The Last Kingdom
Disclaimer: I do not own Rwby, Naruto nor any of their respective Characters. They are property of Monty Oum and Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter 2: Clash! Battle at the Emerald Forest
It was during the early hours in the morning when shaded azure eyes opened, dim light falling over the room through the large windows on the walls.
It couldn't have been later than five in the morning, the majority of students still resting in their sleeping bags peacefully.
He yawned softly as he sat up clearing the sleepiness away. His hands rubbed his eyes slowly.
There was something strange about sleeping near that many people, the instincts that had been beaten into his body keeping him alert even though his mind remained in a state of rest.
At first he thought he wouldn't be able to sleep calmly but fortunately that wasn't the case.
Still, his sensitive ears picked up the slow breaths of the people around him, light snores merging with small grunts that came out from time to time.
His eyes diverted towards the space beside him, finding it strangely empty. When had that guy gotten up? His gaze roamed the room in concentration as he futilely searched for the unique individual he had met the previous night.
There was no trace of his presence anywhere in the ballroom. He stilled for a moment as he considered that information, his eyes narrowed in suspicion and apprehension.
His nose hadn't been able to pick his scent and his ears hadn't been able to detect his exit.
There were very few people who could escape his wild senses in such a manner; he was after all, trained to remain alert at all times and to be aware of all enemies on his surroundings. The fact that the indigo haired guy had managed to evade him like that was, for a lack of a better word…unnerving.
His eyes turned to the large window behind him, dull light not able to penetrate through the unconscious minds of the sleeping students.
It seemed to be a good time to get up and go about his morning.
The exam would begin in a few hours from then and yet, despite that his biological clock refused to adapt to his situation.
He half-smiled remembering the early mornings of his childhood, the ones he used to have with his master, a warm tea and a heavy warm up preparing them for a day of intense training.
He wondered how the man was faring right in that moment. Was he still traveling the world, doing jobs for the association? Did he keep wasting money on those mature establishments in the remote villages?
He had been a weird man ever since he had met him, yet his kindness and compassion remained ingrained in his memories and heart, encouraging him to be the best person he could be. It was the man who had saved him from despair, who gave him shelter from the cold and a way of life he could follow without regrets.
He stood up as silently as he could, rolling up the sleeping bag and taking his belongings with him, heading towards the exit of the room.
Near the doors, a guide graciously received the sleeping bag, indicating him the way to the changing rooms and showers.
He walked leisurely with his left hand at his side, his right holding his backpack on his shoulder. A faraway look remained in his eyes as he indulged in remembrance of a not long past, when a person most dear to him would smile candidly at him.
His feet carried him to a large room filled with storage lockers for the applicants to leave their belongings as preparation for the test.
It was desolated for the time being, no soul gracing its presence with the exception of the blond teen himself.
Taking out some clothes from his bag, he changed into lighter gear, not wanting to dirty his combat uniform before the assignment.
He stretched unhurriedly, getting the last remnants of stiffness out of his body before opening one of the locker boxes and putting inside his black backpack.
Interestingly, the locker mechanisms seemed to lack the modern technology that was common in most security based systems. He assumed it was because not everyone was going to be able to pass the exam so there was no necessity to grant all applicants their own personal security clearance.
He closed it calmly before assigning a numerical combination to the lock after memorizing it, marking its location in his mind for when he came to get his things back.
He turned left towards the door of the room, walking with determined steps. He had approximately three hours before he had to be back in the showers to get ready for the initiation exam.
With that much free time he readily made his way past the entrance of the main building where they had been staying, pausing as his feet left him in the threshold.
A grey sky greeted his cerulean colored eyes, the sun's rays barely even glimpsing past the horizon line. The familiarity of the scene before his gaze brought a contented smile to his lips.
His eyes closed shortly as he drew breath through his nose, the smell of cut grass and spring breeze clinging closely to his senses.
He exhaled slowly, his eyes opening as he resumed his steps.
His gaze shifted from side to side looking for the most appropriate place to begin his daily routine, finding a small area not too far past the lake surrounding the castle, filled with trees and bushes that could be of use.
An excited smile took over his face as soon as he found himself in the green grass; it was the perfect place to train unbothered.
Wearing only a red sleeveless shirt and some black shorts he started doing his warm up exercises.
He trained methodically like he had been taught by his master, working all the appropriate muscles, following familiar movements repeated times.
No matter how many times he had followed that training through the years, the familiar heat in his muscles and his strenuous breathing brought a sense of comfort and familiarity that allowed his body to remain at ease and somehow gave him peace of mind.
-THELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOM-
Hours had passed as his body built up sweat, his clothes becoming damp with the evidence of his hard work
The sun had risen with bright vigor not too long after he had begun his exercises, bringing warmth and laying down light over the green grass that formed the ground where his training had taken place.
As his movements stopped, his training coming to an end for the day, his sky blue eyes admired the massive castle that housed the huntsmen in training. It was still hard to believe he had been allowed to come to the most prestigious combat school in the kingdom, renowned families and prodigious warriors having crossed the halls that had invaded his vision just the previous night.
He shook his head slowly; warm droplets of sweat sliding down his skin. He didn't have time to be wasting around sightseeing, soon enough he would be able to explore, the initiation exam his only obstacle remaining.
He walked unhurriedly with simple steps, his breathing getting back to normal after a few minutes.
His feet carried him past the small bridge that crossed the lake and into the small plaza before the entrance of the academy. Some other individuals were now visible to his eyes.
Students around him carried on without paying him any mind, focused on their own busy schedules.
He smiled amusedly before taking the direction towards the ballroom.
The way became more secluded as he continued on, he assumed due to the congregation of new students in the aforementioned place.
He stopped in surprise when out of a corridor the form of the headmaster walked in.
The man's brown eyes caught him calmly, a friendly smile gracing his lips.
"Professor Ozpin, good morning sir." He said rather awkwardly not knowing how to properly refer to the man before him, his curious gaze on the weird academic.
"Ah, Mr. Uzumaki, good morning to you too." the silver-haired man responded, a steaming cup of what he smelled was cocoa in his left hand.
Ozpin calmly stepped beside Naruto as they resumed their walking towards the place where the other applicants were getting ready.
"Working hard already I see." said the professor, his hazel gaze on the damp clothes of the young man, his cane held safely in his right hand.
"Yeah" the boy responded, a small chuckle leaving his mouth "I just couldn't stay still, ya know" he said, noting with interest that the man was dressed in a suit incredibly similar to the one he had worn yesterday.
