A/N: PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?

Double update day, whoo! I've updated this and one of the "A Most Unlikely" stories. Feels good to do those again~!

Ignore the trolls and their death threats, or better yet, laugh at them. That's what I'm doing nowadays. Reviews are the wind beneath my wings, and they make these insults seem small and petty by comparison. My team and I write as a hobby these days, using this site as chance to bring a little happiness and joy back into this world.

Reviews are the only form of payment we'll ever receive for our hard work. Alright, onto the good bits!

Now comes the chaos.

Though Naruto and his merry little band of misfits don't know it, the arrival of Jaune has set off something of a...chain reaction. One he won't be able to stop. Events spiral now toward the inevitable center. You see, at the end of the day, our body wants to be a good person. But he wants to be rid of Kaguya even more. He's willing to step on some toes to do that. All of the toes, really. Cinder and the rest are his allies, a tether to keep him grounded, but if that tether snaps...yikes.

A reminder, Cinder may have mellowed a bit, but she's not a good person. This chapter serves as a reminder.

Also, poor Jaune's operating on outdated info here; that may well doom him.

As ever, I own no references, themes or memes!

And so, with that said...away we go~!

"Tell me, just how far would you go to bring your loved ones back? What would you sacrifice? What would you become?

And when they look at you, when they see what you've done...would they even recognize you?

Consider that question very carefully before you choose to proceed, young huntsman.

Can you really trade a life, even the life of a criminal, for the woman you love?

Have you not considered letting her rest in peace?"

~?

Just Close Your Eyes

"Are you prepared?"

Jaune Arc was about to make a deal with the devil.

There could be no redemption for what he was about to do tonight. No explanation given to his comrades would ever wipe away this singular sin. There would be no way to defend himself. No path back from this atrocity. This line once crossed, could never be taken back. Some might call him scum for this. Selfish, even. Perhaps he was. Regardless, it would mark him forever.

Eye for an eye. Tooth for a tooth. Evil for evil. And a life for a life.

Jaune looked Naruto dead in the eye and nodded as he shook his hand. He handed him the prisoner, a wanted rapist taken from the dungeons of Haven, and let the blond begin his work with the man. He did not attempt to kill any of the men and women surrounding him, though he longed to do so. Vengeance. Justice. Redemption. He took these emotions and buried them deep within himself, refusing to rise to the bait placed before him, no matter how tempting it might be. For her. For Pyrrha.

Yet. All the while. She. Watched. Him.

Cinder Fall -MURDERER!- loomed over him with that infuriating smile of hers. He could feel her eyes -why did she have both of them again?- scorching a hole into his back Even now, her very presence threatened to send him spinning into paroxysms of rage all over again. How he longed to strike her down. To skewer her with his blade. It was only the knowledge that he was outmatched that kept Jaune from drawing his sword. That, and greed. Also greed. Lots of greed. After all, he couldn't save Pyrrha if he died here.

Something told him Naruto wouldn't be so kind as to revive him a second time.

And what in blazes was Torchwick doing over here? Ruby said he was dead. He didn't look dead.

"What's wrong, Jaune~?" Gods, he almost wished Cinder hadn't remember his name. "You look frightened."

Ignore her. he chanted the word like a mantra. Don't rise to her bait. She wants you to lash out. She can't attack if you don't give her an excuse.

He grit his teeth and refused to look at the fire witch, knowing what he'd find there. Someone had healed Cinder since he'd seen her last; gone was the grisly black eyepatch and the hideous twisted arm she'd shown them back in Haven. She was entirely human once more. That just made it worse. She was just as he remembered her back in Beacon. Just before she'd KILLED...!

A shuddering gasp fled from him and he bit his lip until he tasted blood in his mouth. It brought him back.

Just was well too; because Cinder was merciless in her verbal assault.

"You want to kill me, don't you?" she circled around him until she was facing him. "I can see it in your eyes. You don't just hate me, Jaune. You loathe me." her hand came up under his chin, lifting it just so. "You want to take that sword of yours and ram it through my chest. Good." she patted his cheek. "Hold onto that hate. It will make you strong."

Jaune wrenched his chin away and shivered, not with fear, but rage. Control it. Suppress it. Don't let her win.

