"Good. That puts my mind at ease."
Hearing Kikyo's confirmation, Uchiha Retsu finally let go of his worries and began pouring chakra into her at full force.
His Edo Tensei body possessed nearly limitless chakra thanks to its constant replenishment. As long as his will remained steady, his chakra would never truly run dry.
Now, without holding back, he released it freely.
Vast streams of chakra flowed like rivers merging into the sea, surging through their joined hands and continuously pouring into Kikyo's body.
As the chakra kept flowing in, her condition visibly improved.
Her once-pale complexion gradually regained color. The lingering aura of resentment around her faded, replaced by a gentle, harmonious energy.
More than that—
The wandering souls she had gathered through her Soul Collectors began drifting out of her body one after another, turning into tiny white lights that floated into the sky and dispersed among the trees.
"Is… is this okay?" Retsu stopped instinctively and asked anxiously.
"It's fine," Kikyo replied softly.
"My body no longer needs them. They're just returning to where they belong."
"That's good."
Retsu exhaled in relief and resumed channeling chakra.
More and more soul lights emerged and drifted away.
When the final glow vanished, Retsu used his Sharingan to examine her condition.
The vessel that had once been filled with soul energy was now completely saturated with his chakra.
At its center floated a faint white cluster, gently wrapped in chakra—
That had to be Kikyo's remaining soul.
He continued for a while longer.
Then, suddenly, her body began to glow with a soft white light.
The radiance grew brighter, pure and sacred.
Retsu recognized it instantly.
It was spiritual power—unique to priestesses.
"That's enough now," Kikyo said, her voice carrying barely concealed joy.
Retsu immediately stopped and released her hand.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Very good."
Kikyo slowly opened her eyes and smiled.
It was a bright, gentle smile, completely free of sorrow.
Retsu froze.
This was the first time he had ever seen her smile like that.
It was different from the gentle pity she showed children.
This was like melting snow—dazzling, impossible to look away from.
"The weakness is gone," she said softly.
"My spiritual power has mostly recovered. More importantly, I can feel my soul slowly healing."
She raised her hand slightly, sensing the flow of power within her, hope shining in her eyes.
"That's great. Looks like chakra really works for you."
Retsu snapped out of it and examined her again with his Sharingan.
Most of the resentment clinging to her soul had faded.
What little remained was steadily dissolving under her spiritual power.
Wrapped in chakra, her soul was gradually absorbing it, growing stronger with every moment.
What surprised him even more was that his chakra was firmly locked inside her body, with no leakage at all.
Then again, this vessel could even contain a soul.
Sealing chakra wasn't that strange in comparison.
"There's still one problem," Retsu said suddenly.
"The chakra inside you won't last forever. In battle, it'll be consumed even faster."
He paused, confidence flashing in his eyes.
"But as long as chakra works for you, that's easy to fix."
Raising both hands, he made a strange ceremonial pose and said seriously,
"Raise your hands. Do exactly what I'm doing."
Kikyo didn't understand, but she obediently followed.
Now that she was free from relying on wandering souls and could see hope of true revival, she trusted him deeply.
"Good. Don't move."
Seeing the normally cold and dignified priestess in such an awkward pose, Retsu almost burst out laughing.
He barely held it in, afraid she might beat him out of embarrassment.
He quickly composed himself and formed seals at lightning speed.
"Snake, Boar, Goat, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Rooster, Horse, Snake!"
Nine hand signs in one breath.
When his palms pressed together, his chakra erupted.
Pale-blue energy surged around him like boiling water.
Powerful currents formed a gale, whipping Kikyo's long hair wildly behind her.
She felt the overwhelming presence but remained silent, arms raised, eyes calmly fixed on him.
When his chakra reached its peak, glowing golden sealing patterns appeared around his body.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
He slammed his palm into her abdomen.
Golden characters spread from his hand, drawing his chakra outward and channeling it into her in a steady stream.
A few seconds later, the seal was complete.
Retsu staggered back and collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.
The Four Symbols Seal was a high-level sealing technique.
It consumed massive chakra and tremendous mental focus.
And sealing his own chakra made the burden even greater.
Even with Edo Tensei rapidly replenishing his energy from nature, exhaustion still washed over him.
"Are you alright?" Kikyo asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Just drained."
Retsu looked up and saw her still holding her arms high.
He laughed.
"Alright, you can put them down now. No need to keep posing."
"O-Oh…"
Her cheeks reddened slightly as she hurriedly lowered her arms.
Holding that posture for so long really had been embarrassing.
"Try using your spiritual power," Retsu said.
"Let's see if the seal can replenish the chakra you spend."
Kikyo nodded.
She picked up her bow and walked to the doorway.
Aiming casually at the ground below, she infused an arrow with spiritual power.
She released.
The arrow turned into a white streak and struck the earth with a dull boom, sending dust flying.
She ignored the impact and closed her eyes, focusing inward.
In the past, her spiritual power came directly from her soul.
Once it was depleted, only wandering souls could restore it.
But now—
The moment her spiritual power was consumed, her soul drew on the chakra inside her.
It converted it into spiritual energy.
At the same time, fresh chakra flowed out from the seal in her abdomen, replenishing what had been used.
A perfect cycle.
"It works."
Kikyo opened her eyes, joy shining within them.
"The seal replenishes the chakra almost instantly."
"Good. Looks like my sealing technique didn't mess up."
Retsu finally relaxed.
"I sealed enough chakra in you to last until your soul fully recovers.
"When you're ready, we'll move on to reviving you."
Kikyo put away her bow and knelt beside him.
She returned to her usual calm demeanor, but there was newfound warmth in her expression.
Looking at him seriously, she said slowly,
"Thank you. Truly."
Retsu met her gaze.
She was still cool and composed, yet the despair and lifelessness were gone.
In their place were calmness and quiet hope.
The tragic priestess bound by fate had finally gained a chance to rewrite her destiny.
"You're welcome," Retsu said with a smile.
"Thank me properly after we're both alive again."
To Read advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146