Chapter 1

Selection

Naruto walked up the massive stairway along the wall of Konoha. Dozens of meters high, immensely thick and encircling the entire city, it was one of the largest structures on the continent.

He finished the trek upwards, about half the height of the wall, and then took a left turn. It was one of the only sections of the wall that wasn't completely solid all the way through. There was a small passage from one side of the wall to the other. The interior was open to allow access for students and ninja patrols to come and go without heading to the main gate or scaling the entire structure.

Nearly all of his class was here already. Naruto sighed as he took in the sight of his classmates. Plenty were from old warrior clans but just as many were from civilian parents or even orphans. They all wanted to become ninja and defend Konoha. Both from the Grimm and their human enemies.

He exhaled nervously as he made his way past the occupied departure stalls. Some of the students shook their heads at him as he passed, muttering under their breath about his grades or his failings or about animals having lowered standards. He nearly snarled at them before forcible keeping himself in check.

Naruto took a spot at one of the empty deployment ramparts. He set his hands on the rail and leaned forward to look at the treetops below.

This was it. This was the first step of the last part of their training.

He'd be an official ninja. Not field ready, no. Not until he finished the Academy in a few more years. But this test meant they were capable. It was a symbol of progress, skill, and strength.

Naruto glanced to his right and saw Sasuke Uchiha. Like always, the boy's face was impassive. His hands were lightly gripped around his own weapon. His stance was easy and his shoulders were free of any tension. It was as if this pivotal test was nothing more than another boring lecture to him.

It pissed Naruto off that he could look so nonchalant for something so important.

Sakura was in the space next to Sasuke, her own weapon strapped to her back. Naruto grimaced at the sight of the familiar weapon. It might be in its standby mode but he was fully aware of the pain that thing could bring. He absently rubbed the most recent spot she'd hit him with it when he had last asked her out.

Iruka Umino stepped forward onto the raised section at the start of the balcony. The scarred man and Naruto had never fully seen eye to eye but he was a good, honest teacher. It was just that Iruka had a habit of not forgetting certain things. Things that he could and did hold against Naruto. "In preparation for this test the patrol teams have allowed an increased amount of Grimm to reside within the forest."

"In preparation for this test the patrol teams have allowed an increased amount of Grimm to reside within the forest."

One of Naruto's fox ears twitched in the direction of Kiba, as the fellow faunus retracted and extended the serrated claws on the fingertips of his gauntlets.

Naruto reached back and tightened his hand on grip of his collapsed weapon. With a flick of a switch the collapsed form of his weapon came undone, expanding to a much greater length. The weapon slid and shifted, sections clicking and locking into place around his hands to act as handle for his weapon's melee mode. The soft scraping of metal on metal was almost comforting to hear.

Past Kiba he heard the soft whispers of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. A group of families that had been allies long before the Shinobi Wars, before Konoha's founding and The Great War 80 years ago.

Umino's voice softened as he continued. "You have all trained for this. Still, for many of you this will be your first real sortie against the Grimm. Your first true life and death battle. There is no shame in turning away."

The instructor hesitated, allowing everyone a moment to step back away from the edge.

Some of the students looked more nervous than others. Most of them were from the civilian families or those who took their training lightly. A few scoffed at the idea of letting the Grimm frighten them.

No one stepped back.

"Your task is simple. When the bell rings you will leave the wall and head into the forest. In the distance directly ahead is a shrine that holds your Konoha headbands. There is one for each of you. You will retrieve a single headband and return here."

You will leave the wall.

A simple phrase that had so much meaning. Though Naruto had left the city before with Jiraiya multiple times, it had never really been with the intent to combat the Grimm. Always training or learning or... other stuff.

But now? They were being sent out to fight Grimm without aid or support. It would be their first real, official trial as ninjas. As loyal soldiers of Konoha.

"It is four kilometers to the shrine and four kilometers back. You may utilize whatever strategy you wish. If you wish to run the entire way and avoid every Grimm, you may. If you destroy every beast in your path, you may. You can team up to combine your strength or fight individually. There is only a single rule. Do not attack each other. Each and every person who succeeds will have graduated as students from the Shinobi Preparatory Institute and be admitted as a full genin into Konoha's Ninja Academy for your final years of training, in class and under a jounin instructor.

"On my mark you will-" Iruka broke off. The lined up ninja-in-training all turned and stared at the cause.

