Overseas island, Hozuki Castle.
The salty sea breeze could not dispel the oppression pervading the rock walls.
Muen stood at a high vantage point, watching a new batch of people delivered to the courtyard below.
Most bore injuries and appeared listless. Reportedly, they had been wounded during recent rogue ninja pursuit operations.
Kusagakure's explanation was that while recovering here, they would assist in strengthening Hozuki Castle's defenses.
Muen arranged personnel to settle these fellow villagers. His face showed no other expression, yet his heart harbored some unease.
Ever since that child was secretly sent into this prison, the child harboring ominous chakra within, everything seemed to be quietly derailing.
The village leadership, especially Leader Tsurukawa's orders, grew increasingly urgent. The number of Kusagakure shinobi transported here far exceeded conventional needs.
What exactly are Tsurukawa and the others thinking?
All prisoners in Hozuki Castle had been subjected to his Fire Release: Heavenly Prison technique. Not only was their internal chakra restricted, but straying too far from him would also trigger heavenly flames, burning them to death.
As long as he, Muen, remained alive and Fire Release: Heavenly Prison stayed effective, Hozuki Castle fundamentally required no such extensive guard forces.
"Father," a refined-looking youth stood beside Muen. "Are they truly here to serve as guards?"
Muku looked at those people, recalling the child who had replaced him as the opener.
He remembered his father's previous promises about the Box of Ultimate Bliss and a beautiful future. The scene before him differed from what the village had described.
"The village's directive is indeed so," Muen's voice strove to maintain steady gentleness, as though convincing his son while also convincing himself. "Muku, no need for excessive worry. Regardless, I am the final gatekeeper."
"The wish will be made by me."
Whatever happened within the village, whatever Tsurukawa was planning, ultimately it could not bypass him.
He could guide everything back onto the correct path.
Within Hozuki Castle, several pairs of eyes observed Muen and Muku.
Several prisoners appearing listless and dispersed in various locations were communicating through extremely covert methods.
"Muen is Hozuki Castle's core. The Heavenly Prison technique is the key maintaining this place."
"Assessment: Kusagakure's Box of Ultimate Bliss opening is imminent."
"Action directive: Xu and Wu, execute decapitation with me, eliminate key node Muen. Shin, escape amid chaos and deliver intelligence to Lord Danzo."
They were Root. Even having voluntarily been branded with Fire Release: Heavenly Prison seals to infiltrate this place, restricting chakra usage, it did not prevent them from completing their mission.
As taijutsu and assassination-type shinobi specially selected for this mission, they possessed sufficient combat capability even without using ninjutsu.
The opportunity appeared during the brief gap of evening shift change.
Muen walked alone along a relatively secluded stone corridor. His footsteps echoed through the empty passage.
At precisely that instant, three figures violently launched from shadows.
As an elite jōnin at this critical juncture, Muen's vigilance had always remained at its peak.
Grass Style: Hair Breaking Palm!
Palm wind howled, precisely blocking and counterattacking. Dull striking sounds rang out consecutively. Three Root shinobi were forced back. One even stumbled and fell.
"Seize them!" Muen shouted, preparing to summon guards.
That fallen Root shinobi abruptly raised his head, expelling a senbon from his mouth.
Muen narrowly dodged by tilting his head. The other two bore cursed seals different from Heavenly Prison emerging on their bodies as they charged toward Muen.
Hozuki Castle's master held his right hand in a void grip. Scorching Fire Release chakra instantly condensed and formed, transforming into a longsword burning with fierce flames.
The flame blade swept across. The moment it cut them, their internal meridians were burned by flames. The cursed seals on their bodies that had yet to activate consequently failed.
Just as Muen dealt with these two, the Root shinobi on the ground successfully activated his technique. His body swelled dramatically like inflating before instantly exploding.
The violent explosion swept through the narrow corridor. Rubble and smoke filled the air.
As smoke slightly dispersed, Muen's figure appeared. He breathed somewhat heavily. His robe sleeves were damaged. A wound cut by explosion fragments marked his arm. He frowned at the chaos on the ground and Kusagakure guards hurrying over upon hearing the commotion.
Muen commanded in a low voice, "Clean this up. Conduct another inspection of recently entered prisoners."
Simultaneously, the Root shinobi codenamed Shin, utilizing the chaos caused by the explosion and guard redeployment gaps, successfully infiltrated to a remote cliff edge at Hozuki Castle's perimeter. Below lay pitch-black, surging seawater.
He hesitated not at all before leaping down.
The Fire Release: Heavenly Prison on his body was suppressed and fell dormant upon contacting abundant seawater.
He struggled forward in turbulent undercurrents, swimming toward the predetermined rendezvous point according to memory. As long as he found that disguised fishing boat and transmitted the intelligence...
Just as he was about to surface for air, a hand broke through the water's surface, gripping his throat and lifting his entire body from the sea.
Cold seawater slid off him. Shin's pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively struggled, using hands and feet to attempt attacking whoever was behind.
