"Let's go. We're heading in."
Kikyo stepped through the barrier. Seeing Uchiha Retsu still standing there in a daze, she turned back and reminded him softly.
"…The way you break barriers is way too simple and direct," Retsu said as he snapped out of it and quickly caught up, unable to hold back his complaint.
"Isn't that more convenient?" Kikyo chuckled lightly.
"Naraku's barrier is made of demonic energy. If you purify the aura with spiritual power, the barrier naturally collapses."
"I know… it's just that you shattered my expectations of what a shrine maiden would do," Retsu said with a grin.
Truth be told, he would've done the same—just tear it open with brute force.
He simply hadn't expected Kikyo to be just as straightforward.
"My apologies for disappointing you~" Kikyo replied playfully, mimicking his tone.
"You dare disappoint me? Then accept your punishment!"
Retsu suddenly scooped her up into his arms. Chakra surged beneath his feet as he dashed forward, carrying her straight toward the castle shrouded in foul energy.
"This guy Naraku is disgusting. He turned his castle into a toxic nest and still lives in it—like a rat hiding in a sewer."
They landed atop the highest structure of the castle. Retsu set Kikyo down, staring at the purple miasma drifting below like thick fog, his face full of disgust.
"Demons like Naraku, whose bodies are filled with corruption, eventually turn their surroundings into the same," Kikyo explained.
"Their lairs become saturated with their miasma."
She then extended her hand.
"Give me my bow. If a fight breaks out, I need to be ready."
Retsu retrieved her bow and arrows from Kamui space and strapped them onto her back.
Both of them were now concealed—not only by Kikyo's barrier masking their presence, but also by a thin layer of chakra camouflage.
It was a basic invisibility technique, blending their bodies almost seamlessly into the surroundings.
A standard ninja method, often paired with transformation techniques for infiltration.
Kikyo scanned below.
The entire castle was drowned in purple miasma. Under the moonlight, not a single figure could be seen.
Then she looked up—
Kagura and Kanna floated high above on the Feather of the Wind, silently watching the castle beneath them.
At that moment, a gust of wind dispersed part of the miasma—
Revealing a small green demon hiding in the corner, clutching a strange staff with a human head attached.
"…Hm?"
Kikyo immediately locked onto him.
"Where are Naraku and Sesshomaru? Who is that little demon? Should we capture him and ask?"
"He's Sesshomaru's servant," Retsu said, recognizing Jaken.
"Sesshomaru is inside that building ahead of him."
He waved his hand.
"Leave him. Let's observe first."
Kikyo followed his gaze—then suddenly spoke in surprise:
"There's a Shikon Jewel presence in that building. Is Naraku inside as well?"
Her expression turned serious.
"The miasma is interfering with my senses. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed the jewel at all."
"Looks like this is a trap prepared specifically for Sesshomaru," Retsu said quietly, watching the chaotic flow of energy through his Sharingan.
"The miasma and demonic aura are mixed together to disrupt his sense of smell—so he can't locate Naraku."
"Should we warn him?" Kikyo asked.
"Wait."
Retsu shook his head.
"Sesshomaru is strong. Unless something unexpected happens, Naraku isn't his match.
Right now, he probably hasn't found Naraku yet. I'll ask Kagura what's going on first."
"Won't that alert Naraku?" Kikyo asked with concern.
"This is his territory. If we contact Kagura directly, she might be in danger."
"Relax. It'll be fine."
Retsu took her hand, lightly brushing his fingers across her palm, a faintly mischievous smile appearing.
"How are you planning to do this?" Kikyo asked curiously.
Retsu raised his other hand.
A faint thread of wind chakra gathered at his fingertips—
With a flick, it dispersed into the air, vanishing without a trace.
At the same time—
Kagura's expression suddenly changed.
As a master of wind, she was extremely sensitive to air currents. She instantly noticed the subtle disturbance from below and turned her head.
In that moment—
Her eyes met Retsu's Sharingan.
The three tomoe spun rapidly—
Genjutsu activated instantly.
Her consciousness was pulled into an illusionary space.
Kagura's vision blurred—
The world around her turned into a vast white void.
Her heart jolted. She snapped open her fan, scanning her surroundings, demonic power gathering instinctively.
"Relax. It's me."
A familiar voice echoed.
Retsu appeared before her.
Kagura let out a breath of relief, lowering her guard slightly.
"Where is this?"
"Just a temporary illusion space. Don't worry—Naraku can't detect anything here," Retsu explained.
"I saw your message. What's going on?"
"You're already at the castle?" Kagura's eyes widened in shock—then relief.
If Naraku actually succeeded in devouring Sesshomaru, her chances of freedom would drop to almost nothing.
She quickly composed herself.
"A while ago, Naraku's body was destroyed. He's been capturing demons to devour and rebuild himself.
But today, he suddenly went mad—he wants to devour Sesshomaru and take his power.
So he had me capture the little girl traveling with him to lure him here.
That's why I secretly sent you the message on the way back."
"…He wants to eat Sesshomaru?"
Retsu blinked, completely dumbfounded.
"Did he eat some poisonous mushrooms and start hallucinating? Where does that confidence even come from?"
"I thought he was insane too," Kagura said grimly, gripping her fan.
"But… he might actually succeed."
Her tone turned serious.
"He mixed Goshinki's poison into the miasma. Even great demons can be poisoned without realizing it—it prevents them from properly using their demonic power."
She added:
"You should be careful too. Don't breathe in the miasma."
"So that's why you're not staying inside the castle," Retsu nodded in understanding.
"The miasma is toxic."
Then he asked curiously:
"But Sesshomaru uses poison himself. Will it really affect him?"
"It'll be less effective—but enough for Naraku to seize an opening," Kagura replied, her expression dark.
"This poison is special. If you don't frequently use your power, you won't even notice you've been poisoned.
But once enough toxin accumulates—
The more power you use, the faster it takes effect."
"I see."
Retsu nodded, then asked one last question:
"The girl you captured—is she in the castle?"
"No." Kagura shook her head.
"She was taken away by a human boy named Kohaku.
The castle is filled with poison—if those two stayed here, they'd die quickly."
"Anyone else in the castle besides Naraku and Sesshomaru?"
"No. Just us."
"Alright."
Retsu nodded.
"Later, Kikyo and I will make a move. Don't act too suspicious—just resist a little so Naraku doesn't get suspicious."
"Understood." Kagura nodded.
The next moment—
Retsu vanished.
The white space faded into darkness.
Kagura snapped back to reality, still seated on the Feather of the Wind, floating in the sky.
"What's wrong?"
Kanna's soft voice came from beside her.
"…Nothing."
Kagura shook her head.
Her gaze returned to the rooftop below—
Where two figures slowly emerged from invisibility.
Uchiha Retsu…
And Kikyo.
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