Uchiha Soren had no interest in dragging out a question-and-answer session with the old merchant. The memories he still had of this plotline were fragmented at best. So—with a sweep of his Sharingan—he chose a quiet hillside while Genkaori, holding the snow-weasel Nelugu, settled beside him.
The merchant group prepared a simple lunch. As they ate, the old man began recounting the history of the Stone of Glair.
It traced back over a thousand years, to an era before ninjutsu, before chakra—
an era forgotten by nearly all.
Back then, people discovered a miraculous mineral vein. The old man's ancestors refined it into glittering crystals—each brimming with immense life energy—and named them Stones of Glair.
With these stones, a magnificent empire rose across the continent.
The Stones made possible:
Wells that never dried,
Livestock that matured overnight,
Crops that grew without end,
And research into halting biological decay itself.
But prosperity bred disaster.
Human greed festered. The Stones' power ignited unending wars. Mountains split, valleys burned, and the empire collapsed. Only a handful of young survivors remained.
To prevent future catastrophe, the ancestors sealed the entire Glair stone vein deep underground. Some royal-blooded survivors sailed overseas. Others—the caravan the old man belonged to—wandered the world.
Only royal blood could resonate with a Stone of Glair. Only royal blood could fuse with it.
Genkaori blinked.
"I'm… royalty?"
Her hand paused mid-stroke on Nelugu's fur.
The old man bowed deeply.
"Yes, Princess Genkaori. You bear the blood of the ancient royal house."
"Eh? Then Nelugu… how old is he?"
"Most likely, the Stone preserved him."
Soren lifted the gemstone to the light. Its energy was extraordinarily exclusive—repelling anything not of its chosen lineage.
After a moment's thought, he handed the stone to Genkaori.
"Darling, don't you need it?"
"It's probably incompatible with a shinobi chakra system. Besides—there's an entire sealed vein waiting for us."
He ruffled her hair, then lifted her easily into his arms.
Night had begun to fall, and the sealed vein lay some distance away. Not wanting to camp in the wilds, Soren summoned the Two-Tails to escort the caravan, while he carried Genkaori toward the Land of Hot Water.
Warm springs and a soft girl—
that was the true meaning of a hot spring.
Senju Clan Grounds — Later
Kneeling on the polished floor, trembling, the Grass Village delegation bowed before Uzumaki Mito, whose phoenix-sharp eyes could have cut steel.
"So—Senju Senki leapt into the Box of Bliss? A box from which no one has ever returned?"
"My own son… dared to do that?"
Her killing intent poured across the room like a frozen tide.
The warden of Hōzuki Castle—No-Sleep—pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Lady Mito—every word is true! Search my memories if you wish! Should even a single word be false, Grass Village is willing to die alongside young Senki!"
Mito's chest tightened with fury. She released a pulse of raw chakra—mere wind pressure—and slapped the entire delegation unconscious.
"Summon the Yamanaka Clan. I want a complete memory sweep."
Servants rushed out.
Mito turned. Beside her stood Uzumaki Minako, silent and thoughtful.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged a long look.
At last, Minako spoke.
"According to Grass, no one ever returns from the Box of Bliss. But it can supposedly grant any wish… so if we open it fully, we'll know his fate."
She paused.
Minako didn't particularly care if Senju Senki lived or died.
But every time Uchiha Soren murmured "Lady Minako…" into her ear, something far more dangerous stirred inside her.
Sometimes she even wanted to reenact that thrilling night—
prison walls between them, a married woman on the other side…
a shameful, breathless scene she couldn't forget.
Mito continued coldly:
"Opening the Box requires enormous chakra. The Hokage has already chosen to entrust the Seven-Tails to you. You will go to Hōzuki Castle when the time comes."
"Should we inform the Hokage? A jinchūriki leaving the village violates protocol."
"I'll speak to him myself. When will the sealing begin?"
"The Amber Purifying Pot is already with me. I can begin tomorrow."
"Good. I'll supervise."
Minako hesitated for a moment, then added softly:
"Lady Mito… I can handle the sealing alone."
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
"And since Hokage-sama captured the beast, I should ask him to come. His Mangekyō hypnosis will make the process smoother."
Mito considered it.
She remembered how the Nine-Tails sat quietly within her now—a far cry from its old fury.
With Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes, nothing could resist Uchiha Soren if he truly intended something.
"Don't tell Tsunade yet. Once the Box is handled, we'll discuss it."
"I understand."
Moments later, the Yamanaka clan head arrived. The full memory extraction perfectly matched Grass Village's confession.
"Lady Mito, every word is true."
"Thank you. Dismissed."
When the Grass delegation revived, she assigned their departure date and dismissed them coldly.
"Let's hope things go smoothly…"
She sighed. Minako placed a gentle hand on her arm.
Night — Senju Grounds
Behind a soundproof barrier, a soft cry pierced the stillness.
But everything beyond that point dissolved into steam and shadows—
a fleeting, breathless moment fading discreetly into the dark.
Later, Uzumaki Minako lay resting, flushed from exertion, her blue eyes hazy as she gazed at Uchiha Soren.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and murmured:
"I'll be there tomorrow during the Seven-Tails sealing. As for the Box of Bliss…"
A cold smile curved his lips.
"It isn't a wish-granting machine. It's a Six Paths weapon—a pure combat construct."
"Born from enlightenment, moved by enlightenment, ending in enlightenment. Inside it, there is only destruction and fear."
"Anyone who enters becomes a monster known as 悟 — Wū, the embodiment of corrupted will."
"Senju Senki is finished."
He traced her soft curves teasingly.
"Looks like my Lady Minako will soon become a widow."
Minako smiled slyly.
"Then tell me, An-san… do you prefer married women… or widows?"
Soren learned that night—
very thoroughly—
the sweetness of a widow-to-be.
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