.

Chapter 17

Wow! A chapter that didn't take 3 years to make!? Amazing! And a short AN to boot! Excessive exclamation marks!

Side note, I made Chapter 1 of Still Half Empty.

Sasuke Has His Plans, But He Also Has Plenty Of Obligations; Unfortunately For Him, He Got Sucked Into Other Situations!

Chapter Seventeen: What I Am Is Necessary

Roman sighed in his closet the Atlesians call a cell. Damn thing was just big enough for him to lie down in, and that really meant nothing as it was dreary as hell. He'd been in worse, and he always left it with a smile on his face, this time's no different, it just took some time.

"Ugh, you have no idea how the cafeteria's food went through me," one of the guards in front of his cell said as he walked back into position. "How's the perp?" He liked to call this one Tweedledee.

"Same ol' same ol', as it'd been the past freaking twenty-four hours," Tweedledum replied.

"I'm right here, you know? The doors aren't exactly sound proof." As if being in a steel closed several hundred meters up in the air wasn't enough to ensure custody, two guards around the clock were posted at his door, and oh did they love to talk.

"Did you hear something?"

"Probably just the wind." Nothing like guards who like to joke around. He couldn't see them, but Roman's going to assume they're hiding their ugly faces behind visors.

"What do you think the General's talking about with Sasuke Uchiha?" Dum asked. "They've been at it for two hours now, and I'm feeling anxious as hell." He couldn't believe it when Roman found out that Sasuke actually turned himself in, but after hearing from several guards the same information, it had to be the truth.

"Why, not a fan of dogs?" Dee asked mockingly, and he'd admit it was a good quip. "Don't worry about it. We got the General and Ozpin here. I'm sure they can handle it. . . maybe." Maybe's right. Roman really hoped Sasuke didn't do anything like back on Vale.

Roman heard groaning. "Ugh, I'm starting to feel that food and anxiety mix up." Pansies, all of them, couldn't handle the idea of a ship dropping from the sky to their deaths. . . fuck, he didn't want to be on this ship. "Listen, now that you're back, think you can watch the dead man?"

It was probably just some sick joke, but it alarmed him enough. "Wait, hold on, the hell's that supposed to mean?" Roman hurriedly asked. Thievery couldn't be worth capital punishment, but he was involved in an attempted terrorist attack.

"It's not like he's going anywhere," Dee said. "You go ahead, I'll keep watch."

"Don't ignore me!"

Roman's only response was a gross groan. "Thanks, I'll be back ASAP." And all that was left was the steps as Dum went off to literally shit himself.

And so here he was, Roman Torchwick, thief extraordinaire, sitting here for the next few months until Cinder did whatever she did to do whatever plan she had in store. It'll be big, he knew that, just not to what extent. It didn't matter, as long as he survived in the end and went far, far away from that woman. He just had to do whatever it was on his end.

"How long are you going to stay in that cell, Roman?" Tweedledee asked. "To think thief extraordinaire would allow himself imprisonment."

What's worse than a joking guard was a talkative one. "Oh, so now you can hear me? Or maybe your boss wants to hear what I'd say offhandedly to some guard." Really, the general should've put more thought into it. "I already told your boss everything, not my problem if he doesn't believe it." It'd be easier if he did, anyway.

"We both know that's not true." The voice changed into someone that had him stiffen. "You haven't told them about our latest discussion."

"Sasuke." What the hell was he doing here? "Last I heard you were being interrogated by Ozpin and Ironwood." He paused. "You wouldn't happen to have killed them?" He honestly wasn't sure if that would make Cinder happy or not.

"Haven't killed them, but as far as I know my clone is still being questioned."

"Good to know." Not really. "I'd say nice to see you, but Atlas doesn't like their prisoners' doors have windows. Probably messes with their drab décor. By the way, you know there are cameras in the corridor you're standing in, right?"

"They pick up visual, not audio, otherwise I'd have fought them in Mountain Glenn. For now, all they see is a guard with his visor covering face standing attentively." Lucky him. "As for why I'm here, I want to clear something up that involves Neo."

