Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

Chapter 70, First Escort Mission

Time flies.

11 month.

The first snow of winter came later than last year.

Southern part of the Land of Fire.

A border town where the land of fire and the land of tea meet.

The Third Hokage of Konoha is discussing a trade agreement with the Daimyo of the Land of Tea.

Meanwhile, Qingwu and the other three also embarked on their first escort mission outside the village since the Shadow Guard was formed.

The land of tea relies on fishing and tea production as its economic pillars, and boasts fertile soil and abundant water and heat resources.

Because it does not have its own ninja village, although it is politically independent of the Five Great Nations system, it has many cooperative relationships with Konoha.

The town is ordinary, but the atmosphere today is subtle.

Because of the Third Hokage's prestige in the ninja world, even though the crowd had been evacuated in advance, many "locals" still came to the outskirts.

"At one o'clock, on the second floor of the teahouse, a man wearing a straw hat, his chakra fluctuations are abnormal."

Uzuki Yugao's cool voice came through the communicator as she mingled in the crowd, responsible for screening suspicious individuals.

"Understood!" Kakashi ordered, "'Elephant' senses the area around the teahouse."

"Yes, Captain!" Qingwu concealed himself and approached the teahouse.

Only Kakashi and Tenzo remained around the Third Hokage.

"Hmm?" Upon arriving at the alleyway behind the teahouse, Qingwu suddenly turned to look at the ground.

Having once been an Earth Release ninja, he was more sensitive to Earth Release chakra. "There seems to be someone underground. The target might be below the meeting place."

"Let's send 'Fox' to help, and try to resolve this quietly." Kakashi didn't want any petty thieves to interrupt the meeting.

"I'll take care of it!" Qingwu activated his natural senses and found the entrance in the shadows of the alley.

With his exceptional skills and daring, he sneaked in silently.

Inside the tunnel, two ninjas who appear to be spies are planting explosive tags along the way.

Qingwu appeared behind the two without making a sound. His special application of natural energy and professional training made him seem to blend into his surroundings.

"Roots entwine!"

Suddenly, dense roots sprouted from beneath the feet of the two spies who were diligently "working," binding them firmly to the spot.

"Well--"

To avoid causing a greater energy fluctuation, Qingwu drew his short sword and decisively slit the throats of the two men.

These two people, who appeared at the meeting between the Third Daimyo and the Daimyo of the Land of Tea, and were carrying a large number of explosive tags, were clearly not there to "mine".

"Cleanup complete," Qingwu reported.

"Target under control." At the same time, Xiyan's voice came through the communicator.

The man in the straw hat who was probably "keeping watch" in the teahouse had already been knocked unconscious from behind by her.

"Very good, 'Elephant' will remain on guard... 'Fox' will take the person away for interrogation later," Kakashi said.

The meeting lasted for two hours, during which no other suspicious persons appeared.

Qingwu returned to a spot not far from the Third Generation, using his natural senses to monitor the entire venue.

He could "see" some suspicious people in the crowd who didn't seem to be ordinary citizens, but they all seemed to be observing and didn't make a move.

After the meeting ended, the third generation headman boarded a carriage, and the convoy left the town.

"Mission accomplished," Kakashi said in the communicator. "Return!"

At dusk, the setting sun dyed the sky a rusty dark red.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was traveling on the official road back to Konoha.

Besides the four-man shadow guard led by Qingwu, there were also some accompanying civilian officials and logistics personnel.

The four shadow guards stood in a diamond formation around the carriage.

Kakashi was in front, Yugao was on the left, Tenzo was on the right, and Qingwu was behind. All four wore masks and concealed their auras, like four silent shadows.

Qingwu has adapted to her current identity.

Moreover, there are allowances in addition to wages after each mission, which is very humane.

"Thirty kilometers to go before entering the Land of Fire."

Kakashi's voice came through the communicator: "This section of the road is hilly and has complex terrain, so be on high alert."

"Yes," the three replied in unison.

"boom--!!!"

The road ahead suddenly exploded!

It's not an explosive tag, it's Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique!

Two earthen walls, as large as small hills, closed in from the left and right, as if trying to sandwich the convoy into a meat pie!

"Enemy attack!" Kakashi shouted.

at the same time--

"Earth Release: Rock Gun Technique!"

Dozens of fist-sized rock projectiles, as hard as steel, rained down from the right side of the canyon!

Each one whistled through the air, its target not people, but the carriage!

"Wood Release·Wood Spindle Wall!"

Tianzang reacted extremely quickly, and the wooden protective barrier rose up instantly, completely enveloping the carriage.

The rock projectiles struck the wooden wall with dense, muffled thuds, but could not penetrate it.

"Get out!"

Qingwu shouted to the convoy, then slapped the ground: "Spirit Summoning Technique!"

Ten dwarfs appeared on each side of the earthen walls that closed in on either side.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!"

The dwarf raised his enormous warhammer and used his strength to break through the ninjutsu, smashing the earthen wall to pieces.

The convoy took this opportunity to retreat to the mouth of the canyon.

The curtain on the third-generation carriage remained motionless; the old man did not emerge.

"Konoha-ryu Swordsmanship: Moon Shadow Flash!"

Xiyan appeared in the canyon on the right like a ghost, weaving through the ambushers, her silver sword flashing.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The throats of the three people were slit.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

Kakashi moved like lightning, swiftly killing the remaining four ambushers in front of Yugao.

"Explosive Release: Landmine Fist!"

The snow and earth exploded, and the shockwave swept towards Kakashi and Yugao like a tsunami.

Kakashi instantly stepped in front, his short sword crackling with intense lightning as he slashed out, but the impact of the Explosion Release was too strong, and he was knocked back several steps.

"Captain!" Xiyan exclaimed, trying to step forward.

"Don't come any closer!" Kakashi's gaze locked onto his left, and he whispered, "Kekkei Genkai!"

Judging from the level of chakra, such an enemy is clearly beyond Yugao's ability to handle.

"Hehe." A man with spiky hair emerged from behind the ravine. "The ninjas of Konoha have pretty quick reflexes."

A shadowy figure loomed behind the spiky-haired man. Kakashi made a snap decision: "Go back!"

He led Xiyan to the outside of the canyon and stood guard in front of the carriage.

"It's Iwa ninja!" Kakashi said in a deep voice.

"Iwa ninja are in the northwest, how could they appear in the southern part of the Land of Fire?" Yugao said through gritted teeth, gripping her longsword tightly.

As Yugao approached, she noticed that these ambushers were not hiding their identities; the Iwa ninjas on their foreheads were clearly visible.

"The Third Hokage!" The spiky-haired Iwa ninja led his troops to surround them. "Your head is ours."

This guy was extremely arrogant.

After saying that, he turned to the canyon on the other side and said, "Suma Shi, come out. This time, we absolutely cannot let those Konoha scum escape."

"Suma Shi!!" Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Distant memories surfaced in his mind: a few years ago, when he and his teammates were ambushed during a mission, and Suma Shi was among the enemies who "died" in that incident.

At that time, Suma Shiki, who was a special Jonin, was the only Iwa ninja who escaped after Minato Namikaze arrived...