"Good grief... that's a lot of nines."
Ning Feng carefully counted the digits.
The amount of chakra required was equivalent to dozens of Kage-level shinobi combined.
So much chakra just to fully charge the Box of Paradise...
In other words, if the shinobi of Kusagakure hadn't eventually fed the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's chakra into it, they would have needed dozens more Kage-level chakra sources before awakening whatever was inside.
"Fortunately, after fusing with eight tailed beasts, my chakra reserves have already reached a ridiculous level. Judging from the system prompt, I don't even need to enter the box personally to supply chakra."
Ning Feng reached out with his left hand, intending to pick up the Box of Paradise.
To his surprise—
It didn't budge.
The weight of the box genuinely shocked him.
Even with his body having undergone multiple enhancements, and using nearly all his physical strength, he could only shift it slightly.
"This thing is that heavy?"
Ning Feng raised an eyebrow.
At his current level, he could lift colossal tailed beasts like the Eight-Tails or Nine-Tails through sheer physical strength alone.
Yet moving the Box of Paradise was proving difficult.
The box truly was full of mysteries.
Perhaps not only Satori...
The box itself might be an extraordinary defensive treasure.
Grabbing hold of it, Ning Feng prepared to bring it to the surface.
Then his gaze casually swept across the floor.
He noticed the torn scraps of Muku's clothing.
"Right. That girl."
He suddenly remembered the white-haired girl who had sneaked in alongside him.
Turning around, he headed back to find Ryūzetsu.
"This girl's genjutsu resistance really is terrible."
Looking at Ryūzetsu, who was still trapped in the illusion without any sign of waking up, Ning Feng sighed helplessly.
Poof!
A shadow clone emerged behind him.
The clone casually hoisted the unconscious girl onto its shoulder.
"I wonder..."
"What kind of fight will this mind-reading monster give me?"
"Where... am I?"
When Ryūzetsu finally woke up, she found herself somewhere strangely familiar.
The area was wide open.
She could hear waves crashing against rocks below.
This place...
Frowning, she rubbed her forehead.
She vaguely remembered sneaking into the location Muku had told her about.
Then she'd encountered a strange swordsman.
And after that...
Everything went black.
Right—
Muku!
"Muku!"
She abruptly sprang to her feet and looked around.
This appeared to be some coastal cliffside.
Far below, waves smashed against the rocks.
"Awake already?"
A voice suddenly came from behind her.
Ryūzetsu immediately spun around in alarm.
The first thing she saw was an enormous box.
"That's... the Box of Paradise?"
Her eyes widened.
The grotesque animal heads with their gaping mouths looked terrifying from up close.
Beneath the box stood a young swordsman with a blade hanging at his waist.
One hand rested casually against the box.
He looked at her with a faint smile.
"It's you!"
Ryūzetsu instantly recognized him as the mysterious shinobi she'd encountered earlier.
But what had happened while she was unconscious?
How had she ended up here?
And why was the Box of Paradise here too?
"Hold on."
"You'll understand everything in a minute."
Ning Feng rolled his neck and continued increasing his chakra output.
A staggering amount of chakra poured from his body into the box.
With eight tailed beasts residing inside him, he barely felt the drain.
"What are you doing?"
Ryūzetsu stared in astonishment.
The chakra flowing from him was unbelievable.
Even Muku, celebrated as Kusagakure's genius with exceptional chakra reserves, was insignificant compared to this young man.
Bzzzz...
Suddenly, crimson light erupted from the mouths of the four beast heads.
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the coastline.
It felt as though a demon god had arrived.
"Looks like that's enough."
Ning Feng nodded.
In the next instant, he used the Body Flicker Technique.
Appearing beside Ryūzetsu, he grabbed her before she could react.
Tap. Tap.
A slender figure slowly stepped out from one of the beast mouths.
"Muku!"
The sorrow on Ryūzetsu's face vanished instantly.
Joy replaced it.
She immediately tried to rush forward.
Muku was alive!
He had returned safely!
"Looking for death?"
Without even glancing at her, Ning Feng pressed a hand onto her shoulder and snorted dismissively.
"What are you doing?!"
Ryūzetsu glared at him furiously.
If not for the fact that he had somehow brought Muku back, she would have attacked him already.
"Wait until you've had a proper look before calling him Muku."
Ning Feng stared at the approaching figure.
A cruel smile appeared on his lips.
"Satori."
"Are you planning to keep hiding?"
His voice echoed across the coast.
"Satori...?"
Ryūzetsu blinked.
Suddenly—
The vacant-looking Muku reacted violently.
His expression twisted.
Both hands flew to his head.
"Muku!"
Ryūzetsu's face filled with worry.
She had no idea why he seemed to be in such agony.
Could this somehow be the swordsman's doing?
She shot Ning Feng an angry glare.
"Don't look at me."
"This has nothing to do with me."
Ning Feng shrugged.
He merely wanted to force Satori out faster.
Why was she acting as if he were the villain?
"Aaaaagh!"
Muku's face contorted grotesquely.
His body collapsed to the ground.
Curling into a ball, he trembled violently.
"Urgh...!"
Suddenly he stood up.
Then—
Black liquid erupted from his mouth.
The dark substance rapidly engulfed his body.
"Muku!"
Ryūzetsu's face turned pale.
The black material wrapped around him and spread rapidly.
Soon, feather-like structures began growing from it.
The mass expanded outward.
"Finally."
Ning Feng muttered.
At the same time, he drew his sword.
The chakra signature emanating from this thing was impressive.
After all, it had been born from chakra equivalent to dozens of Kage-level shinobi that he had personally poured into the Box of Paradise.
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