"Neo? Don't tell me she's with you." Neo for some reason chose to go with Sasuke, and that was worrisome. He didn't know what she had in mind, and while Roman trusted her, he just didn't fully see what she had in mind. Sasuke was powerful, but Cinder. . . she's something else.

"She's still in Mountain Glenn, but for some reason decided to stay quiet, to the point she's playing mute." That was fucking weird but really worth coming back here? "She won't answer my questions, intent on being silent. I don't wish to use my abilities to pry the answers out of her just yet, but if you don't answer me, that's exactly what will happen." Oh shit. "Tell me, who is your employer?"

Of all the questions he had to ask. "Someone I really don't want to piss off."

"You're angering me, Roman, and I'm right here. Maybe you should worry more about the immediate issue."

That threat might've worked during another time, but not here. "Nice try, but you won't risk that in front of the cameras." Roman waited a few seconds, but there was no response, at least not in the form of a knife flying through the door hitting him the through, so that was a good sign. "Believe me, kid, you don't want to get involved with that one."

"I already am, Roman, I started to the moment I started supplying that train with Dust for your employer." He had to admit, he got him there. "I was foolish enough to accept your contracts without question, and I intend to rectify the result." And that coincided with working with Ozpin.

Roman really didn't want to play with fire, ironically neither Sasuke's nor Cinder's, both with their own consequences no matter what side he decided to choose, and maybe he should and pick the best one. Hell, maybe Neo was on to something if she chose. . . wait.

She didn't choose.

Why hadn't he seen it before, it was so simple!

Neo didn't choose Sasuke, at least she didn't go all in. She put her hand in the opposition while not fully abandoning Cinder. She's with Sasuke, but didn't fully rat out Cinder, otherwise, she'd have at least said her name.

'Double dipping,' Roman thought with a smirk. As soon as the winning side showed itself, then bam! they'd toss their lot in. Fuck Cinder, fuck Sasuke, it's a matter of survival, Neo knew that and she's playing the game. Why play mute though?

Did she know it'd result in Sasuke to coming here and tell him this? Was this her way of letting her know? That's extremely risky with hell to pay if it didn't go as smoothly, but maybe she knew something he didn't.

"Answer me, Roman. You don't want to test my patience more than you already are."

Fuck it, they'd be dead either way, he'd just have to trust Neo on this one. "I don't have a name," Roman began with a lie, though for all he knew Cinder might've actually been an alias. "She's a woman with way too much power and doesn't care about her 'pawns' so to speak. As you could tell from the train."

Sasuke hummed. "And what are her goals? What was the point to bring Grimm into Vale and slaughter civilians?"

On this question, he could tell the truth. "No idea, and I don't mean it as though I'm hiding anything. We treated work with her like you did with us. Fewer questions asked, the better. Neo and I were just pawns, well-paid pawns, but still expandable. Before we knew it, we were in too deep to get out, kind of like you, now that I think about it."

He could imagine Sasuke's displeasure at the comparison, but it was sort of the truth. Granted, they were hunted by her and coerced into accepting, but it was just stealing Dust, it wasn't so hard and went along with it.

"I know she's planning something big, and that's as far as I know about her goals." Again, mostly the truth, and it somehow included him being here in his cell on this ship. "Don't ask me where she is, because I don't have a clue. We don't meet as much as you think." Which suited him just fine.

"You're awfully talkative, Roman. If I find out you were lying. . ."

Roman stood up from his bed and went near the door. "I want protection which maybe you could provide." He wasn't fully lying, but might as well give him reason to trust in him a bit. "I've seen what you can do, but I've seen some of what she can do, too. Honestly, if both you and that woman end up dead so I don't have to deal with either of your shit, I'd be the happiest prisoner on Remnant. Alas, I have to pick one of you, so might as well be the one Neo picked, maybe she knows something I don't." It was a bit too theatric, but it should put his point across that he wasn't helping out of kindness.

A few seconds of silence pass by and Roman was hoping that he'd buy it. He knew that the only thing protecting him from Sasuke was the interrogation. Roman had no clue what it's about, but the Uchiha had a stake in it, and he wasn't dumb enough to risk it.

Roman heard some more footsteps. "Ugh, now I know what you mean by the cafeteria food," Tweedledum said with a groan. "Did the prisoner give you trouble?"

