Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Qingwu curiously took it and found that it was something similar to a pancake.

“The pancakes from Uncle Hand-Baked,” Iruka said. “I got up before dawn to buy them.”

Qingwu was somewhat touched. This guy... really is the most famous "warm man" in Naruto.

He's been busy studying the territory these past two days, practically living on dry rations.

It feels like it's been ages since I've had anything hot.

"Thank you!" Qingwu said sincerely, then opened the paper bag and started eating heartily.

Qingwu was slightly stunned when he found the old man with the hand-burning pot in his memory.

Uchiha Tessho, a pancake vendor who has been selling pancakes in Konoha Village's commercial street for decades.

The soft, fluffy pancake in my mouth... I won't be able to eat it again after the night of the massacre.

After watching Qingwu finish eating, Iruka thoughtfully handed her a bottle of water.

Qingwu didn't stand on ceremony with him.

The two were in the same year and had quite a few interactions in their memories.

“Alright, I’ll teach you shuriken today.” Iruka got into a fighting stance and pointed to the Tree of Life, saying, “Use it as a target.”

"..." Qingwu almost choked to death on the water... How dare you? You really know how to choose.

Qingwu was almost certain that

If Iruka really uses a shuriken to stab the Tree of Life, the next time the Deadwood Guardian sees him, he will definitely attack him directly.

"Um, Iruka, I'm afraid it's not possible today."

"Why? Qingwu!"

"I'm going to see the Hokage."

"..."

Iruka said with envy, "Qingwu, you really are a genius. You're already being summoned by the Hokage so frequently?"

"I don't even want to see you yet..." Qingwu scratched his head: "It's just that there are some things to take care of. Maybe next time, Iruka."

Iruka looked somewhat disappointed.

He didn't mean it; he just felt that his childhood friends seemed to drift further and further away as he grew up.

Sensing Iruka's emo, Qingwu's heart softened: "Come with me. If you're not busy, wait for me outside the Hokage Building."

Iruka's eyes lit up: "No rush, I'll go with you."

After a quick wash, Qingwu changed her clothes.

Before leaving, he thought for a moment and left all six dwarfs behind to protect the ancient tree of life.

Along the way, Iruka asked questions out of curiosity.

He had seen centaurs and deadwood guardians before, but dwarves were a completely new species to him.

Qingwu casually explained using the same excuse he used with Kakashi.

They soon entered Konoha Village.

The crowds passing by on the street always gave Qingwu a sense of being cut off from another world.

"So how did someone like Orochimaru manage to stay in a dark and sunless laboratory for so many years?"

Qingwu muttered to himself.

He had only been in the quiet Death Forest for two days when he began to feel isolated.

Moreover, this was under the condition that Kakashi frequently appeared and interacted with them.

Arrived at the Hokage Building.

After waving to Iruka, Qingwu, led by the Anbu, headed towards the Hokage's office.

Chapter 24 The Third Generation's Gift

The Hokage's office was shrouded in smoke in the early morning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his large desk, the smoke rising from his pipe slowly swirling in the morning light.

"Sit down." The Third Hokage gestured to the chair opposite him.

Qingwu sat down as instructed, straightening his back and placing his hands on his knees.

He could feel the Third Hokage's gaze, sharp and profound.

The third generation leader did not speak immediately, but picked up the report next to him and began to read it.

The sound of pages turning was particularly clear in the quiet office.

"You did very well."

After a long while, the Third Hokage spoke up: "The Cloud Ninja prisoners handed over this time, along with the previous one, are enough to extract a lot of information about the Cloud Village."

Qingwu declared righteously, "Serve Konoha!"

The third generation head put down his pipe and leaned forward slightly:

"Two Cloud Village teams, all Chunin-level, one of whom was extremely strong, and you wiped them out in less than 10 minutes?"

“Uh…” Qingwu replied, “My mastery of power is becoming more and more proficient.”

