"But, thank you... and wake up quickly."
With those last words, Reiji closed his eyes.
Reiji's consciousness was slowly pulled back to the real world.
...
...
...
Back in Reiji's room...
Reiji's eyes opened again, staring at the wooden ceiling with a blank expression.
The night was still quiet, the wind blowing gently.
As Reiji raised one hand in front of his face, he felt a slight chill of the air touching his skin.
Reiji then took a deep breath and slowly sat up on his bed.
His body still felt tired, but Reiji knew he couldn't just stay still.
Even though Yamata-no-Orochi was still asleep, time would not stop.
With his eyes sharp again, Reiji clenched his hand tightly.
There were still many things Reiji had to do, especially with the attack on Uzushio Village drawing closer.
...
...
...
As Reiji descended the wooden stairs from the second floor of his house, his steps were quiet yet steady.
The night was late, and only the light of an oil lamp illuminated the room.
The distinctive aroma of wood filled the air, mixed with a slight smell of dust that had accumulated over the past few days.
However, Reiji's steps halted as his eyes caught an unexpected sight in the living room.
On the soft fabric sofa, which was starting to look worn from frequent use, a little girl with short red hair was fast asleep.
The girl's breaths were slow and steady, her chest rising and falling with a calm rhythm.
Her small face looked peaceful in sleep, appearing a bit different from her usual cheerful and energetic self.
The red kimono she wore looked slightly wrinkled, as if she had been sleeping in the same position for hours.
Reiji tilted his head and then smiled faintly. With light steps, he walked closer and stopped right in front of the sofa.
After a few seconds of watching the girl, Reiji raised his hand and—without warning—tapped his index finger on the girl's forehead.
Smack!
"Ugh! Ouch!"
The girl squirmed before suddenly opening her black eyes, looking a bit dazed from sleep.
For a moment, her eyes widened as she saw Reiji standing there.
"You... are back?" the girl's voice—Karina—sounded hoarse, reflecting the exhaustion that overtook her.
Although Karina's tone was calm, there was a clear flash of anxiety in her eyes.
Reiji grinned slightly. "Of course. Otherwise, how could I be standing here?"
Karina paused for a moment, her expression hard to read.
Then, without warning, Karina's small hand clenched into a fist before...
Bam!
"Ugh!" Reiji coughed softly as Karina's small punch hit his stomach.
"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!" Karina swung her fists repeatedly, hitting Reiji's chest with emotion.
At first, Karina's punches felt quite strong—at least for a little girl.
However, as time went on, the punches began to weaken, turning into mere taps against Reiji's chest.
Karina's eyes began to tremble, her lips quivered, and tears finally fell from the corners of her eyes.
"You know..." Karina's voice broke mid-sentence. "I... I was worried! I thought you were seriously hurt!"
Reiji fell silent.
"When Kushina told me that you fainted in Konoha... I didn't know what to do."
"I was scared! I was scared you would die! I don't want to lose you!"
"After Kushina was taken to Konoha... you were the only one I could talk to! You were all I had left!"
Karina began to sob more, her small hands still clutching the fabric of Reiji's kimono, while her body trembled.
"So... don't get hurt again! Don't scare me like this again! You idiot!"
Reiji just stared at Karina with an unreadable expression.
For a moment, Reiji didn't know what to do.
But finally, Reiji let out a long sigh and raised his hand to scratch his head with a resigned expression.
------------------------------
[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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