A/N:...I'm tired.
I thought folks would enjoy a fast update like this but with the website notifications gone, and me being unable to read notifications on the app without the bloody thing freezing...
...I just don't know anymore.
But sure, here you go. Two chapters in twelve hours, don't mind me, even if the site refuses to show that I updated today. I had planned a third update tomorrow, but what's the point if folks don't enjoy this or worse, if it isn't visible.
Rest assured, the timeskip is coming, but my team and I want it to be seamless, all the loose ends tied up, as it were.
RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros, but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
Hazbin Hotel references are for entertainment, tributes, and tastefully done; I own nothing~!
You're not ready for the vortex of chaos that is one Anora Valkyrie.
Her name, is, quite literally, a pun. Kindly stop insulting me.
Solo Leveling references is not owned by me.
You all know the one.
"Smile, my dear! You're never fully dressed without one, after all!
There it is! That's much, MUCH better, wouldn't you agree?
Now, then...lets begin!"
~?
Behold the Girls
A smiling Valkyrie stared down a grinning Uzumaki.
It sounded like something straight out of myth; a fairy tale for the ages.
For Naruto Uzumaki? It was probably just another Tuesday. Nothing terribly special about it, really.
And yet, for Anora Valkyrie, everything hinged on this moment; not just her fate, but her future, and that of her only child. She had a little one to look after. Nora was only a year old, and she wasn't gonna raise herself, ya know?
.
..
...Okay, maybe Nora wasn't the best name for a kid, given that her own name was ANORA, but hey, it was the best she could think of after popping her out. Critical thinking had never been her strong suit, and it wasn't as though she had any family left to help name the runt. Not after he ran out on her.
Before this, she'd considered using what meager savings she had left to settle down someplace safe with her daughter, a distant settlement away from the cities and all their ilk. Someplace like Kuroyuri, a place where people looked after one another. The cities didn't look after orphans. Never did. The villages were usually better about that sorta thing, or so she'd been told.
That sounded cruel, too, like she intended on giving her up willingly.
But she didn't; picking a place to settle down was important; because she didn't have long left to live. Two years, maybe five if she was lucky before this wretched poison finally ate her alive, took her from the inside out. Before her body failed her, before she forgot who she was, before...no, don't think about that.
Years of working in the Mistral mines wore your body down, even before you became a huntress and caught cancer. Eking out a living off her ever-dwindling nest egg hadn't been the best plan, but seemed like the only option at the time; nobody wanted a washed-up huntress who might flake out on them at any given moment.
It sucked! She didn't want to die, but what choice did she have?! She'd never asked for this!
But then she'd heard about this gig. Haven's Headmaster was taking on all comers, both students and teachers. They said it paid well, real well; and he'd just confirmed it for her. With that kind of money, she could leave something behind for Nora, something more than a nest egg, something that would let her baby girl have a life once she was gone.
If...if she ever ran out on her. Not that she ever wanted to.
So she'd paid someone trustworthy to watch the kiddo for the day and dragged herself to the very top of Mistral. Lines were for suckers. She didn't have time for those, so she kicked the door down and barged in, trying to be bombastic and energetic as possible in her entrance; anything to mask the pain and trepidation she was feeling.
"Anora Valkyrie, at your service!"
Then the Headmaster looked at her -really looked at her as he hadn't before- and saw through her facade.
He took one look at her, his smirk fading, and frowned. "You're dying."
Her smile died an ugly death. Busted.
She'd heard Haven's Headmaster was clever, but really? With just a look? Was it a semblance or something...?
"Yup." she scratched the back of her head ruefully. "Got cancer from working in the dust mines way back when. But I've still got some life left in me and I'm a fiend with this spear, here." she hefted her beloved weapon, the Last Grace, the one partner that had stuck with her through thick and thin. "I can teach, honest-
A palm centered over her stomach, and belatedly, she realized he was right next to her. When had he moved?!
