Hidan in the Laboratory: Oh Ho Ho Ho! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Land of Stars, Star City.

The Research Zone sat in the southeast corner of the city. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an unremarkable cluster of low buildings, their gray-white walls bare of decoration save for the five-pointed star emblem branded onto the steel gate at the entrance.

But once one took the elevator all the way down and passed through three sealed doors requiring chakra verification, the sight changed completely.

The walls on both sides of the corridor glowed with a soft, cold white light. There were no lamps; the light seemed to seep from the walls themselves.

The floor, laid with special materials, reflected blurred silhouettes, and the faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air.

At intervals, transparent observation windows were embedded in the walls. Through the thick reinforced glass, rows of culture tanks and precision instruments could be seen inside.

The entire underground experimental zone was like a steel leviathan sleeping beneath Star City.

Uzumaki Kushina pushed open the door and stepped out of a laboratory at the end of the corridor, her long crimson hair falling loosely around her, a few disobedient strands hanging beside her ears.

A body formed by Impure World Reincarnation could not fully simulate all the senses of the living, but the research team led by Orochimaru had been continuously improving the forbidden technique. Her current state was already far better than when she had first been summoned. At the very least, she could smell the faint scents in the air now, and taste whether food was salty or bland.

She hummed a bright little tune, her fingers still lightly tapping out the beat.

The laboratory door behind her had not fully closed, and pale white light spilled through the crack.

"Let me go, damn you!!"

A furious