Hopeful beginning

by EL PRISIONERO DEL MUNDO

After a brutal fight with his best friend, Naruto Uzumaki found himself trapped in a different world, where he will make new friends and live new adventures. And who knows, maybe being lost in a new world is the best thing that ever happened to him. This is the translation to English of the original in Spanish.

17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Naruto's Fury

-joder'. Biju/Bestia parlante.

- "Because I Did It" The character thought.

- "How are you?" Biju/Summon/Beast Thoughts.

- "I fell in love with," the character speaking.

This fanfic is bigust for fun, I don't have any characters from Naruto or the rwby series. I hope you enjoy reading this story I created

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—"Professor Oobleck will be our guide?" Weiss asked, incredulously. The news took her by surprise; The professor seemed more prepared for a jungle expedition than a combat mission.

—"It's Dr. Oobleck," he corrected with a smile.

—"Excuse me, could you tell us about the specifics of our mission?"

—"Sure, it's basic reconnaissance and terrain exploration, nothing out of the ordinary."

The tension was palpable between them from the moment they boarded the ship on their way to their destination. The confidence they used to have was gone; they didn't want to appear prejudiced, but Professor Oobleck's reputation wasn't exactly based on warlike prowess. Rather, they considered him a scholar, a scholar of history, not a hunter in the traditional sense.

Dr. Oobleck, sensing their doubts, confronted them directly: —"You think I'm unfit to be a hunter, that my presence poses a risk to the mission, right?"

The girls shook their heads vehemently, though they knew he was right in his guess. How had he been able to read his thoughts so clearly?

—"Don't worry, young people. I understand your concerns, but I assure you that I would not be teaching at Beacon Academy if I were not able to take care of myself and you. Besides, we're almost there," he added in a tone that was meant to be comforting.

Despite his words, the girls couldn't help but feel disappointed. The mission they had envisioned was far from the reality they now faced, a reality filled with uncertainty and, possibly, unanticipated dangers.

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The room was in total chaos; The damage was evident everywhere, and it was clear that these vandals had been thoroughly employed. Pyrrha, with a gesture of compassion, placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder, trying to offer him some comfort.— "I'm so sorry about this, Naruto, I..."

However, Naruto seemed oblivious to his empathy, his attention was fixed on a flower pot that, for some reason, had survived the mess. He walked over and pulled out a small artifact: a hidden camera. Meticulously, he inspected the device and attached it to his scroll.

He dived into the device's internal memory and selected a specific recording.— "Let's see what we have here," Naruto muttered.

The content of the video was revealing: it clearly showed the meticulous kidnapping that had been orchestrated.

—"Wait a minute", Nora interrupted, pointing to a man in the recording who was struggling with Naira. —"Isn't that the mayor's secretary?"

Pyrrha, watching closely, recognized another figure.— "Wait, that man is the middleman in charge of transporting the powder to this area, Mr. Garrison", he remarked with surprise.

Ren, for his part, took aim at a woman in the video. —"And she's the owner of the village boutique", he said.

—"We seem to have civilians involved in this matter," Qrow concluded in a thoughtful murmur.

—"This confirms some of our suspects," Naruto said, turning off the screen and meticulously searching the room for any clues or clues.

Qrow watched him with a piercing gaze.— "Tell me, why was there a camera in Naira's room? Have you been watching her all this time?"

—"No, of course not," Naruto replied calmly, —"only since this morning."

Qrow frowned, confused. —"Wait, why today, what made you install it just now?"

Naruto held up a business card he had found in the rubble, belonging to the clothing store.

—"Naruto, how did you know...?" asked Qrow, his voice tinged with a mixture of fear and suspicion.

Naruto slowly turned to face Qrow, his eyes empty and serene. They held each other's gaze in silence for a few tense seconds until, suddenly, Qrow widened his eyes in an expression of horrific realization.

—"It can't be," Qrow exclaimed incredulously. Naruto chose to remain silent, avoiding confirming or denying the accusation.

—"It was you, you planned this kidnapping!" accused Qrow, his voice full of anger and betrayal.

Everyone in the room turned to Naruto, shocked by the severity of the accusation. Naruto, however, remained silent, his expression unflappable.

—"Yes, I was the one who organized all this," he finally confessed, with a calmness that contrasted with the tension of the moment.

Qrow, blinded by anger, lunged at Naruto and pushed him against the wall, his voice a low growl. —"Give me just one reason not to disfigure yourself with blows, you wretch."

Naruto, unfazed by Qrow's fury, responded with an icy calm.— "I understand your anger, and I know that there is no justification for what I did. I will assume the consequences of my actions, that is out of the question. But listen: all the kidnapped victims were between 18 and 20 years old, none older; They all shared the same date of birth, but there were no other connections between them, neither in physical appearance nor in biometric data. Nothing."

—"As fate would have it, Naira's birthday was September 20th, so I decided to use that date as a decoy. I had suspicions about the involvement of certain civilians, but I lacked concrete evidence, so I orchestrated this kidnapping. I was sure they wouldn't dare approach her with me close, vigilant and protective." Naruto narrated in detail.

—"I set up a camera here and we went out looking for more clues, that's when they jumped at the chance." He confessed bluntly.

—"Why didn't you tell us, Naruto?" whispered Pyrrha, and the rest of the team shared her look of bewilderment and reproach.

—"I was aware that they would oppose it, and I don't blame them. My actions go against everything they stand for." Naruto explained, his voice steady.

—"Do you realize what you've done, boy? You've put a human life on the line," Qrow snapped sternly.

—"I am fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. Naira is my friend and I care about her as much as you do, but it was a necessary step. She, just like anyone else, deserves a chance at life. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect them, even if it means getting my hands dirty and carrying the weight of guilt for the rest of my days... As long as I have the ability to act, I won't stop", Naruto proclaimed, his conviction echoing in every word.

Qrow, about to let his anger vent into a fist against Naruto, held back and exhaled deeply, trying to quell the internal storm that consumed him. Abstinence from alcohol only exacerbated his discomfort.

—"Listen carefully," Naruto began, his now more pragmatic tone,— "you can judge and condemn me later, but now we have lives to save. Fortunately, this video has given us a suspect. It's time to pay a visit to the mayor's secretary."

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The mayor's secretary, Mr. Connor, walked into his office with a satisfied smile, oblivious to the gravity of his recent actions. He didn't expect to find Naruto, a golden-haired young man, sitting quietly at his desk, flipping through some documents.

—"Interesting job you have here, Mr. Connor," Naruto remarked without looking up from the papers.

Connor frowned, surprised and annoyed by the intrusion. —"What are you doing here, boy?", he asked in a stern tone.

Naruto looked up, his expression a mixture of apology and determination.— "I'm sorry for the lack of formality, but I needed to get your attention somehow. You see, an hour ago a friend of mine was kidnapped."

Connor tried to show sympathy, even though it sounded hollow. —"What sad news."

—"It was Naira, Carlos' daughter" Naruto added, carefully observing Connor's reaction.

The secretary put his hand to his face, feigning consternation. —"Oh, Charles's poor daughter. What a tragedy." He went to a safe, inserted a combination, and pulled out a bottle of alcohol. He poured himself a glass and drank it in one gulp, trying to appear normal.

—"How can I help you?" he asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

—"You could start by telling me where she is. That would be a big help" ,Naruto suggested calmly.

Connor blinked, bewildered by the outright accusation. —"Excuse me?" he replied, offended.

—"You heard that right. Tell me where you are and we can call this matter over," Naruto insisted, remaining calm.

—"Don't start with that nonsense!, I have no idea what you're talking about!" exclaimed Connor, losing his composure.

Naruto sighed, his patience wearing thin. —"There are other ways to get the information I need."

Connor began to feel unwell, his body unresponsive. Everything around him was spinning and his consciousness was fading. Before falling to the ground, he managed to hear Naruto's last words.

—"I shouldn't drink so much alcohol; After all, it's bad for your health."

And with that, Connor collapsed, unconscious, on the floor of his own office.

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Yang stared listlessly at the desolate landscape of Mountain Glenn.— "This place is really depressing," he remarked with a sigh,— "so this is where we need to do our reconnaissance and research."

Ruby, always focused on the mission, reminded her sister of the task at hand.— "Don't be distracted, Yang. We have to set up a camp," he said with determination.

—"Yes!" exclaimed Yang, his voice echoing with forced enthusiasm.

Blake, with a shyness he didn't usually display, chimed in with a question he seemed to have been suppressing. —"And aren't you going to talk about it?" he asked, pointing subtly to Dr. Oobleck, who was absorbed in observing the surroundings. His usual energy seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a melancholy that made him sigh regretfully. The only spark of life he showed was when he saw the dog that accompanied them.

Ruby, noticing the change in her teacher, approached cautiously. — "Uh... Teacher... Oobleck," she called, but he gave her only a fleeting glance, his attention still fixed on the moon.

—"Yes, Miss Rose?" he finally answered, without correcting her for not using her correct title.

—"We've already set up camp," Rubí said, waiting for some reaction.

—"All right, Miss Rose. Could you call your sister?" asked Oobleck, his tone unusually serious.

—"Yes, of course, but why?" asked Rubí, confused.

—"I need to talk to her," was all he said, keeping it a mystery.

Once at the camp, the group got to work. They investigated the anomalies of the Grimms in the southeast, under the watchful eye of Dr. Oobleck, who silently assessed them. The girls were striving to impress their teacher with their performance.

—"Doctor Oobleck," Ruby called, finally using his correct title.

—"You use my title at last," he replied, turning to a Ruby who was looking at him curiously.

