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.

17. School II

~NRK~

Naruto observed Ed a week later, minding the boy's black power for a moment as it cut through a tree without a problem.

"I-I got it!" The tall-for-his-age Faunus boy called out as he leaned on his knees, sweat falling down his brow. "T-That's as fast as I can go."

Looking at the ten trees the boy had sliced through in a matter of a half a minute, Naruto nodded.

"It's not bad, you're clearly still getting used to your powers," the Grimm man smiled at the boy who gawked. "Oh, well, it's good for your level, Ed, but it's really not that fast."

The abused boy looked surprised beyond words. "H-How?!"

"My girlfriend, Penny, you know her. The lady with orange hair?" The boy flinched back. "I'm not mad, I understand your situation but that's also why I'm trying to get you to understand how much better your life can be. So, back on your skills, Penny could probably cleave through all of those in a literal second and that's if she's not trying."

Ed was dumbfounded on two points.

One, the Grimm man was dating a human woman?!

Two, A SECOND?!

"W-Wait, wait, wait! What are you talking about? You're… You're in a relationship with that human?" Ed asked in disbelief. "H-How the hell does no one know?!"

"... So, uh, there's actually something I was gonna offer you when we got more comfortable that relates to Penny," Naruto said. "Ed, do you want your Faunus attributes back?"

"YES!" The boy said immediately, surprising the former blonde for a moment before the Grimm man smiled kindly. "I-I want my fucking horns back, I want all four of them back."

"Wait, four?"

"I-I had more than one," Ed said. "I'm an Antelope Faunus."

Naruto made a surprised noise. "Whoa, I've never met an antelope before or your Faunus type," the Grimm grinned as Ed blushed while looking away from him. "Well, I'm down for it but let me explain me and Penny's situation alright?"

Explaining not just the method of his healing 'graphing' and his & Penny's relationship, Naruto also explained the original form of Penny.

By the end of it, Ed's jaw dropped a bit. "Y-You gave her life?"

"No, Penny already had one," Naruto smiled happily, an emotion that confused the boy on a primal level. "You recognizing her as a human is nice in a crazy way but, originally, she wasn't. Hell, if anything, Penny's more like a 'Mechanical' Faunus than she is a human, though."

Ed flinched hard at the comparison. "T-That doesn't make her a F-Faunus, though!" He said quickly despite the fact that the similarities now took place even if they weren't noticeable.

Kind of like him-Fuck.

"Naruto, I can't trust a human."

"Maybe, maybe not yet. For now, just know, Penny's special and that needs to be kept secret."

Ed looked conflicted but nodded all the same. "So… S-So, you two are…" He twisted his fingers together and Naruto laughed heartily.

"YEP!"

The joy in the man's tone once again left Ed confused beyond belief.

'How can he look so happy?' It didn't make sense.

He'd said they were 'together' for years? Was she really so kind and lovely?

Painful as it was to admit, Ed could call the woman's collective parts 'attractive' so was that it?

Or was it different compared to ROSELIN?

He frowned before crossing his arms only to find a hand ruffling what hair he did have.

He locked onto the man's smile and Ed felt embarrassed and the slightest amount of shame.

"Can we focus on the healing part?"

"Sure."

~NRK~

A week of teaching made Penny feel more confident.

At present, sitting up in her and Naruto's room in Beacon in their pajamas, she and the Grimm man's clone were sitting at a large desk with the Grimm showing the fruit from the island.

Fruit that had seemingly come from his special tree and now bore a special form and shape.

They were as big as Nora's hand, so decently small, around the size of a large golf ball.

Bearing an orange color, they held flame-like protrusions that formed a 'crown' at the top of them that allowed the thick black lines that composed spirals on it to be more prominent.

"This is curious… And these are the newest ones, right?" Penny asked her beloved as she picked up one of them, one of her Penny Technical Machines, Penny ™, coming off their nightstand to float over and scan it. "...?" She blinked.

"Find something?" Naruto asked as she nodded, the chunk of special metal spitting out a projected screen.

On the green hologram, the former blonde could see many details about the fruit along with its diagram.

Aside from texture, temperature, and its origins, he saw something else that also surprised Penny.

"Magic levels?" The carrot top blinked as she reached out with two fingers and spread them, the screen zooming in on that explanation. "... I-It's got magic in it."

"In a way, are we that surprised?" Naruto offered his girlfriend, the woman blinking before nodding. "My island circulates the stuff, I'm more surprised this is the only one like this."

"That's true."

Observing the fruit some more, she hummed before picking one up and biting into it.

Chewing for a time, she and Naruto balked as her form glowed gold for a moment before it fell away.

"What?" She blinked before her eyes widened at a feeling in her soul. "... Oh my gosh," Penny gasped. "N-Naruto, it regenerates Aura and MAGIC."

The Grimm gawked at the fruit, Penny offering her half-bitten one to him.

Eating it without issue, he blinked in surprise. "... D-Dude, that's AWESOME!" He grinned as she giggled a bit. "It's like having a chakra pill, Penny-chan. Like back from my old life."

Which meant interesting things and MORE resources.

"This is phenomenal but I'm left wondering how we should approach this," she said to him, getting another grin out of her beloved. "You have an idea?"

~NRK~

Ozpin, Glynda, James, and Leonardo stared at the fruit in disbelief and awe.

"T-That's an amazing resource," the Goodwitch woman smiled as Naruto chuckled. "It regenerates Aura and magic, though?" Glynda cupped her chin.

-Will it Awaken someone's Aura or magic?- James asked. -We don't know if that's safe to just give out yet-

"Oh, crap, we never thought about that," Naruto blinked as Leonardo nodded.

-This will require some research, no? Though, it seems Penny's built-in Examiner Module spell has done the bulk of the work for us. What do you think of this, friends? Naruto's Regen Fruit, as he calls it, is quite remarkable and could do more good than anyone can imagine. Possibly just behind his bone warehouses-

Ozpin ate one of the fruity wonders and nodded as he felt his body surge with power and stamina.

'This isn't something that's ever existed,' not even in his times.

Regen Fruit was beyond revolutionary but they needed to know the ins and outs.

"... Ah, well, Glynda," the old wizard spoke up as the woman blinked before nodding.

"You want me to test it, yes?" She asked as she picked up one of the fruits. "Well, here goes nothing," Glynda said.

She ate the object in its entirety, delighting in what had to be a mix of mangos and pineapples.

"If this wasn't just for work, you'd make another killing, Naruto," she chuckled as a golden glow shot up over her like the others and died down. "... Hmm…" Glynda felt out her Aura and raised a brow at its 'tautness'. "I think it's just Aura for those with just Aura," she explained.

"So, how do you feel about that, Oz-jiji?" Naruto asked.

"Well… I hope you realize that this is going to redouble people's efforts to find you, right? There's no person who won't relate this to you," Ozpin said as Naruto nodded.

"I get it but, for this time, this feels like it should get out sooner rather than later. It's got no long-term wait time like my bone warehouse and it's immediately helpful."

Ozpin hummed at the Grimm man's logic. "... Very well but, in that vein, when? Would you prefer we do it tomorrow? Next week? Today?"

Naruto blinked before chuckling sheepishly, much to the old wizard's amusement. "Um… Yeah, well, what do you guys think?" The former blonde asked. "Does this really need the 'right' timing? Or can we just, like, put it into the Hunter Reserves?"

They considered it before James hummed.

-I'm going to suggest something odd but, Naruto, I think you should reveal this item in a Kingdom outside of Atlas- The General said, confusing the blonde for a moment before he groaned as Penny wrapped her arm around his waist.

"I believe he understands," she said as she hugged the blonde a good bit before letting go. "Politics," Penny sweatdropped.

"Politics," Glynda said.

"Oh, politics," Ozpin said.

James smirked.

-Yes, politics-

"Well, besides that headache waiting to happen," Glynda began. "Anything else you've come upon? How is that boy? Do you wish to start building those temporary homes? And where?" She shot off question after question. "Ah, what about the submarine?" She added as James perked up with numerous nods.

Naruto and Penny looked at one another before nodding. "I guess it's time to do some more work," they said in unison as the others smiled knowingly.

~NRK~

Most of the Special Class yawned in a corner of the cafeteria, the entire group cleaned up and ready for their weekend start.

"What do you guys think we'll do today?" Neptune asked. "W-We've fought Grimm now, where do we go from there?" The blue-haired boy continued, a long polearm folded in half on his back.

"We'll probably go into town, I'd guess," Mercury said as he leaned back in his seat with crossed arms, the sight of Beacon students coming in allowing a familiar pair to hurry over. "Remember, those two said we'd rest on Saturday and do something different on Sunday."

"He did," Weiss nodded as she saw her sister. "Morning, Winter," she smiled as her older sibling nodded with a shaky smile. "Is Beacon's curriculum good enough for you?"

Winter cleared her throat as Cera smirked. "W-Weiss, that's not appropriate language," the younger Schnee looked surprised while her sister nodded. "It can come off as rude or arrogant, let's not fall into those categories."

"A-Ah, yes, apologies."

Whitley tilted his head as Winter pat it, the young woman looking unsure but willing.

He smiled and she reciprocated a second later.

Getting seated, Cera looked at her younger siblings with interest.

"We heard that you guys got to fight Grimm this week," she said with a look at the other Arc kids.

"W-We did," Sarcelle said with a small stutter, adjusting her glasses. "We were chaperoned for the entire event."

"Chaperoned?" Cera looked relieved and amused. "Hehe, I guess that'd be for the best, huh? I'm glad you guys get to do this in such a safe environment. What kinds did you guys fight?"

"B-Beowolves with Team JNPR," Jaune said as Nora cheered.

"YEAH!" She grinned. "We broke its legs and destroyed it."

"That was certainly our best method," Ren smiled as Pyrrha giggled. "We fought around five Beowolves thanks to Nora and Pyrrha's physical abilities," he said.

"They were so good at it," Jaune said with an awed look as Pyrrha blushed but looked all the more proud for it. "I couldn't really attack a lot, I'm too slow."

"Ya gotta get used to it, that's not your fault," Cera said encouragingly. "Besides, I get the feeling you guys got the most kills," she grinned.

"We only got three," Charlie whined. "Me, Sarce, Saph, and the twins. How'd we lose?"

"It's not easy," Saphron shivered. "I don't get how she's able to just look those things in the eyes and beat on them with her knuckles! It doesn't make sense!"

"They're just big dumb evil animals, they're the bad guys," the green sibling said. "I beat bad guys," she smirked as Sun tilted his head.

"I mean, that's not the worst way to look at it," he chuckled. "Me, Nep, Neon, Whits, and Merc went after four Beowolves, dang, so close," Sun said competitively.

"Hmph," Weiss crossed her arms. "Team WRYB worked well together and defeated… Three Beowolves," she admitted bashfully.

"So, we won," Jaune grinned. "S-Still, it was scary," he added shakily.

"Fighting Grimm isn't easy," Winter told him. "It's just a case of finding the bravery to deal with that fear."

