Based on logic, two hundred fighters would hardly be able to storm a fortified village, especially if it is defended by several thousand shinobi. However, out of those two hundred, almost all were jounin (the last of Iwa's high-level shinobi, which explained the lack of high-level opponents deep inside their territory), and their objective was not to capture Konoha but to cause as much damage as possible and target the leadership in a suicidal attack.
The defenders' situation was further complicated by the presence of members of the Bakuhatsu Butai among the enemy jounin, known for their expertise in explosions and destruction of the surrounding area. The attackers did not reach the Hokage, but they managed to blow a section of the wall and damage many houses nearby and along the breach towards the village center. The civilian casualties were around ten thousand dead and an unknown number of wounded.
Among the shinobi, there were about five hundred dead and approximately half of that number wounded. For just two hundred, that's a significant result. Fortunately, the main blow missed the clan territories, so there was no need to worry about destroyed homes, although the same couldn't be said for the people. Although I have few friends, there are still some, and I really don't want to visit any more gravestones besides those already erected.
However, if I won't have to do that, it doesn't mean that others will escape such a fate—Tsume stumbled into my tent in tears that evening.
"What happened?" Even though I asked her the reason for her state, deep down I already knew the answer.
"To-san was involved in repelling the attack on the village and was caught in one of the explosions," my teammate managed to say through her sobs.
As expected. Sighing, I hugged the kunoichi and held her close, allowing her to cry it out. I sent a clone to brew a soothing herbal tea, which I had been drinking for the past few days to keep myself together—one of the jounin had recommended it, swapping his personal stash for a pack of seals. Picking Tsume up, I moved to a futon and settled her on my crossed legs, holding her from behind.
Despite growing considerably over the past year, Tsume was still small compared to me and didn't cause any discomfort with her forty kilograms. As I patted her back and fed the sobbing kunoichi the aromatic drink, I sighed and thought that playing the role of a tear-absorbing vest would be something I'd do many more times… I want a vacation.
***
Waking up early and quickly preparing breakfast from herbal tea and a ration bar, I slipped out of the tent, leaving behind the now-sleeping Tsume who had only fallen asleep late at night. Squinting at the just-rising sun, I yawned widely behind my mask and shielded my eyes with the brim as I surveyed the camp, which was just beginning to wake up. I then slowly made my way towards the headquarters building.
It was necessary to address the issue of our team's deployment duration. Although I hadn't thought much about it before, the village's standard policy regarding its forces on the front line is ten months of combat followed by three months of rest. This period can vary slightly depending on Konoha's needs and the effectiveness of the ongoing military actions, but I know for sure that several people from our reinforcements have already been sent back.
Of course, not counting the severely injured and those killed during combat. As far as I remember, shinobi who are sent to the front for the first time usually receive some leniency in their terms—to prevent them from breaking down from the losses and other harsh realities of real war. That's why I decided to visit the commander early this morning, as he is in charge of the camp's personnel rotation.
I don't think that with the current number of shinobi and the reduction in the intensity of the conflict between Konoha and Iwa in the past few months, Meido would object to the end of Tsume and Rotaro's deployment. After all, we still have enough contract workers and sensors, not to mention Kuromaru's injury.
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