Uchiha Retsu held a struggling rabbit in his hands, carefully controlling the flow of chakra at his fingertips as he slowly injected it into the animal's body.
He was currently researching how the Sage of Six Paths had once distributed chakra to others.
"Is it really impossible without mastering the power of the Six Paths…?"
With a frustrated expression, Retsu tossed the rabbit onto the ground.
Just as the terrified creature tried to flee, his gaze sharpened. Several thin branches instantly burst out of the earth, tightly binding its limbs and pinning it in place.
"I gave you a chance and you couldn't live up to it. If this keeps up, I'll just roast you and eat you later," Retsu said viciously, his tone filled with frustration over yet another failed experiment.
"Failed again?"
Kikyo's voice came from nearby.
She had just walked over and immediately noticed the rabbit struggling helplessly in the branches. Her tone remained calm as she spoke.
"Yeah." Retsu sighed helplessly. "After I inject chakra into it, all it does is get a bit stronger for a while. There's no sign of it generating chakra on its own. Once my chakra runs out, it goes right back to normal."
He turned to look at Kikyo, his eyes briefly sweeping over the bow on her back. Raising an eyebrow, he asked casually,
"Someone asked you to exorcise a demon again?"
"Mm." Kikyo nodded lightly. "Come with me this time."
"Really?" Retsu looked surprised. "Is this demon especially strong?"
Ever since they had settled at the shrine, nearby villagers had gradually begun coming to them—either to ask Kikyo to exorcise demons or to treat illnesses.
At first, Retsu had followed her out of curiosity every time. But he soon realized that most of the so-called "demons" were just small creatures like rats, lizards, or toads that had gained a bit of demonic power.
Each time, he would ride Blackmaru with Kikyo, watch her eliminate the creature with a single arrow, and then return. He never even got a chance to help.
Eventually, Kikyo handled those minor matters alone.
So he was genuinely surprised that she had specifically asked him to come along today.
"Some villagers said that all the men who went into the mountains never came back. Most likely, they were taken by a demon," Kikyo explained as she raised her hand and summoned her shikigami, Blackmaru, gently stroking its head.
Retsu watched her mount Blackmaru and followed, sitting behind her. Hearing her words, he sounded intrigued.
"Only the men disappeared? Just men?"
"Mm."
As Blackmaru sped along the path, Kikyo spoke against the rushing wind.
"I suspect the demon only targets men. That's why I asked you to come. If I went alone, I might not be able to find it easily."
"A demon that only targets men…"
Retsu's eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"Don't tell me it's some kind of fox spirit?"
"Hmph."
Kikyo glanced back at him with a teasing look and said irritably,
"Maybe it is. When we catch it, how about I make it your personal maid?"
"Uh—no, no need! I-I was just curious!"
Retsu immediately waved his hands, flustered by her half-smiling gaze.
"Oh?" Kikyo raised an eyebrow. "So you actually thought about the 'maid' part?"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"…"
Retsu instantly fell silent.
This topic was dangerous. The more he talked, the worse it would get. Deciding it was safer to shut up, he straightened his posture and stared ahead, pretending to be serious.
Blackmaru was extremely fast. Before long, it carried them near a village at the foot of the mountain.
To avoid frightening the villagers, they dismounted at the village entrance.
Kikyo raised her hand and recalled Blackmaru. It instantly shrank into a small wooden carving, which she slipped into her sleeve. Then the two walked into the village side by side.
Retsu discreetly observed their surroundings. He quickly noticed that there were indeed very few men in the village. Young, able-bodied men were especially scarce. Even in the fields, most of those working were women.
They soon found the woman who had commissioned Kikyo.
Her husband, like many other men in the village, had gone into the mountains some time ago and never returned.
Normally, Kikyo would have come with her immediately. But since the demon didn't invade the village directly and only targeted men who voluntarily entered the mountains, the situation wasn't urgent.
She had received the request two days earlier. After finishing her other matters, she finally came today, bringing Retsu along.
When the villagers heard that a shrine maiden and a warrior had come to search for the missing men, those with lost family members hurried over and gathered around them, their eyes filled with hope.
"Lady Kikyo, it's here! Our villagers all enter the mountains through this path. Ever since then, no man who went in has come back…"
A villager led them to a narrow trail at the foot of the mountain and pointed toward the winding path that disappeared into the forest.
It looked well-trodden—clearly the usual route villagers took into the mountains.
"Don't worry."
Kikyo turned to face the villagers and spoke solemnly. Her voice was gentle, yet filled with quiet conviction.
"If we can find the missing men, we will bring them back safely."
"Please! We're counting on you!"
The villagers bowed deeply in unison, their voices full of gratitude and desperation.
"Ah, right! They say the demon that lures men away is a stunning beauty!"
Just as Retsu and Kikyo were about to head into the forest, a villager suddenly called out.
Kikyo paused slightly. She turned her head and glanced at Retsu without a word.
"Hey, Kikyo, what's that look supposed to mean?"
Retsu immediately noticed her gaze. As he followed her into the forest, he complained indignantly.
"Do I really look like some pervert who can't walk straight when he sees a pretty woman?"
"I seem to recall someone complaining that the last demon we met wasn't cute at all," Kikyo replied mercilessly.
"Didn't you say you wanted one with animal ears? Maybe this time your wish will come true."
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