Note: I caught the worldbuilding disease, so it took me some time to recover and no, I failed to incorporate it here, maybe I will try to include it in the next chapter or maybe not, it depends on how much I could do it(won't suggest to have your expectation high.)
Tsunade (POV)
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"Tsunade-sama, our camp is under attack!"
"Tsunade-sama, the medical supplies have been set on fire!"
"Tsunade-sama, we need more supplies immediately, or the wounded won't make it!"
"Tsunade-sama, he's stopped breathing! His heart... it's not beating anymore!"
"Tsunade-sama, a patient collapsed, coughing up blood. He hasn't woken up!"
"Tsunade-sama, you have to save him; he's the last family I have!"
"Tsunade-sama, please, save him! I'm begging you!"
"Tsunade-sama, save her! I'll do anything if you can save her!"
"Tsunade-sama!"
"Tsunade-sama!"
"Tsunade-sama!"
"Stop!"
...
..
.
A long sigh escaped me.
Just… another nightmare...
I lifted my forehead from the table and wiped the tear streaks from my face, letting out another deep breath.
"Tsunade-sama, are you alright?!"
Damn it!
'You just had to say it, didn't you?'
"Forget what I said or what you see. Just bring me the report. I'll look at it in a minute." I deflected quickly, getting to my feet and stepping out of my tent, away from the rest of the camp.
I needed air, and maybe some water on my sleepy face, to shake off the hangover that was still clinging to me.
With no one around, I finally breathed in, letting myself enjoy the rare silence and the brief escape from the stench of blood.
When I reached the nearby river, I splashed water onto my face and rinsed off my neck, hands, arms, and feet.
It wouldn't get rid of the grime that had built up over two weeks, but it was better than nothing out here in the middle of a war.
Feeling a little more like myself, I lay down on the grass, arms behind my head, staring up at the clear sky.
'Just a few more months, just a few more months and things would go back to normal,' I hoped, feeling the mental toil weighing on me.
With a faint smile, I closed my ey—
"You know, Tsunade-chan, it's dangerous to be out here alone," came a voice I knew too well, and just like that, my moment of peace was gone.
'Can't that guy just leave me alone?'
"It's just a break, Kato Dan, but yeah, you're probably right. I should get back."
With my mood ruined, I got to my feet and started heading back to the camp.
"Tsunade-chan, I know it's not the right time, but… have I done something wrong? Have I upset you?" The blue-haired spy asked, his forehead damp with sweat while masking his face.
'Kato Dan, an ANBU agent sent by Ojii-sama. As to why….just figure that out for yourself.'
"It's nothing personal. I'm just in a bad mood, thinking about all the people I couldn't save."
"Tsun—"
I didn't wait for his response, just kept walking, not interested in playing his mental game. I had no patience for dealing with someone connected to his superior which my grandmother had warned me to avoid like a plague—alongside the jerk who exposed Dan's identity to me when I was just trying to enjoy yakiniku with Nawaki a month ago.
I am.....tired.
I didn't give up my position as the Senju heir just to deal with the same political crap all over again with a bunch of old folks.
As I entered the encampment, I cast a brief glance at the others before heading back to my tent.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya were there to boost morale, giving hope and drive to fight again.
They didn't need someone repeating it like a broken record.
Sighing, I returned to my tent and looked around.
"Katsuyu-chan, no one altered or took anything while I was gone, right?" I asked, addressing a part of Katsuyu-chan I kept under a handkerchief on my desk.
"Don't worry, no one came while you were away," she replied before disappearing in a puff of white smoke.
With a small sigh of relief, I picked up the latest report detailing the injuries and deaths our troops had sustained on the Iwa war front in the Land of Grass. The combined attacks of Iwa's Earth Projectile casters, Lava Release casters, Explosion Release casters, and Explosion Release enhanced close-range fighters had wreaked havoc on our forces, leaving us battered and broken.
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Injury Report Breakdown:
1. Bone Damage:
Fractures, shattered bones, pulverized limbs, and dislocated joints, with many injuries affecting ribs and spines.
- Injured: 250
- Gravely Injured: 100
- Death: 30
2. Soft Tissue Injuries:
Severe bruising, internal bleeding, deep lacerations, puncture wounds, and damage to vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and abdomen. Muscles, arteries, and nerves were also critically affected.
- Injured: 300
- Gravely Injured: 150
- Death: 40
3. Crushing Injuries:
Crushing or complete rupture of organs and limbs, with many cases leading to amputation or destruction of body parts beyond repair.
