A/N: EDIT: Added a scene from the next chapter since folks were so convinced, I was nerfing Naruto.
Hopefully that clears up any discrepancies.
Half of next chapter is already written, but if I delayed any longer, this chapter wouldn't be posted today, and I can't bear the thought of another delay.
not a lot of feedback for this chapter it seems... I know it's the holiday and all, but there goes my inspiration...T_T
Shorter chapter this time around, working the third shift/graveyard shift at both jobs and it is RUINING ME. Every review helps at this point; feedback keeps me sane.
I feel so dead inside, exhausted, with so little time to write, think, or breathe. Sleep, eat, work, rinse and repeat.
Worse, things won't go back to normal until January.
*cries* sorry for complaining, I'm a mess.
That said, would you prefer weekly updates to remain? Do let me know what you think in your reviews! One open slot remains!
As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know in the the comments~!
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode from the old days.
I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine. Do tell me what you think! It matters!
Enjoy the chapter~! Away we go~!
"Some things just run in the family."
~?
Just a Little Punch
The first punch didn't kill Hazel.
Jaune suspected that was more testament to Dad's restraint than any amount of true endurance on the rogue huntsman's part. He'd once seen Naruto atomize boulders with but a single punch; aura might be strong, but it wasn't stronger than stone and the Arc family broke that on a regular basis. So yes, while Hazel managed to survive that first punch...
It still didn't save him.
Credit where it was due, his would-be kidnapper never once cried out; not even as he rocketed backwards, knocked over a stool, struck the bench and toppled arse over elbows. He merely grunted, shook his head once to clear his vision, set a hand on his knee, and rose with a grunt.
"It will take more than that to-
Naruto wasn't having it; even as Hazel rose, he fell upon him with wordless wrath, swinging for the fences.
Hazel must've realized it too; because rather than retort further, the dust-fueled giant went pale and tumbled aside, desperately evading Dad's punch. Naruto didn't even seem to care that he missed in the first place; he continued on unabated, smashing a clenched fist through the wall to blow a hole out the other side. Bricks and plaster rained outward, shaking the entire establishment.
The moment his arm was past, Hazel took a swipe at his shoulder in return, to which dad dodged, leaving another gaping tear in his wake.
"Oi!" Marcus Black brandished his ladle like a rapier and shook it furiously at the combatants. "Stop blowing holes in my shop!"
If either heard him they did little to show it. Probably for the best, that, given the old chef's thunderous expression.
Jaune edged forward and reached for Crocear Mors, wanting to help, like any son should-
Naruto flung out a hand and he froze, baffled by his behavior.
Why? Did he think he couldn't handle himself?
His gaze met his.
Watch me, his eyes seemed to say; this is what you'll be fighting in a minute.
He'd rather fight mom, thank-you-very-much!
"Leave it, Jaune. He's got this."
Ohhh, now Kurama piped up!
"I mean it. Something's not quite right here...
Naruto pounced on Hazel before he could contemplate it further, pummeling his chest with powerfully precise punches. The glowering giant doubled over as his aura flared, flickered, faded now...but against all odds, it didn't break. If anything, it seemed to hold steady, recover even, heedless of the pounding it took.
He'd never met anyone whose aura recharged quite so fast as this.
On and on it went, the two of them trading blows like brawlers, yet somehow, despite Hazel being unable to land a decisive punch the man just...wouldn't...go down!
Naruto made an annoyed noise and punched hazel in the throat, causing the man to choke.
Had he a proper blade to hand, the battle would've ended then and there. Jaune had learned well the Eight Points of Death from his father, who in turn claimed to have once learned them from a blade-wielding demon of the mists. Larynx, Spine, Lungs, Liver, Jugular, Subclavian artery, Kidneys, and of course, the Heart. Striking at one of these given areas with a bladed instrument guaranteed a painful -and sometimes swift- demise without fail. Even striking with a chakra-enhanced fist, while not entirely lethal, would cripple you from the sheer pain of it all.
And yet for all that, Hazel didn't fall.
He must have at least three broken ribs and a cracked collarbone by now; probably a punctured lung judging by the way he was wheezing. The pain was probably horrific. Yet he fought on, fire and lightning dust flashing from his fists with reckless abandon, laying waste to all around him.
Didn't he feel pain? Unless that was his semblance or something. He wouldn't be surprised if it were.
But wait, if he couldn't feel pain...
.
..
...ohhhh, that was bad.
"Dad!" he raised his voice over the clamor, "I don't think he's feeling any of that!"
Naruto glanced back his way, a blue eye briefly peeking over his shoulder. "I already noticed-
Hazel slugged him in the jaw with brutal dispatch while he was distracted, snapping his head to one side; right until said head snapped back around, grinning ear to ear. Ducking the followup jab, he let Hazen's fist skim across his left cheek, then thrust an open palm forth to crater his chest and send him crashing into the kitchen.
Everything went flying.
Caitlyn yelped and dove for cover.
