Hizashi Hyuga was already twenty-two. In a few years, he would have children of his own.
When a child reached the age of three, they would be marked with the Caged Bird Seal—a fate reserved for branch families. Offspring born to branch families would always remain branch members, while the main family could only have one child per generation inherit the main line; the rest would become branch members.
Like many in the branch families, Hizashi suppressed his anger and resentment toward the Caged Bird, keeping a composed exterior and strictly following the orders of the main family.
"Yes, Father. If the war continues, I will go to the front lines in a while to support my brother and take his place."
After the clan meeting concluded, Hizashi respectfully knelt before his father. Only after his father departed did he slowly rise.
At present, the Hyuga clan had two main family members: his father, the clan head, and his twin brother, Hiashi.
Hiashi had not given much thought to the Caged Bird for a long time. Over the years, only in the quiet of night would he occasionally question life. Most of the time, he was busy with village affairs and matters concerning the clan.
After all, Hiashi was destined to become the Hyuga clan head. Once the Ninja World War ended, he would inevitably take the position. As the twin, Hizashi was the natural choice to lead the branch family, bearing even more responsibility.
"Lord Hizashi, I have urgent matters to discuss. May I have a word?" Iroha Huyga finally found an opportunity to meet Hizashi.
Hizashi paid it no mind and casually agreed, leading Iroha to his reception room.
After pouring a cup of hot tea, Hizashi handed it to Iroha and said, "Congratulations, Iroha. The villagers are talking about the victory in the Land of Hot Water campaign. You've brought glory to the Hyuga clan."
Hizashi valued Iroha highly. He was a talented member from a branch family. Properly trained, he could reach the level of a jōnin—a top-tier fighter for the village and a crucial support for the Hyuga clan.
Iroha bowed respectfully. "You overpraise me, my lord. In truth, I did little. It was mainly Kaede Tsukasa and the others who turned the tide."
"Kaede Tsukasa?"
Hizashi pondered briefly and immediately understood what Iroha meant. Combining it with the intelligence he already had, he remained outwardly composed: "The Land of Hot Water campaign dealt a heavy blow to Iwa forces and severely injured the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. Such results are vital in any era. Since you participated, there's no need for modesty. The power of the Byakugan is essential for any force."
Iroha hesitated, then said softly, "Actually, it was Kaede Tsukasa who changed the course of the battle. Otherwise, the outcome would not have been like this… most of us might have died."
"As far as I know, it was Dan Kato who defeated the Four-Tails Jinchūriki and foiled the enemy's plan."
"That's not the case. I saw it with my own eyes. Lord Dan Kato was killed, and Kaede Tsukasa retrieved his body…"
"…"
Hizashi set the cup he had raised back onto the table.
The information was overwhelming, catching him completely off guard.
"Dan Kato died? Kaede Tsukasa retrieved the body? Then what the village has been reporting…"
"He died and was revived. Lord Kaede Tsukasa mastered a forbidden resurrection technique. He took numerous organs from another corpse, transplanted them into Lord Dan Kato, and performed the technique to bring him back to life. I saw it with my own eyes."
Iroha's expression was grave. Even after several days, recalling the scene still left him mesmerized. This was a true forbidden technique that reversed life and death.
And Kaede Tsukasa was someone capable of touching this forbidden domain.
As Iroha recounted the events, Hizashi Hyuga's expression grew increasingly strange. He activated his Byakugan on the spot, suspecting that Iroha might have fallen under an enemy genjutsu. After repeated questioning, he finally fell silent.
Revived?
If Dan Kato's body had truly been damaged to that extent, he would have been completely dead.
But…
"Transplanting organs from one corpse into another and then performing a technique to bring him back… I need to verify this and carefully consider what you've said."
Hizashi gave no response, but his heartbeat had already quickened. Whatever Iroha imagined, Hizashi had thought of too. If this were confirmed, the impact on the Hyuga clan would be unprecedented!
