A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?

As ever, the Embers rule remains in effect.

If folks don't like this story, POOF! Away it goes. That's no joke.

So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! Reviews are fuel these days, and sometimes it feels like chatting with you all is all that keeps me going. Just wanted to thank you all for the feedback. Every bit of it helps. Really, it does.

Q: Quick question, Emerald's hair is longer in this story, yeah? Remember you mentioned it earlier, but then you said Naruto's hair is a bit longer too...

A: Just a bit about his bangs, yes. But hers...well, this chapter gives a better look at it.

Q: Aha! I saw that hint! Naruto CAN use a sword after all, can't he?!

A: He can. There's a reason he doesn't. A very good reason.

Q: Wuh-oh. Emerald's jealous as hell! Red alert!

A: Wouldn't you be? She practically grew up with this reincarnated Naruto; if anything she had a monopoly on him and his time for a good long while.

Now, all of a sudden, girls are coming out of the woodwork to claim him left right and center.

Throw in a shared power neither truly understands, and she's at her wits end.

She finally goes over the edge here.

Q: Is Naruto a bad person?

A: Considering he and Emerald only ever hit wealthy marks? Not really. Naruto doesn't want to kill. But his memories are coming back, and his powers with them. He's picked up his skills through blood and sweat, and other gifts besides.

Its a bit of a cosmic joke, really. In his first life, he hardly killed anyone.

In his second, he's built to kill. Its so easy. And it terrifies him.

Q: Please don't let Cinder win. That's all I ask.

A: ...well, that was out of the blue...

Alright, then. I think I've kept you all waiting long enough, no?

As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!

Now get ready for some humor, some chaos, and...more than a few surprises.

"Do you know why I use shields instead of a sword? Go on. Guess.

No? Nothing. That's alright. I'll answer for you.

"You see...that's the thing about swords. They're. Too. Easy. Just a one flick of the wrist and BAM! You end a life. Just like that! I hate it. I want to show restraint. I want to be better. That's why I gave up my old life and took up these bad boys instead. Basically, these shields aren't just for my sake. They're for yours as well.

"Do not. Give me. A sword."

~?

Love Burns

Goodwitch swung her crop down. "You may begin!"

Emerald dove on Naruto like a wildcat.

Hooked steel flashed out at the blond's head as her sickles unfurled, forcing him to recoil with a yelp. He snaked backward, parrying wildly as he went. Emerald pursued with single-minded fury, a whirl of motion as erratic as it was volatile. Under any other circumstance he might have admired her tenacity, her ferocity.

Now? He was too busy trying to survive! "What's gotten into you?!"

"You know what! Offer your head!"

"No, thank you!"

Thief's Respite slammed down on his interlocked shields and sent a shock shooting through his arms. Naruto planted his feet and grunted as he took the blow on his shield. Three more followed, and yet more still. Emerald rained down a steady staccato of strikes against him, forcing him to stand his ground lest he be overwhelmed. He weathered the storm with all the stoicism of a rock. Emerald didn't stop. She just just whaling on him. Like an angry child.

"Is this all you're capable of now?" that low, growling voice came on again. "You can do better than this. Don't just stand there and take it! Everyone's watching you!"

'You again...?! Shut up!'

Naruto grit his teeth and prepared to push back, only to find Respite's twin muzzles less than inch from his face. Blue eyes widened. Emerald's scowl was nothing short of vicious.

She unloaded on him.

Dust barked out.

Aura fizzled.

Blue eyes flashed red at the last instant and his Semblance flared to drain the energy of the shots -their very velocity and momentum- before they could inflict to much aura damage. It still hurt like a bitch. He felt the beginnings of an ugly bruise form on his jaw, and for a moment, just a moment, his control slipped. Respite's magazine clicked empty. He raised his head.

"That...hurt."

"Oh." Emerald realized her mistake a heartbeat later. "Oh, shit."

"Quite."

His rightmost shield bashed her in the face, sending her reeling. Even as she stumbled back the shield clicked away, freeing his hand. It closed around her face, ripped her from her feet and slammed her down to the mat with an audible crack. Her aura plummeted by a quarter on the screen above.

Gasps arose from those watching.

"Look," he leaned down and hissed in her ear, "I don't know what you think I did, but you're making a mistake. Calm down!"

"Am I?!" She glowered up at him, And her eyes were so very near to glowing. "First Freya, now Maria! Am I not good enough for you?!"

"Of course you are!" He scowled at her, not understanding her anger. "I just helped them! What's wrong with that?!" his head butted against hers. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Dense as ever. Good to see that some things never change, even in a second life."

