A/N: So here's chapter 6. As I suspected, the last chapter was fairly contentious, but I honestly love that something I wrote can cause so many passionate impressions, be they good or bad.
Below is Chapter 6, which was pretty fun to write. I've got to say, writing an emotionally intelligent Naruto is fun. If there's ever any instance of him being OOC, then this chapter would be it, though only a little bit. Plus, I feel it works well with the story's overall tone. Please enjoy, and don't forget to vote in the poll on my profile for Naruto's semblance. You get two votes, so pick your top two. The results are pretty interesting.
xXx
Naruto was falling. All around him, there was nothingness. No colours. No distorted images. Just blackness. He couldn't tell how far he had fallen nor how far he had yet to go, but as he fell, he felt no fear. No regret. No hesitation as to what would greet him on the other side. This wasn't an accident. It wasn't an attack on him. He wasn't at the mercy of gravity. This fall had been meticulously planned. It was the culmination of many different minds and innumerable resources. Of priceless promises.
Naruto knew that as soon as he reached the end of his fall, he'd be thrown right back into the thick of battle. On the other side were his friends. His home. And his enemies. He couldn't remember who told him it would be this way. He tried to remember. The answer was so close, just barely on the tip of his tongue. Ozpin, was it? That sounded right. The man had promised he'd be returned to the exact moment of his departure. He couldn't remember how such a promise was fulfilled. A machine? A portal? The details were fuzzy.
It didn't matter.
Kaguya was on the other side, and Sasuke needed him. The entire Elemental Nations needed him. Once it was finished, Naruto could figure out the rest.
When Naruto stopped falling, it wasn't a grand event. The space beneath his feet didn't open up and spit him out. He wasn't forcefully ejected from the unending void. One moment he was falling through a vacuum; the next, he was back in the Land of Lightning. It wasn't a violent affair. It simply happened.
If he couldn't feel the comforting blanket of his Aura protecting him, Naruto would have thought everything that had happened before now was a dream.
Naruto's chest heaved as adrenaline surged through his body. He noticed he was currently crouched on one knee, a sharp, pinching pain emanating from the other joint. That wasn't good. The trip was supposed to be harmless. And he had been in top shape before leaving. Also, his Aura was still running strong. How had the injury slipped by it?
His thinking was cut short as loud explosions rang throughout the desolate landscape. The heavy impact of flesh on flesh. Naruto's eyes scanned the horizon. It was dark. Just like he remembered it being the day the battle had begun. For all intents and purposes, it was the day the battle began.
At least they weren't in Kaguya's lava dimension.
As the sounds of combat became more fierce, Naruto's eyes began to dart around the skies. They should be in the air, right? During their fight, Naruto couldn't remember Kaguya physically setting foot on the ground once.
So why the hell couldn't Naruto see them? He could hear them. He could practically feel them. But he couldn't see them.
"Naruto!" came a familiar shout from his flank. It was of surprise. Desperation. And most prominently, relief.
Naruto whipped his head to the side and spied a familiar stock of pink hair.
Sakura.
An overwhelming surge of affection erupted from Naruto's core. It was warm and familiar. He hadn't seen his sister-in-arms in months. He choked back the sentimentality. It had only been seconds for the pinkette; she wouldn't understand. At least until he could explain everything. And he certainly did not have enough time to explain anything, let alone everything.
Naruto called out to his teammate as she sprinted to him, "Sakura!" His relief was tangible, the emotion worn plainly on his sleeve. After sliding to a stop beside him, she crouched down to meet his eyes. Naruto couldn't help but to take in the girl's features. She looked terrible. Dried blood coated her hairline, and she was covered head to toe in dirt and grime. She looked tired. Her eyes were sunken, and worry lines had seemingly been permanently etched into her beautiful features.
Did they all look this bad once the fighting started?
Despite the relief the girl before him expressed, she was very clearly at her limits. She moved slower than usual, lacking the controlled grace she once carried.
"Where the hell have you been, Naruto?" came the medical-nin's barely controlled question.
What?
Naruto felt an icy hand grip his heart. He managed to force out a few words in response, "I-I don't... What do you mean?"
"You've been gone for almost 20 minutes, Naruto!" Sakura cried while gesturing frantically to the battlefield around them.
20 minutes? But Ozpin said he'd be sent back to the exact moment he was torn from his world. The man had promised.
Naruto frowned. A lot could happen in 20 minutes.
"Sasuke's been fighting that... that monster all on his own! He can't keep it up. You need to help him!" Sakura's plea was desperate. As if to accentuate her point, a thunderous explosion sounded in the distance, and an ethereal purple arrow was sent spinning end over end through the sky, crashing into a nearby rock formation.
Something was wrong.
Naruto should have been able to track that attack. But he couldn't. It was too fast for his eyes to follow. The barest hint of an afterimage was all that he could detect. Naruto reached into his chakra pool to draw upon his Six Paths Sage Chakra but froze. It wasn't... he couldn't find it. He searched deeper, instead looking for the ever-familiar chakra of his life-long partner. It was there, but it wasn't... wasn't at the level it should be. It was small. Suppressed. Weak.
No. Kami, no.
Ozpin had promised him.
The old man had given his word that Naruto would be sent back to the exact moment in time that he had crossed worlds, regaining everything he'd lost. Had the Headmaster lied or simply been mistaken? Was it possible that this had nothing to do with the man? Naruto began to sweat. He fidgeted uncomfortably. Was this his own fault somehow?
Naruto's fingers dug into his palm. The slight sound of creaking indicated his Aura was still functioning, preventing his nails from cutting into the soft flesh of his hand.
"Naruto? What's wrong?" tired green eyes met his own, uncertainty beginning to creep through. They widened in sudden realization. "Y-you're hurt, aren't you?"
Sakura raised her palms to his back, and Naruto could detect the faintest disturbance as a foreign chakra entered his system. A standard diagnosis jutsu. The medical-nin's hands roamed over his body, slowly coming to rest on his injured knee.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I didn't even stop to consider..." Sakura paused, choosing her words carefully. "What with your healing ability... But I guess you'd need to conserve every ounce of chakra."
The slightest hint of confidence began to return to her tone.
"Don't worry, I've got this covered."
Naruto could feel the soothing flow of medical chakra enter his body in earnest. He immediately noticed the muscles in his leg begin to stitch themselves together. It wasn't painful. Just itchy. He'd always found medical chakra to be ticklish.
"I'm sorry if this isn't enough. I'm almost out of chakra. After what happened to Kakashi-sensei..." The girl froze as if realizing she'd made a mistake.
Naruto's mind sharpened. What happened to Kakashi? The last time he'd seen the man, he'd been fine. In fact, he'd been standing right beside Sakura.
But he had been gone for 20 minutes.
