Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

The bright moon hung high in the sky, with stars scattered across the cloudless night. A gentle breeze came from afar, creating waves across the grassy field, softly brushing past the young boy's dark eyes. He lay on the grass, quietly gazing up at the bright moon in the sea of stars. The silver light was trapped in his deep eyes, concealing a world no one could see and thoughts no one could enter.

Every night, during his idle moments, he would gaze at the moon, much like the one on Earth, as if he could see the faces of loved ones in its uneven surface.

The night breeze was particularly gentle, and the bento box wrapped in a small floral cloth lay quietly beside him. Even with the best insulation, the food inside had surely cooled after several hours.

At that moment, the faint sound of something heavy stepping on the grass reached him. Ye Zi's gaze instinctively sharpened, but quickly relaxed again. Being in the center of the army, this area was supposed to be relatively safe. Moreover, from the leisurely footsteps, he knew who was approaching.

"Why aren't you eating?"

Under the pale moonlight, the girl's clear voice, as crisp as pearls falling on a plate, floated into Ye Zi's ears with the night wind. Her silver eyes carried a hint of scrutiny, though her tone was as calm as a still lake, making it hard to detect her current irritation.

Ye Zi's eyes remained fixed on the bright moon, unaware of the girl's slightly annoyed expression. He didn't understand what the food in the bento represented, but the girl who prepared it understood better than anyone, perhaps even more than the medical experts. So when she saw that the bento had not been touched after several hours, she became a bit upset.

He replied calmly, "My injuries have healed, and I don't feel that my vital energy is lacking, so…"

The girl's finely arched eyebrows gently curved. Her eyes, as soft as the night breeze, moved from him on the grass to the silver moon in the clear night sky. Her eyes, as beautiful as the moon, reflected hesitation and worry.

She said, "It's not for replenishing blood."

Ye Zi was momentarily taken aback and didn't know how to respond. He actually wanted to say: If this box of food has no benefits for the body, then it's better off as a mere filler. But in reality, that was just his guess.

"So, why… did you prepare this for me?" He didn't know the girl's name and hadn't thought to ask. If possible, he even preferred not to accept it. However, when you might end up on someone else's operating table at any moment, you can't easily ignore their goodwill.

The girl didn't answer but asked, "May I sit down?"

Ye Zi said simply, "Of course."

The girl moved closer and gently sat beside Ye Zi. Her hands rested on her bent legs, her head lowered, her delicate chin resting on her knees. The night wind playfully lifted the two strands of silver hair that fell from her temples.

Ye Zi caught a faint, delicate fragrance, like the scent of ginger lilies covered in morning dew. Following the scent, he looked at the girl beside him, noticing the silver strands falling from her black hair, which stood out prominently. He could only see half of her face hidden by her long hair.

The girl watched the tips of the grass gently swaying in the night breeze and said softly, "Do you know your cells are unusually active?"

He was slightly surprised and after a moment of silence, replied calmly, "I know a little."

The girl said, "This is not a good sign. A person's cells have a limited number of divisions in their lifetime. Based on your current rate of division, your lifespan is less than thirty years."

His expression remained calm as he said, "And?"

"So I want to help you slow down the rate of cell division."

Ye Zi suddenly looked at the bento box beside him and said "And this is your way?"

The girl nodded.

He looked at her profile, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness, and said, "Isn't medication more direct? It might even be more effective."

Facing Ye Zi's cold gaze, the girl replied calmly, "I'm afraid."

"Afraid?" Ye Zi let out a strange, cold laugh, then said coldly, "I appreciate your repeated medical care, but I don't need your self-righteous help."

The girl's hidden approach had crossed his line.

The girl was silent for a moment, then said earnestly, "In less than a year, the dose of anesthetic used on you went from twice the normal amount to now five times and it still isn't effective. It means cell division in your body is still accelerating. The estimate of your lifespan being less than thirty years is based on the speed of cell division. If it's not effectively suppressed, one day your body might age rapidly. Even so, don't you care?"

Hearing such serious statements, was it really the truth?

Less than thirty years of lifespan?

One day, rapidly aging?

Early degeneration of bodily functions?

This was indeed very serious. However, up to now, he had only experienced the benefits of his body. If it weren't for this, he might have long since failed to hold on. If it weren't for this, he might have died long ago.

Ye Zi suddenly straightened up and said coldly, "In this era where death is always a possibility, why should I suppress it? What if my lifespan is less than thirty years? What if I age rapidly one day? If it allows me to achieve what I want to do sooner, then it's all worth it."

Even if one day he returned to that place in a frail state, clinging to life, he would leave behind a bit of insignificant chakra as the first ray of dawn.

Only by returning to that world would there be hope…

The determination in his voice made the girl feel its weight. She didn't know what he wanted to do, but she could easily tell that it must be something very difficult, something he would even sacrifice his life for. For some reason, she suddenly felt a strong impulse to do something for Ye Zi, just like when she prepared the food to suppress cell division. At this moment, the feeling was clearer and more defined.

She remembered how he looked when he was first brought to the operating table, covered in blood, his breathing so weak it seemed like he would die any second. His tightly furrowed brows and eyes reflected an intense unwillingness to die, which made her immediately realize how strong his will to live was. That was why she exerted all her effort to save him. The moment he opened his eyes, she deeply remembered him. In those brief seconds, his dark eyes first showed extreme fear and unwillingness, but as he felt the oxygen from the respirator, the fear and unwillingness quickly dissipated, replaced by confusion, and then a strange calmness. It was not relief or joy but a calmness that was in stark contrast to his earlier intense survival instinct.

She had never seen a boy like this before, so she deeply remembered him that time.

Now, she wanted to do something for him, and this feeling was especially strong, at least at this moment.

"I want to help you. I have to help you. You must let me help!"

The usually quiet girl, showing her first act of forcefulness in her life.

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