However, the yokai did not abandon its disguise. It continued to appear weak and helpless, looking up at Uchiha Kasage with a sorrowful expression.
"My lord… I am someone who cannot leave this place, at least…"
Her tone shifted suddenly. A shy expression appeared on her face, her large eyes filling with soft, trembling tears as she gazed directly at him.
"At least for tonight… please stay with me."
"…Hmm, is that so?" Kasage's lips twitched slightly, unsure how to respond.
The creature before him possessed the breathtaking beauty of a noble princess, yet her behavior was overly suggestive—unnatural, almost unsettling. It sent a faint chill down his spine.
The yokai, unaware of his thoughts, mistook his silence for hesitation. Believing her seduction had succeeded, she slowly raised her head, her dark eyes locking onto his.
"My lord… look into my eyes."
Kasage met her gaze, suppressing the instinct to activate his Sharingan and trap her in genjutsu. Instead, he lowered his head slightly, pretending to fall under her charm.
In that instant—
A cold, sinister surge of yokai energy burst from her eyes, rushing toward him, attempting to invade his mind and seize control.
Seeing Kasage "freeze," a victorious smile flickered across her face.
She rose slowly, stepping closer, her lips curving as she leaned in, aiming to kiss him and drain his life force.
Just as their lips were about to meet—
A sharp glint flashed in Kasage's eyes.
His hand shot forward like lightning.
"Got you."
"—!"
Her expression changed instantly. The softness vanished, replaced by pure fear.
A violent surge of yokai energy erupted from her body. Her jet-black hair turned snow-white in seconds, while coarse yellow fur burst through her skin. Her disguise began to tear apart—
But she was too slow.
Kasage tightened his grip around her throat and flung her aside.
**Bang!**
Her transforming body slammed heavily against the ground.
When she rose again, her true form was revealed: a grotesque yellow dog-like creature, standing upright, its mouth filled with jagged fangs, its limbs twisted into clawed appendages. Only the tattered remains of human clothing still clung to it.
Its blood-red eyes locked onto Kasage as it let out a low, furious growl.
"Damn you! Then you will become my power as well!"
It lunged forward, jaws wide, claws tearing through the air.
Kasage sidestepped smoothly, his expression turning cold.
"Kikyo," he called out, irritation creeping into his voice, "if you keep watching, I'm just going to kill it."
A soft laugh echoed through the room.
"A beautiful woman threw herself at you… you seemed to be enjoying it. I didn't want to interrupt," Kikyo replied teasingly.
"You—"
"A woman's voice? Where?!"
The yokai froze mid-motion, its eyes darting wildly around the room, clearly agitated.
At that moment, Kikyo stepped out from the shadows.
"Woman! Die!"
The yokai roared and immediately changed targets, lunging at her with savage force. Its claws sliced through the air, carrying a violent gust of demonic wind.
Kikyo remained calm.
"Rise."
A pulse of pure spiritual power surged outward.
A glowing white magic circle ignited beneath the yokai's feet, expanding instantly and trapping it within.
"GRAAAAH—!"
Holy flames erupted, engulfing its body.
It struggled violently—but its limbs would not move. It was completely immobilized, frozen mid-attack.
"A miko…! When did you—?!" it rasped, its voice filled with pain and disbelief.
Kikyo ignored it. She raised her hand, gathering a gentle yet powerful spiritual light, then flicked it forward.
"Come out."
The energy struck the yokai—
And a translucent figure was forcibly drawn out from its body.
A woman.
The princess.
"NO! Give her back!!" the yokai shrieked, its voice breaking as it struggled uselessly.
Kasage walked forward calmly, bent down, and lifted the unconscious princess, placing her gently beside Kikyo.
"All this effort… just to save her?" he asked.
Kikyo nodded softly.
"This yokai stole her bones and soul, taking her form to lure men into the mountains."
She paused, then looked at him.
"Go ahead. Kill it."
"The men it deceived are still alive. It only drained their life force."
"Kill it… and that energy will return to them."
Kasage exhaled slowly.
"Finally."
He formed hand seals with swift precision.
"Wind Release: Wind Slice Technique!"
A compressed blade of wind shot forward with a piercing whistle—
In a flash, it passed through the yokai's neck.
Silence.
Then—
A thin line appeared.
Its massive head slid off.
Before the body could even collapse, the holy flames consumed everything, reducing it to ash.
As the yokai vanished, the illusion around them shattered. The surrounding buildings crumbled into nothingness, and the thick white mist blanketing the mountains slowly faded away.
Not far away, several unconscious men lay scattered on the ground.
Kasage glanced over, then turned back toward Kikyo.
She was kneeling, gently holding the princess, whispering softly.
He didn't interrupt.
He already knew—this was only a soul.
After a few moments, the princess's form, wrapped in Kikyo's spiritual energy, began to fade. It transformed into a soft, glowing light and drifted upward into the sky… disappearing peacefully.
Kikyo stood and walked over.
"She died alone," she said quietly. "Her loneliness bound her to this world."
"Even after death, she couldn't move on."
Her gaze softened.
"That yokai used her remains… turned her into a tool."
Then, with a faint smirk, she added:
"It seems you didn't get your beast-eared girl… nor your beautiful princess."
Kasage smiled faintly, his eyes locking onto hers.
"That's fine," he said calmly. "Having a beautiful priestess by my side is enough."
"…!"
Kikyo froze.
A faint blush crept up to her ears.
She quickly turned away.
"I—I'll go find her remains and bury them properly," she said, her voice slightly unsteady. "You check on the men."
Kasage's smile deepened.
"Alright."
As she walked away, he watched her for a moment, amused.
*So this is her limit?* he thought.
He turned and approached the unconscious men.
Forming hand seals, he spoke:
"Water Release: Water Wave."
A cool stream of water splashed over them, waking them one by one.
Meanwhile, Kikyo carefully gathered the princess's remains, wrapping them with care.
When they regrouped, the two guided the weakened men back toward the village at the foot of the mountain.