Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Now, it's Cloud Hidden's turn...

Chapter 195 The Hidden Clouds Have Arrived

Qiu Daotang continued to explain the details of the border defense.

Uchiha Shisui, Tenzo, and the others listened very attentively, and Qingwu also gathered his scattered thoughts and refocused his attention on the map and the current situation.

Based on the Cloud Village's previous practices, Akimichi Tou believes that the most urgent task is to deal with the Cloud Village's possible large-scale attack at any time.

Qingwu suggested that the Shadow Guard should launch a surprise attack on the Cloud Hidden stronghold, turning passive defense into active offense.

However, Akimichi Tangdong dissuaded him after thinking it over.

With Commander Akimichi Tokifu absent, Akimichi Todo didn't want the conflict between the two sides to escalate completely from the outset, and he actually harbored a glimmer of hope.

The reason for their good fortune was that with the New Year approaching, most of the ninja units on the front lines were not in the mood to fight.

This applies to both sides' ninja forces.

He hoped that during the probing offensive phase of both sides, Commander Akimichi Torifu would be able to return from the Land of Hot Springs!

"The main business cannot be without a backbone, so I need to temporarily go to the main business in the rear to take charge."

Qiu Daotang said solemnly, "During this period, the front-line outpost we are standing on will be handed over to Nara Suzaku. Captain Qingwu, your Shadow Guard will assist from the side."

Qingwu nodded, "Okay!"

To put it bluntly, Konoha's numbers are less than Kumogakure's, so the competition comes down to elite troops.

Their Shadow Guard team was temporarily regarded by Qiu Daotang as the ace squad stationed at the front line.

As they were speaking, two ninjas wearing Konoha Jonin vests entered the military tent.

The pineapple-headed mustache clearly identified him as a member of the Nara family, but the other person's attire made Anko and Tenzo nervous—sunglasses, a vest over a stand-up collar trench coat.

Akimichi Tōtō introduced, "Nara Suzaku, Aburame Shiguro."

He immediately turned around: "The captain of the Hokage's Shadow Guard is Senju Seigo!"

He only introduced the captain, Qingwu, without saying much about the other three members.

Qingwu sized up the two of them, and Nara Suzaku smiled and said, "You are both young and promising. I hope our cooperation will go smoothly in the future."

Wearing sunglasses, Shiro Aburame carried a huge jar on his back, as if it contained parasites.

This person looked very aloof. He simply nodded to Qingwu and then stood aside with his hands in his pockets.

Hongdou and Tianzang subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed the Younv family had no intention of causing trouble.

Qingwu didn't take it to heart at all. The Aburame clan was an old clan in Konoha, how could they possibly start an internal conflict at such a critical moment?

Well, except for those lunatics at the root!

After several core Konoha Jonin at the front met and finalized the defense deployment plan, Akimichi Touto prepared to return to the main camp to take charge.

Before leaving, Qiu Daotang whispered to Qingwu, "Don't worry, Zhihei is the younger brother of Zhiwei, the chief of the Younu tribe. If he doesn't cause you trouble, the other Younu tribe members won't come looking for you either."

Qingwu smiled and said, "Don't worry, with my Shadow Guard on the front lines, everything will be foolproof!"

The Shadow Guard's assigned tasks were simple. Being newcomers and too young, even Jonin like Qingwu and Shisui wouldn't be given command of the unit.

Instead, they were deployed as a special operations team to defend against the enemy's elite forces.

Qingwu didn't try to make his presence known. After his suggestion to take the initiative was politely declined, he chose to accept the arrangement.

Konoha was outnumbered, so defense was the top priority. He understood Akimichi Tou's caution.

Moreover, setting aside the harm that war brings to ordinary people, he would love to prolong the war with the Hidden Cloud Village.

After all, he has to be stationed on the border for three years. If there are no battles, how can he gain experience?

He even considered "raising a bandit to enhance his own power"!

……

Qiu Daotang left the front-line stronghold and returned to the rear headquarters to take charge.

Command of the front lines was temporarily transferred to Suzaku Nara, with the Shadow Guard led by Seigo and Shiguro Aburame assisting from the side.

Time passed amidst the tense and somewhat monotonous vigilance at the border.

Konoha's patrols became increasingly frequent, and Suzaku Nara practically lived in his command tent.

After familiarizing themselves with the terrain, Qingwu deployed four summoning squads around the stronghold, just as he had done when facing Yanyin. These squads did not need to rest.

Each squad consists of one Deadwood Guardian, twenty Archelves, and twenty Dwarf Warriors.

This configuration combines defense, reconnaissance, and early warning.

