The night was as black as ink, and the cold wind howled.
The Guard Unit elites led by Tekka Uchiha raced along the Border Line alongside the Anbu squad dispatched by Hatake Sakumo. Their steps were light and swift, like ghosts blending into the darkness.
On the surface, the exact location of Orochimaru's laboratory had yet to be confirmed.
But in truth, the Hyuga Clan had long since pinpointed the target with the advantage of their Byakugan.
It had to be said that the Byakugan was indeed useful at times.
An abandoned fortress hidden deep within the dense forest was surrounded by masked ninja.
"Those rogue ninja look familiar."
Tekka Uchiha let out a cold laugh.
These should be the contingencies Danzo had prepared for Orochimaru, as the Clan Leader had mentioned before, right?
He had not expected there to be so many ninja!
His scarlet Sharingan flickered with icy light in the darkness.
"Move."
He raised a hand and waved it without the slightest hesitation.
In an instant, more than a dozen shadows charged out from every direction. Kunai and shuriken tore through the night sky, striking directly at the guards outside the fortress.
The Root ninja clearly had not expected Konoha's ninja to find this place so precisely. One of them swiftly formed hand seals, intending to use the Summoning Technique to send a message, but—
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Scorching flames instantly devoured the Root ninja. Before his scream could escape, Tekka Uchiha had already flashed to his side and severed his head with one strike.
Blood sprayed everywhere, and the battle erupted in full!
Inside the laboratory, the alarm blared harshly.
"Enemy attack! It's people from the village!"
A Root ninja rushed into the experimental area, his voice frantic.
Orochimaru stood beside a cultivation tank.