Naruto: The Medical Shinobi

The next day, as Isao and Ryu walked into the makeshift lab, a mess of equipment, test tubes, and beakers covered the tables. Ryu reviewed the experiments they did yesterday. 

"What is that?" Isao enquired, his voice laced with intrigue and a hint of apprehension as they looked at the petri dish they prepared yesterday

Ryu, with a mischievous glint in his eye, turned towards Isao and responded nonchalantly, "Well, that is what is trying to kill me."

Isao was shocked, but before he could react, Ryu said, "This is the disease-causing pathogen that is inside of me, Mr. Isao, and it could very well be the end of me if I do not act soon.". With a smile, he declared, "I will get rid of it before it kills me. I won't go down without a fight."

Isao's brow furrowed with concern. "Ryu, your determination is admirable, but... are you sure this is safe? If what you say is true, then we may be dealing with very dangerous pathogens in this lab, and we are not properly equipped."

Ryu nodded solemnly. "I understand your concern, Mr. Isao. But this might be my only chance. We're being careful, and I've studied this extensively. Trust me."

Isao, with curiosity, asked, "What are you trying to do?"

"As I previously told you, I am searching for something that is not my enemy but rather my enemy's enemy," Ryu then explained.

Isao, not understanding his analogy, scratched his head. Ryu sighed and reiterated what he had said earlier, "I am on a quest to discover a comparablely harmless pathogen that could ultimately fight the harmful pathogen within me without harming me," after glancing sideways at Confused Isao.

As Isao struggled to grasp the concept, Ryu simplified his explanation, emphasising the vital distinction between a harmful pathogen and one capable of aiding his recovery.

A flicker of understanding flickered in Isao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a flicker of worry. "But aren't all the pathogens harmful?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Ryu, ever the optimist, offered a reassuring smile. "Not necessarily," he explained. "The key is finding one specific strain that fulfils my requirements. It may take some time, but I am going to find it."

"Think of it like this," Ryu added, seeing Isao still struggling with the concept. If you still do not understand, it is like finding a predator that only consumes the pests in your garden and leaves the flowers alone. That's what we're aiming for here."

Isao's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, I see! Like how some farmers use ladybug to control aphids!"

Ryu beamed, pleased with the analogy. "Exactly! Now you've got it, Mr. Isao."

Inside of his mind, Ryu chukkled as he knew how it was done. It may not take long for him to find such a pathogen thanx to knowledge of his previous world. He then looked at the samples of moulds he placed in a petri dish filled with growth medium for cultivation. He left for growing earlier than that; now they were fully grown and visible to the naked eye.

He looked at Isao and said , "Mr. Isao, grab some gloves and help me." He paused before continuing, asking, "I can not do everything by myself, can I?"

"Mother Yuki assigned you the duty of assisting me, did she not?" he asked, grinning.

Isao then turned to face him and said, "You are the liveliest sick person I have ever met."

He smiled and said, "But because you are right. I will assist you. Just say, what I need to do?"

Ryu similed and said, "Let us prioritise precaution by donning gloves and masks—our safety is paramount, and we cannot afford to risk exposure to any deadly pathogens in our pursuit of unravelling this mystery. We would not want you to contract a deadly disease. Could we?" 

Isao shuddered at the thought of getting exposed to something as dangerous as this. With a sigh, he asked, "What have I got myself into?"

Witnessing Ryu's dedication and the looming challenge before them, Isao couldn't help but feel a surge of apprehension mingled with a sense of duty to support his friend in need. With a subtle nod of agreement, he accepted Ryu's request and prepared to contribute to their endeavour.

"Alright," Isao said, his voice steady despite his internal turmoil. "Gloves and masks on. What should I do now?"

"Everything is labelled, Mr. Isao," he began, his voice betraying a hint of excitement. "What I need you to do is grab a microscope, carefully examine each sample and note down what you observe. Next, using a cotton swab, carefully place some of these fungal samples onto the bodily samples that were taken. Label everything with the appropriate serial number, date, and time to ensure proper documentation. Periodically observe any alterations or oddities in their behaviour and patterns on the dishes."

