Special Note: I am going to stop doing all the stuttering in between lines for Ruby from now on and just put in a statement when she does. The last chapter was just to give a feeling of what it was like for Ruby. It was also a pain to write it like. I'm only going to do it when it matters or it makes sense as she isn't going to be using long sentences very often now. So it's now on you to imagine where her line breaks are.
The sound of those familiar but annoying beeps. How he hated that sound. Whatever the case was, it didn't matter what led him to end up in the situation. He hated that sound. It wasn't because of some trauma or anything like that. People didn't hate him that much growing up. They spat in his face or shoved him out of a store.
He didn't like being reminded of his failures…
And it felt like he had somehow failed every time he was here. He could have done something better. That there was something different that could have made a drastic change. Something that would have changed the outcome.
Naruto had always felt this way since he woke up and realized he had failed Sakura… He was unable to bring home Sasuke. Chouji and Neji barely made it back, and somehow Rock Lee got hurt. Shikamaru blamed himself for everyone getting hurt. Sakura blamed herself as she was the first person to have a chance to stop him…
No… He was the one that failed that day. It was one of the few times he could not reach someone with his voice and words. It took a long time to get through to Sasuke and a lot of effort.
But he still failed everyone that day.
Every other time he heard those beeps reminded him of that first failure… And he thought of the failures he made. What else could he have done differently … What more was there to do?
Should he have been the one that confronted Vi and made Yang step back? No, Yang was already ready for a fight at the moment he would have been adding fuel to the fire…
Should he have removed Yang from the situation altogether? Maybe, but removing one in such a state tends to pull aggression toward the one who initiated the contact. And once the source of agitation had been removed, they often turned their aggression toward the one who last touched them.
He wasn't looking for a peaceful talk; he was being aggressive and seeking conflict...
Letting a fight break out was not an option due to their location. The collateral would have been too costly.
Diffusing the situation he did was the right call, but…
He should not have let his guard down! In a situation he shouldn't have, he let his comfort of being surrounded by friends and family allow him a momentarily lapse in judgment…
And he bit the bullet for it.
He let his familiarity cost him. It could have been much worse. He could always take a shell. As long as Fate bound him, he was unkillable. While he didn't want to put that to the test, he felt it was true. And if he had Kurama or his chains were unbound, this wouldn't even be an issue…
No, what if it had been Yang as they had been arguing… Weiss. Ruby. Blake!
He could have let any of them come to harm because he had let his guard down…
A nudge against his face.
A tremble as something shook uncontrollably.
A soft cry that vibrated through his very core.
He recognized that cry. He hated hearing it as it meant she was in some sort of distress. And it, as of recently, usually involved him. How he hated himself for that…
"I'm sorry…." Naruto spoke as he weakly nudged and nuzzled back against the offending object, knowing it to be the top of Blake's head.
He could feel her bow rustling against his cheek and opened his eyes, seeing her golden eyes piercing through the night and gazing into his. "I should have been paying more attention…."
"Naruto!" Blake's head snapped up, and she cried in relief as she immediately nuzzled against his nuzzling before she rebuked what she heard. "No! It should have been any of us! Don't put this on you, please! Stop doing that! That's the one thing I hate that you do all the time! This is a team effort! One of us should have caught it, so we are all at fault, not you!"
"One of us?" Naruto blinked, confused at first, as he looked into Blake's golden eyes when a cough brought his attention.
He then saw Yang's slightly teary lilac eyes giving Naruto a worried look. And beside her was the ice blues of Weiss. Sitting beside her was the silver of Ruby's. All four were in the room, making it very crowded if anyone needed to get up…
And they all looked like they had been doing a little bit of crying, so…
"Oh…" Was the only intelligent thing that Naruto could say as he looked at the sight before him despite the relative darkness in the room. The light from outside the hallway hardly illuminated it for those who didn't have night vision like he and Blake.
He should have realized none of them would have gone home if he had spent the night recovering. Blake's reason was apparent; she stayed because she was his mate. He'd be worried if she wasn't here by his side, and after a short grace period, he would have been hunting her down to make sure she was okay. It would have been something simple like she could have just gone to get something to eat or needed to take care of her business...
But he wouldn't have wanted to take that chance.
Besides being good friends, Weiss also made sense, given the current situation with the wedding. The press hearing she wasn't here would be more suspicious. His details were public knowledge, given the Gale Fox's popularity. Things were annoying to deal with without Trivia around to bust reporters left and right. He felt a stronger connection between them due to what they had gone through. They were friends. That being said...
He would move heaven and earth for his friends, and Weiss showed her support in the ways she could as friendship was still… Something new to her.
At least genuine friendship. Not the kind where you knew people because their family had money, fame, or power.
Due to being in the middle of everything that happened, Yang most likely felt very responsible. That was why she was here. And given that she was pouring some of her heart out before, it was probably a bit of that. Considering what she aired out to him, she needed to air it out with him and Blake or just Blake alone to smooth things over.
A few things needed to be discussed either way.
Naruto mentally sighed as he knew why Ruby was there. She had become obsessed with him over the last month since she had been let out of the hospital. And he knew she had a little bit of an idolization of him as a hero before, but that had died down. Before the incident, she was beginning to find herself and blossom into who he thought she was meant to be.
And something changed within her when she woke up and saw him. He could only theorize about what it could be. But she had a fervent adoration for him that started to make Hinata blush with envy as she couldn't match Ruby. Her eyes would track him and only him when he was present unless she was forced to, like in training. It had been like that even when visiting in the hospital, and ever since she returned, she followed him everywhere she could. Now there was the recent development that she was trying to drag him with her to be with her.
Blake was not amused earlier by that. This would have to be addressed, but how was the issue? Confronting her with a problem when you didn't entirely understand the problem. When communication was the issue, things tended to break down.
God, he wished Ino was here…
Otherwise, it wasn't so overt and wasn't harmful. It was becoming apparent and blunter as she became more and more frustrated. She wanted to communicate and convey her feelings but could not correctly express them with her words due to her stuttering.
The slower and stuttering speech had begun to affect Ruby negatively. She started to show she had a temper matching Yang's and could even surpass it.
He had never seen so many decapitated Beowolfs with all their limbs removed before…
He had wished the decapitations had come first for them.
Shaking his head off that thought, that explained why Ruby was here…
"Yeah, oh!" Yang growled as her eyes were poofy and red from crying, and now she was upset at the first thing Naruto said as he woke up. "Here I am kicking myself for not tearing that guy apart when I should have, and you immediately wake up and do the same thing! Fuck you! We all screwed up! I'm mostly to blame! I took that asshole's bait and challenged him! If I not have…."
"Yang, any of us would have snapped at what that guy was saying!" Weiss confessed as she was upset and didn't want her friend to keep crying over this.
They were all having a rough night, and now that Naruto had awoken in the middle of the sleepless night they had been having. Weiss continued as she tried to calm her friend. "Look how easily we all turned the moment he said anything… He was looking to start something! He just wanted more attention once he knew it hit our nerves!"
"I hate him," Ruby growled out with minor stuttering as it was the only thing she could say to convey her feelings with the conjecture that she wanted quickly. She then gazed over at Naruto worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, Ruby. You've seen me with worse." Naruto gave a smile of encouragement as he tried to show strength.
Weiss cut into him as she narrowed her eyes and gave a nasty glare with her icy blues that showed great concern. " I don't think that's what she meant, Naruto. We were all there and saw how you reacted… Something in you snapped. I don't think we had seen that side of you before. We knew it was there, but…."
"Seeing is believing. I know you've said you sent death threats before, but…." Yang shivered as she felt like she saw where this was going and grimaced as it would be displayed on live television. "Please tell me you are only going to break him as I feel like rip and tear is a little too far…."
"Oh, sorry. Kurama rubbed off me a little, I guess." Naruto didn't realize he had said that out loud.
The one thing he noted was that not once did the Mistral Huntsman back down despite the killing intent he was putting out, which made him frown. There were only a few reasons for that.
One, he fed off it like a sociopath, as Sills did. Another was that he held no fear, and he could easily break him of that. He hoped it was that one as he'd make him feel fear. One reason he didn't wish it was that he was strong enough to shrug off the killing intent, and it didn't affect him in the slightest.
And he didn't think that was the case if Pyrrha could beat him. But, she did have an odd advantage over most people, especially if they weren't expecting it…
Polarity was a powerful semblance already against other Huntsman, and it was where Pyrrha truly shined. Everyone used something metallic on them, and she could use it against them. It took knowledge of her ability and overwhelming skill and power to overcome her…
Or you could attack her emotions, but people didn't know Pyrrha well enough to understand to be able to do that. He was kind of a jerk when he did those things to her…
Still exposed a flaw.
Seeing as everyone was still a little worried, especially Blake, Naruto sighed as he pitifully gazed at the four girls in the room. "There isn't much I can say here. He brought out that side of me the moment he shot me and insinuated that a child of mine would be a demon spawn…."
Naruto's eyes dilated as a low growl escaped his lips. "That brought up every last bad memory, and… Honestly, that wasn't the first thing I wanted to do the exact moment I got up. I changed my mind when I knew my instinct was to rip him apart. I know that's what Fate would have wanted. She wants me to break my code or do something to break something in my life, and I don't understand it!"
"She keeps testing me and trying me, and dammit, I'm not giving her the satisfaction!" Naruto said with conviction before wincing as his neck was still somewhat sore.
He tried to sit up, decided against it, and began thinking about the events unfolding. He then growled. "Not to mention everything he was saying before to Yang and me, yeah I want to break him…."
"A line was crossed, and I… Nearly snapped. I wanted his blood right then and there. All I could think was how lucky it was I who was shot because the entire time… He didn't once dare to target me until that moment. If he shot any of you…." Naruto left those ominous words in the air as he shivered, knowing what would have happened.
He would have put him down, and he wasn't sure he could have held back…
Kakuzu was proof of that as he went straight for the kill against the man and was far more cunning…
Far more brutal.
Flinching, gripping her head as images flashed before her eyes, Yang bit her lip at those words. She shook her head and took a deep breath, bringing her hands back down. Looking around and seeing everyone else, she stood up. "Yeah… I need a moment… As good as it is see you are okay… I need to clear my head too. That shit got to me badly ."
Slowly walking out, trembling as she did, Naruto frowned as he wasn't sure if Ruby or Weiss could see it in the darkness, but Yang was shaken. Sighing in frustration as he didn't want any of this, Blake nudged against him before looking at a retreating Yang as if she wanted to know what had happened.
Naruto shook his head and motioned toward Yang, which led her to growl before she sighed. If she wanted to know, she needed to go to the source as it wasn't his place to tell it in front of others. Weiss and Ruby didn't need to know Yang's business unless she told them.
"All right, I'll check on her then. I swear if you try to die on me again while I'm out I… I don't know anymore." Blake hung her head as she couldn't handle this, for it was getting absurd, and she wanted to cry, and it wasn't even his fault. "Please, get some rest. They said you'll be fine by tomorrow morning, given your normal recovery rate."
"Yeah… I don't particularly appreciate that the doctors know how well I recover… I hate being here, and it seems to love me." Naruto growled out as he did not like hospitals and had been making more trips to them here in Remnant than he would like…
He missed Kurama more than ever.
"Hate it here too." Ruby stammered to agree as she had recently spent enough time in the hospital.
Ruby wanted nothing to do with the place, frowning as her fist clenched at the terrible memories being here represented. She was glad Naruto was okay, and they could leave in the morning.
"At this point, we all have a right to dislike being here." Weiss agreed and rubbed her right calf as she did, wincing as the phantom pains returned, and she could see that woman's burning gaze piercing her own.
She shuddered, shaking her head as she took a deep breath. "Some refreshments sound nice. However, I'll wait if you're heading out. Ruby and I can keep an eye on him and make sure nothing happens."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Blake smiled at Weiss and appreciated her understanding but was also slightly worried about her friend.
Everyone seemed to be going through issues now due to what happened. And while she had her issues to sort out, she had someone to constantly speak to about them in Naruto every night directly when she didn't go in to see her counselor. She even told him more than her therapist truthfully...
And Yang and Weiss had only recently started going to therapy, and Ruby…
She was struggling to communicate, and it was a battle with that.
"Hey, wait… You're making it sound like I'm a troublemaker here." Naruto narrowed his eyes as he looked over at Blake, trying to make light of the situation, for the atmosphere was tense.
"You are whether you intend to be or not. Chaos follows you." Blake leaned over and gave Naruto a light kiss on the lips. "I'll be right back."
"Yeah, yeah… Can't promise I won't spontaneously combust at this rate." Naruto grumbled as Blake giggled, and even Weiss had a smile while Ruby… Held out a bottle of water with a giant grin on her face. "What the… Ruby, why are you prepared for that?! That was a joke."
She shrugged in response as she continued to grin before she stuttered out. "You never know."
Naruto glowered as all three got a good laugh in before Blake exited the room, and he sighed a little in both relief but also of worry. At least Weiss and Ruby's minds were now a little more at ease from what he could feel.
Yang's thoughts were in turmoil, and he only hoped Blake could help.
Breathing heavily, Yang stumbled as she walked to the restroom and shoved the door open as she stumbled in, unaware if anyone else was in there. Thankfully it was the middle of the night, and there were only two stalls…
Images flashed before her eyes again as she gripped her head and growled as she made her way to sink, annoyed it was the motioned sensors. "Are you serious… Give me water, you stupid fuck! I need to cool down!"
"You really love the knot, don't you?" She heard the voice of the latest offender in her mind, and her body visibly shook.
"Shut up…" Yang gave a low growl as a red sparkled in her lilac eyes while she reached down to start the water and tried splashing her face with the lukewarm water. "You have no fucking right…."
"Really?" A new but familiar voice to Yang echoed in her head as she tried to shake it out and splashed some more water but to no avail. "Wow, so after all this time we have known each other… I guess I waste my time. Who would have figured someone dressed as trampy as you would be so stuck up?"
"Fuck off! You're not my friend anymore!" Yang cried out as tears began to build, and her eyes burned red. "You don't know me! You never knew me! None of you did!"
And slowly, the voices of the many men of the bars, clubs, and dives she had gone to over the past year started to fill her head. She growled in response, stumbling a few feet away from the sink.
"What have you having? Mind if I buy you a drink, baby doll?"
"Did you fall from heaven because I think I'm in love, sweetheart?"
"You look lonely. Mind if I accompany you? Maybe a drink or two to put a smile on that cute little face?"
"Mmm, you've got some legs that won't quit! Want to come back and chill at my place?"
"Check out the young thing with the huge tits… Bet you we can get her wasted by the night's end?"
"What'd we got here… How much are you worth to ride, blondie?"
"Get out of my head! Get out of my head, you bastards! All of you can go to hell!" Yang screamed as tears filled her eyes, her aura burned to life, and speckles of gold began to filter through her eyes. "Why is everyone so… Damn rude and disgusting. All I wanted was a drink and information on finding my mother… Not your damn pickup lines and thinking I'm an easy lay or some kind of skank !"
"At least you'll be a tasty treat…." The voice of her nightmares filled her body with unbridled rage, and her now golden eyes snapped to the mirror.
And she did not see herself reflected in it. She saw that damn bear faunus grinning at her, mocking her with his head still intact.
Yang's body convulsed, enraged as she uttered a bitter and hollow scream. Pulling back her right arm, she shattered the mirror with a punch and cracked the wall behind it as her right fist went through it easily. "FUCK YOU! I'LL SPLATTER YOUR SKULL AGAIN, YOU FUCK! I WILL BRAIN ALL THOSE MOTHER FUCKERS WHO THINK I'M JUST SOME WHORE!"
"I'm more than that… I'm just … Me." Yang panted heavily as her breathing labored before slowly pulling her fist from the wall.
And she saw the state of her hand, see the shards of glass cutting through it, lacerating it leaving trails of blood dripping and falling to the floor. But it wasn't her hand any longer. It morphed, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw his mangled and busted opened head where her hand was supposed to be.
Yang looked on in horror as her eyes dilated in and out of focus at the site before her very eyes. An earth-shattering scream of terror was unleashed for all to hear as she fell to her knees and trembled. For in its place, she saw his face once more.
Her eyes widened in fury as she tried to grab her right hand. And she yanked as hard as she could, crying out in tremendous agony before she started smashing her hand against the floor repeatedly. "GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME! STOP HAUNTING ME, YOU FUCKING MONSTER! I'LL BREAK OPEN YOUR HEAD AGAIN!"
"YANG!" Blake burst through the bathroom door, her ears twitching as she could hear her friend's voice from a distance.
Seeing the sight before her and Yang being petrified at the sight of blood on her right hand, Blake took off her new white tailcoat. Next, she tossed it over the offending appendage and wrapped it around. She then restrained her left arm and pulled it away as she forced her to look into her eyes. "Yang! Look at me! Look at me!"
The dragon's golden and tear-soaked eyes looked up as she looked up and into the faunus' worried golden cat eyes. Yang sobbed before she reached around and clutched Blake with everything she had, her aura slowly dimming as she let everything out. "I don't know what's wrong with me! I kept hearing voices, and I started to see his face again... I lost it!"
Blake held and embraced her teammate, knowing this was what she needed now. She let her cry and sob as she remembered a very similar experience for herself only four months ago. When she was very much in the same situation, this was what she needed.
All she could do was be a presence and listen. It was what Yang needed right now.
"I get so angry I can't even control myself. Even when I thought I've tempered and controlled it, something like this happens, and now I don't know what…." Yang cried as she violently sobbed. "That fucking prick brought up so many terrible memories as he called me a whore… I'M NOT! I'M FUCKING DONE WITH IT! I HATE MEN! I HATE THEM! THEY CAN GO TO HELL!"
Yang shuddered as she cried onto Blake's shoulder, who continued to listen to her friend as her body racked with fitful sobs. "I barely have any friends anymore… All my old friends hung around me because I was the attractive one. They wanted a shot with me, and the few girlfriends I had have moved on to do other things…."
"All I have left is this team and Naruto…." Yang's flinched as she mentioned his name and knew she needed to get this off her chest to her as well. "Blake… I need to confess something I started to do to Naruto before this mess happened…."
Feeling Yang disengage from her, Blake wasn't sure what to expect. Of all things she wasn't quite expecting after the outburst she had seen from Yang, and with what she was admitting now... It was as if all her rage blended and fused into one melting pot…
So she kept her golden eyes intent on Yang's lilacs as the dragon bit her lip. "The truth is… As you already know, I have feelings for him, so I tried to move past them. But ever since initiation at Beacon, I learned that all my old friends and every guy, in general, are so… Fucking sexist! All they see me as is some cheap fuck, and it hurts… Can't anyone see me for who I am?"
