"What are you doing here?"
Miroku's tone was cold.
She held no fondness for Shimizu.
Forcing her to do so many things—if she didn't outright hate him, that was already generous of her.
"I need you to procure some items for me."
Shimizu handed her a list.
"These…"
Miroku glanced at it, puzzled.
Many of the items were unfamiliar to her, though she could tell they were likely related to some kind of research.
"Have the daimyo purchase these."
Shimizu stepped closer.
The masculine aura of the young man radiated toward her.
Miroku felt her cheeks flush.
The image of Shimizu's monstrous unicorn beast lingered in her mind.
She quickly shook her head, banishing the thought.
Ever since Moryo's defeat, the duties of the shrine maidens across generations had come to an end.
Miroku had begun to return to the normal tasks of a shrine maiden, praying for the people's blessings.
However, the sealing techniques she wielded as a shrine maiden were still beyond what ordinary people could handle.
Coupled with the daimyo's protection, she maintained a transcendent status in the Land of Demons.
As the saying goes, once basic needs are met, desires arise.
With the burden of her shrine maiden duties lifted, Miroku began to think about the next generation.
Unfortunately, the daimyo's frail health rendered him incapable of fulfilling her in that regard.
"Don't think you can still manipulate me."
"You wouldn't want the Land of Demons to pay the price for your stubbornness, would you? Right now, there's no ninja in the entire Land of Demons who can stand against me. You don't have time to call for outside help. Besides, it's not like we haven't done this before."
Miroku's brow furrowed, about to retort, when Shimizu grabbed her face. Then she saw it—the even more terrifying form of his unicorn beast.
It was ferocious, menacing, as if it could devour everything.
"Lord Daimyo, that ninja seems to keep visiting the shrine."
A guard hesitated before reporting to the daimyo.
The daimyo's expression shifted several times before he dismissed the guard.
Looking at his claw-like hands, he remained silent.
This must be the Sage of the Six Paths' punishment.
If he hadn't been foolish enough to meddle with Moryo, he wouldn't have been consumed by it, reduced to this wretched, half-human, half-ghost state.
Thinking of Miroku's beautiful face, the daimyo of the Land of Demons felt a pang of heartache.
Over the years, Miroku had hinted at him multiple times that the shrine maiden's lineage must continue.
She couldn't betray the legacy of the shrine maidens or her mother.
But he was powerless, unable to rise to the occasion.
"The Uchiha Clan… their superior genes aren't a bad choice."
The daimyo murmured, as if struck by a sudden thought.
Pain and hesitation flickered across his face.
Gazing at the vast, beautiful landscape, the palace rebuilt after Moryo's destruction, and the people living peacefully in the distance, his expression gradually hardened. He was a sinner.
He had brought Moryo's slaughter upon his people, devastating the capital and causing countless families to lose loved ones or be displaced.
Yet these people continued to trust him. Compared to their suffering, his own pain was insignificant.
Besides, he would continue to accept Miroku and raise the child as his own!
As long as the child called him father, he could grit his teeth and bear it.
That evening, the daimyo sought out Miroku.
"Miroku, I want the shrine maiden's lineage to continue."
"!"
Miroku's eyes widened slightly, wondering if she had misheard.
The daimyo had lost his ability, yet he was asking her to continue the shrine maiden's lineage?
Was he blatantly suggesting she… with someone else?
Did he think she was some casual woman?
Even though she and the daimyo shared mutual feelings, this act sparked anger in Miroku—and a trace of fear.
"What kind of person do you think I am?!"
Her voice, sharp with agitation, rang out.
What she and Shimizu had done was her deepest secret.
She dreaded the daimyo finding out, or anyone else for that matter.
The more someone tries to hide something, the more they act out in agitation.
Seeing Miroku's flushed, angry face, the daimyo gave a bitter smile.
"No, Miroku, you know the state I'm in."
In the Land of Demons, there was precedent for this.
Legend had it that, in ancient times, their ancestors, to overcome their short stature, sought out powerful ninja clans to "borrow their seed."
Before he became this wretched figure, he was undoubtedly the only one in the Land of Demons worthy of Miroku. But, like her shrine maiden lineage, his family was a single line.
His line ended with him, leaving only the option of adopting an heir to raise and prevent instability in his rule.
Otherwise, once he and Miroku were gone, ambitious opportunists would seize power, and the people of the Land of Demons would be the first to suffer.
Since there was precedent, following the ways of their ancestors wasn't entirely unacceptable.
"No, absolutely not."
Miroku refused outright.
Her involvement with Shimizu was private, something that could never be spoken of openly.
Besides, it wasn't willing—it was only because of Shimizu's overwhelming strength.
