Chapter 7. Something Wicked Approaches

Naruto and Nora were currently walking side by side in the courtyard of Beacon. Both teens had travel bags slung on their backs and were dressed for combat. Their destination was a small airship that was docked in the distance. Only a few feet in front of the partners' was Ozpin, who was leading the two teens to their transportation. The walk was relatively quite, as both Naruto and Nora were trying to mentally prepare themselves for the difficult mission ahead.

However, the silence among the group of three didn't last for long. Since one loud and very pissed Yang called out to her sibling.

"There you are!" Yang shouted loudly, causing Naruto, Nora and even Ozpin to look over their shoulders.

Seeing his twin accompanied by her entire team, Naruto casually raised two fingers in the air and saluted the girl's. "Yo." The teen replied lazily.

Weiss who was grinding her teeth, glared at the blond teenager with pure rage. Ruby laughed nervously as she looked between her partner and sibling, while Blake looked rather amused by Weiss's anger.

"You listen here you idiotic, barbaric thief. I have a bone to pick with you." Weiss began in a low voice.

Yang narrowed her eyes and punched her fists together. "And she's not the only one." The girl declared.

Naruto looked over his shoulder and glanced to Ozpin. "Are you gonna take those insults Oz?" The blond asked.

Ozpin laughed. "Always the smartass Mr. Branwen, I'll see you at the ship." The older huntsman replied before walking off.

Nora giggled and leaned into Naruto. "I think Ice Queen and Yang were talking to you." The orange haired girl whispered loudly.

Naruto held a hand to his chest and pretended to be shocked. "But why would they be mad at me, the smartest student who gets nothing besides perfect grades. You know what? I bet they're just jealous since they failed their last assignment."

"I'll kill him!" Weiss yelled in anger, while she tried to run at the laughing red eyed boy. However, Weiss was kept at bay by her partner Ruby. The latter of whom was struggling to hold the enraged girl back. "Release me you dolt!"

"No." Ruby grunted in response, showing how much she was struggling with Weiss. "I really don't want you to hurt my brother!"

Naruto snickered and placed his hands into his pockets. "It's okay Ruby, let Weiss go." The eldest sibling instructed in a calm voice, demonstrating that he wasn't afraid of the white haired teenager. "She doesn't have what it takes to hurt me."

"You wanna bet!" Weiss yelled while she broke Ruby's hold. "I'll show you not to mess with a Schnee!"

Naruto watched Weiss draw her weapon and point the blade at his direction. This caused the blond to scoff and lean his head towards Weiss. Naruto then challenged the girl to attack by pointing to his neck.

"Come get me." Naruto taunted in a excited tone.

Weiss released a loud cry of anger and charged at Naruto. She then pointed her blade right at Naruto's neck and trusted her arm forward.

Ruby tightened her body and closed her eyes shut. Blake along with Yang watched the scene with surprise, neither thinking their teammate would actually attack Naruto. Finally Nora merely shook her head and sighed, as the orange haired girl knew how this would end.

Naruto couldn't help himself from chuckling as instead of striking him with her sword. Weiss thrusted her blade beside Naruto's head, only leaving a small gap between his head and her weapon.

"What's so funny!" Weiss yelled in anger. "I could have killed you just now!"

Naruto shook his head and walked slightly forward. "Please you've never taken another life before, you're a spoiled brat who knows nothing about killing. One look in your eyes and I knew you wouldn't do anything."

"Why you-..." Weiss began, but she stopped speaking once a sharp and cold blade pressed against her throat.

"Tell me Weiss." Naruto began in a sickly sweet voice, his crimson eyes burning bright red. "When you look into my eyes what do you think I will do?"

Weiss trembled and lowered her weapon to her side, she was trying to just intimidate Naruto. However, instead the tables were turned and Weiss learned how terrifying her partner's brother could be.

Naruto laughed and removed his weapon from Weiss's neck. He then placed his blade back in its sheath and walked over to Ruby. An action that made the speechless Weiss sigh in relief.

