Chereads / W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby / Chapter 17 - White Fang

Chapter 17 - White Fang

Ruby lay on the cold, hard ground of the underground train station, her Aura flickering weakly as Roman Torchwick loomed over her, grinning wickedly. Her body ached with each attempt to rise, her breathing shallow as her Aura struggled to maintain its protective shield.Roman had been relentless, his strikes coming one after another, pushing Ruby to her limits."Man, you're way more manageable without that oversized garnet tool of yours," Roman sneered, casually spinning his cane. His voice dripped with mockery as he looked down at her.Ruby groaned, her vision blurry as she tried to push herself up on trembling arms. She could barely keep her thoughts straight through the pain and exhaustion.Roman's grin widened as he noticed her struggle. "What's the matter, Red? Had enough already? Don't tell me you're tired. We've only just begun!"He raised his cane, ready to land another blow, but before he could strike, a deafening explosion echoed through the tunnels. The ground shook, and Roman paused, turning his head sharply in the direction of the blast."Intruder alert!" A White Fang soldier yelled, their voice tinged with panic. Another explosion followed, this one even closer, causing dust and debris to rain from the ceiling.Roman's eyes widened in shock and fury. "What the-?!" He turned to one of his White Fang accomplices, gesturing angrily at Ruby. "Watch her! Don't let her get away!"The soldier nodded, quickly grabbing Ruby by the arms and holding her in place. Roman snarled in frustration and made his way to the roof of the train to assess the situation.As he reached the rooftop, Roman's anger flared. In the distance, he spotted the unmistakable figures of Huntsmen charging through the station. It wasn't just any Huntsmen-it was Dr. Oobleck, Team RWBY, and Rinko Schnee, leading the charge. A mixture of disbelief and irritation crossed Roman's face."Why can't these people just mind their own damn business?!" he spat, gripping his cane tightly as the White Fang forces rallied, preparing for the oncoming attack.On the ground below, Team RWBY, Oobleck, Kakashi, and Rinko were hunkered down behind the cover of rubble and derelict train cars, bullets and blasts ricocheting around them as the White Fang opened fire."We need to push them back!" one of the White Fang soldiers yelled as they began advancing, their shots growing more intense with every step."We're completely surrounded!" Yang shouted over the gunfire, turning to Dr. Oobleck, who was scanning the chaotic battlefield with frantic eyes.Before Oobleck could respond, Rinko, who had been silently observing the White Fang's movements, took action. He swiftly pulled out several small, round devices from his pouch-smoke bombs. With a flick of his wrist, he lobbed them toward the approaching enemy.Clink-he smoke bombs hit the ground, and within moments, thick clouds of smoke billowed up, engulfing the White Fang soldiers in a blinding haze.Confusion spread like wildfire among their ranks as they coughed and stumbled, disoriented by the thick fog. Their frantic shouts filled the air as they struggled to maintain order, but the Huntsmen were already in motion."Nice one!" Blake's voice cut through the chaos, her keen Faunus eyes piercing the smoke. She seized the opportunity, darting forward with a burst of speed, her blade gleaming in the dim light as she sliced through the confusion, her strikes precise and swift.Taking advantage of the smoke, Yang roared into action, her Ember Celica igniting in a brilliant blaze. She bulldozed through the disoriented soldiers with raw power, her fists burning golden as she punched her way through the enemy lines, sending White Fang members flying in every direction.Weiss leaped into the fray, gracefully summoning a series of glyphs beneath her feet. With every step, she propelled herself higher into the air, her rapier flashing as she sent icy shards at her enemies from above, freezing some in their tracks. The White Fang stood no chance as they were struck from every angle.While his team fought with relentless precision, Kakashi slipped away from the battle, his focus solely on finding Ruby. He moved swiftly, sprinting along the length of the train's metal roof, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of her.Suddenly, he halted as his eyes locked onto a grim sight-two White Fang members dragging Ruby, one holding her by the arms, the other by her legs. Her Aura flickered weakly, barely hanging on as she remained limp in their grasp.Without hesitation, Kakashi acted. He leaped from the roof, landing with barely a sound behind the two White Fang soldiers. In a blur of motion, he unsheathed his short sword, and before they could