Shadow of War

Chapter VI: Honor

[Beacon Academy, Team JNPR Dorm; 14:50]

"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap…"

Jaune paced nervously back and forth in his room, still trying to wrap his head around what just happened and what was going to come. His teammates were scattered about the area, leaning on walls, or fidgeting on their beds as they tried to come up with a plan, or at the very least, placate their leader's anxiety.

Jaune raked his hands through his blond hair, "You don't think he's just messing around right? Like he can't be serious about fighting me, can he?"

His partner took a step forward and spoke up. "Jaune, in the two years that I've known Naruto he's never been one to make bluffs like that. When Naruto was insulted by one of the older students in Sanctum, he used our sparring class as a way to challenge him to a duel. It wasn't pretty. If the professor hadn't separated them, the boy would have been hospitalized."

"And so Naruto just got away with it?"

Pyrrha shook her head. "Not entirely. He would always be punished, but he fought like that infrequently enough to avoid any permanent action. And that boy was from a minor merchant family, who had no real history with Naruto's family. You on the other hand..."

Jaune's hands gripped tightly around the back of his scalp, tugging at his short hair in frustration as he went over by the window. The older students had begun to gather outside the freshmen dorms, their wallets or bundles of lien on hand to place bets. "I don't understand why he hates me though! What have I ever done to him? I don't even know why he hates my family!"

As the young Arc flung himself onto the bed, Ren sat up and spoke, breaking the silence. "Maybe we could ask his sisters for advice?"

"Tsuki and Shiro? I think they hate me too, and besides, what would I even ask them?"

Nora practically shot up out of her place next to Ren, like the sugar from lunch was still pumping through her veins. "We could find out how to best break his legs!"

"Or, we could find a way to solve this peacefully. You know, without any actual violence?" Pyrrha put forward. Ren nodded his head in agreement before they all looked at Jaune for confirmation.

Jaune sucked in a deep breath of air, holding it for several seconds before letting it all out. He needed to steel himself for the upcoming mental lashing from the sisters. "Alright, let's do it."

As Team JNPR all got up and left their dorm, the first thing they saw was the orderly line of second and third-year students, leading out of Team NMBS room where Mercury stood collecting money for the bets. One of them saw Jaune and called out, "Hey it's the moneymaker!"

They began to give him pats on the back and spoke encouragingly, knowing that his confidence and ability to fight would make the difference between them losing or gaining lien after tonight's duel.

Pyrrha nudged him forward to Team SETH's room further down the hall, parallel to Mercury's post. As Jaune knocked on the door, Mercury glanced over at them, making eye contact with Jaune. There was something akin to sympathy in his eyes, that same sort of remorse that a farmhand looked at an animal with, knowing that it was about to go to the slaughterhouse.

Unnerved, he turned back around, facing the white oaken door. He heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and Emerald was there to greet them. "Oh hey, guys. Need something?"

"We're… uh, I'm here to talk to Shiro and Tsuki."

"You sure? They're not really in the best mood right now."

"Please. It's important."

Emerald nodded before she stepped aside and motioned for them to enter.

Of the four members of Team SETH, only two were there. Shiro was laying down on her bed, her back to the window as she read her book. When the eldest of the Namikaze siblings looked up and noticed Team JNPR, her usually kind face began to curl into a small scowl. With one hand, she closed her book, producing a loud smack that seemed to make Jaune even more nervous.

"Hey, Shiro…"

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose, before breathing out through the mouth, as though trying to maintain her calm. "What?"

"How are you doing?"

"Well let's see. I'm frustrated that despite my attempts to ease the situation between you and Naruto - at the behest of Pyrrha no less - you two still ended up in this situation. I'm annoyed that you decided to come into my room while I try to relax and read. With that in mind, I'm particularly intrigued as to why you think you can approach me after insulting my brother and ignoring my advice to stop before things got violent. So overall, not too well."

Too ashamed to look her in the eyes, Jaune kept staring down at the floor, trying to think of what to say. "I'm sorry…"

"Are you? Or did you come here trying to find a way out of the mess that you started?"

Before he could answer, the door swung wide open as Tsuki and Ruby entered the room. "And so I said…" Tsuki's smile quickly became a frown and Ruby looked at her friends with some level of worry. "What are you doing here?"

The vitriol in her voice was palpable, it was like acid had been thrown onto Jaune's face. "I came to apologize."

"A bit late for that isn't it?" Tsuki scoffed.

"C'mon guys. Let's all calm down here. We're all friends aren't we?" Ruby adopted the voice of reason, using her innocence to help pacify the room. Even the somewhat headstrong Tsuki felt a little more relaxed when she spoke.

"I suppose so."

"I guess."

Jaune let out a sigh of relief, glad that progress here was still a possibility.

"Alright then, Jaune, explain to us why you thought it was necessary to bad mouth our brother?"

At that, he became sheepish and nervously wrung his hands together like he was cold. "I don't know, I didn't think that what I said mattered."

"And what made you think that?"

"Well he did the same thing, and nothing happened to him. I thought..."

"I'm going to stop you right there. Two things. First, Pyrrha and I both talked, scolded, and asked for him not to do it again. He was punished, just not publicly. Second, is that really your excuse?"

Jaune's eyes remained at his feet until a delicate hand gripped his shoulder.

"Jaune, please. We're your team, we want to support you and help you; however we can, but if you withhold information like this, we can't." Pyrrha's voice was soothing to him, it reminded him of Saphron.

Gods I wish you were here, Saphron. You'd know just what to say.

He turned and looked over to the rest of his team who, despite his self-inflicted blunder, still supported him. People who he had barely known for more than a day at that.

No. Léonne's always telling me I need to deal with my problems head-on. I don't need Saphron. This is my problem. And Pyrrha's right, they at least deserve the truth.

Jaune nodded solemnly, before speaking. "All my life, I've lived constantly surrounded by my family. I rarely went outside, never attended any academies, didn't really try to make any other friends. So it was, for the most part, just my seven sisters and I. As far back as I can remember, two of my older sisters told me to never be direct with my disinterest or dislike of someone, that it was better to 'talk behind their backs than to their faces.'" He made a pair of air quotes to finalize that statement.

"But I kinda understand now that that doesn't exactly hold up anywhere else, especially with people I'm not familiar with."

Shiro pinched the bridge of her nose and stood up out of bed. She released a heavy sigh before giving her reply. "Fine, Jaune. Just don't make that mistake again. I think you're getting enough of a punishment as it is with the fight in… two hours."

He looked over to her younger sister, who nodded. "What she said."

"Oh and speaking of the fight, is there uh, any way you can get me out of it?"

"Excuse me?"

"I think what Jaune meant to say, was if there was any way to calm Naruto down and call off the fight?" Ren intervened, knowing that his leader's lack of caution could take away the forgiveness he just earned.

The two sisters shared a look with one another, before turning back to Team JNPR. "To put it bluntly, no."

"Come on, there has to be some way for me to get his forgiveness, or at least for him to end the fight, right?"

"No way in hell."

"Yeah, no. That's not going to happen, nor will it ever happen. Naruto isn't someone who lets go of his grudges until they're settled. Usually in the most dramatic and violent way possible: single combat."

"Pyrrha probably knows about this, but Naruto keeps a book with him, one that his mentor told him to always use. He keeps a list of people in there that he holds a grudge against, as well as the 'payment' he wants in return. Like I said earlier, he takes all this stuff very seriously."

The spartan nodded. "Yes, I recall him writing in that ledger quite frequently."

"Mhm. But anyways, Jaune. There's no real way you can get out of this fight. Though to be frank, I think it'd be possible for anyone else," Tsuki pointed one of her fingers at Jaune, "but you."

He stood there for a moment, thinking. Then it came to him. "It's because my name isn't it?"

"Yeah, no shit."

