Chapter 268
Could the long-cherished wish of Kusagakure finally be realized in their generation?
The dream their ancestors had pursued for generationsto dominate the entire shinobi world!
Beneath their masks, the faces of the four elders twisted with uncontrollable ecstasy. Their excitement had reached such a feverish pitch that they subconsciously ignored the most obvious questionwhy Wuwei had never informed them of such an important matter beforehand.
None of them even noticed the subtle defensive stance Wuwei had unconsciously assumed.
Their minds had already been consumed by greed.
Every pair of eyes was fixed upon the Box of Bliss, which was trembling more violently with each passing second.
They had long since lost the ability to think rationally.
At the same time, Menma, standing beside the Box of Bliss, had most of his attention focused on the ancient relic itself.
Its appetite for chakra had far exceeded even his expectations.
Fortunately…
He possessed the Nine-Tails.
After several continuous minutes of devouring Menma’s chakra, the Box of Bliss finally began to slow its absorption.
‘Has it finally reached its limit…?’
A gleam flashed through Menma’s eyes.
Without hesitation, he increased his chakra output one final time, pouring the last portion of Nine-Tails chakra into the Box.
Buzz!
The instant that final threshold was crossed
“Did it work?!”
“It opened!?”
Not far away, Wuwei and the four elders stared in disbelief.
The Box of Bliss erupted with a strange wave of energy.
Its entire body shook violently.
One second later
A brilliant violet radiance burst forth.
The four grotesque faces carved upon the Boxrepresenting Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Pleasurebegan to shift and move.
The moment everyone witnessed the transformation
“Hahaha! It opened!”
“Finally!”
“Our Kusagakure can finally usher in its own era!”
“Quick, Wuwei! Make your wish!”
“Wish for Kusagakure to rule the entire shinobi world!”
The four elders could barely contain themselves anymore, shouting frantically.
Wuwei, standing nearby, was trembling as well.
However…
His trembling had nothing to do with ruling the world.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly steadied himself before quickly stepping toward the Box of Bliss.
As the only person in Kusagakure who had formed a spiritual contract with the Box, only he possessed the authority to make a wish once it opened.
At least…
That was what everyone in Kusagakure believed.
Standing before the ancient artifact, Wuwei raised his head and roared with every ounce of strength in his body.
“Box of Bliss… return my son to me! Bring Wugou back!!”
“…!?”
“What are you doing!?”
“Wuwei!”
“You bastard!”
“Idiot! Change your wish immediately!”
The smiles on the four elders’ faces froze.
Their expressions instantly twisted into rage.
The dream they had pursued for decades…
The ambition they believed was finally within reach…
Had been destroyed by the very man they trusted the most.
How could they possibly accept it?
Without even thinking, the four elders instinctively rushed forward.
Whoosh!
Before they could advance more than a few steps
A crimson figure flashed in front of them.
The overwhelming chakra that erupted from his body instantly blocked their path.
“…You!”
“Heh…”
Menma stood before them with an indifferent smile.
“The four esteemed elders of Kusagakure… why don’t you remain here quietly for a while?”
“That thing isn’t the miraculous wish-granting treasure you imagine.”
“And even if it truly were…”
“It wouldn’t change anything.”
“The outcome has already been decided.”
His smile remained gentle.
But the killing intent radiating from his body was anything but.
The four elders’ expressions darkened instantly.
The Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
That title alone carried enough weight to terrify ordinary shinobi.
Even if Menma appeared to be nothing more than a young teenager…
None of them dared underestimate him.
For a brief moment
They hesitated.
And that single moment of hesitation was enough.
Not far away
The Box of Bliss trembled once more.
Facing Wuwei, the enormous Face of Joy slowly opened its mouth.
Behind it…
An abyss-like darkness appeared.
Then
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
Soft footsteps echoed throughout the underground chamber.
Under Wuwei’s stunned gazeand the increasingly ugly expressions of the four elders
A young man dressed in white slowly stepped out.
His complexion was pale and sickly.
“Wugou…”
Looking at that familiar face…
Tears immediately streamed down Wuwei’s cheeks.
Eight years.
An entire eight years had passed.
Eight years ago, his son had sacrificed himself in an attempt to open the Box of Bliss, exhausting all his chakra before being swallowed by the ancient artifact.
Once upon a time…
Reviving Kusagakure had been Wuwei’s greatest mission.
A responsibility he had been willing to die for.
But the instant he watched his own son disappear into the Box…
Everything changed.
At that moment, Wuwei finally realized what truly mattered.
Not Kusagakure.
Not the Box of Bliss.
Not the dream of dominating the world.
His son.
Only his son.
For the past eight years, every attempt to reopen the Box had been for one purpose alone.
To bring Wugou back.
That was why, when Menma approached him with his proposal, Wuwei had accepted without the slightest hesitation.
He would have bargained with the devil himself if it meant seeing his son again.
Compared to that…
Cooperating with Menma meant nothing.
And now…
His wish had finally come true.
Looking at Wugou’s facewhich appeared exactly the same as it had eight years ago
Wuwei could no longer suppress the tears flowing from his eyes.
Step by step…
He slowly approached his son.
His trembling hands reached forward, desperate to embrace him once more.
