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Chapter 12

This AN used to be so massive that it passed 1K words. Fuuuuuuuuuck that.

The AN Was As Large As The Day Is Long; It Was Larger Than Listening To A Ten-Hour Song!

Chapter Twelve: A Tree Which Bore Golden Apples

'Gaara' stood inside one of the many Dust stores on the outskirts of a city on Solitas near Atlas he didn't bother learning the name of, watching as the clerk quickly and shakily placed his merchandise in the bag in front of him. The redhead looked around and saw that the six assistants provided to him were done with their own collection.

He took the heavy bag from the frightened store owner and put him to sleep using his Sharingan with his memories intact. "Let's move," Sasuke ordered in the Kazekage's voice as he walked over one of the many unconscious security guards littering the area to reach the front door. Once outside, he continued down the planned route and saw the many nameless civilians giving him and his group a wide berth. None wishing to be the target of the redhead, especially since law enforcement were nowhere to be found.

Alleyway after alleyway, every shortcut was taken till they reached their intended vehicle to take them away from the snowy area. This had been going on for weeks, Roman and his crew were adamant that Sasuke would be a part of the thefts across Remnant, all of which were successful as the thief put it.

They made sure his clones were put into use on the matter when information about his capabilities were released. Even better, they ordered him to go as Gaara, as that image was what frightened people more than the dashing outlaw that was Sasuke Uchiha. Indeed, that part of his secret was out, but Gaara remained the face of fear for the people of Remnant. And that was all they needed, a face that made things go smoother and made the fear rack up.

Sasuke could only guess what raising the fear level to allow Grimm attacks to grow on the border was for, but he didn't really care if those creatures attacked more often the usual on the walls of Vale and the other kingdoms. He had decent percentage to take on each theft, was slowly making his way to his goal amount, and that was enough for him.

He pulled out his Scroll and sent a message to the leading White Fang officer of the area to inform of another successful job, and vanished from existence in a puff of smoke, leaving the assistants to drive back to the forward operating base with the Dust and Scroll given to the ninja. The first time this happened, it was startling, but the White Fang members who came with him got used to it over the past few weeks.

Beneath the grounds of Mount Glenn sat the original Sasuke Uchiha in one of the vacant and ruined buildings alone, who was just hit with the memories from one of his clones out there. 'Another success,' he thought with a hint of boredom. They had to be careful which store to rob, as huntsmen could be watching and waiting for him to slip up. So they had scouts discreetly looking for anything unusual before a job.

Ironically, the more fear he caused, the less Huntsmen there were to watch the stores, as they would be on the borders fighting off the usual Grimm. So the more stores he robs while using his fearful persona, the easier the next heist was. It was as if every element of the mission worked to his advantage. It was becoming eerie from how smooth and easy it was.

Occasionally, he would send out the clones instead of himself as he stayed in the ruins of Mount Glenn. Simply because he heard something interesting on the radio a few White Fang members around him had. So he demanded for his own place complete with running water and electricity, with his own radio to keep track of what's happening that included him.

Apart from the tabloid gossip, it was amusing watching people start making far-from-reality explanations about him. One included that Sasuke was capable of taking people's image and Semblance after he absorbed the people themselves, which did sound plausible in a certain way.

But the news wasn't the only reason the ninja was listening in on the events.

Rumors had been going around of how the Uchiha had helped Pyrrha regain her arm, which in turn, allowed her to stay in Beacon with her friends. 'It was only a matter of time before the illusion's effect passed,' he thought to himself once he heard of the unfounded rumor. He assumed Ozpin was the reason they stayed as rumors.

He didn't know how tense the relationship between Pyrrha Nikos and the three of RWBY had become, while remaining members of their teams couldn't figure out how to handle the situation, but they were trying their best to keep things civil between them. On one hand, he helped Pyrrha recover without any evidence of alteration or even the hope of reward, while on the other, he committed a serious crime to each member of RWBY.

