A/N: So here's chapter 4. Thanks, everyone, for the kind replies last chapter. There was a bit of dissent regarding some character development, which is a bit of a shame since I was really happy with it. But it's alright; you can't please everyone.
Also, an important point: I'm sorry if the last fight implied Naruto was fighting seriously. He wasn't. He was limit testing, meaning he wanted to test his abilities in a 'controlled' environment without simply wiping the floor with everyone in one go, which he easily could have. I should have been more clear on that. In turn, he became slightly arrogant/complacent in the fight. He was toying with his opponents and learned the hard way that even in a chakra-less world, bouts of arrogance can cost you dearly. And yes, Naruto was being arrogant. I know it's not his defining trait, but just like in real life, just because someone isn't known to act a certain way doesn't mean they aren't capable of acting that way regardless. For example, if someone is known to be calm, it doesn't mean they can't lose control of their temper if the right circumstances are met.
Anyway, sorry for the mini-rant. The point that got brought up was just really good, and I wanted to address it. I'm sorry it wasn't more clear in the story itself.
For now, enjoy chapter 4.
P.S. there's a poll on my profile to help decide Naruto's semblance.
xXx
Naruto tapped his foot impatiently on the metal floor of the airship. He was currently travelling to Beacon Academy, as today marked the first day of the school year. The feeling of flying was distinctly different when it didn't occur naturally. The Rikudou Sennin had granted him the ability to fly during his battle with Kaguya, though admittedly, that had been short-lived. He was by no means an expert. Now he sat in a flying chunk of metal, cruising several kilometres above the ground. To defy mother nature in such an egregious way felt wrong. Metal was heavy. It did not fly.
He leaned his head back against the ship's steel wall and searched for something, anything, to take his mind off his current discomfort.
Before he knew it, Naruto was once again reviewing the week's events. He must have done so half a dozen times already. The week leading up to now had flown by quickly. Before leaving the hospital, Ozpin had left him with a brand new scroll to call his own. Qrow must have mentioned to the man that he didn't have a means of communication. In the scroll were only two contacts: Ozpin and Glynda.
The technology was a marvel. Even now, a week later, Naruto was still trying to fully figure the device out. There were telephones in the Elemental Nations, but they were nothing compared to this. Back home, they were large and clunky, connected by wires and in no way portable. Here, however, the translucent touch-sensitive panel of a scroll was unlike anything Naruto had ever seen. It was even collapsable. How the hell did you make glass collapsible?
After the Headmaster had departed, Naruto took a page from the man's book and left the hospital shortly after. He didn't know what the man had done to clear out the room he had been in, but Naruto was certainly willing to take advantage of the lack of medical staff. Who knew when they'd return?
He'd returned to his makeshift camp on top of his chosen low-rise and fallen into a fit of restless sleep. The following morning was spent fiddling with his new scroll. It was surprisingly complex, yet Ozpin hadn't bothered providing a manual. Not that he would have read it, but the Headmaster didn't know that. The point was that he had been left floundering with the device.
In theory, he knew how the machine worked as he had seen Qrow messing around with his when they had travelled together. He knew it contained forms of entertainment since the older man had spent nights tapping away and cursing at the device or had fallen asleep while reading on it. But the primary focus was to serve as a communications method. Something Naruto had gotten his first bit of experience with as the Headmaster had sent him a text communication.
Apparently, the device served many more functions than initially anticipated as the older man had 'deposited funds into his wallet.' Whatever the hell that meant. Somehow, Ozpin had expected his ignorance, as the man briefly described how to pay for goods and services with the phone in a terribly patronizing message. Seriously, how the man worded his text made Naruto feel like a moron.
Phone. Gaming device. Personal library. Wallet. Scrolls were crazy.
Glynda had provided a list of recommended purchases for the semester, so Naruto spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening shopping for supplies. He really did love shopping.
He didn't.
Most of the materials were standard-issue for classroom work. Pens, binders, paper, etc. Nothing terribly exciting. It was a simple chore made much longer due to his unfamiliarity with the city. The following night, he had made a few Kage Bunshin to map the area for a better layout, but damn, was it ever a large city.
Perhaps the most noteworthy purchase Naruto had made over the week was a new outfit. He loved his old clothes, they were iconic, but he only had a single pair. And they were now officially too worn down to be considered acceptable. The hole in his jacket was really what sealed the deal. In his opinion, his new outfit was... adequate. It was nothing special, but it was comfortable and functional.
Gone were his open-toe sandals, replaced by black combat boots. His new pants were more or less the same, only modified to suit the aesthetic of the local residents. That meant they were slightly baggier, had a few more visible pockets, and were made from a different, although equally strong, material. His mesh undershirt was replaced by a simple orange t-shirt that lacked any designs. Overtop the shirt, he wore a tight black button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The only form of protection he wore were two vambraces on both forearms. Their style was similar to what the ANBU wore in Konoha, though his were slightly shorter and coloured entirely black. Finally, his forehead protector had been moved to his right bicep, similar to how Shikumaru's was positioned. His hair now hung freely over his eyes. It'd be time for a haircut soon.
He'd needed to keep the outfit light. With his Aura and chakra levels as they were, speed and mobility were the names of the game now. Not too long ago, getting in close, tanking damage, and dealing just as much back was his style. While not much had changed, now he'd have to be more conservative with which hits he took. He was confident he could make it work.
After his day of shopping, the rest of the week had been spent both in and out of Vale. Every morning Naruto would venture out of the city, past the wall, and find a clearing where he could continue to train his chakra in relative peace. Grimm encounters were few and far between, likely due to being so close to the city limits, but any beasts encountered were met with a swift end. He liked to think of it as studying for the school year. He really was shaping up to be a model student.
His afternoons were spent in the library. Not much had changed since his first visit. The librarian had kept to her word, holding onto his collection of books. He'd learned pretty quickly that he did not have enough time to cover everything he wanted to. Nor did he have the willpower. He'd settled for a broader approach to his topics of interest. He could delve deeper into the more important ones while at Beacon.
Unfortunately, he hadn't seen the black-clad book lover from earlier, but he figured he'd probably run into her at the school. She did say she would be attending as a first year. It would be an awkward reunion as he'd made it clear to her that he wouldn't be attending the school.
That had concluded the week's events. The memories of the week ended, like a movie reel running out of film. This left Naruto to sit and worry about the coming month. He wasn't sure how he felt about the whole situation. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he felt regarding the school. He was never book smart, so odds were he wouldn't exactly be the most impressive student. Then again, he'd only need to put up with it for a month, and then he could leave.
That was another thing. Naruto was worried about the people he'd meet. Not worried about the people themselves, but worried about what it could mean for him. He wasn't stupid. He wasn't book smart, but he wasn't stupid. He would make friends. He would get close to people and develop bonds. He hadn't considered it the night he made his promise to Ozpin, but he thought about it the following night. And the one after that. And the next one.
Because that's the kind of person he was, wasn't he? Deep down, he drew people in, and they, in turn, drew him in. He had a remarkable skill when it came to befriending unlikely people. Haku. Neji. Gaara. Kurama. Even Sasuke.
