Update 2/26/2017: Changed the name of this chapter. The old name will be used for a later chapter (Chapter 6)
Warning! Some Gore in this chapter!
ALSO!
If you are a reader who likes to feel "Omniscient", and likes to know everything about the story beforehand…prepare to be sorely disappointed. I reveal information as the story progresses, so patience will be necessary!
A/N: Now I saw some questions and comments from curious reviews, that I will try to answer:
Harem?! Don't do it man.
I think the main issue with harems on fanfiction is how the story is sacrificed to focus on unrealistic content regarding female characters, and their relationship with the MC.
I am inclined to agree that most harems on fanfiction can be...absurd, to say the least.
But, I have read stories that did amazing work with harems as well! While they did have some part in relations, the story was still the main focus and the harem did nothing to take away from it.
I haven't decided just yet what I'm doing as far as pairings go, simply because I want time to develop the story, and I don't need romance taking away from it right now. I enjoy a self reliant Naruto, and that's how I want him to be until he reaches the Canon period. So don't worry about the harem taking away from the story.
There may be fluff and sweet moments along the way, but nothing will be solid until a certain point in the story. Just keep in mind that harem is still a possibility as the story progresses, but so are single pairings.
If I do a harem, I won't make it pop out of nowhere, and I will try to make it sensible and believable to a decent extent, without sacrificing the content of this story.
Again, romance won't be happening for quite some time.
What is going to be taken from Re: Monster?
I don't want to say what will be taken until it comes up in the story...but I will say what probably wont be in it.
I may not do the 'gaming element', that tells him the levels and information. I don't think the 'gaming' aspect would fit well into this story, so I wont add it. Maybe I will add something similar, like brief lapses of memory and information he gained from Monty, but by no means will I keep track of levels and other gaming characteristics.
I also wont be doing things day-to-day like Re: Monster did. There are time-skips in this story, so things would be too complicated if I did a daily log of his ventures. (For example: Chapter 1 is Day 1-10)
No Bestiality!
Haha, I can say that the review by doa570047 made me laugh a bit, just from the context I read it in. Don't worry man, I can say that you won't suffer from seeing such a thing in this story. I'm not very good at lemons anyways. I'll just leave it at that for now.
Aura? Semblance? Abilities?! Oh My!
I will leave his abilities as a mystery, and how they are gained. Everything will be seen in the coming chapters, so bear with me ladies and gents.
Suspense and mystery makes the story more interesting, so I will leave it at that.
What kind of Grimm will he be?
That will be answered this chapter.
As most should have noticed, all Grimm bear a resemblance to animals. Even the new Grimm that was released for volume 4 early, is designed to look like a gorilla.
That being said, this story will have many types of Grimm that don't exist in the original series, because the potential is very wide and can reach very far.
You only have two stories dude, bro. Why U no Update Faster?
I work two jobs: one full-time, one part-time. Both jobs are worked 6 days a week (because I need that overtime bra), so my only free days are Sunday. I do write even on my busy days for like an hour or two, but it just doesn't cover everything I need write about.
Try to understand that I am doing what I can with decent quality, and that can only be done given a good amount of time. I edit and revise my own stuff, so it can be taxing on me. I need to support myself and those close to me above all else, so I hope you guys can sympathize.
That said, I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto, RWBY, or the Re: Monster Franchise and any of its characters. I am but a simple man, with a simple desire to write a fanfiction that has been plaguing my mind.
The only thing I own in this story are my theories, original characters (if I decide to make any), and scenarios that did not exist in the original stories.
Chapter 1: This Animal I have Become
-83 years before Canon-
Unknown Forest
Silence.
In an eerie and dark forest, all that could be heard were the sounds of the night.
The leaves would rustle in the wind, and the insects of the evening sang to their content. The forest was lush with trees and wildlife, brightened only by the shattered moon as the rays peaked through the openings between the branches.
Fireflies danced to the tune of nature, and all seemed to be at peace...but there was another sound within this forest that had not existed before.
If one listened closely, they could hear the soft breaths of a slumbering creature who lay in a small patch of grass among the trees.
A beam of the moon shined onto the figure, allowing anyone who stumbled across it, would have seen the figure as clear as day.
It was a small figure, perhaps no larger than a small pup, built with a canine-like body structure. From the back of the figure rested a small, bushy tail that curled around its body, almost as if in protection and preservation.
It's chest rose a fell as it slumbered, adding to the factor of adorability.
