Summoning Jutsu is a very interesting type of technique, ranging from C-rank all the way to S-rank.
The highest S-rank summoning is typically the Impure World Reincarnation.
The lowest, C-rank summoning, could be as simple as summoning ninja tools from scrolls, or inscribing summoning seals on your wristbands or belt to call forth various tools at critical moments. For example, when Sasuke fought Danzo, he summoned a bunch of shuriken from his wristband.
The summoning technique currently used by Kaede Tsukasa is undoubtedly C-rank—he can only summon ninja tools. His limited chakra isn't enough to perform higher-rank summoning, and even if he wanted to learn more advanced techniques like animal summons, he hasn't made the required contract.
However, the ninja tools he summons now are somewhat special.
Thump, thump, thump!
A coffin suddenly rose up as a shield, firmly protecting Kaede Tsukasa and blocking the Senbon.
"A coffin?" Kifu's face showed confusion. He had never heard of this kind of summon before, but that wouldn't change the outcome. A mere Konoha Genin had only one path in front of a Chunin like him: death.
Creaaak—
The once silent coffin, after being struck three times by the Senbon, seemed to awaken whatever was inside and began to move.
The decayed pine wood slowly lifted, hitting the ground with a loud crash, revealing the sealed body within.
It was a corpse of terrifying artistry—the head fixed at a crooked angle, with hollow, decayed eye sockets holding two pale, ghastly eyeballs. Dark red blood had long since coagulated all over the body.
Most horrifyingly, part of its chest cavity was missing, exposing decayed and incomplete internal organs, showing that this body had suffered a violent battle in life, and had died a gruesome death.
"Judging by the outfit… seems like an Iwagakure ninja." Kifu was shocked, trying to comprehend the ghastly sight before him—a body of an Iwagakure ninja sealed inside a Konoha ninja's coffin?
No, it wasn't a corpse, because he saw it move with his own eyes!
Damn it, a guy who had clearly been dead for a long time, staring at him with pale eyes, suddenly moved and stepped out of the coffin toward him!
"What the hell is this?! By the state of its body, it should be dead! So why can it move? What jutsu is this?!" Kifu's mind roared; his first thought was that he was under a genjutsu.
"This is a jutsu that can kill you. Honestly, it's the first time I've used this against a living enemy… normally it's for healthy opponents."
Kaede Tsukasa formed hand seals with one hand, using chakra to control the zombie before him and launch an attack at the enemy.
This was also his first time using the Zombie Release in combat, though he had experimented with it in secret before.
After all, he was responsible for escorting ninja corpses, so there was plenty of material to work with. The zombie bodies were no different from dead corpses, and after testing, they could be handled like any other body, leaving no trace.
True research-oriented ninja wouldn't waste time on low-value Genin corpses, and Kaede Tsukasa performed his technique discreetly, avoiding members of the Hyuga clan and using it only in a forest midway through the route, so discovery was unlikely.
Kaede Tsukasa wasn't entirely satisfied with this zombie.
This particular corpse had been a mediocre Genin, dying quietly, unnoticed by anyone—perfect for experimentation. When it had barely a breath left and was about to be handled by the corpse transport team, he casually performed his technique, implanting the zombie virus using chakra.
He had done this many times, creating a few usable zombies—but they were only barely adequate.
Kifu studied the decayed living corpse, uneasy. To be safe, he planned to take it out with long-range ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Water Severing Stream!"
A fierce torrent surged forward, washing away some of the decayed flesh from the zombie and knocking it to the ground.
"So this is the jutsu you rely on to survive?" Kifu breathed a sigh of relief, sneering as he quickly formed hand seals and charged at Kaede Tsukasa.
No matter what the opponent planned, killing him was the solution.
Kaede Tsukasa stepped back a few paces. Without a backup plan, in a speed match, he would be crushed—he wouldn't survive three seconds.
"Corpse Release: Decay Explosion! Hah!"
The fallen zombie emitted a sizzling sound and suddenly exploded with a roar!
The massive blast engulfed the Iwagakure ninja, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
This was a zombie Kaede Tsukasa had spent time fine-tuning—he had carefully attached explosive tags to the bones and controlled the body with jutsu to conduct chakra.
Lowering his arms that had shielded his face, Kaede Tsukasa remained alert, retreating quickly to stand beside his two companions.
Over the years, he had developed a cautious nature. His poor physical condition didn't allow recklessness—one lapse of judgment could easily be fatal.
When the dust settled, the ninja wasn't completely dead. The water traces on the ground indicated he had used a Water Release technique to offset part of the explosion.
But he was severely injured, with horrific wounds covering most of his body, and his face utterly disfigured.
Fragments of flesh from the zombie were smeared onto Kifu.
"Truly an exceptional ninja with experience in the Second Great Ninja War. You've earned the right for me to remember your name—while you can still maintain some awareness." Kaede Tsukasa placed his two companions in front of him, speaking seriously.
"Ugh… you damn bastard…"
Kifu mumbled, staring at his body, particularly the wounds where the decayed flesh clung, a mix of shock and fury.
He had actually been bested by this thing—and the outcome was this brutal!
"What's the matter? Still want to fight? Then I'll have to summon new tools." Kaede Tsukasa narrowed his eyes.
He had only prepared four self-destructing zombies; now three remained, hidden in different parts of the forests of the Land of Fire for emergencies.
There was no choice. He rarely went on missions, and the money earned from healing injured ninja wasn't much. Even during wartime, while the village supplied explosive tags, buying extra tags personally was expensive. Covering each zombie with fifteen explosive tags nearly bankrupt him.
Kaede Tsukasa also dreamed of further developing Decay Explosion, eventually achieving a chain-reaction effect with explosive tags that could detonate repeatedly over time.
Just imagine the scene: two or more zombies scattered across the battlefield, moving at super-high speed, suddenly triggering chain explosions—everything in their path reduced to a white wasteland.
What should such a technique be called? Infinite Decay Explosion… no, perhaps Infinite Fortune?
Alas, it was only a thought. Achieving it would require a long way to go.
"…Escaped. Good. Although I still don't know this guy's name."
Kaede Tsukasa slowly released the hand seals of his left hand and watched the opponent's retreating back, feeling relieved.
It seemed he had only slightly gained the upper hand in this battle, forcing the enemy back—but in reality, he had already won.
"A Chunin, and heavily injured. Incorporating him into my Corpse Release will take time… My chakra is still too low, preventing me from using full power and severely slowing the further development of Corpse Release."
Kaede Tsukasa looked down at his two unconscious companions.
"And since I didn't need to use these two, I don't have to turn them into zombies for now… Then—release!"