A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY? 'Tis but a quick one.

DOUBLE UPDATE DAY! WHOO! Looking forward to your reviews!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Finally! I can move my arms properly again! Text-to-speech is a pain in the ass and I've lost my voice because of it, but still! Arms! Are! Back! My eye's getting better too. Now comes the long-awaited time skip; which means I can break out the big guns I've been holding in reserve. Naruto's presence has clearly changed the timeline at this point; altered it in ways you can't possibly imagine.

This chapter moves fast; if only because everyone's been asking us to get to the juicy bits. So lets answer a few quick questions:

Q: What's the pairing?!

A: Its already been stated, and its going to be glorious.

Q: Timeskip when?!

A: Timeskip now. Be ready, Naruto's not quite as you remember him after that defeat...

Q: Does Naruto have a Semblance in addition to his aura?

A: Still giving hints for now. But yes, he still has Kurama, chakra, the whole nine yards. He was simply raised among the Branwen Tribe. Many were complaining that he was too gentle by half and the like. That mercy is slowly being bled away, though he doesn't yet realize it.

Q: With the timeline changed, just how crazy is this story going to be? You said there would be a great deal of change, but haven't seen much yet..

A: You want changes? Alright. You'll love this chapter, then.

Be prepared. That's all I'm gonna say.

Now hold onto your hats, because here we go!

Looking forward to your reviews, they're all that keep us going in this madness.

"There are as many Semblances as there are stars in the sky.

But yours...well. I really don't know what to say about you. Yours changes reality. Cause and effect.

"You don't even realize what you have, boy. But you will. And when you do. Well. I'm curious to see what you'll become.

~And So Time Passes Ever Onward.

The Second Fracture

"Hold still and let me stab you!"

"Never!"

Naruto laughed and danced forward with a smile as Omen sought his head with ruthless dispatch. Rather than evade, he stepped into Raven's guard. A hand swung upwards with lazy grace to slap the flat of her bloody blade away from his face and force her arms up into the air. Once again, its keen edge had failed to reach him through no fault but her own. She didn't give up, of course. She never did. His instincts shrieked a warning and he dropped down on his haunches as she chambered a kick at his head. A breeze swept over him.

He knew better than to look up by now...but as ever his eyes held other plans. They drifted to the north. Whistled.

"Oh~!" azure orbs creased in a grin as he thumbed his chin. "They're black today. Good choice."

Raven's pale visage burned a rosy pink. "Raargh! Die!"

He blocked the wild haymaker that followed, grabbed Raven by said fist and reeled her in like a fish, crushing her stomach against his knee. She dropped her sword and folded over him with a choking gasp, retching for air that wouldn't came. In the same instant he dropped down to one knee while simultaneously lifting the leg and dragging her across it. An elbow slammed down on Raven's unprotected back, pinning her in his lap as he laid her flat across his knees. Her spine stiffened as she realized what he intended.

"Don't you dare!"

Too late. Naruto's arm swung up and his open palm cracked down on her exposed flank. Once. Twice. Three times in rapid succession. An angry shriek greeted him with each slap. Heh. Sweet music to his ears. Even after all these years, Raven was just fun to mess with. Especially now. She really did have too many openings...

"Give up, yet?" he grinned down at her. "I can do this all day."

Teary, shame-filled eyes glowered up at him. "Never!"

Another spank had her jumping in his lap.

"Care to say that again?"

She grit her teeth.

Another smack.

"Hyeeek!"

Naruto knew he could have ended their duel there and forced Raven to capitulate before the tribe, but something told him she'd never forgive him for it. There would be hell to pay for this already. She'd have a throbbing handprint on her arse for the rest of the day. And he? Well. He got the satisfaction of knocking her down a few pegs. Wouldn't do for her to get too big for her britches. Defeat had made them strong; the years grizzled their youth and cut away the fat. Of course it had changed other things as well. He'd grown up for one. Raven had grown up and out. It made teasing her that much sweeter...but there was too much of a good thing.

So he feigned weakness and let her, wriggle free.

The very moment he did, Raven snatched up her blade and launched it at him like a spear. Aura sparked as he caught it by the hilt and flung back; warm morning sunlight glinted off the blood-red blade while it flew into her waiting grasp. Raven caught it, pivoted, dug her heels in and came at him again, cutting a scarlet swathe through the air. Naruto swayed back, letting it cut harmlessly past.

"Ha!" he straightened, thumbing his nose at her. "You'll have to do better than...

A stray strand of severed saffron-gold hair swept past his right eye and fluttered to the floor.

...that." Blue eyes pulsed an angry red as he beheld the lonely strand. "You do realize this means war."

Raven closed the distance with laughed; it was a sharp, angry sound. Ohh, she was going to make him pay for this. He just knew it.

Much like Harbinger and Omen, Prophecy had been reforged long ago; now the whip sword was a deadly instrument of wrath in his right hand. Sharper. Heavier. With an extra surprise or two in store for the unwary. Even Raven -not so little now!- hadn't seem them all. Now he brought it crashing down on her guard before she could strike, drawing a grunt from her and forcing her to brave her blade with both hands. Rather than retreat, he squeezed a trigger and the serrated edge of the blade whirred ominously as moving parts began to writhe and shift.

Red eyes widened.

"Oh, that is compete and utter bullshit!" She roared and ripped her blade away before the chainsaw could cut her in half. Aura sparked before she could get away. She glowered at the pitted surface of her dust blade. "How long have you been hiding that?!"

Naruto waved his blade back into a simple sword once more. "Since last year."

With a snarl Raven "shattered" her battered blade and slammed it into her sheathe to draw another. Sparks shivered across the now blue-blade as she took on a stance.

"Ooh! Using lightning dust this time? Naruto quirked a brow. "That shit's expensive. You reeeaally wanna win, don'tcha?"

