Deliverance

A/N: And we're back, 2nd chapter baby let's go! Slight things before you go on.

There are some inspirations from other stories I have read? Yep! There is actually about 3 or 4 across both RWBY and Naruto that I have read in the past few months that helped shape my thoughts and goals for this story. Hell, I think I have been reading NZ's stories since they were first doing Naruto/Bleach crossovers back in the late 2000s. Has it really been that long?!

But! In no way am I planning to blatantly copy anything, everything is going through multiple revisions as I am planning out how this story goes! So far I am already crafting how I want the story to end, the sooner I can have that all planned out, the easier I can plan the arcs.

Status on Canon Naruto series? You'll find out as the story goes, but I can say that in the main timeline for this story, it didn't reach Boruto at all. It hits a certain point where, to put it bluntly, everything goes to shit. That, you'll have to figure out as the story goes on.

Is Naruto a god-like OP being that's going to conquer the entire world? Probably not, no. It's not in his personality to force his will on others, and a few of Remnant's issues can't just be solved by punching Salem or Ozma's head off. Could he beat them in a fight? He's more a fighter than they are, so there isn't a doubt, but they aren't meant to be generic obstacles to fight.

Salem especially, given her approach to planning. She isn't a typical shounen villain that comes and fight just to prove her strength, she's more like an Aizen or Kira. She isn't showing up until she's dotted all those i's and crossed all her t's. She's only showing up when she knows, 100%, she's got it in the bag from the plans and schemes that are all playing out.

A dangerous foe against someone like Naruto who can get tunnel-vision when trying to save people. I genuinely want to give Salem the proper villain respect of when she actually shows up in-person, it's cause for worry.

Lastly! Is this a harem? 99% chance negative on that one. I won't write it off as 100% yet, just in-case, but as of right now, it's Raven/Naruto. Not immediately, but it'll be happening sometime in this first arc before things pick up and we head into modern times for RWBY.

Who knows, the forbidden Qrow/Taiyang/Naruto gay uncles pairing might seduce me.

Finally! Thank you for the feedback, I do appreciate it! I am honestly doing this story as a way to cut my teeth on character writing and conversations, but I am very happy people are enjoying it so far! Bit of a serious chapter going forward, but I hope you all enjoy it!

Raven stirred slowly; her eyes sealed shut from the weight of her exhaustion, but she still began to wake. Her hand laying before her as she patted the ground, soft fabric was laying below her as a makeshift bed. She inhaled softly, her body aching at every single point yet she still somehow felt relaxed, she didn't want to wake up.

Her ears pricked up, making out the soft crackle of a fire along with a sound that she somehow missed in her first few seconds of consciousness.

"And that was the 2nd time I was thrown down a massive gorge. She was so mad; you should've seen her face! You know, you kind of remind me of her. You don't happen to have a 'Yugito' as a distant family member do you, any monstrous Nekomata in your family tree? Fondness for cats?"

"Abbuubaa"

"Oho? I'll have to pass that along then."

Raven blinked as she managed to open her eyes finally, greeted to the scene of a lounging blond fox-man with his back up against the wall and his butt planted on a stone slab that acted as his seat, legs stretched out and little Yang resting on his knee, the pair seemingly engrossed in 'conversation' while his tails stretched out and covered the entrance to their little hidden hideaway.

She began taking more of her surroundings in, there were in a cave it seemed with a campfire already set up, sizzling hitting her ears. Her nose inhaled as it suddenly hit her, she could smell cooking meat. It smelt good, she could feel her stomach strain and twist as the scent was welcomed by her senses with open arms. Before she could even open her mouth however, her stomach announced her return as the organ let out a deep bellow that lightly reverberated off the walls in their small hideout.

"Yang! Did you do that?!"

The response was more baby nonsense by the girl he was bouncing on his knee happily. His eyes drifted down, meeting the crimson gaze of the prone mother laying across her side. Her eyes refused to budge, to show anything else, but she couldn't the heat flushing her face as her stomach produced an encore, another string of sounds as the smell of food worked up her exhausted body.

"Oho, it looks like Mama Raven is finally awake!" He turned his hands to spin the little baby on his knee, allowing her to her mother who was finally starting to push herself up. Raven could barely think, not with her body craving for food. Atop the fire was some very familiar blades that lay horizontal, piercing multiple segments of red meat that were already a lovely shade of brown that almost made her drool.

"They're pretty much done! Have some!"

She didn't need any further encouragement. Her hand grabbed at the hilt of the dagger double-wrapped in leather that, while hot to the touch, didn't burn her hands. Hoisting the blade up, she latched her mouth out and tore into the meat. Her stomach demanded tribute.

Naruto could only watch as this black-haired woman tore into the meat with wild abandon, stripping the metal of the crispy cooked meat before she jammed the blade into the floor, already reaching for the next one.

Slowly, Naruto's hand lifted and brought his palm over Yang's little eyes to save her from seeing her mother in such a state.

Thankfully the frenzy feasting was over as quickly as it began, Raven exhaling a sigh of relief as her stomach was given some fuel to put into her body. She blinked more sleep from her eyes, wiping her hand against them as she looked at him. "Thanks for the food… Naa… Ruto?" She asked, her eyes flicking to him to check if she remembered that right.

The man in-question nodded with a big grin. "Don't mention it. Happy to help! We don't have water though, we'll need to stop at a stream or something, maybe even go find a town. You still have towns, right?"

She gave a yawning nod while stretching further, straightening her back as she sat on her backside properly and faced the man, only just noticing that he was out of his coat… The big thing she was laying on just happened to be the same colour, upon further inspection as she looked between her knees.