Sasuke stood up from his seat and made to leave the building, by jumping out the window of the highest floor of the building he resided in. The apartment building he chose didn't have any functional stairs, so it worked better for him if anybody wanted to try and invade his space the old fashioned way.

Upon landing soundlessly, he heard a familiar voice to his side. "Good morning, Sasuke," Neopolitan greeted cordially. "Are you ready for today's meeting?" She had picked up on his pattern of where he would usually land and occasionally would wait for him on certain days.

Oh, and she said she'd forgiven him for his unfriendly like behavior while they were on the bullhead. She even told him that he should have just let her known beforehand to help. She even said that friends forgave eachother for simple ignorance

Sasuke did not want to hear that statement coming from her.

The ninja nodded, then began walking to their intended destination. "The faster we finish this, the better," he informed her. "Who am I meeting with this time?" He had been in the presence of a few higher ranked White Fang members from different areas of Remnant, to know how to plan with the clones he had given them.

Gaara had been spotted all over the Kingdoms at the same time, working with the insurgents to take Dust as fast as possible. No place was safe from the redheaded demon. He needed to be careful with the number of clones he could conjure, you never know when an experienced Huntsman may arrive to take down a fragile and weakened clone before its job was done.

"Oh, someone high up in the food chain," she informed him. "Very high up in the food chain." Uchiha looked to her a little oddly at her tone, but didn't comment on it as he would find out soon enough.

On the way, they were greeted with salutes from surrounding Faunus, either from fear, respect, or excitement, many of them recognized the one and only Sasuke Uchiha, the man who helped their revolution move to new bounds, showed how serious these Faunus revolutionaries were. He didn't give them any attention back, however. Occasionally, he would give a nod or two back at most.

They were reaching the building in question, which was the train station that was located within the underground city. 'Even while they're in ruins, Remnant's architecture is still unmatched,' he thought when he first saw this decaying city. Iwagakure may have had their village within a strong mountain basin, but constructing within a hollow area within the ground for a large subterranean town was more than impressive.

"Is there anything new?" the Uchiha asked her. He didn't know how, but Neopolitan had a connection in Beacon, so he asked her for updates from time to time. In fact, it was from her that he knew about the rumors around Sasuke's assistance for the Mistral champion. And something about Dr. Oobleck's fascination about the door of his former lodging.

Also, how Bartholomew wept as the door exploded when he at one point tried scratching the seal for a sample. The only injury from that detonation was to his scientific pride.

With a shake of her head, she answered, "nothing new. As far as we know, everything is still pretty much the same." Cinder did not go out of her way to find information for one of her employees, it was always the other way around. This was no different, but if she heard something they wanted during her stay, she might as well share it. But if someone above Cinder asked for something of her, however. . .

Salem would get it no matter what.

Sasuke nodded back, content with that response. He climbed the staircase with Neo by his side, passing White Fang officers from all around the kingdoms. He reached the door of the room for the meeting, and outside was the large Faunus the shinobi didn't like very much.

The Lieutenant didn't talk, merely looked at him, but without the vibe of irritation like usual. In fact, the Uchiha almost thought he was eager for the meeting.

"Are they ready?" Neo asked the large man. She knew what the answer was without his nod, because that was exactly why the Faunus seemed less irritable than usual. "Then let's get going."

Silently, he turned around, opened the door, entered the room, then he shut the door in their faces. The Faunus must have been waiting outside the door to do just that. "Mongrel," Neo said under her breath, to which the ninja agreed with. She stepped forward to open the door and entered the room, then looked back and waited for her companion.

It was odd to see Neo rather loyal to him in her own way, especially since Sasuke wasn't really sure what caused such affection. She always came off as a person with a somewhat childish mentality of someone who enjoyed the bloody side of life, a life he was born into but never really embraced. Not saying that he hadn't killed, but it wasn't the option Sasuke would decide to use at the drop of a hat.

He walked into the impromptu meeting room and saw the gathering of the officers he had seen before, with some new ones, and the usual thief extraordinaire, Roman Torchwick. But new officers weren't the only ones there. The room had nothing but a map on the wall in the back, a few boxes here and there, while the officers simply stood in a circle and conversed.

