Interlude: Doto

Location

Castle Koyuki: Prison

Deep underneath the formerly known Castle Doto was a labyrinth of a place that, surprisingly (considering your point of view), wasn't used very often. Despite the long corridors being filled on all sides and all 15 floors having cages capable of holding over 2,000 human occupants, nearly every cell was unused and devoid of life.

On one of these floors, strategically placed at the bottom floor, were two prisoners—one taller and heavily bandaged, while the other wore a simple white kimono. Both figures hung in the middle of the cell, hands bound tightly by cuffs chained to the ceiling while their feet dangled from the ground. On their stomachs, a mechanism, ironically created by one of the occupants, was strapped to their abdomens, sealing off their chakra and thwarting any hopes they had at escaping. Their heads were bowed, yet the anger and resentment in the taller of the two was evident.

Outside the bars, the new Daimyo of the newly named Land of Springs, Kazahana Koyuki, stared despondently at the two men behind the bars. One was responsible for the worst day of her life and taking nearly everything she held dear away from her. Seeing that she'd done the same in return, however unintentional, was simply poetic.

As for the other...

Koyuki didn't even glance at Sandayu. The man hadn't said a word even during his imprisonment, and that was all for the better. The sooner she could forget about him, the better. She was here for one thing and one thing only.

"Your sentence has been decided." Her voice echoed through the silent prison, reaching the ears of the prisoners and two guards standing close by. Neither man looked her way, yet she could practically feel the hate filling the cell. "For your crimes of treachery, the punishment, is death."

As expected, despite the decree, neither man was moved.

"... Fortunately, I've decided death to be too kind for your crimes." She stepped forward, getting closer to the cell so both could hear her words in their entirety. "For the one who murdered my father, my people, and any chance I would have at knowing my family, your punishment is much more severe. For the rest of your lives, be it 20 years from now or 100, you shall rot here. And when you die, your remains will be burned to ashes. No one will remember you, and no one will mourn you. This, is the price of your actions."

At that, instead of the rage and despair she was hoping to hear from either man, the cell filled with deep, bone-chilling laughter. The two guards behind Koyuki gripped their spears tighter, ready for the prisoner to try anything, but relaxed when the laughter died down. Finally, Doto lifted his head, his demeanor calm despite the rage in his eyes.

"You truly think you've won, girl? That the Land of Snow is yours?" He asked, yet chuckled further when the woman remained neutral. "You truly are foolish, niece of mine. Whatever peace you have now is only temporary. When the Five Great Villages find out about your little ascension, then and only then will you truly realize how cruel this world truly is."

His grin grew wider.

"Your people will realize that you do not have what it takes to lead, what it takes to do what is absolutely necessary for their survival. And when that time comes, they will seek me out, just like they did 12 years ago." Laughter filled the cell once more, Koyuki gripping her teeth at her uncle's amusement. "Run along, little Koyuki. Sleep well, and know you are only warming my rightful seat as the leader of this nation."

Koyuki's fist tightened, desperate to find a comeback to his statement. Sadly, nothing came to mind.

In the end, she walked away, doing her best not to allow the man's echoing laughter get to her more than it already had.

Back in his cell, Doto was finally able to calm himself. Yes, soon the higher-ups in Konoha shall see her weakness. They will see that she couldn't even hope to fill his shoes, and once they find out he is still alive, he will reclaim his throne. It was just a matter of time.

"Do you truly believe that, Doto?"

The former Daimyo was slightly caught off guard by the voice. Turning, he looked at the smaller form hanging across from him. The man was still looking to the ground, the same he had been since they'd first put them in the same cell.

"I asked a question, Doto. Do you truly believe in what you say?"

"And who are you to demand answers from me?" Doto scoffed, dismissing the man entirely.

The sound of mettle cackling to the ground had his head shooting back to his cellmate. The man had dropped himself to the ground, chains clattering as he bent down to undo the shackles on his legs. Once he was done, a grunt left Sandayu's throat as he stretched his limbs.

