Chapter 8: Dark Energy

Ryu's private room was bathed in a gentle morning light as he awoke to the comforting sight of Hotaru, the skilled and warm-hearted lady cook.

"How are you today?" Hotaru asked.

Ryu, and with a mischievous smile, he responded, "With you here, I am feeling significantly better already. Your presence is better than any medicine, Hotaru-san."

Hotaru chuckled, her eyes crinkling with warmth. "Such a charmer, aren't you? Well, I hope you're hungry because I've brought your favourite. And don't think flattery will get you extra dessert, young man."

As Hotaru presented breakfast, the caretaker, Hiroto, entered with the key to the private library of Mother Yuki.

Hotaru blushed at the arrival of the caretaker, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. It was all the proof Ryu needed to confirm that there was something going on between the caretaker and the cook.

Ryu suppressed a knowing smile, his keen eyes catching the subtle exchange of glances between Hotaru and Hiroto. The adult part of him, Ken, felt a twinge of guilt for manipulating their secret, but the child in him couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It was like solving a puzzle, except this one involved two adults acting like awkward teenagers.

With a serious expression, Hiroto handed Ryu the key, accompanied by a stern warning to maintain order: tidy the place before swiftly departing; nothing should be found out of place; and not to tell anyone about the library.

"Remember, Ryu," Hiroto said, his voice low and serious, "this is a big responsibility. Mother Yuki trusts us to keep her sanctuary private. Don't abuse that trust."

Ryu nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the situation. "I promise, Mr. Hiroto. I'll be careful."

Filled with anticipation, Ryu eagerly made his way to the private library, unlocking the door with the key provided by Hiroto. It was a small room, but it was full of medical books. Stepping inside, he found himself surrounded by shelves lined with an array of medical textbooks, offering a wealth of knowledge waiting to be explored.

Intrigued by the potential insights awaiting him, Ryu immersed himself in the study of human biology, seeking to unravel the mysteries that distinguished his past life from his current existence. As he started reading a book his through his enhanced vision courtesy of [Improved Eyesight], he recorded everything in his [Eidetic Memory], and it appeared in front of him like a floating computer screen thanks to [Hyperphantasia].

As he processed the information within seconds of recording it via [Fast Thinking] and [Parallel Thinking] he finds out that other than some natural laws and a few differences in biology, there were not many differences. Fundamentally, the anatomy was the same. One heart, stomach, liver, brain, two lungs, kidneys, and other organs were as he remembered.

The distinct differences in cellular biology between worlds—even a minor difference—may give rise to entire new concepts from the perspective of a scientist and doctor.

He then wondered what the cause of these differences could be. He could only think of one answer. He said to himself, "Chakra."

"Fascinating," Ryu murmured, his eyes scanning the pages with intense focus. "The cellular structures here are subtly different, almost as if they're... reinforced somehow. Is this the influence of the chakra at the microscopic level?"

Could "chakra" be the underlying cause of the differences in physical laws and biology in this new environment? Ryu wondered. He can only think of that as an explanation. Without experimentation, he cannot confirm this, but that may be the only explanation.

He pondered where this chakra came from and what the underlying cause of it was that was affecting the laws of nature. One thing he was sure of was that, whatever it was, this chakra was missing from his original world.

He suddenly thought about a phenomenon that scientists tried to observe and detect without any major success. A phenomenon some thought had evolved with the help of telescopes in space looking into the void of the world.

"Dark energy," Ryu muttered to himself, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of it all. "Is that it? Could this energy called chakra be the dark energy that scientists have been searching for all these years?"

Ryu's introspections towards the elusive phenomenon of 'dark energy' intriguingly ponder its conceivable link to the intricate tapestry of interdimensional variance.

Ryu then remembered the quote from one of his colleagues from theoretical metaphysics: "The dark energy can bend and shape reality that we know. It's a journey to the impossible."

"Is this the reason ninjas in our world can manipulate the elements and perform feats that would have been unthinkable in my previous one?" Ryu thought.

With each passing hour spent immersed in the wisdom of the library, Ryu's resolve solidified, a relentless pursuit of knowledge driving him forward.

There were only a few books in this private library. It was not enough for Ryu, but what can he do? He has to make do with whatever he has. Time was of essence. He needed to quickly find a cure for his illness, as constant pain in his stomach was a nuisance, and he was not so eager to die too soon as he had just reincarnated into this world.

He has guessed what sort of illness he has contacted from his past knowledge and the probable treatment method for them. But, he needed a lab to work with, a place where he could conduct experiments and test his theories.

"A lab," Ryu sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "How am I supposed to get access to a lab as a child in an orphanage? There has to be a way..."

His mind raced with possibilities. Could he convince Mother Yuki to let him assist in the infirmary? Or perhaps he could find a way to sneak into the hospital? The risks were high, but the potential rewards were too great to ignore.

"Maybe I could fake a really convincing cough," Ryu mused, then shook his head. "No, no, that's ridiculous. I need a better plan. Something that doesn't involve potentially getting quarantined."

He studied for many hours, absorbing knowledge like a sponge; his thirst for understanding was insatiable. In his world, even civilians had the potential for superhuman enhancement with proper training. But despite their resilience, they were not completely immune to the diseases that ravaged their world. The bacteria and illnesses had modified themselves to attack the much more resilient bodies of Ninjas.

"Nature always finds a way." Whoever said this quote was not wrong. Humans are not meant to live forever.

"But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," he said to himself. He was determined to win this battle against fate.

Figuring out the more about difference between the human body on earth and on this planet. He needs more books and their knowledge. What is available at this place is not enough.

Ryu's frustration grew as he realized the limitations of his current resources. "I need more," he muttered, closing another book with a sigh. "There has to be a way to access more advanced medical texts. Maybe if I could prove my knowledge to Mother Yuki, she'd allow me to study more..."

As he sat in the library, lost in thought, a sudden disturbance interrupted his solitude. Someone was attempting to enter the room. He quickly hid behind a bookcase, his heart racing with fear and anticipation. Mother Yuki left for the hospital; who could it be?

Without thinking, he hurried as quickly as possible without making too much of a sound and hid behind a bookcase.

Alert and cautious, Ryu observed from his hiding spot behind a bookshelf, glimpsing Mother Yuki's entrance with an air of annoyance.

Ryu's heart raced as he watched from his hiding spot behind the bookshelf. Dr. Yuki was not to arrive for hours; she returned too soon. He couldn't make out who it was at first, but as they approached closer, Ryu's focus shifted entirely.

A figure of power and mystery that sent shivers down his spine.

Ryu immediately recognized the person. The unexpected appearance stirred a mix of surprise and fear in Ryu, prompting a singular thought to dominate his consciousness.

He only had one thought: "Danzo freaking Shimura."

He was surprised and scared. The impending encounter with this mysterious individual would undoubtedly shape the course of his journey in unforeseen ways.

The name echoed in Ryu's mind, bringing with it a flood of memories from the story he knew in his past life. Danzo Shimura – the shadow behind Konoha, a man of ambition and ruthlessness. What was he doing here, in Mother Yuki's private library?

Ryu's mind raced with possibilities, each more alarming than the last. Was Danzo here for Mother Yuki? For the orphanage? Or... for him? The thought sent a chill down his spine. He had to be careful, very careful. One wrong move, and he might find himself entangled in a web far more dangerous than any illness.

[A/N: 

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