Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

If the higher-ups feel that you're uncontrollable, and that no matter how strong you are, you can't be used by the village, do you... understand what I mean?

Qingwu's heart skipped a beat. Kakashi, mindful of his own pride, had already been quite subtle in his words.

However... Kakashi's words also make sense.

Danzo repeatedly tested his own stance because he was worried that his rapid growth would cause him to lose control.

For those in high positions, no matter how sharp a knife is, it is only a weapon if it is held in their own hands!

……

Chapter 263 Setting up one's own business

"Kakashi, there's no need to bother Lady Tsunade. She has her reasons and pursuits for leaving the village."

Qingwu looked up at the night sky, her tone tinged with emotion:

“I know your concerns, but I have made my decision. I will step down from my position as captain of the Shadow Guard. From now on, my connection with Konoha will not be as deep or as close.”

"!!" Kakashi suddenly looked at Qingwu and then understood another layer of meaning.

What does Qingwu mean? It means he never intended to be "controlled" by the village anymore!?

"Ok!"

Seeing the look in Kakashi's eyes, Qingwu nodded slightly.

A position can sometimes be a "protective umbrella," but sometimes it can also be a constraint.

Things will be different after I resigned from my position!

He... if he feels like it in the future, it wouldn't hurt to take care of the village's reputation and help out—after all, he grew up in Konoha.

If he's not in the mood, or if their ideologies clash, the Hokage... won't pay him any attention—he might as well establish himself in the Forest of Death and become a "local tyrant" right under Konoha's nose.

Kakashi, including the Third Hokage, everyone just overlooked a very important point—his current strength.

In chaotic times, strength ultimately reigns supreme.

……

Without needing to say more, Kakashi realized that his guess was correct.

Qingwu is already able to defeat a "Kage" and also has a close relationship with the Mizukage of Kirigakure.

How can you control someone like that? Can you just punish them?

"..."

Kakashi felt a complex mix of emotions, including understanding and a touch of sadness.

He knew that this incident had created a rift in Qingwu's unreserved trust and sense of belonging to the Konoha leadership and even the village itself.

Qingwu became calmer, and also more... distant.

Kakashi couldn't say whether this change was good or bad, but he respected Qingwu's choice.

"I understand."

Kakashi finally nodded and stopped insisting on going to Tsunade. "Well... take care of yourself. I'll keep an eye on the high-level meeting and will try to let you know if there's any news."

After a pause, Kakashi added, "Be careful too. Danzo may be dead, but he has been operating in the village for many years. It's hard to guarantee that there aren't any loyalists or people with vested interests who might hold a grudge against you."

"Yes, I know, thank you." Qingwu nodded to Kakashi. "Want to go back together?"

Kakashi pondered for a moment, "I'll have Iruka take Naruto to school tomorrow. I won't go back; the Anbu still has things to do."

After saying that, he looked at Zhishui, whom Qingwu was holding, and asked, "Is Zhishui alright?"

"It's alright, I'll go back and summon the slug. I'll leave him in the territory for now, and see who dares to cause him trouble." Qingwu narrowed his eyes.

Kakashi nodded. He knew who Qingwu was talking about. It was for the best. If Shisui stayed in the territory, the Uchiha probably couldn't do anything about it.

It's quite strange that no one from the Uchiha clan showed up tonight despite the commotion.

Whoosh!

The sudden appearance of Princess Tianxin startled Kakashi.

However, she simply closed her eyes and silently followed behind Qingwu without uttering a word.

"..."

Kakashi stood there, watching their figures disappear into the forest, then sighed and turned to walk towards the ANBU team that was busy cleaning up the battlefield.

……

Back in the territory, Qingwu carefully placed Zhiping on the bed inside the wooden house.

Shisui's face was deathly pale, his breathing was weak, half of his face was soaked in blood, his right eye was empty, his left eye was tightly closed, and his brows were furrowed with pain.

Tragic, extremely tragic.

However, compared to Danzo who has already died, this is the best possible outcome.

"Has anyone from the Uchiha clan come?"

As Qingwu stretched out his hand to cast the water-based magic [Heal], he asked the question behind him.

"Have!"

Princess Tashin replied that she had been sent to scout out the Uchiha clan's whereabouts after the Third Hokage stopped fighting.

Qingwu's decision to bring Shisui back, and the Third Hokage's tacit approval, were both because the Uchiha clan was at a crucial juncture.