"Y-Yeah, Naruto told us that when we first met," Sarcelle said as the group perked up.

"Actually, since we're here, how did you guys meet Naruto?" Cera asked the group. "For our case, I met him at a family barbeque while Jaune, Sarcelle, Blanc, and Blanche apparently met him in a forest in Mistral by our old camping spot."

"Naruto saved our village as most of you know," Ren smiled as Nora nodded rapidly. "We got attacked by a Nuckaleeve," he added with a brittle smile.

"A what?" Vernal asked, blinking awake. "Wait, crap, what have we been talking about?" She asked as Adam came over and sat down with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Coffee?!" She shot up and ran off, leaving him to chuckle.

"Naruto met mom first!" Ruby said as Yang nodded.

"He really helped mom out of a super-bad situation, that's what she said," the Xiao-Long gal said. "Apparently, that was back when he was in his first-ever form and stuff," she grinned as Blake perked up.

"I met him in A-Atlas," she admitted in embarrassment as Neon nodded.

"I did, too!" She smiled brightly. "He saved my mom's life," Neon nodded rapidly as Winter blinked.

"I'm noticing a trend," she told Cera who smirked. "I suppose it'd happen with his sense of morals," Winter added with a nod as Whitley smiled.

"We met at the manor," the boy said, surprising her.

"You did? And father and mother were fine with that?"

"He came to meet Weiss."

Weiss nodded at her sister's look of further surprise. "I wanted to talk to him after he met Blake and, well, t-that's around when I and Whitley began to play more music together," she added with red cheeks as her brother grinned. "Hmph," she smiled all the same.

Winter blinked at that, realizing just how much was going on before she'd stepped back into her family life.

"We met 'im below Vacuo," Neptune said. "In Gormhen, like a lot of other people here, he saved my life," he chuckled.

"Who hasn't he saved?" Saphron asked.

"In a way, he helped me out," Adam admitted as her jaw dropped, much to his amusement. "He healed me," Adam said, taking one hand off his mug and showing his right eye from below his mask.

The small bits of white skin around his distorted eye startled most of the group while Vernal came back with a look of relief and a pair of mugs in her hands.

Sitting down, she shot Adam a look before shrugging and drinking deeply.

Adam hid the healed skin once more. "Let's just say, he helped, immensely," he said as Ruby tilted her head.

"I-I hope so!" She said with an arm raised in encouragement.

"Yes, thank you, Ruby. For your words and the weapon."

"Hehe~," the girl grinned, pleased. "I got to make so many weapons," she said with awe. "I made Blake's mom one, yours, Naruto's, Whitley's, and some for most of the Arc girls! I've never gotten to do so many before, it was fun!" Ruby said brightly as Yang chuckled nervously.

"I'm worried," she said to Blake who smiled knowingly. "Still, I'm glad Naruto helped so many people, I swear dad and mom are talking about adoption if Ms. Goodwitch doesn't do it."

"Hmm, right, they are close," Adam said with a hum. "She doesn't seem the type, from the outside, but Ms. Goodwitch is quite the affectionate person to people she cares about," he added as he sipped his coffee.

"Yep, Naruto even met her dad," Yang chuckled, confusing most of the group. "I kinda think Ms. Goodwitch adopted him already," she grinned.

"Wow, you'd think he'd be meeting Penny's father."

"Yeah, right? I mean… Wait, what?"

Half the table blinked in confusion at Adam's smirk.

"What?" He asked innocently as Cera rolled her eyes and Winter tilted her head. "Something weird?"

"Y-You said that he… Wait! Are Naruto and Penny-" Pyrrha began to say before gasping at his smirk.

"I figured it out a while ago, it's not hard… Well, that and he told most of the men what was going on," Adam shrugged.

As noted before, half the group gawked at him while the other half chuckled.

"Are you guys seriously going to say you never thought something was going on?" Mercury smirked as Nora grinned. "Yeah, obviously, they're uh… Certainly able to show it," he coughed into his fist as Sun's face went a bit green.

"Ugh, they kissed right in front of us," he shivered even as that same half of the group choked again. "I was not in my happy place that day."

"W-Wait! So, they are dating-dating?" Weiss asked in disbelief as Whitley tilted his head.

"I thought it was obvious," he said in confusion as her jaw dropped.

"W-Whitley, there were no signs, n-no shows of outside… Affections," Weiss said slowly as it dawned on her. "Oh… R-Right, yes, no one knows Penny is a cyborg yet… Nor that she and Naruto are even dating in the first place," the teen cleared her throat. "Right, my ignorance will be corrected."

"Hmm," Yang nodded. "Ya should have seen it, the first day Penny was a real woman, we got her new clothes and everything," she grinned. "And she was always asking mom how some men would react. Dude, it was so obvious!"

Blake was surprised by that but nodded. "I guess things happen when you're the bestest friends in the whole world," she said rather childishly as Adam snorted.

And, as if summoned, their pair of teachers arrived with a box of items and grins on their faces.

"Everyone, we have something we want to share with you," Penny smiled.

"Are you going to tell us you're dating?" Saphron asked out of the blue.

The two wheezed in unison, much to Adam and Vernal's laughter, before looking at one another with red cheeks and sighing.

"Were we that bad at hiding it?" Naruto asked with a shaky grin.

"No but it's hard to not g-guess," Weiss lied, looking between the two and trying to conjure up images of 'dates'. 'I-I don't know how to imagine it,' she thought with red cheeks.

Kissing? She didn't even know what that looked like and only read about it in books! How was she supposed to put together that kind of image?!

"W-Well!" Penny smoothed out her hair before smiling embarrassedly. "Yes, we are," she admitted as Naruto nodded, the two continuing over before the man put their box of fruit down on the table. "I guess it won't be long now until everyone knows."

"If you think about it," Naruto said with a squinty-eyed expression. "There's a high chance that damn near everyone does," he added nervously. "Call it a hunch but I think sis knows," he said, ignorant to Penny's off-to-the-side coughs.

"L-Let's just focus on it when we come to that!" She said quickly, picking out one of their fruits. "We're actually here to introduce you guys to our newest resource," Penny diverted with a smile.

"It's a fruit," Charlie said.

"Yep, that's a fruit even if it looks kinda weird," Cera said with a cupped chin, Winter leaning forward a bit with a slightly furrowed brow.

"I don't recognize that fruit at all, is it from Vacuo? That fire-like design would imply it but…" The heiress frowned.

"Hehe, nope, you've likely never seen this fruit on this earth before," Naruto chuckled, surprising her. "It's an island-specific," he explained, shocking them. "Yep, welcome to my island's personal fruit, our Regen Fruit," he smiled as the group stood up in interest.

"This fruit will likely change a lot of things about Hunter life," Penny smiled as Adam and Vernal perked up.

"How so?" The Mistralian asked as she drank the last of her second cup of coffee. 'Raven's gonna make use of this, I'd bet,' the bandit woman had been a lot more relaxed over the years but she'd never turn down making use of something useful.

"What do they do?" Nora asked with a grin. "They taste so good, guys! It's like a pineapple-mango combo!"

"That sounds delicious," Neon said with a hungry look as Naruto handed out some to everyone, the panther girl grinning before she bit into it and shifted in her seat in enjoyment. "It's so good!"

The others agreed, the tastes so nice-

And then golden glows shot up their forms, surprising them.

"W-Wait, what?" Ren asked, confused. "What was that?"

"The Regen Fruit's effect," Penny smiled. "It has the capability of regenerating the energies within," she explained.

Vernal's jaw dropped along with Adam's as the group's bodyguards came over with curious looks.

"That's so sick!" Vernal said.

"W-We have recovery items?!" Jaune asked with a look of excitement as Sarcelle perked up, Ruby & Yang grinned, and Neptune & Sun gasped.

"No way!" They said in unison.

"I know some video game vernacular so, yes, we do," Penny giggled as Naruto chuckled, Winter eying the fruit with her rusty business wit.

'The amount of monetary value these would have w-would make him one of the richest men in the world!'Assumably. It was rather outrageous that Naruto could land so many different resources. 'But it's good it is him,' a thing she'd realized over the past year.

That Naruto truly was the best person to be gaining these benefits. Because he shared with the world these things and his wisdom, the man's willingness to focus on the benefit of others over his own needs was a rather perfect trait for these newly acquired resources.

"So, wait, you're being so open about it?" Cera asked in surprise as she finished hers with a grin. "Dude, if I ever need a pick-me-up, I'm coming to you two. That stuff rocks."

"That's incredible," Thetis said in shock after Penny explained the situation.

Summer chuckled while Qrow and Jiraiya nodded.

"You're gonna reveal it, aren't ya?" The bird man asked as Glynda nodded.

"This coming Monday, officially," she smiled as Jiraiya cupped his chin. "Naruto's given his blessing to do so and provided a good argument. Best to get this into as many Hunter's hands as soon as possible before something else happens."

"But, like sis said, that's for later. For now, we're gonna spread these throughout Beacon and the Hunter outposts before heading out to travel around Vale," Naruto smiled as the kids perked up. "Sad Li couldn't be here but he has husbandly duties to fulfill. Maybe we'll take this more 'on the road' and travel around each of the kingdoms for the weekends?"

"YES!" The kids cheered with excited looks while the bodyguards grew intrigued.

"We'd be taking the Naruto Express, huh?" Summer grinned as Naruto shot her some finger guns.

"Baa-chan, ya just get me sometimes."

~NRK~

Having the kids help pass out the Regen Fruit had been a blessing. With them, the bodyguards, Naruto, Penny, and Glynda helping explain their newest resource, Cera & Sarcelle helping through the internet, and Winter & Weiss informing their contacts in Vale, Beacon became a hotspot of 'Regen Topics'.

And, of course, Naruto got calls out the wazoo. The Grimm man spoke with many people in Vale to either talk about the fruit, try to contract him to sell for them, or even having some curious 'trade' shipments.

Basically, he'd never been more wanted than before and that didn't please everyone.

~NRK~

-OZPIN WHAT IS THIS?!- Roselin growled over the line as she and the other Council members conversed with the Headmaster once more. -Regen Fruit, is this Grimm insane?!-

"You'll find nothing of the sort, it's quite a powerful new resource we've gained," Ozpin smiled as he sipped his hot chocolate with the patience of a man who'd become a grandfather many times over. "In fact, we've recently spoken with all the Headmasters about expanding the spread of it. Naruto's got quite a lot of this in balk but we're working on making more."

-So, Mr. Uzumaki is the progenitor of these, yes?- Councilwoman Rouge asked as Ozpin smiled. -And, if I may be so bold, can we assume that this came from his island?-

"Your guess would be as good as my own, you see. Though, in this case, he's willing to admit to such. Recently, he found out about this and we've been testing the limits. The students have been very willing participants in 'Regen training' and we know several new things about them now."

Many of the other Council members murmured between themselves, some elated, others intrigued, a few hungry-looking, and a small subsection looking worried.

