"A tedious trick."
Uchiha Kasage glanced at the yokai that had stopped struggling within the flames, his voice carrying faint disdain. Then he turned toward Kikyo.
"Are you really planning to take that man's hair to Mount Hakurei?"
Kikyo walked calmly to Kansuke's body. She knelt, picking up both the Shikon Jewel shard and the lock of white hair, her gaze lingering briefly on the faint glow emanating from the shard in her hand.
"Death is like a lamp going out," she said softly. "No matter how sinful he once was… I gave my word. I will do what I can to fulfill it."
Kasage watched her in silence for a moment before speaking again.
"He was connected to Naraku. The place he spoke of might not be as sacred as he believed."
He already knew the truth about Mount Hakurei—
Kansuke's wish… was unlikely to come true.
Kikyo lifted her gaze to meet his.
"Then we try," she replied calmly. "And if it cannot be done… then that is simply fate."
Kasage held her gaze for a brief second, then sighed lightly.
"…Fine."
Since they were heading there anyway, there was no reason to argue further.
He opened the Kamui dimension and took the lock of white hair from her hand, storing it away. Then he looked up through the canopy at the dim sky.
"It's going to rain. We should find a place to rest."
"…Mm."
Kikyo cast one last quiet glance at Kansuke's body before turning to leave.
After a few steps, she spoke softly—
"Kasage… bury him."
Kasage didn't answer.
But behind them, the earth began to shift.
The soil loosened, roots pulling aside as if guided by an unseen force. Kansuke's body slowly sank into the ground, gently covered by layers of soil and fallen leaves.
---
"Mount Hakurei… a place where sins can be cleansed?"
The villager scratched his head thoughtfully before his eyes lit up.
"Ah! I think I've heard of it. Something about… Hakushin Bodhisattva?"
"Yes, that's it!" another villager added immediately. "They say he built a temple on Mount Hakurei. If you pray sincerely, even the deepest sins can be purified."
Kikyo stepped forward slightly.
"Could you tell us where Mount Hakurei is located?"
"Go through that forest," the villager said, pointing ahead. "At the end, there's a canyon. From there, you can see the outline of the mountain."
He paused, then added,
"But it's still far. You'll need to cross several mountains before reaching it."
"Thank you," Kikyo said, bowing lightly.
---
After leaving the village, the two stood before an endless stretch of dense forest.
Kasage let out a quiet sigh.
"That guy Naraku really ran far. We just came out of a forest… and now we're going right back into another one."
Then suddenly—
His eyes lit up.
"…Wait."
A small smile formed.
"I've got an idea."
He bit his fingertip, smeared blood across his palm, formed hand seals, and slammed his hand down.
"Summoning Technique!"
*BOOM!*
Smoke burst outward—
And a red-haired woman appeared.
"Karan."
She looked around, confused.
"Kasage? Kikyo? No enemies this time?"
"You don't need to fight," Kasage replied simply. "Can you fly?"
"Of course I can!" she said proudly, lifting her chin. "Where to?"
Kasage pointed ahead.
"Across that forest."
Natsuarashi turned to look.
The endless sea of trees stretched to the horizon.
Her expression froze.
"…No way."
Kasage raised a brow.
Before she could continue, he calmly opened a storage scroll and took out a small packet releasing a distinct aroma.
Natsuarashi's nose twitched.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"…Catnip?"
"That's right," Kasage said, casually dangling it. "Fly us across, and it's yours. Along with the fish I promised… and some udon."
A fierce internal struggle flashed across her face.
"…Deal!" she snapped. "But I want to try it first!"
She reached for it—
Kasage pulled it away.
"No."
He looked at her seriously.
"No 'drunk flying.'"
"…Tch. Stingy."
She crossed her arms, thinking, then sighed.
"Fine. Give it to me now—I'll store it, then you summon me again."
Kasage hesitated for a moment… but nodded.
"Alright."
He handed over the food and catnip.
"Don't touch it."
"Of course not!" she said quickly.
Then—
Poof.
She disappeared.
---
Kikyo watched quietly.
"…She seemed… strange."
Kasage shrugged lightly.
"If she runs off with it, I'll just beat her when I find her."
Despite his words, there was a faint smile on his lips.
A moment later, he summoned her again.
This time—
"I'm ready!" Karan declared.
Yokai energy surged around her body.
In an instant, she transformed—
A massive leopard yokai stood before them, her red fur gleaming like fire.
"Get on. Hold tight."
Kasage picked Kikyo up effortlessly, leaping onto her back.
"Let's go."
With a roar—
Flames ignited beneath her paws.
She shot into the sky.
---
The forest shrank rapidly beneath them.
For once, there was no need to cut through endless undergrowth.
Kasage exhaled.
"…Much better."
After some time—
A canyon appeared ahead in the distance.
"We're close!" Kasage called. "Speed up!"
But instead—
Karan slowed.
Then… began to descend.
"…Natsuarashi?"
Kasage frowned.
Something was wrong.
He activated his chakra senses—
No enemies.
But—
"…Your yokai energy…"
It was nearly gone.
"I… I'm out of energy…" Karan's weak voice came.
Her massive body shrank rapidly.
In seconds—
She reverted to human form.
And all three began to fall.
Fast.
Wind roared in their ears.
Kasage reacted instantly.
He pulled Kikyo tightly into his arms with one hand—
Grabbed Karan with the other—
His eyes flashed—
The Mangekyō Sharingan spinning into existence.
"Susanoo!" he shouted.