The man hummed in thought before taking a sip from his cup and then addressing the young man at his side "I can only admire your dedication to your training; however wouldn't you rather save your energy for the test?" Ozpin asked, a hint of curiosity lacing eyes as he studied his potential student.
Naruto grinned widely at the man beside him, getting more comfortable as their conversation continued "You don't have to worry about that, I have enough energy to pass the test with flying colors and then some. It'll be a piece of cake, you'll see."
The professor chuckled as he heard the boy speak, intrigue filling his mind the more he spent time with the hunter in training. "Well, being confident is good, but do try to keep in mind that overconfidence often leads to failure."
The blonde's eyes traveled to the man beside him, shining with interest at the discovery of the kind of person he was. It was not much, granted, but their short interaction spoke of the wisdom and gentleness the man possessed.
His words and posture held a certain intelligence that was difficult not to notice, and yet they were not rigid or overly serious like he assumed a professor's would be.
And the way he talked, critically but with such a non-accusatory tone as if trying to guide him to find the right answer without thinking he had anything to do with it. It was manipulative, in a parental sort of way. It showed however slightly that his intentions for his students were nothing if not well intentioned.
Naruto smiled softly as he turned his eyes back to the path he was walking on "You're right sir, I was only kidding. There's no way to tell what is going to happen in there, but you can rest assured that I'll do my best."
The man hummed once again before taking another sip from his cup as they arrived at the changing rooms where the other students were getting ready. He addressed the young man with a friendly smile "This has been a most entertaining conversation Mr. Uzumaki; I wish you luck on your trials." He said before resuming his stride.
"Thank you, Sir." Said the blond watching as the professor kept getting farther away.
He turned to the door as voices came past and into his ears, before he opened it determinedly.
The same lockers he had seen a few hours ago greeted his eyes with the slight difference of a large amount of people roaming around them.
Unintelligible conversations mixing up and reaching his ears made him pause, his attention drawn to the other applicants.
His eyes scanned around the students looking for familiar navy locks or a purple hoodie, the guy's absence that morning still clear in his mind. There were few people who would get up earlier than him, so he was rather surprised.
He also couldn't seem to find Yang or Ruby which was strange because they were rather loud and weren't the most inconspicuous of people.
When he wasn't able to detect Blake either he felt somewhat disappointed, it seemed luck was not on his side that morning.
He walked determinedly to the locker where he had left his things, introducing the combination of numbers he had chosen and getting his belongings out.
He didn't waste any more time in the room and went to the showers, where he washed away all the grime and sweat that had accumulated on his body.
Steam filled the room when he was done, the heat of the water having refreshed him immensely.
He dressed quickly, putting on his orange pants with black linings and a black short-sleeved shirt with a spiral symbol at the center front.
Black boots were slipped on his feet and he stood up holding his backpack.
He finally took out an orange jacket with identical style to his trousers and put it on, the material against his skin giving him a familiar comfort.
An excited grin formed on his mouth, the anticipation palpable in the air.
With a little time on his hands, he quickly went to get breakfast at the cafeteria, where he filled his stomach to his heart's content.
It was no secret he had the appetite of a starved dog, so when some students had their eyes as wide as possible at the sight of his feast he didn't even bat an eye.
When he was finally done, he left, leaving a few students with more than a few questions.
Getting back to the locker rooms was a simple task, when he was finally inside he opened his backpack taking out a strange black belt that contained two sheaths on separate sides.
Putting it slowly around his waist, he checked to make sure it held up for the strenuous movements he was sure to have to make in the next few hours.
His bright blue eyes eyed the other treasures in his bag before taking them out with much care.
Twin blades gleamed at him reflecting the lights on the room. He could still remember the day he had made them, his master behind his shoulder waiting patiently for his student to finish the task handed to him a week before.
It hadn't been easy, and he had failed repeated times, having to learn the proper procedures and principles of blacksmithing and engineering.
Through sheer determination and hard work he managed to produce an incredible pair of swords.
Despite not having much wealth on him at the time, his master had provided him with high quality steel and materials to carry out his crafting.
Blue and green slid between one another as tanned hands held them in contemplation.
Virtually his whole life as a fighter had been spent alongside those two blades, his master likening them to parts of himself.
He couldn't help the smile that came over his face nor the feeling of pride that burned in his chest as he stared at Tempest and Whiteout.
For a fraction of a second, the fragment of a memory flashed across his mind. The silhouette of a young boy clashed against a raging inferno, his weak limbs unable to produce a single movement, lying helpless in the rubble and filth, dark shadows towering above him in the distance, and waiting miserably for his inevitable demise.
His hands gripped the weapons tightly as he took a deep breath, his chest expanding as the air filled his lungs, before releasing it slowly.
A small smirk made its way to his lips, confidence and resolution filling his muscles as his posture straightened and he skillfully spun his weapons around his hands before ultimately sheathing them on his belt.
Placing his fingers at the point where the cross-guards joined with the scabbards, he made sure to secure his blades, a mechanical sound signaling the attachment process.
He took one last look around before putting his backpack inside the same locker once again. He didn't doubt from here on out, everyone would start to get serious.
On his way out his eyes recognized the yellow and black-red mops of hair pertaining to his newest friends, a rather silly conversation unfolding based on the image of a little girl embracing the deadly weapon in her hands.
He marched his way to them, calm steps taking him closer to his companions.
"-Today I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." he heard the scythe user say as she rubbed the weapon in an almost creepy manner.
He stood just out of their visual range, waiting for the right time to join in. In the meantime he watched as the sisters continued on with their conversation.
"Well remember Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation." The older girl said, doubt and worry marring her face "if you wanna grow up, you're gonna have to meet some people and learn to work together" she continued, her hands on her hips and a concerned look directed at the other teen.
He had to side with Yang on that one, as nice as Ruby was as a person, she did have a problem with communication. He knew her social hardships were not due to lack of self-confidence or anything of the sort, so he assumed she just needed some experience.
"Ugh, you sound like dad." the dark haired girl grumbled, making a face at her older sister "Okay, first of all, what does meeting people have to do with fighting? Secondly I don't need people to help me grow up, I drink milk" she said looking entirely too proud of herself.
He had to choke a laugh at the expression, if there was a term to describe the girl it'd be somewhere between adorable and hilarious.
He decided to make his presence known then, his blue eyes much too amused at the conversation "While drinking milk is healthy and all, your sister is right on this one Ruby, meeting new people is part of growing up." He said smiling as the sisters turned to him in surprise.
