A/N: Happy Holidays~!

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Should have a surprise for you guys and gals on Christmas.

Well, that's a lot of support for the first chapter, eh? Off we go, then!

Before we move onto the questions, I feel the need to clarify something quickly.

Much like my "An Untraveled Road" tale, which I cannot recommend enough, this particular tale begins in Atlas. However, that's where the similarities end. Naruto may be a touch weaker here than his canon, but he's still the walking equivalent of a nuke, who can sense negative emotions, spam shadow clones move pretty damn quick.

This particular tale is hard-hitting, gritty drama that focuses heavily on the concepts of military and family. Its also a fair bit SHORTER than what I usually write. In that regard, I'm hoping everyone to keep everyone around. Not much black and white here as far as justice goes. But grey? We've got grey for miles. Now then!

Q: Wait, wait, wait. Naruto thinks this is all a DREAM?! Oh gods, that's crazy!

A: Yup. He's broken in the head...and its fun to write.

Q: Is Kurama dead?

A: *zips lips*

Q: What's up with Naruto's eyes?

A: Its been stated already; Naruto has the Rinnegan in both eyes. And I'm sure you noticed the "flaming eyes" bit as well. Worry not, we'll get into that.

Q: Don't do Ironwood dirty, please. RWBY destroyed his character.

A: James is a pillar of this story. That's all I will say. As to the timeline questions...they'll be answered shortly in the pages below. Time will tell if he becomes the same MONSTER we see in canon.

Q: Is S.T.E.E.L. an OC? What are her specs?

A: She's an actual character, one created by Pietro's aura. I suppose you could say she's a part of Penny. They're sisters. However, unlike dear Penny whom we all know and love, little S.T.E.E.L. was placed into Naruto's spine to help mitigate some of the damage he suffered. More to the point, to help keep him alive until his healing factor could kick in. Naruto's certainly not going to shut down without her and she cannot be hacked. Watts will be in for a nasty surprise if he tries!

Going for a rare pairing here, but that depends on the votes, I suppose. Let me know in your reviews!

As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Not a one!

So now, I proudly present...something new.

"I've run the simulations. That young man has enough power to wipe Atlas off the map.

And you want to dissect him?! Are you mad?!

~?

Souls of Iron

General Ironwood was a man on the edge.

From what little Naruto had been told of him, it sounded like one good shove would send him tumbling over that edge. A man like that probably had a lot on his plate. Politics, bureaucracy

Yeah, Naruto wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

Clad in a dark blue tunic with matching slacks and a dark gunmetal gray jacket, he was warm if nothing else as he followed Penny down the hall. He could be thankful for the change of clothes at least. It was a far cry from the hospital gown he'd woken up in. Likewise, his new boots were of solid wintry make and fit him like a glove. Now if only his outfit had more color...maybe some orange or red...

"You have an elevated heart rate." Steel informed him helpfully. "Are you alright?"

Naruto smiled despite himself. "Its called stress, Steel."

"What is stress?"

"Stress is...complicated." The man out of time muttered. "I guess its something you feel when you're excited."

"I see." A pause. "Are you excited, Naruto?"

"Terrified, really." he admitted.

"Why?"

A hysteric giggle threatened to burst out of him. WHY?! He'd woken up with cybernetic implants and insane reflexes beyond what he'd had in his last life. In a time where masked maniacs robot girls where a thing; a realm in which he had the Rinnegan -which he didn't remember getting!- and a voice in his head. Not to mention the very real possibility that Kurama was dead. Also, his body still felt like it was currently on fire, because of said implants. He was pretty sure his eyes were still doing that weird flame thing, too.

But hey, this was a dream, right? None of that mattered. He kept telling himself it. Yup. Definitely a dream. Couldn't be anything else. Go with the flow.

"This is not a dream, Naruto."

He bit his lip until he tasted blood. "Let me have this, Steel."

A note of confused sorrow threaded its way into her voice. "Do you wish for me to be silent?"

"I...No," he pinched the brow of his nose, "Its not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. You helped me. You're not at fault here."

