Quick update...
Calling an immediate temporary halt to other projects for the time being.
Until I am satisfied with the state of the Remake...
Fox of Remnant is my priority!
So because of that, my monthly dumps really don't work either unfortunately...
But will go back to normal release schedule after this story is in satisfactory condition.
One last thing before starting the chapter.
And this goes especially from the original...
Should this keep the original title?
Or like WildFlowers, which is an alternate path or what if of Fox of Remnant, get it's own unique name and be denoted as the remake in the summary?
Onto the chapter.
Reference:
"Italicized" - Emphasis/Tone Shift
Italicized - Thoughts
Bold Italicized - Emphasis
Saw you
In a dream
Are you who you seem?
Was it always in the cards for me
To be aimless?
No direction, nothing pulling me down
From the sky it seems like I always get too
High
Oh the air is cold, I don't know how to breathe
I'm begging, can you
Guide my way out
Of this place?
His goal was clear…
To find this author, who used the pseudonym Ozymandias to hide his identity, to tell him where this tree woman was so he could get some answers!
Now the question was to find this Oz person…
Naruto didn't question why he hid his identity. The man wanted privacy and didn't want any adoring fans to seek him out.
Or call him a pervert for writing such trash.
He saw how Jiraiya openly wrote such things and was both adored and mocked.
A veil of secrecy made sense, even for standard writers.
The issue was that it made finding this person harder.
According to Blake, there was no record of any fan event with this author. Even authors that liked their privacy tended to attend at least one or two fan events…
This one didn't.
So there was nothing to go on.
He was gonna have to track 'em down the old-fashioned way.
Hearing a low whimper, followed by a groan, Naruto noted that his guest, who stayed with him overnight, was slowly rousing as the sun rays lifted into the alleyway. His lips thinly pursed as he squinted his eyes as she moaned and groaned, rustling in her sleeping bag.
Those noises he understood.
The whimper?
That didn't seem like a pained whimper.
Almost like she was…
Naruto shook his head. He didn't want to extrapolate. All he knew about her was what she told him last night.
That, much like him, she was new to Vale and didn't have a place to stay, at least for a little over a week. She had just been accepted into this Academy called Beacon that would cover food and board so she could train to become a Huntress.
He wasn't sure what any of that was, but he got the jist of it.
She was going to a school to train and become some kind of special soldier.
Made sense.
She had a presence about her like Coco and Velvet did…
Maybe even more brilliant than theirs…
She could very well be something special.
Especially if those two were already training and taking lessons at this school.
Perhaps he was reading too much into it.
Waking up on concrete was rough. His back was sore too.
"Is it morning already?" Blake grumbled, rubbing at her eyes in an almost cat-like fashion.
Naruto repressed his urge to giggle profusely, his inner child wanting to be released. He didn't want to say it was adorable…
BUT IT WAS!
If he had known her better…
He let out a depressed sigh.
He missed Sakura already. He wanted their playful banter!
"Morning, bedhead. Sun just rose. About six-thirty or so, I believe." Naruto noted the frizziness and frayed hair, making a statement about it and attempting to get some amusement out of his morning regardless, finding it strange she kept the bow on overnight…
Did it twitch?
The hell?
Was it alive?
"Ugh, one more week before I can bathe." Blake muttered, painfully stretching, gazing up before scowling, noticing his skill in his morning activities. "You didn't stay up all night, did you?"
"Nah. Light sleeper." Naruto waved, returning to setting the fire and ignoring the bow before scrunching his nose. "Well, kind of… It was trained into me. Sleep light on the road… Sleep hard in safe confines."
"That… Makes a lot more sense." Blake sat out of her sleeping bag, slowly packing it up. "Being on the road constantly with bandits and worst of all… Grimm… It makes sense to be prepared at a moment's notice."
Naruto nodded. That was the reasoning…
Tilting his head and pursing his lips.
Grimm?
Was this another Lien situation?
