Step —
Step —
Footsteps echoed through the dim corridor.
Yuto and Chiyome walked at the front, with the Land of Demons' guards following closely behind.
As they drew closer to their destination, Yuto could sense an evil aura permeating the air.
"It bears some resemblance to the Tailed Beasts' aura. Unfortunately, the essence seems quite different."
Yuto noticed this aura immediately and murmured to himself.
If one had to distinguish between the two, the Tailed Beasts were more like a conglomeration of chaos, while the demon's essence was far more pure.
"I hope you're not just talk."
Chiyome turned her head slightly to glance at Yuto beside her, then quickly looked away, deliberately making her voice sound cold.
Though their interaction had been brief, Yuto had already grasped Chiyome's personality. This shrine maiden, aside from being somewhat tsundere and constantly wearing a cold expression, was fundamentally a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Yuto said he could destroy Makyo, but Chiyome knew that from the very beginning, she probably hadn't believed him.
After all, if Makyo were truly that easy to destroy, it wouldn't have survived until now.
And though Chiyome didn't believe it, she still brought Yuto here – clearly, she had already made some kind of decision.
Yuto simply smiled and did not respond.
Soon, everyone stopped before a stone door roughly three meters tall.
Ashidzu quickly moved from behind Chiyome and pushed the heavy door open with both hands.
After doing this, Ashidzu returned to his position behind Chiyome, though his eyes remained fixed on Yuto the entire time.
As the stone door opened.
A straight stone path led from the entrance to a massive blue pillar of light deep within, roughly five or six square meters in area.
Outside this blue pillar stood five white stone pillars inscribed with mysterious patterns. Most remarkably, at the top of the blue pillar was a perfectly circular formation.
At the very center of the blue pillar was a miniature shrine built entirely of stone with a peculiar design.
Yuto could clearly sense that the evil aura in the air intensified the moment the stone door opened.
Clearly, the blue pillar of light not far away was where Makyo was sealed.
"Wait here. Though Makyo is sealed, the aura it emits could still affect ordinary people."
Chiyome spoke softly to Ashidzu and the other guards behind her.
As she said this, Chiyome deliberately glanced back at Yuto. Then she raised her foot and walked forward.
Facing Chiyome's subtly provocative gaze, Yuto simply shrugged, maintaining his leisurely demeanor.
The two soon reached the blue pillar of light. Compared to Chiyome's calm expression, Yuto's face held a hint of curiosity as he studied the blue energy column.
"Truly remarkable sealing power."
Yuto felt the power emanating from the seal, his tone carrying a note of seriousness.
"Naturally. Shrine maidens may not match ninja in strength, but they possess powerful methods against demons."
A trace of pride crossed Chiyome's face as she spoke in a feigned calm voice.
She knew full well that this man before her was currently the strongest being in the entire shinobi world. To be praised by such a person – even Chiyome felt a hint of joy rise in her heart.
"Perhaps."
Yuto chuckled softly, clearly catching Chiyome's subtext.
Chiyome's underlying meaning was that while ninja power was strong, when it came to dealing with demons, it could not compare to the shrine maidens.
"Ahead is the gap between worlds…"
Seeing Yuto still wearing a confident expression, Chiyome let out a cold hum and walked forward as she spoke.
The moment Chiyome made contact with the blue pillar of light, ripples spread like water's surface. She passed through effortlessly, appearing inside the blue pillar.
Chiyome looked at the sealed shrine before her and took a deep breath, her gaze gradually turning cold.
This was not her first time here, but it was her first time entering the barrier. As for Yuto outside, she didn't believe he could enter unless the outer barrier was destroyed.
"It's time to end this, Makyo!"
A tone of determination and finality filled Chiyome's voice.
Today, even though she didn't believe Yuto could defeat Makyo, she had agreed to bring him here without hesitation – because she had already made a certain decision.
"Risking your life for a final stand is not a wise choice."
A calm voice came from behind, reaching Chiyome's ears.
Chiyome's body trembled. She turned with a look of disbelief to see Yuto, who had somehow passed through the barrier and now stood behind her.
"You… how did you get in?!"
Chiyome's mouth hung open in shock. She had not sensed the slightest disturbance in the barrier.
"Your barrier's mechanism is unique, but ultimately it is merely a way of manipulating energy. Any seal powered by energy is nothing before me."
