Puff, puff, puff~~
Genya walked through the laboratory, moving forward while ruthlessly cutting down every researcher he found displeasing.
If he happened to skip someone, that just meant they got to live a few more days.
"Killing them like this… isn't it too…" Kakashi watched Genya take one life after another, a faint sense of guilt rising in his chest.
After all, these were still living people.
"Living people?" Genya glanced back at Kakashi, his expression serious. "Look carefully. These are the same people who use civilians as experimental material. They treat humans like test subjects. If they do that, then they should be ready to face death."
"…"
Kakashi had no rebuttal. Indeed, anyone who conducted such cruel experiments on so many innocent people had to be prepared to be slaughtered.
They reached the thick reinforced door of the inner laboratory. Genya raised his leg and kicked it open.
Boom—
The heavy stone door shattered instantly, fragments scattering across the floor.
Inside was an even more secure chamber. Over a dozen researchers were curled up in fear, and several experimental subjects were restrained nearby.
"Only a dozen left?" Genya narrowed his eyes. "Still a bit too many."
With that, Genya erased seven or eight of them in an instant, leaving only ten researchers alive in the room.
Once he was done, he continued deeper inside.
At the far end were several cages holding children and women.
"The commotion here must have reached Danzo and the Sarutobi Police Force by now. Should we leave early?" Kakashi asked seriously. "Root reinforcements should get here soon."
"No need." Genya shook his head, then looked at Kakashi. "Release all of them. Have them hold each other's hands. From the looks of it, bind them together in a connected line."
"Uh…?" Kakashi was caught off guard, but he still followed Genya's instructions.
Outside, Eisuke Sarutobi first led his men to the Root laboratory, only to find the Root shinobi outside completely lifeless. His heart was filled with shock and horror.
"Captain… they're all dead!" someone stepped forward after checking and reported.
"Did they… commit suicide?" Eisuke asked again, staring at the gruesome scene, still unwilling to believe his eyes.
How could Root shinobi commit suicide?
"There were five in total. One killed the other four, then the remaining four killed themselves," a member of the Police Force explained what he had observed.
But disbelief lingered.
This… could this really be suicide?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
There was only one other explanation: these people must have been controlled to act in such a way.
At the thought, Eisuke felt a chill run through him. If someone could control these shinobi to commit suicide without a sound, it was terrifying.
At the very least, the intruder in the Root laboratory was far beyond his ability to confront.
"Kijo, go inform the Hokage!" After a moment of silence, Eisuke turned to the nearby shinobi, signaling them to notify Hiruzen Sarutobi, while he kept his eyes on the broken room, tense and alert.
Enter… or not enter?
He recalled the Hokage's instructions: never enter the Root laboratory unless absolutely necessary.
Moreover, rushing in recklessly… they would surely face whoever had invaded the Root laboratory.
Boom~~~
As he hesitated, a sudden explosion shook the underground, and the entire ground trembled.
"This is bad…" Eisuke thought, alarmed. He quickly shouted to the others, "You go first! Enter!"
The leading Police Force members hesitated at Eisuke's command. Yet, seeing his serious expression, they knew there was no room to argue. Finally, they nodded, "Yes!"
With that, the Sarutobi Police Force members exchanged glances and stepped forward.
Eisuke followed behind them.
The Hokage had recently been very concerned about this laboratory, and Eisuke was aware of some of the hidden matters. He had to go in—whatever was happening in the Root base could not cause a scandal.
Just as they descended the dark corridor, a strong stench of blood wafted up.
It made Eisuke Sarutobi frown, even feel a bit nauseous.
They immediately became alert again.
However, the moment they stepped down and saw the laboratory ahead, sharp, deadly flashes shot toward them.
By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late to dodge.
They tried to block with their kunai.
But the shuriken thrown from tens of meters away cut through like blades.
Those at the front couldn't even block them and were pierced through the forehead.
Eisuke Sarutobi and two other ninjas behind only had their shoulders or arms pierced because their bodies twisted just in time.
"This is bad…they've set an ambush. Retreat!"
Seeing this, Eisuke shouted and quickly retreated.
The terrifying force of those shuriken was something even he couldn't withstand.
As for a real person? He dared not imagine. It was beyond his ability to fight.
In just a moment, several of the Sarutobi jonin were lost, leaving him with a pang of guilt.
But he had no choice but to fall back.
Even after escaping the underground lab, he was still shaken.
"Boss…we…" The two injured Police Force members were also terrified, even somewhat fearful.
They had almost died inside. If they hadn't twisted aside at the critical moment, they might not have made it out.
"Wait. This is the Root's business. Let them handle it themselves!" Eisuke took a deep breath.
"Go gather some Police Force members. Hold the exit. No one gets out!"
Inside the laboratory…
"Genya…ready!"
Kakashi looked at Genya, who with a single shuriken had already killed several jonin. Though unsettled, he approached.
"There are 25 in total."
"Understood."
Genya took the rope and then looked at the trembling white-coated researchers.
"Take care of these people. I'll be back."
With that, he prepared to lead the untested subjects out.
As for those already being experimented on, now wasn't the right time to take them.
Genya was no saint. If he took them without permission, he'd have to find someone to create new treatments for each experimental subject. He had neither the time nor energy. It was better to leave them there for now.
He placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder, ready to leave.
Huh?
Suddenly, his movement paused, his eyes glinting with interest.
The hand on Kakashi's shoulder relaxed.
"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked, surprised.
Genya smiled faintly.
"An old acquaintance has arrived. Let's say a few words to him before we leave. Heh…time to make them uncomfortable."
****
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/AniScout