Okay, he had something else he needed to look into. Didn't want to look like a complete idiot again…
"You're heading to the CCT, right?" Blake broke his thought, finishing her packing and turning to Naruto. "You are new to town, so do you know where that is? If not, I can show you."
"I wouldn't mind if you did!" Naruto beamed, scratching the top of his head, still adjusting to the appendages on his head even as they adapted his habits and curled out of the way. "I still got some extra fish if you are hungry! I caught a little more than I anticipated yesterday."
"Really!" Blake's eyes dazzled, her bow enthusiastically stiffened in glee before her cheeks flushed scarlet in embarrassment, and she turned away with a huff. "It isn't any trouble… I happen to be heading in that direction regardless. The CCT is on campus, and I want to check it out."
"Well, that's convenient!" Naruto pulled a scroll out of his battered pouch, much to Blake's bewilderment, having expected him to withdraw other materials to start the fire. "My luck strikes again! Sensei always said I was too lucky for my own good!"
Still, she didn't question, repressing a chuckle at his infectious enthusiasm, and shook her head.
She didn't want to catch it.
"I wouldn't say that." Blake softly smiled, watching Naruto make a strange series of movements with his hands curiously. "Just helping out another in need. After everything our kind has been through, we have to band together."
These words caused Naruto to stumble through his motion.
Our kind?
What did that mean?
And why did her bow swish when she said that?
Hold on…
Was she hiding…
Her own pair of ears beneath them?
Naruto scowled…
That was something else added to his list of things to research now.
What was this place he was dropped into, and where was everything he knew?!
"You're right about that," Naruto went along with her words, mostly agreeing with her statement, believing in helping out whenever needed and banding together. "Now let me start this so we can have our fish…"
"Sounds delicious… HUH?!" Blake continued to beam brightly before her entire body went rigid as Naruto blew a small breath of flames onto the campfire, stoking it. "What, but how? Where's the Dust? The ignition? How did you do that? Answer me! That was magic!"
"Huh?" Naruto blinked in confusion, successfully stoking the flames, moving to his scroll, furrowing his brow at Blake. "What are you talking about? That's just a normal campfire technique everyone learns back home. What is dust?"
"What do you mean what is Dust?!" Blake bellowed, her brain melting at what she saw before puffs of smoke emerged from the scroll, and two fish emerged, cleaned and staked. "I… What… Is this… WITCH!"
Naruto scowled at Blake as she pointed her finger at him, rapidly crawling away from him in a terrified manner up against the alley wall.
This was going to be a long morning.
"Huh, so you are a ninja who is just trying to find his way home? After getting lost after a massive conflict?"
"You took that all surprisingly well."
"What?" Blake responded after a satisfied nibble of the smoked fish. "Am I not supposed to? It is weird as it is to hear that a conflict like that could have happened without anyone knowing about it… I believe you. Don't know. Just something about the way you told it…"
"Huh, didn't work out so well last time." Naruto mused, tilting his head before shrugging as he thought of Coco before remembering Velvet and smiling at the mild-mannered bunny girl. "Ah, well, at least you aren't calling me a witch any more! We moved past that!"
Hearing Naruto's raucous laughter caused Blake to flush and scowl. "I never had seen anything like that, okay? Knowing that your people know nothing about the rest of Remnant is weird. Possible given there is an entire unexplored continent no one dares attempt to travel due to how dangerous the Grimm are there…"
"They got be pretty bad if no one goes there." Naruto took a bite of his fish and frowned. "Sounds like that's what being a Huntress is all about?"
"Huntsman and Huntresses, yes. And yes, they are horrible." Blake nodded at his assessment. "There are various jobs assigned with being one, but their most important task is to defend the people against the Grimm."
Naruto tilted his head, musing to himself. It sounded awfully like the profession was similar to being a shinobi. There wasn't an allegiance to a nation.
It was to defend humanity against a more significant threat.
He got his reason why this didn't feel as full as it should have been.
And he didn't like it.
