After a long walk, the group finally arrived at their destination—a castle entrenched along the mountainside. The moment he stepped within its walls, Uchiha Retsu sharply sensed it.
The entire castle was shrouded in dense, suffocating miasma.
At such close range, he could clearly feel Naraku's demonic aura lingering somewhere inside.
Kikyo stepped down from the palanquin. Her expression grew solemn as she exchanged a glance with Retsu. Clearly, she too had sensed the oppressive evil surrounding them.
Seeing Retsu standing there as calm as ever—hands relaxed, gaze steady—Kikyo felt reassured. She silently followed the retainer deeper into the castle.
After this period of chakra nourishment, her soul had completely recovered. Aside from her clay body, her spiritual power had returned to its peak.
And with Retsu by her side, there was nothing to fear.
"Stop! No one is allowed inside!"
Soon, they arrived outside the lord's bedchamber. Just as the retainer was about to escort Kikyo in, two guards stepped forward to block the way, faces stern and unyielding.
The retainer quickly explained, "I've brought the priestess who can heal Lord Kagetō."
"But the lord ordered that no one is to enter!" the guards insisted, refusing to move.
Seeing the stalemate, Kikyo decided not to waste time. She stepped past the guards and walked straight toward the door.
"Hey!"
The two guards immediately drew their swords.
At that moment, Retsu turned his head slightly.
The crimson three-tomoe Sharingan flickered in his eyes.
The instant their gazes met his, the guards' bodies stiffened. The vigilance and anger drained from their faces, replaced by blank emptiness.
They stepped back mechanically, like puppets, ignoring Kikyo and Retsu as they entered.
Kikyo glanced back at Retsu. Seeing the faintly smug arch of his brow, she pressed her lips together but said nothing. She lifted the curtain and stepped into the chamber.
Inside, Naraku—lying weakly on the futon—had already sensed something wrong.
The voices of the guards outside had abruptly gone silent, replaced by two distinct footsteps approaching.
Alarm bells rang in his mind.
He hurriedly prepared to rise and escape if necessary.
His body was still heavily damaged by Kagome's sacred arrow. This was his weakest state.
Then the curtain lifted.
A figure he would never forget appeared before him.
Naraku froze.
His demonic aura instantly retracted, not daring to reveal even a trace.
Looking at the priestess walking slowly toward him, he spoke cautiously.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Kikyo."
She did not recognize the man before her as Naraku. She only sensed that his body felt disturbingly unnatural—almost like a corpse.
She knelt beside him calmly.
The moment Naraku confirmed that this was indeed Kikyo—the woman who had died fifty years ago—his heart sank.
Past her shoulder, he saw the man standing behind her, arms folded across his chest.
Though the man's appearance differed slightly from the corpse-like figure Naraku had encountered before, the familiar face—and the fan crest embroidered on his clothing—
He recognized him instantly.
Uchiha Retsu.
The one who had destroyed his puppet.
Facing two individuals who could easily kill him in his current state, Naraku dared not act rashly. He continued pretending to be a frail lord, voice hoarse.
"Lady Kikyo… can my illness be cured?"
"I need to examine you. Forgive me."
Kikyo gently placed her cool fingers against his wrist.
The faint chill of her touch made Naraku's body tense.
If she detected his true nature and unleashed her purification—
But after a brief moment, she withdrew her hand.
"I'm sorry. I cannot treat this illness."
Naraku was just about to urge them to leave quickly when Kikyo spoke again, tightening his nerves.
"Retsu, do you have a way?"
Naraku looked up.
Kikyo had already risen and stood beside Retsu.
Retsu's answer made Naraku's heart hang in suspense.
"I'm not sure. Let me check first."
Naraku wanted to refuse.
But when he met Retsu's probing gaze, the refusal on his lips turned into compliance.
"Th-then… I'll trouble you."
"No trouble at all."
Retsu walked forward, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at his lips as he watched Naraku's desperate performance.
He placed his hand against Naraku's wrist as well.
After a moment, Retsu withdrew it and shook his head regretfully.
"Apologies. I can't help either."
Naraku forced a weak smile.
"That's alright. Thank you both for coming."
He raised his voice.
"Guards. Escort Lady Kikyo out."
The guards entered at once.
"My lord, forgive me. We will take our leave."
Kikyo bowed politely before turning to exit. Retsu followed silently behind her.
Outside, the retainer hurried forward.
"How is it? Lady Kikyo, how is my lord's condition?"
"I'm sorry. There is nothing I can do."
The retainer sighed deeply.
"I see… I knew his illness was grave. I didn't expect even you would be powerless."
"I am but an ordinary priestess. Forgive me."
Kikyo bowed slightly.
Retsu nearly snorted.
An "ordinary priestess" who never needed a second arrow to kill a demon.
Right.
The retainer sighed again.
"Thank you for making the trip. I'll have soldiers escort you back."
"That won't be necessary. We can return on our own."
The retainer hesitated, then nodded.
"As you wish."
As they left the castle under respectful escort, Retsu felt a flicker of amusement.
In the original events, Kikyo would have been forcibly detained.
But now—
Naraku feared them.
He knew that if he tried to detain Kikyo, she might endure it silently—but Retsu would absolutely act without hesitation.
The shift in the retainer's attitude said everything.
Naraku had clearly given new orders.
Soon, the two of them walked side by side down the mountain path, heading back toward the temple.
After a long silence, Kikyo spoke.
"You left a mark, didn't you?"
Retsu smiled.
"Of course. The moment you asked me to examine him, I knew what you wanted."
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