Then said, "You two first carry the shrine maiden-sama's corpse to the side hall."
The two felt a weight off their hearts, "Yes, Shinnosuke-sama."
After they left, Shinnosuke saluted to Rengoku, "Then I'll leave Shion-sama to you."
Rengoku waved his hand, "If entrusted, I will remain loyal to the task."
"You all prepare the things. I'll go after Shion."
"Yes, Rengoku-sama, please wait in the side hall for a moment," With that, Shinnosuke quickly left.
Rengoku needed to bring Miroku's corpse and could also conveniently take some money.
Shrine Maidens generally did not use money for many years, relying on public donations from the people, which had accumulated a fair amount.
Since Rengoku was going to conduct scientific experiments, money was like a bottomless pit.
Naturally, the more the better, never too much.
Rengoku followed Miroku's guidance and arrived at the side hall, where Miroku's corpse was already placed.
At this moment, Shinnosuke hurriedly arrived.
In his hand were several scrolls and a box.
The scrolls were common storage scrolls; as for the box, Rengoku didn't know what it was.
The box was only the size of a child's fist, but it carried the same kind of power as that on Miroku's body.
Rengoku, following Miroku's guidance, lightly tapped the box.
The box suddenly emitted light, opened on its own, and then absorbed Miroku's corpse into it.
So it was a storage-type item similar to a storage scroll.
Kumemaru and Sumemaru just wanted to say something, but Shinnosuke stopped them with a glance.
Rengoku gave a greeting, "Then I'll be off. The demon won't be able to cause trouble for a while. Contact me if anything happens."
"Yes, thank you, Rengoku-sama."
———
Kakashi and the others were fleeing all the way outside and had already run a long distance.
During the bumps, Shion also woke up, but she didn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she asked with a sad tone, "Susuki-nee, how is mother?"
She had clearly realized something.
"There's still no news yet," Susuki said panting.
He was soaked in sweat and extremely exhausted.
After all, he was fully armored and also carrying someone.
As an ordinary person, even if strong and healthy, his stamina had reached the limit by now.
Seeing this situation, Hayama also spoke, "We should be safe now. Let's take a break."
"Susuki-nee, please rest a while," After Shion spoke, Susuki finally stopped.
Kakashi and the other two first scouted the surroundings before sitting down to rest.
Shion squatted on the ground hugging her knees, somewhat dazed as she looked into the distance.
The sky in the distance was already faintly bright, almost morning.
But Shion still felt it very bleak.
"Shion-sama, have something to eat," Susuki took out several rice balls next to Shion.
Shion shook her head, "Susuki-nee, you eat. I have no appetite."
After sitting down, Susuki started eating the rice balls in large bites.
After all, carrying Shion consumed a lot of stamina.
At this time, from far behind them came the sharp whistling sound of fireworks.
Shion and Susuki looked up and saw the fireworks shooting into the sky.
The fireworks had three colors, flashing alternately.
As Shion looked, her eyes gradually turned red, and then she burst into tears, "Mother, sob sob sob… mother…"
Susuki's hand feeding the rice ball into his mouth didn't stop, but his eyes were also red, holding back tears.
Kakashi and the others exchanged glances, and Kakashi asked, "What do the fireworks mean?"
Susuki swallowed the rice ball in his mouth and then said, "The Shrine Maiden-sama has died."
"Although she repelled the enemy, the Land of Demons is still not safe."
"I need to escort Shion-sama to Konoha first."
The three of them were dumbfounded, 'Miroku died?'
'Then what about our mission?'
Kakashi clung to a sliver of hope and asked Susuki, "Does Shion-sama know Miroku-sama's sealing technique?"
Susuki looked at Kakashi strangely, "Shion-sama hasn't learned it."
Kakashi's hope was completely shattered.
The three of them had traveled thousands of miles to the Land of Demons, only to encounter such a situation.
The mission target was dead.
Now only a seven-year-old girl remained, clearly not someone who could use sealing techniques.
It looked like their mission was doomed to fail.
"Can you tell us who the enemy was?", Hayama asked.
Susuki nodded. After all, he and Shion still needed these people to escort them to Konoha.
"This demon is called Moryo. Many years ago..."
———
"Cough! Cough…"
Moryo had previously suffered a heavy injury and had now retreated back into Yomi's body, with Yomi currently in control.
After fleeing far enough, he looked back at the palace walls.
"Dammit! Who was it?"
At this moment, a pitcher plant rose from the ground, it was Zetsu.
"The one who attacked you was the clan leader of the Uchiha, Uchiha Rengoku."
"Uchiha?"
"Clan leader?"
Zetsu's answer left Yomi stunned. Taken separately or together, this answer shouldn't exist in this place.
"Why would he be here?", Yomi was utterly confused and didn't understand how this had happened.
Zetsu shook his head, "Not sure why he's here, but the Uchiha clan isn't someone to mess with."
"You're so badly injured now. If the Uchiha find you, it'll be troublesome."
"Looks like you need a place to recover."
Zetsu had a "I know you'll come" look. Yomi snorted coldly and didn't answer immediately.
But his flickering gaze clearly showed he was tempted.
At this moment, a vortex appeared in midair, and Tobi emerged here.
He no longer had the Sharingan, he had now become a one-eyed man.
"Who attacked me?"
There was a Sharingan missing in his one eye. He had now become a one-eyed manipulator.
"Who attacked me?"
Zetsu had watched the battle from nearby, so he definitely saw everything.
He opened his mouth, "It was Uchiha Rengoku."
"He knows the Shadow Stealth Technique. He hid in the shadows the whole time."
"The Shire Maiden and Moryo were fighting chaotically, so no one noticed him."
When Obito heard the name Rengoku, his scalp tingled.
'How many times has it been already?'
Rengoku was practically his destined nemesis.
"Why would he be here?"
Obito was filled with doubt, 'Rengoku should've been in Konoha, right?'
Zetsu shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
"Shadow Stealth Technique…", Obito muttered. That technique was unbeatable when it came to sneak attacks and assassinations.
It was probably that technique that got him last time, too.
"You go find out where Kakashi is. I need to replenish my Sharingan before Rengoku gets there."
Black Zetsu responded with a growl and sank into the ground.
Obito now looked at Yomi, "So the Moryo you released… was just that?"
Yomi snorted coldly, "Just bad luck."
"Have you decided?"
Yomi had already made up his mind earlier, and now asked, "What is your organization called?"
Obito raised his head and looked to the sky, "TSUKUMA!"
[T/N: 'Tsukuma' means 'Devil of the Moon'.]
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