Prison of Ghost Lantern City

The next morning.

Kisame reported to the Mizukage’s office.

Having represented the Hidden Mist Village in the Chunin Exams and taken first place, he should have been rewarded and promoted upon his return, perhaps even assigned to the ANBU.

But who could have foreseen that the Third Mizukage would suddenly kick the bucket?

Moreover, he wasn’t sure whether the circumstances surrounding Lord Fuji’s death could be fully covered up. If the truth came to light, Kisame would be in serious trouble.

He left the Mizukage’s building, having been told to wait for further instructions—he would be assigned a mission in due time.

Yet, several days passed with no news.

Kisame was in no hurry. He stayed home alone, training and working out from dawn until dusk.

After absorbing the powers of the Twin Swords, his strength had increased dramatically—he was now practically the embodiment of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist combined. If anything happened and he decided to leave, no one in the Hidden Mist could stop him.

He was confident in that.

One week later, on a certain day—

After finishing his workout, Kisame dove into the river in front of his house for a bath. When he surfaced after swimming underwater, he found—

Several ANBU from the Hidden Mist, clad in gray armor and masked, standing on the riverbank watching him.

“Congratulations, Kisame Hoshigaki. Your strength has been recognized by the village’s leadership. From today onward, you are a member of our ANBU.”

One of them looked down at Kisame and announced this to him.

With a splash, Kisame stood up in the water. His mountainous physique loomed over the ANBU, exuding such an overwhelming presence that they instinctively stepped back, their faces changing.

Though the ANBU were all veterans and should have given a newcomer like Kisame a hard time, upon meeting him, it was they who were cowed by his aura.

Only after regaining their composure did they feel somewhat embarrassed.

A female ANBU stepped forward, her voice cold as she said, “Put on your pants. Lord Hoshigaki is waiting to see you.”

Oh?

At long last, the day had come.

Kisame showed no emotion on the surface, but inside he was elated. In his previous life, when he joined the Mist ANBU, his direct superior was Hoshigaki of the Watermelon Mountain.

He went into his house, changed his clothes, and followed the group into the village.

ANBU, fully known as the “Special Assassination and Tactical Squad,” was first established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in the Hidden Leaf, and was later emulated by the other great ninja villages.

Every ANBU member was handpicked from among the village’s elite.

Their main duties included protecting the Kage, preventing infiltration by enemy ninja, and sometimes conducting reconnaissance or assassination missions.

In theory, ANBU answered directly to the Kage, but reality was often more complicated.

Take the Hidden Mist, for example.

Watermelon Mountain Hoshigaki was a longstanding ANBU elder. During the recent struggle for the position of Fourth Mizukage, he compromised with Yagura, allowing the latter to ascend.

In return, he was allowed to retain control over the ANBU.

This “Danzo of the Mist” was now, besides Mizukage Yagura and Elder Genji, the most powerful and influential figure in the village.

The group soon arrived at the ANBU base.

The others stayed outside, while the female ANBU led Kisame inside to meet Hoshigaki.

In a dimly lit room, Hoshigaki’s massive form sat like a mountain of flesh atop a large chair. The bandage-wrapped great sword, Samehada, rested beside him.

“Lord Hoshigaki, Kisame Hoshigaki is here,” the female ANBU reported respectfully, bowing to him.

“Good. You may go. I have something to say to him in private,” Hoshigaki said with a wave, dismissing her.

Only the two men remained in the room.

“Lord Hoshigaki.”

Kisame stood at attention and saluted.

At six foot three, he was already quite tall, but before the eight-foot-tall colossus before him, he seemed like a child.

Within that massive frame was an astonishing reserve of chakra—no wonder he alone could wield Samehada.

“Kisame Hoshigaki.”

Hoshigaki’s attitude was cold; he frowned and questioned Kisame the moment he spoke. “What happened to Lord Fuji?”

“I failed in my duty and did not protect Lord Fuji,” Kisame replied, head lowered.

Hoshigaki sneered at that.

“If you ask me, it’s not just a failure in protection—you’re strongly suspected of murdering your employer, aren’t you?” He picked up a stack of files detailing Kisame’s past missions, leafed through them, and pressed on coldly, “As a ninja, this isn’t the first time you’ve eliminated your employer. Do you know the consequences of such actions?”

“I don’t know what you mean, my lord.”

Kisame feigned ignorance. Unless he was caught red-handed, he would never admit to anything.

“Hmph. Playing dumb, are you?”

Hoshigaki snorted and tossed the files aside. With a grim voice, he said, “Regardless of whether you did it, the Fuji family is pressuring the Daimyo of the Land of Water, and the Daimyo in turn has approached the Mist, demanding your execution to appease them.”

The word “execution” was spoken with such icy finality that the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

At last, Kisame raised his head to meet Hoshigaki’s gaze. He dropped the act.

Since Samehada was right here—should he just take action and seize it now?

Kisame weighed his options. Hoshigaki, with Samehada in hand, possessed Kage-level strength. This was the ANBU base, with squads of ANBU outside...

If he tried to fight his way out, the risk was far too great.

Though his power had swelled, Kisame’s mindset remained cautious as ever. Confronting the entire Mist ANBU head-on was contrary to his preferred style of ambush and subterfuge.

A single misstep would mean utter ruin.

Perhaps he should try to escape instead?

Kisame calmed himself, suppressing his urge, and glanced at Samehada—he would have to wait for another opportunity.

Under Hoshigaki’s watchful eyes, his expression shifted several times before he feigned terror and pleaded, “So... Lord Hoshigaki, what do you intend to do with me?”

Hoshigaki narrowed his eyes.

“To be frank, you’re a rare talent, and it would be a shame for you to die. But while your life will be spared, punishment is unavoidable. I’ve decided to send you to serve your sentence in Hozuki Castle Prison. This should at least satisfy the Fuji family.”

He thus pronounced Kisame’s fate.

Hozuki Castle Prison?

Kisame was briefly stunned by the name, but quickly recalled what kind of place it was.

First, Hozuki Castle had nothing to do with the Hozuki Clan of the Hidden Mist.

Hozuki was originally the name of a type of ground cherry fruit. So-called Hozuki Castle was a small island near the Hidden Grass Village, surrounded by sea and covered in Hozuki plants—hence the name.

Hozuki Castle Prison was a facility established by the major nations through the Hidden Grass, specifically to imprison rogue ninja who had committed crimes.