The Zombie Sage in Naruto

"I know!"

Kazama Saito interrupted, looking seriously at Might Duy. "Duy-senpai, I really believe you have exceptional talent. You could definitely be my best assistant, but let me handle the rest. You're trying to prove your strength to me, but what about you? Don't you believe in mine?"

"Lord Kazama Saito, your youth truly…!"

Might Duy was moved to tears and, in his excitement, opened two more of the Eight Gates.

Shige Aburame said, "My insects can fly. If used well, they can help us."

"Being afraid of death is one thing. Sending people to die is another! Even I can't guarantee survival when facing a Tailed Beast. And you guys—who among you has a jutsu strong enough to counter a Tailed Beast? Who has a sealing technique that can suppress one? Who has the massive chakra needed to stand against one?"

Kazama Saito turned to look at the group. "Follow orders. None of us have real combat experience against an enemy of this level. It's better if I go alone. I don't want to be held responsible by the village for leading a team twice and coming back the only survivor both times."

Last time, he had to kill three Root ninja because of White Zetsu—it was unavoidable. But this time, he didn't need to drag everyone down with him. Kazama Saito still had to survive in Konoha. Unless absolutely necessary, there was no reason to burn all bridges.

The others watched as Kazama Saito sped off.

Fujiki Akimichi used Partial Expansion Jutsu to scoop up two fallen Leaf ninja. "You, Hyuga kid—keep using your Byakugan to observe the battlefield. He's the captain. We follow his lead."

"But… are we just going to watch him go into battle alone?"

"I understand how you feel. But it's exactly because you're young that you're still immature and hesitant. The mission comes first. Right now, our task is to follow our captain's orders and rescue the other comrades!"

Fujiki remembered himself in his teens, full of ambition. But eventually, he realized his talent couldn't support his dreams, and that ambition faded over time.

Shige Aburame spoke quietly, "The captain has a space-time ninjutsu. Even if the enemy has a Tailed Beast, I believe he can escape. We should prioritize saving our allies."

Iroha, the proud Hyuga, was deeply frustrated. As a noble of the Hyuga clan, he couldn't stand to watch his superior charge to his death while he could do nothing. That pride was beginning to crack.

Suddenly, he turned around. "Shige-senpai? You've been here this whole time? I'm sorry, I was following Lord Kazama Saito with my eyes and didn't notice. I thought you'd gone elsewhere to help others."

Shige said nothing, only silently released swarms of insects.

Then Iroha looked in another direction, surprised. He narrowed his range of vision and focused—southwest. He could faintly see a small team rushing toward them.

On the coastline, most of the land had turned to magma, and thick clouds of hot steam rolled endlessly.

Just standing here took a lot of courage.

"Your body must be nearing its limit. The weakness of your Spirit Transformation Jutsu is that your spirit must return to your body periodically."

Roshi placed one hand on the ground while standing atop a hardened slab of lava created by his Lava Release. He coldly eyed the panting Dan Kato.

Dan's condition was terrible. Even as a Jonin, he was at a severe disadvantage against Roshi, who had the terrain advantage.

His chakra was nearly depleted, and his body was heavily wounded. He saw no path to victory.

When he chose to stay behind and stop Roshi from further damaging the local terrain with Lava Release—to buy time for the main force to retreat—he had already resolved to die.

Once again, he used Spirit Transformation Jutsu. The spirit that emerged from his body was dim and flickering, rushing toward Roshi through the mist.

"Even if you're a Jinchuriki, this kind of expenditure is still a heavy burden! I won't allow you to single handedly wipe out two thousand Konoha shinobi!"

Dan poured all his remaining chakra into this final charge, completely abandoning his broken body. At best, this would be a mutual kill.

But Roshi wasn't so easily defeated.

"Yes, I'm exhausted too. But the beast inside me isn't."

Roshi showed no emotion. The Four-Tails was just getting warmed up; its rage was growing.

His Tailed Beast Transformation deepened—three tails now lashed behind him. His form became more like a humanoid version of the Four-Tails, with red chakra forming a solid coat around his body.

He opened his mouth.

Lava Release: Burning River of Molten Rock!

Flaming magma orbs launched through the air, leaving fiery trails through the already-scorching battlefield.

Roshi wasn't aiming at Dan's spirit—but at Dan's body.

Kill the body, and the spirit dies too.

Dan's spirit darted between magma orbs. His translucent form distorted in the hot air.

He saw his body directly beneath an incoming lava shot and then looked toward Roshi's icy expression.

"This battle is over. You're the only real threat among Konoha's forces. Killing you is the greatest success of this mission."

Roshi slapped his palms on the ground—Tailed Beast chakra exploded like a volcano. He prepared for Dan's spiritual assault.

Dan's spirit suddenly accelerated just before the magma hit his body, rushing into Roshi's forehead—initiating a brutal soul battle.

Spirit Transformation Jutsu was like an upgraded Mind Transfer Jutsu.

While Mind Transfer shifted your consciousness into another, Spirit Transformation released the entire soul—able to possess or destroy the opponent's mind.

