Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Having received recognition, Naruto was overjoyed and danced with delight.

"I want to become a powerful ninja like Qingwu, Kakashi, and Tianzang in the future. I want to become Hokage!"

Qingwu couldn't help but chuckle: "I don't want to become Hokage."

Naruto was taken aback. "Huh?"

In his mind, every child in Konoha wanted to become Hokage.

Qingwu shook his head and said nothing more. "Tianzang, take Naruto back first. The Anbu are here."

He had already heard the noise.

Sure enough, just as Tenzo led Naruto away, a small ANBU squad landed in the forest.

"Captain Qingwu!"

The Tailed Beast's ANBU bowed, their eyes scanning the surroundings beneath their masks. "This is..."

"Ah~" Qingwu said casually, "I just dealt with a few blind bugs."

The ANBU squad leader immediately felt troubled; the characteristics of the corpse were all too obvious—it was a Cloud Ninja!

At this critical juncture...

Qingwu didn't want to make things difficult for them, and took the lead in walking out: "I'll go and explain to the Hokage myself."

"Yes!"

The squad leader of the secret service breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed.

The massacre of the Root Clan by Captain Qingwu had just happened, so how could they dare to say anything to their faces?

……

Chapter 189 Qingwu Jonin, watch your words!

——Hokage Building

When Qingwu stepped into the Hokage's office, there was a heavy silence inside.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, the light from his pipe flickering in the dim room.

Hyuga Hizashi was standing in front of the desk.

Richa kept his head down and his back straight, but his clenched fists and slightly rapid breathing betrayed his inner turmoil.

The two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, sat on the sofa to the side, their brows furrowed.

"Neji's father arrived quickly." Qingwu was slightly taken aback.

"Lord Hokage!" Hiashi exclaimed as he saw Qingwu enter.

"I killed the Cloud Hidden Envoy Troy and his subordinates. This was all because I acted out of a fit of rage when I saw the young lady being kidnapped. I will bear all the consequences!"

The third-generation leader took a deep drag on his cigarette without saying a word. He looked at Qingwu, who had just walked in, with a complicated expression in his eyes.

The air seemed to still carry traces of an obviously unpleasant conversation.

Qingwu glanced at the two Hokage advisors on the sofa and thought to himself: It's already this late, and the old guys are still alarmed, which shows that this matter has a great impact.

When faced with Hizashi's confession, Seigo ignored him and instead turned to the Third Hokage:

"I killed them. The Anbu can testify. All three Cloud Ninja were killed on my territory. It has nothing to do with the Hyuga."

"Lord Qingwu!" Hyuga Hizashi turned around, his tone urgent: "This matter..."

“Hishashi-senpai!” Qingwu interrupted him, her tone calm yet unquestionable:

“I told you, I killed him! You arrived later and delivered the final blow to stop Troy from making a last-ditch effort. You need to get the order right.”

Injuries from soft fist techniques are easy to detect, that's all Qingwu could say.

However, this explanation, which was completely different from the previous one, made the two consultants on the sofa frown even more deeply.

The Third Hokage's gaze swept over the two of them, finally settling on Qingwu's face.

He put down his pipe and spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion:

"Qingwu, do you know that the Cloud Village delegation is in the village, and the peace talks have reached a critical moment? By killing their envoy, you have essentially torn up the draft of the alliance agreement yourself."

"I know," Qingwu nodded.

"Do you know the consequences?" The Third Hokage's voice rose slightly: "The Cloud Village will use this as an excuse to make exorbitant demands, and may even declare war again!"

"I know," Qingwu replied calmly.

Xiaochun, who was switching dorms nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and scolded:

"Iwagakure is forcing Konoha to keep sending more troops. If we escalate the conflict with Kumogakure, kid, can you bear the responsibility?"

Seeing that Qingwu's expression was not good, Mitokado Homura, who was good at reading people, tried to smooth things over:

"Now is not the time to assign blame. The most urgent thing is to think about how to remedy the situation. Perhaps... we can say that Troy was attacked by unidentified rogue ninja?"

"Ha~!" The old woman, Koharu, said sarcastically, "Just now, Jonin Qingwu said that the Forest of Death is his territory."

"..." Qingwu understood somewhat; the old woman was actually dissatisfied with his statement.