Naruto managed to turn and face Sakura. He didn't like what he saw. "Sakura... what happened to Kakashi?" he managed to choke out. His teammate's reaction only confirmed the sinking feeling in his gut.
Sakura stared at him with wide eyes. Her emerald orbs were glistening, like water seeping through stone.
"After Kaguya sent you flying, she turned on Sasuke. We knew something was wrong when you didn't immediately rejoin the fight." Sakura's words were laboured. Measured. "She began to overwhelm Sasuke. I-it was... you guys were supposed to fight her together, and she took advantage of that."
Naruto didn't like where this was going.
"Kakashi-sensei... He filled in for you," Sakura revealed while staring at the ground. Her medical work didn't cease.
Naruto swallowed heavily. Kakashi was strong. Aside from Sasuke and himself, he was one of the strongest shinobi alive. But Kaguya was on a completely different level. "But... Sensei isn't... He couldn't have matched her strength."
Sakura refused to meet his gaze. "And he didn't. He fought well. Better than I've ever seen him. He mostly ran interference for Sasuke." At this, some twisted measure of amusement touched the girl's features.
What had his old mentor done?
"In the end though... well," the girl refused to vocalize their teacher's fate. She didn't need to.
Naruto could hardly stomach the thought. After everything they'd been through, Kakashi died because he'd been too late. Again. It was like Pein's invasion all over again. Except this time, Naruto didn't have a plan to take down the bad guy. He didn't have a brand-new technique or super-powered ability. This time, it was the opposite. Everything he had achieved was gone. Missing. Taken.
Sakura's tone perked up slightly. "But you're here now. You and Sasuke can beat her. None of this will have been for nothing!"
He couldn't. Not as he was now.
Naruto wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He wanted to wring Ozpin's neck.
A thunderous crash reverberated through the landscape, and a human-sized missile struck the air uncomfortably close to the pair. Naruto shielded his eyes with one hand and covered his mouth with the other, letting out several dry coughs at the sudden invasion of dust and debris. Sakura was on her feet instantly, kunai drawn in a defensive stance. Naruto idly noted that she was almost completely out of chakra. He'd be surprised if she could deliver a single enhanced punch without risking her own life.
As the dust settled, Naruto could make out two figures; both were easily recognizable. Kaguya stood in all of her otherworldly glory. Regal and bold. Her face remained impassive as ever. With a single outstretched arm, she held Sasuke by the throat. A splintering film of purple chakra coating the boy's neck was the only thing preventing her from completely crushing his throat.
Susanoo.
The one-time traitor to Konoha looked to Naruto, his face taking on a look caught between relief and annoyance. "Naruto, what the hell are you doing. Help me!" he growled out.
Naruto couldn't think. He couldn't move. He knew what he was supposed to do, but he just couldn't do it.
He wasn't physically capable.
His pink-haired teammate began to tremble. "Naruto, what are you doing? Get up!" Fear drenched her features, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness could be detected in her voice.
The thin layer of Susanoo armour protecting Sasuke's neck fragmented further, and spiderweb cracks began to spread from Kaguya's point of contact.
"N-Naruto...?" the raven-haired teen struggled.
Naruto was momentarily broken from his stupor at Sasuke's stutter. Sasuke never stuttered. He was always cool, calm, and confident in his abilities. As Naruto's eyes met the mismatched pair of his brothers, he was repulsed at the overwhelming fear etched within them.
For the first time since her awakening, Kaguya dropped her unflappable mask. She smirked cruelly at him. "It's no use, Indra; your brother is of no use. He's completely powerless."
Sasuke's eyes widened upon hearing the words. He locked eyes with Naruto and let out a strangled noise. Perhaps an attempt to speak his name.
Without fanfare, Kaguya tensed her grip and shattered the remains of Sasuke's defence. His throat was crushed instantly. The boy needn't have worried about suffocating to death as the primordial goddess simply continued squeezing, snapping his neck with the flick of her wrist. There was no sudden build-up. No grand speech. Just calculated violence. Ruthlessness.
Sakura screamed in anguish as their teammate's body hit the ground.
Naruto felt numb. He could barely register the instant his last remaining teammate's screams ceased as the Rabbit Goddess sent one of her All-Killing Ash Bones to the girl's midsection.
It was over. Kaguya had won. He'd failed.
Footsteps approached him. The albino woman looked down at him, her pale lavender eyes expressionless.
"Look at you, Ashura. When did you become so afraid?" The woman looked around the battlefield, her eyes lingering on Sasuke's corpse. "All this because you were too afraid to get up?"
Naruto said nothing.
"If you get up now, I shall grant you a painless death."
Naruto's head began to pound. It throbbed painfully, like a bass drum going off in his skull.
"All you have to do is get up."
Kaguya's voice was flanging. Distorted. Like multiple voices speaking at once.
"Get up!"
Naruto blinked in confusion. That wasn't Kaguya's voice.
xXx
Naruto was only partly successful in suppressing his scream as he was suddenly and violently ejected from his dream. His nightmare.
The blond's chest heaved as he took in greedy gulps of air. He idly noted that he was sweating. His blankets were almost completely soaked through. Frantic eyes darted around the room, searching for a non-existent threat, and his hand reached uselessly for a chakra blade, which was far out of his reach on the room's small study desk.
As his breathing began to calm, Naruto could detect another elevated set of breaths. A secondary scan of the room revealed his team leader, Ruby, standing at the foot of his bed. Her silver eyes were wide and unblinking. They glistened slightly in genuine surprise. A tertiary scan informed him that not only was Ruby present, but the remaining members of his team, who were standing in the doorway, also witnessed his outburst.
Naruto felt the tips of his ears burn with embarrassment. He didn't know why he felt humiliated at being caught in a nightmare. Was it because they had seen him in a moment of weakness? If so, having a nightmare wasn't something to be ashamed of. And yet his flush had spread to his cheeks and his neck.
"Uhh. S-sorry, Naruto," the small scythe-wielder apologized while squeezing one hand tightly with the other.
Why was she apologizing?
"We tried calling you, but you didn't answer. Then we came over and knocked, and you didn't reply. So as team leader, I made the call to come into your room without permission," Ruby explained with a sheepish look. She was embarrassed.
Ah.
Naruto decided to offer the girl a lifeline. "It's okay, Ruby. It sounds like it was my fault. I'm not usually a heavy sleeper. Bad dream wouldn't let me go." The girl seemed conflicted by his words. "In fact," Naruto continued, "Thanks for waking me up. I appreciate it."
"O-oh. No problem. Everyone gets nightmares," Ruby muttered bashfully.
Naruto nodded halfheartedly. He supposed that was true. Though, when was the last time he'd had such a vivid dream? This one was particularly debilitating. It was so visceral. So... real. Almost like a memory.
