Blood stained the walls of the once boisterous compound. It's once prideful symbol of a fan was reduced to a blood stain. The sound of footsteps echoed through the open shōji. Looking inside it was practically impossible to see more than an arm lengths reach as the shadows covered it all. A loud creak echoed through the barren household when a pair of feet exposed themselves to the light that illuminated from the moon, followed up by the edge of a sword that had the liquids of the family of the household running down it, almost as if it was an artery itself.
Taking another step, the moon's rays enveloped him. His cold blue eyes that held no hint of emotion in them, as his once sunny blond hair had patches of red in it. Sheathing his blade, his hand found its way towards the ends of the sliding door.
Glancing behind him one last time he looked upon the bodies of some of the few of his many victims. Children and adults alike laid dead no matter where one looked. The inside was no different. Children laid in their mother's arms in an attempt to seek comfort, while the supposed 'man' of the house laid dead with his own weapon going through his abdomen. His family sharing a similar gruesome fate closely behind him.
His blank face stayed perfectly still as he closed his eyes along with the shōji.
/
Jolting up, from whatever corner he found himself in the night before, he had sweat drenching him as if he had thrown himself into a pool. A pool of despair, pain, distress. His breathing was ragged, he felt like he was choking, and worse of all was the tight pain he felt in his chest.
As if all of his dead family had decided to finally have their vengeance against him. Constantly reminding him of the decision he had made, but when someone is given an ultimatum of starting a war or killing your adoptive family it showed how weak he truly was.
No amount of power or skill in the world gave him the option to prevent both at the same time.
"Three, three, three," he repeated to himself.
Taking in a couple of deep breaths he felt his heart beat slow down. The tight pain in his chest slowly faded away, but he knew it would be back.
It always came back.
Some weren't of that night, but of other traumatic ones. Ones he wished he could erase from his memory, but knew he would never do so. They were the ends and beginnings of chapters in his life. The bits and pieces that had slowly opened his eyes to the harsh reality of the world.
So just why exactly did he choose to be here?
Sometimes he even told himself that it wasn't by choice, but because he was told to.
An escape from the life of a shinobi? A hope that he could start anew? Or the fear of having to face everything he had failed?
He didn't deserve that. He had his second chance long ago after he was adopted into the Uchiha household. How exactly did he repay them?
Genocide.
In all honesty Itachi should've taken his place. He could've played criminal, where his best friend could've had the second chance in life he deserved.
He was a weak coward, and Itachi wasn't afraid to sacrifice everything for the betterment of those few he cared about. His brother was more than enough proof of it.
That brought up another tragic mistake in his own life. Unlike Itachi he never had to guts to face his own blood. He never got to tuck him into bed or even call out his name.
He never got to say the three words every child needed to hear.
I love you.
He truly was a coward.
Letting out a sigh he truly was something else.
After his talk with Ozpin he had found his way towards the ballroom where he saw quite possible the largest gathering of a bunch of teens. To say he was nervous was a major understatement. He had wanted to go back to the garbage can than stay in the room a second longer.
Yet he had somehow forced himself to stay. Burying his presence in a corner where most couldn't see him. That didn't mean some hadn't noticed him. It seemed he had already become infamous within the Beacon hopefuls.
Coonboy was the most popular among them, and sadly to his dismay rumors about him being a pervert were already being spread around.
Massaging the sides of his face he was somewhat happy he had graduated within a couple months alongside his best friend. If the academy was anything like this his life would've… probably been easier.
Shaking his head he got up before looking around the room. Everyone was passed out, which wasn't surprising. It was probably early in the morning, and not a lot of people liked staying awake at this hour. Besides that they all must be anxious for the entrance exam.
From what he understood from the brief whispers in the halls it was similar to that of the second part of Konoha's Chunin exams. Get an artifact and go to this location, but the only difference is children weren't killing each other for it. Instead they had to work as a team to fight off the hordes of grimm.
First come first serve was all it was.
Sniffing the air a little he pinched his nose and shut his eyes.
The smell got even worse somehow.
'At least I have something to do now.'
Grabbing his jacket he put it on before zipping it up. Throwing his bag over his shoulder he picked up his sword from the sheath before silently walking through the ballroom. Planning every step he took, he made sure to take the most careful and silent route to not wake anyone.
Making it to the front door he slowly opened it before stepping outside. With the same care as before he closed it without making a sound before turning on his heel. Looking up at the fragmented moon he wondered just how come he couldn't see his own? On his journey to these lands there was a day where he was able to see both. It felt as if he had truly left his own and had traveled into space to find a majestic view like the one he had seen that night.
