"What's going on??"
Caught off guard, Mui braced himself on the desk to steady his body, looking out at the dark night with a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Such immense commotion... could it be...
"Lord Mui!"
Just then, a figure burst in, shouting in terror, "At-attack..."
At this, Mui's internal alarm bells rang wildly. He no longer cared about the intel. Without waiting for his subordinate to finish speaking, he unhesitatingly ran out of his office, roaring, "Enemy attack! Maximum alert!"
Outside the door, the corridor was already unrecognizable. Parts of the walls had collapsed, rubble blocked the passage, smoke and dust permeated the air, and a shrill alarm blared! In the thick smoke and dust, surviving jailers ran and screamed like headless chickens, mixed with the frantic howls of countless prisoners and the desperate cries of those hit by falling rocks.
Along the way, the interior of the prison was a mess. Many crucial facilities were damaged. Hozuki Castle's defensive system, which had stood for years, had crumbled like paper under that instantaneous strike!
"Don't panic! Maintain order! Don't let the prisoners escape in the chaos!"
Mui suppressed his inner horror. His undeniable tone somewhat steadied the confusion. He grabbed a dust-covered jailer who was stumbling towards him and asked in a low voice, "Where's the enemy?"
Such a massive commotion surely meant a large-scale enemy invasion, but why couldn't he see any enemies?
"L-Lord Mui!" The man's voice was distorted by fear as he pointed vaguely towards the dark night sky. "Three people, only three people..."
What? Three people? Only three people tore through Hozuki Castle's defenses?
Mui's pupils involuntarily constricted. Following the jailer's指 direction, through the gaping hole in the collapsed wall, he finally saw the "enemies." The clear, stark moonlight acted like a giant spotlight, illuminating the three figures suspended in mid-air!
Two of the three figures wore black cloaks with red clouds. One of them extended a hand, palm forward, clearly indicating that the previous impact originated from his power.
"One person caused such terrifying might?" Mui's heart sank instantly.
Just then, that figure seemed to sense something. Those purple eyes rotated without any emotional fluctuation, their gaze locking onto Mui's face.
"Are you Mui?" Nagato's cold voice entered Mui's ears, making him instantly realize that the other party was here for him.
"Who are you people?" Mui asked gravely.
"We've come to invite you to join the Akatsuki." Nagato looked down at Mui, his tone indifferent, as if stating an established fact: "Your ninjutsu is quite good. We can make use of your power."
On the way here, he had already learned of Mui's peculiarities from 'Kage.' Mui belonged to a special ninja clan that controlled the "Heavenly Prison," capable of using "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison," a technique seemingly similar to the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu. Ninjas branded with the mark would have their chakra completely sealed, unable to be mobilized in the slightest. Any attempt to forcibly break the seal would trigger the mark, turning into flames that burned their bodies. Furthermore, it would also activate if they moved too far from the caster. Most importantly, it worked on jinchuriki. According to 'Kage,' even the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, once marked, would be unable to break free for a short period.
Although Nagato didn't know how 'Kage' obtained such accurate information, he already had great faith in 'Kage's' abilities and naturally wouldn't doubt him. Given this, Mui, possessing such a unique ability, would be of great use to the Akatsuki's future plan to collect tailed beasts. He was worth recruiting.
"Akatsuki? I've never heard of this organization." Mui's face was grim as he looked up at the three figures, attempting to exert pressure using the name of the Five Great Nations: "This is a prison jointly funded by the Five Great Nations. I advise you to leave quickly, otherwise..."
"Indeed, must we fight?" Kakuzu said indifferently beside Nagato.
At this, 'Kage' stepped back half a pace and smiled, "You two go ahead. I'll go see what this so-called Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss) is."
Upon hearing this, cold sweat instantly seeped from Mui's temples and slid down his cheeks. A tempest raged deep within his heart, completely shattering his last shred of hope. These three people weren't just here for him; they even knew about the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss)?
Neither Kakuzu nor Nagato paid any mind to 'Kage's' actions, and 'Kage's' figure dissolved silently in mid-air like a drop of ink in water.
"Where did he go?" The jailer beside Mui blurted out.
The next moment, 'Kage's' figure appeared on the ground, at the entrance to the dungeon.
"Stop him!" Mui roared, finally reacting. The dozen or so jailers who had just assembled nearby subconsciously lunged towards 'Kage.'
