rounds for the .50 cal and almost 500 gallons of napalm for the flamethrower. Good news is, in case of trouble, we can dismount the .50 cal and the flamethrower."
"Very good. And the engine, Talia?"
With impeccable timing, the tank roared to life. "Purring like a kitten, ma'am!" shouted the girl, welding mask lifted to her forehead as she peeked out from behind the vehicle, "The experimental fuel is working wonders on it."
"Experimental fuel?" parroted Haku.
"I'm not going to fuck around with you over confidential bullshit, but to make a long story short, we managed to crystallize chakra," Magoichi began, turning to face Mei with a confident smirk. The look of shock on the rebel leader's face was telling enough. "We're still experimenting with it, but it's safe to say we're planning to use it for a lot of our high-tech shit; in this case, it's been ground up and mixed with kerosene to make fuel. Right now I'm putting it through its paces for heavy-duty work using my tank."
The implications of what she'd said took a bit to sink in, but when it did it sent a wave of shock through the gathered rebels. Crystallizing chakra for fuel? No wonder the Saika clan was the most advanced clan in the Shinobi Nations. If they were able to do something about as unheard of as turning chakra into crystals… Mei thought, astonished.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" called out Magoichi, getting the crew's attention, "We're gonna join the spearhead for the rebellion and teach that thieving bastard Yagura what happens when you steal our shit. If you sign up for this, I'll let you know there's a chance you could die during this venture; if you wanna live, then you still have a chance to get in the helicopter. Otherwise, we have a week to get the Firefly up and ready for combat. So who's in?"
The four crew members took a look at each other. Their eyes were searching each other, looking for doubt in each other's eyes. Finding none, they nodded in agreement. They were certain about their decision and firmly stood at attention in front of their leader.
"Saika clan policy takes theft personally, Magoichi-sama," Urd stated matter-of-factly, "I'm with you all the way."
"I doubt you could train these rebels to drive this baby in a week," added a slimmer male with burns on his face, "Might as well bring us along. Besides, who else can calibrate your guns?"
"I'm with you every step of the way, Magoichi-sama." said Talia, lifting her welding mask in respect.
"As you can see, we're all up to the task," finished a younger man, "We didn't start this war, but one way or another, we're finishing it."
Magoichi snorted, an amused smile on her face. "Yeah, I guess that was a dumb question. Thanks for sticking around, even if this isn't your home," she said as they followed behind her. "I'm going to tell Joker he can go now. In the meantime, here's what I want everyone to do: Urd, you make sure everyone's guns are good and ready, in case we have to fight on foot." Urd gave a nod and grunted in assent.
"Garrus, you calibrate the hell out of every gun on the tank. Make sure they're working good and proper…if we die because of a misfire, I'm going to make sure your afterlife will be painful."
"Will do."
"Talia, make inspections on the engine block. I don't want this thing to die on me in the middle of a fight; not after all the hours the team has put into making it."
"Yes, Magoichi-sama!"
"Kai, when Talia's done with the engine, I want you two to make sure the communications suite works smoothly. If the signal-noise ratio is anything less than five-by-five, I'll have your heads. Tomorrow, we're going to be training in the tank; and I expect things to run smoothly."
"Hai, Magoichi-sama!"
The four saluted her and immediately went to work while Magoichi went to talk with the pilot. There was no longer any point in him staying. After that, she had to finalize the position the tank had in the spearhead with Mei.
…
{Play: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk}
[Konohagakure Hunter's Guild Hall, twenty minutes later]
The entire atmosphere of the guild hall seemed to be festive, with many things going on. Stories were being exchanged between hunters and hunting parties about their most recent kills and the adventures they had on assignment. This mingled in with small-talk about everyone's personal life, and a few sporadic jokes here and there.
People laughed as they enjoyed all kinds of spirits with their meals; the former of which many people savored if they were made by the elves. The reason being that exports of elven liquor had stopped once the elves joined in the Kiri Civil War.
However, the most prominent sound was the hunters' arguing with the guild officials.
