Naruto couldn't help himself, every so often just like Amira and Nora he'd eat some of the sap, it was an addicting sweet taste. Smiling with some still on his lips he turns to Nora and Amira, they were joined by Link and Han.
Burping aloud after eating a jar, Nora rubs her stomach, smiling she motions to Naruto. "Sap me."
Handing her another jar, Nora greedily opened the lid, swallowing the contents. Slurping it down, all the while Glynda was pinching her nose as she was looking at everyone else. Walking over to them she saw them chowing down on the sap.
"You all will make yourselves sick if you continue to eat the sap like its eatable water." Glynda points out as she watched Naruto eat his, finishing it off, he got up patting his stomach. "How many jars was that Namikaze?"
Naruto held up three fingers, a bright smile on his face, and then flashed over to a tree.
Looking at the rest of her students she saw Link slowly drinking his jar. "I love Red Sap, back in Vacuo we have trees in certain areas that have purple sap."
"Oh…" Glynda was surprised to hear that, she never knew that sap could even be purple. "Is it any good?"
"Well, you see, this is super sweet." Link waves his jar, taking another swig from it. "Purple sap is also very sweet, but its used a numbing medication…um…what's the word?"
"Anesthesia," Glynda told him, surprised to hear that, she was interested in the conversation despite the rest getting up and going for more sap. "What part of Vacuo are you from?"
"The Eastern Mountain Region of Hyrule. Zelda, my team leader, is actually my family's charge. My family has defended her noble family for generations, likewise, Han's and Fu's have been there for generations well." Link points out, relaxing a little. "I'm just really glad we all got to be on the same team, I'd trust no one else with my life but Zelda."
"Well Mr. Link, certainly you are both loyal and interesting."
"I aim to always to please Ms. Goodwitch, but I need to get going, I've been lazy long enough."
"Very well."
"Woohoo!" Nora screams, making Glynda pinch her nose, turning around she saw Nora and Amira leapfrogging over each other towards a tree.
Ren and Pyrrha were standing off to the side, looking around for Jaune. "Hey, Pyrrha, you've seen Jaune?"
"No…I haven't." Pyrrha sounded downcast as she is collecting her jar of sap. "If he's with Cardin's group, then I'm not going to keep doing this much longer Ren, he needs to defend himself."
"I understand that, but we need to be patient, besides he's a good-hearted guy," Ren says, he looks around, not seeing him anywhere. "I'm sure he'll fight if it involves some of us."
"I hope you're right Ren, oh hey Ruby!" Pyrrha sees Ruby walking over with her sister in tow. "How goes the sap collecting?"
"Yummy-ingly." Ruby answers, licking the last bit of sap off her lips. "This stuff is like heaven in a jar…err…tree."
"I'll say, mmm, delicious." Yang licked her fingers as she looks around. "Where's Boy Wonder?"
"He's somewhere…collecting sap." Pyrrha says as she looks around over Yang's shoulder, and then looks at Ruby. "So I heard shouting from your room the other is everything okay?"
"Oh yeah, about that…" Ruby starts to giggle a little bit, she looks around with a blush. "I'm going on a date next weekend."
"Oh wow, really?" Pyrrha asks as she looks around, and smile. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Naruto," Ruby told her, she smiles a little bit, making sure he wasn't around since he didn't want him to suddenly appear and join in. "He asked me out a couple of few nights ago."
"Oh, that's so sweet Ruby, so where's he taking you."
"Ice Cream shop."
"Aww."
Looking at Yang she saw the lilac eyed girl smiling, nodding her head, she turns to see Naruto finishing collecting his sap. None the wiser as he communicated with Rock Lee and Lapis. They watched as he pulled out his flute from his satchel, checking the time on his scroll, and then he began to play as his team walked over to an oak.
Soft flute music filled the air as Naruto slid down the oak tree, taking a deep breath as he played. He hadn't played in a while, but Forever Fall is the place he imagined being out of a fairytale, so he played music accordingly.
