Naruto: The Medical Ninja

Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Will of the weak

The orphanage was enveloped in a heavy silence the next day. Most of the lively children had been taken by the Root Division. The rest of the children walked quietly, as if joy had been drained from the room. Even Hiroto, the caretaker, and the cook seemed burdened.

Yuki showed up at breakfast with a determined expression. She had made a tough choice.

”Hiroto,” she addressed the caretaker, ”I’m leaving for some urgent business. Please take care of the children in my absence.”

Hiroto nodded and said, ”Of course, Dr. Yuki. How long will you be gone?”

Dr. Yuki hesitated, her gaze sweeping across the room at the children. ”I’m not sure. But it’s important. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

And with that, she left the orphanage in the capable hands of Hiroto and the cook, entrusting the children to their watchful care.

Hotaru, finding Ryu missing from the crowd, reached out to him and woke him up. Ryu had breakfast in the private office of Yuki.

While eating, Ryu’s mind raced with the information he’d gleaned, determined to find a solution. The pieces were starting to come together, but he knew he was still missing crucial elements.

He had made some plans for his supposed treatment. After yesterday, he finally confirmed the diagnosis of his condition. He came up with the idea of the first of many treatments he needed to cure himself completely. The miracle drug, penicillin, was found by chance in a lab accident and finally gave many a new chance at life. He just needed to be sure of a few things first. He needs just a little more research into it; he already knew the method to synthesise it but wanted to make sure. He needs some time for that and some more data. Also, he was short on resources. He just needed some equipment to synthesise the medicine he thought could improve his condition suddenly.

He thought, ”Leaf Central Hospital. It should have all the resources that I need, and Yuki works there. I just need to convince her.

Ryu’s mind raced with countless possibilities, each carrying its own set of risks and rewards. ”I have to find a way,” he muttered to himself, his small hands clenching into fists of determination.

At dinner, Ryu was eating in silence when suddenly he noticed glares from his bully. He was sitting alone at his table as he was instructed to avoid others.

As he was eating, he suddenly heard some whispers: ”You know, many strong kids were selected, but Kaito was left out. He has been angry since yesterday. More than usual. You don’t want to cross him any time soon.”

The other person suggested, ”Perhaps he wasn’t chosen because he’s weak. We all know ninjas value strength. Perhaps they measure it differently.”

The other person replied, ”Maybe you are right. If that’s the case, then why was the weak one selected?”

With a sudden movement, Kaito rose to his feet, prompting whispers of anticipation and concern among the onlookers.

Kaito approached one of the whispering kids, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. He was shaking. ”Say that again! Tell me I’m weak! Tell me why I was left here to rot!”

The child choked out, ”I’m sorry, Kaito. I didn’t mean—”

”Didn’t mean what?” Kaito snarled, his grip tightening until the boy gasped for air.

Ryu wanted to keep himself out of trouble but did not want the kid to be sent to the infirmary. He said, ”Leave him alone, Kaito.”

Kaito’s anger rose upon hearing Ryu speak up for the kid. He then approached him, grabbed him by the throat, and said, ”You better stay out of my way, weakling.”

Ryu didn’t mind being belittled. But what Kaito said next wasn’t too pleasant.

”That bitch Mikasa is not here to protect you this time,” Kaito said.

Ryu’s anger flared up. But he didn’t want to resort to violence. Not that he can, considering his frail body.

”Hey, you’re angry; I get it.” He acknowledged, ”And rightfully so. But you don’t know how lucky you are. Believe me, you don’t understand what she’s gotten herself into. So don’t say another word about her.”

Just before Kaito lashed out, his eyes squeezed shut for a fleeting second—a raw, visible flinch of pain, not from fear, but from the sudden, overwhelming shame of his rejection. Then, Kaito’s pent-up rage boiled over, fueling his actions as he lashed out and punched Ryu in a fit of unchecked anger. A single punch sent Ryu sprawling to the floor. Gasps erupted from the other children.

