Chapter 2

"Look what I found!" I called out as I entered the room, holding up the matches.

Konan's eyes lit up with excitement, and she quickly ran over to me. "You found matches!" she exclaimed, taking the pack from my hand.

"Yeah, I found them in the convenience store down the street," I said, holding up the canned goods.

"And look, I also found us something to eat."

Konan's eyes widened with excitement as she took one of the cans. "Thank you, Haruto!" she said gratefully. "I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday."

Her stomach growled loudly, and she blushed, covering her mouth with her hand.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, clearly embarrassed.

I chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm hungry too."

I watched as she lit the fireplace, the warmth spreading through the room, chasing away the cold and dampness. The flames grew, casting a comforting glow on our faces. Ame, the kitten, immediately curled up closer to the warmth, purring contentedly.

We sat on the floor, sharing the meager meal of canned food. The silence between us was comfortable, filled only with the crackling of the fire and the occasional sound of rain hitting the roof.

As we ate, I couldn't help but wonder how I ended up in this world, and what my purpose was here. Was I meant to change the course of history? Or was I just an insignificant nobody, thrown into a world where I didn't belong?

But for now, my priority was to survive and keep this little girl safe. After we finished eating, I suggested we try to get some rest. "We should sleep," I said, yawning. "We'll figure things out in the morning."

Konan nodded, her eyes already drooping with fatigue. We spread out the blankets on the floor and lay down, the warmth of the fire lulling us to sleep. Ame curled up between us, purring softly.

The rain continued outside, but inside the house, we felt a sense of peace, a small bubble of warmth in the vast, cold world. I couldn't help but feel protective of this little girl. Her story was vague to me, even when i was watching the anime, but I could see the strength in her eyes despite the fear and sadness.

"Good night, Haruto," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

"Good night, Konan," I replied, the warmth of the fire and the heaviness of the food making my eyelids droop.

We lay there, the crackling of the fire and the rhythmic purring of Ame the only sounds in the otherwise quiet night. As my consciousness began to fade, my mind raced with thoughts.

This world was not just an anime or manga, it was real.

I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of adventures and battles, hoping that my cheat ability would be enough to help us survive. Hours passed, and it's still raining outside. The fire had burned low, casting flickering shadows across the room.

---|||---

I woke up from my sleep, feeling the warmth of the fire had diminished. The rain was still pouring outside, but the sound of it had become a soothing lullaby.

I sat up and looked around, the room was still dimly lit by the embers of the fire.

Konan was still sleeping peacefully next to me, her breathing steady and shallow. I carefully moved away from her, not wanting to wake her up.

The house was eerily quiet, except for the rain. I walked to the window and peeked outside, the world was still the same, wet and gloomy.

"What now?" I whispered to myself.

*Hungry stomach Noises*

"Of course it's breakfast time," I murmured, my stomach reminding me with the hunger. I glanced at the nearly extinguished fire, then back at the sleeping Konan.

Fortunately, I have a lot wood in my inventory.

I reached into my inventory and pulled out some dry firewood, feeding the hungry flames until they roared back to life.

The warmth began to spread through the room again, and I felt a sense of satisfaction at having restored some comfort to our makeshift shelter.

Wait, I'll have to be careful with this, how if the smoke from the fire attracts someone or something?

I moved closer to the window to see the situation around me. The village outside looked abandoned, with no signs of life. It was eerie, but also peaceful in a strange way.

"Is it Town or village? And what's the name of this place?" I whispered to myself, my eyes searching for any clue that might give me an answer.

"...." I blinking my eyes, "Forget it, I'll figure it out later."

I decided to cook something for breakfast, I pulled out a small pan from the kitchen and placed it on the fireplace. Using the copied canned goods, I managed to make a simple, yet filling meal of stew.

The aroma filled the room and even woke up Konan. She stretched and yawned, looking around the room with sleepy eyes.

I'm even surprised that there are canned foods in this world. But I'm grateful, because now we have something to eat.

"...." How about water? Do we have water to cook?

I once read that rainwater is not recommended for consumption, but desperation is the mother of invention. I searched the house and found a large pot that was in relatively good condition.

"Konan, I'll be gone for a while, please take care of the food," I said as I put on the raincoat again.

"But why are you going out?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Don't worry, I just need to get some water," I assured her with a smile. "You stay here and keep an eye on Ame."

"Why don't you ask me for help?" she offered, her eyes wide with concern.

"No, it's okay. I'll be quick," I said, patting her head. "Just keep the fire going and keep warm."

---|||---

With that, I stepped out into the rain, the cold water soaking through the raincoat almost immediately.

I made my way to the stream I had seen earlier, filling the pot with fresh water. The rain had made the stream swell, and it was flowing rapidly. The sound of the water was soothing, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me, despite the circumstances.

I got myself a pot with full of water, and then keep it in my inventory and copy it so I have plenty of water supply. With the pot back in my hand, I headed back to the house.

As I entered, the smell of the stew grew stronger, making my mouth water. "It smells delicious, Haruto," Konan said, her eyes lighting up as she saw me.

