W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby

Current Time, Rinko

The rest of Rinko's squad had settled into the room that Calavera had provided, but Rinko remained on the couch.

His face was half-hidden behind the book Volume 10 of Ninja of Love, his attention divided between the pages and the quiet of the night.

The silence was broken by soft footsteps approaching the living room.

Rinko raised the book slightly, catching a glimpse of Yang, who was yawning as she made her way to the kitchen to grab some water.

He didn't say a word as she walked past, allowing her the space she clearly needed.

A few moments passed before Rinko heard the faint sound of labored breathing.

His gaze shifted to Yang, and he noticed her hands trembling, the glass of water shaking in her grasp. Her breath was ragged, a stark contrast to the calm atmosphere of the room.

Yang didn't notice Rinko's watchful gaze. She stared down at her hand, fingers curling and uncurled in a futile attempt to stop the tremors.

Her other—metal hand gripped the glass of water so tightly it seemed as if she was trying to hold herself together with it.

Rinko observed her, his expression unreadable.

He knew what this was—he knew the weight of trauma, even if he hadn't experienced it in the same way. He could see it in her—Adam had left more than scars on her body.

Yang, despite herself, couldn't hide her frustration. The trembling in her hand wasn't just physical—it was the residual echo of the horrors she had faced. The kind of echo that no amount of time could silence.

She hated it.

The raw, involuntary tremor was a reminder, one she couldn't shake, no matter how many times she told herself to move on.

And it gnawed at her, a constant reminder of everything she wished she could forget.

Her eyes flicked down to the hand that wouldn't stop shaking, and a quiet frustration bubbled up inside her.

"Hey," Rinko's voice broke through Yang's spiraling thoughts. 

Under normal circumstances, Rinko—Kakashi—would've stayed out of it, but seeing Yang like this, carrying the weight of her trauma so visibly, reminded him too much of his own past, the invisible burden he had learned to carry alone. 

And, despite his usual indifference, there was something inside him that wanted to share his own hard-earned wisdom.

Yang yelped in surprise, the sudden voice startling her. In her shock, she gripped the glass too hard, shattering it with the sheer force of her mechanical hand.

She stared at her hand, now holding the jagged pieces of broken glass, her breath heavy and uneven.

"Uh... sorry." Rinko's voice was unusually soft, laced with concern. He hadn't meant to startle her. It wasn't in his nature to intrude or make anyone feel vulnerable, but now, standing across from her, he couldn't just let her deal with this alone.

The broken glass glinted under the dim light, almost as if mocking her inability to hold herself together. Rinko observed her quietly, unsure of what to say, but instinctively, he knew he didn't want to leave her alone in this moment.

Yang's frustration was palpable—she was so tired of being reminded of how broken she was, how far she'd fallen from the person she wanted to be.

Rinko stepped closer, his usual guarded demeanor replaced by an almost tender concern.

"Didn't mean to startle you," he said again, glancing at the shards of glass scattered around them before meeting her gaze.

Yang wiped her face quickly, trying to hide the growing mixture of anger and embarrassment that churned in her chest.

"It's fine," she muttered, her voice rough. But even she knew the truth. It was far from fine. She was far from fine.

Rinko took a breath, his voice quiet and steady as he spoke, as though carefully choosing the right words.

"It's okay to not have it all figured out. You don't have to be perfect, Yang. Not for anyone."

Yang didn't answer immediately, her eyes locked on the shards of glass on the floor.

His words felt strange, as if they didn't belong to the strong, unshakable person she thought she needed to be.

"I just... I don't want to feel weak," she admitted, her voice quiet, almost ashamed. "I want to be strong again. I want to be the person I used to be. I don't want anyone to see me like this."

Rinko paused. He took a moment to let her words sink in before responding. His voice softened, but it was still firm, steady.

"Being strong doesn't mean pretending you're okay when you're not," he said, his words deliberate, unhurried.

Yang's gaze shifted to the broken glass around them. She had always been the one people could rely on, the one who never faltered, the one who always held things together. But now? Now, she couldn't even hold a glass without it shattering in her hands.

"I don't know how to be that person anymore," she whispered, a single tear slipping down her cheek, betraying the tough exterior she had fought so hard to maintain.

Rinko's expression softened, and without a word, he stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder—a quiet reminder that she wasn't alone. "You don't have to be," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You just have to be who you are now. That's enough."

Yang sat in the stillness, letting his words settle over her. She was still broken. Still trembling. But, for the first time in a long while, she felt the weight lighten, just a little. Maybe—just maybe—she could heal.

