Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

"She's four years old!"

"Training has already started?"

"Yes, my father teaches me the basics of Gentle Fist every day," Neji answered earnestly, like a little adult.

Qingwu glanced at the white silk ribbon on his forehead.

Below, the "bird in a cage" curse mark should have been engraved, becoming a shackle that binds him for life.

“But you still persist every day,” Qingwu said.

"Yes." Neji puffed out his little chest. "Father said that if you want to become stronger, you can't be afraid of hardship. I want to become very strong to protect Father, and... the main family."

When he spoke of the "main family," his voice lowered and his eyes dimmed slightly.

Clearly, at the moment the "Caged Bird" curse mark was inscribed on him, even at the age of four, he had already begun to understand.

As the shrike listened from the side, a pang of pain shot through his heart. He opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Qingwu hesitated, unsure if the water-based magic [Purification], which could remove Orochimaru's curse mark, would be effective against the "Caged Bird".

and……

Even if they successfully remove the "Caged Bird" from Neji's body, given the rules of the Hyuga clan today, things will likely become even more complicated.

never mind!

Let's talk about it later!

At least until one day, the rules of the Hyuga clan change.

Moreover, if Neji's father, Hizashi, hadn't met with this accident, Neji probably wouldn't have become as cynical as he was in the early stages of the original story!

Gently patting Neji's head, Qingwu stood up and said, "He has great talent. Teach him well and don't waste it."

Hyuga Hizashi looked at the white ribbon on his son's forehead, a complex expression flashing across his face, and nodded emphatically: "I will."

Qingwu nodded to the father and son, and prepared to turn and leave.

"Lord Qingwu," Neji suddenly spoke.

Qingwu stopped and turned around.

Neji looked at him, a serious expression on his small face:

"Father said that you are a very powerful ninja, and I wonder if I can become as powerful as you in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Qingwu said in a teasing tone, "Did your father ever say that I killed my fellow villagers because I was a person without rules?"

These words came as a surprise, and Rizashi was stunned for a moment before looking nervously at Aoko.

Based on the major events that occurred at the root in the past few days

Similar discussions had indeed taken place within the Hyuga clan, which is very particular about rules and regulations. He didn't know what Qingwu meant by saying this now.

Neji's face fell, and he opened his mouth but didn't know how to answer.

At only four years old, he is not very good at lying.

"Hahaha……"

Qingwu waved his hand with a smile: "Just kidding, Neji. Whether you can become like me or not is not important! What's important is that you become stronger than you were yesterday."

This is more like the kind of encouragement you'd normally give a child… Hyuga Hizashi breathed a sigh of relief.

After a pause, Qingwu continued, "Remember, only by becoming stronger can you do what you want to do and be free from any constraints."

Neji subconsciously touched his forehead. "Power... is used to break shackles. I read that in a picture book."

Hyuga Hizashi felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

Qingwu was taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed and repeated, "That's right, power is used to break shackles."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to walk into the deepening night.

"Power is for breaking shackles..."

Neji kept repeating the phrase in a low voice, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, but more so a kind of bewildered light.

Hyuga Hizashi stood beside his son, looking in the direction where Qingwu had left, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew what Qingwu meant by those words.

But... the caged bird, the main family and the branch family, these shackles that have weighed on the Hyuga clan for hundreds of years...

Can it really be broken?

he does not know!

"Let's go, Neji, let's go home." Hizashi took his son's hand.

"Mm." Neji nodded.

She glanced back in the direction Qingwu had left, a thoughtful expression on her young face that seemed beyond her years…

Chapter 193 Calm down, Raikage!

The next morning, before it was fully light.

The entrance to the Forest of Death.

Four figures stood silently; the new Shadow Guard team had been assembled!

Captain Senju Seigo put on his "elephant face" mask again and wore a black ANBU combat uniform. The four of them subtly centered around him.

Tianzang stood to his left, his white faceless mask appearing somewhat hazy in the morning mist.

On the right is Uchiha Shisui, whose "cat face" mask covers most of his face, but his slightly curly black hair and upright posture reveal his competence.

Finally, there's Mitarashi Anko, wearing a snake-face mask and toying with a kunai in her hand.

Qingwu glanced at the three of them and said softly, "Let's go!"