Had she a brow, he imagined it would've furrowed. "Even though you claim that this is a dream?"

"Yeah." he stabbed both hands into his pockets. "Ain't your fault."

Steel made a tiny noise of delight. It felt like a laugh.

"Then I hope this is a pleasant dream for you."

"Why ya gotta say it like that...

For all his bitter thoughts, Naruto felt smile grow another inch. In many ways, he was beginning to understand his new guest, even if he wasn't fond of her intrusion into his life. She was not Kurama. She never would be. Where the old fox possessed a cutting wit, Steel was almost childlike in her curiosity. She was learning. Naive in some ways, and yet so knowledgeable in others. Blast her and her questions. Always with the questions.

Her innocence shouldn't have dulled his fears. But it did.

It meant she wasn't some crazed program that would snatch control of his body out from under him. He didn't even think she would if she could.

What a strange dream. He must've eaten some expired ramen or something...

"Here we are!" Just ahead of them, Penny pushed the doors open with a cherubic smile. "General Ironwood, sir! I've brought him!"

Sat behind a slate grey desk, a man in a crisp white uniform awaited them. Wearing a matching flowing coat and blue trousers alongside a blue collar and red tie, he looked every bit the general Penny said he was. His hair was black-going-grey, while his forehead bore a strange of silver metal just above his right eyebrow. Naruto had dreaded this meeting. But now that he saw him? This was a man. Not a monster. The poor bastard looked positively haggard. That, and in need of a good shave. Like he'd had one too many bad days and a single good once since.

Piercing blue eyes met them; not unlike his own, but sharper. Harder.

Naruto knew it at a glance; here was a man who held the weight of the world on his shoulders. Penny had spoken highly of him during their short-lived journey to his office and thus far? The man met his expectations and then some. Ironwood was a general, one who not only wielded great power, but great responsibility with it.

"Welcome." he saw them and called out in a cordial tone. "Please, come in."

Penny entered first, leaving Naruto to follow in her footsteps as they entered the office proper. The space within was grand in size if spartan, a domed enclosure spread out to expose the Atlas skyline at his back. The waxing light of the morning sun filtered through, forcing the wayward warrior to squint against it. Taking mercy on him, the general waved a hand and the light from the windows dimmed.

Remarkably, the next words out of his mouth were an apology.

"I'm sorry about the Ace Ops." the man clasped both hands hands together, wringing one glove against the other. "They're good soldiers to be sure, bu they can be a tad...overzealous at times. You have my personal reassurance that they will be reprimanded for their actions against you." His mouth settled into a frown. "I'll have them cleaning out latrines for a week after the mess they made."

Naruto blinked, caught flatfooted by the admission of guilt. "Um...thanks? I appreciate it."

What! He did! Clover might have been reluctant to fight him, but it didn't change the fact that that Ace Ops attacked him first. They should've just let him through. Instead they'd panicked. In his enervated state, it was a miracle he'd manged to beat them back. That Steel had helped him trounce them...heh. That was just happy coincidence.

"We fought well." his companion preened. "There's no shame in that...is there?"

"Nope." Alright, maybe he was corrupting her. Just a little. Still didn't regret it, though.

As he looked on Ironwood stood -holly hell, he was tall!- from his desk and strode briskly around it to meet him. Naruto followed him with his eyes, only now noticing his shadow. Behind the General, a woman clasped both arms behind her back and stood at attention. Her hair was as white as her uniform, her eyes chips of frozen tundra set within a pale face. She didn't look much pleased to see him.

Naruto found he wasn't much pleased with her either.

Even now he could still sense negative emotions strongly as ever, and this woman was just one big ball of trauma. Anger. Fear. Regret. So much regret...towards what? Naruto didn't know. But he knew she was afraid of him. Of that much he was certain. Any other time, he might have been curious as to why. Now? He just wanted away from her. Being in the presence of such powerful sentiment left him feeling ill.

"At ease, Winter." the General reassured her when she moved to intercept. "We're all friends here."

