"Ugh, it's running late," Naruto growled under his breath, tapping his foot while waiting at the entrance of Beacon, while students, both new and old, filed back into campus.
He could see the Airbus in the distance, and that only further annoyed Naruto!
Typically, he didn't have to wait on them. They usually called him when they were coming or had arrived in Vale, and Naruto would meet them. However, in this case, they had to take the Airbus for some reason.
Yang had Bumblebee. She could drive them here. Why did they need to travel by air?
"Heh, probably overpacked," Naruto snorted, amused before laughing to himself.
He could believe that. It took him a while to filter out what he needed to bring.
Well, at least Naruto got an opportunity to gauge the other students and run into a few old acquaintances from Signal. He might not know what lay in wait for initiation; however, he knew they would be placed on a team of four.
Not only did they need to figure out how to end up on the same team, but they also needed to find a fourth member who meshed well with them.
The problem with that was that no one looked like a good fit! No one stood out! And the few that did...
He wanted nothing to do with! A few he recognized from Signal that he really wished hadn't gotten accepted.
An old annoyance that plagued him.
"Stupid mutt... Thought I was done with you," Naruto scowled, furrowing his brow as a particular tall teen wearing knight gear walked past him with his cronies and muttered under his breath.
Naruto squinted, throwing a nasty glare back toward him briefly. He despised blatant racism. If there was one thing that frustrated him...
"Not a chance. I'm here to ruin your life here too, so you better run now if you know what's good for ya, Cardin." A confident, cocky grin replaced Naruto's scowl as he lifted his nose in the air while his tail swished behind him.
"Gah, you trashy mu..." Cardin snapped, turning back and glowering at Naruto's cockiness. A broad grin followed as one of his goons whispered in his ear. "Oh, all alone? It must suck not having your backup with you. You'd better watch out. Without your friends..."
"Who says he's alone?" A voice Naruto didn't recognize interjected, followed by the sounds of heels clicking against the sidewalk as someone approached.
Naruto's gaze sharpened, turning his head to see who was joining his side. He pursed his lips as a girl wearing a black vest with long coattails that drifted behind her, worn over a sleeveless white crop top, approached. She wore white compression shorts that seemed a tad tight, along with black to purple gradient stockings underneath that were tucked into her black heeled boots.
But the most striking feature of her attire was an odd bow she wore on the top of her head. A bow that, upon first glance, felt like she was hiding something...
"Who are you?" Cardin sneered at the new interloper as she stepped beside Naruto.
"Does it matter?" The girl with black hair and piercing golden eyes stared back at Cardin, her expression cold yet defiant.
Almost as if she was asking him to do something.
And that look caused Cardin to grimace lightly, glaring at the two before a gale of wind picked up and blew from behind Naruto. His eyes snapped toward the landing Airbus before he clicked his tongue and turned his back on Naruto. "Come on, guys, let's go."
"Guy doesn't know when to give it a rest..." Naruto rolled his eyes as he watched Cardin retreat. He shook his head before smiling brightly, offering his hand to the girl in black and white. "Ah, whatever! Name's Naruto. Nice to meet'cha."
The girl tilted her head inquisitively at Naruto and his gesture for a moment. Naruto repressed the urge to frown. The calculated way she was looking at him before accepting his handshake made him wonder...
"Blake," She simply responded, withdrawing her hand before nodding toward the Airbus and the people taxiing out of it. "Your friends are here."
"Naruto!" Ruby called out from the ramp, carrying one heavy backpack on her shoulder while dragging a second suitcase behind her.
"Yo, Heracles! Rubes could use your muscle over her!" Yang waved as she carried a simple suitcase, and that was it behind her.
"Guess they are," Naruto mildly chuckled, running his hand through his locks. But the moment he glanced back at Blake, she was already walking away.
Naruto curiously pursed his lips, letting his eyes linger on Blake for a moment before he turned to help Ruby, offering to take her baggage.
That was interesting... Maybe...
"Kept me waiting. Almost started a fight while waiting on you slowpokes." Naruto laughed, taking Ruby's second bag before he lifted his brow at her. "What did you pack? Everything? ...Please tell me Zwei isn't in here."
"He almost made it..." Yang muttered, releasing an exasperated sigh.
