I was late again getting this chapter done, so it hasn't been checked. Sorry about that. Also, a few quick things I want to lay to rest.

Naruto/Summer pairing being taken down was due to poor planning. I'm not sure if I'm more insulted by the baiting accusations, the assumptions that I'm too inept at understanding people not to know Naruto/Harem would have net me more views, or people thinking I'm too stupid to comprehend that baiting is a short-term gain with long-term consequences that simply aren't worth the trouble?

Naruto tag isn't bait, and he isn't a side character. To quote SandaKagami's review "...we are following two stories occurring in parallel." The most people can complain is that Naruto has to share screen time with nine other characters (Team STRQ, GGRO, and Ozpin) while Sasuke, at the moment, only has to share with Sienna.

And leaving the Sasuke/Kali pairing up hasn't undermined what I said at all. My words were I shouldn't have posted pairing on a non-pairing centric story. I stand by that and for now on, I won't. But for this story, I have. And the only reason Naruto/Summer was taken down was that I'm no longer 100% sure I can make it work.

I'm confident that the vast majority of my readers understand this already, but this is for the minority, specifically guests, that don't. Though, if the lack of responses from my accusers I PMed to defend myself is anything to go by, they too might not care. But at least I can say I tried.

Beta: OjOrangejuiceofthewild

Cover Art: thefairyspriggan

Chapter 12 - The Uchiha and the Cub

A small foot touched the forest ground. Toes first, then the heel, making sure to keep her weight on her back leg. Like that, she continued her hunt, keeping close to the ground and constantly reminding herself how to move. Silently tracking through the woods as she had been taught. Within her sight, the white fur of her prey could be seen. Not noticing the predator approaching.

From the sheath attached to her right leg, the onyx color blending in with her pants, she drew one of her six throwing knives. The black blade, six inches in length, held the way she was taught. Eyes closed as she took in a deep breath, drowning out everything else around her. Yellow orbs shot open as she whipped her arm forward, exhaling as the blade left her grip.

And soared over the rabbit.

Sienna cursed as her startled target began to flee. All thoughts of stealth were washed away as she charged after the animal. Drawing another knife as she ran, it too missed the mark. Frustration bubbled in her, as Sienna kept chasing what would be dinner, always keeping the rabbit in her line of sight. Knife after knife flew through the air, each missing by a hair and making their home in the ground.

Before she could release her last, the rabbit stopped. A blade, not her own sticking out of its downed body. The girl looked around, before casting her gaze upwards. On a branch stood the one she had been traveling with for the past two weeks. Who had also been training her during that time.

"Don't aim for where your target is, but where it's going," Sasuke told her, as his feet hit the ground. Kneeling down, he removed his own knife from the carcass. "Gather your tools and come back to camp."

Sienna watched as his back slowly disappeared from sight, rabbit in hand. She bit her lip as her hands shook from frustration. She had been close. Just a little more and she would have had it. Mumbled curses continued to flow out of her mouth as she picked up her knives, making sure to wipe the dirt off before sheathing them.

Why did she need to learn how to throw knives anyways? Didn't most hunters use guns? Or even a bow? What was the point in using these stupid little blades? With her last knife in hand, the girl noticed a falling leaf.

She let her blade fly, keeping what Sasuke had said in mind. The knife embedded itself into the trunk of a tree...

And the leaf fell to the ground, her weapon having gone underneath it.

Sienna screamed her fury. She didn't care how long it took, she would hit one damn LEAF!

The morning came much too early for Sienna's liking. When she had finally returned back to camp the night prior, the sun had already began to set. Her face had been smudged with dirt, her hair littered with twigs and leaves. Sasuke hadn't questioned what had taken her so long or what she had been doing. Just telling her to eat and get ready to sleep.

Now, with the sun barely awake itself, she walked beside her temporary guardian. She was sore from the training and travel the day before, but he, who didn't even look close to her parents' age, seemed unaffected.

The thought of her parents brought how different traveling with this man was. Where her mom and dad would talk just to pass the time, throwing some jokes in to make her laugh, Sasuke was quiet. Where her mom would worry if the girl had been away from the camp for too long, he barely blinked an eye. If they had been traveling a while, and her feet would begin to ache, her father would carry Sienna on his back.

Sasuke expected her to keep up.

Not for the first time since she started traveling with him had she spotted these differences. But above all the complaints about being tired. The lack of care for her safety. It was lonely. Sienna wasn't sure what she expected when he offered to help her. She hadn't trusted him, but she couldn't do it alone. And maybe, she had hoped, being with someone else would have been better than being alone.

Sienna knew he wasn't there to care about her well being. He made a promise and intended to keep it. Sasuke continued to lead them forward, sure of where he was going. He had trained her, a child with no fighting experience and no past desire to fight. But then the question that would haunt her on occasion; was Sasuke strong?

