Zombie Sage in Naruto

Chapter 206 Even a Small-Tailed Beast Wants to Surpass the Ten-Tails
The first to notice something was wrong were not the ninjas with exceptional sensory abilities, but the various tailed beasts.

If it were just the Gedo Mazo going berserk, the Tailed Beasts wouldn't have much of a reaction. They were originally extracted from the Ten-Tails by the Sage of Six Paths, and were subsequently given self-awareness by the Sage of Six Paths using Izanagi, transforming from pure Ten-Tails chakra into chakra life forms. Naturally, they knew what the Gedo Mazo was in general.

Not to mention, Kaede Tsukasa also handed the One-Tailed Beast over to Nagato, allowing the Gedo Mazo to devour it.

But now, another huge creature has appeared. It is also a tailed beast, but it is a complete entity. However, it is much larger and more powerful than any of the tailed beasts in the ninja world!
Even from the other side of this planet, one can feel the chakra that seems to gather all the violent and destructive emotions. The strong sense of unease spreads like a curse. Ordinary people can smell the unease in the breeze, let alone the tailed beasts.

At this moment, the seven tailed beasts scattered around the world became restless and uneasy.

"This suppressed chakra, there's no mistake, it's a brand new tailed beast!"

"This isn't an ordinary tailed beast... Could the Ten-Tails have been resurrected? But how is that possible! We're still here, and the Gedo Mazo is far from complete!"

"Nine Lama, you felt it too, didn't you?"

"Ha, so what if we sensed it? What do the changes in the outside world have to do with us? We're just a bunch of trapped beasts, why should we worry about what trouble those guys outside are in?"

Even Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, which was stuffed into the Gedo Mazo, rarely appeared in the mental space of the Tailed Beasts, consuming its limited power.

It's rare for the Tailed Beasts to hold meetings. If it were any other time, Shukaku, who is barely able to protect himself, would not participate in the meetings of the other eight Tailed Beasts and would try to stay out of trouble. But this time, the matter is of great importance, so he has no choice but to come.

"Shukaku is still alive? His consciousness wasn't devoured by the Ten-Tails, although that's not exactly good news."

Nine-tailed Fox lay on the ground, its eyes slightly open, looking at the tanuki opposite it.

Shukaku was furious: "Don't be so smug. If you don't find a way to break this deadlock, you won't be much better than me. You'll all end up like me!"

Shukaku has also given up on itself and is unlikely to find a chance to escape in the short term.

All humans outside are villains, without exception. The Sage of Six Paths' dying words about humans and tailed beasts understanding each other and becoming companions... are all lies. Where are there such humans?
Even with Killer Bee being such an oddball, he only reconciled with the Eight-Tails, not with the other eight tailed beasts!
"Thinking about it now, those who imprisoned and used us as Jinchuriki were actually considered moderates," Gotae said with a lame joke, feeling incredibly sorrowful.

Looking at the situation outside, the changes are so rapid and the progress is so swift that even these tailed beasts can't keep up, and they have gradually become second-rate combat forces in the ninja world. This is really too ridiculous.

They will be devoured one by one by the demonic statues of the heretics, yet they will still retain their self-awareness, forced to immerse themselves in eternal pain and despair...

"The old man of the Six Paths is still amazing. He created us. Even if we revert to the Ten-Tails, if someone defeats the Ten-Tails, theoretically we can still be released with our consciousness intact. This gives the Child of Prophecy a chance to save us."

Nine-Tails lay on the ground and sneered, "Unfortunately, the old man couldn't have predicted that the world would turn out like this. There was no one who made that prophecy. Kaede Tsukasa is gradually monopolizing everything in this world. I can feel him advancing step by step toward that goal."

The Child of Prophecy? We can't say he's gone yet. Once Kaedeji continues to spread that Mugen Tsukuyomi to other countries, forcibly binding more and more people to the war machine, then…

It's a hellish start for the prophetic child. You have to develop within the system that Kaede Tsukasa has built from the beginning. The harder you work, the more outstanding your contributions to Kaede Tsukasa become, and the deeper you sink.

Compared to the other tailed beasts, Kurama knows the most about Tsukasa Kaede, which makes him increasingly hopeless about the future.

A new Ten-Tails has appeared in the outside world? Well, that's quite rare. It's probably related to other Otsutsuki, since nobody knows exactly how many Otsutsuki there are.