"Tsuki! There's no need to be so crass. But yes, Jaune. To Naruto, that name carries a lot of weight, and not in a good way."

"What do you mean?"

She hesitantly bit her lower lip, pulling it up by the front of her teeth. "I really don't think it's my place to talk about that. Perhaps I've already told more than I should."

Knowing that Jaune wouldn't press the advance, stepped in and spoke up for him. "Please, Shiro. If we can learn why Naruto hates Jaune and his family so much, maybe there's a way we can end this bad blood."

For once, Jaune looked up to meet Shiro's gaze - just barely. "Please. It would mean a lot if we could stop all of this at some point."

Shiro tapped her foot thoughtfully on the ground, debating between her brother's privacy, or his mental wellbeing. A few seconds later, she reached her decision.

"Like you, his issues stem from his familial influences."

"But how come you guys aren't like that then?"

"Tsuki and I lived with our parents for the most part."

"So Naruto wasn't with you guys?"

Tsuki nodded her head, "Pretty much."

"Why? I-if you don't mind me asking?"

"Naruto's godfather was murdered when he was eight, and after that, our grandfather came to our estate and told our parents that he wanted to take care of him. Raise him with grandmother in Mistral."

"And why didn't he take you guys?"

The two sisters shared a look with one another before the eldest responded. "We think it's because he's the only male heir of our clan, and technically the only one whose name will be passed on."

The youngest sibling stepped forward and interjected, "That and he was the weakest of us."

"Yes, back then."

"Yeah, Naruto was a real bookworm back when we were kids. Like, he could not fit the definition of a nerd any better than back then."

Nora grinned and spoke up, "Pale skin, scrawny, and wore glasses?" Tsuki flashed her own grin and nodded vigorously.

The two sisters began to zone out as fonder memories passed through their minds. Of teasing their brother, learning under their parents, making fortresses out of pillows - with some help of the estate guards. Back to a simpler time.

"But yes, grandfather took Naruto because he was afraid that Naruto wasn't in the right shape to defend himself and carry on the family legacy. So, after days of them arguing, mother and father finally agreed. So, our brother left with him, and as the years went on, became more and more like our grandparents. An old soul I think is what our mother calls him."

"He absorbed everything they taught him."

"And I'm going to guess that includes his hatred of my family?"

"Yup."

"So there's no possibility of resolving his hatred?"

"Our grandfather would sooner crucify an Arc than speak to one, I don't see why Naruto would be any different."

"But perhaps Naruto is, in fact, more reasonable, no? I mean he did agree to leave Jaune alone because of you didn't he?" Ren asked, searching for the possibility of resolution.

"Before, yes. But that possibility was thrown out the window a few hours ago when Jaune basically spit in his face."

"Jaune, to be quite frank, the first thing you can do to help the situation is to take your lumps tonight. And don't try to pussy your way out or he's going to be even angrier."

"But wouldn't me not being there be a win-win for both of us? He would win since it would count as a victory if I'm not there and I would win because I'm not getting disfigured?"

Tsuki shook her head in an almost condescending manner, "Jaune. He wants to personally fuck you up."

"Naruto intends to turn you into red paste. Your beating would only get worse if you tried to skip out."

At this point, Jaune was pulling on the back of his hair. Any harder and there would be tufts of blond hair on the floor. "Oh gods, I'm absolutely fucked…"

He could still hear the upperclassmen outside of Team SETH's dorm chatting away, all of them undoubtedly eager to see two freshmen butt horns.

There was a quick knock at the door before Emerald swiftly opened it, and in came Mercury and Schrödinger, giggling like schoolgirls amongst themselves. "Vat's up, Jaune? Ready for zhat fight?"

He didn't even attempt to verbally respond and instead gave an anxious moan.

It was Mercury spoke up this time, "We'll take that as a yes. We just came here to say good luck and all the usual stuff. Oh, and tell you how much dough is rolling in on your name."

"What?"

"Yeah, a good quarter-mil of lien on you winning the fight. Damn, folks are pretty confident in you winning this fight, huh? Can you just imagine how disappointed they'd be if you lost?"

"Ja, zhey vould throw a fit! It'd be a vitch hunt!"

"Anyways, we'll get out of your hair for now. Have fun!" Mercury cruelly taunted as he and the cat Faunus withdrew from the room. As they were leaving, Jaune peered from this dorm and into that of Team NMBS. What glared back made him freeze up more than the coldest regions of Solitas.

There on the centermost bed sat Naruto, who polished what looked like an axe as he stared back at Jaune, his eyes filled with anticipation and malice. Jaune felt his resolve soften into sludge as those jeweled eyes bore through him like lances. Even when the door finally closed, those piercing eyes of sapphire and emerald were fixed into his vision.

Suddenly, the thought of crucifixion that pervaded his mind vanished. A firm hand grabbed onto his shoulder, and when he turned to look, it was none other than Pyrrha Nikos. His partner and teammate.

"Jaune, we're here for you."

Nora jumped up enthusiastically and gave a mock salute. "That's right! We'll always have your back, Captain!"

Ren spoke next, "Indeed. Though we've only met, we're still a team. And we will stick together, Jaune."

Jaune felt himself regaining his bearings. He needed to hear that from someone, from anyone. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate your help. All of you. Maybe, just maybe there's a chance I can win this."

[Beacon Academy, Amphitheatre; 16:59]

There's no chance I can win this.

The words that Pyrrha parted onto Jaune had all but vacated his memory. The cacophony of the steadily growing audience had battered his nerves and left him anxious about his future reputation. When he saw his opponent step out of the locker rooms, whatever scraps of determination had been instilled by Pyrrha's reassurance were soundly crushed beneath the stomp of Naruto's boots.

Jaune had been expecting to see the other knight dressed in a standard set of Valian or high Mantilian armor from the days of old, but what Naruto brought to bear was utterly alien. He was completely encased in a carapace of gold and steel, like some kind of aristocratic beetle. The only human thing he could see were those damned eyes, looking right back to meet his. Plates of metal dangled from the bottom of his helmet much like a beard, and the entire set of armor was covered in some sort of markings that Jaune couldn't make out.

Each step that Naruto took beat against Jaune's heart, and he could feel his anxiety returning to him.

By the Gods, he's going to slaughter me. No! I must remember what Pyrrha said, keep calm and pay attention.

His thoughts were shattered in an instant as Naruto slammed the pommel of his axe into the ground and spoke gruffly beneath his armor. Even under the layers of metal, he could hear Naruto's somewhat posh accent.

"For the death of Takauji Uzumaki and the loss of his household and kin, the head of Pierre Arc!"

Just keep calm and focus on the fight. Pyrrha said I should observe my study Naruto before the match begins.

The opposing knight spoke again, "For the incineration of the Uzumaki vassal state of Artois, three thousand acres of arable land and fifty million lien!"

Those plates look really heavy, heavier than usual. Naruto's got to be weighed down by all of it. Which means, speed will be my ticket to surviving this.

"For the destruction of sacred icons and ancestral shrines at the Holy Temple of Tori-Shima, the crucified body of Alberi Arc!"

I can barely see any gaps in the armor, his neck is covered in that beard… plates… guard, thingy? Whatever, I can't get past it. But maybe I can hit up into it?

"For the rape and torture of over three score women and girls, the castration of Alberi Arc!"

Looks like there's a small chink his armor right behind the knees and at his elbows. Alright, let's do this!

Salvaging some courage after his analysis, Jaune spoke up, "Are you going to just stand there and talk or are we going to fight?"

But his voice was drowned out by the growing frenzy of the crowd and the accusations of Naruto. Even if the latter heard him, he was completely unfazed and uncaring as he continued to recite his family's litany of grudges.

Or not.

"For the destruction and pillaging of the Uzumaki clan's ancestral island, Tori-Shima, the hands of Alberi Arc! For the butchering of two hundred men and the burglary of the grand Mausoleum of Tori-Shima, the head of Alberi Arc!"

