Inside of a small cabin, in the middle of the densest part of the eastern woods, Nora Valkyrie slowly woke up. The stench of death almost made her throw up, she had a gag on her mouth, and she was hanging upside down from what she could tell.
She saw in the cabin, a carcass, a human carcass!
She shivered, remembering what had happened slowly, whimpering as she heard the door to the cabin open. The being known as The Wendigo looked at her, still wearing the façade of a police officer, he looked right into her very soul.
"Oh, how pure and innocent, truly a meal to be had in a few days." He walked over to her, grabbing her by the hair.
She screamed into the gag as he drags his tongue across her face, his tongue was purplish in color, his teeth jagged. He made sure to lap at the tears for a moment, letting her go to where she hit the back of the cabin wall.
Muffling, she thrashed about, giving a glare that only made him chuckle more, "I hope that friend of yours can come and save you."
"I am," he waved his hand to and from as he took in the stench, "intrigued about him. His sense of loyalty, despite just meeting you two, eh."
He walked over to a small book, picking it up, Nora took note that it was of black leather. It reeked of death as well and had a pentagram on the front of it. The man's eyes turned red as he opened the book, looking right at Nora as he took a seat.
"Ahem," the man took a moment and reached over to the mug by him, "I hope you take time to appreciate what I am about to teach you. Prelati's Spell Book was Gilles De Rais's greatest gift, besides being a man of The Light God."
"So, please, I will translate for you…but learn these words." The man laughed as he took a deep breath, "Ita, ait in maxilla asini et os asinae et fecit omnes, et perforabis maxillam et os asinae et homo occisus est et milia. Nemo enim carnem sibi parci."
He then looked at her, "and Samson said, with an ass's jawbone I made asses of them all, with an ass's jawbone I've killed a thousand men. No flesh to be spared."
He then got up, placing the book on the same nightstand was, grabbing a bucket and dagger. He put the bucket under Nora, she thrashed, watching him press the dagger against her throat. She whimpered, obviously begging him, but he laughed.
"A conversus angelus daemonium eius gladio per sanguinem innoxium fudit et laverunt impius," he spoke in the dead language, "An angel turned demon, her sword washed in the blood of innocent and wicked."
She screamed into the gag, begging, perhaps even cursing him.
He just stood there, looking at her with soulless eyes, "oopsie…I forgot."
Pulling away, he merely played with the dagger, "I wouldn't kill until the next full moon. My dear, my sweet child, you're still going to live!"
It was an act, celebration and all, he laughed as he turned back toward her. "Unless your friends don't truly love you."
Anko had to press her hand on Naruto, "and where do you think you are going Fishcake!"
Naruto growled, hitting his bed, "to save Nora!"
"Not in that condition, good lord, you've got a couple of broken ribs." Anko rolled her eyes as she speaks, "now what happened Itachi?"
"He disguised himself as a doctor, ambushing us in the room, he had been aiming to kidnap Nora since the start. Ren got moved into a more secured wing, eyewitness protection, so we can talk about what he's doing here." Itachi walked over toward the activating some sort a seal on it.
The blonde on the bed scoffed, pushing against Anko's hand, "we've got to save her!"
"And we will," Anko barked as he fought against her push, "but you can't do anything with broken ribs because they won't heal properly."
"Screw that!" Naruto yells as he managed to push her off.
She got flustered, "you are an idiot, Fishcake."
Naruto growled, holding his side as he looked at her, "I rather die an idiot than let one of my friends just get treated like an animal!"
Itachi chuckled, "he's got moxie, reminds me of when you were younger Anko."
Anko rolled her eyes, "and I was stupid, but Fishcake here cannot possibly do anything right now."
"We don't have time for this, the man said he wouldn't kill until the next full moon, that's three days from now Anko!" Naruto states as he took hospital gown off, attempting to get off the bed.
The woman frowned, sighing, "and pray to tell how you are going to rescue her?"
"I'm going to go and find that guy, beat'em up, and get Nora back to Ren so they can get out of this nightmare." Naruto struggled as he stood up, "and I don't care if I have to do it alone!"
