Inside an underground laboratory outside Konoha.
Orochimaru was leaning over a microscope as though examining some rare treasure.
"Tsk, this reaction is rather interesting..."
Suddenly, a young man appeared behind Orochimaru. He was one of Orochimaru's subordinates.
"Lord Orochimaru," the man said, with a barely perceptible trace of nervousness, "there's a situation. Over the past few days, ANBU and the Konoha Military Police Force have been patrolling the laboratory's perimeter an abnormal number of times."
Orochimaru's hand paused with the tweezers in its grip, and he slowly straightened.
"Oh?" Orochimaru drew out the word, his voice as raspy as ever. "Is that so? It seems the test subjects have caused a bit too much of a stir..."
He waved a hand. "Understood. Don't disturb me without orders."
The man breathed a sigh of relief and immediately withdrew like a shadow, disappearing from sight.
Only the hum of equipment remained in the laboratory.
Orochimaru walked up to an enormous glass cultivation tank and looked at the children floating in the nutrient solution as though asleep.
He clicked his tongue, his face showing not a shred of sympathy, only displeasure at his experiments being interrupted.
"Heh." He chuckled softly. "Was this Minato's thinking, or the handiwork of that newly appointed ANBU brat? They were just a tiny bit faster than I expected. Looks like I won't be staying here much longer."
Then he looked toward Root's location within Konoha. "That old fool Danzo... probably won't be able to keep things under wraps either."
Over where Yūto was, it was a completely different world from the gloomy basement. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, things remained fairly orderly.
Several masked ANBU and Uchiha wearing Konoha Military Police Force uniforms gathered around Yūto, delivering urgent reports.
"Captain Yūto!"