"What that hell do you mean that kill was worth 6,000 ryo?!"
"You lowballing me or somethin'? I almost died getting that head!"
"Hey! That's the going rate! You're lucky you got money for that carcass in at all!"
As they sat at a table with dishes of food and drink in front of them, Takumi was regaling the patrons with the story of the Nargacuga when the hall doors opened up. Takumi looked up and saw three familiar people. The lone male was blonde with blue eyes. He was wearing blue jeans a brown hoodie and white armor while carrying a sword in its sheath at his hip. He looked like a regular teenage boy, depression and angst on his face; but he still carried himself with a fair amount of pride. For all the clumsiness that was in his step, this boy was obviously the leader of the team, and was getting better at his job.
Next was a redhead clad in bronze and leather armor, wearing her circular shield like a backpack and a spear holstered in it. She possessed a streamlined athletic build and an intelligence that shown subtly in her emerald eyes. She kept a level head, but there was clearly a saddened aura about her. This was no dainty cherry blossom; this was a hardy peony that trained and studied hard to be the girl that she was. Whatever it was that happened to make a girl like that sad had to be terrible.
The other girl had orange hair with with a white blouse and pink skirt, a large steel hammer slung on her back with a pink heart on its cylindrical head. This girl almost seemed to be dragging her feet along the ground, and her ocean-blue eyes were looking down at the ground. He didn't know who she was, but something about this girl told Naruto that she was not normally this quiet…at all. In fact, he saw her in his mind, skipping around, letting words fly from her mouth at high speeds and so full of affection.
"Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie and Pyrrha Nikos. What a surprise!" Takumi called, waving to the team before walking over to them.
Naruto looked at the hunter girls for an explanation.
"That's Team Juniper," Kazuko murmured. "Along with us and Team Ruby, we were the standout rookie teams in the academy. Jaune is from a long line of hunters, some of whom participated in the Shinobi World Wars. Pyrrha is great with Jiton jutsu, and was able to win several competitions and bar fights with it. Nora has a thing for explosives, along with a blindingly obvious crush on their teammate Lie Ren. Ren, by the way, is by far one of the best taijutsu specialists I've ever met, but he gets even better when he pulls out his hatchets."
Takumi walked over and grabbed Jaune's hand in greeting, the two of them gripping tightly. "Great to see you guys again. How was the hunt?"
Jaune rubbed his head. "Well, we…we did alright." He glanced away. "But we ran into some…complications."
{Play: "Castle of Glass (Music Video version) By Linkin Park}
Takumi raised an eyebrow at that last word, and looked at the girls. He noticed that Nora was not acting like herself. She seemed subdued and haggard, as though she'd spent the last hour or so crying. Looking again, he did not see the fourth member of the team who would have been catching his breath by this point keeping up with her.
"Where's Ren?" Takumi asked. The question seemed to hit everyone hard as silence spread to the rest of the guild. All activity seemed to stop as if to listen in on the question, which made it all the more evident. Nora's breath hitched minutely and she was forced to look away.
"I see," he muttered. Their silence told him everything he needed to know. He strode over to an empty table and smashing it into splinters with a single punch and an angered roar. "DAMN IT!" Takumi snarled savagely, glaring at the fragments of the wooden table, ignoring the small, bleeding cuts on his fist. It was unclear as to what had earned his ire more, but he was calming down. "What happened?"
"Uhh…" stammered Jaune, his jaw trembling as he tried to find the right words to say, "I…I don't even know how to start."
Realizing that he must have been in shock from his outburst, Takumi gently pat his friend on the shoulder to calm him down. "Jaune…just take a deep breath, and tell me: what happened to Ren?" It was clear that Ren was really important to Team Yasha, as Kazuko and Mayumi were also visibly shaken by the news.
As he took a calming breath, Jaune began his tale. "We were on our way back here after a job. It was really tough, but we managed to escort the caravan safely and we got to kill a really big Azuros on the way back. Everything went well; job was done and we got a bonus. Then we got ambushed by an Espinas. You should've seen us, we kicked its ass! But, after we thought it was finally dead, it turned out to be playing dead. Ren saw it swinging its tail and pushed Nora out of the way, and you…can figure out what happened then."
