A/N: Lost my notes, ehe~

Still here, thought folks might like an update.

Practice Makes Perfect is coming along quite nicely, but someone begged for this, sooo...

As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Poof! Gone! Every bit of feedback helps. That's no joke. I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like, not with two jobs breathing down my neck. That truth still holds true here.

I've had some call me a review whore for that, and while that hurts a little, I can't write without feedback. So by all means speak up! Make yourself heard! Your feedback matters! I cannae write without them!

No question this time! Only story~!

Alright, I think I've kept you long enough.

I think we all know what's coming...and its going to be glorious.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one! Kudos if you guess the quote~!

"I can say with utmost confidence, that I have made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child alive.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a good man. Perhaps I used to be, once.

Despite this, you still wish to learn from me? Hmm. Very well.

Your first lesson will be a simple one. Dodge. That is all.

If you can dodge my cane, you can dodge a Grimm."

~Ozpin.

Learning a Lesson

Her time was now.

Cinder knew this was her chance; her moment, the one she'd been searching for, waiting for at long last. Long had she waited. Long had she prepared. Tonight the young Maiden would finally put her plan into action. No one would be able to stop her. By the time they realized what she intended, it would be far too late. Ha! Fools! They'd regret underestimating her! Mwahaha!

...it wasn't what it sounded like. Really. It wasn't.

If Naruto was going to have secret training, then so was she. Simple as that.

Night after night he'd been ferried to Beacon by bullhead, and each time he'd return utterly exhausted.

Well! Tonight she'd start her own training. See how he liked that!

She wasn't trying to make him jealous or anything. No! Surely not. Not at all!

Her shadow slipped across the walls, dancing with movement as she crept out her room, then into the hall proper. The house lay still in slumber, not a soul aware of her little escapade. Good. Yang she could escape, but little Ruby and Illia wouldn't let their "Big Sis" be if they knew she was up and about.

She just had to make it to the door and she'd be home free.

Cinder crept down the stairs, taking them two at a time in her haste. A step creaked under her heel and she froze with a furious hiss, half-expecting an adult to come barreling down the stairs after her. Any moment now Uncle Qrow or Taiyang would catch on, and then she'd be caught.

Cinder looked left.

Cinder then looked right.

Cinder didn't see a soul in sight.

Slowly, carefully, she eased her foot back and crept forward. Say what you would about Taiyang, but he slept like a log at night. And why wouldn't he? Only a fool would dare attack a Hunter family, least of all one with children. Patch was a tight-knit community full of Hunters; anyone fool enough to strike here would be lucky to get an open-casket funeral. Ah, but there was the door. Objective in sight.

Three steps ahead.

Two, now.

One.

Her hand closed around the handle and slotted in her key. The latch turned with nary a sound, sending a vicious little thrill of pride through her. Ha! Mission accomplished. She was home free. Once she made it outside she could find a nice secluded place to train, and no one would be the wiser.

"Big sis?" A tiny, sleepy voice called behind her. "Where are you going?"

Erk!

Cinder froze just shy of opening the door; a proverbial deer in the headlights. Must not look back. She absolutely mustn't look back over her shoulder. She knew who lurked there. To look was to doom herself. Precisely what the enemy wanted. If she gave an inch now, they'd take a yard later. She just knew it. Mustn't lose her nerve. Mustn't be defeated. She would not fall to such. She refused. She was Cinder Fall! Spring Maiden! She would never, ever succumb to such silly sentiment as this?

"Did I do something bad?" another, softer, more plaintive whisper sent a shiver through her. "Is that why you're leaving?"

Aaargh! It was like kicking a puppy! A cute, silver-eyed puppy.

"M'not leaving, Ruby." she muttered through pursed lips, glaring golden daggers at the door. "Just going out. I'll be back in the morning."

"Oh." a pause, and then. "Whatcha doing?"

Curses! She couldn't resist!

Cinder spun around.

Looked down.

Sure enough she found Ruby Rose beaming up at her...and a less than pleased Yang with her.

Illia was huddled behind her.

"Can we come with you? We wanna train, too!"

Cinder felt the night slipping away from her; her scheme ruined.

Blast it all. Maybe a little delay wouldn't hurt. But only for tonight. Nothing more!


(.0.0.0.)


Ozpin tapped his cane on the bedrock. "Again."

Naruto dragged himself upright, clutching his ribs. "Ruthless bastard...

"Not ruthless my boy." the headmaster of Beacon planted both hands on his weapon and favored him with a bemused smile. "Merely pragmatic. You asked for this training in the first place, and so training you shall receive in spades. Now dodge!"

He barely got an arm up in time; the moment he did, Ozpin struck again and again, piercing his guard frivolous ease to strike his chin. Pain sparked. Blue eyes flashed red. When he tried to summon a shadow clone, that cane flitted out again, slapping his hands aside. No time for seals. Only pure hand-to-hand. It was maddening. Nearly all he could do to defend himself, let alone counter. Back and forth they raged, striking wildly at one another. Felt more like Oz was the one doing the attacking at that.

Bloody wizard was merciless.

His cane didn't just hit hard, it hit fast; by the sage woe betide unto you if you couldn't block or get out the way in time; because he was going to barrel right through you like no tomorrow. He'd seen the man punc holes through buildings with that weapon. Felt like he was doing the same to him!

In truth, Naruto found the ceaseless assault somewhat refreshing. Tai and Qrow always pulled their punches at the last instant. Softened their blows, ya know? Maybe they were afraid to hut him or Cinder. Wasn't their fault. They were good people. Maybe too good. Nothing wrong with being good in a world full of madmen and monsters.

But Ozpin wasn't a good person. He showed no such mercy. Of course he didn't. He'd told him not to.

