A/N: So here's chapter 3. I feel like this one came out well, but constructive criticism is always welcome. I don't have much to say here, but there'll be more of an author's note at the bottom. Enjoy~
There's a poll for Naruto's semblance on my profile that was posted as of 2023/04/24
xXx
The sun had already set by the time he left the Library. The soft orange glow in the skyline indicated twilight, and that complete darkness was not far off. As he walked further into the city, he was again beside himself at how vibrant the nightlife seemed to be. People walked and chatted freely, restaurants and shops remained open, and the neon glow of bars and clubs drew the eye of many onlookers. In Konoha, sunset indicated the end of the day for most civilians, with the exception of a few choice vendors. His thoughts drifted to Ichiraku Ramen, and he was again reminded of his most precious food. Maybe tomorrow, he'd come back to the library and research food. Perhaps then he'd be able to track down the location of a ramen shop. Seriously, it didn't even have to be good ramen.
His stomach growled angrily. Right. He hadn't eaten today. He didn't have much money left, perhaps enough for a few convenience store meals, if they even had those here. Maybe he'd just go to bed early. That way, he could just sleep away his hunger. No, he probably shouldn't do that. He hadn't eaten anything today, so sleep for dinner wasn't how he should treat his body.
How frustrating. He was tired and hungry, and his head hurt from all the reading. Maybe he'd gone a bit overboard today. To top it off, his training had been completely neglected for the past two days. What a drag.
Naruto rounded the next corner, intent on finding the nearest convenience store. If he was lucky, he might even find a cheap dive restaurant. Kami, he really needed to figure out a solution to his financial problem. He really didn't want to rely on stealing to get by.
A shrill scream interrupted his thoughts.
Seriously? Again? Just how many times was this going to happen?
Naruto took off in the direction of the shout. The city was large and difficult to navigate, but the cry was close. Very close. There was another scarp scream, tone heavy with fear. It cut off abruptly, but it was enough for him to pinpoint its origin. Naruto became acutely aware that he'd entered the city's seedier side. Everything seemed less maintained, from the roads to the buildings, and few people lingered on the streets. Those that were present seemed perpetually tense. They had to have heard the scream, yet they did nothing.
He turned sharply into a dark alleyway. Naruto scoffed. How cliche. He stopped at the scene before him, his eyes widening. It was more than he'd been expecting. Before him were six individuals. His eyes were immediately drawn to the lone woman of the group, who was sprawled on the dirty ground. She was blonde, her hair a shade lighter than his own. On top of her head was a large pair of canine ears. Naruto assumed they'd typically be standing straight out based on their shape, but they were tucked flat to her scalp for the time being. She wore the sky-blue uniform of a waitress. The outfit was a one-piece embroidered with frilly white fabric. It was short-sleeved, had a large collar, and ended in a skirt which reached the top of her knees. Under the neckline were four large white buttons, the top two of which had been torn off.
Naruto was drawn to her eyes. They were heavy, half-lidded in misery. They lacked the fire of rebellion or the panicked resistance he had expected. Instead, they looked empty, almost accepting. He noticed what must have been the woman's purse off to the side, discarded and clearly picked through.
Planted firmly over the woman's mouth was the thick hand of one of her assailants, who was kneeling on top of her. Naruto panned his vision across the five men in the alley. They were wholly unremarkable. They were all large, a collection of thick muscle and little substance. Scars, tattoos, and an assortment of dark outfits denoting their individual tastes and personalities ironically blended into a stereotypical thug-like look. Truthfully, Naruto didn't really wish to make any further observations about the men. He knew exactly what they were doing. To him, they were less than trash. Less than human. It made doing what he was about to do easier.
The man closest to the front of the alley had apparently been on watch duty as he immediately noticed Naruot's arrival. "You better keep walking lad, if you know what's good for you." His comment immediately grabbed the attention of his fellows. The woman didn't look up, likely expecting him to follow the man's advice.
"You need to stop and leave," Naruto replied. "If you know what's good for you," he added.
"Oh-ho? A tough guy, are we?" the man guffawed. The rest of the men, even the one holding down the woman, either stood up or turned to face him. The thug closed the distance between them and glowered down at him. "Last chance, kid." To the man's credit, he had every reason to be confident. It was five-on-one, and even the shortest of the group stood a full head taller than Naruto. "Walk away," the man growled his last warning.
Unfortunately for the man, Naruto had only intended to give them one chance. And they had already ignored it. So instead, with blinding speed, Naruto grabbed the front of the man's white tank top. Before the man could comprehend what was happening, Naruto pulled him downwards, delivering a vicious headbutt to the bridge of his nose. A sickening crack sounded out, and Naruto released the man. He stumbled backwards towards his friends, clutching his now pulverized nose.
Holy hell. It was true; no one wins in a headbutt.
Naruto's skull rang, but he pushed the discomfort aside. It was nothing compared to his opponent's pain. Blood flowed freely from the man's nose, overflowing from his cupped hands and painting the front of his shirt and the street below him. "What the fuck!" the man screamed in rage, his voice distorted due to the blockage of his nasal cavity.
"Oh, now you've really fucked up kid!" came the furious cry of one of the other thugs. Naruto slowly stepped into the alley, allowing the four remaining goons to surround him. He smiled at their confidence. There was something immensely satisfying when overconfident assholes were humbled. And Naruto was ready to humble.
The first man came at him head-on, lunging with a closed fist. His balance and footing were terrible; he likely relied on throwing his weight around. It probably would have worked well for him in a typical street fight. Naruto stepped to the side, allowing the punch to pass by him without issue. A slight push to the man's back as he moved past him was enough to send the criminal careening into the ground as his balance was lost.
The next man stepped in and threw a wild haymaker. Naruto batted the fist aside, sending a two-finger jab to the man's exposed throat. The man's eyes bulged as his throat temporarily sealed shut. He staggered back in a surprised panic, coughing and desperate to refill his lungs.
Naruto turned as the next two men attacked simultaneously. The one on his left attempted a low kick, aiming at his thigh. Naruto raised his knee and blocked, catching the man's foot on his shin. At the same time, Naruto caught his other assailant's strait punch aimed at his face. The three stood there for a fraction of a second, bodies locked together. The surprise on the men's faces at his easy defence was overwritten by fear as Naruto countered. He rotated sharply, twisting his body and throwing the one man whose fist he caught. While in rotation, he switched to his opposite foot, his now free leg snapping up in a brutal axe kick to the other man. The result was one man being tossed into a pile of garbage bins while the other was smashed head-first into the ground.
Naruto laughed. These were the men who believed they could take whatever they wanted? What, because they were larger? So far, the only damage he had received had been self-inflicted.
Their dance continued.
It remained that way for a few minutes. The men took turns sending flurries of attacks at him, only to be blocked, dodged or countered. Eventually, they took the hint and began attacking more consistently in pairs or as a group. Even that did them no good as Naruto continued to glide around them, delivering his own light jabs. He could have ended the fight earlier, but he was feeling particularly vindictive at the moment. Naruto hated bullies on a normal day, but what these men were and what they had planned to do was beyond reprehensible to him. A little five-fingered therapy would do him some good.
