Hunting or Bust

by Master Attlon

The paths we find ourselves on. Are they predetermined by fate? Or do we really have the power to change our future? Will we stick to the paths we find ourselves on? Or if a chance presented itself, would you take it? This is a new path. A new chance at life. A...did that kid just spew chunks all over the deck? Yes. Yes he did.

35. What You Run From

Hunting or Bust

Dust 30: What You Run From

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Naruto? Where are you?" Minato called through the house in an effort to find his son. He pushed a moving box out of his path and looked around, "Kushina?"

"Yeah?" She responded from a different room while packing.

"Have you seen Naruto? I can't find him anywhere."

"He was outside playing with his blocks last time I saw him."

Outside, duh. Why didn't he think of that?

He made his way through the kitchen and opened the back door into the backyard. He immediately noticed the five-year-old Faunus playing in the grass and stacking his building blocks together to make a small tower in front of the forest. Despite him playing around outside with some of his favorite toys, Minato could easily tell his son wasn't happy from the frown on his face. He smiled and slowly approached the grumpy child, "Hey buddy, you okay?"

He scrunched up his face a little more and Minato got a rather definitive answer with that expression. He scratched his head in an effort to figure out how to appease the child, "Listen Naruto, I know you don't wanna move. But I swear you'll really like the new house. It's got a whole other floor for us to play on and there will be kids around your age." Minato tried to convince the little boy of the benefits of their relocation.

However the moment Naruto toppled over his own tower and crossed his arms with a humph, Minato remembered he was dealing with a child.

Minato just chuckled and ruffled his son's hair, knowing he was getting a response by the tucking and happy tremble of his ears. The older blond rounded up all the building blocks before grabbing a ball and holding it up to Naruto, "Me and Mommy have to finish up a little more packing, but when we're done we'll come out and we can all play catch. How's that sound?"

Naruto tried to remain miffed but his ears flapped back up happily. Minato grinned at that and patted his head one more time before making his way back into the house while Naruto tossed the ball up by himself.

The blond man started to carefully store the kitchen supplies and cutlery in the boxes to make sure they didn't break. He was in no way, shape, or form a cooking man. Not from lack of trying. Just...some people are gifted in certain areas, and others not so much. Kushina for example had an amazing gift with making food, and she proved that all the time with making their family delicious meals. And if he ruined any of this stuff he was certain she'd be pissed at him.

Minato took a moment after hefting the box up on the counter and looked over the kitchen and halls to see they were filled with moving boxes. There was so much to move. And there was still so much left to do.

But this would be a good thing.

This house was too small for them, and Naruto would start growing soon. Plus this house was closest to the woods in the whole village, and who knows what lurks behind those trees. He wouldn't risk letting them stay here any longer.

This might have been the only home they could have afforded a few years ago but he was going to start contractual jobs under the Vale Council and their emissaries. They could do a lot more now. And they would be happier somewhere else. Somewhere where there weren't still people that would look at a human and Faunus family and just...

Ugh...he hated those people. Another benefit of leaving this stupid little village for good.

He lifted a big box up and went to put it in the hall while sparing a glance out the window at his son-

...

Where'd he go?

Minato dropped the box and darted out the door as he desperately turned back-and-forth to spot his son. His eyes focused in on the stray ball he had given Naruto that laid outside-

The forest.

"AROOOO!"

Beowolf!

"NARUTO!" Minato instantly transported through the trees and continued blinking in and out of existence with a yellow flash. He looked around in a panic as he heard Kushina call out his name behind him. He just focused on finding his son as he cried out, "NARUTO! NARUTO!"

"WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Minato heard the cry and quickly sprinted in the direction it was coming from. When he got there he saw Naruto sitting on the floor with a red face as tears streaming down his face. He had small claw marks going up his arm but they looked to be closing up already as he quickly embraced his son, "Oh thank god!"

"D-Daddy!" The little whiskered child cried into his father's shoulder and continued sobbing out in fright, "M-monster! It was gonna hurt me! Don't let it hurt me!"

Minato looked over and saw something very strange. It was certainly a Beowolf. A young one. A pup. It hadn't even grown any armor over its body yet. But that wasn't the strange part.

It was dead. Its body had already started to decay into a black mist. And the injury that had felled the Grimm was a large shredded off part of its ribs that even tore some of the tree behind it.

It was killed.

"Don't let it hurt me Daddy." Naruto quietly sobbed into Minato's shirt and clung to him for safety after the terrifying experience, "Don't let it hurt me."

"I'm sorry Naruto." Minato comforted his son and gently rubbed his head to calm him down, "I'm sorry I let you out of my sight. This won't happen again."

He won't ever let it happen again.

"I won't let anything hurt you."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

The silence felt like it had gone on forever. Like an eternal quiet had fallen immediately after the two had said anything. His father kept that warm smile on his face and looked just plain happy to see him again.

Naruto...he didn't know how to respond.

"Dad? Did you say Dad?" His partner was the first person to say anything as he attempted to wrap his head around the sudden development, "This is your dad?!"

"That would be me." Minato responded while waving to the group of students, "My name is Minato Namikaze, and I'm Naruto's father. Nice to meet you."

"Holy crap! This is real!"

"W-what are you doing here?" Naruto sounded so spooked that it was impossible for some of them not to notice.

"Minato has come to Beacon as my guest." Ozpin elaborated to try and calm his confused students down, "I was showing him around Vale and now we're ending the tour in Beacon."

Minato stepped forward and looked around the halls fondly, "Now I swear these halls are smaller. But maybe I did grow a little more than I thought." The older man looked back down towards the group in front of him with a smile, "But I know for a fact that the four-person teams are still a thing. So may I ask who's making sure my son is okay for the next four years?"

"Oh, not missing out on this!" Kiba quickly pushed his way up front and walked up to the older blond. He smirked and held out his hand, "Hey, I'm Kiba Inuzaka. I'm the guy that drew the short straw and has to carry him around for the next few years."

"Ha, that's one heck of a way to introduce yourself." The older man remarked with a grin, admiring the spirit Kiba had introduced himself with. He snatched his hand in a firm handshake, "Nice to meet you Kiba. I'm sure this goes without saying, but please make sure to watch over Naruto for me."

Kiba laughed, "You make it sound like an easy job."

The tattooed boy stepped aside as Tenten pulled Sasuke alongside to greet their leader's father. Tenten seemed to nervously fix herself before folding her hands over each other and giving him a slight bow, "I-it's nice to meet you sir." She tried to calm her nerves at greeting someone respectfully, "My name is Tenten Tamura. I'm your friend's son - I mean I'm on your friend's team - I-"

"You're on Naruto's team as well?"

"Yes." She gave a defeated sigh at her flustered failure.

Minato didn't seem to mind the flub as he greeted her with a kind smile, "I'm glad to see there's someone on his team that will act like a voice of reason. It's very nice to meet you." Tenten seemed to abandon her earlier anxiety and smiled in return before they looked over at Sasuke, "And what about you young man?"

Sasuke just stared at the older gentleman in complete silence and took a moment to look him over. He realized he was being addressed and stepped forward with his hand out, "I'm Sasuke Uchiha." He said flatly, still trying to size the man up and understand what was happening.

Minato noticed his apprehension but didn't address it while just taking the boy's hand, "It's nice to meet you Sasuke." The Uchiha gave a silent nod and just stepped aside.

Ruby stepped forward with Yang following behind, the younger girl nervous to meet a new adult but eager to greet her friend's dad. They stepped up to the taller man and Ruby felt very conscious of the the height difference before steeling herself, "Hi there, Mr. Naruto's Dad." There was a loud palming of the face from Weiss but she ignored that and focused on the greeting, "I'm - uh - one of Naruto's friends. And I just wanted to tell you that he was really nice, and really cool, and funny too, and a totally awesome friend to have and stuff. Oh, and I'm Ruby Rose by the way! Not sure if I mentioned that."

There was a quick bonk to Ruby's head as Yang stepped forward, "Great intro sis, really leaving the crowd wanting more. Hey there, I'm Yang Xiao Long, and I'm the big sister of the little motor mouth you just met." Her sister didn't appreciate that description, gently knocking her fists on the blonde's back with a grumpy pout, "I'm also a friend of your kid's. He's a pretty decent fighter, but he could totally do better. And if he mentions anything about winning a sparring match with me, he's lying."

"No he's-"

Yang's hand clasped around Ruby's mouth and grinned, "He's lying."

The two sisters didn't get an immediate response from the older man as he just stared at them in surprise. He looked between them in shock and the two sisters shared a curious look. A little chuckle came out of the older man's mouth and he quickly looked back at Ozpin who just nodded in agreement. Minato turned back and smiled, "Talk about a walk down memory lane."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." He deflected before properly greeting the young duo, "It's very nice to meet you both."

The sisters looked between each other before they were pushed aside by their white-haired teammate. She wasn't Naruto's closest friend but she had been raised to know how to greet respectful adults properly. She gave a small curtsy and smiled politely, "Hello Mr. Namikaze, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Weiss Schnee, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Oh." Minato awkwardly positioned himself to give a courteous bow in return before they stood up properly, "I didn't expect to meet another Schnee girl in Beacon of all places. Ms. Schnee, I had the pleasure of working with your sister on a joint venture not too long ago."

Weiss brightened up and looked positively ecstatic as the others were surprised at her reaction, "Really! A-are you acquainted with Winter?! Is she doing okay?!"

"Well I tried to strike up a few conversations with her but she was very...adamant on staying focused on the task. And she certainly seemed like she was alright. The last I saw of her she had just returned after killing an Alpha Wolf that threatened to attack our delivery. So...yes, I think she's fine."

Weiss was over-joyed to hear about her elder sibling before she looked back at the rest of the group expectantly. Her eyes focused on the black-clad member of their team that had failed to introduce herself yet to the headmaster's guest. That was setting the rest of her team in a bad light and she could not let that image stick, "Blake~." She violently jerked her head towards the tall blond, "Come over. Introduce yourself."

Blake walked out, staring at the man in front of her in silence before she offered a small nod, "I'm Blake."

...

That was it.

Weiss' was gobsmacked by the lackluster introduction as Minato nodded back, "It's nice to meet you."

Blake still seemed wary and hesitant but her lack of expression changed when she was immediately pushed aside by the blur that was Nora. The short tank dashed in and surprised Minato with her sudden arrival, "Hi there! So your Naruto's old man, huh?"

"Um?" Minato shrugged, "I suppose?"

"Man, that's crazy." Nora started circling him and looking him over curiously, "Because you look super young. You look like you could totally be his big brother or something. It's insane." Nora smiled up at him in wonder, "Are you like one of those super ancient old guys that steals people's youth so he can stay young and beautiful forever?"

"Um...no. And thank you, I suppose?" Minato struggled to find the right words to say to the strange girl, "No, I just stay active on the job and make sure I eat properly."

"That's the same thing Ren suggests too!" Nora dashed back and pulled her best friend forward to show the newcomer, "See! He's got the smooth skin and baby-face thing going on too! I think by the time he's fifty he's still gonna look like a twenty-year-old! Ren is so lucky."

...

"Oh, I'm Nora by the way. Hi!"

"Hehe, hello." This was a strange girl but Minato couldn't help himself from laughing at her irreverent talking and joyous demeanor.

Her partner stepped forward and offered his hand as Minato gladly took it, "Hello sir, my name is Lie Ren. The girl besides me is Nora Valkyrie, in case she didn't convey the full greeting." The girl smiled and waved behind them as he sighed and looked up apologetically, "I'm sorry for her abrasive introduction. She's a bit of a free-spirit. Very bohemian. I've tried to teach her some proper manures for meeting new people, but I suppose she prefers to break the ice with a hammer than a chisel."

"Oh, believe me young man, I completely understand what you mean." Minato stated, patting the boy's shoulder in a sign of solidarity as the orange-haired girl happily bounced beside them. The duo stepped aside and Minato was faced with the last two members of the large group of friends, "And who might you be?"

"Oh - hi, I'm Jaune. Jaune Arc. Short. Sweet. Rolls off the - urm - anyway," Jaune stopped from repeating the familiar phrase as he wanted to make a good impression with the older man everyone else seemed to have impressed, "I'm a friend of Naruto's and I thought I'd let you know - well I mean you probably already know but I just thought I'd tell you anyway - that he's helped me through a lot of stuff and he's been a really good friend."