Lapis hummed as he sat by Naruto, along with Lee. "Hard to imagine how far we've come, isn't it?"
"Yeah, from me unable to use aura effectively…"
"From me being unable to use my semblance…."
"Then there's Naruto here, the shy one."
Naruto smiled a little bit as he played his flute, looking around, he saw Ruby and them looking at him. Closing his eyes, he still continued to play, relaxing as he felt the cool forest blow on him.
Cardin was breathing hard, blood stained his hair from the cut on his head. Shaking a chair around he managed to knock it over to where he busted the back of it a little bit. Sharp pieces of wood stuck out. Slowly, he brought his wrists to it that were bound, cutting the hemp rope they used to tie him down, slowly but surely coming loose.
"I don't care if I go down with them, I cannot let them hurt them, they didn't do anything wrong! Fuck, come on, come on goddamn it!" Cardin mentally screams, finally feeling the rope give out, cutting apart due the sharp wooden splinter
Reaching down, his head pounding with pain, Cardin manages to break off the legs of the chair and slip out. They had taken his scroll which forces him to walk in his condition, getting up. He slowly limps to the door, blood dribbled down the side of his face a little.
"I will not die, I will not die…I'm going to be fine, they didn't hurt me too much…I'm fine…I'm fine." Cardin mentally mantras as he kicked open the dorm room door, since saw that they sealed the lock. "You bastards are going to regret the day you fucked with me.'
Hobbling down the hallway Cardin looks around, trying to see if anyone was there. "He-help!"
He felt dizzy, lightheaded, he looked around trying to see if anyone was there. They were all probably in class, so he continued forwards, all the while his eyes were heavy. He wanted to shut them so much, rest, but he knew if he did someone was going to get hurt really bad.
Walking forwards, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. "J-Jay?"
His brother, his long-dead brother, transparent in all stood beside them as they walk. Silent, eyes like that of a wolf, Jay slowly grabbed Cardin's arm, putting it around his neck. The young man, forever lost to the world, smiles as his brother tears up.
"Do what must be done, without fear, I'm never away from you, little brother. We are birds that flock together in cold winter, making the same next in summer, laying the colored of eggs of spring and raising our young in fall." Jay spoke to Cardin; his voice was slightly off, however. "Continue…go…go."
Cardin's eyes widened as he got to a proper hobbling jog, he looked around. "Help!"
"You're not a sheep Cardin, roar like a lion."
"Help!"
"Sometimes its hard to move forward and do the right thing, but the reward is peace."
"Help!"
"The power of change makes a caterpillar into a butterfly. A tadpole into a frog, a journey from darkness…to light."
Cardin looked around, feeling something enter him, like a second wind. He dashed, he felt his aura regenerating quickly, he ran as hard as he could. Coming towards an elevator, opening it, he entered. Looking at the buttons, he clicked the uppermost floor in the school building.
Feeling it go up he took a deep breath, looking at himself in the doorway's reflection. He saw his brother, Jay, slowly fading away but with a smile on his face. Tears fell down Cardin's face, finally, he made peace with it all, and he felt horribly sick for it.
All the times he insulted Ruby and her sister behind her back.
All the times he made fun of Naruto for his inability.
All the times he picked up on the weakness and vulnerability of Jaune.
All the schemes he had been egged into making.
All of it was swallowed like the most bitter pill.
Making peace with himself as he exited the elevator he took a deep breath, facing Ozpin's office. Walking out, he walked up to the door. He saw Ozpin was in there, doing paperwork, he then pounded on the door hard.
Ozpin looked up from his desk, seeing a bloodied Cardin, opening his door he sighs. "Look, Cardin if you had just gotten into a fight with Naruto…"
"I didn't, but you need to call Glynda and tell them they're all in danger!" Interjected Cardin, slamming his hands on the desk. "My team has gone rogue from me, they intend to hurt everyone there and blame it on Jaune."
"Is that so…Winchester, take a seat please."
"We don't have time to talk, please call them!"