Perhaps, this could have once been considered an adorable creature...but it bore certain characteristics that would drive many who were aware of what it truly was, away in fear.
The fur that encompassed the creature was a pitch black, reminiscent of the night without light.
Covering the face of the small creature was a small, white mask with decorative red lines marring the surface. The shape was reminiscent of a fox, and though it did well in covering the skull and snout of the small creature, it did nothing to hide the unnerving fangs that seemed to protrude from its mouth as it slept.
The silence continued, until the body of this 'foxlike' creature began to stir on the grass.
As it began to awaken, an eye revealed itself to be similar to that of a Grimm's...but different in one aspect.
It still maintained the red-yellow, sunset hue of the eye Grimm normally possessed, but it also contained a slit pupil in the center. As to why this Grimm possessed a pupil whether others hadn't...it was uncertain, but this small difference definitely held some significance or some form of importance.
This...place is...?
As the small creature awoke, it began to take in its surroundings, before coming to a conclusion.
I see...so Monty sent me here...in the middle of the forest...at night...as a 'technical' newborn into this world...seriously, what the hell?! Are you trying to get me killed?!
The now revealed Naruto began to seriously curse his luck. So far, he has been transported to several different places, all of which had left him with more questions than answers.
Breaking himself of those thoughts, he thought back to what Monty had said about him being a 'Grimm', rather than a human. As he looked at his current figure he couldn't help but feel...like some practical joke had been played on him.
He wasn't sure what it was...but he was positive that his current form as a fox was a cruel joke that probably had something to do with his tangled memories.
I'm starting to feel irritated just looking at this form, but also strangely...happy? Seriously Monty, what the hell?
Through his inner musings, a ruffle of leaves amongst the bushes could be heard amongst the bushes, breaking Naruto from further contemplation.
Reacting quickly, he jumped back and assumed his best stance in preparation for combat. Unfortunately, he had only just awoken and had yet to become accustomed to this new form of his, causing him to stumble and trip onto the ground.
Shit! Why couldn't I be given a body capable of bipedal movement?!
While Naruto was aware that being a quadrupedal creature was advantageous in speed and maneuverability, it required time to adjust to the change.
Turning his attention back to the bushes, Naruto managed to see several figures appear, all possessing a familiar black appearance to himself.
These creatures were tall in height, and judging by the structure of their body, they were capable of switching between moving on all-fours and on their hind legs.
Their eyes were a familiar shade of sunset, with what appeared to be bones protruding from their arms, legs, and shoulders. A line of spikes could also be seen traveling partway down their spine which only served to make them all the more intimidating.
They exerted a loud howl once they entered the clearing with Naruto, as they cast him a gaze that would be difficult to discern by any human.
Normally, as soon as a Grimm sets their eyes onto a human, all they could feel and sense was malice, hate, and a hunger for their flesh.
...But Naruto was no longer a human.
He was now a Grimm, much like these creatures that now stood before him.
Because of this, he did not feel any hate from them, towards himself. Instead, he was able to sense...confusion?
As crazy as it seemed, Naruto was actually able to understand from a simple gaze that these Grimm in front of him were confused by his presence. Was Naruto a breed of Grimm that is rarely seen? Or were these Grimm able to detect he was 'different' from them?
This creature is called...a Beowolf I believe? Thought Naruto, drawing upon the supply of information he was gifted to by Monty.
When Monty showed him the forms of the eight key figures of this world, he had also imparted Naruto with some general information about the world of Remnant as well.
If he was going to be expected to live as a Grimm, it was only fair that he possessed knowledge of the different breeds, their position in the world, and various other things.
I'll have to review the information I was given later...for now, I wonder what these Grimm are up to?
As Naruto thought this, the wolf-like Grimm began to stalk around him, sniffing and growing closer. Naruto did not feel the need to attack because he had yet to understand his own body, and the Beowolves didn't seem to show any signs of aggression...yet.
One of the Grimm looked Naruto in the eyes and sent him a low growl.
Even though it wasn't spoken in words, strangely enough, Naruto was able to understand that this Grimm had remarked on how he felt different, but it still understood that he was a Grimm.
While most Grimm weren't intelligent, they still possessed instincts.
This continued on for a few moments, before they pulled away seeing as they weren't able to detect any form of humanity.
Naruto released a breath of relief. He had just been born into this world, so he didn't want to use his first waking moments getting into a fight with his new race. He still needed time to compose himself and reflect on any useful information he might have been given.
