"Make everyone fall into an illusion? Why would anyone do something like that?"
Hearing the description of the "Infinite Tsukuyomi," Kikyo's eyes widened in shock. Her voice carried disbelief.
"Because war and hatred drove people insane," Retsu replied calmly, his tone steady and emotionless.
"In that ninja world I came from, violence and suffering were everywhere. When a world is like that… the appearance of madmen isn't strange at all."
Kikyo could tell he didn't want to talk about it further, so she didn't press him.
The two of them remained quietly in each other's arms as Kuro-maru carried them swiftly through the dense forest.
Only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the rhythm of their breathing filled the silence.
"Retsu… do you really want to be with me?"
Just as Retsu was enjoying the peaceful moment, Kikyo's soft voice broke the silence again.
There was hesitation hidden in it.
"A woman like me… is strange, isn't she?"
"Of course I do!"
Retsu suddenly said loudly with a grin.
"I still want you to have lots of children with me and expand the Uchiha clan! Didn't you say you like kids? With our abilities, raising a few more won't be a problem at all!"
"Y-You—what are you saying?!"
Kikyo's face instantly turned red. Embarrassed and flustered, she jabbed him with her elbow, trying to break free.
But he only hugged her tighter.
After struggling a few times without success, she gave up and leaned quietly against him again, though the tips of her ears had turned a deep crimson.
"Do you really mean that?"
After a while, she spoke again softly, her tone filled with faint sadness.
"My hands are stained with the blood of demons, and misfortune always follows those close to me.
"I'm not gentle like other women, and I don't dress beautifully…
"A strange woman like me… do you really like someone like that?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Retsu tightened his grip on her hands, his tone suddenly serious.
"You're this beautiful—why wouldn't I like you?
"And as for being an 'outsider'…
"My hands are stained with far more blood than yours. By your logic, I'm the real monster here.
"So two outsiders being together sounds perfect to me."
He gently rubbed the back of her hand, his voice warm.
"You're a shrine maiden who protects people by destroying demons.
"If you've killed many demons, that just means you're strong and righteous—not an outsider.
"If someone like you counts as strange… then someone like me, a ninja with blood on both hands, should probably stand here and let you purify me."
Seeing the lingering insecurity in her eyes, Retsu understood.
Kikyo had always believed she was an outsider among humans, a shrine maiden who didn't deserve happiness.
He gently brushed his chin against her hair and asked calmly,
"Kikyo, do you know how old ninja are when they first kill someone?"
She stared at him, stunned.
Though he hadn't said it yet, she already sensed the answer wouldn't be pleasant. Compassion and shock flickered in her eyes.
Retsu met her gaze calmly.
"Ninja graduate at twelve and become full shinobi.
"And not long after that, we start missions—bandit exterminations, assassinations, and other killings.
"I was lucky. When I graduated, it happened to be a rare time of peace.
"So I killed someone for the first time at twelve.
"And I still remember that moment clearly."
He looked at her seriously.
"So don't let your identity trap you. Don't think of yourself as strange.
"These experiences are just part of life.
"My classmates who graduated with me all had blood on their hands too.
"But aside from being ninja, they were ordinary people.
"They had things they liked and disliked. They laughed, cried… and they confessed to the people they loved."
A nostalgic smile appeared in his eyes.
"Actually, quite a few girls confessed to me back then."
As Kikyo listened, warmth spread through her heart.
The shackles she had carried for so long slowly loosened.
But when she heard that last sentence—
Her eyes suddenly narrowed.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, though her gaze carried a quiet scrutiny.
"So you were quite popular back then. Girls even confessed to you?"
Retsu instantly sensed danger.
Only then did he realize he had said something extremely risky.
"Wait—don't misunderstand!" he hurriedly waved his hands.
"I was obsessed with getting stronger! I never paid attention to those girls! Before meeting you, I hadn't even held a girl's hand. Really!"
Kikyo looked at him silently for several seconds.
Then a smile appeared in her eyes.
"You don't need to explain. I believe you."
She gestured for him to release her.
Reluctantly, Retsu loosened his arms, feeling the warmth of her body leave his embrace.
He felt an unexpected sense of loss.
Kikyo straightened up and looked at the disappointment in his eyes.
Her smile deepened slightly.
Then suddenly—
She leaned forward and gently pressed a soft kiss against his lips.
The warmth lasted only a moment, but it left Retsu completely stunned, his mind going blank.
In the next instant, she quickly pulled away and sat upright again.
Her cheeks were flushed as she said softly,
"Thank you… for comforting me."
Then she patted Kuro-maru's neck.
"Kuro-maru, let's go faster."
Retsu touched his lips absentmindedly, still feeling the warmth of that brief kiss.
Looking at Kikyo's slightly reddened ears ahead of him, a wide grin spread across his face.
"I really like this kind of thank-you gift!" he shouted.
Kikyo didn't turn around.
But the tips of her ears had turned crimson, spreading all the way to the roots.
"Welcome back. Was the demon extermination successful?"
In the shrine courtyard, Kikyo was sorting herbs when she saw Retsu return.
She immediately put down her work and walked toward him, her eyes full of gentle concern.
"It was just some weak demon. Took care of it easily," Retsu said with a relaxed smile as he approached.
"That's good."
Kikyo stepped forward and gave him a light hug.
"This is to thank you for helping."
Retsu wrapped his arms around her in return and kissed her forehead with a smile.
"Thank-you accepted."
"Oh, right."
He pulled out a heavy pouch from his clothes and handed it to her.
"This is the payment from the client."
"So much?"
Kikyo opened the pouch and looked inside, surprised.
"That lord must be quite wealthy."
She turned toward the main hall.
"I'll put it away."
Listening to her light footsteps echoing inside the shrine, Retsu couldn't help smiling.
Ever since that confession-like conversation in the forest, their relationship had grown noticeably closer.
Hugging and kissing had gradually become natural between them.
What amused him even more was something else.
Perhaps she had taken his joke about "expanding the Uchiha clan" seriously.
Kikyo, who once cared little about money, now carefully collected payment whenever wealthy clients requested demon exterminations.
After returning, she would neatly store the money inside a wooden chest in their room.
That small action warmed Retsu's heart.
Clearly, she had begun quietly preparing for their future together.
After sending Tsubaki away, their lives returned to a peaceful routine.
Most days were spent training, accepting demon-hunting requests from visitors to the shrine, or treating sick villagers who came for help.
As the shrine's reputation grew, more and more people came seeking assistance.
If the request was far away or Kikyo was too busy, Retsu would handle it himself.
This time was exactly such a case—a remote village plagued by a minor demon.
The creature wasn't strong, just far away.
For him, it was hardly any trouble.
Taking on missions like this reminded him faintly of his days as a ninja in Konoha.
But now—
there was something warmer in his life than there had ever been back then.
To Read 60+ advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146