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 3: Four Knights Game
There was something rather fascinating about witnessing adolescent kids dismembering and mutilating soulless creatures with no objective other than complete annihilation, or at least, that was professor Ozpin's thinking as he monitored the progress of his applicants in his small viewing device.
Perhaps it was their enthusiasm, it was no secret that young people tended to be apathetic to things they found to be uninteresting, therefore it would be surprising to encounter such sentiment in newly acquired pupils.
Or maybe it was the skill and proficiency they displayed with their weapons despite being so young, Oum knew they needed as much as they could obtain to become fine huntsmen.
Naturally, there was also the possibility that it was the blatant barbarity and savagery with which they handled the bodies of their enemies, behaviors that were absolutely required to qualify as a huntsman, but that were still unnerving to find on children.
He couldn't be sure, it could have been all three or none at all. What he was indeed sure of, however, was that for the majority of trainees they were looking to be very promising.
As his eyes zeroed in on the screen of the scroll held in his right hand, he marveled at the swordsmanship displayed by a blazing red-haired girl.
It had been around half an hour since the beginning of the exam and the beautiful female warrior had already met and joined up with her partner, a blond-haired teenage boy with an insecure heart and with…questionable skills.
Her kind nature had led her to save him from his unpreparedness in the wilderness of the forest and together they ventured into the Grimm infested jungle. In the end, everything had turned out alright, fortunately.
The young woman, despite already possessing a might beyond her peers, appeared to have no desire for a grandiose placement within the ranks, nor did she seem discontent with her now then partner. Ozpin's wise eyes noticed with no small amount of interest and admiration the humility, patience, and grace lacing all facets of her behavior.
Phyrra Nikos, the fabled invincible woman, truly did seem like an inspiring individual.
An amalgam of golden and red, resembling scorching flames dancing in the brisk wind, broke him out of his thoughts as it was brandished in the form of a sword with the skill of a master and the grace of an artist, deadly edge mortally dividing the bodies of ferocious beasts one after another without a hint of hesitation, all the while emerald eyes observed her foes with unyielding focus.
Her movements were elegant and impeccable as she traversed the battlefield with exceptional ease, casting a figure of ethereal beauty and blinding finesse that far outshone that of any average trainee.
It was a sight to behold, even for an experienced huntsman such as him. He could tell the insurmountable effort the girl had put into honing her skill, the passion she held for her craft practically exuding through every pore of her body as her blade moved with significant purpose.
He applauded the performance with a silent smile as his eyes turned to the awed student behind her, the youth's vibrant blue eyes watching fascinated at the young gladiator's skill with the sword.
His name was Jaune Arc, a boy that was the complete opposite of his remarkable red-haired partner; clumsy, inexperienced, and with a head a little too big for his own good. Despite what many believed, Ozpin had known from the beginning about the boy forging the documents he had used to register into beacon.
He could clearly see the boy's lack of ability, and could even understand the desire of his most esteemed colleague Miss Goodwitch to remove him from the program altogether.
Yet, as he looked at the boy on his screen, his oak eyes absorbing the image of the youth's form frozen in awed admiration, he could clearly see a heart desperate to grow and become stronger, those bright sky eyes yearning, wishing to lift his hand and reach her into the place where he too could fight the darkness, where he too could be a hero. It was a gaze full of kindness, compassion and determination that was not so easily found.
His soul of an educator did not allow him to turn the boy down, for he knew, even the smallest and the weakest of cubs could rise to become the strongest of lions.
And so, with a gentle smile and a silent pray of encouragement, he remained at the top of the distant hill, his hazel eyes reflecting the hope he had on the kids.
"i can't believe he hadn't unlocked his aura until now" expressed a frustrated blond woman, as she observed the same video on an identical screen held in her arms "No matter what the records say, Jaune Arc has not demonstrated the necessary qualifications to become a huntsman in this academy" she finished with a small huff, it had certainly been a while since she had witnessed such a puzzling case, already holding strong suspicions of foul play.
"Now now, the students have been given strict requirements to pass this exam, why don't we let the results speak for them, hm?" He said, turning to her with a serene smile playing across his lips.
"But sir!" She exclaimed displeased, her olive gaze turning to the man who held her highest regard. It was not only unusual, but it clearly went against the established regulations of the school to allow unqualified students an entrance. It was at times such as those that she struggled to comprehend the mind of her superior, or rather, to accept his well-meaning but soft hearted responses to very serious matters. Reluctantly, she closed her eyes and sighed in resignation, whatever complaints she may've had abandoned before the kind and weary eyes resting on her form.
Her delicate lips drew into a straight line, compliant and trusting on the judgement of the headmaster. "Yes, sir" she muttered, her gentle voice appeasing the older man.
He smiled candidly at her, somehow knowing she would indulge him in his less than conspicuous methods as long as it caused no harm.
Their gaze turned back to the scrolls when Ozpin swiped into another window presenting a video of one of the youngest recruits they had received that year, fighting alongside the heir of the Schnee company.
While their less than ideal teamwork and the fracture in communication affected greatly their performance, they still managed to clear the area of the aggressive monsters.
It seemed the altercation they had had the day before had inhibited a friendly relationship between the two girls from developing. He ventured to guess the major part of the conflict was based on misunderstandings rather than real disdain towards each other.
As bad as the situation looked on the surface however, the elderly man had no worries whatsoever. He had profound knowledge on both Ruby and Weiss, and as he observed them meticulously, his eyes had no trouble discerning through their heated emotions revealing caring and earnest characters.
He swiped the screen window once more, intending on observing the next pair of applicants.
These two kids in particular were specially unique in what fighting was concerned.
The tip of a red bright spear struck through the clavicle of a growling Beowolf before piercing the head of a second one right behind it. The carnage created by the merciless weapon added to a pile of bodies scattered around the tropical jungle, where a shout of acclamation echoed through the tall trees and heavy bushes.
A strong, tan hand caught the traveling lance after it had completely devastated its targets. Pitch black blood splattered all across the arm holding it in a sinister fashion before it started steaming away slowly.
The figure of a tall boy revealed a well defined and built physique, several scars adorning defined muscles and a brown leather vest covering burly shoulders that left his strong chest exposed. Black cargo pants shielded his lower body, ending in a pair of brown leather boots stained with grime and remnants of destroyed foliage.
He turned when he heard approaching steps, his hazel colored eyes gleaming in acknowledgement when they identified his partner walking calmly in his direction. A friendly grin adorned his rugged features, sharp canines glistening against the light around them.
"So, how did I do?" He said when the other man finally reached him, his eyes focused on the shaded glasses as they inspected his 'work'.
