Chapter Seventeen: Gather Ye Followers.
"Every avalanche begins with the movement of a single snowflake, and my hope is to move a snowflake."
-Thomas Frey
{Across The Endless Sea: Konoha Hokage Office.}
[Two Days Later, 1:00pm.]
Tsuande Senju was currently going through a stack of reports from Naruto Uzumaki. Pictures of various places in this place called Kuo Kuana, on a world called Remnant. At first the city didn't seem so technologically advanced until she saw the ships, and the flying ships known as Bullheads.
She also had her first look at The Girtablilu from a video Naruto had gotten ahold of. It truly was a massive creature, rivaling her own familiar summons. She bit back slight laughter when she noted the sillier photos Naruto had taken. However, one had caught her eye, it was a woman Naruto was with who was heavily pregnant.
Obviously he wasn't the father. Still, she noted the radiance the woman gave off. The infectious smile, and the burly man of a husband standing next to her. He looked much more human than her, but she knew from what Naruto said that these were both faunus. Whatever faunus were, they were humanoid, but with what looked like animal traits.
It reminded her a little bit of The Inuzuka Clan's own members. They too had some animalistic features about them. Still, however, not to the extreme of actually manifesting animal traits and appendages. His last report was giving updates to her about his usage in one of the few jutsu she had sent him.
Strangely, she noted that whilst his own element wasn't identified yet, the boy seemed to rather enjoy healing jutsu. Taking this into account, possibly because the young man's friend in the picture was heavily pregnant, she was concluding that Naruto did what Naruto did best.
Threw himself at the wall, over and over, until he got the damned jutsu or he gave out. She had taken that bet with him previously, and she lost out big time. Then again, her own luck was horrible. She often betted against her own plans, people, and strategies simply because there was a ninety-nine percent chance of it just failing completely.
Still, that one percent chance stuck in the back of her mind. A dread that if she ever truly bets against her friends, that she might win out in the most horrible way possible. Still, Tsunade Senju wouldn't be known as the legendary sucker for nothing if she didn't at least place some sort of bet.
A knock on her door saw Sakura enter soon afterward. A stack of mail from Kosuke, and what looked to be several newer devices. Sakura herself had one of them in her ears, seemingly bopping her head to it for some reason.
"Lady Tsunade, Naruto has messaged us all again." She stated before walking over toward her, placing the mail down onto her desk. "He sent us these things called earbuds, which is kind of like the electronic shortwaves we use to communicate on missions sometimes. They're really fascinating, and the fact that the devices are powered by solar energy is pretty cool too!"
Tsuande furrows her brow, but then sighs before grabbing on of them marked for her. They were pink, much like the ones Sakura was wearing. She would smack the top of the brat's head if she ever met him again for giving her pink 'earbuds.' Still, it didn't stop her from turning it on with the press of a button.
"Okay, so do I just stick them in my ear?" Tsuande inquired.
"Um, well, I can synch it with my device. Hang on, Naruto left instructions in an old letter I still carry around." Sakura said whilst pulling out the letter, and then snapped her free hand's fingers. "Ahh, there we go, it's called Linking, and all I have to is turn on this button on this, um, E-scroll." She explained before turning on said button, and watching as Tsunade's earbuds glowed.
"Hmm, interesting, let's see if it's garbled at all." The Fifth Hokage placed one in her ear, and then heard the music come through. "Huh, I have to say that these people have a very interesting choice in music. It's not like rhyming here, but more emotion filled. What's this song called?"
"Riptide, Lady Tsunade, it's actually Shizune's favorite." Sakura pointed out with a small giggle, waving her head side to side. "It's actually an amazing song, who knew that Naruto of all people would have taste in music."
"Well, to be fair, Sakura. Naruto has had nearly a year of low combat status, despite the giant monster he just killed, he hasn't been active in combat since. I know he's probably restless, and he's probably filling the gaps with other things. It's actually a mental thing, it's why a lot of retired shinobi come out of retirement. It's called anxiety, and a lack of purpose." Tsuande reasoned whilst bopping her head too, catching herself doing so with a small blush. She thought of Jiraiya, and smiled softly. "It is a very good romance song."
"Yeah, I've noticed that, Naruto has been sending everyone these types of songs. I think he's in love, or something, I don't know." Sakura figured before turning her earbud off, and sticking into a case she kept in her pocket. "So, our tech shinobi actually reversed one of the scrolls the other day. Successfully, and I do mean successfully, made a call between the west and east gate with no garble."
"Oh, yes, I've heard. I am really impressed with the technology's range." Tsuande admitted before looking at her own E-scroll. She chuckles lightly before sighing. "Perhaps this is in some way a twist of good fortune. With Naruto trading tech from the other world, and him being safe from The Akatsuki. Well, this all just seems to work out."
"Lady Tsunade, Danzo wants a meeting with you." Shizune said whilst walking into the room. She bowed her head before looking at Sakura. "Hey, Sakura, are you showing off some new stuff Naruto sent over?"
"Of course, I am, Lady Tsuande sent some stuff in return. Gifts for that family, err, The Belladonna Family. It's a weird name, nothing like ours." Sakura told Shizune before stretching a little, and then looking at her master who was uneased. "Lady Tsuande, is everything okay?"
"Yes, everything is fine, Shizune why don't you go over Sakura's physical training for today. I have a feeling Danzo is going to drive me crazy." Tsuande ordered her eldest student lightly before reaching under the desk. Pulling out a sake bottle, and poured some into a saucer. "When is he supposed to be here?"
"In five minutes." Shizune answered.
"Joy…"
{Konoha: Sasuke Uchiha's House.}
[Around The Same Time.]
Sasuke was sitting in his old home from The Uchiha Quarter. A lot of the quarter had been torn down over the years, making way for new housing. Save around a dozen buildings that kept to The Uchiha aesthetic. Sasuke was currently listening to music, something that he had rarely did, but had been doing more of since Naruto had wrote him a letter that contained a secret storage seal.
Even from another world that idiot was always bending the rules for his friends. It honestly made Sasuke cry in secret shame, for it was the very same idiotic friend he had tried to murder. It was something that maybe he'd never get the chance to truly apologize for.
"Damn it!"
A scroll clatters across the floor from where it was thrown by the young Uchiha. He gripped his head in frustration. That was the fifth time-space ninjutsu scroll he had read, and none of the jutsu was feasible because he lacked a Mangekyou Sharingan, plus a specific idea of where Naruto was. The only closest jutsu that came close to being capable to traveling was a Mangekyou ability called Kamui, but even then that only manifested rarely, it required a specific Mangekyou type to use.
It wasn't just so simple as to unlock the eye because the eyes each came with two inherited abilities. Those abilities often reflected the soul of the person, or ran deeply by blood in specific roots of The Uchiha Clan's various tree…well what had been a wide branching tree.
It all came from a single person referenced in many old scrolls. Indra Uchiha, the first Uchiha, the one who's Mangekyou looked like a spiral. Ironically, some of the scroll he wrote down were in a much older, and much dead, form of kanji that Sasuke couldn't read.
Unfortunately.
