The air on the fourth underground level was thick with the mixed stench of disinfectant and rotting biological tissue.
Hyuga Xiao stood in the shadows at the laboratory entrance, his Byakugan still active. His vision pierced through the walls, taking in everything within thirty meters ahead. Three chakra signatures—two Hyuga Main House ninjas and one Root member—were speaking quietly around a cultivation tank.
"Specimen Zero's stability is seventeen percent higher than expected." The Root ninja's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping metal. "Lord Danzo requires the first batch of field tests to be completed next month."
"The Branch House side is ready." One of the Hyuga Main House ninjas spoke with cold condescension. "Three Middle Ninjas and two Elite Ninjas, all suitable candidates for 'accidental deaths.' Their Byakugan purity is sufficient, and their Caged Bird Seals remain active."
"Lord Orochimaru's techniques truly are astonishing," the other Main House ninja added. "Combining Hashirama Cells with the Byakugan, then using the Caged Bird Seal as the control core... this approach is practically a weapon tailor-made for the Hyuga Clan."
Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.
He silently took half a step back, chakra flowing through his body in the faintest currents as he completely concealed his presence. This was an infiltration technique he had learned from Orochimaru's Laboratory records—not simple invisibility, but adjusting his chakra fluctuations to the same frequency as the surrounding environment.
"Still, there are too few test subjects." The Root ninja tapped the cultivation tank's glass. "There is only one Zero. Numbers One through Three all failed. We need more living Branch House subjects."
"What's the rush?" the Main House ninja sneered. "The Branch House is expendable to begin with. Once the Chunin Exams are over, we can find any excuse to dispose of a batch of disobedient ones and ship