A Grimm Light

by Nasha Rei-Kun

Among the darkness that was Salem's island, Summer Rose expected to find one of two things. Victory or... unfortunately, a loss so great she knew her family would never get over it. So, when the weirdest third option showed up, a single piece of light in this land of darkness, she'd been confused... and then she'd been happier than she ever imagined.

15. Unseen Threat

~NRK~

The time had almost come. The curriculum had been decided, the rooms had been decided, the students had been informed, the nearby hotels had been informed of possible people coming, Winter and the Schnees had come, and more.

As Ozpin straightened out his usual outfit, he opened up his DeskScroll with a clearing of his throat.

"Now… this is the easiest yet most annoying part," he said to himself in his office. "Informing them, even with Glynda's warnings, is more for our benefit than theirs," the last thing they needed was for the Council to start lobbing 'favoritism' suspicions his way.

Then, they'd probably say that Naruto needed to be more 'open', despite how ludicrous that was, and then they'd be dealing with a political situation likely with every Council asking why they'd not been informed.

Oh, being fair, this was bound to happen either way, he was literally doing this on January 1st. He'd waited too long, he'd already prepped everything and now he was telling them one week before things started.

"Well, no time like the present," he said as the elevator doors opened to reveal none other than Glynda and Glynda. "Ah, welcome," Ozpin smiled nervously as they chuckled in sympathy.

Glynda was wearing her usual headmistress outfit but at her collar, instead of a green broach there sat a dark blue one with her emblem carved inside. A special thing he didn't note but chuckled at the sight of.

Naruto, meanwhile, had gone full-Mistralian. The Grimm man's outfit was a pair of his, mid-shin length now, notable black ninja sandals, which he'd been giving out copies of to the children, a pair of black pants with blue flames at the thighs, the ankle of the pants tucked into his sandals as his waist was wrapped by a white sash.

Over his torso was a mesh shirt covered by an orange robe top while a familiar Apprentice Scarf sat around his neck, now black with golden cogs on it. The last thing was the complete lack of his fox skull, the man going full-on humanoid.

This would be the first time the Council saw his newest form and would likely be a big point of contention.

Time would tell.

"Not feeling too hot, huh?" Naruto asked kindly as he and Glynda came over before going around Ozpin's desk and sitting in two proper large swivel chairs at his sides. "Man, you're really not looking forward to this," he winced in sympathy as Glynda nodded.

"The Council's trust in Ozpin is usually… 'okay'," she found the word as he whistled with a shake of the head. "They usually don't request anything improbable and help offer bigger missions for the older students… but when things get tense, they'll get rowdy and un-united. The last time, when you were first revealed, Naruto, they weren't happy. To this day, they still lost a bit of trust in Ozpin because he kept you under wraps. Which is ridiculous as we know."

"Yeah. The thing is, even with the Konoha Elders, things were… dammit, even Jiji wasn't afraid to make bold moves but he still had morals and a willingness to open up communication," Naruto explained. "This feels like they don't truly get it. They're not Hunters, they don't live the same life you all do, that even I do. They can only guess, estimate, and assume."

"Sadly," Ozpin said before sighing. "Alright, it's time. They're an impatient bunch and, oh, there's a profanity filter if you will."

Glynda huffed while Naruto blinked. "Profanity filter?" The Grimm gawked. "A profanity filter?!"

"Yes. Things get quite heated," Ozpin said with a hum. "It's as hilarious as it is worrying, most times. Now, prepare, it's time to meet the Council," he said as he pressed a button on his DeskScroll.

The screen enlarged until it became the length of Ozpin's desk and enlarged, screen flickering before there were a series of two individuals' moving faces in rectangular screens.

One of them was a woman with a rather young face, due to Aura she never used outside of that function, with long pink hair, purple eyes, and fair skin. Her face was slightly long with a bit of a sharp chin.

The other one… was a woman with milk chocolate-colored skin, iron-colored eyes, and slicked-back brown hair… wait?!

Naruto's eyes widened at the clearly young face that had two ram horns atop her forehead?! 'I-I thought she was a human?!'

A Faunus was so against her own race?!

"Councilwoman Rouge, Councilwoman Roselin, a pleasure," Ozpin said with a smile as Rouge and Roselin's heads turned Naruto's way… and their eyes widened but the follow-up reaction told Naruto everything he needed to know.

Rouge tilted her head at him, eyes wide but curious as she cupped her chin and leaned forward.

… Roselin's face… meanwhile… could be said to have contorted in anger that Naruto felt more unnecessary even though he knew she'd not be a fan of his horns.

For the sake of spite, he kept his face surprised while allowing his fox tails to come up.

Now she looked downright murderous. Well, nice to meet you, too, lady.

They'd likely never be 'friends', sorry.

"I-I see, well, good morning, Mr. Uzumaki, you've caused quite a stir over the past years or so," the human woman said with a knowledgeable hum that he raised a brow at, the woman's eyes locking onto his for a moment. "Things are quite different with you here and I've heard rumors but you do have a humanoid form."

"Yea. With the destruction of the Gates, things changed for me really quickly," he explained as she nodded. "All things considered? I came out with more pros than the cons could even keep up with."

"Hmm, well, on our end, the Mistral Council isn't too happy. Well, even the other layers of the Vale Council aren't happy."

"I've heard. I'm still not sure what was wrong. It's not like they couldn't have asked, it's not like I'm some private company or something."

"Oh?! Really?!"

He chuckled as Glynda smirked. "Yeah. Actually, the latest Black Gate beneath Gormhen gave me better bone growing skills," she perked up as Roselin grimaced. "So, it's actually better than ever now."

"I see. I'll be in contact with you, sir. Our construction sector has been wanting to play with your materials for a time," she explained before nodding to her fellow Councilwoman. "But we've been talking for too long. Councilwoman Roselin, you have their full attention."

One day, the worst one to go. "How are you, ma-"

"Rid yourself of those horns and tails, Mr. Uzumaki," she said without hesitation as Glynda's mouth fell a bit at the sheer audacity of this woman. "I don't speak with Faunus."

"Ya speak to your mirror?" Naruto got out without thinking before grimacing as she growled. "Look, okay? That was rather uncalled for, my bad. But I'm not getting rid of my extra body parts just because you say so."

"You'd deny the nobles?"

"Yes," he said blatantly without hesitation as she reeled with a hiss. "I'm not going to mutilate myself for someone's ego. We can talk or we can not but I'd bet you want in on this meeting," Naruto said with a challenging tone as the woman growled before her eyebrow twitched. "... Ozpin-ossan?"

"Yes, you've both met him and met his powerful personality," the headmaster said with a slight grin. "Now, the reason for this meeting wasn't because of him. Naruto's simply been getting prepared to reveal his humanoid form to the populaces and decided it'd be best to let the Council know."

"... Tsk. What is this meeting about, Headmaster Ozpin? The second-layer Council is to be informed immediately."

Worrisome words. "Yes. Now, the main reason for this get-together is to inform you of a small program we'll be doing with children from all over the world," the two women looked surprised as he nodded. "It's a program we came up with when Naruto awakened some of the children's Auras. You know the Arcs, yes? Mrs. Rouge knows, you've been helped by Nicholas," she nodded with a smile. "You, Mrs. Roselin, might not due to your rather recent tenure."

"And? Inform me, Ozpin. I won't be belittled by you."

'Haa, me humoring you is close enough, isn't it?' Ozpin thought before nodding. "Nicholas Arc is a Beacon graduate who had a rather valuable healing Semblance. Naruto helps by taking him to lands for his visits along with his family on his boats. They met a few years back when he saved some of the man's children."

"..." The Councilwoman huffed. "Continue."

"It's a program that we're using for both training and observation," Glynda picked up. "Right now, we don't know the other effects of Naruto's way of Awakening. He might very well give them elemental powers similar to his own or they may gain some form of control over Grimm energy. We don't know," that last part had been the curious thing Glynda had informed the others about.

Could, say, Nora or Mercury interact with Grimm differently? Was it only magic? Naruto was still a Grimm, in mortal shell, but he could be ignored by Grimm, he could take in their Darkness element, and, as such, he could gain their abilities.

Had the children's abilities grown more powerful with each Gate he destroyed? They didn't know. Naruto hadn't noticed anything nor had he tried since she spoke of this on New Years Day.

"That sounds rather fortuitous if it's true," Councilwoman Rouge said with a frown. "Still, have there been any adverse effects, Mr. Uzumaki?"

"Well, none that I've noticed. I've been taking care of two of them for over a year and half of one for a while," Naruto explained as both women nodded.

"We saw the recordings of your interaction with those Science Society members."

"They were actual scientists? They're insane," Naruto said as she winced while her fellow Councilwoman's eyes narrowed. "Nobody in their right mind would say some of the things they did. Don't try me," his eyes narrowed as hers narrowed more.

"Tsk! Their words held truth. Your favoritism was clearly noted and it's becoming a bigger issue," the ram woman said with a huff. "You speak like you're some normal person but you're not."

