429 Learning Ninjutsu in a Glance

Hokage Office, rooftop.

The Ōtsutsuki clan's treasured tool, Karasuki, swung its short little legs, probably trying to wipe the tears from the corners of its eyes. Unfortunately, its legs were too short and couldn't reach.

[Thank you, benefactors, for setting me free.]

The little turtle's voice trembled.

"You little turtle really know how to put on a show. Hurry up and go already." Tsunade waved her hand indifferently.

The turtle nodded. After taking one last look at the Shinju beside it, it opened a time passage and disappeared.

On the rooftop, Naruto wiped the corner of his eye.

"That was so touching!"

"I wonder when we'll see it again."

Sasuke looked speechless. "What part of that was touching? It's not even an animal… (ー_ー)!!"

...

Elsewhere, inside the time passage, Karasuki pondered where to go next.

"I'll go to a time where one of my benefactors exists."

"I want to know how someone so powerful grew up."

...

In the blink of an eye, more than a month passed.

In the Hokage Office, Shikamaru pushed the door open and walked in. "I made you a cup of tea. Have a sip."

Seeing no reaction from Shinju, Shikamaru continued, "Ever since that little turtle left, you've been standing by the window staring outside. Shinju, what are you waiting for?"

"I've been looking at documents for too long. Just taking a break," Shinju replied with a light laugh, without turning his head.

Outside the window, a messenger hawk flew past.

Shinju curiously reached out his hand.

"Whoa!!"

Under the effect of the Partial Expansion Technique, his palm grew larger and snatched the messenger hawk out of the air.

Behind him, Shikamaru, who was drinking tea, nearly sprayed it out. "Hey, be gentle. It's hard to train a messenger hawk… wait, in this day and age, who's still using messenger hawks to deliver messages? (´°Δ°`)"

"Could it be that old man Ōnoki again?"

While Shikamaru was talking, Shinju had already untied the message tube from the hawk's leg.

After skimming through it, Shinju lightly patted Shikamaru on the shoulder. "Shikamaru, come take a look at this."

Shikamaru leaned over curiously and glanced at the contents of the letter…

"A plea for help from Kokuri? He's the guy who ran off with the Mujina Bandits' money a while back. How did his request for help end up being sent to Konoha? ⊙▽⊙"

Shinju said, "The Mujina Bandits? Sounds vaguely familiar."

Shikamaru spread his hands helplessly. "Processed too many documents and your memory's getting scrambled?"

"The Mujina Bandits have been committing crimes all over the major countries. They're pretty well-known. The Land of Lightning organized several capture operations and still couldn't catch them."

"And that bandit group is extremely secretive. Because of their blood pact, they immediately eliminate any members who get captured, to prevent information about the rest of the group from leaking…"

"Right now, the only exposed members are Kokuri, who ran off with the money recently… and Tsukiyo, mentioned in this letter."

Hearing that, Shinju looked down at the letter in his hand again.

"Kokuri says in the letter that he was captured by Kusagakure and imprisoned in Hōzuki Castle. Now Tsukiyo from the bandit group has also entered Hōzuki Castle as a prisoner, specifically to eliminate him. He's requesting protection from Konoha…"

"As long as we can keep him safe, he's willing to provide information on all members of the Mujina Bandits, and he's even willing to pay us!"

"He ran off with the Mujina Bandits' funds. He should be pretty rich right now! (´◊ω◊｀)"

Shinju's eyes gradually lit up.

He turned around and found Shikamaru beside him wearing a troubled expression.

"Hōzuki Castle is a prison specifically for criminal ninja. It's located on an island near Kusagakure, and it has a special status within the shinobi world…"

"It'll be difficult to demand someone from them," Shikamaru said.

After listening to Shikamaru's explanation, Shinju, who normally never backed down, nodded.

Shikamaru thought Shinju had changed his mind.

"Giving up on this mission?"

Shinju shook his head.

"No. I'm planning to go take a look myself. ୧⍢⃝୨"

...

Land of Grass.

Outside the gates of Hōzuki Castle.

A new batch of prisoners arrived today.

The castle lord, Mui, branded every new prisoner with the "Fire Release: Fire Prison" seal.

This seal restricted a ninja's ability to gather chakra. And if a criminal ninja attempted to escape Hōzuki Castle, the Fire Prison curse mark would transform into chains of flame, burning the offender's body.

Just as the lord was about to place the seal on the last ninja, he froze.

"Wait. Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Shinju said solemnly, "I'm a newly arrived prisoner from the Land of Fire. Uchiha Sasuke…"

Hearing that, Lord Mui froze. "Uchiha Sasuke? Aren't you—"

Shinju cut him off. "No matter who I was before, right now I'm just an ordinary prisoner in Hōzuki Castle…"

"The warden, Benga, will explain the specific rules to you newcomers later."

Soon, a burly, extremely greasy-looking fat man appeared in front of Shinju.

"I'm Benga. In Hōzuki Castle, you only need to remember two things!"

"First, the warden is the law of this prison!"

"Second, don't forget the first rule, even if you die!"

...

The next day.

Land of Fire, Konoha Village, Hokage Office.

Sasuke pushed the door open. When he saw that the person slumped over the desk was Shikamaru, he asked curiously,

"Where's Shinju? He didn't come home at all last night!"

Shikamaru rubbed his dark circles. "He went on a mission. He should be back soon…"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shinju, dressed in a full set of prison garb, appeared in the Hokage Office, carrying two people with him!

Sasuke stared. "You… did you commit a crime and get arrested?"

Shinju shook his head guiltily.

"It's complicated. I'll explain it to you later."

Then he pointed at the long-haired man on the floor and said to Shikamaru,

"This is Kokuri, the one who sent the letter… I'll interrogate him properly."

...

A few minutes later, in the Hokage Office.

After receiving news from the Land of Grass, Tsunade angrily kicked the door open.

"Sasuke!! Get out here right now! (′д｀σ)σ"

Sasuke was completely stunned. He pointed at himself.

"Me? I didn't do anything! (≖╻≖;)"

Tsunade snapped, "Still pretending to be innocent! The Land of Grass has been calling me nonstop!"

"You barged into Hōzuki Castle today, took away two of their important prisoners, and severely injured the warden…"

"Impressive, Sasuke. You usually look like such an honest kid, and you actually pulled something like this! ꐦ≖ ≖"

After hearing that, Sasuke finally started to get it.

Thinking about how Shinju had just come back looking travel-worn, dressed in prison clothes, and carrying two prisoners…

There was no doubt about it. This was his doing!

"Fifth Hokage, please listen to my explanation. I swear I didn't do this… ꒦ິ^꒦ິ"

...

Konoha Prison.

Interrogation room.

After reading through Kokuri's memories, Shinju's expression turned shocked.

"I never expected this guy to actually be a good person. After realizing that he had unknowingly helped the Mujina Bandits commit many crimes, he ran off with the money, and later even donated all of that ill-gotten wealth…"

"It's just a shame there's no mission reward anymore!"

Soon, Shinju woke the unconscious Kokuri and pointed toward the outside of the cell.

"You—get lost. Don't lie to people again next time! (*Ӧ)σ"