Chapter Fifty-Two: A Measure of Relief

As the commotion from the Blissful Casket erupted, everyone's attention, except for Xianglin, was drawn toward it—even Yuu Higashino, who kept tossing healing spells while glancing over. The layers of the casket's shell peeled away, revealing a human face within. That face opened its mouth wide.

Peering into the gaping maw, only darkness could be seen; there was no way to discern what lay inside. “The Blissful Casket is open!” cried the elder wearing the ram mask, his voice trembling with excitement.

He immediately realized this was not the moment for shouting—it was time to make a wish!

Yet someone beat him to it.

“O Blissful Casket, please grant my wish, I want...” the tiger-masked elder began, but halted abruptly. Beside him, the elder in the monkey mask pointed a finger at him, casting a binding spell.

The monkey-masked elder seized the moment: “Blissful Casket, grant my wish, I hope...” He too was cut short. This time, it was Wu Wei who acted. Across the ground, special black spell markings appeared.

Only Wu Wei himself, Yuu Higashino, and Kakuzu could still move—Yuu was completely unaffected, while Kakuzu struggled to retain mobility.

Yuu watched the spectacle as if it were a farce, with no intention of intervening. Kakuzu, seeing Yuu unmoved, also refrained from acting, leaving Wu Wei unimpeded.

“Let me see my son again, Blissful Casket, grant my wish!” Though the elders of Grass Ninja Village were immobilized, their eyes betrayed shock—not only at having been ensnared, but at Wu Wei's wish. After all his effort, he wished only to see his son?

Had we known you cared so much, we could have used others as chakra offerings!

While the elders’ emotions churned, new movements stirred in the Blissful Casket. Red-black light radiated from the abyssal mouth, and a pale-skinned figure stepped out of the glow.

“Wugou!” Wu Wei cried out, his voice trembling.

Beside Yuu, Longtongue showed a hint of excitement, while Kakuzu and Yuu both frowned.

Yuu recalled the original story: after Wugou emerged from the Blissful Casket, he became a puppet monster, “Wu,” controlled by the casket—so powerful that even Naruto in Sage Mode was no match for him.

At this moment, Yuu and Kakuzu sensed a profound and sinister aura emanating from Wugou; the events of the original tale were unfolding once more.

There had always been two theories regarding this scene: one posited that Wugou hadn’t died, but was corrupted and turned dark by the casket; the other claimed Wugou had died, and the being that stepped out was merely a puppet made from his body and memories.

Now, feeling his presence up close, Yuu leaned toward the former—Wugou radiated evil, but he was still human.

“Father,” said Wugou, approaching Wu Wei.

“Wugou, I’m sorry,” Wu Wei replied, stepping forward.

But as the two drew near, Wugou suddenly struck, driving a hand blade into Wu Wei's chest. The proximity left Wu Wei defenseless, and he never expected it; his chest was pierced, blood streaming forth, disbelief etched on his face.

“Father, you should indeed be sorry—but your apologies belong to them. You shouldn’t have let me out.”

With those words, Wugou withdrew his bloodied hand, and Wu Wei collapsed rigidly to the ground.

Yuu never intervened, for a simple reason: he was busy casting healing spells.

Xianglin's mother was in a complicated state—her life force had been drained as a medical resource and now her chakra was depleted, leaving her not only out of life energy but with her spirit severely damaged.

Despite Yuu’s full efforts, his healing only maintained her at the threshold of life; to truly cure her, he would likely need Medical Arts at level 4.

As for his skill panel: Medical Arts lv3: 726/10000.

Each healing spell increased proficiency by about 3 points, and he could cast two per second; leveling up would take more than half an hour.

With Wu Wei’s fall, the black spell marks began to fade, and the elders of Grass Ninja Village, along with Longtongue and Xianglin, regained movement.

At that moment, the diversity of human nature was on full display.

“Blissful Casket, I want the power to unite the world!”

“I wish...”

The elders feverishly shouted their wishes toward the casket.

Longtongue walked toward Wugou, unable to comprehend what had happened to her closest friend.

Xianglin ran to her mother, tears flowing as she did.

Should have had her wait outside, Yuu thought, following after.

“Mom! Mom!” Xianglin shook the woman on the operating table.

The woman, who had been unconscious, seemed to sense something at that moment. She awoke, saw Xianglin before her, and struggled to smile—a smile strained and awkward.

She tried to speak, but lacked the strength.

“Mom! Mom!” Xianglin kept calling out, her voice choked with tears.

Suddenly remembering something, she turned quickly to Yuu.

“Big brother, can you save my mom? You must be able to, right?”

Looking into those teary, pleading eyes, Yuu felt grateful that he had acquired the Medical Arts skill from Ayano Natsukawa—otherwise, faced with those eyes, he wouldn’t know how to respond.

Indeed, skills obtained through commissions were essential; they didn't need to be maxed immediately, but they had to exist.

“Don’t worry, I’m already using a special method to treat your mother. She’ll be fine.”

“Really?”

“Do you remember our commission? I promised to bring your mother safely to your side.”

“Since I accepted the commission, I’ll see it through, staking my reputation as a wandering ninja.”

Yuu’s words left Xianglin with many questions, but for reasons unknown, despite her doubts, she instinctively trusted him.

“Really? That’s wonderful—Xianglin won’t lose her mother. That’s so wonderful.”

“Big brother, when we go back, I’ll give you my last two candies. No, I’ll ask Mom to buy you lots of candies.”

“No need,” Yuu replied calmly. “Adults don’t like sweets. One is enough.”