On a Ferry, Porting with Vale's Docks - The Next Morning
[ X ]
"Ah." A lone, gruff figure inhaled the briny air, perched on the railing at the tip of the bow.
An act that only allowed him to stand as tall as many of the sailors and patrons aboard the vessel.
This fact did not bother him. He simply exhaled as he overlooked the city the ship was docking at. Sure, his size made him stand out, as did the orange hoodie that obscured most of his body, leaving only his tiny, furry legs visible.
Legs that belonged to a feline standing upright.
In fact, everything about Jubei stood out in this world.
There may have been individuals with animal characteristics, but a full catman was not naturally found on Remnant. And that was a correct assessment.
He was not from this world.
It happened during an incident years ago, when a vile computer system set on conquering worlds set their sights on his world, along with three others. It was eventually stopped thanks to the efforts of heroes from all four.
But at the last second, something went wrong. His apprentice was almost absorbed by the system's glitch.
That was something Jubei could not allow. Ragna was the one who would shape his world. So he pushed him out of the way and fell into the void of darkness for what felt like years, only to find himself... Here.
A world that he had only heard about from four lovely young ladies... For the fifth member of the entourage couldn't talk...
And was actively trying to kill the group's leader.
He had thought to seek them out for assistance, but it was not to be. Whatever that glitch in the system was, it sent him to Remnant years before the girl had even entered school. Only two of them had begun to train!
If he were to return home, Jubui would have to seek his own path.
And on that path, he found himself a new apprentice.
"Heh, seems like something happened here at the docks," Jubei mused as the ship slowly docked in the port.
He noted the smoldering ruins of one of the warehouses and the damage outside. Jubei flatly stared before he sighed, his ears twitching as he caught the conversation of nearby sailors.
"Did you hear? A group of Academy students attempted to apprehend a major player of the White Fang last night?"
"Doesn't seem like it went well." Another sailor scoffed.
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Jubei muttered, lowering his head shamefully. "The kid is just like Ragna. Wherever he goes, chaos follows."
"It's even worse when he's together with his sister. They are just magnets for trouble."
[ X ]
Morning before Class, Beacon Academy
[ X ]
This morning was a disaster!
Last night was a mess! With having to deal with the police and with Headmaster Ozpin after what happened last night, they were lucky they were still allowed to attend Beacon!
That was an almost unreasonable amount of collateral damage! And so much Dust was lost!
Father was going to be so upset!
Weiss was glad she wasn't back home and wouldn't have to hear it firsthand. She winced when she thought of her mother before scowling. She would likely be inebriated and wouldn't care...
And Father rarely ever scowled or raised his voice at Whitley... His perfect little son.
Ugh!
Weiss was beyond frustrated. But it did not show as her outer expression was calm and collected as they walked to class. It would not do to burden her friends... teammates... with her problems.
They were hers, and she had to handle them.
Not to mention that he was a major reason for her problem. Weiss couldn't bring up to his adopted sister that she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between them last night!
That Naruto, a Faunus, had selflessly jumped in the way of a fatal attack that was aimed toward her. An attack that was directed toward her by another Faunus, whom he and her teammate had considered their friend at one time.
Weiss couldn't make sense of what had happened. She had rushed in because Blake foolishly ran ahead instead of going as a team.
She understood why. Weiss would likely do the same in a similar situation. That made perfect sense.
What didn't make sense was what Naruto did! He had to know who she was! Her family's reputation with the Faunus community... wasn't the best. Supposedly, at one time, when her grandfather ran the company, it wasn't like this.
Yet... He didn't hesitate. And it frustrated her that she couldn't get him out of her mind cause of that!
"Yo! Remnant to Weiss. Ya there?" Weiss recoiled as Yang waved her hand before Weiss's face.
"What do you want?" Weiss flinched and unintentionally snapped.
"Sheesh. What's got you tied up in knots?" Yang frowned, raising her brow at Weiss.
"Sorry... just lost in thought." Weiss apologized and took a deep breath. "I didn't sleep well... I'm not in a great mood because of it."
"Well, about that... Given how you reacted to him yesterday, it might get worse." Ruby pointed ahead and toward someone approaching.
Weiss' heart sank.
It was Sasuke!
"Um, is there something you need? I already texted back that I'd be joining you and your for lunch." Weiss shrank as Sasuke slowed to a halt before them.
"What? When were you gonna tell us?" Ruby glowered, narrowing her eyes.
"You were busy last night," Sasuke simply stated with a bland expression.
"Yeah, doing our job and trying to catch bad guys." Yang scowled, not used to seeing Weiss's confidence instantly diminish and become... subservient.