Sasuke gave a chuckle, which was more menacing now that Roman knew this was. "Nah, nothing I can't handle," Sasuke said with his previous voice and tapped the metal door. "He's in here for good unless we decide otherwise." Unless Sasuke said otherwise. "Think you can cover for me? I'm feeling a second load, if you know what I'm saying."

"No problem," Dum said sympathetically. "Seriously, what was with the food today?"

"Beats me. I'll be back quick."

Just before he started hearing steps as Sasuke left, Roman saw something floating down in the center of the room as if it dropped from the ceiling. He grabbed it out of the air and saw it was a strip of paper, something that wasn't in here before.

He straightened it out and found a message written on it that read, 'You work for me now – S'. Immediately he crumpled the small strip and swallowed it with a swig of water Ironwood was kind enough to supply his cell.

With that note, though, Roman's stomach sank. He thought the metal door was enough to keep him out and not risk a scene, but now he knew how close he was to being burned. He needed to be more careful next time when prodding the bonfire.

Roman plopped onto the bed tiredly. 'I really hope you know what you're doing, Neo.' She wouldn't abandon him, just like he wouldn't her, but damn was her idea going to be a pain in the ass. Cinder and Sasuke can have it out as long as they survived at the end of it.

He could really go for a cigar right about now.

The headline almost took up half of the television screen, as it should from how important it was. Bright white letters on a red banner and the words that were there would be the first thing people saw should they tune in, and Ruby certainly did.

'Breaking: Sasuke Uchiha Recaptured!'

She didn't know what to make of it, what it would entail. Torture? Imprisonment? Death? She heard several possible ways the situation with Sasuke could go, the news had been very descriptive in their theories.

"This is Lisa Lavender, reporting to you from the press conference held by the Council of Vale, this conference headed by none other than Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon," the reporter said. "Our anonymous source reported that Sasuke Uchiha, the controversial figure after his actions at the breach, had escaped General Ironwood's ship and was later recaptured. We hope that Beacon's headmaster would clear some of these rumors today."

Ruby wanted to know, too, but the answers that may come may not be good. Sasuke was public enemy number one, a person with too many abilities for him alone. What's more, around her was her team, her friends, and they saw him as more of an enemy than them all.

The camera panned over to the podium, which was littered with microphones and hounded by reporters. From behind off-screen, Ozpin and General Ironwood stepped in, photographers didn't even wait as their camera's flashes illuminated the men.

Both waited a few seconds as the flashes died down and Ozpin leaned into the microphones as Ironwood stayed a step back behind him. "Good afternoon, everyone. I'd begin by saying you all might wondering why we called you here today on such short notice, but your headlines show you have an idea in mind that I need to quickly rectify. So, to get things in motion and settle misinformation and theories of recent events, we'll begin questions right away." There was no shortage of hands vying for attention, but he picked on out regardless. "Yes, the man in blue."

A man in a blue suit stood up. "Matías Rojas from Vacuo International," he introduced himself and his agency. "Can you tell us what happened that led to Sasuke Uchiha's escape? From what we know, you were present in the same room as him." Ruby frowned, that wasn't a questioned she wanted answered, and it was making her antsy and nervous.

Ozpin wasn't as bothered. "After his actions in the plaza, the guards and I assumed he was low on Aura and kept tabs to make sure that was the case while he was in custody." Assumed, that was the word he used. "We severely underestimated his reserves and his other abilities he had we couldn't have guessed he'd have. He took us all by surprise and made his escape." Abilities they didn't know he had, Sasuke had even more? Just what was he?"Next question. . . the woman in red."

She stood. "Asha Bello of the Mistralian New Tribune. Sources say that you recently recaptured Sasuke Uchiha, is that true?" Finally, someone who knew the questions that needed to be asked. Ruby could feel the press going quiet in anticipation of the answer.

"I want to make it clear," Ozpin began. "We have not recaptured Sasuke Uchiha." Ruby let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "He merely came back here on his own volition and left later on. Next question. Yes, you."

Ruby was relaxed two seconds ago but immediately tensed back again. She had a sinking feeling he'd been doing so for that sole purpose. She heard a bed squeak as her sister leaned in further to the television, but couldn't bring herself to see what kind of face she had.