They stood in muted silence for a moment until...
"Okay!" came the long, drawn-out announcement of Yang.
The blonde brawler, bless her heart, had seemingly detected the uncomfortable tension in the air. She marched herself into the room, rounding on her younger sister.
"Why don't we give Naruto a chance to get ready? Or else we'll really be late for class," came the blonde's surprisingly reasonable suggestion.
Ruby's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh! You're right!"
Ruby made a strangled noise as her sister grabbed her by the hood of her cloak, but didn't resist the blonde's forceful pull.
While being dragged out of the room, she quickly shouted, "Naruto! We've got class in seven minutes! I need you showered and changed in five!"
Only now did Naruto notice all four of his teammates' outfits. All four girls were in a similar state of dress. Black blazers with white undershirts, thin red ribbons tied at their collars, and red plaid skirts.
How very sophisticated.
Naruto scowled as he was reminded of his own uniform. He'd never worn a 'suit' before. The design was utterly foreign to him. He'd tried on the ensemble the previous night just to get a feel for how it fit, and he'd immediately decided that he hated it. It was too restrictive. Too uncomfortable. It'd be terrible in a fight.
"Come on, Naruto! Chop chop!" Yang shouted as she crossed the room's threshold. Naruto skillfully ignored all four sets of concerned eyes that were on him until they disappeared behind the closed door.
Right. Time to get ready. Naruto wasn't worried. He'd done more with less time in the past. The war had demanded efficiency in all things. His shower was ice-cold and lightning-fast. Despite being coated in sweat, he only needed two minutes to effectively scrub himself clean. His oral hygiene took another full minute, leaving only two precious minutes remaining. Donning his uniform proved to be the most daunting task. Well, that was to say, his necktie was the most difficult challenge. Putting on the rest of the suit was easy. The noose around his neck was not. There was a technique to this, one that eluded the blond shinobi.
With only 30 seconds of his allotted time remaining, Naruto hung his head in defeat. It wouldn't have mattered if he had another 30 minutes. The necktie remained a haphazard mess around his neck.
Whatever.
Naruto glanced in the mirror and scowled at what he saw. He didn't look so hot. His eyes were bloodshot, and the bags underneath them were more than a little noticeable. With mild annoyance, he noticed that his splitting headache from his nightmare had persisted into the waking world.
Naruto sighed while shuffling to the door of his dorm. It was best to get the day started. Throwing the heavy wooden door open, he was greeted by his four teammates. Each member had been passing the time in their own way.
Ruby was anxiously fidgeting in place and was in the midst of checking her scroll. Likely calculating how fast they would need to move in order to make it to class on time. Yang was also on her scroll, though she was much more relaxed. The device was tilted to the side, subdued noises emanating from it. The blonde brawler was tapping away on it, seemingly lost in her concentration.
A game, then.
Blake, predictably, was reading another one of her books. It was a deep green hardcover. Thin and clearly well-loved. Naruto couldn't distinguish the book's title, but it differed from the one she had been reading the night before initiation. Finally, Weiss was -
"What is that supposed to be?" The ashen-haired girl questioned while pointing at his neck. Her tone was part annoyance, part unbelieving.
Yang looked up from her game to see what had set off her short-tempered teammate, and upon seeing where Weiss' glare was directed, she began to laugh. "Geeze, man, I hate to say it, but I'm with Weiss. What the hell is that?"
Naruto frowned. Ruby, and even the ever-stoic Blake, also wore looks of scrutiny mixed with humour. Okay, so he couldn't tie a necktie. Was it really that big of a deal?
"I've never worn one of these before," Naruto defended halfheartedly. Be that as it may, even he knew he hadn't done a particularly good job of trying to tie the thing correctly.
Ruby and Yang snickered into their hands, and even Blake managed a slight smirk. As poor of a mood as he was in, Naruto couldn't deny that the atmosphere had been somewhat lifted.
Suddenly, Naruto was pulled off guard as a small pair of hands grabbed the front of his suit jacket and wrenched him off balance. Catching himself before he fell, Naruto looked down and was met with the crown of Weiss' head. Without her heels, the girl only reached chin height.
The diminutive girl was running her hands along his tie, attempting to undo as much damage as possible. Thin fingers worked deftly through the fabric, and after a few moments, his tie had once again come loose.
"Uhh, Weiss?" Naruto questioned the girl, uncertainty evident in his voice.
"Shush. I won't have my teammate showing up for class looking like some uncouth slob. Especially on the first day," she answered quickly and offhandedly.
From the corner of his eye, Naruto noticed Yang lean into her partner's side, whispering something too quiet for him to hear. As she leaned back, she smothered a small laugh into the palm of her hand. Whatever was said earned her a small eye-roll from the black-clad huntress in training, as well as a near-imperceptible smirk.
If Weiss was bothered by this, she chose not to show it. Naruto tactfully followed her example.
Within another few moments, the snow-themed girl stepped back, seemingly satisfied with her work. Naruto ran a hand over his necktie and was amazed at the results. He could barely tell that mere seconds ago, the article of clothing had been one knot away from a hangman's noose. In its place was a well-tied... tie.
"Huh. Didn't think you knew how to fasten a tie, snowflake," Naruto commented offhandedly, genuine wonder in his voice.
The white-clad girl simply cleared her throat. "Yes, well. My younger brother always had difficulty tying his own, so I took it upon myself to learn so he would stop embarrassing himself in front of father."
The explanation was surprisingly more altruistic than the heiress seemed to want to let on.
At the mention of a sibling, Ruby perked up, "Oh! I didn't know you had a brother, Weiss."
"I have an older sister as well," Weiss added casually.
Ruby's eyes lit up, "oh my gosh! Me too! Her name's... uh..." Silver eyes slowly shifted between Yang and Weiss. Just as quickly as her excitement had sprouted, it was replaced by embarrassment. The red and black-clad girl had seemingly been too caught up in her desire to bond with her partner.
Yang shot her sister a look somewhere between amusement and discomfort. It seemed that even the ever-bold Yang could feel secondhand embarrassment.
Weiss' look was completely flat.
The team's quietest member, Blake, cut the tension this time. "We can info-dump about our lives later, but right now, we still have class."
At the reminder of the subject, the rest of the team, Naruto included, immediately shifted into fight-or-flight mode.
"Oh, crap!" Ruby cried, speaking for the entire team.
With that, the five members of Team RYBWN began a heavy sprint toward their first class of the day: Grimm Studies.
Naruto couldn't help but admire their young leader's restraint during their frantic sprint. He'd seen her semblance in action; he knew the girl could move significantly faster than this. Hell, her speed would be an even match for him when in Sage Mode. Yet the girl chose not to use her semblance to make it to class on time, something he thought was entirely within her capabilities.
That the girl restrained herself on behalf of her teammates was a testament to her developing leadership skills.
Sure, one could argue that Ruby could have made it to class on time and warned their professor about their pending tardiness, possibly exonerating them from any repercussions, but that was a big if. Their professor could very well not care and punish them regardless. Worse, it may have further consequences for Ruby herself. Who was to say that their professor didn't subscribe to a similar mindset as his old sensei, Kakashi, and viewed Ruby's actions as abandoning her team?
Whether or not Ruby knew it, she'd made the best choice in this scenario. If there were consequences to being late, they'd face it as a team.
As they entered the campus building containing most of the classrooms, Naruto couldn't help but wonder how Ruby knew where she was going. He certainly didn't. Had the girl mapped out the location of their classes the previous day? She must have. It was one of the few explanations he could think of for how the girl seemed to be effortlessly navigating for the group. That, or she'd memorized a map. It was still more than he'd done.
It was another point in her favour for being chosen as team leader.
Eventually, they reached the doors to the class. They were closed. Not a good sign. Naruto looked towards Ruby, who was staring at her scroll with a furrowed brow. She looked up, noticing his gaze, and shook her head negatively.
Naruto's shoulders slumped. They were late. It was probably his fault. He'd not only slept in, but he'd also wasted everyone's time with his inability to fasten his bloody necktie. Scratch that; it was definitely his fault.
Naruto looked at his team. Weiss was agitated; no surprise there. Though what did come as a surprise was that her irritation was directed toward their team leader through a scathing glare. Why? It wasn't her fault. Ruby wore a look of naked disappointment. In herself, perhaps? Yang was staring at her sister in concern, more than likely worried she was blaming herself for their tardiness. Blake was unsurprisingly stoic, though the slight tapping of her foot betrayed her anxiousness.
It was time to go.
As Ruby shouldered her way through the classroom doors, the five of them were greeted by a loud voice, "- prowlers of the night! Yes, the creatures of Grimm have-" the voice suddenly halted as its owner turned to face the group.
Naruto eyed the man that would serve as their Grimm Studies Professor. He was an older man, likely in his mid-60s, was heavy in stature, and was of average height - close to Naruto's own if he had to guess. He wore a double-breasted burgundy suit with gold trim and buttons, and his pants were tucked into knee-high olive boots. The man sported a well-groomed head of grey hair and a large bushy moustache.
Turning, the portly man addressed the group with a boisterous voice, "Ah, if it isn't team RYBWN, so glad you could join us!" All eyes in the room turned to face them. "Although, if I'm not mistaken, class has already started."
Naruto couldn't be sure; the man's expression was difficult to decipher, but he appeared displeased. It could be said that the eyes were the most expressive part of any person's face, and this man's eyes seemed to be perpetually creased shut. They only had the professor's tone of voice to work with.
"An important quality of any huntsmen is punctuality!" The man announced with a raised fist as if hyping a crowd up for an event.
Ruby took half a step forward to take responsibility for the group, but Naruto was faster this time. He stepped up and addressed their teacher.
"I'm sorry, Professor, it was my fault. I had a bit of a... wardrobe malfunction this morning," Naruto laughed while scratching the back of his neck.
The older man simply stared into Naruto's eyes, expression inscrutable. After five long seconds, he hummed in response. "Well, I suppose it's also important to look one's best! But please keep in mind that, going forward, promptitude will outweigh presentation."
Naruto was slightly taken aback by the man's leniency. He dipped his head in gratitude, "I will, thank you, Professor."
The man nodded in response. "Please find your seats." As the group began to scramble toward the fixed seating, the riotous voice of their professor rang out once more, "Mr. Uzumaki," Naruto turned to face the man. "I personally find that cheese before bed can help prevent night terrors."
Naruto paused for several seconds to process the man's words. Did he really look so bad that the professor, who was a complete stranger, could tell he'd overslept and the reason for it? Also, what was that advice? He was no cheese connoisseur, but Naruto was almost certain that food before bed, especially cheese, wasn't conducive to a good night's rest.
"U-uh, right. Thanks." Naruto mumbled in response.
"Of course, my boy! Now please, your seats, if you will," the man gestured to several open spots near the front row.
Several poorly suppressed snickers could be heard throughout the classroom due to the exchange. Naruto ignored them and took his seat, finding himself wedged between Weiss and Ruby, the latter of which was on the aisle seat.
"Now then, where was I?" The grey-haired man continued. "Ah, right! Monsters, demons, prowlers of the night!"
The moment the Grimm Studies Professor began his lecture, Naruto was thrown into a daze. He was unsure if the man had a specialized talent or if he himself had been more exhausted from his poor sleep than he initially thought.
Naruto could hear the man's words, see his moustache wiggle as he spoke, and feel his steps as he paced across the room. But for the life of him, Naruto could not process a single word the man communicated.
Naruto couldn't tell if it had been seconds, minutes, or hours; the stocky professor had a unique way of warping one's perception of time. He vaguely acknowledged Ruby scribbling something on a piece of paper. Was the girl actually taking notes? After a few moments, she flipped her paper to show the rest of her team a poorly drawn rendition of the man lecturing them. It was clear that she was, in fact, not taking notes.
The blond shinobi was genuinely surprised. During his days in Konoha's academy, he'd often found himself daydreaming during Iruka's lessons. At the very least, he'd acted much the same way as Ruby currently was. But here and now? His mind was utterly blank. Barely any thoughts. He'd blink one moment, and it'd be five minutes later. He wasn't sure if that was a testament to him changing over the years or if it was all thanks to the man before him.
During one of his more lucid moments, Naruto's danger senses activated. He glanced through his peripherals and noted Weiss trembling in barely-restrained fury. Uh oh. The girl was sending a particularly nasty glower at their team leader, who was currently... picking her nose.
Charming.
Perhaps he should run damage control? Another brief glance to Weiss, and he promptly dismissed the idea. He didn't want to become the target of her ire. Was he being cowardly? Maybe. Was he being smart? Absolutely.
Their professor stopped his pacing and turned to face the class directly. He gestured to a large steel cage at the side of the room. The occupant of which released several low growls. A Grimm, no doubt. "So, who among you believes themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?"
Before Naruto could fully process the man's words, a pale hand shot up beside him. With a barely-controlled shout, Weiss accepted the call to arms.
Oh boy.
The heiress was given five minutes to change into her combat attire and retrieve her weapon. Ruby, Blake, Yang, and Naruto spent that time discussing the upcoming demonstration.
"Okay, guys," Naruto addressed the group. "I think Weiss is in one of her moods. Let's try to keep it cool," he attempted to reason with his team.
Ruby blew a raspberry in his direction. "What? No way! I know my partner; she's totally not in one of her moods."
Naruto cast her a doubtful look.
Ruby returned his look with one of her own. "I'm serious! Did you see how quickly she volunteered? She's totally psyched to show off!"
Naruto internally debated the value of pressing the argument. He was confident it'd be an effort in futility.
Yang passed him a small handcrafted flag on a stick with the letters 'RYBWN' emblazoned on it.
When had she..?
"Relax, dude. Weiss was practically vibrating with excitement. Let her cut loose!" The blonde bombshell sent him a disarming smile.
Naruto shot a last-ditch look toward the team's final member and was met with sympathetic eyes. Blake held a similar handmade flag in her hand, giving him a look as if to say: 'There's no point in arguing with them.'
At least she seemed to agree with him. But unlike himself, the girl knew when to pick and choose her battles.
Naruto sighed before looking at the flag in his hand. He gave it an experimental test swing, noting how the red material remained stiff.
Well, he tried.
A few moments later, Weiss returned to the classroom, fully dressed in her combat gear and holding her weapon. She took her position at center stage, deftly ignoring Yang's shout of encouragement and Blakes's enthusiastic cheer and subsequent flag wave.
When Ruby let loose her own rallying cry, the white-clad girl lost her composure, turning to berate the girl. "Ruby! I'm trying to focus!"
As Weiss' eyes passed over his, Naruto shot her a disapproving look. The huntress in training actually had the decency to stiffen in embarrassment before averting her gaze.
Ruby, for her part, shrunk back at the mild scolding and muttered a nervous apology.
Naruto frowned at the exchange. No reaction to Yang or Blake, but an immediate response to Ruby. If it wasn't apparent before, Weiss held an obvious animosity towards their team leader specifically.
Contrary to Professor Port's behaviour until now, the man displayed little buildup to the demonstration, offering only a few words before breaking the cage lock and releasing the beast within. A Boarbatusk was a surprise; Naruto had been expecting a run-of-the-mill Beowolf.
From the moment the fight started, it was clear that Weiss wasn't fighting at her fullest capacity. Her movements were slow, distracted. Granted, within the confines of a classroom, her maneuverability was limited. But when her rapier became wedged between the Grimm's tusks, Naruto knew she wasn't at her best. It was a mistake she would never have made normally.
When Ruby began to offer her partner advice, advice the white-haired girl certainly already knew, it spelled the breaking point for the petite girl's patience. Weiss snapped at Ruby, demanding the girl's silence.
Naruto glanced toward his team leader in concern. The poor girl appeared sufficiently cowed. He felt bad for her; she had only been trying to help her partner and got chewed out for her efforts. The look on her face reminded him of a puppy that had just been yelled at for wanting to play when its owner was trying to sleep.
Naruto wasn't impressed with the heiress' attitude.
After the interaction, Weiss remained off-beat for a few more exchanges with the Grimm. Eventually, she ended the demonstration with a quick application of her glyphs and a well-placed stab through the boar's chest. The girl was panting, though Naruto could tell it wasn't from exhaustion. She was still angry. Very angry.
After the match, Professor Port announced the end of the class. Weiss spared her team one last look over, her face torn between anger and embarrassment. She settled for scowling, then promptly turned on her heel and left the classroom.
Ruby shot out of her seat and made to chase after her partner.
Yang quickly made to follow but was stopped by two hands grabbing her on both sides and rooting her in place. Naruto, and surprisingly Blake, had gripped her on each arm. "Hey! What gives?" The older sister scowled at her two teammates and made to break out of their grip. She was unsuccessful.
Naruto spoke first. "They need to talk on their own terms. Rushing over is just going to make things worse."
"But-"
Blake quickly cut the blonde off, "He's right. Weiss has had it out for your sister since day one. Whatever's between them needs to be said, or else it'll fester. Then they can work on actually building up their relationship."
Yang struggled for a few more moments. Naruto could see that the girl understood the logic in their words, though understandably, she didn't like them.
Naruto's hand gripped her shoulder, and he squeezed in an effort to reassure her. "Give it some time. Let them argue, then find your sister."
Yang sighed deeply. "Fine. But you need to talk to Weiss. Maybe she'll listen to you."
Blake nodded in agreement.
Naruto rubbed at his jawline. He doubted it, but if both girls insisted, he supposed he could spare a few words with their surly teammate.
Wanting to move past the awkward end of their class, the three remaining members of team RYBWN gathered their belongings, unsure of what to do next. As it was the first day of the school year, they only had a half day of classes, leaving them with ample time left in the day.
"You guys want to get lunch?" Yang offered.
Naruto barely spared the suggestion a second thought.
Lunch sounded good.
xXx
Several hours later, Naruto was scouring the halls, searching for his glyph-wielding teammate. He'd checked several likely areas on campus and come away with nothing. All that was left was the cliffside he'd been at the previous night, the library, and a few balconies attached to the main building. He just so happened to be closest to the main building.
While traversing the corridors, he happened upon none other than the Grimm studies professor, Peter Port. The man was walking in the same direction as Naruto, his back towards the blond. The man's strides were short and leisurely, a stark contrast to Naruto's relatively hurried pace.
It only took a handful of strides for Naruto to catch up to the man. Upon hearing his approach, the large man turned to face him. "Ah! Mr. Uzumaki, what a delight to see you here," he greeted.
Naruto nodded to the man, "Hey, professor..." While it was difficult to tell, Naruto sensed the man's frown.
The man hummed in consternation, "Something's troubling you."
It was more a statement than a question.
Naruto figured he'd been rather obvious. He was having trouble locating Weiss and was starting to get worried. He shrugged in response to the professor's words. There was no harm in asking.
"Say, professor, have you seen Weiss around?"
The man cupped his chin and began to stroke his well-groomed moustache. "Oh? Miss Schnee?" He struck an exaggerated thinking pose, then snapped his fingers. "Take a left at the end of the hall. It'll lead you to a balcony. She's been there for the past hour."
Naruto blinked. He hadn't actually expected results.
"Thanks, professor. I appreciate it."
"Not at all, my boy! I'm happy to help," the man let out a cheerful laugh.
Naruto offered a half-smile, then hesitated for a moment.
"Something else, child?" The professor questioned.
Naruto stared in the direction he was given, and his head nodded automatically. The professor admitted to knowing the girl's location; maybe he'd... "Have you... have you spoken to her at all?"
The stocky man released another drawn-out hum. "You know, it's funny you asked. I've passed by her several times over the last hour, and only now was I planning to say something to her. It seems your timing is quite fortuitous."
Naruto's head tilted to the side, as if to say: 'How so?'
The man answered the unspoken question, "I get the feeling that whatever you have to say to Miss Schnee relates to her outburst in class. If that's the case, then your words will have much more meaning than mine."
