Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Chapter 185 The New Shadow Guard

I played with Naruto for a while.

Mitarashi Anko arrived at the territory, her face still showing disbelief.

"Qingwu, was it you who suggested I join the Shadow Guard?"

Qingwu nodded: "That's right, I think you're suitable."

At this point in the conversation, Qingwu briefly recounted what had happened the day before when the Third Generation had sought him out.

Kakashi said in a deep voice, "One year has become three years. It seems that the families in the village are making a big fuss."

Qingwu said nonchalantly, "It's alright. Tianzang and I aren't here, so the house is in your care."

Tenzo looked at Naruto with a hint of reluctance in his eyes; he really liked the child.

Kakashi nodded. "Don't worry."

He has already decided to live in the territory with Naruto, since the Hatake clan doesn't welcome them anyway.

After a pause, Kakashi added, "You, as captain, are under even more pressure than I was before. Many ninjas are prone to problems on the battlefield, so be careful to manage your mental state."

Three years is not a short time.

In fact, many ninjas who join combat units get a break every now and then to return to the village to rest and recuperate, otherwise the constant pressure can easily lead to psychological problems.

Qingwu laughed and said, "Don't worry, it's very close to the Land of Hot Springs. When we're not on missions, I'll take people there to soak in the hot springs or something."

Hongdou affectionately took Qingwu's arm, "You're the one who understands me best."

She was initially surprised to join the Shadow Guard, but after learning it was Qingwu's idea, she was overjoyed.

Moreover, she has faced a lot of criticism because of her status as Orochimaru's disciple, and because of the outbreak of her cursed seal during last year's Chunin Exams.

Joining the Hokage's personal bodyguard unit is not only an honor, but also an opportunity to escape controversy and prove myself again.

Qingwu gently patted the hand that was linked with his arm, "We'll meet our new teammates later."

Tianzang also became interested, "Who is it?"

"You'll find out when you get there," Qingwu said, keeping everyone in suspense.

After saying goodbye to Kakashi and Naruto, Qingwu, along with Tianzang and Anko, headed to the Anbu training ground where the Shadow Guards often gathered.

...Watching the three figures disappear, Kakashi sighed with a touch of melancholy.

From now on, he, the "old captain" of the Shadow Guard, will have nothing to do with the Shadow Guard anymore.

However, when he looked down and saw Naruto chasing butterflies in the sea of ​​flowers, those regrets were quickly forgotten.

……

The Seventh Training Ground of the Dark Division Base.

When Qingwu and the other two arrived, Uchiha Shisui was already standing in the center of the training ground.

Dressed in a crisp ANBU uniform, his dark eyes fell on the three, and a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face as he quickly stepped forward.

"Captain! You've arrived."

Tenzo didn't recognize Uchiha Shisui; he simply watched silently.

Anko stared at Shisui, scrutinized him for a moment, then suddenly slapped her forehead: "You're from that...that Uchiha clan..."

"My name is Uchiha Shisui. Nice to meet you!"

Uchiha Shisui smiled gently, bowed slightly, and spoke in a humble and polite tone.

Upon hearing this, Tianzang's expression hardened. The surname Uchiha held extraordinary significance in the village.

Qingwu spoke up at the right moment, breaking the awkward silence, "Shisui is a Jonin, and the Shadow Guard's setup is exactly the same as before. From now on, we'll be working together."

Shisui was promoted to Jonin after Seigo, and the two were even the same age. However, Shisui graduated early, and the two didn't have much interaction while in school.

Tianzang discreetly observed the other party's aura. "Tianzang, please give me your guidance!"

Anko waved her hand casually, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Mitarashi Anko, we'll be teammates from now on."

"Alright, enough chit-chat." Qingwu quickly got into the role of captain. "Next, the two new members, please introduce your abilities."

Zhi Shui and Hong Dou exchanged a glance, and the former took a small step back, humbly indicating that Hong Dou should go first.

Hongdou didn't hesitate, took half a step forward, put her hands on her hips, and flashed a hearty smile:

“I am Mitarashi Anko. I am skilled in ninjutsu and taijutsu, as well as detection, and... cough, I am also familiar with the border areas of the Land of Rice Fields, so I should be able to help.”

She originally wanted to include her proficiency in Fire Release techniques, since she knew two C-rank Fire Release ninjutsu, but when she thought about the fact that the people around her were from the Uchiha clan, she felt embarrassed to say that she was good at Fire Release.

Qingwu's heart stirred. Hongdou was familiar with the Land of Fields... probably because of the results of her time with Orochimaru. This was indeed a valuable piece of information.

Seeing that Anko had finished speaking and stepped back, Uchiha Shisui immediately stepped forward, his tone calm and humble:

"I am Uchiha Shisui. I am skilled in swordsmanship and genjutsu, and I am also decent in fire release and body sleight of hand. I can quickly support my teammates and scout out enemy positions."