”Lucky?” Kaito spat, his voice laced with venom. ”What do you know? I wanted to be a ninja! Even weaklings were chosen, but not me. And Mother Yuki always treats you differently! like you are special.”

Ryu winced, tasting blood in his mouth. But instead of fear or anger, a strange calm settled over him. He looked up at Kaito, seeing not just a bully but a confused, hurt child lashing out at the world in frustration and pain.

Ryu gave Kaito a look. He was upset about being told, ’You do not know a thing,’ rather than being angry about getting punched.

Kaito was surprised by the icy calm in Ryu’s gaze. Ryu stood up slowly, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. His voice was cold, professional. ”They weren’t ordinary ninja, Kaito. They were members of Root. They don’t train people; they manufacture tools. Emotionless weapons designed for a single purpose: absolute obedience. The goal isn’t to make you strong, it’s to break you. During the training alone, most of the children they took will die.”

A hush fell over the room as Ryu spoke. The other children leaned in, their eyes wide with fear, as if absorbing every word Ryu spoke. Everyone was shocked and surprised by the sudden revelation.

Ryu then said, ”You weren’t selected because physical strength was not the only criteria for selection.”

Kaito then grabbed him again and said, ”Then why were those weaklings selected?”

”Because,” Ryu shot back with a serious expression, ”they required punching bags. That is how the majority of them will die. The strong and gifted one will join the Root ANBU’s main fighting force, while the weak one who survives being used as a punching bag will become spies and informants prepared to be sent behind enemy lines and die trying to steal information for them.”

”You’re lying,” one child whispered, but the doubt in their voice was unmistakable, filled with suspicion.

”How do you know all this?” another asked, their voice trembling.

Ryu’s gaze swept across the room. ”I listen. I observe. And I read. There’s more going on in this village than most people realise. That division of ninjas is feared by everyone, and even the Hokage does not intervene in their matter. Otherwise, Mother Yuki would not have let them take them.”

”As for you, you weren’t even fit for being a spy. Spies require discretion, agility, and the ability to blend in seamlessly. On the other hand, you are too loud and annoying. You possess strength that is above average, but nothing more,” Ryu added.

Kaido’s anger flared again. He said, ”Then why were you left out? You are a good punching bag.”

Ryu said, ”I also stand out too much. My hair and eye colour are too eye-catching and not suitable for spies. Besides, no one wants someone who is about to die.”

Kaito shook and said, ”I don’t understand.”

Ryu said, ”The only reason I was not selected is because I am going to die in a few months.”

The sudden revelation hit Kaito. He dropped to his knees and began to consider what he had done. He thought back to all the times he had treated Ryu badly and to all the harsh words he had said to him.

He then said, after a pause, ”I am weak. The weak don’t get to decide how they live or die.”.

Hearing this from the guy he thought was the weakest shook Kaito. Ryu looked at Kaito and said, ”Don’t think too much. And trust me when I say that you were lucky not to be chosen by Root.”

Kaito broke down in tears and said, ”All I wanted was to fit in somewhere. And I wanted to become a ninja like my father.”

The raw emotion in Kaito’s voice struck a chord with everyone present. The other children shifted uncomfortably, some looking away, others drawing closer, drawn by the unexpected vulnerability of their former tormentor.

Ryu reached out to Kaito, placed his hand on Kaito’s shoulder, and said, ”There is still a chance for you. If you put in enough effort and do not give up, you might be successful. Because unlike me, you are not a weakling.”

Hearing this from the person he bullied so much finally broke him. He started crying so hard that it could be heard from even outside the orphanage as well. Even the other kids’ eyes went moist hearing all this.

”So this is the boy you were talking about,” a sudden voice was heard saying. Ryu turned around only to find Yuki, who had returned with someone who looked familiar.

Yuki stood in the doorway, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. Beside her was a tall man with white hair and a kind face, his presence signalling a new development that would change everything.