Close your eyes now, time for dreams

Death is never what it seems

Take the things you thought you should

All the things they said were

Good

All your faith in ancient ways

Leaves you trapped inside a maze

Take the lives of those you need

Sow the death then reap the

Seed

Two heterochromatic eyes peered through her containment cell. Her brow furrowed in amusement as tall blonde Huntresses put a red-haired Faunus into a cell across from her.

A silent mocking laughter escaped from Neo as she pointed across at the Bull as the door to his pod cell was locked over him. "You were caught as well… Shows how unjustified his confidence in you is."

A single finger was flipped in his direction as her mood soured, and she scowled before mouthing her aggravation. Then, using her heated breath, she stained the transparent barrier before using her finger to write a simple statement.

Set-up.

He glowered after squinting his working eye, reading her message. Now, that was interesting. Then again…

He had no clue about the Faunus that interfered and stopped him.

"Ms. Vanille…" Her gaze seethed toward where the voice came from, seeing the silver-haired headmaster, and she gnarled her lips. "Apologizes. Neopolitan."

"I believe my Professor offered you a deal… I would like to amend that." Ozpin stated, causing Neo to mock the man by flapping her hand like it was chattering. "I believed he offered to heal your condition if you assist us…"

"What if I could prove it to you that he can?"

It was a breezy, misty morning. Birds flocked the skies, flying southwards. It was colder here than it was at home during the winter…

For once, he was glad he was wearing his thicker regular clothes this morning than the gym uniforms they were given. It was chilling enough with them! He would have frozen to death if he had been wearing that outfit!

And all the girls out here dressed like that… Ruby… Nora… Blake… Yang… Pyrrha. …Weiss!

Jaune flushed at the image of their gym uniforms. Adding in how cold it was…

He imagined everything.

He really didn't need to be thinking about that here… Maybe later.

"Mah, come on! Keep up!" Naruto's voice interrupted his thoughts, much to his thankfulness. "Don't know what you're thinking about back there, but not only is it breakfast time, I still gotta get ready for my class! Move it, or I'm gonna make this worse on ya!"

Jaune twitched. Did he expect him to be able to move at a reasonable speed with these things on? He struggled to move before, and he had increased the pressure!

"I weigh a ton here! Give me a break, would you?!"

Scrunching his nose and repressing his annoyance, Naruto sighed as he stopped and looked back at Jaune. He didn't blame him for his outburst… He was pushing him harder than he should… But after the last session, he saw it. That fire within… The fire that could lead to greatness.

He just needed to figure out how to tap into that drive.

So, giving him a disappointed glare, Naruto squinted and looked down upon Jaune. "Mah, how do you expect to get better if ya don't push through the pain and work hard? It doesn't work that way, ya know? You are more than willing to quit if this is too much for you. I don't have the time to train someone who doesn't want to be out here."

Bending over, attempting to catch his breath, Jaune struggled briefly, his head depressing. All the whispers about him flooded his thoughts. Draining him further.

"How did someone like him pass?"

"How did he get named as team leader?"

"Look at how easily he got taken out in his match!"

His thoughts swirled wildly. Hearing all the chatter that had surrounded him since he came. It was all silenced by a solitary voice echoing within, transfixing his thoughts onto it.

"Jaune, I don't have the time… You… I'm sorry, but I don't see it in you. I see many things in you, brilliant things… This is not one of them. …You don't have to worry about our legacy. I will be here for some time… Maybe little Adrian will show promise?"

His fist tightened into a clinch. No… Adrian… Was just born. It shouldn't be his responsibility…

It was his.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, they opened with a vivid shine. Exerting against the pulling weight placed on him, his breath shortened with every movement. Jaune glowered and peered directly in a cerulean gaze. "I can't… I have to do this."

Keeping eye contact, staring into his eyes, the faintest smirk quivered on Naruto's lips. There was that fire… Now he just had to prod it a little…

Get it started.

"Then what are we waiting for? You got something to prove, don'tcha?" Naruto crossed his arms before grinning at Jaune. "The others are waiting on us. Let's catch up to 'em."

"Come on, Jaune! Hurry up! I'm starving!"

"I'll make pancakes if ya do! Ren! I need some Lien!"

"…Alright. Come on, Jaune. You got this."

"Get up and get over here, would ya? How are you gonna impress any girls like that? They'll just think you're a limp scrub! You gotta be a man and show us up!"

"Yang!"

"What, it's true! Girls like muscles! Right, Blake?"

"...Don't drag me into this… Just keep up, Jaune… I got something else I need to get ready for."

"If you want to be a good ninja, you have to start with the basics! Come on! Let's go!"

"How did you drag all of us into this?!"

Feeling a hand settle on his shoulders while the assorted rabble attempted to cheer him on, Jaune's bland expression changed to a subtle surprise. Pyrrha stood beside him, her smile slight. But her voice was as sweet as the angels. "I believe you can do this, so let's do this together, partner."

