Just as they were about to set off, an unexpected person suddenly came running over from Konoha's gates.
"Master—Master! I want to come too!"
Her voice arrived before she did. Hearing that familiar voice, Uchiha Gen immediately turned around and saw a pretty girl with long straight black hair riding toward them on an enormous fat cat.
"Itono? Little Kuro?"
"Master!"
Itono practically flew over. She leaped from more than ten meters away, and if Uchiha Gen had not caught her properly, she would have definitely hit the ground.
"You came all this way just to see me off?"
"I want to go with you. I don't want to stay in Konoha, Master~"
"Huh? But I'm going out to handle serious business, and I'll probably be too busy to stop moving."
"No, no~"
Uchiha Gen tried to put her down, but Itono clung to him like a koala and refused to let go.
"Sigh... get down first."
"No! I won't!"
Sigh... Uchiha Gen sighed like an old father and affectionately smoothed Itono's hair.
"Isn't Konoha nice? Miyue and Yanta are here with you too."
"Hmph! I don't want anything to do with those two."
"Something happened? What is it?"
"Master... I don't want to go to Root, and I don't want to... take on commission missions."
Itono's voice was nearly too quiet to hear when she said this. Seeing her expression, Uchiha Gen instantly understood why.
"You still can't bring yourself to do it?"
"Mhm~"
Uchiha Gen nodded. He really could not blame her for that. As a ninja, she had no killing intent. Perhaps Itono was better suited to a peaceful world.
"Let's talk as we walk. Little Kuro, keep up."
"Meow..." (Got it.)
Uchiha Gen had noticed it long ago, when Itono had first begun training. She had