No, nevermind that, what was this feeling?
Light.
Peace.
Warmth.
A strange tingling sensation welled up inside her body; as if her every cell were buzzing with energy. It felt like a kind word whispered in her ear, a gentle blanket draped over her shoulders, the softest of kisses upon her forehead, every bit of niceness she'd ever experienced in her life all coalesced into a single moment. That moment bundled itself up in her stomach and rose into her chest, taking her breath away.
"Don't mind me," a low, baritone voice intruded upon her thoughts. "You'll be feeling better in no time."
Who, what, when, where, why, and hoooow?!
Against all odds, she did feel better.
She hadn't realized how unwell she was; just how bad things had gotten; how inured she was to it all. The dull ache in her chest faded, taking the pain with it, allowing her to breathe deeply for the first time in years. Her vision became brighter, sharper, all the colors of the world sharper somehow, and more vibrant for it. Her semblance and aura came howling back to life, refilled in an instant; she didn't have to put up a brave front for the world anymore; she felt absolutely energized, as she hadn't been in a terribly long time.
And then it was done, leaving her to stumble back, leaning on her spear for support.
"What," she rasped out a gasp, clutching at her chest in a vain attempt to still her hammering heart, "What did you do?"
"I thought that was obvious?" Haven's Headmaster flicked his hand out, and idly she glimpsed a mark on his palm. "I cured you. Its what I do."
"Evidently," the man-in-green muttered in mild disbelief.
Cured her?! Anora sputtered. "I...you...how?!"
"Bit of a long story, that. The headmaster hummed, "But I've had about all I can stand of interviews for one day. You look like a good person. Are you a good person, Anora Valkyrie?"
Anora blinked, still reeling from the shock of it all. "Yeah...?
The Headmaster clasped both hands behind his back and leaned forward to regard her. "Are you strong?"
"Hey!" some of her bluster returned at the insinuation that she was anything but. "I'll have you know I won the Vytal Festival three years running!"
Judging by the way his eyes absolutely lit up, it was the right thing to say.
"Splendid!" he clapped his hands, producing a sharp pop so loud that it made the man in green wince. "Tell you what, hit me as hard as you can, and if I like it, I'll hire you." When she couldn't bring herself to immediately answer, he laughed a little. "Now, now, its not that difficult, ya know. You, me, hard as you can. Are we clear?"
Clear?! Her mind whirled with the possibilities. If he really had healed her, truly cured her, if this wasn't temporary...!
She could live. No, she was gonna live. She wouldn't have to abandon Nora now.
Which meant...well! That simplified things.
A grin split her face. "Crystal!"
"Alrighty~!" he nodded once. "Let's take this out of the city. He looked past her to the chap in green -she'd never gotten his name- and shrugged once. "Sorry, Flynn. You'll have to find your own way around campus. I've got a different sort of interview to conduct.
He grabbed her arm and the world blurred.
Movement and motion; each proved instantaneous. One moment Anora stood in his office; in the next she heard a window shatter and they were away; reality reasserted itself and she found herself standing on a grassy knoll well outside the city limits. Sure enough, when she looked up, the city itself was little more than a distant speck. She doubted anyone could see them from here.
No, screw that, where was...?
"There we are," she jolted as Naruto's voice echoed behind her, prompting her to face him. "That's much better. Nothing to destroy around here. No one to see us, or hear us...this'll be the perfect place to burn off all that excess energy."
They'd only just met, and he knew her so well!
Anora couldn't help herself.
She started to laugh.
It began as a giddy giggle. A silly snicker, just the sort of snort she hadn't made since she was but a little girl. There was just something about him, about this day, the absurdity of it all; this one-in-a-million chance she'd received; it felt like a blessing from the gods themselves. Maybe he was one, for all she knew. She couldn't help herself -the tore it. She doubled over, clutching at her sides in a vain attempt to stop herself, but it was no use; her mirth only redoubled when she realized Naruto laughing as well, outright cackling at the sky with demented glee.
