"Hey, Miss Asuna. Long time no see," greeted Aoki, waving his hand casually. He stood tall under the soft morning light that had just pierced through the gaps in the leaves above him, casting a delicate shadow on his face.
Aoki's tone sounded light, almost playful, yet his gaze radiated a subtle firmness—like someone who knew exactly what he was doing and hadn't come there without a reason.
A thin mist enveloped the forest area, hanging low above the ground and swirling slowly as the cool morning air blew gently. At that moment, from behind the undulating smoke, a figure began to emerge—slowly but surely—as if the mist itself was parting.
The silhouette of a creature appeared in the morning light. Two pointed ears stood erect atop its head, and behind it, two large, fluffy tails curved gracefully, as if dancing with the wind.
Asuna.
As Asuna stopped a few steps away from Aoki, she raised an eyebrow. One of her eyes blinked lazily, like someone who had just been pulled from the most delightful nap.
"Long time no see as well," Asuna murmured softly, her voice almost a whisper, yet her tone was flat and lazy, as if she were speaking while fighting off drowsiness. "Did you really have to call me this early? The sun hasn't even had a chance to warm me up."
Aoki merely smiled faintly, then turned to look behind him at a young girl standing hesitantly. The girl's long hair flowed like a black waterfall, and her sharp, alert eyes seemed to struggle to hide her nervousness.
"Let me introduce you, this is Mei Terumi," Aoki said calmly. "I want Mei to sign the Kuchiyose contract. Is that okay?"
Asuna's gaze immediately shifted.
Her head tilted slightly to the right, her ears moved lightly, and her eyes focused on Mei with a new intensity—an interest that Asuna did not bother to conceal. Her gaze was not merely evaluative; Asuna observed, read, and stripped bare every subtle movement of the girl.
That gaze swept over Mei's entire body, from the tips of her wavy hair to her slender neck that appeared tense, to her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and down to her slightly dust-stained black leather shoes.
"Hmm... interesting," Asuna murmured softly, then smiled gently. "Of course, you may."
"Really? Then please open the Kuchiyose Contract scroll!" Aoki exclaimed, this time more quickly, his tone revealing an enthusiasm that was hard to contain. A thin smile adorned Aoki's face, but his eyes now sparkled with bright excitement, like a child who had just been given a long-desired toy.
Asuna nodded briefly. Her two flexible tails rose slowly, moving like a pair of delicate arms. Between them, she held a large, dark blue scroll that looked heavy yet was handled gracefully.
As the scroll was placed on the ground, a faint scent of old sandalwood wafted through the air, reminiscent of the atmosphere in an ancient, long-abandoned temple.
With elegant movements, Asuna opened the scroll. The sound of it scraping against the ground was heard as it unfurled slowly, and from the worn surface, only one name was written there—dark red letters, like dried blood ink: Aoki Sora.
Mei leaned forward slightly, staring at the name. Her eyes widened, frozen. From the old fabric emanated a cold aura that crept over her skin, an ancient and vibrant presence, like the silent voice of something that had been waiting too long.
"This..." Mei murmured softly, her voice almost fading away.
Asuna stepped closer. "Write your name here," she said in a low voice, her tone deep like an echo from within a deep cave. "And use your blood to seal your thumbprint beneath it. That is the bond between the summoner and the summoned."
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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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