Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

The dark clouds that had hung over the northeastern border for years have finally dissipated, and a heavy weight has been lifted from my heart.

Countless Konoha ninja cheered and celebrated this hard-won peace.

Although the threat from Iwagakure on the western front remains, at least one side of the enemy has been dealt with, greatly reducing the pressure on Konoha.

All the Konoha ninjas who participated in the battle knew that the key turning point of this victory was the fifteen-year-old boy named Senju Seigo and his Shadow Guard!

It was he who stepped forward at the critical moment, turned the tide, repelled the AB combination, forced back the Cloud Hidden Army, and won the most valuable bargaining chip and initiative for the peace talks.

The names of "Natural Calamity" Senju Seigo and the "Shadow Guard" resounded throughout the entire ninja world, coinciding with the great victory on the eastern front and the signing of the peace agreement!

"Finally... it's come to an end."

Standing on the high wall of the stronghold, listening to the cheers coming from the camp behind him, Shisui's face showed a relieved smile.

"Ah~!"

Qingwu replied casually, a hint of emotion in his voice: "We've been at the border for almost a year now, haven't we?!"

"Yes!"

Hongdou sighed, "Another winter has come."

"I really want to go home!"

Tenzo gazed at the snow-capped mountains in the distance, towards the Land of Lightning, and longed for the tranquility of the Forest of Death.

The "home" he referred to was not Konoha Village, but rather the peaceful and tranquil territory deep within the Forest of Death, beneath that towering ancient tree.

"..."

Princess Tianxin looked at this person and that person, carefully observing and analyzing everyone's state of mind.

“Go home…” Qingwu repeated the word, a complex emotion rising in her heart.

The border region is bitterly cold and rife with war; before I knew it, I had been here for almost a year.

From the moment he first arrived, when he even considered "raising an enemy to enhance his own prestige," to experiencing the sacrifice of his comrades and the change in his mindset, to taking the initiative to attack and turn the tide of the battle, and finally to forcing a draw with Cloud Village...

So much happened that year, and he himself underwent a transformation in his mindset.

Just... going home!?

He was "exiled" to the border, nominally as a "convicted criminal," with a three-year punishment period.

Less than a year has passed.

Although he held a very high position on the front lines due to his outstanding military achievements, neither Suzaku Nara, Homura Mitokado, nor even the Third Hokage, who was far away on the western front, would really regard him as a criminal.

But "punishment" is "punishment," and procedurally he must wait until the deadline expires, or until there is a special pardon from the Hokage.

However, given his past transgressions of "slaughtering the Root and disrupting peace talks," he cannot return to Konoha without a suitable reason and opportunity.

Yes, at least that's how it is in name only!

Of course, just because he can't go back doesn't mean the rest of the Shadow Guard have to stay here with him indefinitely.

"Red beans, still water, heavenly treasures."

Qingwu turned around and looked at his teammates beside him. "The peace talks have been finalized, and things are peaceful on the front lines for the time being. You've been away from home for almost a year now, it's time to go back and visit."

All three of them were stunned for a moment, especially Hongdou and Zhishui.

They had indeed discussed leaving temporarily once the situation stabilized, but they didn't expect the captain to bring it up on his own initiative.

"Hongdou, your mother must miss you very much." Qingwu looked at Hongdou and said gently, "Go back and spend some time with her, and take a good rest."

He had seen how hard Hongdou had worked these past few months, and she definitely needed a rest.

Hongdou's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded vigorously:

"Yes, I... I'll be back as soon as possible! Captain, I promise you, I'll definitely be back before the New Year to spend the New Year with you... and Senior Tianxin!"

After she finished speaking, she secretly glanced at the quiet Princess Tianxin standing beside her.

Over time, she had lost all her initial hostility and jealousy towards this "fairy sister," leaving only admiration and gratitude.

“Zhi Shui…” Qing Wu looked at Zhi Shui.

"Captain, I do intend to go back. There are some things that I need to face and explain."

Shisui didn't say it explicitly, but Qingwu probably knew what he would face. The existence of the Mangekyou Sharingan meant that he couldn't stay out of it.

Qingwu gently patted Zhishui's shoulder and said in a warm voice, "Be careful in everything you do. Don't try to handle things on your own. Remember, I'm your captain."

“I understand, Captain.” Shisui nodded steadily, his eyes firm. “I will handle it and return as soon as possible.”

"Tianzang," Qingwu said, turning to Tianzang one last time, "If you want to go home and see Naruto and the others, you can..."

"No, Captain, I'll stay here with you." Tianzang shook his head immediately before Qingwu could finish speaking, his tone resolute.

For Tianzang, the place where the captain is is the real "home"!

Looking into Tianzang's earnest eyes, Qingwu felt a warmth in her heart and nodded: "Alright, then you can stay."

