Starting to feel better and get back into a grove again.
Work has resumed on future chapters, at the very least!
Still rather slow at this time, but thankful for the support all the same!
Every follow, favorite, and review make the story that much easier to write.
So everything is appreciated.
Let's guest responses, then to the show.
Response to Guest from Chapter 6: It was meant to be vague as you were in Naruto's shoes, and he wouldn't be able to interpret what Kurama was talking about as he knows nothing about the RWBY world and lore. But for us, he was referring to higher beings, and there are not many beings higher on the pecking order than him.
As for that later question, this chapter! It is answered in this chapter in Naruto's PoV section!
Response to Guest from Chapter 7: Indeed. Hoping the timeline becomes a little more conclusive during the story, but it is something that will take a while before coming out. There is also a possibility of...
Well, best not to spoil my intentions for the future.
Response to Zero: Glad you think so! A lot of thought, research, and work went into it, so glad you are enjoying it!
Response to Y 2 G: Only mildly, as I said, it was the way it was phrased that made it come off as more of an insult than your probable intentions. Which is why I wasn't trying to be scathing, as you did state language and translation may have been an issue, so I was giving the benefit of the doubt. Again, I don't mind comments of advice and resources. Those are helpful. However, mixing an opinion with critique suddenly changes the tone, and it no longer has the same message. Try to bear that in mind.
So no, I will never dissuade anyone from commenting, especially on something that was not intentional. It was just the way was translated, and I was really sick with a certain plague and in no mood to deal. If something is off or doesn't seem quite right, do let me know. Or even if you don't like a certain section, that is fine as well. We all have differing opinions and likes, but if you are still reading, that means you are enjoying it overall.
The more feedback, the better the story can be.
It was a strange feeling to have a teenage boy in his house.
He wasn't sure how to cope with it while having two young daughters.
It might have been easier to manage if he could communicate with him with more than the few signs he understood from the app his daughter conveniently knew about on his scroll.
Why did Yang know that existed? He still didn't understand his tech-savvy daughter, as she was better at using his device than he was, and it bothered him. If he had an issue with it, he would turn to her, and she could figure it out faster than he could look it up on the computer…
What use was his computer when his six-year-old could handle the problem? Honestly!
"Looks like I'm getting her a scroll for Winter Solstice…" Tai muttered as he took out the coffee beans and prepared the grinder, pouring them into the measuring bowl and setting them to grind briefly.
He preferred rough, coarse coffee.
Preparing the pot and filling the tank with water, Tai yawned. The kid mostly stayed out of the way and was observant, unsure of everything and everyone around him. To him, Qrow and Oobleck, at the very least.
He trusted Ruby and Yang. Their innocence shined through, and he had no issues with them besides communication.
Especially Ruby. She did not get the concept that he didn't understand her. It was beyond her comprehension. So she kept talking his ear off and asking questions, expecting answers.
Funny enough, it seemed the boy had enough experience with young children before it appeared. It would explain where he had learned diversion tactics and devised wordless ways to distract her. But now he had a new problem on his hands…
Ruby was trying to walk up walls, and he didn't appreciate that! So was Yang! They thought it was a cool trick and wanted to learn how to copy it and were determined to figure out how he did it! And the moment he thought he had got them to stop…
They were doing it in their rooms and falling into their beds!
At least they weren't falling flat on their butts and backs as they couldn't get up a single step!
How did the kid do that? He wanted to know! It was frustrating!
A loud caw screeched in his ear from the window as he started to pour the first cup of coffee in the morning. Without looking, he took a heavy slug of thick, black liquid and let it roll down his tongue. "Shut up, Qrow. You owe me."
"Good morning to you, too, sunshine." Qrow quipped as he slid in through the open window, transforming in the process, and slunk to the cabinet to grab a cup. "Rough night?"
"Use the door!"
"Make me."
Tai twitched as his face gnarled at the corvid in his kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. No, he wouldn't play this game. It was a tactic the twin siblings used all their lives when they wanted to play with their food.
He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
Instead, he waited for the appropriate opportunity to strike after sipping his coffee. And the moment struck as Qrow was so close to taking his first drink. "Oh, of course, it was a rough night…"
"Any time I dream of your sister's naked form draped all over me, making sweet love to me, it's a heavenly nightmare that draws me to the cusp of climax and then lets me down hard."
