Chapter 126: Return of Hiashi Hyuga

Hiroki looked at the severely injured Mui and Satori, who were stuck in the ground.

Should he really conduct the experiment here?

This Box of Ultimate Bliss seemed difficult to move easily.

As for Satori, what should be done with him?

This time, Mui, who had been silent for a while, spoke again. "Can you release those people inside Hozuki Castle?"

Satori didn't respond, but thought inwardly: *Perfect. Let them out! The moment they emerge, they'll all be my puppets to command...*

Inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss was endless darkness and terror—utterly horrifying for human beings, like hell itself. Not even their souls could reach the Buddhist Pure Land—a realm of peace and purity.

"What if the released people become monsters like Shoukaku?" Hiroki asked.

He had no idea if anyone inside was still alive. But that pitch-black passage, along with the eerie aura constantly radiating from within, clearly indicated something abnormal was going on.

If they were even still alive, could you still call them human?

"Ah..." Mui hesitated. "But if they all disappear, how will I explain this to other major nations?"

"Those prisoners have already been deemed forsaken the moment they were locked in here. If any of them were still useful or held intelligence required by other ninja villages, they would've been kept imprisoned in their own villages instead. Of course, if you insist on bringing them out, it's possible..."

"No… forget it," Mui said, glancing deeply at the silent Satori, abandoning his earlier idea.

"Kimimaro…" Hiroki called.

Kimimaro nodded and stepped forward, placing his palm firmly against the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

His chakra started rapidly draining away. About ten seconds later, a piercing sound rang in everyone's ears once more.

Kimimaro staggered backward repeatedly.

One side of the Box of Ultimate Bliss had changed—the face that seemed to smile had transformed its features. That mouth stretched extremely wide open, just like the Mourning Gate, forming a dark tunnel whose interior couldn't be seen.

Hiroki walked closer, saying indifferently, "Let this world vanish."

When he made such a request, Mui's eyes widened in shock.

Oh no, oh no—is this world about to be destroyed?

Just as they stood there anxiously, without warning, the entire sky over Hozuki Castle suddenly darkened. Though it had been bright daylight, everything turned so pitch black that one couldn't even see their own fingers.

Clouds thickened like fog, and fierce winds howled. From all directions came chilling screams and roars, filling their ears from every angle, making it impossible to determine their source.

At first hearing, they sent chills down everyone's spines.

After a while, those frigid sounds vanished, and the sky returned to normal.

Everyone present looked at each other in alarm.

Mute, Mui stammered, "Could it be… everyone else is dead except us?"

Kaguya scoffed, "That thing's completely useless."

Hiroki waited for a while longer.

The sky stayed clear, the clouds fluffy and white—no monstrosity emerged this time.

Looks like the only monster locked inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss was Satori himself. Maybe he was just the sum of all the terror trapped inside.

Hiroki stared toward the direction of the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

The passage formed by chakra when opening the Box of Ultimate Bliss had already closed.

He felt somewhat speechless. "This has got to be a scam. I spent so much chakra just to watch this special effect?"

Noticing Hiroki's cold gaze, Satori said, "Uh... your requests are just too outrageous."

"..."

Hiroki had Kimimaro step forward to channel chakra, and one side of the Box of Ultimate Bliss opened again.

"Resurrect Minato Namikaze—restore his body, soul, and memories in full," Hiroki said tentatively.

This time, not even any extraordinary phenomena appeared in heaven or earth. After about ten seconds, the opened gate closed once more.

Third attempt.

"Grant me permanent power beyond even the Sage of Six Paths."

The Box of Ultimate Bliss, which had just opened for about ten seconds, silently shut again.

Hiroki rubbed his forehead. "I get it now. This is just an average box that lies, cheats, deceives, and greedily consumes chakra."

Kaguya laughed.

He made his way slowly toward Satori.

"What you're talking about is just too outrageous, with absolutely no basis," Satori said nervously. "Of course it wouldn't work."

"So then, what actually works?"

"Well... Hmm..."

"Who exactly started spreading the rumor that the Box of Ultimate Bliss could grant wishes?"

"Because there really was someone whose wish was granted once..." Satori struggled to pull himself free from the situation.

"For example..."

"Yeah, I remember now. A few hundred years ago, someone traded some junk for grain."

Hiroki helplessly massaged his temples.

"I'm taking the Box of Ultimate Bliss with me. Let Satori..."

As he spoke, Satori's form rapidly transformed.

Within mere seconds, he changed from a black monster whose face was indistinguishable and whose body parts were mismatched and awkward, into a human form—the original appearance of Shoukaku.

Mui's mood turned complicated.

Sure enough, he was no longer Shoukaku...

Hiroki stood frozen.

Just as he was going to say that Satori should carry away the Box of Ultimate Bliss, what did this mean?

"Change back!"

Inside Hozuki Castle, amidst the wreckage and devastation, Mui watched helplessly as Satori gripped the Box of Ultimate Bliss with his claws, while Hiroki and Kimimaro stood atop him, flying farther and farther into the distance until disappearing from sight.

All the fallout had to be cleaned up by him alone.

In Konoha Village, Hiashi Hyuga had returned to the Hyuga Clan.

"Brother, where are the other clansmen who left the village with you?" Hizashi Hyuga asked upon seeing him.

"They're all dead," Hiashi replied emotionlessly.

Hizashi was stunned into silence.

"And what did you gain from this journey?"

"That's none of your business," Hiashi cut in.

Hizashi was immediately left speechless.

But he figured Hiashi was just upset about the clan members' deaths and didn't dwell on it.

Composing himself, Hizashi calmly reported on what had happened within the village during Hiashi's absence.

Hiashi's expression was impassive as he simply replied, "I understand," then turned and walked away, ignoring Hizashi.

"…"

Hizashi silently left the courtyard.

Inside the house, Hiashi's wife was playing with their young daughter, Hanabi Hyuga.

Hiashi quietly watched this scene.

After managing to break free from her two-year-old daughter's clinginess, she walked over to Hiashi's side. The couple watched Hanabi running farther and farther away.

Hanabi bounced around energetically with childlike innocence, while her mother wore a worried expression. Turning toward Hiashi beside her, she asked, "In another one or two years, Hanabi will be branded with the Caged Bird seal too. Hiashi, have you thought of a solution?"

Given Hinata's demonstrated talent, the Hyuga clan had already unofficially recognized her as the heir.

Therefore, as Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi would inevitably become part of the Branch House.

Even if Hiashi's family tried their best to delay it, they could only postpone this fate by a few years.

Unless Hanabi could display talent surpassing Hinata's—but in that case, Hinata would be designated for the Branch House and branded with the Caged Bird seal instead.

Every generation faced this same situation—there could be only one Main House member per generation.

This was the rule of the Hyuga clan, a decree even the head family couldn't override.

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>