"And finally, for the slanderous words and dishonoring of my name, I demand retribution and declare a Grudge upon your name! This Grudge shall not be fulfilled until one or both of us lie defeated and offered mercy, or dead and granted justice. Now then, take up your blade and face me in glorious combat!"

Thus, their fight started as Naruto charged forward like a steel ox, his axe drawn back for a swing into an unarmored side. Jaune brought his shield up, displaying the gold livery of the House of Arc for his opponent to see, and much like a matador's cloak, Naruto only saw red.

Jaune swung his shield to his left, catching the axe before it could tear into his aura, but was knocked down when the rest of his opponent slammed into him like a truck. He felt his sword fly free from his hand and felt his body smack into the cold floor.

When Jaune looked up, he saw his opponent glaring down at him, his greataxe ready to clean him down the center. Rolling out of the way, Jaune grabbed his sword and quickly stood back up, prepared to face his opponent. Instantly, Naruto was upon him swinging his axe left and right into Jaune's shield and aura.

He poked Crocea Mors through, trying to hit something and buy a little time to recuperate and mount a counterattack, but the blade was knocked away by hand or haft every time.

By Kaine, is there no way to end this?

Fate seemed to answer his question as one of Naruto's cleaves slid off the rim of Jaune's shield, displacing the Namikaze. Jaune took the opportunity to back up and try and formulate a plan.

"Why do you run, Arc?" Even beneath the tons of plate, he could all but see the cruel veneer that spread on Naruto's face. He lumbered forward, letting the clang of metal wash over the arena and unnerve his foe.

Jaune opted not to speak and tried his best to concentrate on his enemy's movements. He could see that Naruto's slow pace was purposeful, meant to unsettle him rather than illustrate the substantial weight of the armor. Despite that, Jaune couldn't help but focus in on the sound of the knight's steps, or the clatter of metal plates.

"Come now, where's all that gusto you had at lunch? Shouldn't you have 'knocked my pompous ass on the ground' by now?"

As Jaune brought up his shield once more, he caught a glimpse of someone in the crowd behind Naruto. Even with the lights dimmed, he could still see those crimson locks and warm jade eyes.

When Pyrrha gave him a smile and an encouraging nod, Jaune felt his wits return. His heart slowed to a resting state, and his thoughts became coherent once more. There was no doubt in his mind as he tightly gripped Crocea Mors.

Jaune raised his sword and solemnly declared to his opponent, "It ends now." He rushed forward, readying his sword for his first real attack.

"Yes, finally! There's that flame of defiance that I had hoped to snuff out!"

Naruto cared little for the Jaune's incoming attack, and instead prepared one of his own. He pulled the business end of his axe over his shoulder, ready to jab out with the pommel of his weapon and blunt the impetus of the other knight. He'd follow up immediately with a downward stroke, and hopefully, cleave him in twain.

When the time came, and he lashed out with the shaft of his axe like a cobra striking out at its prey, something was amiss. Again, he found his attack off target as it grazed the side of Jaune's head and barely brought up his aura. Jaune's strike on the other hand continued to carry the aforementioned impetus and felt like a hammer being slammed onto the face of an anvil.

It hurt, to say the least.

Aura or not, that attack felt more oppressive and more impactful than it should have been. Having found new success, Jaune continued his assault on the knight, reeling his sword back and bringing it down into the gap between Naruto's helm and pauldron.

A violet aura flared up to shield its user, but Naruto could still feel the impact of the strike. Again, it was like a hammer being swung into him, but the necessary strength of such an attack was betrayed by Jaune Arc's physical build. He was average all around, with some muscle here and there, but nothing of note.

Naruto managed to react to the following attacks, using the edge of his axe to parry the thrust or the haft to catch a swing. But he could still feel something was wrong, the feeling in his gut and the back of his mind screamed that there was deception at work here. Those warnings did not save him when Jaune successfully fixed his sword between the beard and shoulder of the axe and kept it from being swung.

Bolstered by his success, he swung his elbow into Naruto's face and knocked him back.

This is my chance!

When Jaune was much younger, he spent many months watching his sisters train in swordplay under the supervision of their grandfather. He tried his best to study and learn the ways of the blade, and there was always one technique that caught his eye. It was so intriguing that he found himself able to replicate the attack better than any other. It was simple yet efficient.

As Jaune threw his sword into the air and seized it by the blade, his opponent recognized the technique.

"Mordhau…"

Naruto immediately moved to counter. He drew his axe up into the air ready to bring it down and cut off the offending arm. Before he could, he felt himself freeze up. And just as suddenly, the murder stroke came, and the hilt of Crocea Mors swung into the bottom of his Ancestor's wrathful visage.

He felt his helmet fly off his head and fell to the ground much like Jaune had before.

Jaune's eyes widened as this terrifying foe fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The violet field around Naruto had shattered like a pane of glass, and he was utterly defenseless. Knocked over on his side, and his back left thoroughly exposed.

I did it.

It took him a minute to realize what had happened. Eventually, he made his thoughts known to verbally. "I did it… I did it!" Jaune could hear the crowd around him cheering, no doubt his upperclassmen were glad that they weren't going to lose their money.

Another few minutes went by as Jaune sucked in all the attention. He mused to himself as he looked around and wallowed in the rapturous encore.

If only Léonne was here to see this, then I could shove it in her face and show her just how weak I really am!

"Hey, Jaune!"

Snapping back into reality, he turned and saw Nora poking out of the crowd.

"Break his legs!"

A single phrase became the chant of the crowd, as many began to roar the same three words.

"Break his legs! Break his legs! Break his legs!"

Jaune nodded and turned around, ready to deliver a crippling blow to Naruto. Both to his pride and his body.

"This is what you get for underestimating me!"

Holy fuck, what the bloody fuck just happened?

As Naruto lay on the ground, as confused as a newborn, he attempted to roll over and pick himself up. He was just as blind as one too as his glasses had been knocked clean from his face, and hopefully were still intact. His heart pounded like Tori-Shima's monolithic ō-daiko drum and became a rapid thrum that was loud enough to encapsulate his hearing. He panted heavily and felt his body ache like he had gone fought a Beringel in fisticuffs.

Did Kaine himself possess this wretch or am I just getting weaker? It's almost exactly like my fight with...

At that moment Naruto had a sudden realization, as though it were a brick that struck him square in the head.

Pyrrha.

He looked up and over into the crowd of people, his tired eyes searching for his subject of interest. When he caught sight of her, she looked winded, like she had been the one in the ring and not Jaune. Unless she had been getting extremely excited over the fight - which he doubted, Pyrrha had always been a remarkably collected individual - she had been doing something.

But what? What could she be doing to interfere, if at all?

Cheating perhaps?

It's possible, but how?

Who knows? It could be witchcraft or sorcery.

Improbable.

Perhaps...

Then what could it be?

Anything really. But for now, there are more important matters to attend to.

Naruto jolted back into the present and licked his cracking lips. The throb of his heart had died down a bit, at least enough that he could hear the roar of the crowd surrounding them. They were shouting in unison a single phrase, "Break his legs!"

He heard footsteps behind him, and hastily searched for his weapon. From the blurred colors, he could tell his axe was too far to reach, so he settled for the next best thing.

"This is what you get for underestimating me!" When Naruto heard the shout, he jumped up and swung his makeshift weapon into his opponent before Jaune could so much as touch him.

In his haste, Naruto had grabbed the beard of his helm and used it as a flail. While no doubt unorthodox, it was no less effective. The swing slammed into Jaune's head like the bolt of a crossbow, knocking the wind right out of him.

Thrash this cur till he bleeds!

Fueled by a dangerous combination of rage and adrenaline, Naruto's swings devolved into a vicious flurry of strikes that hammered into Jaune's flanks until a white field of energy burst around him.

Kill him!