"Fuck!" Qrow scaled his cheek and chin with the heated black sludge before hurriedly putting the cup down.
He then rushed to the sink to splash cold water on his face. It did not stop him from retaliating with a scathing remark. "You're a real piece of work! You know that!"
"Gentleman!" The backdoor slammed open, and a speeding bullet known as Professor Oobleck came through, looking relatively excited. "Outstanding…"
"What happened here?"
"None of your business!" Two voices echoed simultaneously.
"Okay then," Bartholomew tilted his head awkwardly at the scene he walked into before shaking his head. "Wonderful news! The translator I hired landed in Patch, and I brought her over immediately!"
"Some warning would have been appreciated!" Tai growled lowly at the Beacon Professor before sipping his coffee. "Who knows if I would have been decent at this hour…"
"He's got a point. You don't want to know what he was dreaming about…"
"Qrow, I will break every bone in your body."
"I see this is a lively abode." A feminine voice spoke, unimpressed, from outside the door. "And your manners are as horrid in person as they are over the scroll lines. Ever heard of calling beforehand to warn someone and knocking on arrival?"
"It's common courtesy." The woman spoke with an edge to her voice aimed directly at Oobleck before it softened as if talking to someone else. "This is an example of what not to do, dear. Always be kind and call ahead when you are planning to arrive somewhere. And always knock and wait for someone to let you in."
"I will, mom."
Hearing the second voice, recognizing it to be relatively young, Tai's annoyance lifted, and he became more curious. Had the translator brought their family along with them? Not only that…
Did they bring their young daughter?
"Sorry for not being very hospitable," Tai stood at the door and smiled, noting their faunus traits but thinking nothing of them. "Wasn't expecting company, especially at this early hour. And from such a lovely lady and her daughter. You are welcome to come in. I brewed a pot of coffee, and the kid is most likely awake. My kids should be bumbling down shortly after…"
"If they hadn't cracked their skulls open trying to mimic his abilities during the night," Tai muttered, slicking his hand through his hair as he leaned against the door to hold it open.
The woman's ears perked at hearing that comment, but she said nothing in response to it directly. Rather than waste more time than necessary, she ushered her daughter gently through the door to avoid wasting any further time. "Thank you. I will wait until he comes down then. I'd rather have tea instead if you have any. I am not a coffee drinker, Mr…"
"Taiyang Xiao Long. Tai for short." Tai smiled before glancing over at Qrow. "Hey, since you're standing at the sink, mind getting the kettle ready? Still getting used to the kid preferring tea to start the morning as well."
Her ears perked once more, but she remained quiet. She took a few steps forward with her young black-haired daughter and gave a long, sweeping glance around the lodging she had stepped into. She then turned her attention back to Tai and smiled briefly. "Kali Belladonna. Hope you don't mind, but I brought my daughter Blake along with me to allow my husband to concentrate entirely on his work with our organization. Was not aware they were planning to place him in such a…"
"Homey environment." Kali looked mildly impressed before turning back at the Professor. "You, however, I still have nothing good to say about you at this time."
"It seems that I must have made a horrible impression…" Bartholomew grimaced before straightening up. "That's a none issue and understandable. As for the boy, this is a temporary solution as I have spoken and reached out to viable alternatives for placement. But as of note, he's calm here, and moving right now is not a priority, especially thanks to the Huntsman that found him having mixed him in with another issue he's currently enthralled with."
"Don't bring me into this!" Qrow set the kettle on the stove before snarling at Oobleck. "Mistakes were made! And at the time, the mute girl was the most competent translator we had beside you, and you had just made him meltdown and faint. There are also a few other factors at play, but let's just say the kid even wants to see her again. Let's just move on from there and say it's fine!"
"It's really not considering I ended up with a third kid in my house…" Tai stared at Qrow, who, in return, glowered back. "Not exactly ready to deal with that level of responsibility at this time and struggling with mine…"
"Charming…" Kali looked at the men in the room with a bland expression before returning her attention to the professor. "So this is not going to be a permanent residence then?"
"Well, you see, the thing is, I'm not ready for any kind of commitment now," Tai said as his head lowered and he looked down and away, his eyes dimming. "Not right now, anyway. I owe the kid a debt as he saved my girls' lives, and I'll house him for as long as it takes. But given the circumstances…"
"I'm not ready for another person to enter my life."
