"Let's go."
With a thought, Uchiha Retsu controlled the black bear demon beneath them, guiding it along the winding mountain path toward the summit.
Both of them were seated on the bear's broad back. Though its body was large enough to hold two people comfortably, the distance between them was still quite close.
A gentle breeze passed by, lifting Kikyo's hair as she sat in front.
Retsu caught a faint, subtle fragrance drifting from her.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Aside from lacking the warmth of a living person, Kikyo's clay body was almost indistinguishable from a real human body.
Compared to her, his own Edo Tensei body—cracked and clearly unnatural—looked far more obviously inhuman.
Of course, the immortality granted by Edo Tensei made such flaws trivial.
Since the bear was still a demon, Retsu worried that the villagers might misunderstand, so he deliberately slowed its pace.
After several minutes, the two finally arrived at the gate of the Demon Slayer Village.
"Who are you? What brings you to the Demon Slayer Village?"
A villager soon appeared on the watchtower, his tone cautious but not hostile. Outsiders often came here to request demon-slaying services, so this was nothing unusual.
"Please inform your leader," Kikyo said calmly, looking up, "that the shrine maiden who was entrusted with purifying the Shikon Jewel fifty years ago has come to visit."
The moment the words "Shikon Jewel" were spoken, someone inside hurried off to report.
Retsu jumped down from the bear first and asked casually, "After all these years, do people still remember that?"
"They should," Kikyo replied as she accepted his help and stepped down. She adjusted her robes lightly.
"I can sense the presence of the Shikon Jewel within the village."
Retsu glanced at the bear standing obediently beside them under genjutsu and frowned slightly, debating whether to kill it.
Noticing his hesitation, Kikyo spoke up.
"Let's keep it for now. I can turn it into a shikigami later. It'll be convenient as a mount."
"Alright," Retsu nodded. "Let it live for now."
He had originally planned to kill it and toss the body into Kamui, but since Kikyo had a solution, he left it to her.
Low-level demons formed from wild beasts usually had no intelligence. They followed instinct and couldn't be tamed or contracted.
Controlling them with illusion was troublesome. Turning it into a shikigami would be far more practical.
After waiting briefly, the heavy wooden gate slowly rose, revealing the entrance.
"Let's go," Retsu said, stepping inside first.
Inside the village, rows of wooden houses came into view.
Many villagers were busy with their work.
Unlike ordinary villages where people carried farming tools, the tools here were made from strange demon remains.
Some villagers dried herbs, others processed demon materials, or forged weapons and armor.
It was clear they served as logistical support for frontline demon slayers.
More and more villagers gathered near the entrance, curiously eyeing the unexpected visitors and the massive bear behind them.
Ahead, a formation of sturdy, neatly dressed men stood in disciplined rows, watching Retsu and Kikyo closely.
Whispers spread among the crowd.
"A samurai and a shrine maiden?"
"That huge thing behind them… that's a demon, right?"
"So big… it must be one."
Soon, a tall, stern-looking middle-aged man stepped forward.
He studied them, then focused on Kikyo.
"I am the leader of this village. I was told that the shrine maiden who purified the Shikon Jewel fifty years ago has come. Would that be you?"
"I am Kikyo," she replied, stepping forward. "The shrine maiden who accepted your village's request to guard and purify the Shikon Jewel."
This man was Sango's father.
He looked at her youthful face, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
"Forgive me. The elders who handled this matter have long passed away. I only heard about it from them.
But that was fifty years ago… and I was told that the shrine maiden named Kikyo died protecting the Shikon Jewel.
Miss, you…"
Kikyo understood his doubts.
She explained calmly, "I did die back then, at the hands of demons seeking the jewel.
Before my death, I had my body cremated along with the Shikon Jewel, hoping to take it with me to the afterlife.
But it failed. The jewel reappeared, and I was revived recently due to certain circumstances.
I came here to learn about its origins."
"Th-this…" The leader hesitated, clearly unconvinced.
"I can sense Shikon Jewel fragments in the village," Kikyo said gently. "If possible, please let me purify them. That should prove my identity."
She intended to use her spiritual power as proof.
After a moment's hesitation, he nodded.
"Please, follow me."
He turned and led them deeper into the village.
Kikyo glanced at Retsu and followed without hesitation.
Retsu walked behind her, observing the surroundings.
He noticed that Sango was nowhere to be seen. She was probably out on a mission.
In the original story, she would soon return and then lead her village's slayers—including Kohaku—to attack Naraku's castle.
Almost all of them would die there.
Only Sango would survive, along with a half-dead Kohaku.
Retsu knew it was difficult to interfere.
This village survived by slaying demons. Even if he stopped them once, Naraku would deceive them again.
Worse, if he saved them, Naraku might decide they were no longer useful and simply wipe them out completely—killing Sango and Kohaku directly.
And even if they survived once, Naraku would strike again.
This village was too special.
It was the birthplace of the Shikon Jewel.
Anyone tied to that jewel rarely met a good end.
Moreover, they likely had ties to Midoriko. After all, Kirara had once been her companion.
Retsu wasn't too concerned.
As long as Sango lived, that was enough for him.
As for the others—
If he encountered them, he'd help.
If he didn't, then it was their bad luck.
After all, in this era, you couldn't save everyone.
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