"So, this is the one I've been hearing about," began the tall newcomer in front of the map of Vale, before he gave him a quick look over and frowned. "I was expecting someone who looked. . . stronger."

The Uchiha quirked a brow at the unpleasant introduction. "And yet, I train your lackluster troops that you fail to keep at a decent fighting condition," he replied unamused.

Sasuke had been helping with the basic physical training of the White Fang new recruits and the occasional sword training exercises. He didn't like that the majority of those who came were women who only wanted to take a peek at his smokin' hot bod', as he heard them mention around the base almost constantly, but he withstood it for the extra pay.

There was a reason why he chose to live in a building without stairs.

"I'd watch what I was saying if I were you," the accented Lieutenant demanded angrily. "You're in the presence of the man who has led us to great heights."

Turning away from the large Faunus to look back to the new man, he didn't see much that could be noteworthy. A black outfit, the usual Grimm mask, and a sheathed sword that's red as the man's hair. "I'm not impressed," Sasuke informed plainly. He looked more like Bishōnen than he did as a military leader. "Perhaps that's why you needed my assistance for your cause."

One of the officers in the room tried to get things back on track and began addressing the red-headed swordsman, "sir, I th-" He snapped his mouth shut when the leader raised his hand to keep the officer quiet.

The new man scowled, then introduced himself proudly to the ninja, "I am Adam Taurus, I'm also one of those who are leading this revolution." Five seconds was all it took for him to. . . dislike the mercenary. "I would love to continue this conversation later, but for now, I have a job I need done from you. That is, if you feel you are adequate for the task."

It was Sasuke's turn to scowl. He had been on missions since he was twelve, including the return of a princess who posed as an actress back to her village to rule it; a counter coupe d'état. This 'Adam Taurus' really had no idea who he was talking to. "Then inform me, what's this job you yourself aren't adequate enough to do?" he asked condescendingly, which brought a glaring contest into play.

At least, Sasuke assumed Adam was glaring under the mask he was wearing, if his fierce scowl and growling meant anything. Also, the officers and Roman began shifting away from the redheaded leader's exuding aura, other than Neo who was watching silently with eagerness for the events to move further.

After a few seconds of angry staring, the leader broke the silence as he said, "I want you to bring me someone important."

"You want me to kidnap someone? How odd that someone of your power can't do it without my help," he said with a hint of vehemence. He knew that he was possibly the best within the White Fang payroll to do such a task, but Adam's tone from before wasn't appreciated in the least.

"No, not kidnapping," the swordsman clarified loudly. "I want you to bring back someone who shouldn't have left."

'Ah, deserters.' That made him think of Tucson. Sasuke wondered how the clerk was doing, probably was still in hiding within Vacuo. Lessening his visible irritation, he said, "then give me the name, so I can be sure to be paid justly when I deliver him." A shame, he was thinking of how high the pricing for the head of the Schnee family could go.

Working with money-thieving mercenaries was never something Adam would have chosen. Such people had no idea how to fight for a righteous cause. With a frown, he said, "Blake Belladonna."

Only a single dry thought crossed the ninja's mind when he heard the name. 'Fuck.'

The Lieutenant certainly perked up at the familiar name, as did a few other White Fang members around them. They just figured then why Adam personally came to Mount Glenn; to ask this mercenary to bring her back. Roman and Neo didn't know the name, but the only other human certainly did, and the Faunus leader in front of him knew that.

"You were with Blake and her team during your lengthy time at Beacon from what I hear, which means you know exactly how to approach her and get her back to me," Adam said neutrally, but a certain emotion could be detected. "And I want you to get her for me." He definitely didn't make it sound like it would be a pleasant reunion.

Sasuke frowned as he stated, "you want me to leave for Beacon while they are searching far and wide for me within the city?" While that was certainly one of the reasons he didn't want to kidnap Blake, he didn't feel that handing her to Adam would be a painless process for her. "The price will be as high as the risk I'm taking. Three Dust freight container's worth."

