Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

The heavy snow in December blanketed Konoha Village in white. The goose-feather-like snowflakes fell softly, bending the branches and covering the village roads with a thick layer of silver frost.

The cold wind swept by, carrying snowflakes that made people's noses turn red from the cold.

In the nearly three months since Qingwu left, many things have happened in the village. The Shadow Guard's reputation has declined significantly due to its involvement with the "Demon Fox".

Iruka hadn't seen anyone from the Shadow Guard for a long time, including Kakashi and Tenzo, whom he was fairly familiar with.

It can be said that Qingwu was the "bond" between them.

When Qingwu wasn't around... we were ultimately not from the same world.

At this moment, Iruka was holding several sets of cotton-padded clothes, which he had specially applied for from the school. He thought that the children in the orphanage were weak and needed a thick coat to protect them from the wind and snow in such cold weather.

He's been in a bad mood lately; the rumors circulating at school, whether among students or teachers, always seem to involve the Shadow Guard.

As a result, his friend Qingwu also bore a lot of infamy.

However, because he was well aware of the scars that the Nine-Tails had brought to the village, he could not refute those rumors.

A few days ago, Kakashi Hatake, the captain of the Shadow Guard, resigned, which salvaged some of the Shadow Guard's reputation, but at the same time, it also confirmed the Shadow Guard's crimes.

There's a huge difference between resigning voluntarily and resigning to take responsibility.

Iruka believed that Kakashi must have been wronged, and that the child... probably shouldn't have to endure all this.

It was this innate kindness that made him feel conflicted and extremely frustrated.

Yesterday, he even lost his temper with students in class.

This isn't right...

Iruka knew that was wrong.

Therefore, after Qingwu left home, the orphanage became his only "safe haven," where he could find a moment of peace.

Pushing open the wooden door of the orphanage, the wind and snow drifted in through the cracks.

Iruka instinctively pulled the cotton-padded coat in his arms tighter and called out, "Director, I brought some winter clothes for the children."

After the voice faded, there was no sound from inside the orphanage.

Iruka frowned slightly, but didn't think much of it. Perhaps it was because of the snow, and the children were all sheltering inside the building.

As Iruka approached the main building, the sound of the wind carrying the cries and shouts of children reached his ears.

Something's not right.

His heart tightened, and he rushed to the backyard.

The sound was coming from the backyard.

Upon arriving in the backyard, the scene before him caused Iruka to instantly clutch the cotton coat he was holding tightly...

Chapter 166 Iruka is captured

A small team dressed in root-like attire surrounded the Dean Pharmacist, Nonou.

Nonou shielded the trembling children behind her, her figure slender yet her expression defiant, "You can't take them away."

The Root squad leader scoffed, "You think you can just send someone that Lord Danzo has taken a liking to to school like that?"

Nonou just shook her head: "These kids have already suffered enough, and they don't have any ninja skills."

The squad leader scoffed, "Whether someone has talent or not isn't up to you to decide. The adults ordered us to take them back for testing. If they don't have talent, we'll send them back."

If you remove the root, how can you easily get out?

Yakushi Nonou bit her lower lip. "I know, Lord Danzo wants me to go back, right?"

Last time, Qingwu and Tianzang donated a large sum of money to the orphanage, and since the orphanage was not short of money, it no longer relied on Danzang's funding.

Nono knew perfectly well that Danzo would definitely come looking for her one day.

That person... always wants to control everything.

After all, the war in Konoha has not yet ended, and as a "walking priestess," how could Danzo allow a spy like her to live peacefully forever?

As expected, the Root Squad Leader chuckled and said, "Since these kids aren't very talented, why don't you come back with us?"

Nono took a deep breath and remained silent.

She didn't want to go back to the roots, and she never wanted to live that kind of life again.

The Root squad leader said in a threatening tone, "I've shown you the photos of Kabuto's current situation. Are you going to refuse Lord Danzo's orders outright?"

Mino remained silent.

"it is good!"

The squad leader gave his subordinates a signal.

