Konoha is the enemy.
Everything is Konoha's fault.
If not for Konoha, the Land of Fire would never have fallen into this state.
If not for Konoha, they wouldn't have been forced to abandon their homeland.
Those were his father's words—whispered again and again, a bitter chant of obsession, ambition, and hate.
In the end, they became Sora's only form of prayer.
Now, he sat upon the Box of Paradise, the cold stone beneath him pulsing faintly with corrupted chakra. His hollow eyes scanned the ruins below.
What had once been Hōzuki Castle was nothing more than a field of broken stone and ash. There was no movement, no sound—only silence.
An indescribable emptiness gnawed at him. It mixed with the festering resentment in his chest, bubbling up into a whisper.
"If not for Konoha... Father wouldn't have been branded a criminal of the Land of Fire…"
"If not for Konoha... he wouldn't have died like that…"
"If not for Konoha... I wouldn't have become this…"
His voice trembled between grief and hatred, echoing softly through the devastation.
Sora rose, his fingers tightening around the Box. The twisted chakra inside him stirred—and once again, his body warped, the monstrous form of Satori unfolding from within.
Spreading his massive wings, he launched into the sky, clutching the Box in one clawed hand, soaring toward the only direction burned into his memory.
"Everything is Konoha's fault…"
"It's all... the Hokage's fault."
Konoha—Hospital Ward
"Cough... cough—"
Mui's eyes snapped open, his entire body wracked with pain. The exhaustion from his chakra depletion weighed on him like chains.
Where... am I?
He tried to rise but felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't move," a calm, clear voice said. "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet."
He turned his head. A blonde woman stood by the bed, arms crossed, her expression cool but not unkind.
"Who... are you? Where is this?" he rasped.
"This is Konoha's hospital," she replied. "You were found by one of our shinobi. The young man and girl who were with you are in the next room. They're fine."
Mui exhaled a shaky breath, tension leaving his body.
Then, grim realization returned. "Hōzuki Castle... the Box of Paradise...?"
The woman's gaze sharpened. She didn't need to answer; he already knew.
He closed his eyes. "I see... so it's come to that."
There was no reason to hide anything now. Konoha had already seen too much.
He spoke haltingly, recounting everything—Kusa's desperate plan, Tsutakawa's madness, the wish, the awakening of the Box, and finally, the tragedy of Kazuma and Sora.
When he finished, the room fell silent.
Tsunade frowned deeply. "Kazuma... and that boy... so that's how it ended."
Her voice was low, burdened. After a moment, she turned to leave, her footsteps heavy with thought.
Things are worse than expected, she thought grimly. Much worse.
Konoha—Emergency Council
The next morning, an emergency council was convened at the Hokage's office.
The reports were conclusive: the Box of Paradise had been activated, Hōzuki Castle was in ruins, and almost every high-ranking official of Kusa was dead. The mutated entity—once Sora—remained unaccounted for.
The situation had officially escalated beyond containment.
Every advisor, councilor, and jonin squad leader was present. Kakashi stood beside Tsunade, while Roshi leaned wearily against the wall, arms folded, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
At the head of the table, the Third Hokage's expression was grave. "The evidence leaves no doubt. The Box has been unsealed, and the entity released possesses extraordinary power. We must determine how Konoha will respond."
Homura was the first to speak, adjusting his glasses. "Hōzuki Castle lies on an isolated island. Even if destroyed, the incident is unlikely to affect Konoha in the short term. This is the result of Kusa's own greed. We have no obligation to intervene."
Koharu nodded. "Agreed. Until we fully understand the threat level of this so-called 'Box' and its creature, Konoha's priority should be internal security—and ensuring the Chunin Exams proceed smoothly. Reckless involvement would only expose us to unnecessary risk."
Danzo's tone was cold, but his conclusion aligned—at least on the surface.
"Root's original interference was to prevent Kusa from acquiring wish-based power. If the Box's only result was to birth a mindless monster, then direct engagement serves no strategic purpose."
His single visible eye glinted faintly. "A weapon that even its wielder cannot control is not worth taking."
He paused, almost wistfully. "Still... it's unfortunate. That child—the Nine-Tails' chakra vessel—could have been... useful."
At that, a chill passed through the room.
Tsunade's fingers drummed the table once, a sharp tok breaking the silence. "You're all missing the point," she said. "If that creature carries remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra, and it's wandering free, we can't just sit and wait."
Her gaze swept across the others. "You know as well as I do—chakra like that doesn't fade quietly. Sooner or later, it will come for something."
Hiruzen's expression darkened, his pipe untouched. "She's right. Konoha cannot afford complacency."
He looked at Danzo. "What about your remaining Root operatives?"
Danzo's tone didn't waver. "All contact has been lost."
The Third exhaled slowly. "Then the Box's power must already be spreading."
Roshi finally opened one eye, sounding as disinterested as ever. "So… we're dealing with a giant flying chakra monster powered by resentment and Nine-Tails fragments. And we're hosting the Chunin Exams in a week."
Kakashi sighed. "In other words, a normal week in Konoha."
Even Tsunade cracked the faintest smirk—but it didn't reach her eyes.
Because they all knew what this meant.
Something unnatural had awakened—and it was coming.
Nara Shikaku sat with his arms folded, his chin resting on one hand. The faint glimmer of calculation flickered behind his calm gaze as he analyzed the gathered intelligence.
"According to Mui—Kusa jonin who survived—this monster, Satori, possesses the ability to fly. That means its range of activity isn't confined to Hōzuki Castle."
He paused, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against his sleeve.
