Dust in Dark Silver

by Nasha Rei-Kun

He'd died and now he was back again, somehow. Did the Shinigami make a mistake? That's what he thought. Now? Now he had to deal with the world of Remnant, it's Huntsmen, his birth father, the mystery of Dust, and this girl who looks far too much like Rin for his liking with everything that came with THAT. Surely this life would be less complicated, right? Rewrite of Dark Silver.

35. Young and Old

Welcome back, it's been a while. Over half a month, actually, since I wrote a chapter for this fic. So gotta change that.

I've received a couple of reviews and had a few PMs back and forth with a few reviewers and I agree with them on a couple of points.

One, I understand we've been on day one of the train trip. That was purposeful. There's just a lot of items, fights, and topics to be discussed during these times. I wanted to make sure I give everything I believe that's important its due, ya know?

Two, we've not heard a lot from the antagonists, have we? I've also been waiting to find the perfect spot to go back to Danzo and Cinder's groups but it never came to me until this chapter. The interlude before this one being at the perfect time.

So, basically, sorry for the wait. We'll be doing things a bit differently in this 'day two' chapter.

Onward!

Inspirational Osts/Songs:

Strong and Strike - Naruto Ost

The Answer - Astral Chain

Savior - Astral Chain

~NRK~

The following morning after their midnight visit to the hot springs, and the subsequent surprises that came left and right during, Obito awoke from his position in front of the Schnee family min-lobby, dressed in a yukata with shorts underneath and his sandals from last night.

He got up and stretched, opening an eye to see that it was Marrow who was currently in front of the General's room. The Faunus seemed like he was wide awake, what with his avid, and rapid, clicking on his Scroll. The slightest sounds of beeps and noise coming to Obito's ears.

"Good morning," he said and he nodded when Marrow shot him a smile. "Have you been up for long?"

"Kind of?" Marrow said as he paused his mobile game. "I've been awake for about three hours. We sent Winter back in about that time and I had taken a shower, Akame," he explained as he sat there in his black boots, blue pants, and a fitting black t-shirt, his coat hung over the back of the chair he was sitting in. "Vine's currently getting ready while Winter gets some more beauty sleep."

Obito nodded as he rolled his neck and shoulders. "Alright, I'll be getting changed," he said, getting a nod from the Faunus before the younger male left.

As he entered the Schnee lobby, he already heard the hustle and bustle of the room's occupants moving about. Pulling out his Scroll, he found that it was only about 7:30 am.

'I guess it's not too early for those of the Schnee family,' he thought humorously as he knocked on Kakashi and Whitley's door.

"Ah, come in!" came the voice of the youngest of the Schnees.

Obito entered with little hesitance, finding himself the audience to Whitley currently tugging on his socks, already dressed in a silver long-sleeved shirt, white slacks, and a red bowtie.

"Hm, good morning… Obito," the boy began to greet him before quieting down at his name, getting a slight smirk out of the older male. "Alabaster is using the restroom," Whitley explained as he finally got his sock on. "Do you know what's going on the itinerary today?"

"I'm unaware of the food if that's what you mean," Obito explained as he shook his head. "So I'm sure that I'm ignorant to what's going on."

"I see," the young boy said as he got off the bed before the door to the restroom opened to reveal Kakashi. "Ah, brother, we were just talking about you."

"That so?" Kakashi asked with a smile as he stood there in nothing but white slacks. "Sorry, I was busy," he explained as he closed the door to the bathroom, the vent in it silent but potent as the smells were easily taken care of in a matter of seconds. "Something amiss?"

"Just coming for my clothes," Obito said as he went to a corner of the room where his luggage lay. "Hmmm," he considered it for a moment before going in and pulling out his freshly cleaned hakama pants. "They really do good work," he noted as he held the article of clothing in slight awe.

He removed a skin-tight sweater, a different article of clothing due to his other top being destroyed from his fight with the Schnees. This one was dark blue in color and he nodded before removing a pair of blue arm warmers from his duffle bag as well.

He removed his yukata with ease, folding it and placing it within the confines of his luggage before moving to the bathroom.

Obito came out five minutes later wearing his chosen clothes while he saw Kakashi now wearing a white dress shirt with the Schnee logo on the back of the collar in bright blue. Whitley had simply sat on the edge of the bed of the Schnee brothers, observing the two older males.

Obito moved to above his duffle bag where a coat hanger was holding onto his mantle, the young adult donning the item a slight bit more tightly to keep it on his shoulders. Lastly, he removed his weapon from its leaning-on-the-wall position before situating it on his hip, fastening the bandages in such a way that he could wield the four-foot weapon like a holstered…

His eyes slowly widened in confusion as something felt off. He observed the bandaged form of his weapon in confusion. Something was off and he didn't know what.

"Changing it up some?" Kakashi asked as he put on his socks. "It's a good look," he said with a chuckle as Obito's head slowly turned to him before he sighed.

"... It's simply better to wear it like this, especially knowing that I'll be cooking anyway," he said with a frown as he huffed a bit.

"As well as fighting, right?" Whitley asked, getting a nod from the bodyguard. "So you won't be wearing your kimono?" he looked slightly disappointed, much to Obito's confusion as Kakashi chuckled.

"Whitley's interested in all forms of culture," he explained, the boy nodding along with his brother's admittance. "He's likely the most culturally-savvy of the three of us."

Obito raised a brow at how sincere his old friend was being. "That's impressive, Whitley," he said with a nod as the boy preened.

There was a knock on the door to the room and all three males turned to it.

Obito raised a brow at the signature behind it, going forward to open the door. "Vine?" he said with confusion, noticing the tall man had something in his hand.

"Hm, hm," he looked amused as he handed the item to Obito, Kakashi & Whitley coming around to look at the item. "An interesting invite."

Whitley's eyes widened at the sight of the shape and parchment. "It's a challenge letter!" he said in shock, Kakashi blinking at that while Obito frowned with a raised brow. "I thought these kinds of items were only handed between different schools of martial arts," he whispered in awe as Obito opened the letter.

Unfolding the paper, he raised a brow at the neat calligraphy, fresh ink, and perfect old Mistralian. Something he could read easily enough with a few minor changes.

"Two hours after lunch, when the sun edges towards the mountains, I wish to issue you a challenge," Kakashi read. "I've watched your skills from afar, the grace of your movement, the tale of wonder. The strength of your blows, a tiger's rage… Is this person trying to woo you?" the oldest of four asked in disbelief.

"I-It's actually different!" Whitley squeaked as he looked at the paper. "From what I read, this is an admiration letter that entices the receiver to accept. It's typically genuine, I believe."

"Correct," Vine said with a nod. "These letters are typically addressed to the schools instead of the people in them, on most occasions. This person is recognizing your ability and presenting it as a school vs school duel."

Obito stared at it for a moment before going down to the last bit of it, raising a brow at what he was reading.

"I will bring my best to fight you. We of the old Shin Kage-Ryu will not fall or bend and hope you will be accepting," he breathed out before shrugging. "I guess my fight with Rowen will interest more people like this."

"A-Are you going to accept it?" Whitley asked hopefully. "I don't believe this will affect you badly but… I think it's a reputation situation," he said with a wince.

Reputation was always important, a fact that their father had always told them. Reputation got you places, into people's good graces, and opened up opportunities.

There was a lot that could be done with reputation.

"Even without that observation, I would have agreed," Obito said as he rolled his shoulders. "I'll have to ask Rowen when he wishes for us to spar. Hopefully, this doesn't clash with that time."

"I sensed him moving about, he is awake," Vine offered, getting a nod from Obito who put on his sandals and left.

"I will, I'll be back, Kakashi, Whitley," Obito said as he left the room and then the Schnee lobby.

He looked around the VIP lobby and noted that Marrow was still seated by the General's room, legs crossed with his eyes closed. He breathed in and out slowly before holding his hands together just above his lap.

His light blue Aura extended from each palm before meeting in the middle to coil together, becoming a ball detached from his body.

Obito watched in fascination as Marrow's brows furrowed a bit, his eyes closing as they did, the ball of Aura beginning to spasm at its sides before it shimmered in and out of existence. Marrow's mouth set in a frown as the ball became transparent before he let out a sigh and opened his eyes to stare at his Aura.

"I'm getting better, at least," he said to himself but Obito heard him before announcing his presence.

"I'm assuming-" Marrow jumped. "That that was Aura Frequency?" Obito asked, getting Marrow to look at him.

"H-Huh?! O-Oh, yeah!" he stuttered a bit before sighing and leaning back in his seat. "I guess Vine told you?"

"Yes."

"Hmph," Marrow smiled a bit. "This is the exercise that Vine taught me to try to get used to doing it first and foremost. I'm basically… making it less obvious, I guess? I kind of just try to match it with the air. Vine says once I can, I can learn to deflect elements and stuff," the militant Faunus said with a grin, his excitement shining through. "Maybe I could deny the cold? I could totally go out and help more people like Vine does if I could!"

"He explained it to us last night," Obito elaborated. "It sounds like an amazing ability. We'll all be seeing more of it tonight if you didn't know."

