"It's because…"
Uchiha Kasage had no intention of hiding the truth and was about to explain when a soft, clear laugh interrupted him.
"Hahaha!"
To his surprise, Kikyo was the first to react. She covered her mouth lightly as she laughed, then waved her hand with a knowing look.
"Alright, I understand. This miko must be connected to Naraku. The lingering evil aura on her is far too obvious—I could sense it immediately."
She leaned down, placing her hand gently on Midoriko's chest, carefully examining her condition before continuing in a calmer tone.
"She's very similar to Kohaku. The soul inside her body is gone… She must have died once already, hasn't she?"
"…Ah." Kasage paused for a moment, then a faint smile curved on his lips as he nodded. "That's right. It is related to Naraku. As for the details… you can ask her yourself after she's revived."
Without wasting another second, he pressed his palm firmly against the ground and spoke in a low voice:
"Summoning Technique!"
A burst of white smoke exploded outward, and Hakudoshi—now reduced to a puppet—appeared before them.
"So you're planning to revive her the same way you revived Kohaku?" Kikyo asked, immediately understanding his intention.
"Exactly." Kasage nodded.
He retrieved a scroll sealed with life force from the Kamui dimension and handed it to Hakudoshi. Guiding the puppet with precise control, he positioned Midoriko's body onto the opened scroll.
Forming hand seals, his voice grew solemn.
"Life Reincarnation Jutsu!"
A brilliant azure chakra flared to life in Hakudoshi's palm. At the same time, Kasage released the seal on the scroll. A powerful surge of life force poured out like a rising tide, flowing steadily into Midoriko's lifeless body under the guidance of chakra.
Whoosh—
A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, scattering fallen leaves into the air.
Kasage and Kikyo turned at the same time.
Kagura and Kanna had arrived.
"Why are you back so suddenly?" Kasage asked, slightly surprised.
Kagura crossed her arms, clearly irritated. "Those damn monks again. They just won't stop chasing me! It's beyond annoying… I'm seriously tempted to kill them."
Kikyo gave a gentle, knowing smile. "Master Ungai may hold extreme views about yokai, but he is respected for a reason. Kagura… it would be wiser to avoid him."
"I know!" Kagura sighed sharply, frustration evident in her voice as she flicked her fan open and shut. "That's why it's so annoying. I've decided—I'm not going out for a few days. I'll just wait until they leave."
Kasage couldn't help but smirk slightly at her reaction.
Kagura's habit of wandering freely without hiding her presence had already stirred rumors among nearby villagers. Naturally, that had drawn the attention of monks like Ungai.
Out of consideration for Kikyo, she refrained from killing them, only driving them off repeatedly. But their persistence had worn her patience thin.
"If you let Kanna conceal your tracks, you could avoid them entirely," Kasage suggested.
"No." Kagura refused instantly, her gaze firm. "I don't like hiding. I'm not going to rely on Kanna's ability just because of them."
"Kagura… Hakudoshi… has no soul?" Kanna suddenly spoke, her quiet voice carrying a trace of curiosity as she looked at the puppet.
"Huh? Hakudoshi?" Kagura blinked, only now noticing him. "Oh, that… Kasage turned him into a puppet. His soul was taken a long time ago."
Kanna gave a small nod.
Kagura then turned back to Kasage, curiosity replacing her irritation. "So what is he doing now?"
"Reviving Midoriko," Kasage replied, gesturing toward the body on the ground.
"Reviving?" Kagura's eyes lit up. She stepped closer, watching the glowing chakra with fascination. "Like what you did with that brat Kohaku?"
"Exactly."
She stared for a while, clearly trying to understand, before frowning slightly. "So… what's actually happening?"
Kasage glanced at her, then explained patiently.
"Midoriko's body is dead, and her soul is gone. Right now, we're injecting life force into her body to allow it to generate a new soul."
He pointed at the fading glow in Hakudoshi's hand.
"This technique consumes the user's life force. In this case, Hakudoshi's life force is being used to bring her back."
Kagura's eyes brightened instantly. "So… will he die after this?"
Kasage stared at her, speechless for a moment. "…No. To your disappointment, he won't."
"Hm." The excitement on her face vanished just as quickly, replaced by mild annoyance.
But then, as if struck by another idea, her eyes lit up again.
"In that case… what if I kill those monks, and then you revive them?"
Silence.
Kasage looked at her, completely at a loss for words.
Even Kikyo and Kanna glanced at Kagura with quiet exasperation.
"No," Kasage said flatly, shooting her a sharp look. "Absolutely not."
He exhaled, then added more calmly, "If you don't want Kanna's help, then stay here for a few days. Or just keep beating them until they give up and leave."
"…Too much effort." Kagura shrugged, already losing interest.
Her attention shifted back to Midoriko. "So how did she die?"
"Naraku killed her," Kasage answered without hesitation.
"Naraku?" Kagura frowned, surprised. "Why would he target her?"
She turned to Kikyo.
"That disgusting man killed you fifty years ago… and now another miko? Does he have something against priestesses?"
Kikyo's expression softened slightly as she considered it. "Perhaps… he fears their spiritual power. This miko, Midoriko—her power is quite strong."
Kasage gave a faint, knowing smile. "Or maybe Naraku simply destroys what he can't control."
Kikyo glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she didn't argue.
Before the conversation could continue, the azure glow in Hakudoshi's hand vanished.
He stood still for a moment—
Bang!
He dispersed into smoke, the summoning undone.
"It's done," Kasage said calmly. "Her body is alive again. Now all that remains… is restoring the soul."
He stepped forward, lifting Midoriko's body and tossing it into Enma's mouth. Then he retrieved the scroll—the life force within it now nearly exhausted.
Moments later, Midoriko stepped out.
Her expression was blank, her voice uncertain.
"I… wasn't I dead?"
Kagura's eyes widened in disbelief. "She actually came back…?"
Midoriko's gaze shifted toward her—and instantly sharpened.
She felt it.
That familiar, tainted aura.
"...Naraku!"
Her expression changed completely. In one swift motion, she formed a hand seal and pointed directly at Kagura.
"Evil spirit—disperse!"