The Espinas was a green, saurian creature covered in red spines, and had a large horn on its snout. Like the Rathalos, it was a wyvern capable of flight. It was a dangerous forest-dwelling animal that could spit gobs of fire, fueled by a highly toxic and flammable venom that also coated its spines. Even while asleep it was dangerous, given its habit of swishing its spiked tail around. If Ren hadn't been killed instantly by the mace-like tail smashing his bones and organs, then it would have been a slow death from the venom tearing him apart from within.
"The worst thing about it is that...Ren confessed to Nora in her arms. Her childhood friend, who continuously denied their feelings, finally admitted his love for her. It absolutely devastated her." Pyrrha said solemnly.
Takumi shook his head, letting out a disappointed sigh as he spoke. "That damn idiot. He should have confessed his feelings sooner, like I did. Now look at her." He turned to Nora, his eyes softening as he spoke. "Hey there Nora, how's it going?"
Nora looked at Takumi. "Hey there Takumi," she said, giving a strained smile, "I've been better. I mean...its been two days since Ren told me loved me and two days since he died."
Takumi embraced her. "It's going to be alright Nora. Ren wouldn't want you to be sad." The floodgates Nora had been maintaining had finally broken down. As she continued sobbing away on his chest, Takumi ran his fingers consolingly through Nora's orange locks. He turned his attention to Jaune and Pyrrha with a depressed sigh. "Does Team Ruby know about this?"
Pyrrha nodded. "We sent a note telling them about this a little bit after the incident. They should be on their way as we speak."
He gave a noise of acknowledgement. "What about his body?"
Nora hesitantly broke the hug to reach behind her and pull a scroll out of her satchel. "Here…we've been saving his body to give it a funeral."
"Good. C'mon, we've been friends a long time. It's time we show it." Takumi said, leading the group away, "Are we waiting for Team Ruby?"
A voice from the back corner of the hall answered, "We may as well," Catching everyone's attention. The speaker wore a wide-brimmed fedora, a leather cloak, and was dressed elegantly. Even while seated, he carried himself as a seasoned veteran. At his side was a rather large scythe propped up against the wall next to him. "We've all lost people in this line of work; friends, loved ones, even worthy adversaries. Why not take this time to commemorate the people we have lost?"
Mayumi smiled sadly. "Qrow-sensei, it's nice to see you again. How're Ruby and Yang?"
Qrow sat up from his table, walked over to Team Yasha. "They've been well since the last time I saw them. You should speak with them when you get the chance." He turned to Team Juniper and bowed his head respectfully. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Jaune grimly answered Qrow's gaze and returned the bow. "Thank you, sir. I just wish I could've done more. I'm the leader of this team and...I let one of my comrades die."
Qrow let out a calming sigh and gave Jaune a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Trust me, I've seen more people die that I couldn't save. I am sure you did your best." A single turn was all it took for Qrow to finally notice the ninjas. "My apologies for the delay. I am Qrow Branwen, veteran hunter. It's nice to see ninja here.
"The pleasure's ours," said Naruto, "And, y'know... sorry for your loss. Is it okay if we attend?"
"It would be an honor."
…
[Senbonzakura Sweet Stand, Konohagakure no Sato―the next day]
The day started off well; aside from the large clouds that were building up, it was still good weather for a walk. Sure, there were people that simply stared at her with suspicion, but at least that was as bad as it got. Plus, it was around this time when Anko got to go to the Senbonzakura Sweet Stand for her usual ration of dango and imported spirits from Isla Mistica for lunch for today.
Normally she'd just order a green tea with her dango, but there was reason to spoil herself today. Anko had just heard the results after she'd managed to pry the information from three targets within four and a half hours (Ibiki held the record at two prisoners in five hours). All three of them were Konoha shinobi on the take, each of whom had some skill at resisting interrogation. Apparently, they'd never been interrogated by Anko before; and thanks to her efforts, the village was cleaned up significantly within two days.