"Hm…" Blake brought her hand to her chin, a troubled expression crossing her features as her dark eyes scanned him. "Could it be?"
"Mah, I don't like that." Naruto scowled, crossing his arms over his chest at being thoroughly examined by his peer. "Why don't you come out and say what ya thinking?"
"This is just a thought," Blake lowered her hand, her lips thinly pursed as she mused to him. "A lot of what you said doesn't add up. But it would if you think about it another way. If we believe what you said is true, and I believe it is, how could that be? How could no one have heard of your home before? Or a war so massive?"
"I don't like where you are getting at." Naruto's eyes were squinted nearly shut, and his stomach clenched.
Worried she was about to confirm his suspicions.
If she was thinking it as well…
"Well, you probably thought this yourself," Blake admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "But I must admit, it sounds like you may have fallen through worlds and ended up here."
"Didn't want to hear it out loud." Naruto reflexively grimaced upon hearing her confirm his theory, proving his thoughts about his ancestry might be playing a role in this. "Yeah, I thought of it, unfortunately. …I am curious, though. Why do you mention it?"
"I can't help but think of a book I read, The Girl Who Fell Through The World." Blake tilted her head curiously, still examining Naruto. "You are far from home and searching for a way to return. Don't know anything about this place. No one knows anything about your home. You have strange abilities and think ours are strange… It seems to fit. … Well, outside the fantastical elements."
Naruto was unable to repress his groan, palming his face.
Annoyed by these long fluffy ears flopping on his head in response to his emotional state.
Something else to add to the pile.
Lovely.
Gonna have to look that up, too.
Joy.
He loved reading.
However, he then blandly glanced up at Blake. "Well, if I am, why aren't you panicking? Wouldn't that make me an alien? You were freaking out because I was a witch?"
Blake's eyes dazzled brilliantly. Enchantment washed over her expression as she clasped her hands together. "That would be amazing! I would have so many questions! Obviously, that means you have different abilities, so that explains your fire! Oh, I would like to know what your world is like if that were the case! And what are the differences between our world and your world that you've noticed so far? Oh, you wouldn't know that yet…"
Naruto's entire face furrowed at Blake's delightful, hyperactive squeals.
Her switch had been flipped…
Apparently.
Turning to the fire, he finished his fish with one more bite before monotonously poking the fire with the stake.
"This day is gonna keep getting longer, isn't it?"
He couldn't help but whistle at this place.
This was something he hadn't seen before.
Technology was something that always impressed him, but this was something else!
He was expecting something like a school or a university with a radio tower or something close to that. Maybe a little fancier, given everything he saw
Nah, he got a majestic futuristic castle with a tower at its center!
This was something out of fairy tale books!
And it was cool!
Why couldn't he have gone to learn here?!
He would have paid attention here!
Nothing against Iruka…
The man looked after him…
A sliver of smile crooked on his lips as he casually strolled behind Blake, admiring everything in their wake.
He'd have to pay the man back for that.
"You haven't said a word in ten minutes." Blake cautiously turned around, almost surprised at how quiet it had become since they had arrived.
She wouldn't call Naruto a loudmouth, but…
He sure seemed talkative.
And for him to suddenly go silent…
"Too much to take in," Naruto admitted as they walked into the building, his eyes filled with wonder at everything he saw for the first time.
"Really believe you fell…" Blake muttered under her breath, squinting her eyes at him before shaking her head, showing him the way since this wasn't too unfamiliar for her.
Naruto couldn't argue, his gaze darting at all the shiny monitors and people inside, taking it all in.
He believed it.
It was a question of how it happened.
Until he heard his name in a thick accent that didn't quite sound natural coming from.
"Naruto?"
"Huh?" Naruto squinted, recognizing someone calling his name, and turned around, recognizing those ears anywhere. "Velvet?"
"You know her?" Blake expressed confusion, watching the approaching Faunus come to greet them.
