The assault on Konoha, and everything that had been done, led up to this moment. Even with internal resistance, Ye Zi knew he had to go through with it, Edo Tensei Kotoe.
Would Kotoe accept returning to the world in this form? That uncertainty could only be answered after her resurrection.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Zi activated the Edo Tensei array. Four large black characters formed around the array, encircling Shizune at its center.
A faint blue chakra glow appeared beneath Shizune's body, gradually giving rise to fragments resembling paper scraps. These fragments slowly covered Shizune's body, wrapping her in layers until she resembled a mummy.
Under Ye Zi's watchful gaze, the mummy-like figure transformed into Kotoe's appearance within moments, now bearing her distinct features marked with faint, fine lines.
Ye Zi's fists clenched tightly as he stared at Kotoe. He refrained from embedding the suppressive kunai, which would bind the Edo Tensei body and allow it to exhibit its full capabilities from life. Instead, he simply crouched nearby, waiting silently for Kotoe to awaken.
Hiss!
The Edo Tensei ritual was complete.
Kotoe's tightly shut eyes slowly opened. As her soul returned to the living world, the first person she saw was Ye Zi. She froze momentarily, her gaze filled with confusion.
Unaware of her Edo Tensei resurrection, she believed this was the afterlife. The thought that quickly followed was that Ye Zi had died too.
"How could this be..." This terrifying realization brought a deep sadness from the depths of her heart.
Ye Zi reached out, gently placing his hand on Kotoe's forehead. He brushed aside her disheveled bangs with a delicate touch, as if skimming his fingers across a clear stream. The ripples stirred in his heart, spreading outward with unspoken emotions.
It was the feeling of recovering something precious that had been lost. Yet this feeling was incomplete, like a broken mirror painstakingly pieced back together, but still bearing an unrepairable flaw. There was joy and relief, but also sadness.
Her soul had returned to the living world, but it was not a true resurrection.
"Kotoe," Ye Zi said softly, his gaze lowered. His eyes carried a mixture of relief and gratitude toward the world for granting him the chance to salvage what he had lost, even if death wasn't entirely irreversible.
All of his prior doubts and worries vanished as Kotoe returned to his side.
"Ye Zi, you… died too?" Kotoe slowly lifted her upper body and placed her hand gently on Ye Zi's left cheek, her expression filled with sorrow. Her last memory was of the moment her life had ended.
Tears silently flowed from her eyes, trickling down the faint lines on her face.
Ye Zi quietly grasped her hand and said, "I'm not dead."
Kotoe froze, unsure of what had happened, but she felt an inexplicable relief.
Without warning, Ye Zi pulled her into his arms, his voice tinged with guilt as he said, "I used Edo Tensei to bring your soul back from the Pure Land, thinking it would resurrect you. But doing this is unfair to you."
Kotoe leaned her head against Ye Zi's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Closing her eyes, she wished this moment could last forever.
"No." Kotoe's eyelashes quivered slightly as she smiled softly, wrapping her arms around Ye Zi's back. "For someone like me, already dead, to be able to talk to you, see your face, touch your body, hear your voice, and lean against your chest like this, it's more than enough. It's true happiness."
The only regret was the absence of sensation between her fingertips as they brushed against him. She felt no pain, no warmth, was this the reason for Ye Zi's guilt?
Hearing her words, Ye Zi tightened his embrace. His pitch-black eyes shimmered faintly as he stared forward. At that moment, the convictions he had carried all this time began to shift.
He recognized this change and was willing to accept it.
Call it greed or selfishness... It didn't matter. No matter how arduous the path ahead, he would uphold his beliefs and complete what he must.
"You once said you wanted to live as an ordinary person, away from conflict, watching the days and nights pass in the Land of Whirlpools," Ye Zi murmured softly.
Kotoe blinked and then shook her head gently. Her voice was tender as she replied, "All I want is to stay by your side. That's enough."
"Alright."
Ye Zi looked down at Kotoe as he responded, though in his heart, he silently apologized to her.
The two quietly gazed at each other, their eyes meeting in the short space between them, both able to feel the depth of their mutual importance to one another.
Unable to resist, Ye Zi slowly leaned forward, and Kotoe gently closed her eyes, tilting her head toward him.
Their faces drew closer, and their lightly pressed lips finally met in a tender kiss.
Even though the sensation from their lips was cold and void of warmth, and even though no tactile feeling came from the kiss, at that moment, their hearts were perfectly aligned.
When their lips finally parted, the two exchanged looks. A calm serenity flowed through their hearts, there was no shyness or blushing, just an undeniable naturalness.
"Is it because of Edo Tensei?" Kotoe muttered, lowering her head to look at her hands marked with faint lines. With a hint of regret, she added, "There's no feeling at all. It's like kissing a block of wood."
Ye Zi's grip on her tightened, his arms pulling her closer as if trying to merge her into his very being. The conviction he had carried thus far had shifted, evolving into something even more determined. Whatever the cost, he would see it through, even to the death.
Feeling Ye Zi's tightened embrace, a trace of sorrow flashed through Kotoe's eyes. In the end, she was someone who had already died, and even though she was back in the living world, she could never truly be whole again.
But… wasn't this moment exactly what she had always longed for?
The sorrow in Kotoe's eyes was gradually replaced by a bright, unwavering light. It disappeared without a trace as she tilted her head slightly to look at Ye Zi, who remained silent. With a soft laugh, she asked, "Ye Zi, how did the kiss feel to you?"
Ye Zi lowered his gaze and rested his chin lightly on her head. In a quiet voice, he replied, "Cold, but soft."
"That's good. At least it wasn't hard as a rock," Kotoe laughed, her voice clear and melodious, like the sound of wind chimes. Yet deep in her heart, a small trace of discontent lingered. Still, she quickly dismissed it.
This moment, just as it was, was already more than enough. She couldn't ask for anything more.
Ye Zi didn't reply but simply held her tighter. Kotoe responded by wrapping her arms around his back, closing her eyes, and savoring the rare warmth between them.
In the simply furnished and empty room, the two of them stayed quietly embraced. Even though a faint line still existed between them, it couldn't keep their hearts from drawing closer together.
"I will… bring you back to life," Ye Zi silently vowed to himself, his resolute gaze fixed forward.
Outside the room, Orochimaru and Shin stood silently on either side of the doorway, leaning against the walls without a word.
If you want to read more...
Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI
Currently on Chapter 496 - Approaching a Horizon