Without warning, his head snapped down to regard her. "This has something to do with your semblance, doesn't it?"
"Sure does! The happier I am, the stronger I get!"
"Feels nice." the baffling blond wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of his eye. "You have my thanks. I can't remember the last time I laughed like this."
"Lucky me!" she took up her spear and stomped down, cratering the earth underfoot. "If we're doing this, show me how strong you really are!"
"Are you sure about that?" He paused, tilted his head, tittered once now, hiding it behind his hand. "It'll be a short fight, ya know."
Short, long, she didn't care! He'd set her very blood on fire! She couldn't sit still after something like that!
"Show me the goods!"
Something wild -feral- gleamed in his eyes just then, there and gone in an instant.
"I knew there was something I liked about you." he reached up and tugged his tie lose as the wind began to pick up, the heavens themselves darkened above them as his voice rose. "Do you have any idea how long its been since I cut loose?"
A fresh flutter of excitement kicked at her heart. "Nope...?"
The whiskered warrior told her happily.
"Ages."
Naruto closed his eyes and ran both hands through his hair, setting it aflame at his touch. A strange golden glow spread down his head from there, turning his body ablaze, etching it with myriad black marks. There was no shout nor scream or any such silly power-up; he simply tilted his head back and basked in golden fire. Yet for all that, the grass beneath him didn't burn. He stood there, basking in the inferno, humming softly to himself as though he were listening to a melody only he could hear.
For a moment, just a moment, all that energy took on the shape of a giant nine-tailed fox looming above them.
It vanished a heartbeat later as its owner strode forward.
"Don't be afraid." When his eyes opened, those amber slits transfixed Anora, but none moreso than the cross-shaped pupils therein. "Just remember, hit me as hard as you can, or I won't be hiring you."
A bead of sweat ran down her brow, not from fear, but sheer bloody excitement at who -what!- she was facing. "You honestly expect me to hit you after that...?!"
He granted her a different kind of smile then, a wide cheery grin bright as sunlight and sharper than any sword. "I expect no less from a Valkyrie."
High praise from someone who looked like a darn god! Still, she'd accept the sentiment for what it was.
The very air crackled between the two of them, begging for action.
In that moment, Anora briefly considered backing down.
Briefly being the key word, of course.
What did she have to lose?
'Screw it!'
She closed the distance between them in a single bound and lashed out with all her might, thrusting her spear into his chest with a defiant cry.
Naruto was true to his word; accepted the blow wholeheartedly and doubled over with a pained grunt as it slammed into, then through his torso to skewer his side. Aura crackled dully as blood spattered the ground. Dread coursed through her, stealing her joy. Ah, crap! She hadn't meant to hurt him like that...
.
..
...why was he staring at her?
"Anora Valkyrie," he chuckled hoarsely as he touched a hand to her weapon, pulling it tight, forcing it deeper into his wound despite her protests. "You're impressive. Really, you're one of a kind. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you; you just might be one of the strongest Huntresses in this generation. But I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. You see..."
He tore her spear free from his side in a shower of gore, never once looking away her. Refusing to look away, he flung her mechashift weapon back at her, forcing her to catch the now-bloodied weapon. In that moment, for the first time since she'd met him, Naruto Uzumaki finally stopped smiling.
Her eyes widened in utter disbelief; but not for long.
"...I've been holding back this entire time."
His hand closed around her face.
And the world inverted.
"Oh, SHI-
(.0.0.0.)
Vanessa's head snapped up with a start.
"You gotta be kidding me!"
Who pissed him off?!
(.0.0.0.)
"Ma!"
Raven scowled at the tiny tyke reaching up for her. "No. I just fed ya."
Pyrrha reached higher, undaunted by her pointed refusal. "Mamaaaaaaa!"
