"Excuse me!"
Hearing that lively, crisp voice, Hada Ichiba's leisurely smile faded slightly. However, he did not turn around immediately. Instead, he apologized to the ninja on duty before turning toward the source of the voice and walking toward the gate.
"Go ahead."
Watching Hada Ichiba's retreating back, the duty ninja seemed somewhat dazed as he spoke subconsciously.
Although he knew they were not the same person, he still looked so much like him! The thought unconsciously flashed through his mind.
"Over here! Kazuha!"
At that moment, apparently seeing that Hada Ichiba had noticed her, the lively voice called out again.
"Wow! So much food! Is all this for Anna? Kazuha, you're the best!"
Before Hada Ichiba could say anything after stepping through the gate, that lively voice beat him to it again.
Clearly, she had noticed the bags and packages in his arms.
"Anna, are you here alone?"
At that moment, Hada Ichiba, having been interrupted, stopped walking. Looking at the little girl standing before Konoha's gate with a Kusagakure forehead protector on her head, the leisurely smile on his lips completely faded and became a faint, indulgent smile. He patted the girl's head and spoke.
At that moment, standing alone before Hada Ichiba was a round-faced, adorable little girl whose hair all stood upright, with a bun tied atop the left side of her head. Her bright eyes and slight baby fat gave her innocent, fair, clean face the soft whiteness unique to little girls. Her petite body, which only reached Hada Ichiba's chest, stood on tiptoe as she looked up at him. She appeared to be no more than six or seven years old.
Clearly, this was far from what Hada Ichiba had expected. Although the information said the Genin would arrive one after another, it was