chapter 87 part 2
The Gedo Mazo let out an even more piercing shriek. With a crisp *snap*, like bone breaking, Tsukasa Kaede forcefully severed the Gedo Mazo's right index finger.
*Thud!* Even though it was just a finger, it fell to the ground with immense weight, as if a thousand tons. After all, this was part of the Ten-Tails, its mass incredibly exaggerated.
"Excellent, it worked. This way, there'll be no problems. My plan has gained another layer of foundation. Whether or not I need to use it is one thing; not having it when I *do* need it is another."
Tsukasa Kaede was very satisfied.
Combined with the Four-Tails Chakra and Nine-Tails Chakra he currently possessed, if fused with this severed finger, he wondered what interesting things might happen.
What if he obtained the Chakra from the other seven Tailed Beasts as well? If all of it were used on this finger, could he assemble a small Ten-Tails?
Theoretically, it should be possible, but it would definitely require many intricate operations, such as using powerful Sealing Jutsu to enhance the binding force, ensuring that the nine types of Tailed Beast Chakra could always be compressed within the finger.
But that was for later.
After its shriek, the Gedo Mazo's body trembled violently for a while before becoming quiet again.
Tsukasa Kaede glanced at it, a strange illusion making him feel like this entity was a starving little beast that had just had a piece of its flesh cut off. It seemed a bit pathetic.
When attacked by Kakashi, this thing had at least swallowed seven Tailed Beasts. Even if Obito had extracted six Tailed Beasts from it to create new Jinchuriki Kaedex Paths of Pain, it had at least tasted them.
Unlike now, after starving for over a thousand years, not only had it not eaten a single thing, but it also had a finger severed. Truly pathetic.
"How truly pitiful, Gedo Mazo... I suppose your situation will only truly improve once the Ten-Tails is revived."
Tsukasa Kaede jumped down, stood before the finger, and took out a Seal Scroll to seal the object.
After performing the Reaper Death Seal three consecutive times, even Tsukasa Kaede felt a certain discomfort at this moment. While his physical body was relatively fine, the extreme weakness and damage at the Soul level were more tormenting than physical pain, an omnipresent stinging sensation.
Physical injuries could be alleviated with methods like anesthesia, nerve severance, or Medical Ninjutsu.
However, damage to the Soul, even just a superficial scrape, could not be directly interfered with; the Soul could only repair itself spontaneously.
This was also the first time Tsukasa Kaede had used the Reaper Death Seal three consecutive times; the last time, against Hanzo, he had only used it twice in a row.
"If I were to continue performing the Reaper Death Seal, I could definitely do it, but the damage to me would intensify. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I must never do this again in the future. Using the Reaper Death Seal twice in a battle is reasonable; three times is acceptable."
Unless Tsukasa Kaede found a way to strengthen his Soul, making it astonishingly robust and capable of incredible self-healing, then he could naturally use a Forbidden Jutsu like the Reaper Death Seal as he pleased.
Tsukasa Kaede narrowed his eyes, envisioning such a future in his mind: a perfect body and a strong Soul. He feared that no one below Kaedex Paths Level would be able to harm him in the slightest.
However, there was still a long way to go.
"I've also taken Madara's Corpse. You all stay here; no extra actions are allowed without my command."
Tsukasa Kaede looked at Tobi and the others, announcing his decision: "Before Madara is officially revived, I'm going to make good use of his body. Consider this compensation for him concealing too much Intel from me."
*Swish!* Tsukasa Kaede activated Spatial Rift Jutsu and returned to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Only one Zombie remained on the spot, unconsciously gnawing at something.
Tobi waited a while longer, confirming that Tsukasa Kaede wouldn't suddenly return, then said: "Can we trust this guy? Lord Madara never said Tsukasa Kaede should take over his remaining power before he died, did he? Is it really reasonable for us to just obey his commands? I feel it would be more meaningful to act freely and pursue the true essence of convenience."
"I don't know. What do you think, Black Zetsu?"
"Patiently waiting for Lord Madara's return is always correct," Black Zetsu said coldly.
"But what if Madara really died, and didn't use the Sharingan Dojutsu Tsukasa Kaede mentioned? What should we do then?"
"Then we continue to obey Lord Tsukasa Kaede's commands. No matter what, we must ensure the Eye of the Moon Plan proceeds smoothly," Black Zetsu said.
...
Tsukasa Kaede returned to the Hidden Leaf Village.
With the Kage Level Combat Power of an elderly Madara in his grasp, he unconsciously felt a bit more confident. Conveniently, for the past two days, he had stayed quietly at home, not going out to flaunt his presence while the villagers were gossiping about the inexplicable lockdown from two days prior.
Things should be better now. With the dead of night and a dark, windy moonless sky, it was perfect for a shadowy figure like him to move about.
"Hmm?"
Tsukasa Kaede was about to open his door, but his movement paused slightly as he pondered.
A moment later, he opened the door and walked onto the street, seeing Kushina standing beneath a streetlight.
Being rich certainly had its perks. After moving into a new house, he could even see streetlights when he went out. This was thanks to his diligent work on Missions over the past two years, not only contributing himself but also recruiting many others into his exclusive team to serve the Village.
At this point, if he let Madara out for a stroll in the Village, no one would probably recognize him.
"Blocking our doorstep in the middle of the night, Kushina, do you have a problem?"
Tsukasa Kaede held several Summoning Scrolls, arranged neatly one by one on his waist. His specially purchased attire made him appear meticulous.
His tone was flat, not wavering in the slightest despite seeing the Village's Jinchuriki after two days.
"I heard you have some Sensory Ability. Did you not notice me at all? If that gets out, you'll be a laughingstock." Kushina's complexion was completely normal, showing no signs of fatigue—given her status as a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, any injury would heal after a good night's sleep.
What Naruto could do, there was no reason Kushina couldn't.
Tsukasa Kaede said indifferently: "I noticed you as soon as you arrived. I just didn't know what you wanted to do. I initially thought you weren't here for me, so I deliberately waited."