Marrow threw him a thumbs-up. "He informed me. I think it'll be kind of fun," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "As long as who I'm working with don't mind…" he said slowly, shooting Obito a look.

Uncertainty, worry, slight anxiousness. Obito wondered if Marrow didn't like him or if he was worried about Weiss and Kakashi.

"I know how their reputation is," he began, getting a wince from the soldier. "But, I promise you, Weiss and her siblings are more accepting than you might imagine."

"... Maybe," Marrow said as he scratched his cheek. "We'll see, right?"

"I'm expecting interesting demonstrations from you, Marrow," the Faunus chuckled as Obito went to Councilman Slate's door, opening it and going into the mini-lobby within.

He looked around, felt for Rowen's signature, and knocked on the door in the middle of the three. He didn't have to wait long before it opened to reveal Rowen…

Obito eyed the man's new additions to his outfit.

He saw a pair of bands on both his arms, white Dust crystals in both. On his chest, strapped to the side of one part of his coat were a sextet of throwing knives, each bearing similar white Dust crystals in the pommels.

At his waist was a long rapier… No, that wasn't right, it looked like a conductor's wand. Gold in color with a floral tsuba, not unlike a katana, and a blunt narrow tip.

He saw a quartet of thin, long, white Dust crystals in the 'blade' with one large bulbous one as the pommel.

Finally, Obito noted a corded necklace around his neck, a large Lightning Dust crystal as the jewel.

Rowen smiled at him and Obito had a feeling that their fight was going to be more interesting than expected.

"What can I do for you, Akame?" he asked, eyebrows raised but smile relaxed.

"We never did come up with a time for our fight," Obito explained.

"Ah, that's true," Rowen's eyes closed in thought. "Hmmm, how about noon?"

Obito nodded. "That's fair. Honestly, it's perfect, actually," he said, getting an odd look from the legendary Atlas Huntsman. "... Just a little situation," he began as he explained the situation.

"Ah, I see," Rowen smirked. "I've also been on that end myself. Once when I went to a small town called Midoriboshi," he chuckled. "It was rather interesting. I'd say it'll be a fun experience."

Obito nodded and bowed to him before leaving. "Have a nice morning, we'll see where the day leads us, yes?"

"But of course."

Rowen bowed as well and Obito left.

Returning to the Schnee lobby, he saw someone he wasn't expecting. "Good morning, Weiss," Obito said, getting a jump from the girl who turned on him with a look of shock.

"Obito… Good morning," she began before smiling and curtsied. "I hope the day has treated you well," she said with a nod.

"It has so far," Obito said before explaining the situation.

"Hmm?" She blinked at the idea of him being given a 'letter of challenge', apparently, as her brother called it. "That seems… interesting, I suppose," Weiss didn't look impressed. "Honestly, some people need to know their place," she muttered.

Obito never thought he could solve all this girl's problems and permanently make her a better person but he didn't think he'd see this side of her often.

They chatted on the small couch in the middle of the miniature lobby before the rest of the family came out.

Jacques adjusted his collar a bit before looking at his group. "Time to depart."

They exited their lobby, Obito going out first to open the door for the rest of the Schnee family.

The former Uchiha moved his eyes towards the other doors where he saw the General's entourage, and scientists, coming out of their own lobbies, eyes indifferent when he and Opfer caught gaze.

She smiled like nothing had happened in that resting room and Obito rolled his eyes before turning to the middle of the room where Rowen was with the councilman's group.

"I assume everyone's ready to leave?" the tall, older, man asked as he got up, a cup of tea in front of each of the oldest in the VIP lobby.

"Yes, let's," James said as he came out, without his customary military jacket this time, standing in his boots, pants, and a thick white sweater.

They left like that, the hallways navigated with Obito, Olivier, and Winter at the front while the rest of the guards were protecting the back.

They entered the tubes between carts quickly and Obito frowned, keeping his composure and walking speed as he felt… many objects moving outside.

Blackness and dark power moving in the distance, his eyes narrowed a bit as they flickered to the outside.

'Grimm?' he thought in confusion. 'I've never been able to sense Grimm before.'

They were beings of darkness without souls. One with Aura wouldn't be able to sense them due to them having no soul, for the most part… He closed his eyes in thought.

Grimm were magic beings, possibly… But that opened up questions.

Of course, it made sense. Raven had explained that they were created by the Dark Brother himself. They weren't like Salem, apparently. She'd been a human before but had been tainted by the influence of the Dark Brother somehow. He didn't know how and Raven had been rather annoyed that she didn't know.

So he could sense Grimm now?

… He didn't know how this new skill would change things. He'd need to test it out in the near future.

They entered the dining cart, going towards their tables with ease before Obito noted a familiar face entering from the third cart's doors.

Maria came forward, her weapon in hand as a cane while the other was behind her back.

Obito stayed standing as he noted her, her head coming up to 'look' him in the eyes and a smile placed itself on her lips.

He went up to greet her along with Rowen, the two of them clearing the distance between their group and Maria with ease.

"Welcome Maria," the older of the two said with a chuckle as Maria turned her smile towards him, the two of them helping guide her to their table. "I hope you don't mind."

"It's fine," she said. "I'm willing to take all the help that matters." she touched her mask. "This will still take enough time to get used to as is."

"Is it recent?" Obito asked, his and Rowen's eyes meeting as the man let Maria tell him personally, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "You seemed like you could come and go from this cart with ease as is."

"Well," her cheeks brightened some and Rowen chuckled as they made it to their table, most raising some brows at the reactions as Obito helped her to her seat as Rowen took the one next to the Councilman. "It's been close to a year since. My father actually has a friend in Atlas that I'm seeing after this trip. A Pietro Polendina?" she said unsurely before Ironwood's own input put her at ease.

"He's one of the Atlas military's top minds," the general said as the group looked at him. "He's one of the bravest of my scientists, actually," James said as he looked at Maria. "I'm guessing you've some connection to him?"

"My father used to be friends with him," Maria explained. "He told me that Dr. Polendina was one of the best and that he's very trustworthy."

"He is. Pietro is one who's always helping the populace up here and down in Mantle."

"That's reassuring," Maria said as the Jouichirou Yukihira came over, the blind Huntress smiling. "I believe that's your bus."

Obito rolled his eyes before he met up with the cook, the two of them chatting a bit before Obito handed Kakashi his mantle once more.

Kakashi's hand blurred as he folded the clothing, the chains easily handled as he set it in his lap, getting a few raised eyebrows. "I've had years to learn chores, guys. I'm good enough to live on my own, I can do something this simple, ha, ha," he chuckled.

Winter looked curious but nodded all the same. "I've had to do the same in the Academy, clothing day was an… odd experience," she said with a huff that got a very raised brow from Jacques. "Father it's basically a battlefield in the laundry room."

Marrow chuckled nervously at that. "Doing laundry has always been so easy," he chuckled more at Winter's look of disbelief. "I've done laundry for most my life, it's rather relaxing I'll have you know."

"How is that… room supposed to be relaxing?"

"The room wasn't… that bad," he said with a swallow. "You just need to know which groups are the 'safe' ones."

"Safe ones?" Willow said in disbelief as Marrow coughed into his fist. "Which part of laundry is 'unsafe'?" the mother asked in shock as Winter didn't look at her!

"Some of the other students are… aggressive about which detergent is the 'best for their colors'," Marrow said with a tired look. "It was kind of ridiculous how many times we gave the room a wash from those dumb fights."

"I'd heard about that," James said with a chuckle. "The cleaning room has never been as spotless as it has with graduating class 19."

"It was honestly one of the few experiences that made it obvious how difficult normal people have it," Winter said with a sigh. "That was the most consistently-draining day I've had for many years," she said with a frown that Weiss balked at.

"That's kind of how me and Winter met," Marrow explained with a hand rubbing his neck. "She wasn't familiar with some of the portions of it b-but she got better!" he added in an instant at Winter's soft glower while Vine grinned. "She's probably the second-best at doing her laundry now."

"A great title to be sure," Rowen said with a chuckle while Olivier laughed some, Maria giggling a bit as Winter's cheeks reddened a bit. "Being honest, Ms. Winter, it's probably one of the best tools at a person's disposal."

"The amount of clothes I've ruined with my own washing methods is staggering," Vine added, getting looks of disbelief from the four tables. "... I got better with time," he said with a slight cough into his fist.

Chatter spun itself a web throughout the cart, many questions mostly being lobbed at the Aura-users of the group.

"He did?!" Weiss was excited before blushing. "Y-You two went to the h-hot springs?!" she said to her brother who chuckled.

"We did," he laughed a bit. "We met up with Vine on the way," Winter nodded. "And, when we got there, we met the Spruce Willis and his daughter. It was pretty cool."

"The Spruce Willis?" Olivier looked awed. "Why, I love his movies. The one about the dog in the Grimm-infested forest was astounding!"

"Was it?" Jacques said nervously, mustache twitching, much to his wife's raised brow. "I wasn't… fully invested but his movies always bear an amazing atmosphere."

Winter nearly had her mouth drop at her father's blatant lie, knowing that showing that would be a bad idea, she hummed. She actually smiled at that, knowing his single tell.