He'd been both a knight and a king, a criminal, even a killer in one of his past lives. When one lived as long as he did, one accumulated a vast wealth of experience. Naruto needed that experience. Had to be strong. Had to get stronger. Not just for him and Cinder, but for Illia and Ruby and Yang, everyone he wanted to protect-ack?!

His concentration snapped as the wizard's cane struck a particularly sensitive spot in his right arm just below the elbow. It drooped uselessly.

"That would be your Ulnar nerve." Ozpin elucidated. "Do try to protect it."

"Why you?!"

The cane flicked out again and he retaliated in kind; a torrent of nine barbed chakra chains burst from his back, forcing the Wizard to give ground or find himself skewered on the spot...or so had been his intent. Imagine his surprise then, when Ozpin simply tanked the hits on his aura and waded in, deflecting them with ease.

"Good, good!" He commended, hopping over one in a nimble bound. "Trust your instincts!"

"I'll show you instinct!"

One such plucky chain got lucky; it managed to wrap around the haft of the Headmaster's cane and yank it up. There!

Ozpin tittered and whipped him into the ground, chains and and all.

"Owww...

He braced himself for a finishing blow, but it never came. That callous cane mere poked the back of his head.

"A valid tactic." he looked up from where he lay to find the old man gazing down upon him. "But flawed. Where did you go wrong?"

The answer seemed obvious. "You're heavier than me."

"Yes, but you settled for trying to disarm me."

He pouted. "You said to trust my instincts."

"Ah, but did I tell you to rely on them overmuch?" A hand was offered and he clasped it, letting himself be hoisted to his feet. "I don't recall such."

Naruto pursed his lips. Blast it. Why did he have to get the last word in? He couldn't even bring himself to hate the man. Ozpin was just so damn...driven. A bit mysterious at times, and perhaps he played his cards closer to his chest than he really should, but at the end of the day he genuinely wanted what was best for humanity.

And if that meant thrashing him up down and sideways until he could fight properly, so be it.

Their goals aligned. That alone let the man share some secrets with him.

"Here, let me have a look at you." Ozpin leaned down to squint at him. "Hmm. Already healed." a hand tilted his head to one side. "You had a bruise there before. Remarkable...

Naruto grimaced, rubbing his ribs.

"Well, if it means Cinder won't see my injuries...

"Yes, I'm sure Miss Fall would appreciate me bringing you back in one peace." He recognized the change of subject for what it was, but couldn't stop him in time. "You've made admirable progress these last few months-as I'm sure you're well aware-but you could be so much more than this." his expression shifted, hardening a little. "You have great power within you, Naruto. Why do you not use it?"

The blond winced. "That...may not be a good idea. The fox and I aren't on good terms."

That was putting it lightly! He still didn't know how to deal with the furball. Sometimes it felt like the fox wanted to help him. At others...well. The less said about that the better. He knew the impasse couldn't last; mighty though he was, he wouldn't get much further if he constantly had to guard himself against attacks from within.

Something had to give. He wasn't sure who would. Him...or the fox.

"Then its high time we changed that." No doubt sensing his mood, Ozpin collapsed his cane and offered him a hand. "Let us have a word with your friend. Perhaps I can convince him to aid you."

Naruto recoiled, recalling his last slip. "Bad idea! All the bad ideas! Trust me, you can't reason with someone like him. Best I can do is point him in a given direction.

"Trust in me." His mentor patted his head. "I may be lesser than what I once was, but I'm still capable of a few tricks. Observe."

Quick as can be, his grip shifted. Ozpin flicked two fingers and touched his forehead.

Naruto opened his mouth to protest, only for the the world to blur.

His eyes rolled back in the head and reality fell away.

And he saw him.

A/N: Kurama next chapter~!

Hope you enjoyed this interim chapter; because things are about to pick up, and fast.

As stated above, reviews are my lifeblood. Can't write without 'em.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly?

Here, enjoy some previews.

SPOILERS! READ IF YOU DARE!

References are references~!

(Previews)

"Give up. You're surrounded. you can't win."

He rose slowly. Set her body down. Patted her head. Only then did he speak.

...who decided that?" a bloody red eye glared over his shoulder. "I've given you courtesy enough...

He reached back, tearing off his tattered jacket.

"Now I fight."

Naruto struck like a viper. One moment he was crouching over her; whispering soft word to her, nowhere near the men who had broken her so badly. In the next his foes yelped as he appeared among them. A booted foot stomped down. The ground cracked. Bodies hit the floor. He drove a knee into their leader's solar plexus. A startled grunt was his reward. They were still gasping for air when he stomped down in. A one-inch punch had them folding like a house of cards. His hands flashed out to strike either side of their head to strike their ears in an open-palmed slap, discombobulating them.

They doubled over, to which he grasped the leader's head and slammed a headbutt into their nose. Blood fountained forth.

She took some petty pleasure in the irritated snarl that followed from where she lay. Heh. Worth it...

Naruto waded in, fists swinging. "You have my attention now! I hope its what you wanted!"

It was not what they wanted. Nope. Not at all.


A ring. He'd given her a ring.

...its beautiful. And this is for me?"

"Now, just calm down. I know you're happy, buuuuut-

No such luck. She dove on him, landed in his lap and rode him to the floor.


She was looking at another Maiden.

Amber blinked up at her. "Can you teach me to be like you?"

Cinder snorted. "There is no one like me-ow! Don't pinch me, blast you!"

"Sorry, not sorry." Naruto took his hand from her hip. "Can't have you getting a big head."


Cinder lowered her palm. "There. How's that for power?"

Glynda gazed out on the blasted wasteland and sighed. "So much for the forest...

R&R~!