"This is my fault... all of this is because of me. I put them in danger..." Mei whispered. Her voice was like shattered glass—sharp, fragile, and ready to destroy itself. "I'm sorry... I never thought this would happen. I... I'm sorry..."
Mei's head hung low, and tears fell to the ground like drops from an angry sky.
Aoki moved quickly. Without hesitation, Aoki embraced Mei. The warmth of Aoki's body met the cold of Mei's shivering form, like two worlds forced to unite to warm each other. The embrace was not just for comfort—it was to piece together the scattered fragments within Mei.
"It's okay," Aoki whispered softly, almost like the sigh of the night wind. "You've been through so much. You survived. And that's more than enough. No one is hurt. You made it."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... hic..." Mei clutched her own clothes as her body sank into Aoki's embrace. Mei's tears flowed freely, soaking Aoki's chest, which remained still and strong. Mei's cries were no longer just sounds—they were an outpouring of all her wounds, sorrows, fears, and anger… everything spilled out like a dam that had burst.
"Just let it all out," Aoki said gently. Aoki stroked Mei's long hair, now tangled with sweat and dried blood. "Your tears, your fears… you don't have to keep them to yourself."
"Waaah…!" Mei finally broke down. Her body shook violently in that embrace. Mei's hands gripped Aoki's back like someone drowning who had found something to hold onto.
Aoki said nothing more. Aoki simply held Mei tightly, not letting go, absorbing all the pain that flowed from her small body. The night felt frozen, yet also silent—an intense silence, like an endless sea.
In the sky, a full moon hung, illuminating the forest with pale silver light. The leaves trembled gently in the night wind, and the sound of crickets filled the emptiness with a soothing song—a soft rhythm that made the world feel further away, and smaller.
Then… Mei fell silent.
Aoki looked down and saw Mei's face, asleep in Aoki's arms. Mei's face was still wet with tears, but her expression appeared peaceful, like someone finally free from a long nightmare.
Aoki smiled faintly. "Finally asleep..." Aoki murmured softly.
Aoki then gently lifted Mei's body and laid her on an emergency blanket made from his cloak. But Aoki's gaze then scanned the surroundings—and his expression changed.
Corpses.
Body parts.
Puddles of blood that were nearly black. The smell of iron mixed with wet earth pierced the nose. Some body parts were mangled beyond recognition. The atmosphere around them resembled a slaughterhouse more than a forest.
Aoki's face tensed. Aoki formed a seal with one hand and spoke coldly, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
White smoke billowed, and a muscular black cat appeared. Its eyes glowed a dim green, and its fur stood on end from the scent of death.
"Clean it all up. There must be no trace left," Aoki commanded.
"Understood, meow!" The cat meowed briefly—a low tone, as if understanding the urgency—and then leaped quickly to begin its work.
Aoki knew that information could not be extracted from these bodies. But that didn't matter. What was important: no one must know they were ever here. Especially if their opponent was Root.
Aoki returned to Mei's side. The wound on Mei's left shoulder began to open, fresh blood seeping out slowly.
Without much thought, Aoki cradled Mei's body in a princess carry. Aoki's arms supported her gently yet firmly, ensuring that the injured shoulder was not pulled even slightly.
"I will take care of you now… so sleep peacefully."
------------------------------
[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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