If Itachi had spared one of the elders of the clan, perhaps this wouldn't be such a challenge!
Sasuke got up from his sitting position, walking around whilst gripping his head in frustration as music boomed through the small house. He sighed, and then looked over at photograph of Naruto. This photograph was recent, from the world he was in now, and by The Gods had his friend changed slightly.
His hair was longer, past down his ears, and his hair's spikes were slightly flatter with the length. Now that he knew the truth of his friend's past, he could see The Fourth Hokage staring through Naruto's eyes, and that man's wife in the roundness of the blonde shinobi's face.
"I promise that the ending will always stay the same!"
Of all the songs that could be playing, it was a sad song about someone giving up on a person. When it played, it reminded Sasuke of that day in the valley. The day Naruto threw his dreams, and life away for him. Sasuke Uchiha took a months to even talk after being brought in, and there was thoughts about him just ending it every so often.
The guilt ate him alive inside, and even when it stabilized the damage was still ever-present. Every Konoha Eleven member didn't talk to him save Sakura. Kiba, Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru couldn't really stand the sight of him. Hell, even Ino, who pined on him as a rival to Sakura just ignored him whenever he was allowed to walk to The Hokage Mansion.
Was this how Naruto felt all those years?
The stares were the most painful. To be looked on as a monster, hated, and cast down by mere glances. Judged, isolated, segregated, made to feel that you were never enough. This was Sasuke's reality now, and he deserved it, because of what he had done. His biggest question that he constantly wanted to ask Naruto in the letters he sent, because he omitted them like crazy because he looked happy, was how he didn't just turn his back on these people? Sasuke deserved this, he had tried to kill and betray his best friend, he was untrustworthy under the eyes of his peers for that very reason.
No matter how sorry he was.
No matter how much apologized.
No matter how much he cried.
He was the monster that the village hated with reason, and yet the one he sent to that new world was the one that they hated since birth. The kindest soul, a soul burning like the sun, always being shaded by clouds full black rain. Yet, he was the moon who was adored despite bringing demons into the fray. Sasuke Uchiha hated himself, even when Naruto kept his friendly demeanor in the letters to him.
How could someone who had every reason to become the monster, become the hero instead?!
"Fuck!"
Sasuke screams he kicks the table across the room. Falling to his knees before sighing as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He swore he saw Naruto there by him, and he just took a deep breath before hearing a small knock on the door to his house. Sighing, it must be ANBU guard wondering what the hell was going on in there. He walked toward it, sliding it open, except it wasn't one of his guards.
Kakashi Hatake waltz into the house. He sat down near the flipped over table, and looked at the various scrolls thrown about. "I see that you've been considerably busy going through your clan's archives, Sasuke." He observed whilst Sasuke just seemed rather confused on why he was here. "Do you want to tell me if you've made progress, or am I here to just give you letters?"
"Isn't that normally Sakura's thing?" Sasuke inquired whilst walking over toward the table. He sat down on his knees across from Kakashi. "I haven't made any real progress, there's a few jutsu here, but each requires a specific type of Mangekyou to begin with, and from I researched Mangekyou types are almost completely random once granted."
"Have you unlocked a Mangekyou?"
"No, and I don't think I want to." Sasuke honestly admitted before looking over towards the recent photographs of Naruto, who was smiling brightly as usual. "What do I do, Kakashi? I can't leave here without permission; everyone looks at me with distain even though I'm trying to help." The young fledgling took a moment, and just sighed before flipping the table upright. "I can't even stand the sight of myself sometimes."
"Because you are the worse piece of trash that you could ever have been, Sasuke." Kakashi merely stated with crossed arms before sighing. "Though, remorsefulness often means there is some redemption to be had. You didn't kill Naruto, that's good, and you were telling the truth about the events. Still, you took away something dear to many people, myself included."
"Oh, don't give me that crap!" Sasuke yelled out whilst pointing a finger at Kakashi, who seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden outburst. "If you really cared for Naruto as much as you let on, why didn't you take him training with me and you? Why didn't you at least give him some hint of he really was? I'm sitting feeling like the worst kind of person, but no one older than me is realizing just how crappy they've dealt him too!"
"My sensei, Minato, his father was a legendary shinobi who made a lot of enemies. Sasuke, if I had told Naruto who his father was, do you honestly think that he'd have the wherewithal to keep his mouth shut tight? Then again, what do you think might've happened, considering that you two are both peas in the same pod emotionally wise." Kakashi reasoned with the young Uchiha, who seemed to look downcast at what he had just went off about. "There isn't a day that goes by that makes me wish I hadn't been out of the village during that night."
"So, what happened that night?" Sasuke asked.
"That's classified." The jonin replied before slowly getting up, placing a rather large letter down on the newly righted table. "Honestly, though, I am proud of you for trying to find a way to him."
Kakashi took his leave, and walked out of the house before gently sliding the door shut. Sasuke sighs before reaching over, opening the letter with a letter opener that laid on the floor from his outburst. He slowly took out the rather long letter, and then began to read to it in his head.
"Yo Sasuke.
I got you something a little extra awesome in the little secret storage seal I put on this letter. Don't worry, it's been great since Pervy Sage taught me how to do them, well sort of. I got the basics from a little video he sent me with the camera I sent him. No biggie, ya know.
Anyway, I'm glad that you're doing alright, I kind of figured you'd be going stir crazy! So, noticed anything new? Ghira has taught me how to use some different forms of expressive writing. Blah, blah, details-details, ya know? Anyway, I'm starting to wish I had dragged you in there with me, because it does kind of get lonely here without someone to truly train with all out.
I got a busy schedule though, so, I'm not exactly just being lazy. By the way, thanks for the hair stuff from home, it helped out increasing the volume of my hair just a little bit. Lady Kali says that my hair is feministic in a way, whatever that truly means.
Thought about messing with Kuo Kuana for a day, and just walking around in my Naruko form. Remember when I did that last October, I had Lee and Gai thought they trained so hard they shifted into another world!
I miss you guys, really, I do. Still, though, I'm being put into the spotlight more than I'm comfortable with. Screw what I thought as a kid, the spotlight kind of sucks. Anyway, I hope everyone has their sticks out of their asses when it comes to you. If not, if I ever see them, I'll knock them across the head!
Oh, by the way, now I know how you felt about the girls in the academy. Eesh, I kind of regret ever wanting that kind of attention too! Can't go swimming without someone giving me these weird glances, heck even some older women are doing it. Some of them Grandma's age!
Yikes.
I've been extremely busy. I mean, there's so much to explore, and right now I'm thinking of suggesting to Ghira that we explore Menagerie. You know, that place I sent a map of, along with the map of that world to Grandma? It's been a thought bouncing around my head for awhile now. If you ever can find a way here, I really could use my best friend to help me out with this.
I truly do mean that, by the way, no matter what you're always going to be like a brother to me.
-Platonically Naruto Uzumaki.
P.S. Inside of that storage seal ingrained in the lettering is something I know you'll like!"
Sasuke almost wanted to tear up as he read the last part. Mustering himself, Sasuke weaved the hand seals needed to unlock the seal. Placing his palm on the lettering, he watch them shift slightly into different kanji before a poof of smoke erupted through the room.
