Chapter 125: Mui Wish
The Box, an enormous structure adorned with demonic mask-like faces on all four sides, loomed ominously.
Fugaku's eyes shifted towards the prison chief, Mui, but to his surprise, Mui seemed more fixated on the mysterious box than on him.
Jiraiya, observing the scene from a distance, shared in Fugaku's astonishment. Despite his extensive knowledge, he had never encountered anything quite like the enigmatic box.
As the drama unfolded, two vigilant ninjas guarding Komeko's mother suddenly crumpled to the ground. Their attention had wavered amidst the chaos, allowing an unseen assailant to approach undetected.
"Another shadow clone? Interesting," remarked Mui, his gaze shifting from Fugaku to the woman now liberated from captivity.
Fugaku, anticipating Mui's next move, had already deployed a shadow clone. Shadow Clone swiftly moved to free the captive woman, deftly removing the tape, handcuffs, and shackles that bound her.
The Fugaku clone took Komeko along and bolted toward the castle exit. They had barely covered some distance when they unexpectedly bumped into Jiraiya with Kenji.
"Let's go out of the castle!" Fugaku's shadow clone urged him before dashing out of the castle.
Jiraiya's shadow clone was puzzled. Another shadow clone? The two clones met and engaged in a quick exchange, with the situation feeling oddly surreal.
"You're a shadow clone?"
"Yeah, what a coincidence, me too."
---------------------
Meanwhile, Fugaku found himself in the square, observing the surreal spectacle unfold.
On the other hand, Jiraiya remained concealed in a corner, his eyes widening in disbelief at the astonishing scene before him—the piercing beam of light at the colossal box adorned with a demonic mask-like face.
"What the hell is this?" Jiraiya muttered under his breath, struggling to comprehend the bizarre occurrence.
From a safe distance, Mui sported a sinister smile as he surveyed the captivating scene. By his side were Miyamoto and four enigmatic figures.
"It's spectacular~~," Miyamoto exclaimed.
"Hahaha, our long-cherished wish for many years will finally come true!" one of the four individuals declared. "We spent a lot of manpower to transport the box of bliss under the square and set up a seal there with secret arts. All the chakras absorbed were fed into the box of bliss!
The prisoners' chakra was almost drained. As long as we make a wish, we can elevate our grass village."
"Yes, yes! Mui is going to make a wish!" Another chimed in enthusiastically. "Let's go; see ourselves!"
Miyamoto and the four individuals descended slowly, creating a mysterious atmosphere as they approached the middle of the square, leaving everyone stunned.
Amidst the crowd, Fugaku witnessed Mui walking up to the box and raising his hands. A white-green glow emanated from his hands, hinting at some secret art in progress.
"Is he... going to make a wish?" Fugaku mumbled, rendered speechless by the inexplicable turn of events. The concept of making a wish seemed beyond his understanding, prompting a cascade of questions.
How could such a thing be possible? How did making a wish factor into all this?
"Open..." Mui's raised hands gleamed even brighter. "Box of bliss, please let me see my brother again!"
Fugaku was shocked to witness the tearful plea in Mui's eyes. Was Mui's brother dead? And was he attempting to bring him back with a wish? The unfolding events left him bewildered.
Miyamoto, who had just reached the ground, nearly tripped over the stairs upon hearing Mui's wish.
"Damn it, he's betraying us!"
"Stop him!"
The demonic mask-like face on one side of the box glowed golden after Mui made his wish, and with a loud thud, that side fell open. Subsequently, the remaining three sides of the box also glowed.
Under the moonlight, a figure slowly emerged from within the fallen box. The man, shirtless with pale skin, bore a striking resemblance to Mui.
Fugaku was dumbfounded. Could this box truly grant wishes? It seemed incredible.
"Brother, I'm sorry!" Mui sobbed with regret.
"Brother, hehehe, why are you sorry?" The man laughed wickedly.
Miyamoto and the four guards, holding swords, attempted to attack Mui, but Mui's brother intercepted them effortlessly, catching their weapons with bare hands.
Mui looked at his younger brother, his face filled with surprise. He had sacrificed his younger brother, but he didn't expect him to save him now. He was such a bastard. Reflecting on this, he felt even more remorseful.
"Mui, his life is mine!" Mui's brother declared, swiftly dispatching the guards by slicing through their necks with his bare hands.
As the gruesome scene unfolded, a pale hand pierced Mui's heart. Mui groaned, his expression one of disbelief. "Why... why..."
"Hehehe, you still ask me why? Do you know what this box is for?" Mui's brother smirked.
Mui tried to say something, but he couldn't. His brother's hand pulled out of his heart, spraying a stream of blood all over the ground.
Mui fell to the ground slowly. Fugaku frowned. He seemed to be stronger than any Jonin.
He is troublesome, and so is the box. The man smiled and licked the blood on his hand, as if he savored the taste.
"What the hell is going on?" Fugaku wondered.
"Everyone... run!"
The surrounding prisoners, finally coming to their senses, witnessed the gruesome scene and hastily scattered in all directions. However, their attempt to escape was thwarted by the grim reality.
But it was too late. Having just been released from the Heavenly Prison seal, the prisoners found themselves with depleted chakra, rendering their movements sluggish. Adding to their predicament, the ominous box continued to absorb their chakra, prolonging their escape in their fatigued state.
"Hahaha, you want to escape? You're all going to die!" the man roared, echoing a sense of impending doom.
Simultaneously, the beast faces on all sides of the box opened their mouths, unleashing a formidable suction force that emanated from them. The prisoners, struggling against their weakened state, were drawn inexorably towards the box, as if a malevolent force sought to consume them. The once chaotic scene has now transformed into a desperate struggle for survival against an unknown and overpowering adversary.