Chapter 163: Chijin & Eihō (Blood and Edge)

INFO:

Thanks again for all the reviews, I will be spreading out the remaining chapters earned over the week because my irl work demands have increased recently. 

Also congrats and thanks for the 60 power stones, I will be also adding an additional extra chapter tomorrow including the earned chapters from the reviews. 

IMPORTANT: For every 30 POWER STONES there will be an extra chapter!

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After tearing off the tubes, Madara planted the black rod into the ground and slowly walked back to his stone chair. He sat down with a calm expression, ready to accept the death that was approaching him. In the vast, hidden underground world, a massive, hollow monster lay dormant.

The tree roots resembled multiple sharp tusks, curving outward in all directions. Hanging from these roots were unconscious artificial bodies, and above them was a flower bud larger than the roots themselves. Inside that bud sat the creature known as the Ten-Tails, mindless and shackled by heavy chains around its neck.

Madara Uchiha, once known to the entire world, was now here, quietly awaiting his end.

Zetsu—or rather, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu—stood alongside Ye Zi, silently watching Madara as they sensed the life slowly draining from him.

"Infinite possibilities…" Madara murmured, perhaps reflecting on the otherworldly concepts he had witnessed. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and passed away.

"He's dead," White Zetsu remarked, his gaze shifting from Madara to Ye Zi. "Next up is finding Nagato."

"No rush," Ye Zi replied calmly, extending his hand. "There are priorities, and right now, I need to fully master Yin-Yang Release."

"Fine, but that'll take... huh?" White Zetsu's expression turned strange as he was about to complain about how long it would take for Ye Zi to master Yin-Yang Release.

He noticed something peculiar. From Ye Zi's outstretched palm, a writhing root suddenly sprouted—it was Mokuton (Wood Release).

"You...!" White Zetsu looked at Ye Zi in shock. Madara had only just finished explaining the principles of Yin-Yang Release, and yet here Ye Zi was, already able to use Mokuton. He truly was an extraordinary individual.

"So, this is Senju Hashirama's Wood Release?" Ye Zi muttered, ignoring White Zetsu's surprise. He focused on controlling the root sprouting from his palm, trying to make it grow larger.

Snap!

A light crack echoed as the rapidly twisting root snapped and fell to the ground.

Ye Zi glanced at the broken piece of wood on the floor and turned to face Zetsu. "It'll take some time to fully master. In the meantime, go ahead and gather information."

Black Zetsu remained silent, while White Zetsu, still astonished, praised Ye Zi. "You're a natural! To be able to use Mokuton so quickly!"

"There's still a long way to go," Ye Zi replied, clenching his fist and attempting Mokuton again. As he tried to enlarge the root, it snapped once more and fell to the ground.

Exhaling softly, Ye Zi acknowledged that mastering Wood Release wouldn't be simple. Compared to his mastery of Lightning Release, he was still in the early stages of understanding how to properly wield Mokuton. Whether it could replace his lightning techniques remained uncertain.

Regardless, he would focus on refining it, as it had the potential to become one of his strongest abilities.

"It's interesting to watch you develop your skills," White Zetsu said, launching into another round of chatter. "Besides, there's no need for me to personally gather information. My clones will handle that. And besides, wouldn't it be lonely in this dark underground without someone to keep you company? So, I'll stay here with you." He grinned. "And don't get the wrong idea—I'm not sticking around just to ask you what it feels like to... you know, take a dump."

Hearing White Zetsu's words, Ye Zi sighed and responded, "If you're really that curious about what it feels like, why not create a human stomach and intestines and try eating something?"

White Zetsu blinked as if struck by an epiphany and fell into deep thought, considering the possibility.

"You're not seriously going to try that, are you?" Black Zetsu finally spoke up.

White Zetsu snapped out of his contemplation, his excitement evident. "Of course! I've always wanted to know what it's like! I can't believe I never thought of this before. That guy really is a genius."

Black Zetsu's face darkened in exasperation. "What a foolish idea."

White Zetsu wasn't having any of it. "Just because you're Madara's will doesn't mean you can boss me around."

Black Zetsu gave up on the argument and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep, completely tuning out the conversation.

"Tch," White Zetsu huffed, ignoring Black Zetsu and scurrying over to Ye Zi. "Come on, use your Yang Release to create a human stomach and intestines inside me!"

Ye Zi, who was inspecting a fan he had picked up, looked at White Zetsu and sighed. "If I do that, you'll have to start eating."

White Zetsu didn't care. "That's fine! I can just remove it once I've experienced the feeling."

"..."

Ye Zi's face twitched in mild exasperation. "We'll see," he said dismissively.

With that, he set the fan aside and turned his attention to the two long swords hanging on the wall. Among all the weapons, the long swords appealed to him the most.

One of the swords resembled a standard katana, with a flower-shaped guard and a blood-red handle, complete with a small chain dangling at the end. The other sword was more unusual—its hilt was longer than normal, and its blade was conical, making it look more like a spear than a sword.

Ye Zi picked up both swords, testing their weight. He swung them a few times, finding them noticeably different from the short sword he was accustomed to. However, there was something unique about these blades.

"Hey, come on, agree to it!" White Zetsu was pestering him again, his voice filled with anticipation.

Ye Zi ignored him, and after testing the first sword, he plunged the spear-like blade into the ground. The sharp tip sank into the earth as easily as if it were cutting through tofu.

"The piercing power of this blade..." Ye Zi raised an eyebrow and glanced at the other sword. He slashed at White Zetsu's arm without warning, and with a swift motion, the arm was cleanly severed, the cut smooth as glass.

White Zetsu yelped in surprise. "What the hell!"

"Just testing the blade," Ye Zi replied, clearly satisfied with the sword's sharpness.

"You could have tested it on one of the artificial bodies, or at least a rock!" White Zetsu protested, eyes wide with shock.

"I didn't think that far ahead. You were just the closest," Ye Zi said nonchalantly, giving the sword another swing.

White Zetsu quietly stepped away from him.

Having always preferred swords, Ye Zi was naturally drawn to the blood-red hilt of the first sword, but the piercing power of the spear-like blade was impressive. He couldn't decide between the two.

Perhaps... he should use both?

Though he had never wielded dual swords before, the connection he felt with both blades made it difficult to choose just one.

If he took the time to familiarize himself with them, he was sure he would find a way to utilize both effectively.

"What are these swords called?" Ye Zi asked White Zetsu, curious about their names.

"I don't know," White Zetsu replied, sounding indifferent.

Unbothered by the lack of information, Ye Zi mused to himself, "In that case, I'll name them. 'Chijin' and 'Eihō.' That works."

White Zetsu's face darkened.

What a lazy name...

T/L notes: Chijin = Blood Blade, Eihō = Sharp Edge (Names of Ye Zi's swords)

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Currently on Chapter 211 - Sasori Joining the Akatsuki and his Requirements