After the priestess Miroku entered the door, a childlike voice resonated, akin to a silver bell.
"Mother!"
Little Shion, adorned in a kimono, ran over with exuberance, embracing Miroku's thigh. At six years old, her fair, tender face radiated the charm of youth, resembling a porcelain doll.
The maiden's countenance brimmed with kindness as she extended her hand to caress Shion's little head. Shion, noticing the chief guard behind her mother, smiled and addressed,
"Uncle Desuki."
Desuki, the chief guard, in his thirties, responded with a nod and a polite,
"Miss Shion."
Feeling Desuki's demeanor to be somewhat stiff and uninteresting, Shion nestled against Miroku's leg.
"Shion, Mother has something to attend to later; you must obediently go with Uncle Desuki, okay?"
Miroku softly spoke while stroking Shion's head. She had already planned to sacrifice herself, leaving Shion, the next shrine maiden, with no recourse. Thus, she intended to entrust Shion to her most reliable subordinate.
Sensing something amiss, Shion clung tightly to her mother's thigh, shaking her head. "Shion wants to be with her mother."
Desuki, picking up on the tension, interjected anxiously, "Master Miroku, do you want to..."
Interrupting him, Miroku, the witch, calmly stated, "I'm going to seal the demon, and Shion will be taken care of by you. You are my most trusted subordinate, and I believe you can look after Shion well."
Anxiously, Desuki questioned, "Master Miroku, did you foresee this?"
Miroku, possessing the ability to predict the deaths of those around her, explained that this time, however, she didn't predict anything. Determined to sacrifice herself, Miroku expressed relief, noting that if there was no one to replace her death, it meant no prediction was needed.
Despite Desuki's insistence on staying, Miroku reassured him and entrusted Shion's care to him. Shion, tearful, refused to leave her mother's side, prompting Desuki to express his unwavering commitment to his mission, even if it meant facing an inevitable fate.
Suddenly, a hoarse voice from behind startled both Miroku and Desuki. He swiftly drew his katana, guarding Miroku, and demanded to know the stranger's identity.
Turning towards the masked figure who had appeared, Miroku observed him dressed in retro armor, resembling a ninja from the Warring States Period. Uchiha Natsu, controlling a wooden clone, clarified that Miroku hadn't predicted her death. His calm declaration hinted at the inevitability of her fate.
As the tension rose, Natsu proposed a deal. He offered to save Miroku from death and eradicate the demons, but in return, she had to agree to certain conditions. Natsu had overheard their conversation and seized the opportunity to negotiate, a double harvest for him.
Miroku, realizing the chance to avoid death, concealed her initial excitement. Natsu, keenly aware of her reaction, remained resolute. Desuki, however, remained skeptical, questioning Natsu's trustworthiness and highlighting the formidable power of the demons.
Shion, understanding little of the complexities, poked her head out with hope in her eyes. Miroku, trying to maintain a kind smile, inquired about the proposed transaction.
In the end, Natsu, also known as Akira Senju, revealed his true identity as a worldly hunter. The unfolding events left a sense of uncertainty hanging in the air, with Miroku torn between the impending sacrifice and the prospect of a dubious deal.
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