Under Uchiha Retsu's intimidating presence, the wounded men behaved themselves and lined up obediently, waiting for Kikyo to treat them.
In this era, for people at the bottom of society like them, being injured and encountering a doctor—or a priestess like Kikyo who knew medical arts—was already an incredible stroke of luck.
Most of the time, they could only grit their teeth and endure it.
If they survived, they lived.
If they didn't, they could only accept their fate and wait for death.
So even with Retsu standing nearby, one hand resting on his sword hilt and staring at them like a hawk, not a single person chose to leave.
For the sake of survival, they all waited eagerly for treatment.
At this moment, the elderly monk of the temple was also startled by the commotion outside. Draped in his robe, he walked out and voluntarily began helping, passing medicine and bandaging wounds.
In this world, people who mastered medical skills were rare.
Aside from professional doctors, most healers were either temple monks or shrine priestesses.
"I thought I was done for… Now I can finally make it back to my village alive."
"Thank you so much, Priestess!"
Before long, Kikyo finished treating the injured soldiers.
They gathered together in small groups, chatting quietly. From time to time, they bowed deeply toward Kikyo, their voices filled with gratitude.
They set up simple stoves and tents in the open space in front of the temple, planning to recuperate there before returning to their respective villages.
During treatment and casual conversation, Kikyo also learned why they had gone to war.
Recently, large areas of farmland in their region had suddenly withered and died for no apparent reason.
Their lord first sent samurai to investigate, then invited monks and priestesses.
In the end, they concluded that the land had been contaminated by massive amounts of evil energy.
After learning this, the lord knew he wouldn't be able to collect enough annual tribute.
So he conscripted farmers from his territory and launched attacks on neighboring domains, hoping to plunder resources to make up for the losses.
Watching Kikyo busy treating people, and hearing the wounded soldiers discuss the polluted land, Retsu's heart stirred.
Recalling the original storyline, he immediately understood.
This was most likely because Naraku had been struck by Kagome's sacred arrow, leaving his body destroyed except for his head.
To reconstruct himself, Naraku needed to absorb countless demons.
Their mutual slaughter caused evil energy to leak out, contaminating the surrounding land.
Thinking of this, Retsu's mind moved.
If the plot hadn't deviated too much, then next, Kikyo would be taken away by Hitomi Kagetō's retainers and soldiers disguised by Naraku, to treat his body in the castle.
This was also when Naraku discovered that Kikyo was still alive.
At that time, Naraku had been severely injured by Kagome and was wary of Kikyo's strength.
So he didn't act directly, only had his subordinates imprison her.
Later, after rebuilding his body, he would try to use the Shikon Jewel to control Kikyo.
He would fail and be countered by her.
But in the end, Kikyo would still give the Shikon Jewel to Naraku, planning to kill him after he obtained it—just as he had killed her fifty years ago.
Retsu looked at Kikyo, who was checking wounds nearby.
He wondered whether she would still choose to hand over the Shikon Jewel this time.
But the next second, he smiled indifferently.
Why think so much?
Even if Naraku obtained the Shikon Jewel, so what?
The moment he became obsessed with its power, he was already destined to be weak.
Besides, anyone entangled with the Shikon Jewel never ended well.
Two days passed quickly.
The injuries of the ashigaru soldiers Kikyo had treated had stabilized.
While she was busy changing their bandages, Retsu suddenly sensed a group of people approaching.
He walked to Kikyo's side and whispered, "Kikyo, someone's coming. They're probably here for you."
Kikyo raised her head, glanced at him, then stood up and looked in the direction he indicated.
On the distant road, a group of armed samurai and ashigaru appeared, neatly dressed.
They were clearly private troops of some lord.
"Is the priestess named Kikyo staying at this temple?"
Before they even reached the temple, the man at the front shouted arrogantly.
He was finely dressed, obviously a retainer of some castle lord.
The ashigaru resting outside instinctively looked toward Kikyo, who stood in the center of the crowd.
The retainer also noticed her red-and-white priestess robes and stared directly at her.
"You are the priestess Kikyo?"
"Yes," Kikyo replied calmly, nodding.
"I've heard you treated many wounded from the war and even saved people on the brink of death with mysterious techniques."
He sized her up, his tone scrutinizing.
"It's nothing mysterious. I simply have some experience treating wounds," Kikyo replied evenly.
He cut her off impatiently.
"Save it for the castle. Come with us."
Hearing his forceful tone, Kikyo frowned and subconsciously glanced at Retsu.
Seeing him nod, she confirmed her guess and said to the retainer, "I understand."
From the moment this group arrived, Retsu had sensed the thick evil aura clinging to them.
Even without knowing the plot, he could tell they were abnormal.
Kikyo had clearly noticed it as well.
So after Retsu's silent confirmation, she agreed without hesitation.
Seeing her comply, the retainer nodded and pointed toward the middle of the group.
They had even brought a palanquin.
Without delay, Kikyo stepped forward and sat inside.
Retsu also moved to follow her.
At that moment, the retainer frowned and raised his hand to stop him.
"You—"
Before he could finish, he met Retsu's scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan.
His body stiffened.
His expression turned blank.
"…Let him come."
The surrounding soldiers had been ready to act, but seeing their leader suddenly agree, they froze in confusion and stepped aside.
Inside the palanquin, Kikyo had been worried that Retsu might clash with them.
She was about to speak up when she saw the retainer change his mind after just one glance.
Watching Retsu walk calmly to the palanquin, she couldn't help whispering, "How did you do that?"
Retsu leaned closer to the curtain and murmured two words, audible only to her:
"Genjutsu."
Realization flashed in Kikyo's eyes.
No wonder his attitude changed so quickly.
She had thought Retsu might have bribed him.
She hadn't expected him to use illusion instead.
The group soon set off.
Along the way, the retainer acted as if he couldn't even see Retsu, completely ignoring him as he walked beside the palanquin.
He spoke to Kikyo through the curtain.
"Our lord of the Hitomi family, Lord Kagetō, has been frail and sickly since childhood.
Not long ago, the former lord passed away, and he inherited the castle.
But recently, his condition has worsened.
Despite this, he refuses to let even doctors or retainers approach him…"
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