Jaune went after her and batted aside a flying table before it could crush the poor girl, leaving her to peek up at him between her fingers.
"Thanks...
Marcus howled indignantly somewhere in the background. "My ramen!"
Naruto grimaced, at least having the good grace to look chagrined. "I'm sorry...!"
Jaune laughed and almost preened despite himself at the contrite behavior. Pyrrha would've been proud.
Naruto evidently disagreed with that assessment; because he launched himself over the counter at Hazel and began beating that bruiser bastard like he owed him money. Somehow the giant caught his wrist between one strike and another, for all the good it did him; the Arc patriarch used his arm as leverage to swing himself around and stomp on the giant's boot, mangling the toes within.
An awful crack filled the air. Hazel didn't even flinch.
"Enough," the larger man spat blood as he spoke, but still stood strong. "I cannot feel pain, and you're clearly still recovering from your wounds. You and your son are coming with me."
Naruto leered up at him. "You want my arm? You can have it."
Uh-oh.
Jaune tried to clamp a hand over Caitlyn's eyes to spare her what was to follow, but wasn't quite quick enough; the poor girl shrieked when she saw what came next; twisting his entirely body to the right, Naruto violently tore his captured limb free at the shoulder in a gory shower of blood. Crimson spattered everywhere, sparing neither Hazel nor the floor and ceiling.
With a breathless gasp, Marcus' waitress fainted dead away in Jaune's arms, forcing him to catch the poor girl and lower into one of the few remaining chairs for safety. By the time he looked up, that same red tide found itself swiftly stemmed as another arm rapidly regrew from Naruto's shoulder.
Here at last, Hazel was given pause. "...You've inherited Her regeneration, I see."
Jaune squinted, utterly at a loss. "Her...?"
Naruto scoffed. "Dunno what you're talking about, pal...
"...very well." Hazel considered the arm in his grasp, orange sleeve and all. "Then it seems I have no use for this.
"I disagree." Dad rolled his new arm, shoulder clicking as he locked it into place once more. "Juniper knitted this sweater for me, and you made me ruin it. Do you know what that means?"
...no?"
WHAM!
Hazel's head slammed into the ceiling bounced off, and caught a spinning kick on the way down that left him sprawled face-first into the floor. He hadn't even seen him move; judging by the stupefied expression flashing across his face, the flicker of fear in his eyes, he'd begun to realize just how outmatched hie was. Hazel was well-trained, he'd give him that, but training could only account for so much with a gap like this.
"Don't worry," Dad stalked toward him, crooning as he cracked his knuckles. "I won't kill you, yet. I have questions. So many questions, and you're gonna answer them all.
Jaune felt a rare flicker of pity for Hazel. Dad might be a little slower with his injuries, but the lion's share of his strength was still very much intact
Result?
Hazel went flying.
His body struck the ground, bounced once, caromed off a table and tore through a curtain, just shy of reaching the street. He did not rise again.
"Sorry about the mess, Marcus." Naruto chuckled as he bent down to retrieve Hazel. "I'll pay for it."
Abruptly, the ground became so much black mud underfoot, burying his feet to the ankles.
Naruto balked, more bemused than confused. "What's this, now...?"
Hazel awoke with a snarl, lunged upright, ripped a pair of fresh dust crystals from his belt pouch and stabbed them into dad's unprotected chest just under his ribs. A backhand struck his cheek immediately and hurled him away, but the deed was done. Naruto buckled with a surprised gasp, clutching the dust currently wedged against his torso. Blood dripped between his fingers to pool wetly upon the floor.
Horror dawned. Jaune found himself frozen in it, eyes bulging. "No!"
Twisting his wrist, Naruto forcibly gripped the crystals, only for them to shatter in his grasp, leaving great chunks of them wedged into his body; a body that was even now bleeding through the bandages as raw dust ripped through his body. A rare grimace overtook his face as he doubled over, gripping the jagged gems against his bandaged skin.
"Well played!" Rather than die like any sensible human, his father merely clutched his wounded side and rasped a laugh at Hazel. "How long has your little patron been hiding?"
The battered giant scowled at him, quite at a loss. "I have no idea what you mean. No one is assisting me."
Naruto coughed blood and gripped the crystal, his skin already beginning to glow an ominous red. "The facts say otherwise. Suppose it doesn't matter...
Jaune lurched to his feet, mind whirling
Fire and lightning dust. Injected directly into his torso, granting power yes, but also incredible pain. That had to be wreaking havoc with his healing factor. Why wasn't he healing? He knew dad could take more punishment than that...
.
..
...right?
Or was he throwing the fight? If so, why? Losing didn't seem to grant him any advantages. What was he up to here?!
"Trust in him."
Easy for Kurama to say!
Even as he moved to help him, Hazel took full advantage of his momentary weakness; a rousing roundhouse caught Dad's jaw and sent him sailing outside.
That settled it, Dad was clearly throwing the fight!
Sure enough, rather than give chase, the giant paused.
Rounded on him, now.