"Sorry! I just wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. Had to have all my tools for repairs." Ruby apologized without an ounce of modesty, nervously laughing as Naruto scoffed and smiled.
"Could have had those mailed to you." Naruto shook his head with a grin.
"I know, I know!" Ruby profusely apologized before frowning, her gaze trailing toward Blake in the distance. "Who was that?"
"And what do you mean by fight? What did we miss?" Yang added, cracking her knuckles, already ready to cause trouble.
"Oh, just a mutual thorn in our side who was also invited to Beacon. She just happened to step up right as you two landed." Naruto rolled his eyes before grinning.
"...Don't tell me it's who I think it is..." Yang glowered before throwing her hands up and shrugging. "He doesn't learn..."
"Could you hurry up and move already! You are aware that other people need to offload their luggage." A shrill, high-pitched voice called the three of them, still on the ramp, out.
The owner of the said voice, wearing a white to pale blue dress down to her thighs with a bell-sleeved bolero over it, sneered from the top of the ramp. She looked down upon them as two butlers pushing two stocked caddies waited patiently behind her.
"Ah, sorry! We'll get out of the way!" Naruto waved panickedly, swiftly guiding Ruby and Yang onto the premises of Beacon before grimacing once they made it further away. "Oh-ho, this is gonna be an interesting year... I think I recognized the symbols on her luggage."
"Like I care! She could have asked nicely!" Yang glowered, glaring back toward the Airbus.
"And I thought I overpacked..." Ruby snickered, causing Naruto and Yang to join her.
"Rose, I don't think you have to worry about that. I'm more worried about what is in all that luggage." Naruto stifled a guffaw, glancing back before shaking his head.
With SDC printed on a majority of those suitcases... He had a feeling of what was kept inside them, and he didn't want to be close by.
If someone mishandled it, a boom was sure to follow.
[ X ]
This year's opening ceremony was different from many others.
The atmosphere hadn't changed. The anticipation and anxiety of the children as they waited for Oz's speech with bated breath was typical.
But for Glynda, this day was far different. For her, this marked a change in her life—a new day, as she looked upon the students and watched them react.
For as many times as she listened to Oz give a similar speech to the new students, this time it was different. The students' reactions were mixed, as they always were. Ozpin wasn't the greatest at giving a speech, but he set the correct tone. Ensured the students understood what was at stake.
This wasn't a game. This was about survival.
However, all of that felt trivial at this very moment. Emerald eyes shimmered upon one group in particular.
Her son and his friends.
Glynda knew this time had been coming for a while now. She hadn't expected it to come this fast, and she wasn't quite ready to see him here, standing alongside the two people whom he called his best friends.
Naruto struggled to make friends when he was younger. His goal had always been to become the best Huntsman there ever was, and he worked for it. He wasn't like other children in that regard. He was definitely playful and loved to mess around, but when it came to preparing his mind and body for this job...
Glynda knew he was ready. Her son was more than prepared for this lifestyle. Not only had she prepared him for it, but she felt he was a natural fit for this life. Not only could he be serious and focus when necessary...
He had a sense of levity about him to relieve the burdens all Huntsmen would face.
And seeing him standing confidently with Ruby and Yang at his side filled her with a sense of pride...
And a sense of dread knowing her gaze may have fallen onto him.
[ X ]
"I don't think Dad would approve of this..." Ruby stated as she sat on top of her sleeping bag in the middle of the auditorium, gazing out at the other students gathered and preparing to rest for the night.
Or, in particular, the boys on the other side were wrestling and messing around with one another.
"He definitely wouldn't approve of you sleeping beside your boyfriend." Yang countered, motioning toward where she had set up her sleeping bag.
By happenstance, it was located directly next to where Naruto had placed his for the night.
"And? There are so many people here I don't know. I would rather be next to people I can trust." Ruby squinted and huffed at Yang's accusation.
"Uh-huh. Sure." Yang snorted, setting her sleeping bag down beside Ruby while shaking her head before sternly glaring at her. "You try anything and I'm gonna separate you two."
Ruby pouted and glared back, but wisely didn't say another word, knowing Yang had more than enough ammunition on her. She couldn't get away with anything around her because she vented all her frustrations to Yang!
This wasn't fair!
