W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby

Rinko sat alone on the ship heading for Atlas, staring blankly at the ceiling as the hours passed. The rhythmic hum of the engines faded into the background, replaced by the whirlpool of thoughts in his mind. He had made a decision—a difficult one, but a necessary one.
Beacon Academy.
The choice weighed heavily on him. Atlas Academy was a prestigious institution, known for its cutting-edge technology and rigorous training programs.
Yet, it felt more like a cage than a refuge. Rinko needed more than just a school; he needed a chance to grow, fight, and find his place in the world.
Beacon represented something different. It was a place where he could be among true fighters—Huntsmen and Huntresses who understood the stakes, who had faced danger head-on.
He remembered Weiss, her fierce determination and combat prowess, shared by Klein. She embodied the spirit of a warrior, and he knew that learning alongside her would challenge him to push beyond his limits.
Moreover, Rinko felt a connection to Beacon's legacy. It was a school built on camaraderie, where bonds were forged through adversity. He longed for that—people who could stand by him, who would share his struggles and victories.
In contrast, Atlas seemed to prioritize reputation over character, with too many politics and not enough heart.
As the ship soared through the clouds, Rinko's resolve solidified.
He wasn't just going to find his father; he was going to become stronger, to prove himself worthy of the Schnee name. He had to be ready for whatever lay ahead, and Beacon was where he would begin his journey.
Schnee Manor
The doorbell rang at the Schnee Manor, echoing through the expansive halls. A butler promptly opened the door, revealing Rinko Schnee standing on the threshold. He stepped inside, silent and weighed down by the gravity of recent events.
As he walked through the familiar corridors, the maids and butlers paused their tasks to bow respectfully. The grandiosity of the manor felt more oppressive than ever, the memories haunting him.
Suddenly, Klein appeared, rushing toward him with an expression of deep concern.
"Master Rinko!" Klein exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Rinko in a tight embrace. "We were so worried!"
Rinko returned the embrace, grateful for the warmth of the gesture. Klein's genuine worry brought a small comfort to his heart. As they parted, Whitley dashed over, his face a mix of relief and worry.
"Brother! Are you okay?! We heard what happened!" Whitley cried, his voice laced with concern.
Rinko masked his despair with a warm smile, a reflex cultivated from years of keeping up appearances. "It's okay, Whitley. I'm alright..." He ruffled his younger brother's hair, a gesture of affection that brought back memories of their carefree days.
Though surrounded by the warmth and security of his family, Rinko couldn't escape the heavy thoughts that weighed him down. The turmoil of recent events still churned within him, a storm that he kept hidden from those who cared about him. For now, he put on a brave face, determined not to let them see his internal struggle—not yet.
Entering his room, he sank onto his bed, the familiar comfort of the Schnee estate doing little to ease the growing sense of failure gnawing at him.
"I'm a failure..." Rinko muttered, his voice low and laced with bitterness. As he covered his eyes with his arm, the persona of Kakashi momentarily slipped, allowing Rinko Schnee's true feelings to surface. The weight of his father's words echoed in his mind, each memory a reminder of the emotional burden he carried.
He recalled the last conversation with his father, the words replaying over and over in his mind like a haunting refrain:
'I was a coward, but no more. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my son.'
'But at least I can say I didn't fail him again.'
The words hit like an emotional blow, as if the weight of his father's regret now rested on his own shoulders. Gritting his teeth, Rinko clutched the blanket tightly in his fist, frustration boiling over. He couldn't deny the connection, the legacy that had been thrust upon him.
"Damn Father..." Rinko muttered through clenched teeth, the weight of his inner conflict pressing down on him. The expectations—those from his father, his family, and the ones he placed on himself—felt suffocating, almost unbearable.
At this moment, Rinko's personality overshadowed Kakashi Hatake momentarily.
But even as that pressure threatened to crush him, deep down, Rinko knew failure wasn't an option. He couldn't allow it.
After a few moments, he rose from the bed with renewed resolve, and muttered, "There's no wasting time now."
Determined, Kakashi grabbed his scroll, fingers scrolling through contacts until he found Winter's name. His thumb hovered over the call button, his hesitation palpable. The weight of what that call could mean, of what he might say or hear, held him still for a moment.
Atlas Academy
Winter Schnee had been meticulously assisting General Ironwood with paperwork in the stillness of his office. Their quiet routine was suddenly disrupted by the unexpected sound of her scroll ringing. The shrill noise sliced through the silence, startling Winter. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced down at the caller ID, her breath catching in her throat.
It was Rinko.
Her younger sibling—the one who had vanished without a trace with their father, Jacques, just a few days ago. Although Rinko had been found, Jacques was still missing, believed to be taken by bandits led by none other than Raven Branwen.
Winter's eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, she just stared at the screen, the shock plain on her face. Ironwood, ever perceptive, looked up from his work. Noticing her expression, he set aside his paperwork.
"You may go and take the call," Ironwood said, his voice calm and understanding, recognizing the significance of this unexpected contact.
Winter blinked, quickly regaining her composure. "Thank you, sir," she replied, nodding as she excused herself from the room. Her heart raced with a mixture of emotions—relief, worry, and confusion—swirling inside her as she stepped into the hallway. She pressed the button on her scroll, raising it to her ear with a slight tremble in her hand.
"Rinko?" Her voice was softer than usual, almost tentative. The name felt unfamiliar on her lips after so long.
"Winter," came Rinko's voice from the other end, steady but distant.
Winter exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Are you okay? How are you?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. It had been years since she'd heard from her brother. The rumors that he and Jacques had gone missing had shaken the family, but while Jacques was still unaccounted for, here was Rinko, alive and calling her now.
"I'm fine, Winter. I... I'm alright," Rinko said, though there was a weariness in his tone that didn't go unnoticed by his older sister.
"Good," she replied, but the lingering tension between them left the word feeling hollow. A pause stretched out between them before Winter cut through it, getting straight to the point. "What do you need? Why are you calling now?" Her voice was calm but firm, masking the swirl of emotions bubbling under the surface. She had waited so long for this, but there were still so many questions.
There was a brief hesitation on Rinko's end as if he was gathering his thoughts. "I've decided to become a Huntsman," he finally said. "I'll be attending Beacon Academy... even if I'm a bit late."
The admission hung in the air for a moment, and Winter's eyes narrowed slightly, processing his words. Of all the things he could have told her, this was not what she had expected.
"Beacon?" Winter repeated, the disbelief creeping into her voice. "Why Beacon? Why not Atlas Academy? It's safer here, and you'd be closer to me. Why go all the way to Vale?"
Rinko sighed on the other end, the weight of his decision clear. "Beacon... it's where I need to be. Weiss is there. I need to get in touch with her and she'll be helping me get Father."
Winter's heart skipped a beat at the mention of their father. The situation was far more complicated than she had realized. "You think Weiss can help you bring Father back?" Winter asked, her tone softer now, her worry for her siblings growing.
"Yes," Rinko replied firmly. "Weiss and I—we're the only ones who can find him, and I can't do it from Atlas. I need to be at Beacon... and I also need Huntsman license to scout the dangerous forest of Vale."
Winter bit her lips as she absorbed what his younger brother's saying. He continued,
 "The Branwen tribe was last seen near Mistral, but their original camp was in Vale. I have to investigate further. They're a slippery bunch."
Winter closed her eyes for a moment, her thoughts swirling with the implications of what her brother was planning. She desperately wanted to argue, to convince him to stay in Atlas where she could protect him, but she knew Rinko well enough to recognize that his mind was already made up.
"Do you even know how to fight?" Winter asked, her concern intensifying. "As far as I know, you were more focused on business... not combat."
Rinko's voice held a sharp edge as he responded. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Winter."
The words hung in the air, and Winter felt the distance between them more acutely than ever. She let out a long, slow sigh, her thoughts turning over the years of silence that had grown between them, the secrets and unspoken truths that had come to define their relationship. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt. This isn't a game, Rinko."
"I'm not playing games," Rinko said, his tone calm but resolute. "I know the risks. But I can't sit back anymore. Father's out there, and if I have to fight to get him back, then that's what I'll do."
Winter's heart tightened. She could hear the determination in his voice, the same fire she had seen in Weiss when her younger sister made her own stand for independence. The Schnees, it seemed, were not ones to back down from a challenge.
"Alright," Winter finally conceded, though it pained her to do so. "But promise me you'll be careful. Don't take unnecessary risks, and... let Weiss help you. She knows what she's doing, and you're going to need her."
"I will," Rinko assured her, his voice softening slightly. "Thank you, Winter."
Winter nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Stay in touch," she added, her voice quieter now. "Please."
"I promise."
The call ended, leaving Winter standing alone in the dimly lit hallway, her scroll still clutched tightly in her hand. She stared at the screen for a long moment, her mind clouded with worry for her brother. Whatever lay ahead, she could only hope Rinko was prepared for the path he had chosen.
With a sigh, Winter turned and made her way back to Ironwood's office.
As she entered, Ironwood glanced up from a pile of paperwork, immediately noticing the distress etched on her face. But as she met his gaze, her expression shifted, becoming a mask of professionalism.
Ironwood, keenly aware of the turmoil beneath her composed exterior, set his pen down and leaned back in his chair. "So... what seems to be the problem?" he asked, his eyes never leaving her.
Winter flinched slightly, then waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing away her concerns. "It's about Rinko Schnee... my brother."
Ironwood's brow furrowed, and his interest piqued. "Rinko Schnee? The one who was attacked by bandits? It's been a while since I last saw that kid."
"Yes, him. He told me he plans to attend Beacon to become a Huntsman," Winter replied, her gaze fixed on the scattered papers on the desk.
"Hmm... Really? Isn't he better suited for a role behind a desk rather than in combat?" Ironwood mused, skepticism lacing his tone.
"That's exactly what I thought, sir. But he insists. He wants to rescue Jacques with Weiss," Winter said, her voice steady despite the worry gnawing at her insides.
Ironwood narrowed his eyes again, contemplating. "Does he have any basic fighting skills?"
"Based on his tone, I would say he does," Winter answered, stamping a document with more force than necessary as if to emphasize her point.
"Interesting..." Ironwood said, dropping the paper gently onto the desk. He turned toward his telephone, his expression turning serious.
He dialed a number, and after a few rings, a familiar voice answered. "Hello, James. What can I do for you?"
"Ozpin, I wanted to inform you that another Schnee will be attending Beacon. Just a heads-up, old friend."
[End]