So no, Naruto wasn't blind to his nature, nor was he willing to go against it. He knew he couldn't distance himself from those around him. He couldn't put up walls like Sasuke could and isolate himself from them. He could try, but he'd be miserable for it. And he'd likely make his team miserable as well.
Plus, he had promised Ozpin he'd try to get along with them.
So Naruto wouldn't try to do any of that. He would attend the school, give his best, and inevitably create his bonds. Because he didn't do things in half-measures. And when the time to leave the school finally came, he'd do that too. He'd just have to be strong enough.
A commotion in the airship drew Naruto from his musings.
Naruto panned his gauze around the interior of the airship. The vehicle was massive, having several different seating areas located throughout its bulky frame. A news broadcast was currently playing on what appeared to be... nothing. It was just an image hovering in the air.
Damn technology.
Several students were gathered around it as the news anchor recounted a story regarding a Faunus civil rights protest that had turned violent due to the intervention of an apparent terror organization.
Ozpin was right. There was evil in the world. Naruto felt for the Faunus. To be discriminated against for things outside your control or something decided at your birth... it was something Naruto related to. But still, violent protests and acts of terror were not something he'd imagine conducive to the Faunus' ultimate goal. They may see short-term progress, but they'd be rebranding their reputation as something to be feared, not respected. He doubted they noticed a difference. Naruto shook his head. He wasn't a political scientist. He wasn't exactly qualified to come up with a solution to the problem.
The broadcast suddenly cut out, and the image was replaced by a translucent representation of Glynda Goodwitch. She appeared poised, ready to address the onlookers but didn't appear to focus on any one individual. As her voice rang out, Naruto only paid half a mind. It seemed to be a well-rehearsed speech meant to galvanize the new student body. It was nice but a bit disconcerting as the woman speaking appeared much more open and friendly than the one he had met last week.
While the Deputy Headmistress spoke, Naruto chanced a glance at the surrounding student body. The first thing he noticed was that everyone was so colourful. Vibrant colours of every shade greeted him throughout the waiting area. Dark, light, saturated, pastel, metallic; it was all honestly rather jarring. And he thought the people from back home could be individualistic. Vale's culture seemed to revere it, not that it was a bad thing.
As the image of Glynda fizzled out, he noticed several students begin to stand and approach the nearby windows. Apparently, something outside was drawing quite the crowd. Naruto sighed, then stood up himself. Time to see what all the fuss was about. He approached the closest window, squeezing past several other spectators. What he saw was... honestly, pretty damn impressive.
Situated on an impressive cliffside overlooking the city of Vale was Beacon Academy. The campus itself was massive and was composed of several large structures. Naruto saw what he assumed to be the dormitories as they appeared similar to apartment complexes. At the centre of the campus was a large clock tower. The spire loomed over the entire area, with several large green stained glass windows at its peak. It was almost imposing. The only other thing to note was the broad avenue connecting all the buildings together. The rest of the facilities were similarly extensive, but nothing else could be determined from a glance. They were likely the many classrooms, lounges, gymnasiums, and other facilities expected from a prestigious school.
As the airship began its final approach, Naruto could faintly hear the screams and cries of several girls. Something about vomit? Did someone blow chunks? At least his aversion to artificial flying didn't stretch that far. He sat back down, fully anticipating the landing, no matter how smooth, to further unsettle him.
The airship touched down, and Naruto was surprised at the transition. He supposed he was wrong. With little fanfare, the doors slowly began to part. Naruto waited until a sizable chunk of the students had finished departing before slowly meandering out of the ship. The energy in the air was teeming with excitement. Teenagers could be seen interacting with their friends, chatting away amicably. They all likely hailed from a small handful of prerequisite schools. In that, Naruto was at a disadvantage.
In Redgold, Garett had mentioned that not all huntsman academies required transcripts from a primary combat school; that exceptions could be made. He was proof enough of that. That exception was a disadvantage for him. It started him out alone, with few allies to rely on. Why was school always so political?
Immediately after exiting the airship, Naruto was greeted by sounds of retching. Could this be the aforementioned vomiter? Hunched over a nearby trash bin was a blond teenager. He was tall, standing just over six feet. His blond hair was dishevelled and matted with sweat. He wore a black hooded sweater, well-worn blue jeans, and simple black sneakers. His chest and shoulders were covered by angular white armour, and he wore orange forearm covers and brown work gloves.
Naruto patted the boy on the back as he walked past. "Stay strong, man," he said sympathetically. The tall blond simply raised his fist in response, his thumb shakily pointing upwards. He'd be fine. Maybe.
Naruto stretched his arms above his head as he walked into the large open boulevard. It was a beautiful sight. The sun burned brightly, and the air had the familiar taste of nature that had been lacking in the city. Most of the students had already made their way inside the main building's entrance, though some still lingered outside, chatting away with friends or...
A small explosion struck the landing area.
...exploding?
His eyes were immediately drawn to a familiar white dress near the opposite end of the airship. From this distance, he couldn't make out the dress' owner, but it looked a lot like Weiss' getup. It appeared the girl in white was in the midst of dressing down another girl in a black and red outfit. That seemed like a Weiss thing to do. A shrill cry of 'unbelievable' had Naruto scratching his chin. That sounded like Weiss' voice.
It was probably Weiss.
He wasn't all that surprised. In their first encounter, the ashen-haired beauty had held a rapier to his neck. That seemed like a pretty unique weapon, a concept that huntsmen seemed fond of. She'd displayed a willingness to fight and protect a stranger. And then there was that thing she had done with the glowing symbol and the ice. Naruto wasn't all that surprised that she was training to become a huntress.
Should he intervene?
Before he could decide, another recognizable face made itself known. A third girl wearing a black and white outfit had arrived, a familiar black bow perched atop her head. Huh. What were the odds? Naruto was still out of earshot, but the black-clad girl appeared to be addressing Weiss. Whatever was said clearly got under the smaller girl's skin as she snatched something out of the amber-eyed girl's hand and stormed off.
His eyes followed her as she made her way to the main entrance. Should he go after her? No, probably not. If he was going to annoy Weiss, he would do it properly, not ride on the coattails of someone else's success.
He looked back to the other two girls and noticed the taller of the two break away, seemingly headed in the opposite direction of everyone. Just where was she headed? The red-themed girl then collapsed onto her knees in a dramatic display of despair. Poor thing; she looked pretty out of her element. Maybe she could use some cheering up?
As the thought passed through Naruto's mind, the blond vomiter from earlier suddenly appeared out of nowhere and approached the downed girl, offering his hand. Naruto had to give the guy credit; the white night sure could move quickly when he sensed a girl in trouble.
Deciding that it would be a good idea to start networking, as well as genuinely wanting to check in on the girl, Naruto approached the duo. As the blond knight was helping the girl up, Naruto couldn't help but overhear their introductions to each other. Ruby and Jaune, was it?
The two teens seemed to notice his approach as they turned to face him. Naruto smiled as he stopped before them, then addressed the girl in red. "Hey, I caught the tail end of that. Are you okay?" His question was tinged with concern.
