Hunter in a world of different beasts.
Darkvizardking69: And so the fire of creativity burns on, and this time I'm tackling a rather interesting idea. One I had kicked around for a while and now with the recent end of Volume 9 for RWBY, I figure this could be a good time. I hope you all enjoy this absolutely twisted tale, I'd say more but I'll let what you read show what kind of madness comes next.
And so, let's dive into it.
Chapter 1: Arrival of a blood cut hunter.
If anyone asked Naruto Uzumaki to describe how he'd spend his birthday, you wouldn't expect it to have been predominantly dealing with a world war. One that drew each of the five great nations together into a single force, something that in their history has never happened before.
Scores of both Zetsu and undead greeted this new coalition, ninja plucked from the land's history, their own former leaders made into undying weapons.
The new alliance certainly had it's share of hurdles, the Zetsu proved to be capable infiltrators, and having Kage level Shinobi with limitless supplies of chakra were bad enough on their own. Adding in the crown jewel of the enemy army, Madara Uchiha himself back from the dead had made a hard fight into one close to impossible. It wasn't until a surprise move by former traitor to the Leaf village and snake sannin Orochimaru, bringing back the previous Hokage from the Shinigami's stomach as their own undead force that the tide started to turn.
However, the war soon became an arms race between the scattered forces of the alliance and Madara himself, as the former members of squad seven came together to face the threat.
More unexpected twists came in the form of Madara stealing the Juubi, becoming close to the sage of six paths after Obito did it to himself. Madara having his body hijacked to serve as a vessel for kaguya, the mother of the sage.
The final issue came from one last betrayal however, as Sasuke Uchiha, former comrade turned traitor, to unexpected ally, to once again traitor as he turned on his allies in the hopes of taking the Bijuu, to use them to start his revolution.
This led to one final clash between the two transmigrants of Hagoromo's own sons, each exhausted yet still fighting as hard as possible to try and end the conflict. One aiming to force his ideals, the other just trying to bring his friend home one last time.
This clash did not come without a cost, however, and both of them laid dying in the same valley they once used as a battlefield years ago as kids. Each having lost an arm in the fight, blood pooling and mixing together between them from their injuries.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh, even if it hurt to do so. "Damnit Sasuke, you just had to have some little tantrum huh? Sakura is gonna be pissed you know. Especially with how banged up we both are. Wonder if grandma Tsunade is up and able to help."
All he got was silence, and seemingly no response as his vision seemed to fade to black. The war had taken a toll on his body, even his legendary stamina reaching his limit and his healing factor was taxed by this last fight.
"Damnit all, you just had to have the last say. Just had to be stubborn." He could hear faint voices in the distance, likely Kakashi and Sakura coming to pick up the pieces now that the clash of Titans seemed to end, and the area was safe to come close to. However, they wouldn't make it in time as Naruto seemed to drift closer to the void, falling in the final sleep.
(realm of the dead)
"Naruto, wake up my boy, there's still something that you can do. Your body may have perished, but your soul can still do some good, if you're willing." The sound of the aged voice of Hagoromo greeted his ears, prompting him to jerk awake in a familiar void.
"Wait, super gramps? Are you here to take me to the pure world or something? And my body, guess even Kurama couldn't save me in the condition Sasuke and I put ourselves in huh? I think I burned myself out." He tried to use his right hand to touch his heart, only to find a stump left, drawing an annoyed sigh from him. "And now more problems. Alright, I'll bite, what could this offer be? Guessing it won't involve going back home will it?"
"Sadly no, as you passed on your connection to your body faded, no doubt Kurama tried his best to revive you but with how much you boys burned through Chakra mode this day, even he couldn't muster the strength. If he had time he would have. There is one other thing I could do, send you to a different world. One where a rather interesting man is in need of help from a capable fighter such as yourself."
Naruto let the curious expression show, glancing down at his lack of an arm. "You sure? I'm rather lopsided at the moment. So unless part of this gives me a new arm I'm going to be a bit handicapped."
"I'm certain the technology of Ozma's world will be capable of prosthetics, they have had warriors, their huntsmen and huntresses lose limbs to creatures before. When you go there, seek him out, though I warn you he goes by Ozpin last I heard from him." Hagoromo spoke in his odd, even tone, Naruto keeping a sad smile on his face throughout it all.
"Hey gramps, could you possibly pass on a message to Kurama? One he can pass on to everyone else?"
"Of course I can, what would you like me to tell them?"
"Tell them sorry I couldn't come home, but that I'm off to help someone else in their world, now that ours is safe." A portal opened beneath his feet, dropping him in as Hagoromo thought for a moment.
"Hold on, that was the world Ozma was from right? Let me see where he went." He started to search for the connection to Naruto's soul, the time already having sped ahead for him.
Honestly, if this was Ozma's home then it needed more help then gramps thought it did. If it wasn't, he'd be having a word with him about it.
At least the Doll was able to help with his prosthetic issue, the clockwork construction that forged as his arm took a little getting used to, but at this point he was able to handle it as if it was his original. He had to, because each step through this nightmare of a world was changing him, the use of blood to kickstart his healing factor leaving him feeling off. Every angry villager or beast that came at him was sliced open without hesitation. The use of the arcane in this world was strange, blasts like star fall raining from above.
Naruto had fought his way through a multitude of beasts, creatures and even other Hunters. Those of the past of Yharnam, the first hunters that caused the incident at the fishing hamlet, who carried their sins in making an orphan of Kos.
Said Orphan wasn't the first of the beings from beyond that he had slain. From Rom the spider, from the one reborn. And now, after taking down Gerhman, a new creature appeared. Drifting all the way down from the moon.
The large, gangly creature had tried to absorb him, but it was only by the chance of the cords that he was repelled by it. And so once again, he fought against it.
This didn't mean that it was a smooth ride through the world. Death was a constant companion, each of the large and otherworldly creatures had caused his demise, some several times, only to once again wake up in the hunter's dream and to set off again, spurred on by the idea of conquering the enemy that bested him. It didn't help that his chakra seemed to be gone in this world, as if something was holding it back, or it was absent entirely.
