Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or RWBY.
A/N: Sorry for using just one ep last and this time... Trying to stretch things out until there's a volume 10 now that Viz has it. Plus there's a bunch of exposition so again sorry for how little is used.
I will be doing date chapters either before or after the training episode(s) the teams get with Ace-Ops, any ideas you want to throw for any of the girls feel free to send them... I don't know about lemons at least with the RWBY girls.
I want it to be realistic for relationships and let them date for a certain time before or for ones where the characters do age, and start at teens, then wait until they're 18.
Remember to vote if you haven't!
Beta: ANUBIS the god king.
Chapter XLIII.
Last Time.
"What is the meaning of this? (Cough!) What are the Ace-Ops even doing down here in Mantle?"
"Ruby Ace-Ops?" Ruby blinks as the man looks at Pietro.
"Doctor, good to see you. Well, we heard a report of an unauthorized ship making an unauthorized landing, followed by an unauthorized use of weapons by unlicensed Huntsmen."
Maria turns and walks away as Pietro speaks. "If we could just talk this out!"
The man tossed the Relic from one hand to the other. "They'll be able to talk this out once they get to Atlas. Let's move out!"
The Ace-Ops split up and left the area. Team RWBY, Team SHNN, Team JNPR, Oscar, and Qrow are forced into the back of a secure van with their wrists bound.
"Hey, you motherfu-!" Naruto was silenced as the doors slammed shut on him and the others.
Now.
Atlas.
Ruby gazes out the window of the police airship as it flies over Mantle, then turns and looks at her friends. Nora chewing at the bolas restraining her wrists, while everyone else sits silently, the only sounds being Nora's growling and the muffled chattering of the guards piloting the ship.
"Where do you think they're taking us?" Ruby asks before Natsu kicks the back door.
"We're innocent!"
"I'm gonna go with jail." Qrow sighs from his spot ignoring the pink-haired teen.
"I still can't believe that fishing pole guy took us out like it was nothing," Jaune said as Naruto leaned forward.
"He's a huntsman, he has more training than we do."
"Not if you used your ninjujitsu!"
"I'm still rusty with that Natsu!"
"Welcome to Atlas. Those were Ironwood's Ace Operatives."
"Hmm? Do you guys have a run-in with the Ace-Ops? Ironwood must really have a bone to pick with you."
Naruto jumped from the guy sitting by the front of the van. "I… Totally forgot you were here."
"They're not that big of a deal." Weiss sighs out.
"Not that big of a deal!? The Ace-Ops are the elite-of-elite military Huntsmen and Ironwood's personal attack dogs."
"So they got you too, huh?" Nora said stopping her chewing.
"Pfft! I wouldn't let myself get caught by them. I'm here because I've been speaking out against Atlas' exploitation of Mantle, and General Ironwood is trying to silence me."
"You threw a brick at her ship!"
One of the pilots said to him.
"It's worth it if it gets people talking about our cause!"
The pilot just sighs in annoyance.
"'Our cause'?" Blake asked raising her eyebrow.
"Yes, the fight for better conditions in Mantle! Lead by the charismatic, talented, lovely Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses!"
The main pilot presses a button, causing the window between the cab and the back of the ship to begin slowly closing. Forest notices this, stands up, and begins frantically shouting to the window so the guards can hear him.
"They were all top Atlas Academy graduates, who could've signed up for the military, but Robyn and the Huntresses chose to stay in Mantle. She's gunning for a seat on the Kingdom's council, and when she gets it, she's gonna put an end to Ironwood's tyranny!"
"Happy… Huntresses?" Oscar asks as Yang leans forward.
"Is that their real name?"
"Don't you think "tyranny's" a little dramatic?" Weiss asks as the man turns.
The man turns around to respond and looks surprised upon realizing who has just spoken. "Easy to say for a Schnee heiress, living comfortably up in Atlas."
