Chapter 791: NASM - 791

They moved forward carefully, constantly scanning their surroundings, and soon arrived at the large lake. It was truly vast, and crossing it would take some time.

Fortunately, in this world, there was such a thing as chakra — allowing anyone to walk right on the water’s surface without sinking. Without that skill, they would have had to swim across.

Of course, boats existed too, but finding one here was impossible. This area was completely desolate; no fishermen or anyone else lived nearby.

"Alright, stay very careful from here on. We can’t see the bottom, so we don’t know if enemies are hiding beneath us. While we walk, watch the water below and the shore all around us," Hiroshi said softly, standing at the water’s edge.

Harumiko nodded with a smile. They both focused chakra to the soles of their feet and stepped out onto the lake.

"Alright then — let’s see where you all are. Come on, show yourselves! I’m not afraid of you at all. The sooner you come out, the sooner we can finish this and get back to our journey home in peace," Hiroshi murmured quietly as they moved across the surface.

They advanced cautiously until they reached the centre of the lake — and still, nothing happened. A small doubt began to grow in their minds: Were there actually any enemies? Maybe they had simply assumed so because of the footprints they had seen earlier. But all this way, there had been no sign or sound of anyone.

"This is really strange. We’re right in the middle now, and not a single person has appeared. Could it be... we really were imagining things?" Hiroshi whispered, gripping his weapon and scanning the area with a frown.

Harumiko felt just as puzzled. All this time, no one had come after them, no suspicious movement at all. Had they really been over?worried?

Even so, they did not lower their guard. To avoid a possible ambush later, they kept moving forward with full caution.

Hiroshi was deep in thought: It doesn’t add up. With all my experience... maybe they’re just extremely patient? But this long without a single sign of them? That’s very odd. Am I really just making this up in my head?

"But those footprints were fresh — made only recently. That contradicts everything now. If no one is here, then those were probably just ordinary people travelling, not enemies at all," he debated silently, feeling uncertain and confused.

They were nearly at the far shore, and still nothing. While walking across, they had paid special attention to the water below — not a single bubble had risen. No one could hold their breath that long. It was impossible. This only deepened the mystery.

"It really looks like we were worrying for nothing. There probably never were any enemies. Think about it — no one can hold their breath forever. We walked all the way across, and if anyone had been hiding underwater, they would’ve had to breathe eventually. Bubbles would’ve given them away immediately," Hiroshi said quietly to Harumiko once they reached dry land, smiling in relief.

She nodded — it made perfect sense. Everything they had observed pointed to there being no threat nearby at all.

To be absolutely sure, Hiroshi activated his Golden Eyes and scanned the whole area. Nothing. The surroundings were completely empty — no people, no trace of chakra anywhere.

"I can’t believe it... we were way too nervous. There isn’t a soul around here. We were just being over?cautious, probably because it’s been so long since we’ve faced anything like this. How ridiculous," he thought to himself, shaking his head gently.

Harumiko looked around carefully as well. Everything was quiet and normal — nothing out of place, just the sound of wind rustling through the leaves. No one was moving anywhere nearby.

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