"Yue, let me handle this monster."
Miroku drew a deep breath, her expression firm.
Yue nodded. He flipped open the ghost-faced mask, his mind already turning.
He needed time to recover chakra. If Miroku couldn't finish the monster, he'd try his newly thought-up method.
And if that didn't work… well, nothing to think about except run for your life.
Miroku began chanting softly. Her hands formed rapid seals.
Pillars of purple light erupted around the beast, merging into a glowing curtain that trapped it inside.
As the barrier slowly tightened, the monster roared in agony.
Then, with a furious struggle, it spat out a massive black energy sphere—like a Tailed Beast Bomb—straight at the barrier.
BOOOOM!
The deafening blast shook the entire cavern.
Cracks spider-webbed across the light curtain. The beast had taken damage, but seeing the barrier weaken, it began gathering an even larger energy bomb in its maw.
The moment the barrier shattered like glass, the colossal black sphere shot toward Miroku—
A gigantic green hand burst forth and caught it.
A thunderous explosion tore through the cavern.
Yue and Miroku were enveloped by a protective green aura.
Shisui had arrived just in time.
Having already finished off Yomi, he had rushed straight over and silently thanked heaven he wasn't a moment later.
When the barrier broke, Miroku clearly suffered heavy backlash—blood slipped from the corner of her lips.
"Miroku, are you all right?" Yue immediately rushed to her side.
"It seems… I have no choice but to use that sealing technique."
Her face was pale, but her eyes unwavering.
Yue understood instantly—whatever sealing technique she referred to came with an unbearable price.
He grabbed her shoulders, urgent.
"Miroku, do you trust me?"
Miroku hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded.
"Good. Then pour your power into me."
Yue stepped forward, took her hand, and gathered chakra into his palm.
Realizing his intention, Miroku pressed her hand to the forming energy sphere and poured all of her remaining power into it.
This was a move Yue learned thanks to memories from his previous life—a technique he copied from Naruto.
A gamble.
If this didn't kill the monster, he'd immediately grab Miroku and flee, wait to recover, and return for round two.
"Not enough. More, Miroku—give me more!"
Miroku froze for a breath, then gritted her teeth and activated a secret technique.
A surge of chakra flooded into Yue's palm.
"Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!!!"
Yue raised the massive orb overhead, then used Body Flicker to charge straight at the monster.
For a moment he genuinely felt like Naruto.
All he was missing was an epic BGM playing behind him.
The colossal Rasengan slammed into the monster.
Its body shattered like fragile paper—
And with a blinding explosion like a small missile detonation—
There was no longer anything in this world called "Moryo."
Not even a wisp of chakra remained.
"...We did it."
Yue suppressed the urge to cheer.
This had been dangerously close—even reckless.
The explosion shook the entire underground chamber, magma erupting everywhere.
He narrowly dodged spurts of molten rock… until a huge green hand wrapped around him again.
Shisui's Susanoo calmly lifted him and Miroku up to safety.
Above ground, the three collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
That last Rasengan had squeezed Yue's chakra reserves absolutely dry.
Yue groaned inwardly.
This wasn't how the plot went at all… This mission was way too damn hard. I almost died again.
If they'd let Miroku use her original "big move," the monster wouldn't have died—and Miroku would have ended up swallowed.
And now Miroku was Yue's woman.
How could he let her get hurt?
In the end: dangerous, chaotic… but complete success.
And he even scored himself a goddess.
Brothers—
This was a massive win.
After resting briefly, the group began the journey back to the Land of Demons.
On the return trip, Yue carried Miroku on his back once more.
After a moment of silence, she whispered:
"Yue… thank you."
This man who helped her destroy Moryo—even at the risk of his own life—gave her an overwhelming sense of safety.
Yue deliberately slowed down, putting distance between them and Shisui and Yamato.
"You're being too polite. If you treat me like an outsider, I'll get sad. From now on, I'll protect you. No one in this world will ever harm you."
Miroku's heart tingled with sweetness.
"And Miroku… I owe you an apology." Yue sighed dramatically.
"You're too much. Far too beautiful. You made me fall in love, and now I'm selfishly making you wait for me… wait for this small body of mine to grow."
"Do you know the difference between you and the stars?
The stars are in the sky.
But you… you're in my heart."
"I wish I could wake up tomorrow with an adult body, so I could marry you right away."
Miroku had never heard this level of cheesy romantic barrage.
Her face burned as a rush of sweetness spread through her.
"Yue… I'll wait for you. No matter how many years, I'll wait."
In Yue's mind—
Mission complete. Woman secured. Solid win.
Of course, Yue didn't just chase her for her beauty.
Her sealing techniques were seriously powerful—second only to the Uzumaki clan.
Getting this "insurance policy" for the future was worth its weight in gold…
and he still got the girl.
"Right, Miroku, how old are you this year?"
"Four months away from eighteen."
Yue whistled internally.
No wonder she had that mature goddess aura—almost eighteen, but still with that noble, serene charm.
"Yue, you promised to teach me that song."
And so Yue's singing echoed across the road back.
When they returned to the Land of Demons, Miroku stayed behind—
Yue, Shisui, and Yamato had completed the mission and were preparing to return to Konoha.
Miroku looked at Yue reluctantly.
Yue felt the same.
Shisui and Yamato waited outside the council hall, giving them space.
They could tell something was weird between Yue and Miroku…
but they would never guess that kind of weird.
After all, Yue was only eight years old.
Only the two of them remained inside.
"Miroku… do you want to come back to Konoha with me?"
Yue blurted out before he could stop himself.
Miroku hesitated for a long time, then shook her head.
"Not yet. The Land of Demons still needs me."
Her face flushed pink.
In a voice softer than a mosquito, she whispered:
"But… after you and I leave behind the next shrine maiden here… then I can go anywhere with you."
Yue almost exploded on the spot.
I did NOT expect that to come out of your mouth… How can you say something that dangerous so calmly?!
Too bad the heavens dealt him a body of a three-or-four-year-old kid when he transmigrated.
He got the girl, but he couldn't do anything.
Just a goldfish.
A goldfish?
Why a goldfish?
Because a goldfish can only look, not eat.
"It's fine. I'll visit whenever I can." Yue's smile was almost too bright.
Parting was painful.
Yue requested one last loving hug—
Then he rejoined Shisui and Yamato and began the journey back to Konoha.
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