Apologizes that took a little longer than expected.
I did take a break to refresh myself a little, watch some football, played some Monster Hunter World...
Then the first scene had to be rewritten several times and I'm still not entirely satisfied with the scene.
...It's just the best of what I wrote...
Little longer and upbeat chapter after this first scene to make up for that.
Anyways, let's see how this goes, shall we?
I've been feeling sad
Luck's been bad
Living in a painful way
In disarray
It's like every day
Was dark and grey
I'm just another washed-up cliché
It sucked to be that way
But I've got a plan I'm gonna
Change Direction
Gonna claim this life as mine
And I'm just moving forward
I don't need perfection
Gonna try a re-design
Gonna branch out and see what's up
Might bloom like a buttercup
All starts with a new haircut
Yup!
But nothing's wrong today
Everything is looking right ok
Taking everything in stride
The sun is shining in the sky
The birds are smiling so am I
I'm kicking ass in every way
Think this change is here to stay
It's feeling like a brand new day
This night had become intriguing, to say the least.
Tied up and bound to one of the chairs given to him, there was the assailant who entered his room.
Had to keep his eye on her, not wanting to give her the chance to escape. After using her semblance to turn invisible…
If he had been ever so slightly less attuned, she would have…
Instead, she seemed oddly calm as she sat in the chair—a seething glare burning into his eyes.
Likely waiting for him to hand her to the authorities so she could search for another opportunity to escape.
Naruto scowled as he kept most of his focus directed toward her, mildly noting Blake's wandering behind him. This woman's attack cleared in his mind who she was targeting.
He had noted Kerry following them through the shadows. Almost blending into them and observing. While he couldn't sense anything wrong with her, the fact she was silent during the training session he had meant initially for Jaune was a bit odd.
Out of character from what he had noticed from her. She was far from the silent kind…
Almost like a ninja fan girl?
Really could use Sasuke right about now… At least he dealt with that kind of behavior before…
At least she's okay…
Shaking his head, his intent focused back onto Neo. Her trailing and tracking of him and Blake on the walk in an attempt to figure out what was eating her aroused his suspicions further. He would have confronted her if it had been by himself…
But to reveal her target, he drew the situation to a more relaxed environment. One she would take the first opportunity to strike and make her move.
So with his answer, he was annoyed at Blake's reaction…
Her pacing…
Agitation…
Was she expecting to get tracked and trailed by someone?
Scratching his head, his ears flicking side-to-side, much to his chagrin, Naruto let out an annoyed sigh. Even if he had only been here for a short time, he felt there could be the possibility of someone doing something like this to him.
After the women with those eyes escaped…
Had a feeling she would be obsessed.
First Sasuke and now this woman…
Naruto shook his head. That was his luck…
Now, precisely why was Blake so distressed at being followed?
"Why haven't you called anyone yet?" Blake scowled with arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently, eyes glancing nervously toward the intruder. "She already tried to escape by cloaking and turning herself invisible! Let the authorities handle this."
"Mah, you're being impatient. She has her reasons for attacking. I wanna know precisely why. …Got a few suspicions." Naruto passively responded with a frown before placing his scroll on the table. "Besides, still getting used to this thing. Make it sound like I know how to do that. Just figured out how to answer this thing, ya know? Just faster for me to go get someone."
Blake's scowl deepened. Her eyes flickered toward the scroll before exhaling.
This level of technology was still foreign to him. Picking it up smoothly wasn't realistic, even if he caught on relatively quickly. When his best analogs were objects only mildly similar and could compare to the tech during the Great War…
"What do you mean, go get somebody?" Blake scrunched her face, and her ears flattened.
Before she stiffened up as the front door clicked open, and to her horror, she turned around to see a Shadow leading…
"Professor Goodwitch?!" Blake nervously trembled upon the sight of the Head Mistress in training.
"Ms. Belladonna." Emerald eyes scanned over Blake momentarily while glowering as the clone puffed into smoke. "It would be wise to return to your dorm room… A student visiting her instructor could be misconstrued."
"I invited her over as I sensed her following me," Naruto responded as Blake shrunk under the stern gaze of Glynda. "Blake knows where I'm from and is one of the first people I met. She has been quite helpful in getting me adjusted here, so inviting her over is only natural. Somewhere I can talk safely, ya know?"
Glynda's scowl only deepened further.
It was a usual circumstance in many different aspects. Blake and Velvet agreed to help him before he became an instructor.
Velvet was the one who discovered him and constantly visited him while he was in a coma for two weeks. It was supposed to be Ozpin to meet him when he first woke up, given the peculiar circumstances in finding him…
It was still a mystery as to where and how the two met…
"You may have been correct in your assessment of the situation, and it was a wise decision to see who she was targeting… It is still in your best interest to keep student interactions here to a minimum." Glynda shook her head, her intent narrowing onto the petite intruder.