"Well kiddo." Naruto began in a happy voice, while he ruffled Ruby's hair. "Me and Nora are taking off for a top secret mission."

Ruby's face shifted into a small pout. "What? No fair, I wanna go on a cool huntsman mission too! Take me with you pretty please!" The girl begged, as she started to give her brother a sad puppy dog look.

Naruto rolled his eyes and poked Ruby's forehead. "Sorry Ruby, but the puppy dog look won't work on me."

"Awww." Ruby whined while slumping over.

Yang arched her eyebrow and walked over to her twin. "You got a mission already? We are just freshmen at the academy."

Nora giggled nervously and wrapped herself over Naruto's shoulder. She then started to wave her hand up and down at the girl's. "It's not really a mission. Ozpin just wants us to head to Shade Academy and deliver some documents for the approaching festival." The Winter Maiden lied not so smoothly, considering their mission was suppose to be a secret for a reason.

"Hehe, come on Nora. I gotta make it sound cool in front of my little sis." Naruto grumbled, as he instantly started to add into his partner's lie without skipping a beat.

Yang rolled her eyes and punched her twin's arm. "Should have known that's what you'd do, try to act all cool in front of everyone."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yup that's what I was doing!"

Yang sighed and brought her brother into a hug. "We'll be safe Naruto."

Naruto smiled and accepted his sister's embrace. "So we're square now?" The blond asked.

Yang snorted while holding her brother. "Tch, as if. It's all out sibling warfare when you get back."

Naruto grinned and backed away. "Yeah I figured you would say that."

Nora grinned and started to pull Naruto away. "Well that's great, but we are on a timetable Naruto."

"Oh you're right Nora! Well sisters, ladies and Ice Queen." Naruto began with a small chuckle. "See yah later."

"See yah big bro!" Ruby yelled while waving goodbye to her sibling.

Yang smirked. "You two love birds keep it G-rated on your mission." The younger twin teased.

Naruto rolled his eyes while Nora's face turned a deep shade of red. Though instead of indulging his sister, Naruto decided to walk off with Nora following close behind.

Blake watched the two leave and slowly walked to her partner before frowning. "It's strange." The Faunus began in a low voice. "Why did Nora and Naruto get selected for this so called mission? And why is Jaune and Pyrrha not with them?"

Yang folded her arms. "You ask some good questions Blake, but I don't have answers."

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(With Raven)

Sighing to herself, the mother of Naruto and Yang stood outside of a house she never dreamed of seeing again. As she gazed at the small family cottage, she gently removed the mask concealing her face. This allowed her facial features to be clearly visible.

"Why am I doing this again?" Raven asked herself in a low voice.

The scarlet eyed woman pulled a small locket out of her clothing and opened the piece of jewelry. A small smile gracing her lips as she looked at an old photograph of her and a younger Naruto.

"That's right." The prideful mother mumbled softly.

Placing the locket away and taking a deep breath to gather herself, Raven took a few small steps towards her old home. The one which housed the father of her children, Tai Xiao Long. As Raven came to the door of the house, she blushed and raised an arm into the air. Though the mother of two quickly brought her closed fist down and started to pound on the wooden door.

"Hurry up and let me in moron!" The stern voice of Raven demanded.

Sounds of crashing and fumbling could be heard within the house, which were accompanied by the happy barking of a dog. Raven then watched as the door was practically ripped open to reveal a completely stunned and shocked Tai.

"Ra-Raven?" The blond stammered in confusion.

"Wh-who else would it be." The female mocked in response, before pushing past Tai and walking into the house.

"Woof!" The happy voice of Zwei barked while wagging his tail.

"I see you still have the mutt." Raven pointed out before disappearing into the kitchen.

Tai slowly closed the door to his home and tightened his fists. The blond male then stomped his way into the kitchen, where he could find Raven digging through several cabinets.

