Chapter 7

Rain in the morning didn't deter our plans. We wear raincoats and boots.

Konan held Ame in her arms, ensuring she stayed dry.

"We should be careful," she reminded me, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and caution.

"Always," I said with a firm nod.

The journey to the village was quiet, the rain's rhythm the only sound that accompanied our footsteps. We moved through the dense forest, the path we had created now familiar under our feet.

As we approached the village, we could hear the distant murmur of voices and see the faint glow of lights through the trees. It had been so long since we had interacted with anyone beyond our little trio.

I whispered to Konan, "don't tell them we live around here."

Her eyes searched mine, understanding the gravity of my words. "Got it," she replied, her voice barely audible over the rain.

The village, nestled between the mountains and the forest, the gloomy vibe of the village is still noticeable despite the rain try to clean it, the houses were simple, made of wood, and the people walked with their heads down, as if the weight of the world rested on their shoulders.

We walked through the muddy streets, trying to avoid eye contact, our hoods up to shield us from the rain and any potential recognition. Ame was snug in Konan arms, safe and dry.

The villagers we passed by gave us curious glances, but none approached us. It was clear they had their own troubles to deal with. The market was still bustle of activity, despite the rain. People were selling goods, haggling over prices, and sharing whispers of news.

Konan and I stuck to the shadows, observing from a distance.

"How about, we look around market, finding something interesting?" I suggested, as we blended into the crowd of villagers.

"Okay," she nodded, her eyes scanning the various stalls.

This village actually no small, maybe larger than the abandoned village that we left behind, I thought when I first saw it, it's just small village.

We saw a stall selling fruits and vegetables, the bright colors standing out in the grayness of the rain. A seller, an elderly woman, caught my eye as she offered a tired smile to a young customer. Her stall was well-managed despite the poor weather conditions.

"Let's check this out," I whispered to Konan, pointing at the stall. We moved closer, trying to stay unnoticed. Ame poked her head out of the raincoat, her nose twitching at the smell of fresh produce.

The old woman looked up as we approached, her smile widening slightly. She had a gentle aura around her, and her eyes held a spark of curiosity. "Welcome," she greeted us warmly.

I returned the smile, "Thank you, we want to buy some fruits and vegetables."

Konan's eyes widened at my sudden boldness, but she nodded in agreement. We picked out a few items, exchanging the money carefully.

I store the money inside my inventory, when I want to retrieve it, I pretended to put my hands into my pocket, but actually, I just pulled out the money from the inventory.

She took the money, and then She packed our items carefully into a basket, her hands steady despite their age.

"Granny, these fruits and vegetables, are from the nearby forest?" I asked, trying to keep our conversation light and casual.

The old woman chuckled, "Some of them, yes. But we get most of our supplies from the traders that come through the village.

"Oh, I see," I said, nodding.

The old woman giving our purchases.

"Thank you," I said, taking the bag from her.

"You're welcome," she replied, her eyes lingering on us for a moment before returning to her other customers.

We moved through the market, Ame occasionally poking her head out to sniff the air.

I've store the bag in my inventory.

We continue to explore the market, and found a stall that sells various meat, I can imagine the smell of grilled skewers was so tempting, that even Ame let out a small meow.

Then, we decided to buy some fresh meat.

The seller, a burly man with a thick beard, looked up from his task of cutting meat. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw us, and he paused for a moment before speaking. "What can I get for you?"

Konan stepped forward, holding Ame closer to her chest to keep her dry. "We'd like some of your best cuts of meat, please," she said, her voice firm and polite.

The man grunted in acknowledgment, sizing us up before selecting a few prime pieces. He wrapped them in leaves and handed them to me.

"Thanks," I said and take the meat.

The man nodded, his gaze lingering on us a bit longer than necessary. It was clear he had questions, but he kept them to himself. We paid for the meat and quickly moved on.

Our next stop was a clothes shop, where the smell of new fabric and the sight of colorful garments brought a small sense of normality to the otherwise gloomy day. We needed to replace our worn-out clothes.

Konan picked out some clothes, blankets and towels. Ame, ever curious, played with the dangling threads as we discussed our choices.

We bought what we needed and moved on. As we navigated the village, we couldn't help but overhear a conversation about the ongoing war and the recent skirmishes that had taken place nearby.

"It's getting worse," a worried voice said. "It's people like us who are suffering the most."

Konan and I shared a solemn look. We had to be careful not to get involved.

Is there drugstore here? Maybe we can find something useful for our first aid kit, I thought.

"Let's check this out," I whispered to Konan, pointing at a small, dimly lit shop at the end of the street. The sign above it read "Herbs and Remedies."

"Maybe we can find something for our first aid kit," I suggested.

Konan nodded, and we approached the shop. The bell above the door jingled as we entered, an earthy scent of herbs filled our nostrils. The walls were lined with shelves of bottles and jars, filled with an assortment of dried plants and powders.

But, we can't find the seller.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the empty space.

There was no response.

"Maybe they're in the back," I whispered to Konan, gesturing for her to stay put with Ame.

Wait, there's no one here except us, can I copy all of these things?

"...."

Without further ado, I decided to copy all the items inside this store. The glass jars clinked faintly as I swiftly moved from one to the next, my hand a blur as I transferred them into my inventory.

Konan's eyes widened when she saw what I was doing.

I'm not caring anything right now, I just want to make sure we have herbs and medical supplies, I thought to myself.

Konan watched me with a mix of shock and curiosity, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting the owner to appear at any moment.

"Haruto, we can't just take all of this," she hissed.

"Don't worry, I'm not taking it," I whispered back, a smirk playing on my lips. "Just copying them."

Her eyes grew even wider as she realized what I meant. "But... isn't that... stealing?"

"No, I'm just copying," I insisted, continuing my task. "It's like I borrow your flower shaped origami and then trying to make it too based on your origami, after that I give it back to you. It's like that, I'm just copying it, not stealing."

Konan still looked unconvinced, but she said nothing more as I finished copying the last items, and then put the original items back to it place, The bell jingled again as the shop door opened, and we quickly straightened up.

A young girl, no older than ten, poked her head in, her eyes widening when she saw us. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, her voice small. "I didn't know you were here. My grandmother's in the back."

Konan and I shared a look of relief. It seems we hadn't been caught.

"It's okay," I said to the girl, flashing her a smile. "We were just looking around."

Her eyes scanned the room, noticing that nothing happens. "What can I help you with?" she asked shyly.

Konan stepped forward, her arms around Ame. "Do you have any medicine for a wound, cold and some bandage too?" she asked the girl, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

The girl nodded and disappeared into the back room.

While we waited, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for copying the supplies. I didn't take the original items, I reminded myself. It's not like we're actually stealing.

The girl returned with a small basket filled with the requested items. She handed it to Konan, who took out a few packets of herbs and a roll of bandages. She examined them carefully, her expression thoughtful.

"How much for these?" I asked the girl, trying to seem casual.

She glanced at the basket, then at us, "It's five hundred Ryo."

I nodded and took out the money from my inventory, handing it to her. "Keep the change," I said with a smile.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at the money before nodding. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Oh, are you selling book about herbs or medicine?" I asked the girl, hoping to find some knowledge that could help us in the future.

"We don't sell it, but I have some books about herbs" she said.

"Can I see it? Of course I will pay for it," I added quickly, not wanting to give her the wrong impression.

The girl nodded and she went to the back of the shop, returning with a dusty books. I took the book and flipped through the pages, finding illustrations of various plants and their uses. It was a treasure trove of knowledge that could significantly boost our self-sufficiency.

"Can I read it for few minutes?" I asked the girl, holding the books with excitement.

She nodded, and I found myself a corner to sit and read. Actually, I just find a reason to copy it while the girl get distracted by Konan and Ame.

Good job, you two. I saluted them.

After that, we left the shop, I store the basket of herbs and bandages in my inventory, while the copied book is in my inventory.

"That was... intense," Konan murmured as we stepped back out into the rain.

"Well, we're prepared now," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Konan looked at me, a mix of amazement and concern in her eyes. And then she shaking her head and smile, "You're something else, Haruto."

"Well, before we going home, let's buy daily necessities," I suggested, pointing to a a nearby store.

The shop was quite good in this wartime, with shelves laden with various goods. The shopkeeper, a plump man with a friendly demeanor, greeted us as we entered. He watched us curiously, but didn't ask any questions.

As usual, while Konan picked out supplies, I couldn't resist the urge to copy these things.

With determination in my heart, I store, copy and return the items in it's place, with incredible speed. The shopkeeper was busy with another customer, which gave me the perfect opportunity.

Even when they see me, it's just like, I touching the items and nothing happened. But actually, my process with it become faster, they didn't realize, when i touched it, it disappeared and appeared at almost the same time.

They said, practice makes perfect, and that's true. After Konan filing the basket with the necessary supplies, I was already an expert at copying items. The plump shopkeeper was none the wiser, too busy counting money, of course he still cautious, because I also saw it several times he checked area inside the store, and saw me doing nothing except for looking around, without looking suspicious at all.

"Are you sure you don't need anything else?" the shopkeeper asked, his eyes lingering on us for a second longer than necessary.

"Yes." Konan said, smiling politely. "Thank you."

I nodded in agreement, trying to keep my excitement under wraps. The store was a goldmine for our survival. We paid for our supplies and stepped out into the rain once more.

Damn, why when we are in the clothes store, I didn't think about copy the clothes? But still I'm happy we got the medical supplies and some food.

Well, our clothes that we buy is enough though.

With our mission accomplished, we hurried back to the house, eager to add the new items to our stash and make sure we had everything we needed.

The rain grew heavier, soaking through our raincoats as we hurried back home. Ame was snuggled in between us, the warmth of our bodies keeping her dry.

Looks like this night, storm will come, I thought as the wind picked up and the rain grew heavier.

"We should hurry," I said to Konan, and she nodded in agreement, her eyes on the darkening sky.

We picked up the pace, the sound of our boots squelching in the mud growing louder with each step. The rain was relentless, the droplets stinging our faces as we pushed through.

