Mantle – Airship over Atlas

Naruto had to admit, when he'd decided to venture to Atlas he hadn't expected he'd be going there in style. Then again, considering he was traveling with an Atlas military Specialist whose stiff, militaristic demeanor wasn't something she apparently turned off ever, it was certainly not his first choice when it came to travel options. Honestly, he'd rather deal with Maria again, knowing he'd be more prepared to handle that old woman than the one who currently sat across from him.

Shortly after his actions at the port town which ensured no collateral damage had been caused by the Grimm, Specialist Winter Schnee had informed him his actions, once reported to her father, had intrigued the man enough that he wanted to meet with and possibly repay him for his actions. While Naruto had attempted to respectfully decline, the way Winter had looked at him and the tone she used when speaking with him implied he didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Soon after his few possessions were collected and stowed aboard her personal airship and he was given a seat next to the woman on board. Aside from Hyorinmaru, which he kept on his person at all times, he didn't have access to any of his personal possessions. It made him a little nervous with only the tight hold he kept on his katana to keep him from losing himself to paranoia.

"So, Naruto was it? Where are you from?" Winter suddenly asked, attempting to make some conversation during the trip.

"Oh, uh, a small village in Mistral," he replied.

His time amongst Raven's tribe had taught him that any mention of his village Konoha, or the fact that they were shinobi, would either be met with confused stares or people looking at him like he had a few screws lose. Alternatively, he knew better than to mention anything about being sheltered by bandits for a few years. From all the books he'd read regarding Atlas and its exploits, their impressive military power was something which stuck out and told him that mentioning people who made a living by raiding nearby villages was probably a bad idea.

"I see. Where were you trained? I can't say that I've ever seen abilities such as yours and certainly not from something as unassuming as a katana," Winter said, patting her own saber absentmindedly as she spoke.

"I'm self-taught. We didn't have a formal school where I was from. You simply had to learn to survive."

"Interesting," she said, eyeing him suspiciously. "And just where did you come across such a unique sword? I don't mean to pry but it seems far beyond your capabilities to have had it commissioned or have created it yourself."

"It's a family heirloom. Had it as long as I can remember," he replied. That was as truthful as he could be considering he'd woken up clutching the damn thing.

"So it was passed down to you by your parents?" she inquired.

"Something like that," he said. "My parents died not long after I was born. If they knew anything about the origins of my katana, they passed before they could share that with me.

"Oh, I see," she said, her tone becoming noticeably less intense. "My apologies, I didn't mean to open old wounds," she replied.

"Don't worry about it. It's not something I dwell on much. I simply focus on achieving my goals and becoming someone the people of my village can respect."

"That is a noble venture," she replied, the ghost of a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Ma'am, we're coming up on Atlas," the pilot informed them from the cockpit.

"Have you ever seen the city?" Winter asked.

"No, first time actually," he admitted.

"Then you'll want to look out that porthole. It's quite a sight or so I've been told."

Naruto wasn't quite sure what she meant by that comment but he did as he was told regardless. For a moment his view was obscured by the clouds and Naruto couldn't see a thing. However, as his vision cleared, his mouth gaped open at the sight that greeted him. Atlas, as it would appear, was one city split into two separate locations. On the ground, settled between a large body of water and a mountain range, was a large city which no doubt began as the origins of Atlas in the early days of Mantle. However, floating several feet above it, situated just beneath the clouds, was a separate landmass. Winter wasn't kidding, Atlas was quite a sight to behold, especially because Naruto had never seen anything quite like it. A city, with a landmass completely separate from the other, attached to the lower landmass via a series of cables and a singular pole that ran their length separating the two. He could only wonder how they'd managed such a marvel, not to mention how they maintained it in the first place. Whatever it was had to be powerful, otherwise it could spell the end for the city entirely should its floating half fall into disrepair.

"Incredible," he breathed.

"Indeed, even when I was a child I couldn't help but marvel at the sight," winter admitted. "Unfortunately, it has since lost its luster."

"You grew up in Atlas?" he asked.

"Yes, I was born and raised in the upper quarter," she replied.

Naruto looked back out the porthole, looking to the city below and then the portion that floated above, putting two and two together.

"Wait, you used to live there?" he asked, pointing to the floating island.

"Of course, I am a Schnee after all," she replied with a quirked eyebrow.

"Sorry, I didn't want to assume," he said, too embarrassed to admit he didn't know much about the Schnee family. "Still, it seems a bit of a waist to make something like that simply to have a city exclusively for the upper crust."

"To be honest, that was never its initial intention," Winter replied. "When it was first built, it was an experimental cityscape designed to offer the greatest protection from the Grimm. By creating a space that couldn't be accessed by any land based Grimm and instead limiting the threats to more airborne varieties such as Nevermore and Gryphons, we would be able to focus more on the city defenses and even have military assets that were capable of defending against a singular type of threat."

"I'm guessing that's not how things worked out, though," Naruto inserted.

"You'd be right. While the city is a technological marvel, the vast amounts of Dust required to maintain the machines which enable the city to float at such a high altitude was something that couldn't be duplicated for multiple instillations. Even this singular one is unique as the Dust provided for it comes exclusively from the Schnee Dust Company, ensuring my father has a great deal of power and sway in Atlas and could very well be the deciding factor of whether the city continues to float or comes crashing down on the citizens below."

"He can't or at least I'd hope he wouldn't be so heartless," Naruto protested.

"Sadly that's something I can't say for sure. While I'd like to say my father isn't the kind of man who'd allow his pride to determine whether the city gets the Dust required to maintain its position, he's surprised me on so many occasions in the past that the only reason I can fathom he'd have for allowing it to remain is the simple fact that his home resides there and it would be too much effort to have everything transported elsewhere."

"I see," Naruto replied, gazing back at the structure with a great less enthusiasm as before. "And this is the man who wants to reward me for protecting an important port city?"

"Indeed so I'd suggest being on your best behavior. He is a very prideful man and someone who easily takes offense so watch what you say."

"I understand," Naruto replied.

