Kimimaro and Jūgo were quietly drinking tea when a panicked voice called from outside.
"Kimimaro! Quick, Kurotsuchi's in trouble!"
He immediately stood up and stepped outside. Karin and Hanabi came running, drenched in sweat, their clothes dusty and torn.
"What happened?" Kimimaro asked sharply.
"Hozuki Castle's people ambushed us—they were after us," Karin panted. "Kurotsuchi got captured while covering our escape!"
Hanabi added, "It was an ambush on the way back from town. They didn't expect us to fight back, but Kurotsuchi held them off."
Karin quickly pieced the story together. "The man leading them called himself Mujin. He ordered his subordinates to distract Kurotsuchi while he targeted me and Hanabi. But she used her Kekkei Genkai and crushed them. Mujin had to deal with her himself. He used some kind of Fire Release technique that trapped her. She told us to escape and come find help."
"Hozuki Castle?" Kimimaro frowned. "The one under the jurisdiction of the Land of Grass?"
"Yes," Karin nodded. "My mother mentioned them once. It's a high-security prison used by Kusagakure. Mujin might be related to the prison warden. Their unique jutsu uses Fire Release to embed chakra chains inside the target. If the captive uses chakra or gets too far from the caster, the chains ignite. The only escape is if the user dies… or willingly removes it."
Kimimaro's expression darkened. "A troublesome technique."
"That's putting it lightly," Suigetsu scoffed, walking over with a grin. "They're using the Hozuki name? What kind of joke is that? Kimimaro, let me go. I'll show them what the real Hozuki name means."
"No," Kimimaro said flatly. "We go together. Karin, tell me everything you remember."
They moved out swiftly.
…
Elsewhere, Kurotsuchi was shackled in a dim, stone-walled dungeon. Despite her situation, she remained composed.
"You claim to be the Tsuchikage's granddaughter?" Mujin asked, smirking.
Kurotsuchi sneered. "Why don't you check for yourself? The Iwagakure ANBU are already combing this area. They'll be here soon."
Mujin hesitated for a moment. He hadn't expected to capture someone of such high status. But then, his smirk returned.
"So what if you are? As long as I keep you in this Heavenly Prison jutsu, no one can touch me. If anyone tries, I'll ignite the flame chains inside you. You'll die instantly. I'd like to see someone kill me before I pull the trigger."
He laughed wildly. "Once I bring you to Kusagakure's council, I'll be a hero! Even the Tsuchikage won't dare retaliate. With you as leverage, we can extract concessions from Iwagakure."
"You clearly don't know my grandfather," Kurotsuchi said coldly. "He'll burn your entire village to the ground before yielding to cowards."
"Cowards?" Mujin's eyes narrowed. "You dare insult Hozuki Castle? We're the hidden power of the Grass Village! You're just a little girl with a big name."
He leaned closer, eyes filled with twisted amusement. "Maybe I should show you what we do to arrogant kunoichi in our custody…"
"You wouldn't dare—!" Kurotsuchi growled, pulling against the chains.
Outside the compound, Kimimaro had already made contact with the Iwagakure ANBU.
"Have you found her?"
One of the masked shinobi nodded grimly. "We tracked her until her chakra signature vanished. The captor knows advanced sealing and evasion. We suspect a hidden chamber or dungeon nearby."
"Hanabi," Kimimaro ordered, turning to her.
"On it." Hanabi activated her Byakugan, scanning the area. Moments later, her eyes widened.
"Over there—a chamber underground! Big Brother Kimimaro, hurry—he's... he's tearing Big Sister Kurotsuchi's clothes!"
A chill spread through the air. The temperature plummeted as Kimimaro's killing intent surged, thick and suffocating. Even the seasoned ANBU stiffened.
Without another word, Kimimaro, Suigetsu, and the Iwagakure ANBU launched forward, chakra flaring as they blurred toward the dungeon like streaks of death.
"Heh heh, just accept your fate! No prisoner who falls into my hands ever escapes."
Part of Kurotsuchi's outfit had been torn, revealing her pale skin as she backed away, eyes sharp with defiance. "Take one more step and I'll use my Lava Release. I'd rather die by my own jutsu than let you touch me."
"Suicide? You won't get the chance."
Mujin hurled a small spherical ninja tool. The orb burst, releasing a dense, pinkish vapor that filled the chamber. "I've dealt with plenty of kunoichi like you. I'd usually take my time breaking someone like you, but today I'm in a hurry. Enjoy a dose of my 'obedience gas'—a little concoction made just for troublesome types."
Kurotsuchi tried to mold chakra but failed. She hadn't dared use it before, but now she couldn't even gather it. Her limbs turned weak, her legs buckling as an unnatural warmth spread from her core outward. Some kind of paralytic agent mixed with a chakra suppressor…
A deafening explosion suddenly rocked the dungeon. The heavy iron door was pierced by jagged white spikes—bones.
Kurotsuchi, half-conscious, recognized the jutsu through the haze: Shikotsumyaku… Kimimaro?
"Kurotsuchi!"
"Lady Kurotsuchi!"
Kimimaro stormed in, followed by two Iwagakure ANBU operatives in standard black garb, their masks marked with the village symbol. His pale face was cold and expressionless, but his eyes sharpened when they landed on her.
He's not calling me "Short Legs" now... That's a first. She couldn't speak, but her thoughts were still clear enough to grasp what was happening.
"Mujin," Kimimaro said calmly, "release Kurotsuchi."
"Hah! You think I'm an idiot? If I let her go, I'll be surrounded by your backup within minutes. No chance. I'm taking her back to Hōzuki Castle—let the Grass Village handle the diplomatic mess."
"You're not acting on behalf of the Grass Village," Kimimaro replied, his voice as calm as ever. "You're a rogue acting under the pretense of authority."
Mujin's grin widened. "Still doesn't matter. My orders were to capture you. You killed Matsuda Goro—our castle lord's best enforcer. This is payback."
"Matsuda Goro…" Kimimaro narrowed his eyes. "He ambushed me. I simply defended myself."
"Well, if you're so eager to join her, fine. But I'm not stupid. Let me seal your chakra first."
Without hesitation, Kimimaro stepped forward.
"No—Kimimaro!" Kurotsuchi tried to shout, but her lips barely moved.
Mujin weaved signs rapidly and activated Fire Release: Heavenly Prison—a technique developed at Hōzuki Castle to suppress chakra. Crimson chains erupted from his palm and latched onto Kimimaro's limbs, sinking into his body like branding irons.
"There. Now you can't use your kekkei genkai. Hand over your bones and behave."
Kimimaro didn't flinch. "You've sealed my chakra, not my resolve. Now release her."
"Hmph. Why would I?" Mujin sneered. "Two hostages are better than one."
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