Naruto: The Medical Ninja

Chapter 256: Chapter 253: Forged in Adversity

After scanning Souji’s brain and body, Ryu experienced pain in his eyes and head due to the overuse of his unique abilities and the strain from pushing them further. Ryu took a break and then went straight to Daimyo’s palace.

Within the palace of the Daimyo, Ikkyu, the clever son of the Fire Daimyo, and Azuma Kasen, the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, sat in a room, anticipating Ryu’s arrival. A meticulously unrolled map of the Land of Rivers lay across a table, hinting at the discussions already in progress.

”Ryu-kun,” Azuma said to greet Ryu. He remembered the praise of people he treated at the hospital and said, ”I have heard about the work you did at the hospital. You are always looking for new ways to treat people, especially those with conditions that other doctors have given up on.”

Ryu humbly and determinedly nodded in gratitude. ”Indeed, Lord Daimyo. There’s always more to learn, more to innovate. The limits of current medical ninjutsu are merely challenges waiting for the right mind to overcome them.”

Ikkyu, ever the pragmatist and well-versed in the political intricacies of their world, leaned forward slightly, a knowing glint in his eye, already piecing together Ryu’s intent.

”Ryu,” Ikkyu began, ”your interest in these particular individuals, Souji and Rina, seems to extend beyond mere medical treatment. Are you thinking of making them a part of your private ninja force?”

Azuma’s eyebrows rose slightly hearing this. His gaze flicking between Ikkyu and Ryu, a silent request for confirmation. ”A private ninja force, Ryu-kun? That’s quite the ambitious plan. My son-in-law allowed that?”

Ryu cut straight to the chase, his direct gaze wasting no time on pleasantries. ”Lord Daimyo, I came to ask if I could adopt Souji and Rina into my clan. They are exceptional individuals, and I believe they have a place within my private ninja force.”

Azuma blinked, showing clear surprise. The Hamura clan currently was a small clan not considered among the great clans of the Leaf Village. The notion of a clan adopting foreign citizens, let alone into a private ninja force, was unusual for a clan not considered a great ninja clan, as he was not privy to the Fire Daimyo’s unique decree concerning Ryu’s operations.

Ikkyu then briefly explained the decree, clarifying the legal framework for Azuma, and said, ”The Hamura clan is permitted to train any number of medically unfit students as ninjas. However, all healthy subjects must be pre-approved by Daimyo’s office. This allows Ryu a unique path to empower those otherwise overlooked.”

Ryu met Ikkyu’s gaze, his own eyes holding a confident. ”Indeed. More than thinking, I intend to. They are precisely the kind of individuals I seek for my clan. Their spirit, their resilience, is far more valuable than any superficial ’fitness’ rating. You see them as ’broken,’ but I see potential, a strength forged in adversity that conventional training often overlooks. They have already faced battles most shinobi can only imagine.”

Ikkyu then turned back to Azuma, elaborating on Ryu’s unconventional philosophy. ”Ryu’s ninja force is comprised of those whom the traditional shinobi system has cast aside or deemed unfit. I have two more, and both are having medical issues of their own, just like Souji and Rina. Honestly, I don’t know how Ryu will turn them into ninjas with their conditions, but I trust his methods. He sees potential where others see limitations, and that’s what will make his ninja force so unique.”

Ryu then turned back to Azuma, his expression earnest, laying out his immediate need. ”Lord Daimyo, as I mentioned, I believe I can treat both Souji and Rina. Not conventionally, but they will be both out of their respective prisons and jumping around in the future. However, for this to work, and for them to truly thrive under my care, they must become citizens of the Land of Fire and be adopted into my clan. Are you willing to give away their citizenship here, allowing them to truly sever ties with the Land of Rivers?”

Azuma sighed, a soft sigh, hinting at the complex political considerations swirling in his mind. He glanced at Ikkyu, a silent conversation passing between them, a quick, almost imperceptible nod from Ikkyu confirming his support.

”If it’s alright with my son-in-law”, Azuma finally said, his voice laced with a faint surprise that he was agreeing to such an unusual demand, ”then it’s alright with me.”