"(Sigh.) Not anymore." Weiss replies as the airship finally makes it up to the City of Atlas, and Ruby looks out at the city in awe, while Nora is once again chewing her restraints.
"Whoa, it's gorgeous up here!"
Ruby's comment causes Jaune and Nora to leave their seats and look out the window with her. "Don't let that fool you," Weiss says as the man looks as well.
"This isn't the police station."
"It's… Atlas Academy." Qrow says as the ship docks on a landing pad in front of Atlas Academy and is met by a pair of guards, who open the ship's rear double doors to let Team RWBY, SHNN, JNPR, Oscar, and Qrow exit. Ruby gazes up at the towering academy while more guards line up along the path leading to the building.
"I guess we will be seeing the General. For better or worse."
The group heads up to the school while Forest watches in confusion and curiosity from the airship. "So, what do we do?" Ren asks as Ruby sighs.
The group finds themselves riding a rising elevator inside the academy with their wrists still restrained, accompanied by guards. "I don't know yet. But we should be careful with what we say." Ruby says as one of the guards looks over his shoulder at them.
"We'll follow your lead, Ruby."
Ruby smiles at Blake but then starts to look worried again. The elevator beeps as it arrives at its destination, and the guards escort the group out into a hallway and down a flight of stairs. They arrive in a room just as Ironwood walks through, speaking to someone else.
"I swear if I have to sit through one more council meeting like that…"
He turns toward a small flight of stairs on his way to his office, accompanied by Winter and Penny. The latter notices the group and stops with a gasp. "Yay, you're here!"
Her celebratory greeting catches Ironwood and Winter's attention, causing them to stop and look. Weiss steps out from behind Ruby and approaches them. "Winter."
Winter gasps lightly in surprise, and the sisters' reunion is quickly interrupted by Nora leaning in and holding up her bound wrists, grinning and waving her fingers. "Anyone wanna give us a hand with these?"
Winter takes a moment to collect herself, returning to her usual stern demeanor and addressing the guards. "You have ten seconds to take those off before I start hurting you."
"Huh?"
Finally understanding the situation, the guards frantically begin removing the bolases from everyone's arms, while Ironwood watches with a smile. The bolases fall to the floor, giving off a purple glow and retracting the ropes before emitting a beep noise. "Please, come in," Ironwood said to the group. The group follows Ironwood, Winter, and Penny into Ironwood's office. It is so good to see all of you."
Yang massaging her wrist looks over. "Our reception didn't really convey that."
"(Sigh) I sincerely regret how you were treated by my team," Ironwood says as Qrow rolls his eyes with a small huff. Ironwood walks behind his desk to sit down, and Penny and Winter take positions standing at either side of the desk. "When a rogue airship entered our airspace, it raised some… red flags. We assumed the ship was stolen."
"Stolen? Ruby laughs awkwardly, before taking an apologetic tone. "Okay, yeah, it was stolen."
Ironwood's eyes widen in surprise. He then smiles, and his shoulders move a tiny bit with a silent chuckle. Winter, meanwhile, finds no humor in the situation and begins scolding Weiss. "You stole an Atlas airship?" Weiss watches with a frown as Winter approaches her. "What were you thinking!? You might've been shot down! How unbelievably irresponsible-!"
Weiss surprises and interrupts Winter by hugging her. "I'm sorry I worried you. But we did what we had to do."
"I…" Winter sighs and hugs back, calming down. "I suppose I understand." She then turns her head to glare at Qrow. "But I cannot believe that you allowed this to happen, Qrow."
"You try stopping these kids when they have their mind set on something. Speaking of which…" He Trails off looking at Ironwood. "We have some important information for you that's… confidential."
Winter returns to her position beside Ironwood's desk as Penny moves beside Ironwood. "Oh, is it about the Relics?" She asks as Winter speaks.
"Or perhaps the Winter Maiden?"
"You told them?" Qrow asks in surprise.
