Seeing the excitement on Kisuke's son's face, I could only smile faintly as I answered his questions as naturally as possible without revealing that I was still trying to understand this world myself.
I only answered a few questions that weren't too specific, not because I didn't want to answer them, but because I still didn't know the true state of this world.
If I gave the wrong information, it would only make them suspicious. Because of that, I chose to give safe and general answers.
I told them stories about the journey of a traveling merchant, the kinds of scenery that could be found outside the village, and a few small things that wouldn't raise any further questions.
From time to time, I deliberately slipped in simple stories about forests, rivers, and small towns that could be found almost anywhere.
As long as my explanations sounded reasonable and weren't overly detailed, they had no reason to doubt my words.
Besides, my main goal wasn't to impress them, but to keep my identity safe until I truly understood this world.
Even when Kisuke's son began asking about the larger villages and famous ninjas, I deliberately steered the conversation toward more ordinary travel experiences.
I chose to talk about how merchants usually traded goods with one another, the lively atmosphere of crowded marketplaces, and the difficulties of traveling long distances when the weather turned bad.
Topics like those were much easier to explain without mentioning information that I didn't actually know yet.
That way, the conversation continued to flow naturally without trapping me in lies that were too difficult to maintain.
Fortunately, Kisuke's family didn't seem suspicious. They simply listened with curiosity, especially Kisuke's son, who seemed delighted to hear stories about the outside world.
Every now and then, Kisuke would also respond to my stories with a quiet laugh, while his wife continued adding food to their son's bowl, as he seemed so absorbed in listening that he had almost forgotten to eat.
The dinner passed in a relaxed atmosphere, with no interrogating questions or suspicious glances.
They simply enjoyed a casual conversation like a family welcoming a guest into their home for the first time.
The longer I stayed with them, the more I could feel that their hospitality came from genuine kindness rather than mere politeness toward a stranger.
After dinner was over, I immediately stood up and gathered the dishes we had used.
"I'll help wash the dishes as a way of thanking you for letting me stay here," I said calmly, but Kisuke and his wife immediately refused.
"There's no need. You're a guest in this house," Kisuke said with a smile. "As our guest, you don't need to do any housework."
I tried to tell them that I could at least help a little, but they remained firm in refusing. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
Kisuke's wife even smiled as she gently took the dishes from my hands, as though she was worried I would insist on helping anyway.
Their son, who had been watching the exchange, even nodded seriously, as if he were supporting his parents' decision.
The innocent gesture made the atmosphere feel even warmer, while Kisuke simply chuckled softly as he watched his son imitate the behavior of an adult.
Seeing how sincere they were, I no longer had any reason to keep insisting.
In the end, I could only nod and accept their kindness.
"Then, thank you very much once again," I said sincerely.
After that, I asked for permission to return to my room. The room Kisuke had given me was one of the spare rooms in their house. Although it was simple, it was more than comfortable enough to rest in.
The room was not particularly large, containing only a bed, a simple wooden wardrobe, and a small window overlooking the backyard.
Beyond the window, the faint chirping of nocturnal insects echoed softly, accompanied by the gentle breeze passing through the trees behind the house.
The moonlight filtering through the narrow gap in the window made the room feel even more peaceful.
The simplicity of the room brought an inexplicable sense of comfort, especially after everything I had gone through that day.
Even so, everything was clean and well maintained, showing that Kisuke's family truly took good care of their home.
I then lay down on the bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I was finally able to relax a little without having to keep walking or worry about how I would survive the next few hours.
My body gradually sank into the modest mattress, while the exhaustion I had been suppressing all day slowly became more apparent.
Although my guard had not completely faded, at least tonight I had a safe place to close my eyes and recover my strength before facing the next day.
Even so, my mind was still filled with countless questions. I needed to learn more about this world.
I had to find out where I was, what year it was, the current state of the ninja world, and whether there were any major threats I needed to be wary of.
As I lay there in the silence of the night, I began planning for the following day. Before I could begin training and seek greater strength, the first thing I needed to do was understand the world I had found myself in.
...
...
Time passed surprisingly quickly, and before I realized it, an entire week had passed since I arrived in this world.
During that time, I continued staying at Kisuke's house, living each day peacefully while slowly adapting to a life completely different from the one I had known before.
Although there were still many things I did not understand, at least I no longer felt completely out of place every time I opened my eyes in the morning.
Little by little, I came to understand the rhythm of life in the village, became familiar with the villagers' daily habits, and gradually adjusted to the environment that had become my temporary home.
Life in the village was simple and peaceful. Every morning, the villagers began their daily routines, and by late afternoon, they returned to their homes after finishing the day's work.
As a way of expressing my gratitude for being given a place to stay, I decided to help with whatever work I could, especially hunting.
I did not want to become nothing more than a burden to Kisuke, especially when he had taken me in without asking many questions about my past.
Kindness like that was not something I could repay by simply sitting around and enjoying the comfort he had provided.
After all, in my previous life, I had gone hunting several times when I was still a child, so it was not something completely unfamiliar to me.
Although my experience had been limited, the fundamentals I had learned back then remained firmly etched in my memory.
How to observe tracks, keep my footsteps quiet, and determine the right moment to move slowly all came back to me after entering the forest several times.
That experience from my previous life proved to be incredibly helpful. Hunting in this world was not as difficult as I had originally imagined.
After venturing into the forest several more times, I gradually recalled the simple techniques for tracking animals, paying attention to the direction of the wind, and choosing the right place to wait for prey.
Patience was the most important thing, because even the slightest mistake would alert the wild animals to my presence, causing them to flee immediately.
The forest surrounding the village was filled with all kinds of wild animals. Towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, allowing only scattered rays to filter through the dense canopy, while the constant songs of birds and insects accompanied every step I took.
[Note: This is my other novel: As a Blacksmith in the World of Jujutsu Kaisen. As the White Spider-Man in Earth-76 with the Spider-Man System]