Chapter 18: Person of Interest

A resolute glint shone in Ryu's eyes as he looked at Dan. "I will accept the name, Grandpa," he said, his voice firm. "It's not just a name, but a legacy. A legacy that deserves to be remembered, not for the ostracisation, but for the love story etched in its core."

Dan's weathered face softened, years of guilt and regret visibly melting away. His eyes, once clouded with sorrow, now sparkled with renewed hope. A wave of relief washed over Dan. A single tear rolled down his cheek, a tear of regret tinged with hope. "Ryu Hamura," he whispered, the name tasting both familiar and foreign on his tongue.

"It's been so long since I've heard that name spoken with pride," Dan murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Your grandmother would be overjoyed to see this moment."

Taking a deep breath, Ryu continued, a newfound determination burning within him. "This name, this legacy, I will carry with honour. I will train, I will hone my skills, and one day, the name Hamura will be spoken with respect. I will bring honour back to this family one day and make you proud. This family's name will eventually be well-known to all, and it will be listed in history alongside Senju and Uchiha."

Ryu embraced his new surname, which had previously been revoked from his grandmother, Tsuki Hamura, by her father for eloping with his grandfather, Ryu Senju. Ryu Hamura will be his new name going forward.

As the weight of his new identity settled on him, Ryu felt a strange mix of excitement and trepidation. He glanced around the room, seeing it with new eyes—not just as a place of refuge but as the starting point of his journey to reclaim his family's honour.

Accepting his new family name, Hamura, bestowed upon him for the forbidden love between his grandmother, Tsuki Hamura, and Ryu Senju, Ryu stood in awe of the rich history that now coursed through his veins. Little did he know that he was a descendant of the prestigious Senju clan, the same bloodline that bore the famed Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage and the very personification of Shinobi's might.

He settled down in his new room. Trying to sleep, he thought about his next move. He needs to seriously prepare for the cure. He decided that the next day he would ask Dan to take him to Leaf Central Hospital to see Dr. Yuki, as promised by them. With a resolve as strong as steel, Ryu decided to seek out Dr. Yuki at Leaf Central Hospital for a cure, determined to defy fate.

As he lay in bed, the moonlight casting long shadows across his room, Ryu's mind raced with possibilities. He imagined himself growing stronger, mastering jutsu that had long been forgotten. In his mind's eye, he saw himself standing tall, the Hamura name restored to its former glory. But with these dreams came a gnawing fear: would his illness allow him to see these ambitions through?

The next day was very hopeful for him. He was feeling much better than when he reincarnated. Ryu speculated, "It might have been the result of my healing powers activating because my chakra was activated when I came into this world. However, it is still insufficient. It only somewhat lessens my suffering. It will not help me recover from such severe illnesses.

In the morning, he tried cooking for the first time in his life. He was picking things up fast. It came naturally to him because he had observed others cook for him in his previous life. The smell of cooking filled the room while he made breakfast for his grandfather and himself. Ryu's adoptive grandfather hosted their first breakfast together. Over breakfast, they continued their conversation.

The kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of miso soup and grilled fish. Dan watched with a mixture of amusement and pride as Ryu navigated the kitchen with surprising ease. "You're a natural," he commented, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "Just like your grandmother. She could whip up a feast from the simplest ingredients."

"Grandpa, were you a ninja?" Ryu questioned, his voice laced with curiosity. The revelation of his lineage sparked a yearning to understand his own potential and the life his grandfather had led.

Dan's eyes crinkled at the corners as a smile tugged at his lips. "Aye, Ryu," he said, his voice rasping with age. "A ninja I was, once upon a time. The Hamura clan served alongside the prestigious Senju. We were entrusted with safeguarding their most valued members—guardians in the shadows."

A flicker of pride danced in his eyes. "I myself held the honour of guarding Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. A woman of immense strength and unwavering spirit. Under her tutelage, I also studied Fūinjutsu."

Ryu leaned forward, his breakfast momentarily forgotten. "Fūinjutsu? The art of sealing? That sounds incredible, Grandpa! What kind of things could you do with it?"