Indeed, Winter's warning did not fall on deaf ears. Naruto had, in the past, performed missions and been around people of great political status. Aside from Saukra's threats to pummel him into paste should he act out and say something rude to their host, he'd found it increasingly difficult to stomach the pompous attitudes of those who considered themselves to be of a higher class or born into a better family than they. He'd never understood how such people could exist. As far as he was concerned, one's family had nothing to do with your status in life. Life in Konoha had revolved about your abilities as a shinobi and the respect you received from your fellow comrades. His dream had always been to become the village Hokage, the village leader which meant he would be in a position where he was the most respected and revered among everyone not simply due to his birth but due to his skill. The fact that he was about to be hosted by someone like that, not to mention reside for a time in a city that was the very epitome of their egotistical philosophy, wasn't something that sat well with him but which he nonetheless began mentally preparing himself for. Hopefully he wouldn't be here very long and he could get on with his journey.

/-/

The airship settled gently on the ground, Winter standing tall and erect as she waited for the ramp to lower and allow her to dismount. Naruto stood loosely next to her, wondering to himself what he should expect. Needless to say it came as a major surprise to the young man when the ramp lowered and he was greeted by the sight of two lines of security guards, all of whom worked for the SDC if the snowflake Emblem emblazoned over their heart was any indication. Their armor, a mixture of sky blue and pristine white, almost blended in with the white background of the world around them. It really didn't surprise Naruto that, even at this height there would be snow covering everything. While he was sure the people of Atlas had managed to figure out how to prevent it from accumulating so quickly, he simply figured they'd learned to deal with it, instead finding ways to make it work with the overall aesthetic of the city.

He followed Winter down as the guards made a quick, synchronized maneuver that brought them all to attention. They remained as such until the two of them reached a limousine that had been sent for them with Naruto having a bit of a struggle as he tried to slip in easily with Hyorinmaru still attached to his hip. Winter had managed to do it with her saber, making the action look easy and seamless. He looked like a complete idiot and, after a few moments of fumbling, gave up and laid his sword across his lap as he took a seat opposite the Specialist. As soon as they were comfortable they were moving again, the airstrip quickly disappearing from their view as they made their way into the city proper.

Looking out the window, Naruto could see from the buildings and the people walking the streets that this was a culture completely different from his own. The clothes looked expensive as hell, with many of them seeming to almost be inlaid with some measure of gold or silver in the fabric. Every woman was decked out with some sort of jewels that must have a cost a fortune and they walked in a manner that seemed to say they owned the very ground they trod on. It made him feel uncomfortable just watching them, knowing all too well that, if he were to step foot out there dressed as he was, they'd no doubt give him looks that suggested they thought he might be harboring some sort of terminal disease. He was thankful then to be inside a limo with tinted windows, ensuring he could see them perfectly but not the other way around.

"There are some things you should know before you meet my father," Winter said, garnering his attention. "My father is a very wealthy and powerful man. He holds a great deal of influence not only here in Atlas but in many other parts of Remnant. When you meet him, though he'll be cordial with you, you may feel that he's looking down on you."

"Because he is," Naruto concluded, catching Winter off guard. "Don't worry, I know better than to act out. Best thing for me is to simply stay out of his way and take everything he says with a grain of salt, am I right?"

"Indeed," she said, quickly regaining her composure. "You'll be expected to meet with him, receive his thanks as well as a reward, and attend an after party he'll be hosting. Don't worry, you won't be expected to mingle with anyone. He'll politely mention your contribution to our family but aside from that he'll expect nothing else. We'll also see to providing you with a suit to wear to the occasion."

"I understand," Naruto replied, returning his gaze to the world outside.

"It's a depressing sight, isn't it?" Winter asked, her question causing Naruto to glance her way in confusion. "I grew up in this place and yet, despite all that time walking amongst them, I never once felt like I belonged. There was a certain perspective you had to have to walk amongst these people. I never had it and frankly the price to attain their acceptance always seemed too high to me."

She glanced over at Naruto and started chuckling softly to herself once she saw his expression.

"My apologies, I suppose I was feeling a bit melancholy. I wouldn't expect for you to know what it feels like to grow up the way I did. If there is one thing I admired about the cultures outside of Atlas it was how much more honest people were about themselves and each other."

"Actually, I know all too well what you mean," Naruto replied, eliciting a look of surprise from her. "Where I grew up, due to the circumstances surrounding my birth, I was considered an outcast by my village. I never knew my parents and it would be years before I started finding pieces of the actual truth."

"My apologies, I had no idea," Winter said.

"Don't worry about it. I know they sometimes say that ignorance is bliss but, for me, that never felt right. I'd rather know the full truth, regardless of how bad it may be, than be kept in the dark all my life," he replied.

"I agree," Winter said, a small smirk gracing her lips.

Before long the limo reached its destination, entering through a pair of large, white gates marked with a large W atop them. Naruto gazed out his window at the immaculate shrubbery, lawn and trees that lay on the grounds. It was a work of art, by any definition, and certainly one that must have cost a fortune to maintain. The path they were on was made of white marble stones, many of which crunched beneath the weight of their ride as they were propelled to the entrance of the mansion. As it slowed to their destination, Naruto could see another fleet people, this time servants, lining the path up towards the doors of the large building. He was beginning to see a pattern, something which didn't sit well with him.

As soon as the limo stopped, Winter made her way out with Naruto following close behind. The servants, who had been standing tall and erect, bowed slightly as she made her way down the path towards the door. Naruto couldn't help but gaze at the numerous men and women who lined the path, each of them decked out in a uniform of sky blue and white with the Schnee family crest emblazed over their hearts. It was something he figured he'd be see a great deal of during his time here. No doubt the Schnee family made sure everything they produced had their family crest on it. Come to think of it, would that also extend to toilet paper? He thought about it, picturing sky blue toilet paper with a white snowflake on each individual square. He chuckled at the image but quickly composed himself when Winter glanced back at him to see what he'd found so amusing.

"Winter, it's so good to see you," a man said as they approached the mansion.

"You as well Klein," Winter said as she gave the man a hug.

