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Chapter 24: team CFVY VS. NNPR
It was a pleasant meal, all things considered. Made all the better by the company the Uzumaki kept. It was one of the many things that made Kohaku wonder just where this kid came from. He seemed to just draw in others to his orbit. And once they finished with the meal. The invitation to watch a spar between teams NNPR and CFVY surprised her. Granted, said spar would take place in a few hours. The offer was no less tempting.
While giving his team a chance to cool down and recover some Naruto had opted to go to his room, preparing for the fight to come. Gazing at the seven swords resting on the wall.. Almost tempted to make use of one of the seven, his hand resting on Samehada.
The sword shifted and purred pleasantly as Naruto allowed it to take his chakra. Almost urging him to use it in battle. Removing his hand from the sword, he looked to his bookshelf filled with scrolls. Each one with a different label.
He gazed upon each one until he found one of the two he was looking for. It read out magnet release.
He was rather sentimental about this scroll in particular. It contained a memento from one of his best friends. Naruto thought as he opened the scroll to the right seal. His hand glowed with the light of his and Kurama's chakra. Placing his hand on the seal and in a flash of light and smoke. What Naruto had in his hands was a memento of his past. The last gourd he and Gaara had made together. It was a magnificent piece of work about eight inches tall and held more than enough sand to bury a city. Attaching it to his hip, Naruto went about searching through his other scrolls before hesitating. Glancing back to the swords on the rack and gut feeling he had about the upcoming mission.
He knew if things went badly he would like to have a trump card to call on that would not reveal his true hand. Trusting his gut, Naruto took three of the seven swords off the rack.
Using his chakra he inscribed onto the lining of his flack jacket two storage seals. He stored away Samehada and Kubikiribōchō. Opting to carry the nuibari in a sheath at his side. And donned four rings, two for each hand.
When Naruto and his team stepped out into the hall. Ready to head down to the training hall. Everyone's eyes were on them. More specifically Naruto and the addition of a sword on his hip and the gourd at his back. Without his usual haori, it was even more noticeable. Almost as amusing as the sight of Kurama trotting alongside them.
It was unusual for the fox, having spent most of his time not training Jaune. Lazing around sleeping most of the time.
"Uh, Naruto what's with the sword." an ever curious Ruby asked. Having not seen Naruto wield a sword until now. Even if she knew he had them. Weiss had thought Naruto was not a swordsman. Until now, Naruto had favored his fists and small bladed weapons.
"Ah, well, I figured that since it's our first mission as a team I would shake the rust off." Naruto explained, placing his hand on his sword in explanation.
"Well, I for one can't wait to see just how well you stack up." Weiss said just as haughtily as before, one hand on her hip.
With a grin on his face, Naruto and the group made their way down without delay.
"So how do you want to do this spar?" Naruto asked. Striding down the path to the clearing.
"How indeed," Coco thought to herself. Options went through her head before she settled on something simple. "How about we spar in pairs for ten minutes each, then after each match we can switch partners? It will give us an idea of what everyone is like working together."
"Yea, we can work with that." Naruto said as he stepped forwards with Pyrrha at his side. With drawing the Nuibari, it made the thread now coming from the rings even more noticeable.
"Yatsu, Vel, you guys are up first." Coco said.
The ever stoic Yatsuhashi simply nodded and said. "Ok."
While Velvet meekly gave them a wave. "Hello, I look forward to working with you in the future." She announced.
"ready… begin," Coco announced.
It all happened so fast the moment that match started. Naruto threw the Nuibari like a spear. His target Yatsuhashi. And Pyrrha took several shots at Velvet.
Yatsuhashi deflected the blade. It was a distraction. He felt a blade dig into his aura. Pyrrha's blade, before he could do anything about it. It was fortunate that it was a glancing blow She pushed hard, slamming her shield into his blade as he brought it down. Forcing it off path.
In a flash of hard light, Velvet brought up a familiar weapon. With a smile likened to a familiar manic grin, she pulled the trigger of Magnhild. One, two, three times and grenades flew. Sending Naruto and Pyrrha scrambling back as she cackled with manic glee. Three more shots rang out with that telltale thump. Heming the two in. Yatsuhashi followed soon after, like clockwork. The two had perfect timing, bringing his blade down on the two.
