Chapter 471: The Nonexistent Full Assembly of the Kamigami

Chapter 471: Chapter 471: The Nonexistent Full Assembly of the Kamigami

Watching Shizune and Hyuga Rei disappear into the distance—especially Shizune—Tsunade’s heart was filled with self-reproach.

Although Shizune had become her disciple long ago and had followed her for many years, Tsunade had been deeply dispirited during that period. She had either wandered from place to place or immersed herself in gambling, leaving her with virtually no desire to properly instruct Shizune.

As a result, despite having followed Tsunade for so many years, Shizune’s strength had improved only slightly. Even now, she had only barely reached the level of a Special Jonin.

"I’m the one who held her back..."

Tsunade sighed inwardly.

While Tsunade was silently lamenting this, Kagami flew into the air and began surveying his surroundings.

Logically speaking, Akatsuki should have made their move by now.

Yet there was still no sign of any Akatsuki members anywhere nearby, leaving Kagami somewhat uneasy.

At the same time, he noticed something strange about Konoha’s response as well.

The monster Satori had practically destroyed more than half the village, yet Konoha had only sent out two powerful shinobi—Jiraiya and Tsunade.

As for the Third Hokage, the village’s advisory elders, the patriarch of the major shinobi clans, and the rest of Konoha’s experts...

Not a single one of them had appeared.

"They’re all this good at keeping their composure?"

No sooner had Kagami complained inwardly than his brows furrowed.

He suddenly realized something.

Until now, he had been completely focused on finding a way to deal with Satori, so he hadn’t had any spare attention to analyze the overall situation.

Now that he finally had a moment to think, the answer belatedly dawned on him.

The reason both Akatsuki and Konoha had been able to remain so patient...

In all likelihood, it was because of him.

With that thought, Kagami suddenly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Don’t tell me both sides think the entire Kamigami is lying in wait behind me, and that’s why neither of them dares to make a move?"

But Kagami knew his own situation better than anyone.

Right now, he didn’t have a single reinforcement.

The so-called full assembly of the Kamigami simply didn’t exist.

At that moment, Satori’s agonized wails finally ceased.

The flames burning across its body gradually died out, while its enormous form slowly began to shrink until it returned to the appearance of an eight- or nine-year-old boy.

"Muku!"

Mui hurried over.

The boy lying amid the ruins slowly opened his eyes and weakly murmured, "Father..."

Mui gathered Muku into his arms.

"I was wrong! I’m the one who failed you!"

Muku shoved his father away and staggered to his feet.

Mui shook his head and pleaded, "Son, don’t let the Box of Ultimate Bliss control you anymore. Turn back! This time, no matter where you go, I’ll stay by your side!"

Muku gave him a bleak smile.

"I really wish you’d understood that sooner... but unfortunately, it’s already too late! I can no longer break free from it. So, as punishment...

"Please live on alone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Muku forcibly began refining chakra, deliberately triggering the Great Fire Heavenly Prison that bound him.

Anyone imprisoned by the Great Fire Heavenly Prison was forbidden from refining chakra.

The moment they tried to forcibly do so, the technique’s restriction would activate, engulfing them in raging flames.

And so—

In an instant, Muku became a man of fire!

"No!"

Mui shouted and tried to rush forward.

However, Muku, who had already been completely engulfed in flames, transformed into a mass of fire and spiraled back into the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

Just as Muku had said earlier, anyone controlled by the Box of Ultimate Bliss could never truly escape from it.

Even if their body was burned to ashes, their spirit would ultimately return to the Box of Ultimate Bliss and become nourishment for it.

After Muku returned to the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the entrance within the ghostly face on its surface gradually closed.

The weeping, wailing, and mournful cries that had been emanating from inside the box abruptly fell silent as well.

Whoosh...

The night wind swept past.

The surroundings returned to silence.

Standing before the Box of Ultimate Bliss, Mui stared blankly at it, completely lost in thought.

There was no longer the slightest trace of light in his eyes, as though his soul had departed together with Muku.

Just then—

An unbelievably fast figure suddenly flashed in front of Mui and pierced straight through his chest with a single strike!

Kagami’s gaze sharpened from where he hovered in midair.

"Finally showed yourself!"

On the ground, Tsunade and Jiraiya looked equally startled.

The enemy’s appearance had been far too sudden, completely bypassing their senses.

The mysterious figure casually tossed Mui’s corpse aside, finally revealing his face.

He was none other than Hiruko, Tsunade and Jiraiya’s former classmate.

Glancing down at Mui’s corpse, Hiruko curled his lips disdainfully.

"Useless Kusa shinobi!"

"Hiruko!"

Tsunade’s expression darkened as she shouted, "Why!? Why did you join Akatsuki? Have you forgotten that you’re a Konoha shinobi too?!"

Jiraiya chimed in as well, "It’s not too late to stop! We’ll help plead your case with the old man. Don’t keep going down the wrong path!"

"I stopped caring about a village that never valued me a long time ago!"

After a brief pause, Hiruko turned his gaze toward the now-closed Box of Ultimate Bliss, then pressed both hands against it.

The moment Hiruko’s palms touched the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the iron sand wrapped around its base immediately scattered across the ground.

Then, with a powerful heave, Hiruko hurled the Box of Ultimate Bliss into the air before leaping after it himself.

Whoosh...

With a sharp rush of wind, Hiruko’s Chimera Summon glided through the sky, catching both Hiruko and the Box of Ultimate Bliss on its back.

"Trying to run?"

Naturally, Kagami wasn’t about to stand by and let Hiruko simply steal the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

With a sweep of both hands, masses of iron sand immediately surged toward Hiruko’s Chimera Summon from every direction.

Seeing the overwhelming masses of iron sand closing in from all sides, Hiruko, standing atop the Chimera Summon’s back, raised both arms and shouted,

"Dark Style: Inhaling Maw!"

Whoosh—!

In an instant, Hiruko’s palms seemed to transform into two bottomless vortexes, completely absorbing the Magnet Release chakra contained within the black iron sand.

Without the Magnet Release chakra controlling it, the black iron sand suspended in the air immediately began raining down.

Hiruko gave Kagami a mocking smile.

"You really thought a mere Magnet Release could deal with me?"

Kagami’s expression darkened.

Dark Release’s ability to counter ninjutsu was simply too overwhelming.

Unless it was an extremely condensed technique like Naruto’s Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, ordinary ninjutsu simply couldn’t do anything against Hiruko’s Dark Release.

At that moment, Hiruko spread both arms and released the Magnet Release chakra he had just absorbed.

While manipulating the iron sand to attack Kagami, he laughed,

"Now you can have a taste of the power of Magnet Release yourself!"

On the ground, Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances before deciding to join the battle and stop Hiruko from taking away the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

This time, a member of the Kamigami had managed to find someone capable of countering Satori.

Next time, they might not be so fortunate.

Therefore, neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade could allow the Box of Ultimate Bliss to fall into Akatsuki’s hands.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

But just then—

A series of explosions erupted from all around the village!

Clearly...

Hiruko wasn’t the only one who had invaded Konoha.