Ryu had expected a negotiation, perhaps a request for something or political favours, but Azuma’s quick agreement caught him off guard. It seemed that his new relationship with the Land of Rivers was not one to be taken lightly.

Azuma asked, ”Ryu-kun, Why do you do this? What is your grand plan with these... unconventional recruits? They were not exceptional ninjas to warrant such interest. Souji maybe, with his dual affinity, but Rina was better than average at taijutsu and mediocre at ninjutsu, hardly candidates for an elite force.”

Ryu offered a small, enigmatic smile, a subtle deflection hinting at deeper, grander motivations. ”My grand plan is to change this world, Lord Daimyo. And sometimes,” he added, his gaze drifting towards a patch of sunlight on the polished floor, ”the greatest strength is found not in perfection but in perseverance through adversity, in the will to overcome what others deem impossible.”

He then smoothly changed the subject, his gaze shifting to the map on the table, eager to move on to the next phase of his grand design. ”Speaking of grand plans, Lord Daimyo, perhaps we could discuss the venue for the new factory? I have some rather revolutionary ideas for its placement.”

Azuma, accustomed to Ryu’s abrupt shifts in conversation, nodded, his attention easily redirected. ”Ah, yes. The factory. I have had many potential places already surveyed. Each has its merits and its... problems.”

He gestured vaguely at the map, his finger hovering over various marked locations. ”For instance, the central plains offer excellent access to water and existing trade routes, making transportation of raw materials and finished goods quite efficient. However, they lack natural defences and are more susceptible to external threats. The coastal regions, while providing easy sea access, are often prone to storms and require significant investment in port infrastructure.”

He then moved his finger to a specific region. ”Then there is a place in the western region, surrounded by hills on all sides. It has rich iron mines nearby, which is a significant advantage for raw materials. However, it is not excavated due to the risks involved and heavy transportation costs across the rugged terrain. Furthermore, while the east, on the side bordering the Land of Fire, has rivers that could make transportation easier, the western side itself is quite isolated and presents considerable logistical challenges. It would be a very difficult location to secure and operate efficiently.”

Ryu’s smile widened, a boundless confidence in his eyes. ”My future plans render all those disadvantages irrelevant, Lord Daimyo. You have seen it in my Genjutsu world, the new age transportation. In a few years, I will transform how trade is done across these lands.” He paused, allowing his audacious claim to settle in the air. ”May I visit this particular site immediately?”

”Of course,” Azuma replied, then turned to his secretary. ”Arrange for royal guards.”

Azuma faced Ryu and said, ”My personal guards will accompany you. Your safety is paramount.”

”I’ll join as well,” Ikkyu stated, stepping forward, a curious glint in his eye. His admiration for Ryu’s innovative mind was clear, a desire to witness genius firsthand. ”There is always something to learn from Ryu. I’m tagging along. This sounds like it will be far more interesting than reviewing trade reports.”

They planned to visit the very next day. Tsunade, having been informed that the Daimyo’s personal guards would be accompanying Ryu, let him leave the hospital without much fuss, though she did send Shizune along, just to be sure. ”Keep an eye on him, Shizune,” she’d instructed, a hint of genuine concern beneath her usual gruffness. ”He has a habit of attracting trouble, and I don’t need him blowing up a Daimyo’s land or, worse, getting himself into a diplomatic incident he can’t talk his way out of.”

The next day, under a clear morning sky, Ryu, Shizune, Ikkyu, and Azuma’s secretary, along with a contingent of the Daimyo’s elite guards, set off towards the western regions of the Land of Rivers. This part of the land was rugged and unforgiving, a stark contrast to the gentle, fertile plains near the capital.

The air grew thinner, the terrain more challenging with every mile, and the distant mountains loomed larger with each passing hour, their peaks shrouded in an ethereal mist.

Ryu’s senses were alert, and his mind was racing with calculations as they travelled. His razor-sharp observation skills allowed him to spot everything: subtle peaks, elevation changes, hill steepness, and rock formation geology. He mentally mapped the land for the proposed factory, future transport, strategic defences, and everything else.

##PoWeR StOnEs##

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