The entire pagoda was now engulfed in surging demonic energy. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet.
"The demon is about to come out," Kikyo said, tightening her grip on her bow. She turned to Retsu. "You take it head-on. I'll restrain it."
"Mm."
Retsu nodded. Just as he was about to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan, a glint flashed in his eyes. A sly smile curved his lips.
"Let's get some backup this time."
Before Kikyo could ask, he bit his thumb, smeared blood across his palm, formed seals at lightning speed, and slammed his hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A black summoning array spread out instantly.
Bang!
White smoke exploded upward, and a small figure emerged from within.
"Retsu, why'd you call me?"
Before the smoke had fully dispersed, Xia Lan's crisp voice rang out, filled with curiosity.
"Didn't want you getting bored. Found you an opponent. Help me fight."
Retsu grinned and jerked his chin forward.
Xia Lan blinked. Her gaze first landed on Kikyo. Tilting her head, she asked,
"Who's the opponent? Her?"
"No."
Retsu pointed at Kikyo.
"This is Kikyo—the shrine maiden I told you about."
Then he turned to Kikyo.
"She's Xia Lan, a cat demon from the Leopard-Cat Clan. The one I signed a summoning contract with."
"Hello. I'm Kikyo."
Kikyo studied the girl carefully. She looked no more than ten years old—clearly still a child, with no sense of threat at all. Relieved, she greeted her politely.
"Oh, hi. I'm Xia Lan."
Xia Lan smiled back. Then suddenly, as if realizing something, her eyes widened.
"Wait! She's the Kikyo who guarded the Shikon Jewel fifty years ago? Didn't you say she was dead?"
"She died once. Now she's revived," Retsu replied calmly.
He patted his chest.
"Notice anything different about me?"
"Different?"
Xia Lan looked him over, then leaned closer and sniffed him. Suddenly, she gasped.
"You don't smell like a dead person anymore! You're really alive now!"
"Exactly."
Retsu felt smug inside but kept a composed expression.
"Used a few methods. Came back for real."
"Really revived?" Xia Lan stared at him in shock, then frowned.
"Isn't that dangerous? You said using the Shikon Jewel had a price."
"There was a price," Retsu said with a grin. "But a kind-hearted person paid it for me."
"That's great!"
Xia Lan beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Congrats, Retsu! And thanks to that kind person too!"
Kikyo couldn't help smiling. She nodded lightly.
"Yes. We really should thank that person."
Xia Lan turned toward Tsubaki, puzzled.
"So who's the opponent? Don't tell me it's this white-haired lady?"
Boom—!
Before she finished speaking, a thunderous explosion shook the air.
In the distance, the Treasure Pagoda collapsed.
Amid flying rubble, a massive crimson claw tore through the ground. Thick muscles bulged as an arm pushed upward. Then a head with jagged fangs and two savage horns emerged, blood-red eyes sweeping the surroundings.
"Your opponent's out. That demon."
Retsu pointed at the creature struggling to rise.
"Go beat it up. Don't kill it—I still need it."
Xia Lan stiffly turned her head.
She looked at the enormous claw, then at the demon standing up—nearly ten meters tall, radiating terrifying demonic energy.
All her fur stood on end. Her mind filled with question marks.
"M-Me? Beat that thing? You called me to fight that monster?!"
"Yep."
Retsu nodded seriously.
"Just released from the seal. Don't worry—beat it up and capture it alive."
"Capture it alive?!"
Xia Lan spun around and lunged at him, claws nearly scratching his face.
"Are you crazy?! The contract never said anything about dying! That thing could flatten me with one slap!"
Retsu calmly grabbed her by the collar and lifted her into the air. Watching her flail helplessly, he sighed.
"Relax. I'll help you. I promise you won't lose even a strand of fur."
"Really?"
She froze and stared at him suspiciously.
"I swear. If I'm lying, I'm a puppy."
Retsu thumped his chest.
"ROAR—!
"You dared seal me… unforgivable! Die!"
The fully freed demon locked onto them and charged forward with a furious roar. Each step cracked the earth beneath it.
"Xia Lan! Transform!" Retsu shouted.
He hurled her straight toward the demon.
"Uchiha Retsu! If you lied to me, I'll never talk to you again!"
Xia Lan screamed midair.
Her demonic energy erupted. Her eyes turned crimson. Her small body rapidly expanded.
In the blink of an eye, she transformed into a gigantic leopard-cat, crimson fur patterned with black spots, her size rivaling the demon's.
"Awoooo—!"
The massive beast roared and lunged forward, claws tearing through the wind.
At the same time, Retsu flashed into existence atop her head.
Seeing him there, Xia Lan relaxed instantly. Confidence surged. She raised her paw and slammed it toward the demon's grotesque head.
"A cat demon? How ridiculous. Die!"
The demon sneered, sensing her comparatively weak aura.
Ignoring her strike, it raised its razor-sharp claw and slashed toward her soft abdomen, aiming for a killing blow.
Xia Lan's movement stalled. She was about to dodge.
"Don't dodge! Go all out! You won't get hurt!"
Retsu's voice rang out from above.
She gritted her teeth.
Trusting him, she gathered all her power into her paw. Orange-red flames burst forth, blazing with heat, as she smashed down with full force.
At that moment, Retsu's Mangekyō Sharingan flared scarlet. His ocular power surged.
"Susanoo!"
A pale blue Susanoo manifested. Instead of forming fully, it wrapped itself around Xia Lan's body.
Crack—!
With sharp sounds, solid Susanoo armor condensed over her form. A fierce helmet covered her head, crimson light blazing from its eyes.
Retsu stood within the diamond-shaped crystal at the forehead.
"Too bad I don't have a Nine-Tails," Retsu said with a grin.
"But armoring Xia Lan works just fine."
He had originally planned to form a full upper-body Susanoo on her back like Madara's armored Nine-Tails.
After thinking about it, he decided that would be bullying this demon too much—and saved his chakra.
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