-Ozpin, how long would it take to fit our kingdom with this Regen Fruit?- One of the Middle Councilmen asked as Ozpin hummed. -If this is all as viable as it seems, we'll need it to become a regular part of Hunter life as soon as possible-

"We're already planning shipments the world over, being honest. There needs to be some scheduling, auditing of specific outpost points, and even just making sure there's enough," they probably should have waited but that sadly wouldn't matter now.

Roselin looked incensed while Rouge hummed.

-I'm guessing trying to have these farmed outside of his island is not an idea he's fond of?-

-Treasonous traits-

The two spoke and Ozpin's smile didn't break.

"With all due respect, there's a special reason only Naruto can farm these items. They are, from his own words, a sort of perfect storm that can only be accessed from his island," the old wizard explained as Roselin scrunched up her nose and the other Council members murmured.

-I don't understand, Ozpin, what purpose is there to keeping his island hidden? In time, it will be found, of course it will, the world is too curious to let such a curious individual as Naruto Uzumaki be left alone-

'I wonder if they've just been without privacy for so long that they've forgotten what it's like,' it was a sad thing to say.

Why would a man not want his own privacy? What sort of intent was being lobbed in that direction?

"I don't believe we're all on the same page," he spoke candidly. "Is a man not entitled to his own privacy? Is he not allowed to keep what is his for however long, as you say, he can? My home is my home and the same is for you. Having people barging in on his island isn't a show of respect or professional interest, it will be for personal gain as I'm sure many of you know."

Some went stone-faced, others looked embarrassed, and even that Councilman who'd asked looked pensive.

-It's not out of personal interest but if these items need to be shipped out as soon as possible, would not having at least one Vale ship doing so be more useful?-

… Ah, now he got it.

Ozpin realized what he was dealing with those two words. "Councilman Futo, are you worried about our alignments?" He asked kindly as the man flinched a bit. "Because I can assure you, we've already spoken about the politics of this move in-depth. Naruto's well aware of how his previous actions have caused some friction and has no issue allowing this to be a Vale-revealed resource and discovery."

Many of the Council sagged a bit, looking embarrassed but relieved.

Councilman Futo sighed. -Ozpin, that's not… Yes, his alignment does matter but there has to be more. The other Councils are calling into question how close he is to anyone and, while this move is in fact a good show of faith, they're seeking to have the man go there and 'discover', if you will-

He understood. "I can see that but they're being too hasty, we all know. Right now, over the past year, Naruto has been a resource in Mistral, Atlas, and now Vale. Vacuo will get their turn, of that I'm sure, I believe people are just antsy and drawing lines again."

Many frowned at that, none more so than Rouge.

-I understand that this seems unwise but Mistral Council has been getting rather testy- She said to him and Ozpin frowned. -News from those in their port speak of a Council/Noble member planning to move in on Naruto Uzumaki. It's said that he's composed quite the hidden armada and will be moving to find his island-

Many gasped or looked downright annoyed, some even looking angry.

Ozpin was none of these things, face growing neutral. 'So it begins,' the 'war for Uzu'.

Being honest, Ozpin hadn't wanted to tell any of the less-politically-inclined members of their group about this but now it seemed his hand was being forced.

This couldn't be ignored and likely would come with repercussions no matter what action was taken.

So, it'd be that they'd need to take the consequences with more of their privacy in place.

"I'll be informing Naruto of this matter," Ozpin told them, bringing all the murmurs, outrage, and even breathing to a halt. "If one wishes to move on another's property, it'll be up to those two to handle their dispute though, in that same vein," his eyes narrowed. "Beacon will be siding with Naruto Uzumaki if the time for conflict ensues even if I'm sure we won't be necessary."

Many looked at him owlishly, some in disbelief and yet others in growing concern.

-Ozpin… What do you mean by that?- One of the Lower Council members asked. -You speak like he's impressed you beyond reason-

Ozpin closed his eyes. "... Because he has," he declared. 'Apologies, young one,' but this grandstanding needed to happen. "I'm well aware of exactly how strong Naruto Uzumaki is," he said.

There were now shifting eyes, many looking nervous at the insinuation while Rouge blinked in surprise and Roselin grimaced.

-You've let him become too powerful- The Faunus woman threatened.

"I've worked alongside him as he thrived, yes, that would be the case," Ozpin said as she hissed.

-Ozpin, you're allowing a ticking time bomb to sit in our borders and you've spoken nothing of it?!-

"I'm well aware of everything we know as are all of you," the old wizard emphasized with narrowed eyes. "Do not act ignorant to clues, facts, and information you've all been given without a hint of ill will. That same courtesy will be returned if we'd like a working relationship."

There was more silence before the Vale Council murmured and chatted in hushed tones.

-Haa- Rouge sighed as he smiled sadly for her. -You're playing with fire, once more, Ozpin. The last time this happened, you were lucky to have Lady Goodwitch siding with you-

"Luck was never a part of it. Siding with people with the proper intentions, even if they might not seem like it at the time, is what a good person does. There are easy ways to tell what will end in ruin and what will end with, even a bit bittersweet, better results for us all. Mistral's likely not happy that the Toad Sage is in Vale, are they?"

-They are not- Futo said. -They're beyond concerned with his seemingly growing affection for the Grimm man to even go so far as call him his 'student'-

Well, nothing Ozpin could do about that.

That way laid a pair of lifetimes none of these people could possibly comprehend.

"I can assure you, at least, that it's simple camaraderie between men, nothing more, nothing less," Ozpin chuckled as they looked confused. "For another time, I'm sure, these issues take time to talk out. Though, I can say, for the sides of all kingdoms," he smirked. "There is a big movement in play that will come to be a big political increase for anyone who backs him at the time."

The call grew silent as most of the Council's eyes widened in shock and opportunity.

"You have it on my word that there's something Naruto can do that'd truly change people's minds, raise opinions, and better our forces."

~NRK~

After the group was done spreading the 'word', they'd taken off into the Vale countryside in their 'school' clothes.

… Okay, first, the Naruto clone popped himself to inform the original about what was going on and they'd quickly received another charged copy to deal with for the following two days.

So, with that clone splitting into more clones, they'd gone on a Naruto-assisted trip along the forests of Vale, the group carrying bags of their effects for the entire thing.

Summer grinned, Garnet latched to her back in his baby carrier, as she, Ruby, and Yang rested in a Naruto clone's 'backpack'. "Any ideas on where we're going first?" She asked the currently-in-Beast-Mode Naruto clone.

"Hmph! Hmph!" He and his copies took one large leap before the group were screaming for their lives only for the sight of the high sun and the long stretch of forests to calm them down somewhat.

-It's so amazing!- Nora cheered over the PM AIM plate on Summer's breast. -Yeah, where are we going, pops?!-

"I'm thinking," Naruto said as they landed with buffers of wind, their travels continued without an interval. "Well, actually, we could go to Patch and go through the forests there. Any problems with that?"

-None!- The group called back.

Summer smiled happily as they curved around the forest edge.

Soon enough, forests turned to fields that quickly turned into the ocean.

As they ran around, Naruto doing a few maneuvers for his riders, he noted the Grimm around down below.

"I'm gonna show you guys something that's gonna be a bit scary, alright?" Naruto told the group as he and his clones were surrounded by balls of wind. "The Grimm are a pretty big threat and there are more than enough reasons for me to make my boat."

They sank down into the waters below, all eyes widening as Naruto took them into the deep blue sea where they saw all the different types of Grimm, fish, and rocky surfaces.

"THIS IS SO SICK!" Sun cried tears of unbridled joy. "By the GODS, MAN! You are awesome!"

Neptune, on the other hand, fainted.

"Crap, is he that afraid?" The Naruto clone with them, and Ramaal, asked as the Maiden tilted her head.

"Nah, Nep's just got a serious case of water fright," Sun said as both adults sweatdropped.

Meanwhile, with Weiss, Whitley, and Winter, the oldest Schnee's eyes shone as she looked all around them.

"Underwater travel… I-It's been an odd idea many have had for a while but, seeing this, I can't help but think that it's a beautiful idea," Winter said as Naruto chuckled.

"The thing is, Winter, in time this might be possible," he said as she gasped in wonder and a bit of excitement. "Right now, I'm making warehouse over warehouse of bones," Naruto explained to her, surprising the heiress.

"Really? I… No, I understand how dangerous it'd be for you to come out and become an 'object' in the eyes of the masses. You need to keep yourself safe."

Naruto nodded to that while Whitley looked around as they kept going lower and lower before going forward, passing Grimm the size of bullheads, cars, and people.

"N-Naruto, a worrying but curious question?" Whitley spoke up, gripping Weiss's hand in concern as she nodded.

"The biggest Grimm I've ever seen were some the size of a small village," Naruto said as the young ones gawked while Winter nodded with a frown. "Down here? The biggest I've ever seen was a Grimm whale."

"Grimm… Whales?" Naruto nodded to Weiss's look of confusion. "I don't understand Grimm at times but that's not the… Craziest concept of one I've read about," she admitted slowly.

In another Naruto Wind Bubble, Cera nodded with crossed arms as her siblings shivered and hid behind her and Naruto.

Watching as a large octopus Grimm slithered past, the damn thing the size of a bullhead, they looked at it all in wonder and terror that was only hidden from the outside Grimm due to Naruto's magical influence, not that they knew.

Jaune, meanwhile, looked around them as, the deeper they got, the less light reflected from above. "I-It's getting dark down here," he said nervously as Naruto nodded with a raised hand.

All the wind bubbles began to emanate glows from inside of them, becoming small beacons of light that brightened the forest floor… And revealed a startling site.

Yes, 'site' not sight.

"WHAT?!" Naruto's yell reached out over to the others as they looked down and saw it.

A large impossible thing sitting there at the bottom of the ocean.

Was that a… Swirling portal of darkness?

Summer's eyes widened the more she looked at it, the easily city-sized swirling energy that stayed in a circular shape.

"M-Mom?" Ruby swallowed at the odd shadowy energy as her eyes began to flicker, Summer's own doing the same before she closed them.

"It's fine, Ruby," she whispered to her, holding onto her and Yang's shoulders as Naruto brought their energy bubbles to a stop so he could see it more clearly… Debatably. "... Naruto."

"It's a swirl of negativity… Guys, we're going back up," the Grimm said as the many groups nodded with worried looks. "If that's what I think it is…" This wasn't good.

That thing was easily able to swallow the island of Patch on its own if it ever decided to awaken and that couldn't be left alone.

Yet, as they began to leave, Naruto's eyes snapped to it as it released a small, relative to it, haze that spiraled up into the water and began pulsing & dispersing to reveal a new whale Grimm.

It let out its ghastly wail song, swimming around in that shadowy space alone before leaving and causing Naruto to stare all the way up to the surface.

Penny looked on in worry as well, the two of them with Nora and Mercury just watching it all happen as that abyss slowly but… 'Surely' vanished back into the depths.

"... N-Naruto, that wasn't… W-Wasn't that a Black Gate?" Penny whispered in horror as Naruto swallowed.

