A/N: EDIT: Cheeky trolls in the comments again. To which I say: Have a nice day~!
Hope you enjoy the long chapter; I put a of lot work into it.
Unfortunately, I had to split this into halves due to said length. Sorry about that.
That said, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story for the time being. If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. 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 not joking.
Now lets move onto your questions:
Q: Are you incorporating music into your chapters now?
A: More or less. Depends on my mood. Anyone have good tracks to recommend? I'm not terribly picky.
Q: Tell us the pairing!
A: Already told you, the pairing depends on YOU, the readers. That's why I've not listed it in the summary.
That said, I'm looking forward to the results. Might set up an official poll if folks wan tit. Though by sheer reviews, Weiss and Pyrrha appear to be tied at the moment, with Ruby as a close third.
Q: How powerful is Jaune, really?
A: See for yourself. He may be a bit dens -and that won't last long~!- but at the end of the day he's Naruto's son. Unlike his canon counterpart he's been put through the wringer. And here's the kicker.
He only considers himself weak because most of his sisters are stronger than him.
What he doesn't realize just how high a bar that is.
Our boy is stronger than he knows.
Q: So Jaune's weapon is basically the remnant equivalent of a lightsaber, yeh?
A: A hybrid of dust and chakra-based, but in essence, yes. If it helps, think of Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber, but blue. Its still has its fair share of surprises...and another form.
Q: MORE FLUFF! MORE SHENANIGANS! WE DEMAND IT!
A: Patience, patience, you'll have it.
Alright them, I think I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Now off we go.
I think...we'll go with "Just" for the titles from here on out. Feels right at this point.
"Remember, Jaune. You're stronger than you know. So exercise a bit of restraint. Its all about balance, you see.
Too much, and people will think you're a pushover. Too little and they'll be afraid of you."
"Was that how it was for you, dad? Before you met mom?"
"Nope. Not even close. When I was a boy, I was the village laughingstock. An outcast and a pariah, weak as can be. Every bit of strength you see now? That came from training. Years and years and YEARS of it. I cut my teeth in battles and wars you can't even begin to imagine. Because I had things to protect. That's where true strength comes from, y'see.
Find something to fight for, son. Or better yet, someone."
~Father and Son.
Just a Little Understanding
Beacon was a hot mess.
Make no mistake, Jaune had absolutely no problems with his team; really, they were great! Pyrrha was the sweetest girl he'd ever met -and he was sure Mom would have a thing or two to say about her!- Nora had stamina to rival his own and Ren was...well, Ren. Absolute definition of emotional zen, that one. Nothing seemed to bother him. Any teething problems they might've suffered had yet to emerge; if anything, the trio seemed happy to defer to him. Their trust was humbling and he'd sworn not to let them down.
Unfortunately things began to snowball from there.
For while Team JNPR was nothing short of grand, their classes were...not.
From what he'd seen thus far their teachers ranged from the inane to the outright insane. First came history with Professor Oobleck, a wild chatterbox of a man who talked far too fast and drank entirely too much coffee. Next was Miss Goodwitch, a terrifying woman whom Jaune swore could've passed for one of his sisters -and looked like she had a temper to boot!- but was terrifying all the same. At least he assumed she was. He'd only seen her briefly at initiation and not had class with her yet. She didn't seem like the sort to take any nonsense lying down.
But then came the true horror.
For you see, now they had Professor Port, a rather stout fellow whose sole talent seemed to be telling stories.
Wild, convoluted fables that didn't make a lick of sense.
He was still talking now!
Just droning on and on and on about Grimm and cabbage, something about a shoe and a bucket. Why was there a bucket? What purpose did the bucket serve? With each passing moment, Jaune felt his brain fizzle out in his head. He'd given up trying to understand him long ago. Now? He was just trying to endure. Surely Goodwitch couldn't be this bad. Anything was better than this mind-numbing horror.
A cursory glance at his team confirmed they were suffering the same fate as he.
Nora had surrendered to the sweet embrace of sleep ages ago. How she'd managed to do so with her eyes open, he'd never know. Ren was staring into space with a vacant expression, hands gone slack on the table. Even Pyrrha's signature smile had become decidedly strained as she struggled to make sense of ceaseless diatribe pouring from Port's mouth.
In short? Utter torture.
On the level below them, Team RWBY wasn't faring much better; Ruby looked to sketching a crude caricature of Port while Weiss seethed at her. Blake's head lay buried in a book. Yang's right eye had begun to twitch of its own accord, promising a short and sharp burst of violence if someone didn't extricate her from this class soon.
Jaune buried his head in his hands and prayed for an end to his suffering. "Uncle Kurama? You there?"
