"If you truly want a peaceful life, then helping Kagome resolve the trouble of the Shikon Jewel is your only option."
Uchiha Retsu stared at her.
Thinking of the upcoming emotional battlefield between her, Kagome, and Inuyasha, he curled his lips into a mischievous smile and deliberately added,
"And stop fixating on that half-demon, Inuyasha. He already has Kagome now. Your fate with him ended the moment you died."
"Shut up!"
Kikyo's expression instantly turned icy.
Her spiritual power surged violently, and a streak of glowing purifying energy shot straight toward him.
Retsu didn't dodge.
Still hanging upside down from the branch, he calmly let the attack strike his chest.
With a soft boom, her power blasted a fist-sized hole through him.
But the moment the wound appeared, pale dust from all directions rushed in.
In the blink of an eye, his body was restored without leaving even a trace.
Kikyo had long known she couldn't hurt him.
After that strike, she didn't linger.
Turning around, she strode away.
Retsu watched her retreating figure and clicked his tongue in boredom.
Activating chakra beneath his feet, he flipped over effortlessly and landed on the branch.
Stretching lazily, he called after her,
"For the truly strong, life and death are blurry concepts. Compared to crossing time itself, transcending life and death isn't that hard."
Kikyo stopped abruptly.
Without turning back, she asked softly,
"You… have a way to truly revive?"
"Of course."
Retsu grinned.
"I have no interest in living forever in a corpse's body."
"You…"
Kikyo spun around, lips parting as if to ask something.
After hesitating, she swallowed her words.
"What? Want to ask how?" Retsu raised an eyebrow teasingly.
"It's nothing."
Avoiding his gaze, she turned away again.
"I'm leaving tonight."
Retsu watched her fading figure and smiled faintly.
He was curious how long this proud priestess could endure before asking about resurrection.
Night fell swiftly.
Perhaps still angry over their argument, Kikyo didn't call for Retsu.
She packed quietly and left the village alone.
Under the ink-black sky, she stood by the riverbank.
Cold moonlight reflected on the water, making her lonely silhouette look even more desolate.
Soon, countless pale lights appeared in the air, drifting toward her like fireflies.
As they drew closer, they revealed themselves to be Soul Collectors.
Each carried a glowing soul in its claws.
They circled around Kikyo.
She gently reached out and caught one of the drifting souls.
"Poor wandering spirit… come with me."
She slowly merged it into her clay body.
Only by absorbing these souls could she maintain her form and strength.
"Unable to ascend… so you linger in this world, Priestess?"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind her.
Kikyo's heart tightened.
It was Master Harumi—the monk she had driven away earlier.
Before he could say more—
A sharp whistle tore through the night!
A katana streaked out of the darkness like a meteor and pierced straight through Harumi's chest, pinning him to the ground.
"Gah—!"
He vomited blood, trembling as he grasped the blade in disbelief.
Crackling lightning suddenly spread along the sword.
Electric currents surged through his body, freezing him in place.
He couldn't even scream.
"Looks like you really didn't take my words seriously, old man."
Retsu's cold voice descended from above, filled with killing intent.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
He dropped down beside Harumi, looking down at him indifferently.
In the darkness, his Sharingan glowed crimson like the eyes of a demon.
The surrounding air turned icy.
"Who's there?"
A rustle came from the bushes.
Kikyo turned sharply.
Retsu didn't care.
He had long sensed that little girl, Sayo, hiding there.
He simply hadn't bothered.
Gripping the hilt, he yanked the sword free.
Warm blood dripped from the blade.
Slowly, he raised it toward Harumi's neck.
Just as he was about to strike—
"Wait. Let him go."
Kikyo's voice stopped him.
"There's a child here."
Retsu turned.
Kikyo had already pulled Sayo out from the bushes.
The little girl sat on the ground, staring at the bloody scene in terror.
When her eyes met Retsu's crimson pupils, she trembled violently.
Tears welled up, yet she didn't dare cry.
Retsu chuckled inwardly.
This girl was definitely going to have nightmares for days.
"Fine. For the kid's sake, I'll spare him."
He nodded and sheathed his blade.
Killing a monk meant nothing to him.
But slaughtering someone in front of a child crossed his own line.
Kikyo knelt and gently comforted Sayo until she calmed down.
Then she stood and said softly,
"Let's go."
"Kikyo…!"
As they turned away, Sayo suddenly called out, her voice full of reluctance.
Kikyo paused.
Turning back, she smiled gently.
"I'm sorry for leaving you with such a frightening memory. Goodbye, Sayo."
Without looking back again, she walked into the dark forest.
Retsu followed.
Their figures soon vanished into the night.
On the forest path, only footsteps and insects' chirping remained.
Retsu glanced at the Soul Collectors circling Kikyo.
He found them oddly charming.
Soft white, glowing faintly—far cuter than most grotesque demons.
He reached out to touch one.
It darted away nimbly.
Bored, he looked at Kikyo's silent back and teased,
"You're pretty popular with kids. That girl saw you controlling Soul Collectors, yet she still couldn't bear to part with you."
He added thoughtfully,
"If you ever had children, you'd be a great mother."
Kikyo's body stiffened.
She paused for half a second before continuing forward.
Her aura softened slightly.
After a long silence, she spoke quietly, her voice nearly lost to the wind.
"As one who is already dead… has my time not stopped forever? Is that even possible?"
Retsu answered in classic Uchiha fashion,
"If something can't be done, it just means you're not strong enough."
She didn't reply.
Silence returned to the forest.
After a while, Retsu asked curiously,
"Those insects… are they tools for gathering souls?"
"My soul is nearly gone," Kikyo replied calmly.
"This clay body can only move by relying on the souls of recently deceased maidens."
Her tone was flat, as if speaking of someone else.
Then she changed the topic.
"By the way… your body. What exactly is it?"
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