The other boy observed the eroding carcasses of the soulless monsters with eerie calm, his eyes hidden behind dark shades assessing critically the performance of his partner. His face, covered by the high collar of his jacket, gave nothing away.
Black smoke littered around them as the fallen Grimm slowly vanished to oblivion.
The remaining corpses detailed a very gruesome fight, mutilated limbs and separated torsos dispersed among the small battleground. Several heads lay scattered, lifeless red eyes staring at nothingness.
"Three minutes, forty-five seconds." He concluded "you improved your time by fifteen seconds, the amount of clean hits also went up by roughly thirty percent."
His head turned to his companion once more, his neutral gaze scanning for any wounds or scratches. Despite the natural confidence he possessed in the tall boy he was thorough to the core. When he found none he returned his gaze to the now clear forest, all evidence of the carnage that had taken place was gone like the wind.
"The test was a success, Kiba" the shaded boy said, his voice deep yet soft.
The now named teen raised his left hand, rubbing the base of his nose with his index finger in an overly confident manner. "of course it was" he said, his grin widening the slightest bit.
His gaze then turned to the spear he was holding on his right hand, spinning it rapidly around his hand in a show of expertise before he held it in both hands in front of him, his eyes appreciative of the weapon in his possession. "Sis did an incredible job with this. man, as if her ego needed another boost" he complained jokingly as he shook his head, his rich brown hair swaying from the movement.
"She did surpass her previous works" the other teen agreed lifting his right hand to straighten his shades. "i'm sure she would appreciate a word of praise" he continued as he marched past his companion in direction to their true objective.
"Arghh, Shino, you know how she is, if I do say anything to her she's never gonna shut up about it" Kiba grumbled as he followed him.
Shino turned to him briefly without stopping before returning his gaze up front "you say that, but it never stops you from making her know how good her weapons are, why?, because you're not in fact bothered by her elation." He said with the smallest inkling of amusement in his voice
The other teen spluttered indignantly at the uttered words "Just whose side are you on anyway Shino?" He said catching up to him
He was surprised when the boy in shades lifted his right arm before the sleeve fell backwards revealing an intricate bracelet that shifted into a large pincer, a small cannon right on top of his wrist.
Without warning a shot was fired from the weapon straight ahead, the taller boy turning to inspect the reason for such action.
A large beowolf, slightly bigger than average, withered in pain. Its screech of agony echoing loudly throughout the forest.
Its face melted grotesquely as the shot that was fired spread an unknown substance all over its maw.
Two more shots reached its eyes and snout where the previous shot had impacted before it fell to the ground convulsing from the pain, its throat no longer able to produce any sound.
A second passed, and the beast was no more. Its form dissolving into black, traveling through the wind.
"Man, that stuff packs some serious punch" remarked the wild teen, his face placed in contemplation.
Instead of answering, Shino proceeded walking forward, his intent clear on reaching the temple.
Kiba grinned contentedly before matching pace with his partner, "I told you it was a good idea to come here." He said looking rather amused "Even you seem pretty excited, Shino"
The boy in shades did not grumble nor did he snort, but his neutral gaze turning to the spearman told him exactly how ridiculous that statement sounded to him.
Shino's gaze returned to the path ahead deep inside the forest before addressing his companion "I must admit it certainly wasn't one of your worst ideas" the memory of their previous misadventures flashing through their minds.
The painted boy couldn't help but release a small chuckle in remembrance, he did use to come up with some very crazy things to pass the time when they were younger.
But Beacon Academy simply did not qualify as such. According to his mother, the Huntsman academy of vale was undeniably the best when it came to education and training facilities. The fact that upon graduation he would be given access to restricted information and clearance to unexplored environments, convinced him it would definitely allow him to fulfill his personal ambitions.
His chestnut colored eyes turned to Shino in curiosity once his mind wandered to more current events "What do you think the other applicants are like ?" His hands crossing beneath his chest in contemplation.
The teen in shades kept silent for a few moments, his steps soft against the grass as he reflected on the occurrences of the previous day, and all the information he had gathered on his competition. "The vast majority of candidates presented no extraordinary traits, their level of operation and performance quite lower than yours, processing and awareness too a few levels below, unsurprisingly." He relayed monotonously, his brain flashing through the stances, postures, weapons, eye movements, and aura levels of the other applicants.
Kiba nodded in understanding, confident in the observational skills of his partner.
Shino continued undeterred, his thoughts drifting to the more interesting of participants "There are, however, some very peculiar individuals"
Brown eyes turned to his partner with curiosity "You mean that girl with the golden armor" he stated, intrigued.
The other teen nodded calmly "The invincible woman: Pyrrha Nikos" his gaze directed forward "In fighting ability and combat prowess she outclasses even you. Her physical parameters were above my initial estimation, but her greatest strength lies in her ability to adapt and react to her surroundings accordingly. Her battle sense is probably close to that of a veteran huntsman " he said seriously.
Kiba's eyebrows narrowed in thought, wondering how strong that woman actually was. The rumors and stories of her prowess as a warrior were abundant, reaching even their small village on the outskirts of Vale, if Shino said the woman had him beat he had no reason to doubt him.
Still, to meet someone even stronger than him would be rather entertaining.
"There is also the heiress of the Schnee Company, Weiss Schnee. Her aura levels are substantially higher than I had anticipated, and she seems well versed with the rapier, fitting for a member of that family" Shino lifted his middle finger, pushing the bridge of his glasses as he continued his assessment "The group she was mingling with the past day; a couple of unknowns and a Faunus girl, all have an aura level far greater than the average huntsman in training. Their physical abilities, while not at the level of the Invincible girl's, are quite high as well. I have little doubt they will be our principal competitors in this exam."
Kiba nodded once again, recalling to memory the images of the individuals his partner was telling him about.
"And Lastly" Shino paused unexpectedly, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in contemplation "There was that Faunus guy, the fox"
The other boy hummed interested, his mind traveling through the faces of the remaining participants "The Blond one?"
The teen in shades nodded, his features regaining their impassive facade. "He's Strong" he stated with no doubt present in his voice "But his combat parameters are even more substantial. He carries himself like a seasoned warrior, much like Nikos in approximation. He is mindful of the exits and critical locations of every potential battlefield he encounters and prepares contingencies in case he has to engage in a fight. His preferred weapons of choice are a pair of excellently crafted short swords that are loaded with great amounts of dust and judging by the state of the metal he is quite adept at using them. And yet all of that is swiftly eclipsed away by his aura. It is greater than any other among our peer group by a ridiculous amount."
It was something Shino had not expected, it even dwarfed the invincible girl's already impressive aura.