The hair on the back of Kali's neck stood straight as the tone of the man's sullen voice lowered. Her ears stiffened, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The other men in the room looked away, and their shoulders slumped, indicating that they were aware of something she was unaware of.
But her instincts told her the story. And her intuition was more than enough to make up for the fact that he was in a house with two apparent daughters…
And there was no mother present among these men. Given the atmosphere that was exuded…
Kali could feel the man had recently lost his partner.
And now understood his dilemma in this situation.
"I see…" Kali's ears drooped as she held her daughter's shoulders for her own comfort.
Silence deafened the kitchen for what felt like an eternity. Then it was shattered by the whistling of a kettle, startling everyone and causing Qrow to stumble. "Forgot that stupid thing was on the burner. So used to using it for Cup of Noodles or my special drinks…"
"Yeah, yeah! Be right there! Got an issue with Red trying to wall run while Yellow bounces around like a maniac! Why did I think it was a smart idea to distract them like that? What was I thinking? That was the stupidest decision last night! Should have just grabbed a normal snack last night and been done with it. Wouldn't have to deal with them waking up like this…"
Kali's ears twitched as she caught the familiar tones of a language she hadn't heard someone besides her and now her daughter speak in years. It was so fluid and natural like it rolled off his tongue.
Her doubts about this situation being fraudulent started to evaporate. Now more than ever, there were some concerns about what had happened to the child to lead to such a situation.
But what he had said…
"Red trying to wall run? What did he mean by that? I have never heard someone utter those words in that manner. Curious," Kali mused as she looked over at three men standing in the kitchen. "The rest, I understood, as it sounds like the girls are being rambunctious."
"What?" Tai blinked at Kali's odd statement before his eyes widened in fear as he ran out of the room, across the living room, and rushed up the stairs. "Ruby, no! Don't you dare! Stop that! You can't do what he can do! Yang! Get down from there! Where did you get that?"
"I WILL BE THE BESTEST THERE EBER WAS! BELIEBE IT!"
"I BURN, BABY! I'M SUPER SAYING NOW!"
"Mom." Kali felt the tug of her pant leg and looked down to see Blake's golden eyes filled with worry, and her ears lay flat on her head.
"I'm afraid of these children."
Her breath was ragged. Sweat dripped from every pore and stained her sleeveless white shirt and pink short-shorts. Her eyes drooped as each breath was more challenging than the last.
What was this? This wasn't what she signed up for. This somehow was harder!
Why was she on this stupid balance beam? Why did she have to run laps and do all those silly exercises before? Why did this matter?
She wanted to get better with her abilities! To use them more effectively…
Oh no…
Her hands slipped!
This isn't good!
Trivia's back bounced off the beam, and she careened off the side and onto the mat below. Her back landed first, her head bouncing off and recoiling, making her jerk and roll to her side. The feeling of misery increased as she opened her mouth to groan as her throat tightened and sizzled, causing her eyes to well even further.
"Got distracted, didn't you?"
She seethed hearing the voice of her newly hired trainer and tutor. The woman was a slave driver! Oh, she was lax in the classroom and seemed blissful! But in here, oh, she was a different animal to start the mornings since her father paid her!
Trivia regretted ever agreeing with him! This wasn't him trying to help her! He was trying to torture her!
"Here, let me help." Feeling her instructor place her hand against the back of her neck, Trivia's mouth twitched, and her throat seared as she felt something intrusive invade her body.
But then, a soothing, calming flux spilled throughout her. All the minor aches and pains in her body were soothed as it pulsed over her. And instantly felt better as her teacher's hand left, and she felt an object being placed beside her. "There, all better now. Let's take a short break and try again after you tell me what happened."
Sitting straight up, looking bewildered and unsure what had happened, Trivia knew it was her scroll that was placed beside her and snapped it up. She then began to mash before glaring straight at her instructor, Aurelia.
What did you just do?
"I used my Semblance to help you recover faster," Aurelia explained as Trivia looked taken aback. "Were you not aware that everyone has different Semblances?"
No. Mother finds those with Semblances abnormal.
Seeing Aurelia frown at her response, Trivia sneered. It was the truth. Any time her mother caught wind of her illusions, she had the nastiest look on her face. Whenever she came across a Huntsman or Huntress, she would pretend to be pleasant, while internally, she would be filled with contempt.
She despised those who possessed Semblances with a burning hatred she didn't understand.
