121 Hōzuki Castle

Hōzuki Castle is a large castle that serves as a prison for ninja criminals from different countries. It is controlled by Kusagakure, a hidden village in the Land of Grass.

The castle has various traps and security measures to prevent escape, and among its formidable arsenal, the master of Hōzuki Castle possessed a unique technique capable of sealing prisoners' chakras, leaving them powerless against the fortress's formidable defenses.

The Grass Village, with its own distinctive approach to incarceration, had earned a reputation for the effectiveness of its methods, leaving no room for doubt about the severity of the consequences for those confined within its walls.

As Jiraiya guided the group through the dusky landscape, he unraveled the details of their imminent arrival at their destination, the ominous Hōzuki Castle, as nightfall drew near.

Jiraiya's words carried a resonance that hinted at a familiarity with the grass village, suggesting knowledge of the place. It was as if his wisdom had been forged through the crucible of a well-traveled past, spanning the far reaches of the elemental nation continent.

Breaking the silence with curiosity, he posed a question that reflected his personal quest for discovery.

"Do you know if there are any flying summon beasts in this country?" Fugaku's inquiry hung in the air, a subtle spark of anticipation in his eyes.

In his aspiration to encounter a flying summon beast in Jiraiya, he saw the ideal guide for such esoteric inquiries.

Jiraiya, however, dispelled some of the mystique with a measured shake of his head. "There are some flying summon beasts, but none of them can carry people," he replied succinctly.

The brevity of his answer cast a shadow over Fugaku's soaring dreams, leaving him with a lingering disappointment. The desire to take flight and navigate the boundless sky seemed tantalizingly out of reach, prompting Fugaku to ponder the complexities that shrouded his quest.

"Stop! This is a restricted area, and no outsiders are allowed."A stern guard interrupted their progress.

"We're not outsiders." Fugaku smirked confidently and gestured towards Komeko, standing behind him. "See? She is the princess of your land of grass. Her mother was imprisoned here, and she wants to see her."

The revelation hung in the air, stunning not only the guards but even Komeko herself. Did Fugaku just unveil her identity publicly?

Komeko wondered why he was so reckless. Is that the way of a samurai? Shouldn't they have to wait for the opportunity to save her mother? The group grappled with confusion.

The guards, though surprised by the news of the princess of the grass country, eyed Komeko's plain clothes with skepticism, casting doubt on her royal identity.

The lead guard, resolute, bellowed, "This is not a place for you to mess around. Get out of here!"

Fugaku sighed in frustration, feeling the weight of disbelief despite telling the truth.

Determined to make them understand, his sharingan locked onto the lead guard. The guard, startled for a moment, slumped against the wall, unconscious.

"Hey, enemy..." The second guard tried to issue a warning, but before he could finish, Fugaku's sharingan met his, and he too succumbed to unconsciousness.

As the guards collapsed, Komeko and her brother stood behind Fugaku, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events. Their eyes fixed on him with astonishment.

"Oh? Hey, that ability is useful! But is it really wise to use that?" Jiraiya quizzically remarked, a note of caution in his voice.

He had considered mentioning Fugaku's Sharingan but decided against it, mindful of the ongoing conflict between the Konoha and the Suna camps. Revealing his presence here could escalate tensions.

Knowing Fugaku's strength and the potential protective shield offered by his summoning jutsu, Jiraiya was confident they could navigate the dangers and escape, provided they avoided falling prey to the mysterious sealing techniques that guarded the fortress.

However, Fugaku's impatience bubbled to the surface. "We should have sneaked in to find out the situation, but I don't have time!" He exclaimed, eager to unravel the mysteries within Hōzuki Castle.

His curiosity extended beyond the immediate peril, lingering on the pendant that swung from Komeko's neck. As the group prepared to move, Fugaku couldn't help but wonder about its origin.

He wondered: Did the gods of this world summon him? Perhaps the Sage of the Six Paths, the Shinigami, the Ten-Tails, or some other enigmatic deity?

Jiraiya, sensing the urgency of their situation, urged them forward. "Come on, let's go! We'll be found out soon!"

Under the veil of night, Hōzuki Castle glowed ominously. Fugaku, with a nod, contemplated the structure ahead.

Turning to Komeko, he felt a sense of uncertainty. "Which way should we go?

"I know…" Kenji, Komeko's brother, surprising everyone with his knowledge, declared confidently.

Fugaku looked at him in astonishment. "Really? Then show us the way."

The child responded with a pout, emitting peculiar "squeak" noises. Suddenly, as if conjured by his mysterious communication, a mouse materialized before them.

Engaged in conversation with Kenji, the mouse nodded understandingly and took the lead. Kenji gestured for the others to follow, chasing after the tiny guide.

Fugaku couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected turn of events. It was a reminder not to judge by appearances, for within the seemingly ordinary resided the extraordinary.

Earlier, Fugaku had proposed leaving the kid behind, deeming it too troublesome to navigate the complexities of their mission with a child in tow.

However, a moral dilemma surfaced: the kid was young and lacked the skills to defend himself, making him liable to Hōzuki Castle.

As they continued, he couldn't shake the feeling that this world was teeming with peculiarities, as if he had been exposed to a glimpse of the ninja world.

Despite these unsettling thoughts, his experience allowed him to compose himself. A glance at Jiraiya, running alongside him

"Have you ever heard of the legend of the Box of Ultimate Bliss?" Fugaku inquired in a hushed tone as they maintained their pace.

Jiraiya furrowed his brows in concentration. "I think I've heard of it somewhere, but I can't recall!"

Surprised by Jiraiya's lack of certainty, Fugaku pressed further.

"Really? You don't know?"

Komeko, being a princess, was privy to this legend. If Jiraiya, with his wealth of knowledge, couldn't recall it clearly, then the likelihood was that other ninjas from Kusagakure were equally in the dark about the mysterious Box of Ultimate Bliss.

The entirety of Hōzuki Castle was plunged into high alert, a cacophony of urgent voices echoing through its stone corridors.

"We have intruders!"

"Get them quick!"

"Team 1 to the east, team 2 to the west!"

"Roger!"

"Over here, over here, hurry up!"

Fugaku could hear the distant clamor of voices and the heavy thud of footsteps, and he witnessed the sweeping beams of searchlights illuminating the surroundings.

The sheer number of guards and the utilization of modern searchlight technology within Hōzuki Castle astonished him, prompting a perplexing thought about whether he had stepped into an alternative version of anime—a blend of ancient weaponry and modern tools.

Amidst the turmoil, Fugaku, maintaining his composure, contemplated their next move.

"Hey, we need to knock out the searchlight guards! There are troblesomes!" he suggested, the four of them finding cover behind a wall.

Fugaku, looking at the distant searchlights, spoke calmly, a decision rooted in his reluctance to take lives.

He conveyed his intent to knock out rather than harm, a sentiment that left Jiraiya momentarily speechless. "With your skills, it will be a piece of cake."