The early morning sun bathed his skin. The morning dew dripped from the branches and onto him. And it bent awkwardly, struggling to contain Naruto's weight as he rose from an inverted vertical base before controlling his descent back down.
His breathing was calm and controlled. He kept focus as he concentrated on his workout routine.
Fifty one... Fifty two...
"There you are." Naruto felt his branch uneasily creak as another weight was placed upon it. He looked up to see Blake smiling at him, waving. "Good morning. Been wondering where you've been heading in the morning before breakfast."
"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to worry ya. I just like working out in the morning." Naruto lightly panted while he continued his reps.
"You really put a lot of effort into bettering yourself," Blake nodded, understanding his reasoning before she hopped off the branch...
Revealing she wasn't the only one who had come searching for him.
"He has always worked hard. Harder than anyone I know," Ruby stifled a yawn as a sparkle shone in her eyes as she observed Naruto's workout.
"Mah, quit it." Naruto flushed upon Ruby's compliment and gaze. With a flip, he finished his reps and landed in a crouch before them. "Ya gotta put in the work. I can't be the best by relying solely on my current strength. There is always someone stronger out there, ya know?"
Blake nodded, faintly smiling while Ruby rolled her eyes before beaming. "Yeah, I know, but that's why we gotta work together! We all want to get better. That's why we're here! So stop leaving us out!"
"Are you sure about that?" Naruto quirked his brow before an insidious smile crept onto his lips as Ruby scowled and nodded. "Alright, don't say I didn't warn you... Better be awake and out here by five."
"Five?" Ruby's features fell, and an existential sense of dread replaced her smile.
"Sometimes earlier. I've noticed he typically wakes up before dawn." Blake added, noting she had been keeping track of him.
"Yep. Five in the morning. I've been training at this time since I was little." Naruto nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow before frowning as he glanced toward the dormitories. "Please tell me Yang is out of the bathroom... I've got to take my shower."
"You know she isn't." Blake snorted and rolled her eyes while Ruby giggled.
"Some things never change," Ruby giggled, pitying her boyfriend as he groaned in agony.
Her sister always took at least an hour every morning to get ready. Sometimes, she felt Yang's vanity was going to lead to her downfall one day...
[ X ]
Splashing cold water onto her face before taking a fancy hand towel to dry her face, Weiss exhaled as she gazed into the mirror. Reaching for her make-up bag, a mild yet satisfied smile crossed her expression.
She couldn't believe it had been over a week. It hardly felt like time had passed.
Everything was nearly perfect. She was still adjusting to staying in the room with her team, but she was managing the situation.
Her neighbors were annoying, but she could mostly ignore them. For as unserious as they seemed, they did seem to put in the effort when it mattered.
Pyrrha was the perfect partner! She could do no wrong! Strong and capable! Intelligent and adaptable! And she possessed great emotional intelligence, recognizing when someone else was distressed.
Weiss knew she had made the right choice in approaching her! She was the best!
She was worried about Ren at first, having never stayed in a room with a boy her age before, but he was more modest than she was! Weiss liked almost everything about him. He was quiet, kept to himself, but most importantly, he was competent and knew what he was doing!
Ren was a great teammate!
She had far more trouble with his partner, Nora. Her excitable tendencies and energy rubbed her the wrong way several times. She didn't have a problem with her playful nature, but sometimes it could be... A bit much for her.
Weiss hated it whenever it was loud. It reminded her of...
At the very least, Nora was understanding that Weiss didn't like it when it was loud. She was at least trying to be a little more subdued...
"Pancakes are the best!" Nora's voice resonated and shook the bathroom, leaving Weiss in an alarmed panic before scowling.
What could be setting off Nora at this time in the morning?
Stomping out of the bathroom, she frowned upon noticing Ren was simply lying in bed, reading a textbook, while Pyrrha simply pointed to the open door.
Weiss blinked at this action several times, glancing outside the door...
To see Nora having caught their next-door neighbor, Naruto, in a headlock, only to be lifted into the air and back-dropped onto the hallway floor.
Naruto flipped and wiped a smudge from his cheeks, broadly grinning as Nora jumped back to her feet. "Nah! Ramen is the best!"
