The younger was Kushina, the older her mother, Sawako, from the file's photo (Chapter 44).
Kushina huddled in Sawako's arms, silently crying.
Her small eyes brimmed with despair.
The Uzumaki name, once a badge of pride, was now a death sentence.
"Alright, you've seen them. Move!" the warden pushed the controlled genin.
"Okay, okay," Jiraiya responded, manipulating the genin.
Ebara was already planning how to free Kushina and Sawako.
"Here's his cell," the warden said, tossing keys to a nearby ninja, who deftly opened the door.
"Behave!" Jiraiya, via the genin, shoved Ebara inside, winking at the warden.
"Get some torture tools. This guy's strong. Can't let him escape," Jiraiya's genin said to the warden.
The warden nodded, ordering another ninja, "Go fetch them."
"Yes, sir!" The ninja hurried off.
"What's your game now, kid?" the warden asked the genin, grinning, expecting another bribe.
But instead of money, a heavy fist slammed into him.
Boom!
The warden's head spun, and he passed out.
Ebara shook his wrist and formed seals.
Transformation Jutsu!
He became the warden.
"Let's go," he told Jiraiya.
"What's the plan?" Jiraiya asked, still in the genin's shadow.
"Trust me, follow," Ebara said. "This prison's defenses? We could storm out if needed."
He'd scoped the prison en route. Few chunin, mostly genin.
Yoen, a small nation's village, had limited ninja numbers.
Jiraiya relaxed. Ebara's scams were always calculated; this would be too.
They left the cell, Ebara pocketing the keys.
At Kushina and Sawako's cell, Ebara tossed the keys to the guarding chunin. "Open it."
The chunin hesitated. "That's not right."
"Why not?" Ebara asked.
"Lord Inagawa's orders: no one nears them without his say," the chunin said nervously.
Inagawa, the prison chief, was notoriously brutal, feared by all.
Ebara nodded knowingly. "I know Inagawa's orders. But why do you think he gave them?"
"Because the Flame Shadow commanded it," the chunin said.
"Exactly. Now, the Flame Shadow thinks those Iwa ninjas' visit is tied to these two. He wants them interrogated tonight. Get it?"
The chunin glanced at Jiraiya's genin.
Jiraiya made the genin nod. "That's all I can say. If you're uneasy, don't open it. I'll report back. Inagawa's with the Flame Shadow now—let him come himself."
The chunin trembled, sweat beading. If Inagawa had to come, he'd be in deep trouble.
"I'll open it," he said quickly.
The noise roused Kushina and Sawako, sleepless in their cell.
Kushina shrank deeper into Sawako's arms.
Sawako held her tighter.
"You two, out!" the chunin barked.
They didn't move, huddling closer, as if invisible.
Seeing their fear, Ebara's eyes softened. "Come out. The Flame Shadow will treat you well. You don't have a choice."
Sawako hesitated, then asked, "Will he keep his word?"
Ebara chuckled softly. "A village leader won't deceive two women."
Sawako nodded. "Fine, we'll go."
"That's the spirit," Ebara said, leading them out.
As they neared the dungeon's exit, a voice called from behind.
"Warden, should I send some men to escort them? Just in case," said the chunin from earlier.
Ebara laughed it off. "I was gonna call the outer guards, but since you offered, grab a few. Three's enough. I'll join."
Disagreeing might raise suspicion, and their strength didn't worry him.
A few guards were better than a fight now.
The chunin nodded eagerly, grabbing two genin and another chunin.
"Let's go."
They left the dungeon, passing the prison gates without issue.
Ebara signaled Jiraiya to act in the woods.
They entered the forest.
Just as Ebara prepared to strike, someone approached.
"Lord Inagawa!" a ninja said.
It was Inagawa Akishu, the prison chief—the masked ninja from Tomo's office (Chapter 49).
"What's going on?" Inagawa frowned at Ebara.
Ebara stayed cool, though panicking inside. Of all times, the chief shows up now?
"The Flame Shadow wants them interrogated tonight," Ebara said, improvising.
Inagawa scrutinized him. "I just left his office. He said no such thing. Are you really Warden Numabuchi? What's the code?"
Yoen's code? I'm from Konoha—how would I know?
As Ebara scrambled, two options appeared in his mind.
Moments later, he stepped close to Inagawa and whispered, "Your wife's pretty great."