Boom!
The wood clone raised Banryū—nearly as tall as Yuzuki—and swung it fiercely from the side. The massive blade howled through the air before crashing heavily into a green, snake-like yokai.
The yokai was sent flying instantly, smashing into a nearby boulder with a dull thud before going completely still.
He rested Banryū on his shoulder and turned to Yuzuki, whose eyes were filled with admiration.
"Go. Fire a few arrows at it and get a feel for fighting yokai."
"Yes, Lord Kasage!"
Yuzuki gripped her bow and quickly ran to a position not far from the fallen yokai.
She took a deep breath.
Even facing such a grotesque creature, there was no fear in her eyes—only focus.
She drew the bowstring steadily.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew in a clean arc and struck the yokai's head.
Its body twitched faintly. The creature was already unconscious, and though Yuzuki's strength was limited—and her arrows lacked spiritual power—the hit still embedded itself shallowly into its flesh.
Still, for her first real battle, it was more than enough.
If these hadn't been Kikyo's specially crafted demon-slaying arrows, they might not have pierced the yokai's skin at all.
"Well done," the clone said with a slight nod. "That was precise."
"Thank you!"
A bright smile spread across Yuzuki's face.
She fired several more arrows in succession. With each shot, her hesitation faded, and her movements became smoother and more confident.
Seeing this, the clone stepped forward.
Banryū rose—
and then fell.
With a sharp crack, the blade cut cleanly through the yokai's neck, instantly decapitating it.
He stepped aside to avoid the foul-smelling blood and muttered quietly,
"The first one."
"Go retrieve your arrows," he said, handing Yuzuki a stack of talismans. "Then use these to purify the corpse."
"Yes!"
Yuzuki immediately got to work.
She carefully pulled out each arrow before using the talismans to purify the yokai's remains. Though it was her first time doing this in practice, her movements were steady and properly executed.
She had clearly trained well.
The clone watched silently.
This training wasn't just for her.
It was also for Banryū.
As they drew closer to Mount Hakurei, yokai had become increasingly rare. To complete Banryū's transformation into a true demon blade, Kasage had no choice but to rely on this method—hunting through his clone.
Once Yuzuki finished, the clone flicked the blood from Banryū using chakra and rested it back on his shoulder.
"Let's go. We'll find the next yokai."
"Lord Kasage… I…"
Yuzuki hesitated, her eyes fixed on the massive blade.
"Can you… teach me how to use that sword?"
The clone paused.
He looked at her for a moment, then drove Banryū into the ground beside her with a heavy thud.
The blade stood nearly as tall as she did, its polished surface reflecting her small figure.
"This?" he said casually. "It's called Banryū. I took it from an enemy."
Yuzuki reached out, gently touching the cold steel.
"Banryū… what a powerful name…"
The clone smiled faintly.
"You've got good taste."
He imagined her trying to swing it and almost laughed—but held it back. Instead, he placed a hand on her head.
"But right now, you're not even as tall as it. When you grow up—and can actually lift it—I'll teach you."
"Really?"
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"I will definitely be able to lift it!"
"…You should know," he added honestly, "three grown men could barely move it."
Yuzuki bit her lip, but her gaze didn't waver.
"I still can."
The determination in her voice made him pause.
"…If you train properly with Kikyo and learn to use spiritual power, you might."
After all, in this world, strength wasn't limited to the body alone.
Weapons like Sango's Hiraikotsu were incredibly heavy, yet still wielded with precision.
"Still," he added, lifting Banryū again, "focus on your training first. Master the bow."
He gave her a brief look.
"Don't let Kikyo find out you're trying to abandon it."
"I understand!"
Yuzuki nodded quickly, though her gaze lingered on Banryū for a moment longer before she followed behind him.
Together, they continued deeper into the forest.
Toward the next yokai.
---
On the other side, the group rested briefly by the roadside.
"Kikyo."
Kasage stepped forward and held out a pair of small, elegant white bracers.
"These are for you."
The bracers were made of fine leather, decorated with delicate patterns along the edges. Inside, intricate black incantations were inscribed.
On the left bracer was the character for "Bow."
On the right, "Arrow."
Kikyo accepted them, examining the markings carefully.
"…Why are you giving me this?" she asked softly, her gaze lifting toward him.
"I made them for you."
Kasage raised his arm, revealing a similar black bracer on his own wrist.
"Let me."
Without waiting for a response, he gently took her hand.
Her wrist was cool and slender beneath his touch as he carefully slid the bracer into place.
It fit perfectly.
The white leather against her pale skin, contrasted with the dark incantations, gave off a quiet, mysterious beauty.
Kasage studied it for a moment, then nodded slightly, satisfied.
"The principle is simple," he said, his voice softer now. "Do you remember the summoning technique I taught you?"
Kikyo met his gaze and gave a small nod.
"These use that same foundation… but with a different purpose."
He raised his hand slowly.
"They don't summon creatures."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"They summon weapons."
A burst of white smoke suddenly erupted from his palm.
When it cleared—
Banryū was already in his hand.