"Oh ho! A worthy challenger has stepped up to the plate!" Nora proclaimed, pointing her finger at Naruto. "Alas, I am the Queen of the Castle! My word is law! Pancakes are the best food ever!"
"Screw you! Ramen's number one and I'll prove it!" Naruto rejected Nora's proclamation with a smirk before charging into a scuffle with Nora headfirst.
As they wildly rolled and fought for position in the hallway with a comic dust cloud surrounding them, Weiss couldn't help but shrink from the volume of their voices. With a glare, noticing the door to RBRY's team was open and the rest of his team was watching as well, she glanced between them and Pyrrha and Ren. "Why is no one stopping this?"
"Nora enjoys roughhousing. This is normal for her." Ren simply stated, flicking to the next page in his textbook.
"Yeah, this is an average day for the idiot...However, it's typically me who he brawls with." Yang rolled her eyes before her gaze toward Nora darkened considerably.
"Go, Naruto! Beat Nora!" Ruby cheered, pumping her fist in the air as the two brawled for control.
Weiss blinked repeatedly from all their reactions. Turning to Pyrrha, she looked for help, feeling defeated as Pyrrha nervously chuckled.
"They're having fun. I didn't want to interrupt them." Pyrrha delicately smiled, holding back her laughter at watching the scene unfold.
"It is sort of funny to watch," Blake added, a thin smile threatening to cross her expression.
"Ah, no! I've been defeated!" Nora cried helplessly as she laid flat on the hallway, Naruto standing tall above, holding his hands up victoriously.
"You may be the Queen of the Castle, but I am the best there is! Believe it!" Naruto triumphantly posed before a downed Nora.
Only to be tackled and slammed to the ground by Nora.
"Round two! Fight!" Nora happily cried as Naruto yelped.
And as Naruto and Naruto's brawl resumed, Weiss helplessly watched on in horror for a brief moment. With a humph, she turned her back on them and returned to the bathroom, gnashing her teeth.
How she wished that Faunus wasn't their neighbor! He was so...
So aggravating!
[ X ]
"Gah, I'm so bored! I wish we could have skill classes every day!" Naruto complained before slumping down and laying his head defeatedly on the cafeteria table.
"Tell me about it!" Yang agreed, combing the knots that had begun to develop in her hair in frustration before growling. "I wish I could get more time in the morning to take care of this..."
"You take long enough in there! We have to use the bathroom too!" Ruby harshly squinted at her sister.
"I know, I know!" Yang smoldered, throwing an annoyed glare.
"Ever think about tying it up before going to bed? It sometimes helps with my hair at night." Blake mused, trying to help Yang solve a problem.
"Huh? You mean like how I tie it before I work out at the gym?" Yang asked, raising her brow at Blake's nod. "Can't hurt to try. I'll give it a shot tonight after studying..."
"Ugh!" Naruto let out a disgruntled groan as he further slumped onto the table.
"You agreed to having a set study time." Blake lambasted Naruto with slight amusement in her tone.
"I know that I did, it's just..." Naruto grunted as he sat up. Before he could finish, his gaze sharpened as he looked past Blake into the cafeteria.
He focused on a pair of individuals and snarled.
Cardin was pressing his luck again. And it happened to be with one of his old friends from Pharos!
"Ah, yes? Is there something you want?" Velvet meekly responded as Cardin stopped in front of her.
"Those can't be real. Those look so fake!" Cardin laughed, looking directly at her rabbit ears.
"Uh..." Velvet crouched and cried as Cardin went to reach and grasp her ears. "Please don't!"
"Excuse me." A larger hand clutched Cardin's wrist, forcing Cardin to look up into the dark eyes of a tanned-skinned student.
"Is there a problem here?" A young man with blank eyes and ebony skin stepped on the other side of Velvet.
And his presence was followed by the soft click of tall heels strutting across the cafeteria. Naruto couldn't help but smirk at seeing her approach.
Cardin had bitten off more than he could chew. In fact, with him and his goons so distracted on her approach...
"Blake, think you could throw this and tie it to the table behind him?" Naruto held out a pen that he quickly tied with the wire he was allowed to keep on him.
They weren't supposed to have their weapons on them outside of class, so he had to work around the rules. Thankfully, he could keep his wire on him, just not any of his tools...
