Uchiha Kasage walked toward the large tree in front of the shrine and lazily lay down on the wooden reclining chair beneath it.
The towering tree, with its dense foliage, and the chair beneath it had both been created by him using Wood Release. From one of the sturdy branches hung a simple wooden swing—something he had made specifically for Kikyo.
The tree stood at the edge of a cliff, and from this vantage point, the faint outline of the village below could be seen in the distance.
Whenever they had nothing to do, he and Kikyo would come here to cultivate—or simply sit together, talking quietly as the swing swayed in the wind, living a peaceful and tranquil life.
"Kanna… what are you doing here again?"
Still lying comfortably in his chair, Kasage let out a soft breath and turned his gaze toward a tree not far away at the edge of the cliff. His voice was calm, almost casual.
The moment his words fell—
A white figure slowly stepped out from behind the tree.
Kanna.
She was dressed, as always, in pure white. Her delicate face showed no emotion, her expression blank as ever. In her arms, she held her mirror, staring into it quietly.
There was no surprise in her eyes at being discovered—as if she had already expected it.
Kasage wasn't surprised either.
He raised a hand and casually gestured toward her.
"Come here. No need to stand so far away."
The Flying Thunder God mark had been placed on Kanna's mirror. The moment she stepped into the shrine's range, he had already sensed her presence.
Moreover, ever since he and Kikyo had settled here, he had replaced all the surrounding trees with ones created through Wood Release. Each tree carried a trace of his chakra, allowing him to monitor everything within the area.
As Kanna approached, Kasage pointed to the empty reclining chair beside him.
"Sit wherever you like. Don't be nervous."
He paused, glancing at her small frame, then nodded toward the swing.
"Or… you can sit there, if you prefer."
Kanna said nothing.
Her gaze shifted slowly toward the swing swaying gently in the breeze.
After a brief pause, she walked over and sat down carefully. The fabric of her dress fluttered lightly as the swing moved.
Seeing this, Kasage smiled faintly.
She really did feel like a child—both in appearance and in presence.
With a subtle release of chakra into the tree, the swing began to move more smoothly, its motion gentle and steady.
He had originally built it for Kikyo—something simple for her to enjoy during quiet moments. It reminded him vaguely of something from the ninja academy, so he had recreated it on a whim.
Kanna sat there silently, still expressionless—
But the slight widening of her eyes and the way her body relaxed made it clear she liked it.
"Did Naraku send you?" Kasage asked, breaking the silence. "Are you here to observe us… or is there something else?"
"Observe." Kanna's voice was soft and flat.
After a brief pause, she added:
"A method… to break the curse."
Kasage raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise crossing his face.
"His life force is still being drained?" he asked. "He hasn't solved it yet?"
"Yes."
Kanna's answer remained simple and emotionless.
Kasage genuinely hadn't expected that.
Originally, he thought the side effects of the Samsara Rebirth technique would only trouble Naraku briefly.
After all, Naraku was an amalgamation of countless yokai. Even if affected, losing some life force shouldn't have been enough to seriously threaten him.
Back then, Pain had revived so many people in Konoha—and still had the strength to speak afterward.
Yet Naraku…
Was still suffering.
Kasage narrowed his eyes slightly.
Perhaps the difference lay in the method. The people Pain revived had only just died—their bodies still intact.
But Kikyo… and himself…
Their original bodies no longer existed.
The price they paid… might be far greater.
After a moment, he shrugged lightly.
"That's a side effect of the technique I used when I asked Naraku to revive her."
"As for how to fix it… I don't know."
"Only two people have ever used it before."
"And both of them died."
He smirked faintly.
"Let Naraku struggle a bit longer."
"Maybe he'll be the first lucky one to survive."
Kanna remained silent, gently swaying on the swing as she lowered her gaze to the mirror in her hands.
"Kasage."
At that moment, Kikyo's soft voice came from behind.
She approached carrying a bamboo tray. Sitting beside him, she picked up a slice of melon and handed it to him.
"The villagers brought these."
"Thanks." Kasage took it, the sweet fragrance immediately reaching him.
Fruit like this was rare in this era—and exceptionally delicious.
"…Kanna?"
Only then did Kikyo notice the girl on the swing.
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
She picked up another slice of melon and walked over, offering it gently.
Kanna accepted it without hesitation.
Kikyo's expression softened.
Without thinking, she reached out and gently patted Kanna's head—her touch natural, warm, almost instinctive.
Kasage couldn't help but find the scene amusing.
Kikyo was clearly treating Kanna like a child.
Though, given her appearance… it was understandable.
"Kanna," Kasage said casually as he bit into the melon, "who's the one outside the barrier with Naraku's aura?"
"Kagura. My sister."
Kanna looked up slightly and spoke in her usual quiet tone.
"May I let her in?"
Kasage paused.
He had already sensed a yokai presence lingering outside the barrier—but he hadn't expected it to be Kagura.
Among Naraku's incarnations…
Kagura was one he actually liked.
She longed for freedom.
And that alone set her apart.
The barrier around the shrine wasn't particularly strong unless Kikyo actively reinforced it. For weaker yokai, it was enough—but for someone like Kagura, it was little more than a warning.
The fact that she hadn't forced her way in…
Meant she had no hostile intent.
Kikyo seemed to reach the same conclusion.
Curiosity flickered in her eyes.
"If she's your sister… then yes," Kikyo said gently. "I'll open the barrier."
Kanna nodded slightly.
"Okay."
She didn't move—
Yet both Kikyo and Kasage clearly felt it.
A yokai… slowly entering the barrier.
The connection between Kanna and Kagura was undeniable.
---
Outside the shrine—
Kagura held a small mirror in her sleeve.
It was clearly how Kanna had contacted her.
Taking a slow breath, she stared at the torii gate ahead, her expression cautious.
Neither of the two inside…
Were people she could take lightly.
Naraku harbored a strange hostility toward the priestess Kikyo—
And yet, at the same time…
He feared her.
As for the man named Uchiha Kasage—
He had placed a curse on Naraku that continued to drain his life.
Even now.
Thinking of this, Kagura slowly stepped forward, ascending the stone steps.
The moment she passed through the torii gate—
Her eyes fell upon the scene beneath the great tree.
And she froze.
"…Eh?"
There they were.
Kikyo and Kasage, sitting together beneath the tree—
Eating melon.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Almost… happy.
And nearby—
Kanna.
Her usually distant, emotionless sister…
Was sitting on a swing.
Gently swaying.
Holding a piece of melon, eating it in small, careful bites.
Her face hadn't changed—
Still blank.
But the atmosphere around her…
Was unmistakably softer.