"Who's there? Don't you know that Mōryō has been revived? Why are you still coming here? Unauthorized people are not—"
"Wait, are you ninjas from Konoha here to help? The shrine maiden has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come in, please come in."
At the entrance, the guard was just about to drive Furina away when he noticed the Konoha forehead protector she wore. He immediately stopped the words that were about to come out, changed his attitude entirely, and gestured for Furina to follow him inside.
"This young lady is..."
"She's my friend. Don't worry, she's someone we can trust."
Noticing the guard's hesitant look toward Uchiha Hikari, Furina proactively explained. Upon hearing this, the guard nodded repeatedly and said he meant no harm.
"It's just part of my duties. No need to mind it."
Seeing that this helper from Konoha was so understanding, a smile appeared on the guard's face. He had been worried about the character of the ninjas coming to help earlier, but now it seemed he had worried for nothing.
.....
Noticing someone entering the palace, the shrine maiden—who was kneeling in the center—looked up. Upon seeing that it was only two girls around her own age, the disappointment in her eyes was plain to see.
She had also seen the forehead protector Furina wore. The so-called number one great ninja village, Konoha, had sent only two little girls as helpers. Did they not take the matter of Mōryō seriously at all?
The arrogance of the great nations was truly detestable.
"Are the support helpers only the two of you? If that's the case, I advise you to run away instead. It would save unnecessary sacrifices."
"Shion the shrine maiden, why do you think we would become meaningless sacrifices? Isn't that a bit too certain? Oh right, on the way here I heard from that young man that you have the ability to foresee other people's deaths.
Then why don't you give it a try? Can you see my death?"
Although the little shrine maiden opposite her had spoken rather rudely, Furina did not mind. On the way here, she had already heard a general summary of the shrine maiden's situation from the guards.
Rather than being rude, it was more because she did not want to see other people's deaths that she acted this way. She had simply seen so much death due to her ability that she appeared somewhat cold.
Watching Furina step forward until she was almost right in front of her, Shion could not help but instinctively use her ability. But this time the result left her utterly stunned.
In all her previous prophecies, there was always an outcome—either life or death. But for Furina's prophecy, there was only a thick fog. Nothing at all.
"How is this possible?"
"So? What did you see?"
Noticing the unconcealable shock in Shion's eyes, Furina instantly had a guess in her heart.
Neither her soul nor her body was native to the Naruto world. Combined with the other's reaction, it seemed prophecies here simply did not work on her.
"Why can't I foresee anything about your future? This is impossible."
"Maybe it's because I'm some fated protagonist or something, so you can't see my future. After all, spoiling a protagonist's future would ruin the fun."
Hearing the somewhat expected answer from Shion's mouth, the corner of Furina's lips curved slightly in a matter-of-fact manner.
"That's impossible." Shion ignored Furina's clowning and quickly turned her head to look at Uchiha Hikari behind Furina, wanting to verify whether her ability had really malfunctioned.
Although Uchiha Hikari was very special, she was still a person of this world. Shion's precognition ability naturally applied to her.
"Good."
After concluding that Uchiha Hikari would not die, Shion let out a light breath of relief. Although the ability to foresee death had brought her many negative effects, now that Mōryō had revived, her shrine maiden abilities absolutely could not go wrong at a time like this.
"From the looks of it, you've already gotten a result for my companion's prophecy. So? Will we make meaningless sacrifices, dear shrine maiden?"
Looking at Furina's face full of teasing, Shion instinctively wanted to turn her head away. But after she turned, Furina followed along, clearly unwilling to stop until she got an answer.
After such a commotion, Shion could not help feeling a bit embarrassed and annoyed, and a slight blush appeared on her face.
Although Shion had always maintained a cold demeanor, it was only because she had seen too much death. It did not mean she lacked emotions. And due to her status, no one had ever treated her this way before.
"Don't get too full of yourself. It's only your companion who won't die. Whether you die or not is still uncertain. Arrogant people like you are the most likely to die, hmph."
Out of respect for her prophecies, Shion still honestly stated the result. But beyond that, a counterattack against the other was unavoidable.
However, Shion's counterattack did not have much effect. Before Furina could even speak, Uchiha Hikari behind her had already spoken first, and her opening words were explosive.
"She won't. Because before I die, I absolutely won't let her die."
"...?"
After Uchiha Hikari's line, the coldness on Shion's face could no longer hold. Was this how they were going to play? Treating her like this?
Although Shion's expression was already quite varied at this point, Furina still made a V-sign toward her, declaring her victory.
"Although I'm happy to hear you say that, you haven't forgotten what I told you before we came, right? That line should really be something I say to you."
"Of course I remember, but..."
"Are you two done yet?!"
Seeing that the two seemed like they could go on forever, Shion could no longer hold back and loudly interrupted. This was not only because she felt somewhat displeased inside.
There was also a reason she herself had not noticed: she was somewhat envious of the relationship between the two. Although her status was noble, due to her ability, she had been alone ever since her mother died.
Thus, even if she had not realized it, she yearned for such a relationship in her heart—though she would absolutely never admit she yearned for it.
Seeing the little shrine maiden looking somewhat flustered and angry, Furina quickly waved her hand and stepped back to indicate that was enough. Then, as if sensing something, she turned her head toward the entrance.
"You're so slow, Kakashi-sensei. What's going on? Didn't Tsunade-sensei say you set out right away? How did you arrive even later than me? Oh, Gai-senpai, you guys came too?
That's great. With Gai-sensei here, I instantly feel much more at ease. Please take care of me from now on."