Ever since growing that bit on his face, Jacques's lies were always so much more obvious. It made half the time they spent together more comforting.

"Aura Frequency," Whitley played the words on his tongue. "You said that yesterday."

"I did, I'll be interested to see how the training goes later on," Vine said with a smile.

There was a clamor at the kitchen section as the cooks came forth.

"Time for dinner," Olivier said.

The food was handed out and people viewed, wondered, and ate it in just as quickly a fashion. The plates bearing some form of eggs of all types, depending on the menu, slight meats, fish, and vegetables.

An hour and some free minutes passed, the atmosphere being open, talkative, and amorous.

Obito's eyebrow twitched when he found another piece of paper handed to him by Ryuko who laughed nervously at his expression.

The time passed by and Obito found himself and the rest of the Yukihiras receiving applause once again before he was left to his table, and devices, by Jouichirou once more.

"I'm going to make him let me help, I'm this close," he muttered by Kakashi's seat, eyes narrowed.

"I wonder what makes a person want to do such work willingly," Weiss wondered with a raised brow. "My brother and sister were forced to do so, why so willing?"

"You have to take the good with the tedious," Obito said.

"The proper term is 'bad'."

"Not necessarily," Obito countered. "Most chores can be relaxing once viewed in a certain light."

Marrow and Vine grinned while Rowen chuckled.

"Where do such people exist?" Weiss asked herself with a frown and a confused raise of the brow at her mentor. "Are other places just that different?"

"Yes," Obito answered with a smirk only to blink as he was approached from behind.

Turning around, he blinked at the sight of a pair of Hunters.

"Is now a good time?" one of them asked and Obito raised a brow.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," one shrugged. "We just want a fight."

The area was silent before there was more movement out of Obito's peripheral.

"I'm assuming all of those who got up, also want a fight?" he asked curiously.

"Yup."

"You all are rather rude," came the call of a young man in a mix of samurai and old Mistralian policemen attire. "Can you not give him a challenge letter like we did?"

"Rude?"

"You what?"

Then came a gruff-looking Hunter who shot the young man a snarl.

"Why in the world would you need to give a letter for a fight?!"

"It's proper, you barbarian!"

"Oh, so you want me to bust your lip as a handicap, huh?!"

More outrageous insults were cast and Kakashi was simply enjoying the show.

Obito crossed his arms before facepalming, Olivier and Maria's laughter telling him exactly how this was seen.

"That's enough!" he shouted at the Hunters, eyes glaring out at the now quiet hall before he unfolded them. "You all wish to fight, very well," he walked towards them, hands out. "Let's see if any of you can even put your mouths where your money is. How about a tournament?"

Many of them looked surprised but eager. "What would be the rules?" the proper Mistral-born samurai asked.

"Easy," Obito said. "You wish to take me on so we'll use old world Mistral-school rules," the young man looked pleased. "We'll decide this by way of 'schools'. If you wish to fight, make groups of as many people as you wish, one to thirty is the range, it doesn't matter how many. From there, with the number of groups made, as well as the numbers of said groups, we'll break this into several brackets."

Behind him, the VIPs looked interested. Rowen especially as his eyes glinted.

"Depending, I'll allow from two to eight of your groups to fight me," he said, enticing the Hunters. "There will also be specific, 'group number', rules. People of similar numbers are more likely to face off against one another but that doesn't stop me from setting you up with lesser or more numbered foes," Obito said, eyes narrowed at the antsy-looking Hunters. "AM. I. CLEAR?"

"Yes, sir!" They all agreed before murmuring followed his calls, Obito's eyebrow twitched several times before he sighed.

Turning around, he walked back to and faced his table. "It was the best option for all those wondering, most of them were honestly just looking for a fight," Obito said with such ease, Weiss was almost assuaged.

"E-Excuse me?!" she shrieked. "H-How can you look at all of them and think that's a good idea?! You've got more important things to do!" she whispered hotly.

"Weiss, these people were too prepared to jump straight into a fight," Kakashi said from the side, getting a glower thrown his way. "They were going to bother him, all day most likely."

She hesitated as she turned her head back to the Hunters who were still arguing among themselves.

"I don't think any of us want that following me," Obito said. "Lord knows how annoying that'd get."

"It's the best course of action. You were right in that they were just looking for a fight," Rowen stated, all too eager to watch the proceedings. "There are also more than enough glory hounds in that bunch. This not only takes their attention off an unreachable goal but makes their minds think about fighting off the rest."

"It sounds like normal business," Jacques observed, getting a chuckle out of Kakashi. "While many vie for and seek to gain some form of reputation from attacking bigger entities, diverting their attention makes them weak and, most notably, willing. Rather normal tactics," he said as Weiss and Winter rolled their eyes in unison.

"I'd say it takes over five minutes for them to get sorted out," Obito said with an apathetic stare at the chatting Hunters. "..."

~NRK~

He really underestimated them.

It took them exactly five minutes! Praise all around.

So he noted how many groups there were with a nod. "Very well, with over twenty groups, most of whom have more than five members," Obito nodded as he clapped his hands. "Let us begin, yes?"

They'd already moved to the gallery area, a battlefield taking over the dance floor once more.

He'd already separated the groups based on his criteria. Said criteria basically his estimate of how strong some of these Hunters were.

'I didn't think he'd be one of the stronger ones,' Obito thought as he turned to the 'Shin Kage School'. 'Perhaps there will be something to our fight.'

He'd have to wait and see.

~NRK~

"I'll grab the stuff!" Shouted one of the students as they left, going out to grab the necessary snacks and drinks for this impromptu sleepover.

He departed with two others and Coco stretched, already having brushed her teeth along with Velvet and Natalie.

Caesar and his Faunus friend had done the same, so they were all up for the next spectacle brought about by Obito.

"Geez, this train's got a lot more violence than I thought!" she observed, many agreeing. "Next you'll tell me he's gonna have a deathmatch on that damn thing."

"Hey, you never know," Caesar commented, drinking some vitamin water. "Maybe that letter thing was a fight-to-the-death letter?"

Coco made to dissuade the notion before she snapped out her Scroll, Caesar's cackling ignored as she looked it up.

"Hey, that's only in wrestling, dammit!" she shouted at him, letting out a sigh of relief. "Bastard. Whatever, who do you guys think is gonna get to fight him?"

"No diff," Caesar began. "The police-shogun dude."

"Who?"

"The guy who brought up the letter?" She blinked. "He's wearing an old Mistralian police uniform in there. He just mixed it up with some samurai pieces."

"Oooohhhh," Coco raised a brow as she looked for the individual. "... It's not the worst combo he's got."

He dressed with a blue haori over his shoulders with hakama that led down into tabi socks and sandals.

His upper body was covered by a samurai armor chest with the guy also having gauntlets around his arms, a black thing with gold accents.

"He looks ready to throw down," Coco said and Velvet nodded as she did. "He's also got a katana, huh?" she noted, reminded of Obito's weapon. "... Hm?" She perked up as that same guy was first called up with his group versus that rowdy Mistralian's own.

She blinked as the samurai group parted to let that mixed-clothing dude step forward… alone.

"What?"

~NRK~

Obito's brows furrowed some.

'So that's how confident you are?' he wondered as he stood in the referee's box. "Are both sides ready?" he asked.

"Wait, are you being serious?!" came the call of that rowdy Mistralian, his group looking offended. "You smug bastard!"

"Hmph, I'm all that will be necessary, sir," the young man said as he pointed his sheathed katana at him. "Under my given name, Muramasa," Obito's eyes widened along with Olivier's. "I won't shed my sheathe until this 'bout is done."

"YOU!" the older Mistralian growled before readying his kanabo, his large metal club resting on his shoulder easily. "I'm gonna enjoy messing up your face."

The Muramasa man's eyes dropped to a half-lidded status. "... Referee, please begin the match," he bowed to Obito who raised a brow.

He noted how this Muramasa person rested his hand on his sword's guard, nudging the weapon out of its sheath.

'So it's over, then?' he thought before bringing his arm up and then down. "Fighters, hajime!"

The club-wielder ran forward with his group of seven Hunters as Muramasa… Obito's eyes narrowed before they widened.

'No w-'

A phantom passed the line of running hunters, a blade shining bright blue held aloft as the young man turned his head back to the falling opposition.

"I told you, didn't I?" he said to them as they fell unconscious. "... He, he, he..." he rubbed the back of his unruly dark brown hair before turning to Obito.

"..." Obito's frown said it all as Muramasa sent him an apologetic look. "Hmph, round 1, finished! Winners: Shinkage School!"

Standing at the back wall by his family, the rest of the VIPs, and Maria, Kakashi stood to his full height.

"It was the same move," he said, getting shocked looks from the others. "Down to the same ending stance, he did the exact same things..." the former heir's eyes narrowed. "... I believe things will become odd soon."

"In what manner?" Weiss asked with a frown. "What if he's just a copy-cat?" Kakashi chuckled at that. "What?!"

"Nothing, nothing, it's just…" Kakashi turned his eyes to this 'Muramasa' fellow. "I just find it odd that he'd also challenge Akame so formally if he was just a copycat. Maybe I wrong about that? Who knows?"