"Oh. You saw that, did you?" The red-clad girl laughed nervously, wringing her hands together. "Yeah, I'm alright. It was just a little explosion. No big deal."
Just a little explosion, eh? The way her voice wavered at the end made it clear that it was, at the very least, a medium deal.
The girl continued with a frown and a sag of her shoulders. "Then there was that heiress girl who wouldn't stop yelling."
That sounded about right.
"I wouldn't worry too much about Weiss. I'm pretty sure she's got a chip on her shoulder for everyone. She's not so bad, really." Naruto chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm Naruto, by the way."
"I'm Ruby, and this is Jaune," she replied while gesturing to the tall blond. Jaune raised his hand in greeting.
Naruto nodded to his blond counterpart, "feeling better from earlier?"
Jaune chuckled nervously, "Oh, you know... just staying strong."
Naruto laughed in response.
Ruby chose to continue the conversation. "So you know Weiss? Are you guys friends?" She asked with interest.
Friends? Naruto had to suppress a laugh at the thought. "I definitely wouldn't say we're friends, but we're acquainted, sure." At Ruby's raised eyebrow, he continued. "We met a week ago by chance, and she helped me with a small problem."
Getting stabbed was technically a problem. And the wound was small. Sort of...
"Well, if you say so. She was still really rude," Ruby sighed. Naruto could sympathize with the girl. He might have felt the same way when first encountering the Schnee heiress if he hadn't spent most of his life as the tail end of most people's jokes. By this point, he liked to think he was pretty thick-skinned.
Mustering as much sympathy as he could, Naruto replied, "I don't doubt that. From everything I've seen, Weiss has a fairly bad temper. And a sharp tongue."
Ruby pursed her lips, choosing not to respond. Jaune hadn't said anything during their exchange but broke his silence with a slight chuckle, "Well, I don't know about you, but she's quite the looker. I wonder if she's single?" His tone was suspiciously confident. Yikes. Naruto briefly considered saying nothing and watching the ensuing chaos that would be born from the knight's line of thinking. It would be pretty amusing. Ultimately, he chose to say something, so at least to ease his conscience.
Naruto shook his head, "Jaune, that's not a good idea. I don't think she'll respond well to that approach," he said softly. If Weiss' family was as renowned as she claimed, she had likely been subject to countless suitors puffing out their chests. She had basically said so herself, now that Naruto thought about it.
"What are you talking about?" Jaune questioned, his tone incredulous. Before Naruto could explain it to the teen, Jaune continued, "nevermind. She just hasn't experienced the Arc charm," he finished with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
She probably hadn't. Then again, Jaune hadn't experienced the Schnee charm. She might kill the poor guy. Whatever, he tried to warn him.
"Right. Well, good luck with that, my friend. I'll be rooting from the sidelines," Naruto pat the knight on the back with a mischievous smile. Oh, he'd be rooting alright.
"Hey, Jaune," came Ruby's curious call. "Aren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?"
xXx
As they continued to talk, the three teenagers found themselves walking along a path further into the depths of the campus. It was almost picturesque. The stone pathway was composed of grey hexagonal bricks. Large stone archways sprouted out from well-maintained grass lawns, and a quaint waterway lined the inside of the path they walked.
Naruto had to admit the two teens were enjoyable to be around. While the two had a natural chemistry, they were also uniquely awkward. He supposed the best way to describe them was 'dorky.' And he liked that about them. How else could you get the nicknames 'vomit boy' and 'crater face'? The two had tried to find an equally goofy name that would fit him, but unfortunately for them, Naruto hadn't done anything to embarrass himself lately.
He made a mental note promising himself not to earn the nickname 'dead-last' this time around. That wasn't a very fun and light-hearted nickname.
Naruto almost instinctively drew his blades when Ruby suddenly sprung her weapon out, seemingly as a conversation starter. The weapon she wielded, if he could call it that, was a giant scythe larger than the girl herself. How the hell she swung it around during a battle was something he could hardly imagine. It must have been quite the sight. As it turned out, the weaponized farming tool also doubled as a long-range gun.
Guns. Those were among the more interesting topics to read about over the past week. Naruto wasn't exactly sure how he felt about the ranged weapons. He understood their necessity, especially when hunting the creatures of Grimm, but he didn't quite care for them from a duelling perspective. They seemed to take a lot of the skill out of fighting. Hand-to-hand fighters, who had spent a lifetime training, could be taken out by some random schmuck who picked up a gun? An everyday man's equalizer? No thanks.
Of course, that didn't quite apply to someone with an active Aura, let alone his own slowly increasing chakra, but that was beside the point. And to be fair, so long as he was paying attention, she should be able to dodge or block most projectiles fired at him. The weapon system itself just seemed to be a hassle. Maybe he was old-fashioned?
Naruto watched as Ruby effortlessly handled her oversized weapon. Maybe he could get a spar out of the girl sometime in the future?
On the other hand, Jaune's weapon was something much more straightforward. A sword and a shield. A classic. The sheath transforming into a shield was an interesting gimmick, but ultimately, the weapon was simple. Jaune appeared disappointed when speaking about his gear, possibly lamenting its lack of sophistication. Ruby, bless her heart, was kind enough to try and cheer the boy up. She drew upon the fact that his weapon was a family heirloom and that not enough people appreciated the classics.
Both points were valid. Classic weapons were reliable, proven, and could hardly fail you. While not as exotic as Ruby's gun-scythe, a simple sword didn't run the risk of jamming or locking up upon deployment. Family heirlooms were important. They held within them legacy and pride and were a symbol of trust across generations. When Naruto pointed this out, Ruby agreed with a happy cheer. Jaune seemed appreciative of his words, but Naruto could detect a hint of melancholy when the word 'trust' was mentioned.
Strange.
When it came time for Naruto to unveil his own weapons, he did so with a flourish of spinning metal. He had laughed at both teens' lukewarm responses. What? Were they expecting something more majestic? Jaune seemed to have brightened up a little more upon seeing weapons even simpler than his own. While on the other hand, Ruby ran an appraising eye over the trench knives.
She had questioned him over their viability when fighting larger Grimm, as the blades would have difficulting piercing their hides. She wasn't wrong. Though thanks to them being made from chakra metal, Naruto had an unexpected, though not unwelcome, solution. Feeding his wind nature chakra into the blades could extend their length and cutting power. Simply replacing 'chakra' with 'Aura' in the explanation seemed to have satisfied the girl's curiosity. When asked about his ranged options, it appeared he was in the same boat as Jaune. None. He had no ranged options. He'd probably have to address that at some point. Though, there was no way he'd be picking up a gun anytime soon.
With the conversation reaching a natural lull, all three teens realized they had been wandering around the courtyard without a destination in mind. If Naruto wasn't mistaken, there was supposed to be a short orientation speech held in the amphitheatre within the next few minutes. Neither Ruby nor Jaune seemed to know where they were, but luckily, it wasn't too challenging to backtrack the way they had come.
Before they knew it, they were crossing the threshold to the auditorium. Admittedly, following the few remaining stragglers of the student body had expedited the process.