"I believe that we do have time to talk, trust me will you."
"Jauney boy is going to be framed."
"Jaune is going to be fine."
Biting his lip, he looked Ozpin dead in the eye. "I'll sign, I'll sign a release form, I'll go down with them…I don't belong here."
"You are quite wrong about my intentions Mr. Winchester, you see, Naruto told me he would kill the evil that was you. He succeeded, but, I think you coming here today fully solidified your position inside of my school. I'm not worried for Naruto, for you see, I believe that matter will handle itself." Ozpin says as he reached out, taking Cardin's hands and flowing his aura into him.
"You look like a mess Mr. Winchester, why don't you head home for a few days?" Ozpin suggested as he patted Cardin's hands, smiling.
Russel, Sky, and Dove all waited on Jaune to throw the jar. The buzzing of The Rapier of Wasps filled Jaune's ears. He looked right at Pyrrha, he took a deep breath, turning around he looked them right in the eyes. "No."
He smashed the jar against the ground, he looked at them glaring. "I will not hurt my team."
Sky smirked, but then Russel punched Jaune in the face, while Dove smashed his foot into Jaune's stomach. The blonde fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, he looked up, spit fell down his lip. "I'll shout for help."
"Russel…knife." Dove held out his hand, Jaune's eyes widened as Russel handed Dove a knife.
He reached down, gripping a piece of glass, getting up he sent the shard into Dove's arm. He dropped the knife, the pain making Dove scream as he pulled the shard out. Jaune then grabbed the crate of sap, his aura burned white hot as he slammed the jars into the team.
Flashing in front of him, Naruto stopped Dove from bringing his sword down on Jaune. His kunai held against the sword, his eyes red with fury. Easily breaking the deadlock, Naruto turns around and reverse kicks Dove's head and sends him to the ground.
Sky roars out as he tried to bring down his Halberd, only for Jaune to get up, using his sword to block the strike. Standing back to back, Naruto grabs Jaune and flashes away just as Russel activates his semblance which allowed him to shoot a blast of aura from his hands.
Landing in a tree, Naruto checked over Jaune, as Pyrrha came running up towards them. "Jaune, are you okay?!"
"I'm fine Pyrrha, I'm fine…" Jaune tells Pyrrha, who then looks at Naruto as the teen's eyes burn bright red.
Flashing and appearing behind Dove with his staff in hand, Naruto batted the older teen hard in the head and sent him to the ground one last time. Russel roars out, firing off a blast of aura, only for Naruto hold out a hand.
Everyone was stunned when a bright dot appeared on his hand, a barrier formed around him made orange light, it shattered when the blast hit it. Putting his staff up, Naruto flashed above Russel, smashing his elbow on top of the teen's head.
He then flashed, appearing below him, sending his foot upwards and kicking him in the chin. Flashing once again to where he was above Russel, Naruto flipped forwards and slammed the back of his heel into Russel.
The teen screams out as he is smashed into the ground, Jaune and Pyrrha stood there wide-eyed at Naruto's brutality in this fight. Glaring right at Sky, he slowly walked forwards, his look said it all. It wasn't a person walking towards him, it was a giant demon fox with nine tails.
His hair stood up as his ears perked upwards, his thin whisker marks boldened a little bit. Sky held his halberd, his semblance activating as he summoned ethereal swords with his mind. Smirking, Naruto merely got a running start.
Avoiding them, despite how thin they were, Naruto receives a small cut on his cheek as he moved a little late on the last one. Sky was intending to kill him, he appeared in front of Sky, blocking the halberd by using his folded up Kurama.
Shaking, Sky moved backward, only to hear a growl. Looking behind him a giant Ursa growls raising his paw up. The fear made him drop his halberd, he screamed in panic. Only to feel himself being grabbed, and then appearing a few feet away.
Naruto's aura flickered out, which made him glare down at Sky, who held himself in fear of Naruto's stare.
"Naruto move!" Jaune yells, dashing towards Naruto and forcing the Giant Ursa back.
