AN: Wassuh, my dudes. I know some of you have been waiting for this, and are probably plenty frustrated with my lack of time putting out content. I apologize for that. But, life's a busy, and I've got more things to worry about than this. That said, I'm glad you enjoy what I'm putting out. This is pretty short all things considered, but I couldn't keep forcing myself to work on this chapter. Enjoy! Also, I don't own RWBY or Naruto.
Also reuploaded, because I decided to add more. I agree with NyaNya and Biob that this felt shorter. I mean, I write small chapters anyway, but I definitely came away feeling like there should have been something else after rereading. Maybe this was it.
The world was crisp and clear, every person something he could submerge himself into; an ocean of his own to explore and share in. Naruto Uzumaki could sense everything, and everyone. It'd be amazing if he couldn't help the guilt folding over in his gut again and again.
It'd only been three days since he'd talked to his parents about as much as he could understand. Every day since he's opened his eyes, everything else in him seemed to open up too; his senses and his mind were expanding and he could feel the shattered memories of him slowly piecing together, even if he did his best to stray away from them. That was for an older, braver Naruto to deal with. The more pressing matter was the people he'd hurt, indirectly. Their injuries, their worries, their chakras- Or auras rather?
It didn't help that he'd woken up in the infirmary every day. Glynda had taken to sleeping there with the rest of the wounded to try and help them through the aftermath. It was his fault, of course. How couldn't it have been? It was his emotions that nearly killed his two cousins, his parents, and even the people of Patch. The horde of Grimm were his responsibility. He was blind, immature and irrational, impulsive... And just... He had to fix it. Not-Him had given him vast knowledge, but the comprehension just wasn't there, and there was just so, so much. It hurt. Every time he scraped through the vast hallways of his mind he got lost, or felt his aura churn beneath his skin.
He could even feel the creepy crimson one-eyed creature wriggling through his circuits. The sheer malice it wielded was something that would haunt his dreams forever, he was sure. All these things didn't take away from the responsibility that was his, though. He could almost feel his older, alternate's clone swell with pride at the thought, even as the massive signature sat far across the world of Remnant in seclusion; awaiting him no doubt. Naruto would leave the pieces of his identity as they were for now: in shattered pieces. Meditation came to him easily these days. It was easy to fall into the swell of his own power, and easier still to fall into that of nature, Remnant's. He could feel how both surged to try and fall under his command, but his control was still utterly pathetic. He'd done so much damage for so little too many times. The boy knew he had to do something though. He had the power, somewhere in the vast corners of his mental space, and so he did the only thing he could think of. Sink.
The moment his feet kissed the water gently flowing through the corridors of his mind, Naruto fell by will alone. He let only his intent carry him through the phantom memories that still utterly terrified him. The ten-tailed faunus only halted when he found what he was searching for, never opening his eyes to see the rest of everything, and everyone that needed him to face what he once was; that wasn't him. It was never him. All of that was for Not-Him. When Naruto opened his eyes, he could feel his answer in the way his aura pulsed from his core and blanketed the whole of Patch. Every conscious and unconscious body on the isle he'd caused so much trouble for suddenly flared with a golden aura, each streaming back to him. Their pain was his pain, and Naruto would heal the damage he'd wrought, one way or another.
Glynda had been on autopilot through the whole of the day, as had Qrow. There was just too much happening, and it was only just reaching noon. She just couldn't comprehend the how of it all. When she and her fellow parent woke up that morning it was to the sound of joyful tears, cheers, and fresh auras suddenly awakening. Every mother, father, daughter and son, no matter the age, had suddenly been born anew it seemed. Not an injury in sight on any body, and while Patch wasn't a populous place, hell, the whole of its people could fit in the school if they wanted, that was still quite an amount of individuals suddenly having a power they shouldn't have been able to control in the first place. No one had taught them, or awoken it, though the stress of the siege could have awaken it- but, in every person that was here on the isle? Unlikely.