Damn it, is it really that interesting to find fault with something?

He was about to speak.

Xiaochun, who was turning over to her new room, said again:

"Yan, your suggestion is simply self-deception. Kumogakure isn't stupid. The wounds on the corpse were clearly caused by the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist. This can be easily verified."

Mitomon Yan hesitated and dared not speak.

Koharu Utatane glanced at the calm-looking Seigo and said to the Third Hokage, "The only solution now is to severely punish the murderer and give Kumogakure an explanation!"

"Explain?" Qingwu suddenly laughed.

The laughter was soft, yet carried an undisguised sarcasm. "Give a bunch of bandits who broke into someone's home, tried to kidnap children, and plunder their bloodline limits an explanation?"

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

"Seigo Jonin, watch your words!" Koharu Utatane shouted.

"Did I say something wrong?" Qingwu's gaze was unwavering:

"Do you really believe that the Hidden Cloud Village is here to negotiate in good faith?"

"If they are truly sincere..."

"While the delegation is in the village, they will secretly send a Jonin with Magnet Release bloodline limit to try and kidnap the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter and steal the Byakugan?"

With each word he spoke, the Third Hokage's expression darkened further.

"They've simply taken advantage of Konoha's weakness to try and extort money from them!"

Qingwu said firmly.

During his time in the village these past few days, as a Jonin, he naturally heard some news about peace talks.

Koharu Utatane pointed at him with a trembling finger, "What do you know? Do you know how important the peace talks with Kumogakure are!"

Qingwu scoffed:

"Peace talks? That's nothing but a fig leaf to cover up their thieving behavior!"

"If they dare to steal the Byakugan today, they'll dare to ask for the Sharingan tomorrow, the day after tomorrow they'll dare to ask for the Wood Release, and the day after that they'll simply ask for the Tailed Beasts."

"Why? Because we are weak! Because we give in every time!"

"Does Konoha need to use the lives and dignity of its own people to fill their insatiable greed?!"

Xiaochun, who had just changed dorm rooms, was dumbfounded.

She never imagined that the boy in front of her would have such a sharp tongue.

"Enough!" The Third Hokage slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Qingwu, you must treat the Hokage's advisors with the awareness and respect due to a junior!"

They were just punished because of the root clan's affairs, and they were supposed to leave the village tomorrow, yet this happened again.

At this moment, the Third Generation felt a little impatient with Qingwu's lawlessness.

"Do you think we don't know these things? But Konoha needs time to recuperate! We need to avoid making enemies on all sides!"

If Kumogakure continues to refuse to negotiate, that's fine. Although the pressure of fighting on two fronts is immense, as long as Sunagakure and Kirigakure remain stable, and Iwagakure shows some restraint, Konoha isn't incapable of holding on.

However, since Kumogakure has agreed to peace talks, from a broader perspective, peace talks are naturally more in Konoha's interest.

If a truce is reached with Kumogakure, I believe it won't be long before Iwagakure moves towards peace talks.

At that time, Konoha, having regained its strength and recuperated, will still be the strongest ninja in the world, possessing the richest land of fire!

From the perspective of the Third Hokage, this was undoubtedly the best way to serve Konoha's interests.

He said with exasperation, "Qingwu, you are young and impulsive, I don't blame you, but if you understand the bigger picture, you will know that there are some consequences you must bear!"

"The price is for Hizashi-senpai from the Hyuga branch family to take the blame? To die?"

Qingwu met the Third Hokage's gaze without flinching. "Or are you saying that next time Kumogakure wants my Wood Release secrets, I'll have to hand them over with both hands and then bind myself to my death?"

"you--"

The third generation was so angry that he was trembling all over.

"Hiruzen, this is the Shadow Guard captain you trained!" Koharu Utatane's tone was filled with barely concealed anger.

She was already dissatisfied with Danzo's punishment, and now she felt even more strongly that Danzo's actions might have been a bit extreme, but the direction was right!

Hyuga Hizashi clenched his fists, his heart pounding with anxiety.

But I felt like an outsider at that moment, unable to join the conversation at all.

……

Chapter 190 Legalization of Territory

"Lord Hokage!"

Qingwu's tone suddenly calmed down: