The New Prisoner at Hozuki Castle!

The Hokage's Office, on the rooftop.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan's Treasure Tool Karasuki, waved its short legs, presumably trying to wipe away tears from the corners of its eyes, but unfortunately, its legs were too short to reach them.

[Thank you to my Benefactors for setting me free.]

The Gui Gui's voice trembled.

"You little rascal, you're quite the drama queen. Hurry up and get lost." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.

The Gui Gui nodded, took one last look at the Shinki beside it, then opened a time portal and disappeared.

On the rooftop, Naruto wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye. "This is so touching!"

I wonder when I'll say goodbye to it.

Sasuke was speechless. "Where's the touching part? It's not even an animal... (ー_ー)!!"

On the other side, Li, inside the time tunnel, ponders where to go next.

"Go back to the time when a Benefactor existed."

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

Time flies, and more than a month has passed.

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

Seeing that Shinki didn't move, Shikamaru continued, "Ever since that Little Turtle left, you've been standing by the window looking out. Shinki, what are you waiting for?"

"I've been looking at the documents for too long, I just need a break." Shinki Mutou didn't reply, but chuckled softly.

Outside the window, a communications eagle flew by.

Shinki curiously reached out!

"Whoa!!"

With the effect of the Multi-Size Technique, his palm grew larger, and he grabbed the communication eagle.

Behind the Shinki, Shikamaru, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out. "Keep it down, training a communication eagle is very difficult... Wait, in this day and age, why are we still using communication eagles to transmit messages? (´°Δ°`)"

"Could it be that Ōnoki, again?"

While Shikamaru was speaking, Shinki had already removed the communicator from the hand of the communication eagle.

After browsing through it, Shinki gently patted Shikamaru on the shoulder. "Shikamaru, come and take a look!"

Shikamaru curiously peeked over and scanned the contents of the letter...

"A plea for help from Heili? He's the one who stole the Tanuki Bandit Group's loot a while back. How did his plea for help end up in Konoha? ⊙▽⊙"

Shinki: "The Tanuki Bandit Group? I seem to remember them."

Shikamaru helplessly shrugged. "Have you been processing too many documents and your memory is all messed up?"

"The Tanuki Bandit Group is quite notorious for committing crimes across various countries. The Land of Lightning has organized several manhunts, but they haven't been able to catch them."

"Moreover, this bandit group is extremely secretive. Because of the blood alliance, they will immediately eliminate any captured members to prevent information about other members of the bandit group from being leaked..."

"The only members of theirs who have been exposed so far are Heili, who absconded with the money some time ago... and Tsukiyo, mentioned in this letter."

Upon hearing this, Shinki glanced at the letter in his hand again. "The letter says that Heili said he was captured by Kusagakure and imprisoned in Hozuki Castle. Now, Tsukiyo from the bandit group has also entered Hozuki Castle as a prisoner, here to eliminate him. He is requesting Konoha's protection..."

"He's willing to provide information on all members of the Tanuki Bandit Group, and even pay us a reward, as long as we can protect him!"

"He stole the Tanuki Bandit Group's valuables, he must be rich now! (´◊ω◊`)"

Shinki's eyes gradually brightened.

He turned around and saw Shikamaru beside him looking troubled.

"Hozuki Castle is a Prison specifically for criminal Ninjas, located on an island near Kusagakure, holding a special position in the Shinobi World..."

"It's a bit difficult to ask them for people," Shikamaru said.

Shinki, who had never believed in superstitions, nodded after listening to Shikamaru's explanation.

Shikamaru thought Shinki had changed his mind, "Give up on this mission?"

Shinki shook his head. "No, I'm going to go and see for myself."

The Land of Grass.

At the entrance to Hozuki Castle.

A new batch of prisoners arrived today.

The city lord, Wuchang, marked each new prisoner with the 'Fire Style: Heavenly Prison' Curse Mark.

This Curse Mark can restrict Ninja's ability to gather Chakra, and when a criminal Ninja attempts to escape Hozuki Castle, the Heavenly Prison Cursed Seal will transform into chains of flames, burning the offender's body.

He froze when the city lord was about to Curse Mark the last Ninja.

"Wait, haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Shinki said in a serious tone, "I'm a newly arrived prisoner from the Land of Fire, Sasuke Uchiha..."

Upon hearing this, the city lord, Wuchang, was stunned. "Sasuke Uchiha? You're not...?"

Shinki interrupted, "No matter who I was before, I'm just an ordinary prisoner in Hozuki Castle now..."

The city lord accepted this reality and silently stepped aside. "Afterwards, the head guard Bianjia explain the specific precautions to you newcomers."

Soon, a burly, greasy fat man appeared before Shinki: "I am the warden Bianjia. In Hozuki Castle, you only need to remember two things!"

"First, the warden is the rule of this Prison!"

Second, never forget the first point, even if you die!

The next day.

The Land of Fire, Konoha, Hokage's Office.

Sasuke the door and entered. Seeing Shikamaru slumped over the desk, he asked curiously, "Where's Shinki? He didn't come home last night!"

Shikamaru rubbed his dark circles. "He's gone on a mission, he should be back soon..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shinki, dressed in prison garb, appeared in the Hokage's Office carrying two people!

Sasuke: "You... got arrested for something?"

Shinki shook his head somewhat guiltily. "This matter is very complicated; I'll explain it to you later."

Then, he pointed to a long-haired man he had brought back and said to Shikamaru, "This is Heili, the one who sent them the letter... I'll interrogate him properly."

A few minutes later, in the Hokage's Office.

Upon receiving the message from the Land of Grass, Tsunade stormed out of the door, yelling, "Sasuke! You come out here! (′д`σ)σ"

Sasuke was stunned by this and pointed to himself. "Me? I didn't do anything! (≖╻≖;)"

Tsunade: "Still playing innocent! The phone from the Land of Grass has been ringing off the hook!"

"Today you entered Hozuki Castle, took away two important prisoners from their territory, and seriously injured the warden..."

"You're something else, Sasuke! You usually seem like such an honest kid, but you actually did something like this! ꐦ≖ ≖"

After listening, Sasuke finally began to understand.

Thinking back to how travel-worn he looked when he returned from Shinki, wearing prison clothes, and with two prisoners with him...

He definitely did it!

"Fifth, let me explain, I really didn't do this...꒦ິ^꒦ິ"

Konoha Prison.

Interrogation room.

After reading Heili's memories, Shinki's expression turned to shock.

"I never imagined this guy was a good person. After discovering he'd unknowingly helped the Tanuki Bandit Group commit so many evil deeds, he absconded with the money and even donated all that ill-gotten wealth..."

"It's a shame there's no reward for completing the mission!"

Soon, Shinki woke the unconscious Heili, pointed outside the cell, and said, "You, get out of here. Don't lie to people next time!"