Almost suddenly, Naruto was hit with a wave of invisible force.
It wasn't something that affected him on a physical level and caused harm, it was almost as if something had just triggered his senses. He could feel varying waves of negative emotions crawling along his skin, onto the ends of his fur. Sadness, anger, disgust, madness...the list continued, but what was strange was not how dark these thoughts were...it was the fact that Naruto didn't seemed to be bothered by it.
Why do I feel...content? Naruto had asked himself.
Naruto had yet to truly understand the physiology that came with being a Grimm, as well as their natural instinct. He was but a newborn kit, new to the world of Grimm.
He couldn't understand how such darkness did not seem to affect him...in fact, he seemed to bask in it's embrace, like a fire in the harsh winter. It felt almost comforting as he bathed in its presence.
This both seemed to unnerve him...and excite him.
He wasn't the only one to feel this sensation, however, as he noticed that the Beowolves had turned their head in the same direction he felt the surge of emotions come from.
Almost immediately, they let out a howl and immediately began to charge out of the clearing, towards the direction of malice.
It was a few moments after Naruto watched them leave that he began to trek after them at his own pace, using this time to get familiar with his body.
Something is definitely happening over there that was able to catch their attention, and I want to be there to see what, he thought as he followed the source of darkness that was set for him.
Damn, those things are pretty quick...and I think I'm finally getting used to moving, so lets try to pick up the pace.
Naruto could be seen moving at a moderate pace, closing in on the feeling he had sensed earlier.
As Naruto drew closer, he could hear varied sounds of explosions, clanging steel, and monstrous grunts up ahead.
Upon hearing this, Naruto's speed died down to a walk, then a crawl as it became louder.
After some time, he hid himself in a bush and peeked through the small network of branches, to come upon a sight that left him in a state of shock.
Before him could be seen a disaster of epic proportions.
What appeared to be a battlefield, looked more like a shit show from the different happenings that was going on.
There were men and women of all sorts battling amongst each other, and against the Grimm.
Hunters and Huntresses could be seen from every direction battling it out with sparks of dust and multiple abilities.
When they weren't battling amongst each other, they were hunted by Grimm that remained in hiding, awaiting the opportunity to hunt down the humans.
In one instance, blood could be seen splattered on the tattered body of one hunter as he beheaded another, with a look of concentrated antagonism and disdain.
In that moment of distraction, a Beowolf had appeared behind him and tore through his remaining aura, gouging out a head's worth of flesh from his neck to his chest, leaving the unfortunate hunter sputtering non-sensical words of anguish and regret until his last breath.
In an act of revenge, a distraught and teary eyed huntress appeared behind the Grimm, splitting its head and ending it's life in a instant. The Grimm had dropped powerlessly, beginning to disappear in a whirl of black dust, as the woman clutched the corpse of what appeared to be someone close to her.
There was not a second that blood had not been spilled, as Grimm of all kinds drove their jaws and claws into the bodies of hunters, basking in the meat as they chewed through muscle and bone.
The humans were no better as they cut each other down mercilessly and without remorse, moving onto one person when they finished another.
Limbs were detached, throats were gashed, skulls were smashed, and bones were ground small fragments.
What Naruto found curious, was that if the bodies were left alone long enough, it began to dissipate into a colored mist of some kind.
He did not think of it much as he continued to watch the continual scenes of horror and bloodshed.
Throughout the war-torn clearing, similar scenes could be seen happening as time passed, with each individual shouting their allegiance.
From what Naruto had gathered from their chants, it seemed to have to do with fighting for 'individualism', while others vouched for 'conservatism' and desired to suppress self-expression in favor of complete unity and control.
Upon hearing all this, something seemed to click in Naruto's head.
The Great War, he thought to himself from out of the blue.
It seemed that the information he was granted would reveal itself upon discovering them. This view of the war managed to ignite this information, allowing him to understand what exactly was happening.
While Naruto appreciates this, he also couldn't help but feel that this was a bit inconvenient for him.
He was hoping to search out this information in his own time, so that he could be prepared...but if the information only came to him when he witnessed it, he would have to act on the fly, with little to no plan in mind.
Despite this, Naruto only considered it a minor annoyance. If there was something he had remembered about his past life, it was that he was an unpredictable existence, capable of making even the impossible become something within the realms of possibility and reality.
Naruto seemed to have underestimated the range of the battles that were taking place, as a human corpse dropped in front of him, sporting a missing arm and expression of disbelief in his eyes.
