Trading little for much

The Third Division had lost forty-seven people in this battle, nearly a sixth of its strength, and over forty more had been wounded. The opposing Kumogakure Ninja force had suffered much the same losses. Given the Third Division's composition, this was already an impressive result, but it had taken tremendous effort from its combat personnel to achieve it.

When Senju Toka announced that they could rest, Satomi let out a breath of relief. She had not noticed it while she was tense, but the moment she relaxed, the exhaustion of battle washed over her. Her legs buckled, and Kazemori Masaki hurried to catch her, helping her over to sit beside a nearby tree.

"Are you all right, Satomi?" Kazemori Masaki looked her over. She was covered in her enemies' blood, but he did not know whether any of it was her own.

Satomi shook her head. Although the fighting had been fierce, her skills were solid, and she had avoided direct clashes with the enemy's elite fighters. She was not seriously hurt; she had simply used too much chakra.

After confirming that Satomi had no wounds, Kazemori Masaki sighed in relief and sat down beside her. His body was not tired, but the mental strain had been considerable. His fight with the blond woman, in particular, had demanded his constant concentration.

At that moment, Kazemori Masaki realized just how powerful Minato Namikaze would be in the future. The strain of the speed afforded by the Flying Thunder God Technique surely exceeded what he had just experienced, yet Minato Namikaze could make it his normal way of fighting, turning Konoha Ninja Village's disadvantage in the Third Shinobi World War into victory in one stroke.

He truly deserved to be the man who would become the Fourth Hokage. Both his combat instincts