Seeing Roman's eyes bulge as he screamed out a disbelieving 'WHAT!?' almost made coming here worthwhile, but that was overshadowed by the task he would rather avoid.

"That's acceptable," the Faunus leader answered far too quickly. If it meant showing what he did to the likes of her, he would pay any price.

The Uchiha really hoped Adam wouldn't have accepted the steep price. "And if I refuse to take such a dangerous task?" he countered with emphasis on the right word. It wasn't dangerous as much as it was difficult, but they didn't need to know that if he wanted a way to indirectly opt out. Sasuke made a reputation, and would rather keep it for as long as it remains useful while he was on Remnant.

"Then we better find someone who wouldn't cower in the face of a little danger," Adam replied heatedly. If this human wouldn't listen to orders, then they will find a capable Faunus that would. "If you don't do this job, then consider yourself unemployed." It wasn't in his power to do so, but Adam would do his damn best for that or similar to happen.

Blake was in sight, and they had a person capable of bypassing Beacon's and Vale's security. He was far from pleased when that very person wanted to avoid his actual job. If they were paying, they would get their worth. Otherwise, goodbye. Besides, Cinder might do him a favor and get Blake for him. As unlikely as that sounded.

Considering his options, the shinobi either followed this person's orders and get Blake into a situation that's unpleasant by the looks of it, or he refuses and risks his steady supply of fantastic Dust because this zealot wanted some teenage girl. It was either Blake or a quicker way home.

Sasuke pursed his lips at the unpleasant options, but answered, "fine, but be sure to have my payment ready when I get back." Petty theft level of procurement would take far too long to gather the Dust necessary.

"Finally grew some backbone?" mocked the Faunus leader with a venomous grin. "Best you leave and ready yourself, the bullhead is being prepared as we speak." He then turned to Neo. "I wish to speak to you about someone." The petite woman nodded and took a seat on top of one the crates.

Uchiha didn't stay in the room another moment as he immediately left the meeting room to work on a way to get his objective. 'I will not prolong my time in this world for a mere girl.' Sasuke couldn't help but feel a certain emotion strike him when he thought that. All he knew was that it wasn't excitement.

The Rinnegan master marched by the other White Fang insurgents who gave salutes, but he paid them no heed. He was far too into thinking that Sasuke almost missed the orange-haired thief pull up beside him and keeping pace as they exited the building.

"You're just joking about the three containers, right?" Roman asked almost pleadingly as he walked. "Because there's no way you could spend all that Dust even with a lifetime of using it." That included on top of what the mercenary was usually getting paid with. If done properly, he could be among the richest teens in Remnant.

Alas, none of the Dust he was paid with were on Remnant anymore.

"Why does it matter to you, Roman?" Sasuke asked as he walked to the bullhead waiting for him. "The more Dust I take from your group, the more they would need you to procure more." His mission began as soon as the bullhead was ready for him, and they hadn't given him the usual few minutes to gather his things. Which were only the clothes on his back and the sword that was already in his possession.

The thief shook his head. "You think it's that easy? These guys want the Dust your taking, but apparently someone wants you more."

'Nothing new,' Sasuke thought with morbid amusement. "Regardless, I have accepted the mission and its pay." It didn't feel right to do this, but being a shinobi meant doing things like this. For the sake of what's important. "Just be sure to have the Dust ready when I return."

It might take a few days since the difficult part about committing a crime wasn't the process of doing it, but getting away with it. Considering the level of security from the fear Sasuke had racked up, it may prove a hindrance, but he would accomplish it regardless.

"Yeah yeah, I get it," Roman said as he slumped his shoulders in defeat. "The super mercenary will get his monumental amount of precious Dust, otherwise, a psycho pipsqueak would probably have my ass."

Apparently, Neo would often remind Torchwick to pay the ninja his due when he started getting stingy from the Uchiha's pricing; as ordered by their employer. In her own Neo way, of course.