However, 'Kage' didn't turn back. An eerie scene unfolded. The deep shadow beneath his feet seemed to suddenly come alive! Like ink drops rippling in water, it surged and spread rapidly like waves, instantly expanding into a profound black domain! Silhouetted humanoid figures, like ghosts, silently emerged from that churning black domain!
Splish! Splish! Splish!
A bone-chilling sound of flesh being cut echoed densely, like countless sharp blades simultaneously slicing through tough leather! Blood bloomed like crimson flowers in the dark night!
The jailer at the very front felt a sudden chill in his waist and abdomen. Looking down, he saw himself separated from his lower body, the momentum of his run carrying his upper body forward as he fell. Similarly, other jailers were cut apart. Those who didn't die immediately crawled on the ground with severed bodies, screaming and wailing in agony.
"Ugh!"
"My leg!!"
"Monster... ah!"
The dozen or so charging jailers had fallen, scattered in pools of blood like harvested wheat! Severed limbs, gushing blood, heads with eyes wide in death, ripped-open chests... The entire area transformed into a horrific human purgatory, the heavy stench of blood overpowering the choking smell of smoke and dust!
"What are those things?!"
Looking at the things emerging from the shadows, everyone's expressions turned to horror. The humanoid black shadows were slender and lean, their hands ending in claws as sharp as blades, and even their feet were sharp cones. Their movements were lightning-fast and utterly silent!
These were Shadow Claws, from the Shadow Legion's Blade Unit. Unlike the "Shadow Ghosts" that previously appeared before Rasa, the "Shadow Claws" didn't use various weapons and lacked the versatile utility of the "Shadow Ghosts." Their only specialty was slaughter. Their entire bodies were weapons. They possessed extremely strong close-combat abilities and abnormally agile speed.
Silent! Swift! Efficient! Lethal! They were like dancers of death in the night!
"Is that a ninja tool he acquired from the underground palace, or is it his own ability?" Nagato narrowed his eyes slightly, unable to hide the surprise in them. It feels a bit like those White Zetsus. This was far more practical than any Shadow Clone Jutsu. 'Kage' hadn't even lifted a finger from beginning to end. He simply stood there, and the shadow beneath his feet became like an opened gate to hell, from which hyenas emerged to instantly slaughter dozens of lives.
He ignored the stunned Mui and the jailers, walking directly towards the deepest layer of Hozuki Castle, where the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss) was located underground.
Seeing this, Mui finally snapped out of his horror and subconsciously moved to stop him. The Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss)! It absolutely could not fall into their hands!
"Your opponent is us." Kakuzu's indifferent voice reached his ears, and an arm connected by black threads violently struck out.
Meanwhile, 'Kage' stepped into the underground, feeling the malicious aura. His eyes, under the shadow of his hood, flickered slightly. Behind him and in front of him, jailers continuously surged forward, trying to stop his advance. But he didn't attack, nor did he halt for a single step. His pace remained steady. Around him, the "Shadow Claws" acted like the most loyal killing squad. They had no superfluous movements, no flashy ninjutsu, only the purest, most primal killing techniques! Their blade-like claws flashed like darting poisonous snakes, each flicker bringing a spray of hot blood, easily cutting through muscle, ligaments, and bone! Each precise stab and cut was accompanied by an abruptly cut-off scream and a falling body, like cold machines efficiently clearing the path ahead.
Finally, 'Kage' reached the end, seeing a room that resembled a laboratory. On the wall of the room before him, a grotesque face was carved, seeming both to smile and rage. This was the so-called "Gokuraku no Tobira." Its four sides each had a face, representing joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. The face before him was just one of them. 'Kage' could clearly feel at this moment that this monstrous thing was alive; the cold and greedy sense of being watched was almost palpable. Deeper still, there was an extremely subtle temptation, like a demon whispering in his ear: Offer your chakra, speak your wish, I am omnipotent.
"Omnipotent?" 'Kage' couldn't help but chuckle. This method of temptation was too crude. Without even thinking, if anyone truly dared to make a wish to this thing, that wish would undoubtedly be granted in some twisted manner. It was like an ant wishing to a human: "I love another ant very, very much, but it completely ignores me. Can you make me the only one in its eyes?" Then, the human would only choose to pick out that ant and the ant it spoke of, then pour a kettle of boiling water into the ant nest, killing all other ants.