Naruto watched as she embraced a man with a light brown mustache and hair, much of which had migrated to the outer edges of his head. While he would have thought the man was her father, the way she acted around him, not to mention his uniform, told him he was wrong. The man was no doubt one of the many butlers her family employed and obviously someone very close to Winter. He was certainly someone he could trust as her unhesitant willingness to hug him, an act that seemed completely foreign for the militaristic woman, was no doubt steeped in years of trust and loyalty he'd earned from her.

"Uzumaki Naruto, allow me to introduce Klein. He's the head butler of my father's estate. Should you need anything just find Klein and he'll give you all the assistance that you require."

"Good to know. Nice to meet you Klein," Naruto said, accepting the man's offer to shake hands.

"You as well master Uzumaki. Don't worry, Winter informed me of you prior to her arrival along with you measurements," he said with a wink.

"My measurements?" he asked, more disturbed by that small bit of information than the fact that the man already knew his name.

"For your suit. The one you'll be wearing at this evening gala," he informed him.

"Oh," he said, giving Winter an uneasy look as he contemplated how she'd managed to get those.

"Please follow me. Your father is already awaiting you in his study."

Naruto soon realized that, just as the grounds of the mansion were a sight to behold, so too were the halls housed within. The floors and walls were spotless, made from something that looked a great deal like marble. The theme of sky blue and white continued with most of the walls either being taken up by windows, tapestries, or expensive paintings. Occasionally they'd pass a large open room where he would see a massive statue erected within or several musical instruments, many of which Naruto wasn't aware of the name of. Only once did he see a family portrait depicting the whole of the Schnee family. While many others he'd seen in the past all contained smiling faces, only the young boy seated on his mother's lap held a smile, no doubt Winter's younger brother. All the woman held frown's while their father had a more serious expression on his face. It was very telling of the state of affairs in their household.

"One moment please," Klein said as they stood outside a large oaken door.

Klein knocked a couple times before entering. There was some muffled conversation from inside before he returned, motioning for them to follow him inside. As soon as they entered, Naruto was struck by how different the room was from the rest of the mansion. Both sides of the room had been converted into bookshelves from which not only books sat but various trinkets and awards. A couch sat across from a pair of arm chairs with a table in the middle upon which he could see a chess board and a couple glasses next to a much larger one containing some dark amber liquid. Winter's father sat behind his desk, his white hair and mustache a near identical match to his daughter's though the large portrait that sat on the wall behind him showed he'd looked much different in his younger days. The fact that the man had a portrait of "himself" was a bit disconcerting for him, especially considering the man's poor reputation outside of Atlas.

"Aww, so this is the young man I have to thank for protecting our assets," he said, walking around his desk to shake Naruto's hand.

"I did what I could. Your daughter, along with her forces, did the heavy lifting. I mostly kept the Grimm at bay for a while," he replied, shaking the hand that was offered.

"Skilled and humble, very noble attributes. Well, all things considered, your actions have won you my respect as well as my admiration. I'd like you to be our guest of honor this evening. We'll be holding a small gala among which will have many of Atlas' most influential families and politician's in attendance."

"I'd be honored to sir," he replied, recalling how Winter had stated he wouldn't have much choice in the matter otherwise.

"Excellent. I've had Klein set a room aside for you to rest and refresh yourself in preparation for this evening. I'll have you go with him. Your suit should be arriving shortly as well."

At this Klein reappeared, gesturing for him to follow. Naruto did so, eager to leave the man's presence and a little disappointed to see that Winter had left as well, leaving him all by his lonesome. It didn't take long for them to reach his room, a small guest room as Klein informed him. As soon as he opened the door Naruto wondered if the man had been mistaken. Needless to say, while it may have been humble by their standards, everything inside looked so expensive he was afraid to touch anything for fear it might cost him an arm and a leg. Everything from the bedsheets, the dresser, the desk, the chairs, and even the window shades were stylized in the Schnee's signature look. He could feel the wealth radiating off of everything.

"We'll have your suit ready for you shortly. I'll make sure to knock a few times to alert you to my presence."

"Thanks," he managed to say before the door shut.

Left all to himself, Naruto could only think of doing one thing. Finding a comfortable area in the room, far from any of the furniture, he settled himself down, placing Hyorinmaru in his lap as he began to meditate. With practiced ease he slipped from the conscious world, feeling it dissipate around him as it was replaced by the white landscape of Hyorinmaru's. He almost laughed, finding it somewhat amusing that, while his mind was no longer in Atlas the view hadn't changed from his current lodgings. Still, he needed only to gaze upon the floating form of the Ice Dragon as well as the relaxed form of Kurama, the Nine Tailed fox demon.

"So, guys, what do you think?"

"Hmph, what do we care about the business of mortals?" Kurama asked, much to Naruto's annoyance.

"He has a point, Naruto. Whatever business you conduct with these men is yours and yours alone to worry about. We are merely along for the ride, helping you to achieve your goals where we can," Hyorinmaru added.

"I understand that but I'm serious here. I need your advice. Jacques Schnee is a powerful man and the people I'll be meeting at this gala or whatever will no doubt be similar. I need to know who I can trust. I don't want to throw my lot in with just anyone."

"That is a fair point and it is wise that you would place your faith in our judgement," Hyorinmaru replied thoughtfully. "His daughter, Winter, is certainly one with a noble soul. You would do well to count her among your friends. Her father is decidedly less so. I don't sense much good coming from him."

"It would certainly be easier for us to judge the others once you're around them. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for anyone of interest at this party of theirs but don't expect me to be constantly advising you on who to rub elbows with and who to avoid. I'll let you know who I like and when I remain silent that should let you know who's not worth our time," Kurama stated.

"Indeed."

"Alright then. Thanks for your help. I'll make sure to keep your interests in mind. Hopefully we can find some powerful friends who can help us find a way back home."