The befuddled faces of journalists would have to do. "M-Mr. Ozpin," Asha said flabbergasted. "Wha-"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Bello, but I believe it's now another's turn." He was definitely doing this on purpose.

It took her a second to understand, but the other journalist quickly recovered and stood up. "Mr. Ozpin, could you explain further on your latest interaction with the fugitive Sasuke Uchiha?"

He hummed at first and looked to General Ironwood, who nodded in return, then looked back to his audience. "Sasuke Uchiha came back to Vale a few, short hours ago, and mere moments later he was taken into custody upon an Atlesian warship. We've attempted questioning, but it proved futile early on due to Sasuke sending a clone in his place as a mediator where it later vanished after a discussion. I'm sure you know of that ability of his. Next question. . . Ah, Lisa."

The familiar journalist from VNN stood up. "Headmaster Ozpin, you said you discussed with Sasuke Uchiha, what was it did you speak about specifically?" Looks like Ruby wasn't the only one who thought Ozpin was just playing around with his answers.

"We spoke about what our future interactions would be, Ms. Lavender." Oz looked around the room. "I'm sure you're all aware of his abilities, at least those he'd shown, so General Ironwood and I have come to an agreement of sorts with Sasuke Uchiha. Next question." Several hands shot up as people begged to have their questions answered. "Yes, you."

A young woman stood up. "What does your agreement with the fugitive entail, and does the council of Vale know about this?" It looks like all introductions were foregone.

"I'll release a document detailing our agreement for all to read, but here's a summary of it." He began counting off whatever their agreement was."Sasuke Uchiha will under no circumstances harm the citizens of Remnant any longer, Huntsman, police, trainees, or otherwise. He would abide by local laws without hesitation. A highly trained warrior would act as his handler." He gave pause, though it seemed it was more for him. "And he'd be residing in Beacon."

The hall exploded in question, and he gave them a minute to calm themselves, but it wasn't enough for Ruby. Her breath became a little heavier, her stomach had sunk and began fidgeting with her fingers. What Ozpin was doing, she couldn't say, likely never could know what went on in his head sometimes. She stared back at the screen, hoping there was more to it than just that.

"Settle down, I'll answer your questions," Oz said loudly, finally having them calmed themselves, but no less anxious or excited about the new development. Just then, she saw Professor Port an inch in frame, giving Ozpin boisterous thumbs up and a nod. If Ruby wasn't paying attention, she'd have missed it. "To finish answering the young lady's question, the council has just recently approved of this. I have their backing, as I do General Ironwood's, and I claim full responsibility should anything go awry. You there, what's your question?"

Looks like Ruby knew why he was going the long route for that answers. She didn't know what to think what Ozpin did to get the council to agree as the interview was taking place.

A man stood up. "With all that you told us, does this mean that Sasuke Uchiha is no longer a wanted man?"

Ozpin stayed silent as he thought of the answer, then looked at them all once more. "Make no mistake, Sasuke Uchiha is still a wanted criminal and a very dangerous mercenary. Beacon will be his prison, and the trainees, teachers, soldiers, and Huntsmen there that severely outnumber him are his wardens. The reason for this conference was to reassure the people of Vale and other kingdoms specifically of this development. Next question. Yes, Lisa."

"How did you manage convincing someone as dangerous as Sasuke Uchiha to come willingly into a prison?" Ruby really wanted to know the answer to that as well.

"Due to Uchiha's occupation as a freelance mercenary, the answer was really simple, we hired him." The hall and Ruby took a few seconds to process what he said, but then the hall erupted once more into a barrage of unintelligible questions. "I'll be handing the podium to Atlas' General James Ironwood to explain the precautions that's to take place." Ozpin nearly shouted, but that didn't settle them. "Thank you all, but I must take my leave to sort things out with the council in detail."

The screen shut down to black, where Ruby saw the reflection of herself and her teammates. Their faces weren't clear from it, but she had a good idea of what they'd be like. She turned to her sister, and while her breath was slow and heavy, her face was angry.

"Sasuke's coming here?" Yang asked, not tearing her eyes away from the screen. Her mind was clearly elsewhere, imagining something Ruby didn't want to know.

