The sound of leaves being stepped on could be heard clearly in the silence of the night. Occasionally, night birds would chirp from a distance, and a gentle breeze would blow, swaying the branches of the trees. The girl tried to maintain her pace, but every now and then, her body would sway slightly due to the loss of blood.
"Your wound keeps bleeding," Aoki's serious voice broke the silence. Aoki glanced at the girl's shoulder, which was getting wet with a thick red liquid. "You should press your wound well, so that more blood doesn't come out."
The girl took a deep breath, her face starting to look a little pale. "I know, so hurry up, let's—"
But before the girl could finish her sentence, her feet suddenly tripped over a tree root sticking out of the ground. The girl's body then lost balance and almost fell forward.
"Watch out!"
In a split second, Aoki reflexively caught the girl by pulling the back of her clothes. The girl stumbled back, but managed to stand back up thanks to Aoki's strong grip.
"Haah..." Aoki let out a long sigh as he shook his head. "It seems like you can't walk well on your own." Aoki's eyes clearly showed concern, although his voice sounded a little teasing.
The girl's face tensed. Quickly, the girl tried to stand up straight again, where the girl tried to show that she was still strong. "Thank you, but I'm fine. I can still walk on my own."
However, Aoki ignored her protests. With a quick movement and without much word, Aoki bent down slightly, grabbed the girl's body, and lifted the girl into a princess carry.
"E-eh!?" The girl was surprised, her eyes wide as her body was suddenly lifted into the air.
"What are you doing!?"
"I'll carry you," Aoki answered without hesitation. Aoki's voice was calm, as if this was the most sensible decision in the world.
The girl tried to squirm, but Aoki adjusted the position of his hands deftly. Aoki's right arm supported the girl's legs, while his left arm carefully supported the girl's back, making sure the girl's injured shoulder was not further compressed.
"Press the wound on your left shoulder with your right hand," Aoki continued, his voice firm. "So that no more blood comes out."
The girl looked at him with an expression of disbelief, her face turning bright red. "I... I can still walk by myself!" the girl protested, her voice trembling with embarrassment.
"No," Aoki replied in a tone that could not be denied. "If we walk too long, the wound on your shoulder will get worse. I won't let you pass out in the middle of the road."
The girl was silent, her lips slightly open, but no words came out. The girl could only stare at Aoki's face closely, where the girl could feel Aoki's steady heartbeat even though Aoki had to carry the girl's body.
"Tetsu! Ajisai! Let's go," Aoki finally called out to his two colleagues.
"Understood, Boss!" Tetsu answered quickly with a firm nod. While Ajisai only nodded slowly, following their steps quietly.
The journey continued under the night sky.
The faint moonlight illuminated the path they were walking on. The night wind felt increasingly cold, making the atmosphere even quieter and more tense. Only the sound of rustling leaves and their footsteps could be heard.
After a few moments of silence, the girl suddenly said in a low voice, almost like a whisper.
"Why..."
Aoki glanced at her. "Why what?" Aoki asked in a casual tone.
The girl stared at Aoki deeply, her eyes reflecting confusion mixed with other emotions that were difficult to interpret.
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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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