Still, with his new prosthetic arm filled with different gadgets, something the Doll had said came from a warrior of the east, and the weapons he had gathered, he had managed to finally put down the moon presence. Only, now he found his body forcibly changed into that of a small squid like creature. His mind forced to work in overdrive at the rush of power this gave him, to try and force himself back into a humanoid form. This was a process that took roughly one hundred years to handle, made nearly impossible if not for the sheer stubbornness he still possessed.
By the time Hagoromo had gotten him out of the world, he was once again himself, only very much changed in mind if not in body.
"Seems you went through a rather harrowing experience, I'm only sad to say that wasn't the world you were meant to go through. The realm of the hunter's dream is a harsh one, but now however, Remnant is still in need of you." Naruto was panting, still wearing the uniform of a hunter, his eyes showing that while he wasn't meant to have explored that world, it had changed him, sharpened him more than even the war did. The prosthetic still gleamed, the stench of blood on every article of clothing and weapon he had.
"You sure this time? I don't want to doubt you but last time wasn't exactly something pleasant. I had my throat torn out as soon as I woke up because I wasn't able to use chakra." He rubbed at said neck, as while he recovered in one, well almost one piece with his lack of an arm, in the hunter's dream, he still had felt every injury. Every death dealing blow.
"I'm quite sure, I have the assurance that you'll be there. Your journey will take you to the Kingdom of Vale, seek out the beacon academy, that's where you'll find Ozpin." Once more a glowing portal appeared, this time stable and showing the streets of a different city, a large tower off in the distance that had distinct clockwork design that could be seen from a distance.
"Hopefully, and I mean this with all respect, let's hope to not have to talk until I pass on for good, which hopefully won't be for years." He gave a last cheeky grin, before stepping inside and once again felt himself change according to the planet, a warmth coming not from his chakra, but his soul, and under his hat a pair of ears sprouted up.
The streets were quiet in the midday sun, beacon academy wasn't set to start up it's next semester for at least another two weeks or so, and this rather tranquil and sunny atmosphere was what Naruto stepped into, flexing his prosthetic arm as he tested to ensure it worked properly. Even now he could feel a surge of strength, similar yet different to chakra, the warmth of that gone as a new source of power took it's place. "Alright, time to head for Beacon, I doubt it would take long."
He could hear mutterings of people as he passed by, the hat doing a good job of hiding his new ears as he could still faintly hear them talking of his arrival, the few police he'd seen on the streets mistaking him for some new huntsman with the gun at his side and the threaded cane in hand, kept out of it's chained state. Asking directions to the school gave him odd looks, as they thought he was from there.
"Excuse me, I assume you're looking for a way to Beacon academy? May I ask why?" He turned to the speaker, seeing a rather stern blonde woman with a rather interesting fashion choice, and what had him curious was the riding crop she seemed to be holding.
"I am miss, you can say I have an appointment with the headmaster. It's in regards to some preparations that need to be made." Naruto was no longer the rather childish sort he was before the war, it and his long time spent amongst the hunters aiding him in at least learning a few manners.
Glynda wasn't sure what to make of the man, he seemed cordial enough but his outfit and weapons smelled entirely of blood, more so in the presence of a faunus, whose noses were stronger than a human's. "And what sort of preparation could you wish to speak of with the headmaster?"
"The kind that involves the hunt of a witch." Glynda scowled but immediately pulled out her scroll, calling Ozpin.
Said man was in his office, going over the transcripts for beacon's newest crop of initiates, having gone over the files and even adding young miss Rose into the mix after her performance the previous night. To get a call from Glynda while she was out and about was both concerning and yet interesting, seeing as how the last time she did it he got in contact with Ruby. "Yes Glynda? Is something the matter again?"
"There's someone asking to see you headmaster, should I bring him to your office?" She sounded as stern as ever, Ozpin pictures the poor soul to piss her off next at this rate. He was curious about this guest, but if this was who the old man said could help, the risk was worth it.
"Please do Glynda, I have been waiting for someone to arrive in Vale, and if this gentleman is indeed our new arrival I'd like to have a chance to meet them." The call ended there as Glynda seemed to huff.
"Come with me, it seems Ozpin is determined to meet with you. Do keep your weapons holstered, I won't hesitate to defend myself or the school if needed." She spoke with a coldness that had Naruto remembering a few of the more stubborn people of his life.
—--
The ride over to Beacon was a short one, a roughly half hour trip on the flying ships they called bulkheads. It took a little getting used to as he could feel himself getting a little motion sick from the ride, imagine what someone like that could feel if they took a longer trip. Still, he found himself riding in the elevator up to the top of the central tower, fighting off the nerves that crept up from how many times he rode something similar to face another beast.
Glynda noticed his nerves and spoke with her ever present scowl. "Something the matter? I know meeting the headmaster of one of the four academies is stressful, but I assure you there's nothing to bulge nervous about."
"Trust me, it's more about how I've dealt with stress than anything. Usually, anything that's caused it doesn't stay alive for long." The elevator opened as he spoke, the young man walking forward and leaving a rather concerned and disturbed Glynda in his wake.
Ozpin was standing at the window behind his desk, looking down at the city as he heard footsteps approaching. With a turn he found the young man standing in front of him, a cane in hand as the headmaster had his usual pleasant smile. "Mister Uzumaki I presume? I've heard a lot about you from a mutual friend. I'm glad you decided to come to our corner of the world."
So Ozpin wanted to play the hiding game about his connection then? Alright, the former Shinobi in him could certainly appreciate a little double speak. "Thank you headmaster, I'm honored to receive your invitation. If we could speak like gentlemen about a certain witch?"
"Of course, Glynda, could you see about the campus for a moment? I assure you, there's no cause for concern with this young man.' She has moved to try and refute his words, looking very put off by being taken out of the conversation. She huffed away, glaring at the men as she entered the elevator and keeping it there as it closed.
"Oh she's going to be angry with you later, I could just feel the contempt as she was leaving." Naruto took his hat off, showing bat like ears in his hair. Specifically vampire bat ears.
