Aoki slowly woke up, blinking his eyes to adjust to the dim morning light.
The air inside this old wooden shack felt damp and cold, carrying the scent of wet earth and rotting wood, which only emphasized how poor the condition of this place was.
Outside, the faint sound of wind could be heard blowing through the gaps in the nearly collapsing wooden walls, causing the shack to tremble slightly from time to time.
As Aoki's awareness fully returned, he looked around. He saw two small figures in this cramped room.
A thin boy, taller than Aoki, was sleeping in an uncomfortable position on the hard wooden floor. The boy's tattered clothes clung tightly to his malnourished body, revealing how difficult life had been for him.
In another corner, a little girl was peacefully asleep on an old, rickety bed.
However, Aoki knew that this tranquility was just an illusion. He had seen it for himself last night—when he walked closer to Ajisai, the sleeping girl, she appeared alert even in her sleep.
Any small movement around her made Ajisai stir slightly, as if her survival instincts had been sharpened by the harsh conditions she had to endure.
Aoki smiled faintly. This girl was truly different. A child surviving in such an environment was a miracle in itself. Her vigilance was not just a habit, but a weapon that kept her alive until now.
However, Aoki didn't have much time to ponder. He quickly tapped Tetsu's shoulder firmly.
"Hey, wake up! Hurry, we can't stay here for long," Aoki said in a firm tone.
Tetsu groaned softly, his face scrunching up as he was still sleepy. With a lazy movement, Tetsu lifted himself and sat cross-legged, his eyes still squinting to adjust to the light coming through the gaps in the shack's walls.
"Ugh... Boss? Is it morning already?" Tetsu mumbled in a hoarse voice.
Meanwhile, Ajisai slowly opened her eyes. Unlike Tetsu, Ajisai showed no signs of excessive sleepiness. With a sharp gaze that seemed to penetrate others, Ajisai scanned her surroundings before finally looking at Aoki.
Aoki observed them for a moment before standing up and rummaging through his supplies. With a swift motion, Aoki pulled out three cups of instant ramen—simple food, but enough to fill their stomachs before the long journey ahead.
Aoki then poured the hot water he had prepared the night before into the cups and waited for a moment until the noodles began to soften, the familiar aroma filling the stuffy air inside the shack.
"Here," Aoki said, handing one cup of ramen to Tetsu.
Tetsu accepted it with a beaming expression, as if he had just received a very precious gift.
"Thank you, Boss! I haven't eaten something this good in a long time!" Tetsu exclaimed enthusiastically.
Aoki then turned to Ajisai, handing her the next cup of ramen.
Ajisai didn't say much. She simply nodded slightly before accepting the ramen with her small, slightly dirty hands. Her eyes stared at the hot noodles in the cup with an expression that was hard to explain—not hunger, but more like someone who was used to restraining themselves from wanting to eat too much.
After a few minutes, the three of them began to eat in silence. The sounds of slurping ramen and the clinking of wooden chopsticks were the only noises filling this small room. For Aoki, it was a simple moment, yet it felt so precious.
Once they finished eating, Aoki clapped his hands to get their attention.
------------------------------
[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?]
________________________
[Note: 440+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]