This "Winter" looked like she'd sucked on a lemon, but obeyed her superior. "Yes...sir."

"Please forgive her.

"Perhaps its best if we start over from the beginning." he stopped halfway, and offered his right hand to him. "Welcome to Atlas, son. I am General Ironwood. Protector of this fair city. But you can call me James." his worn face creased in a tired smile. "If there's anything you need, anything at all, you have but to ask."

Naruto blinded rapidly. Well. That wasn't what he expected at all.

"The General is an exceedingly blunt man." Steel chimed in his ear, filling in the gaps. "More often than not, he favors the direct approach. Furthermore, he has expended significant state and personal resources to ensure your survival. It stands to reason that he would wish to remain on good terms with you."

Hmm. Blue eyes flitted to Penny. She smiled guilelessly and flicked him a thumbs up.

Just like that, Naruto released a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in the first place. Winter aside...they were treating him like a person. A human being. Not an "asset" or whatever the hell Harriet had called him. Azure orbs flicked back to Ironwood's hand. Only three seconds had elapsed. Well within the norm for politeness. Wait. How did he know that?

Penny prodded his back.

"Apology accepted." Shaking it off, he stepped forward and clasped his palm. He noticed something amiss almost immediately as they shook. "Wait." Jame's hand was cold and rigid, even through the glove. No, not cold; rigid and stern like a block of ice, no, not ice. Not ice at all. "Your hand...its metal?"

Ironwood granted him a grim grin as he pulled his palm away. "I thought you might notice that. Half of my body is cybernetic."

Sure enough, James pulled his glove off and rolled up a sleeve, revealing the metal limb beneath. When he did the same to his leg, Naruto grimaced and looked away. Those injuries were ghastly. He knew pain more than most, but just the sight of Ironwood's wounds drew a flinch from him. It took a strong -or stubborn!- man to endure that kind of agony. For that, he gained some semblance of respect. Losing a limb was painful enough, but two? He shuddered at the thought.

"Sounds like there's a story there."

"There is." Something in the general's face thawed. Just a fraction. "Call it the legacy of a misspent youth. That said, how are your implants treating you?"

"All implants are functioning at 100% capacity." Steel chirruped proudly. "Nanites are dormant, ready to react to trauma. Will that be all?"

Naruto grimaced and flexed the fingers of his left hand, frowning at the silvery lines etched into his palm. "They're a little warm."

"Understandable." James commiserated with a nod of his own. "Yours were extensive, or so I've been told."

Naruto felt his stomach roil. Just a dream! Just a dream! He clutched to the only defenses he knew and blotted the panic out. It was a paltry defense and he knew it, but it was all he had. If he allowed himself to even consider the possibility that this was real...he'd break. He just knew it. So he stamped the thought down and buried it in brick-filled ignorance. Dreams had a purpose right? So what was his? What was he doing here?

...thankfully, you're still quite human."

He clutched onto those words for dear life. He had to.

"And I see you've met Steel." When he winced, Ironwood saw it. "She's quite the chatterbox, isn't she?"

"What is a chatterbox?"

Penny giggled behind them.

Naruto didn't have the heart to tell Steel the truth.

"She's useful." he settled for the middle ground instead. "Its just...unusual have a voice in my head."

Ironwood regarded him with a keen eye. "You aren't angry?"

Naruto wasn't sure how to take that. He was alive. He could feel his heart beating, and red blood ran through his veins. Moreover, he could still feel every part of himself. If they'd replaced half his body with cybernetics, surely he would know. Chakra still burned in his coils. Their were no wires. No cords. His brain wasn't in a glass jar somewhere. Even if this was a dream, he was alive. Had to be. Machines didn't have chakra. If they did, they wouldn't be having this conversation.

Wouldn't want the dream to become a nightmare now, would he?

"I'm...a little confused. And hungry, now that I think of it." Still, curiosity reared its head, and for the first time since he'd awakened Naruto allowed it. "I do have some questions, though...?"

"By all means, ask." James gestured to a seat. "I'll do my best to answer. Would you mind if I ask some of my own? I'll have some food brought up while we talk. Winter?"