On of the center of letter was now resting a stack of pictures. Not just any pictures, pictures of different birds, and vantage points. Something Sasuke liked doing as a hobby himself, much like the clan's old outcasted leader Madara Uchiha, Sasuke did take a liking to falconry, and the study of birds.
Now that he was essentially in a gilded cage, he felt these photos gave him more freedom than ever. He slowly traced one with his finger, one where Naruto was up in the air, bright smile whilst behind some sort of blue bird with a large beak. Then there was the flightless birds that the people of this place used as food too, cassowaries?
Yes, they were called cassowaries. In fact, Naruto had even included a bowl of dried meat from the large birds one time. Sasuke noted that it tasted like a weird mix of beef, and chicken, since it was a very lean red meat.
Sasuke smiles though, nonetheless, and slowly puts the pictures in a secret compartment under the floor. With that the young Uchiha took a moment to gather himself, and then reached over to a stack of papers before smiling.
He began to write his reply.
{Across The Endless Sea: Kuo Kuana Beach.}
[Around The Same Time.]
"Whew, that was a close one." A man with gills on the side of his neck stated whilst rubbing his greenish hair.
He stood short, very short, around five feet, and three inches tall. The man himself was slightly shorter than the young teen that had got him out of the net. He had a bag of clams in his netted bag, and a sharp knife as well. His skin was bronze in color, with light brown eyes. The only true markings of him being older was a slightly graying greenish beard on his face.
"Don't mention it, kind of figured that you were in a bind." Naruto laughed whilst patting the guy's shoulder. "Truth be told, I was just about go fishing my way when I saw you there. I really hate it when someone leaves discarded nets out, they're hazardous to you guys!"
"Indeed, some of us aqua faunus don't get respect!" The older man replied passionately before looking over the boy's shoulder to see other aqua faunus doing their daily jobs. "Say, kid, aren't you that hero people keep on talking about?"
"Yep, that's me." Naruto affirmed with a bright smile. "By the way, what's all of them for, dinner?"
"No, well, sort of. I don't waste any part of these guys. I harvest them for the pearls inside of them, but they're darn good eating too!" The man said before getting one out, and popping it open with the knife. He then slowly cut the lining, and pushed with thumb to plop out a rather beautiful golden pearl. "These guys usually make an assortment of colors. It's why we call them rainbow clams."
"Oh yeah, I've heard of them, well ate some of them." The blonde hero mentioned before taking a looking at the other lumps. "Whoa, must be thousands of liens worth of pearls in there."
"Not really, you see many people get it rather confused. Sure, raw pearls aren't cheap, but when they go through the process of being turned into jewelry is when you really start making mint." He explained whilst plopping out a few more. Noting that one in particular was a rather large orange pearl. "Here, catch, this isn't really too big of a loss for me anyhow."
Naruto snatches the pearl as the man tosses it to him. He looked at, noting the shine on the item. "Are you sure, wouldn't this be worth a lot on the markets?" He inquired before observing it more. "Kind of seems like it would be, because of it's size."
"Well, normally, larger pearls would be worth a little more. However, the issue is that a larger pearl makes it harder to sell. In fact, there's very few places in Kuo Kuana that will actually take them due to the style of jewelry a lot of girls like wearing." He explained before stroking his small goatee, and then smiling before snapping his fingers. "Tell you what, hero. You don't want it for free, trade me something."
"Um, well sure, I guess." The young shinobi took a moment and thought before smiling. He reaches down, pulling out kunai knife. "This is a kunai from my home world. These guys are razor sharp, but their also made with stainless steel to reduce any rusting that water might have on them. Heck, I don't really use kunai that much anymore, but you seem like someone who could use it!"
"Deal, little hero." The man took the kunai, twirling it around in his hand. "Dang, not a bad blade, a little lighter than my own despite it being slightly larger in size."
"My name is Naruto by the way." Naruto held out his hand, smiling at the fish faunus. "Nice to meet you, eh…what was your name?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you! Crap, my name is Sargassum. You can call me Gas for short, or Sar, either one works." The fish faunus, Sargassum, laughed before stopping. "Say, kid, weren't you the ones that rescued Tucker and Matilda?"
"Yeah, you know them?" Naruto inquired whilst smiling brightly. "I can't believe it's been so long since then, I thought most people would've forgotten that."
"Bah, I say, bah! You'll never be forgotten for that monster you slayed with that giant toad, man, could the big guy drink! Well, I only ask because Tucker is actually my cousin." Gas revealed whilst stroking his goatee, and smiling whilst reminiscing. "Yeah, good old family tale. Honestly, you'd think that a shark and otter faunus wouldn't have gotten comfy with one another. Fifty years later, they had eight kids, thirty grandchildren, and died happily seeing us all get along."
"Wait a minute, your grandparents were two completely different faunus?" Naruto inquired, rather curiously. "Huh, and I thought that well…this'll sound horrible."
"Meh, go on, shoot. You'd be surprised." Gas encouraged him.
"Oh, I thought that mammalian faunus, and reptile, along with fish ones like you didn't really intermingle." The young shinobi told the clam hunter, who merely clutched his face in response. "See, I told you it sounds horri-you're laughing aren't you?"
"Well duh, hero-err-Naruto, you're not the first one to think that. Heck, it's not too far off exactly. Most faunus do stick to a group if you will. Usually mammals stick with mammals, reptilian with reptilian, but once in a while you get some intermingling. The truly bizarre thing starts with what comes with the intermingling." Gas laughed before taking a moment. "Wanna know?"
"Sure, why not, I got time to spare." Naruto relented before crossing his arms. "Just try to dumb it down a little bit, because I'm not super great with big fancy words."
"Okay, well let's see here…" Gas thinks for a minute before snapping his fingers. "Okay, let's use this for an example. You take a feline faunus, and pair them with another feline faunus. The baby that results is a feline faunus, with a feline trait. Simple enough, right?"
"Yeah, I think you're using Ghira and Lady Kali for that example, right?" Naruto pointed out.
"Correct, I'm using what you might know! Okay, so, let's say…um…you take a fox faunus, and then pair them with a feline faunus. The baby resulting is going to either have a fox trait, or a feline trait. However, there is a smidgen chance that they'll have a different mammalian animal trait altogether." Naruto nods his head as Gas continued. "You take that child, who had the genes of two different faunus, and then you pair them with a crocodile faunus. The baby resulting from that union is something that could be a reptilian based faunus, mammalian base faunus, with a myriad of traits in between."
"Okay, so, let me get this straight. The more different the faunus, the more chance their children would be different?" Naruto figured whilst rubbing his chin for a moment. "It's kind of like mixing food ingredients, sometimes you end up with something totally different!"
"Bingo, which is why despite my grandmother being an otter faunus, and my grandfather being a shark faunus I am a fish faunus with gills." Gas stated before waving his hand up in the air. "Hey, cousin, are you going fishing?!"
"Was about to, you old fish." Tucker stated before walking up toward them with a rather large pole and tackle box. "Oh, hey there, Naruto. You met my cousin it seems, Sar, are you being nice to this young man?"