A wave of iron sand peeled off Pyrrha's shield, deflecting the blow but not stopping it entirely. With a twitch of his fingers, Naruto reeled back in the Nuibari. Her shield was in the perfect position for Naruto to use it as a platform.
Boosting him up and over Yatsuhashi, wires from the Nuibari wrap around Yatsuhashi's arms and legs through the use of Pyrrha's semblance and magnet release. Binding him to the spot even as Naruto closed in on Velvet.
One would think Yatsuhashi is the strongest of the duo. Rather than poor meek Velvet, who would allow herself to be bullied, rather than defend herself. In reality, she is just as strong as the others on her team.
Knowing just what weapon to use in a flash, her camera Anesidora projected a hard light copy of Ember Silica. She charged, closing the distance between them in seconds. Mimicking Yang's years of fighting perfectly.
Almost right away, Yatsuhashi leveraged his impressive blade and strength to break free of his bindings. He charged Pyrrha, using the flat of his blade as a shield. Blocking each shot sent his way.
Redirecting a thrust of the sharp spear. With her left gauntlet, Velvet delivered a devastating right hook, discharging four rounds of the shot-gauntlets at the same time.
Rather than take the blow to his face. Naruto dodged by the slimmest of margins. Jumping back, he abandoned the blade. After a series of exchanged blows, neither gained any ground. All while the sand shifted slowly beneath their feet.
Velvet was careful of her footing even as the sand stirred beneath her feet. Their teamwork was flawless. Once the element of surprise was lost. Velvet and Yatsuhashi's cover each other's backs perfectly. When a wave of iron sand was directed their way Yatsuhashi took advantage of his power to bat it away with ease. Velvet took advantage of her semblance and the variety of weapons at her disposal and used them to keep Naruto and Pyrrha guessing and off balance. While preventing Naruto from using the nuibari in full.
They needed space, "I will make us some room," Naruto called out.
Pyrrha gave him a nod. Knowing what came next, she slammed her sword into the ground. Anchoring herself to the spot. As the wave of force that was Shinra Tensei hit. Blasting all that were not in the epicenter or anchored away.
"Pyrrha!" Naruto called without pause. She knew what to do right away. Even as the sand whipped into a frenzy. It had been one of many formations practiced.
Her weapon shifted into its rifle form in one hand as she concentrated on the quicksilver in the flask on her belt. A small amount floated before her in midair. Shifting and shaping to her will mixing in with thousands of grains of iron sand. The result was two bullets. The most she could manage.
She pulled back on the bolt, clearing the breach. And quickly loaded the two rounds. From the satchel at her hip, she pulled out what looked like a silencer. It was anything but that. It was a prototype cylinder lined with seals and a ring of magnets on the inside. It was something she and Naruto had worked on. It was the culmination of two week's work and modification of her weapon to function like this. Attaching it to the end of Miló. the remaining iron sand condensed into two rails that rested on either side of the barrel. Transforming it effectively into a rail gun.
Pyrrha dropped to one knee. Sensing the metal of their weapons and costumes. She exhaled and fired twice rapidly in quick succession.
The time to make contact was practically instant. The rounds having been hyper accelerated by the magnetic rails. In those scant moments, she took control of both rounds. Forcing it to expand rapidly to surround and contain her targets.
The force imparted on her victim sent them flying into the trees at top speed. She willed the spheres to reach out just before they made the tree line. Tendrils of quicksilver and iron sand reaching out and wrapping around the trees. Binding the pair in a web of ultra fine metal.
"Riinnnggg,"
"Well damn, you little monsters are good!" Coco exclaimed. As the timer on her scroll went off.
"Yea, it was just in time." Pyrrha agreed, one arm hanging limply. "If that had not worked I think we would be the ones in trouble."
Pyrrha had dislocated her arm. There was already a massive bright red bruise where her rifle had been. Her rifle had fared no better. The cylinder was nothing more than glowing cherry red slag now at this point.
