Hey folks! Just here to apologize for having disappeared for a while! I've just been on break and have made a return! And not alone either! I am now doing a collaboration with an old friend of mine, who is also an author here on ! I don't remember what his author name was, but I believe that the story that he made was something called Death of Darkness. Idk, to be honest, but I tried. Anyway, hope you've had fun reading!

Gaara's eyes opened, and the only thing he was able to register was his vision. It was blurry, and he felt as if whatever light that was in the room was blinding him. However, after blinking a few times, his vision cleared.

Gaara felt sore all over, and he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his forehead. When he reached up to clutch his forehead with his hand, he felt fabric instead, which was wrapped around his head.

"Ugh," Gaara groaned, "Where the hell am I?"

"Heh," a voice said, "Finally awake, eh?"

Gaara turned over to his side, and saw Pierce in a bed next to him.

"Morning sleeping beauty," Pierce said, "How are you feeling?"

"Like crap," Gaara said, "Are you feeling any better?"

"I feel as if someone had put a sledgehammer through my skull," Pierce said

Gaara replied, "Hmm. Figures."

Gaara laid back on the bed, and sighed, before asking, "Have you seen Clarice?"

Pierce chuckled, and replied, "Yeah. Turns out, the only ones in this bad of a condition are us. The rest were discharged from the hospital earlier this morning."

"Hmm," Gaara said, raising an eyebrow, "What about team CFVY?"

Pierce nodded, "Yep, them too."

Gaara nodded, when suddenly he heard a door open, and when he looked over to the side, Ruby was poking in her head.

"Hi!" Ruby greeted, "Is now a good time?"

Gaara nodded, and Ruby turned around and said something to someone behind her. Ruby then opened the door and walked in, and was followed by the rest of Team RWBY

"Well," Yang said, "The one time that we decide not to hang out and you guys get banged up."

Gaara simply replied, "What? You expect us to read the future?"

"Naw," Yang responded before asking, "So, he was that strong, eh?"

At first, Gaara was a bit confused about what she was talking about. However, he just as quickly remembered his opponent, Momoshiki. He didn't remember the last fight between velvet and Momoshiki, but if she had said that he wouldn't be bothering them for a while, did that mean that she beated him?

Gaara nodded in response to Yang's question, and Weiss sat with her legs crossed on a chair near Gaara.

"Well," Weiss said, "If someone was able to beat both Gaara and two huntsman teams to boot, then this guy is strong. Matter of fact, I have never seen anyone in this entire world that could have done something like that!"

Blake cupped her chin in thought, and agreed with Weiss, "You do have a point, Weiss. There is just no way that someone can take on two teams at all at one time."

Gaara sighed, because he longed to tell them that there was indeed a person that could do just that. Him, Kimimaro, and the new Otsutsuki that he had just fought.

Suddenly, he felt another pain in his head, and he winced while instinctively clutching his forehead.

"Hey, Gaara, are you alright?" Ruby asked, and Gaara nodded, "Yeah, I'm alright, nothing too bad."

"Alright, would be cutting it a bit close," Pierce said, and Gaara gave a small cough, and said in response to Pierce's comment, "Ah shut up."

Ruby looked at Blake a bit uncomfortable, and then the cat girl said, "So, uhhh, how did you guys end up like this?"

Gaara shrugged, and responded, "We went out for breakfast with team CFVY, when the guy who put us in this condition all of a sudden showed up."

"Oooook," Yang said, and Weiss then asked, "So you found him, and then he just started attacking you?"

"Yep," Pierce confirmed, "That is pretty much it."

Weiss then commented, "Did he have some sort of reason for attacking at least?"

Pierce shrugged and said, "Well, who knows? I only started fighting because he was in combat with Hanzo and Gaara."

However, Gaara didn't really agree. Momoshiki was an Otsutsuki. And he acted as if he knew Gaara. But what confused Gaara so much was how he could anger someone as powerful as Otsutsuki? If anything, he probably would have been considered small fry by himself against Momoshiki. Matter of fact, the only reason why they were alive was pure luck.