—"Do you need anything?" he asked, as he walked through the rubble of the fallen city.

—"It's just that," Ruby began, but Oobleck interrupted her.

—"Do you wonder why I've been interrogating your companions all day?" he supposed.

—"No, actually, what I wanted to know is... why did you decide to become a hunter?" asked Ruby, following him through the ruins.

Oobleck stopped and looked at her, surprised by the question. —"Tell me, Miss Rose, what do you see around us?" he asked, inviting her to look beyond the obvious.

Ruby surveyed the desolate panorama that stretched out before her, the remnants of what was once a vibrant city.— "All I see is ruin and abandonment," he said in a trembling voice, his heart heavy with the sight.

Dr. Oobleck turned to her, his countenance serious and thoughtful. —"What I see are lives we could have saved." He began to walk, his footsteps echoing in the silence, and Ruby followed, hanging on to every word.

—"As a hunter, my duty is to protect those who can't defend themselves, and while guns are useful tools, I believe that as an educator I have the opportunity to exert an even deeper influence," he explained, offering him a comforting smile.

—"Knowledge is the most powerful weapon there is. I can impart it to the young people who walk into my classroom, inspiring them to change the world. I don't just see the lives lost; I see the possibility of a better future, the chance to learn from our mistakes so that history doesn't repeat itself."

He stopped and turned to Ruby, who was looking at him with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. —"I chose to be a hunter because there is no other vocation in this world that awakens in me such passion and purpose. And if I can ignite that same passion in at least one of my students, then I will have succeeded."

Ruby reflected on Oobleck's words, feeling the seed of determination begin to germinate within her. In the midst of the desolation, he had found a spark of hope and a renewed sense of purpose.

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Night had fallen on the camp, and the party was gathering around the campfire. Even though their minds were focused on the task, the general mood was low. Professor Oobleck had spent the day questioning her motivations for becoming a Hunter, all of them except Ruby. Perhaps in his heart, Ruby's actions were what he considered closest to what a true Huntress should be.

—"Come on, girls, let's cheer up," Ruby said with an encouraging smile.

—"Yes, you're right," Yang replied, regaining his usual spirit in an instant. —"We must strive and strive to improve."

—"That sounded a little redundant," Weiss said with a neutral expression.

Professor Oobleck, who had been watching from a distance, walked over to the campfire and sat down with them. He stretched out his hands to the flames to warm himself. —"Could any of you tell me a story?" he asked as he took a sip from his thermos.

— "Aaaaah, although this coffee is good, it doesn't compare to Mr. Uzumaki's. Should I ask him for another package?"

Ruby smiled at her friend's name. "Speaking of Naruto, how do you think he's doing on his mission?"

—"It must be going well," they all replied in unison, showing absolute confidence in their partner. Professor Oobleck raised an eyebrow at such assurance, but he could not blame them; Naruto Uzumaki was known for his reliability and efficiency.

Yang's smile turned playful. —"Do you think Pyrrha will finally dare to tell you how she feels?"

—"No, I don't think so," Blake said skeptically. —"He'll probably back down like he's done before."

Weiss frowned and crossed his arms. — "Even if she dared, Naruto wouldn't accept. He's not interested in being in a relationship right now, he confessed to me."

—"Sure, sure," Yang said, waving his hand disdainfully.— "Naruto can say that, but opinions can change quickly. Pyrrha just needs to be a little more insistent," he gestured with his hands to emphasize his point.

— "Stop doing that, it's disgusting," Weiss replied with disgust. — "He would not fall so easily, Naruto is very different from others, a man."

—"He's 15 years old," Blake interjected. —"I don't think he can be considered a man yet."

Conversation flowed around the campfire, with the flames dancing and casting shadows that seemed to dance to the rhythm of his words. Weiss defended Naruto's maturity, and they all shared their thoughts and theories about him and Pyrrha, immersed in the warm glow of the night.

Professor Oobleck watched the scene with a smile, recalling simpler and happier times. —"Naruto Uzumaki," he began, grabbing everyone's attention.

—"It's true, he's not an ordinary boy. He graduated from Empire Academy at age 13, toured Remnant on a journey of self-discovery and learning, and at 15, entered Beacon Academy, the most prestigious of hunters."

—"At first, we found his credentials incredible, almost impossible to believe. But after thorough verification, we confirm its authenticity. It was evident that someone of his caliber could not go unnoticed. We accepted it immediately, and to our surprise, it exceeded all expectations. It was, without a doubt, the best of the best."

With a serious look, Oobleck continued.— "I'll be frank with you girls. Naruto surpasses them in every aspect, both physically and mentally, intellectually, and in analytical ability. There is no possible comparison."

—"And something that all of us teachers have noticed is their appreciation for friendships, even if they are few. He values them deeply... to all of you."

The girls smiled, moved by his words.

— "he would do whatever it took to keep them safe, no matter how difficult or challenging the situation might be, no matter how bad and cruel he had to be," Oobleck concluded with a firm voice, and everyone listened, knowing that Oobleck spoke the truth.

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¡PAM!💥

The sound of a slap was heard. —"Wake up."

The man was confused, a little disoriented.

—"I need you to pay attention to me." Naruto then showed him two steel rods and embedded them directly into the man's thighs.

—"AAAAAAAAAA!" , she screamed in agony. The pain was unbearable.

—"Have you listened to me yet? Naruto asked.

He nodded his head quickly, holding back the screams.

Naruto connected two tweezers on each of the rods. It was practically an electrical connection now.

—"Naruto, enough is enough," Pyrrha shouted, but the aforementioned ignored her and continued. He stared at Connor.

—"Where's Naira? Naruto asked.

the aforementioned Connor looked at him defiantly and Naruto got quite angry. —"Where's Naira?!" he shouted again.

Then he spat in her face. Naruto barely reacted, he took a handkerchief from his jacket and wiped his saliva. Once that was done, he saw that Connor was still defiant, so he crumpled up the handkerchief and embedded it in Connor's mouth. She walked away from him, and Connor followed him with his eyes. Naruto walked over to a switch and turned it on.

—"Mmmmmmmmm!", He groans in pain. Connor.

The electric current passed through Connor's body and he gritted his teeth and groaned in pain. The veins were noticeable in his neck. A few seconds passed and Naruto decided to cut off the electrical signal.

He was calm and unflappable.— "You know, the Atlesian army did this kind of thing, but they found that the villages they did it in had very bad networks and dust was inaccessible at the time. They were very small."

—"Sometimes, when they wanted to do it, there was no power for hours, and that made them sick. They started resorting to things like pulling out their nails, putting acid on their skin, etc."

Naruto again started walking in Connor's direction and positioned himself in front of him.

His friends and Qrow were watching this scene. When Naruto said something about the interrogation, they didn't expect anything like this.

—"The exercise used to be very tiring, but now the energy is stable. There's a constant flow. You flip a switch and the power comes in all day." Naruto said cruelly.

The blond walked up to Connor, took the handkerchief out of his mouth, and asked again in a serious voice, —"Where is he? "

Connor's will still hadn't been broken, and he spat at her again. Naruto became exasperated again, picked up the handkerchief and placed it in his mouth. Connor tried desperately not to let that thing get back in, but he was unsuccessful.

He watched sideways as Naruto moved away from him and closer to the switch. He groaned in anger, for he knew what awaited him, and tried to plead, but could not speak.

Then Naruto again turned on the current and the electricity passed through his body, causing him to moan in pain.

—"Okay, kid, enough is enough," said Qrow, who slowly approached Naruto, but he gave her a look and pointed his finger at her.

—"Stand still, Qrow, or I won't answer for the consequences," he warned, before turning his attention back to Connor and turning off the power. He walked over to Connor, his voice impatient.

—"Time is of the essence, Connor. Give me what I'm looking for, or I'll let the electricity flow until it's cut off for non-payment."

Tearing the handkerchief from Connor's mouth, Naruto demanded, —"Where's Naira?"

Connor's response was hesitant, full of uncertainty.— "I don't know... I really don't know. We were just tasked with bringing it here. All I know is that they want her for a sacrifice."

Naruto's anger erupted. —"A sacrifice, are you saying they kidnapped Naira for a sacrifice?" her scream echoed through the room as Connor nodded, exhausted.

—"Who's behind this?" Naruto pressed, but Connor's response was the same.

—"I don't know." Naruto, frustrated, covered Connor's mouth again, who struggled weakly, muttering something unintelligible.

—"Uh-huhhh,Aa... Rg... or", also Connor on the balbus.

—"Repeat that." Naruto demanded, picking up only snippets of Connor's words.

— "Argo... Ar... go," Connor repeated, his voice tired and pained.

—"Argo, what is that, is Argo a thing or a person?" Naruto asked.

— "A person... a person," Connor confirmed, almost out of breath.

—"Who else is involved?" Naruto continued his interrogation.

—"The mayor," was the reply.

—"I see," Naruto muttered. —"Where can I find this Argo?"

—"I don't know... I really don't know," Connor insisted.

Naruto got up and walked towards the switch. Connor, terrified, pleaded desperately.— "No, please! No, I swear I don't know!"

Naruto paused, his hand close to the switch, listening to Connor's pleas.

—"Please, I don't know! Connor's desperation was palpable.

Naruto, with an icy look, replied,— "I think you're telling the truth, but that won't save you."

Just as she was about to turn on the current, Nora intervened, her face reflecting fear and worry.— "Please, Naruto," he pleaded. —"Don't do this."

With a reassuring smile, Naruto withdrew his hand from the switch and raised his hands in peace.— "Okay, Nora. I won't do anything. Don't worry."

