The hails of burning stone hit the turtle island with deadly accuracy. The six large machines run day and night, each one requiring over a dozen soldiers to operate it. The trebuchet was like a giant sling. There was a strong wooden base and one long pole, with heavy weights on one end and the other connected to a sling. Large stone boulders coated with Greek fire were loaded on the sling and lit up (The sling and the wooden trebuchet were coated with damp leather hides to prevent them from catching fire), and the large weight on the other end of the pole was lowered at great speed to hurl the boulders to a great distance. So, these huge machines and their operators worked for long hours and mounted more and more pressure on the bombarded enemy to retaliate.
Quintus slowly ascended the rough path leading to the top of the sea cliff, where the engineers were operating the machines. He was a middle-aged man now, and climbing such paths upward was seemingly a challenge to him. But again, it was his brain that brought him to this position, not his muscles. This was another distinction between the shinobi and Romans, Quintus thought.
He had come to know that most of the shinobi of this continent were organized into villages, the exceptions were rogues and independent mercenaries/mercenary bands. In the villages, the leader was chosen based on his prowess as a warrior, and in many villages like Sunagakure and Iwagakure, a dynastic system was followed, and the same bloodline has been ruling over the village since its founding. This was in stark contrast to the Roman system, where capability earned someone a position. Individual combat skills were good, but they didn't matter much as the Romans mostly relied on manpower and teamwork. Moreover, leadership and administrative skills were what mattered, if you can lead then you will find it easy to climb the hierarchical ladder in the government. Most of the prominent figures in Rome's history were no great individual warriors, who could slay 100 foes at once, but it was their brain and charisma that led them to greatness. This difference was also probably the reason that the Shinobi Continent was plagued by bloody conflicts for most of its history and had never experienced a true age of prosperity. The leader in these villages was chosen based on how many he could kill on the battlefield, whether he was related to the previous leader or not, whether was he from a clan favored by the village, was he on friendly terms with other clans. Not on the fact that he could lead the village or not, and can he handle the administrative and civic duties.
The shinobi villages were too dependent upon conflict for their survival, it was their livelihood, so a steady "supply" of war was necessary. The leaders of the villages talked of pride, power, wealth, glory, etc. in their ventilated meeting rooms, sipping on cups of tea, while the common civilians and peasants had to bear the brunt of the conflict. In this constant tussle, even entire clans and bloodlines were eradicated, like the Uzumaki and the Yuki clans.
Suna was distant but not one to spare, Kiri was ruthless and cold-blooded in its massacres of entire families and clans, Iwa could go to any level to achieve what it desired, Kumo was the most aggressive, and always on a cold war with the other villages. In this political structure, Konoha seemed the most morally approving. But again, Quintus thought, their "Will of Fire" was just another example of nationalistic propaganda, aimed at somehow justifying any conflict in the eyes of its populace.
As Quintus thus thought, he finally reached the top of the cliff. He suddenly came back to the present and didn't seem to be aware himself why he was immersed in such deep thoughts. But he promptly remembered his original purpose here and slowly walked towards the engineers operating the siege engine. The soldiers were busy with their work, some bringing the giant boulders to be used, some operating the machine itself, while others brought Greek Fire from the main camp. They didn't notice Quintus at first, and the latter also didn't say anything, merely gazing forwards at the Turtle Island, now subject to bombardment from six giant machines, with cold eyes. Quintus only turned his face to look at the trebuchet beside him when it was about to fling another giant projectile.
At this point the soldiers finally noticed their commander and abruptly stopped their work to salute their superior formally, Quintus merely signaled them to continue working and called Janus, who was directing the soldiers there, to him,
"So, how is this work proceeding?" Quintus questioned softly,
"Well sir, as you can see the plan is proceeding well. The machines are running smoothly, but they are giving a rough time to the enemies on the island." Quintus smiled and put his hand on the Janus' shoulder,
"It is astounding how something so destructive as this can be built in two days, right? Well, I am assured that the plan is proceeding well."
Janus gave a nod, returned the small smile, Quintus continued,
"I want you to lead 3000 soldiers to rush the island tomorrow night. Until then, tell the engineers to start building a small flotilla. I doubt there would be many of them left after this bombardment. I would like you to follow me, and devise a refined strategy on a map yeah?"
Janus nodded and went back to the soldiers, commanding several of the engineers to go and start working on boats. Quintus stayed on the cliff for fifteen minutes, casually watching the siege machines rain down havoc on the island, and hearing the shrieks from the turtle itself. After this he silently trekked down the cliff with the same difficulty, but no personal reflections this time, only the pain in the knees. Janus followed the general but with no difficulty.
In Quintus' tent
The tent was large and quite spacious, lit up by torches on the corners. There was only a single bed that was pushed to one corner, and a large square wooden table in the middle, on which was spread out a detailed plan of the area (courtesy of the Roman scouts), and there were also several bronze candlesticks lit up on the corners. Janus and Quintus were seated beside each other, in front of the table. Quintus leaned back on his chair, while Janus used a long stick to point out and explain his plan on the map.