"I didn't expect the old sage to send you like this. Your soul seems, twisted." Ozpin could see his eyes, ones that were forced to change, to kill to survive.
"Fighting in a world of eldritch abominations will do that to you. He claimed it was an accident but I don't feel anger towards the old man, it got me training, fighting for your life makes you strong or you end up dead." The words strongly reminded Ozpin of Raven Branwen, and if he recalled her daughter had applied to his school this year.
"Then I suppose the only thing you need is knowledge on what creatures you'll be dealing with. The creatures of Grimm are soulless, driven by a force of destruction. Sadly they don't leave bodies behind for us to dissect, only thing we know for sure is the source of them. The witch known as Salem."
Naruto sat and listened to his story, of how they met and what eventually drove her to the madness she was under, his first death. This caused the hunter to have a measure of sympathy for the old soul, no doubt the decades of living, of dying only to repeat the cycle so long with, as Naruto put it 'the world's longest and messiest divorce proceedings'. Not that Ozpin could refute such a thing, but appreciating the rather fresh take on it nonetheless.
Due to the number of students that Naruto saw he had, it was decided that perhaps he could aid in the teaching of these young minds, provided he proved himself skilled to Ozpin. A word of recommendation was nice, but seeing his actual skill was worth more to the old soul. This caused them both to step down to the arena for the combat class, Naruto placing his gun away as he readied his cane.
"You know, I should be flattered to see you using a similar weapon. Though the stench of blood on it must prove there's more to it, isn't there?" A flick had the cane extend, the black construct forged from his old staff felt familiar in Ozpin's hands.
A savage grin crossed Naruto's face as the weapon shifted, the cane splitting into a chain whip, a sound starting the conflict as the duo sparred.
Though to call it a spar was calling it lightly, each ended up a blur of movement as they clashed, the chain scraping against the hardened weapon, before being dropped and vanishing to mist as a large broadsword appeared from a similar mist.
It was this clash that Glynda and some of the other professors walked in on. Port looked fascinated by the skill they produced, Glynda having a sinking feeling in her gut when she saw that alot of the blows were aimed at maiming or even killing.
The duo were a blur to even the experienced huntsmen, Ozpin with some sort of time acceleration and Naruto using the quickening. Blades clashed again the metal cane, and a look that the professors were able to see on both combatants could only be described as joy. A savage joy that could only be found in the middle of battle.
And just as fast as they had seen the fighting happen, it stopped, both men seeing they had an audience to their bout. Ozpin seemed to straighten himself out, the old warrior replaced with the teacher as he smiled kindly. "I thank you for the exercise. We should do it again. I think I've been behind the desk a bit too long and don't get many chances to stretch these legs."
Naruto smiled as he tipped his hat, letting the others see his ears. "Any time headmaster, after all, we don't want you getting rusty dealing with paperwork."
Glynda was looking startled by how savage they could be one minute and yet talk like old friends the next. Oobleck shook her out of her thoughts as Ozpin spoke next. "In fact, there's a position here at beacon if you'd take it. You can aid Glynda in teaching combat. She will of course have a say over you due to seniority, but I think the two of you can get along."
This caused said blonde to scream out as the two men shook hands, the mechanical arm showing even through the fingerless gloves he wore.
The weeks went by rather fast, helping Glynda to prep for the new year as well as the initiation test, and soon came time for the new semester to begin. Naruto was curious of the new arrivals, so despite her words he went to watch the new arrivals coming off the bulkhead. Some of the girls were curious about him, his cloth covered face and hat leaving little to show of his face and giving that mystery vibe they seemed to like. Unbeknownst to them, as one of the upper class men tried to approach him he darted off, hearing what sounded like a bit of dust exploding in the courtyard.
The timid girl, one that had rabbit ears was surprised at his speed of running off, but she made note of the strange man and his weapons.
—--
Ruby Rose could not have started her first day at Beacon on a worse note. First, there was her sister riding with her to Beacon, expressing how proud she was for getting in. That was fine, but when Yang ditched her for her friends, not so much. This led her to spinning and knocking into some girl in white's luggage, making some of the cases fall open and bottles of dust spilling out. Said girl then went on a rather nasty tirade about her being careful, talking down to her as if she was a fool who didn't know any better. It was nice when the girl in black, someone who Ruby didn't get the name of intervened, but was already walking away when she tried to thank her.
"You seem a bit down in the dumps there young miss, anything I can do to help?" She looked up at the sound, seeing a man with an odd hat and clothes that looked a bit old fashioned but she wasn't going to judge, holding his hand out for her to take. She got a little flustered from embarrassment as she took his hand, feeling the metal against the skin of her hand as she was effortlessly picked up to her feet.
"Thanks, guess I'm just having a bad first day." She let out a rather nervous laugh, a familiar blonde boy walking up to them as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Suppose we both are huh?"
Ruby couldn't help but laugh as she saw him. "Weren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?"
Now it was jaune's time to look embarrassed as he looked away. "I'm just saying that motion sickness is a big problem okay!"
Naruto immediately knew who they both were, Jaune Arc, the boy he was curious why Ozpin allowed into the school despite his transcripts, and Ruby Rose, a young girl he personally let skip ahead to get in. Ozpin had allowed him to see the footage from the robbery the young girl helped to stop, and he was a bit impressed by what he saw. Not many could boast to wield a scythe that large and yet this girl was still handling it well. 'So these are the kinds of students I'm working with? I'll see if this Arc kid can step up to the challenge, it's good to have a blank slate. As for the girl, she needs to open up more. I wonder if the old man wanted me as a teacher's aid
to help connect with students. He is all about trying to keep humanity together, though with the growing issue of the White Fang it wouldn't help matters.'
The trio were walking and talking, Naruto keeping an eye on the time so they wouldn't be late to the orientation, hearing the two teens talking as Ruby saw the threaded cane at his hip, her curiosity piqued. "Can I ask, how did you make that? It looks so, old. Like something some of the older huntsmen and huntresses used to use."
Naruto hummed as he held it up to the sunlight, the grooves that showed the interlocking parts more visible without all the grime and caked blood stuck into it. "You could say it's a gift from a friend, he ran a workshop for people to make weapons used in hunting beasts. It's not the only one I have, this is just one of the more reasonable in my collection."
Ruby looked to be excited, her eyes looking over the interlocking parts as she took out Crescent Rose to show off, the large scythe seemingly light in her hands. Jaune for his sake looked surprised at the weapon, a simple sword and shield on his hip and the rather knight like armor he had helped fit the aesthetic. "That's amazing! You guys have both such cool weapons, I, well I have this." He took the sword out of it's sheathe, it expanding into a shield. "It just makes it smaller and easier to carry."
"But, wouldn't it weigh the same?" Ruby couldn't help the slight giggle to her tone as he responded "Yeah, it does."
"Buck up there Arc, think of it as a piece of weight training. You need to get used to your weapons, otherwise they'll fail you or you could lose your grip." The cane vanished into mist, his eyes glinting a shade of red that reminded the little reaper of her sister, before the mist formed into a large staff and a curved blade at his side. Then he surprised them both by combining them both together to make a rather brutal looking scythe, the looks on their faces were priceless to show off the Burial Blade, a weapon he earned from defeating Gerhman.
"That is, the coolest thing I have ever seen!" She immediately tacklehugged him as she looked over the blade. "I know my sweet baby crescent rose is a beautiful piece of work but this looks so cool! I can just see you taking down Grimm like no one's business!" The little reaper was actively climbing on him as he couldn't help but be amused.
"That it is, but your Rose is more impressive because you made it, I just make sure to take care of what I have after earning them. Besides, I saw how you took out those robbers, using the weight of the blade to act as a center of force to make up for your stature right?"
It was as if any anxiety had left her as the two started to talk combat and weaponry, Jaune following along as he tried to keep up, but things certainly went over his head.
—--
Yang was watching the crowd to see where her sister was, watching as a guy in an old time outfit walked in with her, the girl gushing over him before they separated, Ruby looking to get his scroll information that he provided before walking off. The little reaper seemed in her own head as Yang walked over, a teasing smirk on her face. "I leave you alone for an afternoon and you're already getting a guy's number? Guess I was worried over nothing. Should I warn dad about this?"
She immediately seemed to snap out of her trance, hiding her scroll away as she seemed to blush. "Don't you dare! You know how dad gets! And besides, you don't have room to talk after you ditched me and I exploded!"
Yang shrugged it off, a cocky grin still on her face. "Are you being sarcastic?"
"No! There was this mean girl that I fell over onto her luggage and she was yelling and I just wanted her to stop!" Ruby spoke faster until said girl walked over, her face still in the same scowl she had previously. "You! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was!? You could have blasted us off the cliff!"
Ruby jumped into her sister's arms, clinging to her in fright. "Oh my God you really exploded."
Naruto hummed as he watched the trio interacting, looking amused as he heard the clicking of heels. "Did you enjoy scouting the students?"
He didn't need to look back as he knew it was Glynda, Ozpin with her as they were getting ready for the speech. "I did, I have to admit, I can see great potential in miss Rose, though mister arc seems odd. As for miss Xiao long, I can see why Ruby idolizes her. I think she has what it takes to go far. Miss Schnee could do with an attitude adjustment though." Glynda scowled as she saw him staring at the three in question, an odd gleam in his eyes as if something was broiling beneath the surface.
Of course, how could one explain the capacity of a Great old one in a human form?
Ozpin merely kept his kind smile. "And it's that potential that I hope you can usher out of them. We'll need it when the time comes. As for your semblance, have you figured it out?"
"I have, I think it'll be useful, seeing as Yharnam changed me. My body may be here but I can pull things from that world, and I wonder how far I can push it." A ghostly mist seemed to take over his hand, causing it to flicker in and out.
Ozpin nodded, Glynda looking concerned as the headmaster stepped forward to give his speech, giving them a moment to talk. "I do hope you don't do anything reckless, I saw how you two were fighting, you looked ready to kill each other. I hope to stress that we won't be teaching the students to kill."
"Of course not, when it comes to humans I fight to incapacitate, Grimm you go all out for. That's what you've been teaching me after all. Though, it is hard not to go for a killing blow, thankfully Aura makes the people of this world far more durable than mine." He looked out to see Ozpin was finished, inviting him to step forward. He gave a wink out to the crowd, keeping his hat on but cloth down to a scarf around his neck as the blood red eyes and handsome face made a few of the girls swoon.
"We have here one of your professors that will aid in combat classes, perhaps you would like to give the students a speech of your own?" Ozpin had a coy smile as stepped back, leaving the hunter to stare out at the masses. 'oh I see, put me on the spot huh, okay. Dramatic it is.'
"Students, no doubt the dear headmaster has said, you're here to learn, but make no mistake, no amount of knowledge will help you if your body isn't up to snuff. I along with professor Goodwitch will do what we can to help you learn and hone the combat styles you've developed in your previous schools. To make sure you can fight and survive.' He pulled up his right sleeve, some of the students looking shocked at the prosthetic arm. 'To make sure that all of you can come back from a mission whole. So make sure to bring your a game in my classes. You can hate me for what will happen, but I assure you, you'll be thanking me one day."
A clapping started at the end of his speech, his dim light vision showing it was Ruby who started it as the crowd seemed to carry it forward. Yang kept glancing between her sister and the now revealed professor, a mischievous smile on her face at the potential blackmail material.
—--
"You know, I didn't think you'd hit up a teacher, that's bold sis, I'm proud of you!" Yang had changed into her sleepwear as the main hall was being made into a sleeping area for the students, their initiation tomorrow would help to sort them into teams.
Ruby for her part was writing something to her friends at Signal as she tried to hide her face. "I didn't know he was a teacher here, he seemed as young as us, or well you at least. We just got to talking, he's really nice."