Turning his attention to Connor, Naruto watched him silently, staring at the man crying before him.— "Connor, right?"

The man nodded.

—"Listen well. You will stay here and wait. Don't try to escape, because I will find you. And if I do," he said, pointing to his friends, —"they won't be able to save you. No matter how much they plead for you, I will kill you. Understood?"

Connor nodded frantically, understanding the gravity of the warning.

—"Let's go." Naruto ordered, and everyone followed him silently, not daring to approach.

Pyrrha, taking a deep breath, stood beside her leader. — "Naruto, about what happened..."

—"Don't worry. I did it, you have nothing to do with it. In fact, none of you saw anything, got it?" Naruto cut off any attempt at discussion.

Pyrrha nodded slowly. —"Now what?"

—"Now, let's go visit the mayor," Naruto declared determinedly.

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In a gloomy corner of a room, a man hung pathetically by his feet, sobbing and pleading despite being fully aware of his actions. Alexander, with the impudence of one who knows himself guilty, cried out in despair.

—"Get away from me, Uzumaki, I have friends, you know?" he exclaimed in a broken voice.

Naruto, unfazed by the pleas, approached with an eerie calm.

—"Let's talk about your friends, especially Argo," he proposed with a sinister smile.

—"I have no idea what you're talking about!" replied Alexander, his voice full of panic.

—"I think you do," Naruto insisted, his tone soft but menacing.

—"I can't tell you anything, he'll kill me if I do!" cried Alexander, fear palpable in every word.

Naruto came even closer, his presence was like a shadow enveloping Alexander.

—"If you don't cooperate now, I assure you you you won't see another dawn," Naruto threatened, grabbing Alexander's head and looking him straight in the eye.

Then, with a fluid movement, Naruto positioned himself behind him, beginning to assemble an unknown apparatus.

—"First, your behavior is suspiciously bizarre compared to recent kidnappings. Second, your 'collaboration' with the police has been practically non-existent. And third," Naruto continued, his voice hardened,— "your own secretary confessed your involvement."

Alexander turned his head to look at Naruto, who had just turned on the device.

—"What—what's that blowtorch?" asked Alexander, his voice trembling.

Naruto adjusted the device until the temperature peaked.

—"200 degrees, Alejandro. At this temperature, even steel melts like butter," Naruto explained with a tone of scientific curiosity.

Naruto circled Alexander, standing behind him and continued speaking.

—"At first you won't feel pain. The heat is so intense that it will dry out your nerve endings before you can feel it. You'll go into shock and then... you will feel unbearably cold." Naruto described, his voice was almost a whisper.

Qrow and the others watched with expressions of confusion and horror, wondering what the hell Naruto was doing. They knew the heat didn't work that way.

—"Science can be very entertaining." Naruto said with a crooked smile.

—"I don't know anything, I swear!" cried Alexander, despair seizing him.

—"First you will smell the burnt flesh, and then—then the pain will come." Naruto continued, his tone was serene, almost reflective.

But it wasn't Alexander's skin that smelled burning. Naruto had brought the flame close to a piece of meat on a nearby table, exposing it to the fire and making a cooking sound. Connor began to become alarmed, and then Naruto touched Alexander's back with a popsicle.

—"Haaaaa!" shouted Alexander, startled by the unexpected sensation.

—"No!" Damn you!" he exclaimed angrily.

Naruto repeated the process, bringing the flame close to the flesh and touching Alexander's back with the cold popsicle.

—"You smell it, don't you?" I'm burning your fat," Naruto said, playing with Alexander's mind.

Nora had to restrain herself from bursting out laughing. At first, she had been worried, thinking that Naruto would actually use the flame against Alexander, but now she was shocked at the psychological punishment he was inflicting on her.

Pyrrha put a hand to her forehead, smiling at the scene. Ren tried to keep his composure, but a treacherous smile crept onto his lips. Qrow, on the other hand, clapped his hands with a suppressed laugh.

Naruto continued his performance, bringing the flame closer to the flesh and touching Alexander's back with the popsicle.

—"The scent is unmistakable. I'm burning your fat," Naruto repeated, as Alexander screamed, convinced to feel the scorching heat on his skin.

The smell of scorched flesh filled the air, an unmistakable sign of the torture Alexander believed he was suffering. Naruto, with a wicked smile, touched Alexander's skin again with the popsicle, eliciting another heart-wrenching scream.

—"Haaaaa, okay, okay, I'll tell you everything you want to know!" exclaimed Alexander, finally giving in to Naruto's psychological deception.

—"That's what I wanted to hear," Naruto said in a voice that exuded satisfaction.

Alexander, his breath ragged and his face pale with fear, began to recount his encounter with the mysterious Argo.

—"A month ago, that man... Argo, he came up with a proposal I couldn't refuse," Alexander confessed, his voice barely a whisper.

Naruto interrupted him impatiently.— "And what made you think it was a good idea to take a deal with him? I hope it was for more than just a few coins."

—"It's not that simple, boy. I'm on my last legs, I don't have much time left, and cancer is killing me. How could I not cling to any hope?" explained Alexander, his gaze lost in painful memories. "Argo promised me something that no one else could: immortality."

Naruto frowned, incredulous. —"And you swallowed that story? Immortality, really?"

—"How could I not? Man has lived for more than three centuries. Believe it or not, he showed me proof," Alexander insisted, searching Naruto's eyes for a glimmer of faith.

—"Yes, of course. And I guess he also flies and walks on water," Naruto replied sarcastically, though inside, a part of him couldn't help but be curious.

— "Go on, what else did this 'God' tell you?"

— "No kidding, Naruto. He is the reincarnation of a deity, or so he says. To grant me eternal life, he needs to perform an ancient ritual, one involving twenty-five young people. I don't understand all the details, but it seems that he requires his souls to convert them into pure energy, which is then transferred to himself," Alexander explained, his voice trembling as he revealed the dark secret.

Naruto was silent for a moment, processing the information. —"Where can I find this Argo?"

—"I warn you, Naruto, this is not someone you can face so easily. I've seen experienced hunters try and fail miserably. Argo is a supreme being in this world," Alexander warned, a mixture of fear and admiration in his tone.

Naruto snorted disdainfully. —"Yes, yes, I understand. A man who thinks he's a god. But that doesn't matter now. Tell me where he is."

—"It's to the south, on the outskirts of town," Alexander revealed with a wicked grin, as if he still had an ace up his sleeve. "He seeks a subterranean passage, marked by a dead and rotting tree, an outcast among his leafy brethren."

Naruto nodded, memorizing every detail.— "That should be enough," he said, as he held the popsicle to Alexander's back, eliciting another gasp.

Naruto's laughter echoed through the room, a mixture of mockery and warning.— "Don't expect mercy next time," he warned, handcuffing Alexander to a metal table.

—"If you try to escape, I assure you that you will regret it."

With a theatrical gesture, Naruto lit flames on his fingers and proceeded to seal Alexander's Aura, leaving him weak and vulnerable.

—"What have you done?" exclaimed Alexander, his voice trembling with the sudden loss of power.

— "The same as your secretary, so that he would make up his mind to speak," Naruto replied coldly. —"I have sealed your Aura."

Without looking back, Naruto made his way to the door, opening it with a fluid movement and signaling the others to follow. Naruto's departure marked the beginning of a new quest, one that would take them to the depths of the earth and truth.

The air was charged with electricity, with possibilities and dangers. As Naruto and his team drifted into the night, Alexander's fate was sealed, his future uncertain. The search for Argo was about to begin

---

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Nora couldn't contain her euphoria, her laughter echoing in the air, vibrant and contagious.— "Hahahahaha! I can't believe it! That poor devil was terrified, screaming in fear and pain, a pain that shouldn't even exist!

—"Renyyyyy! Did you see it? Wasn't it amazing?"

Ren nodded with a smile, his gaze shining with admiration at the cunning of the feat. —"Yes, it was awesome, I have to admit. It was very smart," he said, sharing Nora's enthusiasm.

Pyrrha watched the scene with a beaming smile, happiness in her eyes. Qrow, on the other hand, picked up the conversation with a stinging question. —"If you're capable of inflicting that kind of torture, why did you make Connor suffer like that?"

Naruto walked with a firm step and a serious expression, without a trace of joy. "Each person is different, Qrow. You can't apply the same method to everyone. Connor has an iron will, much stronger than Alexander's. I couldn't limit myself to conventional torture with him, it would have been useless. I needed to break him physically."

Kurama, with his deep and defiant voice, confronted Naruto. —"That's a vile lie, Naruto. You were so moved by that human's gaze that you didn't dare tear Alexander to pieces as he deserved."

Qrow, with a mixture of curiosity and defiance, asked another question. —"Now what, brat? What's next?"

Naruto replied determinedly, his voice leaving no room for doubt. —"We're heading south in search of that damn tree," he declared.

Night had already fallen, and darkness hung over them like a cloak.— "But it's dark, I think it's going to be tricky," Qrow objected, looking up at the night sky.

Naruto smiled confidently, his eyes shining with a light of their own.— "I'm a faun, and besides, that's what flashlights are for," he said, pulling a flashlight out of his backpack and turning it on, illuminating his path with a warm, firm light.

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Ren couldn't hide his surprise, his words welling up with a mixture of disbelief and admiration. — "Wow, that was a lot faster than I imagined," he said, looking at the area with analytical eyes.

Naruto, staring at the towering tree that stood before them, nodded. — "By my calculations, the base should be just below this colossus, or at least the entrance," he explained, and then called to his companion in a tone that betrayed urgency. "Nora!"