"I'm glad to hear that." Minato responded, "And I'm glad to hear he has so many friends he can rely on. I hope you'll stay by his side when he needs it most, Jaune." The boy smiled and nodded before he stepped aside to allow his partner to give her greeting, "Ms. Nikos, it's an honor to finally meet you in person. I come from Mistral as well, and I have to say that I was quite a fan of your showings during your tournament run. In fact I've met a Hunter or two over the years that could really benefit from following your determination and spirit."

Pyrhha looked at the man quizzically and nodded before she smiled politely, "Thank you sir." She looked back at him and tilted her head, "I'm sorry but you said your name is Minato Namikaze, correct?" He nodded, "Are you the same Minato Namikaze as the CEO of Skyggen back in Mistral?"

"The very same."

"Skyggen?!" Tenten blurted out in amazement and got their attention at her little outburst. The stick-user reeled back in disbelief, "That's the most famous independently owned Hunter contract company in Mistral! It's filled with some of the best Huntsmen and Huntresses in Remnant and they boast a near 100% success rate with missions and a 0% mortality rate! And you're the CEO?!"

"And founder." Minato said with a prideful grin at getting praised by one of his son's friends. He looked back to the young lady he was addressing, "To be perfectly honest, some of my employees suggested we scout you and convince you to join our organization before you left off to hunting school. All your positive publicity and powerful showings in the tournament must have been quite alluring to scouters and agents."

"That's an understatement." Pyrrha fixed a strand of stray hair and struggled to stifle the exhausted sigh she had remembering the not so fond memories of deflecting and warding off the swarms of potential managers and agents that wanted to sign up with her before she went to Beacon. She just forced the same smile on her face as she did back then and repeated the same line she said dozens of times over, "Thank you for the thought and offer, but I feel like I had a lot more to offer if I learned to fully develop my abilities and reach the potential of a true Huntress at Beacon."

"Well I'd get yelled at if I didn't extend an offer for you after graduation. I'm sure we'd still love to have you when you've completed your training." He dropped the serious expression and leaned in towards the redhead, "But just between us, I think you made the right decision. The fun. The fights. The people you meet and bonds you make along the way here. Way more worth it than getting stuck with a job so early on. You made a smart choice, Ms. Nikos."

Pyrrha blinked in surprise before smiling. Finally, an adult that understood her position on the matter.

"Ruby, put the notepad away."

"B-but he's a real Huntsman! One that saves people and fights monsters and does all the cool stuff! He's a part of Skyggen! I must have his autograph!"

"Ugh, you are so weird. And what are you doing Ice Queen?"

"Well I'm going to go back over there and reintroduce myself to Mr. Namikaze. You dunderheads and your complete failure to properly introduce yourselves to him probably left a bad impression. As a member of the Schnee family and representative of the SDC, it would leave a stain on my honor to let him leave before remedying your mistakes."

"You know you can't put brownie points into trying to get a job or starting a partnership with an organization like his, right?"

"You don't know that! I mean - I don't know what you're talking about.

Yang sighed between handling her sister and teammate while Blake just stood off to the side staring or something. She noticed Naruto standing near the rest of their group and just watching his father mingle with his friends. She stepped over to his side and nudged his shoulder teasingly, "So, your dad pops by and starts winning all your friends over in an instant. How embarrassing is that?"

His eyes peered at her through the corners before looking back forward, "Whatever."

"Okay but seriously, how have you never mentioned this guy before? A famous Huntsman. Leads his own group of badass Hunters to save the Kingdoms and junk. And as weird as it might sound, he's sort of a DILF. Never thought to bring that up in conversation?"

"No, it never came up."

"Seriously-"

"It didn't come up!" He said more forcefully, surprising Yang with his tone, "Just leave it."

"Geez, what's with-"

"Naruto." The whiskered boy looked up to see his father turning and facing him from a few feet away. The others were watching them as Minato spoke with a happy smile, "It looks like you found a nice group of friends to stick by, huh?"

"Yeah. I know."

He couldn't look him in the eye. Naruto shied away from facing him directly and decided to look down to a corner of the floor instead. The students noticed this change in the blond's normal demeanor as Minato's face fell into a sad gaze. The older man scratched his head, "Well, um, just so you know, I'm still in Vale until tomorrow. I'll be finishing up my business with Ozpin by - I'm not quite sure-"

"4. 5 at the latest." Ozpin answered to clear up any uncertainty.

"Oh, well that's perfect." Minato looked hopeful and spoke with joy in his voice, "Well if you want we could meet up some time around then and get something to eat?"

"I don't know if I can. I'll probably be too busy tomorrow." Naruto said weakly, his eyes periodically looking back towards the man before they turned away again, "It'd probably be better if you didn't waste your time like that."

"Oh." Minato said in return, his face falling even more before he forced a smile, "Well I already have my ticket set for about 10 at night tomorrow. So if there's any free time you think you could..."

Naruto didn't respond. Or show any sign of answering his dad's invitations.

Minato lowered his hands and continued to smile weakly, "Well...I'll hang around for a bit in the main courtyard. If you think you have any time to spare...I'll be there."

...

Naruto gave a small nod, his eyes meeting with Minato's for the briefest of moments before settling anywhere else. Ozpin stepped forward and grabbed Minato's attention, "We have a place you can stay for the night. We'll continue our conversation tomorrow."

"Yeah, that sounds good. I feel the jet lag starting to kick in anyway. Plus it's a school night and I'd hate to keep you all up any later." Minato yawned and chuckled before motioning back down the hall, "Lead the way." Ozpin did just that and started heading back the way they came as Minato followed. As they passed, Minato looked over at his son...

"It was good to see you."

He said with a hint of hope and a tinge of melancholy. Naruto just lowered his head further to keep his eyes away from his father as the two men made their way down the hall until they completely disappeared.

The others watched their headmaster and guest leave before turning back to their whiskered friend. The questions immediately going through their heads were the curiosity as to why Naruto had lied about being too preoccupied to meet his father tomorrow? And why he refused to meet his eyes? But before one of them could ask-

"I'm going to bed."

Naruto was already marching his way back towards his dorm room, leaving his team and friends to watch him leave. When they saw their friend round the corner and exit their sight, they looked bewildered at his sudden change in attitude, "Wow. So did anyone else feel the chill there for a second?"

"Naruto barely said anything to him. He couldn't even look him in the eye."

"Yeah, what was with that? His dad seems like a pretty cool guy."

"Sasuke?"

The Uchiha boy came out of his thoughts and back to reality as his friends turned to him for answers. His partner asked, "Do you know what's wrong with Naruto? I mean has he ever told you if something is wrong between him and his dad?"

Sasuke shook his head, "No. Never."

"He never talked to you about that?"

...

"He's never said anything to me before about his father."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

It was winter now and that was no more apparent than on the streets of this little island called Patch.

The sky was a deep grey with light shades of clouds spread around randomly. Light sprinkles of snow fluttered down and covered the ground and streets in mounds of snow and ice. The pair of father and son crunched through the pileup of frozen precipitation as they waddled through to a playground that was devoid of any other people at the moment.

"Geez, people must be bundled up in their homes today." Smart choice. Minato looked down at his son, "You sure you wanna play out here today buddy?"

"Uh-huh!" Naruto nodded, a big smile on the 8-year-old's face and his head protected in a warm beanie with an orange spiral on it, "I wanna play in the snow Dad! I wanna play in the snow!"

Man he looked happy. Minato could think of absolutely nothing to dissuade him. And honestly, he didn't wanna say anything either. He smiled and ruffled the beanie on his head, "Okay, well you go have fun." Naruto didn't even wait for him to finish before he immediately darted off for the snowy playground, "And remember we're going back to the apartment in one hour! We can't be late!"

Naruto didn't hear him. He just squealed happily as he dove forward and face-planted into a pile of snow. The only thing left visible was the imprint and the color of his bright orange jacket as he wiggled his way out of the hole.

Now that was just adorable.

Minato tightened the scarf around his neck and looked around before spotting a bench just off the patch of the playground. He wiped off the snow covering it before plopping down and getting comfortable while watching his son play. Naruto happily giggled running around the entire playground and playing with everything he could find. From sliding down the slides to climbing the monkey bars to spinning on the carousel with a powerful laugh.

He hoped that they could find a playground like this to play on when they moved to Mistral.

They were only stopping here in Patch for a week. Renting out an apartment while all of their stuff was being shipped over to their new village bordering the center of Mistral. They had loved Vale, and it would always be the place he called home for most of his life, but there were new opportunities they could explore over there.

But this little place was nice. And beautiful. He wished they could stay until spring and see the snow thaw and be replaced with green and warmth, but the white and cold had its own charm. They'd keep playing out here a little more, get tired, then they go home and huddle up with Kushina and a blanket to watch a movie.

Something they all needed during a move. Time to relax and just be together.

...

"Oh shit. Don't tell me that's Pretty Boy Minnie I see in my little town."

Minato sat up, startled from hearing that familiar if annoying nickname again after...it felt like forever.

The blond man looked over and saw a man standing just to the side of the bench, dressed in a grey dress shirt and wearing a red hood to protect himself from the snow. Minato warily sat up in his seat and looked the man over cautiously, "I'm sorry...do I know you?"

"Oh no. No way." The man grabbed his hood and flicked it back to reveal his spiky black hair and deep red eyes referring to the blond with a smirk, "Even if we haven't seen each other in years, no freakin' way you would ever forget this mug."

...

"Qrow?" Minato muttered as his eyes widened, "Qrow Branwen?"

"Good, so I won't have to smack you until you remember." The dark-haired man said with a grin as he shook his head, "Although I totally wanna smack you around a little just for old times."

"Old times?" The blond scoffed, "Last time I checked we never quite figured out who held the champion belt between us."

"Well that's just because I was going easy on you. Didn't wanna get scorned by all the ladies for beating up Pretty Minnie."

"Wonderful, you haven't forgotten that name." That stupid nickname was so embarrassing and ridiculous and annoying. And it was even more annoying when it started to spread. He thought graduating would have freed him from the burden of having to hear it again. Clearly not, "What are you doing here, Qrow?"

"Me? I live here man." Qrow strolled over and plopped down beside him with a grunt as he stretched out his legs and leaned back comfortably, forcing Minato to shift over and give him room, "I should be the one asking you what you're doing skulking around in playgrounds?"

"Really?" Minato looked at his fellow Huntsman incredulously as he just shrugged uncaringly, "All this time since we last saw each other and you think I'd be stalking around playgrounds?"

"To be honest I thought you'd be dead. I thought a lot of us would be dead." Qrow admitted as he pulled out a flask and started swishing it around, "You especially. You were always so noble and strong and willing to help everyone you could. I totally thought you would die first." Qrow took a swig before offering it to Minato with a chuckle, "Like one of those TV shows that like to subvert expectations and kill the hero off in the first episode. That was totally gonna be you."

"Wow. Thanks for the show of confidence." He thanked with a dry, almost annoyed tone as he denied the offered drink. He looked back out at the playground, "And no, I'm not here for whatever disgusting, honestly insulting reason you think I am. I'm here with him."

Qrow followed his gaze and spotted the little tyke climbing up the jungle gym. The hooded man looked between them a few times before chuckling, "No way. Seriously? You have a brat?" He nodded with pride, "Wow. I can't believe the same Minato from back in the day stopped chasing the ladies and actually settled down."

Minato sighed and turned towards Qrow, "Okay first of all, girls flirted with me and I never knew what to say. Second, nothing ever came of those flirts, and I know you know that."

He nodded, "Yeah, but it's really fun messing with you again." He laughed wholeheartedly, "I can't believe in just a few years I forgot just how delightful it is to torment you. I mean you were always smart and pretty tough, but your social skills and trash talk seriously sucked. Worse than anyone else."

"Yes Qrow, I remember." It was exhausting trying to readjust to this biting humor and snarky commentary again. He felt like he was back in school. He sighed, watching his breath freeze in the air before leaning back as well, "What about you, Qrow? Doubt you stopped over just to say hello to an old classmate. You understand it's cold out, right? I'm out here with my son. What possible reason could you be here?"