A massive man with long white hair was speaking in low tones to Iruka. Naruto would have recognized the green outfit and wooden sandals anywhere. Most of the other students recognized him as well after several seconds of staring. Whispers broke out at the famous man's presence.

Naruto's eyes were wide. Jiraiya? What was he doing here? Why now?

Iruka visibly raised an eyebrow at something the older ninja said and opened his tablet. After tapping through several screens and reading for nearly a minute, he nodded.

"Naruto. You're being pulled out."

Naruto stared in mute shock. He heard Kiba snicker. "Aw man, what'd you do this time?"

It was like a message to all of the other students. Whispers and jokes spread across the balcony, all at the blonde faunus' expense.

Naruto tried to keep his head high as he walked past his classmates. He passed Sasuke, who said nothing. He didn't need to. A single glance from the dark haired teen conveyed everything.

"I am supposed to have a headband by now." Naruto was practically shaking in anger at the old pervert. No matter how much Jiraiya might have done for him over the years, this was simply too much.

"Yeah, well. You don't." Jiraiya smile was infuriatingly calm.

Naruto stared fiercely at the old pervert.

"I- I… I don't even- I just don't. Why would you pull me out like that!? In front of everyone! I was going to be a ninja! I was about to be a real ninja!"

Jiraiya brushed aside the issue. "Pfft. What do their opinions matter?"

"I was going to prove I wasn't the dead last for one thing!"

"You haven't been dead last for years. Your test scores still suck but your physical grades are great. Hell, you're tied for number one in class when it comes to combat, much thanks to me. They already know that. The test wouldn't have changed anything. As for proving yourself? You'll get the chance. In fact, I'd even say you'll be getting the chance of a lifetime. You'll have to live up to those words."

Naruto stopped pacing back and forth and looked at Jiraiya with squinted, suspicious eyes.

"What did you do?"

From the table, Naruto's scroll rang.

Naruto scowled even deeper. "What did you do?"

"Answer the phone, kid. It's rude to leave people waiting." Jiraiya's soft smile was mocking.

Naruto sighed and took a deep breath before quickly snatching up the phone. "What the hell is it?"

Ok. So he could have made himself a little more calm.

His eyes widened and then he glared at Jiraiya as the voice continued. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Yes. Yes, I'm Naruto. Yes."

Jiraiya waited patiently in his chair as he heard only half of the conversation. He idle reached over and peeled open an untouched banana from the fruit bowl.

Finally the phone call ended and Naruto tapped the screen off on his scroll.

"So we're going to the Hokage's office."

Jiraiya nodded and said sarcastically. "Somehow, I had guessed that."

Sarutobi puffed on his pipe as Naruto fidgeted from across the desk. He spoke as he tapped against the screen of his computer.

"I understand that you wanted to participate in the live combat examination today. But it was necessary that you did not. I would have informed you earlier, but there was some debate on whether or not you would be chosen. There was an awful lot of debate on this. I didn't want things to fall through and you to miss the exam on nothing more than a technicality and missed paperwork."

Naruto swallowed thickly. Being in this office brought him back to his younger years and all the times he'd been brought in for punishment due to his pranks and 'disobedient behavior'. Even when he had done nothing wrong, it still felt like he was being scolded when he was in here.

"I understand." He really didn't.

The Hokage hummed thoughtfully.

"You don't actually know why you're in here, do you?" The old man's eyes crinkled in amusement.

"…no."

Sarutobi chuckled. "You know I remember when you were first dragged into this office. You egged the Haruno's shop and spray-painted all over every single one of their advertisements for six blocks."

Naruto shrugged uncomfortably. That was so long ago. He barely remembered it. "Yeah, well. Sakura's parents are kind of racist. They threw me out of their store when I was looking at weapons."

"They threw you out because you kept trying to shoplift."

Naruto didn't exactly have a retort for that. It wasn't quite how he remembered it but then it was a long time ago. He did remember promising to pay them back when he became Hokage.

'Huh.' Naruto blinked. 'Looking back it was kind of my fault.'

He'd never admit it out loud though.

The Hokage continued. "Still, you managed to turn your act around. Even if it did take some extreme methods and... several mistakes."

