Compared with other Ninja Villages, Kusagakure more closely resembled a real village, with its low-rise buildings scattered haphazardly and narrow paths crisscrossing between fields.
If not for the weathered village's symbol at the entrance, it would be hard to believe this was a Ninja Village.
The leader of Kusagakure, Kusanagi Koji, was currently staring down at the kneeling brothers, Mui and Mujo.
"It's time for a change in the master of Hozuki Castle." Koji said in a low, authoritative voice as he sat in his chair.
There is a strait between the Land of Earth and the Land of Waterfall, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rain that separates these nations.
Within the territorial waters of the Land of Grass, there was a perilous island that had been converted into a prison. Due to the island's abundance of a sour berry called Hozuki, this isolated fortress was known as [Hozuki Castle].
Various nations entrusted Kusagakure with imprisoning criminals Ninja they found inconvenient to detain themselves, making Hozuki Castle a significant source of income for the village.
The master of Hozuki Castle was replaced every ten years, but each time, the position was held by an elite shinobi from the Mu Clan.
This clan possessed a secret Fire Release technique called [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison].
By infusing a target's body with Fire Attribute Chakra, it could bind their Chakra Pathway like chains, preventing them from using Ninjutsu.
If the target forcibly attempted to use Ninjutsu or escape, the [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison] would activate, manifesting as countless chains of fire that would restrain the offender, even burning them alive.
Mui and Mujo, the two brothers, were the most outstanding Ninja of the Mu Clan in this generation. Despite their youth, they had already mastered the [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison], and their strength ranked among the best in Kusagakure.
However, given that Kusagakure was a small village, sending either of these two outstanding Jonin to guard Hozuki Castle would mean losing a top-tier combatant, which is a painful dilemma for Koji.
"Leader, let me go." Mui took the lead and said to Koji: "As the elder brother, guarding Hozuki Castle is my duty."
"Brother!" Mujo, kneeling on one knee, clenched his fists as he looked at Mui with a complicated expression.
Being stationed at Hozuki Castle was no easy task. Though the title of 'master' sounded prestigious, being confined to that island for years was no different from imprisonment for them.
The two brothers, Mui and Mujo, were in their early twenties… a time of rapid growth and limitless potential.
In the future, they might even contend for the position of Kusagakure's leader.
Spending over a decade of their prime years trapped at Hozuki Castle simply wasn't worth it!
"Very well. Mui shall be the new master of Hozuki Castle." Seeing Mui volunteering, Koji thought for a while and nodded.
"Your family will also relocate to Hozuki Castle." Koji thought of Mui's child, who was only three years old.
"When Mui reaches the age for the Ninja Academy, I'll arrange for him to join the elite class." Koji offered as compensation.
Kusagakure had adopted many systems from Konoha, such as the Anbu, the Ninja Academy, and even the Medical-Nin program.
"Yes, I shall obey your arrangements, Leader!" Mui bowed his head.
Koji nodded with satisfaction.
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly shattered the village's tranquility.
Inside the room, Koji and the two brothers, Mui and Mujo, stared in shock out the window.
Outside the window, a pillar of fire erupted from the center of the village, thick smoke billowing outward.
"Ryuki!" Koji barked, immediately mobilizing the village's elite Ninja to rush toward the explosion's epicenter!
When Koji, Mui, Mujo and the others arrived, they discovered that the target of the attack was none other than Kusagakure's hospital!
The two-story building of the hospital had been half-destroyed by the blast. Countless Ninja lay buried in the rubble and smoke, while the survivors wailed in agony amidst the devastation.
From within the smoke, a mysterious figure wearing a white three-eyed fox mask emerged, carrying a red-haired woman in his arms.
Beside the masked figure stood a small child with the same red hair.
"Uzumaki Kanon and her daughter?" Kusagakure's leader, Koji, immediately furrowed his brows.
He had been extremely careful in hiding these two survivors of the Uzumaki Clan within the hospital, assigning Ninjas to monitor their every move.
Even when the village's Ninjas were injured on missions, only Chunin and above were permitted to enter that special ward for treatment.
Otherwise, if every Genin who got injured took a bite and siphoned chakra and life force from Kanon, she would have been drained dry long ago.
Even so, Kanon's health had been deteriorating day by day, and she likely didn't have many years left.
"Who are you?!" Mui, Mujo, and Ryuki, the Commander of Kusagakure's Anbu, swiftly positioned themselves in front of Koji, adopting battle stances.
Other Kusagakure's Ninjas also converged around the hospital, their expressions a mix of tension and hatred as they encircled the masked intruder.
"You've attacked Kusagakure without provocation! Do you intend to make an enemy of us?!" Koji also drew out his tanto, stepped forward instantly, and questioned angrily.
Though the other party was obviously coming for the Uzumaki Clan's members, but seeing that his hair was not red, Koji believed he should not be a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan. So he wondered why the other party knew that there was Uzumaki Clan's members in Kusagakure!
'There must be a spy in the village!'
"Leader! He is Shura, the one wanted by Kumogakure!" Ryuki, the Anbu Commander of Kusagakure, said, beads of cold sweat forming as his voice trembled slightly.
"Shura?!" Koji was stunned when he heard the name.
Though Kusagakure was just a small Ninja Village, they still kept tabs on major events in the Ninja World.
A month ago, both Konoha and Kumogakure had been attacked by a mysterious Ninja. Though details were suppressed, Kumogakure had issued a 70 million Ryo bounty for Shura's capture, which is a staggering sum.
Koji didn't know what 'Shura' had done to warrant such a high bounty, but if Kumogakure was willing to pay that much, this was no ordinary enemy!
"Without provocation?" Menma scoffed.
He glanced down at the barely conscious Uzumaki Kanon in his arms, her arms covered in horrifying bite marks.
Beside him, little Karin numbly clutched her mother's hand, calling her mother in a fragile voice.
Menma was stunned by Kusagakure's shamelessness. The dark, violent emotions swirling inside him surged, feeding his growing fury.
He didn't even bother arguing.
"Kill them all." Menma's voice was cold, dripping with killing intent.
As Koji and other Kusagakure's Ninjas could react, more figures emerged from the smoke.
Seiryu, Genbu, Suzaku, Byakko… four beasts wearing masks suddenly rose from the smoke!
Seiryu's serpentine body crushed the rooftops, while Byakko's massive paws smashed several Kusagakure's Ninjas into the ground.
Genbu's steel-plated bulk plowed through enemies like a battering ram, and anyone hit was either dead or crippled!
Suzaku dove from above, razor-sharp talons ripping through flesh.
Kinja slithered underground, erupting unpredictably to strike, spreading terror among the Kusagakure's Ninjas.
Hokuto Sennin and Nanto Sennin stood behind Menma, slamming the fox-headed staffs in their hands to the ground as they activated a barrier.
Purple sealing runes coiled around the ankles of the Kusagakure's Ninjas, locking them in place.
Above, Shinigami swung his scythe in crimson arcs, unleashing blades of wind that harvested Chakra and lives alike.
Tennyo's ribbons lashed out like whips, piercing through countless enemies!
In an instant, Kusagakure was drowned in screams of agony!
Shura is a One Man Army!