Her eyes flickered in recognition, scrunching her nose. She ignored the stare from Naruto…
She would have to inform him of that later. Every other instructor was informed of Ms. Belladonna's situation.
So it was who she thought…
Or at least someone that she was clearly working with.
"I'll head back…" Blake grimaced, slowly shuffling toward the door, her gaze shifting toward Naruto, hesitating momentarily before approaching the door.
"Take care," Naruto responded, glancing back at Blake and giving her a wave. "Get a good night's sleep. Gonna need it for tomorrow's class… Oh, be sure to tell everyone not to eat… Hehe."
Blake scowled, nearly crossing the threshold of his apartment. What was he planning? And why didn't he want them to…
Her thoughts stopped. Her ears twitched as she came to a stop.
His voice was a low thrum, but she could hear it clear as day. "Sometimes it helps to talk, ya know?"
Blake's golden gaze darted and peered into Naruto's. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
She cursed and grimaced. She didn't want to drag anyone into her problems…
Strolling past Blake as she solemnly exited the room, Glynda steeled her gaze on her, stopping at the corner of the table. "Trivia Vanille… Or shall I call you Neopolitan as you've been going by these past three years with your partner-in-crime, Roman Torchwick?"
Neo's eyes sharpened disdainfully. Her lips snarled. Teeth gnashed.
A wad of saliva spat across the table toward Glynda. She casually avoided it by stepping to the side but crossed her arms and lowered at the young woman. "I will remind you of your situation, Ms. Neapolitan. I expect a modicum of sensibility from you, someone who attended Lady Browning's."
Neo spat once more. Her eyes shimmering lividly as she mouthed obscenities toward Glynda, struggling against her bindings. She could have quickly snapped it…
But with a Huntsman and a Huntress present after failing to escape already…
She sat in the chair seething, waiting for her moment.
Naruto puckered his lips, observing the interaction.
She was well known? And Torchwick…
He'd been hearing that name often…
Naruto's eyes snapped wide, and he cursed under his breath. He remembered when he first heard it and saw that man's face.
And her eyes…
"Well, that confirms a few things…" Naruto gritted his teeth, his ears shifting and lowering. "Seems trouble follows me no matter where I go… Can't catch a break, can I?"
"Indeed." Glynda's gaze shifted toward him shortly, a small pretense of pity held within. "Regardless of your goal… Your actions have garnered the attention of some very unwanted eyes."
"Better than being the center of attention through my own merits instead of who I was, I guess…" Naruto murmured before exhaling. "I would like to hand her off to you. Focus on what I need to…"
"But if they are dragging me into their issues… Guess I have no choice but to bring it back to them." Naruto scowled, his gaze searing into Neo's.
She only squinted back before mouthing her displeasure.
Naruto returned the squint. He couldn't read lips or anything like that, but he felt she was cursing him.
Has she even spoken a single word this entire time? Haven't even heard the slightest noise outside of her breathing…
Naruto puckered his lips.
"For someone attempting to return home, I would rather you not…" Glynda couldn't repress her sigh; pushing up her glasses, she turned her glare to Neo. "I'll take her from here… Interrogating her in this manner will be quite fruitless."
"Mah, you best not be cutting me out." Naruto squinted toward Glynda. "Whether or not you want me involved in whatever is going on here, I'm here and drew her attention. I'm here, no idea how long I'm gonna be here; I would like to know what is going on."
Glynda sighed in exasperation once more.
He made a valid point.
And while he was here, already having to deal with the Fae…
Glynda sternly glanced in his direction while moving toward Neo. "Very well… I'll let you in on some of the details… But we will need a much more conducive environment to hold her in before we can begin interrogating her…"
"Cause she's mute?" Naruto commented, intently focused on Neo.
Observing her reaction, still unable to hear anything but wispy breath.
Glynda frowned before hesitantly, once more surprised with his observation prowess, while Neo rolled her eyes and mouthed curses in his general direction. "Indeed she is… So we need to work around those limitations…"
"So she can't talk…" Naruto grimaced, glancing at his right palm momentarily before gazing toward Neo, whose gaze bored back into his.
A curious expression crossed his face as a thought came to him, clenching his right hand.
Worth a shot…
"I might have something to make things easier…" Naruto stated, catching Glynda's attention. "I… May be able to give her the ability to speak… If she is willing to cooperate with us."
Glynda was left momentarily speechless, her eyes flickering widely.
To offer such a thing… Could he even do that?
They didn't know the full extent of his abilities…
Pressing against her chair as far back as possible, Neo's eyes shimmered. Her heart thundered in her chest.
What did he say?