The impact of the lifeless body was strong enough to splash a considerable amount of blood across his face.
Instinctually, Naruto licked the parts surrounding his mouth clean of all blood.
At that moment, Naruto's eyes began to glow ominously, as he eyed the corpse now with something more than observation...
It was hunger.
Not a hunger one felt out of necessity, but out of desire.
He wanted to eat, but by no means did he need to.
When was the last time you had heard of a Grimm starving to death?
Grimm were semi-immortal creatures that can not die through age, disease, or starvation.
The only way they can achieve "death", was to be killed directly.
So that begs the question...why did they consume humans? Why did they desire destroy them, and all of their machinations? What bore this deep-seated hatred within them, and where did they come from?
Unfortunately...no one truly knows this answer.
Whatever it was...Naruto felt it.
He felt a whirlwind of desire in his chest, growing in turbulence and chaos as he continued to stare at the bloodied figure before him.
An unknowing growl was exerted from his lips, showing how much he desired to feast on the pulp of bloodied flesh before him.
But after a few moments, the gust of desire slowed to a breeze, as the darkness in his eyes began to disappear, replacing it with one of horror.
I...I-I wanted to eat...a human? He expressed inwardly in horrified shock.
Naruto was not as much of an idiot as many made him out to be.
He understood clearly the particular diet of Grimms.
He was well aware that humans were the Grimm's favorite thing to snack on...but he felt that it was something he could resist. As an immortal-like creature, he didn't even need to eat!
He was not aware, however, that Grimm were so...primal. There was almost no reasoning behind it, he just felt the natural urge to devour.
If Naruto was not conscious of his actions...he would have surely eaten the corpse in its entirety.
I...I need to get away from here! I can't be around...this! He thought.
He feared that if he stayed any longer...he would commit an act he wouldn't be capable of taking back. While he was no longer human, he still wasn't capable of treating humans as a source of food.
Turning away from the slowly dying sounds of the battlefield, Naruto dashed out of the clearing to...anywhere that wasn't there.
It would be hours before Naruto finally came to a stop. Strangely, he didn't feel very winded.
Then again, Grimm weren't exactly built the same way humans were.
Was there even a concept of stamina for them?
Right now, Naruto could be seen panting, but it wasn't out of exhaustion...he was still suffering from the aftereffects of his momentary lapse of hunger.
Ugh...I do NOT...want to feel that way...again, he thought between breaths, It was like I lost all reason and acted without thought!
This is what unnerved him the most.
Don't get him wrong. He still found the act of eating humans appalling, and was less than content about being reborn into a time of war, but it was not something he wasn't already prepared for.
In his world, war was commonplace, with acts of cruelty being more than just a possibility…he still didn't understand why he had an aversion to snakes, but he figured it had something to do with his past.
What made Naruto different from the other Grimm was his humanity...well, internal humanity. This meant that he still thought like a human, but was simply in the body of a Grimm.
I have to find an alternative...maybe I can eat something else?
The clearing he was now in was a lot larger than where he initially spawned, with a small pond in the center with various creatures in the surroundings.
He could see various animals like deers, birds, squirrels, and there were even a couple of Boarbatusks; one had a fractured tusk, while the other had both in tact.
He cast his gaze toward an injured deer, and found his target.
Sorry deer...but this is the circle of life.
With that thought, Naruto crept around the deer, somehow escaping its senses.
This is strange, thought Naruto, Deer are particularly sensitive to things around them...so why is it acting like it doesn't even acknowledge me?
Naruto shook these thoughts from his head before continuing his hunt. He wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. If the deer wasn't going to make it difficult for him...he wont question why. He'll just send his regards to Oum-all-mighty.
In Oum, I trust, Naruto prayed lightly for his harvest.
Within a second, Naruto pounced onto the deer, that still hadn't reacted until Naruto dug his claws into it's neck.
The death came instant, but the cries of the dying deer were enough to send the other animals scattering in fear.
The only other creatures that stayed behind were the two Boarbatusks that gave him a look that said 'What the actual fuck?'
Their confusion was rightfully understood. Grimm were not known to attack animals, so they only looked at Naruto as if he was an idiot.
Grimm were not completely mindless. There have been cases where Grimm that have lived for so long, they develop some form of intelligence through experience, which is more notably seen in mammoth-like Grimm called Goliaths.
Judging by how these Grimm were able to express sentience to some extent, they must be fairly aged.