Naruto lazily flicked his wrist and Prophecy unfurled with a vicious his, the whip sword batting her blade aside and nearly catching her head for the trouble. Raven twisted out of its path and snarled as it raked a jagged line against her collarbone. That would bruise later. Eh, she had aura. She could take it. Still it tore through her shirt and he paused for a moment, briefly distracted by the pale expanse of her slender neck. But only a moment this time. He kicked out, flinging her away before she could try to lock blades with him again.

Yet another lesson he'd learned.

Mercy was all well and good, but mercy had limits. Too much got you hurt. Mercy left scars. Raven would forever bear one running across her right eye. Really, it was a miracle she hadn't lost it altogether. Just the thought of it was enough to make his fists clench. They were weak back them. Goldilocks -they'd taken to calling their tormentor such for lack of name- had picked them apart like the children they were. They were weak then. But now they were strong. Well. Stronger at any rate. Hopefully it would be enough.

"Alright." Raven scraped herself off the floor, a small smile alighting on her full lips. "Time to end this."

Something about it set him on edge.

Naruto settled into a stance of his own. "If you're that eager to lose, then by all means."

"I won't be losing." her grin grew to shit-eating proportions. "You're not the only one who's learned a new trick...or two."

"That's cute, but I don't believe you-

Raven snarled and swept an arm through the air to her right with a vicious grin. A horde of crimson portals opened at her back one after the other. Naruto's jaw clicked open. As he looked on in quiet disbelief, a teeming host of scarlet swords emerged within their rippling depths, all pointed toward him. Distantly, his mind began to count them all. By the time she reached two dozen he'd lost track. She...shouldn't be able to do that. Her semblance could only create portals to those she'd bonded with. And never this many!

His childhood friend folded both hands before her bosom with a triumphant grin. "Do you believe now, mongrel?"

"Well." he blinked. "Guess that semblance training paid off."

The bandit flung her arms forward at him and a storm of swords answered.

Dust kicked up, obscuring Naruto's vision as he kicked back and flung himself to safety.

He never saw Raven fly free from another crimson portal behind him. By the time her shadow fell over him it was too late. Omen's hilt smote him on the back of the head. Stars burst before his vision as Aura crackled. One hand flew up to cup the back of his skull, and it was in that moment, blinded, that she swept his legs. Even as Naruto fell, she grabbed his jacket, fingers fisting against the green fabric. His back struck the ground and he had a brief moment of realization before she struck again.

Huh. Clever girl.

Raven roared in triumph and rode him to the ground.


(.0.0.0.)


Finally!

Triumph burned through Raven Branwen as she pumped a fist through the air.

After all these years, she'd finally managed to land a hit on the slippery bastard. And it only cost her a bit of her pride.

"That doesn't count!"

"Irrelevant." she slashed a hand through the air. "Victory is mine!"

"That...that was a cheap shot and you know it." Naruto wheezed from where he lay. "My poor head...

Was it? She didn't think so. She'd had years to master such and she wasn't little anymore. At sixteen years of age, she'd grown up and out...in more ways than one. Naruto often remarked on it, so this time she'd used her beauty as a distraction. She hadn't expected it to work quite so well.

But here at last, victory was hers. She had fought. Trained. Overcome.

For in training, she became strong. Stronger than she'd ever dreamed possible. She pushed her limits. Hit a wall. Smashed through said wall. In another life she would've been content to let her skills reach a plateau; not so now. She had a goal. A purpose. Someone to surpass. Someone to kill.

She was weak? Who decided that?

Her Semblance was gated to bonds? Once again, who decided that nonsense?

Locked to only a single pair of points? Only one at a time? Who. Decided. That! Nobody, that's who! She decided such things! It was her Soul!

Granted, her newly empowered Semblance was a bitch on her aura reserves, and a pain to keep stocked with weapons, but it was well worth the risks. Quantity had a strength all its own. And when quantity was combined with quality...well. The results spoke for themselves. Her first victory stood as stark proof of that.

"Tch." he spit on the ground as she sat atop him. "I liked you better when you were short. You didn't hit so damn hard."

"You fought well." Raven did not pull him up. Instead she climbed backward his prone form, now straddling him with her hips. He went curiously still beneath her, not daring to move. "However, you also lost the bet." she couldn't quite keep the smile from his face. "Now you have to keep your promise."

"Fine, fine, I'm yours for the day." he flung up his arms in surrender. "Whaddya wanna do?"

Raven's grin turned predatory. "I want you."

Shock wiped away his scowl.

"Eh?"

Before he could think to throw her off, she dipped her head and pressed her lips to his, melding her mouth against his own. Hmm. Not bad. She still didn't see what all the fuss was about. A kiss was a kiss. It wasn't as if they were screwing one another. There didn't need to be any emotion here. Yes, she told herself. She was simply curious; doing this to get a rise out of him. And if she dipped down for a second, and a third, then what of it? No one questioned her.

And quite suddenly, Naruto moved.

One moment she found herself atop him; the next he locked his legs around her and rolled, leaving her pinned beneath him. His eyes weren't blue anymore. They were red. Slitted and intense, like the gaze of a great and terrible beast. Such a lovely color. Scarlet met crimson. His forehead pressed against hers. Their noses brushes.

"Cute." when he spoke, the word was a growl. "Do that again and I'll give you something to scream about."

All the blood rushed to Raven's face. "Why you~?!"

"Rae," Qrow's voice called, ruining the moment as he emerged from a nearby tent. "Pops was looking for you and Na-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

Tch. Leave it to her brother to be the noisy one.

"Nothing." Naruto climbed off her with a triumphant grin. Vengeance was his and they knew it. "Does the old geezer want us for something?"

Qrow looked like he'd sucked on a lemon, but he held his tongue.

"Yeah...about that...


(.0.0.0.)


Silas awaited them within his tent.

As ever, Naruto grimaced at the sight of the man when they entered. The raid -ghastly though it was- had marked everyone in different ways. They each held their scars, mental and physical alike. Raven wore hers on the outside. Qrow and he kept theirs within, anger and guilt mingling with shame to form a potent concoction. By comparison the injuries of Silas were both visible and visceral. Yet he bore them with pride, rather than shame.

Somehow, they made the man even more intimidating.

