Watching the money change hands, the old man suppressed a faint smile beneath his thin, gray beard that looked like the remains of a rain cloud at the tip of his chin.
The corners of the old man's lips lifted slightly, his eyes narrowed, fixing Aoki with an unreadable gaze—half satisfied, half wary, as if on this pier anyone could suddenly snatch whatever he was holding.
The old man quickly scooped up all the money Aoki had given him. His fingers were quite thin, moving as nimbly as a seabird's talons, as if afraid the salty wind would blow the bills away if he was even a second late. The bills stood out in stark contrast to the old man's hands, which were covered in black spots from sea mold.
Then the old man quickly stuffed the money into his trouser pockets, which were already wrinkled from frequent wear. The worn trousers looked too big, and the waistband was nothing more than a piece of old hemp rope wrapped around them twice and tied tightly. A strong breeze blew, and the fabric flapped, creating a pocket of salty air.
"Hey! Takeshi! Get me the boat tickets!" the old man shouted, his hoarse voice breaking through the din of the roaring waves and the cries of seagulls flying overhead.
The old man turned to face the ship, which was gently swaying in the sea breeze. The wooden deck reflected the rising sun's shimmering rays, casting quivering shadows on the gray-green water.
A burly man standing on the deck immediately nodded. His broad shoulders straightened, as if even the sea breeze was reluctant to slap his back. The morning light reflected off his clean-shaven head, glistening like a wet coconut shell.
With wide strides, the burly man quickly entered the hull, bending slightly to avoid hitting his head on the low wooden hatch.
The wood creaked, like the old breath of the ship aging with sea salt. The fishy smell of seawater mixed with the stench of wet rope wafted into the air as the ship's hull door opened.
A short time later, the man reappeared, carrying a small object in his hand. His large fingers gripped the rectangular piece of wood as if holding a fish bone. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were alert, scanning the people passing by on the dock.
The man descended the ship's ladder with a creaking sound. The long creak drew seagulls into flight, their white wings landing on the mast, calling out in dissonance.
The man's boots pounded the dock floor, leaving traces of salty mud mixed with black sand between the cracks in the decaying wooden planks.
"Here's your ticket, Captain Midorikawa," said the man, named Takeshi, loudly. Takeshi's voice was briefly drowned out by the roar of the waves crashing against the reef, echoing between the mooring posts, which trembled gently in the gentle swell.
The elderly Captain Midorikawa nodded slowly. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes tightened. Midorikawa's eyes stared straight at Takeshi, as if gauging his subordinate's loyalty. Midorikawa slowly reached for the object, as if holding a sacred relic, even though it was actually just a piece of wood.
He reached for it: a rectangular piece of wood, about the size of an adult's index finger. The grain was rough at the edges, the carvings still fresh, with fine chips stuck between the letters. A faint scent of pine resin wafted over, carried by the salty breeze that ruffled the strands of hair around Aoki's temples.
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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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