It wasn't about being strong all the time. It was about learning to be weak, too.

"Thanks," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. She wasn't used to letting others see her vulnerability, but it was a start.

Rinko sighed softly, his expression unreadable. A bead of sweat slid down his forehead as he pulled back his hand. The warmth of the moment lingered, but he said nothing.

Yang quickly wiped away the tear that had threatened to fall, standing up and moving toward the broom to clean up the glass. "I'll go get the broom—"

"No need," Rinko said, his voice calm. He used his glyphs to collect the shards of glass, lifting them off the floor and into the air. With a subtle movement, he guided the glass into the trash can, his glyphs dissolving the moment the task was done.

As he turned back to her, his eyes were steady, his voice resolute. "You're never alone in this, Yang."

For a moment, their eyes met—something unspoken passed between them, a connection born of shared understanding.

Without warning, Yang moved toward him and hugged him.

Rinko was taken aback, momentarily stiff, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he let her hold onto him, feeling the vulnerability in her embrace, a rare moment of rawness that he wasn't used to.

A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he stiffly returned the embrace.

"Yang?" he asked, his voice gentle but slightly uncertain.

"S-sorry..." she muttered, her voice "Just... needed someone to hug."

Rinko, despite his usual distance, sighed, his breath escaping in a soft exhale. He let her hold onto him, allowing her to seek the comfort she needed.

He let it happen.

By the stairs, Ruby and Weiss silently watched the exchange between their older siblings.

"What...?" Weiss whispered, her gaze fixed on the scene as Yang clung to Rinko in a hug, seemingly unwilling to let go.

Ruby shifted uneasily, watching the interaction as well.

"By any chance, does your sister have feelings for Rinko?" Weiss asked, her voice quiet but pointed as she glanced down at Ruby.

Ruby blinked, startled by the question. "I… don't know," she admitted, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly. "But… now that you mention it, whenever we're around Rinko, Yang does seem to brighten up. So... Maybe?"

Weiss frowned slightly at Ruby's reply, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn't say anything more, but the look on her face hinted at a swirl of unspoken thoughts.

Ruby, noticing Weiss's expression, raised an eyebrow. "How about you?" she asked teasingly, a small grin forming. "Does your twin have feelings for—"

"No," Weiss cut her off sharply, "I don't know. Just—just watch."

Ruby stifled a giggle, leaning against the staircase as she and Weiss continued to watch the quiet moment unfold between Yang and Rinko.

Yang finally stepped back from the hug, her cheeks faintly pink.

Rinko offered her a small, reassuring smile.

Despite the connection in the moment, Rinko's feelings for Yang remained unchanged—deep down, he saw her as someone he could guide, someone whose fire reminded him of Naruto's.

That's all it was: a bond forged through shared strength and vulnerability.

No romantic feelings. But Yang seemed to think otherwise.

"Thank you, Rinko… for listening," Yang said softly, her voice carrying an honesty she didn't often show.

Rinko nodded, his laid-back demeanor softening with understanding.

"Anytime," he replied, his tone steady and calm. He stepped back to give her space, but not before adding with a faint smirk, "Try not to demolish anything else, alright?"

Yang let out a small laugh, the sound tinged with both embarrassment and relief. "Yeah, yeah… Goodnight, Rinko." she muttered, scratching the back of her head.

"Goodnight." Rinko said replied as he nodded.

As she turned toward the stairs, she hesitated for a moment, a strange, unfamiliar feeling settling in her chest.

It was light, almost fluttering, and she couldn't quite place it.

It wasn't the relief of sharing her burden—it was something else entirely.

As Yang glanced toward the stairs, her eyes caught movement. She squinted and immediately spotted Ruby and Weiss poorly hidden, their heads poking out from the banister.

"R-Ruby—Weiss?!" Yang stammered, her voice a mix of shock and embarrassment.

Ruby froze, caught red-handed, before quickly breaking into a mischievous grin.

Ruby leaned closer to Weiss and stage-whispered, just loud enough for Yang to hear, "Sooo… you like him?"

Yang's cheeks turned a furious shade of red. "Ruby!" she hissed, stomping toward the stairs.

Weiss rolled her eyes, folding her arms as she shot Ruby a withering look. "Must you be so tactless?"

"I'm just curious!" Ruby defended, laughing nervously as Yang's fiery gaze locked onto her.

"Curious, huh?" Yang growled, crossing her arms and glaring up at her sister. "How about I tell Rinko you were spying?"