With an enthusiasm that seemed to have no end, Nora responded instantly. — "Yes!" he exclaimed, and without wasting a second, he raised his trusty weapon, Magnhild, and smashed it to the ground near the tree. The metallic sound that followed echoed through the forest, like the echo of an ancient gong.

Naruto, impatient and determined, didn't want to waste time on trivialities. — "There must be a cursed door around here, but I have no intention of looking for it," he muttered.

With a fluid and precise movement, he infused his sword with Wind chakra and plunged it into the earth, slicing a perfect square into the ground. Then, with a dexterity possessed only by himself, he drilled small holes in the piece of metal and, hooking his fingers into them, tore off the plate with a firm tug.

Before them was revealed a dark passage that went deep into the earth.— "All right, here it is. Let's go in," Naruto said, his voice leaving no doubt about his decision.

Qrow, ever wary, chimed in.— "Wait, kid. Don't you have some kind of plan or something?"

Naruto turned to him, his expression was serious, and his eyes reflected the gravity of the situation.— "I would have it if I had more information about this place. But since that's not the case, we'll go straight in and look for the subject. Or, if necessary, we'll drop bombs inside and let the structure collapse on top of it. I'm not going to risk the girls' lives, so we're going to have to put it on the line," he said with steely determination.

---

/-/

The subterranean corridor gave off an ominous aura, with scattered torches casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. Every step they took echoed in silence, and the tension was palpable; It seemed as if each tile could be the precursor to a death trap. The absence of a visible door only added to the feeling that they were stepping into the wolf's mouth.

After a few minutes of tense walking, the runner forked in two opposite directions, creating a dilemma as old as time.

— "Why are there always two damn entrances?" murmured Naruto, his voice tinged with exasperation and a hint of mission cliché weariness.

Nora, with her characteristic energy, looked at her leader waiting for instructions.— "What do we do now?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and anxiety for action.

Naruto, always unpredictable in his methods, had a trick up his sleeve. — "Don't worry, I have a plan for these situations."

With a theatrical gesture, he placed the tip of his sword on the ground and released the handle, allowing the katana to swing back and forth before falling to the right. The decision was made by chance, or so it seemed.

— "Very well, I'll go there."

The group's reaction was immediate and loud.— "It's utter nonsense!" exclaimed Qrow, his voice rarely rising to such a volume.

Naruto replied with a crooked smile. — "I know, it's silly, but sometimes fate plays with us in strange ways."

Pyrrha, with a thoughtful look, interjected.— "Do you believe in fate, Naruto?"

— "Of course not." Naruto replied firmly.

— "It is absurd to think that something like destiny controls our actions. No, I forge my own path. You four" he pointed to Qrow and the rest of the team, —"will go to the left. I will take this path. Let's investigate everything we can. If you run into Argo, take him out. If I meet the hostages, I will get them out of here. And if the situation is the other way around, do the same."

Nora, with obvious concern for her leader, raised one last doubt. — "Wouldn't it be better if one of us came with you?"

Naruto reassured her with a confident look. — "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he assured, his tone making it clear that there was no room for debate.

---

/-/

— "No, I implore you!" cried a voice in the gloom.

TRAK! The sound of a bone fracturing cut through the silence.

— "HAHAHAHA!" the same voice transformed into a piercing cry of pain.

— "Observe well, even though you are shrouded in aura, your bones are not indestructible. You are not invulnerable, nor is your strength absolute," Naruto said in a voice that resonated with authority. With a swift and precise movement, he kicked the man's face, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Naruto turned to look at the young ladies who filled the room. Their eyes reflected awe and fear, fearing what he might do to them. However, Naruto offered them a gentle and reassuring smile.— "Do not be afraid, I have come to set you free."

Naira emerged from the group and threw herself into Naruto Uzumaki's arms.

— "Naruto, my brave savior, I knew you would come for me!"

Happiness flooded Naruto's heart as he reunited with her. She was safe, and that was all that mattered. Despite the bruise on her left eye, Naira was in good shape. Naruto caressed her face tenderly, silently regretting that she had suffered because of him. That guilt would weigh on him forever.

— "Always, to the farthest corner of the world, there would be no distance that would prevent me from seeing you."

For Naruto, finding the girls had been a simple task. He ran down the hall with the speed of the wind, dodging every obstacle with ease. The guards guarding the place were no more than a minor nuisance; His pleas for mercy were lost in the echo of his defeat.

— "Trust me, I'll take you to safety," he assured them. The girls nodded and followed him, trusting in his promise.

The road to freedom was slower, for they did not run; they moved cautiously, guided by Naruto. Naira stood close to him, sheltered in his protective arms.

— "Who is he, Naira?... Wait, na... Naruto, is that really you?" one of the girls asked in a trembling voice.

— "It's been a long time, Miss Crystal," Naruto replied with a warm smile.

A murmur of surprise spread among the girls.

— "Is that him? Naruto Uzumaki?" asked another.

— "Yes, it's him," several confirmed in unison.

— "It's changed so much..."

— "He's become so handsome..."

Naruto felt his cheeks turn red at such praise. I wasn't used to being the center of attention like that. — "Please, girls, you make me blush," he said with a nervous laugh.

They shared a light laugh and continued on their way, following the golden-haired young man. — "Climb these stairs and you will find the way to freedom."

— "And what are you going to do, Naruto?"

Suddenly, a subtle vibration swept through the building, and Naruto's expression turned serious.

— "I must track down the architect of this vileness and make sure he suffers the consequences of his actions," Naruto proclaimed in a voice imbued with firmness and a venom that made the air vibrate, sending a shiver even down Naira's spine.

(Moments before)

Pyrrha, Ren, Nora, and Qrow were in a room of colossal dimensions. The room, bathed in immaculate whiteness, seemed to stretch to infinity. At its center stood a throne of polished stone, perhaps marble, that exuded an almost regal presence.

On that throne sat a man whom they supposed to be Argo. His posture was that of a monarch indifferent to the commoners before him. — "What has delayed these fools? Surely, your interference," he said disdainfully, directing a piercing glance at the newcomers.

Qrow, with a mocking smile adorning his countenance, replied sarcastically. — "Of course, your stratagem wasn't as cunning as you thought. Finding you was trivial, we just needed to follow the trail of your pawns."

— "I understand," replied Argo, with an unsettling calm. He rose from his throne and approached them, reducing the distance to a mere ten feet.

— "Do you understand the magnitude of your mistake? You fools, you have condemned honorable men to an existence of mortality and suffering in this world."

— "Save your pathetic villain laments. We have come to put an end to your reign of terror," Nora exclaimed, brandishing her Magnhild with determination. "I hope you're ready to suffer some fractures."

— "Your insolence is regrettable, but irrelevant. I'll teach you a lesson. You have thwarted my plans, so I will take your souls as compensation. After that, I'll be able to start over somewhere else."

Argo clasped their hands, which began to glow with an ominous light. As they separated, a surge of aura flooded the room, covering every corner and forming a quadrangular dome that encapsulated everything.

— "What have you done?" asked Qrow, placing a hand on his Harbinger.

— "A barrier. We don't want this shrine to fall apart, do we?"

The four of them went on the attack, but Argo dodged each attempt with supernatural grace. Ren launched a kick aimed at his temple, but Argo crouched down with cat-like agility. When Nora attempted to strike a blow to his abdomen with his hammer, Argo reinforced his belly with an additional layer of aura, absorbing the impact without suffering any damage.

He dodged a slash from Qrow's sword and blocked Pyrrha's spear that sought his heart. The contest was fierce and balanced.

With lightning speed, Argo threw a punch that connected with Ren's jaw, catapulting him into the air like a ragdoll. Then, with a flash of his aura, Argo materialized a grimm claw, a solid projection that blew everyone away with its ability to shape the aura.

In an instant, Argo lashed out at Nora, tearing through the air until it hit her thigh, forcing her to her knees in the intense pain. Qrow, in a desperate attempt, threw a slash at Argo, but stopped just in time, avoiding hurting Nora by millimeters.

Argo didn't miss the opportunity and, with a well-aimed punch, hit Qrow's hip, sending him crashing into the corner of the room. Then, with a manifestation of cane-shaped aura, he slammed Nora's back, knocking her to the ground. Not content with that, he continued to punch her three more times, each blow accompanied by Nora's cries of pain.

Pyrrha intervened bravely, brandishing her spear in a series of swift attacks. But Argo, with an almost supernatural elegance, dodged each one and seized the spear. Pyrrha attempted to transform her spear into a pistol, but Argo, with an aura of halo, froze the mechanism instead.

Unarmed, Pyrrha could only watch as Argo spun around and delivered a devastating blow to her shoulder, sending her tumbling across the ground.

Argo approached Nora with slow, calculated steps, placing his hand on her head. Nora's energy began to be drained, her aura flowing into Argo like a river into the sea. She was fighting with all her might, trying to free herself from his grip.

The absorption of aura was abruptly interrupted when Argo felt an impact on his back, crashing into a powder cartridge. As he turned, he saw Ren, whose anger was palpable. With a burst of speed, Ren darted toward Argo, and the battle resumed with renewed ferocity.

Qrow, recovering from his blow, joined Ren in the fight. In the distance, Pyrrha clutched her shoulder, pain evident in her expression. The blow had been brutal. Argo was not a mere religious fanatic; He was a formidable warrior. If the legends about their 300 years of life were true, then they were facing a being with centuries of combat experience, and it showed. Not even Qrow, with all his ability, seemed to be a match for him. But at the time, Qrow was his best chance, as only a hunter at his best could take on Argo on equal terms.

