What exactly exists inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss?
Hisashi Shigeru didn't know clearly.
The ancestors of their Hidden Grass Village hadn't passed down particularly clear information. The only precise warning given to these descendants was that a huge evil existed in that box, an existence beyond the control of mortals like them.
For someone generally bold or indifferent, they certainly wouldn't care, let alone fear.
But Hisashi Shigeru was different.
Always cautious, ever since he ascended to the leader's position and learned this information, he had maintained the steadiest attitude towards the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
He had no thought of opening this box, nor did he wish to see the Hidden Grass Village attract unnecessary attention because of it.
What their Hidden Grass Village needed was a stable life.
Therefore, Hisashi Shigeru absolutely wouldn't allow the peace of his ninja village to be broken by this Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"Send someone to the Land of Fire immediately. Tell the Leaf that their rogue ninja Menma Uzumaki has appeared in our Land of Grass and is colluding with rebel forces in our Hidden Grass Village. Ask the Leaf to send reinforcements immediately!"
After taking a deep breath.
Hisashi Shigeru said with a determined look.
Originally, he didn't intend to let outsiders intervene.
Because regardless of the final outcome...
It wouldn't be beneficial to their Hidden Grass Village.
It would easily attract the coveting of other ninja villages, as the Box of Ultimate Bliss was rumored to be a treasure from the era of the Sage of Six Paths.
But now Hisashi Shigeru had no choice.
If outside forces weren't allowed to intervene, their Hidden Grass Village might truly face an irreversible end.
Since the people Mui and his group invited were rogue ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, then let the Hidden Leaf Village solve it themselves!
This time, Hisashi Shigeru wanted to solve the internal problems of his ninja village once and for all.
Even if a certain price had to be paid, he wouldn't hesitate.
"The Leaf? Lord Hisashi, that would mean letting the Leaf intervene in our village's internal affairs. Isn't it too risky? And we also have to consider the Hidden Stone Village's attitude, right? If that Third Tsuchikage thinks we are making a layout against the Hidden Stone Village, isn't this..."
The Hidden Grass Jonin showed a look of shock upon hearing his leader's words.
Ninja villages of various countries, unless it's a truly special moment...
Are unwilling to have their internal affairs interfered with by other countries.
Especially when it involves the survival of the ninja village.
Once a great nation intervenes, heaven knows what the result will be!?
Look at the current Hidden Hot Water Village; it's almost becoming a puppet of the Hidden Cloud Village. All frontline strongholds in the Land of Hot Water are occupied by Cloud ninja, with Hot Water ninja playing only an auxiliary role.
Yes, perhaps the Hidden Cloud Village indeed didn't covet the Land of Hot Water or the Hidden Hot Water Village much at first, purely to deal with the Hidden Leaf Village. This approach saves time and effort and best ensures the Hidden Cloud's advantage. But if this situation persists, will there still be a Land of Hot Water or a Hidden Hot Water Village in the future!?
Never think that in this world, countries and ninja villages won't be destroyed.
The previous owner of the lacquer rock desert lizard clan contracted by Menma, Gouza Shu of the Land of Neck, and the former Land of Whirlpools and Uzushio Village represented in Menma's own bloodline—aren't they the most typical examples!?
Destroying a country, overturning a village.
That's not easily done.
It's likely to be restricted by multiple parties.
But it's not truly impossible.
Their Hidden Grass Village's position was already very delicate. Now actively letting the Hidden Leaf Village intervene—this Hidden Grass Jonin truly felt it wasn't a wise judgment.
"How could I not understand this? But if Mui and that bunch of bastards successfully open the Box of Ultimate Bliss, given the cognition of those foolish guys, they will definitely attract the attention of other great nations. Earlier, we could still hold the initiative ourselves. If we really wait until such a passive situation, everything will be too late. And don't forget, the moment Orochimaru and that Nine-Tails Jinchuriki intervened, we had no choice. Not seeking external help, defeat and demise is our only result, and it will bring a catastrophe to the village as well, Sanji!"
