Hunting or Bust: The Journey Continues

Dust 15: The Fall Comes Before…

Oh boy, here we go!

((((((((Hunting))))))))

For most of them, the last thing they remember about Cinder was her voice speaking over an intercom and trying to turn everyone against each other.

For Jaune, it was seeing her gain the power of the Maiden as he and Pyrrha ran away to leave Ozpin to fight her.

And for Ruby…it was her standing in Pyrrha's ashes and ready to pierce her chest with an arrow before everything turned silver.

"Aww, look at your faces." Cinder cooed, "It feels good knowing you all remember me. I can't say the feeling is mutual. Well, not for all of you anyway." Her eye settled on Ruby and a chill ran up the hooded girl's back, "Hello again, Ruby."

"Hey blondie," Mercury nodded at Yang, "You remember me? The poor guy you hurt in your careless rage?" He raised his leg and waved it limply, "You almost broke my poor leg, y'know~."

"No worries!" Yang growled and cocked her fists, "I'm gonna make an honest fucking man out of you today, you bitch!"

"Oscar, this isn't an idle situation. We need to retreat. We weren't prepared for a battle like this."

"Guys, we can't stay here." Oscar took a step back, "We need to - GAAAHHH!"

A piercing sonic attack made them all scream and cover their ears. Naruto fell to his knees, suffering and trying to cover both sets before the sound came to a sudden stop. As the Hunters slowly recovered, they looked up at a bandaged figure standing on the railing of the second floor, "Sorry, but your retreat isn't something we can permit at this time."

"W-Who is that?"

"That sound!" Naruto snapped up, his eyes narrowed at the bandaged assassin, "That's the sound I heard! The one in the forest while we were doing that job! We were being watched!" He snarled, "You bastard! Were you the one that sabotaged the tower?!"

"Merely altering their process for a few moments is all." Dosu jumped down to ground level as well, "Believe me, I was just surprised when you noticed me and started giving chase. I knew I could outrun you but I've never seen someone charge into Grimm so recklessly before."

The sound of shutting doors echoed through the lobby for everyone to hear. Looking back they saw Leonardo standing by the door and looking down in shame as a burly giant pulled them shut. He turned and noticed the attention he was getting, "Apologies, but with the White Fang working outside I thought it best we not disturb each other with our respective tasks."

"The White Fang is here?!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

It was only for a moment, but when he heard the piercing sound of that sonic warble he could see the people inside. He spotted the blonde girl that Blake had thrown herself over the night of the attack and the little fox traitor as well. A part of him wanted to abandon his duties and join in the fun they would have.

But he'd get his time after he was finished with his duty. He turned and announced to the dozens of masked Faunus making their way around the exterior of Haven, "Brothers and sisters of the White Fang, make sure every load-bearing structure and point of interest has been set with a charge! Before long we will bring this structure of restraint down, and everyone will see just how much the White Fang has changed the world!"

"YES!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Qrow's eyes widened and shuddered in place as he tried to comprehend everything. Raven had swarmed into Haven through an open door. Cinder and her lot had come through a portal and were ambushing them on the night they were supposed to make a plan to recover the Spring Maiden. And now the White Fang were setting up explosives to bring down not only the school but another CCT tower. And through it all, Qrow's eyes settled on one person…

"Leo," The lion Faunus flinched, "Tell me you didn't have a hand in this. Tell me you didn't bring us here just to…"

Still, their trusted friend and confidant looked away in shame.

Qrow nodded, disappointment evident on his face, "That's why. That's why Huntsmen and Huntresses have gone missing all over the Kingdom. Because you sent them there. You sent them into the slaughter just to thin the numbers."

"What?!" Naruto looked over at the lion Faunus as his face started turning red with anger, "HEY!" Leonardo flinched from the intensity in the young man's voice, "WERE YOU THE ONE WHO SENT MY DAD AND MY TEAMMATE ON A MISSION FOR MONTHS?!" Leo remained quiet, "WHAT ABOUT HIS TEAMMATES?! THE KIDS THEY LEFT BEHIND! DID YOU MAKE ORPHANS AND WIDOWS OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THESE FUCKS ASKED YOU TO?! SAY SOMETHING OR I SWEAR I'LL-"

"If you want to waste your breath yelling, you can turn it to me." Dosu spoke up and casually ignored the looks of fury aimed his way when he did, "I'm the one that handled the task of thinning the Hunter population in Mistral. Professor Lionheart may have given me the lists but I had to orchestra the plans, isolate the Hunters, and lead them to their demise."

"Stop. Talking." Free Rein spread over Naruto's arms, "Before I bash your skull in until you're bandaging up the mush that made your head."

Ruby's found it difficult to breathe in a situation as dangerous as this. Everyone is on edge and surrounded by their enemies. But she stepped up and looked directly at Raven, "Please don't help them." She quietly pleaded to the bandit leader, a subtle look of surprise on her face as the young Huntress addressed her, "I know things are bad and not that simple. You don't trust Ozpin or his fight. And Qrow and Yang…" Ruby looked up at Raven, "But you were still part of their team. You're someone my dad loved. You're someone Mom trusted with her life. I know there is still something we can do so please…don't do this."

Ruby's words lingered in the air for a moment before Cinder spared her collaborator a look, "Well? What do you think?"

Silence carried for several seconds before Raven's gaze fell on Ruby. Hesitation crossed her face looking into those silver pools before she closed her eyes, "You sound just like Summer. Back then…words like that would have convinced me to do anything." She opened her eyes again and Ruby looked devastated to see them so cold, "But I won't be convinced by those words. Not anymore."

Yang clicked her teeth in disgust at her mother, sparing a look to her little sister who tried to reach out and was turned down. She even tried to see the good in someone like Raven and was rewarded by being shot down so callously. Yang's eyes started to turn red as the desire to grab her birth mother and teach her a lesson grew even stronger.

An amused laugh slipped from Cinder's lips, "Well, there's your answer. I hope that was worth a few extra seconds of breath." A flame danced over her fingers as her eye focused on Ruby, "Now, I think I owe you something from that night on top of Beacon Tower, don't I, Ruby Rose?"

