Spiritual Successor: Jashin's Rose
( I do not own RWBY nor Naruto in any capacity, though I wish I did. Just because it'd be fun. However, be warned, Ruby in specific will be OCC. If that wasn't assumed already given the premise of the story)
No Ones P.O.V
The multiverse was a strange concept, an idea of infinite possibilities. An idea of different universe's where changes can be so minute that they're barely different from one to another, yet that also means that there are other universes that are on that opposite end of the spectrum. Changes that are so statically one in an infinite, that the fact they happened at all was a mystery within itself. This story follows one of those insane possibilities.
And it all starts with a young girl, a thirteen year old girl to be exact, one Ruby Rose. Who in this moment was standing before her mother's grave. The young girl wearing a red cloak, worn in remembrance of her late mother, was rambling to herself.
"Hey mom, I um. Sorry for not visiting recently, I joined Signal academy a month ago and I've been super busy with homework. I wanted to come visit the day that I got accepted into it, but Dad and Yang threw a big party for me. Even Uncle Qrow came, he unlocked my Aura too, so I got side tracked. But! Signal has us starting to design our weapons, and Dad told me you were a bit of a weapon lover like me when you were here, so I wanted to come share my ideas. I call her Crescent Rose."
As she pulled out the blueprints from under her cloak, she sat to the side so that she could show them to the gravestone. Her finger moved across the page, pointing out each part of the design, even speaking to how it was inspired by seeing Qrow in action with Harbinger. Though it was through her animated explanations to a mother that couldn't hear her, that she didn't notice a rift opening in the air above her. The rift barely making any noise, the object that fell from it on the other hand? That was certainly making quite a lot of noise, mostly screams of profanity, as it fell towards Ruby herself. Said object turned out to be a head, a disembodied head. One that Ruby didn't notice, too lost in finally having time to spend with her mother. That the screaming didn't draw her attention until too late, looking up just in time to see a forehead as it smashed against her own. Her Aura flaring to protect her, though knocking her onto her back all the same. The same could not be said about the head however.
"Lord Jashin damnit! What did I hit?! A fucking rock?" The head lamented out loud, drawing Ruby's attention once the dull pain in her forehead faded. Her confusion setting in as she saw what looked like a head? But that couldn't be right, a head just didn't exist by itself right? Her blueprints falling to the ground, as she shakily stood up from the ground making her way over to the head. All the while ignoring the fact that it was cursing up a storm. Her hands reached down to pick up the head, which had been facing away from her, as she turned it to face her. She honestly hadn't expected the man to stare at her in more annoyance than shock.
"Oh great, a fucking kid! Of cour- Hey hey hey! Don't you fucking pass out on me or I swear to Lord Jashin I will find a way to sacrifice you!" Hidan shouted that last part at Ruby, only to find his head falling again, this time face up. Meaning he got a front row view to watching one unnamed kid faint entirely. Collapsing to the ground next to his disembodied head. Leaving him staring up at the sky and the rising… moon… "Is the moon fucking shattered?"
Time Skip 2 years
Ruby's P.O.V
Two years passed since that fateful meeting between a young Ruby Rose, and the ever dedicated follower of Jashin, Hidan. This time we find Ruby within a dust shop, one From Dust til Dawn, arguing with the store owner.
"Young lady! I won't be able to get you the ammo you're requesting til next week, the sheer size of the caliber and the amount of dust you wanted packed in each round is hazardous! I'm having to special order them! I told you this the last several times you were here." The store owner wasn't shouting as much as he was exasperated.
This was the third time I had shown up to his shop asking if my ammo was ready, within three days. And each time it was the same thing. Frankly he shouldn't even be ordering this sort of ammo to begin with, this kid wanted rounds bigger than .50 caliber, THIS CHILD. The only reason he even went through with it was because of the admittedly absurd premium I had been willing to pay. And he didn't even want to think of how I was able to pay it off within the same day as ordering.
I let out several noises of frustration, given that I realllllly wanted my ammo and I wanted it now! I had just upgraded Crescent Rose to a higher caliber not even a month ago, and I hadn't even been able to test it out with proper dust bullets! Sure it fired normal rounds perfectly fine, the kick was insane, but I could easily handle it. At this point I just wanted to see what my baby could do!
"Fineeeee! Anyways, I'm also here because the new Weapons weekly came out, and you stock it first. Sooooo, I'm gonna go look for it, bye!" I rambled out, quickly making my way to the back of the store without even letting the owner give a proper response by throwing a pair of my headphones on.
