Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

"No wonder you only graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of 12. You... weren't focused enough!" Kakashi pointed out.

Kakashi was only willing to say a few more words because of the Third Hokage's emphasis and orders.

Qingwu's face darkened. Was he implying that I was trying to do too much at once, or that it was better to master one skill than to know many?

...Okay, then I can't compare to you, Kakashi.

Although Kakashi is only two years older than Qingwu, he graduated at the age of 5 and participated in the entire Third Shinobi World War.

And he... he was 3 years old when Kakashi graduated.

I only graduated at the end of last year.

Forget comparing him to Kakashi, Yugao graduated at 10, a year younger than him, and graduated a year earlier. The difference between them is stark...

"I understand!" Qingwu walked forward. "You... you're just going to follow me like this?"

Kakashi disappeared in an instant without saying a word.

"..." Qingwu shrugged, clearly no!

Although the secret service was not a secret in the village, it could not be openly displayed in public.

Back in his humble abode, Qingwu quickly packed his things and headed towards the Death Forest.

He plans to stay there for the time being.

In the name of cultivation!

Well, I guess I've already 'reported' to the third generation.

What? No house?

Can't people live in stables?

Well, of course, we'll definitely need to develop our territory and add more buildings later.

With Kakashi watching from the shadows, although it might be a little inconvenient, Qingwu's sense of security was greatly enhanced.

Kakashi's strength goes without saying; he had already become a Jonin at the age of Qingwu.

In addition, there is the Drywood Guardian, whose current strength is unknown but is extremely powerful.

It is estimated that he is safe for the time being unless Danzo personally intervenes.

in the night.

Qingwu stepped into the Death Forest, discerned his direction, and headed deeper into his territory...

……

at the same time.

"boom!"

The desk in the Hokage's office groaned.

Danzo, unusually, slammed his fist on the table in front of the Hokage.

The two's communication was clearly not going smoothly.

When Danzo learned that the Third Hokage had recruited Senju Seigo into his ANBU, he became extremely agitated.

"Sun God!" Danzo said coldly.

"He killed two Root ninjas. That brat named Qingwu used his newly acquired power to kill people in the village. Are you going to protect him?"

Shimura Danzo immediately used this excuse to order people to go back and investigate, which gave the Third Hokage a huge headache.

"Danzo," the Third Hokage said slowly.

“I’ve read the mission report. Your men attacked first, and... Qingwu was unconscious at the time. How can you put all the blame on him?”

Danzo refused to yield an inch:

"Does that mean murderers can get away with it? You didn't even interrogate him before directly conscripting him into the Anbu? Even if you're the Hokage, Hiruzen, you can't completely disregard the rules!"

Interrogation... my foot! The Third Hokage cursed inwardly. He did this to minimize Danzo's involvement.

"Danzo, Aogo is still a child," the Third Hokage said calmly on the surface.

“I’ve been watching him for a long time. Back in school, he was just an average genin, who didn’t show any of the Senju clan’s chakra talents.”

"Hesitant, even somewhat timid,"

"However, in this mission report, he mentioned taking a knife for his comrade in a life-or-death moment,"

"You're going to label such a good kid a murderer?"

"Child!!" Danzo exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hiruzen, how many of our children went to the battlefield during the Shinobi World War a few years ago? He was 13 years old. You treat him like a little kid?"

"Furthermore, what makes you say I've defined him as a murderer?"

"I'm just asking you, did he control psychic creatures to kill people?"

"I already said Qingwu was unconscious at the time," the Third Hokage said, displeased. "Would a mission report lie?"

Danzo opened his mouth. This was true. When Aburame Ryoma reported to him, he also said that he did not see any Senju kids present at the time.

"You mean, my Root ninjas are going up there to die?" Danzo's voice turned dangerous.

The Third Hokage rubbed his temples; he really didn't want to argue with Danzo.

“Danzo,” he softened his tone, “Kumakuha is reinforcing its troops on the border, and Iwagakure is stirring. The recently concluded Shinobi World War could very well reignite.”

Do you know what a Senju clansman who knows Wood Release can bring to the village?

Before Danzo could answer, the Third Hokage stood up and declared emphatically: "Morale, stability, cohesion, and... hope!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi guessed what Danzo was planning, even though he had publicly halted the research on the First Hokage's cells.

But in private, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well what kind of person his old buddy was.

"I will not hand over the person to you!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said firmly.

"Konoha needs this kind of power, Qingwu... I will guide him onto the right path, not into what you call a murderer!"

"..." Danzo stared coldly at the Third Hokage, and after a moment of silence, he changed his approach:

"Even if you don't allow him to be taken back for interrogation, according to what you said, Hiruzen, do you really have the ability to train a young, promising ninja?"

"Hmph, the Hokage is too busy with affairs to have time to train him?"

"Place it in the shadows?"

What can your secret service offer him?

"Gentle training?"

"A painless and insignificant task?"

Do you want to turn him into a hothouse flower?

Chapter 10 Resource Collection

"He is not a flower in a greenhouse."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice lowered, tinged with weariness, "He is a descendant of our teacher, a ninja of Konoha, and also a thirteen-year-old child."

Danzo hated the Third Hokage's 'hypocritical' appearance the most.

"Hiruzen! Don't be so naive!"

Danzo's voice grew colder and colder: "Ninjas have no childhood, only preparation. When our teacher led us to the battlefield, we were only teenagers!"

The third generation leader remained silent for a moment, then picked up his extinguished pipe and lit it again.

"Danzo, the power of Wood Release originates from reverence for life. When you try to dominate and control it, it becomes dangerous."

"The death allowance for those at the root is doubled."

"Let's not talk about Qingwu anymore. He was a good kid who protected his comrades during the mission..."

"I believe he will definitely be able to use the power of Wood Release for good."

Danzo Shimura was speechless for a moment.

He couldn't find the words to refute, but said unwillingly, "Most of the Dark Division members have been trained by the Root, which is why I was able to help him grow so quickly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head, his gentle gaze seemingly able to see through one's heart. "Danzo, I said... you are not allowed to lay a finger on him!"

Danzo narrowed his one eye, meeting the Third Hokage's gaze.

After a while...

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly, "Danzo, don't forget, I am the Hokage!"

This statement rendered all of Danzo's expressions and demands seem utterly inadequate.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Amidst the clanging of the wooden staff, Danzo stormed out, shouting angrily, "Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

boom!

"..."

The Third Hokage glanced at the slammed door, sighed, and looked out the window.

The Death Forest was utterly silent in the darkness of night...

"receive!"

Qingwu added the four and a half centaurs guarding the seedlings to the troop list.

It would be really strange for a unit commander to stay outside before he has enough self-defense capabilities.

No summoned creature can ignore chakra consumption and remain in a summoned state indefinitely. Not even Kakashi's ninja dogs can do that.

Thinking of Kakashi, Qingwu looked around.

The Forest of Death was quiet, but he knew Kakashi was hiding in the shadows.

This calmed his mind.