Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

"go to hell!"

Snowballs kept hitting Naruto.

Naruto huddled in the corner, trying to hold back his tears. His small body trembled uncontrollably, and he didn't even dare to cry out loud.

"Kid, that's enough!"

A cold voice rang out, piercing through the swirling snow.

Kakashi appeared at the alley entrance with his eyes half-closed, leaning against the wall. Although he looked somewhat lazy, the pressure around him was frighteningly low.

"Run!"

The older children were terrified and scattered, throwing down snowballs and running away without even looking back.

Kakashi shook his head and stepped forward. They were just children, and he couldn't very well intervene. Besides... the Hokage was right; the growth of a Jinchuriki was destined to involve hardships.

Kakashi knelt down in front of Naruto, gently brushing the snow and mud off his clothes. His voice softened as he asked, "Are you alright? Are you cold?"

Naruto shook his head, his eyes red, and looked timidly at Kakashi, but he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

Naruto didn't understand why everyone was suddenly being so mean to him, and even the old lady who took care of him had disappeared.

Kakashi ruffled Naruto's hair and said softly, "Come with me, let's move out of this house..."

Chapter 167 Unforgivable!

Kakashi left briefly today to look for a place to live.

After Naruto's true identity was revealed, the nearby residents all knew that he was a fox spirit.

Cold words and even bullying like today are not uncommon.

"Kakashi-nii-san, where are we going?"

Holding Kakashi's little hand, Naruto looked up and asked.

From "Lord Kakashi" to "Senior Kakashi," and then to "Brother Kakashi," their relationship deepened over the two months they spent together.

"Well~!" Kakashi walked forward and casually said, "Come home with me."

Along the way, the villagers pointed and whispered about the two figures, one big and one small, but Kakashi seemed completely unconcerned.

He knew... that the little Naruto in front of him was someone he could rely on.

When Kakashi led Naruto to the entrance of the Hatake clan's territory, the clansmen guarding the gate changed their expressions upon seeing Naruto with Kakashi.

However, given Kakashi's status within the clan, it was not something he could criticize.

Kakashi glanced at his clansmen and led Naruto into the clan's territory.

However, before they could settle down, the clan elders came to their door.

Although the Hatake clan has declined, and Kakashi is still the most accomplished and highest-ranking ninja in the clan, he cannot do as he pleases when it comes to matters concerning the clan.

"Kakashi, why did you bring him back?"

The two elders stood on either side of him, their tone clearly filled with disgust.

Kakashi sighed inwardly. He knew that this attitude was not directed at him, but at the Nine-Tails.

"He's just a child, he shouldn't be treated like this." Kakashi turned around and said to the elder in a calm tone.

"Child? You know perfectly well what he is!!" Elder Hatake shouted, staring at Naruto.

Naruto timidly tightened his grip on Kakashi's hand, not daring to utter a sound.

He is still too young and doesn't yet have the rebellious nature he will have in the future.

"..." Kakashi was silent for a moment, then said, "I will protect him."

If a teacher's child doesn't protect them in this situation, who will?

"You're protecting her?" the elder roared angrily. "For the sake of the fox demon, are you going to offend Lord Danzo and implicate the entire clan?"

Another elder also raised his voice:

"Take him away quickly. Monsters are not welcome in our clan. Our clan is already in decline enough, and he still wants to cause trouble. Really."

Each accusation struck Kakashi's heart like a heavy hammer.

Looking at the elder's indifferent eyes, he couldn't help but ask, "When Father was criticized back then, did you defend him?"

Shuo Mao… The two elders paused in their speech.

Kakashi had already lost interest. Looking down at Naruto clutching his clothes timidly, Kakashi turned around and led Naruto out of the Hatake clan's territory.

The gate to the clan's territory behind him slammed shut, cutting off the last vestige of warmth and the last remaining hope in his heart.

Naruto lowered his head; he wasn't completely ignorant.

These days, he has felt a lot of malice and knows that his brother Kakashi has been implicated because of him.

The little hand let go, Naruto stopped, and without looking up, said in a low voice, "Brother, I'll go back by myself. There's still a place to stay."