Eventually, either the men began to tire or were too fed up with their lack of results. One man pulled a wicked-looking dagger from behind his back, brandishing it in a challenge. Two others stepped back, grabbing improvised weapons of their own. One scooped up a 2x4 plank of wood while the other fished a half-rusted pipe from the ground. They raised their weapons defensively. The last man in the fight turned and ran. Upon closer observation, Naruto realized he was making a break for their victim from earlier. The woman was still on the ground, frozen in fear.
What scum. Maybe he could try something out? "You know, this whole time, I've been outnumbered. That doesn't seem very fair, does it?" Naruto raised both hands, middle and index fingers forming a cross.
The man with the dagger growled at him. "Shut the fuck up kid!"
Wow. Pissy.
With a surge of chakra, two identical copies of himself puffed into existence. He'd wanted to practice with his Kage Bunshin a lot earlier, but by the time he realized it was becoming increasingly feasible, he'd already linked up with Amber and Qrow. Due to their presence, he wanted to be much more discreet in his training, which meant no Kage Bunshin.
Now, however, he was fucking angry. Perhaps it was because he was tired, hungry, and not thinking straight. Whatever the reason, he'd reflect on it later. Right now, kicking the asses of a bunch of low-life scum and using his all-time favourite jutsu made him happy. And he really needed to be happy right now.
The men before him certainly didn't like what he had just done. "What the hell?" the one holding the pipe screeched while stepping back. "Is this kid a huntsman?"
All three Naruto's frowned as they looked at the man. He was eating pavement first.
His first clone surged forward toward the men. They took another step backwards in preparation, but needn't have bothered, as they were not its target. The clone lept over the three and dashed to intercept the fourth man, who had slowed his pace towards the terrified Faunus upon hearing the cry of 'huntsman.'
That left Naruto in a two-on-three fight. Another fun idea popped into Naruto's head. With another surge of chakra and puff of smoke, a fourth Naruto entered the world, evening the battlefield again. Now it was time for the men to brace themselves as all three Narutos charged.
The original Naruto took the man with the dagger, pulling out a single chakra knife and meeting the man halfway. From there, they traded a series of blows. The man was evidently much more skilled with a knife than with fists, as he displayed an impressive amount of dexterity that was unseen up until now. Naruto smiled. This was nice. His body was almost on the verge of producing adrenaline. The man shouted and grunted, sweat pouring from his body as he exerted himself to the brink of his limits. Naruto met each strike with one of his own. He almost felt bad for the man, but this was proving to be the most effective training with his chakra blades he had found since getting the things.
Eventually, his eyes wandered to the other battles. The man with the pipe was swinging wildly, treating the weapon as more of a baseball bat. Clearly, he didn't have the same skill level with his improvised weapon as his knife-wielding friend did. The clone fighting him was dodging and weaving the whole time, never returning an attack or capitalizing on the glaring openings presented to it. Naruto smirked knowingly.
The other fight was going similarly, except in this case, the clone seemingly had no reservations about exploiting its opponent's openings. A brutal uppercut to the man's chin drove the point home. Naruto cringed at the sound of teeth smashing against teeth. He'd be surprised if the man didn't shatter half his teeth from that one.
Oh. He wasn't getting up. That was probably for the best.
Looking at the final battle, Naruto was surprised to see his last clone sitting comfortably on top of its fallen opponent. That was fast. The clone was sitting on the downed man's back, chatting away with the terrified Faunus girl. Well, the clone was chatting. The woman remained silent. While still clearly afraid, she looked at the clone with bewilderment, her shoulders slightly less tense than before. That was sweet of the clone to try and cheer her up. Or was it sweet of him? He'd have to sift through the clone's memories after it dispelled. He really wanted to know what had happened. He hoped it wasn't anything weird.
"Pay attention to me, you fucking freak!"
Naruto ducked the swing of a particularly fast swipe. Whoops. How very Kakashi of him. He supposed he should probably end things now. He caught the man's dagger in the rivets of his trench knife, locking the man's blade in place. Naruto grinned, then channelled a small amount of wind chakra into his blade. Instantly, his chakra knife glowed blue and sliced through his opponent's dagger, throwing the man off balance. The man stumbled forward and met Naruto's free hand halfway. His fist impacted the man's face, forcing him back and lifting him off the ground. He didn't get back up.
Well... a bit anti-climactic. Regardless, Naruto was pleased. He'd accomplished a lot in this 'fight.' His Kage Bunshin was a complete success. He got to practice using his chakra blades, his wind manipulation looked good, he'd saved a woman from a nasty fate, and...
He looked to the only fight still going on. The man with the pipe took a large overhead swing with his weapon. Instead of dodging, as it had been up until now, the clone stood still. Perhaps not believing his luck, the man doubled down and increased his force. As the pipe came down, instead of cracking open the duplicate's skull, it passed cleanly through. The copy of Naruto, now revealed to be a simple Bunshin, fizzled out of existence. The man's weapon continued, striking the ground with its full momentum. A metallic clang rang out, and the pipe rebounded off the ground, hitting its owner in the face.
The man was instantly out cold, collapsing heavily onto the floor. The other Kage Bunshin, who had been fighting the man with the wooden plank, had been sneaking behind the pipe-wielder in an attempt to discreetly end the fight. With the man's self-knock out, the clone was left gaping in surprise.
It burst out laughing, followed by the clone sitting with the Faunus girl. Naruto bit his tongue and held his breath. That was really damn funny. But he was better than his clones. He was the original. Mature. A refined fighter. Eventually, the laughter that had been bubbling dissipated. Instead, he was filled with a feeling of satisfaction.
He could make Bunshins. While only impressive from an academy student's perspective, Naruto had never been able to make a successful Bunshin. Before now, his chakra had simply been too massive. It was too difficult to control the tiny amount needed. It was the silver lining in his situation, less chakra but more control. Plus, the Bunshin jutsu had a lot of applications. Despite being an academy-level technique, it was what had ultimately bested Orochimaru during his fight with the Sandaime Hokage, allowing the older man to seal away the snake's arms. If Naruto could incorporate the Bunshin into his repertoire, well... the possibilities could be a lot of fun. Maybe he could mix them with his Kage Bunshin to keep his opponents guessing which target was tangible, costing them either a hit or a loss of balance if they guessed wrong.
He was getting ahead of himself. Helping the woman didn't stop there.
Naruto made his way toward the woman. Upon seeing the last of her assaulters defeated, she had risen from her seated position. "Are you ok, ma'am?" His tone was careful and laced with compassion.
"Y-yeah. I think so." The tremble in her voice indicated otherwise. "They wanted money... but I don't have much of that..."
She didn't have to explain herself.
"When they found nothing, they made it clear they'd 'settle' for something else..."
Naruto stopped her. "It's alright. You don't have to say anything more," he said carefully.
The woman's eyes began to well up with tears. "Why didn't I fight back harder?"
Kami. Naruto didn't know what to say. He didn't have much experience when dealing with victims. "They would have killed you," he offered a possible explanation. The women said nothing in return. "If you want, I can walk you to a hospital. Or maybe the authorities if you want."
"I think I really just need to get home. My son's waiting for me," the Faunus woman muttered. Naruto said nothing, but the lump in his throat had swelled to the point of being painful.
Suddenly, a new pain was felt. It was a sharp pinch to his side. Naruto blinked in confusion. Looking down to his right, he spotted a blade handle buried into his side, right where his kidney was.
What the fuck? How had he not seen or heard that coming?
From his peripherals, he spotted the hint of an invisible outline accompanied by a distortion in the air. It was similar to Jiraiya's Tōton Jutsu, which had been used to spy on bathhouses across the Elemental Nations. Hayate Gekkō was also said to have been adept at using a similar jutsu, the Meisaigakure.
A lightbulb went off. The fifth assailant. The one whose nose Naruto had shattered. Thinking back, the man disappeared shortly after Naruto started fighting the rest of his goons. He'd assumed the man had run away. How had he done it? Was this the work of a semblance? If so, that meant the man had an unlocked Aura.
Naruto absolutely could not believe it. After all the shit he thought regarding arrogance and humility, he fell into the same trap. How embarrassing. The shame he felt burned hotter than the knife would ever could.
A bark of laughter sounded, and the camouflaged man reappeared, crouched by Naruto's side. His hand was off the dagger, and a look of satisfaction coloured his face. The Faunus girl screamed and staggered back at the sudden reveal, then whimpered upon noticing Naruto's injury.
Good lord. Thankfully there were very few witnesses. He could not begin to overstate his humiliation. He'd gotten cocky and careless, blinded by the feelings brought upon by how powerful he felt fighting these men. The knife wound should have probably bothered him more.
"You think you're tough shit because you beat a few Aura-less nobodies? Think again punk," the man began to gloat.
Oh, Kami.
"Do you have any idea who I am?" that man questioned with a look of contempt.
Oh, he did not just say that.
"I bet you don't. If you did, you wouldn't have picked this fight," the man sneered.
Yeah, no. Naruto wasn't in the mood for this.
"Not that it matters now. Once you bleed out, I'm going to-" The man was interrupted by a brilliant cerulean blue orb shoved into his chest. The man screamed in pain. Naruto held it there for a fraction of a second, much shorter than he would have if he had been facing an enemy shinobi. He cut his chakra flow, and the Rasengan dissipated. The man was blasted backwards, impacting against the brick wall. Naruto grinned.
He looked at his outstretched hand. That had been his first attempt at a Rasengan since the war. He'd only recently mastered the technique, finally performing it one-handed in his fight against Obito. He was surprised he could conjure one without using his clones this time around. Better control, indeed. On the other hand, he was dangerously low on chakra now. It seemed he'd reached his limit.
The man groaned as his body fell from the wall into a pile of trash. How poetic. Naruto was working off the assumption that Aura could protect the man from enough damage to spare his life. He was glad to see he was right.
Speaking of Aura, why the hell had his not protected him? Was the shield provided more of an active skill? He'd always assumed it would protect him passively, but clearly, that wasn't the case. During his spars with Qrow, his Aura had absorbed a fair few hits, although admittedly, he had been fully expecting them. This would mark the first surprise hit he'd taken. If the wielder needed to know a hit was coming for the shield to work, then Aura wielders as a whole were highly vulnerable to assassination and surprise strikes. It was something to look into later.
He had other problems to deal with now.
As if things couldn't get any worse, a wall of ice sprung up between him and the Faunus woman, seemingly summoned from a glowing seal on the ground.
"Turn and face me, pervert." came the angry shout of a girl.
Fuck.
xXx
Weiss Schnee fancied herself many things. Intelligent, hard-working, assertive, and responsible, to name but a few. But right now, the most important thing she could call herself was free.
She had left Atlas two days ago, intending to stay in Vale for a week before the start of the school year. It really had been a clever move on her part. All it took was a small suggestion to her father that arriving early would help her build her reputation in Vale and subsequently increase the reputation of the Schnee name. While her father may not have approved of her decision to become a huntress, he certainly approved of networking.
She had no intention of networking for the company.
Though most people would scoff at the idea, Weiss fancied herself to be a bit of a rebel. Her whole life had been laid out before her, with barely an inch of wiggle room. While her options were limited, she revolted in what few ways she could. Her asymmetrical ponytail. The scar over her eye that she refused to cover up with makeup. Perhaps most scandalous was that she chose to wear her combat skirt half an inch shorter than what was expected of a lady. It was a combat skirt. It didn't have to be ladylike. These small acts of rebellion may have been negligible to the average person, even laughable. But to her father, and the pseudo-nobility of Atlas, it spoke volumes.
Speaking of her father, Jacques Schnee loathed the idea of his daughter becoming a huntress. How satisfying it was that it would be happening twice. The only reason she had been 'allowed' was because she assured him she had no intention of joining the Atlesian Specialists like her dear sister Winter. Perhaps another reason why her father had approved her request?
Even then, she had to fight tooth and nail for the opportunity. Her father had thrown every challenge he could think of at her. Any obstacle he could imagine just to prevent her from achieving her dream. It had started out with Training Knights, clumsy and inattentive things. They were better suited for sparring with children. She had assumed it would be easy from there, yet to her surprise, the tests had culminated in a damn Arma Gigas. While that one was admittedly more challenging, it too, eventually fell. Though she now wore a permanent reminder not to underestimate her father.
She had arrived the night before, booking the first available four-star hotel for the week. What could she say? She wanted to keep a lower profile. Eventually, she became bored after being cooped up for the entire day. She had spent most of the day pre-studying for classes, which only left her restless in the evening. As she couldn't very well practice her combat in the hotel room, she decided to go for a walk to stretch her legs.
She had the mind to grab her weapon, Myrtenaster. The Multi Action Dust Rapier gave her a sense of comfort, its familiar weight on her hip a constant reassurance. She was currently walking down a random street in downtown Vale. She had no destination in mind, a rarity, as she much preferred planning her excursions, no matter how insignificant.
The night was warm, and the sky was clear. Vale's climate was much warmer than Atlas', something she hadn't decided whether or not she liked. One thing she appreciated was the relative lack of clouds. Atlas was almost always in a state of rain or snow, but Vale seemed to have neither. It must have been the dry season. The open skies meant more stars, and she really did adore the stars.
That wasn't to say she didn't miss Atlas. There were certainly aspects of her home that she had already come to long for. The food for one. Vale's cuisine was palatable but couldn't quite compare to Atlas'. The shopping was another thing. Everything was just so... cheap. To anyone else, that would be a good thing. But for Weiss, it made her uneasy. As if the items being sold were of lower quality. Did that make her vain? Probably.
Perhaps what she enjoyed most about the city was her relative anonymity. Sure, a few shop vendors recognized her as a Schnee, but most people on the streets had not. She could walk the city in peace without worrying about being scrutinized under a lens at her every move.
