Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Originally, she planned to refuse Qingwu's request to go to the Wet Bone Forest after returning, since although it was called a holy land, it was actually extremely dangerous, and the result of failing the test was death!

She had already come up with a reason: "I've already taught you taijutsu; how can the guidance of the Sannin be measured in money?"

However, she wavered at this moment. The slug immortals of the Wet Bone Forest were known for their medical skills, and Qingwu used natural energy. In that case... maybe it really would work?

She had traveled the ninja world and seen countless medical ninjutsu, but she had never seen such a simple yet strange healing method.

Qingwu withdrew her hand, moved her arm, and felt no pain at all. She smiled but didn't elaborate: "It's just an application of natural energy."

Tsunade glanced at him sideways, clearly not believing his flippant statement, but she didn't press him further; everyone has their own secrets.

"It's actually a useful skill."

Tsunade's tone was indifferent, which could be interpreted as acknowledgment:

"But don't get too cocky. This technique is good for treating skin and flesh injuries, but it's completely useless when it comes to injuries to meridians, bones, or even internal organs."

With her years of experience in medical research, she succinctly revealed the essence of this water magic.

Qingwu secretly admired him, "You're right, sir!"

I dare not call her "Auntie" anymore, for fear of getting beaten up...

“So there’s something else,” Qingwu continued, “Well, the reason I came to see you, sir, is because of my teammate…”

Qingwu's tone turned serious as he sincerely recounted Xiyan's situation.

half an hour...

After Qingwu finished speaking, Jingyin, who had been listening with a heavy heart, spoke up:

"Lady Tsunade, I used to play with Yugao when she was at school. She's so pitiful. You must save her."

Shizune simply couldn't imagine how devastating it must have been for the strong-willed Yugao when she learned she could no longer be a ninja.

Tsunade waved her hand and looked at Qingwu, "Saving people isn't urgent. We can talk about it after we get back from Shikkotsu Forest."

Her tone was full of confidence in her medical ninjutsu.

"!!" Qingwu was stunned for a moment before she reacted and exclaimed in surprise, "You agreed, sir?"

"Don't be too happy!" Tsunade sneered. "I can't guarantee whether you can learn Sage Mode, or even whether you can survive."

At this point, Tsunade shrugged: "But whether you come back or not, I will help you heal your teammates."

Qingwu, ever the shrewd one, said, "The money lost is wiped clean!"

Tsunade clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, saying, "Kid, don't think I'm that shallow. I don't care how much money I owe you."

Mute: "..."

Qingwu: "..."

After a pause, Qingwu pressed on, "When can I go to the Wet Bone Forest?"

……

Chapter 159 Iruka and Mizuki

Qingwu doesn't want to learn any kind of magical arts.

He has only one goal—the essence of nature.

Moreover, it is almost certain that it exists in one of the three holy sites.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why the Valley of the End, where Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha fought, would leave behind natural essence.

Tsunade's answer was "tomorrow".

With anticipation, Qingwu closed his eyes in the room next to Tsunade and Shizune.

He was really tired.

After more than two months of running around, I had another big battle with Tsunade tonight.

Unfortunately... there is no campaign settlement for sparring battles.

With a final thought of regret, Qingwu quickly drifted off to sleep.

……

……

Muye Village

There's been a growing rumor circulating in the village these past two days.

It's said that the child Kakashi, the captain of the Hokage's Guard, takes care of every day is a demon fox!

Rumors spread from the pancake stalls on the street corner to the classrooms of the Ninja Academy, with almost everyone in Konoha gathering together to whisper and discuss them.

No one can say for sure where it came from, but the more the rumors spread, the more believable they seemed.

...which led to Kakashi starting to face prejudice in the village;

...which led to the old woman sent by the Third Hokage to take care of Naruto resigning and leaving;

...which led to...damage to the reputation of the entire Shadow Guard.

The night of the Nine-Tails was only a few years ago, but the shadow of that night was almost etched into the bones and blood of every Konoha villager.

This result is not surprising.

Not to mention others, even acquaintances have been affected.

