Chapter 5: Team Bonding

Naruto woke up to an alarm to see one of his teammates Neji getting up. Neji looked to his leader seeing that his alarm woke him up, "My apologies, I usually try to wake up around this time to get a little training in before I start the day. It doesn't bother you does it?"

Naruto shook his head, "No, not at all. Actually, If you don't mind, can I join you?"

Neji was slightly surprised but nodded, "Of course."

"Cool," Naruto and Neji began to leave the room, "We'll be back guys." Shikamaru grunted while Sasuke nodded as he was up and heading to the bathroom already.

Neji was slightly surprised that Naruto knew they were also up but it made Naruto more interesting. They began walking to the gym, "So are you from Vale?" Neji asked.

Naruto nodded, "I lived in Patch with my little sister, but we frequently came to Vale for multiple different things. What about you?"

"Eastern Mistral. My family lives there. We are all a group of huntsmen and huntresses. I have a cousin who is going to be here in Vale next year. At least that was her plan when I last asked."

Naruto hummed, "I see. Do you love your family, Neji?" Neji was surprised and confused about that question. They entered the gym and were starting to get ready for their spar.

"Why do you ask a question like that? I feel the answer would be the same for all of us. Even if there were things our family does that we wouldn't agree with."

Naruto smiled slightly, "Yeah I guess you are right. Stupid question."

Neji looked at his leader as Naruto looked at his wrapped fist. He saw that Naruto's eyes were present but yet not. There was a calm and yet raging fire in them. Neji got up and stepped into the small ring in the gym. "Come leader. I want to see who you truly are, with my own eyes."

Naruto looked at his teammate and nodded. Naruto got in a stance in front of Neji. Neji took his regular fighting stance right arm and palm out with his left palm out and to his side. Naruto put his right foot forward with his right arm and fist tucked close to his stomach while his left leg bent and behind his right and his left fist guarding his face.

Neji decided to made the first move and focus a palm strike to his chest. Naruto used his right hand to swat his arm away and went for a counter attack with his left. Neji saw it coming and moved slightly right (Naruto's left) letting it pass him and also was able to keep away from Naruto's right. Neji decided to strike and struck with a two prong attack with one hand aiming for Naruto's face and the other his chest. Naruto grabbed the hand coming to his face and blocked the strike to his chest with his knee. Neji pressed onward, not letting up with a couple of kicks that were parried by Naruto's own legs and palm strikes that Naruto mainly avoided.

With the exchange Neji was able to capitalize on an overextend from Naruto as he dodged it an hit the same arm upward opening Naruto up to hard strike to his chest and face. The attack was hard and strong but what came after shocked Neji slightly as Naruto recovered quickly, too quickly for Neji to see coming as Naruto used the moment of the hit to swing and spin kick at Neji. Neji barely blocked it in time, but he would soon realize that he was better off dodging as when Naruto's left came into contact with his guard. The hit was heavy and it hurt. Naruto pressed forward and was now on the offensive as Neji did the best he could but Naruto was much faster than Neji could keep up with and eventually he slipped with Naruto connecting a well placed punch to the ribs making Neji slide back slightly.

Neji was trying to recover quickly expecting a follow up but it never came as Naruto stood there. Sensing his teammates' confusion Naruto spoke up, "Yeah I think we call it there. You are definitely much better at hand to hand than me."

Neji was now very confused, "But you just sent me reeling and you could have capitalized. Why didn't you?"

"Oh that's easy," Naruto said walking to the bench, "While I may be stronger and faster than you. You have a much better style of fighting than me. Once you knew how to deal with my strength and speed there wouldn't be much that I could do in hand to hand combat."

Naruto then grabbed his stuff, "Besides we need to get ready for class soon and I don't know about you but I don't want to stink on my first day." Naruto left, "See you in the room. I'm showering first."

Neji just looked on at the back of his leader and gave a slight smirk, 'Yeah he is definitely interesting. This actually might be fun.'

"So what is first on the agenda?" Naruto asked his team.

Neji looked at their schedule, "It seems as though we have Professor Port in Grimm studies and military strategy, then Professor Peach in Plant science. Next lunch, Weapon Crafting and upkeep with Professor Mulberry and lastly Aura manipulation and application with Professor Hatake."

"And for tomorrow?" Sasuke asked.