/-/

Naruto tugged at his suit collar, feeling like the damn thing was attempting to strangle him to death. He felt quite out of place, not only due to the suit he was forced to wear but also from the atmosphere of the gala itself. His only solace came in the fact that Jacques Schnee had allowed him to carry Hyorinmaru with him, often referring to him as he led him from one business partner to the next, introducing him before diving into a conversation that he'd long since given up on attempting to follow. All throughout the night he met one person after the next, plastering on a smile as he struggled to breath against his collar while Jacques and his friends chatted away about something he couldn't care less about. While he'd asked Kurama and Hyorinmaru to let him know about anyone of interest, he wasn't surprised that the two had remained silent all through the night. It had become painfully obvious to him that all these people cared about was their money, power, and how society saw them. He wanted to gage and, finding an opportunity to slip away, quickly excused himself to go outside and get some air.

The cool, crisp air greeted him, setting a definite shift in atmosphere with how warm it had been inside. Naruto welcomed the change, finally feeling like he could breathe now that he was away from everyone. While he'd planned to spend some time in Atlas, his time here all but confirmed that he'd be hopping a transport out of here soon, possibly towards Vale if he could manage. He felt very out of place, being passed around as a trophy for people to admire but otherwise not care about. It was disgusting to say the least. The sooner he could leave this place behind the better.

As he basked in the silence of the open balcony, his attention was drawn to the sound of someone cutting through the air. He looked around, confused, before his eyes were drawn to the courtyard down below. Down the flight of steps leading out into an open courtyard where a frozen fountain with a large snowflake set in the middle stood was a young girl with stark white hair. She was dressed it what appeared to be a skirt along with a short jacket and matching heeled boots. In her hand she grasped what appeared to a rapier with a larger cylinder attached to the handle. She moved back and forth, her actions appearing to almost flow like a dance, as she slashed at invisible opponents. He was mesmerized, so much so that he didn't realize he'd descended the stairs to watch her. As she felled another opponent, her gaze shifted to him, glaring balefully.

"Can I help you?" she snipped.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just impressed with you skills," he commented, receiving a questioning glare from the girl. "My name's Uzumaki Naruto, by the way."

"Oh, you're the boy who father claims saved the shipping port," she replied.

"Father? You mean Jacques?"

"Of course, you dolt, he's my father. I am Weiss Schnee, heriess of the Schnee Dust Company."

"Huh, Winter never mentioned she had a sister," he mused.

"You know my sister?" she asked, her expression softening from her surprise.

"Yea, she gave me a lift here actually. Truth be told, she was the one who saved the shipping port. All I did was erect an ice wall and killed a Goliath that broke through."

"You killed a Goliath all on your own?" she asked, her gaze washing over him as she eyed his katana strapped to his waist.

"Well, yea, is that surprising?" he asked.

"Hmm," she hummed. "I take it then you consider yourself quite skilled."

"I'm skilled enough to survive I suppose."

"Well then, would you care for a spare?" she asked.

"That's the best thing I've heard all night," he said, quickly shedding his coat as he rolled up his sleeves and undid his collar.

Weiss took notice of his muscles, not overly developed but enough to draw the eye and showcase that he wasn't a slouch. He drew out his katana, taking a stance opposite her own as they prepared.

"Ready?" she asked.

"One moment," he said with a smirk before reciting, "Rise over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!"

She shielded her eyes as a blast of snow blinded her for just a moment. As soon as she regained her composure, she looked quizzically at the blade he was holding. The shabby looking katana had changed somehow, the hilt having gained a second guard that looked like a star and a long chain attached to a crescent moon charm hung from the bottom of the handle. She wasn't quite sure how it had happened. His semblance perhaps? Certainly a strange one, especially with how it had changed his sword's appearance. Perhaps it was unique in that fashion, something that allowed the boy to take shabby weapons and make them like new again, throwing his opponents off guard when they attacked, thinking his old shabby weapon would break only to have him give it new life and a sharper edge. Clearly she'd have to be mindful while fighting him.

"Ready when you are," he said with a smirk.

Weiss didn't speak, summoning a glyph beneath her feet that propelled her backwards. A seconded one appeared and she rocketed forward, catching Naruto off guard but not enough for him to react. He brought Hyorinmaru up and heard the distinct Clang! as metal struck metal. In an instant she was gone, having retreated once more but in her place icicles began shooting out at him. Naruto dodged to the side, swiping Hyorinmaru in a motion that brought up a wall of ice to cover his escape. Weiss was surprised by the motion, having only seen her sister and herself use such a tactic. She spun the dust cartridges, choosing something appropriate and sent a wave of fire in his direction. The wall didn't last very long, having been hastily made, and it quickly melted under her barrage.

"Hyorinmaru, I need cover," he said.

"As you wish, Naruto," his companion answered.

He slashed horizontally, causing a blast of wind to flow over the area. Weiss recoiled from the cold, feeling the wind whip past her as a thick fog rolled in along with it, obscuring her vision. Naruto smiled to himself. Now he was in his element. With the fog cover he'd have an easier time to slip into her guard without her noticing but he'd have to work fast.

"Kurama, you're up. I'll need to borrow some of your chakra for this."

"Don't waste it," the Demon growled.

Knowing all too well that her opponent intended to use the fog as cover, Weiss spun the Dust cartridges again, settling this time on wind. With a quick swipe of her rapier she blew the fog away revealing a completely empty courtyard. She looked around, perplexed by what she saw but her eyes didn't lie to her. The courtyard was empty, completely devoid of anyone but herself just as it had been before Naruto's arrival. She kept her guard up, though, quickly looking around to try and find him. He had been clever but there were only so many places he could hide but just where had he gone? A steady rumbling at her feet drew her attention. Confused, she gazed at the ground, wondering if something big was headed this way. She soon realized she was mistaken as a blade shot up out of the ground. She cried out, attempting to get away but slipping on the rubble and collapsing unceremoniously onto the ground.

Before she could rise to her feet, however, Naruto's blade was already tickling her throat. She looked up at the boy, his hair and shirt matted with dirt. He'd somehow managed to dive underground without her noticing and come up beneath her. A clever tactic to be sure, possibly something tied to his semblance? While he wore a serious expression it quickly broke into a smile as he sheathed his sword and offered her his dirty hand. She hesitated for a moment before accepting it and felt the boy effortlessly raised her to her feet.