Inside Roshi, the two souls clashed—more than chakra, it was a battle of will and spiritual strength. In a flash, countless thoughts collided, and both minds blurred for a moment.

"I failed…"

Dan let out a deep sigh within Roshi's mindscape.

Failing to kill Roshi's spirit in the first moment meant he'd lost. His body was about to be destroyed.

"Even without considering the physical damage, I can't win. I can't fight two enemies at once."

Dan sensed the will of the Four-Tails. Though the beast disliked Roshi and might've preferred him dead, that didn't mean it would help Dan.

If a Jinchuriki dies, so does the beast inside.

Boom!

A lava orb smashed into Dan's body, destroying much of his chest and back in an instant.

His broken form soared like a ragdoll, falling toward the ground.

Cough cough!

Roshi staggered and dropped to one knee. His lava armor and Tailed Beast chakra clashed with Dan's spiritual assault.

The ground beneath rumbled—the excess Lava chakra caused a violent feedback from the terrain. Cracks opened, spewing sulfurous gas, dragging the battlefield into chaos.

Earthquakes, volcanoes, magma, poison—it was hell itself.

"It's over, Dan of Konoha. I've won!" Roshi howled in pain, his face twisted. "Your body is dead! How long can your soul stay in me?!"

"Not long. The oxygen left in my body might give me a few dozen seconds. But that's enough to turn you into a vegetable!" Dan said, his usual grace now replaced by desperation.

"Sorry, Tsunade… and everyone else. I'm almost out of time. But maybe I can buy you more."

If he could cripple Roshi's mind and force him to retreat, it would deal a huge blow to the enemy.

Dan pushed himself, determined to carry out the Will of Fire. But his spirit was breaking. Too many uses of the Spirit Transformation Jutsu—soon, he'd have to return to his broken body.

"Eh?"

Suddenly, he thought he was hallucinating.

A swarm of figures rushed toward him!

Just then, a shadow appeared beneath his falling body, cushioning it above the lava.

In that instant, the Zombie caught Dan's body and hurled it to safety—before melting into the lava.

Another figure leapt through the air, catching the body mid-flight and forming a hand seal.

Corpse Shift: Hollow Realm Technique!

Kazama Saito, holding Dan's remains, swapped places with a zombie located in a safe zone. His clothes fluttered before settling.

It all happened in seconds. The situation was dire, but Kazama Saito had done everything he could—at least he had recovered Dan's primary body.

As for what was missing…

"So brutal. His entire chest and back are just… gone."

Kazama Saito sighed. These wounds were fatal—medical ninjutsu wouldn't help.

"Lord Dan, it's not time to give up yet. Your spirit needs to return to your body," he said, looking at the struggling Roshi on the lava.

He quickly grasped the situation—he had arrived late, but not too late.

"No… you shouldn't have come. If I'd used my last strength to attack, maybe—"

Dan's spirit, nearing collapse, instinctively drifted toward his body. But with each second, it grew dimmer—like a sponge losing water.

"Don't worry about the enemy. We're not so weak that you have to bear everything alone."

Kazama Saito raised the ruined body, allowing Dan's spirit to return.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and the rising heat and mist finally became a downpour.

"There's no saving me. You shouldn't have wasted your effort."

Dan opened his eyes again, coughing blood, the light in them fading.

Rain washed away his blood and shredded flesh.

Dan understood Kazama Saito's resolve not giving up on comrades even in hopeless moments.

He respected that but didn't agree. If he'd used those final seconds to strike Roshi harder, maybe the enemy would be forced into a long recovery.

Wounding a Jinchuriki was a rare opportunity. If possible, his death would be worth it.

He was never a match for a Jinchuriki anyway.

"I said—it's not time to give up. The war's not over. You really want it to end like this? Dying is easy. Living through pain is hard. Lady Tsunade is still waiting for you."

Kazama Saito pointed. Dan used his fading vision to see Tsunade rushing over, terror written on her face.

"Tsunade… I'm sorry… for letting you see me like this. I guess I can't be Hokage after all..."

"Shut up! Don't say such hopeless things! I'm the best medical ninja—now that I'm here, I'll save you! Let me see—your wounds are bad, but it's still possible!"

Tsunade knelt, pouring chakra into Dan. His condition improved slightly.

But they all knew—it wasn't enough. Medical ninjutsu could heal wounds and regrow flesh, but not replace missing organs and bone.

When her chakra ran out, Dan's soul would leave for good.

"Save some chakra. Maybe you can use it to help others retreat..." Dan said softly, looking at Tsunade's terrified face.

What a pity—he never became Hokage. He never married Tsunade. And now it was too late...

ROAR!!

A monstrous growl echoed.

"Oh? That guy's body is swelling. He can barely hold human form anymore. I'm no expert, but is this… full Tailed Beast Transformation?"

Kazama Saito turned to look, frowning.

Clearly, Roshi's mind was collapsing. His spirit was about to be overtaken by the Four-Tails.

(To Be Continued)