White Zetsu chattered nonstop, and even Tobi occasionally spoke a word or two, making the long-silent stronghold unusually lively.
Black Zetsu listened quietly, observing and thinking. He had his own plans. After waiting over a thousand years, patience was the one thing he never lacked.
"Very well. Everything seems to be going smoothly. Whether Kaede Tsukasa trusts me or not, as long as he doesn't openly reject me, I will gradually uncover his secrets and acquire all his secret techniques."
Black Zetsu sensed the vast amount of zombie virus in the half of White Zetsu's body and Kaede Tsukasa's chakra, but made no additional move—he had ideas about the Zombie Release secret technique. This was a secret technique, not a Kekkei Genkai, meaning he could learn it too!
No matter how difficult it was to learn, with his long lifespan and Yin Release constitution, as long as it wasn't a purely Yang Release secret technique, he could master it. As for the possibility that Zombie Release was purely Yang Release…
Black Zetsu glanced at Araki of the Sandstorm, gnawing away at the White Zetsu corpse. If this thing were primarily Yang Release, he could barely believe it—after all, Kaede Tsukasa could extract life force from these creatures.
Life force mainly fell under the Yang Release category.
But if it were purely Yang Release, with not a trace of Yin Release properties, the world would be insane.
This kind of hellish technique, no matter how you analyzed it, must have at least some Yin Release aspects—mental control alone falls under Yin Release.
As long as it has Yin Release, he has a chance to learn it!
"I never imagined that one day I would study human ninja techniques. But if it helps rescue Mother, I must do it."
Black Zetsu knew his actions were risky. He should have chosen Madara, but he didn't want to miss this opportunity.
Uchiha Madara had spent half his life struggling, and even awakening the Rinnegan was so difficult. With his talent, Madara only succeeded near death. If this resurrection of Mother failed, and he didn't seize the Rinnegan, he'd have to reconsider his future plans.
But relying on Kaede Tsukasa was different. The future Indra reincarnation would never have to worry about lifespan or life force! This meant Black Zetsu would gain countless opportunities, with a high margin for error.
This was the permanent foundation, placing Black Zetsu in an unbeatable position.
"I'm going to carry out the village mission—find Jiraiya and call him back to participate in the Ninja World War."
Kaede Tsukasa said this, forming a hand seal with one hand, preparing to return to the Land of Rain to continue his mission.
"Good. Leaving the village now isn't conducive to your plan to approach the Uchiha clan. But be careful when getting close to Jiraiya. Don't harm the person named Nagato, and under no circumstances lay a hand on him," Madara said.
"Oh? Is Nagato your backup plan? I knew there were things you were hiding from me. White Zetsu running out to stop me must be because of Nagato, right?" Kaede Tsukasa sneered.
"I'll tell you about Nagato later. You just need to know our goals are the same: the Ten-Tails must be revived, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi must be achieved. Everything else along the way is irrelevant to this ultimate goal."
"Then I'll wait until you reveal all your secrets. Also, I'm very interested in that First Hokage replica you created."
"Wait, as I just said, this is for you."
Madara casually picked up an Uchiha war fan and tossed it to Kaede Tsukasa.
Kaede Tsukasa caught it, examined it briefly, and then sealed it in a blank scroll. He activated the Void Technique, disappearing instantly. In his place appeared a half-destroyed zombie.
The zombie opened its eyes and immediately saw Araki of the Sandstorm gnawing on the White Zetsu corpse. It let out a howl and instinctively tried to crawl over and bite.
"…I feel like this technique is really sinister, with many secrets," Tobi murmured, staring at the scene with the hollow whirlpool in his head.
Black Zetsu spoke proactively: "In any case, Lord Kaede Tsukasa is part of the plan. Now it's clear he's indispensable. Whether now or in the future, you will all rely on him."
Madara slowly closed his eyes, calming the restless life force within him. For someone who had transplanted Hashirama's flesh and blood, controlling the extra life force flowing into his body was nothing unfamiliar.
"Very well. Although you are a manifestation of that guy's will, you still represent him to some extent. It's fine that you think this way. But people change. The thoughts he had when he created you are not exactly the same as now. You are merely a product of the past—don't really take yourself as him."
Madara said no more, lowering his head as if asleep.
He hadn't truly rested for a very long time. His body was aging, his spirit exhausted. Now he could take a little time to rest.
...
Kaede Tsukasa returned to the Land of Rain, standing in the rain and feeling the dampness in the air.
This mission had gone unexpectedly smoothly—at least he didn't have to escape using the Void Technique.
"Madara definitely won't let me act freely. He'll find a chance to plant a curse seal inside me. But when will he strike? Will it be when I'm severely injured, near death, and then intervene to manipulate me?"
Yet he had the Void Technique and the Reincarnation of the Self technique, making it hard to fall into such a predicament.
That, however, was for the future. Eventually, his power would increase further, reaching a higher level.
For now, he still needed to continue searching for Jiraiya…
Suddenly.
Earth Release: Nether Swamp!
Beneath Kaede Tsukasa's feet, along with the zombies, the ground collapsed into a quagmire, trapping them all.
"This level of Earth Release… Jiraiya-sama, it's been over two years since we last met. There's no need to welcome me with such an elaborate display."
Kaede Tsukasa turned his head to see a white-haired man standing on a toad's back.
"I remember you—the medical ninja with terrible healing skills who fought alongside me in the Land of Rain," Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, a look of surprise crossing his face. "But back then, you never showed this kind of talent. There are too many doubts about you. I can't trust you, so I have to restrict you this way."
Jiraiya had been stationed here for two days. He had to ensure Nagato's safety and eliminate all risks.
Kaede Tsukasa remained unhurried. "People grow. I've just found the path suitable for me. Since you've been waiting, you must know this technique can't truly restrain me. I can escape anytime using my space-time ninjutsu."
"Space-time ninjutsu… Flying Thunder God? But it doesn't seem right. You replaced an active corpse, didn't you? You didn't inscribe spatial coordinates on these bodies. Even if you improved the Flying Thunder God technique, it's unlikely you could completely transform it into this."
Jiraiya produced a scroll, sealing some of the corpses away.
"As expected of Jiraiya-sama. My Void Technique is my own space-time ninjutsu, entirely different from Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique," Kaede Tsukasa said. "I still have other corpses to use in the Land of Rain. If I truly want to leave, even you can't stop me."
"In these two years while I was away, a ninja as unique and powerful as you appeared in the village," Jiraiya said, troubled. Honestly, even though Kaede Tsukasa had once been his subordinate, he found it hard to trust this corpse-controlling individual. He commanded thousands of subordinates—how could he know every single one?
Moreover, Kaede Tsukasa had clearly just fought a mysterious enemy and disappeared with them, only to reappear alone…
What did that mean? Had he made peace with the enemy? Or did he use space-time ninjutsu to transfer and kill the enemy, returning victorious?
And who was the enemy?
"If he attacks, I'll have to enter Sage Mode to expand my sensory range, or I'll be at a disadvantage," Jiraiya thought quickly, his expression serious.
Kaede Tsukasa took out the mission scroll, removed its seal, and tossed it to Jiraiya.
"My mission is complete. The village wants you to return to participate in the war against Iwagakure. The frontlines are said to be extremely brutal, with heavy casualties," Kaede Tsukasa said.
Jiraiya carefully examined the mission scroll, checking repeatedly—document format, encoded text, sealing techniques—every detail was correct.
The reason for coming to the Land of Rain was also logically consistent.
"Then go back and tell the village I have other matters to attend to. I cannot return. As for the war… I can only apologize," Jiraiya said resolutely.