Sure enough, the temperature plummeted several degrees as white-haired woman glared at Naruto. Undaunted, the blond returned her glower until her resolve broke and she stormed off. A pale hand gripped the door he they'd just come through and pushed it open, then slammed it just as harshly. He listened until the brisk click of her heels vanished down the hall.

"I apologize for her." Ironwood said has he reclaimed the seat behind his desk. "Winter doesn't trust easily. You're an anomaly to her."

"I'll try to ignore her." he shrugged, sliding into the chair opposite it. "Now, my first question...

And surprise, surprise! General Ironwood proved himself a man of his word.

Unfortunately, he had questions of his own. So. Many. Questions.

Looking back, Naruto wished he'd never asked them.

Ignorance was bliss.

(.0.0.0.)

Naruto's head spun.

So many questions. Too many answers.

When they'd begun, the sun had been well on its way to rising. Now it was afternoon.

Winter had brought them refreshments and a brisk meal, then another when he'd made crumbs of the first. And the second. Followed by a third. Needless to say, she wasn't much pleased at being a waitress. Maybe that was why she was still glaring a hole in his back. She certainly looked fit to kill him for it. Why? Wasn't his fault he was hungry. He'd been asleep for centuries, if not longer. He needed fuel in the tank. If that meant upsetting a prissy little princess like her, then so be it. The cold never bothered him anyway.

"Does food taste good?"

"Yeah. he groaned, taking the last bite of an apple. "Sooo good. Sorry." a grimace turned his meal sour. "You can't taste this, can you?"

Her voice went small and shy. "Maybe someday."

Curiously, he noted Penny hadn't eaten a thing. Unsurprising.

"Naturally." Steel swooped in. "My sister does not require sustenance."

Somewhat sated, but still ill at ease, the wayward warrior leaned back in his chair, trying to process what he'd been told.

"This is fascinating." By contrast, Ironwood looked elated, in as much as a military man could. "You're telling me you can sense negative emotions?"

"Among other things." came his response. Did he need to spell it out for him? Bloody dream. "Its really nothing special."

James shot upright. "Can you detect lies, then?"

Naruto shrugged. "Dunno. Never tried."

"Lies are a form of insincerity, which is also a negative emotion." The general rationalized. "If what you say is true, then you should be able to detect it alongside hostile intent. Ahem." he coughed, hiding his excitement. "In theory, at least. Are you unwilling to try?"

Naruto felt his right eye begin to twitch. He wasn't going to let this go, was he?

"Fine." he settled back into his seat. "Tell me a lie. Anything will do."

"Very well. My birthday was yesterday."

Something twitched in the back of his head. The vaguest sliver of false intent, meant to mislead. Negativity. "Nope. False."

James clapped his hands together. "Correct. Perhaps something more vague, then?"

Steel perked up in his mind. "If I may assist?"

Naruto shrugged. "Sure."

"I am capable of amplifying your senses when prompted. Additionally, I can read elevated heart rates and microexpressions in those nearby you, and ferret out indications of stress or falsehoods." she paused, and her words came on even more quickly, blending even further in the throes of her child-like excitement. "Coupled with your ability to sense negative emotions, I estimate a 90% chance at detecting a lie. Will this assist you?"

Hot damn.

...in all honesty, Naruto was tempted to keep that knowledge to himself. There was no telling what the general would do if he thought him a living lie detector. He trusted James, but a power like that had the ability to corrupt even the most well-intentioned man. And lying wasn't in his nature. Dream or not.

He relayed what Steel had told him regardless.

"Pietro, you brilliant bastard." Ironwood made a strange sign that Naruto didn't recognize.

Penny tried her hand a moment later. "Winter likes the color pink!"

A pall of silence fell over everyone present.

Naruto frowned. "Huh. Not a lie."

Winter bridled. "Sir?! You cannot possibly believe this nonsense!"