"What?!" Exclaimed kiba, his eyes wide and shock lacing his voice at the revealed information
"Yes, I don't know how that is possible either, but his aura is even greater than Lady Tsume's" Shino continued with a grim expression, his mind trying to understand such an unforeseeable fact.
Kiba's face paled as he froze in utter disbelief, his hazel eyes staring at his conflicted teammate perplexed. His mother had been a seasoned huntress for many years, passing through countless trials and tribulations as she built up her reputation and strength. Her aura was extremely strong and immensely big, easily making his look like a candle in comparison to a furnace. For someone in their age group to have not only a comparable, but an even greater aura had to be nothing short of a monster.
"S-stop joking around Shino" he said chuckling nervously "That cannot possibly be true".
The teen in shades turned to him silently before resuming his slow walk "i'm not joking. That Faunus is in a league of his own when it comes to the size of his aura"
Kiba followed along after him, regaining his composure as he contemplated the information he had just received.
He had noticed the boy with whiskers in the auditorium the previous day as they waited for the headmaster, it was rather difficult not to. With his blond hair, built body and extravagant ears, he was sure everyone had to have taken notice of his presence. At the time, his instincts had told him to be wary of another predator roaming around, but he never would have expected such a secret to be hidden beneath that sunny exterior.
Did that mean the blond boy was stronger than the invincible girl?
As if hearing his thoughts, Shino stated neutrally "Aside from that unsettling information, nothing indicates his superiority over Phyrra Nikos. Though I can't say for certain, it is very likely she is still the stronger of the two."
Kiba furrowed his brows in confusion, Shino could usually tell the approximated strength of even hardened veterans, if he said that the fox Faunus was not likely stronger than Nikos it meant the gap wasn't that big. If that was true however, how could he have such difference in aura? It seemed the mysterious challenger was shrouded in secrets.
"it will be best to stay away from those two individuals for the remaining of this exam" Shino said clinically, his mind prioritizing their mission success over any other sub-objective.
Kiba grumbled in displeasure, but didn't argue about it. His teammate was usually right on what course of action to take, and he was still somewhat shaken about the most recent news.
Their forms moved forward through the forest in silent reflexion, it would be best to be prepared for the unexpected.
-THELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOM-
"Achoo" he sneezed forcefully, the reaction coming abruptly as he stood over a dozen corpses sprawling lifelessly on the forest floor. His blond hair moved softly against the slight breeze as the remnants of his most recent battle revealed another absolute victory.
"Crap, someone must be talking about me" he said, holding his nose in his left hand as his brows furrowed in slight irritation.
"I admire your optimism" replied a voice behind him monotonously, sarcasm tainting its words the slightest bit. He turned to see the pale raven a few meters away playing with his knife and twirling it around in his right hand, his left resting placidly in his pant pocket.
They had easily dealt with the large wave of monsters that had advanced on them murderously, their combined fighting ability managing to turn their sturdy bodies into piles of black ash.
Despite their massive numbers, the Grimm they had fought minutes before lacked strength and agility proper of the foes Naruto was used to. It meant they had been young and therefore rather unentertaining to engage with in battle. Nonetheless, it had been somewhat useful.
It had certainly served to indulge his interest in studying his competition.
He had cemented his opinion on his raven-haired teammate as he observed the other confront the red-eyed beasts. As he had previously gathered, his technique and movements were excessively underdeveloped, certainly belonging to those of an amateur fighter.
Despite that, his sheer physical strength and unnatural speed turned him into a deadly fighter capable of unbelievable damage, not to mention his outrageous natural talent that allowed him to grow exponentially as a warrior. He could tell every time Sasuke fought, he adapted extremely quickly.
His knowledge on the Grimm was extremely limited, and consequently he was unaware of their greatest weaknesses, leading him to waste more time and put more effort into eliminating a single Beowulf than Naruto did. Yet, as soon as he encountered any resistance, he adjusted his tactics and attacked from another angle or targeted another spot.
It was impressive. It had taken Naruto a significantly large amount of training before he was able to seamlessly traverse through maneuvers as naturally as the raven did.
With some more instruction, he was sure the obsidian eyed boy would become a substantially valuable partner.
Still, his personality left a lot to be desired "Shut up, you jerk" he grumbled, unsheathing his blades from his belt before taking a step forward. "Now that that's over with, let's continue where we left off, shall we?" He said, smiling confidently as he prepared to resume their duel.
To his surprise the raven did not outwardly react, his obsidian eyes observing him impassively before his spinning knife vanished into thin air. "As much as I'd like to continue pummeling you into the ground, it is getting rather late. It would be in our best interest to continue on towards the temple" he said looking past the blond's shoulder and marching ahead.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched at the insult, but followed along nonetheless, he had to acknowledge the truth in his companion's words. They had wasted a considerable amount of time facing off against one another. It was indeed possible that other participants had already collected the majority of the relics.
He gulped thinking about what would happen if they where gone by the time they arrived. His master would undoubtedly be very disappointed.
Sasuke walked calmly on the forest ground a few meters ahead of his partner with his hands resting safely in his pockets, his mind wandering through the battle they had just conquered.
It had been the first time he had ever faced the creatures of Grimm, his battle experience being limited to facing beings with beating hearts. He had been somewhat surprised at their relentless assault despite their numerous injuries, their disregard for their own safety something he was not used to.
Nevertheless, the particular variant of monsters they faced turned out to be rather disappointing in his perspective. Fighting Naruto had been significantly more difficult and entertaining. He was not naive enough to believe every single Grimm they faced was going to be as feeble, yet he had honestly expected better.
Amidst the battle, his eyes had found themselves following the orange-clad huntsman in training with laser focus, his interest in studying his partner's fighting style greater than the pressure put forth by the hulking beasts. He clinically recorded every movement, evasion, maneuver and tactic the blond had displayed in his brain, the sheer mastery in combat he exhibited something he had never had the opportunity to see before.
Naruto was able to fight without completely relying on his eyesight when facing opponents in several directions, his strong arms moving the lethal blades in his possession to parry attacks with little movement from his head before turning and cleaving through his enemy with deadly precision.
His attacks were always aimed at the most vulnerable spots of the creatures he faced, allowing him to severely cripple or outright eliminate them with a single swing.
He was not particularly fast, but his skill with the dual blades and his unnatural instincts gave him a tremendous edge against the ghastly beasts.
In summary, he was a fighter forged through countless battles and conditioned with herculean training to accomplish the single purpose of erasing those monsters any time he encountered them.
The sky-eyed warrior was, sincerely speaking, the best fighter he had faced yet. All others before him not even worth mentioning. The corner of his mouth lifted in an amused smirk, it had been most educative.