"Let me help." Naruto said. Some of his sand flowed out to make a bench for Pyrrha to sit on.
The rest slithered forth towards Velvet and Yatsuhashi, wrapping around the wires that bound crushed and ground the wire back into iron sand, letting the quicksilver pool below it.
Naruto gently raised Pyrrha's arm above her head. And with a swift yet gentle motion. A slight pop was heard as he helped her reach for her other shoulder.
Pyrrha let out a sigh of relief. Her shoulder would be sore, but it was nothing aura could not handle in a day.
She glanced down at the lump of metal attached to her gun. With a forlorn sigh, Pyrrha used her semblance to help her pull it away from the barrel. It looked like it was back to the drawing board.
As if reading her mind, Naruto Said, "it did not hold up well and looks like we need to redesign."
"Yea," she nodded.
It was at that moment that the ever excitable Nora pulled her current Victim, Ren, to the center of the clearing. "Come on Ren, it's our turn now." she exclaimed.
Practically vibrating with excitement.
Ren silently followed his partner to the ring as the others watched on.
On Naruto's signal, the battle between Coco Fox versus Ren and Nora. had an explosive start literally. For both teams, CFVY and NNPR, each member played a certain role. For Nora and Coco it was as artillery. The big guns needed to soften up a target.
Right from the start, flecks of lightning arched off Nora, enhancing her speed and strength. Allowing her to close the distance quickly.
Eyes wide, Coco barley had enough time to block the blow. She smiled, wrapping the strap of her handbag around Nora's hammer. She pulled, throwing Nora's balance off.
It took only a shove at the right time to topple Nora.
"You overplayed your hand kiddo" Coco said cooly. Mecha-shifting her handbag Gianduja into its mini-gun form for extra effect.
"Nah, I was just the distraction." Nora said, smiling.
Coco had the distinct feeling that they had played her.
"-incoming!-" Fox telepathically sent.
Just as the ground beneath her feet cracked and crumbled. Ren sent Fox barreling into Coco.
They tumbled until a tree stopped their momentum.
Coco did not need to look to know the distinct click of a gun. When Coco opened her eyes, she saw Ren standing over her and Fox storm flowers pointed at them.
"I believe this is our win. He stated."
"Yea, you guys win you little monsters."
"See Ren! I told you my plan would work."
"Yes, Nora, except your forgetting your plan amounted to hit them really hard."
"Well, yea, they expect that from me. But you? Not so much." Nora countered.
It left Ren speechless. Unable to come up with a good retort, he submitted to the storm that was Nora. letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Hah, right?"
For what it was worth Ren agreed that her plan albeit simple yes, it worked. No one, not even himself, not even Ren himself. would have seen it had yet to perfect the strength technique shown to him by Naruto. Even now his fist throbbed with fading pain.
They impressed Naruto. The pair had managed a win on their seniors. Part of it was because of everyone expecting the ever excitable and brash Nora to come up with a plan. The other part was her trust that Ren would always come through for her.
It was after the last match ended that everyone sought a chance to spar with their upperclassmen
]|[
When Adam was informed about Menma's imminent arrival? He was roiling with a mix of emotions. On one hand, he had neither hate nor enmity towards the man. But the shear audacity to imply that he was incompetent enough to warrant sending the man known as the phantom of the fang to watch over him. That set him off something fierce.
He paced back and forth in his tent in fury. "God, I need to kill something." he thought aloud. But he knew going on a hunt would only set him back by days, if not weeks. He needed a surge in recruits to make up for the debacle at the docks last night. Adam also knew he needed to prepare for Menma's arrival. He would be here in a matter of days if he was not here already.
That was the tricky thing about Menma not only was he an infiltration specialist he was the fastest member of the White fang hands down.
It was rather fortunate that they were a continent away. It would take time to get here even for him. Longer if he was coming with reinforcements.
He decided as he strode from his tent.
"Gather the men, we are moving up the timetable." he said to his lieutenants.
