Chapter 363: Power Reclamation
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Onii-chan..."
Over twenty minutes later. Under Tsuchimiyaka Kagura's constant urging, the car finally pulled up in front of Hikigaya Hachiman.
"It's fine."
Looking at the girl who was filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement, Hachiman shook his head slightly.
"Greetings, My Lord. I am Isayama Naraku, the current head of the Isayama family."
Unlike Tsuchimiyaka Kagura's friendly greeting, the moment Isayama Naraku stepped out of the car and saw Hachiman, he placed himself in an extremely low posture.
"Rise."
Though Hachiman didn't want to put on airs, he knew that being too easy-going would lead to all sorts of unnecessary trouble. Nodding coldly, he stepped past the bowing Naraku and the driver, sitting directly in the center of the rear seat.
"Kagura, you go too."
Nudging Kagura, who was dazed by the change in Hachiman's attitude, Naraku urged her to get back into the rear seat.
"Eh?"
Prompted by Naraku, Kagura realized that after Hachiman sat down, there was exactly one seat left next to him. Clearly, it was reserved for her.
"Then what about you, Uncle?"
Looking at the space that could only accommodate one more person, Kagura bit her lip. As her elder and the head of the Isayama family, Naraku should have been the one sitting there by all rights and logic.
"The Lord's attitude has already made it clear that I am not qualified to sit there. I'll just take the front passenger seat. Now, get in. If we make him wait until he's annoyed, we might all be blamed."
"This... alright."
Under Naraku's pressure, Kagura reluctantly sat down beside Hachiman.
Thud!
As Kagura settled in, the driver walked over to close the door, only to find the rear door had closed automatically.
"...Let's get in as well."
Naraku and the driver exchanged a look, bitter smiles appearing on their faces, before they both climbed into the car.
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The group arrived at the Isayama family estate in silence.
Under Naraku's arrangements, the room that should have belonged to the family head was temporarily vacated for Hachiman, and Kagura was specially placed in the room right next to his. After dismissing the Isayama clansmen who had come to curry favor, Hachiman first set up a soundproof barrier around the room, then looked at the sulking Kagura.
"Alright, ask whatever you want to ask. Stop looking so gloomy."
"Onii-chan, why were you so cold to Uncle Naraku just now?"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Kagura looked up and voiced the doubt in her heart. In her mind, Hachiman had always been the image of a gentle older brother; why did he seem like a different person when facing Isayama Naraku?
"Kagura, have you misunderstood something?"
Hachiman placed a hand on his forehead helplessly.
"I misunderstood?"
Kagura tilted her head curiously, wondering what she had gotten wrong.
"I wasn't acting cold specifically to target Isayama Naraku. It's just that I am this cold to everyone except the people I know well!"
"......"
Hachiman's words left Kagura stunned.
"Alright, let's talk about the plan going forward."
Seeing Kagura in a daze, Hachiman shook his head and sat down at the low table.
"O-Okay!"
Kagura quickly snapped out of her daze and moved closer to Hachiman.
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In the outskirts of Tokyo. Inside a long-abandoned shrine.
"Why did Lord Nine-Tails call us here?"
Isayama Mei, now dressed in a white kimono, was the first to step into the main hall of the shrine. Her gaze swept across the dilapidated building before focusing on the front. There, the spot where a divine statue should have stood was occupied by an unconscious girl.
"If the Lord called us, there is naturally a reason for it."
Unlike her lively self before becoming a puppet, Isayama Yomi had become as taciturn as the old Isayama Mei. Stepping into the shrine, Yomi also noticed the girl on the altar. Not only that, but the bracelet on the girl's left wrist looked incredibly familiar.
Yomi was almost certain her past self had seen a similar bracelet somewhere, but for some reason, just as she was about to remember, her mind suddenly went blank.
"You've arrived."
The voice of the Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly rang out behind them. Yomi quickly suppressed her confusion and, like Mei, knelt on one knee before the Fox.
"Lord Nine-Tails!" (x2)
"Did you bring the items?"
Ignoring their etiquette, the Nine-Tailed Fox walked directly to Yurikawa Hana. It reached out to stroke her cheek, a flash of heat appearing in its eyes as it felt the vast life force within her. If it used this girl's body for its final rebirth, it could not only recover its full strength but perhaps even take a step further, reaching a height no Ghost God had ever attained...
"These are the spiritual beasts of the Izuna and Isayama families."
Following the Fox's words, Yomi and Mei respectfully held the captured spiritual beasts above their heads. The white fox, trapped in a cage and trying to escape, went limp with fear the moment it saw the Nine-Tailed Fox. On the other side, the Nue within the Shishio blade sensed the pressure and actually manifested from the blade without anyone drawing it, roaring threateningly at the Nine-Tailed Fox.
"White Fox, Nue. My power manifested into such trash?"
The Nine-Tailed Fox stared expressionlessly at the two beasts. Suddenly, it raised its hand toward them. A massive suction force erupted from its palm.
The White Fox in the cage had no strength to resist; with a mournful cry, it vanished into the Fox's palm. On the other side, the Nue known as Ranguren was clearly stronger; its limbs clawed at the ground, desperately trying to resist the suction.
But resistance was futile. As the White Fox's power returned to the Nine-Tailed Fox, the pressure on the Nue suddenly surged!
"Roar!"
An unwilling roar had just left its mouth when it was abruptly cut short.
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