"Naruto!" Ruby exclaimed happily, taking a step closer to him "good morning" she greeted elatedly before pouting at his words "and It's not like I need to grow up to fight" she mumbled looking away from him in annoyance.
The boy chuckled at her actions before posing his eyes on the older teen "Hey Yang." He said cordially
"Morning Whiskers." She responded, a friendly smile decorating her attractive features "didn't see you back in the ballroom, what time did you get up?" she asked, a teasing tone slipping through, her arms crossed bellow her chest.
Ruby's eyes lit up when the words reached her ears and she turned to the male hunter in training "that's right, we didn't see you when we got up, though I can't really be surprised cause yang often oversleeps a lot"
The violet eyed girl turned to her in indignation "Hey!" she said, clearly surprised that her little naïve sister Ruby would betray their sisterly code in such a manner.
The little girl offered only an 'innocent' smile in return.
The boy couldn't help but chuckle at their little banter, he wondered if all siblings acted like that.
"I got up early to warm up before the test" he said gathering their attention back to him, a serene smile playing in his lips, his eyes going to the little teen "but never mind that, what's all this about growing up?" he asked curious about the root of the discussion.
"Little Ruby here thinks all she needs to become a good huntress is that pretty scythe of hers" the amethyst-eyed teen said, her motherly gaze on the pouting girl. "She forgets that sooner or later we will be assigned to combat teams." she continued, glancing at the male teen before resting her eyes one more on the petite woman "What will you do then little sister?"
The scythe user turned her face away, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. "I'll just be on your team" she mumbled, apparently ashamed of having to burden her older sister.
"Ah that's right" the boy said, his blue eyes in deep thought "I had forgotten about that" he continued crossing his arms behind his head contemplation written on his features "I wonder who's going to be on my team"
"That's it!" exclaimed Ruby, making her sister raise an elegant eyebrow at her behavior and surprising the blue-eyed boy in the process.
She lifted her finger and pointed at the orange clad boy with an excited expression "I'll just be on Naruto's team." She said as if it solved all of mankind's problems, a brilliant smile adorning her lips.
Her sister could only respond with a look of uncertainty, doubtful that the girl with the red hood would not encounter any social obstacles in her way just because she teamed up with the good natured-looking boy.
Naruto instead released a full chuckle, the small teen's antics something that he definitely appreciated "Sure, I'm all for it Ruby." he said with a friendly grin adorning his features.
Without missing a beat, he lifted his right hand and gave his younger companion a thumbs up, wanting to keep seeing the girl smiling like that. "As long as I get to be the leader of course." he added teasingly.
The tall blond woman gazed at the animated teens, an exasperated smile gracing her delicate lips. It seemed that her little sister wasn't completely doomed after all.
Her eyes then turned to the clock on the wall above the door, widening in surprise as she registered the time displayed on it
It was ten to nine, and the majority of the other applicants had already abandoned the room, if they didn't hurry they would probably be left behind by their group.
Yang quickly turned to the other two and grabbed her little sisters hand "Come on guys, it's getting pretty late and the guide is probably going to leave us here." she said interrupting the conversation they were having and leading them to look at the time as well.
"Crap, I almost forgot. Nice save, Yang" thought the whiskered boy as he followed the sisters to the entrance of the room.
Ruby was mortified, she wouldn't have known what to do if the guide actually abandoned them, it would have been way too embarrassing.
The trio made their way towards the group that had assembled at the plaza outside the castle, a single guide standing in front of the whole group waiting for the remaining applicants.
He cleared his throat before addressing the hunters in training "Good morning everyone, I hope you are well rested for your practical exam today, you can call me Otto. I'll be your guide for the day." He said amicably, brown eyes roaming over all the new faces he was seeing.
Black tresses were arranged in dreads falling backwards into his upper back, dark skin covered defined muscles proving he wasn't just an amateur fighter. He dressed the school's uniform consisting of black pants, a white shirt and a tie; his sleeves pushed backwards revealing strong forearms.
His expression told Naruto he was a friendly guy, but he could notice the training put into his body by the way his body moved; he was elated to meet an upperclassman. This gave him way more insight into the school's effectiveness as a combat learning facility.
He grinned pleasantly, the stories his master told him seeming to be less and less farfetched by the minute.
Otto appraised the new batch of students under his limited guidance, many seemed somewhat nervous but the excitement was palpable in the air. He offered them another friendly smile before addressing them once again "Right now professors Ozpin and Glynda are waiting for you at the selected place for this assignment, my job is simply to escort you there." He said
A few muttered conversations reached his ears before he turned his back to them and took some gloves out of a pouch on his back hip.
"If anyone wants to quit, now's the time" the dark-skinned man continued not turning to say the words, his big hands sliding inside the gloves, his tone friendly yet somewhat more serious. "they won't be allowing any cold feet at the top of the cliff" he waited for any applicant who decided to leave, yet none did, a small smile formed on his lips as he thought of the good quality of people they had gotten that year.
Naruto observed from the corner of his eye as a male figure with blond tresses flinched at the sudden words from the guide. He could have sworn he had seen that guy somewhere, but nothing other than his bright hair seemed to stand out much. His trained eyes noticed the poor physique and untrained posture he held, definitely nothing more than an average fighter.
Losing interest rather quickly he turned back to the guide at the front.
A complete contrast to the man he had been studying before, with a tall stature and outstanding physique that spoke of the experience and knowledge he had amassed as an alumnus in beacon.
"No takers?" asked Otto, giving them a last chance. He was awarded with no response, all candidates determined to pass the trial ahead of them in order to achieve their ambitions.
A smirk rose on his lips before he stood straight and addressed them without turning to them "Very well then, follow me"
With that he began his march around the massive castle, his feet carrying him down a path leading towards the forest.
The whole group followed him closely, approaching the area with thick trees and foliage all around them.
As the distance between them and the castle increased the students broke into various conversations and idle chats.
Naruto could vaguely hear Ruby's and Yang's voices as they spoke about their home, the details of the conversation missing his ears due his lack of concentration.
His eyes had finally found Blake, the attractive teen he had had the pleasure of meeting the day before.
As he walked leisurely along with the others, his gaze remained entranced with the graceful way the mature young woman moved, his thoughts filled with indecision about whether to approach her or not.
It presented an uncannily similar image to the previous day's orientation.
Slight breeze pushed his golden hairs backwards as he contemplated his options.
Despite wanting nothing more than to walk up to her and start a conversation, now was not the right time. They were close to site zero and both him and her needed to be with their mind on the prize.
He had been warned by his master not to take the test lightly, and he knew not to doubt his words on such matters, so he abstained from calling out to her.