Shaking his head that was something he knew he would never figure out. Perhaps maybe down the line once actual interaction between his world and here had started, maybe than they could work on some of the biggest world mysteries such as this.
Walking around in search of a laundry machine he noted there wasn't anyone else out. No surprises there.
'If I was a laundry machine where would I be?' he wondered to himself. With a light bulb lighting over his head he snapped his fingers before looking at some buildings that weren't connected to the main school, but as if it was a sector itself, 'The dorms.'
Entering the dorms he noted the rather large area. It was like a common room with everything someone would find at home and more. A play area that had a variety of arcade games and table games to verse one another. A kitchen that he had a feeling no one else was going to use except for him, and something that could be described as a very large living room.
To the side there was an elevator, and in the corner a stairwell. Ignoring those two he entered one of the hallways that led to somewhere. By all means he was going in blind.
Hearing nothing but his footsteps for the next minute his eyes lit up in joy when he had found what he was looking for.
'This might be the only time something convenient has happened to me.'
Letting out a sigh of relief he opened his bag where he started tossing his clothes in a basket he had found in the room. Cracking his neck he didn't have that much. At least two loads of laundry. Putting the first load in the washer, maybe he could give social interaction another go.
Letting out a groan at the prospect of it maybe he could just act mute or something. Hearing a poof he looked over his shoulder and had his eyes widen in surprise at the image of an angel him.
"Don't be down! You'll make plenty of friends!" it yelled it with a squeaky voice.
Than hs attention was averted to the other poof on his shoulder with a devil him.
"Oh hush, why don't we use those skills of yours to see the more..." pausing he gave Naruto a perverted grin, "erotic side of life."
His eyes widened even further as his mouth unhinged from his jaw.
"Don't be such a pervert!" Angel him yelled, "What does that have to do with making friends!"
Devil him gave Angel him a blank look with his arms crossed over his chest, "Boobs first, friends later," he answered with relative ease.
'What?!' the real Naruto thought to himself.
"Oh come on! We know about the smut you read from your grandfather! It's gold!" the devil him responded as if he could read his mind.
Snapping his head towards angel him he saw the angel version of him look away from him, but the blush was all to clear for him.
"See!" Devil him called out, "Even he knows what I'm talking about!"
"Just because I like it doesn't mean i'll follow the path of a pervert!" Angel him snapped, "Friends first and then we'll think about trying to get one!"
"Oppai, dattebayo!"
"Pervert!"
Watching the two bicker he rubbed his temples. No way this was real.
Propping one of his eyes open he was genuinely happy to see the two mini hims out of sight, yet sadly they were not out of his mind.
'W-was that real?'
Looking around the room he was somewhat glad that no one was around. If there were he was sure his already terrible reputation would would only plummet if people think he was crazy.
Letting out a sigh he was going to finish his laundry before heading back to … he'll just let life take its course and whatever happens happens.
/
Looking down the cliff they were grouped up at he looked ahead at the forest they would be tested in. It was quite high up, and he was sure that if anyone else wasn't trained for this they would've died before even landing, or well… die while landing.
'Just think of it like the Hokage mountain. Easy right?' he asked himself only to look back down. For some reason it seemed bigger than it was last time, 'Right?' he thought with a gulp.
Glancing behind him he saw a few people were looking at him, but turned back to their own group once they saw his blue orbs. In all honesty he wasn't surprised by the weird glances he was getting. As if they were trying to figure out what made him so special that he was allowed to enter the exam two years early.
He had gotten used to these looks when people saw that a child so young was already part of the shinobi force.
The other person; however did not seem to be in the same boat.
A girl around his age with gradient hair, and-
'Oh…'
The same girl he had been accused on peeping on.
He looked at her with his mouth hanging from his jaw, and his right eye half closed. She was next to a busty blonde who seemed to be comforting her.
Just his luck. The one person he could've probably easily made friends with, he had already made a mockery of himself. Not only that but she thought he was a pervert!
'Why… kami why… wait a second? Is she loo- YEP! Look away Naruto!'
Frantically averting his gaze to anything that wasn't in a person's direction his eyes sadly fell on a pair of emerald green orbs not an inch or more away from him.
'Is that-'
"Foxy!" a cheerful familiar voice chirped.
Before he could even process what was happening he was swiped from his feet into someone's arms. Luckily… or unluckily… he had found his face being shoved in head first between two soft mounds.