"Oh, am I ever, I'm trying to explain to him how faunus traits work with different types of faunus coming together." Gas laughed at his cousin's questioning before rubbing the back of his head. "He's pretty much got it down to a sense of cooking."
"Hah, well, you certainly are cooking when committing!" Tucker laughed before shaking his head. "Naruto, you outta stop by the shop later on. We got some fish from that lake, and boy, they're positively delicious!"
"Huh, I guess when Gamaken said that nature energy improves an area, it really improves the area." Naruto figured out loud before shrugging his shoulders. "Sure, why not, I was gonna go grocery shopping today anyway, I got some guests coming over to my apartment."
"Ooh, guests, tell us who are these guests." Tucker inquired.
"Well of course there's Kali, Ghira, and the two other guys that came here recently. Um, let's see…Ozpin and Qrow." Naruto told them whilst remembering their names. "Yeah, I planned on cooking them a nice little dinner."
"Oh, yeah, The Headmaster of Beacon Academy!" Tucker exclaimed whilst smiling. "You're getting to be world famous since that battle, I guess it was only a matter of time before you moved onto to bigger, better things."
"What, no, I'd never leave this place unless I knew it was going to be okay!" Naruto declared with a beaming smile. The shinobi took a moment to hold out his fist. "That's a promise, and besides, you all are my people too now."
"Now that's sweet." Gas complimented before watching Tucker fist bump the kid. "Say, can I get a fist bump to?"
Naruto turns his fist toward the fish faunus, who bumped it all the same.
Tucker, and his cousin Gas, take their leave whilst Naruto fumbled around with the orange pearl. He smiled softly at it before tossing it into the air and snatching it. He placed it into a small pouch on the back of his left hip, where he kept his wires. He saw the beautiful day, and only felt a little homesick. He missed days like these in Konoha, and he had missed the cherry blossom festival there too.
The only real festival, besides Rinne, that he enjoyed. He was about to walk away when he heard girl yell out. He turned around just in time to see a small dog running across the beach. His fur was black, missing on his belly, and white toward his feet. The small dog was running at top speed, his buggy eyes finding Naruto whilst a girl no older than five perhaps ran after him.
She was tanned dark, with hazel eyes. Her hair was a chestnut brown, and freckles dotted her cheeks on both sides. Wearing a t-shirt with baggy shorts, she beelined toward her dog, trying to catch him. She ended up tripping, however, and Naruto stood there before making his mind up.
"What a cute dog." Naruto thought before smiling softly before suddenly appearing in front of the dog in a burst of speed. "Hey now, let's slow it down a little bit, okay?" He soothed before seeing the dog slow down, slightly rolling into the sand a little bit from loosing it's footing. "See, that's what you get for running so fast, ya know?"
"Woof-woof!" The small dog barked at him, retreating toward the girl. It growls at him, much to his surprise, but then he figured that all animals in a way could sense things inside of people. "Grrr-woof-woof!" Yeah, he was definitely sensing The Nine Tails in him.
"I'm so sorry, sir. My doggy doesn't usually get mean with anyone!" The girl, who was obviously a faunus by her raccoon circles around her eyes apologized profusely. "Bad TT, bad TT!" She scolded the pup, who whimpered before slightly growling still when it locked eyes with Naruto. "No, none of that, stop that!"
"Hey, it's okay, seriously. Is he okay though, um, TT?" Naruto remembered the very weird name before slowly reaching out to him. Smiling when the pup calmed down upon sensing his intentions. "See little guy, no reason to be scared of me. Though, you have to go back on your leash." He told the little dog before reaching over and hooking the leash back onto the collar of the small pup. "All better now, you need to listen your friend, she's gonna have your back no matter what."
The girl heard the dog whimpering before standing in front of him. "You're scaring my TT, who are you?" She confronted him with crossed arms, and a look of pure courage on her young face. "I don't like it when people scare my friends."
"Neither do I, um, well my name is Naruto." Naruto stated whilst holding his hand out. "Your name?"
"I'm Lí Yǎnjīng, wait a minute, you're that fancy hero everyone talks about!" She declared before pointing a finger at him. She smiled confidently, and laughed revealing a missing tooth from where it had came out. "You don't look so tough, I bet I can beat you in a fight!"
Naruto laughs at the girl's bravado, simply patting her on the shoulder before raising his hand up just below his chin. "When you get this tall, come find me, and I'll see if you're good at fighting." He told her before rubbing the scruff of the dog's neck. "By the way, do you mind if I call you Yan? Your name is kind of hard."
The girl giggles, holding out a fist to him. "Sure thing, Ru!"
"Ru?"
"Hey, if you're gonna shorten, I'm shorting yours! Momma always said to treat others equally!" She declared boisterously before smiling brightly. "Thank you for helping me get TT, please stay safe, I gotta get home to my momma now!"
"Sure thing, no problem kiddo." The young shinobi said before watching as she ran towards the pedestrian roads up from the beach. Naruto crosses his arms, smiling slightly. "I remember a little runt like her back in Konoha, I really should write to Konohamaru, he probably misses me."
Naruto took a deep breath, and then smiled brightly. He turned on his heel before leaping over toward the street and bounding up onto the roof of nearby buildings. He had to go get things prepared and be ready to cook for a while. For today was beautiful, and life abundant.
The smiles below him as people were waving up at him made his heart flutter. He had just one stop to make on the way though.
{Lake Uzumaki Homesteads: Aurum's House.}
[One Hour Later, 2:30pm.]
Aurum was currently stepping out onto the balcony of his newly built home that overlooked the lake that had been created. Fresh grass had sprouted, and saplings dotted the loam soil. He sighed, sipping a hot cup of coffee. The cool airs of spring flooded around him from the lake. Unusually, the temperature in the area never spiked like it did, perhaps this lake was to blame for the lack of hot weather?
Still, the crystal glistening in the horizon made him feel at ease. Hard to believe that not too long ago this was the sight of a titanic battle. He heard footsteps from behind him, obviously the owner not bothering to hide themselves. He turned around, holding out a second cup, smiling brightly at the azure-eyed fellow blonde.
"Knew you'd swing by," Aurum says before turning back toward the lake. "So, Spunky, do you like what we discussed the other day?"
"Yeah, I did, and as I said I'd pay you for it." Naruto replied before taking the cup from Aurum's hand, sipping on it. He noted the hint of hazelnut in the vanilla flavoring. "I've been thinking of changing up my weapon for awhile now, I'm not saying Hiruzen wasn't a masterpiece, but it's not fully me."
"Hmph, well, at least you're honest about my handiwork. Speaking of handiwork, are you planning to grow your hair longer?" Aurum asked whilst looking over at the blonde, whose hair had grown to past his earlobes, almost touching his shoulders. "You know, keep growing it long, and you'll have girls swooning over you."
"Meh, not the goal, I just like long hair." Naruto casually replied whilst shrugging his shoulder before sipping more of the coffee. He heard footsteps from behind him, and turned around to see a girl with golden hair, and orange eyes near the sliding door. "Hey, Tangerine!"