react, his blade slashed through the first one's torso. The White Fang member didn't even have time to scream before collapsing.The second soldier, startled by the sudden attack, dropped Ruby's legs in panic and turned to face Kakashi, but it was too late. Kakashi moved like lightning, his short swordslicing through the soldier's throat with cold efficiency. The White Fang member crumpled to the ground, lifeless.Kakashi knelt by Ruby's side, checking her pulse as his sharp eyes scanned the area for any more threats. She was alive, though barely conscious, her Aura struggling to hold on. Relief washed over him as he gently lifted her into his arms."Hang in there, Ruby," he whispered softly. "I've got you."With Ruby safely in his arms, Kakashi turned, his gaze hardening as he prepared to take her back to safety-and to finish this battle once and for all."We're moving the train!"Kakashi-Rinko Schnee- his narrowed as he heard the shout from behind: "We're moving the train!" He quickly turned in the direction of the voice, scanning the area, but he couldn't place who it was."Must be their leader.." Kakashi quickly concluded.His mind raced. He could run back and finish this, but Ruby's breathing was shallow, and her Aura was dangerously low. She was the priority now. As much as he wanted to neutralize the threat, leaving her unattended would be too risky.Rinko adjusted Ruby in his arms, securing her more carefully. He couldn't just charge after Roman without endangering Ruby. His shinobi instincts urged him to act swiftly, but the world he now lived in didn't allow for his past abilities-no Chakra, no Ninjutsu. All he had was his battle-hardened experience and finely-tuned reflexes.He took a deep breath, letting his mind focus on the task at hand. If he couldn't chase Roman immediately, then he'd have to rely on the others."Blake, Weiss, Yang!" Rinko shouted over his shoulder, hoping his teammates would hear him amidst the chaos. "The train is moving!"As Oobleck finished the last goon, they turned to Rinko.Their eyes widened in relief as Kakashi held Ruby in his arms. Team RWBY and Oobleck ran towards Kakashi to check on her."She's still breathing, but her aura is low," Kakashi said they heard the train's engine moving as they turned to the train."We must hop on quickly and stop this train!" Oobleck commanded everyone, without hesitation, they ran and gripped the train as they went to the roof. Kakashi merely leaped into the air with a single jump and he was on the roof while holding Ruby."We're moving boys!" Roman's voice was loud and proud as he pressed the train's horns."Ughh.. W-what..?" Ruby was groaning as her eyes were slowly opening to see Rinko's face."Ruby," Rinko muttered her name.Ruby blinked up at him, her vision blurry, but slowly focusing. "R-Rinko...? What happened?" she muttered, trying to shift, but the pain in her body made her wince.Ruby's expression shifted from confusion to determination as she recalled the fight. "Roman... the White Fang..." she got up to her feet, her eyes widening while Rinko was assisting her."Let's go, girls. We don't have much time to waste!" Oobleck yelled as they nodded. Yang gave Ruby her weapon Ruby nodded, thankful for her sister."More incoming!" Blake pointed out,"On it!" Weiss yelled as she activated her dusts projectiles as she sent out fireballs on their way. The mini explosions knocked the goons off the train as the train were gaining speed every second.Team RWBY continued their march, hopping from one cart to another."Tch- They never stop coming, huh?" Yang grumbled as she knocked another White Fang.A loud clanking of metal from behind them gained their attention as the cart they were previously on detached from the train as it soon exploded, creating essentially a hole from Mountain Glenn in the railway leading to Vale.This realisation hits the team as they immediately ran to another cart. The cart they were previously standing detached again from the main train as it exploded."This tunnels leads to nothing... A sealed wall.. The cart's bringing Grimm.." Oobleck hummed.Oobleck analyzed what's going on as he concluded a sudden horror of realization.."THEY'RE BRINGING GRIMM TO VALE! WE MUST STOP THE TRAIN IMMEDIATELY!"Oobleck's shout echoed over the deafening roar of the train as it barreled forward, each cart detaching behind them and exploding in fiery bursts. The team's eyes widened in horror as the realization sank in-this wasn't just a simple heist or sabotage.Roman and the White Fang were planning to bring an army of Grimm directly into Vale."We need to move faster!" Rinko yelled, his voice urgent as he jumped to another cart.Yang clenched her fists, her gauntlets crackling with energy. "No way I'm letting those monsters get to Vale. Let's end this!" She charged ahead, fists blazing, knocking