"What is wrong with you?"

Cinder quelled the flame and cast her eye toward Jaune, "Did you say something?"

"You had someone already on the inside…but you made them thin the numbers of the Kingdom. You had the Spring Maiden on your side…but you chose to wait for an attack. You have all the pieces in your hand…and you still go this far to – to what? Mock us? Humiliate us?" Jaune snarled, tears coming to his eyes as he cried out, "How does someone become as sick and twisted as you?! T-To get joy out of hurting others and seeing them in pain?! How can you even live with yourself, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

Cinder took his harsh words in stride even as they echoed off the walls and up to the ceiling. She stared at him in quiet judgment before she finally spoke, "I live with myself by garnering more and more power where I can find it. I make sure that those who try to stop me or get in the way are taken care of. And I'm enjoying this…because you lot have been nothing but a pain in the ass since Vale. For example," She smiled coyly while staring into Jaune's eyes, "Even though she couldn't hold a candle to me, I enjoyed getting rid of that Invincible Girl because she got in the way and tried to take from me what was mine. That's all there is to it."

His eyes widened in horror before he grits his teeth and drew Crocea Mors from his belt. Drawing his weapon was the signal for not just the rest of his comrades but for their enemies to do the same. Cinder smiled as she raised her hand and formed an obsidian blade.

"Come on," She smiled and twirled her blade over her hand, "If you're ready to throw your life away."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

The clash of Jaune's blade against Cinder's signaled the start of the pandemonium. Bullets and blades clashed all around the entrance of the school as things took a turn for the worse. But Jaune was only focused on the monster masquerading as a person in front of him. He clashed blades with Cinder, struggling to push the woman back as she smiled confidently and held him at bay. She pushed back and Jaune felt the pressure before bringing his shield in, "HA!"

He knocked Cinder's blade back and thrust for her head while she was off-balance. But Cinder easily stepped back, out of range of his sword, before stepping back in with a spin and landing a kick into his shield that sent Jaune sliding back several feet. He grits his teeth and stomped his foot as he came to a stop, glaring at Cinder over the rim of his shield as the red-clad woman snickered, "To think that a bumbling idiot like you would walk up and throw his life away without a second thought. Do you consider this bravery? I'm genuinely curious."

"Shut. Up." Jaune snarled as he realized just how fast and fierce the woman was. If he wanted to take her down he needed more! If he just had his stupid Semblance activate to help him! Or-

"JAUNE! DUCK!"

The scraggly young man immediately ducked, allowing Naurto to vault off his back and fly at Cinder with a roar. The black-haired woman narrowed her eye and riposted the machete swinging for her neck. Naruto quickly planted his feet and rushed in, trying to rush her from the side by her eyepatch so she couldn't react. But the obsidian blade rose to parry and counter each other in a rush of sparks so quickly it was almost impossible to tell how many swings they threw.

"NARUTO!"

Naruto clashed with Cinder one last time before he dropped to a knee and ducked. Jaune roared as he swung his sword, his shield shifted over it to create an even stronger sword that slammed into Cinder's glass blade. The Maiden's weapon wasn't prepared for a blow with such power, shattering to pieces in her grasp as his blade carried through.

Cinder deftly jumped and flipped back, avoiding getting grazed by his sword and gaining some distance away from her opponents. She looked down at the broken hilt in her hand and squeezed it tighter, superheating it to the point it melted in her grasp before summoning a new one, "My, how surprising to see the chaff putting up a resistance."

Jaune hefted his sword and stood ready as Naruto came to his side, "Thank you."

Naruto twisted the machete around in his grasp, "Remember the advice we got; never face a Maiden by yourself."

"Oh, that's incorrigible," Cinder scoffed, "The rejects think numbers are going to even the playfield."

Jaune snarled as Naruto chuckled, "Laugh it up, bitch. You're already down an eye and an arm. Keep that attitude and we'll be hacking a lot more off of you this time around."

As the two blonds took their stances, Cinder simply smiled in amusement. She looked down into her reflection in the blade and snickered, "You know, while we were planning everything back then…I had quite a fun time talking with Kushina Uzumaki." Her smile grew as she saw the shock cross Naruto's face, "She was always so bloody miserable about everything. Having all those gifts and all that power and yet she considered everything about her situation a burden. I despised her for that, but I tried to lift her spirits. Tell her about all the things we were doing. Our plans for your school. Seeing you and your father. I wonder…if I ever meet her again…how will she react when I tell her I've slain her child? Oh, now that would be a sight."

Cinder grinned from ear to ear as Naruto and Jaune roared while charging at her.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

From the back of the room, Hazel watched as the room devolved into madness and battle. Cinder and her apprentices quickly joined in on their separate fights as Qrow engaged with Raven. It seemed like any possibility of this being a quiet encounter was thrown out the window. As Leonardo cowardly slinked away, Hazel stood with his arms crossed and waited for the fight to come to a halt.

He heard the sound of something flying his way and stepped back as a grenade exploded at his feet. He swatted away the smoke and spotted two figures facing him down. With a sigh he looked down at them with subdued resignation, "We don't need to fight."

Nora's grenade launcher shifted back into a hammer as Ren kept the giant in his sights. She growled, "You're with the crazy woman who killed our teammate. As far as I'm concerned that means you're just as due for a beating as she is."

Hazel closed his eyes and exhaled before rolling his shoulders, "If that's what you want."

"Ren, go help the others. I can handle this big guy, and they probably need your help."

Ren spared a look between his partner and the giant. He knew just how strong Nora was but they didn't know this man's capabilities yet. But still…he just had to trust that she could handle herself.

"Good luck." He whispered as he turned and rushed toward the center of the room. He heard Nora yell as she engaged with Hazel as Ren looked around to see where the rest of his friends were fighting. He immediately spotted Jaune and Naruto confronting Cinder and a primal part of him wanted to make the red-clad woman pay for Pyrrha's demise. He rushed over-

The sudden mind-numbing tone was so loud it drowned out the sound of his screams. Ren toppled to the floor, nearly dropping Stormflower as he tried to cover his ears. As the deafening sound grew intense, Ren forced an eye open and spotted his assailant standing to the side and projecting the noise out from his gauntlet.

