Karin and Her Mother

Yugito's gaze quickly swept over the scrolls. Most of the jutsu recorded on them originated from the Five Great Cnobi Villages.

However, they were all just ordinary ninjutsu.

Their Kumogakure had already "borrowed" them long ago.

Yugito only found two decent scrolls.

One was a scroll inscribed with the Dragon Life Reincarnation Secret Technique, clearly a high-level Secret Technique.

This Secret Technique could transfer one's own life force to others, possessing the heaven-defying effect of bringing the dead back to life.

After reading the Secret Technique, Yugito frowned slightly.

This was because it was a Kekkei Secret Technique developed based on Kusagakure's Dragon Life Kekkei Genkai. Theoretically, outsiders couldn't master it.

Yugito pondered for a moment, then took out a small camera she had prepared beforehand and photographed the Secret Technique scroll.

Perhaps the ninja in her village could gain some inspiration from the Secret Technique.

Afterward, she turned her attention to the second scroll.

"Box of Paradise."

Yugito narrowed her eyes and gently unrolled the scroll.

The first thing that greeted her eyes were several illustrations. It depicted a square box, with grotesque demons carved on all four sides, giving it a sinister appearance.

The latter part of the scroll recorded the history of the Box of Paradise and Kusagakure's research findings.

The Box of Paradise had fallen into Kusagakure's possession hundreds of years ago. It was managed alternately by Kusagakure branch and Kusagakure branch. Three years ago, it was brought to Hozuki Castle by Mui, a high-ranking official of Kusagakure branch.

According to the scroll, once the Box of Paradise was successfully opened, it could grant the opener one wish.

Upon reading this, Yugito scoffed.

Grant the opener one wish?

This was a power that only gods could wield.

Even if the Sage of Six Paths who created the Box of Paradise were still alive, he might not be able to achieve it.

For years, Kusagakure had been secretly researching the Box of Paradise, hoping to open it.

Although their goals seemed the same, the philosophies of the two factions were completely different.

Kusagakure branch wished to rule the ninja world with the help of the Box of Paradise.

Kusagakure, on the other hand, intended to use the Box of Paradise to negotiate with the Five Great Nations on equal footing.

"The specific method to open the Box of Paradise is unknown, possibly related to chakra?"

Yugito narrowed her eyes.

The Box of Paradise was by no means as bizarre as described on the scroll.

However, it was certain that the Box of Paradise was a Six Paths Ninja Tool with an unknown purpose.

Judging from the fact that Kusagakure hadn't been able to open the Box of Paradise for so many years, it was likely no less significant than the five Six Paths Ninja Tools in their village.

Yugito was about to take a picture to study it later.

"There's an intruder!"

Suddenly, a shout echoed from the office building.

As this voice rang out, the previously quiet office building became chaotic, with hurried and noisy footsteps.

"I've been exposed? When?"

Yugito's expression changed slightly, and she instinctively assumed that the nearby Kusagakure ninja had discovered her whereabouts.

She just couldn't figure out where she had slipped up.

Whoosh!

With time running out, Yugito didn't have time to take a picture. She directly grabbed the scroll and stuffed it into her ninja tool pouch.

Splash!

She pushed off the ground, her slender body suddenly shrinking. As she leaped into the air, she transformed into a black cat.

The black cat nimbly slipped out the window and climbed onto the eaves.

"Quick, don't let him escape."

On the long street, over a dozen Kusagakure ninja shouted loudly, their figures darting rapidly.

More Kusagakure ninja emerged from behind, heading towards the northern part of the village.

The black cat ran with all its might, only slowing down when the inn was within sight.

But what puzzled Yugito was that the commotion behind her was growing smaller.

She stopped, climbed onto a utility pole, and looked up.

She saw all the Kusagakure ninja rushing towards the northern area in a single swarm.

It was only then that Yugito realized that it wasn't her who had been exposed, but Neji.

"Meow!"

Yugito's fur stood on end, revealing her sharp fangs.

What was Neji doing?

Even if the infiltration failed, it shouldn't have caused such a commotion.

Shaking her head, Yugito leaped nimbly onto the rooftop and headed north.

A small, dilapidated wooden hut with drafts blowing through it.

A faint, flickering light illuminated the gaunt figure on the bed.

The beautiful woman leaned against the wall, her expression sorrowful.

She was not yet thirty, but streaks of white had already appeared in her blood-red hair.

"Bastard, hurry up and bite me."

Katsushiro kicked open the door, his face filled with malice as he roared at the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman's face turned deathly pale with fright. Instinctively, she crossed her arms in front of her, and new and old bite marks could be seen beneath her sleeves.

"Karin, close your eyes... it'll be over soon..."

The beautiful woman used her frail body to shield the girl behind her, then extended her arm.

Uzumaki Karin peeked out from behind her mother, her body trembling.

Under the dim light, Katsushiro looked like a devil crawled from hell as he walked closer step by step.

With each step he took, Karin felt her heart beat a little faster.

Karin looked at the bite marks on her mother's arm, and an instinct beyond fear drove her young body.

"Go away, don't come near my mother."

As a trembling childish voice rang out, Katsushiro looked up in surprise, seeing the small Karin suddenly charge at him.

Caught off guard, he was knocked to the ground by Karin.

He never expected that while he was bullying the mother, the daughter would dare to resist.

"You little bastard, you're tired of living!"

A brutal glint flashed in Katsushiro's eyes as he raised his leg to kick.

Karin's small body flew through the air, crashing heavily against the wooden wall, her whole body wracked with pain.

"Karin!"

The woman cried out and rushed to embrace Karin.

"Hmph!"

Katsushiro let out a contemptuous snort and strode towards the woman, roughly grabbing her arm and opening his mouth to bite down.

"Descendants of Uzumaki, treated like this by you?"

A cold voice sounded.

"Lightning Release: Chidori Spear!"

Katsushiro frowned slightly, but before he could turn around, a bolt of azure electricity pierced his body.

Blood splattered as Katsushiro slowly fell.

The Chidori Spear avoided his heart. Though severely injured, Katsushiro was still alive.

The beautiful woman glanced at Katsushiro lying in a pool of blood, then turned her head to hug Karin tightly, trembling as she cowered in the corner.

Neji observed the beautiful woman.

She was voluptuous and had a pitiable aura.

However, judging by her pale complexion and the bite marks on her arm, this mother and daughter had a terrible time in Kusagakure.

"I don't need to tell you what will happen if you continue to stay in Kusagakure."

"Come with me!"

The beautiful woman was stunned upon hearing this.

Neji saw her hesitation and concern, and said sternly, "Madam, you don't want your daughter to be bitten, do you?"

Hearing this, the beautiful woman fell into thought, the worry on her face gradually fading.

Kusagakure was a den of wolves.

The tragic experiences of these mother and daughter over the years were unspeakable to outsiders.

Now that one Kusagakure ninja was dead, they would only face even harsher torment.

They were at their wit's end.

Might as well take a gamble.

For her daughter's sake.

"As long as you can protect Karin, I'll do anything."

The beautiful woman hugged Karin and pleaded with a trembling voice.

Neji shook his head upon hearing this and said earnestly, "You're mistaken. It's not about protecting Karin, but about protecting both of you."