The sharp crack of bone rang out in the quiet.
As the muscles in those arms tightened in an instant, a crisp and tiny sound of bone kacha echoed softly through the silence, enough to make the scalp prickle and the spine turn cold. Under that twisting force that carried the power of Gentle Fist, his neck, whether tough muscle fibers, interlocked ligaments, or the hard cervical vertebrae guarding the nerves, all failed at once. Like dry branches, they were crushed and twisted apart.
A few drops of warm blood were forced out by the violent torque, spraying from ruptured capillaries and drawing thin, strange arcs through the air. The scar-faced guard's eyes bulged outward, bloodshot with terror and pain, as a faint choking sound squeezed from his throat, like a bird with its neck snapped. Before his awareness sank into darkness, his blurred vision caught three pairs of cold yet familiar Byakugan, and one of them belonged to Iroha Hyuga.
His body seemed to lose all strength, legs softening as he began to slide downward. From above, a dark figure flipped down from the tree like a silent cat. Iroha Hyuga caught the still-warm corpse with one arm, movements gentle and precise, making no sound at all.
At the same time, on the distant path, Ryoma paced in irritation and asked why they had not returned yet. The other young guard showed no surprise, knowing the glance earlier meant the man needed a moment to steady himself. After all, Ryoma was unbearable, jumping at every little thing and talking nonstop about how to torture Takao Hyuga.
Steady footsteps sounded from the trees. The "scar-faced guard" emerged from the shadows with calm steps. He nodded to the young guard, then turned to Ryoma and said with respect, "Lord Ryoma, I checked carefully. It was just a wild cat."
Using one form of the Three Body Technique, the Transformation Technique, Iroha Hyuga copied the guard's voice perfectly, even the faint note of deference. "A wild cat? Just a wild cat?" After receiving confirmation again, Ryoma finally relaxed and waved impatiently. "Let's go. I don't want to stay in this place any longer."
Iroha Hyuga stepped forward naturally and supported one of Ryoma's arms. At the moment of contact, Ryoma even felt a hint of relief from that sense of reliability, and the young guard beside them suspected nothing. The killer of the Otsutsuki Clan Main Family, Takao Hyuga, was already imprisoned, a bloody lesson in front of everyone's eyes.
The three walked on toward the prison in silence. Soon, they saw the plain iron door hidden in the rock wall. Two sharp-eyed Hyuga Branch Family guards stood there like statues and bowed slightly when Ryoma arrived, habitual respect still on their faces despite knowing he could not see.
They pushed the iron door open together, revealing a black passage descending into darkness, then stepped aside with lowered heads. Supported on both sides, Ryoma moved toward the entrance. As they passed the guards, one of them twitched his nose, catching a faint but unmistakable smell of blood.
The guard's expression changed at once as he looked at the three from behind, veins swelling around his eyes. Byakugan pierced the disguise in an instant, clearly seeing the cold intent on Iroha Hyuga's face. "You—" he began to shout.
Two blurred figures struck from deeper shadows behind them. The two Jonin of the Hyuga Branch Family who followed Iroha Hyuga moved with ruthless precision, chakra gathering in their hand strikes as they cut cleanly into the guards' throats. With two sharp kacha sounds, throat bones and vocal cords shattered, and the guards collapsed without a cry.
They caught the falling bodies at once and dragged them into the shadows. Everything happened within a breath. The young guard beside Ryoma seemed to hear something and began to turn his head.
At that instant, Iroha Hyuga flicked his sleeve, and a Root senbon slid into his hand. His arm snapped forward in a dark blur, and the needle pierced straight through the guard's temple. Only a few hot drops of blood splashed out, landing on Ryoma's cheek.
Ryoma did not hear anything, only pausing at the wet touch. He raised a hand and wiped his cheek, murmuring in confusion, "Is it raining?" One Jonin used Body Flicker Technique to arrive beside him, gently lowering the stiff corpse and taking hold of Ryoma's arm.
Iroha Hyuga steadied Ryoma's hand and stopped disrupting his chakra flow, also ending the interference to his hearing with Genjutsu. "Yes, Lord Ryoma," Iroha Hyuga said calmly. "Let's go inside. Once we're in, you won't get wet."
Ryoma nodded eagerly, lips curling into a twisted smile as excitement drowned out the stench around them. "I can't wait to see that man kneel like a dog in front of me." He almost dragged the two "guards" forward as they descended, muttering about how his father was teaching that trash a lesson.
Deeper underground, the air grew cold and damp, heavy on the chest. Flickering oil lamps cast warped shadows along the walls, and the mixed smell of blood and rot grew strong enough to gag. The sound of whips, tearing flesh, clinking chains, and vicious curses became clearer with every step.
They stopped before a half-open iron door, sounds spilling through the gap. Ryoma shook off their support and knocked hard. "Father, it's me. I'm here." The noises inside stopped, followed by a few seconds of dead silence.
The door creaked open, and Ryoma Tokuma appeared, face pale and trembling, clutching a bloodstained whip. He forced a stiff smile and said, "Lord Ryoma, Elder Riwugo asks you to come in." Ryoma pushed past him at once, choking on the stench but burning with excitement, while Iroha Hyuga followed with head lowered.
As they passed, Iroha Hyuga took the whip from Ryoma Tokuma's hand. Ryoma Tokuma did not think much of it and stayed outside to breathe, while another disguised Jonin remained in the corridor, watching his back. Iroha Hyuga entered last and pulled the iron door shut.
The door closed with a grinding sound, sealing off all light and noise from outside. Inside, the air was suffocating, heavy with blood and rot, and a mangled figure hung chained in the center of the room. Elder Riwugo rose at once when he heard his son enter and hurried forward to support him.
"Ryoma, be careful," he said, then guided him toward the hanging body. "He's right here. You can do whatever you want. The soundproofing here is excellent. No one outside will hear anything."
Before the words finished settling, a cold voice spoke from behind them. "You said no one outside can hear anything. Is that right?" Elder Riwugo froze and turned sharply.
The lock slammed down, and the "guard" faced them as the disguise faded. In the dim light, the face they never expected to see appeared. It was Iroha Hyuga.
Ice seemed to pour through Elder Riwugo's body as instinct took over. Caged Bird Seal, activate the Caged Bird Seal. His hands rose to form the seal, but Iroha Hyuga was faster.
With swift hand signs taught by Ryoma, Ninjutsu was unleashed. Wind Release and the Wind Release Wind Cutter Technique merged as two compressed wind blades slashed out from the Kunai in his hands. There was a shrill whine, and then a faint cold touch at Elder Riwugo's wrists.