However, the instant he left seawater's enveloping range, having distanced himself from Hozuki Castle, losing seawater, Heavenly Prison's power was triggered.
"Gaaah!"
Blazing flames erupted from within him without warning, from inside out, burning madly! He could not even glimpse his attacker's appearance. All struggles instantly became futile convulsions. Skin, muscle, and bone were incinerated to charcoal-black in extremely brief time.
Uchiha Obito stood upon seawater, coldly watching this corpse that had instantly lost life and still emitted wisps of smoke and a burnt stench in his hand.
He casually tossed the charred body like discarding garbage back into churning waves, watching it quickly swallowed by darkness.
"Now is not yet the time for you all to cause trouble."
"...The situation is roughly thus. Ultimately, Elder Chiyo agreed to the supplementary clause, namely that over the next three years, Sunagakure must dispatch teams to participate in joint Chūnin Selection Exams hosted by Konoha."
"In exchange, our side must provide Sunagakure with a batch of emergency grain and freshwater supplies within this year. Prices will be settled according to the previously negotiated preferential plan. Sunagakure will pay with specialty spices, medicinal herbs, and certain handicrafts."
Shuji stood before the office desk, reporting this negotiation's results to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Chiyo finally could not endure further grinding. Shuji also had not been excessive. Judging purely by product value, Sunagakure profited slightly. Konoha did not lose.
Calling Sunagakure poor was not quite accurate. The Land of Wind also possessed many rare items. However, using them for bulk trade exchanges with grain and other daily supplies would result in major losses.
As for that supplementary clause, Chiyo had not minded excessively. By conventional logic, joint Chūnin Exams were generally held once every three years. Konoha was merely requiring Sunagakure's next participation.
Of course, ultimately how many years between each, after all there were no written regulations. Anyway, Shuji felt no need to be so rigid. Genin promoting to chūnin, once yearly was not excessive. Twice yearly was also acceptable. It merely depended on Sunagakure's acceptance level.
Specifics could be considered later.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was satisfied with this result. No losses, and objectives achieved. He approved of Shuji's plan to advance steadily.
Some matters ultimately could not be accomplished overnight.
"Regularized, institutionalized exchanges... Perhaps this method truly can cultivate trust generation by generation, gradually eliminating estrangement."
"You have worked hard, Shuji."
"Go rest. Subsequent detailed coordination with Sunagakure will still require your efforts."
Leaving the Hokage's office, Shuji stretched lazily. Having finished one matter, he should properly reward himself. It was time to apply for leave.
The Chūnin Exam? What did that have to do with him? He had no shift assignment. Moreover, this exam had nothing worth watching.
Watch Uchiha Itachi steamroll the entire field? The only one who might exchange blows with him would probably be Hidden Cloud's C.
Ten years later, that one would become an elite jōnin, skilled in medical ninjutsu and lightning genjutsu, using strong light to create illusions. Against ordinary Uchiha, it might suffice, but facing Uchiha Itachi... best wishes that he not lose too embarrassingly.
Leaving the village to tour around presented some difficulty. Just within the village, he should think about what entertainment to enjoy.
Should he go to hot springs to relax, or simply sleep at home until the world turned upside down?
The door beside the Hokage's office opened. A hand reached out and grabbed Shuji inside.
"Can you not even speak anymore, Lady Tsunade?"
Shuji stumbled a step, complaining irritably. What met his eyes was a desk piled with documents, nearly leaving no floor space, and Tsunade buried within them, her golden hair seemingly having lost its luster.
"Less nonsense. Hurry and help!" Tsunade did not look up, barking irritably while pointing at a small table she had just cleared beside her and the mountain of scrolls piled atop it. "I cannot finish reading! Shizune still has to handle hospital preparations. The Chūnin Exam procedures still have a huge pile unfinalized!"
Shuji's heart filled with resistance. He only felt everything before him was detestable.
"Chūnin Exams always follow established procedures. How could they not be handled properly?"
"You think who caused this?!" Tsunade finally raised her head, her eyes staring at him nearly shooting flames. "Originally, the second exam just tossed people into the Forest of Death to snatch Heaven and Earth scrolls and that was it! Which bastard previously proposed increasing team cooperation elements and comprehensive assessment?!"
"The old man found it interesting and insisted on adding new examination elements! Now the entire second round's rules, venue setup, completion standards, scoring criteria all must be redesigned!"
"We also have to hold meetings with leading jōnin from several other shinobi villages to obtain their understanding!"
"Plus new assessment needed ninja tool applications, examiner personnel allocations, safety contingency plans... all this paperwork!"
She pounded the table forcefully, making documents rustle. "Do not think about escaping! Before getting this damned stuff settled, I cannot leave, and you should not dream of stepping one foot outside this door!"
Shuji looked at the roaring Senju princess before him and that seemingly eternally unfinishable mountain of official documents. He sighed.
When could he ever take a vacation...
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild