chapter 98 part 5
"Tsukasa Kaede is 18, Hidan is 12. Truly extraordinary talents. I have a premonition that for many years to come, the village won't have to worry about its safety."
The Third Hokage let out a sigh of admiration. "Therefore, from now on, Hidan will be appointed as a Jonin."
"Eh? This, I'm not saying he's not qualified, it's just... he's only completed this one S-rank mission so far, and he hasn't even done any D-rank missions." Toka Senju unconsciously blurted out, but quickly shut her mouth.
Hidan was absolutely qualified to establish himself among the Jonin ranks. Taijutsu to acquire blood, Jashin Ritual: Death Controlling Possessed Blood to use blood—it was truly too formidable.
At this moment, the Hokage's office door opened, and Tsukasa Kaede entered.
"My apologies, Hokage. I was delayed a bit. That Hidan fellow insisted on continuing his prayer ritual once he got home; it's a bit overly complicated," Tsukasa Kaede said with a smile.
"Hmm, that's fine. But what exactly is this 'Jashin' he worships...?" The Third Hokage's eyes showed a glimmer of inquiry.
Tsukasa Kaede replied, "Don't worry, Hokage. My Corpse Release has nothing to do with that Jashin. Corpse Release is a secret technique I developed myself and will never rely on some strange entity."
"That's good."
The Third Hokage was immediately relieved.
As of today, the Corpse Release Secret Technique was far from merely controlling a few corpses in battle. It had evolved into a super secret technique, a complete system encompassing many powerful Jutsu Formulas, whose effects, applications, and potential far surpassed the Clan Secret Techniques used by ninja clans like Ino-Shika-Cho.
The Third Hokage certainly didn't want Tsukasa Kaede to suddenly tell him one day that Corpse Release was actually the power of some bizarre entity. That would be a major, unpredictable hidden danger.
"As for the Jashin that Hidan worships, it originated from a certain religion in the Land of Hot Water. Everyone in that cult has been killed by Hidan and me," Tsukasa Kaede recounted in a calm tone. "So there will definitely be no strange individuals coming to demand Hidan's allegiance. I can guarantee this. Hidan is a ninja of Hidden Leaf Village, and I will not allow my disciple to be swayed by strange characters."
"Is that so? As expected of you, quite decisive."
The Third Hokage didn't pursue the matter of the cult further. Watching Tsukasa Kaede, he increasingly felt that Hidden Leaf Village needed someone like this who could act decisively and ruthlessly at critical moments.
The crucial point was that after getting things done, he wouldn't hide it from him, the Hokage.
From the assassination of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki onwards, the Third Hokage had observed Tsukasa Kaede's various actions. From every perspective, Tsukasa Kaede was becoming more and more suitable.
Jiraiya and Toka Senju remained silent. Given their relatively more light-sided temperaments, they definitely couldn't bring themselves to wipe out a cult at the drop of a hat, as Tsukasa Kaede had done.
"Hokage, there's actually one more thing I'd like to say."
Tsukasa Kaede slowly said, "After losing the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Hidden Stone Village will undoubtedly engage in an even more frantic arms race. Once someone starts this, it will continue endlessly, at the cost of destroying the national economy, lowering people's living standards, and overdrawing the future. They will definitely invest all their power into expanding military strength. More importantly, other villages will certainly follow suit."
"Tell me your thoughts."
Tsukasa Kaede raised a finger. "I request the activation of a Human Experimentation project. With my Corpse Release power, plus some ninja corpses from other villages that the village has in reserve, we might be able to transplant Bloodline Limits."
"What? How can this be? A Human Experimentation project is different from ordinary biological experiments; it requires living humans as test subjects, and the consequences of failed experiments are unimaginable."
Jiraiya was the first to object.
Tsukasa Kaede's radical treatment of people from other countries was something Jiraiya wouldn't comment on, because he couldn't control it, and even the Hokage hadn't interfered, so how could he?
But when it came to human experimentation, such a high-risk matter was simply...
Tsukasa Kaede's expression remained unchanged. "Lord Jiraiya, you should be very clear that our enemies are all doing this. If we don't, our situation will become even more dangerous in the future, and we'll have to sacrifice more comrades to recover. And that's the *good* outcome, relying on lives to close the gap. But what if too many people die, and the situation still can't be salvaged?"
"Impossible, with Hidden Leaf Village's strength—"
"Yes, you know it relies on the village's strength. Human experimentation also leverages the village's strength. While such forbidden experiments cannot see the light of day, it doesn't mean they are unnecessary."
Tsukasa Kaede paid no heed to Jiraiya's immediate objection.
In the original timeline, Hidden Leaf Village did initiate a Human Experimentation project, and many ninja involved tragically died on the operating tables, to the extent that the Third Hokage personally stepped in to halt it. Such matters were open secrets among the higher-ups, requiring no deliberate concealment.
Thus, Tsukasa Kaede didn't specifically speak to the Third Hokage alone now, but instead brought it up naturally with others present.
And he was also saying it for Toka Senju's benefit.
The Third Hokage hadn't made up his mind, finding it difficult to actively push a major decision with an unknown outcome. It was true for training medical ninja during the Second Great Ninja War, and it was true now for initiating the Human Experimentation project.
Toka Senju's face was clouded with uncertainty, but she finally made up her mind. "Hokage, let's initiate the Human Experimentation project. And not just ordinary experiments; I propose transplanting the First Hokage's cells. Kaedence we're going to do human experimentation, the number of Bloodline Limit corpses taken from other villages is limited after all. Rather than wasting time on that, it's better to go straight to the source and conduct experiments with our own Hidden Leaf Village's Bloodline Limit."
If one were to talk about Hidden Leaf Village's most precious and simultaneously "cheapest" Bloodline Limit—one that could be used on many people without running out—it would be Wood Release through Hashirama cells.
Hashirama cells, like cancer cells, could divide indefinitely, not dying automatically after a certain number of divisions like normal cells.
If the secrets of Hashirama cells could be unlocked, allowing them to be widely transplanted into numerous Konoha ninja, the resulting effects would be immeasurable.
Toka Senju gritted her teeth. As the Clan Head of the Senju Clan, she clearly saw an opportunity to reverse her Clan's decline.
"The First Hokage originated from the Senju Clan. If I lead the Senju Clan Members to participate in human experimentation, it will suppress most doubts and won't be considered a violation of village rules!" Toka Senju went all in.
A gamble! A gamble with a chance to win. Not gambling? The Senju Clan had no successors and would eventually be doomed, and the harder they tried, the faster their demise!
Jiraiya's eyes widened. He stared in shock at Toka Senju, who resembled a gambler. "Toka-senpai, what exactly is this...?"
"Jiraiya, there's a lot you don't understand. I have no other choice. The Senju Clan's situation is far more severe than you imagine. I cannot allow this clan to decline into a second-rate family under my leadership!"
Toka Senju gritted her teeth. "Now it depends on what level the village's biotechnology has reached. If we can use the lives of Senju Clan Members to advance the research on the First Hokage's cells, and successfully awaken Wood Release in some Clan Members... I am willing to be the first sacrifice for the human experimentation!"
(end of chapter)