"And? I'm waiting to hear what you think I'm doing that hasn't obviously helped everyone," Naruto shot back as her mouth set into a snarl. "You're right, I'm not normal and we've used that to our advantage numerous times for the sake of everyone. So, I'm honestly wondering… what side are you on?"

"You insolent monster! Do you believe that's enough!?"

"I believe I gave enough and more important people to me than you can cinch that."

The woman looked ready to jump through the screen and throttle him, Glynda frowning as she adjusted her glasses.

"That's rather unbecoming of you, ma'am," she said as her own glare locked with the Councilwoman's. "Naruto's word holds more truth than those scientists. He's done more for humanity than most Hunters so it'd be clear that no one would back such an invasive endeavor."

They kept their eyes locked before Roselin's screen vanished, leaving four sighing individuals in her wake.

"Dammit, she's going to make my life hell for a bit, isn't she?" Naruto asked Rouge who sighed again.

"Roselin isn't… she's temperamental when it comes to the benefit of mankind. She's not doing this out of personal interest or, really, her work is more important to her than even her own life. You ignoring that, to her, is an affront to her efforts and experiences," the Councilwoman winced. "But she did step out of line with her… insinuations," Rouge frowned. "I believe that both sides have a point. Roselin wishes to expose every secret of Grimm known to man while you help in more ways than we could ever be thankful for, that is the truth… if you don't mind. I will send some of the material you send to me to her."

"... haa, that's fine. As long as she doesn't try something, I don't really hate her but she's pushing my buttons."

"... You are odd," she said, causing Ozpin and Glynda to chuckle as Naruto blinked. "Hmm… Ozpin will send you my company's information. I'll see about working out a contract between us. For now, Ozpin, please explain more of this Youth Program."

The rest of the meeting went well, more than well without Roselin there, but Naruto knew better than to count out a grudge-filled woman.

He'd been on the receiving end of it way too many times for his liking.

~NRK~

Councilwoman Roselin grimaced, getting up from her 'Council chair' and stepping out of her 'Council Room'.

'That useless man!' Did he not understand?! 'His body is more important than any little emotional hang-ups he may have!'

They didn't have time for him to become 'comfortable'. Doing these little things ignored the main problem at hand!

'There's a fifth one?' She thought, remembering her spy's words from the Mistral Council. 'Tsk! We don't have time for him to think he's anything other than a Grimm. He's a creature who could lead us to victory and he's playing teacher!' Roselin hissed out a breath before grunting and cooling her expression as she made it to a room in her home on the outskirts of upper Vale. "Hmmm… it's time to pull him out of his punishment."

Well, it was a 'door' so far as she knew it was. It'd not do her favors if someone found this without her knowing.

Looking at a plain wall, she pressed her hand against the wall by a large picture of her children, her human children.

The area around her limb glowed bright green before surging out into circuit-like lines that formed around the 'door' before the wall opened up and she walked in, the entrance closing behind her, leaving her in darkness.

Two claps of a hand and she was bathed in light in a white room which held a bed, a bookcase with specific books, and a meal window.

She walked up to the child sleeping within the bed. A child with milk chocolate-colored skin, shaved dark brown hair, and two, impossible-to-see sheared-down stumps that could have been called 'horns' at one point.

Roselin's eyes narrowed as she kicked at his side and she scrunched inward beneath his sheets before she tore them off his body.

Clothed in a pair of brown shorts and a shirt, his revealed arms were colored with scars, some of which she held great interest in, and glowed a soft black.

'If you won't give it to me, you'll do so for a random boy hurt on the streets, correct?' After all…

The one called 'Naruto Uzumaki' was an altruist, wasn't he?

~NRK~

Naruto huffed as Rouge left the call. "I think I just made things harder," he realized as Glynda nodded.

"Yes… and, to be fair, I think you only did it sooner than I would have," she said with a frown. "That detestable woman… she's so different from when we were children and now this? Those demands weren't realistic but her ego has gone to her head!" The woman grimaced. "To speak like that to a citizen's face? How in the world is she in the High Council seat?"

"It's due to her improvements in the science sector," Ozpin admitted with a sigh. "She's come forth with powerful new technologies and ideas. Her sheer increase in efficiency has made her renowned, Glynda, and that's as dangerous as it sounds," he massaged his temple. "I knew she was an open racist, I'm well aware, but that was rather… that was rather horrific."

"She seems like she's fun," Naruto grunted as he crossed his arms, tails curling around his waist. "I don't like this. I feel like she would have caused trouble before but now she's gonna do it just to get at me."

"She won't," Glynda's eyes narrowed. "You, those children, Ozpin, none of us. I'll handle it if things get that bad."

"I'm glad, nee-chan, but this is still gonna suck. I can feel it."

"Yes, well, we can hopefully deal with her while tending to the children," Ozpin said with a huff. "Though, I feel her move may be to try and slip in discourse. Of course, we could rebuke her but the issue is reputation."

"We've got children from all nations, Vale included, here. In what world does she have any form of power?" Glynda asked him in disbelief as Ozpin frowned.

"I know. I'm just worried. The Council can block us, at times, Glynda but I doubt she has the power to make them all stand behind her. No, I think she's going to exert as much of her personal power as possible."

"Tsk. Whatever, there's not a lot she can do here. She doesn't own Beacon. Hell, she's only one backer and I know for a fact she doesn't back us as much as Councilwoman Rouge does," Naruto said with a determined nod. "We've faced worse than her, we'll make it through like always."

The two nodded even as Glynda considered several options.

'James might have some ideas.'

~NRK~

The week following the 'Roselin Event' had Naruto, Penny, Nora, and Mercury chatting in the middle of the campsite with the Guardians, sans Gamakuro, around them.

"So, that's the situation," Naruto explained to them and the three frowned.

"I've downloaded all the laws of kingdoms before becoming flesh and bone. I know she can't make any moves on you all unless she can drum up a narrative of you being a threat or causing an uprising that may negatively affect Vale," the ginger said with a bigger frown. "But you believe this will involve the children?" Penny sneered a bit as he nodded.

Mercury frowned. "Another manipulative bastard," he kissed his teeth. "I hate her already. I'll do my best to keep the others from her influence in any way I can."

"T-Then should we tell the others?" Nora asked them as she rubbed Osojiai's head. "If we tell them, we could ignore her."

"I think that'd be the right idea but we'll handle it. Right now, we'll tell all the parents and kids over the week and see if they want to say anything," Naruto said as Penny hummed.

"Right now, informing them of the situation would be wise. Let's revise, Beacon, at present, is a Hunter institution that's backed by mostly the Council which is composed of the two High seats, the five Mid-Layer seats, and then the General Seats which handle each sector of the kingdom. Ranging from food to furniture to materials to science," Penny pressed her finger against the table they sat at before carving into it all the details.

They nodded the more she explained before looking at the 'finished' chart of possibilities.

"So, we'll need to be worried about her trying to send in a kid, most likely," Naruto said.

"Then there's outer threats. We don't know how willing or dirty she is," Mercury said.

"A-And the money for the hotels and stuff," Nora said with a pout.

"She's a Councilwoman, her power resides in the political situation, her finances, her clout, and her reach," Penny finished. "We know three things for certain that could be applied immediately against us."

"Her kids."

"Her resources."

"Her face."

"Exactly," Penny said with a smile. "Though let's not be too pessimistic, Beacon has several 'powers' against these situations," she added before doing as much to the table surface. "Ozpin, as headmaster, holds a powerfully odd position when it comes to the kingdom. Like how General Ironwood is both a general, headmaster, and an owner of a Council seat, Ozpin has a seat on the Mid-Layer of our Council and has a political weight that has been swiftly bolstered by both Naruto's existence and our website!"

"Yeah, that's true," Naruto grinned. "That old crone couldn't say I'm a danger when the last 'dangerous' thing I did was let Mercury rip on those folks."

"Still trending," Mercury grinned as Nora snickered.

"Indeed. Adding onto that, Beacon is noted as a special entity, most Academies are when it comes to the populace," Penny continued. "While Master Ozpin's leadership, security, and tutelage can be questioned, our Academy has promoted some of the biggest legends in the world outside of Mistral. We've a reputation for being all-inclusive when it comes to the populace, taking in any kingdom's citizens, and that's a big image booster for him."

"Ya-huh!" Nora grinned. "Pyrs, Whitty and Weissy, Ren-Ren and me, and then there's Sun and Nep! Then we've got Blake!"

"Yep, we've got a real circus of special people," Naruto sweatdropped. "And, I think I get where you're going with this, Penny-chan. Ignoring that I also have a good rep with Atlas and Mantle, James-ossan, Leonardo-ossan, and they all know this Theodore guy, we've got support all over."

"Indeed. The issue comes that, with all that said, we don't know how far her dark side might go," Penny frowned as she carved in more. "The things some people are willing to do is never truly known so we'll be assuming the worst when it comes to how blatant her racism is," her eyes narrowed only for her gaze to soften as Naruto bumped shoulders with her. "Hmph. I'll plan, we'll observe, and things will go well."