"So what?"

"... I… I feel like he's going to reveal something that Akame didn't expect."

---

'That was the Senko,' Obito thought with confusion. 'How does he know it? Did he copy me? Is he a genius? … Or…'

The last option would make his whole family history a bit odder or more stereotypical.

'I hope it will be more bizarre than that,' he thought incredulously, eyebrow ticking before he called up the next two groups.

The following fights were far more even. Hunter against Hunter, Semblance vs Semblance, the fights were bright, loud, sneaky, and brutal.

Maybe forty-five minutes later and Obito found the two groups he was to fight.

It was the Muramasa group and another group of Hunters who looked weary.

He chuckled at Dee and Dudley's group. "Again?" he asked with a smirk and raised brow.

"Heeeelllll no!" Dudley said with crossed arms, Dee nodding next to him. "We just wanted a few good fights, we're D-O-N-E done!" They walked away with nervous waves and shaky laughter that Obito scoffed at.

'I'm not that scary,' he noted but that still left him with one group to face him.

He saw that Muramasa man come forth, body relaxed as they stood face-to-face.

"I hope you don't mind us doing this at the allotted time?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

Obito shrugged. "I'm fine with that," he said before nodding. "That'll be close to an hour and a half, yes?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Okay, good," Obito said as he turned to the VIPs. "Rowen!" The Musician walked forward, the action confusing many around who weren't 'in' on this situation.

"Hoo, I see," the legendary Huntsman stroked his beard with one eye closed and his other arm behind his back. "So you're ready?"

"I'm getting antsy," Obito said as he turned his head to Kakashi. "Alabaster."

"On it," Kakashi ran over, a grin on his face and confusion written on those around… until he ended up in the referee box. "Ahem," he coughed into his fist and smiled towards the cameras.

All around the battlefield's outlines, walls of Hard Light Dust began to form, encasing both combatants inside.

"Will all other occupants besides Akame and Rowen, leave the battlefield?" The silence was golden. "We can't have this spar with all you here," the former heir said with a grin.

The Muramasa group looked on in shock before their leader recovered and laughed good and hard.

"Hahahaha! Magnificent!" he said with his red eyes gleaming in interest. "This… This is going to be outstanding!" he uttered before turning to his group. "Move along, we must get the best seats."

He looked at the walls before pressing his hand forward and finding a hole opening for his group to leave, the Muramasa group marveling at the technology as they left.

Kakashi smiled.

~NRK~

"... Damn," Raven stared for a moment as Vernal looked at her oddly.

"What? This old guy special?" she asked in confusion, tilting her Scroll side-to-side. "Raven?"

"Vernal, this 'Rowen' is Rowen J. Ilbert," Raven explained, eyes alight with interest, something that surprised the younger female. "He's one of the legendary Hunters in Atlas."

The tent was silent before Verna's mouth dropped completely.

~NRK~

"Who's this guy, Junior?" Roman asked as he sipped his Gin & Tonic. "... Junior? Big bear?" the former thief asked with worry.

The bartender had stopped altogether, eyes widened at the old man on screen.

Miltia and Hirana weren't much better, both looking shocked.

"Seriously, what are you all freaking out about?! This guy famous?"

"Roman, Rowen J. Ilbert is one of the legends in Atlas. We're talking, big fish, meet big fish, meet the fisherman." Roman swallowed. "This guy could probably hand every gang in this sector their own asses. At the same time."

Hirana grimaced before agreeing. "He's a master tactician," she said. "He's known to control Aura in ways that don't even make sense," she explained further.

"Like, what, making it smell like strawberries," the carrot-top laughed only to bite his lips as Hirana looked him dead in the eyes.

"Yes."

Green eyes just stared at her in disbelief before turning back to the screen. "... What the fuck kind of fish is out there?!"

~NRK~

"Oh… Oh shit," Qrow said as Tai frowned.

"You know him?" the blond asked as Ruby and Yang turned around.

"He's one of Atlas's legendary Hunters," Qrow said simply, the others following his shock. "I don't know how but Obito's about to spar with a legend."

Yang was sitting up and scooted back against the couch her father and uncle were on.

"LET'S DO THIS!" she screamed in excitement as Ruby just looked at Rowen's weapons.

~NRK~

Ozpin and Glynda blinked in shock as Amber rubbed the back of her head at their reactions.

"Uh, mind filling me in?"

"... Amber, there are few notable individuals on Remnant that are on par with Rowen Ilbert," the old magician said with an excited gleam. "He's likely what one could call a Maiden in male form. Especially so in his skill that supersedes all known Aura techniques."

"His Semblance is called 'Conduct'," Glynda supplied with a swallow. "He's capable of manipulating Aura, any Aura, to his advantage. Even altering it."

"Wait, wait, wait, that sounds ridiculous!" the Maiden shouted. "How is someone like him not just destroying everyone he meets?!"

Ozpin templed his hands as Obito and Rowen separated. "His Semblance can't manipulate souls, Amber. He can't just grab the Aura around you and mess with it. You know how Aura can leave traces, trails, and 'footprints' around active use, right? He's capable of manipulating leftover traces,"

Amber's eyes widened. "How's that fair?!"

Ozpin chuckled as he leaned back in his seat.

~NRK~

"So who is this guy?" Blake asked with a frown. "They all seem to be treating him as a big deal."

Adam was silent, breathing out a deep breath. "He, Blake, is someone who's been one of greatest deterrents in Atlas," the cat Faunus balked. "You weren't there for all the security briefs on some missions but you always had to be careful about this man possibly appearing."

"He's that big?" Illia asked with a frown, spots changing color to orange. "I don't get it."

"... Just watch and you'll see it all."

~NRK~

"Dude he's going to fight the Musician?!" Marrone looked horrified.

"You know him?" Liza asked and her fellow Faunus nodded.

"Y-Yeah! Back in Mantle, him and the Puppeteer used to put on shows. He provided the music," Marrone said with a swallow.

"So why's that worry you?"

"Liza… He made music with Aura," the tiger Faunus stressed, getting a shocked look from Ochre. "We're talking about a whole damn orchestra of music! That's where I got my taste in classical music from!"

Ochre's eyebrows furrowed as she rubbed her eyes.

She'd see for herself.

~NRK~

"Huh? Who's this guy?" Jaune asked in confusion, trying to catch as many views of Akame's face as he could. "Is he important?"

"Looking," Sarcelle slid her finger across her Scroll's screen in a quick fashion before her eyebrows shot up into her hairline. "That wasn't within calculations…" she uttered before showing it to her siblings. "He's a big shot in Atlas," she whispered.

"Dude, he's a legendary Huntsman?!" the green ascot-wearing girl said in disbelief. "What the-How connected is this Akame dude?!"

Jaune didn't know but he was getting more sure by the second!

'All I have to do is find him…' which was going to be a difficult task as he scrolled through the live feed of comments by the Livestream. 'They're all just saying he's from where they live!'

Could these people be the slightest bit helpful?! He was trying to get trained!

~NRK~

Watching as Kakashi raised his hand to bring down, Coco stared at Obito's excited smirk.

He had lots of smirks, this was one of the few times she saw it on full display.

'Is he a battle junkie?' she wondered as things came to a head.

~NRK~

"Are both combatants ready?!" asked loudly.

"Yes," Obito said as he got into a low stance.

"Indeed," Rowen said as he pulled out three of his six throwing knives. "Let us have a gentlemen's battle, young man."

"I'll give my best," Obito said with a nod, getting lower.

"At the ready?!" Kakashi shouted as he looked both ways. "Hajime!" He brought his hand down.

Aura slammed together in the middle of the battlefield, the force of the Aura Shots sending out a single shockwave of air.

"Well played!" Rowen said, bowing to Obito who grinned. "Let us begin."

Obito kicked off and flipped to the side as three throwing knives came down around his location before he jumped up as the knives shot up from the floor to fly at him.

He twisted in the air, landing to the side, the whizzing of the knives telling him what he needed to know.

'They're high-frequency!' he thought as he jumped back, the knives coming around to dance around him, buzzing all the while. 'I can sense more Aura from the floor.'

It was likely to be a trap to stop his movement.

He grinned as he backflipped before lunging forward at Rowen, the distance of fifteen meters between them halved in under half a second.

"Hmm!" the tall man raised his hand and Obito heard the sound of trumpets from his back, startling him as he hastily kicked off to the side into a combat roll.

Coming out of his roll and looking up, he saw a quickly pulsing little circle that shot out the noise. His eyes widened at that before he flipped up off the floor, those knives from before passing him by.

"..." his eyes shot around at the sight of all the knives.

They came in close and Obito found another of those pulsing Noise Auras, as he'd call them for now, underneath him.

He threw his arms out and a black ball of Aura pulsed out, knocking the knives off course and disrupting the technique from below him.

"..." He raised a brow at Rowen who smiled before swiping his finger up.

Obito Tempered his legs and jumped all in one motion as curling trails of light shot out from the ground, white Aura moving around like a serpent down below.

When Rowen noticed Obito not coming down, he looked up, blinked, and then smiled.

"Ah, you are a talented one," he said at the upside-down, currently standing on the ceiling, Obito.