Sasuke stepped onto the bullhead's door frame then looked to Roman. "I would suggest running, but I doubt it would do you any good," he informed the thief casually before he closed bullhead's door as it began lifting off.

Tilting his head in confusion, the thief began to wonder why he would need to r- "I'm a pipsqueak, am I?" He froze at the very familiar voice. And when he turned around, Roman saw someone he wished wasn't there.

"Sasuke was right, it wouldn't do you any good to run, but I'll wait ten seconds anyway," Neo said with a growing grin as she slowly pulled her sword out of her parasol. "Run, little smoker, run."

"You must be joking," Sasuke dryly told the White Fang member, who was wearing casual clothes, that secretly led him to a safe house within Vale, or more specifically, Tucson's Book Trade store. "This is the base of operations I'll be using?"

The revolutionary nodded. "It's perfect," he began. "As far as people could tell, this place's a bookstore that's being refurbished, so no one gives it a second glance or enter, and it's close enough to Beacon," he said in a soldier's tone. "What's the problem with it, sir?"

Other than that Sasuke thought fate was being tacky, using this place was indeed a fine choice. The place was fixed up from the damages he had seen when he healed the former owner, and it was cleaned from the filth, other than the few boxes here and there to give the image that the place was still not complete for anybody too curious.

"Never mind," the Uchiha said with no amusement whatsoever. He turned to the officer that led him here. "This will do fine. You may take your squad and leave. I will be doing this job without White Fang assistance." The shinobi didn't need a dozen troops in their casual wardrobe to babysit him.

The soldier thinned his lips. "Actually, sir," he began once more. "We were ordered to remain with you until you succeed." He was also told to stay until he failed, but he left that part out.

With a withering glare, the ninja said, "you will leave, now." It was satisfying to see the Uchiha-patented glare work on rookie peons without the need of killing intent. Although, he did put a touch of it to speed up the process.

"Y-Yes, sir," was what the insurgent probably said in his haste as he ran to the back room and tell the others. The poor man didn't even salute his hired superior.

'I will do things my way,' Sasuke thought with finality as he stood back within the darkened store area, hearing the familiar stomps of people leaving through the back exit. 'An operation such as this needs as few people as pos-' He stopped thinking when Sasuke heard of a pair of steps emanate from the room where the White Fang member ran to. The Uchiha frowned at that.

Sure enough, someone crossed the repaired door frame, and that person was a woman around the height of Blake, but that was all they had in common as the new woman possessed short antlers. Brown straight hair that reached her shoulders, eyes a dark brown color behind her round glasses, and a light tan to her skin. Her clothes were what the ninja assumed to be the casuals she had, a fitting yellow half-sleeved top, black cargo pants with yellow accents, and black shoes to match; rather plain, but perfect for discretion.

A small feeling of familiarity struck him when the Uchiha saw her, but that was neither here nor there. "I ordered all to leave," Sasuke clarified unpleasantly to the woman. "I have no need for regular grunts. Take your leave immediately."

The woman pursed her lips, as though insulted. "I'm not a regular grunt, sir," she stated in the same soldier's tone as her comrade, but slightly more offended. "I'm the computer technician assigned for this operation."

Nothing more irritating than peons who don't listen. "Regardless, I have no need for your skills," Sasuke stated. What would he need her for? He was only walking into a heavily fortified building filled to the brim with a diverse amount of warriors. He had done so before several times.

Although, they weren't exactly keeping a diligent eye out for him at the time.

Sasuke gave another touch of killing intent to the woman, who flinched at the sudden wave. Even with the extra sweating and shakier legs than before, the woman stood her ground. She never tore her eyes away from the mercenary, either out of instinct to never let your sight away from a predator or willpower, the Uchiha wasn't sure.

'A veteran?' the Uchiha assumed mentally. She didn't look that much older than the ninja; ten years his senior at most. "I've seen you before, haven't I?" When he stopped the flow of killing intent, the woman almost dropped to her knees from relief.

"W-What was that!?" she asked while staring worriedly at the mercenary.

