I do not own Naruto or RWBY.

Naruto was created and is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.

RWBY was created by Monty Oum, may he rest in peace, and is owned by RosterTeeth.

I make no proceeds for this story.

This is done for the enjoyment of writing, nothing more.

This is the last gasp for this will be the last story I will ever tell.

I plan to complete this story unless Fate has other plans.

It is going to start slowly.

It's been a long time since I've done this.

Four years to be exact.

Give it time, and the story will find itself.

And it will push you and make you uncomfortable sometimes.

It is meant to.

There is plenty of levity along the way so enjoy.

This train ride is just pulling out of the station.


Volume I

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Downloading...

Completed.

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Initializing...


It had been a long, grueling three days, but everything had been settled. Everything had started with Obito's plan, and the war with the Zetsu had begun. It culminated with Madara being betrayed by Black Zetsu summoning his mother, the immortal goddess Kaguya.

And together, he, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha had defeated and sealed her away.

But it wasn't over yet. The two of them had to settle their differences one more time. This is why they lay here, coated in sweat, blood, and tears, nearly lifeless and missing one arm each.

Each of their breaths was labored. Shallow and painful. Harder and more challenging to breathe with each sucking breath. But Naruto smiled as he looked over at his brother, who had finally given in, tears welling in his eyes as they finally understood one another.

"I told you… I'd break every bone in your body to bring you home."

A short, pain-filled laugh escaped from Sasuke as he looked at his fallen brother before looking at the cloud-covered sky above. "You know… You could have held back a little…."

As Naruto painfully laughed, Sasuke continued. "But I concede… I think I began to understand as we fought why everything turned out the way it did… And… You'll be a fantastic Hokage one day soon…."

With his vision blurring from the pain and tears, Naruto's breath slowed as he hazily gazed over at the Uchiha. "Hey… For what it is worth… You'd be a great Hokage too… We just had to… Get you there…."

Something was wrong. Sasuke could hear it in Naruto's breathing. It was labored, like his own, but far harsher than it should be. "Naruto?"

"Yeah?" Naruto's deadened eyes looked into Sasuke's, as his eyelids slowly became heavier and heavier.

Sasuke immediately knew what was wrong and tried to crawl over to his brother, surprised it wasn't happening to him. "Stay awake… You're slipping into shock."

However, what happened next only caused Sasuke to grow numb. "Well, I guess it's my time then… Third time is the charm..."

Naruto wasn't surprised by this turn of events. He should have died twice already. The first was when Neji sacrificed his life, and he made damn sure to give every bit he had to make that sacrifice worth it. The second was when Madara ripped Kurama out of him and by the grace of being Asura's reincarnation and his father having the Yin half of Kurama's chakra to reseal into him.

He had survived on blind, dumb luck, and the gods were coming to take his soul this time, no questions asked. There wasn't much he could do about it this time. All the Bijuu were sealed away, Sakura and Kakashi were too far away, and he could feel his heart slowly stop.

It was his time.

"Naruto, no… I can't do this on my own." Sasuke crawled over to him, placing his hand on his chest, freely weeping at the sight of his best friend fading and there being nothing he could do about it.

"Sasuke… You're so much stronger than that." Naruto snapped his brother out of it as he placed his hand on his brother's. "Take my dream… No… our dream, and let's make a better world… Together."

As Naruto's eyes closed, Sasuke panicked, still desperately clinging to the hope that his brother would pull the miracle he always did off and pull through. But as he felt his pull still in his hand, he knew it to be true.

Naruto Uzumaki had faded from this world.

Sasuke wept freely, losing the last person he considered to be family. He lost him. All because he had become too wrapped up in his goal to see what he had before him. He also did not see the path he was laying out for them slowly but surely.

A world that would accept you, no matter who you were or what you did…

"This world… It was never good enough for you..." Sasuke admitted as he freely cried, looking to the heavens and calling upon them. "You hear that! This world never deserved him! He was too goddamn good for it! It should have been used for another world!"

The world answered with a crackle of thunder, and even the sky broke. Rain began to pour to mask Sasuke's tears as he looked down at his fallen comrade. "Even the heavens weep."