Weiss was mid-stride when she was alerted to trouble by a piercing cry. She briefly entertained the idea that it was nothing. A bout of unease took hold of her at the thought. Is that what a huntress would think? Her body was already moving before she could finish the question. She dashed through the streets in search of the shout's origin. After a few seconds, she idly realized that she had entered the poorer district of the city. Not quite a slum, but the buildings were more densely packed, were of lower quality, and the Faunus to Human ratio had tipped in the former's favour.
It only assured her that her choice to act was the correct one. She stopped at the mouth of an alley sandwiched between two low-rise apartment buildings. Weiss frowned. Of course. Taking a tentative step into the passage, she was greeted with a sight that made he blood boil. Her eyes zeroed in on two individuals. The one facing her was an attractive blonde woman. Her canine ears were flat to her head, and a look of panic was on her face. The other individual was a man. His blond hair was a shade darker than the woman's, and he appeared to be confronting her. So, likely not a friend. Aside from that, Weiss couldn't identify much else about him. Although, if the look of fear on the woman's face and the state of her clothes were any indication, Weiss didn't have to think hard about what was happening. Her blood began to boil, and she saw red.
Disgusting. Deplorable. Degenerate. Another 'D' word. She spun the chamber on Myrtenaster, settling on ice dust. She readied her blade, intent on sending a flurry of projectiles at the man. Before she could, she paused. No. The first thing to do was to separate the victim from her attacker. The last thing she wanted was to impale the woman. In fact, it was a good thing she took the time to pause, as she realized that she didn't have any information on the man. If she struck now without confirming that he had an active Aura, she could very easily kill him. While a darker part of her wondered if that would be so bad, she knew she wasn't a murderer.
Instead, she pooled her Aura, calling upon her semblance. A white glyph materialized between the man and woman, birthing a thick wall of ice that spread several feet in either direction. She didn't have to make it big, only large enough to grab the man's attention and to ensure some small amount of protection for the girl in case the coming fight turned out to be more than she anticipated.
As the wall fully materialized, she addressed the man. "Turn and face me, pervert."
The man froze and uttered a soft expletive. He followed her instruction, slowly turning to face her. Weiss wasn't exactly sure what to expect when she finally saw him, but it certainly wasn't this. He was a boy, roughly her age, if she had to guess. His blond locks were messy, spiking out in random directions. Ocean blue eyes stared into her own icy pair, and curiously, he had three horizontal birthmarks on each cheek, reminiscent of whiskers. She was almost tempted to believe he was a Faunus, but she knew better. Whiskers were not a known Faunus trait. Ears, tails, scales, and even fur, but not a pair of whiskers. They were most definitely birthmarks. He was of average height for a boy his age, which meant he dwarfed her. His clothes were worn-down, bordering on ratty. He wore a black jacket with bright orange sides, pants the same obnoxious orange, and black open-toe sandals. On his forehead was a metal plate tied in place by a black headband. A strange symbol was engraved on it.
Weiss blinked. His outfit was strange, but the boy seemed relatively normal. She had been expecting someone much more malicious-looking. Perhaps dark and empty eyes, bulging muscles, and various tattoos. Was she profiling? Probably.
"Look, I think there's been a misunderstanding." The boy raised his hands in surrender.
Weiss was immediately drawn to the small amount of blood staining his palms. She scowled at him. She raised Myrtenaster in response. "Don't you dare try to lie your way out of this, you cur," she spat at him coldly. The boy's eyes widened at her hostility. She took several slow steps towards him, rapier poised to impale his chest. He shifted, clearly uncomfortable, but surprisingly didn't move against her. Good. He understood his place.
"No, no, you've got it all wrong! I came here to help her!" His cry was desperate, but the proclamation only annoyed her further.
"From what? Because between you and me, I don't see anyone else here." She couldn't believe his audacity. Help her? Was she really supposed to believe that?
The boy's jaw dropped, and his eyes shifted to several spots behind her. "You can't be serious? You walked right past three of them!" He gestured towards her, likely trying to indicate the area behind her.
Weiss scoffed. A pathetic attempt to distract her. As if she would ever fall for it. She let him know as much.
The boy's eyes hardened. There it was. The moment of realization that he couldn't fool her. By now, the distance between them was gone. Myrtenaster was inches away from his neck. It wouldn't take much, and they both knew it.
"I'm telling you the truth. There were a bunch of guys assaulting the girl, and I beat the shit out of them." His voice was even, and a scowl had formed on his face.
Weiss glowered at him. Such language. She leaned forward, holding Myrtenaster steady. "I. Don't. Believe. You."
He was likely expecting her response. He caught her off guard by slowly shuffling forward, pressing the tip of her blade into his own throat. "Then what will you do? Kill me?" His tone was calm, if not cold. Weiss was surprised. Based on what she had caught him doing, she knew he was dangerous, but she didn't realize he was insane.
She smiled a nasty smile at him. "Probably not. I'll just knock you out and call the police. It shouldn't be too difficult, dealing with a ruffian such as yourself."
"Before you try, I'd like to make a suggestion," the boy stated mischievously. She didn't like that tone. She tensed, ready to pull back Myrtenaster and deliver a non-lethal blow. And then he smiled, "why don't we ask the lady?"
What?
"U-uhm. E-excuse me? Miss?" came a small voice to her side. Weiss instinctively looked towards it and was greeted by the Faunus woman from earlier. "H-he's telling the truth. He s-saved me."
What?
Weiss looked back to the blond and immediately noticed that the cold demeanour he wore was gone. It had been replaced by a nervous smile. She looked to Myrtenaster. The tip of the blade was still touching his neck, the skin tensing inwards. It would only take a couple of millimetres.
She drew the blade back, eyes widening all the while. She unconsciously took a few steps backwards and screeched, "you! You... you... moron! What is wrong with you?" The orange idiot simply threw his head back and laughed. It was deep, filled with genuine mirth. He laughed like she hadn't been a millimetre away from skewering his throat. He really was insane.
"Why didn't you say something!" came her frenzied question.
After a few more moments, his laughter died down. "You can't be serious? I tried to tell you like three times!" came his indignant reply.
It had been four. Best not to remind him.
Weiss chanced a look behind her. Just as he'd said, three men were sprawled on the ground in various states of injury. The rising and falling of their chests indicated they were still alive. Good. At least the blond had some level of restraint. That didn't stop the flush of embarrassment she felt as she realized that not only had she ignored his truthful statement, but she had utterly failed to fully assess the situation before acting.
"Now that you're not trying to kill me, do you mind telling me what the hell your problem is?" He asked with a frown. Oh dear. It seems he was mad at her. Admittedly, he had every right to be. He had just saved a woman from a terrible fate and was rewarded with someone else threatening and blaming him for the crime. She should fix this.
"Excuse me? How dare you speak to me like that!" Weiss shot back venomously.
Damn her pride. If only he didn't have such a poor attitude. She didn't much like his tone.
