chapter 75 part 1
Chapter 75: Tsukasa Kaede Makes His Appearance
Frontline.
Orochimaru concluded a surprise assault he had initiated. Over three hundred of his ninja died, and he killed over five hundred enemy ninja.
It was a very good victory.
On a frontline that routinely sees tens of thousands of participants, hundreds of casualties in a single battle might seem like nothing. However, one must consider that a war can last anywhere from a few months to several years.
Even Orochimaru couldn't predict how long the war would last, so the loss of several hundred ninja, from a long-term perspective, was actually quite substantial, a loss that needed to be recorded in a war report and submitted to the Third Hokage for review.
"Lord Orochimaru, should we launch another surprise attack before the enemy can react? I sense that their defenses have loosened somewhat; we might achieve even greater gains if we continue to attack."
Touka Senju followed Orochimaru closely and volunteered, "I am willing to lead the members of the Senju Clan in an attack, kill more enemies, and end this war as soon as possible."
Orochimaru turned and glanced at Touka, his eyes devoid of emotion, though his lips deliberately curved into a smirk: "Touka Clan Head, you're being a little too impatient. Not only can I see it, but others can as well… There's no need to be anxious because of the Uchiha Clan's outstanding performance; their military merit was earned with the lives of many clan members."
Throughout the Great Ninja War, the most intense battles with the heaviest casualties were undoubtedly those between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Stone Village. And indeed, the war between these two sides continued until the very end, never truly ended.
However, Orochimaru had already realized that the war would soon end, and the Hidden Stone Village would likely retreat first.
"When news of the Land of Hot Water campaign returned, most people rejoiced, not because the Hidden Stone Village lost a thousand-strong elite force, but because the Four-Tails Jinchuriki was in a coma."
Orochimaru extended his tongue and licked his cheek, his emotions somewhat agitated. An unaware observer might have thought he was excited by this: "The defeat of the Four-Tails has started the countdown for this war. Onoki will certainly choose to retreat; he's no match for us."
All the top experts from the Hidden Stone Village had deployed, including Onoki, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and Gari. However, Konoha's lineup was equally formidable: the three great bloodline limit clans—the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga Clans—were present, along with various secret technique clans, numerous small and medium ninja clans, and a multitude of civilian ninja. Under Orochimaru's leadership, they more than held their own.
Most importantly, this lineup was not the Hidden Leaf Village's full strength.
Sakumo Hatake was currently eliminating invading squads from the Hidden Mist Village and the Hidden Cloud Village, deterring both nations. Kato Dan and Tsunade were recuperating in the village, and the renowned Tsukasa Kaede was also resting. If nothing unexpected happened, he could be deployed again in due time.
The Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō, and Mito Uzumaki remained inactive. If truly necessary, they could also rush to the frontline.
And Jiraiya, whose whereabouts were unknown, served as a reserve force.
With such a formidable lineup, if Onoki wasn't out of his mind, there was no way he would continue fighting after losing the Four-Tails, a crucial combat power.
"Large-scale war is bound to end. At most, there will be some small-scale squad infiltrations and counter-infiltration operations. However, such minor skirmishes were a normal occurrence, happening every year before the Great Ninja War broke out," Orochimaru saw it clearly.
War is good; war must be fought.
This way, he could fish in troubled waters, secretly collecting the corpses of various ninja with bloodline limits, preparing ample research material for his immortality plan.
Moreover, in the years of fighting on the frontline, such a "special" ninja had actually appeared in the village, so special that the mere thought of him made Orochimaru tremble with excitement, wishing he could devour Tsukasa Kaede whole and seize everything he possessed for himself.
Immortality! Immortality! If the intel Shimura Danzō had provided wasn't exaggerated, or if Tsukasa Kaede hadn't deceived him, Orochimaru was certain he was incredibly close to immortality.
"The Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu, for such a forbidden art to exist in this world, whether he developed it himself or obtained it from someone else through some means, the jutsu itself isn't actually the most important thing."
Activating the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu with Corpse Release is what truly matters, because only then can one use a pile of worthless corpses to replenish their own life force and achieve eternal life!
It's merely consuming corpses; what kind of price is that? Every year, a vast number of ninja die in the Ninja World. All these corpses, if not utilized, would just rot in the ground. It's better to use them as sacrifices to extract life force!
