Chapter 206: Do You Think This Is a Cartoon?
Shiromo was silently thinking, while Tsunade and Uchiha Hikari simply watched him.
Mui quickly noticed as well that among the three, the one who truly made the decisions wasn't Tsunade.
Could it be that the man in front of him possessed strength or status even higher than the Hokage?
Mui had lived for years on a secluded island cut off from the outside world. His manpower was limited, and all intelligence depended on reports from the Kusagakure Village headquarters.
But the Kusagakure Village itself was only a small ninja village, how much useful information could it really gather?
Opening the Box of Ultimate Bliss required chakra on the level of a tailed beast.
Mui's original first target naturally wasn't one of the Five Great Nations' tailed beasts, but the Seven-Tails of the neighboring Takigakure.
However, according to the latest intelligence, Takigakure's Seven-Tails jinchūriki had been kidnapped.
Mui knew the Seven-Tails jinchūriki was a little girl.
Trying to obtain such a little girl from Takigakure could be said to be the easiest among all the tailed beasts.
Yet precisely because it was the easiest, someone had actually beaten him to it.
With no other choice left, Mui had no option but to shift his attention to the Kumogakure Village, which had taken the initiative to approach him.
"Everyone, according to the schedule, the people from the Kumogakure Village should arrive tomorrow. How about resting for now, and when they arrive, we can all visit the Box of Ultimate Bliss together and then decide its ownership, what do you think?"
After Mui made this suggestion, the prison guards and soldiers behind him grew tense.
Earlier, following Mui's order, they had lowered their weapons. Now they were quietly gripping them again.
Among the three, only Tsunade was famous throughout the ninja world, but her reputation alone was enough to make them feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Hikari looked at their movements with disdain, keeping her attention fixed on Shiromo's response.
As long as Shiromo rejected the proposal with a single word, she would deal with these ungrateful people.
(Wasn't she the one who said she wasn't a violence maniac?)
"Then let's wait one day."
The moment Shiromo spoke, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Mui also formed a rough judgment.
The other side was still wary of the Kumogakure Village and the Raikage's power. It seemed that as long as he balanced things cleverly in the middle, there was still a chance he could benefit in the end.
Mui was clearly assuming things, and getting it completely wrong.
Shiromo was willing to wait a day simply because he wanted to have an exchange with the Kumogakure Village.
The last time they had "exchanged," it had been in the middle of a battle.
(Helping Kurotsuchi at the front lines, and conveniently abducting Fū.)
The Kumogakure Village also had quite a few good things.
For example, the Six Paths Treasures.
It was said that after Kinkaku and Ginkaku died, the Kumogakure Village only recovered the Amber Purifying Jar, while the others were lost along with the two brothers.
But judging from how the two brothers pulled out several of those items to use during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the treasures were clearly still around.
After all, people could be reanimated with Impure World Reincarnation, how could objects be reanimated?
The items must have been collected by that grave-robbing Yakushi Kabuto.
Mm, they could have a proper exchange later.
As for dealing with the Box of Ultimate Bliss right now instead of waiting for the Kumogakure Village to come tomorrow?
That wouldn't be good.
Without the Box of Ultimate Bliss as this "cultural activity" bridge, there wouldn't even be a medium for communication and exchange.
Mui led the three of them to their respective rooms to rest.
But not long after, Uchiha Hikari ran straight into Shiromo's room.
"That castle lord has such a gloomy look, he doesn't seem like a good person. I'm worried he'll attack us at night. It's too dangerous for me to stay alone."
Uchiha Hikari slipped under the blanket, leaving half her head sticking out.
Tsunade, who had been about to enter as well, immediately darkened in expression when she heard that.
Too dangerous for one person alone?
Who exactly was in danger here?
Afraid the other side would launch a midnight attack, and then she'd stab someone to death with Susanoo in one strike, right?
I specialize in stabbing people in my sleep.
"Ahem."
Tsunade coughed twice and pushed the door open.
"See, she's scared too."
Uchiha Hikari said smoothly.
"..."
Scared my ass.
Tsunade was speechless.
"Did you need something?"
Shiromo asked.
"If you're both staying in one room, it wouldn't be appropriate for me not to come over."
The moment Tsunade said that, she wanted to slap herself.
Was that even something a person should say?
Where was the logic?
"Ahem, well, earlier she said the castle lord didn't look like a good person, but according to the intelligence, isn't the castle lord trying to reunite with his son?"
"Everything he's done is to bring his son back to life."
Tsunade hurriedly changed the subject.
"So what if he wants to revive his son? If he dares revive him, does that mean he gets to do whatever he wants?"
"When the time comes, I'll stab both him and his son to death, let's see who resurrects who next time."
Uchiha Hikari curled her lips.
"Uh… you…"
Tsunade finally understood why Granduncle had been so wary of the Uchiha.
"What Hikari said may sound rough, but the logic isn't wrong."
Shiromo actually agreed with Hikari's view.
"What?"
Tsunade looked at Shiromo in confusion.
"Just because someone has their own difficulties and painful circumstances, does that mean we should let them do bad things and then forgive them? Do you think this is some kind of cartoon?"
"..."
Shiromo's words truly made things clear to Tsunade.
Why should having personal hardships, hidden suffering, or unavoidable circumstances mean you're allowed to do bad things and be forgiven?
She herself had suppressed her emotions for decades. If she went and × Shiromo now, that could also be called having her own painful circumstances, would Uchiha Hikari forgive that?
It made no sense at all.
So-called "personal hardships" were nothing more than sacrificing others in order to satisfy one's own interests.
"You're right. It's just that Hōzuki Castle is a prison holding many vicious criminals, we can't let them escape."
"If Mui dies, the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison sealing them will also dissipate. We need to find a successor to replace him first."
Tsunade nodded as she spoke.
In the Boruto era, the Hōzuki Castle lord also carried the surname 'Mui,' and even improved the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison so it no longer failed when touching water.
Finding a successor naturally wouldn't be a problem.
"If the prisoners dare escape, just kill them, right? Didn't you say they're all vicious criminals, then dying would be what they deserve."
"Locking them up is clearly protecting their lives and forgiving their crimes. If they still want to run, doesn't that mean they're asking to die?"
Uchiha Hikari tilted her head.
"...It could work, but if so many of them flee in all directions, you wouldn't be able to kill them all in time."
"Without Heavenly Prison suppressing their chakra, and with all of them able to use ninjutsu, escaping Hōzuki Castle amid the massive waves wouldn't be that hard."
Tsunade felt like she was already being slowly assimilated.
"?"
Uchiha Hikari looked at Tsunade like she was an idiot.
When she used Multiple Shadow Clone Technique plus Susanoo in the Land of Water, Tsunade had been right there watching.
How could she forget so quickly?
Worst case, she could just activate her Perfect Form, blow the entire island apart, and then have Kurotsuchi help create a new island, wouldn't that solve everything?
Knock knock knock.
The door was knocked.
"Who is it? Come in."
A figure like a maid entered, carrying a pot of hot tea and a plate of pastries.
After placing them down, the maid turned and left.
"Hmm? Stop."
"You're not from Hōzuki Castle, are you?"
Tsunade immediately sensed something was wrong.
They were three people with three rooms, so why was there only one set of refreshments brought here?
Could they foresee the future and know in advance that she and Hikari would sneak into Shiromo's room?
(End of this chapter)