In the end, the charging creatures had been easily dispatched with a merciless stab through the eye or a slash through the neck, the stronger ones easily evaded with swift steps and dodges.
He turned his gaze when he heard his whiskered partner hum with something akin to curiosity. Naruto's questioning cerulean eyes were centered on his feet as they walked, a hand holding his chin in inquiry.
His eyebrows twitched in annoyance as the blond continued his inspection silently, seemingly unwilling to simply state his question.
"What?" He asked drily, his obsidian eyes observing his partner blankly.
"Hm?" Naruto replied, glancing back at the raven's black orbs.
"What are you looking at, moron?!" The raven asked, his voice holding slight irritation for having to elaborate.
The blond brushed off the insult easily and turned his eyes forward, his chin still resting on his enclosed hand. "I was wondering how you managed to walk without making a sound actually, it's really creepy" he said casually, making his partner gaze at him seriously.
He hadn't expected Naruto to be so perceptive, people usually weren't able to tell. His silent step most notably allowed him to suppress his presence and mask his actions into appearing mundane, the fact that he could tell such minute detail meant he was impressively aware. He wondered if his partner's heightened senses were the cause for his discovery.
He briefly thought about lying to the blond on the real reason behind his ability, but he assumed he wouldn't believe him anyway, so he answered with blunt honesty "I come from a family of assassins"
The response he got was anything but expected.
"No way, really?! That's so cool!" The whiskered boy replied turning to him with fascinated eyes, earning a look of absolute surprise from the usually stoic raven.
"You believe me?" He inquired perplexed, wondering what kind of idiot accepted a reason as implausible as that so quickly.
"Are you lying?" Naruto asked casually, his arms folding beneath his chest further baffling his companion.
"I am not" he answered sternly, his mind furiously trying to understand the blond's thought process.
"Then I believe you" the blond replied smiling widely, turning his gaze forward again. "Man, I've never met an assassin before. Is it true that they can walk on water? Or on ceilings?" He continued asking excitedly, his arms moving behind his head leisurely.
The raven stopped in his tracks observing his partner as if he had grown a second head. Was he stupid? He simply could not comprehend what was transpiring at the moment.
"You believe me, and you aren't the least bit upset?" He asked with narrowed eyes, convinced that the blond was pretending to be that simpleminded.
Naruto stopped his stride and turned to face him with furrowed eyes "Why would I be upset?" He asked confusedly, his relaxed posture immutable.
"Oh, I don't know, how about the fact that my family kills people for a living for starters" Sasuke replied rolling his eyes in baffled exasperation, sarcasm coating his voice like a second layer. "that seems like something people would be upset over"
Naruto lifted an eyebrow in thought, observing calmly how worked up his companion had become "Well, have you ever killed anyone?"
Sasuke looked at him seriously. He was unable to understand the strange way in which the blond's mind worked. "I have not" he answered honestly, not knowing what to expect from the other boy.
The whiskered teen then had the gall to face him as if he was the one being stupid. "Then what's there to be upset about?"
The raven-haired teen could only stare in a mixture of confusion and surprise, his previous belief that his family history would create conflict with the more morally righteous huntsmen dissolving into worthless litter. His hand lifted to cover his face as he sighed in exasperation and resignation, there was no point in trying to associate normal human behavior with the man before him. It was simply a losing battle.
His mind resolved, he resumed his stride past his partner and towards the temple to complete the mission as soon as possible.
Naruto gave him a curious glance before he stepped beside him as they continued on their way "So can you walk on water?" He asked in wonder, his previous inquiries about the abilities of the assassins resurfacing.
The raven's brow twitched in annoyance before he replied without turning "No, I cannot walk on water" he said drily, lamenting he wasn't paired with that Ren guy. He seemed quiet enough.
"And that silent movement thing, is that an assassination technique?" Naruto asked, his tone shifting into a more serious one. That ability hadn't left his mind since the morning when the raven sneaked out of the ballroom without alerting his senses. It was as frightening as it was undoubtedly useful for their particular profession.
Sasuke glanced back at him briefly before turning forward again "It is. It's also the only technique I managed to learn from my family" he said, his velvety voice feeling suddenly empty.
The blonde turned to him confused, wondering the possible meaning of such a vague statement. Ultimately he decided not to ask, the raven didn't seem to be in the mood to keep talking about that.
As he thought about what other subject he could bring up to start an amicable conversation with his partner, they reached a massive earth formation.
It's width was extended way beyond their sights hinting at the long travel they would have to endure to go around it, and the large hole ahead signaled the entrance to a cave underneath the gargantuan structure.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Naruto asked curious as he scratched his head in confusion. He did not remember seeing it from the clouds when he had been launched.
"Of course it's the way, it is in the direction opposite from where the hill is. Just as Ozpin said where the temple was located." Replied the raven as he inspected the tall walls. "come one, we should go around it fast. We've wasted too much time already." He continued as he turned to his right before taking a step forward.
"Hold on a sec. we have a perfectly good shortcut right there" said the blond boy as he stopped his partner and pointed at the large entrance of the cavern, a grin etching its way into his factions.
"How are you so sure there's an exit on the other side?" The raven asked turning to him, a brow raising in doubt.
"Trust me on this" Naruto said crossing his arms behind his head as he walked closer to the threshold being followed by his companion. "Besides, what is the worst thing that could happen?" He continued as their forms melded with the darkness of the cave.
-THELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOMTHELASTKINGDOM-
They were gliding, tree branches snapping as their feet made contact with the bark beneath them in an attempt to increase their pace. Wind crashed against their forms as the forest morphed with their rapid advance.
They had ultimately elected to ascend to the trees for a full speed journey to their destination, skipping any other possible confrontation.
Hazel eyes observed calmly as a glade closed in ahead, the forest dying out as they cleared the distance.
They landed softly in the dry grass, the morning sun illuminating their surroundings in golden warmth. It was mostly silent and deserted as they calmly studied the grounds around them.
It seemed they had been the first to arrive.
A stone monument lay ahead, ancient carvings decorating well-assembled columns that organized to form a circle enclosing several small-sized pillars that contained multiple gleaming objects at the smooth tops.
"That must be the Temple and the relics Professor Ozpin was talking about." Kiba said glancing left and right as they remained a fair distance away from their objective "You think there are any traps around?" He asked turning to his partner who stood impassive at his side.
Shino kept silent for a few seconds as he studied the condition of the temple, visible cracks and plant protrusions hinting at the state and age of the structure. "Unlikely, with the numerous Grimm residing inside the forest that surrounds the temple, applicants are already being tested in a multitude of ways. It seems pointless to further add complications such as traps for a simple initiation exam."
With that said, the teen with shades advanced undeterred, his steps soft as he was followed by his companion.