He took a second to study the group of people around him; it was significantly smaller than the one from the previous night.
It seemed that they had divided them into small cells of thirty-two students each; his mind grew curious as to what kind of test they would be given.
As his eyes roamed through the specific members, familiar faces resonated within his mind, the feral warrior, the silent observer, the scarlet gladiator, hell even the green dragon and his over excited companion were present in the motley crew.
He was glad; there would be no point to the test if he wasn't challenged by strong competitors.
His gaze finally settled on the man who had eluded him since that morning, his purple hoodie and loose clothes still concealing any relevant information regarding his fighting qualifications.
He had his hands in his pockets as he walked somewhat apart from the rest of the group, but not far enough to attract the attention of the other students. He might as well just have been another body to fill the count.
His eyes narrowed softly when alarms started ringing in his brain once again, his muscles tensed and the hairs on his body straightened, frustration growing as he failed to identify the root of his strange reactions.
His instincts had saved him one too many times out in the wilderness against the creatures of the grim. He had become very adept at identifying danger and responding accordingly, growing stronger and surviving against things that most students and even some professional hunters had yet to encounter.
It was for that reason he couldn't just dismiss the response his body had to that individual.
His mind became steel as he regained control of his body, it ultimately didn't matter what strange factor caused his strange behavior; he would just have to be ready for everything.
His trained gaze focused in the black rectangular box the purple hooded individual carried in his back hip. It measured around fifty centimeters in length and ten in width.
It was a strange concept for a weapon, but he still kept his guard up, not intending for even a second to underestimate his opponent.
He briefly went through quick simulations in his head, trying to anticipate his way of fighting with several kinds of weapons that could be derived from that box, before ultimately giving up due to how little information he possessed at the moment.
The group moved unhurriedly as the forest grew denser and the light grew dimmer as it clashed against the leafs on the tall trees.
It wasn't long before the woods ended and their path became clear and uphill, the solid rock beneath their feet creating a steady ground to walk through.
Fortunately for Otto, it seemed the applicants were in decent physical condition, enough to walk the distance without breaking a sweat.
As soon as his feet reached the top of the cliff the whiskered blonde's eyes found the two people in charge of the exercise.
Professor Ozpin and Miss Glynda stared at them with different reactions playing across their faces.
For his part the male teacher seemed to contemplate their arrival with a serene smile, whereas the woman gazed at them with neutrality. Now that he thought about it, Naruto thought the blond teacher seemed much too similar to how he initially thought a professor would be, strict, professional, if a little bland.
Their guide advanced until he was face to face with the middle aged man, a respectful grin playing on his lips.
"Good morning professor." he said lifting his hand for the man to shake.
"Good morning to you too, Mr. Magnus." the ashen haired man replied, his kind eyes poised on the student he had selected to lead that particular group. A polite smile appeared in his features as his gaze gathered the expressions and reactions of the applicants, feeling glad that so many had endured so far.
Ozpin took the hand offered before shaking it amicably, his eyes returning to the man before him "I trust everything is running smoothly, yes?" he asked, the faintest hint of mischief lacing his words.
"The new batch of rookies safe and sound, just as promised." Otto answered, amusement turning his lips into a smile. His eyes briefly turned to his back, taking in once more the candidates for the spot at the school. His thoughts turned curious, pondering what students would make the cut.
"That's good then" the professor said, laughing softly as he left his hand back into his cane. "You may join us and watch while I give the instructions for the assignment if you'd like." he offered as the other man rubbed the nape of his neck undecided.
"I'd like to, but I promised my team we'd work on our VM&R homework before sparring class today" Otto practically groaned, dejected that he was unable to enjoy the show.
"Another time, then" Ozpin said, giving him a friendly smile before taking a place before the crowd of students, his intelligent gaze appraising the individuals before him.
"Yeah, good luck professor" the dark-skinned man said, marching back the way he came from in simple steps, playful smile marring his lips. His brown eyes turned to the students who still had yet to stop their soft chattering "Everyone do your best, I'll see you in the coronation" he finally said lifting his right hand in a wave before he walked away, leaving the majority of students confused.
Naruto couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the strange terminology. It was clear they had yet to reveal what it meant since there hadn't been any announcement when they arrived the day before, so he couldn't help but think it was reserved for the students who actually passed the exam.
"Coronation?" a voice to his left said, his eyes identifying the little red riding hood.
Her big silver eyes turned to him in confusion "What do you think it means?" she said, curiosity written on her young face.
He returned his blue orbs back to the man in front of them before replying softly to her "I don't know" he said evenly, interested in what other secrets the man had in store for them "But I'm sure they'll tell us eventually" he resumed, turning to her with a big smile, getting the same response from her.
Ozpin cleared his throat, getting everyone to postpone their conversations and put their attention on him.
"For years you have trained to become warriors, and today your abilities will be evaluated in the emerald forest" he said, his right hand still holding a hot cup of cocoa. Interestingly his voice also adopted the same tone he had used the day prior, intriguing Naruto for his particular manner of speaking.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams" the attractive female teacher took over, her strict gaze keeping everyone focused and obedient. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion." She continued, holding a scroll in her left arm, her jade eyes directed at the crowd "Each of you will be given teammates, today."
Their reaction was instantaneous, murmurs and whispers flew around the group of teens as they processed the words of their professor. Faces filled with relief, worry, excitement, and a mixture of several other emotions composed the small crowd.
He vaguely heard Ruby's worried "What, Oh" before professor Ozpin took the stage once again.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at beacon" he said seriously, trying to emphasize the importance of that point. "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well" he resumed, and for a minuscule moment Naruto and Ruby shared an elated glance, before Ozpin crashed it with merciless words.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years" he said, his smile widening in a playful manner.
"What!?" exclaimed Ruby with renewed anxiety, the little fairy tale she had concocted in her head where she was able to thrash grim without having to make a fool out of herself talking to strangers vanishing in an instant.
For his part, Naruto couldn't help but feel a little sad for ruby, yet he found that strange system to be somewhat interesting.
So they would seemingly be paired at random, which at the very least meant that they would be graded by pairs if nothing else, based on the professor's previous words.
Which meant that there were now sixteen groups competing for a spot at beacon, now all that was left were the criteria for a passing grade.
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." The professor said, completely ignoring the complaints or observations of the students "You will encounter opposition along the way, do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die"
The words resonated among the students, determined faces appearing as shining weapons were drawn of fastened in preparation, mechanized sounds unraveling the lethal companions of the huntsmen in training.
