"Ushiki, you're not getting soft-hearted toward them, are you?"
Mineo said teasingly.
He never thought Ushiki was such a kind person.
Ushiki sneered slightly, tilting his head with a faint air of disdain. "They're merely lower lifeforms. I have no interest in them, nor do I wish to stain myself with their blood."
Still, he continued explaining briefly.
The God Tree functioned essentially as a conversion mechanism that transformed local energies into chakra best suited for the Otsutsuki Clan.
Whether as samples for understanding native forces or as nourishment for the God Tree itself,
Suzuhime and others still had some use.
Moreover, temporarily, this area's barrier required their presence to maintain.
Their conversation wasn't conducted secretly; Suzuhime and the others heard everything but didn't understand a word.
Ushiki didn't bother caring about their feelings. He opened a spatial portal, taking everyone with him and imprisoning them within a cave.
Although he wouldn't constantly guard them, he could show up anytime without warning.
Soon after, an additional tree appeared on this island.
From a small sapling to full-grown tree size, it only took several days.
Then, its growth slowed down significantly, with barely noticeable changes in branches and leaves.
Meanwhile, Hiroki and Kaguya had already arrived in this world.
First, they used Spatial Ninjutsu to enter Mineo's Another Dimension, then followed clues he left behind, leading them to the marked location.
Incidentally, they also brought along several White Zetsus to gather intelligence.
Immediately upon landing, the White Zetsus voluntarily submerged underground, vanishing from sight.
Subsequently, Hiroki and Kaguya set off without particular direction.
While walking through, occasionally a faint bloody smell would drift into their noses.
They passed fields strewn with corpses and walked through quiet villages.
They saw humans and demons perishing together, forming mountains of bodies, and encountered flying demons passing across the sky.
Some of these looked completely indistinguishable from humans outwardly.
"The energy within them seems similar to 'Sage Chakra,' but Frogs and Katsuyu merely grow larger in body with training. They can't compare to the demons here who can transform flawlessly."
Kaguya couldn't help but comment.
Several days later, the White Zetsus reappeared, presenting maps they created.
These indicated human territories versus regions controlled by demons.
"It's said that long ago, a powerful miko forged a legendary artifact known as the Shikon No Tama."
"For centuries, the Shikon No Tama has passed around endlessly between demons and humans. Legends claim this jewel grants demons immense power, eliminates evil spirits, and even fulfills wishes."
"Eventually, it reached a demon hunter's hands. To prevent the Shikon No Tama from falling into demon hands, the demon hunter entrusted the jewel to a powerful miko named Kikyo for protection."
"Kikyo is also the guardian priestess of a certain village."
Listening to White Zetsu's account, Hiroki fell into brief recollection.
Kikyo... Shikon No Tama...
Compared to the Shikon No Tama, what intrigued him more was the well responsible for transporting the female lead.
"Where is that village? Take me there," Hiroki requested.
The White Zetsus immediately prepared to lead the way.
"Can we locate the Shikon No Tama as well?"
White Zetsu patted his chest proudly, "As long as there's a living soul who knows it, we can take care of it."
The two arrived at the village protected by Kikyo without any trouble.
"Wish-granting? Yeah right."
Before the ancient shrine, Kaguya sighed and reached out to touch the Shikon No Tama resting inside.
Seemingly sensing her desire, the previously transparent jewel began emitting a faint purple glow—both holy and seductive.
At the same time, the guardian Miko sensed someone approaching the shrine.
Previously, most attempting to steal the Shikon No Tama had been demons.
Since neither Hiroki nor Kaguya carried demonic energy, she remained unaware of their quiet entry into the village.
But now, standing before the shrine, she definitely sensed them.
Inside her room, Kikyo, the beautiful Miko with pitch-black eyes, refined features, and flowing black hair, calmly picked up her bow and arrows hanging on the wall, rushing toward the shrine.
"Sister," Fu asked cautiously, "are demons invading again?" Not receiving a reply, she kept hurrying forward.
"Kikyo..."
On a tall tree branch sat a boy in bright red clothing, his silvery-white hair revealing dog ears beneath. He lazily yawned.
Spotting Kikyo from the corner of his eye, he suddenly perked up and silently followed after her.
This had become their unspoken understanding.
"How about giving it a quick try? Might actually work," Hiroki said with a smile.
Sensing someone approaching, White Zetsu had already quietly slipped away.
Kaguya smiled slightly too, calmly picking up the Shikon No Tama.
Whoosh...
A whistling sound rang through the air.
An arrow glowing brightly flew rapidly toward them.
Just before hitting Kaguya, the arrow stopped midair.
After a pause, it simply fell to the ground.
Kaguya looked toward where the arrow came from.
Kikyo slightly frowned.
Could this person have a protective barrier around him? Her sacred arrows should be able to break through such defenses.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Not willing to accept it, she fired arrow after arrow—but each one stopped the same way.
"Let's go."
Glancing at the calm-faced priestess, Hiroki took Kaguya's hand, and both soared into the sky.
She shot him a puzzled look, then glanced back at Kikyo, still readying her arrows toward them.
A black passage opened behind her.
"That's... the Path of the Dead?" Inuyasha murmured in astonishment.
They watched helplessly as Hiroki and Kaguya disappeared right in front of them.
The dark passageway then closed and vanished.
Inuyasha sprang forward, crouching at the spot where Kaguya and Hiroki had stood moments ago, sniffing repeatedly while frowning.
"How far is this place from the last one?"
Now appearing beside a lake, Hiroki asked someone in a certain direction.
Before he finished speaking, White Zetsu popped his head out.
Before he could say anything, Kaguya spoke with slight irritation, "What? Do you want to go back? Under that situation, why didn't you let me fight? Don't tell me you're sweet on that Miko?"
Hiroki could only rub his forehead tiredly.
"That's not it. I remember there's a place called the Bone-Eating Well that might allow time-space travel."
"Is that true?" Kaguya looked at White Zetsu.
White Zetsu paused and explained, "That place is where villagers dump demonic corpses. Throw one into the well, and it'll vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye."
"If that's the case, then it's indeed possible to travel through time and space," White Zetsu concluded.
"Possibility?" Kaguya raised her eyebrow.
"Eh..." White Zetsu couldn't find his voice right away.
"We should still go check it out," Hiroki tugged on Kaguya's arm gently.
White Zetsu walked forward voluntarily.
"What about Ushiki then?" she asked, following White Zetsu's lead.
In the forest, green grass covered the ground, occasionally giving off a fetid corpse odor.
"There's the Bone-Eating Well," White Zetsu pointed toward a location.
Both looked ahead and saw a wooden square well with some weeds growing on its surface.
"Someone else is coming," suddenly White Zetsu muttered before submerging into the ground again.
Then came a young man's slightly excited voice.
"Kikyo, I can smell their presence."
"Got a nose like a bloodhound," Hiroki muttered, then jumped into the Bone-Eating Well.
"Will you come too, Moon?"
Looking at the old well emitting a strange foul odor, Kaguya felt disgusted, but considering whether this well truly had the ability to travel through time and space—and where it would take her—she finally sighed and jumped down as well.
Hiroki caught her firmly.
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