"Of course," Blake snatched the pen and, with practiced ease, tossed it like she would Gambol Shroud and wrapped it on the table directly behind Cardin.
"Because I'd really hate to see if there was a problem here. Wouldn't want to rough you up again like I did in the tournaments, hun." Coco stepped before Cardin with a deep scowl, hand on her hip. However, behind her sunglasses, her eyes glinted with amusement, noticing the trap and Cardin's rising fear.
He remembered her.
"Yatsu, let him go. I think he knows better." Coco smugly smirked.
Yatsuhashi did as Coco asked, releasing a grimacing Cardin, using a little bit of force and pushing him away to show his disapproval of his treatment of his friend. Cardin recoiled, stumbling back and catching the wire, tripping and slamming back-first into the hard ceramic floor.
Laughter filled the cafeteria as Coco gleamed over the downed Cardin. "Oh, sweet summer child. Can't even keep your footing before little ole me?"
"Dammit!" Cardin swore, scrambling to his feet and booking it back to the rest of his team, while the students all laughed. "I'll get you back! All of you!"
"Sure thing, hun. Look forward to it." Coco confidently smirked as Cardin retreated and left the cafeteria.
Her attention shifted, and with a tilt of her head, Yatsuhashi picked up her tray along with his. He then followed as they moved toward Naruto, Coco leading with a wiggle to her strut. "Well, well, well. I was surprised to hear from Fox that you and little Rose here graduated early. Good to see you three... Been a while."
"Sup, Coco. Looks like you've been killing it here. Can't say I'm surprised." Yang whistled as Coco and her team joined and sat with them.
"Of course. How many people do you know who don't tremble before me?" Coco scoffed before narrowing her gaze at Naruto's broad grin. "Shut up. You don't count."
"Don't I? I did keep you from repeating as the regional champion." Naruto smirked.
"Don't remind me..." Coco glowered, throwing Naruto a seething leer.
"Hello, Ruby. Good to see you again. It's been a while." Velvet smiled as she sat beside Ruby.
"It's good to see you." Ruby smiled before pursing her lips. "Where have you four been? Naruto called, but when Fox answered, he said you were all out."
"Oh, they went with me to Atlas after I received a message from my father for the first time in years, after he left Mom. ...It was awkward to see him again, but it was still good to see him after all this time." Velvet awkwardly grimaced before she faintly smiled. Her gaze then shifted toward Blake, and she waved. "Oh, I don't think we've met. I'm Velvet. These are my friends and teammates, Coco, Yatsuhashi, and Fox."
"Yo! Don't mind me! And just an apology ahead of time, as it will happen, I tend to bump into everyone here in the cafeteria on accident. It's fairly difficult to gauge where everyone is in such a crowded space when you can't see." Fox waved blindly in Blake's direction before rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Blake," Blake quietly responded, remaining distant from these strangers. "And that's okay. It's more impressive that you can operate and move around without any equipment, given such a handicap."
"Well, I do have a few tools that help out." Fox reached for his ear and pulled out a small gadget. "This little thing helps a ton in helping me see the world around me. Velvet's Dad is pretty cool for developing this for me. It's already helping me out a ton, guiding me around, although it does have a few kinks I'm still working out."
"Huh? That's kick ass. How does it help in a fight? Or have you gotten a chance to test that?" Yang curiously asked, a sly grin working its way onto her expression.
The idea of getting a chance to spar with Fox was evident to everyone who could see.
"Eh, sort of. It is a bit slower than I would like. I still have to rely on my instinct and Semblance to help me." Fox sighed as he placed the earpiece back.
"Talking about that, are you guys competing in the Vytal Festival this year? I know first years usually don't get a chance to compete, but I think you four are more than able to qualify for it." Coco addressed, her attention shifting to the four of them, her attention shifting toward Naruto.
"After all, only one person has ever beaten me before, and I want my chance to avenge that loss."
[ X ]
"Hmm... Alright, alright! Yang Xiao Long, prepare your kingdom for battle!"
"Bring it, Rubes! We can take it!"
Weiss's right eye twitched. Her stomach boiled as her agitation rose. She gnashed her teeth as she looked up from her borrowed textbook to see her neighbors playing a game in the library!