...you've come. Good."

Silas Branwen lounged impatiently atop his throne of bones and regarded his children with a keen eye. Naruto tried not to look at the scars, but he couldn't help himself. Silas hadn't simply been burned by the huntress on that fateful day, he'd lost his left eye and right with his arm to her as well. His dominant hand now ended in a wickedly curved hook, one that tapped idly against his chair as he regarded them. The other clutched his staff in hand, deadly as ever. Even with one hand, the Chief was a man to be feared.

But that was neither here nor there.

"I have called the three of you here for a grand purpose." His voice had an unusual bite to it this morning, as if he were forcing the words out. "Heed my words and obey."

Naruto's brow shot straight into his hairline. Raven offered a begrudging nod, one he and Qrow mirrored. None of them knelt, of course. That was not way of the Tribe. You did not bow to anyone. But a ripple of confusion passed through them all the same. It was rare enough for Silas to call them without a raid; rarer still to speak to them like this. Perhaps it was the raids themselves; how poorly they'd gone of late. Regardless, he seemed to grapple with himself for a moment before he recovered enough to speak.

"I am sending the three of you to Beacon." He declared with resounding finality. "Pack your bags."

In the silence that followed, one could hear a pin drop.

Initially, the unlikely trio exchanged baffled looks; if only because his words didn't truly take root in their hearts at first. Beacon? Them? Absurd. But was the silence stretched on and no reply was given, incredulity became confusion. Confusion became anger. And anger became dismay.

"What?!"

Qrow joined him. "This is bullshit!"

Raven all but sputtered. "Father, you can't be serious! The hunters-

"ENOUGH!" Silas slammed his staff against the ground, silencing them with a mighty crack. "We. Cannot. Beat. Them." he all but spit the words. "Do you understand now? They are seeking us. Hunting us. The last three raids have ended in disaster. Scores of our warriors are dead. We are dying!" a bladed fist slashed out, carving a silvery arc. "If we do not learn their ways, we will die. By that reckoning, four years is a middling price to pay. The three of you will go to Beacon, or you will be cast out." his words drew a flinch from the three of them. "Learn the Hunter's tricks and return to us. Fail, and you will not return at all."

Raven bit her lip, wearing a surly look.

"Why not Haven?" Qrow raised a hand into the ensuing silence. "Ain't that closer?"

"Because," The chieftain turned his head aside and spat. "She may be there. And she knows your faces. Lionheart is also a craven and a coward." he continued with a grimace. "While such a man may yet be useful to our purposes, it also makes him erratic. Unpredictable. Such a man is one to be wary of."

Naruto bit back a shiver and grit his teeth until they ached in the back of his jaw. Not because of this Lion-whatever-fellow, but for fear of another individual altogether. Goldilocks. Did he want to fight her? No. Not really. Did Raven? Yes. Very much. That woman had taken on the entire Tribe by herself and won handily. Her deeds left her a legend through Mistral, if not the whole of Remnant. Every year there were more and more hunters because of her work. Her heroics spurred an entire generation to follow in her footsteps.

"When do we leave...?"

Just outside the tent, the distant whine of a descending bullhead filled the air.

"Right now." Silas declared, gesturing toward the tent flap. "Go to Vale and prove your strength."

Now it was Naruto's turn to protest, though not as loudly as Raven. "Won't we need transcripts or something...?"

Silas snapped his fingers. A member of the tribe hurried forward from the corner of the tent, pressing a folder into each of their hands.

"Keep those on you at all times until you are accepted as students." he instructed. "Those cost me a great many favors. Do not lose them. Am I understood?"

Naruto leafed through his with a cursory glance. A list of stellar accomplishments sprang out at him, none of which were his own. He was listened as an orphan. Well. At least there was one nugget of truth among the lies. Better than nothing he supposed. stole a peek at Qrow's and found much of the same. They shared a shrug and a nervous laugh. Deeds like these wouldn't hold up under any true scrutiny. Then again, they didn't have to. No one was going to look twice at a group of teenagers who looked to be from the wilds.

Raven kept hers close to her chest, her brow gone dark. "And if they see through them...?"

"Irrelevant." Silas waved his hooked arm through the air, silencing them. "In truth those papers are merely a formality. The man who runs Beacon, this Ozpin, has been known to recruit among the strong." a grim grin tugged at his scarred visage. "And the three of you are strong indeed. He will gladly welcome three "students" of your caliber." When they didn't challenge him, said smirk grew. "The fool is unaware of us. He will not see through you."

Raven bridled. "And how do you propose we-

A heavy envelope smacked into her bosom. She snarled and flung it at Naruto, forcing him to catch it. He needn't look at it to grasp its contents. Its weight was...considerable.

"That should be more than enough lien to bribe the authorities, should they challenge you." Silas declared. The rest is yours to do with as you please. Now, then." He rose from his throne and padded forward, heavy boots smacking against the dirt as the blond tucked the parcel into his bag. A meaty hand came down on his shoulder, rooting him where he stood. "There is...another matter?"

Naruto gulped. "Yes...?"

The Chieftain regarded him with his lone eye for a long piercing moment. Whatever he found there must've pleased him; because that mighty palm loosened just so.

"I place you in charge of my children, Naruto." Silas said. Raven squawked at his words, and was summarily ignored for her protest. "Guard them with your life...and keep them out of trouble."

Qrow shrugged. "So he's gonna be the boss while we're away? Fine by me."

Naruto flinched. "Qrow!"

"What?" came the yawn. "I'd rather follow you than my sister. You don't get stabby when you're mad."

Raven rammed an elbow into his side. Poor girl. She looked to be on the verge of an aneurysm.

"He is possessed of a cooler head than most." Silas agreed. "Trust your gut." he told him. "Follow your instincts and return to us."

"You still gonna be here when we return?" Raven challenged.

"Hrmph." Silas grinned then, and for a moment the years seemed to slip from him as he straightened his back. "I'm not so old that I can't defend my seat, girl." something that might have resembled a smile passed across his scarred face. "If you want it that badly, you'll have to take it from me." he gave them a nudge. "Now be off with you."