"Hrrm? Whuzzat?" The fox blinked away in the back of his head. "Need something?"
...could you knock me out? Please? This is torture!"
"Is that old fool still prattling on?"
'Yes...!' Jaune's forehead kissed his desk with a muffled groan. 'He won't stop...!
"Didn't notice." muffled laughter greeted him. "I fell asleep an hour ago. Honestly, I thought watching over you would be more...entertaining."
'Traitor!'
"And then," Port was still blathering on, "I beat the Beowolf to death! With a head of cabbage!"
How did you kill a Grimm with a cabbage?!
"Eh, I've seen stranger." His erstwhile ally snorted. "Remind me to tell you about the time your Mother broke an Ursa's neck with her bare hands...
"Really? That sounds pretty commonplace for our family."
...while she was pregnant with you."
Despite his own inner irritation, Jaune found himself smiling. See, now that was a story he'd actually like to hear. Uncle Kurama's stories were the best, outranked only by Dad's. Mom took a close second, if only because her tales involved more...ahem...intimate bits than he'd like to hear. Just thinking of it left him flustered. Urk. Was it warm in here or was it just him...?
Pyrrha's elbow nudged him under the table. Jaune turned bleary blue eyes on her, praying for salvation.
"Only a few more minutes, now." she granted him a small smile. "Stay strong."
He failed to match it. "I'm trying..."
To think, he'd come to Beacon bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! Yet the longer Port droned on, the more he wondered if leaving hadn't been a terrible mistake. Was the man's voice a Semblance? It had to be. How else could you weaponize boredom?! Even dad would be hard-pressed to deal with such a foe!
A commotion to the right drew his attention; he turned in time to catch Weiss hiss something at Ruby; whatever it was had the younger girl quailing.
His temper, already fraying, sparked. 'Why are they still fighting? Teammates should get along...
"Softie."
Maybe so, but if he had to hear one more word from Port, his head was going to explode!
And then Port went and pushed him over the edge.
"A true huntsman must be honorable!" the mustachioed man boomed out suddenly, startling him. "A true huntsman must be dependable!"
Jaune's head snapped toward the man in question. For some reason, it felt like those words were directed at him. He couldn't say why, only that Port's proclamation stabbed at him. Perhaps that was his own guilt gnawing at him. There had been no honor in the way he'd slipped out that night. His Scroll vibrated again in his pocket and his hand stabbed down to silence it. Would a dependable person do that? He knew the answer; it burned in his throat like a living flame. His shoulders hunched inward as he grit his teeth.
And still, Port prattled on. "A true huntsman must be strategic, well-educated and wise...
Each word was a physical blow to Jaune's spirit now, shaking him to his core. Strategy? What strategy? Go to Beacon. Become a huntsman. That was his strategy. He had next to no education to speak of beyond what he had been taught, and he'd used that to fake his way into Beacon. Wisdom? What wisdom? He was good at smashing things. That was it!
Pyrrha saw it and frowned. "Jaune? Are you alright...?"
He refused to meet her gaze, afraid of what she might find there. "I'm fine."
"No." Kurama sounded strangely smug. "You're not. Like father like son, it seems."
'Hey! I thought you were on my side!'
"I am. And what are you going to do? Are you going to sit there and take it? Or will you prove yourself?"
He knew he was lacking. He knew he had no right to be here. He knew that. All of it. every bit of it. And yet despite all that he wanted to try. He wanted to prove that he could be worthy of those things; that he could step out from his father's shadow -and that of his sisters!- to make something himself in the wider world. He wasn't much now, but he would become someone.
"Now," Port preened, "Who among you believe themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?" There was a silence. "No one? I understand we have some transfers from Mistral among us today." he thumbed his chin as he looked at the rows above them. "Perhaps one of them would care to volunteer-
Jaune's fist punched into the air at speed, creating an audible shockwave cut him short and left half the class jolting in their seats.
"I'll do it, sir!"
"I do, sir!" a voice echoed him.
Wait, what now? Who in blazes said that?!
He whirled, alarmed to find Weiss had raised her palm as well. A murmur passed through the class and she whirled in her seat to face him. She looked just as shocked to see that he'd volunteered himself. The feeling was mutual! Ice blue orbs locked onto sapphire, then higher, fixing upon his hand. Her lips parted, mouthing three words.
"Drop. Your. Hand."
Not a chance! Jaune squared his shoulders and kept his arm in the air, refusing to relent. She didn't understand what this meant to him. Port had all but challenged him. Even if those words had been directed at him, they had pricked his conscience all the same. He had to do this. He needed to do this. He must do this.
Weiss slammed her free hand against the desk. "Drop it, you oaf! I was first!"