With a frantic scream, Ren pulled his hand away and wildly fired in Dosu's direction. The bandaged assassin had to stop and evade before he could be riddled with Ren's gunfire. Once the shooting finished, Dosu looked over at the pained expression on Ren's face, "I'm impressed that you were able to fire at me through the pain. As I've been told, that sound is excruciating and impossible to ignore."

Trying not to focus on how numb his hands and feet were after the sonic attack, Ren narrowed his eyes, "How many people have you killed? How many families' lives have you ruined?"

"Since I started this mission or in total?" Dosu asked rhetorically as his glove started to hum again, "The answer's the same either way; too many to count."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Weiss found herself squaring up against Vernal after the fighting had started. The arrogant bandit had launched a preemptive strike, throwing one of her weapons at the heiress' feet to separate her from the others. Now the short-haired Maiden walked towards her with a smirk, one weapon resting on her shoulder while the other hung by her hip, "Hello again, Schnee. Been a while since we last saw each other, huh?"

"Not nearly long enough for my stomach to settle." Weiss snarked while drawing her rapier, "I already knew you were a lowlife, but you've shacked up with these people to get what you want? That's just sad."

"I wouldn't expect a princess to know what it takes to survive in this world."

"There's doing what you have to do to survive, and then there's rolling around in the mud and filth saying you needed to do it." Weiss scoffed, "I expected nothing from you lot and somehow I'm still disappointed."

Vernal grits her teeth in frustration and charges forward. Weiss raised her blade and concentrated as the bandit drew closer. With a cocky grin, Vernal knew she'd never be able to focus on her Glyphs before she reached-

Something rushed at her from the corner of her eye and Vernal desperately guarded against the metal fist that nearly broke her chin. Vernal bounced off the ground and quickly picked herself up before glaring at Yang, "Raven's rejected daughter is interrupting now?"

"Hey, aren't you the second-rate replacement?" Yang joked while cocking her arms while Glyphs started to form around her, "Good thing you're a Maiden or you'd have nothing going for you."

Icicles shot out of Weiss' Glyphs and Yang burst forward to rush alongside them. Vernal yelled and fired lasers from her weapons, obliterating the icicles flying toward her before they could reach her. But Yang still rushed in, vaulting and slipping under the lasers before she came upon the bandit.

A Glyph formed under Vernal before she could prepare to strike and pushed her off the ground. Yang grabbed her collar and immediately slammed her into the ground hard enough to crack it. Vernal groaned and then got a kick to the head that sent her skidding over the floor only to stop as another Glyph caught her and kept her locked in place.

The two Huntresses had practiced with Naruto in preparation for overwhelming a Maiden. As Vernal struggled to try and escape Weiss' trap it was clear that training went to good use, even if their third member was busy dealing with a different Maiden. Weiss kept Vernal pinned and Yang rushed in to land another blow-

A foot swung up into Yang's chin, knocking her head back and leaving her chest open for a follow-up kick. As she watched her teammate get sent flying, Weiss could barely raise a defense in time to block the multiple projectiles shot in her direction. They exploded all around her and her Glyphs disintegrated.

Vernal caught her breath and looked up as Mercury landed by her side, "I didn't ask for your help?"

"Do you think I care about what you want?" He scoffed before stepping forward, eyes focused on Yang as she slowly picked herself up, "Hey Blondie, it kinda sucks I had to throw that fight back in the tournament just to get all eyes on you, huh?" The cocky fighter started to roll his foot on the ground with a smirk, "How about I settle the grudge match here and now?"

"I said I was gonna make an honest man out of you by breaking your legs." A snarl escaped Yang's teeth as she looked at him with red eyes, "But I think I'll just grab your head and twist it off instead!"

"Yang, focus!" Weiss warned her teammate as she stood beside her and faced Vernal alongside Mercury, "One slip up and we won't be able to make another."

Yang cocked her arms and raised her fists, "I know."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Ruby flinched as the sound of Qrow's blade harshly clashing against Raven's deafened everything else around them. She couldn't hear what they were whispering, but the way Qrow's face lit up with anger and rage was unlike anything she had ever seen from him. And the quiet reservation on Raven's face made it clear she wasn't suddenly going to regret making this decision.

The young Huntress looked around the room and saw all the fights occurring simultaneously. Nora was rushing forward and swinging her hammer as the giant man that had blocked their entrance took her blows in stride with his arm. Not too far away from them, Ren was keeping his distance from the bandaged strange dodging his bullets. It looked like Oscar was laying low to the side – something she was thankful for because she didn't want the young man charging into battle just yet. Yang and Weiss were holding off the Spring Maiden and Mercury together. Naruto and Jaune were rushing Cinder, attacking her from all sides as she conjured fire to keep them back.

It was madness and there was no way it was going to calm down until it was over. So she knew she couldn't just stand around anymore. Nora and Ren seemed to be handling their fights. Qrow would never let her interfere. She wanted to help her sister and partner more than anything. But she knew where the most dangerous fight in the room needed her help.

She picked up Crescent Rose and prepared to join the fight with Cinder-

Before everything around her suddenly went black as night

Ruby froze in fright when she was surrounded by darkness. She tightly gripped her weapon and looked around in a panic to try and find the cause of the anomaly. But suddenly she cried out as she felt a gunshot hit the Aura around her knee. And something trying to slash through her shoulder. The glancing blows hit her again and again-

"AHH!" Ruby jumped and rushed with her Semblance, flying off the ground and into the air before reforming. When she did the darkness had vanished and she looked down to see Emerald looking up at her in shock. Crescent Rose spun in her grasp as she fired and was sent back by the recoil.