With a quick twist of his wrist, Qrow transformed his weapon into a scythe, unleashing a deadly dance of precise slashes toward Argo. But Argo, with the cunning of a veteran, realized that these guys weren't just rookies; they were first-rate fighters, and Qrow... well, Qrow was an outlier, a real heavyweight in the world of hunters. In a defensive move, Argo wrapped himself in samurai armor forged with translucent aura, a living fortress that deflected every onslaught from Qrow like nothing had happened.

Suddenly, Argo had an epiphany. — "Enough games!" he roared, raising both hands to conjure a circular dome of energy that rapidly expanded, forcing Qrow and Ren back. With a wave of his hands, Argo created thousands of stones, no bigger than marbles, and threw them like bullets. Qrow, with gravity-defying movements, dodged most of them, though some managed to brush him. Ren, on the other hand, was not so lucky; He was bombarded by the hail of stones, his aura flickering dangerously near collapse. Pyrrha took cover behind her shield, but Nora... Nora couldn't help but be hit by the rock storm.

As the dust settled, Argo watched the figures of Qrow and the others emerge from the mist. A smug smile spread across his face.

—"Awesome show, guys, really. I admit they're talented, but it's not enough to bring down this colossus. The only one who could make me sweat a little is Mr. Qrow, but he doesn't seem to be at his best, does he?" he sneered with a wicked laugh.

— "I see you trembling and agitated."

— "imbecile", Qrow, cursing silently, knew exactly what was wrong with him. Tremors, anxiety, were the symptoms of withdrawal; It had been an eternity since a whole day had passed in sobriety.

— "It's time to get this over with," Argo declared, forming four aura blades ready to be thrown. But he stopped short when a shield flew toward his head. He nimbly dodged it, but to his surprise, the shield changed direction and hit him in the back of the head. Fortunately, his armor protected him from the impact. As he turned, he saw his attacker, the red-haired woman, rushing forward with her spear. Argo responded with an aura sword, and thus began a duel of titans.

They seemed to be on equal footing, but Argo was analyzing every move.

— "Fascinating," he muttered, realizing that the redhead's weapon changed direction with each attack. He then understood that she controlled his weapon at will, an ability that allowed him to manipulate objects from a distance.

— "Tell me, telekinesis perhaps? No, that would be too obvious. You must have a trick up your sleeve... metal, huh? Do you control magnetism or something like that?"

— "'It's none of your business,' she replied firmly, and without further ado, fired her rifle. The bullets, useless against Argo's armor, ricocheted like pebbles.

— "I think it's time to put an end to this charade," Argo muttered. Suddenly, aura tentacles emerged from the ground and coiled around Pyrrha and the others, dragging them to the ground with unrelenting force.

Immobilized, they felt their vital energies fade away, their auras being drained by those parasitic tentacles.

— "Well, guys, that's it. It's been entertaining," Argo said, approaching with a slowness that betrayed his complete control of the situation.

— "Who... Who are you really?" Ren managed to articulate, his voice barely a whisper.

Argo stopped, nearly touching Pyrrha with the intention of absorbing her life energy, but chose to respond.— "I've already told you my name, I'm Argo."

— "But who are you, really?" Qrow insisted, seeking to understand the enemy they faced.

— "I was a court knight in a forgotten kingdom of Void, known back then as the Arcan."

— "That's a bunch of rubbish!" exclaimed Qrow incredulously.

— "Believe what you will, but it's the truth," Argo continued calmly. — "In those days, the world was disconnected, desolate. Surviving was a daily challenge. The grimm laid siege to the realms relentlessly, and only a lucky few with access to the aura could defend themselves."

— "I have been blessed with this gift. I discovered it at a critical moment when the grimms raided my home. After the fall of the Arccan realm, I wandered this world, and my likeness has allowed me to live beyond the natural. By absorbing the souls of others, I have prolonged my existence... Because I am a god on this earth. I was born to live off the fruits of its people, so that they may serve me as the servants they are," Argo proclaimed with a conviction that chilled the blood.

— "You're completely crazy!" cried Nora, her voice full of frustration and rage.

— "No, I'm not crazy. The insane are those who refuse to submit to my will," Argo replied, his face impassive and authoritative.

But then, his expression cracked, his lips curled into a grimace, and a mocking laugh escaped his lips.

—"Hahaha, by Oum, what nonsense. Many have fallen for my deceptions. Give them eternal life? No, that's a fairy tale. I can prolong their days, yes, but in the end, their souls will be consumed and I will always come out on top," Argo revealed disdainfully.

— "Then the whole ritual is a lie?" cried Pyrrha, her voice echoing with the force of despair.

— "Exactly, it's a hoax. I could do it any month of the year, I just need to do it every 30 years," Argo confessed coldly.

— "And what about the young women born in September?" asked Ren, trying to make sense of the madness.

— "One more fallacy to the collection. Any soul is useful to me, although I must admit that the ladies' souls have an incomparable delight," said Argo, resuming his walk with a macabre smile that outlined his face.

The creaking of a door interrupted the silence. The entrance was revealed once more, and through it, the figure of a golden-haired young man was revealed, staring at Argo with a serene, almost indifferent gaze. Their attention, however, seemed to be divided between the man and the dome that towered majestically above them, embracing every corner of the room.

His fingers brushed the ethereal walls with a mixture of wonder and curiosity. Naruto, with a nonchalant gesture, drummed on the translucent surface of the aura and shrugged his shoulders indolently. From the depths of his pocket, he drew a scroll adorned with arcane inscriptions.

Argo looked at the boy with an analytical gaze. — "Is he one of yours?" he asked, addressing the group, and Pyrrha nodded solemnly.

— "He's the leader of our entourage."

— "Interesting, maybe I should offer you some advice then. Young man, you should leave this place. There's no need for you to get involved in these matters," Argo advised in a tone that bordered on warning.

Naruto ignored her words and applied the scroll to the aura barrier, as naturally as one adheres a decal to a smooth surface, and then, the unthinkable happened.

Argo watched, incredulous. The only chance of such an event occurring would be the total annihilation of the aura barrier, an almost impossible feat given the strength of its energy. However, the paper began to crack the wall, slowly disintegrating it into a quadrangular opening, wide enough for the young man to pass through.

And with enviable calmness, Naruto did so, advancing with a sure step towards where Argo was waiting. Naruto's gaze was as carefree and humorous as Argo's, and he had his hands in his pockets, denoting a nonchalance that contrasted with the gravity of the moment.

—"So you're Argo. You look like you're in good shape for a 300-year-old."

—"I appreciate the compliment," replied Argo, accepting the politeness though it was evidently a fallacy, yet he did not perceive it. —"And you must be..."

—"Oh, excuse my rudeness," Naruto interrupted with an expression of surprise and clearly theatrical remorse.— "I've forgotten about the formalities. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, I am the leader of this group, except for that gentleman... He's my mentor, so to speak."

A heavy silence fell over the group. Neither Pyrrha nor the others attempted to intervene or give Naruto advice. Everyone was on tenterhooks, expectant of the tension that was chewing in the air.

—"I suppose it would be useless to ask you to get out of here, wouldn't it?" asked Argo, keeping his manners.

—"Exactly. I'm sorry to tell you that I can't let you go. So please accept my apologies, sir."

—"No problem, but you'll also have to excuse me if I don't submit to this arrest so easily."

—"Arrest, what are you talking about, sir?" asked Naruto, genuinely confused.

Argo was equally perplexed, unable to decipher the riddle in Naruto's words. He watched as the young ninja calmly drew his sword and aimed it at him.

—"There is no arrest here, no courtroom waiting for you, no judge to convict you. There is only me, the blade of my sword, and the death that stalks you."

Argo couldn't help but smile arrogantly.— "That remains to be seen, boy."

With that provocation, Argo lunged towards Naruto with astonishing speed. He was about to land a direct blow to his face, enough to fracture his nose, but Naruto, with a quick movement, punched him in the chest. To someone of his caliber, it should have been nothing more than a scrape, but to his astonishment, his armor cracked like glass.

Argo spat out blood and his body slammed into the wall in the corner. With years of battles behind him, Argo ignored the pain and narrowly dodged a sword that sought his neck. He created distance and recoiled, his mind alarmed.

—"How is it possible? How could a single blow damage my body like this?" My Aura didn't resist for a second." Argo was bewildered.

—"You look lost, huh, like you barely remember what it feels like to be hurt. Don't worry, I'll refresh your memory," Naruto said with a cold smile.

Argo frowned, annoyed. How dare this insolent man try to make him feel powerless again?

He pounced on Naruto once more, and this time, the combat was hand-to-hand. Argo attempted to land a series of quick and precise blows to Naruto's shoulder, abdomen, chest, and head, but to no avail. Naruto blocked them all with impressive skill and, taking advantage of a moment of distraction, grabbed Argo's hand and twisted his fingers until they were almost fractured.

—"Haaaa!" cried Argo, overcome with pain.

Naruto freed Argo and, with a fluid and precise movement, landed him a well-aimed blow to the face. Argo, driven by a primal instinct, conjured an Aura mask that materialized covering his countenance. Despite the overflowing energy he poured into his creation, he was catapulted through the air, sliding across the ground like a leaf blown by the autumn wind. His face, protected by the mask, remained almost unchanged, but a faint and persistent sensation of pain was present.