Naruto let go of the helmet and decided to take a more hands-on approach to the situation. Clenching his fists, he thrust low and landed a sucker punch right into his opponent's unarmored gut. The small metal mounds on each of his knuckles certainly didn't help as his fist dug deep into his solar plexus.

He followed by slamming the side of his fist into Jaune's unprotected face, again, knocking him off balance. Each punch was like a cinder block that pummeled Jaune with wild abandon. Nothing was going to stop him from bloodying this mongrel.

The few times his foe struck out at him with a sword and shield, the attacks were stopped by thick plates. Eager to make this as one-sided as possible, Naruto grabbed Jaune's blade the next time he thrust out, pried it from his hands and threw it to the ground. The same strategy was applied to his shield.

Eventually, Naruto clenched his hands together and swung up into Jaune's head in an uppercut, and sent him down and sprawled out on the floor. He immediately pounced on him, pressing the bulk of his weight down onto the rib cage as he continued to beat and batter.

"What was that about breaking my legs, Arc? Or perhaps the crowd was talking to me. Yes, maybe I should just snap yours like twigs!"

Before he could go any further, Naruto felt himself wrenched upwards by an invisible force. He had been so enthralled by blood greed that he failed to notice the professors that rushed to the scene.

"Naruto, stop this at once! You've done enough to him already. This ends now."

Amethyst energy surrounded the offending knight and pulled him closer towards Glynda Goodwitch. In his haze, Naruto saw an incredibly quick blur of white and green speed over to his fallen opponent. In his periphery, he saw another figure, much slower and plumper, reach down to grab something and seemed to already have his axe in its possession.

Separated from his target, Naruto finally relaxed and slouched down as the adrenaline rush wore off and fatigue began to weigh heavy on his weary frame, and he was dragged off likely to face his punishment.

[Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office; 18:05]

As Ozpin gazed solemnly out of the enormous glass pane of his tower, everything from the dimming lights of his academy to the glittering beacons of the capital city could be seen. If one searched hard enough, they could look beyond the mountains surrounding Vale and gaze upon the shining lights of the many port cities and trade hubs on Vale's coastline.

Suddenly, there was a chime at the entrance of the elevator as its doors opened, and the three people occupying it stepped out. Though his back was turned to his guests, he could clearly see each of them via their reflections.

At the fore of the trio was Glynda, her stern expression was somehow even more dour than usual. He could see the strain she was putting on her riding crop as she nearly snapped it in half.

Behind her was the youngest heir of the Houses of Uzumaki and Namikaze, Naruto. Though his chest was puffed up beneath his armor, his indomitable pride was betrayed by the haggard state of his body.

Pulling up the rear was Port, a bombastic and plump professor who held a large axe in one hand, kept his blunderbuss in his elbow, and twirled his well-groomed mustache in the other.

"Sit down, young man and Headmaster Ozpin will have a word with you," Glynda ordered as she walked past the centerpiece desk and to her old friend's side.

The oldest man in the room - by at least a few centuries - gently turned around to face the youngest. "Good evening, Mister Naruto, please take a seat. Care for some coffee, or tea perhaps?"

"I am fine, thank you."

"Are you sure?" Ozpin asked politely as he took a seat behind his desk. "You seem like the kind of person to enjoy tea, especially after a rough fight like that."

As Naruto nestled himself into the cushioned chair, he relented. "Very well, tea it is."

"Excellent. Glynda, would you mind preparing some for us?"

Her eyebrows furrowed at the thought of being put to such a menial task, but she said nothing as she marched over to the other side of the office.

"Now that the formalities are complete, shall we discuss why you're here in my office?"

"I would presume it is because of my savaging of Jaune Arc?"

Ozpin reclined a little further back in his chair at that statement, as his lips curled and he responded. "I am not sure if 'savaging' is the way I'd explain it. But sure, we'll go with that. After you broke his aura, you continued to pummel the boy until he was nearly unconscious."

"Am I to expect expulsion for this?" Glynda returned carrying a platter, where two cups of tea sat parallel to one another, along with several cubes of sugar and a glass of cream.

Naruto and Ozpin gave a silent thanks to the teacher as she walked over to the latter's right.

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But under normal circumstances, staff would have intervened during lunch, long before you two clashed in the arena. No, you'll be let off with a warning of sorts."

"Is there any particular reason why sir?"

"Well Naruto, you're a talented young student who has rightfully earned his way to the top of the chain to get here. And the Kingdom of Vale is always in need of strong and resourceful Huntsmen to defend its borders from Grimm incursions. If I were to expel you, neither of us would really benefit, now would we?"

Naruto found himself nodding to Ozpin's words, "Yes, I suppose that makes sense. So, what will it be? Flogging? Flagellation? Central Mistralian water torture?" He lowered his head in resignation and was fully prepared to accept whatever punishment came to him.

The three teachers burst out laughing at the over-the-top nature of the student in question. While Port practically exploded in a bout of thundering laughter, Ozpin quietly chuckled in the same monotone but friendly voice he always held. Even Glynda tried to hide the giggle aimed at her nephew's comment.

"No, no, nothing so barbaric. No, instead we'd like for you to assist Professor Port every evening for the next few months in collecting live Grimm specimens. You'll be accompanying him to the forest where you two will begin hunting."

Recognizing that their time had come to an end, Naruto stood up, his body rigid beneath the thick plates, and bowed low at the waist. "I understand. Is that all, Headmaster?"

"Yes, thank you for your time. I trust we won't have this incident again?"

"Yes, Headmaster!" Naruto dipped forward slightly before bringing himself back up and turning back around to face the elevator entrance.

He said nothing as he walked into the doors with Port, now rearmed with his battle axe and prepared to fulfill his punishment. As the doors slid shut, Ozpin couldn't help but laugh to himself at the eccentricities of this new batch of students.

"It never seems to get boring around here, does it, Glynda?"

She huffed as she adjusted her glasses and turned to meet Ozpin's gaze. "For you, maybe. I'm not sure being relegated to tea brewer is all that entertaining."

"My dearest apologies, Glynda. On another note, I still can't quite believe that was Minato's son."

"I presume you're referring to his rather martial behavior?"

"Indeed. For someone his age, it's quite rare wouldn't you say? Unless you're from Atlas that is."

"Minato only raised him for half of his life, our parents-in-law raised him for the other half."

"And you're suggesting that they're the source of his militarism?"

"Ozpin. His grandfather was a former Huntsman and is a very nationalistic Mistralian, and his grandmother was a Polkovnyk (Colonel) of the Atlesian army and also a hardcore nationalist."

The Headmaster jokingly tapped his chin and looked up as though mired in thought. "Hmm, I believe I'm starting to pick up on a pattern here. Though I feel your coldness to his grandparents is for a different reason, no?"

Glynda sighed, exasperated by the antics of her colleague and former teacher. "They're callous asses, alright?"

"That's what I thought. Anyways, shall we have Jaune come in so we can assign his punishment too?"

"Very well then." She pressed some of the holographic keys on her scroll before they heard the elevator start to come into motion.

Just as before, the final light on the scale lit up, and the doors opened up to show a very nervous looking Jaune Arc, and a somewhat apathetic looking Professor Oobleck.

"Mister Arc, please take a seat," Glynda spoke coldly as she glared down at the freshman. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Is it because of the fight, ma'am? Please, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to break the rules, I was just trying to defend myself!"

"Mister Arc, duels like that are permitted on campus. But, a duel is simply that, a duel. Not a cage match where two opponents try to kill or maim one another. However, that is only half of the reason why you're here."

"I'm sorry, what? Besides the fight, there's nothing else that I've done wrong!" Jaune was adamant in his defense, gripping the arms of his chair tightly till his knuckles became white.

"Is that so?" Glynda replied smoothly as she tossed down a folder of printed documents. "Then please explain why you sending forged documents to Beacon Academy is not a punishable offense."