Was he being perceptive, or clueless?
Naruto wasn't completely sold on the man's opinion. Weiss saw this school as highly prestigious; the words of one of its accomplished professors likely held immense value to the girl. More than his, at least. Regardless, he took the older man's gesture of confidence as best he could.
"Right. Thank you, professor." Naruto offered a sincere smile to the man, then followed his directions.
Behind him, he heard a mirthful, "You're very welcome, my boy! Best of luck!" Naruto could hear the smile in the man's words.
Sure enough, after turning the corner, Naruto spotted Weiss standing on a balcony protruding from the side of the building. He slowed his pace upon approach. Only now did he realize he had no idea what to say to the girl. He'd been so focused on actually finding her that he hadn't thought of what to say once he did.
Berating the girl wouldn't work. Naruto knew her type; hard criticism wouldn't fix anything. It'd only make it worse. He couldn't just agree with the girls' attitude toward their leader; she was clearly in the wrong, and the last thing she needed was an echo chamber. Plus, she would smell his insincerity from a mile away. She'd been clear on the day they first met. She hated sycophants.
Naruto stepped onto the balcony and accepted that he'd simply have to wing it. He smiled. He'd always had a way with spontaneous speeches. What was one more? Despite the thought, the adrenaline he felt surge through his chest was distinctly different from all the other times he'd felt his pre-speech jitters.
Zabuza, Gaara, Sasuke, and even Nagato; Naruto had faced them all down with the very best of his words.
And yet Weiss? This was scarier. Why?
He shook his head. This wasn't any different. Do it for the picture puzzle. Put it all together. Solve the world. One conversation at a time.
"Are you here to lecture me on my poor attitude?" Came Weiss' neutral voice.
Naruto looked at the girl. When had she turned to face him?
"No. No, I'm not," the blond answered simply. Truthfully.
Weiss said nothing, but Naruto could detect the briefest glimpse of relief in her ice-blue eyes.
"I'm here to see if you're okay," Naruto stated while moving to stand beside the girl. He looked out towards the setting sun. He could see Vale from here. As well as the wide sparkling rivers that lead to the city's inlet. He didn't turn to face the much shorter girl, but he could feel curious eyes burning a hole in the side of his head.
Eventually, the girl's curiosity won out. "You're worried about me? Really?" Her tone was skeptical. Guarded.
Naruto nodded absently. "Yeah. You were upset. It wasn't without reason, right?" Weiss was indeed in the wrong, but she still had feelings. Most of which were unknown to Naruto. Dismissing those feelings without even attempting to understand them wasn't the right way to go about this. Those feelings may very well be valid.
"I... yes. There are many reasons," Weiss eventually answered, her guard slightly lowered.
"Care to share?" Naruto prodded. It was a simple offer. She could either talk about it or she wouldn't. The point was that it was her choice.
The girl didn't answer. After remaining silent for several minutes, Naruto was about change the topic when the girl suddenly asked, "Do you think Ozpin made a mistake?"
Naruto glanced at the heiress. Her eyes were forward, focused on the city of Vale.
"You'll have to be more specific, Weiss."
"When he made Ruby team leader. Do you think he made a mistake?" The girl clarified.
Ah. So that's what this was about. Weiss was dissatisfied with Ruby's selection as the team leader. She believed it should have been her. Naruto chose to be honest.
"No," he answered simply.
Weiss flinched at his near-instant reply. To the girl's credit, she kept her composure despite her evident frustration at his answer.
"Why?" The ashen-haired girl whispered.
Why? There were many reasons why he believed Ruby was the right choice. But the last thing the girl before him needed was for him to present a grocery list of examples. He settled for a softer approach.
"Ruby may be young, but she has the makings of a great leader," came Naruto's measured response.
"It should be me!" Weiss instantly snapped. "Ruby's a child!" Her chest heaved with each word. She took a moment to suppress her emotions. "I have studied and trained. Ever since my sister joined the Atlesian Military, I've been groomed to one day take over the SDC from my father." The girl's grip on the railing tightened until her knuckles turned white. "I'm already a better leader than Ruby! How is this fair?"
Naruto had to give it to Weiss. The girl certainly was passionate.
At the end of Weiss' tirade, a hundred thoughts passed through Naruto's mind. He could think of several defences for their young leader's case. He could easily call Weiss out for being insensitive. Close-minded. And just bloody rude.
But what good would that do for either girl? It would only upset Weiss more and, at worst, make things harder for Ruby. Naruto needed to show Weiss that he was listening to her. From there, he could calm her down and hopefully reason with her. He may not be able to solve all her grievances, but at the very least, he could ease them.
Naruto nodded, then asked, "You feel cheated. Like you deserve better?"
"Yes, exactly! I knew you'd understand! If you agree, then maybe-"
"I don't agree," Naruto said quickly. It'd be best to nip that misconception as soon as possible.
The words died on Weiss' lips. "W-what? I don't understand." Her words were quiet. Confused. Hurt.
Naruto sighed. This would be the most challenging part. He could either be delicate or blunt. Both were risky. If he was soft on the girl, he risked reaffirming her beliefs. If he was direct, he risked alienating her.
Why were people so difficult?
"Look, Weiss. I'll be honest with you."
Something changed in the way the girl held herself. She had become guarded again. Perhaps she was bracing herself for what she believed to be an incoming series of insults? If so, it was for nothing.
Naruto smiled softly at her.
"I think you're smart. You're a great fighter. You hold yourself to a high standard. And you know how to conduct yourself well in front of others. But most importantly, deep down, despite your... prickly exterior, you have a caring heart. All great qualities in a leader."
Weiss seemed surprised at his words. She even preened at his praise before quickly taking on a look of confusion.
"I don't understand. If you truly believe that, then shouldn't I-"
Naruto cut her off before she could finish, "But you're being insensitive and demanding. You didn't get what you wanted, what you feel you earned, and now you're lashing out at someone who doesn't deserve it."
Weiss recoiled at his words. Anger flashed through her eyes, and she seemed ready to rebuke him. She opened her mouth, then paused. She looked almost pained. These weren't the words she wished to hear. At another point in his life, Naruto might have continued. Offered more words to explain his reasoning or perhaps tried to soften the blow.
Not this time. Now it was Weiss' turn to speak. He owed her at least that much.
Several tense seconds passed before Weiss whispered, "But she didn't earn it."
The words were spoken weakly, almost as an afterthought. Naruto had a distinct feeling that this wasn't what truly bothered the ill-tempered young woman. There was something else. He decided to address the issue regardless.
"How do you know?" Naruto asked.
"What?"
"How do you know Ruby didn't earn it? Are you familiar with her accomplishments? What she went through to get here? She's two years younger than us, right? Surely, she also trained and studied to be here. Her very presence speaks of some unseen potential that people like you and me simply can't see. Something that a headmaster might?"
