Was he not a samurai?

Fugaku winced, a sudden sharp pain stabbing through his abdomen, prompting him to turn his head slowly. His eyes locked onto the prisoner before him, disbelief etched across his face.

The speed of the attack left him bewildered; he hadn't been caught off guard, and dodging it should have been a simple feat. Yet his body remained frozen, as if ensnared in an invisible trap.

When did this happen? Fugaku's gaze fell to the ground, where a faint light revealed the source of his predicament.

Had he unwittingly stumbled into a trap I had set up earlier? The realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened with understanding. The trap had taken some time to activate, catching him in a moment of vulnerability.

Mui observed Fugaku calmly and remarked, "I thought you were strong, but you were so reckless."

Fugaku's pained expression transformed into a sly smirk. "Yes, I was a bit reckless."

With those words, "samurai" disappeared into a puff of white smoke, leaving Mui and the criminal bewildered.

"What?" Mui exclaimed.

"A shadow clone? How is that possible?" The criminal echoed Mui's astonishment.

Questions swirled in their minds. He, a supposed samurai, had just employed a ninja's shadow clone technique.

The shock lingered as they grappled with the unexpected revelation. Had they thought intelligence was not true? Was he not just a samurai but a skilled ninja in disguise? Mui felt the urge to curse silently as the truth unraveled before him.

----------------

Some distance from the square, Jiraiya was followed by Komeko, and Kenji looked at Fugaku. Jiraiya asked, "What's up?"

Fugaku, in front of them, touched his chin in contemplation and replied, "That's a good seal technique, but I could break free if I were in clone place. It seems they either don't know you're with us or simply don't care."

He deduced from their actions that they perceived him as the primary threat, making his demise their top priority, while the others were secondary concerns.

Anxiety etched Komeko's face as she questioned, "So what do we do now?"

Fugaku suggested, "I'll take you with me this time. How about Jiraiya-sama takes Kenji, and you will trump card any situation?"

Jiraiya sighed, shaking his head, and remarked, "I don't know when you became so reckless!"

Fugaku maintained a subtle smile, choosing silence over words.

----------------------------

As they returned to the square, he and Komeko found concealment behind a nearby wall.

"Is that your mother?" Komeko inquired, peeking over and nodding upon spotting her mother guarded by the two ninja.

Without hesitation, Fugaku left Komeko in her concealed position and swiftly formed a seal. With newfound caution, he confidently strode back to the square's center, carefully scanning the ground for any potential traps.

Fortunately, this time, nothing transpired. It appeared that the trap could only activate once or in a specific location.

"I didn't realize you were a ninja," Mui remarked, suppressing his anger upon Fugaku's return.

"I won't waste time talking with you this time. Show me your cards."

Mui smirked and raised his hand. Three colossal iron gates ascended from the square's edges, ensnaring Fugaku within their confines.

On the opposite side, there were no gates, just a solid wall. Gradually, prisoners emerged one by one, their faces twisted in anguish.

All bore the same seal—the Heavenly Prison—which had concealed their chakra, eluding Fugaku's earlier detection. He furrowed his brow in response.

Mui released the seal of a prisoner, prompting him to charge recklessly at Fugaku. Simultaneously, the seal on another prisoner was undone, and they too lunged towards Fugaku, all propelled by a singular purpose.

Fugaku deftly dodged their attacks, a sense of confusion settling within him. Why were they unleashing the prisoners against him? A foreboding feeling crept over him as more and more prisoners joined the frenzied fray, transforming the square into a sudden, blood-soaked arena. Fugaku scowled at the unexpected turn of events.

The pressing question lingered in his mind: why were they going to such lengths to eliminate him? Miyamoto had already conquered the Land of Grass, and Fugaku was here merely to rescue a hostage. The urgency to end his life seemed disproportionate.

Shouldn't Miyamoto be in full control by now, especially after killing Komeko's father? Fugaku couldn't fathom why he spared her mother's life.

As he skillfully evaded attacks, he realized this was the prison for ninja detainees, and Komeko's mother was likely a ninja herself.

Glancing at the captive woman held by the ninjas, Fugaku noticed her shaking head and anxious expression.

What was causing her worry? Fugaku felt an unwavering determination to save her, knowing that doing so might unravel the truth behind the mysterious circumstances.

"Chidori-ryu!"

A formidable surge of electrical energy erupted, cascading across the square, accompanied by the anguished cries of pain.

Mui, observing the chaos with a wicked smile, couldn't contain his excitement at the immense chakra display.

Puzzled, Fugaku questioned why his chakra release was significantly higher than usual when he used Chidori Justu.

The realization dawned on him as he observed the movements of the ninja prisoners—the ground was absorbing his chakra. His initial oversight was attributed to a huge chakra reserve, but now the draining effect has become glaringly evident.

Was this the dreaded Box of Bliss, a trap slowly sapping the chakras of those present?

"Die!" a prisoner shouted, launching an attack. He sent a man hurtling back, colliding with another criminal.

Fugaku's gaze shifted to the prisoners, a tinge of sadness evident in his eyes—they were mere pawns in a grander scheme.

"Are you feeling sorry for them?" Mui taunted, advancing towards Fugaku. "A bunch of fools being taken advantage of!"

"Are you still merciful?" Mui continued his taunts, closing in on Fugaku.

Fugaku refrained from using his Sharingan but remained acutely aware of Mui's presence. With a deft swing of his katana imbued with lightning, he electrocuted the prisoners, incapacitating them even without striking vital spots.

"He's so strong!" one of the prisoners muttered.

Another one succumbed to the electric charge, prompting Fugaku to focus on reaching Mui to end the confrontation. However, the multitude of prisoners obstructed his path, compelling him to consider unleashing a powerful jutsu.

Suddenly, the iron gates on three sides vanished, followed by a resounding boom. The ground shook violently, causing the prisoners to cease their attacks. A large crack appeared at the center of the square, and rays of light emanated from the opening.

The light coalesced into a white beam, piercing the sky like a god-made miracle. Those unfortunate prisoners who failed to dodge the beam disintegrated into a bloody mist.

Amidst the continuing tremors and thunderous roars, a box-like object emerged from the cracked ground, spewing black smoke and sparks. This massive box manifested before everyone, with beast heads protruding from each side. The prisoners, in stunned silence, voiced their confusion.

"This... is..."

"What is this?"

Fugaku sheathed his katana, fixing a serious gaze on the mysterious box.