"For the love of-!" She glowered down at Vanessa's brat. "Your mom ain't here! She's working!"
Pyrrha kept reaching...
.
..
...fiiiine." with an exasperated sigh, Raven swept the determined girl into her free arm and plonked down on the couch. "There. I'm holding you now. Happy? Oi!" she squawked when the redhead promptly began gnawing on her false limb instead. "Don't eat my arm. That shit's metal. You'll get sick."
Yang looked up at her from her other arm and tilted her head. "Shit?"
"...!" All the color drained from Raven's already pale face, turning it positively pallid. "Ah, shit." The second she said that, Pyrrha stopped gumming on her arm long enough to look her way and received a murderous scowl in return. "Don't tell me your heard that."
Pyrrha flung up her arms. "Shit!"
Naturally, that got Yang going with a giggle. "Shit, shit!"
Not even two years old and already two peas in a pod, these girls!
At least the damn Schnee and Ann weren't around today. She'd never hear the end of it otherwise.
And if anyone saw her smiling she'd deny it. Loudly.
Vehemently.
Was this what she had to look forward to until she recovered? Babysitting and quiet comfort. A chance to relax and just...be? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. This felt kinda nice.
And then her old trauma reared its ugly head.
Yang was still a Maiden. Salem would still come for her. She still hadn't told Naruto about that...or what -who!- she had left behind when she spirited her away. She wanted to tell him, as she'd already told him so much already, but she couldn't. Things were good now, and she wanted them to stay that way and-
She just couldn't...
Abruptly, the city shook.
A sight burst out of her. "What's that dolt doing now...?"
(.0.0.0.)
Lady luck had a cruel sense of humor, Willow found.
Fate had seen fit to free her from Jacques, from the unholy bonds of forced matrimony, from that leech and everything he'd ever used to bind her.
Yet even in her newfound freedom, she found herself shackled in other ways.
Nothing like before of course; she'd never have another husband forced upon her ever again, but she couldn't deny that for all her newfound resources and power, she couldn't be seen to completely favor Haven academy, not any more than she already had at least. Many in Atlas were already asking questions about her generous donations and her "relations" with Haven's newest headmaster -let them!- but she could hardly dump all the SDC resources into this now, could she?
Of course, there were other things she could do.
She had other resources and connections in Mistral and today was off to visit one such "friend" at Ann's behest.
Ah, if only she could take him back to Atlas. Or better yet, marry him, for one. Now there was an idea. Raven and Ann would likely fight that tooth and nail however, to say nothing of Vanessa. Boo. Things would be so much simpler then-no, no, she mustn't think improper thoughts when the
"Mother, you're smiling again.
"Am I?" Willow patted her dear daughter's head, careful to steer her along the sidewalk and away from glaring passerby. "I haven't a clue what you mean darling. Isn't that right, Weiss?"
Weiss cooed happily in her arms, wholly ignorant to the byplay.
And then the entirety of of Haven shook around them.
"It seems your father will be late for supper...
Winter grumbled under her breath.
"He is NOT my father...
(.0.0.0.)
'I want one.'
Ann wanted one, she wanted one, oh gods did she want one!
For once in her life she well and truly craved something, but she wasn't sure how to get it. She felt like the odd duck out here, the only who didn't have a babe to call her own. She hadn't really felt the urge to have a child -not really, not truly- until she laid eyes on Vanessa's daughter.
Pyrrha was an adorable little tyke who, unfortunately, had the rather peculiar habit of calling everyone who held her mother. She was just too cute. So were the others, sure, but still! It hurt! Raven had Yang, Willow had Winter and Weiss, and she'd been content being a den mother to the lot of them, but the urge was simply too much.
She wanted one of her own, like the others, a son or daughter to have and hold.
None of these children belonged to Naruto, yet he'd stepped up to help raise them all the same. If that wasn't manly, she didn't know what was. He'd be a fine father to any child of hers. So yes, Ann Ren, odd duck out. How to fix?
'Well, there's one way to remedy that, isn't there...?'
Urk.
Her face burned at the thought. To tease was one thing, to tempt another, but to try...did she dare?
She couldn't think here in the house; not with so many little ones about.
So she went out.
Her mind wandered aimlessly for a time, letting her feet carry her where they may, weaving through throngs of people both of good and ill repute alike. It felt good to just take a walk for once; freeing to move without a care in the world. She didn't fear the dark alleys of Mistral as she descended the mountain, moving into the lower reaches of the city. Why would she? These were her old stomping grounds back when she was...lesser. Before, when she killed aimlessly and without purpose, fulfilling contract after contract.
But she was more than that now. She had a purpose. A reason to be, to fight.
Still, some things never changed. She wasn't surprised when her feet carried her down a familiar path; her shoes nimbly skirted a series of cracked and upturned cobblestones with ease as she rounded a bend, threaded her way through an alley and navigated her way past a half-collapsed wall.
Even after everything, after all these years, after her self-imposed exile to Kuroyuri, she still knew the way home.
In short order she found her destination...home.
She almost wished she hadn't; if only because this place had seen better days. Her lips curled in displeasure at the sight of the dilapidated building - somehow it looked even more rundown than when she'd last seen it. The place was practically falling apart; wooden boards hung askew, the once blue writing of the sign lost and faded to time.
The Helping Hand Orphanage.
An old children's home on the outskirts of the city; a front for something far more nefarious. She knew this place had a...reputation. Children sent here often vanished one or two a time; sold off to the highest bidder for hefty sums of lien. Some were spirited away into the night, others taken by wealthy patrons to other continents, never to be seen again. Still more just gave up and walked out into the wilds to be taken by Grimm.
And yet despite its ill repute, people dwelt within its walls after all these years. Children lived here. She saw some in the yard even now, scrubbing fruitlessly at wooden floors with dirty sponges. Most of them saw her in turn and scampered inside. A few curious souls, those who hadn't had the life beaten out of them, yet remained, but even those watched her like frightful mice, ready to flee at the first hint of danger. Their hollow eyes followed her as she entered the grounds.
Her lower lip curled at the sight; not of them, but the bleak memories this place held for her.
Once upon a time, many years before she'd been one of them; this had once been her home. She'd been one of the lucky orphans; taken on by an aging assassin, trained until her body and mind were a weapon, until she finally unleashed free and carved her bloody deeds in red to Remnant. Until she found herself in a red puddle and realized what she was.
Monster.
Her right hand trembled at the memory; she gripped her wrist to still the tremors.
'No. That's not me. Not anymore. I'm a mother now. Well, I will be, if I have anything to say about it...
Naruto would go berserk if he ever saw the state of this place; hells, he'd definitely probably declare himself the guardian of every urchin here, naming the lot of them his wards until they came of age. As entertaining as that might be, she knew even he couldn't look after a dozen runts at once. Not directly.
Hence why she'd come along preemptively.
Do what must be done, Ann.
The fence parted easily at her touch.
Do not hesitate.
A guard in dark leather armor saw her and raised the alarm.
Show no mercy.
She vaguely recognized the tattoo on his exposed right arm. A flower with blade-like petals. Familiar, but the name escaped her. Not one of the Spiders. Interesting, but ultimately unimportant; Naruto would never allow something like this to stand and neither would Miranda. Equally unimportant was what followed. The lead guard attacked without question; him and his fellows both, for all the good it did the three of them.
Ann ran the first one through, marked the second with her semblance, and left him to die as she lopped the head off a third. A fourth burst from the shadows and fled, only to find a throwing knife in his back. He slumped to the floor with a gurgle and did not rise again.
Vaguely, it occurred to her that she probably should've interrogated one of them.
...no matter. The deed was done.
The rest was irrelevant.