Keeping his hand firmly grasping Naruto, Sasuke closed his eyes, found his resolve, and spoke with a sense of purpose. "Naruto, I promise I will keep our dream alive and make this world better and become the finest damn Hokage I can in your honor."

With his eyes closed, he didn't notice the motes of light slowly lifting from Naruto's body as his body began to disperse. But when his eyes opened, Sasuke was in utter awe as this was a sight he had never seen. Bodies didn't do this, but… Maybe…

"Did the heavens answer me?"

Sasuke watched as Naruto's body dissolved into the light, the light dancing around him as it did before it slowly faded to the heavens above. And as it did, the rain slowly faded, leaving Sasuke alone in the world.

But he was no longer hollow as he heard Sakura and Kakashi's footsteps echo as he let the sun's warmth fill his soul. "I'll keep our dream alive on this end… You relax and enjoy your happiness else, brother. Oh, I almost forgot…."

"Happy birthday."


There were so many sounds. It was strange. After all he had done, he didn't expect any sounds after those parting words. It would have been a gut punch to all he had just said if he were saved.

It would be on point but a gut punch nonetheless.

However, it didn't feel like a standard hospital to him. Firstly, he had these weird tubes shoved down his throat, pumping air into his lungs that kept them breathing. A ventilator, he believed it was called. He knew they existed. He had never used them before, so it was an unfamiliar experience.

Secondly, he wasn't healing as fast as he usually was. Everything was still sore but whatever they had him on was some excellent stuff… He could hardly feel a thing. He'd have to thank Tsunade for that after first calling her some terms of endearment.

Finally, and more disturbingly, he couldn't sense anyone's presence that he recognized. He couldn't feel Tsunade. Shizune. Sakura. He couldn't even feel Sasuke, Kakashi, or Hinata waiting for him. But worst of all…

Why couldn't he feel Kurama?

Despite their trials, he and the Nine Tales were now inseparable. And he was sure the first thing the fox would do was rejoin him to ensure the healing process was progressing.

So why couldn't he feel Kurama's presence within him or anywhere else? Where was he? Where was everyone?

What was happening?

And why did everything feel so… Empty?


He did not recognize any of these people. He could not sense or reach the presence of any of his friends with his chakra. So Naruto had to take stock of the situation and figure out what was happening.

Word of mouth didn't get him anywhere and left him more confused. Vale, Remnant. Faunus? He had no clue what any of those were, where they were, or what a Faunus was, so he would file all that for later.

No one believed a word he said about Konoha or anything about the Fourth Great Shinobi War. They acted like he was crazy. A war couldn't be fought in three days, much less end with the fall of a Goddess. It was a crazy, out-of-left-field end to the story but still.

It was a blow that no one knew anything about them. How could anyone in the world not know that Tsunade was the Fifth Hokage or that A was the Fourth Raikage? Or even that his closest bud Gaara was Kazekage? How could such renowned figures not be recognized?

So other methods of discovering where he was had to be used, but…

Chakra sensory was still failing him, and he couldn't sense any of his friends. However, what he noticed about everyone else was that their chakra felt off. Their natural state of being felt different, and he wasn't sure why. It was just different.

There was also a lot of negative energy, not chakra. He just couldn't make sense of it. They felt wrong, and then there was this overwhelming, negative darkness at the heart of it that just made him shiver.

The only thing left for him to do was to heal up and then gather information to find out what had happened. That was if they let him out soon, and he was starting to get bored answering the same questions.

"Name… Naruto Uzumaki. Gender. Male. Age eighteen. Birthday October 10th. Race… Faunus, I guess if that is what you guys are intending to call me." Naruto started rattling off the usual answer to questions he got as a new person entered the room, most likely trying to collect information.

Naruto was tired of being polite. He had given everything he knew. However, since they had nothing, didn't understand anything about what he said, or labeled him as a 'crazy faunus,' he was done dealing with them too. Hatred was one thing he was not apt at dealing with, and as thankful as he was for these people for stabilizing him…

He wanted to jump up and punch them in the jaw, but that would do him no favors.

