Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

"Kusakuza Style: Hair-Breaking Palm!"

"Bang!!!"

In the training field, a young man with a ponytail ducked to dodge his opponent's brutal punch, then aimed at his ribs and struck out with both palms. The powerful impact sent his burly opponent flying dozens of meters away, crashing heavily into the wall.

"The victor, divine fire!"

The referee felt there was no need to continue the competition, so he raised his hand to announce the winner and then instructed the staff to remove the image that was embedded in the wall.

"Life is truly as lonely as snow."

Somewhat bored, Shenhuo yawned as he walked out of the training ground. These weak Kun opponents had completely lost his interest.

"God Lord!"

Just as he was marveling at the situation, a figure suddenly slapped Shenhuo on the back with such force that it almost displaced his internal organs.

"I knew you were the best!"

Shenhuo, who knew without even guessing who it was, turned around with a pained expression. Looking at the pretty girl behind him, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes before he hardened his expression.

"Mako, have you finished your refining task for today?"

"Refining chakra is nothing to me!"

Mako stood with her hands on her hips, her nose twitching smugly, but her unsteady steps and pale face clearly revealed her weakness.

"Hey, come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

Shenhu could easily see the girl's exhaustion, so he shook his head helplessly and extended an invitation to Zhenzi.

"Yay!"

"Boss, another bowl, please!"

In an ordinary noodle stall on the street, the slender Mako displayed a fighting spirit completely different from her appearance, holding up a large, empty bowl and urging the noodle stall owner to hurry up.

"Right away, right away!"

The noodle stall owner was so busy his arms were practically smoking from swinging them, but the cooking process couldn't keep up with the girl's eating speed, leaving him sweating profusely.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

Shenhuo, who was standing to the side, only took a few bites before pushing his own portion to the drooling Zhenzi, and carefully instructed him,

"Hypocrite! When have you ever seen me choke?"

Mako grabbed the noodles that Shinka had eaten, without any sign of disgust, and began to gulp them down in a frenzy.

"Your noodles are here!"

"Yay!"

Finally, the girl, having emptied the noodle stall's stock, patted her round belly with satisfaction, her face full of happiness.

"4546, 46 bowls! My appetite has increased, but why hasn't my figure changed?"

Bored, Shinho counted the number of bowls the girl ate, then looked at Mako's unremarkable figure and couldn't help but mutter a whispered complaint.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Mako heard these words clearly and immediately glared at them with a fierce look, her sharp teeth grinding together in a warning.

Shenhuo felt a chill run down his spine; fearing a beating, he quickly changed the subject.

"What have you guys been training for lately? Is it still just refining chakra?"

"Yes, the elders are getting stricter and stricter. If the refining speed is not fast enough or the quality is not pure enough, you will be punished."

The girl smacked her lips, seemingly still wanting more, and nodded to the divine fire.

"Keep it up! One day you'll become a combatant too, and then we'll be in a squad together, and I'll protect you."

"Hmph~ Who's protecting whom is still uncertain!"

The two orphans, Shinka and Shinji, were taken in by a ninja clan from the Land of Grass many years ago. This practice of taking in orphans was common during the Warring States period, as many ninja clans needed to replenish their ranks with fresh blood.

Those who cannot refine chakra are generally used as servants or laborers, while those who can refine chakra and have ninja talent are trained as combatants and used as expendable resources in war.

The two were very lucky. With their ninja talents, they stood out among the orphans and soon began to receive systematic training. Among them, Shinka had a higher talent.

In just two and a half years, Shenhuo was assigned to the combatant squad with outstanding performance and became a glorious ordinary combatant (Cai Kun Genin).

Meanwhile, Mako was kept in the chakra training camp, where she underwent incomprehensible chakra refining training day after day. Every day, she would input the chakra she had painstakingly refined into a strange box until she was exhausted.

Years have passed, and Shenhuo, carrying the dream of protecting Zhenzi, has overcome numerous obstacles and finally succeeded in becoming an elite combatant. While excited, he is also somewhat worried about Zhenzi's situation.

Because the girl is still the same as she was many years ago, refining chakra all day long, like a chakra battery without any emotion.

"Mako, with your current abilities, you shouldn't still be staying in that place, right?"

When it was time for their after-dinner stroll, they walked together down the street. Shenhuo, noticing the girl's still somewhat pale face, couldn't help but ask,

"Elder E said that I still need some training."

The girl scratched her head, her expression showing a hint of confusion. Her chakra reserves were not much less than those of the Divine Fire, so why wasn't she allowed to join the combatant squad?

"I'm going to visit the elder tomorrow, I'll ask him for you then."

Shenhuo patted the girl's shoulder reassuringly, pondering how to bring up the matter when he met the elders the next day.

"It's getting late, Divine Fire, I should head back."

The two chatted about many trivial things along the way. The girl was amused by Shen Huo's humor and laughed repeatedly. As the sun was about to set, Mako turned around reluctantly and said goodbye.

See you next time.

The next day, Shenhuo went to pay his respects to the elder early in the morning. After entering the house, he knelt on one knee and respectfully bowed to the old man sitting on the high seat.

"Greetings, Elder!"

"Oh? It's Shenhuo! I heard you've been promoted to elite captain. I knew I wasn't wrong about you back then; you're a real talent!"

The old man on the seat slowly opened his cloudy eyes and looked at the divine fire below the stage. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face. When he first met this kid, he almost made him die of anger. If it weren't for his decent reputation, he would probably have been infamous in Nantong long ago.

"It's all thanks to the elders' excellent upbringing!"

Shenhuo also speaks human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts.

"Alright, do you think I don't know your personality? What brings you here today?"

The elder chuckled and shook his head. Shenhuo's talent was the strongest among the homeless children he had collected, which was why he had taken him out of that place and groomed him as a trusted confidant. As expected, he had become an elite captain at a young age, and his future was limitless.

"Elder, let's not beat around the bush. When will Zhenzi be able to get out of there?"

Since the elder had asked, Shenhuo decided to get straight to the point, his eyes holding a hint of expectation.

Over the years, Shenhuo has never seen anyone other than himself being taken out of there.

"Mako, is she the girl who was taken in with you?"

The elder frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked,

"Yes, yes, it's her. She's been there for years. Shouldn't she be able to come out now?"

"Well, let me find out more about the situation first."

The elder did not directly agree to the divine fire; he waved his hand calmly, indicating that he could leave if there was nothing else.

"There, huh?"

After the divine fire departed, the elder pondered for a moment, then beckoned to someone in the shadows. A dark figure instantly appeared.

"Go ask them how the boxes are progressing."

"yes!"

After giving the order, the elder slowly closed his eyes, and his entire being was once again shrouded in endless darkness.

A few days later, Shenhuo, who was anxiously waiting for the elder's reply, received a late-night order to assemble from the combatant squad. After packing his equipment with some confusion, he went to assemble.

When they arrived at the combatant camp, many of their colleagues had already arrived, and everyone looked puzzled.

"Is war about to break out?"

Someone couldn't help but ask,

"It shouldn't be; I haven't heard any related news."

Those who were well-informed shook their heads. The ninja clans of the Land of Grass had long since unified, and there was no war within the country.

"Then why did you call us here so late at night?"

"Is he just too idle?"

"."

Shenhuo sat quietly in a corner, meditating, but for some reason, he felt a vague unease in his heart.

Is everyone here?

Just as everyone present was discussing the matter, the battalion commander who led the combatants appeared before them. His face was unusually grave. After looking around, he asked,

"Everyone's here!"

The ninja in charge of counting the number of people raised his hand in response.

"Okay, now I'll tell you about the next task."

As expected, it wasn't a feint. Everyone tensed up, their ears perked up.

"There is an important ceremony tonight, and you must do a good job of protecting them. The entire ceremony must proceed without any mistakes."

ceremony?

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. They had never heard of any ceremony in the Land of Grass. Although they were puzzled, the duty of a ninja was to obey, so they all nodded in agreement without the slightest hesitation.

"Captain, could you tell us what kind of ceremony we're having tonight?"

The unease in his heart grew stronger, and Shenhuo crept up to the captain and whispered, "..."

"Divine Fire, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

To become a captain, one needs not only exceptional skills but also a tight-lipped nature.

"Tsk, Captain, I heard that your wife has been asking you these past few days how many night shifts you worked last month."

"Cough cough cough shh~"

Upon hearing this, the previously stern-faced captain instantly became flustered. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he immediately whispered a shushing sound.

"What are you trying to do, kid?"

"If Madam knew that you, Captain, were also working hard at night, she would definitely feel very sorry for you, wouldn't she?"

Shenhuo raised an eyebrow and said in a voice only the two of them could hear,

"Phew~ Alright, alright, since you want to know, I'll tell you."

The captain thought of the three-hundred-pound mountain of flesh at home and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He pulled Shenhuo aside and said in a very serious tone,

"Tonight, the elders will hold an opening ceremony. If successful, our Grass Kingdom will surely soar to new heights and restore the glory of our ancestors!"

As he spoke, a strong sense of pride appeared in the captain's eyes, causing Shenhuo's heart to sink slightly.

Unboxing... Could it be that box?

He had not only seen the box, but he had also come into close contact with it. It was right after he and Mako had refined their chakra that they were taken to the current chakra training camp by a group of men in black. There were many people of different ages inside, and everyone's face was filled with fanaticism.

