I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

The decision to visit the ninja village was made as suddenly as roasting beans over lightning.
“You’ve been wandering around a little too much lately, don’t you think?”
When I told my mom that I was heading out for the weekend with a senior from school, she voiced her concern, but I reassured her by saying I was just going to help out with some farm work in the countryside.

Anyway, after barely convincing her, I spent the next few days catching up on the gym workouts I had skipped.
Finally, the promised day arrived.
“Kim Yu-seong! Over here!”

At the express bus terminal in Shibuya—a place I had visited not long ago—I met up with Fuma-sunbae.
“Oh.”
I turned my head at the familiar voice, but momentarily lost my words.

Maybe she noticed my reaction, because she stopped approaching and asked with a curious expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I think this is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair down.”

I’d only ever seen her with a ponytail, so it felt oddly fresh.
Fuma-sunbae gave a small, proud smile and said,
“I felt like changing my image for once. It’s been half a year since I’ve gone back to my hometown—I want to show them I’m still healthy and doing well.”

“I see.”
My gaze involuntarily dropped to her toned ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) thighs exposed under her short hot pants, and I silently thanked myself for wearing sunglasses today.
“Come to think of it, Kim Yu-seong, you’ve gotten a bit tanned too. Looks like you went to the beach over break?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I went recently.”
“Playing around while you’re young is a good thing. Once you’re older, even if you want to, you won’t be able to.”
Despite only being a year older than me, she spoke like someone who had mastered the ways of life, then held out a ticket.
“What’s this?”

“I bought the bus ticket in advance before you got here. You just have to bring yourself.”
“But aren’t you always broke…”
“Well, I’m the one personally inviting you to my village, so of course I should cover this much. Besides, it’s for occasions like this that I save money.”

Grrrrumble~
Just as she was trying to look cool, her stomach growled, and her face flushed red.
“Th-that was...!”

Holding the ticket, I glanced at the departure time and gently patted her shoulder.
“We’ve got time before the bus. Let’s grab something to eat. You bought the tickets, so I’ll treat for food.”
“...Thanks.”
***

After filling up at a restaurant near the terminal, we boarded the express bus on time.
Fuma-sunbae’s hometown was nearly 7–8 hours away from Tokyo.
When I asked if it was really that far, she explained that it wasn’t just the distance—it also required several transfers, and the village itself was deep in the mountains, making it even harder to reach.

We departed from Shibuya Express Terminal at 10 a.m. and arrived around 1 p.m. in Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Unlike Chiba, which was mostly flat, Kanagawa was on the edge of the Kanto region and largely mountainous. A quick Google search even showed a national park nearby.
After arriving in Minamiashigara, we got off, had a quick lunch of udon, then transferred to a local village bus.

Even here, the low-rise buildings gave off a strong countryside vibe, but apparently, we still weren’t there yet.
After about two more hours on the village bus, we finally got off in front of an old train station.
The sign at the bus stop read Yamakita.

Looking around at what was practically a rural backwater, I asked,
“Is this your hometown, sunbae?”
Her answer was immediate.

“No.”
“Huh?”
“Our village is deeper in than this.”

Fuma-sunbae pointed toward the mountains rising behind the town.
The forest was so thick, I couldn’t see more than a step ahead.
“...Don’t tell me we have to climb that?”

“We do.”
...You’ve gotta be kidding me.
I like exercise and all, but this was pushing it.

***
There’s a reason people say “stepping outside means suffering.”
“Just a little more and we’ll reach the village. Hang in there.”

“That’s the fifth time you’ve said that.”
I grumbled, but didn’t stop walking.
The trail was clearly not meant for regular foot traffic.

Yet Fuma-sunbae climbed the mountain as if it were a stroll, her steps light and sure.
Thankfully, I’d worn comfortable shoes expecting a long walk. If I’d worn tight ones, I’d probably be covered in blisters by now.
As I trudged silently behind her, thinking this was the longest I’d hiked since my military days, I suddenly noticed her come to a stop.

“Fuma-sunbae?”
She turned around, slightly startled, her face full of emotion.
“We’re finally here.”

Hearing that, I hurried to her side.
Just a moment ago, the view had been completely blocked by trees—now, suddenly, it opened up like a lie.
“Whoa…”

I couldn’t help but let out a gasp at the sight before me.
No wonder—Fuma-sunbae’s hometown looked like a place where time had stopped.
Summer flowers in full bloom, green pines, a winding river encircling the village, and barley sprouting in the fields.

It felt like something out of a pastoral fantasy novel.
The fatigue in my legs vanished the moment I saw it.
“Let’s go, Kim Yu-seong.”

“Ah, yes.”
I followed her slender back as she led the way down the slope into the village.
“Is this your hometown?”

“It is. Our ancestors built this place a long time ago.”
“Ancestors?”
“Back in the Sengoku era, our village’s forebears served the Hōjō clan, who ruled the Kanto region. But then, a man named Kōsaka Jinnai betrayed them, exposing our base to the shogunate. Most of the villagers were executed. The few who survived fled deep into the mountains, where no one could find them, and founded a new village.”

“I see.”
It really fit the image of a ninja village I’d vaguely imagined.
Anyway, as we stepped into the village, I immediately felt eyes on us from every direction.

At first, I didn’t know what it was—then I saw.
“Yukika-noona!”
“Yukika-nee!”

Kids popped out from behind buildings, bushes, and trees, shouting Fuma-sunbae’s name as they rushed over.
“Hey, you guys!!”
Fuma-sunbae, usually so stern, smiled brightly as she welcomed them.

“You’re finally back in the village?!”
“Where are the other big sisters?!”
“What about presents?!”

Fuma-sunbae chuckled and opened the backpack she’d been carrying.
The kids’ faces lit up instantly.
“Whoa! Toys!”

“There’s a spinning top and a doll too!”
Unlike kids today who’ve lost the simplicity of the analog era to digital culture, these village kids looked like they’d just been given the world with a few small toys.
Watching from behind, I thought, Now this is the joy of giving.

Just then, one of the kids holding toys looked at me curiously and asked,
“Yukika-noona, who’s this man?”
Fuma-sunbae glanced my way, then gently patted the child’s head and said,

“He’s an important guest of our village.”
“If he’s an important guest… is he Yukika-nee’s husband?!”
“Wow! Yukika-nee brought a man back from Tokyo!”

“Th-that’s not it!”
Fuma-sunbae looked visibly flustered.
Not that the kids cared—they just ran off cheering, leaving her red-faced behind them.

“...Sorry, Kim Yu-seong. They didn’t mean anything by it.”
“It’s fine. They were just teasing, right?”
Still… ‘Brought a man back’? That’s not something totally innocent kids say, is it?

I followed silently behind her, pondering that thought.
About ten minutes later, we arrived at the largest estate in the village.
It was a little smaller than Karen’s house, but had a much more nostalgic feel to it.

“Let’s go in.”
“Ah, yes.”
Creeeeak.

The door wasn’t even locked and opened easily. Inside was a vast mansion.
In the middle of the yard, men and women of all ages in black ninja attire were sparring like it was a real battle.
It looked like something straight out of a movie.

At the front stood an old man, who banged his cane on the ground and shouted,
“Stop!”
Everyone froze.

Then, the old man walked slowly over and spoke in a gentle voice.
“It’s been a while, Yukika.”
Fuma-sunbae lowered her head slightly and replied,

“I just returned from Tokyo, Grandfather.”
So they were grandfather and granddaughter.
“Hello,” I said awkwardly from behind her, mimicking her bow.

The old man stroked his long beard and said,
“Welcome to our Kazama clan’s village.”