Whats up kiddies, I got an announcement to make real quick. I will be doing a DOR Omake Q&A session. If you'd like to see a member of our favorite group of ninja answer any of you questions then send me a PM and you just might be chosen. But please make sure you ask your questions in the PMs, any questions asked in the reviews will not be answered. Let's do this.
"Good morning everyone and welcome back to Good Morning Vale with me Lisa Lavender. As we all know last weeks breach by the grimm has brought up many concerns about the security we can expect from Vale authorities. Because of these concerns a large portion of security for the Vytal festival will be covered by our neighbors from Atlas. And speaking of the festival, this year we will be welcoming a guest team. Here to speak to us this morning is none other than the teacher of this guest team as well as diplomat from Menagerie. Mr. Orochimaru." The lavender haired woman announced with a wide smile on her face.
Orochimaru smiled in return and nodded. "Thank you for having me Ms. Lavender." He responded from his spot on the red cushioned chair he sat in next to the woman. He wore a formal purple kimono and sipped a cup of tea before setting it down on a small glass table in between the two.
"Thank you for coming on. Now as you know this is the first time any team has taken up the banner of anyone but the four major kingdoms during the Vytal tournament. What exactly are your hopes for this years tournament?" Lisa asked the sannin before taking a sip from her own mug of coffee.
"That is a very good question, to be a bit simplistic, I hope to spread awareness of a project I am working on alongside the current chief of Menagerie. He and I have recently been drawing up plans for a Huntsmen's academy of Menagerie's own. I hope by showing off the skills of my student's from our rather small island of Oto off Menagerie's coast, that we may interest possible instructors interested in teaching the first generation of Menagerie hunters, as well as to take in possible donation to build and maintain the school." He explained clearly to the woman who nodded along to his words. "If we are successful in training our own hunters, the chief and I are confident that in time, possibly in our lifetimes, we can push back the grimm on Menagerie and take control of all the land and natural resources sitting in our backyard making it possible for Menagerie to grow."
"Without a doubt a worthy goal, one I wish you the best in. As for your student's, you say you've taught them yourself. Tell me, do you believe these youths stand a chance against the best and brightest that the four great hunters academies of Remnant have to offer?" The news woman leaned in only slightly.
Orochimaru covered his mouth as he chuckled at the question. "I have no doubt that my adorable little students will prove to be just as formidable of opponent as any others fighting this year."
"Well I for one am excited to watch. If I may ask, how did such a young man come to be the leader of a small colony as well as a instructor for a team of young hunters?" Lisa asked earning a loud bout of laughter from the snake sage. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what is so funny."
Orochimaru quickly recomposed himself. "I apologize, but I'm far older than I look. One of the perks of being a snake faunus, I can shed my skin to avoid wrinkles. Tell me, how old do you believe I am?" Orochimaru asked with genuine amusement.
"Well originally I believed you were in your early twenties, but now I'm not so sure." The news woman blushed only slightly though she clearly attempted to hide it by sipping at her coffee.
"I just turned fifty six." He smiled widely as the woman nearly choked on her hot drink. "My goodness, are you alright dear girl?"
Lisa coughed into a napkin. "Yes, and I'm sorry I just wasn't expecting such a... high number. I just hope I look so young at that age." She wiped her mouth.
"Indeed, you'd be surprised how often I hear that." Orochimaru smiled as he sipped his tea.
Unknown Location
Cinder sat at the edge of the bed as Watts listened to her breathing. "Well the aura therapy is working well enough alongside your magic, most of the major damage has healed." He pulled the prongs from his ears and pulled out his scroll. "All that's left is a number of minor fractures and the bruising across most of your body. I was slightly worried about the internal bleeding you'd experienced but your aura seemed to focus on that before anything else." Turning to the door Watts looked at Emerald and Mercury who were standing back listening. "She needs to continue taking her medication for another week and shouldn't leave her bed for at least two more days."
"That's to long." A new voice spoke up surprising everyone in the room. All heads whipped towards the source, a tall man wearing all black and a hood stood next to Cinder looking down on her. After only a few seconds of shock both Cinder and Watts got down onto their knees and bowed their heads while Emerald and Mercury stood still looking confused.
"On your knees now!" Cinder barked at the two causing them to quickly obey.
The entire room was silent for several seconds before the man in black spoke again. "Cinder, this is the second time you've allowed yourself to be bested by the enemy. First when you failed to completely drain the maiden, and now with your loss to the man in the mask. Do you have anything to say for yourself child?" He asked the women who remained motionless on her knees with her head facing the floor.
"No my lord, I'm sorry." Cinder could feel sweat begin to form on her forehead, then every hair on her body stood on end when she felt his hand pressed down on her head gently. The moment he touched her she felt like an ant underneath the claw of a mighty dragon.
"It's okay my dear Cinder, you did your very best I'm sure. Your enemy was just to powerful, it's not your fault." The man knelt down in front of Cinder and moved his hand to cup her chin and lift it so the were meet each others gaze. "And I know you would never allow yourself to fail a third time." The shadow from his hood obscured all but the smile he wore on the lower half of his face. "Am I right?"
