That name—Ryu Hamura—echoed in the Hokage's chambers, a whisper from a bygone era. It resonated deeply within him, unearthing a wellspring of regrettable memories. He closed his eyes as he felt the haunting memories of his failed mission and unpleasant outcome of that failure resurface.
Hiruzen's mind drifted to a time long past, when the village was still in its infancy. He remembered a young man, Ryu Senju, with eyes that sparkled with intelligence and a gentle smile that could put even the most troubled soul at ease. The memory was filled with fondness yet tinged with a hint of regret.
Deep in thought, Hiruzen wondered, 'Is it a mere coincidence that Dan adopted him due to their shared name, or is there a connection to Ryu Senju?'
Tatsuya observed the subtle change in the Hokage's demeanor. The playful glint in Hiruzen's eyes had been replaced by seriousness. He asked softly, "Is something wrong, Lord Hokage?" in a worried tone.
"Well, not exactly," he said. "It's simply the name. It evokes a memory, a reminder of someone from my past. A ninja named Ryu Senju, who was a distant relative of the First and Second Hokage."
Tatsuya leaned forward, his curiosity piqued by the mention of a possible connection to past Hokage. He asked, "Ryu Senju? I don't believe I've ever heard that name in the village's history, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen nodded slowly and said, "Only a few have. Ryu Senju was... a complicated figure in our village's early days. Brilliant, but troubled. We, the elder generation, do not often tell his story."
Tatsuya was surprised by the sudden reveal and thought, 'Someone related to past Hokage.'
"It is not the name that worries me," he said, a sombre tone seeping into his voice. "What will happen to Dan after the boy..." he trailed off, leaving the unspoken words dangling in the atmosphere.
It was impossible for Hiruzen to avoid feeling sorry for Dan. It must be extremely difficult to deal with the threat of losing the boy and the burden of his past.
"It's a cruel twist of fate," Hiruzen continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dan, who has already lost so much, opens his heart to a child who..." He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
Tatsuya nodded and said, 'It's a heavy burden, indeed. However, this connection could be healing for both of them, even if their time together is limited.'
Tatsuya, sensing the Hokage's unspoken worry, spoke up. "Speaking of the boy, Lord Hokage, I overheard some curious rumours at the hospital."
The Hokage's gaze sharpened with interest. "Rumours?" he enquired, leaning forward slightly.
Tatsuya said, "I hear the boy has set up a makeshift lab in the library, closed off from prying eyes, and Dr. Yuki had put the library off limits to everyone."
Continuing, he said, "I don't know what to make of it."
Hiruzen's eyebrows shot up. "A makeshift lab? In the hospital library?" He stroked his beard and thought, 'That's... highly unusual. Dr. Yuki isn't one to bend rules without good reason.'
"Indeed, Lord Hokage," Tatsuya agreed. "The staff seems both intrigued and a bit wary. Some are whispering about revolutionary medical research going on behind the curtains."
A slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Interesting," he mused. "Perhaps it's time I had a word with Yuki. Perhaps she could provide some insight into this strange young man."
He then turned to Tatsuya, his voice firm yet laced with a hint of gratitude for Tatsuya, and said, "Thank you, Tatsuya. No need to pry further for now. I will handle the investigation from here. You may leave now."
Tatsuya bowed respectfully, acknowledging the Hokage's instructions, and quietly left the solemn atmosphere of the Hokage's chambers. After he left the room, Hiruzen looked up at the ceiling and said, "Ask Mouse to look into the boy and discreetly observe him and report to me what experiment he is doing."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," ANBU guards code-named Mouse replied, and he left the room without showing himself.
As the ANBU Ninja departed, the old Hokage reclined in his chair, reflecting on the name 'Ryu Hamura' and the memories it stirred, hinting at a deeper connection or significance.
The following day proceeded as usual. Ryu woke up early and cooked for his grandfather. He improved every day in his cooking skills. He thought, "Maybe I should cook him something from my old world. Grandpa would love it."
He was later brought to the hospital by his adoptive grandfather, Dan, where they were met by Isao at the door, who greeted them.
As Isao accompanied him, Ryu entered the hospital, where they were met with curious looks and murmurs from both hospital employees and patients. Confused by the sudden attention, he asked Isao to explain, "Mr. Isao, why is everyone staring at me?"
"You are really asking me after what you did yesterday?" Isao said, glancing at Ryu.
Confused, Ryu asked himself, "Did I do something wrong?"
Isao looked at the boy and said, "The man you spoke to yesterday, Mr. Hashimoto, went to a doctor yesterday and shared your opinion. After conducting some tests, the doctor confirmed your findings. Your diagnosis was on point. He was suffering from lime dust sensitivity, and sunlight was the trigger for that."
He went on to say, smiling, "He wanted to thank you even though you had already left yesterday. So he asked me to thank you on his behalf before leaving."
He then said, "You are now a celebrity in the hospital. Everyone in the hospital now knows what you did and has become a fan of you."
Ryu's eyes widened in surprise. "A celebrity? But I... I didn't mean to..." He trailed off, his mind racing. This was exactly the kind of attention he had hoped to avoid.
Ryu then thought, 'Maybe I overdid it. It would have been best if we had spoken privately. I have to remain under the radar. I would not want to find myself in Danzo's or, worse, Orochimaru's crosshairs.'
Overwhelmed by the unexpected attention, Ryu began to worry about what might be lurking in the background, particularly the danger that characters like Danzo and Orochimaru posed. People like Danzo, with their insatiable hunger for power, and Orochimaru, with his twisted experiments, would stop at nothing to exploit themind of a reincarnated individual if they caught wind of him. He shivered at the thought of getting caught by those two.
He reasoned, "They will take apart my brain to extract all of my secrets if they discover that I am a reincarnation. And they will do it without a thought or concern for my well-being."
The impending dangers all around Ryu consumed his thoughts as he made his way to the makeshift lab in the private library. Now that he was so weak and could not even escape from a child of the same age, Ryu needed to carefully plan and consider every move in order to escape the clutches of evil forces.
He sighed inwardly, realising his mistake, and thought, 'I must tread carefully and remain discreet. I cannot afford to fall into the hands of those two. Even the benevolent Hokage would subject me to a mind scan by the Yamaka clan if he uncovered my secret.'
He realised, "I need a sponsor or the backing of a powerful person. I am vulnerable at the moment. I must speak with Mother Yuki later."
He thought, "If she can place a gag order on my actions, it would be best. Even if she cannot force her employees, I must have her backing. I don't know anyone else as of now."
Ryu knew that his survival depended on forging alliances that could shield him from the prying eyes and grasping hands of those who would seek him; they had a hint of his existence.