---

The venue blinked as the young man stood up there, crossing his arms and looking down at the Musician.

Muffett raised a brow. 'So he can do it too, huh?' she thought, eyes trailing to an excited Neo before she chuckled.

Fiona just stared. "So is that his Semblance?" she asked the group and Robyn frowned.

"Most likely," she said.

"Incorrect," Muffett said, gaining their attention. "It's actually a different way of using Aura," she explained with a grin. "Why, I know a few people who can do that much."

Neo blinked at her robust employer before tilting her head to the side, eyes going from pink to white and brown.

Curious.

---

The Schnees, James, James's entourage, and Councilman Sleet stared at the boy hanging on the ceiling.

"... Um," Weiss started, eyes wide. "That's not his Semblance, right?" She asked anyone, really.

"Nope, hoho!" Olivier said with a laugh. "This, Weiss, is a real advanced Aura technique. Why, Rowen's probab-Oh, there he goes," the Puppeteer began to say before chuckling as Rowen jumped up high before flipping and landing on the ceiling himself.

Neither did he come down, the man actually stroking his beard some, the facial hair staying 'down' even as he hung opposite to the floor.

---

"I'm impressed beyond words," the Huntsman said, a grin forming on his lips. "I didn't think many could ever learn of this method."

"Hmph, same sentiments," Obito said as his kunai shot out towards the Huntsman.

Rowen's skill was on display as he batted aside most of them before flipping over the rest and landing back on his feet…. On the roof.

Obito's eyes narrowed at that. "More Aura control?"

"Perhaps," Rowen said with a chuckle.

Obito considered the Huntsman before reaching behind him, his bandaged weapon on his back. "...!" he disappeared from his spot, slamming into Rowen's hastily made guard and sending the old man skidding across the ceiling.

He dashed at him again and so clashes, swipes, and dodges remained upside-down.

~NRK~

"Okay…" Blake said slowly. "That's… new," she winced.

When the hell did Aura do any of that?! What the hell was going on?!

Illia squinted. "You don't think they're Faunus, do you?" she asked hopefully.

"If they are then Atlas is more accepting than we thought," Adam answered, quick on the dime. "This… This can't be Semblances. If I'm right, this is an Aura technique. That means it can be learned and used," he said clearly in the throne room and many shot him skeptical looks.

"He's right, you know," Carmilla spoke up, coming forward from Sienna's throne with a remote in hand. "Instead of gawking, instead of thinking things unbelievable, why not use what's before your eyes as an opportunity to believe that more is possible?"

Adam hesitated before nodding. "She's right," he said to them all. "We can't be on the back foot! Everyone in this hall with Aura is to come with me after this exhibition match is over. Am I clear?!"

"YES, SIR!" Many resounding callbacks sounded in unison.

He nodded. "Then pay attention from here on out, maybe some of us can do some things while others can't."

If this was a way to make a stronger path for their future, they'd take what's necessary.

Especially if it was taken from the humans.

~NRK~

"Uhhhh," Yang blinked while Ruby's eyes shined. "Is that normal, dad?"

"..." Tai just stared for a moment before turning to Qrow. "Qrow?"

"... It's probably an Aura technique," he said with a thought. 'Did the old man teach him this?' Qrow wondered as he watched Obito get sent skidding across the ceiling. "Now that just doesn't make sense," he said in disbelief.

"Look at all the weapons!" Ruby cheered. "Come on, Mr. Obito! Open up the bandages!"

"Okay, now I'm sure you have a problem."

~NRK~

"Whelp," Miltia breathed in. "This has officially gone over my head."

"Same, sis," Melanie said, an Aura of calm over her. "... Hmmmm."

"Mel, can you calm your nympho ass down, for like, a second?" The red twin asked exasperatedly.

"... You right," her sister said but Miltia wasn't convinced.

"Wait, he can do that, too?" Hirana asked, getting the group's attention. "My old man taught me how to do that," she said before demonstrating by walking on the wall by Junior's bar.

"..."

"..."

"...

"... So the idea of these two," Junior began as he pointed at the gaping Melanie and Miltia. "Doing any of that terrifies me," he said monotonously.

Hirana flipped down before landing by the quartet. "About that," she said. "There's actually another form of this."

"What, you fly?" Roman snarked as he drank.

"No, but I can walk on water."

He spat out his drink.

~NRK~

"Uh, teach-"

"I'm not aware of this ability, Coco," Elena said with a hand rubbing the back of her head. "I've never seen this… No, I've seen this once," she said, getting looks from all her students.

"It was in Mistral," Elena lied with a smile. "He was an odd one and we trained for a moment before going our separate ways."

Coco and Velvet blinked at that before the former's eyes widened.

~NRK~

"?!" Collbrand balked. "WHAT?!"

"Calm yourself, Collbrand," Danzo rolled his eyes. "You'll learn how to do such things in time as well. For now, we must learn as much as we can."

Esparza tilted her head. "Ssso you can do thisss asss well?" she asked and Danzo nodded.

"Yes. Wall Walking is an avid skill and one of the best training techniques," he said as he leaped onto the ceiling, getting a sputter out of Otto. "But there is a more advanced technique besides this one. Water Walking."

"..." Collbrand's face went blank. "So… You're telling me… That you insane people can walk on water?"

"We're not insane, Collbrand," Danzo said before considering something. "Actually, one of us is and he's about somewhere. An insane terrorist by the name of 'Deidara'."

"Excussse me?" Esparza looked horrified. "You're telling me there'sss WHITE FANG with thessse abilitiesss?!"

"I never said White Fang… but, worse yet," Danzo shook his head. "Deidara is one who takes to bombing things with gusto. Chances are high he has a Semblance related to it. He's a menace but he's a powerful menace."

"How is that supposed to make us feel better?" Collbrand responded with a groan.

"Because he hasn't made a move yet… Maybe," Danzo cupped his chin. "I'll need to find him. If he's about but hasn't done anything yet, it means he's either dead or..." he didn't like the other possibility.

If Deidara wasn't around causing havoc, it meant he was being directed. That or someone had taken the reins on that bomber, meaning they had leverage that Deidara wanted.

Either case, this didn't bode well for him.

~NRK~

They'd traveled high in the skies of the bullhead for close to a day now and Cinder was confused more and more by this apparently new addition.

"Hmph," the new one she didn't know grunted. "Oi, Hazy! When the hell are we going to land?"

Hazel, sitting in the cockpit, grunted back. "We're heading for Mistral. It'll be close to another day before we stay grounded," he said. "We're going to need to refuel a bit in Vale. So you can stretch your legs there," the big man said patiently, the blue-eyed addition to their group raising a brow before grunting.

"Is it any different compared to Mistral?"

"Like night and day."

Watching the two, Cinder found herself reaching her wits' end.

"Hazel," the man raised a brow at Cinder's call. "You said… 'Blast'," Cinder said with a roll of the eyes. "Was important?"

"Oi, girlie," Cinder growled at the sole blonde in the car. "No one out here is pointing out how fake your name is," 'Blast' said with a smirk at the Cinder's glowing eyes.

"Is antagonizing your comrades really a good idea… Blast?" Emerald asked and the man turned his gaze to her. "We're supposed to be on the same team," the green-haired teen tried to be amicable.

If Salem had allowed this guy to be in their group, it meant he was either as bad as to be expected of someone Salem picked or he was powerful and still willing to join.

Emerald wasn't sure which one made her more uneasy about him. Especially when she had a feeling his nickname was pretty… accurate.

"Hmph, comrades, huh?" Blast's long yellow hair bobbed a bit as he closed his eyes and tilted his head down in thought. 'There are few people I'd even call that, green bean.'

The image of an orange-masked individual popped into his head and he sighed at it.

'I wonder how Tobi's doing,' he thought before shrugging at Emerald. "Un, fine. We'll play nice for now," he said, peach skin pulling as he smirked before he laid back in his seat, brown cloak shifting as he crossed his legs, his ninja sandals shifting with his bouncing knee.

Mercury stared at this ragtag group of ne'er-do-wells and, for possibly the first time since he joined Cinder, wondered if he'd made the right decision.

'First, dad gets away then I've gotten my ass kicked completely four-times in a row and now I'm in a bullhead with crazy people,' he thought it all over and, the more he did, the more he began to realize how stupid of a person he had to be to have joined the first passing group.

Hazel was a big silent type who seemed… amicable but he'd joined Salem. Someone who basically joined Grimm satan wasn't to be judged well.

Then there was Cinder who was clearly a control freak with a fiery temper and slight klepto tendencies.

Then there was Emerald who was a full-on kleptomaniac and Cinder's ever hopeful lap-pup. 'Pup' because she was about as threatening and never was truly a 'dog' in the first place.

And, finally, there was this 'Blast' guy. Apparently, Hazel had brought him in. The big guy never seemed too interested in recruiting so Mercury had to wonder what was so special about this blonde to have garnered the giant man's attention.

So, as Mercury made to sleep, ignoring all the bad decisions he'd made in recent years, he found a series of Scrolls ringing in unison.

"We've reconnected to Kingdom CCT," Hazel announced on routine. "Look into what's happened as of late."

