Chapter 323: 323. Chapter 318: The Box of Bliss That Never Gets Full

323. Chapter 318: The Box of Bliss That Never Gets Full

"Grass Hidden Style: Blast Palm!"

"Boom!!!"

In the training ground, a young man with a ponytail bent down to dodge his opponent's brutal punch, aimed at the vital point under the ribs, and struck with both palms. The powerful impact sent his burly opponent flying dozens of meters, slamming heavily into the wall.

"Winner, Shenhuo!"

The referee of the match felt there was no need to continue, so he raised his hand to announce the winner, and then arranged for the staff to pry the person embedded in the wall off.

"Life is truly as lonely as snow~"

Shenhuo, who was a bit bored, yawned as he walked out of the training ground. These weak opponents had completely failed to interest him.

"Shen-kun!"

Just as he was sighing, a figure slapped Shenhuo's back fiercely. The tyrannical force almost made his internal organs shift.

"I knew you were the best!"

Shenhuo, who didn't need to guess who it was, turned his head with a pained face, a soft look flashing in his eyes as he looked at the pretty girl behind him, then he straightened his face.

"Zhenzi, have you finished your refining task today?"

"Refining chakra is nothing, it's not a problem for this girl at all, okay!"

Zhenzi put her small hands on her hips, raised her nose triumphantly, but her floating steps and pale face told her weakness clearly.

"You, you~ let's go, I'll treat you to a meal."

How could Shenhuo not see the girl's fatigue? He shook his head helplessly and issued an invitation to Zhenzi.

"Yay!"

"Boss, another bowl!"

In an ordinary noodle stall on the street, the thin Zhenzi showed combat power completely different from her appearance, holding the empty big bowl in her hand, urging the noodle stall boss.

"Right away, right away!"

The noodle stall boss was so busy that his arms were almost smoking, but the process of cooking noodles was far behind the girl's eating speed, making him sweat profusely.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

Shenhuo on the side only tasted a few mouthfuls, then pushed his portion to the salivating Zhenzi, and carefully instructed.

"Hypocritical, when have you ever seen me choke?"

Zhenzi grabbed the noodles Shenhuo had eaten, without any look of disgust, opened her small mouth, and started a storm-like inhalation.

"Your noodles are here~"

"Yay~"

Finally, the girl who cleared out the noodle stall's stock patted her round little belly with satisfaction, full of happiness.

"45, 46, 46 bowls, appetite is growing, but why doesn't the figure change?"

The bored Shenhuo counted the number of bowls the girl had eaten, then looked at Zhenzi's plain figure, and couldn't help but slander in a low voice.

"Huh? What are you saying?"

Zhenzi heard this clearly, and immediately glared over with a fierce look, her sharp teeth grinding in warning.

Shenhuo felt guilty in his heart. Afraid of being beaten, he hurriedly changed the subject.

"What are you training recently, is it still just refining chakra?"

"Hmm, the elder is getting stricter now. Every day if the refining speed is not fast enough and the quality is not pure enough, I have to be punished."

The girl smacked her lips, not yet satisfied, and nodded to Shenhuo.

"Keep it up! One day you will also become a combatant. At that time, we will be in a squad, and I will cover you."

"Hmph~ who covers whom is not certain yet!"

Shenhuo and Zhenzi, these two orphans, were taken in by the Grass Ninja clan many years ago. This kind of act of taking in orphans was common in the Warring States period. Many ninja clans needed to replenish fresh blood.

Those who couldn't refine chakra were generally used as servants or labor, and those who could refine chakra and had ninja talent would be trained as combatants, as consumables for war.

The two were lucky. Possessing ninja talent, they stood out among the orphans and soon began to receive systematic training, among which Shenhuo's talent was higher.

In just two and a half years, Shenhuo was assigned to the combatant squad with excellent results, becoming a glorious ordinary combatant (rookie genin).

And Zhenzi had been left in the chakra training camp, day after day, performing inexplicable chakra refining training, inputting the chakra she worked hard to refine into a strange box every day until she was exhausted.

Years passed, Shenhuo, carrying the dream of protecting Zhenzi, broke through thorns and thorns all the way, and finally successfully promoted to an elite combatant. While excited, he was also worried about Zhenzi's situation.

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

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

At the time of the after-dinner walk, walking on the street together, Shenhuo looked at the girl whose face was still a bit pale, and couldn't help but ask.

"Eh... the elder said, I still lack some tempering."

The girl touched her head, her expression also carrying some confusion. Clearly, her chakra amount now was not much less than Shenhuo's, why didn't they let her join the combatant squad.

"It just so happens that I'm going to visit the elder tomorrow, I'll help you ask then."

Shenhuo patted the girl's shoulder comfortingly, thinking about how to say this when he met the elder tomorrow.