They all nodded. "So, for now, we've got some trips to make… or, first," he chuckled. "We should go and visit the Earth Spirit."

They blinked at him before nodding, the four of them getting up and heading towards the left side of Uzu.

They traveled via Kokyuko and Genbu, Osojiai's slow speed 'sadly' leaving her behind, much to Nora's displeasure.

Still, they made good time, the trip across the nearly 20 miles of island, on the left side, they quickly found themselves finding more land than before.

"He's been here, what, two months?" Mercury noted as Naruto nodded. "Dude, that looks like damn near another mile of land!" He choked as Penny and Nora giggled.

"Well, he did want to make more, ya know?" Naruto said as he jumped off Genbu with Merc while Nora and Penny did the same with Kokyuko. "Let's hit his altar."

The six, including the Guardians, walked along the border where grass and new land met towards a large hole in the ground.

Going down a slight decline, they walked for maybe five minutes before reaching a familiar but much smaller chamber that held the Earth Spirit.

The horseshoe crab was currently pulsing randomly atop a stalagmite throne that was surrounded by a series of familiar, smaller, scorpion Guardians that moved about and shifted pebbles all over in small towers that Penny giggled at.

"Hiya, Naruto!" The Spirit floated down to him, coming up to the man who grinned. "You guys like my work?"

"Yep, it's awesome," Naruto chuckled. "What about you? Finally set in?"

"Yep! I was able to dig in and the earth here is so… nice," the Spirit said as Nora snickered while Mercury smirked. "It's so rich and it's got water nearby to tamper with."

"Hmm? Right, Earth beats Water," Penny noted as the Spirit nodded. "But why do you care about water being nearby?"

"Salt! There are all sorts of minerals that help build the land and since I'm strong against it, I can sort of absorb it and the minerals. It's how lands are formed," the Spirit said. "T-Though, the Great Spirit below doesn't seem to like me."

"U-Uh, yeah! Um…" Naruto grinned nervously as Penny huffed with crossed arms. "You know how it is. He's the Water Spirit, after all."

"Yeah, I get it. Actually, I was going to ask, do you want anything specific?" The Spirit asked as Naruto hummed. "Land is nice and while I'm not a Spirit of Nature and Life I can, sort of, promote different kinds of life here."

"Oh! Make peppers!" Nora cheered as the Earth Spirit tilted.

"Peppers?"

Explaining the concept of 'spices' to it, the Spirit's confusion was clear.

"Well, if you need fertile soil I can do that. Anything else? I mean, I can kinda do a lot of land every three months, it's a lot."

"Hmm," Mercury cupped his chin. "... Actually, how are you with valleys?" He grinned as the Spirit perked up.

"Really?! I love them! There are always so many nice damp places! Then there's mist and fog, I loved that in Gormhen!" The horseshoe crab clacked.

"Then that. It'll be nice to have places to climb and stuff."

"Consider it 'done'!"

~NRK~

Five hours later, the group sat in the Xiao-Long Rose home, Qrow groaning on the couch.

"Gods, I hate that woman," he groaned with a facepalm as Summer nodded next to him. "She's capital 'T' for 'Trouble' and I nearly got involved with that."

"You?" Mercury's mouth fell a bit as Qrow huffed at him. "... YOU?"

"Hey! I'll have you know, I spit a great game."

"Down a well."

"Right. So, you guys know her?" Naruto chuckled as Nora played with Garnet on the carpet of the first-floor living room. "Because we don't like where this is going."

"We… okay so I do know her," Summer winced. "She tried to hire me as her permanent bodyguard at one point due to my reputation. I turned her down because I don't do that and she's never spoken to me since then, Naru! We used to go to the same middle school!"

"Really?" Penny looked alarmed. "B-But Glynda-nee knows her as well? How did you all meet?"

Summer blushed before rubbing the back of her head. "O-Okay, so we didn't exactly go to the same middle school but she went to Beacon for a bit to learn about Aura. She was a scientist first and forever, I'm more surprised she even had kids considering how she was," Summer grimaced. "Roselin wasn't a social person outside of whatever someone could do for her. I thought I was making some leeway but… I guess she thought differently."

"I'm sure you did your best, Summer."

"Thanks but I'm over it. For now, we'll let Tai, Rae, and the girls know when they're done at Signal. Speaking of that, that's gotten around and the people of Patch are super curious about a 'Naruto taught' lesson," she chuckled as Naruto grinned.

"Well, if things go well, we can do it. For now, that's the story we're running with on all of this. We're seeing how me awakening someone's 'Aura' differs, the story should help but now I'm realizing that that may make her more forceful on this," Naruto realized a moment later with a nervous chuckle. "For now, we're going around and telling everyone."

"Well, we're here. I'll be over there with the girls and Garnet soon and Qrow will be Qrow. So, things should go relatively well!"

"Oi!" Qrow stumbled off the couch as Mercury started laughing. "D-Dammit!"

Naruto sweatdropped.

~NRK~

"I see," Pietro nodded to the Naruto clone as they, James, Fria, Maria, and a Councilman?

"So, we finally meet," Sleet said as Naruto nodded, the two shaking hands. "Your material has been an almost impossible marvel but the enhancements to our lives can't be understated."

"I'm glad. I hoped that donating could help people," Naruto said as they shook on it. "So, you're a former scientist? I'm currently having trouble with one right now."

"Wait, really?"

Naruto explained the situation to the group who either winced, huffed, or sighed.

"Hmm… so she became a Councilman…" Sleet frowned as they all sat in the general's office.

"You know her?" James asked.

"The Science Conferences always allow me to sit in. I saw her when she presented the theory on the Aura Frequency skill of Hunters from Vacuo six years ago," he explained. "It was genius how she broke down the necessary parts of it and evaluated the true value of the skill. She's been on the rise since she was 20 but that was what allowed her to rise to the top. Though, I didn't think she'd stay a Councilwoman and a scientist."

"She sounds fun," Maria said sarcastically as the Naruto clone nodded. "Still, it seems like you all are pretty prepared."

"Yeah but it's for the best that everyone knows. I literally have a clone speaking with the Schnees right now."

~NRK~

"I see," Jacques hummed in the living room of the Schnee manor, eyes narrowed as he closed a book while Willow frowned. "That is concerning."

Winter fiddled with her fingers in a seat while Whitley and Weiss looked displeased in another.

"She sounds troublesome," Willow noted as he nodded.

"All things considered, she shouldn't be able to do much. Though, when she comes to Beacon," Jacques continued as Naruto's eyes narrowed. "You'll have to make sure that Winter, Weiss, and Whitley are kept away from her. No one knows yet, yes? No one knows the sheer amount of children, nor the status of them, coming, do they?"

"Nope. So far, the only ones who know should be the Council but that's bound to change even before the week's out, huh?" Naruto said as the two nodded.

"If you turn her away," Winter began. "News will get out and leave you all in a bad light. The worst thing? She can spin a narrative of dangerous tutelage, you simply can't keep the children away from her or the oncoming reporters," Naruto blinked and she smiled shakily. "Mr. Uzumaki… you're going to attract a lot of news reporters."

"... I-I didn't think about that."

"Hmph, especially considering M-Mercury's… tirade," Weiss blushed as Winter cleared her throat. "F-From a lot of points, you'll be noticeable. You've already presented the fact that your newest stage isn't well-known yet."

"Oh, that's true," Whitley realized. "And how are you planning to come here? What about everyone else?" He asked again as Naruto blinked.

"Whitley, now I'm worried. What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, while we can just fly down," Willow answered. "You've said you'll pick up most of the others. I know Jun's family will just ride you in the other mode," that sentence was scandalous. "But what about Li and Ren? Sun, Neptune, and Ramaal? You'll be picking them up, won't you?"

Naruto swallowed. "R-Right. I didn't… dammit. So, thanks for telling me, I didn't think the boat part would be more annoying than usual."

"Things have changed. I remember that one trip to Argus, was it?" Jacques spoke. "Did you not notice the men sneaking underwater and put them back on land? People are getting more bold, it was honestly only a matter of time."

"... I get it. You're right, I should have planned for that," Naruto nodded. "... I'll have to really focus. Maybe I can have the Guardians help out more by hiding the island somehow? I don't know yet."

"Kokyuko has powerful wind abilities," Weiss noted. "It wouldn't be wrong to say he'd be a grand deterrent."

"But the issue is still visibility," Winter added as her father nodded. "... Y-Yes, well, have you come up with something for that?" Weird!

Very weird!

"I might have some ideas but I'll need to bring Gamakuro back to see if it'll work," Naruto said. "If I can increase, or maybe it already has, his water powers, I might be able to, like, let him swim around and block the way. Kokyuko can handle things from the sky and Genbu could, maybe, power them up from the island."

"Making the most of their individual skills," Whitley smiled. "Though, we haven't seen Gamakuro yet…" he said with a smile that was full of curiosity Naruto chuckled at.

"I'll have the clone speaking with the general bring him over."

~NRK~

The following day, they met with Raven and Vernal.

"So, some bitch is gonna try and pull some shit?" She asked as Vernal hummed. "Actually, I totally forgot about this little thing you were doing. Vernal, guess what?"

