It was strange...
He thought he could seek out that malice he had sensed. With all his clones surveying the area, he could help those in need and gather information in one fell swoop. But there was nothing to collect...
Nothing that helped him with this situation on his own.
He bit back a curse. Such strong negative emotion... It was unsettling. He had sensed it without wielding Kurama's chakra, and he could only feel the faintest hints of negative emotions when nearby someone...
Yet he felt like an ocean swallowed him. And he couldn't locate the origin point?
He did not like this. It was as if it was the source of emotion...
Vanished.
Orange eyes narrowed as he looked upon the carnage of what had occurred in the streets. So much damage caused by a single casualty shift. He gritted his teeth, pondering what could have caused such an event.
Narrowing down those possibilities...
And he didn't like the conclusions he came to.
"Kid?" The surprised and muffled voice of who he was searching for echoed, landing gracefully in a crouch before standing before him.
Naruto looked bemused, seeing him choke and spit the alcohol he was sipping from his flask. His presence seemed to catch him unaware, which most likely annoyed him.
A trained soldier never liked being caught off guard.
Qrow snarled, putting his flash away and wiping his lips."Thought you went back with Glynda while we handled taking care of the situation here. The Grimm have been annoyingly numerous and keep being drawn to the city..."
"His copies are in the city assisting the civilians and surveying the damages." A second voice drew their attention as the rubble of the damaged buildings began to repair itself. "If James could only set aside his paranoia... There is too much that needs to be done and not enough able bodies to assist..."
"And you don't need to run yourself ragged either!" Qrow declared, noticing the stress lines under Glynda's eyes, the sweat drenching her clothes, and her frazzled hair. "You can't fix everything in a day! It's not possible, and I won't let you do it! We can't rush the kids either, for most of them aren't ready for this, and they did well enough to handle the first wave..."
"I might be able to assist with that," Naruto interrupted a pensive expression crossing his face as he gazed upon Glynda. "I've been doing what I can with the people and providing enough able bodies, but fixing the damages to existing structures is far beyond my abilities. That said, I can provide you with the necessary energy and stamina to help rapidly speed up the process if your body allows you to use it."
Snapping her attention sharply to Naruto, a scowly deeply adorned on her lips, Glynda adjusted her glasses. "I understand your Aura, or Chakra as you've called it, doesn't sound fundamentally different, but would that work? Even if it is compatible, Aura-infusion while sustainable for strengthening and enhancing another's Aura, even replenishing it, there is so much that needs to be done..."
"Consider me a battery," Naruto smirked, his eyes glinting. "I have more than enough chakra. You can believe that! I sustained, and I fed an army with my chakra to protect and fuel their reserves in the middle of a war..."
"My chakra..."
"That's not the point!" Naruto fumed at Kurama internally, not wanting to debate with the Nine-Tails on semantics.
He could give his chakra and do the same. His reserves were more than large enough for most normal individuals...
Kurama's were so vastly enormous in comparison it was like comparing a lake to a sea.
"Is that so?" Glynda drew his attention from his internal conflict and into her resolved gaze. "Very well. I am well aware there are risks. Our Auras may not be compatible, and something may if it were to speed up Vale's recovery..."
"Seriously?!" Qrow intervened, interjecting at what he was hearing, and stepped in. "This is completely reckless! Shouldn't you at least take a moment and..."
"I should be able to minimize any adverse effects if any occur," Naruto responded, feeling Qrow's concern and wanting to alleviate it. "I can recall my chakra immediately, and with my Ying-Yang Release, I am able to restore vitality. I'm still learning the limits as I can not only restore flesh and bone like an arm..."
As Qrow went rigid at the mention of an arm being regenerated, having a detailed conversation over his scroll from a hysteric Tai about what happened to Yang, Naruto lifted his re-bandaged right hand and examined it. "And I can't help but feel my limits are somehow greater than before. For I could do something I couldn't do before when I couldn't save someone when they were being reduced to ashes..."
His eyes were drawn to Glynda as she stepped toward him, eyes held firm. "And that is why I am willing to trust you. I've already seen what I need to know to believe and trust you. Hearing Pyrrha's tale of what happened... Seeing Yang return to Beacon with her arm. I know enough of the fairy tale you come from to know that you make the impossibilities a reality... And I'm willing to put my faith in what I've seen so far."
