chapter 110 part 3
"Bunpuku-sama is nowhere to be found!"
"From the battle traces, Bunpuku-sama, who had already undergone Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, must have engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy. The outcome might not be good, after all, the enemy possesses the power of Wood Release…"
Finally, Chiyo couldn't help but speak: "If the opponent is Tsukasa Kaede, simultaneously dealing with Wood Release and Corpse Release, even Bunpuku might not gain any advantage."
Corpse Release…
People immediately thought: could Tsukasa Kaede have secretly obtained the First Hokage's Corpse and then controlled the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju? If that were the case, that would be too terrifying.
"Probably not. So many years have passed; Hashirama Senju's Corpse should have long since decomposed. It wouldn't be found by him and turned into a Zombie. Nor would the Hidden Leaf Village have such a huge loophole."
The Third Kazekage had a solemn expression. He knew that the Hidden Leaf Village was certainly also trying every means to increase its military strength, just as their Hidden Sand Village researched human puppets. The Hidden Leaf Village definitely had its own path to take.
If it was about transplanting the Wood Release Bloodline Limit, the Third Kazekage could actually completely understand. But in his conception, at most, new Wood Release Ninja using Wood Release: Sprout or Wood Release: Great Forest Wall would already be the peak.
How could they directly fight a Tailed Beast, and even before they arrived, take away the One-Tails Jinchuriki in such a short time?! Isn't this level of strength too exaggerated?!
"Continue searching for Bunpuku's whereabouts. If he's not found in the Land of Wind, then look for him in the Land of Fire! This matter is inseparable from Tsukasa Kaede, and the Hidden Leaf Village shouldn't think it can stay out of it!"
The Third Kazekage issued an order: "The Hidden Sand Village can lose me, its Kazekage, but it absolutely cannot lose a Tailed Beast! The One-Tails is a power passed down through our generations. It cannot be lost in our hands!"
The entire Hidden Sand Village quickly mobilized. The vast Land of Wind fell into a state of unrest, and in the near future, this turmoil would surely spread to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Within the Land of Fire, in a hidden cave.
Tsukasa Kaede once again arrived at his base, throwing Bunpuku onto the ground.
He did not take any further action, but sat down, reviewing the entire process from the start of the ritual to bringing back Bunpuku.
As expected, soon after, a Zetsu Body emerged from the wall.
No matter how hidden the cave, for Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, who constantly monitored Tsukasa Kaede's movements, making a discovery was only a matter of time.
"You arrived faster than I expected. It seems you already discovered this base of mine?" Tsukasa Kaede had no expression of surprise on his face.
"A base… you just casually found a cave, stuffed some bookshelves and such inside, and called it a base? You really are casual."
White Zetsu said in an effeminate voice, "But compared to this, you really surprised us. I didn't expect you to Resurrect, and even took the opportunity to master Wood Release."
"It's fine. Although the process was quite risky, everything was within the controllable range. Every step proceeded as I had envisioned."
"Even being killed by Lord Madara? Were you so sure Lord Madara would kill you?"
"Even if he didn't act, I would find other ways to die. Resurrecting as an Impure World Reincarnation, this was the most ideal method to change bodies. Although I also prepared a contingency plan that didn't use Impure World Reincarnation, even if it succeeded, the final result wouldn't be perfect."
Tsukasa Kaede said calmly, "Anyway, falling out with Madara is bound to happen sooner or later. Even if we get along grudgingly now, eventually, he would find an opportunity to eliminate me."
Madara even secretly controlled Obito; how could he let go of a guy like Tsukasa Kaede, who couldn't even be considered his successor? It was only a matter of time before he made a move; it was just a matter of when.
"He wants to be the Savior, yet he wants to kill everyone who doesn't act according to his wishes. Then don't blame me for using him." Tsukasa Kaede looked at the White Zetsu in front of him. "Tell Tobi to remember to protect my Main Body. Although that body is no longer of much use, it still carries a part of my memories of the past. If it's destroyed, I won't let him off."
"Understood. Tobi has preserved your body very well. He's still clamoring to combine Wood Release and Corpse Release. I didn't expect you to achieve it first in another way, and even gained the Sharingan in addition to his."
White Zetsu felt this series of operations was truly dazzling. He racked his brains but couldn't have imagined that Impure World Reincarnation, Living Corpse Reincarnation, a Hashirama Clone, and the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique could be pieced together in such a way to create the perfect body Tsukasa Kaede now used.
Complex but highly effective.
Black Zetsu said in his usual cold and low voice, "You've now captured the One-Tails. What do you plan to do? Will you just kill it?"
"No, I prefer to first dismember the One-Tails into many parts, extract more Chakra, so it might come in handy someday."
"Lord Madara won't allow you to control the One-Tails long-term, but now he'll have a headache. He has created an even more troublesome enemy."
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu had different thoughts, but were all shocked by Tsukasa Kaede's Resurrection in an even more powerful form. Having just Resurrected, he defeated the One-Tails Jinchuriki; he would only become stronger in the future! Not long after, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu relayed the message back to the Mountain Graveyard.
Madara, who learned what happened from White Zetsu, was rendered silent.
Even he had never imagined it could be done this way.
"A Hashirama Clone… a crude creation without consciousness, could actually be utilized in such a way. Besides Tobi, there was still someone in this world who could unleash its value." Madara felt surprised.
This ridiculous Jutsu, Impure World Reincarnation, could actually be used like this? Stuffing a Hashirama Clone into one's body, then Resurrecting with the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu, and in one fell swoop, turning the Hashirama Clone into part of a new body?
Madara had never thought it could be done this way. He originally didn't think much of the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu. He didn't expect that when combined with Impure World Reincarnation, it could produce such an exaggerated effect.
It had to be said, for a moment, Madara was somewhat moved—but it was only a slight movement. He couldn't possibly commit suicide and then be Resurrected by someone using Impure World Reincarnation, could he?
He didn't trust anyone.
"That Tsukasa Kaede, he actually even mastered a way to break free from Impure World Reincarnation. He seems to have an even more hidden intel source."
Madara glanced at Black Zetsu, knowing it couldn't be Black Zetsu. The method to break Impure World Reincarnation was extremely simple: it was nothing more than knowing the Hand Kaedegn sequence, then performing the Hand Kaedegns in reverse order to break free from the caster's control, completely without needing to master any complicated Jutsu Formula or similar nonsense.
This matter, he had never told anyone.
Of course, he couldn't be sure what method Tsukasa Kaede used to break free from the control of Impure World Reincarnation. This Forbidden Jutsu might have other loopholes, but dwelling on that now was meaningless.
"What now, Lord Madara? Things have exceeded your expectations, haven't they? I can feel that you're very passive right now."
Tobi said with a chuckle, "I can feel it: you're about to die. To just die like this, are you really willing? You no longer have the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to extend your Life Force."
(end of chapter)