Another month passed in the blink of an eye, and heavy snow fell over Konoha.
Orochimaru smoothly took over Root's operations and brought Minato to Root.
"This is Minato Namikaze, my assistant. From now on, he is not to be stopped when he comes here," Orochimaru said calmly to the subordinates before him.
This child looked no older than five or six...
The subordinates were curious, but none of them questioned Orochimaru's orders.
The Anbu was that kind of place. They only needed to carry out orders. It was best not to know what they were not supposed to know, or they might very well be silenced.
What Root handled was even more unsavory. It could be called the Anbu within the Anbu.
Especially after Danzo's death had exposed so much dirty business, those chosen to enter Root at this time all knew how to mind their place.
"Forgive my presumption, Captain."
The lead ninja hesitated before asking, "How should we verify this person's identity?"
Before Orochimaru could speak, a dazzling light bloomed from Minato's fingertip.
"I thought you would use the other one," Orochimaru said with a smile.
Minato shook his head. Wood Release was unreliable; who knew when some test subject who had successfully received Hashirama Cells might appear? But the Glint-Glint Fruit's power was his alone.
"Come on. Let me show you the possibilities that more choices can offer."
The two headed deeper into the base.
Although Root had changed hands, the base itself had not moved. The area Minato had destroyed was only the outer entrance; the deeper sections had remained untouched.
After clearing away the Wood Release Minato had left behind, everything Danzo had painstakingly accumulated fell into Orochimaru's hands.
The two entered a quiet room. The interior was somewhat dim, the temperature slightly low,