Weiss was quiet at his words. It didn't seem like she had the will to argue against them. Naruto decided to try his luck.
"What's really bothering you, Weiss?"
Several long minutes passed by in silence. If the girl hadn't already displayed a need to prepare her words, then Naruto would have written this line of questioning off as a lost cause.
Sure enough, Weiss answered him. "I feel like a failure. Loosing to someone like Ruby. My... family... demands perfection in all things." She smiled sardonically, "Life would have been easier if I had been made team leader."
Ah. So it came back to family expectations. Naruto was no stranger to high expectations.
Weiss took several steps backwards and seated herself on the nearby bench. Naruto followed her example, sitting beside her but keeping a respectable distance between them.
After making themselves comfortable, the white-clad girl spoke, "I'm proud of my heritage. I will always be a Schnee. But sometimes I wonder how much easier it would have been to not be born to my family name."
Naruto could relate. How many times had he wondered the same thing regarding his Junchuriki status? Would he still be an orphan? Would he be even half the shinobi he was now?
Despite her words likely being rhetorical, he answered her. "I think all of us, at some point, imagine what our lives might have been had we been something else."
Weiss sighed softly at his words.
Something in Naruto was itching. Like he'd failed to address an essential component of what she'd said earlier. Then it hit him. "I hope you don't honestly believe you're a failure. Just because you're not the team leader?" Naruto asked his teammate.
"No, I suppose I don't. But Father won't see it that way," the woman said wistfully.
"Eh, screw him," Naruto declared. He immediately regretted his words and shot the girl beside him a careful look. This was her father, after all. She stared at him with a raised brow and a poorly disguised smile.
Naruto felt the need to defend himself, "What? He sounds pretty out of touch. Don't you know? Failure is just learning how to be strong!"
The girl chuckled. "Oh? Is that how you got so strong?" Her laugh came easier. It was airy. Unburdened. Naruto liked it.
With a smile, he answered, "You say that as a joke, but if you only knew... Besides, if you haven't failed, you've never been truly tested."
Weiss' brow simply rose to her hairline, and she offered a genuine smile. "Such wise words. Did you steal them from a candy wrapper?"
At that, Naruto burst into laughter. He had been feeling rather profound. He just didn't realize he'd been elevated to candy wrapper profound. What an honour.
Several moments of silence passed between them.
"I should apologize to Ruby, shouldn't I?"
Naruto nodded at her words. "It would be nice. You should be capable of that much, right?"
Weiss smiled. "We shall see."
The white-clad girl appeared to be in better spirits.
"In all seriousness, Weiss," Naruto addressed the girl.
He was met with a raised brow and an inquisitive hum.
"Ruby's two years younger, and she's been entrusted with the burden of leadership. It's not something that can be easily tossed aside. If you're as good of a leader as you say you are, then help her."
Weiss' eyes creased in consideration, and she waited for him to continue.
"Help her become the best leader she can be. If you focus on being an outstanding teammate, I promise you, you'll be pleased with the results."
Weiss echoed his words, "An outstanding teammate?" She mulled the idea over, "I like that," she decided.
Naruto smiled at the heiress' words. She'd finally come around.
They sat in comfortable silence for the next ten minutes, simply winding down from the conversation. While the outcome had been good, better than Naruto had expected, it was still stressful.
Despite his waning anxiety, Naruto felt at peace. Lighter. Like he had just finished a test that he had been worrying about for over a week. More than that, he felt closer to his teammate. There was no doubt that their bond had deepened. That thought alone came as a mixed bag, but he really couldn't be bothered to psychoanalyze his emotions yet again. Instead, he chose to simply enjoy the moment.
Naruto gazed toward Vale and noted that the sky was reaching civil twilight, the best part of the sunset. Seeing it in its entirety would be good. Standing up, he returned to the balcony's railing and rested both forearms on it. Moments later, he detected a small presence beside him, indicating that Weiss had followed his lead. He leaned over slightly and pointed to the setting sun, "Something beautiful is about to happen."
Weiss remained oddly quiet.
Naruto glanced at the girl and was somewhat taken aback. The evening light reflected off her, casting her in an ethereal glow. Pale skin and alabaster hair. Delicate features yet a powerful presence. The evening breeze ruffled the hem of her dress, but her petite frame remained unbothered.
Beautiful indeed. Naruto wasn't blind. They were having a moment, weren't they?
Naruto's eyes snapped back to the pink and orange skyline. He watched as the sun set into the sea, noting the water did not boil. Instead, it turned to liquid gold. For a brief moment, the world's store of precious metals seemed to increase dramatically, and he was rich...
xXx
Weiss stared into the neon lights of Vale. She was still on the balcony where she and Naruto had had their earlier conversation. The boy had turned in for the night, claiming he wanted an early rest. She'd insisted that he leave without her. She still had some thinking to do. Weiss still felt conflicted regarding the small moment they had just shared. For now, she tried not to think about it.
Their initial conversation hadn't gone the way Weiss intended. She'd been surprised when he found her, yet, out of anyone, it would have been Naruto. And she was glad about it. He was by far the most mature of them, aside from herself.
Even knowing that, Weiss hadn't been prepared for the spur-of-the-moment therapy session. She'd expected to fully vent to the boy, convince him she was right, and get him on her side. From there? She wasn't sure. Even now, she felt a small stab of guilt when she almost suggested they speak to Ozpin together. To do what? Remove Ruby from her leadership role?
That was something her father would have done if he had been in her position. The thought made her nauseous.
As much as she didn't want to admit it then, Naruto had been right on almost all accounts. She had been awful to Ruby. While the girl was sometimes annoying, she had only ever tried to help or otherwise facilitate teamwork. Despite her promise during initiation, Weiss had... not been receptive to any of that.
Weiss hadn't even considered that the girl was two years younger, entirely out of her element, and beyond socially awkward. Naruto was right. Ruby's very presence at the academy was almost unprecedented. Surely the faculty knew what they were doing.
Naruto had also been right in his assessment of her own behaviour. Loathe as she was to admit it, she was acting spoiled and demanding. He had brought it up only after pointing out several of her positive qualities. He certainly knew his way around words.
The blond had also made a habit of teasing her. She distinctly remembered when he had complimented her hair the night before initiation, or when he referred to her as a 'delicate snowflake.' Even now, Weiss could feel her face heat up.
Winter had warned her about boys like this.
Weiss absently wondered what it would have been like if the two of them had been made partners instead. When the blond had caught her during initiation, when she had fallen from the giant Nevermore, they had shared another one of their small moments. She had stared hard into his eyes at the time and told him he was late in that regard. Fortunately, he hadn't understood her meaning; how could he? But she had meant what she said. If he hadn't been late, if he'd been earlier, then staring into his eyes at that moment would have made them partners.