"Where have you been~" she asked twirling herself with him following suit, "Me and Onyx have been looking all over for you," slamming his feet into the ground he had to take a couple of steps to not lose his balance. Looking up he found the pouting face of Teal with her hands on her hips, "You're not trying to run away from your friends right?"
His once blushing face had turned into that of shock.
Friends? He had friends?
"Uhhh," he blurted awkwardly.
Looking around they had gathered some unwanted attention, but wherever Teal cared or not she sure did a good job not showing it.
"Well?" she asked.
"Teal stop torturing the poor boy," a voice spoke catching their attention. Turning around they were met with Onyx's smiling face, "Sorry about that Naruto. She gets-"
"Excited?"
Sheepishly rubbing the back of his head he nodded. Looking over the blond he still couldn't figure out what was so special about him. A rather short timid boy who seemed to burying himself the moment someone spoke to him. Was he really here to be a hunter?
Glancing over the blond he spotted the handle of his weapon. It was unique to say the least, and didn't seem to have any modifications done to it. What really got his attention was the ruby eye that stared back at him. It was entrapping to say the least, but he couldn't shake the feeling of the two phantom presences that loomed over him that felt to be fighting over dominance with one another.
"Onyx?"
Blinking a couple of times he shook his head before looking at his faunus girlfriend.
"You ok?" she asked with clearly some worry in her voice.
Smiling he pounded his hand over his heart, "Never better!"
Smirking at her boyfriends gesture a sly smile made her way onto her glossy lips, "Aw~ Is little Onyx scared?" she cooed grabbing the boy before showing his face between her breasts.
Naruto had the decency to look away and let the two, or Onyx, to enjoy his moment.
"It's ok~ I'll protect you and my little fox over there from everything in this forest!" she yelled. Turning around she threw her fist towards the forest, "You hear that! Nothing's gonna stop this girl from saving these two! NOTHING!"
The two boys sweatdropped as did the few bystanders who decided to watch the faunus girl ramble.
Onyx managed to get out of his girlfriend's death grip she had over him, "We're in public Teal," he told her with a hint of red on his cheeks.
"So?"
Face palming she couldn't be serious, "Well first it's making Naruto here uncomfortable," pointing at the blond he had half of his face hidden away in his scarf, but that didn't stop him from giving them a small wave, "Second of all, I think I might need to be on the lookout for competition."
Looking around the crowd their definitely were a few boys undressing his girlfriend in their perverted minds.
'Good thing Naruto's not like that,' he thought with a smile before looking at the whiskered blond.
Raising a brow at what he saw his face was as red as a tomato with steam quite literally came out of his ears.
'Do it~' the devil him voice whispered into his ears.
Burying his head even further into his clothing only his hair remained to be seen on the outside world.
'Follow the way of the oppai~' he heard him whisper again.
Shutting his eyes he trembled at the mental struggle he was going through. Of course closing his eyes didn't seem to help as an outline of the faunus girl slowly came to mind. Snapping his eyes wide open he exposed his head to the world before his eyes fell on a rather tall and muscular teen with burnt orange hair.
Almost instantly the naked outline of Teal was replaced with one of the jocks before him. His stomach contracted, only to be shortly followed with his face draining itself of it's previous color, it had quickly been replaced with green. Feeling his breakfast in his mouth his cheeks puffed out in an attempt to hold the vomit that was to come. Frantically looking around he spotted the edge of the cliff before running and kneeing himself at the edge of it.
All in one go he let it all out.
"Blargh!"
/
"For years you have trained to become warriors," a calm yet stern voice spoke in front of the hopeful students who wished to roam his schools halls, "Today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Looking around he spotted the most deadliest of the hopefuls.
A boy who had thrown everything away, and had shed more blood than a person would see in many lifetimes. Who with a flip of a switch would turn into a fierce emotionless killing machine who was… hiding his presence from everyone and, shaking?
'Interesting development indeed,' he thought while taking a sip of his coffee.
He very much preferred someone without any skills and had sympathy to life. Compared to talking to a brick wall that listened to his every command.
It would seem the hopes of the Third Hokage had come true in fixing the boy even if it was a little.
"Now," his assistant for the exams started, "I'm sure many of you had heard rumors about the assignment of teams,"
At this almost everyone's head perked up.
"Well allow us to put an end to your confusion," she continued letting the suspense in the students gut only rise higher, "Each of you will be given teammates… today."
Watching as the hopefuls looked around on another they all seemed extremely nervous.
