You can't hear the rain underground, not even the smell of mud. This place feels cut off from the world.
No matter what happens, it won't affect this place.
In a way, this is a paradise that shouldn't exist at all.
But it's also completely separate from the outside, so nothing happening in any country can affect it.
Hozuki Mangetsu seemed a little distracted. Yamato had already been called back earlier due to Konoha's combat strength issues.
Hatake Satoru didn't stay long. Yamato was originally kept here to monitor him.
He specifically wanted to bring Yamato along just for fun. Being a ninja is a profession that wears down one's life, and they won't stop until they're dead.
Consider it a long break in the middle? You can say it however you like.
A Wood Release ninja is extraordinary combat power, after all. It's not right to have Hatake Satoru keep them loafing around all the time.
And after returning, they'll likely be carrying out missions with Kakashi and the others.
Hatake Satoru will basically not cause any more trouble here. With Yamato here, he works as usual. Without Yamato, he also works in an orderly manner.
Although Hatake Satoru didn't contribute much money to Konoha through his research, his income is basically fixed, and he is still creating value.
Sunagakure doesn't dare to mess with him, and Konoha feels there's no need to manage him. Hatake Satoru's research lab has clearly entered a normal operating cycle.
Originally, Yamato was just there under the pretense of monitoring him. It would be best if Yamato was sent back and no one else comes to monitor him.
"Forget it. I haven't been out for a long time. It's better to go out and take a look."
"It's not good to always stay here like this."
Hatake Satoru stretched lazily and walked out.
After I finish things here, should I find a nice place to stay? Should I go back to Kirigakure?
Because Hozuki Mangetsu came with him, Kirigakure was taken over.
Hatake Satoru had no urgent need to return.
I wonder how Kimimaro and Suigetsu are doing. Although there's no real feeling of being here, thinking about it, a long time has passed.
Hatake Satoru glanced at the elevator next to him. Since he could teleport directly out, he usually wouldn't look at such things.
It's called an elevator, but it's actually just a large cage pulled up and down by ropes. It's already good enough to be made to this extent.
Since there are injured people, it would be too much trouble to have them carried down, and it could easily cause secondary damage to their wounds, so they created this thing here.
Hatake Satoru took a look and decided not to use this public facility. He walked up the stairs on foot.
Actually, it doesn't feel very real. He designed these things himself, drawing the blueprints and coming up with the ideas.
However, he has used them very few times. After all, there are special teleportation channels, and most of the time there seems to be no need to walk these paths.
Hatake Satoru walked up the stairs. After just a few floors, he could clearly hear the sound of rain falling outside.
The rainwater hitting the sand only sinks into it, silently disappearing, gradually turning that sandy area into a deep and dark color.
And these sounds, they must be falling on the buildings on the outskirts.
Hatake Satoru reached the top of the stairs, where he could see the scenery on the ground outside the window.
There are plants growing nearby, mixed with thorns. In the dry sandy soil, the plants with well-developed roots grow the most. The sharp, thin thorns are clearly visible.
Although it's similar to a cactus, unlike the limited decorative function of a cactus, thorns look more like they are only meant for attack, fierce and uncompromising with people.
The yellow sand, which used to be dazzling and blinding under the sun, is now a deep brown ground.
But it doesn't have the texture of mud. The deep, thick yellow sand will completely swallow this rainwater, breaking it down and hiding it.
This amount of rainwater cannot shake the desert that has been silent for many years.
The rainwater will not wet Hatake Satoru, nor will his shoes be stained by the soaked sand.
Hatake Satoru walked into Sunagakure Village. Many people there were celebrating the rain. "Celebrating" might be too strong a word, but at least the atmosphere around was cheerful.
Not many people noticed Hatake Satoru's actions. He headed to his usual sweet shop to buy some treats.
He wasn't interested in the rain at all. If anything, this dim sky, the smell of mud, and this damp, wet feeling only made him feel a bit down.
After all, Hatake Satoru didn't live here all the time.
As Hatake Satoru stood at the counter ordering several cakes, a voice came from behind him.
"You don't look very happy."
The voice was a bit childish and also somewhat familiar.
Hatake Satoru turned his head and saw Sasori sitting on a chair, leaning his cheek on his hand, looking at him.
Sasori was sitting in a window seat, with a cake he had barely eaten in front of him.
Hatake Satoru took his items and walked to the opposite side of him. The window wasn't completely closed, and rain had fallen on the windowsill and the chair opposite Sasori.
Hatake Satoru pulled over another chair and sat down next to him.
"It's not that I'm unhappy. I just can't blend into this festive atmosphere."
Hatake Satoru lazily tucked his legs under the chair. His legs were very long, and doing this made him look a bit strange.
"Is that so? But aren't you always having trouble fitting in with people?"
Rather than being unable to fit in, it's just that you don't want to fit in, right?
As long as he wanted to, there was nothing Hatake Satoru couldn't do.
Hatake Satoru vaguely let out a chuckle from his throat, not sure if he was acknowledging this statement or denying it.
People's emotions and existence are like cakes that have no taste.
These things fundamentally don't matter to Hatake Satoru. Every action is just something he does according to his will.
He can enjoy these things, or he can just do them to achieve a goal.
In short, none of it matters.
"My interactions with people are like you eating this piece of cake."
"There's no hunger, no texture. You can only perceive a hint of sweetness from past memories."
"It's possible, but not necessary."
Hatake Satoru looked out the window. He was starting to get bored and wished for something to pique his interest.
Otherwise, he might actually feel like going out and stirring up some trouble.
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