"So, what'd you guys think?" Naruto asked aloud, returning from the bathroom wearing a simple mesh shirt and orange shorts, before plopping down onto his sleeping bag.
Ruby flushed brightly, turning away from Naruto, her intent focused on his chest and abdomen. That mesh shirt barely hid anything! She could see the firm muscles underneath...
"They still haven't told us much. We still have no idea how they're going to sort us. There still isn't enough information to work with or plan around. Have you learn anything new from the older students? You said you knew a few of them." Yang gruffly retorted, her eyes hovering over Naruto for a moment before shaking her head and leaning back into her bag.
"Not really. All Fox told me was that it was a skill test and that I would just have to wait and find out. We'd be told how it works before the test." Naruto frowned, exhaling and lying back on his sleeping bag.
"Lame," Yang lamented and rolled her eyes.
"Guess we'll just have to figure it out on the fly." Naruto shrugged, unworried about the circumstance.
Ruby frowned at Naruto and Yang's nonchalantness about the situation; she couldn't help but feel somewhat confident that they would. However, a sense of worry did settle in as she glanced around the room.
"Wish I knew more people here..." Ruby grimaced, unable to recognize anyone in the room.
She thought she would have seen more graduates from Signal here...
Naruto sat up in his bag with a concerned frown directed toward her. Ruby flinched at his stare. She didn't mean to make him worry...
"Come with me," Naruto wrapped his hand gently around Ruby's wrist and urged her to follow him.
"Eh? What?" Ruby staggered to her feet, following Naruto as he led her across the room...
Only to stop before the same black haired girl she had seen with him when they arrived.
Ruby frowned, glancing strangely at Naruto. What was he planning?
She had to admit that when the Airbus first opened and she noticed he was standing by another girl, there was a hint of jealousy. She didn't want to feel that way, knowing that he wasn't like that, but it was there.
It was hard for her to get him to notice that she liked him. Yang had to tell him flat-out and ask him out for her... Which was really embarrassing...
"Yo! Blake! How ya doing?" Naruto waved as he stopped before the girl wearing a yukata-style pajamas.
"What are you doing?" Ruby pulled on Naruto's arm to draw him closer so she could hiss in his ear.
"Making a new friend," Naruto simply responded with a warm smile.
"Huh?" Blake blinked, looking up from the book she had been reading, caught completely unaware by Naruto's approach, and was flabbergasted by his action. "I'm... Fine."
"Ha, sorry for bothering ya. Didn't get a chance to thank you for having my back earlier." Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's... Fine. I understand." Blake momentarily frowned but nodded, queerly raising her brow at the pair as neither budged. "Is there something else?"
"Yeah, actually! I wanted you to meet my friends, Ruby and Yang... Well, Yang is a friend... Ruby is..." Naruto grinned and pushed Ruby front and center before nervously chuckling at her death stare.
"Your girlfriend." Ruby seethed momentarily before she took a deep breath.
She knew it wasn't anything malicious. They had only recently started dating. Naruto was still adjusting as he always called her his friend, but...
"Okay?" Blake blinked, confused, before she closed her book and forced a smile. "Nice to meet you. You can call me Blake... That one must be your sister?"
"Sister?" Ruby blinked before she felt the ground rumble.
"You two better not be trying to elope on me!" Yang growled, stomping over and joining the two of them, glancing over at Blake before waving. "Yo! You're the girl who kept this idiot from getting in a fight with those jerks, right? Thanks! I'm surprised they still haven't learned their lesson."
"That happens... Often?" Blake turned towards Naruto with a frown.
"More than I like..." Naruto sheepishly scratched his head.
Ruby grimaced alongside him. It happened more than any of them liked. It didn't seem like, no matter how hard Naruto tried to be accepted, there were just people who didn't like Faunus...
"I see..." Blake's frown intensified before she followed with a deep, calming breath as she brought up her book. "Well, it was nice to meet all of you..."
"Yeah, we'll give you your space! Sorry for invading your privacy." Naruto waved, noticing the gesture and the uncomfortable air.
"Wait, how did you know Rubes and I were sisters?" Yang scowled and narrowed her eyes, having caught that comment as she arrived.
"You're loud," Blake answered honestly as she met Yang's gaze.
