"You mean… Naraku's birth wasn't an accident? And it couldn't have been caused by the evil thoughts of a single bandit alone?"
Kikyo finally grasped the key point. She looked at him, her expression slightly dazed, as if something long unclear had suddenly begun to take shape.
"That's right," Uchiha Kasage nodded, his tone firm.
"It was the Shikon Jewel…" Kikyo's expression instantly turned solemn as realization settled in. She had fully understood what he meant.
Over all these years, although the condition of "offering one's body to Yokai" seemed simple, only Onigumo had succeeded in becoming Naraku.
The only unique factor… was the Shikon Jewel.
At the time, she had been purifying it. Onigumo's obsession had resonated with it—forming a connection that gave birth to something unnatural.
Kasage nodded again. "Exactly. Only the Shikon Jewel can amplify the darkness within a person and bring about things that defy common sense."
After confirming the idea, he continued, his tone more serious:
"The reason I didn't kill Naraku is because I'm concerned that once he dies… the Shikon Jewel may simply create another 'Naraku.'"
His gaze grew colder.
"There are far more wicked people in this world than Onigumo. The Jewel could easily find a replacement."
Kikyo lowered her eyes slightly, absorbing his words, then spoke softly:
"So eliminating Naraku isn't the true solution. Only by destroying the Shikon Jewel—the root of everything—while defeating Naraku… can this cycle truly end."
Kasage gave a faint smile. "Exactly. When you said Naraku was a puppet of the Shikon Jewel… you weren't wrong."
A trace of bitterness appeared on Kikyo's face.
"To think that I, a priestess meant to purify the Shikon Jewel… ended up dying because of it."
Kasage looked at her, his voice gentler than before.
"You've been brought back. The past doesn't need to bind you anymore."
Kikyo paused… then slowly exhaled. The weight in her eyes lightened, and a faint smile returned.
"You're right. I am alive again… my time has begun to move forward once more."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them—calm, but no longer heavy.
Kasage then waved his hand lightly, shifting the mood.
"Enough of that. Let Kagome and Inuyasha deal with Naraku and the Shikon Jewel."
His tone became more relaxed, almost casual.
"Tomorrow, I'm planning to visit a nearby town. It's been a long time since I properly enjoyed real food. My previous body wasn't exactly suited for that."
"I'm coming too!"
Kikyo's eyes lit up immediately, a rare spark of excitement appearing.
Her former clay body had been unable to eat. Now that she had a real body again, she wanted to experience everything she had missed.
Kasage chuckled lightly. "Alright. It's settled."
---
The next morning, Uchiha Kasage and Kikyo set out together for a nearby town.
Although it was the Sengoku era and resources were limited, the town still offered a surprising variety of local delicacies.
Crispy tempura, soft and chewy dango, fragrant wild mushrooms, freshly caught river fish, and simple yet rich seafood dishes.
They spent the entire day wandering through the streets. With Kikyo guiding him like a true local, they sampled many unique flavors of the era.
Kasage also purchased a large number of ingredients—fresh vegetables, meats, seasonings, and even a full set of tableware.
Back when he was in his Edo Tensei state, eating had been meaningless. Now, with a living body again, such necessities finally mattered.
Over the following days, the two occasionally cooked together.
Kasage even prepared several specialty dishes from the Naruto world—Ichiraku ramen, beloved by Naruto, and the three-colored dango favored by Uchiha Itachi.
As a transmigrator, he had experienced countless dishes and had memorized their preparation methods with the help of his Sharingan.
Though his versions weren't perfectly identical, the differences were subtle—and in the end, they still earned Kikyo's sincere praise.
In return, Kasage had the chance to taste Kikyo's cooking.
To his surprise, her culinary skills were just as refined as her abilities as a priestess. Even the simplest ingredients, in her hands, became something remarkable.
The only thing he found amusing was that Kikyo cooked in almost the exact same way she prepared medicinal herbs.
It seemed that, as a priestess, she had unconsciously blended the two arts together.
---
At noon one day, the two were grilling meat by a quiet riverside.
Some of the ingredients had been bought from nearby villages, while others were wild game Kasage had hunted himself.
As for the seasonings, he had gone as far as Kaede's village and asked Kagome to bring them from the modern era—along with a portable grill.
With modern spices enhancing the flavor, the aroma of the roasting meat was rich and irresistible.
Just as Kasage lifted his chopsticks and picked up a sizzling piece of meat—
His expression suddenly changed.
Without hesitation, he formed hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A clone identical to him appeared instantly at his side. At the same time, a burst of white smoke engulfed his original body.
When the smoke cleared—
He was gone.
The clone calmly stepped forward, sat down in his place, and casually picked up the piece of meat, continuing as if nothing had happened.
Kikyo blinked, slightly startled, then swallowed the food in her mouth.
"…What just happened?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"I was summoned away by a Yokai using a Summoning Technique," the clone replied calmly while slicing the meat into even pieces. "I'm not sure what she needs yet."
"A Yokai?" Kikyo tilted her head slightly. "And what is this… Summoning Technique?"
The clone glanced at her and explained patiently:
"It's a technique that allows you to form a contract with a creature. Once the contract is made, either side can summon the other to assist—usually in battle."
He paused briefly before adding,
"The one who summoned me is a cat Yokai named Natsuarashi. I met her before and formed a contract at that time."
"I see…" Kikyo nodded slowly, interest flickering in her eyes.
"I'll introduce you to her another time," the clone added with a faint smile.
---
Meanwhile, Kasage's original body had already appeared in a distant, unfamiliar valley.
Standing before him were three powerful Yokai.
At the front stood a woman with long, ice-blue hair, dressed in a pale purple kimono. Her expression was cold, her presence commanding and regal.
Beside her stood a beautiful young woman with tea-colored hair, adorned with a pink flower. She wore a short, light-green kimono that revealed her slender legs.
Behind them stood a tall, muscular man, his chest partially exposed beneath a green outer robe, radiating raw strength.
Kasage immediately recognized them.
They were three of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Panther Cat Tribe: the eldest sister Fuyurashi, the second sister Haruarashi, and the youngest brother, Akiurashi.
As for the fourth—
He lowered his gaze.
At his feet lay a cat Yokai with a bright red afro, breathing heavily, clearly exhausted.
Natsuarashi.
It was obvious that summoning him had completely drained her Yokai power once again.