"Quiet, frosty." Naruto pointedly ignored the angry squawk that followed. "What you told me earlier...this Salem person...she's real?" he quashed the instinctive surge of dread that followed. "She's trying to destroy the world? You're not pulling my leg on this?"

Huntsmen, Aura, Grimm, Semblances, and this Four Kingdom nonsense? That was a bitter pill to swallow by itself. But a literal Queen of All Evil trying to conquer-and-or-destroy-the-world? Not so much. Already his mind began to draw dangerous comparison to Kaguya, and the less he thought of her the better. Hell, if Salem commanded the Grimm that meant she had an army, just as Kaguya had the White Zetsu. Well. At least she wasn't immortal as far as he knew. It couldn't be that bad, surely. Some dream this was! If he didn't know better, he'd say he was living a nightmare.

"Its the truth." James granted him a grave nod. "May I be frank with you?"

He had spoken truly. Still reeling, Naruto halfheartedly waved him on. "Sure. Not like this can get any worse."

"I'd like to ask for your help...no." the general amended with a cough, shaking his head. "We need your help." he glanced between Winter and Penny. "Atlas and Mantle both. A war is coming. And quite frankly? We aren't prepared." He sensed something harden in the man's soul just then. "We need your power. Will you lend us your strength?"

The words hit him like a physical blow.

"So that's what you're after." Naruto sank back into his seat. Already he felt the beginnings of a migraine coming on. There was such a thing as too much knowledge, of too many questions. And he'd asked them all. James hadn't held anything back; he would've sensed it otherwise. Even now he was being wholly honest with him. Nothing was kept in reserve.

...what would be expected of me?"

"You would be working closely with Penny." Ironwood began. A cough interrupted him and he sighed. "Winter would be your mind, until you settled in."

Penny tugged at his arm and he turned to find her green eyes regarding him earnestly. "Will you assist us?"

Hmm. That was the question now, wasn't it? Dream or not. In his heart of hearts, Naruto was still a relatively good person. Minor memory loss and modifications aside, his soul hadn't changed. He was still himself. These people were asking for help. No tricks, no traps, just a simple earnest plea for aid. They weren't trying to guilt him into it; though they could have. They had kept him alive for...sage knew how long. James could have leveraged that against him. He didn't.

That alone earned him some semblance of trust.

How could he say no to that? Rather, he didn't want to. He'd already made his decision the moment Ironwood opened his mouth.

"I'll do it."

Steel sang in his head. "Yay~!"

James blinked, taken aback. "You will?"

Penny hopped in place and clapped her hands. "Wonderful!"

Winter grit her teeth and made a noise like an avalanche. Naruto bit down an instinctive flash of anger toward the older woman, even as his fists balled at his sides. Stuck-up woman. Not his concern. Suppress it. Conceal. Don't feel. Whatever beef she had with him, he wouldn't let it poison their negotiations...yet. But she was pushing it. Ohhh was she pushing it.

"Did I stutter?" he forced his thoughts outward instead. "I said I'll help you. What do you need? I know you're already using my blood, and that's kinda weird...

Ironwood released a ragged breath. "In all honesty, I thought you'd refuse. You would be will within your rights to."

"Why?" Naruto balked at him. "I help people. Its kinda my thing. Besides, I don't go back on my word."

Ironwood stared at him for a long moment, giving nothing away. A rusty chuckle escaped him. With that laugh, Naruto felt the last of the man's stress evaporate like morning dew. The general stood a little straighter. His eyes burned a bit brighter. He seemed lighter on his feet, younger, the weight of duty and the pain of defeat slipping away from him.

"You're right." rather than remark on it, he raised a hand to his face and pinched his forehead. "Loyalty always matters."

Naruto wrinkled his nose.

"I'm sorry?"

"No, its nothing." James gave him a careworn smile. "Just an old saying of mine. Still, I can see you're a man of integrity. I like that." A hand came down on his right shoulder. The human one. "Initially, I had considered inducting you into the military, but frankly that would be a waste of your talents. We need boots on the ground. Lots of them. You're the first step to that of course, but there's so much to be done...

