Kazama Shi sat in a corner of the dissection room, looking at the three stored corpses.One had been made into a test subject for combat stress responses, another was used to study chakra flow in dead tissue, and the third had just undergone a failed experiment.
The chakra flow had collapsed partway, resulting in the corpse violently detonating and turning to ash.
But Kazama Shi wasn't discouraged.His eyes were still calm and detached—like a researcher observing test results with interest.
The more corpses he worked with, the clearer his understanding became:
"I need live specimens to compare against the dead ones."
The zombified bodies were useful, but the differences between living and undead systems were vast.He couldn't rely solely on the dead to analyze the true nature of chakra flow, organ resilience, or neural reflexes.
"The dead only show degeneration. What I need is data about how degeneration begins."
The best data would come from recently deceased or dying ninja, or, even better, those on the verge of death but still technically alive.
But getting such bodies legally, within Konoha's walls, was nearly impossible.
Just then, the door creaked open.A Root ninja entered again, expression blank behind his mask.
"Danzo-sama has approved your mission request. You will depart tonight. A team will assist you in retrieving the corpse. Coordinates are already prepared."
Kazama Shi nodded.
"Target?"
"A battle occurred near the border of the Land of Grass. One ninja displayed signs of Lava Release before succumbing to fatal injuries. The corpse was left behind. You are to recover it—intact."
Lava Release.
A rare kekkei genkai, especially valuable for combat-type zombies.
Kazama Shi's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Got it. I'll be ready within the hour."
The Root ninja handed him a file and vanished without another word.
Back in the corner of his lab, Kazama Shi picked up a sealing scroll and began preparing his tools.
Scalpels, chakra probes, preservation tags, and necrotic stabilizers.
"Lava Release... that should give me a mid-to-high-tier combat corpse. At the very least, it'll be a good supplement to the Explosion Release type."
He packed his bag, then paused.
"If the battle site is still hot, I might even find multiple corpses..."
Excitement began to creep into his normally steady heart.
This was the difference between a research ninja and a battle-hardened shinobi—where others saw tragedy, he saw opportunity.
Night fell swiftly over the Land of Fire.
As the moon hung high above the treetops, a cloaked figure slipped through the forest shadows—silent and precise.
Kazama Shi's figure moved like mist across the terrain.
Behind him, two Root operatives followed without a word.Their only task: assist with body recovery, and prevent outside interference.
They arrived at the battle site just after midnight.
The smell of scorched earth still lingered.
There were craters in the ground, blackened by lava and chakra.Three bodies lay twisted and broken—two from the Land of Grass, one in a black robe with a strange insignia.
Kazama Shi's gaze locked onto the last one.
"This one… this is it."
He crouched beside the corpse and began his examination.
Signs of bloodline activation.Chakra residue consistent with lava-based jutsu.Internal organs barely intact.
But the brain and core chakra nodes were preserved.
Perfect.
He quickly began sealing the body for transport.
Just then, a faint rustling came from the forest behind them.
The two Root ninjas turned sharply—kunai in hand.
"Movement. Three signatures. High speed."
Kazama Shi narrowed his eyes.
"Looks like someone else is interested in this corpse."
He pulled out a scroll and readied a talisman.
"Then let's give them a test subject…"
(To Be Continued)