Naruto grimaced. Calling Jiraiya's initiation, tutelage and scoldings 'extreme' were a massive understatement. He still shivered in remembrance. He'd been utterly worthless until the man had taken him under his wing. Yet in some ways the man had made the blonde's early teenage years much worse than they would have been before they'd gotten much better.

"Which is also part of the reason you are here. The reason why I didn't have you take the exam to become a ninja, was because you will not be becoming a ninja." The Hokage said plainly. He watched Naruto's reaction keenly and the faunus didn't disappoint.

"…what?" The blonde felt like he'd had the wind kicked out of him.

"Due to a variety of factors -your grades, skills, history, personality and so forth- it has been decided that you will be transferring to Beacon Academy in the Kingdom of Vale. There you will train to become a Huntsman. The first Huntsman from Konoha."

"But- but ninja are already like-" Naruto tried to protest.

"Like? Yes. But we are not." Sarutobi sighed before continuing. "I have always felt that Konoha needs to be more involved with the world at large. Our cities have been too focused on each other, seeing enemies and grudges for too long. We must move past it. Ninjas are soldier, huntsman, and police all in one. And therein lays our first difficulty. Huntsmen owe allegiance to no nation." He gestured sharply.

"A ninja serves Konoha first." Naruto said out loud as he made the realization.

"Yes. And so I cannot give you a headband."

"But- but I'm me. If I screw up then what happens?" It was a frightening experience to have so much depending on him.

"Konoha will have some egg on its face but nothing truly drastic. It is more important that you be open-minded while you attend, proving to the world that Konoha can see beyond itself and wishes to be involved in coexistence and cooperation. More than anything, it is symbolic of our goodwill and desire to uphold our other pacts with the kingdoms. While you train in Beacon, we will be receiving teachers and students for our own Hunter program. This offering, this shift towards training both Huntsmen and ninja was part of the agreement that got Konoha the CCT tower."

Naruto nodded. He knew that there had been concessions made and agreements hammered out. The tower wouldn't be completed for many more months but when it was it would connect Konoha to the communication network the four kingdoms used.

"But this is also for you, Naruto." The Hokage continued.

'For me?' Naruto really didn't see how sending him halfway across the world was doing him a favor.

"Tell me, what did you do this last weekend?"

"Umm… I trained." The faunus answered.

"And the weekend before that?"

"…I trained? Did my homework?"

Sarutobi's smile was kind, but also slightly pained. "Let me rephrase the question. Did you do anything fun with your classmates in the last month or so?"

Naruto bit his lip. Oh. Friends. Yeah. He'd had this conversation before. It wasn't his fault -not entirely at least- that he didn't have any friends. He might be invited to spars and training sessions, but when it came to personal events he was largely left out. He was used to it by now. It hadn't bothered him in a long time.

"Naruto. I understand your childhood was not… conventional. The life of an orphaned faunus is not easy and prejudice can be hard to overcome. Orochimaru and the upturn in White Fang activity undid decades of stability with faunus relations, which only made things harder. Which is why I want you to attend Beacon. There will be no preconceived notions about you. You will have a chance to start fresh, to do the best you can and make a life for yourself unshadowed by the past."

Naruto grimaced. It sounded nice. It did. But it would mean giving up everything he'd ever known.

"I suppose so. I'll do my best, sir."

"I hope so. Be yourself but study hard. Excel. The eyes of Beacon and the other Academies, of the Four Kingdoms and the Five Cities will be upon you."

Suddenly Naruto didn't feel nearly as confident. He gave a very strained smiled and asked. "I don't suppose I can quit now and spare us all the embarrassment?"

Sarutobi laughed gently. Naruto chuckled alongside the Hokage as the man got up and walked around the desk. "Well, if you are so uncertain, I suppose I can always look into-"

The Hokage clamped a hand onto Naruto's shoulder and his face hardened in an instant. "No."

As Naruto looked around at his nearly empty apartment, he couldn't really place what he was feeling. He'd never gotten into the habit of collecting trinkets and most gifts he'd gotten from Jiraiya or the Hokage over the years were functional. He had no mementos, few toys, and most of his shelf space had been taken up with textbooks, notebooks, spare weapons, and the occasional magazine.

Yet with so many of his belongings packed away or sold back to the prep institute, it was almost as if no one had lived here. The only things really left were his plants on the windowsill and the dishes and utensils in the cabinets.

