Path to the Future
Chapter 1: Forging on Forward
Death. Something that comes for us all. It is unavoidable. Only difference being is how much time one truly has. How much impact could someone make on the world before going out?
A blonde haired young man with fox ears on top of his head and whisker-like marks on his face, was standing in the hall as a red haired girl ran inside a classroom with a wave to the young man who in turn waved back. Once the door shut the young man turned around and went to his next destination. He wore a white shirt with an orange fox on the chest part, paired with a black cardigan with white stripes outlining the cardigan and an orange swirl on the back. Lastly, he wore black pants with a blue scarf hanging from his belt down to his knees with black combat style boots. Due to the final exams coming up for him, he and the rest of his classmates had gotten a day off in order to prepare which he was about to use wisely.
"Ahem," the young man turned around to see a man with black hair with red eyes, white and gray vest like shirt, black pants, and a necklace with a sideways cross. "Off to my class are you, Naruto?" Naruto rubbed his golden lock as he turned to his teacher with a sheepish look on his face.
"Just getting a little more practice before the exam, Qrow."
Naruto's answer brought a sigh out of the older huntsman, "Kid don't you know when to relax? Just to let you know there is not one teacher here who thinks you are even remotely going to fail. Take some time for yourself. Enjoy being young."
"Well I can always do that later on in the day. Besides, you could always be better than you were the day before." Naruto smiled at his teacher before heading to the school stadium where Qrow's class usually took place. Qrow stood there for a moment and even though who he considered to be one of his best students seemed okay. The smile he gave said differently. While academically, hell even Qrow would say his prowess as a combatant was among the top. His mental state was always something that the teachers and staff questioned. It wasn't that he was deranged or insane or even had a temper. It just seemed as though he was numb to most things with the exception of his little sister.
At least that was what it seemed to be for Qrow and even his brother-in-law Taiyang, but both knew there was more to it than that. Way more but any attempt to try to get answers were met with either Naruto not saying anything or him changing the subject.
They even tried to question his sister, Ryoko but received nothing as she guarded whatever secrets her brother has as well. And they knew that Naruto didn't ask her to because of a slip up from her once, so it was something she was doing because she wanted to. With Naruto being such an amazing student that also transferred to Ryoko as teachers loved her. Even though she was in the middle school part of Signal, she was excelling as if she was already in high school, understanding concepts that she shouldn't even know.
The only thing that could be said was that Naruto took it upon himself to make sure she understood the topic she had in class to the utmost. The only reason he knew that was that when asked how she knew some of the stuff in such detail the only thing she said was that her older brother taught her. The fact that she could understand it too was incredible as well.
However when observing the two siblings when it came to students and their peers, they were polar opposites. Ryoko was very outgoing and had many friends. She was essentially very popular, among both humans and faunus, and had a moral compass that made her help anyone in need.
Naruto however didn't really have any friends. He wasn't usually seen in the cafeteria until later in it just to pick up a fruit or something. Nobody knew where he went, except Ryoko, as when asked, she knew perfectly where he was everytime.
Qrow decided to follow the fox faunus discreetly to find him at the little stadium, where Qrow knew he would be as he was most of the time. Naruto activated the hologram system as many grimm appeared around him. The system was used to simulate a real grimm to the letter, but the presence that a grimm gave off could not be replicated which was the reason why some failed the test as getting by that fact was difficult especially if it was the first time they had experienced it face to face.
Qrow then saw Naruto hook up his scroll to the console mess with the difficulty slider and turned it all the way to the left. The grimm then disappeared as a man appeared instead as a man Qrow never thought he would see again. He looked almost identical to Naruto without the faunus ears. He wore a green shirt with a white overcoat that went to his ankles. At the bottom of the coat were red flames running through the bottom with black pants and boots. In his hands were twin short swords in the form of a wakizashi. The hologram didn't say anything but bowed as Naruto unsheathed his weapon, a beautifully crafted Odachi. It looks like a regular Odachi but under further inspection the handle was metallic instead of cloth and wood. It was also done in layers. The blade was normal with the exception of some lines that were through the blade as well as a kanji on the base of the blade but Qrow couldn't see what it said. Lastly the pummel at the end was curved slightly upwards towards the blade and the guard.
