"If you want to summon one of us," Asuna said as she slowly rose, her movements light yet full of authority, "use the Kuchiyose no Jutsu as usual. Imagine who you want to call... and one of us will answer that call."
As Asuna paused for a moment, she looked at Mei with a gaze that was calm yet sharp. "But remember... summoning is not an order. It is a request. And we—we are free beings."
Asuna's tone was soft, yet it carried something deep and undeniable, like the whisper of an ancient wind bringing truths from times long past.
Mei bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Miss Asuna."
Asuna merely smiled—a faint, subtle smile, as if holding a secret that could not be expressed in words. She then nodded slowly and whispered almost inaudibly, "Then, I will take my leave."
And in an instant, Asuna's body began to fade—thin smoke enveloped her, then a gentle, fragrant white mist, like flowers blooming in the dew.
As Asuna vanished without a sound, without a trace, it was as if she had never truly existed... leaving only a faint scent and a profound silence behind.
Mei and Aoki stood in silence, neither of them speaking. The morning light filtered through the leaves, gently sweeping the ground around them. In that stillness, the world seemed to hold its breath—and for a moment, everything felt more real. More sacred. More... alive.
...
...
...
"Uhm... Boss? I can't?" Tetsu then asked hesitantly, his voice hanging in the air like a leaf reluctant to fall from a branch.
Tetsu grinned, but his smile looked stiff, as if he were trying to hide the nervousness bubbling in his chest. His eyes looked at Aoki with hope, like a child asking for a birthday gift before the time.
Aoki stopped in his tracks, turning his body slowly. Aoki's gaze was calm, almost flat, but behind that calmness lay a sharpness that stripped away doubt.
"You?" Aoki asked, one eyebrow slightly raised, as if questioning Tetsu's sanity for daring to ask such a thing.
"Yes." Tetsu nodded quickly, too quickly, as if trying to convince himself first before anyone else. His hands were clenched tightly in front of his stomach, and his palms were damp with cold sweat.
Aoki stared at Tetsu for a few seconds. Aoki's silence was not due to thinking, but because he already knew the answer too well. Aoki sighed softly, then spoke in a low but clear voice, "You haven't even reached the Genin level, and you want to have a Kuchiyose creature?"
Aoki's tone remained unchanged, neutral, but that was precisely why the statement hit Tetsu's chest like a hammer. "No. Forget it. You won't have a Kuchiyose creature until you reach the Genin level."
Tetsu opened his mouth, wanting to respond, but no sound came out. His lips moved silently, like a fish out of oxygen. In the end, Tetsu just let out a long sigh and looked down. His shoulders slumped, and the light in his eyes slowly dimmed.
Ajisai, who had been standing next to Tetsu, looked at him for a moment. The little girl then stepped forward and gently patted Tetsu's back.
"At least you're still much stronger than I am," Ajisai whispered, her voice soft, like autumn wind weaving through dry leaves—brief, but warming the heart. Tetsu responded with a faint smile, his lips barely moving, but the look in his eyes reflected a glimmer of gratitude for the simple kindness expressed.
Mei, standing not far from them, touched the sleeve of her shirt with her fingertips. "So, shall we continue our journey now?" Mei asked in a calm voice.
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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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