It pissed Yang off.
"Poorly," Sasuke retorted with a scoff. His gaze shifted as, in the distance, he slowly made his way toward the group and stared at a particular individual amongst them. "Not a surprise given you decided to work with that loser."
"And who are you to call him a loser?!" Blake hissed, her eyes sharpening.
"Someone who has known him longer than you," Sasuke's response caused Blake to tense.
"Wait... You..." Blake's eyes wavered, a revelation dawning on her.
"So he's spoken about me. Interesting." Sasuke mused before shaking his head. "Whatever. It matters not. I simply wished to inform you that, for now, your father has placed your card on hold due to your failure."
"I see..." Weiss bit her lip, blistering heatedly within, but remained subdued on the outside. "I imagine that if I need anything, I am to request it through you."
"Yes," Sasuke responded with little emotion.
"What? Seriously? That's messed up!" Yang sneered.
What kind of father would cut off their daughter like that! Make them grovel to someone else to get anything! That was all kinds of messed up!
And this guy was so grating! She was hoping he'd give her a reason to slug him in the face.
At least she'd feel better after it. Weiss might be in trouble after, so Yang refrained.
"His words, not mine." Sasuke, in a rare moment of sympathy, sighed. Weiss's brow perked upon seeing that reaction before she winced upon seeing his cold, calculated stare follow as Naruto and his team walked over.
"What do you want, bastard? Why are you holding up my sister's team?" Naruto scowled, meeting Sasuke's intent gaze.
"Speaking with my future wife, nothing more, loser." Sasuke snorted and scoffed. Turning his back on all of them, he began to walk away. "I'm done here, anyway."
"Good riddance!" Naruto snarled, heatedly glaring at Sasuke's back.
As soon as those words left his tongue. Sasuke stopped, and his gaze met Naruto's with equal intent.
"Uh oh... This might not end well." Bolin defensively shuffled closer to his friend, as did Arslan and Reese.
Even with his accelerating healing, Naruto still wasn't at a hundred percent and was wincing. The last thing he needed was to start a fight!
"Hn, I'll be seeing you in the tournament. Don't lose until then." Sasuke clicked his tongue. Then with a flick of his wrist, he tossed a card toward Weiss.
"What?" Weiss recoiled, barely about to catch the card. Glancing down at what she had caught, her eyes flickered with surprise. "But... why... This is the card Father gave you."
"I have little need of it." Sasuke turned away without another word and walked away.
Weiss simply stared, unsure how to react. He was willing to defy her Father's orders... For her?
Ugh! Weiss didn't need this! She was already confused by one boy's actions!
She didn't need to add another to her internal dilemma! Why couldn't she catch a break?!
[ X ]
Lunchtime, at Beacon's Cafeteria
[ X ]
"Ow... everything hurts..." Naruto grimaced as he set down his tray while gingerly taking his seat next to Arslan.
"Quit your whining." Arslan and Blake simultaneously commented.
The two shared a quick glimpse of surprise before Arslan scoffed with a chuckle caught in her throat. "He's always been like this, I see."
"Yup," Blake snorted before smugly throwing a shade glance at Naruto. "Always says he'll tough it out but makes a scene at the mildest of discomforts."
"Mah, shut up you two!" Naruto glowered and grumbled, wincing at how sore he felt from last night.
It reminded him of how he felt after some of Master's brutal training sessions!
"Deal with it," Blake showed a hint of amusement.
"Grrr..." Naruto growled before trying to ignore them, focusing on and picking at his meal.
"Hey, it could be worse." Reese patted Naruto on the back.
"You could be Weiss," Ruby pointed out, leaning to the side and glancing toward a table in the distance.
To where Weiss sat beside a quiet Sasuke as they ate together with the rest of his team.
"Gah, no thanks. Think I'd rather sleep on a bed of spikes," Naruto winced, and his heart went out to the girl.
"She looks miserable," Yang added with a wince, Weiss's boredom evident as she seemed quite disinterested in the conversation Penny was attempting to strike up, glancing in their direction.
Yang waved as her gaze met Weiss, but peculiarly, Weiss recoiled and hid her face from them.
"Huh, that's really weird," Ruby commented while Blake screwed her brow, noting she hadn't been glancing their direction.
Instead, her gaze was on... That made sense.
Weiss was probably stuck on what happened last night, and it was gnawing away at her. It was bothering Blake what had happened.
Adam was so willing to lash out in such a manner when cornered, which bothered Blake. What would he do next? And why was he working with humans? This was so weird...