It was bizarre how quickly and easily he had packed up his life. It had barely taken an afternoon. He had plenty of free time before the airship left in a few hours. Which left him plenty of time to think about just how lonely his apartment felt when he wasn't working on an assignment or out training.

It was depressing and Naruto had never like focusing on depressing things. There was always a good side to everything. Always. Even if it took some time and effort to find it.

He scratched his whisker cheek in reflection. 'Maybe… maybe this will be good for me. The old man knows what he's doing. He always has.'

The blonde sat down on his couch next to his duffel bags. He went over the mental checklist one more time. Clothes, books, toiletries, his phone, his weapon, ammunition for his weapon, and a few snacks for the trip. Plus one small potted plant that he'd be taking.

He sighed one more time, picked up the potted plant on his table, and started to haul out his luggage. He made his way down the first floor and went to one door in particular. The only stop left was to the landlord to drop off a utilities letter and his spare key.

He banged on the door. "Landlady, I gotta drop off my spare key."

Three seconds later the door opened. The landlady, still clothed in her nightgown at three in the afternoon with a cigarette in her lips and a dozen curlers in her hair, scowled at him. "Why?"

"I'm heading to Vale. I'll be back here next summer for sure, but I'm not sure about winter break. The letter says why and to shut off my power and water."

The landlady rolled the cigarette from one side of her mouth to the other.

The landlord, a mustached man in bright pajamas, swayed into view and waved and winked at Naruto from behind his wife. "Oh, that's nice. I hope you have fun. Bring back some pretty girls, hmm?" He waggled his eyebrows at Naruto.

The landlady backhanded him without turning around. Her husband was tossed off his feet. A slipper went flying. She snarled. "Pretty girls, my ass!"

Naruto winced. These two never changed. He wondered how they ever fell in love.

The landlady snatched the letter and key out of his hand. "Get going! Good riddance! You use too much water!" Then she slammed the door in his face.

Naruto waited for a moment as he heard the couple arguing through the door. "But I was just kidding! You know you're the only woman for-ugh!"

The blonde shook his head, smiling as he left the apartment complex. Everyone in the apartment building knew the landlords loved each other. Everyone knew they were retired, powerful shinobi. But no one seemed to know how they hadn't killed each other after so many years.

With the last of his business taken care of, he walked towards the nearest tram station.

Konoha was situated within and in front of a large valley. The valley itself was enclosed on all sides by steep slopes with much of Konoha's infrastructure, encircled by the wall, rested in front the western cliff face. While the valley itself was contained plenty of buildings, much of the land inside was devoted to training fields or farmland. The mountains that surrounded the valley were dotted with multiple bunkers and defense installations. Built directly into the mountainsides and armed with both ninja and cannons, Konoha truly was a fortress city.

Konoha's only air port, only recently completed, was on the other side of the city. The port was built into the ridge of the eastern mountains and since no civilian air traffic was allowed directly above Konoha, it meant the trip to the airport would take a good chunk of time.

By the time he had taken the tram through the Hokage Mountain, across the valley and to the eastern ridge, the sun was just starting to fall upon the horizon. From the air port's terminals he had a perfect view of the valley below. The red light dancing across Konoha's buildings, forests and lakes always reminded him of what the Hokage had once said.

'Konoha. When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew. The old gives way to the new.'

The blonde spent a long moment looking down at the valley. Then Naruto smiled fondly. This was his home. This was the city he loved. This was the place he would fight to protect, even if he fought a continent away. He'd never forget that.

"I'll be back."

"So that's Beacon. Damn."

He looked at the pamphlet in his hands as clouds rolled past the airship's side window. He'd be seeing it soon enough in person, but even the pictures of Beacon were impressive. It was far larger than Konoha's academy and its preparatory school combined. Yet he was just one student among many on board the airship that was approaching it. Students from across the world were here… but he was the only one from Konoha.

He scratched the back of his neck anxiously. 'Make friends. How do you even do that?'

"Ugh." A mop of blonde hair much like his own rushed by. Naruto turned to stare as the teen put his face directly into a nearby trash can.

"You, uh, you alright?" Naruto asked.

"I'm fine. I just get airsick easily. I'll be good once we land."

"Yeah. You might want to work on that though." Naruto patted the fellow blonde on the back.