Two other Root ninjas stepped forward to drag the child behind Nono.

The children cried out in fear. One of the older girls, terrified by the Root ninja's pulling, bit the Root ninja's hand while crying.

"what--"

The Root ninja screamed, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, and raised his hand to slap the girl.

……

Just then, Iruka, carrying a cotton-padded coat in his arms, arrived in the backyard.

"stop!"

Iruka roared, his figure flashed, and he instantly stepped forward to protect the girl behind him, taking the slap from the Root ninja.

A burning pain shot through his cheek, but Iruka stared resolutely at the Root ninja before him:

"What kind of Konoha ninjas are you, making things difficult for children?"

The cotton-padded coat he was carrying was scattered all over the ground.

Nonou hurriedly tugged at Iruka's sleeve, saying anxiously, "Iruka, don't be impulsive!"

This wasn't the first time Genbu had come; she had dealt with the previous two times with silence and persistence, but she never expected that today he would use the child to blackmail her.

But... she knew better than anyone how terrifying the Root was, and Iruka... was someone she couldn't afford to offend!

"You're from the Root Clan, aren't you?" Iruka wasn't completely ignorant; he had learned from his friend Qingwu that Tianzang originally came from the Root Clan.

The Root squad leader stepped forward. "Umino Iruka? Ha, you dare to obstruct Root's operations?"

“Don’t think I’m afraid of you.” Iruka’s tone was defiant: “Even if I can’t afford to mess with you, I can’t just stand by and watch you bully children.”

Nonou sighed inwardly and said, "Don't make things difficult for him. I... I'll go with you."

Iruka panicked, "Director, what will happen to the children if you leave?"

Enraged, the Root squad leader stepped forward and grabbed Iruka by the collar: "Root has the right to take anyone who obstructs its operations back for questioning."

"No!" Yakushi Nonou didn't want to involve Iruka, so she said anxiously, "I'll go with you, just let him go."

Iruka struggled desperately, and the pent-up anger in his chest finally erupted. He punched the Root squad leader's mask.

"..."

quiet--

The squad leader was stunned. He never expected that anyone in the village would dare to lay a hand on him.

The other two Root ninjas reacted quickly, immediately stepping forward and pinning Iruka to the ground in the snow.

"Splash—"

The cold iron chain instantly wrapped around his wrist.

"team leader!"

The two Root ninjas consulted their squad leader.

"Good, good, good!" The squad leader gently touched his slightly cracked mask. "Dare to attack Root? Take him back. I want to interrogate him myself."

Hearing the interrogation from Root, Nonou trembled, "Iruka!!"

Her eyes reddened with anxiety, and she tried to step forward to stop them, but the squad leader pushed her away, causing her to fall into the snow.

The children in the yard cried even harder in fear, but no one dared to go forward.

The Root Squad Leader snorted coldly, "I'll settle the score with you next time!"

It wasn't until Iruka was dragged away by Root ninjas that Nonou realized something was wrong. "Wait a minute!"

Her eyes widened suddenly. The target of the root was not her at all. When they came, the root had kindly shown her a picture of Yakushi Kabuto.

This sudden turn of events... suggests the target may be someone else entirely.

Iruka?

No, Iruka is not worth targeting by Root.

So……

"!!" Having been a spy for so many years, Nono's intelligence is beyond question, combined with the recent Shadow Guard incident that has caused such a stir.

The answer is obvious—Danzo's target is the Shadow Guard!

Thinking of this, Nono struggled to get up, held the frightened children in her arms for a moment to comfort them, and then hurriedly left the orphanage.

Qingwu wasn't in the village, and she couldn't contact him.

The only option is to find members of the Shadow Guard, Tianzang, and Kakashi, and ask them to remind Qingwu to be careful on his way back...

……

Almost at the same time that Iruka was taken away by Root.

Naruto, who was playing alone in the alley, was hit in the back by a snowball.

Naruto had just turned around.

Several older children surrounded him, shouting:

"A fox spirit!"

"A jinx!"