chapter 101 part 4
"Cultivating a new body is, of course, no problem. However, I have a question... once you've switched to a completely new body using an unknown method, what will become of this current body? How about you let me handle it? This is the origin of the Corpse Release Secret Technique; I would cherish it greatly."
"Impossible. I won't give it to you. My changing bodies doesn't mean I'll destroy this original one after success. I have a very interesting idea to test, and while it's something that can only be achieved much later, I won't hand it over to you so easily."
"A firm refusal, how regrettable." Orochimaru said, though the expression on his face grew increasingly dangerous.
Tsukasa Kaede watched Orochimaru's every move, his expression calm—*Orochimaru, don't you dare disappoint me.*
In the worst-case scenario, Tsukasa Kaede would have no choice but to enter the Reaper's Belly and await Kushina Uzumaki's actions. In that case, who knew how many years it would be before he could reappear in the Shinobi World; by then, his corpse would have been running around as a Zombie for a long time.
There was no helping it. Tsukasa Kaede currently had misgivings about the situation in the Pure Land. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to "voluntarily" enter the Sage of Kaedex Paths' territory. Instead, he preferred to use the Reaper as a powerful barrier between the Living World and the Pure Land.
Tsukasa Kaede thought silently, placing great hopes on Orochimaru.
"I'll start immediately and strive to cultivate a satisfactory body for you as quickly as possible. Hashirama Cells and Sharingan, you won't be disappointed. So, in exchange, Tsukasa-kun, will you hand over the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu to me?"
"Choose another condition."
"Heh, then how about telling me the method for transferring your Soul? I'm already your helper; you still need my assistance to obtain a satisfactory body. So, to some extent, you're dependent on me, aren't you?"
Orochimaru's eyes slowly widened, his expression earnest.
Tsukasa Kaede saw at a glance that Orochimaru's inner agitation was almost uncontrollable. He immediately said, "There's no harm in telling you. The key lies in the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique. It's the only Technique Formula in the Village capable of transferring a Soul."
"Such a dangerous Forbidden Jutsu, and the Third Hokage was actually willing to grant it to you? Did you exchange it for the Corpse Release Secret Technique?"
"No, I learned it directly from Senior Dan Kato, but that was two years ago. No one knows about this except for him and me; not even Tsunade knows," Tsukasa Kaede said.
"Oh? Such a highly difficult Forbidden Jutsu, which only Kato Dan has ever learned since Konoha's founding, and you actually learned it?"
"I've barely learned it, but if I use it when the time comes, it should succeed."
It seemed reasonable, yet Orochimaru felt something was off. According to his understanding of Tsukasa Kaede, Tsukasa Kaede would always keep the most crucial things to himself.
The Spirit Transformation Secret Technique might indeed play some role, but the real key should lie elsewhere, definitely not in the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique itself.
"Using the Spirit Transformation Secret Technique, your Soul will enter a new body, but how will you ensure you can adapt to this new body? If it were that simple, then Kato Dan could freely switch into powerful bodies."
An inquisitive look appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
Tsukasa Kaede said blandly, "It's simple: Corpse Release. All corpses are under my control."
Orochimaru understood somewhat, but not completely. Seeing Tsukasa Kaede's increasingly cold gaze, he fell silent for a moment, then chuckled, "Then I'll start immediately, Tsukasa-kun. You can wait patiently for a while."
"Muffled cries!"
At this moment, the Senju Clan member on the operating table, who had heard their entire conversation, felt the fear in his eyes intensify. Yet, neither Orochimaru nor Tsukasa Kaede had any intention of acknowledging him; he already understood his fate.
Until the Hashirama Cells destroyed his body, causing him to die a gruesome death on the spot.
"Another Senju Clan member dead. Except for Toka Senju's success due to Tsukasa-kun's intervention, all other Senju Clan members who participated in the experiment have died. This clan really spares no expense; they must have all gone mad after seeing Toka Senju's Wood Release power."
Orochimaru began processing the corpse on the operating table, chuckling sinisterly, "Looking at it this way, the decline of the Senju Clan seems not far off."
"No, their days of resurgence are steadily approaching. A rebound after hitting rock bottom is only natural," Tsukasa Kaede said.
Orochimaru looked over in surprise, but Tsukasa Kaede had no intention of explaining further.
As long as the Senju Clan could hold on and not collapse, not vanish from mainstream view like on the original Timeline, as long as they persevered, there was a certain probability that the person who would solve the problem—Naruto—would appear.
The Uzumaki Clan was pretty much finished. Kushina and Minato wouldn't have children. Among the other Uzumaki descendants, perhaps only Karin's mother could still bear children, and Hinoka's parents, though it was uncertain if they were Uzumaki descendants, might also count.
However, these people were too far removed from the Uchiha Clan. Asura's descendants split into the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan, but Indra's descendants did not; there had only ever been the Uchiha Clan.
Therefore, no matter how one looked at it, this generation's Asura would inevitably follow in the footsteps of Indra's Reincarnation, being born within the Senju Clan, close by.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter. Even if the Senju Clan collapsed, Tsukasa Kaede had prepared Tsunade and Kato Dan as a fallback. If the first child wasn't Asura, then the second would be; it was bound to happen.
Asura, committed to stopping Indra, would definitely find a way to be born, creating conditions even if none existed.
"Tsukasa-kun seems to possess special intel. How interesting. This must be the advantage of having countless corpses to gather information, truly enviable."
Orochimaru immediately began taking out a portion of Hashirama Cells for directed guidance, but this was difficult, and with current technology, it was uncertain how long it would take to complete.
Another month passed.