Shaking his head, the shinobi ignored the question. "Forget about that," he told her. "Explain to me where I've seen you before."

The woman blinked owlishly before composing what she could of herself. She stood rigidly as a solider and introduced herself, even if a little shaken, "I'm Claire Durand, I took your training classes back at Mount Glenn."

Sasuke remembered now. This woman was one of the few who came to actually learn from him instead of coming to watch his body glisten with sweat. As he heard many of the women there say when he walked around the subterranean town. On more than one occasion, the ninja wondered if their animal traits brought them into heat easier than regular humans.

Back to the matter at hand instead of criticizing the female department of the White Fang, the Uchiha turned to the woman. Claire didn't seem much like the physical type, so she may have been one of those who got tired rather quick, but she withstood his killing intent well enough. She was either strong-willed or that she was actually a more seasoned fighter than most cannon fodder.

"Considering your profession, I may have some use of you," the ninja informed, which had her perk up slightly. "What can you do for me while I'm in Vale?"

Claire looked up in thought. "I can keep an eye on police activity and plans," she began. "I can also hack into the Beacon security camera feed and keep you informed on who and where certain people are."

With a raised brow, Sasuke asked, "and why would I need that?" He had to ask from how confident she sounded. Those did seem rather appealing, but he could manage without them.

"Do you want to run into Ozpin or the general by accident when you turn a corner or know when to hide at the right moment?" Durand almost sounded condescending. "I've been taught to know what I can of the enemy, and that's exactly what I can do."

Again with that confidence of hers. "Fine," Sasuke stated. Having someone keep an eye on those pesky surveillance devices sounded useful, especially since they may have been upgraded. Who was he to turn down an extra advantage?

"Didn't you hear a word I said!?" Claire shouted angrily. "I can help you find the tar-. . . What?"

Sasuke held back a sigh. "I said that you can help," he clarified to his new assistant, who was currently revisiting her owlish face again. "When you're done staring, I will inform you once I have a plan set."

That snapped Claire out of her stupor with a shake of her head. "Ah, yessir," she said a little dumbly, not expecting to hear his approval so soon. "I'll just go to the back and set up my equipment."

'People of Remnant are dependent on technology, it would prove useful to have that working against them,' the shinobi thought as he watched the woman head to the back room. He wasn't sure what else the people of this world had, but Sasuke doubted the commercial and military devices he had seen were all they possessed. Especially since the real haymakers were usually hidden from the public.

Deciding to look around Vale, he brought his hands up to form a seal and was enveloped by white smoke. When the cloud cleared, standing in Sasuke's place was the strategist of his world, Shikamaru. Complete in what the ninja saw him wear the last time he saw him; Jōnin vest and all.

The Uchiha used the Nara when he came back to Vale with the White Fang a few hours prior. An opposite of the Gaara transformation he regularly used, so it should be a fine choice if he wanted to walk around without drawing suspicion.

Recalling how to act as the shadow user, Sasuke called up on his inner irritability and the nearly nonexistent lazy demeanor, and walked out the front door with his hands in his pockets.

Vale wasn't in a panic as much as the people in it were very concerned at the events, so while there was a level of fear, it wasn't enough to cause worry for their borders. At this point of time, at least. Previously, there were plenty of Grimm attacking the walls, but it seemed the armed forces and Huntsmen were ready this time around.

While he walked around passing the many new security people and machines added, he noticed that regardless of the state the people were in, Sasuke was still the topic of discussion for many. He heard of the regular gossip and theories as the people ignored the young man in the green vest as he walked around.

'Vale is far more in control than I assumed,' Sasuke thought. While the people were discussing Gaara and himself, the fear wasn't very visible. 'False promise of safety from the council?' It wouldn't be the first time those in power tried to keep control of their people with such a method.

'Shikamaru' passed many streets until she was on the metaphorical border of the capital and Beacon, looking to the large academy in the distance he formerly resided in. 'I need to find a way to get Blake out of Vale before people find out,' Sasuke concluded as he began planning.