She looked helplessly over to Professor Peach in the distance, who was helping students find their books. She had to hear them? But she didn't do anything about them?
They were so loud and causing a ruckus!
And it didn't help that Nora had laid her head on her textbook and had fallen asleep! She was so thankful that Ren had nudged her awake, but it was the principle of the matter!
This was a place of quiet study! Why was no one caring about this travesty?
"I deploy the Atlesian Air Fleet!" Ruby triumphantly slapped a card down on the board game her team was playing. "I'm gonna fly right over your Ursa and attack your walls directly!"
"Is that how that works?" Blake asked, leaning over toward Naruto for clarification.
"Yeah. She can do that. However, if I know Yang, there's a trap lying in wait." Naruto nodded in affirmation while wearing a big, dumb grin on his face.
The twitch in Weiss's eyes rapidly increased. She had half a mind to be the only sensible person in the room to go over and tell them off!
"Weiss," Pyrrha's voice reached Weiss and drew her attention to her teammate. "It's okay. They're not harming anyone or anything. They're just winding down from a long day and trying to relax and have some fun."
Weiss frowned. She knew Pyrrha had a point. They had gone through classes all day, and even she felt it was tedious.
However, every time she noticed him and his team, they were always goofing off, breaking rules, or stepping on her toes! The rational side of her brain knew that none of them were doing this on purpose, but it just felt like they were trying to tick her off!
Were they even taking this seriously?
Weiss took a deep breath to calm down. She knew she had to let it go...
"Well, well, Rubes. Looks like you failed again! I activate my trap card, Giant Nevermore!" Yang announced, placing a card down from her hand.
"Ugh! You and your luck! Well, you still have to roll over a six, so it doesn't turn on your own forces!" Ruby let out an annoyed wail before defiantly glaring back at her sister.
Weiss had had enough. She snapped as she stood up, marching toward them.
"Enough! This is the library! People are trying to study while you bunch are goofing off!" Weiss stopped in front of Team NBRY's table to chastise them.
"Mah, we were studying. We're taking a quick break before getting back at it." Naruto scowled, taking offense to how Weiss approached them.
"You've been playing for over thirty minutes!" Weiss sneered.
"Has it been that long?" Naruto repeatedly blinked, taken aback by that statement. He reached for his Scroll and blinked several more times at it before nervously chuckling. "What do you know... Yang, how's the game state looking? I know I'm pretty screwed over her with Vacuo after your last attack."
"Well," Yang rolled her dice before grinning. "Considering I just decimated Ruby's forces, all I got left is Blake before I make rounds to clean up the board."
"Nnnooo!!!" Ruby lamented as she collapsed into her seat, crocodile tears streaming down her face upon seeing her defeat. "I will avenge you, my fallen comrades!"
"And I am still learning how to play... This seems like it was on purpose." Blake frowned, staring at her cards for a moment longer before throwing shade at Yang.
"Gotta take out the strongest first! That's how the game is played!" Yang beamed, stretching her arms behind her back.
Weiss's mood soured. The more she listened, the angrier she became. They were only proving what she thought of them.
"Are any of you taking this seriously?" Weiss snapped, staring down each member of Team NBRY. "Didn't any of you pay attention to what any of our Professors have said this last week? Attending Beacon isn't some sort of game! It's a privilege!"
"You think we don't know that? We've been working our butts off all day!" Naruto countered, placing his hand on the table as he steadily rose.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's just chill out and not start anything!" Yang tried to head Naruto off, recognizing the expression Naruto was making while Ruby leaned away.
However, a simple gaze from Naruto silenced Yang before it sharpened as he matched Weiss's intensity. "Like I said before, we've been working all day and we're just taking a break to clear our heads. So get off your high horse and back off, would ya?"
"Enough!" A voice caused Naruto and Weiss to recoil before the former nervously laughed while Weiss stared in horror.
"Professor Goodwitch!" Weiss shrank fearfully.
Of all the Professors to step in now, it was her? She was his mother!
How did such a strict Professor have such a lackadaisical son?! It didn't make sense!
"This sort of behavior is unacceptable. If you two have a problem, you can settle it tomorrow in my class. I can make that happen." Glynda squinted at Naruto and Weiss, who both shrank from her glare.
