King: And we're back!

Knox: Noice.

King: Also, after this, we're doing a three parter for Halloween.

Knox: Already?

King: My plan is a long one, so I'm getting ahead of the curve. After that, vacation again. They need a break and I want to tell some stories back on Remnant. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the story of one of my favorite characters AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN! Yes, I'm a little salty about how this story ended in canon. But my story, my rules.

Inspiration: Naruto

/\

"Alright! What's next?" Saphron asked.

"One way to find out." King snapped his fingers to start the next round.

The scene opened to a moment with a strange filter over it and muted tones, denoting a flashback in some form. The first thing they saw was a young girl with white hair walking out from what looked like a school building. She had to be only about six or seven years old. Her face was utterly neutral, uncaring. She was dressed in a simple t-shirt and a shorts-with-leggings combo. She simply didn't care about the extra trappings and wanted to remain simple.

Both of the younger Schnee siblings spoke in unison, answering which of the white-haired figures it was, "Winter."

Winter didn't bother denying it. When off the clock, it was t-shirts and jeans. She hated the pomp of Atlas high society and went out of her way to avoid it.

As Winter continued her walk, something caught her eye to her side. She turned to see what it was, surprised at what she was seeing.

In an old park area, running along an old path, was a blond boy around her age. His pace was slowing and his breathing was heavy, but he was moving. She recognized him as a boy with a reputation for failure.

This made Jaune's mood tank for a moment. He recognized himself from when he was younger. But then, he noticed something. It was faint, and he wasn't sure he saw it properly, but there was something else here.

Jaune's pace slowed more and more. He was barely at a walk at this point. Then, after a minute of swaying sluggishness, he fell to a seated position. He was taking several deep breaths before he could speak, "Damn it. I was so close."

Winter was about to leave before she heard someone behind her, "So that's where you went." She turned to find a man with white hair walking up from behind her. He was dressed in the standard uniform of the shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, dark blue, loose bodysuit with a green combat vest. His particular style came with a special, short sleeve with the symbol of the Land of Fire and red triangles along the end. Jacques Schnee, her father and a high level Jounin.

The Schnee kids all had ill feelings, but something about their parent's counterpart felt… off. But not in a bad way.

Saphron, however, gasped in excitement, "A world of ninjas?!"

Blake grumbled a bit, "Not really ninja but they certainly call themselves that."

Winter looked up toward her father, "Just wanted to get home already. I was already accepted to the academy, no need to stick around."

Jacques chuckled a bit before responding, "Always to the point with you." He then noticed Jaune sitting on the old running path. "Oh? Do you know him?"

"Not really." Winter dismissed him, "I know he failed to get into the academy a few times because he can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. He can barely use Taijutsu."

But Jacques seemed to see something. He let out a light sight with a grin. "Call him what you will, but you best be careful."

"Hmm? Of what?"

"At the rate he's training," The screen showed Jaune's hands and the open section of his shinobi-boots. Both were scratched and dirty, clear signs of constant action. They saw him slowly trying to get back up as Jacques continued, "he will become stronger than you."

Winter brushed her father's statement off. They both started to walk a bit before they heard him shout from behind them. "500!" Winter turned back to him to see he'd moved forward, presumably to the lap line. Jaune's arms her in the air in triumph as he finally, truly collapsed. He had the biggest grin on his face as he took heavy breaths.

"Wait… is it saying he did 500 laps?!" Weiss shouted in shock. A seven year old did 500 laps around what looked like a regulation-sized track.

"Damn!" Yang smirked, impressed by his tenacity.

Winter's eyes went wide. She wanted to think he was lying. She wanted to think he was just trying to show off. But she couldn't. It was too ridiculous, and she wasn't even sure he knew they were there. No one was watching, so why lie about that?

Jacques chuckled, giving his daughter a nudge, "You should ask his name."

"What?"

"You can't be real rivals if you don't even know his name."

"The first meeting of rivals!" Nora was enjoying herself. It was like the start of a grand story between two great and powerful figures.

Winter blinked a moment before she turned back to the boy. As he was trying to stand up, she turned back to him, a bit conflicted. In the end, she sighed and walked back over to him. "Hey!" She shouted over to him, grabbing his attention, "What's your name?"

Jaune was surprised a moment before he grinned, "I'm Jaune Arc."

Winter nodded, "Winter."