"Looks like it," Blake said, a tone similar to the older sister.

Yang just nodded, Ruby saw her flex her fists. "I can't wait."

Why couldn't Sasuke just stay away?

"How long are we supposed to wait here, exactly?"

"As long as we need to, Suigetsu," Sasuke answered the Kiri-nin standing beside him. "As the agreement dictates, we won't start anything until the envoy from Beacon arrives." They spoke more in detail about it during his 'interrogation'.

"Can we be certain they won't be bringing their forces?" Jūgo asked to his other side. "We are standing out in the open, it'd be prudent to think they have ulterior motives to eliminate you." He's not wrong, but that would prove counterproductive to both sides.

"It's unlikely, but stay vigilant." He turned to see the buildings in the above ground of Mountain Glenn, watching for possible snipers or the like. He didn't think Ozpin or Ironwood would turn on their deal, but it didn't hurt to be careful. He may have received the clone's memories two hours ago, but he'd not allow them a surprise attack.

Sasuke then looked at Neo and gave a hard, pensive look, ignoring how she waved at him with a sweet smile. Roman didn't say much since he personally visited him, but he understood that whatever this third party was, the two saw this mysterious woman as powerful as him and were worried that speaking too much might draw her ire.

An interesting thing to hear after what all these two knew, but that didn't really answer why she wasn't talking. He'd get answers out of her, one way or another, but what Roman said had him consider if diving into this third party was worth the trouble.

He didn't want to be on Remnant any longer than he needed to, and going on this tangent would impede on progress. If he picked a side, whether Ozpin's or this unknown group, he'd be forced into others.

The answer would've been easy, of course, he wouldn't pick a side and mind his own business, but Ozpin's questions bothered him more than they should. While they were pleasant, team RWBY and JNPR weren't his friends, he couldn't choose them over the real ones he had back home. More so, he hated that the headmaster used that relationship as if it were true.

He'd admit there was a certain bond with them, yes, but it was nowhere near close as with his true comrades. The people here weren't worth the risk, so why did it bother him to leave this unknown party alone? Why did he go personally to Roman and risk ruining everything?

'Damn Ozpin's questions, and damn me for being a fool.'

"Hmm, the hell's that sound?" Suigetsu asked as Sasuke heard an aircraft's engines.

"Might be the envoy, might be the ambush," he answered, then looked to Jūgo. "How's your control?"

He shrugged. "Mildly better, but not when things get. . . intense." So almost no different than before, this should end well. "Orochimaru never really cared to teach me self-control as long as I didn't bother him."

Maybe bringing Jūgo was a bad idea, the Uchiha could imagine the abuse thrown his way due to association with him. Worse, it'd be up to Sasuke if he went berserk, which itself wasn't good if they wanted to be trusted.

He saw the bullhead come into view, it reminded him of the apprehension he felt when coming closer to one back in Beacon, now was no different but for the reason. This wasn't where some Jutsu would magically fix.

Time and noninterference, he needed both to get things done, didn't matter if he was under the microscope during that, as long as they left him alone. As long as he had uninterrupted time to learn space-time ninjutsu, then he'd put up with a lot of things.

As the bullhead came into view, he saw two people standing at the open door, two he recognized and seemed to be acting as Vale's envoy. While technically diplomats, Ozpin didn't hesitate to send Huntsmen, specifically Goodwitch and Oobleck. Was this one of Ozpin's attempts to show he was sympathetic? The thought only annoyed him.

The craft didn't land, as the two decided to jump from fifty meters up before the bullhead flew away. If an ambush was to start, it'd have been now. Considering no bullets were flying his way and the calm demeanor of his two former instructors, things were fine.

"That was interesting," Jūgo said impressed as he looked at the top of the buildings the craft flew over and out of sight. "Will we ride on one?" Sasuke hoped not, but considering his luck he'd have to in the end.

"How does a metal thing fly? It didn't look light enough," Suigetsu added, and he sympathized.

Sasuke saw the two instructors approach. "Leave the talking to me," Uchiha said and took a step forward to make the two dealt with him first. "Stay quiet, watch your surroundings."

