Naruto: The Medical Ninja

Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Dare to dream

Dr. Yuki’s surprise melted into warm admiration. This sickly, thin boy had a selflessness that made her feel small. ”A ninja, huh?” she asked, her tone slightly softening with laughter. ”For someone who can hardly lift his arm, that is quite the ambition.”

A determined sparkle appeared in Ryu’s eyes. His voice was hardly audible as he whispered, ”It is not about strength, Mother. It is all about having guts and standing up for people who are defenceless. I want to be a Ninja who upholds these ideals because I have encountered other Ninjas who do not. A guardians of the innocent, and that’s what I want to be.”

Ryu has an innate understanding of the ninjas’ true nature. All he wanted was to be powerful. He is aware of the potentially harmful forces that will emerge later. Many nefarious organisations with the ability to destroy entire countries are hiding in the shadows.

There is Akatuski, and then there is Kara, whose existence only he knew from his memories of his past life, not to mention godlike beings from the Otsutsuki Clan.

Even in the Leaf village, there are sinister ninjas like Orochimaru and Danzo that painted a sombre reality and served as grim reminders of the harsh realities he had to face, even in the relative safety of the peaceful era in the leaf village.

Ryu struggled to accept that he was too weak to face the challenges that lay ahead as the weight of his situation descended on him. He can not even hold his own against one of these formidable opponents for more than a minute. His only option is to train to become a ninja, but for the time being, he has to put his own survival first.

The words he had shared with Misaka reverberated as a stark truth within his harsh world: the weak don’t get to choose how they live or die. He is going to die, sooner rather than later, in this state if he cannot cure himself in time.

Only the strong will survive in the end, but even that is not certain. Even before the Ninja World War starts, a great number of people will die like flies. Zabuza, the Third Hokage, Asuma, Itachi, and Nagato all died even before the start of the war.

As Ryu was thinking about the looming dangers and coming war, Dr. Yuki studied him with a newfound respect welling up within her.

”You know, Ryu,” she said, leaning forward, ”perhaps there’s more to being a ninja. You can become a non-combat doctor.” Her statement clearly suggested that she does not want Ryu to be caught up with the ninjas. She had witnessed far too many young Genins lose their lives in the previous war.

Ryu answered, ”And then what? Submit myself to fate like Mikasa.”

His words preaced Dr. Yuki like a knife. She knew what he wanted to say.

”When Mikasa was taken from us, there was nothing we could do. I was powerless to act. All I could do was say my goodbye. I will repeat what I said to her a day before she was taken,” Ryu said.

After taking a moment , he said , ”In this cruel world, the weak don’t get to choose how they live or die. Its privlage of the strong.”

”I want to change the world, and only strong people can have such dreams,” he went on.

She reached out and gently placed her hand on Ryu’s, her touch warm and comforting. ”Your spirit, Ryu, is what truly defines a ninja. And yours... yours is unbreakable.”

She realised that his aspirations to become a ninja were not just a childish fantasy but a testament to his unwavering determination and noble character. The boy, despite his condition, dared to dream. That spoke volumes about his inner strength.

Isao, who had been silently observing the conversation, piped up eagerly. ”Exactly! And Ryu-san has the biggest heart of anyone I know! unmatched in its purity and strength.”

Isao’s eyes shone with admiration as he spoke, his voice filled with conviction. ”I’ve seen Ryu-san face challenges that would break most people, and he always comes out stronger. If anyone can become a great ninja, it’s him!”

With a giggle, Dr. Yuki stated, ”That much is obvious. But even the biggest heart needs a strong foundation to stand on, Isao. This vaccine,” she said, her gaze returning to Ryu, ”holds immense potential. It will take time to develop and obtain approval, though.”

”We understand that, Doctor,” Isao said, his voice firm. ”We’re prepared to work tirelessly. We have to, for Ryu-san’s sake, and for everyone else who could benefit from this.”

Ryu offered a reassuring smile. ”This vaccine will change everything. Mother Yuki will make me better, and then I’ll train relentlessly. I’ll become the strongest ninja the world has ever seen.”

Isao, who had been silently observing the conversation, piped up. ”Don’t worry, Ryu-san! We’ll work day and night to get this vaccine out there. You’ll be up and running after getting treated by this cure.”

Dr. Yuki then said, ”Even if I agree to taking credit for this, this discovery is just too much. I cannot take all the money that comes with it. And believe me, its going to be a lot of money. Pharmaceutical companies will be lining up with blank checks.”

Ryu simled and said, ”Give these findings to Leaf Central Hospital. In exchange, ask them to provide a lifetime supply of medicine, food, and medical care for your orphanage.”

Isao’s eyes widen, and he says, ”The orphanage? But Ryu-san...”

Ryu interrupted gently, his voice tinged with bittersweet nostalgia. ”It is the place that nurtured me, Isao. A sanctuary that embraced me when all seemed lost. It holds a special place in my heart—a sanctuary of hope amidst despair. Please, Mother, do it for me.”

As he spoke, memories flooded back—of warm meals shared with other orphans, of kind caretakers who tended to him during his worst days, of the laughter and tears that echoed through the halls. His voice softened as he added, ”You and the orphanage gave me a home when I had nothing. It’s time I gave something back.”

Dr. Yuki reached across the table and squeezed Ryu’s hand. ”Alright, Ryu. We’ll do it your way. The Leaf Central Hospital will present these findings, but consider this a promise: any financial gains will go towards securing a lifetime supply of medicine, food, and care for the orphanage .”

Dr. Yuki, touched by the generosity and humility displayed by Ryu, found herself deeply moved by his heartfelt commitment to ensuring that the financial gains from the groundbreaking discovery would be channelled towards securing essential resources for the orphanage where Ryu had grown up.

His selfless request to extend the benefits to other orphanages demonstrated his boundless compassion and commitment to helping those in need, showcasing a level of altruism that was truly inspiring.

Ryu thought for a moment as he came up with another clever idea. ”Mother Yuki, please make the contract non-exclusive and open-ended,” he said.

”Open ended, why?” questioned Dr. Yuki.

Ryu smiled and said, ”Why limit ourselves to this hospital only? If other hospitals are interested, we can present the same situation to them; if they accept, you will have many more resources, and you can assist other orphanages. You can even expand your own. Similar to me, a great number of children in the country are in need of a roof over their heads.”

His voice grew more passionate as he continued, ”Every child deserves a chance, Mother Yuki. A chance to grow, to dream, to become something more. If we can provide that, even for a few more children, isn’t it worth it?”

Dr. Yuki stands there, speechless for a moment, and finally says, ”Ryu, that’s incredibly selfless.”

”Now that I have a family,” Ryu said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, ”money doesn’t matter. Once I’m well, I’m going to become a ninja!”

Dr. Yuki, with a gentle smile, touched her lips and said, ”A ninja with a heart of gold.”

She sighed and finally relented and said, ”Very well, Ryu. We’ll do it your way. We’ll develop this vaccine as fast as we can, for you, for the orphanage, and for everyone who needs it.”

With determination in her voice, she went on, ”This vaccine could change countless lives, and we owe it to the world to make it a reality.”

Isao claps his hands and says, ”Yes, we won’t let you down, Ryu-kun!”

Ryu’s eyes shone with a newfound hope. ”I am grateful. Let us now return to our work. I have a feeling there is a lot of work to be done.”

Isao pumped his fist in the air. ”Alright, let’s do it!”

Ryu smiles back, a flicker of hope rekindling in his eyes. In that moment, Dr. Yuki sees him not just as a patient but as a remarkable young man with an extraordinary spirit.