Again with the voices! 'Pipe down, whoever you are! Now isn't the time!

...you still don't remember me?" it sounded almost hurt.

A flash of pain stabbed through his head.

Emerald thrashed free beneath him and scythed a leg into his side, distracting him. Naruto caught it by the ankle and flung her away, wincing only a little as her chains raked his whiskered visage in passing.

"Oi! Watch it! We need to talk about this!" Her sickle whipped past, carving an angry furrow across his cheek. "Quit it!"

She hooked her blades around his undamaged shield and tried to wrest it away. Naruto tanked the blow on his aura, caught her chain and reeled her in as one would a fish. Emerald didn't let go of her weapons. Of course not. She was stubborn like that. So was he. Red eyes eyes widened as she realized his intentions, but it was already too late to change her trajectory in the slammed into his chest, and bounced off his armor. His arms clamped down.

Emerald went absolutely berserk. Kicking and screaming and biting like a madwoman.

"Lemme go!"

He growled at her and held tight. "Not until you calm down!"

"Bastard!" her forehead slammed against his. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Hate you! Don't care!"

"Bullshit!" He headbutted her right, startling her. "Damnit, just tell me what ya want from me!"

Emerald thrashed a moment more before the fight drained out of her. Her body went limp in his arms. Her lower lip trembled and she hung her head. It was all so sudden that he thought it a trap; some trick she'd use to break out of his hold. His grip on her actually tightened for a second or so, drawing a small cry of pain from her.

...date." she rasped.

Naruto blinked anew. "Eh?"

Emerald's head slammed against his shoulder, muffling the words yet further into the fabric of his jacket.

"I...wanna date." she muttered, momentarily dropping back into her old slang. "An actual date. Lets go out." when she raised her gaze, her eyes were curiously damp. "Tonight." her voice warbled. "Just the two of us. It'll be like old times."

Realization broke like the dawn. "You're jealous."

She tore her gaze from his. "N-No! I'm not, stupid! You are!"

"You actually are." he couldn't help but chortle. "That's the reason?"

"Alright, fine!" She kicked his shin. "Yes! There! I said it! Now let go of me before I kick you somewhere else!"

Naruto couldn't help himself; the dam burst, he tipped his head back and burst out with a mighty guffaw. All this over that? That was so like her to get riled up for something like this. No, it was exactly something she'd do. And he'd not seen it. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, gently this time, sighing softly. She leaned against him with a sigh. Even when he released her she didn't budge. Her arms linked around his chest and held tight.

...I was first." she muttered.

Aaaand she'd lost him again. Why were girls so confusing?!

In the background, he heard Miss Goodwitch declare a winner as everyone whistled and cheered, but the words were muffled. Distant. What followed...was not.

"That's my girl! Now make way!" Coco all but materialized between them. "Fashion police coming through! I have work to do!"

"Whoa!" Naruto jerked back as an open palm pressed against his chest, sending him stumbling.

Emerald scarcely had time to squawk before she found herself hauled off.

"C'mon, girl! We've gotta get you dressed~!"

"Not agaaaaain! Somebody help!"

(.0.0.0.)

Cinder watched the proceedings with a smile.

Mercury didn't much like that smile of hers. Not one bit.

You see, Mercury Black was a simple man. He did as he was told. He followed orders. He survived. Nothing more. Keeping Cinder happy fell somewhere between those objectives. A happy Cinder was a focused Cinder, and a focused Cinder didn't tear strips out of his hide. Had she seen something he hadn't? He'd watched that "Emerald" girl the entire time and her eyes hadn't glowed, not once. Naruto's kid's might have, but that was impossible. Men couldn't possess the power of a Maiden. It just wasn't possible. He'd been told that time and time again

Still, they'd really gonna at it. For a moment he'd thought they really were trying to kill one another.

And Cinder?

Cinder was still smiling.

"Uh, boss? You're scaring me."

Her grin deepened, stretching at the edges.

It served as a reminder of the monster she was.

Beauty was skin deep. The things he'd seen this woman do would curdle blood.

"Dear Mercury, I believe we've just found our friend's weakness...

Mercury looked back, considering the unlikely pair anew. Had they? It looked like they'd just found a good way to piss him off. He didn't want to fight that thing. Naruto reminded him of his old man, and not in a good way. Was he a killer? He could preach all he wanted, but he moved like one. His movements were sharp and his eyes keen, unlike the ruined wreck that had once been Marcus Black, he was very much in his prime. They were going to recruit that? Still...orders were orders. Good soldiers followed orders. And if they didn't...they were replaced. He'd seen what Cinder did to the last failure.