"Then, I admitted to him my faults and how I didn't mean to be flirting with him when you two were going out all this time. I challenged him to spars so that I could spend more time with him or even when I forced myself in the room to have told me his story… I wanted time with him to learn more about him. He made me feel like he wasn't after anything…."
"I also totally didn't mean for that incident last week. I didn't mean to bare my chest to him!" Yang smiled before looking down as she didn't want to see Blake's judgmental gaze before panicking.
And Blake wasn't trying to judge as her friend was spilling her heart, but at the same time, it was difficult. She was admitting she had feelings for her lover, her mate. She was pushing the boundary, and she knew it, which was why she felt guilty. Then her ears twitched angrily.
What incident? What happened? Why were Yang's breasts bared to her mate? This needed explaining!
Taking a deep breath as she knew it had to be a wardrobe malfunction as it probably was too embarrassing for either to go over the details of such an incident, Blake sighed. "Yang, honey, I get some of this… And the anger from what that guy drove you to, and you must have seen his face again, but…."
"Blake… I know. Naruto is your mate. I mean, he's my first real friend that happens to be a guy that, for the first time, I can tell, isn't after me, and I'm happy about that. It's just so damn frustrating that now I find out everything else about all my old friends, and I started to look and think... Maybe he is the guy for me, and I fucked that up as you two are going out. I don't know how to handle that right, and I'm sorry, I'm handling it poorly ." Yang smiled before she shivered as her lilac eyes stared into her golden eyes. "When I heard you two going at… I, of course, had a dream to deal with the stress that caused me after, but it wasn't what I expected it to be… It wasn't Naruto it was with ."
"Do you remember that Naruto mentioned at Trivia's funeral that she had a sign joked that I wasn't a virgin… Well, she was right. Even if I never laid with a man before." Yang tried to keep the mood light-hearted but failed as Blake realized what she was about to say.
"Yang…" Blake was a little flustered, and her eyes had gone wide.
"I've always been attracted to women as I've been to men…." Yang admitted as she looked back into Blake's eyes. "And that's why this makes this hard because after hearing you two, I finally got to sleep… I dreamed I was with you, Blake! It wasn't with Naruto I thought I was going to be with! I was in bed with you!"
"And it makes sense… All this time, I've been trying to get your attention too. Even if, at first, it was to try and make our team function ." Yang gave a weak laugh as she broke contact with Blake. "It's funny… When we first made eye contact in Emerald Forest, I was excited to see it was you out of everyone. I thought we work well together and that maybe, something more would happen…."
"Yang, stop." Blake shook her head before placing her hand on the blonde's shoulders and smiled faintly as her lilac eyes met hers once more. "It's okay to feel these things. It is natural… And I thank you for telling me this and being honest with me. But this stuff can wait until we help you with what happened here…."
"You're hallucinating visually and audibly, destroyed a mirror and a wall, and are an emotional wreck. I love you as my friend and want to see you better before we try to solve any of this. Trying to make an emotionally based decision in this state isn't good for anyone." Blake warmly conveyed as she reached out and grabbed Yang's left hand.
"Let's get you seen first and get you some help. Then we'll sort this out, okay?" Blake pleaded as she desperately gazed into her friend's eyes to get her to understand she wanted what was best for her.
Taking a breath, Yang gave the nod before she winced as Blake helped her up, and she saw Blake's new coat covering her hand. "Shit… I'm sorry…."
"It's fine. Someone's blood was going to stain it eventually. Look at it this way. You beat Naruto and me to it." Blake sighed but tried to joke, but it came out flat as everything was a little tiresome at this point.
Yang stayed quiet as they walked out of the bathroom and hailed down a nurse, looking away from Blake as she did.
She didn't want it to be like this…
She only wanted to be friends.
She was doing fine in moving on from Naruto, and now this…
Why did she have to be attracted to them both?
"Um… Are there White Fang members at our house?" Naruto commented as they decided to walk the rest of the way from Tai's place after being dropped off since he picked them up in the morning, taking a few hours off to ensure he could get them.
With Yang checking herself in to be evaluated and taken care of, that was one less driver at the moment. Thankfully, the five of them could squeeze into the jeep, but still, that was because they were technically breaking the law as Blake just wanted to sit in his lap the entire way they would have to sit in five seats.
It was more comfortable for her, besides the occasional glares from Ruby. Those were just awkward.
It wasn't comfortable for him as Ruby due to her glaring again and occasionally shifting her gaze downwards... And he was having a tough time not pitching due to the rough ride and his mate bouncing on top of him. And she grinned every time it happened, and he swore she mimed the words rough.
He cursed this morning to hell.
"Oh great… They must have figured out dad had assassins sent after him, and now this incident has hit the news." Blake sighed in defeat as she held her blood-stained white tailcoat. "This is going to be so fun…."
It would have looked lovely on her before washing it with the violet inner lining. It continued her black, white and purple color trend as she wore a black sleeveless crop top with diamond-shaped cut-out straps that went up to a collared neck. That was the thing she was fiddling with in the changing room. She was messing with it so it didn't bother her collar and rub her neck raw.
It was rubbing awkwardly, so she would cut and sew it back up when they got home so it would fit perfectly under her mated collar. She would rather wear it on her skin than over the clothing as it felt like choking her somewhat, and that was only acceptable when…
She coughed unintentionally as she fiddled with her shirt collar more, drawing Naruto's attention and blushing heavily.
She had black fitted pants with a thick white belt with a gold buckle, simple but effective for what she wanted. The significant difference was her boots. They were now thigh-high one-inch heeled purple boots with gold edges in the lining with black soles. She hadn't done it yet, but soon as she got home, she had planned on branding them her family's crest.
And once her coat was out of the wash… She wanted to know if she could do the same with his emblem. She knew he had one as he kept his old clothes from when he arrived that supposedly had it on them… So she wanted to see if she could replicate it…
"Well… They seemed to have brought a vehicle, so, you know… Something." Naruto took the smallest of victories he could find before dropping his head. "Could this be any weirder?"
"Don't challenge the world, please." Blake pleaded as she knew Fate would somehow have an answer and screw them even harder than before. "You can start training to obliterate that scumbag tomorrow… I just want to go inside, relax and have a nice peaceful rest of this day. We're going to read, okay? You are just going to study seals… Nothing bad can happen while doing that, right?"
"Um…" Naruto winced and bit his lip as he flinched, and Blake snapped in his direction with a stern look on her face as her golden eyes glowed furiously.
"By the Brother Gods, what can you do with seals?" Blake wanted to roar, but she silently hissed. "I thought they were just like supplementary stuff like small pocket dimensions, creating flashes of flight, diffusing sound to the more elaborate things like creating barriers and sealing entities away… Oh no, they can do anything, can't they?"
"Pretty much." Naruto nodded as Blake figured it out from the few things he had described before and had done with them. "My father's most famed technique where he bent space and time itself and could teleport at near instantaneous speed to where his special kunai was due to sealing. You can create bombs with sealing if you screw up… but I know those seals. They're common knowledge and used widely in my world."
"Your world gets more horrifying every time you bring it up." Blake simply turned away and looked shell-shocked before shaking her head. "Just study… Please don't blow anything up… I want one day of peace. A day where I can climb into bed with you knowing the rest of the day wasn't crazy as I swear at least one thing goes wrong every day…."
Wanting to growl, knowing it was Fate, Naruto felt like that was a fair compromise and wrapped his arm around his mate's waist as they nearly made it to their home to see the construction crew working on the other house he ordered, making good progress. "For you, my mate, anything. Indoors, day of reading. Nothing else."
Smiling at her mate, she leaned in and nuzzled against his cheek, knowing precisely what it did to him. "Love you."
"Gah… Love you too." Naruto yipped and fidgeted from her nuzzle as she had that look on her face, and his fox ears twitched before he grinned. "Is that a hint of what I'm supposed to be working on?"
"Yes," Blake answered before they reached the door to see the single White Fang member standing in front of their entry before removing her bow as she was home. It wasn't necessary to hide here. "If you would kindly move, brother… This is my house that my father is staying in. Baring me entry is rude and is liable for serious damage to your health."
With one look at the pair in front of him, the guard of the White Fang wisely stood off their way after that statement. He wasn't getting in their way or wanting to face any kind of wrath.
Those eyes reminded him a little too much of Mrs. Belladonna when she was upset…
An excellent indicator of who she said she was. And the ears were also another great indicator.
Walking inside their home, annoyed they had to get stopped, Naruto and Blake's ears twitched at seeing another guard within their home standing at the living room entrance as it seemed Ghira was talking to another faunus at their table.
"…the Black Fang has been on the move. I will accept a small guard as I know there is no talking the others out of this decision after yesterday's incident, Liam. But I will accept no more than this. We are not meant to be seen as an armed faction any longer. Anything more than this will be misconstrued and used against us, especially in public." Ghira spoke to the seemingly higher rank personnel with the reconstructed White Fang.
"Ghira, my love, they're home." Kali tapped her mate on the shoulder before she stood up to greet the couple, surprisingly hugging Naruto tightly, making Blake smile lightly before releasing the fox. "I'm glad to see you're doing well. Are you both hungry? Hospital food isn't all that great. I can get you something cooked up quickly if you want."
"I think we're good… Just tired right now." Naruto closed his eyes, smiled, and gave a slight head tilt as he flicked his fox ears, making Blake twitch as she knew that look and just how adorable it was.
She just wanted to rub his cheeks right now! She was melting!
Blake mentally growled. He needed to hurry up and work on those seals. Kali smiled as she found the look adorable too, and could understand why Blake stated she hated a specific look he gave her that could convince her to do anything. She now knew what that look was.
"Well, be certain to let us know if there is anything we can do. Don't want to make things too uncomfortable after yesterday." Ghira walked over and placed his massive hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You did everything right, and the worst still happened… The only thing we can do is move on and look at what we can do better."
Naruto's eyes snapped to the panther's eyes. It was like he knew what had been troubling him all last night and the moment he walked through the door.
Taking it to the living room, glad he had reasonable boots to take off as Blake glowered at taking hers off the front door, Naruto sat in front of Ghira as Liam gave a slight bow as he recognized the Gale Fox. With the media coverage he was gaining from the Kingdom of Vale and starting to get worldwide, it was hard not to.
He had made a name for himself, rumored he might have been amongst the strongest of all Huntsman and Huntresses in Remnant despite his age. Not that they did tournaments or rankings for hunters. It was for the trainees to show off their skills and prowess to wow the crowds and make everyone know their future was in safe hands.
It was the hunter's job to keep it that way.
Finally, Blake joined Naruto at his side, snuggly sitting next to him, when Ghira finally spoke. "I've had time to think myself on the situation from what I saw from my angle. Since we were further away, my beautiful mate only brought it to my attention… People like that are most unpleasant, and we have had many in the past. That is why when they are Huntsman, it escalates to a unique and terrifying situation."
"They know they have power and can use it against us and then pen it on us… I've seen it before enough to know the situation, but I don't think he either knew who you were, which means he doesn't pay attention to the news, or he knew exactly who you were…."
"And he targeted Yang and me on purpose." Naruto had thought about that himself and growled. "It had crossed my mind. The Gale Fox moniker may be a big thing for the people of Vale, but the things I've done in general have been making waves in the world of hunters too. I'm too well-known of a commodity in two separate areas for him not to know it. To make himself look good, he wanted to hinder the reputation of the mighty faunus that is making equal changes through Vale, making a better change by causing a massive fight to break out in a store or something like that. Or to attack him all unprovoked and injure him?! Oh no! The big bad fox hurt me! Please make the bad fox stop and take away his license for good!"
"You do that voice a little too well, dear…." Kali had to bite her lip as Blake just giggled as Naruto entirely played the part of a helpless maiden while the head of the guard, Liam, blinked, and Ghira looked both mildly bemused and perturbed at sight.
He wasn't sure which, so he decided to ignore it.
"So, in turn, he expected a reaction from you, and instead, he got her reaction. Then everyone came to diffuse the situation," Ghira commented before giving his thoughts on what happened next. "And you managed to talk everyone on your side down and to leave, which was the only decision you have available to you… Which I say is the noblest thing you could have done in that spot."
"And then I let my guard down…." Naruto growled, gripped his fist in anger, and shook as he wanted nothing more than to go out and start training.
Ghira, however, shook his head and sighed deeply before speaking. "In the end, I failed to see that, and I've been in that kind of situation before. For someone to pull the trigger was not expected, and we were lucky… We should be thankful for what we have now but vigilant on what the next opportunity will ask of us in a similar circumstance."
"And I'm sorry for bringing the mood down again, but I wanted to ensure you knew you did the right thing and that your choice was not wrong." Ghira let Naruto know once more to reaffirm what he had done before.
"Now, I do have some business to attend to today… Liam, if you wouldn't mind getting everything ready." Ghira turned to Liam, who nodded as he got up and went out the front door after sliding his shoes on. "It seems I'll be gone for most of the day, so that I will see everyone tonight."
"Take care, dear." Kali smiled as she reached over and kissed her husband before he got up and headed for the door as Blake waved.
Naruto stayed silent as he processed what her father had spoken to him. It was something he knew he should have been doing, but he wasn't because he was so wrapped up in looking for something better that he could have done. He always was. It was why he hated hospitals.
But maybe… No, not, perhaps.
Ghira was right.
He needed to let it go.
The right thing was done. Learn from his mistake, move on.
Relax for the day, enjoy his mate's presence and give her what she wanted, a nice quiet day.
Then it was time to leave clones for everyone.
Naruto was going to focus on his training until he got that date. He was going to rip and tear Vi Vender apart.
Kali had to admit she found the next few hours amusing, humorous, and adorable. Despite it being relatively silent, which she was accustomed to as she would just do some housework and then find a comfortable to stop and read when she too wasn't involved in projects which were becoming more again as of late since the rebuilding of the Fang, she found the antics of her daughter and her mate to be a pleasant source of entertainment.
She knew Blake had always loved to read. It was a habit she picked up from her, and she loved to get lost in the world of books. It probably was a bit of escapism as Blake was always harsh on herself growing up and took upon everyone's troubles as her own despite the fact they were okay.
Yes, they dealt with troublesome things, and she had seen her father or even her be attacked right in front of her for their political views. It was not easy, there was no deluding that, and she grew up learning how to protest and fight for their rights, again something no child should ever have to do, but she did.
And that was probably why she loved her books so much. It allowed her a portal to escape reality, even for a moment.
The book she was reading was something she had never heard of before, and seemed like it might be something from Naruto's collection, which was fascinating.
Tale of Gutsy Ninja… She would have to ask about that one later as it seemed to have Blake enthralled.
Naruto was working on a very elaborate array of what seemed to be artwork on a scroll, but with his concentration and how he appeared to be studying it rather than just adding to it, she could tell there was more to it than that. Perhaps it was something akin to the Schnee's sigils and wasn't too farfetched as it seemed the more she thought about it, the more she thought about it seemed that chakra was just a more versatile aura.
It was like one developed to be a jack of all trades, and the other evolved to specialize and awaken its person's hidden talent.
However, everything became amusing, humorous, and adorable shortly after all this started. While both seemed perfectly content to sit still and do their thing, Naruto seemed to be a prankster at heart and was great at multitasking.
Soon a red light flashed by Blake's head, unbeknownst to her at first. That was until it started drifting and swirling in a spiral pattern on the floor in front of her.
The light went away as Blake noticed it, put down the book, and frowned as Naruto not once even moved and was firmly focused on the seal array in front of him. She narrowed her eyes but returned the book and continued reading.
After a few moments, her eyes snapped to the side, and the red dot again taunted her, making a fool of her once more. Her ears twitched. She wasn't going to play this game. She knew better. She had to resist…
Swatting at the light on the wall, Blake cursed, dropped the book before leaping at Naruto, and tackled him to the ground, mounting him and trying to grab the offending object from him. "Give me that, you jerk! Stop playing with my instincts!"
"No! It's funny!" Naruto bellowed as he wrestled around with Blake on top of him, making sure he kept the laser pointer from her. "Besides, it's not mine! I borrowed it from Yang, so I don't want to have to pay her back!"
"Screw both of you!" Blake growled as she pinned the hand down that had the laser to the ground, remembering how Yang would sometimes just wake up in the mornings and use the laser pointer to taunt Blake in a sleep-addled state and have her jump after the damn thing. "I'm killing the red light of doom!"
"Not if I seal it away!" Naruto grinned as he flipped it to his other hand, quickly got to his pouch, and did exactly as he said, leaving a heavily breathing, very frustrated Blake on top of him.
Just what he wanted.
If only there weren't company…
Blake just growled for a moment before she got a mischievous grin as she sat on top, and Naruto did not like that in the slightest. "Blake, no…"
"Blake, yes." Blake purred very loudly as she referred to herself in the third person and let the vibrations of her purring do the work for her and create a whole uncomfortable situation for Naruto, considering she was mounting him…
Then she unsaddled him and returned to her book. Naruto's eyes dilated in fury as he had a very hard problem to deal with as he slowly sat back up, cursing as he did. "Hate you…"
"No you don't." Blake grinned as she sat back down and continued to read Tale of the Gutsy Ninja. "Work on those seals… I think I gave you extra motivation now."
Naruto only growled but turned back to the seal array and attempted to concentrate again.
Kali widely grinned as she read, watching the entire scene. It was a cute display of affection that showed they were in love, but the small things continued that showed it.
That one would take a break and grab another something to drink without a word needed but the thank given and a display of affection. They would occasionally call the other's name to get the other's attention playfully. That her daughter would randomly move and snuggle up against him so she could get his arm wrapped around her waist before she continued reading…
Kali smiled as that was one of her old tactics. So her daughter did take more after her than she thought…
Seeing it was just the three of them, Kali decided a small lunch was fine, and they all agreed. So she made a few sandwiches after toasting and giving everything fresh touch. It seemed Blake had finished her book and had to put it down. "So… Your sensei wrote these books… Were you named after the main character?"
"Hopefully, after only that one… He just kept using the name in the other series." Naruto blushed at the thought that his namesake was also the main character of the Icha Icha series that Jiraiya had written. "The perv wrote that book first and was based on his first pupil that he believed would change the world… He was nearly finished with it while his second pupil, my father, was the village leader, and my mother was expecting me but couldn't figure out a name for the character…."
"My mother loved ramen and made everyone ramen, and it had the little fishcake on top of it… And that is where my name, unfortunately, comes from. Not the cooler translation, no. I am a damn fishcake. Fuck you, mom. Fuck you, sensei. Fuck you, dad. You all suck. I'm still taking the cooler translation of maelstrom." Naruto growled in annoyance at the end as his parents gave him a joke name with only the redeeming factor that he was a force of nature so he could get away with the other translation.