Ironwood stands from his desk and retrieves the Relic of Knowledge from a drawer, making it grow to its normal size as he holds it up. "Did you really think you were the only one who got to work on a new plan after Beacon? With Ozpin gone, I needed my own team of people I could trust. So yes, I told them. The Ace-Ops too. Which is why I'm so glad you're here… with this." He says gesturing to the Relic.
"Until now, I believed it was impossible to truly turn the tide against Salem. Oz has pushed her back, has kept victory out of her claws, but she will keep returning stronger and stronger… unless we destroy her." He places the Relic atop his desk, while Ruby looks deep in thought.
"But… what about the Atlas Relic?"
"You mean the Staff of Creation?" Ironwood asks as Penny smiles.
"It's safe inside the Vault!"
"And the Winter Maiden?" Qrow asks as Winter is next to speak up.
"She is secure and in stable condition."
"Stable condition? What does that-" Yang stops as her uncle speaks.
"She's, uh, not exactly a spring chicken."
"I know how this all looks. Recalling my military? The embargo? I probably don't seem the most trustworthy right now." Ironwood said as Blake looked over.
"Then why continue it?"
"The people of Mantle are hurting!" Nora yelled after the Faunus.
"I needed to ensure Salem couldn't infiltrate Atlas. And I wanted my military here, protecting my people."
"But it's not protecting them! It's making everyone hate you." Yang explains.
"It's a price I'm willing to pay." Ironwood reaches over to a glowing panel of buttons on his desk and taps a button that resembles a table emitting light from its surface. "Just as you all have been entrusted with the knowledge of Salem's existence, I need you all to trust me. I have a plan."
Shutters come down outside the windows, darkening the room. A circle in the center of the floor bearing Atlas' emblem begins to rise, prompting Ruby and Oscar to step off of it. As Ironwood talks and makes his way over to it, the circle continues to rise and transforms into a table. "Ozpin believed the best way to fight Salem was to do so in secret. Whether that was the right choice or not isn't for me to say. But we find ourselves in a position of needing, well, a new approach."
"And what do you suggest?" Qrow asks Ironwood.
Ironwood brings out a tiny remote and presses a button, activating a hologram display of Amity Colosseum, which hovers above the table. "That's… Amity Colosseum." Jaune said from his spot.
"Where the Vytal Festival is held?"
Ironwood nodded at that. "Indeed. When Beacon fell and everyone on Remnant lost contact with one another, I knew our current system was outdated. Amity was built to bring the nations together, and it will serve that purpose once again." He presses the button again, and the hologram Amity Colosseum gains an antenna atop it. Ruby and her friends stare at the hologram and look at each other.
"Isn't it great? We're not going to just replace Beacon Tower. Building a new tower on top of Amity Colosseum will re-establish global communications!" Penny explained before Winter stepped forward.
"By launching the tower high into the atmosphere, our scientists believe we can create a sort of… satellite out of reach of the Grimm and capable of maintaining global communications even if we were to lose another tower."
"That is great." Ruby muses before Qrow looks at Ironwood.
"James... you don't need the entire military for this."
"I will for the next part, where I finally tell the people about Salem."
"Huh, so that's why you withdrew your troops, to handle the panic that would break out in Atlas." Qrow narrowed his eyes at him.
"Yes, panic is inevitable, and panic brings Grimm. But I believe we are ready. Once Atlas has come to grips with the fight ahead, I'll use Amity Tower to spread the message to all of Remnant."
"But everything will fall apart. Grimm will be everywhere!" Weiss says as Winter nods.
"You're right, but Atlas is willing and prepared to assist."
"Trying to hide the truth from the world will eventually kill us all." Ironwood presses a button on his remote, and the hologram disappears, the table transforms and recedes into the floor and the shutters pull away from the windows.
"Oz spent his whole life, many lives, keeping this secret," Qrow says to Ironwood who nods.