"I think it was something else," the Alpha Beowolf said with a slow breath, Mercury leaning into his side without thinking as Nora sank into Penny's side. "Whatever the hell that thing is… We can't leave it alone," Naruto said as Penny nodded, holding onto Nora's shoulder as the light of the sun above broke through to them. "I'm dropping you guys off at Patch and heading back to Ozpin-jiji, this is serious business."

~NRK~

Summer spoke off to the side with Naruto, Penny, Jiraiya, Qrow, Taiyang, and all the other bodyguards.

"That wasn't some small thing," Jiraiya frowned deeply as Qrow grimaced. "And that thing is so far down there, I wonder if it's because of the water. I don't think that place was originally below the surface."

"The Black Gates only occur in places where humanity used to be," Taiyang said with a worried look back at the kids. "Gods, they saw all of it, too," he sighed as Penny wore a look of concern.

"Sadly, there's nothing we can do about it," Kali said. "We'll just need to talk to them about it."

"Seems about right," Naruto said. "Glynda-nee," he said as the deputy headmistress as she came over, her Scroll up.

-This is a horrible turnout- Ozpin said over the line. -If what you found is true, I think, for the sake of public clarity, we don't tell anyone-

"Hmm, I can't imagine what'd happen if people knew such a Gate was down in the waters and, on that note," Thetis frowned. "How do we know if that's the only one?"

"We don't," Ramaal said with a cupped chin. "But that doesn't mean we can't check."

"We'd need Naruto to go around and look for them," Kali said. "No one else can do it."

"I'm down for sending clones all over, ya know," the former human said. "Anything to make sure we're on top of these things," Naruto elaborated. "For now, let's focus on the kids, I'll handle the other stuff."

Making another clone and then popping it, the group turned to the kids currently speaking at length with other clones the original clone had made.

Going up to them before splitting off into different groups, Summer smiled sadly as she found Ruby shivering a bit with Yang.

"I-It was so big," she said nervously as Yang.

"T-Too big, we need to tell everyone!" The Xiao-Long girl said quickly and terrifyingly.

"At ease, Yang, we spoke about it within the circle of adults, we'll handle it," the Silver-Eyed Warrior smiled as her stepdaughter looked only slightly nervous now. "Tai?"

Her husband crouched to their children's eye level. "Look, the situation's a bit rough, alright?" Taiyang smiled for his girls, hugging them close as Summer crouched as well. "But we're already working, planning, and dealing with it. Your big-bro-but-not-actually-adopted-because-of-Glynda is gonna handle it."

Despite her previous worries, Yang snickered at his look of pure acceptance.

"I-I guess you never got around to doing that, huh?" She asked and he ruffled her hair.

"No. And your mother's never let me live it down."

"Nope!" Summer grinned as Ruby stuffed her face into her chest. "Naruto's got a lot of power and help to give and do, think about it," she smiled for the two as they looked at her before nodding. "See? I'm sure we're fine. For now, Naruto actually suggested something else that he originally wanted to do tomorrow."

---

Listening to a Naruto clone explain it all, Cera rubbed the back of her head as her siblings looked a bit less worried.

"I've got this, trust in me," Naruto smiled. "Besides, we can glean some other stuff about this thing from just seeing it."

"Glean, huh?" Cera asked him with a bit of humor as Naruto smiled.

"I've really got my head around those crossword puzzles. Penny makes 'em so fun, too! Usually, it's, like, adding definitions and stuff but she's good at pictures and they're usually fighting!"

"... The pictures?" Sarcelle asked.

"Yu-huh! And, speaking of fighting," Naruto grinned slyly as the kids perked up. "Well, I wanted us to rest for today once we got where we needed to go, ya know? But, since our minds are on the defensive… Let's make it offensive and FUN."

---

"Wait, a new kind of training?" Blake asked as she and Neon talked to her mother.

"Yes, Naruto explained this to us before but we got the full scope a couple minutes ago," Kali smiled. "And it should be a good way for you guys to begin to 'reach his level' from how he puts it," she chuckled.

Neon blinked at her, looking down at her nunchucks. "I-Is that even possible?" She asked, face blank as the puma woman rubbed the back of her head.

"We don't know… Here's a bit of advice for you two I can expunge for ya."

The feline girls perked up and leaned forward, Kali's grin gaining their attention.

"Almost every powerful Hunter has a specialized set of skills that give them the status of 'The Best'. I'm not just talking about Aura Control, Semblances, or even weapon usage. I mean actual things you'd call 'Skills', with a capital 'S', that are formed from their mastery of their Semblance, creativity, and Aura."

Blake blinked at that, looking down at her chain and sickle. 'Skills that push them to be the best…' Could she do something with her Shadow Clones?

What was it? Blake had already learned from Naruto that hers had a special 'hint' to them but it wasn't as great as his.

Gaining all the Aura Control they got was it. She didn't get memories like Naruto did but she'd gain the amount of control her collective clones got while they could only take one good hit.

So, where would that go?

Neon, meanwhile, considered herself. 'My Semblance…' Something she'd learned of after Naruto Awakened her powers.

The power to use different 'Lights'. Lights that could give her bonus stats or even elements depending on what she'd wanted at the time.

Neon had five Lights but she didn't trust herself with three of them yet.

"Can I…?"

"Be as strong?" Blake finished in a whisper.

---

Sun and Neptune nodded in unison. "We get it," they said.

"It's like your Sash Arts," Sun said as Ramaal nodded.

"Exactly like that and Naruto thinks you all should begin your journey into your own set of special skills," the Maiden said. "Right now, you two are good students but your creativity is lacking. For the foreseeable future, we'll be working on that along with your Semblances."

Neptune wheezed as Sun nodded.

"Nep's Hydro Power and my Sun Clones. I mean, Neptune's power is way better than mine, how would I make the most out of that? Hell, all I get are memories of the thing and, yeah, they're kinda tough but that's it."

The Summer Maiden cupped her chin. 'From your viewpoint and skill level, maybe,' but Ramaal had ideas.

She just needed to see if some aspects worked with Sun's Semblance.

---

"T-Techniques?" Weiss asked, eyes wide at the idea as Winter smiled in relief.

"You're right, that's a good idea to keep their minds off of that thing," she whispered to the Naruto clone with them, the Grimm man nodding in Beast Form as the Schnee duo sat on his back. "But I'm also curious about this, Combat Techniques? Don't you mean like Water and Wall Walking?"

Naruto grinned.

---

"T-That's so cool!" Pyrrha grinned excitedly as Ren chuckled.

"I'm not sure how this would work for me," he admitted bashfully as Thetis smiled.

"It's not something you need to thunder over, Ren, for now, you all need to observe the greatest techniques of others and consider how your own powers might translate," the redheaded woman smiled. "For example, my own techniques are based on my knowledge of weather patterns, Semblance usage, and the direction the wind flows most powerfully."

Ren looked confused. "Really?"

"Yes! Mom's called the Aquarius, Ren," Pyrrha declared proudly as her fellow Mistralian looked surprised.

"She is? I'd heard that Aquarius stepped out of the limelight a couple years back," he said.

"I did," Thetis chuckled. "I had Pyrrha to look after now that she'd begun training in the grand halls of Argus. I couldn't just leave her untutored while her father focused on the city's defenses. Now, focus on them."

"On nothing but techniques."

---

"Like the Rasengan?!" Nora asked in excitement. "W-We'll make our own?!"

"Yes," Penny smiled as Mercury perked up intensely.

"A tech like the old man's…" He cupped his chin. "H-How would we even start?"

"Well, Naruto had an idea for you two, specifically," Penny grinned. "He and I offer you two choices… Between his own technique ladder or my technique creation."

The two's jaws dropped and they scrambled for an answer.

"U-Um!" Nora hopped in place, looking as indecisive as a dog between two bones as she began to spark and crackle. "N-Nooooo! Don't make me pickkkkkk!" She whined as Mercury paced.

"Between pop's Rasengan and its variants or Diffussilis Fulgura…" Mercury kept on nodding as he paced and paced and paced. "Wait but… But pop's moves are so powerful already while I'd bet ma's is…" His mouth set into a frown as his pacing doubled, wind magic covering his feet in a humorous display of rapid confusion.

Watching the two freak out had Penny giggling a bit.

'Definitely the best way to keep their minds off that Gate,' still, Penny was also intrigued by this training.

Perhaps, she'd make another Technique for her own 'library'.

---

Naruto, Qrow, and Jiraiya nodded to the last two.

Vernal grinned excitedly while Adam cupped his chin.

"Naruto had given me some input," he admitted to the Toad Sage. "My Semblance allows me to turn blows, of all kinds, into power."

"Kid, that's gotta have some of the most obvious skill ideas known to man," Jiraiya smirked as Adam blushed a bit. "Come on, you've gotta have some of those down by now."

"..."

"... A-Adam? Buddy, pal? Please tell me you've thought of the millions of obvious other ways you could use your Semblance."

The bull Faunus scratched his cheek as Qrow laughed while Naruto sweatdropped.

"We'll work on it, alright?"

Vernal's snickers had Adam slumping.

Please, not her, at the very least.

~NRK~

Naruto formed the last large bone spike, leaving forty in total of many growing-in-thickness sizes.

"Alright, that should do it," Naruto said as he patted the last one, the spike being ten-feet-tall and seven-feet-thick. "So, to put things into motion, we need to get an idea of what you guys' current stats are," he smiled as the children perked up.

"Attack power, speed, skill, energy power, creativity, durability, and Semblance strength," Penny listed off as she stood in front of the last spike Naruto had made. "There's a lot that goes into creating a technique of your own," she said. "When I created my own, Expansive Lightning, in my former mechanical form, I'd literally short circuit myself."

-Wait, what?! Penny?!- Pietro's voice came from one of her Penny Technical Machines, the man sounding worried. -I-I think it'd have been nice to learn that… Earlier-

"S-Sorry, dad, it was just something that got overshadowed by me being human," Penny said with a shaky grin as the man's hologram crossed its arms with a bit of a pout. "But that was only the shell, now, I'm so much more sturdy!"

-... Expansive Lightning?- The man asked and she nodded with a grin.

And a mere instant later, the air colored with a powerful green glow that was followed by the immense crackle of electricity.

The entire group, sans Naruto, who hadn't seen the form were taken aback by the sheer change in nature that Penny had undergone.

"Expansive Lightning, or Diffussilis Fulgura, is my current mastery of my electrical powers granted to me by the Electric Dust but taken to an extreme," Penny explained as they saw her solid outline even within all the electricity… No.

Even in all the lightning.

"The air's basically filled with her Aura," Kali said with a shaky grin and a drip of sweat falling down the side of her brow. "P-Penny, what would even make you use a 'Technique' like this?"

Penny smiled as she allowed it all the fall away just as fast as she'd called on it. "A powerful being that me and Naruto barely beat," she admitted vaguely.

The kids, on the other hand, were far more enthused.

"THAT WAS AWESOME!"

"YOU WANNA TEACH US THAT?!" Mercury and Nora shouted in sheer adulation. "PLEASE!"