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene." he said glancing at Glynda at his side, before turning back to them. "You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics, each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff" he explained, keeping his words as clear as possible.
The whiskered blond nodded in understanding, it sounded simple enough, the major obstacle seemingly being the lack of proper teamwork. He brushed it off however, his trust in his individual skills outclassing any worries he may have about that.
"We will guard that item as well as your standing and grade you properly" Ozpin said, finishing his explanation "Are there any questions?"
"Ah, yeah, sir" a voice to his very left came weakly, nervousness dripping in spades.
He identified him as the blond he had examined earlier, it really seemed he was not up to par with the rest of them, he briefly wondered why the kid hadn't quit before, when given the chance.
"Good" Ozpin continued, ignoring the boy's attempt "Take your positions" he said, being rewarded with the hunters in training bracing for launching.
Naruto erased all thoughts aside from the goal at hand, fight the grim off, get the relic and come back, easy as pie. He grinned in excitement, it was finally time to let loose.
One by one, students around him were sent flying with astounding speed, high and far in the air by steel platforms beneath their feet.
He saw Blake's form vanishing into the clouds and beyond, followed by the Schnee heir, and the red-haired warrior.
He turned to his left as Yang was launched in the same direction, confidence and excitement radiating from her in waves.
He gave Ruby a military salute before she too was sent airborne.
The clear sky clashed against the shadows of the students who flew in the air like a murder of crows, the rays of the sun partially covered by the clouds casing a colorful picture.
He took a deep breath and separated his feet, his weight put on his center of gravity.
He briefly glanced at the professor standing in a few meters in front of him, catching his eyes filled with concealed interest, before suddenly being sent into the air after his peers.
His vision was then overloaded with the assault of the forest changing at unimaginable speed, a blur of greens and browns permeating his visual senses.
His hair was pushed backwards from the air's resistance, clashing against his body midflight.
It felt exhilarating, his heart pumping strongly, and adrenaline coursing through his arteries, in that familiar way that reminded him he could never be anything but a hunter.
For a moment he lost himself in the feeling, his eyes closing in rumination.
His body flew like a projectile fired from a cannon, getting closer and closer to the site of impact by the second.
His eyes opened confidently, quietly observing the terrain in which he would land, the woods still blurring due to the speed he carried.
A feral grin rose on his lips and he lowered himself even more, reaching the branches of the tall trees.
With unbelievable skill he stepped on one branch, using it to impulse himself even farther and augmenting the velocity in which he was traveling. As his feet touched another branch, he repeated the process yet again, his form alternating between branches to approach the ground in a horizontal manner rather than by sheer gravity.
A pitch black form entered his field of vision, yet he did not stop, his movements performed as if he had done them a thousand times.
His right hand grabbed the hilt of Tempest before drawing it with blinding speed, the black figure being severed in half before his feet collided into another black mass in a thunderous shock that blew away nearby plants and indented the ground in which it stood, sending it crashing against a few trees and completely decimating the semi-peaceful environment that had previously been in place and finally stopping his descent.
His blue eyes turned to the creature he had bisected, black smoke being released as it eroded.
Red eyes stared emptily at the orange clad teen, a groan dying in its mouth as its inevitable death came to be.
A beowolf, judging by its musculature and long jaws, was slowly disintegrating before his eyes.
His gaze still in the creature, he drew Whiteout with his left hand before stabbing backwards into the skull of another beowolf that had tried to attack him from behind.
"Come on, is that it?" he said cockily as he spun his blades in his hands before sheathing them once again "And here I thought you would pose more of a challenge" he smirked before turning once more to make way towards the temple.
Several growls came from the darkness of the deep forest, concealed creatures watching him as they prepared to attack.
His hands remained on the hilts as he stood silently with an assertive gaze, his pulse increasing as his senses flared.
A loud roar boomed out of the bushes from his left as a monstrous creature leaped towards him in a savage bloodlust, its claws ready to tear apart his skin and muscles.
"Now that's more like it" He said with an ecstatic smile, his gaze locking into the incoming target.
He reacted rapidly, with the practiced ease of a warrior trained day and night in evasion and maneuverability, taking a step back and letting the sharp claws miss his face, before drawing Tempest with deadly intent before cleaving through the creature in half in an upward slash.
His eyes narrowed as his grin widened, noticing a shadow obscured by the corpse before him approaching with a sharp claw directed towards his chest in animalistic speed.
His left hand drew Whiteout before severing the arm attached to the claw in a diagonal motion and finishing the beast with a horizontal slash from his right decapitating it instantly.
Without missing a beat, several more beowolves charged out of the foliage around him, attacking simultaneously from several directions with the efficiency of a pack of predators.
He whirled skillfully, parring a claw with his left arm before chopping the creature's leg with the jade colored weapon and then impaling it in the jaw with his blue sword.
From then a deadly dance took place, the Grimm attacking with reckless abandon, as they tried to tear the boy apart with their teeth and claws.
He dismembered another arm before severing the beast in half and then taking the head of another before proceeding chop the next into pieces.
He moved with great coordination and balance, his muscles contracting with humongous strength as the rain of steel descended upon the savage monsters.
Once, twice, thrice his blades cut through the bodies of his enemies as his body ran through the motions he had developed from immense training.
His form resembled a sentinel with no wasted movement as the blades kept moving with seasoned accuracy.
He finally stopped when no more creatures advanced from the shadows, the dismembered corpses lying at his feet as black smoke erupted from their wounds.
His blades were held firmly in his hands as he inspected the carnage that had taken place.
Several dozen monsters quickly disintegrated from fatal wounds to vital areas, his blue eyes calmly observing his handiwork.
Releasing the breath he was holding, he let his muscles relax, turning in the other direction to continue his assignment.
He took a few steps before stopping abruptly, his eyes widening in shock before whirling towards the darkness once more, his blades crossed before him in a defensive stance.
"Show yourself!" he exclaimed, his eyes narrowing as they observed the tiniest movement from the plants around him.
His senses fully registered a disturbance in the area he was in, not a sound nor a smell, just a presence lurking nearby, watching.
He chastised himself for only noticing at the moment, too focused on the enemy that had been in front of him to pay attention to other threats.
Still, alarms rang in his head due to the unusual circumstances, the wilderness of the forest was his element, where he was most comfortable, and that turn of events irritated him beyond belief.
"I'm surprised you managed to spot me" a velvety voice came from behind him, his body turning in blistering speed taking his swords once more in a defensive stance.
"You…" he said with suspicion, his cerulean eyes shining in acknowledgement as they stared at the figure leaning on a tree a few meters ahead of him.