"Well if you really wanna know..." Qrow lowered the flask and pointed out at the playground, "I'm here for the same reason."

They looked over and saw Naruto happily climb to the top of the jungle gym to go down the tallest slide. He slipped into it and went speeding down-

"Eep!"

And almost directly into a little girl bundled up in warm clothes with a red hood walking at the bottom of the slide. Naruto quickly reacted, grabbing the sides of the slide and slowing himself to a halt just before colliding with the younger girl. Naruto fumbled on the slide and looked down at the girl that had frozen in fear, looking like she would keel over any moment, "S-sorry! I didn't-"

"Hey jerk!"

Another girl came running over and knocked the boy off the slide and into a pile of snow. He struggled out of the snow as the blonde girl in the sweater hugged the younger girl protectively. The girl in the hood hid deeper into the sweater as the miffed blonde glared, "Don't think I didn't see that! You were gonna hurt my sister, weren't you? Well I'll let you know I'm not gonna let anyone near her like that, so don't even try!"

"I wasn't trying to hurt her!" Naruto popped out of the snow, "And don't call me a jerk! That's a mean word! You can't call me that!"

"Yes I can!" The blonde girl argued and hugged the shorter girl, "And I'm calling you a jerk, jerk!"

Naruto frowned and turned away, "Whatever!"

"Hey, where you going!"

"Swings! I don't wanna stand around and get cooties from you stupid girls!"

"Hey, you're the one with the cooties! Ruby, c'mon, we're gonna show this jerk he's the stupid boy with cooties!"

"Ewwww! Cooties!"

"Yep! Gross!"

Minato watched the strange interaction between his son and the two girls before looking at Qrow, "You have children?"

"Pfft, no. Well, I might. Lord knows I've been accepted into a few strangers' beds during the cold nights to keep them warm and then awaken to sore mornings the next day." Qrow answered, bragging and inflating his ego as Minato groaned with disgust, "But no, they ain't mine. They're Tai's."

"Taiyang's?"

"That's right. The little firecracker over there is Yang Xiao Long, Tai and Raven's kid. She can be a real pain in the butt but God is she sweet." He smiled at the sight of his niece trying to get higher on the swing while Naruto easily reached greater heights. And watching them from a few feet away in amazement was the little girl in the red hood, "And the munchkin...that's Ruby. Ruby Rose. Tai's other kid...with Summer."

"Summer?" Minato looked at him in shock as all he could do was nod. Minato blinked and looked back at the little girl. The way her face hid in her hood. The turn of her hair. She looked like the spitting image but younger. She was Summer's...

"Hehe." Minato eased back in his seat, a smile coming to his face as he looked on fondly, "She did it. She really told him."

"Yeah. But it took a while." Qrow nodded, "Raven got there first, and it looked like they were a match made in heaven...but then Raven was Raven...and she just sorta wandered off somewhere." He sounded bitter and rueful recalling those thoughts, "Then Summer came in and healed the fresh wounds. Helped take care of the new baby and just brought so much warmth into a house I never knew could feel so homey. Then another little one was brought in and it just seemed...perfect, I guess. And then..."

And then one day...Summer didn't...

"Minato, I'm sorry for not sending you an invitation or a notice." Qrow said, his gravely voice filled with genuine regret as he lowered his flask, "I know how close you two were back in the day...but you gotta understand the kids were always crying and Tai was just inconsolable-"

"It's okay Qrow. I understand." Minato interrupted, "It...it must not be easy...helping watch these two after losing her."

"Yeah, 'helping'." Qrow repeated with spite as he grumbled under his breath. Minato took notice of this and thought to ask before Qrow chuckled, "Looks like my team doesn't quite appreciate yours showing off." They looked over and saw Yang attempt to grab Naruto while he continued to swing higher and completely outclass her efforts. He heard Ruby start to giggle and laughed, "You should tell your kid to watch out. He might be pretty good on a swing but he doesn't wanna mess with Yang. She's got a pretty wicked punch."

"I don't think that'll do much." He looked at Minato as the man solemnly shook his head, "Naruto already has his Aura activated."

"What? Seriously?" The other man asked, "He's only - like - 7, right? You unlocked your kid's Aura at that age?"

"He's 8. And it was much younger than that when we did it." His eyes lowered, "But we didn't have many options."

That was all Qrow needed to hear. He wasn't sure what the circumstances were that forced them into that position, but he knew there were circumstances. There always were. That was just the kind of world they lived in.

Qrow scratched his growing stubble and sighed, "I guess this means he'll be aiming to be a Huntsman when he grows up, right?"

Minato shook his head, "I...really wish he doesn't." He looked over at his son, "I'd rather him do anything else in the whole world...but-"

"But your his father. And you have the misfortune of looking like a heroic badass." Qrow scratched his head and sighed, "Taiyang wants nothing more than for those two to grow up old and live boring lives. But I've saw them when they looked up at Summer. The way she stood and fought. The stories we told them about how we used to take missions and train. I see the wonder in their eyes and the way those stories reached them..."

He knew exactly what he meant because he saw it too. When he trained and Kushina and Naruto watched him, he saw Naruto looked up at him with such joy and wonder. When they watched the Vytal Festival and he saw the students fight for the first time, he couldn't look away from the screen. The heroes they told him about so many times in stories and the good they could do...

"Unfortunately Minato..." Qrow patted his shoulder as they watched Naruto leap off the swing at its highest point and land on his feet as Yang fumed and Ruby clapped, "I think we set our kids down this path without evening knowing it."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Why was he here? Why did he come here? Why did Ozpin bring him here? Why didn't he know they were coming? Why did it have to be now? Why did it have to be in front of everyone? Why did they have to notice him acting strange? Why did they have to be so observant? Why did he have to be so blunt? Why couldn't he think clearly? Why didn't he prepare better for if this ever happened? Why didn't he say anything?!

...

Why...couldn't he say anything?

"Mr. Uzumaki?"

The teen came out of his dazed state and realized he was in History. Oobleck was looking up at him while everyone else in the room turned to see why he was so silent. He must have not said anything for a while, "I'm sorry?"

"Well, Mr. Uzumaki, while you seemed to be off in dreamland I asked you if you knew the name of the practice that was popularized in opposition of the oppression of art during the Great War?"

Naruto just shook his head, his blank and distracted expression not once changing while under Oobleck's scrupulous gaze. The green-haired teacher fixed his glasses, "Well, would anyone else like to answer? Ms. Nikos, would you like to try?"

"Um...it was the Color Naming, correct?"

"That is correct. In opposition to the destruction of art and the oppression of individualism, people took up the practice of naming their children after or familiar with color. This practice, while not universally used, is still in large use today, as most of you are aware." The older Huntsman then turned to looked up at his unresponsive student and quirked an eyebrow, "Mr. Uzumaki, is there a reason you seem so preoccupied today?"

The boy mindlessly shook his head.

"Well unfortunately I can't have you distracted in my classroom." Oobleck stood up straight with his coffee in hand, "You either need to focus your attention on the lesson at hand..." He swung his arm out towards the door, "Or there's the door."

Naruto took a moment and looked over at the door and back to Oobleck. There was a palpable silence before he stood out of his seat and stepped out into the aisle. He bowed his head, "I'm sorry for wasting your time," Before he walked up the stairs and out of the classroom completely.

...

Oobleck looked around at the surprise on the faces of his students and could agree with their sentiment, "Well, I'll be completely honest, he's the first student in my time here who has actually taken up that offer."

"So does that mean-"

"No, Mr. Winchester, sit down."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"He just walked out of class? Just like that?"

"That's what Weiss said. And Jaune backed it up." Sasuke informed his partner as their team made their way back to the dorm to see for themselves what their leader was doing. He shook his head, "Apparently he barely reacted when the teacher asked him a question and couldn't answer at all. Then he walked out and didn't come back."

Kiba rubbed a hand down his face with an aggravated groan and stopped in the hallway. Sasuke and Tenten halted as well as the boy rubbed the bridge of his nose, "What is with him? I mean is he like this because his dad popped by yesterday?"

"Well, that has to be the reason, right?" Tenten asked with uncertainty, "What else could it be? He didn't say anything to us last night and he's barely said anything to us today."

"How bad did they leave things off for it to become like this?"

That was a good question. They had never seen Naruto look so reserved before. Angry? Yes. Sad? Sometimes. But they had never seen him be so silent and closed off before. Even Sasuke was at a loss for what they were supposed to do now. He thought he knew Naruto better than anyone else did. But now...

"God dammit." Kiba huffed, "This is becoming a real shit show." They wouldn't phrase it like that but there was an agreeable hum and nod from the duo. Kiba let out a long breath and shrugged, "So, how do we get him to see his dad?"

"You think that's the answer to this?" Sasuke inquired.

The tattooed Inuzaka nodded, "Yeah, I mean that's the whole cause of this crap, right? Figure out how we can convince him to meet up with his dad, they hash out all the dirty laundry or whatever, and problem solved."

Sasuke frown grew deeper and he argued, "Did it occur to you that since Naruto's been acting like this since his father arrived, maybe he's the source of the problem? And maybe we shouldn't be pushing him to face the source of that problem?"

"Yeah, it occurred to me." Kiba stated pointedly, "It also 'occurred' to me that if we don't talk about this, or see what's wrong, this stuff is just gonna fester and boil up. I mean c'mon Sasuke, you're closer to him than anybody. You gotta understand how stupid this is."

"Well what if he has a good reason for pushing that man away?" Sasuke stated in a fervor, "Abuse? Abandonment? Neglect? There could a good reason Naruto is cutting off like this!"

"We don't know anything about what's happening between them! Just because he didn't tell you about his dad-"

"He tells me everything." Sasuke said through clenched teeth as his eyes narrowed and turned a shade of red for an instant before reverting back into their onyx norm. He took a breath to calm himself down before looking back at his tattooed teammate, "If he never said anything about this before - not even mention it for the two years we worked together, then it has to be something serious. Something he would never even say. And I'm not gonna risk hurting him if he's trying to keep it buried."

"Yeah, I get that." Kiba motioned to the general outside, "But that guy is his dad. His blood. He needs him. Otherwise Naruto...he could get real messed up."

"You know Kiba..." Sasuke shook his head, "Not everyone is lost in this world just because they don't have parents or family."

"You're right. Not everyone has to be lost because they don't have those things." Kiba solemnly looked between them with worry, "But cutting off your ties like this? Ignoring them and abandoning them deliberately when they come to you...that puts someone in a very dangerous place. A place they can get lost in."

Sasuke's clenched fists suddenly opened and his eyes widened at what Kiba said. They lowered before he asked almost pleadingly, "How do you know that?"

"Seen it." Kiba answered with a heavy tone, "People abandoning their pets. People abandoning their close ones. Having them taken away. What it makes of them afterwards, voluntarily or not. It's awful. And if that happens to him-"

"Okay." Tenten finally interjected, stepping between the two boys with a concerned look on her face. She looked between them before lowering her arms, "We need to stop and take a moment to think this through. You're both right, okay?" She said evenly while making sure they were both focusing on her right now so they would calm down, "We need to be careful with this, but we can't just let this thing with Mr. Namikaze pass."

"Well, what do you suggest we do?"

"We need to think this through together. We can't be rash." Tenten said softly, "We don't need Naruto to think we're being too abrasive with this subject."

...

"Yeah well we got a time limit and he already thinks I'm an abrasive ass." Kiba walked around them and started for the dorm room, "Going in."

"Kiba wait! Dammit!"

He reached the door and opened it up only to pause in the doorway. Sasuke and Tenten came to his side and looked in to see Akamaru looking up at them from where he laid beside Naruto's bed. The big dog let out a sad little whine before turning back to the bed. They walked in and closed the door to see Naruto was lying on his bed and facing the wall, away from them and anyone else to see.

He might have been trying to sleep or he was just trying to get some peace, but it failed because he immediately knew they were standing by his bed. He didn't turn around to face them and shifted a little in place, "You heard what happened in class?"

"We all did. It's all people are talking about right now." Tenten said before she asked, "What happened?"