Without further ado, he summoned four silver pegasus horses, which carried the four of them at low altitude as they sped off towards the northeast.

The morning breeze whistled in my ears.

After Uchiha Shisui and Anko, who were riding the Silver Pegasus for the first time, got used to it, Qingwu gradually increased the flight speed of the Silver Pegasus.

With flying mounts, they will be able to reach the border of the Land of Fields in no time.

at the same time……

At the entrance of Konoha Village, Yugao, who had begged Shizune to push her in a wheelchair to see her off, looked up.

Looking at the silver dot disappearing into the horizon, he smiled wryly and said, "This doesn't look like a punishment at all. They're in such a hurry to leave."

Jingyin said helplessly, "Qingwu is always so impatient. He's given up now, hasn't he? He came out before dawn, ugh~"

As she spoke, Jingyin yawned.

"I'm sorry, Shizune-neechan." Xiyan lowered her head, her voice filled with undisguised disappointment.

She is still unable to walk and has a long recovery period ahead of her.

Her best friend, Hongdou, took her spot in the Shadow Guard. Although she was unwilling, she accepted it. But she never expected that she wouldn't even have time to properly thank her...

Jingyin noticed the disappointment in the girl's tone and quickly smiled and said, "It's nothing. The air is nice in the morning, and going for a walk will help you recover."

"Thank you..." Xi Yan's disappointment was practically written all over her face.

Silent shrug. "Let's go, let's go back!"

The two girls looked up together at the horizon where the silver dot had disappeared, and silently said in their hearts, "Take care... Qingwu!"

……

As dawn broke, sunlight climbed over the Cloud Thunder Canyon and shone upon the entire Hidden Cloud Village.

Raikage's office.

"boom!"

The solid wood desk was smashed to pieces by a hand crackling with lightning.

The Fourth Raikage, A, stood amidst the ruins, his entire body surging with lightning chakra, blue electric snakes leaping across his skin.

"Dead?! Troy and his entire squad are dead?! Inside Konoha Village?!"

Lei Ying's voice boomed like thunder, making the glass windows vibrate.

"Yes, yes! Lord Raikage!" The Cloud Village Anbu member who reported knelt on one knee, sweat beading on his forehead.

"It was a message sent back overnight by the peace delegation that said the bodies of Lord Troy and his men would be returned to the border for handover later."

The Raikage's face turned ashen: "How dare you! Who, who dares to kill someone from Kumogakure in Konoha!"

The secret agent hesitated for a moment, then said with a forced smile, "The intelligence sent back by the mission also included a letter of protest."

"A letter of protest?!" Lei Ying grabbed the scroll, unfolded it, glanced at it, and his face instantly turned from ashen to flushed red:

"You bastard! You killed our people and you dare to protest our 'attempt to kidnap the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter?! You want an apology and compensation?!"

The scroll was burned to ashes in his hands by lightning chakra.

"Sir, please calm down!"

Mabui, the "dark-skinned girl" who had recently become the Raikage's secretary, spoke up to advise, "Besides the protest letter, what has Konoha said?"

Hearing Mabuyi's clear and calm voice, the tension in the secret service eased somewhat, and they continued their report:

"Our delegation came to demand an explanation, and the Third Hokage of Konoha has officially responded."

They stated that this was an unauthorized action by Troy and his associates, undermining the sincerity of the peace talks. Konoha reserves the right to pursue the matter further and demands a reasonable explanation and... apology.

"An explanation? An apology?!" Lei Ying laughed angrily.

"Very well! Hiruzen Sarutobi, you're really getting more and more senile with age! Do you really think that Kumogakure is afraid of Konoha?!"

"Lord Raikage, please calm down." Mabui pondered, "Konoha's attitude has suddenly become so tough; they must have something to rely on."

Having finished reading all the intelligence, she continued, "According to the intelligence, the one who killed the Troy squad was a Konoha Jonin named Senju Seigo."

"Hmm?" Raikage frowned slightly, finding the name somewhat familiar. "Senju?"

"Yes, he is the new generation genius ninja of Konoha who fought head-on against the Four-Tails Jinchuriki on the battlefield of Iwagakure and even escaped from the Tsuchikage Onoki." Mabui's tone remained calm.