"T-That move looks so sick!" Vernal said with stars in her eyes, Adam lifting his mask in a similar amount of awe, himself, and eying the damage from a mere activation of Penny's technique.

Utterly magnificent, he couldn't deny it.

Jiraiya whistled at the power formerly on display with one eye closed. "Mmm~ That's a bit exciting, ain't it, Aquarius?" He said to Thetis who let out a shuddering, excited, breath.

"Y-Yes, Toad Sage, I'm… Gods, are we sure we'll have enough time in the day to try and spar with her?" She asked with a rising amount of competitive spirit. "I want to."

"Hehe, like I was telling Mercury and Nora, there are different methods to making 'techniques'," Penny smiled with air-quotes. "A Skill to call your own isn't just going to be an attacking skill."

"A 'mode', like my Sage Mode or energy armors, for one," Naruto reminded them as the kids gasped. "Yep, it's basically similar to Penny's own transformation technique but with other elements changing my body. Two, there are just downright Attack Skills," he added as he formed the Rasengan. "Like my Rasengan, Penny's 'Ruptis', or 'Burst', attack, and even Summer-obaa-chan's personal Silver Trails."

Summer blushed but nodded all the same, Yang looking surprised.

"W-Wait, since when did mom have a Super Technique?!" She asked.

"Um, for a while now?" Summer chuckled sheepishly as Taiyang smiled in amusement. "I don't really think about the fact I made names for 'em all the time but, yeah, I have my own. I know Thetis and Kali do as well, along with Jiraiya, Thetis's husband, and even Taiyang."

"I just thought it was cool, at first," the blonde man chuckled. "But, well, cool things sometimes develop into 'I need this or I'll DIE' things," Taiyang sweatdropped. "I-I never did thank my lucky stars enough back when I was an academy student."

"You, too?!" Ruby squealed. "I-I want one!"

"In time, Rubaby, but ya gotta get good," Summer grinned as the older teens, including Mercury, snorted.

"Yeah, ya gotta do that," Mercury smirked as Ruby pouted. "So, we're testing our limits for now, right?" He asked as he tapped the front of his Wicked Bone Greaves, personally named, against the ground.

They were thin bone-plated 'boots' that came up to his knees with black material, made of Naruto's fur, filling the space beneath and in between all of the plating.

Having been painted gray, given almost talon-like toe extensions Mercury controlled with his magic, and his personal Uzumaki emblem on the sides, he grinned at the feeling in them.

Like he was touching everything with his own feet, the sensation something he'd gotten used to over the past month of their creation.

"That's the plan," Glynda said with a smile as she walked over to the group with what had to be, at the very least, a hundred wooden targets floating in the air behind her as she exited the forest. "Finally made enough of these," told Naruto.

"I had wondered where she'd gone," Jiraiya said with an 'observant' eye before yelping at a kick to his ass. "Hey!" He turned to find a smirking Vernal there as he held his bum. "Young lady, in time, my attention is needed els-yeowch!" She kicked him again?!

The bandit rolled her eyes. "Honestly," she said as Adam smirked this time.

"Nice, we can test you guys' aim after all of this. Well, for anyone who can use projectiles, that is. Now, Penny's gonna demonstrate a goal for everyone below the age of twenty since Li's not here," Naruto said as Vernal squawked. "Hush, in time, young lady."

"Man, who are you calling a 'lady'?!"

"Don't worry about that. Now, Penny-chan's gonna show ya what nearly unstoppable piercing power is like!" Naruto presented his giggling girlfriend without a care thrown Vernal's way, much to her indignation. "So, you guys will use your favorite attack type on these things to prove your strength."

Penny nodded, walking forward with her spatha in hand and rearing back with her arm.

A powerful green current sprouted off the blade before she stabbed.

The thick bone spire was punctured before Penny's weapon fought to go forward.

Several sparking, not just from her weapon, pushes stopped at the half-way point.

She removed it and showed the damage.

"Naruto-kun's bones have the same density as alloyed iron," Penny explained. "At a toughness composed of seven feet all around, don't think it's so easy to make such a dent. I'd have to be going all-out to break down that barrier," she said.

-That's around what we expected- James said through another Penny ™. -It's also part of the reason why making use of his bones required us to make new tools with them- The General sounded excited as Pietro chuckled.

-Quite! It's been a downright blast of a time learning what new things we can work on! With the newest level we can attain with laser scalpels, examination modules that Penny made, and just tubes for more dangerous chemicals, you all are staring at quite the enhancement for humanity!- The paraplegic said powerfully and proudly.

Naruto and Penny chuckled.

"Alright, get to work!"

With the group separating into smaller ones towards certain spires, the adults followed suit.

Naruto and Penny found Mercury and Nora in front of them in an instant.

"So, which one did they choose?" Naruto asked as the two blushed. "Kids, seriously, it's fine. I can wait my turn and, besides, I do have insight into transformation techniques just like Penny. You'd be in good hands either way," he smiled for them and the two perked up.

"R-Right, I forgot pops did transform a lot," Nora said with a nervous giggle as Mercury nodded.

"Well, we're in your care, like always," he smiled and the two adults did as well.

"So, I guess for you, Merc, I'd ask what version of Element Soul you're looking to use," Naruto grinned as both teens perked up.

"Element Soul? Is that what it's called?" Nora asked.

"Yes, it's magic power that's conducted through the use of your Aura," Penny explained, gaining their attention. "I'd been wondering for a while how to make it happen but then I used what we already had," she held out her hand. "Even as a robot, I had magical potential, I had Dust in me, Dust of my element the most so, Aura, and an inspiration," Penny admitted as Naruto smiled proudly.

Her hand glowed green.

"I can differentiate between Aura the spell, spiritual power, and magic. Thankfully, it was a holdover from when I was an android," she continued as her green glow fell away but a small breeze flew from her hand. "That's spiritual power without a medium."

"I-I can tell it's there," Nora said as Mercury crossed his arms.

"I can't," he said as the adults hummed.

"Well, it's likely because there's an art to it along with affinities," Penny considered. "So, it's just a case of aptitudes," she explained.

"And magic is something you both can feel so you just need to get better at making the distinction of it in your bodies," Naruto said. "Penny's method for using Element Soul is to change the Aura's main element of 'Spiritual' to 'Electrical' but it's not just that."

"I altered the very core of my power," Penny said. "Of Aura by making it come not from my soul but from an electrical core… Mmm, I'd like to use 'virtual machines' as an example but I don't believe either one of you gets that."

All three of her personal little 'world' grinned nervously.

"Yes, I believe that's accurate."

"Hmm… To put it in a way that you'll understand," Naruto smiled. "What Penny does is make a pool of power that Aura pulls from. Instead of feeding off her soul, it feels off something we'll refer to as 'Soul-Lite'. Soul-Lite is then mixed with her affinity which is another thing."

"I don't… T-That's a lot," Nora said worriedly as Mercury cupped his chin. "Do you get it?"

"I… I think I do," he said slowly. "I guess you can say it like this. Think of your soul as a river but you don't just drink from the river, do ya? You put it into a cup or something. Then, you 'add' your flavored powder and stuff to it, that's your 'element'. Basically, Penny makes a cup of water Aura sips off of but it's filled with lime."

"Oh!"

Penny smiled brightly. "Y-You all can get it so easily!" She grinned as the three blushed at her pride. "Hehe! Mercury is correct, Nora. That's why Expansive Lightning is so potent. It's filling my body, my 'soul', up with Electricity magic and using that as an energy source."

"It still sounds complicated, though," Nora pouted.

"We'll probably take things in steps, duh," Mercury reminded her, getting a perking-up Nora for his troubles. "It's just… Can we even practice properly with those not-in-the-know around?"

"Of course," Penny chuckled. "It's not like they know what your Semblances are, not specifically. You just need to be vague about it… Until the end of the year comes."

"We're gonna tell 'em, Merc, we gotta get good at this stuff," Nora told the gray-haired boy as he hummed.

"I guess."

"Now, let's start with your ability to use your powers to the fullest," Naruto said as two more bone spires formed in front of the two, their shapes that of a cube around their heights with a similar thickness. "You two are gonna be going at it with more power than the others so Imma give you two bigger goals."

Patting the two cubes, Naruto smiled.

"By the end of the year, I want you two to be able to break these cubes in one hit."

The two looked at the cubes with determination.

"I will," Mercury said with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah!" Nora grinned. "I'll be just as strong as you guys!"

Penny smiled. "Then, let's get to work!" She grinned.

~NRK~

Their 'Stat Training' lasted for two hours.

Going through their paces, getting advice, energy ideas, and more demonstrations left the younger members of their group tired but mentally active.

"It's so hard," Jaune whined, flat on his back with most of his sisters, Ren, Whitley, Weiss, Ruby, and Neptune. "I-It's so much Aura to use, too, I-I'm tapped out."

"It's tougher than any training we've ever done," Yang said, sitting on the ground beside them with the other more capable but no less tired kids. "And then we're trying to do that Skill thing, it's a bit much," she huffed, finally flopping onto her back.

"To you guys, maybe," Vernal said as she stood ahead of the group with Adam, the two wiping sweat off their cheeks with towels that were quickly passed around by Glynda's Semblance. "But this is so fun and easy, I've already got a ton of ideas for finishing moves."

"Finishing moves?" Blake asked, blinking on the ground.

"Duh, what do you think you guys are working towards?"

"The facts of the situation are likely lost on them," Adam said with a nod as Neon blinked. "You all are so focused on copying Penny that you should be focusing on copying Naruto," he explained, confusing the lot.

Pyrrha and Sun blinked before nodding. "He's right," they said, surprising the others.

"You can't do the stuff Big Sis-Penny can do, that stuff's more likely gonna work with Merc, Nora, and Neptune," the monkey Faunus said, confusing the group as Neptune whined, back-to-back with the monkey boy as is.

"I don't ever want that kind of stuff, alright?" He said.

"Speaking of our most powerful members," Sarcelle began, the entire group going to the screeching of electricity and the roar of flames. "They're still going," she said, sweat running down her brow.

At Mercury's continuous cracking blows against his bone cube, the boy's body and uniform drenched in sweat as he kept on kicking and kicking, the next set of blows slowing down one moment before picking up in the next.

As if he was 'taking breaks' despite how ridiculous that was.

Nora was barely a level behind him, the girl's sparking fists crunching into the stone cube with each following breath, her hands covered by some new fingerless bone gloves.

They kept on going, much to Vernal's acknowledgement and Adam's nod.

"They're training their use of their Semblances," Adam said. "They'll likely keep going until they've run out, to find their maximum limits," he added as he stretched his back and walked off again. "Can't fall behind now," Adam said once more as he walked back to one of the largest spires, the monolith covered in 'scars' from a powerful blade.

"Hehe," Vernal smirked before doing the same, leaving most of the group surprised, Cera and Winter the most.

"Isn't she younger than us?" The oldest Arc there asked in some embarrassment, Winter's huffing form just staring from her on-all-fours position at the four. "T-That's… Mmm," Cera whined but slowly walked off. "Ah, man…"

The kids groaned in embarrassment while Winter looked red in the face before they all heard chuckling.