The girl, slightly older than Naruto, smiled before exiting the house. She had a flute in her hand. "Hey, Naruto, coming to visit my old man again?" She asked before taking a seat on a nearby wooden chair. "You're too young to be reminiscing like old war buddies."
"Pfft, I'm not old, I'm only thirty-seven!" Aurum argued with his daughter playfully before smiling. He heard Naruto giggling too, a child's laugh, one of the very few times the older man got reminded that despite the boy's status, he was still a child in some ways. "So, I heard from a little birdy that you made waves the other day, and that you might be leaving Menagerie in a few years."
"Yeah…" Naruto sighed before looking over at the lake that was his namesake. "I'm planning to explore the world, and Ozpin offered it up a silver platter almost. Still, I'm not doing unless it benefits my people in some way."
"Can you not just focus on yourself for once? You've done more than enough for us already. Heck, I'm here with my little Tangerine." The father of girl in question teased which made her blush, and cross her arms in indignation. "Oh, c'mon dear, I'm just messing around!"
"Yeah-yeah, hey, Naruto. Why are you growing your hair out so long?" Tangerine asked, playing with her bang a little bit, having a board expression on her face. "You keep that up, and if I ever go with you anywhere, people are going to think we're sisters!"
"Hehe, don't tempt me, I can transform." Naruto snickered with a mischievous glint in his eye before sighing. He turned back toward his namesake, watching the waters roll upon the new lakeside shoreline. "I'm growing it out because someone said I looked good with long hair, besides, it's different than what I usually do."
"New world new you type deal?" Aurum jokingly questioned before finishing his coffee. "Ain't nothing wrong with that by the by."
"Yeah, sort of like that, but I think it just feels right. I can't help it, but it's mostly due to the fact that I just want something different. I'm tried of trying to maintain my spikiness, plus I'm planning to at least grow it to shoulder length. If I don't like it then, I might model it after The Fourth Hokage's hairdo." The young shinobi mentioned before thinking about it, and then smiling. "Speaking of that, the kunai blade I sent you, how's that going?"
"I'm in the beginning prep for turning it into your own weapon. Since you mostly seem to use the sword form of Hiruzen, I might just make it a straight-arming sword for you. Honestly, though, that kunai is a masterpiece in of itself." The weaponsmith told Naruto before taking the teen's cup as he finished it. "Tangerine has been helping me with the forge. I am having difficulty finding the right type of steel to match it. I know you don't want the original destroyed, but I'm hard pressed to find the steel for it."
"I can contact Grandma Tsuande on the other world. Maybe she'd have an idea about the steel, or maybe have some…though I think I'll be stretching my favors out." Naruto realized before nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "Speaking of favors, is Luna in?"
"Oh, dad's girlfriend is currently on her shift at the defenses." Tangerine stated nonchalantly, waving her hand to and from. She sighs before reaching behind her, holding a small orange comb. "Here, if you're gonna have long hair, best to keep it in a straight order. It's what my mom always said to me when I began to grow mine out longer."
"Thanks, Tangerine, I'll definitely use this!" Naruto thanked her before pocketing the comb. He sighed though, and then looked at the saplings. "Those trees won't be grown until I'm an old man, but hey, it's worth it though."
"Aye, it is very much so worth it." Aurum agreed before smiling. "The wisest of men often plant trees that they know they'll never bask under the shade of."
"Hey, that sounds familiar to the poetry book that I'm reading. You pick it up yourself?" The young hero asked.
"Maybe, but what is the favor you're needing Luna for?" Aurum inquired before facing toward Naruto.
The young shinobi took a deep breath. "I'm honestly scared because of the way Dr. Vista keeps talking about Lady Kali's condition. I recently learned that when she had Blake, she almost kicked the bucket…so, I'm scared about losing my friend." Naruto admitted and then gave Aurum a sad smile. "Without Lady Kali, I don't think we'd be talking right now."
"You were saved by her, and you've got no way of returning the favor?" Aurum figured before taking a moment to sigh. "Things happen Naruto, things we can't control, but what is most important is how we react to those things."
"I know, but I'm not wanting to lose my friend. I'm scared to ask my village back on my home world for help, because I don't know if someone like me can get stuck here." Naruto crosses his arms, pouting a little bit. "I'm not complaining about being here, but other people have so much more to lose, ya know?"
"I keep forgetting that you didn't grow up with a family." The weaponsmith realized before leaning against the railing of his balcony. "I think you got so many feelings stirring inside of you, and that you're afraid of losing people that you care deeply about. It drives you to do the impossible, and don't mistake this for anything chiding, you're a miracle maker. Still, there are things we must leave up to fate."
"I…don't believe in fate, or destiny. I think we forge our own path. Sure, there are things that are meant to happen, and that's life, but at the end of the day we're who we choose to become." Naruto spoke with low passion before sitting on the railing, his back facing the lake. "I could've chosen to just keep my head low, and never do the things I did. You wouldn't be here, Tucker wouldn't be here, and all the others."
"That is true, I see your point, but I also believe there are things that must happen to further along our story. Loss, unfortunately, is one of those things." Aurum replied whilst holding a finger up, and smiled. "Does the tree not grow with the falling of beautiful leaves in autumn, so that seedlings may grow to saplings upon spring?"
"Dad, that is such a corny line! Sheesh, I gotta better one!" Tangerine stated before coughing into her hand. "You think of life as a rose, a beautiful flower, it's gotta be protected at all costs right? However, if you keep that flower from dying, eventually it's seeds don't get spread, and newer flowers can't bloom because of it."
"Okay, but Lady Kali isn't a flower, and she deserves to have a life with her kids." Naruto argued before sighing and then smiling lightly. "I do appreciate you guys trying to get my nerves off it, but I don't think I'm just gonna leave it to chance."
"I'd be surprised if you did, honestly. Are you heading out?" Aurum inquired before watching Naruto lean back.
"Gotta get some dinner made, and ready, I got guests coming over to my apartment. Ozpin, and such." Naruto told him before smiling brightly and then looking toward Tangerine. "Thanks for the comb, Tang!"
"Yeah-yeah, don't let your long hair get into knots, otherwise I'll braid it!"
{Naruto's Apartment.}
[Four Hours Later, 6:40pm.]
Clones were moving around the hardwood floor. The orange painted walls with a blue trim shine sparkles of reflected light off the small hanging lights inside of the apartment. Naruto's little dining room set up, much like The Belladonna's Estate, was filled to capacity. With his guests coming over almost all at once.
Upon the table, with plates around it, and saucers for tea. A freshly cooked Menagerian Grouper laid seasoned, and cut apart as the sound forks, knives, and spoons clattered against plates. Ghira was eating with a smile on his face as he did, and Ozpin discussed politics from their countries.
Naruto's clones were busy preparing a desert that he learned to cook. Unlike Kali's apron, his own was green in color, with a matching hairnet that all clones seemed to wear. The original was sitting on his knees, sipping tea after finishing a second plate.
Kali herself was munching down on her third plate of fish, having ignored the steamed rice for the second time in a row. Her swollen stomach ached slightly as the children moved about. Ghira shot glances her way, worried glances, glances that Naruto took note of. His mind was made up in that moment.