Before she could even comment on the situation, Yang began sounding out as she held her arms out, waving them to her mother. "Oooh! She wants her mother." A tail peeled in, wrapping gently and firmly around the wiggling bub as she was ferried across and right into Raven's waiting arms. That eased her a little, but she was still making a fuss. Raven began shifting her tattered outfit, allowing her to bare her chest for the girl.

Naruto instantly averted his eyes, given that most of Raven's outfit was in shambles, meaning she was just freeing the girls for the world to see. "Oh right! Baby! I forgot I can't feed them meat." He joked aloud to lighten the mood.

His reward was an amused exhale from the woman, some humour was found.

Silence then settled back down, barring the sound of a nursing child and a crackling fire that sat between the pair. It was semi-comfortable but each of the adults was waiting for the other to speak first.

Naruto decided to break the silence first.

"So…" Raven's eyes flicked to his, gaining her attention.

"How did this whole situation happen?" He asked, eyes looking at her with genuine curiosity. Raven's own eyes narrowed just a little, but she stopped with a sigh.

"A monster destroyed my home. We'd been fighting her minions and mindless beasts for a long time, but this was the first time she ever showed herself like this." She said softly, her mind trying its best to not go back to the night prior.

"And she destroyed everything. Burned down my home, killed my tribe… All for this." She said with a hint of anger, her eyes glowing as fiery trails began flowing out the sides of her eyes, the man looking with a brow raise.

"Because you're a maiden, right?" She only nodded at this correct guess. He sat in silence for a moment which allowed Raven to continue.

"My team and I had been working hard since we first graduated from Beacon to help fight her, to help end this monster… But I found out the truth. Everything was pointless, it's all worthless." She said, anger bubbling up as she squeezed Yang who was still at her chest. "She's damn-well immortal! I cut her head off and watched it roll away, only for it to just regrow right out from her damn neck. She just laughed at me!"

She looked back at him, red eyes locked onto his blue orbs.

"I did something… Stupid. Really stupid! I jumped the gun during my last mission, to escort a Maiden. She was weak. A useless farmgirl who kept complaining about leaving her home. Undeserving of her power, and I would have to drag this girl across Mistral to keep her safe?" She asked aloud, shaking her head as those eyes took a dark shine to them.

"The strong live and the weak die. That's the rule. There was only one option for me to take." She muttered darkly as she took her eyes off his, unwilling to stare at the hardening eyes looking at her.

Naruto subconsciously flexed one of his hands shut, tensing and stretching the limb. He had a few things to say about that line, but he kept his mouth shut and let her divulge further.

He didn't like the familiar look in her eyes. Too Familiar. Disdainful, callous and gleaming with hate. His memory reproducing a man mostly obscured in armour and steam, but those eyes were always visible. His fist tightened, remembering the same gleam that once filled powerful brown eyes, belonging to someone he brazenly called 'family', much to the towering man's annoyance.

'This is going to be tough, just like breaking through to Han.' He thought bleakly.

"I made a snap decision to help move things along. I didn't expect to get her powers though, I don't know what happened. I was always told they chose randomly, but before I knew it, I was the new Spring Maiden. No doubt Ozpin and his underlings are scouring for me right now. I gained strength and power, but I burned the bridge behind me…" She said darkly, narrowing her eyes as she gazed at the fire.

The small fire flicked higher, building in intensity for a moment before it settled back down.

Those flame-emitting eyes flicked back up to Naruto, his gaze taking in every detail. His eyes still looking at her, but the curious gaze was hardened. Not a doubt in her mind that he already made the connection of what she did to 'speed things along'. "And by… Taking your 'only option'" He said, disdain in his voice at the words he mimicked, but he continued. "You made a troublesome situation into a worst-case scenario that left you with one foot in the grave. Sounds like a dumbass rule to me."

'Great, another idealist.' She thought with annoyance. Anger brewed in her, but she pressed it down, it was getting tough for her to keep everything bottled up. For moment there was no other words, Raven expecting a righteous tirade, but it never came. Naruto simply watched her as it was clear he was waiting for her story to continue, arms crossing against his chest.

Seeing this, she continued.

"So, after that I went back to Vale and grabbed the only things I wanted from there, smash and grab. In my panic, I took Yang and ran without telling anyone. Wanted by both the enemy and my former friends, my safe house is a smoking graveyard. I have no idea where to go, or what to do… And worst is? I dragged little Yang into this."

Naruto didn't really have a response for that. Would he rather grow up with his mother on the run, or re-live his upbringing as an orphan? He had his opinions, but the way Raven was gazing at Yang told him she did it out of love. A hasty, stupid decision made at the brink, don't get him wrong, but intentioned with love for her child.

He couldn't find it in himself to criticise that.

Everything else though? He could criticise that plenty.

Silence once again began to settle as Naruto took it all in. He hadn't a clue of what was going on, but he could gleam that Raven was being mostly truthful. He had more questions to ask, namely on that of her team and the life she had before that.

It seemed to him that she had people who would take her back. From his own experiences with a previous teammate, he highly doubted that they were just going to let Raven go out on her own like this without beating down some doors and trying to track her down. He tapped his finger against his arm, idly thinking about asking about her team but she seemed emotionally raw already with what she's told.

It would have to be a conversation for another time.

'Huh, I wonder if Sasuke ever thought like this…' He wondered to himself. Highly doubtful, since he wasn't carrying around a baby. His mind did make an unwelcome connection between her and the Uchiha, noting their hair and eyes. A playful exhale left his lips, the man doing his best to not focus on the implications happening in his mind.

The silence hung in the air as Raven tended to Yang, her head focused on the girl while Naruto mulled things over. One thing was becoming clear in his mind however, he had to find out where the hell he was.

"What's a Vale? Or was it Bale..?"

Raven almost snapped her neck as she looked back at him. That's his take-away from her story? That? "It's… The name of the kingdom. The Kingdom of Vale, on Sanus."