In the end, his tongue betrayed him. "You shouldn't be alive...!

"Technically speaking, I'm not." golden eyes narrowed as she leaned away. "I was bested by a greater foe. She slew me. I died. I was revived." those poisonous honeyed orbs drifted toward Naruto as he continued to work on the sealing array. "Just as your precious little maiden is about to be."

"But you're not a Maiden anymore, are you?" Jaune's mouth twitched. "You lost your power."

"That...is correct." Cinder scowled and he fought down a blaze of triumph. "Death stripped the might of the Fall Maiden from me."

A bitter laugh burst from him. "Good. Weakness suits you. I hope it hurts."

Her scowl deepened.

Oh, how he wanted to mock her further; jab her with the very words she'd used against him. For all her arrogance, Cinder had still lost her power. A power Ruby was even now beginning to master. She was a quick study. But he didn't dare tell Cinder that. Cinder didn't know Ruby was the new Fall Maiden. If she learned the truth...he tried not think of it. The thought consumed him anyway. Qrow might be able to take her. Ozpin? The way he was now, maybe. But...but Ruby?

If they fought, Ruby would die.

As if sensing that very thought, Fall smiled.

"Weak, am I? Is that what you truly believe, Jaune?" She dragged his name out slowly, purring the last syllable like a cat stalking a wounded mouse. To his horror, those molten orbs began to burn with golden flames once more. "Such a pity. You have been...misinformed."

"No." he muttered, shaking his head. It couldn't be. Ruby was the Maiden now. Not her. "That's not possible."

"What was lost can be reclaimed. With the Spring Maiden dead at my hand, I have power once again." to reinforce that very statement, she summoned a breeze of scalding air between them. "Power beyond anything your so-called "Invincible Girl" could have ever dreamed of." her hand clenched and the fire in her gaze guttered out harmlessly, taking the storm with it. "She's little more than a gnat to me."

Jaune barely heard her, his thoughts already whirling away from him.

No, no, no. The others didn't know. He had to tell them. Fighting a de-powered Cinder was one thing. But a Cinder wielding the might of the Spring Maiden with allies at her back? It would take all of them working together to even stand a chance, and victory wouldn't be a guarantee. If someone like Naruto sided with them...

They had to be told!

"You can try to kill me if you like." the Spring Maiden spread her hands wide, capturing his attention once more. "Look. I'm unarmed."

A lie, of course. Maidens were never truly unarmed. He'd learned that lesson the hard way. Ruby had already developed some nasty tricks. Cinder likely possessed many more. She knew how to use the Power. And yet. A faint ember of hope stirred to life. Roman and the others were hanging back for some reason. Naruto was busy with the ritual. He was close. Very close. He'd been training hard. He wasn't the same boy he'd been back in that last battle. He was stronger. Faster.

"Go on." Cinder cooed at him, sensing his hate. "This is your moment. You can be a hero, Jaune. With one swing of your sword, you can save everyone."

His hand snapped to the hilt of Crocea Mors.

"Cinder," Naruto called "Stop trying to bait the poor boy into attacking you. That's an order. I already told you, we're not killing him."

Her brow furrowed, but to Jaune's dismay, she backed down. "As you wish."

"Jaune." In the same breath he turned and leveled a flat stare at his fellow blond. "Touch her and you don't get Pyrrha back."

Just like that, the tension evaporated.

Arc sagged as a cold sweat came over him. His hand flew from his sword as if he'd been scalded. Cinder sauntered away with a wink and a smile That bitch. The absolute bitch. She wanted him to attack her, rather, she'd been looking for an excuse to end him. She would have, too. If he struck first, she could claim herself justified in defending herself. He would have died for nothing.

Just like Pyrrha.

"Alright, its finished." Naruto stood up, stowed his tools and drew him aside. "I'll perform the jutsu in a moment, but first, lets have a little chat."

Jaune flinched. "Can...Can we just get this over with. I'm ready to leave."

Blue eyes narrowed. "Yeah, that's what I'd like to talk about."

His shoulders went tense.

Jaune never though he'd live to see the day Cinder obeyed someone, least of all an unassuming sort like Naruto. This man was evil. He had to be. Anyone who commanded Cinder Fall couldn't be anything else. He refused to even consider the alternative. Whatever he might pretend to be, he clearly wasn't a good person. He was probably working for Salem too. His mind latched onto that belief, false though it was. He wouldn't fall for this ruse! He wouldn't be deceived!

"I'd apologize for her, but that's just the way she is." Naruto began. "She's a work in progress."

Jaune bridled. "She's killed people!"

"As I said, a work in progress."

"She destroyed Beacon!"

"What do you want me to do, go to Vale and clear it out?!" the blond barked back at him. "No." his shoulders sagged. "I'm not condoning her actions by any means. She died for them. That's enough. She's only killed one person under my watch."

"The Spring Maiden, you mean." Jaune set his jaw.

"Yes, the Spring Maiden." a dangerous gleam burned in those mismatching orbs. "The Spring Maiden who worked with Salem to ambush us. She made her bed; we didn't start that fight."

"Are you saying you don't work for Salem?"

"Of course I don't work for her!" Naruto flung up his arms, and behind him, the campfire inexplicably flared. "I'm trying to avoid her!" a high, almost wild note flared in his words. "I'm trying to avoid Ozpin! I'm trying not to hurt anyone! But you people have made that impossible! I've got enough problems without some crazy magician and a madwoman making trouble for me and now YOU!"

Jaune recoiled, resolve hardening in his chest. "I don't believe you. You're lying."

"Fool of a boy!" For a moment, he thought the man might argue. He certainly looked like he wanted to. In the end, he shook his head. "If that's what you want to believe, then fine." he shrugged. "No skin off my back. Believe what you want. We're getting off topic here."

The boy leaped on it. "Cinder's a monster-

"Jaune."

It wasn't the word that turned Jaune's spine to ice; oh no, it was the look that followed. For in that brief moment, Naruto let the mask slip. His once friendly smile vanished, replaced not by a scowl, nor a growl, or even a howl. Just...nothing. A look so terrifying that the poor boy nearly soiled himself where he stood.

Exhaustion.

Here was a man who'd seen too much, done too much, and been hollowed out by it. A dying warrior holding back a beast, even as it devoured him.

"I do not answer to Salem." Naruto intoned, every word radiating an awful power. "I do not answer to Ozpin. And I certainly don't answer to the likes of a boy so green he pisses grass. Make no mistake, I'm only doing this as a courtesy, nothing more. I don't have to revive your friend. Cinder's right about that." He tilted his head and a pit of black dread opened in Jaune's gut. "The smart thing would be to kill you here and now, then leave your corpse for the maggots."

His hand moved, settling on the boy's shoulder. A crushing weight followed it...

"Count yourself lucky that I haven't thrown my humanity away yet."

...and fell away as the whiskered warrior stepped back.

"If anything, I'm taking a very great risk by doing this." Naruto continued, still looking right through him. "The moment your friend's able to walk, you'll drag her back to Haven. To your friends. To Ozpin."

Jaune wanted to deny it, but his tongue betrayed him.

...yes."

"Oh, and there will be such a celebration!" the blond's voice turned sickly sweet, his smile brittle as glass. "But then the questions will come. How did you do this? How is she alive? Who raised her?" His finger switched directions, stabbing himself in the chest. "That will attract attention to me and mine, which means we will have to leave. Because of you." He paused, letting the words sink in. "If we don't, there will be a fight. Ozpin will seek me out. People will die. There's a reason I've been avoiding him."

The huntsman bridled. "We'd never kill in cold blood-

"You're right." Naruto nodded. "You won't. You're good kids. Guess who ain't."

Jaune's gaze drifted around the camp as the blond jerked a thumb over his shoulder, warily taking stock of the criminals within. Cinder. Emerald. Mercury. Roman. Neo. Hazel. They were all watching him. All six of them. Seven, if one counted Naruto as an enemy, and that was a can of worms he didn't want to open. He did the math in his head, grimacing at the others. With Qrow and Ozpin -and perhaps even Pyrrha!- they would outnumber them...but there was certainly something to be said for quality over quantity.