Ruby then said, "Anyways, we brought you and Pierce some brunch."

The girl then pulled up a picnic basket, and smiled. Gaara chuckled as he grinned at her and said, "Much appreciated, Ruby."

Ruby smiled at Gaara as she opened the picnic basket and started handing out sandwiches wrapped in napkins to everyone.

However, as Gaara got his, he opened it up, but he couldn't help but think. Why? Why couldn't he beat him by himself? He should have been stronger. No, wait, actually he NEEDED to be stronger.

Gaara would not allow Momoshiki to harm anyone. Gaara had begun to think, what were some of Momoshiki's weaknesses? During Gaara's fight against the Otsutsuki, he had noticed that he had done less efficiently in taijutsu, but that didn't deny the fact that he was skilled, but Momoshiki simply seemed to prefer not using Taijutsu. What if…... .Gaara needed to become stronger at Taijutsu?

"Hey, Gaara?" Blake said before waving a hand in front of Gaara's face, "Earth to Gaara!"

Gaara snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Blake and asked, "Uh, yes?"

"You kinda look like you're overworking those brain cells of yours. You alright?" Yang asked. At first, Gaara wanted to tell them. But suddenly, an unwelcome thought came into his head. What if, by telling them they would find out who he really was? Gaara, 5th Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand, Sunagakure, and former One-Tailed Beast Jinchuriki? Gaara didn't want that. Right now, all he wanted to be right now was simply Gaara, team leader of team GPHC. And he didn't want to lose that.

Gaara replied solemnly, "Just thinking. I was wondering if there were any weaknesses that the enemy had shown during our fight."

Ruby and Weiss looked at each other, before Blake said, "You know, Gaara, you don't have to take on every threat on your own."

"And I'm not!" Gaara replied, "I'm just trying to protect my team! Did you see how powerful he was!?"

"Gaara," Ruby said, "You took on that one guy in the red forest, and came back badly battered. Had you had your us, or your team, it probably would have ended better!"

Gaara simply responded, "I only came back in that condition because I had messed around too much."

"Then let us help," Yang said, and Pierce turned to Gaara from his bed and said, "You could use help, you know."

Gaara sighed, before saying, "Alright, fine."

Ruby then looked at her team for a quick second, before saying, "uhh, how exactly are we going to help him when we don't even know anything about this guy!?"

Gaara slapped his head in embarrassment.

Hanzo threw an open palm strike at the training bot in front of him, his palm striking it's chest, hitting it off balance, and Hanzo quickly crouched down and spun at the same time, sweeping the bot's legs out from underneath it.

As the bot fell to the ground with a clang, Hanzo had quickly stood back up in his fighting stance as he lifted up his feet, and brought it down, attempting to crush the bot with his heel. The metal dummy rolled off the side, avoiding Hanzo's heel, which smashed into the ground below, a small spider web of cracks appearing.

The bot quickly went into its standing position, but before it could even counterattack, Hanzo had lunged forward and jumped into the air, and struck the bot with a powerful flying kick to its metal cheek that sent it flying backward, and it clanged against the wall.

Hanzo landed back on his feet as he looked at the bot, and began to walk forward. As he stopped in front of the bot, Hanzo looked down at it. Hanzo suddenly held his fist up, his fist opening up and spreading apart, before flattening and his fingers coming together as Hanzo brought down a deadly karate chop.

Hanzo's hand sliced downward, and bashed the training bots head in half.

"That is quite enough, Mr. Hasashi," a female voice said as Professor Glynda Goodwitch appeared, lights suddenly turning on, showing the audience that was sitting in the stands that was overseeing Hanzo's sparring session, "You surely are…intense today, Mr. Hasashi. However, that aside, your skill was flawless, but there were a few times when your timing was off."

Hanzo nodded as he bowed slightly in a respectful manner, as was his custom, and after he quickly rose back up, Hanzo said, "Thank you, Professor Goodwitch."

As Hanzo walked off the stage, he looked at his hand, as he had scolded himself, "I should have taken it down faster. I've improved, but not enough for….him."