Blake only patted Naruto on the back as she tried not to giggle, earning her a mild death glare as even Kali was bemused, knowing the difficulties of naming a child. It took forever for her and Ghira to finally come up with a name for Blake as they had difficulties telling if she was going to be a boy or a girl. So they decided on a gender-neutral name in the end for faunus usually didn't get the best care from doctors in those times.
"Oh, that reminds me!" Blake got up from her sandwich, ran over to her boots, and brought them over. "While I have the time, I need to embroider my family crest."
Kali shook her head and smiled warmly at Blake before she left the room temporarily and returned with a sewing kit. "I see you still do that. Ever since you were little, you've wanted it on your clothing. It's cute, but it always warmed Ghira's heart seeing you wear the emblem so proudly…."
Blake smiled softly at the memories before her face fell as she could remember her time in the Fang recently while wearing the crest. "But… Then all the horrible things I've done…."
Naruto was the first to respond as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled Blake into his embrace, nuzzling up against her. "Some of those things were not in your control. You can only take what you learned from it and move. I can't say I'm not struggling with similar issues of my own… As I am, but let's work together and move forward together, okay, my mate?"
Feeling his comforting embrace and taking a moment to listen to his words, feel the breathing of his chest against her back, and let his warmth fill her being, Blake took a breath. She then sighed contently as she nodded and gazed into his cerulean gaze. "All right, but tonight we need to talk."
"Yeah, already noted." Naruto nodded as he had a few things to ask but wasn't going to bring them up with her mother present.
Like what happened between her and Yang that ended up with Yang being admitted?
Loving what she saw between the two, her feeling about the two only strengthening, Kali gave calm assurance to her daughter. "Blake, no matter what you happened in these last couple of years… You are my daughter. You are Ghira's beloved child. Nothing will ever change that. We were worried sick when you left and even more so when the news reached us that you joined the White Fang."
"I can't imagine some of the things that happened if it drove you to therapy, and I know what that woman turned Adam into now with the evidence had been laid bare for all to see. But we are here for you… And it seems like you have a wonderful mate that is giving you plenty of support as it is." Kali smiled brightly at the end.
It might have been only a few days, but she had seen enough. Ghira was always a tougher sell, but he was warming up to the boy, too, if only just a little.
As she moved from Naruto's grasp, tears flowed from Blake's eyes, and she embraced her mother, who gave her a deep embrace in return. "Thank you… I love you so much…."
"I love you too." Kali purred as she softly stroked her hand through her daughter's hair, having missed moments like this as she slowly released Blake and smiled brightly at her.
She was the greatest accomplishment in this world, and wanted to make sure she knew it.
Smiling back at her mother, Blake realized as she jumped up and sprinted to the back, leaving both Naruto and Kali slightly confused. She returned moments later with her tailcoat freshly washed and free of bloodstains, smiling at Naruto. "Um… As I'm doing this… I remember you said something about your family having a crest to…."
Naruto blinked for a moment, and Kali's smile was now beaming brightly. He then chuckled and softly sighed. "Well, if you want to… It's not going to go well with your color scheme…."
Naruto pulled out a scroll and pulled forth his tattered and battle-worn coat that, while it could have been repaired, he chose not to. It was a memory and should be left behind as there was no real return to it.
Just something to be fondly remembered now and then.
He then laid on its back to reveal the red spiral crest. "The red is supposed to represent that each Uzumaki has red hair, ironically enough as it was such a dominant trait in the clan… I'm one of the few outliers, although it could be that I have other clan blood within me and my father never knew it as he was an orphan as well."
"All right, a quick little lesson on what I know about my clan and village.!" Naruto grinned as he felt like giving a little lesson about what he learned about his clan after learning about his heritage, something Kakashi helped him learn after learning about his father. "Everyone in my village also wore it as a sign of trust between the clan and my village despite the destruction of my clan before my birth due to war."
"They were always close since the first Hokage's wife was an Uzumaki, who stories say tamed his wild heart to help him settle down and form the village ironically with his mortal enemy slash best friend… I get something, considering he was the first reincarnation of Asura, and I was the second, and my best friend was my mortal enemy and the one to kill me... So, without an Uzumaki, Konoha would never have been built!" Naruto grinned as he liked to think of it that way.
It would have made it all the sweeter when he took the mantle of Hokage. If only that was something he could have lived to see happen.
Sasuke had better be doing a good job or getting the proper training…
As Blake's eyes widened, for that was a detail that wasn't mentioned before, and even Kali wasn't sure how to process the information that living gods seemed to be reincarnated in his world. Naruto simply brushed past that part and continued his clan's story. "The remains were scattered across the world, but Konoha held to their word, protected the clan's secrets, and honored the pact. Even if they couldn't help due to being embroiled in their own conflict, they offered sanctuary to all even though few, if any, were ever able to make it."
"It is why I was given my mother's maiden name instead of my father's. They thought it was important to pass on the clan's tradition and its bond with the village despite the tragic end of the Uzumaki with so few of us left. It was to give hope that the Uzumaki still stood and could rebuild once more…" Naruto smiled as he remembered that last part was what Kakashi told him personally, wanting his student to be strong but mature enough to handle the weight of those words.
It was never about protecting him or anything absurd like that. It was that frankly until he had come back… Naruto had a lot of growing up to do.
He was a brat as a Genin. As of this moment, he would hate his twelve-year-old self and similarly treat him to what he did to Yang. But worse.
With understanding but poking straight through the flaws until the lesson was taught.
Sensing the lesson was over, Blake looked over the coat before nuzzling up against Naruto. She decided to work on her tailcoat first, seeing that it would be the more significant task of the two. "Thank you for the story… It means a lot to tell me, and I could only imagine having learned so late in life that you were one of the last of a once bustling clan…."
"It is what it is." Naruto shrugged his shoulders, for it didn't bother him. "I grew up alone, so my family was those that decided to give a damn about me, that's it. It's why I'm so protective of everyone close to me. It's why I didn't let you run that night. To me, you were already a friend, therefore, my family. So I was protecting it."
Blake turned to beat red as she remembered that night, and knowing the day it happened to be Valentine's Day was even more embarrassing…
It sparked their relationship on that night…
And then her mom decided to pile onto the issue as her eyes widened, seeing the widest grin on her mother's face. "No…"
"So… Does that mean I will probably have red-haired grand kittens then?" Kali teased as Blake choked on her spit, and she grabbed her chest as her heart started thumping heavily at the thought of a red-haired faunus child with either fox or cat ears. "A ginger kitten or a red fox kit with both family crests would be lovely to see!"
"MOM!" Echoed throughout the island of Patch.
Drying his hair as he finished taking a shower, fluffing his ears as he did, and keeping his opposing leg muscle from tremoring as he did as it was just oddly stimulating as he did so, Naruto sighed contently as he slid on his boxers and put on the rest of his clothes as he headed out for dinner.
He was slightly late to dinner because he decided to take a shower first. While finishing up, Kali called for it when Ghira arrived home. He had expected it, so he hurried, finished, and headed out the door.
So taking his seat by Blake as the guards decided to buy takeout for themselves and eat out in the front to give the family their time, Naruto noticed the panther seemed a little off as he was picking at his meal.
Ghira wasn't sure how to proceed as he saw the boy sit down. He wanted to speak, but it was one of the few times he found himself flabbergasted. One of the goals he came to Vale for was that he wished to see how those struggling were doing and the known lower districts, or the slums as they were called.
A place where many faunus tended to end up due to financial reasons as, quite frankly, the system was still rigged against them in most kingdoms. Vale while equal rights… Wasn't too different, and that was why he was here and wanted to see the one most likely to fall victim to persecution.
Even though he knew crime had been reduced, he never expected to see how rejuvenated many of the younger, middle-aged, and even elderly faunus had become. The legend of the Gale Fox had moved many to start pushing themselves to do what they could to improve their own lives. Many of their shackles had been cut free. And it wasn't just the faunus… It was everyone in the lower districts.
Dirty entrepreneurs and loan sharks had taken off the streets and debts forgiven due to their illegal practices. People returned home either because they were forced to work against their will or because they realized that old White Fang had grown too brutal. Violent criminals were sought out and persecuted with prejudice, taken off the streets, and put behind bars but were offered help...
And this was done in six months… Six months. Crime by no means was eliminated, and corruption was still abundant. Still, they had taken many steps in the right direction, and those in charge had taken notice and started realizing the positive benefits.
The workforce was thriving, putting more effort into everyday life. So the council raised the wages to encourage this newfound effort and to support the working class. And it put more money back into the economy as they were spending it as they weren't in crippling debt due to many creditors and predators being put in their place to do things legally.
Meanwhile, they also passed a rule law to keep businesses from inflating prices where it wasn't necessary. The costs of shipping it had fairly and accurately met the price of the item being sold, making it, so gouging was less frequent. It was still occurring, but it was progress that had not been seen in a long time for faunus…
And the progress started from the top as a recent member of the Vale council was named in the last month after one was forced to step down due to connections to many of the businesses brought down by Naruto himself over the last six months.
June Fawn, the first ever faunus council member in any of the Kingdoms.
He remembered the woman well as she stood with him during many rallies and protests back in the day but never joined the White Fang. She stood for what they believed in but had her own model for what needed to be done and worked towards it to become a businesswoman that struggled mightily in Vale for a long time. But she worked at it and made friends with the right people.
And now she stood at the top of the mountain.
There was also that his daughter was a part of this movement and the other three girls, to an extent.
Naruto seemed to be the driving force, and Blake had chosen to be at his side for it.
And he wasn't sure what to think. When he was younger, violence always seemed to be the answer. It worked against Grimm and frightened off any racist, but when he went too far and saw the horrors and damage it caused…
He quickly realized he was wrong. Violence was reserved for defending your family and your people against the Grimm.
He saw a very positive change through a stringent code of violence as it was being used to help and protect the weak while diligently trying not to shed blood. There were exceptions in the White Fang cases, but both were extreme situations…
It seemed this mood carried on as his mate felt, and both the boy and his daughter sensed it. So he decided it was best to get it out in the open as he sighed deeply. "So today I was going through the lower rent district of Vale, and while everything there was… A sight I could hardly believe with the atmosphere and positivity. Something has been bothering me, and I must mention it."
"I have begun to understand that something is not natural about you, boy… It can't be after the things I've seen, and it does seem otherworldly. But your way of life puzzles me." Ghira spoke as he looked Naruto in the eyes. "I have learned from many years of my life that violence was not the right answer, and there are very few situations that it was ever necessary…."
"I start as Huntsman like many others, trying to use the talent the Brother Gods gave me for the betterment of everyone but also just to get my license so I could fight back on equal grounds," Ghira remembered those times as he spoke in a low tone. "We were not equal even after the war our fathers and mothers had fought for despite the equal rights laws being handed down by the four kingdoms. Being a Huntsman put me on equal footing at the very least and gave me freedoms that others were not allowed…."
"But I also learned that my aggression was my worst enemy as it came to haunt me," Ghira explained as he remembered the details vividly. "A Huntsman's job is to defend the people against Grimm, and while that is true, I did a lot of bounty hunting… Especially after human targets as I was angry… Vengeful. Hurt. And it cost me dearly as I went too far as one individual just like the Huntsman you came across just kept attacking those issues…."
Ghira closed his eyes and lowered his head as he exhaled. "And I left him scattered across the street for all to see."
Blake's eyes widened. This was a story she had never heard her father tell. He had been such a beacon of strength, a pillar of patience, and the definition of calm and collectedness that the ideal that he had lost himself so violently…
It left her shaken to the core.
But it also… Left her with understanding. He knew where Adam was coming from. It was why he rebuked him and tried to set him straight. It was because he had made the same mistake and hated seeing the same error be made twice.
Naruto understood the feeling. It was what he felt when he took Sill's life. He felt a vast amount of guilt that still weighed on his conscious. It was entirely justified, but that didn't make it right.
He regretted the two lives lost when he handed the trigger to Blake in their botched attempt to arrest or bring down Adam the first time.
He felt the burden of every life lost in the horrible mess of a rescue mission and the regret of trauma it left upon Yang…
The loss of Trivia weighed the most on his heart as she gave everything and gave Weiss enough time to get to safety…
Adam gave up his life as he wasn't fast enough to catch that beam of light while bringing Ruby back from the brink…
And that was just here on Remnant!
That wasn't to mention Zabuza sacrificing himself after he reminded him of his humanity and what Haku meant to him!
Old lady Chiyo laid down her life to revive Gaara after he and his friends desperately came to save the Kazekage and was moved by his passion and words once again!
Neji, who had turned his life around after their fight in the Chunin exams, threw himself in front of him and Hinata to save their lives when he had all but run out of strength to keep fighting and gave him the will to keep moving forward!
All their blood was on his hands… Even if it wasn't directly, in some way, he was the catalyst.
And he would keep moving forward. At this point, it would be disrespectful not to. He would finish what he started, and even if the world had changed and his goal had now been altered to an extent, it would be done for them.
And he would bare that burden!
"I've… Never had to kill anyone in my entire career as an assassin and soldier until I came here to Remnant." Naruto admitted after a long pause as everyone came to grasp Ghira's words, and Ghira's eyes now locked with his. "Be quite frank, I was too innocent even as a young soldier, and my jounin sensei and the hermit were fine with that… It worked as my words were my most effective weapon as I changed so many hearts so many times to the fault it cost me my own life… But I still saved my friend's soul in the end."
"Make no mistake. I take every precaution and action necessary to prevent the loss of life, but… But in some cases, some people want nothing more than to hurt and damage others all the while they build themselves an impenetrable wall of wealth and power. Those people I cannot stand by and let get away with what they are doing!" Naruto growled as his eyes dilated and narrowed.
"I saw this as a child and know what damage it could do to people, and it has haunted me since coming here. Seeing it so corrupted sickened me! I used what I was taught, and I dug out every scrap of information I could with my unique skill set and powers, and it didn't take me long. With the power of Hunter's license, I started working my way legally, finding cases that would lead me directly to these people as it always was with those in desperate need… It always is."
"Those who are crying out in need! The homeless, those who can't stand up for themselves anymore, and those who band together to form small alleyway communities! Those too lost in life and have just given up hope and willing to either wilt and die or threw caution to the wind and became criminals or joined the White Fang at that time!" Naruto let words flow through him, driving him as he lost himself in speech.
"And more times than not… As much as I was helping them by freeing them of whatever burden that beseeched them… It was ridding the world of that blight. Yes, sometimes it is violent! They never want to go peacefully! But not in one bust have I or anyone on our team killed anyone besides that horrible mission where so many things went wrong. The only life I've taken with my own two hands was a corrupt cop that was a sociopath that felt no remorse for his actions and was getting away with assaulting, harassing, and torturing prisoners, mostly faunus but humans as well got away with murder all because he was the chief's son!"
"Yes… Our job as Huntsman and Huntress is to take care of Grimm first, but they aren't going anywhere… I don't think they ever will. All we can do is continue to cull their numbers and defend the population. …But this is a problem that can be fixed! And I still will get started here soon as I am ready to take this tour worldwide." Naruto passionately finished as he had begun his plans with Ironwood and Raven on how to move forward soon, and it was just figuring out where to start.
They both seemed to think Vacuo was the place to start, as Mistral wouldn't be favorable for a faunus, and Atlus was already in Jacques' hands. So he needed Vacuo in his favor if he wanted two votes, a stalemate in the Remnant council.
That being said, getting his name further recognition would not hurt as he was hitting the Vale news outlets, and only his more extensive accomplishments went worldwide, like the Nix and Roman bust. Things were quiet otherwise outside the fact that it was starting to become world news that Vale's crime rate drastically dropped thanks to him…
So again, his name was becoming worldwide…
The room fell silent for a short time after Naruto's passion-filled speech. Blake wasn't sure how her father would take it and was very nervous. She was on board, having agreed to this course a long time ago, and felt it was the right action to do even if it meant the unfortunate loss of a life or two…
"That… Is something else I will say." Ghira broke the silence and kept his gaze steady on Naruto. "While I won't admit to knowing everything, it is impossible for such a thing. What you are doing is working, and it is currently amazing. But such a thing isn't sustainable either, and you must know this. There will always be corruption, and the greedy will always run rampant. They will always find a way back. Racism will never go away. That is a sad fact of life."
"You know, you're right… I won't be able to keep this up. It isn't possible." Naruto smiled and gave a little laugh as he looked at Blake before scratching the back of his neck while both Ghira and Kali were kind of taken aback by the sudden change of tone. "Funny thing was after we figure out how to deal with this wedding issue… Blake and I were planning on going to Kuo Kuana as she wanted to see you but also because I needed help for this exact reason before all this stuff started falling apart on us."
"What?" Ghira was now confused as while he believed they were making plans to come to see them very soon, he was unsure of what he could do to help the boy with his current work. "I'm not exactly knowledgeable about what you are doing to help."
"No… Dad. What we need help in… Is rebuilding his home… A place where the laws will treat everyone equally and fairly no matter who you are. A place where it doesn't matter who you are. You will be accepted. A place where if you are down on your luck, people will help you back up and get you back on your feet." Blake smiled as she explained the parts she wanted from the home they would build.
Naruto smiled as his hand intertwined with Blake's. "My home… Had a lot of rough spots and things that needed to be done differently. But there were a lot of things done right too. To make something like that for the future, I need help figuring out where to start. I have people wanting to get out of Vale already despite the positive changes… They want to pitch tents until I can build roofs over their heads. They've seen enough and want out."
"I know it's a lot to ask for, but…." Blake started.
"Give… Me some time to think on it." Ghira answered honestly as he looked at his daughter and her mate. "It's not every day you get asked to try to start another village, and I'm overwhelmed right now with rebuilding the White Fang, but… I'd have to ask more about it later. I would like to know more, but it is getting late. I dare say I don't want to waste this meal."
"Oh… No, not again! Sorry! It's delicious!" Naruto realized the meal was getting cold and panicked, grabbed his utensils, and dug straight in.
Kali only smiled before turning to her husband as he slowly started to eat his meal. She knew him well enough to know what he was thinking.
Naruto's words had moved him like she had been, but he worried for his safety and sanity as no one could keep this up for long. Everyone had a breaking point. And then hearing of his goal? That he wanted to put running a village on top of that?
Ghira seemed to know he was trying to juggle too many things at once and was trying to tell him to slow down. And in this case, she was on the side of her mate. Naruto seemed to be able to do amazing things, but…
He was overworking himself.
And that could very well be his downfall.
Letting the brisk and salty air breathe around him as the morning sun slowly dawned in the distance, he let the world fill his presence like he did every morning so he could become further acquainted with it.
