Tsunade furrowed her brow in confusion, listening to Aomi's explanation.
"In a regiment, at what casualty rate does the combat capability get affected?"
Aomi said slowly, revealing a mysterious smile: "If it were the samurais of the Warring States Era, they would collapse at a thirty percent casualty rate, and ordinary ninjas are about the same."
"Even the elite forces of the Five Great Hidden Villages will almost lose their will to fight when the casualties exceed fifty percent. Death beyond their mental limit will cause most of them to lose the belief in fighting, turning into routed soldiers."
Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.
She was once the same.
The death of friends and family indeed brings rage, but if comrades around you fall one after another, that indescribable suffocation almost engulfs everyone's heart, and only a few ninjas can endure it.
Not all ninjas in the Ninja World are Uchiha; intense emotional stimulation can lead to darkness, but more likely, it leads to a mental breakdown.
"In a ninja regiment, suppose there are three thousand people. Even if enough elite Jonin are mobilized, they will not exceed two hundred; the rest is mainly composed of Chunin and Genin."
"Jonin are not easy to kill, given their mature Ninjutsu systems, but Chunin and Genin, with the right Ninjutsu and suitable tactics, can be killed easily!"
Tsunade stared blankly at Aomi, whose gentle smile and attractive lips spoke chilling words:
"Teacher Tsunade, if enemy ninjas attack Konoha, I wouldn't go after their strong ones to kill, but instead, I'd bring Root to eradicate their foundation and target those underdeveloped Genin and Chunin as primary attack targets, obliterating them!"
"As long as the casualties reach a sufficient number, even Jonin and Kage cannot withstand the internal pressure and will have to cease fighting."
Tsunade took a deep breath; she seemed to see the shadow of Senju Tobirama in Aomi's eyes at this moment.
Although she never saw Senju Tobirama on the battlefield, Uzumaki Mito had told her stories—
Once on the battlefield, the calm and warm granduncle would become a demon feared by many, using any extreme means to break the enemy's spirit and strip them of life.
It was like this that Senju Tobirama led Konoha to survive the First Shinobi World War.
Back then, not only Konoha but also the other Four Great Hidden Villages were on the brink of collapse.
Among the five Kage of the time, apart from the Second Kazekage, the other Lightning, Fire, Water, and Earth Kage died in that war.
Tsunade looked at Aomi, whose expression was firm, and slowly exhaled a long breath.
"Aomi, doing this, you will face much controversy..."
Tsunade shook her head: "Back then, granduncle did the same, but being the brother of the First, and the prestige accumulated during the Warring States, the controversy in the village and denunciation from the Ninja World never stopped."
Tsunade felt a pang of heartache, as Aomi, going to such lengths for the village, might be feared and misunderstood by many.
Moreover, killing so many would be a daunting challenge to Aomi's mind.
Aomi gently smiled: "As long as it's to protect the village, I would only think—
'My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; all that I do is justice.'
As long as you, Teacher Tsunade, and people around me support me, I will have no fear."
Tsunade and Aomi locked eyes, and at the sight of the resolve in his deep black eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
Tsunade turned her head away: "Stop boasting, Aomi, even though you're a genius, you're still just a kid!"
"So tell me, is there anything I can help you with?"
Tsunade crossed her arms and hummed: "Your shoulders can't carry much, but seeing as you've made such resolution, as your teacher, I can't fall behind. After all, I am the Hokage Assistant, and you're just the head of Root!"
Aomi nodded good-naturedly: "Yes, yes, Teacher Tsunade is the Hokage Assistant."
Facing Tsunade's offer to help, Aomi pondered for a moment and slowly said:
"If possible, Teacher Tsunade, you could try to develop a toxin, strong enough to be applied to the kunai and shuriken of all Konoha ninjas, while keeping the cost low."
"Of course, you are a Medical Ninja, and I know you have your principles, so don't force yourself..."
Tsunade frowned, as she indeed didn't want to develop poison.
In her view, Medical Ninjutsu is meant for healing, not killing.
But in truth, in the Ninja World, there are precedents; Chiyo from The Hidden Sand Village was very skilled at detoxification and could handle Salamander Hanzo's fierce poisonous fog, but was also adept at creating poisons.
Tsunade looked at Aomi, her gaze gradually firming.
Aomi, for the village, was resolute in bearing the darkness.
As his teacher, hesitating over such details, how could she claim to stand by him and support him?
Since Aomi made a request to her, Tsunade decided to fulfill it!
"Don't worry, Aomi, leave it to me..."
Tsunade said with some emotion: "Saving lives with medicine is very hard, but if it's about taking lives, it's much simpler."
Aomi shook his head, looking into the depth of Tsunade's eyes with a hint of ambivalence, and took her hand: