Naruto was not amused in the slightest this morning. Not even watching team CRDL get pummeled by Pyrrha could make him feel better as he watched a four-time Mistral tournament champion run through them like rag dolls could make him feel better.
As much as Cardin was a changed man... The rest of his flunkies were still kind of jerks and watching them get their asses beat was normally fun.
Half of that reason was sitting in this classroom. Cinder Fall, Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black were all watching with interest as they were all licensed students from Haven Academy. How they got valid licenses with false names he was unsure, well for Cinder anyways since she was going by Ashley, drew his ire. He knew they worked on the other side of the law but have contacts like that was a new ball game.
Speaking of Oz that was the other half of his foul mood. Knew they were here and didn't even think twice to leave him a message about how urgent it was. Despite knowing how deep in he already put himself, didn't give a heads up whatsoever. Thought his monitoring systems were sufficient.
They couldn't keep his crabs monitored! They were running wild and taking over the Academy and he didn't even know it! Phase 3 would have blown up in Oz's face if things hadn't turned so quickly! Instead, now there was a crab information hotline whenever Naruto needed it!
It seemed Qrow agreed with him here as he found the crab army and he didn't look a gift horse in the mouth and just went with it. It was confusing but the little crabs could follow unnoticed as no one ever expected them.
He was worried that Cinder was just going to wait around and do other things and separate from the Emerald and Mercury but she seemed willing to join them. He found that odd and he wasn't sure why. It felt off and he couldn't place his finger on why but the way she was watching Pyrrha fight with such interest only made him more worried.
She had something going on up there and he did not like it.
"Very good, Pyrrha. The tournament qualifications will be no problem for you as expected which is why you have been granted first-year amnesty and will be allowed to compete." Glynda approved of Pyrrha's demolishing of CDRL as they were laid out, bruised, battered and unconscious on the floor.
It seemed she still not had forgiven them even after all the time had passed.
"I know that will be a very tough act to follow but we have time for one more sparring match." Glynda looked around and while she noticed a very tired Blake and Yang she decided to skim passed them having received the message from Naruto last night before finding her target. "Jaune Arc. You've been surprisingly improving as of late…"
"I'll do it." Mercury got up with a grin as Cinder nodded her head. "I was getting bored watching anyways."
"That's fine, allow me to find you an opponent." Glynda couldn't help but hold her tongue as she was a professional and easily hid her displeasure within. "Let me see here…"
"Actually, I want to fight her." Mercury grinned as he looked down at Pyrrha and challenged her with his eyes.
And Pyrrha was not one to back down from a challenge.
While she did her best to act polite and cordial on the outside, the inner warrior within wanted nothing more than to put this contender down like she had so many others. To break him and bend him to a knee. "Me? Sure, I'll take you."
"No, you won't." Glynda so with a stern voice that caught all in the room off guard but had a smirk grinning on Naruto's face as finally the witch had come out of her shell and started being who she had presented all along. "We had this discussion recently, did we not miss Nikos? Pushing oneself is fine, but do not forget that you need rest as well."
"Oh…" Pyrrha began to realize what was being told and despite her warrior spirit within screaming at her to take this challenge, she took a deep breath to calm herself to deafen the voice so it was only a dull whisper. "You're right, I'm a little more exhausted than I thought."
Glynda smiled and nodded as patted Pyrrha on the shoulders and sent her up the stairs. "Very good. You've earned your rest… Now, who here will be this young man's opponent?"
She looked over at the rest of her students and the guest attending but a single glance passed by Cinder's gaze and two witch's eyes met and the contempt was clear. Goodwitch had come out on top this time with the care of her students.
"You know what…" Naruto let out a massive yawn as stretched his shoulders and they cracked loud enough for everyone to hear and bring everyone's attention to him. "I might not be allowed to compete in the festival as you know… I'm a Huntsman and all… But considering I'm still technically a student till the end of the semester and my position is what everyone's goal is to become in the end…"
"I think I'm the perfect person to end this exhibition sparring matches with." Naruto slowly stood up, wanting a chance to let out his aggression as he pulled off his weapon pack and satchel for Shattered Dreams and slid them over to Blake, and gave a smirk as he walked down towards Mercury. "Not even going to use my weapons. Will only use my body and my aura as you look like a fisticuffs kind of guy, what'd you say?"
Mercury's gaze stayed focused on Naruto as he slowly walked down the stairs as if he was gauging a threat before a smile appeared on his face and he shrugged his shoulders in an uncaring fashion. "You know what that sounds good to me! I'm all for it!"
Naruto almost wanted to sit there and give Mercury props for his bravery and willingness for stepping in the ring with him, however…
He knew better. It was his foolishness and arrogance that he wasn't in any danger as Naruto took the final step into the arena and made his way to oppose Mercury in the middle of the arena.
Taking a slight breath he closed his eyes and let the world fill his very being, he could hear the birds chirping and singing outside despite being in a closed arena. He saw his crabs scurrying about, looking for anything that may provide useful to the job or a possible meal. He could hear squirrels running and gathering, he could see family foxes nearby as the parents were lovingly playing with their kits as they were being taught the skills they would need to survive.
His eyes opened with orange marks around them and a golden hue and a square pupil intently focused entirely on Mercury.
"Did the aura sensor glitch or something?" Jaune pointed out that everyone could see above as it was the point of the exhibitions to show how the festival battles work. "Because before it just broke I swear it just started to exponentially grow off the chart on Naruto's end and his aura was already ridiculously high!"
"Is he… Going all out?" Yang, even in her sleep-deprived state, was fully awake and paying attention with full focus below as while she had seen him with semblance, this would mean it would be... "Like when he shook the earth?"
Blake could see his eyes and could only nod her answer, fully awake as well. She wasn't sure there were going to be fireworks so much as there was going to be a blood bath…
"Oh well then." Naruto shrugged as he knew that was going to happen with a smirk. "Guess we'll have to do this the old fashion way…"
Cinder simply frowned as she felt something deeply off and the presence of the boy had completely changed. He had not but something inside of him did and he was not the same. That was a troubling development and one she was not anticipating…
Salem did warn her to be hesitant around him at all cost and focus only on Ozma but she figured a little play be all fun in the process. How much of a threat could he truly be in the grand scheme of things? Sure the dark witch wanted to take it cautiously as he was something new but…
"You just seem so full of yourself… I think it is time someone showed you a thing or two about this world!" Mercury growled, forgetting about his cover for a moment but it worked as everyone was transfixed on the match as he sped over and delivered a speedy kick to Naruto's face.
