The sound of a spoon dipping into porridge, the slurp of tea, everything felt peaceful... until Mei's voice broke the silence.
"I will be leaving soon," Mei said without excessive expression. But it was precisely because of this that her words sounded so serious. Firm. Non-negotiable.
Tetsu coughed, nearly spitting out his tea. Ajisai stared at Mei with wide eyes, her face drained of color.
Aoki only lowered his head slightly, but from the way his jaw tightened, from the sharpness in his gaze that avoided Mei, he already knew this would happen.
Mei looked at her empty hands resting in her lap. "I should have left this morning... if we hadn't been found by those ninjas last night..."
"Don't worry about them," Aoki cut in, his tone low but full of strength. "If they come again, I will handle everything."
Mei turned to him, and for a moment... there was a shadow of sadness in her beautiful eyes. But then Mei smiled. Not a happy smile, but the smile of someone trying to bear a heavy burden. "I know, Aoki... but I can't stay any longer. I've already involved all of you too much..."
Aoki took a deep breath. "So you've made your decision?"
Mei nodded.
"I can't just let you go like that," Misuki said in a high-pitched voice, "Your shoulder is still fresh with wounds! You haven't even recovered halfway!"
Mei looked at Misuki, then bowed slightly in respect. "Grandma Misuki... thank you for taking care of me. I truly owe you... thank you for everything you've done."
Misuki clicked her tongue, her voice hoarse. "If you want to repay your debt, don't come back here in a dying state. Understand?"
Mei smiled, and for the first time that morning, her smile was genuinely warm. "I promise."
Aoki stared at Mei. For a long time. "Are you sure you can return to your place on your own in a situation like this?"
Mei shrugged her right shoulder—the only one that wasn't injured—and smiled confidently. "Ara~ I'm not an ordinary girl. I'm an expert in stealth, did you forget?"
But Aoki did not laugh. "No. I will escort you."
Mei frowned. "Aoki—"
"If you refuse, then I won't let you go," Aoki said in a flat yet resolute voice. There was no room for refusal.
Mei fell silent. Then slowly, she smiled, softly and full of gratitude. "...Alright. Thank you, Aoki."
Aoki nodded. "Tetsu. Ajisai. Get ready. We're leaving now."
Tetsu looked at Aoki, surprised. "Now, Boss?"
"Yes. The sooner, the better." Aoki turned to Misuki, who was now standing at the doorway, watching them with half-dimmed eyes. Full of worry, but also pride. "Thank you for hosting us, Mrs. Misuki."
Misuki smiled faintly, then lifted her chin slightly. "It's my duty as a healer. But take care of them all, kid. If even one of them ends up as a corpse, I will come looking for you."
Aoki bowed deeply. "I swear... I will protect them. With my life if necessary."
Hearing that, Misaki smiled gently. A smile that was not just a mere curve of the lips, but one that came from a heart that had gone through many farewells in life.
Where Misaki nodded her head slowly, a small yet meaningful gesture, as if affirming something within herself—a silent blessing that was deeply felt.
That morning, a thin mist still enveloped the village streets. The cold air pierced the skin, yet it was refreshing. The sunlight was still shyly breaking through the gaps in the trees in the distance, and dew clung to the tips of leaves and the mossy rooftops.
Aoki, Mei, Tetsu, and Ajisai emerged from Misaki's house, their steps calm yet heavy—the journey was about to begin, and that meant leaving behind the brief comfort they had felt in this place.
------------------------------
[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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