"…"
Tsubaki pressed her lips together and tugged hard at the prayer beads wrapped around her body. When she realized she couldn't break free no matter what, she snorted coldly, turned her head away, and refused to respond.
"Master, you guessed correctly."
Kikyo stepped forward, pulling Retsu along with her. Her voice was calm and steady as she explained,
"It was I who asked Retsu to seal Tsubaki's spiritual power. We were also the ones who summoned you back from the underworld."
She gestured to the man beside her.
"This is Uchiha Retsu."
"You are… Kikyo?"
Tsubaki's master stared at her, hesitation filling his eyes.
Even after fifty years, he still remembered that legendary shrine maiden whose name once shook the land.
After all, Tsubaki had left the temple back then precisely because of her jealousy toward Kikyo.
Yet now, the woman before him looked exactly the same as she had fifty years ago.
And he clearly remembered that Kikyo had died long ago.
The situation was so strange that he couldn't be certain whether this woman truly was the Kikyo of his memories.
"Yes. I am Kikyo."
She nodded gently.
"I remember you passed away long ago. How could you…"
Shock surfaced in his eyes as he questioned her.
"Many things happened in between. In short, I was revived not long ago," Kikyo replied briefly.
"After my revival, I came to visit you, but learned from Momiji and Botan that you had already passed away."
"Yes… I did die."
Tsubaki's master lowered his head, glanced at his own body, then gently patted Momiji and Botan, who had finally calmed down and were leaning against him.
He then looked back at Kikyo, his expression turning solemn.
"Kikyo, since you summoned me back from the underworld, you must have something important to entrust to me.
"For the dead to remain in the world of the living disrupts the natural order."
His tone softened slightly, and gratitude appeared in his eyes.
"Still, thank you. You allowed me to see my disciples again… and to finally place these beads on Tsubaki.
"I only hope you will let me return to the underworld as soon as possible. This is not where I belong anymore."
"Master!"
Momiji and Botan immediately looked up, their eyes filled with reluctance and tears.
Even Tsubaki, who had been wearing a cold expression, subconsciously turned her head toward him, complex emotions flashing in her eyes.
He merely smiled gently and returned his gaze to Kikyo, waiting for her reply.
"Don't worry. We won't keep you here for long," Retsu said calmly.
He felt a bit of respect for the old man. If it were him, he'd never leave early if he could stay even one more second.
"I'll解除 the Impure World Reincarnation technique in one month. Your soul will be freed and return to the underworld."
"One month…"
Tsubaki's master nodded, relief appearing in his eyes.
That would give him enough time to properly say goodbye to his disciples.
He looked at Retsu and Kikyo.
"What do I need to do during this month?"
"That is precisely why we summoned you," Kikyo answered.
"Some time ago, Tsubaki used the power of the Shikon Jewel to curse the shrine maiden who is currently responsible for purifying it.
"I stopped her and brought her here."
She reached out, pulled the sulking and twisting Tsubaki to the front, and continued,
"I hope that during this month, you will strictly discipline her.
"Make sure she no longer harms others as a dark priestess, and no longer covets the Shikon Jewel."
She glanced at the beads on Tsubaki's body and smiled faintly.
"Though it seems you had already prepared for this long ago."
"I made those beads while I was still alive," her master said with emotion.
"I just never had the chance to give them to her.
"Thankfully, you brought her back. My regret is finally resolved."
His expression turned serious.
"I understand. During this time, I will properly guide Tsubaki and make up for my past failure."
"That was my own choice! I—"
Tsubaki immediately protested.
"Tsubaki."
Her master's gaze sharpened.
"Do you still cling to those old thoughts?
"Do you still believe you're stronger than Kikyo? Stronger than everyone else?"
"I…"
The words "I am stronger than Kikyo" were about to leave her mouth.
But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Retsu standing calmly nearby.
She swallowed her words back.
Snorting, she said sarcastically,
"In terms of shrine maiden skills, I'm not inferior to Kikyo.
"But when it comes to finding a man, I really can't compare to her."
"…"
Kikyo's cheeks instantly flushed red in embarrassment.
Tsubaki's master was also rendered speechless.
Yes, she had admitted inferiority—but in a completely ridiculous direction.
"Ahem."
He coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Tsubaki, these beads won't restrict your daily activities.
"But you can't stay too far from the temple for long.
"If you leave the barrier's range, they'll automatically pull you back."
"You old geezer! Take them off right now!"
Tsubaki exploded in anger.
"Otherwise, I'll send you back to the underworld before this month is over!"
"Tsubaki. Call me Master."
Her master replied calmly.
"And I'm already dead. Even if you kill me, it doesn't matter."
"By the way,"
Retsu suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention.
In the next instant, his figure vanished like a phantom.
Before anyone could react, he appeared in front of Tsubaki's master and punched forward!
"Boom!"
A dull impact echoed.
The old man's head shattered into fragments, gray dust scattering everywhere.
"Master!!"
Momiji and Botan screamed in terror, their faces pale as they rushed toward Retsu.
He casually extended both hands and pressed down on their heads, stopping them cold.
Even Tsubaki, who had just called him "old geezer," froze in shock.
Her pupils shrank, and she charged at Retsu without thinking, rage blazing in her eyes.
Retsu held the two girls down with one hand each and turned toward Tsubaki.
Scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed in his eyes.
Tsubaki's vision blurred.
Her body suddenly froze.
Looking down, she saw a huge black python tightly coiling around her limbs.
Cold scales pressed against her skin, making every hair on her body stand on end.
"Calm down," Retsu said flatly.
"Bodies created by Impure World Reincarnation are immortal. Normal attacks can't kill him."
As soon as he finished speaking, the snake vanished.
Tsubaki regained control of her body.
"Genjutsu…? Just from one glance…"
She instantly realized it had all been an illusion.
Fearfully, she avoided Retsu's gaze and hurriedly looked back at her master.
Momiji and Botan also stopped struggling.
They saw gray dust gathering and reconstructing their master's shattered head.
In just moments, it was completely restored, as if nothing had happened.
"So this body… is merely a vessel for the soul?"
Tsubaki's master touched his head in amazement, then sighed helplessly.
"This technique is truly incredible.
"It's just… having your head smashed doesn't feel very pleasant."
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