Naruto: The Medical Ninja

Chapter 58: Chapter 57: A New Path Unfolds

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the village as Ryu walked alongside his grandfather, Dan, and Yuki. The bustling streets of the Leaf Village stretched before them, alive with the energy of its inhabitants.

”Grandfather,” Ryu began, his voice steady with determination, ”when is the entrance exam for the Leaf Ninja Academy? I’ve decided to pursue my dream of becoming a medic-nin, and I want to start my training as soon as possible.”

Dan’s weathered face broke into a broad grin, his chest swelling with pride. ”The next round of entrance exams is in six months. You’d best start preparing—being a shinobi isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Most of those kids will have years of training on you. But hey, no pressure.”

Ryu smirked. ”No pressure, huh? Just a few years behind. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Yuki, who had been listening intently, chimed in. ”Ryu, you’re still recovering. Don’t push yourself too hard right away. Let’s focus on regaining your strength first.”

Ryu nodded. ”Of course, Mother Yuki. I meant later, after I’m back to full strength.”

Yuki, who had been listening intently, chimed in. ”Ryu, your decision to become a medic-nin is admirable. With your unique skill set, you’ll bring fresh ideas to the field. Have you thought about which areas of medical ninjutsu you’d like to specialise in?”

Ryu’s eyes lit up with excitement. ”I’ve been thinking about innovative healing techniques. There’s so much potential in combining different methods of treatment. I want to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Yuki raised an eyebrow. ”So, you want to dive into research? That’s... ambitious, especially for a combat medic. Not many go that route. Most give up when they realise research isn’t all flashy ninjutsu.”

Ryu nodded, undeterred. ”I’m not most people. I believe that true progress comes from pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities. I’m ready to take on the challenge and make a difference in the field of medical ninjutsu.”

Dan chuckled at that. ”That’s true enough. You’ve always been a bit... unconventional, but I’d be more than happy to provide you with resources and guidance as you explore this path.”

As they made their way towards the village marketplace, the cool breeze carried with it the familiar scents of freshly baked bread, grilled meat, and fragrant spices. Ryu experienced his first meal in a restaurant. Ryu took a deep breath, feeling more alive than ever. His mind briefly flashed back to his time before the accident, but he quickly refocused on the present. He had found his true calling here, as a ninja-medic.

”You know”, Dan mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully, ”your ability to think outside the box will be invaluable in your new career. A shinobi, especially a researcher-nin, needs to approach problems from all angles.”

Ryu nodded, considering his grandfather’s words. ”You’re right, Grandfather. I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Maybe my experiences with my illness have prepared me for this journey in ways I’m only beginning to understand.”

As they made their way towards the village marketplace, a cool breeze carried the familiar scent of freshly baked bread, grilled meat, and fragrant spices.

”You know”, he said, pausing to take it all in, ”I missed so much while I was recovering. It’s like the village is alive in ways I never noticed before.” Dan smiled knowingly. ”That’s the beauty of our village, my boy. There’s always something new to discover, even for those of us who’ve lived here our entire lives. Also, that smell is takoyaki. We should grab some before someone else does.”

They reached a takoyaki stand, and they all had something to eat.

”You know, Ryu,” Dan said, his voice thoughtful, ”being a ninja isn’t just about learning jutsu and fighting. It’s about protecting the people you care about, defending your home, and making a difference in the world. Are you ready for that responsibility?”

Ryu nodded solemnly. ”I’m ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.”

As they walked, Yuki couldn’t help but marvel at Ryu’s transformation. ”You know, Ryu,” she said, a thoughtful expression on her face, ”your unique perspective gives you an advantage in other fields also, like crafts, technology, ninjutsu and fuinjutsu.”

Ryu blinked. ”Fuinjutsu. The sealing arts?”

She said, ”I’m serious. You’ve got a sharp mind. And with that sharp memory of yours, you could revolutionise more than just healing techniques.”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ryu’s face lit up with excitement. ”So, are you suggesting I could create something like... Healing Seals to heal remotely using sealing tags?”

Dan looked horrified. ”Please, no. I can barely handle the idea of you being a combat medic. Don’t add seals into the mix. If it were possible, someone would have already done it.”

Ryu took in what she had spoken with a mixture of joy and resolve. It was both thrilling and intimidating to consider that he might revolutionise the entire discipline of medical ninjutsu. It would be revolutionary to use healing seals on battlefields. After giving it some thought, he pondered, ’Isn’t Tsunade Senju’s Creation Rebirth Jutsu a fusion of medical jutsu and fuinjutsu? It is not an impossible thought with regard to that.’

He acknowledged the significant technological gaps in this world and realised his potential to completely revolutionise it. But he also understands that strength comes first in this world.

They paused at a small food stall, the aroma of grilled fish and vegetables making Ryu’s stomach growl.

Dan raised an eyebrow. ”Didn’t we just feed you?”

Ryu shrugged. ”I’m a growing boy.”

Dan snorted. ”Growing sideways, maybe.”

Dan chuckled, ordering a few skewers for them to share. As they ate, Ryu’s mind raced with possibilities for his future training.

”Grandfather”, he said between bites, ”I was thinking about how I could start preparing for the exam. Do you think we could begin with physical training and some basic chakra control exercises?”

Dan nodded approvingly. ”That’s a good place to start, my boy. We’ll begin with physical training—it’s crucial for the exam. And in your free time, we’ll work on meditation techniques to help you sense and control your chakra. Then we can move on to some simple exercises, such as focusing on maintaining chakra control using the ’leaf concentration’ technique. But you also need to ensure proper rest as well.”

Ryu nodded eagerly, already mentally planning out his schedule. ”I’ll make sure to balance my training and rest.”

As they neared Dan’s house, Ryu couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him. The next six months would be crucial in his journey towards becoming a medic-nin. And while he knew the road ahead would be challenging, he also knew he wouldn’t be walking it alone.

”Grandfather”, Ryu said as they approached the house, ”I want to start preparing for the exam right away. Can we begin training tomorrow?”

Dan chuckled, placing a hand on Ryu’s shoulder. ”Easy there, my boy. You’ve just been discharged from the hospital. Let’s give you a day or two to settle in and regain your strength. Then we’ll start your training next week. You are not fit for intense training for now, as Yuki earlier said.”

Ryu sighed, but. He understood that they were right. ”OK, fine. We will start whenever you say. But don’t blame me if I start doing push-ups in my sleep.”

Ryu thought if he could programme his [Muscle Memory] in such a way, it would be pretty convenient. He considered the possibility of programming his ’muscle memory’ to facilitate physical training even while asleep. He mentally noted to experiment with this idea later on.

Upon entering the house, a wave of calm enveloped Ryu. This place was now his sanctuary, the starting point for his journey as a Shinobi.

Yuki bid them farewell, promising to check in on Ryu’s progress regularly. ”Remember, Ryu,” she said before leaving, ”if you ever need help with your medical studies or have questions about Ninjutsu or healing techniques, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m always here to support you.”

Ryu thanked her sincerely, grateful for her continued guidance and support. He acknowledged that Yuki’s expertise and experience by his side would directly enhance his growth and development as a healer on his path as a ninja medic.