"Nothing to say now?" Sandayu spoke again, lifting his head to stare at Doto with with calm cerulean eyes.

Instead of answer the question, Doto grit his teeth and spat out, "You had a way out this entire time?"

"I did...for me." He emphasized before holding up what looked like some kind of lockpick. With the same tool, he effortlessly used it to crack open the tool on his stomach—the same chakra devise he'd made specifically to thwart situations like this. Watching it fall helplessly was shocking enough, but watching the man throw the key out of the cell and into the hall nearly made him pop a blood vessel. "As for you, your usefulness has come to an end."

"U-Useful?" Doto muttered, utterly confused at the statement. Before he could inquire further, Sandayu reached for his face. As if his skin were clay, he pulled it off, hair and all. A face he did not recognize shook free her long hair while the skin she once wore slowly turned white in her hands. Soon, stern, ash-brown eyes stared into his own, causing the former Daimyo's brow to furrow.

"Who are you?" He had to ask, if not for curiosity, then for his sanity.

"You do not know me, nor is my name of any importance. However, you know my father, and it is because of him that I stand before you at this moment."

Doto was puzzled. Not only did he not know the woman, but her face didn't ring any bells in his head. Not only that, in the last 12 years, he only known of three work-related partners. Two of which are currently in Konoha, and to the best of his knowledge, neither has daughters. As for the last, he perished a weak ago to those brats, and he for sure didn't have any children. If it were someone he'd killed over the years, then who this woman could possibly be would remain a mystery forever unless she told him herself.

"Kazahana Doto, 12 years ago, my father put you in power," the woman started, quieting the man's thoughts. "12 years ago, my father supplied you with men and supplies to take this country. 12 years ago, my father covered up your rise to the throne long enough to ensure your transition was unchallenged. And 12 years ago, you swore your loyalty, that as long as you were in power, Konoha would never want for technology and steel."

The gears in Doto's head began turning long before she ever mentioned the village hidden in the leaves. It clicked around the time she spoke of the coverups. It set in at the mention of his loyalty. By the time she was finished, his face was pale as a ghost.

"So tell me, if you are so loyal, why is it that you have been selling to our enemies?"

"Th-that's-" Doto tried, but nothing came to mind. He had been careful with his dealings. He had made sure everyone he dealt with had gone through the proper channels and background checks. So how? How in the seven hell's was he found out?

"Nothing to say? Well, your excuses matter little in the end." Doto suddenly felt the woman flare her chakra. In an instant, four figures appeared. Two emerged from the walls of the cell while two dropped from someone outside the cell. They all wore masks similar to those of the ANBU of Konoha, yet where Konoha ANBU wore masks of animals, these were simple black—as whatever creature they were mimicking was devoid of emotion.

One of the ones outside opened the cell while the other stepped inside, holding what looked like a short katana. The sight of the katana made a pit grow in the Daimyo's stomach—even more so when the woman casually grabbed it from the figures awaiting arms.

"Despite your treachery, I must thank you." The woman said out of nowhere, taking the man aback. "Thanks to you, I was able to confirm a theory for myself. Thanks to you, I have uncovered secrets I never would have otherwise. Have solace in knowing that your reign benefited Konoha till the very end."

Doto wanted to rage at that, accused a woman of sabotaging and everything he could currently think of. Unfortunately, all those thoughts were dashed when the woman swiftly drew the sword from its sheath.

"You were right about one thing." She spoke as she stepped forward. Doto suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes. "A new age will come to this nation... But unfortunately, you will not be around to see it."

Before Doto could even open his mouth to plead, the woman in front of him. He didn't see her sword arm move, but he did see the spray of blood that pushed from the line made across his throat. The former Daimyo felt the sharp agony of pain, yet he couldn't focus on that. He couldn't think of anything but the feeling of his body losing heat as the world slowly went dark.

"Konoha thanks you for your service."