The man in the room, chuckled, "you sure you didn't pop a kid Anko?"
"Yeah, but looks like fate tells a different story here, fine Fishcake…you can help us look for her." She stated specifically, "and I mean only to look."
The blonde Faunus scoffed, he then claps his hands together before forming the tiger seal, he focused hard. A wave of energy left him, like a radar, he scanned the area. Looking for anything truly so dark as The Wendigo but found as he scanned further away the struggle became more and more.
Naruto took a deep breath, focusing, eventually reaching the other end of the city, only for blood to gush out of his nose as he held his head. Breathing hard, Naruto nearly collapsed if it wasn't for Anko getting him.
"He's not in Mistral City, not now at least," Naruto tells them as he gets a Kleenex and starts wiping the blood off his face.
Anko sighed, "and it only makes it more difficult."
Itachi looked at her, "frankly I think he only stays in the eastern woods. Familiar hunting area, he knew of the forest so well he managed to track and nearly kill young Naruto here."
"Yeah," Anko scoffed, "but Fishcake's a kid."
"Yeah, but by his own admission to me while we were walking he has an extensive knowledge of tracking and forestry. He knew enough to hide himself and Ren in a tree well that I failed to even notice. So, let's say for the sake of argument, he is solely in the eastern forest." Itachi explained his reasoning, looking at the two.
Naruto gripped his head, "and if we're wrong Nora is going to die!"
He suddenly hit the wall, hard enough to put a hole in it, "and it's my damn fault!"
"I got stupid with my semblance, thinking I could be some big shot hero, dumbass-dumbass-dumbass!" Naruto hit the wall some more, his knuckled started to bleed slightly, only for them to steam and the cuts to heal.
He lowered his head, crying a little bit, "I don't want my friends to be hurt…I want to save everyone in front of me…that's why I want to be a Huntsman…"
"And, I screwed up, screwed up and got a friend killed!" Naruto yells as he sobbed, "why do people even like him exist in this world?!"
"Fishcake," Anko gripped his shoulder, "people like him are the reason the clans exist and even Huntsmen. You are fulfilling your dream right now, don't start giving up, he's a serial killer sure…but he's also a sadist. He said he wouldn't kill in three more days, I bet my life that he'll hold to those words just to torture the girl long enough until we either succeed or fail."
"That doesn't sound much better," Naruto said as he shook his head, "and what exactly type of magic is using anyway?"
"Water Magic and Dark Magic. Those are actually very interesting," Itachi pointed out as he looked at them, "Prelati's Spell Book…"
Anko looked at him, "you're fucking serious?"
"Yes," Itachi took a deep breath, "a book that summon demons into the world. After enough sacrifices of children and such, this man may not be our age…he very well could be Gilles De Rais himself."
The violetnette shook slightly, "and the dark spell book contains not only Dark Magic but sealing magic. He could be summoning a demon just to seal it inside of himself."
"But summoning rituals like this only work during a full moon, which is why he'll have to wait on Nora, and why we have time," Itachi stated as he looked toward Naruto.
Naruto shook his head, "so, this is now super serious?"
"Yes Fishcake," Anko placed her hand on his side and began to speed up his healing, "but you're just helping us look."
Naruto nodded, "okay, but I need my sword…just in case."
Anko and Itachi looked at each other, "he's worthy enough, putting his life on the line and all right?"
Naruto's master looked at him, she sighed, "very well…but after we're done its back to regular training."
He understood, nodding his head, "deal."
The Wendigo dragged Nora behind him by her hair, laughing all the while as walked over toward a clearing. The clearing had a massive pentagram, in the five points of the start were kanji symbols for the elements.
It was a like a barrier of sorts, no Grimm tracks anywhere near it. However, in the center of it was a pole with a hook on it. He grabbed her, hoisting her up to where the rope was tied on the hook. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the clearing.
"My place is soul foul, so wicked, not even Grimm dare step here. Progress, and once I have a Demon's Soul, I can command them. A new holy incursion, a new crusade, and I will delight in the blood washed scenery of Mistral." He walked over to her, pulling her gag.
