chapter 111 part 2
However, he quickly abandoned these ideas.
"Without a Tailed Beast, this old man is useless; he can't exert much power. I haven't yet mastered the technique of implanting a Tailed Beast into a Human Puppet," Sasori of the Red Sand said. "Bunpuku is a famous monk in the village. Only someone with such a gentle personality could get along with the One-Tail."
Tsukasa Kaede gave a noncommittal shrug.
Hidden Sand Village itself hadn't properly mastered the Sealing Technique for Tailed Beasts, let alone Sasori of the Red Sand, who had defected. Abandoning Jinchuriki and focusing on Bloodline Limit Ninja was undoubtedly the correct choice.
Bunpuku sighed, "Shukaku is very irritable. It's been cursing you, Lord Tsukasa Kaede... You've taken too much of its Chakra."
"This is just the beginning. I will take everything from it in the future."
"Why? Tailed Beasts exist for more than just weapons and tools. They must have—"
"Shut up. Are you lecturing me? I know the origin and purpose of the Tailed Beasts better than you, but what does that matter?" Tsukasa Kaede said calmly.
What is the purpose of the Tailed Beasts? Keeping the Ten-Tails incomplete and eternally fragmented to prevent Kaguya's resurrection was undoubtedly their most important role.
According to the Sage of Kaedex Paths, these nine Tailed Beasts also served to protect humanity. After all, they were immortal and indestructible. Should a terrifying external threat capable of destroying the Ninja World emerge in the future, the Tailed Beasts would surely stand up.
A prime example was the future Naruto; the significance of half of the Nine-Tails to him was self-evident.
However, for Tsukasa Kaede, that was a matter for much later. Besides, Asura, who would be born in a few years, would likely no longer be a Jinchuriki and would have no connection to the Nine-Tails.
Bunpuku looked seriously at Tsukasa Kaede, remaining silent for a long time, finally letting out a deep sigh. He knew that talking to someone like Tsukasa Kaede was useless, and it was even less likely to change Tsukasa Kaede's view of Tailed Beasts as mere tools.
For a moment, none of the three spoke. Tsukasa Kaede closed his eyes to rest.
After a long while, Tsukasa Kaede opened his eyes and said calmly, "Finally here. Later than I expected. I thought you had already died peacefully of old age..."
"I'm afraid to disappoint you, but I can still live for a while."
A figure gradually emerged from underground.
Sasori of the Red Sand sized up the approaching figure. "So someone else is coming. Tsukasa Kaede, who is this strange white guy that you're waiting for like this?"
"Don't be careless, or you might be instantly killed by his Genjutsu."
Tsukasa Kaede removed his upper garment, his expression cold. "How should I put it... this guy used to be my collaborator. Now, I suppose he's an enemy... Madara!"
Sasori of the Red Sand frowned, while Bunpuku raised his head, staring in disbelief at the being who was slowly opening his swirling head, revealing his aged true form.
"Madara? He should have died ages ago, shouldn't he?" Sasori of the Red Sand's attention was instead first drawn to the gradually protruding human face on Tsukasa Kaede's back. After a careful look, and then glancing at Madara, he vaguely guessed something, his expression becoming strange.
This was possible? It seemed Tsukasa Kaede had performed an incredible modification on himself. This must be the greatest success of this series of actions, with the One-Tails Jinchuriki merely being a bonus gift.
Bunpuku softly chanted Buddhist prayers: "The legendary man isn't dead... It seems my fate is sealed. You will certainly not let me live. It's just a pity for the One-Tail; it will probably be like the Four-Tails, needing who knows how many years to resurrect."
Madara swept his Three-Tomoe Sharingan over the three of them, saying coldly, "One-Tail, if I'm not mistaken, Tsukasa Kaede has already arranged your fate. You don't need to worry about when that beast inside you will resurrect, because it can't die at all."
You think you can die after entering the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path? Go become a piece of the Ten-Tails' resurrection puzzle.
Tsukasa Kaede suddenly attacked.
Wood Release: Sprout!
Madara used the same Wood Release Jutsu, countless branches continuously drilling out from his sleeves, rapidly stabbing towards the opponent.
Dozens of sharp branches collided, accompanied by violent snapping sounds. Countless splinters fell, filling the cavern with broken branches in a very short time.
"In such a short time, you've mastered Wood Release exceptionally well. You truly are a genius in Ninjutsu, no wonder you were able to develop a systematic Secret Technique like Corpse Release with such a frail body back then." Madara rarely praised anyone.
Tsukasa Kaede said calmly, "The feeling is mutual. You old geezer are on your last breath, yet you can still conjure such power."
"That's not right. I put in a lot of effort. Lord Madara alone couldn't use Wood Release so smoothly; his body condition doesn't allow it," Tobi's distinctive voice rang out.
Tsukasa Kaede made further moves; two more arms extended from his back. All four arms could perform Hand Kaedegns. He himself could use Corpse Release, while the Clone behind him used Wood Release and the Sharingan.
Even Madara had never seen such a unique individual.
"This is the perfect fusion of Corpse Release and Wood Release, Lord Madara. We're in trouble," Tobi said.
Madara spoke, "Enough. I'm not here to fight you to the death. I still have Izanagi to use, with the eye you gave me, so you can't kill me."
"If I can kill you once, it counts. You killed me once; it's only fair I retaliate, isn't it?"
"Fair? What about when Mito Uzumaki killed me back then? If you hadn't held back from the start, that brat Shimura Danzō wouldn't have had the chance to escape from your grasp, nor would he have attracted Mito Uzumaki! You even transformed my corpse into a Zombie after the war to deal with the Eight-Tails... If we're really going to tally things up, you're no cleaner than I am."
Madara scoffed, "Although you've gained Wood Release and the Sharingan, you can't truly wield these two powers as if they were your limbs. You are ultimately not a member of the Senju or Uchiha Clan. Only I in this world understand how to fuse these two powers and transform them into the Power of All Creation!"
"Power of All Creation... So you're here to negotiate. It seems I've grown to a point where you're at a loss, forcing your hand." Tsukasa Kaede sneered.
He did intend to kill Madara. In Madara's current state, he couldn't possibly be Tsukasa Kaede's match. However, Tsukasa Kaede also couldn't prevent Madara from activating Izanagi and escaping.
"...You're right. You truly opened my eyes. After Hashirama, you are the second person who has forced me to compromise, even if your strength doesn't compare to a single one of Hashirama's fingers."
"That's truly an honor. The once incredibly frail Genin is now, in your words, comparable to Hashirama Senju."