Ryuu's birthday (Part 1)

1 month later…

The cries of a baby woke Ryuu up.

"Yawn!"

Ryuu yawned and stretched as he walked to Naruto.

"Thanks to you, I've been losing a lot of sleep, you know."

Ryuu said as he fed him with a bottle.

Naruto's innocent blue eyes pierced Ryuu's eyes, and he glanced away.

"Oh, don't give me that look!"

Naruto grabbed Ryuu's finger and played with it.

"Hmph, I can't stay mad at you, can I?"

Ryuu put the bottle down.

"Today is my birthday, would you like to celebrate it with me? Honestly, I won't be celebrating it, but I'm sure some people will insist on it." Naruto chuckled.

Ryuu smiled.

"Well, I'm going back to sleep Naruto, don't wake me up again please, today is already a long day for me, plus, dad said I could have a day off.

He kinda forced me to have a day off, if I'm being honest."

Ryuu put Naruto to sleep.

3 hours later...

Ryuu woke up stretching.

"Yawn!"

After getting ready, Ryuu made 3 wood clones and left them with Naruto as he went to Ichiraku Ramen.

"Oh, there you are, happy birthday, Ryuu!"

Ichika gave Ryuu a basket full of gifts.

"Thanks, Ichika," Ryuu said as he nervously smiled and scratched his head.

"So what're you planning on doing?"

Ryuu shrugged.

"I'm not sure really, I simply wanted to take a day off, focus more on my training I guess, maybe I could train Itachi and…"

Ichika put her finger on his lips.

"No way am I leaving you to celebrate your birthday like this…

Huh?"

When she looked at Ryuu again, he was sulking and looking depressed again.

"Hey, why are you so depressed?"

Ryuu didn't respond.

He couldn't find the strength to respond.

"It's because today is the day his parents were killed," Kakashi said.

He was standing behind them, reading a book.

"Ryuu refuses to enjoy his birthday, he's been like that since we were kids," Kakashi stated as he pat Ryuu's back.

"By the way, I got something for you but it'sat home. Open it when youre alone." Ryuu nodded.

"Thanks, but you shouldn't have, you know."

"Is that you, Ryuu?" Ryuu turned around and smiled as he recognized the boy standing in front of him.

'No way… that's…'

"Kenji? You've really grown, you know."

Ryuu smiled, seeing his old friend with a head protector and a Chūnin vest.

'He's become much taller, he's nearly my height.'

Kenji had grown his hair long enough that it almost blocked his vision and he had to tie it up.

"Ichika, this is Kenji-"

"Sato, his father, is one of the richest men in the land of fire." Ryuu nodded.

"Ichika, how do you know this?" Ryuu curiously asked.

"Before I came to Konohagakure, I wanted to learn about it as much as I could so I read about him and his family."

"You still love eating ramen, don't you?" Ryuu nodded.

"This is the best Ramen in town, Ichiraku ramen." Kenji nodded.

Ichika tapped Ryuu's shoulder.

"Ryuu, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Ichika pulled Ryuu without letting him answer first.

"What's up?" Ichika punched his shoulder.

"What was that for?" Ryuu asked as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Don't you see, this is fate, your friend has one of the biggest mansions in the land of fire and you have a birthday to celebrate, it's only right we do it in his place.

You two seem close enough, I'm sure he'll allow." Ryuu frowned.

"Ichika, I don't want to celebrate my birthday, why would I celebrate my birthday when the last time I did that people I loved died?"

She punched Ryuu again.

"So you'll just sit around and brood all day? Or what your big plan is to practice with your student and your cousin?"

Ichika shook her head.

"From what you told me about that day, your parents risked a lot for you, just so you have one memorable day.

I know little about them, but I know it would make me sick to see my son moping around on his special day, especially since he used to enjoy that special day so much."

Ryuu looked away in shame.

"But I guess it's all up to you. It is your birthday, right?" Ryuu nodded.

Ichika walked back to Kakashi and Kenji.

"What were you two talking about?"

She asked curiously.

"Kenji is just telling me about the time they did a Ramen eating contest."

"I'm guessing Ryuu won?"

Kakashi nodded.

'Damn it, I hate it when other people are right… Now I'm going to have to ask Kenji for his house, how annoying…' Ryuu scratched the back of his head ad he thought to himself.

"Anyway, what's up with Ryuu? He seems less lively than usual." Kenji asked.

"Today is his birthday, he's turning 15."

Kenji's eyes widened.

"Then why is he being so depressed, isn't he supposed to be happy?" Ichika nodded.

"Unfortunately, his birthday marks the death of his parents, they were killed after celebrating his birthday."

"Oh, I see…" Ryuu came back.