"Now, as we can see this island is very close to the coast, so small boats will be enough to ferry the soldiers across the waters. However, we must make the landing of all the soldiers at once. Doing so in turn will leave us very vulnerable to any attacks from the enemy." Quintus gave a nod in understanding, but replied calmly,
"Well, we all know you are gonna assault the island with boats. But how exactly will you do it? I suggest you send the boats filled with archers and skirmishers at the front, they will clear any visible danger on the coast and make a beachhead for other troops to land." Janus smiled,
"Again, you forget. These are not the standard field armies we used to face back home. These shinobi are stealthy warriors with extraordinary abilities. However, they only emphasize individual prowess, a lot more than coordination and discipline. They are only 120, and we are 3000."
"Okay, even if we go by your tactics, these are the best 120 warriors our enemy has to offer." However, Janus remained adamant,
"No doubt we will take some casualties, but we are still at a big advantage. You see, since we will be assaulting the island from all sides, even this force of 120 shinobi will be spread thin around the island's perimeter. And if even one section breaks, as it inevitably will, it'll allow us to easily flank the others and eventually cause the enemy force to collapse. We can't just use those effective but slow machines to force the enemy out when there can be a relief force from Kumogakure closing distance with us every moment."
Quintus thought for a moment with closed eyes, and then spoke with a smirk,
"Well then, you're quite the impatient type for a military commander, but your strategy is excellent. Very well then, I permit you to assault the island tomorrow evening. Until then, command the engineers to build some boats."
After hearing this, Janus saluted his superior and left the tent. Quintus stretched his body a little and laid down on his small yet comfy bed. Taking a short nap.
Two days later
It was almost midnight, and the full moon and stars shone bright in the sky, casting their reflections on the sea. The atmosphere was cold, and cool winds sent chills down one's spine. The entire area was enshrouded with darkness, and only torches were able to grant visibility. The Roman camp was noisy at this hour, with some heating themselves with the campfires, and others cooking food, but most were busy pushing the vessels into the sea.
It had taken the engineers and their helpers two days to build these ships, but the time taken was worth it. The ships weren't large, but still able to carry 250 men each. They had no sails, as the intended target was close enough to row there. The ships had a typical Roman design but were essentially mini versions, and were essentially 12 in total.
The Roman soldiers pushed the galleys into the waters with some difficulty and then proceeded to man the boats. Each soldier took up his place beside an oar and prepared for the commander's signal to row. Janus and Quintus watched them from some distance, the former getting ready to step on board himself. Quintus was in his usual gear, but this time Janus was wearing a helmet with a white plume, a decorated cuirass, a red cape cloak that hung down to his knees, and he had a spatha hanging down from his waist. Janus walked towards the ship, ready to board it after the soldiers when Quintus spoke to him,
"You are wearing your best clothes today, all shiny and decorated." Janus looked back and smirked,
"Who knows, perhaps I'll die in the battle. At least I'll be looking like a great warrior who has fallen." Quintus smiled back, and taunted,
"You look like a bride, all decorated and beatified to go to her new house." Janus wasn't offended, and instead replied,
"Well, we were married to battle the day we signed up as legionaries, and the battlefield is our in-laws," Quintus said no more, and just folded his hands and watched Janus board the ship and the vessels sailing away towards the island.
As the ships neared the island, the soldiers prepared for a landing. The ships landed safely and in the darkness, hundreds of torches descended from the large wooden vessels and started to organize themselves in columns and battle formations. After approximately twenty minutes or so, the ships were docked away at the beach. While the three thousand soldiers almost surrounded the entire coast of the island with their sheer numbers. The soldiers marched in tight rectangular formations, with their shields in front of them, and the centurion commanding his soldiers from the front, and at the back, his optio encouraged the men forward. Each century was organized separately, this was to elongate the Roman line and allow for easy flanking. Janus himself was personally leading forward his 120 men, who were the best in the legion, and he was also aided by a personal bodyguard of ten knights. There were archers at the rear as well, ready to provide support.
The soldiers slowly marched up the coast, into the island. There was little visibility beyond a range of 20 meters, but the soldiers could witness the great destruction the trebuchets had rained down on the island. Buildings lay decimated in ruins, while even the grass had large burned patches from the Greek Fire. There were also several burned and crushed corpses of humans, even the shinobi weren't lucky sometimes. The soldiers were strictly told to look where they were stepping, as the shinobi might have laid traps. While marching inland, small squads of soldiers were also sent around to set fire to any supplies or houses they found. This was to destroy the enemy's resources and also as a psychological weapon.
After the Romans were a fair distance away from their ships and inside the island, a sudden attack occurred, as hundreds of kunai came flying towards the soldiers. however, the Romans' large cylindrical scutum shields easily blocked the projectiles, with only a few soldiers getting slightly injured. Immediately after this attack, the centurions started shouting orders around, and the men became alert and braced for any other incoming attack while chanting battle hymns in Latin to not let their morale and confidence drop. The archers took positions in the ruins, providing good cover, and were ready to rain arrows in any direction. The Roman columns suddenly halted, as the soldiers prepared for any incoming attack.
