Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Therefore, Kakashi made a quick decision to end the scavenger mission and led his team to the Konoha camp there to prevent them from being surrounded.

Nara Shikaku personally received them.

"Kakashi, you did a great job. You successfully diverted the attention of the main force of the Cloud Village, making the front line much easier."

Nara Shikaku immediately praised him, which shows how much pressure he was under.

The number of Cloud Village ninjas arriving at the front lines has exceeded 1,500 and is rapidly approaching 2,000, while Konoha only has a little over 1,000.

It's not that we don't want to send too many, it's that we can't.

Once the number exceeds a certain limit, it will trigger a chain reaction, tempting countries like Sunagakure and Iwagakure, who were initially observing from the sidelines, to get involved.

Therefore, this number has now reached its limit.

Since the number of ninjas cannot be increased, we can only try to improve their quality.

Kakashi, a ninja of Hokage-level protection, and Shimura Gengetsu, a user of the Scorch Release, are the best choices.

Sure enough, in just a few days, they wiped out nearly a hundred of Yunyin's remaining forces.

Among them are many Jonin, who are like a sharp knife on the battlefield.

However, in the face of Nara Shikamaru's praise, Kakashi simply shook his head calmly, "This is not my achievement. It is mainly due to Shimura Gengetsu. He has a wide range of sensory abilities and powerful destructive capabilities, which is why we were able to achieve this."

Kakashi was absolutely not exaggerating.

Although he believed his strength was no weaker than Shimura Gengetsu's, his chakra reserves were simply too low.

If you fight with all your might every time, you'll need to rest for half a day after each battle.

In every battle, Gengetsu Shimura would take the lead in the attack, while he and Kurenai Yuhi would use illusions to distract the enemy and create openings.

As for Uzuki Yugao and the others, they served as backup to prevent anyone from trying to escape and tip off the enemy.

Throughout the entire collaboration, the most indispensable person was Shimura Gengetsu, while the work he and Yuhi Kurenai did could be accomplished by any two illusion masters.

For example, that brat from the Uchiha clan.

"Xuan Yuejun."

Nara Shikamaru looked at Shimura Gengetsu, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Elder Danzo was truly fortunate to have such an outstanding descendant as you..."

Inakacho, Shimura, Sarutobi, Fuma.

These clans were all minor, second- or third-rate forces during the Warring States period, far less prominent and powerful than clans like the Hyuga, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Senju. Therefore, they banded together for mutual support at a very early stage.

Therefore, Nara Shikaku was fairly clear about the Shimura family's situation.

This was just a small ninja clan that had some knowledge of Wind Release, but unexpectedly, they have produced a monster-like genius like Shimura Gengetsu.

No, those who have already grown up are no longer geniuses, but should be called strongmen.

Based on the battle report submitted by Kakashi, he was certain that Gengetsu possessed the strength of an elite Jonin.

Damn it... Could it be that the Shimura family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke?

Xuan Yue paid no attention to Nara Shikamaru's sentiments; instead, he was more concerned about something else: "Uncle Shikaku, based on my achievements in this mission, will I be able to become a Jonin when we get back?"

"what?"

Shimura Gengetsu, who always called three generations of people "Old Deng," actually called him "Uncle," which made Nara Shikaku feel flattered.

But he still looked troubled: "Xuan Yue... even if you complete this mission perfectly, it is still essentially just a mission. Of course, the mission reward will be increased."

"But if you want to become a Jonin, you need to accumulate more experience. You are still young, there's no need to rush."

"Tch." Shimura Gengetsu curled his lip in disdain. "Just tell me what level I need to reach to become a Jonin. No, I want to become the captain of the Anbu."

Kakashi's eye twitched.

"Well..." Shikamaru didn't give a definite answer, "If we can win this war beautifully, and Gengetsu-kun, you'll perform exceptionally well, I believe many Jonin will speak up for you."

"By then, you will have a very good chance of becoming a Jonin or even the captain of the Anbu."

Gengetsu Shimura nodded and accepted the promise he made. "Remember what you said, Uncle Shikaku."

"I'm going out first."

"Go ahead." Shikaku smiled.

