"Mom..." I whispered softly. "I miss you..."
Since the report of my mother's death was received, there has been no real evidence. No body. No personal artifacts. Just a stiff sentence: "Fell in the line of duty." I never fully believed it. Not until I see my mother myself. And for that... I must be stronger.
Suddenly—a voice. The creaking of a wooden door, accompanied by small footsteps on the floorboards. My ears caught it clearly now. The sounds were not from enemies. They... were my saviors.
If I hadn't met them that night, I might still be trapped in flight, running aimlessly away from that mysterious group that kept chasing me through the dark forest.
At that time, every step felt like an endless loop, my body exhausted, and my breath coming in gasps, yet now their shadows—Aoki, Tetsu, Ajisai—haunt my mind. Names that initially felt foreign, but now are so ingrained in my memory, like part of an unavoidable destiny.
But... why were they in the forest at night?
I may be young, twelve years old, but I was trained to be a ninja. I had even become an Anbu. I knew how to move in the darkness without a trace.
But them? Aoki seemed to be my age, though Aoki's eyes... sharp, calculating like an adult who has seen too much death.
Tetsu was taller than me, his body sturdy, but Tetsu's face... innocent. Like a child just learning to read. And Ajisai... a tiny girl, maybe five years old. I felt like Ajisai's eyes were like untouched water crystals, free from sin.
A katana hung at Aoki's waist. I didn't know if Aoki could use that sword. But it was Aoki who brought me to this place.
No. I must not be suspicious of Aoki. Not of those who saved me.
I pushed aside the blanket and slowly lifted my body. The wound on my shoulder still ached, but not as badly as yesterday. My feet touched the cold wooden floor, and my first step felt like defying gravity. But I had to know. I had to see their faces.
I grasped the door and pushed it open slowly.
"Mei? Are you awake?" Aoki's voice greeted me, soft yet clear. Aoki was sitting in a chair, leaning against the wall. Aoki's black eyes looked at me attentively—not suspicious, not cold. But surprised.
I smiled faintly. It felt like the first genuine smile in several days. "Yes... I heard your voices."
I stepped quietly into the living room. There, I saw Misuki, an old woman with wrinkled yet nimble hands, pouring tea from an iron kettle into a clay cup. Misuki's face was serene, like a guardian fire in the middle of winter. Tetsu was sitting calmly, and Ajisai... the little girl jumped slightly and then sat with her legs dangling from the chair.
The room was simple. Old wooden walls, dim light from an oil lamp, and a faint aroma of herbal tea mixed with the scent of damp earth from outside the window. But warm. Warm like home. Warm like... Kirigakure used to be.
Aoki looked regretful. Where Aoki slightly bowed his head, his voice sounded awkward. "Ah! Forgive us..."
I quickly shook my head, trying to dispel the awkward feeling that came so deeply. "It's okay," I said, trying to sound calmer, even though inside my chest, my heart was pounding, as if it would leap out.
Aoki quickly patted the chair beside him, as if giving an invitation that couldn't be refused. Aoki's face remained relaxed, but there was a flash of concern in Aoki's eyes. "Then come here. I'll help you eat," Aoki said, his voice calm and full of assurance.
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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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