Ever since Hanzo had woken up in the hospital that day, he couldn't help but see that man that he and his comrades had fought against. Hanzo had sworn that they had that fight done at first. He had thought that they would win. So Hanzo was shocked when that white stranger with blank like eyes and a violet tint. He couldn't get that face, which was full of rage, veins bulging out around the eyes, he couldn't get it out of his mind.

As Hanzo walked up into the stands and sat down, Clarice was next to him, a bandage wrapped around her head. The girl turned to Hanzo and asked, "Hey, Hanzo. Are you alright?"

Hanzo nodded, replying, "Yes, just felt a little pent up is all. I'm good now."

Clarice nodded, not fully convinced that he was truly alright.

Professor Goodwitch stood up on stage, the spot lights trained on her as she cleared her throat, before holding the microphone up to her mouth and saying, "Now, as you all know, the Vytal Festival is coming in due time, and in case any of you had forgotten, then you have been reminded as I will not repeat myself again. However, if we are to have a chance to be able to compete, then we must be at our very best, both in body and mind. So if any of you decide to compete, then you'll have your first hints of advice. Take Mr. Hasashi here."

Suddenly, a screen lit up behind her, large enough for all to see as it showed a clip during his fight with the bot. Hanzo's limbs were a blur as both blocked, parried, and striked in rapid succession, and it looked as if the bot had not been keeping up at all.

To Clarice, it looked like a flawless example of skill and agility, but to Hanzo, he was dissatisfied. He felt as if he hadn't taken the bot down fast, and as he watched, he couldn't help but slowly grit his teeth, his fist tightening up.

That's when he began telling himself, "...I could have struck harder there…I should have been able to dodge that instead of blocking…..I could have sweeped there…¨

Clarice had looked at Hanzo, and it looked as if he was in deep thought, his brows furrowed, a frown on his face.

Clarice waved her hand in front of Hanzo's face, and said, ¨Hellooooo, earth to Hanzoooooo. Anyone in that head?¨

Hanzo smacked her hand away from his face, saying, ¨Clarice, please, stop.¨

¨Why?¨ Clarice said, a whining expression on her face as she crossed her arms, ¨I want to know what the hell is going on in that little head of yours! What are you thinking about?¨

Clarice had said the last part with a soft, gentleness. She was genuinely concerned about Hanzo. Hanzo had a habit of judging himself, believing as if he should be good at everything, but if he fails at something he is good at, he would often blame himself for not being good enough. And if anything, after the beating that they had taken from that strange white dude, Clarice could definitely tell that he was judging himself right now.

Hanzo turned to her, and Clarice saw anger and disappointment in his face as he said, ¨Why, Clarice? Why do you want to know? Why would you want to know how I process my thoughts?¨

Clarice blinked, taken aback. She didn't really expect that kind of reply, but she said, albeit unsurely, ¨I…just want to help-¨

Hanzo suddenly bursted out, ¨Well I don't want your help!¨

With that, Hanzo suddenly stood up, and stormed off, leaving the audience.

Pierce sighed as team RWBY finally left the room, and the boy then looked over to the red-haired person next to him, and said, ¨So, you saw those red eyes on his hands too, eh? At first I thought I was just imagining it, and then I thought that it was just a disgusting sense of fashion. So, he was quite surprised when he saw that it was actually a type of tool.

Pierce asked Gaara, ¨So, you´re saying that those red eyes on his hands actually do something? Exactly what though?¨

Pierce then thought of how the man had absorbed one of Clarice´s arrows, and then sent it back with three times more power, and then added, ¨Uh, I mean, what abilities can it do besides taking our attacks and shooting them back three times harder?¨

Gaara sighed as he replied, ¨I don´t know. We´ve only seen him fight for the first time. He just may have more up his sleeve, but for now, it would be good to say that those red eyes on his palm are a major factor.¨

Pierce smiled as he suddenly punched his palm, saying, ¨Heh, so all we have to do is take those hand eyes out, and then we're all in the clear!¨

¨No, not exactly,¨ Gaara said, ¨He had also expressed great physical strength and hand-to-hand combat skill. If we take those eyes out, he still isn't going to be a easy threat.¨