He felt more in tune with Remnant than he ever did back on his Earth*. He didn't have much time to focus on his natural chakra, just getting used to the world back then as it was a constant rush. At the very least, here there was a grace period…
Time to rest and recover. Time to focus and regather oneself.
Time to train.
No, Naruto didn't need to train to break this guy. That was already guaranteed. No, he wanted to be prepared and ready for when things broke down again…
When Fate decided to rear her ugly head again, everything went wrong like it did on the train.
He couldn't afford another disaster like that.
While he was rightfully putting his effort into training the girls as they needed to be ready…
He needed to be ready.
What Ghira spoke of when he returned resonated with him. He was thankful for what he still had despite everything he had lost. But he had to remain vigilant. Otherwise, he would lose it…
And that meant he needed to work on always keeping his focus. Sensing everything even when he was intently keen on what was in front of him. To keep track of every living thing around him. Every sound. Every smell. Each spec of sand...
Without even opening his eyes, he withdrew Wilt from Blush and drew Dreams from the sheath off his back as he heard the sound of the wings and a shimmering and felt a pulse of aura.
Wilt deflected Omen as it sliced for his neck. Dream intercepted Harbinger in its great sword form as it came from above. With his eyes still closed, Naruto gave the simplest of smiles as he gave a morning greeting. "Is this how the Branwen clan says good morning? …Cause I feel Yang missed a few lessons."
"It's one of two ways I like to greet those worthwhile in the morning!" Raven grinned before suddenly backing off as a bullet was shot at her from Qrow's transformed Harbinger into its dual pistol form, with one aimed straight at her. "Oh, grow up, Qrow!"
"Fuck you! I was the one that did." Qrow growled as he did not want to hear about what his sister wanted to do with the boy, who happened to be taken as it was. "Maybe you should take a lesson from the actual adults in the room."
Raven narrowed her eyes as she drew Omen before her, her focus now entirely on Qrow. However, Naruto couldn't help but feel as if this was…
Hearing footsteps from behind, his eyes snapped open, and he caught the person that tried to attack him from the rear, flipped him over his shoulder, and onto the ground beneath him as he stood up and grinned as he jumped back.
Before him stood Taiyang Xiao Long, Raven, and Qrow Branwen with their weapons drawn, while Tai seemed to have a pair of gauntlets.
It was more apparent where Yang got her fighting style from.
Naruto smirked as he released natural chakra and sheathed his weapons, irking Qrow as he felt slighted, knowing that meant they weren't being taken entirely seriously. "Oh, so we're going to have this training session… Good. I was hoping for a good morning exercise to get started."
And forming an old faithful seal, Naruto grinned. "Let's start with an old faithful…."
"Taiju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)"
Suddenly the numbers game heavily skewed in Naruto's favor as each cracked their knuckles. "I think twenty for each of you sounds fair as I figure out your fighting styles."
"Shit…" Qrow suddenly realized this was going to be a long, drawn-out session. "Well, that's my luck…."
As Raven growled, Tai blinked before grinning. "Okay, I get where Yang comes from now. That is pretty damn cool. Wish that could be taught."
"Now is not the time to be impressed, Tai!" Raven and Qrow roared as the clones descended upon them.
However, Raven abandoned her teammates seeing the real Naruto stay behind, and jumped through a portal. Qrow saw this and cursed. "Raven, you fucking bitch!"
"Thirty each, then!" Tai tried to stay optimistic as the clones were upon them, and they were forced to defend themselves.
"Saw that one coming," Naruto commented as his skin started to redden as the portal formed behind him, and Raven slice came as she dashed out, only for him not to be there.
Her red eyes narrowed. The moment she came out of the portal, he was there. The instant she made her move, he had vanished. It was as if he knew she was… "Shit!"
Raven barely blurred from existence as the ground beneath became a sinkhole. Skidding against the sand, getting her footing, she scanned everywhere for the blonde fox as she saw Qrow and Tai slowly cutting through and punching their way through the wave of clones.
Where could he…
Feeling his arms wrap around her waist, Raven's eyes widened as Naruto grinned. "Gotcha!"
Lifting her up and above before she could do anything, Naruto arched her above his back and slammed her headfirst into the sand with a German suplex that left a significant imprint in the sand below. He wasn't done as he quickly rolled to stay on top and regained his footing just to hit her with a stunned second before threw into the ocean with the third and final suplex.
He picked up more than just how to control and harness using Kurama chakra from Kirabi…
Naruto learned quite a few wrestling techniques from the man too.
Hearing the flapping of wings, he drew Wilt, and the clang of metal sounded as it met with the scythe blade of Harbinger as Qrow came swinging in like a reaper, transforming at the last possible second.
Sand kicked up as Qrow went on the offensive, swinging like a man possessed as he and Harbinger blurred out of existence for all that could see, and there were those watching as Naruto parried and deflected strikes. Then he forced a counter-offensive and began to push the corvid back towards the seaside with his slashes.
Only for Raven to burst from the water and a fiery slash of dust to help her brother as Taiyang flew in from above with a furious kick that cratered the ground and forced Naruto to back off and help regain the edge and turn the tide for the remaining members of team STRQ.
Ruby's silver eyes watched in awe and were mesmerized at the spectacle as she came out to train with Naruto as she always did at this time. Instead, she came to see her uncle Qrow, her father, and the person she was suspicious to be Yang's mother to be fighting against Naruto and locked in an epic clash that she could barely track...
Almost everyone was moving as fast, if not faster than she could with her semblance!
Was this why they were pushing her and the others so hard? Was this what true Huntsman and Huntress were capable of?
And her eyes were locked intently on Naruto, focusing on every movement he made. She followed his eyes and attempted to track his movements. She saw every breath he inhaled and exhaled. Every muscle twitched. Saw every bead of sweat drip from his pores.
It was exhilarating. It was…
She flinched as she saw who realized who was standing next to her and watching. No, she couldn't keep going like this…
The morning started like any other for Blake. Naruto woke up first and his leaving her morning embrace brought her to the world of the living. She took care of her morning routine and took her shower, more satisfied as she cleaned herself than the previous nights now that his sound dampener seals were far more effective.
If only her mother's hearing wasn't so excellent... She was asking about grand kittens first thing to start the morning as she got her morning coffee, causing both her and her father to spit some of their coffee out.
Wasn't the thing you first expected to hear in the morning…
However, hearing the clang of metal soon caught her attention along with her father, and while it wasn't immediately alarming as it was time for Ruby to train, Blake was a little concerned. Naruto hadn't been focusing on her mental aspect and drawing forth the power of the silver eyes as she could work physically with everyone else.
So she investigated, and her family came with her to see and what they got was a sight to behold. Four Hunters, three versus one, in a fight with Naruto, taking on Ruby and Yang's family as it seemed they came by to help kick start his training.
And while she always knew her mate was strong, he was holding his own well against three seasoned and powerful hunters while buffing his semblance and natural energy…
Again it put things in perspective for her.
His world was crazy powerful.
The morning for Weiss was a little odd as she was up slightly earlier than expected. It was partially due to having gone to bed much earlier the day before, tired from staying up all day. So she went with it and got ready after Ruby was done, seeing as she was always up first and went to do her training.
She went to greet Taiyang but found it strange he wasn't there to start the morning. She had grown accustomed to the man being awake when she rose in the morning and found him a comforting presence.
A father that she wished she had growing up as he was just so kind and willing to help. He didn't mind that she was spending this last month and a half with them despite being offered to stay in the extra room with Naruto and Blake when their house was finished.
She felt that would have been too awkward.
Weiss wasn't sure if she wanted to be in an isolated room with Naruto and Blake. She wasn't sure if she could handle that at this current moment…
At least after a couple of nights ago…
Not only did she feel partially responsible for what her father was pulling with the announced wedding at the end of the Vytal festival, but she also wanted to give the couple space. One thing she did recognize over the time she was talking to Naruto over the last few months was that she realized there was something there…
And that wasn't a good thing if he was in a committed relationship with someone that was her friend. And due to the lack of any proper kind of relationships she ever had in her life, she rather that than accidentally tread somewhere she didn't mean to…
Without anyone there, Weiss decided to at least see what Blake was doing there since she would prefer some company. She only hoped that her parents did just her too harshly on the sins of her father…
They were his, not hers…
And that was why it was shocking when she arrived at this scene, and she couldn't wrap her head around it.
What was this she was watching? Was this a spar or a battle?
Burning slashes lit up the dark morning sky as Raven came in heatedly, each blow being deflected and parried as Naruto drew Dreams and transformed into a shotgun state, blasting where she had been only for her to transform into a raven to dodge the shot.
And Qrow swooped in, transforming and slashing with Harbinger its great sword form as he forced Naruto back with heavy strikes. Tai came in, disarming Dreams with a kick, forcing him to fight the man hand-to-hand. He struggled as he kicked Qrow back with a boot, only for his eyes to widen as a bolt of electricity dropped onto him, forcing him to ground Wilt to lessen the damage from the shock.
He, however, was hardly able to put up his arms to take the roundhouse to his chest from Tai that sent him flying into the sea and skidding across the water's top.
But unlike Raven, he didn't sink as he flipped and used the water as a surface to skid to a fault.
"What?! That's a thing?!" Qrow cried out incredulously as Tai looked on again, understanding where Yang was coming from, while Raven started tapping the water with her feet, trying to understand what she was seeing before her. "What next? You're going to tell me you can walk on air?!"
"If sis was here…" Ruby muttered with a slight stutter and disbelief, seeing Naruto standing on the ocean swells.
Blake stood in awe as she had heard from him that walking on water was a possibility but seeing the act was something else altogether. And she could tell from her father and mother's faces that they were truly beginning to believe his story.
He was not from Remnant. He was from Earth.
The White Fang guards were simply in disbelief at the entire spectacle as one person with so many semblances unheard of!
"Should I be surprised at this point…" Weiss whispered but was still enraptured before noticing he was going through hand seals like his techniques, but it took a lot longer than usual. "Um… Why is this one taking so long?"
"I think something bad is about to happen. Qrow, what have you brought forth." Tai spoke as he watched Naruto finish the hand seals.
A grin appeared on the blonde's face as he had to thank Kakashi once more for giving him the scroll for this technique. He wasn't one to deny his student's learning opportunities, even when he didn't think they could learn the material. And he probably would have been correct if he hadn't been the reincarnation of Asura…
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu! (Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet)"
And from the water rose the head, roaring as it came to life, of a classic eastern dragon of massive proportions and composed entirely of water burst from the salty ocean and into the sky above. It trailed around the sea, leaving swells as it circled Naruto and roared once more before it burst forward toward the standing members of team STRQ.
"I'm never listening to you again! Your luck is contagious!" Tai yelled as the massive dragon zoomed towards them while Qrow's eyes bugged in and out, and Raven used a portal to get out of the danger zone.
Tai barely leaped out of the splashed zone as the dragon exploded with extreme force while Qrow flew away in a panicked state. Both were knocked back from the shockwave that sent Tai tumbling across the sand and into the pitfall that Raven avoided earlier, while Qrow landed with a painful thud directly in front of Ruby as he transformed back.
"Yang is going to be mad…." Ruby muttered and stumbled over her words at the realization that the crow had been their uncle the entire time.
"Don't you dare tell her, Ruby…" Qrow growled as he lay in the sand, not moving as he didn't feel like getting up after that shot. "It's the little pleasures in life that are the best… Give me that one."
Ruby smiled and nodded in understanding.
Qrow smiled back. He loved Ruby for that reason. She seemed utterly innocent until she suddenly wasn't; it surprised many people.
Ruby could be a devil when she wanted to be.
Knowing that he only took care of the two fathers, Naruto had to wonder where the absentee mother went as she used her portal. It wasn't like she could…
"You cannot be serious!" Naruto withdrew Wilt and, with a quick slash, deflected Omen, surprising Raven as she stumbled on the water's edge and was struggling mightily to stay afloat. "I'll give you credit! You figured it out way quicker than I thought you would after only seeing how Yang used her aura from the fight you two had!"
"Summer might have been our leader, but I was the strongest of my team for a reason, boy!" Raven growled as she struggled to stay on top of the water and knew she needed to get this back on land in a hurry.
As Ruby gasped at hearing that, Qrow groaned and slowly sat up. "Needs to keep her mouth shut…."
"Is that…" Ruby began but got a simple nod from Qrow to confirm her suspicion as It was the first time… "I've… Seen her before."
Qrow winced as it seemed Ruby recalled the memory of Raven returning to Patch only to flee. "It's a long story, Rubes… We'll explain later. Probably with everyone present… If we can ever get my sister to stay that long. She is a roamer and is running the tribe now... Plus her many, many issues she has to deal with."
"Like she's a bitch." Taiyang crawled out of his hole before looking at the sight. "Although if she gives me that look with those glorious but intimidating red eyes again I…."
"Tai, I will run you through if you complete that sentence!" Qrow roared as he twitched, for he was unwilling to give her a pass on her abandonment of his family.
He would accept her help as she was a helpful ally, there was no denying that, and he was glad to have his sister back in his life on more acceptable terms. Maybe she could be brought back into their family.
But for now…
Bolts of lightning struck as electricity crackled around Raven, releasing her maiden magic and attempting to displace Naruto from the body of water. But as she started to walk him towards the land, fighting bolts of lightning, her eyes widened in horror as he sliced through her lightning with his blade and began to come towards her with his blade crackling with electricity.
And Naruto grinned as Raven realized she wasn't the only one capable of wielding lightning. He swung Wilt, and an electric arc cut through the air, forcing her to portal back to land. "Ah, come back! We were just getting started!"
"Just!" Raven narrowed her eyes as she felt slighted by those words, yet at the same time, Qrow was getting back on his feet while Taiyang had done so.
They, however, both had seemed to have called it, knowing it was only an exercise, and seemed disinterested in continuing the battle. But her eyes glowed a shining and robust red. A powerful new emotion began to swell within.
Lust.
"If that is you just getting going… More…"
"Oh god, it's those eyes… It's happening… Ump!" Taiyang muttered before he felt the wind leave his lungs as he doubled over from a punch Qrow threw into his gut. "How did you hear me from over there?"
"Didn't need to. I knew." Qrow grumbled before he noticed a very angry faunus with her hand twitching for her weapon while Ruby had drawn Crescent Rose. "Yeah… Raven, my semblance has a tingling that you are in for a bad time if you say any longer."
"What do you…." Raven turned to her brother only to see the furious daughter of Belladonna glaring daggers at her, reaching for her weapon, and Ruby with a scythe in hand, ready to go. "I get his mate… Why is little Ruby upset?"
Qrow nearly face-faulted and then twitched as he yelled at his corvid sister. "Well, maybe if someone were good, hell, a decent parent, they would know? Ever think about that, dear sister?"
Raven glared at her brother for calling out her failing before everyone. It wasn't like that mostly everyone here didn't know, but it still did not need to be brought attention to publicly!
She glared her brother down before she opened a portal, turned away, and walked through it.
"Oh, really mature! Run away from your problems like you always do!" Qrow growled out at his sister as he tried to make a point, but unbeknownst to him, Tai's eyes widened in shock as a portal opened behind his friend. "It's just like it always was! You could never learn how to be an adult! When the going gets tough… Fuck!… Tai… Where you on that?"
"Watching your dick get kicked in." Tai grimaced as was slowly stood back up from being gut punched by Qrow earlier while he watched Raven kick Qrow straight in the balls from behind, dropping the crow straight to his knees.
"Qrow," Raven growled as she looked down at her brother while Naruto decided the best course of action was to call training done for now and join the Belladonna family and get some coffee, inviting Weiss to come inside with them. "I see everyone else here… But where is my daughter?"
Instead, he wanted as much of a regular morning as possible after this and did not want to be dragged into the odd family dynamic of the Xiao Long-Branwen-Rose family. The fact they were all once a hunter team was even more bizarre…
He shuddered. He did not want that responsibility. He loved Blake, and his friendships with the rest of RWBY, while rewarding, could be quite the drain…
If they were lovers, he'd be spent all the time!
The fact that he swore Ruby and Yang were trying to make such a thing happen…
"Oh… She committed herself yesterday early in the morning." Taiyang sighed deeply before looking at his ex-wife as she turned to face him. "She has been struggling with the event over a month ago and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anger management issues."
"Yeah… Bash someone's brains tends to leave most people pretty fucked afterward." Qrow growled as he picked himself up gingerly while Raven narrowed her eyes at her brother, knowing that was a dig at her cold nature and her ability to kill casually.
"I kill fluidly, and I don't leave a mess. Less to have to think about. And we don't look down on killing either. We do what is necessary for the good of the tribe." Raven calmly retorted while her gaze stayed focused on her lover of her child while Qrow only narrowed his eyes at his dismal. "Something triggered a dramatic breakdown."
"Yeah, a Mistral racist that shot Naruto in the back after he managed to keep Yang and everyone calm after he targeted her and his friends for being around him." Tai wanted nothing more than to give the kid a beating of his own. "Something about the event started to trigger her PTSD, and it almost caused a new symptom as she started to develop psychosis and heard voices shortly after. Blake helped her out, and they're currently treating her. She called last night, and it seems like she might be able to come home in a few days. Everything seems fine, but that might be because Yang puts up a strong front."
"That she does," Qrow said, his eyes piercing Raven as he sighed as Yang had done this for herself and Ruby. "And while I do get your reasons… She had to make up for you not being here for her."
"Qrow enough, I get it." Raven sighed as she was tired of playing his game, and the guilt trip he was attempting lay on her before she looked over at a fidgeting Ruby and then focused her red eyes directly on Tai. "But I am here now… As late as it is. And I am trying. And while I can't stay as I have the tribe to run… I want to spend time with the girls, even if it is minimal."
Qrow knew it was over soon as she locked those eyes into Tai's, and he knew it. He never could say no to them. Ever! Even when they were first put on a team together, he couldn't say no! It made for some awkward nights, as Raven did not care if anyone was in the room!
By the Brothers, he and Summer had to flee that room a few times…
But he was pleasantly surprised as Taiyang spoke in a stern voice as he straight back into her eyes. "And I should give that right back to you after seventeen years? You left Raven. If you had come earlier, then maybe this wouldn't be a discussion, but… Now?… It's their decision, not mine. They're Huntresses."
"They control their lives now. I just feel more comfortable with my daughters staying home with me until I know they're finically stable… Unless you do as many jobs as Naruto has been doing… A damn workhorse that boy is… It takes a little time to get to where you're living comfortably. You know that." Taiyang stated with a smile as he looked over at Ruby.
"That and I don't feel like letting Ruby leave until they're at least eighteen… Yang is jailbait, and my Ruby is still too sweet and innocent." Tai smiled brightly, making Ruby blush deeply and look away while Qrow and Raven shared a look.
