Chapter 124 A Heartfelt Father-Son Moment

"This technique is truly amazing. Is it a form transformation of chakra?" Hiroki marveled.

Without making any move himself, Kimimaro drew a bone blade and rushed forward to meet the attack.

Seeing Kimimaro's body covered with protruding bones, Mui showed some surprise.

While the two were engaged in battle, Hiroki began carefully inspecting different parts of the study.

He vaguely recalled there being a basement somewhere around here.

"What do you think you're doing?"

When Mui tried to stop him, Kimimaro blocked his path.

Like a graceful dancer, Kimimaro performed elegant yet deadly taijutsu movements.

Mui's flaming sword failed to hit its target, but he dared not dissipate it, since every bone on Kimimaro's body was a potential weapon.

He was reluctant to engage in hand-to-hand combat, especially with an unknown Hyuga clansman nearby.

After searching fruitlessly for a while, Hiroki gave up. He spun around to face Mui. "Enough dancing around. I'm here to make a deal with you."

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Right after saying this, Kimimaro stopped attacking and assumed only a defensive stance.

Mui also halted his actions, though his expression remained cold. He stared at Hiroki's byakugan. "Cooperation? Do you mean cooperation between Konoha and Hozuki Castle?"

Hiroki shook his head. "No, just between you and me."

He continued, "I heard that Hozuki Castle has a ninja tool capable of fulfilling all wishes. I'd like to see it myself."

Before Mui could respond, Kaguya cut in with disbelief. "You're telling me something like that actually exists?"

She couldn't understand how so many unknown things kept showing up out of nowhere.

"It's said to be a ninja tool left by the Sage of Six Paths—powerful enough to destroy the world."

Kaguya scoffed silently. Humans were always exaggerating. And so naïve. If Hayato himself couldn't achieve something, how could his legacy tools possibly succeed?

"Why should I believe you?" Mui didn't ask where he got this information, instead asking directly.

"You don't need to believe me. In fact, you could wish for my immediate elimination."

Mui remained silent.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Opening that artifact requires massive amounts of chakra."

"Chakra? Would Three-Tails' chakra suffice?"

It seemed they had come prepared.

With that thought, Mui pushed open the hidden door and led them down into the basement.

Inside the dimly lit chamber, a grotesque demonic face jutted from one wall, appearing quite eerie.

This was the partially revealed Box of Ultimate Bliss.

As soon as they entered, Mui emphasized, "Only I can activate it."

Unfazed, Hiroki signaled Kimimaro to step forward and supply chakra.

Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed throughout Hozuki Castle.

On the ground, red markings began to spread outward, forming what appeared to be a seal array.

Suddenly, a yellow beam of light shot straight into the sky.

Inside the prison, all prisoners and guards stopped what they were doing and turned toward the source of the explosion.

Boom... Boom...

The ground suddenly caved in, leaving behind a massive crater. A large cube-shaped box rose from the earth and appeared before everyone's eyes.

On each of the four sides — front, back, left, and right — were demon faces carved into the box. Each demon face showed one of the four great emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

This was none other than the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

"What is this thing..."

In the midst of panicked and confused glances from the crowd, Mui slowly stepped toward the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

Hiroki and Kimimaro silently watched the scene unfold.

With the Three-Tails pumping chakra nonstop into Kimimaro, one side of the Box of Ultimate Bliss had already activated — the Mourning Gate opened its huge mouth, revealing a clear passageway.

Mui could barely contain his excitement.

No matter what motives those two had, his wish would finally come true.

Once, like many Grass Ninja, he viewed reviving the Hidden Grass Village as his ultimate goal.

About two or three years ago, he offered up his own son, Shoukaku, as a sacrifice in hopes of opening the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

Unfortunately, Shoukaku's chakra was insufficient. The box did not open, and Shoukaku was even devoured by it.

Since then, Mui had been drowning in pain and guilt over losing his son.

Trembling with excitement, he approached the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

"Box of Ultimate Bliss, I beg you... fulfill my wish."

"Shoukaku, my child, let me see you once again."

After a moment of silence, a figure emerged from the passageway inside the box.

A boy named Shoukaku slowly stepped out. His steps were unsteady, his clothes tattered, and his expression somewhat dazed.

"Shoukaku!" Mui quickly stepped forward, supporting his body.

"...Father?" Shoukaku hesitated as he looked at him. His voice cracked — he hadn't spoken in days.

"My son... My son is back! My son is back!" Mui was overwhelmed with joy, repeating himself over and over.

The father and son embraced warmly.

"Did he die? Vanish? So he came back to life?" Kaguya whispered, slightly confused by how the Box of Ultimate Bliss worked.

Could this really be that miraculous, capable of granting wishes?

That's what Kaguya mused quietly to herself.

Soon afterward, she shook off those thoughts and no longer dwelled on them.

No matter how miraculous this object may be, it definitely couldn't break Hayato's seal; otherwise, Black Zetsu would've taken it long ago.

Hiroki quietly witnessed the touching scene between Mui and his son.

After a while, Shoukaku could no longer suppress his inner evil impulse. His hand on Mui suddenly transformed into a beast's claw, stabbing through Mui's body with a "puchi" sound.

Mui looked at him in disbelief.

Only a cruel smile appeared on Shoukaku's face.

The watching prisoners clearly saw bright red blood flowing from Mui's body.

And they couldn't help but grin widely as they saw the blood spill.

Totally confused, they just figured Mui was dying and started shouting about it.

"Is Mui really gonna die?"

"Hahaha! Finally! The Heavenly Prison Seal's off our backs—we can get the hell outta this place!"

At that moment, Shoukaku's body began to rapidly transform.

Within a few seconds, Shoukaku transformed from a human into a terrifying monster—a pitch-black creature with fangs and black wings: Satori.

Seeing the transformation, the prisoners and troublemakers instantly panicked, froze for a second, then bolted like mad.

After running a fair distance from Mui, glowing red markings suddenly appeared on the prisoners' bodies—it was the seal pattern of [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison].

Step too far from Mui, and they'd drop dead.

Cursing nonstop, the prisoners screamed, "Mui, why don't you just die already!"

Even so, none of them dared approach the Box of Ultimate Bliss or face Satori directly.

Amidst everyone's screams, Satori unfurled his wings and shot into the sky.

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