Now to make their anxiety even worse.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interests to be paired with someone with whom you can work well," the anxiety only grew among them, but what Ozpin said next put the nail in the coffin, "That being said, the first person you come into eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
'What?' almost everyone thought.
With his eye twitching, Naruto looked down the line which only seemed to make the twitching worse at the sudden realization. Everyone here hated him, or thought of him as a perv. Same thing really.
'Please be Teal or Onyx, please be Teal or Onyx," he repeated to himself. He paused for a moment, 'Actually just let it be Onyx'
Watching each student go through their own experience with the realization he continued, "After you've partnered up make your way toward the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die.
Letting out a nervous chuckle he didn't care about what Ozpin had just said.
'F-first person… eye contact… partner… for… four years…' slumping over a raincloud had formed above him as he mumbled something to himself.
"You will be monitored for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately," pausing for a second he let the info sink into their skulls, "Are their any questions?"
"Yeah, uh sir-"
"Good!" he interrupted, "Now, take your positions."
With his head still down he straightened himself up a little. Looking off into the distance he gulped a little. He was definitely rusty.
'Just like the Ho-'
Feeling the rushing force of the winds that blew him his eyes widened proportionally. Looking backwards a few seemed to have been launched as well, but he was clearly the first.
'Kami why!'
Taking in a couple of deep breaths he calmed himself. Opening his eyes they held a certain edge to them that couldn't have been found before. Straightening himself out he let the force of the launchpad do its work. No other unnecessary force was needed, not that he could add any.
Unlike the other examines he started to dive head first into the ground before flipping himself. Letting the winds carry his arm he extended one leg while bending the other one. Approaching the forested floor he had prepared himself for what was to come next.
If he was to miss he would certainly die.
Spotting a branch time seemed to slow down as the small amounts of chakra he had were channeled to his foot. Planting it on the side of the branch he let the same momentum carry him around it before letting his foot go.
Being launched into the tree line he landed on a branch safely before letting out a sigh.
"Whew!" he exclaimed.
Looking to where north was supposed to be he was met with nothing but trees. He couldn't help but feel some nostalgia from his own home. Looking into the sky, some of the students still maintained flight.
Watching one of them come into contact with a small dot he saw what appeared to be many more black dots slowly fall to the ground. This of course was accompanied by a scream.
'Did that person just cut a bird?'
Shaking his head he definitely had a lot of catching up to do.
Hopping onto the ground he began his journey north where he was sure everyone else was to be heading. That was if they knew where north was.
/
Onyx soared through the sky along his fellow examines. Feeling the speed he had gained wearing him his descent had started. Unsheathing the broadsword he had on his back, the pommel popped our revealing the high grade wire that was inside.
Throwing the detached pommel at one of the trees, it wrapped around it before he planted his feet along the tree. The soles of his boots were slightly destroyed from the friction, but that was completely fine. With a confident smirk he used the wire to slowly descend to the ground.
With his boots being planted into the ground he gave the wire a quick tug before it came running back until the pommel was back on the handle. Putting his weapon back in his strap he started going north.
"I should probably find Teal first," he thought out loud. Really in his mind despite being the closest to her out of everyone he knew he could rely on her. Naruto didn't seem so bad but… he was kinda… wimpish.
He was nice, but he wouldn't trust him with his life.
"Unless he has some sorta insane power that he has hidden away than," shaking his head that was stupid. He probably had some blood relation to one of the teachers and they recommended him because of his supposed amazing 'skill' or something.
"Damn nepotism," he thought aloud with a sigh.
The kid probably didn't even want to be here, he was probably gonna weasel out.
/
Somewhere in the Emerald Forest a whiskered teen looked up into the sky before narrowing his eyes.
Meanwhile somewhere in the Elemental Nations a raven haired fifteen year old looked up at the full moon narrowing his eyes as well.
'Why do I feel like someone just insulted my partner?' the two thoughts overlapping.
/
Walking through the forest Onyx couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had entered him all of a sudden. Almost like he had just insulted some of the most deadliest people on earth. He couldn't have done that… right?
Shaking his head he was being paranoid. This whole thing was giving him the jitters, and if he didn't find someone soon he was going to go insane.
Snap
Instantly placing his hand on his swords handle he widened his feet apart from one another.
"Who's out there! Show yourself!" he yelled out.
Seeing the bushes rustle his eyes narrowed even further before a teen around his size came out. A mace was in his left hand, and his tense body made it clear to him he was ready to fight.
