"Let's set off." After clarifying the specific mission, Mokgetsu led the team out of Konoha, heading straight for the Land of Grass.
They traveled until dusk when Mokgetsu had the team stop to rest and eat.
Even though ninjas, compared to ordinary people, seem like a different species in terms of power, they still need three meals a day; hunger can even affect their combat ability.
"Let me do the cooking." Maruboshi Kosuke, who was quite good at cooking, volunteered to handle this tiring task.
After all, he was the only Genin in the team, so it was reasonable for him to do more chores.
Obito widened his eyes as he looked at Maruboshi Kosuke; his well-intentioned advice for an easy win turned into betrayal.
The best part of a mission is being able to eat Mokgetsu's cooking every meal. In Konoha, it's not easy to get Mokgetsu's food.
Though Mokgetsu welcomed them as guests, Obito and the others felt embarrassed since Mokgetsu had taken such good care of them, they didn't want to impose on Mokgetsu by visiting his home.
Noticing Obito's gaze, Maruboshi Kosuke smiled, "Though I might be boasting, my cooking skills are at least decent."
Maruboshi Kosuke thought Obito was worried his cooking wouldn't taste good.
Obito: ...
Obito wanted to say if it's only decent, then don't bother. Let Sage Mokgetsu, who has godlike cooking skills, do it.
But he couldn't say it out loud, otherwise, it would seem like he was ordering Mokgetsu to cook, which felt somewhat disrespectful.
"Let me help." Mokgetsu nodded and said.
"I'll go find some food." Kakashi was embarrassed to eat for free.
"Me too," Obito followed, wanting to see if there was anything nearby he liked to eat.
Finally, all of Mokgetsu's disciples went to gather ingredients, while Mokgetsu and Maruboshi Kosuke started with the preparations, leaving Nara Suzaku and Aburame Shikuro to guard the surroundings.
Although they were still within the Land of Fire's borders and unlikely to encounter enemy ninjas, being experienced Jonin, they wouldn't give any adversaries a chance.
Kakashi caught several fresh fish, Shisui brought back many mushrooms, and none of the disciples returned empty-handed.
As they processed the ingredients together, Maruboshi Kosuke noticed Mokgetsu's prowess, gradually yielding control to him, making it from Mokgetsu helping to Kosuke assisting Mokgetsu.
Seeing this, Obito nodded in satisfaction, realizing it's best to lay low and be carried along; sometimes doing more results in more mistakes.
Soon, a steaming, fragrant fish soup was ready.
Even the usually silent Aburame Shikuro seemed moved, quietly picking up a bowl to queue up for the soup.
As Maruboshi Kosuke drank the delicious fish soup, he felt as if he were in an underwater world, experiencing an otherworldly freedom.
"After eating Captain Mokgetsu's dinner, no one would want to eat anyone else's cooking," Maruboshi Kosuke exclaimed.
He finally understood why Obito initially had that look; he wanted to eat Mokgetsu's cooking but was too embarrassed to say so.
"Indeed." Nara Suzaku agreed.
This was an unexpected gain; he hadn't realized this young, strong Mokgetsu also had such high culinary skills.
Obito and the others didn't respond; they were all fully immersed in eating because, from experience, they knew it's not suitable to chat while eating Mokgetsu's dishes, or they would find the serious problem that even a few words would leave no food.
After finishing his meal, Obito showed a satisfied expression and said, "Of course, Teacher Mokgetsu's culinary skills are unparalleled!"
"Impressive." Aburame Shikuro said succinctly.
After finishing dinner, the group continued on to the Land of Grass.
...
"How much Chakra does this chest need to absorb before it opens?" Yokokawa Tsutomu frowned as he watched the enormous box devour corpses without any sign of opening.
To open this Box of Bliss, Yokokawa Tsutomu not only sacrificed all the collected ninja corpses but also ordered the Grass Ninja to release Chakra for the Box of Bliss to absorb, with months passing and it looking almost the same as before.
His bet for success relied on the Box of Bliss being opened; if it couldn't be opened, it would be all for naught.
"The more Chakra it absorbs, the more remarkable the Box of Bliss is. Maybe it truly has the power to grant wishes," Impermanence comforted.
They had given much to open the Box of Bliss, a path of no return; either the Grass Seed would open the Box of Bliss and lead the Land of Grass to greatness, or they would fail, leaving the Grass Village severely weakened and taken over by the Grass Flower.
There's no middle ground of giving up, as giving up is equivalent to failure.
Ending the cooperation with Hidden Rock wasn't easy; Hidden Rock wasn't an easy-going Ninja Village to deal with.
"I don't expect it to let the Grass Ninja directly rule the world, but at least it shouldn't waste the Chakra it absorbs." Yokokawa Tsutomu still didn't believe the wish-granting legend.
His expectations for the Box of Bliss were simple; even if it only bestowed the absorbed Chakra onto him, it would be enough.
With such a colossal amount of Chakra and his level of Ninjutsu skills, the Grass Village could produce a "True God."
"If it could grant wishes, what would you wish for?" Yokokawa Tsutomu, intrigued, looked at Impermanence.
Young Impermanence had been the most outstanding ninja prodigy in the Grass Village, and Yokokawa Tsutomu had always groomed him as the next leader of the Grass Seed.
"Let the Grass Village rule the Ninja World," Impermanence said without hesitation.
"Not considering immortality or becoming the strongest wish?" Yokokawa Tsutomu continued to ask.