"I see," Aurelia replied with a worried look before sighing. "I will adjust the lesson plan accordingly. Given that we will be training your aura soon, you will need to understand why everyone's path in training is unique. No one Semblance is like any other outside of a few special cases, and those are exceedingly rare. Many are similar and seem like they do the same thing, but there is something unique about each person's gift that separates it and makes it their own."
Trivia hung on every word. She was unaware of any of this and found it fascinating. So did that mean the blonde boy and the Huntsman had different abilities too? Just like Aurelia? And her? So that meant everyone could do something different and that everyone…
Was individualized.
She gleefully grinned. There was no uniformity! Everyone could be what they wanted! And she…
Could escape this prison cell of hers once and for all.
With a bit of help, of course.
But she needed to be stronger first.
"Oh, is that your Semblance?" Aurelia reflected in surprise as a purple cat ran across the balance beam and lazed upon it, mischievously hanging its head and looking down upon them.
And then shattering into dozens of motes of glass.
Aurelia immediately took note as she felt the glass with her hand before it dissipated. "Interesting. Constructs of light that is momentarily physical to touch. That is possibly one of the more versatile Semblances I have ever seen."
"If it is honed properly." Aurelia's eyes dimmed before she sighed heavily, and she turned to Trivia, her face steeled with determination. "But no matter…"
"I will make sure you are. And the first step is ensuring you are physically fit before we can even work on any actual training. Given your stature and body type, gymnastics is the perfect place to start and build you from the ground up."
She did not like that face. She detested that look in her eyes. That burning passion welled within.
Trivia knew she would not like what was about to happen next, and she hated this woman already for it.
Since he had been staying here, it had been…
An experience?
He wasn't sure how to describe any of this. How to handle any of this? Cope with any of it.
What was he supposed to do? The moment he woke up, he was in a strange snow-bound forest being attacked by strange wolf-like creatures while injured, and then he had to protect two children. Passed out as he was barely in the state to do that!
Woke back up in a hospital that he had never been in before, and the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff came in to calm him down. All while speaking in a language he had never heard before. He panicked, fled the scene, and ran into someone who, quite frankly, should have caught him as he felt he was more skilled than him.
He was lucky he didn't know how to handle the Replacement technique and Shadow Clones.
Although now that he thought about it…
Was it his crow that followed him the entire time? Probably was. Had to run into the one Jōnin in the area as everyone else seemed to be civilians. But he didn't seem hostile even when he encountered him later, and as the days passed…
Seemed more worried. Given he and the fast-talking one that could speak some of his language most likely had told him about what he said when he saw the picture of that scroll…
The Forbidden Scroll, all withered and aged. Kept in a relatively pristine condition, but Naruto knew it was ancient by looking at the picture…
And from his brief conversation with the Nine-Tails, before he woke up the third time, the fox had done something drastic. He couldn't be sure what the fox had done but felt it was not lying.
What reason would it have to lie besides to escape its containment?
From the sounds of it, that wasn't its goal…
It wanted to cause maximum damage. And what better way to do so…
Then to tell the truth.
He was given access to a map and found it quite useless, even when given the location of where he was. This place was not his home. Nothing resembled the Elemental Countries maps he had seen before. The odd man even showed him where the scroll was found…
In a mountainous region near their current location. That didn't look anything like the Land of Fire or Konoha. So why was it there?
He didn't understand. There was so much that left him unsettled.
At least Yellow and Red were effective distractions.
Red was bubbly and full of energy, wanting to play and asking questions all the time. Didn't understand a single word coming out of her mouth. And she didn't care that he comprehended them either!
She just wanted to talk! Or get him to do something for her.
Or try to teach her how to do the wall walk when he first decided to try and ignore her…
Now she was even more infatuated with him and sneaked into the room he was given to rest in.
Scared the daylights out of him multiple times as he didn't hear her coming. Wasn't sure if he was lost in thought or if she was naturally that stealthy, but she had gotten him good a few times with her high pitch squeals and tackles…
Loved playing hide and seek, though. It didn't matter if it was cold outside. He had asked about the wolf creatures as it was the same forest he was attacked. He was informed that Grimm were on the island, but their numbers were culled and lowered after the attack a concerted effort was made to reduce them further.
Apparently, Grimm were what the wolves were called. At least he found that out.