If the Gangs were running this "orphanage" then it wasn't an orphanage at all. She'd done a good thing here. Besides, these kids looked half-starved. Unacceptable.
Stowing her blades, she paused just long enough to wipe her face and move on...
.
..
...or so had been he intent, but belatedly, she realized someone was watching her.
Pivoting, she looked back to one of the crumbling walls.
Someone tried to duck behind it-she didn't let them.
Quick as her namesake, she snatched them up by the arm-and was summarily rewarded by a boyish cry of pain.
"Ow! Lemme go, lady! I didn't do nuthin' to ya!"
Her observer was a tiny little thing now that she'd finally brought him out the shadows and into the light; haggard and gaunt, too. His cheeks were sunken from malnutrition, orange hair dirty, eyes sporting deep black bags, darker than the threadbare rags he wore.
Pity kicked at her heart; by the gods, did it kick hard.
"You there, Boy." The youth froze up as her eyes settled upon him, yet unlike the others, he didn't flee beneath her gaze; likely because she had his arm. "What's your name?"
Rather than retort, he glared up at her, so angry, yet frail, proud yet small. There was a spark in his slanted green eyes; even half starved, he burned with the will to live. He was so young, but she could tell; he would do whatever it took, he would lie, cheat, even steal to survive. Good. That was what she was looking for. Some small bit of defiance, something to prove that the light hadn't gone out of this place yet. A reason to hope. This was more than enough.
"Oh?" she cocked her head. "You don't have one?"
"I do!" He spat back, yanking at her wrist. "Its an awesome name!"
Ann smiled in what she hoped was a disarming manner. "Would you be so kind as to tell me it?"
...Roman!" He stomped on her foot, to no avail. "There! Happy now! Lemme go!"
"I see." The assassin hummed. "Did your mother give you that name?"
He granted her a slow nod in return. Poor boy.
"And where is she now?"
"Gone. I'm here, ain't I?" He squinted at her. "Whaddya want, lady?"
"What do I want?" A strange feeling kicked at her chest. "I'd like to help you." She heard murmurs from the shadows and turned to face them, voice rising as she sought the startled children luring in the shadows. "All of you!" She raised her voice to address the startled children. "Listen, you lot! You're slaves to this place no longer. That gang has no hold over you. Sanctum has a place for you, as will Haven someday, should you wish it!" From there offered her hand to them. "Come with me if you want to be strong, come with me if you want to survive; come with me if you want to live."
One of the children - Roman- edged forward.
Ann dared to ope...
.
..
...and then Haven shook above them.
A faunus boy whimpered, ducking low to the ground, tail between his legs. "What was that?"
Ann hummed happily at the inquiry. "That would be your new headmaster. Lets go say hello, shall we?"
(.0.0.0.)
Anora's world lurched back with a start.
Belatedly, she realized where she was; or rather, where she lay.
She'd blacked out for a moment there; though she was dead, really.
Water lapped at her back as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings; even then it took her a solid minute to comprehend the enormity of her loss. Because she had lost. He'd speed blitzed her thrown her into a lake. That was just BROKEN.
A damp paper note lay on her chest. Numb, she unfolded it with groan.
"Classes start tomorrow at 7 A.M. sharp, missy. Don't be late."
Anora grinned up at the blue sky.
"I think I'm in love."
(.0.0.0.)
...what a day.
Naruto closed his office door behind him and locked it for good measure.
Strange. The lights were off. He was fairly certain he had left those on before he'd left.
His finger hovered over the light switch. Paused now, as he felt a cold breath against the back of his neck.
Realization dawned when he felt a flicker of killing intent.
.
..
...well, well, wall. Today just got better and better, didn't it?
"Are you going to show your face," he spoke to the darkness, "Or shall we play hide and seek?"
The shadows boiled with movement behind him.
He whirled with a grin. "Hide and seek it is!"