Orochimaru couldn't yet confirm the true relationship between the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu and Corpse Release—must one first master the Corpse Release secret technique, and is the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu a component of it? Or are Corpse Release and the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu both independent forbidden jutsu, but using Corpse Release to activate the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu can minimize the cost? Based on Orochimaru's keen intuition, he felt the latter was more likely. Coupled with the Land of Hot Water campaign, where Kato Dan miraculously defeated the Four-Tails…
Orochimaru knew Kato Dan's skill level intimately. To defeat the Four-Tails Jinchuriki without a scratch, with Tsukasa Kaede's assistance? The focus must surely be on Tsukasa Kaede's assistance.
Most likely, Kato Dan tried to risk his life using the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique, but his body was ultimately rescued by Tsukasa Kaede using the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu. Otherwise, there's no other way to explain how Kato Dan could have been so powerful.
Perhaps Tsukasa Kaede himself also attacked the Four-Tails Jinchuriki using some method, inflicting injuries and accelerating the Four-Tails Jinchuriki's defeat.
Such a peculiar ninja, one who comprehensively arranged the process of life and death, from dead to alive and back to dead—Orochimaru loved it, coveted it, and…
…wanted it too much! "Hehehehehehe…"
In his extreme excitement, Orochimaru's tongue unconsciously extended half a meter, flicking it about, dripping with saliva.
"...Lord Orochimaru, it seems you are very pleased with the victory in the Land of Hot Water campaign, but please also pay attention to maintaining the personal image and charisma of a unit leader; it is also an important component of war strategy."
"Hm, you're right. I just suddenly feel this war is a bit boring, and there's no need to continue fighting it at all." Orochimaru retracted his tongue, recalled a delightful thought, and let out a sinister chuckle.
Touka Senju requested again, "Then I request to attack once more, kill more enemies, and end the war as soon as possible."
"Alright, if you insist, I won't stop you."
Orochimaru couldn't be bothered to waste time on members of the Senju Clan.
Indeed, he didn't care for the Senju clan members—don't misunderstand, this wasn't out of aversion to the Senju Clan; it was purely because the Senju Clan genuinely had nothing worth coveting or caring about.
The current Senju Clan was merely physically stronger than ordinary ninja and had a larger chakra reserve. Aside from that, there was nothing.
Not even the First Hokage's Wood Release Bloodline Limit had been inherited, let alone the various world-destroying Wood Release jutsu; all had been lost.
Ever since Nawaki died before his eyes, Orochimaru had become even more cold-blooded and less willing to waste time on the Senju Clan. With that energy, he'd rather explore various war ruins for any surviving secrets of the Uzumaki Clan.
Most importantly, Shimura Danzō possessed Hashirama's Cells. With such extraordinarily potent life force cells in hand, who would still care about the Senju?
Not to mention, the most outstanding Senju descendant, Tsunade, was his partner since childhood!
So... if the Senju Clan insisted on proving themselves and competing with the Uchiha Clan, then let them. It wouldn't matter if a few more of their already dwindling clan members died; it had nothing to do with Orochimaru anyway.
Speaking of which, the current Senju Clan had fallen behind the Uchiha Clan, which had perpetuated the Sharingan Bloodline Limit, in every aspect.
Even in terms of population size, they were completely behind.
Touka Senju, full of worry, led a group of clan members out.
In response, the Uchiha Clan also watched with interest.
"Lord Fugaku, it seems the Senju Clan fellows still refuse to admit defeat." Someone immediately reported to Fugaku Uchiha.
The 27-year-old Fugaku was already mature enough. Having undergone the crucible of the Second Great Ninja War, he was now a qualified clan head. He showed no additional reaction to the Senju Clan's contention.
"Then let them do it. They are all village comrades, all fighting for victory," Fugaku said.
More and more Uchiha clan members no longer regarded the Senju Clan as rivals, and this disregard became even more pronounced after the death of Nawaki, a direct Senju descendant.
If Tsunade hadn't been so exceptionally brilliant—with her personal strength, military merit, honor, and position all enjoying a decisive lead, effectively extending the Senju Clan's prestige—the Uchiha Clan would have even less regard for the Senju Clan.