At the gate of Konoha.
"Finally, we can go out again!"
Nawaki said very happily.
"It seems your goal isn't the mission, but just going out."
Natsuki smiled and said.
"It's mainly because we can only leave the Land of Fire by doing missions."
Nawaki explained.
"If you really want to do missions, go find three students."
Natsuki said casually.
"I don't know how to teach students. Besides, I'm not even an adult yet."
Nawaki twitched his mouth and said with self-awareness.
"You're already sixteen, only two years away from adulthood."
Natsuki reminded him.
"Hearing you say that, it feels like time really does fly."
Nawaki sighed.
"Registration is complete. We can set off now."
Just then, Yakushi Nonou walked up and interrupted their chat.
"Good work, Nonou."
Natsuki patted her head and said.
"I think the most urgent matter is to find a new teammate for our squad."
Seeing this, Nawaki felt extremely stifled and said.
With three people, one of them was bound to be a third wheel.
Obviously, he was the extra one.
"Where is it so easy to find a new teammate now?"
Natsuki shook his head and said. "It's not wartime anymore."
"True."
Nawaki sighed and said. "If only Kushina..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
If Uzumaki Kushina joined their squad, he would still be the extra one.
"Alright, let's not waste time. It'll take at least three days to reach the Land of Demons."
Natsuki coughed lightly and said.
The three of them left Konoha and headed toward the Land of Demons.
Natsuki walked at the forefront. After leaving the Forest of Death, he activated his electromagnetic wave sensing.
Neither Nawaki nor Yakushi Nonou knew sensory ninjutsu, so he had to be responsible for reconnaissance and early warning.
For this trip to the Land of Demons, Natsuki chose the same route as before.
From the Land of Fire to the Land of Rain, then the Land of Birds, the Land of Bears, and finally the Land of Demons.
On the afternoon of the second day.
The three arrived at the border area between the Land of Bears and the Land of Demons.
"We'll rest here for the night."
Natsuki stopped and said.
Without needing to be told, Yakushi Nonou went to pitch the tents, and Nawaki set up traps around the perimeter.
Natsuki, meanwhile, opened a summoning storage scroll and began preparing dinner.
Although open flames were to be avoided during missions, he had Blood Demon Art: Exploding Blood.
He directly used his blood to create flames and heated the bento boxes.
Soon, the three of them sat together and began eating dinner.
After dinner, Nawaki couldn't sit still and began practicing swordsmanship in a nearby clearing.
He was currently learning Zoro's One-Sword Style.
Practicing Water Release ninjutsu caused too much commotion, especially since the chakra fluctuations could easily be detected by other ninjas.
Swordsmanship was fine. It didn't even require chakra.
Logically speaking, he shouldn't be practicing swordsmanship either, as the sound would still carry.
However, with Natsuki there, it wasn't a problem.
His electromagnetic wave sensing had a very wide range.
Besides that, he also had Blood Demon Art: Eyeball Clone.
This was what Hyo-onna had comprehended.
Natsuki hadn't used it before, but it could come in handy this time.
Under Yakushi Nonou's gaze, he extended his hand.
Soon, blood surged out and transformed into an eyeball.
This eyeball looked similar to a human eyeball.
When Natsuki placed it on the ground, it sprouted legs that looked like neural pathways and began moving across the ground.
"Eh?"
Yakushi Nonou couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.
"This is a blood secret jutsu I created."
Natsuki casually explained. "You can understand it as Yang Release."
Yakushi Nonou nodded.
Yin Release is based on spiritual energy and can create forms out of nothing.
Yang Release uses physical energy as its source and can breathe life into forms.
As a medical ninja, she studied Yang Release, so she understood what Natsuki meant.
But there weren't many Yang Release ninjutsu that could reach this level.
"It has no combat power."
Natsuki created nine more Eyeball Clones. "But I can share their vision."
The ten eyeballs scattered in all directions.
With a thought from Natsuki, the scenery before his eyes changed.
He shared the vision of one of the Eyeball Clones.
After looking for a while, Natsuki turned off the shared vision.
The Eyeball Clone was indeed quite useful.
Most importantly, its range was extremely wide.
In Demon Slayer, Nakime used Eyeball Clones to pinpoint the locations of sixty percent of the Demon Slayer Corps members.
