"Alright, you should get ready. We will be leaving this place soon," Aoki said, looking at them seriously.
Tetsu swallowed hard before nodding. "Understood!"
Ajisai remained silent, but her gaze showed that the little girl was listening and understanding.
Aoki narrowed his eyes as he saw them just standing there, doing nothing.
"Don't you have anything you want to take with you?" Aoki asked, puzzled.
Tetsu let out a small laugh, although it sounded somewhat bitter. "Hahaha... Boss, I don't even have anything. Just being alive until now is already an extraordinary thing."
Ajisai lowered her head slightly before whispering softly, "I... don't know what to bring."
Aoki paused for a moment. His heart felt heavy hearing their responses. These children truly had nothing—no valuables, no memories, just themselves and a faint hope for survival.
This made Aoki take a deep breath before standing up and walking out of the hut. As soon as Aoki stepped outside, the cold morning air greeted him. Gray clouds hung low overhead, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
As he gazed into the distance, Aoki noticed something intriguing—the sky at this border truly reflected the state of the two great villages sharing this territory.
On the Amegakure side, the sky looked overcast, gray and heavy with the threat of rain that could fall at any moment. On the other side, the sky of Konohagakure appeared brighter, as if there were no traces of war or suffering there.
Such a striking contrast.
However, Aoki didn't care much about all that. Their goal was clear. They would head southeast towards Konohagakure, their next destination in the Konohagakure territory. At least there, they might find something better than this slum.
And so, their journey began.
...
...
...
The sky in Amegakure was always gray. Thick black clouds hung without a gap, covering the sun like a curtain that was reluctant to open. Cold dew clung to the leaves, creating a sense of dampness that seemed eternal in this rain city.
Aoki stood in front of an old, decaying wooden hut, staring at the sky that seemed never to change. Aoki's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as the cold wind blew, carrying the scent of wet earth mixed faintly with the smell of damp wood.
"Same day as yesterday," Aoki murmured quietly.
The atmosphere was so silent. Only the sound of water trickling in the distance could be heard, mingling with the rustling leaves blown by the wind.
Without lingering, Aoki turned and stepped back into the hut. Inside, Tetsu and Ajisai were already prepared. At a glance, their faces looked tired, but their eyes were filled with determination.
"Let's get out of here quickly," Aoki said in a flat yet firm voice.
Tetsu nodded quickly. "Understood, Boss!" Tetsu said enthusiastically, although his eyes still hinted at sleepiness.
Ajisai, as usual, remained silent. The girl simply nodded without excessive expression, but the way Ajisai stood made it clear that she was ready to depart.
Aoki stepped out first, allowing them to follow him. The damp ground absorbed the sound of their footsteps, leaving only faint traces on the mud. The path they took was narrow and filled with puddles, reflecting the shadow of the overcast sky on its surface.
Their journey was not directly to Konohagakure. Aoki knew that heading straight there would be too dangerous and difficult, especially with Tetsu and Ajisai still being children without the skills of a ninja. Therefore, Aoki decided to head to Tanigakure first. From there, the journey to Konohagakure would be easier.
------------------------------
[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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