Here we are for the finale of the first arc.
Apologies for not responding this week...
Been busy, and it has still been quite stressful all week.
Posting early in the morning as this is my peaceful time as I'll be sleeping as it took longer than anticipated to finish a project I've been working on.
Hope you will enjoy...
And stay tuned to the end to see what will await what I was working on all week.
What happened?
That was never supposed to happen. It doesn't make any sense. Their anger with me…
This time, it is understandable.
What are my powers? What do they genuinely do? What control do I possess over them if they can run amok like this?
What truly are you, friend? You've told me before, but after what happened last night…
Are you a part of me?
Or a figment of my creation?
Brought forth cause I have no control over any aspect of my life? Expressing my frustrations upon the world in ways that I cannot?
Then why do my other creations possess their own wills? Act on their own accords? Behave as the creations I based them on? In ways I do not intend!
I need to understand, but…
Can I trust you anymore?
Are you really my friend, Neo?
Or are you an idolized construction of my desires running rampant because I cannot control my powers?
"No, no! Like this!"
"How does that work?" Blake scrunched up her nose, oddly tilting her head in confusion while masking her frustration.
Naruto chuckled, seeing the young girl struggle for once. He thought she was a natural genius at everything she was given. So seeing her struggle with this…
"Hold it like this." Naruto demonstrated as he held a single shuriken between his ring and index fingers in his left hand. "Then you want to adjust your feet like so. Aim at your target…"
"And let it fly!" Naruto stuck his shuriken dead center in a small log he had been using as a practice dummy.
Trying to emulate what she witnessed, holding the weapon in her hand gingerly, Blake stepped into the motion. She threw the star as hard as she could, and it sailed several feet to the side and grounded into the snow.
She sneered at the result and snapped her head at Naruto as he insensitively laughed at her plight.
Noticing the cold fury of the six-year-old Belladonna's eyes, Naruto only smiled, further infuriating her. "Too much. Have to have some touch on the throw. Too much power, and you lose all your accuracy. Learned that the hard way and only became better at it when joining my team."
Smiling, remembering he thought Kakashi was at first snidely calling him out on his throwing technique, Naruto sighed. He didn't realize how much he indirectly taught him, giving him the tools he needed to improve and succeed.
And now…
"Blake, Naruto!" Kali's voice echoed from the cabin and caught their attention. "Lunch is ready!"
"Coming!" Naruto responded with a grin as he retrieved the throwing stars while Blake pouted, wanting more time as she crossed her arms. "Don't worry about it! It takes time and practice. You said you wanted to learn, so I'll teach ya!"
"Thank you!" Blake beamed, and her ears perked happily. "I never got to know Grandpa very well, but I remember he always had weapons and artifacts like these in their house. So I feel like I could learn to use them…"
"Feel like you could be closer to him." Naruto finished for the young girl, a soft smile on his face as he stepped beside her before sighing softly as he lifted his palm and stared at it. "I know the feeling all too well. If only I could know what the man was thinking that day…"
Channeling chakra in his hand like he had done several times before, crafting an incomplete sphere of chakra momentarily to Blake's shock, never having seen such a display before, Naruto dispersed the technique.
What had happened that night? Why was he chosen? Why did Jiraiya, the man's sensei, seek him out to teach him that move? So many questions…
All now without an answer.
With his eyes fixed on the house, he shook his head. He patted Blake on the back and pushed her forward. "Let's go eat…"
"Yo! I wanna learn too!"
Naruto sighed as Blake's blonde-haired rival bolted out the door, lilac eyes burning a new color.
Oh, this was going to be trouble…
The strange crystallized powder was extremely odd to him.
Naruto still did not understand how the elements came from this stuff. Or how each of the separate blades of his tachi was made from different types of this stuff yet as sturdy as steel. Or why it was as reactive as it was to his chakra.
He wished he knew more about elemental natures and chakra as he felt it would have made any concept of whatever this sorcery he was dealing with make more sense. He knew the bare basics that everyone had an elemental nature and that there was a specific type they were naturally better suited to learning than others…
Naruto didn't think that would help with this weird powder and crystals that can summon forth the elements!