Jaune chucked, "I know who you are. You're the famous genius and daughter of the White Fang, Jacques Schnee."

"Wait," Sienna had to confirm she heard that correctly, "Jacques Schnee is called the White Fang?"

"Yep." Knox confirmed. "He's a war hero and one of the most powerful ninja of his age. He's one of only a few people with a Run on Sight order."

Winter let out a slight hum, "Right. I'll see you around." She turned to leave.

But Jaune called to her, "Don't slouch on your training."

This caused Winter to stop and turn back to him.

She saw Jaune's big grin, holding a thumbs-up pose, "I could tell we're gonna be rivals. And I plan to become the strongest ninja to ever live!"

The scene turned white, the flashback coming to an end. The almost idyllic scene of a rivalry's beginning faded to an apocalypse. The area was decimated, a giant black-stone castle erected up in the distance. Side by side stood a now older Winter and Jaune, around their late-twenties to early-thirties. Winter now wore the same kind of uniform as her father had, minus the extra sleeve. He added a mask over the lower half of her face, a symbol of shame from her time following her father's catastrophic failure in the Third Great Shinobi World War.

Winter felt like there was more going on there, but didn't want to press.

Jaune, meanwhile, was wearing a tight, green bodysuit and the ninja vest with orange leg protectors wrapped over his lower legs. He wore his maroon colored ninja headband around his waist like a belt.

Coco started to snicker, "What's with that outfit?"

"You clearly don't get it." Arslan remarked, "That's the attire of a martial artist."

Neither were good shape, and with good reason. Across from them, a monster stood. Salem, once the most powerful shinobi in existence, who fought the God of Shinobi and First Hokage, Ozma, to a standstill. She who once controlled the Nine Tailed Fox, a veritable force of nature. Her skin was marble white, her cloak matched with black formations along it. Her hair, also very white, fell down her back. Her hands and legs seemed to be covered by a blackness; not like a suit, but more like how her body simply is. Her eyes were a point of interest as they were a light purple color with rings like a ripple extending out from the center, the Rinnegan. She held a black staff in hand as she looked at the two who would dare to challenge her. She looked at them like they were ants, hoping to somehow fight the sun.

Salem nodded, somewhat sagely. She fully agreed with her counterpart. They were all ants, lesser if she was honest. After all, Salem may as well be a goddess on Remnant. What hope do they possibly have?

Glynda fidgeted in her chair. This Salem had the same kind of eyes as Jaune had when he was that Pain personality. She didn't want to revisit that world given what she'd seen…

Jaune grinned as he whipped away a bit of blood pooling under his lip, "I'll admit, she's good."

Winter narrowed her eyes, revealing one of her eyes had been changed, now having a red color with three black tomoe around the pupil. She had a sharingan, once owned by her old teammate Harriet, and that was a can of worms to deal with later.

Harriet raised an eyebrow hearing that. What did she mean by that?

Winter growled as she tried to brush away dust and dirt being caked onto her uniform. "She isn't human… All my ninjutsu is just getting absorbed. Genjutsu won't work. Taijutsu seemed like our only bet. And even then…" She's not immortal, but killing her seems impossible. She can heal major wounds, and her body is stronger than normal. Winter couldn't say that kind of stuff out loud. They needed to stop her, they had to.

Jaune's grin just spread, "Sounds like a job for me!" Jaune slammed his fist into his open palm as he leapt forward. "Just keep up some support. She has to have a limit."

"Just be careful."

"Come on, Winter. You know me." Jaune ran off, ready to properly challenge the older shinobi.

Winter sighed, "That's what I'm afraid of." But she got into position to use support attacks when she got an opening.

"That sounds familiar." Ren deadpanned.

Nora just laughed, remembering times similar to that before they arrived at Beacon.

As Jaune charged toward Salem, she just scoffed, "Foolish. You think you challenge a goddess?" Salem swung her arm up and the ground beneath Jaune shot up in a giant spike.

But Jaune just ran up the spike, crossing his arms as he looked down toward Salem. "I'd be careful looking down on us." Jaune's body tensed before a green glow began to emanate from his body. Sixth Gate of Joy! OPEN! Jaune disappeared before reappearing in front of Salem.

He threw a punch, and while she dodged, she noticed his hand was on fire. A Fire-Release technique? No, I'd be able to absorb that. She dodged another attack, then several more in rapid succession. He's moving so fast, his hands catch fire!