The happier Wuwei became…
The more furious the four elders behind Menma grew.
In their eyes, the Box of Bliss had simply granted Wuwei’s wish.
A dead boy…
Had been resurrected.
Wasn’t that the greatest proof imaginable that the Box of Bliss truly granted wishes?
“Damn you!”
“Damn you, Wuwei!”
“You wasted the greatest opportunity Kusagakure has ever had!”
“How could you!”
The four elders looked ready to tear Wuwei apart.
Seeing their reactions, Menma could only sigh helplessly.
“You really don’t understand anything, do you?”
His voice carried unmistakable ridicule.
“You still believe it’s some kind of wish-granting artifact?”
“If something that convenient truly existed…”
“…do you really think it would have remained in the hands of Kusagakure for all these years?”
“What did you say!?”
One of the burly elders glared viciously at Menma.
“Then open your eyes.”
Menma’s smile widened slightly.
“Watch carefully.”
“Wishing machine?”
“…What a ridiculous joke.”
Neither Wuwei nor the elders could sense it.
But Menma could.
The moment Wugou stepped out of the Box…
Beneath that seemingly ordinary appearance lurked an unimaginably sinister chakra.
A terrifying mass of malice.
As the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki, Menma’s perception of negative emotions far surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
“…Huh?”
“What?”
“What are you talking about?”
The four elders were momentarily stunned.
The burly elder, convinced Menma was merely mocking them, could no longer suppress his anger.
But before he could speak
“It’s coming.”
Menma’s pupils contracted sharply.
The words had barely left his mouth
Boom!
Scarlet chakra exploded from his body.
One tail of the Nine-Tails cloak instantly materialized behind him.
“…!?”
The overwhelming pressure froze the four elders where they stood.
Then
With a sudden burst of speed
Menma shot forward like a crimson cannonball.
Almost simultaneously
Wuwei had already reached Wugou.
His face overflowed with relief and joy.
His outstretched arms were only an instant away from embracing his beloved son.
“Hehehe…”
The previously expressionless boy suddenly smiled.
A twisted…
Sinister smile.
His pupils became incomparably savage.
His right hand shot forward like a claw
Straight toward Wuwei’s heart.
Completely caught off guard
Wuwei stood frozen.
His defenses wide open.
He could only watch helplessly as his son’s hand reached for his chest.
Shock filled his eyes.
Just before the attack connected
Bang!
Smack!
Menma appeared between them.
His right hand shot out and firmly seized Wugou’s wrist.
“You shouldn’t do that, Wugou.”
Menma smiled faintly.
“That’s your father.”
“…Father?”
The boy’s face twisted grotesquely.
“Heh…”
“Who told you…”
“…that I’m Wugou?”
The instant those words fell
His clothes exploded apart.
His pale skin instantly darkened.
Countless strands of coarse black fur erupted across his body.
“Wugou!?”
Wuwei’s pupils shrank violently.
Crack!
Menma twisted the creature’s wrist without hesitation.
Then
Boom!
A powerful kick sent it flying.
The transformed figure smashed heavily into the stone wall.
The entire chamber shook.
“Wugou! You!”
Wuwei instinctively cried out before turning toward Menma with furious eyes.
“Calm down, Wuwei-san.”
Menma rolled his neck casually.
“That isn’t your son anymore.”
“If you truly want Wugou back…”
“Then stand aside and wait.”
He spoke calmly, utterly ignoring Wuwei’s murderous glare.
At that exact moment
“Hehehehehe…”
A chilling laugh echoed through the underground chamber.
BOOM!
The creature slowly rose.
Its body rapidly expanded.
Dark skin.
Enormous flesh-like wings.
Massive hooved legs.
A monstrous figure now stood before Menma and the others.
“What… what is that!?”
The only female elder screamed instinctively.
The remaining three elders all inhaled sharply.
They had believed the Box of Bliss to be a miraculous wish-granting relic.
So why…
Had it produced such a horrifying monster?
Even from its mere presence, they could tell
This creature far surpassed ordinary shinobi.
Exactly how powerful it was, they could not determine.
But one thing was certain.
It was vastly stronger than any of them.
Wuwei stared blankly at the black monster before him.
He refused to believe…
Refused to accept…
That his beloved son had become such a thing.
“So…”
Menma narrowed his eyes.
“This is Satori…”
“The ultimate weapon born from the Box of Bliss.”
“It certainly lives up to its reputation.”
The enormous quantity of chakra required to awaken it…
Combined with the endless negative emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure that served as its source of power…
Only such an existence could possess an aura this terrifying.
Even Menma…
Could clearly smell the scent of death emanating from Satori.
“W-What… exactly is going on… Uzumaki Menma?”
Wuwei’s voice trembled.
His mind was in complete chaos.
He no longer knew what was real…
Or what he was supposed to do.
“For now…”
Menma kept his eyes fixed firmly on Satori.
“Stand back, Wuwei-san.”
“If fortune favors us…”
“Your son may still return.”
“But if he cannot…”
“…then that is simply fate.”
With those words
Menma bit his thumb.
“Summoning Technique!”
Boom!!
A massive cloud of white smoke exploded across the underground chamber.