Chapter 267
In the northern reaches of the continent lay a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides. It was one of the few neutral territories in the entire shinobi world, bordering the Land of Earth to the west, the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire to the south, and the Land of Frost and the Land of Rice Fields to the east. More than twenty years earlier, after negotiations among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, this land had deliberately been left outside the jurisdiction of any single nation.
Its purpose was the establishment of an international prison, a place where particularly dangerous criminals from every nation could be confined. In reality, however, it was little more than the product of political compromise among the Five Great Nations.
Not every notorious missing-nin was imprisoned here. Only those whose crimes were severe enough to warrant indefinite confinement, yet who did not possess village secrets too valuable to remain alive, or whose execution would create unnecessary diplomatic complications, were sent here.
This place was the infamous Hōzuki Castle.
Its warden was selected only after lengthy negotiations among the Five Great Nations. Although most of the prison guards came from Kusagakure, a number of wandering shinobi personally recruited by Mui also served here. There were even a handful of shinobi from the major hidden villages stationed inside.
Their presence existed solely to preserve a fragile political balance.
Strictly speaking, Hōzuki Castle itself was merely a political product. It was important, yet not indispensable. If one had to describe it in a single phrase, it was little more than a strategic bargaining chip for the Five Great Nations.
As long as nothing major occurred here, none of the great powers would devote excessive attention to it.
Because of that, Mui was not merely the nominal commander of Hōzuki Castle he was its unquestioned ruler.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that seventy to eighty percent of every guard within the prison would obey Mui’s orders without hesitation.
“…So this is Hōzuki Castle.”
Standing atop a cliff overlooking the massive fortress, Menma gazed toward the enormous stone prison in the distance.
From sheer scale alone, the prison rivaled a small town.
With the aid of his Kagura Mind’s Eye, he could clearly perceive well over a thousand distinct chakra signatures within its walls.
For a prison, such a number was astonishing.
“Suigetsu. Karin.”
Menma turned toward the two standing behind him.
A single glance was enough.
They immediately understood his meaning.
“Yes, Menma-sama.”
“Leave it to us.”
The two replied almost simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Each of them departed with three or four carefully selected Taki barrier shinobi, disappearing in opposite directions, leaving only Menma standing beside Mui.
Mui paid no attention whatsoever to their movements.
He knew exactly what Menma intended to do.
But none of it mattered.
Only one obsession remained in his heart
To bring his son back alive from the Box of Bliss.
Everything else was irrelevant.
This was the agreement between them.
If Menma fulfilled his promise and opened the Box of Bliss, Mui would lend him his full support.
If he failed…
Mui would ensure Menma paid the price.
“Let’s go, Mui-san.”
Menma smiled faintly.
“I imagine you’ve waited long enough.”
Mui merely cast him a cold glance before silently striding toward Hōzuki Castle.
Menma followed at an unhurried pace.
“Lord Mui!”
“Warden!”
The guards stationed at the entrance immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing him return.
Each of them displayed sincere reverence.
Mui had governed Hōzuki Castle for well over a decade.
With overwhelming personal strength, unwavering discipline, and the authority of a top-class jōnin, he had long established absolute control over this prison.
No guard dared question his commands.
As always, Mui acknowledged no one, simply walking through the gate without slowing.
The guards were already accustomed to his indifferent personality.
As for the red-haired youth accompanying him…
No one asked a single question.
Within Hōzuki Castle, Mui’s authority was absolute.
Walking side by side, neither man spoke.
Instead, Menma quietly observed the prison with great interest.
From every perspective, Hōzuki Castle deserved its reputation as one of the most heavily defended facilities in the shinobi world.
Not only was it protected naturally by the sea on three sides, but armed guards stood watch along every section of the towering walls.
A massive barrier technique enveloped the entire fortress.
Without a space-time ninjutsu such as Kamui or the Flying Thunder God Technique, infiltrating unnoticed would be virtually impossible.
The main gate through which Menma had entered was the only practical entrance.
Even there, more than a dozen guards stood watch, while Menma’s sensory perception also detected numerous hidden mechanisms and traps surrounding the area.
Unless someone possessed the strength of an elite jōnin or perhaps even Kage level it would be impossible to force entry.
Even if someone managed to break through…
The delay alone would be more than enough for the guards and especially Mui to respond.
For precisely this reason, Hōzuki Castle was widely regarded as the strongest fortress outside the Five Great Hidden Villages.
Compared to Takigakure before my arrival… there’s simply no comparison…
Menma shook his head inwardly.
Its natural terrain alone surpassed Taki’s defenses.
If everything proceeded according to plan…
This fortress could never be abandoned.
It would become one of Takigakure’s greatest strategic strongholds.
The only problem was geography.
It stood far from Takigakure.
Even Kusagakure lay some distance away.
More importantly…
It was dangerously close to the Land of Earth.
If Ōnoki ever changed his mind, Iwagakure could easily dispatch overwhelming forces to surround or even seize Hōzuki Castle.
There are still many obstacles ahead…
That old man isn’t someone who can be deceived so easily.
He’s far too shrewd…
Menma sighed inwardly.
There was no point thinking so far ahead.