¨Oh come on,¨ Pierce said, ¨Have some faith!¨

Gaara sighed. Pierce didn't truly know what they were up against. It was a bit ridiculous, now that Gaar thought about it. He was taking on an Otsutsuki, one of the greatest threats that has ever been introduced to the Elemental Shinobi Nations. This one wasn't exactly as strong as Kaguya, or at least by Gaara´s standards due to having never fought her. But still, he was very strong. Gaara even feared that it would take someone like Naruto or Sasuke to be able to take down someone like this. And Gaara was powerful, but not as strong as either of those two.

Gaara nodded, deciding to just appease Pierce for now, ¨All right, Pierce. But still, I don't think we can let our guard down.¨

A few hours later…..

Velvet sat on her bed, her legs drawn up to her chest. Velvet had not come out of her dorm room, not ever since classes ended that day.

Velvet looked out the window, as the afternoon sun shone through, gleaming against the wood of the small table underneath the window.

The bunny faunus hadn't felt like going out and ended up bumping into some prejudiced humans. And on top of that, she couldn't help but be worried sick about Gaara and his team. Her team had gotten off easy enough, but they would have all been killed, had that butterfly not intervened. Velvet didn't know why, but she couldn't help but feel as if that little, silk-winged, insect had somehow saved her and her friends.

Velvet heard a noise coming from outside, and she shifted on her bed as she looked to the window. She quickly hopped off her bed, her socks scuffling against the floor, as she walked over to the window and looked out.

Nothing was there.

¨Hmm, I swore I heard some-¨

¨Hello, Velvet.¨

Velvet jumped, giving a small yelp as she looked up above her, and Gaara was up above, his holding holding onto the outward window sill of the dorm above hers and a white cloth tied around his head, his big gourd gone but a small sand gourd on the side of his waist, as Velvet asked in a slightly panicked tone, ¨Gaara, how did you get up there?¨

Gaara sighed as he replied simply, ¨Don´t ask, please. Is it okay if I come in?¨

Velvet nodded as she backed up from the window, as the red haired boy hopped through. Gaara stood up, having crouched when he landed through, as he looked at Velvet and said, ¨I ran into Coco and Yatsuhashi while I was leaving the hospital from discharge. They said that you hadn't come out of the dorm ever since classes ended. Is something wrong?¨

Velvet shook her head, replying, ¨Oh, I was just so worried sick about you all. I mean, you and Pierce took some hard hits. I was worried that you might have….¨

Gaara frowned as he suddenly said, ¨Velvet, I wouldn't die. I won't allow myself to, especially if it meant leaving you and everyone.¨

Velvet couldn't bring herself to say the last word. She felt as if that if she did say it, it just might actually happen. She truly had been worried, but she also couldn't stop thinking about that time, when she pushed him down. Her hands on his hard chest, the way his red shirt separated her hands from his skin. She had kept thinking about him, no matter what. The way his red hair swayed lightly in the wind, the way that his green eyes looked at her, and the warmth of his hand in hers. She couldn't stop thinking of those scenarios, that she was distracted from her studies. So she was rather speechless, not knowing what to say to this boy, this person that she couldn't stop thinking about.

She was warmed, however, by his response, and she couldn't help but smile slightly at him as she said, ¨I…I don't know what to say.¨

Gaara nodded, and said, ¨You don't have to. I just wanted to make sure that you are ok. That battle had shaken everyone up.¨

Gaara suddenly, smiled as he said, ¨It's good to see that you are alright, Velvet.¨

Velvet had blushed a little at his comment, and she nodded, fearing that if she tried to speak, she would have just ended up stuttering.

¨I ... .I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Velvet,¨ Gaara said as he turned to the window, and he jumped out.

Velvet yelped when he did, and immediately ran out the window, and looked out the window, looking around for Gaara. Oddly enough, she didn't see hide nor hair of him.

Kimimaro leaned against the wall of the alley, trying his best not to look suspicious. He didn't usually like being noticed. Kimimaro looked up at the sun that had just begun to sink under the horizon.

