Chapter 291: About to Enter the Box of Paradise...

"Muku... are you really going?"

Inside Kusagakure, a white-haired girl with delicate features looked at the frail-looking boy before her, her face filled with worry.

"Ryūzetsu... Father already explained it to me. As long as I enter it, the Box of Paradise will open. When that happens, Kusagakure can return to its former glory."

The boy bore a slight resemblance to Mui, though compared to his father, his face was far more youthful and gentle.

"You idiot..."

Ryūzetsu’s face grew even paler.

"Countless people have died because of that thing! It’s one thing if your father doesn’t care about your life, but how can even you—"

"Ryūzetsu!"

The boy—Muku—interrupted her, his face flushing slightly.

"I trust Father!"

"And besides... I’ve heard from others that war is raging outside. Nobody knows when it might spread to Kusagakure. As a member of the village, I should contribute my own strength too!"

"You..."

Ryūzetsu bit her lip.

More than anyone else, she knew how stubborn this seemingly gentle boy could be.

Once he made up his mind, almost nothing could change it.

In the past, she would have simply supported whatever her childhood friend wanted.

But this time...

His life was at stake.

If Muku continued down this path, he might very well die.

"Muku! Don’t you understand how dangerous the Box of Paradise is? No matter how far the war spreads, it won’t reach Kusagakure!"

Frowning deeply, Ryūzetsu stared at him.

"Believe me this time. That box will kill you!"

"Alright, alright..."

Seeing the determination on her face, Muku rubbed his forehead helplessly.

It seemed that unless he gave in, Ryūzetsu would continue trying to stop him.

"Then how about this? You can watch from the shadows. If anything happens to me... you can step in and protect me."

"...That works too."

After a moment of thought, Ryūzetsu nodded.

If not for the fact that several of her friends had entered the Box of Paradise and never returned, she would never have believed Mui would willingly send his own son to die.

But those disappearances were real.

No matter what, she had to ensure Muku’s safety.

"You worry too much. Father would never harm me."

Muku smiled helplessly and gently placed a hand on her head.

"You idiot... Just make sure you come back alive."

Her expression remained troubled.

Chuckling softly, Muku withdrew his hand and walked past her.

Standing beneath an ancient towering tree surrounded by countless glowing hōzuki lantern flowers, he gazed into the sea of floating lights.

"Ryūzetsu... my wish is actually very simple."

As he spoke, he extended a hand and caught a drifting firefly-like light.

He stared quietly at the tiny glow resting in his palm.

"I just want to live peacefully here..."

"With Father... and..."

Ryūzetsu fixed her gaze on him.

Unfortunately, a strong gust of wind drowned out the rest of his words.

"What? Muku?"

"If becoming the village’s hero is what it takes... then so be it. Though maybe I won’t come back."

Muku let out a soft breath.

Looking at the endless lights and rustling leaves, the smile faded from his face.

"Father already told me all of that. But I still choose to trust him. And trust myself."

"Promise me, Muku..."

Ryūzetsu looked at him seriously.

"Promise me you’ll come back safely."

When he failed to respond immediately, she repeated herself with even greater determination.

"Promise me!"

"...Alright."

Snapping out of his daze, Muku smiled helplessly.

"I promise."

The next day.

While continuing his covert observation, Ning Feng was just about ready to seize the Box of Paradise from these fools wasting its potential when he noticed a young ninja with a delicate, gentle appearance slowly approaching it.

"Who is this kid?"

Ning Feng narrowed his eyes. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The boy’s chakra reserves were actually quite impressive.

For someone his age, very few shinobi possessed chakra on this level.

"Don’t tell me they’re planning to throw him into the Box of Paradise?"

Confusion spread across Ning Feng’s face.

Were these people naïve?

Or simply ignorant?

Without tailed-beast-level chakra, no amount of ordinary chakra would make a meaningful difference.

Even if this boy possessed more chakra than most shinobi his age, it would still be a drop in the ocean.

To force the Box of Paradise open through quantity alone, they would need to throw the entire population of Kusagakure into it.

"Hm?"

Just as the young ninja prepared to step toward the box, Ning Feng suddenly detected another chakra signature.

It was being carefully suppressed while approaching the area.

"Another brat?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Did they discover me?"

Ning Feng’s expression sharpened.

He had absolute confidence in his infiltration abilities.

Yet this chakra signature was heading directly toward his location.

Could someone actually be attempting to sneak up on him?

Even Madara Uchiha wouldn’t dare claim he could assassinate Ning Feng.

The confidence of Kusagakure’s shinobi was truly remarkable.

"They really found me?"

His brows furrowed.

This chakra wasn’t passing by accidentally.

Its target was clearly his position.

Whoosh!

Worried about Muku’s safety, Ryūzetsu had secretly followed the route Muku described and was attempting to infiltrate the underground facility.

The moment she stepped into the tunnel—

A blade appeared across her delicate neck.

Her heart nearly stopped.

I’ve been discovered?!

She had never imagined someone could approach her so silently.

The sword had moved so quickly that by the time she realized what was happening, the blade was already resting against her throat.

She had seen many swordsmen in Kusagakure.

None could draw a blade this fast.

Had Muku been wrong?

Was this route not actually hidden at all?

Thankfully, she was still wearing her Kusagakure forehead protector.

Surely that was the only reason she wasn’t killed instantly.

The swordsman must have noticed her headband.

Thinking this, Ryūzetsu slowly raised her head.

At the same time, one hand slipped into her ninja pouch.

"Don’t attack. I’m from Kusagakure..."

She pointed at her forehead protector.

"Look..."

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