The priority remained taking the next step successfully.
Following Mui, Menma eventually reached the deepest region of Hōzuki Castle.
Before them stood a massive iron gate sealed beneath a powerful barrier.
Even before entering, Menma sensed a chakra fluctuation from beyond it powerful enough to make even him instinctively tense.
“Release!”
Mui formed several hand seals.
The barrier dissolved.
Creak…
As the iron gate slowly opened, a long, dark stone staircase descended into the depths below.
An ancient, oppressive aura surged upward.
The sheer malice within that atmosphere was unmistakable.
Even Menma subconsciously narrowed his eyes.
The aura of the Box of Bliss…
“Let’s go.”
“It’s below.”
Without changing expression, Mui stepped forward first.
He had long grown accustomed to this oppressive presence.
Menma followed without hesitation.
He had absolutely no fear of betrayal.
Not only did he trust Mui to uphold their agreement…
He also possessed complete confidence in his own strength.
The staircase stretched deep underground.
Although neither of them walked quickly, their pace remained steady.
Even so, it took over ten minutes before they finally reached the bottom.
A vast underground chamber unfolded before them.
An indescribable energy permeated every corner.
The atmosphere itself seemed alive.
Menma immediately felt his emotions fluctuate.
Joy.
Anger.
Sorrow.
Fear.
Countless emotions surged into his mind all at once.
His expression changed slightly.
Taking a slow breath, he instantly stabilized his state of mind.
As expected…
A relic born from humanity’s emotions…
The Box of Bliss truly lives up to its reputation.
Raising his gaze, Menma fixed his eyes upon the gigantic iron chest resting in the center of the chamber.
“This…”
“This is the Box of Bliss, passed down through generations of Kusagakure.”
Mui stood before it and slowly turned toward Menma.
“It’s time for you to fulfill your promise.”
Menma smiled calmly.
“Naturally.”
“But I also hope you remember your own promise, Mui-san.”
“I always keep my word.”
Mui answered without hesitation.
“As long as you fulfill your end of the bargain.”
“Then let’s begin.”
Menma stepped forward.
Buzz
The next instant
Boom!
Brilliant crimson chakra erupted violently from his body.
The immense chakra cloak instantly filled the chamber with scorching pressure.
Even Mui’s expression changed.
His eyes filled with excitement.
Exactly this…
Only chakra of this magnitude could truly awaken the Box of Bliss.
“Don’t worry.”
Mui’s voice became noticeably heavier.
“I will honor my promise.”
Menma nodded.
Boom!!
The Nine-Tails’ chakra expanded even further.
A gigantic chakra arm extended from his body and pressed directly against the Box of Bliss.
The immense chakra poured into it without restraint.
Buzz…
The instant the chakra entered…
The enormous chest began trembling.
A faint purple radiance slowly spread across its surface.
An ancient power gradually awakened.
Mui’s normally expressionless face finally showed visible excitement.
Just from the initial reaction alone…
He knew.
This time
The Box of Bliss would truly open.
Hungry, are you?
Menma clearly felt the terrifying rate at which the Box of Bliss was consuming Kurama’s chakra.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
In less than a minute…
The amount of chakra it had devoured already surpassed what most ordinary Kage-level shinobi possessed in total.
Yet…
This was merely the beginning.
No wonder Kusagakure could never open this thing.
With chakra requirements like these…
Only a tailed beast could possibly satisfy it.
Just then
As the Box of Bliss continued vibrating and releasing increasingly powerful waves of energy
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Four masked figures arrived almost simultaneously through the passage above.
These four were the senior leaders of Kusagakure’s Castle Faction.
The instant they sensed movement from the Box of Bliss, they had rushed over at full speed.
Now, seeing the chest actually responding, every one of them wore expressions of complete disbelief.
At the same time…
Unconcealed excitement filled their eyes.
Because everything before them pointed toward one conclusion.
The Box of Bliss…
Was finally opening.
Naturally, their attention also shifted toward the young red-haired shinobi continuously pouring vast amounts of chakra into it.
Such an overwhelming chakra reserve…
No ordinary human could possibly possess it.
They came after all…
A cold glint flashed through Mui’s eyes the instant he noticed the four elders.
It disappeared just as quickly.
Without drawing attention, he casually shifted his stance, subtly placing himself between the four elders and the Box of Bliss.
“This is the distinguished guest I invited to assist in opening the Box of Bliss.”
“His name is Uzumaki Menma.”
“I believe the four elders are already familiar with that name.”
Mui spoke evenly.
“What!?”
“Uzumaki Menma?!”
“The Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki?!”
“Konoha’s missing-nin?!”
“The Fourth Hokage’s son?!”
All four elders exclaimed almost simultaneously.
They immediately examined Menma more closely.
His crimson hair.
His youthful appearance.
Most importantly…
That terrifying chakra.
There was no mistaking him.
“It really is Uzumaki Menma.”
“Hahaha!”
“Excellent, Mui!”
“With the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki here, opening the Box of Bliss will no longer be a problem!”
The four elders could barely contain their excitement.
To them…
The long-awaited day had finally arrived.
The Box of Bliss was about to be opened at last.