Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Thinking of the "freaks" he would inevitably face in the future, he let out a soft breath.

"We cannot afford to relax our efforts in improving our strength."

Nearly half of the six-month period has passed. "I hope... Orochimaru won't disappoint me."

As Suzaku Nara analyzed the situation, Qingwu's thoughts had already wandered off somewhere else.

……

A few days ago,

Western Front, Konoha Outpost

The atmosphere inside the military tent was heavy as Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly put down the battle report.

"..."

After a long silence, he took off the Hokage hat and placed it on the table, revealing his gray hair and wrinkled face that looked even older and more tired.

He walked to the window and gazed at the Konoha ninjas outside who were cleaning up the battlefield and collecting the bodies of their comrades, remaining silent for a long time.

Outside the window, the setting sun was like blood.

"Has Qu Feng... also left...?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low and hoarse, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Another old comrade who had fought alongside him for many years had left him before him.

The number of companions who have been with Senju Tobirama since his time is dwindling.

Danzo Shimura gradually drifted away from his ideals, while Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane became more of political partners.

Only Akimichi Torifu, this seemingly rough but actually meticulous fat man, maintained a comradeship with him that needed no words, and guarded the border for Konoha.

Now, this friendship has come to an end with Akimichi Torifu's death in battle.

"Lord Hokage..."

Akimichi Tangdong and Akimichi Choza stood to the side, their eyes red-rimmed, especially Akimichi Tangdong, who, as Tokifu's nephew, was overwhelmed with grief.

But they held back their tears.

On the battlefield, sorrow is a luxury.

"Uncle Qu Feng... fought to the very last moment."

Akimichi Toudou's voice choked with emotion, "According to the battle report, he single-handedly held off the fully transformed Two-Tails Matatabi, buying time for the base, and in the end... he passed away with a smile."

"He left with a smile..." Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated, a complex light flashing in his eyes, a mixture of sadness, relief, and deep weariness.

He could imagine his old friend's final moments—a moment of heroic reluctance.

"Take the wind, and you will live up to the name of the autumn path, and live up to the name of the leaf."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and looked at Shikaku Nara:

"Lu Jiu, please repeat the details of the battle report from the Eastern Front, especially... the situation of Qing Wu."

Although Shikaku also had a sorrowful expression, his eyes held his usual calmness.

He nodded and picked up another, more detailed intelligence scroll: "After Tang Dong and Zhi Hei had just left, Yun Yin launched its long-planned attack..."

Inside the military tent, all was silent, except for Shikaku's clear voice echoing.

"..."

"According to the battle report and Suzaku's supplementary intelligence, Captain Qingwu used Sage Mode and a peculiar ninjutsu during the battle..."

"The 'Eight-Tails Mirror Image,' created in some way, used a Tailed Beast Ball to injure the Fourth Raikage..."

"The Raikage's left leg was severed at the root, leaving him critically injured, while Captain Qingwu himself was also pierced through the shoulder by the Eight-Tails' enraged attack, losing an arm..."

"What?!" Akimichi Choza and Akimichi Tou both exclaimed in surprise.

Losing an arm? That's almost a fatal wound for a ninja! Qingwu is still so young...

“But Captain Qingwu…” A strange light flashed in Nara Shikaku’s eyes:

"He immediately used his medical techniques in conjunction with the slug's treatment to reattach his severed arm. Although his combat ability was damaged, it was not a major issue. On the other hand, the Raikage, after losing his leg, is probably... crippled for the time being."

"Reattaching a severed arm on the spot? This..."

Yamanaka Inoichi couldn't help but be moved; such a recovery ability was simply unbelievable.

……

Chapter 225 The Unwilling Onoki

"The last part of the intelligence..." Nara Shikaku said thoughtfully:

"Captain Qingwu suggests that we take advantage of the collapse of Yunyin's morale and launch a deterrent pursuit on the retreating Yunyin."

"Stop!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at everyone with a serious expression: "This is the place. What do you think?"

While Qingwu's strength as demonstrated in the battle report was indeed impressive, as the "Kage," the Third Hokage was more concerned about the situation that would follow.

Akimichi Tangdong spoke first:

“I think there’s no problem. Although Captain Qingwu is young, you can tell from his previous defeat of Yunyin’s split forces that he has a very strong ability to grasp the battle situation.”

What Akimichi Tangdong really wanted to say was that they should have pushed forward much earlier. If it weren't for the village's order to garrison last time, he would have led his men to put pressure on Kumogakure after the Raikage was injured last time.