As they walked in, a loud voice called out from deeper in the crowd, "Ruby! Over here, I saved you a spot!" Ruby perked up in response and smiled. She turned to Naruto and Jaune, addressing them with a sympathetic look, "Oh! Hey, I-I gotta go. I'll see you guys after the ceremony!" While her tone was apologetic, she took off quickly into the crowd. Jaune called out in a brief protest, then deflated when he realized his objection had fallen on deaf ears.
Jaune looked down while frowning. "Great, where am I supposed to find another nice quirky girl to talk to?" Naruto laughed while patting him on the shoulder. "Interesting priorities, man." Jaune sighed in response, "You don't get it, dude. It's not every day you introduce yourself to a girl, and it doesn't blow up in your face!"
Preach brother.
Naruto chuckled instead. "Oh? What happened to that Arc charm you were on about earlier?" Jaune groaned while responding, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You know what I mean."
The two blonds wandered further into the auditorium, losing themselves in the crowd. Naruto couldn't help but notice that being this deep into the student body, standing practically shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone, was an uncomfortable experience. He knew everyone was here for a virtuous purpose, but the lesson he had learned earlier in the week was still fresh in his mind. As was the scar on the side of his body.
After looking into it, he determined that he was partially correct. Yes, an Aura wielder needed to consciously direct their Aura to protect themselves. However, to most huntsmen, and even academy students, that conscious effort had long since evolved into a subconscious process. It was something that came from years of experience. It was still possible to bypass an Aura altogether if the target was caught entirely unaware, such as if they were asleep or far removed from a battle. However, if an experienced Aura wielder was embroiled in a fight, sneak attacks wouldn't be much more effective than a clean strike. He'd have to watch out for it until he had a better grasp on the protective energy.
As they waited, Naruto's ears automatically twitched. A commotion was going on not too far away that included at least two familiar voices. Turning around, Naruto witnessed Ruby and Weiss again in a heated argument. Well, an argument was a generous term as it appeared that Weiss was simply giving the younger girl a firm dressing-down. Again.
Jaune must have noticed his blond counterpart's distraction as he turned in the direction Naruto faced. "Hey, Naruto, what are you looki-"
He was drowned out by Weiss' sarcastic voice, "-like tall, blond, and scraggly over there."
Ah, classic Weiss. She was sounding particularly cheery today.
Naruto laughed, "Hey, I think she's talking about yo-" He too was cut off as Weiss continued her tirade.
"-or short, blond, and stupid... wait, Naruto?" Weiss' following string of insults died in her throat as she seemed to fully process who she was addressing.
Short? Look who's talking! And who was she calling stupid?
Naruto suppressed his growl. He could get her back for those comments later. Putting on a smile, he walked towards the group of girls, raising his hand in greeting.
"What are you doing here?" Weiss snapped at him. She seemed confused, annoyed, and maybe a little flustered. Perhaps she was always like that?
"Hey, Weiss. Glad to see you still remember me," he addressed the heiress with a casual glance.
"Why are you here, Naruto?" She repeated with a growl. Now she was just annoyed.
Naruto gestured to the amphitheatre around them, "I'm here for orientation."
"You never said anything about attending Beacon," she replied. It wasn't a question; it was an observation.
Naruto shrugged. "Was I supposed to? Besides, you didn't say anything either," he pointed out.
What was her problem?
Weiss made a strange face at his words. Before she could muster a response, Naruto continued, "And for the record, I was never planning on attending. Things just... turned out this way." He tried to keep the disdain out of his voice but knew he had only been partly successful. If Weiss noticed, then she chose not to comment.
"Really?" An excited voice chimed in. Naruto turned to the group's only member he wasn't familiar with. "Ya hear that, Rubes? Looks like you're not the only one who got in under special circumstances!"
Naruto raised a curious brow. Special circumstances, eh? A look towards Ruby revealed she was feeling rather uncomfortable from the attention. Her eyes were downcast, and a light dusting of red coloured her pale cheeks.
"Yaaaaaang. You don't have to say it like that. Just... don't bring it up in front of a bunch of people," Ruby bemoaned.
Naruto regarded the blonde, Yang, with a critical eye. The girl exuded an aura of confidence and had an outfit to match. She wore a tan jacket that bore her midriff and a low-cut yellow crop top underneath. Her lower body was covered by a pleated brown half-skirt and black compression shorts that stopped at her upper thighs. On her feet were a pair of brown, knee-high boots and orange knee socks. Finally, she wore an orange scarf and black fingerless gloves. The outfit was undoubtedly eye-catching, and her exotic lilac eyes and untamed mane of blonde hair were surely responsible for countless broken hearts.
"Friend of yours, Ruby?" Naruto questioned the girl in red.
Ruby's eyes lit up in realization. "Oh! Naruto, this is-"
The blonde woman quickly took a half step in front of the scythe wielder and interrupted her, "Yang, I'm Ruby's older sister. Nice to meetcha!"
Sister? Try as he might, Naruto simply couldn't see the relation. Maybe they were sisters in the same way he and Sasuke were brothers? He supposed it didn't really matter in the end. Also, was that older sister? So Ruby was younger than the average first-year. That probably had something to do with those special circumstances that had just been mentioned. Now Naruto really wanted to spar with the girl in red.
"I'm Naruto. It's nice to meet you," he replied with a polite smile. It would probably do good to make some allies in the school. Ruby and her sister seemed like a good start.
Yang hummed at his introduction, running an appreciative eye over his form. "The pleasure's all mine," she practically purred. Naruto's eyes widened. On second thought...
Suddenly, they were interrupted by a low growl originating from Weiss' petite form. "would you two profligates take your flirting elsewhere? It's obscene."
Ruby laughed nervously at Weiss' temper while Naruto and Yang were simply left scratching their heads at the heiress's choice of words. As far as Naruto knew, he hadn't done anything. He was innocent. On the other hand, Yang appeared to be racking her brain for the necessary definitions to understand Weiss' complaint.
Without warning, static feedback flooded the amphitheatre, and those in the room directed their attention to the center stage. On the dais stood Headmaster Ozpin; before him stood a microphone connected to a thin stand. Professor Goodwitch stood several feet behind him on his left. Naruto couldn't tell for sure, but the man seemed distracted. Maybe even uncomfortable.
"I'll... keep this brief," the man began what seemed to be a prepared speech. The address wasn't long, nor was it particularly inspiring. In fact, Naruto was almost tempted to say it bordered on pessimism. It was packed with about as much enthusiasm as one of Kakashi's pep talks. Maybe it was meant to encourage those present to reflect on their purpose here? From Naruto's understanding, becoming a huntsman wasn't fun and games. In that, it was similar to being a shinobi. There would be many things that couldn't be unseen in the future. A lot of unforeseen regrets.
After the speech, the Headmaster simply walked off stage. He seemed stiff. Glynda approached the microphone, delivering instructions to the waiting student body. It appeared that they would be spending the night in the ballroom, and initiation would be conducted tomorrow. It made sense; there wasn't any point in assigning rooms for the students until the failures could be rooted out. Assuming failure was an option. Surely some prospective students would fail during the initiation. Why else would they have an initiation in the first place?