It still hadn't sat well for the Uchiha to do this, but he was a shinobi, his emotions had no place for the success of a mission. And that didn't just mean the kidnapping of Blake, that was only a fragment of his true objective. Perhaps the ninja would have felt better if he wasn't essentially handing her to someone who wasn't happy with her desertion.

'That would explain some of her animosity with the White Fang,' the shinobi realized after he poured some more thought into it, and he couldn't exactly blame her after meeting Adam.

He put further thought of that for later. For now, he needed to find a way to abduct a former insurgent in a castle filled with soldiers and Hunters from different schools, all while on a high alert status. And he needed to find a way to do so without alarming anyone before leaving for Mount Glenn. Sasuke doubted Blake would comply willingly and make things easier for him.

On her own volition, anyway.

'I don't need her to remain under the illusion for long. A few hours at most.' And that was if the plan went accordingly. 'Now for entering Beacon.' He would need Claire to find out any new installments from previously. Ozpin didn't react that well about his security after Pyrrha's miraculous healing from the previously-unknown individual, so Sasuke believed that the headmaster would be a bit more cautious once more.

Turning to leave, the Uchiha spotted several Atlesian Knights walking around the block he was in. 'I heard that Ironwood brought more security on the local council's behalf, but this is something else.' On his way to Beacon, he may have passed dozens of squads that consisted of soldiers and robots, mostly when he walked passed Dust shops.

But on the lighter side of Vale's news, it seemed the recent pickpocket syndicate went into hiding from the security measure. As claimed by the ones directing this borderline martial law.

'All of this to make their citizens feel safe again,' the Uchiha concluded. It was an over-the-top reaction, but the council and military had the right idea to calm people down from the negativity he himself caused. By showing an overwhelming force of protection, that was currently failing as the ninja they were hunting casually walked passed them to find the bookstore once more.

Sasuke walked the familiar route almost absentmindedly, casually walking through the heightened security of the city thanks to his disguise. He actually looked around for any familiar faces, but found none that he could remember. There might have been a few he stole money from, but none who were important enough.

Finding the old store was easy, the shinobi had visited it enough times that his body practically went on autopilot half way through the journey. He tried imagining what it would've been like if he wasn't in disguise, and it most likely would have taken much longer if the army of Vale descended upon him.

The disguised Uchiha walked through the door for Tucson's store, and immediately found Claire sitting on top of the repaired counter. "Are you done preparing what you need?" he asked her after transformed back, to which she nodded. "Find me the latest information of Beacon's security. I want to know everything from hidden eyes to possible traps."

She raised a thin eyebrow at the last one. "Traps in a compound full of students? Surely you're joking," Claire said, then remembered who she was talking to. "I'll look into it, even though it probably would be a bad idea for them to do that during the dance."

That little tidbit peaked the Uchiha's interest. "What dance?" he asked.

Claire looked up in remembrance. "Well, the news recently spoke about a dance would proceed as scheduled this upcoming weekend. Sunday if I remembered correctly," she informed. "So I don't think the headmaster would put traps."

'This is. . . too damn convenient. Does fate want me to kidnap Blake?' Sasuke thought as he blamed Naruto for this as well. 'If so, then so be it.' He turned to his assistant and said, "the mission will be to take the Blake Belladonna as the dance is happening."

Wide eyes were Claire's response. "What!?" she shouted. "Of all the times you could kidnap her, does it have to be when hundreds of people, trained people might I add, are present and watching!?"

"Hundreds of trained people in one place," he countered. "All I need to do is find her when she's alone."

"How do you know she would be alone? She might have a date," Claire replied. She had seen the target's picture, and could assume that Blake would be the target of many hormonal teenaged human and Faunus boys alike, if she wasn't already.

"Because I know her well enough." He then walked passed his assistant to see the backroom, and saw three monitors on a desk. And to the side was a small workstation with precision tools arranged in a neat order. He didn't need to turn around to know Claire was watching and waiting for him to continue. "I've lived with them, eaten with them, spoken with them, and finally, fought against them."

