"What is it, Lord Mui?"
After watching Mui slowly approach a certain spot before returning expressionlessly, one of the nearby shinobi finally asked.
"It's nothing. I've just been a little overly cautious lately."
Mui waved dismissively.
"That makes sense, considering you're sending your own child."
A shinobi wearing a sheep mask let out a meaningful chuckle.
At the same time, his greedy gaze drifted toward the Box of Paradise in the center of the chamber.
"Still... for the rise of the Land of Grass, sacrifices like these are unavoidable."
"Yes."
Mui answered briefly, his face remaining as emotionless as ever.
"I wonder whether Muku is ready yet."
A shinobi wearing an ox mask stepped closer.
"He should know the consequences beforehand."
"Let him know?"
The Sheep Mask laughed softly, his voice tinged with disdain.
"If he learns that not a single ninja who entered the Box of Paradise has ever returned alive..."
"Do you really think he'd still go in?"
The Ox Mask lowered his head in silence.
Indeed.
If Muku knew the truth, there was a real possibility that the entire operation would be canceled.
And Muku was the most talented shinobi Hōzuki Castle had produced in years.
If he entered the Box of Paradise, there was a very good chance he would finally satisfy the box's requirements.
When that happened, the Land of Grass would rise once more and rule the entire ninja world.
"Don't worry, esteemed elders."
Mui spoke calmly from the side.
"Muku will enter the Box of Paradise."
His tone made it sound as though the person being sent to die wasn't his son at all, but a complete stranger.
"Lord Mui's resolve is truly admirable."
The Ox and Sheep Masks were visibly moved.
Mui had devoted everything to researching the Box of Paradise.
If they were placed in the same situation—if their own sons were required to fulfill the ambitions of the Land of Grass—
Neither of them believed they could act as calmly as Mui.
"Everything is for the glory of the Land of Grass."
Mui lowered his head toward the Box of Paradise.
No one could tell what thoughts hid within his deep eyes.
"Hey! Is this all we're getting for food today?"
"You should be grateful you're getting fed at all. Stop complaining."
"Bastard!"
The newly arrived prisoners had been accustomed to fine meals.
Naturally, they were dissatisfied with the simple prison fare.
"You little—!"
The shinobi distributing food was caught off guard and received a loud slap across the face from one of the prisoners he had just argued with.
Although the prisoner's chakra had already been sealed, the humiliation of being struck in public remained.
"You bastard!"
The food-distribution shinobi rolled up his sleeves, preparing to teach the arrogant prisoner a lesson.
Just then, a cold voice drifted over.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Lord Mui!"
The shinobi who had been ready to start a fight immediately bowed respectfully.
The newcomer was Mui.
As always, he wore his black robes, his face calm and unreadable.
"Lord Mui, this guy refuses to accept the food and insists on causing trouble..."
The shinobi quickly explained the situation.
Everyone nearby held their breath and waited for Mui's response.
"I see."
Mui glanced at the troublemaker.
"He only arrived yesterday. Let's be a little more accommodating."
With that, he patted the food-distribution shinobi on the shoulder, seemingly intending to let the matter pass.
"Lord Mui..."
"Hah! At least you know your place! Now get me something better—"
The troublemaking prisoner smirked arrogantly and was about to push his demands even further.
The next second—
A searing pain exploded from his abdomen.
"W-What's happening?! Didn't you say—?!"
Panic flooded his face as he searched desperately through the crowd.
He was looking for the prisoner who had secretly promised him an escape route if he caused trouble.
That man had even demonstrated that his own chakra remained intact.
He had confidently guaranteed the prisoner's safety.
But now...
He was nowhere to be found.
"Damn it...!"
The man no longer had time to think.
The Fire Release chakra of the Heavenly Prison seal had already spread through his body.
Blazing flames instantly consumed him.
"Aaaaargh—!"
His scream lasted only a moment before both body and spirit were reduced to ashes.
The surrounding prisoners stared in shock.
Meanwhile, the long-term inmates merely continued eating their meals.
They had seen this countless times before.
Every so often, some fool would challenge Hōzuki Castle's authority.
And without exception...
They all ended up exactly like the man who had just turned into ash.
"So the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison is this complicated..."
From an inconspicuous corner far from the crowd, a crimson gleam flashed through Ning Feng's eyes.
His gaze toward Mui became increasingly thoughtful.
The troublesome prisoner had been manipulated by him.
Ning Feng had deliberately set the whole thing up.
He wanted to observe exactly how Mui's technique operated.
The day before, he had spent considerable time questioning veteran inmates.
What happened when someone caused trouble?
The answer was always the same.
Just sit back and watch.
Because Mui would personally handle it.
Mui's mastery of the Heavenly Prison seal had long since reached perfection.
He was the one who sealed every prisoner upon entering Hōzuki Castle.
Whenever disturbances arose, Mui would personally appear and suppress them.
A simple movement of his fingers was enough to permanently silence any troublemaker.
After learning this information, Ning Feng had formed a plan.
If someone challenged the prison's authority, Mui would almost certainly appear and use Heavenly Prison.
And Ning Feng...
Was extremely interested in that sealing technique.
It was a remarkably useful seal.
Against captured enemies who might leak information, it was practically perfect.
So he had secretly leaked information about his supposedly unsealed chakra, encouraging the prisoner to cause trouble and provoke Mui into acting.
Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Hidden in the shadows, Ning Feng had used his Sharingan to copy Mui's technique.
This Fire Release: Heavenly Prison truly wasn't simple.
Compared to ordinary sealing techniques, its complexity was on another level entirely.
Ning Feng had understood the principle behind the jutsu at a glance.
Yet even for him, mastering it completely would require some time.
After all, his proficiency in all five chakra natures had already reached the peak Kage level.
Most ordinary techniques were things he could learn instantly.
The fact that Heavenly Prison could still pose a challenge to him spoke volumes about its difficulty.
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