His purple hoodie a dead giveaway to his identity, his arms crossed on his chest as his black orbs observed in curiosity, his posture as relaxed as it had been the day before, nonthreatening, yet the blond didn't for a second lower his guard.
"How's it going?" The navy haired teen said half-mockingly, his head tilting to the side as an amused smile adorned his lips.
"Where the hell did you come from? Have you been following me or something?" the whiskered blond said ignoring his teasing attempt, his blue eyes staring him down in apprehension, his blades lowering only slightly since the one in front of him was not an outright enemy.
"You did say you were going to 'beat me to a bloody pulp', was it? Well now's your chance" the other boy answered letting his hands into his pockets. His eyes moved to the remaining corpses that were quickly disappearing. "And it seems you weren't lying the other night, I'm impressed. You aren't a complete loser after all" the raven said, an amused smirk plastered on his features.
Naruto's eyes narrowed before a grin formed on his lips, the message perfectly understandable "So you actually want to fight me, and here I thought you were going to keep running away for a little longer judging by the way you have been avoiding me since the morning" he said, his arms lowering altogether and his posture straightening as he locked eyes with the other boy.
The obsidian eyed teen raised a fine eyebrow in confusion before the meaning of the blonde's words dawned on him. His eyes closed as he snorted in amusement before directing them once more to the orange clad huntsman in training. "Avoiding you? Hardly, I simply dislike large crowds" he said, taking a step forward away from the tree.
He had to hold back his instinct to take some distance away from the man, the now familiar alarms ringing on in his mind.
"This place however" the raven signaled at the space around them, his amused smile never leaving his face "Does not really have that problem, now does it?" he said letting his serene gaze fall onto him.
The whiskered teen pushed away the mental warnings in favor of grinning at the other boy and taking a stance once more, his blades ready and waiting "Are you going to talk all day or what? You wanna fight? Bring it on!" he exclaimed excited, wanting to let loose for a while longer. His eyes focused on his opponent as his senses heightened to superhuman levels. Every sound, every smell, and the tactile senses in his skin amplified enormously, allowing him to fight at full capacity.
The indigo haired teen observed in interest, his keen eyes immediately detecting the change in his opponent, he was fairly impressed. His gaze caught the sharp eyes and twitching ears, the minuscule spasms in his legs and slight widening of his nostrils. A smirk once more formed on his lips, so far this academy had not disappointed.
He took a step forward and let his arms fall to his sides from his pockets before his eyes narrowed in focus and his smirk widened in excitement.
Time slowed down immensely as the blonde's eyes widened in disbelief, his superb reflexes lifting the blades he held in his hands into a defensive position as the aura in his left cheek was practically hacked away in an instant.
"You've got to be kidding me!" he thought in alarm as he whirled around parrying a barrage of slashes, straining his muscles trying to keep up.
In the blink of an eye the navy haired teen had closed the distance between them and bypassed his guard with a quick slash that he had barely been able to avoid, the sheer speed of his opponent frightening in every sense of the word.
As his left parried a stab that had been going to his left shoulder he had to move his right to stop a thrust to his jugular, the speed of each attack not leaving him any time to counter.
Steel clashed against steel in a shower of sparks and rasps as Naruto was slowly pushed back.
His mind strained to comprehend the events transpiring before him, it was the first time he had fought against such a fast opponent besides his master. His breath hitched in his throat as another slash scraped away a little more aura from his neck.
He immediately leaped backwards increasing their distance by several meters, his breath labored in surprise
His opponent stood leisurely far away from him, his eyes holding what almost seemed like boredom as they stared at him, a combat knife held tightly in his right hand. His previous smirk was gone like the wind.
The lessons that his master had beat into him started taking effect as his labored breath ceased and his rapid heartbeat slowed down. His eyes narrowed in concentration, trying to analyze every bit of information he had acquired.
The raven's stance was atrocious, it was completely full of openings to exploit and despite the breathtaking speed with which he moved his form was rather sloppy and had a lot of wasted movements. Nonetheless, his way of holding the knife and his accuracy were nothing short of perfect.
"Moreover" he thought gritting his teeth; he had finally discovered the reason his alarms went off when he was near him. His steps carried absolutely no sound.
It was simply unreal, but his animal senses couldn't detect any sound coming from his movements, even as his feet moved in such unbelievable speed his ears didn't register any.
He was a walking contradiction, how was it possible to excel in that minuscule specific field of combat yet be nothing more than average at the general level?
He raised his blades into another defensive stance, holding his right in front of him diagonally in a normal grip and his left close to his chest.
His senses heightened even further as he readied himself for the next clash.
Blue met black as silence reigned for a few blissful moments, the tension skyrocketing to massive levels.
Their hair swayed with the breezing wind as a leaf descended in the middle of the battlefield. Neither twitched keeping their attention on their foe.
Not a fraction of a second after the leaf had touched the ground, the navy-haired teen blurred with renewed vigor, his deadly knife aimed at the center of the blonde's abdomen.
Naruto's blades moved with rigorous defense not caught by surprise any longer, perfectly parrying the strike to his stomach with Whiteout, and following with a counter to the neck withTempest.
His eyes widened when instead of parrying like he thought the raven would do, he ducked beneath the slash and pushed aside whiteout with his knife before striking his face with his bare hand.
"With his fist?" he thought in surprise as he was sent crashing against a tall tree, shattering it on impact.
He maneuvered in the air, landing safely on his feet recovering quickly. His wide eyes posed on the purple hooded hunter in training.
His right blade rose once more as his opponent flickered before him, deflecting a diagonal slash before he thrusted his left aiming at the right side of his torso
Taking his knife into a reverse grip, the obsidian eyed teen deflected the jab to his right and raised it ready to stab his opponent in a downward motion.
Surprising his foe, Naruto let his blades fall from his hands as he turned his back to him and caught his arm mid stab before pulling his weight forward and throwing him with herculean strength, sending his body towards the branches above.
The raven maneuvered in the air before landing softly and noiselessly in a wooden branch, his surprised gaze still focused on the whiskered teen.
As he observed the blond collect his weapons into his hands, the purple hooded teen allowed himself to examine what he had learned of the other hunter in training.
His defense was masterful, even against his overwhelming speed he had managed to parry most of his attacks, moreover his reflexes and specific senses went way beyond average, he had the mark of a true veteran written all over him.
Not only that but with a single glance he had been able to determine the monstrous endurance the blond possessed, it completely blew away his expectations.