A pearl of defiance coalesced in his chest. "I'm sorry. I can't do that."
Sparks flew between them.
Kurama sniffed proudly. "Ah, young love. Makes an old fox feel proud...
'What about this is love?!'
Weiss burst to her feet. "Lower your arm, or so help me, you will RUE-
"Oho!" Port's booming laugh cut her whatever she might have said. "I'm afraid young Arc beat you to it, miss Schnee. You were a hair too slow." the Schnee in question balked, but his decision was made. "Now, then!" he turned to face him, mustache aquiver with delight. "Jaune, was it?" he swept an arm forth. "By all means, come test your might!"
Weiss subsided with a scowl.
Jaune recoiled. "You want me to fight you?!"
Wasn't that a little too much to ask for on the first day?!
"Not at all!" there was a shadow to Port's smile now, one that hadn't been there before. "After all! A strapping young lad such as you wouldn't stand a chance against an experienced huntsman like myself." He thumbed his chin and tilted his head just so, eyes creaking open beneath his bushy brow. "..Or would you?"
It was like flipping a switch.
For a moment, just a moment, the foolish facade fell and Jaune glimpsed something beneath. Cold black eyes gazed back at him, hard as steel, yet still that smile persisted. Jaune wasn't sure he liked what he saw in those depths. It reminded him of Dad, and not in a good way. There was just something about those eyes...
"I take back what I said earlier." Kurama drawled. "That old coot's more than he appears. Don't let your guard down."
"Now, then!" Porta clapped his hands once and the mask slipped back into place. "Don't just stand there! Step forward and face your opponent!"
Pyrrha patted his arm, causing him to half-walk/half-stumble down the steps. "Fight well!"
"Huwah?" Nora snapped awake, head on a swivel. "Did somebody say fight?!"
"Nora, no." Ren tugged her back down. "Jaune's fighting. Not you."
"Aw, boo." She scowled, but only for a moment. "Kick some ass, Jaunie!"
Pride burst to life in Jaune's chest, quelling the brief flicker of fear he'd felt. It was such a little thing, but it warmed his spirits all the same. He had other reasons to fight now, didn't he? It wasn't all about him. He was a Leader. Time to act like one. He flashed them a nervous smile and scurried down the rest of the way.
Port quirked a brow at him. "Won't you be needing your weapons and armor?"
"Nope." Jaune rolled his shoulders. "I'm good."
The man's brow climbed higher. "You intend to face a Grimm unarmed? With your bare hands?"
"Well, yeah." He'd seen huntsmen beat Grimm with their bare hands all the time on television. "Is that a problem?"
"Jaune...those were movies."
The blond blinked. "And?"
"You know what? Knock yourself out, kid."
"As you wish!" Port clapped him on the back. "Bring out the beast!"
In short order his assistant brought a heavy cage forth and planted it before them. Jaune couldn't help but grimace at the sight of the prison. It was an awful iron-shod thing, bolted together by rivets and heavy metal alike. Jaune didn't need his senses to know what lurked within. Even a blind man could see it, hear it, smell it. There was a Grimm in there alright, although judging by the rattling and the angry, bead red eyes it wouldn't be there for long.
'Alright.' he settled into a loose stance and brought a single hand to bear, fingers clenched into a claw. 'You've killed Grimm before, and you can kill this one. Just be quick about it.'
"Hundred lien says you can't kill it in ten seconds."
His pride rankled. "Cheeky furball-
"Kick some butt, Jaunie!"
He looked back in time to see Nora all but burst from her seat. She slung an arm slung 'round Ren's shoulders as she cheered. Pyrrha met his eyes and nodded once. It was all the encouragement he needed, but yet more came
"Go Jaune!"
He felt a grin steal across his face when Ruby hollered his name. Against his better judgement his head swiveled.
Yang pumped a fist into the air. "Knock em dead, killer!"
Blake waved a tiny flag on sufferance.
Weiss...well, she looked like she wanted to stick him with Myrtenaster, but he was beginning to expect that sort of thing. Thankfully she didn't have it handy at the moment. Really, what was her problem with him? Even to his senses she was a tangled knot of emotions-no, there would be time enough to figure that out later. For now, he had a duel to win.
"Now, then." Port tittered merrily. "Time to see see what you're capable of! Let the match...
His blunderbuss swung up, bringing its bladed edge to bear.
...begin!"
A singular swipe of his ax severed the lock; to which the beast barreled out in a blur of black-on-white.
All the world faded away. There was only hunter and prey.
Instinct seized the reins and he dodged aside, letting it careen harmlessly past. It tried to twist and catch him on its spines as it hurtled by, only to meet empty air as he kicked off its back. The beast crashed into a wall and caught itself on a desk, earning him a brief reprieve.