Cinder touched a perfectly pale hand shoulder.

Her fingers were white hot on his skin.

"I believe a test is in order...

(.0.0.0.)

Several hours later, someone's Scroll vibrated atop their desk. Once. Twice. Thrice.

Their owner retrieved it with a put upon sigh.

"Yeah? You need something?"

...I have a task for you."

(.0.0.0.)

Coco swung her door open with a flourish, spread an arm wide, and stepped aside with a bow. "She's ready~!"

Emerald glided out into the hall steps, her face a cloud of dark thunder. "Not. One. Word."

Maria whistled instead. "How about two? Hot damn~!"

Naruto's jaw clicked open.

Blood rushed to the illusionist's already dark face; said visage became darker still as Blake and Pyrrha began to applaud. Of course, that made Emerald turn to him but if it was solace she sought in his gaze she didn't find it there. Her face burned even more. Really, she shouldn't have expected anything less from Beacon's resident fashionista.

Naruto found himself in total agreement. Wow. He'd almost forgotten what she looked like when she let her hair down.

Gone was Emerald's uniform, eschewed in a favor of a midriff-baring green blouse coupled with a black skirt -just shy of too short!- that looked to have come from the darkest depths of Coco's closet. A slender pair of black stockings clung to her thighs to completed the ensemble with matching shoes...shoes that looked fit to do a fair bit of kicking if everyone didn't stop staring right now. Really, it made him feel under-dressed in plain blue jeans and a red hoodie. If he he'd known better, he would've worn something else today!

"Well?" She scowled at him. "You clearly have something on your mind. Out with it."

"You, ah," Naruto looked away, scratched a cheek, and coughed into a fist. "You look really...good."

Emerald positively glowed.

"She'd better!" Velvet's voice hallooed from Team CFVY's room. "I nearly lost an ear getting her into that getup!"

Coco sniffled. "They grow up so fast!"

Emerald thief swiped at her to no avail; the gunner was already gone, diving back into her room to avoid her comeuppance.

Maria grinned. "We'll just be going, shall we?"

Blake and Pyrrha protested for all of a moment. No use there, the rejuvenated Reaper had them both by the shoulders and away in short order.

Emerald pinched her nose. "Those girls...

Naruto considered her for a moment. "Didn't know you had an outfit like that.

...I asked Coco for advice," she pushed a hand through her the curtain of her hair and fretted a bit beneath his gaze. "More fool me. Her team jumped me and before I knew it, I got crammed into this." Under his watchful eye she twisted to and fro with a growl. "How the hell am I supposed fight in this getup?" A grimace stole over her face as she squeezed her bosom. "Its too tight. My tits hurt."

Naruto coughed. "Crass as ever, I see...so? Where did you wanna go?"

Her eyes lit up. "I know a good burger joint...there's also shop that sells a bit of dust too, if you're interest."

Naruto's brow furrowed. He didn't much care for her tone.

"Wait, dust? You cased the place, didn't you?"

She looked away. "...maybe?"

"Emerald!"

(.0.0.0.)

Vale really was nicer at night.

Say what you would about its crime rate, or its people, or even its huntsmen, but the city was lovely by starlight.

Perhaps that influenced the choice for their date.

Their choice of venue was a nice little den, all things considered. Not terribly large, but neither was it so small as be cramped either. Pastel walls, the faint smell of greasy burgers sizzling on the grill, and the faint chill of the night air. Naruto found himself warming to it despite his earlier concerns. Food was good, too. Really good. He hadn't had an authentic Vacuo burger -and who knew Vale served them?- since he was a kid. Brought back good memories. Simpler memories, when it had been just the two of time, scraping and scrounging to survive.

Now if Emerald would stop looking like she wanted to fleece everyone in the joint, that'd be great.

"Oi." he elbowed her when she looked away from their foot for what must've been the umpteenth time. "You're drooling. Stop eyeing the register."

"Sorry." she wiped her mouth, chagrined at having been caught. "Old habits die hard. So, this place...

"Its not bad." he agreed, taking a bite of his burger. "Better than some fancy restaurant. I'm amazed you didn't recommend this joint earlier."

"I tried." her elbow jostled him slightly. "You can be dense as hell...

"Hey!"

Her hand touched his.

...but I'm sorry for attacking you."

"S'fine." he looked away with a flush. Not your fault..

She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him closer. "Not sorry for this, though."

Emerald nestled closer to him. Naruto jolted a little. This close he could feel the heat of her body against his. Blue eyes met red. Her gaze flitted to his lips and suddenly she was leaning in, covering them with her own. It was like fire in his veins. He sucked in a sharp breath through his nose and reciprocated in kind, food all but forgotten on his plate.