The sheer training the teen must have undergone more than he could even comprehend. He wondered what kind of lunatic he had to be to throw himself towards training like a madman, his perfectly balanced muscles proving the lengths he had been willing to go through.
Without meaning to a smirk rose to his lips once more, it had been a while since he had met someone so interesting.
Naruto observed the other teen calmly before lifting an eyebrow in confusion when he noticed the smirk directed at him, for a moment he had thought the dark haired teen had been bored in their exchange. He theorized that perhaps he put that façade to rile up his enemies and force them to commit mistakes, as well as not letting them anticipate his movements.
He jumped high in the air landing on the same branch as the raven, standing less than two meters ahead of him.
They locked eyes once more as the blond lowered in a stance, ready to continue their battle.
From then on the real fight would begin.
The blond could feel his blood pumping strongly as his breath hitched in anticipation, this had been the most fun he had had since a long while.
"You know, you aren't half bad either" he said, making his opponent smirk in amusement.
"This is just the warm up" replied the navy haired teen, his deep velvety voice full of confidence.
Naruto's eyes widened when Whiteout parried his foe's knife coming at breakneck speed, the strength behind the thrust so great he was sent skidding backwards crashing against the tree opposite to the branch.
He lost no time propelling from the tree to another branch, convinced that his opponent would follow.
He was proven right when he turned to a knife ready to impale his chest. He deflected the strike with Tempest before following with a diagonal slash from Whiteout, halting when his arm was kicked away.
They engaged in a flurry of slashes and thrusts, trying to gain the upper hand, neither able to maneuver around the other due to the particular terrain they were standing in.
Under those conditions Naruto had the advantage, without his ability to attack from critical angles and to evade at the vital moments, the strength of his foe had been reduced significantly.
His plan to level the playing field proving to be a success, he charged taking his enemy by surprise and hitting the wrist in which he held the knife with his own, his right sword posed to strike in a vicious thrust.
To his complete surprise the raven used him to propel himself in a somersault, avoiding the strike and slashing straight through the branch they were standing in.
The blond quickly jumped from the branch to another but was shocked when that one too fell off as a flying knife cut through it with deadly accuracy.
His plan revealed and crumbled Naruto let himself fall, landing harmlessly with practiced ease, holding his weapons in an offensive stance intending on changing his strategy.
His gaze focused on the teen that landed noiselessly a few meters away, his single knife gleaming as it reflected the light of the sun.
His best bet was to drag out the fight, let him tire himself out from moving at such unnatural speeds and outlast him with tenacious endurance.
There were two points where Naruto was sure he surpassed his opponent in a monumental way, the first being the amount of training under his belt.
Ever since he was a small boy he had spent countless hours honing his skills, repeating the same stances and forms over and over again until his arms felt like they were about to fall off and his heart felt like it was about to blow out of his chest. Day and night, during the rain and the snow he continued undeterred, conditioning his body to follow the moves taught by his master to perfection, trying them a hundred times, a thousand times, until it was as easy as breathing. He never complained and he never stopped. His body ultimately turned into the pinnacle of human effort.
The second and equally as important was experience. His sapphire eyes had witnessed countless battles, filled with intricate fighting styles and brilliant strategies that armed him with knowledge valuable beyond belief. In terms of experience he was simply second to none; he was not going to be modest about it.
As he stared at the man before him, his mind focused on using those particular advantages to defeat his opponent.
Still, he couldn't help but be in awe at the combat prowess his enemy demonstrated.
Thanks to all his years of training he could catch with a single glance most of the attributes a fighter possessed, their potential, their development, even to a certain extent he could even guess the specific type of training they had undergone.
it was for that reason he knew for a fact that the raven had never been formally trained, neither in hand to hand combat nor in armed combat.
The fact that he could keep up and even pressure Naruto was ridiculous in and of itself. More than reflexes the Navy haired guy had an unbelievable battle sense, and his talent was simply peerless.
He was a diamond in the rough, if he just polished his skills a little more, he would undoubtedly become a scary fighter.
He smirked in exhilaration, the stronger his opponent the more entertaining the fights were going to be.
He took the initiative this time, charging with his right sword slashing diagonally with great tenacity before pivoting in counter-clockwise fashion and following with a reverse slash, Whiteout approaching his target rapidly after his initial strike had been blocked.
The obsidian eyed teen ducked beneath the attack before he back flipped several times avoiding a kick to the face and taking some distance from the blond. As his opponent became even more focused and his movements became even more coordinated, his smirk refused to go down.
The raven's form blurred and Naruto lifted his blades prepared, his body ready to counter.
His eyes widened in shock when a flying knife closed in on his face with incredible speed.
With pure reflexes he deflected the blade with a powerful swing of his sword, dread filling his mind when his eyes registered the agile body of his opponent in a crouch before him.
His eyes lost focus and his breath abandoned his lungs when thunderous strikes connected with his exposed abdomen, two perfectly and almost simultaneously placed left jabs too fast to discern sending his body crashing against a row of trees with dangerous speed.
He had little time to recover as his opponent flashed behind him following his landing, his deadly knife aimed at his jugular.
He whirled around, his arms moving with unyielding might, deflecting and parrying thrusts and slashes with great strain.
The obsidian eyed teen's movements had changed dramatically, abandoning the clean slashes of his blade in favor of using it as a distraction to leave him open for a heavy blow with his naked fists.
His breath hitched as Whiteout was once again pushed aside and he was forced to block a powerful kick with Tempest, the strength behind it sending him skidding backwards.
Had he seen through his strategy? Choosing to quickly end the fight instead of letting it drag on?
If that was the case, it spelled danger for him. He was going to have to resort to more drastic measures, his eyes falling on his prized weapons.
With no time to ponder, he raised his left blade stopping the stab that had been aimed at his armpit, blue sparks flying from the friction as the metals collided.
Another steel shower descended upon him as the raven wielded his combat knife with extreme speed, slashes and jabs targeting vital spots in his body.
His blades moved in kind, responding just as ferociously not letting a single attack through his defense.
His tanned muscles contracted powerfully, Whiteout and Tempest following the movements of the opposing blade, there was no way he was going to let himself get beaten so easily, a heaving smirk adorning his features.
Cerulean eyes observed in concentration the movements of his opponent, the time was approaching to release a full counter attack, yet he needed to be sure it was going to connect before he even attempted it. Blue and green swords advanced meticulously through the incoming offense, relentlessly attempting to create the perfect opening.
Sweat glided down his forehead from the strain as he acknowledged gleefully the strength of his foe.
The sounds of steel colliding with steel consumed the entire part of the forest as the battle raged on, several trees fallen down and wandering leaves circling around the two warriors spectating the duel between the highly skilled huntsmen.