One prisoner revealed that a chemistry teacher had been running a meth racket in the slums. The product he'd developed was a blue crystal far more powerful than ordinary meth, had a higher yield than normal, and was hallucinogenic. The solution? Set fire to all the labs, and destroy them with their own product. The chem teacher died an ironic death by being made to overdose on his own drug.
Another prisoner talked about a treasurer working for the daimyo that was in Tanzaku City. It normally wouldn't be such a bad thing, given that Tanzaku was a pleasure destination, were it not for the fact that he pretty much blew the taxpayers' money on booze, gambling, and hookers. An undercover kunoichi was assigned to do the man in with some heroin, a bit of pretend-sex, and a very powerful vasoconstrictor. The man was found naked in his hotel room with his 'equipment' shriveled up and foaming at the mouth, and discolored splotches of skin. The Daimyo went on live-TV to apologize to the victims of the scandal, and swore that compensation would be given to all parties affected.
And finally, the last prisoner's mouth - along with his bowels - was loosened when Anko showed him her biggest and most venomous snake, and threatened to have him violated. He said that a civilian councilwoman was involved in the human trafficking scene. Her 'products' were 13-15 year old genin fresh from the academy, and sold to the highest bidder in various locations to be brainwashed for indentured servitude. The kidnap ring was busted, all parties either sentenced to life or death, and the councilwoman was given a one-way ticket to visit Ibiki. Restitutions were paid to the families of the kidnapped genin, with the promise of bringing them home one way or another.
However, the day got even better for Anko when she heard that she'd be working as a proctor for the upcoming Chūnin Exams. This meant an even fatter paycheck than normal, as well as the fun of breaking the genin that would come to the village; maybe put some local genin in their place.
"Here's your order, Anko-chan," said Miyuki, approaching her table with a tray, "Six sticks of Mitarashi dango, and two shots of whiskey. Better savor it though, we have no idea how long the elves will be at war."
Anko lifted one of her shots and offered it to her waitress. "Then let's have a toast."
Miyuki tentatively took the shot back, looking at Anko curiously. "To what?"
"To cleaning up the village. With all the assholes I interrogated a few days ago, the village is now a safer place to live. Best part is, I broke all three of them in five hours!"
"Well then, to a better and safer village, I guess."
"Here, here!"
As the shot glasses touched with a light 'clink,' there was a light tap above the two occupants that stopped them from drinking, then repeated several times after a few seconds of silence. Miyuki was the first to break the awkward silence as she looked up at the reinforced ceiling of her sweet stand. "Do you think it's…"
"Nah," dismissed Anko, "It's probably…"
She cut off as the sporadic tapping became a full-on rattle, followed by droplets rolling off the edges. Her temper flared as she saw that it was starting to rain. "Okay, seriously, this is really starting to steal my…" *Kra-koom!* "…thunder."
"Something sad must have happened," mused Miyuki, watching as the sudden rain and thunderstorm hit, "Or at least, it's happening now. It usually rains this bad when someone's died."
Anko could only agree, as the rain was souring her mood. She sighed in depression as she raised her glass. "I guess I could give my toast for that instead…"
"To whoever it is, have a safe trip to the afterlife." said Miyuki, raising her shot.
"Here, here."
They both drank their shots, savoring the bitter flavor. There was only the tranquil sound of the downpour as Miyuki quietly went back to work. Anko went back to eating, while the two of them decided to give a silent prayer to whomever the rain was falling for.
…
[Konohagakure Hunter's Guild]
The rain suited the scene, as people surrounded a pile of logs, arranged neatly into a square box filled with cedar wood and topped with level planks. Atop the planks lay the body of a boy in his teens, dressed in a green long-coat and beige slacks. His arms were folded over his chest, and at his sides were a pair of hatchets attached to long chains. The boy himself looked too pretty for the work he did, especially with the spot of pink in his raven hair, but the fact that he had been able to work among hunters gave one pause. On the side opposite of his hatchets was a gourd filled with saké, and a few rice cakes for the journey to the afterlife. As per tradition, he also had a single ryo in his mouth to pay for the trip, and his body was surrounded by bundles of lavender.