At that critical moment, Argo summoned Aura's tentacles, which emerged like serpents from the abyss, and coiled around Naruto's feet. However, he was greatly surprised when the young Uzumaki showed no sign of disturbance. With a gesture as natural as the flight of a bird, Naruto swung his sword and slashed the tentacles with a single, graceful slash. Argo was dumbfounded; his Aura, vast as an endless ocean, fed by countless devoured souls, should have made those tentacles so robust that not even a dozen hunters could break them. But the golden-haired young man made it seem trivial.

—"Damn!" cried Argo, and in the twinkling of an eye a horde of Grimm materialized before them. From Beowolves to Creeps, to Beringels and other abominations that had never crossed their paths. Nightmarish creatures they've never faced in battle before.

Naruto's composure remained unwavering. With a smile that defied the gravity of the situation, he drew his pistol and loaded it with powder cartridges. Thus began a macabre dance between a man and Grimm's grim constructions. Naruto, with the grace of a dancer, dodged the clutches of a Beowolf and, with an accurate shot to the head, reduced it to mere particles of dust. He continued his deadly dance, annihilating most until only one Goliath remained. The beast tried to crush him with its huge paws, but Naruto, agile as the wind, evaded it.

He fired his gun, but the bullets barely grazed the monster. The Grimms of that lineage were known for their supernatural resilience. Naruto, then, infused his sword with a futon chakra more potent than ever. He transformed it into a spear of wind and, with a movement that cut through the air, pierced the Goliath's skull, ending its existence in an instant.

Argo, incredulous, watched the scene unfold before his eyes. That young man was cornering him, putting him in a desperate situation. It couldn't be possible. Only a warrior with decades of combat experience could face him on an equal footing, and he knew only two beings capable of such a feat: an old mage, weathered by the years, and a sorceress from the dark lands.

—"What kind of witchcraft is this? It doesn't make sense. How old is this boy? He shouldn't possess such mastery," Argo muttered, bewildered.

—"How much do you babble?" asked Naruto, his voice imbued with unwavering authority.

Hearing that voice, he turned around quickly. He attempted to form an Aura sword, but was intercepted by the golden-haired youth's steady hand. With a determined gesture, Naruto pressed the hilt of the sword and fractured it, causing Argo to quickly retreat.

The situation was alarming, a harbinger of a storm on the horizon. —"You're a fool, boy. With your power, you could have freed your comrades and perhaps you would have defeated me in advance," Argo snapped.

Naruto, nonchalantly, wiped his left ear, his finger moving listlessly. His gaze, though full of boredom, flashed with a malicious gleam. —"Don't worry. In fact, I prefer this scenario. Because, honestly, I'm not like the hunters you've faced before. They tried to assist you, they took your case to court so that you would pay for your misdeeds. I'm not like those dupes. Beings like you only deserve death," Naruto proclaimed coldly.

—"Well, it doesn't matter," Argo said, and suddenly, a chorus of shouts filled the air. Argo was absorbing their auras.

—"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

—"They will nourish me," he exclaimed as Naruto remained motionless, a statue in the midst of the chaos.

—"Won't you intervene to save them?"

—"Of course not. You can't usurp their souls without direct contact. All you do is drain their life energy. Go on, it's irrelevant. You will only postpone your end... a few more seconds," Naruto replied serenely.

Argo was flooded with euphoria. These young men, in addition to being skilled in combat, possessed reserves of Aura greater than any I had ever known. What kind of warriors were they?

In unbridled rage, Argo lunged at Naruto, but with supernatural agility, the Uzumaki dodged him and, with a well-aimed blow, amputated his left arm.

—"jaaaaaaHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Astonishment was painted on everyone's faces, even Qrow's. Despite having witnessed countless deaths, he never imagined that a young man like Naruto would dismember someone with such nonchalance.

—"Haaaa!"

—"It seems that even gods can bleed. Who would have thought?" muttered Naruto, raising his sword and directing it towards Argo's neck with the intention of ending his life.

Argo, with withering reflexes, conjured an Aura shield of extraordinary density, so robust that even Naruto's futon chakra struggled to leave a mark.

Argo concentrated a large amount of aura on his wound, stopping the bleeding. He gasped, consumed by sensations he hadn't felt in eons, pain and terror.

—"Do you think that shield will protect you from me, I'm afraid you're wrong," at that moment, Naruto tore through Aura's barrier and Argo had to dodge urgently, as the blade was one step away from splitting his skull in two.

Argo, consumed by despair, rushed towards the exit, yearning for freedom, but Naruto, with the precision of a predator, intercepted him and slashed him in the thigh, rendering his leg useless.

— "son of a bitch...", he could barely articulate Argo before Naruto silenced him with a well-aimed blow to the windpipe.

—"Your verbiage has become tedious. You're nothing but a curse pit," Naruto said disdainfully, kicking him in the belly that sent him bouncing to the ground.

Argo was trying to catch his breath, coughing and struggling to speak.

—"The time has come to put an end to this game. It's been a passing entertainment, lord of the 300 years," Naruto declared with a mocking smile.

—"Enough!" cried Argo, exhausted from the fight. His body began to radiate an intense light, his skin turned a phosphorescent neon, and he threw a devastating hook towards Naruto's jaw.

Argo's speed was blistering, and Naruto, taken by surprise, crashed into the wall. Naruto slowly stood up, surprise still reflected on his face. He dodged another attack from Argo, which threatened to pulverize his skull with the force of the impact. The wall behind Naruto cracked, forming a crater.

Naruto continued to dodge Argo's punches, aware that if any of them connected, it could be fatal. But that would only be a problem if he allowed it.

—"You don't have fun anymore, do you? Where's that arrogance? Where's that indifference that adorned your face?" shouted Argo, defiantly. Naruto remained silent, allowing Argo's attacks to pass by him untouched.

Argo threw a horizontal kick, but Naruto slipped under his guard and appeared behind him.

Suddenly, Naruto's sword emerged from Argo's abdomen.

He was stunned. How had it happened? His skin, his last and most powerful defense, had been pierced like paper. And then he noticed something peculiar about the leaf: a thin layer of electricity.

Calmly, Naruto withdrew his sword from Argo's belly, who fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. Argo's skin returned to its normal state. Naruto circled him and, with his hand, raised Argo's face so that their eyes met. And just like that, Argo saw Naruto Uzumaki's face. Serious, but with a subtle smile that betrayed amusement.

— "Behold my countenance, Argo. For a fleeting moment, amusement took over me. My heart was pounding, and yes, it was exciting. Your attack was strong, I felt it in my being. Your maneuvers and techniques inflicted wounds. I am grateful. You gave me a fight worth remembering, if only for a moment. But that's all," Naruto uttered, raising his sword solemnly, prepared for the final act. However, his movement was interrupted when Qrow lunged at him, pinning him to the ground.

—"What the hell, Qrow?!" exclaimed Naruto, furious. The climax of his victory over Argo had been snatched from him.

—"No, what the hell is wrong with you, boy? Do you intend to assassinate him?"

—"Of course, I'm going to kill this wretch. So back up now."

—"I won't. This is not correct. It's not our way of proceeding."

—"Oh, please, Qrow, don't start with that nonsense. We both know what a hunter is capable of. Now, back off or I'll be forced to cut off that damn hand."

—"Naruto," Pyrrha interjected, approaching cautiously.

—"Enough is enough. Your opponent is already defeated. There's no need to continue."

Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration. He despised that absurd morality which hunters seemed to revere. Why didn't they understand that an enemy had to be eliminated without delay? Otherwise, they risked it coming back stronger. And maybe next time they wouldn't be so lucky to stop it.

With a nimble movement, Naruto got rid of Qrow's grip, but Ren grabbed him by the neck with a pinning technique.

—"Let go of me, Ren," Naruto demanded calmly, though his voice contained a clear warning.

—"I won't, Naruto. This is over."

A well-aimed elbow to the ribs left Ren breathless. The pressure of his grip lessened and Naruto broke free. He advanced toward Argo with determination, but a forceful blow to his left foot brought him to his knees.

In the heat of battle, Nora took advantage of an oversight to subdue her opponent with a master key, pinning him down with the precision of an experienced hunter.

—"I implore you, Nora," Naruto pleaded, his voice a whisper of calm in the midst of the storm, though the patience he had held like a shield was beginning to crack. — "Release me now; it's an order."

"No, Naruto. Enough is enough," Nora replied firmly, her gaze a reflection of the determination that burned inside her. —"Why do you persist in this madness? Enough is enough, Naruto!"

Frustration gripped him. Naruto was repulsed by the idea of raising his voice against his comrades, but there were times, like this, when he had to harden his heart and be relentless.

—"Enough of this!" he exclaimed, freeing himself from the key with a jerk and grabbing Nora by the shirt. —"How naïve can you be, Nora? As a hunter, don't you understand that the day will come when you will have to decide between one life or another?"

—"But he's already been defeated!" cried Nora, facing her leader, their faces so close that their breaths intertwined. —"He has surrendered, there is no reason to continue this conflict."

—"You haven't given in!" Naruto pointed at Argo with an accusing gesture. —"If we lock him up, he will find a way to escape and resume his sinister game: attacking the innocent, devouring their existence. It's a vicious cycle, Nora. We capture a deranged man and, after his release, they go back to their ways."

—"Don't come to me with those excuses, Naruto! You're not acting out of justice or doing the right thing. You do it out of anger! Because he captured Naira, he hurt her! That's the real reason for your fury! And don't forget that it was you who put her in danger."

Naruto cracked a smile, a mask of indifference to Nora's accusations. He knew he was responsible, and that guilt weighed heavily on him.

—"That's irrelevant, Nora. Whether it's Naira or anyone else, that monster deserves death."

