Naruto: The Medical Shinobi

That name—Ryu Hamura—echoed in the Hokage's chambers, a whisper from a bygone era. It struck a chord deep within him, unearthing a wellspring of bittersweet memories. He closed his eyes as he felt the unpleasant memories of the past resurface.

Hiruzen's mind drifted to a time long past, when the village was still in its infancy. He remembered a young man, Ryu Senju, with eyes that sparkled with intelligence and a gentle smile that could put even the most troubled soul at ease. The memory was tinged with both fondness and a hint of regret.

The connection was undeniable. Was it a mere coincidence that Dan, the man consumed by sorrow and vengeance, had adopted a child with that name? Contemplating deeply, he pondered the connection between Ryu Hamura, the child adopted by Dan Hamura, and Ryu Senju from his memories. 

He thought, "Dan adopted him because he has the same name, or is he related to Ryu Senju somehow?"

The possibilities swirled in Hiruzen's mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind. Could this child be a descendant of the Senju clan, somehow overlooked all these years? Or was it merely a cosmic coincidence?

Tatsuya noticed the shift in the Hokage's demeanour. The playful glint in his eyes had been replaced by seriousness. "Is something wrong, Lord Hokage?" he enquired gently, his voice laced with concern.

The Hokage emerged from his reverie, a sigh escaping his lips. "Well, not exactly," he said. "It's simply the name. It evokes a memory, a reminder of someone from my past. A ninja named Ryu Senju, a distant relative of the First and Second Hokage."

Tatsuya leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Ryu Senju? I don't believe I've ever heard that name in the village's history, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Only a few have. Ryu Senju was... a complicated figure in our village's early days. Brilliant, but troubled. We, the elder generation, do not often tell his story."

Tatsuya was surprised by the sudden reveal and thought, "Someone related to past hokage.". Tatsuya's eyes widened in surprise. A connection to the legendary Senju clan? This revelation sent a jolt through him.

"It is not the name that worries me," he said, a sombre tone seeping into his voice. "What will happen to Dan after the boy..." he trailed off, leaving the unspoken words dangling in the atmosphere.

The Hokage couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Dan. The prospect of losing the boy, coupled with the weight of his past, must be a heavy burden to bear.

"It's a cruel twist of fate," Hiruzen continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dan, who has already lost so much, opens his heart to a child who..." He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

Tatsuya nodded solemnly. "It's a heavy burden, indeed. But perhaps... perhaps this connection could be healing for both of them, even if their time together is limited."

Tatsuya, sensing the Hokage's unspoken worry, spoke up. "Speaking of the boy, Lord Hokage, I overheard some curious rumours at the hospital." 

The Hokage's gaze sharpened with interest. "Rumours?" he enquired, leaning forward slightly.

Tatsuya said, "I hear the boss has set up a makeshift lab in the library, closed off from prying eyes, and Dr. Yuki has put the library off limits to everyone."

He then continued, "I don't know what to make of it."

Hiruzen's eyebrows shot up. "A makeshift lab? In the hospital library?" He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "That's... highly unusual. Dr. Yuki isn't one to bend rules without good reason."

"Indeed, Lord Hokage," Tatsuya agreed. "The staff seems both intrigued and a bit wary. Some are whispering about revolutionary medical research going on behind the curtains."

A slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Interesting," he mused. "Perhaps it's time I had a word with Yuki. Perhaps she could provide some insight into this strange young man."

He then turned to Tatsuya, his voice firm yet laced with a hint of gratitude. "Thank you, Tatsuya. No need to pry further for now. I will handle the investigation from here. You may leave now."

Tatsuya bowed respectfully and exited the Hokage's chambers. The heavy oak door shut behind him with a soft thud, leaving the Hokage alone with his thoughts. After he left the room, the old hokage looked up at the ceiling and said, "Ask Mouse to look into the boy and discreetly observe him and report to me what he is doing." 

He ordered his hidden ANBU guards to send someone code-named Mouse to spy on Ryu and report him.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," he replied, and he left the room without showing himself.

The old Hokage relaxed in his chair as the ANBU Ninja left, looking at the boy and saying, "Ryu Hamura, huh!!"

The next day was as usual. Ryu woke up early and cooked for his grandfather. He was getting better at it every day. He thought, "Maybe I should cook him something from my old world. He would love it."

He was brought to the hospital by his adoptive grandfather, Dan, who met and greeted Isao at the door.

Accompanied by Isao, Ryu ventured to the hospital, where he encountered intrigued gazes and whispers among the hospital staff and visitors. Perplexed by the unexpected attention, he sought an explanation from Isao and asked, "Mr. Isao, why is everyone staring at me?"

Isao looked at Ryu and said, "You are seriously asking me after what you did yesterday!"

Ryu was perplexed and thought, "Did I do something wrong?"

Isao looked at the boy and said, "The man you spoke to yesterday, Mr. Hashimoto, went to a doctor yesterday and shared your opinion. The doctor did some tests and verified your findings. Your diagnosis was on point. He was suffering from lime dust sensitivity, and sunlight was the trigger for that."

With a smile, he continued, "You had already left yesterday, but he wanted to thank you. So he asked me to thank you on his behalf before leaving."

He then smiled and said, "You are now a celebrity in the hospital. Everyone in the hospital now knows what you did and has become a fan of you."

Ryu's eyes widened in surprise. "A celebrity? But I... I didn't mean to..." He trailed off, his mind racing. This was exactly the kind of attention he had hoped to avoid.

His actions at the hospital garnered him sudden fame and attention. Isao revealed to Ryu the impact of his diagnosis, which had proven to be accurate, turning him into a celebrity among the hospital staff and patients.

Ryu then thought, "Maybe I overdid it. It would have been best if we had spoken privately. I have to remain under the radar. I would not want to find myself in Danzo's or, worse, Orochimaru's crosshairs."

Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Ryu found himself worrying about what might be hiding in the shadows, especially the threat posed by characters such as Danzo and Orochimaru. People like Danzo, with their insatiable hunger for power, and Orochimaru, with his twisted experiments, would stop at nothing to exploit a reincarnated individual if they caught wind of him. He shivered at the thought of getting caught by those two.

He reasoned, "They will take apart my brain to extract all of my secrets if they discover that I am a reincarnation. And they will do it without a thought or concern for my well-being."

While heading towards his sanctuary, the library, Ryu's thoughts were consumed by the looming threats that surrounded him. It was essential that Ryu planned carefully, weighing each step carefully, to avoid the grasp of evil forces, particularly now that he was so frail and could not even flee from a child of the same age. Recalling the ruthlessness of Danzo and the insidious schemes of Orochimaru, Ryu understood the precarious position he found himself in.

He sighed to himself and said, "I need to be careful and discrete. I cannot allow myself to be caught in the crosshair of those two. Even the kind hokage would have the Yamaka clan scan my brain if he figured out my secret."

He then said to himself, "I need a sponsor or powerful person's backing. I am most vulnerable as of now. I need to talk with Mother Yuki later."

As Ryu entered the library, his sanctuary, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The familiar smell of books and the quiet atmosphere helped to centre him.

The fear of being exposed for his true identity as a reincarnated individual sent shivers down his spine, emphasising the necessity of securing powerful backing to shield himself from potential harm.

He thought, "If she can place a gag order on my actions, it would be best. Even if she cannot force her employees, I must have her backing. I don't know anyone else." 

Ryu knew that his survival depended on forging alliances that could shield him from the prying eyes and grasping hands of those who would seek him; they had a hint of his existence.