"Um, evidently, she's the one that found me and brought me to Vale Medical." Naruto chuckled, throwing his arms behind his head in a relaxed manner. "She was also there when I woke up with her friend."
"The one that didn't believe you?" Blake questioned, tilting her head awkwardly, frowning as she gazed at Velvet.
Velvet meekly slumped her shoulders, her courage immediately sapped upon seeing another person present. Her eyes darted between the two before taking a deep breath. "No. That was my friend and squad leader, Coco. I believed him…"
"Squad leader? Oh, you are a student here." Blake snapped her fingers, recognizing the uniform she was wearing, before smiling and extending her hand. "I'll be attending here shortly. The name is Blake Belladonna."
"Belladonna?!" Velvet's eyes bulged, her ears stiffening at the mention of her name.
Blake cursed, her hand recoiling back.
Of course, she shouldn't have used her name.
Many Faunus would recognize that name!
Stupid!
Naruto squinted at the interaction, carefully gauging it. From grimace to Velvet's stunned stupor.
Seemingly, Blake's name was well known…
And she didn't want to be found?
That couldn't be good.
Why was everything complicated?
He just wanted to get back home?
Calming her nerves, Velvet shakily extended her hand out, apologizing profusely. "Sorry! I was just surprised! I didn't expect… I am Velvet Scarlatina. I hope you pass the exam."
"Exam? Pass?" Worry etched across Blake's face, her heart racing as she heard those words.
There was more than being accepted?
She could still…
She felt a firm hand pat on her shoulder. Her attention zipped to and was drawn into an ocean of concerned blue. "You doing alright?"
"Ah, sure…" Blake responded, her confidence fading and her nerves fried. "Let's get back to why we're here."
"Why are you here?" Velvet drew a finger to her lip, puzzled. "Did you find out anything about getting home? You two seem to know each other?"
"Just ran into her, truthfully. She's been a great help!" Naruto radiated a broad smile, his eyes sparkling as he chuckled. "Kind of got lucky, honestly! I was looking for information, and she led me here, saying this is the best place! Luck would have it, you were here too!"
"So you did need help…" Velvet weakly murmured to herself, her ears curling, her eyes shimmering. "I'm sorry… I should have said something…"
"Nah, don't worry about it!" Naruto waved her off and shook his head. "I would have gotten here eventually! Never doubt a shinobi's intuition!"
Seeing his vivid smile jolted Velvet, brightening her mood. Her cheek flushed a rosy red, and her ears twisted and swayed at such a beam.
Her heart thumped thunderously.
Her stomach knotted furiously.
What was causing this sensation?
Her feelings crashed as a raving, mad voice roared from behind.
"I recognize that voice! Is that who I think it is?! I'll kill 'em!"
Her head shrunk…
She forgot she came here with her team…
"That the guy that buried you up to your head and Velvet to call us for help? The one that you question the sanity of." A chipper voice resonated humorously from a sepia-toned young man with blood orange-hued hair trailed behind the offended voice. "I want to meet this guy! Sounds like someone I can get along with…"
"FOX!"
"I cannot fault him for his actions…" Another deeper voice came from the much taller of the trio.
"YATSU!"
"What did you do?" Blake rounded on Naruto, who sheepishly scratched the back of his head, biting back a laugh as Blake walked up to the front desk as if she was looking for service. "You know what? I don't care… Just get what you came for and call it for a day… I think I'm done with this. "
"That's probably for the…" Naruto couldn't help but abashedly chuckle in agreement, wanting to get this done and over with…
He had things to do…
"Hell, how may I help…"
"Oiy, what is that?!" Naruto's voice echoed throughout the tower, a kunai waving in his hand, mysteriously having drawn it at some point, barely preventing himself from throwing it at the glowing green abomination before him.
Blake slapped her palm over her face, dragging it down her face.
How could she forget?
She just concluded that he fell through worlds, and everything here was foreign to him.
Velvet's eyes widened, her ears stiffening straight in horror. Her hands slip to her mouth, barely able to cover her gasp.