Emerald jumped back and watched Ruby sail back before landing and rushing towards her with another recoil. With a hiss, Emerald started firing from one pistol while her other one extended its chain. Ruby kept rushing, dodging the bullets, or blocking them with her scythe. The former thief yelled and swung her chain and sickle, forcing Ruby to block the attack before she could make her own. Emerald dodged aside and Ruby landed before they both aimed their guns at each other.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to make things worse than they already are?"

"Cinder wants the Maiden, and the school is just a casualty of it. If it's what she wants I'll do anything to help."

"Why would you go that far for - for someone like her?"

"Pfft," Emerald scoffed, "Spoken like someone who's never had to claw and grip onto love for their entire life." She raised her pistols with Ruby in her crosshairs, "I'm getting her that Maiden and that's the end of it."

With a growl, Ruby cocked Crescent Rose again and prepared for a fight.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Keep your head down. We don't know what all of these people are capable of."Oscar kept low to the ground and heard gunshots and explosions go off in every direction, "We'll keep an eye out for an opportunity to move away so we aren't in the middle of this."

It was only Ozpin's calm and levelheaded words that were keeping Oscar's heart from bursting out of his chest during this madness. This was only his second time in the middle of a fight like this since the Branwen raid on the Hyūga camp. It had been weeks and he had gotten more experience but the panic was making Oscar blank on what he should do next. Keep down. Stay calm. Wait for the chance to move and-

"The professor," During the fighting Oscar spotted Leonardo staying close to the wall and trying to slink his way to the stairs, "He's trying to get away! We can't let him!"

"Oscar, don't do anything rash."

"But he's escaping!"

"And we can't fight him like this. Leonardo has years of experience and training, and we can't use our weapon here."

The young farmhand raised an eyebrow as he reached back. He felt Long Memory hitched to his belt, "But we've got it-"

"Don't use it!" Oscar's hand pulled back in surprise at Ozpin's intensity, "Do you see that man fighting with Ms. Valkyrie?" Oscar spared a look back at his orange-haired friend and the man she was fighting, "He is a man from my past. A man who hates me deeply. If you pull out that weapon and he discovers who we are, this fight will devolve from a manageable skirmish to an outright slaughter."

"We can't just let him go." Oscar pulled his hand away, eyes still focused on Leo as he got closer to the stairs, "He can't just run and hide after doing all this." He could feel Ozpin's apprehension, "I know it might be too soon, but everyone is doing their part and I didn't come here to be a burden!"

"Alright, I'll help when I can. Give you pointers and tips about how to fight him. But whatever you do you can't take out your weapon, understood?"

With a nod, he sprinted off the ground and rushed through the spaces between fights. He kept his head low to avoid bullets and icicles before he reached the other wall. With a yell, Oscar rushed along the wall, jumped through the air, and kicked Leonardo in the back so he slammed into the stairs before he could climb them.

The older Huntsman let out a groan before turning to Oscar, "What - what are you doing? Get out of here, young man! Run while you still have your life!"

"I'm not letting you get away."

"Don't," Leonardo picked himself up, "Don't waste your time fighting! I'm getting away from this mess as fast as I can!"

"You don't just get to run away!" Oscar quickly rushed up the stairs and blocked his path, "Not when you're responsible for this! For all of this!"

"I-I did my part! Only what they forced me to do! But nothing more!" Leo stepped forward and Oscar stepped back, "Dammit, boy, do you not understand the dangers we are in! We need to be escaping instead of throwing our lives away in some self-righteous argument of ideals!"

"Are you insane?!" He yelled, Leo flinching from his sudden ferocity, "We trusted you! Everyone trusted you! You're the headmaster of Haven - the people of Mistral look to you for guidance and help! Ozpin believes in you to help protect the world from the fight in the shadows! How could you-"

"Ozpin?!" Leonardo interrupted him, his voice raising with indignation at the young boy's chiding, "You talk about trust in Ozpin?! I trusted him! I helped him! I joined his fight in the shadows thinking that we would have each other's back! I believed that no matter what might come our way I could believe in him to look out for us! B-But he turned his back on us! Simply says he trusted us and let us be! We floundered without his protection and guidance! And that's when she dug her claws into me!"

"I didn't want to do this! I didn't want to turn my back on the people that believed in me! That trusted me! B-But I wasn't about to throw my life away! I wasn't about to die! Because those were my only choices; obey or die!" Leo panted, "I-I thought Ozpin would notice! I thought he would have been prepared for her to do something like this and help me! But I was left alone! Trusted to handle myself and left out for that demon to take hold instead!" He yelled, "Whatever Ozpin believed in wasn't good enough to protect us from her!"

Anger swelled up in Oscar's stomach at the coward's excuses but he felt in the depths of his mind…regret? Ozpin must have truly felt sorry for not being able to help Leonardo when he needed it most. But no matter how he tried to word it, Oscar refused to let the man pass the buck for his misdeeds. The young farmhand almost reached for his weapon but remembered Ozpin's warning, raising his fists and taking a battle stance instead.

"I warned you, child." Leo quietly muttered as the device around his forearm extended into a shield with Dust markers over its exterior. He turned the wheel of the shield, selecting the brown and red Dust to create a flaming stone over it, "If you won't retreat willingly, you have only yourself to blame for what happens next."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Adam spared a look back at the entrance door to the school. Even with it closed he could hear the intensifying battle inside. The flashes of gunfire every few seconds through the windows and even a crack along the wall as damage started to bleed through to the outside.

He was tempted to look in and check what was happening. If Cinder hadn't already finished in her goals then it must have been quite an intense fight.

"High Leader!" A pair of his followers came to his side and bowed their heads before speaking, "We have finished planting the charges at the specified points around the school."

"Once we have gotten the signal, press this button," They handed him the detonator, "And this monument to the status quo will crumble."

"Excellent." Adam smiled smugly before pocketing the detonator, "Have our brothers and sisters clear the zone. I'll go check inside and…see for myself how things are going."

The frightened look on Yang Xiao Long's face when she saw him again. And the fear that'll make Naruto Uzumaki freeze in space. How he'll enjoy making them pay on her behalf-

"ADAM!"