Yang turned sheepish and chuckled. "Oh... Yeah, that makes sense..."
"Now if you wouldn't mind..." Blake glanced down at her book, her anxiety evident.
"We'll be on our way. It was nice to meet you." Ruby flashed a warm smile, understanding Blake had been very accommodating toward their... Very forward meeting.
"Likewise. Take care." A slim, but genuine smile graced Blake's expression at Ruby as the three of them gave Blake her space, allowing her to read.
But Ruby couldn't help but be curious as she noticed the title of the book. It was one she was aware of. One she had seen several times.
It was a book that Naruto often read...
The Man with Two Souls.
[ X ]
Rumors had begun to spread wildly like a wildfire.
The other students had finally caught wind that they would be partnered with someone for the rest of their time here. Many were now crowding the locker room, eagerly trying to pair off with someone they knew or with someone they knew was strong.
And yet there was no new information, and what little there could have been had been muddled and made unreliable. There was no way to decipher what this test would be. All they knew was that they had to arrive at Emerald Forest by ten for their exam.
Naruto couldn't blame them. They were nervous. He felt that, somewhere, deep down inside, he felt the same fear. But he didn't let that sensation control him. He would forge his own destiny and ensure he would be on Ruby and Yang's team.
Now, if he could find his locker to grab Sol and Luna...
"Excuse me," Naruto slid past the shrill girl from yesterday, preening over a tall red head in bronze armor to open his locker.
"Who do you think you are? Do you know who I am?" The shrill girl glowered at Naruto while he retrieved his Bo, ignoring her as he inspected Sol and Luna for defects or damage.
"Does it matter, princess?" Naruto simply responded with a shrug.
Naruto didn't really care that the girl was fuming at him or that he cared who she was. It didn't matter. She was hanging out around his locker and blocking his path to his gear. And he really wanted to check and make sure everything was fine. Naruto knew they were fine since he had already done so, but he wanted to make sure no one tampered with his belongings...
He didn't trust Oz.
...Or Cardin. He had done similar things in the past...
"Excuse me... I'm sorry if this is a little forward, but are you Naruto Goodwitch?" The redhead asked, turning her attention from the seething girl.
"Huh? Yeah." Naruto quirked his brow and looked away from his Bo and toward the redhead, squinting at her before he snapped his fingers. "Hey, wait! I know you! You're the girl from the Pumpkin Pete commercials! What was your name again... Pyro..."
"Pyrrha." The redhead flushed in embarrassment at that information being loudly proclaimed before everyone.
It wasn't like everyone didn't know, but for it to be brought to everyone's attention when they were seeking partners...
"Awesome. Maybe we can get a chance to spar during the year. I would like a chance to test my mettle against the first person to repeat as champion in a regional tournament." Naruto broadly grinned, a small portion within him giddy at the possible opportunity to show off his skill.
"First?" The girl with the fairest skin frowned, squinting at Naruto before her features fell as her eyes widened with recognition. "Wait... Aren't you..."
"That's why I asked." Pyrrha nodded, a thin smile forming at Naruto's challenge. "And I would enjoy that."
Naruto's eyes twinkled, unable to repress a smirk. It was necessarily the match he was looking forward to, but the idea of proving he was the best was also appealing. Fighting was how he demonstrated his exceptional abilities.
"Well, allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Weiss Schnee." The girl with hair as white as snow introduced herself confidently, hand on her hip. Yet a glint of distrust in her gaze.
That didn't bother Naruto. He was used to it. It wasn't as common as it was when he was younger, but there were still a good number of people who harbored ill will toward Faunus.
"Huh, well, nice to meet you." Naruto gave Weiss a light smile, causing Weiss to raise her brow.
She was likely used to her name being enough to garner recognition. However, that never bothered Naruto. His mother taught him at a young age that his name didn't matter; it was what he did that mattered.
"Naruto! We're heading out!" Ruby waved from the other side of the locker room, next to the exit.
"Be right there!" Naruto called out, clipping his Bo to his waistband and strapping on his hip pouch before flashing a smile toward Pyrrha and Weiss. "Well, ladies, if you would excuse me... Hope to talk to you later... And have our match down the road!"
"Same," Pyrrha politely nodded while Weiss crossed her arms, her gaze firmly on Naruto as he left for the exit and met up with Ruby and Yang.