The expressions were solemn and everyone was dressed in their funeral attire as people were pouring extremely high-proof spirits from the bar onto the body, the possessions, and the incense. Near the box were the remnants of Team Juniper, and four other girls. The first was a black-haired gothic girl with a reddish black corset and combat skirt. She also had red and black boots and leggings, and wore a red hooded cape. The girl's silver eyes, which were normally full of life and joy, were now overflowing with tears.
Next to her was a pale girl with white hair in an off-center ponytail, brilliant sapphires for eyes, with a scar along the left one. She wore a white jacket and combat skirt with platform boots. The way she was dressed and carried herself spoke of a life on the upper-echelons of society. Her cold facial expression showed signs of cracking as she stood next to the crying girl.
The third girl had black hair, with a black cat-eared headband that seemingly drooped in sadness. She was wearing a white shirt under a black vest, beige pants, and thigh-length stockings. She seemed calm about the whole affair, but the air of sadness was still there in her amber eyes.
The last girl was a blonde with violet eyes and a respectable bust. She wore a yellow bandana around her neck, a leather jacket and bicycle shorts, possessing a lithe but strong body that was built for endurance. She seemed to have the demeanor of a party-girl, but now she was trying to put on a brave front for the others; and failing to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
They were Team Ruby, and like Teams Yasha and Juniper, they were rising stars among the hunters. And like those teams, they were hit really hard by Ren's death.
Meanwhile, Naruto, Meilan, Toph, and the Uchiha twins stood off to the side. They too were in their funeral attire, here to give their condolences to the deceased. However, they could not stay for the feast held in his honor afterward; they had to go to their teams, and their sensei had agreed to allow them to stay just for the funeral. The main reason they chose to attend was to ensure that someone outside of the hunters would remember his death.
{Play: "Wings" by Jeff Williams, from "RWBY"}
"Why him…Why did he have to die, Weiss?" sniffed the gothic girl.
"We all knew the risks when we took the oath, Ruby." Weiss said, trying her hardest not to cry.
"We've been friends with him so long, it's hard to remember him not being with us." agreed he black-haired girl. "I've seen so many friends die before becoming a huntress. But seeing our friend, on that pyre…it really hits home."
"I remember when we formed our teams. He was quiet, but he always had wise words for us even when we did something stupid." The blonde girl said, chuckling hollowly. "It really hits home. I don't think I'll ever get used to this."
Ruby looked over at the blonde. "If we did, we'd be monsters, Yang."
The black-haired girl did not take her attention away from the pyre as more wreaths of lavender were placed around the body. "I…agree, kinda. You're right, Ruby. It's just…I'm used to seeing deaths like this, but it doesn't stop the pain."
Ruby wiped her tears, nodding in agreement. "I guess all we can do now is live on for him."
"Everyone, gather around!" called out the voice of Qrow. His voice carried through the crowd, filling the air with reverent silence. "We will conduct the rite of the hunter's funeral. For those who've never seen one, we allow a eulogy from the team of the fallen, or their loved ones if they hunt alone and any comrade who wishes to speak. Once finished, we will cremate the body; for just as fire takes life, so too can it renew life."
Qrow turned his gaze to Teams Yasha, Ruby, and Juniper, beckoning them to come up to the stand. As they knew the deceased the best, they were given the honor of speaking first. One by one the teams came up and spoke. Takumi spoke of the wisdom and the laughs he shared with Ren. Mayumi spoke of his level head on and off the battlefield. Kazuko emphasized his kindness, especially to children.
When Team Yasha was done with the words they had for him, Team Ruby took to the stand. Ruby talked about his skill with a weapon, which got a few chuckles from the teams. Weiss discussed how, despite her upbringing, he was among the first to accept her as an equal, and she teared up a bit at the end of her speech. Blake talked about his patience, because dealing with his ten friends took a special breed. Yang talked about his sense of humor especially with her jokes.