- Injured: 150
- Gravely Injured: 100
- Death: 20
4. Concussions and Blunt Trauma:
Head trauma and bodily impact causing concussions, sprains, and other serious injuries.
- Injured: 100
- Gravely Injured: 50
- Death: 5
5. Paralysis:
Severe compression injuries to the torso and head, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis.
- Injured: 50
- Gravely Injured: 30
- Death: 5
6. Burns:
Third-degree burns that damaged skin, muscle, bone, and internal organs, with some cases so severe that parts of the body were melted from the heat.
- Injured: 50
- Gravely Injured: 20
- Death: 10
7. Chemical Burns:
Skin and eye damage, including blindness, from exposure to corrosive chemicals used by the enemy.
- Injured: 20
- Gravely Injured: 5
- Death: 5
8. Respiratory Damage:
Burns and suffocation from inhaling ash and other airborne particles during the enemy's fire-based assaults.
- Injured: 30
- Gravely Injured: 0
- Death: 5
9. Hearing Damage:
Ruptured eardrums caused by shockwaves or nearby explosions.
- Injured: 20
- Gravely Injured: 0
- Death: 5
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Out of the 3,000 shinobi stationed on our side, 2,000 were tasked with protecting the camp while the remaining 1,000 went to the battlefield that day, so casualties from the surprise attack would be higher if the previous numbers of shinobi were reversed but it doesn't mean their attack wasn't devastating. Out of 2000, 1,000 were injured but expected to recover within a week, another 500 were gravely injured and may never return to active duty for at least one to three years—some likely never again and tragically, 250 of our comrades had already succumbed to their injuries before the medical team could save them.
Just when we thought we had gained the upper hand—our summoning beast had successfully shielded us from further devastation—Iwa launched a surprise counterattack. The toll was devastating, and we're now urgently in need of reinforcements, especially medical-nin, before they strike again. They'll seize any opportunity to strike the iron when it is hot.(Or did the jerk word it differently?)
The medical resources we have are stretched far too thin: 100 doctors, 50 nurses, and only 10 medical-nin aren't nearly enough to care for the sheer number of wounded. Several have already perished, and many more are slipping beyond recovery as the day passes simply because we lack the manpower, resources and most importantly time to treat them all in time.
[Note: Out of the 25,000 troops deployed to the war, 5,000 were sent to the Land of Grass. By the time Team Sarutobi arrived, 2,000 had already been killed.]
'I need to write a letter to Sensei about this...'
As I carefully considered how to stretch our dwindling and sparse medical supplies, the sound of a familiar voice drifted from outside.
"Come in, Orochimaru," I called, offering a welcoming smile.
He moved with his usual grace, taking the chair across from me before talking about our troops' morale as of now. Just as I'd hoped, it had stabilized, where the men were fired up, eager to pay back Iwagakure twice in the name of our village and our fallen comrades.
"By the way, how's my brother doing?" I asked, more out of concern than curiosity.
Thankfully, he hadn't been in the encampment during the raid. I couldn't bear the thought of having to explain to my mother in the afterlife why I'd failed to protect him—especially after she'd entrusted him to me before she passed.
…..
"He's holding his own. He can fend off enemy attacks and defend his comrades effectively," Orochimaru began, his voice steady and measured. "But he struggles to sustain his momentum after using the third gate. It causes him significant pain, weakening him during and after deactivation."
I sighed, the dissatisfaction plain on my face. "His body's still too young for such a risky Taijutsu technique."
If only he had the same control over his chakra as I did, I'd never let him rely on a self-mutilating technique like that where he could just store chakra in his fists and release it to attack instead. But for now, it's the only viable option to strengthen his combat skills.
"Might Duy suggested numbing Nawaki's pain receptors with lightning chakra, similar to what he does when using the Eight Gates," Orochimaru added, his voice still calm, "but Nawaki lacks the proficiency with lightning chakra to execute it to himself safely without causing harm. He'll need time to practice."
I gritted my teeth, silently cursing the old fools who'd pushed Nawaki into battle to gain worthless glory. He was too young, and was an obvious target for enemies who feared his potential to supposedly inherit my grandfather's legacy. I would've rather kept him in training, safe from this pointless war, until he could stand on his own without having to depend on my friend to protect him.
Still, at least he was under my watch now, and that brought some relief. If nothing else, being here meant I could keep an eye on him and provide protection. Besides, if he performed well, the resistance to him taking up the mantle of Senju heir and future clan head in the clan might finally start to fade.