Akamaru.
That name—like the most vicious curse—smashed heavily into Inuzuka Kiba's soul.
"Ugh—!"
Uncontrollable, heart-rending retching burst out of him.
Kiba felt as if every bone in his body had been ripped away.
He curled up on the ground, clawing frantically at his throat, vomiting everything he had just eaten—mixed with bile and streaks of blood—until nothing remained.
His body convulsed violently.
Tears, snot, and vomit smeared his face as he wailed like a dying beast.
"Akamaru… my Akamaru… bastard!"
"Raien! You beast—ahhh—!"
Extreme pain and rage shattered him completely.
He slammed his head against the cold stone floor over and over, producing dull, sickening thuds.
Blood immediately streamed down his forehead, turning his face into a mess.
Beside him, Shino Aburame went rigid, as if turned to stone.
The bone in his hand clattered to the ground.
Behind his cracked sunglasses, his eyes were wide open.
In that empty gaze burned an overwhelming fury—hot enough to incinerate everything—intertwined with a bone-deep chill.
He bit down hard on his lip until blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
His body trembled violently from suppressed rage.
Even the powerful insect-repellent powder coating him seemed unable to restrain the primal fury rising from his bloodline.
A few tiny, mutated black insects crawled uncontrollably out from his sleeve.
They gnawed frantically at the stone floor, producing a faint but teeth-grinding rustling sound.
"Dare to insult His Majesty the Emperor… you're courting death."
Uchiha Tekka's voice was icy.
He lifted his foot and unleashed a storm of kicks and stomps, venting his pent-up hatred without restraint.
He only stopped when Kiba lay nearly silent, his body barely twitching.
"If His Majesty hadn't ordered you to live," Tekka said coldly, "I would've killed you already."
"Live well." His tone remained merciless.
"His Majesty says you're still useful. Don't go dying on your own."
Without sparing them another glance, Tekka turned and left.
Just as silently as he had arrived.
The heavy iron door slammed shut.
The dungeon once again sank into darkness—filled only with Kiba's broken sobs and retching, and Shino Aburame's heavily suppressed breathing, like a wounded lone wolf licking its wounds.
At the same time—
Hyuga Hinata's consciousness slowly surfaced from a dark abyss, like a sunken ship rising toward the light.
Her Byakugan snapped open.
A sharp sense of danger surged through her body.
The last scene before she lost consciousness was still burned into her mind—
the eerie crimson glow in the young emperor's eyes, swallowing her awareness like a bottomless pit.
She instinctively tried to sit up and circulate her chakra.
Nothing responded.
Her body felt weak, empty.
Looking around, she realized she was lying on a soft, spacious brocade bed.
The room was lavish beyond imagination—gold and jade everywhere, perfumed with lingering incense.
It was worlds apart from a dungeon.
And sitting beside the bed—
was a familiar figure.
Kurenai Yuhi.
Kurenai's appearance was alarmingly haggard.
The mature confidence that once lived in her red eyes was gone, replaced by dull exhaustion.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes, impossible to hide.
When she noticed Hinata waking, surprise flashed across her face— quickly buried beneath forced composure.
She suppressed the bitterness, fatigue, and unspeakable pain within her and managed a strained smile.
"Hinata? You're awake. How are you feeling?"
Her voice was hoarse, softened deliberately.
She endured the tearing pain deep in her body, refusing to show any weakness in front of her student.
As a teacher, protecting Hinata mattered more than anything else.
Seeing Kurenai safe, Hinata felt a brief wave of relief— before panic returned.
"Teacher Kurenai! Thank goodness you're all right! Where are Kiba and Shino? Where are they?"
She struggled to sit up.
Kurenai immediately pressed her back down.
A shadow of helplessness flickered across her face.
"I… I don't know either. I woke up here. I haven't seen them."
Hinata's heart sank.
The two exchanged a look, both seeing the same worry reflected back.
Enemy territory.
Captives.
And no idea what had become of their companions.
They also had no idea what the erratic, ruthless emperor would do next.
The unknown wrapped around them like cold vines.
Kurenai took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the humiliation and fear in her heart.
A trace of a Konoha jōnin's resolve reignited in her eyes.
"Hinata, listen to me. We can't just sit here and wait. That Raien—he has far bigger ambitions. He's not just targeting us. He wants to destroy Konoha. We have to get the message back." Her voice dropped, firm and unwavering.
"I'll find a way to create an opening for you to escape. You must return to Konoha and report everything to the Hokage—exactly as it happened. Only the Hokage can stop this devil."
"But… Teacher Kurenai!" Hinata shook her head anxiously, her Byakugan filled with worry.
"How can I leave you behind?"
Leaving her teacher and teammates went against everything she believed in.
"This isn't abandoning anyone." Kurenai gripped Hinata's hand tightly—so tight it hurt.
"This is a mission, Hinata. You're the Hyuga clan's young lady. Your Byakugan gives you an irreplaceable advantage in reconnaissance and escape.
This is our best chance. For Kiba. For Shino. For Konoha. You must survive. You must bring the intelligence back. Do you understand?"
Her gaze was unshakable.
Hinata looked into her teacher's eyes—seeing trust, resolve, and expectation.
Tears welled up.
She bit her lip hard and nodded.
"I… I understand, Teacher Kurenai."
Just as the two began whispering details of a possible escape plan—
an overwhelmingly rich, enticing aroma of meat drifted through the crack beneath the door.
Like an invisible hook, it silently seeped into the room.
...
Author's Update 18+ 📢
The fanfic Naruto: Raised by Kushina, Took His Brother's Wife – Part 1 is now officially fully completed!
It is now available on Patreon for all tiers, including the lowest Tier 1.
The complete Part 1 has been uploaded on Patreon.
📚 Category: Naruto 18+
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous love, support, and patience for this story 💙