A/N: Sorry for the lack of length, this chapter fought me tooth and nail.

Doesn't help that I'm in a good bit of pain. Think I might've messed up my leg. I'm trying to keep my weight off it but it hurts like a BEEP and its driving me mad. I'll be have words with the doctor tomorrow if it doesn't get better. You're fine, son, he says. No need for an X-ray, he says. It'll be alright. Just rest and stay off it for a few days.

A FEW DAYS?! *grumbles* I don't have time to rest! I've bills to pay, mouths to feed! Still, writing helps keep my mind off the pain, so here we are, a special treat. You'll be getting a triple update today; this and Just A Bit of Bread. The third should, hopefully, be Strike A Match...provided the pain doesn't drive me bonkers and

As ever, we're going by the now infamous Embers rule for this story and many others.

If folks don't enjoy this, it won't be continued, or worse, it'll end early like "Wolf" and "Killing Monsters".

Two jobs keep me busy as all hell, and my energy's at an all time low as of late. I don't have time to write a tale folks don't enjoy. So by all means! speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback counts! That's no joke! I really look forward to reading and chatting with you all after a long day working back to back shifts. What little downtime I have is often spent writing these days, and that really has a tendency to wear me out these days.

One again, a refresher for the team names:

Remember, WPYN (Weapon) =Weiss, Pyrrha, Yang and Naruto.

RVRB (Reverb) = Ruby, Nora, Ren and Blake.

Then we have Team JMMN (Jasmine) otherwise know as Jaune, Miltia, Melanie, and Neo. Lucky bastard.

No questions this time around I'll let the chapter to the talking for me.

Alright, I've kept you long enough.

I'll let the chapter do the talking for me. Hopefully everyone enjoys it.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one~!

"Dad's not dead. I refuse to believe it. He can't be!"

~?

Running Rose (Preview)

"Again."

Ruby scrambled upright.

"I'll get you this time! Just watch!"

Naruto didn't say anything beyond that. He merely quirked a brow, took a stance, and waved her on. Ruby knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. Or was it a fox? Didn't matter. He'd been more...intense since the news about his dad. Almost worryingly so. If he wanted to train with everyone, she'd not let him down.

Anything to keep her from seeing his tears again. Anything to distract him. Anything.

She owed his dad that much. Minato had been a good guy. Like the second parent she'd never had. Always there with a smile and a kind word, a bit of advice when she was stuck, a stern hand when she needed someone to push her past his limits. Sure he was a bit strict in the gym, but that was because he had to be. If he hadn't been, she and Yang never would've improved. Now that was gone and Naruto was flailing, looking for a way out, for an outlet, for something, anything to take the pain away. Just thinking of it made her heart hurt.

Ruby wouldn't let him lose anyone else. Not like they'd lost Mom. She swore it.

Silver eyes flashed as flared her semblance and vanished in a curtain of crimson petals. Naruto watched her with a keen eye, idly observing her movements as she became a streak of petals so much like her namesake. She'd increased her speed once again. He didn't budge; even when she began to run rings around him. Faster. Dirt kicked up forming a Faster still. Her eyes stung with tears from the wind alone. Even faster now, but she dare not act yet, not with his eyes on her. He'd just counter here again. Where the heck was-

"Yah!"

Pyrrha burst through the cloud of dust with a warcry, slamming her shield into the back of his head. Naruto casually tanked it on his aura, whirled, and slammed a Rasengan into her stomach. Pyrrha crashed back with a yelp, Aura sparking. The clash lasted all of an instant; his eyes didn't leave hers, not once. Darn. His fist slammed into the ground, ready to destroy her footing and make her easy prey, just as he ha before. Double darn!

A dark ribbon wrapped around his wrist and yanked him backward, upsetting his balance.

Ren swept in from the side, raking his back with gunfire to distract hi.

In the same instant a streak of white raced past. Myrtenaster flicked out striking his shoulder. A gravity glyph bloomed there, slowing him. Just a little. Just a hair. Ruby nearly lost her footing at the sight. Huh. Apparently Weiss had finally learned how to tag people with her Glyphs now. Had her Semblance finally evolved over the last week? Scary.

Also unfair!

Naruto swore and hacked it away with a knife; but in that instant Pyrrha was on him with a mad grin, forcing him to fend off a storm of blows. Yang waded in swinging with her and together the duo forced him back, back, back again, raging across the yard in a storm of burning gold and scarlet. He kicked the latter away and folded the other over his knee, headbutting her away. Neo and Jaune swept in while he was distracted, one raking her blade across his back, the other bashing him in the face with his shield. Aura crackled and he buckled.

"Better!" a laugh tore out of him. "Don't stop now!"

He was still struggling upright when one of Nora's grenades whistled in, blinding him.

She saw movement in the smoke and could only assume Melanie and Miltia had engaged; definitely; because there they went, hurtling out of the smoke with a yelp.

There! An opening!

Ruby dove forward, lunging under his first to reappear beneath him. Smug silver eyes blazed up into startled blue; then launched her entire body upward, ramming a heel into his chin. Naruto's head snapped back with a startled grunt. What did Minato call this move? Primary something or other. In the head of the battle she couldn't remember the name. She had the bandages hidden in her sleeves ready for this. She'd trained. Prepared for this moment. Now to-

An arm caught her ankle and then quite suddenly the word upended. She squeaked and flailed, pushing down her skirt.

Naruto grinned down at her, a thin line of blood running down his nose. "Thank you, Ruby. I needed that."

Well, here came the knockout blow. "Aaaaaw, crapbaskets."

Aura crackled. Star burst before her vision.

A/N: Think of this as a warmup of sorts.

As ever, we're going by the Embers rule. This'll won't be continued if folks don't like it.

So speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback counts! Seriously!

Strange at it may seem, I can't write without reviews. That's no joke.

Worry not, we haven't seen the last of Summer or the rest.

Didn't see that coming now, did you?

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write.

So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

No previews this time.

Nobody likes 'em.

T_T

R&R~!