Steam filled the air in the prisoners’ bathhouse of the Abyss Prison. Ten showerheads sprayed water with reckless abandon, the relentless patter of droplets creating a cacophony that transformed the small space into a perfect soundproofed "chamber." It was an ideal spot for private conversations, where eavesdropping was virtually impossible. Yet, only two individuals were actually bathing.
One was an older man who appeared to be in his fifties. His face was rugged, his towering frame muscular and well-proportioned, with calloused hands that clearly marked him as a seasoned soldier. The other was none other than Aotu Tailuo.
"Tailuo, I’ve always thought of you as a sharp young man. So how could you come up with such an unrealistic idea?" the older man asked, his voice steady and deep.
"Vice Commander, do you really think my plan is unrealistic?" Aotu responded, his tone calm but resolute.
"Isn’t it? Do you even know where you are? You’re just a crippled man, weakened by chakra-suppressing drugs, dreaming of escaping from this place? Forget the prison’s impenetrable walls and the thousand guards stationed here. Even if you somehow managed to get out, where would you go? Back to Sunagakure? Or across the eight-thousand-mile desert?"
"I have a way to deal with the chakra suppressant. I also have a plan for the escape route. The only obstacle left is this prison itself. I can’t do it alone, Vice Commander. I need your approval," Aotu replied, his voice steady but laced with determination.
The older man, Inoue Muramasa, fell into a contemplative silence.
A former Vice Commander of the Fourth Division of the Regular Army, Inoue Muramasa was the highest-ranking officer captured alive during the Storm Operation. Naturally, this made him the leader of the Yuexi faction, one of the three major groups within the prison.
In a place —a massive collective living environment—survival without aligning yourself with a faction was nearly impossible. Similarly, planning a breakout without external Find your next favorite novel on NovelHub today! Of course, there were exceptions; someone like Andy from The Shawshank Redemption could spend twenty years digging a tunnel with nothing but a small rock hammer. But unfortunately, Aotu Tailuo didn’t have twenty years to spare.
"How confident are you?" Inoue finally asked.
"At least seventy percent," Aotu replied without hesitation.
"And what do you need from me?"
"A lot—funding, manpower, coordination..." Aotu began listing.
"And what do I get in return?" Inoue interrupted, his gaze sharp.
"In my plan, up to four people can escape. I’ll reserve one spot for you," Aotu offered.
"Hahaha!" Inoue burst into hearty laughter.
"Why are you laughing, sir?" Aotu asked, puzzled.
"I’m laughing because you might have misunderstood me," Inoue said, his tone calm yet firm.
"Misunderstood you? What do you mean?" Aotu pressed, his confusion growing.
"I never had any intention of leaving this place," Inoue replied nonchalantly.
"What?!" Aotu exclaimed, utterly incredulous. He couldn’t fathom how someone in prison wouldn’t yearn for freedom.
"Don’t be so surprised. I’m being completely honest. As someone who grew up in this land, I can’t imagine leaving it. Yes, I made mistakes, and I’m willing to face the consequences," Inoue explained, his expression unwavering.
"But your sentence is thirty years!" Aotu countered, his voice rising in disbelief.
"So what?" Inoue replied, his tone as steady as ever.
This was becoming a problem. Inoue’s high moral stance was admirable, but it was throwing a wrench into Aotu’s escape plan—and, more importantly, his undercover mission.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the bathhouse.
"Hey! You military bastards are way too overbearing!" a voice shouted.
"Exactly! This bathhouse doesn’t belong to your Yuexi faction alone!" another chimed in.
"Go wash somewhere else!" someone yelled.
"Ha! This is the spot I want. Move aside!" a defiant voice retorted.
"Maybe that old geezer Inoue is up to something shady in there!" someone sneered.
"Watch your mouth!" a Yuexi faction member barked back.
"Oh yeah? Let’s go in and take a look!"
"The Vice Commander is discussing important matters inside!"
"Vice Commander, my ass! You’re in prison! Stop acting like some big-shot officer! Get lost! I want my bath!"
"Yeah! Get out of the way, you mutts!"
"You can’t go in there!" a Yuexi member protested.
"Oh, really? Wanna fight? Bring it on!" came the taunting reply, followed by the unmistakable sounds of a scuffle.
"This is bad! It’s the Hoodlum Gang, and it looks like they’ve brought a lot of people," Aotu said, quickly stepping in front of Inoue to shield him.
The bathhouse was one of the few places in the prison without guards. After all, who would want to monitor a bunch of naked men bathing? Calling for help would take time.
"These rabble... If we were outside, I’d beat them so hard their guts would spill out," Inoue scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain.
Before long, a group of over ten tattoo-covered thugs swaggered into the bathhouse. Leading them was none other than the gang’s leader, Yamada Shuji.
"Well, well! Look who’s here! Sorry to interrupt your little rendezvous!" Yamada sneered, bowing mockingly.
Normally, the prison’s three factions maintained a delicate balance. While skirmishes were not uncommon, such blatant incursions into another faction’s territory were rare.
Yes, even the bathhouse had its "territories." Who bathed where and when was a matter of unspoken agreement. Yamada’s intrusion was a clear provocation.
"Get out of here! This isn’t your place!" Aotu barked, his voice sharp and commanding.
Feigning fear, Yamada clutched his chest dramatically. "Oh no! I’m so scared! My poor little heart! Let’s see now... one, two, three... ten of you? Looks like I’ve got the numbers advantage here! Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?!" Yamada’s tone abruptly shifted to one of menace, his face twisting into a sinister grin.
Aotu smirked coldly. "Numbers mean nothing. I could still kick your asses all over this place."
"Oh, I believe you! I really do!" Yamada said mockingly. "I’ve heard all about the famous Yanti Technique of the Aotu family. But tell me, how are you going to kick us when you can’t even stand up? Bring it in, boys!"
At Yamada’s command, several gang members dumped bags of powder onto the floor. The ground instantly became slick and treacherous.
"This here is detergent we painstakingly collected from the laundry room. Took a lot of effort, you know! See? I went out of my way just for you," Yamada said with a mocking grin. All the gang members then slipped on specially modified wooden clogs, allowing them to walk steadily on the slippery surface.
"You go. I’ll hold them off," Aotu said to Inoue, his voice low but firm.
"Go? Ha! Where would he go? With both of Yuexi’s top dogs here, why would I let such a golden opportunity slip away? Boys, get your weapons!" Yamada shouted.
From behind his back, Yamada pulled out a sharp, makeshift weapon—a toothbrush handle honed to a deadly point.
Aotu’s eyes narrowed as he saw the other gang members pull out similarly sharpened toothbrushes.
Damn it, these guys mean business!
Aotu tried to make the first move, but the moment he lifted his foot, he slipped and fell flat on his back. The gang burst into raucous laughter.
Shit, this floor is really slippery.
This was bad. Really bad. If he wasn’t careful, he might just end up losing everything here.
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