Anyway, the world is getting more and more insane. If the Sage of Six Paths were to suddenly be resurrected and step forward to set things right, Kurama wouldn't be surprised.

"This is a new Ten-Tails, not the one we formed. It's a new one! Who knows if we'll be able to retain our self-awareness after this new Ten-Tails devours us!"

The Four-Tails finally couldn't stand it anymore. Waving its fist, it said irritably, "You all probably know that Otsutsuki Hamura was briefly resurrected and then killed, right? That's no secret in the outside world. That means the old man is still alive! He became the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki and created us. He can only be stronger than Otsutsuki Hamura!"

"so what?"

"So even if we are devoured by the Gedo Mazo, we still have a glimmer of hope to regain our freedom. But if we are devoured by this strange Ten-Tails, who knows if the Izanagi that the old man used on us will still be effective?"

This is not only a concern for the Four-Tails, but also for all the Tailed Beasts.

No matter what happens, they are immortal; at worst, they can simply lie low and do nothing, watching the world's changes with indifference like spectators.

At worst, they could be killed, then resurrected in a few years, or become part of the Ten-Tails again, waiting for a slim chance of escape. But in the end, they could live forever, and their self-awareness would always remain intact.

But the new Ten-Tails means an unfamiliar entity, and if they were to devour them... an uncertainty that none of the tailed beasts want to see has appeared on the path to immortality.

This is far more important than when the prophesied child is born or when he will save them.

"Oh, so that's what you guys were worried about."

Just then, a sentence suddenly came from the direction of the four tails.

The other tailed beasts all looked over, their expressions changing.

"Are there humans?"

"Damn it, what are you doing? How dare you bring humans into this place without our permission!"

"This aura... Ohhhhh!! It's Kaedeji Tsukasa, it's that damned guy!!"

The other eight tailed beasts all bared their teeth at the four-tailed beast.

Most of the tailed beasts were familiar with the chakra of this intruder. "Why are you all so irritable? I could have given you guys a new way out, one that would be more promising than the path you've been following for thousands of years."

Kaede Tsukasa slowly walked out from behind the Four-Tails. Compared to the other tailed beasts present, he was incredibly small, as if they could blast him into dust with a single breath. Yet, none of the tailed beasts dared to underestimate him, and each one treated him as if he were a formidable foe.

Most of them had suffered at the hands of Kaedeji!
Those who fared better only lost some of their chakra, while those who fared worse were completely captured by Kaedeji. Among them, Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, was the most violent, struggling desperately. Of all the tailed beasts, it was the one that Kaedeji captured and then abandoned, feeding it to the Gedo Mazo.
Kaede Tsukasa just stood there, yet none of the tailed beasts present dared to make a move.

Nine-Tails glanced at it and sneered, "Hmph, I knew it. I'd noticed something strange about Four-Tails since earlier, and now I see... Has it completely sided with Kaede Tsukasa?"

"What does it matter? The world has changed. It's no longer the way we used to think. New Otsutsuki have appeared. Who knows if there will be even more Otsutsuki? At least until the Child of Prophecy appears, we need to find some suitable paths."

Four-Tailed Fox snorted twice, still somewhat guilty, because he really did seem like a traitor.

Kaede Tsukasa said calmly, "I have indeed come for your future. What the Child of Prophecy can give, I can give too. And what the Child of Prophecy cannot give, I can also give. For example, the Ten-Tails that is currently rampaging outside. If it eats you, your fate will probably be terrible. But if I take action, no matter what happens in the end, I can preserve your self-awareness."

"You're going to imprison us in your Mukoro Tsukuyomi and make us your pets?" Kurama laughed loudly. It was in Konoha Village and knew what was happening in the village through Kushina.

The thought of a powerful figure like the Third Raikage being repeatedly killed in the genjutsu world by countless people, forced into endless battles, sent a chill down even Kurama's spine.

“The Third Raikage and his gang are enemies and have no value, so naturally we should make use of them. You guys are different. No matter what situation you're in, you can help me. I only do things that are beneficial to me.”

Kaede Tsukasa said, “I can designate an area for you within the Musou Tsukuyomi. That will be your exclusive territory. No one but me can enter without your permission. You only need to pay me with chakra... This is also a kind of immortality. As long as I live, you can live. Only when I die can you possibly die.”

