When Ryu arrived in River City, the familiar buzz of city life contrasted sharply with the quiet mountains he had just left, where he had spent the morning planning new industrial sites and transport systems. His keen senses immediately recognised Dan and Yuki's chakra signatures. Soon after, he felt the distinct, powerful presence of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
Ryu moved swiftly, locating them near the city's main gates, where a small contingent of Konoha shinobi stood guard. He approached with a respectful bow to Hiruzen, followed by a warm greeting to his grandfather and mother.
"Lord Third, Grandfather, Mother," Ryu greeted, his voice calm. "It's good to see you all. I trust your journey was uneventful?"
Yuki replied, "Thank goodness it was uneventful. Even so, I believe we would still be in the middle of nowhere if we had stuck to your grandfather's speed alone."
Dan, who looked amused by her remark, chuckled softly. He simply replied, "I am getting old. I am older than those two; long-distance travelling is not as easy for me as it used to be."
Ryu assured, "I'll create a way for you to travel long distances effortlessly. You won't break a sweat. I promise."
Dan laughed and said, "I will hold you to that promise."
Hiruzen chuckled and said, "Jokes aside, Ryu-kun…" He then looked at Ryu more closely, a hint of concern in his eyes. "We heard about the deadly attack you faced. Are you well?"
Ryu smiled reassuringly and nodded. "I'm fine, thank you for asking," he answered. "It was a close call, but I escaped with only a few scratches. Next time, I'll be better prepared. Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for my enemies, things will not be the same." Ryu said the last part with a hint of killing intent. Ryu was still a bit upset by the attempt on his life.
Hiruzen thought, "So… this is the killing intel that was mentioned in the report… It's so uncharacteristic for someone so…young...""
Observing his grandson, Dan felt a sense of quiet pride welling up within him. He knew Ryu wasn't just speaking bravado.
"He has cards he hasn't even shown me yet." Dan thought. "A powerful mind that can adapt and innovate at unprecedented speeds. He is an expert in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and forbidden techniques."
Dan looked at Ryu and continued his thoughts, "Ninjutsu that is super-powerful demands physical strength as well as strong chakras. But not Fuinjutsu and Genjutsu… they are favourable in this regard. Even a crippled person can attain greatness through Genjutsu and Fuinjutsu if he is intelligent enough. And Ryu is not crippled; he excels in Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Medical, and Fuinjutsu, plus he may have unique talents due to his unique bloodline."
Hiruzen chuckled, shaking his head. "Good to hear, Ryu-kun. Very good. It's my job to worry, after all." He then straightened, his gaze turning serious. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have important matters to discuss with Lord Azuma. I'll take my leave for now." With a swift, almost imperceptible Shunshin, the Third Hokage vanished, leaving behind only a faint wisp of smoke.
Dan turned to Ryu, his expression more relaxed now that Hiruzen was gone. "So, Ryu. What help do you need? You said you couldn't do it alone."
"Let's discuss things inside, Grandfather," Ryu replied, gesturing towards the hospital.
They made their way to Tsunade's temporary office in the hospital, finding her already there, reviewing some medical reports.
"Yuki-sensei!" Tsunade exclaimed, her face lighting up with genuine warmth as she saw her former mentor. She moved to embrace Yuki, a rare display of affection. "It hasn't been long since we last met, but it's good to see you here."
Yuki returned the hug, a playful arch to her eyebrow. "Well, well, Tsunade. I didn't expect to find you here, playing the doting aunt."
Tsunade, catching Yuki's playful jab, merely smirked. "He's my nephew, isn't he, Yuki-sensei? Of course I'm here. Someone has to keep him out of trouble, or at least clean up after it."
Ryu responded, "I am not that much of a troublemaker."
Everyone stared at him.
Ryu decided to change the topic and said, "I need help with a patient named Souji. This is his condition."
-Genjutsu: [Mind Palace Projection] activated
With a subtle shift in his stance, Ryu activated his [Mind Palace]. The world around them shimmered, not visibly, but perceptibly, as he then initiated his Genjutsu.
