"We owe a lot to Captain Yechen this time."
After finishing his account, Nara Yijiu suddenly added that remark.
At his words, everyone turned to look at Yechen.
"The credit belongs to everyone."
Yechen replied modestly.
But Nara Yijiu did not let the subject drop.
"If Captain Yechen hadn't displayed his incredible might, slain several Iwagakure Jonin, and even killed the jinchūriki Han, we couldn't have broken through the encirclement so quickly. Our casualties would probably have been even greater."
Everyone nodded at that.
Eighty percent of their casualties this time had occurred during that breakout battle.
As for their earlier assaults on strongholds and camps, their numerical advantage meant that even those who were outmatched and injured could often be saved by the Medical Unit, so relatively few had actually died.
Yechen had also played a major role in the early stages. Combined with his efforts during the breakout, he had made enormous contributions to Konoha and the unit, something everyone had witnessed.
Still, bringing this up now felt a little like praising him to his detriment.
Yechen glanced at Nara Yijiu, who sat at the head of the table, but could read nothing from his expression.
I hope I'm just overthinking it.
Only after that silent thought did Yechen speak. "You're too kind, Commander Nara. I was only doing my duty.
"Everyone here also contributed greatly to tying down the Rock Ninja forces and completing our mission. And we should never forget our fallen brothers, because they paid for these achievements with their lives."
Yechen's well-chosen words won many people's approval. Even those who had felt some resentment moments earlier found it replaced by grief.
Nara Yijiu looked at Yechen in surprise, apparently not expecting someone so young to know when to advance and when to step back.