Raven flounced off and with a commiserating look, Qrow joined her.

Naruto trailed after them, his thoughts gone maudlin. This...didn't sit right with him, but Silas had a point. Nine in ten raids failed nowadays. Aura and Semblances were all well and good by themselves, but sadly the fact remained that the Tribe lacked capable warriors. No one knew how to unlock Aura through anything other than sheer trauma and few wanted to risk death for a power boost. The same could be said of Semblances; hells, he'd not even unlocked his yet. No, huntsman training prevailed in the face of the untrained masses every time. numbers

Still, just...walk into Beacon?

It sounded so easy. It couldn't possibly work.

The blond blew out a sigh. Why did he have a feeling it would?

He eyed the bullhead warily as he stepped out of the tent. Huh. He'd never been in one of those before. How bad could it be?


(.0.0.0.)


Trust your gut, Silas said. Follow your instincts, he said.

Easier said than done, Naruto said! Because now, his guts -along with a good bit of his breakfast!- were currently sprawled all over the floor of the bullhead. He tried to stand, tried to move, but his stomach clenched and a fresh bout of weakness sent him crashing back into hi seat. Every bout of turbulence sent the contents of his stomach roiling like a storm-tossed sea, much to the displeasure of his fellow passengers. Motion sickness. Apparently that was a thing. Who knew? Not he, certainly. If he had, he never would have set foot on this cursed metal bird! Men were meant to walk, not fly!

"Oh gods, the smell!" Raven howled and clutched at her nose. "Is that your semblance or something?!"

"Gotta be." Qrow croaked, trying to huddle into a corner.

"Shaddap...kill you...

Naruto tried to speak, only for his stomach to heave yet again. No, it wasn't a freakin' semblance! He just got air sick. Unfortunately that left it in here with them. The pilot had long since given up on the three of them; Silas's lien may have bought his silence, it did not, however, buy his cooperation. Not in this. He'd sealed the doors to keep the stench out of his cockpit. In that, he had a reprieve. He could lock himself away from the worst of the stench. His fellow passengers could not. Raven and Qrow were wise enough to tuck their legs up into their chests to save their boots, but his? Nope. Lost cause. He'd have to burn them. Thankfully he'd packed a spare...

"Just how much did you ear this morning?!" Raven snarled at him. "You should be running on empty by now!"

Naruto turned towards her to offer a rebuttal. Instead, his cheeks bulged again. "Urp."

Raven turned pale, absolutely ghost white. "No! Don't you dare!"

The last of his breakfast betrayed him in a rush of green.

She howled all the way to their destination.


(.0.0.0.)


If the city of Vale was a castle, then Beacon was an absolute fortress.

That was the only moniker Naruto could think to give it as he stumbled off the airship. Note to self. Airships were worse than bullheads. He'd scarcely had time to recover from the first before Raven and Qrow pushed him into the second. And wouldn't you know it, now that his stomach wasn't actively trying to commit seppuku on him, he found he could actually appreciate the scenery.

"Well," he muttered to himself as he stared up at it. "Hot damn."

Judging by Raven's silence and Qrow's low whistle, the twins agreed with his statement. Even from a distance it reminded of a castle from some lost fable; something out of myth and legend.

Grand archways and huge pillars all, the architecture alone brought the shoddy huts of the Tribe to shame. Mighty spires stretched toward the clouds, as if to pierce the very heavens themselves. A looming tower rose in the distance, taller than all the rest. The sight of it should have filled him with dread. Oddly enough, it did. He'd never seen Beacon before but something about it felt...good. Right. As if he were meant to be here. Strange. He pushed the feeling aside and took the lead, drinking liberally from a bottle of water to wash the foul taste out of his mouth.

"So...we're here." he declared, eyeing the crowds spilling around them. "Guess we just walk in?"

"Seems like it, vomit boy."

Naruto twitched. "Do not. Call me. That."

Raven's grin grew to shit-eating proportions. "Whyever not?"

Naruto's twitch became a spasm. With a physical force of will, he peeled his finger's from Prophecy's hilt and willed himself to keep walking. She was never going to let him live this down. Not after he'd ruined her boots on their last ride. He just knew it. Fine. She could be that way. He'd get her back for this later. There would be vengeance for this! A reckoning like no other!

"That's the plan." Qrow shrugged helplessly, dodging a girl in a white cloak as she hurtled past. "I don't like it either."

Naruto muttered an apology as an absolute giant of a man skirted the. "If someone tries to stop us...

Raven nudged aside someone with dark hair and striking golden eyes. "Then we stop them."

"Sure." Naruto threw his arms into the air as he lengthened his stride, walking ahead of them and the crowd alike. "Simple enough. I bow before your wisdom, oh great one."

"As you should."

A muscle jumped in his jaw. "Sarcasm, Raven. Learn it."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "Honestly, you two. Just get a room already. Preferably one far, far away from me."

Red eyes narrowed. Blue orbs absolutely twitched. With his back turned, Qrow never realized his peril. He never saw them nod. Never noticed them shake hands and set aside their spite. Never felt the breeze on the back of his neck as they wound up. By the time he did? Really, it was just plain bad luck on his part...oh. Wait.

WHAM!

A pair of clenched fists smacked into the back of his head and drove him facefirst into the street, leaving a decidedly Qrow-shaped impression behind. Aura sparked pitifully as he clawed himself out of it. Unable to stay mad at his old friend for long, Naruto found himself hauling him up.

"Alright. I deserved that. Stupid Semblance." Qrow sulked. "Damn thing's working overtime today...

"I say!" A new voice called out behind them. "Just where do you three think you're going?"

Raven swore softly. "Speaking of which...

Naruto turned toward it and found himself fighting down a frown as he beheld a mass of red, black and grey hastening their way. In that order. The man, while not necessarily old, reminded him of a fat walrus. Smelled like one, too. Clad in a double-breasted burgundy suit with gold piping and buttons. He wore dark pants tucked into olive boots, similar in appearance and construction to something cavalry might wear. Oh gods, the stench! All old leather and aftershave with busy brows and a magnificent mustache to match. Birds could nest in the damn thing!