"Can I learn it?"
Yakushi Nonou asked curiously.
"I think it would be a bit difficult."
Natsuki thought for a moment and said.
Blood Demon Arts were techniques used by demons.
Yakushi Nonou was not a demon, so she most likely wouldn't be able to learn it.
"Haven't you not finished learning your medical ninjutsu yet?"
Natsuki asked again.
"I'm trying to learn the Yin Seal."
Yakushi Nonou replied. "But it's too difficult. I haven't even grasped the basics yet."
"Tsunade-sensei studied it for so long and only just learned the Yin Seal last year."
Natsuki pinched her cheek and said. "Don't rush it."
"Mm."
Yakushi Nonou nodded and said.
"If you really want to learn something, I have a secret jutsu called the Art of Weather that you can learn."
Natsuki looked at her and said.
"I'll learn it."
Yakushi Nonou said without hesitation.
"Then read through these books first."
Natsuki handed her a summoning storage scroll.
The scroll contained books related to meteorology, the very same ones he had given Konan before.
Yakushi Nonou took out a book and began reading.
She lowered her head slightly, her golden hair falling down, revealing her delicate ears.
Looking at her fair profile, Natsuki suddenly remembered something.
She wasn't wearing glasses like in the original work.
Natsuki stroked his chin.
This was perhaps a result of his butterfly effect.
He didn't know why Yakushi Nonou became nearsighted in the original work either.
Natsuki reached out and stroked her hair.
Yakushi Nonou glanced at him and continued reading.
Late at night, the three of them crawled into their sleeping bags and went to sleep.
The next day, after breakfast, they entered the Land of Demons.
This wasn't Natsuki's first time in the Land of Demons.
Familiar with the route, he led Nawaki and Yakushi Nonou to the metropolis of the Land of Demons.
Normally, a metropolis would have a Daimyo's mansion.
But the Land of Demons only had the Priestess Shrine.
And the Priestess Shrine was built in a valley, protected by a barrier.
The reason was simple.
Every time Moryo broke free, it would run to attack the Priestess Shrine.
"Please halt."
A group of neatly dressed guards stopped them.
"I am Natsuki, a ninja from Konoha, here at the invitation of Her Highness the Priestess."
Natsuki stated proactively.
"Please wait a moment."
Obviously, Priestess Miroku had given prior instructions.
Upon hearing Natsuki's name, one of the guards immediately ran into the Priestess Shrine.
A moment later, he returned.
"Please come in."
He raised his hand and said very respectfully.
Natsuki nodded.
The three of them walked into the Priestess Shrine.
Inside the shrine, a young woman sat on a futon.
When she saw Natsuki, her eyes couldn't help but light up.
Because he looked exactly like the young man she had seen in her prophecy.
Indeed, she hadn't found the wrong person.
Previously, after she had an artist draw Natsuki, someone quickly recognized him.
After all, Natsuki's reputation was quite prominent now.
Natsuki looked at her and felt she somewhat resembled Hyuga Hinata.
But that was normal.
In the original work, her daughter Shion looked very much like Hyuga Hinata.
From her facial features to her figure.
"Natsuki, I wish to speak with you alone."
The young woman spoke up proactively.
"Why do you need to speak alone?"
Nawaki immediately asked, puzzled.
"You two wait for me outside first."
Natsuki patted his shoulder and said.
Nawaki nodded and left the Priestess Shrine with Yakushi Nonou.
Miroku stood up, slipped her delicate feet wrapped in white socks into wooden clogs.
She walked up to Natsuki and looked up at him.
As Natsuki met her gaze, he immediately noticed something was wrong.
Her eyes were twinkling with an inexplicable light, like a galaxy.
Was she using her prophetic power?
A moment later, Miroku revealed an expression of shock and confusion.
"Your Highness the Priestess, what did you see?"
Natsuki asked curiously.
"I cannot see your death."
Miroku replied.
"What do you mean you cannot see it?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow and asked. "Could it be that I am immortal?"
"I don't know."
Miroku shook her head and said. "This is the first time I've encountered this situation."
Natsuki felt his guess was correct.
Immortality was difficult in the ninja world, but for the Otsutsuki Clan, immortality was the norm.