Not once since their travel had they ran into Grimm or bandits. She had yet to see him actually fight, or show more than the ability to sneak around. So, would he even be able to help her get back to her family? Had she put her faith in someone that was all talk? Sienna shook those thoughts off. It was too late for doubts. When she had taken his hand back then, led back to their shared room and given food and weapons, her fate was entwined with his. At least until she found her mom.

As the two walked on, the sun had risen higher in the sky, and the cool morning air gave way to summer heat. Just another day. Soon they would find another place to rest, under the shade of one of the many trees that surrounded them. Maybe a bit of hand-to-hand training, lunch, and then back on the road. At least, that's what would have happened if the dirt they had been walking on became stone, and buildings could be seen in the distance.

The girl couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. This had been the first time they had came upon a village since the two set out, and Sienna couldn't wait to finally relax. No camping out or hunting for food, and no cold river baths. Tonight, she would soak in a hot bath and sleep on an almost comfortable mattress. Compared to the sleeping bag, it would be paradise.

The two made their way down the road, the human and faunus mixed people paying them no mind as they carried on with their day. Adults with vegetables in hand stopping to speak with one another, and children close to Sienna's age playing outside the homes that were scattered here and there.

Soon, they found themselves in front of a large, three-story building. Painted tan with dark brown trim. Over the door hung a wooden sign with the word 'Inn' carved into it. Sasuke pushed the door open, the bell above chiming their arrival. The two stepped inside, greeted by the sight of round tables spread out across the floor, some empty but others dining and laughing. Overlooking the customers was a burly man with a bald head standing behind a wooden counter.

Sienna followed behind Sasuke as he made his way to the man, not minding the intimidating older man. She didn't either. And if anyone said that she had hidden her body behind her guardian's, they were lying.

"Wha' can I do for ya?" the man asked with a gruff voice.

"One room, two beds for two nights."

Two nights?! Sienna didn't know if she heard that right, but she wasn't about to question it.

"Two-hundred lien. Extra ten for each meal you have here."

Money wasn't something she was great with, but Sienna knew enough math to know that was a big number. And Sasuke was a wanderer, at least, that was her impression. He probably didn't have a lot of money. Maybe enough for the room, but they would have to get their meals outside the village.

Sasuke dug into the pouch he kept on his side, fishing out multiple colored cards and handing them to the older man, who took a quick count.

"Three-twenty for one room and six meals for both of ye," the man said, shocking Sienna. Sasuke had money?! When? How?! While she was questioning the lien she didn't know even existed, the keeper handed Sasuke a key with a tag numbered three-zero-five. "Take the stairs all the way up, and the room will be on your left."

Sienna watched her raven-haired caretaker nod his thanks, leading her towards the staircase at the opposite end of the inn's entrance. Up two flights of stairs and to the third door on their left, the key turned to give them access to a nice, if a little small, room with two one-person beds and single nightstand between them. Mostly empty, but that was fine as long as the beds were soft.

As she collapsed on the one on the left, Sienna was happy to note that they were.

"Leave your bag and come on," Sasuke said, snapping her out of her bliss. "We'll have lunch and work on your training."

Sienna had her goals. Finding her mom was at the top of the list, with killing the ones responsible for her situation a very close second. She followed Sasuke for that reason and that reason alone. Learning what she could and following what he said, not once letting out a single complaint. But this time, she felt a small whine could be accepted.

"But... But... Bed?" was the best she could get out, muffled from the pillow she was using to try to hide from her teacher.

If his voice was anything to go by, he was not impressed. "Yes, it's a bed. And it will be here when you get back."

He didn't command her to get up or to leave the room, but the finality of the conversation was there. There was no room for argument, and with another tired whine, Sienna got up from her bed.

And as she reluctantly left the room after him, she vowed to land at least one punch to his face.

"Why. Won't. You. Stand. Still?!"

The Uchiha continued to dodge away from each fist thrown, all aimed at his face for some reason.

"Your enemy won't stay still and wait for you," he told her.

Nor would they not fight back. As the girl over-extended her arm, he grabbed her wrist, throwing her away from him. He watched as Sienna's back hit the ground, aura flashing as it took the brunt of the impact, and the girl flipped back on to her feet. Crouched down, legs spread apart, and both hands planted on the grassy field. Amber eyes bore into him. Circular pupils becoming vertical slits as a growl escaped her lips.

In an instant, she was back on him. More ferocious than the previous time. While not fast by a shinobi's standard, the girl had crossed the distance between them more quickly than her small body should have been capable of. Her attack pattern becoming more erratic and vicious. Sasuke had seen this a few times since training her. If she became frustrated, this behavior would leak out. Her hands no longer in fists, but fingers curved as she swiped at him.

