I suppose I should mention what Zoro actually looks like. He looks much like he does after the time skip only aged like at the start of the series. If that's confusing take the way he looks at the beginning and all the muscle and scar from his return post time skip and you'll have a basic idea. This is the way he has looked basically since he was 10 its why people treat him as an adult. The reason Qrow believed him to be 13 was he reminded him of Yang and Qrow has never been the most well observant person.

After his time in Menagerie it's time to head back to begin year 2 at signal. He returns a bit early so he can continue to develop his relationship with Yang and Ruby. When he returns he details some of his adventures leaving out the name of the first person he met and that his friend joined the violent White Fang.

Things pick up right away just like before he left only when he returned Ruby asked if she could train with them even though she isn't in Signal yet she does intend to go the next year. Zoro of course asks her father and sisters permission before accepting but does agree. This year progresses much like the first year. This year though they have advanced weapons training and intro to weapons crafting.

It's in second year combat class that everyone gets to see his new weapon. When he broke it out that first day no one was quite sure what to make of the small 2ft circular shaft. It wasn't until he turned it on that people began to realize what it was. A mechashift weapon it is a sword that can shift into a kusarigama. No one was sure why he would go from a sword to this weapon. When Yang asked about it he explained he is simply holding it for a friend of his until she returns for it.

When they get into intro to weapon crafting most of the students have these elaborate ideas they want to make but not Yang she is not really sure what to make. So she asks Zoro.

Zoro "If I was you based off of your enjoyment of close quarters combat and that semblance of yours I would use a kestis. It's like a hand wrap only it has spikes I would of course modify it so that the spikes extended up past my wrist."

Yang does some thinking "Can you help me design it so I can see if it is something I even would like before we go about actually making it?"

Zoro "Of course, in fact if you want to experiment with the base of the hand wraps I am thinking I actually have some in my bag at home."

Yang "That would be great you can show me to wrap them I take it"
Zoro "Of course. Its rather easy after you do it a few times."

So they design it and Yang experiments with the wraps that Zoro has ultimately Yang decides she likes the feel of it and decides to use 1.5in spikes on them. Once they are crafted Yang asks Zoro what he is making.

Zoro "Well I am making something crazy it's a sword, Iklwa, and a scythe."

Yang gives him a confused look before asking "So your replacing your sword and that awesome weapon your borrowing? Whats an Iklwa?"
Zoro "No I am not replacing either rather I will be using all in conjunction together I have trained in 3 sword style. To answer your other question it's a short spear that I can throw but is mostly used for getting inside of armor and around defenses sinking deep with its 2ft blade while giving me lots of room to use the back end as a blocker or as a blunt object."

Yang nods her head understanding the usefulness of such a weapon. "You can wield 3 swords at once? Where does the third one go in your foot or something?"

Zoro smiles "Perhaps if your lucky you will see. I have to find a worthy opponent to use it on."

So the second year goes by and by the end Yang has just about learned all she can of Fishman Karate not that she knows that is what it is called. While Ruby learned the basics she was far more interested in basic weapon proficiency and by the time he is ready to leave on his summer trip again Ruby is proficient with Zoro's new weapon though she wants something different for herself as she is smaller she wants a long range option. Not that she or Yang or really anyone knows that Zoro has the best ranged weapon of anyone in Remnant. It's time for him to go and before he goes he makes a call to Raven.

Zoro "Raven, I have decided to tell Yang I know you. She will likely want to come with me on my trip. I have given you a year to think about our talk. If she wants to come she will accompany me as she is my apprentice her and her sister."

Raven "I am hesitant to allow her to come but if she is your apprentice then as my daughter she will be welcome. Of course she will have to prove herself against an opponent of my choosing. You understand of course."

Zoro "If that is what it takes then yes that is fine."

Later that day with Zoro and Yang

Zoro "Yang I have been needing to tell you something for awhile now and I believe the time is right. I know your mother. When we met I did not know she was your mother but we have been sparring and training for a few years now. It wasn't until this last summer that I learned she was your mother."

Yang shocked by this "Why did you wait a whole year before telling me?"

Zoro "Before I left I gave her the chance to reach out to you and since she did not I decided it was no longer a secret I would be keeping."

Yang "I can understand that. Do you know why she left?"

Zoro "I do but that is a conversation you will have to have with her as it's not my story to tell."
Yang "Do you know when I will see her to ask her?"
Zoro "I actually do. I told her you might be accompanying me this year as I have taken you on as an apprentice. As such you and Ruby are both welcome to come along with me this summer. Just be aware that if you come with me she will have you fight a person of her choosing. I doubt it will be her as that would be a bad look if you where to beet her."

Yang "I will be joining you if Ruby wants to come as well. I can't leave her alone here all summer."

So they ask Ruby and of course she says yes its an adventure after all with her two favorite people. So that next morning they head out. When they get to the Branwen tribe they are allowed in of course. Raven approaches and as it is getting late invites them in for dinner before they have their fights in the morning.

Raven "I thought you said just you and my daughter where coming? Whats with the other girl?"

Zoro "That other girl is Yang's sister Summer's daughter Ruby. Yang and Ruby are both my apprentices and as such both travel with me. If you have an issue with that then I suppose I can end our arrangement."

Raven "No of course not I simply like to know who all comes in the camp. I am sure you can understand that. Summer's daughter raised by Tai and a sister to my Yang she must be strong especially with you training her."

Yang can't hold back any more "So mother, I have some questions. Chiefly why did you abandon me and dad?"

Raven gets a sad look on her face "That is a long story and some of the details you are not ready for. I will however tell you some of it. I never intened to be gone for as long as I have been, see I found some world shattering news about a mentor and a man I looked up to come to find out he isn't the man I thought.. I left to go clear my head I told Tai I would be gone for a few days a few weeks at most. Honestly that was the intention then a few weeks turned into a few months turned into a few years. After awhile I simply thought you where better off without me, that was a lie I told myself of course. I know it doesn't fix anything but I am sorry I missed you growing up."

Yang doesn't quite understand but she has to take the information she is given. "So now that you have seen me again are you going to stay in contact or is this kind of a one and done deal?"

Raven "I would love to stay in contact. I would love to come home but tribal law says I can't until such a time as someone in the tribe beats me in combat. To have us stay in contact you will have to win your fight tomorrow. This is not my rules but rather laws I am bound by. Even I can not defeat the entire tribe and if I tried to leave they would never stop hunting me."

Yang nods her head. At this point Zoro interrupts. "So if I where to join the tribe obviously I can defeat you and then you can leave and because I can defeat the entire tribe I could leave as well is that about right?"

Raven "I didn't think of that but yes I do believe that could work. The whole tribe fears you especially after that incident when we first met."

Zoro "Then lets do that tomorrow instead of our usual spar. That way Yang's result wont matter. Not that I don't have the utmost faith in Yang it's just best to be prepared."

Here is where I am ending this chapter hopefully I can get a few more in this week. Before you ask Yes Raven returning home is a sudden thing not planned before hand. Yes the charecters are different than the show, they should be as they have different interactions because of someone like Zoro being in the universe. No one really talks about how semblances are found and I didn't like the shows way of doing it so I changed it. I am undecided if Blake will be at Beacon or if she will be an antagonist. Raven will not raise a fuss when Yang and Ruby decide to go to Beacon as she trusts Zoro. No one knows Zoro's mission other than him. I am going to speeding through the Signal Years as they just are serving to introduce personality changes in Yang and Ruby.