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. 

The sterile scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air as Dan led Ryu through the bustling corridors of Leaf Central Hospital, the hub of medical care in Leaf Village. Ryu, his frail frame dwarfed by the towering adults around him, cast curious glances at the medical equipment lining the walls.

As they walked, Ryu's keen eyes absorbed every detail of his surroundings. The hustle and bustle of nurses rushing past, the soft beeping of machines, and the hushed conversations of worried families all painted a vivid picture of a world where life and death danced a delicate balance.

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. A gesture that reflected the deep bond they shared.

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

Ryu's face lit up. "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." 

Dr. Yuki has clearly instructed his assistant to provide everything Ryu asks for. She has told his assistant that Ryu is terminally ill, and whatever he does, just go with it if its not too much.

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

Isao glanced down at the boy, impressed by his interest. "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, Dr. 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 Ryu. Yet a spark of defiance flickered within him. He wouldn't go down without a fight. They then left for the library.

Isao took Ryu towards the hospital library, where all research generals 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 have always prioritised the research work towards the Ninja world; therefore, the direction the medical world moved in was different from his original world. The ninjas were too reliant on herbs and their chakras to enhance their immune systems, but the civilans, 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."

He knows this world is different and has guessed at the microcosmic level that this must also be true, so he needs to experiment before doing anything with his body.

He called Isao, who was reading something of his own, and said, "Mr. Isao, can you prepare some equipment for me tomorrow?".

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 genuis, 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. Microcopes, beakers, test tubes, pieti 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 potatao? You are not going to eat it. are you?"

Ry 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 became Ryu's makeshift laboratory, a sanctuary where he juggled the principles of his world with the enigmatic 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.

He turned to Isao and asked, "Can Mr. Isao put the equipment I asked for here in this empty corner?"

"'Ok. I will place some tables to accommodate the equipment," he said.

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 just 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."

He then turned to Ryu and said, "Whatever you do,. Don't start a pandamic." 

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." 

Setting up a makeshift laboratory in the hospital library, Ryu embarked on a journey to blend the principles of his world with the resources of this unfamiliar realm. With Isao's hesitant support, the young boy was ready to delve into his experiments, determined to challenge the norms of medical practice in this world.