Isao nodded, his hands steady as he reached for the microscope. "I understand. But Ryu, what exactly am I looking for? How will I know if I've found something significant?"

Ryu leaned in, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Great question, Mr. Isao. We're looking for any signs of interaction between the fungi and the bacteria. It could be changes in shape, colour, or movement. Anything out of the ordinary could be a clue."

He paused, then added, "And don't worry if you're not sure. Just note down everything you see, no matter how small. Sometimes the most important discoveries come from the tiniest details."

Taking up the microscope with a steady hand, Isao embarked on a thorough examination of each specimen, marvelling at the intricate details revealed under magnification. After that, Following Ryu's guidance, Isao carefully extracted minute samples of fungi, preparing to introduce them to the controlled environment of Ryu's body samples—a pivotal moment in their quest for scientific discovery.

As they were busy making breakthrough scientific discoveries, a misterious figure donning a mask similar to a mouse was watching them silently. He had been following Ryu and watching his every move since the past day. He has been so cautious as not to be noticed by Ryu. The keen observation abilities of Ryu have been rendered useless in the front of a trianted spy. Ryu might have noticed him if he had been purposefully observing his surroundings, but so far he hasn't, and he was not strong enough or trained for this kind of thing. He was only thinking about curing himself.

The ANBU agent, codenamed Mouse, observed the scene with a mixture of curiosity and concern. 'This boy,' he thought, 'is either a genius or dangerously reckless. Perhaps both.' He made a mental note to include every detail in his report to the Hokage, knowing that the old leader would be keenly interested in these developments.

After they were done with their work, they finally relaxed. Isao then said, "That's some dangerous work."

Ryu than said, "Killing something, even a tiny bacteria which is thought to be unkillable, is a dangerous undertaking.'

He then continued, "As I suggest, you should take precautions at all times and always prioritise safety. "

Ryu imparted a valuable lesson on the importance of vigilance and caution in the face of adversity, a reminder to always prioritise safety above all else. Isao nodded and acknowledged the inherent danger embedded in their work.

Exhausted but exhilarated, Ryu finally pushed himself back from his work bench. Hours had flown by in a whirlwind of scientific inquiry, and the late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the library windows.

"I think we're done for today, Mr. Isao," Ryu declared, stretching his stiff muscles. A deep ache settled in his lower abdomen, a constant reminder of his condition. It was getting harder and harder to bear every day.

Ryu winced, trying to hide the pain from Isao. But his observant friend noticed.

"Ryu, are you alright?" Isao asked, concern etched on his face. "Maybe we should call it a day. You've been pushing yourself too hard."

Ryu forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mr. Isao. Just a bit tired. But you're right, we should wrap up for today."

"Mr. Isao," Ryu began, his voice tinged with a hint of his previous mischievousness, "how about we grab something to eat? My stomach's starting to rumble like a volcano about to erupt."

Isao laughed. "Sounds good to me," he said, his stomach growling in agreement. "After all that brainwork, we deserve a proper refuel."

Isao contemplated a well-deserved meal as they left the laboratory behind, a sense of accomplishment mingling with the anticipation of further discoveries awaiting them. They left the library and headed towards the cafeteria after cleaning their makeup lab.

As they entered the cafeteria, they could hear gossip circulating. Everyone still remembered the incident from yesterday, when Ryu identified the elderly man's condition when other, more qualified medical professionals were unable to.

Both Isao and Ryu tried to ignore it. Isao and Ryu made their way through the busy cafeteria, where they briefly disappeared into a quiet bubble amidst the commotion.

After working long days, the two of them were quietly enjoying their meal when a figure approached them from behind. 

[A/N:

Thank you, Mohammed Alshamsi, for supporting me on Patreon.

You can also become a member on Patreon, where all free members get 5 latest chapters for free! patreon.com/PageTurnerPJ

You can also tip me at ko-fi. com/pageturnerpj (no spacing)

You can also support me on UPI: pageturner@ybl 

Your support is what gets this story going, so please donate power STONES to the story.

Please like and share your review to the story.

You can also follow me on X : @PageTurnerPJ

]