"Is this the place…?"
Uchiha Kasage stood at the foot of the shrine, his eyes scanning the scene before him.
The stone steps were cracked and worn, covered in dark green moss. The vermilion torii gate had long since decayed, its wood blackened with age and rot. Broken walls and scattered debris gave the entire place a suffocating sense of abandonment.
He frowned slightly.
His senses spread outward—
And there it was.
A faint, lingering Yōkai aura.
"…So it's true."
"Let's go," Kikyo said calmly, reaching behind her to take her longbow into hand. "We'll check inside."
Without hesitation, she stepped onto the stone stairs.
Kasage followed.
Their footsteps crunched against dry branches and fallen leaves, the sharp sounds echoing unnaturally in the stillness of the mountain forest.
They passed beneath the crooked torii gate and continued upward.
Silence.
Heavy and pressing.
Even their breathing seemed loud in comparison.
Only the occasional distant cry of a bird broke the stillness—making the place feel even more desolate.
—
After leaving Kaede's village some time ago, the two had remained in the forest for a while. During that time, Kikyo had successfully completed her training in sensing natural energy.
However—
Her attempt to merge that energy with her miko spiritual power had progressed slowly.
So they left.
Not long after, they came across a request issued by a local lord in a nearby town—
A shrine had been overtaken by a Yōkai.
Following the directions, they eventually arrived here.
This shrine had been occupied for a long time.
Because of its location—close to an important town—it held strategic value. The lord had once sent soldiers to eliminate the Yōkai.
They never returned victorious.
Instead—
They were driven back in defeat.
After that, the lord sought out monks and exorcists. But those who came were either frauds or simply too weak.
None succeeded.
Most never came back.
Over time, the shrine was abandoned.
And the village below it…
Gradually became empty.
Lifeless.
—
Kasage and Kikyo reached the top and stepped into the shrine grounds.
Like many shrines in this era, the structure was simple. Perhaps because Yōkai roamed freely, or because shrine maidens possessed real spiritual power, there was no need for elaborate decoration.
This one was no different.
Along the sando path, aside from a collapsed chozuya to one side, there was only a single, dilapidated wooden building standing ahead.
Nothing else.
Kasage nudged something with his foot—
A skull rolled across the ground.
Human or Yōkai—
It was impossible to tell.
His gaze lifted toward the wooden structure.
A dense Yōkai aura poured from within.
"…No need to keep it," he said plainly.
Kikyo nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. Even if we cleanse it, this place can't be used as it is. It's better to rebuild."
Kasage gave a small smirk.
"Then let's clear it out properly."
His hands moved quickly, forming seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball—nearly ten meters wide—erupted from his mouth, roaring forward with scorching heat.
It slammed directly into the wooden building.
BOOM—
The structure collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the impact. Flames devoured the rotten wood, spreading violently as fire surged through the remains.
The shrine lit up in blazing orange.
"ROAAAR—!!"
A furious roar exploded from within the flames.
The burning structure suddenly burst apart, sending embers and flaming debris scattering through the air.
The ground beneath bulged—
Then split open.
A massive Yōkai burst forth from below.
Its body was covered in coarse, rigid fur. Muscles bulged unnaturally beneath its skin.
But now—
It was engulfed in flames.
Fire clung to its body, spreading rapidly as it roared in agony.
"ROAR!!"
Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Kasage and Kikyo.
Despite the burning pain, it charged forward, each step heavy and violent. Flames trailed behind it, twisting in the air like a blazing tail.
Grotesque.
Furious.
Desperate.
"—!"
Before it could close the distance—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Whoosh—
An arrow streaked forward.
Pure white light erupted around it.
The sacred energy radiating from the arrow illuminated the entire area as it struck the Yōkai directly.
Impact.
For a split second—
Silence.
Then—
The spiritual power exploded.
A brilliant white radiance engulfed the Yōkai completely.
It didn't even have time to scream again.
Its massive body began to break apart—
Dissolving.
Turning into ash and smoke under the overwhelming purification of the sacred energy.
Within moments—
It vanished.
Gone without a trace.
—
Kikyo lowered her bow slowly, her expression calm as she returned it to her back.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings.
The ground was barren—no grass grew here, long eroded by lingering Yōkai energy.
Bones lay scattered everywhere.
Human.
Yōkai.
Animal.
The air itself felt unclean.
"…We'll need to purify and clean everything before we can live here," she said, a faint trace of distaste in her voice.
Kasage waved a hand lightly.
"It's not that big. Half a day should be enough."
His tone was relaxed.
In truth, when they accepted this request, the lord had made an additional offer.
If they could drive out the Yōkai—
They could keep the shrine.
Since Kasage and Kikyo had no permanent place to stay, they agreed immediately.
The lord, thinking no one would willingly live in such a place, had casually included it—
And was pleasantly surprised when they accepted.
He even added extra payment.
—
Soon, the two began cleaning.
Debris, bones, and refuse were gathered and thrown into the still-burning flames.
Everything burned.
Reduced to ash.
Once the fire died down, Kasage formed hand seals again.
"Earth Release."
The ground shifted—
Swallowing the ashes completely.
Clean.
Silent.
Then—
He formed another set of seals.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique!"
Crack—creak—
From beneath the earth, wood surged upward.
Beams formed.
Walls rose.
Within moments, a large, sturdy two-story wooden building stood at the center of the shrine.
Brand new.
Solid.
Alive with the scent of fresh timber.
Kasage exhaled, a satisfied smile forming.
"…Done."
The setting sun bathed the shrine in warm light, casting long shadows across the newly rebuilt structure.
"Already finished?"
Kikyo's voice came from behind.
She had just returned from the entrance, where she had been setting up a barrier.
Her gaze fell on the new building.
She nodded slightly.
"My barrier is complete as well. Ordinary Yōkai won't be able to enter easily."
Kasage turned to her.
"Let's take a look inside."
There was a faint ease in his tone.
A quiet sense of accomplishment.
Kikyo met his gaze for a brief moment—
Then nodded.
"…Yes."
Together, they stepped forward.
The door creaked open.
Side by side—
They entered the newly built home, greeted by the clean, calming scent of fresh wood.
For the first time in a while—
There was something close to peace.