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. How embarrassing.
She shouldn't be focusing on awkward memories.
Yet the memories of the current evening brought a small smile to her lips. Despite his unexpected silver tongue, the blond was incredibly insightful. More than that, he was patient, considerate, and surprisingly emotionally intelligent.
Winter had also suggested she keep an eye out for boys like this.
If Weiss' face was hot before, it was positively scaling now.
What was wrong with her? She'd known him for what? A week and some change? Certainly, not enough time to start crushing on some boy she didn't really know.
And yet she couldn't deny they had some level of chemistry. She couldn't deny that her family name didn't influence how he treated her. Nor could she deny that her admittedly prickly personality didn't seem to turn him away as it did so many others. She also couldn't deny that she respected his opinion more than anyone else among her peers. And she reluctantly couldn't deny that she found the boy attractive.
Weiss sighed. Darn it. Maybe she should send Winter a message? If anyone knew what to do, it'd be her older sister.
Regardless of what she was feeling, it was far too soon to distract herself with boys. It was still the first week of classes, the first day technically. She needed to focus on her studies for the time being.
Never mind the brief moment of vulnerability she allowed Naruto to see. Never mind that she had confided in him in a way that she had only ever done so with Klein or Winter. And certainly never mind that he had effortlessly managed to cheer her up within minutes.
If only she could stop minding...
It was decided. Weiss really needed to contact Winter, lest she succumbs to madness. Or, at the very least, do something she'd regret.
For now, it was time to go back to her room. It was late. She'd apologize to Ruby in the morning.
Weiss traversed the corridors back to the dormitories. The architecture at night was undoubtedly foreboding. The dark gothic-styled pillars and archways made the empty halls seem larger than they were. It was an uncomfortable feeling; she wasn't usually one to stay out past curfew. Though a brief glance around the vacant campus suggested that the curfew was loosely enforced. That, or none of the faculty expected a student to be out this late on the first day.
How rebellious of her.
Entering the dormitories, she made a beeline for her room. Her steps slowed as she passed by the room next door. She briefly considered checking to ensure Naruto safely made it to his room safely but immediately discarded the idea.
She was being foolish. Had she not just told herself she didn't have time to distract herself with cute boys?
She needed to get it together.
Entering their shared room, Weiss noted Yang and Blake sleeping peacefully in their makeshift bunk beds, the former of which was snoring heavily. It was a good thing Weiss was a deep sleeper...
Curiously, she spied a dim light emanating from her partner's bed. The younger girl had erected a thin barrier in the form of a single white bedsheet in order to shield her from the outside world.
Weiss approached her bed and used its frame as a stepping stool. Peering into Ruby's little sanctuary, she was shocked at what she saw. Her team leader was completely passed out, several textbooks sprawled before her and a pencil still in her hand.
Had the girl been studying all night? It would make sense. Being bumped two years ahead of one's current curriculum would leave quite a gap that needed to be filled. It was just another burden the girl carried.
Weiss' eyes softened.
Ruby shouldn't fall asleep like this. She'd be sore in the morning, and she needed proper rest. With a gentle shake, Weiss woke the exhausted girl. Ruby released several snorts and grunts before cracking open a tired eye. Upon seeing her, the rose-themed girl swirled around in a mild panic. She stuttered a messy explanation and, surprisingly, an apology.
Why was she apologizing?
Weiss held a hand to Ruby's lips and made a 'shushing' gesture, halting the girl's speech. A brief glance at an empty mug lying on the mattress sparked a small moment of inspiration.
"How do you take your coffee?" Weiss asked quietly.
Ruby seemed confused. "Uh. I-I don't?"
Weiss sighed. "Fine, do you take your hot chocolate with or without milk?"
Ruby seemed to perk up at the mention of the chocolatey drink. "With milk, of course." She seemed almost proud.
Weiss smiled in return. That was the right choice. Maybe the girl wasn't completely hopeless after all. "Don't move," she whispered to the younger girl.
A brief trip to the communal kitchen and a few minutes spent rummaging through the cabinets produced the desired goods. A few minutes later, Weiss returned to their room. She climbed to Ruby's bed and was pleased to see the girl still awake and that she hadn't moved.
"Here," she said softly while handing the drink to the girl.
Ruby accepted the steaming mug gratefully. "Um. Thanks, Weiss," she thanked the heiress with a smile.
Weiss smiled in return, then allowed her expression to fade. She'd initially expected to have this conversation tomorrow morning so she could take some time and find the appropriate words. Maybe it was best to do it now. Do away with a scripted apology, and just let it come naturally.
Yeah, that sounded better.
"Ruby, I'm sorry for what I said earlier today. I was upset with the situation and took it out on you. That wasn't fair."
Ruby seemed at a loss for what to say.
Weiss continued, "For what it's worth, I think you have what it takes to be a good leader." She paused momentarily to consider her words, "And I want you to know that I am going to be the best teammate you'll ever have. I have your back from here on out."
Ruby smiled at Weiss' words and released a sigh of contentment.
Weiss tilted her head in thought. "You should go to bed soon. There will be plenty of time to study later." She quickly ran her eyes over Ruby's notes and pointed to a section of the paper, "You have your dates mixed up, by the way. We can go over it tomorrow if you'd like."
At that, Weiss dropped down to the ground level. She'd forgotten that she needed to store her equipment in the locker rooms. It would only take another ten minutes or so, but this was as good a time as any to say goodnight.
Exiting the room, she offered her partner one last token of goodwill. "Hey, Ruby?"
The girl sent her a tired murmur of acknowledgement.
"I always wanted bunk beds as a kid. I'm glad I can have them now." Weiss sent one last smile, then closed the door to the room.
xXx
A/N: Vote in the poll!
There's some nice bonding between Naruto and Weiss. For any of the slow-burn fans out there, there's a difference between recognizing your feelings and acting on them. This isn't an indication that they're jumping straight into a relationship. Naruto's got other things on his mind, and despite Weiss recognizing her attraction to him, she too has other things to focus on.
In fact, I would argue that Weiss is being OOC by not fawning over him. Did anyone else notice that Weiss has, like, no chill when it comes to matters of the heart? She was practically drooling over Neptune for multiple episodes until she seemingly got over it. And even in the most recent season, when the rusted knight's appearance was revealed, she wasn't exactly subtle when it came to expressing her attraction.
I always found it to be an interesting character trait but always chalked it up to the writers pencilling in an inconsequential quirk for the jokes. I think this version is more in line with her personality.
Anyways, the next chapter is written and has a hell of a lot of action in it. That's why this chapter took so long to come out.
Until next time, Cheers!