"I couldn't focus on the lecture. Just wasting time there. And he offered so I left."

"I don't think you were supposed to take that offer literally."

"Yeah well I did."

They shared a glance when they noticed the resignation in their leader's voice. He didn't sound any different than he did this morning, which was not a good sign. Tenten felt the pressure about approaching this topic but took the dive, "Naruto, do you wanna talk about it? If you do, we're all here to listen."

Let the offer sit out. Let him know that it was open and he could take it whenever he wanted. They were here for him and when he wanted to talk about it, they would listen.

"No. I'm fine, thanks."

Or he could completely reject the offer and keep them in the dark.

She lowered her eyes and shoulders sadly at her inability to convince her friend they could help. Sasuke patted her shoulder and Kiba stepped forward, "Your dad'll be waiting in the courtyard soon. What are you gonna do?"

He got surprised and annoyed looks from Tenten and Sasuke respectively for broaching the topic so brazenly. But subtle hints and offers to help were doing jack shit so he opted for just asking straight out. Naruto's small turn of the head was the only tell that he had heard him at all.

"I'm not going."

Figures. Kiba took a sharp breath through his teeth to calm himself down before he continued, "Well how are you gonna tell him? You wanna call? Text? Try smoke signals or code it? Or are you just gonna stay here and wait for him to leave?"

There was no response, which somehow pissed Kiba off more than if he chose the worst option from the list. He grit his teeth and pushed, "When was the last time you guys saw each other? Does he know about what happened these last two years? About Wilsk? About where you were?"

Akamaru stood up and trudged over to nudge Naruto's back, hoping to stir some kind of reaction from the fox Faunus. Instead of all his moves to mess and toy with the boy, the big dog's actions were much more caring and worried. Akamaru let out a sad whine and yip as he hoped the whiskered boy would respond. He wanted to make sure Naruto was really okay.

So he was sad when Naruto reached down and gently pushed his nose away without even looking.

"What is wrong with you?!" Kiba yelled furiously after reaching his breaking point with this act, "What is it?! What's so wrong that you can't even look at us?! Because I know you're better than just holding a grudge and throwing a temper tantrum at your dad!"

"Kiba!"

Naruto still didn't make a move and Kiba had enough. He activated his Semblance and grabbed Naruto by his shirt, "If you won't even look us in the eye to say this then-"

Salt.

He tasted and smelled salt and water in the air.

Like in tears.

Kiba froze and the room went quiet as he stared down at the back of his partner. Had...had he been...

Kiba looked down and saw Akamaru gently press into his side. He looked up at Kiba and whined sadly.

He could smell it too.

Kiba released his grip and deactivated his Semblance as his nerves started to calm down. Tenten and Sasuke looked at him strangely before he sighed and silently made his way over to his own bed, Akamaru following after him.

He sat down on his mattress and gently ran his hand over Akamaru's head as the dog rested his head on his lap.

He hated being quiet about something. Holding his tongue while a problem just sat there and grew worse. He had always been brash because that was the best way for people to open up and talk about the problems they had. But right now-

The boy looked over at his partner, his features and expression just out of sight from his position along the wall. His eyes shifted over to his teammates as they looked just as lost as he did. He pet his dog softly and muttered to himself, "Shit."

They didn't know what to do. Maybe this wasn't a problem they were going to solve.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Minato made his way through the town with a smile on his face and a few bags of groceries in each hand. Each one filled with an assortment of vegetables, meats, and preservatives to be put together into a delicious meal.

He was going to cook tonight.

Was he anxious? Absolutely. Was he worried? Desperately. But was he gonna back down?! Maybe if things go horribly wrong!

Okay, so he wasn't the best cook in the family. In fact in a family of three, he took home the bronze medal when it came to cooking ability. It severely hurt his pride to find out his ten-year-old son was more adept at the culinary arts than he was. But he also really enjoyed Naruto's cooking.

But today was his day to try. He had practiced. He had taken lessons. He was going to be supervised by both Kushina and Naruto.

Chances of him not burning the broth this time until it somehow chars over? Personally he thought it was pretty slim.

But it was gonna be fun.

"What's going on over there?"

"It looks like something happened."

Minato came back from his thoughts to see some other people from around town start to gather around. It must have been some kind of show. He stopped over and joined the crowd to see-

"What the hell is wrong with you kid?!" A man said as he helped an old ox Faunus with a bloody nose sit up on the ground, "Why would you attack an old man?!"

Across from them and at the center of attention was Naruto, panting wildly with a frantic look in his eyes, "It's what he said! He's wrong! He needs to shut up!"

"This just proves it!" The old Faunus said with contempt as he wiped the blood from his nose and yelled, "I was right, you little brat! Bastard!"

"Shut up! Just shut up!"

"Calm down kid! And watch your tone!"

"H-he's the one at fault!"

"You're the one attacking people!"

"What's wrong with you?!"

"You little thug!"

"Hooligan!"

"Get away or he might attack you!"

People start murmuring between each other as their muffled voices turned into a deafening wall of incomprehensible sound. Naruto looked around in a panic, his fox ears twitching as his whole body went rigid, looking on the verge of passing out. He started hyperventilating before he grit his teeth and yelled, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut-"

Minato appeared in a flash and wrapped his arms around his son. And in another flash they disappeared from the crowd, bags of discarded groceries toppling to the dirt a moment later.

They reappeared breaching the forest on the edge of town. Naruto quickly started back in fright before he realized his father had grabbed him and teleported them out, "Dad-"

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Naruto flinched and cowered after Minato's angry voice burst out at him. The older blond looked down at his son with a furious expression, "We told you you can't fight people! Not anyone! And you attacked an old man in the middle of the street?!"

"I-I-"

"What were you the thinking?!" He gripped Naruto's shoulders and the younger boy looked up at his father with fear, "You have Aura! You've started training! If you use those things to hurt people, than you're no better than them! Or the bad guys! And if you lost control-"

"I wasn't gonna-"

"You can't let whatever they say get to you! We taught you that!" Minato yelled as Naruto seemed to tremble under his father's scrutiny, "So why would you attack someone like that?!"

"B-because he's wrong."

Naruto whimpered out through his hiccups and coughs. His eyes started to well up and spill tears and his voice hitched as he struggled to speak, "W-what he said was wrong. You're not a freak for loving Mom. M-Mom's not a traitor for loving you. A-and I'm..." The boy sniffed, failing to talk as the sobs started to bubble up before he choked out...

"I'm not a monster."

...

He said that...to a ten-year-old?

"I'm not. I'm not! I'm not a monster!" Naruto cried out before he pressed into Minato's shirt and hugged him tightly. The little Faunus continued to cry out sadly, clutching into his father for security before choking out, "I-I'm sorry Dad! I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. It's okay."

Minato quickly hugged his son closely and comforted him as the boy cried and mumbled into his shirt. He looked back to the town center he had taken them from and felt his anger and rage build up. A moment ago, he had reprimanded his son for giving into the words and taunts of a stranger and resulting in violence. But now he was relieved that Naruto had been the one to act that way.

Because if it was either him or Kushina...

They may have killed the man.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Ruby laid flat down on her bed with her face firmly planted in her pillow. The young Huntress-in-training let out a sorrowful moan that was muffled in the fluff of her cushion. She was super cozy and on most days she would have probably started drifting off to take a nap.

But today was not like most days.

The red-hooded girl's thoughts continued to linger on the well-being of her whiskered friend. His state of mind and reluctance to talk to any of them all day really worried her. She hated seeing one of her best friends look so sad and when she tried to talk to him and cheer him up, she couldn't even look into his eyes. It sucked being unable to help him and sit around waiting to see what happened.

It really sucked.

"Any updates?" She asked timidly, knowing she was probably pestering her partner and sister at this point but desperate to get any new news.

"Ughhhhh." There was an annoyed groan from both girls that somehow fell into perfect unison. Ruby dug her face in a little deeper into her pillow before she heard Weiss' voice directly under her, "You know there probably isn't going to be any major breakthrough when you keep asking us every 5 minutes for an update."

"Yeah but you don't know that unless we keep checking, right?" She attempted to rationalize with sound logic. Unfortunately the dead cold stare she got from Weiss in return made her regret opening her mouth.

"Compelling point you make there Ruby." Yang said sarcastically as she lounged back in her bed. The blonde boxer sighed and shook her head regretfully, "I don't know where Blake is but I'd kill to be with her doing anything else right now."

"I'm sure she's happy and content, laughing at us for being fools and sticking around." Weiss droned out as she pulled out her Scroll and started swiping over the screen. She pulled something up, "Nothing new has happened. I still have the same texts from Sasuke saying he isn't meeting with his father today."

"Same here." Yang waved her Scroll around for emphasis, "Tenten's really worried about him. Looking pretty bad when Naruto won't even meet with the guy to get dinner or say hi. Sucks for his dad."

"Maybe." Weiss said quietly as she crossed her legs and narrowed her eyes in thought, "Maybe he believes that man doesn't deserve to get what he wants. And so he's decided to stay away until he leaves."

"Get what he wants?" Yang repeated curiously as she sat up and looked down at the heiress with a quirked brow, "You mean seeing his son? You don't think that's just a little rough?"

"It might not be." Weiss simply shrugged, "We don't know anything about this man. Perhaps he wasn't exactly the most upstanding father figure back home." The heiress stated methodically, her voice even and cold.

Yang felt a grimace turn in her face, "You think? I mean the guy seemed pretty nice and polite yesterday when he talked with us. You think that was an act?"

"Believe me, I've seen people act very differently from how they present themselves in a public place when they're behind closed doors." That was the life she came from. A world where people wore sophisticated suits and spoke with refined tones and words. But when they were alone they revealed much more about themselves, their greed and plans and desires that trumped all else. That's how she knew the respected and regal form her father displayed to the world was just the mask of a man who could be very cold. She turned her head with a narrowed gaze, "It couldn't have been a glamorous situation if he chose to leave and get caught up in a life of crime as an alternative."

"Hey, we know they didn't choose to become thieves but - well, okay, you've got a point there." Yang relented while scratching the back of her head, "Some people do lie about that kind of stuff. But that doesn't mean all people just show a fake version of themselves in front of others, and not everyone has to have an ulterior motive for what they do. We have to at least believe that his dad is actually here to genuinely see Naruto again."

Weiss kept her eyes firmly planted to the side as she unintentionally let a scoff slip from her lips. Her following words however were much more intentional, "Of course you would think that."

"What does that mean?"

"It means not everyone has a wonderful relationship with their parents." The heiress said firmly with an annoyed edge in her voice. Whoever Yang and Ruby's parents were, they must have been much more present and comforting while they grew up than most. Yang was just so energetic and Ruby was bubbling with joy. There was no such thing as a perfect family but Weiss had to at least imagine theirs was...

Better.

Yang dropped down from her bed and stood up in front of Blake's as the blonde's eyes had shifted to red. She shook her head as her voice was sharp and angry, "Don't just look at us and think we've lived some perfect life. Alright, we've had problems too."

Weiss reeled back a little at the growl behind Yang's voice before looking up at the bed above her. She shook her head, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply it like that. I just meant that some people have more...experience with their parents' bad side than most."

"Believe me, we know bad sides." The blonde said before spitting out, "There's a lot more bad about a parent than the fact they won't buy you that new pony you wanted."

Weiss looked up in shock before standing out of her bed as well, "Excuse me? You think I'm saying that because 'daddy didn't spoil me enough', that's my problem?" The shorter girl was much more venomous now when she spoke out against her taller teammate in insult, "It's not! My problems with my father are much more substantial than that!"

"Yeah well join the club!"

As the girls felt their emotions start to flare up in anger at each other and the things they had to say, they were interrupted when Ruby dropped down between them. The shortest girl popped back up and had her eyes focused on the door, a nervous and complicated expression on her face as she seemed completely oblivious to the argument she just interrupted. She stepped forward, her whole body rigid and mechanical as she opened the door. Yang's eyes changed back to normal and she shared a confused look with Weiss before asking, "Ruby? What're you doing?"