"Uh huh, just let me know if he gets a little too forward with my baby sister. I'll knock some sense into him." Yang was looking around, wondering where the mysterious man was, the thoughts of the giant slumber party this had become was gone from her mind as some of the boys around them seemed to try and impress her by flexing, not that she was impressed.
Naruto watched from his position above them, his eyes gleaming in the darkening room as he noticed the girl in what looked to be a yukata reading a book, her bow twitching a little, almost enough to not be noticed as he caught on. "So, we've got a little kitten here? I wonder why she's hiding? Then again, with how people treat us faunus it's not too surprising." He watched as Ruby tried to talk to the girl, seeing how she seemed more introverted than expected, but the
conversation devolved into another near shouting match as Weiss entered it before the candle was blown out, leaving the room in darkness that only those of faunus eyes could see in.
Blake sighed as she went back to reading in the dark, thankful for her vision and the dark room giving the three loud girls a reason to back away. She only flipped to another page before getting a sense of someone looking at her as she looked up, seeing the young professor looking down from the rafters. She looked wide eyed as he had a cheeky smile on his face to mouth the words. 'Get some sleep kitten, you might need it.'
Blake silently closed the book, a bit embarrassed at getting caught, but also glad to see one of their kind was given a teaching position. It would certainly make the next day's events more interesting.
—--
The sun rose over the horizon as Naruto watched it from his spot on a roof, finding comfort in the rising sun. Being in the perpetual night of Yharnam made him appreciate it more. "You know, I didn't expect many early risers, how can I help you?" He glanced back, seeing the girl from the night before, Blake if he remembered her name.
"I had a few questions, if that's alright professor." She looked to be a bit nervous, no doubt due to the fact he knew her secret right off the bat.
"Of course it is, though we haven't gotten to the classroom just yet. You still have your initiation today after all. But there's a little time so I can at least accommodate a few questions." He kept his eyes towards the sunlight, his hat off to expose the ears.
Blake sat next to him on the ledge, glancing at his ears and his arm. "If I can ask, how were you injured? It wasn't because of being who we are, was it?" So, she wasn't hiding it then, good. He could indulge her.
Naruto hummed in thought, almost forgetting that as a faunus in this world, they were a 'we'. "That's rather difficult, in a way yes, but not really. I was injured in trying to bring a moron who lost his way back home. We disagreed heavily, but it was never about what I am."
Blake seemed saddened at the thought, memories of Adam coming to mind for her as she whispered. "Humans are cruel, aren't they? Is that why you're hiding your ears?"
"No, miss belladonna, that's not why. I'm hiding them because I want those down there to know that race won't matter. You can be the strongest faunus in the world, but still be seen as a weak animal. I want them to acknowledge strength, and then I'll show the ears."
Blake could see the logic, but was taken aback by his next question. "So, that's me, but what about you? Why hide the ears kitten?"
"You know why, if anyone sees these they'll jump to conclusions. We get treated like criminals, seen as lesser. I just want to be seen as a huntress." If she was flustered by the nickname she didn't show it, her eyes narrowing even as her bow twitched in aggravation.
Naruto sighed as he looked her way, the blood red eyes almost piercing through her soul. "And what if your soon to be teammates? You will be spending your time here, hell the rest of your lives with them if you're lucky. If you're going to hide what you are to them, something that important, they may wonder what else you're hiding. My advice? Whoever you partner with, be open and honest.' He got up from his seat, placing the hat back on. 'And if so, you may find that while humans are capable of cruelty, they are just as capable of being kind." He smiled as he patted her shoulder. "Think on it, you have to get ready for the trial today. And before you ask, I can't tell you what the test is. Where's the fun in that?"
Blake glanced out at the horizon, seeing the sun as she spoke. "I'll consider it, depending on who I,' She turned, seeing he was already gone, vanished into mist. 'He's strange, that's for sure."
—--
Ruby stretched as she woke up, heading to get ready as she had her energy up, the thought of combat helping to drive away her social anxiety. "No stupid socializing, just the beautiful sound of my scythe ready to show what I've got!" Truly, her spirits were high as she headed through the locker room, before coming face to face with Yang, still with her cocky smirk.
"Looking to impress aren't you sis? Is it because the professors might be watching? One in particular?" Ruby felt her throat tighten up as she nearly choked on her breath.
"Yang! I told you it's not like that!" Her cheeks were still burning, looking away from her sister as they passed by Weiss talking to a redhead, barely hearing the girl talking about team ups.
Pyrrha Nikos was busying herself by getting ready, attaching her armor as she checked her weapon, only giving the Schnee girl a passing thought as she went on about how they would be a good matchup, though the redhead already had a partner in mind. A certain blonde man she had seen in the hall last night wearing knight style armor.
He had seemed interesting, wondering what he had done to walk in with one of the professors, though none realized it at the time. Still, she would get her chance. "Honestly, I just think to let the chips fall where they may." She gave a polite smile, the object of her thoughts approaching them as he tried his best to be suave, irritating the girl in white but both amusing Pyrrha and being grateful that her fame didn't blind him like most did.
—--
Naruto stared out into the forest below the cliff, a nostalgic look at seeing it as students started to come up to the platforms. He knew Ozpin had a plan in regards for them but he saw ruby waving at him as she approached, standing on the platform. "Nervous about the upcoming test miss Rose?"
She shook her head as she seemed to bounce on her feet. "Nope! It's time I let my baby strut her stuff and show what I can do!"
Her energy was contagious as Naruto couldn't help but smirk. "Good, I expect to see that warrior that didn't hesitate in fighting."
Yang walked to the platform next to them, her eyebrow raised at seeing how much her sister was already opening up to the young professor, a slight tinge of red at the praise. "Got any other words of encouragement professor?"
Ruby pouted as Naruto chuckled. "I do miss Xiao long, I expect that all of you will fight your hardest. There's a lot of beasts in that forest and I'd hate to see any of you fall before you can reach your potential." He noticed that Blake and even Weiss were listening from their spots, the pair having contemplative looks to them.
Yang was surprised to hear sincerity in his voice, his eyes not betraying anything but honesty. This gave her a new respect for the man. "Alright, then I hope you watch us rock this test!"
