Hozuki Castle, Kusagakure (Seeking Follow-up Reads and Monthly Votes)

After returning home from Konoha Hospital, Shita Genichi first took a shower before returning to his bedroom to lie down.

[Overdraft next ten years]

As the icon lit up and the Overdraft Panel exploded into a mass of purple light, Shita Genichi's mind went instantly blank, and every cell in his body began to tremble.

A moment later, Shita Genichi opened his eyes, looking slightly stunned.

Three years!

This time it was only three years, the shortest duration yet.

Sitting up, Shita Genichi felt a sense of helplessness.

The reason his future self died in the 47th year of the Konoha era was because of the Third Shinobi World War.

It seems being too outstanding isn't necessarily a good thing; it makes one prone to being assigned dangerous missions.

Furthermore, the Ice Release cell transplant had failed and was useless; the rejection was too severe, and there was no way to acquire the Ice Release gene.

However, this also made him give up completely. If the matching failed, he wouldn't try again; it was just a waste of time.

"At least it wasn't without any gains."

Shita Genichi sighed.

In those three years, he had made significant progress in Genjutsu, Kenjutsu, and other areas.

He also gained a great deal regarding organ and bone marrow transplants.

After all, waiting for death when a problem arose was not his style; naturally, he had tried his best to research and solve the issue. Although he ultimately failed to resolve it, he still reaped substantial rewards.

But the greatest gain did not lie there.

It was the Soldier Mantra.

Previously, the Soldier Mantra was used to increase speed in all aspects.

But this time, by overdrafting the future to solve his own problems, the future Shita Genichi had attempted to utilize the power of the Nine Character Mantra in addition to traditional medical techniques.

He had gained a little something.

The Soldier Mantra itself could do more than just increase speed; it possessed the immense power to extend life and rejuvenate the body.

It was just that Shita Genichi had never developed it before.

This time, however, he had made a breakthrough.

Healing wounds, curing diseases, and detoxifying—the effects were even better than the Mystical Palm Technique.

Unfortunately, the depth of development was insufficient.

"I suppose I wasted an opportunity!"

"I must plan carefully from now on. In the future, lying low is the best policy; only by living long can one reap enough results."

Shita Genichi pondered to himself.

Since this overdraft didn't yield the expected results, his plans would have to change.

He certainly wouldn't be able to go out traveling this year.

"Next year, I'll wait until I overdraft the future next year before heading out..."

Shita Genichi made his decision.

Although overdrafting the future did not grant him memories of the future, the retention of various combat experiences allowed him to glimpse some information about what was to come.

Even though the future was not set in stone, it could still serve a purpose.

"It's also fortunate that the negative states of the future don't persist, otherwise the rejection from the Ice Release transplant would still be here."

Shita Genichi felt secretly relieved.

Two days later, the team led by Hatake Sakumo, having rested for half a month, set out on a mission once again.

At dusk, on the border of the Land of Fire.

Hatake Sakumo, having stopped to rest, introduced the details of the mission to Shita Genichi and the other two: "Our mission objective this time is to cooperate with the ninjas of the Land of Grass to escort a high-profile criminal to Hozuki Castle."

Hozuki Castle?

Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En could not help but feel puzzled.

Shita Genichi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Hatake Sakumo said: "Genichi, you know about it, tell us about Hozuki Castle."

Shita Genichi nodded: "Hozuki Castle was established by Kusagakure at the request of various nations. It is a prison specifically for detaining criminal ninjas, located on an island in the middle of the ocean."

"The warden of Hozuki Castle is generally a Jonin from Kusagakure, and they must master the Fire Release-Heavenly Prison technique."

This intelligence did not just come from the memories of his past life; the textbooks at the Ninja Academy had also introduced it, though only with a brief mention.

Hatake Sakumo nodded: "Genichi is correct."

Yamanaka En asked curiously: "A prison established by Kusagakure at the request of various nations—is that because of Kusagakure's neutral stance?"

Hatake Sakumo nodded: "Because the Land of Grass is located in a basin, it is relatively isolated and has long maintained a neutral position. Kusagakure has good relations with various nations and major hidden villages, which is why Hozuki Castle exists."

Uchiha Namiichi said coldly, "Since they are high-security prisoners, they should just be killed outright."

Shita Genichi laughed, "That may be true, but the very existence of Hozuki Castle proves that it is a political compromise."

"There are some high-security prisoners whom some want dead, while others do not, so the compromise is to lock them away in Hozuki Castle."

Yamanaka En said thoughtfully, "So that is the reason we are needed for protection."

"For this high-security prisoner, is someone trying to rescue him, or are they trying to kill him?"

This question was critical.

Hatake Sakumo said, "The prisoner is from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, and our mission is to prevent him from being rescued."

Cloud ninja...

Upon hearing this, Shita Genichi could not help but say, "Could it be that a cloud ninja was caught stealing secret techniques from another ninja village?"

Hatake Sakumo could not help but smile at this.

Shita Genichi had clearly guessed correctly.

Yamanaka En asked curiously, "Genichi, how did you know?"

Shita Genichi said, "I heard that Kumogakure is very fond of stealing secret techniques and even Kekkei Genkai from other ninja villages."

"This has been a consistent tradition of Kumogakure."

"However, since it is Kumogakure, we must be even more careful; those guys have a very strong fighting spirit."

Hatake Sakumo nodded, "Genichi is right, the people of Kumogakure should not be underestimated."

Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En both nodded in agreement.

Then Yamanaka En asked with a smile, "Genichi, how do you know more than we do?"

Shita Genichi said, "Read more books, and... ask more questions."

"Regarding the high-security prisoners of Hozuki Castle, I remember that Kakuzu, the ninja from Takigakure who once assassinated the First Hokage, was also imprisoned there."

Assassinated the First Hokage!

Yamanaka En and Uchiha Namiichi exclaimed in unison, then looked at Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo nodded, "That is indeed true."

"Kakuzu was also in Hozuki Castle, but he broke out, and he is now an S-rank missing-nin."

"He is an extremely formidable character; if you ever encounter him, you must be extremely careful."

Shita Genichi and the others nodded again, and Uchiha Namiichi immediately added, "If we encounter him, we will definitely kill him."

Kill Kakuzu?

That is not simple.

This guy has five lives.

Without intelligence, he is extremely dangerous.

And even with intelligence, Kakuzu himself is very strong.

He has mastered all five nature transformations; he is a bona fide Kage-level ninja.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, Shita Genichi and the other three entered the Land of Grass, arriving at Kusagakure at noon.

The person who received the four of them was a young ninja from Kusagakure named Mui.

Shita Genichi had an impression of this man; in the future, he would become the warden of Hozuki Castle and open the Box of Ultimate Bliss to resurrect his son.

Watching Mui leading the way ahead, Shita Genichi could not help but think of Karin's mother, that poor woman who was literally "bitten to death" by the grass ninja.

She should be very young right now, likely around the same age as Namikaze Minato.

Leaving such a person in Kusagakure is truly a waste of talent!

Shita Genichi could not help but have a thought.