After hearing Katsushiro's report, Wugou frowned deeply. The Box of Paradise, a legendary treasure of Hidden Grass Village, was supposed to remain a closely guarded secret. Yet somehow, word had reached Konoha, and now they had set their sights on it.
"Huh," muttered the old man with the dog-headed mask, a senior of Grass Root, his voice tinged with anger. "This is unacceptable… absolutely unacceptable."
"Wugou," said the ox-headed elder beside him, exhaling heavily, "Konoha won't stop until they get the Box of Paradise. You must make a decision soon."
Wugou's face tightened. Just a year ago, Grass Root had made remarkable breakthroughs in their research on the Box of Paradise. The Four Elders had once suggested that sacrificing Wugou himself might be the only way to unlock its full potential. But Wugou had been unwilling to endanger his son.
Now, the situation was more urgent. Konoha's interest in the Box meant that hesitation could cost the village dearly. But Wugou was a father first. What kind of man could sacrifice his own child, no matter the promise of power?
"The Box of Paradise," the monkey-headed elder interjected, his voice sharp and audacious, "is the only hope for the revival of Hidden Grass Village. If I had a genius son, I would not hesitate to sacrifice him to open it."
His tone carried an unsettling smugness, as if he had already made up his mind to commit this horrific act.
"You three go back first," said the eldest of the sheep-headed elders, waving the others away.
"Remember your responsibility as a leader," the monkey-headed elder warned Wugou. "The fate of the entire Hidden Grass Village does not rest on your shoulders alone."
After the others departed, the sheep-headed elder knelt heavily before Wugou. "Elder, what are you doing?" Wugou asked quickly, reaching to help him to his feet.
The sheep-headed elder shook his head. "Wugou… let me kneel. I have never hated myself so much."
He continued, his voice trembling with guilt. "A few months ago, the three of them conspired to take extreme measures against your son. When they tried to force me to join them, I refused. But now… I hesitate."
Wugou coldly withdrew his hand, turning his back. "So you think my son deserves to be sacrificed? Tell me… what crime has he committed?"
"His only crime," the elder said softly, "is living in Hidden Grass Village… and being your son."
Wugou closed his eyes, pain etched across his face. "If I refuse… will you force me to agree?"
Suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the room—the unmistakable hiss of a kunai being driven into flesh. Wugou spun around to see the sheep-headed elder stab himself in the chest. Coup! The elder pulled the blade out and struck again, crimson blood splattering across Wugou's face.
"I deserve this," the elder gasped, "and so do the others. But… I hope you can see the bigger picture. Open the Box of Paradise. Destroy Konoha, and lead Hidden Grass Village to dominance over the Ninja World."
Wugou stared, stunned, at the body lying in a pool of blood, his mind spinning from shock and horror.
---
A month later, Neji and his team returned to Hidden Cloud Village, finally completing their perilous mission. After ensuring that Kana and her daughter were safely placed at Yugito's house, Neji and Yugito went directly to the Raikage Building to report every detail of their journey, from the escape from Hidden Grass Village to the rescue of the Uzumaki mother and daughter.
Upon hearing about the Box of Paradise's rumored ability to grant wishes, Ay, the Fourth Raikage, chuckled. "The people of Hidden Grass Village are truly dreaming if they think such a thing exists," he said mockingly.
However, when he learned of Neji's daring rescue of the mother and daughter, his demeanor changed instantly. With a roar of excitement, he punched the table, shattering it into pieces. Nearby, Tsuchida silently ordered a sturdier iron table to replace the broken one.
After a careful assessment, Ay classified the mission to Hidden Grass Village as top secret, sealing it in a file accessible only to the Raikage.
Neji scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "So… Raikage-sama, what reward do you wish to give me?"
Ay laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "Neji, what reward do you want?"
"I… I'd like a house," Neji said modestly, thinking of a safe place for Kana and her daughter.
Ay burst into laughter at Neji's humility. Tsuchida stepped forward with a faint smile, producing a deed. "This building is for you, on behalf of the Raikage. It is secluded, quiet… take good care of it."
"Thank you, Raikage-sama. Thank you, Tsuchida-senpai," Neji said gratefully.
Housing in the Ninja World was expensive—both rare and exorbitantly priced. Even someone like Sakura had struggled with mortgage payments in the original timeline, especially given Sasuke's frequent absences and constant traveling. In the Hidden Cloud Village, every plot of land was precious, with limited natural resources. For Neji to earn enough from missions alone to purchase a home would have taken years.
"This deed is my personal gift to you," Ay said, smiling. "Consider it the village's true reward for your efforts."
Neji was taken aback. Another surprise?
Then Ay produced a scroll, and with a flick of chakra, an oval jade jar appeared before Neji.
"What…?" Yugito gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"This," Ay explained, "is the Amber Purifying Pot, a Six Paths Sage relic. It is the most powerful of its kind, capable of sealing anything in the world. After the deaths of the Gold and Silver Brothers, it was left unused… but now, it is yours."
Neji, unassuming as always, tapped the pot lightly and pocketed it. Though impressed, he remained calm. To him, rescuing the Uzumaki mother and daughter and introducing them safely to the village was already a monumental achievement. The Six Paths tool was simply a bonus, a treasure whose full potential could only be realized in capable hands—his hands.
Tsuchida leaned closer, his tone serious. "Neji, be careful these days."
Neji raised an eyebrow. "Is someone causing trouble for me?"
Ay sighed. "Every family has its unique problems. Even as Raikage, I cannot control everything in every clan. Some time ago, clan leader Yotsuki Kazeki approached me… requesting certain favors. I politely declined, saying she was too proud and uninterested in helping with your situation."
Neji's mouth twitched slightly. A polite refusal, he thought? Interesting.
"So… Yotsuki Clan might cause trouble for me?" he asked.
Ay waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing too severe. Kazeki wouldn't harass a young ninja simply because of status. But some impatient young women in the clan might try something."
Neji exhaled, relaxed. "That's actually better. Gives me something to do."
Tsuchida warned, "Raikage-sama prefers not to meddle in disputes between young people. If anything escalates, come to me directly."
Neji grinned. "Don't worry, Tsuchida-senpai. I'll handle it."
Ay nodded approvingly. He trusted Neji to navigate these challenges on his own. If he had relied on Tsuchida's intervention, both Neji and the Raikage would have been disappointed.
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