"...could you not be a girl magnet?" Ruby flushed, mumbling under her breath as Naruto joined them.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Naruto blinked, confused at what Ruby was muttering about.
"It's nothing, stud." Yang laughed, elbowing Naruto in the side with a wide grin. "Now, let's get out of here."
"It's time to learn just what they have planned for us."
[ X ]
It was a challenge to keep her expression neutral today.
The students, as usual, quickly caught on that during the night, they would be partnered with someone the rest of their time here at Beacon. Their unease grew when they realized they would have to test their abilities and retrieve a relic deep within the Emerald forest.
One of those facts would typically be overwhelming for children their age. But both tested their resolve at once. To see how willing they were to follow the path they chose when they were up against startling odds.
And she couldn't help but feel pride as she watched her son being launched into the forest. She was more than confident that he and his friends could handle themselves before the Grimm and retrieve the relic.
It was Ruby she held a hint of worry for. It wasn't for a lack of skill. She was more than ready. It was how nervous she looked. She had known the child for many years now, and to see the lack of confidence she typically displayed concerned her.
Luckily, Ruby was in the same grouping with Naruto and Yang, so the odds were high that at least one of them would end up on the same team as her to ease her nerves. At least, Glynda hoped. She was sure the girl could succeed without Naruto or Yang...
However, a curious thought crossed her mind.
"What did you use for relics this year?" Glynda asked, turning her attention to Ozpin as he continued to watch the students soar into the sky.
"Hm?" Ozpin coyly smiled, looking back at Glynda. "Oh, nothing out of the ordinary..."
"It better not be chess pieces again." Glynda's gaze sharpened at Ozpin.
He consistently shifted what he used for relics, but if Ozpin used chess pieces this year...
"Well, I guess we'll see," Ozpin mused while avoiding answering the question Glynda posed.
Glynda scowled, holding her tongue. She wanted to lambast him on the symbology when her son and friends were involved, but Glynda said nothing. She simply drew her tablet-sized scroll and brought up the video feed from within the forest.
And while she wanted to focus on Naruto, she had to remain professional. Other children also needed to be examined...
"Good," A thin smile graced Glynda's expression upon seeing the feed.
She didn't have to worry about Ruby any longer. She was in good hands. However...
"Interesting," Glynda pursed her lips, flipping through the camera feeds.
"How will they work together?"
[ X ]
The feeling of the wind rushing past him was exhilarating. To see the ground rapidly pass underneath him without touching down made his heart wildly thump.
Naruto could move faster than this on his own power, but the feeling of flying through the air was something he had never experienced before... Yet it felt right?
He shook that feeling off as the treetops closed in. Naruto had to focus. Weaving effortlessly through the trees, Naruto landed with a roll and straight into a sprint. He had one goal in mind.
Find either Ruby or Yang and then head to the ruins with the relics and wait for the other team to arrive before picking their relics. There had to be some way to decipher how their groups were teamed through the relics.
Or find another partner. Ruby and Yang were close in their launches. There was a high chance they ended with one another, although, again, Naruto had to question how nervous Ruby was.
Did she forget she could control her direction and fly with her Semblance?
Naruto shook his head, refraining from laughing. Sometimes, that girl was beyond hopeless.
Skidding to a stop, Naruto scowled as he hit a small clearing chalk full of Beowulf Grimm. He rolled his eyes, drawing his Bo as the Grimm recognized his presence.
This wouldn't be a problem. Beowulf were agile and hit hard, but were amongst the easiest Grimm to dispatch. A good hit to the head...
"Out of the way!" Naruto grunted, flipping over the first Grimm while landing a firm kick to the skull.
With a swift landing, Naruto flicked out his Bo to his sides, tripping two Beowulf and causing them to stumble into trees clumsily. Reaching into his pouch, Naruto drew two kunai, and with a simple flick of his wrist, the Grimm were dispatched with headshots.
Naruto didn't know what it was, but since he was young, he had always been drawn to ninja weaponry. It felt natural for him. He didn't need to be taught how to wield them. He just knew.
It was the same with Sol and Luna. He just felt comfortable using the dual Bo staff. It felt natural...
Now, it did take a while for him to get used to activating the trigger...