"Alright, I don't care," Vernal shrugged with a grin. "So, I'd get to be the top dog and get more training? Sounds great to me," she snickered as Mercury shot her a raised brow.

"Hmph."

"You got something to say?"

"Nope," Mercury smirked as her eyes narrowed. "But don't worry about it, just saying. You probably aren't as tough as you think," he chuckled as Nora coughed off to the side.

'That's gonna be fun,' she grinned behind her hands as Vernal's brow twitched. "So, what do ya think, Ms. Branwen?"

"Hmph, it's not like I'm getting involved but I can dig up some stuff around here if ya want," Raven said with a shrug.

"Sounds great," Naruto said before passing her a stack of lien she swiped without hesitation. "Thanks for your work," he chuckled as she nodded.

"Still, this is a whole political mess you're now involved in," Raven said as Penny nodded.

"Sadly, it was likely to happen regardless," the former android said as the bandit nodded.

"Of course, it was only a matter of time before some insane bastard, with power, decided they needed Naruto's body or something."

"Yes, I suppose that was where everything was heading."

"So, for now, I guess Vernal's now a part of the roster," Naruto nodded. "Thankfully, Beacon's still got a few extra rooms for dorming. Though, you're, what, 17?"

"Yerp," the young woman smirked as Mercury huffed. "And you're, what, fifteen?"

"Almost sixteen in February," Mercury spat back and she rolled her eyes.

"Baby boy."

"Fuck off."

"Gotcha. She's a spitfire," Naruto said as Raven snorted and Nora giggled.

~NRK~

For the last trip of the day, they met with the Lie family.

"I see, well, I'm sure she won't care about Ren," An said as the boy and his father went through a series of knife forms in the yard. "He's just a normal boy. I'm more worried about your ch-charges," she emphasized with a smile as Merc huffed with a bit of a blush while Naruto and Penny tilted their heads in confusion.

Nora simply grinned as An chuckled.

"That. You two are the closest that anyone could get to Naruto and Penny if things go south. You'll need to really look out for one another."

"We do!" Nora said. "Though, there's gonna be lotsa kids! We'll have to protect 'em, too!"

"We'll see. Sun, Pyrrha, Ren, Yang, you, and me will be fine. I think we'll have more trouble with the others," Mercury said as she hummed.

"... Hmm," Penny considered something. "Maybe…" If that idea became fruitful, though, should she? 'It'd reveal a bit of our hand to Ozpin,' but the kids were more important than that. "Hmph," she nodded and tugged on Naruto's bicep. "Come on, I've got an idea that we can use to make the children even more safe!"

"Heh. I guess we'll head out, Raven-oba-chan," Naruto grinned slyly as the woman's eyebrow twitched.

"Leave before I stab you."

~NRK~

Thursday morning, Naruto nodded to Pyrrha and her family as he, Penny, and the kids hurried back to Vale before, in the middle of the ocean, they went in, slipping away from the Mistral bullheads following them.

Balls of wind formed over the Narutos and allowed them and their passengers to breathe without issues.

"This is getting concerning," Penny said with a frown. "Bullheads? They're using bullheads now?"

"We're lucky that James-ossan considered the fact we'd need an island that most casual bullheads can't go to," Naruto said with a frown. "But you're right. They're getting more than bold, this is outright invasive. They need to drop it."

-Feels like they don't care- Mercury said, voice coming from Penny's Scroll. -I'm honestly more and more worried about what would happen if they found it. Uzu's perfect, it doesn't need all these people near it who don't deserve to be on it-

"We understand. We don't want our home to become some sort of… attraction," Penny frowned.

-They're jerks! Why can't they leave it alone?!- Nora grumbled over the line. -Mmm!-

"We'll figure out a way, I promise."

As they swam, with the Grimm man in the lead, Naruto focused on taking their attention away from those thoughts and they enjoyed the time underwater, looking at the size of some of the Grimm, the normal fish, whales, and some of the plant life.

In an hour, they were all much more calm and relaxed.

"So, the only ones left to inform are the Arcs," Penny said as Naruto nodded.

"With Oz handling Ramaal-obaa-chan, Sun, and Neptune, they're all that's left who'll be sending kids," Naruto noted as he felt Summer and Taiyang's signatures. "Alright, found them."

They came up from the very cool depths of the ocean by Patch before Naruto popped his head up quickly to look around before circling around to Vale waters and onto the pier.

The early-risers' mouths fell as Naruto and co. came onto the ferry dock before walking into the city, going through an outpost and showing their IDs.

"Ahh," Naruto shifted back to Oni Mode, much to the disbelief as damn near everyone who'd been on the street. "That was honestly nice, we should go underwater more often, ya know?"

"It was pretty cool," Mercury said, stretching his arms up as his pink wig sat calmly on her head. "I really should just dye my hair at this point."

"Well, if you truly want to. We can look up tutorials!" Penny smiled. "I did want to try getting green tips."

"Blue!" Nora cheered as Naruto chuckled. "Maybe we could change your hair color, pops!"

Several families choked before tilting in disbelief at the four's casual conversation.

The walk to the Eastern Vale Outpost wasn't long and they were soon riding Naruto again towards La Pucelle.

As they traveled, they passed numerous carts before coming upon a large intersection where they heard a series of screams.

"Come on!" Naruto shouted as they hurried towards the origin of the terror. "It's Grimm! Maybe ten of them and a caravan of folks!" He told them as they all nodded.

They reached the fear in record time, Naruto's eyes narrowing as he saw a family of three there, panicking with a young Faunus girl, likely the same age as Nora, trying to fend some of the Grimm off.

She hit her rear after a hit from an Ursa, eyes wide and full of trembling terror.

The young girl shut her eyes before the sound of 'shulking' reached her ears, something slicing into flesh that she was sure was her own… but she felt no pain.

No extra pain, no more wounds, m-maybe? Was she dead?!

"Mom?!" Her head snapped behind her in paling horror only for it all to fade away in a blink as her mother, holding her little brother, looked around oddly.

"V-Velvet?" She asked her as she hurried over, reaching out and holding her close. "By the Brothers, Velvet! Thank them!" The woman held her close as 'Velvet' hugged back, shaking and confused.

"That's that," came a voice from in front of her and she blinked before turning her head to see the most famous Grimm known to mankind. "You're pretty brave, kid, be proud. We've got this," Naruto said as the Faunus teen's eyes widened before explosions of flames and lightning rocked the surrounding area. "Hmph," he stood guard over the three, eyes looking around as Velvet's eyes observed him.

'T-This is the Grimm guy!' She realized in disbelief, peach skin drenched in sweat and brown eyes rumbles coming to a slow halt. 'He… h-he saved us?' Velvet didn't know what was happening but she knew one thing.

Naruto blinked at the slight increase in negativity below him, looking down at the grimacing woman and her sniffling, presumably, oldest. "... you did your best, it's not wrong to say that."

"I-I would have…" The Velvet girl held her long hair and clenched, rabbit ears flopping down. "I-I shouldn't have done this! I almost-"

"Whoa, whoa, chill," Naruto said and the girl and her mother's eyes widened as the humanoid being now in front of them. "I don't know your situation, I really don't, but you basically saved your mom and bro," he added with a grin as she balked at him. "I mean, the only reason they lasted long enough to be saved is because of you," he said as he pointed at her chest. "You never gave up, that sounds like a pretty good job to me."

The girl's form sobbed even as her mother sighed.

"Thank you, for everything," the rabbit woman said as she held Velvet close. "This whole situation is a bit… inconvenient for us."

"How so?" Penny asked as she came up to the group with Mercury and Nora in tow. "Oh, pleased to meet you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, we're fine, thanks to you all. It's just… this whole situation got us into a rather impatient rush to get to Vale."

"Why? I'm guessing she goes to Pharos, yeah?" Naruto asked and Velvet sniffled as she looked up at him. "I'm guessing you were visiting for the holidays and got caught up in all of this."

"..." The Faunus rubbed her eyes. "M-My dad bought a new home for us in Vale… w-we were supposed to move."

"Really? Sounds like a step up," Mercury said as the mother nodded.

"But… we wanted to leave earlier. The thing is, things have gotten a bit hectic with you around, no offense," she said to Naruto who scratched his cheek. "Things have been rather busy and there are numerous people trying to move into Vale as of late."

"Wait, really?" Now that he thought about it, there had been a lot more people in the streets, hadn't there? "Man, I'm super sorry. I didn't think that was also an effect of me being around."

"No, it's not like you've been calling them there, it's just people riding that fad," the woman huffed before looking back at their stone path with a nervous look. "How far from Vale are we again?"

"Close enough for a ride," Naruto grinned as the three blinked at him.

~NRK~

Valerie, the woman's name, gaped as she, Velvet, and her youngest got off the Naruto clone's back?

Yeah, he was quite ridiculous, wasn't he? No wonder people wanted to meet him.

"There ya go," Naruto said as he helped Velvet out, last. "Alright. Unless you need some more help? I'm not sure if me being with you is going to end well as is with how everything is."