The daimyo continued to persuade Miroku, trying to convince her to accept.
In the days that followed, he even began actively creating opportunities for Shimizu.
Through his simulator's foresight, Shimizu learned of the daimyo's intentions.
"So that's how it is."
Shimizu chuckled.
The daimyo was quite the character.
It was unclear whether he was thinking of Miroku or scheming to align himself with Shimizu for the sake of the Land of Demons.
Currently, Miroku was the only one in the Land of Demons with significant power. The rest were ordinary people, at best capable of crudely refining chakra or mastering minor secret techniques.
If Miroku died without passing on her power, the Land of Demons would face a crisis.
In a few decades, the country's strength would wane.
The Land of Demons was not small—its territory was even larger than the Land of Rain, by a full margin!
However, unlike the Land of Rain, which was wedged between the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Fire, constantly embroiled in wars due to its borders, the Land of Demons had average geographical resources. Located near the Lands of Lightning and Earth, it held little military value, which had allowed it to survive.
But if the shrine maiden's lineage ended, the secret techniques of the native guards would be no match even for rogue ninja. They'd have to issue missions to great nations for protection.
That would lead to a drastic reduction in territory—at least half of what it was now.
That night, the daimyo approached Shimizu.
"Shimizu-kun, just one night. We're still friends."
The daimyo patted Shimizu's shoulder.
Shimizu put on a reluctant expression, as if to say he wasn't that kind of person.
"Just one night, truly."
The daimyo thought he was burdening Shimizu.
After all, with Shimizu's strength and appearance, he was destined to be admired wherever he went.
"Well… that doesn't seem right."
What Shimizu meant was that one night was too short—he'd already been visiting for several nights.
"Shimizu-kun…"
The daimyo was touched.
Indeed, true character is revealed in hardship, and loyalty is proven over time.
Both Miroku and Shimizu had firmly refused, making him feel like the petty one misjudging noble hearts.
"Don't worry. After you leave, I'll look after the Land of Demons and Lady Miroku. Let's never speak of this again."
Shimizu patted the daimyo's shoulder.
With no heirs or clan, the daimyo's death would leave Miroku as the most powerful figure in the Land of Demons.
By then, the entire Land of Demons would be his, and Shimizu would naturally protect its tax-paying citizens from rogue ninja.
With an air of righteousness, Shimizu bid farewell.
The daimyo watched his figure, letting out a long sigh.
Shimizu frequently visited the shrine, and the guards were whispering about a possible affair.
Now, it seemed rumors were just rumors.
How could someone as just as Shimizu do such a thing?
Leaning on his cane, the daimyo hobbled back to rest.
Lately, he felt his health deteriorating day by day.
But Miroku and Shimizu's actions warmed his heart.
…
Meanwhile, after parting with the daimyo, Shimizu created a shadow clone.
His real body swiftly headed to the shrine, while the clone returned to his room.
Lately, Shimizu had been playing this trick nightly, visiting Miroku for revelry.
With his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique, he came and went without a trace, undetected in his secret trysts.
Miroku was just a shrine maiden, not a ninja—she couldn't resist his current strength.
Here, Shimizu had fully let loose, heedless of consequences, indulging freely.
With Nohara Rin, he had to be cautious.
An unwed pregnancy would cause a stir.
Namikaze Minato would surely investigate, ensuring Rin wasn't deceived.
If they traced it back to Shimizu, his reputation would be ruined, and he'd be tied to Rin, hindering his carefree ways.
Konohagakure's laws enforced monogamy.
Such a wretched system—when Shimizu became Hokage, he'd rewrite the laws to allow himself multiple wives.
"Do you know what the daimyo said to me tonight?"
Shimizu gazed at the scenery outside the shrine.
Without pausing his actions, he slapped Miroku and recounted the daimyo's words.
Miroku winced in pain, glaring at him fiercely.
"Lady Miroku, is something wrong?"
A guard outside sensed something amiss.
Lately, Lady Miroku hadn't left the shrine.
She used to come out to bask in the sun at this hour.
"I'm… meditating on the shrine maiden's arts. Do not enter."
Miroku's dignified voice carried through the room.
"Yes, Lady Miroku."
Even through a wall, without seeing her, the guard knelt respectfully.
"If we have a child, how about naming her Uchiha Shion?"
Shimizu whispered in Miroku's ear.
"Hmph!"
Miroku said nothing, silently enduring the pain.
Her eyes reddened, and she bit her lower lip.
The daimyo had said similar things to her.
But for him to say them to Shimizu as well…
Miroku felt a tinge of sorrow.
Her desire to preserve the shrine maiden's lineage and the daimyo's proactive suggestion to do so were two opposing concepts.
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