Kaede Tsukasa is precisely the most difficult person to kill in the ninja world. All the tailed beasts know this, especially with the sudden appearance of the Musou Tsukuyomi. If it can truly bind all the ninjas in the world... these people will all become shields for Kaede Tsukasa. Kaede Tsukasa will not die before they are all gone.

"To live, we have to sell our bodies and minds? You have a way to seal us away at any time, how can we trust you?" Seven-Tails said angrily.

The Seven-Tails was also in a sorry state. It was living peacefully in the Land of Waterfalls, but the Sand Village attacked and beat it up, eventually making it the tailed beast of the Sand Village.

This was also the result of Kaedeji's instructions.

Kaede Tsukasa coldly replied, "Trust? You don't deserve such a precious thing. There are very few people in this world who can obtain it, and I don't need your trust at all."

Having decided to become the ultimate producer of this planet, Kaede Tsukasa wouldn't play any trust games. He would naturally bring everything under control, and since it would all belong to him, he could naturally show a tolerant attitude.

Kaede Tsukasa said, "Not only that, you've all sensed the presence of that new Ten-Tails, haven't you? You've been thinking about whether you'd still exist if it devoured you. That's a narrow perspective. Change your thinking: why can't you eat the Ten-Tails and become a creature that rivals or even surpasses it?"

If I devour the Ten-Tails and become stronger than it, then I will never be eaten again.

The nine tailed beasts looked at each other in bewilderment. Even the Four-Tails, which had taken it upon itself to bring Kaede Tsukasa here, had never considered this possibility. This was a conclusion that could only be reached through Kaede Tsukasa's typical way of thinking. However... it did seem to be a very feasible path.

Instead of worrying about this and that, it's better to become stronger and eliminate the possibility of being killed from the source!
Kaede Tsukasa has the will and the ability to help them achieve this goal.

The tailed beasts stared at each other, none of them saying a word.

Kaede Tsukasa shrugged: "Well then, it seems we can reach a preliminary agreement on cooperation. Once each of you tailed beasts can rival the Ten-Tails—even the incomplete Ten-Tails that hasn't devoured the Otsutsuki—it will be enough for you to calmly deal with all kinds of powerful enemies."

They can also make more outstanding contributions to Kaede Tsukasa and become a weapon driven by Kaede Tsukasa.

The strength of the incomplete Ten-Tails is roughly the same as that of the Otsutsuki who never ate the complete Chakra Fruit, and is at the Six Paths level, even if it is a weaker Six Paths level.

"I have a general understanding of the ideal world you all long for, the world where humans and tailed beasts understand each other. That world already exists. I understand you very well, and you must understand my desire to control and exploit you. Those of you who are willing to cooperate with me, I will help you. Those who are not, I will force you to do the same thing."

Kaedeji's words revealed a cold and resolute determination.

The Otsutsuki clan certainly have more than one Ten-Tails in their possession. Since they're going to get rid of it anyway, they might as well capture it and share it with the other tailed beasts in the ninja world.

"Why choose us instead of directly controlling the Ten-Tails?" the Three-Tails asked.

"I can't do it for now. My Sharingan is probably a little stronger than a normal Mangekyou Sharingan, but it's not enough to control the Ten-Tails. It will take some time before I get the Rinnegan. This buffer period might be the time when I need you."

Kaede Tsukasa was quite frank, and he disdained to lie about this: "And, you all have a clear sense of self, the only difference is in your temperament, while the Ten-Tails is just a more powerful beast."

The Sage of Six Paths was truly a genius. After splitting the Ten-Tails, he used the Izanagi technique to give these tailed beasts true self-awareness, allowing them to grow from infancy like humans, with their thoughts and will gradually maturing.

"No, I don't agree!"

"This might not be a bad choice, since we won't lose anything anyway..."

"Humans are not trustworthy, especially Kaede Tsukasa. He is even more evil than Uchiha Madara!"

"Teaming up with Kaede Tsukasa to take down the Ten-Tails shouldn't be a problem, right?"

The tailed beasts erupted into a fierce argument.

Meanwhile, outside, the battle between the two incomplete Ten-Tails is becoming increasingly fierce and bloody. With the Gedo Mazo being trampled underfoot by the Ten-Tails, the smaller Ten-Tails will eventually win the battle if no external forces intervene.

(End of this chapter)