The red-haired madman stopped when the familiar voice called him out. He turned and looked up to see a figure posted on the edge of one of the school's buildings to look down at him.

The fierce determination and focus in her eyes…almost reminded him of the days they worked together to change the world.

"Blake," He smiled, "You found me…and I didn't even have to wait for you to be delivered this time. I was getting impatient with the Albains' delay-"

"They've been deposed, Adam. Your revolution in Menagerie is no more."

Honestly, he'd already considered that when their updates had stopped coming in. Seeing her here confirmed as much. He sighed before his smug smile returned, "So you're here now of your own choice? Have you finally decided that it's time to return to my side?"

"Adam…everyone…stop now!" She called out at the top of her lungs, "This plan won't be for the benefit of anyone! If you go through with it, you'll just be making the divide between humans and Faunus more severe! Just…stop now! Please!"

Her voice echoed through the courtyard and to every member of the White Fang she could see. Adam looked around, sparing a glance towards the dozens of followers he brought and gauging their responses. Although some of their faces may have been a little strained after her words, he felt no doubt or regret from his most trusted followers.

He smiled, "We aren't afraid of whatever comes next, Blake. You may have thrown your lot in with humans and betrayed us, but we are more resilient than you can imagine. Maybe you'll finally realize that when we stand victorious over mankind."

Blake solemnly shook her head, "I'm not going to wait for you to destroy everything…and neither are they."

A sharp whistle echoed through the school and a steady footfall started to grow in intensity. Adam's eyes narrowed behind his mask as he saw dozens if not hundreds of people start to emerge from the trees surrounding Haven. In moments the White Fang invading forces were surrounded by a mob of armed Faunus.

The other masked members were startled and unsettled by the numbers that surrounded them. Some even noticed familiar faces among the crowd; friends and family they left behind in Menagerie before they joined the White Fang's efforts. Their resolve wavered-

"Ahahaha!" A boisterous laugh echoed through the courtyard and dissolved the quiet tension that had been building. Adam chuckled and shook his head before looking up at his former partner, "Blake, is this the depths you're willing to take? Bringing some of the defenseless citizens of Menagerie here in hopes of what exactly? Swaying our convictions?"

"They wanted to step up and stop the terror however they could."

"Well, did you train them at least?" He scoffed, "No, because then they might be a credible threat, right? You probably opted to keep them weak and defenseless, to guilt us into lowering our weapons and surrendering. That would be something you'd do. Well, Blake, if you want to throw all these people in our way hoping it'll stop us-"

"They came to convince your people to stop. We came for a fight."

Adam looked to the front of the crowd and saw several people emerge. Blake's father. Her friends. Some Huntsmen. And oddly enough…his former partner in crime.

"Kushina," Adam tilted his head with a snicker. He looked back at the front entrance to the school before shaking his head, "Oh, this must be divine intervention. To have so many people showing up in front of me on this night of triumph! Brothers and sisters!" He reached for his blade and slowly drew it out, "Fight how you must, but do not let these people get in the way of our mission!"

"Yes sir!"

Blake looked down at the other White Fang members sadly, knowing they were too indoctrinated to deny his orders now. She pulled Gambol Shroud off her back and leaped off the building, landing in front of her friends and glaring Adam down as the red-haired madman smirked maliciously.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Jaune's blade clashed against Cinder's spear, the one-eyed woman smiling cockily as her weapon started to glow with fire. She leaned in close, Jaune almost seeing his reflection in her amber eye before it started to glow. Before she could attack, Naruto slid by their side and slashed at Cinder's legs. She jumped and released a giant burst of fire to blow both blonds back.

Ruby flinched at the rush of flames coming in from the side that nearly cooked her. The moment of pause was enough for Emerald to rush in and attack. Her sickles clashed and cut along Ruby's scythe, and the younger girl quickly spun her weapon around to force her opponent back. Emerald retreated back and rapidly started firing as the hooded Huntress rushed around with Petal Burst.

Bullets flew by the twins as their blades clashed in a flurry of strikes. Qrow and Raven leaned in, baring their teeth at each other in the struggle before they pushed each other back. Raven sheathed her sword, rotating the blades of her weapon and drawing out a green Dust blade to use next. Qrow's Harbinger shifted into a scythe and he leaped forward, spinning the scythe in his grasp before he brought it down on Raven. She barely blocked the blade, the ground cracking from the force of the impact before her Dust activated and kicked up a vortex of wind around her and her brother.

Yang's hair whipped around from the force of the wind but she remained focused on the opponent in front of her. She roared and rushed forward with a burst from her gauntlets. Mercury crouched and then flipped over Yang as she barreled toward him, throwing several quick kicks at her back that sent her bouncing off the ground. But a Glyph appeared under her and stopped her movement, giving Yang a chance to recover and jump up to punch Mercury across the face.

Weiss tried to support her teammate in battle but had to quickly jump back and guard as Vernal rushed in with a swing of her blades. Myrtenaster was nearly torn out of Weiss' hands before she flipped back and vaulted off another Glyph. She used her Semblance to gain some height and avoid Vernal's reach but then had to avoid the beams she fired from her curved blades. The former heiress clicked her teeth and glared down at the smirking bandit as her lasers cut into the wall above her.

Debris came dropping down and Dosu had to roll out of the way before trying to activate his sound wave gauntlet again. A spray of bullets forced him to raise his gauntlet and block them as best he could. Ren rushed at Dosu and swiped at his leg, the bandaged man jumping over his kick and stumbling back when he landed. With a yell of anger, Ren started to swipe and swing at Dosu with the blades of Stormflower. He wouldn't allow the bandaged assassin a moment to activate his sound and disorient him again. Dosu blocked his arm, grabbed his gun, and tried to pry it out of his grasp before Ren started to fire off to the side.

The bullets riddled the ground and Nora jumped over them as she yelled and brought her hammer down. Hazel blocked it with the cross of his arms, letting out a faint grunt as the ground cracked under his feet from the force of her swing. He threw his arms out and knocked Nora back, rotating his shoulders for a moment to ease the stress of them. Nora clicked her teeth in frustration before her hammer shifted form and she sent a barrage of pink grenades at the stoic giant.