Qrow knew Ruby could be a devil, and Raven could only guess that Ruby wasn't as innocent as Tai thought she was somewhere inside.
The innocent ones always had the darkest secrets. Summer had some… Imaginative fantasies.
She hoped Tai wasn't too scarred if they did any of those… She had a hard time seeing the other way around as she wasn't sure he could do that…
Regardless, Raven took a deep breath as he was a tall task for her without meaning to. She would have to conquer the very thing that broke her the last time she came to Patch.
Ruby's silver eyes reminded her so much of Summer's.
After the event of watching life return to her eyes gave her so kind of renewed vigor. Hope. That Summer's dream was still alive and well.
So red eyes stared into silver, and she tried to smile. "So Ruby… Would it be… Okay, if this Friday when your sister is back… That I joined everyone for dinner… So we can talk?"
Ruby's heart was beating so quickly she was going to faint. She hardly heard the woman known as Raven speak after she approached. The approach was so frightening for her! Everything was so tense, and now she was standing in front of her. Her stature and stance told her she was powerful, yet she tried to be gentle while her aura screamed so aggressively at her!
But… She could feel the genuine attempt that Ruby gave a stuttered and nervous laugh. And she gulped before nodding and stammering through her words through both nerves and her impediment. "I… We would like that."
"Thank you, Ruby. You are very kind, just like your mother." Raven gave a sad smile. "I will see you then, and if your sister isn't out, we will schedule another time."
With that, Raven opened a portal and was ready to head back to her village, but before she turned glared one last time at her brother. "Stay off the booze. You're better without it."
"Fuck you! I'm going to get shitfaced right now!" Qrow roared as Raven walked through her portal before realizing she was smirking as she left. "Wait… All right, sis, we haven't played this game in twenty years. I'm game. I might need to be sober to play, though… You bitch."
"When you are done talking to yourself, Qrow, Ruby, and I will be making breakfast!" Tai called out as he and Ruby waved as they walked away and left Qrow twitching on the spot.
He then sighed.
Well, at least his sister was trying. It was all he could ask.
"Just going to ignore all that out there… Let's enjoy some coffee!" Naruto closed the door as everyone nodded in agreement, knowing it was best to stay out of their family drama.
Getting his cup and grabbing a cup for Weiss as she was the guest, Naruto placed handed it to her and sat down at his usual spot. At the same time, Blake cozied against him again, seeking his warmth as it was cold outside to start the morning before taking off her coat as she left the sewing kit out, so she continued her work on putting his crest on the back.
"Thank you." Weiss smiled and took a sip, thankful for the warmth it brought despite the slightest pang. It was okay. It was a natural reaction, but she was more curious about what Blake was doing. "That is a curious logo… What is that?"
"It happens to be my clan's crest." Naruto took a deep drink to get some warmth before he pulled out his old coat and laid it out so Blake had a reference to work with, not needing it since she had the design done at this point. "Despite being raised as I was… I was one of the last of my scattered clan."
"Oh," Weiss found that exciting and would have loved to hear more before she frowned, noticing the tattered state of the coat, and her heart wrenched as a thought crossed her mind. "Wait… Is this what you wore when you…"
Stopping her sewing, that thought never crossed her mind, and Blake knew it was true as she looked at the tattered jacket and then at Naruto. "Oh, by the Brothers…"
"It's fine, honestly," Naruto commented as he shook his head while both Kali and Ghira grimaced at the thought that wearing clothes you died in once before would be somewhat awkward. "I had to wear them a week after until I got to replace them as I just had to move on. No point looking back if I could go back home."
Ghira nodded as he took a drink of his coffee. "That is a good way to look at it. It's always best to keep looking ahead while moving forward to see the path ahead."
"But," Kali mentioned as she smiled. "I liked the idea of keeping it as a memory. It doesn't always hurt to stop and look at the road you traveled to see how you've gotten where you are."
Smiling at his mate's words as they were wiser than his own, Ghira leaned over and gave a light kiss. It was because he loved her so much. She completed him in the best of ways.
Once more, Weiss had to refrain from sighing. Why did all of her team but her have at least one proper functional parent, if not both, while she had none? Naruto was the only person who understood what it might be like, and he seemed just as uncomfortable as Blake but just being next to him seemed to help him adjust...
She had no such presence to help her.
She was becoming the loneliest of all.
"What the…" Naruto felt his scroll going off and pulled it out to see a number he wasn't expecting. "Jaune? Why are you calling at… Okay, never mind, Pyrrha's wake-up call is thirty minutes earlier than this."
"Yeah, don't remind me… Still getting my breath back, thanks!" Jaune complained before continuing. "No, I was calling because last night my team and CFVY came together and decided to see if we could spend summer break out of Beacon and… For some reason, Professor Ozpin just doesn't seem to care right now and approved it!"
"Probably because Glynda isn't there to cover his messes and… Oh, right. Thanks for reminding me of that, Jaune." Naruto started before remembering that he needed to call Glynda and talk to the new chief of police so he could figure out what had happened there.
"True, she did fix quite a lot here." Jaune agreed, remembering how much damage the witch had fixed at Beacon. "Anyway, we all know you got the new place out at Patch and were wondering if we could camp there for the summer! We were going to be meeting up training anyway, and this kills two birds with one stone, and we'd all be there!"
Naruto blinked. I mean, he was right. It was a hassle figuring out how to include Ren in their plans, and that would make it to where he was here. It would also just mean everyone was here, and more people were here and more of a hassle with more bodies…
"Does anyone drive and have a vehicle?" Naruto asked as that was the first thing that came to mind. "Because we are severely lacking in that department at the moment."
"Coco has a car, and Velvet has her license. They were discussing renting something for the summer after leaving." Pyrrha's voice came from the other side of the scroll, listening in and chiming in as she knew Jaune wouldn't have the answer.
"Good enough." Naruto pulled his scroll away and put it on speaker mode as he looked at Weiss and Blake. "So, team vote for JNPR and CFVY spending the summer camping here to get out Beacon for a while?"
"I'm good with all but Jaune." Weiss grinned with evil intent as she said that.
"YOU WOUND ME WITH YOUR WORDS, MY DEAR!" Jaune clearly heard Weiss over the scroll, and Pyrrha was laughing loudly.
"Me too. Have the only blonde I need." Blake grinned as she kept pilling on to the Arc's issue.
"Fair, but… COME ON!" Jaune cried before grumbling to himself before he started singing sadly. "Fine… Just stay here at Beacon all by myself… I wanna be… All by myself…."
A small chorus of laughter filled both sides as Naruto shook her head. "All right, you all are coming… I'll get us a rig on this end, and Velvet will come with us to pick it up. Blake was getting ready to take the test for her license soon anyways."
"Just haven't had the time, to be honest," Blake answered before Weiss glared at her, slapped her hands on the table, and raised herself from her seat. "We're always busy with work or training that I prefer using the little downtime we get spending it here."
"I DEMAND THAT YOU MAKE IT! A LITTLE TIME IN THE CITY IS MANDATE, OR I WILL GO CRAZY!" Weiss had a crazed glint in her eye as she gave Blake a heated look, realizing there were plans to get a vehicle, and she had been studying as well.
She wasn't anywhere close to purchasing a vehicle or feeling comfortable doing so with everything going on.
"Someone is getting stir-crazy." Jaune whistled and sealed his death warrant as Naruto winced, and Blake rolled her eyes, knowing what was about to happen.
Weiss twitched and had the most demonic smile grace her lips. "Pyrrha, dear, do you still need help with Jaune's sparring lessons? I am more than willing to give him proper fencing etiquette."
"Oh, I just… Yeah, walked right into that." Jaune sighed as Pyrrha's laughter was booming on the other side. "I'm going to let you guys go now before I keep digging my grave any further… Classes are out on Friday, so see you Saturday. Bye."
"See you, dead man, Pyrrha." Naruto grinned as he hung up his scroll after hearing Jaune do the same on his end. "Well, at least we'll have the whole crew back and up by the week's end. The other house should be done by the end of the month… And I'm slowly picking up all the tricks of the trade, so soon enough, I'll be able to build myself."
As Blake smiled at Naruto's comment and returned to working on the crest on her coat, Ghira had the mildest of frowns. The boy was earnest about trying to build a community out here while on top of everything else he was currently doing. It was an undertaking that was truly spreading himself thin and so many fronts.
Naruto saw this look before taking a breath. "…Do you happen to have anything planned for the day? If you aren't busy… There is something I want to show you and why I want to build here."
Thinking on it for a moment as he saw his daughter's attention snap up, recognizing what he was talking about and demanding to go to, Ghira only chuckled at that sight before he gave Naruto a serious look and gave him a nod. "There isn't anything planned for the day, so I'm free when you have the time. In a few days, I'm scheduled to meet with June Fawn, but other than that, my schedule is currently clear… Despite everything that has happened in this short time, I needed some time off, and I thought the best way to do it was to come and surprise my daughter with a visit."
"And we got far more surprises in the process!" Kali commented in the process as she smiled and drank some of her coffee. "Finding that you already have a house, are happily mated, and have started to figure out home life… I am already expecting my grand kittens soon!"
"Now, now dear… Let's give them a few years on that. I'm not so ready to be a grandfather when we were just discussing giving Blake a sibling when we arrived." Ghira grinned and added to his daughter's misery to make Naruto bite his lip to keep from busting out as he could feel the pulse of heat coming from Blake's indignity.
"Dad! Mom!" Blake hissed as she snapped her head towards them both, embarrassed by them as Weiss choked on her sip of coffee, not expecting any of this in the slightest but had to hold back her giggles. "Come on… I didn't… Mean for it to go this quickly…."
"We did say and try to take it slowly… It just seemed like every time something attempted to pull us further apart, it brought us closer together instead and sped up the relationship." Naruto scratched his head as a small part felt it did come about too quickly. "I swear, at times, Fate acted actively against us but failed as I am not one to believe in destiny. I make my own."
He was sure Blake felt the same but seeing her so happy made him confident in his choice.
Frowning as she thought of that, Weiss couldn't help but begin to believe that as she watched Blake happily purr in response. She never liked how easily she fell for Naruto. She didn't feel it was natural. Yes, he challenged her conceptions, and yes, she felt a connection with him that now felt like she had a more natural bond, but that first moment where her heart did flips despite everything in her body telling her she should not trust him for years of hardship from dealing with what the White Fang had done to her and her family…
She didn't trust faunus because of it… Yet she readily accepted Naruto without hesitation.
Then her father arrived so early without a valid reason to. The Vytal festival hadn't even begun, so why was he there? He was not the kind of man to do things on a whim, and his hatred for faunus was well documented that this marriage was a hotly debated discussion now that the news went public.
Something was wrong, and Weiss did not like that. Was this all…
"You okay, Weiss?" Naruto asked as you could see her distress written all over her face. "Something seems wrong."
"I… I was just thinking about the issues we've been having, that's all." Weiss told a half-truth as she covered up where her thoughts were leading her, not wanting to discuss everything in front of Blake's parents. "When we are all together, I want to discuss it later. I think it is something we all need to discuss."
It seemed Naruto caught onto that and nodded as he smiled at her. "All right, we'll bring it up when we get the group back together. Sound good?"
Weiss smiled and nodded as she liked the sound of that. Putting everyone's head together tended to yield better results.
Last time Nora came to save, so who knew what would happen this time?
Drinking the last bit of coffee, Naruto rolled his shoulders out as he felt slightly stiff after the morning session with team TRQ. "I say shortly after breakfast would be a good time if everyone is okay to go show you where I wanted to."
"Sounds good." Ghira agreed with a nod before he noticed his mate's smile. "Yes, dear?"
"Could you possibly make a stop for me? I need some bokken." Kali purred with her eyes closed as Ghira's eyes widened before she turned towards Naruto, and Blake stopped everything she was doing as she saw her mom's eyes open and look seriously at Naruto. "If someone is to use a traditional sword, a chokutō no less, they must use it properly. All I've been seeing is fundamental technique and poor form."
"Well… That's…" Naruto stumbled over his words before taking a breath and sighing. "I am not a master of many of my skills, and I am just bad at some of them. A competent swordsman gave everyone one lesson in the academy with the sword, and I took what I remembered from that day and have been using it… Blake has been helping me with the rest when we have had time."
"Then it looks like I'll be having to retrain my child, for she could have done a much better job and needs to relearn a few lessons." Blake sputtered at her mother's harsh words, and she looked horrified. Kali kept her eyes on the young couple before she gave a bright smile as she switched gears. "But for now, let me start breakfast. Need to keep your energy up!"
With that, Kali finished her coffee before giving Ghira a small kiss and heading to their kitchen as both Naruto and Blake were shocked at what had happened. Ghira could only grimace before giving the boy advice as he took another sip of his coffee. "Word of caution, listen to every word and do as she says. Will make things run far smoother."
He could only hope and pray it would go well for them. He was sure the boy would be a capable learner, but for his daughter…
It didn't go well last time, and he felt it wouldn't go well again.
It was the one time Blake's rebellious nature should not have reared its head…
Upon arriving on Fifth Street, Ghira had no idea what to expect. It was a relatively normal shopping district within Vale and seemed normal enough at first. But it was never going to be that simple. He knew that as they walked past all the people on the streets and the stores.
And he was right.
They were led to an alleyway with a few homeless lined up on the sides with cardboard cutouts for houses. Sights like this always made him cringe. There could always be more done to help those in need. It was why the construction of housing was always at the forefront in Kuo Kuana and all of Menagerie.
To him, it mattered that every person and family was placed and safe. Safety and security were the most important aspects of any person's life; without them, they fell apart. A home was the foundation upon which many of those things were built. Without that kind of security, one's life fell apart slowly but surely…
And the fact that each homeless knew Naruto and Blake greeted them with warm smiles and called them by name. To be known personally by everyone here, welcome them back, and know them by name…
Coming to a rusted metal door of an abandoned warehouse with boarded-up windows to repair the broken glass, Naruto racked it with his knuckles for a good knock. "Rusty, I know you smelled me by now. Open the door."
"Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses… These old bones ain't getting any younger, boy!" Rusty's voice came from the other side before the door squealed open. "That noise is getting worse every day… But good to see you, kid. Who did you bring along this…."
Rusty's eyes widened before the slightest grin appeared on his face. "High Leader Belladonna, sir. It's been too long. I didn't know you were in town. There wasn't even a protest far as I knew, and these old bones can't do what they used to."
Ghira gave a calming smile as he put the man at ease. "I am only here with my daughter and her mate as they wanted to show me something. I can only guess this is that something."
"Daughter…" Rusty's eyes went wide for a moment at the realization that Blake was the child of one of the most influential faunus in the world.
However, the far more critical information caught his attention immediately after as he grinned as he looked at the young couple. "Well, about damn time you two finally got it done! My nose always knows you two; by the brothers, it has been obvious… Come on in. Everyone is here but further back now. Some people now had enough to afford to get out into the slums."
"Rusty… Come on." Naruto blushed as he scratched the back of his head and looked embarrassed, while Blake flushed beat red and looked down to avoid eye contact. "Thanks, we'll go see them."
Hearing those words made Ghira and Kali frown as they followed the younger couple into the abandoned warehouse and the door squealed shut behind them. It began to dawn on them what this was.
It was a self-made homeless community that was attempting to support itself.
"Feels a little different when the family isn't right here," Naruto commented, noting that they had indeed gotten a little more room, and it was just Rusty's small bedding here.
"Yeah, my daughter and her mate should have their own space with the kids. Now there is just a bit more room in the community. It made sense." Rusty sighed as he missed the company before he gave a sad smile. "But I will be taking care of the kids during the days now since Desmond will start going to tomorrow, and my daughter got her job a few weeks ago… Today is different as the bank was hit and still repairing it, so Aryl doesn't have to go in till tomorrow as well."
"Oh… Right, she was there." Naruto blinked before remembering he heard her voice there, but he had forgotten in all the chaos of the past few days.
"I forgot that too… Considering what happened immediately after. A lot has happened in a short amount of time." Blake reasoned as meeting her parents trumped that and then the Grimm breach…
And things just kept spiraling out of control…
"Yeah, she mentioned both of you took care of the crooks easily, and her boss gave her a small bonus for acting calm under pressure and getting to the alarm so swiftly." Rusty smiled as he liked the woman she was working for.
He wished there were more people out there like her.
Hell, he wished there were more people in the world like the people in this entryway. It would make the world a much better place.
"Well, get going. Otherwise, you hear, this old loafer will talk your ear off all day." Rusty joked before waving them off, knowing there was more to this visit.
Had to be if he brought the High Leader here, especially if the rumor of the White Fang returning to its roots and back to his command were true.
Some things were going back to the way they should have been.
"Talk to you later, Rusty." Blake waved back before Naruto before they walked further in, her parents following suit as they looked around into the larger room they entered.
It would be that of a break room or a lobby before entering the factory properly, and there were plenty of people in this space. Kali grimaced as it was rather packed and cluttered with things but enough room for people to navigate easily enough as they kept the center of the room free, mostly beside a few tables here and there.
But everyone seemed to know Naruto and Blake once more and greeted them with endearment, a few of the kids even running up to say hi or ask if they brought anything cool to show them this time.
A small faunus girl with small pointed ears and long black hair with a white stripe ran over and hugged Blake's leg, crying as she did.
Frowning at the girl's action as she knew something was wrong, Blake bent down as her mother's heart softened watching the act. "Petunia, what's the matter? School just let out last week."
"Everyone hated me, and I don't want to go back… They all suck. They make fun of me." Petunia sniffled as her brown eyes gazed into Blake's golden. "They all think I'm just a stinky ani…."
"No, no, you're not, sweety." Blake repressed a growl as she knew what Petunia was going to say but knew she didn't realize the ramifications of the word for being so young and didn't hold it against her. "And while their opinions are hurtful, you have friends here that go with you. Stick with them, honey."
"But I don't want to be called names… I just wanted to be seen as me…." Petunia looked down and away as she was ready to cry again.
Blake frowned at this sight, wondering what to do as she looked over at the exasperated father in the corner, who looked too tired to do anything, having to work two jobs to live his life like this. He hung his head as he had no answers, having given up.
So she decided as she took a deep breath and reached above her head. And with a tug, she pulled her ribbon to reveal her ears, flicking them freely as she did, before she smiled as she began to gingerly tied the ribbon around the girl's head. "Then let's do something about that… Until you are confident enough in yourself…."
"Until you can see you for yourself, Petunia, let's wear this." Blake finished tying the bow onto Petunia's head and smiled. "This gave me the strength to keep going until I could believe in myself again, so I can hope it can do the same for you too."
