Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

Chapter 129 Jinchūriki's Defection

"Shouldn't the village have a way to contact Lady Tsunade?" Qingwu didn't believe it.

"It's not that simple," Shikaku said uncertainly.

"The village does have a code and channel to contact Lady Tsunade, but over the years, no matter how we try to send messages, we have never received any response."

After a pause, Lu Jiu hesitated, then said with difficulty:

"Lady Tsunade is deliberately concealing her whereabouts, clearly indicating that she does not want to be disturbed by Konoha's affairs. Trying to contact her... is practically unrealistic."

Qingwu thought of Jiraiya, whom he had asked the Third Hokage to contact, but now there was still no news of him.

A sense of irritation crept into his heart. "What the hell do they think they are? We've shed blood and sweat for the village, and those adults just sit back and do nothing, huh?!"

At this moment, he finally acted like a young man.

Yamanaka Inoichi hurriedly said:

"Qingwu Jonin, please be careful with your words. Lady Tsunade also has her reasons. She has given and sacrificed everything for the village."

Choza Akimichi also said:

"The Third Shinobi World War lasted for so many years, and Lady Tsunade didn't come back to participate. This behavior, which outsiders might see as 'ignoring the village,' went unchallenged. Don't you understand?"

Kakashi patted Qingwu on the back lightly. "I know you're anxious, but this is something no one wants to happen."

Once upon a time... his teammates died before his eyes. If he could choose, Kakashi felt that it wouldn't be so bad if his teammates could no longer be ninjas, at least... they would still be alive.

Qingwu realized he had spoken out of turn and took a deep breath. "No matter how difficult it is, I will try. I will go to Lady Tsunade myself."

For some reason, the image of Xiyan looking at the fiery clouds in the sky at dusk and saying she wanted to go on a picnic with him came to mind.

Qingwu confirmed that he did not have romantic feelings for Xiyan, but... this result still made him feel frustrated.

Seeking revenge on Lao Zi?

If he were strong enough, he would never have let Lao Zi leave.

But he couldn't do it!

He can't do it now!

They could only watch as Roshi, who had slaughtered more than a dozen Konoha ninja and injured his teammates, left.

"Alright," Nara Shikaku nodded. "I will write a briefing to the Hokage. Your Shadow Guard has made an outstanding contribution and can leave the battlefield."

Coming and going to the battlefield is not something that can be done casually; regulations must be strictly followed.

Akimichi Choza frowned and said:

"Iwagakure's attack on the eastern defense line failed this time, and their next counterattack may be even stronger. We cannot afford to leave lightly. If the Shadow Guards leave the western front as well, then..."

Shikaku understood his old friend's meaning, but still interrupted, "Don't worry, we will keep Iwagakure outside the border and not let a single soldier into the Land of Fire."

Yamanaka Inoichi pondered, "Even the Jinchuriki have been mobilized, so Iwagakure doesn't have many cards left to play, unless... the Tsuchikage Onoki personally comes."

Shikaku sneered, "If Old Purple really defectes, I think it's Onoki who should take the initiative to negotiate."

After saying that, he earnestly addressed Qingwu and Kakashi:

"Your Shadow Guard can go back and rest without worry. At the next Jonin meeting, I will have someone stand in for me and vouch for you."

Qingwu nodded listlessly, still wondering where to find Tsunade.

He doesn't care about rules or regulations; he doesn't care if he's in a hurry.

Kakashi bowed to express his gratitude.

He knew Nara Shikaku's status in the village. With the Jonin squad leader speaking up for the Shadow Guard, those rumors could no longer sway them.

"Inoichi," Shikaku turned to his old friend and said, "Does your intelligence department have any news about Lady Tsunade?"

Kakashi and Qingwu both looked over.

Shikaku is indeed a man who makes people feel at ease; even when the Shadow Guard was about to leave the battlefield, he still thought of helping them.

Yamanaka Inoichi replied, "The last news about Lady Tsunade was last autumn, when traces were found at a casino in the Land of Hot Springs, and there hasn't been any news since."

Shikaku pondered for a moment and said, "Has so much time already passed?"

Inoichi said helplessly, "If Lady Tsunade intends to conceal her whereabouts, even ordinary intelligence ninjas wouldn't be able to detect it, but..."

He turned his head and said, "Qingwu Jonin, you can try looking in the casinos of major towns. If you're lucky, you might run into him."

Qingwu sincerely thanked them, "Thank you very much, sirs!"

Yugao's condition needs to be stabilized in the medical team for a few more days before she can set off to return to Konoha.

Watching the two shadow guards leave, Yamanaka Inoichi remarked with a sigh:

"I'm afraid it won't be easy. There are so many casinos; if that person doesn't want to, no one can find her."

Choza Akimichi sighed regretfully, "The Uzuki family only has one daughter. If she can't become a ninja, I'm afraid..."

The decline of a family often begins with a certain event.

Shikaku, resting his chin on his hand, said, "If we, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, join forces, we might be able to hold off the Four-Tails Jinchuriki. If we split up, we'll be killed one by one!"

"!!" Haiyi and Dingzuo turned to look.

"Sigh..." Shika sighed, seemingly with regret and relief, "If only my son were this capable."

"Shikamaru?" Inoichi curled his lip. "At least you still have hope, while I gave birth to a daughter."

"Hehe..." Ding Zuo seemed to have thought of something funny, scratching his head and chuckling foolishly, "Hehe, hehehe..."

……

Rock Hidden Front Main Operations

Inside the command tent, Huang Tu sat upright, shirtless.

After the medical ninja treated him with the Palm Healing Technique, he wrapped him in thick bandages.

The injury on his back was caused by the "Ino-Shika-Cho" combo.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio of Konoha, with their combination of control and powerful attacks, are extremely difficult to deal with.

The candlelight flickered inside the tent, illuminating the somber faces covered in yellow earth—as the war escalated, casualties on both sides were increasing.

However, there shouldn't be any problems with Lao Zi's side.

Since the Ino-Shika-Cho trio has appeared on the main battlefield, there should be no one on Konoha's side who can withstand the Jinchuriki.

"Pass on the order!"

Huang Tu said in a deep voice, "Once Lao Zi succeeds, take advantage of the problems with Konoha's supply lines, gather forces and push the defensive line into the Land of Fire."

At that time... whether it's war or peace, the initiative will be in Iwagakure's hands.

"yes!"

The messenger ninja outside the tent had just responded and was about to retreat.

A disheveled figure suddenly burst through the tent flap and stumbled in.

"My lord, something terrible has happened!"

Huang Tu frowned, recognizing the person as the captain of the Iwagakure reserve team who had been following Lao Zi.

"What's the panic? Where's Lord Murasaki? Has he already razed Konoha's supply depot?"

The reserve team captain scrambled to his knees, his voice trembling uncontrollably, abandoning even the most basic courtesy, "Sir, oh no, something terrible has happened!"

Huang Tu's heart sank, and an ominous premonition surged up instantly.

In his view, with the combat power of a Jinchuriki, taking care of Konoha's rear supply base should be a piece of cake. As long as Konoha's logistics are disrupted, Iwagakure's stalemate can be broken in an instant.

But the words spoken by the reserve captain, who was originally planning to follow behind Lao Zi to clean up the battlefield, were like a thunderclap that exploded in the command tent.

"It's terrible! Lord Old Purple... he's defected!!"