"No, please, we couldn't thank you and your family enough," Valerie said as Velvet nodded, Naruto grinning.

"We help out whenever we can, things are just… I guess you'll learn in maybe a week but things are going to be a lot more hectic with me being here in Vale for the coming year," the three looked surprised. "You'll probably hear about it… a little year-long program I'm doing for some children I awakened the Auras of," Velvet's eyes widened.

"Y-You can do that?!" She squeaked, holding onto his arm with a shaky determination. "C-C-Can you train me, too?!" Velvet asked desperately as the Grimm looked startled. "... I-I'm sorry," her head dropped along with her ears as her mother sighed.

"Wait. I thought all combat school students had their Aura unlocked?"

"Velvet's situation is… she's just getting into Pharos," Valerie explained as his mouth fell. "Well, no, she's going to be taking the entrance exam. She's got no Aura."

Naruto nodded as Velvet held her arm, his eyes snapping to her.

"Ah man, I totally forgot," he winced as he held his hand over her head. "Lux."

The Faunus, and her family, blinked as golden light flowed over Velvet, the girl's wounds slowly vanishing before disappearing with not a scar in sight.

"There ya go," Naruto said as she blinked at him in slight awe, looking at her arms in shock. "... I can't say I can just keep on bringing people in, ya know? It's not exactly just me. I've been kinda loose with doing it randomly so I don't want to push it too much. That said, I can still awaken your Aura and just check in on you every now and then since we'll both be here," he said as he raised his fist in front of her face. "Bump fists with me, yeah?"

Velvet blinked at him before looking at her own hand and closing it into a fist.

She pressed it against his and her eyes widened at the sight of golden energy slowly flowing down his knuckles into her own and energy filled her body with a warmth that had her blushing a bit.

Then her form glowed gold before glowing brown, Naruto removing his fist from hers and leaving her to admire her new strength, her new perception, her new powers.

Her AURA.

"It's gonna be hard for you, you've never had it before while your classmates have probably had it for years," Naruto said as she looked at him again. "But now you have something you didn't before and the playing field is more even. Don't let that gift get away from you."

"Y-Yes, sir!" Velvet said with a blushed and began to sniffle, getting a snicker out of the Grimm.

"It's fine, take it easy," he said as she hugged his arm, getting a soft sigh out of him but he nodded to her and her mother. "Like I said, I'll probably pop on in and check on you when I can. I've got a lot to learn in the coming year."

"Thank you, y-you've really done more for us than I thought was possible," Valerie admitted with a look of guilt that he shook his head at.

"Hey now, don't feel that way, the world's a way too dangerous place. Everyone's gotta do their part, especially me. So, just look at this as your way of helping out and it'll be fine," he chuckled as Velvet let go with a sniffling nod. "Later."

He made a handsign and the three Faunus blinked as his form turned into black mist and vanished into the air.

"... a-alright!" Velvet said to the air. "I-I'll get super strong! A-And thank you!" She said to the wind as Valerie chuckled while her youngest smiled at her side.

~NRK~

Naruto chuckled in the Arcs' backyard, finished informing the group of the possible concerns and situations.

"I'm guessing things went well?" Penny asked him and he nodded.

"Yep."

~NRK~

Two days later, on Saturday, The Move took place with some eternally grateful help from Jiraiya.

Naruto navigated his boat into the Vale docks, Bartholomew waiting there for him.

The crowd of people watching had grown with each passing second, the sight of Naruto's decently large boat only seen through images from Mistral and now they were seeing it in person.

"Alright! There!" Oobleck said as Naruto nodded, Jiraiya chuckling from the Qrow's Nest before jumping down and landing on the deck, the sight of him shocking the crowd as he chuckled. "My word! So, you do know him!"

Wearing his usual ninja clothes, the man's back was covered by a large red duffle bag and jingled a lot with the sound of clanking jars.

"Yep, this kid and me go way back," Jiraiya chuckled from the edge of the boat before jumping down with another chuckle as the side of the body nearest to the dock parted a bit to release a long wooden bridge.

From the boat, Vernal, Ren, Li, Blake, Kali with a small child in her arms, Adam, Neon, Maria, Qrow, Summer and her kids, and, finally, Mercury with Naruto.

With the departure of all of his rather shocking guests, Naruto nodded to Jiraiya and turned his hands onto his boat, the seals on his palm unnoticed by almost everyone besides the two former ninjas.

The crowd shouted in disbelief as the boat disappeared into his palms, coated in black energy that seemed to suck into his hands like a whirlpool.

When he was done, Naruto chuckled at the seals on his hands. "Thanks, Jiraiya-sensei," he said simply as most of their group balked save for Mercury and the Toad Sage, himself.

"Hahaha, just remember to keep it under wraps. No one besides us knows the real secret to this," Jiraiya said as Naruto chuckled before nodding.

"Alright! Everyone, we're heading to Beacon!" Naruto declared in some black pants, similar ninja sandals, and an orange vest, his fox skull completely reduced to a simple forehead protector. "We'll be meeting up with everyone else at the school front so let's not leave 'em waiting."

"Hmph," Mercury stood there with his skin-tight black shirt and black pants, a pair of ninja sandals on his feet colored dark blue. "We finally reached this day," he said as Yang nodded.

Wearing a yellow shirt and a pair of black shorts, she grinned with her hair in a pigtail style as her brown boot-covered feet scuffed the floor as she hopped in place a bit.

"Darn right! It's time to establish my hierarchy!" Yang said as he snorted.

"Right, your hierarchy."

"That sounds like a challenge."

"More like a reality check."

"Ugh, you two are way too full of yourselves," Vernal said from behind, a green shirt and black shorts worn with some brown boots on her feet. "Well, it'll be fun to ignore you at the top, anyway."

"You thought!" They said in unison as she smirked competitively.

"Yang's really fired up today," Ruby said in a white shirt and red pajama pants, white sandals on her feet. "And her Semblance isn't even activated!" Said realized as she held Garnet in her arms, the one-year-old baby in a yellow onesie.

"Hm, hm," Summer chuckled in her usual combat uniform, Kali next to her in her usual outfit as well. "Maybe~" She giggled as she looked at the baby boy in Kali's arms. "Aw~ You're such a cute baby!"

Having a slightly chubby face with peach skin, the boy's head was covered by a pair of lightly-furred set of cat ears as he looked at her curiously with his yellow eyes, wearing a white onesie.

"Hmph," Maria stood there in her usual blue combat dress before looking around with her newest visors, the new ocular goggles slimmer and more fitting for her face compared to her previous bulky ones. "T-These are working out well, Naruto," she admitted with a thankful nod as the Grimm chuckled in the same get-up he'd worn when meeting with the High Council.

"I'm glad. We can hopefully hope for more in the future," he grinned as she chuckled. "I'm surprised you're here, Bart. I'd figure you'd be prepping for the students."

"No, I'd done that weeks ago! I typically finish up early and spend the rest of my time going to museums in Vale," the man said, dressed as he usually would be during school hours. "Now, Naruto is correct! Let us make haste!"

"What are we going to do first?" Neon asked in a white skirt, long-sleeve light blue top, and roller skate-boots. "Mmm! W-Will we eat?" She asked again as her stomach growled.

Blake giggled beside her, wearing a pair of black pants, white ninja sandals, a black tunic, and a black bandana. "W-Well," her stomach growled and she blushed as Kali chuckled.

"Koku, your sister's stomach speaks for her a lot," the woman grinned teasingly as Blake blushed some more, Adam snorting a bit.

"A-Adam?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the young man said with a smirk as Blake pouted.

Wearing a pair of black pants and boots, a thigh-length, double-breasted, white coat with the White Fang's symbol over the back, and a katana at his waist, his face completely uncovered while he adopted a slightly spikier hairstyle than he usually had.

And anyone who noted the resemblance would be ignored without impunity.

Li contemplated. "I hope An will be alright," he said with a nervous smile as Naruto hummed.

Wearing a black kimono with green leaves on the cuffs and hem, the man's legs were covered by a pair of white pants and his feet by brown boots. Li had taken to a more controlled hairstyle as of late, the man's long black locks now in a tight braid with a ring at the end of it.

"Mother will be lonely for a bit," Ren said with a nod. "But I'm sure we could visit. It's not like this is permanent, father."

Ren had worn something more aligned with his father's sense of fashion, wearing a green cheongsam with black on the borders, a pair of white pants, and a pair of black flats that he moved in with a sort of grace that couldn't be understated.

"I can take you back on the weekends and you come back on Monday, like Ren said, it's not a permanent move for anyone," Naruto chuckled as Jiraiya hummed. "Honestly, this is gonna be a big change for all of us and a learning experience for me. Teaching a class this big? That's almost crazy."

"You did it before," Qrow said in his usual wardrobe. "It's not like doing this at The Place was any different."

"Yeah but now I'm gonna do stuff in a classroom?" Naruto grinned nervously. "Way different."

"He's got a good point," Jiraiya smirked as the group chuckled. "Why, I hated being in class. It was so boring. Flower arrangement? Not for me."