Tenzo stood to the side, listening intently to Uchiha Shisui's self-introduction.

He was born into the Root clan and was instilled with the idea from a young age that the Uchiha were dangerous outcasts, hidden dangers in Konoha, and even threats to the village's stability.

But the Uchiha Shisui before him gave him a different feeling.

He spoke in a humble and gentle tone, and there was not a trace of arrogance or hostility in his eyes.

After Qingwu became the captain, Tianzang felt that he needed to share more of Qingwu's burdens, and unconsciously became more attentive to everyone and everything.

Qingwu observed the changes in Tianzang's expression but didn't point it out. He waited for Zhishui to finish his introduction before slowly speaking:

"Tianzang, tell us about your abilities so the newcomer can get acquainted with you."

Tianzang snapped out of his daze and quickly composed himself:

"I am Tenzang, skilled in Wood Release and Earth Release. I can construct defensive fortifications and scout enemy positions. In future missions, I can cover everyone's retreat after the mission is completed."

Hongdou raised an eyebrow. "She really is a reliable companion."

Shisui nodded slightly, her tone still gentle: "Thank you."

Tianzang blushed slightly, a rare occurrence for him, and glanced at Qingwu for help.

Qingwu coughed lightly and said, "Lastly, it's me. I am Senju Qingwu, skilled in summoning jutsu and medical ninjutsu..."

He didn't say much because... he didn't actually need any teammates at all. Well, maybe the Sharingan would be of some use.

In other aspects, whether it's offense, defense, perception, healing, ranged attacks, or control, he can do it all by himself.

However, humans are ultimately social animals, and even the strongest person will feel lonely if they are alone for too long.

Without teammates, sending him to the border alone would feel like being banished by Konoha to a remote place—boring and uninteresting.

"Alright, that concludes the introduction!"

Qingwu straightened his expression. "We'll be heading to the border in two days, so let's use these two days to practice our teamwork in battle."

"Yes!" The three team members saluted in unison, their voices loud and firm.

Even though Mitarashi Anko is usually carefree and irresponsible, she still maintains the professional demeanor of a ninja in serious situations.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Through intensive training and practice, Qingwu gained a thorough understanding of the characteristics of Zhishui.

This guy's Body Flicker Technique is truly insane; it's so fast that it leaves afterimages. Combined with the Sharingan's assistance, he can suppress his enemies in an instant.

……

Chapter 186 The Magnet Release Bloodline of Kumogakure

It snowed heavily again in Konoha tonight.

Snowflakes, as fine as goose feathers, fell softly, quickly covering the entire village with a thick layer of silver frost.

I wonder if it's weeping for the people and comrades lost in the war, because this year's snow is unusually heavy and frequent.

But for children, this kind of weather is perfect.

In the Death Forest outside their territory, Qingwu and Tianzang were playing in the snow with Naruto.

There was no way to save the snow; the temperature was too different within the territory.

Outside the territory, the snow was already ankle-deep. The snow in the forest was fluffy and soft, making a soft "crunch, crunch" sound when stepped on, which was particularly pleasant to hear.

Under the reflection of the white snow, the Death Forest seemed to have lost its former gloom, with the trees in the distance and the bushes nearby all outlined clearly by the snow.

Little Naruto, dressed in a thick cotton coat, looked like a round little dumpling, running happily in the snow.

He would occasionally bend down, grab a handful of snow, roll it into a snowball, and throw it at Qingwu and Tianzang. His crisp laughter echoed through the forest, dispelling the winter chill.

Tenzo followed behind Naruto, walking very quietly, afraid of disturbing the small figure.

Tomorrow, the Shadow Guard will depart for the border, a journey that will last for three years. Tenzo cherishes the time he spends with Naruto.

Qingwu grabbed a snowball and retaliated, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at Naruto.

Kakashi isn't here today. He's officially moving into the territory, so he's going back to his clan's territory to pack some things while everyone's here.

The two adults and one child played in the snow for a long time.

Naruto gradually lost his strength.

He rubbed his little nose, which was red from the cold, and tugged at Qingwu's clothes, muttering softly, "Why hasn't Kakashi-nii-san come back yet?"

Qingwu bent down and gently brushed the snow off his shoulder. "I might go buy you something nice to eat. If you're cold, shall we go back first?"

Qingwu guessed that Kakashi probably needed to deal with the elders of the clan.

However, there shouldn't be any problems. Unlike the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the Hatake clan is a large clan, so Kakashi still has autonomy.

Tenzo stepped forward and picked Naruto up, wrapping his cotton coat tightly around him, afraid that he would catch a cold.

"Let's go back," Tianzang said. "It's getting late."

Just as the three were about to turn around and head back to their territory, Qingwu suddenly frowned and turned to look to the west.

"what happened?"