Naruto: System of Akio

Konoha Maximum Security Prison

Originally known as the Konoha High-Security Interrogation Center, the facility had been downsized over the years as peace gradually settled over the shinobi world. With fewer dangerous criminals to house, it had been renamed Konoha Maximum Security Prison.

There weren't many inmates.

The ones who remained, however, were the worst of the worst murderers, traitors, and shinobi convicted of leaking village secrets.

Since they were both dangerous and notoriously restless, escape attempts were a regular occurrence.

For that reason, the prison had been built outside Konoha, deep within the forests a little over a mile from the village gates, with an elite jonin permanently assigned to guard it.

Akio had never understood the logic.

They're all beyond redemption anyway. Why waste manpower keeping them alive?

With Tobirama and Orochimaru both gone, nobody even needs experimental subjects anymore...

He looked toward the entrance.

"So this is the place."

"Only two chunin on gate duty..."

"I'll just knock them out."

Thud! Thud!

The two guards collapsed before they even realized someone was behind them.

Against a surprise attack from the village's legendary founder, they never had a chance.

"Well... the people inside reacted pretty quickly."

Akio straightened his collar and pushed open the door.

Today's disguise was unusually elaborate.

He wore an all-black infiltration outfit from head to toe, with a black cloth covering the lower half of his face. Even his hair had been transformed to black with the Transformation Technique.

The moment the mysterious masked figure entered the prison, every guard converged on him.

No one wasted time asking who he was.

They attacked immediately.

Before anyone reached him

Feathers began drifting gently from the ceiling.

One after another, the prison guards collapsed unconscious.

"Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana Technique."

Deep Inside the Prison

The Sound Four were already planning yet another escape attempt.

"That old guard's genjutsu is ridiculous."

Jirobo still looked traumatized.

"Every time we try escaping, I'm the first one they knock out."

He glanced toward Tayuya.

"If only you still had your flute."

Tayuya rolled her eyes.

"You think Konoha would leave me armed, idiot?"

Kidomaru folded his arms.

"We need to hurry."

"Lord Orochimaru has no use for failures."

"We've already been locked up for over five months. If we still can't escape..."

He didn't finish the sentence.

None of them wanted to imagine what being abandoned by Orochimaru would mean.

Jirobo hesitated.

"What if we recruit those two brothers?"

"The idiot twins?"

Tayuya frowned.

"What good are they?"

"Exactly because they're idiots," Sakon answered.

Ukon continued from the other side.

"They'd be easy to manipulate."

"Besides, those two are ridiculously strong."

Tayuya slowly nodded.

"Maybe next time..."

She suddenly stopped.

"...Feathers?"

All four froze.

Kidomaru's eyes widened.

"A genjutsu!"

"Our allies inside Konoha!"

"Lord Orochimaru hasn't abandoned us!"

"He sent someone!"

"I hate genjutsu..."

Jirobo muttered.

A second later he hit the floor unconscious.

"What an idiot."

Tayuya sighed.

"Still... whoever came for us actually chose a frontal assault?"

Prison Entrance

The prison guards lay unconscious across the floor.

Only one person remained standing.

A nearly sixty-year-old man with curly black hair.

Yūhi Shinku.

Kurenai's father.

As the prison's final line of defense, his genjutsu skills rivaled even surpassed his daughter's.

With a serious expression, he completed a series of hand seals.

"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"

Then...

He blinked.

Why was he the one tied to a tree?

"A genjutsu reflection..."

His expression changed dramatically.

"A member of the Uchiha clan?"

"Judging by your age... Uchiha Hoshino?"

"No... you're a boy."

"Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Why are you attacking Konoha's prison?"

Akio chuckled beneath his mask.

"Take a guess."

"I don't care who you are, I"

Akio raised an eyebrow.

"Time for your nap."

Additional branches sprouted from the illusionary tree.

Two gently covered Shinku's eyes.

Another softly patted his head, almost like a parent lulling a child to sleep.

Shinku fell silent.

"…Senior."

Without another word, he very convincingly "lost consciousness."

Akio smiled and continued deeper into the prison.

Passing one cell after another, he finally arrived at the Sound Four.

"Only the chubby guy got knocked out."

"Not bad. Your resistance to genjutsu is pretty impressive."

He reached into his sleeve.

"Tayuya."

"Catch."

He tossed her a flute.

She caught it effortlessly.

"So you're just a kid?"

"Did Lord Orochimaru send you?"

"Less talking."

Akio replied flatly.

"Come with me."

Tayuya frowned.

She immediately played a few notes, waking Jirobo.

"You're hiding your face?"

"You won't even let us know who you are?"

Without answering, Akio grabbed the steel prison bars with both hands.

CRACK!

He tore them apart with raw strength, opening a gap large enough for someone to walk through.

"Less talking."

"Move."

The four exchanged uncertain glances.

Hokage's Office

At almost the same moment, Obito urgently summoned fifteen young shinobi.

"I have an A-rank mission for all of you."

"Konoha Maximum Security Prison has suffered a breakout."

"Four of Orochimaru's followers have escaped with help from agents hidden inside Konoha."

"Your mission is to capture them."

"Oh!"

Naruto jumped up immediately.

"An A-rank mission! Let's go!"

"Hold it, Naruto."

Shikamaru sighed and stopped him.

"Lord Hokage."

"Where are Asuma and the other jonin?"

Obito shook his head.

"You're the only ones going."

"This is also a special Chunin Exam."

"Those who distinguish themselves during the pursuit may be promoted."

"Seriously?!"

Naruto, Lee, Kiba, and several others instantly lit up.

The five current chunin remained calm.

That lasted exactly one sentence.

"If the mission fails..."

"Any chunin on your team will be demoted back to genin."

The room instantly became serious.

Sasuke frowned.

He'd never admit it aloud...

But he thoroughly enjoyed being a chunin while Naruto was still a genin.

He had no intention of giving that up.

"Fifteen of us chasing only four enemies?"

"Who's leading?"

"Shikamaru will command the operation."

"Neji and Sasuke will serve as his deputies."

"Move out."

"Hey!"

Naruto immediately protested.

"Why does that jerk Sasuke get to"

"Because I'm a chunin."

Sasuke answered calmly.

"Idiot."

"Damn it!"

"Enough, Naruto."

Shikamaru interrupted with a sigh.

He glanced at Obito.

Something about this mission felt... strange.

"Which direction did they go?"

"How long ago did they escape?"

"Just now."

"They fled northwest."

"As for how you track them..."

"You'll have to figure that out yourselves."

"Let's have Fat Cat track them!"

Tenten suggested.

The oversized white furball sprawled behind her let out a sleepy snore, making its opinion abundantly clear.

"Then Akamaru can do it!"

"Woof!"

Akamaru barked enthusiastically.

The group quickly headed out together.

Meanwhile...

"My kikaichū insects could also"

Obito rubbed his forehead.

"Shino."

"You're the only one left."

"Why are you still standing here?"

Shino stiffened.

He slowly looked around the empty room.

"…Why does no one ever remember me?"

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