"The very second I finish this ritual, we're leaving." Naruto informed him, crossing both arms before his chest. "I'll not say where. Better that way. You can explain this "Miracle" to your friends. There will not be another. I shouldn't have made that promise to you...

"But-

"Jaune. Shut. Up."

"I won't tell." He babbled.

"Oh?" a blond brow rose. "You'll keep it a secret?"

"I...I'll figure something out." His confidence wilted even as he said it.

Naruto shook his head. "Naive. Hard to believe I was ever that bad back in my day."

Jaune jumped. "What?"

"You're naive." the older blond spat the words aside with a wad of spittle. "You honestly think this is all going to work out, don't you? I don't know why I'm surprised. Just look at you." he gestured to his armor. "So sallies forth the brave knight! Good will triumph over evil! The hero will ride in and save the day! Ridiculous." he shook his head again. "Let me tell you something, the world doesn't exist in shades of black and white like you think it does." a finger jabbed him in the nose. "The world is grey. You don't know what to do with grey. So here's what you're going to do for me."

Jaune gulped.

"Tell them we went to Vale." his fellow blond demanded. "Send your friends on a wild goose chase; it will give me and mine a head start. That's all I ask of you."

"You mean you don't want the lamp?" the words tumbled out before he could hold them back. No! Bad tongue! Traitorous tongue!

Mismatching eyes of azure and violet locked onto him like a heat-seeking missile.

"Lamp?" He blinked, frowned, then shook his head. "You mean the Relic of Knowledge?" A dangerous gleam shone in his eyes for all of a moment before he suppressed it. "Tempting...but no. I can only think of one thing to ask it, but I don't know how to use it. I was never told. Do as I've asked, and we'll call it even."

This man knew too much; the casual way he spoke of Ozpin suggested...unpleasant things. Had they met before? Been allies once upon a time. Maybe. Unlikely. But what were they now? He didn't know what to believe, and so the truth eluded him once more. A tiny grain of sand turned to glass in his heart.

"I can't just lie to them...

"I'M BRINGING A DEAD WOMAN BACK TO LIFE FOR YOU!" the words thundered out at him. "You! Owe! Me!"

Jaune's pride crumpled like a wet paper bag and his head drooped. "I'll...I'll do it...just...bring her back."

Naruto sighed. "Getting too damn old for this, Jaune...

An arm locked around his wrist and dragged him back to the clearing. Jaune couldn't have broken away even if he wanted to. In short order he found himself dragged away to face the music. Or Pyrrha, as it were. His heart twitched painfully at the thought. That's right. He'd made a deal with the devil. They could curse him all they liked for this.

He came back to find them squabbling. Whatever it was, they clammed up the moment they saw him.

"Done with your little bonding session?" Mercury quipped, wearing a saccharine grin.

Naruto twitched. "Emerald, sweetie? Could you do me a favor?"

The illusionist perked up like an eager. "Yeah, dad?"

"Slap your brother. Slap him hard."

Red eyes narrowed. "Happily."

Jaune nearly choked on his own spit. Dad?! No, that was absurd. Naruto couldn't have fathered these two. They didn't look a damn thing like him. And yet...now that he saw it, everyone in the camp clearly deferred to him for reasons he couldn't understand. Even the normally stoic Hazel and Cinder looked on with fond smiles. It almost made them look human-NO. His mind clamped down on that thought and tried to throttle it to death even as it took root in his heart. No. Not human. Monsters. Murderers.

Mercury choked for a different reason as Emerald advanced on him. "Now wait just a second, Em. Lets not do anything rash...

"Why slap him when you can just throw him in one of your illusions?" Cinder pointed out and for a moment, just a moment, she looked like a mother. "It would be good practice for you."

"Traitor!" the assassin cried. "Favoritism! Some mother you are-gack?!"

"Children, the lot of them." Naruto sighed. "We've stalled long enough. Cinder, take the others and pull back. She's going to react poorly to this."

"Very well. We'll stay close, however."

Once again, Jaune looked on helplessly as she and the others retreated into the trees.

Naruto barely spared them a glance. "Here goes."