Naruto then bowed to the man back before they both came into a stance. The man started as he threw a Wakizashi at Naruto who moved his head to dodge it. However as soon as it passed his head the man appeared in a flash of yellow attempting to strike Naruto with his second wakizashi. Naruto moved his sword in its way blocking it before going for a kick. The hologram brought up his forearm to block it then go for a slash of his own. Naruto deflected the weapon with his sword upward and while the man was stunned he jumped back into the air and began to change his weapon. The edge of the blade became separate from the back of it as it separated. The handle split open as the edge shifted down to the bottom and turned to a 180. The curved pummel curved up to the guard making a now circular guard around the handle. Lastly from the guard came out a string that magnetically connected to both the sides of the blade together with a strong magnetism of gravity dust, making a bow.
Naruto pulled back on the string hard as he channeled aura as a large aura shot appeared. Without saying a word Naruto shot it at the man.
The man looked at what he was facing as the arrow was big and fast so he flicked his wakizashi in his left hand making it miss the shot but go past it. Right before the arrow hit him he teleported to the weapon before throwing his second wakizashi in his other hand at Naruto. The young man in turn used the edge part at the bottom to deflect the weapon upwards to the ceiling. The hologram huntsman teleported to the roof where his weapon was and pushed off the ceiling racing to Naruto. Naruto quickly changed to his sword and clashed with the huntsman but was forced to the ground due to his opponent's momentum.
There was a small dust cloud and out of it first came Naruto as he slid against the ground on his feet using his hand to keep him from going back to far. Meanwhile the hologram just stood there as it was ready to continue. Naruto was ready to continue as well as he pressed a hidden button on the weapon as a port opened as he put some wind dust into it then shut it. His blade began to integrate wind as it was swelling around the blade. Before Naruto could do anything however the hologram smiled before teleporting right to Naruto with a wakizashi to his throat. Naruto was confused for a second as he looked at his leg and saw a symbol on it. It definitely wasn't his so that meant the hologram marked him on the way down to the ground.
Naruto sighed, even though he didn't actually lose but the hologram struck first blood. After the hologram disappeared as Naruto sighed again with frustration. No matter how many times he knew of this person's abilities he would always get the upper hand. Naruto then heard some clapping, "Not bad, not bad at all." Naruto turned to the entrance of his teacher Qrow, "To think you are in here training against an old friend of mine. That's interesting."
Naruto looked at Qrow in surprise, "You knew my father?"
"Of course kid, your father and I used to go way back. He was my best friend. He used to always say that one day we would all talk about our time at Beacon as adults with kids. Unfortunately that wasn't the case."
Naruto sat on the ground as he looked at Qrow, "Yeah."
Qrow sighed, "Look Naruto," said the student looking up at his teacher, who was someone who he had grown to become attached to. "I know these last couple of years have not been the kindest to you or your sister. As of right now she is in class, it is time for you to take time for yourself. You've practically raised her. It's time for a break. For you to be young, at least just this once."
Naruto sat there and thought about it, usually he would have helped with raising Ryoko but with his mother's passing at the age of 11 and his father's disappearance now presumed death at a younger age of 8. He had to make sure that everything was provided for his sister. He would not lie. He had massive depression and he knew that but tried to keep himself busy so those thoughts would not show. He almost did it, but if it wasn't for Ryoko he doesn't know what he would do. Naruto would do anything for her and if that meant fulfilling a promise to her then that is what he will do and he will make sure that happens without a shadow of a doubt.
So Naruto smiled at Qrow, it wasn't something real but Qrow knew that already, "Thanks, but I'll stay here and keep practicing. Gotta beat my old man someday."
Qrow understood his unwavering resolve, but was also so sad. "I understand." Qrow sighed as he turned to leave, "When you pass and get into Beacon. Contact me before you go, we can go for a drink."
"But I am not old enough?"
"Old enough to kill, old enough to drink in my book." He said as he left, with Naruto going at it with his father's hologram.
As the bell rang Ryoko was seen exiting the classroom waving bye to her friends. As she looked back in front, the person she expected to be there was there. Her big brother. Always on time, always there when she needed him. She smiled at him as he gave her a small smile back. "How was school?" Naruto asked as he walked beside her as they exited the school.
"It was good, nothing out of the ordinary though." Naruto nodded, but then paused for a moment, which was all Ryoko needed to see his hesitation. "What's wrong bro?"
Naruto sighed, "As you know this next week is going to be my last days here. Then I have to take the test to get out and then apply for Beacon." They then stopped at a bus stop to wait for a bus which usually didn't take long.
Ryoko nodded to this, "I know, and I know that you won't be able to be here for a while. A long while." The bus that they needed to take arrived with them boarding and standing with the many students that poured into it. "But trust me, I'll be fine. Especially financially, you saw to that yourself."
Naruto nodded as he had done many things to make sure his sister, when it was time, could survive financially. With the money that their parents left them, along with a house that legally they owned they were practically set. But that didn't stop Naruto from doing extra so that he made sure she had everything she could ever need. He found that he was a really good writer, and sold many #1 selling books and novels. His alias for it was under Kurama, with no last name attached for many different reasons.
"Okay but I just wanted to make sure that you would be-"
Ryoko grabbed her brother's hand and looked him in his cerulean blue eyes, "Brother, I promise I will be just fine. It's time that you lived, not for me, not for our parents, but for yourself."
Naruto sighed, but he couldn't help but feel pride in how Ryoko turned out. Even though he was able to get her plenty of things she both wanted and needed, he had always questioned if he was doing everything right. But seeing her so mature reassured that his efforts were not for naught.
"Okay, I hear you," he said mockingly.
Ryoko pouted, "I'm serious Naruto."
Naruto smiled at her before ruffling her hair with his free hand, "I know."
Ryoko smiled.
As they made it home, Naruto immediately headed to the kitchen, "What did you want to eat?"
"Hmm," Ryoko put her hand on her chin, before coming up with an idea, "How about making pizza today and we do ramen tomorrow to celebrate?"
"Sounds good to me, while I make it you get ready for your practice."
Ryoko nodded and went upstairs to get things she needed as Naruto began preheating their oven, while tossing up the dough, spinning it in the air multiple times to find the right consistency.
After that he put it down as he grabbed some marinara sauce in the fridge, poured the sauce in a wooden spoon and spread it throughout the dough. Lastly he took cheese from the fridge and spread it throughout the dough and sauce. Once he had done that he put it in the oven with a metal plate and closed it letting it cook.
"Ami, set a timer for 22 minutes." Naruto's scroll came to life as well as the security system in the home.
"Your 22 minute timer is starting now."
"Thank you." However no response was said back.
He then took off the apron and stepped outside where Ryoko was standing with her bow ready. "You ready?" Ryoko nodded, as Naruto nodded, stepping back, as he was now next to the sliding door to the backyard. "Start." He then pressed a button on his phone as targets rose up from various locations. She bent her string back as she shot her arrow made of pure aura in quick succession as she then pivoted and fired another two at two targets. She then felt her senses flare as she jumped with two knives passing under her right under her back as she shot two more arrows in mid air hitting her intended targets. When she landed, she turned and spun her bow, deflecting two more knives. She then knocked back an arrow before turning to her right as she took aim at the weapon coming to her and with precision she shot the knife forcing it a different direction while her arrow hit the target. She then pulled back an arrow as she did the splits, ducking a knife as she fired at her last target hitting it with a bullseye like her other targets.
Naruto clapped, "Very nice but…"
Just then the ground erupted as a blue hardlight grim popped out of the ground to attack her. With great instincts she was able to jump in time for the grim now identified as a beowulf to miss. As she was in the air she formed three arrows aimed at the hologram, with the setting sun behind her illuminating her form. She let go of the arrows as they all pierced the hologram making it fade while she landed on her feet in front of Naruto. "So how was that?"
Naruto smiled, "A little flashy but I can accept it."
Ryoko pouted, "You're acting like you don't show off at all."
Naruto chuckled as he rubbed her head, "But I am your big brother. I am supposed to impress my little sister," he said with a bright smile.
"You know you don't have to do that. You are already the best in my eyes anyways."
Ryoko's answer brought another smile to Naruto's face, "Thank you Ryoko." With a slight nudge with his hand on her bag, he forced her forward into the house, "Now go take a shower you stink."
Ryoko gasped, "Brother!"
Naruto laughed as he saw his sister go into the bathroom to shower. As soon as she left he tended to the food.
