Uchiha Kasage knew exactly what Kikyo was asking about—his Edo Tensei body. There was no need to hide it, so he answered plainly.
"This body is the result of the Impure World Reincarnation Technique. Simply put, it uses a living sacrifice to pull a dead soul back from the Pure Land and bind it to a body formed from dust."
He paused briefly, recalling the unusual circumstances of his revival.
"Though… this time was a bit different. The sacrifice used seemed to be a yokai. I didn't expect something like that could even work for Edo Tensei."
Kikyo continued walking forward, her steps calm but aimless.
"…So that means you cannot die, correct?"
"More or less."
Kasage shrugged lightly.
"This technique was originally created to revive the dead so they could drag their enemies down with them—mutual destruction. As long as the caster doesn't release it, the soul remains trapped in this body. Even if it's destroyed completely, it'll just reform again from dust."
Kikyo's brows knit slightly.
"…That sounds like a deeply evil technique."
"Exactly."
Kasage nodded with complete agreement.
"The one who invented it—a white-haired man from the Senju Clan—was an old, sinister bastard."
"Senju Clan?"
Kikyo repeated the unfamiliar name, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Yeah. The Senju Clan—our Uchiha Clan's greatest enemies. A group of naturally troublesome people."
Kasage spoke with absolute certainty, as if recounting lived experience.
"When we have time, I'll tell you the story of how the Uchiha fought against their so-called rule. It's quite the tale."
"…Alright."
Kikyo nodded, though something about his words felt slightly off. It sounded suspiciously biased, yet his expression was so serious that it was difficult to tell if he was exaggerating or not.
As they continued walking, the forest suddenly stirred.
A pair of low-level yokai lunged from the shadows, snarling viciously.
Before they could even close the distance—
*Flash.*
Kasage's blade moved like lightning.
The air split with a sharp sound, and the yokai collapsed instantly, their forms dissolving into lifeless remains before they could even cry out.
He didn't even slow down.
"…Annoying," he muttered, glancing ahead.
His gaze landed on a large, sturdy tree. He stopped.
"Let's rest here until morning. There are too many yokai at night—it's troublesome."
"…Alright."
Kikyo nodded.
She was about to raise her hand to set up a Barrier when Kasage suddenly dashed forward and ran straight up the tree trunk.
She looked up, slightly surprised.
About five or six meters above the ground, he stopped. His hands formed seals rapidly.
"Wood Release: Four Pillar House Technique."
The moment he finished—
Wood began to grow.
Thick branches extended outward from the trunk, twisting and weaving together with unnatural speed. In mere seconds, a compact yet refined treehouse formed seamlessly around the tree.
Even Kikyo, who was usually calm and composed, widened her eyes in visible surprise.
Kasage stepped inside briefly, inspecting the structure. After confirming it was stable, he pushed the door open and jumped down, landing lightly in front of her.
"Alright. Let's go up. This way we avoid the yokai below."
As he spoke, he pressed his hand against the trunk, leaving behind a Flying Thunder God mark.
Before Kikyo could react, his hand rested on her shoulder—
And in the next instant—
The world blurred.
Space twisted for a fraction of a second.
They appeared inside the treehouse.
Kikyo's eyes shifted slightly as she observed the interior—a dim wooden room, simple but well-structured, with windows carved into the walls. The central trunk ran through the middle, confirming her guess.
"We're inside the treehouse," Kasage said casually. "I used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring us up directly. Faster than climbing."
"…I see."
Kikyo stepped toward the window and looked down.
Under the moonlight, the forest stretched far below them. The height was undeniable.
After a moment, she said:
"I'll set up a Barrier to prevent yokai from entering."
She was about to begin—
But then she noticed something.
A candlestick sat quietly in the center of the room. On either side were simple beds, neatly arranged with clean bedding.
Her composure finally cracked.
"…You… where did these come from?"
Her tone carried unmistakable surprise.
Kasage blinked, then smirked slightly.
Seeing her like this—far from her usual distant, sacred demeanor—was unexpectedly amusing.
It was as if the untouchable priestess had suddenly become… human.
"I can access a separate space," he explained. "I store supplies there. I rarely stay in villages, so I'm used to resting in the wild."
"…A separate space…"
Kikyo repeated softly, processing the concept.
Though still surprised, she said nothing more and began setting up her Barrier.
After a moment, she asked:
"Aren't you going to create one as well? What if a yokai breaks in?"
Kasage shrugged.
"I know some sealing techniques, but barriers aren't really my thing."
He leaned casually against the wall.
"If something breaks in, I'll just kill it. Think of it as a warm-up before sleep."
Kikyo paused mid-motion.
She glanced at him, speechless.
Then, without another word, she continued her work.
*Simple. Direct. Crude.*
That was simply how he operated.
---
The next day, near noon—
Kasage sat at the entrance of the treehouse, staring quietly into the forest.
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
Without turning, he spoke:
"You're awake. Does that clay body of yours even need food?"
Kikyo walked up beside him and sat down.
"No."
Her voice was calm.
"This body is made from clay. It doesn't require food. As long as I have enough souls to sustain it, it can function normally."
Kasage nodded slightly.
"Where are you heading next?"
Instead of answering, Kikyo turned to him, her gaze steady.
"…Can you truly bring someone back to life?"
"Of course."
Kasage smiled, confident and unwavering.
"If I didn't have a method for true resurrection, why would I go through the trouble of putting myself into Edo Tensei? This body is only temporary."
Kikyo's eyes widened slightly.
"…You mean… you cast this technique on yourself?"
"Exactly."
He nodded without hesitation.
"I had a feeling I might die, so I prepared everything in advance. A scroll, a target—myself. There were… some complications, but in the end, I survived."
Kikyo stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
"…What is that look?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
He exhaled lightly.
"I died young. I hadn't even held a girl's hand before dying so pointlessly. There was no way I was going to accept that."
Kikyo froze.
For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes—
Sadness.
She had died at eighteen.
The prime of her life.
That lingering regret… she understood it far too well.
Neither of them spoke again.
The forest wind rustled through the leaves, filling the silence between them as they sat side by side.