That couldn't be possible…
Then again, someone using fire and wind without Dust shouldn't be possible…
Neo scrunched her face, analyzing Naruto carefully.
Was this why she wanted to know more about this Faunus?
That he had unexplained abilities?
"Yeah, I understand that look." Naruto scratched his cheek, lightly grinning. "Sounds impossible, right?"
"It does sound impossible," Glynda admitted after a moment's pause, glancing over at Naruto before returning her focus to Neo.
"Does seem farfetched, I know. I could do it, given I managed to regenerate sensei's eye he lost years before. …But it might be more intricate than what I could restore…" Naruto flinched, his memory turning to Gai and how he could only revitalize him and keep his heart beating.
If given more time, maybe…
And if he could have more time practicing the technique… Limited access to his Yang chakra made that problematic.
Neo scrunched her face, carefully listening to his words. Watching his demeanor…
Seeing the surprised expression from Glynda before the doubt set in.
She didn't know if he could do it? Then…
Was it possible? He could give her the ability to speak for the first time in her life…
She only fantasized about what her voice would sound like… Having Roman hear her for the first time…
Her eyes glimmered hopefully for a moment. Then shimmered scornfully.
She gnashed her teeth. Snarled at the Faunus before her.
No… It was a trick…
It had to be… She would never speak…
Roman… Would never hear her voice…
A wad of spit flew across the table and landed in front of Naruto, Neo leaning forward in her chair, mouthing every obscenity she could.
"Should have expected that. Was worth a shot…" Naruto muttered and let out an exhale, watching Neo squirm in her bindings, Glynda moving to take her into custody. "Just keep me informed if you get her to speak, would ya?"
"If she wants me, well, let's just say I'm gonna answer."
This night couldn't be any worse…
Ears lay folded on her head as she trudged through the hallway, making her path to her dorm room; Blake dimly gazed at the floor.
Someone had been following her tonight…
She grimaced, her eyes lowly flickering as she stared at the floor.
She hadn't sensed or felt anything off. She had noticed Kerry, who thankfully was alright, trailing behind them but thought nothing of her.
She had been following Naruto since yesterday… Nothing to note, really.
But she didn't even recognize her scent was different.
She had to be more careful… She didn't want him to find out where she went.
Shivering at the thought, Blake reached her dorm room and exhaled.
She needed to be better… Not just for herself…
If she was supposed to be the leader of RWBY… She had to be.
Heavy snoring reached her ears as the door clicked open. She stifled a moderate giggle.
It had only been a few nights, but the fact that Ruby snored as loud as she did and her sister was silent as the night was humorous.
"You were out late tonight."
She was wrong… It could get worse.
Two cold blue eyes stared into hers through the fading light outside the hall as she closed the door behind her.
Blake scowled.
Weiss had stayed awake, waiting on her?
"And you were waiting for me?" Blake narrowed her eyes toward Weiss, keeping her voice low so it wouldn't wake their roommates.
"You are my partner and our team leader. Someone should wait to make sure you returned safely… Neither of these two seemed to worry." Weiss acknowledged before glowering at the top bunks. "So carefree…"
"I was with a Professor. There was no need to worry…" Blake trudged to her bunk, plopping down onto her bedding.
She was too tired to worry about her yukata and the rest of nightwear… Although it would still take a while to get to sleep with all that snoring.
Gonna need earplugs for all my ears…
A smirk crept on her lips as her ears twitched. She remembered being that way once…
"And that's a bad thing they're that way." Blake's eyes fluttered, listening to the rhythmic sounds of her roommates sleeping…
They were oddly somniferous.
Ruby's was… Louder than normal… Was that a snort?
And that shuffling above…
"I guess not," Weiss muttered, frowning as she wearily kept her gaze on Blake before huffing and laying down herself. "Guess the saying is true. Ignorance is bliss."
Blake's eyes fluttered fully open. Her ears twitched. That ruffling was getting louder…
Her thoughts drifted. Remembering waiting on Naruto after that speech and Yang confronting him…
There was something more to the sisters…
"What makes you think that?" Blake's gaze fell upon the bunk above hers, hearing the shuffling stop.
Scowling as she rolled back toward Blake, she glared at her partner before motioning above her. "I mean… You don't become like her otherwise."
Blake scoffed, folding her ears on her head. "Perhaps… Or perhaps… They are better at dealing with their troubles and have become stronger for it? I wonder which it is? There's no way of knowing without them sharing."
Scrunching her lips and furrowing her brow, watching as Blake rolled over and away from her, Weiss sneered before turning away herself. "I suppose you are correct… Hope you can sleep with this racket…"
"I'll manage." Blake lightly retorted, shaking her head before smirking. "Oh, and don't eat tomorrow… Part of the test. Got that… Ruby? Yang?"
