Prisoners interned at Hōzuki Castle are intended to remain there until they die or the hidden village that sent them there officially requests their release. There are several death traps spread throughout the fortress to prevent escape and, in Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison, the castle is situated on a cliff surrounded by whirlpools, drowning any who may try to swim away. Actual security within the prison is seemingly poor: despite all prisoners being subject to strip and body cavity searches, Naruto Uzumaki is able to conceal shuriken on himself and Ryūzetsu is able to conceal the fact that she is a woman.