And he didn't even move.
Naruto didn't budge.
Not even the flesh of his cheek moved. It was rock solid!
He took the heel of the kick straight to the chin and looked Mercury dead in the eye, his smirk never leaving as a startled look of what just happened came over the opponent's face. "Do you want a do-over? Maybe something with a little more force behind it…"
"Maybe something like this!" Naruto grabbed Mercury's ankle, recognizing what his leg was as he did, and with little effort the entire arena had a burst of wind blow through it as Mercury was flung towards the roof.
Naruto stood on the ground as he watched Mercury helplessly try to recover and in instant, he flickered out of existence with a simple movement of his foot.
All the air left Mercury's lungs as he was thrown faster than he could have anticipated but he could react to this level of speed. It was something he could handle, it was just jarring to hit top speed so suddenly. He tried to right himself as he saw the roof incoming but to his immense surprise, he felt the collar of his shirt be grabbed and he was drawn straight into Naruto's gaze.
"Round two, higher velocity!" Naruto turned and landed, cratering the roughed with a massive dent he grinned as Mercury paled at the realization this could get a lot worse. "Let's double that speed!"
"Oh fuck!" Mercury tried to kick his way out but he wasn't even fast enough to land a blow before he was launched out of Naruto's grip.
And a gale shockwave of his release burst through the arena.
"What the fuck Naruto?!" Yang roared from the shockwave. "From just a damn throw! Are you serious?! Were even trying against the Grimm back then?!"
While everyone else was in a state of shock as Naruto dashed to the ground and caught Mercury once more just to throw him at a higher velocity once more and blow everyone back again, Blake recognized what it was that was happening. Or at least had an idea.
His semblance was violent on his body and was workout every time he used it, like that of an aerobic exercise every time he used it. If it wasn't for his regenerative factor it would not be worth it to be wielded as just caused too much damage to the user. But it pushed the user's body every single time it was used and while it should have been a temporary boost…
His regenerative factors, even if he complained they didn't work as well as they did before, kicked in and healed the damage his semblance caused.
It was usually just soreness and dehydration, which he could fix on his own, but sometimes his muscles and organs would tear and he would have to take a while to recuperate. But it made relaxing harder if he was in pain…
They would have been smaller gains but because he pushed to train and learn his ability every day, even on the days they were relaxing it was a necessity to not blow up and kill everyone around him with a steam eruption. It just served a better workout if gave him a slightly more of a boost.
But if it was all just to get amplified by this state…
The final throw came and Mercury nearly collide with the ground as he was at nearly six times the speed Naruto started but he was still able to reach him before he made contact and casually tossed him to the sigh.
And Mercury was winded, roughed up, and looked like he had seen better days. He had more than likely started to use his aura to shield himself from the brute force of the throws as he looked over at Naruto with sheer vitriol in his eyes.
The sage simply did care as he looked down at him. "And still haven't landed a blow on you, just to be clear. I don't think you want me to right now…"
And to her surprise, Blake could see the pupil begin to morph as the feral dilate mixed in with his current state. "I'm still more than capable of outputting way more than that."
"I think he's done," Naruto called out to Glynda, who has frazzled herself after that display of raw force but the smallest of smirks grace her lips as she used her semblance to quickly repair all the damage that was done to the arena in time at all.
A message was sent.
"Winner, Huntsman Naruto." Glynda didn't even give Mercury a chance to get up as he laid casually on the ground, catching his breath but kept his death gaze on Naruto. "I think that is good for today. Make sure you all keep up your training, dismissed."
Naruto's eyes reverted to their normal state and his eyes locked straight with Cinder and he smiled at how uncomfortable she seemed in her seat.
That was the level of force he could put out without being violent, what would happen if the violence was added was the question he wanted them to have in their heads.
"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Ruby flew in and nearly gave Naruto a frontside wrestling cutter with her hug. "You were like, bam, bam! Woosh!"
"AND THEN HE WAS LIKE! AH! NO! OH, GOD! PLEASE STOP!" Nora added as she dropped in with the excitement level increasing from watching the spectacle. "You have got to tell me those stories now! I want to hear the ones about the Gods!"
"Gods, what gods!" Ruby's eyes widened and she returned to chibi form as she released him and bounced back in forth in place. "Sounds like an amazing story! I want to hear it!"
"I'm fucking still here you know! A little common courtesy you know!" Mercury growled out, annoyed at the two loud banshees as she slowly picked himself off the ground and sat up, breathing heavily and glaring at all of them.
"And we care?" Yang commented as she walked down and brushed past him before putting both her hands on her hips and glaring at him. "Okay, what gives?! You've been holding out on our training or something while you got even stronger?! You and your stupid super magic ninja bullshit! Give me some of that would ya!"
Mercury growled as Yang brushed pasted him easily and tried to get up. "The hell! Bitch I'll…"
"You'll do what, exactly?" Glynda's voice as she stood next between him and her students. "Need I remind you that you are guests here, please leave."
With both Cinder and Emerald walking to his side, Mercury brushed himself off he finally stood up, still getting his breath back. "Yeah, yeah… Fine, I got it. We'll be on our way."
"Not going to make that mistake again any time soon…" Mercury grumble again as he shook his head, as he turned around and Emerald tried to rub his shoulders while Cinder glared at Glynda for a moment longer before turning in a huff, her medallion glowing red as she joined with her partners.
Glynda kept her eyes on their retreating forms as they left the arena and noted very odd sights as they left. Three small crabs followed them, one holding the door open as the other two scuttled on through before it joined the two as they held the door open for it. She couldn't help but turn to the now large group and somehow believe that was entirely related to Naruto in some way.
Only he could find a way to make something like that possible.
"All right, fine!" Naruto growled at Nora, Ruby, and now Jaune crowding him about wanting to know about his story. "Just going to have one date to get this all out in the open. Tired of telling this story multiple times. I'm just going to tell the full story to everyone… Guess calling Velvet and the Fox up to if they want to hear it."