Slashing at the beast, Jaune barely blocked it with his shield in time, stabbing at it he stumbled forwards. Shifting his weight he turns on his heel, slashing the beast's face. Only to get knocked back a little when the beast bashed his shield his claw.
Ruby came running, seeing Naruto with a bleeding cheek as held down Sky with his foot. She then saw Russel get up, a knife in his hand. Not even thinking twice she used her semblance and appeared behind Naruto with her gun ready.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on him!" She yells at Russel, who stops, holding his hands up.
The one with the dagger lets it go, clattering to the ground. Smirking, Naruto took a deep breath, his appearance going back to normal as he faced Russel while looking over his shoulder. He felt some his aura going back as he grabbed Ruby's shoulder.
Disappearing the flash, his flash set off the boxes much to their shock.
A swarm of Rapier Wasps flew up, striking them with fury they never knew.
Dove got up, only to look as Jaune cuts the head off the Giant Ursa, and then looked up at Naruto and Ruby as they pointed their weapons at him.
Glynda came running, using her semblance to drag a whining Nora and Amira. "What happened?!"
"Cardin's gang attacked us, they wanted me to throw jars of sap against you all and then unleash the Rapier Wasps. I couldn't bring myself to fall that low." Jaune told Glynda so everyone could hear, "and when I refused they were going to kill me."
"He's lying!" Dove screams, only for Naruto send his foot back into his face.
Ruby pouted a little bit, "I think that one was mine…"
Naruto shrugs, snapping his fingers a little.
"I'm faster than you."
Naruto eyed her, questioning that in its entirety.
"I'll race you back to Beacon."
"Hey, you two, stop talking we're in the middle of something serious here," Glynda says, she then looks at Team C.R.D.L and grabs them with her semblance, all three of them. "You all will be expelled and I'll be contacting Vale's police."
"Good, at least Cardin got away."
"Yeah…totally, he's the one that planned it."
Naruto looked at them, stunned a little bit, he felt a pain in his heart at hearing those words. Looking down at the ground, he sighs, flashing away.
"Naruto!" Ruby says as she sees him flash away, a saddened look on her face. "You can't save…everyone…"
"You all are lying," Glynda told them, much to Jaune's shock. "Well not exactly you Mr. Arc, you are just telling the version of the truth you know."
"Huh?" Everyone gasps.
"There is a truth beneath the truth, underneath the underneath. Cardin came into Ozpin's office bloody in beaten, he claims he tried to stop his team…that young Namikaze made him see the error of his ways." Glynda explains, she looks around and looks at them all. "You all should learn to investigate and look at things more closely as Huntsmen and Huntresses."
"Class dismissed." Glynda told them, "I've got a lot of paperwork to do."
Naruto sat at his shrine, sighing, Oobleck was running behind. Looking at it, he saw a shadow over him. Turning around he saw Cardin there, bandages on his head, he sat down next to Naruto. The older teen looked at Naruto.
"You got a notepad on you?"
Naruto nodded, getting out his notepad.
"Before you write anything before you say anything, I just want to apologize. I want to apologize to you, to your mother…who I talked to about what I saw when I saw my brother. I want to go to Velvet and apologize to her, I want to change my ways…" Cardin gripped his fists, he looked at the shrine. "I'm sorry for calling you a mute, a gimp, everything…"
Naruto looked at Cardin stunned as the floodgates finally broke. "I miss my brother, I used the pain of others to cover up my pain…I became the monster, and I never want to go down that road again."
"I'm going to leave Beacon for a few days, go home, and look for the clues that this…Kagura thing left me in the form of my brother." Cardin told Naruto, he took a deep breath. "Can you…teach me…teach me to be a decent person?"
Naruto smiled a little bit, putting down the notepad, he pointed at Cardin's chest and opened his palm. Giving him a closed eye smile, Cardin felt something wash over him, and he took a deep breath. He watched as Naruto got into a lotus.
He didn't hesitate, he too got into a lotus, and they slowly breathed together.