Chapter 15: New Home

Dan and Ryu stepped out of the orphanage, leaving behind a chapter of Ryu's life and embarking on a new journey together. As they strolled through the village streets, Ryu's eyes widened with wonder, taking in sights he'd never truly experienced before.

As they strolled, Dan couldn't help but marvel at the boy's wide-eyed wonder. "You look like you've never seen the village before, kid," he chuckled. Ryu grinned sheepishly. "Well, I haven't. Not really. The orphanage didn't exactly offer guided tours."

Their destination was an old house nestled on the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf village. As they approached, Ryu felt a sense of timelessness wash over him. The structure seemed to whisper tales of years gone by.

 

The house was simple yet practical, adorned with artefacts of a life well lived. Despite its size—too big for just one person—it carried an air of solitude

"You live alone, grandpa?" Ryu asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of concern. The house seemed too vast for a single occupant, its emptiness echoing with unspoken memories.

 

Dan's expression mirrored the sadness in his voice as he replied, "Yes, I once shared this home with my son and daughter-in-law, until fate took them from me a year ago."

The mention sparked a memory in Ryu—a historical event involving a nine-tailed fox that brought devastation to many. Sensing the emotional weight of the topic, Ryu chose not to pry further into the painful past.

As they continued the tour, they entered the kitchen, where Ryu's interest unexpectedly peaked. Having never cooked or even ventured into a kitchen before, he felt a sudden urge to learn.

"Grandpa, would you mind teaching me how to cook afterwards?" He enquired, his voice tinged with a mix of eagerness and humility. He couldn't bear the thought of burdening his elderly grandfather with the task of cooking indefinitely for him. He thought that he would cook for himself whenever he found time or at least help his grandfather with chores.

Dan raised an eyebrow. "Cook? I thought kids your age were more interested in playing ninja than playing chef."

"I read somewhere that it is interesting and therapeutic," Ryu retorted.

As Dan unveiled more of the house during their tour, they eventually arrived at what appeared to be a forgotten workshop within the confines of the property. Intrigued, Ryu enquired, "Grandpa, what is this?"

"It's my workshop," Dan explained. "It was our family business to craft weapons. We also make other things, like jewellery and other similar stuff."

Upon hearing Dan's words, a sense of connection enveloped Ryu—a bond forged through shared passions and traditional family legacies. Reflecting on his own past life as an inventive soul. Entering the workshop gave him nostalgia. Ryu was happy to find a place like this in his new home; there was something similar in his home in the past. He found a new connection with his new adoptive grandfather. He made a mental note to ask him to teach him crafting. 

As they wandered through the hallways, Ryu's gaze fell upon the library, its shelves stacked high with books on Ninjutsu. Excitement filled his heart as he longed to explore the knowledge concealed in those pages.

 

He touched some books. Dan saw this. Already aware of how much he loved books and knowledge, Dan asked, "You can read as much as you want here."

 

Excitement filled his heart as he wanted to explore the knowledge and insights concealed in those pages. However, a sense of duty tugged at his thoughts, reminding him of the task at hand. 

 

"Thank you, Grandpa," he said, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "But I need medical books right now."Ryu acknowledged a more pressing need for medical texts to address his own health concerns before delving deep into the realm of Ninjutsu. Dan was surprised by the request. "Medical books? That's... unexpected. But why the urgency?" Ryu hesitated for a moment before answering, "I want to understand my condition better. Maybe if I learn enough, I can help the doctors find a cure."

 

Surprised, Dan asked, "You are so determined to cure yourself. Are you sure you can do what other healers and medical professionals can't?"

 

Ryu smiled and replied, "Grandpa, did you know that the human brain can store an infinite amount of information? It's just a matter of how we access and process it."

 

"I didn't know that," Dan said.

 

Ryu replied, "I have a perfect memory. I have already memorised all the medical books Dr. Yuki had in her private office at the orphanage. I learn faster than even adults. I may be physically weak and incapable of any heavy-duty work, but when it comes to mental work, I won't lose to any adult."

 

Dan was caught off guard by the unexpected revelation. He knew that ninjas are trained to memorise better and faster, but for an untrained person, who is a 6-year-old kid, to have this ability surprised him.

Dan shook his head and thought, "How much more is this kid going to surprise me? I need to tell Yuki this. Maybe he can do the impossible." 

Dan wanted to believe in him. He has now awakened a little faith. He believed the boy could do what other healers and professionally trained medical ninjas could not.

With a gentle smile, Dan led him to a room that belonged to his own son. Ryu looked into the room. The walls were adorned with faded photographs—frozen moments of a family's happiness.

 

"This will be your new room," he said. He then continued with a little sadness, "This room earlier belonged to my son." 

 

Ryu's heart felt a moment of stillness as he took in the room that would now become his own. It was a space steeped in the echoes of a family's past, a history that he had not been a part of. Ryu's eyes lingered on a framed picture of Dan's son and daughter-in-law, their smiles frozen in time. A pang of sadness tugged at his heart, a longing for something he had never known.

 

Dan's voice broke through his thoughts: "I will clear the room for you."

 

Dan offered to clear the room for Ryu. But what Ryu said next surprised Dan. He said with a smile on his face, "That won't be necessary, grandpa. There's no need to clear anything out; leave everything as it is. This room is decorated with so many memories that I don't want to change anything."

 

With a determined expression, he explained, "I never knew my dad." Ryu's words bore the weight of an unspoken longing, a void in his heart left by the absence of a past he could not recall.

 

He looked at Dan and continued, "Even if I have perfect memory, I don't even remember how he looked. Even the face of my mother is very faint in my memory."

 

In his previous life, Ken lost his mother when he was very young, and in this life as Ryu, he is met with a similar fate. He is unaware of his own parents. Their absence has made his heart feel empty. And in that moment, he made a decision that would change both their lives forever.

"I may not have lost parents of my own," Ryu began, his voice steady, "but from today onwards, the people in this photoframe can be my parents. I want to honour the memory of your son and daughter-in-law and carry their legacy forward."

This family may not be his own, but losing his mother in his last life was weighing in on him. He now really wants to consider this family like his own in this life.

Tears welled in Dan's eyes, a mix of sorrow and joy swirling within them. His heart swelled with pride and love for this young man, who had stepped into his life like a missing piece of a puzzle. And in that simple room, amidst memories and unspoken words, a bond was forged that transcended bloodlines and time.

 

As they sat in the fading light of the day, Ryu, consumed by a newfound sense of belonging in the old house, turned to his adoptive grandfather with a question that lingered at the edge of his thoughts and tugged at the very core of his being.

"I want to understand where I come from," Ryu remarked thoughtfully.

He then said, "I want to know about my family history and about my grandmother. Please tell me about her."

Thus began an evening of stories and remembrances as Dan shared tales of Ryu's lineage. With every word, Ryu felt more connected to his past and more determined to forge a future that would make his newfound family proud.

In a house filled with memories, a young boy and his adoptive grandfather laid the foundation for a journey of discovery, healing, and legacy—a journey that promised to transcend the confines of time and forge a new path forward.

[A/N: 

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