Take-san, They're Too Close

Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Mito Uzumaki's throat began to move, and all sorts of suppressed emotions surged within her, only to be finally suppressed by her powerful will.

She looked at Uchiha Takeyasu, who seemed to sense no malice, and forced a smile. "Hokage-sama, we can't stay in this sealed space any longer. We should leave."

Having been rebuffed, Uchiha Takeyasu nodded calmly, his consciousness returning to his body. He watched Mito Uzumaki, who was bowing her head and starting to work, her expression unreadable, and looked forward to the moment when he could control the Nine-Tails and their Chakra would merge.

"Never underestimate our strength, our bonds, our Will of Fire!"

Meanwhile, on the training ground of the Higher Education Department Ninja Academy, Jiraiya, who had just roared in anger, was now lying at the feet of the Black-haired Demon King, his face bruised and swollen.

With Tsunade watched the approaching Demon King, Hikaru.

Beside her, Dan Katō was unable to rise again, Hiruko lay to one side, tears seemingly welling in her eyes, while Orochimaru was being held by Uchiha Hikari.

"Aaaaaah!"

With a roar like a little tiger, Tsunade charged straight at Uchiha Hikari, who was frowning, and then fell flat on her face.

The legendary player who had just achieved a pentakill stood silently on the training field, his eyes beneath his bangs filled with confusion—everyone was dead, what should he do next?

"I haven't even used much force, how come you've all collapsed?"

"I instructed you exactly the same way my old Uchiha instructors trained me!"

"You guys are too weak."

(No, you're just too strong!)

The summer breeze ruffled the girl's hair, making the five little rascals on the ground look even more pained—Teacher Wu'an, please come and save us!

However, after acquiring the Mangekyo Uchiha Hikari's sensory abilities became extremely powerful, and she knew how to control her strength when attacking.

With a cold snort, the five boys, who had recovered, immediately lined up and began to listen to Uchiha Hikari recount the flaws and shortcomings of the previous battle, nodding thoughtfully from time to time.

Finally, he collapsed, looking utterly miserable.

Uchiha Hikari seems quite interesting.

Madara Uchiha, who had been traveling through the night, rested briefly in the Land of Hot Water before turning towards the Land of Waterfalls.

Konoha has the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki; if the current Hokage were in his right mind, he wouldn't let such a powerful asset go to waste.

Moreover, Madara Uchiha, who once controlled the Nine-Tails and fought against Hashirama Senju, creating the Valley of the End, was well aware of the power of the Nine-Tails combined with Susanoo.

Even if Uchiha Takeyasu couldn't unleash the Perfect Susanoo to control the Nine-Tails, Perfect Susanoo.

To avoid a disastrous outcome, acquiring the Tailed Beast as an ally is essential.

After leaving the Land of Lightning, Madara Uchiha, which lies between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waterfalls of Land of Earth, surrounded by the Land of Grass and the Land of Iron. The only Tailed Beast not controlled by the Five Great Nations, the Seven-Tails, resides in this small Takigakure.

"After Hashirama, no one has given me any more to look forward to. Little Wu, don't let me down!"

In the vast forest, Madara Uchiha's figure was like a hunting lion or tiger, speeding towards Takigakure.

Flying over a vast, boundless forest, as the sun set, Madara Uchiha arrived at the Land of Waterfalls, a region characterized by mountains and basins. After asking a few locals for directions, he went directly to the front of a large waterfall.

"This is indeed a good place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack."

Looking around, the superior geographical environment caught Madara Uchiha's eye. In addition, its proximity to the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire made it a rather good candidate for a secret base.

After giving it an appreciative look, Madara Uchiha rushed into the waterfall. In the blink of an eye, he stood atop the head of a beetle with six wings and a tail. The Seven-Tails, over fifty meters long, burst through the waterfall, carrying the Asura of the Shinobi World, and flew towards Konoha in the Land of Fire!

In the Land of Waterfalls Land of Grass, there is an island surrounded by water, with turbulent currents running beneath the surface, making it difficult even for ninjas to walk on the surging water.

Furthermore, some people in the Land of Grass possessed the [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison], a secret technique specifically designed to seal ninja Chakra. Therefore, the Land of Grass built a prison on the island specifically to receive ninjas from various countries.

The prison was named Hozuki Castle because of the sour berries called "Hozuki" that grow on the island.

The rules of Hozuki Castle are extremely simple:

First: Here, the warden is the rule.

Second: Never forget the first point, even in death.

"Hmph, what a ridiculous rule!"

Senju Moriki, who had offended the guards and been punished, leaned against the cold wall of the solitary confinement cell, spat out a mouthful of saliva, and the incantation of [Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal] could be seen on his tongue.

(You two, you scoundrels, just you wait!)

When he was alone and quiet, Senju Moriki would often recall the scene from that night, and his heart would ache more and more, and his hatred would grow deeper and deeper.

(Once I obtain the Box of Paradise, your deaths will be imminent!)

Senju Moriki thought this in his heart, but his face showed a very dejected expression.

Having been struck by the warden Munemitsu's [Fire Release: Heavenly Prison], the Heavenly Prison curse will transform into chains of flames and burn the offender's body whenever Chakra is used.

Furthermore, if you stray too far from the caster, you will be burned to death.

Senju Moriki, realizing this and burdened by the Five Elements Seal on his body, felt utterly hopeless. Without Chakra, what use was a ninja? In the vast Hozuki Castle, he couldn't do anything he wanted.

The thought that someone had lived in Hozuki Castle for over a decade filled Senju Moriki with dread—if that were true, then the child of that despicable couple could have become Hokage!

(I must obtain the Box of Paradise; I don't care what the cost!)

Thinking of the elder from the Kusagakure who had recently been in contact with him, Senju Moriki decided to agree to become his test subject, as this was very likely the moment he would get closest to the Box of Paradise.

"So what if I send my Chakra to the Box of Paradise? It's just a mere artifact, how could it possibly devour me completely? I, the Senju of the Forest, may not have much else, but I have Chakra!"

Having made his decision, Senju Moriki calmed his breathing, stared at the only source of light on the wall—a small opening—and a sinister smile played on his lips.

Meanwhile, Minako Uzumaki, having covered a third of the distance, led the Senju Clan's ninja forces through a forest with a lake.

At Minako Uzumaki's suggestion, everyone took a short break.

"Take-san, we're too close to them here~"

"You're the one who asked me to come, Mrs. Minako."

"Hmm~"

Minako Uzumaki, her face flushed crimson, leaned against a tree trunk, biting her thin lips, her eyes fixed on the faintly visible figure ahead, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Take-san, there's someone coming!"

As the figure drew closer, Minako Uzumaki's eyes widened, her muscles clenching, causing the person behind her to change their expression slightly—a careless mistake had cost them dearly!

"Captain Minako."

A gentle and virtuous woman emerged under the moonlight, and the ninja who had come out to relieve himself quickly bowed his head in greeting.

"Okay, pass on the message, we should set off."

Minako Uzumaki waved her hand, looked at the ninja who went down to inform them, and gently licked her red lips, which were speckled with white foam.