"Fiuh... That's good. Besides, training too hard isn't good either," Mei said with a sigh, brushing a bit of dust off her sleeve.
Ajisai remained silent, her face calm as usual. However, her movements indicated that she was starting to feel a bit tired after this long journey.
...
...
...
They continued their journey home, following the increasingly dark path. The dry leaves crunched under their feet, creating a constant soft sound amidst the silence of the forest. However, after a while of walking, Aoki suddenly stopped.
Aoki's steps halted abruptly, and without needing a signal, the others stopped as well.
The air suddenly became colder.
Silence.
Even the sounds of insects that had filled the air until now disappeared completely.
Tetsu looked at Aoki in confusion. "What's wrong, boss?"
Aoki didn't answer immediately. His black eyes narrowed as he sharpened his senses. Something was off.
Aoki could feel something. Not just a hunch, but a real sensation that pierced his instincts like a cold dagger.
They were being watched.
"... One? No, two people..." Aoki murmured quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the rustling wind.
Mei tensed immediately. Her green eyes suddenly fixed sharply on Aoki.
"What do you mean? Is someone watching us?" Mei asked, her voice almost a whisper.
Aoki nodded. "Yes... They are right behind us."
Tetsu's heart raced. "Are they... ninjas?" Tetsu asked, his voice slightly trembling.
Aoki kept looking ahead, but his eyes glanced back from the corner of his vision. "I think so..."
Mei bit her lip. "How strong are they?"
Aoki let out a quiet sigh before finally answering in a low voice, "I'm not sure, but... they feel like Jonin. Not only that..." Aoki's eyes narrowed further. "I think they are Anbu."
Mei's eyes widened. Instantly, she fell silent. In just a few seconds, her expression changed—not just surprised, but more than that.
Aoki noticed the change. Mei knew something.
"What should we do, boss?" Tetsu asked, his voice now more anxious.
Aoki took a deep breath and spoke firmly, "We continue our journey slowly. If they keep following us and are still behind after ten minutes, it means they are indeed targeting us." Aoki looked sharply at Mei before continuing, "If that happens... I will hold them off. Mei, you need to take Tetsu and Ajisai back to the village."
Mei immediately responded angrily, "What? No! I can't let you face them alone! Especially if they really are Anbu! That's crazy!"
"Mei!" Aoki glared at Mei with a sharp look, his voice filled with determination. "There's no time to argue! If we fight here without a plan, we could all die!"
The wind blew colder. Shadows among the trees grew darker.
They were not alone in this forest.
...
...
...
"But!" Mei looked at Aoki with a shocked expression, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her breath was quickening, and both her hands clenched at her sides, as if trying to hold back something she wanted to say. The look in Mei's eyes trembled, reflecting the confusion and fear swirling within her.
Aoki took a long breath, letting the cold night air fill his lungs. He looked deeply into Mei's eyes, trying to instill confidence in the girl's heart. "Mei… This may sound foolish. No, it might sound ridiculous. But in the time we've spent together over these past few days, I've come to consider you a friend."
Aoki's voice was calm, but there was firmness in it. "That's why I don't want any of my friends to be killed or hurt."
------------------------------
[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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