---|||---

Upon reaching the house, we quickly shed our wet clothes and set the supplies by the fireplace to dry. Ame looked up at us, purring contently as we hung our raincoats and laid out the stolen goods, I mean copied goods.

"Look at all this," I said, gesturing to the pile of copied items. "We don't need to be afraid of lacking anything, as long as I'm here."

Konan gave me a side-eye, "But, Haruto, is it really okay to just... copy everything?"

"It's not like we're hurting anyone," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Besides, we're just borrowing them for a bit, and then putting them back. It's like... a loan, without the return date."

"Hmm... They are very good people." I nodding my head.

Konan sighed, but I could see the hint of a smile on her lips. She knew my reasoning was flawed, but she also knew that in our current situation, we needed every advantage we could get.

We spent the rest of the evening organizing our new supplies, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at our resourcefulness. We had everything we needed to survive, and we had done it without resorting to violence or.. deceit.

The storm outside grew more intense, the wind howling through the trees and the rain pounding against the roof. It was comforting to be safe and warm inside our little house, surrounded by the warmth of the fire, the company of my friends and don't forget the resources that we can enjoy from my cheat ability.

Konan, who had been eyeing the pile of copied goods, finally spoke up. "Finally, new things for Ame," she said, picking out a few small toys and a colorful blanket from the stash. The kitten's eyes lit up as she played with the newfound treasures, her purrs echoing through the room.

As we sat by the fire, drying off and watching Ame play, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. We had managed to live peacefully in this war-torn land, building a home and supporting ourselves without getting entangled in the conflict.

"This is the life," I said, leaning back against the chair.

Konan chuckled, her eyes never leaving Ame as she played. "What could I say, it's you who makes our lives better," she said, her voice filled with affection.

The fire crackled, casting warm shadows across the room. The smell of the burning wood filled the air, mixing with the aroma of the fried rice That Konan had made for dinner. Ame had finally tired herself out and curled up on the new blanket, her eyes closed in satisfaction.

"This time, the fried rice is had much flavor than last time," Konan said with a proud smile as we shared the meal. The warmth of the food filled our stomachs and our hearts.

"It is, the taste is good," I said, taking another bite. "You're getting better at cooking."

Konan's cheeks flushed slightly, "Thanks to your help," she replied, passing me a cup of tea.

We enjoyed our meal in the warm glow of the fireplace. After we had eaten our fill, i turned my attention to the books that I had copied from the herb shop.

Konan curiously glanced at the books spread out before me. "Can I read it too?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine interest.

"Of course," I replied, passing her one of the books.

Then, we spent our time reading the books. It was filled with information on various herbs and their medicinal properties. It was fascinating and incredibly useful, especially for someone like us who were trying to survive without the luxuries of a proper medical knowledge.

It's weird though, why not scroll? But a book? Is it different culture?

"...." Forget it.

The night grew late, and the storm outside showed no signs of letting up. The rain hammered against the windows, and the wind howled like a pack of wild beasts. But inside, we were warm and safe, the only sound being the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of pages turning.

Konan's eyes grew heavy, and she yawned, stretching her arms out. "We should get some rest," she said, setting her book aside.

I nodded, "yeah." We had a long day, today.

We cleaned up the dinner dishes and I store the books in my inventory, then we prepared for bed.

The storm raged on, but the house felt more like a fortress than ever before. We had food, water, and medicine. With the books on herbs and the skills we've honed, we were in a better position than many others in this war-torn land.

Of course with some exceptions like strong ninja or wealthy merchant.

We climbed into our beds, the warmth of the blankets wrapping around us like a cocoon. Ame curled up at the foot of mine, her soft purrs a comforting lullaby.

As we lay there, listening to the storm's fury, I couldn't help but think about the village we have visited.

How the villagers make money in this wartime? I pondered as the rain pounded against the windows, my thoughts drifting to the people we had met today. Even if it's not wartime, what job they do in a village like this?

Not everyone is having a stall or store right? Maybe their family was a ninja?

My mind was racing with thoughts of the villagers and their lives. It was clear that not everyone could be a merchant or a farmer in a place like this. Some had to be protectors, ninjas who safeguarded the village from threats that the rain couldn't wash away.

But I'm not even see any ninja in the village. Maybe it's because they're out on missions or something.

"Konan, do you think the village has any ninjas?" I whispered, unable to shake the question from my mind.

She rolled over to face me, the light from the fire dancing in her eyes. "I'm not sure." She added, "Cause I didn't sense someone, at least with strong chakra."

"Maybe they're in a lower rank, or they're just really good at hiding it," I said, stroking Ame's fur.

Is it chakra sensor can be deceived?

For someone who has a special abilities maybe can do that, I thought. But for now, let's not overthink it.

Let's get some sleep.

"Good night, Konan," I said, turning over and closing my eyes.

"Good night, Haruto," she replied, her voice soft and sleepy.

The storm outside grew wilder, but the warmth of our house lulled us into a sense of security. The crackling fire and the gentle sounds of Ame's breathing soon had us drifting off to sleep.

I'm back, well not entirely back, but I have a time to make a chapter, and upload it, I just wanna say Thank you.