Ozpin hid a smile behind his cup of hot chocolate, his cane in hand as Glynda started to talk about how the test would operate. "Each of you will be tasked with finding your partners upon landing, then make your way to the ruins in the northern end of the forest. Once there, you will retrieve one relic per pair and make your way back up the cliffs. Do this and you will be graded upon completion."
"Concerning team ups, they will be decided by the first person you make eye contact with once you reach the forest floor. How you reach the forest floor will depend on you." Naruto saw the look of panic on Ruby's face, Yang looking both confident and excited as the first person was launched by the spring loaded platform.
Jaune, looking more nervous than anything, raised a hand. "Um sir, were we given any parachutes or something?"
Ozpin shook his head. "No mister Arc, you will be using your own landing strategy to reach the forest floor."
Yang smirked to her sister, taking out a pair of sunglasses from, somewhere, putting them on before being launched with a cackling laugh. Ruby was launched moments later, getting an encouraging smile from the hunter as she was fired off, a determined gleam in her eyes.
Jaune tried to speak, a loud shriek following his launch as Ozpin merely sipped his mug.
"You know, I could have thought of so many different ways to get them down there, but that? That's just hilarious."
Glynda scowled at Naruto's words. "You know this is meant to be serious, don't you?"
"Oh I know very well, this is being made into a trial by fire. I wonder who will be paired with who." His eyes following the sisters as they arched over the forest, seeing Ruby landing by using the gun portion of her scythe to slow her descent, yang tanking through a few trees.
"You seem to be getting along with the students. It's good, you're close to their age but your strength puts you above them."
"One day they won't be students, but comrades in arms. If I kept a detached approach to it then they might feel they can't come to us with what bothers them. A teacher should support their students in any way they can." Glynda bit back a retort to his words, finding no fault in that logic, unaware that it came from a place of having to deal with poor teachers in the past. Naruto loved his teachers a great deal, but Kakashi wasn't the best example, and Jiraiya was well, himself.
—-
Ruby was starting to lose her patience with Weiss, the girl was stubborn to a fault and didn't want to acknowledge her own mistakes. She insisted on leading despite having no idea where the temple was, ignoring Ruby when she tried to tell her the direction she remembered from seeing it while in the air.
And the burning section of the forest behind them was a stark reminder of the sheer failure that was their first combat together. The girl even had the audacity to say that it was Ruby's fault, okay she did get in Weiss's way but still! She was grinding on the reaper's nerves, so much she barely heard her question. "So, you seem pretty chummy with the new professor, why is that? He didn't help you sneak your way in here did he? He seems the roguish type."
Ruby grit her teeth in frustration, honestly why was everyone so picky about it!? "No, he didn't, I got into Beacon because professor Ozpin invited me. I didn't even know that Naruto was a professor until the orientation. I just thought he was being a friendly guy. Maybe if you get to know people instead of assuming you wouldn't be such an ice queen."
Weiss looked a bit shocked, stopping in step as she scowled. "Well excuse me for trying to make the best of all this. I didn't expect to get paired up with some child!"
Ruby puffed her cheeks in aggravation, the thought of the professors watching far from her mind. "I earned my spot here! But at least I'm not pretending to be little miss perfect! What even was that back there!? You getting mad at me about being out of form!? News flash, this isn't a duel it's real life! There's no form, no conduct in a fight!"
Weiss bit back the next thing she was going to say, thoughts of her sister as someone else being one of the few to ever actually talk back to her. "I'm not perfect, not yet. But I'm still leagues better than you." She turned and walked away, feeling she said her peace only adding to Ruby's frustration, prompting her to cut a tree clean through to help blow off some steam.
Neither noticing a large black feather dropping to the ground near them.
—--
Yang was walking at a leisurely pace, having not encountered any Grimm yet and feeling a little bored of the calm scenery. "Hello? Anyone out there? I'm getting bored here!" Hearing a noise she looked to see if it was her sister. "Ruby?" It in fact was not. "Nope."
Bending back she dodged a claw, an Ursa charging through the trees as it came after her, more coming out to join their brother in the hunt as she started to punch at their larger bodies, her ember Celica barking with shotgun shots with each blow. She was enjoying the fight as she dodged another claw, grinning as she spoke. "What's wrong, you guys can't hit the broad side of a' She paused as she saw something floating down to the ground, one of her own hairs. She grit her teeth, clenching her fists as her anger boiled over. 'How dare you."
The Grimm looked to each other in confusion, before the lead one was attacked viciously. "YOU DAMN MONSTERS!" Her fists were a blur as she destroyed two of the three easily, her hair glowing, red eyes burning instead of their usual lilac. The third Ursa roared as if angered, standing on it's hind legs to challenge her. "What, you want some too?"
The Grimm's next roar was cut short as a black blade pierced the back of it's head, making it drop to the ground as she saw a ribbon pull it back towards Blake, the girl smirking as she stood on a tree branch.
"Nice shot, I could have taken it." Yang kept the same cocky smirk, looking up at the hidden faunus, the pair meeting eyes.
"I'm sure, come on, we need to get to those ruins. No doubt some of the others are already on their way." Blake gracefully landed on the forest floor, sheathing Gambol shroud behind her back as they started for the ruins.
It was a fair bit of silence before Yang started up a conversation. "I gotta say, that was pretty smooth back there. Can't say I've seen a weapon like that before, you from Mistral?"
Blake could hear an echo of the professor's words, 'Be open and honest.' with a sigh. "No, I'm, I'm from a place called menagerie. Ever hear of it?"
Yang seemed to think, the name sounding familiar as she started a train of thought. "Hang on, that's the place that's all faunus, right? If you're from there then,' She glanced up at Blake's head, seeing the bow as it twitched. 'That means you're a faunus too, right? What kind?"
Blake was internally feeling overjoyed to hear her new partner not judging right off the bat, taking off the bow to show the ears. "I've got cat features, like my mother does. You don't, you don't mind it?"