Seeing the determined glint in Glynda's eyes, Naruto's gaze shifted to Qrow. Seeing no further resistance, as he only crossed his arms and scowled, Naruto returned his gaze to Glynda. He nodded and confidently grinned as he outstretched his hand toward her. "Alright, if you are ready, just give me your hand. I'll handle the rest."
Following his instructions, Glynda extended her hand and placed her palm against his, unsure what to expect. Seeing his transformation into the golden form she had seen when he assisted in saving Beacon and Vale, she resisted the instinctive urge to pull away.
But then there was a sudden trickle of something foreign pressing into her being...
An overwhelming weight. An intense and unyielding presence blended with Aura yet buried it under its pressure...
It burned with such intensity! It shocked and rattled her muscles...
Yet a calming presence followed, calming the decisive surge. And her eyes widened as a red cloak of strange Aura surrounded her, sparking and flickering with raw, unadulterated power.
"Oum, this is..." Her body trembled under the pressure of the cloak before looking directly into Naruto's eyes. "Only a fraction of your Aura?! How? This amount of Aura is unheard of, and it is a fraction of yours?!"
"Yeah..." Naruto nervously grinned, ignoring the MINE echoing from within from an annoyed fox. "As I said, along with my bud, I am an almost unlimited battery for chakra, and it would take something monumental for me to run out. But, for now..."
"Let's just make sure you can handle the chakra and be able to put it to good use?"
[ X ]
A long yawn escaped his mouth, and he sat up on his bed as the morning light hit him.
It had been a long night, and to his displeasure, his internal clock kicked in. He wasn't going to get very much rest today...
At least they repaired most of the city last night. That was a net positive. Glynda was able to put his chakra to good use...
However, there was a downside effect. It seemed Chakra burned through their systems faster and exhausted her. She could barely stand after taking care of many of the repairs through the city.
And it seemed, despite his misgivings of him, the man of iron assisted Glynda and begrudgingly thanked him for his assistance.
Naruto couldn't blame him. He wouldn't be sure he could entirely trust someone who randomly appeared in their world at face value...
"Mah, there is still too much about this world I don't understand." Naruto slicked his hand through his hair, looking out the window of the quarters he was given and seeing the sunrise.
Sighing, closing his eyes, and taking a deep breath, he shook his head. His eyes focused on the horizon as if searching for something beyond what he could see. "Here I am, trying to solve problems unrelated to mine when I should be focusing on finding a way home, if there is even a way home."
"It's who you are, kid. It's who you always have been." A familiar gruff voice echoed within him. "You have always had a soft spot for doing the right thing. When you see something amiss or something wrong, you have that innate nature within you to help everyone possible. You hardly think about the consequences until later."
Naruto gave an exasperated chuckle, a solemn smile lightly gracing his expression. "Guess you're right about that. But I do focus on my friends more than anything... And I can't help but wonder what they're thinking right about now... How Hinata is..."
Silence reigned. Cerulean eyes gleamed in the warmth of the sunlight, glinting off the horizon and peering into the distance, attempting to unravel the world's secrets with his gaze.
Worried about all his friends...
"Kid," Kurama growled from within, breaking his thoughts of his home. "We do not know how this will unfold or how they will handle it. Dwelling on such thoughts will only bring pain and sadness. Besides, they're tough, and we believe in them, correct? So come on, believe in them, and let's make our own luck and see what happens, shall we?
Being momentarily taken aback by Kurama's words, Naruto was snapped out of his lull. Then, a sliver of a smile crept onto his lips as an honest chuckle escaped. "Hehe, using my logic against me. Someone has been paying attention, ya know?"
"Shaddup and stop mopping! Doesn't suit you!" Kurama snarled before toothily grinning from within. "Now... I do believe we have a date, no? With the voluptuous blonde with the nice set as big as your future..."
"Gah!" Naruto sputtered, not prepared for what the Nine-Tails had begun to speak of and was unprepared before boisterously retorting. "What is with everyone as of late? Why is everyone so fixated on wanting me to ensure Hinata is the one? Do we not seem happy? Why is this..."
"Do not forget I am part of you. I know all your doubts and concerns." Kurama snidely commented and silenced Naruto, freezing him to the spot. "Take my advice while we are here... Enjoy yourself. Put to rest that corner of your mind that keeps bothering you..."
"Otherwise, it will gnaw at you forever, and you will wonder if you did the right thing later in life." Kurama sagely advised his vessel before a loud, bellowing yawn echoed and rattled Naruto. "Now, if you wouldn't mind... I'm still in need of some rest. If you need me or if, you know, a SHOW is about to go down..."
"Go to sleep, you perverted fox!" Naruto roared at his inner demon, twitching wildly at the implication Kurama wanted to watch, his face flushed with embarrassment, knowing full well he couldn't hide that moment it did occur from him.
The two were connected, and Kurama would get to see it...
Kurama laughed triumphantly before it faded away. But as the Nine Tails' voice drifted, a deep exhale escaped from Naruto. Running his hand through his hair, getting up to head to the bathroom, his eyes shimmered. "If only it were that easy to silence those doubts..."
"Maybe I should listen after all..."
[ X ]
A bow twitched.
She tried to concentrate on reading. But she wasn't invested in it. There was far too much on her mind to fade into the luxuries she liked to lose herself in.
And it didn't help that she could hear a low thrum coming from the bathroom! What was that sound?
Wait...
Was that Yang humming?
Blake narrowed her eyes, putting down her book on her pillow. Rolling off her stomach and sitting up on her bed, she tilted her head, hearing the sound.
What was she doing? It was relatively early in the morning, and she was the last to take care of her cares, so that was usual, but to take this long? And be this nosy?
She knew she took a lot of pride in taking care of her hair, but what was she doing?
Wait...
Her usual outfit was put aside... Was she wearing something different?
A scowl adorned her face, scanning between the bathroom door and the clothes Yang left out, having decided not to bring in with her.
What was she getting dressed for? She had several amazing outfits and a good sense of fashion. But what reason did she have to dress up?
She knew they would be put to work while staying here at Beacon. That was sent through on their scrolls. Students were evacuated and allowed to relocate to other Academies to continue learning while Beacon was repaired. They, however...
Their focus was going to be helping Ruby with her powers...
And him.
Golden eyes narrowed.
Wait a minute...
She shifted her attention to Ruby, who seemed to be gathering things together. Was that her motorcycle helmet?
Why did she need that? Where was she going?
Wait...
It seemed she wasn't the only one that caught this discrepancy. Weiss scowled and noticed what Ruby was doing, too. "Ruby. What are you doing?"
Ruby nervously chuckled, earning her an icy stare from her partner. "Oh, nothing... Just gonna go with Yang..."
"What do you mean, go with Yang?" Weiss coldly responded, having noticed Yang's peculiar routine this morning but thought nothing of it given everything. "Where is Yang heading? Shouldn't we focus on the more immediate issues we must deal with? Like your new powers and our neighbor trying to find his way home?"
"Oh, ah, yeah, ah-ha..." Ruby anxiously scratched the back of her head. "Well, you see... I heard this morning that Yang planned to show Naruto around town..."
"And you're going to intrude on them!" Weiss all but screeched at Ruby, causing Ruby to shrink and Blake's bow to flatten on her head in pain. "Ruby, that is so..."
"Yo! Keep it down!" Yang exited the bathroom, eye blush and make-up in hand, looking annoyed, dressed in a collared cream vest, a blackish-gray shrug, a black mini skirt, and thigh-high leggings. "Whatever it is, I'll break it up and make you talk it out! I'll tie you all up if I need to!"
"It's nothing! Ruby just said something dumb, and I snapped at her." Weiss turned, snagging the helmet from Ruby's hands and smiling brightly at Yang. "Oh, you are looking breathtaking this morning! Are you perhaps heading out today?"
"Uh... Okay..." Yang frowned before puckering her lips, watching Weiss and Ruby fumble around before her. "Thanks... And yeah, I am. I made plans for today..."
Golden eyes slitted further.
A bow twitched. She was going to go with him this morning? She had made plans with him before Ruby interrupted them in the hallway?
That was what happened when she ran into him!
