"Do you mean a shrine maiden and a man dressed like a warrior?" Sango's father asked.
"Yes, them," Sango nodded anxiously. "They were riding on a demon bear."
"Oh? You ran into them?" The chief paused, then nodded in realization. "They were indeed guests of the village. They left not long before you returned, so it's normal that you met them."
Seeing the worry on his daughter's face, he asked gently, "What happened, Sango?"
"During this mission, I obtained a fragment of the Shikon Jewel… but it seems to have been stolen." Sango clenched her fists. "I think it was those two people! After I met them, the fragment disappeared!"
As she spoke, she grabbed her Hiraikotsu and was about to rush out.
"I'll go after them!"
"Wait, Sango. Don't go."
Her father smiled and stopped her.
"If they really took it, then you don't need to retrieve it. On the contrary, even if your fragment were still with you, I would have asked you to give it to them."
"Why?" Sango asked in confusion.
"Because that shrine maiden is Kikyo," her father explained. "The same Kikyo who, fifty years ago, was entrusted by our ancestors to purify the Shikon Jewel."
"What? But didn't she die?" Sango exclaimed. "And it's been fifty years! She still looked so young!"
"I don't know how, either," the chief said seriously. "But she is indeed Kikyo, and she truly possesses the power to purify the Shikon Jewel."
He continued, "Keeping those fragments here is too dangerous. I've already handed over the ones from our village to her."
"I understand, Father," Sango nodded and slowly lowered her weapon.
"You should rest for now. There will be more work soon," the chief said as she turned to leave.
Then he looked at Kohaku beside him.
"Kohaku, you should prepare yourself too."
"Huh? Me?" Kohaku froze.
"You're already eleven. It's time for you to start participating in real battles," the chief said firmly.
"…Yes!" Kohaku nodded seriously.
Meanwhile, Retsu had no idea about the conversation in the demon slayer village.
But based on his knowledge of the original story, he could easily guess what would happen next.
Sango would soon follow her father and the others to slay demons at Hitomi Castle.
Then Naraku would set a trap, force her to fight Inuyasha, and turn her into an ally of the main cast.
Retsu suddenly realized something.
Now that Kikyo had taken away the Shikon fragments—and he had warned the village in advance—would the village still be destroyed as in the original timeline?
He worried that if the plot changed too much, Naraku might consider Sango "useless" and simply kill her.
After all, in the original story, the mission to Hitomi Castle was a carefully arranged trap. The young lord, Kagewaki, had already been replaced by Naraku.
If things shifted, Naraku might act even more ruthlessly.
Thinking of this, Retsu formed a hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
In an instant, an identical clone appeared beside him on Kuromaru's back.
The clone leapt away and vanished into the forest.
"That was your clone, right?" Kikyo asked curiously. "What happened?"
"Yes," Retsu nodded casually. "I just sensed Naraku's aura nearby. He might be trying to seize the fragments from the demon slayer village."
He lied smoothly.
"Even though we've already taken them, I sent a clone to investigate. If I find one of his puppets, I'll kill it."
Of course, he couldn't exactly say: I know from the plot that they'll die, so I'm going to check.
"Is Naraku nearby?" Kikyo frowned. "Will your clone be alright?"
"It'll be fine," Retsu said carelessly. "His puppets are weak. A shadow clone is more than enough."
"Where is he? I'll go too," Kikyo said after a moment. "If possible, I want him to know that I've returned."
"No need," Retsu shook his head. "It's just a puppet. You going won't help."
"And if he learns about you too early, he might hide even deeper. Then it'll be harder to find him."
Kikyo suddenly stopped.
"That's not what you said before."
She turned sharply.
Her hair brushed lightly across Retsu's face, leaving behind a cool, faint touch.
She frowned at him, her tone tinged with displeasure.
Retsu felt a slight itch and subconsciously rubbed his nose.
Seeing her stare, he curled his lips into a mischievous grin.
"If you want him to know you're alive," he said slowly, "then you should make it unforgettable."
Kikyo narrowed her eyes. She knew that look.
"You're plotting something again, aren't you?" she asked.
"What are you planning?"
"Hehe."
Retsu laughed softly and instead asked, "How's your soul recovery going?"
"…Why are you asking that?" Kikyo was puzzled, but answered honestly. "It's better. In some time, it should fully recover."
"You remember I told you that the resurrection technique needs sacrifices, right?" Retsu said.
"Yes. You said you already prepared them," Kikyo nodded.
Then she suddenly realized something.
She stared at him sharply.
"You mean…?"
"Heh heh heh…"
Retsu let out a deliberately sinister laugh.
Before he could finish, Kikyo elbowed him lightly.
"Stop fooling around. Say it properly."
Retsu straightened up, his expression turning serious.
"Back then, Naraku was the one who killed you," he said calmly. "So I plan to use him as the sacrifice to resurrect us."
Kikyo froze.
Then, slowly, a cold, elegant smile appeared on her lips.
"That sounds… quite good," she said softly.
After a pause, she asked, "Will he die from it?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure," Retsu admitted after thinking.
"This technique consumes all of the caster's life force to revive the target. Normally, the sacrifice dies for sure."
"But Naraku is a fusion of countless demons. He might not die completely."
He shrugged.
"Even if he survives, he won't be in good shape."
He added indifferently, "Whether he lives or dies doesn't matter. As long as we can be revived, that's enough."
Kikyo was silent for a moment.
Then she softly replied, "Mm."
A faint glimmer of vengeance flashed in her eyes
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