# Land of Demons
Kakuzu surveyed the mercenaries gathered in the courtyard. His contractor had deep pockets this time—enough to draw quite a crowd of recognizable faces. Among them, a peculiar pair caught his attention, stirring memories of an old encounter.
Rui had already sensed the scrutiny. His pale blue eyes with their unsettling red sclera tracked Kakuzu's movements without turning his head. Beside him, Kyogai shifted uncomfortably under the wide brim of his straw hat.
Rui appeared as a frail boy with unnaturally pale skin dotted with red circles. His white hair jutted out in sharp spikes like spider legs, and his pale blue eyes held red sclera. The kanji for "Lower Moon Five" marked his left eye. A white yukata with cobweb patterns draped his small frame, the innocent appearance masking something far more sinister.
Kyogai had concealed his demonic nature behind human disguise. He hunched like a sickly man, pale and weary, wrapped in a black haori and dark kimono. The loose sleeves hid his claws while a wide straw hat cast shadows over his unsettling gaze. To most, he looked like nothing more than an ailing vagrant.
Their unusual appearance and connection to the notorious Twelve Kizuki had drawn attention from the other mercenaries.
The nearby murmuring died as Shiro entered the courtyard with measured steps. He was a lean man with sharp features and calculating eyes that missed nothing. Positioning himself where all could see, he waited for complete silence before speaking.
"We strike the shrine in two days," he announced. "Your targets are the guards and the priestess. This mission stays between us—absolute secrecy. Complete it successfully, and Lord Gōriki will double your payment. Whoever kills the priestess receives a weapon forged from chakra metal."
Excited whispers rippled through the crowd. Chakra metal—even the future Third Hokage's son possessed only a small blade made from such rare material. Its value transcended monetary worth.
As conversations buzzed around them, several mercenaries began forming loose alliances or sizing up competition. It was then that Kakuzu decided to approach the demon pair. Their presence brought back some unpleasant memories for him.
"An old man and a child?" His tone carried casual mockery. "Your organization couldn't spare anyone more... substantial?"
Before Kyogai could respond, Rui's quiet voice cut through the air.
"We don't require your assessment." Each word was measured, deliberate. "A proper family handles its own affairs."
Kakuzu's eyebrows rose slightly. "Family? How... quaint. Tell me, boy, does your 'family' make a habit of taking jobs that might be beyond their capabilities?"
Kyogai's hands clenched beneath his sleeves, his artistic pride stinging at the dismissal. "You dare question our abilities?" His voice was low but filled with indignation. "I alone could reduce this entire courtyard to splinters."
"Kyogai." Rui's quiet voice cut through his companion's rising anger like a blade. "Family members don't need to prove themselves to strangers."
Kakuzu studied this dynamic with growing interest. "Fascinating. The child keeps his elders in line. Your 'family' has an unusual hierarchy."
Kakuzu's smirk widened as he turned to leave. "I haven't found worthy hearts lately. Watch yourselves out there—sometimes I get confused between allies and enemies."
Kyogai bristled, but Rui's hand stopped him. No point in unnecessary conflict.
---
In Lord Gōriki's private chambers, Shiro knelt on the tatami mats while his master paced before a low table laden with maps and documents. The room spoke of wealth—silk hangings, lacquered furniture, and the subtle scent of expensive incense.
"My Lord," Shiro began, "all mercenaries are present and accounted for. I've delivered your instructions regarding the mission timeline. The prospect of chakra metal has them quite motivated."
Gōriki paused in his pacing, a satisfied smile creasing his features. He was a man who had grown soft with prosperity, his expensive robes doing little to hide the comfortable bulk that spoke of too many rich meals and too little physical exertion.
"Excellent work, Shiro. Let them salivate over their promised rewards. They have no idea of the true prize that awaits." He gestured toward the maps spread across the table. "That chakra metal mine beneath the shrine will make me the wealthiest man in three provinces. Perhaps wealthy enough to become the Daimyo of the Land of Demons."
"The priestess, my lord? She's said to be quite beautiful."
Gōriki waved a dismissive hand. "A necessary sacrifice for the greater good—namely, my greater good. Beauty fades, but chakra metal is eternal. Besides, once I control that mine, I'll be able to afford any number of beauties. The Daimyo's own court won't be beyond my reach."