Weiss went rigid as the snoring stopped. Her eyes shimmered. They were awake?
She jumped straight up, gazing at the two bunks in horror. Oh no…
"Glad you came back alright. Heard they found Kerry unconscious and was a little worried." Ruby rose from her bed, sheepishly grinning while scratching the back of her neck. "Wasn't too worried… You were with sensei."
"Don't call him that…" Yang grumbled, rolling haphazardly off her bed and jumping down with a yawn. "Great, what is he planning for tomorrow? Gonna try to make us vomit, I bet. …Better get some snacks from the store so I have energy for tomorrow… Ya want anything?"
"Oh-oh! Yes, can I have…"
"Milk and cookies. Yeah, I gotta Rubes." Yang interrupted her hyper sister, rolling her eyes as she grabbed her wallet.
"You're the best!" Ruby gleamed with excitement, sitting off the side of her bunk, her feet dangling back and forth. "Oh, but make it cocoa! It's getting cold! Warm drinks are better for girls' talk!"
"Got it." Yang flashed a grin, slipping on her shoes to quickly run to the small shop Beacon had on site. "Girls? Want anything?"
"Same for me… But save the cocoa… I've got enough to make us all a cup." Weiss rigidly responded before exhaling. "Guess I should have seen this coming."
"Yep! Seems like we all have some things to say!" Yang beamed at a glowering Weiss, placing her hand on her hip. "We have four years to get used to each other… It's gotta start somewhere! Might as well be here and now so we can stop assuming things about the others! Only way we're gonna work well with each other!"
"Fine… I'll bite." Blake repressed a groan, sitting up in her bed, disenfranchised by the situation.
Last thing she wanted to do was talk about herself… But, like he said… If opening up could help…
She was going to have to be around them for a long time… Being their leader… Earning their trust and expecting it back was paramount.
"Well, all right then! What can I get ya?" Yang's grin widened tenfold, stretching from ear to ear.
She looked like a cat that caught a canary…
Her stomach rumbled. She was oddly hungry…
Didn't help that she had the weirdest craving… Probably due to watching someone devour a ton of it in front of her…
"Shrimp flavored ramen…" Blake hunched over, flushed with embarrassment, wanting to satisfy her urge and her crutch for seafood.
"Oh, kitty likes her seafood, huh?" Yang giggled under her breath before shrinking back at the death stare received from Blake. "Ahaha… You could hear me, couldn't you…"
"Call me that again and see if you have hair when you wake up." Blake loured, her entire body tense.
Her hand twitched toward Gambol Shroud.
Yang froze, petrified to the spot, nodding weakly before combing through her long locks, gulping in terror. "Understood… Just not the hair…"
Blake condescendingly glared at Yang before huffing.
This was gonna take a lot of work…
"Uh, sensei…"
"Kerry, for the last time, my shinobi techniques aren't easily learned." Naruto rolled his eyes, strolling to a stop as he led the class to the edge of the Forever Fall Forest, turning to face Kerry with a bland expression.
"That's not what I was gonna ask…" Kerry shrunk back and pouted. "But I do want to learn them…"
"Oh, sorry! …Already accustomed to you asking me about that…" Naruto ruffled his hair while sheepishly grinning.
"Yeah, I think she meant to ask… Why are we here?" Coco stepped in front, making her presence known as she waved to the forest. "You brought us here to start class without telling us a thing… So why are we here? …Ow!"
"What was that?" Yatsu frowned, noticing Coco flinch and reach for her left shoulder, wincing slightly. "A bee… Is that paint?"
"Yep! Paintballs!" Naruto grinned as he flicked an orange paintball into the air with his thumb before swiftly catching it. "Nice and bright too! Easy to spot when you've been hit! That way, you will know you and your team will have to reset the exercise!"
"I don't like where this is going…" Weiss cowered and shrunk back, the idea of getting coated with paint.
He was going to target her! Mar her beautiful clothes and appearance!
Just because he could! How she despised Faunus…
Her gaze shimmered as she glanced over toward a scowling Blake.
Perhaps… She could trust one…
"Pray tell exactly what this exercise is that we're gonna have paintballs chucked at us?" Yang glowered, heavily displeased at the idea of having paint thrown at her.
If he dared get any in her hair…
Death wouldn't save him.
"Team building!" Naruto chirped, closing his eyes and flashing a patent eye smile he saw Kakashi deliver many times before.
He now understood why he smiled all the time! It was fun messing with his students!
"Gah! Just tell us what we're supposed to be doing, you crazy son of… Ow!" Yang ruptured and ranted toward Naruto, holding her temples in frustration before clutching her forehead, orange dripping from where she had been pegged. "In the face?! Oh, you are dead!"