That last one wasn't pleasant, but had to be done.

Sasuke turned to the hacker. "Blake is not someone who takes part of festivities," he informed. "And after our latest encounter, I doubt she would take part of this dance either." The way the cat Faunus spoke and looked to him before he left reminded him of how the Uchiha used to be when he was hunting Itachi. "She will be trying to find me or the White Fang. And when everyone's at the dance and she's alone, that's when I will take her away."

There was a saying Sasuke heard during his lifetime, 'Friends make the worst enemies.' He just didn't know that he was going to be the one who took advantage of the knowledge he collected while he was with them, but made sure they learned only what he approved of from him.

Claire had a feeling of excitement well up in her chest as her boss explained. The planning in it would be extraordinary in a way, but very simple. In fact, considering what they were going up against, it was so simple that it was in itself extraordinary, but there might be a small snag.

"Sir, there's just a thing that needs to be done if we want the control of the cameras I promised," she told him. When he gestured for her to continue, she said a tad ashamedly, "I'm going to need a hardline connection into Beacon's mainframe for me to hack into the cameras." The firewalls of the academy weren't a joke. "I can't do it from here, so I need you to connect something for me from within Beacon."

Perhaps it was because of Sasuke's reveal that these were tough, but that didn't change she needed someone to physically enter a modem into a computer connected to the mainframe for her instead of attempting to bypass wirelessly from the capital. She needed a physical medium to work with.

"That's fine."

"I know, I'm sorry I'm not as good as I clai-. . . What?" she asked dumbly once more at the nonchalance.

Nothing stopped Sasuke from sighing this time. He started having some doubts about having Claire around. "It's fine. I'm to be at Beacon soon, I may as well do your task," he clarified.

It took the deer Faunus a few blinks, but she finally understood what her boss said while not upset about her. "Ah, yessir. Is there anything else you would like me to do?"

Claire took part of some engagements and thefts since she was in her early teens, so she liked to think she was an experienced member of the White Fang and knew how to read a person's character. Every time she came to Sasuke's classes, while a good teacher, he seemed to be rather irritable and didn't have much patience with many of the rookie girls that came.

The Faunus didn't know why the Uchiha was short-tempered during class, but seemed patient outside of it. Could it have been the stale cave air?

Nodding, the ninja explained, "until I get your hardline connection, do only the task I have given you."

Clair nodded quickly, even if it wouldn't be registered officially, all she had to do was look up any deliveries of those devices from the security companies or the delivery services themselves. If they weren't on the record, then she could watch the security camera's around Vale to spot any of the new security systems that could have been added.

Sasuke transformed back to Shikamaru. "Good, then I will return in a few hours," Sasuke told her in his friend's voice as he turned to leave.

"Wait, sir!" The Uchiha turned with a raised brow to look at Claire who shouted for him. "You're leaving again? Wouldn't be best we rest and eat first?" It had been hours since they left Mount Glenn, and even longer since either of them had eaten.

Sasuke looked her in the eye and said, "I will be dining at Beacon."

The last line might be lame, but for some reason I just laugh at the simplicity of it and kept it.

Trivia:

1- One of the versions of Sasuke's fight with Winter in chapter 9 was for Schnee to lose one of her eyes. Another version being that she loses both her eyes. Oddly enough, the idea of killing her never came up. I would kill a kind hearted Jaune, but not a tsundere elitist. . . I think I'm messed up in the head. Meh, I can live with that easy.

2- In chapter 11, I had the idea of Sasuke picking up Ember Celica after he finished off Yang and fight with those against Weiss and Blake, while he used Yang's fighting style he copied with the Sharingan mixed with his own style. Didn't seem like something that would happen, so I scrapped it.

3- I had the idea of Pyrrha mentioning Sasuke's help AFTER she punched Weiss in the face with her recovered arm. Of course, she didn't really seem like the kind of person to do that, so that was scrapped. Basically, versions where she was more physically aggressive to show the revelation were all scrapped.