The carriage jolted violently through the darkness.
There was not a trace of light inside the compartment, only the creak of wooden wheels grinding over rough stone slabs. The air grew colder and damper, and a heavy smell of earth mixed with mildew seeped through the cracks in the door, burrowing straight into their bones.
Hinata's hands were cuffed behind her back. The refined steel shackles, carved with sealing formulas, bit tightly into her wrists. The cold metal pressed against her delicate skin, forcibly cutting off the flow of Chakra near the surface of her body. Like a startled quail, she huddled in the corner of the carriage, her plain, thin kimono trembling in the chill wind.
The fox-masked ANBU sat across from her with his arms folded. Even in the darkness, the gaze shining through the holes in his animal mask slithered over Hinata's neck and eyes like a snake's tongue.
"Crying won't help, young lady." The fox-masked ANBU spoke, his hoarse voice echoing through the cramped compartment with undisguised mockery. "Once you're in here, the name Hyuga Main House isn't worth a scrap of paper to wipe blood with. Save your strength. You'll have plenty of chances to scream later."
Hinata's shoulders suddenly drew in. She lowered her head even further, biting her lower lip hard. Several warm tears pattered onto the back of her hands with faint, splintering sounds.
She played the part perfectly. A fragile young lady who had been sheltered in a greenhouse since childhood, suddenly shoved into an abyss, ought to look this broken and despairing.
The fox-masked ANBU snorted disdainfully and looked away.
He never noticed that beneath that petite body, seemingly trembling like a leaf, Hinata's breathing maintained an oddly steady rhythm.
Three long breaths, one short. This was the breathing method