"That was excellent," he said, laughing as he spoke. "You really had me on the back foot. I had to think outside the box quick otherwise I would have lost to you in matter of moments," he said, praising her all the while.

"I was trained by my sister Winter. She would have expected nothing less," she replied.

"I can tell. You're incredibly skilled. I'll have to really work to improve myself so I can challenge you again sometime," he said with an easy smile.

"I'll look forward to it," Weiss replied, somehow feeling happy to hear him say that.

She wasn't a stranger to hearing boys complement her, but it was always hollow as they simply said things to try and gain her favor and by extension her father's. This boys words, however, felt genuine, something she wasn't at all used to and certainly not something she had been prepared for. She also wasn't prepared for the storm that descended upon them in the form of her enraged father.

"What is going on here?" he bellowed, his gaze falling on Weiss before looking over Naruto's soiled clothes and finally settling on the large hole in the ground. "Explain."

"Father I- "she started, struggling to find the words.

"It's my fault sir," Naruto said, stepping in to block her form with his own. "Weiss didn't cause any of this. I saw her practicing from up on the balcony and asked her to spare with me. I kind of got carried away," he said, smiling sheepishly as he glanced back at the large hole. "Whatever damages I've caused, I'll gladly pay for them and repair anything I can."

Jacques eyed him for a moment before glancing back to Weiss. While the heat in his eyes had smoldered somewhat, there was no doubt he'd have words for her later. "That won't be necessary. You are my honored guest, after all, so I don't see the harm in overlooking this small matter. I'll trust that you'll refrain from causing any more damage to my estate?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Good. Come, we'll need to get you cleaned up. I have a very important guest who'd like to meet with you and we shouldn't keep him waiting."

Naruto glanced back to Weiss, offering her a warm smile. "Sorry about that."

"You needn't worry. I have no need of protection, especially from my own father," she replied in retort.

"I don't doubt that but I wasn't about to let you take the fall for my actions. Guess we'll have to have that rematch some other time."

"Of course but don't expect me to go easy on you next time," she replied.

"I look forward to it," he replied with an easy smile.

Weiss watched as he walked off, a small smile forming on her face. Uzumaki Naruto. Certainly an interesting person. One to keep an eye on for sure. He was good enough to catch Winter's eye at the very least. Perhaps she should ask her opinion on him? If only to gauge her overall appraisal of his skills, to be sure.

/-/

Naruto sighed happily, glad to be out of that stuffy suit and back into some more casual wear. The suit had been fine as far as he was concerned. Just needed to be dusted off and it would be good to go. Jacques, on the other hand, had proclaimed it was ruined and promptly had it disposed of. He wondered if the man hadn't already planned on doing the exact same thing shortly after he'd departed. Well, it didn't matter now. With Hyorinmaru strapped to his side, he made his way towards Jacques' office to meet with his guest. He'd thankfully memorized the route so there had been no need for him to ask Klein for assistance. Before long he stood outside, knocked three times just as Klein had, and promptly let himself inside.

He was immediately elated to see a familiar face in that of Winter Schnee. While their relationship was more an acquaintanceship than an actual friendship, simply having someone he felt he could relatively trust in the room helped him to feel a bit more at ease. Unsurprisingly Jacques Schnee was also present, sitting behind his desk. The only other person in the room was a tall gentleman dressed in military garb similar to Winter's. Despite the fact he was sitting, Naruto could tell he was a rather large man. He had sharp features, a clean haircut and a small metal strip just above his left eyebrow. His hands were gloved, something which he found odd, but he held a warm smile that helped him feel more at ease. The man immediately rose when he entered, showing off his impressive height before crossing the room to meet him.

"Good evening young man, I'm General James Ironwood of the Atlas military," he said extending his hand.

"Uzumaki Naruto," he replied taking the man's hand in his own.

He was instantly caught off guard by the unnatural firmness of his shake. It wasn't due to his muscular hand but more of it feeling like it was hard as a rock or metal. Ironwood must have noticed, chuckling to himself as Naruto's cheeks turned red from embarrassment.

"Don't worry, I get that reaction a lot. An old war wound," he replied before motioning for Naruto to take a seat at one of the available chairs. "So, Specialist Winter tells me you assisted in the defense of the shipping port during the Grimm incursion last night."

"She gives me more credit than I'm due. I hardly did anything. Winter and her team did most of the heavy lifting."

"That maybe so but I have several eye witness accounts that say you didn't hesitate to act in defense of the town and its people. You leapt into action, erecting a wall of ice and even managed to singlehandedly eliminate a Goliath on your own. Not many people your age could make such a claim. More than a few are capable of taking on Beowulves and even Ursa but a Goliath is another class of Grimm entirely."

"I got lucky," he replied.

"I don't believe in luck. I believe in skill, something which you showed a great deal of," he replied, his eyes wandering to the sword at his hip. "Is that your weapon of choice?"

"Yes, it's called Hyorinmaru."

"May I examine it?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment, his hand slipping to the hilt as he established a connection between himself and Hyorinmaru.

"Hyorinmaru, will you let him see you or are you going to act out again?"

"I sense a noble soul within this one. He may examine me but he shouldn't expect anything more from me," the frost dragon replied.

"Good enough," he said, removing it from his hip. "Have a look General."

Ironwood nodded his affirmation as he took the sword from him before removing the katana from its sheath. He examined the blade, his eyes roving every inch of it as Naruto tensed. While he trusted Hyorinmaru to keep his word that he wouldn't act aggressively towards the man, he wasn't sure his word would stand should the General begin to examine it more extensively. After a while his expression showed that he was satisfied and he replaced the blade back within its sheath before handing it back to Naruto.

"It's a beautiful blade. Where did you get it?"

"Family heirloom, been with us for generations," Naruto replied, reciting the same half-truth he'd come to rely on whenever someone asked him that question.