No matter what wish was made to the "Gokuraku no Tobira"—whether for wealth, status, power, or anything else—it would inevitably be forcibly twisted into "power" by it. With power, one could then obtain wealth, status, and power. So what was this power? Of course, it was the monster sealed within the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss)—"Satori."
However, even though he already knew the true nature of this monstrous thing, 'Kage' didn't reveal it in the slightest. He simply walked slowly up to the face and then extended his hand, gently pressing it against the cold, stony surface...
Buzz!!
A colossal torrent of chakra, vast as the ocean, instantly surged from 'Kage's' palm into the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss)! The face on the wall seemed to be infused with life. Its stony surface began to tremble violently, and fine cracks spread like a spiderweb, with stone fragments continuously flaking off. The expression on the face also seemed to become more "vivid," even subtly revealing a greedy longing!
However, just as this power was about to reach a critical point, as if it would break its seal the next second... 'Kage' abruptly and effortlessly withdrew his hand, without any warning, interrupting the chakra input.
"..."
The face on the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss) suddenly stiffened. The "vividness" that had just emerged instantly froze, replaced by a furious rage born of forced interruption and unfulfilled desire. It was as if a greedy diner had his meal snatched away just as he was about to eat! Even stronger tempting thoughts surged towards 'Kage' like a tide, attempting to reignite the fire of desire within him.
But what responded to it was not chakra, but spreading darkness! The shadow beneath 'Kage's' feet, like living ink, silently flowed and expanded, swiftly covering the grotesque face. Black shadows, capable of sealing chakra, gradually seeped into the crevices! Feeling its body gradually being sealed, the stony face suddenly trembled, surprisingly revealing visible signs of surprise and doubt.
Clack! Clack-clack!!
The Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss) continuously shook and vibrated, causing the entire underground stone chamber to tremble. The surrounding rock walls shattered, as if a living creature was frantically struggling, trying to break free from the black shadow.
"You should understand human speech. You have two choices now." A hint of a smile entered 'Kage's' voice: "First, come with me, and I will release you."
"Second, be sealed by me, remain in this lightless underground, and wait another thousand years."
"As a creation of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, you should know very well that I have the ability to do so."
"..."
Upon hearing that familiar yet strange name, the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss)'s violent trembling suddenly ceased. The entire stone chamber fell into a dead silence, the face on the wall stiff and frozen, caught in some immense shock and an unbelievably blank confusion.
How could it be, this guy in front of me actually knows the Sage of Six Paths' name?? And this chakra, why is it so familiar...
While it was still in doubt, 'Kage's' black shadow didn't stop its erosion. Instead, it continued to spread and tighten like a living entity, its cold aura continuously permeating. Finally, under the silent pressure of the shadow and the immense impact of that name, a dull thumping sound, like a giant heart beating, emanated from within the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss).
Thump... thump... thump...
The sound was no longer frantic, but rather carried a sense of compromise.
"Hm, very perceptive." 'Kage' smiled and mused, "However, isn't it too big? It'll be hard to take away."
At these words, the "Gokuraku no Tobira" fell silent once more. The frozen face seemed to be silently weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps digesting the enormous amount of information contained in 'Kage's' words. But the silence didn't last too long. Moments later, the entire box began to emit a low hum, as if its internal structure was undergoing violent restructuring and compression. The massive box body was kneaded and shaped by an invisible giant hand, rapidly collapsing at a visible speed.
In just a few breaths, the once intimidating and grotesque face had vanished. In its place was a cube, about an inch square, only the size of a Rubik's Cube, quietly suspended above 'Kage's' palm. On its surface, four distorted faces were outlined: scaled-down versions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. It no longer tried to tempt people as it did before. Instead, it exuded a coldness and malevolence born of being suppressed.
It was like Pandora's Box.
"This is much better." 'Kage' gripped the Gokuraku no Hako (Box of Ultimate Bliss), which emitted an ominous aura. With a flick of his wrist, it vanished as if thrown into a bottomless inkwell, silently merging into the shadows of his voluminous robes.
"Now, only Orochimaru's side remains," he mused inwardly.
But before that, he needed to modify this "Gokuraku no Tobira." With that thought, his figure gradually sank into the ground, turning into a shadow, and swiftly swept towards the Land of Fire.
In the passage leading to the surface, the roars and screams of the battle above still echoed. But no one knew that in the stone chamber, only empty walls and scattered rubble remained, silently narrating the extraordinary "subjugation" that had just occurred. Hozuki Castle's most valuable possession had changed hands.
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