"Don't beat yourselves up over it," Naruto said as he arrived with a large bag thrown over his shoulder. "You're not really supposed to be as good at it as those around you. They've trained for far longer, in different ways, from all of you. Even among you guys, there are kids with more stamina, more power, more strength, or more spirit. You've all got your own little quirks and specialties."

"B-But we gotta be strong, right?" Jaune asked as he sat up, looking the least tired of those flat on their backs. "I don't get it."

"And you will be strong but there's a big difference between rushing to strength and getting it naturally. Don't hurt yourselves trying to reach the same level as others if you'll get it naturally."

"I don't follow…" Weiss pouted as the Grimm man chuckled before handing out Regen Fruit. "Thank you," she blushed as Naruto nodded.

Once everyone had one in their hands and ate the fruit, they all jumped a bit at the sheer feeling of returning stamina and energy.

"T-Those are so broken," Yang grinned as she jumped to her feet with Pyrrha, Jaune, Blake, and Neon, Winter back on her feet in the background. "Still, um, I know we got told we'd be training to get as strong as guys like you but…" She trailed off with a seesawing hand. "Seems a bit impossible."

Naruto considered her for a moment before shaking his head. "It's not," he smiled, confusing them. "You all are gonna need to break your own barriers and stuff, especially one particular one when we're in the final two months, but being open to your powers, mind, and the world is gonna make you all so strong. What you're missing is conviction to see it through and focus on your goals," he chuckled. "Let's put it this way, 90% of you want to be Hunters, don't you?" Naruto asked, nodding to Saphron, Sarcelle, and Whitley's shakes of the head.

"Y-Yeah," Ruby said with puffy cheeks.

"Well, I'd ask ya, why?"

They all looked stumped. "Um, t-to become Hunters?" Jaune asked.

"The difference between you guys and those five is one thing," Naruto nodded. "It's conviction and the want to prove your ideals."

'The difference…' Ren blinked.

'Between us and them?' Sun thought as he looked at Mercury and Nora.

How big was that difference?

"But it's not hard to find the reason you want to be strong. I want to ensure my precious people are safe amongst all else, no matter what, that's what keeps me looking for new ways to use my powers and to get stronger. There's no point to strength just for the sake of it."

The kids and Winter looked down in thought.

"Is it really that simple?" Whitley asked.

"Yep, your reasons for being strong don't have to be complicated," Naruto explained. "While I'm also fighting to end the threat of the Black Gates, there's no reason your own reason for fighting needs to be so big. Even something like being the greatest Hunter in the world, in Vale, on your street, in your house? It's all a big enough reason."

Weiss considered it. "... I-I want to make our family name great," she admitted bashfully, confusing Winter. "L-Life's a lot better nowadays but I want to keep it, I want my family to be great in all aspects," she declared with narrowed eyes. 'I never want to go back to a house like that again.'

If her being an amazing Huntress would keep her father interested in her well-being, her brother's, her sister's, and her mother's? She'd be the best damned Huntress in the universe.

"I-I do, too," Jaune admitted. "My family's had nothing but great heroes, I-I'd even say dad's one," he said. "I just want to make them proud."

Sarcelle rubbed the back of her head as Charlie grinned.

"Yeppers! We can do it super-easily, too!" The green sibling of many said. "It's just that we gotta get super-strong and beat a big bad guy!"

"I wonder what that means," Saphron muttered as the twins cheered.

"Hehe~," Yang grinned proudly. "I wanna be the most amazing Huntress in the world."

"I-I'd like to keep my parents safe," Neon added.

"I want to White Fang to get really big," Blake nodded with narrowed eyes.

More and more such convictions found themselves leaving their lips before Naruto was chuckling at the focused kids.

"See? Ya can find the right motivation no matter what. Now, you need to apply it."

~NRK~

Eight hours later, the entire group sat in a large Naruto-made bone campsite, the Grimm man chuckling with the other adults in a large man-made bone-plated pool while the kids played in a large play area.

Swimming around in their swimwear, Naruto chuckled with Penny as they sat on one side with Jiraiya, and Glynda.

"Ah," Penny giggled a bit as she leaned on her boyfriend's shoulder while he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Today's been so eye-opening for many of them," she told him as Naruto nodded.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, pat his student's shoulder with a knowing look. "Look at you two, now getting all affectionate since the so-called 'secret' is out," the man smirked as the two-in-question blushed. "Well, like I told the brat, I am proud of him. Two lives and only one relationship, he's certainly an innocent sort."

Glynda chuckled at that while Penny preened. "I'm sure they can tell," she smirked as Naruto muttered something. "All things considered, now you two don't need to hide it but, then, I wonder how long you'll wait until your relationship is public."

Naruto pouted as Penny giggled. "Likely sometime after we reveal the warehouses," Naruto said. "Since my clones can keep on producing the bone stuff and it'll stay, we're making real headway. How many do we have now? In Atlas and Vale?"

"From James's recounting, give or take 43," Glynda did the math and nodded as Jiraiya whistled. "The issue is that he, Ozpin, Leonardo, and Theodore are working on revealing it in all Kingdoms at the same time. We want, at least, fifty in total."

"So, you're extremely close," Jiraiya considered as they all nodded. "And then, what? What's next on your revelation tour?" He asked.

The three hummed. "Well… At that point, focusing on nothing but our boat should come next?" Penny tilted her head. "Ramaal's supposed to leave with Amber, the Fall Maiden, and another soon to go and look for those odd Grimm," she considered as Jiraiya crossed his arms.

"Hearing it from Naruto makes me think they might be connected to that fifth Black Gate. If that's true, perhaps it'd be for the best that you guys make headway into finding those other so-called Great Spirits?" He offered.

"In the end, there's still so much to do. We do need to focus on the bone warehouses from then on out," Glynda said, surprising the three. "Isn't it obvious? Imagine what happens when we reveal they exist? People are going to try to find them. We need to brush off accusations of monopolizing resources and then the headache of the Council will rear its head again. Speaking of which…" She pulled her Scroll off a nearby bone nightstand and threw off the water on her hands to go through it.

She explained, showed, and revealed the issues that occurred from the talk Ozpin had with the Council that morning and all three frowned.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to put that one in the ground. The thing is, did Rouge tell us what he had planned? Or what the Mistral Council thought?" Naruto asked. "If this guy tries following me, I'm probably gonna sink his ships as close to shore as possible while dealing with the Grimm that might arrive."

"Why not reveal your Summoning ability, then?" Jiraiya offered.

"Is that wise?" Penny asked.

"We don't know what is 'wise' in this case. The fact remains, you don't know when this guy, and whoever's willing to work with him possibly like Jade, will do it," the Toad Sage explained. "The issue is that you don't know if people will be accepting of it ever or if time makes them more angry. Besides, don't Atlas scientists already know? That's the perfect back-up."

The four considered it.

"The things that I don't want revealed amongst all else are the Konoha and Uzu," Naruto said with a nod. "The less said about what could be found on my island that needs protection the better. The Earth Spirit, the Water Spirit, Kachi & his family, even Oichi & her family, our materials, and even our small resort. Anyone who finds it will literally ruin everything we've built together and it all needs to be protected until the right time. I'm fine with revealing Gamakuro and his fellow Guardians but that's it, for now."

"Hmm…" Glynda leaned back in her seat, much to Jiraiya's glee. "I don't know," she admitted, eyes closed as she crossed her arms. "At this point, we're approaching revelations that will shake the status quo. Give it, what, maybe by the end of the month? And we'll have enough warehouses to handle a capital's worth of amputees. Hopefully, that should last the world enough, for a time, that this doesn't make you a 'specimen' for people to make attempts at."

Penny hummed on her beloved's shoulder. "Do you all honestly think it's just the one Mistral Councilman?" She asked out of the blue.

"Nope," Glynda and Jiraiya said in unison. "Not unless we're REALLY lucky."

"There's no doubt in my mind that this will simply open the gates for many other troublemakers," Jiraiya shook his head as his student blinked. "Think about it. What empowers an idiot more besides open idiocy? The thing is, I can imagine a few underground folk who will want ya for themselves but the number of bureaucrats? That's gonna be a different monster."

"Political power, right?"

"Yep."

"Still, in that regard, Naruto shouldn't be unprotected," Penny declared. "Yet… I think, amongst all else, things will come to a head where we can't go to the island from Mistral anymore."

"Not unless we had a teleporter or an old Jutsu me and sensei know about," Naruto uttered as he held Penny close, eyes closed. "Talk about annoying-"

"Wait… That's it!" Penny grinned as he perked up, confused.

Glynda cupped her chin as the former blonde kept looking confused. "I… If that's possible…" She hummed.

Jiraiya smirked. "We can offer some sealing knowledge if it'll help," he chuckled.

"What are you guys on about?"

"I think we might be able to make a different project a lot faster with all our resources," Penny smiled. "Naruto, we might just need to make a teleporter."

The Grimm man blinked, looking hopeful but confused. "Still, isn't that a bit much? How would we even begin with that kinda stuff? I know Old Man Oz might have an idea but this might be too much, even for him."

"You're right… If we meant looking to Ozpin's skill set for ideas," Penny said nervously. "The thing is, we know of one student who does have a power close to what we need. Especially because of how we learned his Semblance wasn't the same as his family's…"

---

Across the way, Whitley Schnee smiled happily as he went up and down between two set glyphs, Weiss's help in moving them giving him the sort of control he needed.

He could only do one at the same time but he even learned he had something different as well!

"Still 'switching' things around?" Neptune asked as he came over, Whitley smiling with a nod.

"I'm trying to learn how odd this new addition to my family tree is," he admitted as he snapped his fingers.

His form vanished from one glyph and reappeared on the other, getting a smirk out of Neptune.

"Whits, this new power of yours could totally be used for good," the blue-haired boy snickered. "Imagine all the girls we could just zip away from if they get angry."

"Is… Is that a good use of our powers?" Whitley asked naively.

"Oh, definitely."

Whitley looked intrigued by this prospect.

---

"If Whitley's powers come with more due to the nature of their Awakening…" Penny smiled as Naruto hummed.

"But then, ya know? We'd have to not only bring him into this, make him aware of magic, but we'd then have to see if it'd even work, yeah? If it doesn't, not to say I don't trust him, Whitley will know something way ahead of time," Naruto explained as Glynda and Jiraiya nodded. "We'd need to test him out ahead of time and, as it says, that's gonna take time."

"Unfortunately, we'll have to live with what we're given," Glynda said. "Still, we have options and new ideas," she smiled.

"I suppose it'll have to do," Penny pouted somewhat. "Mmm, I really don't like people just trying to find our island…"

"I know, me too. The issue is, some people are too curious for their own good. Others are literally just guys looking out for themselves and would try to pull some crap like making it into a secret base, an attraction, or even try and sneak some stuff out of here while I wasn't looking. Even though they'll never know I've got, like, five different alarms on that island," Naruto shook his head.

