Aoki stared at me in silence.
For a moment, Aoki's eyes focused on my face, trying to assess me, and then Aoki let out a small chuckle, as if to ease the tension hanging between us.
Aoki's gaze then shifted to Tetsu and Ajisai, two people who also meant a lot to me.
"Pfff—of course," Aoki said, his tone more relaxed, but there was a subtle crease on Aoki's forehead that revealed the weight of the feelings he was holding back.
Aoki's eyes were now on Tetsu, who stood with his back straight, as if Tetsu felt the heaviness of Aoki's gaze.
Tetsu, usually cheerful, had now become more serious, his expression sharp.
"Tetsu, take good care of Ajisai. Do you understand?" Aoki's voice trembled softly, but there was something deeper that resonated.
A worry that was hard to hide, even though Aoki had tried hard to remain calm.
Tetsu straightened his body firmly, though I could see the cheerful expression on Tetsu's face had faded, replaced by a deeper seriousness.
"I understand, boss! Just leave it to me!" Tetsu grinned, but I could see the worry behind Tetsu's shining eyes, even though he tried not to show it.
Tetsu knew, as we all did, that we were walking in darkness, heading towards something unpredictable.
Ajisai remained silent, her eyes now fixed on Aoki without saying a word.
Ajisai's unreadable face only made my heart heavier.
There was something hidden in Ajisai's heart, perhaps a fear or sadness that she tried to conceal, but I could feel it— that feeling was present in every stiff movement of Ajisai.
Aoki then smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to hide a thousand worries.
That smile contained warmth, but also deep sorrow, which only I and they could feel. "You too, Ajisai. Take care of yourself. Now, let's walk together. If they are still following us after ten minutes, then you three must run away immediately. Do you understand?"
The three of us nodded in unison. "We understand," we replied, even though those words felt like a burden greater than they should be.
Then we—Tetsu, Ajisai, and I—didn't know what would happen next, but we knew one thing—we would not give up.
The night grew late, and the air in the forest became colder.
The tall trees surrounding us seemed to swallow our footsteps, reminding us that we were walking in the midst of something we could not control.
The shadows of the giant trees created an illusion of lurking creatures, every step we took filled with tension, as if there were eyes watching us.
The dim moonlight offered little hope in the darkness that enveloped us.
The wet leaves glistened under the moonlight, as if whispering warnings.
The cool night breeze carried the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves that lingered in my nose, adding to the impression that we were walking at the edge of the world.
The atmosphere was so oppressive, filled with an all-encompassing fear.
We continued walking, our steps silent yet calculated, with the awareness that we were being followed.
We didn't know how much time we had left before danger arrived.
I watched Aoki, his eyes constantly glancing sideways, occasionally staring into the darkness with an unreadable expression.
I could feel the tension in the air, as if something was lurking behind the shadows of the dark forest.
Aoki might not be able to see them, but I knew very well that Aoki could feel their presence—a sensation that sliced through the air and made it feel heavier.
Meanwhile, even I, trained as a ninja, was unable to detect anyone in that darkness.
------------------------------
[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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