As I walked, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, a smile working across my face at the sight. Standing a few inches taller as expected with age, I admittedly looked fairly similar to my younger self. As expected my clothes are a bit bigger, while I'm a little taller. That wasn't the stand out bit to my change however. Hanging around my neck was a necklace, a fairly simple one, the symbol of a circle with a triangle pointed up towards the sky at all times. A simplistic symbol that to most didn't mean anything. But to me? It was a symbol of my lord and master, Jashin. Having been given the necklace from my teacher Hidan a month or so prior, upon what he deemed "completion" of my training. Yet, I had two other stand out features. My eyes, they used to be full and bold silver, yet now? They had flakes of purple in them. Something Yang was over the moon about. But, the more obvious difference was my hair. As my hair used to be fully black, with more reddish tips to it. That isn't the case anymore, instead of the black, it's replaced by silver. Thank Ohm it kept the reddish tips, it admittedly looks even more badass because of such.
All of said changes I blamed on my semblance, which was a total fucking lie. They had nothing to do with my semblance, and more to do with the ritual that Hidan had me complete in order to show my devotion to Jashin. Since apparently, purple eyes and silver hair wasn't a Hidan thing.
The old man rolled his eyes, his attention focused back to the front door as the bell dinged. Yet, the greeting to his shop died on his lips as he focused back on the group who were striding their way in. A group of five, yet, it was their demeanor that was throwing him off. After all, those who wear a bowler hat generally weren't the most trustworthy. The other four simply looked like goons, which didn't help his nervousness.
I however, was engrossed in the Weapons weekly in my hands. Flipping through the pages, even flipping it on its side to allow the page of the magazine to unfold to show off the weapon within, a mecha shift greathammer that turned into a cannon. Yet, my attention was dragged away from it at the tap on my shoulder. Cocking an eyebrow I peeked over my shoulder, one hand lifted to pull a headphone off.
"If you want this then I'm sorry to say that it's mine." As I held the Weapons weekly in one hand. While also ignoring the rather large machete that was currently hanging less than an inch from my face. Completely unimpressed with the lack of lethality in the weapon that was threatening me.
"I don't care about your dumb magazine kid, I'm robbing you!"
I blinked, seemingly finally noticing the weapon that was pointed at my nose. Before a smile crossed along my face, one filled with sadistic amusement. A smile that probably should never be on the face of one as young as myself. But we'll blame Hidan for that, rightfully so.
"You're robbing me? With that? Oh that's… kinda sad. Before we start, do you have aura at least?" At the shake of the head from the goon, my smile fell from that sadistic glee to one of annoyance. Very much disappointed by the admission from the man.
"Oh nevermind then, you wouldn't be a worthy sacrifice to Lord Jashin. I'm sorry my Lord, I cannot feed you the blood of the worthy yet." A statement that unsettled the man, not that it mattered. As before he could even register the words, a pair of boots slammed against his chest. A harsh cough erupted from his lips as several of his ribs snapped from the force of the hit. Launching back into one of the other goons, they slammed against the window shattering it as they exited the shop forcefully. I followed them shortly afterwards, my body dissipating into a flurry of bloody roses, coalescing to show my form standing above the two thugs. Crescent Rose unfurling as the tip of the scythe slammed deep into the concrete between their heads. My smile was wicked, deadly, and aimed at the remaining thugs' that weren't knocked down.
"Now then~, I know my new friend here doesn't have aura. So I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the other three of you don't either… But does your boss? If you answer honestly I won't sacrifice you~. Well, I won't sacrifice you four." My words were filled with malice, yet curiosity as my gaze flicked between the four goons. The fear was clear in their eyes, before they nodded their heads quickly. Gesturing to the bowler hat wearing man.
"Good~, now scram. You're barely worthy of my gaze. Let alone being gifted a front row seat to a proper sacrifice to Lord Jashin."
"As if a kid like you could ever kill me Red, now you two, go deal with h… Wow, not even remotely worth the money, really. I'm going to need a refund from Junior." Roman didn't even finish giving orders, before he watched the two uninjured goons quickly move to help their injured fellows. Two limping, and two propping the limping one's up to move quickly down the street away from this psychotic child. Leaving him alone standing before me. The sadistic smirk that I wore took a more amused ting given how quickly they abandoned him.