It seemed that Naruto wasn't alone in his opinion of Ozpin's speech, as Ruby and Yang had their own views to share. Naruto couldn't say for sure if the older man seemed 'off,' as Yang seemed to think. Nor could he tell if the Headmaster was fully present, as Ruby seemed to believe he wasn't. But it certainly seemed that way. It was hard to tell, as he didn't know the man well enough based on their single interaction. Besides, people wore masks. And Ozpin seemed to have them aplenty. What an ominous start to the semester.
"I'm a natural blonde, know?" came Jaune's casual remark.
Weiss hung her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.
Huh. Go Jaune.
xXx
Naruto spent the rest of the day hanging out with Ruby and Yang. Weiss had gone off to 'escape their lunacy,' as she put it. She really was a crabby girl. Jaune, on the other hand, well... Naruto wasn't sure where the other blond had wandered off to. Though, based on some of the teen's last few comments, it may have had something to do with tracking down a certain white-haired huntress in training.
Naruto wasn't sure how he felt about allowing the boy to harass Weiss but ultimately decided it was none of his business. If Jaune wanted to continue testing his luck, that was his choice to make. Besides, Weiss could take care of herself. She probably wouldn't even hurt the knight too severely.
Naruto refused to acknowledge the small amount of delight he felt, knowing that Jaune would inadvertently annoy the girl for the foreseeable future. Because that would be petty. And he wasn't petty. Or short. Or stupid.
Ruby and Yang were... a lot of fun. Naruto enjoyed their company and appreciated the sisterly dynamic they shared. It's what he had always imagined having a biological sibling would be like. And to his surprise, they were, in fact, biological siblings. Half-siblings, at least; not that it mattered to them. They clearly shared a bond as close as any other sibling pair.
The more Naruto interacted with the sisters, the easier it was to grasp their personalities. Ruby was a dork, first and foremost. Her self-admitted obsession with weapons was even greater than that of Tenten, which until now, Naruto had never met anyone even close to the brunette's level. Early on, he noticed that the younger girl struggled to identify and adapt to social cues. It was almost charming in a way. There was also a youthful innocence to her, which complimented her hopeful optimism. There was no doubt in his mind that the girl was a 'pure-of-heart' kind of person. He hoped she could maintain it.
On the other hand, Yang was as if someone had combined Sakura and Ino into one. Beautiful, flirtatious, and short-tempered. If her 'shotgun gauntlets' were any indication, she also liked to punch a lot. Respect. Yang was a 'live fast, die young, leave a good-looking corpse' kind of girl. By both her own and Ruby's admittance, she was an adrenaline junkie who lived for the thrill of the fight. Someone who could just as easily back you up in a fight as she would drag you into one. Naruto liked that. It reminded him a little of his younger years.
Maybe Yang was the one he should be sparring with? Ruby's scythe granted her much more reach than his chakra knives; it may be challenging to deal with. Yang's hand-to-hand combat style would be much more familiar.
It was something to consider.
Eventually, as the evening began to settle in, Naruto excused himself from their company. He was intent on finding a little peace and quiet for the night. An unpleasant melancholy had started to drop into his stomach, and he needed time to sort out his emotions. It had been over a month since he arrived in this world, and in that time, he hadn't spent much time around people his own age. Amber was different. She definitely fit what he imagined the older sister archetype would be. She was confident in her desires, albeit a little distant.
Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Jaune were none of these things. At least, not like Amber was. They felt closer to him in that respect. Relatable. They spoke and acted and lived without the looming weight of the world on them. They were like him before the war. And it felt nice to be around that again.
It had only been a day, but if things kept their current course, he was fucked. It'd hurt like hell to leave. But he would when the time came. Because he had responsibilities.
Currently, Naruto was in the ballroom with the rest of the student body. The prospective students were excited, chattering away with their fellows. They were loud, but not unbearably so. What was unbearable was watching half of the males in the room posturing toward the women. Naruto had taken one look at the various shirtless teenagers as they flexed their scrawny arms to show off to the fairer sex and promptly shut his eyes.
Screw that.
Naruto wasn't aware of how long he lay on his bedroll, but it couldn't have been longer than 30 minutes. He kept his eyes closed and his head propped against the wall, a comfortable pillow folded in half between him and the surface. Dressed in a comfy white t-shirt and black knee-length shorts, he was more than content to have the night end there and drift into sleep.
That was the plan. At least, it was until he detected quiet shuffling only a few feet away from him. Cracking an eye open, Naruto was greeted by a familiar girl wearing a large black bow. He raised an eyebrow at her presence. Interesting. The girl didn't exactly seem like the type to seek out company.
He stared at her for a full 30 seconds but received no acknowledgement.
Was she planning on saying anything?
...
Naruto sighed internally, then put on a small smile. "Fancy seeing you again," he greeted her casually. He looked the girl up and down, noticing her sleepwear consisted of a simple black and grey yakuta. It suited her. He also spied a small book clenched in her right hand. She really was a book junkie, it seemed.
The girl met his stare, then offered her own small smile. "So, not here for Beacon?"
Despite letting out a short groan, Naruto couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Though to be fair, I meant what I said at the time," he said while raising his hands placatingly. "I wasn't planning on attending, but a bunch of stuff went down, one thing led to another, and well... here I am."
The girl nodded along in understanding. "Here you are," she echoed. "I'm Blake, by the way. We never properly introduced ourselves."
She was right. He'd even made the same observation the day they first met. He was glad to finally be able to put a name to a face. "I'm Naruto. It's good to properly meet you." Blake seemed pleased at his comment. At least, he thought she did. She wasn't the most emotive girl he'd met, so it was hard to tell.
After a few moments, Blake began to idly play with the book in her hands. For whatever reason, she wasn't leaving. It wasn't that Naruto had anything against the girl, but to his knowledge, they had said everything that needed to be said. It seemed he was wrong. Before he could prompt the girl for anything further, they were approached by two familiar sisters.
"Hello!" Yang sang while closing in on the pair. She seemed to be dragging an unwilling Ruby along behind her. She was staring directly at Blake. "I believe you two may know each other?" the blonde continued with a thousand-watt smile.
Blake tilted her head in response, then seemed to come to a realization. With an almost imperceptible amount of humour, she turned to Ruby, "Aren't you that girl that exploded?"
Ruby chuckled nervously, "Uh yeah. My name's Ruby," she introduced herself while reaching her hand out. When it became clear that Blake had no intention of returning the gesture, Ruby quickly dropped her hand.
Ruby was already awkward at best, and Blake seemed more standoffish than most. It truly made for a difficult sight. Naruto couldn't help but interject, at least to try and stifle the uncomfortable atmosphere. "Hey guys," he greeted the sisters with a wave.
They must not have noticed him until now, as Ruby's eyes brightened immediately upon seeing him while Yang adopted a surprised smile. "Oh! Hey Naruto!" Ruby exclaimed. "I didn't know you and... uh..." she trailed off.
"Blake," the black-clad girl sighed.
"You and Blake knew each other," the silver-eyed girl finished. She appeared relieved to be able to fall back on him. It was clear that Yang had been trying to get her sister to branch out and socialize. In this case, she had dragged her sister, metaphorically kicking and screaming.