"I think you got the wrong impression. I'm here to discuss something else that may be more to your liking." A voice spoke, one that held a distinct air to it than all the doctors and nurses that came before it.

This voice caught Naruto's attention, and he quickly noted it carried something to it. A sense of purpose but also… A hint of power. And that wasn't always a positive thing.

"Well, when every other conversation is mostly getting my information or trying to figure out how I get into such a state and then not believing a word I say… I believe any other conversation is a step in the right direction." Naruto responded as he sat up a hair straighter in his bed. He was still a touch stiff as his wounds hadn't quite healed.

Strangely enough, he had both arms, and he was pretty sure he shouldn't have his left hand, so that was a plus.

The newly-arrived gentleman gave a gentle, understanding laugh before looking straight into Naruto's eyes. "What if I were to say… That I believe everything you've stated to the doctors here, and I have proof?"

Naruto's ears twitched, which annoyed him as now he had a second pair, and he wasn't used to the blonde fox appendages that magically appeared on his head, but his focus was entirely on the silver-haired man before him. "I would be… I'd caught a break, but I would also like to know what this proof is before making rash decisions."

Nodding as if that was a rational decision for anyone to make, the silver-haired man held out a screen that confused Naruto for a second before hitting play. "This clip shows the moment of your arrival in the streets of Vale."

Ears twitching and his eyes widening, Naruto watched the video with intrigue. Technology was nowhere near advanced in Konoha, and playing a video on a handheld device was mind-boggling, but he tempered his excitement at this development.

He saw a park in the middle of the night as a wild storm raged through, tearing down trees and blowing the foliage. However, what had his attention were the motes of light that were wildly swarming, slowly forming a shape. A humanoid shape.

His shape.

With fox ears.

And the storm began to break as his form fell gently to the ground, his breathing labored and slow. However, compared to what it was when he was talking to Sasuke… It was worlds better.

"Well, that is something you don't see every day," Naruto said as the video ended. He handed the tablet back to the man before he rubbed his newly acquired ears and even gave them a slight, painful tug. "Though it explains that these showed up with me at the very least."

The silver-haired man watched the action after taking the tablet curiously, as it was an action no faunus would have taken. It was clear that he wasn't used to them, and there could only be a few reasons for that.

And he was admitting to one of them the moment he awoke.

There was also the fact that the wounds he was found with would have been fatal to most, and his body was slowly recovering despite them. The doctors and surgeons did a great job, but he should still be unconscious and recovering.

Yet here he was, sitting up straight and talking with no issues and off the ventilator. This is despite having punctured lungs, liver, ruptured intestines, several broken ribs, a spinal contusion, a cracked femur, and, to top it off, a cracked skull.

And each of those wounds had slowly regenerated to the point it was acceptable for him to be given walking papers today. If the doctors weren't so adamant, he still needed rest and to figure out who and what he was.

"Indeed. And as expected, I figured you wouldn't have any answers about it either. It seems you were lucky to be found as fast as one of our own. A first-year student of mine, Ms. Velvet Scarlatina found you and managed to get help to you as fast as it did. She's been the one visiting you every day, I believe."

Naruto's ears twitched, as he had noted yesterday when he first woke up. He thought he noticed a girl with bunny ears sometime during the day, but it had preoccupied him with other things. He would have to thank her the next time he came across her.

"No, unfortunately, the last thing I remember was giving my friend some encouragement to keep his spirits up, and his head held high as I felt the last beats of my chest and everything… Went cold."

Listening to the boy's words, the silver-haired man said nothing for a moment. It was a feeling he was all too familiar with and could understand. Facing one's death was a harrowing experience and something that many did not get to experience.

Taking a book from his coat pocket, the silver-haired man placed it at the foot of the bed before turning to leave the room. "I will leave you to recuperate for the time being. That book will help explain this place a bit better."

Not entirely trusting this man, as for some reason he could sense emotions outside his sage state. He was still getting used to that. Naruto took the book regardless because the information was helpful. "Thank you…"

"Ozpin, Professor Ozpin." The silver-haired man turned to face Naruto. "You happened to be found at my academy here in Vale, Beacon Academy. So I have taken an interest in this case due to its… Uniqueness."