"I'm gonna go and talk with Naruto." She sputtered off without a breath before she left and headed to their friends' room next door. The older girls watched in disbelief before quickly following after her. Ruby had trouble talking to people as it was and now she was gonna try and give one of their friends advice?

This didn't look good.

By the time they exited the room, Ruby had already knocked and NKTS' door opened with Sasuke on the other side, "Ruby? What's wrong?"

"Is-um-" Her voice caught and she coughed to fix it, "Can I...talk to him?"

He was surprised by her request and looked over at Weiss and Yang for assistance as the two girls were just as confused. After a moment he stepped aside to let her walk in. When she did, she looked around the room to see everything looked the same since she was last here, with even the cat calendar hanging on the wall. She noticed Tenten sadly sitting on her bed in wait as Kiba sat on the floor, petting Akamaru as the dog rested across his legs.

She looked behind the door and saw Naruto's bed with the boy in question still facing away from everyone. She stepped closer and gripped the hem of her uniform skirt, "Naruto?"

The older boy took a moment and sat up in his bed to face her. Ruby quickly noticed the red beneath his eyes and the blank look on his face as he looked at her. He fixed his bandana, "Yeah Ruby, what is it?"

She took a deep breath, hearing a shuffle of feet as Yang and Weiss came over to the doorway to watch her. She suddenly felt very self-aware about the situation and how all of them were looking at her in wait. She started shaking nervously and felt parts of her get sweaty and-

"Okay! Okay, one sec! I-I need a sec!" She covered her face and trembled a little, "I think I walked in here without actually thinking about what I was gonna say." She avoided making eye contact with Weiss' disappointed stare and just took a deep breath. She was worried about speaking. She wasn't sure if this would work, and if it didn't then she'd probably be making other people sad too. Naruto might even get madder at her for saying anything. But, she wanted to help her friend and if this could do it...

Ruby peeked her eyes over her hands to see Naruto still watching her before they slid off. She took a shaky breath and steeled herself for whatever happened next...

"I can't see my mom anymore."

...

Everyone went quiet so that means she still had their attention. And she refused to look over at Yang, fearing that if she saw the dismayed look on her sister's face that she might crumble and stop completely. She looked back up at Naruto, who looked stunned from what she said before continuing, "I loved my mom so much. She meant everything to me. And to Yang. And to our dad. She was our world. But one day she went off on a mission and...well, she didn't come back. That was a really long time ago. And I can't remember real well what it was like around the house when she was still alive. But I'm pretty sure Yang does, and I know my dad does too. But me..."

She looked down and the tip of her foot rolled on the floor as she hesitated to continue, "I remember the best things about my mom. I remember she was pretty and really nice and made the best snacks. And she was my hero. But every year I get older and..." She shrugged, "I have a harder time remembering her. And I really don't like that."

She paused for a moment before she sighed and scrunched her nose, "And then there's my dad and he's a totally different problem. He's so overprotective and strict sometimes and he's always on our cases when we try to have fun. Every time I came back from training with Uncle Qrow, he'd look me all over to check if I had any scratches or bruises and ask if I was feeling okay. He'd even say that I should stop training altogether before I get too hurt. And I remember how sometimes he and Yang would get into arguments about not letting her go out to have fun with friends. He'd say she was too young and she'd say he was being too strict. And we'd be so upset with him that we'd think about never talking with him again. We'd feel like that for a while but we'd cool down and remember," She smiled fondly, "We're family. And the reason he's so worried about us all the time is because we mean everything to him. We forget that sometimes and he can still be bossy, but we love him. And we always will."

Ruby felt her heart pound faster and faster with worry and distress before with a deep breath she finished, "I know it's probably not the same thing you're going through. And you probably have a good reason you don't like your dad and stay away from him. But...he'll always be your dad, even if you hate him. And you're strong, so whatever it is that happened between you two, I bet you could get past it. And there's a chance that maybe someday he won't be around anymore and you'll...you'll be sad when he's gone. There are a lot of people that can't see their parents anymore, and I bet any one of them would take the chance to see them again if they could. I know I would. So please, please don't just cut him off like this." She stopped, taking a moment to stay in silence before she nodding while keep her eyes on the floor, "That's all I have to say."

It wasn't confident. It wasn't really wise. It wasn't profound like all that cool advice people share in TV and comics. And she said it while struggling to look up from the ground as she talked about a matter she was almost completely oblivious to and not very comfortable addressing. But what she said was what she honestly believed. And she had to hope that it could reach him somehow.

...

"No. No, you're wrong Ruby."

She flinched hearing him so quickly tell her what she said didn't work. She was scared to look up but forced herself to see just how angry he was. But when she did she didn't see a scowl or frown...

He looked scared. And sad. With eyes that looked like they would break into tears at any moment. She could feel the whole room focus on him as he sat on the edge of the bed and lowered his head. He shook it before looking directly up at her, "I don't hate my dad. I could never hate him. I love him more than anything in the whole world. He's the guy that always made me smile and laugh. He was the goofy dad who couldn't cook and made terrible names for stuff. He always told me off and was strict when I did something bad. And he taught me how to fight, and that I should do it to protect what I care about. He was the main reason I wanted to be a Huntsman." A weak smile came over his face, "He's my hero."

The smile faltered and turned into a thin line as he shook his head, "But four years ago...I made a choice. No one asked me to make it. No one forced me to make it. But I made it. It was a choice between staying where I was with him or going to...protect what I loved. And at the time I thought it was the right decision. But I knew that if I told him he'd stop me so I didn't. I didn't say anything to him. I just left." Naruto rubbed his eye and shrugged mockingly, "Why wouldn't I leave? It made perfect sense. I could go off and do the right thing and my dad would still be safe at home. He was the greatest Huntsman ever. He was strong and amazing. He could do anything. He'd be okay while I was gone."

...

"I thought of my dad as a Huntsman. I thought he was a warrior and a fighter and hero. I thought he was all these things...before I ever considered he was just a guy. A guy who one day found out that everything he cherished and loved just left him, without saying a word and without a second thought. I ran away from home and I didn't even give him an excuse. And I didn't contact him either. I couldn't. So for all he knew I just disappeared, from his world and his life...and I was probably dead somewhere."

The others listened intently in complete silent. Letting the boy confess his thoughts in full before they said anything.

"Then two years ago I got caught by Wilsk. And me and Sasuke were told to steal and take things in order to pay him back. And there were so many times during those years that I wanted to run again. I wanted to run and hide and go back to his side but it made me sick thinking about it. Because no matter how I thought about it I just kept thinking...I betrayed him. I hurt him. I lied and he had to pay the price. I couldn't even use a short sword anymore without thinking about all the things he taught me, and how I was just spitting in the face of it." He looked up and looked at Sasuke, "I refused to talk about him. Because if I had to think about the life I turned my back on then I'd just break and run away again. I wouldn't do that. But even then I still wanted to go back home and see him."

"But then I heard about Skyggen. I heard about all the people he saved and the good he was doing. How he was being a real Huntsman again to save the world. He didn't have to keep rotating jobs to keep us afloat. He didn't have to keep moving. He was living a better life and doing something good. I thought...he might really be happy now. Maybe he was happy...because the single biggest source of all his troubles was gone."

They knew he really believed that from the shudder in his voice. And they failed to say anything in opposition because they knew he wouldn't believe them.

"So I stayed away, no matter how much I wanted to go back home. Because I didn't deserve to go back to that place. I didn't deserve to have someone who loved me so much after I just abandoned him like that. I just wanted him to be happy. And if he could be happy forgetting about me or even...even hating me...then that would be okay." His voice was low, nearly coming out as a mutter but clear to everyone present by the absolute silence that gripped them.

His head dipped further until his eyes vanished from sight and his shoulders trembled, "So seeing him yesterday...seeing him so close again and so happy...I don't know what happened. I couldn't say anything. Do anything. I feel like my stomach twisted. I feel cold and sick, like I could throw up at any moment. And...I'm scared. I wanna ignore my dad - stay as far away from him as possible...because I'm afraid of what will happen if I face him again."

His hands gripped his bed tightly, "I want him to go on without me. I want him to be happy without me. I want him to live his life away from me. And I want him to hate me if he has to." Naruto paused as his voice hitched, "B-but I can't look him in the eyes anymore. Because if I did...if I saw how much better off he was after forgetting me...t-that my dad actually did hate me like I thought...I don't know what I'd do."

Tears started falling unbidden down Naruto's face as his body started to shake. He struggled to keep some semblance of control as he grit his teeth and closed his eyes in an attempt to stop the tears. He hated this feeling. This cold chill through his gut and spine. The hatred. The fear. The regret. He wanted to stop feeling this. Stop remembering just how horrible he felt. He wanted things to go back to normal, even though he knew he didn't deserve that luxury. He worried his friends. His team. And now they knew what he had done. And just how terrible he was.

He just wanted it to stop.

Even if the pain was just stifled down...even if he always had these horrible feelings brewing inside of him...he just wanted them to stop right now. He just wanted some peace.

...

"T-that's not true."

He heard Ruby hiccup and looked up to see tears running down her face too. The silver-eyed girl struggled to suppress her sobs and rub the tears from her eyes as best she could. She looked back at him, not with pity or disappointment but with focus behind her teary eyes as she shook her head, "That's not true. There's no way that's true. And I won't believe it." She furiously shook her head as her hair whipped about with her movement, "You don't deserve to just sit like this! You shouldn't think that sitting here and suffering is gonna solve everything! Nothing's gonna be better if you have to be so sad and your dad doesn't even know it!"

She refused! She refused to believe this was the right thing to do! She had felt sad before, making mistakes and completely blaming it on herself! But she had Yang and her dad to talk her through and she got better! So there had to be a way to fix this! If not, then at least someway to get him to talk to his dad again! Because any answer that left Naruto so miserable and sad was one she would not accept!

"What I did-"

"It happened. You can't change that, right? And you already feel bad about it. Shouldn't that be enough?"

"What could I say to him after all this time?"

"J-just say anything. Please, just anything."

...

"What if he really hates me?"

"He's your dad." She choked, dreading to imagine what it would be like to be in the same position as him as her eyes started watering again, "He's always supposed to love and forgive you when you mess up. That's what parents do." Too simple and idealistic, but kids had to believe in that sometimes, "It'll probably be hard, and it'll hurt too, but you have to see him again. If you do...it'll work out."

Naruto was silent, looking down at the wooden floor before looking up with uncertainty, "You really think so?"

...

"I have no idea." She answered with a choked laugh and as much of a smile as she could muster, "I've never been a parent."

It took a moment of tense silence over the whole room before a dry chuckle came from Naruto. Maybe it was the realization that it wasn't gonna be as easy as just going up to his dad and hoping for the best to happen. Maybe it was the feeling of dread that he knew this would only stop if he faced his dad again and accepted whatever happened. Maybe it was the fact that Ruby had basically repeated the same line he said to her the first day they met and she was the one desperate for guidance. Whatever it was, it made Naruto laugh for a moment before stopping.

Naruto took a deep breath that came back out as a shaky sigh. His hands tensed around his comforter, followed by his whole body going still before he finally stood up. He took a step forward, passing her as she looked up to him and he just focused forward.

"Thank you."

That was the last thing she heard him say before he continued past her and out the door. Ruby stayed still and listened to his footsteps disappear in the hallway before he was gone. She lowered her head, her face softening into a mix of worry and sadness. Worry for her friend and the relationship he was going to try and fix. And sadness at all the memories she brought up for herself and no doubt for her sister. She turned around, "Yang-"

She immediately found herself in the warm, comforting embrace of her sister before she even finished saying her name. She felt Yang's arms tighten around her protectively and could have sworn she heard a sniffle in her ear and a drop of water on her shoulder. Yang kept her face hidden from her in the hug but spoke in a soft voice, "I'm so proud of you."

Ruby blinked in surprise before looking over the room. She saw Weiss standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, a contemplative and far off expression as she looked anywhere but towards them. She saw Tenten on her bed, wiping her eyes clean with a small sniffle every few moments. Kiba continued to pet Akamaru softly and attempted to keep a strong look on his face. And Sasuke just on the edge of his bed, looking like he was shocked and in complete disbelief of what he just heard.