Jaune's eyes widened like saucers, and he slumped back into his seat. "O-oh Gods, I didn't think anyone would find about it. At least not so soon…" His hands raked into his head as he dragged them through his hair.

"Young man, this is the most prestigious school in the four kingdoms. Did you really think that some forged papers would get past security?"

He chose to avoid responding to her question and worked to change the subject. "So, what happens now, that I've been caught?"

Glynda stepped forward to answer, but Ozpin quickly cut her off. "Normally you'd be expelled, but after the administrative staff put it to a vote, we've decided to allow you to stay."

While Jaune was wholly captivated by Ozpin, his eyes lighting up in relief, Glynda and Oobleck shared a look of uncertainty at the Headmaster's choice of words.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you! Just please, I'll do anything as long as my family never finds out."

"Yes, which is why in addition to helping Professors Oobleck grade papers every evening, you will also be spending your weekends taking remedial classes and learning the necessary skills to be a part of Beacon. Mister Arc, I suggest you do not waste this second chance, for it will not come a third time."

"What will happen if something like this happens again?"

Ozpin gave a mirthful smile as he responded, "Well, you can't quite forge any more documents now can you?"

Glynda took the opportunity to retake control of the conversation and answered his question. "If you are caught for any serious offense against the school or staff, you'll not only be expelled and sent home directly to your family, but you'll be blacklisted from every Huntsmen Academy on Remnant."

"Jaune, we expect great things from an Arc, and you are no different. Try not to disappoint or let this happen again, alright?" Always the one to temper the cold fury of Professor Goodwitch, Ozpin spoke reassuringly to his student.

The young man gulped nervously before he decided how to reply. "R-right. I won't let you down, sir."

"Excellent, now then. You're dismissed. Please follow Professor Oobleck so he may show you to your station in his office."

Though Jaune's cerulean eyes were down at his feet in shame, there was an unmistakable look of relief in them as he walked behind Oobleck to the elevator. As the doors slid shut, Glynda once again looked over to Ozpin before speaking.

"I still cannot believe that you're not punishing him any harsher. Not even a call or message to his parents about this?"

"There's no need to."

"But by allowing him to get away with this, you're only inviting more trouble. It's completely asinine!"

The old Headmaster sighed before he spoke softly. "Glynda, when you agreed to work with me to run this school, do you remember what you promised to do?"

"To point out the incongruities and flaws in your decisions?"

"Yes, but to also trust in my ability to make certain decisions. I've been alive for nearly a millennia, Glynda. I need you to trust that I know what I'm doing."

She simply scoffed and made her way to the now open elevator. Glynda briefly stopped and turned to face her old friend and teacher. "I did. But recently Ozpin, your mistakes are becoming harder and harder to ignore. Sometimes you're as bad as Leo and James, you know that?"

Ozpin kept silent as his closest friend left the tallest tower of Beacon before he turned to face the vast expanse of Vale and spoke quietly to himself. "I know. I only ask that you continue to tolerate my mistakes until I can fix them."

[Emerald Forest, Outskirts; 18:50]

As the loud thrum of the Bullhead's engines filled their senses, Naruto could see the excitement in his previously unacquainted eyes - hidden by his glasses as they were.

"Professor Port, if I may ask a question?"

"Yes, my youthful companion? What is that you need?"

"Headmaster Ozpin stated that I was to assist in capturing live Grimm specimens."

"Yes, that is correct."

"Though I'm not sure it is my place to ask, how are we to do that?"

Naruto could see Port's thick eyebrows raise out from behind his circular glasses before he burst out in a roar of laughter. "Of course, my dearest apologies, young Naruto. I had forgotten to inform you about the plan. I've simply been too excited about getting to work alongside someone as young as yourself and perhaps pass on this tradition and knowledge!"

"Of hunting Grimm?"

"Not quite. Tracking and trapping Grimm. Most Huntsmen and Huntresses nowadays are woefully unaware of how to track the beasts outside of the inevitable trail of destruction they leave in their wake. But few understand how to cow or follow them."

"But aren't the Grimm devoid of anything that could make them understandable, save that they are attracted to negative emotions?"

"Aha, a common misconception! The Grimm are far more complex than that, and as opposed to what many 'leading experts' say, the beasts to possess their own biology, with guts and viscera and everything! Think of them as hyper-aggressive animals and monsters, solely bent on destroying whatever isn't one of them - though they do often fight amongst one another."

"You're saying that they can be shepherded?"

"No, not quite."

Naruto tapped his chin in thought for a moment, pondering his professor's words. "You're saying that they can be deceived, the same way one can deceive an animal?"

Port shot up like a bullet, "Yes, precisely!"

"Ah, I see. Given this information, I would suppose that you plan to cage one up and take it back to Beacon?"

His grandfatherly laugh returned as Port patted Naruto's shoulder. "Yes, you're on the right track, my young friend! We'll need to draw them out first and then isolate one from its group."

Before either could continue, a red light on the interior of the Bullhead deactivated, and a green light shone in its place. The intercom came on, and the pilot spoke up, "We land in one minute!"

"So let's go ahead and get started with part one!"

"You said to draw them out, yes?"

"Correct."

"Do you intend on using negative emotions to lure them out into the open?"

Port had already pulled out a premade cloth cartridge that looked to be filled with dust-powder and iron pellets. Before he responded, he bit the top part of the bag and poured a little bit of the glowing powder into the blunderbuss' pan.

"Indeed I do. Which is what you're here for. Now, tell me about what that whole fight was about."

"There was an issue between Jaune Arc and myself. He insulted me, and I decided to take action."

"Yes, and what about you did he insult?" He asked as he poured the pellets and dust-powder into the barrel, and driving it down with his ramrod.

Naruto opened his semblance and wrenched a long pike that totaled about six feet. "He insulted my honor! Called me a damned coward and a weakling he did. And that whoreson did it right in front of my kin no less! The nerve of some nobles, I tell you!"

"Yes, and how did that make you feel?"

The green light flashed thrice as they felt the Bullhead descend and land on the ground. "Alright boys, shoot that flare and I'll be back to pick you two up!" They nodded as they dismounted the VTOL, and stepped onto the green grass of forest's outskirts.

"I felt like he spat right in my face, and the faces of my sisters with those poisonous words of his. I should have punched him square in the teeth and given him a black eye!" Anger was now visible on Naruto's face as his hatred for Jaune and, though unspoken, the rest of the House of Arc began to resurface.

Port held up one of his stout arms to stop Naruto as crimson eyes were becoming more and more visible in the dark shroud of the forests. "That'll be all my boy. Now the true test of skill begins! Huzzah! To arms!" He yelled out as he fired his blunderbuss into the trees, killing off a few Grimm.

"Indeed, to arms."

[Beacon Academy, 06:45; West Wing]

Port stood outside of the academy's storage hall, pondering at how to approach his current conundrum. The young Naruto was likely preparing for his day's classes, and Port didn't think it would be wholly necessary to bother him. However, the issue of trying to drag a rabid Boarbatusk through the halls - alone no less - could prove to be difficult. Oobleck had always been there to help him but wasn't here today.

"Hmmm. This could be an issue. I've got to use my head and think. Mmmm…"

As he stood there trying to figure out how to proceed, a team of students practically snuck up behind him. Then again, a Goliath could just as easily have walked in front of him without Port noticing. Though he was an exceptional Huntsman, he could be as blind as a bat and deaf as a cuttlefish when he was focused on a problem.

"Hey Professor Port, how are you this morning?" The rather quiet Velvet greeted.

"Mmmm. Hrrmmm. Mmmmh."

When Port didn't make any noticeable response, just standing there rubbing his chin and twirling his mustache, Coco spoke up much louder for her teammate. "Mister Port!"