Once inside, Kiba inspected the objects that rested upon the pillars, finding surprisingly that they were golden chess pieces, sixteen of them to be exact. There were four rooks, four bishops, four knights and four ruling pieces.
It was now clear that only sixteen candidates were going to pass the test. Out of thirty-two on the cell that had been assigned to that specific battle ground, Kiba thought the number of passing participants was still too high for the supposed difficulty of the academy.
"Well look at that Shino, who would have guessed the professor would be so dramatic" the painted boy said as he grinned at his partner before taking one of the king pieces.
The other boy remained silent as he too observed the golden pieces, either Kiba was right and the headmaster had a fair for the fantastic, or the pieces meant something specific. For the moment it was unimportant, therefore he proceeded to take the other king piece.
A movement from the foliage away drew their attention as they quickly stored the relics in their pockets before turning warily towards the suspected threat.
A golden fist punched through the web of branches that had been on its way before a beautiful golden-haired girl came from within as she dusted any remaining leafs away from her clothes. "See, I told you this was the way." She said turning back to where an amber eyed girl stepped out from the wreckage, her bright violet eyes gleaming good-naturedly.
"i said there was a way around the bushes, not that it wasn't that way" the black-haired girl replied in a slight grumble as she too dusted her clothes off any leafs and dirt.
Her amber eyes turned when she noticed the boys standing on the entrance of the temple, their stances now relaxed at the familiar sight. "Oh, it seems we were not the first team to arrive." She said monotonously as she straightened her posture, her gaze remaining on the other duo.
"What?" The blond teen asked curiously as she turned to where her partner was gazing at, two boys standing on the steps of the altar that housed the relics they had come to retrieve.
The taller one, with a painted face and chestnut eyes lifted a hand in welcome as he waved softly at them, sharp canines glistening as he grinned amicably at them.
The other boy whose eyes were hidden in shades continued to stare impassively.
She grinned back, her hands holding the sides of her hips as she turned to her partner "Damn, I really wanted to be first" she said laughing merrily as she turned back to the male huntsmen in training. "Let's go greet the competition and take these relics already, I'm due for a real shower soon" she continued as she stepped forward towards the temple.
Blake chose to remain silent as she followed her partner, eager to get over with this headache-inducing exam.
"Hey, name's Kiba Inuzuka and this my partner Shino Aburame." Said the tall boy as he pointed at his friend beside him and offered a hand in greeting, a friendly grin adorning his features. "Nice to meet you."
The blond teen took the offered hand and shook it, a smile adorning her pretty lips "Yang Xiao-long, this is my partner-"
"Blake Belladona" interrupted the amber eyed teen rather uninterestedly as she passed by them and went to retrieve a relic.
"Forgive her, we had an accidental run-in with a very cold lake and now she's mad at me" Yang said, amusement rolling off her voice as she smiled at her partner who was now growling softly.
Kiba laughed in response as he let his hand return to his side "It's alright, you should see how Shino here gets when there is too much heat" he said turning to his teammate.
Despite the fact that his gaze was hidden by shades, Kiba could tell the other boy was getting annoyed. With a step to the side he let the gorgeous blond teen move forward to retrieve her objective as he allowed himself to study her figure.
She was certainly one of the finest women he had had the pleasure of meeting, her voluptuous body enticing his male instincts greatly.
Her golden mane was silky in its appearance as it curled at different points, making it look fuller and brighter than most other hair he'd seen. And her thin lips and button up nose were delicate in their deception of a significantly more feisty nature.
A beautiful woman indeed.
As he watched the pair of girls claim their relics he cleared his throat and approached the blond seductively "So yang, I was thinking, how about after this we go get a cup of coffee or something?" He said sharp canines glistening as he smirked playfully at her.
Blake rolled her eyes as she turned away and yang moved her gaze to her new acquaintance, a flirty smile adorning her features as she moved towards her partner "Sorry lover-boy, I ain't interested in dating at the moment"
He smirked amusedly as he saw her take the knight piece she had retrieved to inspect it "Ouch, rejected on my first try? Well, what can you do…" he said shaking his head self-mockingly.
"If you're done playing around, we should probably get going" a voice next to him said, making him turn to face Shino who was facing the large clearing with a hint of exasperation.
"Hey, nothing wrong with a little flirting once in a while" he replied, the corners of his mouth turning upwards amused at having bothered the normally stoic boy.
Black shades turned to him neutrally and Kiba had to hold back a laugh at Shino's monotonous accusing gestures.
"You have done it fifty-seven times since we arrived at the academy" the face-covered boy said as he lifted a hand to adjust his glasses. "i'm frankly surprised no one has accused you of being a sexual deviant"
"Hey now, that's insulting you know?" The tall boy said as he stepped beside his partner "besides I saw none of them complaining" he continued with a rather smug look.
Shino was about to retort when a shriek from above startled the four teens making them turn to look for the source of the sound.
Kiba lifted his hand to his forehead to prevent the sun from hitting his eyes directly as he scanned the air for the person screaming, a red dot finally materializing in his field of vision. "What the hell?" He said, confused.
The girls similarly squinted trying to figure out who it was.
As the body kept falling rapidly, ivory skin and black reddish hair became identifiable. A young and delicate face contorted in alarm as she screamed her lungs away with a rather high pitched voice, revealing her to be a teenage girl.
Yang lifted a pretty eyebrow as she noticed the body that certainly resembled her sister flying at top speed towards the very hard ground "Ruby?" She asked confused.
Before the silver-eyed girl managed to land painfully, another sturdy form coming from the side at very rapid speeds collided with her, sending the pair of kids crashing against a tall tree standing at the edge of the clearing.
Ruby slid down the trunk of the tree until her bottom touched the surface of a branch, effectively stopping her fall. She groaned in discomfort at such chaotic travel, moving her limbs trying to regain full functionality of them.
Her eyes turned hearing a groan that wasn't her own, finding a blond-haired boy hanging upside down from branches above her as he shook his head slightly disoriented.
His eyes turned to her before his face contorted apologetically "Sorry about that" he said chuckling nervously.
She only managed to shake her head in response "No problem" she mumbled.
He smiled rather awkwardly trying to untangle his legs from the obtrusive branches "I'm Jaune Arc by the way" he said extending a hand toward her.
She chuckled and took his hand helping him out of the vine trap restraining his feet. "Ruby Rose, Pleasure to meet you" she said once they both stood safely on the branch.
All the way back at the temple the four teenagers present observed the events with varying degrees of emotions.
Shino remained uncaring, instead getting rather impatient to return to their main objective, whereas Kiba stood wondering if that had actually happened.