At the very center of the training camp, there was a huge box with four different expressions carved on its four sides: joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Following the instructions of the man in black, the two clumsily poured the extracted chakra into the box until they were exhausted and could no longer squeeze out any more.

Later, because of his exceptional talent, he was exceptionally promoted from that place, and the nightmare of frantically refining chakra every day finally ended.

"Mako, please don't let anything happen to you!"

The thought that this so-called opening ceremony might be related to Mako and the others filled Shinka with deep worry, and he couldn't help but pray silently.

The elder who had met Shenhuo a few days ago was now standing in front of a black box taller than a person, his cloudy eyes staring blankly into thought.

"Elder, the Box of Bliss has already given us some feedback. Just a little bit more, just a tiny bit more chakra, and it will be awakened."

Two mysterious figures wearing animal masks stood before the elder, pointing to a box beside him and speaking excitedly.

"Is it really only a tiny bit?"

Looking at the strangely shaped Box of Bliss, the elder frowned slightly. As the gatekeeper of this generation, he was responsible for opening the Box of Bliss and bringing the Grass Ninja to rule the ninja world. He thought he would leave this world with this regret.

I never expected that even though it was already halfway to the ground, the Box of Bliss would send another message.

"Once we've drained those people dry, the Box of Ecstasy will awaken!"

The mysterious man wearing the beast head said with great determination.

"Okay, let's begin."

The elders didn't show much emotion upon hearing this. Those who served as batteries were just orphans they had been searching for for years, born to live for the Box of Bliss. Now that the Box of Bliss wanted them dead, there was no need for them to live any longer.

"Hey, it's so late, and you still want us to get up and work overtime? Don't you want some fried dough sticks?"

Like Shenhuo and the others, the batteries, awakened by the guards, groggily complained loudly.

"For the Elder, I'm willing to work 25 hours a day!"

However, there are also die-hard fans who are very proud of their cowboy/horseboy identity.

"Gurgle~"

In the crowd, Mako rubbed her rumbling stomach and followed the main group with a bitter expression.

When they arrived at their usual workstations, everyone knelt and bowed to the elders they hadn't seen in a long time. Mako followed suit, but when she secretly glanced at the elders' cold faces, she was reminded of her childhood and almost burst out laughing.

Shenhuo, are you working overtime today too?

"Divine Fire, where are you going?"

Having obtained the ritual information from the captain, Shenhuo turned and left without hesitation.

"I have a friend there, and I'm a little worried about him."

"Oh, well... you can go and guard that place."

Upon hearing this, the captain looked hesitant, then sighed and decided to let Shenhuo leave.

"Elder, I will do my best!"

A young man with a youthful, somewhat awkward face stood excitedly before the Chest of Bliss, turned to look at the expressionless elder, and said in a very firm tone,

Most of the people here had similar experiences to Shenhuo and his companion. During their wanderings, they were taken in by a ninja clan led by an elder. The elders not only solved their food and clothing problems but also taught them how to refine chakra. It was truly a life-saving grace!

"Oh"

The elder merely glanced at the boy, which instantly ignited his fighting spirit, making him raise his hand to frantically refine his chakra. However, before he could even begin, he was stopped by the mysterious figure wearing a beast-headed head.

"Wait a minute!"

"ha?"

"You're going too slowly; you simply can't achieve the effect the elders expect."

The beast-headed man shook his head, and his words made the young man's face darken.

"But now there is an even faster way, it just depends on whether you have the courage to go through fire and water for the elders."

Just as the boy was feeling disappointed, the beast-headed man changed his tone, his voice carrying a hint of magic. Upon hearing this, the young boy's eyes reddened slightly, and he immediately nodded vigorously.

"I do!"

"Once you enter the box, your chakra input speed will increase, allowing you to complete a lifetime's worth of work in the blink of an eye."

"I do!"

The boy was willing to die for the elder. Without the elder's shelter, these stray dogs would have long since died in the wilderness, becoming lonely ghosts.

"Alright, Elder, you may begin!"

The beast-headed man was quite satisfied with his guidance, which contained elements of illusion. He turned to the elder who had been waiting for a long time and said...

"The time has come to open this box, the Box of Ecstasy!"

The elderly elder stepped forward, raised his head and stared intently at the strange smiling face on the Box of Bliss. He slowly stretched out his hands, a faint blue light emanating from his palms, and released the Gatekeeper's Spell passed down for many years.

"Our long-cherished dream is finally about to come true!"

Several beast-headed figures trembled with excitement. According to the information left by their ancestors, they could rule the entire ninja world if they successfully opened the Box of Bliss.