Because of the Sharingan, the Uchiha clans share similar chakra, making it easy for Tashin-hime to detect them with her sensory abilities.

"Why are you hiding..." Qingwu pondered.

Blue-green natural energy was released into Zhishui's right eye, repairing his damaged meridians and flesh. Then, Qingwu noticed the color of Zhishui's lips. "He's been poisoned."

"Leave it to me," said Princess Tianxin, stepping forward.

Qingwu originally planned to use water-based magic [Purification] to remove the toxins, but since Tianxin Shenji said so, he didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.

Born in Ryuchi Cave and dealing with snakes every day, poison is not a problem for Tashin Shinhime.

As Tianxin Shenji stopped the water and removed the poison, Qingwu fell into deep thought.

The commotion tonight is huge; so many clans have come. The Uchiha couldn't possibly be unaware. Since they had clan members on the outskirts but didn't come over, there's only one possibility...

Guilty conscience!!

They must be feeling guilty. Seeing Shisui's expression, the Uchiha should have realized that their plan had been exposed.

It is likely that the radicals and conservatives within the organization have already fallen into a dispute.

Qingwu's guess was pretty much right.

At this moment, in the Uchiha clan compound, clan leader Fugaku was already arguing with Elder Setsuna.

The two disagreed. Setsuna argued that since the plan had been exposed, they should fight to the death, while the clan leader Fugaku believed that since the situation was "unclear," it was better to stabilize the situation and wait for news.

After all, Shisui is still alive, and Senju Seigo has returned.

For Fugaku, this was good news for the Uchiha clan.

Moreover, with Danzo Shimura dead and such a major event occurring, the Hokage probably wouldn't have time to deal with the Uchiha clan.

So it's better to "cold-out" them. Once they get through this hurdle, I believe the Hokage won't do anything to them.

Yes, compared to the radical Uchiha Setsuna, clan head Fugaku always had this "ostrich" mentality.

At the clan meeting, after much arguing, clan chief Fugaku came out on top tonight.

Because... even a powerful figure like Danzo died, and seeing Shisui's miserable state, most Uchiha clan members felt a pang of sympathy.

Seeing that things were hopeless, Elder Shana suggested going to the Forest of Death to retrieve Still Water.

but……

No one wanted to provoke the Hokage and Senju Seigo at this time, so Fugaku promised that he would negotiate with the Hokage once the situation had stabilized somewhat.

The clan meeting ended inconclusively, and a coup d'état was aborted before it even began, due to various reasons.

……

Death Forest, territory.

After the poison was removed by the goddess Tianxin, Shisui's complexion regained a little color, and her breathing became more stable.

But his weakness wasn't just physical; it also affected his mental state and chakra.

The Mangekyou Sharingan consumes a great deal of chakra and ocular power.

"His condition has stabilized for now."

After examining her, Princess Tianxin said, "But the mental damage caused by overuse of eye power and chakra requires more professional medical treatment, or... time."

Qingwu nodded. His basic water magic, [Healing], could treat physical injuries, but its effectiveness was limited for traumas involving the mental level.

"Ninja Art: Summoning Technique!"

He bit his thumb, quickly formed a hand seal, and pressed his palm to the ground.

As a puff of white smoke rose, a slug the size of a palm, exuding a gentle aura of life, appeared on the ground.

The cabin environment is limited, and since slugs are a type of continuous treatment, there is no need for larger cloning organisms to appear.

"Lord Qingwu, it's been a long time."

The soft, sweet voice of the little slug came, but then its tiny body suddenly stiffened as it sensed the presence of the goddess Tianxin beside it!

Without almost any hesitation, the little slug's body suddenly swelled up a little.

With her head raised, a stream of highly corrosive acid shot out like an arrow towards the quietly standing Princess Tianxin!

Whoosh-!

The acid was extremely fast and carried the unique Sage Chakra aura of Shikkotsu Forest!

Tianxin Shenji opened her eyes, which had been closed, instantly. A cold glint flashed in her vertical pupils, but she did not dodge. Instead, her natural energy flowed slightly around her, and an invisible barrier was instantly formed.

laugh--!

The acid struck the barrier, producing a violent corrosive sound and white smoke rising, but the barrier only trembled slightly and was not broken; Princess Tianxin did not even move an inch.