Voicing his thoughts, the pretty dark-haired girl turned to purple-eyed woman "Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Disbelief coating her tone slightly.
"I…" Yang mumbled, yet wasn't able to finish her statement before a massive rumble resonated throughout the clearing.
"What now?" Asked the lancer as he turned to the forest dumbfounded, the accumulation of all the current unlikely events taking place too astonishing for him.
At the other end of the clearing, the trees parted violently as the ground shook and shattered before a hulking beast rushed out from within, its menacing red eyes glowing softly as it roared in blind rage.
Behind him, an euphoric holler and a bright pink light resonated with the sound of a gunshot being fired, ultimately sending the monster to its demise.
Its large body fell forward on its face and the teenagers were finally able to identify the beast slayer, an orange-haired girl with jade-colored eyes wearing a long sleeved white shirt and a pink skirt.
The hyper-exited girl seemed to have no trouble in goofing around with the defeated monster. This prompted her partner, a handsome black-haired man with a single pink lock wearing a dark green tailcoat, to come out rather exhausted.
Before KIba was even aware, the newcomer had already crossed the distance and grabbed a rook chess piece with the apparent intent to inspect it.
Her vibrant green eyes observed for a few seconds fascinated the golden object she held in her soft hands and then threw herself into a celebration dance complete with singing and theatrics.
Kiba's eyebrow twitched at the sheer weirdness of the girl, wondering deeply if she was sound of mind.
A loud "NORA!" Was heard and the girl immediately rushed back to her teammate showing no signs of shame or regret.
"Did that girl just ride on an Ursa?" Blake once again voiced all their thoughts, her silky voice echoing in the small area.
"I…" similarly said yang as she attempted to reconcile the current situation before she was completely interrupted anew.
A loud roar coming from the opposite side of the forest grabbed their attention as another row of trees was easily unearthed and pushed aside with the might of a colossal Grimm.
A girl wearing golden armor with apple-red hair fled away towards the center of the clearing as she was being chased by the incredibly fast deathstalker, its pincers aiming and trying to sever the girl in half.
Abruptly, the red-caped girl who had previously crashed against the tree dropped close to them, approaching the blond teenager hurriedly "Yang!" She cried relieved, lifting her arms intending to hug her.
The brawler in turn faced her dear sister and stepped closer as well "Ruby!" she exclaimed happily, mimicking the younger girl.
They were interrupted however, by the hyper-active girl who had been there moments before, yelling "Nora!" From between them as if it was the most natural thing to do.
Blake on her part was still focused on the giant Grimm chasing the invincible girl. "Did she just run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?" She asked rather impressed.
Yang couldn't hold her composure any longer and yelled out her frustrated thoughts "Uggrrh, I can't take it anymore! Could everybody just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?"
Kiba was rather inclined to agree. The succession of events was rather headache inducing, yet as soon as the girl uttered those words another deafening roar echoed throughout the clearing, startling the teenagers inside the temple.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Exclaimed once again the lilac-eyed teen, her hands holding her hips as her face contorted in a frown. She remained gazing at the forest darkened by the heavy amounts of leaves at the top of the trees, waiting for the next ridiculous monster to come out of hiding along with a pair of extravagant huntsmen in training.
"Um yang?" Called her sister at her side, prompting the blond to turn to her curiously.
The other five teens turned to her as well, sharing her intrigue.
Ruby only needed to point upwards for the whole group to direct their gaze at the giant Nevermore flying above them with the heir of the Schnee company hanging from one of its claws.
"How could you leave me?" Yelled the snow-themed girl trying to hold onto the beast as she directed her ire to her partner.
"I said Jump" Defended Ruby as they continued to observe the predicament in which the white-haired teen remained.
"She's gonna fall" assured Blake with her arms crossed as she observed impassively.
"She'll be fine" Ruby replied trying to sound optimistic.
"She's falling" Finished the newcomer Lie Ren, who was observing beside his partner.
Unbelievably, the boy who had crashed against Ruby and stopped her fall, jumped away from the branches and caught the falling girl in his arms, his infatuation and bravado transparent to both Kiba and Shino.
Unsurprisingly, he willfully ignored the fact that he too was now suspended in mid air with nothing to stop his fall. The consequences were obvious.
The pair fell, screaming as they impacted against the hard ground, Jaune facing down and Weiss on his back using his body as a cushion.
On the other side of the glade, where the forest had managed to remain intact, a massive black creature demolished its way through the rows of trees as its earsplitting roar echoed loudly through the air. Two separate bodies came flying out, being propelled away from the powerful swing of the beast's gargantuan arm.
Shino's gaze for the first time showed an inkling of interest as he was able to identify blond hair and a set of flamboyant orange clothes.
Naruto maneuvered in the air regaining his balance before he landed in a powerful crouch as he skidded backwards, the strength of the Grimm somewhat surprising.
The other body, his partner, with inhuman agility spun rapidly around himself before landing softly and noiselessly, resembling a feline rather disturbingly.
Before anyone else could make a comment, the incredibly handsome newcomer turned to the orange clad hunter in training who was now standing, mild dislike reflected in his black orbs "You just had to open your mouth, didn't you?" He said accusingly.
Not missing a beat, the blue eyed boy faced him defensively "How was I supposed to know that an Alpha was living on these forests?"
Rolling his eyes, the midnight haired teenager crossed his arms on his chest before responding snidely "Aren't you supposed to be the expert? Great help your shortcut did for us by the way, moron" sarcasm rolling easily from his tone.
Naruto on his part frowned as his eyebrow twitched in irritation before he replied just as mockingly "i didn't see you complain before its ugly face stood in front of us, in fact you were the one following me, stupid."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he directed a quivering smirk to his partner "Only because I thought you knew what you were doing, genius".
Naruto gave him a shivering grin as his irritation showed clearly on his face "Well there you go, glad you finally admitted it was your fault. Maybe next time you'll come up with a useful suggestion yourself."
The raven's eyebrow twitched before he regulated his breathing and closed his eyes trying to calm himself, standing upright and making a mocking gesture with his arm "oh don't worry, a braindead monkey could come up with better plans than you. i'm sure i'll have no trouble whatsoever."
A vein popped in the blond's forehead as he faced his partner in unadulterated aggravation "You bastard!"
"Naruto?" A voice coming a few meters behind them made both boys turn to find that they had been the subject of entertainment and observation for the past several seconds. A handful of other teenagers staring at their rather aggressive banter since their arrival.
The voice belonged to the young girl with the red cape who was now observing relieved that she had found her friend again. Without thinking, she approached rapidly and embraced the blond as she exclaimed happily "Naruto!"