"I know. But since Beacon, things have changed." Ironwood begins heading back to his desk. "Without him here to guide us, all I can do is use my best judgment. Behind him, Oscar shifts uncomfortably. As if sensing something, Ironwood stops and looks back. "What is it?"
"Actually, Oz isn't completely gone."
"Uh, Oscar here is… is the next Ozpin," Qrow said as Ironwood's eyes widened.
"Oz?" Smiling, Ironwood quickly and eagerly approaches Oscar, who looks nervous. "I'm so glad you're here. I didn't think you-"
Oscar puts his hands up and interrupts Ironwood, as the latter crouches to Oscar's level. "Not quite. He's kind of, um, gone... at the moment."
Ironwood's smile fades, and he lowers his head. "That's not normal. (looking back up) How did he-"
"We don't know." Ironwood, Qrow, and Oscar look at Ruby. "We were in a train crash, and ever since, well… suddenly, Oz wasn't there anymore."
"That's the worst news yet. Did you learn anything from him about the Relics before…?" Ironwood asks before Ruby speaks.
"He told us the lamp can answer three questions. But all the questions were used up already."
Blake and Yang look at each other having Naruto glance over. "Right, right." Ironwood walks back behind his desk and stares out the window. "Ozpin told us that too, once upon a time." He explains before looking at them. "At least we have you, Oscar. You're safe here in Atlas. Maybe together we can figure out how to bring Ozpin back."
"Thank you, sir. I mean, uh, general. Uh, Ironwood?"
Ironwood picks up the Relic of Knowledge, walks over to Ruby, and offers it to her. "You're giving it back to me?"
"After what happened with the Ace-Ops, I don't want you to think I'm keeping anything from you, especially something as important as this. For the time being, I think it's safest with the people who brought it here." Ironwood explains as he hands her the Relic.
"Um, thank you."
She shrinks the Relic and hooks it onto her belt, exchanging a look with Oscar. "We must work together if we're to fight Salem and win. Now, if you're all on board…"
Ruby thinks it over for a few seconds, then looks at Ironwood. "Tell us how we can help."
"Good, because getting the Amity Tower ready to launch won't be easy." He said before walking back to his desk. "But first, I think we need to get those weapons of yours up to our standards."
A hologram screen appears, showing footage of Blake drawing her broken katana before their fight against the Sabyrs in Mantle. Blake reacts with embarrassment before Naruto holds her hand. "Remember, this is Atlas. While assisting the military, we will provide you with the best equipment our scientists can devise." Winter explained to them.
"Upon exiting Ironwood's office, the group encounters the Ace-Ops once more with the man that caught them and four others.
The first is a young male Faunus with long greenish-black hair tied in a bun and blue eyes. His trait is a dark gray canine tail. He's wearing an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a white double-breasted coat with silver buttons, dark blue accents, a collar, and shoulder flaps with matching cuffs that have two silver buttons.
The coat's tail splits, allowing his tail to move freely. He has a dark blue belt with a silver buckle around his waist with a dark blue pouch on the right side. He has a red ascot tied around his neck. A red shirt under his coat and dark blue trousers tucked into his black knee-high boots.
The next is a tall man with short shaved gray hair, deathly pale skin, and light blue eyes. He has several tattoos, including a third eye tattoo along the center of his forehead and chin. He has the Atlesian Specialist uniform, with a partially unbuttoned coat, a red sash running diagonally over his left shoulder meeting a second red sash around his waist under a large blue belt, and navy blue fingerless gloves that go up to his brachium.
He has on navy blue pants tucked into a pair of navy blue thigh-high boots with steel toe and heel plating, a small pouch on the sides, and kneepad detailing. Beaded necklaces around his neck and beaded bracelets around his right arm alongside two silver bands, one small, one large on his left forearm.