"So," the burnt orange haired teen started, "Guess we're partners?" he asked cockily.
Raising his brow he let go of his swords handle, "I guess?"
Seeing the armoured clad teen cocky smile widen even further he had a gut feeling he didn't exactly like his first and only choice of a partner.
"We can part ways you know. Act like nothing ever happened."
Narrowing his eyes he didn't like where this was going, "No," he stated firmly, "We're partners whatever you like it or not. Rules are rules."
Rolling his eyes the mace wielder turned on his heel before proceeding forward, "Whatever you buzzkill. Let's just go already so I don't have to look at your ugly face any longer."
Glaring at the back of the boy he followed behind him. Was he so rude that he couldn't even give him his name?
He didn't like the partner he was paired up with as much as he did.
"I just hope Teal is having better luck," he mumbled with a sigh.
"That faunus chick?" his partner asked.
Nodding warily he watched as his partner let out a high whistle before patting his back, "Don't take any offense to this, but if she was a human than i'd snagged her in a heartbeat."
His glare intensified as black met blue, "That faunus is my girlfriend, so what if she's a faunus?"
Feeling the boys hand let go of him the cocky smile was replaced with a blank one, "Sorry but I'm not into beastiality," he remarked before taking the lead in front of him, "Explains a lot though on how low your standards are."
Stopping in his tracks he stared at his partner with a glare that could kill. His fists balled up as his eye started twitching.
/
Walking through the forest our favorite whiskered teen hummed a tune to himself. He had his hands in his pockets as he had yet to make eye contact with someone. Looking around there still didn't seem to be anyone in sight.
'Looks like I might reach the artifacts before I even see a single living thing.'
Letting out a sigh he kicked the ground before the smell of fire invaded his nostrils. His head perked up as he started running towards the source. Seeing the clearing it was in, his mouth dropped a little at the sight before him.
How the hell did someone manage to start a fire? In fact, who the hell thought it was a good idea to use fire in a forested area!?
'Well… ' there was that time he was with Itachi and watched him practice his fire release, but still! They didn't start a forest fire!
Letting out a sigh his head perked at a certain noise.
"Is that?"
Ahhhhhhhhh!
A scream echoed through the forest.
"Yeah… it is."
Running towards the source he hopped onto one of the tree branches before hurrying through the forest. If someone was in trouble than they needed his help! Seeing an opening he jumped into the clearing only to see two familiar girls trying to, what he assumed, tame a nevermore. The Nevermore seemed to be angling itself to get ready to take off so he had to act quickly before.
"Ah the peeping tom!"
Wait. Was that?
Naruto concentrated on the two girls and sure enough the gradient haired girl from earlier was on the grimms back. What the heck was she doing!? Then the devil chibi appeared.
'Look,' it cackled.
Look? Look at- Naruto's eyes widened. It occurred to him that both girls were wearing skirts.
Oh no.
It seems he wasn't the only one to realize the situation. The white haired girl glared at him bringing him back.
"PERVERT!" she yelled before the nevermore all but took off with the two.
"Why!" he yelled out loud, "I'm trying not to, but… but… why kami! I don't want to go back to being that!" he yelled out to the sky with tears running down his eyes. It was going to be even harder to make friends now! "I don't want to be my godfather!"
How could this get any worse.
"Foxy!" a voice chirped catching him out of his despair.
"Oh no…"
He felt his feet leave the ground, Being dragged across the air into the mounds he was in before he felt himself being twirled around as his torturer sang some jolly tune.
"I found you!" Teal chirped before placing the boy on the ground. He had an embarrassed look on his face. His cheeks were buried in his scarf, but that didn't hide the red on his face.
He turned on his heel before continuing north in disappointment with a confused Teal following behind.
Did Onyx do something to him?
Alright so i'm gonna explain real quick why this chapter came out so fast. I'm plan for this story is to always stay a couple chapters ahead incase one of you guys points something out that I need to fix. From plotholes to me contradicting myself or what a character had said previously. Now from the looks of things it seems like hurricane Dorian is going to probably hit me directly, and if my power goes out then I can't work on the chapter I was planning on. For those of you who are going to be impacted by the hurricane I wish you the best. :) Thank you guys for all the support on the last chapter, and feel free to message me about any questions you have for the story! Once again Drag0n5on is helping me out for this story, and his works were a huge inspiration for me writing this. He's an amazing guy, and an amazing writer. Go check him out! Reviews are always helpful, and hopefully I can stop being lazy and dish out those chaps. Anyways, thanks for reading!
