Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

In the game Heroes of Might and Magic, dwarf warriors and fifth-tier deadwood guards have similar roles, both being used for defense.

"I already have a Dryad Guardian, the strongest defensive unit among all the Tier 1 units of all factions..."

With that in mind, Qingwu made a decision: "Build the Centaur Stable!"

……

Aburame Ryoma is very cautious.

He first ordered his men to throw smoke bombs to create chaos, then kept a close eye on the huge psychic creature in the arena.

Last night, while hiding in the shadows, Aburame Ryoma witnessed the summoned creature easily defeat three Cloud Ninjas.

Therefore, he had only one goal in this operation!

rustling!

Black swarms of insects flew out from her sleeves, and Aburame Ryoma ordered, "I'll control that psychic creature. You bring the person here."

After a pause, Aburame Ryoma added, "There's still one Kumogakure surviving. After killing the other two brats... we released that Kumogakure!"

The Cloud Village team, which was thought to be wiped out, still has one member left.

Ryoma Aburame changed his mind at the last minute.

At that time, we'll fake the scene where Uzuki Yugao and Iruka were killed by Kumogakure during a mission.

"Yes!"

Two Roots, one wearing a blue-patterned mask and the other a green-patterned mask, rushed into the smoke from the left and right respectively.

The masks and dark areas at the root of the leaf are different.

The masks at the base are predominantly white with various colored patterns, while the masks in the darker areas depict various animal figures.

At this moment, a large number of parasitic insects had gathered above Aburame Ryoma's head. He reached out and formed a hand seal:

"Secret Technique: Parasitic Insect Binding and Sealing Array!"

The insect cloud paused abruptly, then locked onto the largest target in the field and flew towards it.

"Hmph, whether it's a summoned creature or a puppet, once its chakra is gnawed at its joints, it will lose its ability to move!"

Puff puff……

A dense cloud of insects covered the entire upper body of the withered tree guardian.

With a smile playing on his lips beneath his mask, Ryoma Aburame confidently strode into the arena, hands in his pockets.

Just then—

"Boom!!"

The shadows of the trees swayed violently, and the clearing in the forest rose and cracked without warning!

The smoke in the forest was instantly swept away, revealing a stunning scene!

To Aburame Ryoma's astonishment, the roots of the ancient giant tree burst forth from the ground like an earth dragon turning over.

Fortunately, they did not attack, but instead wrapped, shaped, and built at an incredible speed.

The sturdy round logs are automatically joined together with tenons, and the top is woven from tough vines.

In just over ten seconds, a long, shed-like building full of wild and natural charm "grew" in the center of the open space.

“This…” Aburame Ryoma seemed to be petrified on the spot.

The other two Root ninjas who had just approached were so frightened that they didn't know what to do.

The Root ninja with the green-patterned mask almost knelt down.

"Wood Release..."

Only the legendary First Hokage could have accomplished something like this.

"Qingwu, did you build this house using Wood Release so we could hide inside?" Iruka's voice trembled.

The enormous 'tree spirit monster' above his head made him feel very insecure.

"..." Qingwu choked on her words and said irritably, "This shed is for horses to live in!"

After saying that, he opened the recruitment panel for the Centaur Stable.

[Recruitable Units: Centaurs (Tier 1 Unit), Centaur Chieftain (Requires Building Upgrade)]

[Number of recruits available: 8]

[Recruitment Price: 5 Natural Energy, 10 Gold Coins, 10 Wood]

"Damn it!" Qingwu punched the withered wood guard in the knee!

Damn it, I knew we'd need resources again.

But I have nothing now!

【Ding! 】

[This is my first time recruiting troops at the barracks. Do I need to consume all my natural energy to recruit?]

"???" Qingwu was shocked.

Then he wanted to laugh.

So there's something wrong with your system?

If it happened once, twice, will it happen a third time?

Do you really have to squeeze me dry?

however……

He had no choice but to complete his mission and repel the enemy!

"Yes!" Qingwu closed her eyes.

A tear of resentment slid down her cheek.

"Qingwu, what's wrong?" Iruka asked with concern.

Xiyan drew her sword: "Hmph, where's the courage you had to take a hit for Iruka last night? You're not scared, are you!"

Perhaps out of girlish jealousy, this girl always wanted to find an opportunity to look down on him.

I'm afraid you'll try to back out...

Qingwu opened her eyes and glared fiercely at Maoyue Xiyan, feeling her body being completely drained once again.

All that could be heard from the deep entrance of the stables was the heavy, orderly sound of iron hooves pounding the ground.

Accompanied by a deep, wild howl, eight tall, robust figures, half-human and half-horse, wielding spears, gradually emerged from the shadows.

"What is this again?" Xiyan and Iruka were both dumbfounded.

They couldn't understand what had happened to Qingwu from last night until now!

Qingwu no longer had time to pay attention to his two teammates.

Before he lost consciousness, he raised his hands as if forming a hand seal...

In reality, the order was given to the withered warriors and the eight and a half centaurs they had just recruited: combine close and long-range attacks, and fight in a coordinated manner! Target—three unfamiliar ninjas!

Hey, you guys go ahead and play, Grandpa's going to bed now!

Seeing Qingwu lower his head as if he had fainted again while forming hand seals, Iruka was shocked: "Qingwu couldn't control his bloodline limit and fainted again."

Yugao gripped her ninja sword tightly, looking warily at the two Root ninjas.

The roots rarely appear in front of people, so Yugao didn't recognize them, but she recognized Aburame Ryoma's signature hood and insect cloud.

"Konoha ninjas?"

Xi Yan scolded, "Why did you attack your fellow villagers?"

Chapter 6 Repelling the Enemy

Two masked Root ninjas cautiously retreated.

The eight strange "human-horse" creatures that rushed out of the stables made them uneasy.

A slight noise came from above Xiyan's head.

However, it was the part of the withered tree guardian that was not covered by the insect cloud that split off several thick roots, enveloping the unconscious Qingwu within them.

Iruka was sweating profusely with anxiety, feeling surrounded by enemies and on the verge of being attacked.

"I...I'm not afraid of you anymore, protect me too!" Iruka cried out in his heart.

However, the withered tree guardian didn't even glance at him. It took a step forward with a 'thud,' covering the sapling of the ancient tree of life with its body while emitting a strange syllable.

Immediately, the eight and a half centaurs moved.

The tall, muscular figure paused, then aimed his spear precisely and charged towards the distant, insect-swarming Aburame Ryoma.

At the same time, the lower half of the dead tree guard wriggled and grew several thick roots that looked like living things, which it used to launch an attack in conjunction with the centaur.

Ryoma Aburame was shocked. "Impossible!!"

He had never been in close contact with the Deadwood Guardian and originally thought it was a product of chakra.

However, even though his entire upper body was covered by parasitic insects, the withered tree guardian was still releasing "Wood Release," which was beyond his comprehension.

"No retreat!" Ryoma Aburame ordered the two Root ninjas: "Carry out the mission!"

The two Root ninjas snapped out of their shock; Lord Danzo's mission...

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

At the base of the blue-patterned mask, a hand seal was formed, and an invisible wind blade sliced ​​towards the rapidly extending roots.

Wood chips flying everywhere!

The roots were severed in the middle, demonstrating the power of his Wind Release technique.

However, more roots wriggled out from the dead tree guardian, as if it had not been harmed at all.

"How is that possible!"