Chapter 7

The morning sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft glow across the Land of Waves. As Naruto and Kakashi flew silently above the town, Naruto couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. This was the place where his bond with the people had been solidified, where he had met Haku and Zabuza, and where he had learned valuable lessons about strength, loyalty, and sacrifice.

But as they neared the town, the sight before them wasn't the lively, bustling village Naruto remembered. The once vibrant streets were now riddled with signs of devastation. Buildings stood half-collapsed, their charred remains marking the scars of a painful past. The air itself felt heavy, as if the town had not only suffered physical damage but was also grieving for the lives lost.

Naruto's heart sank as he saw the frail people walking the streets, their faces gaunt and hollow. Illnesses had ravaged the population, and it was evident that the pain caused by the war had not left them. Many had died without proper care. The healers, once an essential part of the town's well-being, had been taken during the war to fight for the survival of the country. Kakashi, ever the observer, noted the sorrow in Naruto's eyes.

"The healers had been recruited during the war. It is a consequence of such an action," Kakashi explained quietly.

Naruto clenched his fists, trying to hold back his frustration. "Did they take all of them?"

"Unfortunately, yes. They were needed for the survival of humanity. The sacrifices were necessary in such dire circumstances."

Naruto stayed silent, the weight of Kakashi's words pressing on him. He knew the logic behind it, but it didn't make the situation any easier to bear. The pain, the suffering, the loss—it was all too much. In his heart, he wished there had been another way. A way that didn't require innocent lives to be sacrificed for the greater good.

As they approached their destination, Naruto's gaze was drawn to a familiar figure practicing in the yard of a small house. The boy, now a young man, was swinging a sword and shield with a determination that could be felt from a distance. His form was strong, his movements sure. Naruto's heart skipped a beat as he realized who it was.

Inari.

The once timid, weak boy who had once looked up to Naruto with admiration and hope had transformed. His small frame had grown into a tall, muscular build, and the faint traces of chakra radiated from him as he practiced his technique. Naruto could even sense the small flickers of energy, the hint of chakra control that Inari had begun to develop.

"Good morning, Inari. How have you been?" Naruto's voice cut through the air, surprising the young man. Inari had been so focused on his training that he hadn't noticed their approach.

Inari spun around, his eyes widening in shock at the sudden sound. He quickly dropped the blade in his hands and ran toward Naruto with a radiant smile that seemed to light up the somber atmosphere around them.

"Big brother, you finally came back! I thought you had forgotten about us," Inari exclaimed, his voice full of joy and relief as he hugged Naruto tightly.

Naruto chuckled softly, feeling the familiar warmth of the boy's embrace. "I would never lie, you pipsqueak. I always keep my promise."

Inari pulled back, his eyes sparkling with pride. "Big brother, I'm as tall as you now!" He stood at full height, his chest puffing out with pride. He had indeed grown, now standing at 175 cm, nearly matching Naruto's height.

Naruto grinned, glancing down at Inari with a look of fondness. "I can see that. And you've packed some muscles too." He pinched Inari's side, feeling the hard, toned muscle beneath his fingers before giving the young man a playful pat on the head. "You've done a wonderful job."

Inari beamed at the praise, his heart swelling with happiness. He bolted inside the house, eager to tell everyone about Naruto's arrival. His feet carried him faster than ever before, his excitement contagious as he shouted for the others to come and meet their long-awaited guest.

Kakashi, standing behind Naruto, smiled quietly, watching the reunion unfold. It was clear that Inari had grown not just physically but emotionally as well. He had become strong in ways that could not be measured by just his muscles alone. The town had endured, and so had its people. Inari had become the living proof of that strength, carrying the hopes of those who had been lost.

As Naruto looked at the house that had once been a symbol of hope and strength for the people of the Land of Waves, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this place. Despite everything it had gone through, it still stood strong, and so did its people.

The moment Naruto and Kakashi entered the humble house of the bridge builder, they were met with a mixture of surprise and cautious joy. Tazuna and Tsunami, still struggling to rebuild their lives in a world scarred by war, were astonished to see the two men standing at their doorstep. Naruto, who had once been hailed as the hero of the Land of Waves for his role in the bridge's construction, was now far beyond that. His name was spoken across the globe, a hero not just to the people of Wave, but to the entire world.

Yet, despite his new status, Naruto had never let it change him. He was still the same, humble young man who cared deeply for the people he met along his journey. Tazuna and Tsunami had shared stories of Naruto's adventures with their family, never imagining they would one day see him again. And yet, here he was, standing before them, as genuine and unaffected by his fame as ever.

After a short, heartfelt reunion, Tazuna and Tsunami invited Naruto and Kakashi to stay for breakfast. However, Kakashi was forced to cook the fish since normal people didn't have the strength to cut the creature. It was fortunate that Kakashi had also ended up copying the Akimichi clan cooking techniques for his personal use.

It made Naruto regret not asking his teacher for food as they had eaten amateurish food when they were with him.

The morning meal was a time of joy and conversation, but also a time of revelation. As Tazuna and Tsunami served the food, Naruto shared stories of his travels—his victories, losses, and the many people he had met. The room was filled with laughter and a sense of peace that had long been missing from the town.

However, as the meal progressed, the tone shifted. Tsunami's face grew somber, and she began to tell Naruto and Kakashi about the dire situation the country faced. The Land of Waves, once a place of hope, now stood on the brink of collapse. The bridge that had been built with Naruto's help had brought trade and taxes, but the country was still small, weak, and struggling. The war had taken a toll, not just on their infrastructure, but on their people.

Tsunami's voice cracked as she spoke of the sickness that had begun to spread throughout the land. It wasn't just an ordinary illness—it was something far worse. People were dying, and there was no one left to help them.

"It's chakra sickness," Kakashi answered, his tone grave. "The people are dying because of their exposure to the Juubi's chakra during the war."

Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. He had heard of chakra sickness before, but it was rare—something that typically only affected those close to the tailed beasts. But this… this was different. The disease was spreading, and there were no healers left to treat it.

"Does that mean the Shinobi know how to cure it?" Tazuna asked, hope laced in his words.

"We do have a cure," Kakashi replied, but his voice grew heavy. "But there aren't enough of us with the ability to treat it. It's going to be impossible to save everyone."

The weight of Kakashi's words hung in the air, and a thick silence settled over the room. Tsunami's voice trembled as she whispered, "Can you at least save Inari?"

The question struck Naruto like a physical blow. He had been so focused on the broader picture that he hadn't noticed Inari's condition. His heart pounded in his chest as he turned his senses toward the young man, focusing intently.

Through his heightened perception, Naruto could see the microscopic level of Inari's body—the cells slowly breaking down, the damage caused by the heavy chakra exposure. It wasn't fatal yet, but the sickness was progressing at an alarming rate. If left unchecked, Inari would die painfully, his body deteriorating from the inside out.

"I will do it, just watch me and learn." Kakashi knew that Naruto would make him do it, so there was no need to argue about it especially since even he didn't want the young boy to die. It was impossible to save everyone, but that didn't mean he couldn't save people around him.

"Thank you very much, Master Kakashi," Tazuna and Tsunami said, their voices filled with gratitude. They had already given so much of what they had left to help the town rebuild, and with their limited resources, they had nothing more to offer in return. The weight of their appreciation was heavy in the air, but Kakashi simply nodded.

"It is nothing," Kakashi replied with a quiet humility. "Inari is like a brother to Naruto. He is an important part of my family." He stood up, his movements deliberate and calm, and gestured for Inari to remove his shirt and sit down on the floor. "Now, Inari, take a seat here and get comfortable. This will be a delicate process."

Inari, still dazed from the earlier procedure, obeyed, a mix of uncertainty and trust in his eyes. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his muscles still aching from the pain. Kakashi positioned himself behind Inari, his hands hovering over the boy's back, prepared for what was to come.

"Naruto, pay attention to what I am doing," Kakashi instructed. "This is a very delicate task, and one mistake could make things worse." He paused for a moment to ensure he had Naruto's full attention. "Chakra sickness happens when a person with low-quality chakra or no chakra is exposed to a large amount of heavy chakra. To help them, one needs to have both high-quality chakra and excellent control. What you need to do is enhance the victim's body on the cellular level, helping it resist the foreign chakra invading it."

Naruto, still absorbing the weight of the situation, nodded solemnly. He watched as Kakashi's chakra began to flow into Inari. The energy was a soft, pulsing light that enveloped the boy's body, creating a shimmering aura that seemed to ripple with power.

The process was painstakingly slow. Kakashi's chakra, like a living entity, slid over Inari's skin, delving deeper into the body's inner workings. With great care, Kakashi divided his chakra into fine threads, each one threading through the layers of skin, muscle, and bone, searching for the affected cells. The chakra then began its work—healing the damage, reinforcing the cells, and pushing back the destructive influence of the Juubi's chakra.

The task was incredibly difficult. Most shinobi lacked the control necessary to manipulate chakra on such a granular level. Even Kakashi, with his extensive experience, had to maintain perfect precision. Without the Sharingan, his chakra capacity had increased significantly, and the perfect control he now had allowed him to perform the task with almost surgical accuracy. Despite this, the procedure was still taxing.

Naruto could feel the sheer power Kakashi was exerting, his chakra swirling in the air like a storm as it worked its way into Inari's body. He had always known that his teacher was strong, but seeing this level of precision made him realize just how much he still had to learn.

Inari, on the other hand, was fighting a battle of his own. Every cell in his body was being altered, reshaped, and strengthened, but the process was agonizing. He could feel every shift, every change in his body, as though he were being torn apart and put back together again. The pain was intense, so much so that he lost consciousness multiple times throughout the procedure. Each time, Kakashi would pull him back from the brink, never allowing him to fade into oblivion. The constant wakefulness brought by the pain was enough to break the spirit of anyone unprepared.

Fortunately, Naruto remained by Inari's side, his presence a constant source of comfort. The boy's golden chakra flared to life, wrapping around Inari, soothing his muscles, and mending the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. Naruto's chakra had a unique quality—it wasn't just healing the body, but it was also reinforcing Inari's mind, helping him stay grounded in the face of such excruciating pain. It was as if Naruto's willpower itself was being transferred through the golden energy, giving Inari the strength to endure.

After what seemed like an eternity, Kakashi finally stood up, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The strain on his body was evident, but he had succeeded. "He's fine now," Kakashi said, his voice slightly strained from the effort, but there was a sense of relief in it.

Inari, who had been unconscious for much of the procedure, stirred slightly, groaning as he regained consciousness. His body felt foreign to him, as if he had just woken up after a long, deep slumber. The pain had subsided, replaced by a new sense of strength that he had never felt before.

"What… what happened?" Inari asked weakly, his voice raw.

"You're going to be okay," Naruto reassured him, his voice gentle. "Kakashi-sensei saved you. Your body's been healed, and you're stronger now than you've ever been."

Inari blinked, trying to process what had happened. His gaze shifted from Naruto to Kakashi, and he couldn't help but smile in gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice shaky with emotion.

Kakashi nodded, though there was a quiet seriousness in his eyes. "Did you understand the procedure, Naruto?" he asked, turning to the younger man. He didn't expect a full understanding right away, but Naruto had grown immensely over the years. With his newly acquired abilities, Kakashi was confident that Naruto would catch on quickly.

Naruto looked at Kakashi with determination in his eyes. "I understand," he said, his voice steady. "And thank you for saving him. I… I really needed to see how you did it. It shows me how much I still need to learn."

Kakashi smiled, a rare, warm smile. "You're getting there, Naruto. Never stop learning. That's the key."

Naruto nodded silently, deep in thought. He had spent so much time thinking about his own growth, focusing on his own battles, but now he realized how much he had yet to understand. He didn't even fully comprehend the inner workings of his own body, much less the complexities of chakra.

But that was fine. In that moment, Naruto understood that the journey of learning was never truly over. There was always more to discover, and it was his duty—his destiny—to keep learning, not just for himself, but for the people who relied on him. The loss of precious time could not be undone, but he could make the most of the time he had left.

As Naruto stood tall, resolute, and filled with determination, Kakashi looked at him, his expression thoughtful. The young man had grown so much, both in power and wisdom, and Kakashi knew that this was a defining moment for him.

"You are welcome, but... are you really prepared to save others now?" Kakashi's voice was steady but held a quiet concern. "Naruto, you've seen how painful the process is. Some people will die despite our best efforts. Are you ready for that?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed with conviction as he answered without hesitation, "Yes, I think with my help we can cover everyone in just a few days. With my speed, my ability to fly, and my chakra control—this shouldn't be difficult." His voice held the confidence of someone who had faced insurmountable odds and overcome them. His chakra, near unlimited, radiated with the power to heal and destroy, and the weight of that power now came with a sense of responsibility that Naruto had come to understand more fully than ever before.

Kakashi remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "Are you prepared to see people die, even as you help them?" His voice was calm, but the weight of his words carried the gravity of his experience. "Naruto, no matter how hard we try, not everyone can survive this harsh procedure. Not everyone will make it."

Naruto's response was firm, without a trace of doubt. "Teacher, I'm not a kid anymore," he said, his voice clear. "And it would be selfish to ignore people in their time of need. I know you can't save everyone, but I'll try my best. I can't let people die when they don't have to. Not if I can help."

Kakashi studied Naruto's expression, noting the maturity in his eyes. It wasn't just the confidence of a fighter but the resolve of someone who had witnessed the world's harshness and was determined to do what he could to heal it. Kakashi knew, from the core of his being, that Naruto would never turn his back on someone in need, no matter the cost. This was part of what made him not just a hero, but a true leader.

With a quiet sigh, Kakashi smiled slightly, his gaze softening. "Good. You understand what needs to be done. You'll help people, and in the process, you'll learn more than any book could ever teach you." He turned to the side and began preparing the communication device that would allow them to reach Konoha and beyond. "I'll contact the villages and gather the people in need. You'll need them to wait in their homes, and once they're ready, you can heal them."

Naruto nodded, feeling a deep sense of purpose settle in his chest. He knew this wasn't just about fixing a disease or saving people—it was about shaping the future, about showing the world that peace and understanding could heal even the deepest wounds. He had a long road ahead of him, but this was the first step on that path.

After saying their farewells to Tazuna, Tsunami, and the rest of the family, Naruto prepared himself for the task ahead. With a flick of his fingers, he summoned a thousand clones. Each one, a reflection of his will and power, was tasked with spreading out across the globe to reach every corner of the world where people suffered from chakra sickness.

The clones moved with lightning speed, spreading like a wave, each carrying the power to heal and the determination to make a difference. They would cover every city, every village, and every town, working together as an unstoppable force for good.

As they disappeared into the distance, Naruto looked to Kakashi, his face set with resolve. "Let's do this, Teacher. It's time to heal the world."

And with that, the healing journey began.