Only when he landed did he get a good look at his foe.
Four red eyes, curved tusks, and wickedly sharp teeth. A boarbatusk? And a juvenile one that that! Any lingering concern or fear he might have felt burned away, like ashen cinders on the wind. Was this it? He'd thought Port's test might be dangerous, even lethal, but this? He'd seen and slain bigger in the forests of Ansel. The youngest of his sisters could kill this creature with both arms tied behind her back. For him?
"Are you cracked?!" Weiss shouted at him, nearly shattering his concentration. "You can't defeat that thing without a weapon, you dunce! You'll die!"
A muscle jumped in Jaune's jaw. Not good enough. Not strong enough. Who decided that?
...Kurama."
"What now? You don't need my help for this."
No, he wouldn't accept it if he offered. "It's normal to win, right?
A weighed paused passed between them. Then He felt the old kitsune grin. "Undoubtedly."
Well, alright then. That simplified things, didn't it?"
Jaune closed his eyes as the Boarbatusk righted itself and rushed him. He stood perfectly still before its charge. Blue eyes flickered beneath his eyelids, shimmering a faint orange as he drew energy inward. Sage Chakra coursed through his veins and they snapped open again. Gasps arose from the audience. he knew to an observer his eyes were now a molten shade of gold. Maybe it was his mood, but he just couldn't help himself. All the world bled away. Just this once, he didn't want to be average. He wanted to win.
For a moment, just a moment, he tried.
"Remember, son." Dad's words came back to him. "Sage Mode is one thing, but this technique is like the Rasenshruiken; you can never use it on a normal person. You'll kill them." he caught the ghost of his father's grin. "Of course, Grimm are fair play...
A true warrior strikes only when needed...and only once.
Jaune exhaled sharply and planted his right foot. The left stomped down, cratering the ground with ease. The boarbatusk crashed into that rigid limb and recoiled. It physically bounced off his aura. Unable to move him; it hesitated and shuffled back, pawing at the ground as it tried to understand the reason for this the sudden rebuttal.
That hesitation cost the creature its life.
His right hand burst forward then upward, seeking the beast's skull with lethal force. Chakra and aura burned through his body in a beautiful blend of death. There was no second strike; for none was needed. Bone and darkness shattered beneath Jaune's fist. A pained squeal greeted his ears as his prey careened backward, hurtled past Port and struck the wall not an inch from the man's face and drilled through it, leaving a mighty tear in the plaster. The Professor didn't bat an eyelash at it all; even when the decaying remains slid down the wall and became so much mist.
Yang whistled somewhere behind him. "Hot damn. Goldilocks got moves."
Jaune whirled without thinking, his body responding to her voice.
Golden eyes met half-lidded lilac. Her grin looked...hungry.
"Uh-oh."
"Bravo!" Port broke the spell with did a hearty slap on the back. "Bravo! It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true huntsman in training. Wherever did you learn such an impressive move?"
Jaune's throat closed. Deny! Deflect! "Oh, you know, here and there...
"No need to be shy! Was it a semblance of some sort?"
He felt the eyes of the class upon him, weighing him down like a physical force.
...you might say that."
The bell rang at that very moment, sparing him an ignoble fate.
"Well! I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today. I suppose we can finish this conversation another time." he stroked his mustache with a grimace. "Be sure to cover the assigned readings; and remember!" That great fuzzy caterpillar of a mustache twitched once, "Stay vigilant. Class dismissed! Off to lunch you go!"
Jaune exhaled and let go of the chakra he'd accumulated, leaving his eyes to shimmer back into their true blue.
As he did, Weiss caught his eye. What Jaune found there baffled him even ore. Because you see, her face had gone blank. Almost eerily so. Wintry eyes fluttered back at him in a slow blink. Once. Twice. Thrice. A curious expression settled over her pale features. Not anger. Not scorn, but...confusion. Weiss looked at him like he'd grown another head. Well, it was better than scowling.
He raised his hand. "Hey, so are we good-
She tossed her head to one side and stormed out in a huff. Ruby raced out after her.
Right, that settled it. Girls made no sense. "Sheesh, what's with them...
Someone slipped by, distracting him before he could follow. Her shoulder checked his as she swept past and reflexively, he inhaled.
She smelled of ash and fire.
"Impressive." Her voice was a low murmur as she slipped, for his ears alone. "Most impressive. I wonder what else you're capable of?"
Jaune balked. "Who're you?"
