Chapter 240: Kazekage Ninja- - 29: Prelude to the Prison Break
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 like this—a massive collective living environment—survival without aligning yourself with a faction was nearly impossible. Similarly, planning a breakout without external support was a fool’s errand. 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.