Otsutsuki Kaguya was sealed for over a thousand years, and when she was released, her appearance remained unchanged.
With his system, Natsuki was confident he could reach the level of the Otsutsuki Clan.
"But this is undoubtedly a good thing."
Miroku took a deep breath and said.
Before Natsuki could speak, she suddenly bowed deeply.
With her movement, the curves previously hidden by the priestess outfit seemed ready to burst forth.
"Your Highness the Priestess, what is the meaning of this?"
Natsuki blinked and asked.
"I want to ask you to destroy Moryo."
Miroku straightened up and said. "If you can destroy Moryo, our Priestess lineage is willing to pay any price."
"If I remember correctly, Moryo is an otherworldly demon, and the duty of your Priestess lineage is to seal it."
Natsuki asked slowly. "Your Highness the Priestess, why do you believe I can destroy it?"
"Because I saw Moryo's death, and the one who destroyed it was you."
Miroku explained. "Therefore, I issued the mission to find you and bring you to the Land of Demons."
"I see."
Natsuki finally understood. Miroku hadn't seen his future, but Moryo's future.
Although Moryo was sealed, its power shared the same origin as the Priestess, establishing a certain connection. It was normal that she could see its future.
"'Any price' is a very heavy promise."
Natsuki chuckled and said.
"Compared to life, it's not heavy enough."
Miroku said seriously. "More importantly, after Moryo is destroyed, my descendants will no longer have to bear this fatal mission."
"You already have descendants?"
Natsuki asked in surprise.
"No."
Miroku said somewhat embarrassedly. "I'm not married yet."
After saying that, she suddenly looked at Natsuki.
"Um... if you are willing, I..."
Miroku stopped mid-sentence, her face turning red.
In order to seal Moryo, the Priestess lineage had to marry.
Many generations of Priestesses actually didn't like their marriage partners, treating them merely as tools.
After all, the Priestess in the Land of Demons was equivalent to a Daimyo, an emperor-like existence.
If the genders were swapped, it would be easy to understand.
Because of this, Miroku dared to say such bold words.
At the very least, Natsuki was very handsome, making him pleasing to her eyes.
"...?"
Natsuki was instantly full of question marks.
Obviously, his question just now had caused a misunderstanding.
This was too criminal!
"That's not what I meant."
Natsuki shook his head and said. "But the price you have to pay is indeed very high."
"What is it?"
Miroku quickly regained her composure, returning to being the Priestess of the Land of Demons.
"It's like this."
Natsuki explained the effects of the Blood Curse to her.
Since Miroku said "any price," he didn't beat around the bush and stated his true goal.
"There's actually such a secret jutsu?"
After hearing it, Miroku looked at the drop of blood and fell silent.
Compared to being transformed into a demon and becoming Natsuki's subordinate, she would rather marry him.
But it was obvious that the young man before her had great ambitions.
"You can control me, but you cannot control the Land of Demons."
Miroku said slowly.
Sealing Moryo required paying the price of one's life.
Being transformed into a demon meant her life and death were no longer under her control.
In terms of the price, it was about the same.
But the latter had an advantage: it could completely destroy Moryo.
This way, future Priestesses would no longer have to pay the price of their lives.
"I have no interest in the Land of Demons."
Natsuki said with a smile.
To him, the greatest value of the Land of Demons was doing business.
Since that was the case, controlling or not controlling the Land of Demons was the same.
Using business, or more accurately economics, to influence a country was something he was far too familiar with.
"But words are empty."
Miroku asked very calmly. "After I am transformed, I can only obey you. What if you try to control the entire Land of Demons through me?"
"Do you know of the Dawn Company?"
Natsuki thought for a moment and asked.
"It's a company that has recently emerged in the Land of Demons."
Miroku recalled for a moment and said.
"I established this company."
Natsuki replied. "At the same time, it is subordinate to the Akatsuki organization."
He then told her about the recent situation of the Akatsuki organization, including the Land of Rain and the Land of Snow.
Miroku listened, dumbfounded.
She hadn't expected Natsuki to have already controlled the Land of Rain and the Land of Snow.
"I have many ways to control the Land of Demons."
Natsuki said directly. "I can destroy Moryo, and I can also destroy you. Once you are dead, the Land of Demons will be in my pocket."
