A/N: EDIT: Fixed the errors!

...hey.

Sorry for falling off the grid like that these past few days, it was bound to happen sooner or later; I finally got sick this week from overworking myself, to the point where I couldn't even function. Had to rest for two solid days and even now I'm not fully recovered. Once again, sorry for vanishing like that. I wish I could say it won't happen again, but with my jobs pushing me the way they are...

Still, that was one hell of a finale!

It really fit into the theme of this story and spurred another early update.

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

No Q&A this time, as folks complained last chapter! With that said, we've got some ground to cover. Quite a bit of ground indeed.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're tributes to legends far better than me.

Now, then. Are you ready? Yes? No? Maybe so? Because! Here. We. Go.

We're picking up where we left off last chapter!

References to one of the songs here:

"There's a point where it tips, there's a point where it bends. There's a point where it breaks.

And a point where you just...can't take anymore...what happens then, I wonder?

LETS FIND OUT."

~?

Trust no One

It was a standoff.

Team RWBY stood on one side of the street, Naruto and Penny on the other with Ciel, leaving a bemused Neo and a prone girl who-may-or may not be the real Pyrrha Nikos trapped between them. The shorter of the duo showed no concern whatsoever; if anything Neo looked relaxed now, like a cat who had finally cornered the canary in its nest. For better or worse, she wasn't going anywhere. The little minx even went so far as to plant a boot upon the slumbering redhead's back, knowing it would rile up the huntresses.

"Pyrrha?!"

Well, she wasn't wrong about that.

"Neo, get offa her." he waved the grinning girl down. "Don't antagonize them."

He expect at least some small measure of an argument from the illusionist; but no, rather than retort -wordlessly or otherwise- Roman's parter swept her hat off and sketched a bow to him, much to the chagrin of the four girls before them. Well, Weiss, Blake and Yang scowled. Ruby was too busy fretting over Nikos. Said fretting only intensified when the graceful girl donned said hat once more and all but skipped to his side. Ciel shot her a withering look and was summarily ignored for it.

Penny tilted her head, either oblivious to the byplay or choosing to ignore it. "You're quite friendly when you want to be, aren't you?"

Neo nodded eagerly all too happy to perpetuate the ruse, chaotic little gremlin that she was.

Yang absolutely exploded. "Since when does she listen to you?!"

Right, right, those two had history, didn't they? Neo had given Yang a rather brutal beating beneath Mountain Glenn by all accounts. She would've died there too, if a third party -her mother!- hadn't intervened at the last second. He'd done his due diligence, read the reports and seen the footage. It had proven...enlightening. But that bird wasn't his concern at the moment. Her daughter was, and contrary to her belief, he had no intention of starting a war in the streets of Mantle over a misunderstanding.

"She's not listening to me." he forced a smile to his face that he didn't entirely feel. "We made a deal."

"...!"

"With her?!"

"What the hell?!"

"You can't possibly be serious!"

Ruby and her friends had questions. Of course they did. Questions, questions, questions.

Naruto might've been annoyed by it all if he weren't in such a good mood.

Today was a win no matter what anyone said.

Cinder Fall was dead. The power of the Fall Maiden now lay with Ciel. Neo had turned her coat. And they had a prisoner to boot; someone who may well lead them to Watts if they played their cards right. Salem's forces no longer had a maiden to command; which grievously reduced their combat potential. Who did that leave her? Hazel, Watts, and Cinder's two misfit teenagers. Easily dealt with-so long as they were careful. Without them, all Salem had was Grimm. Mindless monsters.

He'd been killing monsters all his life. It was humanity that worried him.

"There'll be no more discussion on the matter." he raised his voice to cut down on Blake's protest. "We're headed back to Atlas. Penny? Ciel? Retrieve the prisoner."

"Affirmative!" Penny chirruped happily and slung Pyrrha's body over her shoulder. The redhead groaned but otherwise remained motionless.

"Be sure to bind her hands and feet." he added after a moment's thought. "Weiss, can you help them? Maybe create some ice around her limbs? If this really is your friend I don't want her breaking loose. Metal restraints won't work."

