chapter 73 part 1
Chapter 73: Ōtsutsuki, Hyuga Clan, Tenseigan
"Huh? Lord Tsukasa Kaede can contend with a Jinchuriki, yet he's only a Special Jonin? Elite Jonin seems more fitting!"
"Didn't Lady Tsunade say earlier today it was containment, not a direct confrontation? But an Elite Jonin... in any case, he'll surely be a Jonin after we return."
During wartime, there was no shortage of rapidly advancing talents, but few could match Tsukasa Kaede's speed in promotions.
Only Minato Namikaze could compare.
Coupled with Tsukasa Kaede using enemy corpses to rescue his comrades, he had earned great merits, naturally garnered widespread admiration and support.
Immediately, people began even more fervent discussions and conjectures, continuously casting eager glances toward Tsukasa Kaede, hoping he would stand up and chat with them. But they were disappointed; Tsukasa Kaede remained quietly seated.
Everyone was curious: what kind of Jutsu did Tsukasa Kaede use to achieve the goal of containing a Jinchuriki? It must have been through a multitude of corpses and Space-Time Ninjutsu, raining down various Ninjutsu while Tsukasa Kaede himself darted around... People guessed this was the only tactic that could hold back the enemy.
"Iroha, you seem a bit disturbed. What's wrong? Your state seems off ever since the retreat from the northern coast of the Land of Hot Water."
Ibiki Morino walked over, asking seemingly casually, then pointed to Shibi Aburame in the distance: "He must have noticed it too. He seems quiet, but he's actually very cautious and alert."
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede said you possess keen intel analysis capabilities. It seems he was right," Iroha did not directly answer.
He was brainstorming, using silence to suppress his inner horror and despair. Being able to appear this composed was already quite an achievement.
Ibiki Morino's confusion deepened. He suspected Iroha had discovered something—if he was simply frightened by this defeat, it would be too absurd. Iroha was a well-known young man from the Hyuga Branch House.
Though not a genius on the same level as Tsukasa Kaede or Minato Namikaze, he wouldn't be like this for no reason.
Ibiki Morino couldn't gather any useful intel, so he stopped asking, merely speculating internally that Hyuga Iroha must have noticed something others hadn't.
Byakugan...
"That's an eye with long-range vision. Iroha probably saw something," Tsukasa Kaede also noticed Iroha's frequent glances and knew Iroha was intentionally trying to get his attention, naturally understanding.
Late at night, Tsukasa Kaede dozed for a bit, then opened his eyes and slowly rose.
"I'll take some people to patrol the surroundings."
"You should rest. I can handle this," Kato Dan looked at Tsukasa Kaede worriedly. "I can complete the patrol quickly using the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique. Your physical condition..."
"Don't worry, I've just returned to my previous state. Anyone else using the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu would surely die; it's a life-for-a-life technique, but I'm different. My situation is special, as you must have guessed."
Tsukasa Kaede waved his hand: "My Corpse Release Secret Technique is also very suitable for patrolling and reconnaissance. I can just summon a large number of corpses and send them out... Besides, I need to talk to a junior."
Kato Dan and Tsunade watched from afar as Tsukasa Kaede took Iroha on patrol, with Tsukasa Kaede stopping others who tried to follow.
The two immediately understood: the patrol was a pretense; Tsukasa Kaede wanting to talk to the Hyuga kid was the real reason.
...
Iroha followed the seemingly weakened Tsukasa Kaede, his face taut, not saying a word.
He knew that within this man's frail body, an astonishing power lay hidden.
"It seems you've already discovered it. Truly remarkable eyes, I'm envious," Tsukasa Kaede slowly said.
Iroha murmured, "Yes, your subordinate did see some things. Although the distance was quite far, at the edge of my vision, I couldn't clearly see many details. But even so, what I witnessed completely overturned my understanding..."
A person whose upper body was half-blown away could actually come back to life? And the only price Tsukasa Kaede paid was becoming thin again? Just that?
An unknown Forbidden Jutsu that resurrected an Elite Jonin, only consuming one's own flesh and blood? Iroha knew it wouldn't be that simple, but he couldn't see the deeper secrets.
Just the scene he witnessed was etched into his brain like a Curse Mark, destined never to fade.
"Overturned understanding... The few people who know I perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu all say that," Tsukasa Kaede said casually. "Iroha, as a member of the Hyuga Branch House, you seem to possess sharper senses than most. You've probably connected it to something interesting, haven't you?"
Hyuga Iroha's heart jumped, then he relaxed slightly. He wanted to say something but felt it was too unrealistic, even fanciful.
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede, as you said, I truly did have some thoughts..." Iroha stammered, a look of hesitation on his face.
"That's normal. Witnessing me resurrecting Senior Dan, especially excavating organs and a spine from an Explosion Release Bloodline Limit corpse for an on-the-spot transplant, any normal person would have thoughts. Although the transplant surgery I performed was incredibly crude, if Lady Tsunade hadn't assisted me, I don't know what Senior Dan's body would have ended up looking like."
Tsukasa Kaede stopped, turning to look at the evasive Hyuga Iroha.
The Hyuga Branch House—this origin already decided many things.
Other Ninja could wear their Konoha Forehead Protector wherever they wished: on their shoulder, waist, thigh, or neck.
But only members of the Hyuga Branch House, when on missions, uniformly wore it on their forehead to conceal the Caged Bird Seal.
This act of concealment, whether it was a disgrace or a matter of indifference, ultimately had to be seen as a commonplace, normal practice by the Hyuga Branch House.
There was only one way to break free from the Caged Bird Seal: death.
And now, Iroha had personally witnessed a way to break free from the Caged Bird Seal! "If you die and are then resurrected, you can naturally break free from the Caged Bird Seal. That's what you're thinking, isn't it? There's nothing to be ashamed of. Kaedence you've seen my Jutsu, you're bound to have such a desire."
Tsukasa Kaede stretched out a hand towards the sky, as if to grasp the Moon: "I have no intention of judging whether the Hyuga Clan's Main House and Branch House system is correct. However, since you've conceived the idea of breaking free and have substantially put it into action, then you must be prepared to pay the price."
"Lord Tsukasa Kaede, are you willing? But what is the price of performing such a Resurrection Jutsu...?"
"That's not something you need to consider. Return to the Hyuga Clan, ponder my words carefully, and then make your decision."