Finally, and perhaps fittingly, Team Juniper took to the stand. After all, Ren was part of their team. "We may have been considered one the best teams of our year, but we did not forget who we were. Ren made sure of that," Jaune began, periodically glancing at a sheet of paper, "We might have been the only guys in our group of friends, but frankly that didn't matter; it just meant that we knew who we could count on. Ren and I had a bond that only siblings could understand, and considering I have seven sisters, that says a lot about him. I was proud to fight alongside him, and I am sorry I couldn't…couldn't do anything to save him."
Next was Pyrrha. She too carried a paper with her eulogy, but she was confident enough in her words that she didn't look back at it. "Though I only knew him from the moment our team was formed the first year of the academy, I could not imagine the adventures and joys we would share together. Whether it was on a training mission or trading stories with our friends, Ren always knew the right thing to say. He may not have been our true leader, but he was one to us emotionally and spiritually. He was our best friend, but he was also our rock."
Pyrrha stepped down and everyone's turned to Nora who quietly took the spot provided. "Ren...was my best friend. I grew up with him, and every day we continued to deny our relationship. I kept saying we weren't 'together' together when people brought that up." She gave a watery sigh. "Who were we kidding? We were the only people who didn't realize it. I never realized it. Now I'll have to live the rest of my life knowing that I will never...be able to return his…his feelings…" At last, Nora's voice trembled and broke. Tears welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she started to sob over the podium. Jaune went to comfort her, embracing her tenderly as she cried. Team Ruby reached out with Pyrrha, and did the same to capture the girl in a group hug.
"Nora." The girl looked over at Qrow. His voice was calm, but the look in his eyes said enough. "Its time."
Nora nodded and reluctantly broke the embrace. Qrow took a log, dipped it in oil, and lit it in the nearby fire pit before handing it to her.
Nora slowly walked to the pyre. With tear-soaked cheeks, she uttered one last sentence to her fallen love. "Good-bye…Ren." She brushed her fingers against his cheek, before she drove the torch into the box. The first sparks of the fire built up from within, igniting the soaked logs, before the flames began to creep over the alcohol, consuming the logs before they went for the lavender. Soon, the entire pyre was alight, the scent of powerful liquor and lavender mingling together to do their job, and the items that he would be taking with him would be carried with him in his ashes.
Nora walked back into the embrace of Jaune, who hugged her tight. "I promise, you won't be alone. You've got me, Pyrrha, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, you've even got Takumi, Kazuko and Mayumi. You aren't alone."
Nora nodded in response, acknowledging their offer for friendship. She continued to cry her eyes out as the flames burned. Team Ruby embraced the duo tenderly.
"I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greatest dreams are something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death," Qrow intoned solemnly. He fixed Jaune with a tired gaze. "A long time ago, I heard those words in a dream myself. The day Ren died, I heard them again. Take care not to let his contributions go to waste. Do not let him pass from your hearts." Qrow walked away and stopped after a few paces. "Take care of her, won't you? You, Pyrrha and Team Ruby are all she has left. Let her grieve for a bit. Don't let her lose that smile again."
Jaune nodded. "You are part of that group too, Qrow-sensei."
"Am I, now? Well, isn't that an honor," he murmured, the corner of his mouth turning up minutely, "But…you can do much more for her than an old bird like me."
Jaune nodded and pulled Pyrrha close to hold Nora.
The hunters looked and saw the rest of the guild giving a salute to the pyre. The butt of their right fists were laid over their hearts, while their left arm rested against the small of their backs. This was the hunters' salute.
Finally, Takumi turned his attention the shinobi and Toph. "Thanks for attending. I'm pretty sure Ren would've liked to meet you guys."
Naruto nodded. "No problem. Though I now I get why you said you have to live with no regrets out there. I don't want my end to be like that."
"Will Nora be okay?" Setsuka asked.
Takumi looked at the group. Nora was still crying, but had managed to calm down in the middle of Jaune and Pyrrha's embrace. "Yeah. After a while at least. It's just that it'll take some time before she's herself again."