"Well, looks like I'll be taking my frustration out on you Red. Hope you aren't just all talk." As Roman spoke, he lifted his cane, the tip of it popping open as a bright flare of fire dust erupted from the tip. His expectation being that I would dodge, that my survival instincts would win out even with the seemingly psychotic attitude. Which was his first mistake, as survival instincts were for those who weren't immortal. And to quote Hidan, I'm not a little bitch.
I smiled even wider, swinging the blade of my scythe behind me. Watching the clump of fire dust race towards me. Yet, instead of dodging, I pulled the trigger of Crescent Rose. The explosive bark of the weapon rang out, at the same time the force behind the recoil launched me forward. Directly into the fire dust. The explosive heat washing over my body, yet all I could feel was glee. My aura crackled for a brief moment, but held strong, allowing me to race through the smoke as the momentum was used to swing the deadly tip of Crescent Rose towards Roman, drawing a yelp from the man.
"Crazy fucking kid!" He threw himself to the side to dodge out of the way of the attack. My scythe makes contact with the concrete, only to slice through the ground like butter. Sinking a few inches deep. Showing the lethality of the weapon. Only to flip over the weapon, firing off another shot the moment my boots hit the shaft. Using both the generated momentum and my weight to pull Crescent Rose from the concrete, slicing free with a loud metallic sound. Followed by the tip once again swinging towards Roman, though aimed at his head this time. Bringing a cut across his bowler hat, given that his aura didn't extend that far. Keeping the raw aggression of my offensive up. I didn't give him even a moment to breathe, each attack brought me closer to my ultimate prize. His blood. I'd activate my semblance mid swing, disappearing from his view for a brief moment. Only to then appear behind him, the blade of my scythe slamming into his side. A blow that would cut through any person not boosted by aura. Fortunately for him, he was. His aura flaring brightly as the blow knocked him off his feet, throwing him several feet away. Forcing him to use the momentum to roll to his feet, his clothes discheved.
"Goddamn Red! You're certainly a terrifying fighter, but I need to end this dance!" Roman hissed, deciding to do something drastic as he fired another round into the ground this time. The explosion forced him to depend on his depleting aura, smoke surrounding him covering him for that brief moment of respite that he needed. Fleeing away from the fight as Crescent Rose cut through the smoke where he had been previously. Leaving yet another gash in the concrete. He scrambled up a ladder on the side of the building, waving down a bullhead that was swooping down. His other arm cradling the box full of dust from the shop.
"Get us the hell out of here! That girl is fucking crazy!" Roman yelled to the pilot the moment he was on-board. Tossing the dust into the co-pilot's seat. His gaze shifted back to the rooftop, the frown clear even from this distance as he caught sight of me. My boots hit the roof just tens of feet away from the open hatch in the side of the bullhead. My body leaned forward, my finger tightening around the trigger. My goal was clear, get into the bullhead. And get him.
He snarled knowing that he had to stop me before I could, he yanked open the box of dust. Pulling out two large dust shards, one fire and the other wind, tossing them out of the open hatch towards me. Right when I was mid leap towards the hatch, leaving me nowhere to dodge. He didn't even try to get the last word in on the situation, simply wanting to do away with me. As the two crystals hovered in front of my chest, he fired another shot off. Connecting with the dust, setting off a rather large explosion. One that immediately launched me from my position in the air back onto the roof. The use of the combined dust increased the already deadly power of the individual crystals to a new degree. Throwing me back onto the roof, the stone of the roof shattered under the impact of my body against it. My aura flared then shattered moments after I landed. Yet, I wasn't writhing in pain. Nor was I out of the fight. Laughter bubbling from my lips, the crazed sound echoing through the air. Easily being able to be heard even over the sound of the bullheads motors.
"Don't think you'll get away from me forever! Lord Jashin will have your LIFE!" My voice echoed through the smoke. The smoke cleared, giving Roman and the pilot a clear view of me. My clothes ripped from the rough landing, and blood slowly drooling from the cuts under those rips. Yet I was standing and even leveling the barrel of Crescent Rose towards the bullhead. The echoing clap of the large rounds firing off, leaving impact holes across the side of the bullhead. The cracked lens of the scope threw off my aim just a little, as even with my aura broken Isimply didn't care about the recoil that was racing through my shoulder.
Though I narrowed my eyes as I noticed a woman replaced Roman at the hatch. Said woman's hand glowing with fire? I quickly tried to readjust my aim to point towards the woman. I wasn't given the chance to fire, as said unknown woman launched a fireball towards my auraless form. One that I had no plan on dodging, knowing I would survive the hit and walk it off. If not walking a bit singed.