"Wouldn't mind joining, considering I already know some of it. Might as well fill in the rest of the blanks." Glynda smiled and caught most of the group off guard and Naruto sighed and gave her a wave of invitation.
"Yeah, might as well." Naruto sighed as this was just getting out of hand.
At least though he would stop having to tell the story repeatedly. These were the people he trusted the most here.
"Now if you excuse me… I'm still on the clock." Naruto slid past everyone before sensing where his clone was and dispersing in a swirl of leaves to join it.
"Fucking ninja bullshit!" Yang roared at seeing another technique. "I will learn it one day!"
Blake simply frowned as she wanted to talk with Naruto after what she had seen but it would have to wait. She wanted to confirm a few things but importantly…
She just wanted to make sure he was okay and not pushing himself too hard. With all this happening now she was worried.
"Naruto…"
As he stared at the shattered moon of Remnant, a strange calm came over him. Everyone that mattered to him knew who he was. Knew who the real Naruto Uzumaki was.
It was a lifting experience for him.
He never tried hiding anything from any of the people he considered friends. When asked he told, Blake and Velvet testified to that multiple times through the story. The fact that Velvet and Fox brought all of CFVY was a little much but Yatsu he considered a friend…
Coco… Well, he wasn't against her so there was that. He just wouldn't classify her as a friend.
And unlike how glossed over things when telling before, he told the story. He let it loose for everyone to hear and even Blake was caught off guard by some of what he told as he went more in-depth. Like how Zabuza and Haku shaped his way of life, giving him the motto he cherished to this very day.
To never run away. To never go back on his word.
He stood by those. He would not back down and there wasn't a force in this world or any other that could keep him from keeping a promise. He was a force to even the Shinobi Alliance that once his mind was set, nothing in the world was changing it…
It was probably why he understood Ruby's desire so much… Yang not so much. It felt more hardheadedness from her…
That and her skull was thick! She had a headbutt on her if she'd pull that out of her arsenal more often!
Maybe a few more sparring practices needed to be mixed in...
Naruto sighed though… The hardest thing to go over was at the start and it was his childhood. That was rough even if he barely remembered most of it to be honest. The reactions he got from everyone were to be expected most of them didn't live the kind of life he did…
Velvet did. Blake felt it from a slightly more protected position, understood it, and was raised all around it. But even they didn't understand what it was like to grow up without parents. Without a family or even really a caretaker. For as long as he remembered he lived by himself and had to overcome the hatred of being a demon vessel.
If it wasn't for the kindness of random individuals, who might not have been as random as he thought now looking back on it as everything then was blurry, he didn't know what would have happened. But he managed with help from the old man and started his training at the academy a year early…
How horrified everyone was to learn that they started to learn how to fight at the age of eight and nine in his world while here you usually had four years at a lesser academy where you started at thirteen before coming to one of the greater academies if you had the skill by the age of seventeen.
Most Huntsmen and Huntresses weren't usually licensed until they were around twenty-one while the legal drinking age was seventeen!
Naruto was a seventeen-year-old prodigy hunter and yet he almost didn't become a ninja on schedule.
And it was because he never was taught how to learn when he was young. Growing up alone left him at a serious disadvantage and being hated by everyone left him unwilling to trust anyone and rejected everyone, becoming his prankster rebellious self that he became and still had some of that spirit resonate today.
It was a rough story for everyone but the highlights at the end made up for it until it ended with the one thing that very few expected outside Blake, Velvet, and Glynda.
His death.
Naruto didn't even tell Yang that part, just that he was from another world. It sated her curiosity and she seemed good. But once everything came out explained the last bit of what he thought became of the remnant energy and spirit turning into his semblance and him into a faunus as he crossed over worlds…
The reactions were all over the place as expected. Shock. Disbelief. Sadness. Confusion. Anger at everything they heard before but nothing directed at him.
And he just excused himself from it as he didn't want to deal with all that emotion as it was simply too much at once for emotive sensory. He did have to answer a text from his scroll where he sent a clone to replace Qrow as he had some business to take care of but had a feeling when he heard Yang's bike fire up in the distance he knew what that was…
"Naruto…" He heard Blake's voice from behind before she slowly walked beside him and took a seat beside him, gazing at the broken moon herself. "I've been meaning to find the time for a while now… And just haven't had a chance with everything… Are you okay?"
"I'm getting there…" Naruto stated as turned from the moon and looked at Blake's form in the moonlight. "As long as I keep the workouts small and light with it, I think it will be fine, and continuing to work on mastering Blood Fury… My body will adapt and keep getting stronger."
"Naruto…" Blake turned before she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's not just that… I think your body will be okay given everything will eventually heal… And as much as I don't like how you have been pushing yourself... I'm just worried... And... How are you?"
Naruto gave a soft smile before he closed his eyes and gave a soft sigh. "A little tired. Somewhat drained… I went from fighting for my life in a war to try to cope with living in a new world that is having its own desperate struggle and having to adjust on the fly… I've never been comfortable and why I am so thankful you sat me down to try and relax me…"
"And it is just going to have to go away… As there is just too much going on for me to stop." Naruto had a tear shed from his eye before looking at the shattered moon of Remnant once more. "There is so much political power plays to the human and faunus suffering in the streets below from corrupt and stupid businessmen…"
"Then there is the Grimm and the witch behind them and Ozpin's game with her that I was dragged into on day one…" Naruto's eyes were sullen as Blake rubbed his shoulders to comfort him before anger started to wash over his face. "Not to mention that there is a whole new damn wrinkle in this that there is a new player involving themselves into their game and dragged me to this world!"
Blake recoiled and her eyes widened at Naruto's growl. "What… What does that even mean?"
"I don't know!" Naruto cried as he put his hands in his face as tried to calm himself as he could feel his blood begin to flush and push through his system rapidly and the oxygen levels rising, his semblance activating on its own accord. "What I do know is I probably at the very least should still be hospitalized and world's of trouble as even my regenerative abilities even with Kurama were never able to deal cellular damage or worse… I should be dead as I made a massive mistake when I went to finish Adam and take Cinder out when I sensed she came to rescue him!"
Blake was filled with dread and horror as she remembered the moment Naruto took off to finish the job. She had never seen him like that before. And that technique… It was so like the other but… Different.
