The only one who died except for dem fodders is Neji. Kishi needs to grow some balls, it's funny how Madara and Obito had the power to kill everyone twice in a sec yet remind me of how many relevant deaths?
Kishi needs the revaluate the definition of a war, he obviously have no idea. Even nagato (pein) had more kills in his assault.
In other words, Gai has to die or this "war" is a joke.
There have been plenty of deaths in this war. Just not many out of developed known characters.
For the war arc to be good, it does not need a QUANTITY of deaths. Just QUALITY deaths. Deaths that develop the story.
For example shikaku, and inoichi. Those were good deaths. They developed the story a bit.
Gai going 8th gate to buy some time, would be a good death.
Tsunade dieing to sacrifice herself for naruto could be a good death.
Etc etc.
Fans on One piece love to hype up the marineford WAR. But there were less deaths than this war arc(of known characters)
In marine ford really only Ace and WB were killed.
In naruto so far inoichi shikaku, Neji have confirmed to have died. Soon Gai Bee Obito(I dont think he can hang on to black zetsu forever), and more may die.(this is not counting edos or people sealed in the sages tools.)
But not all wars are bloodbaths. A war is just a massive conflict between two large groups or more. Some wars are bloody and some are not(see cold war)
I would wait till the end of Naruto to judge the war though. Because for all we know, everyone may die near the end.(not likely but possible)