He wasn't going to lose his friend.
"Excuse me, everyone." Naruto interrupted their feasting. "I'll be heading out to the rooftop for a moment. I need to get some fresh air."
"Okay, be careful, a little chilly out tonight." Kali told him before noting the expression of worry on his face. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine, Lady Kali, I just need some air." Naruto lied before getting up, dusting his knees off. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Okay, and Naruto, the dinner was marvelous by the way." Ghira jumped in whilst refocusing on his conversation with Ozpin. "Anyway, as I was saying, Naruto's home world sent over a particular cherry blossom tree that blooms year-round. I think that they called it a Konohaian Blossom- "
Whatever Naruto was hearing Ghira say stopped when he walked out of the door. His clones would be able to fill him in. He made his way up onto the roof. He took a deep breath, and then sighed. He promised Kali that he wouldn't worry so much, but she was his closest friend here. He loved them both deeply, and he couldn't bare the thought of losing one of them.
Weaving hand seals, biting his thumb, he placed his palm on the rooftop's concrete. "Summoning Jutsu." He commanded softly before a puff of smoke emerged as Kosuke emerged from the smoke. "Hey, Kosuke, I know it's very early, but I have an emergency I need addressed with Grandma."
"Okay, is everything fine here, are you in danger?" Kosuke inquired, knowing the protocol for if such a thing was happening. "You seem shaken, Naruto, I never seen you like this."
"It's my friend, Lady Kali, she's getting ready to have twins. She's been talking about how the last time she almost bit the kunai so to speak. I need someone with expert knowledge in medical ninjutsu here." Naruto said before sitting cross-legged on the ground. "I know it's a hard ask, and there's no chance that Granny will actually send someone, but I'm racking my brain on ways to make sure that Kali is able to live through this."
"You worry about this friend of yours as if she is your parent." Kosuke pointed out before smiling, sitting on his bottom with cross legs as well. "So, what is the risk factor that is making you worry to such extent?"
"I…did a bad thing, Kosuke." He admitted shamefully before sighing. "I snuck into the hospital, and read her records. She has a weakened heart because of a surgery she had before Blake. She also got diagnosed with something called, um…what is the word! Anathesia, amathia, presumaclam, um…um… preeclampsia! Whatever that is, but from what I read it increases blood pressure tremendously."
"Ahh, I see, that is certainly something to be worried about." Kosuke assuaged his friend and summoner's feelings, and guilt. "What about the medical ninjutsu Lady Tsunade sent you?"
Naruto shook his head, and frowned. "It won't be enough, that's for minor injuries. I'm nowhere near good enough to use it to save a life yet." He told Kosuke before feeling his lip quiver. "She saved my life, ya know, and I'm sitting here trying to rack my brain as hard as possible to find a way to save hers and the kids, and Ghira's sanity because he's stretched thin as is!"
"When is she due?"
"June, so, just a little under two months." Naruto answered whilst thinking scrunching his face up in thought. "I think Sakura said that she said something about training under Granny, do you think she'd take the risk to come here?"
"I think you're thinking of the wrong student, perhaps Shizune?" Kosuke offered up before taking a deep breath. "As you said though, that is in fact a risk. She might not be able to make it home, you have to consider that as well."
"Damn it!"
Naruto got up before taking a deep breath. Clutching his head in stress. "I have the power to do amazing things, but I don't have the power to help my friend when she needs it the most!" The blonde shinobi took a moment and calmed himself down. "I'm trying to find a way, but I don't think I can trust anyone but either Granny, Sakura, or Shizune to do this."
"Hmm, well now, that leaves us in a pickle indeed." Kosuke took a deep breath, and sighed. "I can take this message to Lady Tsunade in a few days, because I think the only one who can best broach the subject is Jiraiya."
"Yeah, if anyone is gonna get Granny to act on something, it's Pervy Sage." Naruto realized before taking a moment to calm himself down. He took a moment and smiled. "I have to get back to the dinner, Kosuke, thank you for hearing me out on this."
"No problem! I am often more than just the messenger frog sometimes, sometimes I am just someone's shoulder lean on as well." Kosuke stated before suddenly feeling himself get picked up into a hug by Naruto, making the toad slightly blush. "Okay now, handsy much!"
"So-sorry, I just well…" Naruto rubs the back of his head after placing the toad back down. "I don't know how to explain it, in this world, they value being more in touch with your feelings…and I've been more emotionally driven for a while now."
"Well, it's not always a bad thing. Take care, Naruto Uzumaki, summon me in five days' time." Kosuke instructed him before forming a hand seal. "Until next time, my friend."
A puff of smoke filled the roof, leaving Naruto all alone on it. He took a deep breath, staring up toward the stars. He saw the yellow lights dancing in the sky, over the shattered full moon. He reached up toward them, slightly blushing before pulling his hand back down.
"Just keep hope, and don't worry so much…just keep hope."
{Mistral City: Poor District.}
[The Next Day, 2:23pm]
Blake was currently wiping her face as she checked over herself. She had some bruises, and a busted lip. This clash with The LEOs had been more violent than the last. She took a deep breath whilst seeing other members of The White Fang contingent each nursing various wounds. Adam himself had a nice shiner, but he walked over to her to check on her.
"Good fighting, Blake. This is only day four of the strike, and we're keeping The LEOs from truly breaking it off." Adam stated before sitting next to her. He watched as the leader of the strike, the man with deer horns walked around to provide food and blankets amongst his people. "Stag there is looking to join up with us after this is all set and done."
"Adam, is this ever going to end?" Blake inquired whilst looking at the various other injured people. "Why is it that we have peace back home, and we can't have it here."
"Because humans are selfish, Blake. They think Remnant is only their home, and they're more than happy to relegate us to an island continent just south of Anima." Adam logically commented before sighing as he took her hand into his. "You're worried about your mother, aren't you?"
"Of course, I am." Blake admitted before taking a deep breath. "I trust that Naruto has her safe, and that he all the chatter about HFIL is just BS…I hope."
"If it's not then you have to trust your friend to have your family's back. Human, or not, I know that he'd die before he let anything happen to your mother, and father." Adam stated before making her face him a little bit. "I'd die before I let anything happen to you."
"Adam…" Blake whimpered a little bit before taking a deep breath. "I just want to be there, just in case things don't go right…and…and…"
"Blake, you made a commitment to something much larger than yourself. Sacrifices of personal feelings, and hopes, are to be a given. You just have to have faith that all things will work out." Adam soothed her, stroking her hand a little bit. "After this is done, the first ship back to Menagerie, I promise."
"You seriously promise?"
"I cross my heart on that, Blake." Adam said before slowly leaning down and planting a chaste kiss on her lips. "I'll never do anything to jeopardize you, besides, before long it'll be done. I have a feeling that those human factory owners are getting tired of losing money."
"Yeah, always about the almighty lien." Blake scoffed before taking a deep breath. She leaned into him, watching as Stag walked over to him. "Hey Stag."
"Hey, you two, here, I have one blanket left. You two kids don't do anything stupid. Adam, when you get a chance, I need to see you. It's regarding the faunus that got arrested today." Stag said before handing them a blanket. "It's no rush, but I am thinking of upping the stakes a little bit."
