chapter 102 part 1
Chapter 102: Impure World Reincarnation: Release!
Everything happened too quickly and unusually smoothly, so much so that the underground cavern fell silent for several seconds.
"Tsukasa Kaede was just killed like that? Isn't that a bit too sloppy?" Tobi broke the silence.
"It's fine. Lord Madara's Genjutsu can even control Tailed Beasts. Tsukasa Kaede's strength lies in controlling corpses, and he's very talented in Ninjutsu, but he never seemed to display any talent in Genjutsu. What do you think, Black Zetsu? Your Main Body is dead; you're not secretly crying, are you?"
White Zetsu sensed the state of Black Zetsu beside him.
Black Zetsu was stunned into silence. He repeatedly scrutinized Tsukasa Kaede's corpse, confirming that it wasn't a modified decoy corpse but Tsukasa Kaede's true Main Body. This plunged Black Zetsu into deep confusion.
Madara and Tsukasa Kaede turning on each other didn't surprise him; he had even prepared for the worst-case scenario: if Tsukasa Kaede was defeated, he would desperately try to escape with Tsukasa Kaede. Of course, if Tsukasa Kaede's condition was poor at that time, Black Zetsu would not hesitate to act, attempting to control Tsukasa Kaede's body and seize the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu. After all, they were separate matters; saving someone and taking advantage of them weren't mutually exclusive.
But Black Zetsu racked his brain and still couldn't understand why Tsukasa Kaede had been so inexplicably killed! "Is his resistance to Genjutsu really that poor?" Black Zetsu was bewildered.
"Who knows? Come to think of it, Tsukasa Kaede never seems to have encountered Ninja skilled in Genjutsu since he rose to prominence… Enemies would often be killed by a horde of Zombies before they could even get close to Tsukasa Kaede, and even if they somehow managed to get near him, Tsukasa Kaede could quickly transfer himself using Spatial Rift Jutsu…"
White Zetsu paused, realizing how truly miserable the enemies killed by the early Tsukasa Kaede were. Essentially, it was like being kited to death—and after dying, their corpses would still have to join Tsukasa Kaede's ranks, fighting until nothing but ash remained.
Madara spoke: "Although I lost my original eyes and only possess this Three-Tomoe Sharingan obtained from Tsukasa Kaede, the Genjutsu I cast is still in a league of its own in the Ninja World. Not even the Nine-Tails could resist it, so it's perfectly normal for a mere Tsukasa Kaede to be unable to withstand it."
"But it's still somewhat unbelievable that the person many claim is the hardest to kill was defeated like this," White Zetsu's insidious voice was still filled with intense surprise. "Every day, vast numbers of White Zetsu gather intel from the Ninja World and send it to me. I've heard far too many praises for Tsukasa Kaede."
Tobi chuckled, "Maybe Tsukasa Kaede hid his weaknesses very well before, even leaving his corpse behind… By the way, if you guys don't want this body, how about giving it to me? I can repair it, stuff the organs back in, and maybe it can still be used."
"Greedy fellow, you actually have your eyes on the power of Corpse Release. However, Wood Release and Corpse Release combined might be interesting. Do as you wish."
Madara glanced at Tsukasa Kaede's corpse, a slight frown on his brow.
The body's strength seemed overly fragile; even its skin and muscles gave him the distinct impression that they would tear with the slightest force. "This must be the price of developing the Corpse Release Secret Technique and constantly using various Forbidden Jutsu. There are no perfect Jutsu in this world, nor are there powerful Jutsu Formula without any cost." Madara closed his eyes, contemplating.
He, too, vaguely felt that something was amiss, but he had undoubtedly killed Tsukasa Kaede. Even if Tsukasa Kaede's Soul had escaped, it wouldn't have much impact—Spirit Transformation Secret Technique; he had a sufficient understanding of this Jutsu's characteristics. During these years in hiding, Madara never let any intel slip by, whether it was the situation in the Ninja World or the various new Forbidden Jutsu, he would at least gain a basic understanding.
As Tobi reached for Tsukasa Kaede's corpse, he looked at Black Zetsu: "Your situation doesn't seem too good now, Black Zetsu. Do you want me to kill you? I won't let you suffer too much."
"No need. Lord Tsukasa Kaede's Soul is still alive, so he's not truly dead. I still have a reason to exist," Black Zetsu said indifferently.
"Ha, suit yourself. How long can a Soul live without this body… Hmm, the Summoning Scrolls are all here. Let me see, which ones contain those powerful Zombies? These corpses are much more useful than White Zetsu or Black Zetsu." Tobi happily pieced Tsukasa Kaede's body together, reaching out to gather the Scrolls from Tsukasa Kaede's corpse, then opening them one by one.
Black Zetsu said, "Give up. As far as I know, his most precious corpses are kept in special coffins and are remotely summoned using Summoning Jutsu when needed. He wouldn't carry them around."
"Is that so? What a shame. I was hoping to see Araki of the Sand again; that guy devoured quite a few White Zetsu before." Tobi checked the Scrolls. Indeed, they were all ordinary scrolls, sealing only common, worthless corpses.
Suddenly, Tsukasa Kaede's corpse abruptly opened its eyes, then howled and pounced on the closest Tobi, biting fiercely into Tobi's spiral mask.
"..."
"..."
"Hahahaha, Tobi, look at you now!!"
"Shut up! I didn't expect this either. Even a Corpse Release Ninja's body can undergo Corpse Transformation, but it suits me just fine."
Tobi subdued Tsukasa Kaede's now-Zombie body. "Hmph, the power in this corpse is still highly active, resisting me. Hehehe, the clash between Wood Release and Corpse Release feels truly strange. These two powers are frantically plundering each other, replenishing themselves by destroying the other."
The moment Tobi touched it, he felt the conflict between the Wood Release Cells and the Zombie Virus. Without a special power to suppress and control them forcefully, these two forces would only cease after completely destroying each other.
Next, it was a matter of waiting for Tsukasa Kaede's Spirit Body to dissipate. Black Zetsu looked up, peering in the direction Tsukasa Kaede's Spirit Body had penetrated. He only hoped that Tsukasa Kaede still had a trump card and wouldn't die so ignominiously, so utterly suppressed by Genjutsu. Though hope was slim.
Suddenly, Tobi shrieked, his body rigid and seemingly out of control. "Tsukasa Kaede's body is moving. It seems to want to use Spatial Rift Jutsu. Does this guy, even as just a Spirit Body, still want to take his body with him? The summoning power isn't strong, though; I can still handle it."
Tobi muttered, then remembered that he hadn't found a Hashirama clone on Tsukasa Kaede. To retrieve it, he would have to send out a large number of White Zetsu to search, wasting extra time.
...