"..." Tsubaki pursed her lips and tugged hard at the prayer beads binding her body. After several failed attempts to break free, she let out a cold snort, turned her head away, and remained silent with a dark expression.
"Master, you guessed correctly." Kikyo gently pulled Uchiha Kasage forward and explained calmly, "It was Kasage who sealed Tsubaki's spiritual power at my request. And it was also the two of us who summoned you back from the underworld."
She then gestured toward him. "This is Uchiha Kasage."
"You are… Kikyo?" Enju's gaze settled on her face, filled with uncertainty.
Even after fifty years, the memory of this once-legendary shrine maiden remained vivid in his mind.
After all… Tsubaki had once abandoned everything out of jealousy toward her.
And yet, the woman before him looked exactly the same as she had fifty years ago.
But Kikyo… should have died long ago.
This contradiction made him hesitate.
"Yes," Kikyo replied softly, her expression composed. "I am Kikyo."
"I clearly remember that you passed away long ago… how is this possible?" Enju asked, unable to hide his astonishment.
"A great deal happened," Kikyo said quietly. "But in short… I was brought back to life not long ago."
Her gaze softened slightly.
"After my return, I came here to visit you… but I learned from Momiji and Botan that you had already passed."
"Yes… I am indeed dead." Enju lowered his gaze briefly, then gently patted the heads of Momiji and Botan, who were now calmer as they leaned against him.
He then looked back at Kikyo, his expression turning solemn.
"Kikyo, if you have summoned me from the underworld… then you must have something important for me to do. The dead lingering in the world of the living disrupts the natural order of heaven and earth."
His tone softened slightly, carrying quiet gratitude.
"Even so… I thank you. You allowed me to see my disciples once more… and gave me the chance to place these prayer beads upon Tsubaki."
A faint sigh escaped him.
"I only wish to return to the underworld as soon as possible. This is not where I belong. The living world… is no longer mine."
"Master!" Momiji and Botan cried out at once, their voices trembling with emotion. Tears welled up again in their eyes.
Even Tsubaki, who had maintained her cold demeanor, subconsciously glanced at him—something unreadable flickering in her gaze.
Enju only smiled gently before returning his attention to Kikyo, waiting.
"Don't worry," Uchiha Kasage spoke, his voice calm but steady, carrying an unspoken authority. "We won't keep you here for long."
There was a faint trace of respect in his tone.
"If it were up to me… even a single extra moment in the world of the living would be something worth holding onto," he added quietly, almost to himself.
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"One month. After one month, I will release the Impure World Reincarnation. Your soul will be freed… and you may return to the underworld."
"One month…" Enju nodded slowly, a hint of relief passing through his eyes.
That would be enough.
Enough time to say goodbye.
He looked at Kasage and Kikyo. "Then tell me… what must I do during this time?"
"That is precisely why we summoned you," Kikyo continued.
"Some time ago, Tsubaki used the power of the Shikon Jewel to place a curse upon the shrine maiden currently responsible for its purification. I stopped her… and brought her here."
She reached out and pulled Tsubaki forward, despite her visible resistance.
"I ask that you discipline her during this month," Kikyo said firmly. "So that she abandons the path of a dark priestess… and gives up any intention of seizing the Shikon Jewel again."
Her eyes briefly moved to the glowing beads.
"…Though it seems you had already prepared for this."
"These prayer beads were made before my death," Enju replied, emotion flickering in his gaze as he looked at Tsubaki. "But I never had the chance to use them."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Fortunately, you brought her back. You have fulfilled one of my deepest regrets."
His expression hardened with resolve.
"I understand. During this time, I will guide her properly… and correct the mistake I once failed to prevent."
"That was my choice!" Tsubaki snapped immediately, anger rising in her voice. "I—"
"Tsubaki."
Enju's tone cut through her words like a blade.
His gaze turned sharp.
"Do you still cling to those same thoughts?" he asked coldly. "Do you still believe yourself superior to Kikyo… to everyone else?"
"I—" Tsubaki nearly said it.
*I am stronger than Kikyo.*
But her eyes flicked briefly toward Kasage, who stood silently to the side, his expression calm… yet unfathomable.
The words died in her throat.
She let out a cold, mocking laugh instead.
"As a shrine maiden, I'm no less capable than Kikyo," she said with biting sarcasm. "But when it comes to men… I'm clearly no match for her."
"…"
The statement stunned everyone.
Kikyo's cheeks flushed faintly with embarrassment, her composure cracking for just a moment.
Even Enju was left speechless.
Technically… she had admitted inferiority.
But the direction of the comparison was completely absurd.
"Ahem!" Enju coughed awkwardly, quickly shifting the topic.
"Tsubaki… the prayer beads will not interfere with your normal movements."
He paused briefly.
"However… you cannot stray far from the temple for long. If you do, the beads will forcefully pull you back."
"Old man! Remove them now!" Tsubaki snarled, fury blazing in her eyes. "Or I'll send you back to the underworld before the month is over!"
"Tsubaki," Enju replied calmly, unfazed. "You should address me as Master."
His tone turned indifferent.
"And besides… I am already dead. Killing me would change nothing."
"Oh? Then let me remind you of something."
Kasage's voice suddenly cut in.
Before anyone could react—
He vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared before Enju like a phantom—
And struck.
**BANG—!**
A dull, violent impact echoed through the air as Enju's head exploded into fragments, gray-white dust scattering everywhere.
"MASTER!!"
Momiji and Botan screamed in terror, rushing forward instinctively—but Kasage raised a hand and pressed gently against their heads, stopping them effortlessly.
Even Tsubaki's eyes widened.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward, rage igniting within her.
Kasage turned his head slightly.
His scarlet **Sharingan** ignited.
In that instant—
Tsubaki's vision twisted.
Her body froze.
Looking down, she saw a massive black python coiling tightly around her limbs. Its cold scales pressed against her skin, sending chills through her entire body.
"Calm yourself," Kasage said evenly.
"The body created by Impure World Reincarnation… is immortal. No ordinary attack can destroy it."
The moment his words fell—
The python vanished.
Tsubaki staggered slightly, her body free once more.
"…Genjutsu."
Her eyes narrowed in realization.
Just a glance—
And she had been completely immobilized.
Her gaze toward Kasage grew cautious, almost wary, before she quickly looked away.
At the same time, Momiji and Botan froze.
Because before their eyes—
The scattered dust began to gather.
Enju's shattered head slowly reformed, piece by piece, until it was fully restored.
As if nothing had happened.
"…So this body is merely a vessel for the soul," Enju murmured, touching his restored head, astonishment flickering in his eyes.
Then he gave a helpless smile.
"A truly miraculous technique…"
He paused.
"…though having one's head shattered is not a pleasant experience."