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Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: The Final Preparations

Moments before

A young man strode down the hallway of his house with the same arrogance that had always accompanied him. He was absorbed in his thoughts, contemplating his next moves to consolidate his power within the Zenin Clan. Suddenly, a strange sensation made him stop. It was as if the air had become denser, heavier.

He spun on his heels, ready to reprimand whoever dared to interrupt his path. But what he saw left him momentarily speechless: a woman stood in the middle of the hallway, her presence as imposing as it was unexpected. Her white hair cascaded down to her waist, shimmering in the dim light filtering through the windows, and her intense blue eyes gazed at him with a serenity that unsettled him.

"Who the hell are you?" he spat, his tone laden with the same condescension he reserved for those he considered inferior, especially women. "How dare you enter my house?"

Miyako, unmoving and serene, looked at him with a calmness that seemed to irritate him even more. "The walls of this house do not stop me," she replied, her voice soft but with an authority that resonated in the space. "I've come for something that no longer belongs to you."

The boy let out a dry, contemptuous laugh. "A woman talking about possessions? How ridiculous." He took a step toward her, his expression of disdain evident. "You should know your place. Women like you shouldn't even walk in front of a man. Do you want me to show you what happens to those who dare?"

Miyako remained unfazed, her gaze unwavering. "Your arrogance is almost as great as your ignorance," she said, her words cutting through the air with precision. "You believe power is measured by brute strength and control over the weak. But you are blind to what truly matters."

He frowned, irritated by the lack of fear in the woman's voice. "You have no idea who you're talking to," he snapped, taking another step toward her, trying to intimidate her. "I am Naoya Zenin, the rightful heir of this clan. And you… you are nothing more than an intruder who will learn not to challenge me."

Miyako finally took a small step forward, her presence in the hallway becoming even more oppressive. The pressure of her aura was palpable, and for the first time, Naoya felt a spark of discomfort inside. "You underestimate what you do not understand, Naoya. And that will be your downfall."

Naoya attempted to react, but the speed at which Miyako moved was bewildering. In a blink, she was in front of him, her blue eyes piercing him with an intensity that paralyzed him. "I see you still don't understand," Miyako murmured as her hand moved with lethal precision toward his chest. "Let me show you the error of your beliefs."

Before Naoya could even process what was happening, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down and saw a katana, a cursed sword, piercing through his body, firmly held by Miyako. "What belongs to you," Miyako said, her tone serene as Naoya began to lose control of his body, "I will take now."

Miyako remained still for a moment, observing Naoya's lifeless body with an unreadable expression. The atmosphere in the hallway seemed to have become heavier, as if the air itself resisted movement. With a slow but deliberate motion, she withdrew Kagekiri from Naoya's chest, the blade barely stained by the Zenin's blood.

Holding the katana in front of her, her eyes softened as she whispered in a barely audible voice, "Is it done?"

The hallway fell into complete silence, but Miyako's calm remained unshaken. She waited patiently, as if listening to a response only she could hear. After a few seconds, her expression became more resolute, and she nodded slightly, as if she had received the confirmation she needed. "Good," she murmured, her words directed at the sword as if it were a living interlocutor. "Tell him to have the ritual ready before he leaves."

Without further delay, Miyako inclined her head slightly a gesture of respect or perhaps resignation. With a delicacy that contrasted with the violence of the previous scene, she knelt to lift Naoya's body. She handled it carefully, as if not wanting to cause more harm than necessary, and cradled it in her arms as if carrying someone in a deep sleep.

The energy in the hallway seemed to fluctuate for an instant before Miyako and Naoya's body vanished into the darkness. The hallway was left empty, and the house returned to silence, as if nothing had happened. However, the echo of Miyako's words and the weight of what had just occurred lingered in the air.

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Days Before Naoya's Assassination

In a dimly lit and quiet room, a disoriented Miyako watched as Kaede, now inhabiting Yuji Itadori's body, hastily explained the plan. The atmosphere was charged with urgency, and Miyako was struggling to grasp what was happening.

"Listen, Miyako, we need to act quickly," Kaede said, his voice swift and determined. "The ritual must be prepared with precision. Kagekiri will be essential for merging my soul with the new body."

Miyako, her mind still adjusting to her new reality, frowned and raised a hand, trying to process the information. "Wait, what's going on? I don't understand anything—where are we, why do I feel strange, why do you look funny, why am I still alive...?"

Noticing the confusion on Miyako's face, Kaede took a deep breath and softened his tone a bit. "I'm sorry, Miyako. Let me explain more clearly. But we don't have much time. My soul needs to merge with a Zenin body, specifically Naoya Zenin's. He is the only one compatible for the ritual who can allow me to be reborn with all my abilities intact. For that, I need you to complete the final steps of the ritual. Kagekiri is crucial here."

Miyako nodded slowly, trying to follow the conversation. "Okay, the ritual and Kagekiri... Wait! Sukuna! I'm such an idiot, I mixed everything up. He was the one—"

Kaede silenced her with a finger on his lips. "It's too late now... It's been just over a thousand years since the war. We need to focus on this. I'll explain everything else later."

"But I feel Sukuna nearby... this is so confusing, my eyes keep hurting."

"When you regain all your senses, you'll understand."

Kaede stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Miyako's with an intensity that conveyed the urgency of the moment. "When we're at the ritual site, make sure everything is ready for the transfer. We can't afford any mistakes. The integration must be perfect for the fusion to succeed. Kagekiri will explain the details better. I need to go find a finger. By the time you return, everything will be ready. Just follow her instructions." With that, he momentarily handed Miyako the weapon with which he had been pierced a thousand years ago.

"Ugh," Miyako grimaced, not particularly thrilled about holding it.

Kaede paused and looked at Miyako with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry for the rush and the lack of detailed explanation. Once everything is in place, I'll explain everything to you in more detail. For now, we need to focus on making sure the ritual is executed correctly."