Still calming himself, Naruto took his eyes from the moon and looked over at his fearful partner, and grimaced. "I… Should have never used the Rasenshuriken in the state I was but it was the only thing I could think of that quickly drop her in the state I was in if it connected… Along with Adam and anything else in the area. And that was the problem. I was in the area and in my haste and anger I couldn't draw forth the natural energy… A requirement to make throwing it a lot easier."
"So I was late on throwing it and my momentum carried me further into the blast range than I anticipated and being injured my reflexes were severely hampered. Cinder was easily able to grab Adam and escape with some magical void portal that was most likely granted from Salem. It was going to explode and I was going to be caught in its blast radius with no escape in the condition I was in… And the Rasenshuriken is my most deadly technique due to a very particular fact…"
"It causes damage at the molecular level, shredding nearly every last atom to dust it leaves nothing left," Naruto admitted and the fear only grew in Blake at the realization of what could have happened.
"But then… How… what happened?" Blake trembled as there was something more to this and a reason why Naruto was extremely upset.
Wrapping his arm around Blake, letting her warmth and his warmth do their jobs in comforting the other as he slid next to her, he drew his attention back to the moon. "There was something I didn't pay much attention to when I first met Cinder back when we captured Roman…"
"She mentioned that I was bounded by fate, chained to it, and was being guided by her plan… And that Salem wanted nothing to do with her and her plans and wanted me free of them and would do anything to get me to stand aside or join her." Naruto commented as he had to start there first for it to make sense of what he thinking. "At first, I thought it was just some speech to get me to join their cause but after this event…"
"I heard a voice echoing from all around me that warned me of the danger I was in. It was an odd voice, sounding almost angelic but robotic at the same time but what happened next…" Naruto narrowed his eyes as the next event bothered him. "Was it stated simply 'Course Correction' and then I saw the same orb of lights that brought me to this world on Oz's video begin to appear and guide my Rasenshuriken further away from its original target… Giving me enough time to regather myself and get out of the immediate blast zone before it went off."
As Blake let that sink in and while it was horrific that Naruto was so reckless… "I know this going to sound awful… But doesn't that sounds like a good thing? It saved your life?"
"Maybe this time it did…" Naruto had to give that point and he turned and looked into Blake's gaze. "But I see things differently… It brought me here for its purpose… So are my actions my own?"
"Is anything I'm doing my choice or is something this force is guiding me toward?" Naruto stated as Blake began to realize what this was about. "My entire life I fought against the fate dealt to me and if something is trying to control me, decide what choices it is going to make for me…"
"The hell I am going to let it!" Naruto growled as he looked back at the moon his eyes glowing with a fierce determination. "I am Naruto Uzumaki, I do not run away! I never back go back on my word and I do not believe in fate! I have always fought against it! Believe that!"
Looking at Naruto's expression in the moonlight, Blake had a sensation she had not felt in a long time wash over her. It was a sensation she felt often when she was younger but it was the same…
It felt very similar to that of her father when he put his mind to a goal and he would not back down. But it felt even greater. It felt somehow more energized, stronger, and more passionate. And that gave her a warm comfort within that somehow, despite everything that was happening, this was all going to be fine.
Laying her head onto his shoulder, she unconsciously began purring as gazed at the moon with him.
Feeling the wind rush across her body and blow through her hair, Yang kept her eyes on the road as she breathed the air in deeply. She needed this after hearing everything that was unloaded onto them.
They had known Naruto for a full semester now, knew he was something different and something was strange and off but she could not have predicted any of that. And she had heard a good bit of the story before.
He shortened it for it! Did he not think she could have handled the full…
"Oh… Okay. Guess me running off and driving in the middle of the night to cool off is a valid point." Yang spoke herself as she drove before growling as she thought over everything. "And I was just complaining about all his cool damn powers…"
Pulling to the side of the road, out where nothing was between Vale and Beacon, Yang sighed as she looked off at the shattered moon in the sky. "Huh… It really is a weirdly comforting sight… Despite it being broken as shit… The fuck!"
Barely moving fast enough, Yang jumped from her bike to realize there was a pack of Beowulf surrounding her with an Alpha being the one who attacked her, knocking her bike over in the process.
Her aura flared to life as her eyes glowed red while she looked at her bike and the rage exploded through her. "Oh, you did not just do that! I'm going to break every one of you! I've got a lot of stress to work out and you just made the worst fucking mistake of your short, miserable lives!"
"Bring it!" Yang screamed as she charged the Alpha Beowulf and was ready to punch it was it charged back.
Only for a red shimmering portal to open and a figure with a skull head to leap out, slicing the Alpha in two before Yang could even connect with her fist, leaving a trail of red dust in her wake. "What?! Dammit! Who the hell are you?!"
A woman in a skull mask slowly stood up from a crouched stance, turning to face Yang and stood eye to eye with her being only ever so slightly taller as her red eyes shone beneath her mask and pierced into Yang's aura-infused eyes.
Her blade sung in the wind as she swung it straight at Yang's throat as red Dust arced with its slice.
"What the..?! Yang was barely able to get her arm up to block, Ember taking the strike and glancing it off to where only a slice of her hair was burned instead. "What is wrong with you?! Grimm are attacking, you show up, kill one, and then attack me and then burn my hair?! You are so fucking dead!"
Yang went on the attack, throwing several punches as he skull women easily side-stepped every blow as if her attacks were slow and painful to watch before she was forced to go back on the defensive and barely be able to defend herself from precise burning slashes from the black-haired skull woman.
This only irritated Yang as the Beowulfs came in, drove her fist into its stomach before blasting its head with a full shot punch with Ember while her opponent cut another two down behind her with a single swing.
"Oh showing off now, huh!" Yang screamed in frustration before focusing her aura in her feet and taking a breath, calming herself as she remembered the full lesson of the exercise. "Then let me show you what I can do!"
Yang exploded as the ground cracked beneath her and came at the skull woman with far greater speed, catching her slightly off guard as her side steps were no longer as clean and Yang was ever so close to landing her blows then the nearly unthinkable happened.
In her frustration, Yang turned her entire body and her left knee came up connected to the skull woman's stomach and her grin widened before she struck the woman in the face with a right hook and fired a round of Ember Celica off. "Fucking finally learned the damn lesson Naruto, you ass! I learned how to throw something other than a punch!"