Hmph...stupid hogs...they don't understand what I'm trying to do here, Naruto defended himself internally. He refused to be looked down on by a couple of pig-Grimm. He was a Fox!
Well...a kit Grimm technically, being newly spawned and all...but Still! Foxes were higher on the food chain in his mind.
Naruto turned to the carcass before him and thought, hmm...I should probably cook this...raw meat never tastes good...
Within his plethora of Ninja skills he had yet to sort through, he recalled that starting a fire with twigs and sparking rocks was a viable option.
It took about an hour before he managed to light a fire...what? You try lighting a fire with only paws!
As Naruto continued to roast the deer over the fire...he noticed that he was still being watched by the two Boarbatusks on the side.
Naruto turned to the pig-Grimm with an annoyed glare, and released a series of yips that translated into, "What? You guys got a problem?!"
Not intimidated by the yelps of a baby Grimm, the Boarbatusks just looked away nonchalantly...as if they heard nothing...pretending they weren't observing the strange foxy Grimm just seconds ago.
If Naruto still possessed a brow, it would no doubt be twitching in irritation at the actions of the boars.
Those bastards probably think they're funny...whatever, I've got a deer to eat.
Noticing that the deer was finally cooked, Naruto licked his lips, more out of muscle memory than actual hunger.
Itadakimas- Naruto began as he chomped into the meat of the deer...before he felt a strange sensation.
As soon as he bit into the deer, one thought surged through his mind...
Disgusting.
Almost immediately, Naruto hurled the deer meat and a black sludge-like substance, which he assumed to be his vomit.
The strange thing is...the taste of disgust would not disappear.
He continued to heave, but that taste wouldn't go away!
It was rancid beyond belief, making decayed, diseased, maggot infested meat seem more appetizing.
He could feel his body burning in rejection, aching in slight pain and curling in resistance.
The ends of his hairs stood on end, and a black mist was being emitted from his mouth.
It was a long while before Naruto could finally regain himself.
Fuck...I can't eat deer meat? Was that deer diseased? The fuck is going on?! He hollered in anger to himself. How was it that he couldn't resist the scent of raw human flesh and blood...but a well cooked deer could be so...so terrible!
It just didn't make any sense.
He was broken from these thoughts when he heard loud snorts in what seemed to be...amusement?
He turned his head to the side...and immediately flared in anger.
To the side, were the Boarbatusks...seemingly snorting at Naruto's stupidity.
These boars were capable of expressing amusement? Okay...that makes them older than he thought...
Regardless of their age...Naruto was pissed.
Yelping in anger, he said, "You bastards! I'm gonna come over there and kick your collective, fat asses!"
Feeling the negativity in the tones of his yelps, the two Grimm responded to the challenge with grunts of their own.
Grimm were not known for killing each other, but there were disputes.
Whether this be because of territory, food (humans), or antagonism between different types of Grimm, conflicts did arise. They were still animals in appearance, so their antagonism most likely stemmed from that nature.
The two boars charged towards Naruto at a speed normal humans would find intimidating, but that was more like child's play to Naruto.
Even if he was in an unfamiliar body, the Grimm before him did not possess the size and strength in comparison to some of the other races of Grimm out there.
Even if they possessed some level of sentience, it did not mean there skill set was any different from an average Boarbatusk. It just meant that they knew how to use it better.
Boarbatusks were straightforward in nature, and struck head-on. Their hides and skulls made it extremely difficult to penetrate, and their tusks were sharp enough to inflict a good amount of damage towards anyone who utilized aura.
As they drew close to Naruto, he jumped over their heads with great agility, and leapt after them in response.
The first to turn around was the boar with a fractured tusk, ready to impale Naruto with the one still intact.
Predictable, he thought before latching onto said tusk with his claws.
He then swung his body around it, using the momentum of the rotation to flip the Boarbatusk onto its back, leaving its stomach exposed.
Seeing the state of it's companion, the other boar charged with a loud grunt in fury towards Naruto.
Seriously...are all Grimm this simple minded?
Naruto wrapped his tail around the fractured tusk of the fallen Grimm, and lifted it's exposed belly towards the charging boar.
The result was an impact between fellow Grimm, as Naruto dived to the side at the last second, and charged once more to the pig-Grimm.
Naruto took the brief lapse of time away from the boars to review his body structure.
Despite my small size, I was still able to pick up that fat boar...I guess all Grimm possess unnatural strength...but I wonder what the limits are?