The ground shook with each explosion and Oscar stumbled trying to regain his balance. He felt something hot come flying at him and rolled aside as a flaming chunk of rock exploded where he once stood. Quickly gaining his footing again he scrambled off the ground and rushed towards Leonardo. The traitorous Huntsman activated his shield, icicles forming over his arm before darting forward and forcing Oscar to dodge.

The young farmhand panted and kept his distance from Leonardo, "This isn't working."

"We just need to wait for an opening. The moment when he's activating the Dust on Stalwart is our best chance to attack. Wait for my signal."

Leonardo scowled seeing the little stranger rush and avoid his attacks so many times. With a growl he activated Stalwart again, shifting to a wind Dust and creating ball-

"Now!"

"HA!" Oscar kicked a chunk of debris by his foot straight at Leonardo's head. The lion Faunus had to stop mid-attack to dodge the projectile and Oscar rushed in at that moment. As Lionheart lifted his shield to fire, Oscar jumped up and narrowly kicked his hand aside before the wind attack could be shot.

Oscar dashed in and started throwing punches and kicks at the treacherous headmaster. Leonardo growled as he guarded against the young farmhand's barrage of attacks. They were undisciplined and wild but they did the job of forcing the Huntsman to only block before he could use his shield to attack again.

Leonardo swiped at Oscar's head, but a warning from Ozpin let the young boy dodge under it before he got hit. He dropped to the ground and swept Leonardo's leg out from under him as he toppled over with a gasp.

"Good job, Oscar." Ozpin congratulated the boy as he stood on guard over Leonardo as the treacherous headmaster glared up at him, "Just keep him grounded like that and we'll be able to-"

"AAAHHHH!"

"JAUNE! RUBY! GAH!"

Oscar looked up in time to see Naruto being forced to a knee as Cinder raised her hand with a ball of flames over it. She sneered viciously as Naruto tried to react before she attacked, "NARUTO!"

Oscar jumped over Leonardo and rushed over without thinking, grabbing his weapon before it was too late.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

The flames surrounding Cinder and her obsidian weapons didn't weaken for even a moment. Staying on their guard, Naruto and Jaune made sure they were ready for anything the scar-faced woman threw at them.

Flames raged in her hand and she released a fireball in their direction. Jaune stepped forward and tried to block the fireball with his great sword. The flames clashed against his weapon but he managed to hold them off. Cinder had rushed in with her attack, her stance low as she swung up towards Jaune's ribs.

Naruto kicked her head and forced her to stop her attack. With a yell, he rushed in after her and started slashing at her again. Fire lit up in her eyes and along her arm, as she started to parry and riposte his machete, releasing flames to try and engulf the whiskered blond every time their weapons clashed. The heat felt like it would blister his skin if he didn't have Aura to protect him, but Naruto refused to back away and pressed the raven-haired woman back.

Cinder blocked his machete on her blade, drawing their swords aside as she and Naruto got so close they could see into each other's eyes, "Heh, you truly are Kushina's son; all bark and no substance."

"Keep talking, bitch," Naruto growled, "We'll see where that gets you!" The Aura from Free Rein extended and encircled her hand and weapon to keep her locked in place, "JAUNE!" With a yell the other blond Huntsman rushed in, Crocea Mors armed at his side as he aimed to cleave through Cinder with a single swing. The Fall Maiden scoffed and dropped her weapon, jumping back and flipping away to gain some distance from her foes. Jaune growled in frustration as Naruto picked himself up and faced down Cinder-

There was a hissing and intense heat by their feet.

Naruto looked down and saw the obsidian weapon start to glow white with heat, "MOVE!" He pushed Jaune back and kicked the weapon away from them as it exploded an instant later. Naruto was blown off his feet and hit the floor as Jaune just barely raised his shield in time to guard. Jaune's eyes were clouded by the smoke, hearing only the faint buzz in his ears and Naruto's coughing on the ground. Jaune tried to look through the smoke to find Cinder again.

He saw the orange and red glow of another weapon through the smoke. A long spear formed in Cinder's hand and she hefted it up to throw-

But not at them.

Jaune realized where she was aiming and the vicious grin stretched her cheeks. She threw her spear to the side, straight towards the fight between Emerald and-

"RUBY!" Jaune rushed in, dove in front of his friend, and shielded himself against the spear soaring towards them. It exploded with vicious force and blew him back, "AHHH!"

"JAU- AHH!" Ruby screamed as Jaune slammed into her, knocking her off her feet as they rolled across the ground.

Naruto groaned and picked himself up before he noticed his friends on the ground, "JAUNE! RUBY!" He was about to run to their side before something slammed down on his hand, "GAH!" Cinder's heel was pinning and grinding his hand to the floor. He looked up and saw the sadistic woman standing over him with another weapon in hand. Projecting his Aura, he prepared to take her attack-

"NARUTO!"

Oscar's cane swung in and knocked Cinder's blade away before it could fall on him. With Cinder now disarmed, Naruto growled and yanked his hand out from under her heel. He scrambled up to his feet and stood by Oscar's side as the two-faced down the red-clad Maiden.

"You…that cane…" Cinder looked down at Long Memory in Oscar's hand, a drop of cold sweat running down the farm boy's cheeks. The realization grew in Cinder's eye as she scoffed, "I was wondering why these fools would pick up some random kid to join them but it makes sense now. You're Ozpin, aren't you?"

Naruto snarled and stepped in front of Oscar defensively, "You're not coming anywhere near him!"

"O-Ohoho," Cinder chuckled, catching her breath and shaking her head, "I'm not the one you should be guarding him from."

"OZPPPPIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!"

Everyone froze in place as the primal roar from the front of the lobby caused the ground to shake. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Oscar nervously looked over in the direction it came from.

Hazel's face had twisted into a mask of fury and anger. Gone was the measured expression of a man who didn't want to use violence to resolve his issues. The way his arms tensed, and hands clenched into fists, made it clear that the aversion to violence he had shown at the start of this confrontation had disappeared.