"And you go to hell you Grimm bitch!" Yang roared as she grabbed a Beowulf that tried to mount her from behind, flipping it over, grabbing it by the head, and snapping its neck.
Yang narrowed her eyes as the woman easily got up and with a quick flick of her wrists, the two Beowulf were disposed of in a flash of burning dust slashes as the skull mask split open and she sheathed her blade.
And as the shattered mask fell to the ground against the damp grass full stood up, Yang's eyes burned out and returned to their normal color as something came to her. "What… No… How can… Why?"
"You've grown strong." The woman who looked eerily like a black-haired Yang stood with a small, satisfied smile before it faded. "Beacon will burn and you will be caught in its blaze… And nothing you, your friends or even he can do will stop it… And you all will burn with it if you don't run. Everyone will die... Running is the only option."
"What? What are you talking about?!" Yang was so confused at everything that was happening before her, tears building as she knew whom It was standing in front of her. "I've been… It has been so long… And… This is what you back to me for?"
"None of that matters Yang, only your strength does." Her mother held out her hand and offered it to her daughter. "Come with me. I can help you keep getting stronger. With your strength, we can flourish and…"
A gunshot fire and her mother's eyes widened as the sound of wing beats were heard in both of their ears as a streak of blood cut across the older woman's cheek.
And crimson eyes dangerously glared at the intruder only to momentarily soften before hardening once more on seeing who it was.
"Stand the fuck away from my family, Raven. You haven't earned the right to step back into her life." Qrow growled as he held one of the pistols of Harbinger's gun form aimed at his own flesh and blood. "I was willing to give you an opportunity to somehow in that screwed-up head of yours try to make up seventeen years of abandonment and this is what you do instead! Scare her into coming with you! Make her abandon her own family as you did!"
"Qrow," Raven spoke with an edge in her voice, not very pleased but trying to appeal to her younger twin. "You know as well as I…"
"Yeah I do and I didn't fucking run!" Qrow slowly dropped Harbinger as he let his anger be known as his eyes glowed angrily in the moonlight. "We all knew what the risks and stakes were… And while I understand and I can forgive you for that... We all did… What I can't… You left Tai behind who still loved you despite everything and would have gone with you!"
"And you left a sixth-month-old daughter in his arms!" Qrow croaked as tears freely flowed from his eyes as Yang watched, crying as well as she watched her uncle pour out his heart before her to his mother, unsure of what to feel as this scene played out before her.
Raven stayed silent as she gazed at Qrow spoke, her crimson eyes not losing their edge. "What is it that you want me to say? That I'm sorry? You and I both know that is a lie and that's beneath us… And that bringing her to the tribe would have been a mistake. Tribal life is no place for a child. They would have eaten her alive, it is why we were raised differently Qrow."
"I know that! But you were supposed to be the strongest… And yet you left us behind because you were scared!" Qrow growled back at Raven, not holding back. "You weren't there to watch Tai struggle… There to pick up the pieces… Summer and I were! You weren't there to watch Summer vanish just years after Ruby came into this world leaving both girls alone with just Tai who just couldn't handle the world any longer and still, you were nowhere to be found while Yang desperately needed her mother and started searching for you!"
"Qrow!" Raven angrily growled, having no more patience for this, trying to hide the fact her body was trembling. "You damn know well what is happening as you are working with that fool! Even with that outworlder showing up nothing has changed! At least allow me to make this up now…"
"Go to hell! You have no fucking right to come back after all this time and request her hand to help you for you and your damn goals." Qrow finished as he transformed Harbinger into Scythe form and looked prepared for a fight. "Tai and I have always given our girls free choice to in whatever they wanted to do… But this is one thing I will step in for... And I still love you to the bottom of my heart Raven…"
"But I love my daughters more… And I will kill you if you try something like this again." Qrow finished in a whisper letting his words do the talking as he looked straight into Raven's crimson gaze.
And he could see the fear in them.
"Qrow… I…" Raven fumbled her words as she tried to fight back the urge to show any weakness.
"You know… It's funny…" Qrow commented as he looked deadly serious at his sister before him. "And maybe you need to hear this as this was the best advice I've heard in a while myself and came from that outworlder as you so called… A damn seventeen-year-old boy that lived a harder life than you can imagine…"
"You're running scared," Qrow remembered the exact lines he heard as he looked into Raven's eyes. "You're focusing on what can go wrong instead of what you can do instead! Stop running and work on what you can do and have faith that everything else will fall into place!"
"If we had all worked together like we were supposed to… Maybe everything would have worked fine… But we didn't get that opportunity, Raven… Because you ran and left us behind when we should have worked together like we always did. And now we must entrust it to our kids and thankfully… To possibly the one person that might be able to end all of this." Qrow stated as he looked over at a deflated Raven.
"Leave before I change my mind," Qrow whispered as he gave the opportunity the go.
Raven simply nodded and turned to leave but before she did she saw Yang one last time.
And that was what broke her, seeing the trembling, tear-filled, and worried expression of her near-adult daughter brought her to the edge. Tears built up and she could not let anyone see her distress.
"Goodbye Yang… May we meet again in the future…" Raven created a portal and sprinted into it, running once more.
"Mom wait!" Yang screamed as she finally found her voice as the scene before he was too much for her before.
The portal closed before Yang could rush it and she fell to her knees, crying and screaming. "No… No! I spent so long trying to find her… And then this? Why? What was this all for?!"
Qrow knelt beside Yang, placing his hand on her back, and bit his lip as he let her let out her frustration. "I know, I know… And I'm sorry… I've had enough of watching her destroy herself and I couldn't watch her pull you into it… Thought maybe there was a chance that she would do the right thing… God, I was deluding myself into believing that."
Yang immediately jumped up and embraced Qrow, who surprised at first, slowly returned it and stroked his hand through her hair as she cried onto his shoulder. "Why did this have to happen like this? Why? Why?!"
Qrow continued to stroke Yang's hair as he couldn't hold back his tears. "Something broke her Yang… And she hasn't been able to look past that fear for a long time. She came back because you are heading straight for the same thing that broke her and in some twisted sense of guilt… She came back to see if you were strong enough… To take back home with her so you wouldn't have to deal with the same fate."