Upon arriving at the campsite, Gengetsu Shimura was looking for a place to pitch his tent for the night when he heard a familiar voice that he hadn't heard in a long time.

"Hey, kid."

Jiraiya, who had just finished visiting the injured, saw Shimura Gengetsu, immediately called out to him, and strode over.

The ninjas he encountered along the way greeted Jiraiya warmly, their genuine respect far more sincere than when he addressed the Third Hokage.

Jiraiya strode up to Xuan Yue and grinned maliciously. "Kid, I've finally caught you!"

"What do you want with me?" Xuan Yue tilted her head, somewhat puzzled.

After looking around, Jiraiya patted Gengetsu on the shoulder and said, "Come with me."

As he spoke, he led him to a watchtower outside the camp.

Konoha's camp was set up on a small hillside, separated by a river. Twenty kilometers away was Kumogakure's camp, and the two sides faced each other across the river.

Once he was sure no one could hear him, Jiraiya crouched down, his tall frame looming over him. He said fiercely, "Do you know how much trouble you've caused, you brat?"

"I was having a good time exploring the ninja world when the old man desperately called me back to participate in this damned war."

"Damn it, my book is going to be delayed again."

"You can't blame me for this," Shimura Gengetsu said with an innocent look on her face. "Shouldn't you blame Kumogakure for targeting me and Hyuga Byakugan?"

"Besides, why did the Third Hokage insist on calling you back? Why didn't he go to the battlefield himself?"

"If the other side sends out a Shadow, then we should send one too. Wouldn't that be more balanced?"

Jiraiya remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up.

The mountain breeze blew his long white ponytail, giving Jiraiya an air of otherworldly wisdom. "Old man... he's getting old."

"Ever since the name of the Three Legendary Sannin spread, he has never been on the battlefield again."

"We don't know how much strength he has left after all this time. But let him stay in the village and keep the people's hearts at ease. We young people can take care of the battlefield."

"Heh, a young man in his forties." Shimura Gengetsu couldn't help but remark.

"What an unlikable brat!"

Jiraiya's lips twitched, and most of the emotions he had just prepared were shattered.

"Forget it, what's the point of telling you this."

"But you must remember what I'm about to say."

Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "I know you're a genius, and I know you've mastered the Scorching Release, but this is a battlefield, and anything can happen."

"So... ensuring your own survival is the most important thing, not how many enemies you kill. You are the future of Konoha."

[The bond between the host and Jiraiya has reached the second stage, rewarding the special talent of writing.]

Gengetsu Shimura was stunned.

To his surprise, Jiraiya had summoned him here to tell him to make sure he protected himself.

What the hell is this reward?

writing?

Are you suggesting he publish a book to compete with Intimate Paradise?

After hesitating for two seconds, Shimura Gengetsu decided to pretend that the reward had never happened.

"I heard you've already fought the Fourth Raikage, A, twice. Are you his match?"

"Don't you even know who I am?"

Jiraiya smugly stroked his hair and laughed heartily, "If it were the Third Raikage, I might be a little afraid of him, but the Fourth?"

"It has speed close to that of the Third Raikage, but lacks the Third Raikage's defense. Once I unleash my Toad Oil Flame Bullet, the Fourth Raikage will have no choice but to run away."

"Oh."

Shimura Gengetsu's small face remained expressionless as he looked at the bandage on Jiraiya's left arm. "Then what happened? Don't tell me you fell."

Jiraiya's expression immediately turned awkward.

"Well... after all, it's a Shadow, so it still poses some threat. In any case, the two of us have become a pair, so neither of us can affect the development of the battle."

“In that case…” Shimura Gengetsu became thoughtful.

"How about you hold him off while I kill the rest of the Cloud Village?"

"you?"

Jiraiya was stunned for two seconds, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over. "Gengetsu brat, I know you're strong. You've killed a lot of ninjas these past few days, but this is a battlefield, not a place where one person can change the situation. Even I can't. Only my former disciple, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, once did that."

When mentioning Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya felt both pride and deep regret.

"You should cultivate yourself for a few more years before saying that."

Xuan Yue didn't speak, but simply took out his Kusanagi sword and, under Jiraiya's puzzled gaze, threw it off the watchtower.

Swish!