"What are you doing?" Tai asked in an anger filled tone.

Raven paid little attention to Tai and continued her search. "Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to find where you keep the alcohol in this place."

"No you hot headed drunk, what are you doing at my house? It's been fifteen years since I last saw you and you just show up out of the blue!" Tai yelled while glaring a hole through the back of Raven's head.

Raven sighed and started to massage her forehead. "Can you at least let me get drunk before we have this conversation?"

Tai folded his arms. "There is no alcohol here, hasn't been any since you got pregnant with the twins. You would know that if you didn't walk out on us!"

Raven gritted her teeth and turned around, she then stalked over to the man she loved and pointed at him. "Listen here you pun loving sack of shit. You know why I left! It was to keep you and our daughter safe from me and Naruto!"

Tai laughed and stood his ground. "Please you were just running away from your problems. You weren't afraid of your semblance, you were afraid of watching Salem kill more people you loved. So you used the Branwen Curse as an excuse to runaway and hide like the scared pathetic woman you are."

Raven snarled at the man. "You have some nerve." The woman began while pressing her chest against Tai and pushing him back. "Everything I've done is to keep those I love safe!"

"Is that why Yang doesn't even know the bitchy sound of her mother's voice? Because you love her so much you can't be around her?" Tai yelled while pushing Raven back.

"Watch yourself Xiao Long, you remember what happened last time you pissed me off." The female began in a low voice.

Tai nodded with his eyes wide. "Yeah, you got pregnant!"

Raven's face turned as red as her eyes. "You jackass." She growled in a low voice before pulling out her scroll. "Look this arguing is getting us nowhere, so just look at this."

Tai swiped the scroll from Raven and scowled. "What do you want me to look at?"

Raven groaned. "The reason I drink, or to be more precise your son. You see he has started working for Ozpin, and Naruto decided to send me details of the first mission he is undergoing for the man. I bet the little bastard sent me the details just to piss me off!"

Tai's eyes grew wide as he read the message from Naruto. "He's going after one of the Relics?"

Raven nodded. "And don't forget he's headed dangerously close to her territory."

Tai groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dear Oum, why do our children have to take after us?" The father of twins asked before taking a deep breath. "Okay why show me this? I obviously don't approve of this one bit. I just got my son back and I don't want to lose him."

"Well knowing my son, and trust me I do. There is only one thing we can do." Raven began in a low voice, while her eyes drifted to the giant axe hanging on the wall. "I don't like it, but for my children I will do anything."

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(With Naruto and Nora on the airship)

Naruto was reclining back and resting on a small bench within the ship. He seemed careless about the mission that was ahead of them. Nora on the other hand was nervously playing with her thumbs and looking out of the airship's window.

"Hey Naruto." Nora began in a soft voice, earning the blond's full attention. "Are you nervous about this mission?"

"Nah." The blond replied calmly, while he kept his eyes closed. "Mom used to send me on missions for the tribe all the time. So you can say this isn't my first time in the field."

"But this is different." Nora began in a worried tone. "So much is on the line. We have a Relic to obtain and we also have to worry about running into Salem."

Naruto snorted and waved a hand around in the air. "Don't worry about that bitch, from what mom said Salem doesn't do her own dirty work. Worse case scenario we end up running into one of her followers."

"And they are just as dangerous." Nora pointed out.

Naruto moved up slightly and gave his partner a cocky smirk. "Between me and you, we have a highly trained warrior skilled in many forms of combat. And a Maiden who can hold her own without her powers. I think the two of us can handle just about anything."

Nora smiled and folded her hands over her lap. "If only I could share your confidence."

Naruto stood to his feet and walked over to Nora, the blond then placed a hand onto his partner. "Don't worry about anything Nora, Branwen's are good at two things. Getting drunk and keeping their word, and I promise I won't let anything bad happen on this mission. Even if it means giving up the Relic I will do anything to keep you safe."

