While Xuandou was in seclusion purifying his bloodline...
The nights in Hidden Xuan Village remained as peaceful as ever.
The sea breeze from Azure Tide Port swept over the rooftops, carrying its salty dampness.
Yet deep in the underground prison, a "prison break" was quietly unfolding.
At dusk, an Uchiha ninja strolled past Rasa's cell.
His steps were steady and his gaze stayed level, as though he were carrying out the most ordinary patrol imaginable.
But the instant he passed the iron bars, his fingers moved slightly.
A Seal Scroll slipped from his sleeve and landed on the floor outside the cell door with a soft clatter.
The ninja seemed entirely unaware. He continued on without looking back, his footsteps gradually fading at the end of the corridor.
Rasa held his breath and waited a moment. Only after confirming there were no more sounds nearby did he rise and approach the cell door.
He opened the cell door himself and stepped forward to pick up the scroll.
It felt heavy in his hand. A dense layer of sealing runes covered its surface, keeping its chakra fluctuations firmly contained.
Something stirred in Rasa's mind.
He knew that inside should be the five hundred Impure World Reincarnation ninja Xuandou had promised him.
It seemed it was time for him to leave.
He took a deep breath and, without further hesitation, hurried deeper into the corridor to the cell where Baki was being held.
Baki was resting against a corner with his eyes closed. At the sound of footsteps, his eyes snapped open. Seeing Rasa outside the door, his pupils abruptly contracted, and he kept his voice extremely low:
"Lord Rasa! How did you..."
He instinctively started to stand, but Rasa gestured for silence.
"Shh."
Rasa made a gesture, slid the key into