Uchiha Obito naturally sensed the fighting spirit emanating from Sasuke and his mouth twitched slightly.
To be honest, if there were better candidates, he would never have chosen to cooperate with Sasuke.
Compared to Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke fell somewhat short. But then again — it was fortunate that Sasuke was not Uchiha Itachi.
"I have no desire to fight. Your enemies aren't me."
Uchiha Obito spread his hands and shrugged, showing not the slightest inclination toward combat.
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke frowned, a note of impatience in his voice.
Sasuke had no patience for Uchiha Obito beating around the bush or speaking in riddles.
"The First Kirikage Yuto, and Nagato — these two are currently your enemies, are they not?"
Uchiha Obito showed no impatience whatsoever, raising two fingers as he spoke.
But before he could finish, Sasuke cut him off.
"If you came here just to spout this nonsense, you can leave."
Sasuke's expression was grim, his voice turning cold.
Seeing Sasuke's impatient demeanor, a flash of contempt crossed Uchiha Obito's eyes. It seemed his careful preparations would be unnecessary after all.
If that was the case, then things became much simpler.
"In the Rain Village, Konan has already departed for the Second Kirigakure. Currently, only Nagato remains."
Uchiha Obito stopped speaking at this point, leaving the implication obvious.
A flash of excitement crossed Sasuke's face, but after everything he had been through, he managed to control such simple emotions. He took a deep breath and looked toward Uchiha Obito before him.
If only Nagato remained as the Rain Village's top combat power, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Moreover, Uchiha Obito had previously been a member of the Akatsuki, and combined with his space-time ninjutsu, infiltrating the Rain Village would be effortless.
"Why help me?"
Though excited, Sasuke also had doubts.
Hearing Sasuke's question, Uchiha Obito didn't respond directly. Instead, he fell silent for a long moment before a low voice finally drifted through the air.
"You're like me — neither of us wants to be a pawn that others move about, correct?"
Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply as he stared deeply at Uchiha Obito standing calmly before him.
Hozuki Castle.
Located on a peculiar island surrounded on all sides by the sea, it was named for the Hozuki berries that grew there.
But more importantly, Hozuki Castle was famous as a prison established by the Land of Hot Springs and operated by the Grass Ninja, specifically designed to imprison rogue ninja.
Kakuzu had once been a prisoner in Hozuki Castle's prison, though he had escaped in his youth and stolen the secret technique scroll at that time.
On this day, a tremendous boom suddenly echoed through the previously peaceful Hozuki Castle.
A massive box, roughly five meters in length, width, and height, with different expressions on each face, burst from underground and crashed onto the enormous platform before the castle.
This bizarre, massive box was the legendary weapon known as the Box of Heavenly Peace, dating from the era of the Sage of Six Paths.
A dark figure leaped from the crater the box had created and appeared before it in a flash.
Yuto held the blood-covered warden of Hozuki Castle, Mu, in one hand while examining the Box of Heavenly Peace before him.
"So this is the Box of Heavenly Peace. It certainly looks peculiar."
"I told you — just telling me its location would have been fine. But no, I had to find it myself. Really…"
Yuto studied the Box of Heavenly Peace with curiosity, then shook his head and tossed the bloodied Mu onto the ground nearby.
When Yuto first arrived at Hozuki Castle, Mu had been extremely respectful and accommodating. But the moment Yuto mentioned the Box of Heavenly Peace, Mu's attitude had made him rather displeased.
Yuto had been forced to demonstrate his authority — and subject Mu to a mild beating — before locating the Box.
Mu was thrown to the ground with a pained groan, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Yet Mu still gritted his teeth, slowly rising from the ground to kneel before Yuto, his expression resolute.
Yuto didn't spare Mu a glance, his eyes fixed on the Box of Heavenly Peace. The box hadn't flown out on its own — Yuto had punched it from underground.
Yet from the surface of the Box, there wasn't a single scratch. Though Yuto hadn't used his full strength, the terrifying force had left absolutely no mark on the Box.
"A weapon that existed during the Sage of Six Paths era — this material is far harder than I imagined."