"It's getting late, Shenhuo, I should go back."

The two chatted about many trivial things along the way. The girl was giggling by the humorous Shenhuo. Seeing the sun was about to set, Zhenzi turned around with some reluctance and said goodbye.

"See you next time."

The next day, Shenhuo went to visit the elder early in the morning. After entering the room, he knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully to the old man on the high seat.

"Seen the elder!"

"Oh? It's Shenhuo. I heard you were promoted to an elite captain. I really didn't misjudge you back then. You kid is truly a talent!"

The old man on the high seat slowly opened his turbid eyeballs, looking at Shenhuo under the stage. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face. When he first saw this kid back then, he almost died of anger. If his reputation hadn't been decent, he would have probably ended up with a reputation as a 'nanton' (homosexual).

"It's all thanks to the elder's cultivation!"

Shenhuo also spoke human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts.

"Alright, don't I know your temperament? What's the matter with finding me today?"

The elder smiled and shook his head. Shenhuo's talent was the strongest among the wandering children he collected, so he took him out of that place and cultivated him as a confidant. The result didn't disappoint him. He became an elite captain at a young age, and his future could be described as limitless.

"Elder, let's not talk in riddles. When can Zhenzi come out of there?"

Since the elder asked, Shenhuo simply got straight to the point, a pair of eyes hiding a hint of expectation.

Over the years, Shenhuo hadn't seen anyone other than himself be taken out of there.

"Zhenzi... is that the girl who was taken in with you?"

The elder frowned slightly, thought for a moment in his mind, and asked.

"That's right, that's right, it's her. She has been staying there for many years, should she be able to come out now?"

"This... let me understand the situation first before talking."

Not agreeing to Shenhuo directly, the elder waved his hand indifferently, signaling that he could retreat if there was nothing else.

"That place..."

After Shenhuo left, the elder pondered for a moment, beckoned to the dark place, and a black shadow flashed out instantly.

"Go and ask them how the progress of the box is."

"Yes!"

After ordering, the elder slowly closed his eyes, and the whole person was shrouded in endless darkness again.

A few days later, Shenhuo, who was anxiously waiting for the elder's reply, received a gathering order from the combatant squad late at night. After suspiciously packing his equipment, he went to gather.

When he arrived at the combatant camp, many colleagues had already arrived, all with a look of confusion.

"Are we going to war?"

Someone couldn't help but ask.

"Should not be, didn't hear any relevant news."

Several people who were well-informed shook their heads. Now the ninja clans in the Land of Grass had been unified, and there was no war in the country.

"Then what are we called for in the middle of the night?"

"Wouldn't it be too idle?"

"..."

Shenhuo sat in the corner and meditated. For some reason, there was a hint of uneasiness in his heart.

"Is everyone here?"

Just when everyone was talking about it, the captain who commanded the combatants appeared in front of everyone. He had a rare solemn look on his face. After looking around, he asked.

"All here!"

The ninja responsible for counting the number of people raised his hand and replied.

"Good, I will tell you about the next mission now."

Sure enough, it wasn't a feint. Everyone was startled, and their ears were pricked up high.

"There is an important ceremony tonight. You must do a good job of guarding. There can be no mistakes in the whole process of the ceremony."

Ceremony?

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

"Captain, what kind of ceremony is it tonight? Can you reveal it?"

The uneasiness in his heart became more intense. Shenhuo touched the captain's side and asked in a low voice.

"Shenhuo, don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

To be able to reach the position of captain, besides having solid strength, one's mouth must be strict enough.

"Tsk... Captain, I heard that the captain's wife has been asking for the past few days, how many night shifts did you actually work last month..."

"Cough, cough, cough... shh~"

Hearing this, the captain, who was originally serious, became a little flustered instantly. Looking left and right to make sure no one was paying attention, he immediately shushed in a low voice.

"What do you want to do, kid?"

"If the wife knows that you, Captain, are also working hard at night, she will definitely feel very distressed, right?"

Shenhuo raised his eyebrows and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Hoo... fine, fine, fine, since you want to know, I'll tell you."

The captain thought about the 300-jin meat mountain at home, and immediately broke into a cold sweat. So he pulled Shenhuo aside and said in a very serious tone.

"Tonight, the elders are going to hold an opening ceremony. If successful, our Land of Grass will definitely soar into the sky and recast the glory of our ancestors!"

While speaking, a thick look of pride appeared in the captain's eyes, which made Shenhuo's heart sink slightly.

Opening the box, could it be that box?

Shenhuo had not only seen the box, he had also been in close contact with it. That was after he and Zhenzi had just refined chakra, they were taken to the current chakra training camp by a group of people in black. There were many people of different ages inside, all with a look of fanaticism on their faces.