"Let me go, you creep!" Nora yelled at him, thrashing on the hook.
He chuckled, "I'm afraid my dear, that is no longer an option. The first day passes quickly, and you run out of time ever quicker."
"Please, please, I don't want to die…" Nora whimpered as she looked at him, "I have someone…that…I…"
"Aww," he stroked her cheek, "how adorable."
"A young girl, on the edge of becoming a young woman, in love with a boy. Honestly, I don't take joy in killing you, my dear…I take great pleasure in your suffering, however." He gripped her hair, making her scream, "and once you are sacrificed I will gain my rewards promised to me long ago."
Nora hocked a wad of spit, hitting him in the face with it, she looked at him definitely. Tears welled in her eyes as she watches him remove the spit from his face, he chuckled, turning away only to suddenly turn around and smack her hard enough to break her nose.
He looked right at her, "you little witch, I will now make sure the sacrifice is slow and painful…"
Suddenly, however, he took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry," he pats her head, "we'll make it quick and painless."
Naruto limped slightly as he kept his hand on the tiger seal, walking in the eastern forest, he was being followed by Itachi and Anko, the duo stayed near her student just in case The Wendigo found a way to hide from Naruto's ability.
The night was falling quickly, the moon nearly full, Naruto stopped as his eyes snapped open. Red irises looked into the forest ahead, seeing something very unnatural, foul. It wasn't The Wendigo's signature, but it was similar.
"There!" Naruto yelled out, running toward it.
"Fishcake," Anko yelled out at him, "don't you dare run off like this!"
They made it into the forest clearing, only for them to see a pentagram on the ground, it had a note in the middle of it. Anko walked over toward it, picking it up, she growled as she saw the writing on it.
"I want to play a game, you've come this far fox boy, maybe we can play a little game. What is tall, unwavering as the wind howls?" Anko looked at the note, then at the mountains, "he's leaving us riddles."
Naruto growled, "bastard…"
He clapped his hands together, forming the tiger seal once more, his eyes shined brighter as he looked into the forest leading toward the mountains. The blonde took a deep breath as his tail waved behind him, he suddenly locked on to The Wendigo's signature.
"Anko, Itachi, six o'clock!" Naruto yelled as he watches them charge ahead, he did his best to keep up.
They soon came to another clearing near the mountains, with The Wendigo casually sitting upon a throne of sticks. The man chuckled, he was wearing a mask that looks like a deer's skull. He looked at the trio, waving his hand.
"Welcome to the first part of the game, as you could guess you two, I am nothing more than a clone…and I'll give you a hint on the girl's location, but I need a payment first." He spoke as he suddenly grabbed a knife, tossing it over toward them.
The man looked at them, "and that sensing ability will not see past the darkness I cast across this entire forest. Little boy."
Naruto growled, picking up the knife, looking at the symbol on the ground. It was It was a straight line with two other lines giving sharp turns and interceding across the middle (berserk symbol from Berserk.), it bared a red glow as Naruto walked toward it.
"I am thirsty," he spoke with a smile, "I want you to pour your blood over that seal."
Looking at the knife, "and if I refuse?"
"Nora Valkyrie dies." The man simply says, "and I'll just simply grab her friend for the ritual."
"Give me the knife Fishcake," Anko held her hand out, "I'll bleed."
"NO!" The Wendigo clone screamed, "I want the blood of the unspoiled child, let him sacrifice a little for a girl…hahaha…"
Naruto didn't hesitate, he looked right The Wendigo before stabbing his hand on the ground. He glared right at the monster, yelping from the pain from the serrated knife, his wound closing but bleeding profusely around the edges of the knife.
The Wendigo laughs, looking at Naruto spill blood on the seal, "good boy…"
Naruto removed his hand off the seal, only for the seal to start bubbling where his blood was, suddenly a figure began to emerge out of a black goo. It was a Grimm!
The Grimm had a foxlike appearance, with its tail swooshing behind it, its long sharp claws jittered against each other as it emerged from the symbol. It had the same symbol on its head, The Wendigo roared out in laughter, he threw his arms out.
"At last," The Wendigo screamed, "I am a creator of Grimm hahaha!"
The pool grew slightly bigger, "and it only took the blood of a child to do so…hahaha."
"Where is the girl?!" Itachi demanded, "we've played this game."
The Wendigo frowned slightly, looking at them, "party pooper…over the mountains through the woods…"
Anko's eyes widened, "to Grandmother's house we go."
The Wendigo smiled, "good, good…but, I suppose I should just say thank you."
Naruto's eyes widened as black tentacles suddenly emerged from the portal, grabbing hold of him, the real Wendigo faced him from the other side of it. Anko moved to stop him but was too late as Naruto was dragged in.
"I so do enjoy," The clone licked his lips, "a free meal."
"You bastard!" Anko screamed but then watches as The Fox Grimm roared out and faced her.
Its tail grew bony, sharp, The Wendigo chuckled. "I believe I'll call this beast…Omi."
The duo watched as the beast grew in size, becoming the size of a tree as they got ready to fight.
Naruto yelped as he was dragged by his tail, thrashing against The Wendigo as he was pulled into the pentagram where he could see Nora. The black tendrils held him tightly as The Wendigo laughed, looking at Nora.
"And," he tossed Naruto to the ground, "the hero of the hour."
"No!" Nora thrashed against the pole, "Naruto, get up!"
The blonde fox Faunus growled, standing up, gripping his sword before removing it from its scabbard. The Jian shined brightly as he focused energy into it, The Wendigo just rolled his eyes, looking at the blonde with mirth.
"I lied by the way," The Wendigo stated with a twisted smile, "how naughty of me."
He made one of the tendrils form a sword, a rapier, he looked right at Naruto. "As you may have already discussed, who am I? Well, that is simple really, I am the priest of old."
"Be sober, be vigilant; because of your adversary the demon, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The Wendigo walks toward Naruto as he spoke.
Naruto got ready, slightly limping on his left side, "I'm not afraid of you."
"Oh, my dear boy, you shouldn't be afraid of me. You should be afraid of what vile things shall be done to your corpse, the blood that'll be used to summon a great demon to which I shall seal within me. I will then bring forth my own Grimm, then the city will burn, now come then, foolish child." The fallen priest laughs, "have at me."
Forming the tiger seal as Naruto held the sword in his mouth, Naruto charged chakra throughout his coils, he then gripped the sword as he looked at the man. He roars out as he charged, The Wendigo smirks, easily blocking the flurry of strikes with his rapier and moving to where he could get behind Naruto.
However, he was stunned when the blonde managed to turn in time and deflect his stab, he backed up as the blonde cocked his fist back. "Typhoon, roar!"
A loud bang sounded as the wind flew from his fist, sending him backward as well, but The Wendigo was hit full on by the semblance. Knocking him through a tree, much to Naruto's surprise, the blonde skidded to a stop.
Nearly to the edge of the pentagram, taking a deep breath, Naruto backed up only to a black tendril emerge just on the edge and hit him back toward the centre. He heard laughing as the fallen priest walked back into the circle, looking at Naruto, chuckling.
"Not bad little boy," the fallen priest walked toward Naruto, "another one in you?"
"Shut your mouth!" Naruto screamed as he cocked his fist back, digging into the ground with his heel before launching his semblance forward again.
The Wendigo laughs as he was hit, knocked back toward the edge, but this time he dug his heels in. He looked right at Naruto, smirking as he formed hand seals, various hand seals. Naruto's red eyes glowed brightly as he sheathed his blade and did something that amused the Wendigo.
"Copying me won't work, foolish child." He called out.
He suddenly finished, on the tiger seal, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
He reared back, blowing hot fire toward Naruto, only for the blonde's eyes to shrink as he dodged out the way at the last second, he could see inside of the man. The chakra coils, everything, everything that Anko had explained to him during their trip together so far.