Slowly breaking off her uncle's embrace, Yang looked at Qrow with tears still streaming from her eyes in a confusion. "She came back… But… What does that mean?"
"It means we're going to have to get ready for a fight Yang." Qrow moved his hands to her shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and let her know the truth but added in a few words of encouragement, being able to hear the story from his vantage point since he was transformed. "Take Naruto's words from his story… To never run away… Never back down… We're going to need that strength for what's coming as it broke my sister and she was the strongest person I knew."
"So we need to buckle down and prepare the best we can so we can be ready for it. Get your sister, and start making sure she's ready to fight other people as well as Grimm… You made this choice by jumping in with Naruto and unfortunately attending Beacon at the worse possible time…" Qrow sighed but at the same, he let out a small laugh.
"Yet at the same time… You're probably made the most dangerous yet somehow safest friend in the world so at least you got that going for you… And for once I think my luck may be changing for the better." Qrow grinned as there was a glimmer of hope this time. "But enough of that… Let's go see if we can fix your bike and get you back."
"Ah, fuck…" Yang groaned, tears still dripping from her eyes as she looked over at the road. "My baby…"
"You do take after Tai… Why does Ruby take after me? You have Branwen blood. Those roles should have been flipped." Qrow gave a soft smile at the scene before helping Yang up.
Didn't seem like it was going to be too big of an issue, so hopefully, it ran smoothly or at least got back to Beacon.
"Is everything okay Weiss?" Naruto commented as they were being driven in the back of a limo escort from Beacon, dressed in the new tuxedo that he had to say he looked just how he wanted.
The orange body did make his skin tone pop and the crimson ascents were the right way to go. The gold buttons just filled it out and matched the tone so well.
Ino would have been proud.
Weiss was wearing a flowing and sparkling, icy blue dress that was meant for occasions like this. She had long-fingered gloves that acted as sleeves as went up her entire arm and only stopped at her armpit and shoulder area. She wore two-inch white slip-on heels that did not seem to be the easiest to get into.
And while she usually spent a little time applying her makeup it was a tad more noticeable this time around as there wasn't a single blemish or imperfection on her face.
Naruto preferred the usual amount now that he looked at it as this seemed simply overboard.
"Do you even need to ask that…" Weiss nervously responded as she turned and looked over at Naruto, putting up a strong façade but inside she was a wreck.
This meeting was eating her alive already and then last night happened. She understood why… Nora, Ruby, and Jaune were asking and he just told Yang a little of his story so he just decided to tell everyone as it was just going to get brought up again. She eventually wanted to know to as she heard pieces.
The timing was wrong for her though…
And he went all in as she could tell that Blake didn't seem to know some parts of what was being told.
It was strange but comforting to her to know that Naruto wasn't born a faunus but he currently was one due to the fact he was infused was fox spirit his entire life and that leftover essence… Just turned him into one? It was confusing but it did make some logical sense in a way. He took well to the faunus lifestyle as he already lived it which was horrible as he was a child soldier…
Those words shook her… He started training at eight and he became one at twelve. His entire story happened in five years until… He died beside his best friend, changing his outlook on life after a climactic battle.
After all that she understood his drive… And why he was so passionate and it made sense the first day they met. It was drilled into him but he was just… So happy despite having lived his life alone for the first twelve years of his life and had to fight for anyone to notice him.
Yet here she was…
"Weiss, let's not fall into despair…" Naruto could feel her mood heading south quickly and needed to do something so he reached out and grasped her hand like he did the day before. "Remember, I'm here for you and can help you. And with two of us together, we've got this."
Snapping her attention back to Naruto, her confidence slowly drew from his and a small smile came to her lip. "Yeah… We can do this."
Sensing that Weiss was a little more at ease before he noticed something. "You know… Despite I thought we would clash a little but they really don't. The stark contrast makes them mix rather well together, don't you think?"
Weiss took a moment to look at herself, inspecting every detail of Naruto for what seemed a little longer than he would have wanted before she tilted her hand and smiled. "I don't mind it for what it's worth."
"Your words wound me, my dear." Naruto mocked his etiquette lessons back at Weiss to earn a small snicker from her. "I do think they look quite dazzling together if I do say so myself."
"You do that a little too well." Weiss giggled as she covered her mouth and shook her head before she looked out of the window as the limo started to slow down. "We're here it seems."
Feeling the car come to a stop, Naruto repressed his urge to growl as he could feel Jacques' presence further in but settled himself. "Know this cliché from last night and everything, but I don't feel like tucking my tail and cowering away. You have my word we'll get through this."
"That… Somehow strangely makes me feel better." Weiss' smile brightened as she could feel Naruto's determination and it made her worry a little less.
But when things involved her father worry was always something she had in the back of her mind. Even in a public place like this, there was no guarantee he would not try something. It just mattered what he was his plan was.
The door opened as the driver gave a small, customary bow, and Naruto, while uncomfortable with it played the role.
He slid out of the car and stood straight as both Jacques and his wife willow waited at the door before offering his hand to Weiss to assist her out of the limo gracefully. He slowly slid his arm open to allow hers to slide through so they could walk arm in arm down to greet her mother and father at the entranceway of Stellaris with equal bows.
"Father, it is a pleasure as always. Mother, it is good to see you are well." Weiss spoke first in a more elegant and formal tone than normal.
"It is my honor to dine with you and your family on the night." Naruto followed as they both broke their bow of respect and looked up at the older pair.
"Ah yes," Jacques spoke as he looked at Naruto before giving a small hand gesture to his wife. "Allow me to formally introduce you. This is my wife, Willow."
"My how handsome of a young man you are." Willow, dressed in a pure white dress, softly smiled with her eyes closed, already having gotten a good look at him on the way over. "And I love the fire and ice combination you two have going. I must save it looks quite marvelous together."
"It is a spectacle," Jacques mentioned simply before the waiter at the door came to meet him. "Your table has now been prepared sir, right this way."
"Good," Jacques responded as the waiter led the way as another two opened the doors for them and Willow followed in step through in.
Naruto and Weiss followed in step behind and entered. And he immediately didn't feel like he belonged from all the hushed whispering that made his ears twitch and the aura of negativity directed towards him and he could sense it from everyone in the establishment. But he had been there many times in the past, having dealt with hateful looks for so long that he brushed by all of them, and even if he could feel them he did not care.