Accompanied by a surge of black energy, a chilling red light shot from the eyes of the face on the Box of Bliss, instilling a deep-seated fear in everyone present.

Shenhuo, who was running wildly outside, also saw the black aura. His unease finally reached its peak, and he rushed towards that direction as if the wind was blowing through his feet.

"Boom~ Boom~"

Driven by the opening spell, the Box of Bliss began to spin until the face bearing the expression of joy stopped in front of the elder.

"Is it really not enough?"

Based on the feedback from the Box of Bliss, the elder slowly lowered his hand. Just as the beast-headed men had said, the chakra was still slightly lacking.

"Boom!"

Just then, another change occurred in the Box of Bliss. The face covered in joy slowly descended, revealing a lion-shaped door, but all that could be seen was darkness, and the true appearance inside could not be seen.

"What are you waiting for? It's time to show your worth!"

Seeing this, the beast-headed man urged the awkward young man who was standing there dumbfounded.

"Elder! I, Shota, am not a coward!"

The young man, with a resolute expression, stepped through that dark door.

"It's still not enough."

The elder shook his head.

"I'll do it!"

Having learned from the previous example, many young men and women with fervent expressions immediately stepped forward. Their experiences were the same as Shota's when he first entered the Box of Elysium; they were all stray dogs rescued by the elders. They were willing to give their lives for the elders' needs.

As one familiar person after another entered the dark gate of the Lion's Mouth, Mako, huddled in the corner, turned pale. Although she also wanted to repay the elder for saving her life, she still had Divine Fire and the boy who had been waiting for her all along.

I can't die here yet, at least not now!

Unlike the others who were so enthusiastic, Mako began to secretly survey her surroundings, looking for a way to escape. However, the entire scene was guarded by layers of guards who had arrived in advance, and she had no chance to escape at all.

"For the Elders! Charge!"

As the last fervent-looking young man resolutely stepped through the dark door, the Box of Ecstasy, which had just been somewhat unsatisfied, let out a comfortable groan.

However, according to feedback, it is still just a little short; at most, a few more will be needed to fully satisfy it.

"Not enough, still not enough!"

The elder opened his eyes, looked at the quiet meeting room, and revealed a hint of dissatisfaction. They were so close to the final step...

"Anyone else? Arrest a few more!"

Several beast-headed men were getting impatient and ordered the guards nearby to search for the hidden batteries again.

"No need, you can fill in the gaps for the weaker ones!"

Just as they turned to search, the elder's cold voice rang in their ears, and then several beast-headed men were sent flying by a tremendous force, landing squarely into the dark lion's mouth gate.

"No! We are..."

The desperate wails of the beast-headed men who had been stabbed in the back nearly made Mako, who was hiding in a corner, faint.

"Just a little bit more. Just a little bit more."

The elder, having withdrawn his hands, sensed the feedback from the Box of Bliss. He then turned his cold gaze to the guards who had been diligently performing their duties, the meaning in his eyes clear.

"Elder, we are utterly loyal to you!"

The guards could easily read the elder's eyes. After a moment of stunned silence, they immediately bowed down in reverence, while secretly gathering their strength, preparing to fight the old man to the death.

"Phew~ I certainly won't lay a hand on you. While there's still time, hurry up and find a replacement."

The elder wasn't stupid. If he really sacrificed the guards now, wouldn't the other guards swarm him? Although he was extremely powerful, he was getting old and would eventually be unable to keep up.

"Gurgle~ gurgle~"

Just as the guards got up to prepare for the search, a loud gurgling sound pierced the open space, and everyone turned their attention to it at the same time.

The quick-thinking guards immediately stepped forward and pulled Mako, who had been hiding in the corner, out.

"Elder, please don't!"

At this moment, Mako, who was already terrified, struggled incessantly in the guards' hands, tears streaming down her face, but she could not shake the elder's icy heart in the slightest.

"What's your name?"

Since she was the last offering, the elder decided to record her name as a memorial.

"My name is Mako."

Shivering, Mako felt utterly hopeless. It was such a pity that she had no divine fire by her side in the final moments of her life.

"So you're Mako~"

A complex look flashed in the elder's cloudy eyes. So this girl before him was the woman that boy Shenhuo had been longing for.

"Boom~ Boom~"

"Isn't it impatient?"

Just as he hesitated, the Box of Bliss emitted a piercing agitation. Understanding its meaning, the elder sighed inwardly and waved to the guards restraining the True Child.

"Go."

"boom!!!"

Just as Mako was about to be pushed through the door of the Box of Ecstasy, a figure as swift as lightning shattered the dome that shrouded everyone's heads. Divine fire descended from the sky, and palms carrying immense power smashed down towards the guard's head.

"Get your dirty hands off me, I haven't even touched that area yet!" (End of Chapter)