Chapter 292: A Gift of Restoration

After accepting the fact that Kirito was planning to leave, Naruto leaned forward and asked, "When do you plan to leave? Does Boruto know about this?"

"I've only told you for now," Kirito replied calmly. "Apart from informing you, I wanted to offer some help before I leave."

Before Naruto could ask for specifics, Kirito raised his right hand. "Would you like me to restore your arm? Fully, like it was before."

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious? It can really be restored?"

"Of course," Kirito said confidently, flexing his fingers. "I've done it before for another version of you, and I've treated similar cases as well. This kind of procedure is relatively simple for me."

Naruto glanced at his bandaged right elbow. The idea of having his original arm again, rather than relying on a prosthetic, was tempting.

Kirito continued, "This way, you won't have to wear bandages or rely on the prosthetic anymore. While it functions well enough, it's still not the same as your own arm."

Naruto didn't hesitate for long. "Alright, let's go to Konoha Hospital now."

Unlike Sasuke, who had chosen to keep his missing arm as a symbol of atonement, Naruto had always wanted a complete arm. As Hokage, it was not only practical for his duties but also important for his image.

At Konoha Hospital, Naruto's sudden arrival caused a stir among the staff. News of the Hokage seeking a miraculous procedure spread quickly, drawing Sakura and other medical ninjas to the scene. Even the retired Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, made an appearance.

Tsunade, still as youthful and vibrant as ever, approached Kirito with curiosity. "So, you're another one of my apprentices?" she asked, her sharp eyes studying him.

"That's correct," Kirito said with a nod.

"Not bad!" Tsunade smiled and gave Kirito a hearty pat on the back. "I've seen what you taught Sakura and the others. Your medical skills have far surpassed mine. You're truly remarkable! I hope you'll continue to innovate and contribute to the village and the field of medicine."

Tsunade's words carried genuine admiration. Limb restoration technology, which Kirito was about to perform, was far beyond what current medical ninjutsu could achieve. Even with their advancements, the best Konoha could do was transplant limbs or create prosthetics using Hashirama's cells—something only Naruto could utilize due to his strength. For others, such a transplant would be life-threatening.

Once the pleasantries were exchanged, Kirito asked Naruto to remove the bandages on his arm. The nurses worked quickly, revealing the prosthetic limb made from Hashirama's cells. The clear contrast in color between the prosthetic and Naruto's natural skin was evident.

Kirito examined the prosthetic closely. "Interesting," he muttered, impressed by the research this timeline's Konoha had conducted on Hashirama's cells. In his timeline, Naruto never needed such a prosthetic because Kirito had restored his arm early on.

"Alright, bear with me," Kirito said as he grasped Naruto's elbow. Without hesitation, he sliced off the prosthetic with a swift motion, removing it entirely.

The nurse quickly retrieved the detached prosthetic, placing it on a tray as a precaution in case something went wrong.

Naruto winced as a sharp pain shot through his arm. "That stung!" he muttered through gritted teeth, though a glimmer of hope lingered in his eyes.

Kirito placed his hand on Naruto's elbow. A glowing aura of chakra, vibrant and full of life force, enveloped the stump. Everyone watched in rapt attention as granulation tissue began forming at the end of Naruto's arm.

Tiny tendrils of flesh stretched outward, growing rapidly to form the rough shape of a limb. The process was mesmerizing.

"It's so itchy!" Naruto exclaimed as the limb continued to regenerate, the sensation making him instinctively want to scratch the area. But he resisted, knowing the feeling meant his nerves and tissues were coming back to life.

In a matter of minutes, the skeletal structure, muscles, and skin completed their regeneration. Before their eyes, Naruto's arm was fully restored. The new limb matched his original perfectly, with no signs of scarring or injury.

Kirito released Naruto's arm and asked, "How does it feel?"

Naruto flexed his fingers experimentally. "It's a bit numb, but I can move it. I'll need some time to get used to it, but it feels amazing!"

As the numbness subsided, Naruto tested his strength. Within moments, he formed a Rasengan, then a Big Ball Rasengan, and even managed to create a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken without any issues.

"It's perfect," Naruto said with gratitude, looking at his restored arm. "Thank you, Kirito."

Sakura and Tsunade examined the arm closely, confirming that the regeneration was flawless with no signs of rejection or complications.

"As expected, this is incredible," Tsunade said with a sigh. "It seems we still have a long way to go in the field of medical ninjutsu."

Naruto clenched his fist, a determined look in his eyes. "Kirito, can you do the same for Sasuke? Restore his left arm?"

Kirito nodded. "Of course, but he seems resistant to the idea."

Naruto smirked. "Don't worry. I'll convince him. With the threats we're facing, he can't afford to be stubborn. I'll make sure he agrees."

Sakura, hearing their conversation, immediately volunteered. "I'll go get Sasuke right now!" She dashed out of the room, eager to bring him back.

(End of Chapter)