However, Aoki had a plan beyond that. Aoki was not just going to Konohagakure—he also planned to find a place that could serve as a base for the group he intended to build.
And with their first step leaving Amegakure, the journey began.
...
...
...
Ten days passed.
Tanigakure now lay before them. The territory of Tanigakure was much larger than Amegakure, but also far more peaceful. The small mountains surrounding it provided natural protection, while the river flowing beside the village made the air feel fresher compared to the humidity of Amegakure.
Their journey, which should have been short, became longer for one simple reason—Tetsu and Ajisai were not ninjas. They were still children with untrained bodies, so they had to stop frequently to rest.
At that moment, the three of them sat in the middle of the forest, surrounded by tall, towering trees. The dim moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating moving shadows on the ground.
Aoki leaned against a tree trunk, his eyes observing the surroundings warily. Since the journey began, they had encountered patrolling ninjas several times. However, due to their inconspicuous appearance—looking just like ordinary wandering children—the ninjas ignored them completely.
Aoki was grateful for that. He did not want to fight. Aoki did not want to risk Tetsu and Ajisai's lives in unnecessary battles.
"You two should sleep soon. We'll take turns keeping watch every six hours," Aoki ordered bluntly.
Tetsu stretched his sore body. "Understood, Boss!" Tetsu replied, although his voice was a bit heavy from exhaustion.
Ajisai, as usual, just nodded slowly. Ajisai's gaze seemed momentarily hesitant, but he followed the order without complaint.
Aoki stayed on watch while the two children slowly fell asleep. Since the journey began, they had always implemented a watch system like this every night. Aoki would keep watch for the first six hours while Tetsu and Ajisai slept. Then, during the shift change, Tetsu and Ajisai would keep watch together—not alone.
Aoki intentionally made them keep watch in pairs because he knew that allowing one of them to keep watch alone would be too risky. If one fell asleep, the other could wake them up immediately.
The night passed quietly.
...
...
...
As dawn broke, Aoki opened his eyes. The morning air felt cold, with a breeze carrying the scent of wet leaves. The first rays of sunlight began to appear behind the trees, painting the sky with a subtle gradient of golden orange.
Without wasting time, Aoki quickly got up and started preparing to make food.
For the past few days, they had only eaten cup ramen, which was starting to become boring. So this time, Aoki decided to fish in the river not far from where they were resting.
With calm steps, Aoki walked to the riverbank. The water was clear, reflecting the shadows of the morning sky. Aoki then waited patiently, his eyes now focused on the movements of the fish swimming beneath the surface.
Aoki's hands moved quickly. Within minutes, he managed to catch three medium-sized fish. With trained skill, Aoki then quickly cleaned the fish, removing the scales and entrails before bringing them back to the campsite.
When Aoki returned, Tetsu and Ajisai had already set up a simple campfire. They used wooden blocks as a base for the frying pan, with a pile of dry twigs underneath as fuel. The fire began to ignite, providing a bit of warmth in the cold morning air.
Aoki poured oil into the frying pan and then added the fish one by one.
The sizzling sound of hot oil immediately filled the air. The aroma of the fish starting to cook spread quickly, making Tetsu and Ajisai's stomachs rumble softly.
------------------------------
[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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