"Hey Ruby, it's been awhile." The cerulean-eyed boy responded as he ruffled her hair, glancing past her to find both Yang and Blake standing next to each other "Yang" he said nodding.
"It is you hotshot, for a moment I thought we'd lost you to the wolves" the lilac-eyed girl replied teasingly before crossing her arms against her bosom.
Naruto snorted before turning to the bow-wearing girl and giving her a small meaningful smile, being reciprocated with a short wave before the girl turned her amber gaze away from his. He then turned to find the other teenagers standing somewhat awkwardly.
He recognized the duo he had been inspecting the day prior, the tall boy wearing face paint with a burly frame and the intellectual-looking man whose eyes were hidden in shades. For a brief instant he felt tension arise between himself and the pair before he turned to the other teens currently watching enraptured.
A boy wearing a green tailcoat and a girl with a pink skirt stood observing serene and curious, respectively. He had seen them the day before too and immediately he could tell how strong they were, he was especially surprised at the small girl who seemed to be content no matter what was happening around her.
At this point Ruby had let go of her embrace and turned to the man she had met the prior night. He had remained staring indifferently at the small reunion, his previous purple hoodie no longer covering his large frame. Instead, a sleeveless grey shirt covered his top, revealing defined muscular arms that had been previously hidden by the baggy clothing.
"Hi there, Sasuke was it? Are you by any chance Naruto's partner?" she said brightly, making the group turn to the other boy who had chosen to remain quiet.
Shino frowned deeply as his eyes centered on his form. He had absolutely no recollection of that individual ever being near their group. He went through the whole list of applicants he had seen and studied on their small cell, no outstanding individuals besides the ones standing beside him flashing on his mind.
There remained the possibility that he was simply an unremarkable huntsman in training, yet that was contradicted directly by the aerial maneuvers he had performed just moments before.
His eyes narrowed further and his body stiffened as he realized that the midnight haired boy standing beside the fox Faunus was completely unreadable to him.
His aura levels were insignificant, his body condition was seemingly average and he couldn't determine his mental processes due to the sheer serenity and indifference in his posture and body language.
It was only due to the boy's extraordinary arrival that he even registered on his radar. Shino had always considered himself to be highly observant, having the patience and focus to make clear and concise observations of his surroundings, storing them for the time it was needed to act in the most efficient manner. It was unnerving that he had missed a whole other candidate for a spot in the academy.
Worse yet, he had spent the previous day thoroughly gathering information on his competition and the individual attributes they possessed. For someone to remain unnoticed while he actively dissected the whole group, was something that should not have been at all possible.
This development, coupled with the mysterious existence of the Faunus with inhuman levels of aura, puzzled him utterly.
Kiba noticed how rigid his partner had become all of a sudden, gazing at him for a moment before turning towards the pale boy standing beside the blond applicant.
His immediate thought directly betrayed the dislike provoked by his presence, surprisingly for much more shallow reasons. The boy who had just manifested before them was, undeniably, unspeakably attractive. His facial features were pristine and soft-looking with the exception of his sharp, intelligent eyes, paradoxically holding masculine allure. It was, in his perspective, as if he had been taken right out of a popular magazine. If it wasn't for some very masculine traits in the bone structure of his face, he would have even ventured to say the guy could pass off for a woman.
He noticed the slight blush dusting the golden-haired girl's cheeks as she continued to observe conflicted. Similarly, the weird girl who had remained unstoppable so far, looked on with wide curious eyes and a diminutive blush as if she was admiring a painting. Heck, even the blond guy who had used his body to stop the heiress's fall and approached the group after recovering, presented a small blush at seeing the factions of the newcomer.
That only meant he was going to become an annoying obstacle for him as he tried to date girls around campus. He did indeed very much dislike the guy already.
"Unfortunately, yes. I still don't understand what I did in my previous life to suffer such fate." the onyx-eyed boy replied to Ruby, disappointment clearly written across his features.
"Hey!" Exclaimed the man at his side insulted.
Yang moved to cover her mouth to prevent a laugh from escaping, the strange banter between the two boys more amusing to her than she expected. "Glad to see you made it here too Sasuke. You guys are just in time for our timely deaths at the hands of these oversized monsters" she said turning to the Deathstalker and the alpha Beowulf that were surrounding them, the group following her lead.
Not an instant later the form of the red-haired warrior crashed at their feet, having been repelled by the assault of the dangerous Grimm.
"Not if I can help it" said Ruby taking the lead and charging at the Deathstalker, drawing her scythe from her back and firing backwards to propel herself further and strike decisively at the marauding monster.
As the girl engaged in a heated battle with beast, Sasuke turned to start walking leisurely towards the temple, his hands resting in his pockets unconcerned of the current situation.
Naruto, alerted by the movement at his side, faced his partner curiously "Where are you going now?"
The raven glanced back to him before pointing at the golden objects resting on the pillars. "we're already here, might as well take our prize" he said as he continued his slow stride.
Shino eyed him warily as he passed by them, unsure of how to categorize the new addition to his data pool.
Kiba instead offered simply a look of mild contempt, crossing his arms and observing from the side.
Seeing no point In disagreeing, Naruto headed after his partner, stepping over the small stairs and facing the collection of relics that remained. The fact that the ultimate prizes were chess pieces intrigued him a little, yet he wasted no time as he approached a particular pillar and grabbed a queen piece.
He turned to see that his teammate had done the same, eying the relic in his hands apathetically.
A loud screech alerted the pair that the Nevermore had returned and joined in on the scuffle the red-hooded girl was having with the massive scorpion.
Iron-hard feathers had rained down on her and pinned her to the ground by her large cape as the other monster advanced unimpeded.
Naruto had the urge to rush and help his friend but a hand on his shoulder prevented him from doing so, his azure gaze turning to face black pools staring down at him passively.
Sasuke glanced past him and Naruto followed his lead, finding that Weiss had taken the role of rescuer in the situation as she created a large-sized ice structure that momentarily stopped the beast's assault.
The pale boy strolled casually out of the temple, leaving Naruto surprised at his perceptiveness.
The blond for his part, carefully stored the relic on his clothes before stepping beside him as they abandoned the temple.
Outside, the altercation seemed to come to a ephemeral close with the red-hooded girl embracing her sister and the girls joining with the rest of the teenagers.
A belligerent roar coming from the airborne Nevermore drew their attention as the creature centered its crimson gaze on them, its massive body threateningly surrounding their position.
Jaune Arc, the flaxen-haired teammate of Pyrrha Nikos pointed at the hellish avian flapping its pitch-black wings as he addressed the small crowd nervously "Um, guys. That thing's circling back. What do we do?"
Naruto observed him contemplatively as he reconciled the fact that the boy who had seemed the least likely to pass the trial was now standing between the students most likely to become recruits.
