The Legend of the Box

Many may not know this, but Kusagakure was not a pushover village that most of the nations assumed it was. Though lost to the annals of time, many retired shinobi veterans recalled the tales that their father's father told them of the...glory days. In times so far away, dating back to the very precipice of shinobi history, Kusagakure had nearly conquered the world. Of course, it hadn't been established as Kusagakure at the time, but the ancestors would later define their home as a village following the dream of Senju Hashirama, for people to come together as nations. Yes, before the establishment of the Five Great Nations, the ancestors of Kusagakure...had been close to conquering the world. This reason...was because of a box.

The Box of Ultimate Bliss. Even to most veteran shinobi, it's an object that could only be described as a myth. Many claim it is one of the gateways to the very depths of hell itself. Others claim that it is a box filled with unrivaled power that not even the strongest shinobi Kage could lay claim to. For others, for the right price, it grants any and all wishes. Yet, the depths of its power remain known to none, but its dangers are such that the Five Elemental Nations would cease any and all conflict, not just with minor villages, but with each other in order to make sure this great object remained a myth...no matter how real it was.

The significance of this story would lay in the past, future...and present of Kusagakure. Due to its immense power, the had garnered two opposing factions within Kusagakure. One, the Grass Fruit Group, all those in favor of reviving the ancient weapon in the hopes of returning to the days that Kusagakure was both feared...and respected. Next, the Grass Flower Group, all of those opposed to using such a powerful monstrosity in order to gain honor and respect. For many years, perhaps decades, these two factions settled dispute after dispute, but...the Grass Flower Group could not have known that the Fruit Group...had found the box...or what this would mean later.

The moon shined in the sky over the trees and grass rooted to the Earth. Atop these blades of grass slept Uchiha Sasuke. His body had been beaten and his bones had been broken in numerous places. The redhead, like he had always expected, was relentless. She gave the avenger no breaks, but she always found time to give him correction. It hurt, but it was what he wanted. He wanted training, and he got training! Weapons, jutsu, fighting techniques, battle strategy, they were all available to him and he would make use of every single one of them.

As Sasuke slept, a shadow loomed over him. Red eyes stared down on him while his brain conjured up whatever dreams or nightmares to his liking. From the light of the moon, the eyes belonged to Naruto Uzumaki. "Heh, I wonder what mighty dreams the Great Uchiha is having right now. To think the heir to one of the most noble clans in Konohagakure's history, since the founding of the village, in the palm of my hand," Naruto said to himself.

"It would be so easy, Sasuke…," Naruto swung his arm. Without hesitation a single axe blade formed of the blood within his body took shape. With all his strength, he swung at the Uchiha, but then, with all his strength, he stopped just mere inches away from Sasuke's throat.

"...to kill you. I wonder where your revenge would go then? But, you amuse me too much. You, Orochimaru, and Konoha, you all amuse me dattebayo! If I was still the same forgiving weakling back in Konoha, I doubt I could have ever dreamed of accomplishing this! But just so you know, Sasuke, no matter how much you desire it, Uzumei-chan is mine. It'd be rather poetic irony if I had her kill you. To think, the person you've begun to trust also betrayed you. Where would you go then?" Naruto asked himself. Oh no, look at him monologuing. He'd have to curb that habit.

"Sigh, but alas, it's not this body's call. While you sleep, I pave the way to my dreams, which are much grander than yours! Don't worry, Sasuke, I'll give you your revenge. In exchange...I'll take your...everything else!" Naruto replied as he looked at the sky. Hmm, he wondered how his real body was doing.

"What is the problem?! It's just three people! Why can't we...guek!"

"S-S-Satomaru-sama, r-r-un away! EURK!"

Naruto as he lifted another corpse into the air. His eyes a mixture of pleasure and anger, he clenched his fist and the bone-crunching sounds of what had been a male chunin. Those who bore witness to the scene could only watch the unholy act of red life essence floating into the air. It floated their formlessly, but Naruto was not one to leave it that way. Finally, the fruits of his labor were bearing fruition.

"KUSO! Katon: Gōkakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)," Another chunin shouted at the top of her lungs. A massive ball of pure fire exploded from her lips destroying all across its path towards the blonde, Uzumei and Yugao. The former of these three exhaled.

"Tell me Uzumei, have you ever known anyone more inhospitable to their guests?" Naruto asked. Behind him, Uzumei stood with a blade between her fingers.

"No, I have not, Naruto-sama. Would you like me to teach them appropriate etiquette?" she asked, a frown on her face. Even in the face of the impending jutsu that was coming for them, she was not worried. To her surprise, neither was Yugao. If nothing else, the purple-haired anbu found herself praying for these people. For soon they would know death's sweet release...at least she hoped.

"No, it's alright. I was never one for manners myself growing up. Perhaps I should just...go with the flow," Naruto replied.

The blood in the air which he had been controlling quickly solidified into massive red well that covered the three of individuals from ceiling to floor. The flames blasted against the hardened wall of blood. This heat was easily felt by the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. What a sensation! What a rush! He could feel the life essence inside of him reacting to this heat with increased acceleration. This was sending it traveling through is body, increasing his senses and his endorphins! You Kusagakure shinobi weren't bad!

The Kusagakure shinobi stared down the flaming hallway. The woman whom had casted the jutsu fell to her knees. It had been unwise, but in the small corridor she had poured as much chakra into her jutsu as she could. There was no way they could have escaped it.

....

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