"Mah, settle down. Getting hit in the face is the least of your concerns." Naruto flicked another paintball, blandly staring Yang down. "The exercise is simple. You need to reach me deeper in the forest, working together with your team within the hour."
Blake squinted harshly at Naruto. Furrowed her brow. "What's the catch?"
"Also, what do you mean 'reach you!' You're right here!" Jaune added before scrunching his face. "Wait… Oh no."
"Yep! This is just a clone of me meant to bring you all over!" The clone of Naruto broadly grinned. "Been setting up the test since this morning. Laying pitfalls, tripwires…"
"The forest is rigged!" A tall and broad young man dressed in knight's attire stepped back, looking fearfully into the forest.
"Of course it is, Mr. Winchester." A feminine voice echoed from within the autumn forest.
Drawing attention to Professor Greene as she strolled toward the class, an amused expression on her face much to the chagrin of the students.
"Another joint class…" Ruby shrunk, having struggled with the Professor's Stealth and Security class yesterday.
She didn't realize how visible she was or how much her voice resonated!
"Indeed, Ms. Rose," Ann responded, stepping beside the clone of Naruto. "I quite like many of our young instructor's practical applications of combat since. Expect to be seeing me quite often and inviting Professor Uzumaki to my sessions."
"Of course! He's a ninja, and stealth combat would be his bread and butter!" Kerry excitedly crouched and pumped her fists. "We do get to learn cool ninja techniques and strategies!"
The clone squinted toward Kerry as several students groaned. She wasn't wrong…
Shaking his head, the clone pocketed the paintball into his pouch before sliding his hands into the pocket. "Like I said earlier, any time you get hit by a paintball, your entire team has to return here and make their way back through the forest. Communication will be necessary to get through, as well as your ability to recognize attacks and react accordingly. Let's just say… You will be ambushed."
"Furthermore, Grimm are within the forest. Be prepared for live combat as we've been catching and moving into the area." Professor Greene added, a smirk crept onto her lips, seeing the amount of surprise. "Like Professor Uzumaki said in his first class… Come with intent to kill and survive if you wish to pass today's test."
As the clone turned into a plume of smoke, Ann couldn't hold back her grin.
This was going to be fun to watch.
"The test starts now."
"Shouldn't we be using my telepathy?"
"I think Naruto wants to see our communication," Velvet responded to Fox's inquiry, nervously glancing around as they made their way through the Forever Fall Forest, traveling swiftly. "This is a team building exercise…"
"I think it's an excuse to belittle us…" Coco loured before being held back by Yatsu's giant arm, stopping their moment. "What's up? What do you…"
"Oh dear, Oum no!" A cry echoed from nearby. "Oh, you are so dead! Not the hair, dammit!"
"Oh, it's not just the hair… That's a lot of paint."
"Yang! We talked about this last night!"
"Really! We already have to restart! I'm already over this!"
"Snares." Yatsuhashi withdrew Fulcrum before carefully cutting through the rope buried within the thick grass.
Inches away from where Coco had stepped.
Coco, without hesitation, immediately hopped back. "That was too close… No, no, no!"
As Coco was flipped and dragged into the air as wrap snarred around her ankle, Velvet swiftly cut through it, wielding a kunai she asked to borrow.
Even with the rarity of the Dust she used… She could always ask her father to supply more as he designed and built her weapon specifically for her.
She didn't want to trouble him…
She ducked and rolled as Fox pulled Coco away, dozens of paintballs rapidly spitting around wildly as the trap had been triggered.
"Careful! He planted obvious ones, so we get caught in the hidden ones!" Velvet called out, her ears twitching as she continued to listen for anything abnormal.
"Really wish I could see… My hearing can only get me so far…" Fox glowered, letting Coco up before scrunching his face. "However… That I can sense."
Several growls rumbled in front of them, Grimm crawling through the forest.
"They did say Grimm were part of the test…" Yatsu held Fulcrum before him, the rest of his team falling in position behind him.
Only to watch as lead Beowulf was hauled up into a tree by its hind leg, caught in snare rope, howling crazily while its cohorts panicked, scampering to the side.
Watching as the leader of the pack was coated in paint.
Coco attempted to repress a snort as everyone stood straighter, taking the scene in with amusement and bewilderment.
Until Velvet tensed, her ears standing straight up as she swiftly turned around. "Coco, watch…"
"Gotcha!" Coco was snagged from behind and pulled into a tight grasp as Velvet reached for her, attempting to pull her back and away.
Before she was suddenly released after a slap resounded through the forest.
"You perv! That was my breast you grabbed!"
"That wasn't the intent! Honestly!" The clone rubbed his cheek, a red hand mark imprinted on it. "It was to signify you dead! I hit your heart… Might want to look at your chest."
"Uh-huh! Just trying to excuse your actions!"
"Um… Coco…" Velvet sunk her head, her eyes focused on her friend's chest, and grimaced. " He did get you."
Squinting nastily toward Naruto, Coco glanced down, her fury igniting further at the orange blemish on her chest.
"You painted my breast! Oum, I'm in Camp Yang now! You're dead!"
"Welcome to the team! I'm over this pain in the ash!"
The clone rolled his eyes before dispersing to Coco's ire.
"Oh, you son of… Get back here!"
Scowling as the memory flooded his brain, Naruto scratched his head and sighed. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited in a small clearing for the first team to arrive, noticing Ann trotting through the forest toward him, using her scroll to watch the feeds.
Why were girls such a pain? This was for training and to make a point.
It's not like he hadn't seen them before… Although Sakura beat him down the last time he saw hers…
Naruto pursed his lips before smirking. "Hers were nice though…"
"Not as nice as Hinata's, but still…"
"I swear I'm gonna kill 'em…"
Repressing a giggle, hand over her mouth, Blake's eyes glimmered with amusement.
Weiss looked bemused despite being mildly upset herself. Probably the several splashes of paint on her other pristine clothing and splattered on her skin.
Ruby somehow was clean… Not sure how… His aim was pinpoint.
He even got her after a Shadow displacement.
Meanwhile Yang…
Was layered with orange paint from head to toe, with very few patches of her clothing and skin visible.
It wasn't just from paintballs… She had an entire can of paint dumped on her when she barrelled into one of the clone's pitfalls…
Filled with paint.
Blake scrunched her face and loured at Yang. What she deserved for continuously ignoring commands and going on her own.
She knew she could listen and communicate well after last night… But as soon as her temper flared…
"Guess this test isn't for the paint of heart? Eh?" Ruby couldn't repress her laughter and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Now isn't the time for puns, Ruby Rose!" Yang roared, glowering at her sister's giggling. "Hate you… Hate you all."
"Maybe if you stopped letting him bait you and listened, we'd be done by now." Weiss huffed, crossing her arms and looking down at the drenched blonde in the pitfall. "How many resets are we at now?"
"You all have failed too!"
"Ruby hasn't." Blake pointed out, much to Yang's dismay, seeing her sister utterly devoid of any paint.
Her ears twitched, and she glowered and replaced herself with a Shadow, dragging Weiss away. "Ruby, duck."
"Warn me before you do that!"
"Ah, not me!" Ruby burst and separated into petals, flying away rapidly as dozens of paintballs splattered where she had been before. "We have to reset! Don't target me!"
"Everyone gets painted!" Several voices of Naruto came from around the forest, several hanging in the trees while others popped out from behind the trees. "You just wait!"
"Never!" Ruby playfully laughed, dodging the hail of paint aimed in her direction, splashing the forest with more orange with every miss.
Weiss scrunched her face in disappointment. This had become a game to them…
"This is biodegradable, right?!" Weiss squinted at the scene, unsure how to feel.
It was training in a sense… He was testing her reflexes and forcing her to react quicker with every barrage.
"Bio-what now?" One of the Naruto's stopped, blinking awkwardly at Weiss. "Mah, I don't know what that is… This is paint the boss picked up after Ann showed him where to buy some."
"It has to be then. I don't think another Professor would be that reckless…" Blake muttered and palmed her face as Weiss was left speechless. "Could you stop for a moment? We still have to reset!"
"Long as you are in the forest, everything is fair game!" The clone chirped before maliciously smirking. "Make your way back under fire!"
"I will crush you!" A burning aura exploded from the pitfall as Yang leapt from the pit, fist cocked back, and Ember engaged.
Smashing the clone with all her strength, cratering it beneath her…
Only for it to disperse into smoke and an explosion of orange paint splattered all over Yang, adding another coat to her.
"You can make your clones explode!"
"I want, I want, I want!" Blake's eyes expanded, sparkling with obsessed fixation, before dispersing into a Shadow, suddenly appearing in front of one of the clones, grabbing him by the collar of his neck. "Teach me! I need to learn how to do that without Dust!"
The clone abashedly chuckled, leaning away from Blake's captivated gaze.
"I guess Boss did say he was gonna help with your clones…"
Nervously scanning all around him, Jaune crept forward alongside Ren with his painted orange heater shield held out as they kept watch from behind, acting as the rear guard.
It was a nice rear to guard… No! Bad, Jaune! Focus! Can't afford another reset!
"How are we looking, Ren?" Jaune asked, averting his gaze from Pyrrha and Nora. "I know he's around…."
"Indeed." Ren stoically responded, glancing at the trees around, catching flashes of orange and white. "There are several around… I'm having difficulty locating him."
"Think he could be increasing the challenge?" Nora mused, clutching Magnhild before her, ready to wallop anything that came her way.