Was he actually asking...? Naruto blinked. Frowned. Tilted his head. Smiled. No, he probably wasn't. Was he?

"How many boots we talkin' about?"

Ironwood blinked. Winter scowled. Penny perked up.

"More than one man can provide." James despaired. "I'm afraid we have a long, hard road ahead of us."

Naruto felt the beginnings of a smile plucked at his whiskered cheeks. "General, I think we're gonna get along juuust fine. Can I show you something?"

"Certainly." Ironwood waved him on. "If you think it will help."

Help? Yeah, for what he had in mind this would do more than help. He crossed his fingers before his chest and pulled on his chakra reserves. Pulled hard. They answered him readily, strong as ever. Flames pulsed at the corners of his eyes, but he ignored them and focused on the task at hand. Penny granted him a curious look and Ironwood with her, but Winter looked strangely startled by the gesture. She'd be more than startled in a minute.

"Calibrating." Steel informed helpfully. "Releasing nanites. Enhancing chakra. Would you like to proceed?"

Wait, she could do that? That smirk became a shit-eating grin stretching across his face.

"Yes."

Chakra howled into the air with a raging pulse of azure light. A plume of white smoke chased after it, all but bursting from his body to swell through the room. Somewhere in the haze, Winter yelped. To her credit, Penny reacted quickly. Even as the thick smog filled Ironwood's office, so too did she react. In a single bound she sprang past him, vaulted Ironwood's desk, and opened one of the windows. Naruto let her. That was the funny thing about being underestimated. He never grew tired of all those gobsmacked faces when he knocked an arrogant prick's opinions into the mud.

The smoke spilled out. And they saw.

"Is this enough for you, James?" Multiple voices spoke in unison. "Or did you need more?"

An even three dozen shadow clones stared back at them, grinning from ear to ear. More than he'd intended to make, but surely that was a good thing? The more the merrier.

"Sensational! Are they illusions or...?" Penny stepped to one and poked the copy in its side. "Ah!" she gasped when her finger met resistance. "They're real!"

"Nonsense!" Winter balked and pulled at the cheek of another. "They can't possibly be-ow!"

Her questing digit withdrew when the clone bit her. Naruto laughed at the sight.

"Oh, they're real. Go ahead. Poke one of 'em again."

Only then did he deign to look back at Ironwood. The general hadn't even coughed when he used that jutsu. Nope. He'd not said a word. Didn't have to. As Naruto looked on, the great protector of Atlas crashed back against his desk and slammed a hand down against the lacquered wood for support. His already pale face had gone absolutely pallid. His human hand rose to wipe a bead of sweat from his brow.

"How," he croaked the word, mastered himself, and swallowed his awe. "How many of those can you make at once?"

More smoke. Winter yelped and crashed backward onto her rear.

"Hundreds? Thousands?" Naruto shrugged, and his new copies mirrored the motion flawlessly. "Dunno. Never really pushed my limits before. They can take a good hit, and anything they learn, I learn." a thought occurred to him. "Pretty sure the reverse applies too. I tested that."

James set his jaw in a determined line, but even then he couldn't quite keep the smile from his face. "This will change everything."

"There's so many!" Penny glomped the nearest clone to her chest. "May I keep one?"

A blond brow rose. "I'm standing right here, Penny."

She released the poor thing. "Oh. Right. Sorry...

Naruto chuckled, if only because he had in inkling of what Ironwood was on about. Not only were shadow clones replaceable soldiers, but he could create entire swarms of them. They could learn what he learned, exist in multiple places at once, hold a line to cover retreating soldiers. And those were just the ideas he thought up. No doubt James had far grander aspirations. That was all well and good. So long as it helped.

He dispelled his brothers with a thought, leaving naught but smoke behind.

"I didn't realize you could make that many." Steel chimed.

"What, did you doubt me? I'm not that rusty.

"I did not mean to offend."

"No!" Naruto lowered his voice. "No, you're not bothering me. This is just a weird dream."

"I'm sorry, I must've misheard you." Ironwood arched an eyebrow. "You believe you are...dreaming?"