He decided to think on it later, as he had some pigs to take care of at the moment.
The Boarbatusks were given no time to regain their bearings as Naruto slammed his shielded skull against the exposed side of one hog.
He then spun, using the momentum of his rotation to uppercut the other boar with his tail, sending it into the air before it came tumbling down in defeat.
Naruto then adopted a stance of dominance and haughtiness before yipping, "Never underestimate Naruto Uzumaki, bastards!"
Seeing the defeated appearance of the Boarbatusks, who seemed to have acknowledged their defeat, Naruto gave a nod of his head and turned to walk...trot...well, whatever you call movement with four legs, back into the forest.
There has to be something I can eat here...but what?
Naruto was truly troubled by this predicament...He needed to find some alternative to satisfy his natural instincts, but he was unsure on what he could possibly do.
I'll just have to keep experimenting with different animals...there's no way that the only option is to eat humans...right?
Naruto was very unsure. While he would like to hope so, there was nothing within the knowledge he gained from Monty that said otherwise.
It was after several minutes of him being deep in thought that he heard a rustling from behind him.
Those two...what do they want now?
When Naruto turned...he saw the same two Boarbatusks he had fought with earlier appear before him.
He was aware that he was being followed by them...but he prayed to Oum it was just a coincidence, and they just happened to head in his direction.
Unfortunately, Naruto was never lucky when it came to situations like this.
"What do you hogs want? Another ass kicking?" Naruto yelped in slight annoyance.
The said hogs merely looked at Naruto, and released a snort that Naruto found quite troubling...
Because they seemed to say something along the lines of, 'Boss!' Or 'Aniki!'
Again...if Naruto had a brow, it would no doubt be twitching at the current circumstances.
Seriously...I kick their asses once, and now I'm like their gang leader? Am I collecting monsters now?! This isn't fucking Pokemon!...and what the fuck is Pokemon?! Naruto thought angrily, also dropping a reference he himself didn't seem to understand.
It seemed Monty gave him knowledge outside of just pertaining to Remnant and this dimension...not that Naruto knew any better.
Seriously...why was he given knowledge that had nothing to do with his survival?
Naruto shook his head of these thoughts and simply stared at the boar-like Grimm.
He just...looked at them.
They looked back at him.
He looked at them.
They looked back at him.
…
…
…
This is...making me uncomfortable... He thought to himself.
Realizing they were not going to leave anytime soon, Naruto let a huff of annoyance escape his mouth as he yipped, "Fine! You guys can come along...though, I should probably give you names...it's annoying if I don't have a way to identify you. Calling you guys hogs all the time can get annoying..."
Naruto thought for a moment...before two names appeared in his mind. He didn't know why they popped up, and they sure as hell sounded stupid...but he felt like it had something to do with Monty throwing them in there.
"Alright," He yipped once again, "Broken Tusk will be Gordy...and you will be Pumbaa...How's that?"
His only response was a grunt, which he assumed was both indifference and acknowledgement at the names they were given.
Naruto just shook his head as he turned to walk away once again, with two new creatures in tow.
-3 Months Later-
Tortured and tormented.
He felt a weakness in his body.
It felt like he was deteriorating inside, slowly being consumed by the shadows of insanity.
He thirsted for blood and starved for human meat.
His eyes glazed over with primal rage and desperation, reminiscent of the average, wild Grimm of this world.
Through these past three months, Naruto had searched relentlessly and tirelessly for some sort of solution to his problem regarding humans and his desire to consume them.
Naruto had tried a number of different things. There wasn't an animal in the forest he had not tried to eat, there was no plant that looked edible that escaped his taste, and he had even tried some things that weren't edible in a last ditch effort to preserve his humanity. But they all ended up the same way...regurgitated.
No matter how sick he became as a result, he tried and tried again.
The Boarbatusks that joined him only looked at him in confusion while he did this.
By instinct, all Grimm do not have any sort of desire towards animals and life that were not human, so Naruto's actions were baffling to say the least.
Of course, no worry was present in their eyes. These were still creatures of Grimm. They did not have a soul, and compassion was non-existent.
Sentience and souls are a concept often confused and misconstrued.
They were not the same thing, yet others always tied the two together.
Most people seem to believe that you can only be sentient when you have a soul...but again, how does that explain the existence of Grimm then?
Grimm have been established as the only beings that do not possess a soul, but are they not capable of thought? Are they not able to feel negative emotion? Do they not learn over the passage of time?