"Holy shit!" Yang shouted, getting more excited.

Arslan could only watch in wide-eyed admiration. To have the speed and force to catch the inherent friction in the air and have your hands catch fire is insane.

This realization left her vulnerable for a moment and gave Jaune the chance to land an attack. A punch to her shoulder sent a fireball flying out behind her. Then another. Then ten more. Jaune moved so fast, the flames shot out in a giant wave like the tail of a peacock.

Asakujaku!

Hearing his mind say that, they turned to Jaune, thinking it was a language he could speak, but he shook his head. Their answer came from Kali instead, "It means Morning Peacock. Or there-about."

"That's a weird name for it." Ruby remarked.

"It makes sense." Arslan retorted, "Martial arts skills are often named after animals."

With the final hit, Salem recoiled lightly before regaining her footing quickly and swinging her staff at him. Jaune ducked under the attack as it struck a rock to his side, erasing the section that was struck.

"Well that's not good." Ironwood remarked.

Meanwhile, Jaune's brain was in motion, Best to avoid that. Some range might be a good idea. Jaune leapt back with a continuous backflip. When he landed, he moved low before his body snapped to release of tension. Seventh Gate of Shock! OPEN! The green aura seemed to fade out and become blue. This was Jaune's ability that earned him the name The Noble Blue Beast.

"Ooh!" Nora turned starry eyed, "His aura changed color! What does it mean?!"

Knox snickered a bit. "Actually…"

King raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop him.

"...That's not an aura."

"What?" Velvet asked, confused, "Then what is it?"

"Sweat."

There was a silence over the scene before Ciel just had to ask, "What?"

"Sweat. By opening the Seventh Gate, Jaune's body is kicked into a high gear and produces a high amount of sweat. However, because his body is burning the extra energy, it evaporates as soon as it forms, creating the blue mist effect around him."

"That's just weird and disgusting." Ciel deadpanned.

But Arslan was having none of it. "Hell no. If anything, it's an inspiring thing."

"His perspiration?"

"You ever heard of the Sweat of Effort?"

"The what?"

It was something Pyrrha understood, "She's talking about being pushed to your limits. The effort you put in can produce sweat from the exertion."

"Exactly!" Arslan shouted, "It's a sign that you're pushing yourself. No sweat, no pain, no gain!"

"Yeah!" Nora shouted, fully agreeing.

Weiss just shook her head, clearly holding the opposite opinion.

Jaune reared back his hands before punching forward with an odd hand gesture resembling a tiger. Hirudora! A massive, ethereal white tiger formed around Jaune before charging forward toward Salem. She slid her foot on the ground and held up a hand, intent on absorbing the attack, only for it to slam into her body and send her flying.

After feeling the attack she realized what it was, It's not a ninjutsu. It's directed air pressure! Salem's surprise faded out before she grinned. She swung her weapon up and swatted the attack away with a vacuum burst. "Impressive."

"Damn right it is!" Arslan was having a field day.

Salem's grin fell as she noticed sand begin to rise up from all directions. She about to swing back with an attack before being sucker punched in the back of the head. The damage was minimal and easily healed, but the sheer audacity surprised her long enough for her attacker to escape as the sand fell over Salem and covered her, forming a pyramid.

The camera tracked back to show the sand was being controlled by Lie Ren as he lowered himself to the ground from a cloud of sand used as a lift. "Sorry I'm late." Lie Ren was the Kazekage, strongest shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Sand and its leader despite his young age.

Ren just blinked, having never imagined himself as a leader.

Nora, meanwhile, gave him a playful elbow into his side with a grin.

The second figure was revealed to be, of all people, Penny. She was dressed similarly to Jaune, down to the green bodysuit and leg guards. "I'm ashamed I was so late, Jaune Sensei!"

Jaune just chuckled, "Think nothing of it!" He gave a thumbs up to his pupil.

"Yeesh. One of those outfits was already tragic. But two?" Coco jokingly complained.

Penny, meanwhile, tilted her head in interest. "I am Friend Jaune's student in this world?"

"Correct." King explained. "Like him, you had no skill for Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. All you had was Taijutsu. And so, he took your training upon himself and helped you become a physical powerhouse."

"That's kind of wholesome." Yang chuckled.

"He also instilled in you the Power of Youth."

"Youth? So… training with him keeps me young? I do not understand."