Naruto shrugged. "Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I be? This is insane. No way its real. Gotta be a dream. Can't be anything else."

"Friend Naruto has been most insistent on that matter." Penny chirruped helpfully. "I believe he is relying on such an assertion to forestall an imminent mental breakdown."

"Got it in one!"

One could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed.

"Delusional fool." Winter looked away from with a scowl. "Sir, with your permission, I can have this buffoon brought to the psych ward to be reevaluated-

Time slowed to a crawl as her words trailed off into an animal bleat.

A fresh spark of anger snarled through Naruto's thoughts, turning the world red. Ordinarily, he would have suppressed it. Pushed it down and smiled as he always did. This time? Something stopped him. If this was a dream, what was the harm in speaking his mind? None like anyone was going to call him on the carpet for it. And besides. Winter's presence had rubbed him raw from the moment they'd met. He hadn't even spoken to her and she'd been glowering at him. Now? He saw the disgust in her eyes. There it was. That look. He hated that damn look. Two could play that game!

"Hey. Steel." he whispered.

Her response proved immediate. "Yes? I am here."

"Earlier...that thing you pulled with the Ace Ops...can you do it again?"

Her tone turned contemplative. "Do you wish to engage in combat with Specialist Schnee?"

"What?! No!" he blanched at the thought. "Just...I want to shut her up once and for all. Got any dirt on her?"

"Are we playing a game?"

"Sure." a small smile plucked at the corner of his mouth. "You can call it that."

"One moment. Processing. Hacking into Specialist Schnee's scroll. Here you are. Her records."

A wall of text slammed down before his eyes, only to vanish a moment later. Knowledge he'd never known before burned in his mind; as if she'd downloaded it directly into his brain. Well. Good thing this was a dream. If it wasn't, he might honestly be a little worried about that. Huh. Neat. Well, alright then. Game time. Perhaps this was a little vindictive of him. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. Who could say?

After all, this was just a figment of his imagination. It wasn't as if this would have any consequences.

"Quiet, broody." he snapped. "By the log, you reek!"

Penny's hands flew to her face, eyes wide.

Said Schnee startled. "Excuse me?!"

Ironwood watched intently.

"Are you deaf?" with a snarl Naruto pinched his nose with one hand and waved the other before his face. "All that negative emotion! Ugh! I can't stand it anymore! Enough!" his arms flew up into the air when her stricken expression didn't waver in the least. "What's your deal?! I didn't do anything to you, and you've had it out for me from the moment we met!"

"Why you impudent little...!

"But that's not enough, is it?" when she reached for her saber he stormed forward, slamming a hand down around the back of her palm to prevent her from drawing. The other shot up and dug into her collarbone, just above her breasts. "You just haaave to be the center of attention, the apple of everyone's eye. Can't have anyone upstaging you now, can we? The second someone outpaces you, ya pitch a bitch fit and act like a child!"

By now, Winter's face had turned a rather fascinating shade of red. Her mouth worked wordlessly, but no words emerged.

Naruto sensed weakness and pounced.

"Why so serious?" His forehead slammed against hers. "Not going to throw daddy dearest's money at me to shut me up? That always worked for you before."

"You don't know anything about me!"

"I know enough! Wah, wah, wah!" he parroted, voice taking on a pitch to match hers. "Look at me, everyone! Pay attention to me, everyone! I'm a Schnee! I'm the best! You got daddy issues or something? Most rich girls do. You freakin' look like one! I know your type." he reared back and his finger snapped up, flicking her forehead. "Any second now you're gonna snap and try to-

Winter wrenched her saber aside and slammed it at his face.

Steel yelped. "I recommend immediate evasion!"

No need. There was never any danger.

Ironwood roared. "WINTER! Stop!"

Her strike swerved wide, ramming into the wall beside him. A thin red rent opened in Naruto's cheek. It healed instantaneously. More proof that this was a dream. If this was real, she would've taken his head clean off for baiting her like that. The false knowledge emboldened him, causing him to tilt his head just so.

