The Anbu Police Force formed up and protected the Hokage in the center, then immediately shouted toward the corridor outside the laboratory, "Who goes there?!"
Soon, several dozen ninja wearing masks and trench coats marched through the corridor with swift, synchronized steps and arrived at the laboratory entrance.
Seeing their attire, the Anbu Police Force relaxed somewhat. They assumed these were personnel responsible for the night watch nearby, drawn over by the disturbance. They might even be allies.
Yet unexpectedly, after hearing the Anbu's challenge, the uninvited visitors gave no response at all. Without slowing down, they charged forward, swiftly splitting up and circling around Sarutobi's group from every direction before rushing into the laboratory.
The Anbu Police Force had not expected this turn of events. They did not immediately move to intercept them, instead hesitating where they stood as they maintained a defensive guard.
That momentary hesitation put them at a tremendous disadvantage. The sudden intruders formed an even larger formation and completely surrounded them.
Only then did the Anbu Police Force realize something was wrong. The Anbu captain at the front immediately barked at the similarly dressed ninja, "Insolence! Are you from Root or the Anbu? How dare you show such disrespect to Lord Hokage! Disperse at once!"
Hearing this, the Anbu present remembered that aside from them, Konoha also had Root, whose members dressed exactly the same way. The other side clearly had hostile intentions, and they all became wary.
In the face of the Anbu captain's rebuke, the ninja around the perimeter remained motionless. Not even their gazes showed the slightest ripple, displaying an aura entirely different from that of the Anbu.
Though both were intelligence organizations, the Anbu possessed an air of mystery and iron-blooded resolve, while Root was numb and mechanical. Both were cold,