How they flowed, he saw where the chakra was rubbing against each other in the man's throat, bursting, growing hotter. He went for broke, doing the same thing, he felt something hot build up inside as he saw the man go through the hand seals again, but he held his.
The Wendigo smirked as he finished the same attack, "die, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The hot flames that came from the man's mouth neared Naruto as the blonde suddenly reared back, he then roared out as flames launched from his mouth as well!
The fallen priest's eyes widened as his attack was matched, by the young child as his eyes glowed brighter and brighter red. Black veins appearing down his arm, indicating his chakra taxing his body, but it perturbed the demon worshiper as he backed away just in time to see his attack get overpowered when Naruto added his semblance into the mix.
Blowing him backward at the same, but he looked right the priest's stunned face and got his sword out to stop his launch. He then used his momentum to swing around his sword and launch himself toward the man.
The Wendigo growled, deflecting Naruto's strikes as the blonde dodged several of his. Naruto danced around with the man, clashing their blades together, with the blonde losing ground as the more experienced fallen priest suddenly kicked him toward the outer section of the pentagram.
Naruto felt several tendrils from behind him, his instincts kicked in as he suddenly turned and slashed them apart with his sword. They disintegrated when the light touched them, Naruto then realized something, all he needed was one good shot at the bastard!
The fallen priest formed several hand seals, "let's see you try to do it with water, little punk!"
Naruto's eyes widened as he barely dodged the jet of water shooting from the priest's mouth, it cut down a tree when the man tried to angle his head to follow Naruto. The blonde jumped up and dodged, but some of his hair was cut off from the stream.
He cocked his free hand back, "Typhoon, roar!"
The Wendigo's eyes widened behind the mask as he dodged, the air slamming into the ground, cratering it slightly. However, the blast managed to knock Nora off the pole, and onto the ground.
Breathing heavily, Naruto landed on the ground, sheathing his sword as he dodged another jet stream of water. He jumped, up, forming the hand seals he saw the priest perform. Ending it on Tiger, he flipped forward.
"Fire Style: Fireball JUTSUUUUU!" Naruto screams as he launched fire from his mouth.
The man smirked as he launched a water current from his mouth, which easily pierced through the flames, extinguishing them. However, his eyes widened when the blonde suddenly emerged from the steam cloud.
His sword poised to strike him down!
The Wendigo jumped back in time, "no more games, Dark Art: Blood Seek!"
Naruto's eyes widened as he avoided the first tendril, he ran fast around the pentagram, avoiding the other two with some effort. He turned back toward the man, he saw Nora laying on the ground, all bruised and beat up.
His rage broke!
Red aura suddenly appeared around him, making the man's eyes widen as black veins went down further on Naruto's arms.
"I swear on my life, as a Huntsman in training!" Naruto screams out as he charged right at the man, enhancing his movements with chakra, "that my eyes will save anything in front of theeeem!"
The roar of passion made his aura explode, he gathered it into his right fist, "TYPHOON, ROAR!"
The Wendigo got knocked out outside of the arena, the most powerful of the attacks so far, Naruto's features become wild as he sent the man flying. He turned on his heel as he formed hand seals, ending it on Tiger, he then leaned back.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Naruto screams once more, launching the flame, surprised that he didn't go flying back this time around.
The stream of fire raised upward, nearly impacting the man, but his eyes widened as several dark tendrils suddenly fell down. All of them hit him in the shoulders, anchoring him to the ground when they stabbed through!
The Wendigo dropped down, his face burnt slightly, "die!"
Naruto used his willpower, biting through the pain to jump up and the man's face. The Wendigo was stunned at the boy, believing the youngster to be weak, but yet here he was, going toe to toe, with a struggle no doubt.
The tendrils deformed, with Naruto jumping, angling himself to where his sword fell out. He grips it as it fell into his hand, jerking his body mid-air to suddenly slash the sword across the man's neck. Going deep enough to where the man's head came off his shoulders.
He won!
That was until The Wendigo exploded into black smoke, the real Wendigo appearing behind Naruto.
"You lose," he said as he reared back with his sword.
"DIE!"