High in the mountains, just beyond the borders of the Land of Redaku, lies the Astronomy Research Institute. The Institute was founded by Tataru Janmarū, a contemporary of the Sage of Six Paths, as a haven for research; centuries later, the Institute now serves as a prison for Redaku's criminals. The aging Institute offers few comforts to the prisoners confined there, whose cells are bare of furniture, whose clothes provide little protection from the freezing cold, and who must perform gruelling manual labour regardless of their age or deteriorating health. The Institute's guards have little sympathy for the prisoners' well-being, and the food that's served has little value for the prisoners' nutrition.

A recent-arrival at the Institute - a man serving a three year sentence for murdering a family - is unwilling to tolerate these conditions any further and makes plans to escape. During breakfast, he requests help from inmate #487: Sasuke Uchiha.