If looks could kill he would've been a frozen glacier himself. "That's our friend you're speaking ill of."

"She might not be." he shrugged one shoulder. "We have no way of confirming who she is until we get her in a cell. 'Till then, I'm taking necessary precautions."

Blake muttered something that sounded less than pleasant. He chose to be the better man and ignore it...for now.

...is that an order, sir?"

Gods, she reminded him of Winter sometimes and not in a good way. "I'm not ordering you. I'm asking."

Weiss looked to Ruby. The latter nodded. She huffed in return. "As you wish."

Neo raised a hand as if to say what about me?

"You...follow, I guess." he shrugged. "I don't have anything for you to do right now."

"You're actually doing this." Yang piped up again, flicking a heated glance Neo's way. "You're actually working with this lunatic...

His temper slipped its leash. "That afraid of her, are you? Don't worry. Neo's not here to manhandle you...this time."

Neo offered a jovial little wave and received a one-fingered salute for her efforts, one that went suitably ignored...until she finally noticed Ruby. Those mismatching eyes narrowed to thin, vicious slits.

Yang's sister stiffened under her gaze. "Uh...hi? I guess you remember me...

Moment of truth.

Neo most certainly did; because she sauntered -stomped really- towards her with a scowl. Three sharp steps brought her well within arms reach. All eyes fell upon her. She tilted her head left. Right, now. Left again as she considered Ruby. With neither word nor warning, she reared up, grabbed the taller girl by the face and pinched both her cheeks.

"Ow!" the little reaper recoiled with a yelp, rubbing her face with one hand. "What was that for?!"

She was still complaining when a knee rocketed up and bashed her in the shin, leaving her hopping on one knee.

"Whyyy~?!"

Naruto couldn't quite hide his smile. "I think that was for Roman."

"But I didn't kill him!" her pout was almost adorable, really. "The Grimm did!"

"She knows that now." He patted Neo's head and drew her away. "Which is why she isn't trying to kill you."

Yang bridled. "If she tries to hurt Ruby again...

Neo glared mismatching daggers at the buxom blond. No, no, no. Not having that. The last thing he wanted was this situation to get away from them. Taking a deep breath to marshal the flagging dregs of his patience, he interposed himself between them before they could come to blows. "We're working with her."

"She's a criminal!"

"And what of it?" he rolled one shoulder in a shrug. Why was she being so difficult about this? "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. She's on our side now. We need all the allies we can get."

"Even killers like her?" Blake piped up, incensing him further.

"Pot calling the kettle black, much?" He fixed the faunus with a gimlet stare until she backed down. "We need people like Neo." Yang growled at him for it and his opinion of her fell further still; log forbid he say anything to upset her precious paramour. "ESPECIALLY killers like her. Salem is coming. Look, Neo wants something only I can give her." He looked right at Neo as he said it. "Isn't that right? You can't get your revenge unless you work with us." her head inclined in a stiff bob. "See? He preened and spread his arms. "We're all fiends here."

Penny looked between Team RWBY. Back to him, now. Once more to him again. "They don't look friendly."

Neo poked her head around his back and stuck her tongue out. Ciel swatted her hindquarters.

Of course, Weiss took the chance to throw her two cents in. "What if she turns on us?"

"...I don't think she will."

All eyes turned to Ruby. Penny preened, even as Ciel smiled. Well, well, well. Naruto found himself raising his mental estimation of the young leader that much more. Perhaps there was hope for her yet. If she was willing to put her foot down and take charge of her unruly teammates, she might even be Specialist material someday.

"I thin we should trust Naruto, if not Neo." she spoke softly, silver eyes shining. "He's on our side."

Her team flinched as if they'd been struck. Their protests were sweet music to Naruto's ears.

Yang found her voice first. "Ruby...?"

"Why are you siding with him?!

"Is this a joke?!"

"No joke here; she knows I'm right." he sketched a sarcastic bow, inwardly basking in her unexpected endorsement. "Don't worry. Should she betray us, I'll kill her. Simple as."

Neo didn't dare protest that; she knew she was no match for them in a fight, fair or otherwise.

It didn't stop the little minx from winking Yang's way.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. His fellow blond shook her head. "No, no, this isn't right. She needs to be locked up."

"General Ironwood wouldn't want that." Penny pointed out. "Perhaps we should ask-

Yang clicked her tongue at her. "Not now, Penny!

Naruto blew out a quick breath.

Sage save him from stubborn girls.

"That's not your decision to make, huntress." Naruto bit out the last word, hoping -praying!- it would remind Yang that he outranked her. "Leave it. This is your last warning."

"Oh, so you're giving out ultimatums, now?" she planted one fist on her hip and cocked her head his way. "We'll this is mine. Put her in cuffs or else."

Penny made a pained noise. "Friend Yang, surely you do not mean-

"Let her finish." Naruto waved her down, not liking the look in those lilac eyes. "Or else what...?"

"Or else I'm done taking orders from you."

.

..

...was she really that foolish?

Naruto quirked a blond brow her way. "Warning me now, are you?"

Ruby grabbed her arm. "Yang, stop! You're making a mistake! Just calm down!"

"Nah," Yang shook her off. "I'm finally doing something right." She flicked her arms, Ember Celica sliding over her natural wrist. "You've been super shady from the moment we met. Now this? The second you fight Cinder she DIES, Ciel gets her power, and suddenly Neo wants to work with you? I don't trust you. I've never trusted you. For all we know you're one of the bad guys...!"

Something deep inside Naruto cracked.

Insults he could take. He'd dealt with worse in his day.

But to call him a villain? He was trying to save Atlas yet these girls, these stubborn girls...!

"Ha." he palmed his forehead and began to laugh, shading his eyes with one hand. Mirth bubbled up in him, sharp, angry, and so very bitter. "Haha. Hahaha! Of course you think that." his hand fell from his face. Because that's just what you do, isn't it? Stand your ground. Fight the good fight, make blind accusations, all without a plan. How has that worked out for you so far, hmm?" pivoting, he rounded on them with a smile. "You've told yourselves you know best before, but you didn't. And you haven't. Not in Vale, not in Mistral, and not now.

Blake scowled. "Now wait just a second!"

Nope. There was no stopping this train now. He'd gone off the rails.

"And lets not forget your wasted question to Jinn because you thought YOU were right." he thrust a finger her way. "Get all the answers because you couldn't trust anyone. We know best! We're the heroes! Now here you are, picking a fight with me, thinking you'll win. If only someone could have warned you against such a miserable idea...

Penny laid a hand on his shoulder. "Naruto-

...oh, wait!" he shook her off and bared his teeth in a snarl. "I DID!"

Everyone flinched, even Ruby. Naruto didn't care. He was well beyond caring now. There was a dull roar in his ears, drowning the world in red.

"But you pushed ahead and you lost your temper when all you had to do do was your job and stay at your post!" he stormed forward, finding a target for his ire in Yang. Ruby was quick to back away, but Blake stood with her partner and Weiss with them. It only further stoked the fire in him. "You three think you're entitled to everything just because you've suffered, but suffering isn't enough! Newsflash! Everyone is suffering! Right now! All over the world!"

Someone tried to tug him back. Never! Naruto bucked with his shoulders, tearing free.

"You can't just be strong!" he glared golden daggers at Yang. "You have to be smart!" then his gaze turned to Blake. "You can't simply be rigid, you have to be flexible or you will break!" Now it was Weiss who winced under his heated glare; and here he gave her no quarter. "And you! Can't just be deserving, you have to be worthy! But all you three have EVER been...

He'd clenched his fist he realized; raised it and filled it with chakra. He wanted to hit them. Hurt them. Smack some sense into them.

It would be so simple. So easy. Effortless even. They wouldn't stand a chance.

But if he struck first, he'd shatter Ruby.

Ruby, who he actually had hopes for, who could be such a good huntress, who was actually trying to be better despite her team dragging her down.

He knew that. His fist fell.

"...is a migraine." He finished, turning his back on them with a growl. "You three disappoint me. You're not huntresses. And with attitudes like that? You never will be."

Movement surged in his peripherals, bright and gold.

Ruby yelped a warning. "Yang, don't!"

Her sister lunged with a roar.

In that instant, he could've reacted a dozen different ways. Dodged. Countered. Blocked. Attacked, even.

Naruto did none of these things.

He lowered his aura and let the blow land. Allowed those clenched knuckles to smash into the back of his head. Momentum sent him stumbling forward into Penny and Ciel. Oddly enough, the pain centered him more than their stricken expressions. His seething rage cooled, freezing over into arctic ice as stars blossomed before his vision.

"You're bleeding."

At Penny's words, he touched a hand to the back of his head. It came away red. "So it would seem. Did you record that?"

Ciel's face was carved from stone. "...affirmative."

"Good."

Penny rounded on Yang, blades bristling. "How could you! His back was turned!"

Yang drew back, eyes wide. "I didn't think I'd hurt him that badly!"

"I do not care!" Her green eyes blazed. You'll pay for that!"

"No!" Naruto grabbed her by the arm, willed nanites to the wound and pivoted, reeling her back. "Don't interfere. They started this. They're mine."

The world went silent. No one moved. No one dared breathe.

"Yang didn't mean to!" Ruby broke the silence first. "It was an accident!"

"Like hell it was-

Naruto's fist cracked out in a contemptuous backhand. Yang's back struck a wall. Aura fizzled.

"I am so sick and tired of this." he lowered his now-trembling arm. "You girls never think these things through. I trained my entire life as a shinobi, and then a sage!" he felt his eyes bleed yellow, his skin hardening as the nanites in his bloodstream responded to his stress. "I cut my teeth on battlefields that make this look like a skirmish. Where did you train?! In a school?! Well, guess what?! Class is in session!"

Yang rushed him again.

"Slow." He ducked her first punch. "Sloppy." Swayed away from the second, and lashed out with his fist to meet the third. "SAD!"

Knuckles met knuckles. Aura buckled.

Contrary to popular belief punching fist to fist? It bloody hurts. A. Lot.

Yang certainly felt it judging by how of pain she gave as she clutched at her wrist. Her weakness gave him an opening; he hammered in with a one-two-three punch, folded her up and sent her tumbling through the alley like yesterday's trash. She did not rise again.

"Really should've led with the metal arm there blondie...

He blew a wolf whistle between his teeth, beckoned with one hand to rile her up- and in swooped Blake from behind with Gambol Shroud as he knew she would. Child's play. He let her ribbon encircle its neck once, reached up in a blur, and yanked her down. Hard. A tried and true huntress would have realized the danger and let go at once.

Blake was not a true huntress. No one in Team RWBY was.

Rather than relinquish her weapon, she fearfully clung on and paid dearly for it. Face first in fact. Her startled visage kissed the ground, aura crackled and she went limp.

"They never learn...

Weiss rushed in while he was still speaking. He caught Myrtenaster between his thumb and forefinger. A quick twist bend the tip, ruining it with a screech of metal. When she tried to conjure a glyph underfoot and leap away he stomped down. It shattered it like so much brittle glass. A hand closed around her throat, ripping her into the air. Up she went. Then down, into his waiting fist. A single punch folded the heiress in half and left her limp. He dropped her at his feet with a scowl.

"Your sister would be so dissappointed in you."

Then he heard the click of a sniper round slotting in behind him.

Naruto tensed, body still as stone. Any second now, Ruby would open fire on him...

.

..

...

But she never did.

He turned to peer over his shoulder at her. "Are you with me?"

Crescent Rose trembled in her hands.

"Ruby," Naruto raised his own, "Think very carefully before you do anything. You can't take this choice back. Lets all just calm down."

She looked back at the three of them. Back to her teammates, wasted and gasping for air. Back to him again.

"Please." Penny clasped her hands. "Do not do this."

Ruby exhaled. And made her decision.

She threw her weapon down.

"We surrender."

A/N: Aaaand scene.

In a way this is the opposite of Volume 9. Ruby's stabilizing, while her team's falling apart.

As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story, welll...it won't be continued! That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with virtually no days off. That makes my free time terribly limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like.

Reviews are my fuel. I can't write without them~! Not a wit or a word!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review, Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews!

They're rough for a reason.