"All in due time." Her hand ghosted across his chest, snaked upward, and caught him by the chin. "I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Then she was gone, swept up in the teeming mass of students. He had time enough to glimpse dark ebony hair, golden eyes, and full lips curled in a sinful smile. Her scent lingered. He shivered a little, and not in a good way. His skin felt odd odd where she'd touched him; not quite a burn, just uncomfortably warm. Strange girl...
"I wouldn't trust that one. She smells of fire."
Everyone descended upon him before he could hope to heed that warning.
Nora hit him first, crashing onto his back like a lemur; nearly driving him into a wall.
"That! Was! Awesome!" she all but smashed into his side, grinning from ear to ear as a child might when they found a new toy. "You were all zap, pow, bang! And then the Grimm just went BAM!"
Ren pried the energetic girl off him. "I believe you impressed her."
"Duh!" Nora flailed her way free. "That's what I said! Who was that girl, by the way?"
Jaune stole a glance back to the exit. "No idea...
"Now, now," Pyrrha proved his salvation and tugged him away before Nora could mob him again. "Lets give our leader some space. You're smothering him."
A fresh surge of heat suffused Jaune's cheeks, and not at all from pride. He'd definitely overdone it with that display. He understood that now. There could be no denying his deed, nor could he hope to hide it after that display. Thankfully, everyone seemed to have written it off as a Semblance for now. Thank the log for small blessings. So long as he didn't do anything truly reckless -or use any of the truly dangerous jutsu he'd been blessed with- he might be able to pass it off as just that.
"This from the boy who can't lie to save his life...
Nonsense!
"I'm nothing special." he muttered halfheartedly. "Really, I'm not...
Pyrrha patted his arm, strangely sympathetic to his light. "Just a normal guy, right?"
"Exactly! As expected of my partner!" Jaune rounded on her and clasped both her hands within his. "I knew you'd understand!"
That was precisely it. Yes! She understood! Normality! It was so nice to have a partner who knew what he was aiming for! Wait. Why was her face red? It really was a nice color. Matched her hair perfectly and everything.
"You alright there, Pyrrha?" he took one hand from hers and touched it to her forehead. "You're looking awfully red."
Pyrrha made happy Pyrrha noises. Credit where it was due, she didn't faint, though she did babble a bit.
"Ah...Jaune...this is a little too sudden...!"
Jaune looked down at their interlocked hands. Back to Pyrrha. Down to their hands again. Realization dawned.
Oh.
Ohhh.
Kurama grinned. "My, my. Hand-holding already? Whatever will your mother say?"
Reverse course! Jaune jerked back with a start, all but ripping his hand from Pyrrha's. "I'm sorry!"
Yang caught his other arm before he could escape.
"Pretty sure that's her line, goldilocks. So!" the blond brawler slung an arm around his shoulders, further entrapping him. "I'm thinkin' you deserve a new nickname after that stunt in class. How's one-punch man sound?"
Urk! Jaune wheezed a little as he died on the inside. "Pretty sure that one's already been taken...and copyrighted...
"Nonsense." Pyrrha tugged him the other way. "Jaune is Jaune, he doesn't need a nickname like that."
"If you'll excuse me." Blake walked by with a sigh, wise enough to stay out of it. "Lunch awaits."
So began Jaune's first day of Beacon. His troubles...well. Those had only just begun.
Only a few hours in and already his head was already spinning.
'Dad, girls are scary...and confusing...help!'
(.0.0.0.)
"Achoo!"
Naruto heaved a hearty sneeze.
Juniper offered him a tissue. "Here, dear."
"Thanks." he accepted it with a smile, idly wondering to himself.
Was someone talking about him? Surely not. It had only been a day. An entire day, and still not a peep from Ironwood. Two days remained. Surely he wasn't trying to call his bluff. He had to know better. Then again, he wasn't a father. He didn't understand what it meant to have a family, to be responsible for them, to protect them.
And at the end of the day Naruto was a very protective papa.
He recognized it, knew it, and admitted it.
In hindsight, he had every reason to be. His children were special. Powerful. Peerless. If left unchecked, they could cause untold havoc. Likewise, If someone -anyone!- threatened his family, he'd rain fire and brimstone down upon them. These were his babies. They'd always be. But there more important matters to attend to...such as this.
"Mom? Dad?"
Naruto felt fingers of ice run down his spine.
He turned back, knowing what -who!- he would find there.
Saphron beamed back at them in the kitchen, the very picture of light and life.
She'd slunk back home shortly after the attack, and while that was all well and good...she'd not come alone.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet." She nudged someone forward. "I know this is awful timin' and all, but...this is Terra."
Juniper's hands flew to her face. "Oh, my! She's adorable~!"
Naruto grunted.