As they continued their little 'color parade', the people on the street just kept on gawking while many cars screeched to a halt in disbelief.

The hell was this parade?!

~NRK~

She blinked at the TV.

"W-What?" She stared at one of the few bits of furniture in the warehouse she'd been called to. "I-I don't… what?!" Amber eyes widened in disbelief at the news.

"A Youth Program?! The World's Most Interesting Grimm is certainly making moves!"

"What I want to know is when did he get rather mortal-shaped if you catch my drift. He's been caught on numerous accounts as shifting between forms! So, is he a special Grimm? Has his soul powered through and this is the result?! How far can his soul reach?!"

"We've got newscasters going to Beacon as we speak! Headmaster Ozpin has thrown his hat into this ring and has supported the program as one he, Naruto Uzumaki, and Glynda Goodwitch put together with the other headmasters!"

The more she saw, the more she looked on in disbelief.

She messed with a Scroll, something she'd never really used outside of Rhodes's, and navigated to that one website link on the TV.

When she finally got to it, she absorbed as much information as she could about the world's current situation, white skin illuminated by a white screen with information, videos, and more articles about the Grimm man, Naruto Uzumaki.

Still… when she got to a few points, her hands clenched at her device with… raging jealousy.

Of course, it's not known when the Grimm took in these youths but it's clear they are comfortable around him and may very well have been orphans he took-in at some point, an article read as she grit her teeth.

"They're rather happy and clean," one article's quote said. "Oddly enough, their clothes seem relatively new, the boy's especially, so I guess he also buys them necessities and teaches them."

Another. ANOTHER. AND ANOTHER.

The more the young dark brown-haired woman read, the more her eyes burned with a jealousy that glowed in the underground warehouse.

'That should have been ME!' She growled. 'I should have been happy! But even the Grimm seemed to think I'm not worth it?!' No, that would not stand.

She'd make sure he knew her suffering was more than some random orphans in Mistral.

~NRK~

Getting to the Beacon Bullhead Port, Bart led them to a special desk inside the main building, the group quickly being let onto a private bullhead in the face of many others in the port.

Of course, it wasn't without issues.

"S-Sir! Sir?! Please, Downtown Vale News anchor, John Blue! Do you have a moment?!"

"Sir?! Mr. Uzumaki?! These children, have you had a significant effect on their lives?!"

"Can we get a statement on your current alignment?!"

"Sir?!"

"Mr. Uzumaki?!"

Naruto made to speak before Summer shook her head.

"You'd never hear the end of it," she told him and Naruto winced.

"I feel like I'm doomed if I do and doomed if I don't. How do celebs do this all the time?" Naruto asked as the 'guards' of this program placed shades over their eyes. "... when did you?"

"Willow bought them in balk," Kali said as Adam snorted before donning some shades. "See?!"

They ushered the group in like professional detail.

Naruto sweatdropped the entire way. "My life has gone insane."

Mercury smirked.

Getting on, the trip to Beacon had been moderately fast, ten minutes at most.

"This is so crazy!" Blake said with a look of disbelief as Neon giggled. "Y-You're like a super celebrity!"

"Yeah, I'm starting to hate it, too. I bet your dad's not a fan of these," he said as Blake chuckled nervously as Kali snorted.

"The Brothers no. Ghira's an amazing motivational speaker but when things get too crowded, he's certainly quick to retreat," she chuckled. "Never thought I'd be in this situation with another but life finds a way."

"Oh, right, when's the next rally in Vale, Kali?" Summer asked.

"In about a month or so? Ghira wanted to really rally in Vale a lot this year on account of this event. It'd not only be a big boost to morale and our numbers but it'd show more unity between the kingdoms."

"Count me in where you can," Naruto said as Li nodded.

"We'd be glad to help," he said as Ren hummed.

"Nora went with Ms. Polendina, right?" He asked Naruto who nodded. "They're going to get Sun, Neptune, and Ms. Hara."

"Jaune's supposed to be at Beacon already with Weiss Cream!" Yang said with a snicker as Adam huffed. "What about Pyrs?"

There was a voice from beside her… outside the window?

The group turned to see Pyrrha waving at them from atop a Naruto clone's back, a ball of wind allowing the trio of her, the clone, and Thetis to wave without worry of falling or wind pressure.

"That's so COOL!" Ruby squealed as the kids rushed to the windows. "Yes! I-I wanna do that!"

"Maybe when we get some time," Naruto said with a chuckle. "My God, I'm teaching a curriculum," he said it like it was impossible, Jiraiya and Maria chuckling across from him.

"It's crazy, huh?" The Toad Sage said as Naruto nodded rapidly.

"I just gotta go out and teach. It's not like I don't know you guys and all your little quirks, troublemaking, and powers."

"H-Hey! Some of that sounded mean!" Blake said as Adam smirked.

"He's not wrong, though," he said as she gaped at him. "Miss Blake, I'm sure I've pulled you away from several fights in the past month."

She blushed as Kali chuckled.

"Yes, please, keep her out of trouble. The last thing we need is for Blake to be known as a rowdy gal," she said teasingly as her daughter pouted.

"Mom~"

"I know, I know."

Their bullhead came down moments later, Pyrrha's trio moving out of sight as they did before they landed.

The bullhead hissed down before the side door opened, allowing the group to run out and see the rest of their future group.

"HEY!" Jaune grinned as he and his siblings waved from the front of the school along with Weiss's family, Pyrrha's, and Ramaal's group with Penny and Nora in tow.

"We're all here!" The short Mistralian girl said with a grin, dressed in a pink vest, blue shirt, and black tights that led down into pink ninja sandals. "Sup, pops, bro, and friends!" Nora grinned as Naruto and Mercury chuckled as they came out with the rest of the adults.

"Hey," they said in unison as all of Beacon leaned out the school's windows, peeking out of bushes, or rushing over from the stone pathways around the school to look at them. "Geez," it's not like they'd never seen him before.

Jacques and Willow stood there in their usual clothes while Winter, Whitley, and Weiss had changed it up, it seemed.

The oldest Schnee sibling was simply wearing the Beacon school uniform, looking a bit awkward in it, while Weiss had worn something that looked slightly similar?

With a light blue vest over a white dress shirt, a light blue skirt, and a pair of knee-high socks with light blue loafers, she projected the image of 'child prodigy' well… well, that, or a 'smarty', in Nora's words.

Whitley, meanwhile, dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, black slacks, and his usual brown loafers, the boy looking so comfortable and ready to face the day.

"Hmph, I have to handle some business, Naruto," Jacques said as the Grimm nodded, the two shaking hands in front of the cameras of the student body. "... They're journalists, are they?"

"I doubt it," Willow said, amused. "Just students, this is likely good for your image."

"Well, say no more."

With that, the man nodded to his family before leaving in another private bullhead, leaving Naruto chuckling as Adam's mouth stayed dropped.

'The hell is going on?' Jacques Schnee looking like a dad, when?!

"Hey, Jaune!" Pyrrha said as she hurried over to the Arcs as Ren and Nora zeroed in on their location with the other kids.

Wearing a pair of black shorts, brown tights, and a hay-colored long-sleeve top, Pyrrha's brown boots clopped against the floor as she stopped by Jaune and the others.

"Hey, Pyr!" Jaune greeted with a grin as they hugged it out before being blindsided by Nora who dragged in Ren. "W-Wait! Nora!"

"We're BACK!" She cheered before lifting the three up.

"W-When was she so strong!?"

"You get used to it?" Ren said nervously as she put them down, Jaune's blue shirt, black shorts, and brown sandals smoothed out by the chuckling blonde boy.

"Y-Yeah?"

"... Yes."

"Ren, you waited."

The other boy grinned nervously once more.

Thetis chuckled from beside Naruto and Willow in a pair of black pants and shin-length boots, her torso covered by a wide-collared brown poncho. "I'm glad she's so welcomed," she said to Naruto who chuckled.

"They're all good kids, they only need a day and they're friends for life," he said with a grin as she chuckled.

"Hmph," Ramaal grunted softly as she looked at them all, dressed like last time. "Gods, there are so many of them."

Sun grinned along with Neptune, the boys wearing white tunics, black pants, and red headbands.

"Dude!" They said in unison as she snorted.

"It's rather amazing when you're looking at them like this," Jun said in a blue sundress. "Hmm, Nicky, there's a nice hotel on the edge of Eastern Vale."

Nicholas's eyes lowered suggestively as he nodded subtly. "I know."

Ozpin's eyebrow shot into his hairline. 'At this point, they're going for a record,' which beat out almost all of his previous lives! 'I think only one person beat them in numbers and I was a king!' The people these days were rabbits!

Glynda chuckled next to him, the two of them in their usual attire. "This is bound to be found," she grinned as he shot her a weird look.

'... I see,' so everyone was weird like this?

Cera chuckled in her Beacon uniform as her female siblings moved about in their color-coded shirts, shorts, and pants. "So, you're going to be in your third year, right?" She asked Winter who nodded.

