The black monster in the Culture Tank slowly opened its eyes, its scarlet pupils fixed on the intruders.
"Is that thing alive?" Naruto took half a step back.
Sasuke's Rinnegan picked out more details. Dozens of thick pipes connected to the bottom of the Culture Tank, each pumping something into the monster.
"It's more than alive." Sasuke pointed toward the far end of the hall. "The other ends of those pipes..."
Everyone followed his gaze and sucked in a sharp breath.
In the shadows at the end of the hall stood row upon row of small Culture Tanks—more than a hundred in all. Each held a person, riddled with tubes, their faces pale. It was impossible to tell if they were alive or dead.
"Those are..." Karin covered her mouth.
Yuki-onna approached one of the tanks and wiped the condensation from its surface. Inside was a young male ninja, the symbol of Kumogakure carved into his forehead protector.
"A Kumogakure Jonin. He went missing three months ago while on a mission." Yuki-onna's voice was cold. "The Raikage even held a memorial service for him."
Naruto rushed to another tank. Inside was a female Sunagakure ninja, with an unmistakable surgical scar across her stomach.
"They're draining these people's Chakra to grow that monster." Sasuke tightened his grip on the Kusanagi Sword.
Karin spread her sensory abilities across the room, her expression growing grimmer by the second.
"One hundred and twenty-three Culture Tanks. Only seventeen still show signs of life. The others..." She couldn't finish.
Naruto's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked. Nine-Tails' Chakra began leaking out of control, forming the ghostly shape of a fox behind him.
"Those bastards..."
"Naruto, calm down." Sasuke put a hand on his shoulder.
"How can I calm down?" Naruto turned to him, tears glimmering in