Another blink as he nodded slow. "I see…" He tapped his chin slowly.

Raven only watched him for a few moments as she felt her patience run in real time, her crimson eyes narrowing. "You have no idea, do you?"

"Absolutely none, sorry."

A deep sigh left the woman as she hung her head back, that thick mane of black hair swaying as she did, adjusting her seating to relieve some pressure and get further comfortable. 'Wonderful. I got saved by a bumpkin hermit.'

"You have no idea about the Kingdoms here on Remnant, what about the continents? Sanus, Anima? Menagerie?!"

All she got what a raise of his shoulders and him waving his hand a little, pretending he somehow knew a little bit. It was blatantly clear he had no idea what anything was. "Oh, yeah, Anima! That's the… Hot place, right? A lot of deserts out there."

Raven felt a migraine coming.

"I can't believe I have to do this… Fine. A remedial lesson that we usually give to kids. Okay, there are four Kingdoms. Vale, Mistral, Vacuo and Atlas. You follow?" She asked, watching him nod as she began the long process of telling her saviour about their world.

"Right, and you're from Bale?"

"No, I am from Mistral, and its pronounced 'Vale', moron!"

"This is a mess."

Stepping forward as his booted foot made sure to not disturb the ashen body below him, Qrow carefully stepped through the remains of the Branwen tribe. His eyes scanning out across the shattered remains of what he once called his home, a while ago anyway.

He took to Beacon far greater than his sister did, that's for sure.

Didn't mean he wanted this to happen to his former tribespeople. This was… Horrible. The smell of burning hair wasn't one of his favourites and he was thankful his stomach was already empty. Looks like he wasn't going to be having any of Taiyang's smoked meats any time soon either.

His eyes kept scanning as he was looking out for a particular body that he dearly hoped he wasn't going to find. Boots softly pressing into the blackened ground as he kept walking through, noting the shape and form of body after body… None of them Raven's.

He passed gutted shacks and cabins, hollowed out remains that made sure nothing was salvageable. Everything was put to the torch and it showed. Suddenly, his boot crunched something below.

"Please not a hand…" His hand craned down to look, catching the glimpsing shine of a shattered blade. It was a dull green, a dust blade that was completely out of juice. One of Raven's blades, he'd recognize them anywhere since he helped her build that thing. His eyes flicked around, turning, to see if he could see any others…

"Blue…" He noted one, before glimpsing another. "Red." This wasn't good, but he was happy to see her blades rather than her corpse.

His head turned to look further in, spotting the main building that would be for the tribe head, his sister as of a few weeks ago. Completely torched, shattered, rendered to ash. Barely any framework still stood. His feet brought him closer, preparing himself for a horrible sight as he slowly crossed the threshold and began looking around.

Remains of clothing, some food… Equipment and the like he could, but nothing in the shattered building hinted at a fight. It was pure destruction, no struggle. No blood stains or splatters, no signs of Omen having cut anything. Very strange.

There was one thought in-particular he kept buried down, refusing to think anything of his little niece Yang. She was alive, so was Raven. His sister was the meanest girl he'd ever met and there is little chance she would exit this world without bringing most of it with her.

He slowly pulled out his scroll and tapped his way into starting a call, bringing the device to his ear while he stood in the destroyed remnants of his old home.

"Oz? It's Qrow. You're right. She got here first. It's all gone."

A pause.

"No. Signs of battle, but no body. No sign of either of them. Everything is just ash and bones."

Another pause as he listened, before he vaguely looked around.

"I don't know, Grimm? Fire-breathing Grimm? I can't really tell. If I had to guess, it was probably a group effort that torched this place to the ground, Oz."

Further silence as he stood there, tapping his boot against the ash-covered floorboard.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm going to explore a bit, see if the fighting kept moving after the place was burnt down. I'll let you know if I find anything." Without waiting for a response, he hung up. A hand moved to his face, rubbing his tired eyes as the man hadn't slept in a while.

Reaching down, he grabbed a flask on his side and brought it up for a quick sip, just wetting his whistle and to wake him up as the burn kicked him into gear. "Aaaarggh. That's it. Now then." He said as he turned away, giving one last look over the place.

"Damn it Raven, you better be alive so I can kill you myself." He grunted to himself as he shifted, a mess of black and feathers erupting as a black bird took off into the sky, moving higher as the Corvid began to take view of the area around the tribe's ground. He knew he should feel more strongly about what he saw, but he had already cut his ties when he escaped to Beacon with Raven. All that mattered right now was finding not only his dumb sister, but his niece she dragged into this mess.

It didn't take long for him to see a clear location of interest a while away from the smoking wreckage, it was rather hard to not see the blasted crater that glassed half a valley. The bird soared through, taking a proper look at the utter devastation that all came from a single point at the centre of the impact zone while. Over and over, the Crow circled the devastated valley, taking in all the details.

'What in the…?'

Naruto rubbed his head at all the exposition he was being forced to listen to. "Arrgh! I get it! Fine, please stop!" He twisted two fingers against either side of his head for good measure before he looked back to Raven, Yang fast-asleep next to her while they conversed. Shaking his head and crossing his arms, the fox-tailed man looked at her with a keen eye. "So, what now? If you're being hunted by both sides, as you claim, then we need somewhere to go to get our bearings."

Raven scoffed under her breath for a second, but then had to admit there was some logic to it. She did need to get supplies, she had lost everything and taking care of Yang properly would require a proper outfitting.

"We'll need to go to somewhere larger than a rural village, as much as I hate to admit it. We're much more likely to blend in at a larger city than us sticking out like sore thumbs in some 100-person village." She grunted while patted Yang's back softly.

"Okay, so the biggest place is Mistral City, right? Do we go there?"

Raven rolled her eyes at the suggestion. Not only was it an utter mess of a city, but it also held a Huntsman academy to boot. It wouldn't take long for Ozpin to come knocking on her door.