They are capable of all these things.
Grimm at times lie in wait for their prey, and strike when the victim is most vulnerable...this requires thought.
Grimm are able to sense the change of negative emotions, whether it be malice, despair, or various other things, and move towards the source...this requires feeling.
Grimm like the Goliaths that have lived for centuries, or perhaps even longer, have learned that by attacking hunters aggressively, they would in turn be hunted down. Instead, they choose to wait...This requires experience and the ability to learn.
So what is the answer when it is asked if Grimm possess sentience?
It is yes.
They may not possess a soul, but they are, undoubtedly, sentient creatures. They are underestimated by the humans and looked down on as being nothing more than mindless beasts; monsters of nature meant only for the destruction of the human race.
Naruto had stumbled upon a little secret regarding the Grimm during his time spent with the Boarbatusks, as well as his experience as becoming one.
The Grimm are typically docile.
Yes, there are disputes at times...but he still has yet to see one Grimm kill another.
In fact, when he found himself comparing Grimm and humans...he felt that Grimm were perhaps better than humans in some aspects.
Naruto was a man who experienced a world-shattering war before. He may not remember much of it, but he knew enough to know the chaos and bloodshed it wrought. Memories were one thing...but feeling was something that was difficult to escape.
How was it that the creatures of Grimm were capable of peace amongst their own race, yet humans continued to fight amongst themselves over trivial things?
From all the fields of battle during this Great War Naruto had come across since coming to this world...blood and bodies littered the grass, and scars of battle could be seen amongst the shattered trees and gouged earth.
Skin was flayed and bones were scattered before they eventually dissipated.
Even if the bodies disappeared, the aftermath would remain.
How many families had been left broken as a result of war?
How many fathers were lost? Mothers? Brothers? Sisters? Sons and daughters?
The list went on, and the knowledge of this truth only served to make Naruto furious at mankind…was there no concept of peace in any of these dimensions?
Will all worlds suffer from the hate and disdain of others?
How much blood was needed to be shed, before humanity would begin to understand the repercussions of destruction?
He had yet to see a peaceful moment between them.
Naruto could only feel...disappointed.
Between the Grim and humans...he was slowly finding it harder to see who were more sinister in nature.
This takes us back to Naruto's recent discovery about Grimm being 'docile' under normal circumstances. He had stumbled upon it due to his own experience, and if someone heard him say that Grimm could be 'docile, he would no doubt be turned in to an insane asylum.
This 'docile' nature of theirs only changed under certain reasons...
Instinct. Insanity. Madness.
As soon as a Grimm felt any sort of darkness, sensed another human, or even one of their creations...they went mad.
No...perhaps mad didn't fully describe how Grimm acted.
Something was driving them to do the things they did...but what that was, was uncertain.
Naruto just felt this unceasing desire to devour the life of mankind.
The more he resisted, the stronger his instinct became.
The madness grew to levels beyond what he figured was possible. It was like an incessant knocking on the door, that grew louder and louder the more he waited. His irritation would continue to grow and his resistance would begin to dwindle, until he opened that door and all hell broke loose.
Somehow, he knew...the more he waited, the greater the repercussions would be.
It was then he came to realize what Monty had meant when he first talked with Naruto about becoming a Grimm.
'You will be forced to do things you never even had nightmares of doing'...He also said I may not come out the same person I went in as, he mused in deep thought.
I think...I understand what he was talking about. There...is no other option. I chose to become a Grimm. There is always a price to pay for miracles...
And with a vengeance, his bout with insanity had returned once more.
The cause was a strong source of malice and death from a clearing ahead.
GAH!...this pain...this desire...it is unreal. I...need...to go there.
Naruto sprinted towards the direction where he felt the battle was occurring, with the Boarbatusks following in tow.
It took only a few minutes before Naruto came across the bloodied clearing. Where there was blood, death always followed.
This was further evidenced by the lifeless husks of hunters and huntresses he saw across the field.
It seems the battle ended quicker than usual...
As he looked at the bodies, his head began to throb and his limbs began to tremble.
He struggled to resist against these urges; his humanity was at war with his temptation to eat.
His pig-Grimm companions had no such reservations toward consuming humans, and typically ate without concern for their 'Boss.'
However...they could feel that today was different.
They sensed that Naruto was acting stranger than usual, and noticed how he slowly began to stalk his way toward the remains of a lifeless hunter.
Because of the 'difference' they were able to sense...they opted to wait.
