**Chapter 67: Solitary Rescue**
Tsukasa Kaede had never considered himself a savior. He couldn't save everyone, but when faced with someone he had a good impression of and who possessed a secret technique that interested him, things were different.
If possible, he would save Kato Dan without much effort. Furthermore, he had an interesting idea that might have some curious effects on the future course of history.
But if a rescue proved impossible, there was nothing more to say. It would, at most, be considered a major failure of the support operation. After all, with the highest commander of the sub-front dead, there was little Tsukasa Kaede, a mere support captain, could accomplish.
"Tch, it looks like another failed high-level mission will be added to my personal record. That's a truly terrible feeling."
Tsukasa Kaede began to deploy numerous zombies, sending them to rescue the Konoha ninja caught in peril.
The greatest characteristic of zombies was their fearlessness of death. As long as it was beneficial, they would do it without hesitation under Tsukasa Kaede's command—though this would consume more of Tsukasa Kaede's chakra, since zombies only possessed the instinct to bite.
Consequently, the Konoha ninja struggling amidst the geological upheaval immediately received aid from a fearless team.
In the most extreme cases, the zombies didn't hesitate to use their own bodies as springboards to assist the leaping Konoha ninja, even if it meant quickly plunging into the lava, leaving no trace of their bodies.
Many similar instances occurred, deeply shaking people's hearts as the disaster unfolded.
"Is this the legendary new secret technique, Corpse Release... I'll remember that."
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh! To think they can use enemy bodies like that, I never would have imagined!"
"Killing enemies with enemy corpses to protect comrades during battle; using enemy corpses to rescue comrades during a rescue. There's no better Jutsu than this!"
Many people who instinctively harbored repulsion towards zombies immediately changed their minds upon witnessing this unprecedented rescue operation in their moment of life or death, casting grateful glances towards the solemn-faced Tsukasa Kaede.
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede, the situation at the coastline is the most critical and dangerous!"
"As soon as we entered the Land of Hot Water, this disaster suddenly erupted! It seems to be the work of an enemy Jinchuriki!"
"Lord Kato Dan stayed behind alone to hold off the enemy, fighting desperately to buy us time to retreat. You must be careful!"
"There's an astonishing Chakra signature over there."
Iroha struggled to keep up with Tsukasa Kaede, shouting after detecting with his Byakugan.
Several individuals rapidly traversed the chaotic landscape, dodging the intermittently erupting steam and lava.
Tsukasa Kaede commanded, "All of you stop here. Don't continue forward with me. I will go rescue Kato Dan alone."
"What? How can you say that? We're not afraid of death!" Might Dai shouted loudly, about to further open the Eight Gates Formation. "Actually, there's something I haven't told you. My Eight Gates Formation still has even greater potential to be unlocked—"
"I know!"
Tsukasa Kaede interrupted, looking earnestly at Might Dai. "Senior Dai, I truly believe you possess extraordinary talent and will certainly become my best assistant, but leave the rest to me. You try to make me believe in your strength, so why don't *you* believe in mine?"
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede, your youth truly moves me..."
Might Dai was moved to tears, and in his excitement, he opened two more Gates.
Shibi Aburame said, "My insects can fly, and if used well, they can also provide some assistance."
"Being afraid of death is one thing; recklessly seeking death is another! Even I cannot guarantee my survival when facing a Tailed Beast, so what makes you think you can? Which of you possesses powerful Ninjutsu capable of fighting a Tailed Beast? Who among you has Sealing Jutsu strong enough to suppress a Tailed Beast? Who has the immense Chakra to confront a Tailed Beast?"
Tsukasa Kaede turned to look at them. "Follow my orders. None of us have combat experience against enemies of this caliber. It's better if I go alone. I don't want to be held accountable by the Village for leading two squads and being the sole survivor both times."
Last time, killing those three Root ninja was out of necessity due to White Zetsu, but this time, there was no need to sacrifice all these people. Tsukasa Kaede still had to make a living in the Hidden Leaf Village, and there was no need to burn all his bridges unless absolutely necessary.
The group watched Tsukasa Kaede's figure rapidly recede.
Akimichi Fujiki used Partial Expansion Jutsu, scooping up two Konoha ninja, and said, "Hyuga kid, remember to constantly observe the battle ahead with your Byakugan. He's the captain, so we should listen to him."
"But can we, his subordinates, just watch him go into battle alone?"
"I understand how you feel, but precisely because you are young, you appear naive and hesitant... The mission should come first. Our current mission is to follow the captain's orders and rescue as many other comrades as possible!"
Akimichi Fujiki recalled his own teenage years, when he was also full of vigor, but eventually realized his talents weren't enough to support his ambitions, and much of his drive gradually subsided.
Shibi Aburame whispered, "The captain possesses Space-Time Ninjutsu. Even if the enemy has the power of a Tailed Beast, he should be able to escape safely. We should prioritize rescuing our other comrades."
Iroha was extremely unwilling. As a proud member of the prestigious Hyuga Clan, he couldn't bear to stand by and watch his superior go to his death, yet he could do nothing himself, causing a crack to appear in his proud heart.
Then, he suddenly turned his head. "Senior Shibi? So you've been here all along. I'm truly sorry, my sight was focused on Lord Tsukasa Kaede just now, and I didn't realize you were here the whole time. I thought you had gone to rescue people elsewhere."
Shibi Aburame said nothing, merely continuing to unleash swarms of insects.
Suddenly, Iroha turned his head in another direction, revealing a look of surprise. He even deliberately narrowed his horizontal Byakugan detection range, extending his vision in a single direction. From the southwest, he vaguely saw a squad rapidly approaching.
...
The Coastline.
Much of the ground beneath their feet had turned into lava, with large amounts of high-temperature steam constantly churning.
Kaedemply standing here required immense courage.
"Your body should be nearing its limit. The drawback of the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique must be that the Spirit Body has to regularly return to its host body."
Roshi pressed one hand to the ground, standing on a solidified lava rock he had created using Lava Release, coldly watching the panting Kato Dan opposite him.
Kato Dan's condition was indeed very poor. As an Elite Jonin, he was at a complete disadvantage against Roshi, who held the geographical advantage.
With very little Chakra remaining and severe bodily injuries, Kato Dan saw no possibility of victory.
However, the moment he chose to stay behind to prevent Roshi from further destroying the nearby Ley Lines with Lava Release and to buy the main force time to retreat, he had already steeled himself.
Once again, he unleashed the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique. His noticeably dimmer Spirit Body flew out of his physical form, piercing through the mist and heading straight for Roshi.
"Even if you are a Jinchuriki, this level of exertion is a heavy burden for you! I absolutely will not allow you to wipe out two thousand Konoha ninja by yourself!"
Kato Dan expended his last reserves of Chakra, completely abandoning his collapsed body, and flew recklessly towards Roshi. This would be his final strike, with the most ideal outcome being mutual annihilation.
But Roshi was not so easily defeated.
"Yes, I feel tired too, but the guy inside me doesn't."
Roshi's face was devoid of expression. The Four-Tails inside him had only just warmed up and was currently in a frenzied state.
His Tailed Beast Transformation further intensified, the number of tails behind him reaching three. He had almost transformed into a humanoid Four-Tails, with red Chakra nearly solidifying into a tangible substance clinging to his body.
He opened his mouth.
Lava Release: Scorching Stream Rock Technique!
(end of chapter)