**Chapter 4: My Comrades and I Are Incredibly Friendly**
Summoning Jutsu is a very interesting summoning technique, ranging from C-rank to S-rank.
The highest S-rank Summoning Jutsu is typically Impure World Reincarnation.
The lowest C-rank Summoning Jutsu can be Ninja Tool Scroll Summoning, or it can be a Summoning Jutsu formula inscribed on a wrist guard or waist guard, allowing various Ninja Tools to be summoned at critical moments. For instance, when Sasuke fought Danzo, he summoned a pile of shuriken from his wrist guard.
The Summoning Jutsu Tsukasa Kaede was currently using was undoubtedly C-rank, only capable of summoning a few Ninja Tools. His scarce Chakra was insufficient for higher-ranked Summoning Jutsu, and even if he wanted to learn higher-ranked Summoning Jutsu, like summoning animals, he hadn't signed the corresponding contract.
However, the Ninja Tools he was currently summoning were a bit special.
Thump, thump, thump! A Coffin shot up, acting as a shield, firmly protecting Tsukasa Kaede and blocking the senbon.
"A Coffin?" Kio's face showed confusion. He had never heard of such a summoned item. Still, this wouldn't affect the final outcome. A mere Konoha Genin stood no chance against him, a Chunin. Only death awaited them.
Creak—
The previously silent Coffin, after being struck three times by the senbon, seemed to have its contents awakened, and began to stir.
The decayed pine wood board slowly lifted and slammed to the ground with a loud thud, revealing the sealed Corpse inside.
This Corpse was a terrifying work of art. Its head was unnaturally tilted on its neck, and two ghastly white eyeballs stared from festering eye sockets. Dark red blood had long congealed and was spread all over its body.
Most horrifying was its chest, where a chunk of flesh was missing, exposing rotten, withered, and incomplete internal organs, indicating that this body had suffered a brutal battle in life and a tragic death.
"Judging by the attire... it seems to be an Iwagakure ninja." Kio was profoundly shocked, struggling to comprehend the Abomination before him. An Iwagakure ninja's Corpse, sealed in a Konoha ninja's Coffin? No, it wasn't a Corpse, because he watched wide-eyed as this horribly decayed Abomination moved! Dammit, a guy who clearly looked like he'd been dead for ages was staring at him with ghastly white eyes, and the next second he moved, stepping out of the Coffin and walking towards him!
"What the hell is this Abomination?! Looking at its physical condition, it should be dead, but why can it still move? What kind of Jutsu is this?!" Kio's mind reeled. His first reaction was that he was caught in a Genjutsu.
"This is a Jutsu that can kill you. Honestly, this is my first time using this Jutsu on an enemy... a healthy enemy, that is."
Tsukasa Kaede performed a single Hand Kaedegn, using the resonance of Chakra to control the Zombie before him to attack the enemy.
This was also his first time using the Zombie Secret Technique in actual combat; he had secretly experimented with it before.
It was because he was specifically in charge of transporting ninja Corpses, so he had too much usable material. Moreover, the Zombies' physical condition was no different from a dead person's. After experimenting, he would dispose of them as Corpses, leaving no traces.
Research Ninja with true research talent wouldn't waste time on a pile of worthless Genin Corpses. Coupled with Tsukasa Kaede's secretive Jutsu casting process, and his intentional avoidance of the Hyuga Clan, only performing Jutsu in forest areas midway through his routes, he was even less likely to be discovered.
Tsukasa Kaede wasn't actually satisfied with this Zombie.
This Zombie was originally a Genin, mediocre in strength, and died without a fuss, the type no one would waste time paying attention to, making it very suitable as a target for his Jutsu. So much so that he specifically acted nonchalantly when the guy had one breath left and was about to be handled by the Corpse Removal Team, subtly using Chakra to implant the Zombie Virus into his body.
Tsukasa Kaede had done similar things many times and had acquired several usable Zombies—but only just "usable."
Kio scrutinized the rotting Living Corpse, his heart pounding. To be safe, he decided to eliminate it with long-range Ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A torrent of water surged forth, washing away some of the rotten flesh from the Zombie and knocking it down.
"Is this the Jutsu you rely on to save your life?" Kio breathed a sigh of relief, then sneered, rapidly performing Hand Kaedegns while charging at Tsukasa Kaede.
No matter what his opponent intended, he just needed to kill him.
Tsukasa Kaede retreated a few steps. If he didn't have a backup plan, he would be overwhelmed by speed and wouldn't last three seconds.
"Corpse Release: Corrosive Explosion, Hah!"
The fallen Zombie suddenly began to sizzle, then exploded with a roar!
The massive explosion engulfed the Hidden Mist ninja, raising a cloud of dust.
This was a Zombie he had spent some time fine-tuning... carefully attaching Explosive Tags to its bones and using Jutsu to control its body for Chakra conduction.
Tsukasa Kaede slowly lowered his arms, which had been covering his face. Still not relaxed, he quickly retreated, leaning against his two comrades.
Over the years, he had developed a cautious personality; his terrible physical condition also didn't allow him to be reckless. A single gamble could mean death.
When the dust settled, the ninja was not completely dead. The wet ground indicated that he had used Water Release Jutsu to partially offset the explosion.
But he was severely injured, with most of his body suffering horrific wounds, and his face was completely disfigured.
Various fragmented pieces of zombie flesh and blood splattered onto Kio.
"Truly an excellent ninja who survived the Second Great Ninja War. You have the right for me to remember your name, while you can still retain your consciousness." Tsukasa Kaede sternly stated, shielding his two comrades in front of him.
"Ugh, ugh, ugh, you damned bastard..."
Kio mumbled incoherently, looking at his body, especially his wounds, where they were stuck with pieces of rotten flesh. He was a mix of shock and fury.
He had actually fallen to such trash! And his end was so miserable!
"What, still want to fight? Then I'll have to summon new tools." Tsukasa Kaede narrowed his eyes.
He had only prepared four self-destructing Zombies, and now three remained, hidden in different locations in the Land of Fire's forests, specifically for emergencies.
There was no helping it; his mission frequency was too low, and the money earned from healing the injured wasn't much. Even during wartime, though the Village would issue Explosive Tags and offer discounts for personal purchases, the financial burden was too heavy for Tsukasa Kaede.
Attaching 15 Explosive Tags to each Zombie was already nearly bankrupting him.
Tsukasa Kaede still envisioned further developing the Corrosive Explosion Jutsu, eventually reaching an effect similar to Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, capable of infinite bombardment within a certain period.
Just imagine such a scene: two or more Zombies scattered across the battlefield, moving at super-high speed, suddenly initiating a chain of mutually multiplying self-destructions, turning everything in their path into scorched earth.
What should such a Jutsu be called? Infinite Rotten Explosion... no, maybe Infinite Blessings?
Unfortunately, this was destined to remain a pipe dream; there was still a long way to go to achieve it.
"...He escaped. Good, though I still don't know his name."
Tsukasa Kaede slowly released his left hand, which had been performing Hand Kaedegns, watching the retreating figure. He sighed internally with relief.
On the surface, he had only held a slight advantage and forced the enemy to retreat, but in reality, he had won.
"A Chunin, and severely wounded at that. It would take some time to incorporate him into my Corpse Release... My Chakra is still too low, not only preventing me from fully unleashing my Jutsu but also severely hindering the rate at which I can further develop Corpse Release."
Tsukasa Kaede looked at his two unconscious comrades on the ground.
"And I didn't even need to use these two guys, so I don't have to turn them into Zombies for now. So... Release!"
(end of chapter)