Grimm tended to travel in groups, and with all groups, there was an Alpha.
While Naruto had shown to be different from other Grimm, his might and position was proven the day these boars were driven to submission.
As Naruto grew closer to the corpse, his thoughts were raging with many things.
Hesitation.
Confusion.
Frustration.
Resolution.
These thoughts were all gathered together, creating a hurricane of disharmony deep within the reaches of his soul.
This madness...it would continue to eat him alive until he could no longer prolong it. After that, he would be no better than other mindless Grimm.
'You will go through hardships and changes in your life, some greater than the pain you may have experienced in your previous world', Naruto recollected the words of Monty.
I've...felt a lot of physical and emotional pain in my life...I don't know exactly everything, but I know it hurt...but this may be one of the hardest things I've ever experienced...
There were many things Naruto had cherished throughout his life...
His friends, his nindo, his village...but all of that came to be, because of his character.
It was who Naruto was, his character, his philosophy, that made him who he was and allowed him to come to love others despite experiencing his own darkness.
And now, Naruto was forced to breakdown his character some, in order to adapt to the changes of the world...but let it be known that Naruto will always be a hard-headed ninja with a relentless will.
He knew that fighting against it would do more harm than good...but that didn't mean he couldn't control it.
It was a long internal struggle that seemed to last for hours, but after some time...he made up his mind.
It hurts...knowing I will be eating a race I used to be...but I wont let this control me...I will only consume the dead, or those that deserve retribution...I refuse to become a monster that destroys everything in its path! I will have control over my actions, and not let my body control me!
After finally reaching the corpse, he slowly brought his face to the exposed torso of the hunter.
I will learn the truth about Grimm...I will discover our strength, our potential, and our reason for existence...
A glint of determination could be seen in his slit pupils as he opened his mouth, revealing his fangs to the exposed flesh before him.
I will survive, and change this fucked up world, if my name isn't Naruto Uzumaki! And if there's one thing I keep...
With a final growl as he bit into the bloody skin, tearing out the meat and muscle and marring the bone inside, Naruto began to feel a wave of slight relief as he continued to ingest the ground mess of bones and flesh.
It's a promise!
With newborn acceptance of who he was, Naruto continued to bask in the remains of the deceased, slowly erasing the madness that had once consumed him.
His determination and will were not the only things that grew that day.
As he continued to satiate his appetite, his body grew to that of a normal, young fox with bone plating along the upper part of his fore and hind legs.
His mask became a bit more intricate in design and intimidating in structure.
And dancing behind him in wild, excited fervor was a sight that would no doubt shock him if he had any memory of his former tenant and what had made him famous…
Another tail.
A/N: That is all for this Chapter!
This marks the beginning of Naruto's life as a Grimm.
He was spawned during the time of the Great War, and since most things are still a mystery regarding the war, I will be making my own stuff. I already have the next 10 chapters planned, and even more ideas for my later chapters, but it will be a while before I can write them out.
My Grimm theory may be slightly different from the original, with some extra stuff added in there, but that is because it is going to be a plot point for the future.
If you find it hard to believe that Naruto is all of a sudden 'okay' with eating humans...well, technically it wasn't 'all-of-a sudden.' I made a time skip, mentioning how Naruto tried almost every alternative instead of humans. While this was happening, he could tell that as he prolonged it, he would become a mindless Grimm. In essence: He chose to control his actions, rather than become a mindless creature that ate everything in its path. He knew if he didn't, he would be doing more harm. So, he sacrificed his morals for the good of the future.
If that is still hard to believe...Then...oh well I guess? Perhaps my stuff in the future will make up for it. I spent a lot of time creating my own theory on Grimm. By no means is it correct (it could be, though!), I'm just creating a theory that others may find entertaining, so don't rely on my logic for the original RWBY show.
And you're probably asking yourself...why Boarbatusks out of all the Grimm?!...because they are the most unassuming type and less serious. I feel like I can have fun with them.
That being said, I hope you enjoyed! Next chapter will be...at some point? Can't make any promises guys. I have a karate tournament to prepare for, and I will be on vacation majority of this month, plus I have a deadline for NaruKami at the end of the month, so we shall see! I am enjoying writing this story so far, but again, this story is still in the trial phase.
Leave Reviews, comments, or questions if you have any! I accept both Critical (without bias) and supportive stuff! And I won't answer any question that can be considered a spoiler...so don't bother asking, for I shall not answer!
~Stay cool, but don't Freeze