Seeing that most of Kusagakure's higher-ups supported making a move against Naruto and Karin, Matsuru Noyaku, the village chief, finally made up his mind.
After all, as some of the higher-ups had said, as long as they could open the "Box of Paradise," Konoha would be nothing in their eyes!
Just as Matsuru Noyaku was about to speak and bring the meeting to a close, a mysterious figure wearing an ox-head helmet stepped forward and voiced his opinion first.
"Village Chief, shouldn't we inform Lord Mui about something this important? After all, the 'Box of Paradise' is currently in Lord Mui's hands!"
Ox-Lord cautiously sought Matsuru Noyaku's opinion.
As soon as Ox-Lord finished speaking, the other Kusagakure higher-ups, who had been discussing the matter heatedly, all fell silent and turned their gazes toward Matsuru Noyaku, seated at the head of the table.
It was clear that although Matsuru Noyaku was the village chief of Kusagakure, his prestige was nowhere near comparable to Mui, the lord of Hozuki Castle.
If Matsuru Noyaku ever came into conflict with Mui, more than half of the Zodiac Guard squad captains would likely choose Mui's side.
That much was evident from the fact that the all-important "Box of Paradise" was kept in Mui's possession.
After all, a village's most valuable possessions were generally kept by its village chief.
For example, Konoha's Scroll of Seals was kept by the Third Hokage.
Aside from Minato, the Fourth Hokage, not even elders Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura could safeguard something so precious.
Kusagakure's situation, however, was truly rather complicated.
Mui had originally been the leading figure of Kusagakure's Grass Fruit Faction and should have become Kusagakure's next village chief.
However, because he had established Hozuki Castle, the Ninja World's prison, he had no time to manage Kusagakure's affairs.