Blake didn't like that, she looked up at Stag, almost afraid to ask the question. "What do you mean, upping the stakes?" She inquires before taking a moment to make sure she is fully covered. "We're already getting into brawls with The LEOs."
"Trust me when I say this, this is between me, and your commanding officer. I'm all for pleasantries, but this is full business. Adam, please rest for a little bit before seeing me. Trust me when I say you'll need a clear head for this." The strike leader forewarned the young lieutenant. He begins to walk away before turning around. "Oh, and I was supposed to pass this along to you, Ms. Belladonna…apparently The Hero Of Kuo Kuana said you'd know what to do with them."
He tosses a couple of balls over to her, wrapped in paper. It had a similar symbol to the explosive tags, but it wasn't the same. She looks at them, noting a smoke symbol on them. "Smoke bombs, well, this should come in handy." She reckoned before handing one to Adam. "Guess we'll be upping our game tomorrow with these."
"Perhaps we will, get some sleep, Blake." Adam got up, tucking his side of the blanket around her. "Your aura will heal you overnight. Tomorrow, we win."
"Yeah…hopefully tomorrow we win."
{Menagerie: Village Of Mon Kai.}
[The Next Morning, 10:15am.]
A letter came for her this morning, and she was sat in the office of her house along the side of the near west most coast of Menagerie. With a bladed opener, she cut the wax seal of The Belladonna Family from it. Smirking, her gray hair fell past her ox-like horns adorning her head in the guise of a mountain crown.
"So, it seems that Ghira is starting a referendum. Hmph, should've seen it coming, little guy always been a dreamer. No doubt Argenti is running to jump behind this. Old fox was always willing to do these things to get a leg up on me." The largely built old woman stated, though it wasn't from being obese, no she was the termed "jacked" as it could be presented in anyone. "Tell me, my dear son, about this Naruto fellow you so despise."
"Mother, I think I can clearly speak that Ghira is getting played by the boy." The large man, Fjall, said as he came into the view of his mother. The Chieftainess Of Mon Kai, and presented himself with his hands tuck behind his back. "Ghira is being lulled into a possibility of a United Menagerie to present itself as a true country on the world stage. Once again, we must curry favor from the world of humanity it seems."
"Fjall, my dear son, didn't that boy save Kuo Kuana?"
"Yes, he was a mother, but the issue remains that the boy isn't human, nor faunus. He's something, monster mayhap, but he's neither our people nor theirs. I fear that we are being played in some way, but only time can tell if I'm paranoid, or right, and I fear if I'm right." Fjall answered whilst looking into his mother's emerald, green eyes. Her formerly blue hair long turned a dull gray. "Are you to go to the conclave, mother?"
"I must, I must, for I am summoned. Let it be as it may, my dear boy." She stated before waiving him off casually. "Now go, be merry in that brothel you tend to visit."
Fjall slightly blushes at that, but takes his bow before leaving. A secretary, a young man who had delivered her letter, presented himself. He had orange hair, with fangs protruding from his upper lips. His shiny violet eyes sparkled in the fleeting glimpses of sunlight coming from the sunny room. Clouds were gathering overhead, rain coming, and almost certainly out of season to the boon of the people of Mon Kai.
"Lady Everest, if I may be so bold, Chief Ghira is a reasonable man. I hope that you won't take the rambling of Fjall so…earnestly." The young, but well-spoken man suggested whilst presenting her another letter. "This letter comes from Argenti himself. It seems that Ino Kai's Chieftain is all in on this referendum."
"I hear this spurred by the so-called Hero Of Kuo Kuana. I've seen the video, looked to me we should call that giant frog the hero." Lady Everest stated whilst taking hold of the letter, and reaching for her opener once again. "Then again, I suppose that outworlder could've already taken Kuo Kuana if he was hostile."
"Indeed, I heard that though he is a child, he is well-spoken. Ozpin himself is currently in the city, and reportedly staying there for a few weeks to explore Menagerian Culture. To give students of his Huntsmen Academy there that come from here a more sense of identity from home." The young man said whilst making sure to throw away the empty letter package once handed to him by his boss. "I dare that I am eager for the opportunity to meet Ghira's possible successor."
"Bah, I thought that was his daughter's position."
"Lady Everest, Lady Blake is overseas in Mistral, under the banner of The White Fang. She is more of a follower than a leader, but there is a burgeoning support for The Hero Of Kuo Kuana across Menagerie as a whole. Perhaps it would be best to throw our lot into their corner. With most of the coastal villages in support for his actions this winter. It's my honest examination of the political field in play for this referendum." The young man finished whilst tucking one arm behind his back, whilst bowing with his left over his heart. "Apologies for being so brash, my lady."
"Nonsense, Ember, it is why I hired you. An honest opinion is more cherished than gussy kissing, and bootlicking. I'll take these words into consideration, and with it, I'll be boarding a ship to Kuo Kuana in a month to meet for The Conclave." Lady Everest stopped for a moment, and then looked at Ember with a smile. "Do you mind getting some of those wool blankets from Weaver? I want a custom order made to present to Lady Kali as a gift for the children I hear that'll be born soon."
"Indeed, twins, how auspicious." Ember agreed before nodding his head. "Belladonna Family Symbol?"
"Belladonna Family Symbol."
{Unknown Location Near Menagerie.}
[The Next Morning, 3:00am.]
Upon a small floating craft near one of the few island just beyond Menagerie's mainland. A group gathered atop it's surface, a storm began to brew around them. The craft was pure black, it's steel painted, and bared no creed nor crest. A large man with two large axes on his back smiled as he saw the lights of Kuo Kuana in the distance.
A robotic drone slowly flew over to him, landing on his arm, and fusing with it. It's data transmitting to his cyborg enhancement. A V tattoo adorned his cheek. He wore skintight armor, specifically designed for him, and brimming with experimental technology that high society HFIL members could afford.
Especially one from another anti-faunus league, The Silver Bullet Brotherhood. Another, much younger looking man with an II on his cheek joined the man's side as he saw his eyes light up. He chuckled whilst looking at his twin straight swords, which hungered for faunus blood. They were then joined by another, a teenager with IV on his cheek. The young teenager held two combat knives, flipping them around whilst his large rifle shuffled along his back.
"Five, Two, Four, we all know our objectives in the coming month." A man with golden hair and violet eyes stated whilst walking into their view. He bore a I on his cheek, he chuckled when they all stood in at attention. "These animals are preparing a conclave, but in reality they'll just pinning themselves altogether in one location for a slaughter."
"Why wasn't Three put on this mission as well, given that boy who took Six also killed a legendary Grimm supposedly." Five stated whilst crossing his arms, reading the data that was still being transmitted by the probe he had sent out. "Kuo Kuana has only grown, but luckily, their population has spread more than last time."
"Yes, it'll make it easier to infiltrate." Four said whilst flipping his knife around. "Do I get the shot on that little bastard who killed Six? Whatever he is, I doubt his skull is thick enough to withstand a fifty-caliber round."