A second later, the office vanished, leaving behind the wide, bright expanse of Ryu's Mind Palace. Yuki and Dan had been through this previously, so they didn't seem to mind. But for Shizune-san and Tsunade, it was a completely new and breathtaking experience. Their eyes opened as they took in the endless expanse and Ryu's floating structures made up of thoughts and memories.
Ryu snapped his fingers, and before their astonished eyes, a human body started to form in the centre of the space. It materialised from the inside out, a meticulous, almost reverent process: first the stark white of bones, then the intricate network of nerves and veins, followed by the complex weave of muscles. It paused just before the skin began to form, a living, anatomical sculpture. By now, Ryu had rendered all the muscles and most of the body in stunning detail, with the exception of the outer skin.
Ryu made a precise hand gesture, his hands expanding diagonally, and the skull of the body opened, revealing the intricate, vulnerable organ within.
Then, a specific part of the brain within the skull began to glow with a dull, sickly grey colour, highlighting the damaged area. Ryu gestured with his hand, and the virtual brain within the skull disassembled, its different lobes and sections separating and freezing in mid-air.
Ryu pointed to a section and said, "This specific part of his brain, including sections of his motor cortex, cerebellum, and parts of the brainstem responsible for motor function and coordination, is severely damaged."
As Ryu explained, each distinct hovering piece of the brain glowed and changed colours, resembling a PowerPoint presentation in virtual reality format.
.
Tsunade's eyes, which were normally quick to assess a patient, were now fixed on the floating, deconstructed brain, with a look of profound fascination and professional awe on her face.
"Incredible," Tsuande said, her voice barely a whisper. "To see it so clearly... the pathways, the damage, the accuracy! This goes beyond any medical imaging we have!"
Shizune, beside her, was completely amazed, her usual calm replaced by wide-eyed wonder at Ryu's mastery.
Tsunade, her initial surprise fading into professional interest, looked around the Mind Palace.
"This... this is incredible, Ryu! The clarity, the detail! To be able to visualise and share complex thoughts like this... Can you teach me this?"
Ryu gave a small, apologetic smile and said, "I am afraid not, Auntie Tsunade. This application of genjutsu is unique to me, as it is linked to my own [Mind Palace], which is a manifestation of my special memory. It is a natural ability that cannot be taught or replicated."
Beside this virtual body, Souji's medical chart materialised, floating in the air, its data shimmering with information.
"He suffered blunt force trauma," Ryu explained calmly and precisely, breaking down the medical situation with clarity. "He was presumed brain dead by the hospital staff and listed as a potential organ donor."
Yuki's face contorted, a flash of concern crossing her features. "If his family agreed?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"He is an orphan, Mother," Ryu replied, his voice flat, the harsh reality of the situation echoing in the Mind Palace.
Yuki's expression hardened, a cold fury settling in her eyes. As a seasoned medical professional and a compassionate head of an orphanage, the implications struck her with a visceral force.
"Very convenient," she spat, her gaze turning chillingly analytical. "No one to sign for him, so they exploited him. Utterly unethical and a disgrace to the medical profession!"
"Not anymore," Ryu stated, his voice firm, a quiet resolve emanating from him. "He is under my care now, and with Lord Daimyo's support, I have complete control over his treatment. No one will intervene without my direct approval."
Tsunade turned to Yuki and Dan, her expression now serious. "Ryu has an audacious plan for Souji. One that defies traditional medical understanding," Tsunade stated, a hint of the same awe she'd shown earlier in her voice.
"Ryu believes he can bring him back, not by directly healing the damaged tissue, which we both know is impossible with current methods," Tsuande said, glancing at Yuki, "but by taking a completely different approach."
She looked at Ryu. "Go ahead, Ryu. "Tell them.
Ryu gave a subtle, knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with bold ambition. He gestured, and two shimmering knowledge spheres, like miniature galaxies, appeared near him. They pulsed with a faint, internal light, hinting at the vast information contained within. He touched one, and a screen popped up, displaying intricate diagrams and complex equations of a fuinjutsu seal. The title above it glowed: [Unnamed Seal].
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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