Uchiha Kasage stood quietly, staring at the white broken horn in his hand. Its surface carried a faint wood-like grain, and his eyes flickered with hesitation.
"Kosage?"
Kikyo pushed the door open and stepped outside, her bow resting lightly against her shoulder. As she passed him, she noticed he was still focused on the object in his hand.
Curious, she moved closer.
"You've been staring at it for quite a while… what exactly is that?"
"…This…"
Kasage snapped out of his thoughts. His fingers slowly traced the rough fracture at the base of the horn, his voice carrying a complicated tone.
"This… is a broken horn from the one who killed me. The man named Uchiha Madara."
Kikyo's eyes widened slightly.
She leaned closer, carefully examining the object.
The horn didn't resemble anything she recognized—not an oni's horn, nor that of a dragon or ox. Instead, it looked almost like carved white wood. One end curved sharply to a point, while the other bore clear signs of having been violently broken.
"Does it have any special properties?" she asked softly.
She sensed no yokai aura, no malice… nothing ominous.
If anything, there was a faint vitality within it.
"It contains the power of the Uchiha clan's ancestor—Ōtsutsuki Indra," Kasage explained quietly. "This might… be the key to me becoming stronger."
He had discovered the horn only two days ago.
While examining the sealed space created by the Four Symbols Sealing Technique—the very technique he had used before his death in the Naruto world—he had found it buried among the sealed debris.
He didn't know how it ended up there.
His only guess… was that during the battle, when Might Guy gravely injured Madara, this horn had broken off and fallen. Later, when Kasage activated the sealing technique, it had been caught within the rubble and sealed inside him.
"And… is it dangerous?" Kikyo asked gently.
She had noticed the hesitation hidden in his eyes.
Her hand reached out instinctively, softly clasping his.
Kasage tightened his grip around her fingers, the warmth grounding him. A faint smile appeared.
"There's no immediate danger," he said. "I'm just… uncertain what will happen if I merge this power into my body."
His current body already contained Hashirama's cells.
And Hashirama… was the reincarnation of Ōtsutsuki Ashura.
Now, in his hand, he held Madara's chakra—Indra's power.
If the two fused…
He could potentially awaken the power of the Six Paths.
The Rinnegan.
Everything aligned perfectly—except for one problem.
His Sharingan… was not the Eternal Mangekyō.
Thanks to Hashirama's cells, he had avoided blindness so far.
But if he skipped the Eternal Mangekyō stage and forcibly fused both powers…
Would it work?
Or worse—
What if he awakened the Rinnegan… only for it to fail due to insufficient ocular strength?
If that happened, he could lose everything.
His Mangekyō.
His sight.
Even Hashirama's cells might not be enough to restore it.
"…Then don't do it," Kikyo said firmly, tightening her grip on his hand.
"You're already strong enough. There's no need to take that risk."
Kasage lowered his gaze, meeting her clear, unwavering eyes.
For a moment, silence lingered between them.
Then his fingers tightened around the broken horn.
Since their last battle, Naraku's presence had completely vanished.
Even Kagura and Kanna were gone.
The Flying Thunder God marks he had placed… could no longer be sensed.
Either they had been erased—or Naraku had gone somewhere far beyond his reach.
And if the story hadn't changed too much…
Then Naraku was likely hiding within Mount Hakurei's barrier, using its sacred power to rebuild himself.
That place…
Was the turning point of Kikyo's fate.
In the original story, it marked her transformation—but also the beginning of her end.
Even though things had changed… even though she was no longer bound as before…
Kasage didn't trust fate.
Not even for a second.
He wouldn't allow her to walk that same path again.
Not while he still had the power to change it.
And yet…
Right now—
He wasn't strong enough.
The battles ahead would only grow more dangerous.
And deep within him… the instinct of an Uchiha stirred.
A desire for greater power.
Unavoidable. Unyielding.
He exhaled slowly.
Then made his decision.
Without warning, he pulled Kikyo into his arms.
The faint fragrance of her hair filled his senses as he held her close.
"No," he said softly, yet firmly. "I've already decided."
"I need this power."
His voice grew quieter—but more resolute.
"I need to be strong enough to protect you… to completely free you from the fate tied to that cursed Shikon Jewel."
"Kosage, you—mmh…!"
Her words were cut off.
He kissed her.
The hesitation she once held melted away in that moment.
Within that kiss, she felt his determination… and the depth of his feelings.
Her body gradually relaxed, and she responded, gently but sincerely.
Time seemed to slow.
When they finally parted, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling softly.
Kasage brushed a strand of hair from her face, his voice low.
"Don't worry. I won't act recklessly. If anything feels wrong… I'll stop immediately."
Kikyo looked at him steadily.
Then nodded.
"…Then I'll stay with you."
Her voice was quiet—but unwavering.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
A soft smile appeared in his eyes.
"…Good."
"With you here… I feel more certain than ever."
After a moment, his expression became serious again.
"No time like the present. I'll start now."
"…Now?" Kikyo blinked, slightly surprised. "What do you need me to do?"
"Nothing complicated," Kasage replied calmly. "Just stay nearby and keep watch. Make sure no one—or no yokai—interrupts."
He added with a faint smile:
"I know the method. I just haven't tried it before… so I'm a little cautious."
"And even if it works… there won't be any dramatic changes at first."
"…Wait."
Kikyo suddenly turned and walked toward the small shrine altar inside.
She knelt briefly, offering a quiet, solemn prayer.
Then—
Her spiritual power surged.
A barrier spread outward instantly, enveloping the entire shrine.
The air shifted.
The space was completely sealed.
Only after ensuring everything was secure did she return.
Her bow rested across her back, and she now carried a katana at her side.
Standing beside him once more, her gaze steady, she spoke:
"…I'm ready."