TSSITWON Chapter 220: Thoughts of Mei Terumi

A thunderous explosion shattered the silence of the forest, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The birds that had been perched on the branches now flew away in fear, while the leaves on the trees trembled from the shockwave of the blast.

Tetsu's eyes widened. His breath caught, and his body trembled slightly. "B-Boss...!" Tetsu exclaimed, his voice quivering.

Aoki did not respond, but his gaze quickly shifted toward the source of the explosion. Aoki's eyes narrowed as he rapidly analyzed the situation.

"I know," Aoki said in a calm voice, even though the situation was clearly dangerous.

Without hesitation, Aoki immediately gave orders. "Tetsu! Ajisai! Let's go!"

The three of them then moved quickly, darting between the trees, trying to distance themselves from the explosion site. Aoki knew that confronting a ninja fighting in a situation like this was a foolish act—especially since they did not have a solid plan.

...

...

...

The night air felt colder, the breeze causing the leaves to rustle in the quiet forest. Pale moonlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, creating moving shadows on the ground. By the edge of a small lake, Aoki, Tetsu, and Ajisai sat near a small campfire that flickered dimly.

Thin smoke rose into the air as they roasted the rabbit meat caught by Tetsu. The fragrant smell of grilled meat filled the air, making their hungry stomachs growl even more.

Today had been a tiring day. They had spent hours running, not only searching for a suitable location for a base but also avoiding a series of mysterious explosions that continued to occur in various places.

Tetsu wiped his face, looking exhausted. "Ugh, we haven't even found a proper place," Tetsu complained, his voice slightly hoarse.

Aoki did not respond immediately. He sat quietly, staring at the starry sky with an unreadable expression.

Tetsu observed Aoki. "What's wrong, boss?" Tetsu asked curiously.

Aoki gave a small smile, but this time it was softer, more... filled with something hidden.

"Hahaha, no! It's nothing!" Aoki said, then chuckled lightly.

However, in Aoki's heart, his thoughts drifted far away.

From the beginning, there was something that had been bothering Aoki—something he had long wanted to do but had always been postponed. The ongoing war had distracted Aoki, binding him to various problems.

Now, after such a long time, Aoki's thoughts returned to one person: Mei Terumi.

Aoki recalled the letter written by Aunt Nansa, Mei Terumi's mother. A marriage arrangement that had been set long ago, but until now, Aoki had never even met Mei in person.

At this moment, they were in the southeastern region of Konohagakure, quite close to the border of Kirigakure. This fact filled Aoki's mind with images of Mei. What was she like now? Was Mei still the same as depicted in the Naruto anime? Was Mei's beauty truly comparable to what was shown in the Naruto anime? These questions continued to swirl in Aoki's mind, stirring his curiosity deeper.

Tetsu shrugged, giving up on getting a clear answer from Aoki.

"Then let's eat, Boss!" Tetsu exclaimed enthusiastically before starting to bite into the still-hot rabbit meat. A satisfied expression appeared on Tetsu's face as the savory flavor filled his mouth.

Meanwhile, Ajisai had remained silent all this time. Without much talk, Ajisai ate the grilled rabbit meat while occasionally glancing at Aoki and Tetsu, as if observing their conversation in silence.

The campfire crackled softly, creating a more tranquil atmosphere in the dark night.

In their long and perilous journey, tonight was one of the few moments they could enjoy warmth, even if just for a brief time.