Suddenly, Naruto pulled Meilan and the twins into a tight hug. At first, they were startled by the suddenness of the action, but the girls settled into his embrace and watched as the funeral pyre burned itself out. His face, as he stared, was drawn into a grim frown of introspection. Finally, he turned his attention to Takumi, tiredness in his eyes. "And you, Takumi?"
Takumi sighed. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just need a couple of days to get used to it. But don't you worry, I'll be more than ready for the exams. I've already made plenty of promises to live for. This is just another one. If I die in the Chūnin Exams…well, I just won't die, then. Not just for my parents, now, not just for Mayumi and Kazuko, but also for Ren. I'm going to win."
Naruto's smile was sympathetic, but also carried a hint of an almost brutal excitement. "That so? Well, good luck, then."
"I don't need luck, I got these two girls. They're all I need." Takumi boasted, throwing his arms around his companions and drawing them to him.
The group watched as the flames burned. Smoke and embers rose to the sky. It was as though Ren's soul was carried through the smoke and into the next life. The sight before them would serve as a reminder to themselves that life punished the careless brutally. At the same time, they would not forget those who died before them.
For it is in passing that we achieve immortality.
…
A/N:
UnitedOsprey1991: I was tearing up at the funeral scene. Hope you enjoy our Monty Oum tribute. As for the RWBY teams, they might make a couple more appearances.
Kurogane7: I hope everyone enjoys our tribute to Monty…it was fun, and an honor to do. Also, it seems the Kiri Loyalists are going to get it now.
Anyway, as usual, a round applause to Osprey and NorthSouth.
NorthSouthGorem: This sure was a chapter for cameos, wasn't it? Hope all ya'll like that little bit I tacked on at the end there.
Vocabulary/Notes
kōdachi―a type of Japanese sword with a short blade, hence the name (小太刀). It is pretty much a wakizashi with a tachi mounting (blade is worn with the edge down.)
five-by-five―this line is based on the signal-to-noise ratio used to tell the HQ that the signal is coming clear, and noiseless. Here, 5 is the highest number.
Competition between courier ninja and the helicopter―This refers to the way mail was delivered. When Aircraft were introduced, some modes of transport became obsolete. Among them would be sled dogs in Alaska. They nearly died off due to aircraft mail services.
Ren's cremation―not sure if whisky was used as the fuel for cremations, but some cultures used a specific and fragrant oil to ignite bodies for cremations.
…
Cameos/References
"I think it's time we blow this thing, get everybody the stuff together…okay, 3…2…1, let's jam."
"Bang"―a line Spike Spiegel quoted at the end of the first "Cowboy Bebop" season. Let's go with that one
Camel Clutch―A pro wrestling move made famous by The Iron Sheik
"The arrogance of man is that nature is in their control…and not the other way around."―Dr. Serizawa, Godzilla 2014
Team Natsu―I think you know who they are. If not...you've been living under a rock.
"Hell, it's about time."―Starcraft 2
CH-47 Chinook―the helicopter used to transport Magoichi's tank.
M4 Sherman Tank (Firefly variant)―American Tank from World War II…the Firefly variant was modified by British troops to have a longer barrel. You'll see more references in coming chapters.
Dust―The Crystals from RWBY will act like fuel for Saika-made machines.
Urd, Joker, Garrus, Talia, and Kai―all of them are named after characters from "Mass Effect".
Speaking of RWBY, Team JNPR makes an appearance...without Lie Ren. Team RWBY shows up as well as well as Qrow Branwen.
Blue Meth―from "Breaking Bad"
The quote Qrow said-Monty Oum's enduring words to our generation. Originally had Takumi say it but considering Monty was going to be Qrow's VA we felt it appropriate.
Hunter's salute- The Salute from Attack on Titan
The final line- A quote by Pyrrha in RWBY canon, used for the unlocking of one's Aura. Here, it is used as an oath of sorts by the dead, swearing to live on as a memory.
