"What is it?"
"Lord Kusuo, Chiyo of the Sand Village was attacked by Orochimaru. Even her Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets was stolen."
Hatake Kusuo was somewhat surprised. Orochimaru had always been focused on his own scientific research; he had never heard of him taking an interest in puppetry. After listening, Kusuo nodded and walked back to the window, gazing outside. But Kuroko didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.
"Is there something else?" Kusuo asked, looking back at him.
Kuroko took a parchment map from his robes. "Lord Kusuo, this is a map I came across by chance some time ago. If I'm not mistaken, the location it marks should be the site of the Gelel mineral vein."
Hearing this, even Kusuo was slightly surprised. He took the map from Kuroko and studied it carefully.
Just as he was examining it, the door was suddenly pushed open. Shion walked in from outside. The moment she saw Kuroko, she grew tense. Then her eyes fell on the parchment map in Kusuo's hands, and she put the pieces together.
"Why is it there?" Shion glanced at the location indicated on the map.
"You know this place?" Kusuo looked at Shion, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
Shion nodded and pointed to a spot on the map. "This place has a very strong seal. I've sensed it before."
Kusuo was pleased to hear this. Shion was proficient in sealing jutsu, so it was normal for her to be able to sense nearby seals. "I see. I didn't realize you were so capable."
With that, Kusuo reached out and gently tapped Shion on the nose. "This little fool Hinata fainted again. Help me take care of her."
Shion looked at Kusuo reluctantly but nodded obediently. Seeing this gentle side of her, Kusuo stepped closer and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for your hard work."
By this point, Kuroko had long since turned his face away. If not for Kusuo's status, he really would have condemned such a public display of affection.
"Kuroko, let's go." Kusuo reattached his sword to his hip and led the way out. Hearing Kusuo's serious tone, Kuroko quickly nodded to Shion as a farewell and jogged out of the room to follow him.
Kusuo glanced at the Kazekage's office. Hanabi and the other candidates were inside, protected by the Sand's strongest guard units. Seeing this, Kusuo felt a sense of relief.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Two figures shot through the air, speeding away from the Sand Village. It was Hatake Kusuo and Kuroko.
"Lord Kusuo, I have already informed Lord Ibiki. The Demon Slayer Corps will be providing support."
"Good."
Hatake Kusuo grunted in acknowledgment and continued on his way. The location on the map was not close; it would likely take about half a day to reach.
It wasn't until the next day that Kusuo finally stopped. Kuroko, who had been trailing behind him, collapsed onto the ground, wiping sweat from his brow as he looked up at Kusuo.
"Lord Kusuo, we should be getting close." Although Kuroko had given the map to Kusuo, he had possessed it for some time. Back then, he thought it was a map to some secret treasure. Only now did he realize it was the ruins of a lost civilization.
Kusuo looked at the map, then at their surroundings. They were in a rugged, mountainous region. The altitude was so high that they could see faint clouds and mist swirling around them. Even without Shion, Kusuo was certain this was the location of the seal. He reached down and gently placed his hand on the ground. As expected, he immediately felt a powerful surge of energy, though it seemed to be firmly suppressed by something, unable to move.
After a short while, Kusuo saw the other members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Lord Kusuo," Ibiki Morino greeted him with a bow.
"What's the situation?" Kusuo asked.
"Lord Kusuo, we have already scouted the area. We found a cave. We've confirmed there are no traps inside, but we haven't entered yet."
Kusuo nodded in satisfaction. He had calculated the timing perfectly. He knew the speed of Ibiki and his team; they would have definitely scouted the area before his arrival.
"Let's go. Let's take a look." Kusuo, sword in hand, walked towards the cave. Ibiki followed closely, and they soon arrived at the entrance. A cold wind blew continuously from within the cave. Strangely, the wind felt comfortable on their skin, and even old, minor injuries seemed to gradually heal.
"It seems the legends about the Stone of Gelel's healing and life-extending properties were not exaggerated," Kusuo remarked as he stepped inside. The cave opened up into a vast, hidden space.
After walking for a few minutes, they arrived in a wide hall. The hall itself didn't look particularly special, but its walls were carved with mysterious totems, and the floor was covered in a network of grooves forming an intricate pattern.
"Lord Kusuo, this should be the sealing site for the Stone of Gelel." Ibiki knelt down, placing his hand on the floor to feel the sealing jutsu. "Lord Kusuo, if we want to break this seal, I'm afraid it will take considerable effort."
Ibiki looked at the ground with a grave expression. The grooves were clearly designed for some kind of liquid to flow through them. That meant the ritual required either blood or chakra as a catalyst. Either option would be difficult. The sealing formation here was so massive that it was far beyond what a few people could break through with conventional methods.
"Stand back," Hatake Kusuo's voice came from behind Ibiki.
Ibiki quickly stood up and led the Demon Slayer Corps back.
"Sun Breathing..."
"Lord Kusuo, are you planning to break this formation with brute force? It's constructed with such precision... I'm afraid..."
BOOM!
The entire hall was instantly filled with dust and smoke. The seemingly indestructible sealing formation shattered into pieces.
-------
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