Nora yelled and tried to bring her hammer down on his head only for him to grab the shaft before she could swing it. With a roar, Hazel turned and threw Nora straight into the wall hard enough for it to crack. Not once during this did his eyes ever wander from Oscar's terrified expression, "You were here this whole time? And you were hiding, you coward!" Hazel snarled and showed his teeth, stomping forward as he ripped off his vest, "I shouldn't be surprised. You knew I was here, and knew what I would do when I found you."

Oscar's grip trembled in fear, "W-What do we do?"

"Run! Oscar, just run! Don't let him get to you!"

"I swear, in her memory," His hands dipped into his pockets, removing two yellow Dust crystals and holding them out to his side. Veins bulged in his neck as he yelled, "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY WITH YOUR LIFE! OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!"

Stabbing the crystals into his arms, a rush of yellow light started to flow through his veins and down to his hands. His muscles bulged with energy as a guttural groan started to echo from Hazel's chest. Everyone in the room watched in shock as the giant man seemed to grow even larger, his face contorted with fury and murderous intent.

"Oscar!" Naruto stood in front of his friend, "Stay behind me! I can-"

"Poor boys don't know when they're out of their league."

They both looked back and saw a fireball form in Cinder's hand before it exploded towards them. Naruto blocked and was sent flying back as Oscar dropped to the ground and covered his head. He caught his breath and started getting up before he felt the ground shake beneath him.

"OSCAR, MOVE!"

The young man looked back and saw Hazel charging at him like a bull, a roar tearing from his lips as he punched and sent a bolt of lightning flying at Oscar. The frightened farmhand quickly jumped aside and slammed into the ground, feeling the floor shake underneath him and scampering up to his feet as he raised his cane in defense.

Hazel towered over him like a giant, stomping forward and glowering at the young man who kept retreating out of his reach, "You know you have this coming."

"W-What are you talking about?" Oscar stammered, "Why are you coming after us?!"

The towering giant stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he took a moment to look at Oscar without his fury clouding his mind. He noticed the boy's frightened expression, "You…you're just the vessel, aren't you? The next unfortunate soul to have to host that parasitic bastard." He looked down at Oscar pitifully, "I'm sorry, but I can't let that stop me. I need to make Ozpin pay for what he's done. And you're just another poor soul he's dragged into it."

"W-What?" Oscar panicked, "What are you talking about?!"

"Did he not even tell you about me?" Hazel stared at him judgmentally, "How he destroyed my life? Or was it just one more you could forget about in the endless sea of dead bodies and sacrifices you've made?"

Oscar tried to catch his breath before he whispered, "What is he talking about?"

"His sister, Gretchen Rainheart, was a student of mine. She was kind and had a bright future as a Huntress. But she enrolled at my school against Hazel's wishes and I believed she should have an opportunity to achieve her dream. But while out on a training mission something went wrong – and Gretchen lost her life. Hazel has never recovered from the loss of his sister, and he's never forgiven me for my part in her death."

Oscar blinked, looking up down at the floor before turning to Hazel, "Your sister?"

"That's right. She was the only person I had left in my life, and she was killed because Ozpin didn't see her as a child, but as another pawn to use."

"But was it her choice?"

"What?"

"Didn't she choose this life? To be a Huntress? To put her well-being on the line to help others who need it? She knew that this might happen - all of them know that when they choose this path! Wouldn't she have done anything, even risk her life, if that meant helping people?"

Hazel stared down at Oscar silently before giving a small nod, "Yes, she knew the risk. And she made the choice regardless of what it meant to her safety."

"Right, so you can't blame Ozpin for-"

"And he knew that."

Oscar stopped, "What?"

"He knew she was a selfless, kind soul like that. That she would give herself body and soul to protecting others, even if she wasn't wholly prepared for such an endeavor. He knew that. He preyed upon that. He's always looking for the eager new blood to indoctrinate into his war - a war he knows none of them will ever win." Hazel darkly muttered, sparing a look back at the other fights occurring at the same time, "Did you let them think they were special too? That they could do something to help? How long will it be before you forget about them as well?"

"Don't say that!" A defiant yell came from Oscar, his fear subsiding to anger as he glared, "Don't talk about them like they're dead! We'll stop all of you, and we chose to be here! Just like me!"

"You?" Hazel continued to look at him pitifully, "The moment he landed in your head, any choice you could have made for yourself was tainted. That's why you've left the life you lived before and came here. That's why you're in the middle of a fight you've no right being in." He stepped forward, "And that's why you have to deal with me now."

Oscar held his breath and faced the towering juggernaut as he stepped forward. He was prepared to try and attack Hazel before he noticed the shadow descending from behind the giant's back.

"HA!" Naruto dropped down from above and slashed at the back of Hazel's neck, stunning the man for a second before he could attack Oscar. Hazel yelled and tried to grab Naruto but the speedy blond leaped off his shoulders, swiping at his face and chest as he fell before landing in front of Oscar, "I won't let you touch him!"

"N-Naruto!"

"Get out of my way, kid." Hazel grumbled, "This doesn't concern you."

"If you're gonna try and hurt my friend, then yeah it concerns me, jackass."

"He's not your friend. You're just another pawn to him-"

"SHUT UP!"

Naruto swiftly lunged forward, swiping his machete against Hazel's giant body and impacting his Aura several times in a second. The giant man may have had power and stature, but the blond could easily stay out of his reach before stepping back in to attack. Ducking under his arms, moving by his flank, and sliding under his legs to attack his back proved that Naruto was too quick for Hazel to catch. Covering his arm in Free Rein, Naruto leaped up over Hazel and with a roar brought his machete swinging down towards the bearded man's face.

His slash carried through and Naruto landed in a crouch after his critical attack. There was a moment when Naruto let out a breath of relief that he was able to protect his friend…

Before he noticed how light the blade in his hand had become.