Ruby's face drained of color. "You wouldn't!"

Yang smirked, her earlier embarrassment melting into triumph. "Try me."

Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Both of you are insufferable. I'm going to bed." She turned and walked away, leaving Ruby and Yang to their sisterly bickering.

Ruby turned back to Yang, still smiling sheepishly. "Soo… you didn't say no."

Yang groaned, running a hand down her face. "Goodnight, Ruby." She spun on her heel and marched upstairs, ignoring her sister's giggles trailing behind her.

As Ruby made her way to their room, she muttered to herself with a sly grin, "Totally not a denial."

Rinko, seated on the sofa, had been fully aware of Weiss and Ruby spying on them.

He didn't mind—nor did he care.

He leaned back, resting his head against the cushions as his thoughts drifted.

Forming romantic feelings had never been his thing. Even in his past life, he had reached thirty without ever pursuing a serious relationship.

It wasn't due to a lack of opportunities—far from it. It was simply that he had always prioritized other things: duty, responsibility, the mission.

He glanced down at the book still in his hands, the well-worn cover of Ninja of Love staring back at him.

His fingers brushed over its surface absentmindedly.

'Love...?'

The word felt foreign to him—in a romantic perspective that is—a concept he had always understood from an outsider's perspective but never truly embraced.

Love was something he had seen in others.

Obito's obsession.

Minato's quiet devotion to Kushina.

His colleagues within the village formed relationships.

And the books he's currently following right now—but it was never something he allowed himself to dwell on.

For someone like him, love had always felt like a luxury he couldn't afford, a distraction from the life he led. And yet...

He closed the book and set it on the table, staring at it for a long moment. The weight of his thoughts pressed down on him.

"Ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if to dispel the notion.

Still, his mind lingered on Yang's hug, the way she'd looked at him, and the raw vulnerability in her voice.

He wasn't blind—he could see the flicker of something in her eyes. But was it something he could—or should—return?

No. That wasn't who he was, not in this life or the last.

Rinko leaned back further into the sofa, closing his eyes.

The faint sound of the clock ticking in the background filled the silence.

For now, he'd leave love to the pages of a book. It was simpler that way.

Tomorrow

Ruby's training with Maria resumed, but this time, they found themselves deep in a dense forest.

The towering trees cast long shadows, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of moss and pine.

Rinko, Yang, and Weiss accompanied them, ensuring Ruby's safety, while Selene remained back at the house.

"We're here, kids! My personal hotspot!" Maria called out as they reached a secluded area with tents, cages, and a few punching bags scattered around. "It's a bit far from the city, but not too bad. I used to train here when I was younger."

"Ooo! A punching bag!" Yang's eyes lit up as she stretched her muscles, already itching for a workout.

Maria grinned. "You're always ready for a fight, huh?" She winked before heading toward one of the tents. Moments later, she emerged with a large, covered cage in her hands.

"You might want to see this," she said with a mischievous grin, pulling back the curtain to reveal what was inside. The group gathered around, their curiosity piqued.

The cage held a Grimm—a small, rodent-like creature. But it was unlike any Grimm they had ever seen before.

It resembled a mouse, but with pale, jagged fur and glowing red eyes that shimmered in the dim light.

The tiny creature hissed, its claws scratching at the bars.

"Woah! It's a mouse!" Ruby exclaimed, leaning forward to get a better look, her voice filled with surprise.

"Not quite," Maria corrected with a chuckle. "In fact, these are some of the rarest Grimm in the world. There's not even a name for this type of Grimm." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

"Wait, really?" Weiss raised an eyebrow in disbelief, peering into the cage along with Ruby, Yang, and Rinko, all of them equally intrigued by the strange creature.

"Where'd you get this?" Rinko asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he examined the Grimm closely. His usual calm demeanor had shifted to one of genuine interest.

Maria shrugged nonchalantly as she carefully set the cage down. "I found it while cleaning out the house a decade or two ago."

"A decade?!" Yang, Ruby, and Weiss exclaimed in unison.

"You've been keeping this Grimm in a cage for a decade?!" Weiss asked, her voice a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"What can I say? I don't come around here much anymore. I'm too old for this kind of stuff," Maria replied with a casual shrug.

"Are there more Grimm in there?" Yang asked, pointing toward the tent Maria had emerged from.

"Well, there's more, but those are just Beowolves I caught when I was a spring chicken," she said with a grin. "They've been rusting away in there for years."

"Beowolves?!" Ruby and Yang gasped in surprise.

"What if they escape?" Weiss asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Oh, relax, Ice queen. Took out their claws," Maria said with a reassuring wave of her hand.

She gestured the group to follow her as she opened the tent's entrance.

Inside, the cages were indeed filled with Beowolves, their glowing eyes fierce as they roared and lunged at the bars, but their claws were gone, rendering them helpless.

"Woah... You caught all these?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide with awe.

Yang whistled, clearly impressed. "You weren't kidding."

Weiss stood frozen, her jaw dropped in disbelief, unable to form a single word.

Weiss, her expression thoughtful, gave a slight smirk. "I now understand why you brought Ruby here. You want them as practice dummies for Ruby's Silver Eyes, am I correct?" Her tone was calm, the sharpness of her intellect clear.

Maria grinned and nodded, clearly pleased. "Yup! Thought I'd make good use of them before they start gathering dust."

Ruby blinked, looking between the Beowolves and Maria. "Wait, you want me to practice my Silver Eyes... on these guys?"

"Exactly," Maria said, her grin widening. "You've got that power, but it needs to be controlled. What better way to get a feel for it than a few test runs with some Grimm? They're tough, but not impossible to handle."

Rinko leaned in, crossing his arms. "It's a controlled environment, and Maria's done the hard part by disabling their claws. It's a perfect setup for refining your abilities, Ruby."

Ruby's hesitation lingered, but she glanced at the caged Beowolves and then at her friends.

Yang gave her an encouraging thumbs-up, and Weiss, nodded slowly, showing her support.

Maria clapped her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright then! Let's see what you've got, kid. Don't hold back against this one Beowolf, but remember to focus."

Ruby took a deep breath, feeling the familiar warmth of her Silver Eyes beginning to glow faintly.

As she stepped forward, the Beowolf snarled, its yellow eyes burning with fury as it paced back and forth in its cage.

The sound of its growl echoed in the tent, the tension palpable.

"Focus," Rinko muttered softly, his intense gaze never leaving Ruby. "You can do this."

Ruby squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, centering herself. Maria's words repeated in her mind: Don't hold back.

With a quiet determination, she opened her eyes. Her Silver Eyes flared to life, glowing with an intense, blinding light.

The Beowolf howled, its claws scraping against the bars as it charged forward, desperate to break free.

But before it could reach the cage's barrier, Ruby unleashed the full force of her power.

A pulse of energy exploded from her Silver Eyes, sending shockwaves through the air.

The Beowolf was immediately struck by the blast, its dark form shuddering as it was consumed by the overwhelming force of Ruby's gaze. With a final, pitiful howl, it disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only dust behind.

Maria let out a low whistle, her eyes approving. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."

Rinko, still watching closely, nodded in approval. "You're getting there, Ruby."

Ruby took a step back, breathing heavily, but a smile spread across her face. "I think I finally get it... I didn't have to hold back."

Yang grinned. "See? Told you you could do it!"

Weiss crossed her arms, her gaze softening with pride. "Impressive, Ruby."

Maria, her expression one of quiet satisfaction, crossed her arms and gave Ruby a nod of approval.

"Now, let's work on refining that. You've got the power, but you need to learn how to control it even better. Besides, we've got more test subjects for you." She gestured toward the remaining Grimm in the tent, their glowing eyes fixed on the group.

"Yes, ma'am!" Ruby said, her voice filled with determination as she straightened up, ready for the challenge.

Rinko, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile.

A sense of satisfaction crossed his face as he watched Ruby.

'She's grown so much in just two days. It's impressive. With Maria's guidance, Ruby will become a formidable weapon against the Grimm.'

Yang, sensing Rinko's contemplation, smirked and nudged him playfully with her elbow. "Hey, Hotshot," she said with a grin, "while they train, wanna spar with me?"

Rinko raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, before returning the smirk. "You sure you want to go up against me?" he teased, his eyes glinting with challenge.

Weiss, who had been watching the exchange between the two, raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide the slight smile that tugged at her lips.

"I'll let you two date, I'll keep an eye on Ruby," she teased with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Yang blinked, a faint blush creeping onto her face as she eyed Weiss for a moment. "What—What?!" she stammered, flustered.

Rinko chuckled at the banter, clearly entertained. "Seriously? We're just sparring, Weiss."

"Y-yeah! S-shut up, Weiss!" Yang stammered, her face turning even redder.

Weiss snickered, her gaze flicking between the two. "Whatever you say." she said, her voice dripping with playful amusement.

Yang shot a glare at Weiss, though the blush on her face gave away her embarrassment.

[End]