Pfft...
The black shadow had barely touched the "Box of Bliss" when a burst of flame shot out from its seal, scorching the arm he had extended toward it.
"Heh..."
After chuckling softly, the flames spreading across the black shadow's arm suddenly went out.
Then, with nothing more than a grasp toward the "Box of Bliss," the chakra within the sealing formula binding it flowed through the air and into his body.
Hiss, hiss...
Having lost its chakra supply, the sealing formula around the "Box of Bliss" began to burn on its own. Before long, every sealing formula covering the "Box of Bliss" had vanished completely.
After casually dealing with the seal, the black shadow placed a hand on the relief carving on the surface of the "Box of Bliss." He sensed it for a moment, then said, "Just as those people from Akatsuki said... it's filled with hunger and desire!"
There was no doubt that the black shadow who had infiltrated the underground palace was Hyuga Aoki, who had recently begun working with Akatsuki.
During the battle that destroyed Konoha, Hyuga Aoki had used his disability as cover. His physical body had hidden in the shelter alongside the elderly, weak, women, and children, while he used the Spirit Transformation Technique to secretly send his spirit body out of the shelter. Amid the chaos of war, he had not only gathered secret ancient texts stored in the secret vault of the Hyuga Main Branch Estate, but had also accidentally discovered where the Anbu had sealed the "Box of Bliss."
After cooperating with Akatsuki, Hyuga Aoki had not only obtained the perfect puppet he had long dreamed of, but had also learned through indirect inquiries how to open the "Box of Bliss."
The method was simple. To open the "Box of