The next is a dark-skinned young woman with platinum blonde and brown hair shaved on the sides and dark pink eyes. She's wearing a very short-sleeved Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a sleeveless white double-breasted vest with silver buttons and dark blue accents. It has a white and dark blue collar, a dark blue short-sleeved t-shirt, a red tie, and white shorts.
As well as dark blue chaps that look like they connect to the tops of her shorts. The chaps also expose the inner part of the thighs and the backs of her calves. She also has on blue fingerless gloves and dark gray trainers with black accents and a white stripe accompanied by red socks. She also has white calf pads and dark blue knee pads as well.
There are also dark blue straps fastened around the top of her vest. The blond portions of her hair are styled in a way that resembles a rabbit's ears.
The last is a tall young muscular woman with medium brown hair in a short ponytail, light brown skin, and brown eyes. She has on an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of an open white, one-sleeved crop jacket with dark blue accents, shoulder flaps and collar, and a dark gray armor shirt. She has silver vambraces over her forearms. On her back, she has a magnet.
She has a red belt around her white pants and is barefoot save for some martial arts foot-wraps alongside dark blue calf plates that cover the tops of her feet, the plates have three red straps tied around them. She also has a silver hoop earring on her right ear.
On one wall in the room, there is a hologram displaying Atlas Academy News.
The first bulletin explains that the administration restroom is closed due to flooding from a "decimated toilet", followed by instructions to use the upper barracks restroom instead while the administration restroom is being repaired.
The second bulletin is about an upcoming "monthly all-hands meeting", during which they will honor Penny as employee of the month and show the results of a competition that was held. The bulletin also says that Ironwood holds open office hours once a month and to reach out to Stephanie Santiago to schedule a 15-minute slot with him.
The third bulletin reads as follows.
"ELECTION WATCH PARTY
Come join us to watch the results of Robyn Hill versus Jacques Schnee
Free food and drink in the Main Atrium of the Academy"
As Ruby and her friends walk down the stairs, the Ace-Ops approach them. "I'd like to sincerely apologize for the miscommunication down in Mantle. We didn't intend to-!"
Suddenly, the tall woman pushes her way past the team and begins frantically shaking Ruby's hand, accidentally flailing her about in the air. "I feel so bad, honestly! If we had known who you were, we'd be laughing over a hot meal right now and-"
Partway through her second sentence, the woman drops the now-dizzy Ruby on the floor. "I understand. You were just following orders." Ruby gets to her feet, groaning, only to be spun around by Weiss.
"I mean, you could have asked us some questions first."
"Questions are for the weak. But we're all on the same team now. Not that I'm happy about it." The Faunus spoke crossing his arms and soon realized that his tail was wagging. He reaches back and grabs it, much to the short woman's amusement.
"We just wanted to say we're sorry. And that we're looking forward to working with you on our next mission. You might be students, but you've been fighting just as hard as we have, if not harder." The first man said before the short woman spoke next.
"Exactly why I'm looking forward to seeing what you kids can do."
"Not everything's a competition, Hare." The pale man said as they heard a voice.
"Figures you'd be a part of this… Dobe."
"Of fuck me." Naruto groaned recognizing the voice and saw a young man walk to the room in the Atlesian uniform. He has pale skin, black eyes, and spiky black hair with bangs.
"And here I thought I'd get some peace and quiet." Naruto sighed as he stared at the man. "But you got here as well, Sasuke?"
"Hnn."
"Still the talker I see."
"Naruto, you know him?" Pyrrha asks Naruto.
"Yeah, he's from my world… My rival and for a time… Enemy that tried to kill the leaders of my world to rule the world until I beat him."
"It was a tie Naruto."
"That's what the loser always says," Naruto spoke back. "He traveled the world after that stopping once in a while to start and check in on his family."
Suddenly, Penny enters the room and slides in front of Ruby, throwing her hands up in excitement. "C'mon! Let me show you around campus."
She enthusiastically marches away, with Ruby and friends following her. Ironwood exits his office just as Qrow begins to walk away from the stairs in front of the office. "Qrow."