"No, terrible idea. If anything, that'll be where they'll look for us the most. Everyone ends up there."

Naruto threw his hands up in exasperation at this. "Okay then! What do you think is the best place then?" He kicked back, crossing one foot over the other while he looked at the thinking woman.

'No place is going to be ironclad, but we just need time. Somewhere we can be hidden but it won't be so obvious… They know I prefer the wilds to the city, so I need to throw them off…' Raven lifted a finger and began to chew on her knuckle, thinking where they could go. Naruto slowly unwound his tails that were blocking the entrance, finally letting the daylight into the cave that made the Branwen mother squint her eyes at the sudden intrusion of the sun. It was way too damn bright, like looking at all that Atlas shit every time it flew over.

She then blinked as her mind pondered. Atlas?

"Argus. We're going to make for Argus." She decided, nodding to herself as Naruto turned to her, showing her heard her.

Argus would work. Not her scene and she's accepted that she's going to hate it there, so in some roundabout logic there is little chance that someone like Qrow or Oz would think she'd be there. She'd have time to work things out, make a game plan. Figure out what she'd do with Yang. Sometimes, she had to pat herself for her own genius.

"Sounds great! What's an Argus?"

Breaking from the safety of the cliff-side cave, the duo made plans for the trip to the northern Mistral city. It would take a few days by foot and Raven's worry was entirely focused on the upcoming issue of changing and cleaning little Yang. Throw in food for herself and basic supplies, it was clear they would need to stop somewhere before reaching their eventual goal.

She wasn't entirely sure on the fox-tailed man's ability to go without food, but Raven knew Yang was a hungry girl, she needed to be eating regularly to care for her baby which then meant they would need to make stops often.

Several villages were dotted along their path of travel, Raven just wasn't sure on the most ideal one to get their supplies from. Mistral wasn't exactly known for secure pathways through its own country and the heavily forested region in-particular was subject to not only Grimm infestation, but banditry was common in the more 'secure' areas of the region. Caution was going to be necessary.

The irony was not lost on the ex-Tribe leader.

She turned back to the fox man, to Naruto, looking at his perpetually grinning face as he regarded her warmly. These damn blonds and their bright smiles.

Arms crossed, Naruto gave her a nod as he walked closer and left the small cave behind him. The pair were perched up high on a rocky outcrop, overlooking more of the valley and the woman could even spot the smoothed-glassed portion of the valley in the distance. Did he really carry her this far and this high? "Alright, best we set out now. Argus is going to be a week's trip at best and we're on a ticking clock before little miss timebomb here goes off. We need to find somewhere quick to get supplies."

She bounced Yang a little, the small baby giggling aloud.

"Right, mission start!" He said, clapping his hands together as Naruto's tails swayed some more, all standing at attention behind him. He stepped forward and began walking past the dark-haired woman, beginning to head down the winding pathway of the rocky outcrop. The sound of his shoes meeting stone bounced off the rockface around them.

Raven just stood and watched, not saying a word, even as he drew further from her. He turned back, looking at the unamused woman whose crimson eyes were locked onto him.

"Which way are we going again?"

Raven's eyes closed as she held back the sigh. This was going to be a long trip, he was lucky he had a handsome face. Turning to look out across the southern section of Hinoki Forest from their vantage point, she began to mentally plan the trip. "Midoriko is on our way, it's a small village but it'll do. Biggest after that…" She began to think, mentally listing the villages further out from there. "Kuroyuri. Then we can catch a boat across the lake, whichever gets us there fastest." She said, already thinking the sheer distance they'd have to cover before they reach the distant northern coast of the continent.

Neither Corvid form nor her Semblance was going to be of any help. This was her bed and she had to lie in it.

Best case, they can get to Midoriko before the sun starts to set, but that's going to require some serious marching. With how high up they were as well? It's going to take until nightfall to find their way down without just leaping off and hoping her aura can help cushion things out! Naruto was saying something, but she didn't really pay attention, her mind racing at the number crunching she was required to do. Her back turned as she completely blanked out the sounds happening behind her, hissing of his chakra and the bristling of fur. Raven scowled as she held a hand across her eyes while she viewed the sun, checking its position. Seemed like they were in the late morning, most likely noon in a few hours.

Now that she had little Yang with her, she couldn't be complacent. She couldn't be caught unaware!

"Okay! Hop on, I'll get us there in no time!"

Raven blinked at the sudden deep voice hitting her ears. It sounded familiar, even if a few pitches up from when she heard it booming in her skull. She turned back to see a 4-tailed fox the size of an Ursa with its belly to the ground, red eyes within black fur that was looking right at her while those tails swaying about.

"Whaa…?"

Her eyes gaped at the sudden sight of a colossal multi-tailed fox that was seemingly stretching all its limbs out. Thick orange fur was all over the creature, barring the patches of golden-white fur that marked his belly, the tips of both his pointed ears and swaying tails. He then pressed both of his front paws into the ground and lifted, sitting on his rear while tilting his head at the wide-eyed Branwen as those jaws opened, menacing teeth glinting as he spoke.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you I could this?"

What in the name of Oum was this?!

Raven grunted as she ran her hand through her hair, squeezing her palm against her head as to keep down her building annoyance. This was just getting ridiculous! "You haven't told me anything that you can do!" She exclaimed out, mostly in shock at what she was viewing. She had the ability to turn into a Corvid, just like her brother, which was a gift they had to earn.

This? This was something else entirely!

Before she could ask anything else, two of those tails snapped forward and wrapped around her waist, lifting Raven up quick and cleanly as she soon found herself being dropped onto the back of the fox as he resumed his four-footed posture and clambered towards the edge of the cliff. "Alright! Uzumaki Express departing right now!" Raven's eyes went wide as she clutched Yang even tighter, one tail still wrapped around her waist for security but even then, she felt the need to clutch her free hand into the centre of the fox's back and dig in.

