"It's here." Nonō retreated behind Mirai, keeping her voice low. "They usually gather here to discuss their next move. They should be here tonight too."
Mirai nodded and gestured to Minato and Naori.
Minato circled around to block the back door, Naori stood outside the warehouse to keep watch, and Kushina followed Mirai through the front entrance.
"Didn't expect Root's stinking rats to find a place like this. Minato, Naori, keep an eye out later. Don't let a single one get away!"
Both nodded.
Mirai raised a hand and pushed open the warehouse's iron door. With a creak, the hinges let out a harsh grinding noise.
Faint voices came from inside, then abruptly fell silent the instant the door opened.
Several figures rose from the dim corners, their wary gazes fixed on the entrance.
Mirai appeared in the doorway, his golden Chakra Cloak glowing faintly and illuminating the entire warehouse.
"Everyone, having a chat?" He smiled. "Mind if I join you?"
The warehouse was dimly lit, with only a few scattered patches of light filtering through gaps in the wooden boards and falling on the floor.
Eight people stood in the corner, men and women alike, most of them in their thirties or forties. They wore ordinary villagers' clothes, but their stances and eyes gave them away.
At their head was a tall, lean man in his forties, with high cheekbones and an old scar at the corner of his eye.
The moment he saw Mirai enter, his face went pale.
"Mirai Uzumaki!" The lean man gritted his teeth, his right hand quietly reaching toward his waist. "How did you find this place?"
"Of course, someone showed me the way." Mirai tilted his head and nodded toward Yakushi Nonō standing behind him.
The lean man's gaze passed over Mirai and