The "little brats" he referred to were naturally the prepubescent Halfkin kids on the island who still retained their childlike bodies.
In an instant, Ushiki suddenly appeared among Suzuhime and the others.
Everyone gathered around the fire preparing food was greatly alarmed.
Like a wolf entering a flock of sheep, he effortlessly snatched one of the Halfkin.
He seized this unfortunate young Halfkin and soared high into the sky.
The captured Halfkin boy struggled continuously, crying out in terror.
"Let me go, you bastard..."
Those below were filled with righteous anger, but unfortunately, due to their limited power, they couldn't even fly, let alone fight him.
"Kid, you're being quite naughty," Ushiki said with a faintly cruel smile, his voice cold as he knocked the disobedient child unconscious. His figure vanished from Suzuhime's sight.
"What exactly do these people want?" Suzuhime growled through clenched teeth.
She clenched the sword in her hand so tightly that her knuckles whitened.
How maddening—why had she chosen a sword as her weapon back then? If it had been a long-range weapon instead, she wouldn't feel so helpless now.
"Whoosh—" Ushiki added sound effects himself, hurling the already unconscious Halfkin toward the God Tree.
Mineo couldn't help but sneer slightly.
Should he call this guy childish?
A beautiful parabola traced through the air as the Halfkin crashed precisely into the God Tree.
Then, the God Tree, previously as still as stone not even a single leaf stirring, suddenly came alive.
Its branches coiled around the falling Halfkin.
Within moments, the boy's face turned lifeless, every trace of vitality drained away.
The branches scattered apart, and the boy slammed heavily onto the ground.
"Hehe, Senior," Ushiki chuckled, saying, "What do you think?"
Mineo shrugged indifferently and turned to leave.
The next day, Ushiki went to torment that group of children again.
This time, Suzuhime was alert from early morning, having secured the children's safety before positioning herself in front of them.
"What happened to that kid from yesterday?" she demanded, her face showing both fury and concern.
"As for him, he won't be coming back. Do any of you want to join him?" Ushiki teased in response.
"Won't be coming back?" Suzuhime repeated, already suspecting the answer.
"That's right—he's dead," Ushiki confirmed.
At those words, the children's faces went pale with shock.
Though they were already aware of their own helplessness, when directly confronted with death, fear gripped their hearts fiercely.
"So, who else wants to join him?" Ushiki happily enjoyed everyone's reactions.
As he spoke, his eyes had already transformed into glowing blue Rinnegan.
Fueled by rage, Suzuhime drew her sword and slashed at him.
Ushiki's expression flickered for a moment.
[Body Replacement Technique – Thousand Paper Cranes]
In the instant of attack, he transformed his body into several glowing red paper cranes and vanished before Suzuhime's eyes.
From the corner of her eye, Suzuhime caught a shadow and quickly located Ushiki once more.
By then, he had already reappeared behind her, casually lifting one of the children.
"Suzuhime-sama, save me!"
"Help me!"
The child's voice faded into the distance, and Suzuhime could only stand there, watching helplessly as the two vanished before her eyes.
A deep sense of guilt filled her heart, her sorrow overwhelming, nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
Silence blanketed the scene, panic etched onto the faces of everyone still present.
After a long while, someone finally broke the silence.
"Miko-sama, what should we do?"
Suzuhime didn't respond. She sat down quietly, closed her eyes, and let her mind drift deep into thought.
Legend has it that Penglai Island was an ancient land where people searched for the elixir of immortality.
This legend had drawn countless curious gazes over time.
There were always monsters who wished to enter and take control of this land.
Based on what Suzuhime learned after arriving on the island, this place indeed held something extraordinary.
There stood a massive structure shaped like a furnace—the Mingdong Lu (Furnace of Alchemical Resonance)—believed to be the legendary pill-making cauldron of ancient cultivators.
The Furnace of Alchemical Resonance can consume and transform anything thrown into it—it is the island's heart.
As its name suggests, it was used for refining pills.
These two people likely came to the island because of the legend.
Perhaps they had already seen the Furnace of Alchemical Resonance and discovered its purpose.
The people they kidnapped were most probably thrown into the furnace, resulting in their deaths.
When she thought of this, everything suddenly made sense.
In that instant, Suzuhime felt as if a light shone through darkness—she understood everything. She stood up, determination blazing in her eyes.
Then, she turned and started walking in a certain direction.
"Suzuhime-sama, where are you going?" someone asked.
"I'm going to release the barrier," Suzuhime replied calmly.
After all, she was the one who originally created the barrier.
"But without the barrier, won't all those monsters be able to come inside?"
Everyone's expressions darkened.
"We might die..."
"Continuing to wait may still lead to death," Suzuhime said softly. "Rather than that, I'd rather let them fight among themselves. Perhaps then... there will be a chance."
No one dared speak again—silence hung heavy in the air as they gave up trying to stop her.
At the ancient plaza of old architecture, Mineo raised his gaze to the sky.
A chaotic swirl of colors filled the entire sky.
"Why does the air smell so foul?" He frowned slightly, clearly displeased by the strange odor filling his nostrils.
"It must be accumulated yaoki," Ushiki answered beside him. [Yaoki: demonic energy]
"Yaoki... So the barrier is weakening?"
"Yes," Ushiki nodded. "That woman must be meddling with it."
Mineo fixed him with a cold, unwavering stare.
"What's wrong, senior?" Ushiki said, wearing an expression of feigned innocence.
"What's wrong? You actually dare ask me what's wrong? It was your idea to capture them, yet you failed to guard them properly. You insisted we should keep them for studying spiritual and demon energy, but now look at the mess you've made..."
"Oh c'mon, senior, don't get angry," Ushiki quickly patted his shoulder trying to pacify him.
"Now we're exactly in need of fertilizer for the God Tree anyway. Once those demons step in, they won't be coming back."
Mineo instantly became speechless.
How could there possibly be such an erratic teammate? Even a genuine member of the Otsutsuki clan would probably go mad…
Damn Ushiki, I'd have wasted you already if it weren't for the risk of drawing attention.
"I've already said," Mineo replied coldly, "don't disturb me for now."
"Leave it to me, Elder," Ushiki patted his chest again, promising, "those yokai (supernatural beings) are all mine. I'll make sure none of them dirties your hands."
With that, he pulled out a red fishing rod.
"What is that?" Mineo asked.
"My weapon, the Red Light Fishing Rod. It's simple—just something that can reel in chakra," Ushiki boasted.
"Not bad… for a newcomer valued by Yoro himself," Mineo said, implying something deeper. "But still… where exactly do those yokai have chakra?"
"It's more than enough even as a regular weapon."
Ushiki said confidently.
Then, without another word, he flew up into the sky, waiting only for the barrier to fully open.
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