"... Ah, of course," Penny smiled brightly as he chuckled. "I suppose we have more time than I imagined!" She grinned.

~NRK~

It was only two hours later before Penny found herself blushing under the nodding scrutiny of the other females, back in the pool once more.

"So, be real with us, how long?" Kali grinned as the more-alive-than-ever carrot top colored some more before giggling embarrassedly.

"Oh, um… M-Maybe the past couple of years? It kind of seamlessly happened," Penny admitted bashfully even as the others gawked at her or blushed at the insinuation. "Around the time before I became human and we took in Nora! N-Nothing like that is happening yet!" She said quickly. "A-And things only really got more… Intimate, when he got a more humanoid form."

"I-Intimate? Yet?!" Summer's jaw dropped with Winter's as Glynda smirked. "Wait, hold on, you know about this?! G-Glynda, Penny's saying she…" The woman burned up while Thetis raised a brow at the imagery.

"Ya know? It's probably not that different from time with my husband," the redhead said with a hum as Kali blushed with a grin frozen on her face. "Oh, of course, Kali," Thetis smirked. "For you, it's probably relatable with a black beast on your back-"

"Thetis, for the Brothers' sake!"

The redhead just laughed as half the women blushed or snickered.

Vernal being of the latter and former categories. "Then, what about that kinda stuff? Ya said 'yet' like it was gonna happen," she smirked as Penny blushed again but smiled regardless.

"W-We're saving it for later this year," she admitted, surprising them sans Glynda who nodded. "We just… I-It's so we can focus and plan a-and prepare!" Penny squeaked.

"REALLY?!" Summer squealed before covering her mouth at Penny's shushing gesture. "S-Sorry! It's… Y-You guys are being so mature about it," she blushed as Ramaal's brow twitched and her cheeks colored.

"Bull-Shit," she said as Penny froze, coloring powerfully as the others perked up.

"... Wait," Kali blushed some more in disbelief as the Vacuan woman grunted. "... PENNY?!"

"I-It's not what you think!"

"Right, right, is that what happened in Gormhen?" Ramaal asked sarcastically as even Glynda grew intrigued. "Either you tell 'em or I am, I will not be the only one cursed with this knowledge," she 'threatened'.

Penny wiggled as Thetis tilted her head, cheeks coloring only a bit.

"So… Well, if I'm going by both your words, Penny didn't go all the way but she did do something with her ridiculously tall lover," the woman considered with a hum as the others blushed or laughed at Thetis's wording once more.

"I-I…" Penny steamed. "N-None of this can get out… Yet," she blushed as Summer squawked. "We were… W-We experimented with some things, Glynda-nee knows."

"Ahem," Glynda cleared her throat at Summer's look of utter disbelief while Cera perked up. "Yes, I did know some of their… Progress after speaking with Penny after they adopted Mercury," she elaborated. "That was also right before their first-ever kisses, I believe."

Penny nodded rapidly as half the women 'aweeed' while Vernal bore an embarrassed visage.

"What's that even like?" She asked with a grunt.

"I-It's certainly amazing!" Penny said, a smile coming to her lips. "We'd never done that before b-but it was such a new avenue that led into… Former topics," she colored once more. "R-Ramaal isn't wrong about us performing a bit b-but we just got some stress out of the way, nothing permanent."

Cera, still blushing, looked intrigued. "M-Man, it's… Wow, I thought that being a whole new woman now would have been like in books," she muttered as the Schnee in their midst scrunched in on herself with emblazoned skin. "I mean… Gods, is this what maturity looks like?"

"We considered it beforehand," Penny said with a smile. "But, well, we wanted to focus on Mercury and Nora's development. Ignoring that Mercury was still settling in during that time, we just wanted to ensure they could get our attention. Still, while we were planning for our boat, we decided to do so near the end of this year. Likely during a time where you all can handle the students."

"... Well, count us in!" Summer declared with determination. "But, young lady," she immediately said, ruining Penny's hopes. "Y-You both need to be sure about what you're d-doing!"

"What? Each other?" Vernal and Ramaal asked in unison as Summer squeaked while the others laughed.

"Like that wasn't a loaded sentence," Cera said with a shake of the head. "I don't… I-I mean, if you two cared, condoms?" She suggested.

"We're working on a… Choice," Penny said quietly as all mothers perked up while Glynda looked surprised. "... We don't know if it should be 'safe' or not."

"Are you sure about that, Penny? Not to say you're not allowed to want to… Y-You know but, still, are you two fine with taking those kinds of chances?" Summer asked half-seriously. 'If they did have sex and…' If the now-woman got pregnant?

Would that work? Summer prayed that it did completely and healthily but she had to also wonder if that'd be a bad idea.

"As I said, we're not sure," Penny smiled. "But it's not an unattractive idea, taking care of Mercury and Nora has been a wonder in and of itself," she grinned while Glynda smirked knowingly as Summer squealed out of her thoughts. "And it's not like we don't have a few new ideas," she added. "Cloning ability, we don't know if I can't do that."

All of them looked surprised by the idea but none more so than those in the know about magic.

'Is that possible?' Summer, Glynda, and Ramaal thought in unison.

"So, y-you'd ascertain a built-in sitter?" Winter asked quickly. 'This conversation is out of depth!' But it was so interesting!

Penny desired to become more of a mother? Winter couldn't help but be intrigued by the prospect.

A former android-now-cyborg meant that she had all the correct equipment necessary. I-If their previous conversation was correct, that is!

Winter couldn't bid away 'those thoughts', her mind conjuring the scene of Naruto and Penny-

"Yeah, I know, it's kind of hot," Vernal stage-whispered to the now bright red Winter. "Like, dude, I'd bet he's kind of like those videos on the internet."

Despite herself, Winter was confused. "Videos?"

"Yeah, have ya ever seen porn?"

"What is this 'porn'?"

Cera's jaw dropped along with Vernal as Winter pouted a bit.

"O-Oh, right, um…" Sheltered rich girl, right? "Yes, well… Figure that out in private on Incognito Mode," Cera whispered quickly as Winter grew confused.

"The idea is to see if I can't apply the same principles," Penny said with a bright smile. "If I can do so with electricity or just my soul's energy. If I can," she repeated and emphasized. "We might be able to see if the children can all do it… W-Worryingly, now that I speak of it," her grin grew nervous alongside those 'with children'.

Ramaal included. "Sun's already got clones, though. What purpose would… Wait, would they become exactly like Naruto's?" The Maiden blinked. "Speaking of, I'd like to run some Semblance ideas by you all after we're done making sure Penny knows what dealing with rambunctious children is like."

Penny was embarrassed but willing. "I-I'm all ears."

~NRK~

The following morning, a Naruto clone stood in Ozpin's office with Jiraiya, the wizard being informed of what they found more in-depth.

Ozpin frowned at his desk. "If this is true, you all were right. We can't tell anyone about this, not a single soul until… Until a specified time," he ran his hands through his hair as Jiraiya nodded.

"Trust me, that thing wasn't something I'd like to drop on anyone. Much less when it's near Patch and the size of it gets out, it'd be pandemonium that we couldn't imagine," the Toad Sage frowned. "But, now that we know, we have no idea what the time frame for it is. It spat out a whale Grimm before we left and I don't know if that's its normal production speed."

Ozpin nodded, putting that down in an actual paper scroll before sending it into the ether, much to Naruto's interest.

"You're right about this but we've too much on our plates," Ozpin agreed but sighed. "Perhaps after Naruto rebuffs the Mistral Council and we reveal the warehouses, we'll find the time."

"How's that looking by the way?" Naruto asked.

"With the clones you've made, we're at 45 in total. At present, James is enjoying his new mechanical sides and Pietro, well," he smiled a bit as Naruto grinned. "He's getting used to his new implants but the man has taken to a lot of jogging as of late."

"I'm glad, they deserve it," the Grimm smiled as Jiraiya pat his shoulder.

"So, five more to go, huh?"

"Yeah and Ed's coming along well."

"Ed?" Ozpin asked before gasping a bit. "Ah, the new boy?"

"Yeah, he's getting better and the boss recently decided to help him get his horns back," Naruto said before sighing. "It's only been a week, I know, but he's not any better in the 'not hating humans' department."

"I believe you're doing your best," Ozpin said with a kind smile. "You seem well-equipped to handle children of many ages," he smirked as Naruto blushed and Jiraiya chuckled proudly. "Yes, many would even go so far as to wonder why you're waiting to get your own."

Naruto wheezed before clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his head. "Umm… None of this gets said outside of this convo, right?"

"Silence is golden."

"... I told Ero-Sennin already but, well, me and Penny-chan are gonna be 'getting closer'," Naruto twitched his fingers with red cheeks. "Farther down the line this year and we're not sure if we want to be so 'safe' about it if ya get my drift."

Ozpin honestly looked surprised while Jiraiya raised a brow.

"Oh, shit, I'll be a grand godfather?!" The Sage's jaw dropped a bit as Naruto chuckled sheepishly.

"If ya want to be-"

"You idiot, of course, I do!"

Naruto laughed at the sage's look of confidence and pride. "Well, glad to have ya on. I'd ask if ya had a name from ramen yet but we'll leave that alone, for now," he snickered as Jiraiya looked inspired. "So, yeah, we've really liked taking care of Nora and Mercury, a lot. It's a bit weird for me but I really like being their guiding light. I never had that as a kid so doing it for them feels… Right, I guess," the former blonde said honestly.

'I can only imagine,' knowing Naruto's history made Ozpin aware of just how lucky this former-boy-now-man had been to have positive male influences in his life.

He'd seen what could come of children without parents, regretfully, a couple of his own 'down the line' so to speak.

Ozpin knew just how important it was for the youth to have guidance of any kind.

"You've really been quite the guiding light for them," Jiraiya nodded sagely. "So, I don't doubt that you and your lady can handle a kid. I'm just wondering if you're sure about doing it nowadays with the future and what we just learned from yesterday."

"In a way?" Naruto began. "I feel more like I want to try having a kid with Penny, those Gates are a danger to everyone, now and in the future. Whether they're my kid or not, I want those things gone so the generation of the past, present, and future can live good lives," he grinned. "And, crazy as it sounds, showing my kids that there are things greater than any darkness sounds like a good message."

"Already thinking like a father, everything has a lesson to impart," Ozpin chuckled. "Well, in light of all of that, I see no issue with you understanding your position. Still, where?" He raised a brow.

Naruto opened his mouth before closing it as his expression went blank, Jiraiya laughing his ass off as he did.

"... Oh," the former blonde grinned nervously.

"Hahahahahaha! No, no, that's gold," Jiraiya smirked. "But, as your gracious teacher, let me inform you, you can just go and do it back in Gormhen. That place is nice and quiet, you've already been there, and I'm sure you liked the room enough before so why not?"

Naruto considered it before nodding. "Sounds like a good idea. Do you know any of the more private hotels in Vale, though? Just in case?" He asked both men.

The white-haired duo nodded.

They traded ideas.