"You heard me!" He barked back. "You came out of nowhere, meaning you had all the time you needed to assess the situation." he crossed his arms. "Or are you too hot-headed to do that properly?"
How dare he?
She blushed scarlet; fury and shame battled for dominance. He was talking down to her. She hated that. She also hated that he was right. "Don't talk down to me!" It was all that she could think to say. "I'm not so simple-minded," she added for good measure. The fire in his eyes was still there but had lessened somewhat.
"E-excuse me, sir?"
Right! The girl! She still needed help. Weiss was still angry, but her own temper had begun to diminish. She was always like that, hot to the touch but quick to cool. Being angry was exhausting. Regardless, they needed to contact the police or an ambulance. Probably both.
"Your injury looks bad," came the Faunus girl's worried observation.
Injury?
The blond boy was now looking down, examining what appeared to be the hilt of a dagger protruding from his side.
Oh god.
"Yeah, it's in there pretty deep," the blond mumbled, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the injury or too stupid to comprehend it. He reached for the blade. "It's alright. Once I take it out, it'll start healing," he said while smiling at the dog faunus.
"You've got to be joking!" Weiss screamed as she grabbed his wrist. Was he seriously about to pull it out here and now? He looked at her with confusion. She scowled at him, "I understand that you're quite insane, but this is a severe injury. Even if you have Aura, you need to be in a hospital."
The boy's face twisted into a cross between fear and anger. "Absolutely not!" he yelled back. There is no way I'm going to a hospital."
"Why," she whispered, unable to comprehend the boy before her. "Why would you not want to go to a hospital for this? This is life-threatening!" She couldn't believe it. Even if someone had a fear of hospitals, no sane person would turn down life-saving care.
"The hell it is! I heal pretty damn fast!" He argued back. He froze momentarily, then mumbled, "at least I used to."
Weiss didn't know what was with the sudden epiphany, but she capitalized on his apparent hesitation to argue further. "Looks like your neurons are finally coming back online." Maybe he was going into shock. If that was the case, some humour might do him some good while she contacted an ambulance.
"I don't even know what that means," the blond replied with an annoyed frown.
Weiss rolled her eyes while fishing out her scroll. "I am absolutely not surprised."
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm calling an ambulance to take you to the hospital. Then I'm calling the police for them," she answered while gesturing to the thugs on the ground. How was it not obvious? The boy's hands clamped down on hers, preventing her from dialling. "Unhand me at once, you reprobate! I'm trying to help you!"
"Stop using big words! Also, no ambulances."
Big words? Seriously? She hadn't even begun to dip her toes into the depths of her lexicon. If he thought... No, she was getting sidetracked.
"You're getting an ambulance, you dunce. You need to go to a hospital," she informed him with finality.
"Why is this so important to you?" he groaned.
"Because you have a serious injury, and I'm able to help. Isn't that enough?" It was a good question, spoken honestly. Whatever his response was, it died in his throat.
"Okay, I'll go to the hospital, but no ambulance. Please," the boy practically begged. Was he really going to be so stubborn? What a pain.
"Fine," she relented. "But I'm still contacting the police for these degenerates," she replied, staring daggers at the goons.
Weiss glanced towards the blonde woman as she quietly interjected, "I-I really need to get home to my son. And I don't think I can talk to the police right now." The woman looked down upon admitting this.
Of course.
"That's fine. Crimes of this nature can be reported anonymously. If you ever feel ready to step forward, don't hesitate to contact the authorities," Weiss replied softly. She had been taught as much by her family's butler, Klein. The man had spent more time than her own father teaching her the basics of becoming a young woman. She missed him.
The faunus nodded, then bowed deeply to the boy. "Thank you so much for saving me. I'll never forget this." Her tone was honest and contained more emotion than Weiss had seen the woman display until this point. The boy looked highly uncomfortable at the woman's thanks. He scratched the back of his head and mummed out an acknowledgement. The woman walked past the pair and turned out of the alley. Weiss genuinely hoped for the best for the woman. Hopefully, she could speak to the right people.
"Welp," the young man said, his tone annoyingly casual. "I guess I better get going." he began making his way out of the alley, turning left onto the street.
Weiss frowned. "The hospital is in the other direction," she duly informed him.
He paused, then turned around, walking in the direction she was pointing. "Right. Of course, it is. I just got a little turned around."
Weiss sighed. He wasn't going to the hospital unless she forced him to. She really wasn't in the mood to read tomorrow's paper and find out some dumb teenager was stabbed to death. God, this wasn't how her night was supposed to go.
Pumping her legs, she quickly caught up to him and matched his stride. She pulled out her scroll and began dialling the emergency number for the police.
"What are you doing?" came the confused voice of the young man beside her.
"I'm calling the police, as I said I would earlier," she replied matter of factly. "Or did you already forget?" Her eyes remained on the road ahead, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Not that. Why are you walking with me?" He questioned flatly.
How rude.
"I'm accompanying you to the hospital, of course," she replied, her tone equally flat.
He laughed anxiously, "y-you don't need to do that. I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble." She could hear the nervousness in his voice.
"It's no trouble. You don't know where the hospital is, I take it?" She replied with faux cheeriness.
"Well..." the blond mumbled.
She interrupted him before he could think of a suitable excuse. "Plus, if you pass out from blood loss or pain, I can drag your sorry self there." She chirped. "Or, at the very least, correct you if you get lost," she added sharply.
He groaned in response. The noise brought a genuine smile to her lips.
It struck her then that she didn't even know his name. That wouldn't do. She couldn't just keep referring to him as 'the boy' or 'the blond guy.'
"I'm Weiss, by the way. Weiss Schnee."
"Naruto Uzumaki. It's nice to meet you, I guess."
Weiss' brow furrowed in confusion. Why did he say it like that?
xXx
The next 10 minutes of walking were spent in relative silence. Naruto was feeling distinctly uncomfortable because of it. It was a shame the girl, Weiss, had insisted on accompanying him to the hospital. It's like she knew he was never planning on actually checking in.
He'd been upset with her at first. She'd been rude to him, insulted him, and threatened to attack him. But there was a kindness to her that lurked underneath the prickly exterior. Because, after all, she'd only been there to help the woman in the alley in the first place. It was the same reason he'd been there. She'd insisted on getting help for him when she learned of his injury. Even now, she was taking the time out of her evening to ensure he got the help she thought he needed. That's not typically what a bad person would do.
But still, Weiss was arrogant and prideful. Naruto mentally shrugged. How many arrogant and prideful people had he befriended throughout his years? Sasuke. Kiba. Neji... yet he'd die for any one of them, and they for him. Some already had.
The pain in his side was worsening. Maybe it would have been a bad idea to remove the blade.
Best not to mention that to Weiss.
His thoughts were interrupted by the girl in white, "I'm surprised you managed to take on three armed men on your own," she commented off-handedly.
"It was five," he corrected her with a grin.
"Even more impressive then," she added with raised eyebrows. Was that praise? "Especially from someone without an active Aura."
Say what?
"Hey! I've got Aura, ya know?" Came his disgruntled reply.
"Really?" She seemed surprised. She looked him up and down, "how did that blade get through then? Aside from the stab wound, you don't seem much worse for wear."
Naruto flushed in embarrassment. "The bastard snuck up on me," he responded reluctantly. Weiss 'tsked,' likely at his choice of words. She'd mentioned his language once already. Plus, she looked like the kind of girl who'd get hung up on something so simple.
"And how exactly did that happen? Did someone get a little too overconfident?" There was a ghost of playfulness in her tone.
Was she teasing him or insulting him? Did she even see a difference between the two?
"He used his semblance to go invisible! That's totally cheating," Naruto pouted.
"What!" She shouted in alarm. Naruto flinched in surprise, aggravating his side even further. "You're saying that one of those hooligans had an active Aura and a semblance?"
"Yes?" He answered her with confusion. What was the big deal? The two of them had active Auras.
"Did he get away? Or was he one of the men on the ground?"
"Of course he didn't get away!" As if he would have let the man run.
Weiss cast an appraising eye over him, "so you beat him?"
Was she pulling out her scroll again?
"Yes I beat him! He's currently lying in a pile of trash. Why's this such a big deal? And why are you on your scroll?" Naruto was confused. Why all the sudden interest?
Weiss smirked when he mentioned the man had been sent to the trash pile. "Non-huntsman Aura users are quite rare. And almost all are required to register in some way," she informed him with a smile. "Odds are that your assailant is on that registry. And if he isn't, he'll wish he was. The law doesn't look kindly upon those who use their Aura to commit crimes. More so than the average criminal."
Huh. Good to know. Would he have to register someday? Weiss finished dialling the number, presumably to the police. She began detailing the information regarding the Aura-wielding thug. Naruto chimed in when necessary to provide details she didn't have. A physical description, a deeper assessment of the man's semblance, and anything else the authorities required. This must have been a big deal.
While she spoke, Naruto took a long look at the girl. He hadn't had the time to do so earlier; he'd been preoccupied. He didn't want to admit it, but she was beautiful. Long snow-white hair held in a side ponytail, crystal-blue eyes, and flawless porcelain skin. Her features were almost aristocratic. Perfectly applied make-up, not too light, not too heavy. She had a small celestial nose and held an aura of elegance. The only flaw he could spot on her was a recent scar over her left eye, though it had already begun to fade. Even that fit her image. Her outfit was attractive. She wore a white thigh-length strapless dress, the hem of which was stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over this, she wore a bell-sleeved bolero lined in red with a ruffled collar. Her wedged-heeled boots were white and also lined in red.
It definitely wasn't hard to appreciate her beauty. Too bad she had such a piss-poor attitude.
Eventually, the call ended, and after a few moments, Weiss addressed him. "I really do have to say; It's impressive that you managed to defeat five men, one of which could use his semblance, and still protect the girl."
That was definitely praise. Naruto was sure of it.
"Maybe you do have a modicum of skill," she mused while cupping her chin in thought.
Okay, this was getting weird.
"Although you did get stabbed."
There it was.
Naruto puffed out his chest, ignoring the pain his wound caused him. "Please, this is nothing. I've had worse," he assured her. The look she returned to him was decidedly unimpressed. Naruto hoped he didn't look as bad as he felt.
"I'm not impressed by your bravado," Weiss chided.
"Who's trying to impress?" He defended, annoyance clear in his voice.
"Please," she stuck out her hand. "I've already acknowledged you. There's no need to pretend this is anything more than you trying to curry favour with me."
What a pretentious girl.
"Why the hell would I want your favour?"
The white-clad girl crossed her arms. "I've seen it before countless times. Brutes like you flash a bit of muscle and show off what little prestige they think they may have, all in an attempt to curry favour towards me because of my family name.
Her family name? What the hell? Was she some kind of royalty? It was oddly fitting, based on her personality and appearance. Dear Kami, she was acting like a bloody Uchiha. A white-clad female Sasuke.
"I don't know who the hell you are, lady." He snapped at her. Weiss seemed surprised at his admission. Whatever she had planned to say next died in her throat as her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.
What was with that reaction? Were she and her family really so well known? Had he inadvertently pissed off one of the most powerful people in the city?
"You're serious?" She asked. "Schnee. As in the Schnee Dust Company? The largest producers of Dust in the world?" Her tone was confused and had lost some of its haughtiness.
The way she referred to Dust made it clear that she was speaking of something more than just dirt that needed to be swept up. What it actually was, Naruto had no idea, so he took a gamble. "I uh... live pretty far away from the Kingdoms. Dust is made locally."
She didn't immediately dismiss his claim, which was good. Looks like he needed to research even more in the coming few days.
"I suppose that's possible..." the girl mumbled. "You really aren't familiar with my family name?" She sounded conflicted.
Naruto sighed. "Look. In the village I'm from, we're clan-oriented. That means a lot of powerful people with big names and lots of influence. And I'll tell you one thing." Weiss tilted her head at his hanging statement. "I never once gave a damn."
It was true. Hyūga, Uchiha, Aburame or Nara, Naruto had pranked them all. Sure, he recognized that they were important. He just didn't care. Hell, half of his graduating class were the damn clan heirs. But that never dissuaded him from treating them like any other individual.
"You might come from an influential family, but don't think for a second that it means anything to me. I'll judge you based on your own merits. And that goes for anyone," Naruto stated with finality. Maybe this would come to bite him in the ass, but if nothing else, he'd stand by his principles.
Surprisingly, Weiss was silent. She wore a look of deep contemplation. Maybe this was a good thing? Or perhaps she was plotting creative ways to make his life hell. He'd just have to wait and see. With any luck, once they reached the hospital, this would be the last time he ever saw her.
Speaking of the hospital... their walk seemed to be at an end, as they were currently standing outside of a large multistory building. The front sign read: Vale General Hospital. It was about time. His side was killing him. He just needed to see Weiss off at the front door. Then he could get out of here. Maybe lay down for a while.
He was disappointed when the petite girl beside him sighed, then grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into the front entrance. It was like she didn't trust him. While pulling him towards the front counter, he idly noted that her small hand couldn't even fully wrap around his wrist. He also noticed, with a small amount of embarrassment, that they were very soft.
When the triage clerk was alerted to his medical condition, namely the dagger currently lodged in his side, the woman quickly retreated into the back, likely to retrieve a doctor. This meant that his and Weiss' time was rapidly approaching its end. He felt oddly disagreeable to the prospect. There was no way in hell that he'd admit it, but the girl was certainly entertaining. She was cold one moment, then warm the next.
That was a lie. She was mostly cold, but there was warmness in her. Probably.
Their arguments had been fun. Similar to his and Sasuke's, but without the history. Is that what he was missing? Someone to trade jabs with? When was the last time he had that? Amber was a different case, more of a sisterly bond. Qrow was... Qrow. Weiss felt different.