"Why would I? If you ask me, I think they look cute." Yang was looking towards the forest, not catching Blake turning beet red.
"T-thanks, listen, if you could keep it a secret? I'm trusting you with this because we need to work together." 'And I owe him a huge thank you, and an apology.'
"Sure, I can imagine there's some jackasses here that would have a problem. If they mess with you, I'll back you up." She punched on hand with her fist, a smirk still on her face as Blake nodded, rewrapping her ears back up to hide them with the bow as the ruins were in sight.
Neither noticed Naruto watching over them, a soft smile on his face as he was perched on a tree top. "See, if you let people in, they can surprise you. Though, I suppose I'm a hypocrite." He hopped off the branch, a pair of bat wings sprouting from his back as he flew off to check on the other teams. Though, he thought he heard a scream in the distance, a large nevermore flying around with what looked like a pair of familiar girls on it's back.
—--
Pyrrha wasn't wrong to think that jaune was odd, apparently no one had even thought teach him about aura, something most schools did early on to ensure development. Granted he had a lot of it so the bit she used to jump start his was easily dwarfed.
She did question his choice to step into a cave, thinking it was where the relic was, only to be proven wrong FAST as a Death stalker had made it's home in the cave. Now though? Jaune was flung off into the distance, leaving her to run from the large Grimm.
Glynda scowled as she was watching the footage from her scroll, glancing at Ozpin. "Was it really wise to let him go off on his own? We aren't supposed to aid the students in any way. What if he gets caught?"
"There's no reason to worry, I have faith that he knows what he's doing. Besides, he's still figuring out what he can do, and this could be a good test." Ozpin sipped his mug, watching
different teams, the interaction between Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren were some of the last teams to be paired together. "I don't know why you have such distrust Glynda. And I would hope it's not due to his faunus nature."
If the woman looked offended, she certainly didn't show it. "Not in the slightest. If anything it's because we don't know where he's from, he's not on any record in any of the other kingdoms. He just shows up one day and you have him join the staff with no credentials?"
"I asked a capable fighter to join our ranks because we could use his help and expertise. Now I had hoped the time preparing for the semester would have given you two time to try and hash out this mistrust." Ozpin was doing his best to focus on the teams and their test, Glynda still having a mistrustful gaze.
"You can't be serious about what he's told us, it all sounds too good to be true. Other worlds, his semblance, it just sounds crazy." Let it be known that Glynda Goodwitch was always a stubborn one.
"And before I told you about the maidens and everything else, you would have thought I was crazy, wouldn't you?"
"The difference being you can prove that they exist, he can't. I'm sorry headmaster but I will be keeping a close eye on him, to make sure he doesn't cause trouble."
The duo fell into a silence, only the breeze giving any sound as Ozpin watched the test continue.
—--
Yang and Blake were one of the first of their group to arrive, though some of the relics had been taken, likely by other teams. They seemed to be chess pieces, each on little pedestals of their own. "Which one should we take?"
"Don't know what the difference is, why not a cute little pony?" In her hand was one of the knight pieces, a matching one still on the pedestal, showing it wasn't claimed yet.
"Sure, I wonder where everyone else is." Blake couldn't help but glance around, hearing a scream up in the air as she saw a nevermore, with what looked to be Ruby and Weiss holding onto it. "Is that your sister?"
Yang took a look up at where she was pointing, her eyes wide at the reckless action. "I'd love to know how they got on it in the first place, but yeah, that's her. Looks like she got stuck with the princess."
Blake thought to correct her like she did her sister, but figured it wasn't worth the effort, a shout getting closer as Ruby seemed to have jumped off the nevermore and was heading their way. At the same time Jaune was being tossed by the Deathstalker, and the two met midair in a circumstance that would be wild to calculate the odds. Blake cringed at the impact of the two against a tree, thankfully the younger girl wasn't hurt with Jaune barely feeling it from how dense his aura was at protecting him.
Weiss was screaming something from on top the nevermore, the growing group watching in odd fascination as she jumped off, Jaune moving to catch her.
At the same time, an Ursa charged into the clearing, an energetic Nora riding it and giving it shocks for 'motivation'. Ren was behind her, panting as he didn't seem to be one for stamina.
"Nora, don't ever do that again." He seemed to struggle with catching his breath, no doubt from having to chase the now vanishing Ursa and the wild girl that rode it. However she was already at the ruins, grabbing one of the rook pieces.
"I'm Queen of the Castle! I'm Queen of the Castle!" She was bouncing around, a shout from Ren had her smirking as she skipped back his way. "Coming Ren!"
The growing insanity seemed to be grinding on Yang's nerves, the sight of Pyrrha running in and being slapped in their direction by the giant Grimm wasn't a vote of confidence.
"I've had it! Can everyone just please hold it for five seconds before something else crazy happens!" The ticking of a clock seemed to stop before everything went into motion at once, Ruby hugging onto her sister, startling her.
"I found you! Do you have any idea what I was dealing with!?" Yang looked a bit surprised at her usually calm and even cheerful sister.
Weiss was brushing herself off, unknowingly heading for the relics and reaching for a knight piece, the matching one to what yang took. She held it up as the Grimm seemed to circle around. "We don't need to stick around, let's grab what we came here for and just go."
"Live to fight another day? That's something I can get behind." Jaune went for the rook piece, matching what Nora took.
A loud screech came from the nevermore above them, it turning around as it started towards the group, the Deathstalker in pursuit as they started to make it for a ruin near the cliffs.
Some like Pyrrha were trying to shoot and run, the thick bone of the Deathstalker's armor making it difficult for the rounds to get through, but the weight of the creature had started to crack the small bridge they were on, forcing the teams to split up. Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang
to face the nevermore. Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha and Ren to handle the Deathstalker and push it back onto solid earth.
Nora had a rather interesting idea as the group splintered off, Jaune wasn't sure if the cracking bridge would be stable enough for him to get a cross, so she unveiled her warhammer, magenhield. With a powerful slam Jaune got launched to the solid ground, a press of the trigger bidding the gun portion to fire, it being a grenade launcher. The added propulsion gave her a bigger slam, but the large Grimm stopped her cold with it's large pinchers, making her launch upward and go for another slam. Jaune saw that the stinger of the creature was on a weakened nerve, the piece swaying more.