In the very center of the training camp, there was a huge box, with four expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and joy carved on the four sides. The two followed the instructions of the people in black and clumsily input the chakra they refined into the box until they were exhausted and couldn't squeeze out any more food.

Later, because of his extraordinary talent, he was exceptionally taken out of that place, and the nightmare of refining chakra desperately every day ended.

"Zhenzi, you must not have an accident!"

Thinking that this so-called opening ceremony might be related to Zhenzi and the others, Shenhuo's heart was filled with deep worry, and he couldn't help but pray secretly.

The elder who had met Shenhuo a few days ago was now standing in front of a black box taller than a person, opening his turbid eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Elder, the Box of Bliss has already had feedback. As long as there is a little more, a little more chakra, it will be awakened."

Two mysterious people wearing animal masks stood in front of the elder, pointing to the box on the side, and said excitedly.

"Is it really just a little bit?"

Looking at the strange-looking Box of Bliss, the elder frowned slightly. As the gatekeeper of this generation, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of opening the Box of Bliss and bringing the Grass ninjas to rule the ninja world. He thought he would leave this world with this regret.

Didn't expect that even though he was half-buried, the Box of Bliss had news again.

"As long as those people are squeezed dry, the Box of Bliss can wake up!"

The mysterious man wearing a beast head said very firmly.

"Hmm, then let's start."

The elder didn't have much expression when he heard this. Those people who acted as batteries were just orphans they had searched for many years. They were born to live for the Box of Bliss. Since the Box of Bliss wanted them to die now, there was no need for them to live anymore.

"Ouch, it's so late, and we have to get up for overtime. Do you want to eat oil cakes?"

Like Shenhuo and the others, the batteries awakened by the guards complained loudly with sleepy eyes.

"For the sake of the elder, I am willing to work 25 hours a day!"

But there were also fanatical fans who identified very much with their status as cattle and horses.

"Gulu~"

In the crowd, Zhenzi rubbed her rumbling belly and followed the pace of the large army with a bitter face.

When they arrived at the workstation where they usually worked, everyone knelt and bowed to the elder they hadn't seen for a long time. Zhenzi also followed suit. She secretly glanced at the cold-faced elder, and she accidentally recalled the past of her childhood, almost unable to help laughing out loud.

Shenhuo, are you working overtime today too?

"Shenhuo, where are you going?"

Shenhuo, who got the ceremony information from the captain, turned and left without any hesitation.

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

"Ah this... then you go there to station."

The captain, hearing this, had a look of wanting to say something but stopping, finally sighed, and chose to let Shenhuo leave.

"Elder, I will work hard!"

A young boy with a green face stood excitedly in front of the Box of Bliss, turned his head to look at the expressionless elder, and said in a very firm tone.

Most of the people here had similar experiences to Shenhuo and the other. They were taken in by the ninja clan headed by the elder during their wandering. Not only did they solve their food and clothing problems, but they also taught them how to refine chakra. It was simply a re-creation grace!

"Oh."

The elder just glanced at the boy lightly, which made the other party feel like he had been injected with chicken blood, full of fighting spirit, and raised his hand to refine chakra desperately. But before he started, he was stopped by a mysterious person wearing a beast head on the side.

"Wait a minute!"

"Huh?"

"You are too slow like this, you can't achieve the effect expected by the elder at all."

The beast-headed man shook his head, and the words he said made the young boy's face dim.

"However, there is a faster way now, it depends on whether you have the courage to go through fire and water for the elder."

Just when the boy was disappointed, the beast-headed man changed the subject, his voice carrying a hint of magic, which made the young boy's eyes turn slightly red when he heard it, and he immediately nodded like a garlic.

"I am willing!"

"As long as you enter the box, the speed of your chakra input will become faster, and you can complete your life's work in the blink of an eye..."

"I am willing!"

As long as it was for the elder, the boy was willing even if he died. These wandering wild dogs, if they hadn't been taken in by the elder, would have been exposed in the wilderness long ago, becoming lonely ghosts.

"Good~ Elder, you can start!"

The beast-headed man was very satisfied with his guidance containing genjutsu components, and turned to the elder who had been waiting for a long time.

"Box, now is the time to open, Box of Bliss!"

The elderly elder stepped forward, stared closely at the strange smiling face on the Box of Bliss, slowly extended his hands, blue light flickered in his palms, and released the gatekeeper technique passed down for many years.

"Our wish is finally going to be realized!"

Several beast-headed men trembled excitedly. According to the information left by their ancestors, as long as they successfully opened the Box of Bliss, they could rule the entire ninja world.

Accompanied by a black gas rushing to the sky, red light shot out from the eyes of the face on the Box of Bliss, and everyone present felt a fear from the bottom of their hearts.

