Strength was everything.
Under the constraints of one disadvantage after another, the Sand Ninja's resistance ultimately came to nothing.
Once Yamada Soji and Akimichi Todo had recovered and rejoined the main force, tonight's surprise attack finally came to an end.
Teacher Motonari, still dusty from the road, spotted the pudgy boy with red-rimmed eyes and Erina, covered in dust and grime. But all he could do was pat them both on the back... then haul Soji away and turn to the post-battle preparations.
According to the tally, Konoha had committed a full 29 active-duty ninja to ensure victory in the encirclement of Rock-Pipit City, not counting the 13 guards from the Frontline Support Battalion.
Though Nara Motonari was the only one with the official rank of jonin, in terms of actual combat strength, the mysterious man who had earlier protected Soji and the Anbu reinforcements both possessed abilities in certain fields on par with a jonin.
If they also counted the armed reconnaissance teams deployed beforehand and the border garrison that had joined the operation, then the forces in this annihilation campaign had been nearly five to one in Konoha's favor.
Such an overwhelming military advantage, combined with the carefully planned strategy to lure the enemy in, had ultimately produced the impressive result of wiping out all 13 elite Sand Ninja.
It had also set the tone for the increasingly fierce border conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.
"Fifteen Sand Ninja who infiltrated the Amber River basin were eliminated in this operation. Two were spies, and 13 were combatants.
"According to the relevant intelligence records, two of the Land of Wind's jonin have been identified: Togu, who specializes in Wind, Earth, and Water Release, and Kojia, who excels at taijutsu."
Aboard the transport ship, Inoue