"Thanks," I said, placing the pot next to the fire. "We'll have to be careful with the fire, though. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention."

Konan nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. We sat down on the floor, the warmth of the fire and the aroma of the stew filling the room. I poured the stew into two bowls, handing one to her. She took it with both hands, her eyes lighting up with gratitude.

"Thank you, Haruto," she murmured before taking a tentative sip. The warmth of the food seemed to bring color back to her cheeks, and she began to eat more eagerly.

"You can eat a lot, we have plenty," I said, watching her dig in with enthusiasm. The sight of her enjoying the food was comforting, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in my makeshift cooking skills. Like Gusteu Said 'anyone can cook' as I remember.

"...." I nodded my head, Ratatouille.

After breakfast, we sat in companionable silence, the crackling fire our only company.

It was strange to think that just yesterday, I was a regular guy and now I'm in the middle of the Land of Rain, cooking for a girl who would grow up to be a powerful shinobi with sad past and not so good future.

But the present was all that mattered. We had to keep moving, to find a way to survive in this harsh world. I turned to Konan, she doing something with the paper, "What are you doing?"

"Making origami," she said, not looking up from her work. "It's something I do to pass the time."

I watched as the paper folded into an intricate shape. It was mesmerizing, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of our situation. "That's amazing," I said, genuinely impressed.

It's chakra isn't?

I studied the origami in amazement, noticing the precision of each fold. "Do you know any other ninja tricks?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Konan looked up, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Not really, but I can show you some cool paper tricks if you want," she offered shyly.

"Sure, I'd love to see them," I said, eager to see it.

Konan nodded, her small hands moving deftly as she folded the paper into various shapes. She started with something simple, a bird that she made flutter around the room, making Ame chase it with playful swipes of her paw. Then she moved on to something more complex, a tiny house that she claimed could keep us warm forever.

I watched her, feeling a strange mix of admiration and sadness. This girl, who should be playing with friends and living a carefree life, was instead surviving in a world that had probably been cruel to her. I made a silent promise to myself to protect her and help her find happiness, if it's possible in this world.

If she had met Yahiko and Nagato, maybe I wouldn't care, but now I won't let that happen.

As the rain finally began to ease up, we decided to venture out of the abandoned house. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a gloomy yet somewhat hopeful light on the desolate village. I copied the raincoat and a small knife I had found earlier, placing them in my inventory for future use.

"Let's go exploring," I suggested to Konan, trying to sound more confident than I felt. She looked up at me with a mix of excitement and apprehension, clutching Ame tightly.

"Okay," she said softly, getting to her feet.

---|||---

The village was indeed abandoned, with no sign of life. The buildings were old and dilapidated, with plants growing through the cracks in the walls and roofs. The once-bustling streets were now a silent testament to the passage of time and the harshness of the Land of Rain.

"Where do you think everyone went?" Konan whispered as we walked through the deserted streets.

"I'm not sure," I replied, scanning the area. "But we should be careful. We don't know what happened here."

Konan nodded solemnly, her grip on Ame tightening. As we walked, we stumbled upon a small market area. The stalls were overturned and the goods scattered, hinting at a hasty departure or perhaps a violent incident.

War? Most likely.

"Let's see if we can gain something good from here," I said, trying to keep the unease out of my voice. We approached one of the stalls, and I noticed a glint of metal under a pile of soggy cloth. It was a shuriken that looked surprisingly well-maintained.

I picked it up, inspecting it closely. "This is a good find," I told her, turning it over in my hand. "It could come in handy."

Without her knowledge, I kept this shuriken in my inventory and copy it. It's always good to have some weapons on hand, especially in a world like this.

As we continued to explore, we found a few more useful items scattered around, including a small bag of rice and some other supplies that had somehow remained dry. I copied them all into my inventory.

"This is great," I said. "We can use these to make some more food."

Konan nodded, her eyes lighting up at the mention of food. "What are we going to make?" she asked, her stomach rumbling.

"What? Are you hungry again?" I chuckled, looking at her.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded. "I don't know when we'll find more," she said, her voice small.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you'll never go hungry," I assured her, patting her head. "Let's go back to the house and cook something up."

She nodded, "But I'm older than you, why you patting my head?" she said with a bit of protest, but her smile didn't leave her face.

"How you know if you're older than me?" I teased her, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you're shorter than me," she said tilting her head slightly. "And you act like it sometimes," she added with a cheeky grin.

"How so?" I think I never act like that, "But okay, let's go back," I said with a chuckle, leading the way back to the house.

---|||---

As we cooked a simple meal of rice and the canned goods, the house felt less like a cold shelter and more like a temporary home. The fire crackled, casting a warm glow that danced on the walls, and the smell of food filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the desolate world outside.

I feel like, enjoying this kind of life.

After we finished cooking, we sat down to eat, the warmth of the food filling our stomachs and the warmth of the fire filling the room. Ame sat between us, purring contentedly as she licked her lips, having enjoyed a bit of the meal we'd prepared.

