Chapter 19: Don't start a Pandemic

The next day, Dan led Ryu through the hospital corridors to Leaf Central Hospital, the hub of medical care in Leaf Village in this Ninja world. 

As they walked, Ryu's keen eyes absorbed every detail of his surroundings. Finally, they reached Dr. Yuki's office. A familiar warmth filled Ryu as he saw the kind woman who had been a constant source of comfort during his time at the orphanage.

"Good morning, Mother Yuki!" he chirped, a wide smile breaking across his face.

Watching him call her mother even though he has already been adopted from her orphanage made her smile. This gesture exemplified the deep bond they shared.

Yuki's heart ached at the endearing term. Though Ryu was no longer officially under her care, the bond they shared remained strong. "Good morning, Ryu," she returned, her voice gentle as she ushered them both in.

"My, my, look at you," Yuki said, her eyes twinkling. "Already looking more at home in your new family. How are you settling in with Dan?"

Ryu's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's wonderful, Mother Yuki! Grandpa Dan has so many stories about the old days, and he's teaching me about our family history."

"This is Isao," she said, gesturing towards a young man with a kind smile and a calm demeanour. "He's my assistant and will be here to help you with anything you need."

Isao inclined his head respectfully. "Good morning, young Ryu. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Ryu also replied, "Good morning, Mr. Isao. Please take care of me." 

Yuki has clearly instructed Isao, her assistant, to provide everything Ryu asks for. She has informed Isao that Ryu is terminally ill and instructed him to comply with Ryu's requests within reason.

Yuki cleared her throat, her warm smile fading into a professional expression. "Ryu," she began. "Before you go to the library, we'll be running some tests today to get a more comprehensive picture of your condition."

Isao then said, "Come with me. I have already made some arrangements."

As they moved to the examination room, Ryu's mind raced with questions. "Mr. Isao," he asked, his voice quiet but curious, "what kind of tests will we be doing?"

Isao was impressed by the boy's interest and cast a glance down at him. "Well, we'll start with some basic blood work, then move on to more specialised scans. Don't worry, I'll explain each step as we go along."

After a battery of tests, Yuki ushered Ryu back into her office, her face etched with concern. "Ryu," she said, her voice heavy, "the tests confirm what we already knew. Your illness is... very advanced."

A wave of disappointment washed over Yuki. However, a spark of defiance flickered within Ryu. He wouldn't go down without a fight. They then left for the library.

Isao took Ryu towards the hospital library, where all research journals and medical books are kept for reference, and asked him to wait outside the library on the bench.

After returning from the library, Isao asked Ryu to enter and said, "This place is all yours now. Just remember not to damage anything and keep everything where you have taken it."

"Yes, Mr. Isao," Ryu answered before entering the library to look up subjects that would aid in his recovery. He searched for antimicrobials and immunology, but he was disappointed.

Immunology, antibiotics—words that held the promise of medicinal salvation. However, Ryu's hopes crumbled as he delved deeper into the texts. This world lagged decades behind his old world in terms of technology and nearly a century and a half when it came to modern and non-chakra-based medicine, lacking the advances in modern medicine he had once taken for granted. 

Ryu's fingers traced the spines of ancient medical tomes, his brow furrowed in concentration. The familiar terms he sought—antibiotics, immunology, and microbiology—were conspicuously absent. Instead, he found volumes on chakra healing, herbal remedies, and jutsu-based treatments.

"This is... different," he murmured to himself, a mix of fascination and frustration colouring his voice.

Ryu thought, "No wonder a few of the many powerful ninjas died or suffered due to medical reasons. Like Itachi, Kimimaro died, and Nagato suffered from paralysis even after having such OP abilities."

The medical field in this new world was too far behind the original world. Even if, in this new world, some people can revive the dead, they still cannot cure simple diseases that can be cured with the help of antibiotics and modern medicine.

He understood that professionals and researchers in this world prioritised research towards the Ninja world, leading to a different direction in medical advancements from his original world. The ninjas were too reliant on herbs and their chakras to enhance their immune systems, but the civilians, the non-ninjas, were left behind. He decided to change that.

Ryu's mind raced with possibilities. The gap in medical knowledge was vast, but it also presented an opportunity. If he could bridge that gap, combining the chakra-based healing of this world with the scientific advancements of his previous life, the potential for breakthroughs would be enormous.

"I can't just sit back and accept this," Ryu muttered, his determination growing. "There has to be a way to push medical science forward, for everyone's sake."

Ryu understands that this world is different from his previous one and suspects that this extends to the fundamental level, prompting him to conduct experiments before taking any actions that may affect his health.

Ryu called Isao, who was occupied with his own reading, and asked, "Mr. Isao, could you prepare some equipment for me tomorrow for an experiment?".

Crafting a meticulous list of equipment and resources required for his experiments, Ryu entrusted Isao with the task. Realising the limitations of the medical advancements in this new reality, Ryu resolved to take matters into his own hands. His plan to conduct experiments using unconventional methods piqued Isao's curiosity and concern. As Ryu gathered the necessary equipment and ingredients, including mouldy bread and spoilt potatoes, Isao couldn't help but wonder about the boy's intentions.

Isao thought, "Is the boy going to conduct some experiments already? D. Yuki said the boy is some kind of genius, but that is too far-fetched to think that he could do experiments on his own."

Isao was surprised by such a demand, but remembering the words of Dr. Yuki, he relented. He read the list. It was all general hospital items. Microscopes, beakers, test tubes, petri dishes, starch, and all other items are not very significant. All but one: mouldy bread, spoilt and mouldy potatoes, and other kinds of mould. Isao was surprised.

He thought to himself, "What is a boy going to do with mouldy bread? He is not going to eat it in hopes of curing him." 

He asked Ryu, "What are you going to do with mouldy bread and spoilt potatoes? You are not going to eat it. are you?"

Ryu went silent for a moment and then laughed, 'hahahahah.'.

He then tried to calm himself and said, "No, Mr. Isao, there is an experiment. Believe me. You are going to love it."

He looked around the library and found an empty corner and thought, "Great, here I would conduct the necessary experiments."

The hospital library transformed into Ryu's makeshift laboratory, a place where he balanced the principles of his world with the mysterious laws of this new reality. He didn't want to disturb the working professionals in the hospital, so he chose to conduct his experiments in the library.

Ryu turned to Isao and asked, "Can you please set up the equipment I asked for in this empty corner?"

"Okay. I will arrange some tables to accommodate the equipment," Isao responded.

Isao quickly rounded up a team of helpers to assist in setting up Ryu's makeshift laboratory in the corner of the hospital library. Together, they meticulously arranged the tables and equipment, ensuring that everything was in place exactly as Ryu had requested. The young boy watched closely, offering guidance and suggestions to ensure the setup matched his vision for the experiment.

Isao, after finishing up with the setup, said, "Ok. all done."

Turning to Ryu, he jokingly said, "Whatever you do, don't start a pandemic." 

When Ryu heard Isao's worry, he sighed and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Isao. I know what I am doing. Please prepare the remaining items, and we can start tomorrow." 

Establishing a makeshift laboratory in the hospital library, Ryu embarked on a determined quest to blend the principles of his world with the resources of this ninja world. Supported by Isao's cautious backing, the young boy was prepared to dive into his experiments, resolute in his mission to question the established medical norms in this world.