"Oh no, no, no… No, you can't be doing what I think you're going to do-OOOOO~!"

Back legs locking in, the large fox launched off the edge of the cliff and sped forward like a bullet as it left behind a shattered outcrop that buckled from the sudden force put under it. The fox soared through the air in a neat arc before his form began to pivot forward, plummeting downwards to an exposed clearing in the expansive forest. Raven felt her hair whipping all around as she held on for dear life, right below her was a giggling and laughing Yang as the baby had no idea what was happening, yet all the wind and sounds was making her quite happy!

"You crazy idiot! I'm going to yank your tails off!" Came Raven's voice, near drowned out by the howling wind around her ears.

"Yang seems to like it! Lighten up a little and just enjoy the ride! Hahahaha!"

Seconds later, Naruto came crashing to the earth as it cracked below from the sheer force of his landing, a crater blowing out as dust and dirt blew into the sky. Raven's arm locked tighter around the baby while her body hunched forward, the tail keeping her secure against the lengthy back of the colossal fox. Using the momentum from his landing, he immediately propelled himself forward. The fox-form Naruto taking off into a full four-legged sprint through the forest, paws thundering across the ground as the orange-and-gold Bijuu sped through the foliage. Raven held her eyes open on the path as she managed to peer just around those huge flopping ears, watching the monstrous fox bound through the Forest, dodging and weaving between the colossal trees around while any branches seemed to dissipate, evaporating in splinters the moment they came close to the buzzing aura of Naruto's fur.

Hand clenching that fur still, Raven felt the overwhelming fear of ending up a smear on the ground fade in moments as the thrill of the ride began to set in. Her legs pressed further into the side of the galloping fox, her back straightening up. Finally, her hand managed to let go of the death-grip she held on to Naruto, just enough she could shift and hold Yang with both hands. The tail around her hips remained, a squeeze reminding her she was in good hands. Or paws, as it were right now.

Okay. Maybe… Maybe it wasn't so bad.

"See I told you! Just get settled in, we'll get there in no time!"

Raven could only weakly laugh in agreement with the fast-moving enigma that saved her life not even 24 hours ago. Barely a day had gone by before her life had altered drastically. Thankfully, those dark thoughts did nothing to downplay the adrenaline-rushing joy she was feeling from the ride. Her hair continuing to whip about as wind blew across her, a different sensation entirely from what she normally experienced in her feathery alternate form. She leaned forward a little to cut down on the wind while she rested herself against his fluffy form. She could get used to travelling like this.

"This is your real form?" She asked him, cutting straight to a question she'd been mulling over ever since she saw those tails. "Sort-of. I'm usually a lot bigger! More tails mean bigger size, but I figured a 9-tailed fox crashing through the continent, laying waste to forests and mountains wouldn't be subtle at all!" Raven had no way of knowing it, but the fox lifted his head up with a pleased wiggle, almost appearing proud at some basic problem-solving. Little did she know that for Uzumaki Naruto, knowing to not barrel through and leave a wake of destruction was a big milestone for the blond knucklehead.

That answered one question, partially anyway, but she had many more to ask the 4-tail beast that was speeding through the forest. She'd have to ask him to hide the tails as well, Faunus prejudices weren't even a consideration compared to the off-chance that most of the animal-trait folk began seeing him as some form of messiah.

"Good call, but I can tell you that a giant 4-tailed fox like this isn't exactly common on Remnant. We'll need to make sure you're back to normal and tail-less before we get close to any towns."

"Haaah!? I like my tails being out!"

Or was this normal and he just pretended to be a human? So many questions!

"Don't worry, I can help hide them by yanking them all out for that stunt you just performed!"

"Haha! You're welcome to try!"

A smile threatened to grace her face as the crimson-eyed woman got settled in, feeling genuine joy fill her as she bickered with Naruto.

Relaxing while her saviour crashed on through the expansive forest towards their first destination, Raven couldn't help but feel that things were going to be okay. Her eyes looked down at Yang who was facing her, the baby's big purple eyes wide with delight as she seemed to giggle. Those eyes seemed to shine so brightly right now. 'She's in such a good mood.' Raven thought with a smile.

But then the smell hit her.

That timebomb had finally gone off.

"Oh Oum…" She gagged out, eyes almost rolling at the stench that burned in her nose. "How is the smell this rancid! Urrgghh!"

"By the Sage, what is that smell?! Is that Yang!? Don't let any get in my fur!"

Raven sighed as she wrung the soaked cloth across the damp soil before her, a running river going past the woman while a kicking little Yang lay at her knees. She knelt by the water as the exposed stretch of land marked a break in the normally thick wooded area. Not an ideal stop to their journey but it had to happen sometime.

At least she was able to clean up the mess, even if it took a few soaks of her cloth to really get the stains and smell out. Her hands however…? She clenched her fingers shut while refused to bring them up and even attempt a sniff, she needed to keep her stomach settled. It wasn't coming out no matter how many times she ran them through the running river.

"You aren't touching me with those poop hands."

Raven rolled her eyes at the familiar voice that came from the forest edge behind her, giving Yang another slow wipe as she made sure the kicking girl was clean. A smirk slowly graced her face. "I had no idea you were so scared to be touched by a woman." She called out loudly, smiling at the frustrated scoff from the fox she got as her reward, the Huntress laughing under her breath at finally getting one on the big blond idiot.

"My apologies, seems I've hit a nerve with that comment." She turned her head to the fox, that smirk back on her face as it made the lounging fox give an annoyed growl, laying his head down across the flat rock he found. Laying the cloth down, Raven rose up onto her feet and turned properly to the huge fox on his rock, those menacing eyes watching her while his tails swayed and swished in a bored fashion. "Ready to hit the road?" His maw parting as he spoke, revealing those menacing teeth as the grinning fox slowly pushed onto its pawed feet.