But it was left out of my control, as I found myself surrounded by a purple glow and yanked back from the impact of the fireball. Sent sprawling across the already broken rooftop, the glow did not subside, instead holding me in place as I was forced to watch a tall blonde woman drive the bullhead away. Using what Ruby assumed to be her semblance, to control the rubble of the rooftop to attack the bullhead, damaging it even more, forcing the aircraft to disengage from the fight. Leaving both of us alone. Though I wasn't the one to speak. "Do you know how much trouble you're in, young lady? Fighting criminals, putting both yourself and civilians in danger? Not retreating when your aura broke?! What do you have to say for yourself?"
Each question was punctuated by said woman yanking me closer and closer using her telekinesis,yet the woman seemed to get angrier the closer she pulled me towards her. After all, I should feel chastised, I should be cowering before her raised voice. But I wasn't. I was smiling, a bright innocent smile. I looked absolutely ecstatic to meet her. "Oh my Ohm! You're Glynda Goodwitch! Can I get your autograph? Please please please?"
Glynda's eye twitched, taking a deep breath as she very quickly wished that she hadn't had to deal with this. Only for her scroll to ping, alerting her to a received message. Using her free hand to take it off from her hip, she glanced at it. The message on it draws even more of her ire. "It seems you'll be coming with me, Ms. Rose."
It would be about an hour later, which would've been faster had I not tried to escape the one time that Glynda had allowed me to walk on my own. After that it was a swift application of her semblance on me til we reached the secure room that Glynda had been given directions to. "I hope you realize your actions tonight will not be taken lightly young lady! You put yourself and others in grave danger tonight, especially with that little stunt on the rooftop! Continuing to fight? Without aura? Were you planning on getting yourself killed?"
"And what was I supposed to do? Nothing? They robbed the store right in front of me, plus aura smora. I was perfectly fine, I'm built of strong stuff!" Glynda would be lying if she said she wasn't a little disconcerted by the girls' words, her eyes narrowing down at me for a brief moment before sighing. As she couldn't exactly refute some of my words, given even with how banged up I was, I still had the strength and energy to run the moment I was given the chance. Glynda had seen many professional huntsmen and huntresses that were out of a fight the moment their aura had been broken. Yet from what the lone camera on an adjacent rooftop had seen, I had not only gotten up ignoring my injuries, but had continued fighting.
"Listen if it was up to me, you'd be sent home with a pat on the back, and a slap on the wrist. But unfortunately for the both of us, someone wanted to meet you in person." Glynda waved to the door behind her which slid open. Showing a taller gray haired man standing in the doorway, his gaze curiously focused on Ruby. A tray of cookies in one hand and what looked to be a mug of coffee in the other.
"Ruby Rose, you have silver eyes… and your hair is silver? I don't remember your parents having silver hair. Regardless, what I want to know is where you learned to do this?" As he finished speaking, he gestured to the video that Glynda was playing, of the fight from a street level perspective. Mostly showing the pure aggression I displayed in the fight with Roman.
"Signal academy?" I grimaced as soon as it came out, realizing it came out more as a question for everyone rather than an answer to his question.
"Signal academy? They taught you how to use one of the most dangerous and lethal weapons I have ever laid eyes upon? I've seen the chunks of concrete your bullets destroyed Ms Rose let along the damage your blade caused, your weapon is in a class all its own." The video was playing that particular moment, of me using the recoil of Crescent Rose's shots to maneuver myself around the battlefield. Even using the recoil of it to launch myself to the top of the building that would be destroyed moments after.
"Well… yes and no. There was a specific teacher at the academy that helped me train with it, though a lot of it was mostly self taught otherwise. I was complete garbage without his teachings!" Half truths, another thing that Qrow had taught me. As a lot of my moves were self taught… under the guidance of Hidan. But they didn't need to know that tidbit.
"I see, I've only seen one other scythe wielder of that skill level before, a dusty old Qrow. Though, of what I remember of him, he was a lot more careful with his aura. Unlike you, who seemed eager to simply take the blows that came your way. Dodging some, but not others." Ozpin glanced towards the video, which rewound to me tanking the first shot of Roman's. Though at the same time, he set the plate of cookies down in front of me. Drawing my attention to them with some suspicion.
"We'll duh, like I told Ms Goodwitch, I'm made of strong stuff. It takes a lot to take my aura down, and even more to take me down! So why not abuse it to surprise my enemies. It's one of the things I was taught!" That teaching was entirely Hidan, especially after learning what aura was. The man was ecstatic to learn that she could take his crazed fighting style to the next level, only encouraging her to learn to wield that surprise to her advantage.
Ozpin hummed, sitting down in the chair across from me, taking a sip of his coffee as he watched the young girl basically inhale the cookies given. Using the rim of the mug to hide his amused smile. "I'll just be frank with you Ms Rose, I came down to sate my curiosity of you. Seeing your fight between yourself and Roman Torchwick drew my attention, and I have to ask. Why are you going to a combat school Ms Rose? You seem to be quite adept at fighting, but that can't be the only reason."
I took a moment to mull over my answer, after all, if you had asked me two years ago? I would've said it was for purely selfless reasons. Wanting to be the heroine to the masses, to be the knight in shining armor that kids were told stories about. But that changes, not completely, but in some ways. I still wanted to be a hero, to slay grimm and save the day. But I also wanted to find proper sacrifices for Lord Jashin. And becoming a huntress gives me that opportunity, between the chance to fight powerful Grimm, or even the chance to fight powerful criminals. It meant more ways to make Lord Jashin proud of my service.
"I… want to become a huntress. I want to help people, but I also want to kill grimm. Challenge myself and become stronger to fight stronger grimm. And, maybe along the way as I challenge stronger and stronger grimm, I'll be able to help people by showing them that the grimm aren't the scariest monsters the world has ever seen. That they're just beasts to be culled. Plus my sister Yang is also wanting to become a huntress, so I can't exactly leave her alone." It was an honest answer for the most part, redacting parts of sacrificing those grimm to appease my Lord Jashin, yes, but something about Ozpin was making me not want to trust the man. Maybe it was a sign from my Lord, though I hoped not. If my Lord was warning me of one of the most influential men in the world, I could only worry about what Ozpin had done for my Lord to warn me of him.
Ozpin hummed, watching me for a few brief moments. Sipping his coffee in those few moments before he seemed to come to an answer about something. His gaze narrowed behind his glasses, a pair that confused me honestly. Given that they seemed too small to be anything more than a fashion statement.
"I see. Well Ms Rose. Given that you knew Glynda here on sight, I assume you know who I am. So, I have an offer for you. One that I think you'll enjoy. I'm offering you the chance to go through the initiation at Beacon, two years early. If you pass, you may join Beacon as a student, no strings attached, no favors owed.. If you fail, then I suppose I'll just see you in two more years. What do you say?"
My eyes were wide at this point, I was being given a chance to skip two entire years at Signal, and immediately try my hand at Beacon? Even joining Yang, so they'd be in the same year! How could I say no to th-, only to wince. A slight pain shot through my skull, one that cleared my excitement to remind me of that uneasy feeling. A reminder that Lord Jashin didn't trust Ozpin. That I should be careful with this decision. It did curb my excitement, but it didn't change the answer. This was a chance, a once in a lifetime chance. One I couldn't just skip out on. Nodding my head. "I would love this opportunity, almost more than anything. I hope you plan on seeing me more often then, because I'm not failing the initiation."
My words were strong, full of conviction and just a hint of arrogance. Yet, it seemed to be the thing that ended the conversation. As Ozpin handed me an envelope, one that held an official invitation to Beacon before sending me on my way.
The room permeated in silence for a few fleeting moments, before Goodwitch was the one to break it. "You didn't ask her who this Lord Jashin was. And what she meant by sacrificing Torchwick to him."
"I'm aware, but you saw how she was giving us half truths and closing down near the end, I doubted I would get a straight answer out of her now. Give it time, and if she causes an incident because of it, then we will deal with it the best we can." Ozpin took a final sip of his coffee as he settled it down on the table. His frown, no longer hidden by the mug. His eyes glued to the video before him, one that was no longer muted allowing for the audio of my words to play. The video stops on a frame of the necklace, and the symbol of Jashin attached to it. Ozpin's eyes narrowed in thought and concern.
(A.N. Hello! Its been a long while since I've actually made a story on this site, so I hope you all treat me well. However, in that long while, I haven't written nearly as much as I did when I was younger. So my skills will be a bit rusty, so I'd appreciate any criticisms that y'all may have. And I'll try my best to get better as I go! Also, if anyone has any suggestions for pairings, go ahead give them! Because frankly, I have no clue atm)