Chapter 239 — The Box of Bliss, Fulfilling Wishes
Uchiha Yota looked up at his captor's cold expression and finally understood one thing clearly:
This man was at least a chūnin… maybe even a jōnin.
Someone weak would never be stationed in Uchiha Fugaku's residence.
As far as Yota knew, Fugaku had no close relatives besides his wife, Uchiha Mikoto, and their two sons.
And now, even Uzumaki Naruto was living here under Fugaku's protection.
So this man—this demon who kept slapping him—must be one of Fugaku's trusted operatives, or a guard with authority similar to an ANBU.
Ryoichi's voice snapped him back.
"What other information do you have? Speak."
His fist twitched slightly, a silent warning.
Yota immediately caved.
"I—I'll talk! In the Land of Grass, there's a treasure known as the Box of Bliss—a container said to grant one wish to whoever opens it!"
"The Box of Bliss?"
Ryoichi narrowed his eyes.
Land of Grass?
Granting wishes?
It sounded like a fairy tale.
"Where did you hear this?" Ryoichi asked, gaze fixed sharply on Yota's micro-expressions.
He'd learned the skill from a visiting Yamanaka jōnin who came to Pansi Cave for a massage—reading tiny movements in a person's face was an easy way to detect lies.
Yota froze.
He absolutely could not say, I know because I read Naruto and you're all manga characters.
If he said something like that, Ryoichi would definitely drag him to a Yamanaka clan specialist to dissect his brain.
He hesitated too long.
Ryoichi's eyes sharpened, ready to force an answer—
The door to the residence slid open.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke burst out into the yard, with Uchiha Itachi following behind them. They were clearly heading to the training grounds.
"Huh? Uncle Ryoichi, who's that?" Naruto asked as he passed, staring curiously at the swollen, barely-recognizable Yota.
"…He looks like a pig's head," Naruto muttered sympathetically.
Sasuke gave Yota one uninterested glance, then nudged Naruto.
"Let's go. We'll be late to train."
As the two children ran forward, Ryoichi straightened and smiled lightly.
"A clan brat with a bad attitude, Young Master. I simply corrected him a little."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully, then chased after Sasuke.
Once they were gone, Itachi approached quietly.
His eyes flicked over the thoroughly beaten boy.
"What happened to him?" he asked.
Ryoichi answered respectfully.
"He entered the yard without permission and demanded to meet the Clan Head—while referring to him by name. I apprehended him. During questioning, he revealed… troubling behavior."
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Uncle Ryoichi wasn't the type to exaggerate.
If he said something was wrong, something was wrong.
"Is he from the clan? Which family?" Itachi asked.
Ryoichi shook his head.
"I asked. He refused to answer. His face is unfamiliar. I don't know whose household he belongs to."
"I see."
Itachi left shortly after, reminding Ryoichi to be careful.
As the three young masters disappeared down the street, Ryoichi gave Yota a warning glare.
Yota froze like a stone.
He had wanted to call out to Naruto or Sasuke earlier, but none of them had the authority to help him.
Only Uchiha Fugaku could change his fate.
So he stayed silent, quietly observing Naruto, Sasuke, and finally—Itachi.
When Itachi had told Ryoichi to be careful, Yota felt a surge of admiration rise in his chest.
So cool… He really is my idol…
Ryoichi noticed Yota's obedient silence and nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Seems you've learned your place."
Yota wanted to spit at him, but the memory of being slapped repeatedly kept him silent.
Ryoichi continued,
"Now—back to the earlier question. Where did you hear about this 'Box of Bliss'?"
Luckily, Itachi's interruption had bought Yota time to think.
He replied immediately:
"My father told me."
Since the original owner's father was already dead, blaming everything on him was perfect.
Ryoichi certainly couldn't go to the Pure Land to interrogate him.
"Your father's name?" Ryoichi asked.
"Uchiha Kazuta."
"Kazuta…?" Ryoichi frowned.
He didn't recognize the name at all.
Which meant the man had been a mediocre member of the clan—nothing noteworthy.
"Was he a genin or chūnin?"
"Chūnin," Yota answered quickly.
Ryoichi nodded.
There were dozens of nameless chūnin in the clan. Forgetting one was normal.
"Where is your home? Is your father there?" Ryoichi pressed.
He wanted to verify how this nobody knew about Orochimaru possessing two Kusanagi swords—and this strange "wish-granting box" from the Land of Grass.
Neither seemed like information an ordinary Uchiha household would ever have.
And Ryoichi wasn't done investigating.
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