Kaede Tsukasa crouched low, eyes scanning the shifting environment. It was the first time he had used this technique in real combat. It required linking with zombies through chakra and the virus, following their senses—by that standard, it had succeeded.
"Although, in theory, I can reduce both the difficulty and chakra cost of this technique to an extremely low level, even at its lowest, it's still a kind of alternative space-time movement. With my remaining chakra, it's best not to use it more than twice."
Kaede Tsukasa quickly assessed the situation, sighing inwardly at his limited chakra.
Fortunately, the main chakra consumption of the Zombie Release Technique occurs while accelerating the transformation of the zombies. If he wanted to conserve chakra, he could let the zombies fight on instinct while he observed from a distance. Although this wouldn't unleash the full potential of the zombie ninja, it was still an effective way to save chakra.
But the Corpse Substitute Technique was different. Instant relocation couldn't be faked—the consumption was real.
"The farther the distance, the higher the cost. The linear distance for swapping positions shouldn't exceed fifty meters; any more and it will strain my body."
Kaede Tsukasa couldn't dedicate all his chakra to this one technique. He still needed chakra for other Zombie Release ninjutsu, further limiting the Corpse Substitute Technique's use.
Yet in critical moments, it was incredibly effective for survival.
"Flying Thunder God?!"
"Is that the Flying Thunder God Technique?!"
Ninjas on both sides turned in disbelief, staring at Kaede Tsukasa, who appeared calm, half-crouched, and now rising gracefully. For a moment, all fell silent.
Araki of the Sandstorm was utterly shocked but quickly steadied himself. "No… impossible. Space-time ninjutsu is extremely difficult to learn. In the same era, Konoha cannot have two young ninjas who have mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Is that so? You'd better think carefully before making conclusions. What if what you hope isn't true… actually is?" Kaede Tsukasa stood fully, gripping a kunai, ready to strike.
The other Sunagakure ninjas faltered briefly at the sight, and Konoha's side seized the opportunity to eliminate a genin and a chūnin.
Araki didn't care about his subordinates' deaths. Coldly, he said, "Every ninja village studies Minato Namikaze and his Flying Thunder God Technique, trying to completely suppress this Konoha genius—but no one has found an effective method. Minato's talent and combat ability are visibly extraordinary. And you? I don't believe you can master both the Dead Soul Technique and the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
His logic was simple—if Kaede Tsukasa had such talent, how could he only emerge at sixteen?
Minato Namikaze had been famous by thirteen, dazzling Iwagakure with the Flying Thunder God Technique. Iwagakure ninjas tried every method to suppress him but couldn't find a way.
And Kaede Tsukasa? In the ninja world, full of madness and war, talented individuals are discovered early, especially those from a major village like Konoha, with a relatively complete training and talent selection system!
If it weren't for Kaede Tsukasa's Dead Soul Technique being so unique and perfectly compatible with Sunagakure's human puppet path, Sunagakure wouldn't have paid much attention to him at all.
The human puppet path was the only method Sunagakure had found to narrow the gap with Konoha. Sunagakure had no bloodline families that shook the ninja world; even the occasional Magnet or Scorch Release ninja relied on postnatal chakra fusion to create bloodline limits—unstable and not heritable.
"Ah… since you've already drawn your conclusion, there's nothing more to say."
Kaede Tsukasa suddenly hurled the kunai in his hand. Honestly, his throwing technique was barely at the normal level of a genin. His muscle mass, explosive power, and neural control were all subpar; using thrown weapons at most caused minor harassment.
Araki of the Sandstorm sneered, further confirming his judgment.
"So what if it really is the Flying Thunder God Technique? I've heard that Minato Namikaze can, in the instant he switches positions, use a kunai to pierce an enemy's head with pinpoint accuracy. His opponents can't even defend in time! You? Your poor taijutsu and reflexes aren't enough to pull that off."
Flying Thunder God, combined with perfect reflexes, competent taijutsu, and terrifying instinct, was what amplified combat effectiveness to its maximum. Even now, Minato hadn't reached his peak—he merely showed matching potential.
And Kaede Tsukasa? He did change his position, but he didn't have the ability to launch an attack in the moment of relocation.
"However… exchanging positions while forming hand signs simultaneously with a zombie… Flying Thunder God requires throwing special kunai as spatial coordinates. This kid? No—his technique is more like mutual summoning with a substitute…"
An elite jōnin's intelligence analysis was top-tier in the ninja world. Araki's mind raced. The more he thought, the more absurd it seemed—how could such an outrageous technique exist? And the kid was young, had perfected the Dead Soul Technique, and could even develop complementary techniques? A space-time-type complementary ninjutsu? Could the Dead Soul Technique really have such insane potential? He'd never heard of it!
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. It defied logic. There had to be some missing piece.
"Maybe it's an incomplete Flying Thunder God Technique… or perhaps a simplified, unknown version of a space-time ninjutsu. But that's unlikely. Preliminary analysis: his movement distance is very short… I have too little intelligence, I need to probe further."
Boom!
A violent gust of wind erupted from Araki of the Sandstorm, sweeping countless grains of sand and launching a pile of kunai toward Kaede Tsukasa.
Araki had a strong premonition—if he didn't take Kaede Tsukasa down now, it would be even harder later! Focusing on attacking Kaede Tsukasa came with the risk of being countered by Terai, the elite jōnin.
"Don't think you're the only one with Wind Release. Failing to stop me from approaching is your mistake," Terai shouted, suddenly swinging a kunai.
Wind Release: Wind Cutter!
A flurry of wind-attribute transformations flew off the kunai, forming slashing wind blades that tore through the sand, sealing Araki's movement path.
In an instant, the battlefield shifted. The smaller number of Konoha ninjas appeared to gain the upper hand, already inflicting casualties on the enemy.
But everyone knew this advantage was temporary. Fighting on enemy soil without numerical superiority meant eventual defeat.
Kaede Tsukasa summoned a zombie, directing it to shield the sandstorm in front of him. Using the recoil from kicking the zombie, he sharply changed direction and landed on the sand, carving a trench as he joined the severely injured Yamiru.
"Director, are you alright? I don't have enough chakra left to heal you—you'll have to rely on yourself." Kaede Tsukasa panted rapidly, staring at the shrine maiden whose face was full of shock. "Please, hand me the intelligence. I will risk my life to bring it back to Konoha."