XXX
Here in the hell that was Hozukijo, a place with many names that would terrify even the most seasoned of shinobi: the demon's castle, the shinobi graveyard, shimigami's temple, but the best name was the blood prison. Naruto sat quietly, secluded in a miniature stone wall cell, the only light source was small window. The punishment room was where he sat, silent, still, secluded, contemplating his situation, the flow of nature chakra helping to clear his mind. He was framed, that much he knew, however, it was the why that he wanted to know.
'The warden, Mui and his chakra seals definitely had it in for me. Lucky Sage Mode requires chakra from the outside and not the inside of the body huh, hehe' Naruto chuckled lightly, so he had that to fall back on.
Life here wasn't all bad, the other prisoners were okay, none of them had any issues with him and the cafeteria even had ramen. OH! He had even made a new friend, Ryuuzetsu, an ex anbu from what used to be the Hidden Grass Village. She was an odd one, it seemed; she had it in for Mui the same way Mui had it in for him, which could be dangerous.
She approached him and asked for his help, what was he supposed to do, he was Naruto dam it! If he thought she needed his help, then he would provide. Still, her anger toward the warden troubled him. He was slow to ask but she had sensed his premonitions and assured him that it would be alright, he wasn't so sure but he let it pass, he had other things on his mind.
Naruto continued to meditate deeper and deeper until there was a knock on his cell. "Uzumaki, come with me please." The guard at the door commanded.
Naruto stood to leave when the guard rushed him, delivering a quick blow to back of the neck, knocking the young Uzumaki unconscious…
XXX
The Warden walked through the cafeteria of his prison casually, unafraid of the roaming prisoners. The prisoners, not wanting to stir up more trouble gave him a wide berth, keeping their heads in their soup. Ryuuzetsu sat among them, glaring at Mui, unafraid of his wraith. The male prisoners at her table could see her killing intent in her expression. Mui either didn't notice or didn't care as he continued his walk. He got about half way out the door when there was a flash of charka and two prison guards appeared before him.
Both the guards quickly bowed in respect.
"Sir ," the one guard addressed Mui, still in a bow, "It was done exactly to your instruction."
Mui nodded once, "Good, leave him there and I'll see to him at once."
The guards nodded in return and in another flash of charka they disappeared.
Mui sent one last grimace at the other prisoners, who immediately stiffened, before he briskly walked out of the room.
The tension in the room visibly lightened as every prisoner in the room sighed audibly. A man leaned in close to Ryuuzetsu, "Man, I wouldn't want to be the guy that pissed him off, ya know," Ryuuzetsu only nodded. The man looked around, "Hey where's that blonde kid, he was funny."
Ryuuzetsu stiffened and looked up to where Mui recently stood, "Naruto?" She jumped up running up in the direction of Mui. "Naruto, please be alright," she silently prayed as she sped off in the direction she thought Mui had taken, leaving behind a slightly confused prisoner.
XXX
Naruto shook uncontrollably on the icy table. He was strapped down, unable to break free because of the godly seal his tormentors had placed on him. Even against all his might the seal repressed his strength, leaving him helpless. Naruto glared wildly at the red, chain like seal on his torso. A horrific fuinjustu, Katon: Gouka Tenrou was only meant to keep prisoners in line, any chakra usage and the shinobi would burst into flames.
"Silence, jinchuuriki, this is a very delicate process." A man whispered into Naruto's ear. Mui, the head of the prison, and a man Naruto was beginning to hate, looked down at him with cold eyes.
"Ba-bastard," Naruto could barely make out his threat, it hurt too dam much. Mui remained emotionless, "I will not tell you again, jinchuuriki, extracting your… vast chakra is extremely delicate and the box can only handle so much at time." Before Naruto could even breath next, Mui activated the box.