"Controlling corpses, reviving the dead, and transplanting decayed organs from one corpse into another…"
If all of this were true, Kaede Tsukasa, this young man who had only recently risen to fame in the past year or two, was what kind of monster?
A genius? That word no longer sufficed. He was a being walking the gray boundary between life and death, trampling over mortality. Hizashi had never encountered, nor even heard of, such a presence!
On the spot, Hizashi calmly sent Iroha away, making it appear as though he was simply listening to a clan member's report.
Two more hours passed. Hizashi summoned a few more clan members, inquired about village matters, and then left the clan grounds, seemingly strolling casually toward the direction of Konoha Hospital.
He turned into a narrow alley.
"Byakugan!"
Hizashi had almost fully developed the potential of his Byakugan. His long-range vision could extend fifteen kilometers linearly, allowing him to observe the interior of Konoha Hospital.
"Found them."
Hizashi saw Tsunade intermittently breaking and reshaping Dan Kato's bones, while Kaede Tsukasa stood beside them.
He focused on observing Dan Kato's chest but could see no clues—until Dan Kato condensed chakra into his palm and then detonated the ornamental flowers in his hand. Hizashi immediately understood that everything was real.
"Explosion Release… is he experimenting with Explosion Release?"
Hizashi was shocked. He had also participated in the wars against Iwa, knew how elite the demolition units were, and had seen Explosion Release techniques firsthand.
And now Dan Kato could use it too!
Unbelievable. Dan Kato, renowned for his mental and spiritual abilities, had now gained physical enhancements as well. Did he acquire an Explosion Release kekkei genkai?
Once Dan Kato adapted to this entirely new body, how strong would he become? Perhaps, as the villagers speculated, he could truly reach a Hokage-level power.
And all of this was thanks to Kaede Tsukasa.
"Harvesting organs from corpses… a corpse kekkei genkai…"
Hizashi suddenly understood the dazed fascination on Iroha's face. Who wouldn't be stunned by this?
Seeing it with his own eyes, Hizashi felt as if his brain had crashed. What Kaede Tsukasa could do was simply beyond imagination!
Only then did he suddenly remember—Kaede Tsukasa was originally a medical ninja… though now few would recall that immediately. Anyone familiar with Kaede Tsukasa's achievements and secret techniques had subconsciously overlooked this fact.
So in the end, "medical ninjutsu" was really Kaede Tsukasa's specialty? And this medical skill was strong enough to reverse life and death and casually transplant a kekkei genkai!
Hizashi didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified. The Hyuga clan's kekkei genkai primarily manifested through the Byakugan. Even if someone transplanted organs and a spine, it wouldn't turn ordinary eyes into Byakugan.
"Kaede Tsukasa… a person like this, with techniques like these… maybe he really can bypass the Caged Bird. The centuries-old fate of the Hyuga clan might finally be shifting in this world. This is…"
Hizashi closed his Byakugan and immediately returned to the clan, deep in thought. Then, a resolute look appeared in his eyes.
…
Konoha Hospital.
"Someone seemed to be observing us just now."
Dan Kato, enduring excruciating pain and drenched in sweat, finally had his entire body's bones corrected by Tsunade, removing all lingering issues.
From this moment on, he would truly be reborn, now possessing even greater power than before.
Kaede Tsukasa, sitting idly in a chair flipping through a newspaper, smiled upon hearing this: "I remember there's a barrier around the village perimeter, yet they dared to spy on the hospital directly. Seems like it's someone from inside the village."
Among the three present, Dan Kato had the keenest senses and strongest mental fortitude, so his awareness was normal.
"Who could it be? Konoha Hospital strictly forbids the use of sensory ninjutsu, and yet they chose this moment," Tsunade said, frowning.
Kaede Tsukasa smiled: "Doesn't matter who it is. They'll probably reveal themselves soon enough."