"Kakashi said your Wood Release is very different from the First Hokage's?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

"Primarily focused on summoning... that's a strange Wood Release technique. And... it's said you can use natural energy?"

So that's why... Qingwu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage!"

"Can you show me?"

"No problem, Hokage-sama!"

With that, Qingwu spread her fingers, and a bright green "magic arrow" appeared in her palm.

"Unsealed ninjutsu!" The Third Hokage also showed a shocked expression.

However, he immediately realized that... he had never seen the First Hokage use ninjutsu without needing to form hand seals.

Perhaps... that forest of death, born from the Wood Release of the First Hokage, is a gift to this descendant with the bloodline of the Senju.

In a short while, Hiruzen Sarutobi had imagined many things.

Firstly, the bloodline of Senju Seiwu is genuine; secondly, he couldn't find any other explanation.

He doesn't even understand natural energy.

Well, his disciples do know a bit, but Jiraiya... hasn't been back to the village for a long time.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk!"

The Third Hokage tapped his pipe lightly on the table and said silently, "Qingwu, your power is strong, but... it's too conspicuous."

Qingwu's heart tightened... What does that mean?

"Kumakure has lost three squads in succession," the Third Hokage said slowly. "They will definitely investigate to the end, and the Death Forest area can't be kept secret for long."

At this point, Qingwu asked the question that had been puzzling him: "Lord Hokage, why can the Cloud Village enter the Forest of Death so easily?"

The Third Hokage paused, then said, "Child, aren't ninjas skilled in assassination and infiltration?"

"Could we... set up more outposts? They've been infiltrated far too easily, haven't they?"

"Hehe... It's not as easy as you say." The Third Hokage said kindly.

"Including other ninja villages, our Konoha ninjas have also infiltrated."

"Therefore... it's impossible to completely prevent enemy ninjas from entering; we can only set up sentry posts at key locations."

Qingwu pursed her lips and said, "And the vast Death Forest is obviously not included in this category, right?"

The third generation nodded: "That's right, child. Perhaps... you could move there for the time being? I heard you were already planning to live there?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

"It's too inconvenient to be alone. Move out, at least until the war with Kumogakure is over. You can go back when the war is over."

"..." Qingwu scratched his head.

How can this be explained? Moving it is impossible; the ancient tree of life has already taken root.

Seeing Qingwu remain silent, the Third Generation asked again, "Did you only make such rapid progress in the Forest of Death?"

Qingwu nodded hurriedly: "Lord Hokage has hit the nail on the head. That place feels like a mother's embrace, and I feel very comfortable there."

“Hmm…” Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered, “Natural energy… does indeed need to be cultivated in an environment far removed from worldly affairs.”

As he spoke, the Third Hokage looked at the boy in front of him seriously. Perhaps... next time, he could let Jiraiya try to take him to Mount Myōboku?

"Since you don't want to move, then stay there for now."

The third generation's words relieved Qingwu.

After a pause, the third generation leader added, "I will keep an eye on things there. There's one more thing. I heard... you're short of money?"

Qingwu looked up... Kakashi even mentioned borrowing money? Is he worried that I won't pay him back since I didn't write an IOU?

"Hehe... It's alright." The Third Hokage waved his hand: "Cultivation naturally requires money. You've done a good job handing over two Cloud Village prisoners this time, hmm..."

The third generation leader looked thoughtful.

"The mission can be classified as Rank A. Hmm, that's fine. If you hadn't stopped them, the two Cloud Village teams might have suffered huge losses."

"An A-level mission reward?" Qingwu's lips unconsciously curled into a smile, his eyes gleaming with golden light.

The third generation chuckled, finding the boy's greed amusing.

Qingwu has indeed performed meritorious service, but how much he should be paid depends on his decision.

In fact, the Cloud Ninja's ability to infiltrate the Forest of Death was already at its limit. If they tried to enter Konoha Village in the middle of the night, the guards and ANBU would teach them a lesson.

Of course, the intelligence obtained from capturing prisoners alive was indeed valuable.