"Well, there you have it. Nice and safe at the hospital. You can leave if you want," he informed her. It was probably for the best. They wouldn't be seeing each other again.
"Right..." she replied.
She hadn't said much after their last batch of conversation. He wondered what she was thinking.
"Listen, Naruto," she started.
Oh? She remembered his name. That was surprising, considering how she only seemed to think of herself. "I'm sorry for being rude earlier. When I first confronted you." Naruto's eyebrows rose in interest. Rude was certainly one way to phrase her behaviour. "What you did, it was a good thing." That was a bit obvious. He wouldn't say that, though; this seemed difficult for her. She probably wasn't used to apologizing.
What an honour.
"I... shouldn't have assumed the worst of you. And... yeah," the ashen-hair girl trailed off lamely. You know what? He'd take it. It was already more than he expected.
"I appreciate that," Naruto replied. "And I appreciate you spending your evening getting me to the hospital." He knew, in theory, that what she was doing was an act of kindness. Too bad it was a damned hospital.
Before either party could say more, an older woman dressed in the garb of a doctor rushed into the waiting room, several nurses pushing a stretcher behind her. Damn. It would be more difficult to make his escape now. At this rate, he may actually have to stay the night.
The clinical staff ushered him onto the stretcher, all while the doctor poked and prodded at the area surrounding the wound. Naruto grimaced at the discomfort. As they began to wheel him away, he turned back to Weiss and offered her one last toothy smile. With a final wave of his hand, he was through the doors to the Emergency Department.
xXx
The clinical staff had initially been concerned with how to remove his jacket without pulling out the knife. After having several x-rays taken, he'd overheard that his kidney had, in fact, been pierced. Damn. That was lethal if not treated properly. Without Kurama's healing boost... Maybe he owed Weiss a little more than he initially thought.
He was alone now, which was odd. The last of the staff had been summoned out of the room, much to their apparent confusion and frustration. At least he had some time to think. He really, really didn't want to stay in this place. But at the same time, he didn't want to cause his body irreparable damage by refusing care.
Wasn't Aura supposed to increase its user's recovery significantly? Yes... yes it did. Maybe that, in conjunction with his Uzumaki longevity, would make up the difference. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. Just in case, he adopted a meditative position on the bed. He'd still been unable to contact Kurama, but he knew his friend still resided in the seal. Maybe if he stopped focusing on his friend and instead focused on his friend's chakra, or at least a specific aspect of his chakra, he could...
Naruto's eyes snapped open. He could detect the most minuscule trace of demonic chakra swirling in his core. It felt different from before. It wasn't filtered. It was raw, pure, and angry. It was like from when he was a kid. Corrosive and corrupting. But it was there. That decided it.
He gripped the dagger's hilt quickly and, without hesitation, pulled hard. It slid out cleanly but painfully. Once out, he tossed the bloody knife to the side. It clattered loudly on the ground. Naruto paid it no further thought as he was already back into his meditation.
When he was younger, healing with Kurama's chakra had been an automatic response when his body suffered too much damage. Later, it was dictated by his rage. As he grew older and more experienced, he was slowly able to harness that power. By the time he and Kurama had become friends, he could use that chakra to heal others, let alone himself. In the end, all it came down to was concentration and control.
So he concentrated.
It was difficult. When he wasn't immediately met with results, he was unbothered. When a few minutes passed, he became concerned. Just before he was about to shout out for help, he felt it. The burning in his side was overtaken by a much more familiar burn. It hurt, but the rapid regeneration of his cells always did. He let go of his concentration. At this point, the process was automatic. Self-sustaining until the job was done.
Naruto was ecstatic. He knew Kurama was still there, and now he had definitive proof. It was only a matter of time until they could re-commune. He couldn't help but let out an audible cheer.
His celebration was interrupted by the entrance of an unfamiliar man and woman. Naruto stopped, eyeing them in interest. They didn't seem to be medical staff.
The man was middle-aged, as indicated by his unkempt silver hair and experienced brown eyes. He had a fair complexion and sharp facial features. Most noticeable was his height. He was tall, standing at six and a half feet. He wore small shaded spectacles, an open black suit over a dark green buttoned vest, a lighter green shirt, and dark-green pants. In his hand was a peculiar black cane, its purpose clearly more than just that of mobility. The handle was almost reminiscent of Qrow's sword.
The woman was just shy of middle-aged, likely in her mid-30s. Her hair was platinum-blonde and tied back in a bun. Her eyes were a bright emerald green and covered by thin eyeglasses. Her white long-sleeved, pleated top flared at the wrists. Her lower body was covered by a black high-waisted pencil skirt and black stockings. On her feet were knee-high black boots with two-inch heels, and a purple and black cape finished the ensemble.
Honestly, he had no idea what to think of them. Were they not aware that he was technically still experiencing a medical emergency? The man eyed him with interest while the woman blatantly regarded him with suspicion. What was her problem?
"Hello, young man," The bespeckled man greeted neutrally. Naruto said nothing. The woman shifted uncomfortably, her eyes furrowing in disapproval. The man continued unperturbed, "my name is Ozpin. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
Naruto shook his head negatively. That was a lie. Ozpin was a strange name, and this man was pretty distinct. Based on his memory, this was Aber's 'mentor.' While Naruto trusted Amber, she hadn't spoken the most highly of Ozpin in their travels. She made it clear she didn't dislike him, but what was clear was that she was becoming fed up with the man. Plus, the man was giving him weird vibes.
The man, Ozpin, smiled knowingly. "Of course not. I am the Headmaster of Beacon academy. I presume you've at least heard of that?"
This time, Naruto nodded, then addressed the man. "What do you want?" Naruto didn't like where this was going. Either two things were happening. He was about to be poached for the man's school, or this would involve Amber and what little secrets she revealed to him.
The blonde woman growled at his apparent disrespect. Ozpin raised a hand in her direction. "Glynda, please," he softly chided. He turned to address Naruto, "this is Beacon's Deputy Headmistress, Glynda Goodwitch," he said while gesturing towards her. "You'll have to forgive her. Between you and me, she's a bit of a stickler for formality."
Glynda sighed at his comment, then adjusted her glasses. Naruto's expression remained neutral.
"And you're not?" he questioned the older man.
"I wouldn't say so, no." Came the man's casual response.
Naruto eyed the man's cane and sharp business attire. "Right..." he muttered. "I'll say it again, what exactly do you want? Did you forget where we are? I'm here for medical treatment." Naruto gave the room around them a broad gesture.
"And what a spectacular recovery you've made," Ozpin replied while eyeing the discarded dagger on the ground. "The doctors truly do fine work, do they not?"
Naruto winced. The man was toying with him.
"Would you mind telling me your name?"
Naruto sighed. The green-clad man almost definitely already knew, and they both knew it. "Naruto Uzumaki."
As expected, the man nodded as if he was confirming information he already had. "I'm here, Mister Uzumaki, because I want you to join my school as a student."
The man really went and said it. With barely any foreplay. Naruto had suspected the man's motive but wasn't expecting him to cut to the chase so quickly. "Not interested," Naruto shot back automatically.
