Hozuki Castle

Biodata

Location and Security

Hozuki Castle stands on a solitary island at sea. Its surrounding waters contain innumerable reefs and massive whirlpools, preventing ships from approaching normally. 103

• The castle is said to possess a secret technique that seals prisoners' chakra and confines them within a limited area, preventing escape. 103
• Its lordly lineage is connected to Kusagakure. 103
• During the Kinkaku and Ginkaku rebellion, prisoners considered difficult to execute were sent there rather than held within Kumogakure. 103

History

Hozuki Castle and Kusagakure were historically divided between two long-standing factions. The Grass Flower faction became the main body of Kusagakure, favored diplomacy and intelligence gathering, and specialized in deciphering other villages' ninjutsu. The Grass Fruit faction was based at Hozuki Castle. Both had existed for at least several centuries. 103

The castle concealed the Box of Paradise, a dangerous artifact associated with immense dark power. Tamura Hiroshi reached the hidden Box by crossing the sea and infiltrating with Black Zetsu. 143

Shimura Danzō later obtained the Box from Hozuki Castle. His examination found its dark energy to be extremely corrosive: contact rapidly corrupted ninja, while even a Tailed Beast might be driven berserk or assimilated. Ancient records recovered from the castle described it as a force that had nearly destroyed the world. 156

Tamura later returned to Hozuki Castle while completing his Twelve Hour Seal Technique. He controlled Wu Wei, the castle's leader, to release the Box of Paradise, then sealed the monster Wu that emerged from it. 424

Notable Contents

• Box of Paradise — A sealed artifact containing extreme, masterless dark energy; it was hidden within the castle and became the focus of Tamura Hiroshi's and Shimura Danzō's separate efforts. 143 156 173 424
• Ancient classics — Records recovered from the castle described the destructive nature of the Box's power. 156
• Wu — A monster released from the Box of Paradise and subsequently sealed by Tamura Hiroshi. 424

Relationships

• Kusagakure — Hozuki Castle housed the Grass Fruit faction, while the Grass Flower faction formed modern Kusagakure's principal body. 103
• Wu Wei — The castle's leader; Tamura Hiroshi controlled him to release the Box of Paradise. 424
• Tamura Hiroshi — Infiltrated the castle's hidden area, later returned to release the Box and seal Wu. 143 424
• Shimura Danzō — Dispatched personnel to investigate the castle and ultimately acquired the Box of Paradise from it. 144 156