Yuto wore a light smile and patiently explained to Chiyome.
Years ago, when Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara had sealed Yuto, it had been a physical seal. That was no secret!
Though Yuto's explanation was clear, Chiyome's face still showed disbelief.
"Is it because of guilt?"
Yuto looked at Chiyome with some exasperation.
From the beginning, Yuto had suspected as much. Chiyome had agreed far too readily for someone who didn't believe him.
He hadn't expected to be right.
This matter was connected to what he had said yesterday – that the future she saw was merely one possibility.
For Chiyome, who had believed in "fate" from the start, this had been a devastating blow.
And after that blow came Chiyome's guilt over having witnessed the deaths of Land of Demons civilians and yet done nothing to prevent them.
For Chiyome, who was determined to protect the Land of Demons' people, this was an indescribable sense of self-reproach and remorse.
This torment was enough to leave Chiyome somewhat despondent.
And today, Yuto's request to see Makyo had given Chiyome's tormented heart a sudden glimmer of hope.
This hope was her redemption.
Guilt had filled Chiyome with self-blame toward all the Land of Demons' citizens. It was under these circumstances that Chiyome wanted to do something to make amends.
And Makyo, whether to the Land of Demons or the shinobi world, was a disaster in Chiyome's eyes.
This was why Chiyome had so readily agreed to Yuto's request.
Chiyome had clearly made up her mind to perish together with Makyo. In a sense, this was also a form of redemption for herself.
Seeing that Yuto seemed to have guessed her thoughts, Chiyome, who had been forcing herself to remain calm as if tautening a string, suddenly relaxed.
"What do you know…"
"I could have protected them… I should have protected them…"
Chiyome suddenly let out a scream, tears pouring from her eyes.
Seeing Chiyome's uncontrollable tears, Yuto's expression remained calm. He knew that what Chiyome needed now was not comfort but a chance to vent.
Chiyome looked at Yuto, who still stood unmoving. Her crying grew more distressed, and with a look of grievance, she crouched directly on the ground and sobbed.
In a sense, Chiyome had also experienced a tragic childhood. Her parents had died one after another when she was very young.
Due to her identity and abilities, Chiyome had no friends growing up. She had been raised under gazes of respect and reverence.
If one wanted to talk about hardship, even Naruto might have been slightly better off than Chiyome. At least Naruto had friends around him.
Chiyome had nothing except her duty as a shrine maiden.
Seeing Chiyome crying before him, a normal person – looking at a beautiful white-haired girl weeping so bitterly – would likely have felt a surge of sympathy.
But Yuto simply sighed quietly, feeling it was rather noisy.
Fortunately, Yuto had good patience and didn't mind wasting this time. He stood quietly, waiting.
Thanks to the blue barrier surrounding them, Ashidzu and the others outside could not see or hear what was happening here.
Otherwise, Ashidzu and the Land of Demons' guards would surely think Yuto had done something terrible.
After a good while.
Chiyome finally raised her head, her shrine maiden robe soaked through in large patches. Her eyes were already red.
"Thank you."
Chiyome's face was slightly flushed, her voice still carrying a hint of sobbing.
"I didn't do anything. This is something you would have eventually discovered on your own."
Yuto's expression remained calm, his voice unchanged from the start.
"You must not have a girlfriend!"
Chiyome shot to her feet, wiping the tear tracks from her corners with her arm, and said fiercely.
As her words faded.
Chiyome stepped forward to continue walking. After venting, her emotions had settled again, but her resolve had only strengthened.
"Really, to think you're still so stubborn."
Yuto looked at Chiyome, who appeared so righteous, with exasperation.
Yuto stepped forward and appeared directly in front of Chiyome, his back to her. Without turning his head, he spoke flatly:
"As the faith and pillar of the Land of Demons, as a shrine maiden, to so casually throw away your life – doesn't that mean you're abandoning all the citizens of the Land of Demons? For the sake of just a few people who are already dead."
"Human beings have never lived for the past…"
Yuto's voice paused slightly, then continued:
"One more thing – don't forget, this is a trade. Before the deal is complete, your life is not in your own hands."
Humans don't live for the past?
Chiyome looked at Yuto blocking her path. A trace of sorrow flickered in her dark gray eyes, but she could find no words of rebuttal. She could only fall silent.
But this guy's way of speaking was still so annoying!
[
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