How did the Crow Summoner project a hellacious fireball from his giant sword like that? That kind of stuff was possible with this powder by concentrating on it with their modern-day chakra, activating some catalyst as it wasn't entirely stable, and then projecting it like a technique?
"So, jutsu without hand seals?" Naruto looked giddily at the display of a fantastic technique before thinking about the application.
Qrow turned to Naruto, sheathing Harbinger on his back. His eyes focused on the young shinobi, a frown adorning his face. "Yeah, I guess. It's how we utilize the elements to combat the Grimm. But from the sound of it, this isn't the first time you've seen someone use the elements before. Heard Kali mention that before, but I assumed she meant Dust was used."
Shaking his head, Naruto beamed as he explained. "We had many jutsu! All kinds! Could do almost anything! Elements one of many things! Seals another cool thing! Make explosion tags with them!"
"As I expected, "Qrow muttered as a discussion he and his sister had was confirmed before his eyes widened in alarm, remembering hearing an explosion back during the Taijitsu incident. "Wait, what? Explosions from what?"
"Explosion tags," Naruto commented before pulling out a rather ordinary-looking slip of paper from his pouch with a wide grin. "Simple toss and boom. Simple to make too. Same with flash tags."
Qrow's eyes grew to horrific proportions as he stepped back, seeing the kid holding a bomb in his hand without a care in the world. The practical applications of being able to make a bomb with ordinary materials…
He quickly recomposed himself, narrowed his eyes at the kid, and growled. If he had anything else that was dangerous to him, he needed to know. With his luck, the last thing he needed was…
"Alright, we're going to have to talk about your arsenal. Things like that need to be known, kid. After hearing about how the sword reacted to you without being triggered, do you have anything else you'd like to add?" Qrow stated flatly. "Gonna be living with my family for some time. Things like that need to be explained to prevent accidents from happening, kid. With my luck, those kinds of things tend to happen more often than I'd like."
Tilting his head at first, listening to Crow Summoner as he sternly gazed upon him, taking in what he said and slowly translating it, Naruto's face fell flat. He broke eye contact and wistfully looked away, his eyes glistening.
It made sense to tell them what he was capable of and what his stuff could do. He was staying here after all. It wasn't like they knew, and almost every time he showed something, they were often stumped by how he performed the feat. The same was reversed as he didn't understand what everyone else did.
He used points of reference of things he thought were similar to explain them.
Crow Summoner only was looking out for his family with his request. Didn't want something accidental to happen as his triggering the blade until it was superheated could have been very dangerous if done to say the raw powder.
If Ruby or Yang had somehow stumbled upon his mess of stuff and, by some chance, he left out a tag, how would it react if they accidentally…
All of that was fine. Naruto needed to be more careful. Living with others was new to him, and he was adjusting. But there was something more…
Far more dangerous and lurking within him.
And it made him shiver.
How could he broach that subject?
That there was a demon full of malice lurking within. A demon with power so immense that it could level mountains and cause tsunamis with swipes of its tails.
And here he was, only able to wield a fraction of its power in small bursts that he could barely contain.
"Kid?" Qrow's voice snapped his attention out of his thoughts, crimson eyes looking worriedly down at him. "Something the matter?"
"I…" Naruto started, his voice quivering before he took a deep breath to relax his nerves, putting on a calm mask. "Only a few tools! Can show them off?"
Noting the subtle shift in tone and demeanor, Qrow kept his scowl hidden. Something was up with the kid, and there was some sort of internal dilemma as he nodded and watched him pull out his gear, trying to explain what all was.
Why was he now worried the kid was hiding something else even more dangerous but was fearful about it too?
Can I trust anyone?
If I can't trust myself…
Who can I trust?
My powers are too dangerous if they can run rampant and harm others without my consent. If they can summon themselves without my intent…
Was Mother right this entire time?
Are those with Semblances freaks? Am I a freak?
A monster?
A demon?
What is that?
Naruto? Why are you here?
Oh, it is time for us to practice together, isn't it? I'm afraid this is the end…
I've decided that I cannot be…
Naruto? Do you have something to say to me? What is it?
A story? What? You're going to tell me about…
No, I've got time.
You are my only friend, after all. So let's get comfortable.
"Qrow, what did you do?"