"Change of plans." The dark-haired woman announced, getting a tilted head from the fox as she slapped her palms together. "We push for Kuroyuri. With your speed, we'll be there just as the sun is setting and we can stay the night. After that, we can easily make our way to Hikaigen within another day, catch the ferry there to northern Mistral." She said happily as she pivoted forward on her hips to peer down at the fidgeting little Yang.

"And after that, we'll be within walking distance of Argus, won't we Yang?" The mother asked, getting a giggle from the baby girl, already moving back down to wrap her up once again.

As the fox came over towards the pair, his ears perked up as the towering fox turned his body and twisted to look further down the winding river clearing. Raven noticed, pulling Yang up as she held the girl. "What's wrong?"

She got her answer as gunfire began echoing out across the silent forest, it was some distance away but still far too close for her own comfort. Seconds later, a green light fired off into the distance as a flare arced high into the sky and erupted, the dust-enriched emergency light hanging in the sky as Naruto turned his head back to her, eyes focused.

"What is that? Enemy attack?" Raven shook her head, securing Yang properly as she responded. "No, most likely a caravan. Nobody but civilians would be dumb enough to broadcast your position out in this stretch of the country like that."

It had to be a Grimm attack. Bandits able to survive out this deep would have their ambushes practiced down to a refined art. "Probably another group fleeing from a failed settlement or something. We've got to go." She said quickly, they had to avoid any danger. She turned back to the fox only to both see and hear it stomping forward, already about to break into a full-on charge towards the flare as those four tails were flailing wildly.

"What do you think you're doing? Kuroyuri isn't that way!" She called out, the fox turning halfway as half of its head looked back at her, single eye gleaming with anger. "I'm going to go help those people! Isn't it obvious?!"

The crimson-eyed woman glared at him, frustration filling her features as she barked back at him. "Why?! It's a waste of time! We need to get going!" She almost wanted to tear her hair out in exasperation. They didn't have time and needless confrontations like this were only going to bring people closer to their trail! He really was just another Taiyang or Summer!

Naruto responded with a tree-shaking bellow as he roared back at her, eyes focusing menacingly while he lifted a front paw and slammed it down to shatter the riverbank dirt below. His tails arched forward as if poised to strike, fur bristling as those massive canines were visible from his snarling maw. "Because I will never sit by and let people die! Especially not from such a callous attitude like that, these people need help, and I can give it!" Raven's attempt of a response was cut short as he barked back. "No! End of story!"

Two of his tails flexed, crossing over each other to form a sign as a thick miasma of gold and red glowed from the beast, a thick smoke cloud suddenly erupted before Raven. Her vision was obscured but she could still hear its weight as the monstrous four-tailed fox went bounding down the riverbank, slamming and thudding its feet as it sped towards the flashing flare that was starting to lose energy.

"That blasted idiot, now I am here all by myself!" She growled out as she hung her head in frustration, her eyes starting to glow as those tell-tale flames began to leak from her eyes, she was still new to these powers and her body still hadn't recovered. She could fight, she just didn't know if she'd be able to keep it up for long. And here she was, stranded until he was done playing hero!?

"No, I didn't leave you alone."

Her head snapped back up, watching the thick cloud properly dissipate as a figure became apparent, the blond man was back to 'normal' and standing before her, only this time he had only two tails at his back. He had made sure to give enough of his chakra to the clone to ward off any potential ambushers. His arms crossed, those happy blue eyes now staring down at her with the unamused gaze of an incensed teacher. Disappointment, it made her teeth clench from such a gaze from the man. Looking down on her as if she were a child! "If you've got something to say, then say it." She said with a growl, her red eyes glaring into his blue ones.

"It looks like I have to start with you if I am going to break the cycle." It was not the response that Raven was expecting, her eyes losing their anger as it turned into confusion and irritation. "What are you even talking about?" She yelled back hotly, her arm raising up as it pointed out to the direction his… Other self? Real self? Arrrgh, she had no idea! Wherever the bigger, dumber variant of the blond had run off to!

A sudden spine-tingling howl reached the pair, Naruto's head didn't move an inch but Raven's head twisted to look further on behind the man. It was distant, the same roar that he gave her only minutes ago. "If I had to guess, boss is already at the survivors right now." She snapped back to him, her eyes twisted further in anger at this useless distraction. "We don't have time for this! We're burning daylight and its being wasted on them! On a needless act of charity?!" Naruto's eyes narrowed as he gazed at her further, towering before the smaller, crimson-eyed woman as he crossed his arms, he didn't waste a moment to respond. "You think saving lives is a waste of time?"

"It is!" She barked back at him. "It's a waste of time, all of it! Remnant abides by one rule!" She growled back, bringing her extended hand out to jab a finger against his chest, eyes glaring into his. "The weak die! The strong live! That is the law of Remnant!" Thoughts of her childhood, of herself and Qrow raised under the ruthless morals of her father. The Branwen tribe didn't suffer the weak to burden them. Not even close family. Her jaw clenched as she pushed down the memories.

She steadied her gaze on him, almost daring him to fight her back. To test his weak arguments against her own. She wasn't ready for the pair of hands to come up and take her pointing, jabbing hand into his own. They were warm, caring. One rested across the top of her fingers, the other against the underside of her wrist.

"Yet, I saved you and Yang. Weak, on the verge of death. By your logic, I should've sat back and watched you die with amusement." He said without any anger to his voice, calm and steady. "That's… I am not weak! I am strong, one of the strongest Huntresses on Remnant!" She boldly asserted, her voice raising but he did not meet her in volume, keeping his tone even and relaxed as he responded.

