The two arrived at a small park, where Shion sat on a swing, head lowered, gently kicking her legs. "Shinji, I'm feeling a bit homesick."
Uchiha Shinji gave the swing a light push. "That's normal. It's been a while since you've been back to the Land of Demons."
Shion fell silent for a moment before saying, "I've been really happy in Hidden Leaf. I've made so many friends and learned so many things."
Shinji pushed the swing gently, listening quietly.
Shion continued, "But for some reason, I always feel like I can't fully fit in with everyone. When I'm with you all, it's like I'm always just a guest!"
"You are a guest, aren't you?"
Shinji nearly teased but held back.
Shion sighed. "I really want to truly belong, to become one of you, to go on missions together, to fight like a real shinobi!"
Shinji comforted her, "Shion, you don't have to be exactly like us! Whether you're a shinobi or a priestess, those are just titles. Who you want to be and what kind of life you want to live—that's all up to you!"
Shion turned her head, looking at Shinji with hopeful eyes. "Can I join you on missions and fight alongside you?"
"Uh…"
Shinji was at a loss for words.
"Hmph, I knew it!" Shion pouted. "Shinji, you've always seen me as a kid, haven't you?"
Shinji stayed silent, admitting to himself that she wasn't wrong.
Shion said, "I know the real you isn't the one you show!"
Shinji's brow furrowed.
Shion continued, "I can't quite explain it, but I can feel it. All these years, I've never gotten closer to you! Maybe in your heart, you've never truly seen me as a real friend!"
Shinji let out a quiet breath of relief.
He had to admit, as the most gifted priestess, Shion's sensitivity to things was extraordinary.
His usual persona, in the eyes of others, was that of an approachable Uchiha—a rare feat for his clan. No one would question his sincerity or openness, because that's just how Uchihas were.
Yet Shion had pinpointed the issue with uncanny accuracy.
"I thought I'd hidden it pretty well," Shinji thought to himself.
At that moment, Shion stared into Shinji's eyes, asking earnestly, "Shinji, which one is the real you?"
Shinji rubbed his nose. "What are you talking about?"
Shion said, "You're feeling guilty!"
"No way!" Shinji chuckled lightly. "I'm just me. There's no real or fake!"
Shion was adamant. "That's a lie too!"
Feeling a bit unnerved by her stare, Shinji quickly changed the subject. "Wait, where's that bell artifact of yours? You didn't lose it, did you?"
Shion pulled out the bell artifact. "It's right here!"
Seeing the artifact, Shinji first sighed in relief, then frowned, thinking, "The bell artifact is still here, so why is Shion's perception so sharp?"
The power of a priestess was undeniable.
To prevent a young Shion from harming herself or others, her mother, the previous priestess, had crafted the bell artifact. Its true purpose wasn't just to protect Shion, as it appeared, but to seal her priestess powers!
Shinji's gaze shifted from the bell artifact in Shion's hand to her eyes, wondering, "Or could it be that the genjutsu I placed on her before has worn off?"
From the first time Shion witnessed Shinji fighting a demon to the multiple instances where she stumbled upon his true identity, Shion was arguably the only person in the village—perhaps the entire shinobi world—who knew Shinji's hidden identity.
Because of this, Shinji had no choice but to use genjutsu on her, sealing away some of her memories.
With the bell artifact suppressing her priestess powers and the genjutsu cast by his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Shion shouldn't have been able to recall those memories.
As Shinji was lost in his suspicions, Shion suddenly asked, "You already know, don't you?"
Shinji blinked. "Know what?"
"The bell artifact, of course!" Pausing, Shion said, "Two days ago, when I was sparring with Yakumo, the bell artifact suddenly broke!"
"Broke?!"
Shinji was shocked, taking the bell artifact from Shion's hand.
Upon close inspection, he noticed a clear crack on it!
What Shinji didn't see was that the moment he took the bell artifact from Shion, she froze, as if recalling something, her eyes growing brighter and brighter!
"You too, sparring with Yakumo for what! Look, the artifact's broken, and I don't even know how to fix it for you!"
Grumbling, Shinji handed the bell artifact back to Shion.
Then he noticed Shion's strange expression and asked, "What's wrong now?"
Shion bit her lip, shaking her head.
Shinji narrowed his eyes. "What's going on with you?"
"Uh, Shinji, I just remembered I have something to do tonight, so I won't chat anymore!"
With that, Shion jumped off the swing and turned to run.
"Stop!"
Shinji called out.
Shion froze in place, not daring to turn around.
Shinji sighed helplessly. "You've remembered everything, haven't you?"
Shion's face crumpled. "Shinji, please don't seal my memories again! I swear I won't tell anyone!"
"So that's it…"
Shinji was a bit speechless.
He also realized that as Shion grew older and with the bell artifact damaged, her priestess powers were becoming harder to suppress. Sealing her memories as he had before was no longer as easy.
Shion, like a child who'd done something wrong, sidled up to Shinji with a fawning expression. "Shinji, I can't believe you're the Akatsuki's 'A'—so cool! Look at me, can I join your organization?"
Shinji looked at Shion, his expression shifting.
In truth, when it came to dealing with the mysterious figure, Shion's priestess powers could be a tremendous asset.
Compared to demons, the demon beast Moryo was the true immortal entity. Yet, for centuries, it had been sealed by priestesses most of the time, showing just how effective their sealing techniques were against such undying monsters.
After weighing his options, Shinji said candidly, "Are you sure you're ready to know the real me?"
Seeing Shinji speak so solemnly, Shion took a deep breath and nodded firmly. "Yes!"
Shinji said, "Alright then. I invite you to join my organization and save this world with me!"