Glynda had been mechanically tracking every recorded person on Patch down, making calls, talking to them in person, whatever was convenient to figure out if they had truly had their aura awakened. And outside of the few that were outside the isle during the transpiring events, well, they had. So far. She still had people to check through, but she was convinced that she'd be getting the same answer from every one with every test. Ozpin would be absolutely thrilled at the sudden man power humanity would be getting. She'd been spacing out when that thought hit her, trying to comprehend what in the hell had happened, before she finally allowed herself a small lenience in composure.
"What the fuck."
Qrow choked, the fucker.
The Huntsman bit back a snicker and eased into his seat, arms folded over his chest while amusement shined through his dancing crimson eyes.
Glynda practically growled in response, "Not a word, Branwen." Of course, Qrow merely threw his hands up in mock surrender and took the time to calmly find his feet. Smoothly, he stood and made way for the hall, doing his best not to let his bubbling laughter spill out until he was in the safety of the corridor.
It didn't help that Glynda could still hear the asshole. Still, in his absence she allowed herself a small, amused smile of her own. That was cut short when Qrow's laughter followed suit, replaced by a squawk, "Ozpin!?" Goodwitch couldn't help but sigh at that, her face morphing into a neutral composure, before she took to her feet as well and decided to get back to work. She'd let Qrow deal with the man. She just didn't have the patience right now. Besides, lunch was almost here.
Taiyang was sure he was hallucinating. He'd awoken quite a few times to Yang crashing through his door and drop-kicking him, at least, before his wife had passed; so when she did it this time, he knew something was up. Maybe there was some semblance of normal she was trying to put forward after their last heart-to-heart left them crying on the floor of their kitchen. That thought was thoroughly shot and killed when she told him Ruby had just unlocked her semblance and couldn't stop petaling through the house. Agony seared through his mind at the thought that his little girl had experienced anything that made her unlock it under duress, but then... Petaling? Summer came to mind, speeding through one Grimm after another in the beautiful power of- The flashback came interrupted by the sound of a crash, and his gaze snapped over his exceptionally jealous little blonde daughter.
He couldn't help feeling spooked when a flash of crimson petals passed the outside of his door. This is why we don't unlock the aura of children until a certain age, isn't it? He heard the sound of his front door being opened, and the man was on the move. One hand snagged a squeaking Yang up, the other managed to steal a shirt from the floor, before he was enhancing his full frame with his Aura and speeding out of his home. "Where the hell is she going?!" He balked, seeing the trail of dust and shaking trees in her wake.
"Probably to Naruto?" Yang figured, an easy shrug following as she hunkered down for the sudden burst of speed her father put forward. The man had choked, but he kept moving onward. No way in hell was Qrow's little brat gonna put his daughter in harm's way again.
"Ruby!" He yelled, his mind easily falling back to the very first meeting he'd had with the blonde. The only one, really. The utter terror that gripped his heart when he saw those scarlet eyes, felt the monster's need to kill, and watched his daughters crumble under the pressure of the lone faunus. He came to a stop though as he followed the memory forward. The kid was crying, reaching out for Glynda. Trying to stop. Trying to get it together, and he couldn't. The brat knew he was doing something wrong and he left. The sheer concern Glynda had on her face was so unlike her until he came up to her. She'd pulled it together and Qrow... Qrow did what he always did, or so he thought. Left. Ran. Disappeared. It was him that brought his girls back though. Safely, all things considered. And it was Naruto who'd saved them. He'd heard it all from Yang and Ruby already.
Taiyang sighed and Yang perked up the slightest bit, "Dad?" She prodded, eyes bright as her father flashed her a tired smile. He held his voice back, though, and watched her for a time. Naruto and Qrow had done so much more for his family than he has in a long, long time. The man sighed and rubbed at his eyes some, before he set his feet and took off running again.
"Everyone on the island?" Ozpin asked once more, voice skeptical.
"Everyone." Qrow replied succinctly, provoking a small frown from Ozpin before a gaggle of children passed through the hallway. Each of them speeding through like a bullet.