Qrow stops and turns around, and Ironwood descends the stairs and approaches him. "I meant it when I said it was good to see you again."
"Uh, yeah, you too."
Ironwood steps forward and hugs Qrow, who looks confused at first but then hugs back with a smile and an eye roll.
Elsewhere in the school, Penny leads Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Oscar through various hallways, while the group becomes more and more tired as the tour goes on. "So that way's the cafeteria, and that way is the training rooms. Oh, and over there are the classrooms!"
Ruby stretches, yawning loudly and the group comes to a stop, with everyone looking exhausted. Nora leans against Naruto, asleep on her feet. "This all looks great, Penny. But where are we staying?"
"Remember, you're in Atlas now. As the most well-funded school on Remnant, every teen at Atlas Academy gets their own room! And if that wasn't enough-"
"So we're staying in the dorms?" Ren asks her.
"It'll be just like Beacon again!"
Nora collapses before Naruto catches her bridal style.
Down in Mantle, it has begun raining. Ironwood and Winter's broadcast videos continue to play on screens around the city. "The Kingdom of Atlas will remain strong, and it will remain safe. That is my promise."
Carrying a bag and an umbrella, with a set of new rings on his fingers, Arthur walks along a sidewalk while talking to Tyrian through a communication device that is placed in his ear. "For the last time, a singular hideout makes us susceptible to discovery."
Watts hacks the traffic post across the street to change it to allow pedestrians to cross as he walks across the street. "But what if we're seen? What if we're recognized?"
"We stay mobile," Arthur replies as the sound of multiple stabbings can be heard over the communication device.
"We're walking around a city with a thousand eyes."
Watts changes another traffic signal and crosses the street without pause, causing cars to come screeching to a halt. "(Sigh) While cybersecurity has been stepped up in Atlas, as usual, none of the code was updated in Mantle."
He walks across another street, hacking another system to make a blockade of posts rise from the road, which a car crashes into as it swerves to go around him. "Oh no! Gosh! Are you okay!?" A woman asks running to check on the driver.
"That certainly sounds useful," Tyrian said with a chuckle.
"It should be." Watts pauses and presses his thumb to one of his rings, which glows cyan. All nearby security cameras power down. "I helped write that code, after all."
Down the road, muffled screaming is heard from inside a building, while the camera next to its door powers down. The door opens, and Tyrian steps out, shutting the door behind him with a happy sigh. "Well, I suppose we all have our talents."
Tyrian walks away down an alley, while a pool of blood flows out from under the door. The blood slowly makes its way into the view of the hacked security camera.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: ANUBIS the god king.
Remember to vote if you haven't!
I'm not going to bash Sasuke as I stated in Ch 1 regardless of how I feel about a character, I will not bash them... A "You need to put aside your feelings/be impartial to write a good story" for lack of a better way to explain.
I read something similar in an older story A/N about why the writer's not a fan of bashing in fics and I try to do that... Some may point to my Star Wars story on treating Sasuke but there I am trying to treat him like a missing-nin that can't be given special treatment.
I'm... In the middle on Sasuke in that, I'm not a fan of his, but I don't outright hate him either outside of me thinking it was BS that the Kages "Pardoned" him (Been a while since I saw the end so don't know if it was a full pardon or an X amount of time thing.
I'm sorry for using just one episode last and this time. Now that Viz has it, I'm Trying to stretch things out until there's volume 10. Plus, there's a bunch of exposition, so again, I'm sorry for how little is used.
I will be doing date chapters either before or after the training episode(s) the teams get with Ace-Ops, any ideas you want to throw for any of the girls feel free to send them... I don't know about lemons at least with the RWBY girls.
I want it to be realistic for relationships and let them date for a certain time before or for ones where the characters do age, and start at teens, then wait until they're 18.
Next to be updated will be A Fox In Middleton.
Nothing else to say.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.🐺