Blushing a deep shade of red, Nora allowed a large smile to grace her face. "You're the best Naruto."

Naruto grinned and released a light chuckle. The blond then leaned over Nora and looked into the cockpit. "Hey when will we arrive at the drop off point?"

"Five minutes sir." The pilot answered.

"That's should be close enough." Naruto chuckled as he assembled Kitsune into it's katana form and held the blade at his side. "Land at the landing zone and wait for us to return."

"Ummm, yes sir?" The pilot replied.

Nora raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Naruto what are you-.." Nora took a pause, as she watched Naruto swipe the air with his sword and create a portal. "Doing…."

Naruto grinned and looked to his partner. "My family has several techniques that have been past down through the years. What you just saw me do was create a portal to our drop off point. The only issues with this technique is that I need dust to use it and I can't travel too far, unlike my mother who has mastered the ability. Tch cocky old bitch."

"That's amazing." Nora admitted.

Naruto nodded and motioned for Nora to enter the portal. "Well are you ready to go?"

Nora grabbed her belongings and smiled wide. "Let's go!" The girl cheered, before she took a giant leap into the portal.

Naruto chuckled and followed Nora's lead, causing Naruto to pop out of the portal and notice his new surroundings. Currently the two partners were side by side and overlooking a large town in the middle of the desert. The town itself was large in area size, but the buildings were quite small. Since most of the structures only appeared to be one or two stories, which was nothing like the large cities of Vale.

"So what are we doing here?" Nora asked, while she brought a hand to her eyes to shield herself from the sun.

Naruto placed his weapon away and began to walk. "First lesson my mother taught me about being a successful huntsman. And that is always obtain local information before heading into an unknown situation." The blond explained, while Nora started to follow behind.

"Okay, we are looking for information then!" The girl summarized.

Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "More or less. If we get a good understanding of the situation at the dust mine, it will make our mission go much smoother."

Naruto and Nora slowly made their way into the town and began to walk through the crowded streets. Everywhere they looked there was shady figures, Faunus and con artists working the street. The whole vibe of the area made Nora uncomfortable, so she instinctively leaned into Naruto for support. Though the young Branwen who was raised around bandits and thieves felt right at home.

"Man this place is awesome!" Naruto began in a happy voice. "Fresh air, friendly people and I've already noticed six different bars."

Nora sighed and looked down. "You would like this place."

Naruto raised an eyebrow and laughed. "And you don't?" The blond asked.

Nora grinned and poked her partner on the nose. "Nope." The girl replied with an innocent laugh.

Naruto grinned. "Fair enough, forgot not everyone was raised around criminals. Though I think I've found a perfect place to get some information!" The blond declared before taking the lead down the street.

Nora watched her partner approach a building and frowned. "A casino?" The Maiden mumbled before following her partner inside.

Naruto grinned and looked around the gambling hall. "Yup! Besides taverns, a casino is the best place to get information."

Nora narrowed her eyes and watched her partner appach a blackjack table. "How?"

Naruto placed some Lien onto the table and tapped his fingers to be dealt in. "deal me in." The blond ordered, causing the dealer to lay two cards out. The blond then looked over to his partner and grinned. "Well casino owners normally have a large network of information. So we just need to speak to the owner."

Nora glanced over the table, there was two other players and the Winter Maiden was confused. "Okay how do we speak to the owner then?"

Naruto chuckled. "Just watch."

"Is everyone ready to reveal their cards?" The dealer asked, causing everyone save Naruto to peek at their cards. In fact, the young Branwen was looking in the complete opposite direction. He seemed bored with the card game he was participating in and that earned the dealers attention. "Kid do you even want to look at your cards?"

Naruto glanced to the man and shrugged his shoulders. "What's the point? I've already won."

One of the gamblers snorted. "Cocky kid, read it and weap. I got nineteen right here!" The man declared before showing his cards.

Another man scoffed. "Nice hand, too bad I've got twenty!"

"Awww shit!" The first man cursed.