"So, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to visit again in a few days." Ozpin continued. "I think there may be some things we both could learn from one another if I may be so bold."

As expected, Naruto knew there would be ulterior motivations. He was sensing them. But at this time, he wasn't in a position to barter. So what choice did he have despite those motives… He could sense no ill will behind them.

"Not like I have much of a choice right now… Fine. Better than sitting here and listening to these hateful doctors… Thought I was done with the hate." Naruto accepted the deal but muttered the last part to himself.

It was still something Ozpin caught and only added to his curiosity. At the moment, he won't press the issue. After all, it was personal and, to be perfectly honest, wasn't something he needed to know. "Excellent. I will have someone sent here to pick you up when the doctors release you from their care."

"Till then, try to care and be sure to read the book." Ozpin waved goodbye as he prepared to exit the room. "It will help… You adjust to the culture. It will be quite a shock, I am sure."

With that, Ozpin left the room, and Naruto found himself staring at the book, unsure how to process what he had learned. The video was clear, and everything he felt confirmed that he was not near home. But the title of this book just confirmed it even more…

The World of Remanent.


These last few days had been such a whirlwind.

First, the storm woke her and her team up as there was something just unnatural about how it suddenly formed and the intensity it hit Beacon with. Secondly, she found a seriously injured faunus seriously hurt as the storm cleared out, for she ventured out to check the damage around the campus.

The next thing she heard was that despite all his wounds, he was already off the ventilator despite the condition she had found him in. And finally, Professor Ozpin had personally requested that she be the one to escort him to his office as he was released from the hospital.

RELEASED.

That word made no sense to her as even with a regenerative semblance, the wounds she found him with should have taken far longer to recover from. From what the Professor said, he was healed and ready to go.

But now, as she stood before his room, she could see that he was indeed healed and ready to leave.

A light blush adorned her face. She caught him sliding his black t-shirt over his head, her eyes tracing over his muscled abdomen, noting the fair amount of scaring that adorned them. It seemed he also noticed her presence at that moment and gave a sheepish look. "Ah… sorry, I was taking so long. I had to check and see what I had with me. Just one second."

Grabbing a somewhat worn and battle-tarnished orange and black jacket, the blonde fox-eared faunus slid it on before frowning as he noted the zipper no longer worked. "This was my favorite jacket too… It can't be helped. Well, let's go see Oz shall we?"

Velvet's ears perked up at his comment about his jacket before nodding in agreement as they made their way into the hallway. She wasn't comfortable speaking with all the nurses, but she finally spoke up as they made it to the elevator. "I know of a seamstress here in Vale… She might be able to help with… Outfit."

Looking at his outfit, the blonde faunus chuckled as if that was true. It all needed a thorough look after. "Thank you. I might have to take you up on that if I get any lien to pay for fixing it up. Maybe getting another custom outfit or two might not be a terrible choice either…."

The bunny-eared faunus blushed but nodded in understanding. Most faunus happened to be relatively poor, so it made sense. "She tends to have deals for faunus if that was troubling you…."

Softly smiling, realizing the soft-spoken girl was just worried, the fox gave her a warm response. "I'll take you up on that when I can. My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki. You must be Velvet. Ozpin told me you were the one that saved me. I have to thank you."

Watching the girl furiously blush as they exited the elevator and she led them out of the hospital, Naruto had to find the girl's traits endearing. But a small part of them also broke his heart, and his thoughts immediately drifted to Hinata. Her meekness and mildness were similar to Hyuuga's heiress; the more he began to sense the world around him, the more he came to realize this.

He was given a second chance in this radically different world from the one he had previously left.

One he wouldn't waste, but that didn't mean he couldn't lament a bit about what he had lost.

For a split second, Velvet felt something off about the demeanor of the fox faunus. She noticed his step hitch and his ears twitch, but otherwise, he didn't give an outward sign. However, she did note that his soft smile didn't feel…

It didn't feel as natural as it did before.

"I did what anyone would have done…."