out White Fang members left and right.Weiss, her face set in determination, summoned glyphs beneath her teammates' feet, giving them a speed boost as they sprinted toward the front of the train. "We need to get to the engine before more carts detach!"Blake, using her agility, leaped ahead of the group, cutting down enemies with fluid, precise strikes. "I'll clear the way!" she called, slicing through a pair of White Fang goons trying to hold their ground.Suddenly, the train lurched as more of the detached carts exploded behind them, causing the tunnel to shake. In the distance, they could hear the unsettling roars of Grimm as they were drawn to the chaos."We're running out of time!" Rinko shouted. He could see the tunnel's end-the sealed wall Oobleck had mentioned. If they didn't stop the train soon, the crash would breach the wall, releasing the Grimm into Vale.Oobleck, panting slightly from keeping pace, called out, "There's a release mechanism in the engine! If we can activate it, we can decouple the rest of the train from the engine and prevent it from reaching the wall! You three," Oobleck pointed at Rinko, Yang and Weiss."Get on the train! Stop the rest of the White Fang and the engine!" Oobleck commanded."What about us?" Blake asked behind Oobleck."We're stopping this train!" Oobleck commanded in finality."Then let's go!" Yang shouted, rushing ahead with renewed urgency as she punched a hole under the cart as Rinko, Yang and Weiss jumped in.The moment they hit the floor, they sprinted toward the door to the next cart, not wasting a second. Their footsteps echoed off the steel walls as the train hurtled forward through the dark tunnel.Just as they were about to reach the next cart, they skidded to a stop. Standing in their path was a girl dressed in pink, her parasol casually resting over her shoulder-Neopolitan.Neo's mischievous smile curled as she twirled her umbrella. Yang immediately stepped forward, her eyes burning with resolve. "Go! I'll handle this!" she shouted, charging toward Neo with fists ablaze.Rinko hesitated for a split second, glancing at Yang, but he knew there was no time to waste. Trusting Yang to hold her own, he grabbed Weiss by the arm, and the two dashed past the battle, heading further into the train.They entered the next cart, only to be met by a looming figure-a towering Faunus with broad shoulders and a menacing grin.He wielded a massive chainsaw-sword hybrid that roared to life with a deafening screech as its blades spun wildly. The entire cart vibrated from the force of the weapon, and the Faunus's muscular frame only added to the terror of the moment.The Faunus grinned wickedly. "Finally, I get to kill... a Schnee?" His eyes darted between Weiss and Rinko, recognition dawning in his gaze. "Wait... both of you are Schnees? How lucky am I?" His voice dripped with malice, and before they could react, he charged forward with a speed that belied his massive frame."Dodge!" Weiss screamed, pushing Rinko out of the way just as the Faunus's chainsaw blade ripped through the air, narrowly missing them.Rinko rolled to his feet, his eyes wide in surprise. The Faunus's speed was unnatural for his size, and it caught them both off guard.Weiss quickly recovered from her roll, her rapier already drawn, and activated a glyph beneath her feet to give herself a boost of speed.Weiss barely evaded the Faunus's chainsaw as it roared through the air, the teeth of the blade gnashing against the metal walls of the cart, sending sparks flying. The sound was deafening, and the vibrations from the impact rattled the entire space."Go, Rinko! I'll handle this!" Weiss commanded, summoning a glyph between herself and the hulking Faunus. The glyph shimmered with energy, creating a barrier strong enough to deflect his next savage swing.Rinko hesitated for a fraction of a second, glancing at Weiss as she held her ground. Her determination was unmistakable. With a sharp nod, he dashed toward the door of the next cart, his movements swift and calculated.As Rinko pushed through the door and sprinted across the narrow connection between the cars, he could still hear the clash of metal behind him as Weiss engaged the Faunus in a desperate battle. The train jolted beneath his feet as more carts detached, the distant explosions echoing through the tunnel, but he pressed on.When Rinko finally reached the engine cart, he came face-to-face with Roman Torchwick. The man stood casually, leaning on his cane with a smug expression. His orange hair practically glowed under the dim lights, and his confidence was palpable."Well, well, well..." Roman drawled, twirling his cane lazily. "Another Schnee, coming to play the hero. Don't suppose you're here to offer a trade deal, are you? No? Shame, because we've been making excellent use of your father's Dust."Rinko's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, taking a defensive stance. His hand rested on the hilt of his short sword, ready for whatever Torchwick had planned.Roman chuckled, clearly amused. "What, no witty comeback? You Schnees are usually full of them. No matter. This train's not stopping unless I say so. And guess what, kid? I don't feel like stopping."Rinko's expression remained calm, though his eyes sharpened with resolve. He unsheathed his short sword in one smooth motion, the blade gleaming as it caught the flickering lights of the engine room."We'll see about that," Rinko muttered under his breath, his voice steady.Torchwick's grin widened. "Oh, I do love it when they put up a fight. Alright then," he said, twirling his cane once more before pointing it directly at Rinko. "Let's dance."Without warning, Torchwick dashed forward, swinging his cane with surprising speed. Rinko parried the strike just in time, sparks flying as his blade clashed with the Dust-infused weapon.The force of the blow sent a shockwave through Rinko's arms, but he stood firm, quickly countering with a slash aimed at Torchwick's midsection.Torchwick twisted out of the way with practiced ease, his movements almost playful as he sidestepped the attack."Not bad," he taunted, thrusting his cane forward, the tip glowing as he fired a blast of explosive Dust straight at Rinko.Rinko ducked, rolling to the side as the explosion rocked the engine room, filling the space with smoke and debris. He wasted no time, darting forward to close the distance, his blade aimed at Torchwick's arm.Torchwick barely managed to block the strike, his grin faltering as he realized Rinko's precision wasn't something to be underestimated."Persistent little thing, aren't you?" Torchwick grunted, swinging his cane in a wide arc to create space.Rinko didn't respond. He was focused, his mind racing as he analyzed Torchwick's movements, looking for an opening.The man was skilled, but Rinko knew that he couldn't afford to be distracted. The train was still hurtling toward its destination, and every second they fought brought them closer to disaster.Torchwick swung again, but this time Rinko was faster. He sidestepped the blow, delivering a swift kick to Roman's side, sending him stumbling backward. Torchwick's smug grin twisted into a scowl as he regained his footing, his eyes narrowing in irritation."You think you can stop me? By yourself?" Torchwick spat, clearly frustrated now. "I've got an army behind me, kid, and you're all alone!"Rinko tightened his grip on his sword. "You're hopeless," he said quietly.Before Torchwick could respond, Rinko surged forward, his blade flashing as he struck with lightning speed.Torchwick barely had time to raise his cane in defense, and the impact sent him crashing into the control panel behind him. Alarms blared as sparks flew from the damaged console.Torchwick cursed under his breath, clutching his ribs as he glared at Rinko. "You little-!"But Rinko wasn't waiting. He turned his attention to the control panel, quickly scanning the levers and switches.There had to be a release mechanism somewhere, a way to decouple the engine from the rest of the train. Time was running out, and he could hear the faint roars of Grimm approaching.Roman staggered to his feet, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Don't you dare touch that!"Ignoring him, Rinko's fingers flew over the controls. He found the lever Oobleck had mentioned, his heart pounding in his chest. Just as he reached for it, Torchwick lunged at him with a roar of rage.Rinko barely managed to dodge, but Roman's cane grazed his arm, drawing blood. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Rinko ignored the sting as he slammed his hand down on the lever. With a loud hiss and a screech of metal on metal, the train's brakes engaged, causing it to rapidly slow.Roman's eyes widened in disbelief as the momentum began to die. "No!" he shouted, his voice filled with frustration and fury.The train screeched, sparks flying from the rails as it hurtled toward the sealed wall of Vale. The sound of grinding metal filled the air, a race against time as the wall loomed closer, just feet away. Rinko's heart pounded in his chest, every second dragging like an eternity.Then, just inches before collision, the train ground to a complete stop.Roman staggered back, his expression a mixture of shock and pure rage. His grip on his cane tightened until his knuckles turned white. "You-!" he seethed, struggling to regain control of the situation as he glared at Rinko.Breathing heavily, Rinko lifted his blade, his face calm but his eyes steely with determination. He took a step forward, poised to end the fight. "This train's not going anywhere near Vale," he said, his voice cold and resolute.[End]