Chapter 5: Dr. Yuki Sarutobi

Opening his eyes, Ken found himself on a bed in a room that looked like an infirmary. With a sense of disorientation clouding his thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder about his current location and the events that had led him here. Slowly rising from his prone position, Ken's gaze swept over the unfamiliar surroundings.

He asked himself the most basic question one could ask: "Where am I?"

His initial confusion gave way to introspection as he pondered the unfamiliar surroundings. The tranquillity of the moment was disrupted by a surge of pain that rippled through his head, memories of a boy named Ryu flooding his consciousness in a bewildering rush.

"What's happening to me?" He whispered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar. The memories kept coming, each one more vivid than the last. He saw a village hidden among leaves, felt the warmth of a mother's embrace, and heard the laughter of children playing. But none of it was his. Or was it?

The pain was intense, like a thousand needles piercing his skull. Ken gasped, his hands clutching his head as he tried to make sense of the flood of information. Images, sounds, and emotions that weren't his own cascaded through his mind, painting a vivid picture of a life he hadn't lived.

His initial confusion gradually gave way to deeper introspection as he tried to piece together the fragments of memory that lingered on the fringes of his consciousness. Ken's head throbbed with fierce intensity, memories and emotions swirling chaotically within him as he struggled to make sense of his new existence.

"Ryu," he whispered, testing the name on his tongue. It felt foreign yet familiar, like a well-worn shoe that didn't quite fit. "Is this... me now?"

The throbbing ache gradually subsided, allowing Ken to focus his gaze on the figure sleeping nearby. Beside his bed, the orphanage head, Yuki Sarutobi, slumbered peacefully. He then pieced together the earlier events and made a guess that he was reincarnated as a boy named Ryu, was unconscious, and was being treated by this person.

He remembered the person from the memories he had just inherited. It was the orphanage head, Yuki Sarutobi. He then asked himself, "Is she related to the third hokage?"

Ken's scientific mind kicked into gear, analysing the situation. "Sarutobi... that's the Third Hokage's clan name. Could she be a relative?" The questions piled up, each one leading to another in a dizzying cascade of curiosity.

Pain shot through his weakened body as he attempted to sit up, his movements slow and cautious. "Great," he thought sarcastically, "I've been reincarnated into a body that feels like it's been through a meat grinder."

The sudden movement woke up the orphanage head, Yuki. "Don't try to move," she said, her voice laced with concern.

She then added, "I tried to heal you, but you are still very weak. You still need some proper bed rest. So do not try to move too much."

Her gentle voice carried a genuine concern for his well-being. Despite her best efforts, the lack of adequate resources in the orphanage underscored the challenges they faced, painting a sombre picture of their circumstances.

Ken, ever the astute observer, started evaluating the extent of his physical condition, recognising not just the minor injuries from his tormentors but also the grave illnesses that had plagued Ryu's frail body. Other than the many minor physical injuries he sustained from his bullies, he recognised the presence of multiple illnesses.

His mind raced, cataloguing symptoms and potential diagnoses. The body he now inhabited was weak—far weaker than he had anticipated. "This complicates things," he thought grimly. "I'll need to find a way to strengthen this body if I hope to survive in this world, let alone become a Shinobi.

Dr. Yuki looked at Ryu, her eyes filled with concern, and she then became sad and said, "I am sorry that I couldn't do much for your illness."

She paused for a moment and continued, "I have reprimanded those boys for all the trouble they have caused you. Rest assured, they will never dare create more problems for you, not even in their wildest dreams."

A wave of dizziness washed over Ryu, or rather, Ken. The memories of Ryu's past were still swirling in his mind, a chaotic mix of pain and confusion. "They picked on the new kid," he rasped, his throat dry. "Couldn't just leave him alone."

Dr. Yuki's lips twitched in a faint smile. "A noble sentiment, but remember, this is a world of Shinobi. Strength is valued here. Still," she added, her voice softening, "you shouldn't have taken such a beating for it."

A weak smile flickered across Ryu's face, replaced by a grimace of pain. "Don't worry about me, Mother Yuki," he rasped. "Thank you for everything."

Ken, trapped within Ryu's weakened body, felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Dr. Yuki's warmth was a stark contrast to the sterile environment of his past life.

Ken, or better, the reborn Ryu, realised the sadness in her voice. From the memories he inherited from Ryu's past, he deduced he was in the period right after the Kyubi attack on Leaf Village.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Ken as he reflected on the aftermath of the Kyubi attack, a tragedy that had left a trail of devastation in its wake, reshaping the lives of countless individuals. Through Ryu's memories, Ken gained a deeper understanding of the village's collective trauma and the enduring impact of loss and displacement.

The Kyubi attack took away the families of many people. He quickly understood that the sudden influx of so many orphans had put the budget of the orphanage in a tight spot.

"Talk about a budget crunch," he thought wryly. "Guess the Hokage's crystal ball didn't see this coming."

He had seen the story during his childhood, but he never understood the extent of the damage the Kyubi attack had on the Leaf village. Not very much is explored in the show or manga other than its effect on the main cast.

From the memories of Ryu, he finds out that he lost his mother in the Kyubi attack. He thought about all the parents who lost their children that day and all the husbands or wives that were lost that day and thought, "Now I understand why Naruto was hated by the villagers."

He always thought that the villagers were stupid for hating Naruto for no reason, as he had nothing to do with the Kyubi attack. He was a stupid kid who did not deserve all that hate. But now he understood from the perspective of the villagers that they needed to blame someone to forget their pain. Even though someone would be smart enough to understand the complexity of the situation like that ramen guy.

Dr. Yuki said in a caring voice, interrupting Ryu's thoughts, "Rest properly. If you need something, tell the caretaker, Hiroto. Your food will be brought to you till you heal completely; therefore, there is no need to stress yourself."

Dr. Yuki left Ryu in the care of Hiroto and left for work. From his memories of Ryu, he figured she worked at the Leaf Central Hospital. At this moment, a thought was born in his head.

Determined to grasp the intricate workings of this foreign world, Ken knew that he needed more than just a mere introduction to chakra and ninja lore. He felt a deep yearning to unravel the mysteries that surrounded him and to dive into the hidden knowledge that lay buried in the annals of history. He thought that he would request books from Yuki the next time he met her. He needs to catch up to this world, and he could start from any books he could find in the orphanage first.

As he lay there, Ken's mind buzzed with plans and possibilities. He would need to be careful to balance his thirst for knowledge with the need to appear as a normal, if precocious, child. But the potential was staggering. With his adult mind and scientific background, combined with the knowledge of this world, what heights could he reach?

"I need to be methodical about this," he thought. "Start with the basics of chakra theory, then move on to history, politics, and advanced techniques. But before all that, I need to work on strengthening this body. If I train with my body this weak, I could die. So training will have to wait after i cure this body. " 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Ryu made a silent vow. He would overcome his physical limitations, master the chakra within him, and carve his own path in this world of power and potential. The story of Ryu, the reincarnated scientist in a world of ninjas, had just begun.

[A/N: 

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