Dodged again, she spun on her heel, left leg coming around to catch the Uchiha on his side, which he blocked. Unperturbed, Sienna swung her right leg, and with it, her right arm with a knife in hand. Bending back from the blade that was aimed at his throat, he caught the girl's right leg and tossed her away once more.

He watched the girl as she skidded across the grass and dirt, aura flaring before giving way, signaling the end of their training. As Sienna laid on the ground, soaked in sweat, chest rising and falling and falling as she gasped for breath, Sasuke could say he was somewhat impressed. She was nowhere near a genin's level, but in two short weeks, the girl had improved in leaps and bounds from where she started. Which was from nothing.

Even the day before, he had watched her climb up trees to knock down leaves just to practice knife throwing. Not great for practicing against moving targets, but it was inventive. In a way, it reminded him of himself and Naruto and their stubbornness at the tree climbing practice. And like in their fight just now, Sienna would get frustrated more and more. But then, why hadn't she shown the same ferocious behavior as she did against him?

He could guess it was her semblance, some kind of improvement to her physical abilities. Still, it only activated at certain times and only ever during their training sessions. What was the trigger?

A groan took him from his thoughts and to the child attempting to stand, only to give up halfway and fall back. They had been here for several hours, and no matter how absurd her improvement was, Sienna was still an average child in the end. Not a shinobi or even a future huntress, just a kid that had her simple life stripped away.

Sasuke moved over to the downed girl, picking up her no doubt sore body, her eyes widening in surprise before leaning into his shoulder. In silence, he walked back to the inn.

It was the pounding on their room's door that had awoken the shinobi. Well, the first three. It was the half-dozen or so afterward that had Sasuke wanting to pierce the wood and whoever was on the other side. Sasuke stood up from bed, his baggy dark blue shirt falling down his exposed abdomen. He swung the door open, staring down the bald man, Bairre, who was responsible for the racket.

"What?"

Behind Bairre, two rooms opened, and their occupants left in a hurry.

"There's been a Grimm sightin'," the man told Sasuke.

That was all this was? His thoughts must have shown from his expression.

"It's not just some Beowolves and Ursa. We may not have Hunters, but we wouldn' have survived this long if some of us couldn' fight. It's Goliaths. A herd of 'em heading for this village."

Goliaths? That didn't seem right. From what he remembered reading, those Grimm were more intelligent than the average, most living for hundreds of years and never traveled to far away from the Kingdoms. If it was an entire herd, why would they be away from the borders to such a small village?

"Get it now?" Bairre asked. "Even Hunters would have a problem with these things. The village guards hav' formed an escort group to get people out."

Sasuke looked back to the occupied bed. Sienna snored away, covers kicked away, and a sprawled out at odd angles, but it didn't seem to bother her. He could wake her up now, and depart from the village. The girl may mumble some complaints, but she'd follow his instructions. She had been working hard, and whether she noticed it or not, her endurance had improved slightly from when they first started.

But Sasuke wasn't blind. The girl was tired. He had been pushing her hard for her betterment, but she was still just a child. Sienna had worked hard, did she not deserve some rest?

Sasuke sighed, walking back to grab his sword from the foot of his bed and leaving the room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"Wha' are ya' doin'?!" the man questioned. "You're not goin' to just leave her for the Grimm, are ya'?!"

"Quiet," the shinobi commanded. Bairre's jaw slammed shut. "I'm going to take care of it."

With that, he descended the stairs and left the inn. Rain poured down on the villagers that were quickly gathering together to make their escape. Lightning struck in the distance and thunder canceled out the shouts of guards calling for Sasuke to stop. A large hand grabbed his shoulder, and it was with pure force of will that the shinobi didn't cut the offending limb off.

"What do ya' mean you'll take care of it?!" Bairre roared over the storm. "These are Goliaths! What could you possibly do on yer own?"

Sasuke shook the man off and continued his walk out of the village. He could barely make out the man yell out a curse, but it mattered little. The ground shook as the large Grimm made their appearance. Due to their size, even from so far out, they were easy to see. And they were numerous. As the herd of darkness got closer, the Goliath that lead the others noticed him. Recognized him. An angry roar resounded and echoed as the others mimicked the sound.

Was it possible that it wasn't the village they were after, but him? If that was true, the question became, why? The most interaction he had with Grimm in the last few weeks were using his abilities to keep them away from their camp. And the Goliaths had not been in the area at any point.

At the sight of him, they began to charge. Sasuke could hear panicked yelling behind him, but it was all static. He raised his sole hand up, electricity chirping from his palm. The lightning above dancing in sync with his will. The people of Remnant may fear these creatures, but to him, they were only an eyesore.

"Disappear with the thunder."

A beast of lightning descended from the heavens, engulfing the rampaging Goliaths and illuminating the stormy night with a bright flash. As soon as it began, it was over. Where great beasts once stood was now vacant. Storm clouds cleared up, revealing the shattered moon in the night sky.