"Tch, whatever, I want my axes to claim his head." Five argued before smirking at the rather annoyed stare of One. "Still, I got some interesting news. Apparently old Ghira has working equipment, his faunus bitch is pregnant, and due very soon."
"Heh, really now?" One asked with a smirk, rubbing his chin rather menacingly. "Too bad, really, late term abortion is illegal. Well, who are we to care anyway, I suppose."
"Wicked, that's dark even for me, commander." Two laughed before sheathing his swords, crossing his arms whilst his blue hair fluttered in the wind off the storm. "Still, where is Three?"
"Cat hunting."
"Damn, really now, that sucks." Two scoffed whilst hearing a set of boots on the bridge of the craft they were on. He turned his head, along with all others except One. He whistled before smirking. "Well-well-well, look here, we've got a newbie."
"Gentlemen, this here is Model Seven." One introduced the newer member, the young redhaired man crossed his arms on his introduction. His golden eyes lit up the night as a fox faunus trait ears stuck up from his head. "He's an infiltration unit, after all the good doctors so did love the idea of turning these animals against each other."
A VII marked his forearm as the redhead grunted. He was no younger than then the target of their ire, the one who killed six. However, out of all of them, he was most kitted out. His armor was the newest, his body enhancements the greatest. His armor was a shimmering black, sleek, and with very few organic places left except the skin. Most of his vital organs had been replaced with mechanical ones, but still, the synthetic layer allowed aura transference.
"So, One, Two, Four, Five, and Seven." Five counted off as he smirked, and then looked at the newcomer. "So, noting the age here, I have a feeling he's specifically designed to counter that little demon of Kuo Kuana, hmm?"
Seven didn't even give anyone time to react before he suddenly appeared in front of Five. Five didn't even flinch, but that was until Seven suddenly slammed his palm into the cyborg's chest. Even the aura of Five didn't block the blow, instead, the pressure of the palm thrust went right through him! He was sent flying across the bow of the ship that they were on. He slammed right into the wall of the command post, with Seven standing there all the same.
"Seven here is known as a Prometheus Model. A model that up until now our good doctors failed to perfect. Each one of us is fully capable of taking a veteran Hunter, or a few. Seven here, Seven is capable of not only taking a team…he has killed a team as a test. A full faunus by the by, one right out of Atlas herself. In fact, they were Ace Ops. A squads that could give that monster Grimm a run for its money." One stated before chuckling as Five peeled himself out of the impression on the wall, coughing up some black gunk from his mouth. "As you can see, Seven here has his semblance fully intact, and we chose him for it specifically since it's a very rare semblance."
"What, super strength, cause he just rocked the shit out of Five." Two complimented before chuckling as the big guy struggled over to them. "Oh, c'mon on, need some fixing up buddy?"
"Fuck you."
"No offense, Five, but your target is in fact Lady Kali." Seven suddenly said whilst never blinking once before taking a deep breath. "My target is Naruto Uzumaki himself. I was designed for the specific purpose of destroying him. His body will make a very interesting research material for our good doctors back home, perhaps he will become Eight."
"I'm getting assigned the pregnant woman?!" Five roared out at One. "I want the boy!"
"Silence, Five, if Seven gets backed into a corner early on you can switch. For now, Two, Four, and I will be assigned with fully massacring all chieftains and chieftainesses that come to conclave. Obviously, Four, you'll be tasked with sniping anyone trying to run or get onto our flank." One stated before he looked over at two with a smirk. "You, and I brother will be busy taking heads."
"Heh, been awhile since you called me brother, brother." Two snickered before turning his gaze to Seven. The young teenage cyborg standing there crossed his arms. "What gear do you plan on using against that monster of a target of yours?"
"Classified."
"Ooh oh, I like him already. Five, fix yourself already." Two ordered Five before taking a stroll. "I'm gonna go run data, after all, when we launch our attack we'll be swift."
"Another thing, One, my drone detected Ozpin himself in Kuo Kuana. Qrow Branwen is with him, what should we do about them?" Five inquired before glaring at Seven who merely sneered and shouldered as he walked by. "Little bastard…"
"Five!" One barked to get his attention, who then nodded his head after getting his undivided attention. "Five, if Ozpin and Qrow get in your way, kill them both. That silver-haired bastard is ally against his own people, his own race. Race traitors deserve nothing more than a bullet to the head."
"Heh, well, I'll take his head." Five offered up before sighing. "I'm walking away to cool down somewhere. When is Three supposed to take Blake Belladonna?"
"Oh, I don't know, with her currently at a rally for faunus worker rights…accidents happen. Perhaps, I don't know, a LEO gets a little trigger happy." One suggested whilst smirking before turning to face the lights of Kuo Kuana off in the distance. "Something to note."
"Mmhmm, well that's certainly a plan."
Chapter End.
Trivia.
It is common, even for political rivals, to give gifts to each other. It's meant to be seen as good gestures, and this was also done in real life as well…though sometimes they were more tongue and cheek.
The HFIL moving out to plan a mass assassination of Menagerie's Leaders sets the stage for possibly a disaster in the making, or the ashes that should fall in order for new flowers to bloom.
This marks the first time Blake has ever kissed anyone, but pay attention to the scene.
Talk No Jutsu has a popular fan theory explanation, and honestly, I am one hundred percent behind it being a form of Ninshū because it just makes a whole lot of sense.
Sasuke Uchiha finding references to Indra shouldn't be so shocking, unlike The Uzumaki-Senju Clans, The Uchiha never really split up into other clans.
As a gift of friendship, Tsuande sends Ghira & Kali a cherry blossom tree sapling via sealing scroll. In reality, in 1909 in the real-world Mayor Ozaki gave a cherry blossom tree as a token of friendship to The United States. This is kind of a double meaning. Tsuande basically is offering an "alliance" with Kuo Kuana, but also thanking them for keeping Naruto safe.
Naruto's comb is a gift that's meant to further his connection with Kushina. Kushina had a comb that was gifted to her.
This chapter marks Tangerine's first appearance.
Tangerine's love for flute music comes from her mother, whose name was Clarinet.
Naruto sending back pictures of Kuo Kuana, and various people he's met isn't out of the question.
Tsuande considered sending Tonton over to see if Naruto could send him back, Shizune threatened to quit and run away.
The Silver Bullet Brotherhood is an actual lore group in RWBY, and they were featured in a short novel. I think the name of it is The Session. It also features the first time the girls actually killed human characters.
Sasuke, still under house arrest, has earned enough trust with his guards in The ANBU to be allowed outside to train in the courtyard of his family home. Sakura has free reign to visit since she is seen as a means of keeping him docile with news on Naruto.
The girl's dog is a reference to my dog, Teto, or TT. Unfortunately, TT, lost his battle with an illness just a few days ago. My little buddy is due back home soon in an urn, but I thought what better way to memorialize him as a character in any project I do. Daddy misses you very much bubba.
Shout Out!
Zagger has a lot to do with Primroses, and his new story Wildflowers, is amazing. If you like my content, you'll love his. I've been in the dumps lately, but he's been helping me through it. I hope to get back to doing one-shots soon after I get this going again.