Chapter 67 — "Eight-Tube"
Two days later—
Yami stood at the edge of a massive rift, looking down into a valley shrouded in blood-red mist.
This was Hell Valley.
Rather than a valley, it resembled a colossal fissure stretching for miles, plunging into unfathomable depths. The dark crimson rock walls looked as though they had been soaked in blood, while sulfur-tainted vapors rose endlessly from below.
Even standing at the rim, one could feel the resentment in the air—so dense it was almost tangible, as if countless wronged spirits wailed within the gorge.
"To think," Yami murmured softly, "that beneath the Land of Hot Water's reputation as a hot spring paradise… lies a place like this."
He fully activated Kagura's Mind's Eye, extending his perception into the valley.
The condition of the Chinoike Clan was worse than he had anticipated.
Fewer than a hundred remained.
Most bore weakened chakra signatures.
It wasn't surprising. The environment alone was enough to drain their vitality just to survive.
But what truly startled him—
Nearly every Chinoike clansman who still retained strength had awakened the Ketsuryūgan.
In Yami's perception, their crimson chakra burned like raging flames—fueled by despair.
"Hatred and hopelessness really are the best fertilizer."
He pondered silently.
Long-term imprisonment had depleted their bodies—
But their mental strength had grown wildly, like untended weeds.
Much like the Uchiha clan, the Chinoike clan required immense spiritual power to awaken and evolve their bloodline limit.
No wonder they were often labeled as madmen.
His perception extended further.
Soon he identified two concealed outposts at the valley's entrance.
Eight Uchiha clan members rotated in two squads.
The chakra of their Sharingan was cold and heavy—but fundamentally different from the madness below.
To Kagura's Mind's Eye, they stood out like lighthouses in the dark.
Yami chuckled softly.
Instead of sneaking in—
He straightened his robes and walked openly toward one of the outposts.
"Stop!"
Two Uchiha shinobi appeared instantly, scarlet Sharingan locking onto him.
"This area is a restricted prison zone," one said coldly. "Unauthorized individuals are forbidden from approaching."
Yami was still dressed in samurai attire and made no move to change.
Calmly, he produced a mission scroll.
"Konoha Chūnin Namikaze Yami. Acting under the Hokage's orders."
The two Uchiha examined the scroll cautiously, frowning.
"A mission? We've received no such notice."
"It was issued recently," Yami replied with an easy smile. "Confidential. No separate notification."
He added casually:
"Isn't Senior Yashiro here? You could confirm with him."
"Captain Yashiro is out on patrol. Captain Batō is currently overseeing the watch."
As the words fell—
A tall Uchiha shinobi stepped out from the outpost slowly.
His presence was imposing.
And his gaze—
Sharp. Evaluating.
The atmosphere shifted.
Hell Valley's gatekeepers had arrived.
The man's face was stern, faint lines etched at the corners of his eyes. His gaze was dark and heavy—so oppressive that even without activating the Sharingan, it felt suffocating.
"A shinobi from Konoha?"
Uchiha Batō's voice was cold. "Outsiders are not welcome here."
Yami caught the choice of words immediately.
Outsiders.
The mission briefing had mentioned him—Batō was Uchiha Yashiro's paternal cousin, a hardline hawk within the clan. It was said he had been stationed in Hell Valley for years, never once returning to Konoha.
"Captain Batō, I've come under official orders—"
"A mere chūnin."
Batō cut him off bluntly. "I don't care whose orders you carry. Hell Valley is guarded by the Uchiha clan under direct commission from Kumogakure. Konoha shinobi need not interfere."
Yami's expression remained calm, though several thoughts had already turned over in his mind.
Batō's hostility toward Konoha ran deeper than expected.
Years in Hell Valley hadn't softened him—they had only deepened his alienation.
"Captain Batō misunderstands," Yami replied evenly. "I am here to execute a mission, not to interfere with Uchiha duties."
"A mission? Hah."
Batō sneered.
"What mission requires coming to Hell Valley? Don't tell me you're eyeing the Chinoike clan."
Yami wasn't surprised.
Hell Valley was barren wasteland. The only thing of value here—
Was the Chinoike clan imprisoned below.
Before he could answer—
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"Captain Batō, there's no need to be so tense."
Uchiha Yashiro emerged from the forest, evidently just returned from patrol after receiving word from his clansmen.
His gaze lingered briefly on Yami before shifting to his cousin.
"Yashiro. Good timing."
Batō's expression didn't improve.
"This brat claims to be acting under Hokage orders. Did you know of this?"
Yashiro gave a slight nod.
"It is true. I received confirmation from the village just now."
Yami noticed immediately—
The atmosphere between the two Uchiha captains was subtle but strained.
Though both belonged to the hawkish faction, Yashiro did not appear deferential to his cousin.
"Even so, he cannot be allowed to enter Hell Valley freely," Batō insisted. "The Chinoike clan is of great importance. There can be no mistakes."
"Precisely because it is important, it must be handled carefully," Yashiro replied calmly.
"Captain Batō has guarded Hell Valley for years. Surely you know better than anyone—the Chinoike clan has grown restless recently."
Batō's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What are you implying?"
Yashiro did not answer him directly. Instead, he turned to Yami.
"Namikaze-kun. What exactly is your mission objective?"
Yami understood the cue immediately.
"To assess the current condition of the Chinoike clan," he said smoothly, "and take appropriate measures if necessary."
The wording was intentionally vague—but deliberate.
The final clause was something he had just added in response to the situation.
After all, only he knew the precise mission details. For operations involving foreign interests, written scrolls rarely contained full disclosure.
Too risky.
Batō's expression shifted several times before he finally snorted.
"Very well. Do as you please."
He paused, voice low.
"But remember this—the Chinoike clan is not easily handled. If something goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, he turned and entered the outpost, the door slamming shut behind him.
Yashiro watched him leave and gave a faint shake of his head.
"Captain Batō has spent too long in Hell Valley. He's forgotten…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Yami smiled faintly.
"It seems you and Captain Batō don't entirely agree, Senior Yashiro?"
"He's an excellent shinobi," Yashiro said evenly. "But too rigid."
His gaze shifted toward the blood-misted valley below.
"The Chinoike clan has indeed been unstable in recent years. There have been repeated attempts to escape. We've suppressed them each time—but not without cost."
He paused, then added quietly:
"The Uchiha should not be bound like this."
The last sentence was spoken softly.
Whether he meant the chains of Hell Valley—
Or something else entirely—
Was left unsaid.