Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

Chapter 31 Her True Identity

It didn't take much effort.

One shot per person.

Qingwu's water-based magic, [Healing], was used to quickly heal Iruka and Chino's abrasions.

Iruka twisted his waist, stretched his arms, and exclaimed in surprise:

"Qingwu, just how many other things do you know?"

With an endless stream of summoning beasts, unspelled attack ninjutsu, and now medical ninjutsu, Iruka feels that his familiar companions are becoming more and more unfamiliar.

Chino almost lost her composure.

She was highly skilled in medical ninjutsu and naturally knew that Qingwu was not using the conventional Palm Healing Technique.

But the results... completely exceeded her expectations.

Qingwu had been watching her reaction closely. "Senior, how was my medical ninjutsu?"

"Ahem," Chino forced a laugh, "I've heard a lot from Iruka along the way, but I never imagined that your Wood Release would be so amazing, Qingwu."

"Senior thinks this is Wood Release?" Blue-green light emanated from Qingwu's hand.

Behind the light, his eyes were fixed on Chino's expression.

"Hmm... I sensed Water Release chakra within it." Chino's expression returned to calm.

"To have such strength before even participating in the Chunin Exams, Qingwu, you truly are a genius."

"Senior, I didn't ask you to praise me." Qingwu pressed on, "I wanted you, as a medical ninja, to evaluate my techniques."

"This..." Chino hesitated, "I can't really comment on it, because it's completely different from the medical ninjutsu I learned."

"There's no chakra fluctuation at all, right?" Qingwu voiced her doubts.

Chino opened her mouth, wondering why Seigo was suddenly being so aggressive towards her.

Iruka, who was standing to the side, was confused. He pulled Qingwu aside and said, "Captain, what are you doing? You should respect your seniors."

Qingwu: "..."

Faced with Iruka's clear, foolish eyes, he had no choice but to temporarily give up his coercion.

Sometimes, Qingwu wonders if she's being overly paranoid.

But the timing of this woman's appearance was too coincidental, and he knew that he had already come into the sights of the Third Hokage and Danzo, so he had to be careful.

The three continued on their journey.

That night, the team that had emerged from the mountain path set up camp in a sheltered ravine.

Chino volunteered, claiming that she no longer had any employers to protect and that her companions had been keeping watch all along the way, so she would take over tonight.

Iruka suggested, "Qingwu, you don't seem to have slept well for days. Get a good rest tonight."

Qingwu nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you."

Late at night.

Chino, who had been keeping watch for the rest of the night, made sure that Iruka and Seigo were both asleep before quietly climbing out of the ravine and into the forest.

She looked around and quickly formed a hand seal.

A miniature summoning circle appeared on the ground, and a black communication ninja hawk appeared in front of her.

She quickly wrote down a report and stuffed it into the bamboo tube on the ninja hawk's leg.

As she watched the ninja hawk soar past the treetops, she turned to go back...

"Who are you contacting so late at night?" Qingwu's voice sounded from behind her.

Chino's body stiffened, and she slowly turned around.

Qingwu leaned against a tree, playing with a leaf in his hand, looking at her calmly.

"Captain," Chino said, feigning composure, "I just... got up to use the restroom."

"Does it require a psychic spell to make things convenient?" Qingwu's expression turned playful.

They finally caught her; it was worth it for him to keep an eye on her all the way.

Chino fell silent.

She could, of course, explain it as simply communicating with a close friend.

But... if it weren't important intelligence, who would get up in the middle of the night to deliver a message?

A moment later, she sighed, grabbed her long brown hair, and cut it short. Then she put on a pair of round-framed glasses.

Her squinting eyes widened, and her demeanor instantly changed.

He transformed from a gentle medical ninja into... someone Qingwu knew very well.

"When was it discovered?" she asked.

Qingwu did not answer.

He didn't even realize how wide his mouth was open.

So it was her!

Yakushi Nonou!!

This woman, who didn't appear much in the original work, left a deep impression on many anime fans.

He hadn't been wearing glasses before, and his hairstyle was different, so even though he felt familiar with the person, he couldn't immediately remember who it was.

"Qingwu...Captain?" Nonoyu frowned slightly.

"On the first day," Qingwu suppressed his astonishment, "your chakra control is too perfect, abnormally perfect."

Nonou gave a wry smile. "As expected, Lord Danzo was right. You're no ordinary brat."

"What did Danzo send you here for?" Qingwu asked. "To monitor? To assess? Or to find an opportunity to get rid of me?"

"Assess!" Nonou said, "Collect your ability data, determine your threat level, and assess... your loyalty to Konoha."

"and then?"

"Then the adults will decide the next step!" Nonou said. "It could be to win them over, or to control them? Or maybe..."

"Alright, I understand." Qingwu looked at her. "So, how's your assessment going?"

"It exceeded expectations," Nono said. "His combat ability, combat awareness, and insight all surpass what a thirteen-year-old should have."

"Heh..." she chuckled, "More importantly... you're very cautious!"

The two asked and answered questions quickly.

Even when exposed to her face, Nono's tone remained very calm, as if she were commenting on how nice the night was.

This made Qingwu feel somewhat uneasy.

Does Danzo have another plan?

He looked around warily, but the wood elves and centaurs he had sent out showed no unusual behavior.

"Yeah, there was supposed to be another test tomorrow," Nonou said. "But now that we've been found out, let's just skip it."

Qingwu thought of the people she had met on Tanche Street.

"We are not on opposing sides," Nonou said, shaking her head. "I have no ill intentions towards you, nor have I tried to harm... my comrades."

Qingwu withdrew his gaze and looked at her again: "What do you plan to do?"

"I will report the truth," Nonou replied, "including the fact that you saw through my plan."

What will Danzo's reaction be?

"I don't know," Nonou said, "but one thing is for sure: the adults will value you more. Maybe next time, it won't be me they send."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Captain Qingwu, you're a smart person. A smart person should know that to achieve freedom, you can't be tied to one thing. What do you think?"

Does that mean I don't want to rely solely on the Third Hokage?

Qingwu laughed. "Are you recruiting me for Danzo?"

"I was just making a suggestion." Nonou smiled, her eyes crinkling into squinty eyes again. "Well then... goodbye!"

They're leaving already?

Looking at Nono's unguarded back, Qingwu hesitated whether to take her down and ask her for more information.

Just then, Nono stopped after taking a few steps.

She turned around and said, "Captain Qingwu."

"Um?"

"Wood Release... is too important to Konoha."

"what?"

"Be careful, Lord Danzo has never been patient with 'uncertain factors'..."

"..."

While Qingwu was still in a daze, Nonoyu's figure disappeared into the woods.

What does that mean?

Countless fragments flashed through Qingwu's mind in an instant.

From her poor eyesight, to Tanabata Street suggesting they separate, and then to her volunteering to keep watch tonight...

"She did it on purpose so I would find out!"

Qingwu suddenly opened her eyes wide.