A/N: Blast, this is shorter than I'd like!

Hope this little teaser whets your appetite!

Seemed like a fitting thing to update for Father's Day...even if I missed it by a day.

As ever, we're following the tried and true Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.

If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Poof! Gone! Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!

In honor of said Father's day, we'll keep the questionnaire brief:

Q: Update Schedule?

A: The Boys, RWBY, Elden Ring, Demon Slayer, Five Nights At Freddy's and other categories.

Let me be clear, Mass Effect and Star Wars burned me pretty badly with their...ahem...conclusions, so much so that I find myself hesitant to touch them again. Doesn't help that my co-writers for said stories all but called it quits with Andromeda and the latest Star Wars movie.

I'll stick with legends and the OG Mass Effect trilogy, thankyouverymuch!

Q: Naruto's pushing Adam into the Vytal Festival? Alright, he's got connections. So its him, Neo, and two others.

A: Prize in it for ya if you figure out the team name. Wasn't subtle!

Q: More of Little!Emerald! You can't just make her a kid again and then ignore her!

A: Be assured, she still serves a purpose.

Q: How many chapters left now?

A: Four. Give or take an epilogue.

Q: But what about Salem?! You know, the big bad, wants to end the world, that sorta thing?

A: *grins* what about her?

Alright then, I've kept you long enough. Lets get into the meat of the matter and have some fun!

Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!

Papa!Naruto is still best Naruto, and woe betide anyone who hurts his kids.

Happy Father's day~!

"The things we do for family...

~A Father."

Papa Knows Best

"Why are you here?"

It was a simple question, Blake felt.

She should've known better than to hope for a simple answer.

"Really? Naruto quirked a blond brow as pried a fresh batch of cookies out the oven. "You storm down here in the dead of night and ask me that?" She didn't take her eyes off him, not once, even when he set said cookies down before her. "You do realize I own this place, Blake."

.

..

...damnit!

Her bow drooped atop her head. "But your message, the White Fang, Adam...! The bomb!"

"Adam ain't here yet." he continued amicably, setting out a plate for her. "And there is no bomb. That was just an excuse to get you out here, alone. Although," his gaze strayed to the frosted window, "In hindsight, I suppose it was too much to hope your team wouldn't eavesdrop. Too bad. Guess they're not getting any cookies." Someone squeaked from outside, as his gaze swiveled back to her. "Take a seat and make yourself comfortable. We might be here awhile."

Blake didn't want to. Really, she didn't.

The look on his face promised punishment if she didn't comply.

"Fine." She scowled at him, but did as he bade. "How did you know about...no," she held up a hand when he opened his mouth. "I don't want to know."

"Probably best that you do." a glass of milk joined the piping hot cookies. "Honestly, what he sees in you, I'll never know. You're flighty, fly off the handle at the slightest thing, and in all honesty, you're a bit of a hypocrite sometimes. Still, the heart wants what the heart wants. Who am I to tell my boy who he can and can't love?"

Everything clicked. She almost wished it hadn't. "You! You had something to do with this."

"Ding, ding," the older blond mimed a bell noise as he pushed the plate of cookies her away. 'Give the girl a prize."

"Just to be clear." she swallowed once, and tucked into one. "...you're not my father, right?"

"Oho?" A blond brow rose. "And you're asking me this particular question, why?" She mirrored the motion with one of her own and he laughed anew. "Ouch. Such a skittish kitten. Just because I have a few kids your age, ya jump to conclusions. Really, I thought your mother raised ya better than that.

Blake absolutely choked. "Are you...?"

She couldn't be related to Yang. No. Just, no. She'd never live it down.

"Don't worry." he fobbed her off with a laugh. "I'm having you on. I'm not your pops. Just the guy who called yours. I'm not even here, not really."

"Oh. That's good-wait, you did what now?!"

"You're talking to a shadow clone." her host smiled. "Really, I'm just here to stall you until Ghira arrives. This involves him as well."

Someone knocked on the door. Once. Twice. Thrice.

"Aha! That would be your old man, now."

Blake's face closed down.

"Noooooo!"

(.0.0.0.)

"Nothing like a little father son bonding, eh?"

"In all fairness," Adam ducked a sword, parried an ax that would've taken his head, and lopped the offending arm off. "This is not quite what I envisioned when you mentioned making amends." His boot crashed out to kick another Faunus away. An awful crack preceded the blow. "Still, I won't deny that this feels...cathartic."

Roman ducked, pivoted, unloaded Melodic Cudgel in the unlucky face of a faunus and brained another on the backswing. "Not you, too! Both of you can bite me!"

He wagged a finger the redhead's way. "Now, now, whatever would your mother say...?"

"PISS OFF!"

Neo was...well, Neo. She flitted from one victim to the other, a silent wraith dispensing death by the dozens. No words from her, nor help needed; she was death incarnate.

Made him right proud it did, seeing what his granddaughter could do; what all of them could do.

Almost brought a tear to his eye.

