Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

The relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village was already delicate, and now such a genius has emerged within the clan...

Whether it's a blessing or a curse is hard to predict...

As for Thousand-Handed Green Wu, there's not much to worry about; it has impeccable roots and is of good quality!

However... Zhi Shui is a member of the Shadow Guard, and Qing Wu is the captain of the Shadow Guard; a bond has already been established between them.

This situation... definitely requires consideration of how to properly guide these two gifted teenagers.

……

Chapter 226 Reencounter with Mei Terumi

The internal situation cannot be resolved overnight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi brought the topic back to the present:

"Reply to Ōnoki."

“You can be firmer in your tone, refute his unreasonable accusations, and reiterate that it was Iwagakure that invaded first and killed my Konoha Jonin, forcing Konoha to defend itself and fight back.”

"But at the same time, it reveals our love of peace and our willingness not to escalate the war."

"Lu Jiu, you're in charge of the specific wording."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Nara Shikaku accepted the order.

"In addition, the western front is now on Level 1 defensive alert, with increased reconnaissance, but no one is allowed to cross the border to provoke Iwagakure without permission."

"Seize the time to establish a defensive line, rotate and rest troops, and focus on peace talks on the eastern front. It is not advisable to continue the conflict with Iwagakure!" Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to give orders.

"Yes!"

The people inside the tent accepted the order.

Unfortunately, if Onoki doesn't retreat, Hiruzen Sarutobi can only remotely control the peace talks with Kumogakure, and cannot leave the border to return to Konoha.

They also knew that this must have been done on purpose by Onoki.

The purpose was to prevent the peace talks between Kumogakure and Konoha from going smoothly.

...The smoke of battle that had lingered on the western front for several days gradually dissipated, replaced by a tense and fragile calm.

The ninjas of Konoha and Iwagakure faced each other from their respective defensive lines, and the tense atmosphere eased somewhat.

But everyone knows that peace is just a facade, and no one knows when the next conflict will break out.

……

Eastern Front, the Land of Hot Springs, a certain hot spring town.

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere of the border battlefield, this small town, located in the heart of the land of hot springs and famous for its hot springs, is filled with a leisurely and peaceful atmosphere.

The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and the aroma of food. There weren't many pedestrians on the street, most of whom were wearing yukata and looked relaxed.

The shadow of war seems to be blocked by the distant mountains, and has not yet completely eroded the tranquility here.

Qingwu, Zhishui, Hongdou, and Tianzang had just come out of a hot spring inn, changed into light yukatas, and were walking on the stone path.

The tension that had been building for months seemed to ease a little in this warm, humid air.

After confirming that the Hidden Cloud Village had temporarily ceased its operations and that peace talks had begun, Qingwu brought his Shadow Guards on a special trip to relax and heal from the trauma of the war.

"Wow! These meatballs smell so good!"

Hongdou's eyes lit up as she stared at a roadside food stall, her mouth practically watering.

"Go buy it if you want to eat it," Qingwu took out some money and handed it to Hongdou, "Buy more."

Having experienced life and death on the battlefield, they all cherished this hard-won peace.

Hongdou cheered and pulled Tianzang to help her get the things.

Shisui quietly followed beside Qingwu, his gaze habitually sweeping around. Although he appeared relaxed, he had not lost his ninja instincts.

Just as Hongdou and Tianzang ran back with dumplings in their hands.

A clear and pleasant female voice, tinged with a lazy smile, came from the diagonal front:

"Hey, isn't this our 'Little Fat Sheep'? What a coincidence!"

"Little Fat Sheep..." Qingwu looked in the direction of the voice with curiosity. He had only used this title when he was looking for Tsunade and hadn't heard it for a long time.

Not far away, on the second floor of a tavern, a woman was leaning against the railing by the window.

Her long, dark brown hair was loosely draped behind her head, with a few strands falling beside her neck, making her skin appear even whiter.

She was wearing a light blue yukata.

The front of her dress was not tightly closed like that of an ordinary woman; instead, the neckline was loosely open, revealing her delicate collarbone and an alluring curve.

Holding a small white porcelain wine cup in his hand, he looked down at the green wutong tree with a half-smile.

Hidden in the Mist—Mei Terumi!!

Qingwu paused, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

He truly hadn't expected to run into her again in the Land of Hot Springs.

"It is quite a coincidence." Qingwu greeted him in a calm tone: "It seems that the hot springs of the Land of Hot Water are also very attractive to the ninja of the Mist."

With a dumpling in her mouth, Hongdou looked at Terumi Mei with a gaze full of inquiry and wariness.

Tianzang also showed a puzzled expression.

Zhi Shui frowned slightly, as if deep in thought.