Kakashi looked at Naruto.

"I... I won't go out," the child said, his voice filled with grievance.

Kakashi took Naruto's hand again. "I'll take you to a quiet place."

Because Qingwu wasn't home, Kakashi had some reservations beforehand, thinking that if he were to bring Naruto over, it would be best to inform the owner first.

However, given the current situation, there's no time to worry about that now.

Going to the Forest of Death is fine too; there's no malice there, and Tenzo can help take care of Naruto.

Having made up his mind, Kakashi led Naruto into the snowstorm...

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Just as they arrived at the entrance to the Forest of Death, a Root squad blocked Kakashi and Naruto's path.

The lead Root ninja stared at Kakashi, his tone chilling:

"Kakashi Hatake is suspected of mission failure and harboring a Jinchūriki. He is to come back to Root with us for investigation."

Kakashi shielded Naruto behind him, cautiously revealing his crimson Sharingan.

Having worked in the shadows for many years, he knew Root's modus operandi all too well.

"My only responsibility is to the Hokage," Kakashi said. "I doubt Lord Danzo could investigate the Kageshield on his own."

"The Shadow Guard? Didn't you already resign? Kakashi, you're not a member of the Shadow Guard anymore, hehe."

"..." Kakashi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Are you Terai?"

If it's Terai, then things will be troublesome; Kakashi felt a sense of unease.

He had felt the voice was familiar just now, and the last laugh reminded him of some old memories.

Before joining the Dark Division, he had briefly trained at the Root's base.

At that time, Terai was a minor leader in Root and was extremely strict with him. Kakashi, on the other hand, didn't tolerate anyone and a conflict broke out on the spot.

"Hehe..." The leading Root ninja simply took off his mask, revealing a face with a scar running across his nose.

"Cold-blooded Kakashi, you still remember me?" Terai revealed a sinister smile.

The scar on his face was given to him by Kakashi, which made him lose face in front of his subordinates back then.

Kakashi's tone remained calm:

“I will not go with you. Even if I am not a member of the Shadow Guard, I am still a member of the Anbu. I will go to Root for investigation after I report to the Hokage tomorrow.”

Shimura Danzo was second only to the village leader, so Kakashi couldn't completely deny him.

"Kakashi, do you dare disobey Lord Danzo's orders?"

Terai put the mask back on, his eyes turning cold:

"Since you refuse to cooperate, I'll take this child back first. I'm sure you'll come to the root of the family on your own, right?"

Kakashi's eyes also turned cold. If Root's arrival was aimed at him, he could tolerate it for the time being, but if their target was Naruto...

Whether as the teacher's child or the village's jinchūriki, he couldn't imagine the consequences of Naruto falling into Danzo's hands.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the two Root members behind Terai also got into position, ready to make a move at any moment.

Kakashi's reputation for being cold-blooded was earned through countless blows.

However, at this critical moment, no one expected that it would be Naruto who would erupt.

"You...you are unforgivable!"

Little Naruto clenched his fists, tilted his head back with his little face red from the cold, and gritted his teeth.

Even though his whole body was still trembling slightly from fear, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, full of stubbornness and anger.

"Whatever you want to do, I'll go with you!"

Naruto didn't know anything about Danzo or Root.

He didn't understand anything about the destiny of a Jinchūriki; all he knew was that the people in black were fierce and were making things difficult for Kakashi.

"Oh? What a fearless brat."

Terai scoffed, his contempt growing even stronger, and reached out to grab Naruto's arm: "Since you're being so proactive, it saves me a lot of trouble."

"Let's see who dares to touch him!"

Clang—!!

Kakashi could no longer hold back, and the ninja sword on his back was drawn.

Under the gaze of the crimson Sharingan, Terai's outstretched hand remained motionless, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his chin...

Chapter 168 Capturing the rogue ninja Kakashi!

"Kakashi!"

Terai withdrew his hand from Naruto, his bravado masking his fear: "You dare to attack Root members on a mission in the village?"

Kakashi remained silent.