"Accusations already this early in the morning?" Qrow defensively quipped at the tone Tai had taken with him as he poured a morning cup of coffee. "The day just started, Tai, and I just arrived. Give me a break. What are you even talking about?"
"Naruto," Tai replied, and Qrow rolled his eyes as he took a heavy drink of the thick sludge Tai called his morning brew. "Been acting distant and aloof since you went out to teach him to wield his sword properly."
"And you think that is on me? Why?" Qrow raised his eyebrow as the coffee quickly went to work, combating his hangover from the previous night.
This earned him a deathly flat stair from his blonde teammate and a certain Faunus as she entered the room, listening to the conversation. "Maybe because it is odder than usual when the girls aren't able to break through to him. Something is off, and he was okay before you took him out with him."
"Again, you think I'm the cause?" Qrow retorted in irritation before firmly setting his cup on the counter. "Look, all the kid and I did was discuss how to use a sword and Dust. Then he mentioned it was like his techniques. He then showed that he could make bombs with nothing more than paper and some ink."
"Just from that?" Tai raised his eyebrow as he glanced skeptically at Qrow and the stairs. "I have many questions about how that is possible and how dangerous that could be. He isn't the best at cleaning up after himself. His room is already cluttered with his tools."
"Exactly my point!" Qrow exclaimed as if he was thanking his brother-in-law for validating his point. "So I simply ask him to come clean about anything else dangerous he might have up his sleeves. If there is anything we should be aware and prepared for so we can be on the lookout for it!"
Two simultaneous groans met Qrow's words, and his eyes narrowed at this unexpected development. "Wait, you both know he is hiding something! And that it could be potentially hazardous! How did this fall to me?"
"Because he's frightened of it himself!" Kali snapped back, her golden eyes gleaming and her ears pinned down. "Do you think we haven't been looking for odd discrepancies or behaviors considering his situation? Have you think I haven't caught him talking to himself, almost as if he's trying to talk to another individual and getting frustrated at them?"
"Or having noticed the strange markings that appear on his stomach after showers occasionally when he's coming back to his room," Tai added to her statement. "Not to mention there was the weird incident where his hand had a golden glow with a strange circle that appeared on it, and he had no clue what it was about…"
"Golden glow?" Qrow caught onto that part quickly and frowned. "That doesn't make sense. We've seen his second aura, and it was crimson…"
"And it was something that bothered and stumped him, so let it be!" Tai retorted and crossed his arms, sternly gazing at his brother-in-law. "He's still coming to terms with quite a few things and might not be ready to tell us some things, even if they are dangerous. Or even know some things about himself as they were never explained to him."
"They are quite personal, from what I gather. Give him time." Kali sighed and took a deep breath, her ears twitching as she heard footsteps and smiled, seeing her husband walking into the room and greeting him with a gentle hug. "Morning, dear. Sorry, didn't mean to rouse you…"
"I should be awake at this time anyways." Ghira shook his head before laughing heartily. "I see you are as passionate as ever when defending your stance."
"We've learned that the hard way…" Qrow muttered as Tai scratched his head before sighing. "Don't always agree, but her points are always valid…"
"Got some coffee if you like it strong," Tai added with a grin as he moved over to prepare the kettle. "Hadn't quite prepared the water for tea if that's how you start your morning."
"Coffee is quite fine," Ghira responded, accepting a cup as Qrow poured him one and handed it to him. "I appreciate it. Oh, very strong. I could get used to this. Could use this to get through a few more difficult work days…"
Kali's ears flicked as Tai grinned upon hearing that, setting the kettle and slowly setting up the kitchen for breakfast. If she wasn't careful…
"I do say, this is a cozy little cabin out here." Ghira complimented Tai as he admired the house. "I must confess that it is a bit of a bold choice to live just outside of town but with an Academy nearby and as a Huntsman, I dare say it isn't too dangerous out here. I can only imagine the view in the other seasons is just as magnificent.
"It really is. It is why we picked this spot to build the cabin…" Tai reminisced, his eyes shimmering and dulling momentarily before he sighed as the memories came to him while Ghita frowned, glancing over at Kali for answers.
She simply returned the look with an expression that told him he'd be informed later.
"Gah!" Naruto's voice resonated as he slowly treaded into the kitchen, nearly stumbling into the bodies of everyone as he tripped into the room. "This house isn't big enough for this amount of people!"