"I-

A harsh bang echoed behind them, cutting the moment short and startling them apart.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" a great, gregarious laugh boomed out on the patio behind them.. "We are tonight's entertainment!"

A green-eyed young man in a crisp white suit sauntered in, twirling a cane in one hand. He wasn't alone. Flanked by a quartet of men black with contrasting red ties and glasses, they looked every bit the disreputable sort one might see in some b-thriller movie. Not his concern.

It was their leader that concerned him, because he took one look at them and made a beeline their way.

"Don't mind us, lovebirds," he hummed, holding out a sack. "Just empty your valuables into this and we'll be on our merry way."

...you're seriously robbing a burger joint? Are you that hard up for cash?"

Emerald absolutely hissed. "They are not ruining this."

Naruto considered the man anew. Was that a bowler cap? Well, he got points for style if nothing else. And orange hair? Nice. His voice was charismatic, sociable even and yet for all that, there was something about them he couldn't quite put his finger on. No, wait. He recognized him. It took a moment -they'd been out of the criminal underworld awhile- but an old article he'd seen once jogged his memory.

"You're Roman Torchwick."

The thief blinked. "You know me? I'm flattered."

"By reputation only." a slow grin spread across his whiskered visage. "Its a pleasure to finally meet you face to face. You can leave now. We'll let you live."

"Nah, I don't think so." Melodic Cudgel came up, ready to fire at the slightest provocation. "Turn out your wallets. Valuables first."

Emerald looked left. Emerald looked right. Emerald set her menu down. "Is he threatening us?"

Naruto grinned. "I think he is. Been awhile since someone did that."

Her brow furrowed. "I'm not letting him ruin our date."

"No, no, I get that, but he might be useful-

CRACK!

Roman sailed back, spitting teeth. Emerald stormed after him.

Naruto sighed and called for his locker. "Guess we're doing this now."

He heard something break shatter behind him and flipped the table, sending the goons flying. A thin blade pierced through his cover and tore a thin crimson line across his cheek. It was the only warning he received before he heard the sound of shattering glass. A sharp heel crashed into the side of his head, all but snapping his neck to one side. He rode the blow, caught them by the thigh, and slammed them into the floor.

"Vicious little thing, aren't you."

Neopolitan blinked up at him with wide eyes.

Then he smashed her through the floor.

Emerald shrieked a moment later.

(.0.0.0.)

This wasn't his night!

Roman backpedapled, cursing as he looked upon what he'd wrought. He'd gotten a lucky shot. Why had he gotten a lucky shot?! Didn't these kids have aura?! They were supposed to have Aura! So why was the girl on the floor?! Why was she bleeding?! No, no, no! That was a bad wound, a through and through in her side. Robbery was one thing, but he hadn't come her eto kill anyone.

"Shit!" he swore, kneeling hastily to press both hands to the wound. "Alright, you're fine, we'll get you to a hospital-

And then, in the silence...a voice. "Emerald?!"

The shadow fell over him a heartbeat later.

Roman looked up. "Truce?"

Nope. No such luck.

'I've blundered.'

Clenched knuckles slammed into the side of his face and sent him slamming into the street. He was still tumbling when a boot caught his ribs and launched him into -then through!- a building. Pain blazed through his left side as the smoke cleared and he looked down to see the twisted ruin of his leg.

Naruto slung the shields together onto his back and reached over his shoulder. Something shifted.

In hindsight, Roman wasn't sure if it was magic or mechashift, maybe some trick of the light entirely. Whatever it was, something happened and the shields hadn't been there before. In their place stood a fine weapon, a longsword with an amber hilt and deep navy edge so dark as to nearly be black steel. No. Not a longsword, he realized. A katana. His wrist flicked out, sparks sizzling from its edge.

Something clicked in the back of Roman's head.

Shields that turned into a sword. Whiskered cheeks and blue eyes.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Oh, shiiiiit.

Damnitall, Cinder! Why do you do this to me?!

"Do you know why I don't use a sword, Roman?" That horrid azure blade swept up, tickling his chin. "Because its too easy. Just like-

Neo appeared behind him with a faint shattering of glass and drove her blade at his stomach. Naruto sidestepped her lunge with callous ease. His free hand swung around, catching her by the throat without so much as a backward glance, firm fingers winding around her windpipe. A low growl pierced the air. Mismatching eyes widened, then bulged now as he began to squeeze.

"Nice semblance." Dead eyes regarded hers. "Maybe I'll take it. Your life, too."