"Yet against Salem, you came up lacking."

It was short and simple, but it stoked the rage in Raven to no end.

"W-What!? S-She's a monster! An immortal evil that haunts Remnant since before my tribe even existed!"

"So? Doesn't your rule state that the weak die and the strong live? If there are so many exceptions and technicalities, it sounds like a really stupid rule to me." She went to bark back a response, but he didn't give her the chance as he pushed on and kept up his verbal barrage. "Little Yang is weak, so why shouldn't she die?"

Raven's eyes went wide in shock, outraged at the mere suggestion. "Don't you-!"

"Don't I what? That's the rule, isn't it?!" He pushed back further as his voice finally raised, his eyes looking into her soul while his hand kept hers in his, not letting her gain a second to compose. "Everyone is weak when they're a child, so why haven't you killed all the children, Raven?"

Her eyes widened in horror at the question thrown her way. "I-I-I'd never kill a child!" She stammered out, desperately trying to defend herself.

"You said you're one of the strongest women on Remnant, yet you ran away and hid out in the middle of nowhere instead of doing anything to help this world! Look at where that got you!" He announced while she tried to back away, but he didn't let up. Both tails shot out and wrapped around her waist, securing her before him as his eyes stared down at her. "If I could bring the strongest women I have known in my life here, I would! So they could teach you what it means to be strong! To protect others yet also care and nurture! To build and support the weak until they are strong!" She trembled in his grasp as the rage kept building, her lips mashed together as her jaw locked, teeth digging to her mouth in anger.

"All this hate and anger in you… It's a poison that pain brings, I know. It's a burden that only makes you weak. Believe me, you need to let go of your anger."

Her jaw tightened up, almost cracking her teeth. The dam finally burst as she let it all out. "And WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!? ABOUT PAIN OR HARDSHIP!" Her voice echoed out through-out the sparse riverside clearing. Her Maiden powers crackled to life her eyes lit with fury, black hair raising while both of her hands began to glow with a crimson aura. His hands were burning as they held her own searing hand, but he pushed on, uncaring and fighting through as his healing factor fought her powers.

Yang's crying voice followed soon; the argument had her upset but now the young girl was really putting her lungs to use as she began to cry.

Raven struggled in his grip, tears spilling down her cheeks as the fresh trauma from only a night ago still seared in her memory. "I lost EVERYTHING! Bridges burned behind and ahead of me! Don't you dare talk to me about burdens of pain and anger! You don't know me! YOU KNOW NOTHING!" She screamed out, her throat starting to ache from the abuse she was given to herself.

Desperate to free herself, even as Yang wailed in her struggling arm, his tails had hoisted her up as her boot-clad feet kicked against the air. She flung herself forward, their eyes now at the same height, as she brought her forehead down with a painful crash against his own.

'WHACK!'

Her chest heaved as she panted, their eyes were only inches apart as Yang kept bawling her little eyes out from the fight. Naruto's eyes remained fixed on her own, his forehead slowly trickling blood. It was hard to tell whose blood it was. Silently, Naruto's hand slipped upwards and easily pulled Yang from the distraught mother's grip, a skilled flourish as he held his arm outward. His chakra pulsed as a cloud of smoke erupted to their side and within seconds, a new Naruto with no tails was there as he raised his hands to take the crying Yang, immediately soothing the small girl as the clone turned his back to the pair.

A weak and rushed clone, but it was more than enough for the job. It's attention both focused on Yang and the forest ahead, eyes locking with something.

The distressed mother immediately threw her arm out to try and grab Yang back, her eyes wide as she pulled her face away. "What are you doing!? Give her back to m-Oooff!" In seconds, she found herself caught in a crushing hug.

One arm around her mid-back while the other pressed a hand against the back of her head, letting her sink into the flowing warmth as the fox-tailed man slowly fed his chakra through to ease her distress. It was silent for a few seconds, barring Yang's softening cries and Raven panting as she attempted to catch her breath. Soon, Naruto's voice filled her ears as he held her tight.

"I lost everything. Every single person I knew and ever loved, the village I was born in. My family, my friends, my comrades, even my old enemies. Everyone and everything I ever knew, wiped clean." His arms tightened as he spoke with a solemn tone. "I never had an easy life, not even from the moment I was born… But I fought on. I refused to be left in the dust, I made myself strong with help from every friend I had." He admitted, his own hands squeezing her as the blond shared his past.

"But I lost everything. No matter what I could do or attempt, it was no use. All from a betrayal right when the dust settled. We were given a promise, and it was broken. They didn't keep their word." He hissed out, anger seeping through as those blue eyes flashed red for a moment. "I don't even know how long it's been, how long I was in darkness with the others. Just us, left to lament, rot and over-think our failure to save everyone we knew and loved. Just, locked away and forgotten…" It was the first time she'd ever heard his voice turn bitter.

But then, I heard a voice, begging and pleading for help." He said, feeling her stiffen in his grasp as he kept going. "It was a mother, desperate for help to save not only her own life, but also her child. A Maiden, overworking her own soul to stay alive and fight, all to protect her child." He exhaled shakily, clearly pulling a string for the blond man. "There is not a single chance that I would ever ignore such a plea for help."

He inhaled slowly, steadying himself as the whisker-cheeked man bared himself to his saviour, the one who turned the key and allowed him to escape through her.

Raven choked out, her anger and sorrow fighting each other viciously as she wanted to keep fighting the embrace, so she told herself, but she couldn't. It was warm, it was accepting. It reminded her of her mother from so long ago.

"So…" His voice shook a little." if anyone knows what you're going through right now, it's this guy. It's Uzumaki Naruto…" He said with his voice hitching at the end, finally starting to break. holding her tight. "You and I have both experienced the same pain, and I promise, I am going to do the something about all that hate in you, Raven Branwen. You can trust me; I never go back on my word! I am going to help you, and this shitty world."