Mercury saw Blast doing as instructed and Emerald following, Cinder seemed annoyed enough that she closed her eyes and let the bullhead's flight lull her to sleep.

"... Uh, guys?" Emerald's call got their attention. "Something big is going down in Atlas," she said with a frown.

She sent out the livestream she'd found and they all, even Hazel on the screen up front, watched the video of great interest to the world at large.

"... What?" Cinder leaned forward and watched with a frown. "What is this?" she uttered.

She saw two people fighting and yet wasn't sure why that had garnered so much attention.

Then she read through the comments on the video and her eyes widened.

"... Oi…" Blast's eyes narrowed and the pure anger in his voice took them all off guard. "Who the fuck is this kid?" he uttered with venom as he saw Obito's visage.

No… No, he looked just like an-

And as the fight progressed, a sole discovery made Blast, or more well-known as Deidara, killing intent leak out.

"THAT'S A MOTHERFUCKING UCHIHA!"

~NRK~

Obito found the fight he and Rowen had to be exhilarating.

The man's experience set him above damn near everyone he'd seen or fought on the train, the only ones matching him being Kakashi and Obito himself. Perhaps general Ironwood would give a good show but Obito simply didn't know.

So, as they clashed, his bandage-covered blade against Rowen's conductor wand-rapier. He knew that if he was to push forward, he'd have to reveal one of his hands.

He'd considered it during the trip but the reveal of his Sharingan didn't necessarily come with too many downsides.

He was revealing his Semblance but no one would know anything he wouldn't let them in on. No one but Danzo and Obito had a feeling that the old warhawk had a secret up his sleeve that made Obito sure he was hiding something of similar effect.

Anyone who knew him would never be too questioning and… Well, he was sure that, if Kojiro ever saw this video, nothing would change.

So, as they slammed their weapons together, Obito threw the collided blades apart before kicking Rowen off the ceiling.

Obito lunged after him as his black Aura coated his weapon before he swung out, an Aura Slice, a name adapted to fit bladed weaponry, colliding with Rowen's raised hand.

White Aura pulsed and the older man found his feet slamming into the floor before he skidded back some, a hand sweeping in front of him to push Aura at his back and slow his movement to a crawl.

"Hmph!" he came to a stop with a soft grunt, eyes on Obito as the young man landed on the floor with nary a sound. "... You are an interesting one, hm, hm," he chuckled as he assumed his most notable stance, waving his weapon slight around. "And I feel you've deemed me worthy," the Musician grinned as Obito smirked before the younger of the two's eyes closed.

Then the air grew thick with the young man's Pressure as his eyes opened-

The cameras zeroed in on Obito's revealed eyes.

"There's no time to play, Rowen," Obito said with a grin, Sharingan spinning slowly. "After-"

He vanished from where he'd been and Rowen's body became enclosed in a cube of bright white-

There was a crash, crack, and breaking of glass before the Huntsman barely lifted his weapon up.

A black blade slammed into his hastily made guard of Aura.

He was sent through his defensive cube's wall, bouncing once, before he righted himself. Even still, he skidded back before barely stopping by a side of the battlefield's drawn lines.

The area was silent as Rowen's Aura cube shrunk in on itself with a snap of his fingers before a flash of black dispersed it. The white box breaking into particles of light that framed Obito's shadowed form.

Red peeked out from his raining white area. "This."

Rowen's raised head allowed all to see the bruise on his cheek quickly dissipating as he got back to his feet.

"... Hmmm," he smiled as Aura raised from his sides, facsimiles of his body's shape standing around him in a group of ten. "Have at you, yes?"

Obito grinned.

---

"..." Kakashi wondered if Obito had calculated this move or not. "... Yes, I knew," he said once he felt Weiss's eyes on him. "He's stronger than this, though, Weiss," the former heir said with such a matter-of-fact tone that Ironwood's eyebrows rose along with Jacque's, Councilman Sleet's, and Maria's.

Weiss looked at him with a gaze of confusion. "That seems unreasonable," she said with a frown as she turned her eyes back to Obito. "You make it sound like he could beat Rowen."

Kakashi was silent as he cupped his chin, not answering her question. This fact resulted in a ball of anxiety forming in his younger sibling's gut.

Weiss wasn't sure what to think about such a response.

Winter's frown was telling. "... You won't answer, will you?"

"Nothing I say will be more true than watching them fight," Kakashi explained. "You might say I'm biased. Maybe I'm hiding something, who knows?"

Jacques's eyes narrowed as James spoke.

"... I see," the general cupped his chin as Vine observed Obito more. "I see no issue with holding off on questioning until this battle is over," James said with a smile.

Marrow and Winter shot him looks of disbelief while Kakashi chuckled.

Olivier raised a brow at the two in the middle of the battlefield. 'Hmph, I wonder what Kojiro would think of his son now?' Lords know that it'd not be anything good.

---

Neo let out a shiver, memories of those eyes not exactly the best but she still nodded at how tough Obito was. It was hard to look away.

So you can imagine her surprise when she found a tap on her shoulder, turning to see a frowning Muffett as the cause.

Neo frowned as she crossed her arms and tilted her head with a raised brow.

"Neo," she whispered, Fiona and Robyn's eyes occupied with the fight. "Be honest with me, who is this 'Obito'?" the Mistral moss of the Spyders asked as she looked back at the cameras.

His eyes… They were just like…

Neo tilted her head the other way before bringing out her Scroll and typing something.

=What do you want to know?=

~NRK~

Opfer's eyes widened as she finally saw his Semblance.

His red orbs enticed her, made her want to look them over and figure out all the functions.

The scientist then blinked as she remembered that she had information to pass over.

Her youngest sibling's call from last night replaying in her mind.

---

Opfer let out a sigh of relief as she walked out of her personal shower, the others taking stock in the other three rooms they'd been given due to their number.

There was a ring coming from her dresser and she walked over before looking at her Scroll.

"...!" Her eyes widened. "Otto?!" she picked it up in an instant.

When it came through, she saw a familiar sight of a grinning young boy.

She smiled. "Otto… It's been so long," Opfer frowned. "Where have you been? We said at least twelve times a year, once a month. Why have you been silent for the past month?"

-Um…- the boy rubbed the back of his head before slumping. -Ya see...- And he, reluctantly, explained what had happened.

Opfer's hand nearly destroyed the Scroll in her grip. The only thing holding her back was that this was one of the sole connections she had to immediate family.

Then… Then he explained something… outstanding!

"You found them?!" Her frown was replaced with a grin and a giggle. "My, my, who'd have thought your absence would come with such fortune?"

He chuckled nervously before looking off to the side.

-Yeah but it wasn't that simple.- This time, he frowned as he explained the rest.

"?!" Opfer's mouth dropped. "The two on this train?!" she shouted into her hand, looking at her door. "..." she considered something before sighing.

"You see, Otto, my young brother, me and this 'Uchiha' fellow you speak of… We may have had an altercation," she muttered with embarrassment as she explained, what was necessary.

-Huh… I was totally telling Danzo you should have tried that!- He looked offended as he looked off to the side. -Told you!-

There was a grumble from Otto's side and Opfer smirked some.

-Yeah! So, I was wondering what you were up to this past month.-

She sat on the edge of her bed and crossed her legs.

"Well…" Opfer considered some things. "My colleague in this is… Well, he's out working on our projects right now..."

---

She'd told him that she'd send them the files in the morning and so here she was, clicking away on her LapScroll while she watched a live feed of the events going on in the dining cart.

Watching the 'spar', Opfer hated that he was apparently resistant to her charms.

He was certainly proving how powerful he was right now. Akame was an amazing specimen and they all knew his Semblance now… As far as looks go, anyway.

~NRK~

"..."

"..."

"..."

"So you guys aren't going to say anything?" Larry asked confused, scratching his forehead. "His eyes are kind of freaky."

"... Kind of?" Liza said before tilting her head. "I wonder what they do."

"If I had to guess," Marrone began. "Has to enhance eyesight, right? I mean, it's not like it's the Schnee Semblance."

"..." Ochre leaned back in her seat before rolling her shoulders. "?!" Her eyes widened as she watched those little commas in his eyes spin.

What the fuck?

~NRK~

"..." Vernal was frozen in shock and Raven raised a brow at her.

"Everything alright over the-"

"THAT'S OBITO?!" She shrieked, causing Raven to jump back from both the noise and Vernal's realization. "W-What the-?! H-He's-!" She stammered a bit before blushing at Raven's glare. "Sorry…"

Raven blinked once, twice, three times at Vernal's attitude. "...?"

What the hell was this, now?

Vernal, on the other hand, found her eyes tracing all of Obito's apparent features.

'... Dammit,' she thought with a blush.

Who'd have thought she'd have found him like this.

~NRK~

"Ah, there it is," Melanie said as she pointed at the screen.

"Good ol' Red-Eye," Miltia agreed, getting a groan from Roman.

"Gods, I hate that nickname now," the thief groaned as Junior chuckled.

Hirana Hyuuga stared for a moment before nodding.

"I was right," she said, gaining their attention. "He's an Uchiha. At least, that's what father has explained his Sharingan to signify him as," the pale-eyed woman said.

