Anna Karenina

The Shinobi Prison: Hozuki Castle

Stop!

Fire Style: Celestial Prison!

That should do it. Unshackle them.

You have committed serious crimes unbecoming of a shinobi.

Therefore, you have been sent here to Hozuki Castle.

The Celestial Prison has been embedded in each of you to bind your chakra.

As long as it's on you, you can't use any ninjutsu.

If you try to escape outside the castle,

the jutsu will create a chain of fire that will burn you.

Any criminal, no matter how evil, can be rehabilitated.

So, I look forward to the day

you're released from prison, completely reformed.

Chief Officer Benga will explain the rest.

Thank you very much, Lord Mujo.

Whatever worked on the outside doesn't mean crap in here!

Pound two things into your heads!

One, I make the rules around here!

Even idiots like you should be able to remember that!

What's the other thing?

Don't interrupt me while I'm speaking!

The second rule is…

Don't forget the first rule, even if it kills you.

Keep your arrogant mouth shut!

Just because you're kids, don't think we'll go easy on you!

Oww!

Don't move!

Hey, you!

Fool! You can't escape!

I'm not gonna fall for your bluff!

See?

Didn't I say you can't leave the castle?

That's horrible!

Hey, do something—!

Keep your mouth shut!

Call the doctor.

Yes, sir!

Have you heard of the Mujina Gang?

Mujina?

You don't know?

They're targeting and creating chaos all over the Land of Fire.

Do you know what their boss looks like?

It's not just his face.

His name, age, background…

Even the kinds of jutsu he uses is shrouded in mystery.

Gang members make a blood oath.

If they're captured, they never talk.

And anyone who tries to desert is killed.

No wonder there's nothing out there about the boss.

But we found one exception.

A man named Kokuri sent this.

About a year ago, he secretly stole gang money and snuck away.

He was living under everyone's radar…

But it seems he committed another robbery

and was thrown into Hozuki Castle.

Hozuki Castle is a prison only for shinobi,

administered by the Hidden Grass Village.

KOKURI

Based on his letter, Kokuri's managed to conceal the fact

that he's a former member of the Mujina Gang…

TSUKIYO But a prisoner who arrived after him,

TSUKIYO just happens to be the gang's number two man.

He's in a situation where he could be killed at any moment.

He wrote that if we protect him,

he'll tell us everything about the gang.

If that's true, that's crucial intel.

If that intel is that important,

I'd think the prison would want to protect Kokuri too.

Only big nations like ours have suffered

from the Mujina Gang's misdeeds.

For a small nation like the Hidden Grass,

it's not worth their time.

We sent a request to the Hidden Grass

to put a temporary protection order on Kokuri,

but they hemmed and hawed, saying it's an internal affair.

They said it will take a month to make arrangements.

If we wait around, who knows when he'll be killed.

And so, Boruto, Mitsuki…

We're going to send you in, undercover, as prisoners

to protect Kokuri until all the arrangements have been made.

Luckily, the lord of Hozuki Castle is an old acquaintance,

and we've already taken steps to send you there as prisoners.

Ordinarily, this is a chunin-class mission.

But the team who was chosen can't go now.

So, we're the stand-ins?

You are just as skilled as chunin shinobi.

And since the prisoners can't use ninjutsu,

we've decided this is something you genin can accomplish.

So, we won't be able to use our jutsu either?

Don't worry about that.

We asked the lord to use a fake Celestial Prison on you.

I heard there were three coming.

The other one was sent to the hospital.

Be nice to each other!

Am I the only one being left out of this one?

You have an important job as well, ya know.

I'm Sarada, I put in the request to conduct some research for my article.

Young lady, are you really a student aspiring to become a journalist?

Yes!

Academics mean nothing.

That's the kind of world we live in.

Hey!

Newbies always start at the bottom bunk.

Huh?

Oh well, you just have to suck it up.

Nice to meet you.

Don't bother.

Kedama doesn't talk to anyone.

You're both from the Land of Water?

Yeah. I'm Boruto.

I'm Mitsuki.

Call me Arai. He's Kamata.

So, what are you in for?

Eight years for robbery.

Pretty bold for your age.

Huh? Hey!

The toothbrush I put here is gone.

Hey, you stole it! Give it back!

If you leave something lying around, it no longer belongs to you.

That's the rule around here.

If you want it, I'll sell it to you.

Who the hell made that rule up?

Just be careful next time.

Hey, where'd my book go?

Hey, man!

That's the rule, right?

I'm willing to exchange it for the toothbrush though.

He got you there, Kamata.

Okay, newbies! Let's go, it's time to eat.

That's the castle keep where Lord Mujo and I stay,

the watch tower and the inner garden.

As you can see, we're surrounded by the sea,

and escape is impossible.

Is it true that if you're splashed with water,

the Celestial Prison Jutsu is undone?

Well, it's a Fire Style, after all.

But it takes much more than a splash to undo it.

And it's useless looking around the premises

for a large amount of water.

We don't have baths or flush toilets.

What's that?

The medical ward.

Guys faking illnesses take refuge there.

Give me a break!

You gotta be kidding me!

If you don't pay attention, I'm gonna leave you behind.

If you don't have this wooden tag, you can't go anywhere.

You're lucky you didn't get lost, young lady!

It's tradition for a member of the same family

to become the lord of the castle, correct?

Yeah. From the clan that uses Celestial Prison.

It's an old-fashioned set-up.

Are you dissatisfied with it?

It's not that.

But Lord Mujo tends to be too soft on the prisoners.

It's futile to hope that they'll reform.

Be strict and teach 'em. That's the tried and true way.

Oh, Miss Sarada.

How is your research coming along?

Great! Thanks to you all!

What's the big idea?

– Damn it, wanna fight? – Let's do it!

Hey, move away from each other!

Are Boruto and Mitsuki managing?

It seems so, for now.

Honestly, I'd like to help you more.

But I have my position as the Lord of the Castle. I'm sorry.

He's a supplier.

As long as you pay,

he'll get you almost anything you ask for.

Even though this is jail?

Yeah. In here, money's the only thing that talks.

Let's go.

By the way,

I heard that the Mujina Gang's number two man got caught.