"What we don't yet understand is why Hōzuki Castle was destroyed. Was it because the Box of Paradise twisted its opener's wish—punishing the ambition of Kusa itself—or because the Box is inherently drawn to living chakra, feeding on it?"
His expression darkened. "If it's the former, then its next target will likely be Kusa's main settlement. But if it's the latter…"
He glanced at the map spread across the table, tracing a line toward the Land of Fire.
"…Then the entire shinobi world is in danger."
Shikaku leaned back. "Either way, Konoha will be affected. We need to prepare before it reaches our borders."
Hiruzen nodded, pipe in hand, though he hadn't lit it. "Agreed." He exhaled softly, his tone measured but heavy. "First, inform our current guests—Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure, Dodai of Kumogakure, and the others—of the situation regarding Hōzuki Castle and the Box of Paradise."
His gaze sharpened. "We'll clarify that Kusa acted independently, and that Konoha bears no responsibility for this catastrophe. That must be established clearly."
Then he turned to Shikaku. "Begin drafting a tactical response plan for Satori. Speak to Mui in detail to gather any firsthand combat data that might help us understand the enemy's capabilities."
"Understood." Shikaku stood, gave a small bow, and left the council room.
Hiruzen's eyes shifted next to the two advisors seated beside him. "Homura. Koharu. I'm leaving diplomatic communication with the allied delegations to you both."
The two elders nodded, rising silently before departing to handle the delicate task of damage control.
Now, only a few remained—Hiruzen, Tsunade, Danzo, Kakashi, and Roshi.
"Tsunade," Hiruzen said, "you'll oversee Konoha's internal defenses and emergency measures for the Chunin Exams."
"Understood," she replied crisply, though her brow furrowed slightly.
Finally, the Third Hokage turned toward Danzo. "Root will handle external reconnaissance and any necessary preemptive actions."
Danzo's expression remained unreadable. He stood with his cane, the faintest shadow crossing his single visible eye. "Understood." With that, he turned and vanished into the hall.
The office was quiet again.
Hiruzen finally looked at Roshi. "Roshi… I'm sorry to drag you again, but this time, I'll need your strength."
His tone was solemn, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
"That creature—Satori—was born from the Box of Paradise merging with remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra. If it carries even a trace of that power, your Wood Release may prove uniquely effective."
He paused, then added, "Please resume your ANBU designation. You'll accompany me to monitor and engage if necessary."
The words carried quiet weight. Satori wasn't an opponent an ordinary jonin could handle, and with its ability to fly, even Tsunade's combat power was limited. With Jiraiya still away, there were few who could respond quickly enough.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Roshi replied simply.
Kakashi glanced at him, expression unreadable. The order meant Roshi would be at the front line.
As the council dispersed, Kakashi was told to remain behind to guard Konoha's interior—both for security and because, tactically, his current arsenal had little effect against a being like Satori.
When Roshi turned to leave, Tsunade called after him.
"Hey. Be careful out there."
He paused, glancing back. "I'm always cautious in battle."
"Don't talk back to me at a time like this!" Tsunade snapped, fists tightening. "You dragged me back to this village and made me deal with all this paperwork—don't you dare die on me, you hear?"
There was a moment of silence. Then, with an uncharacteristic softness, Roshi nodded. "Understood."
Tsunade looked away, crossing her arms awkwardly. "...Anyway, go get ready. We'll be counting on you."
He gave a faint smile and left.
Despite Konoha's best efforts to keep things quiet, the sudden movements of its high-ranking shinobi didn't escape the notice of their guests. Within hours, representatives from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Amegakure, and Takigakure were summoned to a hastily arranged conference room.
Koharu, standing in for the Hokage, began the briefing. Her report was calm and precise, detailing the destruction of Hōzuki Castle and the existence of the Box of Paradise.
She spoke carefully, emphasizing that Kusa had acted without authorization and that their reckless experimentation had unleashed the current crisis.
When she finished, a heavy silence filled the room.
It was Chiyo who broke it first, her voice sharp as a blade. "The Box of Paradise, huh? The fools in Kusa actually gambled their future on a legend. I've seen enough of these so-called 'miracle tools'—they always come at a price."
The representatives from Amegakure and Takigakure exchanged uncertain looks but remained silent.
Dodai folded his arms. "I understand the situation," he said slowly. "If Konoha requires it, I can report to the Raikage and prepare a small support team. In turn, I ask that Konoha assist in relaying this intelligence to the Land of Lightning immediately."
It wasn't altruism—it was calculation.
If Satori's rampage continued, Konoha would be the first to suffer. The Land of Fire was its next natural target. For Kumogakure, lending symbolic "support" while keeping the battlefield far away was simply smart strategy.
Homura gave a diplomatic nod. "We appreciate your offer, Lord Dodai. We'll ensure your message reaches the Raikage without delay. As for the Box of Paradise, Konoha will continue its own assessment. For now, there's no need to trouble your village with unnecessary risk."
Dodai inclined his head slightly. "Very well."
Chiyo gave a dry chuckle. "Hm. Seems Konoha will have its hands full again. Let's hope this one doesn't turn into another Nine-Tails incident."
Her tone was half-mocking, half-wary.
Homura's polite smile didn't falter. "We'll make sure it doesn't, Elder Chiyo."
As the foreign representatives departed, the tension in the air remained thick. Every shinobi present knew the unspoken truth—
If Satori continued to move inland, the next battlefield wouldn't be Hōzuki Castle.
It would be the Land of Fire.
And Konoha was already preparing for the storm.
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