And as ever:

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

BEWARE~!

(Previews!)

James wasted no time.

To his credit, Naruto was ready for him; although he barely had one foot out the bullhead, he still managed to brace himself before the good general stepped forth, wrapped both arms around him, and seized him a bracing bear hug. Oi, oi! James! Not so tight! Marvelous work! We got lucky. Ciel raised a hand, watching blue flames play over her fingertips. Penny was smiling fit to burst. But not all were pleased. He knew those looks. Team RWBY wasn't best pleased with this recent development. They were feeling lost. Adrift, perhaps. FIrst this nonsense with Cinder, the girl who may or may not be Pyrrha and now Neo. James felt for them. Really, he did. Jaune needs to see her. Ah, yes, Arc was still confined to quarters, wasn't he? That would be one way to determine who this girl was. Speaking of which...I'd prefer you stay well away from her. If her Semblance truly is Magnetism...she could mess up my nanites. Kinda still need those to live.

They were hurtling toward the edge. Ruby knew it now. Things had been tense before, but the recent revelation of Pyrrha and the skirmish in Mantle had only made things words. So much worse. Who was she? Was she real? If so, how was she alive? Was she an imposter? A clone? So many questions and not a single answer to be had. And so she knocked on the door. "Come in." Naruto's office was...well, an office. She wouldn't have even known he had one if it weren't for Penny.

Please, have a seat. Naruto gestured to the chair opposite him. He seemed calm. Hauntingly so. You're...not mad?" Why would I be mad? Were you the one who ordered your team to abandon your post? He knew. How did he know? Blake had run the moment she heard the news, which meant Yang went racing after her, and of course that got Weiss going and she could hardly stop all three by herself could she?! So she'd run after them but by then it was too late. I tried but they didn't listen...they never listen anymore... Ruby? Ha? I'm fine. No, you are not." he shook his head. "I know that look. We can talk about it if you want. Eh? He was the first one to ask what was wrong in...well, awhile. Well, Uncle Qrow had in his own roundabout way when they'd first received their liscenses, but never this directly. Lately it feels like...she squirmed a little, hands clenching in her lap. "Like no one is listening to me, or what I want. And what do you want, Ruby?" I want to be a huntress! she couldn't keep the frustration from her voice. To be a hero! To help people! That's all I want! That's all I have EVER wanted!

I know, I know. he stroked the small of her back, not like that, but with a sigh, the way an older brother might a younger sibling. It was strangely comforting. She didn't want him to stop. I'm appointing you my personal representative with Robyn. She waited for the other shoe to drop. It didn't. And? And nothing. his smile didn't waver. You'll be held responsible for relaying messages, rotating between me and my team. You said you wanted more experience, this is your chance. Have you given any thought to our earlier discussion? About choosing sides? I need your help, Ruby. I need you to mak your team understand. Lets say, hypotheticall, you revolt against Atlas. Her head bobbed. Okay. How do you think Penny would react? His words were a knife in her gut. She would be? Sad? Was that the word you were going to use? No. She'd be heartbrkne. I'm loyal to Atlas. As is Penny, Ciel, Winter, and the Ace Ops. We're responsible for hundreds, if not thousands of lives. You have to realize that. I don't want us to fight. But we will. And you'll lose.

"Pyrrha...?"

The girl glared at Jaune, hands still shackled to the table. "Who is Pyrrha?"

James heaved a sigh. "Are you with me? Even now?

Naruto thumped a fist against his chest.

"To the end."

"We already have Tyrian in captivity, but not his accomplice.

"You believe it to be Arthur Watts?"

"I do. Who else could mess with the code in Mantle so easily? Then there's Hazel, and this girl...

"Take...the...girls!"

"You won't take them. You won't hurt them. You won't touch a single hair on their heads."

The Hound snarled at him, baring its fangs.

Naruto snarled back. "COME ON THEN!"

You can't reach her. Not through the many Grimm. You'll die!"

...never tell me the odds. I have a plan."

"And what, pray tell, is this plan?"

He told James.

EDIT: Hey, you made it!

As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.

Looking forward to talking with you all after work!

R&R~!