Naruto grinned as the shotgun blast stunted the Beowulf sneaking behind him, knocking the one rushing him from in front of its feet. It was too easy. With a flick of his wrist, he turned to take care of the Grimm still on its feet...
To see it motionless, maw slacked before it slumped to the ground, a bladed gun stuck in its skull.
A gun connected to a ribbon, being used like a Kusurigama...
"Hey," Naruto waved, blinking a few times upon the sight of Blake pulling back her gun into his grasp with a flick of the ribbon.
Blake didn't say anything as their gaze met. Instead, she plucked one of the kunai from the dying Beowulf's head and, with a toss, hit the Beowulf regaining its footing directly between the eyes.
"Oh, so you're a ninja too? Cool." Naruto chirped, his gaze shifting to the remaining Grimm pacing around the two.
Once more, Blake didn't say a word. Her answer was a simple nod as she stepped beside Naruto, shifting her weapon to where it became dual blades.
"Let's wrap this up and get to the ruins," Naruto smirked, matching Blake's readied stance, his gaze sparkling. "I've got a promise to uphold to my friends and get us on the same team!"
Blake frowned momentarily before she nodded. She simply followed Naruto's lead, flanking him as he rushed toward the remaining Beowulf.
Slashing and bashing a path through.
[ X ]
"Nailed it!" Yang chirped as she rolled into a sprint before scowling.
...If Naruto did the same thing she did...
"Whatever," Yang rolled her eyes, scanning the evergreen forest as she rushed ahead, keeping an eye open for Ruby or Naruto.
She wouldn't mind who she was paired with, but at least one of them had to end up partnering with another member of their group. Yang knew her sister wanted to team with Naruto, but she had known him longer. They were partners in crime and had always been an unstoppable duo...
When not fighting each other.
Yang couldn't help but chuckle. That was just about the only way they had been stopped from their antics in the past. It was always because they disagreed on something and ended up fighting over it.
And those fights were fun! Sometimes, she just purposely disagreed so they could scuffle with one another. It was just so entertaining!
"Ruby! Naruto!" Yang called out, stopping in a clearing in the forest for better visibility. Scanning the forest, Yang checked each direction to see if she noticed any movement. Noticing a bush blocking her visibility, she parted it to see past it...
Only to look up and see a Ursa blocking her view.
"Nope!" Yang couldn't contain her grin as she hopped back, avoiding the Grimm's swipe.
Ember Celica engaged and snapped into place on her wrists while she hopped back and forth, swaying her hips while lowering her stance to keep her balance. Her lilac eyes burned, a hint of crimson shone behind them as she was ready for a fight...
Only for a swirl of rose petals to catch the Ursa and its head to be separated from its body.
"Oh, hey, Rubes. How's it going?" Yang smiled and waved at Ruby as she skidded to a stop.
"Terrible! First, I forgot I could fly and could have landed next to Naruto! Then I started to run wildly in the forest, looking for him, and then I almost ran into that shrill girl on the way over here!" Ruby growled, transforming Crescent Rose and sheathing it behind her.
"Oh, that would have been bad. Glad you made it." Yang grimaced before chuckling. "Well, let's get a move on."
"Don't want to keep Naruto waiting."
[ X ]
It didn't take long to find the ruins.
The Grimm weren't much of an issue. Beyond Beowulf and the occasional Ursa, they really weren't a threat. Ursa could hit hard...
But Naruto could hit harder. And any hit they landed would pale in comparison to anything he had taken from Yang.
She could hit hard.
There was a Nevermore in the sky, but it wasn't a threat. It was simply looming in the distance, unworried about their presence. It probably didn't even know they were there.
Good for them. If it had noticed them, that would have been annoying to deal with. He might have to charge Rage with a Dust explosion to fire at it from range...
"Here we are," Naruto stepped into the ruin platform before frowning at all the pedestals enshrined within.
All with chess pieces sitting in the center of them.
"These are the relics?" Blake raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. "We should grab one and head out."
"It's gotta be more complicated than that," Naruto shook his head, looking at the chess pieces curiously, quickly noting there were only two of each piece and color.
"How so?" Blake queerly glanced at Naruto before frowning. "There doesn't seem to be any hidden meaning."