"Haha, yeah, probably. Oh, I'm Jaune." Jaune waved a hand from its spot on the garbage bin. Then the teen blinked rapidly and tried to stand up. He was slightly woozy in the attempt. "Uh, I mean, I'm Jaune Arc, future Hunstman." He gestured to his armored chestplate grandly.

Naruto smiled in amusement at the other blonde's attempt to impress. He would never try to introduce himself like that.

"Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage." The fox faunus preened. He pulled up on the collar of his leather jacket as he put a wide grin on his face.

Or maybe he would.

Jaune looked at him curiously. "Ho-what-now?"

Naruto was about to explain what the role of Hokage was before he realized something. "I- you know I'm guess I'm not anymore. Huh. Future Huntsman, as well. Pleased to meet ya."

He tried to push the thought of him not being a ninja, of never being a ninja or ever becoming Hokage out of his mind. It wasn't easy to do. Becoming Hokage was his dream. But the old man had sent him here. The Hokage had ordered him here. He would give it chance, even if he didn't really want to. Besides, maybe there was a way around it? To be both a Huntsman and Hokage?

There was a moment of awkward silence before Jaune groaned and put his head back down. Naruto smiled unsurely. What did you do when someone was airsick?

The news streams cut off suddenly and a holographic image of a blonde woman came up. She had piercing green eyes and a small cape draped from her shoulders.

"Hello and welcome to Beacon." The woman stated. A quick glance showed that she was being aired across the whole section of the ship.

"You know who that is?" Naruto asked.

"No idea." Jaune answered between deep breaths. He still gripped the edge of the trash can.

"I am Glynda Goodwitch. You are among the privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy. Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Hunstmen and Huntresses it is your duty to uphold it."

"No pressure, huh?" Naruto joked. He was feeling about as sick as Jaune looked. It was too much, too big. Why couldn't he just be a ninja?

Jaune seemed to agree with the sentiment, giving a moan and rubbing his head in anxiety at the upcoming trials.

"You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and training to protect our world."

The image of the blonde woman faded and the windows brightened to let the passengers see Beacon for the fit

Its main tower reached high into the sky and he could see the sprawling dormitories and buildings even from here. The massive waterfall and river it was situated next to gave it a picturesque beauty. With the forest and mountains in the background, the scene truly was amazing.

"Wow." Naruto breathed.

"Yeah." Jaune agreed. Then his face turned green as the ship rocked slightly from a patch of turbulence. "Oh, no."

AN: So I've been on the bench about this. I wanted to a RWBY and Naruto story. But how should I do it? Make a fusion or just a crossover inserting a few characters? Do I include chakra or make it aura only? How does event X affect character y?

I've decided to go for it. This is a fusion. RWBY is the 'dominant' verse, so there will be more changes to the Naruto side than the RWBY side. Ninjutsu has been replaced with Dust and Aura, for starters. I know some people may not like that, but it gives me more freedom with the story and I think I've got an interesting plot planned.

Before the five great nations and fortress cities, small empires, clans, and nomads fought each other as much as they fought Grimm. The Warring Clans Era. Eventually the Senju and Uchiha created Konoha after the anti-individual faction of The Great War made first contact. The battles left them at risk of being overrun by Grimm. As more clans and settlements from across the region joined, neighboring territories and groups feared that kind of combined power and followed suit. The five 'fortress-cities' are all less than a century old and the western Four Kingdoms had only intermittent contact with them. This continued until just after the Third Ninja War, when Sarutobi took up the Hokage hat again and started creating a real alliance and peace.

Each city-state individually can't match one of the four great kingdoms, but they are still powerful and do make themselves known in world politics. Many people from the Kingdoms call the inhabitants of the continent foolish or worse. They are one of the only places where open conflict between human nations has happened regularly since the end of The Great War.

As for Naruto being an orphan, what happened to his parents and the events of his childhood? The Tailed Beasts? Akatsuki? Well, that will be revealed later. Like I said, I've really been trying to make things unique while keeping true to certain themes and events.

A further description of Naruto's weapon and fighting style will be revealed later. I hope you look forward to Beacon's Initiation.

Sasuke's and Sakura's weapons are... well. Sakura's at least was described as powerful and Naruto is far more familiar with it than he'd like. You'll see it in action eventually. Sasuke's I'll keep under wraps for now. Though Konoha is exiting the picture for now, it isn't gone forever.

Also, who can guess where Naruto's landlord and landlady come from?