Cinder was doing everything in her power to keep from trembling under his stare. "Of course my lord, it will never happen again." She answered quickly.
The man smile widened almost unnoticeably as he move his hand again until it was gently holding the side of her face, with his thumb he very softy wipe a tear she wasn't even aware she'd shed away. "That's a good girl." After what felt like years the man stood back up, turning towards the door the man began walking. "Watts your job here is complete, I will take over Cinder's treatment from here." He didn't wait for a reply before walking out the door.
Beacon
"How is this even fair?" Deidara asked as he watched the screen on the wall of the locker room. "Each of us alone is strong enough to win this thing easy, so whats the point hn?" He looked away from the footage of Team RWBY facing a team from Mistral.
"Leader believes one of the teams may be working with the enemy, he wants us to part take in order to find who it may be." Sasori explained from his spot on the bench.
"I think your leaving out the part about Kakuzu demanding we take part for the half million lien prize." Kisame laughed as he continued watching the fight on the screen.
Itachi stood next to him with a grin as he also watched the fight. "Sense you're so confident Deidara, why don't you handle this fight?"
"Huh?" The blonde was confused by the Uchiha.
"You said you could win this by yourself, then do it." Itachi looked over to the glaring bomber. "Captains orders."
"And team RWBY earns a stunning victory!" Professor Port's voice boomed over the speaker system.
"A great match indeed, and hard fought as well. Those girls have shown all year their skill and determination, I've no doubt they all have bright futures as huntresses." Oobleck spoke next in his usual high speed tone.
"Well said Bart, now our next two teams will doubtlessly prove to be crowd pleasers. A battle of the sexes!" Peter shouted into the mic.
"That's our que." Sasori said storing his scroll into his coat and making his way to the door along with his fellow three teammates, Deidara still grumbling.
"Hailing from Vacuo is the all female team NDGO!" The crowd roared as the four boys turned a corner and found themselves stepping onto a bridge that would take them to the arena floor.
"And representing Vale in this fight is the all male team HURI!" The crowd roared again as the boy approached the center of the arena where the opposing team stood waiting.
"They don't even know us and their cheering hn." Deidara deadpanned as he looked over the massive crowd.
"I'd say their cheering more for our association with Vale than us." Itachi responded to the observation.
Once the four made it to the ring and the bridge retracted a series of screens appeared. "And now let's see where these two teams will be fighting." The screens quickly began shifting between a series of symbols before slowing and finally stopping on one depicting bamboo shoots. "The first area will be the Bamboo forest." The second slot continued to spin before finally slowing until it stopped on one depicting a flower. "It's decided the second battle field will be the meadow! Three, two, one BEGIN!" Oobleck shouted as a field of grass and flowers rose up.
"Sasori, Kisame, let's take the meadow." Itachi gestured towards said meadow as he began walking over to it completely ignoring the four girls who'd drawn their weapons and were now watching as they walked over to the small grassy field. Deidara simply glared at them as they walked and sat down in the grass. Itachi reached into his coat and withdrew a deck of cards as did Kisame and Sasori and began shuffling.
"Excuse me, what the hell do you think you're doing?" The leader of team NDGO demanded as the three set up their decks.
"Playing Grimm Wars the card game, please don't mind us." Sasori gave a fake smile as he drew his hand.
"We're suppose to be having a match!" The girl yelled in anger at what she took as disrespect from the male team of shinobi.
Itachi looked the girl in the eyes before pointing to Deidara who was still standing at the center of the ring looking pissed. "Fight him, if your team can beat him then the three of us will forfeit, and don't worry, we have no plans on helping him." He explained before looking back to the cards in his hand completely ignoring the girls angry red face.
Deidara sighed before raising his and and looking at the palm of his glove, a zipper had been added by Nora as a gift to him which he quickly unzipped as well as the other hand and then shoved his hands into his pouches. "Just ignore those assholes and focus on me, they won't get involved and they will keep their word of forfeiting. Now let's begin." Deidara pulled his hands from his pouch and held out his hands towards the four. Walking backwards he held eye contact as he entered the bamboo forest.
"Their underestimating us." The leader growled as she took aim at the three playing cards.
"Nebula." The redhead stopped her. "Let them be idiots, it just means we'll have an easy win and won't need to show everything we have."
Sighing the girl lowered her crossbow. "I guess you're right. Fine, let's go kick blondies ass." She said before the four took off towards the bamboo forest where Deidara stood waiting in the open.
"About time, now let's play a bit, do you girls like dolls?" The blonde bomber smiled before spitting large white globs from his hands with streams of clay lead back up to his hands, his gloves still hiding the mouths in his palms. The globs began to pick themselves up as they formed legs and arms though their bodies continued to ungulate.
"Eew, what are those?" The girl wearing an armored dress covered her mouth in horror at the sight of the wobbly creatures.
Deidara laughed. "These my dear, are art." He continued to laugh as the clay dolls began shambling towards the girls.
AND THE TOURNAMENT BEGINS. You people have no clue how long I've been waiting to start on volume 3. I don't normally plan ahead but I've got tons of ideas I want to try in this volume. Leave me a review and tell me what you all think. Until next time.