"What are you doing, specialist?!" James surged forward. "You nearly-

"Its fine, James." Naruto raised a hand, forestalling any reprimand he might have given. "She won't hurt me. After all. She's it is. Coward." He spat the word with a venom that burned deep in his soul. "I'm right, aren't I? The moment someone proves you wrong, you lash out. Is that why you ran off and left your siblings behind? Actually, I take it back." Rinnegan eyes narrowed to rimmed slits. "I take it back. You're not a coward. You're a hypocrite. Some big sister you are."

"You dare?!"

"Oh, I dare!" He snapped back! If I had a little brother and sister I would die before leaving them behind!"

In hindsight, he really had no way of knowing what he'd done. How could he? His words hit the nail right on the head and hammered it down. To him, this was a dream. Just a figment of his imagination. No consequences to be had, or so he thought. But for Winter, this was reality. Every syllable slashed at her defenses, pricking her pride in the worst of ways. She'd been angry before, but now? She was beyond that. Well past that. He saw the precise moment that supernova of rage became a frigid lake of frozen fury. Steel saw it, too.

"I believe you have made a blunder."

Winter grabbed him by the collar and slammed her forehead to his. "You. Me. Down in the Yard. NOW."

"And now you want to whale on me. Sure. Prove my point." Naruto grin was just the right shade of vicious. "It's your funeral."

"Oh, oh!" Penny hopped in place and clapped her hands, blind to the byplay taking place before her. "I hear funerals are all the rage. May I watch, general?"

James pinched the brow of his nose.

...this works out well enough, I suppose." he heaved a sigh. "We needed a way to introduce you to the men anyway." When neither looked at him, a small bemused smile plucked at the corner of his mouth. Like a father watching two children bickering over a favorite toy. "Alright, Winter. You'll have your wish. You may regret it."

"I doubt that, sir." she released him and straightened with a scoff. "Strange semblance aside, he's just a boy. The Ace Ops let their guard down. I will not."

Naruto blinked. The hell was a semblance? Nevermind that! She'd called him a boy. He was eighteen, for crying out loud!

"Just for that?" His lips pursed in a thin line of displeasure. "I'm gonna kick your ass twice as hard."

A/N: Naruto, buddy, pal.

This isn't a dream. That kinda thinking is gonna get you in trouble. Naturally, we've got Naruto vs. Winter next chapter and its going to be GLORIOUS.

Everyone's going to be watching.

I'm sure you can all guess what Ironwood's plan is here; worry not, I'll clarify for you. He intends to use Naruto to boost the morale of his troops; to give them hope in their darkest hour. And if that means entertaining the barracks with a good 'ol fashioned spar, then so be it. I could get into all manner of things here, but I am going to restrain myself and hold back.

As ever, reviews are the lifeblood that keep me and my team alive.

Without them we just wither away in the silence...

So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly?

(Preview)

Penny clasped his hands in hers. "I wish you luck in your fight, boyfriend."

Ironwood missed a step and walked into a wall.

Behind him, Naruto choked. "Boy-?!"

"Are you not a boy and my friend? I shortened the word."

His face went a nuclear shade of red

"Penny, no...

Elm slapped a wad of lien down. "Hundred on the kid."

Harriet squawked. "Traitor!"

Winter burst forward from her glyph.

"Would you like to enter combat mode? If so, please say Mask. That is the password."

Now was as good a time as any for a field test. Naruto snarled. "Mask."

S.T.E.E.L. answered immediately, her voice darkening. "COPY."

Nanites surged up and over his body.

Willow blinked. "Who...are you?"

Naruto couldn't quite keep the smile from his face. "A friend. Walk with me, would you?"

She was actually doing this. They were in the middle of a bloody op and she was acting like a petulant child.

Naruto rounded on Harriet with a hiss. "Alright, I'll bite. What's your deal? I thought this was over."

"You're an anomaly. The general places too much trust in you."

"Gods, you are such a brat!"

Naruto touched a hand to the bones. "These aren't his. They don't belong to Kurama."

R&R~!