Red light bled from his fingers. Into her. Back into him again.

She writhed in his grasp with a soundless scream.

"Neo! No!"

Soulless eyes met his.

...drop your weapon." it was a growl.

"I'm sorry!" Melodic Cudgel clattered to the floor. "I didn't know who you were! Really!"

"Little late for that, don't you think?" his foe cocked his head. "Time to take your lumps...is what I would say, normally."

Neo's quivering form fell to the floor, gasping for air.

Roman released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Thanks the gods. For a moment he'd genuinely thought the kid was going to slit his throat over this little accident. It was an honest-to-goodness mistake, really. He hadn't recognized them. Cinder was going to have his head for this, he just knew it. She'd told him to tests these kids, to see what they were capable of, then beat a retreat and report back. That was looking less and less likely right about now. Neo wouldn't be helping him here. She was just as trapped as he was.

Still, this was good! If the kid was willing to let bygones be bygones, then-

...I'm not emotional about the money, Roman."

Without warning, that firm hand on his shoulder clamped down with frightful intensity, cracking his collarbone.

"But I am emotional about the fact that your and your little band of misfits laid their hands on my partner." Blue eyes burned an unholy red, warping into scarlet slits before his very eyes. "Not a friend, not an acquaintance, not some random little gnat I couldn't care less about. My. Partner. he squeezed harder and then there was pain, weakness. Roman's legs buckled beneath him like rotten driftwood on the docks. "You, in your incompetence, hurt the one person I value more than my life. You. Hurt. EMERALD!"

"W-Wait a second! I can pay! I'll make this up to you, I swear-

"No amount of money on this gods-forsaken earth can pay for what you've put us through." Naruto shook his head. "I wanted to be better this." a growl pierced the air. "I didn't WANT to be the monster here. But it seems you've left me with little choice in the matter."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Roman crawled back like a drunken crab. "You don't need to do this! I'll do whatever you want! I can name names! Honest!"

"Unfortunately for you, Cold blue eyes met his, harsher than any blizzard. "There's only one currency I'll accept. Care to guess what it is?"

His sword swept up, the mere act of, splitting the street at Roman's feet like so much brittle glass.

"I want a pound of flesh." Baleful red eyes met his. "And I know just where to take it from.

His sword descended in a streak of blue and silver.

A/N: I'll let you guess if Roman and Neo survived that encounter.

Reincarnated or not, Naruto wasn't in the mood. And he was full on channeling Kurama there by the end.

As ever, the Embers rule remains.

If folks don't like this story, POOF! Away it goes. That's no joke.

So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!

As ever, reviews keep this old man writing. Looking forward to chatting with you all! Hope you enjoyed!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Revieeew... Would You Kindly?

As ever, enjoy the previews! And of course!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

(Preview)

Emerald woke with a gasp. "Hurts...

"Its fine, you're gonna be fine...I'll get you to a hospital...

Everything was blurry. She was vaguely aware of being carried. She looked up. Saw something else.

"Your're glowing."

Naruto frowned down at his shimmering sleeves, which were indeed shimmering a faint flickering shade of gold. It cut a stark contrast with the literal blue fire spitting from his eyes. He looked absolutely livid, pulsing veins pounding on either side of his face, his jaw clenched so hard she could've heard his teeth cracking.

She looked down, saw blood on his hands Frowned. "...what did you do?"

He walked just a little faster. "That's not important right now."

"What I had to."

"You know, they say there's no honor among thieves."

But really, there is. There are rules, y'see.

You just broke all of 'em."

"I was going to be someone!" Cardin clenched a fist. "Its all his fault...

"What witchery is this?!"

Maria stuck out her tongue at Cordovin. "Nyeh! Who's laughing now?!"

"Ladies, please!

"Don't bother." Freya didn't look up from her book. "They'll be at this for at least an hour."

"Everyone has their price." Cinder watched him from the window. "I wonder what yours is? Money? No," her tongue rolled over her lips. "You have more than enough of that. Power? A thief has no need for such things. Love? No." her brow darkened as she watched him laugh with his teammates. "You want to be loved. Adored. You want their respect. You crave their adulation. Friendships...bonds...that...

She scoffed.

...that is what makes you WEAK."

"How was it, living a normal life? Are you wiser now? Did you enjoy it?"

Naruto pinched the brow of his nose. "What do you want?"

"Everything."

EDIT: Hope you enjoyed them!

As ever, the Embers rule remains.

If folks don't like this story, POOF! Away it goes. That's no joke.

So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!

Really, feedback means the world to me...

...

...

...even if folks think it doesn't.

R&R~!