"Dr. Oobleck for History, Professor Greene for stealth and security, lunch, study hall, and then Professor Goodwitch for Combat instructor." Neji finished up noticing something.

"A combat class each day. What a drag," Shikamaru said.

"They may have done that on purpose to make sure that we don't have it all in one day," Sasuke said.

"Well regardless," Naruto began, "It's a balanced schedule so let's get going. We have to navigate the school to get to the class so we mind as well start leaving now."

Shikamaru sighed, "Damn. Alright let's get going." Shikamaru dragged his feet out the door getting a laugh from Naruto and a chuckle from the other two more stoic individuals.

Navigating the school grounds wasn't that hard for them, especially since Shikamaru seemed to have a good sense of direction. Thus he became the team's designated compass much to Shikamaru's own disappointment. After not much time they found their class and Naruto opened the door to see no student but one professor with a rather long mustache.

"Um, Professor Port's class? Is this where we are supposed to be?" Naruto asked a little nervously.

"Ah team NNHS, you're early. I like it. Yes this is Grimm Studies and Military Strategies. Please have a seat wherever you guys like."

Sasuke being the most observant saw two cages in his class, "If you don't mind me asking, what is up with the cages?"

"How observant of you Sasuke Uchiha," Professor Port walked to the cages, "These are for the Grimm that is inside. Today I will have two of you demonstrate the ability to take these down."

"Is that safe?" Shikamaru asked.

"Well that is why I am here, just in case things get out of hand. However, because of you all asking I will allow one of you to be one of its opponents, but it must be one so please choose."

"Naruto." Everyone in the room looked to Neji who answered for them.

"Oh putting your own leader in the spotlight are we? Do you not trust young Naruto?"

Neji shook his head, "He showed that he is more than trustworthy, but forgive me for being honest but Naruto…" Neji looked at Naruto, "You are an enigma to me. I have plenty of questions and seeing how you deal with Grimm first hand will tell me all I need."

Naruto looked at his teammate, "I see then I will take this seriously." Neji saw a force of nature in those eyes and it interested him greatly.

Neji nodded, "Thank you for allowing me to indulge in my curiosity."

Shikamaru was quiet through this, but secretly he had the same questions as Neji. 'Show us who you are, Naruto.'

"Now which one of you think that they are the embodiment of a true Huntsman?"

Weiss's hand shot up quickly, "I do!"

"Then come and face your challenge."

Weiss went to change and came back with her gear and weapon. Shikamaru noticed her demeanor, "What's her deal?" He looked to team RWBY who just shrugged.

"Now begin!" Professor Port cut open one of the cages allowing a Boarbutusk Grimm to come charging out at her. Weiss dove to the right while slashing at its side but as the Grimm circled it seemed to have done no damage. Weiss readied herself, "Haha wasn't expecting that were you?"

"Hang in there Weiss," Ruby cheered. Weiss charged in only for the Grimm to swing it's tusk left then right catching her between it's two tusks.

"Bold, new approach. I like it," the professor said.

"Come on Weiss, show it who's boss," Ruby once again tried to encourage her teammate. Weiss looked at Ruby and while distracted she let go of her weapon allowing the Grimm to be able to throw it across the room. It quickly attacked her, knocking back towards the other side of the room.

"Ho, ho now what will you do without your weapon," Professor Port commented.

The boar Grimm ran at Weiss for a charge only for her to react quickly and evade it, sprinting across to the other end where her weapon lay.

"Weiss go for it's belly there's no armor underneath-"

"Stop telling me what to do!" Weiss cut off her team leader in anger.

"Ah that's why, "Shikamaru stated with his head down.

Ruby looked down and chose to stay quiet for the remainder of he fight. Sasuke, who was seated behind her, put a hand on her shoulder but didn't say anything. She looked at him as he shook his head and she nodded.

Back on the floor, the boar began to roll in place into a spiky ball and launched towards Weiss. Weiss however knew how to counter as she projected a glyph to protect her and stop the Grimm making it land on its back with its belly exposed.

Weiss jumped to the glyph platform behind her and raced to the Grimm stabbing it in the stomach killing it as it squealed in pain. "Bravo, bravo we are indeed in the presence of a true huntress in training. Now we have time for one more challenger. Who is prepared to face what is within." There were a couple that raised their hands but as he promised he picked on Naruto's outstretched hand. "Ah Naruto from team NNHS. Why don't you come out here and show us what you can do?"

Naruto went to the locker but when he came back he was still wearing his uniform. He then took off his jacket and threw it to Sasuke who caught it lazily. "Hold that for me, there is no reason for me to change since we have plant science after."

Sasuke nodded and watched as his best friend began to get ready. "Begin!" Port said as he cut open the last cage and out came a Beowulf something the class wasn't expecting.

Naruto like a switch flipped from joking and happy Naruto, to something most of them couldn't even recognize. He slowly unsheathe his sword and began to slowly walk to the Grimm. The students looked at Naruto like he was crazy. "He's just walking to it," Yang said.

Blake shook her head, "No, he's stalking it. It's like instead of the Grimm being the predator, it's the prey."

If looks could kill, Naruto would have killed the Grimm ten times over as it just stared at it while walking. The Grimm was also sizing up Naruto but was hesitant to attack. Neji started using his semblance to search why the Grimm wasn't attacking. What he saw was something unbelievable. It was borderline insanity. Naruto was projecting his aura out and usually people could only have so much aura so it would be focused. But with Neji's eyes he could see the amount of aura Naruto possessed and it covered the entire room.

"T-There is no way someone could have this much aura."

Team RWBY, Shikamaru, and JNPR looked to Neji in confusion, "So your eyes allow you to see aura as well." Everyone turned to Sasuke, "This is Naruto. His aura is so vast that it could fill this room and the air that you guys felt switching was the density of it."

"It feels so cold," Ruby said.

Naruto was now in front of the beast and stood there looking at it in the eyes. After a couple of seconds the Grimm roared and attacked, extending its claws to stab Naruto only for its arm to be gone. Naruto then walked forward and past it and faster than many could see, he sliced its body in half killing it quickly.

Naruto then relaxed and the room felt like how it was earlier, "There you go Neji are you satisfied?"

Neji looked on with a smile, "Very. Sorry to have doubted you."

Naruto smiled, "No problem, just don't have me do that again." Neji nodded.

"Well that was a very interesting display I must say Young Naruto. You have the skills of a true huntsman." Sasuke, Neji, Shikamaru, Pyrrha, and Blake noticed the difference between his statement with Weiss and Naruto. "It seems that is all for today. Stay vigilant. Class dismissed."

Weiss, fed up with everything stormed out causing Ruby to follow her, Naruto was about to follow to try and help but he was stopped by Sasuke, "Let them figure this out. Ruby has to learn how to be a leader as do you. If she fails, let her fail."

"Then what just let her get berated?" Naruto is a little upset that his best friend is stopping him. "You know as well as I that sure she is not taking it too seriously but she doesn't deserve to be yelled at for someone's jealousy."

"I never said anything about letting her get berated and I am not arguing against what you are saying, but she needs to learn to take some punches. If she doesn't then she'll become too reliant." Sasuke put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "I know you want to help everyone but if you coddle them, then they won't grow." Naruto sighed, understanding that his best friend wasn't wrong. "She reminds you of Ryoko doesn't she?"

Naruto nodded but sighed, "Yeah but you are right. I need to learn for myself as well. How can I give advice when I don't have advice to give on my own?"

"We appreciate the sentiment however." Naruto looked over to their left to see both Yang and Blake. "Weiss and Ruby haven't gotten to the best start and as much as I would love to defend Ruby, she needs to learn how to do this too," Yang said.

Blake nodded, "But thanks for trying to help us out."

They both left with a wave and Naruto sighed, "Being a leader is tough work."

Shikamaru then patted Naruto on the back, "Which is why I am glad it is you and not me, oh fearless leader." Shikamaru began walking to their next class.

"Oh come on Shikamaru," Naruto whined.

"You best follow your own advice and get to learning, leader," Neji walked past Naruto following Shikamaru.

"Neji."

Sasuke chuckled slightly, "They have a point too, your highness." Sasuke followed the rest of his teammates behind.

"Sasuke, not you too," Naruto began jogging to catch up with them, "Come on guys!" He yelled catching up to his chuckling teammates but it began to slowly put a small smile on his face. Nothing big but noticeable which Sasuke did not miss.