"I see. It's in exquisite condition despite its age and the amount of use it's seen. How does it work? I didn't see anywhere for you to insert ice dust."

"I'm not quite sure myself. With how old it is, I think that knowledge has been lost to the ages. I prefer to simply think of it as being something more spiritual than anything else."

"Hilarious," Hyorinmaru grumbled.

"Indeed. I also have to wonder where you learned to fight like you did. You obviously showed a lot of skill and a great deal of potential. Who did you train under? Was it your parents?"

"Uh, no, actually, they passed away shortly after I was born," he replied.

The man's expression softened to one of understand, as did Winter's, "My apologies. You've obviously done well for yourself."

"James, if you could get to the point of your invitation. I have other business I need to see to," Jacques interrupted, showing little concern for the subject matter.

"Of course," Ironwood replied, showing no signs that he was annoyed or insulted by his interruption. "Naruto, have you heard of the four Huntsman Academies of Remnant."

"Yea, there's Beacon in Vale, Shade in Vacuo, Haven in Mistral, and the Atlas Academy here."

"Indeed. Many people know of these academies as well as the men and women who run them. I myself, apart from being the General of the Atlas military am also the headmaster of the Academy. As such I'm always on the lookout for promising young men and women who show the potential to become great Huntsmen and Huntresses."

"And this is your pitch to have me join the academy," Naruto concluded.

"Exactly," he replied, offering a pleased smile.

"It's a generous offer General but I'm only sixteen. I thought you had to be seventeen to apply?"

"Acceptations have been made in the past for individuals who show incredible skill. Your performance at the port town was more than enough to garner my attention."

"I understand General and I thank you for your offer," Naruto began.

"I'm sensing a 'but' somewhere," he replied.

"But I wasn't planning on spending an extensive amount of time here in Atlas. I was originally planning on heading to Vale after this as part of my training."

"I see. Well then perhaps I could offer you my assistance in getting you there. I can have a shuttle prepped and ready to depart whenever you need it."

"Thank you General, that's very kind of you."

"Don't mention it. I'd still like you to keep my offer in mind, if not for you to join my academy then perhaps Beacon? Headmaster Ozpin and I are good friends. I could send him a recommendation to ensure you have a place on the list of next year's initiates."

"I'll keep that in mind," Naruto said, shaking the man's hand.

"Well then, Uzumaki Naruto, I wish you the best on your journey. Hopefully we'll meet again soon."

/-/

Vale – Six Months Later

Cold. Why did it have to be cold? He could understand Atlas. Atlas was always cold. For anyone who hadn't been there it was a winter wonderland but for those who have, such as himself, it was a frozen fucking tundra and that went double for its people. The moment he set down in Vale he wondered if there was some great deity he'd somehow managed to piss off that not only found him spending time in the coldest place on Remnant but also a less intense but just as frigid winter here in Vale. He'd heard from Raven that some of Remnant's oldest legends profess that their world had been made by two brother gods, one of light and one of darkness. He figured he'd either pissed them off or somehow was seen as the latter god's form of amusement. As far as he was concerned, they were the exact same. The real icing on the cake was the overall fact that he was in possession of a sword that attacked using ice. While it might have been useful in the warmer months, Naruto couldn't help himself from thinking how much nicer it might have been to have a fire deity instead. Maybe he should have gone on to Vacuo? Sure, it was one giant litterbox but at least it was warm during the day.

As he trudged on through the snow, praying he came upon some sign that he was nearing a village, his attention was drawn to a familiar sound. Wolves, specifically Beowulves, were howling and growling aggressively. What's more he could hear gun shots, a telltale sign that someone was fighting them. Unwilling to leave anyone on their own against Grimm attacks, and hoping the fight might do something to help warm him up, Naruto began sprinting towards the sound. He didn't have to go very far when he came upon the ensuing battle and what he saw was nothing short of impressive.

A young girl, younger than himself as far as he could tell, dressed in an assortment of black and red with a long flowing cape behind her danced through the juvenile Beowulves like it was the most natural thing in the world. Not a single movement was wasted, each one transitioning into another or otherwise acting as the springboard for the next counterattack. Even the shots from her weapon, some of which weren't meant for the Grimm themselves, acted as the catalyst to an attack that eliminated them or helped her to dodge an oncoming attack. As soon as it had begun she landed on the ground with the shell casings from her weapon falling all around her. It was a picture perfect moment, one where Naruto couldn't help but applaud. Apparently she hadn't been expecting such a reaction as she quickly became aware of her audience, squeaked, and stumbled unceremoniously onto her rump.

"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he said, rushing over to help the girl to her feet.

"It's alright," she said, accepting his hand as he helped her to her feet. "Um, how long were you standing there?"

"Long enough. I saw the whole thing. You were incredible," he praised.

"T-thanks," she said, her face quickly turning the exact shade of red as her cape. "Um, I'm Ruby Rose, nice to meet you."

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. The pleasure is mine," he said, taking her hand and giving it a shake. "I'm surprised to see anyone out here. Were you visiting someone?"

"Yea, I was just on my way back from visiting my mother's grave."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he replied, his smile drooping a little.

"It's alright. She passed away when I was really young so I don't miss her too much. She was a Huntress. I'm going to be one just like her."

"Well, if that display you put on is anything to go by then I'd say you're well on your way to achieving that goal."

"T-thank you," Ruby said, blushing once more from the naked praise. "Are you a Huntsman?"

"Huh?"

"Your sword, is it your Huntsman weapon?" she asked, motioning to Hyorinmaru strapped to his waist.

"Oh, no, I'm not a Huntsman."

"Are you enrolled in one of the schools? I go to Signal, where my dad and Uncle Qrow teach. My sister is going to Beacon this year and I'll be going there in a couple years."

"I keep hearing about Beacon. Maybe it's the Universe's way of trying to tell me I should enroll," he said sarcastically.

"Oh, you should, it would be so awesome!" Ruby cried. "You could meet my sister and then I'd have two people I know there when I enroll."

"S-sure, I'll keep it in mind," he said, leaning back from a starry-eyed Ruby.

"Um, where were you headed anyway?" she asked.

"You know, I've been asking myself the same thing for a while now. Mostly I've just been looking for some sign of civilization."

"Oh, you could come to my house. It's warm and you could meet my dad and Zwei, that's our dog. He's supper cute and he'd love you."

"Yea, sure, that sounds gre- look out!" Naruto yelled, throwing Ruby to the side before back flipping out of the way.

Naruto had evaded the attack just in time. A large paw, encased in bone and attached to a menacing looking Beowulf, growled as it eyed its prey. Naruto drew Hyorinmaru from its sheath, staring back at his opponent. The Beowulf was much more deadly than the juveniles Ruby had easily dispatched just moments before. This one was an Alpha, a Beowulf that had either outlasted, evaded, or killed every Huntsman who'd tried to take it down during its life time. All the experience it had gained throughout the years had made it into a Huntsman killing machine with a body encased in bone armor and an intellect that made it a cunning opponent. Unfortunately for it, Naruto was not the average Huntsman.

With Hyorinmaru in his hands, he easily batted aside its paws as it attempted to shear his head from his shoulders. The attacks were powerful, easily pushing Naruto back as he deflected the attacks to the side. While he attempted to find himself an opening, he soon found himself aided by Ruby who began pelting the creature with sniper fire. Unfortunately, her attacks only served to annoy it, drawing its attention to her. With it distracted, he swiped Hyorinmaru and caused a layer of ice to form around its legs, cementing it to the ground. This drew its attention back to him and as it attempted to shear the ice from its legs, Hyorinmaru soon proved tenacious as he caused its paws to become incased in ice as well, leaving it in a very vulnerable state.

"Kurama, give me a boost, just to my legs."

"Alright, but don't going asking for any more favors without a good reason."

"Noted."

Naruto felt the surge of energy in his legs as Kurama poured a small amount of chakra into them. Taking a stance, he flew forward, reaching a speed that seemed to rival Ruby's own semblance. As the Alpha opened its mouth to roar at him, it soon found its head in two pieces, split down the middle of its jaw. It fell just a few feet from its frozen corpse, dissolving into nothingness as Naruto flicked the blade, sending black grime onto the snow before putting Hyorinmaru back into his sheath. Relaxing now that the battle was over, he was greeted by a star truck Ruby Rose who was gazing up at him like he was a celebrity off of a movie set.

"That. Was. Awesome!" she squealed.

"Uh, thanks?" he said.

"That was incredible. How did you freeze it like that? Does your blade have a dust injector in it or is that your semblance? How did you move so fast?" Her questions came at a mile a minute, leaving Naruto unsure of how to answer.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on. Can we at least get inside where it's warm before your start asking me twenty questions?"

"Oh, yea, sure, follow me," she said.

/-/

It didn't take them too long to reach Ruby's home. It was the greatest thing he'd ever seen, mostly because he'd been camping out in the snow with only the occasional settlement with an inn for him to sleep at. His shinobi training had come in handy, especially when finding or making himself a shelter but the fact that he was able to spend some time in an actual house for once was the greatest thing in the world to him at the moment. Ruby let them inside and he was instantly hit with a wave of warm air. His skin prickled at the sudden change in temperature but he could already feel his aching and frozen joints beginning to loosen up as they welcomed the warmer climate.

"Good ahead and have a seat on the couch. I'll get us something to eat," Ruby said as she stepped through a doorway which he assumed led to the kitchen.

Naruto did as he was told, plopping down onto the soft cushions and basking in their soft enveloping touch. He glanced around the room, taking in the home that had been built to look like a log cabin. Aside from its exterior, the interior looking nothing like what one would expect from a log cabin. For one thing there were two floors, not to mention carpeting, electricity, and plumbing. It was also decorated with pictures of family members, friends, and other Huntsman memorabilia. He glanced around, taking it all in, when one picture in particular caught his attention. Rising from his seat, he walked over to the mantle, gazing at the picture with a strange sense of déjà vu. The girl pictured was tall, a little shorter than himself but still a good height for her age. She had lilac eyes and long blond hair that fell in a curly waterfall down to her lower back. Her bright smile drew his eyes, as did her generous assets, though neither of those were what had garnered his attention. He couldn't be certain but the girl pictured reminded him an awful lot of Raven. Just darken her eyes to red and dye her hair black and she could be her spitting image. He was about to ask Ruby who she was when he felt another presence standing behind him and he turned to regard them.

Naruto almost flinched as he starred into the well toned chest of a tall blond man. His hair was short, sitting just above his blue eyes that bore into him with an intense aura. His exposed arms showed off his toned muscles as they were crossed over his chest, making him appear even more intimidating than at first glance. Naruto could already tell he'd stumbled into a bad situation and would need to act fast to get himself out of it.

"Uh, hello," he said, his simple greeting somehow causing the man's eyes to narrow with suspicion.

"What are you doing in my home?" he asked.

"This is your home?" he asked, the glare he received telling him that was a stupid question. "I was invited here."

"Invited? By whom?" he challenged.

"Hey dad, didn't realize you were home," Ruby said, walking into the room with a plate full of cookies and two glasses of milk. "This is my friend Naruto."

"Hello again," he said, seeing the man's gaze lessen, if only a little.

"Ruby, your friend is a boy," he pointed out.

"Yea, I know," she said nonchalantly.

"How did you two meet?"

"This afternoon, when I was walking home from visiting mom and was attacked by Beowulves."

"Maybe you should tell me the whole story," he suggested.

Settling themselves on the couch, Ruby began to recount the events that had led to them meeting. While her story was greatly over exaggerated, complete with sound effects and dialogue that he doubted the Grimm were capable of producing, he nonetheless kept quiet during the whole affair. It was only after he was introduced into the story that Naruto found her father, Taiyang as he was called, turning his gaze on him. He was obviously a protective father, something Naruto could appreciate and respect but not if it entailed him coming to bodily harm or worse death. Still, his part in aiding and even defending Ruby's life against that of an Alpha Beowulf was enough to convince the man he was of noble character, that and the fact that their corgi Zwei had taken a liking to him, laying in his lap while he scratched his ears.

