Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

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 Deadwood 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!"

Blue Vein Root couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Is this monster indestructible?"

Seeing this, Green Root changed its target, aiming its ninjutsu at the charging centaur, "Water Release: Water Whip!"

A thick rope formed by the flow of water lay across the centaur's path of charge.

"Well done!" Ryoma Aburame praised, as he was maintaining the splitting of the insect cloud.

However, the water whip, which acted like a tripwire, had no effect!

Then, eight centaurs leaped up in unison, soaring over the water whip, and continued their charge towards the oil-woman dragon horse.

Aburame Ryoma shut his mouth and controlled the small portion of the insect cloud that had just split off to confront the centaur head-on.

"&*@#!" The withered tree guardian uttered strange syllables again.

Then eight centaurs split up from the middle, forming four teams of two to attack from the flanks.

"Hmph!" Ryoma Aburame didn't believe that this thing was as unafraid of the insect cloud as the Deadwood Guardian.

"Secret Technique: Burning Bad Insect!"

This is a venomous insect technique powerful enough to destroy cells within a living organism.

The two centaurs charging at the forefront were thrown into disarray the moment they came into contact with the insect cloud.

Yes, man and horse are one!

"Huh?" Seeing the centaur easily defeated by the poisonous insects, Aburame Ryoma was taken aback.

He had preconceived notions, assuming that the newly appeared psychic creature was just as difficult to deal with as the 'giant tree spirit'.

But soon, Ryoma Aburame's smugness vanished.

Centaurs move very fast. Two centaurs were sacrificed, but the remaining six centaurs had already charged forward.

Six spears, gleaming with a cold light, pierced towards Aburame Ryoma from different angles.

Ryoma Aburame was forced to use the "Secret Technique: Insect Clone" to escape.

When he reappeared, he gave a slightly disheveled command: "Take care of these monsters first!"

The green-veined root controlled the water whip, holding one end in its hand, and with a 'snap', the other end was used to bind the legs of two centaurs.

"That's it!" Aburame Ryoma was very satisfied with his subordinate's decisive action in battle.

Ryoma Aburame used Rinkai Insect again, trying to replicate his previous success.

However, the Blue Root ninjas on the other side were now engaged in a fierce battle.

His Wind Release technique can cut and affect the roots extending from the Deadwood Guardian as much as possible.

but……

My chakra can't keep up.

The withered tree guardian seemed oblivious to the concept of consumption, directing the remaining six and a half centaurs to disperse once more while continuously growing roots.

"ah--"

The blue-patterned root, which used Wind Release, could no longer withstand the endless stream of roots and became entangled in them, losing all its life.

"!!" Aburame Ryoma felt a chill run down his spine. He collected the insect cloud that had no effect on the "giant tree" and planned to use it elsewhere.

Just then—

Suddenly, several roots hidden underground burst out of the ground, startling the green-veined root, which leaped backward.

Jumping in such an environment is a very dangerous thing.

Sure enough, two centaurs swept past, their spears piercing deep into his body.

In the blink of an eye, only Aburame Ryoma remained.

"..." Aburame Ryoma was starting to have second thoughts; these things, beyond his comprehension, were too bizarre.

puff--

The centaurs, seemingly running around aimlessly, ultimately succeeded thanks to their agile speed.

Ryoma Aburame's injury further solidified his resolve to retreat.

If he hadn't reacted quickly, the spear wouldn't have just pierced his shoulder blade, but his throat.

"hateful!"

Aburame Ryoma, in a fit of rage, used all the insect clouds he had retrieved to attack the centaur.

The withered tree guard issued urgent commands.

However, two more centaurs were unable to retreat in time and were bitten to death by poisonous insects.

Upon seeing this, Ryoma Aburame reached a conclusion.

The fact that the giant tree was not afraid of his poisonous insects was probably because it was neither a product of chakra nor had a physical body.

These centaur monsters are different; although they do not have chakra, they are real creatures with flesh and blood.

Just as he was thinking this, he saw the first two centaurs that had been bitten to death turn into green specks of light and seep into the ground.

"!!" Ryoma Aburame was confused again.

"So...it really is a psychic creature?"

"But...where is the body?"

As Aburame Ryoma grew increasingly terrified, he could no longer care about the mission. He used the insect cloud to defend against the root attack while slowly retreating towards the wooden wall.

The withered tree guards no longer commanded the centaurs to advance, but instead used their roots to drive the enemies away.

Centaurs are strong offensively but weak defensively, making them "consumables" for the Bastion faction. However, their numbers are already limited, so they should be conserved whenever possible...

……

"They...they're gone?" Iruka looked around, holding his head.

Uzuki Yugao frowned slightly, glancing at the remaining four centaurs, then at the corpse at the base of the green-patterned mask not far away:

"Who...is it?"

【Ding! 】

[Mission Complete!]

[Reward Received: Magic Arrow (Basic Air Magic)]

【Ding! 】

[First-time skill learning detected. Personal panel unlocked!]

【Ding! 】

[Victory!]

[Battle Results: Experience +200, Natural Energy +20, Gold +20]

Amid a series of system notifications, Qingwu regained consciousness.

When he saw the [Natural Energy: 21.4/140], he suddenly understood.

He was awakened because the natural energy was no longer depleted.

Immediately, he noticed that the "Personal Panel" icon had appeared on the side of the original system panel.

After clicking, a series of attributes appeared...