"I-I was never on a team and simply focused on my studies," the heiress explained as Cera nodded. "So… I don't know what I'll truly be doing outside of the same things."

"That's fine."

"How was the trip?" Penny asked Naruto as he chuckled.

Wearing her favored black and green bodysuit, she had on her greaves and Apprentice Cloak but there was something new. Outside the bone corset, on her waist, was a black belt that held several pouches on it, her spatha on her left hip while the belt tilted to her right one.

Her formerly uncovered arms were now donned in some small black gauntlets that came up to her elbows, the bone armor shaped into smooth digits and a smooth plate along the back of her forearms for extra protection.

"It went well," he said as they hugged. "Though, now that we're all here… h-hehe," Naruto chuckled nervously as they observed the ruckus they were creating just by standing in front of Beacon. "Yeah, this might be a bit louder than I expected."

"Hmm, you have a point," Penny said before a unified sound stopped all chatter.

All manner of people knew of this sound and it was built into their lives as living beings.

The group's stomachs growled in unison.

"... so, uh, yo, Glynda-nee, you know that one restaurant I wanted to rent out?"

~NRK~

They were the center of attention when they entered and even more so when they all began to eat.

Naruto chuckled as he pat Nora on the back. "Just eat, my treat. Call it our opening ceremony," he said to the group with a smile. "Though, no countless steaks please. I've got funds, not bottomless pockets."

Nicholas hummed at that as Qrow grinned.

"Booze!" He declared as Jiraiya grinned with hungry eyes.

"Yes! Much booze!" He joined in.

Mercury's eyebrow twitched. "And you think of him as a teacher?" The boy's eyes went to Naruto who chuckled nervously.

"Uhh… yeah, so, people have many different facets, Merc."

"I don't believe it."

As they ordered and waited, thankful that they were able to reserve such a large part of the restaurant, Naruto hummed as he turned his head to see a familiar man at the door. "Old Man Olivier?" He got up before walking over to the front of the restaurant and greeting him.

"Huh? Naruto? I didn't think you'd be here. I thought you all were at Beacon?" The old Goodwitch said, wearing a nice light green suit. "Honestly, I figured I'd take a look at these youths of yours."

The entrance was also full of news reporters who grew more rowdy at the sight of him.

Naruto sweatdropped before welcoming the oldest Goodwitch in and ignoring them. "Right this way, I was treating everyone as a sort of opening ceremony. Come right in."

Bringing him over, Glynda pulled up a seat next to her and the man sat down.

"Hmm, ah, Jiraiya?" Olivier blinked before chuckling as the Toad Sage smirked while the others blinked.

"Wait, you know my father?" Glynda asked, confused.

"Me and him go way back, back when he was doing a mission in Mistral," Jiraiya explained. "Olie over there was in a bit of trouble and I just happened right in. Took down a horde of Ursai and we met occasionally for drinks before I started working more closely with some high-status folk. Haven't seen one another in about a year."

"Yes, the stories he wrote were always peculiar but I was glad he was doing well," Olivier laughed heartily.

"You tell stories?" Jaune asked as Naruto, and most of the adults, panicked. "Tell us one!"

"No!" They all said in unison as he blinked.

"Why?"

"Hehhehee, you're a bit young for my stories, kid," Jiraiya snickered as the wine was brought in. "Ahh, and so we're being served," he smirked to all the adults. "Well, well, well, I'm glad my work is so popular."

They all blushed save for Naruto who facepalmed.

"Damn you, Ero-Sennin."

"Haven't been called that in a while."

Their drinks came first with their food coming maybe thirty minutes later.

In that time, Jiraiya's eyebrows rose as he sipped his wine.

Why you might ask? Well, it might have to do with how his former student was currently acting real friendly with that Penny woman. Which was another weird thing.

How was she eating? Was she not a robot? Or… was that not true anymore?

'Hmm…' He smirked though as Naruto gave affectionate touches and Penny gave some back. 'Ho ho ho? It seems like there's something in the air and it ain't grief!' Curious, he'd need to section the former blonde off and speak on private terms.

"Hmm," Olivier raised a brow at the Grimm and woman's interactions. "Hmm, Glynda, is this what he meant?" He asked his daughter who stopped, blinked, and then looked up at the currently laughing Naruto and Penny.

"Ah," she grinned. "Yes, it is. Naruto and Penny are basically a thing but they haven't told anyone yet despite how bad they are at hiding it."

He nodded with a hum. "I guess young people really aren't the rabbits I thought they were."

Glynda's face froze, sweat dripping down the side of it as she spoke shakily. "Y-Yes, that's true. T-There's no such narrative around them," she lied immediately.

Lest she reveal that pre-humanoid-hell, what if it was pre-human-Penny?

All she knew was that they were more in the category than her father would ever believe.

"Hmm?" Pyrrha tilted her head as she watched Naruto and Penny interact with Nora and Mercury. "Hmmm…"

"What's up, Pyr?" Jaune asked, seated next to her. "Somethin' with lots of thoughts in it?"

"Hmm… yeah," she said after some thought as he nodded sagely.

"When I get those kinds of thoughts, I just go to dad."

"He does," Nicholas said proudly as Jun rolled her eyes.

"You're two males in a house of eight females, no one's surprised," she said but he smirked. "Goodness, you're something else."

"A magnificent husband?"

"Yes but worse than that."

Cera smirked as she nudged Jaune. "Go on, I wonder what she's thinking."

"What are ya thinkin' about?" He asked Pyrrha without breaking a sweat, getting more amusement out of Cera.

"So, Naruto and Penny adopted Nora and Mercury?" Pyrrha asked and the Arcs, and Thetis, stopped and looked at the four in question. "I mean, she calls him 'pops', right?"

"Well… not officially," Jun said with a giggle. "But they might as well have, considering everything they do for them," she added with a grin. "If I'm remembering Li's words correctly, Naruto saved Nora, and his family, when she was… 8. Three years later, Naruto and Penny take Nora in so she's been their charge for over two years now."

"She likely got attached pretty quickly," Saphron said as she ate some pasta. "Hmm… Then again, loving 'rents, a whole lotta space for yourself, a bunch of attention no matter what, and security. Nora and Mercury probably found total peace with Naruto and Penny."

"Hmm, most people would indeed be drawn in by such a pitch," Sarcella said as Saphron chuckled nervously. "Nora's said that it feels completely different," she added, surprising those around her. "She wanted him to adopt when he saved her."

"... Ah, I see," Thetis wore a sad smile. "I can only imagine what it was like for her when she wished for it."

"Yes, she liked his energy," Sarcelle explained. "I guess she said it felt like how dad does to us."

"Hmph, I understand. At least, sort of," Nicholas said. "To be saved, to be helped, and to admire mix together rather quickly, especially if she had nothing else. I guess she 'imprinted', sort of. Can't imagine what her original life was like."

"Huh… I-I kinda wanted to ask her," Jaune said as Pyrrha hummed.

"That'd be rude," she told him matter-of-factly without a hint of disapproval. "I think."

"Y-Yeah, I didn't because I didn't want to make her sad… it's just, Nora did tell us she wasn't a baby when he helped her but she also didn't live anywhere… so, how'd she end up in Ren's village?" He wondered as the adults blinked.

"... that's not wrong," Thetis considered with a frown. "Honestly, if she was being abandoned, goodness," she sighed, holding her cheek as Jun nodded with a similar frown. "Yet, she was orphaned but she knew how to speak? She could do all the normal things, that meant she was taught."

So who would teach a child only to get rid of them? Why wait for so long in Mistral of all places?

"... well… What if Nora didn't like it?" Pyrrha suggested while messing with her plate.

Thetis's eyes widened at the idea. 'So, she didn't get abandoned…'

Nicholas realized that moment as well. 'She ran.'

And if that was the case… was this hypothetical set of parents going to run after her?

"Hmph, it's simply something we just thought of, to be fair," Jun said, navigating away from those thoughts, at least for the children. 'I'll probably let Summer and Naruto know,' that way they kept it in mind.

Meanwhile, Ozpin hummed as he looked at his Scroll, eyes narrowing at a message he'd received and feeling a sense of foreboding that told him who it was from.

'Well, not all good things go unpunished,' he thought before opening it up. '... what?' Ozpin blinked at the message in disbelief. 'Is this your play? Are you going to appeal to his kindness?' He looked at the boy being 'put up' for the program and barely held back his grimace, hiding the text within an instant.

If Naruto knew of this, he'd not hesitate, Ozpin knew this and was now left with an ultimatum he never expected.

The boy dies if the Grimm isn't told about him.

That bitch.

His eyebrow then twitched as the message deleted itself from his Scroll.

'Have you no shame?!' He wanted to shout at the woman. 'That horrid woman!' Ozpin never wanted to throttle someone more than he did now. 'She didn't even call from her part of the city,' nothing would allow him to track it back to her for evidence. 'Science was quickly used against me.'

And now he had an ultimatum he wasn't even sure was an ultimatum.

Should she kill that boy… she'd tell Naruto, he'd find out one way or the other, Ozpin was sure.