Probably a member of a Hyuga branch family… if his guess was correct.
Kaede Tsukasa then pushed the matter to the back of his mind and focused on Dan Kato: "Seems my technique worked. It did awaken your Explosion Release kekkei genkai, though I'm not sure if it's due to inexperience or weak bloodline that the effect doesn't feel very strong."
"It's already incredible. I never imagined having this power. My body will no longer be a weakness. Next, I can further train my spiritual techniques, striving to move my body while relocating my spiritual form."
Excitement lit up Dan Kato's face. He felt his future was bright; in terms of both rank and strength, he had taken a step closer to Hokage-level power.
And all of this was thanks to Kaede Tsukasa!
Tsunade, though happy, voiced a concern: "I worry that visual kekkei genkai like the Byakugan or Sharingan might detect two types of chakra in your body, exposing your uniqueness."
"It doesn't matter if they see it. Lord Dan Kato is training secret techniques—does he need to report to those two clans?"
Kaede Tsukasa stood: "Well, it seems there's nothing more for me to do here. I'll go back and rest for a while. Lord Dan, you should rest as well. You are now a powerful ninja recognized by many nations. Next time you appear, you'll be under close attention."
"How long until you recover to your pre-technique state? That forbidden technique… will it really not affect your future?" Tsunade asked seriously.
Honestly, Tsunade had never seen a forbidden technique so miraculous yet with such a "low" cost. She understood Kaede Tsukasa must be concealing important details. She wouldn't press him; she would silently observe his condition.
"The effect has already occurred. Reviving Lord Dan—isn't that the greatest and most beneficial effect? Alright, I'm leaving."
Kaede Tsukasa waved without looking back and walked out, opening the door behind him.
From angles Kaede Tsukasa couldn't see, Tsunade repeatedly hesitated, her face showing intense struggle. Even after he left, she still lacked the courage to speak.
"Tsunade… maybe I'm not qualified to comment on this, but we can't ask him to resurrect Nawaki…"
Dan Kato looked at Tsunade with a pained expression. He knew why his beloved was suffering.
Nawaki's body was still buried somewhere in Konoha!
If Kaede Tsukasa could revive the dead Dan Kato, then reviving Nawaki, who had been gone for several years…
But Tsunade simply couldn't bring herself to say it. She felt she no longer had the right to pry further.
"I know, I know… I shouldn't ask, but I really miss him…"
Dan Kato sighed and pulled Tsunade into his arms.
No matter how powerful Kaede Tsukasa's resurrection forbidden technique was, it was not a wish-granting jutsu. It couldn't undo every tragedy in this cruel world. The fact that Dan Kato survived was already the result of Kaede Tsukasa giving him a hand.
"If his strength grows even greater, and he reaches a higher position, surely he could bring better changes to this world…"
…
As Kaede Tsukasa walked away from Konoha Hospital, he encountered many faces along the way. Some he recognized and occasionally nodded or greeted.
"Is that Lord Kaede Tsukasa?"
"The Kaede Tsukasa who uses Zombie Release? I heard he's also an incredible genius, helping Lord Dan Kato defeat the Four-Tails Jinchūriki!"
"Amazing! I thought Minato Namikaze was the strongest genius, but Kaede Tsukasa rose so quickly!"
"This proves even more how prosperous and strong the village is. Once we defeat Iwa, perhaps long-lasting peace will come?"
Many ninjas peeked from windows and stairways, their eyes full of admiration as they watched Kaede Tsukasa descend.
Out of tens of thousands of ninjas nationwide, only a hundred or so truly stand out—and Kaede Tsukasa was already one of them. In the future, he would continue to grow stronger.
"But… has Lord Kaede Tsukasa lost weight again? What's going on?"
"He must be overworking. Truly an extraordinary ninja."
Kaede Tsukasa said nothing and continued walking.
His condition was indeed poor, but it didn't matter. He didn't care; he could recover whenever he wanted.
