On July 11, Konoha Year 40, the Support Unit headquarters in the southeastern Land of Wind came under attack.
With meticulous planning by Sunagakure, the attack targeting Dan Katō began...
Because reinforcements arrived in time, and because Dan Katō's spirit body managed to kill a Sand Ninja Jonin skilled in genjutsu and another skilled in Sealing Techniques before returning, despite his falling into the trap, the casualties on both sides were actually about even.
In fact, considering that Dan Katō survived, Konoha had come out well ahead.
However...
After suffering enormous casualties, the Sand Ninja had indeed achieved their strategic objective-Dan Katō had no choice but to leave the battlefield, and... barring anything unexpected, he would not be returning for a very, very long time.
Without Dan Katō, Konoha had lost not just an Elite Jonin, but a critically important source of support on the battlefield.
Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique, with its ability to reach a destination in an instant and its considerable killing power, had been an enormous help to Konoha on the battlefield!
The months he had spent recuperating after being wounded in Yugakure had already proved that.
Although its underlying role differed from that of wide-area killing machines like Jinchuriki and Hanzō, Dan Katō's ability to provide instant rescue was undoubtedly a power suited to warfare...
Even if he could not use it to break through fortified positions, Dan Katō alone could change the course of an open-field battle, provided no Sealing Techniques interfered.
The southeastern Land of Wind, for example, was a war zone Sunagakure could neither abandon nor easily reach from its village, and Konoha and the Sand Ninja constantly fought open-field battles there. Within Dan Katō's support range, Konoha could commit 30% less combat strength and still have a much greater margin for