"Wow." Naruto began in an uninterested tone, before he flipped his cards over without even looking at them. "Twenty one."

Everyone's eyes grew with and their mouths dropped open, well everyone except Nora. Instead the Winter Maiden sighed and brought a hand up to massage her forehead.

'He's using his semblance to gamble, why am I not surprised?' The orange haired girl thought to herself.

"What no way!" One of the gamblers shouted. "Beginners luck!"

Naruto placed his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. "Well how about we play another hand then."

"What are you doing?" Nora asked in an exhausted voice. "We have more important things to do than scam some idiots."

"Hey kid shut your bitch up." One of the angry gamblers insulted.

"Yeah learn you place girl." The other man growled.

Naruto gritted his teeth at the two men's insults, but his anger was quickly turned into laughter when Nora leaned over his back and pointed at the men.

"Take all they got! I want their Lein, their clothes, their house, hell I'll even take their first born child!" The Winter Maiden yelled in a rage filled tone.

Naruto chuckled. "The woman has spoken, so let's play."

The dealer nodded and began to deal the next hand, which lead into the most shocking winning streak anyone present had seen. No matter if it was with two cards or eight cards, every time Naruto revealed his hand he had twenty one. Which was even more unbelievable since the blond never once looked at his cards. Though his impressive winning streak did lure in a small crowd of spectators.

"Well sir." The dealer began, while he looked down to the six cards laying in front of Naruto. "Would you like anymore cards?"

Naruto who was looking around the casino snapped his attention back to the game. "Hmmm let's see how many cards do I have?" The blond asked himself, as he began to count his cards.

The other two players watched Naruto with trembling hands and sweat pouring down their faces. Both were running dangerously close to being broke, as to Nora's request Naruto was taking them for all they had.

"Nah I'm good." Naruto declared in a happy tone.

The two men sighed and revealed their hands, both having eight and eleven respectively. Truly by their attitude and how low their hands were, they both already expected to lose.

"And look what I got." Naruto began in a cheeky voice. "Twenty o-... oh hey what's the matter buddy?" Naruto asked, while he looked up to the man dressed in black who was holding him up by his cloak.

"The boss wants to have some words with you." The man answered, before looking over to Nora. "You too girly."

"Okay, let me just grab our winnings." Nora began as she reached over for the Lien on the table.

"Don't even think about it cheaters. That money belongs to the house now." The large man who was holding Naruto informed before grabbing Nora.

"Hey! We are not cheaters!" Nora whined and she was dragged off.

Naruto grinned. "It's fine Nora, everything is going according to plan!"

Nora's face shifted into a pout. "But all my Lein!"

Naruto rolled his eyes as they made their way to a doorway in the back off the casino. "I'll win you some Lein another time." The blond promised before the thug opened the door and pushed Naruto and Nora inside.

"Well what do we have here?" An angered voice asked from within the room.

Looking towards the voice, Naruto noticed a man behind a desk that was covered in stacks of Lein. The man was also flanked by two armed guards dressed in suits, so it was safe to assume this man was the boss of the casino.

"Names Naruto Branwen." The blond haired teenager introduced. "Nice to meet you."

The owner scoffed and leaned over his desk. "Well brat, you've got some nerve to cheat in my casino." The man declared, while his goons stepped slightly forward. "Most cheaters around here have unfortunate accidents. Though maybe we can make an arrangement with that pretty lady of yours. She could make for some good company."

Nora felt sickened by the man's tone and sleazy grin. So she moved behind Naruto and grabbed onto his cloak for security. Naruto felt his partner's grip and balled his fists. The young blond planned to talk things out peacefully, but the casino owner made one critical mistake. He upset Nora, and that's something Naruto wouldn't stand for.

"Hey Nora." Naruto began in a low voice, his hands already reaching behind his back. "I want you to let go, close your eyes and then count to three."