"To Beacon, of course. Raven lifted her chin in open defiance. "We're hear for initiation."

"Are you now?" His bushy brow rose. "Well, you're certainly dressed for the part. But I don't recall seeing you on the list. I would knwo!" he boomed a laugh. "I've been looking at it for the last three hours."

So much for the forged transcripts.

Qrow stilled behind Naruto, even as Raven's mouth clicked open to challenge what had to be a teacher. Naruto felt the jaws of defeat closing around them. Thinking quickly he clamped a hand around her jaw and shoved himself forward before she could damn them further.

"We're something of a recent addition," he hastened to add. "And you are...?

"Peter Port, Remnant's finest huntsman at your service!" The man's belly shook as he laughed again. He winked at Raven. "Do try not to swoon, my dear."

She made a disgusted nose and head to be held back by her brother.

"I take it you were recommended by a teacher, then?" Port's gaze switched to Naruto, regarding him with sudden scrutiny. "It must have been recent indeed, to slip under my nose. I've eyes like a hawk, after all!"

"Yeah, one of the brass recommended us." Qrow, sensing his distress and anxious to help, only dug their hole deeper. "We

It took every fiber of Naruto's being not to round on him. Damnit, Qrow!

Raven made a muffled noise against his palm.

"Capital!" Peter pounced on it and fished his Scroll out with speed bellying his girth. "Who was it, then? Ozpin? Bart? Sapphire? Yin? I'll just call them and confirm. Can't be too careful these days with bandits about."

Naruto's tongue went dead and cold in his mouth. Blast it. He had them. Did he know? He couldn't. There as just no way. They'd been so careful! Now he had to give a name. Port would turn right around and call them and in doing so, damn them. His mind whirled, seeking an escape. Fight or flight warred within him. His hand moved.

"What's going on here?" a new voice called, stopping him short. "Why're ya messing with my students?"

All eyes turned as a woman with striking golden hair sauntered their way. Lilac orbs flashed from a pale face, framed by long hair that shone like the sun and a confident smile. Naruto threw a silent prayer to the Brother Gods for their intervention. Maybe this was bad luck. Maybe it wasn't. Didn't matter. Roll with it!

By contrast to Port, this woman seemed to thrive on the idea of style. That, and a myriad of his favorite colors. Black, orange, red and gold. Clad in a pleated black jacket that left her midriff exposed and a low cut crimson crop top with a spiraling red emblem on the left breast in black, she nevertheless cut an imposing figure. Her hips swayed with every step.

"Your students, you say?" Port's mustache twitched, hiding his smile. "Well, I suppose I have my answer then."

This strange newcomer wore a pair of golden, knee-high boots and orange over-the-knee socks, pushed up just below the knee. A blue bandanna is tied around her left knee, contrasting against an orange infinity scarf and black fingerless gloves. Each step lent her a confident swagger...among other things. Naruto felt his throat go dry. Good lord, you could stack drinks on those things. Her brow drew down for a moment as she regarded the three of them, eyes crinkling now in a slight smile. Once more, the unlikely trio exchanged a glance. Why was she sticking up for them? None dared speak the words aloud.

In the end, they didn't have to.

"Yeah, they're here on my recommendation, Port." she said, folding both arms before her bosom "Stop scarin' them already, will ya?"

"Oh! My mistake, then." Port pondered, scratching at his scalp. "Just like you to recruit off campus. Suppose it makes sense." He clapped Naruto on the back nearly knocking the air from his lungs. "Why didn't you say she brought you here, lad?!"

Qrow released a deep shuddering breath and nearly collapsed behind them.

Naruto coughed. "R-Right, well...

Raven grit her teeth.

"Our girl's been on quite the recruitment drive!" Port trampled over their relief with another laugh. "Why, you're the fifth group she's headhunted this year alone!"

"Don't mind them, they're shy." the stranger smirked. "We'll put them with the rest, then?"

Naruto and Raven exchanged a glance. "The rest..?"

"Quite so! Far be it from me to try and hold back the next aspiring generation of huntsmen." with one final slap on the back, the portly huntsman departed back the way he'd come, though not before firing one last parting shot. "Off you go, then! Don't want to be late now, do we?"

Naruto watched Port like a hawk the entire way. Only once he vanished into the building proper did he dare relax.

Sadly, it didn't end there.

"Well, that was close." The moment Port was gone, the strangely dressed woman rounded on them. A hand rose in a jaunty wave. "Long time no see, squirts. That's two you owe me for, now."

Naruto blinked rapidly. Recognition dawned.

"You!"

"Me!" the woman flashed them a cheeky thumbs up. "Wow, just look at ya! You little shits grew up fast!"

Qrow snarled. Raven swore a bloody streak. And Naruto? Naruto found himself looking at the same woman who had laid them low all those years ago. Older perhaps, but every bit as he remembered. She'd abandoned her mask and he barely recognized her without, but it was impossible to forget that voice. It had been burned into his brain. Now he saw her face, and something in him wilted. She looked remarkably like an older Raven...and didn't that paint a worrying picture? Was there some relation there? An older sibling? No, Silas didn't have anymore kids...right?

"What're you doing in Beacon?!" Qrow cried!

"I teach here." the woman planted a hand on her hip and flashed them a wink. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I won't spoil your test-

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

A black streak flew at her. Naruto and Qrow caught it in midair and wrangled to the floor. Raven tore and clawed at them, to no avail. Their grip was as iron. Good thing too, because she looked to be all of an instant from ripping her sword from its sheathe and doing something very foolish. It didn't help when her would-be victim regarded her with a scoff.

"Hotheaded as ever, I see."

Raven all but frothed at the mouth. "You dare...?!"

"Sure do." Blondie smacked her lips with a resounding pop. "You're a right piece of work, you know that?" she shook her head, sending the golden mane of her hair swaying from side to side. "And here I was hoping you would've cooled off by now. Guess not."

