Meeting with Jiraiya

It took around 10 minutes to return to the battlefield. I was once again impressed by Boss Eagle's speed. He just covered the long distance that Tsunade and I ran for more than 1 hour in 10 minutes!

Looking at the battle situation from above, I clearly saw the Iwa force was at an immense disadvantage. Konoha and Ame Shinobi were killing our shinobi from left to right and right to left. It was clear that Iwa lost this battlefield or maybe the whole war.

"Hey, Boss. We are in the war and losing quite badly. They are killing my comrades. Can you do any airstrike to those Green and Black Uniformed shinobi? But don't hurt browned uniformed shinobi."

"Oh, so you are in the war? No wonder there were many shinobi clashing! But no worry, Genji boy. I shall show you help you clear out your enemies."

Saying the word, Boss Eagle suddenly raised his wings high. Next, he flapped his wings widely, causing the loud noise. Then, I could see hundreds of sharp feathers shooting out from Boss Eagle's wing.

All of the feathers were coated with Lighting charka and struck Konoha and Ame shinobi from the top behind. I was a bit surprised that these feather blades were able to track down their targets, not hurting even single Iwa shinobi in the process.

This caught the attention of all shinobi near around, whether they were allies or enemies. They saw a giant mighty eagle and a single Iwa shinobi on top of it. Well, Iwa shinobi's moral increased a bit as they knew that the Eagle was on their side, while the opposite happened to Konoha and Ame force. giant

Boss and I looked for my squad and Shuji while attacking random Konoha and Ame shinobi on the way. Suddenly, we saw an enormous toad appearing out of nowhere and jumped towards at us. I didn't have to look who it was, as it was obviously Jiraiya. I'm guessing the Toad is Gamabunta.

"Below us, Boss!! Giant Toad is jumping at us!" I warned the Boss Eagle.

"No problem. I already know that!" Boss Eagle assured me.

Gamabunta thrust his blade at Boss Eagle but easily blocked by Boss Eagle's claws.

"Didn't your mother teach not to pick on fight with Eagle in the air, you stupid frog?"

Boss Eagle then swang his right wings fast and slapped Gamabunta's face directly. Gamabunta's hands were holding his blade, and also, since they were in the air, he couldn't dodge Boss's slap.

Gamabunta got thrown off to the ground after getting a slap from Boss Eagle. But Gamabunta soon got up as nothing happened to him.

"That hurt, you dumb eagle!! Why don't you come down to the ground? I will beat your ass! Also, I am not a frog, it's Toad."

"What's the difference? You all look the same to me, weaklings and preys for us, Eagles!"

Boss Eagle and Gamabunta started to bickering at each other. I thought all the summoning animals at least knew each other, but I was wrong. This was the first time Boss Eagle and Gamabunta met.

While our summoning was arguing, Jiraiya started to talk to me.

"Wait, I think I remember you. Aren't you the one Tsunade is searching frantically? Since you are still in one piece, I'm guessing she hasn't found you yet?"

Well, this was the second time I met Jiraiya. I sold him the super-premium book to him, but I was transformed at that time. So he still doesn't know it was me who sold him that rare treasure.

"If you are talking about the blondie bitch with huge racks on her chest, I actually met her. But she gave a creepy smile when she saw me, so I clearly remember her."

"What? Did you battle with Tsunade already? Then how are you still in one piece?" Jiraiya, with a confused look, asked me.

"I don't know if you are overestimating that girl or underestimating me, but I already took care of her.

Strangely, She didn't die, no matter how many I stabbed her. I even cut her arms, but she healed like it's nothing. So I lured to the cliff and dropped her from thousands of meters high.

I don't know if she is dead or not, but I am sure she is badly injured and crying for help. You can go check if you want. hahahahahahaha!!"

I kept bullshitting about how I destroyed Tsunade, although it was nothing like I spoke. Jiraiya, at first, didn't believe me, but after confirming I really did had a fight with Tsunade, he started to worry.

Eventually, Jiraiya backed down from the fight and went away to search or help Tsunade with Gamabunta. After seeing Jiraiya gone, I breathe a sigh of relief.

I definitely didn't want to fight Jiraiya currently. My current object was to find my squad and Shuji, not fighting with every freaking Konoha S-rank shinobi.

This tactic worked because Jiraiya's kindness to care about his teammates, and Tsunade was his lover? But I knew these bullshits won't ever work on Orochimaru. Luckily, Orochimaru was not here.

-----------------------

Boss and I kept searching and finally found Gari and Shuji together. They were fighting against 10 Ame shinobi. Boss Eagle roared and sent shockwaves at them, immobilizing them successfully.

I jumped down from Boss and slashed all enemies with now my only butterfly sword.

"Genji!! Thanks for helping us." Gari looked happy to see me. Gari's uniform was tattered, and his hair was pretty messed up. It seems like Gari also went through a lot of fights and troubles.

"Hey, Genji! You really save us there. Is that giant bird you summoning?" Shuji asked me. This was the first time he is seeing Boss Eagle, and he was a bit excited to see an actual summoning animal.

"Yea, he is my summoning. You can call him Boss."

"Woah! Can he speak? What abilities does he have?" Shuji asked a series of questions.

"Look, Shuji. We don't have time for that. You can ask that after this battle. For now, hop on the Boss. After finding Gin and Kan, we would get out of this place." I spoke to them.

But unexpectedly, Shuji refused me.

"Why are we running away? Tsuchikage-sama didn't give us a retreat order. Genji, are you telling us to ditch the battlefield? There is no way I would do that. My dad is fighting hard, and I can't shame him."

"Shuji, do you even understand the current situation? We are losing!! At this rate, all of us won't make it alive. A while ago, I met your dad. He asked me to take care of you, and I won't let you die here. So hurry up and get on the Boss!!"

I tried to persuade Shuji, but he just didn't listen. Gari then started to refuse me too.

"Genji. I know you are trying to save our squad and Shuji. But did you forget the consequences of ditching the battlefield? Last time we ditched, I was glad that it was Captain Ishika who forgave us. But do you think Tsuchikage-sama will forgive us?"

Shuji couldn't ditch because of their useless and high pride, while Gari was scared of consequences. But Gari's reason made sense. After listening to Gari, my brain kind of agreed with Gari's reason.

I sat down and started to think carefully.

If we exclude ditching, then the only way for Iwa shinobi to survive this battle was to make Onoki give retreat order.

'Why is Onoki not ordering for a retreat? No matter how stubborn he is, he is not someone who chooses his pride over Iwa shinobi. Onoki should be seeing the grim situation clearly more than any of us. Maybe he wants to retreat, but has no messenger to relay his order.'

I decided to go to Onoki myself and ask for permission to retreat.

"Okay, Gari. Here are several Chakra pills. I want you and Shuji to go find Gin and Kan. They might be in danger and need you guys' help. I will go to Tsuchikage-sama and persuade him to retreat."

"Okay, good luck!" Gari agreed.

I hopped on to Boss Eagle and went on to find Onoki.