Dan chuckled, a spark of his old enthusiasm returning. "Ah, fūinjutsu is a subtle art, but powerful. With the right seal, you could store objects, create barriers, or even seal away the chakra itself. Mito-sama was a master of it. She could create seals so complex that it would take a lifetime to unravel them."

After pausing, he spoke regretfully: "After my son passed away, I returned to being a ninja and resumed accepting missions. However, I suppose I would live out the rest of my days in retirement in peace while I watched you."

He had been wondering for a while, so he asked him if he was a ninja. It would make things easy for him in the future. In a moment of candid curiosity, Ryu found himself yearning to know more about his grandfather's life as a ninja, sensing that this knowledge could offer insights into his own journey ahead. He made a mental note to ask his adoptive grandfather to train him later. He clearly understood that in this ninja world, weakness is a sin.

"As for our living situation," Dan added, his voice returning to a more practical tone, "I do possess a few properties inherited after the decline of the clan. They're currently rented out to civilians who run shops in the area. The house we're in now should be enough for the two of us, but those properties could provide some additional income in the future."

At some unknown place, a sinister figure cloaked in shadows made its way to a hidden underground bunker, where an ominous presence loomed. The figure stopped on a platform surrounded by huge pillars. In the heart of the bunker, a man named Danzo sat at a desk, shrouded in mystery and power.

The air in the bunker was thick with tension, the dim lighting casting long, ominous shadows across the walls. The only sound was the soft rustle of cloth as the cloaked figure approached Danzo's desk.

Perplexed by Crow's unexpected visit, Danzo's curiosity was piqued.

Danzo, the one seated in what appeared to be a hidden office, asked, "Crow, why are you here?" 

The subordinate replied, "Lord Danzo, one of the person of interest, did something unusual." 

Danzo's single visible eye, a cold, calculating orb, flickered open. A flicker of interest pierced his stoic facade. "Report," he commanded, his voice a low growl.

With a head bowed in respect, Crow handed him a scroll and said, "Yuki Sarutobi met Dan Hamura after leaving her orphanage. The following day, Dan Hamura went to the orphanage and picked out a kid to adopt."

Kneeling before Danzo, the figure known as Crow delivered news of a peculiar incident involving a woman named Yuki Sarutobi and a man named Dan Hamura. The report detailed how Dan Hamura, Ryu's adoptive grandfather, had crossed paths with Yuki, who had recently departed her orphanage under peculiar circumstances

Danzo looked at the report in silence without speaking.

His subordinate went on, "He adopted a boy who is very sick and will not live for even a year."

"Ryu," Danzo thought as he carefully examined the file. A flicker of recognition ignited within him as the name 'Ryu' resonated deeply within his memory.

Subordinate was taken aback by his Lord's preoccupation with such insignificant details. His only responsibility was to report any unusual movements made by his target, Yuki Sarutobi. The subordinate, sensing the weight of Danzo's introspection, enquired about the next course of action, only to receive a dismissive response.

Subordonate then asked him, Lord Danzo, "Your orders?"

"Ignore it," Danzo finally said, his voice cold and dismissive. "A simple, dying orphan is taken in by a desperate man. Nothing more."

Crow rose from his kneeling position, a hint of confusion clouding his features. Yet he knew better than to question Danzo's orders. "Yes, Lord Danzo," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion. With a silent bow, he melted back into the shadows, leaving Danzo alone in his contemplative silence.

Giving Ryu's file another side glance, Danzo mused, "Ryu, now there is a name I have not heard in a long time. It brings back old memories."

Unbeknownst to Ryu, a web of fate and power entwined his existence with forces far beyond his comprehension. The threads of destiny pulled taut, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and peril that would soon unveil the true legacy hidden within his bloodline.

As night fell over Konoha, two very different scenes unfolded. In a cosy house, Ryu dreamed of a future bright with possibility, with his newfound grandfather sleeping peacefully nearby. Meanwhile, in a shadowy bunker, Danzo plotted, his machinations casting a long shadow over the village. The stage was set for a clash of wills, ideals, and destinies, with young Ryu at its very centre.