"Rae, not now!" Qrow hissed, pressing a hand down on her back. "Save it for later!"

His twin ignored him. She only had eyes for the smirking blond before them.

"I will kill you." she hissed, squirming in their grasp. "I will! I swear!"

The buxom blond dug a finger in one ear. "And...?"

"You humiliated me that day!" Raven bucked, thrashing in Made a fool of me! I'll never forgive you!"

"Tough. I don't want your forgiveness." Lilac eyes flashed into red as she planted an armored fists on one hips. The sight of her eyes alarmed Naruto. "Look at those two." she flicked a lazy finger toward Naruto and Qrow, noting their tense expressions. "I beat their asses just as badly and you don't see them haring off after me. They clearly got over it. Do the same. Let it go, birdbrain."

Raven hissed. "And if I don't...?"

A blond arched. "Then I call Port back and tell him I made a mistake."

"You wouldn't dare!"

The other brow rose to match it. "Try me, Raven."

...how do you know my name?"

Something dark flashed through those lilac eyes. "I know a lot of things. Don't feel like telling you."

Raven made a choking sound and redoubled her struggles with all the madness of a beowolf. When it became readily apparent that she wouldn't be able fight her way free of Qrow and Naruto together, she relented.

Only then did they dare let her up.

Naruto kept one hand on her shoulder, ready to reel her back if she tried to do anything foolish again. Her shoulder was rock hard under his grasp, all but vibrating with tension. She glared bloody red daggers at him from the corner of her eye, and wouldn't speak to either of them. Lovely. She was going to hold a grudge for this, he just knew it.

"Great!" The woman clapped. "That wasn't so hard, was it? We'll be fast friends in no time.

Was she patronizing them? Naruto couldn't be sure. "You gonna give us your name this time?" he asked.

"Nah, not my real one." Lilac eyes sparkled with fresh mirth. "Girl's gotta have a few secrets. For now, just call me...Yin."

That name was so obviously fake that Naruto couldn't even bring himself marshal a response to it. Perhaps that was for the best. Something told him not to pry. He couldn't well call her Goldilocks now, could he? His hands ground into fists at his side. What could he say to her? Should he even say anything at all? Why save them? If she'd held her tongue they would've been ejected from the school grounds; perhaps even thrown in jail for trying to scheme their way ino

In the end, he held his tongue.

"Good luck tomorrow~!" she sauntered away with a merry whistle. "Looking forward to seeing you in class. Oh." a pause followed as a lone violet eye peered over her shoulder. "Make sure you've got a half-decent landing strategy, too. Wouldn't want one of you to die. I'm pretty fond of existing."

Naruto blinked. "What was that?"

"Nopegoodluckbuh-bye!" Yin vanished in a golden streak before he could challenge her further.

In the ensuing silence that followed, Raven tore free of Naruto's grip.

He knew what was coming; sure enough, she rounded on him. Raven Branwen did not cry. She was far too proud to ever shed tears in public. But she looked hurt all the same, her eyes uncomfortably damp. Her lips made a thin line, hands balling furiously at her sides. For a moment he wondered if she would strike him. But she didn't. Instead she stepped back, crossed both arms and planted her feet.

"You betrayed me." the words were a hiss. "Both of you. I trusted you, and you turned on me."

"Had to do it." Qrow jammed both hands into his pockets, seeking warmth from the cold air. "You were gonna get us caught, Rae."

"She's the enemy!"

"Your enemy." Naruto stepped up beside the man he thought of as a brother, presenting a united front in the face of Raven's wrath. "For whatever reason, she didn't rat us out. She helped us."

"I don't care." she grit her teeth. "You made me look like a fool in front of her!"

Naruto slammed his forehead against hers. "Better than getting your ass beat black and blue!"

Red eyes flashed dangerously, but Naruto dare not relent. That was the thing about Raven. She respected strength above all else. Sentiment. Kindness? Charity? They meant little to her. If you weren't of the Tribe, then she'd not listen to you...unless you were strong enough to make her back down. Oh, she'd spit and hiss and curse, but she would yield, albeit begrudgingly. But he was of the Tribe, and held enough power to force her obedience if pressed. She knew that. So did he.

Sure enough, she wilted under his blazing gaze.

"I need to know that I can trust you; trust you to have my back." she murmured, glaring a hole into her boots. "Do you?"

Qrow groaned. "Not this shit again, Rae-

"QUIET!" She absolutely hissed at Qrow. "This isn't about you!"

No. It was about him, wasn't it? Naruto felt his scowl slip. Just a little. Just a touch. For all her claims of strength, Raven wasn't strong of heart. Her loss all those years ago had cast a shadow of doubt over her soul. She acted fierce to cover it up, while in truth? She was afraid. Not solely of defeat, but death. Betrayal. She wasn't a coward, and hopefully never would be, but she still had the potential to go the wrong way if pressed. Cold crimson eyes met his, demanding an answer. And what could he give her but the truth?

His scowl softened. "Of course I have your back."

"Always?" she whispered. "Here and beyond?"

"Yup." he clapped her on the shoulder.

"Then let me be leader!"

"Nice try. Cut the crap." Naruto slashed a hand through the air to silence her. "You want to fight her again that badly," he shrugged as she stepped back, "Go ahead. But do it later. On our terms. Not hers."

Red eyes fluttered in a rapid blink. "Are you suggesting I wait until we graduate? Until we can prepare?"

"Four years is a long time." Qrow nodded "She's older than us. She'll plateau."

"And we'll be stronger!" She clenched a fist in realization. "Of course!"

"Right...

Naruto almost pitied her. Was that what she believed? Yin had a head start on them; more than a decade at that, and that was being generous. It would take years to close the gap. Four might not be enough. And if he was honest, he wasn't sure he supported killing Yin. Not now. She'd helped them. For reasons he didn't understand, but there could be no denying she had plucked them out of a difficult situation. There was a mystery here, one he was determined to get to the bottom of. But for now, Raven could believe what she wanted. What could possibly come of it?

