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On the northern side of Konoha, a woman in her forties carefully pushed a wheelchair forward. She avoided every small stone in the road as if she were carrying something priceless beyond measure.
Seated in the wheelchair was a fourteen-year-old boy, dark-skinned, wide-eyed, and with a calm smile resting on his face as he stared at the passing buildings ahead.
"Mom, where are we going?" the boy asked uncertainly.
"To the Art Store I told you about, my son," the woman replied, steadying her trembling voice.
Two years ago, during a failed mission, her husband had died… and their son had lost his sight and the ability to move his legs forever... At least, that's what the doctors had said.
But rumors about the Art Store had reached her. Of course, it had been famous for months as a manga store. She had read Naruto manga and loved it, she even read the chapters aloud to her son, who had found a new joy in life by following Naruto and Team Seven's story.
But the rumors over the last two days were beyond reason.
They said the store could restore the body's natural functions from within.
She hadn't believed it at first. How could she?
The doctors had said her son's spinal cord was irreparably damaged.
And yet, she came anyway, because a mother's heart does not understand the word impossible.
She stopped in front of the store, which overflowed with customers.
"It's very crowded, Mom… isn't it?" the boy noted. Though blind, he was not deaf.
"It won't take long," she said as she pushed him forward.
The moment she crossed the golden doors of the Art Store, a miracle unfolded before her eyes.
"…"
"Mom!?"
Her son's scream struck her ears like lightning. She turned to him instantly, her heart nearly stopping from shock.
The boy was staring at his legs with wide-open eyes while moving them.
No… That wasn't the shocking part. But the truth was that he was looking at them.
"My… my legs… my eyes… I can see! Mom, I can see you! I can walk—" He couldn't finish the sentence. His lips trembled.
"My son!" She grabbed his hands with both of hers, tears falling before words could form.
The boy suddenly leapt from the wheelchair and stood on his feet for the first time in two years. His legs trembled, not knowing whether from weakness, disbelief, or something that had no name.
…
In the private section of the Art Store, Rob watched everything through multiple screens in his room.
A smile appeared on his face. And it quickly faded.
'When they leave the store…' he thought quietly.
That was the painful side of the Natural Restoration feature.
He sighed deeply. 'But maybe… maybe this is enough for now. To know his legs aren't truly dead. To know the feeling still exists.'
He pushed the thought aside and returned his gaze to the numbers.
[Art Coins: 25,347,000]
For two days, the number had been rising without stopping.
Natural Restoration had done what he expected, and more.
Because the rumors spread like wildfire everywhere, not only in Konoha.
Within only two days, through the eyes of his clones in other villages, Rob witnessed similar scenes.
In Kiri, an old deaf man cried when he heard his granddaughter call his name inside the Art Store.
In Suna, a woman blind since birth stood frozen, staring at her hands because she was seeing the world for the first time.
In the Land of Waves' store, a mute child laughed and cried at the same time as she babbled endlessly, discovering her vocal cords could speak again.
In Iwa, a woman who didn't have legs wept as two smooth, beautiful legs grew beneath her the moment she entered the store.
In Kumo, a blind man dropped his cane as he realized he could see again. Tears streamed from his eyes for the first time in years.
'This world carries too many wounds…' Rob thought quietly.
He stood up after noticing certain guests arriving.
Even though the fifth volume's release was still far away.
…
"Sensei, are you sure you want to go inside?"
Tsunade asked as she looked at the main doors of the Art Store.
"I've seen enough outside," the Third Hokage replied in a trembling voice. His hand held his pipe as usual, but it shook slightly. Even now, he couldn't believe what he had witnessed.
"I want to see it from the inside."
Tsunade looked at him for a moment. "Fine."
Behind her stood four of Konoha's senior doctors: the chief of Konoha Hospital, two leading neurological specialists, and medical shinobi experts in vital energy.
"Stay behind me. Do not touch anything without my permission."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
She entered the art store with her team.
…
Inside, Tsunade was not surprised by what she saw. She glanced at the mother embracing her healed son, she had already seen similar cases before.
But the people behind her froze in shock.
Directly ahead, in the wide space near the front shelves, sat a bald man in his fifties with a massive build and an old scarred face while crying silently.
Both hands raised before his face.
The wife stood beside him, holding his shoulder, crying as well.
"What's happening to that man?" whispered the doctor.
"…I think he regained his sight," a medical shinobi answered softly.
"What?"
"Look at his eyes."
They were scarred, clearly the eyes of someone blind for many years.
But now they were alive and filled with light.
"This… this is impossible," the first neurological specialist said, stepping forward unconsciously.
"Optic nerve cells do not regenerate. That is one of the most basic principles of neuro-medicine."
"And yet…" Tsunade interrupted calmly. "He sees."
She approached the man slowly, stopping two meters away.
"Old man," she called.
The man lifted his head toward her, eyes accurately locking onto her voice.
"How long have you been blind?"
"Since… nine years ago," he replied honestly. "On a mission."
…
From his corner, the Third Hokage watched this scene.
He lit his pipe, though his hand was not steady.
'Many years I spent searching for a way to help Root shinobi who lost their senses on secret missions…' he thought.
'I found nothing.'
'But this…' He looked around.
Natural Restoration was working silently in every corner of the store.
A man walking on legs once paralyzed.
A child speaking for the first time in his life while his mother kissed his forehead through tears.
An old woman was touching her granddaughter's face with hands that had been paralyzed for years.
'How much has Rubiro-kun done in just four months?'
…
"Rubiro-kun… this is your doing, isn't it?"
"At first, forcibly teleporting everyone, ignoring the laws of nature… and now the ability to heal all forms of disabilities within your store's walls…"
"These powers are no longer within the scope of bloodline limits. Neither Kekkei Genkai, nor Kekkei Tōta, nor Kekkei Mōra could display such miraculous effects."
"I will not probe into your secrets. I do not seek an answer… but I hope you truly understand what the Will of Fire means to Konoha."
"With abilities like yours, you can truly achieve the goal you once told me about… continue striving toward it."
After saying that, the Hokage turned and left.
But Tsunade and her team remained.
"No need to worry, Hokage-sama…"
Rob smiled gently in response to the Hokage's "concern."
A response that did nothing to ease the Hokage's unease at all.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 119: The Mighty Rock Lee!
Chapter 120: A Humiliating Defeat for Sasuke.
Chapter 121: Amegakure's Art Store!
Chapter 122: The Appearance of Maito Gai!
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