"The hell's an Uchiha?" Melanie asked. "Is it anythin' like your 'Heyougai' thing?"

"Ugh," Hirana rolled his eyes. "It's Hyuuga, Melanie. And… Yes? Sort of," Junior's raised brow told her to continue. "From what my father believes, we're supposedly two-sides of a coin."

"Huh… So what's it do that you guys know?" Melanie asked with interest. "We know it can do all kinds of mindfuckery."

"I believe you mean illusions or 'genjutsu' as few will call it," the to-be instructor said and the looks of confusion from all but Junior let her know she was in for some ignorance. "Let's talk about some old Mistral…"

~NRK~

Coco saw red eyes on the screen and felt an odd sense of deja vu when she did.

'Have I seen him use his Semblance before?' She wondered as she leaned to the side to get a better look. 'It looks mad wicked, though,' Coco appreciated mentally.

Her Semblance certainly didn't look that cool.

Looking down at the back of her hand, the side of the red diamonds on her knuckles and the half of a hexagon that peaked out from her new long-sleeve brown top that she'd been wearing ever since coming back to school.

She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to show this thing off yet until she got a hold of… Her real Semblance.

She huffed a bit, the idea of her Semblance being something much bigger than she ever thought hadn't been the worst part. It'd been all these, apparently, lost memories she had.

One of the things she remembered especially well from her sister's talks was a single sentence.

---

"Let me ask you, what do you actually remember from when you were young?"

---

That question had caused Coco no end of anxiety.

What did she remember from when she was a kid? She was sure that it was her and her sister hanging back a bit in a coastal town.

Of course, after much thinking, she came up with zilch… She frowned as she held her head.

She had no memory of her 'old school' she remembered going to. She'd even gone as far as to look up the town that she would have supposedly grown-up in and was thankful to know it was an actual place.

She's not sure if she could handle her big sis making up all of the things in her explanation.

Still, she knew no kids from there, no memories of school… Not even when she'd awaken her Aura…

She pulled out her Scroll before swiping through.

Coco stopped on contacts and had her finger hovering right above her sister's name. She bit her lip a bit.

Ochre… What would Ochre say? Coco hoped she understood her sister well enough to be able to tell.

Coco got up before going out of the classroom. "Be back!" She shouted to the room as she left, getting the barest of turned gazes as she did.

Going around and down to a bathroom, she went into the locker room section before taking a seat on one of the benches.

She opened her Scroll and looked at the already opened contact page.

Coco pressed the name.

~NRK~

Rowen's cavalrymen raised their wands before letting out a barrage of Aura Shots.

Obito held his weapon in front of him and crouched low before his Tempered blade swung out as he exhaled.

A wave of black pushed out, denying the Aura projectiles before surging forward at Rowen whose other hand, the one not holding his weapon, pushed out, twisting the fingers together.

The wave was divided by a spiral of white energy, leaving his vision free to see Obito's blade coming towards his face.

His wand-rapier swung out, barely touching the side of Obito's weapon before Aura slipped out.

Obito found a tornado of white shooting him up, and away, onto the ceiling where he landed on his feet.

His blade arm was held aloft and Obito let his Tempering fall away to reveal what he expected.

His eyes narrowed on it.

It'd basically become a katana compared to the wakizashi-length he was sure it had been before. A blade of dark grey, a darker grey than he remembered, that held a vine-like pattern faintly on the side.

'What the hell happened?' he thought.

Had his magic done this? He doesn't think so. For one, his own was flame-related. Something that shouldn't have caused this vine-like pattern… Maybe. Secondly, he'd not been using it… He winced and hoped that his new Tempering wasn't doing this.

So he had that to worry about but then another thought popped up that had him realizing he had a call to make after this fight was done.

So he focused and let go of his hold on the ceiling to land down below, standing to point his weapon at Rowen.

"Your experience shows, Rowen."

"And your skill and power are also considered," the Musician said as he breathed in, his white Dust crystals. "What say you to a little bit more of our bout?"

"Hmph," Obito snorted a bit, a smirk on his lips as he Tempered his possibly Maiden-enchanted weapon. "My move," the younger man said as he kept his weapon pointed at Rowen.

The old Atlasian had thought he'd seen it all, so when he found a force on his body shooting towards his opponent, who was smiling, his eyes widened.

---

Weiss's entire being froze at the sight of a glyph behind Rowen's body… One that was unlike any she'd known.

But not unlike a certain eye pattern she'd just learned of.

She turned to her brother and found his own mouth dropped in shock.

"What is he doing?!" Weiss asked him hotly, her disbelief there for all to see. "T-That's-"

"Our Semblance, yeah," Kakashi said before cupping his chin as his astonishment left him, eyebrows furrowed but mouth set in a grin. "I didn't think he could do this. He's copying our Semblance," he said in awe before a chuckle left his lips, startling the VIP section.

"My god, he's so broken!" Kakashi uttered in disbelief, causing James to observe Obito's technique further. "But I'm sure there's a caveat to this. It's people's souls that he's imitating, after all. Chances are high he can't do this for long."

"You believe that he's shifting his soul, so to speak?" Vine asked and Kakashi nodded. "I see. If he's doing something like that, I can't imagine the drain isn't ridiculous."

"W-What do you mean?" Marrow asked as he stared at Obito. "He seems just fine!"

"Yes, perhaps he does," the Faunus's mentor said in thought. "Chances are that he's vast reserves. Perhaps he's not copying the entire Semblance?" he directed at Kakashi who slowly nodded.

"We'll see, won't we?"

Weiss, all the while, was reminded of something Obito had said.

'He said he had his own techniques, yes?' she thought with a contemplative frown. 'Is that how he's able to do all this?' She wondered.

He'd said she might see one of them in this match… Had that been the ability to stick to the ceiling?

Her eyes widened but her mouth set in a ferocious grin that would have terrified all who saw it.

Needless to say, Whitley looked away from his third eldest sibling with a sweat.

---

His eyes looked back at the glyph pushing him forward, the seeing orbs changing to red ones for a few seconds before he turned them off.

Was that how this Aura flow worked?

---

Obito lunged towards the stationary Rowen who stumbled as the Sharingan glyph fell away.

His lunge turned into a kick that swung at the old man's side, barely folding him before Obito found his leg repelled.

'His reflexes are amazing!' He thought as he turned his awkward throwback into a flip and spin. 'Let's try this!'

He stopped his spin once his feet touched the ground, feet skirting around below and his blade coming around from that angle to release a large arc of black that tore apart the space between the two combatants.

Rowen's senses returned enough for his weapon hand to be pointed out, white rings shooting out to slam into the waves of black.

The two attacks clashed and crackled, claiming the area around them in black and white before sputtering out.

The two combatant's eyes locked and their forms lunged towards one another, swords coming together in a loud crack that sent out a pulse of Aura that compacted the walls, startling the up-close VIPs.

They slid their weapons apart before bringing together once more, the ground around them cracking as they did.

Obito gave up the advantage, stepping back with Rowen coming forth only for the older male to find a hand gripping his shoulder as Obito spun to the left.

Obito's grip held true as he brought the older male up and about before slamming him down into the ground, cratering the cement-like floor.

Rowen's form didn't stay, a white shadow fading away as the older man skipped back from Obito's grapple.

Their eyes locked once more and they became blurs that slammed into each other across the space given to them.

Loud blasts of air and Aura, black and white, filled the vision of those watching.

---

"They're really going at it," Marrow observed with awe as his eyes moved about before he blinked twice. "Dammit, lost them again," he muttered as Vine nodded.

Kakashi's eyes never left the two. "They're enjoying this," he noted with a grin that Weiss, Winter, and Jacques threw flat stares at. "Hey, don't look at me like that! You have to understand that it feels great to fight strong people… Mom, please, I know how that sounds but I'm not-"

"I'm truly worried, Alabaster," Willow said with such finality that Kakashi winced. "I wonder when my son became a brute..." she muttered but Kakashi flinched all the same.

"That's-"

"He's become a wild one, mother," Weiss agreed, smirking at her oldest sibling who paled. "Why, who knows which of his jokes are such or not."

"Indeed," Winter added and Kakashi's form became that of brittle stone, whittling away in the wind and at Whitley's poking. "How uncouth, Alabaster."

"Ah, he's blowing away," the boy noted with interest.

Olivier chuckled along with Sleet. "Truly, women carry a terrifying camaraderie," he said mirthfully, the councilman agreeing as Maria giggled.

---

Neo grinned as she turned back around, sending all that she knew to Muffett in a text that the underground boss read behind her, eyes flickering up to the fight every now and then.

Fiona flinched at the sound of another loud noise, a burst of Aura shooting out. "It's just like last time but somehow worse," the sheep Faunus said with a frown. "Honestly, you'd think they liked hitting each other."

Robyn was silent, expression impassive. "Men are a lot like this, Fiona," the blonde pinched the bridge of her nose but shivered at the feeling of another burst of Aura. "Dammit," she said below her breath.

She'd never really understood how two people could want to fight so much like this.

Then she remembered one particular person from her Atlas Academy days and she groaned.