Hisashi sighed lightly, then continued with a very severe tone.
The premise of not letting the outside world intervene is that everything must be under one's own control.
Now that the opponent was obviously using cheats...
If he still handled it by the book...
That would be a fool's approach.
The bottom line was to preserve this ninja village passed down from ancestors. The rest could be discussed later when they were qualified.
"Yes, I understand, Lord Hisashi!"
This Jonin, Sanji, nodded in realization upon hearing Hisashi's words.
"In addition, immediately order Raichi and the others to integrate personnel and follow me north immediately!"
Hisashi Shigeru paused, then continued.
"Are you going personally? That's too unsafe. You should stay in the village; Raichi and I leading people there is enough!"
Sanji was shocked and spoke quickly.
"No, this time I want to lead the team personally. In the past, my hesitation and cowardice led to such a situation. Now I want to personally correct this mistake. If we act fast enough, maybe we won't need the Leaf to intervene. In that case, everything will still be within a controllable range."
Hisashi Shigeru shook his head.
In the false information Menma had Mui transmit back, although it clearly stated their next actions without a single lie, there was a fatal deviation in the key time nodes.
From Hisashi Shigeru's perspective, Mui and the others had just reached an agreement with Orochimaru. There was at least a one to two-day time discrepancy here.
Departing from their Hidden Grass Village to Hozuki Castle normally took less than ten hours. If everything went smoothly, they could clean up the rebel party led by Mui before Orochimaru dispatched that Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
And regain control of that Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Hisashi Shigeru didn't believe that with the partners already wiped out, the famous Orochimaru would deliberately make trouble for their Hidden Grass Village.
After all, Orochimaru was currently just a rogue ninja. Hisashi Shigeru didn't think Orochimaru would act recklessly.
Such a person definitely considered interests in making any decisions!
At worst, he could reach some private agreements with Orochimaru then.
The key to the problem now lay in eliminating Mui and the others as soon as possible.
Therefore, he had to lead the team himself. Knowing his own family affairs, there were no powerful Jonin in the village. If he didn't take action, the rest might not be Mui's match. Besides, just as Menma considered...
If possible.
Hisashi also didn't want to see too many casualties.
This was ultimately a civil war.
In Hisashi's heart, the best result was to clean up the few leaders headed by Mui, extending at most to a small part of the diehards. The remaining Grass ninja still needed to be integrated back; they were originally the power of their Hidden Grass Village.
And to achieve this.
It had to be him, the leader, coming forward.
Others?
Even if they made promises.
Would those people believe them?
Putting himself in their shoes.
Hisashi felt 100% he wouldn't believe it.
"Go, execute according to my orders. Act as soon as possible; we don't have much time left!"
Looking at his subordinate who seemed to hesitate, Hisashi said with a firmer tone.
"Yes, Lord Hisashi!"
Orders given.
The war machine of the Hidden Grass Village slowly turned.
Although it was just an internal struggle.
But over the years.
Hisashi Shigeru knew very well the power of the "Castle Faction." Mui had hundreds of ninja under his command. Even excluding those whose stance wasn't so firm, the number of diehards was solidly in the triple digits.
Hisashi Shigeru naturally needed to prepare more thoroughly.
And he had to arrange personnel carefully.
Everyone came from the same ninja village.
Mui was once hailed as the candidate closest to the Hidden Grass Village leader's position. It was just that he himself gained the approval of the previous leader, so Mui missed the leader's position. But even so, there was still a group of people in the village who might not necessarily lean toward Mui's side...
But as long as there was a possibility.
These people wouldn't mind helping Mui a bit.
Hisashi had to guard against this move.
While mobilizing manpower as much as possible, he had to prevent the news from reaching these people's ears too quickly. Not too long, just fighting for more than half a day would be enough!
Even if the news leaked later.