The Box of Eternal Bliss, one of the Sage of Six Path's many weapons of legend. It was a huge, black cube with neutral faces made from stone on all its sides and gave off a dark humming sound. It's said that the box contains enlightenment and has the ability to grant any wish, and was feared throughout the world. It was this box that Mui and his predecessors would use to resurrect the Village Hidden in the Grass. All it need was a little food…
Naruto groaned. He felt only pain, all his chakra: physical, demonic, or natural, was being ripped from his body, and the seal making him feel as if he was on fire, however, it was the warden that kept him from bursting in to flames. Naruto chuckled none the less, 'I guessed I've had Mui to thank for that.'
His eyes constantly flickered between his natural blue, Kyuubi's red, and the toad sage's amber. His chakra forming an ugly purple above him and he watched as the box ate it. The cryptic stone faces on all of the box's sides cracked and broke part way, only to have their faces brake into ghastly smiles or snares as they ate up his chakra.
Naruto screamed one last time as the goutiness box took one last bite of his dark chakra. The underground laboratory shook violent as the box cracked and slowly started to rise to the surface.
Naruto struggled to get the straps off, "AHHHHHH" he screamed as his rage boiled over. Chakra quick to return and with the fire seal deactivated at the moment, Naruto made quick work of his bonds and tried to make his way out through the stairs, however, Mui was faster. Gracefully leaping over Naruto, Mui landed on the flight above him. With impressive speed Mui charged forward, ducking under Naruto's weak attack. Naruto was too weak he knew, 'Dammit, dodge, dodge.' He silently thought to himself. Mui, at an even quicker pace, continued to charge forward. "You will not escape my prison." He said, his fist surging forward around Naruto's withered defense, landing incredibly strong punch to the gut. "No escape, Katon: Gouka Tenrou," he whispered. Red chains spiraled from his hand and onto Naruto abdomen. "No not again!" Naruto yelled in pain.
Naruto collapsed onto his knees, but before he could fall on his face, Mui caught him. Leaning close to his ear, Mui whispered, "Jinchuuriki tell me… Have you ever had to kill an innocent person for the sake of your village? Has your village ever demanded a life, to strengthen its own?" Mui asked Naruto a hint of pain in his voice. Naruto glared at the warden, "Don't make me laugh," he whispered back. Mui, for the first time, allowed a small smile to grace his face, "I agree."
Mui once again struck Naruto in the gut and let the blonde boy to fall to the ground. Mui stood and was about to continue up the stairs when Naruto wheezed, "I-I know…Ryuuzetsu told me…" he coughed, "everything, about… Muku… you sacrificed your own son…" Naruto was gaining his footing again while Mui stood there listening, his back to Naruto, "a son looks… to his father… I"
"If you know all that," Mui interrupted, "then you know why all this is necessary." And with that he leapt up the stairs to the surface.
XXX
The entire prison never stopped shacking, the walls and the ceiling crumbling. There in the center of the courtyard the earth cracked and splintered, and in the epicenter the Box of Eternal Bliss, slowly rose. The prisoners, all shinobi who had committed crimes against one village or another, stared in shock at the monstrous box. Four Figures all dressed in royal garb, with their faces hidden behind lavished face masks stood between the box and the prisoners.
"Hey, Hey, where's Mui, as the box's guardian he should be here!" A short fat man in an ugly cow mask demanded. "Here he comes," called one of the man's companions, a tall, lanky woman in an equally ugly bird mask, "We were worried you got cold feet Mui." Mui walked past her as if she weren't there, past all the prisoners, who gave him a wide berth, and straight to the box. "DO it Mui! Return the Grass Village to its former glory!" The Four shook with anticipation.
"Box of Bliss," Mui commanded, "Grant me my wish… GIVE ME BACK MY SON!"
"WHAT!" The masked figures lunged forward, poised to strike but it was too late. The box roared and contorted, its ancient hinges moaning in protest as its mighty doors opened after so long.
In an instant all the stones fell from the box exposing the endless black pit that was the door. Out of the pit all the malice the box had acuminated over the years sprung to life. Black aura surrounded the prison, covering it in an ark of darkness.
