Merchants shouted, offering silk cloth, dried food, and small weapons. Children ran between the legs of adults, laughing joyfully even though the world outside the harbor walls was bleeding.
"So, where are we going, Boss?" Tetsu asked, looking around with an insatiable curiosity. Next to Tetsu, Ajisai gazed at the harbor with sparkling eyes.
Every detail—from the clinking of trade coins, the smell of salted fish from fishing boats, to the screeching of seagulls—was absorbed by her like a sponge.
Aoki kept walking, his voice calm as he replied, "We will stay here tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll take Mei to the ship."
As Aoki turned his gaze toward the dock, he added, "But before that, let's find out which ship will be leaving tomorrow. After that, we'll look for a place to stay."
Mei slipped beside Aoki and said with a smile that was almost a meaningful glance, "That sounds good... after all, I still want to spend more time with Aoki."
Aoki fell silent. His gaze was straight ahead, but the expression on his face changed slightly.
"... Let's find a ship first," Aoki said softly.
Aoki responded briefly, shaking his head slowly while taking a deep breath, then continued walking through the crowd.
Mei stared at Aoki's back for a moment before following him, her steps light but unhurried. Tetsu and Ajisai trailed behind, immersed in the bustling harbor that continued to thrum, indifferent to the dying world outside.
...
...
...
They walked slowly through the crowd at the harbor, where the cacophony of voices, the salty breeze, and the sharp aroma of fresh fish clashed mercilessly.
The sky above them was slightly overcast, reflecting a gray hue over the lazily undulating sea. At every corner, tattered tarps and flags fluttered, their colors faded by the sea salt.
Fabric tents lined the wooden and stone paths that split the harbor. Merchants shouted hoarsely, peddling spices, silk, metal crafts, and protective sea charms that swung gently.
Some of them appeared to be rolling thin cigarettes amidst their shouts, the smoke wafting between the salty sea air and the sweet aroma of grilled squid from a corner of the market.
Aoki walked at the front, his shoulders slightly raised, his eyes scanning the crowd with vigilance. Behind Aoki, Mei walked slowly, occasionally glancing left and right, observing the passing people.
Mei's long hair swayed gently in the wind. Tetsu walked beside Ajisai, slightly hunched, his hands gripping the fabric of his pants at the waist.
Meanwhile, Ajisai walked calmly and quietly next to Tetsu. Occasionally, the girl's eyes would glance around, observing the crowd with a hint of curiosity reflected on her face.
Next to a spice tent, an old man sat on a wooden crate, playing a cracked shamisen. The strumming was raspy, yet it was enough to muffle the sound of straw sandals and boots passing by. A skinny cat sat in the old man's lap, meowing softly, as if its hunger echoed amidst the bustling transactions.
Some harbor children ran between the legs of adults, laughing loudly while tossing rotten orange peels at each other. A few of them glanced at Aoki and his group—a fleeting, mischievous look, quickly replaced by cheerful shouts when a merchant tossed coins for them to scramble for.
Even though news of the third ninja world war echoed to the far corners of the continent, this harbor throbbed as if refusing to succumb to fear. Fishermen continued to sell their catch—large rays hung upside down, lobsters piled in wooden buckets, the sound of water dripping between the planks of the dock.
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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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