"Hmm. Huh? O-oh my! Pardon me, I was absorbed in thought. What can I do for you young ones, or are you here to listen to more of my tales of glory and gallantry?"

They all seemed to chuckle nervously at the thought of that, even the stoic and silent Fox rubbed the back of his neck at the idea of listening to more of his fantastical stories. "No, no Professor, we were just walking out of the cafeteria."

"Ah, I see. Well then, I hope you all have an excellent day!" He seemed to revert back to his old self, staring intensely into the storage hall and fondling his facial hair.

Team CFVY shared a look with one another as Coco tapped his shoulder to regain his attention. "Actually Professor, you look like you could use some help."

"No, no, not at all! I have everything under control, my dear!"

Velvet spoke up this time. "Are you sure, Professor? You look like you really need some help here."

There was some kind of innocence imbued into her voice that made Port want to forsake his pride and accept aid from his students. But he salvaged what he could and held his ground. "No, no. I'll be fine. Thank you though! I do appreciate good and honest students such as yourselves."

Again, Team CFVY shared a look before they started to walk off down the hall.

"Alrighty, what time is it? Oh, blast…" His eyes practically bulged out of his glasses as he saw the time. Six fifty-three. He had at best, seven minutes before classes started. Panicked, he searched frantically for some way to do this by himself when he saw the team of second-years about to round the corridor at the end of the hall.

My pride be damned!

"Excuse me, my young students!" They instantly stopped at the sound of his voice and turned around to face the pot-bellied professor.

"It seems I require some assistance, with such little time to spare no less. Could I count on your aid in getting this cage to my classroom?"

Team CFVY all seemed to smile warmly. No matter how boring he could be, Professor Port had always been the grandfather of Beacon Academy.

"Alright, gently… gently now." Three members of Team CFVY and Port himself had managed to carry the caged Boarbatusk across Beacon's hall into his room and were now in the process of rotating themselves to set the iron prison down.

Though there were many words to describe how the group of five set the cage down, gently was certainly not one of them.

"Yatsuhashi, hold that gate firm, don't let the beast pry its way out! And Velvet, please hand me that thick black cloth over on that hook!"

They quickly bolted the cage down into the floor, locking it into place, and sealing the gate shut with additional mechanisms. As the black cloak that Port demanded came into his hands, he threw it over the cage, covering in a thick veil of darkness. These small details were a necessity when handling Grimm to pacify them.

With their task complete, Port wiped the sweat from his brow and looked over to the group of students. He checked his watch and saw the time, six fifty-seven. "Done and with plenty of time to spare. Thank you, my young aids! Though I'm sure with a little more time I could've figured out myself, your assistance is no less appreciated!"

Coco spoke up for the rest of her team. "Of course Professor, it's no problem at all." She glanced once more at the shrouded cage before she made an inquiry. "Say, is that cage for the freshman class?"

"Indeed it is Miss Adel how perceptive of you!"

"Didn't you always say that you needed an assistant for handling the live Grimm with freshmen? Especially after that one incident with -."

She was suddenly cut off as Port's memory jolted to life. "Ah yes! After that incident where all those children got scared at the live Ursa in the classroom! O-ho, that was quite the experience, I tell you!"

"You have told us, Professor. At least a dozen times in fact."

"Hmm. Good times. But yes, to answer your question, I am in need of an assistant for my freshmen classes as past experience has taught me that they never seem to retain information. Perhaps a fellow youth could help them understand my lectures?"

Coco's coffee-colored eyes glowed warmly beneath her sunglasses. "I would think so, Professor."

"Speaking of, might I ask if you could help me with such a task? There'd be extra credit involved should you do so."

A warm smile proceeded to match her eyes. "Sure thing Professor, I'd be happy to help out."

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!"

"You guys go ahead and head back to the dorms until our next class starts."

Yatsuhashi and Fox nodded at their leader's casual orders while Velvet looked over with a small smile. "Are you sure Coco? You won't get too bored sitting in a classroom will you?"

"Course Bun, I'll be fine. More importantly, the three of you will be fine without me for a couple of hours."

The rabbit Faunus nodded before the rest of Coco's team left the room. There was a thick fog of silence that reigned over the place as Port lounged in his seat at the center of the classroom, tempted to plant his feet on the desk until his class arrived.

"So Miss Adel, did I ever tell you about the time -"

Fortunately for Coco's sake, the first bell tolled loud and rang throughout the campus grounds, interrupting the Professor's storytelling.

"Oh my, it seems class is about to begin. Perhaps I'll tell you another time then."

"Sure, Professor."

As Port watched his class trickle into the room, in ones and twos, and the occasional full team, he watched as his new assistant began speaking to one freshman in particular. The very first student to enter the class and his nighttime aid, Naruto. As they conversed, she pulled out a rather impressive stack of lien in front of him as he smiled politely and laughed in response. Likely betting money from the fight the previous day.

Suddenly Coco grabbed his cheeks and pulled him into a deep kiss. The boy looked shocked, to say the least, and his eyes simultaneously widened and froze solid. And unless Port's eyes deceived him, then there seemed to be some tongue action involved as well. As she withdrew from the kiss, she slapped his shoulder and continued their conversation as though nothing happened, likely aware and amused by the scarlet blush and confused look on her younger friend.

Only fifteen and the ladies are already flocking to him! Hah, the charisma of youth. Reminds me when I was a young lad his age. Back in the good 'ol days.

He sighed to himself as he looked down. A frown began to form on his face as he placed a hand over his pot belly and rubbed the other through his whitening hair.

Huntsman or not, Father Time hasn't spared me of its withering effects, has it?

He spun around in his chair until he faced the wall and looked up at the coat of arms and weaponry that hung above the whiteboards. His grandfather and father's Zweihänders shined proudly against the Port family's gallant banner of burgundy and gold.

Papa always wanted me to take up the proficiency of the greatsword, and yet here I am. Wielding a blunderbuss with some blades attached to it. Ha! Grandpapa would have called me a sissy just for holding a gun.

Port smiled fondly at the thought of his forefathers, ever kind and skillful, they were his idols and models in life. As he looked back, he could only wonder how he managed to fall so far from the tree over time.

What was it that he always said? 'Only those cowards from Atlas use their newfangled rifles, but us hardy folk of Mantle bear the arms of a true warrior: the Zweihänder!' Haha! Ah, I miss him dearly… thought if I'm honest with myself, I miss them both. Maybe they could have taught these children better than I could have.

He gazed sorrowfully at the coat of arms, unaware that everyone's attention was planted on him and his lack of movement.

"Uh, Professor Port? Is everything alright?"

"Hrmmm...hm? Oh yes, everything is quite alright my dear. Did you need something?"

"Class has begun, sir."

"Oh, my dearest apologies everyone. Let us begin with introductions, yes? My name is Professor Peter Port, and I will be your teacher for the next two-to-three years. Now that that's out of the way, we shall dive into the expansive and diverse world of the Creatures Grimm. Let's start with the Boarbatusk…"

[Beacon Academy, 13:05; Eastern Wing]

As Naruto trotted along the tile floor, his stomach filled to optimal capacity with a delicious lunch, he felt half tempted to take a nap. An opinion that was shared by many of his colleagues as they made their way to Professor Peach's classroom, who not a single one of them had seen before.

A few of the second years - and by a few, that meant only Coco - had told him that she was a muscular brute of a woman, with fiery red hair and a mouth full of sharpened teeth. Other sophomores - also Coco - had said that she was a frail and sickly looking woman, too gentle to hurt a fly.

As his team fell in tow behind him as per usual, he felt something move out of his field of vision, and tap his left side. When he turned, and no one was there, and he could already hear the childish giggling of Schrödinger to his right. "Yes, very funny."

The shorter cat Faunus laughed into her pristine white gloves before she spoke. "Ja? Are you sure zhat's zhe only sing zhat is vunny?" Schrödinger pointed out and over to his left as she finished.