"I figured you'd say that," Ozpin said while nodding. "Which is why I'm offering you a deal. A very attractive deal, I would imagine."
"You have nothing I want, old man."
Glynda bristled at his comment but managed to reign in her temper. Ozpin smiled, almost nostalgically, then paused for a moment. "Tell me, Mister Uzumaki, where are you currently staying in Vale?" Ozpin asked.
Naruto frowned. He'd been doing that a lot today. "Around," came his simple answer.
"Of course. And, if you wouldn't mind answering, how is your financial situation? Vale can be quite expensive. We wouldn't want you running out of money, would we?"
Naruto was starting to see where this was going. "I have enough. I can always get a job if I start running out."
"Yes, I suppose you could. Though, do keep in mind that any job in the Kingdoms would require a form of government-issued identification. But you knew that of course."
He did not know that.
"I know that."
Naruto thought about his words for a few moments, then groaned. "Just say what you're trying to say. My head hurts way too much for whatever this is," Naruto waved his hand loosely.
Ozpin offered a small smile. "Attend my school, and in return, you will have access to free room and board, a small monthly stipend, and the best education possible when it comes to surviving in the world. I assure you, Beacon is host to one of the most comprehensive libraries in all the Kingdoms."
Naruto noticed the man's interesting choice of words. He said 'surviving in the world,' not 'killing Grimm' or 'huntsman training.' And if his statement about Beacon being the best collection of knowledge was true, he would probably have an easier time there than at the public library. There was just one problem.
"I'm not willing to commit years of my life to your school," Naruto answered him. He had a world to return to, and even if the answers lay in the school's vast library, he couldn't waste years waiting around.
"One month," the older man simply stated.
"What?"
"Attend my school for one month. If you still feel that way after the month is up, you're free to leave with no repercussions," Ozpin replied confidently.
Apparently, he hadn't discussed his strategy with his Deputy Headmistress, as she immediately surged forward, putting herself into the man's view, "you cannot be serious!" she questioned her superior. "Ozpin, what you're offering is-"
"Glynda, please. I understand your frustration. I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier, but please trust my judgment. We can talk more about this later," he interrupted her with a soothing voice. It had the desired effect as the woman bit her tongue, falling back in line.
To be fair, Naruto agreed with the woman. What the man was offering was absurd. It in no way benefitted the man or his school. So why make the offer? Frankly, it was suspicious.
"Why risk so many resources just to get me to attend your school? Why me?" Naruto questioned. He wasn't sure what kind of response he'd get.
"Do you know what I see when I look at you, Mister Uzumaki?"
Naruto shook his head. The man shouldn't see anything. He shouldn't know anything about him. He shouldn't, but he did.
"I see so much potential. I see a man who knows how to do the right thing and isn't afraid to act. Whether that's saving a remote village that he has no ties to or promising to protect a newfound friend from incalculable dangers. You have the ability to do great things."
This man had been watching him for a long time. Possibly since he arrived. It made him uneasy.
"There is much evil in the world, Mister Uzumaki. Not all of it Grimm in nature."
That was foreboding. Surely he meant the people of the world, right? He'd already seen that tonight. It seemed Ozpin wasn't finished as he continued,
"I don't need the world's strongest, or fastest, or bravest. I just need good people. That's what I see in you. Because, after all, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. And you strike me as a man of action. Am I wrong?"
Damn. What a finisher.
Naruto thought heavily about the Hadmaster's offer. Free room and board would be a lifesaver. And he could probably negotiate the amount of his monthly stipend, for the essentials, of course. Access to beacon's library may prove crucial to his return home. Plus, it was a combat school, so maybe it wouldn't be completely boring. Naruto chuckled. Maybe the speech had worked. Maybe he'd come to regret it in the morning.
"One month?"
The grey-haired man nodded. "One month and a promise. I want you to promise me you'll try to be a good student. Just make an effort in your studies, and try to get along with your team," Ozpin said while reaching out his hand.
Naruto had a lot of trepidation. The man knew a lot more than he should. He'd been spying on him. He clearly had ulterior motives. But then again, didn't he as well? Despite everything, Amber trusted Ozpin, and there was honesty in his words. Naruto was absolutely certain that Ozpin believed everything he said in his speech.
Oh, what the hell?
Naruto reached out, clasping the man's hand in his.
"I promise."
The bespeckled man smiled and withdrew his hand. "Excellent. You know, Beacon's chefs make the most delicious ramen. Perhaps I'll have a bowl when I return. You're free to request one as well when you join the school body next week.
Well shit.
xXx
"Was that really wise?" came the critical voice of Glynda as she marched alongside Ozpin. They were leaving the hospital, their business currently concluded.
"I should think so," Ozpin replied. He was currently sifting through the file of the boy he had just recently recruited to his school. He brushed past the first paper, the details of which were measurements of an energy spike that was unprecedented in all of Remnant's history.
"What if he leaves after the month?" Glynda questioned him. The next sheet of paper was a record of several first-person testaments coming from the town of Redgold, which had just recently survived a small grim incursion.
"He won't," Ozpin replied confidently. He thumbed across the following form, a transcription of his most recent debriefing with Qrow Branwen. And quite a lengthy and interesting debrief it was.
"How can you be sure?" Glynda followed up. The two professors entered a waiting car, which would take them to the Bullhead terminal and, from there, back to Beacon.
Ozpin paused at the final batch of forms in the boy's file. Several screenshots from what appeared to be a security camera. It depicted the boy in question, Naruto, in several different states of combat. In one image, his blade was through another man's dagger. In the next, three identical copies of the blond engaged several men in battle. The final and most interesting image was of Nauro holding what appeared to be a cerulean ball of energy. He was driving it into another assailant who had managed to stab the young man.
"Call it... intuition," Ozpin smiled.
Glynda's eyes widened marginally.
xXx
A/N: The fight scene was fun to write. There's a tiniest taste of overpowered Naruto (but not really). Unfortunately, for those who advocated for OP Naruto, that'll be the extent of it.
Weiss. I thought she came to Beacon directly from Atlas in a separate airship for some reason, but I didn't see anything in episode 1 to support that. Works for me because that means I can work with her a bit earlier than initially intended. She's about as fun to write as I was hoping she'd be. So very. She's very fun to write.
In regards to the pairing, it's going to stay Weiss. Don't get me wrong, Blake, Yang, Ruby, they're all phenomenal pairings and they're all compelling partners in their own ways. You definitely don't need to argue your case, because I probably agree with you. Between you and me, my personal top three pairings are Weiss, Blake, and Pyrrha. But for this story, I'm deciding on Weiss, it's just what I've always envisioned. Plus, she's definitely the least utilized of the popular pairings, so this one's for all the holdouts.
Anyways, the next chapter's being worked on. You may start to notice the chapters getting shorter. That's not due to time restrictions or lack of material on my end but because I want to improve the pacing.
There's a poll for Naruto's semblance on my profile that was posted as of 2023/04/24