A cross crossed her mind as her eyes shifted to Ruby and Weiss, then to Yang. A devious smile crept onto her lips.
That would work...
"Mind if we join you?"
Yang whirled in her direction, lilac eyes wide and flickered. "Eh! I'm not doing anything you'd..."
"I want to join too!" Yang hopped onto one leg as Ruby bounced toward her eagerly. "I heard you were taking Naruto on the town! I want to show him around and help him get comfortable! So let me come, please!"
"Um..." Yang leaned away from her sister, her expression contorted into a grimace, looking into her sister's glimmering eyes.
And she crumbled before the heart-filled eyes of her sister.
She knew her weakness, dammit! It wasn't fair!
"Well, I guess, if you really want to come... We're just going to go out for some ramen... It's not that big of a deal..." Yang muttered and looked away as if she was pouting.
"And you were getting all dressed up for that?" Blake scowled, feeling Yang wasn't letting on that she had something more planned...
Then again, the last time she remembered her wearing that outfit, Yang had Neptune on the back of Bumblebee, so...
"Yes!" Ruby pumped her fist into the air as Yang deflated and released a pitiful sigh, glancing at her sister dashing across the room and taking her helmet from Weiss. "Oh, oh! Maybe we could go out shopping too?"
"I'm not made of money, Rubes! I barely have enough to afford things for me!" Yang flailed, flushing in annoyance, recognizing she still had her make-up in her hand. "Ugh! Whatever! As long as you pay for yourselves! I don't have the lien to pay for all of you! We don't get enough lien to cover each other's expenses! So don't you go overboard! Weiss can't bail you out this time!"
"She's not wrong..." Weiss scowled as Ruby shrunk and nervously chuckled, reminding her of her family issues, drawing her scroll from her pouch.
Her eyes shimmered. Then her expression fell, and her shoulders slumped.
Biting her lip, she turned her attention back to her friends.
This would not end well...
[ X ]
The room overall was a nice little set-up, he would admit. It was designed to house an entire unit, so it was spacious for him, which explained the multiple beds.
He sighed as he flicked a towel through his locks, drying his hair. Today was going to be a day.
His clones had gathered intelligence on the area, but he still did not know anything. There was still so much he needed to learn, and he wasn't getting anywhere with his clones scouting. So, perhaps going out on the town with a guide wasn't the worst thing...
And for some ramen...
With a gorgeous girl...
"Feels like I'm being tempted here..." Naruto muttered, turning to his clothes and groaning. "Feels like I'm probably gonna need some spare clothes while I'm here. Don't think one outfit is gonna cut it. ...Wonder if I should ask how to make some money while I'm here? Just have a feeling this stay is gonna be an extended one..."
While sliding on his black collared jacket, he heard a knock at his door. Expecting it, he zipped up his jacket and opened the door...
To see a flushed Yang twitching in front of his door, head hung low. "So, um... Change of plans..."
"We're coming too!"
Naruto blinked upon seeing the brilliant form of Ruby and her team behind an annoyed Yang. He was a little surprised at seeing them, yet...
Her smile was so infectious.
And he grinned back, feeling he had to match the energy, tilting his head. "Don't worry about it! There's a few things I want to check out..."
"Mind if we make a stop or two?"
[ X ]
Frowning as they entered the building he wanted to be taken to, Yang scowled.
She really didn't like coming here. She only came here when she absolutely needed to study...
Or find Blake. She often found her here. She spent way too much time here in that spot she secluded from everyone else.
Where she then repurposed for board games with the rest of the team against Blake's wishes. It was a good spot for that, and she didn't like it at first...
Until she began to dominate them at her own game!
Yang was still annoyed by that...
She despised losing...
"Seriously? Here?" Yang complained, watching Naruto take an interest in this horrid place. "The library? What are you looking for here?"
Weiss' eyes snapped to Naruto as Yang looked utterly baffled, taking in his intrigue. She didn't take him as someone who would visit a library of all places. And his interest in the place...
She wasn't the only one as Blake curiously glanced in his direction, pondering his intent. Watching his movement. Glancing at the indexes, attempting to find what he was searching for.
This piqued her curiosity. She hadn't pegged him as someone who was well learned...
