Chapter 187: The Correctional Chaos
Malik sat in the Hokage's office, his eyes locked onto Tsunade as she poured herself a glass of alcohol. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a dim, golden glow across the room, illuminating the Fifth Hokage's statuesque form. Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her large bosom pressing against the wooden desk, an image Malik couldn't help but notice. Still, as a gentleman, he refrained from commenting and allowed her the moment of peace before speaking.
After a few minutes passed, with Tsunade taking slow sips of her drink, Malik decided to break the silence. "So... how are things, Lord 5th?"
Tsunade, already looking weary from the day's events, let out a long sigh, resting her elbows on her desk as she glanced at him. "Same old, same old... Well, aside from the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility breakouts." She swirled her drink, her tone flat but with a hint of exhaustion.
Malik leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Please, tell me more."
Tsunade set her glass down, the light catching the amber liquid inside, and she began to recount the story with an air of frustration. "Mizuki. He managed to escape from prison, and it turns out he had some sort of connection to Orochimaru." She paused for a moment, her fingers drumming rhythmically on the desk. "Naruto, being Naruto, found out and immediately thought it was another chance to locate Sasuke. So, he went after Mizuki, and somehow Iruka got involved too."
Malik crossed his arms, his mind working through the implications. "Mizuki... interesting. And Naruto's involvement?"
Tsunade nodded. "Naruto ran into Mizuki, but the Mizuki he encountered wasn't the same as before. The guy had taken some sort of performance-enhancing drug and was much stronger. Naruto struggled at first, especially when Mizuki teamed up with the 'Legendary Stupid Brothers'—two goons with raw strength but not much between their ears."
At the mention of the brothers, Malik raised an eyebrow. "Legendary Stupid Brothers?"
Tsunade huffed, a tired smirk crossing her lips. "Yeah, they're exactly as their name suggests—unbelievably strong but equally dense. Team 10 ended up dealing with them while Naruto and Iruka focused on Mizuki. Turns out, Mizuki was using this special drug that had some connection to Orochimaru, but we've yet to determine the full extent."
Malik listened intently, watching Tsunade carefully as she took another sip from her drink, allowing the details to sink in. "And do you have any information on this drug?"
Tsunade shrugged, a lazy flick of her wrist indicating her indifference. "Shizune handled all the paperwork and samples. She's got everything filed away. You'll have to ask her another time, though. She's resting today—don't bother her."
Malik nodded, his mind already working through possible uses for such a drug. "And what happened next?"
Tsunade's smirk returned, but this time, it was tinged with irony. "Eventually, they defeated Mizuki, but not before he turned into some grotesque behemoth, thanks to the drug. Naruto and Iruka managed to exploit a weakness—turns out Mizuki's speed dropped significantly as his strength increased. With a well-timed Rasengan, they took him down."
"Did you manage to get anything useful out of him?" Malik asked.
Tsunade's expression soured. "Unfortunately, no. We interrogated Mizuki, but the idiot had no real information on Orochimaru's whereabouts. He was just another pawn in Orochimaru's experiments."
Malik sat back, absorbing everything she'd said so far. After a moment, he leaned forward again, his fingers resting on his chin. "So... Mizuki and these 'Legendary Stupid Brothers.' What's your honest opinion of them?"
Tsunade laughed dryly, shaking her head. "Mizuki was always a snake—he turned on us for power. As for those brothers, they're idiots, but powerful idiots. They're more brawn than brains, easy to manipulate, which is probably why Mizuki thought they'd be useful."
Malik nodded thoughtfully, his curiosity shifting. "And this drug... are the effects permanent?"
Tsunade sighed again, her shoulders sagging. "Yeah, unfortunately. Mizuki's body didn't just gain strength from the drug—he aged rapidly, too. By the time we got him, he was reduced to a frail, old man. His cells were breaking down, but I managed to stabilize him before he completely fell apart. He's not capable of ninjutsu anymore, though."
Malik's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Truly?"
Tsunade leaned back in her chair again, taking another long drink. "It was a failed experiment of Orochimaru's—one of her many attempts to create a curse seal. Mizuki was just unlucky enough to be a test subject."
Malik's fingers tapped thoughtfully on the armrest of his chair. "So, if his body had been stronger and if his cells hadn't deteriorated at such a rapid rate... this 'Animal Curse Seal' could've made him quite powerful in the long run?"
Tsunade pondered this for a moment, the crease in her brow deepening. "Maybe. It's possible."
Malik's mind was already spinning with ideas. "Tsunade, I have a rather unconventional idea. One that might help with the Leaf Village's low shinobi numbers, and it would use resources we already have."
Tsunade's eyes flicked to his, her curiosity piqued, though she kept her expression neutral. "I'm willing to hear you out, Malik. But no promises."
Malik leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly as he began to outline his plan. His mind buzzed with the potential of the Animal Curse Seal, the possibilities of utilizing Orochimaru's failed experiments to bolster the Leaf Village's strength, while avoiding the catastrophic side effects that had rendered Mizuki helpless.
===
The Konoha Strict Correctional Facility loomed ahead as Malik walked across the long bascule bridge, surrounded by several masked ANBU and Root operatives. The volcanic island on which the prison was situated radiated a sweltering heat, making the journey more uncomfortable than Malik had expected.
Shisui Uchiha, Malik's wife and leader of The Root, led the escort, her presence commanding respect. Clad in her dark, imposing Root leader attire, her face was hidden behind a sleek, cool mask, revealing only her piercing eyes. There was an air of control and power in the way she moved, making it clear why she held her rank. Behind her was Aoi Rokushō, dressed in a striking pink and gold ANBU outfit. Though no longer officially a ninja of the Leaf, her masked identity and Malik's personal insignia marked her as part of his inner circle. The gold accents of her mask gleamed in the daylight as her umbrella swung nonchalantly at her side.
As they neared the facility, Malik squinted through the heat haze rising from the active volcano beneath the island. The sheer absurdity of the prison's location gnawed at him.
"What's the point of mining rocks on top of an active volcano?" Malik asked aloud, gesturing toward the prisoners below, who were digging through the soil as part of their supposed "character-building" exercise.
No one answered him—just shrugs all around.
"Damn, it's hot," Malik muttered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
He trudged along the bridge, glancing down at the churning lava pools far below the prison. "Hot enough to bake bread just standing here," he joked, glancing back at the silent escort. None of the masked shinobi said a word, keeping their professional silence. "Tough crowd," Malik chuckled to himself.
The Konoha Strict Correctional Facility housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the shinobi world—missing-nin, murderers, and traitors who had crossed the line too many times. As they crossed the bridge, Malik thought of the inmates he was there to see.
"Known inmates of this facility are Mizuki, Fūjin, and Raijin. Just the people I need to see," Malik thought to himself.
The large iron gates swung open with a metallic groan, allowing Malik and his escort into the main compound. Malik approached a female ninja standing guard near the entrance.
"Is everything ready?" he asked, with a friendly smile.
She nodded silently, her face stern and unreadable behind her mask.
"Great, thank you. Please, show me to them," Malik replied, clapping his hands together.
The group moved deeper into the prison, passing row upon row of cells. Each level was packed with prisoners, their faces pressing against the iron bars, watching Malik and his group move through the facility. The sound of chains clinking echoed throughout the stone-walled structure.
After navigating through winding hallways, they finally arrived at a large open space. In the center of the room, three men were chained to the ground, their hands and feet tightly cuffed, their presence imposing despite their captivity.
The first two were unmistakable: Fūjin and Raijin, the so-called Legendary Stupid Brothers. Massive and hulking, the two brothers sat cross-legged, their thick arms resting on their knees. Despite their formidable strength, their eyes had a vacant look of hunger, and they grinned as they saw Malik approach.
The brothers were notorious for their strength, which had been compared to that of Tsunade herself. Despite their overwhelming physical prowess, their lack of intelligence earned them their name. Malik couldn't help but smile as he approached them, the brothers grinning back with the excitement of children about to receive a treat.
The third man, however, caught Malik's attention even more: Mizuki. Once a traitorous shinobi of Konoha, Mizuki had fallen prey to one of Orochimaru's twisted experiments. His once-muscular frame had shriveled up, leaving him a gaunt, frail figure. His skin, though now restored by Tsunade, was taut over his bones, and he struggled to maintain his balance even while sitting. The remnants of the Animal Curse Seal still marked his arm, a cruel reminder of his fall from grace.
As Malik stepped closer to the three prisoners, he could feel Shisui's silent disapproval. She stood stoic, her mask betraying nothing, but Malik knew she hated seeing him get this close to such dangerous individuals. Still, she said nothing.
Malik clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "You boys look hungry," he said, flashing a bright smile. "Why don't we talk and have something to eat? I'll make everything myself, of course."
Fūjin and Raijin's faces lit up at the mention of food. They nodded eagerly, licking their lips in anticipation. Mizuki, on the other hand, remained silent, his eyes flickering with a mixture of resentment and curiosity.
As the guards loosened the chains binding their hands, Malik set to work, summoning ingredients seemingly from thin air. With practiced ease, he began to prepare a meal—one of his specialties. The rich aroma of freshly baked bread, sizzling meats, and savory spices filled the air, making even the guards look on in interest.
The Legendary Stupid Brothers watched in awe as Malik cooked, their massive stomachs rumbling audibly. They exchanged excited glances, practically drooling at the prospect of a real meal.
As for Mizuki, he remained reserved, watching Malik's every move with a sharp, calculating gaze. Whatever thoughts were running through his mind, he kept them to himself, his gaunt frame trembling slightly as the smell of food filled his senses.
Shisui stood by, arms crossed, her eyes never leaving Malik. She trusted her husband, but being this close to such dangerous criminals, even if they were bound, made her uneasy.
As Malik worked, he couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation—him cooking for the most dangerous men in the facility, his wife standing guard, and an army of masked ANBU keeping watch. But that was the life of Malik: unpredictable, full of charm, and always ready for a meal.
"Now, don't you boys worry, it's almost done, then we can truly get started." Malik said as he worked his magic.