41 Sasuke's departure

Ryu appeared over the 4 sound ninja, looking at them with narrowed eyes.

They looked up at him and tensed up, remembering Orochimaru's warning.

'Whatever you do, do not provoke Ryu Uchiha, unless you want to die.'

They trembled and swallowed, not even daring to run.

Ryu ignored them and looked over at Sasuke, saying "This is your chance to get strong fast. Are you going to take it?"

Sasuke looked at Ryu and clenched his fists, saying "Naruto was still stronger than me! How! Why! I'll never kill 'him' at this rate! I-" Ryu appeared in front of him and stroked his hair, smiling gently.

Sasuke looked up at him and teared up, saying "I'm sorry… dad… I just…" Ryu teared up and said softly "No. I'M sorry… I can't teach you properly. I only know Taijutsu. I've been training for my entire life like you did during those 6 weeks to achieve the strength I have today. I never stopped even once… I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, Sasuke."

Sasuke swallowed and hugged Ryu's waist, gripping his shirt.

Ryu rubbed his head, smiling "Be careful, you know… Don't forget your training. Don't forget to eat well, remember you can always come back… Be careful of Orochimaru, don't let him put a curse mark on you. Always keep your guard up over there. Don't let it down even for an instant…"

Sasuke choked on his sobs and Ryu sniffed, smiling as he said "I'm proud of you, Sasuke. Remember that…" Sasuke looked up at him and cried. Ryu wiped his tears and got down on one knee, hugging him as he whispered "Become a great ninja, ya hear? Even if you don't get revenge, you have to survive, okay?"

Sasuke hugged him tightly and nodded on his shoulder.

Ryu stood up and clasped his shoulders, taking out a backpack from who knows where, saying gently "I packed all your things. Even some surprises…" he sniffed and added "There's a black scroll in there, it's for Orochimaru. Don't open it. Give it to him directly, understand?"

Sasuke held the straps and nodded sadly, staring at Ryu's face, seemingly carving it into his mind.

Ryu patted his head and smiled "Go."

Sasuke sniffed and turned around, walking away as the Sound Ninja jumped ahead of him, looking back at Ryu, not knowing what to say.

They were getting emotional too!

Ryu clenched his fists and said "Sasuke!" Sasuke stopped but didn't turn around, Ryu opened his mouth but closed it, saying instead "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Sasuke trembled and hurried up, disappearing with the Sound Ninja.

Ryu wiped his eyes and turned around to see Anko staring at him with tears in her eyes.

Ryu teared up and his lips quivered as he forced a smile "He's going to get stronger… Haha…" Anko hugged him and whispered "It's okay, Ryu… You can cry if you want to."

Ryu burst into tears and sobbed loudly in Anko's arms as she stroked his back, her eyes watering.

They quickly disappeared and returned home as Ryu cried himself to sleep…

The next day…

Ryu woke up in a daze, staring at the bedside table.

There was a little clock and a picture of Naruto, Sasuke, Him, and Anko.

He smiled miserably before turning over and looking at another wall.

Anko walked in and sat on the bed, rubbing his side as she said gently "They went out to get Sasuke…" Ryu snorted and Anko continued, "Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, Kiba, and… Naruto…"

Ryu laid there motionless, Anko sighed and rubbed his shoulder, looking at the picture, smiling, "Remember that day? That was the 4th Month Sasuke came to live with us…" she laughed and curled her lips gently, "He still has a sourpuss look on his face… Just like that day."

Ryu turned over and she smiled at him, saying "Don't mope in bed all day, Ryu… He's not gone forever." Ryu looked saddened as he said "But I can't teach him… What am I supposed to do? I had to send him to Orochimaru because of-"

Anko pinched his lips and said "Hold on, don't say that. I think you taught him very well. He's not lost in revenge…" she held his face and smiled, "You gave him a warm and happy home, when he comes back, you'll always have this home for him, right?"

Ryu smiled miserably and laughed, "Always? Happy home?" she turned over and laughed at himself, "The Uchiha Clan was never exterminated. His parents are alive and well."

Anko froze and her eyes widened, staring at him incredulously, saying "W-WHAT?!" Ryu explained with his back to her, "To conceal the fact that nobody died, Itachi put Sasuke under a genjutsu while I sent the clan to a safe space to settle down. Only a few of them died, most of the clan is alive and well, only waiting to come back and merge into Konoha again…"

He sneered and continued "I only played as his father all this time. Fugaku is very much alive. The Extremists have been dealt with during the massacre, the only ones left are the peaceful ones. Which is 80% of the clan, not to mention after 5-ish years, most likely a new generation has been born. I also gave them the Blood Surging Art. Today's Uchiha clan can start a village on their own."

Anko was speechless and asked "Then why?" Ryu laughed at himself, "Why did I get so attached? I don't know. Maybe I was fooling myself or Sasuke, at any rate, he's not my son."

Anko grit her teeth and pulled on his shoulder saying angrily "You-" before swallowing her words as she saw Ryu's crying face, he smiled miserably, asking "I'm a joke, right?" Anko felt her heart sting as she wiped his tears, hugging him, comforting him bitterly, "You're not a joke, Ryu. You're the best father I've ever seen…"

She pulled him into her embrace and kissed his head, saying gently "Come here, baby… Don't be sad. Your feelings are real, I'm sure Sasuke feels them too." she stroked his head and hummed, "I love you, and I'm sure Sasuke loves you just as much. Even if he doesn't say it, he can't deny his emotions."

She pulled up his face and smiled gently at him, love surging in her eyes as she looked at his miserable appearance, wiping his tears with her thumbs, "You gave him a warm home after he thought his parents were dead. Even if he finds out they're alive, I'm sure his feelings won't change… That's what you're afraid of, right?"

Ryu retorted instantly, "How can they not?! I fooled him for 5 years along with his brother… I can't imagine the hatred in his eyes… I-" Anko hugged him tightly and shushed him, saying gently "Don't think about this now… As long as you explain the situation, he'll understand. He has to."

Ryu didn't say anything and Anko smiled, kissing his head, "Or I'll give him a spanking." Ryu chuckled and shook his head, burying it in her embrace. Anko sat with him for a while, humming and stroking his back.

A while later