"No need to be so tense. It'll be over soon."
Seeing Kikyo fully armed, even with a katana at her waist, **Uchiha Kasage** spoke with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"It's best to be fully prepared. No surprises—that's the safest outcome." Kikyo's eyes were sharp and focused as she gripped her longbow, though a trace of concern lingered beneath her calm expression.
"Alright." Kasage understood her worry and didn't push further.
Ending this quickly would ease her mind.
"I'm starting," he said quietly, giving her a brief warning before removing his upper garments.
"W-What are you doing?" Kikyo's composure cracked instantly. Her eyes widened, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks. Still, she didn't look away—her gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering despite her embarrassment.
"To fuse with the chakra inside this."
Kasage noticed her reaction, a faint smirk flickering in his eyes. "It looks like wood, but it's actually formed from Yin–Yang Release chakra. Its essence is pure energy. Merging with it isn't complicated."
As he spoke, his shirt fell away completely, revealing a well-defined chest, his skin faintly gleaming under the sunlight.
Kikyo steadied herself, suppressing her flustered thoughts. Blinking once, she focused, watching closely.
Without hesitation, Kasage tightened his grip on the white broken horn.
Then—
*Thud!*
He drove it into the left side of his chest, just beside his heart.
Kikyo's breath caught. Her hand flew to her mouth, barely stopping a gasp from escaping. Her fingers tightened around her bow as she stared, unable to look away.
Kasage closed his eyes, focusing deeply. Chakra surged within him as he gathered it with precision.
The moment the horn pierced his chest, its chakra flowed into him like a rushing stream.
At first, he remained cautious, watching for any violent reaction. But gradually, his tension eased.
The chakra was far gentler than expected.
His cells absorbed it eagerly—like dry earth drinking rain—rapidly integrating it into his body. Each cell seemed to awaken, filling with renewed vitality.
A realization struck him instantly.
His gamble… had paid off.
Whether it was Indra's chakra or the faint traces of Ten-Tails power within it, both were tied to the very origin of the Uchiha and shinobi alike. This was power rooted deep within his bloodline.
Reassured, Kasage actively guided the chakra, accelerating the fusion.
A condensed surge of energy rushed through him, spreading to every corner of his body.
At the same time, another dormant force stirred—
Ashura's power, born from the Hashirama cells within him.
Though the horn's chakra carried a higher tier of energy, it was still too weak compared to the deeply integrated Ashura power. The latter only flickered briefly before settling once more.
Still… Kasage felt it clearly.
A balance had been restored.
Indra's power awakened something hidden deep within his bloodline—something ancient, something inherently Uchiha.
Unlike the forcibly fused Ashura power, this strength resonated naturally with him. Supported by his Mangekyo Sharingan, it began to grow.
He could already foresee it—
Indra and Ashura's power, fully awakened and unified…
The birth of true Six Paths power.
---
From Kikyo's perspective, the white horn slowly melted into Kasage's body, dissolving like snow under the sun.
When the fusion completed, his eyes snapped open—his Sharingan flashing briefly.
"Kasage! Are you alright?" Kikyo rushed forward, her voice tense. She reached toward his chest but hesitated, afraid of interfering.
"I'm fine." He met her gaze, smiling reassuringly. "Better than fine… I feel incredible."
He glanced down. The horn had vanished completely, leaving only a faint white mark behind.
The chakra within him pulsed, evolving.
If not for Kikyo's presence, he might have already burst into manic laughter.
Kikyo exhaled slowly, though her concern hadn't fully faded. She examined him carefully, ensuring his breathing and presence were stable.
"You're certain there's no danger?"
"None," Kasage replied calmly, pulling his shirt back on. "I don't feel any discomfort at all."
Only then did Kikyo finally relax.
After dispelling the barrier surrounding the shrine, she slung her bow over her shoulder.
"I need to clear out the nearby yokai. Stay here and rest."
"I'm coming with you." Kasage stepped forward without hesitation.
Kikyo paused, glancing at him. "Are you sure? You just went through that. You should rest."
He smiled slightly, eyes sharpening with excitement.
"Fighting is the best kind of rest right now."
He could feel it—combat would accelerate the fusion even further.
Kikyo studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"…Alright. Let's go."
Side by side, they left the shrine, their figures fading down the mountain path.
---
Far away, in a small village on the northeastern edge of Musashi Province—the very place where Kasage had first appeared in this world—
Yuriko clutched her daughter Kiku tightly, trembling among the gathered villagers in the central clearing.
Her hands gripped a wooden talisman as her eyes locked onto the priest performing a ritual nearby.
"They're coming!" the priest shouted, his voice strained with fear.
The sky darkened unnaturally. A chilling aura swept through the village.
Then—
They appeared.
A tide of grotesque yokai surged forward, their forms twisted and monstrous, their howls tearing through the air.
Yuriko's body shook violently. She pressed Kiku closer, shielding her instinctively as terror filled her eyes.
Just as despair took hold—
A barrier flared into existence, surrounding the village in radiant light.
*BOOM!*
The first wave of yokai slammed into it, shrieking as they were violently repelled.
Relief swept through the villagers. Some collapsed, sobbing.
But it didn't last.
Wave after wave of yokai crashed against the barrier, each impact heavier than the last.
The barrier trembled. Its light flickered.
Cracks of energy rippled across its surface.
Inside, panic returned stronger than before.
The priest struggled, his body drenched in sweat, his hands shaking as he fought to maintain the barrier.
Despair slowly crept into his eyes—
The onslaught was far from over.
---