Why must you force me?

The next day.

Four members of the covert escort unit arrived at the prison cell.

Kisame stood up, stepped into the prison carriage, and was taken away, paraded through the main streets of the Hidden Mist Village.

Wherever they passed, the townsfolk whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t that Kisame Hoshigaki? What crime did he commit to warrant an escort by the covert unit themselves?”

“I heard he’s suspected of killing his employer—a scion of a noble house, someone of high status. That’s why Lord Fugu has decided to send Kisame to the Hozuki Castle Prison for punishment.”

The onlookers sighed in amazement. Not long ago, Kisame was regarded as a promising genius in the village, helping the Hidden Mist win the Chunin Exams.

Who would have thought that in just three months, he would end up as a prisoner?

Hozuki Mangetsu lurked in a corner, secretly elated.

Once Kisame was sent to Hozuki Castle, there was little chance he’d ever return. With this harbinger of disaster gone, Mangetsu would finally be free.

This thought eased much of the frustration he’d felt over having the Hiramekarei taken from him.

“Kisame!”

Suddenly, from the crowd by the street, two young women called out.

It was Mei Terumi and Ameyuri Ringo.

They had once briefly been teammates with Kisame during their days as genin, and he had saved their lives.

When they heard the news that Kisame was to be imprisoned, both ran out from their respective clans, unable to sit idle.

They had been waiting to congratulate him on his Chunin Exam victory, never expecting things to turn out like this.

From inside the prison carriage, Kisame made a gesture, signaling Mei and Ameyuri to stay where they were and not to rush over impulsively.

Otherwise, they might get hurt.

He smiled, mouthing words they could understand:

“Don’t worry about me.”

Thus, the four covert ninja paraded Kisame through the streets, eventually leaving the Hidden Mist Village behind.

They set out on the road to Hozuki Castle Prison.

Hozuki Castle, located in the Grass Village, lay between the Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth—essentially the heart of the ninja world. That was why the great nations took an interest in the place and commissioned the Grass ninja to build a prison there.

The journey from the Hidden Mist to Grass Village spanned thousands of kilometers, requiring a sea crossing and travel across the Land of Fire; the round trip would take more than a month.

Three days later, as dusk fell.

The escort team was about to leave the Land of Water and had set up camp in a forest for the night.

The four Hidden Mist covert operatives ate their dinner under the trees, keeping a close eye on Kisame in his cage, occasionally chatting idly.

“This guy’s really unlucky—so young, and already being sent to Hozuki Castle. His life is basically over.”

“I heard that in the past few decades, only one prisoner ever managed to escape from that place—a ninja from the Hidden Waterfall. They say he got out and killed the entire leadership of his village. A real menace.”

“I’ve heard that story too. Ever since, the security at Hozuki Castle has only gotten tighter—no one has escaped since.”

“Kisame Hoshigaki’s fate is sealed. He’ll die in that prison, whether at the hands of another inmate, a guard, or simply of old age.”

They discussed these things in front of Kisame, clearly regarding him as a dead man already.

“Excuse me…”

Suddenly, Kisame raised his shackled hands and tapped on the iron bars of his cage.

As the four men turned their confused expressions on him, he made a request:

“I just remembered—I need to see a friend before I go to prison. Could you wait here for me? I think a day would be enough.”

A moment of silence followed his words.

Though Kisame meant his request sincerely, the escorting ninja clearly didn’t see it that way.

They felt insulted and broke into derisive laughter.

“You little punk, do you think this is a pleasure trip? You’re a dangerous criminal, you hear me? Lower than a beast!”

“If you want to run, at least come up with something more believable. Do you think we’re idiots? Or that we’re easy to fool?”

“Time to teach him a lesson—remind him of his place.”

As they spoke, the four stood and approached the prison carriage, brandishing the Water Whip technique—a signature jutsu of their covert division.

Kisame sighed, flexed his needle-like fingers, and deftly undid the shackles on his hands and feet.

With a crash, he kicked the carriage door off its hinges and stepped outside.

A few minutes later.

The four covert ninja lay sprawled on the ground, moaning in pain, clearly badly injured.

Kisame looked down at them with resignation.

“I tried to discuss it with you civilly. Why did you have to push me? This wicked world—it takes good people like me and forces them to become villains.”

The Hidden Mist operatives were speechless—left only with shock and the fear of death. Only now did they realize that the prisoner they were escorting was a monster of terrifying power.

“Please go back and tell Lord Fugu that I have some urgent business to attend to. But assure him—I’ll arrive at Hozuki Castle on time and complete the task he set for me.”

Kisame spared their lives, leaving them with only these words before striding away.

A few hours later.

Deep into the night.

In a small border town on the edge of the Land of Water, all the lights had gone out and the people lay fast asleep.

In a secluded house on the outskirts, a single room still shone with light.

Kisame arrived at the house.

The friend he had mentioned, naturally, was Yuki-onna.

So late, and still awake?

Kisame noticed the light in the window with some surprise, walked up, and pushed the door open.

The door creaked as it swung wide, revealing a beautiful woman with long white hair sitting at a table, propping her chin on her hand, fighting off sleepiness.

She seemed to be waiting for someone.

The sound of the door startled her from her drowsiness. She looked up in alarm toward the entrance.

There stood the broad, familiar silhouette of Kisame Hoshigaki.

“Kisame…”

Tears sprang from her eyes as she rushed over, stumbling and falling into Kisame’s arms.

“It’s so late—were you waiting for me?”

Kisame looked at the woman in his arms and noticed the dark circles under her eyes; clearly, this wasn’t the first night she had stayed up.

“Because…I was so worried about you…” she whispered.

Ever since Kisame left alone for the Hidden Mist, she’d felt an uneasy premonition.

So many days had passed without a single word—her worry grew daily, fearing something terrible had befallen him.

“If I never came back, what would you do?” Kisame cradled her and asked softly.

“Then I’d take the child and go find you in the Hidden Mist, and wouldn’t stop until I knew you were safe.”

She lifted her head, blue eyes gazing up at him, clear as water.

At that moment, a ripple stirred in Kisame’s heart.

“What happened to your foot?” he asked, having noticed her stumble earlier and the swelling on her foot.

Her cheeks flushed at his concern. “It’s nothing, just a little sprain.”

“Let me see,” Kisame said, kneeling down to gently take her foot, still in its sandal.

“There’s no need, Kisame…” she protested shyly, but before she could finish, she gasped as Kisame, without another word, hoisted her up and carried her straight to the bedroom to tend to her injured ankle.

And so, the night passed, the two together, as Kisame cared for her throughout the long hours.