Sasuke turned to walk back to the inn, hist thoughts drifting towards changing out of his wet clothes and getting back to bed. He didn't give the innkeeper, the guard with him, or those standing at the village's border who eyed him in wonder any thought.

It had been several days since they left Oakenforest Village, and Sienna could honestly say she was still confused. When she the next morning and headed down for breakfast, she was greeted with a much larger meal than lunch and dinner had been the day before. Sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy. All stacked up in more than one serving of each. She had thought it was supposed to be part of Sasuke's share as well, but the server, a lady around Sasuke's age, had placed a plate in front of him with just as much food.

She also gave him that look Sienna's mom would give her dad right before saying they needed to have a private talk.

Sasuke didn't make any mention of the odd behavior, so Sienna didn't question it. It was never good to look a gift-horse in the mouth, after all. But the weirdness didn't end there. Every meal after was just the same, and though it was more than what the other guests had, no one complained. Many people called out to her guardian when they walked the streets, even children her age getting excited as he approached.

He never gave much more than a "Hn" to acknowledge their existence, but that didn't seem to bother them.

When they left, old man Bairre had even returned the money Sasuke had paid for the room and meals, saying that their stay would always be free if they were to come back. Guards thanked Sasuke for his work with a pat on a back, and an attempt to wrestle out a promise to share a drink if he ever came back. The most they got in return was a, "Do whatever you want."

The last to bid them farewell was a faunus woman only slightly older than the inn's server. Holding a bag of fruits and vegetables, she persistently thrust into Sasuke's hand with her tail wagging happily behind her. Even going so far as to push her body into his. Was she afraid he would drop it?

Once it was just them, Sienna had asked what had happened, and why the villagers were acting like that. He told her it wasn't important, but even now, snacking on a handful of blackberries from the ice-dust infused bag, she didn't believe it for a second.

So engrossed in her thought, Sienna didn't notice when Sasuke had stopped walking, colliding with his body and holding on to her snack for dear life. She stepped out of his shadow to see a horrible sight of a destroyed village. Homes laid to waste and debris scattered here and there. Some looked to have been shifted, like people were searching for others, but left to litter the streets. One thing that stuck out was the white pillars that stood upright.

"What happened?" she asked aloud.

As usual, Sasuke said nothing, moving through the ruins as if searching for something. High and low, his eyes traveled. Looking at him, she noted that his once onyx eye had turned red with black sclera. A chill went down her back, and she reflexively took a step away from him. She shook her head. No, she didn't need to be afraid of him. She wasn't sure if he was all that concerned about her well being, but at the very least, he wouldn't harm her.

Sienna's ears perked up as Sasuke mumbled, "Not here."

Not here? What wasn't here? Before she had the chance to ask the question, he had already begun trekking through the destroyed forest. Quickly she followed after him. It didn't take long for the two to reach a large crater. Had this always been here? Or did it have something to do with the loss of the village behind them?

Sasuke didn't stop, choosing to jump down, and neither did she. Turning her feet to the sides in an attempt to not fall into the muddy landscape, the girl slowly made her way down onto flat land. Her feet heavy from the build-up of mud on her shoes. A few feet away, Sasuke stared into nothing, though she still heard him say, "Is this..."

Was there something there that only he could see? Or had he finally cracked and gone crazy? She received no answer as Sasuke grabbed his head, letting out a cry of pain she had never heard before.

Sienna ran to his bent over the figure. "What's wrong?!"

He didn't answer her, but Sienna was able to see his face and the blood running down his eyes. She fell back, scared. Why? Why was he bleeding? What was she supposed to do? What could she do? His breathing became harsh as he fell to his knees. She needed to get help. Sienna turned around, attempting to run up the way she had come down. The surface too slick kept sliding her back.

She tried jumping through the sludge, attempted to dig her hands into the mud, and climb up. Each time was met with the same result of falling back down. Her heart began to beat faster as the horror began to set in. Sasuke had fallen, face caked in mud, and she was stranded. What if he had died? Would she die too?

"Help!" she cried. "Help!"

Sienna continued to call. Even as her throat became sore and voice hoarse.

"I'm on my way!" a woman shouted back.

Excitement bubbled up inside the girl. Someone had heard her. She ran over to her guardian. Blood stained his face, and his consciousness was lost.

"Hey, I'm he- Is he alright?!" it was the woman who had answered her call.

"I don't know!" Sienna cried, looking up to the woman. "He was fine, but then he just-"

The girl cut off as she took in the woman's appearance. Clothed in white and black, metallic plates covering her hips and shoulders with a yellow sash tied around her waist. What caught Sienna's breath was the emerald eyes and the wild mane of brilliant red hair.

"S-Scarlett?"

Until next time.