The Headmaster sighed at the sight, before taking a long, long breath. Eventually, he cleared his throat and found his voice again, "Well, it's not my problem."
Qrow could do nothing save blink at that. "... Isn't it?" He prodded, brows furrowing some.
Ozpin simply shook his head, "Not at all. It's Oobleck's now. I've stepped down from my post, and decided to allow him to take the lead on the school's front. My time has passed insofar as guiding our youth, it's time someone more grounded in current affairs do what he can. I figured it was time I do what I do best in the meantime... You look pale Qrow."
Qrow only went for his flask, and took a desperate drink, before he muttered something about the world going crazy and how Glynda wasn't going to be happy about this. Ozpin merely followed after his confidant, more amused than curious if he was honest; not to say that there wasn't curiosity to be had, but he was most positive that little Naruto was once more at the center of this new host of problems. To him, it was just as they say, another day in paradise.
Glynda, for all intents and purposes, was not all too happy to see him. Which was fair. Ozpin took his chance to present himself to the woman and bow his head, cane planted firm at his fore to steady himself, "After much deliberation, Glynda, I owe you an apology. You have been an insightful woman on the matter of Naruto and I should have listened to you back at Beacon. I've decided to step down from my post in lieu of that, both to give our new Headmaster a chance to sort himself out and myself time to reconnect with the people of Remnant, and, of course, you and Qrow; my most loyal and trusted companions for some time in this life. Truly, I am sorry, Glynda."
Goodwitch squinted, easing back in her seat at the round table she, and now Qrow, was sitting down at in the cafeteria. She folded her arms while her partner in parenting took another calming taste of his liquor. The red-eyed man was being patient with it this time around, she noted. She eventually huffed and reigned in her breath, before nodding, "I accept your apology, Ozpin, but what exactly do you plan on doing here?"
The ex-Headmaster smiled simply. The sight made Glynda tense. That was the same face he'd made whenever he had a plan she normally didn't quite agree with. "Well," he started, "I was hoping you would allow me to travel with you and Qrow. Now that I'm here, I can see about somewhat mediating on our newly enhanced residents here in Patch as well. I'm sure you're swamped as is..." The man had trailed off, and Glynda had looked up to see him staring towards the window. Her eyes followed suit, and they widened into saucers that Qrow could only mimic. In the courtyard was Taiyang chasing after a far too swift, somewhat familiar breeze of crimson petals. He quirked a brow and looked pleasantly amused right up until Qrow rushed to his feet and darted outside to deal with the issue.
Glynda couldn't help rubbing her temples in sheer frustration and annoyance, before she tipped her head and let it lay against the table. She'd almost sprawled out over it, defeated. Ozpin stifled the urge to laugh, though the way his counterpart peeked up and flashed a brief glare at him told him how unsuccessful he was. He pressed on in spite of that, however.
"So, where's Naruto?"
Glynda only groaned.
Naruto Uzumaki had long since retired to the top of one of Signal's security towers. He was plenty happy that the people of Patch were healed and happy; hell, he'd even awoken all of their Auras, and in some cases, semblances. It was so natural a process, too. His chakra melded into each and everyone one, and a whim here and there allowed him to bring their souls further to the surface. It wasn't even deliberate, just a reflex, of which he had many. The boy couldn't stop his mind from racing to the older version of himself that was resting outside the known lands of Remnant. The tether that bound the two was easy to track, and the man was easily on the other side of the world. What it was called almost spilled from his tongue, before he shook his thoughts away.
Not-Him was just not something he wanted to deal with. Uzumaki Naruto could stay there for as long as he'd liked. Naruto Uzumaki was where he needed to be, with his family, and with these people that he felt… Well, responsible for. He brought the Grimm, and he brought the Witch lady's attention too. There were his cousins, and all the other kids too and their families that he'd put in harm's danger because he couldn't get his memories straight.
He'd healed them, yes, but he was sure he could do more.
Briefly, his mind did the equivalent of a glance towards the sensation of his own family. Ozpin was with them, and he couldn't help but share in the man's amusement. His mom was stressed, but she seemed happier than she was. Qrow was with… Ruby? Yang?