A cobalt blue sword swiftly pushed the incoming silver knife to his right with formidable strength, sapphire eyes narrowing in resolution. The opening had finally revealed itself.
Taking a step forward and pivoting to his right, he stood almost shoulder to shoulder with the indigo haired hunter whose pitch black eyes observed his actions with surprise.
With a shout he swung Whiteout with monstrous strength in a perfect feint aimed directly at his opponent's neck, entirely sure that the raven would repel that strike leaving him wide open.
Once again he was proven right when the indigo haired teen leaned backwards recovering his balance in an impressive display of agility and turned his knife into a reverse grip before he slashed upwards pushing Whiteout away from the strike zone.
By then there was nothing the raven could do, Tempest came with vicious abandon beneath his arm, leaving no space to either duck or deflect with his knife; this was undoubtedly Naruto's win.
As his emerald blade approached his opponent vigorously, the sharp edges began to glow in a shining green light. His thumb turned the switch to unleash the ultimate ability crafted within the sword.
Obsidian eyes gleaming green from the light observed, widening in disbelief as the mighty weapon neared his body, ready to execute a fatal blow on him.
It was simply unbelievable; he had inadvertently allowed himself to be outsmarted by another fighter. It seemed he still had a lot to learn.
As Tempest came infinitely close to the raven, time came to a stop; a ferocious wind current the likes of which could only come from dust energy was released in a titanic shockwave that followed the slashing motion of the blade. With terrible force, the inconceivably high pressure pushed the adjacent air devastating everything in its path.
The trees that had been standing opposite to the blond were shredded beyond recognition, the ground beneath breaking apart as it was quite literally sent in a shower of debris
Naruto had to cover his eyes with his left arm, the powerful current pushing him back and making his hair sway wildly.
For a few moments only the high pitched sound of the gale was heard, dust lifting and invading his vision consequence of his attack.
For at least five hundred meters nothing but ruin remained, the power of his blade too great to withstand.
He panted in exertion, the previous exchange having pushed him to his limit. Sweat now freely ran down his forehead, his body trying to rid itself of excess heat.
He laughed softly, his hands clenching his swords firmly, "Bastard" he said his clear blue eyes focused on the shadowy figure obscured by the curtain of dust.
The indigo haired teen came out slowly, his feet advancing silently on the desolated ground. He looked to be worse for wear but didn't seem to have any significant injury.
He sported an annoyed look as his jet black eyes settled on him, his purple hoodie held on tightly his left hand completely torn apart.
"You owe me a new hoodie you know?" the raven said, making casual conversation as if he hadn't been blasted away by a gigantic whirlwind.
Naruto simply laughed the ridiculousness of it all. He couldn't believe how good that guy was.
Before the blade had even managed to touch him, the indigo haired teen had plunged his knife downward in an incredible display of speed, surpassing even the blonde's expectations.
Holding the knife perpendicular to the jade colored sword, he withstood the wave, cutting the air in half and avoiding any injury to his body. Nevertheless, he was still sent barreling in the air from the sheer force of the attack.
"Seriously dude, who the heck even are you?" he asked, his stance straight holding his swords on his sides. There was no way the other teen was just another regular student, his level was way too high to belong to the same group of people he had encountered the day before, with a few exceptions of course.
The obsidian eyed boy observed his opponent calmly, his midnight blue hair swaying with the lingering breeze.
Despite coming out of that surprise attack almost entirely unscathed, he felt completely annoyed for two different reasons. His jacket had been turned to shreds and he had been a hair's length away from being absolutely defeated.
The blond huntsman before him had turned out to be a way better fighter than he had previously anticipated. In fact he was sure he had never fought anyone quite like him, his skills and mastery over the twin blades completely rendering his vicious assault harmless.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha" he said advancing steadily in calm steps, his knife twirling on his right hand before it vanished like magic. Coal black eyes stared at his peer, his annoyance forgotten in favor of amusement when he stood face to face with the blond teen; it had been an entertaining exchange after all. "I'm also curious about you, Naruto was it? Just where did you learn to fight like that?" he asked, his keen eyes scrutinizing the whiskered teen.
Naruto took a second to inspect Sasuke as he was finally completely revealed; he wore a sleeveless grey shirt covering his torso and blue arm guards protecting his wrists, ivory skin bordering strong muscles.
Trained eyes were finally able to gather information on the raven's background as a fighter.
His well-developed muscles revealed his participation in numerous fights, the rest of his body further proving that no formal training had been undergone.
Just as he had suspected, the most likely scenario was that the teen was one of those street fighters. People who had never acquired an education in the art of fighting yet assembled into several groups around the darkest parts of the big cities with the sole intention of combating against one another.
And yet, it sounded almost insulting to call the raven such a simple term, as if it was somewhat degrading.
"You damn bet, it's Naruto Uzumaki, you might wanna remember that. As for my training, my master taught me everything I know about fighting." The blond said, a confident grin growing on his lips.
"I see" the navy haired teen said, an amused smirk adorning his features "Well, Naruto Uzumaki, tell me, can you keep dancing for a while longer?" he asked half-mockingly, his hands falling into his pockets.
"Do you even have to ask?" Naruto replied, his blades lifting into an offensive stance.
The teens locked eyes in preparation for a third and final clash, excitement still running through their veins.
Powerful growls surrounded the hunters in training as they turned to find countless monstrous creatures approaching from all sides, pitch black bodies and bone-white masks protecting their heads.
They wasted no time and turned to stand back to back facing the incoming beasts.
"Looks like the battle's going to have to be postponed for the time being" the raven teen said, a trace of disappointment dripping from his words.
"Not to worry, I'll kick your ass as soon as we are done with these overgrown pups" the blond said, a wide grin directed at the wave of Beowolves, his blades spinning in preparation,
"I must have hit you way harder than I thought if you are still delusional enough to think you can beat me." Sasuke replied, a smirk playing across his lips as a combat knife materialized in his hand from the flicker of his wrist.
As they stared at the empty red eyes of the Grimm, there were no more words left to say, as of that very moment, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had become partners.
A/N: And that's it for chapter two. I apologize for the delay but you know, Irma and all. Anyhow, if you were confused by Naruto's fighting style it closely resembles Archer's from Fate/stay night. I was inspired by him and Ichigo vs Ulquiorra when writing the fight so sorry if it seemed unoriginal.
Questions and reviews are encouraged, if you have any criticisms I more than welcome them.
I hope you guys like it and I'll see you on the next update.