"Lady Kikyo, where are we going now?"
Sitting on Kuromaru's back and leaning against Kikyo in front of her, Yuzuki tilted her head curiously. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves above, forming golden beams that wove a shimmering net through the forest.
"To find the demon that was sealed away," Kikyo replied gently, wrapping an arm lightly around Yuzuki's waist to keep her from slipping.
"We're almost there. It's in Lake Motosu just ahead."
"Are we going to fight a demon soon?" Yuzuki asked, looking up at Kikyo with serious, clear eyes.
"Yes."
Kikyo stroked the top of her head softly.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Yuzuki shook her head firmly.
"I'm worried I might slow you down, Lady Kikyo. You don't have to worry about me!"
"Kid, just stay put and stop overthinking," Uchiha Retsu said casually without even turning around as he walked beside Kuromaru.
"Lord Retsu, I—" Yuzuki began to protest.
"You're really slow. I've been waiting here forever!"
A crisp female voice, edged with impatience, suddenly rang out.
Yuzuki stiffened and hurriedly looked up.
Under a large tree ahead stood a beautifully dressed woman. Her clothing was decorated with intricate purple-striped patterns, and she held an elegant folding fan in her hand.
Her pink eyes watched them impatiently, and her striking beauty made her look like a spirit from the mountains.
"Kagura. You're here to take the Buddha's Stone Bowl, right?"
Retsu paid little attention to Yuzuki's reaction. He took the stone bowl from Kikyo and tossed it casually toward Kagura.
Kagura caught it easily and tossed it lightly in her hand before speaking.
"Thanks. I had planned to go collect it once I found the clue, but that entire village was already wiped out. Humans really are fragile."
She paused, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Luckily Kaguya can sense the locations of these items. I followed the trail here and found out you had taken it.
I had to shake off Naraku's surveillance just to wait here for you. Didn't expect you to be this slow."
"Well, sorry about that," Retsu replied lazily, without a trace of sincerity.
Kagura ignored his tone and continued seriously.
"I came to tell you that all the items needed to break the seal have been gathered. Kaguya's seal will be broken tonight. Don't be late."
"Don't worry. We'll reach Lake Motosu before sunset," Retsu said with a nod.
"Good."
Satisfied, Kagura didn't say anything else. She flicked her fan, and a powerful gust of wind swept up her skirt as she vanished into the forest in an instant.
Watching the leaves swirl through the air, Kikyo said quietly,
"Let's go. We should speed up as well."
"Right."
Retsu nodded.
In the original story, after Kaguya was freed, she went after Inuyasha to seize the Heavenly Feather Robe and even kidnapped Kagome.
But the events had already changed a lot. It would be better to arrive as soon as possible.
"Wow… it's so beautiful!"
Yuzuki gasped in amazement at the sight before her.
Not just her—Retsu and Kikyo were equally captivated.
The sun was setting, and golden light spread across the lake, turning the water into a dazzling sea of molten gold.
A thin mist floated above the surface, its edges glowing softly in the sunlight, making the entire lake look like something out of a dream.
Retsu studied the lake carefully but saw no sign of the magnificent castle that was supposed to appear in the center of the water in the original story.
He guessed that the castle only appeared under the moonlight and would not manifest during the day.
Time passed quickly, and evening soon arrived.
Retsu sat cross-legged at the lakeside, already in Sage Mode. Suddenly he opened his eyes.
As the full moon rose once more into the sky, something incredible happened.
In the middle of the previously empty lake, a magnificent palace silently appeared.
Its glazed tiles gleamed under the moonlight, cold and radiant. The entire structure looked elegant and otherworldly, like a palace belonging to immortals.
But Retsu's gaze didn't linger on the castle.
Instead, he turned toward the distance.
Kagura's demonic aura was approaching. She was likely heading toward Lake Kawaguchi to throw the final Buddha's Stone Bowl into the lake and break Kaguya's seal.
"Hm? The aura of the Shikon Jewel!"
Beside him, Kikyo also opened her eyes. She looked toward the dense forest behind them in surprise.
"Besides the demonic aura from the castle in the lake, there's also the Shikon Jewel approaching."
"That's Inuyasha and the others," Retsu said as he stood up and stretched slightly.
"The aura you sensed is probably the shard Kagome carries."
"And Kagura and the others are at Lake Kawaguchi right now. They're likely preparing to break Kaguya's seal."
He hadn't expected that things would change this much from the original story.
Kaguya hadn't even been released yet, but Inuyasha's group had already arrived.
The strange full moons over the past few days must have caught their attention.
Retsu took a kunai from his ninja pouch and handed it to Yuzuki, who was nervously clutching Kuromaru's side.
"Hold onto this. Don't lose it. If something dangerous happens, I'll be able to find you immediately."
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
With a burst of smoke, another Retsu appeared beside him.
The clone nodded briefly before disappearing into the forest without a word, heading toward Inuyasha's group.
"Retsu, what are you planning?" Kikyo asked curiously.
"The Heavenly Feather Robe should be with Inuyasha's group," Retsu replied while pulling out another kunai.
"I'm worried that once Kaguya is freed, she'll immediately go after it. I sent the clone to grab it first."
In Sage Mode, he could clearly sense that Inuyasha's group was traveling with a human stranger carrying something unusual.
The item radiated an odd energy—almost as if it were made of natural energy itself.
It had to be the Heavenly Feather Robe.
As he spoke, Retsu flicked his wrist.
The kunai flew through the air and embedded itself into a tree on the lakeshore with a sharp thunk.
"If Kaguya goes after them," he said to Kikyo, "I'll try using Flying Thunder God to bring her here. When that happens, shoot her with an arrow."
"Alright," Kikyo replied calmly.
"Kaguya has appeared!"
At that moment, a completely unfamiliar demonic aura mixed with overwhelming evil energy suddenly entered Retsu's senses.
"So much evil energy…" Kikyo's expression turned grave as she felt the immense presence.
"She's heading toward Inuyasha's group," Retsu said, turning toward the forest.
"And she's moving fast."
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