How could someone not know what an AI was?
Coco and Yatsu looked confused while Fox…
White blank eyes stared forward, unable to see what was happening.
"What am I missing? What is he yelling at? I sense panic, but I don't understand! Context for the blind guy!"
Recognizing his actions once more were causing a scene, Naruto scolded himself.
He needed to be better. If he had dimension-hopped, weird things were to be expected.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed his nerves as he put away his kunai.
Took it from the top.
Analyzed the situation.
"I can see through it…" Naruto muttered more to himself, squinting at the green hologram before him. "Is this an illusion? Is this person nearby just talking from somewhere else? Why is their voice so… Strange?"
"No," Blake shook her head, her golden eyes carefully observing Naruto, surprised by how quickly he recovered and was adjusting.
She wasn't sure if she had seen something so utterly bizarre in another world what her reaction would be, but… To recover your composure quickly was an impressive attribute to have.
"You're close. She is an AI …Artificial Intelligence." Blake glanced over at the hologram, who was patiently waiting. "I thought using her would be faster, but given the circumstances… A computer might be faster after what just happened…"
"Who is causing such a commotion in my facility?"
"Oh no…" Velvet's eyes flickered at the voice, and all attention was drawn to a tall blonde woman striding toward them, a riding crop cracking in her hand. "Professor Goodwitch…"
"You better have a proper explanation on why you are causing such turbulence here! CFVY! I expected better of you! And you two, I could bar you from ever returning…" Emerald eyes sternly reprimanded everyone before her eyes fell upon Blake, her gaze softening for only a moment. "Ms. Belladonna. I didn't realize you had arrived already. I shall provide you with room and board."
"But you should know the rules very well. One wrong step, and you can lose everything. We are taking you in as we believe in you, understand?" Glynda's gaze hardened, boring into a shrinking Blake.
Blake nodded numbly as CFVY flinched at their reprimand, knowing better than to say a word back.
The message was crystal clear.
One mistake, and she was back on the streets.
"As for you," Glynda frowned, turning to the last culprits of the commotion, who must have been the instigator.
Only to pause in confusion at a beaming smile and titled head.
Bewildered at the confidence displayed before her.
"And, just who are you?"
"Name's Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto chirped, stretching his arms over his head, keeping his gaze level with Glynda's stern glare, having dealt with far harsher before. "And I am completely lost and in over my head! Trying to find my way home and could use some help! Sorry about the noise! Will do my best to keep it down from now on!"
This was nothing!
He dealt with Tsuande on her bad days!
Desks went flying on those!
Glynda blinked.
This was unusual.
Very few individuals could ever look her in the eye when she was serious.
Those that could…
Were hardened veterans.
She scowled.
Who was this Uzumaki Naruto?
Where was he from?
"Mah, still got nothing…" Naruto groaned in annoyance, leaning back in his chair, passively gazing at the computer screen that Blake was sitting in front of. "Guess that really does mean I did fall…"
"Fall?" Velvet's ears perked up, perplexed at what that meant, her head rising from the backrest of the chair she was leaning against
Naruto gave a half-hearted smile, haphazardly waving it off as he shook his head. "Don't worry about it. My problem to deal with. Don't want to get too many people involved. I think you both have done enough already. You got your problems. Not to mention school…"
Blake frustratedly thumped the keyboard, annoyed, turning back at Naruto and glaring at him as Velvet deeply scowled.
Both giving him looks of disapproval.
"You think I'm just gonna give up!" Blake gnashed her teeth, squinting her eyes at him. "You got me started on this! Made me interested! This is your fault! I'm finishing this!"
"I don't like not knowing what is wrong with a friend." Velvet furrowed her brow, her ears curling, laying her head back down against the chair's backrest, glaring at Naruto in annoyance.