The two got closer and stopped a few meters ahead, but close enough so that they can see each other clearly. Glynda had her crop in hand but tucked under her arm, while Bartholomew held his thermos in an odd ready stance.

"Greetings, Sasuke," Glynda said finally. That was one way to get things started.

"Professor Goodwitch." He looked to the other instructor. "Doctor Oobleck." He nodded back. Sasuke gestured to the two newcomers of Remnant. "Suigetsu Hōzuki, a comrade of mine from my old days." He heard the Kiri-nin grunt. "The other one is Jūgo, he has no last name and is also a man I know from back then. You recognize Neopolitan."

Glynda nodded as she looked at the two. "I wasn't so sure you actually found some of your people. Are they real?"

She was asking if they're clones. "Any slight injury would dispel my clones," he said, it was information they already knew from the interrogation. "If you'd like, I can have them cut themselves to prove it."

"That won't be necessary. I doubt you'd risk our agreement just to fake the two." A valid conclusion. "Doctor Oobleck has something for you to sign."

Bartholomew stepped forward, withdrew a few sheets of paper and pen from his pack, and handed it over to the Uchiha. Upon superficial inspection, it was a legal document, a contract to make things official.

"Sign your name on the dotted lines, all of them," the green teacher said. "I'm to inform you that you abandon certain rights and has you open to legal action by the kingdom of Vale, in return you receive immunity from Vale's government as long as you follow what the agreement stipulates. That's what all these say, but Ozpin also told me to let you know this isn't all."

Of course, Uchiha already knew what he was talking about. The council might be content with this, but there were a few more that he and Ozpin verbally agreed. Like how Ozpin was essentially his handler, he can't go through official channels without consulting him first, and how he'd have to do a few press releases to show his solidarity with Vale. The last bit might've been more vindictive than functional.

He signed the papers without hesitation. He was being paid in ways other than money and Dust, he didn't need those after what the snake sage told them, the seals were fucking unreliable, he and them would have to find another way back home.

As he signed away the last line and his life to this document, he handed it over to the professor to read through. "As a mercenary, I accept the conditions and give Vale my employ," Sasuke began. "Is there anything else?"

He nodded and placed the documents in his pack. "Why did you do it, Sasuke?"

Sasuke was taken aback by the sudden turn into personal matters. "I was hired to, no more and no less." That was what he was going with, anyway. "I learned of my fallacies for supplying the Dust to bomb the plaza, and I shall make amends to that." Again, also what he was going with.

"I meant more so about what you've done to team RWBY."

Sasuke eyed the teacher suspiciously. "I have obligations, doctor, Ruby and her friends who decided to play hero too early got in my way. I do what I need to do, and so it was." And he needed this, he couldn't spend resources and effort hiding from the kingdoms when he needed it for more important endeavors.

Oobleck looked to him for a few more silent seconds in thought. "Was it worth it?"

No.

"Yes."

Again, he looked at him for a few more seconds. "Ruby Rose is making a fantastic recovery, in case you were interested."

Good, he knew her case of PTSD wouldn't last long, she had everything she needed. "Are you going to keep asking me about them, or can I start fixing Mountain Glenn for recolonization?"

"You don't need to sound so aggravated, otherwise I'd have said you cared," Oobleck answered offhandedly as he drew three sheets of papers. "Have your new comrades sign these, it makes them under your responsibility, and can easily break the contract in your place."

Annoyed by his comment, Sasuke took the paper and pen and handed it to Suigetsu with a nod. The three signed this formality and handed it back to him, who gave it back to the instructor. "Anything else?"

He shook his head. "Glynda and I are to stand watch to make sure you don't break the contract."

"And to ascertain more of my abilities."

"That, too." Typical.

Glynda took the spot again. "You're three comrades are also to stay in clear view of us," she said. "We'll be keeping our distance to make sure we don't hinder you." He was about to comment. "And also to give us time to handle any assault from you." Sasuke closed his mouth again and nodded. "Now, how do you intend to fix this place?"

That was a question he'd answer without an issue. "Perhaps it's best if you see what I intend to do." She didn't look pleased with the vague info. "Mountain Glenn failed due to lack of natural barriers like Vale or the other major kingdoms, and I intend to rectify that."

