I Only Need a Scratch Too

Kaedeji occasionally summoned zombies to carry him on their backs during the journey to conserve stamina. This method of travel wore out several zombies.

Summoning "ninja tools" from the scroll did not actually consume much Chakra, let alone when the expendable items he summoned were merely worthless genin.

Watching Kaedeji reseal the worn-out zombies, Morino Ise could not help but complain, "I never imagined the Dead Soul Technique could be used this way. You can actually keep corpses moving for so long. Controlling corpses must consume a huge amount of Chakra, right? Even if you use the stamina you save to generate more Chakra, can you really keep up with that level of consumption?"

Kaedeji carefully placed the Sealing Scroll at his waist and said calmly, "Lord Morino, you should know very well that I improved the Dead Soul Technique. It is perfectly reasonable for the technique's effects to change slightly. As for exactly how it works, I have no way to explain it to you."

He was very thorough. If he carelessly left behind a worn-out zombie, and it still bore some remnant insignia of Sunagakure or another ninja village, it would be enough for the Konoha Patrol Unit to produce three mutually contradictory investigation reports.

Morino Ise had no response, and the expressions of the other colleagues were rather strange as well.

This was indeed the first time they had seen Kaedeji use the "Dead Soul Technique" up close—though it had been bound to happen sooner or later. Besides, more than two months ago, Kazematsuri Takuya had already seen just how unusual Kaedeji's technique was.

Kaedeji had long since prepared himself mentally. This time, going to war would be completely different from his previous two battles against Amegakure, as well as his battle with Ao of Kirigakure. This would undoubtedly be the most dangerous one.

This was a true large-scale military operation. The number of troops involved, the scale of coordinated action, and the execution of tactics had all risen by an entire level.

At worst, I'll die on the battlefield as an insignificant nobody. If I'm truly forced that far, I can only turn myself into a zombie. I just don't know whether it will work, or how much of my self-awareness I'll retain if it does.

Kaedeji rapidly calculated the odds of success in his mind, but the result was impossible to determine.

None of the zombies he controlled possessed self-awareness. Even if they could use the ninjutsu they had known in life and display instinctive reactions in battle, all of that was fundamentally achieved through the preexisting connections formed by countless neurons. They did not possess the self-awareness they had in life.

Kaedeji had also considered whether, if he carefully cultivated a zombie and maintained it for long enough, a brand-new, hazy consciousness might emerge within its body.

Perhaps it was possible, but it would require further development of Corpse Manipulation.

If I'm truly driven into a dead end, this is the only path I can take. If I'm lucky, perhaps after a few years—or decades—I'll regain my self-awareness and truly awaken again.

It was just that he did not know whether the self at that time would still be himself...

No one among the five spoke again. Carrying their own thoughts, they arrived at the front-line camp.

The moment they entered the camp, everyone's expressions grew heavier. There was no other reason—it was too horrific.

Signs of battle were everywhere. From time to time, ninjas withdrawing from the front lines, wounded but not dead, lay on stretchers and let out anguished wails.

...Some of the wounded show signs of poisoning. It seems the battle is going badly for us, Kaedeji thought.

They were dressed as Medical Ninjas, and the moment they entered the camp, they drew some attention. Some people's eyes lit up at first, but they soon sighed and shook their heads.

Ordinary poisons were not difficult to deal with. With a ninja's Physical Quality and Chakra, they could hold on until an antidote was prepared on site.

But the deadly poison developed by Chiyo left everyone helpless.

That was why Tobitake Tonbo had been abandoned.

The only fortunate thing was that ninjas had considerable resistance to poison. They could often hold on for more than ten hours, or even several days. As long as they endured, there was hope.

Everyone was waiting for Tsunade to return.

As for what mission Tsunade was carrying out, No One knew.

Before Tsunade returned, Medical Ninjas like Kaedeji, who were proficient in human anatomy, needed to preserve the wounded's lives as best they could.

Other Medical Ninjas arrived one after another. Kaedeji even saw some War Orphans, drenched in sweat as they used Chakra to heal wounds.

Even the children from the orphanage have been sent here. Yakushi Nonō must be in action too. I just don't know where she is—perhaps she has already infiltrated Sunagakure ahead of us.

Kaedeji withdrew his gaze and focused on his work.

Before long, Kaedeji was assigned to the front-line battlefield, moving together with several ninjas.

Corps-level warfare could not be compared to small-team infiltration missions. If several hundred people used an ordinary ninjutsu at the same time, it would be Enough To alter the terrain and add uncertainty to the battlefield. That meant the war would become even more complicated and unpredictable.

One moment of carelessness could lead to a horrific death.

Kaedeji moved through the battlefield with extreme caution. Medical Ninjas were not responsible for personally breaking through enemy lines, which was good news.

But the bad news was that the enemy specifically targeted Medical Ninjas for slaughter.

"Kaedeji, watch your back," Morino Ise shouted.

Without even raising his head, Kaedeji reached for the scroll at his waist and swiftly unfurled it. The entire process took less than a second.

Bang!

The character for "corpse" on the scroll activated. A cloud of white smoke rose, and a zombie appeared behind Kaedeji, taking the attack in his place.

Squelch!

The Sunagakure Ninja thrust into the zombie's chest, his kunai sinking all the way in.

"Oh? What kind of Summoning Technique is this? Whatever it is, it definitely won't survive before me. Besides, my kunai is coated in poison. Just a scratch is enough to kill you."

The Sunagakure Ninja wore an exceptionally cruel grin, his heart filled with delight.

The person before him was strange, with a deathly pale face and oddly colored flesh, but that did not matter.

He and his companions had killed Konoha Ninja with poison many times. Even a tiny scratch was unbearable pain for a Konoha Ninja.

But his expression quickly froze when he saw his wrist seized by the enemy.

The Sunagakure Ninja did not panic. He immediately drew another kunai with his other hand and launched a second attack, stabbing upward through the chin and into the skull.

"It's over. You're next."

After killing the enemy, the Sunagakure Ninja immediately charged at Kaedeji. Before the other Konoha Ninja could come to his aid, he intended to finish Kaedeji—he really only needed a scratch.

"You're already dead. To deal with you, I only need a scratch too."

Kaedeji formed a hand seal with one hand. "Hah!"