"Professor, they were..." Weiss tried to interject, only to jump from the intense stare from Glynda.
"I am more than aware of what they were doing, Ms. Schnee. However, how you approached the situation and escalated the situation is another matter entirely." Glynda sternly locked her gaze with Weiss.
Weiss wilted under it. She felt so minuscule... That her voice didn't matter.
"I am also willing to accommodate and find a way for you two to squash whatever issues you have with one another. Otherwise, I may be forced to find other disciplinary routes." Glynda tapped her foot as she looked down at both of her students. "Is that understood?
"Yes," Naruto and Weiss muttered, throwing nasty glares toward one another.
"Then you may take your leave." Glynda frowned at both of them, her gaze shifting to Naruto. "The next time you take a break for a team bonding session, may I suggest not doing it in the library. Ms. Schnee's point about that was valid."
Naruto scowled, but nodded while Weiss felt slightly vindicated. However, her heart skipped a beat in her chest as her gaze crossed his once more, and he let out a growl that caused her to shiver.
"Just to set the record straight, I do take this very seriously. I just know how to stop and smell the roses." Naruto snarled, turning his back from Weiss and to his team. "Let's get out of here and find somewhere else to go. Don't think I'd be able to study right now."
"Me neither," Ruby stood from the table, looking quite withered.
"The shop on campus is still open. Let's grab some ice cream for us and ramen for the hot head." Yang tried to relieve the tension.
"Shut up, Yang. Not helping." Naruto growled, stepping alongside his teammates as they walked away.
"I'd advise the four of you to do the same and find something to relax with," Glynda spoke one last time, coldly staring at Weiss as the rest of her team joined her.
However, their presence didn't help. Weiss's heart thumped thunderously in her chest. That look Naruto had given her had her terrified.
It was as if it was promised retribution.
"Weiss, let's go to the dorm. I can try and bake something sweet." Nora tried to calm Weiss's nerves.
"Sure... That sounds fine." Weiss weakly nodded and forced a smile.
She desperately tried to hide the knot in her throat, but she was unable to swallow. She didn't want to show them her fear.
However, what she failed to see was the determined expression on Pyrrha's face.
[ X ]
There were no words in the dictionary that could describe just how irate Glynda was as she strolled through the campus, keeping close watch of the students.
She knew it was going to happen. It was inevitable. It was who Naruto was. His abrasiveness and bold nature constantly clashed with someone. It was never intentional.
That was who Naruto was. And more often than not, after he clashed with someone and hashed it out...
They changed.
...Usually...
It was always bound to happen; she would have to step in and intervene when he rubbed someone the wrong way. It just so happened that within the first two weeks, he had annoyed Ms. Schnee enough to the point that she snapped.
Given her background, Glynda couldn't say she was surprised. Honestly, she thought someone would have snapped at him sooner. He was either a person people gravitated toward or absolutely hated.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Ozpin's voice reached Glynda, causing her to stop in her tracks.
She looked behind her to see Ozpin standing at a nearby bench, looking off into the distance. With a sigh, Glynda moved and stopped beside him. "I believe it to be necessary, yes. Sometimes, the best way to come to an understanding with someone is to face them."
"I must admit, I do agree," Ozpin stated after a moment's pause. A frown followed as he turned and met Glynda's gaze. "However, what will you do if someone intervenes and fights on her behalf to protect her?"
"Ms. Nikos?" Glynda scowled, narrowing her gaze.
"Correct." Ozpin simply nodded.
"I will allow it." Glynda sighed before her features tightened. "She respects Pyrrha's skills. If she sees Ms. Nikos fail for the first time in her life, it will still reach her."
"Oh? You are that confident in Naruto?" Ozpin's lips quivered.
"It's not a matter of confidence. It's stating fact. Naruto has always been... An unusual child. Stronger than someone his age should be. Far stronger." Glynda closed her eyes and let out a weak sigh.
"Yes. Yes, he is. He has always been quite peculiar. A child with two separate Auras residing within him. A child born with two souls." Ozpin stated as he looked across the campus and into the distance. "His aura is stronger than any other ever recorded..."
"And our equipment broke when we tried to measure the other soul."