—"Are you looking for me to be tormented by guilt? Unfortunately for you, that won't stop the inevitable."

With a gesture of disdain, Naruto let go of Nora and walked away. He approached Argo, but the sound of guns being armed stopped him. Without needing to look back, he knew that everyone was pointing towards him.

—"This is absurd, comrades. Put down your weapons; I am not his adversary."

Argo, still laughing, wouldn't let the pain quell his biting mood.

—"Unbelievable, they've got you pinned down, boy, like a dog. Despite your power, you submit to the rules of this world. You are a caged bird, a prisoner of your own chains. You should be the sovereign of the..."

Before he could finish, Nora silenced him with a well-aimed blow from her sledgehammer, and Argo fell to the ground, unconscious. They all turned to Nora, who frowned, issued a warning.

—"Be silent, you fool. Don't waste your only chance to survive."

A collective sigh rose between them, except for Naruto, whose gaze was lost in Argo's body.

Qrow placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, trying to convey some calm.

—"You should temper that temper, kid man. It's not good to get carried away by anger."

Naruto looked at him, confused, as if Qrow's words were an enigma.

—"What are you talking about, Qrow? I'm not upset. Do you think I acted impulsively?"

—"No, I understand now that it wasn't," Qrow replied, his voice tinged with seriousness.

Naruto fixed his gaze on Argo again, still lying on the ground.

— "You know I should have deleted it"

—"I know, brat, but this wasn't the right time," Qrow said, pointing to the others.

—"You're right, that wasn't the time."

---

/-/

The morning had been somewhat tense for the others, but for Naruto, it was just another day. Qrow also seemed indifferent; Blood and torture were not new to him.

It was one thing to inflict pain and wounds on an enemy, but quite another to do so in front of young men who had barely scratched the surface of such horrors. Perhaps some had seen death up close, but actively participating in it was another level of experience.

When they returned to the village, they were greeted as heroes. Connor and the mayor weren't ready to testify, but nothing needed to be said. Naruto presented a vanquished Argo and that was enough for his accomplices to fall like dominoes.

They had plans to leave the next morning, but the people insisted on holding a feast in their honor. They could not refuse such a show of gratitude. The party was a success and Qrow, in particular, was thrilled to have an excuse to drink without worrying about the bill.

Naruto and his team felt out of place, but he didn't let that get to him. His smile and pleasant chat with Naira were constant. The next morning, tension still hung in the air, but Qrow decided to stay out of it; Team Rubio's problems weren't his.

That morning, they were having breakfast with Naira's parents, who was smiling radiantly. —"Come on Naruto, say 'A,'" she encouraged.

Naruto obeyed and opened his mouth, letting the delicious morsel in. He loved the food she prepared.

—"It's exquisite, but I think I've had enough," Naruto said.

—"Just one more, Naruto," Naira insisted.

Naruto tried to refuse, but was unable to refuse. "Okay, one more."

She offered him another piece of cake and Naruto devoured it. He loved that girl, but even for him, this was too much.

Naruto, though uncomfortable with attention, couldn't help but feel at home. Naira's laughter was like music to him, and although the discomfort of the previous morning still lingered, the warmth of the family and the home-cooked food made it all worth it.

From the other end of the table, Qrow watched with a piercing gaze the interaction between Naruto and Naira. Despite his apparent disinterest, his eyes flashed with a glimmer of approval. I was aware that, beyond the challenges and conflicts, it was these small moments that really mattered.

—"Naruto," Pyrrha interjected seriously, —"we need to talk."

Naruto, still chewing, nodded. After swallowing, he replied, —"Of course, no problem. We'll do it later."

—"No, it has to be now."

—"Pyrrha, I think it's a little..."

—"Now!" she insisted, almost raising her voice.

Naira, perceiving the seriousness of the matter, looked for an excuse to withdraw.— "I think I forgot to buy provisions for the week," he said, excusing himself.

—"And I have to serve a client," Carlos added, also looking for a way out.

— "I... I'll go check the plants," Marta excused herself.

Qrow, the only one who remained motionless, received a direct look from Naruto. With an equally serious expression, —"You should go too, Qrow. You don't need to be here for this."

—"It's all right, no problem," he said, getting up with feigned annoyance.— "I know when I'm not welcome." And with that, he walked away from the dining room.

—"I know where this is going, so be frank with me," Naruto said.

—"Naruto, we love you very much, you know that, don't you?" said Ren.

—"I know, but hearing it from you doesn't comfort me."

—"Go to hell," Ren replied with a wry smile.

—"You are an exceptional leader," Nora added, "an amazing person who is always there for us."

—"Okay, guys. I think I've made that clear. Don't beat around the bush. What are they worried about?"

—"We're worried about you," Pyrrha confessed with a look that denoted a mixture of respect and concern. —"We have debated this ad nauseam. You are incredibly competent and certainly the most capable leader we could ever have, but the lessons you impart to us... Honestly, they make me wonder what kind of experiences you've had in life."

—"Explain yourselves, please," Naruto demanded, his voice calm but firm.

—"For starters, the use of traps," Ren interjected with a disapproving gesture.

—"I don't see anything wrong with setting the stage in our favor. It's pure strategy," Naruto replied with a sly smile.

—"Then there's the matter of poisons," Nora added, frowning.

—"It's a question of efficiency. Why wear yourself out in hand-to-hand combat when you can solve it with a small dose of poison?" argued Naruto, his relentless logic.

—"And let's not forget the training to target vital organs," Pyrrha said, her tone serious and her gaze direct.

—"We'll face more than just Grimm in our lives. It is essential to be prepared for any eventuality. I think I was pretty clear about it that day," Naruto said, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

—"We absolutely refuse to adopt those tactics that you have tried to instill in us," Ren declared firmly.— "Naruto, we need to understand, what made you like this?"

Naruto adopts a neutral expression, almost as if his face were a mask. — "Are you afraid of me?" he asked calmly.

There was a pause, a brief moment of uncertainty, but they shook their heads.

—"That hesitation... I don't blame them. It's natural to have reservations about my methods, but there's something you need to understand very well, and that won't change, regardless of whether you hate me or love me. No matter what happens, I will always be there for you. So, whether they fear me, despise me, hate me, or feel love, friendship, pride, or familiarity toward me, my commitment will not waver. You can always count on my support. What happened last night is an example of...

Naruto pondered inwardly.

—"Their mentality exasperates me. It irritates me to the limit. All this idealism about bringing wrongdoers to justice, about being people of integrity, about always looking out for the good of all over you... These are not erroneous notions, but they are, to some extent, naïve and regrettable. Although, of course, I can't express this openly.

—"... It's an area I need to improve on. My life hasn't been easy, and to be frank, I've learned that forgiving certain people is a mistake. If you give them the opportunity to continue their misdeeds, sooner or later they will turn on you and destroy you," he said, touching his chest unconsciously, as if evoking a painful memory.

—"And honestly, I don't want that history to repeat itself. I wouldn't tolerate it... I apologize if I have caused you fear. Please forgive me. I assure you that it will not happen again."

Naruto, with his head down and his eyes fixed on the table, looked like a statue of regret. —"I never wanted them to be afraid of me. I beg your pardon. It won't happen again."

Pyrrha, with a smile that couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes, replied.— "Your life has been a thorny road, hasn't it?"

—"You know that. It's not something I like to talk about," Naruto said, avoiding his gaze.

—"But there are so many things that you still keep silent, Naruto. You've carried a lot of pain, haven't you? That stage of loneliness and helplessness is behind us. Now you're strong, you've got friends... You've got me. You don't need to keep putting barriers between you and the world; You can be yourself with us."

Pyrrha stood up and approached Naruto with smooth, measured steps. Naruto was still sitting, his gaze fixed on her, a mixture of confusion and something else he couldn't decipher.

—"I think I know what you mean," he finally said.

—"Then get up," Pyrrha urged.

—"I don't see the case," Naruto replied, still motionless.

—"Get up!" she demanded more forcefully, and Naruto obeyed, standing up with a rigidity that was uncharacteristic of him. Pyrrha smiled tenderly at him and wrapped him in a hug that seemed to want to erase all the wounds of the past. She was taller than him, which made the gesture seem even more protective.

Naruto felt small, vulnerable, but somehow, he was fine. Pyrrha stroked her hair gently, whispering words of comfort. —"Naruto Uzumaki, you don't have to go down that lonely path. I don't like to see you turned into someone we don't recognize, someone who hides behind a mask of indifference, who seems to enjoy the pain of others. That's not you. Promise me that you will find another way to face your battles."

—"Pyrrha, I... I...," Naruto stammered, struggling to find the words.

—"Promise me, Naruto. I can't stand to see you like this. It hurts my soul."

—"I'll do... I'll do my best to change, Pyrrha. I will strive to be better."

Pyrrha nodded, her smile a sweet reflection of the complexity of her emotions. Naruto hadn't sealed his promise with firm words, but his gesture was a start, and Pyrrha was willing to accept that first step.— "That's all I expect from you, Naruto."

—"By the way, Pyrrha, you smell amazing. Have you ever used my shampoo again?" asked Naruto with feigned innocence. Pyrrha, surprised and a little embarrassed, gently pushed him away before quickly exiting the door.

—"Looks like I can still get a smile out of him," Naruto commented to himself with a mischievous grin.

Ren and Nora exchanged a knowing look; Nora's smile was so wide that it seemed to light up the room.

—"What's going on here?" asked Naruto, noticing the playful atmosphere.

