Chapter 49: The Kumogakure Uprising

"Feeling powerful… is a damn good thing."

Soaking in the bathtub, Yoru let out a satisfied sigh.

The stronger he became, the more control he had over his fate—and the better his chances of surviving in Kumogakure.

The Next Day

"It’s only been a day, but you seem completely different. Or is it just me?"

One of Yoru’s squadmates eyed him curiously during their patrol shift.

"Must be your imagination. I’m the same as yesterday."

Yoru shrugged and resumed his sword drills.

By now, his relentless training routine was nothing new to the others.

"Kōkō (惊鸿), your discipline is insane," the same shinobi remarked, shaking his head. "I’d lose my mind swinging a sword all day like that. A few days in, and I’d quit."

His tone held genuine admiration.

"Which is why Kōkō’s strong, and you’re still mediocre," another ANBU—this one wearing a hound mask—chimed in with a teasing jab.

"Ugh, buzzkill."

The first shinobi rolled his eyes and stalked off to the other end of the watchtower.

Just as the rotation began, a piercing alarm shrieked across the village.

In an instant, the squad’s casual banter vanished. Their eyes turned cold, their postures rigid.

The acting captain materialized before them.

"Prison break. Distress signal from the detention block."

"Kōkō, Kage , Yoru —with me. The rest, hold the tower."

"Move out!"

No hesitation. No questions.

Yoru was once again thrust into battle.

Prison Gates – A Bloody Stand

"Hold the line! Don’t falter!"

"Reinforcements are coming! We can’t let them escape!"

An ANBU captain barked orders, his voice raw with desperation.

Before him, a horde of hardened criminals snarled, their eyes wild with bloodlust.

The defending ANBU were outmatched. Step by step, they were forced back.

"You call this a blockade? Pathetic!"

At the front of the prisoners, a mountain of a man grinned savagely.

"Raiton: Rampaging Thunderbolt!"

Lightning erupted around his body. With a single earth-shaking step, he smashed into the ANBU formation like a human cannonball.

"Guh—!"

Bodies flew. Bones cracked.

The defensive line shattered.

"Brothers! Freedom’s right fucking here!"

The giant roared, leading the charge through the breach.

The prisoners howled in triumph, surging forward like a tidal wave.

"Hahaha! Open skies at last!"

The ringleader burst through the prison gates, his laughter manic.

The others followed, scrambling into the village like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

None dared linger—not with the Fourth Raikage’s wrath looming over them.

Behind them, the ANBU lay broken.

Some were already dead, limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Others gasped through shattered ribs, drowning in their own blood.

A gruesome tableau of failure.

Deception and Diversion

"Listen up! Cause chaos—draw every ninja’s attention!"

The giant prisoner’s eyes gleamed with cunning.

"Trust me? Head to the Dragon’s Bind Cave. The Two-Tails’ jinchūriki’s sealed there!"

"Free him, and we’ll have the perfect distraction!"

Some prisoners bought it instantly.

"Hell yeah! Thanks for the tip!"

They sprinted off, oblivious to the trap.

The giant’s grin widened.

"Morons."

"The cave’s guarded by elite ANBU. The Two-Tails’ container? A death sentence."

"But hey—keep the heat off me while I slip away."

Next, he pointed toward the eastern district.

"Wealthy sector’s that way. Loot, hostages—you want real chaos? Go wild."

Another group peeled off, cheering.

"Idiots. The merchants’ zone is crawling with private guards."

"But they’ll buy me time."

His true plan?

Sacrifice them all.

"The prison’s been breached?!"

In his office, the Fourth Raikage slammed his desk to splinters.

Before his secretary, Mabui, could react, he shattered the window and leaped out.

"Bee, you better not be sneaking off!"

The village in chaos? Irrelevant.

A few escaped convicts were nothing.

His real fear?

That his brother—Killer B, the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki—would seize the chance to escape his confinement at Kumogakure’s borders.

"Emergency protocols—NOW!"

Even without the Raikage, Kumogakure’s chain of command held firm.

Under Mabui and the elders’ orders:

• Village gates slammed shut.

• Civilians were evacuated.

• Elite squads deployed to critical zones:

• The Two-Tails’ seal.

• The merchant district.

• The supply depots.

Within fifteen minutes, a counteroffensive was underway.