"And check up on them daily, ensuring they got proper care? In my opinion, you went above and beyond for me, so I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart." Naruto shrugged off his personal issues and returned to full warmth.

This led to Velvet basking in a scarlet glow of embarrassment. This only brightened Naruto's smile toward the timid girl. He liked that she rose back each time she felt embarrassed and found herself.

"It would be the first time… I just wanted to make sure they treated another faunus fairly. Even if Vale is more tolerant..." Velvet responded before fading off as a few passersby's voices echoed through their ears.

"Look at those filthy animals... Disgusting…"

"How can they just let them walk among us looking like that?"

Seeing Velvet's mood deflate under what they were saying and being genuinely annoyed at what was said, Naruto was not one to stand idly by. "HEY!"

Ignoring Velvet's shocked reaction, Naruto caught the passerby's attention as he growled at them. "I would have you know that maybe if you put yourself through the Grimm grinder as I did, you'd look a tad worn for wear, too, huh? Certainly you two are far less than the rest if you're seeking to bring others down, aren't you? Does that make you feel big to pick on a guy just out of the hospital and a girl?"

"Get the fuck out of here!" Naruto growled out as the two ran off, intimidated by the fox faunus killer aura,

Velvet looked on in awe and shock as most faunus simply accepted their lot in life or joined the White Fang. Naruto simply stood his ground and did not give an inch.

"Alright, that made me feel better after days of hearing that crap." Naruto brushes his hand through his hair, ignoring that he lied in the statement about the Grimm as it was easier to roll with. "Are you okay?"

Jumping, Velvet looked at Naruto more critically for a second as she gauged him. He was most certainly an enigma, but she could say he was most considerate, as his immediate thought was to return to her.

"Yes… I'm… Used to it." Velvet nodded before continuing down the path. "But… Thank you for your concern."

Naruto repressed a growl, something he would have to get used to as that was a body change he was not accustomed to. He was a very emotional person before letting out a sigh. He overcame hate when it was directed at him for an unjustified reason but this…

This was destined to be something else, and he wasn't sure how to approach it. But what he knew was that he had to do it one step at a time. "I didn't… No, I did, but I didn't mean to go overboard and yell as I did. Sorry, you had to hear that and see me that way."

Hearing him admit his fault but accept what he did, Velvet could only smile as it was more than most others would be willing to do. And it confirmed that he was not a faunus of the White Fang, for they did not see fault in what they did or their methods. "Well, now we need to ride the Air Bus..."

"WHAT IS THAT THING?!"

Velvet could only blink and look at Naruto in disbelief as he looked at the Air Bus in utter shock and horror.

How did he not know what an Air Bus was?


"Thank you, Ms. Scarlatina. We will take it from here." Professor Ozpin stated, flanked by a blonde-haired woman beside him as he sat at his desk.

Velvet gave a hurried bow before taking her leave from the office. Naruto was still in a state of shock. Besides something like what Temari was capable of on her fan, air travel was nothing short of an impossibility in his world. The fact that he took what was considered regular transport to this school blew his mind. So that he was riding on a vehicle that soared through the sky…

It broke his brain.

Ozpin was finding it amusing that Naruto seemed broken and was on autopilot functions as he barely registered Velvet saying goodbye and heading out of the office. However, he was afraid they would be here for quite some time if he did nothing, so he coughed to get the boy's attention. "Good afternoon, Naruto. Coffee?"

"Um… Sure?" Naruto responded as he watched Oz pour two cups, took the one offered to him, and took a sip, still trying to register everything. "So, what exactly did you want to see me for? While I sense no ill intentions, your motivations still bother me."

"So you can sense emotions and intent... That's fascinating." Ozpin made a mental note of that. "Again, I find it fascinating that an event like what brought you to Beacon occurred, and I truly want to see how this plays out. Like you, I have my ways of monitoring… And I found those clones quite interesting."

"Clones?" The woman next to him was stunned by this conversation as she was only partially informed of Naruto's situation and was hardly a believer in it outside the fact she saw the video evidence.

"Figured there would be video surveillance, not that I was hiding anyways." Naruto shrugged, as that was essential information gathering. "My bread-and-butter technique. I had to nick a few liens from that snobby nurse and then go out and find a bookstore as I needed more information… The book you gave me wasn't nearly enough."

"Of course, it wasn't. I wanted to see what you'd do, and I wasn't disappointed. It also seems they had other effects, as you weren't the only one reading." Ozpin mentioned as he noted that the clones read some of the books they picked up. "Seems like whatever knowledge they gain, you retain, which is an amazing advantage, I must say."

Nagato grunted as he had been told that before but there was a downside. Initially, he was only partially immune to the overload. He would have to be more careful now that he was without Kurama to heal the damage, as his healing wasn't nearly as potent without the nine tales.

"It was obvious you were setting me up to gather information. As much as I hated it, I had to take the bait. I'm in a position where I know no one, can't sense any of my old friends, and am in an unknown land. However, if you were that void of negative emotions, I would probably still have to take the bait, just to give myself a chance. Before I found a way to escape what is most likely a nightmare."

Ozpin took Naruto's rant in with a sip of coffee. And all he did was smile. "Naruto… How would you like to attend my school here at Beacon?"

"What?!" Both the blonde faunus and woman exclaimed simultaneously out of shock, unsure what they had heard.

"In one month, there will be an initiation exam for new students to join Beacon Academy to become Hunters and Huntresses. I want you to take the test and become one of my students here... Or quite possibly something more." Ozpin drank another sip, leaving both blondes wholly stupefied.

"Why?" Naruto was the first to ask.

"Not only were you able to infer my true intentions from a simple meeting, something many people fail to do, but you also showed me what you were capable of while still on the mend. You also are wise not to trust me despite my demeanor, another correct assumption, but come forward with information that you would do the same in a worse situation."

"And what if I were to tell you… That I want nothing more than to fight that void, and all my perceived niceties and moral ambiguity are based on wanting to end that negative siphon that threatens to swallow this world." Ozpin finished and sternly gazed into Naruto's eyes.

Taking a moment to read the situation, Naruto took a slow breath before responding. "And why trust me? A stranger from another world that was just at death's door?"

Ozpin only smiled. "I happen to believe in fate when I see it. And when it kicked down my front door with the most powerful windstorm I have ever seen in my lifetime to announce a traveler's arrival… Let's say I have some believing to do."

"That storm in the video didn't look that strong…."

"It was a Category 5 Hurricane…. That formed inland for five minutes." The blonde-haired woman stated that while she was a skeptic, the fact that the Hurricane suddenly formed and dissipated as it did on Beacon was the strangest thing she had ever experienced.

If there was one thing that did point to anything of his story being possibly true, it was that.

At that moment, Naruto realized how lucky they found him as quickly as he was and that he wasn't buried in the rubble.

Taking another moment to comprehend that, Naruto cleared out his throat. "So… What exactly would you expect of me as a student or whatever it is you are planning?"

At this, Ozpin grinned. "Nothing immediately. Get accustomed to the world first and get your feet under you. I think you will have a better understanding of what is going on by seeing it for yourself in the coming months if I were, to be honest."

"Things are already in motion, and at that time, I think it is better time to explain what I will come to expect of you. But who knows, you might already be performing admirably, and I won't need to." Ozpin smirked as he tapped on his desk in a seemingly knowing way.

Naruto's ears twitched, and he repressed a growl. He loathed that. If there was a plan, he would like it to be explained to him instead of being led along. He would hate this and Ozpin, no matter how much of a gentleman he was.

He was a devil.

"Glynda, assign an open room to Naruto for the time being. I will also have some funds set aside to fix your clothes and for some more appropriate attire to help fit in more with the people of Remnant, along with a little pocket cash… Rather avoid the situation of you pickingpocketing any more nurses, no matter what the situation I created may have been."

Giving a simple nod as she pulled out a pad and made a few quick taps on it, Glynda closed the tablet. "If you would follow me, I will show you to your room."

Naruto gave a simple nod as he followed Glynda out of the office. Ozpin simply looked on with hands folded and a smirk on his face. "This next month will be quite interesting."


Transfer Complete.

...

Beginning New Route.

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Route Charted.