"It's more of a mental thing. It's the ideal to give your all to everything you do. Nothing is half-measures. Be it your training or something as simple as rock-paper-scissors. Everything is important because everything is worth doing. In a way."

Jaune rolled his shoulder and glared up at the top of the pyramid. "Get ready."

The top section suddenly seemed to be cleaved off as Salem stood atop the sand structure. She looked down on them all, unphased by the attempt. "Are you done playing in the sand?"

Ren's eyes narrowed, but knowing this would be the result. Salem was far beyond what was normal.

Penny slid her foot on the ground, ready to join the fight, only to be held back by Jaune. Jaune had a somber smile on his face, the hand stopping Penny was then moved to his vest. He started to unfasten several buttons before grabbing it and tossing it aside. "It seems even Hirudora wasn't enough. I suppose this is where the Noble Blue Beast steps down to make way for the Red Beast."

Winter turned to her old rival, "Jaune? What are you saying?"

Jaune's smile remained, but his tone fell, "I'm saying this is it. Our rivalry will have to end on our tie." Jaune slid his foot on the ground before holding up a thumbs-up. "And Penny! Don't forget what I've taught you." Jaune dropped his stance before charging forward.

"Hold on a second!" Winter called after him. You're really doing this? Opening the final Gate?

As Jaune ran, he punched his chest just over his heart. His chakra pooled forth, his final limiter removed as his body surged with power. The blue energy around him began to fade. His body took on a darker hue as blood pumped faster. The aura around him began to turn a bright red. His blond hair moved like fire, turning crimson as the aura took over. He slid to a ready position, arms out and coiled for battle.

Eighth Gate of Death. OPEN!

"Gate of Death?" Pyrrha asked, not liking where this was going.

"What's with the red aura?" May asked the god-like duo. "The last one was sweat, so…" but there was no answer from them.

Salem's eyes narrowed, "The Eight Gates formation. I didn't get to face it in my past life. It's interesting to see that aura, the Vapor of Blood."

"B-blood?" Weiss shivered at the implications.

"That's right." King responded, bluntly. "With the opening of the final Gate, the body pushes itself past every limitation. It pumps blood so quickly that a large amount ends up evaporating, creating that mist."

"But… wouldn't that kill him?" Ruby was getting more worried.

"That's why it's called the Gate of Death. Using it inevitably results in death."

Ren looked toward Penny, who was just told that Jaune, who is effectively a father figure and the one person to believe in her, was going to die. "Penny… are you…?"

"I am not sad!" Penny cut her off. "To show pity or sorrow toward one with such resolve, would be an insult!"

Port hung his head a moment before he let a somber feeling wash over him. A memory, long since lost to many. But something he knew all too well. He remembered a man, standing high atop a hill, as he defied the incoming horde, knowing he wouldn't see the dawn. The day Peter's father, Pietro, died. Port let out a sigh, remembering the man that could only be called a hero.

Salem grinned down toward her opponent, "Come on then. Let's get this dance started in earnest."

Jaune was suddenly directly in front of her, fist reared back and ready for an attack. She was surprised for a moment, before she heard, "Sekizou!" A pillar of pressure pushed Salem downward and sent the sand that remained flying. He was about to follow up, but seemed to stop and wince.

Salem was being pushed downward as she tried to remain in place. This power! Incredible! She lost her 'footing' and was pushing into the ground which now sported a cylindrical hole.

Penny noticed this grit her teeth slightly, "Sekizou is supposed to be a consecutive strike with five hits. For him to stop…" She tensed as her body was surrounded by a green aura, denoting the sixth gate. She clenched her fist in frustration. "The pain of opening the Sixth Gate is excruciating. I can't imagine what kind of pain he must be going through."

Jaune, meanwhile, was rolling his wrist a bit. That hurt more than I expected. But I've acclimated to it now.

As Jaune started to fall into the hole, Salem began to fly upward. She was laughing. She was having fun. "You're the first person since Ozma to make me enjoy myself like this. The sting of my bones, the ache of my muscles, so many things I've missed. But in the end, you could never defeat me!"

"She just took that? And is taunting him now?!" Ciel had a rare outburst.

"Classic villain stuff." Nora just crossed her arms and nodded.

Jaune grit his teeth before kicking back down against the air, propelling himself upward. It was as if he used the air itself as steps to get closer.