He cocked an eyebrow up and turned back around and suddenly saw Hassan there - the Vacuoan cur - taunting him by puckering his lips out. "Come, give us a kiss, Naruto!"

Naruto jumped back in surprise, "Gah! What in the Bloody-handed God are you doing here?"

"Simply moving ahead of your sisters and bothering you. Just like back in Sanctum, eh Erika?"

"Ja, ja! Poor Naruto allvays falling for our tricks and traps!" Again, she broke out in more giggling at the chagrin of her captain.

"Damn you all to hell. Why do I even tolerate you? Bah, let's just get to class before Ruby phases through the walls, or Yang rips open the ceiling…"

"Now, now, little Namikaze, zhere's never an end to this hell!" Schrödinger laughed out as she and Hassan followed close behind.

Naruto made for a brisk pace as he tried to keep his composure while creating some distance. As he reached the door and quickly pulled it open, he rushed inside and nearly slammed the door on his 'compatriots,' though perhaps tormentors was a better description.

He stopped himself when he saw the teacher writing the lesson plan onto the whiteboard. It seems Coco's second description of her was most accurate, as her pale skin practically glowed on her tall frame against the shine of the ceiling lights. When she turned and looked at her newest student, her sickly red eyes seemed to brighten in happiness.

"Good afternoon, young man. Would you mind taking a seat as I finish up the board? It'll be a few minutes before everyone gets to class so you can relax on your scroll if you wish or read a book if you have one."

Her smile was unbelievably gentle and peaceful, like a mother watching over her sleeping newborn. As the rest of his team and friends entered the room, he motioned for their silence and pointed to the teacher's sickly presence. Most either nodded or shrugged in response, and remained quiet nonetheless.

Instead of doing what she suggested, he took the time to analyze his new teacher. Her orangish-red hair was long and slightly disheveled, matching her rather tired and haggard appearance. Her skin was immaculate, however, and carried the gorgeous complexion of many East Mistralian models with it. To match her sickly look, there were many water bottles - filled and emptied, small and large - scattered out wildly among her desk and the nearby floor.

Wherever this muscular brute of a woman that Coco spoke earlier about was nowhere to be seen, and at this point, was more likely a ploy to rouse some fear in Naruto and the other freshmen.

When the belfries outside tolled, she set her writing utensils down and turned to face her now filled classroom. "Good afternoon my lovely class." She reached over and grabbed a bottle of water before she chugged the entire thing down in one go.

"Ahh… Now then, my name is Professor Chikara Akama, and today we'll be discussing the awesome world of science!"

[Beacon Academy, West Wing; 17:45]

"Will that be all, Professor Port?"

"Aha! Thank you for your assistance, and yes my young squire! You're free to go now."

Naruto bowed politely to his teacher. "Thank you, have a good night Professor."

"And you do the same, Naruto."

As the two parted ways, Naruto stumbled into a rather unexpected person. Almost towering above him was the stern figure of Professor Glynda, her green eyes piercing his existence like a pair of jade swords. The moment she realized who it was that stumbled into her, they softened and glowed warmly like brilliant emeralds in the light of the sun.

Naruto's instincts of coming into contact with a superior came in - no doubt drilled into him by his grandmother - as he bowed sincerely to his teacher. "My apologies Miss Goodwitch, I didn't see you there."

She gently patted his head before she lifted his chin to establish eye contact. "Oh Naruto, no need for formality here. You and your sisters know that. Once classes are over you can address me as your aunt." He smiled gently at her words and nodded.

"Ah, thank you. Aunt Glynda."

She too smiled - a rare sight for anyone outside of her family - warmly and held firmly onto his shoulder. "Now then, walk with me. I wanted to teach you something in the combat arena."

As the two made their way down the hallway, Glynda broke the silence. "So Naruto, how are your classes going?"

"Very well."

"Now then, is there any teacher you like in particular?"

"Professor Port and you of course."

"Yes, everyone seems to love Peter and his grandfatherly wisdom. But you aren't just saying my name to get in my good graces are you?" She jested to him, her mirthful smile growing warmer and warmer.

Naruto held his hands up in defense. "No, no. Of course not. I've always been in your good graces haven't I?"

"Well, except the occasional fight you get in, yes. I'm sure you know how much I smother you and your sisters in affection."

"Indeed I do."

"Speaking of fights…"

Naruto cringed up as his eyes narrowed even more at the thought of his recent incident. "Ah yes, about that."

"Would you be interested in explaining to me why you keep getting into trouble?"

"Surely, we both know the answer to that."

"True, but I'd like to hear your explanation."

He huffed as they turned past the corridor. "The rat insulted my honor, I could not allow it."

"You know that violence is not the proper response to an insult." Glynda chided.

"Of course. But he is different." His eyes hardened like steel as he balled his hands into fists. "Not only is he a noble who should understand what happens when you dishonor another highborn, but he is an Arc, committer of atrocities and defiler of my kin."

As the doors to the West Wing swung open and revealed an ebony sky littered with white and blue stars, Glynda spoke one word.

"Half."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Half of your kin. Don't tell me you've forgotten of us while you lived with your grandparents."

His expression softened at her words and his shoulders slumped down in regret. "No. I haven't. I could never forget my family."

They stopped right outside the entrance to the Main Hall, and as Glynda turned to face Naruto, she tightly gripped his shoulders and stared into his eyes.

"Then please, Naruto. Remember that everything you do reflects on all of us. Not just your Uzumaki blood."

"I know, and I'm sorry. That came to me too late after I challenged Arc to a fight, and by that point, I was honor-bound to follow through with it."

Glynda unlocked the doors to the Main Hall, and the two made their way onwards to the miniature colosseum.

She smirked and gave a quiet giggle before she spoke back up. "You know, your father used to be the exact same way when he was your age."

"Truly?"

She nodded. "Truly. He used to get in fights whenever someone made fun of him, he was honestly a bit of a bully. Though now that I think of it, you might be a lot better behaved than he was."

Naruto chuckled at the thought of that, the reserved and polite head of the Namikaze household being a schoolyard bully at Beacon. "Is that so?"

As they reached the twin doors leading to Beacon Academy's combat arena, Glynda pulled ahead, once again unlocking the doors and revealing that she had intended to bring him here.

Without even turning to look at the extensive collection of dust crystals and training equipment, the witch responded to Naruto. "Well for starters, you only go after people that you believe should already be aware of how the rules of aristocracy work. At least, you do now."

"Second, you weren't taking their lunch money or breaking their equipment."

"Gods above, father was a real Champion of the Trickster God wasn't he?"

"Yes, yes he was. Then he met your mother, and she thankfully managed to straighten him out."

"You mean she beat him into submission?"

"To put it bluntly, yes. He thought it would be a good idea to throw some food at her and she punched him square in the nose!"

The two shared a laugh at their kin's past misfortunes. They all loved Minato dearly, but at times he could make an ass of himself. Especially when he was still attending the academy.

There was a solid minute or so of silence before it was again Glynda that broke it. "But he was like that because he was angry at the world, of being in the shadow of our parents, and because he was just plain spoiled."

"So please, tell me." She turned on her heels to stare down at Naruto, but again, her eyes were warm and comforting. "Why are you so angry?"

For a minute, Naruto stood there and formulated his words and pondered whether he could tell why. In his heart, he was aware that she already knew why. In fact, he was confident that everyone in his family knew. Except maybe Tsuki, she was always a bit on the slow side of things.

"Because an attack on our family's honor is only a step away from an attack on our family. I've allowed that to happen once before. I will not allow it to happen again." His hands glowed a painful white as they tightened against his bones.

"Oh, Naruto…" Fast as lightning, Glynda shot forward and wrapped Naruto in a tight maternal hug and brought his head to rest against her shoulder. "It's okay..."

"Gods above, I miss him." She could hear him quietly sobbing into her cloak before he moaned lamentingly. "I just sat there in the corner and watched."