Ruby just lifted her arms and returned the hug from her sister as tightly as she could. She didn't want to imagine being in a situation where she couldn't talk to Yang or Uncle Qrow or even her dad. And she just hoped that Naruto could find some resolution with his own dad.

She remembered something Blake said to her the first time they talked, about her having a naive and childish look on the world. And what she said to Naruto might have only enforced that idea if she was here to see it. She didn't know how this would end for him.

But she knew how she hoped it would turn out.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Minato silently paced around the main courtyard of the campus while taking a deep, nervous breath every few minutes. He didn't want to stop because if he did, he worried he'd start tapping his foot so hard he'd hammer into the concrete of the path. And that just wasn't something he wanted to deal with right now. Plus, how much of a jerk would he have to be to come back here after such a long time being away and the first thing he did was tear up the courtyard?

He was getting off track. What was he doing again? Oh right, having a nervous breakdown.

The professional Huntsman continued to just walk laps around the main path of the campus to pass the time. He took a few moments to admire the statue that stood in front of the school and the architecture that still looked so pretty. He greeted students that greeted him first, either just being polite or trying to stall him while they went to warn Glynda that some stranger was walking around the court in the evening for no apparent reason.

He finally gave into the worry in his belly and dropped down on a bench before he lost all strength in his legs. The blond man looked around, hoping to spot some sign of his whiskered son anywhere along the path before looking down in worry.

He dreaded to accept it, but he knew there was the possibility that even when he came here, Naruto might not want to meet him again. He just came and offered this get together as a chance to prove that wrong. And hopefully, he'd still get that wish somehow.

...

"Please come out. I feel like an animal in the wild being documented for its every move."

The older man looked over to the other side of the bench as a pretty young girl with black hair and a bow came around to face him. He quickly recognized her as one of the students he had met last night among Naruto's friends. The one that didn't say anything, "Oh hello. You're, um-"

"Blake." She quickly filled in, "Blake Belladonna."

"Well hello, Ms. Belladonna." He quickly greeted with a nod to the young lady. It had become a bit of a habit to greet someone he did not know with a nod and repeating their name. But that's how he did it back in Mistral when accepting a job. He didn't get so many clients by laying back and saying 'sup. He turned more to face the student that continued to look him over like he was in a close examination, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"No." She simply stated. After a moment the girl with the bow seemed much more aware of the situation and apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so curt, or so disinterested yesterday when we met. It's just," She couldn't seem to find the right word, "I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I saw you."

He tilted his head curiously, "What do you mean?"

"Well...you are human, correct?"

Minato was silent for a moment before nodding, "Yes. And I suppose if you are going to ask that question at all, you must know that Naruto is a Faunus?"

She nodded.

"And you're a Faunus as well, am I right?"

She stood up taller in surprise and stuttered, "H-how did you-"

"I noticed your bow twitch when you apologized."

Blake just narrowed her eyes and scowled, not at Minato but in general. She was becoming more and more tempted to tape her ears to her head if that meant they'd just stop twitching all the time! Or maybe she could trying getting a piercing and staple them down! She grumbled but relented, "Yes, I am a Faunus."

"And the fact that his father is human...does that trouble you?" Minato inquired, "Because you wouldn't be the first."

"No. No that's not it." Blake stepped forward before jerking back, wondering if this was really a situation she could intrude on when she was basically just a stranger. But Minato seemed to notice her hesitation and offered her the empty space on the bench. She paused for a moment before sitting down besides the unfamiliar man and trying to put words to her uncertainty, "I just wondered if the fact he never spoke of this to me before was because he wasn't sure how I would react to it."

Minato raised his brow in bewilderment, "Do you two speak often?"

"No." She denied before stopping, "Well, I suppose we speak more often than I thought. And we never intentionally try to open up about our pasts." Though lord knows their conversations somehow seemed to end at that repeatedly. She looked to the side in thought and moved a strand of hair from her eye, "But I was curious why he never seemed to talk about or even mention his parents. He only ever spoke of you in passing, so I had believed that maybe you were both, well..."

Minato nodded and looked at the young lady quizzically, "What has he said about us?"

"He mentioned that you were the one that taught him how to fight with a blade. And I believe once he said something about you not having a good sense with naming things."

"Well that's just ridiculous. All the things I name are great."

"But the most definitive thing he has ever said about either of you would be the fact that you moved around a lot when he was a child." She looked at him, "Was that true?"

"Oh yeah, unfortunately, that's true." The older man said with a tired, worn frown at remembering those memories that left him so tired and dreary, "We were always moving. Sometimes because I had new job offers that could provide for the family better than the last one. Sometimes because people were still hesitant to accept a family like ours trying to make a home. And sometimes we moved because we just needed to move."

"I'm sorry." Blake apologized earnestly for the horrid display of discrimination he and his family had to endure. It wasn't bad enough when one side hated the other, but when both sides hated you for falling in love and making a family with the other race, that angered her greatly, "You and your wife never should have been treated like that." And she paled at the thought that Naruto, someone she was familiar with, had to go through something like that so young.

"Thank you. It's nice to know someone so young knows what can be considered right or wrong. Brings hope for the future. However I should probably correct you...because we weren't married."

Blake didn't outwardly react as she kept a still, calm expression on her face while she processed his words. She thought about the circumstances, their situation, that would stop them from making that commitment. She just stared at him for a moment, looked aside, before finally realizing, "You weren't able to marry."

"Get denied a few times by most officiators and you start getting fed up." He just smiled and seemed to let the fact roll off like water from a duck's back, "After a while we didn't care about the title. We lived together. We had our fights. We loved each other. We knew what we were. And so did everybody else." A self-satisfying smirk came to his face as he laughed, "I bet they were all just jealous."

Denial. She noticed it in his voice. He was smiling and speaking with mirth but the glint in his eyes before he looked away and the sharp, dark finish to his words said it all. You can attempt to hide the fact as much as possible, but the truth was fairly simple. No one could handle being denied the right to call the person you love husband or wife. Blake decided to snuff those thoughts and let a smile small come to her face to agree with his statement, "I suppose you're right. You sound like a very strong couple."

"I certainly thought so."

Past tense. Blake took note almost immediately. She also noticed how the prominent smile on his face thinned out into a much less noticeable one, staring out sadly into the court with a look of longing. She didn't want to pry, but she really felt her interest pique at the topic, "What was she like?"

"She was amazing. She was always filled with energy and charged into everything with the biggest grin I'd ever seen. And she was strong. And terrifying too. Always scared people away with a scowl and snarl of her teeth. And she loved Naruto. Loved him more than anything in the world. Which was why I was worried sometimes because...she didn't have the most glamorous time growing up."

Who does?

"She had a very strong opinion of people growing up. Mostly humans but...other people too. Result of having a less than," He frowned for a moment before shaking his head, "Well, an utterly deplorable waste of space as a guardian. But thankfully this outlook didn't stick with her forever. But despite shedding the worst of it, she still was a bit short to meet people and even worse trying to trust them. And it took a long time for me to finally convince her that she could. I think she got better, and she was happier too, but you have to understand that living most of your life with a certain perspective leaves a strong impression. And even if you see things in a different light, that perspective can still be prevalent. Especially when the people you have such a hard time trusting look at you and your family with spite."

Raised on an ideal...a singular belief with the methods and philosophies backing them...she was very familiar with that lifestyle. Some people could be raised to aim for world peace. Some could be bred for hatred. It all depended on the person teaching them.

And it sounded like Naruto's mother drew the short straw.

She heard a sigh and saw Minato run a hand through his golden hair as he sat further back into the bench. He lowered his head, "She wanted to avoid passing that on to him. Whatever she felt or believed or hated, she wanted her son to be born with a fresh slate. Not having to feel any of that inherent rage or anger towards people that looked at him differently. I think she was hoping she could raise a son that wouldn't be burdened by the same feelings she was. And I suppose I did as well." He cupped his hands together and sat forward, "We taught him he shouldn't fight unless as a last resort. We taught him not to feel provoked or egged on by the things people might say to him. To take whatever came at him or was said to him with a smile, because otherwise they would win."

His eyes closed for a moment and he took a deep breath, "It seemed so simple at the time. He was so tough and we thought it would work out if things kept looking as good as they did. But the times he came home with a smile on his face and...and his eyes red from wiping them so hard so we wouldn't see...I never felt like such a failure. I didn't know what to say. What I could say? Tell him to stop doing what we asked him to do and hate the people that ridiculed him? Tell him to persist on and just ignore what was being said to him? If I just knew the right thing to do I could have fixed everything. Acted better. He wouldn't have run..."

"..."

The Faunus girl watched the older man silently lament poor decisions and regrets he couldn't have ever possibly planned for. A lame chuckle escaped as his smile grew, "He's taller. His voice got deeper too. And he wears something over his head now too. He's changed so much since I last saw him. And...and I never got to see that change."

Blake felt a tinge of something twist in her heart as she looked at the man for a moment. She softly spoke, "I'm sorry that matters led to you and him being separated like this for so long. I really wish things could have been different for you both." Blake honestly apologized and gave the older man her sympathies, "Parents and children need each other. The importance of that bond can be forgotten in the heat of arguments and disagreements, but it's always there. And it always will be." She certainly believed that, "I'm sorry Naruto won't be coming to meet you today. But if you want I can speak to him another time. And maybe you can try again."

Minato was quiet before he chuckled lightly, "I don't think that's necessary."

"Why not?"

He looked up, "Because get to know him a little better, and you'll realize that he can still surprise you sometimes." She stared at him strangely before he motioned behind her.

She looked back to see Naruto approaching them at a steady pace, wearing his school uniform with the jacket and tie removed and his orange bandana still around his head. The whiskered boy looked up and quickly noticed her sitting by his father. He stood there in shock before hanging his head.

Blake quickly realized that she would be intruding on their reunion and made her move back to the school. As she passed by Naruto, she heard him mutter out, "What was that you said once about me being too earnest and willing to face my problems? Do you still think that's true?"

"You're here, aren't you?"

He looked up and saw the small smile she gave him to lift his spirits. She gave him a quick nod and continued down the path to leave the estranged father and son to their business. Naruto had instinctively looked at the ground and violently shook his head before looking up at his father, "What were you two talking about?"

"Well lots of stuff. Actually, we talked about more than I expected."

"Yeah, she has that effect. Makes me think she could be a psychiatrist or something in secret. If she wasn't so against the idea of talking to most people."

"..."

"..."

Awkward silence.

Naruto coughed and exhaled slowly, "Dad, I need to-"

"Hey hey hey, hold on." Minato quickly stopped him before he could say anything else. The older man sighed and showed a nervous smile to his son, "I know there's a lot we should talk about, but I did say this was a chance for us to get something to eat. Why don't we do that first?"

Get something to eat? Naruto would be opposed to the idea if the alternative didn't give him such a serious sense of worry and dread. Plus, he hadn't had breakfast or lunch today. And he was very hungry. He agreed with a small nod, "So, where should we go? I think I know a few places in the city if you want to try them."

"Actually, I got a suggestion from Professor Ozpin yesterday. And I think it's a good one."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Ramen.

A bowl of ramen.

A bowl of ramen slid down the counter top and stopped directly in front of Naruto in this little shop called A Simple Wok. A place where if you didn't know what you were looking for, you'd almost certainly miss it. Naruto just stared down at the massive bowl of delicious looking noodles and the enticing aroma of broth. His eyes widened to the point of saucers as he stuttered, "H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-How?"

"Apparently, this place is easy to miss. Luckily Ozpin knew exactly where to look." Minato said with a grin as he smiled and thanked the elderly owner of the joint who quickly nodded in return before working on the next batch of ramen. Minato looked back to his son, "You wanna dig in?"

"I-I'm okay, really."

"You're drooling."

Naruto quickly wiped his mouth. However it did nothing to stop the literal waterfall of drool cascading down his chin at the sight of his favorite meal in front of him. Naruto felt his spirits weaken. His willpower fade. All semblance of control simply shrivel up as his belly churned and growled desperately. He knew how long it had been, down to the second.

Oh screw it!

Naruto didn't waste another moment and quickly dug into the bowl without hesitation. Minato watched in amazement as he devoured his noodles and drank up the broth in under a minute. He slurped up the last of his meal before slamming the bowl down on the counter and giving a long satisfied sigh. A blissful smile came over his face, "And the fast has ended."

