Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic

Chapter 91 The Opportunity for Territory Upgrade

"Ahhhhh—"

After a prolonged and unsuccessful battle, the hookah, which had made him feel like the "best in the world," seemed to begin to "wake up."

"No, I want even stronger chakra!"

Taking advantage of the moment when he was kicked away by Qingwu, he took out the gourd containing "Hero's Water" again, wanting to take a big gulp.

However, this time, Qingwu, who was prepared, instantly struck his wrist with [Magic Arrow].

"No--"

Seeing the gourd spinning as it was caught in Qingwu's hand in an instant, Shuiyan went completely mad.

"I want you dead!!"

His figure descended from the sky, his water sword raised high, aiming to slash at Qingwu's head.

Meanwhile, Shuiyan's subordinates also sensed something was wrong and launched an attack on Qingwu, trying to reclaim "Hero's Water".

"Be careful!"

Shechuan spoke out again to remind them.

Qingwu's figure flashed like lightning, and one by one, the ninjas from Takigakure collapsed, clutching their necks.

Since he was a rogue ninja, he would no longer hold back.

As for the culprit, Shuiyan, Qingwu simply stomped his foot and used his roots to bind him tightly, then threw him at the feet of the leader, Shechuan, leaving him to decide his fate.

The battle didn't take much time.

The disparity between the major and minor ninja villages is vividly portrayed.

"..."

The leader, Shechuan, opened his mouth, looking at the subdued Shuiyan with a solemn and somewhat weary expression.

Qingwu flipped his hand and brought the gourd containing the "Hero's Water" to his eyes.

That crystal-clear, flowing light blue seemed to possess a kind of magic, and an alluring voice rose from the depths of his heart: Drink it, drink it and you'll be invincible...

"Qingwu!!!"

The leader, Shechuan, gave a low shout, startling Qingwu awake.

"That's strange, isn't it?"

Shibukawa approached and slowly said, "Everyone will be drawn to its power, and then... become like me."

The water pipe, which was firmly bound on the ground, suddenly froze, then looked at Shibukawa in disbelief.

"Father!!"

Shibuki then understood why his father was so old, but he still had many questions in his mind.

Qingwu also looked at the aged Shechuan, but still held the crystal gourd tightly in her hand, as if... she didn't want to hand it over to its original owner.

Shechuan seemed unfazed and began to explain the origin of "Hero's Water" to Qingwu and his son Shemu.

It turns out that the Hero's Water is actually Holy Water, produced from the Sacred Tree.

In Shechuan's words, in a hundred years, there is only this small gourd of holy water in Qingwu's hands.

When our ancestors first discovered it, they were overjoyed.

What does it mean to increase chakra tenfold with just a small sip?

And the upper limit is far more than that.

If the body can withstand the intake of more holy water, it may even temporarily grant a Jonin Kage-level chakra.

"But in the end, we Takishinobi can only hide in this cramped corner, claiming to be a peaceful haven, a secluded paradise..."

Shibukawa's wry smile creased the wrinkles on his face. "Power... it's not that easy to obtain. The side effects of the Hero's Water are much greater than I imagined."

"Father..." Shibuki was already in tears.

In his simple narration, he seemed to witness firsthand just how much his father had sacrificed for the village.

"That's right," Shibukawa slowly lowered his head to look at Shuiyan's guilty expression, and continued:

"As the leader of Takigakure, I drank the Hero's Water several times when the village was in crisis. It... was practically poison. My life force gradually withered away, which is why I have aged so much."

"No, you're lying!" Shuiyan refused to admit that what she had been longing for was actually... a poison.

Shibukawa's face showed neither sorrow nor joy; he simply said calmly:

"Hookah, did you think you'd gain endless power if you kept drinking it? No, you'll just burst from the energy and die."

After he finished speaking, the effects of the Hero's Water on the hookah completely disappeared.

"He, he..."

Anzu, who was perched on the back of the tree, let out a terrified cry.

Shuiyan sensed something was wrong and reached out to touch his face.

Bound up, he was unable to do anything.

Seeing this, Shibukawa used a water mirror technique with great effort, allowing Shuiyan to clearly see her face through the water mirror.

"ah--"

The hookah emitted a terrified scream.

Qingwu was also slightly moved.

This is just too... amazing (horrifying).

The hookah looked to be around 30 years old, in the prime of his life.

However, now that the effects of the Hero's Water have worn off, his eyes are drooping and his skin is sagging, making him look nearly 50 years old.

"Poison! Poison!!"

The hookah's voice was sharp and sarcastic, "Shibukawa, you old bastard, you lied to me!!"

"Those who lack willpower will become like this after taking it."

The pity in Shibukawa's eyes vanished as he looked at Seigo, "Young man of Konoha, can you return my things to Takigakure?"

His last words revealed Qingwu's identity as an outsider.

Qingwu looked down at the glistening "holy water," forcibly suppressing the intense desire surging within him. Just as he was about to say "okay," an unexpected event occurred...

"Click!"

The gourd, which Qingwu was holding tightly in his palm, suddenly made a crisp sound.

"impossible!"

Shechuan opened his wrinkled mouth wide.

The gourd containing "holy water" has existed in the hollow of the sacred tree since it was discovered, and it has remained undamaged for over a hundred years.

However, what was happening before their eyes was undeniably real.

"I didn't mean to—"

Just as Qingwu was about to explain, a surge of rich natural energy rose from his palm, silencing him.

"Qingwu!!" Shemu stepped forward carrying Xing on his back.

"Don't move!" Shibukawa blocked his son behind him, staring intently at the Konoha boy surrounded by holy water.

"Poison, poison! Hahahaha—" Shuiyan, who had seen the mirror, had gone mad.

A faint emerald green light emanated from Qingwu's body.

It was as if every pore on his body was breathing in water.

The holy water, like a child finding its mother's womb, flowed into his body through his pores.

The meridians are filled with natural energy.

The seemingly small amount of holy water "unfurled" and formed a light film on Qingwu's body surface, like a chakra cloak.

"He...he's absorbing poison!" Xing exclaimed in alarm.

Shechuan frowned deeply, wanting to stop him but not daring to touch him.

Knowing that even a tiny sip of holy water could age him by ten years, he knew its "toxicity" better than anyone.

But... if we just watch as these precious "holy waters" are "taken away" by outsiders...

"Don't go over there. If anything happens, I'll personally go and explain to the Third Hokage of Konoha."

Shechuan pulled his son back a few steps.

Never mind, life is more important. Besides, if it weren't for this Konoha boy, who knows what the heartless Suigan would have done if he had launched a rebellion...

Thinking it over, Shibukawa calmed down and stared intently at the boy who was "enveloped" in holy water.

Only Qingwu, who was absorbing the "holy water" with his eyes closed, and Shuiyan, the Jonin who was laughing hysterically, remained in the arena.

Qingwu had that dream again, the one she had had so many times before.

In my dream...

Towering trees reach for the sky, and clear streams meander through the forest... On a distant cliff, a dragon's vertical pupils glance at him from afar...

After an unknown amount of time, Qingwu opened her eyes and the first thing she heard was Shuiyan's maniacal laughter, and then—

【Ding! 】

[Natural energy surpasses 5000 points]

The Ancient Tree of Life (Growth Stage) meets the upgrade requirements.

[Construct: Ancient Tree of Life (Mature Stage) - Consume 5000 Natural Energy and 5000 Gold?]

[Effect: Territory Core, greatly increases natural energy regeneration, unlocks more buildings, and unlocks more features]