]|[
Slipping back into her dress, Polaris at her side, Cinder thought about the night's events. She had given up the power of a maiden. There was a point in her life where Cinder knew she would have balked at the mere idea of surrendering power. She knew mentally part of it was the grooming and manipulation they had exposed her to.
Cinder could recognise that before this week she was nothing more than a toy. A doll to be discarded when there was no further use for her.
It explained the gaps in her memory. Times where she had likely come to a similar conclusion as she did now. Times where she had they used and nearly broke her.
The gaps in her memory were slowly fading. And it was with some trepidation that Cinder wondered what she would find. Buried within herself.
Would it break her? No, that was one thing she knew she was stronger than that. Stronger than Salem gave her credit for.
Cinder knew that she would need to continue playing this game of Salem's design. If she wanted answers. Even if it meant killing the headmaster. It just meant from now on things would be on her terms.
The alternative would give this kingdom over to the Salem's blessed. That was a fate worse than death. All of them were soulless monsters in human skin.
Polaris reached out, her tail splitting into ethereal blue arms of chakra. Grasping the zipper of Cinder's dress, zipping her up.
"Thank you."
"It is no trouble, besides don't we need to get going?"
They did, they had a role to play, one they could not abandon.
"You're right let's go."
Cinder and Polaris left, heading to the living room. Where the Naruto clone and Emerald were. She hardened her heart, reaffirming her resolve to see this through until the end.
Upon setting her sights on the blonde in question. Cinder met his gaze steadily with one of her own. As if telling him there was no backing down from this path.
"Are you sure about this?" the clone asked.
"Yes, I have never been more sure of anything else." she replied.
After a pause, Cinder added. "I need to do this, I need answers, and if not for myself then for the people of Vale."
Wrapping her arms around her middle and ducking her head breaking eye contact, Cinder muttered. "I need to know why me?"
They had discussed this earlier; her plan to play this role. It would require her to be brutal and exacting in all things. One slip up, one mistake, and it would not just be her life at risk. But this was something that needed to be done.
"All right," Naruto said. Then in a flash they were gone.
]|[
It had been two years since he had come into existence. Two long years since the original had created him. Two years diverged from his original. They had lived different lives, had unique experiences. That made them distinct people. And now they would be in the same kingdom for the first time in a year.
Honestly, Menma would have gone by himself traveling that way faster. But traveling this way had its advantages. It gave him time to think. Time to plan.
He had goals of his own now, people he wanted to protect of his own. And to do that, to protect the ones he cared about, he needed to find out just what Adam was up to.
For Illia, for Sienna to protect his comrades. He would become a shadow. The blade in the dark, poised to strike the hearts of his enemies.
It was just so annoying that it would take four days to get to Vale. "soon," he thought. As he boarded the boat that would take him to Vale.
Don't forget to follow me on twitter for any updates
Hey guys *waves nervously,* so some of you may have been wondering Where I have been at. And I will tell you. I had a bit of the old writer's block. And got addicted to the worm series. (looks at the series has a full body shudder and scratches arm.) God, there was so much content. It really is and I have yet to finish ward. (licks lips and twitches.) anyway between that and my job witch is giving me the pay I need to buy a vehicle. I have had little time to focus on this work. I however have not been inactive. I started writing a few Worm samples (looks back too books, twitches violently). And finally got one that I actually like. I will post that to my (p)atreon in the next few days. The samples of scraped work should be available there as well. (due note it is unedited. And full of errors.)
(ducks thrown table) worry not. The next chapter should be out soon, then it is off to lower cairn. And all that entails. For we be going off the rails after this. The Uzumaki clan will make their move. And so many other things.
On another note does anyone know how to edit and or put together a wiki page (I Am rather poor at it) i would like to put together a set of character profiles and need a bit of help. If someone could show me how I Can figure the rest out. It would be a guide for me and extra reference material for you guys in an orderly format.(looks to precariously perched mountain of notes with naught a bit of trepidation. Remembers being buried alive in the body shudder) anyway I said what I wanted to say if you're willing to support me you can do so at my (p)atreon. All funds will go to writing this fanfic. And purchasing a vehicle.
