"Just forget it." Aoki's voice was softer this time. "So your name is Ajisai?"
"Yes, my name is Ajisai."
As Ajisai answered, her hand moved quickly again, taking another candy from Aoki's hand without hesitation.
Aoki just sighed.
For every question Aoki asked, he would give Ajisai a piece of candy as a reward. Not because the girl needed it, but because it was the only way to make Ajisai talk.
However, there was one thing Aoki had already decided.
Ajisai would join Aoki.
This girl had something within her—not just talent, but also something that made Aoki confident that Ajisai could be more than just a victim of war.
Ajisai had great potential, especially in Fuinjutsu. If what was shown in the Chunin Exam was true, then Ajisai was capable of using seals to store various weapons, just like Tenten.
Ajisai could be a valuable asset.
What would Ajisai's future be like?
Would Ajisai still be part of Pain's group in the future?
That was not something Aoki needed to think about right now. What was certain was that Ajisai was far better off on Aoki's side than being one of Pain's.
For now, the most important thing was to bring Ajisai out of this emptiness.
...
...
...
"Then, Ajisai, do you want to come with me? I will give you a more decent life," Aoki said gently, looking at the little girl in front of him with a calm smile.
The little girl fell silent, her large, dull eyes staring at Aoki with a blank expression, as if trying to understand the meaning of those words. The tangled and dirty hair covered part of the thin girl's face, revealing how miserable the life she had lived was. Then, the little girl tilted her head slightly before finally asking in a soft voice.
"... Can I have some food?"
A simple question, but it held deep meaning. There were no questions about safety, shelter, or what would happen next. Just food.
Aoki smiled, but inside, he felt something gripping his emotions. "Yes, of course you can!" Aoki said reassuringly, nodding his head.
Ajisai looked at Aoki for a moment, then nodded without hesitation. "Okay, I will go with you."
Ajisai's decision was so quick, as if there were no ties holding her in this place. No family, no reason to stay in this shabby village.
Aoki smiled with satisfaction. Now the group he wanted to build had two members—Tetsu and Ajisai. It wasn't a large number, but it was a start. The beginning of something bigger.
However, not everyone shared the same view.
"But, Boss! Can this girl really be useful?" Tetsu exclaimed, folding his arms across his chest. "Look! This girl's body is so small and thin! She looks more fragile than a dry twig out there."
Aoki glanced briefly at Tetsu, looking at the boy's body, which, although taller than Ajisai, was still thin and malnourished. In fact, Tetsu himself didn't look like someone who could survive in a fight. The corners of Aoki's mouth twitched slightly before he finally looked at Tetsu with a flat expression.
"You can't say that... considering your condition is even worse," Aoki said, giving a thin smile full of sarcasm.
Tetsu fell silent. His face instantly turned red with embarrassment, and without saying anything more, he just awkwardly scratched his head.
Aoki didn't want to waste any more time. He stood up, stepping out of the old wooden hut where they had taken shelter. The air outside was cold and damp, carrying the scent of wet earth and rotting wood.
------------------------------
[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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