At a glance, Aoki could hear the sound of calm breathing from inside the room. This meant that Misuki and Ajisai were still asleep. Aoki continued his steps, passing by that room with careful movements, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility that filled this house.
A few steps later, Aoki arrived in front of another room. Its wooden door was tightly closed. This was Mei Terumi's room, the girl they had found injured the night before. Aoki clearly remembered how light Mei's body felt when he carried her to this village.
At that time, blood was flowing from Mei's left shoulder, soaking the upper part of her clothing. Aoki carried Mei without hesitation, passing through the village gate until they finally arrived at Misuki's house. The village guards were initially wary of their arrival, but upon seeing Mei's condition, they quickly helped bring them here.
Now, behind this door, Mei might still be asleep. The wound on Mei's shoulder had not fully healed, and Aoki wanted to ensure that Mei had enough time to recover before they continued their journey.
Aoki took a deep breath and walked further until he reached the entrance of the house.
The front door of this house was simple, made of wood with a locking mechanism that consisted only of a large wooden beam on the inside. Aoki checked it for a moment, ensuring that he would not leave this place in an unsafe condition.
Aoki reached for the wooden beam and lifted it slowly, then pulled the door open little by little. The cold morning air immediately slipped in, bringing the scent of damp earth and foliage from outside.
Before leaving the house, Aoki paused for a moment. Although he was only going out for a short while, leaving the door unsecured was not a good idea. So, Aoki slipped a piece of paper into the gap of the door. This way, the door would still appear locked from the outside but could be easily opened from the inside if something happened.
After Aoki ensured everything was in order, he stepped outside and carefully closed the door.
The outside air felt fresh, cooler than Aoki had expected. The sky was still tinged with a purplish blue, with a hint of orange on the horizon. A thin mist enveloped the village streets, creating a characteristic calm atmosphere of the morning.
This village was not large, but it was quite lively. Wooden houses with thatched roofs lined the street, some with the light of oil lamps still burning inside. The faint sounds of morning activities began to be heard—the trickling of water from a well, the sound of footsteps from a few residents who had already started their day, and the aroma of food that was slowly beginning to waft through the air.
As Aoki had just taken a few steps from Misuki's house, he saw a figure of a man standing not far from there. The man's posture was upright, with short hair and an expression that looked tired yet friendly.
It was Yachi, one of the village guards Aoki had met the night before.
"Oh! Young man, you're up early," Yachi said in a hoarse voice, as if exhausted from standing guard all night.
Aoki nodded politely. "Hello, Mr. Yachi. Once again, thank you for your help last night! I woke up early to look for food. I feel bad for continually troubling Mrs. Misuki. Is there a vendor or market in this village that is already open?"
Yachi rubbed the back of his neck for a moment, then turned to the larger road. "Well, at this time in the morning, most vendors are still getting ready, but there are a few who have already started selling. Do you see that woman?"
Aoki followed the direction Yachi was pointing. In front of a small house, a woman was sitting behind a simple wooden table with a glass display case on top. Inside the display case, several plates of food were neatly arranged. The woman appeared busy arranging her goods.
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[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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