Nora didn't want to let go of her partner, but she trusted him enough to obey without question. So as she released her hold and closed her eyes, Nora began to count.

"One." Nora mumbled, as she heard the sounds of blades being unsheathed.

"Two." Nora continued and flinched as she heard the sound of gunshots. Which were shortly followed by the sounds of screaming.

"Three." Nora finished before she opened her eyes and gasped. All the goons' in the room were lying on the ground bleeding, and Nora didn't know if they were dead or alive. Though her partner stood beside the casino owner with his katana held to the man's neck.

"Listen here you sack of shit." Naruto began in a deathly serious voice, his eyes burning a deep shade of red. "I'm here for information and I decided to go about this the fun way. I could have just marched in and used force to get what I wanted, but I decided to be civil. However, you decided to make distasteful suggestions towards my partner. So now I'm doing this the way my mother taught me."

"Please don't kill me." The man cried in a pathetic tone.

Naruto grinned. "I don't know, tell me what you know and you might not meet an unfortunate accident." The blond replied, as he recited the man's previous threat. "See there is this dust mine three miles outside of this town. I want you to tell me everything you know about it."

"Uh, uh." The man began causing Naruto to press his blade into the man's skin. Since the blond was running low on patience.

"Talk faster." The blond ordered, as he slightly drew blood on the man.

"The mine is comprised of forty nine workers'. They are all Faunus, and they have recently overtaken the mine from their employer. Currently there is a rumor that the White Fang is involved with the uprising at the mine, but nothing is certain. All anyone knows is that the miners have overtaken the mine and attacked all outsiders. Especially anyone who isn't a Faunus." The man then took a deep breath after speaking. "Is that good enough."

Naruto glared at the man and raised his sword high in the air. He then spun the weapon around in his hand, that way the blade was pointing downwards. "Not really." The blond replied.

Pushing his weapon downward, Naruto's blade stopped only a few inches from the man's face. However, it wasn't Naruto who held himself from striking the man. No instead it was Nora, who was holding onto the blond's arm with her hands.

"That's enough." Nora began in a low sad voice, as she didn't want to see her partner take a life. "He's not worth it."

Naruto tightened his grip on Kitsune and glared at the squirming man. "He's trash, a worthless human being who wouldn't show either of us mercy if the roles were reversed."

Nora leaned into her partner and hugged him from behind. "Well lucky for him we are better than that." The girl declared in a soft voice.

"You're lucky." Naruto began, while he relaxed and looked over the man. "Contrary to what my partner says, it's not beneath me to kill you. However, she's able to bring out the person I'm not." Turning around Naruto grinned at his partner. "She's the best."

Nora smiled and poked her partner's nose. "Boop." The girl replied lovingly.

Naruto grabbed some Lein off the desk and placed an arm around Nora. "Well we got some information and I got you some Lein. So let's go check out this mine." The blond purposed.

Nora grinned. "Yeah, let's go partner."

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(20 miles from Naruto and Nora's location)

Walking slowly in the desert of Vacuo, a single woman dressed in black was slowly heading towards her destination. Her skin was completely pale and she had strange red and purple veins running all over her entire body. The woman also possessed a strange black diamond marking between her eyes and white hair. The latter of which was tied into a bun with six offshoots. Though by far her most defining feature was her piercing red eyes.

"Hmm what is this?" The woman began in an amused voice, as she stopped walking and appeared to focus out into the distance. "Not only do I sense a relic, but now a Relic Wielder and a Maiden. Oh this is my lucky day."

Grinning to herself, the woman continued on her path towards the relic. Where she would without a doubt run into Naruto and Nora. While neither teen was even remotely aware that Salem was coming for them both.

Chapter End!

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And here is the next chapter, it's a little short for my tastes and not a lot has happened. But I want to extend this arc out a little bit. Since this will be the big finale of volume one. So this is the build up for the big conflict that's going to happen and after this a lot will change in the story. Especially things involving Naruto, Raven and Tai…

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful day!