Although the man initially seemed hesitant, his eyes kept glancing towards Aoki, who was casually playing with a knife in his hand. The man's eyes widened as he realized it was the same knife used in the attack last night.
The air in the room seemed to tense, and the man's breathing grew heavier. His thin hands clenched tightly against the cold wooden floor, trying to suppress the growing fear that gripped him.
Finally, with a trembling voice, the man began to speak.
"... We have no choice." His voice sounded hoarse, like someone who had been holding something in their heart for a long time. "We have no money, and even to eat, we have to struggle. That's why, whenever someone from outside the village comes, we try to threaten them into handing over their money. If they seem weak, we just rob them and let them go. But if they look strong..."
The man swallowed hard, as if the next sentence was too heavy to say. However, under Aoki's cold gaze, he finally continued in an increasingly faint voice.
"... We will kill them."
Silence filled the room. A cold wind blew through the gaps in the wooden walls, making the atmosphere feel even more somber. Aoki remained silent, merely staring at the man with a flat expression. However, in Aoki's mind, the man's words kept swirling.
So, this is the reality that the inhabitants of the ninja world must face... Desperation has turned them into monsters.
"But why do you choose to kill the stronger ones while letting the weaker ones live?" Aoki asked again, his eyes filled with curiosity.
The man smiled faintly before answering, "Isn't it obvious? If someone doesn't look strong, they are most likely not a ninja. In that case, even if we let that person go, they won't pose a threat to us. But if that person is strong, letting them live will only bring trouble. Sooner or later, they will seek revenge. That's why we don't hesitate to eliminate them first."
The man paused for a moment, then continued in a casual tone, "Besides, killing every weak person that passes by would only raise suspicion. If suddenly many people go missing on this path, there will definitely be an investigation. Moreover, disposing of the bodies one by one is also troublesome. So it makes more sense to let them go, while the strong must be eliminated."
"I understand..." Aoki finally spoke. "Then how many have you killed?"
Aoki's tone was so cold and flat, like a knife pressing against the throat.
The man flinched. His already thin body seemed to shrink even more as his shoulders tensed. His eyes widened, and cold sweat began to trickle down his temples.
"W-what...?" the man mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Aoki did not repeat his question. He simply stared deeply at the man, as if reading his thoughts, waiting for a definite answer.
"S-say it," Aoki's voice sounded deeper, more intimidating.
"I-I don't know!" The man finally shouted, almost sobbing. "I've only been living in this village for three months! I don't know where else to go, so I stayed here! How many have been killed by the villagers, I truly don't know!"
Aoki showed no reaction.
"Then..." Aoki's sharp gaze pierced even deeper. "How many have you killed?"
The man froze in place. His breath caught, and his eyes slowly dropped to the wooden floor, which now seemed to tremble from his shaking hands. With all his might, the man clenched his fists, his nails digging into the skin of his palms.
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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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