Flushing, especially after his earlier image of Pyrrha, Jaune felt something stir as he looked into Pyrrha's eyes. He felt somehow…

Stronger.

"Thanks… Pyrrha." Jaune's smile was strained, but he nodded.

And with that, he pushed forward with the morning jog once more. A sliver of a grin crept on Naruto's face as he watched them go. And his gaze fell onto Pyrrha.

"Alright… Found his motivation."

No… This couldn't be happening… Why was this happening?

His nerves were fried. This was the last person he ever wanted to fight… He recognized her now without that damn mask. He knew what she was capable of after seeing it firsthand…

And now he stood before her with her weapon in hand, her expression unreadable. No anger. No vitriol. She was just stoically gazing at him! It pissed him off!

"If you are both ready," Cardin winced as the voice of the combat instructor resonated, the damn Faunus officiating this match despite decidedly being prejudicial against him and favorable toward her. "Begin."

She didn't move. She stood there, intently staring at him. As if she was waiting for him to make the first move! After all her talk, she was gonna make him be the aggressor? This bitch of all people…

Who nearly burned down his family home?!

With a guttural roar, rearing his mace at his side before heaving it above him with both hands. He rushed to her position and leaped above her. And she didn't move for a second!

What was she trying to prove? He snarled with everything he had swung his mace, dropping the head of the mace directly on her head.

His eyes glimmered in horror as she never moved. He felt contact with her skull. She didn't move? Why wouldn't she…

"Ah!" He cried in horror; flames ripped and burned around him as she turned to fire that engulfed and wrapped around him.

He felt his Aura crackle, which took the punishment, but he stood petrified as the flames washed over him—allowing it to roast and sear through his Aura to where he started to feel the burning heat on his skin.

Only for a heavy crack to the back of his skull, causing him to fall to his knees to kick him out of it as the fire dispersed. Breathing heavily, feeling the sweat drip to the floor, his eyes wavered as she heard him snarl behind him. "Get back up. If I have to deal with my past, stand and face me at least!"

"I get it! What Adam did to your home was reprehensible. I stood by and let it happen! I am no better than him! I wanted to see it burn. I didn't have the heart to go through with it…" Blake snarled, her golden eyes glinting with furious remorse before it faded to genuine remorse. A deep growl followed, and a seething glare filled with hatred peered into his eyes as he turned and looked up at her. "But don't you forget for a second that you and your family are not innocent either! You and your family stood in proud support of the Silver Bullet Brotherhood. Your family funded them! Despite the fact they are known terrorists that kidnapped and enslaved Faunus or murdered my people!"

Panting as she let her passionate rage consume her as she deathly snarled at Cardin, Blake took a few breaths to calm her nerves. Closing her eyes, letting the anger subside, her golden eyes glistened as she looked down. "I regret what I allowed Adam to do to your family… But I don't feel sorry about it."

"So get up and fight me." Blake hissed, clenching tightly around both blades of Shroud as she stared down at Cardin. "You have a reason to come at me… But I have several reasons to come after you with everything I have. …Pick on my friends—try to pick on Velvet again…"

"And I will end you."

Shivering from the cold, passionate speech she delivered to him, Cardin's breath hitched. He could feel the venom within it. It silenced the room, and all cheers for either of them!

But despite a cold pit in his stomach, a fire burnt within his eyes as he stared back at her. She was right. She was there… She let someone who sounded like he was her partner burn his home to the ground…

Taking everything from them but their lives.

And here, one at fault stood before him in a sanctioned match. He could achieve his well-deserved revenge.

With a violent and furious battle cry, he leapt back to his feet and immediately sprinted toward her. His grip tightened on his mace. He would end this all in a single strike!

Only for his eyes to white out as Blake slipped past him, heels clicking against the ground as he collapsed to the floor. His Aura shattered, and drool spilled onto the floor.

"Shit, did she kill him?!"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Boss!"

"Get up!"

His entire gang called for him, rushing to his side from their seats, fawning over their boss.

"Mah, he's fine! Just knocked out… Maybe a bruised throat from that cross slash." Naruto grunted, rolling his eyes before wincing. "Didn't know you could knock someone out with what amounts to a throat chop… So damn."

Creating a clone to heft the lug to the Health Centre to be seen by Peach, Naruto chuckled as he turned his attention to Blake. "Nice finish. Someone's been learning. … Doesn't that feel better to get it out of your system?"

She flushed before glaring at him. Turning her head and scoffing, she rolled her eyes. "Hardly…"

"Fair. Not used to it yet! " Naruto tilted his head, his grin still plastered on his face. His expression slowly darkened as his spiky bangs hung over his eyes, causing her to shiver. "Might have to ask you exactly what the Silver Bullets are later… Think that's something I'm gonna have to take care of before… You know."

A cold shiver trailed down her spine, her body shuddering. His voice was so— different. Was that what he sounded like when he was mad?!

She didn't want him to be pissed off ever again!

"I keep forgetting you… Tell you later." Blake almost palmed her face in exasperation before shooting him a tired stare. "Their history, especially toward the White Fang… Is not pleasant."