And an attack did come, with a second volley of kunai. But this time, there were paper bombs attached to the projectiles. The kunai started exploding, and the Romans soon realized what was going on. Some soldiers panicked but were pushed back into formation by their comrades in the rear and the centurion's words. The Roman formations became tighter than ever, their shoulders touching as they braced their shields against the explosions. But the paper bombs weren't strong enough, and soon the Romans resumed their advance. Trumpets resonated throughout the battlefield, this was a signal system for simple commands like halt, retreat, or advance, the command determined by the number of blairs.
Cries of both war and agony rang throughout the island as the Romans and shinobi finally clashed. The latter created many clones to make up for their numerical disadvantage, but all the clones were dispelled after one volley of javelins and arrows from the Roman side. The shinobi kept making clones and even attempted to get behind the Roman lines stealthily and flank them, but again, it wasn't possible with the sheer number of enemies they faced. The Romans slowly advanced, grinding through the clones. No major technique was undertaken by the shinobi up till now, but it soon would be.
Among the clones, there appeared a figure with shady eyes a grey beard, and an eyepatch over his left eye. The Shinobi formed two clones around him, and the three of them formed yellow lightning spheres in their hands. After the spheres had been formed, they were shot at the Romans, and when the lightning spheres hit the heavily armored Romans and exploded, it caused quite some casualties. But after this, the shinobi didn't use this technique again, as Janus understood that the technique was hard to use and not something that could be constantly repeated.
All around the front, enemy shinobi were using ranged jutsus to fight the Romans and causing unnecessary casualties, while the soldiers were like sitting ducks. The shinobi were good with their chakra abilities, but once they had to engage in direct melee combat they were easily beaten by the Romans, who had more experience, training, physique, and weapons for it. Their armor and weapons were also of a far superior quality as compared to anything locally produced in the Shinobi continent. Recognizing this, Janus ordered a direct charge against the enemy, to all his soldiers. Trumpets blared and the order was passed down to each centurion, but it took a while to do so.
Suddenly, the Romans disengaged from the shinobi and orderly retreated about ten meters. All remained quiet for some time, as the Roman soldiers had disengaged and the shinobi too wanted to take a breath after the fierce fighting, only the groans and cries of those injured and wounded could be heard. After this short period of quietness, the trumpets on the Roman side loudly blared again, and the Romans suddenly charged forward with all their strength, shouting and giving battle cries. The Romans didn't even stop when they had engaged in combat with their foes and kept up the momentum and charged forward, partly because they were also being pushed forward by their comrades. This strategy did work, as the shinobi were overwhelmed and opted to retreat to the island. But one section of the enemy force finally collapsed, and the Roman soldiers there charged forward with all their might and broke through, flanking the other shinobi still fighting and massacring them. The soldiers were carried away by the spirit of battle and bloodthirstiness and left the corpses of their enemies unrecognizable.
Amidst the battle, Janus confronted the shinobi who had created the lighting spheres earlier. The commander raised forward his shield and put his spatha in the striking position, and surged forwards towards his foe. The two engaged in a sword duel, Janus having an advantage with his tall cylindrical shield and almost impenetrable armor. The enemy ninja was also very talented and managed to land a few hits on Janus, but all except one ever managed to pierce the Roman commander's armor, such was the skill of Roman smiths and armorers. But seeing the rest of the line collapse, the shinobi left the duel and decided to retreat. That was the last Quintus saw of him amidst the chaos of the battle, and his fate remained unknown. Either he was chopped up into pieces by the zealous Roman soldiers or managed to escape. But overall, the Romans had won the day. Most of the Kumo shinobi were massacred in the battle, while the remaining tried to put up a last stand around the main central building of the island. But their efforts failed as they were out of chakra and were showered with javelins and arrows.
The aftermath of the assault
In the morning, the Romans on Turtle Island plundered the buildings and corpses they had found, they also greatly celebrated their victory over the barbarians with Wine and good food. But apart from that they were also mourning and honorably burying their dead fellow soldiers.
Janus was waiting on the seashore, for Quintus' ship. The commander of the Roman force had been greatly pleased to know of the victory, and now made his way towards the island. As Janus lay waiting, the ship finally appeared in the distance, sailing with great speed. After some fifteen minutes, the ship finally reached the beach, and out of it stepped Quintus. With a smile on his face, and congratulated Janus,
"Well well, Lucius Janus Piso, you have today won us essentially the main objective of this campaign. I must congratulate you, and I appreciate your strategic thinking, even though you're quite impatient." Janus was pleased to hear the compliment, and replied with a smile,
"Thanks, sir. I am greatly pleased to hear this from you." Quintus walked closer to Janus, and the two men started to wander towards the ruined island, talking,
"So, did you find anything about our 'secondary objective'?" Janus looked at Quintus, and replied,
"Well, no corpse that has been found is identified as his. We also uncovered some files there about every shinobi present and discovered that about a dozen were missing during our assault. I speculate that the eight tails jinchuriki, alongside several others, fled the island via ship before the assault."
"Well, that's not good to hear. But nevertheless, we have won a great victory today over the barbarians, and the credit goes to you, my friend. Let's worry about the campaign later, for now we celebrate." Saying this, the two men walked towards the Roman camp pitched in Turtle Island, specifically to the wine rations.