After eating food and watching some television, Naruto saw that Ryoko was asleep so he picked her up off his shoulder and put her in her bed while tucking her in. Unconsciously she smiled as she whispered, "You are the best brother I could ever have…" This made Naruto almost tear up a little as he was touched by how his sister thought of him. It made him happy. It was like he was at least able to raise someone so wonderful. It felt as if he was able to do something right.
He kissed her forehead and left the room shutting the door. However, as soon as he shut the door his smile died as a solemn look passed his face. 'One last thing to do.' He then grabbed his weapon, locked up the house and left into the night.
In a clearing in the forest near Patch, Naruto stood in a clearing. He sighed as he breathed in then out and like a switch his demeanor changed as all of the pain, despair, depression he had felt came washing over him. All of the negative emotions that he had felt towards himself came rushing out. He was able to do this a couple of years ago while taking care of Ryoko brought him great joy, but his contemptment for himself was always there. And he felt it would always be there but for the sake of his sister, for Ryoko, he would persevere. He won't make the same mistake ever again.
These emotions gave him his desired response as he sensed grim, all beowulves, starting to surround him as they hid in the bushes, in the trees. He drew his blade as he waited, he stood still as grimm circled him, their red eyes shining in the night, observing him. One decided to stop the wait and jump at his presumed prey. However, what they didn't know was that they were the prey while Naruto was the predator.
As the grimm descended, Naruto calmly turned to it and with a strong swing cut it in half, leaving its body to fall on the floor and disappear in a black mist. "Let's do this."
This is what it took for all of the grimm to attack him, Naruto readied himself not even paying any mind to the hatred and negativity that the grimm was exuding. To any lesser man it would have been suffocating but to Naruto it was but a minor thing to what he had felt to himself. Naruto dashed forward as he jumped and cut a wolf in half, landing on another stabbing it straight through the chest. He looked up to see a grimm coming at him so he jumped and switched to the bow form and shot it with three arrows, two in the chest and one in the head, killing it.
He looked on to see a group of four wolves coming at him, so he switched to a sword and ran at them. One by one they approached him with a strike as he weaved through them while counter attacking. When he was on the other side they all fell to the ground dead. Two grimm tried to coordinate, one went high while the other low, so Naruto thought of a way to counter them, he tripped the one that was running at him and then got low and hit his open palm into its abdomen. With a bit of aura that he applied to the strike it made the wolf go flying into the one in the air trying to attack him.
He then saw four running at him as he sighed, "They never learn." He then charged up a bigger shot as the arrow was four times bigger than normal, "Hrunting." The arrow at the word was sent flying at the four wolves, before it was halfway it split into four different arrows piercing all of them in the chest killing them as well.
He then switched his weapon back to his sword as he recalled there were about 5 more left. They had decided to surround him and work together to take out their foe, but again Naruto was going to prove why he was the predator and they were his prey as sheath his weapon and place it on his hip having his right leg at a right angle in front of him, while his left leg was straight and behind him with the moon shining down on him making a shadow of him right beside him. After a second of not sensing any fluctuation in him they suddenly decided to attack but as they moved Naruto's aura rose to extreme heights in the matter of a second. Before they could realize their mistake it was too late as an orange fox was made manifest above Naruto as he swung his sword out. They were frozen for a second before multiple orange slashes appeared where they were and then disappeared. Naruto then stood up as all of the grimm dropped to the floor, and disappeared.
Naruto sighed before he heard rustling in the trees above, "I see you are getting a good workout before tomorrow's test, eh Naruto." Naruto looked up to see his best friend. The boy wore a black poncho with his family style white and red fan in the back, with a white shirt under it. He lastly wore black pants with two purple belts in a criss cross style and black shoes to complete his attire. His skin was fair complexion, with his black hair being slicked back slightly but had two bangs framing his face. Lastly he had onyx black eyes to which Naruto showed understanding. "How is your sister?"
"Great, how about your brother, Sasuke?"
"Last I checked he was in Atlus working with the Schnee that he has been working with." Silence then sounded throughout the area as they just looked at eachother, "You ready for the exam?"
"You should know I am, should be asking you the same thing." Sasuke nodded to him.
Before he jumped down and started walking, "Come on, let's go visit our parents."
Naruto nodded as they left with the moon still shining on them very brightly.