Shenhuo, who was running wildly outside, also saw this black gas, and the uneasiness in his heart finally reached its peak, and he rushed toward that direction with wind under his feet.

"Boom~ boom~"

Driven by the door-opening technique, the Box of Bliss began to rotate itself until the face with 'joy' stopped in front of the elder.

"Is it really not enough?"

According to the feedback from the Box of Bliss, the elder slowly lowered his hands. Sure enough, as the few beast-headed men said, chakra was still missing a little bit.

"Boom~"

Just then, another change happened to the Box of Bliss. The face full of 'joy' slowly fell, revealing a big door shaped like a lion, but there was only pitch black in sight, and the true face inside could not be seen.

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

Seeing this, the beast-headed man urged the dazed, green youth repeatedly.

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

The young boy stepped into the dark door with a look of determination.

"Still not enough..."

The elder shook his head.

"I'll come!"

With the previous example, many young boys and girls with fanatical faces stood out one after another. Their encounters were the same as Shota who had just entered the Box of Bliss. They were all wild dogs saved by the elder. As long as the elder needed it, even if they paid with their lives, they would not hesitate.

Watching one familiar person after another enter the pitch-black lion-mouth door, Zhenzi, who was huddled in the corner, turned pale. Although she also wanted to repay the elder's life-saving grace, she still had Shenhuo, the boy who had been waiting for her.

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

Unlike others who were so fanatical, Zhenzi began to secretly look at the surrounding environment, looking for a way to escape, but the whole scene was guarded by guards who arrived early, and she had no chance to escape at all.

"For the elder! Charge!"

Until the last young man with a fanatical face walked into the pitch-black door resolutely, the Box of Bliss, which was still a bit unsatisfied just now, made a comfortable groan.

But according to the feedback, it was still just a little bit short, at most a few more, and it could be completely fed.

"Not enough, still not enough!"

The elder opened his eyes, looking at the quiet venue at this moment, revealing a trace of dissatisfaction. Clearly, it was just a door-kick away.

"Is there anyone else? Catch a few more!"

Several beast-headed men were also a bit impatient, ordering the guards on the side to search for hiding batteries again.

"No need, the missing people, you guys make up for it!"

Just as they turned to search, the elder's indifferent voice rang in their ears, and then several beast-headed men were knocked away by a huge force, falling exactly into the pitch-black lion-mouth door.

"Don't! We are..."

The desperate wail of the several beast-headed men who were backstabbed scared Zhenzi, who was hiding in the corner, almost fainting.

"Eh... still a little bit... just a little bit..."

The elder, who withdrew his palms, sensed the feedback from the Box of Bliss, and then cast his indifferent gaze on the several guards who had been performing their duties faithfully, and the meaning contained in his eyes was self-evident.

"Elder, we are loyal to you!"

How could the guards not understand the elder's eyes? After being stunned for a moment, they immediately knelt down and bowed, while secretly accumulating strength, preparing to fight the old man to the death.

"Hoo... I naturally won't attack you. While there is still time, go and find substitutes."

The elder was not a fool. If he sacrificed the guards at this time, wouldn't the remaining guards swarm up? Although he had extraordinary strength, he was ultimately not forgiving of the years, and there would always be times when he was powerless, right?

"Gulu~ gulu~"

Just as the guards got up and prepared to search, a loud rumbling sound was very harsh in the empty venue. Everyone moved their eyes over at the same time.

The sharp-eyed guard immediately stepped forward and pulled Zhenzi, who had been hiding for a long time, out of the corner.

"Elder, don't!"

Zhenzi, who had already been scared out of her wits, struggled constantly in the guard's hands, and the tears in her eyes flowed down drop by drop, but it couldn't shake the elder's iceberg-like heart at all.

"What is your name?"

Anyway, she was the last sacrifice, so the elder decided to remember her name as a memento.

"My name is Zhenzi."

Zhenzi, who was shivering, felt like her heart was dead at this moment. In the last moment of her life, there was actually no Shenhuo's company, which was really a pity.

"So you are Zhenzi~"

A flash of complexity flashed in the elder's turbid eyeballs. So this girl in front of him was the woman Shenhuo, that kid, was thinking about.

"Boom~ boom~"

"Umm... impatient, huh..."

Just as he was hesitating, the Box of Bliss made a harsh restlessness. The elder, who understood the meaning, sighed slightly in his heart and waved to the guard who was restraining Zhenzi.

"Go."

"Boom!!!"

Seeing Zhenzi about to be pushed into the door of the Box of Bliss, a thunder-like figure broke the dome covering everyone's heads. Shenhuo, who descended from the sky, had both palms wrapped in ten thousand jun of force, and smashed toward the guard's head.

"Take your dirty hands away, I haven't even touched that place yet!" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 324 =====