~NRK~

The following afternoon, the group were actually in Vale.

Mercury folded his arms behind his head as he walked alongside Naruto, Nora, Ren, and Penny.

With the whole group spread out around the city, Winter, Weiss, and Whitley going to see their parents, they had some time together for the next two hours.

"So, what do you two want to do?" Penny asked as they walked about in their school clothes. "Anything you've been feeling for? Our treat," she smiled.

"Pancakes!" Nora grinned as Mercury considered it. "Let's. Get. Pancakes."

"Nora, it's the afternoon," Ren said.

"So? Pancakes have cake in the name! Cake is an anytime treat!"

"I don't think that's how that works."

Mercury smirked as the two spoke in-depth on the subject before something caught his eye.

Something out of the corner of his vision that had his gaze snapping to it.

A person's eyes vanished behind a wall and he rolled his eyes the closer the five of them got to it.

Passing by, his eyes narrowed as he found nothing there save for a dumpster and the most impossible to see steps for a normal person.

---

She'd watched them go with a look of disbelief.

'That's the Grimm guy…' Looking at him from a closer distance confused a rushing young woman.

Bearing currently loose, lower-back-length, mint-green hair with a hime cut around her forehead, brown skin, and red eyes, she jumped over people, trash cans, and clothing lines as she hurried to one of the worse-off parts of Vale.

Wearing a pair of brown open-toed heels, dull-green capri pants with a pair of guns on her lower back, and a white tube top, her eyes kept looking around.

And she stumbled as she passed by a wall-leaning Mercury, her eyes widening as she slowed her run to a crawl.

"..." Her eyes trembled in disbelief as her head slowly turned to see the young man's closed-eyes. 'W-When did he… HOW?!' The young woman turned to face him while stepping back-

And found an arm-crossing Mercury already in front of her, her pupils shrinking as the wind around her died down and left her looking up a couple inches.

To lock eyes with the pink-haired boy who'd confronted her. "Now, where are you going?" Mercury asked her with narrow eyes.

The other teen flinched, her right foot stepping back.

"You know you can't run from me, right? Hell, you didn't even do a good job of it the first time," he added with a frown as the girl reciprocated in all parameters.

"Well, look at you, all prepared to take on a defenseless girl," she said as his brow raised and went to her hips. "I'm not an idiot, dumbass, if I couldn't out run you, how could I shoot you fast enough-"

Mercury's eyes snapped to the side as the teen in front of him flinched.

A single kick caved in the wall without what looked like a hint of effort.

And revealed the same teen in front of him hitting her rear end below his attack.

"Let's start over again since you're bad at face-to-face conversation," Mercury said as he crouched down to her eye-level. "Who the fuck are you and what the hell are you doing, eying up my family?"

The female teen flinched as his eyes seemed to glow in the shadow cast by the sun, the alley seemingly growing hazy.

"I-I didn't want to!" She said quickly, leaning away from him only for a wall to block her path. "I-I'm just doing what I was paid for!" She squealed like an oiled-up pig.

None of this was worth getting her face caved in.

Mercury's frown deepened. 'Paid, huh?' Three ideas, one of which would require him to be the most vigilant.

His old man could see through the ruse. The most worrisome thing that might end in disaster.

Two, this girl might have worked for someone in the upper-brass or underground.

Three, she was looking to steal from them.

Not great options, any of them. "Who? Who paid you?" Mercury asked her as she looked away from him. "... Bloody Mercy."

She flinched, eyes snapping his.

"The Thorns," she blinked. "Gatling, Coarse Court, Conjuration, Xebecs," the thief felt her skin ashening. "There ya go, you're bad at hiding your expression," Mercury said as he got up, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and shot her a look. "I suggest you cut ties with them now before what I do to them happens to you," he gave her one, single, warning before taking his leaves. 'I'll probably need to grab one of them.'

Mercury was more confident in his abilities now than ever before but he didn't just rush into things half-cocked.

He needed to end that gang with enough power to make a statement-

There were the sounds of hurried steps behind him and he turned his head, expecting to see an empty alleyway.

So, why the hell was this girl right behind him?!

"... Yoooo?" He greeted slowly, eyebrows furrowed as the girl fidgeted. "Yo? Can I help you-"

"P-Please just keep me around until ya do whatever," she begged him, bowing at the waist. "I'll d-do anything!" She had little pride.

If this one, who seemed scarier than even the head of the Xebec gang, could do what he did to her to them… She'd take her chances with the single boy than a gang full of perverts and murderers.

"What?"

"I-I told you I was being paid but that's… T-That's not everything."

Mercury blinked at that, turning to face her. "What the hell… Okay, one, don't just do that shit. That 'anything' crap will eat you alive in the actual dangerous parts of Vale. What the hell are you thinking?"

She flinched at him, looking relieved, confused even, but not embarrassed.

What?

"I… You do what you have to. And I can see it in you, too, you know what I'm talking about," she told him and Mercury groaned beneath his breath. "Look, I know this doesn't see real-"

"Woman, I can tell if you're lying or not, trust me, I know…?" Mercury blinked. 'Wait,' now that he was saying it…

He could?

'Probably more of the old man's powers,' well, negativity sensory skills weren't the worst he could have gotten. "Look, what the hell are you actually asking for?"

She swallowed. "Please, look after me?"

Mercury's face went blank before he made the biggest of guttural groans.

"... Say that I do," he began slowly as her eyes shined with… Relief, hope? 'She's been down here for too long,' and, not to say he was a pervert but, her body.

Her body was too nice to be left alone and he didn't mean that in a good way.

"Let me guess, you promised him more than just some visuals on where we were, didn't you? You promised the head of Xebecs that you'd probably fuck him," Mercury told her and the girl looked away from him. 'Godsddamit,' his old man made him soft. "For fuck's sake, what will you do if I do help you?"

The girl nodded at that. "... If… Maybe if you can get that Grimm guy to adopt me, too?" She asked him, scuffing her heels against the ground. "That'd be better than where I am, right?" She grinned weakly at him.

It was pathetic. "... When is that fucker expecting you back?" Mercury groaned as the girl grinned brightly. 'No… No, it's not cute, dammit!' He cursed in his head as his brow twitched painfully.

"Yes! Away from this shithole!" She cheered. "And Frank 'Gray' Xebec isn't expecting me back until I've gotten your location," the girl revealed to him. "He wants to attack you all the first moment he can, sir."

"Stop with the 'sir', I already don't like where that track's going," Mercury sighed. "Okay, for one, who the hell are you? What's your name?"

The young woman looked surprised. "My name?" She whispered and Mercury blinked at her fidgeting fingers. "It's Emerald. Emerald Sustrai."

'That name's really fancy,' from some old history books? He knew that Sustrai were an old tribe of people, one of the first who settled into Vale. "You do know the value of your name, don't you? You're a Sustrai? Your family-"

"Is fucking useless," she cut him off with a growl as Mercury blinked. "They're no fucking good, I'm… I-I'm sorry but they're not as great as you think they are," Emerald said, looking away.

'A comrade in sucky families,' who could have seen that coming? 'Still, now I've got a straggler,' and the old man would not hesitate to take her in.

Call him a seer but Mercury was sure he knew how that song and dance would go the moment Naruto knew the truth. Still, how did he approach this?

~NRK~

Sitting in their private booth, Naruto and co's jaws dropped as Mercury and Emerald spilled the whole story.

… Okay, well, Mercury did while Emerald stuffed her face full of pancakes in a race with Nora.

"Glp!" The young woman wiped her mouth with her napkin, looking pleased. "I-I've never been here before!" Emerald said.

"Yeah, thanks for your contribution," Mercury said flatly as she tilted her head before blushing at what she'd done. "Whatever, look, that's the situation," he told his family and Ren.

Naruto blinked. "So, really, the question is when do you wanna go in and ruin some gangsters' lives?" The Grimm man asked with a grin as Mercury smirked.

"Can we do it tonight? That way, you don't need to focus on it tomorrow during classes."

"Hmm, very well," Penny smiled as Mercury sighed in relief while Nora perked up, mouth bulging like a chipmunk. "Don't worry, Nora, we'll handle it tonight and be back soon enough. There aren't that many threats in Vale, are there?" She asked Mercury who hummed.

"There shouldn't be, the gangs in Vale, compared to what we've faced up to their point can't really compare. They're mostly just gangsters, some of 'em do have Hunter training due to being dropouts and/or going in there to steal some 'Hunter secrets'," Mercury shook his head at his family's look of confusion. "Don't ask, really, don't know what they're thinking. All I do know is that, last I knew about the ongoings, there weren't many of note save for Frank who was said to be as strong as a Hunter."

Emerald blinked. "U-Um, well, he's gotten stronger, I've heard," she told him with a nod. "But that's it… S-Still, they're a gang, ya know? How can you think that'll be easy? A-And should a lady be going there?" She whispered, worried.

Mercury shot her a flat look before realizing, duh, she had no idea how strong they really were.

He smirked, leaning back with crossed arms. "Yeah, trust me, even if they're not coming, even Nora and Ren could probably put down at least a couple of 'em. They won't last after we're done with 'em," Mercury said with a grin while Emerald looked surprised.

'Is he serious?' If he was then she'd made the right choice! "If ya say so, boss."

"For the love of the Brothers, it's Mercury," he told her as she blushed and fiddled with her fingers.

"R-Right you are, Merc."

The uncomfortable look on her face set his to 'flat'. "I'm gonna be dealing with this for a long time, aren't I?" He muttered to himself as Naruto chuckled. "Oh, right, um… She'd like to get adopted?" Mercury dropped on the two sheepishly.

Naruto and Penny blinked in surprise while Nora perked up.

"A sister?!" She gasped in awe as Emerald blushed before clearing her throat.

"I mean… I'm guessing she doesn't have anywhere else to go, huh?" Naruto smiled as Mercury rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah, uh, sorry, old man."

"It's not wrong for you to want to help someone, we're glad you can make those kinds of decisions," Penny smiled as Mercury steamed a bit. "Still, young lady, I'm sure you're aware of a lot of things going on."

Emerald rubbed her nape. "I mean, about you guys being spied on, right?"

"WHAT?" All five members of the Abroad Program gawked as Emerald blinked.

"Um, yeah? The Xebecs recently got a contract to watch you from some guy in Mistral. Apparently, that's what started my original… Contract," she emphasized.

"A guy in Mistral, huh?" Naruto's eyes narrowed as he rubbed his chin. "Tell me, Emerald, did they offer this Frank guy a lot of money?"

"Y-Yeah? How'd ya know?"

"Because I have an idea I know how wealthy the guy who paid Frank is."

~NRK~

Welcome, Emerald Sustrai, nice seeing you again.

Yep, she's finally arrived and soon, too, will Cinder though how that confrontation goes will really be a coinflip. Cinder's only been saved in one of my fics, Kamui Candy, so this approach will be a bit different.

So, for this chapter, there's a lot to unpack but it's for the best that you just slowly read into things and understand how they'll change.

For now, no Omake, later.

~NRK Out~