W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby

Rinko Schnee lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day were replayed in his mind. His conversation with Ozpin lingered like an echo in the quiet room.
It wasn't every day that one found someone who truly understood what it was like to live a second life. The weight of shared secrets, of mutual understanding, had lifted something in Rinko he hadn't realized he was carrying.
The stillness of the room was interrupted by a faint hum of energy from the walls of the Schnee dormitory.
Outside the window, the lights of Beacon Academy twinkled in the distance, their glow blending with the night sky. But Rinko's thoughts remained focused on one memory in particular.
Flashback - A Few Moments Earlier
As Rinko was about to step into the elevator, he heard Ozpin call out to him. The soft, steady tone of the headmaster's voice carried a quiet strength.
"Rinko."
He paused, turning back to meet Ozpin's gaze. The man stood at his desk, his ever-present coffee cup in hand, his expression unreadable yet warm.
"Good luck on your match tomorrow," Ozpin said, his words simple yet carrying a weight of sincerity.
Rinko nodded, his respect for the man evident. "Thank you. I look forward to it, Ozpin."
Ozpin gave him a small, knowing smile as the elevator doors slid closed, the metallic sheen reflecting the flicker of resolve in Rinko's eyes.
Present Time
Now, lying on his bed, Rinko replayed those words in his mind. Despite the gravity of their earlier discussion about reincarnation, Ozpin's parting words were a reminder of the simpler things-of tomorrow's match and the opportunities it represented.
Rinko sighed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. 'Good luck on my match, huh?' He chuckled softly to himself. "It wouldn't really be a problem..."
He glanced at the clock on the wall. The soft ticking seemed louder in the silence of the room. The numbers glowed faintly, signaling that it was already late.
Another yawn escaped him, his body reminding him of the importance of rest before tomorrow's event.
'I should probably sleep now,' he thought, letting his head sink deeper into the pillow.
His eyes drifted closed, the tension in his body slowly unraveling as he let the comfort of the bed envelop him.
His mind wandered briefly to Amity Arena, to the upcoming match, to the possibility of proving himself-not as Kakashi Hatake, but as Rinko Schnee.
As sleep began to claim him, his thoughts grew distant, replaced by a quiet serenity.
The soft hum of the dormitory faded into the background, leaving only the sound of his even breaths. Rinko Schnee, reborn yet resolute, rested at last, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Tomorrow, Amity Colosseum
"WOAH-! Have you seen those, folks?" the announcer's voice echoed through the arena. "Weiss and Yang, from Team RWBY, have delivered an amazing display of skills that secured their victory against Team FNKI!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, and among them, Rinko, Ruby, and Blake sat together, clapping enthusiastically.
"That was incredible!" Ruby beamed, practically bouncing in her seat. "We have to go congratulate them!"
Blake glanced at Rinko, who gave a small shrug and a faint smile. "Might as well," he said as the three of them made their way toward the arena floor.
When they reached Yang and Weiss, they noticed Neptune and Sun were already there, chatting with the victorious pair. Neptune seemed especially animated as he spoke to Weiss, his expression a mix of admiration and excitement.
Weiss, on the other hand, looked a little flustered. Her cheeks were faintly pink as she nodded politely at Neptune's compliments, her usual composed demeanor slightly unsteady.
Rinko caught this and raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. Oh? That's interesting.
"Yang! Weiss!" Ruby called out as she rushed forward, throwing her arms around Yang in a tight hug. "You two were amazing!"
"Thanks, Rubes!" Yang grinned, hugging her back. "We left it all out there!"
Blake offered Weiss a small smile. "Well done. You two worked well together."
"Thank you," Weiss replied, her tone regaining its usual formality.
Rinko approached with a relaxed demeanor, his arms crossed casually. "I'll admit, that was an impressive display. Congrats, both of you."
"Thanks, Rinko," Yang replied, flashing him a thumbs-up.
Weiss met his gaze briefly, her eyes narrowing slightly as if to gauge the sincerity behind his words. "It was a team effort," she said modestly.
"And a good one at that," Rinko responded, his tone genuine.
Before Weiss could respond, Neptune interjected, still lingering nearby. "Weiss, you were phenomenal! That technique you pulled off at the end was insane!"
Weiss turned to him, her cheeks faintly reddening again. "I-it was nothing special," she replied, though her voice was noticeably softer.
Rinko watched the exchange with growing amusement. He didn't say anything, but the subtle smirk on his face spoke volumes.
Sun, standing off to the side, seemed to notice Rinko's expression. Leaning slightly toward him, he whispered, "What's with the grin?"
"Nothing," Rinko replied, his smirk widening slightly. "Just... observing."
Sun chuckled but didn't press further.
