Chapter 356: Heavy Casualties! Kato's Consideration! Brothers, please give me some tickets!
Land of Rivers.
After a prolonged and tense standoff, as evening approached, Ebizo finally led the heavily depleted Sunagakure main force in a retreat.
Although Ebizo had gained a slight advantage at the end of the battle, severely injuring Kato Dan and Akimichi Torifu,
the hundreds of elite squads that had broken through during the stalemate, after suffering heavy casualties, also stormed into the Sunagakure Camp.
Driven by a disregard for life and death, more than ten Konoha squads brutally cut through Sunagakure's defenses, setting all of the Sunagakure Camp's Ninja supplies ablaze.
This was why Ebizo, despite victory being within his grasp, had no choice but to retreat.
"Have the casualties been tallied?"
Even late into the night, the entire Konoha Camp was still shrouded in a somber atmosphere. In the rear of the camp, the painful wails and groans never ceased.
Inside the tent, Kato Dan, his body covered in bandages, looked at an Elite Jonin who had just entered, his voice somewhat weak.
"Yes, sirs, the casualties have been initially tallied."
"In today's battle, in the front-line area of the camp alone, we lost three Elite Jonin, thirteen Jonin, thirty-three Elite Chunin, one hundred fifty-seven Chunin, and over two hundred Genin."
"Additionally, of the one hundred seven squads—four hundred twenty-eight individuals—that undertook the breakthrough and assault mission, only one hundred three have returned so far."
"Only one hundred three returned?"
Listening to the Elite Jonin's report, Kato Dan and Akimichi Torifu felt a wave of dizziness, their hands instinctively clenching into fists.
From the beginning of the war until now, the Ninja at the Land of Rivers front-line camp had been supplemented to varying degrees.
However, the number of Ninja had generally remained between two thousand four hundred and two thousand six hundred.
The losses from just these two days exceeded one-third of the total number of Konoha Ninja at the Land of Rivers Camp.
"Alright… you've worked hard. We understand these circumstances and will report them to the Village promptly."
"Also, have people closely monitor the movements outside the camp. If necessary, elite squads can be dispatched to rendezvous with returning assault squads."
"Yes~ but…"
Perhaps sensing Kato Dan and Akimichi Torifu's exhaustion, the Elite Jonin in front of them hesitated in his gaze.
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes!"
"There is one thing: the Senju Clan Ninja have not returned yet."
"I just sent people to ask the members of the Ninja squads that have already returned, and they did not see Senju Seito Jonin or Senju Nawaki Jonin during their mission."
"You mean… Seito and Nawaki, something might have happened to them?"
Hearing the mention of Senju Nawaki, Kato Dan instantly became alert, his expression gradually turning incredibly solemn.
As Tsunade's only lover, he understood far better than anyone else just how important Nawaki was in Tsunade's heart, and to the entire Senju Clan.
"Torifu-senpai, you stay here and hold the fort."
"I will lead several squads to search for Seito and Nawaki."
In his worry, Kato Dan did not give Akimichi Torifu a chance to react, hastily giving an instruction before turning and leaving the tent.
Unbeknownst to him, dark clouds gradually filled the sky, and the howling winds, like fallen gods, stirred up raging currents across the Land of Rivers.
This also made the search efforts of Kato Dan and his group even more difficult.
"Dan-sama, we found him…"
As dawn approached the next day, amidst the terrified shouts of an Inuzuka Clan Jonin, Kato Dan and his group finally discovered Senju Nawaki's body.
"Wah~"
Looking at the scattered remains and Senju Nawaki's hollowed-out abdomen, several female Ninja felt a surge in their stomachs and immediately vomited.
Rumble~ Thunder rolled, and the long-brewing rain finally began to fall at this moment.
It continuously washed away the filth that had been spread by the war.
Thump~ Thump~
Kato Dan's footsteps echoed in everyone's ears, making their mood even more somber.
One could imagine the agonizing torment that the Senju Clan member had endured before his death.
"Nawaki…"
"Ah… Ah~~~ Hidden Sand Village! Ebizo!"
Beneath the thunder and rain, Kato Dan's wolf-like howl echoed continuously in the sky.
Holding Senju Nawaki's broken body, Kato Dan's eyes darkened, and he almost fainted.
He didn't know how he was supposed to face Tsunade… or rather, how Tsunade was supposed to face this scene before her.
At this moment, no one dared to approach and disturb Kato Dan; they simply waited quietly, hoping that Kato Dan could endure everything before him.
After an unknown amount of time, until Kato Dan's eyes regained their light, the several figures standing beside him finally stooped down.
"Dan-sama… there's something."
"Upon investigation, the Village's forehead protectors were found on the four headless bodies. Judging by their attire and equipment, these four individuals were likely Anbu… or Root members."
"Anbu and Root…"
Hearing his subordinate's whisper, Kato Dan's eyes turned cold, and a powerful killing intent suddenly erupted from his body.
He was clearly aware of the superficial harmony masking the underlying discord between the Konoha Higher-Ups and the Senju Clan.
"Bring those four bodies with you."
"Also, everything you've seen and heard today, keep it buried in your hearts."
"I will personally explain Nawaki's matter and these bodies to Hokage-sama."
"If anyone leaks this, they will be treated as rogue Ninja."
…After returning to the Konoha Camp, Kato Dan had calmed his emotions.
He only informed Akimichi Torifu and the others of Nawaki's death in battle… As for the information about the four bodies, Kato Dan concealed it.
There were many suspicious points in this matter… such as why Anbu or Root members would appear there?
And who had removed Nawaki's internal organs?
Finally, who was the shadowy figure who made the move, killing four Jonin with a single blow?
Before everything was investigated, prematurely publicizing it would only cause greater turmoil, and might even lead to a conflict between the Senju Clan and the Village Higher-Ups.
If it were in the past, he might not have had such concerns, but now… the Senju Clan had declined.
The balance between the Senju Clan and the Village Higher-Ups had long been broken.
If a conflict were to occur, the ones who would suffer… could only be Tsunade, and the Senju Clan.
After careful consideration, Kato Dan still dispatched two elite squads… one to the Land of Rain to truthfully inform Tsunade of the events here.
The other returned to Konoha to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi… about everything that had happened to Nawaki.
"Nawaki… rest assured, no matter who is behind this."
"Your revenge, Tsunade and I… will surely exact it for you!"
Looking at the remains of Senju Nawaki, as well as Senju Seito… and several other Senju clansmen,
Kato Dan's gaze gradually became incredibly deep.