In short order they found themselves face to face with a tanned young woman. Behind those red glasses of hers, her eyes were a pleasant brown to match her hair, of which she had a single smooth bang. Clad in a dark navy collar shirt with a light-blue cardigan, dark-gray jeans and crimson sneakers, she looked absolutely harmless.
.
..
...
At least she would have been, if her she weren't holding Saphron's hand.
Every fatherly instinct Naruto had bridled as one. He didn't trust this. Terra could be a spy, for all he knew. An enemy infiltrator meant to strike when their guard was down. Yes, that was precisely what she was. Certainly not his own parental paranoia playing up-no, certainly not! He didn't want to get his shotgun. No, no, no. Not at all. He was only concerned for his family.
Speaking of family, best check in on them.
A weather blue eye swept toward the window and found the other girls happily at play.
Well, perhaps "play" was too tame a word. Sable had a certain specialist in a headlock, with Jeanne sat on his back. A bemused Sabrina and Azula looked on as Vaylin scoffed at it all. Poor Marrow. He'd gone and gotten himself dogpiled again, pun intended. Good boy, that one. He'd make a decent babysitter; that or find himself wrapped around their fingers. Probably the latter.
But Saphron was waiting for a reply, and he must attend.
"So!" He felt a brittle smile stretch across his whiskered visage. "Dating my daughter, are you?"
Credit where it was due, Terra warbled only a little. She didn't faint, either. Points for that. "Y-Yessir. If that's alright with you...?"
"How nice of you to ask my permission. " The blond stroked his chin as a thought occurred to him. "Now that you mention it, you said you're from Argus. Do you work for Atlas?"
Juniper swatted his arm. "Naruto!"
"What?" he quirked a bow. "You can't blame me for asking. "The question stands."
"In a sense...?" Terra fidgeted a little beneath his stoic stare. "Really, I'm just an engineer...
Oho?
"Well, that's just fascinating." his smile was all teeth. "Tell me all about it. Or I could always have Vaylin ask you-
"Daddy, no!" Sapphron bulled between them before he could finish. "We talked about this! No interrogations! No scaring her off!"
"She'll be gentle-OW!" he hissed when Juniper pinched his arm. "Alright, alright. I'll just be over here, getting some water."
Juniper slid into a seat and beckoned them to do the same.
"I'm sorry about my husband." yet for all that, her smile had edge of his own. "Tell me us how you met one another. Don't spare any juicy details! How many grandchildren do you intend to give us?"
Naruto inhaled sharply, all but choking on his drink.
Terra squeaked and hid behind Saphron.
Their daughter turned scarlet.
"Isn't a bit soon for that...?"
"You're right, wherever are my manners?" Juniper touched a hand to one cheek. With the other, she whipped out her Scroll. "I simply must tell your brother about this! He'll be so proud!"
Saphron's blush went nuclear. "Mother, no! Not Jaune!"
"Mommy, yes!" Too late, she was already punching in numbers. "I'm sure he'll pick up this time.
A minute passed as her Scroll rang in silence. Followed by two. Three, now. Four. And five.
Juniper's smile became decidedly strained.
Naruto sighed. "Fool of a boy...
(.0.0.0.)
Jaune considered himself a good judge of character.
Well, relatively speaking. He had a good sense of self preservation. Surely that counted for something. When one had as many sisters as he, a strong survival instinct was necessary. In that same vein he hard learned when to stand his ground and when to run like hell. He knew he wasn't the strongest, the fastest, or even the sharpest, but at the end of the day he knew enough to get by.
And right now?
Flee! Fly you fool! Run awaaaay!
Yes, right now his instincts were telling him to fling his scroll out his bedroom window and run for the hills. His Scroll hadn't stopped vibrating for the last five minutes. Surely the Emerald Forest was safer than this. Hell, anywhere on Remnant was better than his dorm right now!
Why didn't he block Mom's number?!
His sisters? Blocked. Well, except for Saphron.
Dad? Definitely blocked. He was scary when he got angry.
But for some unfathomable reason he hadn't quite gotten around to blocking Juniper Arc. As such she'd continued to call. And call. And call again. Each time he'd hung up on her, unable to find the words to say. Now? He didn't think she was going to stop this time. Not until he picked it up. He could sense a palpable aura of menace exuding from the scroll, even from here.
Pyrrha looked up from her book. "Are you going to answer that?"
"If you try and blame me, I will END you."
Against his better judgement, Jaune set the Scroll to his ear.
"Hey, mom...
There was a silence.
"Mom?" he frowned. "You there?"
Also against his better judgement, he pulled his Scroll away to see what was wrong.
Too late, he realized it wasn't an audio call at all, but rather a video one. His mother glared back at him, bright eyes narrow and intent.