His eyes gleamed with ambition as he traced the mountain paths marked on his maps. "Two days, Shiro. Two days until everything changes."
---
At the mountain shrine, a guard approached Kaede.
"Your Highness, Captain Kageaki has returned with a golden-eyed man. He requests your presence."
Kaede straightened. "Take me to him."
The small meeting room at the mountain's base typically hosted blessing ceremonies. Within moments, Kaede descended with her guards.
One look at Kenji's face sent a tremor through her. She fought to maintain composure, but he could read the fear in her eyes—the visions had shaken her deeply.
"Hello, Miss Priestess," Kenji greeted with practiced charm. "I am Muzan Kibutsuji. I understand you've been searching for someone. Perhaps that someone is me?"
"Yes, Mr. Kibutsuji." Her voice was soft, uncertain. "I have been searching for... a certain person."
"Am I him, then?" His smile was perfectly crafted. "I'd hate to disappoint someone as lovely as yourself."
Heat rose to Kaede's cheeks. She stammered quickly, "Let's—let's go to my chamber. We need to talk."
In her flustered state, she'd forgotten the rules—only shrine guards were permitted near her private quarters. She began climbing the stairs with Kenji following, leaving confused guards in their wake.
Behind them, the shrine guards exchanged uncertain glances but followed at a discrete distance. None of them were entirely comfortable with this breach of protocol, but their priestess had given clear instructions.
---
Inside her chamber, Kaede gestured for him to sit. Once settled, Kenji asked, "What does the priestess need from me?"
Her expression grew serious. "I know what you are. You can't hide it."
"Well, I did just introduce myself," he replied with amusement. "The priestess can be forgetful sometimes."
"I have... abilities. Visions, sometimes, of things that haven't happened yet. And in those visions..." She paused, struggling with how to articulate what she had seen. "I've seen you. Not clearly, but enough to know that you're connected to something dangerous."
She pressed on. "You're not human. You're a demon—the demon king. I don't understand everything, but I know why you're here. You want Moryo."
"Slow down." His tone remained pleasant. "Yes, I'm a demon. The demon king, in fact. And yes, I'm here for Moryo. What's your point?"
The casual admission sent a chill down her spine even though she had been expecting it. Hearing it confirmed was somehow more unsettling than suspecting it.
"Don't you understand? If you release Moryo, people will die. Many people. You—"
"Wait." He held up a hand.
Kenji was quiet for a long moment, studying her face as if reading something written there in a language only he could understand.
"Tell me," he said finally, "what do you know about the seal that contains Moryo?"
The question wasn't what she had expected. "Mōryō is a demon created from the dark thoughts of mankind. It has been sealed by my ancestors and since then it has been sealed. As long as the shrine stands and the priestess line continues, Moryo remains bound."
"And how long do you think such a system can last?"
"Forever, if necessary. It's our duty—"
"Nothing lasts forever, Miss Priestess." His voice was gentle but implacable. "Seals weaken over time. Bloodlines end. Shrines can be destroyed. What happens to your perfect prison when any of those things occur?"
Kaede felt her certainty wavering. "That's... that won't happen. It can't happen."
"But it could. And when it does—not if, but when—Moryo will break free on his own terms, in his own way, without any of the safeguards or preparations that a controlled release might allow."
"I'm saying that I'm a student of inevitability, Miss Priestess. Your family's seal is impressive, but it's not permanent. Eventually, something will give way. When that happens, would you prefer Moryo to emerge into a world that's prepared for him, or one that's caught completely off guard?"
"I don't understand," she admitted quietly.
"Few people do, at first. But understanding can be taught, if you're willing to learn."
Before she could respond, the bell at her waist began to vibrate violently. The sensation was familiar but alarming— she was having another vision. Kaede's eyes rolled back as she collapsed, Kenji catching her as she fell.
He recognized the bell artifact—it amplified her prophetic abilities, but each vision came with the price of witnessing death. After several tense moments, she awakened with a sharp gasp, terror flooding her features.
"What did you see?" he asked gently.
She shoved him away, trembling.
"Don't come close!" she said, the words coming out before she could stop them. "You're a monster!"
Her voice echoed through the chamber before she fainted again.
Guards burst through the doors, some surrounding their unconscious priestess while others encircled Kenji. He couldn't guess what she'd seen—but it's something involving him, certainly.