"So, Naruto, where are you from?" he asked.

"A little village out in Mistral, no place you'd have heard of."

"And you want to become a Huntsman?" he asked.

"I'm honestly not sure," he admitted.

"If you're not sure then why do you carry a Huntsman's weapon?" he asked, motioning to his katana.

"It's a family heirloom. It's something I've always had. Mastering it has simply helped me to survive."

"And you're family?"

"They passed away when I was still an infant. I don't know much about them," he replied.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Tai said, his intense gaze lessoning at that. "I lost my wife several years ago. It's never easy dealing with the loss of someone your love," he said, Ruby taking his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Naruto, do you have any place to stay?" Ruby asked.

"I figured I'd find an inn or a hotel to crash in tonight," he replied.

"Oh, he can stay here, can't he dad?" Ruby asked, pleading with her father.

"I don't want to impose sir," he said, already dreading being in her father's crosshairs once more.

"I suppose we can put you up for the night, as a way of thanking you for helping Ruby out," he said.

/-/

Late in the night, the whole house was asleep save for two individuals. Naruto, along with Zwei, sat downstairs, looking out onto Patch through the window. With the dog curled up in his lap, Naruto gently stroked his fur, contemplating his next move. Ever since he'd come to this world Naruto had been faced with one challenge after another. More often than not he had been forced to conceal his abilities, playing off Hyorinmaru as a huntsman's weapon capable of generating ice through Dust. It as becoming more and more difficult to maintain this lie especially given the people he'd met along the way who were Huntsman in one way or another such as Raven, Ironwood, and now Taiyang. To say that the possibility of being able to keep everyone in the dark as an impossible task was an understatement. At some point someone was going to realize Hyorinmaru wasn't an ordinary Huntsman's weapon and with that revelation would come a whole heap of questions he either couldn't or didn't want to answer. The only problem now lay in where he went from here.

"Having trouble sleeping?" he heard someone ask.

Naruto's head audibly cracked as he spun his neck around. He looked up into the face of Taiyang, dressed in a shirt and basketball shorts, and wearing a surprisingly warm smile. He didn't let down his guard for a second, however, as he still recalled how the man's eyes had bore their way into his skull that afternoon.

"Uhh, yea, just hanging out with Zwei," he said, nervously, the dog leaving his lap to go up and greet his master.

"You can relax, Naruto, I'm just here to talk," Tai said, settling himself down next to the boy. "I only give guys the third degree when it comes to my daughter's. I'm very protective of them, have been since they were little."

"I understand," Naruto replied, relaxing a little.

"So, what's on your mind that's been keeping you up so late at night?"

"Just considering my next move," he replied honestly. "I've been traveling Remnant for the past year, searching for something, helping people where I can. It's not a bad life but it hasn't given me what I want, what I need."

"What is it you want?" Tai asked.

"How to get home. How to get back to the people I care about. I made a promise, one I want to keep but I'm not sure where to even begin searching. I'd hoped something would pop out at me along my journey but so far I've only found myself with more questions than answers."

"Maybe you've been looking in the wrong place," Tai said, earning a quizzical look from Naruto. "While I do admit that traveling across Remnant is a good way to start searching for answers, you obviously don't know what answers you're looking for or how to even recognize them when they make themselves known to you. Perhaps instead you should consider a place where you can both search for answers while also learning how to recognize them, among other things."

"You talking about Beacon?" Naruto asked, already knowing where this conversation was going.

"It wouldn't be a bad start, yes, and its simply one of several places you could begin your search at."

Naruto took a moment to consider what Tai was saying. The man wasn't wrong. Schools were specifically designed to help people learn, grow, and experiment with their knowledge and skills. Further more, it would also give him a great starting point as he'd be able to learn more about this world than by simply traveling around looking for answers. The only problem he had was the fact that joining Beacon was a four-year commitment and that wasn't even taking into consideration the fact that he had to pass an initiation process first. Still, he'd already spent a nearly four years here already, four years Sasuke had in allowing himself to disappear, far from Naruto's ability to tract him down and convince him to come home. By the time he found a way back he could be far more powerful and dangerous than he was when they'd last fought, a problem he'd need to rectify if he had any chance of fulfilling his promise to Sakura.

"You know, you're the third person I've meet who's spoken to me about the Huntsman academies. Perhaps its time I seriously consider them?"

"I can help you on that front. I'm a teacher over at Signal and a former Beacon graduate. I can make a few calls and get you set up to at least take the initiation process."

"Thanks but I already have someone willing to sponsor me. I just need to make a call tomorrow morning."

"No problem. Good talking with you, Naruto. Make sure you get some sleep," Tai said before heading to bed.

Naruto nodded, returning to his room shortly after. He had a lot to consider given everything he'd been through. While the act of attending one of the Huntsman academies had never been of great interest to him, knowing it might be pivotal to finding himself a way home gave it more precedence to him than it had before. It would be a major commitment unto itself. Four straight years of study, not to mention any further years following should he be unable to find the answers he sought at Beacon. Still, it would give him something to work with, a foundation of sorts and certainly not one that could be understated.

"Well boys, looks like we're headed back to school."

"Oh joy," Kurama grumbled, earning a chuckle from Naruto as he drifted off to sleep.


I've had this chapter finished for a while. Been getting everything in order now that I've finally returned home from my extended business trip. Not really much to say. Just setting up the meeting between Naruto and the girls before they'll be seeing each other in Beacon once more. Honestly, I'm looking forward to the Beacon arc especially with all the shenanigans that will ensue. Already have a team name prepped so I'm good and ready.

I've had people ask me about when I'll be updating Archangel and My Sister's Keeper. Both will be updated soon. I'm looking to drop an update for Maidens and Demons first though I may put that off until I can figure out what I want to put for the next chapter. As for Archangel, with the Beacon arc coming to a close I do have plans for what will be happening afterwards. I'm projecting that it'll finish up sometime early next year though I won't give any concrete dates.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Leave a review and I'll see you all next time.