"But how have you been able to survive all this time? No, how has this village remained standing?" Aoki asked, squinting as he looked around the shabby village filled with dilapidated houses and muddy streets. The air felt damp, the smell of wet earth mixed with the aroma of rotting wood wafted everywhere.
In front of Aoki stood a thin man whose body trembled slightly. The man's skin was pale, his face gaunt with eyes that looked weary, as if he hadn't eaten for days. His body was so thin that his bones were clearly visible beneath the tattered clothes that hung loosely on him.
The man furrowed his brow, looking confused by Aoki's question. "What do you mean?" he asked in a hoarse voice, perhaps due to dehydration or from speaking too often in a low tone.
Aoki sighed, staring at the man more intently. "All this time, you have been attacking and robbing others. Shouldn't there be someone or some group trying to take revenge? Has no one tried to attack this village after you robbed them?"
The thin man let out a small laugh, but it sounded weak, almost like a mumble devoid of spirit. He then took a deep breath before beginning to explain.
"Ah, about that... Right now, a war is ongoing. The world is in chaos. Even if there are people who want to take revenge on us, they have bigger problems to deal with." The man paused for a moment, as if recalling something, then continued in a more serious tone.
"Moreover, this village is in a very remote location. The paths are steep and dangerous, almost impassable for ordinary people. If it were a ninja, they might be able to reach here, but for regular folks? It's impossible. The only slightly easier route is through Amegakure, but if you go through the path from Konoha, it's nearly impossible. That's why this village has survived all this time."
Aoki listened attentively, nodding slightly from time to time. A thin smile formed on Aoki's face. Although the thin man in front of him seemed weak, he was actually quite intelligent and able to analyze the situation well. Unfortunately, the war had forced him to live in such conditions—trapped in poverty, fear, and unending brutality.
"What's your name?" Aoki asked, this time in a deeper tone, as if wanting to dig deeper into this man.
The man seemed hesitant before finally answering quietly, "Tetsu."
Aoki raised an eyebrow and then chuckled softly. "Tetsu? Hahaha... How old are you, Tetsu?"
"Eleven... Eleven years old," Tetsu replied, his voice barely audible.
Aoki was taken aback. His gaze suddenly changed. As Aoki looked at the man in front of him from head to toe, he tried to ensure he hadn't misheard. Tetsu was much taller than Aoki; his body was indeed thin, but looking closer at Tetsu's face, Aoki could now see traces of childhood that had not completely faded from his features.
"So you're still a kid..." Aoki murmured, but his voice was clear enough for Tetsu to hear.
Tetsu merely looked down, as if he was used to being treated this way.
Aoki sighed before finally looking at Tetsu seriously. "Alright, Tetsu. I will give you three choices," Aoki said in a casual tone, but there was a weight in his words that made the air around them feel heavier. "The first choice... you die here."
Tetsu gasped. His breath caught in his throat, and his body began to tremble. Tetsu's eyes widened, and cold sweat started to trickle down his temples. He swallowed hard before finally daring to ask, "Uhm... what about... the second one?"
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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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