Even deliberately increasing the body's life-force reserves was unnecessary now, because the usable span of this body had officially entered its countdown.
Kaede Tsukasa thought that perhaps he could take the opportunity to learn spiritual techniques from Dan Kato, further enhancing his mental abilities.
"Danzo and Orochimaru must have made contact. Much of my intelligence has probably already fallen into Orochimaru's hands… he needs me, and I need him as well."
Kaede Tsukasa let out a sigh. Soon, he would meet Orochimaru, and truthfully, he was looking forward to it.
Suddenly.
Kaede Tsukasa's expression shifted slightly as he turned in surprise toward the southeast.
"That direction… the front line? If I'm not mistaken, a lot of zombies just appeared?"
His interest piqued—this was abnormal.
He had always been extremely cautious in controlling the zombies under his command. He would rather let some long-stored third-rate zombies starve than allow them to bite recklessly, triggering a "zombie tide."
The reason was simple: Kaede Tsukasa was not yet strong enough to go head-to-head with the ninja world—he couldn't even challenge a single nation. He could hardly be considered a Kage-level strength.
If a zombie tide were to erupt, every nation would launch a frantic purge. Kaede Tsukasa would have nowhere to turn and be forced to hide, which would stunt his development.
At the very least, until he had changed bodies and resolved his physical shortcomings, he would never truly reveal the terrifying potential of Zombie Release.
"Occasionally seeing a few zombies appear at the front line, even one after another, would be understandable. But for a whole batch to appear at once? That's abnormal. Someone must have been trying to satisfy their curiosity and ended up messing things up."
Kaede Tsukasa laughed, tears in his eyes. He had expected problems from Root first—after all, Danzo didn't have top-tier researchers secretly studying his Zombie Release. If they botched it, it would have been normal.
But instead, someone on the front line messed things up first?
"Orochimaru… probably you. Only someone with close ties to Danzo could pull stunts during the peak of battle."
Kaede Tsukasa thought for a moment and decided he needed to act. He returned to his residence, carefully estimated the number of zombies he had, and found he had just over a hundred.
There was no other way. The hot water campaign had cost him heavily: about thirty died during companion rescues, and fewer than forty perished while besieging Roshi.
To conceal the fact that he could control all the zombies to perform the One's Own Life Reincarnation Jutsu, Kaede Tsukasa had to drain over a hundred zombies' life force and channel it all into himself to barely revive Dan Kato.
After the technique, Kaede Tsukasa himself reverted to his previous emaciated state—fortunately, Dan Kato's body wasn't reliant on physical strength. He leaned toward Yin Release, with no notable traits on the Yang side.
If it had been Hashirama Senju… without at least a hundred thousand zombie ninjas as sacrifices, he probably wouldn't have heard a single sound.
"White Zetsu, I need you."
Kaede Tsukasa summoned one of his White Zetsu clones stationed in Konoha:
"Gather a hundred corpses for me. I need them immediately. Don't dig under memorial stones, and don't touch the ancestral graves of any ninja clans. The corpses should be fresh."
"Understood, Lord Kaede Tsukasa. There are many hidden corpses buried underground. I can bring them all with a little time."
The White Zetsu clone's face bore that uniform, eerie smile. It melded back into the ground and quickly transmitted orders to nearby clones, gathering corpses efficiently.
A hundred…
Kaede Tsukasa mused, recalling that the Manda also favored that number, often demanding Orochimaru prepare a hundred living sacrifices.
"The Ryuchi Cave… with Orochimaru's talent, he still never learned senjutsu there. I wonder when I'll have the chance to master it. Using senjutsu to perform Zombie Release… the power it could unleash would be unimaginable."
Kaede Tsukasa patiently awaited the return of the White Zetsu clones.
Once he had gathered enough zombies, he planned to fly to the front line and see exactly what Orochimaru had been up to.
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