"Morning to you too, sunshine," Qrow responded with a smirk as he picked up his coffee and took a sip, watching Naruto grumble. "Might as well help get the kids up as the water isn't ready, and Tai is working on breakfast…"
A scream shattered their eardrums, followed by several barks that cut off Qrow.
"GET AWAY FROM ME, DEMON!" Blake roared as she ran down the stairs, chased by Zwei, happily barking at the game they were playing.
"Zwei, no! Stop Zwei! Blake friend!" Ruby cried as she followed, holding out her arms pitifully while tearfully chasing to stop her new puppy from hurting her friend.
Raucous laughter filled the top stairs as Yang could barely hold onto the railing as she watched the event. "So good! It hurts…"
As Blake sprinted into the kitchen and straight into her father's protective care, who was amused at her profound reaction to the minuscule dog. "It's just a dog, honey. Nothing to fear."
Zwei cut the chase short. In the midst of chasing the fun one, he noticed a scent. He stopped at the feet of the person and sat, knowing they needed his attention, and yapped, lolling his tongue out of his muzzle as he looked up at them.
Naruto sadly sighed, his cerulean eyes dulling and losing luminosity. He slowly bent down, reaching out and scratching the corgi's head, his voice withdrawn and faint. "Idiot. Stop causing so much trouble, okay?"
Zwei barked and tilted his head in the other direction, giving no verbal sign he understood the directive.
Kali turned and noted the interaction, her ears dropping and an expression of worry written as she glimpsed the hue of his eyes. "Naruto? Are you okay?"
"What?" Naruto looked up, slightly surprised, before trying to mask his emotions. "Oh, fine. I'm good…"
"Sorry!" Blake immediately cut him off, her eyes widening tearfully as she covered her mouth. "I didn't mean to use that word! Forgive me!"
"What?" Kali's head snapped to her daughter as all attention from the adults was drawn to the young girl. "Blake, you didn't say anything…"
"But I used a bad term…" Blake demurely responded with her shoulders slumped and her ears flattened as she looked away, upset with herself. "I'm never supposed to use words that harm others and make them feel bad…"
Feeling a cold shiver travel down her spine upon hearing her daughter's words, Kali's eyes magnified as her husband tried to calm and comfort their child. She knew Naruto had told stories to the kids, especially to Blake, as he could speak normally to her since she understood him. But it never crossed her mind that…
The only word she said besides yelling at the dog was…
"Naruto…" Kali slowly turned her attention back to the young man in the kitchen, her voice sullen as recognition filled it.
"Said it was okay!" Naruto snapped back, upset at the situation and ignoring Zwei's barking and pawing at his leg. "It's not like it was done maliciously or..."
"What is that look?" Naruto stepped back, alarmed at the tearful expression that appeared on Kali's face. "Whoa! Look, whatever it was, I didn't mean to make you cry…"
Naruto did not expect to be thrown into a tight hug that left him gasping for oxygen and his language teacher sobbing. "It's not okay! It never is okay! I know that too well. So don't think you are alone! We're here for you. We'll never think of you like that…"
His eyes expanded, caught off guard by Kali's sudden embrace. He hadn't expected it, especially after thinking about what the Crow Summoner had said. He wasn't sure what to do or say.
The man was right in a way. If he was staying here, they should be aware of everything in case the worse happened. There was just this inkling of what everyone else would think if they knew about the fox. Blake didn't seem to care, but she was an impressionable child and didn't understand…
Then Kali spoke, and her word…
They reminded him so much, like Iruka's words that day.
And that was all it took for him to break down.
It was odd to hear his elevator working at this time of night. Odder still he was here, but alas, his job was never done. Furthermore, he was astonished to see who walked out of the doors as they opened, a flask being down as he stepped through.
Quite normal for the man, but still…
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise to have you visit…"
"Cut the crap, Oz!" Qrow bitterly retorted as he pocketed his flask, his crimson gaze meeting Oz's browns. "You've got a few things to explain to me. Let's start with this one, shall we? How long did you know about the kid's secret without telling us knowing that something could have happened?"