His whiskered cheeks all but lit up at the sheer sensation of his youngest cousin's intent. All this thinking was giving him a headache anyways. His eyes flicked, tracking down to the courtyard where Ruby was zipping to and fro in an effort to look for him. In a flash, he was at her front, floating just like she'd been when he caught her by the forehead with his finger. His eyes crinkled, and he flashed a beaming smile, before his voice bloomed in cheeky taunt, "Gotcha!"
Then she squawked as reality set in and that split-second had passed; gravity was calling, and it would have taken its due had Naruto not caught and carried her back down to the ground.
He sat her down and clapped his hands some, "You were looking for me?"
Ruby beamed right back at him and waved her own hands high, "I'ma Huntsmen now, lookie!" The crimson color of the petals made him smile for some reason, but the happiness he radiated really came from the validation he felt. People were safe, and Ruby was happy. He'd made the right choice!
And it totally, most definitely didn't even affect anything else.
Right?
Naruto blinked, and his tails swirled as his senses picked up Taiyang, finally catching up to his daughter.
The blonde faunus easily made distance and felt a nervousness rise through his core. Again, his tails wrapped around him, and his arms in turn did the same. Some of it died down when his father came to his side and let out a huff, breath catching up slowly as he shook his head. "You kids are going to be the death of me, you know that?"
Naruto nearly smiled, even as his eyes focused down on his would-be uncle.
The man had settled Yang on his shoulder, hand wrapped over her lap to keep her steady while the other found comfort over Ruby's head. He was panting some too, eyes glancing between both Ruby and Naruto while his eldest sent the latter a wave.
One tail waved back, before Naruto too had his father's hand resting over his head. The tension in his gut was slowly unwinding when Taiyang finally made the trek over; though it was briefly interrupted by Glynda landing between the two families.
Tai nearly shuddered when he caught sight of those frigid emerald eyes of hers. Still, he glanced past her and pressed out a sigh, "I just… Wanted to apologize. Uh, to Naruto, Qrow and you, of course." He added on somewhat hastily.
Ruby looked more confused than anything as she glanced between her cousin's mother and her own father, but Yang shook her head and Ruby took that as her cue to simply let things happen.
Glynda merely quirked a brow, face expectant and almost entirely unimpressed.
Taiyang nearly slumped and nodded, "I'm sorry, for the way I treated Naruto. He's not… Well, he's not a monster." He could feel the urge to get defensive, but he crushed it, before continuing, "I'm sorry for the way I treated you, and especially Qrow. It wasn't fair to him. We're family, and this… Is not what family does…"
The man paused there, briefly glancing between the instructor and his old friend when a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head. "By the way… You two aren't like… You know?"
Qrow coughed and Glynda just about looked confused. Another second later and her mind connected the dots, at least, if the blush that coated her cheeks said anything. Taiyang only had a moment to blink, before she took the man by the collar and flared her Aura through her frame. She'd have picked him up if it weren't for the two girls clinging to him. Instead, the golden strands framing her face flared angrily, her emerald eyes glowing under the forceful rush of her own reserves; a trick she decided to pick up from her son whenever his own power ran flush. Though, she detachedly wondered how in the he had the energy to keep it up. Already her Aura was draining. Still, she growled, "If you ever, and I mean ever, call my son a monster again, or treat him as such; nothing will stop me from tearing apart Patch to get to you."
An eerie silence followed until Glynda cleared her throat and let the man go, "But, yes, I suppose I accept your apology. Naruto? Qrow?"
Both father and son exchanged some looks, before simply nodding. Glynda made her way back to her family smoothly while Yang and Ruby boggled and mumbled something about 'cool' and 'huntsman' and 'I can't wait to grow up'.
Taiyang only chuckled hoarsely while Yang finally slipped off from him and stole her sister's hand. They easily crossed the way to their cousin, their father not far behind.
Ozpin watched from the windows with a faint smile. Yes, just another day in paradise. Now, what to do with all the people in Patch?