When she pulled him back, she got a good look at his now red eyes and the tears that seethed out of them. Of all the people Glynda knew in her life, few matched the pride and stubbornness of Naruto - though his grandparents were certainly the other few - but within a few minutes, he had been brought to tears.

It was mortifying to watch.

"Naruto, listen to me. There was nothing you could do. He only ever wanted to protect you from the day you were born, and was committed to that cause."

He choked a little but said nothing as she gently wiped away his tears. "Don't dishonor him by crying for him. Instead," She dropped down to a knee as she delicately cupped his hands together. "Honor his memory by remembering what and who he died for: you."

Naruto nodded silently as he felt his legs give away and held his aunt even tighter. She lovingly caressed his scalp with her hand and whispered sweet nothings into his ear.

"We all love you, Naruto. We will always be with you."

"I will…"

Glynda was broken out of her mantra as she withdrew to get a look at her nephew. "I will always honor the name of Jiraiya, the Gallant." Naruto pulled himself together as he clenched his hand tightly around hers.

Despite the lack of kinship by blood, Naruto had always reminded her so much of her former husband. They were a pair of cheerful, prideful, ambitious fools. But they were her fools.

They would always be her fools.

When she looked down, she saw the tear stains on her pant legs and reached up to touch her own face. She too had started to cry. Glynda couldn't help but laugh at how quickly the tables had turned in the situation. Any longer and the comforter would soon become the comforted.

"Aunt Glynda?"

Broken from her musings, her maternal viridescent eyes stared back into a sea of sapphire and emerald. "Yes, dear?"

"Thank you. For everything, that is."

She merely smiled and pulled him in for a kiss on the forehead. "No need to thank me. It's my duty as your aunt to make sure you come back to your parents safe and sound."

"Of course…"

Gently slapping his cheek, she stood up and offered her hand to her nephew. Pulling himself up with the assistance of his aunt, he wiped the few remaining tears that fogged up his glasses and stained his face.

"Now then, shall we begin with our lesson in dust training?"

[Beacon Academy, Team NMBS Dormitory; 21:10]

"Well, well Naruto, I think you've been out past curfew!" Mercury called out the very moment Naruto entered the room.

The knight quietly sighed in response. "Yes, yes. Very humorous. Could you perhaps shut up so I can go about my routine?"

"Yeah. Sure thing, ladykiller."

Ladykiller, ay?

Word had spread quickly of his kiss with Coco - although no one else was in the room except for her and Port, so she likely told everyone else about it. Or it may have been the lipstick that partially stained his lips.

Who knew though, it was a 'mystery.'

But every freshman and sophomore was now aware of it. Including Xiao Long and Shiro, who at lunch had been sure to tease and torment him. Even the usually silent Hassan had seemingly come out of hiding to fuck with Naruto. As amazing as his first was, the aftermath was nowhere near as pleasant or desired. Likewise, Boudicea and Weiss had begun to look at him oddly after they caught wind of his encounter with Coco.

Naruto gave a short huff as he sat down at the foot of his bed and withdrew his spear from the portal. After he dragged the grindstone that he and Boudicea managed to put together the night before, he began to grind out the blunted edges of his pike.

After several minutes had passed and the area surrounding the tip of the spear was sharp enough to trigger his aura, he allowed it to slip back into his semblance. He got up and moved the grindstone back to its original position, and instead opted to grab a cloth along with some polishing chemicals. For an hour he worked quietly as he got into every nook and cranny of his armor and it shined like silver coins in the sunlight.

With his work done, he got up went to the bathroom and proceeded to clean himself up. With a shower and some toothpaste, he was cleaned and about ready to collapse onto the floor. After a quick prayer to the Gods at the foot of his bed, he adjusted his nightcap and dove into his sheets. Darkness and fatigue quickly overtook him.

[Unknown]

Lights glowed around Naruto's eyes as he saw a flurry of images rush by him.

Memories of simpler times, when he and his siblings could enjoy the peace of their childhood, became the common theme among them.

He caught sight of the three of them playfully rolling on greener pastures, laughing without a care in the world. Another showed a young Shiro teaching an even younger Naruto how to read under a starry sky. And another showed the siblings all sitting down at a table as their mother came in with a massive birthday cake for the twins. The happiness on their faces lit up the room and made even their sour grandparents crack a smile.

More memories came. It was an open grass plain, surrounded by mountains and to the side were an elderly man and woman, both healthy and strong. And in the background, Naruto could hear the soft whinnying of horses.

Ah yes, this is when Grandmother first taught us how to ride horses… those were great times.

Where Naruto gripped the reins tightly and carefully, sure to follow every order of his grandmother, Tsuki playfully tugged at the horse who refused to budge, merely eating the green stalks that poked out of the ground.

It changed again as he stood out on a large illustriously built firing range, holding a bolt-rifle next to his grandfather and mentor, Grungni. His grandfather held an old Atlesian model created initially during the great war, the gewehr, his grandmother's favorite rifle to be specific. On the other hand, Master Grungni was wielding a bronze rifle as he began to instigate arguments between the two of them.

He recalled that the night before she had goaded him into wanting to shoot his first gun - or crossbow in Grungni's case - at the age of twelve. Prodded or not, it was a pleasant experience nonetheless.

I remember that day. Loved getting to fire the gun, but Master Grungni made his point with the 'superiority of the bolt thrower.'

The image returned to the grassy field with horses, though this time it was another memory. He and his father were dressed head to toe in plate armor, while the former looked entirely in his element the latter looked uncomfortable and nervous.

Once again his grandparents had managed to goad someone for their amusement, though this time it was his father. Unrelenting in their challenges, they managed to get him in a full suit of armor and ready for a joust with Naruto. Soon enough the two charged at one another, and his father looked like he was about to fall off his horse.

While Minato's lance bounced off of his son's shield, Naruto's lance struck true and slammed right into his father's chest knocking him right off the horse. As he jumped off his horse to go to his father's aid, he could see him laughing as he lay there in the mud.

Ah yes, the joust. Grandmother and grandfather were laughing so hard at father after I knocked him off, I thought it seemed crueler than usual, but it was a fun time.

One final time, the scene shifted to that of a shadowy room, filled only by the pale light of the fractured moon above. In the center bed, sat a young Naruto, no older than ten with terror etched onto his face, snuggled deep into the embrace of a twelve-year-old Shiro.

"The sun on the meadow is summery warm,

The stag in the forest runs free.

But gather together to greet the storm,

Tomorrow belongs to me."

As Shiro whispered her lullaby into Naruto's ear, he could feel himself falling into a deeper and deeper state of relaxation.

"The branch on the Linden is leafy and green,

The rage has deserted the sea.

But somewhere a glory awaits unseen,

Tomorrow belongs to me."

Shiro had begun to comb her hands through Naruto's head, the same way Glynda had in the combat arena just hours prior.

"The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes,

The blossom embraces the bee.

But soon, says a whisper;

Arise, arise, tomorrow belongs to me."

Though not wholly asleep, Naruto began to mumble-whisper alongside his sister's lullaby, the lyrics having been drilled into his memory for years on end.

"Oh Fatherland, Fatherland

Show us the sign

Your children have waited to see.

The morning will come

When the world is mine."

"Tomorrow belongs,

Tomorrow belongs,

Tomorrow belongs to me!"

And with that, Naruto's memories melted into darkness as he found comfort in the days of the past, unwilling to think of the present or future for the time being.

Well this was fun. Got to work on some relatively unexplored characters from canon, develop some relationships, etc. Also, his grandmother's rank, Polkovynk corresponds to the Imperial Russian/Ukrainian rank of Colonel for the Cossacks. Again, big thanks to Milennial and Alvor the Warhawk for helping to beta and toss around ideas for the story.

Anyways, more to come in the months ahead, so enjoy.