But then, a small voice I never expected emerged. "Uhm... is Brother Aoki going to be okay?" Ajisai asked in a voice that was almost lost in the silence. Ajisai's soft and nearly inaudible voice hit my heart harder than any explosion.
Usually, Ajisai just stays quiet, keeping her thoughts to herself in silence, but this time, she spoke. It shook me more than anything happening around us. I could feel the tension in every passing second.
"Yes. Aoki will be fine," I replied, forcing a smile that felt like the hardest kind of coercion.
Even though they couldn't see my expression, I knew they could feel the underlying tension. "Now hold on tight, so I can run without worrying about you falling. Once we reach the village, you will be safe... and I can return to Aoki."
"Yes, Sister Mei!" they replied in unison, their voices sounding like echoes from the past, as if trying to comfort me, even though I knew they were both harboring the same deep anxiety. Their voices seeped into my body like a breeze carrying hope.
I kept running, my body swaying between the merciless branches of the trees. Each step felt heavier, heavier than before.
The forest tonight seemed to drain all the energy I had, but I kept running, leaping over tree roots and avoiding sharp stones that could make me fall.
The moonlight reflected off the gently moving leaves, creating shadows that danced around us, as if the universe was witnessing this journey.
An explosion that sounded quite loud from a distance jolted my heart. The thud echoed as if the world was collapsing around us, each sound adding weight to my already exhausted body.
Aoki!
I gritted my teeth, suppressing every feeling that tried to stop me. There was no time to stop or doubt what I needed to do. I had to move faster. I couldn't let Tetsu and Ajisai get hurt, but also—Aoki couldn't be alone. No way.
The outline of the village began to appear faintly through the thick trees. The flickering torchlight in the distance looked like fireflies flying in the darkness, offering a glimmer of hope that I could still hold onto tightly. However, even seeing it, I couldn't shake off the rising tension in my chest.
Hold on a little longer, Aoki...
Wait for me.
...
...
...
I arrived at the village entrance, my body trembling from exhaustion, and my breath coming in gasps. But there, Zekai and Yachi were already waiting with expressions of worry that couldn't be hidden. Their faces were filled with anxiety, as if they already knew that something bad was happening.
"What's going on? Why are only the three of you here? Where is Aoki?" Yachi asked in a worried tone that made my heart race faster. Hearing that question, my heart felt like it was beating louder. But I pressed down the fear and anxiety as hard as I could.
"Mr. Yachi! Please take care of Tetsu and Ajisai!" I said in a hoarse voice, one that even I could feel the tension dominating.
"I have to go find Aoki right away! Don't go into the forest!" Without waiting for further response, I turned and ran again, leaving them with hanging questions.
I heard Yachi's voice fading away. "Hey! At least explain what's happening!" But that voice only sounded faint, shielded by the sound of my quick footsteps. I didn't care. Aoki's life was far more important right now. I had to hurry.
I jumped from one tree branch to another, my body moving faster than I thought possible. Each step seemed to push my body to its limits, but I couldn't stop.
------------------------------
[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?]
________________________
[Note: 530+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]