Sunny and cheerful Konoha Genin

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Kimimaro, who was still holding the broth and drinking it in small sips, suddenly met Ito Toru's eager gaze and felt a little confused.

Why are you looking at me suddenly?

"No problem, I already have a general understanding of the situation."

Ito Toru nodded slightly, looking thoughtful.

"Let's go there tomorrow morning."

"Eh? Don't we have to wait for Yahiko and the others?" Karin asked.

"They will definitely be fine, and Lord Jiraiya will stay here to pick them up, right, Lord Jiraiya?"

"Hahahaha! Of course I will accept this."

Jiraiya laughed.

"Tsunade, do you want to stay with us?"

"I'm not staying here. The casinos here are too shady and I can't afford to play. I plan to go to the Water Country."

"Ah, what a shame. What about Nono? The message has been delivered. Do you want to go back?"

"Not sure yet. I haven't been out for a while. Orochimaru-sama said I can be free outside for a while."

"But now I can't enter the Hidden Rock Village..."

She looked quite distressed.

"it's okay!"

Jiraiya patted his chest generously: "If you want to go in and take a look, I will take you in with me!"

"I've been here for so long, and the name Jiraiya-sama is no joke!"

"Even if we are hunted down, I can still help you escape!"

"Really? Thank you so much!"

Nono was very happy.

These two people...

Toru Ito looked at Jiraiya, then at Nono, with a strange expression on his face.

Kabuto Yakushi, is he going to have a stepfather?

From now on we can’t call him Yakushidou anymore, we have to call him Zilaidou?

It's a bit too weird!

After a brief chat and discussion, everyone felt a little sleepy.

The conditions in this small, dilapidated temple were not very good. Everyone found some dry straw to spread on the floor and then slept there.

Because Toru Ito and Karin were in high spirits, they volunteered to be in charge of night watch to prevent the Iwagakure from attacking.

"call--"

Karin took a deep breath, her eyes shining with excitement.

“It feels so exciting!”

She looked at the Iwagakure Village below. In the pitch darkness, there were still some flickering lights.

The dilapidated temple where everyone was located was located on a high place. The tall rock walls blocked the light, so there was no need to worry about being seen.

Now that the snow had stopped, the air had become even colder, with a chilly wind blowing constantly.

However, because Toru Ito was right next to her, Karin felt very safe and even enjoyed this moment.

"Haha, Karin, do you like this exciting feeling?"

Ito Toru chatted casually.

"Well... I can't say I like it too much, but it feels really fun to be with you all!"

"Is that so? It's a pity that you didn't go to ninja school, otherwise you would definitely be able to... well, but I can't say for sure."

Ito Toru remembered what happened to Kushina, so he smiled and shook his head: "You are fine now."

"Really?!"

Karin's eyes were burning, and she unconsciously moved closer to Ito Toru.

"real."

Ito Toru smiled and ruffled her hair.

Then I realized that Karin had grown up without me noticing.

It was a small one before, but now it has become a big one.

Maybe it’s because it’s different from the original work, as it has sufficient nutritional supplements.

Karin's height also increased suddenly.

Looking at the smiling face of the red-haired girl wearing glasses and her eyes as beautiful as rubies in the cold night, Toru Ito was a little dazed for a moment.

Actually...has so much time passed?

"what's wrong?"

Karin spread out her five fingers and waved them in front of Ito Toru.

I felt a little proud in my heart that Brother Ito was actually stunned by the way he looked at me!

hee hee~

"nothing."

Ito Toru raised the corners of his mouth slightly, closed his eyes, and exhaled thick white air.

“I just feel lucky.”

"Lucky?"

"Well, I'm glad I don't have anything to do."

"Oh."

Karin didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from quietly leaning her head on Ito Toru's shoulder.

“It’s easy to fall asleep this way.”

"I won't fall asleep."

"Haha, by the way, Karin, do you know what ninjas do to prevent themselves from falling asleep during night watch?"

"what?"

Karin suddenly felt a little worried and nervous.

She immediately thought of pricking her thigh with a needle, drinking chili water to refresh herself, or simply stuffing a handful of snow into her mouth...

Brother Ito wouldn't want to do this too, would he?

"What are you thinking about?"

Ito Toru watched her expression change and a smile appeared on his face.

"It's not what you think."

"What is that?"

"I just tell ghost stories to stay awake."

"what?"

Karin shuddered.

Just hearing the three words "ghost story" made her sober up a little.

"No, no, don't listen to ghost stories!"

She waved her hands repeatedly, looking pitiful.

"Hahahaha!"

Seeing her like this, Toru Ito couldn't help but laugh out loud while suppressing his voice.

She's still a little girl after all.

This burst of hearty laughter was carried away by the night wind.

Karin, feeling a little scared, moved even closer to Ito Toru.

And Toru Ito didn't try to scare her on purpose again.

Time flows quietly like this.

Before she knew it, Karin had fallen asleep.

And Ito Toru's smile slowly faded.

He sat there calmly, as if he had turned into a statue.

"Well……"

Karin beside him shrank because of the cold. Ito Toru sighed slightly, and a black word appeared on his finger. After he pressed it on the ground, the cold wind around him was immediately blocked by an invisible air shield.

This is a sealing barrier that can seal the wind out. It is of no use except at times like this.

Karin's frown slowly relaxed and she became calm, and she softly murmured "Mom", which made Ito Toru's heart soften even more.

……

"Wake up, Karin."

Karin, who was still basking in the sun in her dream, was awakened by a gentle voice.

"Well?"

She opened her eyes in confusion, not knowing what was going on, and stared blankly ahead.

"Ito-san?"

Memories came flooding back like a tide, and only then did she remember that she was the night watchman!

He actually fell asleep!

"oops!"

Her face turned red as soon as she rubbed it.

"Brother Ito, I..."

Karin wanted to apologize, but saw Ito Toru put his finger on his lips: "Shh, don't say anything yet, look over there."

there?

She looked in the direction Toru Ito was looking with some confusion.

Among the distant mountains, surrounded by red clouds, a bright red sun is rising.

The snow-covered surroundings were very quiet, and only Jiraiya's snoring could be vaguely heard.

The Iwagakure Village below was also covered with a layer of white snow.

"Look, that's the sunrise."

There was a smile in Ito Toru's eyes.

He liked this feeling very much.

When the morning comes, everything feels alive.

Especially after a cold winter night like this.

Karin was also affected by him and stared into the distance motionlessly.