Box of Paradise

Yugito looked at Neji with incomprehension.

A person's values are basically formed after a few years in society; they aren't changed by a few words.

Neji also didn't know how to explain to Yugito. He rubbed his temples and said, "I'm not in the right state. Let's do it another day!"

Anyone could tell from his casual tone that he was just being perfunctory.

Yugito became a little annoyed. She grabbed him and immediately asked directly, "Neji, what are you worried about? Don't you like it?"

Neji's body tensed.

He was silent for a moment, then replied very directly, "I do, it's not like there's any loss."

Just for the Byakugan bloodline, Yozuki A didn't need to sacrifice Yugito.

Being so unscrupulous, what difference was there from Konohagakure?

Yugito was a hero of Kumogakure, so young and beautiful, she shouldn't be treated like this.

Moreover, if Yugito were to complete the mission, she might not resent Neji, but a thorn would inevitably be planted in her heart.

That wasn't the situation Neji wanted to see.

Yugito let out a chuckle at Neji's latter half of the sentence, then looked at him with confusion.

"Then why are you, could it be..."

She made a gesture, then looked down at her chest twice. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but she didn't know how to start.

Neji gritted his teeth and explained, "My dear Captain Yugito, what you're talking about and what I want are completely different concepts, okay!"

"This... it doesn't seem to make a difference. Isn't it the same thing?"

Hearing this, Neji turned his head and closed his eyes in pain.

"If you only look at the result, there's no difference. But if you consider the entire process, the difference is huge.

If it's just for procreation, or a transaction, both parties will skip the foreplay and go straight to the final step. (Especially men)"

Yugito stared at Neji blankly.

It was the first time she had heard such words. Not only did they not sound crude to her, but she even found them quite reasonable.

Of course, Yugito didn't really care about reason.

The mission was paramount; she just wanted to complete it.

But if Neji didn't cooperate, forcing the mission would likely be impossible.

"Fine, we'll let it go this time." Yugito took a deep breath, trying her best to remain calm.

Neji felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. "Then hurry up and get down."

"Neji, let's each take a step back. We're classmates, but not roommates."

"Okay."

Neji thought it was for the best. Refusing again would be impolite.

Early the next morning, Neji was groggily pulled awake.

Yugito was dressed in a neat, form-fitting black short-sleeved outfit, her mouth stuffed with grilled meat. She didn't look ridiculous; instead, she exuded a unique kind of cuteness.

Neji glanced at the clock on the wall.

6:10 AM.

He had woken up late.

"Your portion is on the table. Hurry up and eat, you have a mission."

"Mission?"

Neji froze while putting on his clothes, looking at Yugito in confusion.

"Didn't the mission already end?"

Yugito smiled mysteriously, pouting as she said, "Neji, you're the precious Byakugan, and I'm the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Is a mere C-rank mission worth us traveling thousands of miles?"

Neji was stunned.

After thinking about it carefully, Yugito's words made a lot of sense.

But they hadn't accepted any other missions, which meant this mission was privately assigned by Lord Raikage.

Neji recalled the consistent traditions of Kumogakure and began to form a guess.

After breakfast, Yugito took out a scroll and handed it to Neji.

Neji unrolled the scroll.

It was a map of Kusagakure.

The map was divided in two by a red line running through the middle, splitting Kusagakure into northern and southern regions. Each region had a cluster of buildings marked with a red circle.

Yugito crossed her arms over her chest and said seriously, "Do you know the history of Kusagakure?"

Neji shook his head, feigning ignorance. "Not really."

"Alright, then listen carefully to everything I'm about to say."

Yugito's lips curved into a slight smile as she adopted the demeanor of a leading Jonin, ready to impart knowledge to Neji.

"Thousands of years ago, a divine artifact called the Box of Paradise appeared in the ninja world. It's said to be a relic left behind by the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Legend has it that opening it can grant any wish. Kusagakure once opened the Box of Paradise and nearly ruled the ninja world."

"Does the Box of Paradise really exist? After all, the Sage of Six Paths is just a figure of myth and legend," Neji interjected.

Could Yozuki A be planning to steal the Box of Paradise? But at this point in time, the Box of Paradise is likely in Hozuki Castle.

"Myths and legends are often embellished versions of historical truths. Our Kumogakure inherited several artifacts left by the Sage of Six Paths, so the village is certain the Box of Paradise also exists, and it's most likely in Kusagakure's possession.* *Our mission here is to seize the Box of Paradise. Such a divine artifact must be held by Kumogakure."

The Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers, renowned as the "Light of the Clouds," inherited five Six Paths Ninja Tools: the Golden Rope, the Gourd, the Red Gourd, the Seven-Star Sword, and the Amber Bottle.

Decades ago, Kumogakure proactively attacked Konohagakure, initiating the First Great Ninja War, only to be taught a harsh lesson by the Second Hokage.

Under pressure, the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage signed a peace treaty.

The Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers, who were fighting fiercely on the front lines against the Konoha army, were enraged upon learning that the Raikage had surrendered first. They immediately launched a coup, using the Six Paths Ninja Tools and Nine-Tails chakra to assassinate the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage.

However, the brothers were also forcefully eliminated by Kumogakure's Anbu, and the Six Paths Ninja Tools became the property of Kumogakure.