"..."
Miroku opened her mouth, hesitating to speak.
But she had to admit, Natsuki's words made perfect sense.
"Conversely, if you are transformed into a demon, I can let go of the Land of Demons."
Natsuki said with a smile.
This was a naked threat.
Miroku's face turned pale, but she was helpless.
This situation was brought about by her inviting Natsuki.
No, since the Dawn Company had already started business in the Land of Demons, it meant Natsuki had long had his eyes on the Land of Demons.
Reveal his intentions to Konoha?
As Orochimaru's student, holding a high position in Konoha, it might not be useful.
Moreover, would she even have the chance to notify Konoha?
Probably not.
Including asking other hidden villages for help, that chance was also gone.
But... if Natsuki truly didn't control the Land of Demons, she was indeed willing to pay the price.
From the moment she was born, she had prepared to sacrifice her life to seal Moryo.
Because whether it was her mother or the rest of the Land of Demons, everyone expected this.
Therefore, it wasn't that she had no other choice.
"I need to see you destroy Moryo with my own eyes."
Miroku finally made up her mind.
"Deal."
Seeing her agree, Natsuki nodded.
Overall, it went relatively smoothly.
But even if Miroku hadn't sought him out, he would have released Moryo, destroyed it, and then come to transform her.
In a chaotic world, one had to be ruthless to survive.
"Moryo's soul and body are sealed separately."
Miroku let out a breath and said. "You need to undo both of their seals at the same time."
"No, there is another way: the Yomi Cult."
Natsuki smiled and said. "I'll conveniently help you eliminate a hidden danger."
"The Yomi Cult is actually still around?"
Hearing this, Miroku revealed an expression of surprise.
But what was even more surprising was that the Land of Demons was completely unaware of it.
She sighed inwardly.
Compared to Konoha, the Land of Demons' intelligence capabilities were truly too poor.
"If I didn't intervene, under normal circumstances, the Yomi Cult would release Moryo."
Natsuki looked at her and said. "Then you would have to pay the price of your life to seal it, ultimately leaving your daughter to live a lonely life."
Miroku couldn't help but bite her lip.
What Natsuki described would most likely happen in the future.
Because such a thing happened to every generation of Priestess, and she was no exception.
Looking at it this way, if Natsuki could truly destroy Moryo permanently, being controlled by him was worth it.
"Does your Land of Demons have a material called Moonstone?"
Seeing that the matter was settled, Natsuki shifted the topic to the Black Grail.
"Yes."
Miroku was slightly taken aback and said. "It is a stone mutated by Moryo's influence, possessing the effect of sealing chakra."
Natsuki suddenly thought of the bell Shion wore.
In the original work, this bell was actually a sealing stone that sealed her power. Judging from Miroku's description, this sealing stone was most likely the so-called Moonstone.
"I need it to deal with Moryo."
Natsuki explained.
"I will give it to you right now."
Miroku didn't hesitate and handed him a summoning storage scroll.
"Very good."
Natsuki nodded and said. "I will go find the Yomi Cult first. After Moryo is released, I will let you witness its demise with your own eyes."
Hearing this, hope and excitement surged in Miroku's heart.
Was the tragic fate of the Priestess lineage for nearly a thousand years finally coming to an end?
The next day.
Natsuki summoned the head of the Dawn Company in the Land of Demons, which was Fuushin.
He had Fuushin monitor Priestess Miroku to prevent the worst-case scenario.
That was Miroku going back on her word, asking other hidden villages for help, or exposing his actions to Konoha.
Afterward, he had Fuushin secretly hire craftsmen from the Land of Demons.
Natsuki gave the Black Grail blueprints and materials to the craftsmen.
After reviewing them, the craftsmen said it would take a month to forge.
Natsuki nodded.
The reason he didn't ask Granny Cat to forge the Black Grail this time was that the Black Grail was too important.
And as for these craftsmen, after they finished forging the Black Grail, he could use the Sharingan to erase their memory of this period.
This way, no one would discover it.
Actually, even if it was discovered, it wouldn't matter.
The number of people in the entire ninja world who could obtain Tailed Beast-level chakra could be counted on one hand.
But it was always right to take precautions just in case.
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