Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Just as they stepped outside, Kakashi's voice rang out: "Come with me!"

……

The Seventh Training Ground of the Dark Division Base.

Qingwu, who came with Kakashi, met his two teammates.

On the left is a purple-haired female ninja wearing a fox mask, tall and slender, carrying a long sword on her back.

Qingwu recognized her at a glance—his old teammate, Xiyan.

On the right is a short boy wearing a cat-face mask. Although the mask covers his face, you can still sense his restraint and nervousness.

Qingwu recognized him too; this was the kid he had handed over to the third generation.

Kakashi, wearing a dog-face mask, turned around and said, "Qingwu, put on your uniform."

"Oh!"

Entering chakra, the storage scroll opened, revealing a brand-new uniform and mask.

Qingwu first picked up the mask prepared for him, "This is..."

It looks somewhat like an elephant, which is quite unique.

After donning the standard black bodysuit of the Dark Division, covered by a gray vest, and then putting on an elephant-face mask, Qingwu's demeanor underwent a complete transformation.

Xi Yan couldn't help but take a second look.

Not long ago, the boy in front of her was her teammate, but now...

Judging from the information she had been following in recent months, Qingwu was already more valued in the village than she was. In fact, the fact that she was able to become a member of the Shadow Guard shortly after joining the Dark Division was also thanks to Qingwu!

Qingwu was clearly aware of this as well.

Yugao, Kou, and Kakashi are all his "acquaintances." The Third Hokage's arrangement was probably to establish his bonds and... sense of belonging in the village!

"From today onwards, the Shadow Guard is officially formed!"

Kakashi's voice came from behind the mask: "I am the captain, codename 'Hound,' this is 'Fox,' this is 'Tenzo,' and... 'Elephant.'"

Is that... my code name for the Dark Division?

Qingwu couldn't help but scratch his head, his cold and aloof demeanor instantly crumbling.

Kakashi scanned the three of them:

"The Shadow Guard's mission is both simple and complex—to protect the Hokage. Their specific duties include: daily escort, intelligence screening, crisis prediction, and... eliminating potential threats."

That's the basic situation. Any questions?

Xi Yan shook her head to indicate no, Tian Cang lowered his head and remained silent, while Qing Wu spoke up, "No."

“Very good!” Kakashi said. “Then, let’s introduce ourselves, starting with ‘Fox’.”

Xi Yan stepped forward, her voice coming through the mask, still cool and calm:

"Uzuki Yugao, codename 'Fox', skilled in swordsmanship, stealth, interrogation... Mission experience: B-rank 3 times, C-rank 22 times, D-rank... Complete!"

Concise, efficient, and without any unnecessary information.

“Next, Tenzo!” Kakashi’s voice was devoid of emotion.

He knew the identity of Tianzang, who was actually 'Jia', but since the third generation had renamed him, 'Jia' had become a thing of the past.

Tianzang stood still, neither moving nor speaking.

The mask was facing Qingwu, as if observing...

Chapter 62 So you're refusing to leave, huh?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qingwu's puzzled voice came from behind the mask.

"..." Tianzang remained silent.

"Tenzo!?" Kakashi called out to remind him.

“Jia…” Tianzang finally spoke, his voice hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time:

"Code name...Tenzo, Ability: Wood Release, Mission experience...None."

He didn't even use words like "skilled" or "proficient," and he said "A" instead of "Tenzo," which made Kakashi and Yugao frown at the same time.

However, Kakashi held back and didn't say anything, but simply turned his head and said, "Your turn, Elephant!"

According to the Hokage, the reason Tenzo was able to come here today was because he was promised that he could see Qingwu, who had captured him last time.

Kakashi felt that at least speaking was already an improvement.

Qingwu stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Qian Shou Qingwu, codename 'Elephant,' abilities: physical skills, medical skills, control, defense, ranged attacks, and psychic abilities..."

At this point, Yugao and Kakashi couldn't help but look over, as if to say... Have you said enough?

When Tianzang heard the words "Thousand Hands," his small body trembled slightly.

"Ahem," Qingwu stopped adding more labels to himself, "Mission experience... 14 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 1 B-rank, done!"

The so-called B-rank was the one when I encountered the Cloud Ninja with Yugao and Iruka last time.

Thinking of this, Qingwu hurriedly said, "Wait a minute! I think I have an S-rank mission record? I don't know if I only receive the reward or if it counts as a record."

He was referring to the promise the Third Generation had just made.

Kakashi: "..."

Xiyan: "..."

Tenzo: "Zhang...may I see your Wood Release again?"

Qingwu had always felt that Tianzang's attention was on him, and at this moment he replied, "You brat, are you still upset because you were captured last time?"

"No, no..." Tianzang said in a childish voice, "I, I just..."

"Alright," Kakashi interrupted, "Now that we have the basic information, we'll begin our first training session tomorrow."

After a pause, Kakashi said, "We'll meet here again tomorrow morning. Disperse!"

After saying that, Kakashi was the first to teleport away.

He seemed to be just going through the motions because he felt obligated to do so... and didn't really interact with his teammates much.

Xi Yan glanced at Tian Cang and greeted Qing Wu, "See you tomorrow!"

Only Qingwu and Tianzang remained in the training ground.

"..."

"..."

Their eyes met briefly through their masks, and Qingwu tentatively asked, "See you tomorrow?"

However, from the village to the Forest of Death, Tianzang followed him closely.

As they approached their territory, Qingwu finally couldn't help but turn around: "Why are you following me?"

Tianzang: "..."

"You don't have your own home... cough cough, a dormitory?"

Tianzang: "..."

"Do I have to show you Wood Release before you'll leave?"

Tianzang: "...Yes!"

"it is good!"

Qingwu said no more and extended his right hand.

"Click-click-click—"

Thick, dense roots extend continuously from his palm.

Then, he extended his left hand, and a [Magic Arrow] crackling with electricity appeared in his palm.

At the same time, Qingwu stared intently at Tianzang.

Tianzang's pupils contracted.

He had been threatened by the [Magic Arrow] before, but even so, he was still surprised to see the boy in front of him using a "ninjutsu" that required no hand seals and was almost instantaneous.

However, after a moment, Tianzang shook his head and said, "It's not this one."

Qingwu frowned, a possibility forming in his mind. "You want to... see that big guy again?"

Last time, Tianzang... uh, no, back when he was still Jia, he wasn't home when he infiltrated the territory. He was captured by the Drywood Guard.

Tianzang: "...Is that alright?"

Qingwu withdrew the natural energy emanating from his palm, "Spirit Communication Technique!"

"boom!"

The Deadwood Guardian has arrived!

Tianzang's gaze followed the upward movement until... his neck ached.

He clearly remembered that the last time the Deadwood Guardian wasn't this tall.

However... he still showed a look of "disappointment".

It's different; it doesn't have the same feel as last time.

"If you follow me again, I'll beat you up!" Qingwu lost his patience.

He instantly rushed towards the territory.

After leaving the training ground, he had already received 100 million taels from the third generation. Now, he was eager to return home and wanted to get the level 4 barracks [Demon Spring] ready.

Seeing that the short figure behind him had stopped following, Qingwu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He wasn't worried about Tianzang's safety.

The Third Hokage actually classified them as the Shadow Guard; Danzo must have been informed of this.

No matter what Danzo is like, he won't openly oppose the Third Hokage.