His hands blurred away from Jaune and slapped into a series of signs and symbols the younger blond couldn't even begin to comprehend. The jutsu's victim woke just in time to realize what was happening. It availed him naught. Wide eyes bulged as he thrashed in his restraints. Too little. Too late. Strands of ashen paper wove themselves around the body of the killer and swallowed him whole.

"Step one, complete." Naruto hummed, clapping his hands.

Just like that, the ash fell away, revealing a familiar face. Dull emerald eyes blinked back at Jaune, framed by a pale face and startling red hair. But it was all wrong. Her face was fractured and cracked, her smile distant and vacant. Lifeless. Like an empty doll without a soul. Here at last, Arc felt regret. No. No, this wasn't right.

Her mouth opened, but no words came.

"What did you do?!"

"Hush." Naruto reprimanded him. "Now comes the second step."

Even as Jaune sputtered and spat, his erstwhile ally stepped around the Invincible Girl and pushed a tag into the back of her neck. Her flesh opened easily for him as his arm dove in to the wrist. With a small shudder, she fell forward, catching herself. Her skin regained a healthier hue, and while it still wasn't natural, there could be no denying the light in her eyes when she raised her gaze. There was warmth there, but it was tempered by a second emotion, one he knew to be guilt.

"Oh, Jaune." she shook her head at him, ponytail swaying behind her. "What have you done? I didn't want to come back like this...

Emotion choked down his voice. "Pyrrha...!"

"None of that." Naruto flicked the girl's forehead, eliciting a glower from her. "I didn't bring you back for a pity party. This young man sacrificed someone to bring you back to life. He traded another soul for yours. Criminal or not, that action has weight. The least you can do is thank him. He'll live with the guilt of this for the rest of his days."

Pyrrha's mouth opened and closed wordlessly for another moment. "Who are you...?"

"Someone who wants to get this over with. Now for step three."

Before anyone could think to stop him, Naruto swiftly circled the redhead and reached down for her, cupping her head in his hand. The motion was so reminiscent to what Cinder had done back in Beacon that Jaune nearly pounced on him for it. Yet no flame came. Instead, mismatching eyes of cold blue and rimmed violet pulsed with unholy light. Pyrrha Nikos cried out. Not in pain. But surprise.

"Rinne Tensei."

All the world shifted. There could be no other word for when Naruto spoke. With a smoldering hiss, the earthen cracks in Pyrrha's face began to close as. Her eyes burned just a little brighter, a dull creature of clay and ash no longer, but now flesh and blood once more. It was the work of moments. He pulled his hand away and this time, when she fell, Jaune darted in to catch her. Naruto allowed it.

Now it was his turn to be mute.

Words betrayed him, leaving his tongue dead and still in his mouth. There was so much he wanted to tell her. So much he longed to say, but emotion overwhelmed him. In the end, all he managed was a ragged sob. Bitter tears stung at his eyes, bitter-yet-sweet all the same.

He felt a small, shaky smile bloomed on lips as her face pressed into his shoulder.

"I'm home." she murmured. "But I don't understand. Where am I? What happened...?"

"He'll tell you later. I've upheld my end of the bargain." Naruto slashed a hand through the air. "Leave. Get out. You have to hurry. Before-

"Jaune Arc!" a harsh voice boomed into the clearing. "What have you done?!"

Kaguya's jailer blew out a sigh.

"Before that happens."

(.0.0.0.)

"What have you done?!"

Naruto wasn't caught off guard when Ozpin burst from the trees to confront them. He knew it wasn't an ambush -indeed, he would have sensed such- but an intrusion. He'd been aware of his approach for quite some time now; to that effect, he tried to hasten the ritual and send Jaune on his way to prevent this very event. He'd even ordered Cinder away for that very reason. A small part of him wanted to hope it would be enough; that the meddling man would know better. That hadn't been enough. He'd feared as much. Really, he should've known better. Destiny was rarely so kind.

Damnit, Jaune.

"What. Have you. Done." Ozpin repeated.

In his last host, the great and mighty Ozma might have proven intimidating. Right now? The form of Oscar Pine didn't much suit him and it was terribly difficult to be frightened by a prepubescent boy...even if Ozpin could turn said boy into a deadly instrument of destruction. He looked absolutely furious and had every right to be. One of his students had just committed the blackest of heresies. After all, the dead were meant to stay dead, and Jaune Arc had willingly traded one soul for another to break that most sacred of edicts.

"He made a fair exchange with me." Naruto couldn't resist twisting the knife while he could, if only to make his adversary squirm. "He gave me a soul and I brought back his beloved in exchange." Oh, how Pyrrha flushed at that. But she didn't deny it. Sweet girl. Jaune was lucky to have her. They'd be good together...assuming they survived the next five minutes.

Jaune wilted. "Sir, I-

"No." Ozpin silenced him with a snarl. "Not a word from either of you. We will speak of this when we return to Haven."

Pyrrha set her jaw. "Headmaster, that's not fair!"

"Why not let them have their say?" Naruto offered. "Their opinion might surprise you."

Here at last, Ozma rounded on him. "Silence, abomination! I should slay you where you stand!"

"If you can kill me, by all means. Try." an ember of curiosity -of hope!- burned in his chest as he spread his arms, leaving himself defenseless. "Go ahead. Strike me down now, and I'll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

There was no hesitation.

Three strikes slammed into his face. One shattered his jaw. The second took his eye. The third killed him. Ozpin's cane slammed into his throat at an angle and broke his neck, sending the blond's head lolling dangerously to the right. It was a good hit. Vicious. Efficient. Clean, even, in as clean as killing could be. Anyone else would have perished on the spot. Naruto remained standing, calmly reached up, and reset his head with an audible crack.

"You cant kill me either." hope died a withering death as the rest of his injuries healed. "How sad. I thought you were a wizard."

"Demon!"

"So we've fallen back on insults again, have we?" A blond brow rose in abject scorn. "This coming from the old man possessing a boy's body. You remind me of Orochimaru. At least I'm honest about what I am. You just parade around snatching bodies every time you die."

"Irrelevant. I'm not the one perverting the cycle of life and death!"

Kaguya cackled in the back of his head, pleased by the pain the words brought.

"True." Naruto sighed. :And unlike you, I'm not alone." He snapped his fingers. "You shouldn't have come. For what its worth, I didn't want things to go this way, but you've forced my hand."

He heard the brush rustle behind him, watched the immortal's gaze widen. All part of the plan. Cinder knew better than to retreat too far; she'd come running the moment he sent out a pulse of chakra. Ozpin's eyes grew wider still as Hazel stepped up to flank him. By the time Neo and rest emerged, he looked almost resigned.

"I see." his shoulders slumped. "You're working for her after all. This was foolish of me."

"Foolish indeed," Cinder purred, moving to Naruto's right. "You must've gone senile in your old age."

"YOU!"

At the sight of her, Pyrrha jolted upright and thrashed out of Jaune's arms. Roman found her even as she reached for her sword, slamming into her back. Her sword bore through his chest and he accepted it with a laugh, bearing her to the dirt with his bare hands alone. The Invincible Girl balked, unable to understand why her blade failed to kill him. Jaune slammed into the ground a moment later as Neo found him. He put up even less of a fight.

"What devilry is this?!"

"Oh for the love of me...!" Naruto twitched. "No. I'm not working with that witch, and I'll thank you not to compare me to her!"

"And yet the company you keep says otherwise." Ozpin's gaze found the Relic of Destruction at Cinder's waist. "Ah. So Shade has fallen, then? Unfortunate. It will take decades to undo the damage you've done." His gaze switched to Roman a moment later, taking in his unnatural eyes and his even now healing body. "And you, Roman. I expected better of you." Ozpin sighed. "You held such promise. Now you've made yourself a monster."

Spit slammed into his face. "Two words for you, prof. Mountain Glenn."

The sage flinched. "Fair enough."

"He has the relic." Cinder whispered in Naruto's ear and his gaze settled on the Lamp at his waist. "We should take it. The rest-

"Will not be gathered up after this by any means." Naruto leveled a harsh glare at her, eyes immediately straying to the sword still bound at her hip. "Its bad enough that we have Destruction while they've apparently found Knowledge. All we need now is Creation and Choice, then we'll have a regular godly jamboree down here on Remnant!" he flung up his arms with a bitter laugh. "Sure, let the brother gods come. Why not?! I'm already trying to commit deicide with one goddess and possibly another. The more the merrier!"

