Let Me See Where the Limits of My Jutsu Lie!

"The village has new arrangements for Morino Ise. He has also earned considerable military merit, enough to warrant an adjustment to his position."

Tsunade signed her name on the transfer order. Since she was here, there was naturally no room for Aburame Ryoma to interfere.

"With the Hokage's signature and mine, no matter who it is, they must accept it."

"I see. Then I'll work hard and make the most of my abilities."

Kaedeji felt that Konoha really was a fine place.

With endorsements signed by the highest leader and his direct superior, he could act boldly without worry.

There was nowhere in all of Konoha more suitable for him than the Corpse Disposal Unit. Besides, before heading to the battlefield, he had already worked in this department for some time and acquired several decent zombies, which had been a tremendous help to him.

Tsunade tossed Kaedeji a scroll. It recorded a jutsu that used Chakra to stimulate the body—the thing she had promised him earlier.

"Are you close with Aburame Ryoma?" Tsunade asked abruptly as she dealt with the documents on her desk.

"I was indeed granted an audience with Lord Ryoma."

"Hmm. Stay away from that guy. As far as I know, Yakushi Nonō has been active around Aburame Ryoma, apparently trying to transfer you to another department. I rejected it."

Without even raising her head, Tsunade said, "Those people are all connected to Root. I don't know how much you know about Root, but keeping your distance is the right move. They're definitely interested in your secret technique."

Kaedeji wore an enlightened expression.

So, without him realizing it, Root and Tsunade had already begun a round of maneuvering?

Kaedeji immediately recalled Yakushi Nonō mentioning that she would find a way through Root to locate a method within the village's human experimentation projects that could restore his two fingers.

At the time, Kaedeji had not taken it seriously, but now it seemed Yakushi Nonō had meant it.

"Understood, Lady Tsunade. But I'm only an ordinary Chunin. Many times, I have no say over where I'm assigned. I will obey the village's arrangements."

"Hmm. Just watch yourself. I can't keep an eye on you forever. Also, use your secret technique less in the village, and absolutely do not use it on your comrades. Otherwise, even I won't be able to protect you."

"Of course. My jutsu is meant to protect the village and my comrades," Kaedeji readily agreed.

He was not crazy enough to trigger a zombie crisis inside Konoha. At present, Konoha truly was the harbor best suited to him.

In truth, Kaedeji still hoped to participate in the village's forbidden experiments. Only then could he truly come into contact with the real core secrets, such as Hashirama Cells.

Using One's Own Life Reincarnation to make up for his shortcomings was the first half of Kaedeji's Body Replacement plan. The second half was far more complicated, and the best option was to obtain Hashirama Cells.

And to obtain Hashirama Cells, it would be best to join the village's human experimentation projects and assist Orochimaru and Danzo. That way, he could get his hands on them openly.

Of course, it did not matter if he could not obtain Hashirama Cells. Kaedeji still had backup plans; they simply would not be as perfect.

But it seemed he would not Have the Opportunity for the time being. Tsunade was very concerned about someone as specialized as him associating with Root's people.

"Next, I'll have to lie low for a while..."

Kaedeji did not return to his residence. He no longer had any use for that shabby house on the edge of the village.

With his current merits, he could easily obtain a better house—though he Does Not Care about his living quarters at all—and went straight to the Corpse Disposal Unit instead.

Of those who had gone to the battlefield, aside from Morino Ise, only he remained.

"It was already a tiny department, and now only I'm left. Still, that's normal. Only the war against Iwagakure hasn't ended, so the number of corpses transported here will temporarily drop to rock bottom."

Moreover, the village might not necessarily send large numbers of worthless corpses to the Corpse Disposal Unit as it had in the past.

Kaedeji was, after all, someone who manipulated corpses. If he had not used the Dead Soul Technique during wartime to conceal this secret technique, then at any other time, he would have long been deemed to be researching forbidden techniques and subjected to close surveillance—or simply absorbed into Root.

"So, I can't place my safety in the hands of the village higher-ups' whims. I must prepare some life-or-death means for myself in advance," Kaedeji muttered thoughtfully.

Konoha's moral standards in this era were far below those of Naruto and Sasuke's era. The higher-ups probably would not go so far as to directly kill a talent like Kaedeji, someone skilled in corpse research. There would definitely be a place for him in the various taboo human experiments.

It only depended on when Kaedeji could earn the village's true trust and gain the opportunity to join them.

When a new batch of corpses arrived, Kaedeji immediately entered working mode.

He was diligent and conscientious, just as before, carefully handling every corpse. Corpses with absolutely no value were burned directly, while the valuable ones he kept for himself.

Everything he did was seen by the ninja assigned to watch him and reported to the higher-ups one by one.

The Third Hokage was watching him, and Danzo was naturally watching as well.

"Is that so? He made no additional moves?"

To Danzo, privately keeping a few corpses was no issue at all. The Corpse Disposal Unit was merely a minor department, and the corpses it handled held little value. Even if Kaedeji swallowed them all for himself, it would not matter.

Danzo was mainly using this method to analyze Kaedeji's secret technique.

"In three days, he took all seventeen corpses sent over... So blatant. It seems his jutsu is even more outstanding than I expected."

Danzo nodded inwardly. He was roughly assessing the speed at which Kaedeji modified corpses. In only three days, he was Am Confident in handling so many corpses? Including the corpse of a Jonin? This might not Even More be Kaedeji's limit.

Of course, it could also be an act. It was perfectly normal for young people to exaggerate their abilities somewhat in order to display them to the village.

"Lord Danzo, what should we do next? Should we ask him for the Corpse Release Secret Technique? Lord Hokage's side should be paying attention as well," Aburame Ryoma asked.

"No need. Until I issue new orders, continue monitoring him. If you encounter Anbu personnel, do not clash with them. Hiruzen's son and daughter-in-law will not give this old man any face."

Danzo snorted, then said, "Kaedeji is a ninja of the village, so his jutsu is naturally Konoha's jutsu. And Konoha's jutsu is naturally this old man's jutsu! What truly interests me is whether the corpses he modifies can retain the Kekkei Genkai they possessed in life?"

Sandstorm Araki was also a Magnet Release Ninja, yet Kaedeji had not taken that corpse out again until now.

Aburame Ryoma immediately understood what Danzo meant—could the corpses of the Uchiha Clan be turned into loyal walking dead? Naturally, they would need to be the kind that could still use the Sharingan.

If he could accomplish even that, it would be enough to make even Danzo's heart stir.

Danzo's loathing for the Uchiha Clan and preference for the Sharingan were no secret to Aburame Ryoma.

"Orochimaru sent someone back with the corpse of an Explosion Release ninja," Aburame Ryoma said.

"Orochimaru... that meddlesome bastard. While dealing with Iwa, he still managed to reach this far."

Danzo snorted coldly and fell silent for a moment. "Then give the corpse to Kaedeji! Let me see where the limits of this secret technique lie!"