A knife whistled past his face cutting a stray strand of blond hair as it went. He caught the wrist holding it and drove his elbow down into the joint. Aura crackled, creaked, cracked now as navy blue sparks skittered down his attackers limbs, only to dissolve as they eeled through his grip and withdrew, reeling backward.
"Oh? Someone who can turn into shadows. That's a nifty semblance."
Sending an assassin after him? Really? How droll.
Still, this was new novel even! He couldn't remember the last time someone had dared sic a hired killer on him directly; it was a delight distraction from the inane prattle of another would-be interviewee. He'd be sure to savor this moment and thank whoever was responsible for this before he killed them.
Slowly, of course. He had a reputation to preserve. A proper Headmaster couldn't let an insult like this stand, ya know?
After that lovely little bout with Anora, his blood was up. He craved action. Excitement.
When the shadows surged in again, he was ready for this time.
"That's much better! You might actually hit me at this rate. Do try harder!" Swaying backward he gave ground readily, allowing his foolish foe to exhaust themselves in a vain attempt to hit him. Blocking carelessly got one killed after all. He'd learned that lesson long ago. Besides, this demoralized his enemies more than any word or punch could, and when it finally came time to throw one of his own-
There.
He ducked a swipe, hummed as the poisoned blade swept past his cheek, and drove his fist upward with intent. The sick crack of ribs that followed was sweet, sweet music to his ears.
Raven was right.
Fighting really was fun.
Huh.He had a single moment of self reflection as he looked down on the poor wretch writhing on the ground; have I become a bit twisted?
...nah.
His staff swept down, forcing his attacker to tumble aside; he was ready for them and drove a foot into their face, sending them sprawling. Credit where it was due, they didn't go down easily. They feigned death for all of a moment, then stabbed up at his face.
He caught their wrist.
"I know Malachite didn't send you." his fingers tightened around their wrist until they dropped their silver dagger. "She's not stupid. Which means you either work for someone else or...
Another dagger flitted out of the dark and skittered harmlessly off his sage-hardened chest.
...you're a freelancer."
His attacker made an annoyed noise.
"Struck a nerve, did I? Good. You lack discipline. Control. And worst...you're sloppy."
A rasengan swirled in his hand, which he brought around in a flowing strike. The shadows parted, revealing his would-be-killer clad in black a moment before his jutsu crashed forth and found their chest, launching them across the room. Their back struck a wall and slumped; they moment they did, he sicced two clones on them and dragged them up by the arms.
"Tell you what." he stood and offered them a hand, palm shimmering with fresh chakra. "Lets make a deal. You don't attack me, and I don't attack you. I'll even let you live. Sounds fair, no?"
They eyed his hand like a poisonous asp; their identity impossible to discern beneath their mask. Easily remedied.
...how can I be sure you're telling the truth...?
Oho! SO they could speak! Fine, he could play the villain, just this once.
"My dear, I always keep my promises."he conjured his cane to his free hand and gave it a little twirl. "Its what I do. Who I am, you see." setting it aside, he offered them his hand once more. "And if I promise to end you, that's it. You're dead. Done. Destroyed." his hand clenched into a fist, drawing a wince from her. "Shop around; beg, borrow, steal, exhaust every option on this pitiful planet and when your hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair, that's when I'll kill you."
They gulped.
"Or we could talk!" he flounced into a seat and crossed one leg over another, smile in place once more. "Would you prefer that?"
Evidently not; because they dissolved into shadows and phased through the floor, leaving his startled clones grasping so much air. Naruto tutted softly and let them go; he could've hunted them down, but he'd achieved his purpose. They were marked, now. He could always hunt his little assassin later, or better yet, use them to find their employer.
Someone kicked the door open behind him, cutting that thought short.
"Aha!" He heard Ann's voice a second before he saw her. "There you are! "Say hello to your new son~!"
Naruto blinked.
Roman blinked back, draped across her back.
A single word came to the battered blond's mind. "What?"