"Excuse me?!" Now it was Weiss' turn for an outburst.

"Awesome." Yang had the opposite reaction.

Salem was stunned for a moment. He's kicking off the AIR to approach?!

Jaune swung back up and punched forward again, First Step! The Sekizou pillar of air held Salem in place as he kicked over to another side, slamming another piller into her. Then another. Then a fourth.

Salem was stuck in the pillars. I… I can't move! Not yet! She used a magic ability to turn her staff into a sphere around her. It would erase him if he did try to hit her.

Seeing this, Winter knew this was her chance, "Keep going!" The camera held on her red eye as the tomoe morphed together into a new pattern like a three armed cyclone. Kamui! A black hole formed in front of the sphere and ripped it open, exposing Salem to Jaune's incoming attack. Jaune then slammed his fist into Salem hard enough to shatter the back of her sphere and fly back toward the ground. She impacted hard enough to create a massive cloud of dust.

Nora jumped up in excitement, "Booyah! Take that you jerk!"

"How dare you?!" Tyrian shouted back. "My goddess is no jerk. You are simply a heathen!"

"What'd you call me?!"

They both proceeded to fold over from the Theater's power to prevent violence. Where Tyrian slammed head first into the chair in front of him, Nora was caught by her friends and helped her back to her chair.

As Jaune landed, he recoiled as a jolt of pain ran up his body from his legs. He caught himself before falling and had to keep himself from passing out. He shook it off, but knew that he wouldn't like what he saw. Across from him was Salem, as she began to stand up again.

As Salem could be seen again, she was laughing. "Amazing! My body feels like it's on fire! My bones rattle and my blood boils! Don't stop dancing now! Don't you have something else?! Some grand technique?!" But she could see his chakra. She knew that if he did, it would be his final technique.

Jaune grit his teeth. Sekizou wasn't enough… Fine then. Jaune lowered his stance, one foot forward with the other coiled back. Both hands fell to either side of his forward foot as he shouted, "Charge!" The blood vapor began to expand. The camera pulled away toward Salem as they all saw the red aura form into something. Two golden eyes appeared in the mist as portions filled out into new forms. After a moment, it formed into the head of a dragon, waking up to destroy whatever stands in its way.

"Holy shit! That is awesome!" Yang was hyped up seeing something that cool to her.

Salem, meanwhile, looked up toward the dragon as she laughed. "Wonderful. I recognize your chakra, the power you show! I, Salem of the Black Woods, declare you the Strongest!"

Jaune's muscles all tensed at the same time. "Flow!" Only to be released all at once. He began to charge toward Salem as his aura formed into a full, blood red dragon.

Salem leveled her staff, ready to counter and remove her opponent from the field, only for her staff to bend and twist in an unnatural way. He's bending space?!

Jaune leapt up for a flying kick, the dragon behind him flowing forward to end this. d'ARC NIGHT! His foot collided with Salem's chest, instantly popping one of her lungs and causing her to cough blood. The following split-second sent them both flying with Jaune's momentum. The red dragon pushing forward as Salem's body, the body of a Warring States Shinobi blessed with the divine power of the Ten-Tailed Beast, was torn apart from the sheer force of power. The camera tracked back to reveal the dragon flying forward. Then, after a pause, the ground finally caught up with the sheer speed and power on display and was torn apart like an explosion. The flying dragon slammed into Salem's great castle before it began to scale the walls. As it reached the highest spire, said spire was blown apart as the dragon finally coiled away from its assault. It seemed to claim the castle's remains as its own before it began to fade out.

Yang was actually shaking. She didn't have the word necessary to contemplate that. To begin to express how awesome that was to her. Plenty of the viewers had similar reactions. The pure power on display, the overcoming of the impossible. It was inspiring.

But it wasn't over.

Salem was mid-air, her entire left side torn apart and scorched, but still alive. She started to laugh as she was still being forced upward. I'll admit, that was worth coming back. He almost killed me.

Now Yang was just furious, "How is she still alive?!"

Tyrian finally got himself back on his feet, "Because even in these other worlds, my goddess is invincible! She cannot be bested in this life or any other!"

