Under the summoning of the Spore Clone, the Great Tree of Takigakure from Amegakure was summoned into the Box of Ultimate Bliss, occupying this world of darkness.
The next moment.
The negative energy within the internal space began to converge toward the Great Tree of Takigakure. The ancient tree represented life, and the negative energy was hostile toward it.
They wanted to drag the Great Tree of Takigakure into despair.
As soon as the Great Tree of Takigakure arrived in the Box of Ultimate Bliss, it extended its root system, taking root within the internal space. It then refused no one, frantically absorbing and devouring all the energy within the space.
Under the absorption of the Great Tree of Takigakure, the surrounding darkness of despair began to fade, as if the darkness was receding and the world was welcoming the light.
While absorbing a massive amount of negative energy, the Great Tree of Takigakure also began to rise steadily, climbing from its original height.
211 meters, 220 meters, 230 meters... finally reaching a height of 300 meters.
It stood like a giant pillar reaching the heavens, its branches vigorous and thick, distorted and gnarled as they pierced straight into the sky of the internal space.
The color of the branches and leaves was no longer a dull, ink-like shade, but a deep green nearly approaching black, layered so densely that not even the wind could pass through.
The canopy was gloomy and oppressive, like a solidified piece of dark night. Upon gazing at it, one would feel their spirit slowly being pulled, as if about to be completely swallowed by that bottomless gloom.
This was the result of absorbing the negative energy within the internal space.
Because the Great Tree of Takigakure devoured all the negative energy in the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the internal space became clear. Some Hozuki Castle prisoners who had previously been sucked into the box began to return to normal one after another.
After waking up, they looked at their surroundings in confusion, having no idea what had just happened.
The Great Tree of Takigakure in the internal space drew everyone's attention. The crowd looked in shock at this tree that resembled a pillar to the heavens, appearing like a thick, inseparable dark cloud.
It seemed like a terrifying living being.
Suddenly, there was an abnormality with the Great Tree of Takigakure. All the humans shrouded in its shadow seemed to hear the whispers of an ancient god.
"I am Kamisato Ayaka's dog, I am Kamisato Ayaka's dog..."
Instantly, the prisoners in the shadow all became obsessed. They no longer stood tall with their backs straight, but instead bent down and became like dogs.
They had all been brainwashed into dogs by the Great Tree of Takigakure.
After dominating the internal space, the current Great Tree of Takigakure was equivalent to the control center of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, possessing the function of turning people into puppets.
Ryou disconnected from the Spore Clone and said to the people around him, "Alright, the problem with the Box of Ultimate Bliss has been resolved. Now, it's the problem of Satori."
...
Amegakure.
Nono very covertly made her way to the administrative office of the Amegakure Central Building, the place where Tsunade handled official business.
Nono knocked and entered.
"Come in!"
Nono walked in carrying a portion of pastries: "Lady Tsunade, I made these pastries specifically for you!"
Tsunade nodded: "Just put them there!"
"Okay!"
Nono slowly walked toward Tsunade, preparing to place the pastries in her hand onto Tsunade's desk.
But as she drew near Tsunade, she suddenly erupted. A layer of pale blue chakra appeared on her hand, forming the shape of a blade.
This was the chakra scalpel, a Ninjutsu used by Medical Shinobi to cut flesh.
The core principle is to precisely control chakra in the palm area, forming a thin blade-like energy body that can cut inside the target's body without causing external wounds, and can be extended at will.
The attack of this Ninjutsu is not physical destruction, but a direct attack on the human body's internal nervous system, allowing for the precise destruction of specific tissues without creating an open wound.
This was a Ninjutsu that ignored external defenses.
Nono's chakra scalpel was aimed at Tsunade's head. As long as she touched it, the nervous system in Tsunade's brain would be damaged.
When that happened, even a Deity couldn't save her.
Facing such a dangerous Ninjutsu, Tsunade did not show the panic one might imagine. Instead, she calmly continued handling the official business in her hands.
There is an old saying—He who has thunder in his chest but a face like a calm lake can be appointed a high general!
This saying described someone exactly like Tsunade.
"How dare you!"
At that moment, a loud shout came from outside the door. Immediately, a mass of golden gold dust flew out from behind Nono, binding her movements.
Following that, Fortune appeared from outside the door with a group of Shinobi Cats.
Standing beside Fortune was the Rasa Human Puppet. Just now, Fortune had relied on the Human Puppet stolen from Sasori to activate the gold dust Secret Technique and stop Nono's assassination attempt.
Fortune was very angry and shouted at Nono, "Candy warned me that there was something wrong with you, but I didn't believe it. I didn't expect you to really be a spy sent by the enemy."
"Come, cats! Chop her up and throw her out to feed the dogs."
Candy had many things to do, so the task of monitoring Nono had been handed over to other Shinobi Cats.
Nono's movements had always been monitored by the Shinobi Cats. As soon as she entered the Amegakure building, Fortune had been lying in wait outside with the Human Puppet Rasa.
The Shinobi Cats didn't even want to continue the interrogation; they directly wanted to drag Nono away, mince her up, and feed her to the dogs.
"Wait!"
Tsunade called out to Fortune, educating it: "Why is your way of doing things just as reckless as your master's? Since we've caught a spy, we should find a way to pry the secrets from her mouth, as well as the mastermind behind the scenes."
Fortune nodded: "Big Sis is right. Drag this ungrateful traitor down and beat her first, interrogate her to find her whole family, and then sink them all in the river."
"ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ."
Tsunade shook her head speechlessly, walked over, and looked at Nono.
Nono's round-framed glasses reminded Tsunade of someone, someone she had once worked with at the Konoha Hospital.
She wiped away Nono's foundation and instantly recognized her: "You're Nono?!"
Nono nodded, her face showing none of the panic of a captured spy, but instead an innate calmness: "Lady Tsunade, long time no see!"
Tsunade was full of confusion: "Why? Nono? Why are you here?"
Nono stuck out her tongue. Tsunade saw the horizontal bar-shaped cursed seal on the other's tongue; her pupils shrank, and she suddenly understood everything.
"You're from Root, Danzo's spy!"
Nono didn't speak. After being implanted with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, if she revealed any information related to Konoha or secrets concerning Danzo, the cursed seal would activate on its own.
Her whole body would be paralyzed, leaving her unable to speak or move.
"So it was you—Nono, you were the one who killed Nagayama Minoru."
Tsunade finally understood how Nagayama Minoru, the former Vice Director of the Konoha Hospital, had died. It wasn't suicide; he had been dealt with by Nono.
Back when Tsunade was about to uncover the financial loopholes of the Konoha Hospital, Nono had received Danzo's orders to eliminate Nagayama Minoru.
This proved that the deficit in Konoha's finances was inextricably linked to Danzo and Orochimaru.
Nono didn't answer any of Tsunade's related questions, remaining silent throughout, seemingly having accepted her capture.
Tsunade looked at her and said, "The chakra scalpel you just used was very proficient. This is something only a Jonin-level Medical Shinobi can master."
"You are a high-level Medical Shinobi. Danzo must have been out of his mind to send you to Amegakure to gather intelligence."