Following Yuluo, the vague screams grew clearer, as if some kind of torture was happening inside.
Yuluo turned the handle, opened the iron door, and stepped up the stairs, continuing down a narrow staircase. The hard stone steps spiraled downward, cracked and worn with age.
When they reached the bottom, they realized no torture was currently taking place. There were only a few captured enemy ninjas bound tightly in chains.
The prisoners were tied up, surrounded by leather whips, and oddly enough, a variety of candle types sat nearby.
Uchiha Tatsumi almost thought they had walked into the wrong room.
He looked again. The captives were covered in red and purple welts, their bodies marked from lashings. Although no one was hitting them now, they continued to scream.
When they heard footsteps approaching, the prisoners trembled uncontrollably.
It was a complete conditioned reflex.
From this, it was clear just how much they had suffered.
"See this? This is part of our mission," Yuluo said flatly, her voice emotionless, as if these captives were nothing more than discarded trash.
The expression in Rope Tree's eyes shifted. His earlier excitement vanished instantly.
Yuluo seemed satisfied with his reaction. "We've been dealing with Iwagakure shinobi. Not long ago, one of our patrol teams was ambushed during reconnaissance."
"Three chūnin and my older brother… all killed in that attack. This guy," she pointed at one of the prisoners, "was one of the ambushers."
Yuluo stared coldly at the Iwa-nin and said, with no attempt to conceal her intent, "You know our methods. We will make you talk."
The ninja trembled harder, the chains rattling. Still, he leaned against the cold stone wall, his gaze locked on Yuluo, filled with hate.
Hatred breeds hatred.
Yuluo sneered at the man. "There were two we managed to capture alive. One of them is still being held in a cell down the hall. We haven't even started on him yet."
"Do you know why?"
The three—Uchiha Tatsumi, Mikoto, and Rope Tree—shook their heads.
"The essence of torture isn't just physical pain," Yuluo said with a cold smile. "Mental pressure is far more effective."
"When there are multiple captives, it becomes easier to extract intel. This one has been beaten alone for three days. His screams have echoed nonstop into the other cell."
"There's nothing more terrifying than hearing someone just like you scream in agony."
"Remember that. I don't expect this guy to spill anything more, but his friend… that's another story."
Yuluo glanced at Rope Tree deliberately. "Hey, kid. The guy in the left cell, bring him here."
Rope Tree hesitated, then reluctantly let go of Uchiha Tatsumi and walked inside.
Once he left, Yuluo turned to Tatsumi and Mikoto. "Do you think this guy's pitiful?"
They shook their heads immediately. Obviously not! This wasn't the time for compassion.
Orochimaru had drilled it into them—mercy was a luxury a shinobi couldn't afford.
Yuluo nodded. "Whether in war or peace, if we're ever captured, we won't be treated better than this."
"So don't sympathize with others. Don't pity yourself. Compassion is for cowards."
"We're shinobi. We're weapons. In this place, hesitation must be cast aside."
At that moment, Rope Tree returned with the second Iwa-nin in tow, a younger man. He wore a stiff smile, trying to win favor. "Sister Yuluo, I brought him."
This second captive had clearly been through mental torment. His face was deathly pale, his body trembling from the fear of what he thought was coming.
"Enough… just make it quick. I'll tell you everything. Just… don't torture me," the man whimpered.
He had completely broken. He was too frightened to resist anymore.
Fear is just another shape of hatred.
"You see? That's all it takes," Yuluo said.
"Alright, take him back. Give him pen and paper." She waved her hand at Rope Tree.
Rope Tree: "..."
Then Yuluo turned to the ninja next to the first Iwa-nin and pointed. "You. I want you to extract information from him."
Uchiha Tatsumi nodded calmly. "Sharingan."
Twin tomoe spun into his eyes as he activated his dōjutsu.
Yuluo blinked in surprise.
"You're from the Uchiha clan? You could've just said so. You made me explain all that for nothing."
She looked at him curiously. "How old are you?"
"Ten," Tatsumi replied.
Yuluo was visibly taken aback but kept her composure. "Then no need for you to handle the torture. You've passed."
Uchiha Tatsumi frowned in confusion. "Passed?"
"In addition to physical and psychological methods, there are advanced interrogation techniques—like the Yamanaka's mind reading, and your Sharingan's hypnosis," she explained.
"A capable intelligence-gathering shinobi must master at least one. Since you've awakened your Sharingan, you already qualify."
"Our team doesn't accept dead weight. You've proven you're not."
Then she turned to Mikoto. Her Sharingan glinted red.
Yuluo nodded again. "You're qualified. Go wait outside."
Just as Rope Tree returned from escorting the prisoner back, he overheard.
He looked surprised, and turned to follow Tatsumi and Mikoto out the door.
But before he could step through, Yuluo's voice called out.
"Wait. The brown-haired one. You stay."
"…"
Rope Tree's body stiffened.
Uchiha Tatsumi gave him a look of sympathy.
Seize this opportunity, Rope Tree, Tatsumi thought silently.
Then the iron door closed behind them once again.
Visit patreon.com/TEA_QUILL to get 30+ chapters