Suddenly being hugged caught Blake off guard. She began to chuckle as the girl cried. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, sweety. Go show your dad to make sure he approves." Blake commented but looked over at her father, who simply gave a weak smile as his daughter broke the embrace and ran over to him to show off her new bow.
It made Kali frown as it hid the girl's faunus features, but… In a society that judged you for that…
But she just watched her daughter announce to the world that she wasn't afraid. And she wasn't the only one as both her husband and her mate watched the action as Blake stood back up with a deep sigh.
"Well, time for me to see if I am strong enough, I guess." Blake flicked her ears more freely as she wasn't used to them being visible in public before seeing Naruto's grin. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I've always said you looked better that way," Naruto said simply as he flicked his ears to match hers, his smile wide as Blake blushed heatedly and adverted her gaze seeing the look in his eyes.
She refused to meet that gaze here! That would only end in… Trouble…
Ghira watched over everything he had seen again with a stoic gaze but was proud of his daughter's accomplishment as it took a long time for her to come to that. She had even started hiding them while she was home before she had left due to how comfortable she became in public. However, the conditions here troubled him as these were those that needed the help the most. There was plenty of faunus amongst those here, but there were many humans too.
It was a unique environment so far, and as they entered the most prominent room yet, what had to be the old storage room of the warehouse, that was on full display.
If the previous room was packed, this room was loaded with people and their things.
Human and faunus. All in one community, barely scraping by, if at all.
But they were fighting by the looks in each of their eyes and seemed quite united. While there were just those too tired to do anything, there were more doing their best to help others or being friendly to their peers.
Many bi-racial groups were simply talking to one another, sharing stories, and trying to get through the day. A human woman was seemingly taking care of her friend's two children while they were off at work and the rat faunus played a child's board game while listening to the radio. And there seemed to be what appeared to be an interracial couple of a rabbit faunus looking over, worried over her human mate who was shivering wildly, while a gray wolf faunus stood by and seemed very worried.
That was until he saw them. "Naru'o! Yo! Do you got so'e that flus' on you, man?! We hav' an OD o'er here!"
"Shit!" Naruto cursed as he sprinted to the scene, taking quick note of the man's condition. "Heart rate slowing dramatically… Cold sweat… Shakes and shivers… This the stuff you used to be on?"
"Yeah, Van an' Charrie bee' off the s'uff longer than I have, but re'apses happen all the time… But 'ealers of that stuff have been ra'her scarce since you've bee' hitting the big 'ames. An out-of-town 'ealer must have shown up." Vajo explained as he grimaced as Charrie was shaking her mate desperately, hoping he would snap out of it. "But he 'ook too much, too fast, and after goin' so long without it…."
"Yeah, gotcha. I have some epinephrine on hand." Naruto responded as he reached into his pouch and pulled out a syringe he most decidedly did not acquire by legal means before jabbing it into the man's thigh and plunging it into the man's thigh.
A scene had gathered beyond just Blake, who was doing her best to do crowd control while Kali made sure the little ones were not around, along with Mahony arriving on the scene. Ghira's eyes were narrowed as he kept order.
That was something he had always struggled with, seeing as it was such a rampant problem amongst faunus, and he swore it purposely was shipped and peddled into the slums first despite the money being elsewhere. If it wasn't racists, as it wasn't just faunus there, it was classist, and in a sense, that was worse…
Naruto sighed softly as the man's heart rate started to pump faster and faster. The shivers slowly began to decrease. He then started to see his eyelids flicker and his body. Everything was going to be okay as Charrie began to call for him. "Van! Van! Please come back to me, my love!"
"Ch-Charrie?" Van weakly called out for his mate and the dark-skinned rabbit answered by reaching down, touching his cheek, and directing his sight toward her face.
"I'm here… I'm right here." She cried happily, seeing her human mate slowly resuscitate before she looked at Naruto. "Thank you so much!"
"Did what I needed to do… As it was the right thing to do." Naruto shook his head and smiled before he took a deep breath, and his face became serious. "But I will need something soon as he's able. Information. On exactly who gave him that as I took out the last supplier here and someone new showed up?"
"I'll get it 'or you," Vajo spoke as Charrie seemed a little intimidated by Naruto's sudden change of demeanor, and he smiled. "It's okay, Charrie. Soon as Van is up an' 'etter, okay? I'm sure he'll tell us."
Charrie gave a weak smile before nodding to Naruto and Vajo in agreement. She immediately returned to bend over to keep checking and whispering to Van.
"I'd probably say best to take him in but adding hospital debt isn't going to help matters any… Why do only Hunters get free health care? That is insanity." Naruto growled himself before turning to Vajo. "Keep an eye on him to ensure he's okay. The epi should do the trick, but there is a chance he starts going the other way."
"Yeah, know the 'eeling." Vajo understood and nodded. "Got my eye on 'im. Here for Ayla or Mahony?"
"Ayla, checking in on them and seeing if everything still… Stood." Naruto responded before sighing deeply as Vajo sighed himself.
"Yeah, that an'wer not changing. They too fa' under to get back. Most are here." Vajo looked down, depressed, as he looked at Van and Charrie. "Or are like me 'ith no 'eal skills since we were 'ever taught…."
"You've got skills. Look how personable you are." Naruto grinned as he tried to lift Vajo's spirits. "Just look how good you are at getting to know everyone and running and keeping the peace. That sounds like someone qualified for human resources to me if they'd just give him a shot."
Despite feeling a little down due to the situation, Vajo watched Van and Charrie. "T'anks man… Ayla and Desmond should be further back unless they 'eard this. They were goin' to the park late' though to let the kids play."
"Ah, better hurry then." Naruto stood up as the crowd was thinning, and Naruto greeted Mahony with a clasping handshake. "What's up, big man?"
"Not much, brother. Stopping by? Doesn't seem too much like business this time." Mahony commented before tilting his head to Ghira and Kali.
"Little of both, to be honest. Trying to enlist help for the project. I just need... To figure things out." Naruto answered honestly to bronzed giant as he outclassed Ghira in height and mass.
Mahony was just that huge.
The giant of a man gave the nod as he understood. It took time and resources to make something like what he was trying to accomplish happen. "I hear you on that. Everything here is… Well, better than what it was. Rusty probably told you some people have even managed to move out of here, and good for them. Being stable enough to get a place for themselves is the dream many of us or fighting for or can't even have because of our histories…."
"Make a few poor decisions when you are young…." Mahony sighed as he clinched his fist memories came back to him before shaking his head and looking over at Naruto and Blake as her family joined him before looking at the couple. "Well, I'll let you get on. I'm going to keep an eye on things here too. Curious myself…"
"That's my job, big man. I can get it done legally." Naruto frowned as he knew where Mahony's mind was going and decided to stop him in his tracks.
Mahony gave a deep sigh and nodded in agreement before he smirked. "You have a point… I am better suited to keeping everyone here safe… Every place needs a good bouncer in case things go south again. It hasn't happened in over a month, but… Better safe than sorry."
"Isn't that the truth." Naruto rubbed his neck as a fresh memory returned to him, and Blake winced at the thought of that incident from a few days ago. "I'll see you later, Mahony… I'll be back later to start on this issue."
With the final goodbyes given, Ghira followed the boy and his daughter with his mate at his side, who was profoundly upset at everything she had seen and had to speak. "Ghira, darling, this…."
"I know…" Ghira spoke as he could see the mood and atmosphere.
Despite everyone doing what they could, the air here was thick and soul-crushing. These people didn't have anything left to give, and society had thrown it as they couldn't make it despite everything they were doing. Even with help from others, they still couldn't stand on their own, and it sucked all the life out of some as they lay helplessly and motionlessly in their spots, almost as if they were waiting for the end.
And finally, they came upon a slightly happier sight of a small family of dog faunus as two children, a small boy and a little taller girl, ran straight for Naruto and Blake and hugged them. "Uncle Naruto! Aunty Blake!"
"How are you doing, Ross?" Naruto ruffled the boy's hair as Blake gave a quick hug to the girl. "Tulip, you've grown a bit, haven't you?"
"Seems like it. She wasn't this tall last time." Blake purred as the kids let go of their hugs while Aryl came over and hugged her. "Sorry about the other day. We had an idea of what they were going to do…."
"They went into the sewers! I'm sure you smelt them coming! It was awful!" Naruto commented as he gagged, and Aryl giggled before his attention turned to Desmond as he walked over. "Heard you got a job, Des?
"Yeah, it was hard finding a job willing to put up with my medical history and with my skill set only being good heavy labor kind of jobs… I was it was tough to get a job anywhere." Desmond sighed before he gave a slight grin. "But this small housing construction place decided to take me in as they could use someone of my experience as a foreman. I was going to take the kids and my mate out to celebrate at the park to celebrate as I start tomorrow."
"That is amazing!" Blake was happy to hear as the two kids were excited, knowing they would get to play and had given Aryl some lien to make sure she could afford something for them and worry about spending what she had just earned for necessities. "So, where is this job taking you?"
"Um… A small island nearby Vale to the east? Patch, it was called. Apparently, somewhere way out in the sticks, even past Signal and the town out there. Although they say Grimm aren't a problem due to the number of hunters in the area and the fact the contract is by a Huntsman, so all is good." Desmond thought for a moment before Naruto and Blake glanced at each other and then smirked.
Naruto then patted Desmond on the shoulder as he chuckled. "Then I'll be seeing you in the morning around nine."
"Wait, what?" Desmond nearly tripped over his feet as Aryl's eyes widened. She knew he found an area and wanted to start building a township away from the Kingdom's rules…
"When?" Aryl spoke, her voice steadfast, as she wanted nothing more than to leave Vale once and for all.
The job was satisfactory. She could commute for now, as could her husband. She was just tired of all the pressure society placed upon them…
The hatred. The overwhelming and crippling debt. The constant fear of losing all you owned. To not even have enough to put food on the table and feed your family! Of leaving nothing for your children as you wither away, having no more fight left as everything was sucked from your soul and leaving them crying out in despair!
She had seen it enough! She had nearly experienced it when Desmond was taken from her! But that moment when they both showed up and that one act of kindness…
It sparked a new fire within her, and she kept fighting as when Desmond came home… She knew she had to get out of here. So the mere mention that she heard when he was talking to Mahony about creating his township…
Aryl wanted it… Others here wanted it! They wanted a way out of this living nightmare that this society created for them and gave them no way out of!
And yes, she knew they would still have to rely heavily on Vale for supplies, education, and a way of life, as there would be no way for a village to be self-sufficient for years to come, but it was something! A dream! Hope for the future… Something better than this!
Her voice caught the older Belladonna's attention as Naruto sighed. "There are still issues to work out. Some of it was figuring out how to set up a village… The other part deals with the Grimm; for such a small island, the Grimm tend to come for some reason. Until I can figure that out, I'm not willing to let those that don't know how to defend themselves out on the island as we're not always there."
Naruto didn't mention the Grimm pools, as those weren't known by most people that didn't actively research the Grimm and thought they were just creatures like any other. No, they spawned from black sludges that tainted Remnant and that horrified Naruto as it was a plague upon the planet, and he could hear its pain the closer he was to the pools…
Aryl sighed sadly, hoping there would be more movement, but she understood. Grimm would always be an issue. They had been since the beginning. "I could only hope… Many here are wanting and waiting for that prospect since you brought up the project to Mahony."
"If I may, how many want and are willing to join this undertaking?" Ghira questioned as it seemed many people here were friendly with the two, begging the question. "It takes years to start one and decades to make it functional. It isn't something to take lightly."
"All of us are well aware of that." Aryl turned to the large man, recognizing him shortly after but not caring. "But what choice do any of us have? Many of us have nothing left and have hit so far below the bottom that we can't see the floor anymore and just need a new beginning… That is why so many of us here just want out! Want a new life to start over!"
"Aryl, come down." Naruto calmly spoke as he noticed her getting upset. "I brought my mate's family here to see why what I want to accomplish is so important… Despite knowing how long it is going to take. It's something worth undertaking. I don't know how even to start."
In the end, Naruto was looking straight at Ghira, almost beggingly. He didn't know where else to turn as he knew no council would help him. The closest thing he got to any support there was Ironwood, and that was a tick-for-tact deal going now unless it was something of importance or relating to Salem or Remnant's well-being.
This was neither of those.
Seeing everything he had caught up to this point and looking over at his mate, who seemed to be at a loss for words, Ghira took a deep breath. "What you ask for is a long and arduous task. I can advise you on what you need to start, but it is not something to take lightly. You need individuals that you can trust to help build your vision so it could succeed, but doing that does not guarantee anything."
"Any one thing fails, and everything you worked for crumbles, and your dream is suddenly dashed. But this is so much worse as so many lives are at stake. Failure isn't an option." Ghira cautioned as he remembered the day he had to step down from the White Fang and the crushing reality that he had failed so many people that day.
It left him hollow for quite some time…
"Thank you." Naruto wasn't sure how to react or respond to Ghira's words otherwise, but Blake did it for him, hugging her father as she thanked him before he turned to Aryl and smiled. "You guys said you were heading to the park, right? I feel like getting some fresh air now too! I need to think. Mind if we tag along!"
Desmond only laughed as Aryl smiled and nodded while the kids cheered before he smiled and patted the fox on the back. "That's fine with me, but I have to ask… When did it happen? Last week you two weren't, and now suddenly…."
"Des!" Aryl growled as she narrowed her eyes at her mate. "Privacy! You don't just ask that!"
Naruto blinked as he noticed Blake furiously blushed as Aryl smacked her mate's shoulder for being inconsiderate. Was that not a thing you were supposed to ask? He was starting to feel more like a jerk…
Hearing his scroll ringing, Naruto withdrew the device, saw who it was, and took a few steps from everyone as he answered. "What do you've got for me, counselor?
June Fawn's voice came crystal clear on the other end of the scroll. "How about the opening night of the tournament in primetime? The legendary Gale Fox of Vale versus the three-time Mistral tournament champion. Ratings will go through the roof, so everyone went for it except for the stick in the mud. You must have really irritated Ozpin."
"So, the first day of July in two weeks, huh?" Naruto commented before a grin graced his lips. "That's almost too much prep time. If I didn't know better, you want me to break him on live television."
"I've seen camera footage of the incident and have dealt with enough racism in my lifetime… Consider this a gift. Now do me a favor. As much as you do your own thing as you see it is right, represent Vale proudly. I did get this across as Kingdom versus Kingdom match, and they ate it up. Having it put through the Remnant council quickly to confirm both of your availability, but lien talks, and I doubt they will dispute the revenue it will make."
"That it does." Naruto had to repress his grimace as he wished. It wasn't the power of money that drove everything. "And I'll be sure to represent. It seems quite a few punks are walking onto my territory as of late with a few things they shouldn't be, and it doesn't seem like that trend is going to slow down now the festival is in starting to come into full swing."
"Oh, do tell." June was intrigued as Naruto vanished from everyone's sight, alarming a few in the room, but Blake pacified them.
But now she was worried too, and she would have to ask later.
No one could see him on the rafters above, and Naruto could speak relatively freely. "Remember the VR7 Synthetic drug? I just had an overdose case here from a person that relapsed. Somehow it came back on the market here."
Naruto could hear June's frown on the other end of the line. "That's worrisome. After I took over for Gole due to the scandals with Nix and Vest Frontier, it was learned that Rainbow trafficked the drug, and Frontier seemingly was a lab for it or the time you thought was where it was created."
"But it seems as if it originated elsewhere. Let me dig my own and see if this drug has other sightings. Maybe we can narrow down the source and get it off the streets for good. This drug isn't good for anything as it damages the neural receptors, causes uncontrollable shaking, and eventually leads to a cationic state yet has the same addictive qualities as cocaine." June growled from her end as Naruto heard a loud tapping, most likely her fingers against her desk.
"Then I'll let you get to it. I will follow up on my lead, and we'll talk later." Naruto gave a farewell to the counselor on his scroll.
"Naruto, keep up the good work. And thank you… For what you have been able to do so far. Just from what I've seen throughout my life… In this short amount of time… I don't know what to think, but it is simply amazing. Remnant could use more of it, that I know." Fawn genuinely thanked the fox.
This only left Naruto with a small but sad grin as he looked upon the sad sight below him, seeing how much more he had to do. "Funny enough you say that… Because I feel like I'm only just getting started."
"The real challenge has just begun."
The night air was still stifling warm in the summer months. She shivered as she made her way through the street of Vale as a carnival for the Vytal Festival had kicked off tonight. She looked all around, searching for someone… No, something.
It felt like she had been wandering around for hours, getting hopelessly lost, and she could find what she was looking for. What she needed but she couldn't find!
It was here. She was sure it was here! She couldn't find it! But it had to be here!
Having kept an eye on the cute little thing for some time, a rather plain-looking man in a dusted coat grinned. Despite her fancy glittering greyish blue dress with a white sash wrapped around her waist and a long-sleeved bolero fastened at the collar by a sapphire broach that made her look rich and fancy…
She was desperate. And she probably had tons of money to boot. This would be an easy score, and maybe he could get something else out of her if he was lucky.
The girl was quite the looker, unlike the others that came by… Maybe she just got the itch recently.
He quietly stalked his prey and waited. Patience was the key before he claimed the prize.
Nervously looking around her as she shivered, unsure what was causing her shakes, she slowly began to limp along and lose hope. It wasn't here. She couldn't find it—the craving she needed.
That fix. That lovely hit…
Maybe someone down the alley would know? They were always here in the movies… Surely someone would be here too!
Hope restored, she stepped into the alley warily, shiftily looking around her as she did, before she headed down and hoped she would find what her heart desired. That desperate yearning she longed for.
Little did she know an ordinary man slipped into the alley behind her, having stalked behind her through the lightly spaced crowd of people of the festival lights. And his eyes were locked solely on her.
And because of that, he didn't notice the rose petals floating down from above, trailing behind him as a blur sped from above.
Becoming very frustrated as her shivering would stop and not being able to find what she expected here, the girl with white eyes began to tear up. She needed it. Where could it be? And why was she here?! This was no place for a lady like here to be!
"Looking for something, doll?" Her eyes snapped open, and her fear filled her entire being as she realized she was now trapped as this stranger walked up to her in this dark, dank alleyway where anything could happen.
Her icy blue eyes quivered as she cringed as the slightly taller man stood before her, only feet away, as he dropped a bag by his side. "I might have what you need if you are willing to pay the right price."
And within the bag, she could see it. It was what she was looking for! He left it slightly open enough that she could see what her heart had desired. The fix she so desperately needed so she could feel the rush again!
To live once more!
"You… You have it? How much do you want… I can afford it!" She reached for her purse when the man creepily stopped her, placing his arm directly by her face and leaning up against the wall, forcing her back against the wall.