A bell tolled nearby.

"We should get going. Any longer than this and we really will be late."

They followed a few stragglers and found the main grounds in short order after that; from there they followed the crowd and tried to look like they belonged here. Easier said than done. Putting their predicament with Port aside, their rough appearance and dark clothes drew attention to them almost immediately. Whispers arose. Naruto and Qrow ignored them. Raven snapped at anyone who came close. Still, no one challenged them again, and Naruto almost dared to hope that would be the end of things.

It was not to be.

"Blast it!" Someone swore behind them. "Not again!"

Naruto craned his neck in the direction of said voice. He didn't like what he found there. Whoever they were, they sounded weak. By rights he should've ignored them. They weren't hear to make friends. Their goal was all that mattered. After the last close call, they needed to stay low; drawing attention to themselves? Bad idea. Worst idea.

His legs betrayed him.

Raven grabbed at his wrist.

"Where are you going? her words were a hiss.

Naruto tore his arm free and jogged toward the sound.

"I'll just be a moment." he shouted over one shoulder. "Call me on your scroll if you need me!"


(.0.0.0.)


Naruto found the source of the commotion in relatively short order.

Not at all difficult, that.

As he raced back the way he'd come, he found a frail-looking girl clad in a blue-white combat dress fussing over a disaster zone. She appeared to grappling with a heavy silver case of some sort; even from this distance he could tell it was far heavier than she. Naruto winced as he heard her strain at it. Many more such cases lay behind her, scattered around an upturned silver trolley that looked to have seen better days. Oddly enough, each case bore a strange snowflake symbol. He failed to recognize that, too.

Whoever she was, she looked to be having a bad time. "Move...damn...you...!"

Slim arms strained at her briefcase as her feet ground against to the floor, to no avail.

As he approached, Naruto slowed his pace and took a moment to compose himself. He found watched her struggle for a moment. Then another. This...this was honestly adorable.

With a shake of his head, he placed one hand to the side of his face and he called out. "Hey! Need some help?"

She rounded on him with a cry and he froze, captivated. Hair white as snow briefly shielded a startled face before the wind spun it away, revealing eyes of watery ice. She looked...well, not so much lost as pitiful. Like a little field mouse. Unsurprising, given she looked to a bit of a lightweight herself. For all his attempts to harden it, Naruto felt his heart go out to her.

"Oh!" She jolted, seeing him at last. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

"Did something happen here?"

"Someone knocked over my trolley and ruined my luggage." she sniffled. "They didn't even stop to help me, and the casing cracked!" a heel stomped down with indignant rage. "Blasted gravity dust! I can't move any of this now that it's been activated!"

"Dust, eh?"

On a whim, Naruto hefted the nearest case and opened it. An array of dust crystals awaited him within. Several were cracked. Curious. Why not just refine it? Dust was volatile in its unrefined state.

The girl balked at him. "I couldn't budge that. Just how strong are you?"

"Strong enough." In short order he did away with the ruined crystals, righted the trolley, and stacked the cases back in what he hoped was an orderly fashion. "Still, this is a lot of dust."

"Yes." She huffed. "My weapon requires it."

Weapon? What weapon? He saw no such weapon anywhere on her person. Only a curiously large silver bangle on her wrist, coupled with. Mechashift, then? What could it be? He wanted to ask, but held himself back. Now wasn't the time to geek out over someone's weapon. He'd done what he came here to do. Only...

"I didn't get your name."

Her lips pursed in a grimace.

...Willow." she whispered. "Willow Schnee."

Had he heard that somewhere before? Eh, probably not important.

"Schnee, eh? Nice name." He turned to leave. "Be seeing you around. Good luck!"

"W-Wait!"

He rounded on her and found pale blue eyes not unlike his own fluttering in a baffled blink. Her lips parted. Closed. Parted yet again. An alarm went off in the back of Naruto's head. Why wasn't she moving? Had he gone and broken her somehow? You were supposed to be polite to someone when you first met them, weren't you? And yet the girl kept looking at him. Her lower lip trembled. A delicate hand rose, hiding her mouth from view.

"You don't know who I am?"

"Um...no?" Now it was his turn to blink. "Should I?"

Was this a cultural thing? He'd never left the Tribe before. Of course he wouldn't know some random person in vale. But he'd read plenty of books! He was fairly certain how an encounter between two strangers was meant to go. Well, relatively. Fiction could only carry you so far, after all. Surely all those novels wouldn't lead him astray?

"Its nothing." she smiled softly, looking quite relieved for reasons he again failed to understand. "Just call me Willow. And who might you be?"

Right, right. His books had told him what to do next. He remembered that much. The next step was abundantly clear to him.

"Naruto." Bending down, he took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of her palm. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her pale face burned a fascinating shade of red. Her lips parted...

"What's going on here?!" someone cried.

...and someone ruined the moment.

Naruto rolled his eyes and rounded on the sound. Another girl. Of course it was.

This one immediately proved herself the polar opposite of Willow; if only because she moved with poise and purpose. She knew she belonged here. She wore a pale blue long-sleeved blouse for the winter months, but it was from there that her outfit truly deviated from the norm. Her lower body was sheathed in a black high-waist pencil skirt bearing bronze buttons and black-brown stockings alongside matching bronze heels. Sage above, she even had a cape. An honest-to-goodness came! Damn thing was purple!

Piercing green eyes blazed into his, framed by golden hair and a fearsome scowl.

But really, a pencil skirt? Really? What kind of aspiring huntress wore that? For crying out loud, he was beginning to think every woman in Beacon -aspiring student or otherwise!- was a supermodel or something. Yin and these two had already reinforced that opinion beyond doubt.

She took one look at him and Willow, holding hands, and started sputtering. "Unhand her at once, you ruffian!"

Any points for style she might have gained were instantly lost with those words.

"Wait, no!" Willow yanked her hand away. "Its not what it looks like!"

"Is that so?" the blond "It looks like he was harming you."

"He wasn't!" The Schnee bristled. "Stop!"

"Aren't we overreacting a little...?"