As we ate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging with Konan and Ame. It was strange, considering I had only just met them, but the bond we had formed in such a short time was undeniable.

"What's your favorite food?" she asked me, her eyes curious.

"Fried rice," I said without hesitating. "It's simple, but it can be made with anything. You can never go wrong with fried rice." I said proudly.

Konan tilted her head, "I've never had that before," she said, looking intrigued. "Can you teach me how to make it?"

"Sure, I can try," I said, feeling a bit nervous. I've never actually cooked fried rice, but I've watched my mom do it a hundred times. "But we'll need more ingredients than what we have now."

Her face fell a bit, and I realized that she probably didn't have the luxury of trying new foods often. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to make it happen," I assured her.

---|||---

After we had finished our meal, we cleaned up and decided to explore the rest of the village again. We didn't find much, but we did come across a small garden that had somehow survived the neglect. The plants were overgrown, but there were a few edible herbs and vegetables that we could use to spice up our meals and of course, store it in my inventory and copy it.

How could this plant survive? Is it raining pour down nonstop?

"...."

I could say, my inventory is static storage, I can keep the Vegetables fresh and use it whenever we need.

We gathered what we could, filling our makeshift basket with the precious greens.

In the house next door, we stumbled upon a golden necklace half-buried in the dirt, a glint of hope in the gloom. It was a beautiful piece, with an intricate design that spoke of wealth and craftsmanship. I picked it up, turning it over in my hand. "What do you think this is?" I asked Konan.

Her eyes widened in wonder. "It's so pretty," she breathed. "Maybe it belonged to someone important or wealthy."

I nodded, "It's definitely valuable. We should keep it," I said, placing it around her neck. It was a perfect fit, the chain resting gently on her collarbones. "It suits you."

Konan's eyes lit up as she touched the necklace, "Thank you, Haruto," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. The warmth in her eyes was a stark contrast to the cold, harsh world outside.

Well, I've copied the necklace in my inventory too, it might be useful for something later.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I said, admiring the light on her beautiful eyes.

"It is," she agreed, looking down at the necklace with a mix of wonder. "I've never had anything so pretty."

"It's not the necklace that makes you beautiful, it's yourself" I said, smiling at her. She blushed slightly and looked away, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

We continued to explore the village, finding a few more useful items here and there. The rain remained faithful to accompany our adventure.

Satisfied with our findings, we decided to return to the house, eager to cook a more varied meal with the fresh herbs. As we walked back, the rain started to come down harder, soaking us despite the raincoats. We hurried, the cold water seeping through the fabric and making us shiver.

---|||---

Once inside, we hung our wet clothes by the fireplace to dry and sat down on the floor, warming ourselves by the fire. Ame had followed us, her little body shivering from the cold. I reached into my inventory and pulled out a small towel, gently drying her off.

"You're a good kitten," I murmured, earning a purr from Ame as she snuggled closer to the warmth of the fire.

Konan watched with a soft smile, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Where did you get that towel?" she asked, noticing my sudden ability to produce it from thin air.

"It's same like your paper trick, it's my ability." I said with a wink, not wanting to reveal the full extent of my power. "Let's get these veggies ready for dinner," I said, changing the subject.

She nodded, "okay... Ah! You said you will teach me to make fried rice," she reminded me with excitement.

"I know, I know," I chuckled, "But let's focus on what we have right now. We'll tackle the fried rice challenge tomorrow."

Konan's expression fell slightly, but she nodded in understanding. "Okay," she said, helping me lay out the vegetables we had found.

As we prepared the meal, the rain grew louder, pounding against the windows like an impatient drummer. The storm outside was a stark contrast to the warmth and safety we had found within the walls of the abandoned house.

The aroma of the cooking vegetables filled the air, mixing with the scent of the firewood. It was a comforting scent, one that reminded me of home. I hoped it brought some comfort to Konan as well.

"Do you miss your home?" I asked her as we worked side by side.

Konan paused, her hands stilling for a moment. "Sometimes," she said softly. "But it's been a while since I had a real home."

I gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, not knowing what else to say. "Well, for now, this is our home," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "And I promise to make it as comfortable as I can."

Konan looked up at me, her eyes misty, "Thank you, Haruto," she whispered and then she hugged me tightly.

Her warmth was surprising, considering the cold she had been exposed to. The feeling of her small frame pressed against mine was oddly comforting. I wrapped my arms around her, patting her back gently. "Don't worry, we'll find a way to make this place feel more like home," I murmured into her ear.

"Meow.."

"And Ame too," I said chuckled, "It's like she understands us."

Konan giggled, wiping a tear from her eye. "You're right," she said, sniffling.

The cat looked up at us, her eyes gleaming with what I could only assume was agreement.

Strange, how would I know?

We finished preparing the meal, the vegetables sizzling in the pan and filling the room with a comforting aroma. As we ate, the storm outside grew fiercer, the wind howling like a pack of wild beasts. The house creaked and groaned, but we were warm and safe inside our little Heaven.