"Ah, we're friends already! Man, I wish it was that easy back home!" Naruto laid it on thick, making Velvet flush furiously, burying her head further into the backrest. "Okay, I'm not winning this battle! I'll take all the help I can get! I just think you both should focus on your training and studies… I'm done with all mine! I'm free to go about and do what I need to do, ya know?"
"You seem dumb as a rock." Blake quipped with an amused expression.
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Naruto snapped, squinting at the bow-wearing girl. "I'll have you know I only dropped the contest in math and history! That rock was stupid smart, I tell ya! Smoked him when it came to practical knowledge! …Stupid rock made me pick up a book after. Prove him wrong! …Eventually."
Blake snorted, rolling her eyes, while Velvet giggled.
Naruto laughed alongside them, his eyes glimmering.
He didn't often get to laugh like this…
It was nice.
Exhaling, stretching his legs and his arms out, his ears drooped.
But all things must come to an end.
He needed to find a way home.
If he wasn't getting answers here…
"You're heading out?" Velvet sat up in her carry, worry etched on her face. "It doesn't seem you are any closer to figuring anything out…"
"Yeah, but gotta start somewhere." Naruto stood up straight, only to narrow his eyes.
Feeling a firm hand snatch his wrist.
And golden eyes staring directly into his.
"Do you mind?" Naruto gently shook his wrist that Blake latched onto, mildly irritated at being stopped.
"I said I'm finishing this," Blake growled, squinted as she gazed back into his eyes unflinchingly.
Naruto scowled.
They had their own lives and troubles…
But he did ask for help…
Add in two glistening brown eyes filled with anxiety about her new friend.
He groaned and rolled his head back.
He would do the same in their position.
Dammit.
"Fine," Naruto grunted, glancing down at Blake and Velvet, glancing between the two. "I'll let you both help. But I'm gonna go searching alone for a while and come back? Okay? You two handle your business here and keep an ear out for information for me. Deal?"
"That sounds wonderful!" Velvet nodded enthusiastically, finding the plan acceptable. "I'll keep an ear to the ground for you."
Naruto, however, narrowed his eyes.
The grip on his wrist only tightened.
Golden eyes dilated further as they bored into his.
What more did he need to say?
He offered to let them…
"You don't have a scroll." Blake finally spoke after a moment of silence. "How are we supposed to stay in contact with you while you're out if we find something?"
Naruto blinked.
She had a point.
That was always an issue when out on a mission. Carrier birds were often not fast enough, and summons weren't common…
Speaking of summons, that was something he needed to try here shortly.
He remembered Sasuke summoning that Falcon in a different dimension.
So maybe…
However…
"What's a scroll?"
"Oum, you are from another world!" Blake frustratedly cried out before slapping her hand over her mouth.
Glancing over at Velvet, mouth agape as her eyes shifted to Naruto.
She didn't mean to say that out loud!
Oh, she screwed up so royally…
Shutting her mouth, still owlishly tilting her head at Naruto, who grimaced at Blake's outburst, Velvet softly smiled. "That makes more sense why we can't find your home now…"
"Yo, what?" Naruto blinked, confused, staring at Velvet. "How does that make more sense than anything else? How?"
"Well, you said you never had your ears before, and they were throwing you off." Velvet pointed out, causing Blake's eyes to narrow momentarily. "Everything you don't know is very peculiar. And finally… The state I found you in…"
"Wait, yeah, how did you find me?" Naruto frowned, crossing his arms, sternly glancing down at Velvet. "That might be a clue on how I got here."
"You were slumped against a tree on the edge of Beacon. Unconscious. Visible to everyone to see." Velvet quickly responded before wincing, seeing Naruto deflate at such a simple answer. "I'm sorry if that doesn't help… I can show you the exact tree if you like."
"Yeah, there might be some clues there." Naruto scratched his head before sighing. "At least it is something to go on…"
"I was just so worried." Velvet lowered her head, her ears curling, and looked down at the floor. "I caused such a panic. With how you wake up for days… People thought there had been a case of an Apathy attack right outside Beacon! A place meant to train those who are meant to protect people from Grimm! And yet…"
Naruto frowned.
