The Trade of small for big

The third unit endured heavy losses, with 47 soldiers killed—nearly one-sixth of their force—and over forty more injured. The Kumo Ninja unit on the opposing side suffered similarly. Despite these casualties, the third unit's performance was commendable under the circumstances, reflecting the significant sacrifices made by its members.

When Senju Tōka announced a brief respite, Rimi exhaled deeply in relief. The exhaustion of battle had not been felt in the heat of the fight, but now that the immediate threat had passed, fatigue hit her hard. Her legs felt weak, and Fumori Masaki quickly moved to support her, helping her to sit down beside a tree.

"Are you okay, Rimi?" Masaki asked, his eyes scanning her for injuries. Her body was smeared with the blood of the enemy, and he was concerned whether any of it was her own.

Rimi shook her head. Despite the intensity of the fight, her strength had kept her from taking severe damage, though the amount of Chakra she had expended was considerable. Masaki checked her over, relieved to find no serious wounds, and settled down next to her. Although he was physically fine, the mental toll of the battle—especially the need to stay constantly alert while facing a formidable opponent—was significant.

As Masaki rested, he contemplated the future of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and how the high-speed impact of the Flying Thunder God technique would surpass even what he was experiencing now. He admired how Minato would eventually transform these high-speed battles into his standard approach, leading Konoha from disadvantage to victory in the Third Ninja War.

Masaki wondered if he could match such high-speed combat performance repeatedly. He felt he could, but questioned whether it was merely an illusion. Meanwhile, the peculiar form of perception he had been employing was also a source of stress, and he sensed he was approaching his limits. He resolved to use it sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.

Rimi watched as the remains of fallen comrades were gathered for return to Konoha for burial. The grim sight of her deceased peers and the devastation caused by lighting release jutsu weighed heavily on her heart. The realization of their permanent loss was reminiscent of the grief she had felt when her parents' bodies were returned during the Warring States period, despite the comforting words of the elders.

Leaning on Masaki, Rimi asked, "How long will this war last, Masaki?"

"It's simple," came Danzo's cold response. "We just need to kill all the enemies."

"Kill all the enemies?" Rimi repeated, disturbed. The third unit's losses were already significant, and if they had to eliminate every enemy, Konoha would suffer even greater losses.

Masaki looked at Danzo, noting the darkening aspect of his personality. Danzo's viewpoint, which saw total annihilation as the only solution, was increasingly evident. However, Masaki believed that violence alone could not solve the underlying issues and might not even be sufficient to defeat the enemy before completely overwhelming them.

"No, Rimi, we don't need to kill every enemy," Masaki argued. "The enemies may appear united now, but the cost of this war is beyond what we can bear. They are likely to split internally."

Masaki's perspective was supported by history. In the future, the Second Raikage would seek peace despite opposition from factions like the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, indicating internal divisions within Kumo Ninja Village. Masaki felt that rather than dragging the war out and incurring more losses, Konoha should devise a strategy to leverage these internal divisions for the greatest benefit with minimal cost.

Danzo, deeply rooted in his strict adherence to the ninja code, dismissed this idea, believing that as long as the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning  continued the attack, Kumo would be compelled to comply.

"This might not be the case," Masaki countered, "The influence of a ninja village can be greater than you think, Danzo."

Danzo's rigid mindset, seeing ninjas solely as tools, limited his understanding of the broader implications of ninja-village dynamics and the Daimyo's influence. Masaki anticipated that Danzo would eventually grasp these complexities, as past leaders who aligned with the Daimyo were in harmony with their goals.

Senju Tōka, meanwhile, expressed frustration at the delayed arrival of the samurai leader, whose tardiness had allowed the Kumo Ninjas to engage directly. The samurai leader struggled to justify the delay, given the need to assemble a substantial force and navigate challenging terrains. Despite his irritation, Tōka's priority was the immediate task: ensuring the samurai could prevent Kumo troops from escaping and joining other enemy forces.

As Tōka prepared for the next phase of their mission, she instructed the third unit to remain vigilant and continue their advance, coordinating with the samurai to trap the Kumo Ninjas and force them into a decisive confrontation with Konoha's main forces. The upcoming battles promised to be even more intense, marking a significant escalation in the Warring States Period.

"Let's go, Rimi."

"Yes, let's go."