Turning back in shock, Hazel's fist slammed into his cheek and sent him bouncing bodily off the ground. Hazel caught the dazed blond by his collar, holding him up as he spat the chunks of the machete he caught between his teeth out towards the ground, "I told you this wasn't your fight."

"Naruto!" Oscar panicked, "Let him go, now!"

"I'm surprised you even bothered remembering his name." Hazel said spitefully, "Or are you still just the kid having to carry that bastard around?"

"I said let him go!"

"But he jumped in of his own choice. That's important, right? Like you said; the choice we make matters, right?"

"I-I-"

"Well here's a choice for you," Hazel glared, "Drop your weapon, bring out Ozpin, and let me end you. If you don't, your friend here is going to suffer." Hazel lifted Naruto before wrapping his arms around the young Faunus, his giant forearms covering the blond's back whole as he squeezed him tightly, "What's it going to be?"

"D-Don't-"

"That's not a choice!" Hazel yelled, lightning starting to arc and crackle off his arms, "You die, or this 'friend' you speak of becomes another causality! CHOOSE!"

Hazel squeezed Naruto against his body, the blond's eyes shooting open in panic and pain as electricity started running through his body.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

In all the fighting and yelling, Blake could swear she heard someone screaming at the top of their lungs. But she had to push that concern down and focus because even a moment's distraction could end poorly for them all.

They had more than double the numbers of White Fang present in the Haven courtyard, but it was clear as day the masked warriors had greater skills and experience. Probably because of the teachings Yagura gave to the Menagerie sect spreading out throughout the whole organization. They were forced onto the backfoot while some of their best fighters focused on the greatest threat.

Blake slammed her blades down onto Adam's katana, feeling no give as he matched her power with a single hand. And from underneath her Kushina slipped in, wreathed in her Aura, and with a furious roar punched at the redhead. Adam twisted his blade around, taking the brunt of her attack against the flat of his sword and getting sent flying back. But his feet landed and he skid to a halt before sheathing his sword and drawing it in an instant.

"Move!"

Blake just barely yelled out a warning as she jumped and avoided a Moonslice that cleaved through the ground beneath her. She and Kushina quickly recovered and took stances to fight again, "Adam, just give it up! This fight is over!"

"Is it?" He asked rhetorically while sheathing his sword again, "You're the ones retreating from my attacks. And my men seem to be holding off your ragtag little army well enough."

"But not for long." Kushina countered, and they all knew she was right. With the help of Ghira, Minato, Jiraiya, Sun, and Tenten fighting alongside the others, the White Fang forces could only hold out for so long, "Your goons only have so long before they get beat. Maybe you should call for backup. Don't wanna lose this chance."

Adam's mouth thinned and his grip on his sheath tightened.

"Yeah, you can't reach your guys either, right? We tried to call but the communications were down. But it cuts both ways and I bet the backup you had prepared is taking too long to notice, right? I guess Danzō could never quite teach you to be patient and think things through, huh?"

"It's over, Adam. This isn't going to go how you think. And this isn't worth dying over."

He just scoffed in response, "I guess that's where we've never seen eye-to-eye, Blake. This is a fight and my men are more than willing to die over. More importantly," He drew his sword back out, "It's a fight we're willing to kill over. And with all these poor bystanders you've dragged into this…I suppose I'll have to show you that fact myself."

Disgusted at his blatant disregard for life, Blake clicked her tongue and raised her blades. Kushina took a stance beside her and Adam leveled his sword…

But their attention was drawn away from the fight before they noticed a shadow pass over them. And when they looked up they saw something crest over the top of the school.

Everyone in the courtyard froze when they saw multiple Airships fly over the air above them and hover in place. All were emblazoned with the White Fang's logo on their side.

"A-Ahaha-AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" A maniacal laughter tore from Adam's throat as he looked up at his incoming cavalry. As Blake and the others shuddered in horror, Adam continued to revel in the moment, "Look! Do you see that, Blake?! How can you see a moment like this and not believe that our crusade was meant to happen?! It's all falling into place!" He looked up at the Airships, "Victory is ours for the taking!"

The Airships flickered in the sky before disappearing altogether.

Everyone watching was left in silent disbelief that the fleet of ships just vanquished into thin air above them. No one was more shocked and bewildered than Adam, staring up at the sky and barely registering what happened.

He didn't notice the fist coming for his face until the knuckles were on his cheek.

"URGH!" Adam went flying back and rolled along the ground after taking the punch to the face. He groaned, feeling the sting even through his Aura, and looked up at his assailant. His eye narrowed in spiteful fury, "You!"

"I wondered what the best way to leave you open would be." The man said as one hand settled on the white hilt of the katana at his side, "And what better way than to let you feel like everything's going your way?"

"Sasuke Uchiha!"

Everyone stared at Sasuke as he looked down at the bull Faunus with piercing red eyes, "Hello again, Adam Taurus. We're here to stop your madness, once and for all."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Done

I finally finished writing the finale and I'm already on the way with Volume 6! If I'm lucky it won't take as long to finish or update it as past volumes have. But hell, I've made that promise before.

But I can tell you now…there was something I missed about writing this story for a while…and it finally hit me what it was while I was finishing.

Anyway, things are hitting the climax! All the fights are going on. Betrayal and anger and emotions on high. Hazel is on roids like a motherfucker, and Blake's crew has an unexpected visitor stepping in.

You know, I've always seen people disregard Hazel and his motives a lot during Volume 5. I think he was helped tremendously by his action and words in Volume 8, but there was always something that I thought could have been fixed about him here.

Oscar's words seemed to hit him so harshly when they first talked, as if his whole motive was shaken to his core by a kid's words. It almost seemed like Oscar talk-no-jutsu'd him so quickly even Naruto would be shocked. But it could have been remedied if we'd just seen it like this.

Ozpin had done this before. So many times. Not heartlessly or maliciously, but repeatedly. Hazel's story is what has happened over and over again in his time in Remnant. Hell, I'm pretty sure Taiyang could become Hazel if he lost his girls as well.

I just always wanted to give him more, and I hope I did here.

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