“Kakashi-senpai will probably be returning to the village with Elder Mitokado Homura,” Shisui said. “We can travel together and look out for each other on the way.”

"That's for the best!" Qingwu nodded.

With Kakashi leading the team, he can feel more at ease.

……

The next morning, at the entrance of the stronghold.

Wearing formal advisor's robes and under the protection of the Anbu led by Kakashi, Mitokado Homura was preparing to return to Konoha.

With the peace talks successful, he needs to return to the village as soon as possible to report to the Konoha leadership and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and prepare for the subsequent formal signing ceremony.

Shisui was still wearing the Shadow Guard uniform and followed in the group.

Hongdou held Tianxin Shenji's hand and whispered something, reluctant to part.

Princess Tianxin smiled with her eyes closed and gently patted the back of her hand.

Tianzang stood beside Qingwu and waved to Shisui and Kakashi.

"Be careful on the road."

Qingwu urged Hongdou to return to the team, ruffled her pineapple-shaped hair, which made Hongdou grumble in dissatisfaction, but she did not dodge.

"Take care, Captain!" Shisui bowed.

Kakashi adjusted his headband and said in a flippant tone, "Qingwu, I'm waiting for you to come back. Kurenai said last time that she wanted to drink with you."

"Senior, have a safe journey!" Qingwu smiled but didn't respond to his words.

After all, with Mitokado Homura in front of him and so many ANBU members around, he couldn't speak as freely as he did in private.

"..."

Mitomon En glanced at Qingwu, then at the extraordinary-looking Tianxin Shenji standing beside him with her eyes closed. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but in the end he simply nodded and said nothing.

The advisory delegation's convoy slowly started, raising a few specks of dust, and gradually moved further and further away towards the Land of Fire.

……

After seeing his companions off, Qingwu did not immediately return to the camp.

He took Tenzo and Takoshi no Kamihime and went directly to Suzaku in Nara.

"A request for leave?" Nara Suzaku, somewhat surprised by Qingwu's purpose, put down his pen.

"The eastern front has just been secured, and although things are temporarily peaceful, we still need to monitor the movements of Kumogakure, and the situation in Iwagakure as well... Are you leaving at this time?"

For the past six months, Qingwu has frequently left the stronghold, but because the time he has been away was short, it has not attracted much attention.

But this request for leave... put Nara Suzaku in a bit of a dilemma.

“It’s not that I’m leaving,” Qingwu explained. “I just need some time to find a quiet place to cultivate in seclusion.”

Qingwu had already decided that once there was a result here, he wouldn't waste time "dying" here.

There's still some distance to go before natural energy breaks through the 10-point mark, and he can't stay idle.

"Seclusion...cultivation?"

Nara Suzaku blinked, looking at Qingwu speechlessly. "You're not even 16 years old and you're already this strong. How much more do you want to train?"

"Yes," Qingwu said frankly, "After experiencing many battles, I have some gains that I need to digest, and my strength has also reached a bottleneck. I want to calm down and cultivate and sort things out."

With Senior Suzaku overseeing things here, and Cloud Village having just established a framework for peace talks, my absence for a while shouldn't affect the overall situation.

He paused, then added, "I will leave a portion of the necromancer legion to assist in the defense. If there is any emergency, you can contact me at any time."

As he spoke, he gestured to Princess Tianxin.

The latter nodded, and two white snakes as thick as bowls darted out of his sleeve.

Nara Suzaku couldn't help but twitch his brow; this scene easily reminded him of a certain S-rank rogue ninja.

“They can find Tianxin at any time through reverse spiritual communication, and once they find Tianxin, they can contact me.”

Qingwu said, "With my flying ability, I can get back quickly if anything happens."

Nara Suzaku pondered. He didn't really care whether Qingwu left to cultivate or do something else; he was just thinking about how to explain it to the higher-ups.

After some deliberation, he asked, "Okay, how long will it take?"

Suzaku Nara finally agreed!

After all, given Qingwu's current status and strength, he couldn't possibly keep him tied to the camp like he would with an ordinary ninja.

Moreover, he knew very well that the so-called "punishment" was already just a symbolic gesture.

"At the earliest, before the new year; at the latest, after the new year," Qingwu gave a vague timeframe.

There are still two months until the New Year, which is plenty of time to do many things.

“…Alright.” Nara Suzaku finally nodded helplessly. “Be careful, stay in touch!”

"Understood, thank you, Senior Suzaku."

Qingwu bowed and then turned to leave with Tianzang and Tianxin Shenji.

Back in his tent, Qingwu began preparations.

He first left some mixed troops around the stronghold—using the same combination as before: Deadwood Guardians + Dwarves + Archelves.