Chapter 96: Heaven's Fall!
Ryūzetsu carefully sidestepped the crimson flames as she approached the ruined town's center, her gaze fixed on the lone figure standing amidst the devastation.
Dense black mist writhed like serpents, slowly being absorbed into his body.
The Box of Ultimate Bliss… was gone!
Her pupils widened, trembling violently.
The ultimate weapon of Kusagakure, passed down through countless generations—how could it possibly have been destroyed?
Or worse…
Had this man, like Mukade, been devoured by it instead?
Logic screamed at her to run, to escape this place as quickly as possible.
Regardless of the circumstances, that man was no ordinary human!
As the last trace of black mist vanished, Uchiha Kagami took a deep breath, his senses expanding outward.
The negative energy contained within the Box of Ultimate Bliss was immense, enough to serve as a wellspring of power for him for a long time.
However, the destruction of the Box did not mean that Sukuna would automatically inherit its share of energy.
It was as though the Box had been captured, but its "business" of evil would not pause—it would be divided and consumed by other malevolent entities.
The ninja world was an inexhaustible source of negative energy. Yet, before these monstrous entities broke free of their seals, where had all that energy gone?
To the Tailed Beasts.
A portion of it likely flowed into the Tailed Beasts, or, more precisely, human malice had influenced them.
Initially, the Tailed Beasts were pure, benevolent guardians of the ninja world.
They were not curses or deities of destruction but beings with the potential for growth and a natural affinity for harmony.
Take Kurama, the Nine-Tails, for instance. If he chose to, he could wield the entire planet's natural energy—why would he bother with negative emotions?
But even Kurama was eventually tainted by humanity's spiritual pollution. Later in life, he realized this and sought refuge in isolated, uninhabited places.
What happened next was history.
Madara Uchiha captured him, and Hashirama Senju locked him away.
The Nine-Tails, originally a symbol of love and peace, became a fox demon embodying hatred.
What an injustice.
No wonder Kurama loathed Madara so deeply—he had been living peacefully, only to be disturbed by people coveting his power.
One day, a red-eyed lunatic came along, calling him a beast…
Then he was bound and immobilized for decades.
Tsk. You didn't need empathy to see how pitiful that was.
---
Kagami could faintly sense streams of negative energy converging to the west.
That must be Moryō, he surmised.
Another so-called world-destroying demon. Hopefully, this one would provide more of a challenge than the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
His gaze shifted to the town's gates, where he saw Ryūzetsu standing hesitantly.
Though clearly terrified, the girl hadn't run away.
She seemed determined to uncover one truth—something she wouldn't rest without knowing.
As Kagami approached, she summoned all her courage to speak.
"Mukade! Do you know where Mukade is?"
Kagami crouched slightly, smiling. "When you ask someone a question, shouldn't you at least explain who this person is or where they might have gone?"
Ryūzetsu sighed in relief.
He seemed… human, after all.
Pointing toward the fragmented remains of the creature he had just destroyed, she continued.
"Mukade was my friend. A year ago, the Box of Ultimate Bliss caused the uprising in Demon Lantern City… so many people died…"
"The elders said Mukade became that monster, but I know… I know! He told me in a dream! He's inside that Box!"
Kagami nodded thoughtfully, then responded.
"Anyone devoured by the Box of Ultimate Bliss will have their soul eternally tormented, unable to find peace. In your terms, it means they can never reach the Pure Land."
---
Ryūzetsu's eyes brimmed with tears.
"No… it can't be…"
"How could this happen…?"
She clutched Kagami's sleeve, her gaze pleading.
"Please… Mukade is in so much pain. I'm begging you, save him!"
"Save him?" Kagami shook his head. "He's already dead. There's no saving him."
Ryūzetsu's hand fell limp, her tears cascading down like raindrops.
Kagami placed a warm hand on her head, his voice soft.
"His soul has been polluted beyond redemption. The only mercy I can offer him is complete annihilation."
"What you should do now is live well. If Mukade was truly your friend, that's what he would want for you."
He pointed in a direction and placed a shuriken with the Uchiha crest into her trembling hands.
"Head to the Land of Fire and find the Uchiha Clan.
"Tell them to bring you to a boy named Shisui. He'll take care of you."
"You've survived in a place like this. You're strong. You can do it, can't you?"
Ryūzetsu stared blankly at the shuriken, her tearful eyes gazing up at Kagami.
"Uchiha…?"
Even at her young age, she had heard the name. The Uchihas were the most renowned clan in recent years—the rulers of the Land of Fire.
She didn't know how strong they were, but Mukade had once told her that the Land of Fire was the only haven left in this chaotic era.
Clutching the shuriken tightly, she asked one last question.
"Will Mukade… truly find peace?"
"Of course. I can promise you that."
---
Kagami stood silently, watching as Ryūzetsu walked away, turning back every few steps.
Sukuna's voice rang out.
"Ha! A mouthful of lies, as usual."
Sukuna recalled what he had done to Itadori—no matter how much the boy begged, he had refused to save his friend.
"It wouldn't have been difficult to locate Mukade's soul in the Box or to purify it with your Yin-Yang Release."
"But you told her it was impossible, just to sever… what do you call it?" Sukuna sneered.
"Bonds?"
"'Bonds' isn't even a good word."
Kagami turned and began walking in the opposite direction of Ryūzetsu.
"She possesses a rare resurrection technique. Consider it my insurance policy for Shisui."
---
Sukuna chuckled coldly.
"So, you're planning to use her as a trigger for your little brother's Mangekyō awakening?
"You're more twisted than I am, Kagami."
Kagami shrugged.
"Don't make me sound like an obsessive, controlling older brother. Can't I just be a kind soul trying to save a pitiful girl?"
"…Heh."
---
On the borders of the Bird Country, Kagami accelerated toward the Land of Demons, eager to finish his work and return home.
The air outside the Land of Fire was almost unbearable.
Suddenly, Kagami stopped, his heart skipping a beat.
He looked up.
At first, it was just a faint dot in the sky.
But as the moments passed, it grew rapidly, its shape becoming clearer.
A massive meteor, engulfed in roaring flames, hurtled toward the earth like a blazing fireball.
Even thousands of miles away, the air roared under its oppressive descent.
It was as if…
A god had unleashed divine wrath upon the land.
The meteor sped directly toward Kagami's location.
Snap!
Kagami clasped his hands together, his chakra surging and kicking up a cloud of dust.
His Sharingan blazed with astonishment, curiosity, and above all…
Excitement.
End of Chapter
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