'Oh gods, they're like Harriet!'

---

He slammed his palm into the Musician's surrounding Aura sphere, breaking it, but Rowen's conductor-like movements were finished.

"Aura Arrangement," the Huntsman said with a smile as he snapped his fingers.

Four circles, three surrounding one on the sides of the middle circle, appeared beneath Obito's feet. Each bearing the Musician's emblem within.

The sound of trombones, drummer's cymbals, and violins filled his ears before the Aura Arrangement, as Rowen had dubbed, sent out pulses of Aura that were signified by constant rings of light slamming into Obito on all sides.

The former ninja winced and hit a knee before he Tempered his right hand. Hardened Aura slammed down into the Aura constructs, dispersing them, before causing a rumbling in the floor that gave Rowen bad footing.

Obito took advantage by swinging around and up, clawed-up hands sending out a quintet of thick, but short, slashes of Aura that sent Rowen flipping backward.

He landed but Obito noted the man's ripped shirt. Looking down, His sweater's sleeves had been slightly ripped while his pants were ruffled heavily all over.

'It's time to bring this to a close,' a thought that caused his body to creak in disapproval. '...' His Sharingan spun before his weapon was raised.

Rowen's eyes widened as a familiar set of raising Aura cavalry came from the floor, three in number that sent out a series of slashes that the older male had to dodge.

Obito focused, looking down at his katana before holding it at his hip, a hand gripping the blade itself with his other on the handle.

He crouched low.

---

"It's time to finish, it seems," Ironwood noted, getting nods from most of the Aura-users around him. "... It looks like an Iai stance," he said, raising a brow.

"He's also building a lot of Aura in his hand," Maria noted with a finger on her lip, a soft frown claiming her mouth. "I believe so, anyway. It's odd, he keeps bringing it towards it before stopping and then repeating again. Each time he does, he builds up more 'leftover' Aura."

"Sounds like a final technique if I ever saw one," Olivier noted as he turned to see Rowen moving about. "And Rowen's on the same wavelength," he explained, getting an odd look from those around him.

Willow responded first. "How are you so sure? He seems more occupied with dodging."

"Because he's been setting up since the beginning of the battle and he's already making the hand movements for his big attack," the Goodwitch explained, getting blinks from all around. "Hmmm, he may not care if I say this. Rowen's one of those few with an 'Awakened' Semblance."

"Awakened-" Winter began.

"Semblance?" Weiss and Marrow finished with frowns.

"I've heard about that before," Kakashi spoke up. "At least, I've heard of Evolved Semblances. Are they the same thing?"

"Hmph," Olivier looked amused. "Quite the contrary and yes, they're two sides of the same coin."

"Awakening and Evolving Semblances are two subsets of Semblances we don't fully understand yet," James explained. "That said, there are big differences between the two."

"Yes," the Puppeteer nodded. "You see, to awaken your Semblance means that you've essentially extended your reach," he explained. "For example, the Applin twins from that Corazon group from yesterday. If they had awakened their Semblance, they'd be able to create and control Aura constructs from places likely from wherever they spread their Aura."

"Isn't that how their Semblance usually works?" Whitley asked before frowning. "No, wait, that's wrong. It always came from one of their hands," Olivier grinned.

"Yup!" he grinned. "There are actually rules to Awakenings, as we call it."

"Awakening your Aura is mostly to increase your versatility," Vine piped in. "It makes the 'limits' on your Semblance less problematic. That said, some Semblances come with such effects as is. That's where evolving them comes into play."

"Yes," Olivier continued. "You see, Semblances can't do both. You either evolve or awaken, the chances of both happening are such an infinitesimally small number that you may as well consider it's low chances to the number of stars in the sky," he observed the Schnees for a moment. "That aside, in the cases of some Semblances, they can't awaken and only have the option of evolving. All Semblances do, though, just to be clear."

Kakashi's mind was thrown to thoughts of the Mangekyo Sharingan. '... Does that mean that Obito's eyes can become them on their own?' He was hopeful for his old friend that it'd be such.

That said, Obito had used Kamui on him before. This meant that he had access to the enhanced doujutsu, yes? So how would he have gotten it?

He'd have to talk to him after this.

"Evolved Semblances are as it sounds," Olivier stated. "They're Semblances that have gained new traits or transformed into a more powerful version. So, say, if you could change your Aura into fire. If it evolved, those fires would become more powerful. Possibly even gaining another trait or ability as is the norm for most Evolved Semblances. Especially since they usually come along with a change in the person's very personality itself."

Weiss tilted her head at that, looking down at her hands with a frown.

"I'm sure that Rowen can explain it better once this is over," the old Huntsman said as he turned back to the two in the arena.

The Musician's surrounding area had become decorated by balls of white and an intricate insignia around his feet.

Obito, on the other hand, had been surrounded by pulses of black as the hand gripping his bare blade became Tempered, a dark black that emitted slight vapors of black.

Their next moves were sure to be the last and all in attendance were on the edge of their seats.

"It's been a rather amazing demonstration," Rowen said amicably as Obito nodded, the younger man's stance widening. 'He's devoted the entirety of his being into ending this,' the Huntsman thought with satisfaction.

Best to meet such an admirable display with his own full-focused one.

Obito's Tempered hand became surrounded by a spiraling orb of black.

They breathed in a unified breath and released.

"Surge!"

The floor lit up with a large four-leafed emblem, the entirety of the available space being marked.

Those lights in the air spiraled together before swirling around the Huntsman in a pair of light tornadoes before shooting past his shoulders.

Obito was clearly reminded of the Inuzuka clan's Gatsuga. (Fang over Fang)

"Hen'yoku-" (Single-winged-)

He allowed his Aura to burst from his Tempered hand towards his blade, the weapon burning black as those tornado blasts entered his range. A flash of blue flames was hidden by the oncoming attack.

"Tsubame." (Swallow)

His blade swung out at speeds that, if left untamed, would have it slicing past where it should have in a fraction of a second.

His Tempered hand on its handle held strong as he allowed his Aura to, all at once, shoot off his mystic weapon.

---

Kakashi brought up a large glyph to cover the group as the crackling of the Hard Light walls reached his ears.

Which was instantly overtaken by light and sound that got a slight wince from the former Hokage.

There was a slight rumble under their feet before it passed, just like the light show had.

He barely saw it do so.

White was cut into, and folded, by a dark black, with blue in the middle, that acted as if the area lost light around where it'd been. The two forces erupting before falling away into a false mist against the floor.

When he dropped the glyph, Kakashi ran out onto the battlefield.

"You guys alright?!" He shouted into the misty area, getting two coughs for his answer.

Obito and Rowen walked forward, their forms coming out of the mists to reveal their newly-disheveled states.

"We believe that this is enough, ho ho," Rowen said as the torn pieces of his coattails flapped about, his sleeves and pants' legs having seen better days.

"Agreed," Obito said with a roll of the shoulder, the shoulder on his left arm sleeve torn down to the bicep. "This was… Wheeew," he let out a breath that he'd not known he'd been holding. "Refreshing."

"Indeed," Rowen said as he waved out his hand, the Aura mist clearing in barely a second. "Hmph," he rolled his neck and patted his lower back with a small block of his Aura. "Ahhhh, much better."

Kakashi laughed as they walked out of the battlefield. "Ya know, there is a hot spring."

"That sounds pretty good right now," Rowen said as he let out a thinking sound.

"... Actually," Obito nodded. "That does, doesn't it?"

"I'm game," Kakashi agreed, the thought of going back to the hot springs rather tempting. "It's, what, almost eleven? I can enjoy it."

They chatted and walked out of the cart as easily as their conversations flowed.

Well, they would have, had Weiss not blocked their exit in a matter of seconds.

"Oh, right…" Kakashi tried only to find another glyph at the trio's feet that rotated them 180 degrees. "You're getting good at thinking outside the box, We-"

"Don't you try to change the subject!" the small heiress nearly screeched. "Where in the world do you think you're going?!"

Spruce Willis chose that moment to walk into the dining cart, hands stretched above his head while his daughter rubbed her eyes.

"What's happen-"

Obito chuckled a bit. "The hot springs," he answered before blinking and turning to see none other than Spruce. "Spruce-?"

"Let's hit the hot springs!" The man was wide awake after that as if the words 'hot springs' were his activation code. "Come along, fellas, I put in a word and they already have robes and the like preset for us!"

Obito should have known better. Really.

~NRK~

And that's a wrap and has a good lead-in to the next chapter. Spruce is a good narrative progressor as it turns out. How ironic.

So, yeah, I've officially finished all the fights on the train. What comes later is more exposition than a fight with the Muramasa group leader. More set-up for canon.

As I said in the beginning, sorry for the long chapters that didn't move that fast. It was necessary.

I can now, completely, promise we won't be introducing any new characters. Only ones we've met or have named up to this point. We're onwards to the exposition express train.

What else can be said? Obito's got people to talk to, some in a hot spring, others in carts, and one, maybe two, on a Scroll call.

I'll leave you guys off here. Gonna go and work on Kamui Candy's 10th chapter! Crazy how that story is going strong.

Words: 15.1k+

~NRK Out~