"Payment is negotiable." The man grinned lustily as he looked at the young, white-haired girl before pursing his lips. "You seem desperate for this, and I'm not looking for the lien as I've met my night quota for the night… So let's make a deal. I'll give you half off for a blow… No, better yet, I'll give you a full discount to see that face distorted as if you give me a free ride."
Her eyes seemed to tremble and water at his words. She shook violently. "But… But I have the lien…."
"No dice, sweetheart. I don't need it. If you want your hit, take my deal, or I'll go find my boss as I'm done for the night." The man coldly responded as he knew what he was doing.
It was as if he had done this before many times.
Looking utterly defeated as her body shivered and she didn't know what to do, her eyes deadened before she nodded. "Can I at least get my fix first?"
"You are all the same…." The man grinned and moved to his bag, turning his back to grab a syringe. As he pulled it out, he turned back around to suddenly felt a saber at his throat as the white-haired girl held it tightly against him. "What the hell?!"
"Sorry you haven't been paying attention to your surroundings." She snarled as roses began violently spinning around them as a gale of wind hit next to them and a girl the same size as the white-haired girl with wine-red hair that got darker as it went to the base of her head, becoming black at the roots, landed. "Otherwise, you would have noticed you have had your own stalker this entire time."
And what terrified him of this girl he now saw was the bone-chilling scythe she was holding and pointing straight at him, her silver eyes gleaming with disgust. "Pig. I want to gut him."
"Ruby… By the Brothers, you can get dark…." Weiss blinked as she had been noticing it more and more lately but hearing from her uncle that Ruby had a devious and dark side to her made her question just how innocent Rose was.
She then grinned as she used it to her advantage while Weiss pushed him against the wall now she had control. "Oh, we might just have to… Unless he tells us everything, he knows! Like who his boss is! It's obvious this little urchin isn't going to get us any further!"
"Please… I'll tell you everything I know! I swear! I just came from Vacuo with the boss to reestablish the line here since we lost it!" The dealer shrieked in horror as he knew he was way over his head.
Ruby and Weiss' eyes quickly met at hearing that, and they both narrowed. They got the exact information they wanted, but now they needed to weed out the problem first.
Slamming Cresent Rose through the wall next to the man's head, cutting through it like butter, Ruby's eyes glistened as she instilled the fear her uncle Qrow taught her how to do.
And a particular crow would indeed be very proud.
"Where is your boss?" Ruby growled as she hardly stammered in her threat.
The man screamed, and a familiar location was given that made Ruby and Weiss frown as they had seen this place on the news before.
"RAINBOW HOTEL!" The man screamed for his life as a new presence made themselves known.
"You must be fucking joking… We cleared that place, and someone else moved in." A very annoyed fox and a cat stood on top of the building before jumping down before they jumped down beside Ruby and Weiss, and his feral eyes glared into the man's very own. "And just who does your boss happen to be?"
"Kobe Rapt! He was a business associate with Nix from Vacuo and wanted to get the hotel back up and running! That's all I know, I swear! I'm just a ground worker and was brought here to peddle this shit at dusk until new dealers could be found!" The man pathetically cried as he was now the one shivering and shaking uncontrollably.
"Weiss put him out." Blake rolled her eyes as she heard enough, and she refrained from hissing as she had seen the entire affair.
He had done this kind of thing before, making her skin crawl.
"My pleasure!" Weiss pulled back Myrtenaster before quickly slamming the handle into the man's temple and dropping him to the ground. "Sleaze… I will need multiple showers when I get back as I feel raunchy just from being near him."
"I agree." Ruby narrowed her eyes before dropping the butt end of her scythe into his skull for good measure.
Naruto blinked at Ruby's viciousness before shaking his head and moving past it for now while Blake hissed out. "Are you kidding me? Are we going back there? We're really doing this again?!"
"Yeah, we're doing this again! I will bust that place again on drug trafficking alone as it's all I need." Naruto pulled out his scroll and scrolled through his contacts to call whom he was looking for. "Glynda, you might night what I'm about to say…."
"VR7 is back on the streets, as I'm sure you know, and that is where it's being distributed from the same place as last time. So, guess where I'm going!"
"Seems like we are playing the classics tonight!"
"I'm getting a serious sense of déjà vu here," Blake growled as the technicolored seven-story hotel came into view once more before she glared at Naruto. "Didn't they just reopen last month? Is this place just cursed, or is the management just that corrupt?"
"And his business partner was just as corrupt as he was. He seemed to be a lackey even to my father, so I'm not surprised someone else came in to reestablish this place." Weiss frowned as she looked over the hotel before pursing her lips. "But they had to know the risks… Something doesn't add up."
"I agree." Naruto wasn't in the greatest of moods, as it felt too evident as they neared the hotel. "It feels like a trap… Like they want us to come in and bust down the doors."
Ruby's eyebrows perked up at this, and she was deeply disturbed as her recent luck indicated terrible things were about to come her way. "Fate?"
"Seems likely. So we need to be extra careful. Anything can happen. As Glynda mentioned, we are slightly overstepping the bounds of hunters here. We cannot be the ones to act first as we need them to give us a reason to start something… So it's both good and bad that Yang isn't here. She's great and horrible at those things." Naruto nodded before sighing at the end, as having the entire team would be helpful here.
Yang was the fire starter they needed for something like this.
"But… We might get the information of what we were looking for in the end here." Weiss added as they came up to the technicolored hotel. "And find where this drug comes once and for all, as it's clear it wasn't from here after all."
"And getting it off the streets is what matters… It hurts many people and cripples those at the bottom even further…." Blake lowered her head, and her bangs covered her eyes, keeping the rage from being displayed to the others as her body trembled as she had seen it time many times over as a child when faunus were brought home to Ku Kuana and attempted to be rehabilitated from the disease of addiction they were forced to suffer from.
It didn't always go well.
Naruto could feel the anger coursing through his mate's being and could understand it. It was something she had most likely seen throughout her life, and while he had no connection to it until coming to Remnant, he saw the damage it did and always connected to those that struggled and lived life at the fringes.
He understood her righteous fury and was well-entuned with it as he stood by her and offered his presence to reassure her. "Then let's go in and get this done. …Weiss, you did a lovely job last time with your acting. Think you can pull it off again?"
Weiss huffed at the sheer notion that she wouldn't be able to. "Why I never. I would have you know my mother made sure I had classical and modern acting lessons since I was little, at least once a week, as she adored theater. It was one of the few times I spent time with mother when she wasn't…."
The words died on her tongue as her icy blue eyes faded, but the words didn't need to finish as everyone there knew what she was going to say. The more she said to those she trusted, the more she felt freed but at the same time…
It still hurt to remember.
Ruby poked her out of her slump, smiled brightly to break the tension, and spoke with little stammering. "You've got this, Weiss!"
Thanking Ruby for getting her out of head space, Weiss smiled back before walking to the front doors, Naruto being the gentleman he was, and opened the doors for them. Blake had to grin as she commented while they walked in. "Far less flashy than last when we crashed through the doors to make our grand entrance."
As Naruto waved Blake off flippantly and Ruby giggled, Weiss proceeded to the front desk. She noted there was the usual bellhop and receptionist but what caught her attention were the armed guards stationed at the stairs and elevators wearing cloaked dusters. It was as if they were so out of place and came from somewhere where the elements were far rougher than Vale…
She wasn't the only one to recognize this as Naruto and Blake quickly flanked her sides, and Ruby brought up the rear, trailing behind with a frown as she caught slightly back.
Weiss gave a warm smile to the receptionist before speaking in a formal but authoritative tone. "I would like to take the VIP elevator to the top if it is operational. I did hear a few months back it took some unfortunate damage in an awful incident."
Naruto had to choke back a snort as Blake shook her head at the memory of the elevator falling on them. Looking back on it more than ever, she had to wonder if somehow that wasn't an intervention on Fate's behalf…
Looking at the four, frowning, noticing the two faunus amongst the group as they were not particularly well received in the club, the receptionist shook her head. "I'm sorry, mam. The VIP club is strictly limited to only the most exclusive…."
"Oh, is the Schnee heiress not among one of the most exclusive?" Weiss coldly bit the receptionist, whose face paled at the name drop as her icy blue eyes pierced into the woman. "And may I introduce you to my future husband and the Huntsman who brought down this establishment's last owner, Naruto Uzumaki. I think we are VIP caliber along with my friends, don't you say?
Blake repressed her growl when Weiss called Naruto her future husband but knew it was part of the act. She just hated hearing those words about her mate and that this was something they were going to have to be dealing with and publicly. Part of her forgot the number of dates in the future when Naruto and Weiss would have to go out in public and act like they were together, which ate her alive inside.
If only something else could be done to protect Weiss from her father…
"I… Um, one moment." The receptionist stepped away from her desk to make a call upstairs. At the same time, the guards at the entryways looked very uncomfortable, almost trigger-happy, so she quickly returned after a few words with whoever was on the other line before handing Weiss a VIP access card. "Ah, yes! Head right up, mam! You are expected!"
Frowning at hearing that part but also expecting it after the phone call, Naruto walked beside Weiss as they headed to the elevators to play his role after the conversation was heard out loud while Blake and Ruby trailed. Blake scowled at the situation while Ruby simply looked unpleasantly at Weiss, annoyed.
The guards were hesitant as they came to the elevator but did nothing as Weiss swiped her card. After a moment, the door opened, and they were freely allowed to enter the technicolored elevator.
Hitting the seventh-floor button, Weiss sighed as she looked straight over at Blake and gave a half-hearted smile. "Sorry, but half to pull that here. Position of power is what is respected…."
"I get it… I don't like any of it, but I get it." Blake gritted her teeth as bringing up this situation made her feel very uncomfortable after finally performing their mating vows. "I'm going to have to put aside my feelings here for the next month when you two will have to go on formal outings and be seen together more often. It just… I'm still afraid of everything that can happen."
With those solemn words spoken, everyone could see Blake's golden eyes dim before they returned with a passionate fire as her fist clenched and her gaze locked directly with Naruto's. "But I'm done running from my problems. I will stand my ground and fight this with every last breath in my body. Thankful we still have a bit of time, and I've got a bit more time to ruin your father's so-called once-in-a-lifetime wedding."
As Ruby and Weiss were slightly overwhelmed by the fire in Blake's voice and the strength of passion, Naruto smiled approvingly. It had only grown stronger over time, but it had always been there. It was just smoldering, barely lit when he first met her. The world's harshness had nearly wilted her, but now she burned brightly, and he saw something he hadn't seen since he left home.
The Will of Fire.
It was perhaps why he was so… Content with everyone, truthfully. They all possessed it in varying stages, and the way he felt initially drew him to them.
Ruby's shined most of the time as it was all she was about. Yang just burned brightly, and it showed with a fiery passion, but it was genuinely noticeable when she showed how tender and caring she was. Weiss was there but was hidden beneath the complexity of layers of who she was and her life.
But there was something more to Blake's… As it was her purpose. Her drive. And how it was nearly extinguished, she clawed back from the depths to find her purpose in life.
And he loved seeing this passion from her as it was the best of his mate.
…Hopefully, his clone had made more progress on the sound-muffling seals. They needed a rough night.
"I understand, and so am I." Weiss broke the momentary silence as she sighed sadly before trying to brighten the mood. "But I saw it in a few reports by established reporters about the two of you being mated and how this could infringe on faunus rights. It seems like you trying to cause a stir might be working despite the drowning of news coverage my father is putting out about the wedding itself."
"Good, let us see where it goes then and what your father is willing to do about it… Or God forbid what Fate is trying to do through him." Naruto shivered at that thought as he had come to that conclusion some time ago.
Weiss frowned but nodded. So Naruto had already suspected as much too. It was troublesome, but they needed to find something that could wash Fate's presence away, even temporarily. If only if…
He had survived…
Hearing the ting and the door slide open, the red strobing light gave Naruto and Blake memories as they stepped out of the elevator. The club was in swing, the amount of younger women seemingly dominating the number of men who seemed to all be middle-aged, if not a little older, and if any of their guesses were right… Very well off. It was almost a little off-putting.
However, Naruto noticed immediately that there seemed to be no structural damage after everything they had done from the last time they visited. "Seems like they had the money to repair everything we did to the place… Wonder how his testicles are doing? That first shot still gave me goosebumps despite how cool I played it."
"What?" Weiss turned and looked at Naruto wide-eyed as Blake had the decency to blush, remembering she got carried away in the emotion of the moment and shot him, and Weiss looked at Blake with shock. "Wait… You… Okay, I never asked what happened that night. I want to recap later."
"Me too." Ruby was very interested as it seemed Blake pulled a very Yang-like move during the last visit to this hotel.
She had to know now! She was too upset to ask back then, but now the event seemed rather crucial. Also, she needed to know if there was a way she could…
"Ah, so if it wasn't the Gale Fox himself and his future bride, the lovely heiress to the Schnee empire." A man in his early to mid-thirties with deep red hair combed back and in a black suit walked up to them, flanked by two more armed individuals wearing cloaked dusters. "Brought an entire crew with you too? Well, fine by me! Come, let's talk, my boy!"
Frowning at being gestured and led to an elevated section above the bar where they interrogated Nix, Naruto found they were led to a large, lavish red table in the corner that overlooked the club. And as he took his place in the center of the lavish table overlooking the club and hotel as a whole, Naruto couldn't help but feel his entire thought earlier was correct.
This felt like they were being led on and into a trap.
He didn't want his back to the club after seeing how many guards were stationed within, and while he was confident, there was now a little paranoia about being shot in the back. But seeing seats offered as a seemingly drunk woman sat down at the table on the left side, he could not refuse as he took the seat opposite with his back to the club as Weiss sat to his right and Ruby to her right.
That, unfortunately, left Blake in the seat closest to him as everything on the left was taken by other drunken party girls, but it also gave her the most protection in case this was a trap beside himself.
A missed shot on him would hit their boss, so…
"Kobe Rapt, I assume," Naruto spoke as he looked at the man with the appropriate colored hair for such a name.
"Yes, indeed I am," Kobe smirked confidently as if he had nothing to worry about before snapping his fingers, and one of the nearby bartenders came by. "Take their orders! These are my guests!"
Despite his better judgment, as he knew how easy it could be to spike the drinks, Naruto took the bait as he would play the game for now. "Martini, shaken. Not stirred."
Blake twitched as Weiss sighed while Ruby simply thought nothing abnormal about it. They, however… Knew it was from last Friday's movie and swore Yang did that purpose for her movie choice, knowing he, too, was a quip machine.
Why did she give him ammunition?!
Or was she just hoping she was around for that moment it happened?!
"I'll have a Winter Daiquiri." Weiss smoothly answered as if she knew what she wanted and had it before.
As Ruby was about to speak, Naruto cut her off. "You are still underage Ruby, Tai, and Qrow will kill me."
Twitching at her crush angrily, she turned to the bartender and pouted. "Cherry Cola…"
"Whiskey Sour," Blake added, and Naruto mentally noted that for future reference, even if they both said it was a bad habit.
But that was going out drinking and getting drunk. An occasional drink was not bad and, when done responsibly, could lead to quite a lot of fun.
As the bartender left to make and get their drinks, Kobe kept his eyes focused on the group but seemed to stare at Blake, which left Naruto feeling rather anxious, seeing she was the closest to him. "Knowing who I am… Let's cut to the chase. You should know why I am here. I don't come knocking for friendly visits and to rub elbows. That's not my style."
"You could probably get further in this world if you did. You are doing yourself no favors." Kobe commented as he took a sip of the drink he already had. "You know you have considered yourself lucky. The Hearth guild would have been called on your head if it weren't for Jacques saying he would deal with you. Personally, we were ready to call for it the moment after this bust but after Vest Frontier… Just because of their little side hustle?"
Growling in his throat, he kept his emotions in check. Naruto was ready to just put the man through the table after that. Kidnapping women and forcing them into a sex ring was a side hustle? Oh, he wanted to break this man…
A grin came to his face as the drunk woman to his left bumped against him, but he caught her and held her arm against him, his eyes never leaving Kobe as their drinks arrived. So that was the game he was trying to play?
"Oh, you think the assassin's guild could have dealt with me? Those amateurs, hardly." Naruto scoffed at the idea of being intimidated by such a low-key threat as he looked at his Martini for a moment before pushing it to the side, knowing it was no good at this point. "No, because I've already tracked every person in this room, and I find it interesting to see that we had a stalker follow us and then join us at this table."
"Isn't that right, my lovely little assassin? Were you hired to hit me?" Naruto grinned as he held her wrist as a knife was withdrawn before snapping it for all to hear without letting go of her, and many of the drunk girls screamed and scattered.
"YES! I WAS HIRED!" The woman screamed as she dropped the knife on the table for everyone to see while the guards slowly brought their weapons up, and Naruto glared straight at the red-haired man before him.
"Did you expect I wouldn't notice?" Naruto commented as he looked into the man's eyes coldly as he snarled. "You think you would have learned something from Nix… To do things straight and legally… But an assassination attempt gives me full right for a search and see what else you got… Maybe a shit load of VR7 stashed on hand or in a warehouse, hm?"
Narrowing his eyes at the accusation, Kobe sneered at the woman in his grasp. "This is all baseless. You have no proof that I hired her. We all know this could be a ruse, so you have the authority to step in. I'm not falling for…."
"YES, HE DID!" She cried as Naruto twisted a little more while recording everything with his scroll, so the evidence was heard. "I have the written contract with that man, and I know who was all in that room when he…."
"TERMINATE HER!" Kobe roared as the guards pulled their guns straight at the assassin and fired.
And Naruto tugged her under the table so their fire would not hit her while Weiss jumped under with him as these people couldn't take a shot to save their lives. The party-goers beneath began to panic and hysterically fled from the shots being fired as Naruto flipped the table over to defend themselves from the shells being fired. "And this is what it is like on a typical outing!"
"Why is this typical?!" Weiss screamed before she drew forth Myrtenaster as she saw dusty cloak guards run up their stairs with guns drawn. "If I didn't know better, I would swear you are just a magnet to this kind of trouble without Fate being involved!"
"You know, you are probably right about that!" Naruto created a clone to keep the assassin, who was now his crucial witness, safe and sound as he and Weiss charged the two separate staircases.
Soon as those words echoed off the man's tongue, Blake reacted. She scrambled to her feet and jumped the guard immediately to her right, kicking her heel into his face and slamming it into the wall. Not giving him a chance, as these guys seemed like soldiers and sturdier than the ordinary thugs, she had swiftly drawn Shroud from her back and slammed the butt of the hilt into the man's temple, knocking off his odd-fashioned hat as he did.
Why did all the guys seem to have western-style hats was beyond her.
Ruby was also hot on the jump as, with blinding speed, she slid across the table, knocking over every drink in a blink of an eye. She reached the other side and was on top of the guard with Crescent Rose drawn. With one firm slice, she dashed his gun clean in two before he could even notice before she swept the butt end of her scythe under behind his legs, swept him off his feet, and dropped him onto his back.
And with a burst of semblance, she shot to the roof and back down as rose petals flew everywhere and drove her elbow into the man's chest and all the oxygen out of his lungs. As he rolled over in pain and hacked up his lungs, she jumped on the back of his neck with her feet and gave him an old fashion stomp to the floor to put his lights out for the night.
Ruby grinned manically, a spirit seemingly inheriting her, as she spun Crescent Rose in her hand as Kobe fled from the balcony down a hidden hatch opening beneath where he sat. She began to hum to herself as she followed after as she hopped down, beginning to understand a particular person's tendencies a little more.
This was fun!
And seeing Naruto and Weiss head down to deal with the rush of guards to keep them off, Blake growled and slid in after. "Ruby, wait! Don't go it alone!"
Flipping her scythe as Kobe scrambled as a few of the duster-wearing guards trained their guns in her direction, Ruby kept her focus on the man causing the issue and, with a stammer, growled at him. "You hurt the innocent…."
"I reap the wicked." Ruby activated her semblance as petals of roses scattered around where she stood as she blasted towards the men, Kobe screaming as he dove into another hatch the guards opened. In contrast, the young reaper shot through all of them, slamming each of the guards into the wall through the shockwave of her speed alone.
"Why are you running?" Ruby tilted her head, looking down the hatch with venom laced in her stutter as Blake slid down and watched what was happening, a little disturbed at the change in the girl she had gotten to know over the last six months.
Maybe it was the pent-up frustration over every word she spoke she struggled with. But to this extent? What was bubbling beneath the surface before, as this was not the Ruby she knew?
"Come back!" Ruby cried as the man ran off again with a scream.
She hopped down again, chasing after all the while. Blake cursed at the scene.
"Ruby! Hold on for a moment!" Blake cursed under her breath as a slew of guards burst into the room with her, immediately transforming Shroud into kusarigama mode and swiping at them to keep them off her. "I don't have time for you!"
Only for all of them to be flushed out as several guards burst through from above from part of the wall that connected the stairs and dropped onto them. And from above, she saw a smirking Naruto, who called to Weiss.
She wanted to twitch but was more thankful he could somehow know when he was needed. "Thank you! I'm catching up to Ruby!"
Soon as she touched down, Ruby's eyes glared straight at the red-haired man, that scrambled up but looked far more confident than before as he started to laugh. "I've had enough…."
Barely hearing the movement, Ruby's eyes narrowed as she caught a heavy foot to her face but rolled with the blow and into a crouch before launching herself at her attacker. Slashing with Crescent Rose, she was surprised it was met by the sturdiest, one of the largest, and most decidedly heaviest claymore she had ever seen. It could barely be classified as a sword and more of a giant hunk of raw iron! An imposing man wielding it was wearing a deep black cloak, greying black hair with a small patch of white bangs in the front, and onyx eyes that stared deep into hers.
"Take her out! That is what I order you to do, Jett!" Kobe roared, and the man sighed in response.
"Whatever… Sorry about this girl, have to make a living." The man known as Jett responded before Ruby's eyes widened as she was flung back from the sheer force of him swinging his massive blade to push her off him.
"I'm coming in!" Blake roared as she came in from above, swiping with Shroud in wakizashi form and facing the man in all black to move back, showing he wore thick leather black pants that seemed armor and plated metal covering his torso with thick leather armor in arms.
Yet despite how fast Blake struck, the man could deflect each and every blow as quickly with his giant sword, leaving her with narrowed eyes as he swung his blade towards and through her. Only it was a shadow of her with the blade coming straight through his neck.
To Blake's surprise, the man simply turned and allowed the wakizashi to penetrate straight through his right hand. Blood splattered onto her face, and her eyes widened while he pushed his hand all the way through to grab her hand despite the pain he was in. "Got you!"
"Blake!" Ruby cried as she burst forward with her semblance, air pressure, and rose petals blasting around her and came at him with a slice of Crescent Rose.
Only for Jett to partially cut into Crescent's blade with his massive claymore as he knocked her back from the sheer force of the blow, the strike somehow equally and surpassing the force of the wind pressure of her semblance and sent her towards the reinforced window. And with a toss and hurled Blake in her direction, all the while grimacing. "I'm sorry for this… But I need this money."
Managed to twist herself in mid-air, Ruby landed with force against the reinforced glass of the window and grimaced as the cracks began to run through the glass quickly. She grimaced as she knew she only had a moment to move before it shattered, and she went through it.
And to her horror, at that moment, she couldn't as Blake collided with her. Trying to brace herself but their heads still hit one another. Their worlds went dark from the collision as they slammed into the glass, which shattered into millions of shards.
And the two were sent flying into the night sky five stories high above the streets, tumbling away from one another.
Unconscious.
With a burst of speed, Weiss pushed the first guard down the stairs and knocked over several others as she slowly stood on the top with Myrtentaster in hand and stared down coldly at them. And as they got up, she slowly took carefully measured steps and drew her blade before her as a sigil appeared beneath them, and they all began to slide and stumble further down the slickened stairs till they hit bottom.
Weiss trudged down the frozen stairs, deflecting the gun out of the first guard's hand with a swift movement of her blade before a palm thrust to the man's nose shattered it and stumbled him over the other three. And once more, she pulled her rapier before her as a sigil formed behind her, but something came out this time.
A Beowulf of pure ice roared as it jumped the men, pinning one down as others scrambled and started firing at the beast in horror, seeing an off-colored Grimm here of all places. It charged through the hail of dust shots, slashing down another man through a table before one shot blasted it in the head and shattered its body.
Only for Weiss to blur behind him and drive the back of Myrtentaster's hilt into his skull, knocking off his western hat and leaving only one guard. And he was unarmed and knew better as he looked into her icy blue eyes as she slowly descended upon him gracefully, taking elegant and classy strides as she effortlessly reminded them of their place with her sheer presence as she took care of them by one.
They were beneath her.
This calculated walk seemed enough for the disciplined man to know he was severely outclassed, turned tail, and rushed for the stairway exit. Reinforcement soon arrived, and he could not solo a Huntress, no matter how soft they looked.
She just took down three of his troop with ease, not to mention the other…
Naruto slid down the stairway at high speed on the other side, hitting the first guy with a Raikage special. A good old lariat. And he was moving at a blurring speed as he slid down the banister, moving faster than their rounds could as he dropped each one of them before they could react to the move, all the while grinning.
He understood why they liked fighting like that as he jumped off the banister and landed at the bottom of the stairs. It was fun and effective!
Grabbing the guard at the bottom of the stairs by his lower back as he was still groaning on the stairs below, Naruto suplex tossed him across the room, and he bashed through many tables. And he walked back up as the others tried to get up, lifting the next into a fireman's carry, spinning him around, tossing into the next guy and through the stairs to reveal room beneath it and a man to cry out.
"Weiss, I made an opening over here! Dropping in!" Naruto cried as he jumped on down, sensing that was where everyone was heading.
"Be right there!" Weiss called out as he could hear the guards' footsteps coming up the stairs.
Turning her attention towards them, she blasted a shot of concentrated dust fire that exploded and sent each guard scrambling for cover. Weiss grinned as she quickened her pace to the improvised escape, dodging in-and-out dust shots.
She wondered why they didn't use the other path but seeing all the unconscious guards below made her realize why soon after. She shrugged and gracefully landed below, seeing Naruto running towards the window at full speed and shattering as he leaped through it. "What are you doing?!"
Weiss wanted to rush over to see what he was doing, but several more guards rushed into the room, and she did not have the time for this. Switching to ice Dust in Myrtentaster, burst past them with her blade swung, and giant ice crystals formed around the lower half of their bodies. She haughtily taunted them as she walked over to their half-frozen bodies while they shivered from the coldness, slashing the guns out of their hands as she looked at each of them in disgust.
Now, without worrying about their interference, she moved to the window to see glass falling everywhere, but no sign of Naruto or why he jumped out. Growling, she moved and slid down the opened hatch ladder to join everyone else to see just what had happened.
Weiss' eyes widened in horror as she saw a bloodied Shroud with blood puddled around it, but Blake was nowhere in sight. And realization dawned upon her, seeing a shattered window here, too, of the many things that could have happened. The most likely scenario being…
She was tossed out of the building.
It explained Naruto's sudden reaction.
So without a word, Weiss grabbed Shroud, knowing her friend would be all right as airdrops were a common thing for hunters. As long as she could right herself, she would have been fine.
And she needed to keep the chase as she saw the red-haired bastard running down the hall with a man in black trailing behind him, and she would not let them get away!
Picking up her pace, Weiss raced after the two as she saw them run around a few corners before they came to the elevator. Using her sigil to dash over towards them and quickly stop them, Kobe jumped in as the man in black was forced to block and parry her fencing strike. "Another? I wasn't paid enough for this. I would leave you to rot if I weren't, as this isn't worth the pay!"
"Fine, whatever! I'll get you more. Just get me out of here!" Kobe roared before looking at the girl. "And for the love god don't ravage her! The last thing we need is Jacques after our heads! We already have a split among us. We don't need this to go any further!"
"Make my job harder!" Jett growled as Weiss stabbed multiple times quickly, forcing him to back down, unable to swing back now due to his newest order. "Get out of here! The escort is on the lower floor!"
"No, you don't!" Weiss cried out as she tried to use freeze the elevator shut.
Her world nearly faded to black in one second as she took her eyes off her opponent. Even with Myrtentaster lashing out, the man's bloodied backhand let the blade tear into his arm as he slammed her hard in the face. Weiss flew off her feet, losing grip of her rapier as it clattered onto the floor. She bounced off the wall from the force of the man's blow, shattering the dry walling before she fell to the ground and all the air rushed out of her lungs.
She gasped for air as she heard his footsteps rushing away at high velocity and became more than a distant memory as the elevator slowly descended while she groaned on the floor.
"That was worse than anything Naruto's ever thrown at me… That bear only hit me harder, and I don't think this guy was putting everything into it…." Weiss coughed as she felt her face redden from that blow and wanted to cry as she knew it was going to bruise.
And she was going to have to show her face in public soon. She couldn't be having these kinds of problems now. What would the media make of this? Would they rip Naruto apart? She couldn't have that…
"Fuck my life…" Weiss groaned as she grabbed Myrtentaster and slowly stood on her legs wobbly before trying to see if her card still worked, and of course, the privileges were revoked, leaving her to curse loudly. "FUCKING FANTASTIC!"
Weiss sighed heavily before she trudged on with a jog forward, knowing where she had to go. "Stairs it is."
Landing below, Naruto frowned as he heard Blake cry out the moment she went down, as it seemed like she went down into a fight. He couldn't sense anyone but Kobe below, which bothered him. But he could feel Ruby struggling, and the sound of metal striking metal was a definite sign someone was there.
This didn't feel quite right…
"What are you doing, mister?" Naruto's eyes narrowed as he heard the voice and saw a young twelve-year-old girl standing at the door with green hair and glowing green eyes at the door entrance. "It's like you are trouble… Can't you sense it? Now the threads of Fate intertwine us all because of your foolish decision."
"It's you…." Naruto immediately realized what he was dealing with as he gazed at the young girl standing before him. "Salem…"
"Don't act surprised." The emerald-haired girl smiled as her eyes now bled into the void he knew well as she gleamed towards Naruto. "But you better act fast, as I said… Even now, I'm woven into Fate's course, including the first of my new court. I don't want Fate to break my desired perfection. You, after all, are what I crave; if they complete you, so be it. "
"What do you mean… Blake and Ruby!" Naruto started before he growled as the emerald-haired Salem smiled and nodded as a portal formed at her feet, her message delivered as she sunk into the darkness.
Turning to the window as he felt what was happening beneath and could hear the glass shattering, Naruto didn't hesitate and sprinted as he heard Weiss jump down and cry out. Holding his hands to protect his face, he shattered through the reinforced window.
And he looked at street lights below to see Blake and Ruby sailing through the air, beginning to descend, making no effort to slow their descent. They were out cold as there was no way Ruby wouldn't be making an effort to try and not grab Crescent Rose flying away from her.
One story.
Gathering chakra, he controlled the wind around his body and accelerated towards Ruby as she was the closer of the two.
Two stories. They were a full story below him to start with. He had to catch up fast as he flatlined his body to lessen the resistance and gain as much speed as possible.
Three stories.
Grabbing hold of Ruby, he slid her under his right arm as a clone appeared to his side, grabbed his other arm, and gave him a full circle toss towards Blake.
Four stories.
Gripping her wrist, he pulled Blake into his chest and wrapped his arm around her waist as he held onto her tightly, and her head buried itself into the crook of his neck, nose first. And it seemed this action started to bring her back to consciousness as her eyes began to flicker open.
"Naruto…"
Five stories.
One more clone was created by half seal and grabbed Naruto so he could toss him to the building. He flipped in mid-air, applying chakra to his feet to slow the descent of his fall as the concrete and pavement became very close.
Almost bouncing due to sheer friction and the force of the speed he was traveling, Naruto managed to stick against the hotel as he ran down the last story. Blake was wide awake with eyes open seeing what happened as Naruto landed into a kneel and growled at the contact as it was pretty painful.
"What the fuck?!" Blake cried out as she saw what had happened before the sound of metal slamming against aluminum and a car's tires squealing and screeching to a halt as Crescent Rose bounced off the front of a vehicle.
"NO! MY BABY!" Ruby cried as she flailed in Naruto's other arm, now wide awake as she looked on at the scene in horror as her scythe lay in a slightly bent state in the middle of the street.
Letting Rose go as she crawled out of his grasp and to her scythe and sniper rifle, currently a scythe as it probably couldn't transform in that bent state, Naruto slowly stood up as he also let go of Blake. "What happened? I was about to follow you down. Some guards distracted me, and then I heard a window shatter. Next thing I know, I sensed you both were flying out unconscious from below, so I broke through from above to get you."
"Fuck… Shroud is still up there." Blake growled as her weapon was still above her, realizing it wasn't on her. "The guy had some other hired help on him… Maybe a former Huntsman or something. He was powerful and fast… Durable to. He purposely stabbed himself on Shroud just to allow himself to grab me and throw me into Ruby through that window… We must have smashed our heads together through it and onto the glass. I don't remember anything after that."
"Me neither." Ruby walked back over, upset at the state of Crescent Rose, but at the very least, she could still use it somewhat. "He hit hard. Hard as you. Harder even."
Naruto blinked at Ruby's words before remembering what Salem had said about a new member of her court, which made him frown. This person could be in trouble if he was able to hit as hard as he was during some of their spars recently. It seemed like that was what Ruby was talking about.
"Also fast enough to block every strike. I came at him with Shroud, and he blocked it with that sword that makes Yatsu's blush and swung it nearly as fast and one-handed. The man had to be Huntsman, as there is no way someone is that skilled wasn't." Blake growled before shaking her head. "We're down here… We still got a chance to stop Kobe before he gets out of here… Give me Wilt and Blush. It's similar enough that I'll be comfortable with it."
"Got it." Naruto took Wilt and Blush off his hip and handed the blade and sheath to Blake as they all started to run to the other side of the building. Many people were now lining around the outside, trying to leave due to what had happened, and just as he had asked Glynda, a few police sirens were on their way, and he could see them pulling in.
But at the same time, as they pushed past all those people, they saw Kobe being escorted towards a fancy black car with the door opened by his armed guard. Naruto leaped into the lead with Blake and Ruby shortly behind him. "The hell you are getting away!"
"You've got to be joking!" Kobe looked in utter shock seeing the two girls thrown out of the building being completely fine and now the Gale Fox on the bottom floor, and he didn't care if there were other people around.
He gave the order as he booked it for the expensive car. "Fucking shoot!"
Realizing the number of people behind him, his eyes widened in horror at the damage that could be done, but it seemed even his guards were hesitant at that request and even lowered their weapons.
Kobe roared at his subordinates. He nearly made it to the car, and Blake jumped on top of it with Wilt in hand, making the man jump back. "What the fuck are you doing? I said shoot!"
Stealing a gun from one of his subordinates as Ruby and Naruto surrounded him as sirens pulled in and the police surrounded the area, Kobe growled as he held the gun straight at Blake as she impeded his progress. "I'll do it myself."
A shot was fired, and blood was splattered onto the pavement. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he quickly traced where the round came from and saw the glint of the scope while the crowd screamed. He then cursed as Kobe fell to his knees, a hole put through his skull before he crashed to the ground. "Sniper! Southwest building, third floor!"
"You can't be serious!" Blake screamed as they had everything smoothly locked up and handled while she jumped behind the car for cover along with Naruto and Ruby.
Then suddenly, a second shot was heard, and her eyes narrowed. She looked straight into Naruto's livid expression and knew what had happened. "No… They didn't do what I think they did!"
"I don't sense any aura from that spot anymore!" Naruto spat, pissed as he rushed to the building where the sniper fire came from, blurring out of everyone else's sight.
Quickly scaling the building, it did not take long to find the window from which he had seen the glint. He found the rifle perched in the window. However, the man lay on the floor behind it. His skull split open with grey matter splattering the nearby wall.
And a pistol gripped in his right hand.
Naruto's eyes narrowed at the scene as he wanted nothing more than to investigate it himself, to find every clue he could at why this man did this. But he had the distinct feeling he wouldn't get an answer for it.
Just from what he was wearing, this man was broken into despair, someone you find on the streets waiting for the end. So how did he get this weaponry, and just what gave him the cause to do this?
There were no answers for him, so he would let the police do their job. Maybe it would shed some light on who he was, answering the why.
But for now, they had to figure out who was on that contract. And why were they so willing to silence one of their own?
This bugged Naruto, and now more than ever, he just had to be so precautious as again… If that had been Blake or Ruby or Weiss or Yang…
Velvet… Fox… Pyrrha… Ren… Nora… Hell Jaune, Yatsu and even Coco.
He wasn't sure he would be able to contain what he would do to those that caused the harmed any of his precious people.
Hell would be the least of their concerns.
Interesting...
I'm curious about those that voted.
Just what made you pick your choice?
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Red hearings are plentiful and ripe in that list.
Only a few are truly applicable.
And...
One WILL Die At the End of the Volume.
Actions have consequences.
Someone will take the fall.
The Wheel of Fate is Turning.
Anomaly Will Be Purged...
Course Routed.
Initializing...