"Geez, how long has it been since you last had this stuff?"

"Too long."

"Well fortunately this place sells relatively cheap. So let's dig in."

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Um, sure, what is it?"

"How in the world did you ever come up with a name as simple and cool as Skyggen?"

"Oh, I didn't. There was a meeting with all the initial people I invited to work with me and we threw around names we thought would work out. My first offer was 'The Association of Huntsmen and Huntresses from around Remnant for the Mission of Acquiring Peace and Tranquility For All'. Or AHHRMAPTFA for short. But it didn't get many takers."

"Thank god."

"Hey!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"So these guys had us surrounded, automatic weapons in hand and nowhere to go. My partner was guarding the hostages, trying to calm those kids down before the kidnappers did anything stupid. I figured if they were smart they wouldn't risk firing when the kids were in the line of fire. Unfortunately these guys were pretty stupid. The leader raised his gun and had my head in the crosshairs."

Naruto forgot his milkshake as he listened to his dad's adventurous tale, "What did you do?"

"Well, I threw a knife so far down the barrel that the bullet had no power or room to leave the gun. I came in and knocked the guy out while my partner dashed through the crowd and got the kids out of there. After that the kidnappers just sorta went crazy and started firing randomly in every direction. They didn't have their Aura unlocked so the moment a bullet hit them they basically went down. So there I was, a guy standing over a bunch of moaning idiots with bullets in their legs and their kidnapping attempt totally foiled. We busted them, returned the kids to their parents, and got our pay. A pretty easy first mission if I say so myself."

"Wow." Naruto fell back into his chair and took a sip from his drink as his father did the same. After finishing their meal, they had made their way over to a café so they could talk for a bit. He had been getting texts from his friends asking how things were going, mostly from Ruby because she was freaking out that she forced him into something bad. The thing was...

He didn't know how it was going.

There was a tension. Even someone as dopey as him could feel the underlying atmosphere around the two of them. It was heavy and felt awful. But the conversation and talk they had made him feel natural. He was happy to be able to talk like this again. Like how they used to talk years ago. So...he didn't really know what to call this.

He just smiled and laughed, "I actually did something similar the first week I was here. I threw a knife into the barrel of Yang's gauntlet and it exploded against her. She was super pissed because that was the last hit she took before her Aura dipped and I won our match."

"She told me that you winning is a lie?"

"She's just a sore loser. And as much of a poor winner as I am. She doesn't wanna admit I totally kicked her ass that first week. And I dread ever having to fight her again because she is extremely terrifying."

"That sounds like a normal day at Beacon."

"Was that what it was like when you came here?"

"Pretty much. Never a boring day. But that was mostly because the friends around me never made them boring." Minato lounged back in his seat with a laugh, "It was nice going through those halls again."

"What was it Ozpin asked you to come over for anyway?"

"Oh, he offered me this opportunity and wanted to see if I was interested in taking it. I'm a little on the fence to be honest, but I'll have a proper conversation with the others at Skyggen when I get back." He waved it off, "But I'll worry about that later. I wanna hear about you and your friends."

He blinked in surprise but Naruto quickly obliged, "Well they're awesome. They help me through everything. Hell, they get me through just about everything that happens at this school. I wouldn't be here right now without them." He spoke with such joy and relief to be thinking about his friends.

"What do you think about them?"

About them? Where does he start?

"Well, I guess I don't really need to wonder what it would be like to have siblings anymore. My team basically has that covered. My partner Kiba is a bit of an asshole. I totally know he loves screwing with me just for the joy of screwing with me. So the times when I can get back at him are all the more worth it. But I know that he's super loyal to helping our team when we need it, and he has my back through everything. We're at each other's throat sometimes, but I'm really glad he's my partner. Then there's Sasuke, who's been my best friend for awhile now. He's been by my side and helping me through the thick of it, helping me train and get stronger. He always knows when I've made a mistake and helps me see the best way to fix it. I owe him my life, and so much more. And Tenten is like the older sister I always asked you if I could have. She makes sure I wake up and eat properly and never forget anything I need to do. And she's so nice and caring but she can be so determined. She might be better with a knife than I am and that's saying something! And she's pretty stubborn but you have to be to fight Pyrrha with a new weapon and force her to take it seriously."

Team NKTS.

"Oh, and Pyrrha. God, Dad you've never seen anything as amazing as when she fights. It's like an art or dance or something because she's so fast and beautiful. It's majestic. But she's not all mean or rude like you think most pros or celebrities would be. She's the sweetest, kindest girl who is always more worried about others than she is herself. Speaking of sweet, Nora seems like she's always on a sugar high. She dashes around and it feels like she's everywhere at once, always going on about something random with the biggest grin ever. But it's when she's running around like that that I suddenly feel more energized and wanna push myself further. She's like a constant battery that just revs everyone up to do their best. Which still surprises me that Ren can stick to her side so often, but I can't imagine them away from each other. She might be the constant fuel of energy, but Ren is the smart guy that always knows how to get her to focus and make sure she's okay. He doesn't usually talk but he's always concerned about his team. And then there's Jaune, who's a total goofball and weirdo. But he's so kind and honest and always doing his best. I look at him holding his sword and shield and I just sorta imagine him standing up as tall as possible with people watching his back. Like a real knight would."

Team JNPR.

"And then you pretty much met Team RWBY. Weiss is a stick in the mud through and through. I'm pretty sure she made an opinion about me the moment we met, and I can safely say that I haven't done much to improve that opinion. But I know she's been warming up to Ruby and helping her adjust, and Sasuke tells me she can be really cool if she wants. So even if she might not like me, I like her a lot more. Yang is probably the toughest girl I've ever met. She takes on every challenge she meets with a big grin and sometimes even I'm worried that she might be too crazy. To this day I can't believe I won that match against her, and I'm pretty sure I'll always hold that as one of the biggest accomplishments in my life. Blake, well, you saw her. She's just cool and calm and I always find myself wanting to talk to her. And even though she can be pretty quiet, she's insightful and smart and is always someone I can talk too. I know she probably finds me pretty annoying, but I'm glad she's my friend. And Ruby...I really don't know how to describe her. It's like I look at her, being a kid and dumb and stuff but...I can see that's she's gonna be something amazing. The kinda Huntress that changes the world."

Team RWBY.

Those were his friends.

A group of oddballs, weirdos, misfits, and freaks that by no means should have ever met each other.

"Those are my best friends. And I still can't believe I was lucky enough to meet them."

He spotted Minato smiling and could feel a swell of pride knowing that his father thought so too. Years ago, Naruto never believed he would have a friend in the world. And now, he was surrounded by them.

"It's time for me to go."

What?

Naruto looked up and saw his father take out his wallet and start to count off Lien to pay for their drinks. He looked around and saw that it was already dark. They had been out for a few hours now. He was going to catch his flight back to Mistral.

He hadn't even realized how quickly time went.

Was this it? Had they finished already? What happened now? They had just been talking about other things this whole time. They never even breached what Naruto thought they came to talk about.

Was that it?

Was it over?

Would he get another chance to talk with him? Would they see each other again? What was he supposed to do? What could he say-

And suddenly it came to him. Like a brick landing in his stomach. Like ice going through his back. He knew what to say. He hesitated...but Ruby and the others came to his mind and he found it in himself to finally speak.

"I'm sorry."

Like that, the air around them seemed to still as Minato stopped putting down Lien. The older man looked up and quickly noted how Naruto eyes were probably filling with water. Naruto tried and failed to compose himself as he shook his head. There were no was nothing he could say to absolve his actions. He took a deep breath, and looked directly into his father's eyes.

"I'm sorry for what I did. For everything I did. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I never told you. I'm sorry I didn't come back. And I'm sorry I never even tried to tell you I was okay." He shook his head, "I'm sorry I never told you I was at Beacon, and that you had to hear from Ozpin. And if he told you I was here, he probably told you what I was doing before coming here too." Minato looked at him solemnly, and Naruto got his answer from that, "I took what you taught me - everything you taught me - and I just stepped on it. I didn't deserve to learn how to fight from you. And I don't deserve to still be a Huntsman trying to follow in your footsteps. I tried to survive, and do what I could to get out, but none of that is an excuse. I wanted you to move on and forget about me completely, so you could be happy doing what you're doing now. But I realize I was just being selfish. I just wanted to make it easy on myself, but I don't deserve to get off like that." All the anger and hate he felt...he considered that getting off easy, "But most of all...I-I'm..."

He lowered his head, his tears trailing down his cheeks and falling into his lap. He choked out, "I-I'm sorry it was for nothing. E-everything I tried to do. Everything I thought I could do. In the end, I failed. I couldn't be the Huntsman I wanted to become. I couldn't keep away from you and make your life easy. And despite how hard I tried," He yelled through grit teeth, "Despite everything I did, I couldn't protect her! I couldn't save her!" He grit his teeth, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

He laid it out bare. He said everything he thought he could say. Whatever happened next, he would accept. No more excuses. He did what he did, and now he faced the punishment.

"I don't know what was going to happen when I came here. I thought about it for hours on the flight." He heard his father toss the cards on the table and slide his chair back, "I thought about what I would feel when I saw you again. Would I feel happy? Overjoyed that you were okay? Relieved that you were alive? Or sad that you never came home? Angry that you left in the first place? Disappointed that you never thought to tell me? Enraged that for years I had thought you were dead." He heard his father stand up, "I guess in the end, I felt all of it when I saw you. Seeing you again, I just wanted to cheer and scream and roar and cry. Seeing you...I felt every one of those emotions boil up to the breaking point again."

He heard Minato's footsteps like he was walking away. Naruto dipped his head further and forced himself not to chase after him. He didn't have that right. If his father wanted to cut ties-

"But in the end I know what I felt most."

Naruto suddenly felt a gentle hand rest on the top of his head, making him sit up as the hand gently pat his bandana. The boy looked up, and was met with a kind smile from his father...

"It was pride. Pride seeing you stand there in that hall, fulfilling your dream. Pride seeing the man you had grown up to become. Pride knowing how much you've grown and the people you've gotten to stand by your side. Pride knowing you can realize your own mistakes and take responsibility for them. I know she doesn't blame you. And I don't either. We still got a lotta things to work through, but Naruto..." Minato bent down a little so his forehead nearly touched his son's and grinned, "I'm so proud of you."

...

He was speechless. He felt the hand lift from his head. He watched his father smile and walk off, saying something about seeing him again soon. He didn't know. He wasn't listening. Everything around him...it just went blank. Naruto lowered his head again, his shoulders trembling-

"Dad!"

He umped out of his chair and caught his father in a tight embrace. Minato looked surprised, hearing Naruto take a deep breath as he whispered, "T-there's gonna be a break in a few weeks when the semester is over. If it's okay...can I come back home?"

...

Minato returned the hug, "Sorry, but I moved. But you can come visit the new house if you want. I can show you around and introduce you to everyone. And there's a room for you. There has always been a room for you."

"Thank you."

"I love you Naruto."

He felt like something lift off his back. Like for the first time in years, there wasn't something bearing down on him anymore. Guilt. Shame. It wasn't gone. He would still regret doing what he did. But right now...just right now...

"I love you Dad."

He was free of his burden.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"So your mom and your sister are-"

"Yep. Dog Faunus. Both of 'em. Mom's a Faunus. Dad was human. Had two kids with different results."

Tenten and Sasuke looked at the picture on the Scroll of a younger Kiba, holding a pup Akamaru, with his older sister and mother standing right beside him with their brown ears poking up from their hair. He quickly took the Scroll back and resumed petting Akamaru as he shrugged, "Don't know why I brought them up. I think just hearing what Naruto said about his dad and about himself, like he was a mistake or something, really got to me." He scowled, "Pissed me off. When he gets back I think I'll talk to him about that. Tell him he was wrong to think that. Tell him I know how it feels. Probably...apologize for what I was gonna do."

Tenten smiled, "That's nice Kiba. I think he'll appreciate that. What do you think Sasuke?"

