In the laboratory filled with the cold and disinfectant mixed smell, someone is seriously shaking the test tube in their hand, someone is using the latest precision measuring device, and someone is organizing the red capsules, packaging them in small portable iron boxes.
The staff in white coats are all busy with their work, heads down.
In a room separated by a transparent glass, several ninjas dressed in Anbu attire and wearing masks are standing respectfully behind Danzo.
Danzo looks straight ahead, staring at an adult lying on the operating table in front of him.
The man is an ordinary person smuggled into Konoha Village from outside the Land of Fire, chosen by the Root ninjas as a test subject, honored to become one of the drug testing subjects here.
The man is restrained there, feeling anxious and unsettled about his upcoming unknown fate.
But his body has become paralyzed, powerless to resist it all, and he has no strength even to make sounds, only able to utter some meaningless words, very weakly.
"You can start."
Danzo orders coldly.
The medical ninja standing beside the operating table, wearing a white coat and a mask similar to other Root members, with eerie colors, gives an uncomfortable feeling.
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
He picks up a red capsule, directly grabs the man's mouth on the operating table, forcing it open, and stuffs the red capsule into the man's mouth.
After that, he takes water, roughly pouring it down the man's throat, letting him swallow the medication amidst difficult coughing.
Suddenly, the man's body trembles, an evil chakra aura emanates from him, his pupils turn blood-red, and the whites of his eyes are tainted by black substances.
Bang!
The equipment restraining the man's limbs is torn apart at once, the chakra aura exploding from him becomes even more terrifying, red chakra like Hagoromo's robe covers his body, the remaining rationality in his eyes evaporates instantly, turning into a beast knowing only slaughter and destruction.
One of the Root ninjas standing behind Danzo immediately performs sealing, a narrow shadow flies out, overlapping with the man's silhouette on the operating table.
The man's twisting body stabilizes instantly, but he uses his explosively powerful chakra to resist the shadow's binding force with all his might.
Soon, several banging sounds are heard from the man's body, blood squeezed from his pores sprays out, even splattering onto Danzo's pants.
The man's body goes motionless, mouth agape, maintaining an ugly look of drooling, losing signs of life.
The Root ninja retracts his shadow, no longer needing to suppress this man.
The medical ninja responsible for testing it all says: "One minute and one second... Lord Danzo, on average, it's about ten seconds longer than last time."
This sentence is addressed to Danzo.
"The side effects of the medication, can't they be further suppressed?"
Danzo ignores the blood on his pants and asks the medical ninja.
"Currently, there's no way to suppress them. After all, this medication is developed based on Tailed Beast Chakra, and for ordinary people, lasting a minute has basically reached the limit. Next, I think we can stop using ordinary people for tests and instead capture ninjas for the second stage experiment."
The medical ninja answers.
Ninja test subjects are very valuable research resources.
This has always been the conduct of the Root; whether developing forbidden techniques or researching forbidden medicines, they would first use ordinary people for experiments, accumulating a vast amount of practical experience, before choosing to deploy ninjas.
"How long will it take to achieve the goal?"
Danzo disregards this; he only needs to ask when the final completion time for this chakra-enhancing medicine will be.
As for how many people were sacrificed and who they were, it doesn't figure into his calculations.
Outside the Land of Fire, there's an endless supply of test subjects.
Whether ordinary people or wandering ninjas, there's no lack of forbidden development test subjects for the Root.
"Based on the current progress, two years at least."
"How would it be for the Root ninjas to use it now?"
Danzo asks.
"It needs data analysis based on the ninja's quality, averaging one capsule per use, with a cooldown period reaching forty-eight hours. Of course, accidents may occur, such as chakra rampage, internal organs being destroyed by overly strong chakra, thereby leading to life-threatening situations. These are currently unavoidable side effects."
Even when the medication development is completed, there will still be side effects, though not fatal, becoming recyclable, significantly enhancing the strength of the Root ninjas.
This is the primary purpose of Danzo in developing this medication.
The Root is too weak.
Konoha is too weak.
By all means, facing the complex international situation ahead, Konoha now must utilize every available means to become stronger, which is the reason for the Root's existence.
The ninjas in the Root, have already prepared themselves to sacrifice their lives for Konoha, including Danzo himself.
"Temporarily put a part of it into use, also accelerate research here. Any requirements can be brought to me."
Danzo muses for a moment, then speaks to the medical ninja responsible for drug development.
"Rest assured, Lord Danzo, I will do my utmost to serve the village."
The medical ninja's voice is earnest, also revealing a kind of emotionless coldness.