Judging from the conversation between the captain and the woman, the two obviously know each other, but... I've never heard the captain mention knowing anyone from Kirigakure.

The Hidden Mist Village, which has been closed off from the world, has not seen any ninjas appear in the ninja world for several years.

"It's certainly attractive, but... I'm just taking a break from work to relax."

Mei Terumi chuckled and downed the sake in her cup in one gulp, her action displaying a certain boldness that contrasted strangely with her alluring appearance.

With a light leap, she landed in front of the four Shadow Guards:

"But you, Lord Qingwu, have just finished a great battle, and you have the leisure to take your lovely little teammates to soak in a hot spring? You really... know how to enjoy life."

Her voice trailed off slightly, carrying a hint of teasing that was hard to define.

"Work and rest should be balanced." Qingwu said succinctly, not wanting to elaborate, while inwardly speculating about Terumi Mei's motives for appearing in the Land of Hot Springs.

"Won't you come up and sit for a while?" Mei Terumi seemed oblivious to Qingwu's aloofness and instead took the initiative to invite him up.

She rested her elbows against the wall behind her, making the neckline of her yukata even more exposed, but she seemed completely unconcerned, her gaze fixed intently on Qingwu:

"Reuniting with old friends in this hot spring town, having a cup of tea and chatting is much better than wandering around the streets, isn't it? My treat!"

Mei Terumi blinked, her tone clearly mocking.

Hongdou gasped, her eyes widening in shock, while Tianzang awkwardly looked away.

"team leader……"

Shisui hesitated to speak, knowing that Wuyin's identity was sensitive and that contacting him at this time might cause complications.

"It's alright." Qingwu nodded to Zhishui, then turned to look at Terumi Mei. With such a high-profile invitation, avoiding her would only make him seem guilty.

Moreover, back then... although he first helped Mei Terumi defeat the "rogue ninja" Raiga Kurosuki,

However, he also used Mei Terumi's intelligence network in the Land of Water to find Tsunade and even obtained a "reward" of 30 million ryo from her, so in the end, he could be considered an "old friend".

"Let's go!"

Qingwu took the lead and walked towards the tavern. Hongdou and Tianzang exchanged a glance and were about to follow.

Mei Terumi stepped in front of them: "Two adorable children, may I speak with your captain alone for a few minutes?"

Shisui stared warily at Terumi Mei.

A red bean-shaped eyebrow is about to flare up.

"Wait for me a moment," Qingwu's voice came from ahead.

Tianzang tugged at Hongdou's sleeve, and Hongdou had no choice but to stop and sulk.

……

The private rooms on the second floor are quiet and elegant.

You can see the town's streetscape and distant mountains just by opening the window.

Mei Terumi sat up straight again, her yukata slightly more tidy, but her lazy and casual demeanor remained strong.

She personally poured sake for Qingwu with practiced ease.

Qingwu patiently said, "Just say what you want to say. I'm going to the hot springs with my teammates."

"Oh dear, Lord Qingwu is still so direct, he has no sense of romance at all." Terumi Mei sighed, feigning disappointment. "How about... I accompany you to the hot spring?"

As she spoke, the collar of her yukata slipped down quietly.

Qingwu looked at her amusedly: "This isn't the first time we've dealt with each other. Stop with that deceptive attitude. If you waste any more time, I'm leaving."

"Alright, alright." Mei Terumi seemed completely unconcerned about Qingwu's directness and suddenly said frankly, "I'm here to hunt down rogue ninja."

"Who? Kurozuki Raiga?" Qingwu asked casually.

“No,” Mei Terumi gently stroked the rim of the cup with her fingers, “it was Juzo Biwa. I received intelligence that he might be active in the Land of Hot Springs, so I took the initiative to come here.”

She continued, "On the one hand, it's for the mission, and on the other hand, I also want to take this opportunity to leave the village and see the outside world."

A thought struck Qingwu: Pipa Juzo... that guy should have joined the Akatsuki by now.

"Lord Qingwu... do you know a rogue ninja from Kirigakure?"

“I don’t know them,” Qingwu shook his head. “There are so many rogue ninja in your Kirigakure, how could I possibly know them all?”

"Tch~" Mei Terumi chuckled: "Likewise, the rogue ninjas of Konoha are becoming even more notorious."

Qingwu knew she was referring to Orochimaru, and casually changed the subject: "I'm in a hurry, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Mei Terumi feigned a "wronged" expression, saying, "We need to catch the rogue ninjas, but we also need to see the scenery. Life is short, so why is Lord Seigo always so tense?"

Qingwu was taken aback. "Don't act like we're old friends, okay? Last time, we only had a business relationship, and you still owe me a promise."