Raven's face scrunched up tighter as her eyes squinted, tears overflowing from the soothing words being promised to her, locked in a warm embrace she had not felt in a long time. She tried to push it down, tried to keep it contained but it was too much. Saved from her darkest hour by someone who demonstrated nothing but genuine kindness, no ulterior motives or underhanded deals being forced onto her.

So focused on getting away and running like always, the Huntress was forced to confront her feelings as they all came bubbling up at once.

The seal had been broken.

Her face crushed into his shoulder as her lips parted, a sorrowful wail leaving her sore throat as her entire body shook in his embrace. Tears streamed into the fabric of Naruto's clothes; all control was gone. His arms only tightened the secure embrace around her. The small clearing was filled with her explosion of emotions, those eyes bursting with the magical energy of a Maiden yet they did nothing to harm either person, not while she allowed everything to come jumbling out in his embrace.

Raven was forced to confront everything. From the cruel upbringing she endured with her brother, the constant lies she lived and breathed at Beacon to even the team of people she'd call her family, the horrific truth forced upon her by Ozpin, the single night massacre where everything she'd knew and fought to protect were wiped out. All of it up in fire and smoke.

And finally, little Yang. The daughter she sought to keep safe from the cruel world, to keep her away from the rule she despised with every fibre of her being. All of that for nothing, as she almost led her own baby to their deaths not even 24 hours ago.

Both of her arms crossed over and clenched her hands into his back, digging her nails into the fabric of his trench coat as she returned the embrace.

For the first time in her life, Raven Branwen was allowed to grieve.

A sickening crunch rang out as a menacing sword pierced into the body of a dissipating black monster; its curved tusks snapped off as the Boarbatusk finally stopped moving. Around its carcass lay massacred Grimm, a huge Beowolf in-particular that had been bisected cleanly through the centre as its halves laid atop over other dead Beowolves.

Booted foot coming down on its head to make sure, the figure dressed in black with a bright-grey overcoat, backed with a dark burgundy cape, stood over its corpse. His hand resting against the handle of his blade while he looked down into the exposed clearing and watched the scene unfold. His hand pulled back his slick black hair, burgundy-red eyes making direct contact with a standing figure with bright blue that peered right back at him, standing by the pair, holding a baby that he would recognise anywhere. A very important thing to him, but something else was taking his attention.

His eyes crossed to the form of his sister clutching onto a stranger, the same one holding his niece yet with two tails that helped support their hug. Her wailing cries were very loud, almost startling the Branwen male as he watched and heard Raven seemingly break down. A far-cry from the serious, fatalistic woman he'd grown up with at home and Beacon.

He'd never heard her cry in a long, long time, not since they were little children before their mother.

He was utterly, totally lost about what he was witnessing right now, but relief had already begun to spread through him. Raven was alive, Yang was alive. Both alive, together!

Spotting that huge orange thing launching off a cliff-side before crashing into the forest would be the craziest thing he'd thought he'd see all day. He's glad he listened to his gut and followed, allowing him witness something that his sister has needed for the last 10 years or so.

He didn't dare to interrupt or to intercept. His eyes softening as he watched Raven let it all out, something he had hoped would happen with their team to help change her for the better.

His eyes moved back to the blond man staring at him, placing two fingers vertically against his head and snapping off a playful salute as he removed his blade from the rotting Grimm corpse. He figured he must be an alright guy, given he was not only holding his niece but his sister as well, the two girls in complete opposite moods it seemed.

Today was a weird day.

He stepped forward, slowly and cautiously stepping down the slope as to not spook anything, but still wanting to get a peak at little Yang. To his relief, the man holding Yang stepped forward towards the forest's edge, making his way to him as the sounds of his sister letting everything out still managed to dominate the area. She wasn't going to notice him here. He was certain he could go up and yank on her hair, she was too far gone in the moment.

They met just a little way in, Qrow on a higher elevation of the descending tree-covered slope. He rested Harbinger across his shoulder, their eyes meeting in silence, barring the noise happening down below.

"Uh… Hi there?" He said awkwardly to the blonde holding Yang, the little girl already calmed down as she was back to patting her hands over the larger male hand atop her bundle. Qrow then realized this guy probably had zero idea who the hell he was. "Oh, sorry. I'm Qrow by the way, Raven's brother."

Finally, the blond gave a noise, one of acknowledgement. He nodded his head. "Oooh..! Okay, I thought so, but I didn't want to assume that everyone here just looks alike. You're the 2nd person I have met so far."

That threw Qrow off a little.

The blond then smiled to the point he almost split his face, holding little Yang up further. "I am Uzumaki Naruto, I saved Raven and Yang, and I am here to help save your world. It's good to meet ya, Qrow!" He finished with a smile that said nothing but sheer confidence; his voice unwavering in its happiness as the black-haired man could only blink.

His hand could only lower to the flask on his hip, a small one for now but he figured he was going to need to upsize soon.

Today was a very weird day for Qrow Branwen.

A/N Oooh bit of a serious one, but I felt it was the best time to really... Let Raven get it all out. I originally planned for this to happen next chapter when they hit Kuroyuri, but it felt like an odd setting for it to go down, especially unprompted. It also helped give more info on Naruto, he's hurting as well but he knows he's got to be the big damn hero and be strong. That doesn't mean he can't be there for someone who needs it, he of all people knows how sharing in pain can help both achieve peace.

It's painful and emotionally devastating, but sometimes you have to let the sadness through and grieve properly. Bottling everything up doesn't end well. Take it from me.

And yes, those paying attention should figure out who else might be joining Naruto to help un-fuck Remnant.

I hope you all enjoyed it! If not, then damn, that sucks. Maybe the next chapter will make you happy! You all stay safe out there!