"Can't imagine that it is, given what I just heard." Naruto exhaled before waving her on. "Alright, get to your seat… Gotta a class to run here!"

Scoffing yet smiling back at Naruto, she slowly turned her attention to the stairs to head back to her seat. Only to freeze at the sincere looks of worry expressed by the rest of her team.

"Holy… Are you okay?" Yang's jaw hung off her hinge, staring widely at Blake.

"I felt that from up here. I thought he was gonna die." Ruby winced, giving her a meek glance.

"…I think we might want to know more about them too." Weiss scrunched up her face and shot Blake a nasty look. "Don't think you can spend all your time with our teacher. We're a team. We may have our issues…"

"But we're here for one another. So don't go running to our instructor for everything, got it?"

This was gonna be an evening.

He knew Glynda expressed not to bring students over to his apartment. But he was already friends with Blake… And he really wanted to know about this Silver Bullet Brotherhood. Everything he found out while fiddling with the web…

Well, he wanted to hear it from the mouth of someone who fought against a group like that. Wanted to know what he was dealing with.

"And I need to clean up…" Naruto muttered, stopping in front of his apartment door, reaching to unlock the door…

Only to find it was already unlocked.

His eyes sharpened, and he slipped a kunai into his hand. Pushing the door open carefully, wary of the possibilities, he prepared for each one of them. He knew he locked the door after he left this morning…

Only to be left stumped as a cup of tea was held in front of him by a very familiar petite black-haired girl with a broad grin. But now she was wearing a maid-adjacent outfit instead of the Neapolitan outfit she wore the last time…

"Ah, we were waiting for you." Ozpin's voice echoed further inside, sitting at his kitchen table sipping tea. "This is quite good. She knows how to make a delicious cup of tea, I must say."

"Uhhh… What is this?" Naruto blinked several times, frowning as he was forced to accept the cup as the petite woman bowed gratefully and then hopped toward the table. His eyes lingered on her form for a moment longer before he turned to Oz. "Care to explain why she's free? … And in my apartment?"

"A deal has been made for her cooperation," Ozpin responded, setting his cup of tea down and folding his hand. "I wasn't expecting her terms, so I've come with her to propose them to you… As it directly involves you."

"You wanna run that one by me again." Naruto squinted, sliding his kunai back into his pouch, seeing she wasn't a threat. "I know I attempted to make a deal with her… And this doesn't seem like that deal, I… What are you doing?"

Narrowing his eyes as she pulled out her scroll, her fingers thumbed through it quickly. Lifting it so he could see it, he blinked several times… Did she use the device to talk?

Don't want. Can live without my voice. Want protection. From her.

Naruto's head snapped back toward Oz with a frown. "You agreed to this?"

"I came to ask if you will agree to this as she wants the protection to come from you in particular. You are the one that overwhelmed who she wants protection from. It only makes sense." Oz met Naruto's gaze before glancing over at Neo and exhaling. "However, there is a bit more to it…"

Roman… Protect Roman. More important than me.

"And that's the part I have a little issue with myself." Ozpin sighed before bringing his hand up to rest his cheek on, staring at her. "You, above anyone else, know how much of a thorn in my side that man has been for me the last handful of years. To overlook everything he has done… Is not something I can do easily."

Neo scowled, her eyes glinting with raw passion as she furiously typed on her scroll, holding it out once more. Don't care… Roman… Is everything. Will do anything to protect him.

Ozpin sighed once again, staring at the petite figure. "That's a steep price you are asking for your cooperation. I understand this is your price, but I cannot, in good faith, just…"

"I'll do it," Naruto announced, causing Oz to stumble in his seat. Carefully observing her, Naruto saw everything he needed. How tense she was when she typed those words. Her vivid expression… That glint in her eyes. He knew it well. "She's doing this to protect something precious to her… I think I understand her a bit more…"

"So I'm willing to put my faith and believe in someone willing to do everything for their precious people."

The atmosphere was tense. Everyone gathered in the office could feel it.

Hinata shrunk in the presence of everyone in the room. Something was off… She didn't feel like she belonged. It felt like they were about to go to war again… And she hated that feeling.

And why was Sasuke so unnervingly close to her? Keeping her to his right-hand side. It was unsettling…

"Alright, Sasuke…" Tsunade scowled at her desk. Her eyes sharpened at the Uchiha standing before the crowd of people. "Just what is it we are dealing with? This doesn't sound good…"

"It's not." A voice echoed behind the crowd, causing many shinobi to react and prepare for a fight.

"He's welcomed…" Sasuke gnashed his teeth, glancing behind at everyone. "Unfortunately, at this time… An Ōtsutsuki is the best ally to fight the incoming threat of more Ōtsutsuki coming to wipe us out."

"What I've learned is… We cannot rely on bringing Naruto home to stand against this threat without killing him… So a new plan needs to be made, and sacrifices have to be made."

R & R. Follow on Ao3 for more consistent updates.