Chapter 114
The battlefield was drenched in blood. Despite the heavy rain, the air was thick with the stench of iron and death. Corpses lay scattered everywhere—so many that one couldn't take a few steps without encountering another. However, the number of fallen Konoha ninjas was relatively low, possibly just a dozen or so. Among them was the very person Jiraiya had mentioned—Inuzuka Fei.
Inuzuka Fei appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He lay slumped against a fallen tree, his body riddled with no less than twenty wounds. His tattered clothes bore the marks of a fierce battle. Two wounds had been fatal—one in his chest, pierced through by a kunai, and the other a deep, torn gash on his neck.
After carefully surveying the area and confirming that no enemies remained nearby, the three figures emerged from the forest and stepped onto the battlefield.
Ignoring the other corpses for now, they rushed straight toward Inuzuka Fei's lifeless body.
It was truly him.
Tsunade knelt beside him and immediately confirmed his identity. Inuzuka Fei lay with his face turned toward the sky, his body slumped, eyes wide open in an expression of eternal defiance.
"Damn it! Why was he even here? Why?!" Jiraiya clenched his fists, his emotions surging. He had known Inuzuka Fei since childhood. Both had a mischievous nature, and their shared antics had forged a strong bond. Despite surpassing Inuzuka Fei in strength as a teenager, Jiraiya had always regarded him as an older brother. Their relationship had never changed.
Tsunade placed a firm hand on Jiraiya's shoulder. After a moment of silence, she said, "One day, we might meet the same fate. This is the destiny of a ninja."
Haruto Saito glanced at Tsunade, his expression unreadable. Some way to comfort someone, he thought to himself.
"Let's gather the bodies," Tsunade said, taking a deep breath before turning to Haruto. "Kid, collect all the fallen Konoha ninjas from the battlefield and bring them here."
"Got it," Haruto responded with a brief nod before scanning the surroundings and running northward.