It was finally Weiss who responded to the boy's comment "Look, there's no sense in dillydallying. Our objective is right in front of us." She said motioning to the remaining relics.
Ruby immediately agreed, supporting her partner's idea "She's right. Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the cliffs." She said nodding to the heiress, receiving an affirmative nod in exchange.
Her silver eyes scanned through the remaining faces, trying to convey her message "We don't have to fight these things"
Naruto raised an eyebrow in silent disagreement, his knowledge on the creatures told him they were simply not going to outrun the Grimm. Despite that, he agreed to go along with the plan, curiosity on Ruby's potential dictating his actions.
Sasuke shrugged, not caring either way since he had satiated his thirst for battle earlier in his confrontation with his now partner.
Kiba and Shino shared an unsure glance, finding the plan not well thought out.
Jaune stepped forward responding to Ruby enthusiastically "Run and live, that is an idea I can get behind."
Finding no objection, the teens lacking a relic headed for the remaining objects in the temple before joining back with the group and rushing full speed towards the dense concentration of trees separating them from the cliffs.
As they ran, a dreadful bellow resonated through the forest, signaling the escape of the Deathstalker from its ice prison. Its grotesque appendages moved in synchronized motion to close the distance between the creature and its prey.
Being pursued by the Deathstalker from the ground, and the Nevermore from the sky they quickly crossed the dense ensemble of trees in agitation, arriving at an arid field surrounded by stone ruins and columns.
Before they could get even a second of rest however, a colossal shadow drowned the entire group as the remaining creature ambushed them from the side.
Its massive size did nothing to diminish its tremendous agility and enormous physical strength.
Pyrrha, with her impeccable battle instincts was the first to react, hoisting her partner on her shoulder and jumping out of the monster's attack range.
Yang pulled her sister with her before throwing herself away from the roaring Grimm as Blake and Weiss stumbled in their exit from sheer surprise.
The other teenagers similarly, managed to make their retreat without trouble.
Not an instant after, the ground quivered and fractured furiously as the gargantuan arm of the beast impacted with overwhelming strength, lifting a curtain of dust and debris that blinded the teens momentarily.
Kiba narrowed his chestnut eyes in apprehension, recognizing the physical prowess of their enemy. It was clear that the Grimm before them was not going to let them advance any longer.
Shino stood quietly, studying the movements of the Alpha. He had great knowledge but little experience facing this particular strain of monster. Defeating it would require of tremendous effort from his part. His hand lifted to carefully adjust his shades.
Naruto observed irritated, not expecting the creature to be as intelligent to attempt a surprise attack. It had however, turned out how he predicted, the triad had quickly caught up with them. Continuing further would be completely pointless.
Sasuke remained nonchalant. Having handled the initial assault back in the cave, he was unsurprised by the combat abilities of the Alpha Beowulf. Still, it seemed they were going to have to fight it off. An amused smirk rose from his lips.
Yang stood up, helping Ruby as well. She was breathing heavily from the strenuous movement as she hadn't expected an attack from the side.
Similarly Blake and Weiss found themselves collecting their breaths and facing the creature standing before them.
Pyrrha put down her teammate safely, quickly drawing her weapons and entering a fighting stance as she thought of a strategy to engage.
"Damn, we were so close" huffed Ruby as she recovered from the impact, her gaze wary on the massive Alpha.
"What now?" Said Jaune as he stared fearfully at the monster that had been seconds away from pulverizing them.
Blake gritted her teeth in dismay, the situation was becoming worse by the second and the remaining creatures were going to overwhelm them if they didn't think of a plan fast.
Naruto took a step forward drawing the attention of the whole group, his form imposing and serious.
"You guys go on ahead toward the cliffs, I'll keep this guy busy" he said without turning, his voice raspy as he withdrew his blades from their holsters.
Jade and sapphire gleamed strikingly as the sun's rays fell on his weapons, casting an image of admirable courage and strength to his peers.
Ruby's eyes widened in dismay, thinking that the golden-haired boy would not be able to handle the titan by himself. "No wait, if we all work together maybe—"
She was interrupted when a hand ruffled her hair roughly, her eyes turning to Sasuke as he calmly strolled forward stopping beside his partner. His left hand was hidden inside his pocket. "Those things are going to catch up soon. Better get going". He said snapping his neck as he observed the monster with anticipation.
The girls observed in bewilderment, reluctance to leave clear in their eyes.
Pyrrha turned her gaze between the two boys confused, her stance falling as she scrutinized them and their peculiar behavior. As a battle strategy, engaging separately in this manner was undesirable. If either of them was defeated, the other would not be able to engage any longer. Fighting as a group would be far more productive, despite the fact that another attack by the Deathstalker and the Nevermore was incoming.
Kiba stepped up to the other side of the blond as he directed a feral grin at the Alpha, if a fight was inevitable he'd rather much have it in his terms "Don't think I'll let you guys have all the fun."
Finally Shino sighed in weariness, finding no point in delaying the impending battle. With slow steps he stood beside his partner and the two teens that had sent his head in disarray since the exam had started. It was finally time to end it all.
Naruto turned finding the perplexed gazes of the remaining students, gracing them with a confident grin before addressing them excitedly "Well what are you waiting for, we'll be fine. In fact, if you guys don't hurry, I'll beat you to the top you know."
Ruby's eyes widened before they narrowed in resolution, she quickly shared a glance with her sister and partner before turning to the whiskered teen again. "Be careful, alright?"
The blond only grinned before turning to the creature ahead.
Pyrrha, Lie Ren, and Weiss observed apprehensive but did not object.
"Alright guys, let's go" Ruby said commanding the group with the exception of the four boys to keep going. They resumed their rapid pace towards the finish line just in time for the Nevermore and the Deathstalker to arrive.
Their heinous screeching reverberated throughout the field, chilling the bones of the students as they increased the distance from their pursuers.
The creatures, recognizing the large group of humans and the Faunus girl, did not stop to support the alpha in its assault against the quartet.
In the hollow wasteland, the four teens remained. Their hearts fearless of the enemy they were about to face, the true test of their abilities finally in sight.
"Well guys, Let's get this party started."
A/N: Finally! Very sorry guys. I know I took a lot of time to finish this, but I had to rewrite it multiple times before I was satisfied. Just wanted to give more depth to the characters and set of the conditions for the next big fight, we should probably be out of the whole introduction arc in the next two chapters. And theeeenn. An original take of the story by your's truly. It will not exactly follow the same progression of the original since it will be in the perspective of our mains, but I plan to take a different route with this story and paint it with the essence of RWBY. Sorry if it sounds confusing. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy it and see you next time.