"Wait, I didn't do anything! Kiyosuke-san, you have to believe me!" Naruto shouted from inside the cage.
Kiyosuke crouched down and said,
"Naruto, I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. This has already become a diplomatic issue between the villages. Kumogakure and Iwagakure both need an answer. Don't worry—I'll investigate and find out the truth."
Tsunade said, "Send Naruto to Hōzuki Castle!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Two ANBU appeared, lifted the cage containing Naruto, and ran off with it.
"Hey! Let me go! I'm innocent! I've bled for Konoha, I've been wounded for Konoha! Granny Tsunade, please—let me go!!!!"
His voice grew fainter as he was carried away.
Kiyosuke sighed.
"Alright. I'll follow them and check on the situation at Hōzuki Castle and Kusagakure while I'm at it."
"I'm counting on you," Tsunade replied.
Kiyosuke vanished from the Hokage's office.
Sakura blinked in surprise. "So... this is a mission?!"
"No," Tsunade said. "Naruto is still a suspect. We have to give both Iwagakure and Kumogakure a proper explanation. Konoha never fears war, but we must protect the peace we've finally earned. Naruto will have to endure this for now. With Kiyosuke watching over him, he'll be fine."
With Kiyosuke ensuring Naruto's safety, there was little to worry about.
Kakashi nodded. "Then what should we do?"
"Meet up with the shinobi from Kumogakure, help clear Naruto's name, and once we've gathered information on Kusagakure's movements, depart immediately."
"Understood."
They were sending Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki into the open—such a tempting bait that Kusagakure couldn't possibly resist. None of the Five Great Nations would allow that village to go unchecked. If necessary, they would act to suppress it.
...
Naruto was carried out of the Land of Fire and into the Land of Grass. From there, they reached the coastline, boarded a ship, and set sail toward the island where Hōzuki Castle was located.
The waters near Hōzuki Castle were extremely turbulent, the waves surging violently. The boat rocked up and down, tossing with each swell, making everyone feel sick. Naruto almost threw up. Even Kiyosuke didn't look so good—this place really was unpleasant.
To avoid being discovered, he disguised himself as an ordinary Konoha shinobi escorting Naruto. Only the two ANBU knew his true identity.
After navigating past jagged reefs and dangerous currents, the ship finally docked by the island. Four men from Hōzuki Castle were already waiting on the shore. Without a word, they hoisted Naruto and carried him off. Kiyosuke followed in secret, slipping through a field of lantern grass until they reached the greatest prison in the shinobi world—Hōzuki Castle.
Activating Sage Mode, Kiyosuke hid his chakra completely, making himself undetectable.
The massive gates of Hōzuki Castle creaked open. Kiyosuke snuck inside, crouching on the rooftop, watching from above.
Several prisoners stood in the center courtyard, surrounded by guards. Naruto was among them, confined inside his cage.
"Attention!"
A fat, pig-like guard barked, and the others immediately stood at attention.
"Now, Hōzuki Castle's warden—Mui-sama—will address you."
A cloaked, long-haired man stepped forward. His cheeks were gaunt, his hair neatly tied back, and his eyes dull and emotionless. He stood perfectly straight as he slowly spoke.
"I am Mui, the person in charge here. The fact that you're here means your village no longer trusts you. A shinobi who loses their village's trust... has no value."
"I was framed!" Naruto shouted.
The fat guard was about to scold him, but Mui stopped him with a hand.
"You're saying you were framed and sent here unjustly?"
"I don't have time to waste here! I need to find the real culprit and clear my name! My village could be in danger!"
"Our Kusagakure has been entrusted by all the great villages to hold their prisoners," Mui said calmly.
"We will not allow any shinobi confined here to escape. No matter your grievances, we do not intervene."
He ordered the guards to set Naruto down and undo the sealing chains so he could stand.
"Fire Style: Heavenly Prison!" Mui formed hand seals. Flames flared from his palm as he struck Naruto in the chest.
Naruto was sent flying backward. Mui said,
"This Heavenly Prison technique has been passed down through generations of our clan. It is the reason Kusagakure was entrusted with Hōzuki Castle."
Struggling to his feet, Naruto felt a strange sensation on his chest. Pulling up his shirt, he saw red markings—like coiled ropes—glowing faintly across his skin.
"This technique prevents you from molding chakra," Mui explained. "If you try, you'll feel the agony of being burned alive." He raised a hand. "There are only two ways to leave this place."
"First, your village formally requests your release, and I'll let you go. Second... you die here, and my men carry your body out."
"So all I have to do is beat you, right?" Naruto said, still defiant.
He hadn't realized how serious the situation was. The moment he created a shadow clone, unbearable heat surged through his body. He collapsed instantly, his clone dispersing at once.
Mui's brows lifted slightly.
"Impressive... even under Heavenly Prison, you managed to mold chakra of that magnitude. Remarkable."
He stepped closer to Naruto.
"Don't waste your strength. If you go too far from me, the flames will consume you. Oh, and by the way—Heavenly Prison doesn't work underwater. But before you can try, the surrounding currents will smash you against the rocks long before you escape."
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Naruto screamed as indescribable pain coursed through his entire body. Watching from above, Kiyosuke didn't intervene. Letting this kid suffer a little wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
After a while, Mui left, and the prisoners were taken away for examination.
Kiyosuke didn't follow. Instead, he transformed into a regular prison guard and began wandering around Hōzuki Castle.
By evening, he heard a shrill cry from somewhere deep inside.
"Don't take off my underwear, aaaahhh!!!"
"..."
What in the world had Naruto gone through to scream like that?
Were the people of Hōzuki Castle all perverts?
Covering his face, Kiyosuke glanced toward the watchtower where Mui stood gazing into the distance. That man seemed to be plotting something. Whatever it was... Kiyosuke's stomach growled. He decided food came first.
He entered the castle cafeteria. The meals here were surprisingly good—meat, fish, even ramen.
After all, they were holding shinobi here. If the food was terrible, there'd be riots. Plus, the Five Great Nations regularly provided funding for Hōzuki Castle's upkeep.
That money came easily. No wonder Kusagakure was willing to take on this job.
After eating, Kiyosuke headed to Naruto's cell—only to find the boy missing. The one under the blanket was just a shadow clone.
Looks like he already knew someone was after him.
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