That was worrisome.
He knew he was out for days. He gathered that before.
But there was evidently a subspecies of Grimm that caused attacks on people like this?
Okay, Grimm could be very dangerous if they could attack mentally.
He didn't think he had any defenses to that kind of attack. So that was something to be wary of.
Naruto made a note to research Grimm while he was stuck here, searching for a way home.
He did not want to be caught unaware.
"Excuse me." An expressive voice resonated from behind, drawing their attention…
To a silver-haired in a black suit with a green turtle neck beneath it.
"I couldn't help but notice what you were researching today, and I am quite curious about it." The silver-haired man quipped, pressing down a cane with his right before sipping out of a coffee mug with his left. "Ah. Cocoa is just lovely this time of day."
Naruto crossed his arms. Squared his feet. Locked his gaze.
Something didn't sit right with him about this man.
How did he know what they were researching?
Was he listening in?
If so…
"And how do you know what we were researching about?" Naruto flatly asked, staring directly into the brown gaze of the silver-haired gentleman.
"Ah! This is Professor Ozpin!" Velvet immediately shot up from her seat, attempting to diffuse the situation, racked with anxiety at all the possibilities. "He's the Headmaster! He…"
"It is quite alright, Velvet. He has every right to question me." Ozpin gently smiled, closing his eyes as he turned his head toward the girl briefly before returning his gaze toward Naruto. "You see, besides running this place, you can say… Everything here goes through and stops through me. I am the last stop if the necessity calls for it."
Thinly pursing his lips, Naruto felt no intent or presence behind his words.
No threat.
No guarantee…
He was simply stating what it was.
Naruto could only nod. He was watching to keep his city safe.
He could respect that.
"And while it all was quite curious, I do have to say…" Ozpin continued, smiling upon seeing the nod, taking another sip of his cocoa. "Is there any particular reason you are searching for Ozymandius?"
"Yeah, his book isn't his." Naruto flatly responded, squinting his eyes and tightening his arms around his chest. "It was written by my sensei back home. Somewhere I'm trying to find, something you would know if you were sifting through all we were researching."
"Indeed." Ozpin thrummed his fingers at the tip of his cane, nodding to himself before reaching out and extending his hand toward Naruto. "I do hope you find him. Plagiarism is such a terrible crime and should be punished. If you need anything, do let me know."
"Uh, thanks." Naruto was surprised by the gesture before reaching out to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you. Name is… Huh? What is this? Where did this come from?"
"A scroll." Ozpin handed a small device to Naruto, turning and waving with his cane hand as he walked away. "I have several extra and just happened not to need that one! You are free to have it. I look forward to you finding this Ozymandias character and bringing him to justice!"
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, watching the man walk away before looking down at the small device in his hand, furrowing his brow. "What in the world?"
"Just how much was he listening in on us!"
I hope you enjoyed this second chapter.
Things are different, evidently. However, the spirit remains the same. Having bits from the original story be told in different ways while giving a new identity to the story. I felt the beginning was generic and lacked that identity and character. It will, however, be following in the footsteps.
The interesting part is how?
And where is Kurama? :)
If you have the time, leaving the smallest statement that you liked this story means the world. A simple comment. A follow. A favorite. It is what keeps stories alive. Whether you know it or not, many writers become discourage from the lack of engagement and are quite vocal about it other spaces (never daring to vocalizing it to you lovelies). And while I am perfectly content with my engagement, the greatest gift is just hearing from you and giving to others.
And even negative ones that kick my ass into gear by pointing something out without getting into trolling territory! We all, on occasionally, need that boot to be firmly planted right up where sun don't shine!
So until next time my friends, Peace out.
Next Time...
Chapter 3...
"Thanks! I was almost barbequed! I never seen anything like that before... What are you doing?"
"If she wants to use fire, I'm gonna light it up!"
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Red Like Roses