Chapter 125: Returning to the Team

Chapter 125: Returning to the Team

Uchiha Masaki was extremely annoyed by the heartwarming scene in front of him, but he dared not speak out his anger. He could only express his dissatisfaction by stepping on the twigs and grass blades under his feet, making them crackle.

Hearing the noise, Ling released his sensory ability again. "Is that Yakuki?"

"Yes." Uchiha Masaki walked over with a gloomy face. "You... could you at least send a message back when you're safe? Do you know how worried everyone was?"

"Sorry... I just received Hiro's message," Ling jumped down from the tree with The Nekomata's Journey in his arms and explained the whole story. "Sorry to trouble you to come all the way."

"Hey, can't you guys just bear to see me having some leisure time?" Uchiha Masaki exploded completely. "You dragged me to the Land of Lightning during my supposed vacation and kept the purpose from me. Well, after all, the overall goal was to teach those ignorant guys a lesson. But it's really too much that no one informed me when the crisis was over!

Aren't we comrades? Right? Why do you always make me do all this for free? If you have any complaints about me, can't you just tell me straight up? I'll change. Why do you always treat me like this? I'm really hurt, okay?!"

The Nekomata's Journey looked at the young man who was clearly reluctant to get close to Ling but also showed a vulnerable side in his words. She found it quite interesting. "This kid is quite amusing."

Uchiha Masaki immediately stopped complaining and turned his gaze to The Nekomata's Journey. "Your newly summoned beast?"

Ling nodded in confirmation. "Just call her Little Neko."

"The fur color and breed are quite rare. It's just..." Uchiha Masaki stepped closer and frowned. "Why do I always feel something's off?"

The Nekomata's Journey just tilted her head and gave Uchiha Masaki a cute look.

"Well, forget it. Anyway, you must have your reasons." Uchiha Masaki withdrew his gaze and then reached out to snatch The Nekomata's Journey from Ling's arms. "By the way, you really went too far yesterday. When I went to investigate, there were still officers trying to scrape the eyeballs stuck to the ceiling... Your little Nekomata feels so nice to the touch."

"I just did what a punisher should do..." Ling remained calm. "I'll have to submit a report to the clan regarding the private mission I took."

Uchiha Masaki kind of understood why Ling was so fond of The Nekomata's Journey. "A mission? What kind of mission?"

Ling took out the half small gold coin and waved it. "Well, a well - paid mission."

Uchiha Masaki curled his lips, buried his face in the cat's fur, and muttered reluctantly, "You always say I'm breaking the rules... Damn it, I'm going to go to the Cat Village to sign a summoning contract when I get back."

The Nekomata's Journey was just like an ordinary little Nekomata. She just stretched out her claws to resist when Uchiha Masaki tried to nuzzle her belly. Then she stepped on his face unceremoniously, moved to his head, curled up her paws, and said, "You're really something to mistake me for an ordinary, harmless ninja cat."

"Huh?" Uchiha Masaki looked up. "Isn't it just a Nekomata?"

"We ninjas aren't particular about this kind of thing..."

"Humph~" The Nekomata's Journey licked its paw. "You really trust this kid."

Uchiha Masaki silently picked The Nekomata's Journey off his head. "You're not one of those super-dangerous summoned beasts that can change forms, are you?"

"Yeah~"

Ling also let out a soft laugh but didn't deny it. "This isn't actually Little Neko's original appearance. As for its true appearance... you'll have a chance to see it later."

Uchiha Masaki: ...You should've told me about such a dangerous thing in advance!

Feeling Uchiha Masaki's stiffness, The Nekomata's Journey wriggled out of his hand and jumped back onto Ling's shoulder. "Humph~ What a spoilsport."

Uchiha Masaki stared wide - eyed as The Nekomata's Journey settled on Ling's head. 'Who else but you would let a super - dangerous summoned beast get close to your vital parts? It's not normal for you to accept it. What strange things have you done to yourself in just a few days?'

Uchiha Masaki's obvious resistance and his comical facial expressions made The Nekomata's Journey cheer in delight.

Ling reached out and patted Uchiha Masaki on the shoulder. "There's no need to be on guard against your partner... Alright, let's go back."

Uchiha Masaki stepped forward on his own accord. "It's true that there's no need to be on guard against partners... But you can't just take any strange creature as a partner, can you? Let me tell you, I'm a total chicken. You might just scare me to death one of these days..."

"Hmm? Then what about those nightmares you had about me before? But now that you've seen me..."

"Shut up! I was just making an analogy, just an analogy! Seriously - Am I being punished by heaven for liking the Senju in my past life just because I'm your peer?!"

"Liking the Senju isn't enough to be punished by heaven..."

"Stop it. Just let me complain on my own for a while! Don't you know how wronged I am right now? You're not comforting me, and you won't even let me comfort myself?!"

The Nekomata's Journey patted Ling on the forehead. "What did you do to this kid? He's both scared and in awe of you."

Ling shrugged slightly, indicating that he didn't understand either, and silently followed Uchiha Masaki.

Since they weren't in a hurry, they took their time and it took them three days to return to the Uchiha clan's group. After seeing that Ling was safe and sound, Uchiha Masamitsu, who had already received news from the clan, finally felt relieved. He reorganized the clan members and accelerated their return journey.

When the group reached the border between the Land of the Moon and the Land of Hot Water, it officially divided into two teams. One was the supply team bound for the Iron Country, while the other was the return team guiding the new clan members back to the Land of Fire.

Uchiha Masamitsu naturally led the return team back to the Uchiha clan, while the leadership of the supply team was given to Uchiha Keiyuki, who had led the team to provide support.

Madara, due to his status as the heir, was forcefully placed on the return team by Uchiha Masamitsu to appease the masses. When he left, he was quite reluctant to bid farewell to Ling and The Nekomata's Journey. Judging by his expression, he probably had long forgotten the words saying he didn't need a summoned beast.

After all, it was just an innocent and adorable cat, wasn't it?