It was an effective way of removing traps! And the grenade function…
"I believe he is. Traps have been getting thicker, and his ambush attempts have been more frequent." Pyrrha replied, holding Akoúo̱ in front, leading her team at a moderate pace as the forward guard. "Pitfall at two. Several snares at four."
"Well, we've made it farther this time!" Nora chirped, shifting Magnhild into its launcher form and popping an explosive round ahead, rupturing all the traps.
She jumped behind a crouched Pyrrha and Jaune, taking the brunt of the paintballs splattering against their shields. She grinned and patted Jaune on the shoulder. "This was a good plan!"
"Nah, not really." Jaune scratched his head, flushed with embarrassment. "I just thought about our fight with the Death Stalker and Nevermore and took what we could do well from that. …Doesn't help he seems to be targeting me… Must think I'm the weak link too…"
"Helps more than you know," Ren responded, attempting to keep Jaune's morale up as he softly smiled. "We at least know his target and how to stop it."
"Well… That's not the worst thing when you put it that way." Jaune grimaced, holding his shield tighter than before.
Ren simply shook his head.
It didn't do any good to tell him how much it helped.
That the paintballs aimed at him were slower than when aimed at any of them… Especially Pyrrha.
Or that he became more noticeably spottable when attempting to ambush Jaune.
Ren shook off a grimace before musing. He was plainly playing down to the skill levels of who he was targeting and pushing it.
It was an effective method…
"Underneath!" Pyrrha rolled as the ground beneath her feet exploded, two hands reaching up to grab her by the ankles.
"Oh crap!" Jaune expressed alarm seeing Nora and Ren follow suit by either jumping or rolling out of the way.
He grimaced, doing the only thing he could think of.
Stomp the ground as hard as he could with his foot.
And planting his foot squarely in the clone's face, stopping his assault.
"Ow! That hurt, ya know!" The clone chastised Jaune, grumbling as Jaune removed his foot and leapt back.
"Um… Sorry?" Jaune sheepishly replied, unsure how to respond.
"Don't be! Good job! You passed!" The clone dispersed into a plume of smoke, leaving a bewildered Jaune squinting.
"Wait… Did he say… Are we…?" Jaune stumbled over his words, looking ahead and noticing an orange glob in the distance just past a nearby clearing.
"I think that was the last set of traps and ambush." Pyrrha stood straight, not noticing any more trip wires or rope, but still wary. "Let's not take any chances though…"
"I would troll us if I was him and have one more trap just as we got to him!" Nora gleamed, falling into the formation they had been traveling in.
"Don't give him ideas!" Jaune lambasted Nora, who only chuckled.
"Mah, I thought about it." Naruto grinned, watching JNPR enter the clearing. "But, nah! What fun is there if no one passes this time around? Next time…"
"There's gonna be a next time?" Jaune uttered in horror, stumbling back.
"I think that would be obvious, Mr. Arc." Ann glanced up from her monitor while Naruto beamed widely. "How else can we measure your improvement throughout the year without having more advanced courses?"
"No, no, and no!" Coco's voice echoed. "Not this again… Ever!"
"Ah, CFVY finished in second." Ann glanced toward Coco, Velvet, Fox, and Yatsu as they entered the clearing, panting and blemished with paint, bemused. "Nine resets. Team JNPR finished with six. Perhaps taking a slower and more cautious approach would have been wise?"
"What? But he said we had only an hour!" Coco complained, directing her ire toward Naruto. "And you… Perv!"
"Mah, a strike to the heart, like I said." Naruto scrunched his face before smirking. "Now, if I was aiming lower, you call me out on that."
Velvet shrunk, her ears curling as she winced. Was that why she was tagged in the rear…
"Wait, that came out wrong!" Naruto rapidly spoke, waving his hands frantically before him. "I didn't target anyone like that!"
"I don't think that's true!" A scorned voice echoed, causing Naruto to shrink, recognizing who it was. "You definitely hit me there!"
What were his clones doing?
"RWBY finished third." Ann raised his eyebrow, ignoring the conversation at hand. "We have some very impressive rookie squads this year. Interesting… Ms. Xiao Long? What did you learn?"
"That he's an asshole!" A drenched Yang swore, her eyes burning crimson as she stomped ahead of the rest of her team, squaring up in front of Naruto. "You and me! Right now! Let's go!"
"Incorrect." Ann sternly reprimanded Yang, lowering her scroll and vehemently glaring at Yang, causing her to flinch and slump away from her. "Failing to communicate and listen to your teammates. Refusing to follow orders and falling for obvious bait. Allowing your anger to cloud your judgment! …Your team could have finished first if you kept a level head."
"Yeah, all of that!" Naruto directed attention away from him, nodding sagely. "It's a common tactic to use against opponents quick to anger! I was testing everyone like that! Got reel that anger in! …Can get ya into trouble if you don't. Worse… You can endanger everyone around you… Believe me, I know the dangers of rushing headlong into things better than most."
Withdrawing further into herself, Yang's eyes shimmered and reverted as her Aura smoldered and came to a rest. Her gaze shifted to the rest of her team, and she noticed each sprinkled and coated with paint.
Many in vital areas.
Hanging her head, she bit her lips. This may have been a test… But if it was real…
Her head snapped up, feeling a gentle touch on her shoulder.
To see the soft, comforting smile of Blake, Ruby directly behind her. She didn't say anything, just smiled.
And that was enough…
"Yeah, been working on that for years… Rubes can tell you that." Yang grimaced before cheekily smirking as she stood up straight. "Gotta a lot of stuff to work out! …Now, back to the previous topic! Why were you targeting our rears so much? I got hit like ten times!"
"Several for me…" Weiss scowled, glaring at Naruto.
"You got me enough!" Coco crossed her arms and bored daggers toward him. "But pour Vel!"
"Too many times…" Velvet shrunk in embarrassment.
"I won't speak of how many times." Blake hissed, clenching and standing straighter than before.
"My only hit was there…" Ruby squinted and furrowed her brow.
Naruto nervously chuckled, hunching over while running his hand through his hair. Worried his clones were doing something nefarious…
They did have autonomous wills of their own… But he only ordered them to attack from behind until they were expecting it!
Not to target their rears!
"Me too, come to think of it." Jaune rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Wait, seriously?" Weiss was taken aback before squinting. "Did he hit… Everyone from behind?"
"He got me there with a few," Fox added slyly, patting his rear. "Know it's a good target, but still…"
"You're just as much of a deviant as he is…" Coco loured at Fox. "Just cause you can't see doesn't mean I don't know it. I remember when we first met."
As Fox let out a hollow laugh, scratching his cheek, Yatsu simply nodded. "It's difficult to guard…"
"I was hit several times as well." Ren mused, noticing a trend. "I don't think he was targeting anyone specifically…"
"He wasn't. It's a vulnerable and easy target to exploit." Pyrrha shook her head, annoyed with the direction the conversation was going. "I would have targeted everyone there as well. Your back and rear are the most difficult spots to protect. It's why all the ambushes came from behind early until we came to expect it."
"Well, yeah. I wanted you to cover your rear and communicate with one another." Naruto exhaled, a sense of relief washing over him. "It's why they got here first… They set out a plan to protect their asses. The rest of you bull-rushed, not realizing this test was never about speed. The time limit was only a diversion."
"And because we only have a limited time to work within," Ann added, rolling her eyes before leaning close to whisper to Naruto. "I would advise that next time… To aim more wisely."
"Yeah, my bad." Naruto winced before flashing a smile. "When training and fighting, I never think about stuff like that. I look for the opening and exploit them… I just thought I was targeting everyone equally, though…"
"You did," Professor Greene returned her attention to her scroll, shaking her head at his poor etiquette and lack of social awareness. "We ladies… Are more reserved about such matters for future reference."
"Got it!" Naruto nodded, chuckling to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Glad his clones didn't expose him too much…
"I'll give you a pass this time." Blake scowled, scornfully glaring at Naruto, crossing her arms over her chest. "But if it happens again…"
Sweat began to pour profusely as Blake's golden eyes peered hauntingly into his own—promising swift retaliation.
Was she pausing for dramatic…
"I will end you."
…Effect…
He could only chuckle and nod. He knew that look… He saw it directed toward Jiraiya, and he melted every time Tsunade gave it to him.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Scarlet eyes gazed upon a sweltering cave. Blue flames smoldered and ashened the walls.
A growl rumbled from his gnarled muzzle as he stared into the darkness.
Golden and emerald eyes glinted within as a dim blue hue awakened through the darkness.
Matatabi. I need your assistance. …There is a situation brewing.
A low thrum chuckle resounded as the two-tailed fire cat slowly sauntered from the cave, looking amused.
I have sensed it… Our meeting place has been displaced. The question is, where is he? Or is that why you have sought me out?
A low growl caught in his throat. His eyes shifted toward the night sky, glancing toward the moon, drawing Matatabi's attention and hiss.
I don't trust the Uchiha… Or his actions. He may be earnestly searching for Naruto, whatever his motives happen to be, but he has begun a chain of events that he cannot reverse. We need to be ready…
This is only the beginning. They are coming.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed.
Let me know what you thought if you have a moment. Always good to hear from ya!
I appreciate all the comments and it makes my day and the writing go by smoother!
So until next time...
Stay sweet... No, wait, that's not my catch phrase...
Peace!