Kagura frowned. "You're right. I didn't consider that. If the vessel is just a dead object carrying blood, with no body heat or heartbeat, the moment Helian senses that the 'water' is cold, he'll know it isn't a living person."
Shikamaru bit down on his thumb joint.
The insects outside the window suddenly sounded very loud.
Chisen stirred on the hospital bed. All three fell silent at once. He had only shifted the depth of his breathing, without waking. Shizune went over and tucked in his blanket with gentle movements.
Shikamaru released his thumb.
"So the vessel has to be alive."
Kagura said, "Yes."
"Alive, with a normal body temperature, but the blood has to be Chisen's."
"Yes."
"And we can't use a large animal."
"Yes."
Shikamaru closed his eyes for a moment.
Then opened them.
"Build a person."
Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"I don't mean an actual person," Shikamaru said quickly. "Use the Medical Unit's artificial blood technology to make a Bionic Body with a circulatory system. Cat-sized, with body heat and a heartbeat, and Chisen's blood. Wrap it in a shell of Aburame insects, and let the insects handle movement and evasion."
The way Kagura looked at him changed.
"Do you realize you're talking about an artificial life-form?"
"I'm talking about a blood bag, a heating system, and an insect shell," Shikamaru said. "Not a person, not a living creature. Just a collection of parts put together to make it look alive."
Shizune opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Kagura thought for a long time.
"It's technically feasible," she said slowly. "But it would take cooperation from a lot of people. The Medical Unit would make the artificial blood vessels and circulation system, the Sealing Squad would maintain its body temperature and keep the blood sample from