chapter 98 part 3
"Kaede, are you really planning to return alone?" Jiraiya couldn't help but ask.
"Not alone, I have this group of corpses. While they're no match for the Five-Tails, the Five-Tails' existence duration relies on the Five-Tails Jinchuriki's physical strength. As soon as it can no longer sustain its Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, I'll immediately rush over and kill them," Tsukasa Kaede replied.
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, *He really is an extremist. No wonder he's gradually seizing the empty areas left by Danzo.*
If a few more years passed, when Danzo was reinstated, he would likely be surprised to discover that his power base had already been encroached upon and occupied by Tsukasa Kaede.
Tsukasa Kaede looked at the tired faces of those present and said faintly, "There's actually another reason. If the Five-Tails, in its rage, sprayed Tailed Beast Bombs all over the Land of Fire, have you considered how immense the damage would be? How many people would die, and how would the nation's economy be devastated? Kaedence I have the ability to transfer a Tailed Beast, this matter can only be handled by me."
In truth, he was still thinking about the Five-Tails Jinchuriki's corpse.
Han, a two-meter-three-tall muscular man, could maximize the Five-Tails' taijutsu power. If Tsukasa Kaede could get his hands on him, he would have a combat unit capable of clashing head-on with a muscleman like the Third Raikage.
Relying solely on Terai, an Elite Jonin skilled in solo infiltration, often felt like something was missing.
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede, then we'll await your safe return," Dekai said, stars in his eyes. He thought such a ninja was incredibly cool and felt very safe.
Hidan rested his scythe on his shoulder, a suspicious look on his face. "The Tailed Beast Bomb transfer you mentioned, you're not going to use me for it again, are you? You've already experimented; you can use an ordinary corpse for this."
"No, you are a crucial medium, an important vessel for my Corpse Release power," Tsukasa Kaede said.
Affix Hidan to the Tailed Beast Bomb, then have Hidan and a distant Zombie perform the Spatial Rift Jutsu to transfer the Tailed Beast Bomb away.
As for whether Hidan was willing? He had to be, even if he wasn't. Who told him to enter the Corpse Release system and occupy such an important position?
Tsukasa Kaede departed using the Spatial Rift Jutsu.
Hidan plopped onto the ground, his face a picture of despair, waiting for the unknown opportunity of a Tailed Beast Bomb to his face.
"Sensei wouldn't do anything rash. If the Five-Tails doesn't use a Tailed Beast Bomb, you don't need to worry," Shizune said, hesitating for a moment before offering comfort.
Hyuga Takashi said, "You successfully killed the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, achieving unimaginable merits. Compared to Tsukasa Sensei's matters, you should be more concerned about what happens after you become famous throughout the Shinobi World."
"Concerned about what?"
"Concerned about how to respond in the coolest way when people rush at you for an autograph."
"Huh, now that you mention it, that makes a lot of sense!"
Hidan cheered up, lost in thought, but soon shook his head, closed his eyes, and muttered under his breath.
Dekai leaned over, a fawning expression on his face. "What are you saying?"
"Don't bother me. I'm praying to Lord Jashin. I was supposed to do this after dealing with the enemy, but the corpse is gone. Sensei must have sneakily taken it. This makes things difficult for me! I need to explain to Lord Jashin."
Hidan looked impatient, even menacingly shaking the scythe in his hand at Dekai, scaring Dekai into quickly stepping back two paces.
If anyone else had done that, Dekai wouldn't have been so flustered. Anyone in Jiraiya's squad couldn't be weak, but it depended on who they were facing! Against Hidan, this junior who killed the Four-Tails Jinchuriki with self-mutilation and couldn't die even with his head cut off, Dekai couldn't feel proud at all, fearing Hidan might find an opportunity to strike him.
"Minato, you were watching just now, right? Did he take the opportunity to take my blood? He didn't, right?"
Dekai suspiciously stroked his own body, feeling uncomfortable all over.
Minato gave a wry smile. "Don't worry, no. Hidan wouldn't do something like that. He wouldn't harm a comrade."
"Hmph, his actions are more terrifying than harming a comrade; he's merciless on himself, even beheading! I clearly saw the process of him performing the jutsu, but I still don't understand how his jutsu works. Tell me, does Jashin really exist?"
"Who knows..." Minato pondered. He didn't know if Jashin existed, but he knew Corpse Release truly existed. Even now, he firmly believed that Hidan's power actually originated from Tsukasa Kaede's Corpse Release.
The Undying Body and Corpse Release were too perfect a match; they seemed like part of the same system.
Jiraiya and Toka Senju also watched Hidan's every move, conversing in low tones.
"Hidan... if an enemy doesn't have intel on him, they will surely die horribly. He will undoubtedly kill a second, and then a third Kage-level powerful ninja in the future."
"The village has produced another incredible individual, and he's truly too young. The achievements he's made at this age surpass all the past Sages of Hidden Leaf Village."
Toka Senju's expression was complex. Why hadn't such a powerful junior appeared in their Senju Clan? If he had, she wouldn't be so anxious. With a formidable junior capable of leading, many problems would resolve themselves.
Unfortunately, reality was cruel. The Senju Clan didn't have a super genius like Hidan, forcing Toka Senju, the Clan Head, to seek other solutions.
Those present successively took out food and water, replenishing their stamina as much as possible, awaiting Tsukasa Kaede's next move.
From time to time, someone would look up into the distance, wondering if an explosion could be heard. If so, it would mean the Five-Tails had used another Tailed Beast Bomb, and also that Tsukasa Kaede had intervened again.
Tsukasa Kaede indeed appeared before the Five-Tails and specifically summoned a new batch of Zombies, making them move in various directions to serve as Tsukasa Kaede's spatial coordinates, preventing them from being clumped together and obliterated by the Five-Tails in a single blow.
"Alright, now I can focus on you, Five-Tails," Tsukasa Kaede said, sitting on a branch, watching the Five-Tails charge towards him in a rage.
*Boom!*
A towering giant tree collapsed as the Five-Tails' head smashed a Zombie into a pulpy mess, but Tsukasa Kaede had already appeared in another direction.
Each time the Five-Tails attacked, Tsukasa Kaede always appeared in a different direction, leaving only a few scattered Zombies for the Five-Tails to kill.
This repeated pattern left the Five-Tails like a giant headless fly, crashing around frantically. When pushed, it would open its mouth to spew a Tailed Beast Bomb, but quickly closed it, not doing so.
"...Because the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is likely about to give out. Your reckless actions have consumed too much power. That guy's body was already severely damaged by Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and after you emerged, it became even harder to bear."