Jaune heaved a sigh, realizing his intent. Dad would be up in a minute and this guy thought he could take him? "You really don't want this fight...
"I'm afraid I do."
Hazel lunged forward, hands reaching out to grab and capture him.
...fine. Have it your way."
He gave ground with a smile, swaying back as best he could, not allowing those massive arms to so much as touch him.
Frankly, he knew he was stronger than Hazel, but he wasn't willing to put his own regeneration to the test and risk, losing a limb, let alone regrowing one.
That really hurt, you know!
Ducking a grapple, he briefly considered drawing his sword, then thought better of it; enough damage had already been done to the poor shop, he couldn't bear the thought of adding more.
In his arrogance, however, he let one lightning-dust enhanced punch come too close.
Current arced into him - quite literally.
His muscles clamped down as every single cell in his body lit up; that was all the chance Hazel needed to grab him by the face and force more of the current through his body. Jaune hissed out a breath and made to pry his hand away, but that only gave the current more leverage to roar through him. The pain was indescribable. For a moment, he experienced sheer, burning white.
And in that void, a memory came to him:
"Don't be dumb, big brother. Honestly you're making this so much more difficult than it needs to be. I'm not the only one who can redirect lightning, remember?"
"This from the pyromaniac, Azula?"
Little fists pounded at his chest as his younger sister fumed up at him. "I hope you get struck by lightning!"
Reality snapped back like a rubber band as he sucked in a ragged gasp.
He couldn't absorb lightning like Nora. He just wasn't built that way; couldn't turn it into power the way Team JNPR's ginger grenadier could.
But that didn't mean he couldn't redirect it.
"Alright," he growled, sparks snarling between his teeth. "My turn, now."
He stamped down and swept a hand up, followed by another, grabbing the thunderous current burning in his veins with chakra; channeling it now, forcing it along his desired path.
Namely, by pressing two rigid fingers into Hazel's stomach.
His would-be kidnapper looked down, confused. "What-
Jaune let the bolt fly.
For the first time since the two-way-brawl began, Hazel Rainart lost his stoic disposition and howled in pain. The sound was worse than any Grimm; it was horrible; like a wild animal being torn apart. It grated on Jaune's ears, leaving them ringing as aura shattered and the telltale scent of burn flesh filled the air.
Without warning, Hazel lost his grip on him, the dust within faltering as it was forcibly redirected into his body with tenfold force.
Or rather, through it.
Oh, dear.
Here at last, Jaune finally glimpsed the great gaping hole in Hazel's side as the giant crashed down on bended knee, wheezing for air. The last glimmering gasp of his aura flickered once more, sputtered, and died. He looked up at him not with disbelief as before, but awe now, and something strangely akin to sadness.
"Magic...I knew it." eyes rolling in his head, the giant swayed on his knees. "You really are her descendant."
"Who?!" Angry and exasperated, Jaune seized him by the hair and hoisted his head up into a bruising headbutt, stunning him. "You keep saying her! Who are you talking about?!"
"You truly have no idea, do you? Hazel granted him a bleary grin. "Her name is Salem. And you, boy, are hers."
Jaune's world shattered.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto righted himself with an bemused frown, set his jaw, and chuckled softly.
He wasn't a fan of cheap shots, but taking it had proven useful, just as he intended.
All according to plan, Hazel had sung like a canary not to him, but Jaune. Now, screw his superior hearing, he had a name.
Salem.
And to think, all it took was taking a hit or two.
Definitely worth pretending to be more hurt than he was. Jaune would understand.
That interruption during the fight with the earth jutsu was concerning; it implied worrying things. Still, he would tackle it in good time. For now...
"Alright, I've stalled long enough...
Dusting himself down, the trickster took the dust crystals burning within his body and harnessed them, adding their brief bursts of power to his own.
His eyes burned red as gold sparks began to crackle down the length of his body.
Time for payback...
A/N: And you thought our boy was nerfed!
Who was it that interfered in Naruto's fight, and gave Hazel an opportunity? You'll have to read on and see..
Sorry had to cut this short. We'll pick up here next chapter, and return to Pyrrha and Juniper as well. Half of next chapter is already written, but if I delayed any longer, this chapter wouldn't be posted today, and I can't bear the thought of another delay.
If Hazel's here and moving, where at the others...?
Find out next time, on Practice Makes Perfect!
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As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" rule. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself isn't popular, if folks don't like it...well, I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
No previews this time.
Too many Spoilers.
Must prevent.
Trust...
...fine just a few.
(Preview)
"Who is Salem?"
-
Port cackled merrily
" alls fair in love and war~!
-
Juniper drew her sword.
-
"Funny thing about fire. It so easily rages out of control. Yet if you harness it, master it, dominate it...
Blue flanes flickered in her grasp.
...There is no greater tool."
-
He shook off the blade biting into his back, grunted once, rose to his full, towering height and exhaled slowly. "Don't. Touch. My daughter...
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! See you soon!
~Nz.