"You sound angry." Emerald hedged.

"WHAT GAVE IT AWAY?!

Ozpin blinked. A strange, almost bitter expression settled across his visage. Perhaps he'd been foolish. Perhaps he'd made a mistake. Perhaps he was simply getting old? Who could say. Regardless, he'd made a foolish decision in coming here. Doubtless he'd expected to face Jaune and maybe one other person. Not Cinder. Not Hazel. Certainly not the rest of their allies. He hadn't even known they were here. Now that he did, however, well, that complicated things.

A fighting retreat wouldn't be enough. Surely he knew that. Even with the three of them.

Worse, Jaune and Pyrrha were all but incapacitated.

Naruto's gaze stayed back to the Lamp. That was what the Relic of Knowledge looked like? It seemed...smaller than he expected. Such a little thing. It might hold the answers to destroying Kaguya once and for all. If not, then it could surely provide inside on how to rid himself of her once and for all. He'd never been able to get into the Vault before, but now? With it dangling here before him? How many questions did it have left? One? Two? Three? It had to have at least one, else Ozpin wouldn't keep it on his person at all times. He'd been a fool to bring it here.

It was just too tempting. He couldn't resist.

Oscar's face twisted in confusion and fear. Naruto stamped down the pity he felt.

He knew he could use Jaune and Pyrrha as hostages. Reason dictated he should. They were no good to him dead, and he had no reason to kill them. But would Ozpin trade the lamp fore them? No. He would never give up the Relic. Not even for them. Here was a man who would make any sacrifice, no matter how terrible, so long as it ensured victory. He'd sooner die than hand over the Lamp. And so they would serve another purpose. Not as sacrifices, but as bargaining chips in another sense.

Still, Naruto felt he owed it to himself to at least try and be sensible about this.

"I'm sorry." Slowly, he shook his head and held out his right hand. "But seeing as you've all but brought it to me...I'm gonna have to ask you to surrender that Lamp." when the immortal made no move to relinquish it, his fingers cured into a claws. "I have questions for your little friend."

Ozpin drew back. "You shall not have her."

A blond brow rose in mild irritation. "I wasn't asking. Cinder."

The Spring Maiden scoffed and advanced upon him. Ozpin fought hard. It wasn't enough.

A/N: PLEASE. READ. THIS. Else, you might be horribly confused. Wouldn't want that, would we?

Well, you were warned.

Ozpin, you twit! What were you thinking?!

We've got some major events coming up; and they're going to shake the world. It all revolves around three players. Salem wants her kids back. Naruto wants Kaguya gone for good. Ozpin...poor Ozpin just wants to rest. But that won't be happening. The Gods won't let him.

Speaking of which, I need to sleep. I've updated all my RWBY fics in a single month. Sooooo...tired...

As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.

Seriously, we're all locked away anyways these days, its all that sustains me.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy these previews! Remember those hints?

Yes? No? Hope you paid attention. Because!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

YE BE WARNED!

Read at your own risk!

SURPRISE.

(Preview)

He couldn't die here. He was needed. There was still so much to do...!

The letter was a simple one, written in an elegant hand that Cinder knew all too well.

"You are a cordially invited to dinner the Grimmlands, necromancer.

~Warm regards,

Salem.

Naruto regarded the words like a snake. "What are the chances I can turn this down...?"

"How do I destroy Kaguya?"

"You're going to get me pregnant at this rate."

He granted her a lazy grin from the sheets. "Would that be so bad?"

"Yes. I'd be a terrible mother.

"Emerald doesn't think so."

...shut up."

Her hips ground against his, her head tilting back as she rode him into oblivion.

She'd made her decision, she realized. The power would be hers. Fall, Winter, Summer. Cinder cared not in what order she acquired them. Only that she did. Spring was not enough. She knew that now. She wanted be stronger; no, needed to be stronger. But this time, that strength wasn't for herself. That strength was for another. If she didn't find that strength soon, Naruto would die.

And...well. She just couldn't allow that.

R&R~!