This really hit Ryu hard.
He originally thought everything would be okay when he warned Minato, then seeing Jiraiya and Tsunade show up, he was more than happy. He didn't know what happened in between but the fact that Minato still died was a huge blow!
Minato and Sakumo were nearly father figures for Ryu.
Losing them both because he couldn't stop it at all…
Really hurt a lot.
As expected, the next day, rumors spread around the village that Naruto was the Demon Fox and Ryu the demon boy was taking care of him.
Ryu started not showing up for training, prompting Anko, Guy, and Kakashi to go find him.
They found out he was taking care of Naruto for real and were dumbfounded.
Anko looked complicated and Ryu just smiled, saying that Naruto needed him to be around most of the time so he couldn't train all day like before. Guy gave him a thumbs up and a sparkling grin, saying that he understood completely but that he had to keep up his physical fitness or else he would never catch up to him and Kakashi.
Ryu nodded and Kakashi didn't have much to say, the duo left, only Anko staying.
She looked at Ryu and asked gently, "Are you serious?" Ryu nodded seriously, his grin curling again.
Anko sighed and turned around, leaving. She didn't say a word at all.
Ryu smiled sadly and took care of Naruto before doing some basic physique training in the house.
Push-ups, Sit-ups, and Squats.
Most of his days were spent working out and taking care of Naruto, he even bought some metals to make a rack, sticking metal poles in the wall.
He added Pull ups and other exercises from his previous life as well.
He basically never stopped except to feed Naruto or sleep.
Anko never even dropped by.
A year later
Anko appeared at the door like a zombie, Ryu opened the door with a cigarette in his mouth, dark circles under his eyes. Anko looked up at him, soaked from the rain, and burst into tears, laughing "You look like shit."
Ryu smiled gently and replied "You don't look too good yourself." Anko laughed and plunged into his arms, crying loudly, "I'm sorry!" Ryu was startled but smiled lovingly, hugging her tight, whispering "Don't leave again, okay?"
Anko nodded and squeezed him, crying loudly.
Ryu brought her inside and looked at the rain outside, sighing.
After that day, Anko helped him take care of Naruto. They were like a happy little family.
Anko explained that she actually was really scared last time. She didn't think she was ready to take care of a kid and ran away, throwing herself into intense training with Orochimaru.
But just before she showed up at the house, Orochimaru rebelled and left the village, ending her tutelage and becoming an S-Rank Rebel.
Ryu didn't know what to say, he felt a bit like a safety net… He even told her that and she panicked, crying as she said that it wasn't like that.
She explained that she wanted to come back many times but having a child even if it wasn't hers, made her really terrified. She didn't know what to do and decided to train hard instead.
Her eyes were confused and remorseful, she said that she should've come back as soon as she left and regretted not turning around and saying that she loved him.
Ryu felt uncomfortable and looked at her as she looked ready to die. He wasn't an expert in sensing emotions, but his Observation Haki was almost there.
What made him uncomfortable was that everything she said… It was all true!
He could feel endless grief radiating off her body!
It was really unbearable.
He stopped her ranting and smiled gently, saying simply "I forgive you."
Anko steeped to freeze as she looked at him with wide eyes. She trembled and asked softly "Why? Why aren't you angry!?" Ryu held her hands and smiled happily "Because I trust you. You came back at the end, right?"
Anko felt a shiver go down her spine and she teared up, throwing herself at Ryu. They kissed and she tugged at his shirt.
Ryu held her and closed his eyes, walking to the bed.
During this year, Ryu had built a crib and bought the apartment next door, making 2 rooms by knocking down the wall and installing a door. So the Apartment became two rooms instead of one small one.
Mainly because the rest of the area was still destroyed so he didn't have any issues doing this. Nobody stopped him.
The next morning
Ryu woke up to the sound of crying. He opened his eyes groggily and sat up, the blanket slipped off his chest and revealed his extremely muscular upper body. He squinted and looked around to see Anko cooking in only an oversized T-shirt.
Hmm..
That seemed to be his, right?
Although… Those long legs…
Anko looked over to see Ryu staring at her long legs greedily.
She smiled and waved a spatula around angrily, saying with a laugh "What are you looking at?!" Ryu replied instantly "You." Anko glared at him and turned away, a sweet smile gracing her lips.
Actually, her legs and hips were killing her…
Ryu flipped over the sheets and looked at the blood spot on the bed, his expression very subtle.
He coughed and put on some shorts, saying "I'll go get new sheets…" Anko hummed with a steaming red face.
Ryu packed up the sheets and took the mattress as well…
A while later
He came back with new ones, replacing the old sheets and mattress…
And so, the three were like a family.
Although, most people scorned Ryu and Naruto in public.
Ryu even had to threaten people to buy food.
There was even one instance where he threatened the higher ups for Naruto's inheritance money!
Of course, he didn't use it himself.
He kept it in a box under a lock and key for him.
He wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen. Embezzling money from a child wasn't something Ryu would do.
And so all of Naruto's inheritance money was put in the box as the years passed.
Ryu and Anko taught Naruto how to read and write.
Ryu taught him the Sun Breathing Method and trained him a little bit.
And slowly, 6 years passed.
Back to the beginning…