At the edge of the great prairie, at the end of the woods on a low hill within the range of hills bordering the prairie.
"Scrape... scrape... scrrrape..."
The sound of branches rubbing against objects suddenly rang out as black figures darted from the woods, charging down the slight slope and into the vast grassland.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Hundreds of footsteps struck the grassland in an instant. Though their owners tried their utmost to suppress the sound, clear footsteps still rang out. Layered together, they formed a peculiar drumbeat that rumbled into the distance.
"How are the casualties?"
At the head of the ninja unit pouring out of the woods, a one-eyed ninja with a black eyepatch over his right eye led the troops onward as he spoke in a low voice.
"We lost one-third of our men. Eighty percent of them were regular combatants, while the elite force suffered twenty percent losses."
At his words, a slightly plump and steady-looking ninja behind him responded quickly.
One-third of our men...
Hearing the report from behind him, the one-eyed ninja clenched his teeth slightly. Moonlight glinted off the Kumogakure forehead protector on his brow, illuminating its symbol and revealing their identities.
Kumogakure ninja. "I understand."
The one-eyed ninja drew a faint breath. A flash of grief crossed his face before he forced those words out through clenched teeth.
"Lord Dodai..."
Sensing the emotion in his commander's words, the slightly plump, composed ninja furrowed his brow. He unconsciously glanced at the young and middle-aged faces following closely behind himself and his commander before speaking with difficulty.
At this moment, the nearly six hundred Kumogakure ninja were all injured, whether lightly or severely. They bore blade wounds and burns; some had even lost arms or legs. A few at the rear of the