Chapter 14: A Strange Feeling
"Brother Chiba, come play with us!"
A cute little girl tugged on Chiba's sleeve, pleading coquettishly.
Chiba glanced at the group of children playing house behind her, and his face darkened immediately.
Are you kidding me? I may look six, but mentally, I'm not a kid anymore. There's no way I'm playing that game with you.
"I'm busy with something else. You all go ahead and play," Chiba said as he quickly freed himself from the little girl's grasp.
Just as he thought he had escaped, a little boy approached him, insisting on showing off his "special skills."
Chiba's face turned even darker. Spending time with this group of kids felt like pure torture.
Frustrated, he cast an accusing glare at Natsuki, who stood not too far away.
It was Natsuki's idea to have the children spend more time with him. Whether he thought Chiba was still reeling from the disappointment of his broken dream or believed he was too introverted, Natsuki had taken it upon himself to appoint Chiba as the leader of the younger children.
The past few days had been a nightmare for Chiba, who struggled to fend off the relentless energy of these kids.
Seeing Chiba's grumpy and exasperated expression, Natsuki burst into laughter and walked over. Ignoring Chiba's protests, he ruffled the boy's hair mercilessly.
"Why are you always acting so grown-up? You're still a child—be lively and carefree. What's past is past... Come on, I'll show you something fun!"
With that, Natsuki skillfully crafted a tiny mouse out of a few blades of grass, playfully teasing Chiba with it.
Clearly thinking Chiba was still sulking over his failed dream, Natsuki wasn't about to miss any opportunity to cheer him up.
Chiba reluctantly forced a smile. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop treating me like a child!"
"Haha, but you are a kid!"
Dodging Natsuki's attempts to ruffle his hair again, Chiba retaliated.
"Hey, Sister Izumi! Brother Natsuki has something he wants to tell you!"
"Oh? And what might that be?"
A gentle and elegant woman approached, a sly smile playing on her lips as she looked at Natsuki.
"He said he likes you!"
Natsuki panicked, clapping a hand over Chiba's mouth.
"That's not true! Don't listen to him, Izumi!"
"Is that so? So, you don't like me?"
"No, no, I didn't mean that..."
Chiba watched Natsuki's flustered explanation with amusement, then turned his gaze to the group of children playing nearby.
Despite his constant complaints, Chiba's lips curved into a subtle smile.
Over the past few days, though he often said he disliked being bothered by them, a sense of warmth had quietly taken root in his heart.
Here, Chiba experienced a kind of warmth and comfort he had never known before.
Whether it was Natsuki's easygoing kindness, Izumi's gentle demeanor, or the playful antics of the children he pretended to dislike, they all gave him a sense of family.
He could feel their genuine care and concern for him.
Sometimes, Chiba wondered if being a ninja was really necessary.
Becoming a ninja would mean facing constant killing and scheming, with death potentially lurking around every corner.
Maybe it would be better to remain an ordinary person, leading a stable and peaceful life.
After all, he still wasn't sure if he could even become a ninja. His current plan was little more than a vague idea, and the path to learning ninjutsu was likely fraught with danger.
Should he really ask Natsuki to risk his safety and accompany him on such an uncertain journey?
Chiba found himself deeply conflicted.
Perhaps, as Natsuki suggested, finding a quiet, remote place and settling down with a kind, beautiful woman might not be so bad.
As these thoughts filled his mind, the caravan arrived at a new town.
After a brief stop to restock supplies, Natsuki led the group back on the road.
When they resumed their journey, Natsuki wore a cheerful expression.
"I ran into an old friend in town who sold me a good amount of grain at a low price. We don't have to worry about food for a while now!"
As Natsuki excitedly explained their progress on the map, everyone's spirits lifted.
"We're here," Natsuki said, pointing to a spot on the map. "We've officially entered a peaceful region. We're only about three days away from our destination."
"Since we're in a peaceful area now, why not settle here?" someone asked. "The shopkeeper in town seems to have a good relationship with you. With his help, settling down should be easy."
Natsuki shook his head. "Even with his help, it would only be temporary. The cost of living here is too high, and resources are limited."
He pointed to another spot on the map.
"Our target is here. It's farther from the battlefront, so costs should be lower. Plus, there are forests and rivers nearby—plenty of resources to sustain us."
As Natsuki spoke enthusiastically about their plans, the entire group grew more excited.
By midday, Natsuki returned with a massive wild boar he had hunted, further boosting everyone's morale.
"See? I told you I'd lead us out of this mess!" Natsuki said with a grin.
Ignoring Chiba's protests, he ruffled the boy's hair again.
"You little rascal! You didn't believe me, did you? Once we settle down, you better work hard and pay back what you owe me!"
As the group's arduous journey neared its end, joy and relief spread among them.
But amidst the collective excitement, Chiba couldn't shake an inexplicable sense of unease.
This feeling... It seemed so familiar...
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