While playing games, primarily hide and seek, Naruto noted that the sister quickly picked up on his tactics as both the seeker and the hider. They were clever and…
Red was swift, and Yellow was freakishly strong for her age.
He had to put some effort into trying to catch Red in tag. She was so fast for her age! How? No wonder she passed out after playing and needed to eat so much because he could only imagine all the calories she was burning through…
That he now knew what calories were was seared into his mind by Kakashi-sensei determined to get across the point of a well-balanced diet to him.
Naruto simply refused.
Ramen for life.
Yellow had shown bursts of incredible strength. However, any time they were playing a game involving throwing something, she got upset during…
It became a game of dodge or die.
After witnessing what she could do with a soft, bouncy ball hitting a tree when a strange burning glow took over her, and she threw it, he took note. Either there was a demon inside her, or she had a bloodline limit because that was something else!
However, when it happened, her father always came out and seemingly admonished her before gently speaking to her after. So it seemed more like it was the latter, and it was a control issue as she had just come into it recently.
As this morning started and after having dealt with the delinquent duo, who he wished hadn't sugared up last night before retiring to bed. It made this morning rough as they woke up hyperactive and on a sugar rush.
Naruto sighed. Step by step down the stairs, flicking his hand through his hair as he made his way to the kitchen, he lowered his head.
What was he going to do? What was there to do? There was still so much more he didn't know was occurring. And the Fox was agitated beyond its normal volatile state, and that didn't help matters as it knew something.
So he was in the dark, and his only option was the fast-talking scholar-like person he really didn't like.
Wait, who was this in the kitchen? Another kid too? Cat ears? Are they like Kiba's family or something and even more in tune with their beast brethren? Or like one of those other clans outside the village?
A beastkin? Like shark-face?
He had heard something from Iruka in classes before about clans with animal traits in the classes at the academy besides the few within Konoha. Kiba's family didn't have any visible traits from what his friend told him, as many others did.
"Huh, neat. Haven't seen a beastkin since I've been here. Hope Kiba is doing okay."
Shrugging his shoulders as if it was nothing abnormal to him, Naruto saw steam coming from the kettle and moved to make his cup of tea. In preparation for the arrival of Red and Yellow, he pulled down his cup and three bowls of cereal. But as he moved to put his tea bag into his cup and pour his water into it and let it steep, he nearly fumbled the kettle back onto the oven top.
He heard the woman's voice.
And she was speaking in his language!
"Excuse me? Can you…"
"Repeat exactly what you just said?"
Rapidly turning his head to the woman with cat ears, his eyes stretched. Someone else could speak to him! And the way she spoke! It was so much more fluid than the rapid-talking one! Was she, by chance, a native speaker?
Were there some people who spoke his language here? Please tell him there was more! He needed communication! The ability to talk to people! Red and Yellow were fun to play with, but…
The lack of conversation was beginning to frustrate him!
She seemed to recognize his alarm and spoke again to ease his troubled mind. "Yes, I speak the language of our people. It's been passed down from generation to generation to me to keep it alive as this world has long since moved to a single language. While it destroyed years of heritage in some ways…"
"It was a necessity when confronted with a life and death threat the Grimm presented to us every day."
A deep scowl adorned his face upon hearing her words. Their tongue was passed down for generations? That made it sound ancient.
And those Grimm creatures popped again? Were those wolves really that dangerous? Was there something more that he wasn't aware of about them?
"My name is Kali Belladonna." The cat-ear woman spoke again as she touched her chest and introduced herself. "The scholar you have been dealing with brought me in as a translator and help adjust and teach the common tongue. There is hardly a soul that speaks our tongue anymore, I'm afraid. I'm one of the last few remaining."
"Last few?" Naruto internally panicked upon hearing those words, after which his thoughts turned to what the Fox had said.
I sacrificed so we may live.
This is only one of many prices that we must pay.
There is no turning back.
"No…"
"It's true then…" Naruto hung his head, tears welling in his eyes as he felt his body beginning to tremble. "What I was told…"
"My home is gone…"
"And there's no way back…"
Before anyone could react, the back door split open.
And Naruto sprinted outside, tears trailing behind him as he ran blindly into the wilderness before him.
Chapter 9 Preview: (Again, Short and Sweet)
"I'm Ruby Rose! Nice to meet you!"
"I like your ears! They funny looking!"
"Mom!"