Because of Qingwu, Iruka originally had a good relationship with Kakashi, but he didn't stop the gossip he heard at school these past two days...

"Have you heard? Lord Kakashi is hiding a fox spirit in his backyard."

"Really? Lord Kakashi is the captain of the Shadow Guard, how could he do such a thing?"

“My father said it. My father is a ninja, so he can’t be wrong.”

"What was Lord Kakashi thinking, that he actually..."

"That's right. The fox demon has ruined so many families. If that little brat gets out of control, the village will suffer again."

"..."

On the playground of the ninja academy, a few older kids huddled together whispering.

The children in Konoha are very precocious; of course, they may have heard this from their own parents.

As a teaching assistant, Iruka should have stopped such discussions.

But... he only glanced at it with mixed feelings before walking down the stairs and slumping down in the shadows.

He was not yet 15 years old when his parents died in that disaster. He understood the principles, but did not know how to deal with his emotions.

"Iruka~"

A voice sounded from behind him. Mizuki, also a teaching assistant, walked over and said, "I heard you know Kakashi? And you're friends with him?"

Iruka's shoulders stiffened abruptly upon hearing the sound.

"Teacher Shuimu."

Iruka's voice was a little hoarse, and his face still showed lingering complex emotions and fatigue.

Mizuki patted him on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the group of whispering kids in the corner of the playground before returning to Iruka. "I heard you're pretty close to Kakashi?"

Iruka managed to say, "I...I know the Shadow Guard, so what?"

"It's nothing," Mizuki smiled. "It's just those rumors lately... Iruka, do you think they're true?"

"I don't know." Iruka clenched his fist.

"I don't think it's fake. Otherwise, if the reputation of the Shadow Guard were ruined, the Hokage would have come out to clarify long ago," Mizuki said gloatingly.

He had heard rumors among the teachers that Iruka entered the school at a young age because of his relationship with someone in the Shadow Guard.

This made him feel deeply jealous and annoyed.

You should know that he paid a lot of price and effort to enter the ninja academy in order to avoid going to the battlefield.

Now that the Shadow Guard has run into trouble, and knowing that Iruka's parents died on the night of the Nine-Tailed Fox, he couldn't help but come and kick them while they were down.

“That guy’s gone mad,” Mizuki continued. “I also heard that Kakashi is going to resign from his position in the Shadow Guard so he can stay with the fox spirit every day.”

Qingwu is the next candidate for the Shadow Guard from the Third Hokage. Before he returns, Kakashi will temporarily serve as the captain of the Shadow Guard.

The Third Hokage probably never expected that someone would reveal the identity of 3-year-old Naruto at this time.

The words "demon fox" kept piercing Iruka's heart, and his fists clenched until they turned white. "Mitsuki-sensei... stop talking, he's just a child."

Iruka's innate kindness made it impossible for him to bear such open slander.

Mizuki paused slightly upon seeing the angry Iruka, then looked at him with a half-smile:

"A child? Iruka, you're not having a change of heart, are you? Your parents died from the Nine-Tails' attack, have you forgotten? That child is a jinx!"

These words struck Iruka's heart like a heavy hammer.

How could he forget? The flames, the screams, the collapsed houses—those images were etched in his dreams, waking him up every night and once keeping him trapped in them.

Until a series of events occurred with Qingwu in the Forest of Death,

Until he cultivated in the verdant territory,

Until... he arrived at the ninja academy and faced those innocent children, his pain was healed layer by layer, and today, it is being peeled back layer by layer.

He was conflicted, he was in pain, and he didn't know how to face it.

“I…” Iruka opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything. He could only lower his head dejectedly, his shoulders trembling slightly.

'Qingwu…' At this moment, Iruka missed his friend, 'When are you coming back? What should I do…'

Looking at him like this, a playful smile flashed in Shui Mu's eyes:

"Alright, I know you're upset, but Iruka, you need to think this through. Your stance is very important!"

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Iruka slumped alone in the shadows at the bottom of the stairs.

The sunlight streamed down from the sky above, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom in his heart.

……