"On your left."

He swept a fist over his shoulder, casually breaking the nose of a foolish Faunus who sought to take him from behind. Without bothering to look back he grabbed the man by the face and wielded his body as an impromptu flail to brain another. Such a shame. These weren't shinobi, nor were they warriors. They broke all too easily.

Where was the fight in them? Where was the challenge? Where was the grit? It was all so...disappointing. There was a reason he didn't bother to exert himself anymore. There was no fun in it. His blood was up again now, and these meager grunts just couldn't satisfy him.

Maybe he'd kick up a spar with Raven or Vanessa when he got back. Sapphire, too.

Perhaps all three at once. Hmm. That sounded nice.

It hadn't been hard to track down Adam's former...associates. With Roman and Adam's defection -followed by Cinder's subsequent death-! most had gone to ground and hidden, but their need for dust yet remained. A cell or two was bound to pop their head out sooner or later. It was inevitable. These weren't the sort to give up. Their pride wouldn't let them. And now that they'd emerged...

The white Fang didn't stand a chance.

Neo tittered soundlessly as she broke a man's neck.

"FORE!" Roman snarled as he knocked a trio of men aside.

"There's only four of them!" Someone on the docks brayed! "Stop them Stop-urk!"

"Blast you!" a particularly large sort rallied, raising his chainsaw high. "You're no better than that Belladona bitch! Die, traitor! FOR THE WHITE FANG!"

Adam tutted once.

"Idiots." Wilt cleared her hilt again with a silken rasp as he brought his cherished blade to bear. "I trained you better than this."

None dared approach him now, bathed in blood as he was.

"Well? Who wants to die next?" he stepped in, blade sparking against the asphalt." Is it you, Banesaw? Or perhaps you, Perry?" when no one took up his challenge, he leered at the lot of them. "Come! You said it yourself earlier did you not? I'm just one man!" A hand rose, beckoning. "I might even leave one of you alive, to take a message back to Sienna and the Albain Brothers."

The impasse couldn't last forever. Someone was bound to snap; to break, sooner or later. And they did.

A plucky soul opened fire. Just like that, Adam was among them, a red dervish of death.

Roman whistled and lit a cigar. "Jeez, the balls on this one...

Naruto crossed one leg over another and watched.

"That's my boy...

A/N: I know, I know, more of a focused chapter.

Which begs the question. Who's the fourth member of Adam's little team? Care to guess? Ought to be fun writing them in the Tournament.

About four chapters left now, more or less.

Feels strange to have this story wrapping up soon. I almost don't want to see it end...

As ever, reviews are my lifeblood. Without them, I cannot write.

So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?

They keeps an old man alive.

And enjoy the previews.

As ever:

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

YE BE WARNED!

Get ready to smile~!

Obvious references are obvious~!

(POTENTIAL!) Previews! What can I say? I've been busy.

"If we're nearing an end, let it be a good one."

Be good to my girl, Jaune. Or I'll feed you your own heart."

"Urk."

"Adam, no.

"Adam, yes. I have to do this."

"What will winning a tournament prove?!"

"The strength of my will. I won't give up on us, Blake."

Naruto sniffed in the background and blew his nose. "That's my boy!"

"Are you really satisfied with this? There are more dangers out there...

"Name one that could kill him. Watts? Hazel? Please. He'd eat them for breakfast."

"PUSH!"

"There's a reason that idiot retired, you know." Raven didn't pause in her stretches. "If he ever took it into his head to fight again...we'd have a bad time.."

...and why is that?"

Vanessa continued to sharpen her sword. "Because he hasn't had a challenge in decades. He's starved for a real fight."

Sapphire pursed her lips. "I don't understand. I know I was...out of it for awhile, but surely...?

Vanessa and Raven exchanged a long, lingering look.

"Pray you never find out."

EDIT: Warning! Bit of blood and violence here...and a tribute to something terrifying.

"You overestimate yourself. You're just one man. All men die."

"Alright." he stepped forward and spread his arms wide. "I'll play. YOU HAVE NINE SECONDS."

Credit where it was due, they acted quickly. He'd give them full marks for that.

A whip cracked out, obliterating his right eye. He allowed it.

One second.

Clenched knuckles slammed into his face, obliterating half his skull. Two seconds. His head snapped backward. Five. In the same instant that fist closed around it and smashed him down. Once. Twice. Thrice. He was still reeling when his would be killer leaped away; when the rest unloaded on him, filling his body with holes. Six. Explosive rounds. They'd done their homework. Seven. He slumped where he lay. Eight. Blood slid down the concrete. A sword slammed into his back and severed his spine. Nine. Crimson pooled beneath him as his ruined body slumped to the street.

Silence pervaded the night...followed by low laughter.

...excellent." His head rose, the wounds in his body already regenerating. "I haven't had this much fun in ages...!"

With an awful pop, his broken bones realigned themselves. His eyes sought their leader.

"What did you say your name was...?"

R&R~!