Salem's smile began to fade, morphing into one of surprise. The camera held on her eye as a reflection began to form. Then, it snapped to her point of view, revealing a red moon and a figure approaching fast. Jaune was flying back down toward her, fist reared back. With a primal shout, the purest cry of effort, he slammed his fist square into her face. The scene was repeated from three angles before it held for a moment as time slowed. Then, Salem was sent flying into the ground, visible impact force showing against the moon and creating Jaune's symbol in the sky. The camera moved to the low angle as she slammed back first into the stone beneath her. Her eyes were wide and blank. Blood flowed forth from her mouth, shattered nose, and eyes. Then, the world caught up with them again and Salem seemed to explode. In truth the impact force against the ground went off, creating an explosion of force with power comparable to a megaton bomb. The walls of the dark castle were blown apart and the surrounding area was covered in dust and rock.

Tyrian was shut up real quick.

To be fair, everyone had been.

As Jaune began to fall, they could truly see the state of his body. He was scorched from the inside, his body seeming to crack open as it turned ash black. His flame was dying out. He began to fall, only to be caught by Winter, assisted by Ren's sand to help her fly up to him. As he fell against her, he couldn't help but smile, "You hear that Winter?" He spoke weakly, barely able to do so. "One of our founders called me the strongest…"

Winter closed her eyes, pain filling her as she knew what was happening now. "Yeah. She did."

"I told you…" Jaune's voice was fading out, "I'd be… the strongest nin… ja…" Black ash began to cover the screen, the pull out revealing Jaune's body was disintegrating. He burned like the sun, but the sun was not meant to be in the body of a normal man.

A somber feeling overtook Jaune's friends and family. Even those who didn't know him very well couldn't help but feel like this was a heavy scene. So many emotions mixed together: sorrow, inspiration, joy at a completed dream, and a bittersweet reminder that it had also come to an end.

Before he could disappear, Winter opened her eyes again, taking in her friend's final moments. "See you on the other side, Jaune."

Jaune smiled and closed his eyes, accepting the inevitable. "Until then…" The ashes that fell away transitioned to leaves.

The scene changed to show Winter sitting in an office, doing some kind of paperwork. On the side of the wall rested a four cornered hat with a red section on the forward face, a symbol on the front representing the Kanji of 'Fire' front and center. After the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Winter was made Hokage, leader of the Hidden Leaf.

Winter blinked after the transition, not expecting a change in position like that. There was a lot of missing context, but being a major leader felt odd to her. Maybe she was too used to her current position.

Winter turned her chair, looking out to something below her window. A knock on the door forced her attention away, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal the previous Hokage walking through the door, Glynda Goodwitch. "Getting used to the office?" Glynda asked with a small grin. She retired from the position after the war by using up a lot of power she had left in her tank. She might look relatively young, but she was well into her fifties in this world. Ninja rarely lived that long and it was catching up to her.

A mention of her age made Glynda's eye twitch. She was only in her thirties damn it! It was stress that made her seem older.

Winter nodded, "I don't think I'm cut out for the long term, but I'll hold things down for now. At least until someone comes along as a better option."

Glynda chuckled, "That's fair. Why don't we head over to some barbecue and I can give you some advice? My treat."

"I'd appreciate it." Winter stood up and joined his predecessor as they left the room.

The camera moved outside as they left, slowly moving away to reveal a statue on the grounds outside the window. It was a marble tree, complete with chiseled out leaves. At the base was a plaque which read…

[In dedication to The Leaf's Noble Beast, Jaune Arc. The Strongest Ninja.]

The scene faded out, ending the viewing.

Jaune was awestruck at his counterpart. He turned to the Theater's owner and asked, "How did he learn to do all that?"

King knew Jaune asking for a way to replicate it, rather he was looking for inspiration. "Like I said, he had no proficiency for Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. He trained his body to the peak. But the Gates were taught to him by his father. And he saw it first hand when his father, a propetal Genin with no prospects, protected him from seven of the strongest killers known to the world. The man killed six monsters to protect the next generation at the cost of his own. Because that's what it meant to be powerful to him. To protect those who needed him. To put his life on the line for what was precious to him. That's the nature of the Power of Youth. That was the life of Montesquieu Arc. Just as it was the life of Jaune Arc."

"So he actually beat her right?" Ruby asked, noticing how 'comic-y' it felt. "There wasn't some twist after that, that she was alive right?"

"Not in this one." King confirmed, "Jaune killed Salem of the Black Woods. There was a twist in-so-far that a figure called Zetsu took her body and power to resurrect his true master, Kagura, but that's a clusterfuck I don't feel like getting into."