"And who are you?" the newcomer rounded on him with a scoff.

Naruto's first instinct was to speak his mind; to snap at this prissy prude and tell her just where she could shove her opinion. She struck him as rude, standoffish, someone itching for a fight where none was to be had. Not even a weapon on her, at least, not one he could see. With a supreme effort of will he reeled himself back and forced a smile to his face. When it doubt, kill them with kindness.

"The name's Naruto." he offered her his hand. "Pleased to meet you. I hope we can be friends."

"Friends?" she turned up her nose at him. "With a brute like you?"

Somewhere deep inside his soul, a crimson eye opened.

Must. Not. Kill.

Naruto slammed a lid on it and choked down the instinctive urge of anger. On a certain level he knew why everyone was so wary of him. He was rough. he looked rough. His clothes were rough, just like Raven and Qrow's were. That wasn't an excuse for folks to run around calling him a miscreant and a ruffian. But he refused to rise to the bait. He had a purpose here, one not served by snapping at anyone who looked at him funny.

"Friends are just people you haven't met yet." His smile strained, but he refused to let it shatter. He dare not.

The blond girl blinked back at him, green eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "That's nonsense."

"Nah." Naruto beamed. "Nonsense would be fighting for no reason. What's your name?"

The soon-to-be student considered his outstretched hand for a long moment.

Reluctantly, she reached out and accepted it, her palm clasping his.

"Glynda." she said at last. "My name is Glynda."

"Glynda, was it? Nice. You can leave now."

Willow butted into Glynda's side with surprising force, causing his fellow blond to stagger and lose hold of his hand.

"Excuse me?!" she balked. "What was that for?"

"Oh my, are you that dense?" Willow made of show of inspecting her nails. "Can't you see you're being a bother? I didn't ask for you to come over here."

"I was trying to help you!"

The temperature dropped several degrees. "I didn't want your help!"

"Typical Schnee arrogance." Glynda clicked her tongue. "I should've know better."

"Why you...?!" It was the wrong thing to say. The air around them? Yeah, it was arctic now. "You...uptight hussy! I saw him first!"

Glynda whipped around to glare green daggers at Willow; only for the Schnee to puff out her chest and stand her ground. Sparks skittered between their eyes and their mirrored expressions set off another alarm in the back of Naruto's head. Nope. He knew that look far too well. It was the same Raven wore when she was about to get extra bitchy with him about one thing or another. Double nope. Glynda and Willow were smiling now, yet they looked fit to kill each other. Triple Nope! He wasn't having any of this.

His scroll vibrated. Naruto snatched at it like a lifeline and read the message within.

"Where are you? We're in the main hall."

Thank the gods. Time to go!

"Right then." he said to no one in particular. "I'll...see you later."

With a long-suffering sigh, the traveler tossed his head and marched forward, determined to gains some distance while he could. It was too much to hope Willow and Glynda wouldn't follow. They struck him as the sort to hold a grudge. Sure enough, their argument lasted just long enough for them to realize Rapid footfalls in his direction only served to cement his suspicions. He didn't fail to notice the two of them trailing in his wake.

"Stop following us!" Willow spat.

"I beg your pardon?! You're the one following me! Go away!"

They weren't fighting over him, he theorized. No. Surely not. They couldn't be. He'd barely said so much as two sentences to the both of them. Tch. Girls were weird. He didn't understand Raven and he certainly couldn't comprehend these two. He suspected he wouldn't anytime soon. Somewhere behind him, he heard a weapon being drawn, followed by the telltale crackle of a Dust discharge. Ah. It had come to blows, then. Don't look back, Naruto. he told himself. They'll just draw you into it.

"Just my luck." Naruto muttered, hastening his pace. "This is what I get for being a nice guy...

And from what seemed a single, innocuous meeting...

...from a simple exchange between strangers...

...the wheel of fate shattered...

...and destiny changed.

A/N: Aaaaaand there we go. Beacon ahoy!

I have a team pairing in mind, but I'm open to suggestions. This is your one and ONLY chance to vote via review...then read the previews below.

As stated, Naruto's presence here has caused MASSIVE ripples in the timeline. Don't believe me? Check out the previews below. They're going to blow your socks off, I can promise that. I'll not say anymore on that front, if only because I don't want to spoil anything. Once more! Read those previews at your own risk!

Had a lot of ground to cover, hopefully folks appreciate that.

You might be surprised by the team name I'm going for here. Nope! Not saying it!

So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review Would You Kindly? Oh, and before I forget. One last time!

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

SPOILERS BELOW!

BEWARE!

(Preview)

"So nice to meet you~!"

Kali reeled him back by the ear.

"Don't mind him, he's a bit of a spaz. Come along, Tyrian. We still need to find Ghira...

"As my queen commands~!"

Naruto frowned after the aspiring hunters, recalling prophecy he'd been told so long ago. "That's gotta be the scorpion...?


Raven flung up her arms. "They're all mad, the lot of them!"

Summer whined. "I'm not that bad...


Naruto felt his jaw click open.

Holy hell this girl was tall. Nearly as tall as him, even. Rich ebony hair ran down her back in curly ringlets, framing a tan face from which eyes of midnight grey shone. A mighty golden gauntlet sheathed her right hand, sparkling with strange gems near the knuckles and center. As he looked on she finished attaching it to her arm and slammed her locker shut.

"Really, Hazel? You don't need to keep an eye on me-oh." she blinked as she saw him. "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"And you are...?"

She grinned then, a smile so full of life and light that Naruto couldn't help but lower his guard.

"Gretchen Rainart." she clasped him by the arm. "Nice to meet you! Who's your friend?"

Half a pace behind him, Qrow swooned. "I think I'm in love."


"Ready! Set! Go!"

The pad beneath his feet flung him forward. Naruto shot into the air with a whoop. This was what he lived for. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

Everything went wrong.


The girl blinked. Naruto blinked back. His shoulders slumped. Eye contact. Blast it.

"So I guess that makes us partners, then?"

She nodded. "I suppose so."

R&R~!