¨He is late,¨ Kimimaro thought

Kimimaro suddenly heard footsteps as he suddenly looked off to his side, shoes which thudded against the stone floor of the alley.

Kimimaro looked in the direction of the stepping with an expressionless face as he said, ¨Well, you are starting to lose your touch. I could hear you several meters away.

¨I wasn't trying to,¨ the voice said, as a red-haired boy walked out of the alley, as Gaara looked at Kimimaro, and said, ¨Why would I try to keep my stealth if I called you here?¨

Kimimaro scoffed, saying, "Called me? Hmph, more like you just directed me here.¨

A few hours earlier…

Gaara's eyes snapped open, as he heard a slight scuff of shoes, as he sat up, and saw Kimimaro sitting on the windowsill.

Gaara frowned as he asked, ¨What do you want?¨

Kimimaro didn't look exactly happy himself as he replied, ¨I sensed Chakra and came here, hoping that someone else had ended up here. Unfortunately, I just found you. Now why did you end up here?¨

Gaara sighed as he said, ¨Let's just say that I met a enemy that was bigger than I thought.¨

Kimimaro crossed his arms, scoffing as he replied, ¨Hmph, that is what happens when you hold back.¨

¨I didn't hold back,¨ Gaara said, ¨That is the thing, I didn't. Their skill in taijutsu shocked me, and they kept absorbing my jutsu. Not to mention, he had used a food pill to replenish his chakra if he ever got too low.¨

¨Wait,¨ Kimimaro said, ¨You mean the person you fought had ... .chakra?"

Gaara nodded, replying, "Yes, they did. And they were very powerful indeed."

Kimimaro held a hand to his chin in thought. If this boy, who had been messing around when Kimimaro fought him, but if he had been outclassed by that much of a margin, then perhaps staying alone as Kimimaro had thought wouldn't bode well.

Suddenly, the door handle to the room began to shake, as if someone was coming in.

Kimimaro looked back at Gaara, saying, "We'll talk more about this later."

*The present*

Kimimaro sighed as he watched Gaara walk closer. His large gourd was gone, but replaced by a much smaller one, but it was now on the side of his waist.

Kimimaro blinked as he asked, "hmm, new wardrobe change?"

Gaara looked at the small gourd at his waist, shrugging as he said, "I simply decided to try on w new look."

Kimimaro nodded as he leaned back on the wall of the alley, saying, "So….about this person. Did you know who they were?"

Gaara shook his head, "No, not exactly. I didn't know who they were, but they were very powerful. And their blank eyes also suggested that they also had a Byakugan as well."

Kimimaro huffed slightly, as he commented, "Hmm, this surely does sound like a troublesome foe. If either of us were to run into them, the chances of us winning a fight by ourselves is rather low, correct?"

"Yes," Gaara confirmed, "They are truly formidable. Which is why I am asking for a… a truce."

Kimimaro raised a eyebrow, as he asked, "A truce? Hmm, last time I remember, you were trying to rip me limb from limb."

"And I'm sorry for that," Gaara said, "But I've realized that attacking you straight away wasn't a good thing, so I apologize."

Kimimaro turned the side of his head to Gaara, cupping his hand around his ear as he taunted, "I'm sorry, say what now? I couldn't hear you very well."

Gaara growled threateningly at Kimimaro, as he reluctantly said, "I said I'm sorry."

Kimimaro put his hand down and looked at Gaara, crossing his arms as he said, "Alright then. But on only one condition, that you don't ever get in my way again. Got it?"

Gaara stared hard into Kimimaro's eyes, trying to see any sense of emotion in the pale person's eyes. He saw nothing.

Gaara held out his hand, saying, "Alright then. I'll give you my word."

Gaara didn't exactly feel like taking any conditions right now, but he really didn't have much of a choice r

ight now. He needed Kimimaro's help, or else the next time he fought that Otsutsuki, the chances of him surviving were very low.

Kimimaro looked at Gaara's hand, and hesitated for a moment, before reaching out, and grabbing lightly onto Gaara's hand, as he shook his slightly, "It's a deal."