Ryu walked to the explosion and saw Sasuke and Naruto fighting while Sakura cried on the side and Sai stood there not knowing what to do.
Ryu rubbed his forehead, muttering "Jeez… What a joke…"
He stepped out and caught Naruto and Sasuke's hands, smiling "What a greeting, eh?" Sasuke froze and looked at Ryu, muttering "Ryu…" Ryu turned to look at him, pulling open his shirt and saying "Not enough muscle, you didn't forget your taijutsu training did you?"
Sasuke pulled his shirt and looked away, muttering "No.." Ryu rubbed his head and smiled "Good boy." he turned to Naruto and said "Mission failed. Let's go home."
Naruto and Sakura were confused and Ryu pointed behind himself at Sasuke disappearing like a mirage along with Orochimaru and Kabuto.
He sighed and said "Close, but no cigar, little ones. We'll find him next time." Naruto punched the ground and grit his teeth, "I'm still too weak!"
Ryu rubbed his head and smiled "Get stronger, Naruto. When you're the strongest in the world, taking back Sasuke will be as easy as one punch." then Ryu raised 2 fingers and grinned, "If not one, then two!"
Naruto looked at Ryu and smiled, nodding.
Ryu and the group jumped on a giant dragon and flew back to Konoha as Ryu looked at Sakura, sighing, "Chin up, Sakura-chan. Next time you won't cry, right?" Sakura wiped her eyes and nodded.
Ryu sighed and hugged her, rubbing her hair as he smiled gently "It's okay to cry, but you have to use your emotions as a fuel to support your actions. You were scared of Naruto's 4 Tailed Transformation and cried when you saw Sasuke, completely paralyzed both times."
He shook his head and sighed, "What did I teach you? If you're sad, angry, happy, scared, just punch out your feelings. The technique I taught you is very suitable for you, it would be a shame to not use it, you know?"
Naruto and Sakura suddenly blinked, looking at Ryu saying "You sealed our memories?!"
Ryu was startled and said "It unsealed so soon? I really should just focus on Taijutsu…" he changed the subject and said to Naruto "Anyway, you don't need Taijutsu. Everything I gave you is suitable for you. Just a Rasengan can solve problems, if not one then 2. If not 2 then a super big ball Rasengan…"
He stretched his arms and turned to Sai, saying "As for you, you did basically nothing this trip. Just tagging along for fun? You know that your Super Beast Imitation Art is very powerful with Armament! Also, coupled with the fact that I made you a Chakra weapon that you never used, what are you doing?"
Sai scratched his cheek and smiled awkwardly "I was amazed, what can I say?"
Ryu let out a breath and sighed "I'm really not suitable for leading teams, I knew it…" Naruto looked at Sai and asked "A chakra weapon?"
Sai took out a scroll and swiped it.
A massive paintbrush appeared.
If someone was like Ryu, they would notice that this Chakra Weapon is exactly like Division Zero's Zanpakuto!
Sai explained "The bristles are made with Chakra metal fibers so it can be used as a brush for quick giant drawings or…" he channeled Chakra into it and the brush hairs turned into a little blade, as Sai smiled "Or as a bladed weapon."
Ryu sat on the bird with his arms crossed, "No, I can't make you one. No, you don't need one. Yes, your gloves can be made with the same material. No, you don't need it." he turned his head slightly and smiled at Sakura and Naruto, who choked on their words.
He turned back and sighed "Your Observation Haki hasn't even reached this level either…"
Sakura blinked "Wait a minute…" Ryu nodded "Yes. That's right. I can see 7 seconds into the future with Observation Haki. This is the extremity of Observation Haki, the ability to see into the future. However there is another path, which is to hear the voice of all things. Everything has a voice and can speak to you if you're able to hear it. But this is mostly useless."
He waved his hand and said "You should brush up on your training and studies. Everything is in the Great Library nowadays."
Naruto said with awe "You're so great, dad! Hahaha!" Sakura and Sai looked at Ryu with admiration, while Ryu's devil grin surfaced for the first time in a long time, "I'm really not that great…"
Naruto smiled gently and closed his eyes to meditate on Observation Haki.
The other two smiled wordlessly and they slowly traveled back to Konoha.
They returned and Ryu resigned before leaving Tsunade's office, not giving her a chance to refuse. He even sent Yamato as the new Team Leader.
Then he went home.
A few days later
Ryu was sitting in a Hospital room, leaning back on a chair as Aino played with Kakashi, giggling happily.
Ryu let out a breath and said "And that's it really." Kakashi pinched Aino's cheeks and replied "Just like that?" Ryu sighed and closed his eyes, "I was tired what do you want from me?"
Kakashi said "Well, I mean… If you had just caught the apples, she wouldn't be mad at you, right?"
Suddenly, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai walked in.
Sakura picked up Aino and gushed, "Aino-chan~ You're so cute today!" Aino giggled happily and patted her little dress, smiling "Daddy bought me this new dress." she was wearing a purple sundress with little wooden one strap sandals.
Sakura hugged her and giggled "It's so cuuuute~! Ahhh~!" Naruto and Sai talked to Kakashi about Sasuke, when Kakashi told Naruto that he had a new training for him.
Ryu yawned and scratched his neck, sighing "I'm getting old…" as he grabbed Aino, throwing her on his shoulders, saying "See you, Kakashi…" Kakashi waved goodbye and Ryu left the room, bumping into Asuma and his team.
Ryu and Asuma looked at each other before walking around without a word.
Shikamaru sighed and Asuma didn't say anything.
Ryu returned home and Anko called out "Just in time for lunch!"
Aino cheered "Pizza?!" Anko looked at her and knocked on her head, "No pizza for you!" Aino wilted and teared up, "Aww…" Ryu pouted at Anko, "Pizza?"
Anko's eyes twitched and she said "I already made lunch…" Aino and Ryu sighed, walking to the table and sitting down sadly, eating sadly, pouting sadly.
Anko rolled her eyes and shouted "Fine! Go get pizza!" Aino and Ryu cheered "Pizza!" before gobbling down the food on the table and running out of the house.
Anko watched them go and giggled to herself, shaking her head as she sighed "What a bunch of spoiled brats…" but she locked the door and chased after them, smiling "Wait for me!"
Another couple days passed in a flash