What a great sibling.
Naruto hummed. "We've met once before by happenstance. But we don't really know each other." Blake nodded in agreement.
Perhaps it was too crowded for the amber-eyed girl, but it seemed to Naruto that she was becoming uncomfortable. As if her threshold had just been met, she addressed the group, "Well, I'm going to go now."
Ruby appeared relieved, while Yang seemed disappointed. "I'm going to go read my book," she stated as if it explained everything. Naruto tilted his head, then realized that the two siblings were blocking Blake's escape route. They didn't seem to notice, forcing Blake to spell it out for them. "Which I will go do."
They still weren't moving. "Once you move," Blake said, deadpan.
Before Naruto could say anything, Ruby eyed Blakes's book and asked, "What's it about?" Blake made a confused noise, prompting Ruby to elaborate, "Your book. Does it have a name?"
Was that an actual conversation starter? And a good one at that?
Blake smiled softly, then explained the concept of her book to the girl. Naruto had to admit, his own interest was piqued. A man with two souls battling for dominance, eh? He couldn't help but be reminded of Kurama. Maybe it was time he tried to reach out to his friend again? He wasn't expecting success, as his partner hadn't been able to reach him either, but he still firmly believed it was only a matter of time before they reconnected.
After Blake delivered a brief synopsis of her book, Ruby surprised the group by offering an unexpectedly deep glimpse of her character. Naruto had been right. Ruby truly was a shining beacon of innocence and virtue. Even when Blake offered a gentle 'reality check,' reminding the girl that the real world wasn't the same as fairy tales, Ruby wasn't phased. She instead adapted her view to a more realistic perspective.
Here to make the world better? Sometimes it was that simple.
Yang half-tackled the red-themed girl in response, proclaiming her overwhelming pride in her younger sibling. Naruto smiled at their antics. It was good that they got along so well. Unfortunately, it seemed that Ruby took exception to the display of affection as the two sisters began to wrestle with each other. They quickly became a tangle of limbs, all while maintaining their standing balance.
Perhaps seeing this as the perfect opportunity to leave, Blake made a token attempt to inform the sisters of her departure. Before she could fully sneak away, everyone was momentarily stunned by a loud, "What in the world is going on over here?" As Weiss Schnee stomped her way toward the assembled group.
Damnit. All Naruto wanted was to rest. Was that so much to ask?
Weiss scowled at the two sisters, who had been frozen mid-wrestling match. "Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep?"
Yes. Exactly.
Weiss and Yang locked eyes immediately, then both girls instinctively stepped back, shouting, "Oh not you again!"
Naruto winced. That was the loudest one yet. And they harmonized. Ruby seemed to panic at their combined shout, instinctively shushing them, then agreeing with Weiss. That agreement seemed to set the ashen-haired girl off, as she turned her ire back towards Ruby. From there, the three girls began to bicker loudly.
Blake shot him an apologetic look, then dashed back to wherever she had come from. Damn girl, this was her fault! Naruto had been peacefully resting before she approached him. Ruby and Yang had come over with the intent to start a conversation with the black-clad girl, which in turn attracted Weiss' ire. With Blake now gone, he was left to suffer alone.
It didn't take long for Naruto's patience to run thin. "Would you guys give it a rest?" he shouted at the three girls. They froze immediately upon hearing his voice as if suddenly realizing he was still there. In Weiss' case, she may not have even known he was there to begin with.
"Sorry, Naruto!" Ruby cried, then winced at her own volume. "We'll leave you be." She grabbed Yang by her shirt collar, then began dragging her away. "Sorry, Weiss," she quickly added, refusing to meet the petite girl's icy stare.
"H-hey! Wait!" Yang cried as she was led away. Her protests rapidly faded as the two sisters retreated to the other end of the room. Naruto sighed. That was one problem solved. He felt bad, but they were beginning to cause a scene. And he was tired. He'd make it up to them tomorrow.
A clearing of the throat grabbed his attention. Right, Weiss was still around. She was looking down at him with a thoughtful expression on her face. Come to think of it, when not scowling or yelling, she was actually quite beautiful. She should scowl and yell less. The world would be better for it.
"Need something, Weiss?" Naruto asked the girl. It was clear she had something to say.
Long shadows danced across the room, born from the dim light of sparsely spaced lamps. Somewhere nearby, someone lit an old-fashioned candle. Weiss blinked. Dark orange flames reflected in her blue eyes. An oil fire on the ocean.
The heiress frowned, and with a soft sigh, asked, "Why do you spend your time with people like that?"
She was annoyed. That much was clear. Yet her tone lacked its earlier cynicism.
Naruto raised a brow. "Like what?" He wasn't sure he liked how she phrased that, though admittedly, there wasn't much she could have said to make it sound better.
"Immature. Loud. Obnoxious. Need I say more?" Weiss replied with a raised eyebrow. Naruto sighed at her words. She may have a point, but as always, her attitude left much to be desired. Not to mention, she had been relatively loud and obnoxious herself.
"Look, Weiss, I understand you don't like their company, but it couldn't hurt to keep things civil," Naruto chastised with a slight frown. He could understand the girl's frustration, but there was a better way to go about it.
"Excuse me? Are you saying that I'm not civil?" Weiss questioned him. Her tone was half challenging, half accusatory.
Naruto gave the girl a blank look. "Weiss, since the day we met, you've been yelling at someone in literally every interaction I've seen you in. Myself included."
Weiss opened her mouth to retort, paused, then promptly closed it. Her brow furrowed, and her face twisted in contemplation. Naruto patiently waited for the girl as she seemingly got lost in her introspection. Eventually, she frowned. "I... suppose you're right," she conceded. It must have been difficult for the girl to admit it, as it sounded like it physically hurt to say the words. "They're just so childish. It's like they don't even know why they're here in the first place," the heiress complained.
Naruto nodded at her words. "I hear what you're saying, but there's nothing wrong with relaxing and having fun when the time's appropriate," he said soothingly. It was true. There hadn't been much time to joke around with his friends during the war. Everything was always so stressful, so dire, so last minute. "And don't assume they don't have their reasons for being here. I don't know about Yang, but Ruby, in particular, has a pretty damn good reason for attending the school."
Weiss seemed surprised at his words but didn't refute them. She hummed, in response, "You know, for all your faults, you're surprisingly insightful. I didn't expect that." Oh? Was that a compliment?
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Wipe that smile off your face; that wasn't a compliment. It's easy to surprise me when I'm expecting nothing," she huffed in annoyance. Naruto could tell that her words lacked any real venom.
He'd take it as a compliment.
He laughed softly at her words. "Trust me. When the time comes, I'd put money down on them surprising the hell out of you. Just give them a chance," Naruto declared with a grin.
The icy girl shook her head and rolled her eyes, but could not entirely hide her small smile. "Doubtful. But like I said, it's easy to surprise someone who expects nothing."
Naruto was starting to get a better understanding of the girl before him. She was still confusing, but he was beginning to understand. "If that's everything?" he asked the girl.