"It's pretty simple. Huntsman teams typically consist of four members. If there are only two pieces of any color..." Naruto tried to explain; however, Blake quickly caught on to the idea.
"Then it's easy to determine who we'll be teamed with for our stay." Blake nodded before a thoughtful expression followed. "Then just grab a pair and give the other to your friends when they arrive."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, taken aback for a moment before chuckling. "Oh, you must have overheard us."
"You are loud," Blake stated, her bow curling ever so slightly.
"Sorry about that. Gotta hurt your ears." Naruto commented, glancing at all the pieces, deciding on which pair to grab.
Blake frowned momentarily before sighing, looking away as her bow twitched several times. "It's obvious, isn't it?"
"Maybe if you're looking for it," Naruto shrugged, taking both white knights and pocketing them into his pouch. His gaze shifted back to Blake before shaking his head. "Well, I can't say anything about it. I get why you would want to hide it. I tried to do the same when I was younger."
"It's... Easier this way." Blake hung her head and grimaced, shifting her weight and position as she leaned against the ruins' wall. "Don't have to deal with the trouble it brings."
Naruto glowered momentarily. He didn't like what Blake said was true, but he had seen it throughout his life. Life as a Faunus was difficult. There were just people who didn't accept them, no matter how hard they tried...
And oh, how he tried. When he was a kid, he wanted everyone to see who he was. Now, while he knew better... He wanted to prove those doubters wrong.
"You said you tried to hide?" Blake brought the dreadful silence. "What made you change your mind?"
"My mom," Naruto answered honestly with a light laugh. "Oh, she hated it when I returned home with my tail tucked in my pants... She sat me down and had a long conversation with me about not hiding who I was."
"She did, huh?" Blake pursed her lips before she lightly smiled. "That must have been nice... Mixed couple children often have it the hardest."
Naruto's brow raised before he rolled his eyes, noticing her bow twitch again. Must have overheard his full name in the locker room and put the two together...
"I suppose. I was raised that it didn't matter who you were, it was what you had done that mattered." Naruto responded, his head perking as a loud electric sound recoiled in the distance.
Blake noticed as well, and she looked as well, but before she did, Blake lightly smiled at Naruto. "That's the way it should be... Huh?"
Both Naruto and Blake stood, baffled as they observed a hyper orange-haired girl leap off the back of an Ursa. They stared at one another briefly before turning their attention back toward the strange girl.
"Did she ride that all the way here?" Naruto blinked, staring in awe at the girl with the hammer as she approached with her partner in tow, rushing out of the depths of the forest.
"Nora!" Her black-haired partner called out, obviously annoyed with her, as he tried to chase after her.
"Come on! Keep up, Ren!" Nora laughed as she sprinted into the ruins. Her eyes suddenly sparkled as she snatched the white rook pieces. "Ahahaha! I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!
"I think she did..." Blake stared in equal awe as Nora sang and danced excitedly with the piece in hand.
"What did we just miss?" A familiar voice caught Naruto off guard as Ruby and Yang made their presence known, staring awkwardly at Nora.
"A lot," Blake answered, tilting her head at Nora before shaking her head.
"Oiy, you took your time getting here!" Naruto glowered at the sisters, reaching into his pouch before handing their piece to them.
"Well, someone has a terrible sense of direction and tried to get us lost!" Yang complained, throwing shade at Ruby, taking the piece from Naruto. "Huh? Really? It was that simple?"
"I'm sorry!" Ruby smoldered from her sister's accusation. "It's not my fault the forest all looks the same! It's easy to get lost in!"
"Which is why you bring a compass when you know you're heading out into the wild," Yang commented with a mild grin as she tossed her compass in the air, caught it, and slid it into her pouch pocket.
"...You're mean," Ruby glowered after she slouched, admitting defeat.
"Should have paid attention to Uncle Qrow's survival lessons when we went out camping." Yang shrugged, glancing over at Blake and waving. "Hi again! I'll try not to be too loud."
"Finally! I thought we were lost!" A shrill voice echoed from the forest before Weiss and Pyrrha stepped out of the forest, heading directly toward the shrine.
Blake recoiled and glared at Weiss momentarily before shifting her attention to Yang. "I would appreciate that... Now, if we may..."
"Can we leave? I'd rather be done with this."