"Jaune Arc." her voice promised doom. "You had better hope your father finds you first. Because if I do, I will take you over my knee and tan your HIDE until-
"What's going on?" Pyrrha leaned over his shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
"Hello, there~!" Mom changed gears so quickly it left his head spinning. "And who might you be?" just like that, her manner was smooth as cream, her snarl nowhere to be seen. "You seem like a nice girl." her bright eyes found Nora next -who'd likewise crept closer to investigate- and narrowed upon her with all the intensity of a hawk. "I don't suppose either of you are dating my son by any chance?"
Pyrrha flushed.
Nora coughed behind her.
Jaune turned rose red. "MOM!"
(.0.0.0.)
Juniper was silent for a long moment as she listened to their son's rant.
All the while, she refused to let Naruto anywhere near her scroll. Really, what did she think he was going to do? Leap through it? He wasn't that powerful. At least she let him listen while he stayed out of sight. The stilted discussion that followed proved...enlightening indeed. Only a day in and his boy had made fast friends.
Was it wrong that he felt proud of him? Just a little?
Now if only he knew which Academy he'd squirreled away to. It would make things...easier.
"It was so nice talking to you, sweetie." finally, Juniper leaned away from the screen and blew a kiss his way. "But I'm afraid its time for me to go. Don't be a stranger!"
A muffled response came through, laced with concern.
"Oh no, you're still in trouble, mister." her smile was all teeth. "But I'll leave that to your father."
...meep."
Naruto was too much of a prankster to let that slide. Quick as can be, he bulled over Juniper's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'll see you soon, son."
Jaune's face went ashen and the call ended with an audible click.
Only then did Juniper pivoted in her chair, deigning to show Naruto the picture she'd received.
It was a rather nice one, all things considered. His son was crammed in between a boy and two girl, each of whom were quite attractive in their own right. But it was the smile that held him. Jaune's grin didn't look faked or forced; rather, he actually appeared...happy. And he didn't miss the way that redhead pressed herself into his side.
He shot to his feet. "Jaune's got himself a girlfriend?!"
"He might." Juniper cooed. "They seem awfully close. And you're grinning, dear.
He looked away with a harrumph. "Am not! I'm still going tan his hide."
...are you going to drag him back?"
Naruto huffed. "Haven't decided that yet."
Saphron perked up in her seat. "So am I off the hook or...?"
"Absolutely not." Juniper beamed. "You're grounded for a month, young lady."
She drooped, looking like a child with her hand caught in the proverbial cookie jar. "Awww...
"Also!" Naruto leaned across the table and steeped her fingers. "Terra stays."
Terra frowned. "Wait, that's not a punishment-
Someone knocked on the kitchen door, cutting her short before the girl could dig herself a hole.
Marrow stumbled in, looking positively harassed. It certainly didn't help that Jeanne and Azula were all but clinging to him.
"Sir," he fumbled for a salute, "There's a visitor here for you."
"Girls leave the poor doggo be." Naruto shooed them off. "What's the situation? I thought you were keeping watch."
"I was." the ex-specialist stepped aside, revealing their guest int he yard. "But he was rather insistent...
Naruto slipped outside.
He found himself facing a dark-skinned man sat in a rather large four-legged chair. Blue eyes lit up and he moved. They didn't even try to dodge, not that he could. He knew better by now. Nothing could outrun him if he didn't want it to. At the last second, however, the blond remembered just how fragile this one could be and held back.
"Pietro, you old dog!" he surged forward, pulling him into a firm embrace. "How have you been?"
"Quite well, thank you." the older man still grunted a bit in his grasp. "You haven't aged a day. Careful! I'm not as sturdy as I used to be."
Naruto clapped him on the shoulder once and released him. "What brings you all the way out here?"
"Sadly, I'm a bit of a messenger this time around." There was a thick manila folder tucked under his arm. "I was asked to deliver this to you courtesy of our mutual...friend."
Naruto accepted it with a frown.
Friend? Did he mean Ironwood? He'd have to leaf through this later. If it had the names he sought, a little visit would be well worth it. Unless. A thought occurred to him. Pietro was one of three people who knew what -who!- he truly was. The first was Juniper, and the second, long dead. Atlesian forces had attacked them. Surely not. And yet the thought persisted.
"Speaking of friends," His eyes narrowed. "Pietro...you didn't betray me by any chance, did you?"
"Me?!" The tan man turned positively pallid. "No! Never! I'd sooner lop off my own arm!"
Naruto considered him for a long moment. Not a lie. Good.
In short order, he had a pair of drinks and a folding table set for them outside.