"Do you intend to bring a mountain?" she asked with a quirked brow, and he had to hold down his scoff. Perhaps they were thinking far too wildly of his abilities.

They were already near the edge of the city as he intended, so he only moved a few steps before stopping. He made sure he was a short distance away from the nearest buildings. "As I said, you'll see." His eye transformed into the Rinnegan, having the two instructors immediately stand on edge. He looked to the forest, formed the seals of his newly learned Jutsu. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A thick feeling formed in his stomach, and immediately almost regretted asking for the technique scroll from Tatsuya for this to work. That feeling rose up his throat, and he was more than happy to let it out with a grunt, spewing – vomiting – thick mud in a horizontal line in front of his feet.

The ground rumbled slightly as massive stone wall erupted from the ground, going as high as twenty meters, he knew that it was two meters thick, and ten meters wide. For a B-grade Jutsu with little practice, he counted that as a job well done.

Now if only he had some water to wash the taste of dirt from his mouth for next few hundred he'd have to do.

"My word," Oobleck said in amazement as he came close and touched the smooth wall. "To create an earthen wall out of nowhere." He looked to the Uchiha. "Your eye helps you create these, doesn't it?" More or less.

Sasuke just shrugged. "You are correct, some abilities I have is best used with the activation of my left eye." It didn't matter if they knew or not the vague descriptions of it, they'd have problems if they tried stealing it, as unlikely it'd be even successful to transplant to anyone on Remnant. So, he was being cooperative, a show of good faith, really.

The doctor hummed in wonderment. "Is that how you use your elemental abilities, with that eye?" Sasuke shrugged again, and move to the side of the wall to erect another one. "Fascinating, and what of your other eye?" Already fishing for information? Quick to the chase. "It's the one that you use to create that purple armor giant, isn't it?"

Sasuke frowned, and instead of answering formed the appropriate seals once more. "Earth Release: Earth Style Wall." The heavy feeling in his stomach fit well with the apprehensions. He spewed out the mud and erected a wall similar to that of the first one. Spitting the taste of filth out, he turned to the doctor. "It seems you've all already made your conclusions of my abilities."

"You can understand why," Glynda said as he approached the new wall, looking up at its peak, then to him. "Do you know that a theory has been made that your Semblance consumes other people to attain their abilities?"

Sasuke scoffed. "If I said no, then you'd say the abilities were mine to begin with and treat me as a threat." Though technically niether of his eyes were his at first. "If I said yes, then you'd keep me at a distance, and still treat me as a threat. Whatever I answer will change little of your perception of me."

Glynda hummed. "And what of your new comrades?" she asked as she looked to Suigetsu and Jūgo, sitting far away at the foot of a building with Neo by their side. "What should we expect from them?"

Far too many things. "Both are unique and powerful in their own way. Considering I'm to join the Vytal Festival with them as a show of solidarity with Vale, you'll know soon enough." It was one of those unofficial agreements, made to sound as though Sasuke truly believed he did wrong and was repentant, thus he'd join the tournament to show he was on their side.

It was political theater orchestrated by Ozpin for him.

Glynda didn't answer that, and all he did was go to create the next wall. He'd play along with Ozpin and his group and he'd even give ground, because Sasuke knew it wouldn't be forever, he'd find his way home one way or another.

He just needed time to create a dimensional Jutsu in a world that's hostile towards him, how hard could that be?

Well, that's chapter 17 for you. Now with the trivia that some of you probably skip!

Trivia:

1- If I were to pick my favorite story of what I make, it'd be The Day Breaks Over Ironrath (specifically Ch. 4). AHP, I love it, but each TDBOI chapter involves so much future planning that I friggin adore the giddiness of reaching certain points.

2- Adam hired Sasuke to get Blake, a black motif cat Faunus that wears a bow. Anyone else find the situation a bit familiar?

3- As I was considering the characters to bring across, one of the ideas was to bring all of Sunagakure, land and people. Didn't know why it'd happen, how it could happen, or where to put it, but I just thought it was an interesting concept to consider (Sasuke would've been de facto leader of Suna).

Reviews are appreciated, as is more than 4 hours of sleep, but I doubt you have the ability to fix that part. Help a bro out and review?