Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

Chapter 74 S-level mission

The air-based [Protective Shield] is a very powerful buff magic skill.

And this is only the level 1 effect.

If you upgrade to level 4, the damage reduction effect will be even more pronounced.

This spell is not very useful against fragile centaurs, wood elves, and the like.

However, if given to defensive units like dwarves or withered wood guards, the combined effect will be terrifying.

In particular—the 'Battle Dwarf', upgraded from a dwarf, has its magic resistance increased from 40% to 60%.

Combined with the protective shield... it's enough to make most ninjas despair!

"You seem very happy?" Kakashi suddenly turned his head.

Overjoyed, Qingwu coughed lightly, "Ahem, yes, I feel like you've been relieved of some burden, Captain. I'm so happy for you."

No matter how smart Kakashi is, he is only a 15-year-old boy. He was so easily fooled by Qingwu, who has lived two lives, that he was speechless.

However, upon closer reflection, he realized that his willingness to open up to his teammates today seemed... indeed different from before.

"..." Kakashi looked at Qingwu, hesitant to speak, but in the end he didn't say anything like "thank you for saving me," and just said, "Let's go, the Hokage must be getting impatient."

By the time they returned to the convoy, it was already dark.

Xiyan and Tianzang stood guard on the perimeter, while the others were setting up camp.

"Captain, how is Xiang?" Xi Yan asked with concern.

Tianzang didn't speak, but his eyes were fixed on Qingwu.

"It's nothing." Qingwu shrugged. "We're all fine. One enemy escaped."

Kakashi nodded to the two guards and walked straight towards the Third Hokage's tent. "Elephant, follow me!"

Inside the military tent, the light from the pipes flickered in the darkness.

After listening to Kakashi's report, the Third Hokage turned to Qingwu and asked, "How did you manage to fly?"

Wood Release allows flight? Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't figure out what the connection was between the two.

"It's something that came about through trying different approaches and research."

Qingwu said, "It's very difficult, and we can't communicate with spirits on a large scale at the moment."

He shut down the third generation's next words.

As expected, the Third Hokage likely shared Kakashi's initial thoughts that a well-organized air force unit was extremely important to Konoha.

"I see……"

The Third Hokage took a drag of his cigarette, not bothering to investigate further. "Kari... the blasting captain of Iwagakure, I know him, he's very strong... let him go if he's gone."

Unlike Kakashi's concerns, the Third Hokage said:

"It doesn't matter if Qingwu's flying ability is exposed. After this battle, Iwagakure will know that our Wood Release ninjas are in the Shadow Guard. Whether they have one more or one less ability, they will be eliminated."

"This is a trial!" The Third Hokage stared at Qingwu and said, "It's also a form of affirmation!"

"Yes!" Qingwu lowered her head.

When facing the third generation, he resumed his usual low profile when there was nothing else to do.

Kakashi, as the captain of the Shadow Guard, asked, "Hokage-sama, what exactly is the purpose of Iwagakure's assassination attempt this time?"

Kakashi had witnessed the Third Hokage's actions firsthand, and he didn't believe that two Jonin leading a team could successfully assassinate him.

"Hmm..." the Third Hokage murmured, "It's probably a test."

"A test?" Kakashi pondered.

"Hmm, testing our reaction, testing whether Konoha dares to go to war with... Iwagakure when faced with constant friction with Kumogakure!"

"!!" Kakashi was shocked. The Tsuchikage Onoki actually wanted to start another war so soon after the end of the Third Shinobi World War!

"As I said before, Konoha is at its most vulnerable now, which is why there are always people who want to provoke it."

The third-generation leader took a deep drag on his pipe: "As I said before, you young people are the future of the village, the new life of the village..."

"Now I'll put it another way: not 'new sprouts,' but 'new teeth'!"

Kakashi and Qingwu were startled and both looked up at the Third Hokage.

"The new teeth of Konoha are not only sharp, but also dare to bite!" The Third Hokage looked at the two of them and said firmly.

At this moment, it was as if the "Renxiong" of the past had returned.

The fact that Konoha has survived so many major wars is not only due to its strong foundation, but also because the Third Hokage was definitely not someone who only knew how to appease.

Qingwu had a sudden realization.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage tossed Kakashi a scroll, "These are several Iwagakure outposts located on the border of the Land of Grass. I want your Shadow Guard... to take them down!"

Kakashi then hesitated, saying, "What if war breaks out..."

"No!" the Third Hokage said in a deep voice.

"Konoha cannot back down now. If the Hokage is assassinated and we pretend nothing happened... Onoki will think we're already overwhelmed with Kumogakure and that we're weak and easily bullied!"

"I understand!" Kakashi gripped the reel tightly.

"This mission is classified as S-rank!"

The third leader's tone unusually cold and menacing: "No need to wait to escort me back to the village. Rest for one night, and we'll carry it out immediately tomorrow!"

"Yes!" The two saluted simultaneously and left the military tent.

The camp was dimly lit by fire.

Kakashi and Qingwu walked side by side toward the outer perimeter to meet up with their teammates and inform them of the new mission.

"Captain!" Qingwu suddenly asked, "Does our Shadow Guard also carry out... missions like eliminating enemy strongholds?"

Kakashi replied:

"We've already entered the Land of Fire. There are Konoha's garrison ninja units stationed here every now and then, and with the Hokage's strength, he should be able to return to the village safely."

Kakashi thought Qingwu was worried about the Hokage's safety.

Qingwu was stunned.

What he really wanted to ask was, isn't the duty of the Shadow Guard to protect the Hokage?

Moreover... at this time, sending the Shadow Guard to the Land of Grass to carry out a mission, aren't you worried about running into Orochimaru?

Today's chase brought Qingwu much closer to Kakashi, so he decided to ask his question.

Kakashi stopped and thought for a moment:

"I think... the Hokage has wanted revenge for a long time, but... sending the Shadow Guard to carry it out must have been a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"Huh?" Qingwu thought to himself that his understanding of many things was no worse than that of 15-year-old Kakashi, but when it came to understanding the Third Hokage, he still had to get to know Kakashi, who had more contact with him!

"Flight ability!" Kakashi uttered four words, then said, "Qingwu, flight greatly increases your self-defense capabilities, and also..."

"And what?" Qingwu became interested.

"Furthermore, the Hokage won't always treat you like a 'flower' to be pampered. You're already a special Jonin of Konoha, a member of the Kageshige, and you've fought against ninjas of Orochimaru's caliber. The answer has already been given by the Hokage!"

"Really?" Qingwu recalled the conversation in the military tent just now.

"It's a trial! And also... a confirmation!" Kakashi's tone suddenly softened, and he placed his hand on Qingwu's shoulder:

"Qingwu, don't worry, I... am your captain, and I will always stand by you!"