Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Hozuki Castle's New Lord
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Compared to other ninja villages, the Hidden Grass Village felt more like an ordinary village. Its buildings were low and scattered, with winding paths crisscrossing between fields.
If not for the weathered ninja village emblem at the entrance, it would be hard to imagine this as a ninja village.
The leader of the Hidden Grass Village, Kusanagi Sōji, was currently staring at the kneeling brothers Fusei and Musō.
"It's about time to replace the lord of Hozuki Castle," Kusanagi Sōji said from his chair, his voice low and authoritative.
Between the Land of Earth, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Grass, and Land of Rain lay a strait that separated these nations.
Within the territorial waters of the Land of Grass stood a steep island fortress built as a prison. Because the island grew a plant called "Hozuki," this isolated sea outpost was known as Hozuki Castle.
Various countries entrusted the Land of Grass with imprisoning ninja criminals they couldn't handle themselves. This was a major source of funding for the Hidden Grass Village.
The lord of Hozuki Castle changed every ten years, and every one was an elite ninja from the "Mu" clan.
This clan possessed a Fire Release secret technique called "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison."
It injected fire-nature chakra into the target's body, sealing their chakra pathways like chains and preventing ninjutsu use.
If the target forcibly used ninjutsu or attempted escape, the "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison" would activate inside them, turning into countless flame chains that bound the offender and even set them ablaze.
Fusei and Musō were the most outstanding ninjas of this generation from the "Mu" clan. Still young, they had already mastered "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison," and their strength stood out among the Grass ninjas.
However, the Hidden Grass Village was just a small ninja village. Sending out two such excellent jōnin naturally pained Kusanagi Sōji, leaving him troubled over who to assign to guard Hozuki Castle.
"Lord Leader, let me go," Fusei stood up first and volunteered to Kusanagi Sōji. "As the older brother, guarding Hozuki Castle is my duty."
"Brother!" Musō, still kneeling on one knee, looked at Fusei with complex emotions, clenching his fists.
Guarding Hozuki Castle wasn't easy. Despite the appealing title of "castle lord," being confined to that island long-term was a form of imprisonment for them.
The brothers, both in their early twenties, were at the peak of their ascent with limitless futures!
They could even vie for the position of Hidden Grass Village leader someday.
Wasting over a decade of their prime on Hozuki Castle wasn't worth it!
"In that case, Fusei will be the new lord of Hozuki Castle," Kusanagi Sōji nodded after some thought, seeing Fusei's initiative.
"Per regulations, your family moves to Hozuki Castle as well." Kusanagi Sōji recalled Fusei's child, who was only three years old.
"When Muku reaches the age for the jōnin academy, I'll arrange for him to join the elite class," Kusanagi Sōji offered as compensation.
The Hidden Grass Village had learned much from the Hidden Leaf Village, including the Anbu, ninja academy, and medical ninja systems.
"Yes, I obey your orders!" Fusei knelt on one knee again.
Kusanagi Sōji nodded in satisfaction.
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly shattered the village's tranquility.
Kusanagi Sōji and the brothers Fusei and Musō looked out the window in stunned shock.
Outside, flames from the explosion shot up from the village center, with billowing smoke spreading in all directions.
"Ryūyū!" Kusanagi Sōji shouted sharply, leading the village's elite ninjas to the explosion site!
When Kusanagi Sōji, Fusei, Musō, and the others arrived, they found the Hidden Grass Village hospital had been attacked!
Half of the hospital's two-story building lay collapsed, countless ninjas buried in the rubble and smoke, with surviving wounded crying out in agony everywhere.
From the thick smoke, a mysterious figure wearing a white three-eyed fox mask emerged slowly, carrying a red-haired woman in his arms from the hospital.
Beside the mysterious person was a small figure with similarly red hair.