They looked at the Uchiha and waited for an answer, but saw their swordsman looking down with a deep stare. He looked up when he noticed they were watching him in his silence. He just ran a hand through his hair before looking at them both, "When we first came here, I wanted to be Naruto's partner."

Kiba and Tenten's expressions changed slightly, but not enough to show any form of shock. No surprise there, considering their history, "I came here and tried to help him meet new people and make friends, but I was always expecting to become his partner during our time here. Don't get me wrong, you're an amazing partner Tenten. But I just thought Naruto wouldn't be able to work with anyone else if he was forced to like that. So I feel a little foolish thinking back to that idea now. Seeing just how well you two work together, it makes me realize how arrogant and conceited that idea was."

"Pfft, don't see why you would." Kiba scoffed, noticing the frustration in his teammate's tone, "You'd totally be able to work with him better than I ever could. Hell, you still do."

"That's right." The sole female of their team agreed with that thought as she tried to relieve her partner of his sudden feeling of shame, "It's natural to think about that when you came here, Sasuke. You're his best friend."

"Best friend." Sasuke repeated, his tone curt and a derisive bite to the words. He stood up from the end of Tenten's bed and trudged over to the center of the room as he shook his head, "A best friend would know how to help and what to really do. Kiba, you approached him today with the intention of making him face his problem. Even if we didn't know the full story at the time, you believed that was the right thing for him to do. The same as when you confronted him about us sneaking away. And Tenten, you were completely focused and worried about him. Me? The reason I said we shouldn't make him meet his father was because that was what he wanted, not what he needed. I can say things to him and point out his mistakes but only because he already knows he's making them. That's all I really am, the wall that makes him think he doesn't have to move on or change. That's what I've always been. Because that's how I've made myself. I've owed so much to him over the last two years that...I can't imagine him being able to change so much when I thought I knew him better than anyone. I guess I was wrong."

Naruto could still change. Become different. Grow as a person and become someone better.

But what about him? What could he do?

"Sasuke, I've been meaning to ask you something." Tenten turned in her spot to face him better, "You and Naruto keep saying that you met for the first time two years ago. And it was then that Wilsk made you work for him until you came here. But Naruto said he ran away from home four years ago. And that leaves a gap. So, then, what were you doing before you met him-"

Before Tenten could finish, there was a quick knocking on the door that grabbed their attention. Sasuke made his way over and opened the door to see Ruby. She let out a little squeak realizing the door had opened and she quickly fixed herself, "H-hey Sasuke. Sorry I popped over again. I just wanted to see-"

"He isn't back yet Ruby. You don't have to keep stressing yourself waiting for him to come back."

"Oh y-yeah I know that." She unconvincingly tried to seem calmer and more relaxed than she actually presented herself. After a moment she gave a tired sigh, exhausted from all the tension she had been feeling for hours now without any update from Naruto, "I'm sorry for bothering you. I sorta just feel - you know - responsible. I wanna make sure I didn't screw anything up for him and his dad."

"You didn't." He assured her, "You helped him. That's all you should think about."

"Yeah, I know." She didn't sound convinced, "But I don't know if what I said really did any good. I mean it didn't sound wise or smart like when Yang gives me advice."

"It didn't have to be smart or wise. It just had to be the right thing to say. And that's what you said Ruby."

She brought up some understandably difficult memories of her mother and family, but made a connection with Naruto and his worries. She was exactly who he needed at that moment, far more than him. How was he going to help? He couldn't exactly empathize with their problems considering he barely remembered anything about his parents.

Ruby still looked conflicted and perplexed to what she should do, but the two were silenced when they heard someone approaching. They looked to see Naruto standing a few feet away from them. He stepped closer, showing them the redness beneath his eyes from how much he had cried, but reassured them with the smile on his face. He greeted them with a grin, "I think it worked."

Ruby immediately dashed into him and hugged him tightly while her hood fluttered behind her. Naruto looked down before remembering just how worried she must have been from all her texts. He smiled warmly and returned the hug in kind.

And had to do it again as Tenten ran out and joined them in welcoming him back. He just kept smiling and reached his arm out to hug her too.

And then felt another change in weight when Yang came running over and joined the group hug. He looked at his fellow blonde in surprise as she shrugged, "Like I can't do this after that sob story? Shut up and let me hug."

"U-um, okay, but can we-UOF!" He felt another weight latch on and shift them, "Nora?"

"I saw the group hug and needed to get in it!"

"D-don't move around so much-Jaune!"

"I-I'm sowwy!" The scraggly blond bawled with teary eyes, "I heawd the stowies and they were sad and I need hugs!"

"O-okay!"' Naruto struggled to keep his balance as several people were holding him and had his arms pinned, "Losing balance! Too many hugs! Too many hugs!" He saw the other members of the teams come over to their respective doors and shook his head, "No one else join in!"

"Aw, but you still have someone that was all worried about you." Kiba taunted, a smile back over his face as he looked in their room, "Akamaru! Naruto's back!"

As if on cue, the people that were hugging him so tightly detached and stepped aside for safety. Naruto didn't even have a chance as a giant white behemoth completely swarmed his line of sight and smothered him. The fox Faunus found himself pinned to the floor as the dog holding him down barked and gave him a few licks of joy.

"Aww, he was worried about you."

"KIBA WE ARE GETTING RID OF THIS STUPID GOD DAMN DOG!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"HA!"

Naruto threw his short blade at his father with a wire attached to its end to turn it into a ranged weapon. Minato wasn't expecting that and had to actively dodge the blade swiping towards his head. Naruto considered that a triumph, popping up from the ground and charging forward.

But a moment later the wire was cut, the blade was confiscated, and Naruto spun through the air several times before landing on his back in the grass. His ears twitched slightly as they got rid of the dull ring filling them before looking up at his father. He frowned, "Best 15 out of 29?"

"I think we can call that training for the day." Minato laughed, twirling the short blade in his hand by its hilt before holding it back out for his son to take, "That was a new trick with the wire. What brought that on?"

"Mom said I should try it." He answered as he pushed up to his feet and sheathed his weapon, "She said something about not letting you get all the fun in teaching me how to fight."

"Should have figured. Your mom was a real terror when it came to fighting like that. I know for a fact I could ask a few of my old friends and they'll remember how scary she could be with a chain." He smiled and patted his son's shoulder, "I think you should keep the wires. It's good to expand your skills. Makes you unpredictable."

"Thanks Dad!" The boy happily said as his dad ruffled the hair between his ears. He laughed and fixed his hair before looking up at his father hesitantly. He seemed to take notice and Naruto decided to go for broke, "Dad, do you think I'm strong?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"Just curious."

Minato paused in thought, "Well I definitely see an improvement in how quickly you pick up the movement and styles. Your stamina has improved a lot and you're holding out in our spars longer and longer each time. So yes, I absolutely think you're getting stronger."

"Well, don't you think, you know," Naruto scratched his cheek as his ears twitched, "That I should be using these skills for something else? Something more important?"

Minato's smile quickly thinned and remained silent as he imagined where this conversation was heading. He looked conflicted but buried it down to ask, "Like what exactly?"

"Like helping people. Protecting them. Fending off bad guys and Grimm. You know..." Naruto looked up at him with his big blue eyes, "Like a Huntsman."

Damn. Knew he was aiming for that.

Minato knew that this conversation was coming. Ever since Qrow had planted the thought in his head years ago, he had always been paranoid about approaching this subject. And now here they were, "What I've been teaching you is how to protect yourself in self-defense."

"Yeah, I know, but there is so much I can be doing with these skills! I can use them for self-defense, but you know the self being humanity and defense being me totally killing Grimm."

"Defending yourself against a thug or a robber is very different from fighting Grimm."

"I've killed Grimm before!"

"Yes. While under my supervision."

"But I never needed your help killing one!"

"When you're a Hunter, you aren't just going to have to fight one Grimm at a time, or even two or three. There will be hordes of them, surrounding you on every side imaginable."

"I know that. Which is why I want to get stronger, and learn the skills I need to fight them better."

"It's not just learning how to fight needed to become one." Minato said firmly, "Hunters must utilize their Aura to protect themselves and others until the last of it is gone. And they need to use their Semblance to help them fight and push on even further." He wasn't trying to be cruel or disheartening, he was only telling his son the truth, "And with the way yours works, you'll be at a major disadvantage with both. I'm sorry-"

"My Aura can heal me!" He interrupted almost desperately with a fist pounding on his chest, "I might not be protected from injuries but I can get back up and fix them better than anyone else! But if that's not enough then I'll just learn to fight without getting hit! I'll be fast! Quicker! More agile! And since my Semblance won't help then I'll become stronger and better with my swords! I just need to make up for what I lack in with more work! So please Dad, let me become a Huntsman!"

Minato didn't answer immediately, just watching his son look up at him with such hope after his earnest confession. His hopeful blue eyes and flappy ears would have worked against him for any normal request or circumstance, but this was no joking matter. If Naruto wasn't prepared for this, or failed somewhere along the line...

"Why do you want to become a Huntsman so bad? You could be anything if you wanted to be, so why that?"

"Because that's what I want to do." Naruto answered without hesitation, "I want to prove that I can be strong like you. I want people to see me not as a Faunus but as a guy that will help no matter how bad things get. I want them to look at me as a Huntsman, and maybe help them to look at other Faunus like people too. And I want to do this because I want to help people." He made a fist and looked down at it, "If I have the strength and skill to help people and do something, shouldn't I use that to the best of my ability? Isn't that what anyone should do if they can? Help others."

He looked up at Minato, his eyes hardened with resolve and a firm nod, "I want to become a Huntsman."

Nothing was said between them for almost a minute. Naruto couldn't say anything else. He said what was on his mind and everything he could think of to help prove his point. Now it was up to Minato to react.

The older blond sighed and covered his eyes with his hands. He shook his head tiredly, "You'd have to apply for a training school."

Naruto perked up with a big smile, "I can do that! Any is fine with me!"

"No. If you're going to apply for one it has to be one that's good and trains you the best. I think Sanctum would be the best choice."

"O-okay!"

"And after every day when you come home you're training with me again." Minato lowered his hand to show the stern look in his eyes, "And not this easy training we've gone through. I mean the real hard stuff."

"That's fine! I already train more when I can!"

"Nothing that simple. I mean the scary stuff. The kind of training that'll probably make you hate me." Minato gave a challenging smirk, "Are we clear?"

"Absolutely!"

"And we'll have to upgrade your weapon a little. A blade is fine but when you're out there fighting Grimm and other serious fighters, you need every edge you can get."

"So should I get something like your Dust Knives?"

"Hold on kiddo, those are expensive and I only use them for serious jobs." Minato chuckled, "We'll figure something out. But first let's get back home. Mom's gonna be angry if we stay out too long."

"So is that a yes?!"

"It's really up to you if you want-"

"YES! I'M GONNA BE A HUNTSMAN!" Naruto flipped through the air and ran around like an excited child as his father just watched and laughed. He came running back up to him and grinned, "Dad! When I'm a Huntsman, let's go on a job together! We'll show them just how awesome we are!"

"By the time you graduate I'll probably retire. Leave the rest of it up to you."

"Oh, okay." He grinned again, "Then I'll promise I'll become the best Huntsman ever Dad! One you can be proud of!"

Minato looked down at his 12-year-old son and smiled while patting his head.

"I already am."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Done

First half, finished in 5 days.

Second half, a week and a half.

It became too long. I had to cut some things out but it's still like this. I'm sorry.

I hope you don't think this is Naruto being emo. Or melodramatic. Or too angsty. I tried not to think about that or over-exaggerate it too much. I just had a scenario...and I put words to it.

We all make mistakes. We all have problems. Some with people we barely know. Some with people that know us better than ourselves.

I know it's not quite that easy, but make sure to thank the people you care about and care about you. We all fight but in the end they are what we have through the worst of it. And you never know when the last time you see them is going to be the last time.

Some people might not be happy with how this worked out. I can only promise you that this isn't the end of their family strife. There's still a lot to work out and I promise there will be more. But for now...

A better writer would have written something more meaningful. A more daring writer would have had them argue more and bring their problems to the surface. They would have made them leave in silence and had even more issues.

Me?

I just wanted to write a win. Just for now.

ReadxReview

Thank You and Bye