"Pyrrha! Go for the tail! Nora, wait for my signal! Ren, distract it!"
The three others followed his direction, Pyrrha aiming her rifle at the tail to help weaken the tendon before tossing her shield to cut through it. The weight of it piercing the creature as it turned to flail, failing to hit Ren.
Jaune held out his shield, Nora taking that as the signal to launch herself high into the sky with a look of pure joy on her face. She thought she saw something watching them before gravity took hold, bringing her down onto the Deathstalker, her hammer nailing the stinger, it piercing the creature's skull and right through the 'brain'.
The creature started to disintegrate on death, leaving the teens to witness their friend's battle.
—--
The aerial Grimm was rather annoying to the four, but they proved to be more mobile then expected. Blake was using her ribbon to sling around, Yang grabbing her partner's hand and leaping towards it's beak. She caught it mid screech, it trying to snap it's beak down to devour her only for her to hold it open with one hand. The other hand punching blast down it's throat.
On the ground ruby and Weiss were working on firing from a distance, the creature moving too much for them to get a proper shot off. Ruby then looked to their surroundings. "Hang on, I think I have an idea, Blake!"
Said girl dropped down to them as Ruby discussed her plan, yang keeping the bird distracted.
"I have to admit, of all the wild things I've seen." Naruto smirked as he watched them put the plan together, Blake having her ribbon become a giant slingshot between the two pillars, Ruby holding onto her scythe with weiss holding her in place. Yang, seeing them getting ready blasted the creature in the eyes, making it crash into the cliff face. This gave them the chance to fire, ruby using the end of her scythe as a hook under the Grimm's neck. Weiss spread glyphs up the wall, ruby firing her scythe to help push the large bird up the cliff, dragging it until she reached the top. With one final pull, the nevermore lost it's head, the body dissolving as it fell.
—--
As the groups reached the cliff, Yang couldn't help but tease her sister. "I'm so proud of you! I wonder how many of the professors were watching that?" Her cocky grin showing just which one they were referring to, leading the little reaper to be flustered and smack her sister.
"Shut up! I already told you it's not like that!" Her red face did nothing but get a chuckle out of her sister, Weiss stepping forward and looking a bit unsure.
"Ruby, listen, about how I was before, I'm sorry. I know I'm not the most, agreeable. I can be bossy, I can be strict. At first I thought you were just trying to show off. But you proved that you're capable enough to be here. I mean, I'd have to be dense to think otherwise with how that turned out."
"Weiss, I never wanted to show off, I just wanted to prove I could do this. I know I'm younger than everyone else here, and that just means I have more to prove."
Weiss had a soft smile on her face, thinking of her own sister. "Honestly, you've more than done that, now come on, we need to head back for the ceremony."
Nora was ahead of them, already looking as excited as she seemed to be, like a walking battery of energy. Ren was the opposite, the teen looking close to shutting down from lack of stamina. Pyrrha seemed to be talking to Jaune, giving the blonde a few tips but overall praising him for his quick thinking.
Ozpin closed his scroll as they heard the beating of wings, adjusting his glasses as Naruto dropped down behind him. "I suppose getting a look through the screen wouldn't have sufficed? I take it you weren't caught, even with the new, additions?"
"In a forest like this? No chance, I was raised in a village near the trees, stealth in terrain like this is easy for me." 'Sure as hell did in those poison swamps, damned snake-headed freaks.' His expression was that of a coy smile, hiding his bad memory of the swamp. "I'll admit I had my reservations about the Schnee girl, but I think she's starting to shape up."
"Shape up? Her combat skills were what got her into Beacon in the first place." Glynda looked between the two men.
"Her fighting is just fine, a little stiff, no more like rigid. Like she doesn't want to compromise herself, or that she can't. Oh yes, little heiress has something to prove." He looked out into the distance, a grin on his face.
"I suppose that will be something you can look into, maybe help push them into the right directions. Now we should get ready for the ceremony. I have my choices for the captains." He picked up his cane, leading Glynda and Naruto to follow back to the main campus.
—--
"Jaune arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren, the four of you collected the white rook pieces. As such, the four of you shall be called team JNPR led by jaune arc." Said boy looked stunned, looking to Pyrrha as if expecting her to be chosen. Ozpin gave a gentle smile. "You earned it son."
Nora was vibrating with excitement, hugging her new leader, Ren helping to usher them off stage so the next team can take their place.
"Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake belladonna, and Yang Xiao long. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces, and as such, you will be team RWBY, lead by, Ruby Rose." Yang immediately hugged her, even pulling a more meek Blake into the group hug as Weiss looked a bit off, a look of veiled shock on her face. Naruto watched them and gave ruby an approving nod and smile, her flushed with embarrassment from yang.
Ozpin watched the group in curiosity, muttering to himself. "Looks like things are going to be interesting this year."
'I swear Ozpin, why did that sound like a jinx?'
—--
Darkvizardking69: And here we have it, next time we're going to be dealing with the early school days and even get into volume 2. Yes, the first couple volumes are short and animation is a bit, dated, but gets better as it goes.
And if people are wondering, the vampire bat ears and wings are in fact due to his time in Yharnam, all that blood drinking had an effect on him. It was going to be a fox/bat hybrid but that wouldn't mesh well, so I went full vampire bat. Hell, that place could change anyone. If you went through Bloodborne, I don't need to explain.
As for pairings, that's going to be pushed back a bit as I finalize some things. I have an idea and if I want this to go full team or not, we'll see. I know some ships are Canon and I won't mess with that, but it's fun to tease and mess with things.
Hell, I might do something crazy later but that's all I'll say about this for now. Though one thing I will say even now, I'm not going to do Ironwood dirty, nah, that was just messed up. I liked volume 8 for everything involving Salem, but that? Oh boy atlas has no idea what's coming.
Until next time!