"Kikyo, come here a moment."
Kikyo, who was having a wonderful time playing in the distance, heard Anyo's voice and left a clone to keep her younger brother and sister company. Her real body reached Anyo in a few bounds.
"Dad, what's up?"
Anyo said gently, "The next Chunin Ninja Exams are about to begin. I'm planning to head out. Let your mom know that I'll be serving as Konoha's lead instructor this time."
"Huh?" Kikyo said in surprise. "You've hardly left home these past two years. You barely even take missions anymore, staying home as a full-time dad. Why would you volunteer to take part in the Chunin Ninja Exams today?"
Anyo patted Kikyo's head and said with a smile, "Because the wind has picked up. I'm off."
With that, Anyo turned into a gust of wind and disappeared.
"What was that?" Kikyo said indignantly. "He still treats me like a little kid and won't explain anything properly."
Upon arriving in Konoha's small town, Anyo went to see Genno first.
Genno was leisurely having breakfast at a breakfast shop. When Anyo arrived, the owner soon brought over a bowl of noodles for him as well. Seeing this, Anyo was in no hurry to talk, and the two ate breakfast together like old friends.
They soon emptied their bowls. Genno greedily drank every last drop of broth, then let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Young Master, I still remember how we had breakfast together when we first met. We agreed it would be my treat, but you paid ahead of me. This time, I wised up and paid for two bowls of noodles well in advance."
Anyo chuckled. "That was so long ago. I didn't think you'd still remember."
"Yes," Genno said, reminiscing. "That chance encounter over a bowl of