"I'm grateful, of course." Pietro accepted his and babbled on, hastening to explain himself. "The things you've taught me, the innovations in the art of chakra, no, the very concept of a soul...I wouldn't be anywhere without you." the scientist wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "Penny wouldn't exist without you. Your secret is safe with me. I'll not betray your trust." he fidgeted a bit under his stare. "How are the prototypes I gave you? Those sabers were quite difficult to make...
"Jaune and Vaylin are using them well, thank you. Forget I said anything, Pietro." Naruto raised a bottle in a toast. "Give your girl my regards when you see her again."
"Yes, yes," his student fidgeted and clinked it against his own. "There's just...a bit of a problem."
Naruto frowned. "And that is?"
...from what little I've told her, she thinks you're her Grandfather." he wilted a little beneath his glare. "She wants to meet you." Thick fingers tented anxiously as he began to sweat again. "Very badly. I've stalled her for some time now, but...
"Pietro, no." Naruto's frown became a scowl. "That's an awful idea. I can't come to Atlas and meet her; its too hot right now. It'll never work."
"About that...
There was a silence.
"Wait." His sixth sense tingled. Blue eyes narrowed to thin, azure slits. "She's right behind me, isn't she?"
Something small and thin latched onto his back like a lemur. "Salutations, Grandfather!"
Juniper slammed around the corner. "Grandbabies?! Come again?!"
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose
"You had one job, Pietro...
A/N: PENNY ARRIVES!
Please read this note. It has some crucial info regarding certain tings.
I hate having to trim certain scenes for a chapter, but i had to here; otherwise this one would've felt too bloated.
That said, Velvet makes her debut next chapter, along with a certain fight you've all been clamoring for...
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule.
If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. 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.
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews.
POTENTIAL ONES!
Tell me what you want to see~!
(Previews)
"Hands off the bunny!"
"Alright. I warned you."
Weiss barely had time to raise Myrtenaster.
Then Jaune was on her, and she found herself fighting a storm of blue light.
Yang whistled. "How many push-ups does that make now? One hundred? Two?"
"Three." Pyrrha chimed. She didn't look away from Jaune.
...waitaminute, why Ruby's sitting on his back?"
"Eh. Something about weight training."
Sneaky little sister!
"Hey, hotshot." Yang planted a fist on her hip. "You. Me. Spar. Whaddya say?"
Jaune grimaced. "I don't think that's a good idea...
She didn't see Pyrrha's scowl at her back.
Glynda frowned. "There's something about that boy...something familiar...almost as if he's...
"Nonsense, my dear! You must be imaging things."
"Yes," she relented after a moment, "...I suppose you're right. Its been a long day, and I'm tired. Good night, Peter."
"Give James my regards!"
...
"Nothing personal, girl." he muttered to himself once she was gone. "I'm afraid I can't let you spill the beans just yet. After all, you'd spoil all the fun...
Port whistled a merry little tune as he waltzed off.
All in a day's work.
"You lost?"
The mute girl tilted her head and placed one finger in her mouth.
She tilted her head slowly, regarding him as one might a curious jewel.
"DANGER!"
'What? She looks harmless!'
"Your father never did teach you to look underneath the underneath...
"I can't figure this out!"
Enough. Blake took pity on him.
"Its simple." her arm crossed his as she scribbled out the rest of the formula. "See? You just solve for X here. Then the route follows through."
"Oh, that's right." Jaune grinned. "You know, you're a pretty nice person, Blake."
"R-Right." she gulped. "Nice...
Paraonia reared its ugly head. Was he onto her?!
She stepped back. Another Jaune blocked her path. Blake balked. "What is this?!"
"I'm sorry!" Each Jaune flailed their arms, looking quite chagrined . "I panicked! Please don't tell anyone!"
...just what are you?"
Weiss shook her head. No! Nay! Never! Treacherous thoughts! She was a Schnee! She would not fall to such base emotions!
She looked left. Looked right. Left again.
Well, if no one was watching...
"You lot never learn, do you?"
Naruto turned his head, uncaring of the knuckles currently crushing against his right cheek.
"That one was free," he smiled, thumbing a thin line of blood away from the corner of his mouth. "Now, I'm going to show you what true power really is."
Blue eyes shimmered red. His body burned gold as he inhaled sharply, lungs swelling with chakra.
Saphron saw it and winced. "Mighta wanna cover your ears, Terra...
Jaune Arc considered himself a good person.
He knew what was right. He knew what was wrong. Moreover, he wasn't afraid to put in a bit of hard work to achieve his goals.
Practice Makes Perfect, after all. And he had put more practice in than any one of sisters.
He had no idea just how much that mindset would change the world.
R&R~!