The Konoha ninjas inside the base were very curious about Qingwu's summoning beast, but after Nara Suzaku learned about the situation, he forbade anyone to approach.

This is a sign of trust in Qingwu.

Of course, it is also a responsibility.

Three more days passed, and after a heavy snowfall, the chill in the air was even stronger.

The Konoha ninjas at the outpost would occasionally talk about the village's New Year preparations, their words revealing a hint of homesickness.

However, the shadow of war never spares human celebrations.

On December 23, just as the sky over the direction of the land of fields was beginning to lighten, a sharp alarm shattered the tranquility of the early morning.

"Enemy attack! A large force from the Hidden Cloud Village is crossing the border and advancing towards our stronghold!"

The reconnaissance team's report instantly put the entire outpost on high alert.

Qingwu felt a surge of excitement.

During the incident at the Iwagakure border, their Shadow Guard was responsible for protecting the rear supply lines and did not face a large-scale ninja force.

This time is different; this can be considered his first time on the front lines.

Almost at the same time the alarm sounded, a dense mass of figures appeared on the distant horizon, with flashes of lightning and an imposing aura.

"They've arrived as expected."

Nara Suzaku, his expression grave yet resolute, ordered, "Order all units to take up defensive positions according to the pre-arranged plan! Send a distress signal to the main camp requesting reinforcements!"

He looked at Qingwu beside him: "Captain Qingwu, your Shadow Guard..."

"We'll follow orders," Qingwu said succinctly. "Where is the pressure greatest?"

Suzaku Nara didn't stand on ceremony, pointing to a relatively open valley entrance on the map:

"Here! The main force of the Cloud Hidden Army will likely launch its main attack from here. I need an elite force to withstand the initial impact and buy time for the main force to deploy and provide support."

"Understood." Qingwu nodded and said to the three behind him, "Tianzang, Mongoose, Snake Princess, let's go!"

In formal settings, the Shadow Guard members still refer to each other by their code names.

The four of them flashed away from the military tent and sped toward the designated defensive node.

At the entrance to the valley, Konoha's defenses had just been hastily constructed.

Dozens of Konoha ninja, relying on makeshift earth-style bunkers and traps, nervously watched what lay ahead.

When Qingwu and his companions arrived, the vanguard of the Cloud Village had already surged forward like a blue tide, with shouts of battle and the hissing of lightning release techniques filling the air.

The battle erupted instantly.

The Cloud Village ninjas, fearless and possessing formidable taijutsu, combined with their powerful lightning release techniques, attempted to break through Konoha's lines in one fell swoop.

Despite being outnumbered, Konoha managed to hold on thanks to their advantageous terrain and teamwork.

"Combined Ninjutsu: Lightning Release: Thunderclap!"

The hundreds of Cloud Ninjas charging ahead simultaneously formed hand seals and opened their mouths, releasing sharp Lightning Release chakra that swept lightning from near to far.

The defensive fortifications that Konoha had just built were breached in an instant.

Qingwu's expression hardened as he once again directly experienced the power of combined ninjutsu when the number of people reached a formal, organized level.

No wonder even someone as strong as the Third Raikage could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers...

Chapter 196 Another Jinchūriki

The brutality of the main battlefield was now clearly evident.

After a series of combined Lightning Release techniques, the vanguard of the Cloud Ninja drew their swords and charged into the Leaf Village's territory.

The Konoha side was already outnumbered, and in the ensuing chaos, they suffered heavy casualties.

Fortunately, the Shadow Guards arrived in time.

"Wood Release·Tree Boundary Wall!"

Tenzang clapped his hands, and thick trees rose from the ground, forming an arc-shaped barrier that blocked the countless lightning bolts that were shot from the front.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Shisui unleashed a massive fire dragon, temporarily repelling the enemies charging from one side.

"Ninja Technique: Hidden Shadow Multi-Snake Hand!"

Red Bean bound several Cloud Ninjas together, and Azure Goose's Summoning Jutsu was also complete: "Summoning Jutsu!"

"boom--!!"

A giant slug descended from the sky, flattening the Cloud Ninja bound by Red Bean, and quickly splitting into multiple smaller slugs that scattered across various corners of the battlefield.

"It's Lord Slug! We're saved!"

As long as the wounded on Konoha's side are not dead, the slug's treatment can keep them alive.

Slugs, as spiritual creatures, greatly boost morale on the battlefield.

"Is it Lady Tsunade who has arrived?"

"No, no!"

"We had earlier intelligence that the captain of the Shadow Guard had obtained a slug's psychic contract."

"That's amazing!"