"Both Iwa-nin and Kumo-nin are possibilities," Namikaze Minato stated. "It's inevitable that Kusagakure has Kumo-nin spies among them."
Kurama Sanyō grinned. "Seems like this mission will be quite challenging."
"Speaking of which, we've already faced Suna-nin and Iwa-nin. Only Kumo-nin and Kiri-nin remain. I've heard Kumo-nin specialize in nin-taijutsu and lightning release."
Uchiha Shisui reminded him with a smile, "Specialization is just specialization, Sanyō. Never label an unknown enemy."
Despite the lighthearted banter, the four of them—Hoshita Shūichi and his team—maintained a swift pace due to the urgency of the mission.
After only a half-hour rest, they arrived at Kusagakure by evening.
"Greetings, friends from Konoha. I am Muui, a chūnin of this village," said the young ninja who came to receive them, appearing around Namikaze Minato's age.
When he introduced himself, Hoshita Shūichi couldn't help but scrutinize him carefully.
Utterly unremarkable.
"Namikaze Minato, jōnin of Konoha, and one of those responsible for the sealing this time," Minato replied with a smile.
Hoshita Shūichi and the other two then introduced themselves in turn.
Muui led the four of them into Kusagakure to settle in.
Since it was already night and they were exhausted, Hoshita Shūichi and the others didn't have the energy to observe the village.
After Namikaze Minato met with the Kusagakure leader, he returned and announced, "The sealing is scheduled for tomorrow. After dinner, the three of you should rest immediately. After midnight, we'll take turns keeping watch."
Hoshita Shūichi and the others nodded in unison. "Understood!"
Although Kusagakure was on good terms with Konoha and this wasn't a battlefield, Namikaze Minato remained vigilant.
Fortunately, the night passed without incident.
The next morning, shortly after breakfast, Muui reappeared and led them to the sealing site.
Along the way, Hoshita Shūichi discreetly surveyed his surroundings.
Kusagakure's scale and prosperity were clearly incomparable to Konoha's—it truly looked like a "village."
"Maybe I can explore after the mission. I wonder if Karin's mother is in Kusagakure now," Hoshita Shūichi mused silently.
After Uzushiogakure's destruction, its people scattered. Karin's mother, like Nagato's, might have wandered abroad, married, and left descendants.
The question was whether Karin's mother was a Kusagakure ninja herself, married to one and then widowed, becoming a "medical tool," or something else entirely...
"We're here!"
Muui's voice snapped Hoshita Shūichi out of his thoughts. Ahead stood a grand structure, heavily guarded by Kusagakure ninjas at both the entrance and rooftop.
Creak!
The door opened, and a middle-aged man in his forties emerged, flanked by two Kusagakure ninjas.
Muui hurried forward to greet him, and Hoshita Shūichi realized this must be the Kusagakure leader.
The man was exceedingly warm toward Namikaze Minato and even made sure to acknowledge Hoshita Shūichi and the others, displaying smooth and considerate social skills.
After some pleasantries, the Kusagakure leader said gravely, "Now, we must rely on you, Minato. This tool has already consumed six ninjas. If this continues, it will destroy the entire village."
"According to legend, the most terrifying possibility is that this tool may give birth to a monstrous entity."
"For the sake of the entire shinobi world, even if it is a relic of the Sage of the Six Paths, we have no choice but to seal it away."
The Kusagakure leader spoke with sincerity, and Namikaze Minato solemnly vowed to do his utmost.
All for the sake of the world!
Hoshita Shūichi watched the scene with skepticism.
Had the Box of Ultimate Bliss really devoured six ninjas on its own?
Would a village like Kusagakure, known for studying others' techniques, willingly part with such a powerful artifact allegedly left by the Sage of the Six Paths?
Call it paranoia, but Hoshita Shūichi couldn't help but suspect the worst to avoid falling into a trap.
After the discussion, the Kusagakure leader led the four of them inside, leaving Muui outside.
The spacious hall was supported by four thick pillars, and at its center stood the artifact to be sealed—a bizarre, almost eerie box.
Facing the entrance, the first thing Hoshita Shūichi and the others saw was an exaggerated human face representing "joy."
Around the artifact, at the base of each pillar, stood a Kusagakure ninja.
Beneath them, on the ground and pillars, were intricate seals forming a massive technique that enveloped the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"Fire Release..."
Hoshita Shūichi studied it briefly and thought, "Kusagakure, able to navigate among the great villages, clearly has its own tricks. Never underestimate anyone."
It reminded him of Takigakure's Jiongu and Hidan's Jashin powers from Yugakure.
"This is our village's unique restraining technique, Blazing Prison of Fire. While it can suppress the artifact, it requires constant maintenance," the Kusagakure leader explained, a hint of pride in his voice before sighing. "But for a permanent solution, we need your sealing expertise, Minato."
"Now, I leave it to you. Recently, outsiders have infiltrated the village. I will personally guard the entrance to prevent interference."
Namikaze Minato nodded firmly. "You have our word!"
With that, the Kusagakure leader departed, leaving only the four ninjas maintaining the restraining technique.
Creak!
The heavy door closed, plunging the hall into dimness.
"Shūichi, prepare to assist me with the Eight Trigrams Sealing," Namikaze Minato ordered. "Shisui, Sanyō—stand guard!"
"Understood!"
The three acknowledged. Uchiha Shisui positioned himself opposite the door, while Kurama Sanyō leaped into the shadows of the rafters.
Namikaze Minato opened his backpack and retrieved scrolls, ink, and brushes.
Hoshita Shūichi took them and began inscribing sealing formulas alongside Minato.
But before they could finish, movement erupted outside.
Hoshita Shūichi and Namikaze Minato remained focused, while Uchiha Shisui rested a hand on his sword hilt, his other forming a hand seal.
Above, Kurama Sanyō also prepared, ready to use genjutsu to create openings for Shisui.
The commotion outside grew louder, shaking the ground.
Suddenly, Uchiha Shisui shouted, "Look out!"
Almost simultaneously, he activated his Sharingan and performed the Body Flicker Technique, his form multiplying as shadow clones materialized to shield Hoshita Shūichi and Namikaze Minato.
Then came the whistling of projectiles—stone bullets tore through the windows and walls in a relentless barrage.
Uchiha Shisui's clones weaved through the hail, deflecting every stone aimed at the two.
Kurama Sanyō remained hidden.
After the first wave, the door exploded inward as several figures charged in.
"Shadow clones?"
"No!"
"Careful—Uchiha's Sharingan!"
Chaos erupted. Uchiha Shisui took the lead, with Kurama Sanyō supporting, holding off three attackers.
Just then, Hoshita Shūichi and Namikaze Minato completed the technique.
They formed hand seals in unison and pressed their palms onto the scroll.
Instantly, tadpole-like seals swarmed over the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
As the sealing commenced, Uchiha Shisui, aided by Kurama Sanyō, swiftly killed two foes, forcing the third to retreat.
But another barrage followed—stone bullets shredded walls, floorboards, and rafters indiscriminately.
The attack targeted not only Uchiha Shisui but also Kurama Sanyō, hidden in the shadows.
Kurama Sanyō dodged frantically, but the onslaught was too dense. Thud! Thud! Thud!
With a pained groan, Kurama Sanyō plummeted from above, crashing to the ground as blood pooled beneath him.
"Sanyō!" Uchiha Shisui cried out.
Hoshita Shūichi glanced back and gritted his teeth. "Minato-sensei!"
Namikaze Minato's eyes lowered. Then he withdrew his hands. "Prioritize saving him!"
But at that moment, the four Kusagakure ninjas activated their restraining technique.
Crimson flames erupted, weaving into a net that contracted toward the center.
"Minato! This box must be sealed, or it will awaken and consume everyone!" a Kusagakure ninja roared.
"You bastards!" Hoshita Shūichi's eyes blazed with azure fire as he drew his sword. Blue flames engulfed the blade before erupting violently.
Azure Flame Waterfall Blade!
A ten-meter-long azure greatsword descended with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
The Blazing Prison of Fire was cleaved apart, leaving a charred scar across the wooden floor.
"Impossible!" the four Kusagakure ninjas gasped.
Though only chūnin, their combined technique should have withstood even a jōnin's assault.
Yet this Konoha brat had shattered it effortlessly—
Before they could react, Hoshita Shūichi formed a one-handed seal, creating two fire clones that lunged at the newly arrived enemies.
The clones erupted into blinding white flames, detonating on impact.
Boom!
The attackers were blasted back as Uchiha Shisui carried Kurama Sanyō to Hoshita Shūichi's side.
Namikaze Minato had vanished the moment the Blazing Prison fell.
"This is bad..."
Hoshita Shūichi's heart sank as he examined Kurama Sanyō's wounds.
Four injuries, all clean through.
Heart, lungs, liver, artery...
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he unsealed the medical scroll Yakushi Nonō had given him, spreading it over Kurama Sanyō's torso.
Eight Trigrams Seal: Release!
Yin Seal: Release!
Hoshita Shūichi unleashed all his stored chakra and pressed his right palm onto the scroll.
A soft green glow blossomed.
The Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique activated, enveloping Kurama Sanyō's body in emerald light.
Though Hoshita Shūichi hadn't mastered the technique, the scroll allowed him to emulate it.
But Kurama Sanyō's injuries were too severe. He focused his chakra on regenerating the heart and artery first.
With one hand maintaining the technique, Hoshita Shūichi formed another seal with his left, creating a shadow clone to address the punctured lung.
Without immediate treatment, Kurama Sanyō would suffocate from internal bleeding.
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