Their eyes widened as a thought came to them after hearing Yang's comment.
"Information." Blake and Weiss spoke simultaneously, surprising Ruby and Yang and one another, glancing at each other momentarily before Weiss took over. "You're searching for information on how and why you are here. Looking for any scraps of info that would relate to that or the Silver Eyes..."
Naruto nodded, scanning the shelves with a befuddled, attempting to find what he was searching for. "Yeah. I might not be a naturally good learner, but sometimes, you need to study and learn about your surroundings. So I want to learn everything I need to know about here."
"Oh..." Yang's expression changed, realization dawning on her with a long, drawn breath. "That makes a lot more sense. Yeah, if I were caught in another world, I would want to learn about it and find an escape..."
"You're just realizing that?" Weiss raised her eyebrow as Blake went through the library index and went to the shelf.
"Oh, I'll see if this library has a copy of The Brothers of Sun and Moon! I know the section where it would be!" Ruby snapped and dashed into a petal of roses, heading deeper into the library as if she knew exactly where to run.
"Wait, why do you know that section? I can never get you to read when it matters!" Weiss complained, stomping in irritation, eyes twitching at Ruby's disappearing act. "Gah, you are so frustrating, Ruby! I'm going to harness that energy and focus it one day!"
"Good luck with that." Yang shrugged, walking over to Blake before placing an arm on her hip. "What are you looking for?"
"This," Blake stated, picking out a book, walking over to Naruto, and outstretching the book toward him. "You'll find this useful. It's a history book of Remnant. It's rather general but for an overall view..."
"It would give me a better understanding... Appreciate it." Naruto smiled at Blake as he took the book.
"It's nothing. When I realized what you were doing, it came to me..." Blake's bow twitched much to Naruto's curiosity before she suddenly leapt back as he created a clone and handed him the book. "Eh? What are you... Why is your duplicate taking the book and reading it?"
"Hm?" Naruto seemed confused at Blake's reaction, scrunching up his face before rolling his eyes, remembering the lack of understanding. "Oh yeah, you wouldn't know. Shadow clones have limited memory retention. So as long as I don't overload them with information, they can give me feedback when they're finished."
"Are you kidding?!" Yang's eyes widened as Blake and Weiss looked flabbergasted before pumping her fists as she hunched over, her eyes gleaming. "That sounds awesome! I could cram for so many exams with an ability like that! I wouldn't have to ever worry about tests again!"
"Yeah, wished I knew about that particular ability earlier, too." Naruto scratched his head before sighing. "But as I said, you can easily overwhelm yourself. Cases of frying your nerves and fainting aren't uncommon. Severe cases can even cause comas. So, it can be hazardous, and why the technique was forbidden. You have to know how to use it, or be me and have ridiculous vitality so I could find the proper medium after several failed attempts."
Yang flinched back, her expression turning into a grimace. "Okay... Nevermind... I don't want an ability like that."
"You are insane, you know that?" Weiss added, glancing at him with a newfound expression of dumbstruck awe. "That level of commitment is..."
"I've always had to give it my all to achieve anything in my life." Naruto's eyes glinted as memories came to him. "It was a struggle for everything in my life, even friendship. So I go to extreme lengths for so many little things as I know how difficult it all was for me to obtain in the first place. So yeah, insane is probably the right word for most things I do."
Silence befell the team.
Blake's bow descended, her eyes glimmering before frowning and glancing away. Just hearing made her reminisce over memories...
It seemed his life in his world may have been similar in some ways...
Weiss timidly gazed downward, flushed, unsure of what to say or how to even respond. What she did know was...
His life sounded so lonely... And she knew how it felt to be isolated despite living around others.
Yang scowled, placing her hand on her hip. Now, she was even more upset and wanted to get out of here. Wanting to enact her plan...
Have a fun time. The issue was her friends...
"I found it!" Ruby's cry echoed, presenting the book with a large grin, bolting in with rose petals scattered around her before looking befuddled. "Here you... What did I miss? What's going on here?"
"Just a sincere conversation," Naruto answered, accepting the book with a broad smirk. "Gonna take the time to read this one myself. Want to scan over and analyze this personally... But before that..."
"I'm hungry! I heard there was a ramen stand somewhere?"