And it'd be on his head, a connection strained almost to the breaking point in one act from a scorned woman.

He grimaced. 'I likely don't have until tomorrow,' and even then, what would she do if he told him? 'Did she bug my phone?' She'd have to know somehow but maybe she didn't?

All she needed was for Naruto to go to her 'battleground' and he'd be within enemy territory, it'd be that easy.

'I need to contact James,' if he could grab the general or Pietro… or Penny? 'I see, I guess she didn't expect this, did she? She likely expected James but not Penny.'

He'd make sure she fought tooth and nail for nothing but failure.

~NRK~

An hour or so later, the group were back on the bullhead towards Beacon and Ozpin had Naruto and Penny within a private room, revealing the news.

The only reason Naruto hadn't exploded was because he knew he'd be heard. "Ssssss," he hissed, eyes burning blue. "What do we do?"

The slight crackling Ozpin heard in the background, despite Penny's stoic face, told him enough.

They were pissed.

"Penny, how much hacking knowledge would you say you possess?" Ozpin asked.

"More than enough," she said as he nodded. "You want me to check your phone?"

"Not just that, I want to see if you can't get any sort of information on those texts. I dabbled a lot in technology, in the past, but the Grimm took my main focus and I never did get that far in examining new methods for the world's technological advances of today."

"I'll see what I can do," she said as she took the item.

"Now, take your time, I've backups-"

Her eyes glowed before her Phosphene spell became active and even Naruto blinked as the monocle-like energy structure around her eye shot out a scanning green light of Ozpin's Scroll, circuit-like energy shooting down the arm holding the device.

"... Naruto, I wasn't… Aware of this part of her spell."

"Yeah, uh, I'm not much better, either."

"Hmph," Penny's eyes closed as she held the Scroll. "I can pull up the information of the texts, their original Scrolls, the metadata, and a few other things," she hummed. "I haven't used this spell on technology before…"

"... I see, I might understand," Ozpin said slowly. "Penny's spell was originally that of information gathering. Over time, you increased the utility of the spell, perhaps you simply didn't consider it this way, yes?"

"I believe so."

"So, with this, we know about the Scrolls and the information but Penny's gonna have to find it IRL. We don't have the time," Naruto frowned before she hummed.

"I'll send it to my father. He might be able to get something out of this with my younger sibling," she smiled and Naruto blinked along with Ozpin. "... o-oh! Well, with me constantly being away, father made my next… sibling for the sake of constant help and some companionship," she blushed. "I never got around to telling you."

"No problem, we should visit your dad more," Naruto said as she grinned. "With this, we might be able to get that information but I still need to go and grab that kid," he frowned.

"Well, right now, it's the middle of the day, you'd need to find her but I don't know if sending a clone would be wise or not," Ozpin sighed. "Ignoring that, we don't know what she's got in store for you once you get there. She knows all the information we let out on you, Naruto, and she's damn near a genius scientist, Roselin will have something prepared for your arrival."

"That's fine," Naruto said with a look of determination. "I've got something for that, Ozpin-sensei. I've been working on my Darkness element and I've got a little trick to handle anything I won't notice too quickly."

Ozpin eyebrows shot into his hairline. "Do tell?"

~NRK~

The return to Beacon was met with a similar reception but with far fewer students and people, thankfully.

"Hmm, for today, you all will be given a tour of Beacon," Glynda explained as the teens looked excited. "Following that, we'll take you all to your sections in the first-year dorms. After that, I guess we'll do some combat for those who want it."

Many of the young teens perked up at that and none more so than Vernal who chuckled ominously, Whitley taking a large step away from her.

"Then we'll take our leave," Nicholas said as Jun nodded. "Kids, we'll visit at least once a week. This is going to be an entirely different experience for you… save for Cera," he added as his oldest chuckled.

"I'm here, for the most part, dad. I can check in on 'em in between missions," the oldest Arc child said as Nicholas nodded.

"Hmm, say 'goodbye' for now, Violet," Jun said with a smile as her youngest sat in her arms and waved.

"Bu-bye!" She said as her siblings crowded them for a bit before nodding.

"We'll come back amazing, mom! Dad!" Jaune said with a determined grin. "Especially with Naruto around!"

Naruto chuckled at that while Ozpin smirked with Glynda.

"We'll keep 'em safe!" Summer said as Kali nodded.

"Sister, you'll be joining Beacon tomorrow," Whitley said as Winter nodded, looking nervous.

"Y-Yes, well, I hope things go smoothly. Our name carries many connotations, Whitley, Weiss," she explained as they nodded. "We have a name to uphold and face, it's not going to be easy for me, I'm sure."

"You're best!" Weiss said as Winter smiled. "You just need to let them know that as well."

"Hm, hm, yes, I suppose."

"Ren-Ren, we're gonna get strong," Nora said with determined eyes as Ren nodded. "I want to do something amazing in the future alongside you, pops, Merc, and ma! I need to make sure I don't slack!"

"Hmph, you're right," he said with a focus on the sun above as his father crossed his arms with a chuckle. "The world's getting a bit more dangerous every day, it feels like. We need to be stronger in case something happens in a place Naruto can't reach in time."

"Indeed," Li said.

Yang hummed as she held Ruby's shoulders. "Sis, now you can go and make a ton of friends," she said with a grin as Ruby pouted.

"I am friends with them," she muttered before squealing as her sister hugged her tight. "S-Stop! Can't… breathe!"

"Oi! I'm not fat!"

Neon hummed as she stood by Penny, the older ginger crouching to her level.

"You're going to be fine, I'm sure," she said to the Faunus teen who nodded.

"I-I know, I know everyone's pretty cool b-but what if I'm weird?!" Neon asked as she picked at her skirt. "I might be totally dumb at something!"

"Hmm, well, I'm extremely bad at swimming," Penny said with a look of embarrassment. "I-I'm trying to get better but I'm not perfect. Yet, everyone doesn't think I'm weird, I just don't get something that most of them do. The kids are similar, they don't know everything about the world or even what a Hunter truly does. That's why you all are here to learn."

Neon nodded, looking a bit determined.

Vernal was in a call off to the side, arms crossed. "So, yeah, so far, things are cool. Had an amazing lunch," she smirked. "And now we're gonna get a trip."

-Hmph, well, just keep an eye out for Yang and Ruby, brothers know that they'll get into something eventually- Raven said over the line as Vernal snorted.

"Talk about getting attached."

-She's short, it's hard not to-

Mercury folded his arms behind his head as Jiraiya and Olivier chuckled behind him.

"This whole thing is gonna be a big explosion over and over again, isn't it?" He asked them as they smirked.

"Of course," they answered in unison.

"Fantastic."

Sun and Neptune focused on Ramaal as she nodded.

"Remember your training, both of you, I'll be around after, say, a month," the Maiden explained as they hummed.

"Well, be safe, like I said," Sun said as she nodded.

"S-Still, man, this is crazy," Neptune said. "The Schnees are here, dude! What the heck kinda guy is Naruto?"

"A super awesome one!"

Adam looked over the cliffs of Beacon with a face full of conflict.

"Lien for your thoughts?" Qrow offered from beside him, the teen grimacing. "Hmph, I can tell, you don't like humans in the least, do ya?"

"... I can't," he answered after a moment of thought, fists clenched. "Naruto says it's not easy but it's impossible for me. I'm can't, WON'T, let go."

"... I get you and, no, I'm not humoring you or something," the older male said as Adam grimaced. "It's not easy letting go, you sometimes want to just keep on being hot and hating on that person… but it doesn't help in the end," Qrow said softly. "You end up going down a path of craziness, alcohol, drugs, bloody fights, and more," the boy flinched. "Besides, it's not like anyone here had a direct effect on you, did they?"

"The Schnees are right there."

"I get ya but it's not like Jacques came down and used his wimpy-ass wrist and hit ya, right?" Adam's mouth trembled between a sneer and an amused smirk. "... besides, do you even know what happened to whoever did whatever to ya?"

Adam froze and frowned. "... No…"

"Then you might want to find out before doing anything. Relax, this isn't a time of conflict, you're all here to rest, learn, be kids, fall in love, something," Adam blushed and Qrow zeroed in on it. "Ho ho ho? Someone's got a crush already?"

"Fuck off, I don't have a crush on Vernal."

"... Dude, I didn't even name a name."

Adam blinked before he burned as his mouth dropped.

Naruto, meanwhile, closed his eyes. 'How's it goin'? Boss?'

~NRK~

Naruto slipped out of the ground by the Roselin Estate, a small brown glow coming from his arms.

'I'm here.'

Time to save another life.

~NRK~

I hope you guys enjoy this, working on True Guardians and possibly a new, less-than-10-chapters, stories on one of the latest games of last year.

So, as for the kid that Roselin is keeping locked up… we know this character, he's never had a name, officially, but we've seen him in action, he's talked, and he's been prominent in Volumes 2 and 3.

Take care.

Ciao.

P.S. Yes, I know, you all want the Omake but I still need to figure out where to take it. It's not like they just happen without planning.

Words: 15.0k

~NRK Out~