Their opinions were trash.
Arriving at the extravagant table, that Naruto felt Jacques almost had requested to be in the middle of the on purpose, Naruto held out a seat for Weiss as he was going to be a proper gentleman and show up every schmuck in this fancy restaurant before taking his seat opposing Jacques as Weiss sat before her mother.
"Ah, such the gentleman too!" Willow smiled watching and while Naruto got the feeling she meant what she was saying, there was a layer beneath her words. "My Weiss, you sure found yourself such a fine young man."
"Thank you, mother." Weiss couldn't help but awkwardly laugh as she looked at her mother and flush looking over Naruto. "But it isn't like that. We're only friends and Naruto has graciously been my trainer and has taken me and my team out on missions so we can gain experience for that we may understand the life of a Huntress. Besides, he is already..."
Weiss trailed at the end but let the notion be clear for her mother but it seemed to not bother or even register with the other person at the table.
"Ah, that brings me to why I invited you here." Jacques smiled under his thick mustaches as the waters brought the hors d'oeuvre to the table it seemed the orders were placed well in advance, probably something exclusive to this place. "I must say you have quickly made a name for yourself. It's not often someone like yourself is granted the privilege of being accelerated straight to Huntsman… I do say that was quite the show in the initiation…"
Naruto's ears made a very subtle twitch but otherwise, he showed no visible reaction. The fact that this man had access to those feeds, which he only thought Ozpin and Glynda…
"As I sit on the council," Jacques continued as Naruto showed no external reaction. "It ultimately comes across my desk and my fellow councilmen to approve of such requests and after witnessing a display like that… Well, I dare say my curiosity was piqued and we all voted to approve Ozpin's request. After all, a Huntsman with the power to shake the earth itself?"
"I dare say Remnant needs some hope like that knowing there is someone out there defending them against the Grimm that is capable of that level of strength, wouldn't you say?" Jacques finished before taking a bit of the first hors d'oeuvre, but his devious smile hidden beneath his stash never left.
Naruto was being played and led to and he knew it.
Weiss was started and doing well while keeping her composure while it seemed Willow was ignoring the conversation altogether, knowing where this was going and just being present was all she was there for before she took a sip of her wine glass. She looked utterly compelled by the drink, almost entranced by it.
So composing himself, Naruto took a small bite and chewed slowly before swallowing to allow himself time to think and compose his answer. "While I thank you for the honor of being granted my license to do the work that I've been able to do such far, it would take far more than just one person to ignite the hopes and dreams of everyone across the world. A movement would be necessary, something to spread the word, the message to across…"
"What do you think the media is my boy?" Jacques gave a hearty laugh before taking another bite. "Good for nothing I usually say but on rare occasions, they have their purpose, and spreading the word is one thing they do well."
"Take for instance when you busted that coward Nix who was paying off those filthy animals despite the protections I was affording him," Jacques started and Naruto and Weiss paid close attention. "How fast the media responded and the news spread about what you had done that day the moment you made that bust. It was on every station and everyone was talking about it how thorough the documentation was and how deep his connections went with the underground."
"I'm still dealing with some of the repercussions of that but I cannot fault you. The fool made far too many rash decisions and paid the price. Besides, fines are nothing for me in this current climate. If that is all I have to worry about, I'll pay them every time." Jacques grinned under his stash as he finished.
Taking another slow bite as he internally seethed at those words while calming himself, Naruto glanced over at Weiss and the two of their eyes met as they tried to piece together what her father could be angling at. It wasn't revenge or anything anger-driven. So Ren was on the right track it seemed.
This was a publicity stunt, now what was it he wanted?
"Father, might I ask something?" Weiss spoke up as she tried to give Naruto a moment to regroup and focus his thoughts.
"Yes, my dear! What is it?" Jacques smiled as he closed his eyes, giving his daughter almost a disapproving glance, and his tone was ever so slightly dissatisfied with her interruption.
Weiss held back a flinch, as did Willow who simply drank her wine and pretended nothing existed, the daughter held firm and found her resolve. "May I inquire as to what prompted this date?"
Almost frowning at her forwardness, Jacques allowed for now. "In a moment, we're almost there my dear. I simply want to learn of our dear Huntsman first."
Naruto took this as his opportunity to retake the conversation in his favor and he looked him straight into the eyes. "I am what you see, councilman Jacques."
"If I see someone in need, I help them. I will not run away, I will not back down from a challenge. I will keep my word even if it kills me. That has been my way, the path I have chosen, and I live and breathe it… That is who I am." Naruto answered passionately in a low whisper but with enough power that all could hear.
It seemed Stellaris as a whole came to a standstill for a brief moment. However, Jacques' response slowly reverted everything to normal as he took his wine glass, took a small sip, and chuckled. "Now that reminds me of someone… A man I despised but respected… And here we are again... But now..."
Turning his attention from Naruto, Jacques' eyes glinted for a brief second as he focused on his daughter. "Weiss my dear, how do you like it here at Beacon?"
"What? I… uh…" Weiss was caught off guard by the question while Naruto narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling the game changed and he was not sure what was being played. "It was a rough start I admit and there have been a lot of difficult stretches…"
Giving a glance at Naruto, Weiss found the strength she needed and looked directly into her father's eyes. "I found that without those difficulties I would not have grown stronger and become how I am now. It's made me learn to enjoy myself more and those around me even if some… Are a little unique."
"So I have come to quite enjoy my time at Beacon father." Weiss finished strongly without a flinch as she gazed straight into Jacques' gaze as the main course was now being brought out and served.
While Naruto was impressed, it seemed that Jacques was not and he simply brushed it off as the plate was put in front of him and he took his silverware and began to carve into his dish. And without a glance at his daughter and he spoke. "At the end of the Vytal festival, you will be returning home and attending Atlas. The orders have already been put into place."
"What?!" Weiss cried out in shock as even Naruto was taken aback by this turn of events and she stood up, angrily glaring at her father and waving her hand. "You can't… Why?! I demand an explanation!"
"You are my daughter and you disappointed me when you left home… But I allowed it to see how you react. I am not impressed." Jacques took a bite of his meal before his cold glare stared directly into Weiss' breaking blues. "Sit down."