Hisashi Shigeru had ample confidence to take down Mui and the others before they could react. This time he wouldn't hesitate or be soft-hearted anymore. For the village, Hisashi Shigeru had made up his mind to sweep away all rebels.
Outside the Hidden Grass Village.
An hour later.
Nearly three hundred Grass ninja gathered under Hisashi Shigeru's orders.
Although not a particularly large force, for the Hidden Grass Village, this was the manpower Hisashi could mobilize in the shortest time while hiding it from some people in the village. Any more, and the middle and high-level personnel of the entire village would know!
And this number, in Hisashi Shigeru's view, was enough!
The core figures of the Castle Faction were ultimately just those few people.
"Lord Hisashi, personnel are all present!"
At the very front, Sanji and another Hidden Grass Jonin mentioned just now—Raichi—reported respectfully to their leader dressed in military attire.
"Very good, then let's depart!"
Hisashi looked at these elite Grass ninja conscripted before him, nodded with satisfaction, and waved his right hand abruptly.
"Yes!"
Hisashi flashed out first.
Behind him, Sanji, Raichi, and other Grass ninja followed closely.
A group of people sped toward the direct north.
With so many people entering and leaving, it was impossible not to attract attention completely. However, without precise news and with some backups left by Hisashi as cover, normally speaking, others in the village would find it hard to judge immediately how many people left the village and who led the team.
To figure this out.
It would take at least more than half a day.
Provided everything unfolded as Hisashi wished.
But in fact, almost not long after Hisashi himself left, a part of the people in the village learned the truth.
"What? Lord Hisashi led a team personally to crusade against Lord Mui!?"
In a corner on the southwest side of the village.
Several ninja wearing standard Grass ninja attire gathered.
Looking at a blue short-haired man in the upper seat, a man with an obvious scar under his left eye asked with a fierce expression.
"Mhm, didn't you receive the message just now? Because Lord Mui opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss, our Lord Leader felt anxious, so naturally, he wanted to strike first before Lord Mui takes action."
The blue-haired man said with a smile.
"Ah!? Has Lord Mui finally opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss!?"
Others were stunned for a moment.
But a green-haired female Grass ninja on the left immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise and spoke quickly.
This was a solid performance of a Mui diehard remaining in the village.
"Yes, with the assistance of Lord Menma, Lord Mui has successfully opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss. So, everyone, it's time for you to make a choice again!"
The blue-haired man said with a very smug expression.
"Eh? Lord Menma? Who is this!?"
"Could it be?"
Hearing an unfamiliar name suddenly, including that green-haired female Grass ninja and the scarred male Grass ninja, everyone was stunned. Subconsciously asking back, but only seconds later...
The two or three most sensitive to ninja world information reacted immediately. As a figure just surfaced in their minds...
"Naturally, it is Lord Menma Uzumaki!"
The blue-haired man said proudly.
This blue-haired man was one of Mui's most loyal subordinates, the kind in the purest sense—if Mui asked him to commit suicide, he wouldn't hesitate. Based on this point, the task of contacting other Hidden Grass Jonin in the village who held considerable status and weren't in Hisashi Shigeru's faction was handed to this person.
"Leaf rogue ninja!"
"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
With the identity finally confirmed, at this moment, even the two Grass ninja who had guessed somewhat showed shock.
They truly hadn't expected their Lord Mui to join forces with such an existence!?
Weren't they worried about the Leaf's issues!?
"I know what you are worried about, but these are not problems. Everything is under the control of Lord Mui and Lord Menma. Now, it's your turn to make a choice. Will you continue to follow Hisashi Shigeru, or abandon the dark for the light and choose to follow Lord Mui!? Of course, you can also choose neutrality, but you know the final result!?"
The blue-haired man maintained that smiling appearance, but a hint of cold light faintly flowed in his pupils.
This blatantly revealed threat.
Everyone present could hear it clearly.
In an instant, these people couldn't help but feel chills in their hearts.