A/N: Hello, Young!Roman!
Mysterious assassin remains mysterious assassin.
Its not too late to see/save a young Cinder given that we're in Mistral. Would you like to? Do let me know~!
We'll cut it there for today. Would you like an update tomorrow? More family moments with everyone are coming up soon, don't you worry~!
Now, then what say you? Would you prefer another timeskip next chapter? Or should we keep the current pace going? Really need to hear from you here. RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros. but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
That's no joke! I can't write without feedback. Guess that makes me weak...T_T
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at that.
Also, references.
(Previews)
"Oh my goodness, is that Nora?! She's adorable!"
"Headmaster, you cannot be serious."
"I most certainly am, my good man~!" It was all too easy to slip back into his teaching persona. "My associated liberated them from an orphanage that was abusing them; which makes those children now wards of Sanctum, and by definition, Haven. They'll make fine huntsmen someday. Which means this gang, this so-called Hana Guild you so fear, has no hold over them.
Three times.
"What?"
Three times you tried to kill me. Did you think I'd forget? And now you want mercy...? No. What happens in Mistral stays in Mistral...
"You're a lot stronger than I was at your age." He ruffled her hair with one hand. "I couldn't do half of what you're doing at three."
She peeked up at him through her messy hair, eyes shining. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Dry your tears, Yang. We're going to the park.
She pumped a fist into the air.
Yay!"
"Yang," Weiss slapped a palm to her face. "You are a horrible sibling and I love you."
"Better than Winter?"
"I'm not saying that within earshot."
"I wanna fight!"
Naruto rolled over on the couch with a sigh. "Lets not. I'm sleepy.
"Fine. Reeeeeen! Help me tackle Dad!"
A soft sigh was his only warning before the little gremlins jumped him.
Naruto's head snapped to the side, a sole grunt of pain her only reward.
Bemused blue eyes blazed a baleful red. "You call that a punch?"
Little Yang gulped. "Aw, crapbaskets...
Phone call for you, headmaster.
My thanks. He set it to his ear and smiled. Naruto speaking?
...you don't know me, but I know you. The signal was grainy; the figure almost indistinct. Pity his eyes were sharper than most.
Who you are is immaterial to me; you're even less entertaining than dry cereal.
"You think this is a joke?!" The man on the other end -Watts!- sputtered spectacularly, black mustache bristling like some great hungry caterpillar. "I'll show you suffering-
The image on the other end crackled; he sneered at it. "Oh, no! Your signal is buffering!"
"I'll destroy you! You little-
The scroll winked out.
"I'm afraid you've lost your signal.
He closed down his scroll, pushed back his chair, and began to hum under his breath.
"Let's begin...
Qrow kept drinking. It pushed the pain away.
Fuck Mistral. It took his sister and his niece. Whole damn place could burn for all he cared.
If there WAS a Maiden in Mistral, she was doing a damn good job at keeping her head down. Better than the other ones-
"Watchoutwatchoutwatchouuut~!"
Buzzed or no, Qrow still had a Hunters instinct; he heard the vice and stepped aside with seamless grace; dodged a tiny flash of long, tawny blond hair, watched it kick off a nearby wall and keep running. Lively lilac eyes flashed over her shoulder as she grinned back at him, never once pausing.
"Sorry!" her voice trailed after as she hurtled around the alley and out of sight.
"Bah. Cute kid." He ignored the girl's halfhearted apology and drank deeply from his flask. "Seems familiar...
Blond hair. Lilac eyes. A lively energetic blond girl who was the spitting image of...
Realization clicked. Red eyes bulged.
Booze sprayed the wall.
"Waitaminute!"
Drunken fingers fumbled for his scroll, only to drop it.
Ah, hell. Hey, kid! ait up!"
EDIT: Hey, thanks for reading!
Feels good to write another chapter for this. Hope you enjoyed it!
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
Hope you have a great day~!
R&R~!