—"Nothing at all," Ren replied with a smile that barely appeared on his face. As they walked away through the door, following in Pyrrha's footsteps, Naruto was perplexed.

—"Wait, what's so funny?

What Naruto hadn't noticed, or maybe didn't want to admit, was that the blush on his cheeks was as evident as the sun at noon. Pyrrha's embrace had left a deeper impression than he expected. Being in his arms had been comforting, a new and pleasant feeling that he didn't want to acknowledge out loud.

—"Hey, answer me, what are you laughing at so much?"

---

/-/

— "Come on team! The bullhead is here. Time to fly!" exclaimed Qrow with a mixture of relief and urgency.

—"Yes, yes, yes," they all murmured, shuffling their feet and with a hint of sadness in their voices.

—"It seems that this place stole their hearts, huh? They wanted to stay and sunbathe a little longer," said Nora, with a mischievous smile that lit up her face.

Qrow's attention was diverted to his captive.— "How about our friend the charlatan?" he asked with a playful twinkle in his eye.

Argo was more tied up than a Christmas package, with a straitjacket that covered him from head to toe and a muzzle that closed his mouth. He couldn't move, talk, or even snap his fingers. Thanks to Naruto, who had blocked his aura, Argo was so devoid of powers that he couldn't even raise an eyebrow.

—"It's calmer than a calm lagoon," Naruto replied with a smile. — "The boy is a charmer when he takes a break from his endless monologue."

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the distance.

It was Naira, who was running towards them as if she were participating in a marathon. Naruto quickly said goodbye to Carlos and Marta, while Naira, who had gone shopping for the month, hadn't even had time for a goodbye. He had asked his parents to pass on his farewell.

— "Na... Na... Ruto, why didn't you wait for me?" she gasped, her breath ragged with the race.

—"I'm sorry, we had to leave at dawn. I didn't want to be rude," Naruto apologized, with a gesture of genuine concern.

—"Don't worry, I understand. But I'm glad to be able to say goodbye to you. I hope you'll come back soon."

—"I'll be back, sooner rather than later. I'll count the days until our reunion," Naruto promised, with a smile that couldn't hide the melancholy in his eyes.

She smiled back with one that could light up the entire valley. Naruto looked away, not out of embarrassment, but because deep down, this farewell weighed on him more than he wanted to admit.

—"Listen, Naira," he began, with a seriousness he seldom showed. —"There's something I need to tell you."

—"Yes?" she asked, with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety.

—"You see, it's just that..."

---

/-/

"Pam!" 💥

The sound echoed through the air, but the blow was more of a graze than an impact. Although, of course, getting hit by the person you love isn't exactly a relaxing massage.

"Pam!" 💥

Another attempted punch, this time on the cheek, and Naruto remained impassive, as if he were a monk in meditation.

—"Yes, I deserve it. You're absolutely right," Naruto said, accepting each blow as if it were a self-inflicted punishment.

Naira, frustration painted on her face, kicked him in the knee, but Naruto only nodded.

—"I deserve that, too. Hit me if it makes you feel better."

Naira, with a trembling fist, hit Naruto's abdomen, who was hit without defending himself.

—"Yes, I deserve that too."

Pyrrha, her heart in her hand, tried to intervene, but Ren held her gently. He knew that this was a duel that Naruto had to face alone.

Naira, exhausted from so much banging without getting a response, finally burst out, — "You're a complete idiot!" she yelled at Naruto, tears threatening to escape her eyes.

—"I know. It was unforgivable to put your safety at risk," Naruto admitted, with a sincerity that hurt.

She wanted to be furious, she wanted to hate him, but it was Naruto. And hating Naruto was like trying to get mad at a puppy for biting your shoes.

—"I understand your intentions. I understand why you did it... You're like that, Naruto. Always acting alone, not caring about the consequences. You don't care if everyone hates you in the end, as long as everyone else is safe, you'd do anything... And that's what I hate most about you! Why do you always have to be the hero? Why do you hurt yourself like this?" exclaimed Naira, a sob that cut through her soul.

— "I'm sorry... I didn't want to... I didn't mean to hurt you," Naruto stammered, his voice cracking with emotion.

—"Enough is enough, I don't want your apologies.

—"For heaven's sake... I had never seen Naira like this. It's so... anticlimactic," Naruto thought

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside. He lunged at Naruto, not intending to hit him, but with an act that no one, not even Qrow, expected. Instead of a punch, what followed was a passionate kiss.

Their lips met in a frenzied dance, an exchange of promises and regrets. When they finally parted from shortness of breath, Naira looked at Naruto, her cheeks a canvas of blush.

—"If you do something so reckless again, I swear I'll leave this town just to teach you a lesson. Consider this a warning, Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto, dazed and disoriented by the intensity of the moment, could only articulate: — "Wow..." Then, regaining some composure, he added, —"Yes, miss."

He stood his ground and saluted with military respect. Naira, with a wicked smile, turned and fled the scene, unable to handle the embarrassment that flooded her.

A hand landed on Naruto's shoulder, and as he turned, he saw Qrow, who offered him a thumbs-up nod of approval. Naruto smiled proudly, feeling as if he had reached the top of the world. With a silent affirmation, he nodded, knowing that this was just the beginning of many more adventures and challenges to come.

---

/-/

Naruto, with a smile that didn't fit on his face, sang a tune that spoke of love and possession, but the atmosphere was not for celebrations. Ren and Nora, as if in a minefield, kept a safe distance from Pyrrha, whose aura had grown darker than a starless night. And there was Naruto, singing merrily, oblivious to the tension that was chewing in the air.

— "Wow, that was epic!" exclaimed Naruto, pulling a canteen from his jacket and tossing it to Qrow like a bridal bouquet.

Qrow caught her on the fly, a look of confusion across his face.— "What is this?" he asked, looking at the object as if it were an alien artifact.

— "It's your canteen, old man. Didn't you miss her?" replied Naruto with a mischievous smile.

— "But I thought you had sworn to keep me sober during the mission," Qrow replied, still perplexed.

— "The mission is now history, and we have emerged victorious. I think you've earned a good drink," Naruto said, patting Qrow on the back.

Qrow laughed. — "You seem to be in the clouds, boy."

— "Oh, I'm more than in the clouds. I'm... how can I say it? Over the moon!" crooned Naruto, doing a little victory dance.

The ship, as if to join in the celebration, began to dance to the rhythm of an unexpected turbulence.

Everyone except the carefree Naruto exchanged glances, knowing full well the cause of the turmoil.

— "Are we being attacked by the Grimms?" asked Naruto, looking out the window for monsters.

— "No, not exactly. Let's say it's a... 'emotional turbulence,'" Qrow replied, casting a wary glance at Pyrrha.

Naruto shrugged his shoulders and, touching his lips, smiled with a mixture of pride and happiness.— "Well done, Naruto. You've outdone yourself," he congratulated himself quietly.

The ship, however, seemed to have other plans and began to shake harder.

— "I don't like this anymore. What the hell is going on now?" murmured Naruto, holding on to a seat.

— "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Nora said, getting up with determination and heading for the cockpit.

— "I'm going with you," Ren added quickly, taking the opportunity to get away from the furious Pyrrha.

Naruto was left alone, watching as his friends walked away to solve the mystery of the quaking ship.— "Well, I'm sure they'll fix it in the blink of an eye," he said optimistically.

He turned his attention to Pyrrha, whose presence was like a beacon in the gloom.

— "Pyrrhaaaa, you know what? nWhen..." He started, but she interrupted him with a snort that cut his words like a knife. Naruto blinked, confused by the reaction, and slipped to the redhead's side with the softness of a shadow.

— "Pyrrha, what's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked in a voice tinged with concern. She turned her head, emitting another snort, as if she were a wild cat instead of the warrior everyone knew.

— "What's bothering you? Discomfort? Dizziness? Or is it hunger that makes you growl like that?" asked Naruto, as he rummaged through his backpack like someone looking for a hidden treasure. He pulled out a small container and opened it with a theatrical gesture, revealing cinnamon rolls that gave off a scent of home and simpler times.

— "They're cinnamon rolls, your favorite," she announced with a smile that was meant to be contagious.

Pyrrha, however, stood motionless, ignoring both the offer and the offeror. Naruto let out a sigh that seemed to take some of his energy with it.

— "I know you have your pride, but there's no reason to deprive yourself," he said, extending a scroll to Pyrrha's sealed lips. She showed no signs of relenting, keeping her mouth shut like a fortress.

— "Pyrrha, I know you want them. Let's go...", Naruto insisted, with the patience of a Zen master. Finally, she relented, opening her lips to take a timid bite at the offered candy.

— "That's it," Naruto said, stroking his head with the tenderness of an older brother. Pyrrha relaxed her muscles and walked over to him, seeking comfort in his presence.— "Come here, there's nothing to worry about."

Naruto continued to feed her with the delicacy of one who cares for a fragile creature. — "That's right, Pyrrha. It seems that hunger was stronger than your pride. Do not be afraid, I am here to take care of you, my warrior princess."

And as suddenly as it had begun, the ship quieted down, as if it had found peace in the stillness of the scene.— "Oh, it looks like it was just technical issues," Naruto commented, with a light laugh.

— "Of course," Qrow interjected, taking a sip from his canteen. — "I'm too old for this"

---

I hope you liked this chapter as much as I did.

I want to apologize for any spelling errors this text may have. It's the first fanfic I've written and I would love to receive your feedback with tips and suggestions to improve my story. This is the English version of my Spanish story, which has some changes from the original. I don't know English, I used a damn translator and I must say that this story does not respect the original canon of the RWBY series.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your opinions.