164

As the team gathered near the docks, the captured captain and the other prisoner were forced to their knees, bound tightly. The moonlight glinted off Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan as he stepped forward, his one-tomoe eye spinning slowly in the dim light. The captain's face was pale, his eyes glazed over, still trapped in the genjutsu Shisui had placed him under earlier. His breaths were shallow, his body trembling uncontrollably, fear evident in his every movement.

Shisui knelt down, his Sharingan glowing menacingly as he leaned in closer to the captain. His voice was cold but calm. "Tell us where the hideout is," he commanded softly, though the gentleness in his tone was undermined by the terror the captain was experiencing in his mind.

The genjutsu tightened its grip on the captain's consciousness. Within the illusion, he was in the depths of his worst nightmare—a never-ending cycle of pain, torment, and suffocation. It felt as though every breath was a struggle, every inch of his body burning under the pressure of invisible forces. He had no control, no escape, only endless torment. His mind screamed for release, but his body remained frozen.

In the real world, the captain began to sweat profusely, his muscles locking up as the mental strain overwhelmed him. He let out a low whimper, his eyes wide with terror as Shisui's Sharingan bore down on him. "Please… stop…" the captain gasped weakly, his voice barely a whisper. "I'll tell you… please…"

Shisui didn't let up, keeping the pressure on for a few more moments, ensuring the man was completely broken. Only when the captain's face twisted in agony, a single tear rolling down his cheek, did Shisui ease the genjutsu enough for him to speak.

"The hideout…" the captain rasped, his body shaking. "It's on an island… west of here… hidden port… please… I told you… stop…" His words came out in a flood of desperation, pleading for mercy, his spirit fully shattered.

Shisui stood slowly, his Sharingan still locked on the captain, before shifting his gaze to the second prisoner—Haruto Takeda's captive. The man had been forced to watch the entire interrogation, his face growing increasingly pale as he witnessed the horrors of what Shisui could do with just a glance. Now, as Shisui's Sharingan turned toward him, the man's body stiffened in pure terror.

Shisui's eyes seemed to glow brighter, the crimson hue of his Sharingan cutting through the darkness. To the prisoner, it was as if Shisui had transformed into a devil in the moonlight, his gaze piercing into his very soul. The man's breath hitched, his body trembling uncontrollably, and before anyone could say a word, he let out a pitiful cry.

"I'll tell you everything!" the prisoner shrieked, tears streaming down his face. "Please, don't look at me like that! The hideout is west, just off the coast! A hidden port, cliffs surrounding it… everything! I swear it! Please!"

The man's sobs filled the quiet night as he collapsed, utterly broken and humiliated. His body gave out under the weight of his fear, and he lay on the ground, shaking and drenched in his own sweat.

Haruto, his face calm and expressionless, stepped forward. Without hesitation, he activated his Chakra Scalpel. The soft blue glow emanated from his fingertips as he placed his hand against the prisoner's neck. In one swift, fluid motion, Haruto sliced cleanly through the man's throat. The prisoner's eyes widened in shock, his sobs cut off mid-breath as blood gushed from the wound. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

At the same time, Daichi Uzumaki, standing beside the still-whimpering captain, unsheathed his kunai. With a nod from Sakumo Hatake, Daichi stepped forward and swiftly plunged the kunai into the captain's throat, ending his suffering and ensuring there were no loose ends. The captain's body fell limply to the ground, his life extinguished.

With both prisoners dealt with, the team quickly turned their attention to the main ship. They needed to ensure nothing valuable was left behind that could be used against them later. Shisui, still calm and collected after the interrogation, stepped aboard the vessel with Haruto, Daichi, and Sakumo following closely behind.

They searched the ship but found little of worth—only basic supplies and equipment. It seemed this village had been their first stop, and they hadn't yet gathered any significant cargo or prisoners. The lack of loot confirmed their suspicions that this was a fresh operation.

Satisfied that there was nothing of value left, Shisui walked to the center of the ship's deck, forming quick hand seals. He took a deep breath, focusing his chakra as he prepared to set the ship ablaze. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flame Jutsu!" Shisui exhaled, releasing small but potent fireballs that ignited across the ship's surface. The dry wood caught fire immediately, flames rapidly spreading across the deck as the ship was consumed by the inferno.

The crackling of burning wood filled the air as the ship began to sink into the sea, its fiery remains lighting up the night. The crew's bodies and any remaining evidence burned with it, leaving nothing but embers and smoke on the horizon.

With the ship destroyed and their mission in the village complete, the team regrouped at the docks. Sakumo turned to the others, his voice calm but with a clear sense of purpose. "We head west now. The island isn't far from here. We'll finish this."

According to the prisoners, the hideout was located on an island a short distance off the coast, hidden by cliffs and a natural port that made it nearly impossible to find without prior knowledge. The traffickers had been careful, but now the team knew where to go.

With the first phase of their mission behind them, the shinobi turned and began moving west, the fires of the burning ship still lighting their path as they prepared to strike the heart of the smuggling ring. The next step would be the most dangerous, but they were ready.