Naruto/Ruby.


"Everything is lost… Isn't it? We're stuck like this… Forever."

"Well, I ain't about to sit back and let that happen, ya hear? There is still so much left to tell… So let's finish this story."

"Do you really think we can? We've been lost for so long… I don't know if we can do it anymore…"

"I don't give a damn. We all need help at times, and I heard you call out. So I'm gonna stand by your side until the end and see it through this time. You better believe it!"


"It has been so long, my children. I never thought you would return… Have you finally learned to put aside your differences?"

"Yes… We have come to realize that we have made many mistakes in our time, and I do not wish to war with my brother. I wish to support him and help him craft a world of balance… Trying to come to an understanding of the words you left us with."

"And what you learned, my children?"

"Not as much as wished we had… We continued to make the same mistakes. Abandoned the world we created, hoping that leaving it alone would achieve the harmony you once spoke about."

"In the end, our influence is what will doom our world in a perpetual limbo. It was flawed. The world will stagnate like a ship trapped in ice, and an answer to our question will never be found."

"Yes… I have seen your beautiful world. It's a shame what has and will happen. …But it does not have to happen. Take a look."

"We… Don't understand. What is this that you show us?"

"One of the many inspirations that led to our crafter to give us creation."

"You mean…"

"There is always a higher plane. We are one of many worlds The Gods above us have crafted. But his vision will go unfinished, for he ascended to a higher plane that was in need of him… So we must complete it for him."

"Are you suggesting… Our idealogy… Wasn't necessarily flawed? That we can still fix our mistakes?"

"Every time we intervene, we only make it worse… If only we had a champion as in this vision…"

"Even by himself, he was not enough. There was more than one champion… Companions that assisted him along the way."

"So you are saying… If we intervene one last time, perhaps our world will finally resolve?"

"And that we may finally receive the answer to what a balanced world is like… Without influence?"

"There is always a need for a gentle influence. You have to find your touch. But for now… We will need something much grander to change this outcome… I will work on crafting this champion, and he will ascend to your world."

"Then we will make preparations… We shall reset the world and give them another chance. Rebuild them from scratch."

"We will see our creators' will to completion and let their indomitable will shine bright alongside this champion."


What? What is this?

She was in a realm of serene darkness like the night sky. Eerily so. There were even sparkles glistening like the stars through the abyss.

Is this a dream? She thought it was… But something felt off… Almost as if this was real. Real.

Holding her hand before her eyes as two luminous lights gleamed through the darkness, she closed her eyes from the intensity. But she could still see the shades of color through her closed eyelids.

Shades of purple… And gold?

"Young one… Follower of the one we assigned to unite the world and show us peace was possible."

"We have come to assist his endeavor. We recognize it was an impossible task and have come with correction."

Her eyes snapped open widely, and she brought her hand down. Before her stood two massive entities with Faunus characteristics. Her eyes flickered at their image, recognizing them from the fairy tales… But what was it that they said?

They called her a follower… Her eyes shimmered. She was inducted for quite some time, but this was something he had never stated! She had only just learned of her and her immortality!

She would have a few words with him about this! This did not seem like a dream and was something far more prevalent.

"A task most important…"

"We come bearing a chance to end the cycle…

"If cared for properly."

What? What did that mean? What task could they possibly entrust her with?

She went to speak but found she had no voice. No ability to answer. Her body was frozen in place. Unable to move in any way despite her best efforts.

As if she was frozen in stasis.

But her eyes were drawn to a glowing golden orb that sparked to life. Growing ever so slightly as it approached her abdomen. Unable to do anything, it slowly sank into the lower portion of her stomach… Into her womb.

A deep-seated fear overcame her as emerald eyes bore into the Gods of gold and purple who stood before her. Had they…

"Today begins the day we correct our mistakes."

"And you were chosen for this task."

"Go forth and take care of gift to the world. He's a weary soul that has agreed to ascend and be reborn."

"He, Naruto Uzumaki, will be the one to bring calm to your world and finally end this stalemate we initiated."

"And bring forth a world where we may rest in the shadows, fulfilling our assigned duties of creating life and taking it when the time is ready."


No, no, no. This wasn't good at all!

How was she supposed to pass this stupid test?! She barely knew how to fight at all! And now she was expected to fight another student. The winner didn't matter. They would pass as long as the judges were impressed enough by their skills.

Nervously twitching in the group of prospective students sitting in the front row of the stadium, waiting for their names to be called, Ruby grimaced. This was not idea… Why did this have to be in front of so many people? …She was going to embarrass herself!

She could see her sister in the crowd with the other students in Signal, eagerly awaiting to see if she would join her. That and she was hooting and hollering for every student as they stepped onto the stadium floor to prove themselves. Making a spectacle of herself even amongst her peers.

Yang really just loved fighting.

And what was worse was who was running this year's initiation! Of all people… It had to be her dad and Uncle Qrow!

Ruby winced. This would not end well for her… Ugh! Why didn't she get as much training before this as Dad did for Yang?! It was frustrating! She felt so underprepared! And Uncle Qrow wasn't around very much, so he couldn't help…

Her sister Yang helped her the most. Unfortunately, they were two completely different people. She was just built differently from her sister. Yang was strong, agile, and could take a hit and keep moving forward. She was…

Well, she was fast and slender. She struggled to hold her weapon… The weapon she created to honor her mother…

But it was just too big for her! It seemed the more she tried to train, she didn't really get stronger but instead faster somehow! How did that even make sense?

Her eyes widened as the projection screen at the back end of the stadium lit up after the previous students had finished their match, and both had shown enough to be accepted into Signal. Oh no…

"Ruby Rose… Naruto Uzumaki." Her father's voice rang out, his eyes descending upon her in particular.

Hunching forward nervously, Ruby swallowed the growing lump in her throat and stood up from her seat. She felt unsteady with each step she took down the stairs. She sweated profusely, nervously glancing at her opponent as he descended alongside her.

The Faunus boy's stride was so confident as they marched to the center of the arena. He seemed to be beaming with energy, too! His fox tail was flicking so wildly! Was he anticipating this?! Oh no! She was going to look so bad against him!

Standing face-to-face with him didn't help either! He held his two short bo staffs in each hand, one resting on his shoulder with a confident smile that was unnerving! He looked so eager for this! She was going to get destroyed and fail!

No! Ruby shook her head and took a deep breath. She couldn't fail! This was what she wanted! She wanted to be like the heroes in the stories her father read to her… That her mom read to her.

Clutching the handle of the heavy model axe she built to honor her mother, silver eyes glistened with determination. She stared down her opponent. If she wanted to live up to her legacy…

"Hehe!" Her opponent chuckled. A beaming smile adorned his features as he kept a level gaze with hers. "Hey, no pressure! I just want to have a fun match! So, let's get started and show off what we can do in front of everyone, yeah?"

As soon as he spoke, she wasn't sure what it was… But a sense of calm took over her. There was just a sense of serene calm to his words. Sure, they were filled with an intense, buzzing, and gleeful energy…

But just like her, he was eager to prove himself. As was everyone here today. Their goal was to become Huntsman.

To become heroes.

She felt her frayed nerves settle as she exhaled the breath she had been holding. A gentle smile spread on her lips, and she met his gaze more confidently. With a nod and a more relaxed grip on her axe, her silver eyes shone as she stared into the dazzling ocean of his gaze.

"Begin!"


R & R.