"So, what's next?" Naruto snapped Blake out of her funk, staring her dead in the eyes. Blake recoiled as Naruto continued. "Your new friends might not know you well, but I do... You're gonna do something reckless."
"Like you wouldn't?" Blake scowled and met Naruto's stare.
"Heh, didn't say I wouldn't!" Naruto chirped, much to Blake's ire. His eyes shimmered before his expression deadpanned. "But, I'm starting to get better about including my friends in what recklessness I'm about to do instead of going about it alone!"
"I really wish you wouldn't..." Arslan sighed, visibly slumping forward before giving Naruto an exhausted glare.
"I don't! The chaos that ensues is a blast!" Reese grinned.
"Sometimes a little too much chaos," Bolin added with a sheepish shrug.
As Blake refrained from hissing, Ruby nudged Yang with her elbow and whispered, "I feel like we're learning more about Blake in one morning than we have since we've met her!"
"I know, right?" Yang chirped, blanching as Blake turned and gave her teammates a sour expression.
"...What do you have in mind?" Blake begrudgingly responded while smoldering in her chair, glaring at her brother.
"For neither of us to go it alone in trying to save Adam this time. I think we both know how badly that has gone." Naruto simply responded with a faint smile. "We're both stubborn, and I know you are just like me, and not ready to give up on the idiot just yet. Alone we failed, but together... We might just have a chance."
"I still think he is worth saving despite what he has become."
[ X ]
After Class, Meeting at the Fountain in Beacon's Courtyard
[ X ]
"Everything ready?" Naruto flashed a grin at Blake as she made her way toward him.
"Of course," Blake gave a slight nod, ready to get a move on.
The plan was simple. They knew the White Fang was active around town. They were going to seek them out, learn where their hideout was, and...
"Blake..." Weiss scowled, pacing toward them with a purpose, dressed in her typical garb. Stopping in front of her, she gestured and pointed at Blake. "I told you! The next time you do something crazy, it's with us? What didn't you understand about that?"
"He's my brother." Blake reasoned, motioning to a waving Naruto. "Besides, this is our responsibility. We need to do this."
"Not without us!" Ruby cried, rushing forward as she fumbled with her gear and sheathing Crescent Rose behind her.
"You better believe we're not gonna let you two do this alone," Yang commented, hand on her hip, before grinning directly at Naruto. "Besides, this gives me some time to work my magic."
"Yang..." Blake exasperatedly sighed, palming her face.
"Uh, do I want to know?" Naruto leaned over to Blake and whispered.
"I know you aren't that dense..." Blake muttered and glared at him.
"Just making sure. She's not my type, ya know?" Naruto nodded but kept that tidbit to them.
"And where is your team? I didn't think they would let you do something foolish again!" Weiss pointed at Naruto and glowered.
"Already in Vale, scouting for information." Naruto chirped and laughed. "Just like with you guys and Blake, they know they can't stop me, so they just kind of accept I'm gonna do this and help me out."
"Seriously, I'm learning so much more about Blake today than I have the rest of the semester!" Ruby stared in wonder.
"Ugh... that makes me feel like a bad teammate," Blake winced, looking at her friends before exhaling. "You're coming with me no matter what I say, aren't you?"
"That's what a good teammate does, partner! We're with you, thick and thin! Got that!" Yang beamed, cracking her knuckles. "Now let's get this show on the road! I got to give that friend of yours a piece of my mind!"
"Hold it!" A voice startled the five of them before they could move and head toward time.
And for Naruto and Blake, their complex turned as white as a ghost.
"Oh no..." Blake whispered fearfully while Naruto grimaced.
"Master Jubei! What a pleasant... Ow! Why?!" Naruto immediately turned to face a catman to apologize before he yelped, hopping on one foot as he clutched his right shin.
"You know why! You're getting into trouble again! How many times have I told you to think your actions through?!" Jubei scowled before pointing his covered paw toward. "And you! You just think you can disappear for two years with that terrorist organization just to save that boy! I taught you better than that!"
"I'm sorry, Master Jubei!" Blake respectfully bowed, almost groveling at Jubei's feet.
Fearful of any punishment.
"Uh... who is this cat guy?" Yang stared, befuddled at what was happening while huddling with Ruby and Weiss.
"I dunno. Sounds like he trained them." Ruby pursed her lips, equally confused.
"Am I the only one questioning that he's a catman!" Weiss hissed, attempting to unload that baggage.
"Of course I am. What of it?" Jubei scowled, turning his attention to the three. His expression immediately faltered, his eyes flickering reminiscently for a brief moment before he coughed. "Naruto! Blake! Introduce me to your new friends!"
"They certainly seem like a lively bunch!"