Ruby, meanwhile, was oblivious to the subtleties, her excitement still at its peak. "We should all go grab something to eat and celebrate!" she suggested, looking around at the group. "It'll be fun!"
"Food sounds good to me," Yang said, slinging an arm around Ruby's shoulder.
Weiss glanced at Rinko briefly before addressing the group. "As long as it's not too late. We still have more matches ahead."
"Don't worry, Weiss. We'll keep it quick," Ruby reassured her.
With that, the group began making their way out of the arena.
Rinko fell into step beside Weiss, his earlier observation lingering in his mind.
As the group chatted animatedly, he noticed Weiss's demeanor returning to its usual composed self, though her blush from earlier hadn't completely faded.
"You know," Rinko said casually, keeping his voice low enough for only Weiss to hear, "you handled Neptune's praise pretty gracefully."
Weiss turned her head sharply, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And what exactly are you implying?"
"Nothing at all," Rinko replied, his tone light and teasing. "Just making an observation."
Weiss huffed softly, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Hmph. Shut it."
Rinko chuckled under his breath, letting the moment pass as the group continued toward their well-deserved celebration.
However, as they approached the next hallway, Rinko's steps slowed, his sharp gaze locking onto the faint shadow of a figure lurking just beyond the corner.
He could tell, that this stranger was looking at him. Only him.
The silhouette was barely noticeable, but his trained instincts caught it immediately.
He didn't look directly at the figure, keeping his focus forward. His steps came to a halt, and the rest of the group continued a few paces ahead before Weiss noticed the absence of her brother's footsteps.
"Rinko?" Weiss turned back, her brow furrowing in concern.
Rinko plastered on a casual smile and waved her off. "It's nothing. Go ahead without me-I'll catch up. Just need to take care of something real quick." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, feigning nonchalance. "Gotta take a leak."
Weiss arched a skeptical eyebrow but nodded. "Fine, but don't take too long." She turned and hurried to catch up with the others, disappearing around the corner.
Rinko's expression darkened the moment they were out of sight. His body stiffened slightly as he turned to face the shadowy figure in the dim hallway.
Slowly, the figure stepped into the light, revealing Raven Branwen.
Rinko tensed, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his weapon. His previous encounter with Raven was fresh in his memory-her relentless pursuit of Jacques Schnee and the chaos she left in her wake.
Even though she had ultimately abandoned that mission, he wasn't foolish enough to trust her motives now.
Raven raised her hands slightly, a gesture of non-aggression. "Calm down. I'm not here to fight," she said evenly, her voice carrying a measured calmness.
Rinko's eyes narrowed, his grip on his weapon remaining firm. He didn't say a word, his gaze sharp and unyielding.
Raven sighed and removed her mask, her crimson eyes meeting his. "I came to warn you."
"Warn me?" Rinko's voice was cold, his stance unchanging. "You expect me to believe that? After everything?"
"I'm not asking you to believe me," Raven replied, her tone steady. "But you'd be a fool to ignore what I have to say."
Rinko's eyes flickered with suspicion, but he didn't interrupt her.
She took a step closer, carefully keeping her hands visible.
"There's a storm brewing, Rinko. Someone within these walls is orchestrating a plan to bring Beacon to its knees during the Vytal Festival. If you care about protecting your sister and her friends, you'll listen to me."
His brows furrowed slightly, though his body relaxed just enough to indicate he was listening. "Who's behind it?"
Raven's expression hardened. "I don't have all the names, but I know Cinder Fall is involved. She's working with a dangerous network-people who won't hesitate to burn everything to the ground. Beacon is just the beginning."
"Cinder Fall," Rinko muttered under his breath, the name unfamiliar but already carrying a sinister weight. "How certain are you?"
"The Branwen Tribe has a lot more reach than you might think, Rinko."
His sharp gaze remained locked on Raven, the distrust in his eyes unwavering. "And why would you tell me this? What do you gain from warning me?"
Raven crossed her arms, her posture relaxed yet guarded, her expression as unreadable as ever. "You think everything I do comes with some selfish motive," she said, her tone steady but laced with a hint of exasperation. "And maybe you're right most of the time. But not this time."
Rinko's eyes narrowed, his skepticism unrelenting. "I'm supposed to believe that? From you?"
Raven took a step closer, her crimson eyes glinting in the dim light. "Make no mistake-I'm not your ally, Rinko," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I'm doing this for Yang."
"Yang?" he repeated, his tone tinged with both confusion and suspicion.
Raven nodded, her gaze softening just enough to betray a flicker of something deeper-regret, perhaps, or guilt. "You don't have to believe me, but I still care about her, even if she doesn't want anything to do with me. If Beacon falls, Yang will be caught in the crossfire." She paused.
"I can't let that happen." She finished.
Rinko clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Funny. You're so concerned about her now, but where were you when she needed you most? When she-"
"Don't," Raven snapped, her voice low but dangerous. "You don't know the first thing about what I've done or why. I'm not here to justify myself to you, Rinko... I'm here because I refuse to stand by while Salem's forces destroy what little family I have left."
The raw emotion in her words caught Rinko off guard, but he didn't let it show.
"Salem..?" Rinko repeated the name but Raven didn't elaborate.
Instead, he took a step back, his tone remaining cold as he broke the silence. "So, what? You expect me to run back and sound the alarm? After everything that had happened, do you really think I would believe you that easil-."
Raven shook her head as she interrupted him, "I expect you to use your head and prepare for what's coming," she said sharply. "You're smart, Rinko. Smarter than most. You don't need to trust me to see that the pieces are already falling into place. Beacon isn't as secure as it seems."
Rinko hesitated, her words cutting deeper than he cared to admit. There had been whispers-odd behaviors, subtle shifts in the air.
Still, he wasn't about to let her know she'd gotten under his skin. "And Cinder Fall?" he pressed. "How does she fit into all this?"
"She's the one pulling the strings," Raven replied, her voice dropping to a grave tone. "She's dangerous, Rinko. Far more than you realize."
For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and oppressive. Finally, Rinko spoke, his voice low but firm. "If you're lying-if this is just another one of your games-"
"I'm not," Raven interrupted, her tone unwavering and laced with finality. "Believe me or don't. But when the time comes, you'll remember this conversation." She turned sharply, her crimson eyes lingering on him for a fleeting moment before her silhouette began to fade into the shadows.
"Protect Yang, Rinko. That's all I care about."
Rinko stood frozen, his fists clenching at his sides as her words echoed in his mind.
His sharp eyes tracked her retreat into the dark hallway until she disappeared entirely, leaving behind a trail of black feathers that fluttered to the ground like ghosts of her presence.
His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions-doubt, unease, and determination swirling in a chaotic vortex.
He didn't trust Raven, not fully. But he couldn't deny the weight of her warning or the urgency in her voice.
He bent down, picking up one of the feathers, its edges soft but sharp to the touch, a silent reminder of the encounter.
Holding it between his fingers, he let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening.
Whatever Raven's intentions were, Rinko couldn't ignore the possibility of a greater threat looming.
He clenched his fists, resolved to uncover the truth and protect those he cared about-no matter the cost.
Fairgrounds
The lively chatter of the fairgrounds buzzed around them, blending with the enticing aroma of street food and the hum of excited crowds. Rinko and the rest of Team RWBY, accompanied by Neptune and Sun, weaved their way through the vibrant stalls in search of something to eat.
Blake was deep in conversation with Sun, their voices occasionally rising with animated banter. Meanwhile, Weiss was doing her best to tolerate Neptune's persistent attempts at charm, her icy demeanor softening only slightly with polite smiles.
Yang trailed just behind Ruby, her sharp eyes catching the tension in Rinko's usually calm expression. His brows were furrowed, his jaw set, and his gaze seemed distant, as if his mind were miles away from the fairgrounds.
"Hey," Yang said, quickening her pace to walk beside him. She reached out and placed a firm but friendly hand on his shoulder. "What's up with the long face? You're killing the vibe here."
Rinko blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh-it's... it's nothing," he replied, a little too quickly, his voice uneven as he tried to brush it off. "I was just... thinking about stuff."
Yang raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. She cast a quick glance at the group. Blake and Weiss were too preoccupied with their conversations-Blake animatedly exchanging words with Sun while Weiss tried to dodge Neptune's flirtations. Ruby had her headphones on, bobbing her head slightly to the beat. With a sly grin, Yang turned back to Rinko.
"Oh, don't worry, sexy! Don't overthink everything!" Yang teased as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Rinko shot her a sidelong glance, clearly unimpressed by the nickname. "Sexy? Really?"
"Yup!" Yang smirked, giving his shoulder a playful shake. "It suits you. Anyway, it's weird to see you this tense in the middle of a festival. I mean, the past few months-even yesterday-you were so chill. Now you're acting all serious."
Rinko remained silent for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to Raven's cryptic warning. He knew he couldn't afford to ignore her words, but he also couldn't bring himself to share them-not yet.
Finally, he turned to Yang with a small, forced smile. "I guess I'm just a bit hungry," he said, scratching the back of his head. It was an obvious lie, but it was all he could think of.
Yang didn't buy it for a second. "Hungry? Really? That's your excuse?" she teased, crossing her arms. "You've got that brooding look Weiss pulls when she's upset about losing to Ruby in chess."
Rinko couldn't help but smirk faintly at the comparison. "Yeah, well, maybe you should try it sometime. Brooding could be a good look for you."
Yang gasped in mock offense. "Brooding? Please! My look is confidence and charm, thank you very much." She let it go with a shrug, though she continued to eye him suspiciously as they walked.
Ahead, Ruby suddenly came to a halt. Pulling off her headphones, she waved enthusiastically toward a familiar figure sitting at a nearby food stall.
"Emerald!" Ruby called out, her voice bright and cheery.
Emerald's green eyes briefly widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself, offering a tight smile.
Her gaze flicked over to Mercury, who lounged lazily in his chair beside her, an amused smirk on his lips as he watched Ruby's group approach.
Ruby wasted no time, practically bouncing over to the stall and plopping into the seat next to Emerald. "Wow, didn't think I'd see you here! How's it going?"
Emerald's smile tightened, and she shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, you know. Just grabbing a bite before everything kicks up again."
Mercury shifted his posture slightly, glancing up to meet Rinko's gaze for a brief moment.
Rinko nodded, his expression smirked lightly, but his mind was already working.
He already befriended Mercury and Emerald a few months ago. Though, most of that time, he was too caught up with his book.
He hadn't been present during the match between Mercury and Emerald in the tournament-he and Weiss had been talking with Winter during that time. But now, seeing them together, something about the situation felt off.
"Man, I'm starving," Ruby said, glancing over at the rest of the group. "But hey, congrats on yesterday's match! You guys were awesome! What were your teammates' names again? Oh, right-Cinder!"
Rinko's expression immediately shifted.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the mention of the name. 'Cinder...' he thought. 'Well, that was unexpected.'
He wasn't expecting this-Mercury and Emerald being tied to Cinder's team wasn't something he had anticipated.
And the fact that Raven had warned him about Cinder only made his mind race faster. 'A lead..'
Ruby continued, oblivious to the subtle shift in the conversation, "And there was someone else too, right? I can't remember her name... she was a little quiet?"
Emerald waved her hand dismissively, a smirk returning to her face. "Oh, don't worry about her, Ruby. Thanks though! But we really should be going-Oobleck and Port might call us up any second."
She and Mercury both stood up, the mood instantly shifting as they prepared to leave.
Mercury gave the group a lazy wave, his usual cocky smirk still in place. "See you later, chumps."
Emerald, looking at Ruby, gave her a quick nod. "Catch you later, Ruby and Rinko! Good luck out there."
Ruby waved energetically. "Thanks! You too!"
As Emerald and Mercury disappeared into the crowd, Rinko's sharp eyes followed their retreating forms. Something about this encounter didn't sit right with him-the warning Raven had given him about Cinder resurfaced in his mind, tying everything together.
The group began settling down at a nearby table, chatting about what food to order. Ruby excitedly scanned the menu, Weiss rolled her eyes at Neptune's failed attempts to impress her, and Blake listened quietly to Sun's animated storytelling.
Yang, however, noticed Rinko hadn't moved to join them. She turned back, her brows furrowing when she saw him still standing, his expression distant and tense. "Rinko?" she called, her voice tinged with concern.
The others turned to look as well, their conversations halting.
"What's wrong?" Weiss asked, her tone sharp but genuinely curious.
Rinko blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "It's nothing," he said quickly, his voice too flat to be convincing.
Yang wasn't buying it. She stood and walked over to him, lowering her voice. "Rinko, if something's up, you should tell us. You look like you've seen a ghost."
Rinko hesitated, glancing at the group.
Ruby was now staring at him with her usual wide-eyed curiosity, as well as Neptune and Sun.
Weiss' eyebrows raised,clearly expecting an explanation. He clenched his jaw-he couldn't let them get involved, not yet.
"Sorry," he said, forcing a small smile. "I just remembered there's something I need to take care of."
"Right now?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah," Rinko replied, his tone calm and measured. "I won't be long. You guys go ahead and eat. I'll catch up later."
Yang crossed her arms, her golden eyes scrutinizing him. "Are you sure? You've been acting weird all day."
"I'm fine," Rinko assured her, his voice firm. "Enjoy the festival." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his stride purposeful but not hurried.
Ruby watched him go, her face clouded with confusion. "What's up with him?"
"Who knows? He's been acting like this since the tournament." Yang said, her face looked a bit worried.
Weiss, her eyes lingered on Rinko's retreating figure.
As Rinko wove through the bustling fairgrounds, he kept his eyes on the path Emerald and Mercury had taken.
He moved silently, blending into the crowd, his instincts sharp and his mind racing.
If they were connected to Cinder, he needed to find out what they were planning-and fast.
[End]