In a flash, Ryou activated Susanoo, brought Candy inside it, and quickly moved away from Satori.
In the next instant, the catgirl who hadn't provoked a hint of hostility from anyone changed; her body transformed as if being torn apart by some monster, turning into a skeletal black demon.
Its head had no complete face, with only a grim mouth split open in the center. Fine white teeth interlocked, and four curved fangs curled outward like poisoned hooks.
It was pupilless and eyeless, with only several deep black folds where the eye sockets should be.
Its limbs were skeletal, with arms that almost dragged on the ground when hanging down. Two pairs of massive bone-membrane wings spread from its back, their wing bones gaunt with messy black feather tufts along the edges.
Its entire body was enveloped in a withered texture of deep gray, almost pitch black, with every contour exuding distorted malice.
This was Satori, the ancient magical beast that took pleasure in slaughter and destruction—Satori!
"What is this?!"
The people of Kusagakure could hardly believe their eyes as they watched the harmless little catgirl instantly transform into a hideous and terrifying monster.
It was as terrifying as seeing a little femboy you were about to get your hands on turn into a gross man scratching his feet the very next second.
Chizu asked Mui with a trembling body, "Mui, what on earth is this thing?"
Mui shook his head. "I don't know either. The Village's history has too long a gap; it's been several hundred years since the Box of Ultimate Bliss was last opened!"
Shirakawa had regained his senses by now. He looked at Satori solemnly, his heart filled with dread. "This thing is terrifying—more terrifying than a Tailed Beast!"
"We were wrong, we were wrong. The Box of Ultimate Bliss isn't a treasure chest for granting wishes, but a Shinobi tool for sealing this demon."
As soon as Satori appeared, it seemed like the terminator of all things; everyone felt an involuntary surge of fear toward it.
The two children, Ryūzetsu and Muku, began to cry out of sheer terror. Looking at Satori, they felt as if the malice of the world was crashing down upon them.
At this moment, Ryou appeared atop the Seven-Tails, riding the insect while clad in Susanoo.
Shukaku mocked with a bit of schadenfreude, "Candy, were you tricked by Satori?"
Candy huffed, then looked at Satori. For some reason, just looking at Satori made Candy feel afraid.
Even though it wouldn't feel fear upon seeing Madara, its heart couldn't help but sprout seeds of dread when facing this monster.
Ryou stroked its cat head and said, "This guy uses spiritual suppression. It can magnify an opponent's negative emotions a thousandfold—fear, doubt, even anger."
"Even before the battle begins, Satori can dismantle the opponent's will to fight."
Hearing this, Candy didn't dare look at Satori's body, but the fear in its heart didn't diminish in the slightest.
It was like a malicious shadow that weighed on one's heart with just a single glance.
Satori suddenly moved, flapping its wings and flying onto the Box of Ultimate Bliss, its massive claws firmly gripping the chest.
It had no eyes, only eye sockets formed by several deep black folds.
Despite having no eyes, everything was within Satori's perception.
The surrounding lives were completely seen through by Satori, as if their clothes were being stripped away layer by layer until only their most fundamental desires remained.
Fear, panic, despair...
These negative emotions were Satori's food, and its body involuntarily absorbed them.
All the thoughts and actions of these people were seen through by Satori.
"Roar—"
The Seven-Tails roared at Satori, sensing a profound threat from it.
As a Tailed Beast, it actually felt fear toward this magical creature.
Unforgivable.
The Seven-Tails was furious, and its anger was magnified hundreds of times by Satori's spiritual suppression. It opened its massive maw, condensing purple-black chakra.
The Seven-Tails was preparing to release a Biju Bomb.
Ryou quickly soothed the Seven-Tails, "Wait, Chomei, calm down!"
The Seven-Tails didn't listen, and the Biju Bomb continued to condense.
Ryou got angry. "You won't even listen to me, will you? See if I don't poke your backside."
Ryou's Susanoo poked the Seven-Tails' rear with the Gunbai, and the Seven-Tails regained its composure from the pain.
Satori looked greedily at the Seven-Tails; the violent, negative chakra of a Tailed Beast was a great supplement for it.
It couldn't wait to devour the Seven-Tails and gain even more power.
And the person on the Seven-Tails' head—the power of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was born from pain and hatred, and their chakra was cold and powerful.
This also made Satori greedy.
It spread its wings and attacked Ryou and the Seven-Tails.
"Get ready, Seven-Tails, I'm putting it on you!"
Ryou activated Susanoo, mimicking what Shisui did back then, and draped the Susanoo over the Seven-Tails.
Before long, the Seven-Tails was clad in a layer of black armor.
Majestic Attire: Seven-Tails Susanoo!
...
Konoha.
The Five Kage Summit began.
On Konoha's side were the Third Hokage, along with the three high-ranking officials Koharu, Homura, and Danzo, the strategist Nara Shikaku, the master-disciple duo Jiraiya and Minato, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina.
On Kumogakure's side were the Fourth Raikage, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii, and the former Raikage Assistant Dabui.
On Sunagakure's side were the Fifth Kazekage Pakura, the Kazekage Assistant Chiyo, and the two Elite Jonin Baki and Yashamaru.
On Iwagakure's side were Ōnoki, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Ōnoki's son Kitsuchi, the Iwagakure Explosion Corps, and Gari, who possessed the Explosion Style Kekkei Genkai.
Kirigakure had the fewest people, with only Yagura, Mei Terumī, and Kisame.
Ōnoki flew high, looking down at the group in the meeting room, still maintaining that foul attitude of acting like a senior.
"Oh, I didn't expect Sunagakure to already have a Fifth Generation. That was quick!"
Pakura frowned and retorted, "Ōnoki, you've been the Tsuchikage for nearly 30 years. Your backside might not be large, but you certainly sit firmly in your seat."
"Is it because you feel it's unsafe to pass the Tsuchikage position to Kitsuchi, and you're waiting for all the experts in the Village to die off?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the Iwagakure people changed drastically.
Kitsuchi and Gari looked toward Roshi, who got along least with Ōnoki. Roshi merely gave a cold snort, agreeing with Pakura's words in his heart.
Ōnoki took over as Tsuchikage after the Second Tsuchikage Mu died in battle, and has now held the power of Iwagakure for nearly 30 years.
Iwagakure has gradually become his personal domain, and signs of hereditary succession have begun to appear.
Everyone knew Ōnoki intended to pass the position of the next Tsuchikage to his son Kitsuchi. If Kitsuchi didn't take it, it might be Kurotsuchi, the granddaughter Ōnoki had some time ago.
Ōnoki was too selfish.
The Fourth Raikage also took the opportunity to attack Ōnoki. "Ōnoki, you're old. You should give those around you some opportunities. A Kage has never been a hereditary position."
The Third Hokage lowered his head slightly and didn't come forward to mediate, because like Ōnoki, he had also been a Kage for a very long time.