"What makes you think…
"You have been oddly interested in him and following Oobleck's research notes and willing to open Beacon's vaults." Qrow listed odd occurrences with a snarl. "You took time out of your schedule to meet with him while I was in the hospital. You wouldn't do that with anyone, Oz. You only do that to people you have a particular interest in."
"Then there is the final nail in the coffin. You informed Tai of a story that oddly connected to what the kid contained within him? Want to answer that?" Qrow furiously finished, his gaze fixed on the headmaster.
Oz calmly responded, taking his friend's anger in stride and holding his vision in stride. "Whether you believe it or not, I never once confidently knew the child carried one of the Sacred Beasts within him. It was simply an assertion of all the data gathered, his unique circumstances, and what could have led him to be here of all places that led me to that assumption. So I can only assume that I was correct, which is the case. I do apologize for not at least informing you of the possibilities. I was unaware that would change things…"
"It doesn't change anything," Qrow snapped. "The kid is in control as far as I can tell, and the beast doesn't have any real control unless in extreme circumstances, from what he says. So limit those and teach him how to control it in small doses until he can handle larger bursts of power. Sounds like what his teachers were doing in his time which is the right way to go about it."
"The issue is how you just knew about this and the dangers it could present without informing anyone else involved," Qrow growled, and his eyes lit up with a cold fury. "The kid is understandable as he didn't know who to trust, and now I understand his reasons why. Is your reason going to be as enlightening?"
Taking a deep breath as he broke eye contact with Qrow, a sense of shame washed over Ozpin. "I would like to tell you that was, but it was not."
"Excuse me?" Qrow dangerously hissed and stepped forward, his face livid.
"I made a call as I felt everything was fine and there was no immediate danger," Oz responded as Qrow's face twisted at his answer. "He was calm and doing well, and there was no danger of the beast within causing any issues. Furthermore, a particular threat is unaware that a Sacred Beast has returned to the plane of Remnant. Therefore, we, for once, have the advantage in this situation if we can help the boy come along in the next several years."
"What?" Qrow stumbled back a step, unaware of where Oz had led him. "Oz, you can't be serious…"
"He's a kid…"
"And he's the only one that can put an end to this war, Qrow. I can't defeat her. But a Sacred Beast can harm the Gods. And if they can do that…"
"We may have found a way to kill Salem."
Stepping into a bedroom he knew rather well, Naruto stretched comfortably. It had been a strange stretch now. He felt more relaxed than he had been in a long time.
Since, well…
Konoha.
There were people he trusted, and he had some friends. Not many, but he'd get some more eventually. When he could speak the language better.
Things weren't perfect. And he still wanted to know what happened, but that answer wasn't coming soon with the fox being silent. So he figured he would do what he could in the meantime and learn—no point in fretting over what he had no control over.
Take charge of what he had and move forward! And that was why he was here!
To help a friend.
Feeling a poke to his chest, he grinned as he looked down to see Trivia's broad smile looking down at him. She was in her familiar outdoor gear, ready to begin.
And behind her, glass shattered into existence as Neo happily clapped and sat on the bed before concentrating and changing her hair to match Trivia's hair color.
Trivia grinned as the glass formed around her hair momentarily, and an illusion formed around her.
Naruto tilted his head, noticing the change but shrugged his shoulders as he guessed it was to alter her appearance and make her more difficult to recognize.
Besides, the half-pink hair wasn't a bad look on her.
Shaking his head at that thought, he offered his hand and smiled at her as she accepted.
"Okay, time to train."
Chapter 24 Preview:
The Second Arc Begins...
"Ow! What was that for?" Naruto bemoaned as he slid into a familiar room using the technique Kakashi had taught him long ago, only to grab his right peck as it was pinched. "I was only a few minutes late! That was not necessary!"
Trivia crossed her arms, frowning as she looked a full head above her into Naruto's eyes and nodded. It was proper punishment for not being prompt and…
What was this new attire? Ugh! She would have to address this atrocity immediately!
This concludes the First Arc.
The second arc is still in production.
About 7 to 8 chapters in.
So no slowing down currently.
However...
By the time you are reading this...
I should have posted a new story that took me all week to write.
Fire and Ice.
A Naruto/Weiss Reincarnation story...
And when I mean reincarnation...
I mean more than one person.
The chapter is a long one...
And the ending hits something fierce.
If it sounds like something your interested in, give a try.