"Hey, Aoki, why are you always smiling? Can't you be a little more serious?" I asked one afternoon. We were resting by the river, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair, damp with sweat.
Aoki sat on a large rock, his feet dipped in the cold water. As Aoki turned slowly, his eyes squinted against the sunlight. "No need to be serious if there's no reason," Aoki replied lightly, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips.
I frowned, pretending to be annoyed, then threw a small pebble at him. "You... are really annoying."
He just laughed softly, and for some reason, that sound made my chest feel... strange.
...
...
...
One night, near a small campfire, I finally opened up a little about myself. I said that I was a ninja from a region near the waters, a place often shrouded in mist and rain. But I didn't mention Kirigakure. Not yet. It wasn't time.
Aoki listened without interrupting. When I finished, Aoki shared his own story. About himself as a Bounty Hunter, about Aoki's search for a hidden place, a place that would one day become a 'home' for Tetsu and Ajisai.
Aoki never used the words "base" or "group," but the way Aoki looked at the flames while speaking... made me know: that place would be more than just a hideout.
In the midst of the search days, Aoki trained Tetsu and Ajisai with swords. Ajisai held the hilt with both her small hands, serious like a little soldier. Tetsu sometimes stumbled, sometimes complained, but kept trying again and again. Aoki corrected them patiently, never angry. Aoki spoke softly but firmly, and they listened to Aoki as if they were listening to their own destiny.
And I... just sat from a distance, watching. For some reason, I felt like I wanted to be a part of it all.
...
...
...
Every morning, as the sunlight began to filter through the gaps in the leaves and the air still felt cold like a mountain's breath, I sat on a flat rock facing a small clearing.
There, I watched Aoki train Tetsu and Ajisai. The sound of their feet hitting the ground, the clash of training wood, and their steady breaths blended with the chirping of birds waking up.
Aoki stood tall, his face calm but his gaze sharp, like an eagle's eyes that never missed its prey's movements. Every movement Aoki demonstrated was simple, yet full of meaning.
Tetsu, with his messy black hair and eyes full of spirit, seriously mimicked the movements. Sweat flowed from Tetsu's temples, dripping to the ground, and Tetsu kept practicing without complaint.
I could see how Tetsu's body was slowly taking shape—stronger shoulders, more decisive movements. The boy was beginning to understand his body and how to move it efficiently.
Ajisai, the little girl, moved more lightly. She was like a leaf blown by the wind—agile, unpredictable. Ajisai's face was serious, but there was a small smile that couldn't be hidden every time Aoki praised her.
Although Ajisai's body was still too small for heavy techniques, she showed a natural talent for agility and balance. Her footsteps were almost silent, and her sharp eyes observed every movement of Aoki as if absorbing knowledge through her gaze.
Seeing their diligence, I couldn't just be a spectator. On the third day, I stood up from my seat and walked slowly closer. Aoki glanced over for a moment, and even though Aoki said nothing, I knew Aoki was allowing me to take part.
I started with chakra. I explained about the circulation of energy within the body, how to channel chakra, press chakra, and release chakra like hot water in a bamboo pipe.
Tetsu looked confused—his brow furrowed, his tongue slightly sticking out as he tried to understand. Ajisai, on the other hand, fell silent, listening as if she were absorbing a folk tale.
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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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