Yuto's expression showed wonder as he willed his power.
Chakra-forged Golden Locks extended from his palm like golden whips, lashing violently against the Box of Heavenly Peace.
Boom! Boom!
Dull, thunderous impacts rang out continuously through the air.
After a moment, Yuto withdrew his Golden Locks. The Box of Heavenly Peace before him remained completely intact, and despite the repeated strikes, it showed no reaction whatsoever.
A look of surprise crossed Yuto's face. It seemed that forcing the box open would not be easy. Perhaps using Six Paths-level power would be simpler.
Only then did Yuto turn to look at Mu kneeling beside him, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Lord Yuto…"
Mu sensed Yuto's gaze and endured the pain coursing through his body, his voice choked and hoarse.
"So stubborn. Do you truly believe there's something in this world that can grant wishes? Your son has been dead for so long."
Yuto looked at Mu and spoke in an indifferent tone.
Legend had it that the Box of Heavenly Peace possessed the power to grant any wish. Yuto had always dismissed such rumors.
If it were truly as the legends claimed, why would the Sage of Six Paths have allowed such a thing to exist?
Moreover, Yuto knew that the Box of Heavenly Peace contained a demon called "Satoru." The wish-granting ability was nothing more than this monster's trickery.
Unfortunately, the Mu before him didn't seem to believe it.
Money, beautiful women, even power — these things could all be obtained easily with sufficient strength. Perhaps this was why the legend of the Box granting wishes had spread.
After all, using "Satoru's" power could indeed help one obtain these three things with ease.
"If you want to throw your life away, I won't stop you."
Yuto glanced at the stubborn Mu and waved his hand dismissively.
Yuto didn't know how to open the Box of Heavenly Peace, so his initial plan had been to simply blast it open. Now that Mu knew the method and was willing to do it, Yuto could save himself some effort.
"Thank you, Lord Yuto!"
Mu's face filled with excitement, and despite his injuries, he rose unsteadily and walked toward the Box of Heavenly Peace.
This day had finally arrived.
Would he finally be able to see his son again?
Mu's body trembled slightly as he gazed at the Box of Heavenly Peace before him. Everything he had done was for the chance to see his son once more.
Perhaps Yuto's words were correct, and Mu secretly knew the truth deep down — he simply refused to believe it.
"Box of Heavenly Peace! The time has come to open!"
Mu raised both hands toward the box, a faint red glow flickering across his palms.
"Box of Heavenly Peace! Please grant my wish! Please let my son — let me and my son Muko see each other again!"
As Mu spoke and performed his movements, the Box of Heavenly Peace, which had been as still as death, began to tremble.
At the same time, a black-purple energy seeped from its surface, enveloping it entirely and emanating an eerie, terrifying aura.
"Oh — it really is the aura of a demon."
Yuto crossed his arms and watched the Box's transformation calmly, a smile playing at his lips.
Under Mu's excited gaze, the face of the box — the one with the wide smile — suddenly opened its mouth.
A black-haired, slender youth slowly emerged from within.
Upon seeing the black-haired youth, Yuto narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in an indifferent tone.
"This is your son? But I'd advise you not to approach him."
In Yuto's perception, the soul within the black-haired youth who had emerged had been completely replaced by another, evil one.
It felt identical to the aura Yuto had sensed from the demon Makyo in the Land of Demons.
Unfortunately, though Yuto had offered his warning, Mu now had eyes only for his son.
"Muko! Is it you?"
Mu's face was filled with barely contained excitement and even a hint of remorse as he stumbled toward the black-haired youth.
When he reached the youth, Mu threw his arms around him.
But what greeted Mu in return was not an embrace — it was the black-haired youth's arm piercing through Mu's chest.
The black-haired youth withdrew his arm with an emotionless expression, pulling out large amounts of blood and torn flesh.
Yuto watched this scene calmly. He had already warned Mu. If the man wanted to throw his life away, Yuto couldn't stop him.
Still, this Box of Heavenly Peace truly did have some remarkable properties.
[
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