Shiro Aburame agreed: "Yes! From defeating the Two-Tails to actively going to the Land of Frost to lure out the Raikage, he is the type to plan carefully before acting, despite his young age."

Yamanaka Inoichi frowned and said, "But if we fail and the Cloud Village reacts strongly, the already stable eastern front may be thrown into turmoil again."

The third generation leader nodded slowly; this was exactly what he had been worried about.

Based on his understanding of the Raikage, he knew that the Cloud Village would not give up easily.

Nara Shikaku pondered for a long time before saying:

"I think the timing is right this time. The difference between this time and the last time when the Raikage was injured is that... even the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki couldn't do anything to Captain Qingwu!"

That hits the nail on the head.

Akimichi Tangdong clapped his hands and said, "As expected of Shikaku!"

He came from the Eastern Front and knew better than anyone the deterrent power of Qingwu.

From initially defeating the Two-Tails' army head-on, to attacking Kai's forces, and then injuring the Raikage in the Land of Frost

Qingwu has proven his prowess in both individual and team battles.

This time, Qingwu defeated the Cloud Village AB duo by relying solely on his summoned beasts, surpassing Minato Namikaze's record from years past.

In this situation, if Qingwu personally intervenes, the chances of Yunyin daring to completely give up are very small.

after all……

The two sides have not yet reached the point of no return.

Even after the Third Shinobi World War, Iwagakure, which killed the Third Raikage, has not had any conflict with Kumogakure to this day, which shows that every "Kage" is not simple.

Conversely, sometimes a ninja village might need a ninja like Qingwu who "breaks the mold".

"it is good!"

After Nara Shikaku's analysis, the Third Hokage's previous fatigue and sadness were greatly relieved by this exhilaration. "He deserves the greatest credit for this battle!"

He looked at Akimichi Tangdong and Aburame Zhihei:

"Tangdong, Zhihei, your timely support was also invaluable. If Qufeng were alive today, he could rest in peace seeing the great victory on the eastern front and the stabilization of the western front."

Qiu Daotang nodded vigorously, his sadness tinged with pride: "Uncle Qu Feng will surely be pleased with Captain Qingwu's performance!"

Nara Shikaku calmly added:

"Lord Hokage, the great victory on the eastern front is of great significance. If we can force Kumogakure to negotiate peace, Konoha can concentrate all its strength to deal with Iwagakure."

“That’s right,” the Third Hokage said, his mood improving as he realized this. “That old fox Onoki is probably having a bigger headache than we are right now.”

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara had predicted,

In the following days, intelligence from the eastern front poured in like snowflakes, each piece of which invigorated the Konoha ninjas on the western front.

"Report! The Hidden Cloud Village has retreated again and again, showing no sign of counterattack!"

"..."

"Report! Kumogakure has completely abandoned its last three strongholds in the Land of Rice Fields and has withdrawn entirely to the Land of Lightning!"

"..."

"Report! Konoha has completely taken control of the buffer zone of the Land of Rice Fields and established a new border defense line!"

"..."

"Report! Kumogakure's commander-in-chief, Tsuchida, has sent an informal contact signal to Konoha's eastern front commander, Suzaku Nara, suggesting a possible intention to negotiate!"

Every time news arrived, an uncontrollable cheer erupted in the Konoha camp.

The long-standing dark clouds over the border seem to have parted with a glimmer of hope thanks to this earth-shattering victory on the eastern front.

All the Konoha ninjas, whether injured or unharmed, regained their radiance and were full of energy during patrols and training.

They were filled with admiration and gratitude for the Shadow Guard Captain, Senju Seigo, who was only fifteen years old and had created a miracle on the eastern front.

The Shadow Guard's reputation spread far and wide on the western front along with these battle reports.

In contrast, the atmosphere within the Hidden Rock Camp grew increasingly tense and anxious.

……

Yan Yin is the main business.

Several intelligence scrolls were spread out in front of the Tsuchikage, Onoki.

The intelligence reports were largely the same, all pointing to a fact that infuriated and utterly disbelief—Kumakuya had been defeated!

And it failed so quickly!

"Useless! The Fourth Raikage, that muscle-bound brute, and the Jinchuriki of Kumogakure are all useless!"

Onoki swept the scroll off the table, his aged face contorted with rage.

Inside the tent, the high-ranking members of the Hidden Rocks, including Huang Tu, remained silent, not daring to offend the Earth Shadow at this moment.