"Right. I'll let you sleep. I suppose tomorrow's a big day," the petite girl trailed off.
She turned to leave. With her back facing him, Naruto couldn't stop himself from making one last comment. "By the way, Weiss. You look good with your hair down."
She froze at the comment. Naruto couldn't tell what she was thinking, but the muscles on her back tensed once, then relaxed. She was either embarrassed or angry. Probably both. She elected to say nothing and, after a few seconds, walked off without a word.
Ha. Embarrassed it was. And who said Naruto Uzumaki couldn't flirt?
xXx
Thankfully, the night passed uneventfully, and Naruto managed to get a full night's rest. It was surprising, as with so many students sharing the room together, the mismatched chorus of snoring was loud. Very loud. He must have been more exhausted than he realized. He'd woken up earlier than most; his body's circadian rhythm had long since been programmed for early mornings.
An early start meant no wait times for his morning routine. Walking past the current line-up for the building's limited washrooms, Naruto realized he'd been quite fortunate to get up early. He'd managed to shower, brush his teeth, and find the cafeteria well before even half of the student body had awoken.
He'd nearly caused a scene when the kitchen staff denied him ramen for breakfast. Apparently, it wasn't breakfast material. The only thing that prevented him from earning a new goofy nickname was that he had finally found someone in this world who knew what ramen even was.
Maybe Ozpin wasn't so bad?
He'd spent the remainder of his morning meditating, half of which was spent exercising his Aura, the other half spent trying to communicate with the fox. As expected, his attempts at reaching his friend had been met with failure. No surprise there.
While Naruto had been meditating, he'd almost been tempted to try something he'd long since dismissed. When he arrived in this world, he'd written off sage mode as just another skillset lost to him. He hadn't considered the concept because, fundamentally, he lacked a critical component. "Extreme chakra levels," as Fukasaku had put it. The old toad had explicitly stated that if a senjutsu user didn't already have a huge amount of chakra, the natural energy would overwhelm the user's body in less than a second. Therefore, Naruto had written the ability off as a lost cause. Until now. He still didn't have the necessary chakra requirements, but with his capacity increasing with no stopping in sight, it would only be a matter of time. Perhaps a month if he really buckled down on his training. It wouldn't be like it used to be, but it would become practical.
Naruto could hardly wait.
After finishing his meditation, Naruto found himself in the busiest part of the morning. The rest of the student body had finally awoken and completed their own morning tasks. The amphitheatre and cafeteria were awash with activity. Some of the prospective students seemed more than excited, buzzing around like bees on caffeine. Others had been more subdued, likely not used to such early mornings. He could respect that. He himself had not always been a morning person. During his time at Konoha's shinobi academy, he'd often overslept or outright missed classes.
Having already completed his morning routine and with little else to do, he'd naturally made his way toward the locker rooms. Initiation was fast approaching, and he wanted to get a head start on gathering his gear.
The locker rooms were fairly standard. Several rows of lockers lined the walls, with nearby benches allowing students to properly assemble their gear. Much to his surprise, several familiar faces were already present. He must have wasted a little too much time loitering around the auditorium. Ruby and Yang were in a heated debate regarding team placements.
As Naruto walked past the pair, he couldn't help but overhear parts of their bickering. It seemed Yang was still trying to encourage her sister to branch out and meet new people.
"What the? I don't need to break out of my shell. That's absolutely ridiculous!" The younger sibling screamed in outrage.
Naruto felt a small hand grip the back of his collar and haul him backwards a few steps, nearly causing him to stumble. Ruby's sharp voice cried, "Besides, I can always team up with Naruto!"
What had he just been pulled into?
"Calm down, Rubes!" Yang tried to placate the younger girl. "There's no need to get too worked up about it. We don't even know how teams are formed!"
Ruby seemed to shift uncomfortably at her sister's statement. Now that Naruto thought about it, Yang was right. There had been suspiciously little information regarding how exactly teams would be decided.
Scratching her chin, Yang adopted a thinking pose. "You know, having you team up with Naruto wouldn't be a bad idea... What do you think, Naruto?"
Naruto slowly pried off the small fist still clutching his collar, prompting Ruby to blush in embarrassment. "I'm not opposed to it. Though, I figured I'd just let the chips fall where they may."
Yang grinned at his words, "I get it. Playing it by ear, are we? That's cool."
Naruto hummed in affirmation. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I still need to grab my gear." As the two sisters bid him farewell, he continued on, searching for his locker.
As it turned out, the simple task of finding his locker, which he had already visited the night before, was not destined to be as easy as he would have liked. For in front of him, Naruto spotted a familiar head of white hair conversing with a tall redheaded woman. Naruto couldn't help but stare at the scene. Weiss appeared to be... bootlicking? Was that something she did now? As for the redhead, she was... quite fetching if he were honest with himself.
Her outfit consisted of a burgundy corset and a black skirt with a red sash wrapped around it that reached her ankles. Dark brown bicep-length gloves donned both of her arms and on her head was a bronze circlet. She also sported a large bronze gorget around her neck. Elaborate bronze greaves overlapped at her knee with bronze cuisses that reached mid-thigh. She also wore a bronze bracer atop the sleeve on her left arm. Finally, her brown and bronze-trimmed boots reached up to her mid-calf.
Compared to the rest of the prospective students, she was by far the most heavily armoured. Though Naruto used the term loosely. The outfit still left little to the imagination. Did he mention she was tall? She stood roughly a foot above Weiss, towering over the young heiress. Naruto was intrigued by the girl. From her outfit to how she held herself, he could already tell that the girl differed from her peers.
Naruto was surprised to find that his eyes continuously drifted to the girl's long red hair. Beautiful crimson tresses, which were clearly well cared for, immediately drew him in. They were almost familiar, like his mother's hair. Or that of the Uzumaki clan, if the stories were to be believed.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud 'a-hem' originating from a sourly looking Weiss.
Oh? Was she done with her creepy plotting? Naruto hadn't been so distracted so as to miss the bizarre face that the white-clad girl had been making, all while seemingly lost in her own world.
"Are you really just going to stand there staring like a creep?" Came Weiss' haughty voice. "Or are you here to grovel at the feet of Beacon's most promising first year?"
Seriously? Was she that arrogant?
Naruto frowned, "and why exactly do you think I'd come to grovel at your feet?"
Weiss appeared taken aback, and she blushed prettily. "Not me, you oaf!" she shouted. "I'm talking about Pyrrha, of course." Weiss gestured to the woman beside her.
"Hello!" the redhead chirped happily while raising her hand.
Naruto raised his own hand in greeting, "Hi, I'm Naruto." he managed to mumble lamely. His confusion must have betrayed him as Weiss seemed to grasp the situation. She sighed at his lacklustre response. "You have no idea who she is, do you?"
Naruto shook his head. "Should I?"
Weiss frowned at his question. "Yes. Yes, you should. I'd enlighten you on her accolades if I didn't already know it'd be an effort in futility."
What an overly complex way to say that he didn't care about the redhead's reputation. A glance at Pyrrha indicated that she was deep in thought.
Naruto simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled at the shorter girl. "The only thing that might mean anything to me is whether or not she's strong and if she's willing to spar with me later."
Weiss groaned, "Ugh. You are such a boy. Always thinking with your muscles."
Naruto grinned. Should he go there? Yes. Yes, he should. "Really?" he questioned the heiress. "I always thought boys thought with their-"
"-Do not finish that sentence, you disgusting mouth breather." Weiss' tone was as cold as ice. Naruto simply laughed at her words. He'd gotten under her skin with that one.
A soft chuckle from Pyrrha indicated that he had enjoyed their small exchange. "My, my, Weiss. I've never known you to get along so well with anyone before!"
Weiss looked perplexed at the Spartan's words.
"Perhaps the two of you should team up? Wouldn't that be great?" The redhead added offhandedly.
Uh oh. Despite being an innocent comment, this had the potential to get ugly. Maybe it was time to get out of here? Naruto looked around for an exit. Not too far away, he spotted a stock of messy blond hair. It was Jaune, and he appeared to be within earshot. Had he been eavesdropping? Perfect. Naruto's eyes met the taller teen's, and, at that moment, he found his exit window.
Naruto nodded to Jaune, and Jaune nodded back. It was time to tag out. Within seconds, before Weiss could properly formulate her response to Pyrrha, Naruto and Jaune swapped places faster than the blink of an eye.
As Naruto continued to his locker, he couldn't help but overhear, "You know what else is great? Me. Jaune Arc-"
The rest of the conversation faded away before he could properly hear it, but Naruto got the gist of it. Kami bless that man.
With no other discernible distractions, Naruto finally reached his locker. He quickly strapped his vambraces to his forearms, grabbed his chakra blades, and stashed them within the bracers.
As he made his way to the initiation's starting location, a cliffside of all places, Naruto briefly considered the upcoming initiation. There was little doubt in Naruto's mind that the initiation itself would be a trial by combat. They were enlisting in a school to combat the creatures of Grimm, so it made sense that the entry test would relate to fighting them. It should prove to be pretty fun.
His mind then wandered to the team-selection process, and he couldn't help but wonder who he would be teamed up with. He'd only met a handful of people while at Beacon. Ruby, Yang, Blake, Weiss, Jaune, and now Pyrrha. Six people out of nearly a hundred. The odds of being partnered with any of them were slim at best, and he didn't really know them that well to begin with.
He'd thought about it briefly before, but there was surprisingly little information regarding how teams and partners would be chosen. Ozpin may have a detailed plan that considered each individual and their skillsets and how they may complement each other, somewhat similar to how teams were assigned back in Konoha. Alternatively, it could simply rely on a lottery system. Wouldn't that be chaotic? Regardless of the method in place, there was no sense in worrying about it now. He was only minutes away from finding out.
Approaching the cliffside, Naruto grinned upon seeing the headmaster's intentions. The two senior professors were standing ready, several metal platforms spaced out before them. There were only a dozen, indicating that there were either different locations in which the rest of the student body would be placed or that there were other time slots for them.
So there was some methodology to the formation of teams.
He wasn't the first student there. Several spots had already been filled, the students standing upon them performing last-minute preparations. Based on the way the students were facing, they were obviously about to be sent into the forest below the cliff. How exactly? He wasn't sure, but it'd be sudden and violent if he had to guess.
Picking a random place, Naruto chose to sit instead of stand. Some last-minute meditation would help him pass the time. As he passed by the Headmaster, he felt the man's eyes linger on him. The grey-haired man was making it obvious. Despite this, the man chose not to comment. The feeling of being watched persisted well into his light meditation. How annoying.
Minutes passed, which felt like seconds from Naruto's perspective. Before he knew it, Ozpin was addressing the group. Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he suddenly found himself surrounded by other students. He looked around, finding himself between a boy in a green tunic and another boy wearing silver and gold plate mail.
The taller of the teenagers, the redhead in armour, sneered at him. What the hell was his problem? The one in green simply offered him a look that seemed to indicate interest. Also a bit strange, but he'd take it over the pissy face his other neighbour was still shooting him.
Further to Naruto's left was a pink-clad girl with orange hair, a plain-looking boy with a blond mohawk, Pyrrha, and Weiss. Speaking of, the icy girl was fixing him with a look of curiosity.
What?
The students further past his acquaintances/friends(?) were too difficult to make out due to the angle he sat at. To Naruto's right stood Yang, Ruby, and Jaune. He wondered where the rest of the student body was. He idly listened as Ozpin and Goodwitch described the process of the initiation as well as their objectives.
To be honest... it all seemed rather strange. Naruto had been right in that it was a combat exercise. That was essentially a given. But the first person they made eye contact with would be their partner for the next four years. Seriously? Maybe Naruto had been wrong when he thought there was a method to this madness. Ozpin's attempts to set the mood, in this case reminding the teens of their potential deaths, likely didn't have the effect the man had hoped for. Honestly, everyone present should be well aware by now that the role of a huntsman would be dangerous. Why should training be any less risky?
Naruto sighed at Jaune's nervous gulp. Well, the old man had got one of them, at least.
With their instructions clear, Ozpin concluded his speech. Naruto wasn't exactly sure which 'position' he was supposed to take, so he slipped into a light combat stance. Feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, and his center of gravity lowered. He bounced on the balls of his feet, which prepared him for quick and easy movements.
Jaune seemed to be having trouble. The teen was awkwardly asking the headmaster for clarification, though his pleas were going unanswered. Poor guy.
Suddenly, one by one, the platforms underneath their feet began to launch the students into the forest. Holy shit. This was hardcore. Naruto grinned in excitement. So this is what the man had meant when he mentioned a 'landing.'
Naruto locked eyes with Weiss. Surprisingly, she also wore a similar grin, one filled with confidence and anticipation. In a manner of seconds, it was her turn to be let loose. She was launched into the hair with a loud click and mechanical release of pressure. Damn, that looked fun. Based on the rate that these pressure plates were going off, he wouldn't have to wait long for his turn.
Naruto laughed as Jaune continued pestering the Headmaster with questions. He'd be fine.
Before he knew it, inertia racked his body as his own plate launched him into the air. With a howl of laughter, Naruto was flying.
xXx
A/N: There's chapter 4. This chapter was... alright, I suppose? I'm not particularly happy with it, as it's pretty much just an on-the-rails retelling of the show that closely follows canon. Maybe I could have done more to 'make it my own,' but honestly, it's just a step in the direction of where I want to take the story, so I wasn't ever planning on reinventing the wheel here.
The next chapter is initiation, which I've completely finished writing. It was a lot of fun to write. There were some parts I had to transcribe from the show, similar to this chapter, but I added a lot of my own stuff, and I'm really happy with it. It's more fun writing my own events as opposed to just hugging the original plot.
Last thing, as for Naruto's potential Semblence. I'm thinking of adding a poll to my profile and letting you guys decide on it. The options will be limited to a few ideas I've been exploring, so I don't have to worry about writing something I have no idea how to fit into the story. Let me know what you think. If I do put up a poll, it'll be out around the same time as Chapter 5.
I did it, the poll's up on my profile. Cast a vote if you'd like!