Naruto was growling and could not contain it. He wanted to just run and grab Weiss and get out of here as fast as possible but that was not an option. He wanted to punch the man in the face but again, not an option. Wished it was…
And the smirk on the man's face as he could hear his growling as Weiss defeatedly sat down on the verge of tears and it pissed him off!
He had to control his breathing as he felt his blood boiling and rushing through his system and his skill ever so slightly started to darken as his semblance was trying to activate. He was half tempted to just let it go and have Weiss and Willow leave the area but…
Naruto wasn't even sure Willow was aware at this point. She was on her third glass of wine, already painfully aware of what was going to happen, and didn't want to take part in it but was forced to as she was a showpiece. And that pissed him off even more!
He hated that he could get a sense of everyone's emotions! Was this what Kurama had to deal with on a daily basis?!
Feeling the deviousness emanating from the man, Naruto was trying to keep his composure but could hardly refrain himself as Jacques took another bite and looked just as calm and composed as before. "That being said… I do have an offer for you and that is why called you here today my boy since you are interested in my daughter… One that will benefit both of us in the long run and will allow her to stay here… With you."
Weiss' blood ran cold and Naruto's eyes narrowed as Jacques simply grinned. "And I will give you time to think about this as we won't leave until the end of the festival…"
"I offer you my daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for your cooperation and work in Schnee Dust Company."
Everything was agony. He felt something attached to his left arm growing into it, becoming one with it. Burns covered his body, covered his chest, and even a small portion of his lower face and neck. The wounds had slowly healed from the shrapnel that cut through and was stitched up. But now... The burns on his left were infused with that same growing substance in his arm and the pain was amplified and made even worse.
It was crawling in his skin and he wanted to dig it out!
Yet he couldn't as he was strapped down and tied firmly so he could only raise his torso up ever so slightly!
This was not what he wanted. His end had come, she had finally done it…
She had finally put an end to his wilted rose. The pain he had caused her, to his master...
It took help the of another, one will to put past all the trauma she inflicted, to see her who she was… The beautiful rose that withstood the storm that he was forced to wilt to… That almost made her wilt as well.
No, he did not deserve redemption. That day had long passed.
He was a monster, a beast and now he could feel the flesh of the real monsters coursing through him. Craving for blood!
First against those that treated him like he was nothing! Like he was property and marked him as such! He would torch them all for their crimes… Maybe not the girl… No, even the girl! No human was worth sparring!
Then, next would be her. The one that slowly drove him into this mad beast. The one that convinced him that everything that he did was right… That manipulated him from the first moment and drove him on the path he had taken… The one that led him astray from the path his master had shown him right!
He then would take his throne and turn his attention to the witch! He could not rule this world if everything burned! What was the point if he wiped out humanity if there were no humans or faunus left? She would have to go for everyone's sake, even if that meant allying with the humans temporarily…
Adam had learned his lesson now. This pain was too much and he wanted nothing to do with it. Dead was better.
"Ah, so he awakens…" A familiar voice caught his ears and pain filled his tense body as it spoke again. "Thank you for bringing him to me, my dear Tyrian. Your service to me in keeping eyes on her all this time has kept us going for so long… When the time comes you will be rewarded duly for your service."
"Heh, whatever, did it to burn the witch. Everything should bleed..." An unfamiliar male voice spoke. "I must make my leave. I have another job I prepare for, High Commander."
"Very well, may the hunt go well." Sienna's voice almost sounded like a purr as the man left in what sounded like a sickening plop before her attention was brought back toward him. "Now what do I do here…"
"You have caused me quite a lot of trouble recently, Adam," Sienna spoke as Adam slowly forced his one visible eye open, growling as the light hit his eye only to Sienna circling his bed, holding Wilt in her hands and admiring his blade. "I do believe I told you to bring him back, did I not? The fact that Belladonna was with him was a bonus in my mind as it would have meant Ghira would be right back in the palm of our hands."
"And you failed on two fronts," Sienna growled in her throat before she smiled. "But I am forgiving, you know that all too well."
Wilt stabbed into the left side of Adam's stomach and he growled as he knew he was restrained to the bed but still tried to lung at her but was forced to look at Sienna as she sat down and leaned over him. She then teased his cheek. "And you won't fail me a second time, I know this to be true. Right?"
Adam cursed as he felt Wilt twist in his stomach and his eye gazed straight into Sienna's defiantly. "Why? Why is he so damn important?"
Sienna grinned and she twisted Wilt once more, loving seeing the defiance in his eye. "Who do you think led you to contact with those people, Adam? Do you think it was simply a coincidence… No, I did honey…"
"I've known about Salem a long time now and for the first time …" Sienna's grin widened as her eyes shone brightly. "She has shown fear! That boy is the key and I am not losing this opportunity to some pettiness you may have left inside of you toward me."
Leaning over him, dangling her face ever so close to his and her lips ever so gently close to his, Sienna whispered. "Forget the love that you have for her as it would have been so much easier to break her without it… Now we can grab her and the one thing that makes even Salem afraid."
"I need both of those things, Adam. Won't you get them for me, my dashing bull?"
Adam's lone eye weakened and he the last of his defiance faded. He tried to keep the fight but… This was not a fight he was capable of winning. She would just keep coming and coming, tearing him down brick by brick.
Yet...
Sienna just grinned.
Lifting back up without another word, Sienna stood up and withdraw Wilt from Adam's stomach while blood stained the bedding. "The medics will be in here shortly to fix that up… And once you are healed, I will send out the message."
"Message?" Adam questioned as he looked at Sienna as retreated to the exit, placing Wilt aside on a nearby table.
"Yes… I'm going to make them come to us." Sienna responded as she opened the door, swaying her hips as she did. "Till then, take your time and think on who you really serve. I'll be back tomorrow to see if that answer has changed, Adam."
With that Sienna left and Adam collapsed, defeated as medics came in to treat his new wound.
His fist clenched as they put the anesthetic over his mouth.
Somehow, he would make her pay. He would make him pay!
They all would pay!
Adjustments…
Made.
…
'…'
No…
GET... OUT...
You are not allowed.
Rerouting Path…
OF… MY…
Path Rerouted.
Course Corrected.
Purging...
Undesirables.