"Kenji, I have a favor to ask you."

Kenji nodded.

"Anything, just say the word."

"Well, I want to throw a party today and I was wondering if we could use your house." Kanji thought about it for a second.

"I have a better idea, I doubt my father will allow that, so instead you can use another house that I own, sometimes I go there to relax, it's almost just as big as the other one and it's closer to the village, anyway."

Ryuu nodded.

"That'll be good as well, thanks," Ryuu replied.

"Alright, then it's settled, oh uh…

Ryuu, do you mind if I bring a friend of mine?"

"Not a problem."

Kenji nodded with a smile on his face.

Ryuu tilted his head at Kakashi, signaling him to go, Kakashi nodded.

"I just remembered I was told to go back to dad's office later, I gotta go, but I'll see you at your party." Ryuu nodded.

"That's strange, Kakashi doesn't forget many things, I'm guessing he's under a lot of stress because of both of you becoming Anbu captains."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Ryuu walked with Ichika after paying for the Ramen.

"So anyway, I wanted to thank you for what you said back there, you were right, they wouldn't like to see me act this way."

"Ryuu, when are you going to learn that you should never doubt me, all this is your fault for not listening to me." Ryuu's head dropped depressingly.

"You're right, I don't deserve this party."

Ryuu whimpered.

Ichika facepalmed.

"Would you stop being so depressed already?!" She picked him up.

"So why did you tell Kakashi to leave?"

Ryuu gulped and widened his eyes.

"Come on, I'm not an idiot, it's obvious that the all-perfect Kakashi doesn't forget important matters, so why?"

"The all-perfect Kakashi?" Ryuu asked as he laughed.

"I'll tell you, but only if you beat me to the Hokage stone faces."

Ryuu said with a smirk on his face.

"You're on, but no using any speed enhancers or flying Raijin, deal?"

Ryuu nodded.

"It won't make a difference, you know. I'm the fastest shinobi on-"

Whoosh!

Ryuu's eyes widened as he saw Ichika dash ahead of him.

"I didn't say go!" Ryuu yelled, but he soon realized he was speaking to himself and dashed.

Once he caught up, she was above him, jumping over rooftops.

"Hey! Watch it! My cabbages!"

A man yelled as Ryuu jumped over him and his cabbages.

"Hahahaha!"

Ryuu and Ichika laughed.

They were climbing the Hokage stone faces, and suddenly Ryuu sped up.

"Hey! Wait up!" Ichika sped up too but she was still left in the dust.

She reached the top, panting.

"Alright, you win," Ichika said.

'Huh? I wonder what he wants.' Ryuu wondered.

Whoosh!

Kakashi appeared beside Ryuu.

"Hokage-sama needs you in his office right away."

"Sigh…

I was just starting to enjoy my birthday."

Ryuu looked at Ichika.

'I was just about to ask her too…'

"Hey, Ichika, I have to go, I'll be back for my party. I don't know where it'll be but I'll come get you." Ryuu teleported to Sakumo's office.

"Happy birthday, Ryuu."

Ryuu smiled and nervously scratched his head.

"Thanks a lot, dad, but… is that what you called me for?"

"No, I have a mission only you and Kakashi can complete." Ryuu looked at Kakashi, who had his Anbu uniform on.

"What mission can't the others handle?"

Ryuu took the documents and read them.

"I thought you didn't want this break. What changed?"

"Ichika changed his mind," Kakashi stated with a slight grin.

"No, she didn't, shut up."

Sakumo smiled.

"Ichika, is the other wood release user?" Ryuu nodded.

"She's even better than me at using wood style." Ryuu's eyes widened after seeing some pictures.

"I understand why you said only we can complete this mission."

Ryuu gave Kakashi the documents.

'Who could've done such a sick thing?' Ryuu asked himself.

"We'll leave as soon as I'm done getting ready." Sakumo nodded.

"One more thing…

A request."

"A request? What is it?"

"I want Obito to come with us."

"Obito? He's on a mission as we speak, he might be back later, but that'll be too late."

"Oh… I understand… in that case, we'll be fine." Sakumo nodded.

Ryuu teleported back home.

5 wood clones were taking care of Naruto while he wasn't at home.

Ryuu grabbed his Katana and left to the Anbu changing rooms, he wore his gear and left towards the gate.

'What's taking him so long?' Ryuu asked himself as he waited for Kakashi to arrive.

After a few minutes, Kakashi arrived beside Ryuu.

"I've been waiting for 10 minutes, what took you so long?"

"Sorry, someone was bothering me."

"Alright! Let's go!" Ryuu dashed ahead.

"Slow down, you idiot." Kakashi followed Ryuu, also increasing his speed to catch up.